Saturday, 19 January 2013
Bildt: Swedes expelled to USA without warning
Sweden received no information that the two Swedes held in Djibouti suspected of terrorist crimes in Somalia would be extradited to the United States. Swedish preparations were made to get them home from Djibouti, but instead they were flown to the United States without warning, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt tells Swedish Radio news Ekot.
Housing estate cordoned off by police
A residential area in Järfälla has been partially blocked after a suspect package was found by a woman walking her dog this morning. Police have cordoned off the area and the box is being examined by bomb disposal experts. The eye-witness told newspaper Aftonbladet that the box has "wires coming out of it and a phone taped to the top".
Heathrow cancels 100 more flights as snow leaves hundreds stranded
Airport operating normally after weather improves but airlines struggle to clear backlog from Friday's disruption
A hundred more flights were cancelled at Heathrow on Saturday after snowy weather left hundreds of passengers stranded overnight at the airport's terminals.
Many British Airways passengers were unable to get hotel rooms or retrieve their luggage after more than 400 flights were cancelled on Friday.
Snow caused traffic jams of aircraft at the airport unable to find gates for passengers to disembark. Some passengers spent six hours waiting in their planes on the ground.
A spokeswoman for Heathrow said that although conditions had improved and both runways were open, about 100 flights had been cancelled so far on Saturday, 67 of which were departures.
"In terms of how today is going so far, the weather conditions are much better today. The runways are open. We do have about 100 cancellations at the moment, but that's really just recovery from yesterday," she said.
"At the moment the airport is operating as usual. We have the same number of aircraft using the runways as we normally would."
Heathrow advised passengers due to fly over the weekend to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.
"We are sorry that passengers suffered disruption yesterday. We have additional staff on the airport and we're doing everything we can to help the airlines recover their schedule," it said in a statement.
BA cancelled around 30 Saturday flights mostly to British and European destinations. But the company said it hoped conditions for passengers would improve.
A spokesman said: "We have unfortunately had to make a number of cancellations today, mainly due to knock-on disruption from yesterday, so we've got a number of aircraft out of position and it's quite a complex operation to put that back together, so that's what we're working on at the moment."
Stansted and Gatwick airports said they were operating normally. But road traffic all over Britain was disrupted by snow and ice.
Darron Burness, the AA's head of special operations, said: "With the snow compacting down and turning icy, we're likely to see treacherous driving conditions throughout the weekend. Any fresh snow on top will just add to the problems."
The Met Office is forecasting less snow but has issued warnings for ice over much of the country. The Highways Agency said its fleet of snow ploughs and gritters will continue to ensure roads are passable.
Archeologists revise image of ancient Celts
The Celts were long considered a barbaric and violent society. But new findings from a 2,600-year-old grave in south-western Germany suggest the ancient people were much more sophisticated than previously thought.
Boeing halts deliveries of Dreamliners
The US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has halted deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner passenger jet until concerns about its safety are resolved. A recent incident caused regulators to ground the planes.
Diversity of Cacao Trees in Waslala, Nicaragua: Associations between Genotype Spectra, Product Quality and Yield Potential
by Bodo Trognitz, Emile Cros, Sophie Assemat, Fabrice Davrieux, Nelly Forestier-Chiron, Eusebio Ayestas, Aldo Kuant, Xavier Scheldeman, Michael Hermann
The sensory quality and the contents of quality-determining chemical compounds in unfermented and fermented cocoa from 100 cacao trees (individual genotypes) representing groups of nine genotype spectra (GG), grown at smallholder plantings in the municipality of Waslala, Nicaragua, were evaluated for two successive harvest periods. Cocoa samples were fermented using a technique mimicking recommended on-farm practices. The sensory cocoa quality was assessed by experienced tasters, and seven major chemical taste compounds were quantified by near infrared spectrometry (NIRS). The association of the nine, partially admixed, genotype spectra with the analytical and sensory quality parameters was tested. The individual parameters were analyzed as a function of the factors GG and harvest (including the date of fermentation), individual trees within a single GG were used as replications. In fermented cocoa, significant GG-specific differences were observed for methylxanthines, theobromine-to-caffeine (T/C) ratio, total fat, procyanidin B5 and epicatechin, as well as the sensory attributes global score, astringency, and dry fruit aroma, but differences related to harvest were also apparent. The potential cocoa yield was also highly determined by the individual GG, although there was significant tree-to-tree variation within every single GG. Non-fermented samples showed large harvest-to-harvest variation of their chemical composition, while differences between GG were insignificant. These results suggest that selection by the genetic background, represented here by groups of partially admixed genotype spectra, would be a useful strategy toward enhancing quality and yield of cocoa in Nicaragua. Selection by the GG within the local, genetically segregating populations of seed-propagated cacao, followed by clonal propagation of best-performing individuals of the selected GG could be a viable alternative to traditional propagation of cacao by seed from open pollination. Fast and gentle air-drying of the fermented beans and their permanent dry storage were an efficient and comparatively easy precondition for high cocoa quality.
The sensory quality and the contents of quality-determining chemical compounds in unfermented and fermented cocoa from 100 cacao trees (individual genotypes) representing groups of nine genotype spectra (GG), grown at smallholder plantings in the municipality of Waslala, Nicaragua, were evaluated for two successive harvest periods. Cocoa samples were fermented using a technique mimicking recommended on-farm practices. The sensory cocoa quality was assessed by experienced tasters, and seven major chemical taste compounds were quantified by near infrared spectrometry (NIRS). The association of the nine, partially admixed, genotype spectra with the analytical and sensory quality parameters was tested. The individual parameters were analyzed as a function of the factors GG and harvest (including the date of fermentation), individual trees within a single GG were used as replications. In fermented cocoa, significant GG-specific differences were observed for methylxanthines, theobromine-to-caffeine (T/C) ratio, total fat, procyanidin B5 and epicatechin, as well as the sensory attributes global score, astringency, and dry fruit aroma, but differences related to harvest were also apparent. The potential cocoa yield was also highly determined by the individual GG, although there was significant tree-to-tree variation within every single GG. Non-fermented samples showed large harvest-to-harvest variation of their chemical composition, while differences between GG were insignificant. These results suggest that selection by the genetic background, represented here by groups of partially admixed genotype spectra, would be a useful strategy toward enhancing quality and yield of cocoa in Nicaragua. Selection by the GG within the local, genetically segregating populations of seed-propagated cacao, followed by clonal propagation of best-performing individuals of the selected GG could be a viable alternative to traditional propagation of cacao by seed from open pollination. Fast and gentle air-drying of the fermented beans and their permanent dry storage were an efficient and comparatively easy precondition for high cocoa quality.
Morphine Induces Bacterial Translocation in Mice by Compromising Intestinal Barrier Function in a TLR-Dependent Manner
by Jingjing Meng, Haidong Yu, Jing Ma, Jinghua Wang, Santanu Banerjee, Rick Charboneau, Roderick A. Barke, Sabita Roy
Opiates are among the most prescribed drugs for pain management. However, morphine use or abuse results in significant gut bacterial translocation and predisposes patients to serious infections with gut origin. The mechanism underlying this defect is still unknown. In this report, we investigated the mechanisms underlying compromised gut immune function and bacterial translocation following morphine treatment. We demonstrate significant bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and liver following morphine treatment in wild-type (WT) animals that was dramatically and significantly attenuated in Toll-like receptor (TLR2 and 4) knockout mice. We further observed significant disruption of tight junction protein organization only in the ileum but not in the colon of morphine treated WT animals. Inhibition of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) blocked the effects of both morphine and TLR ligands, suggesting the role of MLCK in tight junction modulation by TLR. This study conclusively demonstrates that morphine induced gut epithelial barrier dysfunction and subsequent bacteria translocation are mediated by TLR signaling and thus TLRs can be exploited as potential therapeutic targets for alleviating infections and even sepsis in morphine-using or abusing populations.
Opiates are among the most prescribed drugs for pain management. However, morphine use or abuse results in significant gut bacterial translocation and predisposes patients to serious infections with gut origin. The mechanism underlying this defect is still unknown. In this report, we investigated the mechanisms underlying compromised gut immune function and bacterial translocation following morphine treatment. We demonstrate significant bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and liver following morphine treatment in wild-type (WT) animals that was dramatically and significantly attenuated in Toll-like receptor (TLR2 and 4) knockout mice. We further observed significant disruption of tight junction protein organization only in the ileum but not in the colon of morphine treated WT animals. Inhibition of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) blocked the effects of both morphine and TLR ligands, suggesting the role of MLCK in tight junction modulation by TLR. This study conclusively demonstrates that morphine induced gut epithelial barrier dysfunction and subsequent bacteria translocation are mediated by TLR signaling and thus TLRs can be exploited as potential therapeutic targets for alleviating infections and even sepsis in morphine-using or abusing populations.
Fed official alleges Geithner may have alerted banks to rate cut
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In the summer of 2007, as storm clouds gathered over the world's financial system, then-New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner allegedly informed the Bank of America and other banks about the possibility the U.S. central bank would lower one of its critical interest rates, according to a senior Fed official.
De faux journalistes mexicains condamnés pour trafic de drogues
Un juge du Nicaragua a condamné, vendredi, 18 Mexicains qui se présentaient comme des journalistes de télé à 30ans de prison pour trafic de drogues et blanchiment d'argent issu d'une somme de 9,2 millions$US retrouvée dans leurs fourgonnettes.
Allégations de corruption en Espagne
Un ancien trésorier du parti au pouvoir en Espagne a amassé l'équivalent de 29millions$US dans des comptes bancaires suisses, a révélé un tribunal, générant un barrage de questions, vendredi, sur la possibilité que de hauts responsables puissent avoir été mêlés à de présumes actes de corruption avant de remporter les élections en 2011.
Plus de 150 policiers mexicains arrêtés
Les autorités mexicaines ont annoncé que 158 policiers locaux ont été arrêtés dans le nord du pays pour leurs liens supposés avec le crime organisé.
Cancer drugs access 'will return to dark ages'
Access to cancer drugs could return to the "dark ages" in England once a dedicated £200 million-a-year fund ends next spring, campaigners are warning.
Estado laico
La defensa de la educación laica y la separación entre el Estado y las iglesias es de simple sentido común.
Dragon Mart Cancún
El Diario de Yucatán anunció el pasado septiembre que “un grupo de inversionistas chinos y mexicanos vendrá a construir la galería más grande del mundo al lado de Cancún”. Con una inversión china de 180 o 200 millones de dólares, será el mall chino más grande fuera de su país: 127 mil metros cuadrados techados, para tres mil 40 locales comerciales, 20 mil metros cuadrados para bodegas, 65 mil para áreas abiertas y plazas, 722 casas y una pequeña ciudad china, con restaurantes, misceláneas y bancos. Se ensamblarán productos en una zona maquiladora.
Business tycoon stole more than £100m from Barclays, Lloyds and Bank of Scotland
An Asian business tycoon who travelled the world by private jet stole more than £100m from Barclays, Lloyds and Bank of Scotland in the biggest-ever banking fraud of its kind.
Terrorist with 'perfect English accent' involved in Algerian hostage crisis
A terrorist with "perfect English" was among those involved in the Algerian hostage crisis in which at least two Britons and perhaps many more are feared dead, it has emerged.
NASA Satellite Images Reveal Dramatic Increase in Air Pollution Over China
NASA's Terra satellite acquired natural-color images of northeastern China on January 3 and January 14, highlighting a drastic shift in air quality for the region. According to the images, the opaque, gray areas tend to be clouds or fog, which are saturated with a gray or yellow tint as a result from the air pollution. Areas that are cloud-free appear gray and brown as a result from the smog that hides the cities below. Residual snow is also noted in the images.
Friday, 18 January 2013
[Perspective] Physics: Negative Temperatures?
A cloud of potassium atoms is tuned to negative temperatures via a quantum phase transition.
Author: Lincoln D. Carr
Author: Lincoln D. Carr
[News & Analysis] Genetics: Genealogy Databases Enable Naming of Anonymous DNA Donors
An algorithm and Web sleuthing has led researchers to discover the hidden identities of anonymous DNA donors.
Author: John Bohannon
Author: John Bohannon
[Policy Forum] Ecology: Threats from India's Himalaya Dams
Ecosystem damage and population resettlements loom, owing to poor planning and impact assessments.
Authors: R. Edward Grumbine, Maharaj K. Pandit
Authors: R. Edward Grumbine, Maharaj K. Pandit
West Antarctica Vulnerability
Radiocarbon dates of tiny fossilized marine animals found in Antarctica’s seabed sediments offer new clues about the recent rapid ice loss from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and help scientists make better future predictions about sea-level rise. This region of the icy continent is thought to be vulnerable to regional climate warming and changes in ocean circulation. Reporting this month in the journal Geology a team of researchers from British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and the University of Tromsø presents a timeline for ice loss and glacier retreat in the Amundsen Sea region of West Antarctica. The team concludes that the rapid changes observed by satellites over the last 20 years at Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers may well be exceptional and are unlikely to have happened more than three or four times in the last 10,000 years
Beijing water supply at risk?
Beijing (UPI) Jan 17, 2013
Beijing now publicizes information on the quality of the city's tap water.
The decision by Beijing Waterworks Group, which is in charge of the city's water supply, comes after a drinking water researcher at the Beijing Healthcare Association said that the city's tap water has become more polluted.
The researcher, told the Southern Weekly that she and her husband, also a water .....
Beijing now publicizes information on the quality of the city's tap water.
The decision by Beijing Waterworks Group, which is in charge of the city's water supply, comes after a drinking water researcher at the Beijing Healthcare Association said that the city's tap water has become more polluted.
The researcher, told the Southern Weekly that she and her husband, also a water .....
Sugar and Obesity
Excessive sugar in the diet has been linked to obesity, and a higher risk of chronic diseases. The most consistent association has been between a high intake of sugar sweetened beverages and the development of obesity, but not all studies have reported a statistically significant link. The University of Otago-led study is published today in the British Medical Journal, to ringing endorsement from US nutrition experts in an editorial concurrently published in the influential UK journal. The study’s lead authors, research fellow Dr Lisa Te Morenga from Otago’s Department of Human Nutrition and the Riddet Institute of New Zealand, and Professor Jim Mann from Otago’s Department of Human Nutrition and Medicine and Edgar National Center for Diabetes and Obesity research, found that there is now enough evidence from the research to show that cutting down on sugar has a “small but significant” effect on body weight.
Sydney bakes in hottest day ever
Sydney experiences its hottest day on record, with temperatures reaching 45.8C, as bushfires leave one man dead in Victoria.
NASA Satellite Images Reveal Dramatic Increase in Air Pollution Over China
NASA's Terra satellite acquired natural-color images of northeastern China on January 3 and January 14, highlighting a drastic shift in air quality for the region. According to the images, the opaque, gray areas tend to be clouds or fog, which are saturated with a gray or yellow tint as a result from the air pollution. Areas that are cloud-free appear gray and brown as a result from the smog that hides the cities below. Residual snow is also noted in the images.
Potential harvest of most fish stocks largely unrelated to abundance
Seattle WA (SPX) Jan 18, 2013
Fisheries managers should sharpen their ability to spot environmental conditions that hamper or help fish stocks, rather than assuming that having a certain abundance of fish assures how much can be sustainably harvested.
That's because the potential harvest of fish is only closely linked to abundance in 18 percent of 230 fish stocks assessed in a University of Washington-led study, ....
Fisheries managers should sharpen their ability to spot environmental conditions that hamper or help fish stocks, rather than assuming that having a certain abundance of fish assures how much can be sustainably harvested.
That's because the potential harvest of fish is only closely linked to abundance in 18 percent of 230 fish stocks assessed in a University of Washington-led study, ....
Method to produce amounts of anti-cancer substance developed
Washington DC (SPX) Jan 18, 2013
Scientists are reporting development of the first practical way to make large amounts of a promising new anti-cancer substance that kills cancer cells differently than existing medicines. Their article on synthesis of the substance, and tests demonstrating its effectiveness in the laboratory, appears in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
Isamu Shiina and colleagues explain that the ......
Scientists are reporting development of the first practical way to make large amounts of a promising new anti-cancer substance that kills cancer cells differently than existing medicines. Their article on synthesis of the substance, and tests demonstrating its effectiveness in the laboratory, appears in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
Isamu Shiina and colleagues explain that the ......
In the Eastern US, spring flowers keep pace with warming climate
Madison WI (SPX) Jan 18, 2013
Using the meticulous phenological records of two iconic American naturalists, Henry David Thoreau and Aldo Leopold, scientists have demonstrated that native plants in the eastern United States are flowering as much as a month earlier in response to a warming climate.
The new study is important because it gives scientists a peek inside the black box of ecological change in response to a ....
Using the meticulous phenological records of two iconic American naturalists, Henry David Thoreau and Aldo Leopold, scientists have demonstrated that native plants in the eastern United States are flowering as much as a month earlier in response to a warming climate.
The new study is important because it gives scientists a peek inside the black box of ecological change in response to a ....
Thursday, 17 January 2013
Why cheese plants are full of holes
The holes in a Swiss cheese plants' iconic leaves help them to avoid stress, according to a US scientist.
Sydney bakes in hottest day ever
Sydney is experiencing its hottest day on record, with temperatures reaching 45.8C, as wild fires continue to rage across southern Australia.
Gun in school bag of boy, seven
A handgun is discovered in the school bag of a seven-year-old boy in New York City, prompting a temporary lockdown at his elementary school.
Mexican athlete shot in bar dies
Mexican athlete Noe Hernandez, who won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, dies of a reported heart attack two weeks after being shot in a bar.
Fish poop helps spread vital seagrass
To spread and regenerate, an important marine plant depends on animals to eat its seeds and poop them out around the ocean, according to recent research.
These Are the Worst Meals You Can Eat in America
By Morgan Clendaniel
A new study on the most "Xtreme Food" in the country found some meals with more calories than a person needs in an entire day. [More]
A new study on the most "Xtreme Food" in the country found some meals with more calories than a person needs in an entire day. [More]
Solar 'blob' powers up the northern lights
Science editor: It might sound scary to hear that a giant blob of solar plasma is heading straight for us, but don't panic. Space weather forecasters say this solar outburst should deliver nothing more than a good show up north.
Earth Has Warm Year, But Not as Hot as U.S.
The globe was unusually warm last year but fell shy of a global record despite chart-topping heat in the United States, according to separate federal analyses released yesterday.
[More]
BPA Replacement Also Alters Hormones
Just like the controversial compound it's designed to replace, a chemical used in cash register receipts and other consumer products messes with hormones, according to research published today.
[More]
[More]
Coca-Cola kickstarts Arctic campaign with WWF donation
LONDON (Reuters) - Coca-Cola will give 3 million euros ($4 million) to conservation group WWF over the next three years to help kickstart a campaign to protect the Arctic from the impacts of global warming, the world's biggest soft-drinks maker said.
Dengue showing global 'epidemic potential': WHO
Geneva (AFP) Jan 16, 2013
The World Health Organisation said on Wednesday that it had charted progress in the fight against tropical diseases but warned that dengue fever was spreading at an alarming rate.
"In 2012, dengue ranked as the fastest spreading vector-borne viral disease, with an epidemic potential in the world, registering a 30-fold increase in disease incidence over the past 50 years," the Geneva-based UN
The World Health Organisation said on Wednesday that it had charted progress in the fight against tropical diseases but warned that dengue fever was spreading at an alarming rate.
"In 2012, dengue ranked as the fastest spreading vector-borne viral disease, with an epidemic potential in the world, registering a 30-fold increase in disease incidence over the past 50 years," the Geneva-based UN
Global warming opening up Russia's Arctic
Moscow (UPI) Jan 16, 2013
Russian state-owned energy firms are preparing to move into the country's offshore polar regions.
On Jan. 15 Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich's told journalists that the state-controlled Rosneft and Gazprom energy companies are to receive licenses to develop the 12 and 17 arctic continental shelf sectors. The decision is raising concerns among the country's private energy
Russian state-owned energy firms are preparing to move into the country's offshore polar regions.
On Jan. 15 Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich's told journalists that the state-controlled Rosneft and Gazprom energy companies are to receive licenses to develop the 12 and 17 arctic continental shelf sectors. The decision is raising concerns among the country's private energy
German minister says EU Commission fallow farmland goal "absurd"
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's agriculture minister described as "absurd" the European Commission's proposals to keep 7 percent of EU farmland fallow for environmental reasons and she urged it to reconsider.
Orange boasts: We made Google PAY US for mobile traffic
Some packets are more neutral than others ...
France Telecom-Orange is making a wad of cash from Google, the company's CEO boasted in an interview with French media yesterday.…
France Telecom-Orange is making a wad of cash from Google, the company's CEO boasted in an interview with French media yesterday.…
AT&T May Shop In Europe; Maybe They Should Think Twice
AT&T is considering buying a European telco to boost its growth rate, the Wall Street Journal reports. The move would be a stark reflection of the fact that the U.S. wireless market has effectively stop growing, leaving the four major U.S. mobile carriers to battle it out for market share.
Facebook allows free calling on iPhone
Facebook adds a feature in its mobile app that allows free calling for iPhone users in the United States.
China visa changes could attract job-hunting IT pros
Must speak the language, endure nasty pollution, censored internet ... what's not to like?
A change to China’s visa laws due to come into force this (northern) summer could make the People’s Republic a more attractive destination for ex-pat IT professionals up for the challenge, but the vital details on exactly which skills are needed are still being worked out.…
A change to China’s visa laws due to come into force this (northern) summer could make the People’s Republic a more attractive destination for ex-pat IT professionals up for the challenge, but the vital details on exactly which skills are needed are still being worked out.…
Obama extends presidential power in bypassing Congress on gun control
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - During the past two years as his frustration with a "dysfunctional" Congress has grown, President Barack Obama has resorted to bypassing the legislative branch as he did on Wednesday to implement tighter gun control laws.
U.S. condemns comments by Egypt's Mursi as Islamist leader
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Tuesday strongly condemned disparaging comments about Jews that Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi was reported to have made almost three years ago when he was a Muslim Brotherhood leader, and urged him to repudiate his remarks.
Explosions kill 83 at Syrian university as exams begin
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Two explosions tore through one of Syria's biggest universities on the first day of student exams on Tuesday, killing 83 people and wounding dozens, a monitoring group said.
Most Boeing Dreamliners grounded for battery checks
TOKYO/SEATTLE (Reuters) - Airlines scrambled on Thursday to rearrange flights as Europe, Japan and India joined the United States in grounding Boeing Co's 787 Dreamliner passenger jets while battery-related problems are investigated.
Mexican generals linked to drug gangs lose appeal
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A Mexican court said on Wednesday that two army generals, one retired and one still serving, should remain in jail and face trial in one of the highest-profile cases linking the military to organized crime.
Colombian president opens door to popular vote on FARC peace deal
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday opened the door to a popular vote on any peace accord negotiated and signed with FARC rebels, but rejected a guerrilla demand to change the constitution if a deal is clinched.
London station briefly evacuated after train catches fire
LONDON (Reuters) - London's Victoria Station was briefly evacuated during the Thursday rush hour after a fire under a train that was pulling up to a platform, British transport police said.
China media train fire on U.S. food giants over chicken scare
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Just weeks after Chinese authorities cleared Yum Brands Inc and McDonald's Corp of charges they had served chicken laced with excessive chemicals, local media are again attacking the iconic American firms, while barely reporting on the chances of Chinese restaurants selling similar meat.
Why Does Fat Go to a Man's Belly and a Women's Hips and Thighs?
In general, men tend to become apple-shaped, storing their fat in the abdominal areas, but maintain normal hips and thighs. Women on the other hand, tend to become pear-shaped, storing their fat lower down in their hips and thighs. Why is this? For research Steven R. Smith, M.D., director at the Sanford-Burnham Translation Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes, this simple truth was worth investigating. He found that the placement of fat storage in the body is genetic. Furthermore, belly fat is associated with higher risks of heart disease and diabetes, while hip and thigh fat is not.
Why Does Fat Go to a Man's Belly and a Women's Hips and Thighs?
In general, men tend to become apple-shaped, storing their fat in the abdominal areas, but maintain normal hips and thighs. Women on the other hand, tend to become pear-shaped, storing their fat lower down in their hips and thighs. Why is this? For research Steven R. Smith, M.D., director at the Sanford-Burnham Translation Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes, this simple truth was worth investigating. He found that the placement of fat storage in the body is genetic. Furthermore, belly fat is associated with higher risks of heart disease and diabetes, while hip and thigh fat is not.
Women, Eat More Strawberries & Blueberries
Eating three or more servings of blueberries and strawberries per week may help women reduce their risk of a heart attack by as much as one-third, researchers reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Blueberries and strawberries contain high levels of naturally occurring compounds called dietary flavonoids, also found in grapes and wine, blackberries, eggplant, and other fruits and vegetables. A specific sub-class of flavonoids, called anthocyanins, may help dilate arteries, counter the buildup of plaque and provide other cardiovascular benefits, according to the study.
Blueberries and strawberries contain high levels of naturally occurring compounds called dietary flavonoids, also found in grapes and wine, blackberries, eggplant, and other fruits and vegetables. A specific sub-class of flavonoids, called anthocyanins, may help dilate arteries, counter the buildup of plaque and provide other cardiovascular benefits, according to the study.
Tennessee declares state of emergency over ice storm
NASHVILLE (Reuters) - Tennessee officials declared a state of emergency on Tuesday as ice storms hit a swathe of territory in the mid-south of the United States and concerns grew about flooding and dangerous road conditions.
Bee Politics
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. There are nearly 20,000 known species of bees though many are undescribed and the actual number is probably higher. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, in every habitat on the planet that contains insect-pollinated flowering plants. Honey bees are more effective at pollinating almonds when other species of bees are present, says an international research team in ground-breaking research just published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society. The research, which took place in California's almond orchards in Yolo, Colusa and Stanislaus counties, could prove invaluable in increasing the pollination effectiveness of honey bees, as demand for their pollination service grows. When blue orchard bees and wild bees are foraging in almonds with honey bees, the behavior of honey bees changes, resulting in more effective crop pollination, said lead author Claire Brittain. Wild bees include non-managed bees such as bumble bees, carpenter bees and sweat bees.
Arctic Sea Ice Decline and Ice Export Between Greenland and Svalbard
The Arctic sea ice is shrinking, both in extent and thickness. In addition to the humanmade contribution to the sea ice loss, there are also natural factors contributing to this loss. In a new study from the Bjerknes Centre we focus on one of these factors: the ice export through the large gateway between Greenland and Svalbard -- the Fram Strait.
Farmers blast environment rules in French street protests
PARIS (Reuters) - French farmers held protests across the country on Wednesday, including a pre-dawn street blockade near the farm ministry in Paris, to attack what they see as burdensome environmental regulations linked to European Union targets on water quality.
Organic Farming Expands, Contributes to Sustainable Food Security
Despite a slight decline between 2009 and 2010, since 1999 the global land area farmed organically has expanded more than threefold to 37 million hectares, according to new research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online service. Regions with the largest certified organic agricultural land in 2010 were Oceania, including Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations (12.1 million hectares); Europe (10 million hectares); and Latin America (8.4 million hectares), write report authors Catherine Ward and Laura Reynolds.
Syngenta, Bayer pesticides pose honeybee threat: EFSA
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Three widely-used pesticides made by Switzerland's Syngenta and Germany's Bayer pose an acute risk to honeybees, the European Union's food safety watchdog said on Wednesday, but stopped short of linking them to bee colony collapse.
BMI Magic
The body mass index (BMI) is a heuristic proxy for estimating human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was devised between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing social physics. It has been for awhile as an indicator of "how fat am I". What if it is wrong? BMI divides a person's weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared to arrive at an estimate of an individual's body fat.The problem lies with the height/weight ratio.
Desertification solution? Olive Trees.
The planting of ten of thousands of olive trees in arid areas in Israel have proved highly beneficial, according to a study which said the trees provide shade for animals, purge the air and even produce excellent olive oil. The study was conducted by the Faculty of Agriculture at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, with the help of the Agricultural Research Organization. Dr. Zohar Kerem, head of the olive oil research lab in the faculty's biochemistry institute, who participated in the study, explained that they followed tree-plantings in Israel's desert areas.
Floods paralyze Indonesian capital, heavy rains continue
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Heavy monsoonal rains triggered severe flooding in large swathes of the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Thursday, with many government offices and businesses forced to closed because staff could not get to work.
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Viruses infect vital control systems at TWO US power stations
'Sophisticated' malware snuck in via USB drive
Two US power stations were infected by malware in the last quarter of 2012, according to a report by the US Department of Homeland Security's Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT).…
Two US power stations were infected by malware in the last quarter of 2012, according to a report by the US Department of Homeland Security's Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT).…
Líder mafioso russo é assassinado no centro de Moscou
MOSCOU — Um dos principais chefes do crime organizado na Rússia, Aslan Usoyan - também conhecido como Vovô Khasan - foi morto a tiros em Moscou na terça-feira. O curdo, de 75 anos - nascido na ex-república soviética da Geórgia -, chefiava há duas décadas uma das regiões onde se localizavam os grupos criminosos mais poderosos do país, controlando o tráfico de drogas e armas, além de cassinos clandestinos e negócios jurídicos.
De acordo com a polícia, um homem não identificado atirou desde o telhado de um edifício, matando com apenas um tiro o líder da máfia russa, perto de um restaurante no centro de Moscou, a apenas um quilômetro do Kremlin. Desde 2006, Usoyan estava em guerra com outro grupo criminoso, liderado pelo também georgiano Tariel Oniani.
Uma mulher, funcionária de um restaurante, também ficou ferida no incidente, segundo jornais locais. Alguns analistas temem que a morte termine em uma guerra entre clãs mafiosos.
Vovô Khasan era conhecido como “O Padrinho” da maioria dos crimes no país: ele comandava as principais redes de jogo ilegal, drogas e tráfico de armas. Durante sua vida criminosa - ele foi preso pela primeira vez aos 19 anos - Usoyan sobreviveu a dois atentados, em 1998 e 2010.
De acordo com a polícia, um homem não identificado atirou desde o telhado de um edifício, matando com apenas um tiro o líder da máfia russa, perto de um restaurante no centro de Moscou, a apenas um quilômetro do Kremlin. Desde 2006, Usoyan estava em guerra com outro grupo criminoso, liderado pelo também georgiano Tariel Oniani.
Uma mulher, funcionária de um restaurante, também ficou ferida no incidente, segundo jornais locais. Alguns analistas temem que a morte termine em uma guerra entre clãs mafiosos.
Vovô Khasan era conhecido como “O Padrinho” da maioria dos crimes no país: ele comandava as principais redes de jogo ilegal, drogas e tráfico de armas. Durante sua vida criminosa - ele foi preso pela primeira vez aos 19 anos - Usoyan sobreviveu a dois atentados, em 1998 e 2010.
10 Countries Hoarding Enormous Stockpiles Of Gold (GLD)
Germany is reportedly repatriating gold it has stashed with the New York Fed and the Bank of France, and some policymakers want to bring back all their gold in case the financial crisis worsens.
People continue to debate whether gold is or should be considered money.
However, this hasn't kept the world's central banks from increasing their gold reserves.
The World Gold Council estimates that central banks have purchased 500 tons of gold in 2012, up from 465 tons last year. Analysts attribute some of the support in gold prices to these central bank gold purchases.
Global gold reserves increased to 31,575.1 tons as of January 2013. We highlight the ten countries with the biggest official gold holdings as reported by the World Gold Council . We also included the percent of foreign reserves they possess in gold.
Note: CBGA refers to the Central Bank Gold Agreements. The first Agreement (CBGA 1) ran from September 27, 1999 to September 26, 2004. The second Agreement (CBGA 2) ran from September 27, 2004 to September 26, 2009. The third Agreement (CBGA 3) will run for five years from September 2009.
#10 India
Official gold holdings: 557.7 tonnes
Percent of foreign reserves in gold:
10.3 percent
The Reserve Bank of India is known to buy IMF gold and considers gold to be a safe investment, but rarely comments on its plans to buy gold.
Source: World Gold Council
#9 Netherlands
Official gold holdings: 612.5 tonnes
Percent of foreign reserves in gold:
60.6 percent
Back in 1999, the Netherlands announced under the Central Bank Gold Agreement (CBGA1) that it would sell 300 tonnes of gold during the five years, but only managed to sell 235 tonnes.
Under CBGA2 (2004/2005 –'08/'09) it said it would sell a total of 165 tones (which included the 65 tonnes left over from CBGA1), and it announced no sales under CBGA3 (from 2008/2009 – '13/'14).
Source: World Gold Council
#8 Japan
Official gold holdings: 765.2 tonnes
Percent of foreign reserves in gold:
3.3 percent
Japan's gold reserves were at just 6 tonnes in 1950, and its central bank registered its first serious jump in gold holdings in 1959, with purchases increasing by 169 tonnes from the previous year.
In 2011, the Bank of Japan sold gold to pump ¥20 trillion into the economy to calm investors after the tsunami and nuclear disaster.
India hit by new gang-rape horror
A Dalit or 'untouchable' woman was gang-raped and beaten in front of her husband and infant child after their home was broken into by seven robbers.
Two reported killed in kidnapping at BP gas field in Algeria
Islamist militants attacked a gas production field in southern Algeria on Wednesday, kidnapping at least nine foreigners and killing two people during a dawn raid, local and company officials said.
Foreign direct investment in China falls
Slowing economy and wage rises of up to 40% make country less attractive for foreign investment as low-cost manufacturers focus in on southeast Asia
Thin is in, but fat might be better
A study saying overweight -- but not obese -- people may live longer has made waves, possibly underlining our preoccupation with thinness.
Colin Powell • Ironique
“Chuck Hagel est un grand supporter d’Israël”, explique l’ancien secrétaire d’Etat américain Colin Powell à propos de la nomination à la Défense du sénateur républicain du Nebraska, qui s’est illustré par ses propos sur le “lobby juif”.
US employee 'outsourced job to China'
A US software developer was revealed to have outsourced his job to China, instead spending his workdays surfing the internet.
França triplica número de soldados no Mali para 2.500
A França tenciona triplicar o número de tropas no Mali, apontando para uma força de 2.500 soldados, anunciou hoje o Ministério da Defesa francês, enquanto a Organização para a Cooperação Islâmica apelou...
Energy from fish and bones
Vietnam's booming fishing industry is now using waste products to generate energy. A research project in the Mekong Delta is researching how fish waste could potentially replace fossil fuels.
Tissue Engineers Report Knee Cartilage Repair Success With New Biomaterial
Baltimore MD (SPX) Jan 16, 2013
In a small study, researchers reported increased healthy tissue growth after surgical repair of damaged cartilage if they put a "hydrogel" scaffolding into the wound to support and nourish the healing process.
The squishy hydrogel material was implanted in 15 patients during standard microfracture surgery, in which tiny holes are punched in a bone near the injured cartilage. The holes ....
In a small study, researchers reported increased healthy tissue growth after surgical repair of damaged cartilage if they put a "hydrogel" scaffolding into the wound to support and nourish the healing process.
The squishy hydrogel material was implanted in 15 patients during standard microfracture surgery, in which tiny holes are punched in a bone near the injured cartilage. The holes ....
One dead, 900 hurt in heavy Japan snowfall
Tokyo (AFP) Jan 15, 2013
Heavy snow that blanketed eastern Japan over the holiday weekend left one man dead and 900 others injured, as Tokyo commuters Tuesday took to the slippery streets.
A low-pressure system, dubbed a "bomb cyclone" by local press, dumped eight centimetres (three inches) of snow in nine hours, the heaviest snowfall in the region since January 2006, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Heavy snow that blanketed eastern Japan over the holiday weekend left one man dead and 900 others injured, as Tokyo commuters Tuesday took to the slippery streets.
A low-pressure system, dubbed a "bomb cyclone" by local press, dumped eight centimetres (three inches) of snow in nine hours, the heaviest snowfall in the region since January 2006, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
China factory fire hidden by thick smog: media
Beijing (AFP) Jan 15, 2013
A factory fire in eastern China went unnoticed for three hours because of the thick smog that blanketed large stretches of the country this week, state media said Tuesday.
After firefighters in Zhejiang province were finally alerted to the blaze in the early hours of Monday they took 10 hours to extinguish the flames, which destroyed a large amount of furniture, the Xinhua news agency said.
A factory fire in eastern China went unnoticed for three hours because of the thick smog that blanketed large stretches of the country this week, state media said Tuesday.
After firefighters in Zhejiang province were finally alerted to the blaze in the early hours of Monday they took 10 hours to extinguish the flames, which destroyed a large amount of furniture, the Xinhua news agency said.
MBL scientists find 'bipolar' marine bacteria, refuting 'everything is everywhere' idea
Cape Cod MA (SPX) Jan 16, 2013
In another blow to the "Everything is Everywhere" tenet of bacterial distribution in the ocean, scientists at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) have found "bipolar" species of bacteria that occur in the Arctic and Antarctic, but nowhere else.
And, surprisingly, they found even fewer bipolar species than would turn up by chance if marine bacteria were randomly distributed everywhere. "
In another blow to the "Everything is Everywhere" tenet of bacterial distribution in the ocean, scientists at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) have found "bipolar" species of bacteria that occur in the Arctic and Antarctic, but nowhere else.
And, surprisingly, they found even fewer bipolar species than would turn up by chance if marine bacteria were randomly distributed everywhere. "
Medicinal toothbrush tree yields antibiotic to treat TB in new way
Norwich UK (SPX) Jan 16, 2013
A compound from the South African toothbrush tree inactivates a drug target for tuberculosis in a previously unseen way. Tuberculosis causes more deaths worldwide than any other bacterial disease. At the same time as rates are increasing, resistance strains are emerging due, in part, to non-compliance with the treatment required. Many current drugs are nearly 50 years old and alternatives are .....
A compound from the South African toothbrush tree inactivates a drug target for tuberculosis in a previously unseen way. Tuberculosis causes more deaths worldwide than any other bacterial disease. At the same time as rates are increasing, resistance strains are emerging due, in part, to non-compliance with the treatment required. Many current drugs are nearly 50 years old and alternatives are .....
NASA Finds 2012 Sustained Long-Term Climate Warming Trend
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Jan 16, 2013
NASA scientists say 2012 was the ninth warmest of any year since 1880, continuing a long-term trend of rising global temperatures. With the exception of 1998, the nine warmest years in the 132-year record all have occurred since 2000, with 2010 and 2005 ranking as the hottest years on record.
NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York, which monitors global surface .....
NASA scientists say 2012 was the ninth warmest of any year since 1880, continuing a long-term trend of rising global temperatures. With the exception of 1998, the nine warmest years in the 132-year record all have occurred since 2000, with 2010 and 2005 ranking as the hottest years on record.
NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York, which monitors global surface .....
Hong Kong commits $1.3bn to cleaner air
Hong Kong leader says government priorities are improving air quality and providing affordable housing in one of the world’s most expensive cities
Facebook shoves biz pal Microsoft aside, unzips new Graph Search
Everyone invited to the party, except Bing... bitch
Analysis Facebook took a major step away from Microsoft on Tuesday by confirming it had built a search product for its network without any involvement from its Redmondian biz partner, which has a $240m stake in Mark Zuckerberg's ad empire.…
Analysis Facebook took a major step away from Microsoft on Tuesday by confirming it had built a search product for its network without any involvement from its Redmondian biz partner, which has a $240m stake in Mark Zuckerberg's ad empire.…
Horse meat scandal wipes £300m off Tesco's market value
Supermarket's shares down 1% as analysts say news hits attempts to regain consumer confidence
Nearly £300m has been wiped off the value of *Tesco* after a number of its burgers were found to contain horse meat.
The products were made at two plants in Ireland and one in the UK and were sold by a number of retailers including Tesco.
The news comes at a bad time for Tesco which is attempting to convince customers about the quality of its products and services after losing market share to rivals. It has admitted the management took its eye off the UK stores during its push for overseas expansion.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said there was no risk to public health from the contaminated burgers, which were also sold by Lidl , Iceland and Aldi.
But the bad publicity has helped push Tesco 3.6p lower to 346p, a 1% fall in a FTSE 100 which is down just 0.5%. Analyst
Caroline Gulliver at Espirito Santo said:
The news is likely to, at least temporarily, reduce consumers' trust in the quality of Tesco's products which is unhelpful at a time when Tesco is trying to rebuild customers' trust in the quality underpinning Tesco own label and EveryDay Value products.
Tesco has launched a PR offensive to counter headlines that its frozen Everyday Value Beef Burgers contain 29% horse meat (as one sample was found to have). Tesco has withdrawn all products from the supplier in question and apologized to customers for any distress saying that "We will not tolerate any compromise in the quality of the food we sell. The presence of illegal meat in our products is extremely serious. Our customers have the right to expect that food they buy is produced to the highest standards… we apologise sincerely for any distress."
She pointed out that Tesco Finest Aberdeen Angus frozen beef burgers are half price at £1.50 for two and Birds Eye frozen beef burgers have 30% off, though both promotions were already in place. She added:
We rate Tesco a sell as we think its turnaround is still in its early stages. Given the high level of price and quality competition in the market, we believe Tesco may struggle to sufficiently grow UK like for like sales without further margin investment, whilst at the same time the Eastern European consumer environment is deteriorating.
But Hartmann Capital trader Basil Petrides told Reuters he believed the horse meat story was "one of those five minute scandals" and said any share price sell-off could prove a good buying opportunity.
Nearly £300m has been wiped off the value of *Tesco* after a number of its burgers were found to contain horse meat.
The products were made at two plants in Ireland and one in the UK and were sold by a number of retailers including Tesco.
The news comes at a bad time for Tesco which is attempting to convince customers about the quality of its products and services after losing market share to rivals. It has admitted the management took its eye off the UK stores during its push for overseas expansion.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said there was no risk to public health from the contaminated burgers, which were also sold by Lidl , Iceland and Aldi.
But the bad publicity has helped push Tesco 3.6p lower to 346p, a 1% fall in a FTSE 100 which is down just 0.5%. Analyst
Caroline Gulliver at Espirito Santo said:
The news is likely to, at least temporarily, reduce consumers' trust in the quality of Tesco's products which is unhelpful at a time when Tesco is trying to rebuild customers' trust in the quality underpinning Tesco own label and EveryDay Value products.
Tesco has launched a PR offensive to counter headlines that its frozen Everyday Value Beef Burgers contain 29% horse meat (as one sample was found to have). Tesco has withdrawn all products from the supplier in question and apologized to customers for any distress saying that "We will not tolerate any compromise in the quality of the food we sell. The presence of illegal meat in our products is extremely serious. Our customers have the right to expect that food they buy is produced to the highest standards… we apologise sincerely for any distress."
She pointed out that Tesco Finest Aberdeen Angus frozen beef burgers are half price at £1.50 for two and Birds Eye frozen beef burgers have 30% off, though both promotions were already in place. She added:
We rate Tesco a sell as we think its turnaround is still in its early stages. Given the high level of price and quality competition in the market, we believe Tesco may struggle to sufficiently grow UK like for like sales without further margin investment, whilst at the same time the Eastern European consumer environment is deteriorating.
But Hartmann Capital trader Basil Petrides told Reuters he believed the horse meat story was "one of those five minute scandals" and said any share price sell-off could prove a good buying opportunity.
Horse meat burgers: Government has 'serious questions' to answer
The Government has some "serious questions" to answer on how horse meat has been found in burgers on sale in British supermarkets, an MP has claimed.
NRA: Video games kill people, not guns. And here's our video game
First-person shooter for Second-Amendment drum bangers
Just weeks after the vice-president of the US National Rifle Association blamed video games for gun crime, the outspoken organisation has released an iPhone video game.…
Just weeks after the vice-president of the US National Rifle Association blamed video games for gun crime, the outspoken organisation has released an iPhone video game.…
Helicopter crashes into crane on London tower, kills two
LONDON (Reuters) - A helicopter crashed into a crane on top of one of Europe's tallest residential blocks in central London on Wednesday, killing two people as it burst into flames and threw plumes of smoke into the foggy air.
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Pot Smokers Might Not Turn Into Dopes After All
Cannabis rots your brain -- or does it? Last year, a paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ( PNAS ) suggested that people who used cannabis heavily as teenagers saw their IQs fall by middle age . But a study published today -- also in PNAS -- says that factors unrelated to cannabis use are to blame for the effect. Nature explores the competing claims.
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Monday, 14 January 2013
Fast-food diet 'linked to asthma'
Eating fast food three times a week may lead to asthma and eczema in children, say researchers who have looked at global disease and dietary patterns.
Genes link Australians with India
Far from being cut off from the rest of the world, Australia experienced a migration from India about 4,000 years ago, a study suggests.
Cold snaps linked to plague, civil unrest
Prolonged cold snaps over the past 1,000 years in Eastern Europe coincided with plague outbreaks, civil unrest and declines in human settlement, according to a new study that also finds the region is warmer now than it has been for the past millennium.
To save a cathedral, marinate in olive oil
One of the most beautiful and revered cathedrals in Christendom, York Minster in northern England has survived war, looting, fire, pillaging and other threats over the centuries. But the Gothic masterpiece is crumbling due to a relatively recent enemy: acid rain. Preservationists, however, may have found a way to protect it using a common kitchen item.
Ozone Destruction New Cause
Large amounts of ozone – around 50% more than predicted by the world’s state-of-the-art climate models – are being destroyed in the lower atmosphere over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. A team of scientists from the National Center for Atmospheric Science and the Universities of York and Leeds made the discovery, which is significant because ozone in the lower atmosphere acts as a greenhouse gas and its destruction also leads to the removal of the third most abundant greenhouse gas; methane.
Giant tobacco plants that stay young forever
Munster, Germany (SPX) Jan 15, 2013
Tobacco plants bloom when they are just a few months old - and then they die. Now, researchers have located a genetic switch which can keep the plants young for years and which permits unbounded growth. In short, an ideal source of biomass. The life of tobacco plants is short. They grow for around three to four months, followed by flowering and then die. Their size is also limited, with plants .....
Tobacco plants bloom when they are just a few months old - and then they die. Now, researchers have located a genetic switch which can keep the plants young for years and which permits unbounded growth. In short, an ideal source of biomass. The life of tobacco plants is short. They grow for around three to four months, followed by flowering and then die. Their size is also limited, with plants .....
Foods identified as 'whole grain' not always health
Boston, MA (SPX) Jan 15, 2013
Current standards for classifying foods as "whole grain" are inconsistent and, in some cases, misleading, according to a new study by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers. One of the most widely used industry standards, the Whole Grain Stamp, actually identified grain products that were higher in both sugars and calories than products without the Stamp.
Current standards for classifying foods as "whole grain" are inconsistent and, in some cases, misleading, according to a new study by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers. One of the most widely used industry standards, the Whole Grain Stamp, actually identified grain products that were higher in both sugars and calories than products without the Stamp.
Volcano lava flows worry Italian island
Rome (AFP) Jan 14, 2013
Spectacular lava flows and smoke from an active volcano on the Italian island of Stromboli on Monday sparked fear among inhabitants but geophysicists said the situation was under control.
Stromboli is part of the seven-island Eolian Archipelago just off Sicily in southern Italy.
The volcano is active but on Monday there was a particularly powerful eruption and sustained lava flows....
Spectacular lava flows and smoke from an active volcano on the Italian island of Stromboli on Monday sparked fear among inhabitants but geophysicists said the situation was under control.
Stromboli is part of the seven-island Eolian Archipelago just off Sicily in southern Italy.
The volcano is active but on Monday there was a particularly powerful eruption and sustained lava flows....
China pollution anger spills into state media
Beijing (AFP) Jan 14, 2013
Public anger in China at dangerous levels of air pollution, which blanketed Beijing in acrid smog, spread Monday as state media queried official transparency and the nation's breakneck development.
The media joined Internet users in calling for a re-evaluation of China's modernisation process, which has seen rapid urbanisation and dramatic economic development at the expense of the .....
Public anger in China at dangerous levels of air pollution, which blanketed Beijing in acrid smog, spread Monday as state media queried official transparency and the nation's breakneck development.
The media joined Internet users in calling for a re-evaluation of China's modernisation process, which has seen rapid urbanisation and dramatic economic development at the expense of the .....
Climate: Monthly heat records have increased fivefold
Paris (AFP) Jan 14, 2013
Global warming has caused monthly records for heat to increase fivefold in frequency, according to a study by scientists in Germany and Spain, published on Monday.
In parts of Europe, Africa and southern Asia, the frequency of months with record-breaking heat has surged tenfold, it said.
The evidence comes from an analysis of 131 years of monthly temperature data, monitored at 12,000...
Global warming has caused monthly records for heat to increase fivefold in frequency, according to a study by scientists in Germany and Spain, published on Monday.
In parts of Europe, Africa and southern Asia, the frequency of months with record-breaking heat has surged tenfold, it said.
The evidence comes from an analysis of 131 years of monthly temperature data, monitored at 12,000...
Recibirá presidente uruguayo a Peña el 28 de enero
En esta ocasión se llevará a cabo una reunión de ministros de ambos gobiernos, informa la Secretaría de Comunicaciones del país sudamericano
Swedish school puts Minecraft on the curriculum
Those are some lucky students
Whereas most schoolchildren have to sneak in a gaming fix at school on the sly, one Swedish hall of education has made playing Minecraft compulsory.…
Whereas most schoolchildren have to sneak in a gaming fix at school on the sly, one Swedish hall of education has made playing Minecraft compulsory.…
'Historic' breast cancer drug move
Women in England and Wales with a strong family history of breast cancer could be offered preventative medication on the NHS for the first time.
Patent surge reveals graphene race
A surge in research into the novel material graphene reveals an intensifying global contest to lead a potential industrial revolution.
China's Android users warned of giant botnet
One million infected by MKD Trojan, and counting
Security researchers in China are warning Android users to be on their guard after claiming to have discovered a million-strong botnet lurking on the platform.…
Security researchers in China are warning Android users to be on their guard after claiming to have discovered a million-strong botnet lurking on the platform.…
Guatemalan politician shot dead
Unknown gunmen kill the mayor of Jutiapa in Guatemala as President Otto Perez Molina hails "a historic decline in violence".
Hamid Karzai Says U.S. Will Give Spy Drones to Afghanistan
In his first public comments since returning from Washington, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan also said the handover of detainees held by American forces would be sped up.
Northern Irish youths pelt Catholic church in latest "flag riots"
BELFAST (Reuters) - Protestant youths in Northern Ireland threw petrol bombs at homes and a church in a Catholic area on Monday night as the latest outbreak of violence in Belfast took on increasing sectarian overtones.
Quinoa brings riches to the Andes
Bolivian and Peruvian farmers sell entire crop to meet rising western demand, sparking fears of malnutrition
A burst of colour on a monochromatic panorama, a field of flowering quinoa plants in the Bolivian desert is a thing of beauty. A plant ready for harvest can stand higher than a human, covered with knotty blossoms, from violet to crimson and ochre-orange to yellow.
Quinua real, or royal quinoa, flourishes in the most hostile conditions, surviving nightly frosts and daytime temperatures upwards of 40C (104F). It is a high-altitude plant, growing at 3,600 metres above sea level and higher, where oxygen is thin, water is scarce and the soil is so saline that virtually nothing else grows.
The tiny seeds of the quinoa plant are the stuff of nutritionists' dreams, sending demand soaring in the developed world. Gram-for-gram, quinoa is one of the planet's most nutritious foodstuffs. Once a sacred crop for some pre-hispanic Andean cultures, it has become a five-star health food for the middle classes in Europe, the US and increasingly China and Japan.
That global demand means less quinoa is being eaten in Bolivia and Peru, the countries of origin, as the price has tripled. There are concerns this could cause malnutrition as producers, who have long relied on the superfood to supplement their meagre diets, would rather sell their entire crop than eat it. The rocketing international price is also creating land disputes.
"Royal quinoa has given hope to people living in Bolivia's most destitute and forgotten region," says Paola Mejia, general manager of Bolivia's Chamber of Quinoa Real and Organic Products Exporters.
Royal quinoa, which only grows in this arid region of southern Bolivia, is to the grain what beluga is to caviar; packed with even more protein, vitamins and minerals than the common variety.
Averaging $3,115 (£1,930) per tonne in 2011, quinoa has tripled in price since 2006. Coloured varieties fetch even more. Red royal quinoa sells at about $4,500 a tonne and the black variety can reach $8,000 per tonne. The crop has become a lifeline for the people of Bolivia's Oruro and Potosi regions, among the poorest in what is one of South America's poorest nations.
It is quinoa's moment on the world stage. This year is the UN's International Year of Quinoa as the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation recognises the crop's resilience, adaptability and its "potential contribution in the fight against hunger and malnutrition".
Evo Morales, the Bolivian leader whose government suggested the special recognition for the grain, said: "For years [quinoa] was looked down on just like the indigenous movement To remember that past is to remember discrimination against quinoa and now after so many years it is reclaiming its rightful recognition as the most important food for life."
However, there are concerns the 5,000 year-old ancestral crop is being eaten less by its traditional consumers: quinoa farmers. "They have westernised their diets because they have more profits and more income," says Mejia, an agronomist. "Ten years ago they had only an Andean diet in front of them. They had no choice. But now they do and they want rice, noodles, candies, coke, they want everything!"
Daysi Munoz, who runs a La Paz-based quinoa farming collective, agrees. "As the price has risen quinoa is consumed less and less in Bolivia. It's worth more to them [the producers] to sell it or trade it for pasta and rice. As a result, they're not eating it any more."
Bitter battles are being fought over prime quinoa-growing land. Last February dozens of people were hurt when farmers fought with slings and sticks of dynamite over what was once abandoned land.
Many people who migrated to cities in search of a better life are now returning to their arid homeland to grow royal quinoa, says Mejia. Most land is communally owned, she adds, so "the government needs to set out the boundaries or there will be more conflicts".
In the village of Lacaya, near Lake Titicaca, the farmers have recently sown quinoa. It grows faster in the wetter conditions but the variety quinua dulce is less sought after than royal quinoa.
Under the perpendicular rays of the intense altiplano sun, Petrona Uriche's face is heavily shadowed by her felt bowler hat. She says in the three years her village has been farming quinoa it has become the biggest earner. "We produce quinoa just for export, it's more profitable," she said. An 11.5kg arroba sack of quinoa can fetch eight times more than it did a few years ago, around $2 a kg, she adds.
But the Bolivian government – which like its neighbour Peru is heavily promoting quinoa nationally to combat malnutrition – insists Bolivians are eating more of the grain. Annual consumption per person has increased fourfold from 0.35kg to 1.11 kg in as many years "in spite of the high international prices", Victor Hugo Vásquez, Bolivia's vice-minister for rural development and agriculture, said.
Previous government figures, however, indicated domestic consumption had dropped by a third in five years.
Judging by the supermarket shelves in Bolivia's de facto capital, La Paz, where quinoa-based products from pizza crusts and hamburgers to canapes and breakfast cereals are displayed, Bolivia's growing middle class appear to be the principal consumers.
Meanwhile in the Peruvian capital, Lima, shoppers at food markets complain quinoa is becoming a luxury product. Selling at around 10 Peruvian soles per kg (£2.44) it costs more than chicken (7.8 soles per kg) and four times as much as rice. Official figures show domestic consumption has dropped.
"Unfortunately in poorer areas they don't have access to products such as quinoa and it's becoming more and more expensive," Peru's vice-minister for agriculture, Juan Rheineck, said at a breakfast for under-fives at the Casa de los Petisos children's home in Lima. The children are fed boiled eggs and quinoa and apple punch, part of a government programme to promote nutritious breakfasts. "That's what we have to avoid, we have to produce better and more," he said.
Peru's government cut chronic malnutrition in under-fives nationally to 16.5% in 2011 but it is still widely prevalent in poorer Andean regions. According to the World Bank, 27.2% of under-fives in Bolivia suffered chronic malnutrition in 2008.
Peru's telegenic first lady, Nadine Heredia, is championing a colourful campaign to promote the Andean diet, of which quinoa is a key element, to combat infant malnutrition. In 2012 Peru banked nearly $35m from quinoa exports, tripling what it earned three years ago. In Bolivia exports tripled to around 23,000 tonnes, contributing some $85m to the country's economy,Vásquez said.
But experts say both countries need to boost production to meet the rising external demand and provide the grain at lower prices for internal consumption. Bolivia, which produces nearly half the global supply, says it has given more than $5m in credits to 70,000 quinoa producers and wants to industrialise production to bring added value rather than just exporting the raw material.
Hydrocarbons and minerals are Bolivia's two key exports, but Mejia believes if the country aggressively promoted quinoa agriculture "in 10 years it could easily surpass the income from gas and minerals".
What is quinoa?
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa willd) is actually a "pseudo-grain", not belonging to the true grass family but a member of the goosefoot plant family, which includes spinach and sugarbeet.Its exceptional nutritional qualities led Nasa to include it as part of its astronauts' diet on long space missions. A 1993 Nasa technical paper says: "While no single food can supply all the essential life sustaining nutrients, quinoa comes as close as any other in the plant or animal kingdom."
Quinoa is the only plant food that contains all 10 essential amino acids for the human diet. Its protein content (between 14%-18%) surpasses that of wheat, rice, maize and oats, and can be a substitute to animal protein. Its calorific value is greater than that of eggs and milk and comparable only to that of meat.
It is a source of vitamin E, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and contains more minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus than other grains.
Studies at Kings College London have shown quinoa helps coeliacs (people intolerant to gluten) to regenerate gluten tolerance.. Recent research found it contains phytoestrogens, which are said to prevent or reduce osteoporosis, arteriosclerosis, breast cancer and other conditions that can be caused by lack of oestrogen after the menopause.
Lance Armstrong 'admits to doping' in Oprah Winfrey interview
Lance Armstrong, the seven-time winner of the Tour de France, has reportedly admitted to Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his professional cycling career.
Record US troop suicides exceed combat deaths
The number of US troops committing suicide set a record in 2012, exceeding the number of combat deaths.
Saturn moon may have ice floating in lakes
Chunks of hydrocarbon ice may float atop the lakes and seas of Saturn's huge moon Titan, a new study reveals.
German court tries couple in spy thriller
A spectacular trial at the Upper Regional Court in Stuttgart is about to begin. A suburban couple stands accused of spying on NATO and the EU for decades on Russia's behalf. Neighbors noticed something suspicious.
Deutsche Autobauer setzen auf US-Markt
Der europäische Absatzmarkt für Fahrzeuge schwächelt – deswegen sollen die Amerikaner ran. Die Deutschen verzeichneten hier Rekordumsätze in 2012 und präsentieren sich optimistisch auf der Automesse in Detroit.
Documents Illuminate Jewish Life in Ancient Muslim Empire
Manuscripts from a Persian part of the empire in the 11th century, unveiled at the National Library of Israel, shed new details about the life of a little understood Jewish society.
Enrique Galván Ochoa: Dinero
¿No que el Pacto por México casi, casi era con Dios? Se suponía que estaba blindado hasta contra misiles. Un millón de amparos contra el reformón laboral y otro millón que se prepara contra la reforma educativa muestra sus debilidades. Si un millón de trabajadores presentaron varias toneladas de papel ante los tribunales reclamando que los cambios incorporados a la Ley Federal de Trabajo violan uno o varios artículos de la Constitución, quiere decir que uno de cada 12 trabajadores del país –los que tienen un empleo formal– rechazan la legislación de la que son correponsables Felipe Calderón y Enrique Peña Nieto. Atascaron los juzgados, necesitarán personal y tiempo extra para desahogarlos. Los acuerdos en lo oscurito con el sector empresarial tal vez no van a poder ser cumplidos enteramente. Dos de las violaciones que señalan los amparos se refieren al pago por hora y el outsourcing. El millón –o más– que cocinan los abogados de la miss Elba Esther contra la reforma educativa son parte de la resistencia pacífica que anunció y hasta ahora había sido muy pacífica. Ya comenzó a hacer ruido.
UBS rehires seasoned dealmaker
Piero Novelli is to lead UBS’s investment bank, indicating a move towards a client centred approach and away from high risk, capital intensive businesses
Netanyahu vows to build on disputed land
Israel’s prime minister has said he will push ahead with building a Jewish settlement of 3,000 units on land east of Jerusalem
Iberdrola rethink on Scottish Power sale
Spanish group scraps a plan to auction off part of the division as it makes better than expected progress in a planned €2bn asset disposal programme
Beware the Google convenience store
PhD students are foregoing primary sources in favour of electronic journal articles and as a result are limiting their analytical abilities, writes Roly Keating
Infosys FY Q3 Top Estimates; Outsourcing Not Dead
Shares of the IT outsourcing giant Infosys are trading sharply higher this morning after the company posted better than expected results for its fiscal third quarter ended December 31.
Forbes 400 Billionaires Who've Signed the Giving Pledge
Sixty-four members of the Forbes 400 are giving away half their wealth--or more.
Firefox getting built-in HTML5-based PDF viewer to improve security
A built-in PDF viewer component based on JavaScript and HTML5 Web technologies has been added to the beta version of Firefox 19, Mozilla said Friday. The browser maker described the built-in PDF viewer as more secure and safer than proprietary PDF viewing plug-ins, like those installed by Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader. However, several security experts noted that it probably won't be free of vulnerabilities.
Vibrator guru on pleasure tech: 'Of all the places you'd want a quality UI....'
Former bomb suit maker on how he saw an opening and... filled the need
CES 2013 CES is the world's premier gadget-fest, so it's perhaps unsurprising that this year it would devote a keynote at its Digital Health Summit conference track dedicated to a device owned by over 50 per cent of Americans: the vibrator.…
CES 2013 CES is the world's premier gadget-fest, so it's perhaps unsurprising that this year it would devote a keynote at its Digital Health Summit conference track dedicated to a device owned by over 50 per cent of Americans: the vibrator.…
What Merck Told Doctors About Tredaptive Before It Stopped Selling It
This morning, Merck announced that it would suspend sales of Tredaptive, the heart drug that combines the B vitamin niacin with a new medicine, laropiprant, that prevents niacin's main side effect, hot, unpleasant, facial flushing. This comes just weeks after a big trial of Tredaptive not only found that the drug did not prevent heart attacks, strokes, and heart procedures as was expected bu that it also caused many serious side effects. The European Medicines Agency also issued a review saying that Tredaptive's benefits do not outweigh its risks.
Cisco sued by East Carolina University
Apparently tomorrow starts in Greenville, not San Jose
East Carolina University (ECU), which is based in the rural town of Greenville on the hatchet face of North Carolina, is probably the last organization you would expect to pick a legal fight with networking giant and server wannabe Cisco Systems. But late last week ECU, whose football team is pretty good and goes by the name the Pirates, accused Cisco of stealing the school's marketing slogan for a new marketing campaign.…
East Carolina University (ECU), which is based in the rural town of Greenville on the hatchet face of North Carolina, is probably the last organization you would expect to pick a legal fight with networking giant and server wannabe Cisco Systems. But late last week ECU, whose football team is pretty good and goes by the name the Pirates, accused Cisco of stealing the school's marketing slogan for a new marketing campaign.…
Hey, open sourcers: Who's your code's daddy?
VMware's dealings with Vert.x founder should serve as a warning
Open... and shut So-called "pre-invention assignment agreements" are a rite of passage when joining a company. For an open-source developer, they may also be giving away the keys to an open-source project, as VMware's recent legal action against the founder of the Vert.x project shows.…
Open... and shut So-called "pre-invention assignment agreements" are a rite of passage when joining a company. For an open-source developer, they may also be giving away the keys to an open-source project, as VMware's recent legal action against the founder of the Vert.x project shows.…
String Theory Helps to Explain Quantum Phases of Matter (preview)
Several years ago I found myself where I would never have expected: at a conference of string theorists. My own field is condensed matter: the study of materials such as metals and superconductors, which we cool in the laboratory to temperatures near absolute zero. That is about as far as you can possibly get from string theory without leaving physics altogether. String theorists seek to describe the universe at energies far in excess of anything experienced in a lab or indeed anywhere else in the known universe. They explore the exotic physics governing black holes and putative extra spacetime dimensions. For them, gravity is the dominant force in nature. For me, it is an irrelevance.
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'Velcro' blood cells target cancer
Researchers have used misshapen red blood cells to plug-up blood vessels and carry toxins to tumour cells in mice.
Lung infection breath test discovery
Scientists identify the chemical "fingerprint" in lungs that could lead to a quick breath test to diagnose infections like tuberculosis, a study suggests.
Asteroid 'will not hit in 2036'
A 300 metre-wide asteroid, known as Apophis after the Egyptian demon of destruction and darkness, will not hit Earth in 2036, revised calculations reveal.
January 11, 1771: The Birthday of Lake Alleghe
The lake of Alleghe in the valley of Cord?vole is today exactly 242 years old. The moment of the birth of the lake is well known, at 7:02 in the morning of January 11, 1771 the river flowing through the valley became dammed by a landslide coming from the mountain Piz.
Fig.1. General view of the valley of Cord?vole with the village and lake of Alleghe, on the left of the mountain Piz the scar of the landslide is barely visible in the forest, in the background the Civetta (3.220m).
[More]
Australian wildfires spare observatory, uncover bush drug lab
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Raging wildfires destroyed at least another 28 homes and licked at Australia's leading optical space observatory on Monday, officials said, but spared giant telescopes that have mapped far-away galaxies and discovered new planets.
Faulty Behavior
Pasadena CA (SPX) Jan 14, 2013
In an earthquake, ground motion is the result of waves emitted when the two sides of a fault move-or slip-rapidly past each other, with an average relative speed of about three feet per second. Not all fault segments move so quickly, however-some slip slowly, through a process called creep, and are considered to be "stable," e.g. not capable of hosting rapid earthquake-producing slip.
In an earthquake, ground motion is the result of waves emitted when the two sides of a fault move-or slip-rapidly past each other, with an average relative speed of about three feet per second. Not all fault segments move so quickly, however-some slip slowly, through a process called creep, and are considered to be "stable," e.g. not capable of hosting rapid earthquake-producing slip.
Living cells behave like fluid-filled sponges
London UK (SPX) Jan 14, 2013
Animal cells behave like fluid-filled sponges in response to being mechanically deformed according to new research published in Nature Materials. Scientists from the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) at UCL have shown that animal cells behave according to the theory of 'poroelasticity' when mechanically stimulated in a way similar to that experienced in organs within the body.
Animal cells behave like fluid-filled sponges in response to being mechanically deformed according to new research published in Nature Materials. Scientists from the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) at UCL have shown that animal cells behave according to the theory of 'poroelasticity' when mechanically stimulated in a way similar to that experienced in organs within the body.
Stem cells found to heal damaged artery in lab study
Houston TX (SPX) Jan 14, 2013
Scientists at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute have for the first time demonstrated that baboon embryonic stem cells can be programmed to completely restore a severely damaged artery. These early results show promise for eventually developing stem cell therapies to restore human tissues or organs damaged by age or disease.
"We first cultured the stem cells in petri dishes under.....
Scientists at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute have for the first time demonstrated that baboon embryonic stem cells can be programmed to completely restore a severely damaged artery. These early results show promise for eventually developing stem cell therapies to restore human tissues or organs damaged by age or disease.
"We first cultured the stem cells in petri dishes under.....
Journalists warn of interference after army protest
Bangkok (AFP) Jan 13, 2013
Thai journalists have called on the country's powerful military not to pressure the media after uniformed soldiers protested outside a television station over comments critical of the army chief.
The Thai Journalists Association, which comprises representatives from the kingdom's newspapers, raised concerns on Saturday after around 30 troops held a two-day protest calling for an apology.
Thai journalists have called on the country's powerful military not to pressure the media after uniformed soldiers protested outside a television station over comments critical of the army chief.
The Thai Journalists Association, which comprises representatives from the kingdom's newspapers, raised concerns on Saturday after around 30 troops held a two-day protest calling for an apology.
Emissions limits could cut climate damage by two-thirds: study
LONDON (Reuters) - The world could avoid much of the damaging effects of climate change this century if greenhouse gas emissions are curbed more sharply, research showed on Sunday.
Faulty Behavior
Pasadena CA (SPX) Jan 14, 2013
In an earthquake, ground motion is the result of waves emitted when the two sides of a fault move-or slip-rapidly past each other, with an average relative speed of about three feet per second. Not all fault segments move so quickly, however-some slip slowly, through a process called creep, and are considered to be "stable," e.g. not capable of hosting rapid earthquake-producing slip.
In an earthquake, ground motion is the result of waves emitted when the two sides of a fault move-or slip-rapidly past each other, with an average relative speed of about three feet per second. Not all fault segments move so quickly, however-some slip slowly, through a process called creep, and are considered to be "stable," e.g. not capable of hosting rapid earthquake-producing slip.
Berlusconi lawyers seek sex trial delay
Billionaire’s lawyers want to stall testimony of Moroccan dancer to prevent a renewed focus on Berlusconi’s sex life ahead of elections
Gunmen shoot at Greek prime minister's office
Two unknown individuals have fired shots at the Greek prime minister's office in Athens. Police said nobody was hurt in the incident.
Second French commando dies: Somali rebels
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - A second French soldier has died from gunshot wounds after an attempt to rescue a French agent failed at the weekend, Somalia's al Shabaab rebel group said on Monday.
Karzai says Afghanistan to be safer once foreign troops leave
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai told a press briefing on Monday that his country will be "more secure" once most foreign troops leave by the end of 2014.
Biz barons jumpy over EU draft data protection reforms
Might they be wanting their pre-ticked boxes back?
An MEP's suggested reforms to EU data protection laws, which are to be put to a vote before the European Parliament, would damage the interests of businesses, an alliance of business groups has said.…
An MEP's suggested reforms to EU data protection laws, which are to be put to a vote before the European Parliament, would damage the interests of businesses, an alliance of business groups has said.…
Sunday, 13 January 2013
The Mind s Compartments Create Conflicting Beliefs
If you have pondered how intelligent and educated people can, in the face of overwhelming contradictory evidence, believe that evolution is a myth, that global warming is a hoax, that vaccines cause autism and asthma, that 9/11 was orchestrated by the Bush administration, conjecture no more. The explanation is in what I call logic-tight compartments--modules in the brain analogous to watertight compartments in a ship.
The concept of compartmentalized brain functions acting either in concert or in conflict has been a core idea of evolutionary psychology since the early 1990s. According to University of Pennsylvania evolutionary psychologist Robert Kurzban in Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite (Princeton University Press, 2010), the brain evolved as a modular, multitasking problem-solving organ--a Swiss Army knife of practical tools in the old metaphor or an app-loaded iPhone in Kurzban's upgrade. There is no unified “self” that generates internally consistent and seamlessly coherent beliefs devoid of conflict. Instead we are a collection of distinct but interacting modules often at odds with one another. The module that leads us to crave sweet and fatty foods in the short term is in conflict with the module that monitors our body image and health in the long term. The module for cooperation is in conflict with the one for competition, as are the modules for altruism and avarice or the modules for truth telling and lying.
The concept of compartmentalized brain functions acting either in concert or in conflict has been a core idea of evolutionary psychology since the early 1990s. According to University of Pennsylvania evolutionary psychologist Robert Kurzban in Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite (Princeton University Press, 2010), the brain evolved as a modular, multitasking problem-solving organ--a Swiss Army knife of practical tools in the old metaphor or an app-loaded iPhone in Kurzban's upgrade. There is no unified “self” that generates internally consistent and seamlessly coherent beliefs devoid of conflict. Instead we are a collection of distinct but interacting modules often at odds with one another. The module that leads us to crave sweet and fatty foods in the short term is in conflict with the module that monitors our body image and health in the long term. The module for cooperation is in conflict with the one for competition, as are the modules for altruism and avarice or the modules for truth telling and lying.
Samples taken from Antarctica's Lake Vostok
Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: Russian researchers say they have brought up fresh samples of clear ice from Antarctica's Lake Vostok, a huge reservoir of freshwater more than 2 miles beneath the surface.
Israeli women soldiers have "right stuff" for border watch
ISRAELI-EGYPTIAN BORDER (Reuters) - Breaking cover from a lookout point disguised as a dune, four soldiers storm into the open, ploughing through the sand with rifles aloft. Their battle cries are like seagull calls, and from under their helmets, ponytails flap.
Bosnian Serb ex-policeman jailed for 20 years over Srebrenica
SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnia's war crimes court jailed a former Serb police officer for 20 years on Friday for his role in the 1995 mass killing of Muslims in Srebrenica, the worst atrocity on European soil since World War Two.
U.S. stock mutual funds gain $7.5 billion, most since 2001: Lipper
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors in U.S.-based funds poured $7.53 billion into stock mutual funds, the most since 2001, after U.S. lawmakers reached a deal to avert tax increases and spending cuts, data from Thomson Reuters' Lipper service showed on Thursday.
Spain seizes valves bound for Iran's nuclear program: ministry
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish police arrested two men and seized the contents of a truck bound for Iran loaded with materials destined for use in the Islamic state's nuclear program, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.
France bombs Mali rebels, African states ready troops
BAMAKO/PARIS (Reuters) - French aircraft pounded Islamist rebels in Mali for a second day on Saturday and neighboring West African states sped up their plans to deploy troops in an international campaign to prevent groups linked to al Qaeda expanding their power base.
AIG sues NY Fed over right to sue Bank of America, others
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc has filed a lawsuit against a vehicle created by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to help bail out the insurer, in a bid to preserve its right to sue Bank of America Corp and other issuers of mortgage debt that went sour.
BofA director settlement over Merrill triples to $62.5 million - source
(Reuters) - Bank of America Corp directors have reached a $62.5 million settlement to resolve investor claims over the bank's acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co, a person familiar with the matter said, after a federal judge expressed reservations about an earlier version of the accord.
FBI takes probe into Universal payments to Manila: sources
MANILA (Reuters) - The FBI has sent agents to Manila in a widening of its investigation into millions of dollars of payments made by Japan's Universal Entertainment Corp to a politically connected consultant in relation to its casino project in the Philippines, sources with knowledge of the matter said.
Turkey wants France to explain contacts with Kurd leader
ISTANBUL/PARIS (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan demanded on Saturday that French President Francois Hollande explain why he had met one of three Kurdish militants shot dead in Paris this week.
New York governor declares public health emergency to combat flu
(Reuters) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a public health emergency on Saturday, giving pharmacists permission to administer flu vaccinations to more people as officials seek to stem the worst flu outbreak in that state in several years.
Italian consul in Benghazi shot at in car but unhurt
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - An Italian consul came under fire in his car in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Saturday but was unhurt, Italy said, four months after the U.S. ambassador was killed in an attack on the U.S. mission in the city.
Netanyahu denies wasting money on Iran attack plans
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed allegations by predecessor Ehud Olmert that he wasted billions of dollars preparing for a strike on Iran that did not take place.
Serbia urges autonomy for Serbs in Kosovo
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbian lawmakers urged autonomy for ethnic Serbs in Kosovo on Sunday, after Prime Minister Ivica Dacic conceded Serbia's sovereignty over its former province was all but lost.
Red-dust sunset as west Australia braces for cyclone
Sydney (AFP) Jan 11, 2013
Western Australians were bracing Friday for a cyclone with residents warned to batten down for storms and destructive winds gusting up to 140 kilometres per hour (90 mph).
Cyclone Narelle was estimated to be 525 kilometres (325 miles) north of Exmouth and 505 kilometres north-west of Karratha near the Pilbara mining region and moving southwest at 13 kilometres per hour.
Western Australians were bracing Friday for a cyclone with residents warned to batten down for storms and destructive winds gusting up to 140 kilometres per hour (90 mph).
Cyclone Narelle was estimated to be 525 kilometres (325 miles) north of Exmouth and 505 kilometres north-west of Karratha near the Pilbara mining region and moving southwest at 13 kilometres per hour.
Six million turn out for global garbage clean-up
Tallinn (AFP) Jan 11, 2013
More than six million volunteers from 96 countries collected an unprecedented 100,000 tonnes of garbage last year as part of a global, web-driven clean-up campaign, cyber-environmentalists said Friday.
"Last year the most astonishing numbers of volunteers attended clean-ups in Sweden, Bulgaria and in Slovenia," Tiina Urm, spokeswoman for World Cleanup 2012 told AFP.
More than six million volunteers from 96 countries collected an unprecedented 100,000 tonnes of garbage last year as part of a global, web-driven clean-up campaign, cyber-environmentalists said Friday.
"Last year the most astonishing numbers of volunteers attended clean-ups in Sweden, Bulgaria and in Slovenia," Tiina Urm, spokeswoman for World Cleanup 2012 told AFP.
80 dead as temperature hits record low in Bangladesh
Dhaka (AFP) Jan 10, 2013
A cold snap which saw temperatures drop on Thursday to their lowest point in Bangladesh's post-independence history has killed around 80 people, officials said.
The weather office said the lowest temperature was recorded at three degrees Celsius (37.4 Fahrenheit) in the northern town of Syedpur and the Red Crescent said hospitals were packed with patients suffering respiratory illness.
A cold snap which saw temperatures drop on Thursday to their lowest point in Bangladesh's post-independence history has killed around 80 people, officials said.
The weather office said the lowest temperature was recorded at three degrees Celsius (37.4 Fahrenheit) in the northern town of Syedpur and the Red Crescent said hospitals were packed with patients suffering respiratory illness.
Heat-resistant corals provide clues to climate change survival
Stanford CA (SPX) Jan 11, 2013
In a future shaped by climate change, only the strong - or heat-resistant - will survive. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences opens a window into a genetic process that allows some corals to withstand unusually high temperatures and may hold a key to species survival for organisms around the world.
"If we can find populations most likely to resist clima...
In a future shaped by climate change, only the strong - or heat-resistant - will survive. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences opens a window into a genetic process that allows some corals to withstand unusually high temperatures and may hold a key to species survival for organisms around the world.
"If we can find populations most likely to resist clima...
Study suggests magma forms deeper than previously thought
A group led by Rajdeep Dasgupta, geologist and assistant professor of Earth science at Rice University, put samples of peridotite, a dense igneous rock, under pressure in a Rice University laboratory and found that rock can and will liquefy, as deep as 250 kilometers in the mantle beneath the ocean floor. These recent findings provide new evidence that magma can form at a depth much deeper than scientists once thought.
Invasive Aquarium Fish
Home tropical fish aquariums are home to a number of pretty fish and seaweeds. Perfectly harmless right? Not in the wrong environment. It is surprising how hardy some of them can be if let loose in the wild. In a report released today to the California Ocean Protection Council, lead author Susan Williams, an evolution and ecology professor with the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, found that more than 11 million non-native ornamental marine individuals — such as tropical fish, seaweed and snails bound for aquariums — representing at least 102 species are being imported annually through California’s ports of San Francisco and Los Angeles, primarily from Indonesia and the Philippines. And 13 of those species have been introduced to California marine waters — presumably after being released from aquariums.
Why is SO Much Food Wasted?
A new report titled "Global food, waste not, want not" published by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers has found that 30 to 50 percent of all food produced in the world never reaches a stomach.
The authors of the study warn that these figures are quite conservative. The large amounts of land, energy, fertilizers and water that are wasted in the food production have not been accounted for.
The authors of the study warn that these figures are quite conservative. The large amounts of land, energy, fertilizers and water that are wasted in the food production have not been accounted for.
Severe Weather in the Middle East - Another Result of a Changing Climate?
Severe weather is pummeling the Middle East. Latest reports puts the death toll at dozens. I'm fresh back from a trip to my family's two homesteads: the USA, where we toured New Jersey's hurricane-battered shoreline, and the UK, where new lakes of rainwater cover Cotswolds' fields and the British Meteorological Office declared the highest annual precipitation since they began keeping records. An exceptional spate of extreme weather events? Or is this climate change? (I'll duck under my keyboard so comment-hurling can commence).
Bad weather's no stranger to those places, but the Mid East dressed up in alpine weather? Surreal.
Early this week, the Greater Amman Municipality announced a moderate state of emergency in the capital to deal with predicted severe weather conditions. Yesterday, the Prime Minister issued a directive closing all government and public offices; most schools had already issued pre-emptive shut-downs.
Bad weather's no stranger to those places, but the Mid East dressed up in alpine weather? Surreal.
Early this week, the Greater Amman Municipality announced a moderate state of emergency in the capital to deal with predicted severe weather conditions. Yesterday, the Prime Minister issued a directive closing all government and public offices; most schools had already issued pre-emptive shut-downs.
El Salvador Prioritizes Geothermal Energy Development
During the last two decades, the global installed capacity for geothermal electricity has nearly doubled. Despite this recent expansion, geothermal energy is not getting the same level of attention as other renewable energy resources, and it remains heavily underutilized. If the world were able to tap just a small portion of the Earth's heat, we could provide everyone with clean and safe energy for centuries. Current estimates of our global potential for geothermal energy range from 35 gigawatts (GW) to 2,000 GW. However, simple technological improvements could greatly increase these projections.
Control room staff receiving bonuses for not sending ambulances to emergencies
Control room staff are receiving bonuses for not sending 999 ambulances to emergencies, it has emerged.
Twenty-nine police injured as water cannon and plastic bullets fired in Belfast as 1,000 protestors clash in escalating violence over flying of Union flag
Water cannons and non-lethal baton rounds were fired by officers as they came under a hail of bricks and fireworks when they separated the opposing factions.
Nova fuga de combustível num 'Boeing 787' no Japão
Um avião 'Boeing 787' da Japan Airlines teve hoje uma fuga de combustível, situação que ocorreu pela segunda vez numa semana, indicou a agência noticiosa japonesa Jiji Press.
Swiss move towards barring Eurozone refugees
Thousands of jobless young people from southern European countries ravaged by the eurozone crisis have come to work in Switzerland. But the Swiss are starting to think there too many: a referendum may reimpose immigration quotas.
Fish cannot feel pain say scientists
For years a row has raged over whether angling is a cruel sport, and now researchers have waded into the debate by claiming that fish cannot feel pain.
Red wine prevents cholesterol build up from meat
Drinking a glass of red wine while eating red meat can counteract the build up of cholesterol following a meal, scientists have found.
Petrol bombs thrown at home of Greek government spokesman's brother
ATHENS (Reuters) - Petrol bombs were thrown at the Athens home of the brother of Greece's government spokesman early on Sunday, causing minor damage but no injuries, police said.
France sends troops to Bamako
As Paris reinforces Mali’s capital rebels say the intervention puts French hostages held across the Sahel in peril
Hazardous smog blankets Beijing
People refuse to venture outdoors and buildings disappear into the murky skyline as Chinese capital is blanketed in a thick layer of hazardous smog
Hollande lauds Mali progress
France will step up anti-terrorist security measures on its own territory in light of its intervention into Mali. A helicopter pilot has become the first pronounced French military casualty of the day-old intervention.
Desde otras ciudades
La capital china, Pekín, se encuentra envuelta en una nube de contaminación de unas dimensiones hasta ahora desconocidas, que ha desatado la alarma social.
Alfredo Jalife-Rahme: Bajo la Lupa
Las coordenadas multipolares de la geoestrategia no han variado –incluso, se han acentuado conforme se agudiza la grave crisis del neoliberalismo–, pero la reciente nominación del ex senador Chuck Hagel, del Partido Republicano (en espera de su aprobación por el Congreso), ha impreso una dinámica vertiginosa a las relaciones internacionales cuyas dos piedras de toque están constituidas por el contencioso nuclear de Irán y las disputas territoriales en el Mar del Sur de China: las dos mayores fracturas de la geopolítica.
Chiítas paquistaníes rehúsan enterrar 97 cuerpos, en protesta por la inseguridad
Quetta, 12 de enero. Miles de chiítas se manifestaron hoy por segunda noche consecutiva en una vigilia junto a los cuerpos de 97 personas que fallecieron el jueves, en uno de los peores ataques sectarios en la historia del país. Los chiítas se niegan a enterrar a sus muertos en protesta por la falta de protección a sus comunidades.
Gordillo inicia plan contra las reformas
Primera acción de la estrategia de rechazo a reforma educativa; la demanda de juicio de amparo tiene que presentarse antes del martes, día en que se vence el plazo legal de 30 días hábiles —a partir de su publicación en el Diario Oficial de la Federación— para interponer el recurso ante la autoridad correspondiente
Matan a 13 en 18 horas en el DF
Ya sea por crimen organizado, asalto, conflictos vecinales o riñas, 13 personas fueron asesinadas en 18 horas en el DF, la mayoría por disparos.
Tras dos años... apenas buscan basurero
A 2 años que el GDF se comprometió a cerrar el Bordo Poniente, único deposito de basura capitalina, apenas busca un sitio para otro relleno sanitario.
Internet prodigy, 26, commits suicide
Aaron Swartz, who at age 14 co-wrote the RSS specification, soared to heights that many developers only dream of. But he also battled depression and legal problems.
Cold snap returns
Temperatures in inland northern areas plummeted to almost 30 degrees below freezing on Saturday night. In the far north is was just a few degrees below zero.In the Stockholm region temperatures fell to minus 12 and it will remain cold in the coming days - between minus 10 and minus 20, according to the meteorological office.There is also more snow on the way for central, eastern and western areas.
Polícia detém seis suspeitos de nova violação coletiva
A polícia indiana anunciou hoje a detenção de seis homens implicados num novo caso de violação coletiva, no norte da Índia, menos de um mês depois de um caso semelhante que revoltou o país.
Eric Pickles: Influx of migrants will 'cause problems' for the housing market
An "influx" of Romanian and Bulgarian migrants will pile pressure on the UK's housing market, a Cabinet minister has admitted.
Incêndios ameaçam observatório espacial australiano
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Israel evicts E1 Palestinian peace camp protesters
Israeli military arrests and evict protesters in early morning swoop against Bab al-Shams encampment despite supreme court ruling
The Israeli state has swung into action against a group of Palestinian activists who established a tent village on a rocky hillside east of Jerusalem, with hundreds of security officials carrying out an eviction under the orders of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in the early hours of Sunday morning.
According to activists, a large military force surrounded the encampment at around 3am. All protesters were arrested and six were injured, said Abir Kopty.
On Saturday evening, Netanyahu demanded the Israeli supreme court overturn an injunction preventing the removal of the protesters, and ordered the area to be declared a closed military zone.
Around 200 Palestinian activists set up the village, named Bab al-Shams ("gate of the sun") and comprising around 20 tents, early on Friday morning on a highly sensitive swath of land known as E1 which Israel has earmarked for settlement development. The protesters' actions echoed the tactics of radical settlers when establishing outposts in the West Bank.
The tents were erected on privately owned Palestinian land, the protesters said, with the full permission of the landowners. The activists sought legal protection from the supreme court, which granted an injunction against eviction and gave the state of Israel up to six days to respond.
Following the eviction, the Popular Struggle Co-ordinating Committee, which was involved in setting up the camp, said the state's actions were illegal because Bab al-Shams was established on private land. "The action succeeded in inspiring all the residents of the village as well as Palestinians around the world. This is not the end of the popular struggle."
The protest was launched six weeks after Netanyahu announced plans to press ahead with the development of E1, triggering strong international condemnation. The area, measuring around 12 sq km, lies between Jerusalem and the vast West Bank settlement of Ma'ale Adumim.
The Palestinian Authority and most western diplomats say the development of E1 will damage the prospects of a viable Palestinian state by almost bisecting the West Bank, effectively cutting it off from East Jerusalem, which is intended to be the future capital of a Palestinian state.
Speaking on Israel army radio on Sunday, Netanyahu said that planning for E1 is moving ahead and that "there will be construction".
On Saturday, scores of Palestinian activists visited the site, perched close to a Bedouin encampment and within sight of a huge Israeli police headquarters. Activists brewed sweet tea and coffee on open fires, and volunteers manned a medical centre in one tent. Rubbish was collected by a team organised by a member of the seven-strong "village council".
Mahmoud Zawahra, a protest leader, described the tent village as "constructive resistance".
"We are part of a non-violent resistance movement. For us, this is occupied land so we created a village to stop the Israeli plan to build a settlement here," he said.
Another activist, Samir, who declined to give his full name, said the protest had been organised secretly. "We know the army follows us on Twitter and Facebook, so we made out we were holding a protest somewhere else."
Activists were trained in non-violent resistance techniques, he added. "This is not a scout camp, it is to empower Palestinians on the ground. We know [the army] will come, and we are prepared."
Tha'ar Aniz, from nearby Azariya, said temperatures had plummeted overnight. "It was very cold. But if you want to be free, you have to withstand such things."
Israeli security forces prevented Palestinian officials Hanan Ashrawi and Saeb Erekat from visiting the site on Saturday. Earlier, Ashrawi welcomed the establishment of Bab al-Shams, saying: "This initiative is a highly creative and legitimate non-violent tool to protect our land from Israeli colonial plans.
"We have the right to live anywhere in our state, and we call upon the international community to support such initiatives, as well as to protect those who are being threatened by Israeli occupation forces for exercising their right to peaceful resistance against the illegal Israeli occupation."
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