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Canada’s national lab to work on H7N9 flu virus; sample likely arrives next week

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TORONTO - If all goes according to plan, a vial containing the worrisome new H7N9 virus should arrive at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, where scientists are eager to begin work on the new pathogen.

Scientific Director Dr. Frank Plummer said China readily agreed to share a sample with the Canadian lab after Winnipeg asked for live virus with which to work. In fact, the emailed request drew a positive reply in a matter of a couple of hours.

"I was extremely pleased when I saw the response from China. All they wanted was an official letter and they were getting ready to send it to us," Plummer said in an interview.

In contrast to its secretive behaviour during the 2003 SARS outbreak, China has been openly sharing information and virus samples since the start of the outbreak of the new H7N9 flu. As of Friday, China had reported 91 confirmed infections and 17 deaths from a virus first identified less than a month ago.

All of the World Health Organization's collaborating centres and essential regulatory laboratories for influenza have had copies of the virus for more than a week. And elsewhere, key influenza researchers are also getting samples of the virus to help in the international effort to decode the mysteries of this new flu strain.

Plummer said his lab's willingness to share the H1N1 virus with China in the early days of the 2009 pandemic probably contributed to China's prompt and favourable response to Canada's request.

The national lab director said the Winnipeg facility is also growing up a synthesized version of the virus, put together from genetic sequence data that China has shared through an international databank known as GISAID. While that's both great practice and a fallback in case the Chinese sample is delayed, Plummer said having the real thing is important.

"Genome sequence is great, it allows you to do certain things. But it only gets you so far. You need the whole virus," he said, adding Canada has also asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for a sample of H7N9.

Earlier this week a joint assessment issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency decreed that the H7N9 virus should be worked on in laboratories with a Level 3-enhanced biosafety and biosecurity designation. But Plummer said NML scientists are probably going to work with it in a laboratory with an even higher designation in some cases.

Level 4 laboratories are equipped to the highest degree of biosafety and biosecurity; between Levels 4 and 3 is Level 3-enhanced, which is sometimes called Level 3 Ag (short for agriculture). Plummer said Level 3-enhanced is basically Level 4, without the spacesuit type gear worn in Level 4.

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Canada's national lab to work on H7N9 flu virus; sample likely arrives next week

Minor Skirmishes In The Great Debate Over Genetic Engineering In Agriculture

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April 18, 2013

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Officials and scientists across the United States are debating the role of genetic engineering in agriculture. While some see genetically modified foods as a sign of technological progress and a way to maximize profits, others see it as a potential hazard with unknown effects for the public health.

In Oregon, state legislators recently heard testimony on several bills that would affect genetic engineering in the agricultural industry. These bills would require labels on all agriculture GMOs, as well as ban the importation genetically altered fish.

We have a right to know whats in our food, Scott Bates, of the advocacy group GMO Free Oregon, told the states Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. He added the technology has not proven to be free of risk for consumers.

Currently, Oregon does not have state restrictions on growing GMOs, generally leaving the US Department of Agriculture in charge of deciding whether genetic engineering in an agricultural product is safe for the farmers field and the store shelf.

Other states are taking notice of the genetic engineering farms are now embracing as a new way to improve crop yields. In Hawaii, some lawmakers and scientists are at odds over how to proceed with respect to agricultural genetic engineering, with some scientists campaigning against the techniques.

I compare GMOs in a way to steroids because steroids are the easy way to go. It makes it easier for people in sports to enjoy but theres side effects, University of Hawaii agriculture professor Hector Valenzuela told local news station KHNL.

In pushing for mandatory labels for GMOs, Valenzuela cited potential secondary impacts, including the contamination of non-GMO farms with modified seeds and increased pesticide spraying that many GMOs require.

So in terms of what adverse effects, you have to ask questions also of the potential side effects of consuming all of those pesticides, Valenzuela said. For a major importer like Hawaii, the debate over genetic engineering in agriculture poses a unique conundrum, since the islands limited space places a premium on maximizing yield.

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Minor Skirmishes In The Great Debate Over Genetic Engineering In Agriculture

Gustin wins George R. Brown teaching award

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Rice University alumni from the past decade have selected professor of biochemistry and cell biology Michael Gustin as this years recipient of the George R. Brown Prize for Excellence in Teaching.

According to Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson, alumni who graduated two, four and five years ago vote to nominate their professors. The awards are then given to the 10 professors with the most votes, one of whom receives the award for excellence in teaching. The remaining nine professors receive awards for superior teaching.

Gustin, a professor at Rice since 1988, said he feels honored to receive his award.

Teaching is being challenged by new ideas about how to teach students, particularly in the sciences, Gustin said. An important part of teaching a course is to try to build a community. Its an opportunity to learn together. Every time I teach, Im always learning.

Gustin said the increasing number of online courses can sometimes lack this sense of community.

Gustin said he began to ask himself last year about the purpose of a university and came to the answer that, in university courses, teachers can pass their interest in the material on to their students more effectively.

Im a pretty enthusiastic guy, Gustin said. I like what Im working on, both in teaching and research. I think that enthusiasm is infectious for students.

Gustin said his experience as a Wiess College master has been pivotal in his effort to learn all of his students names in his introductory biology course this year.

Hutchinson said all 10 recipients of Brown teaching awards will be honored at 3 p.m. Monday, April 22 at a reception in Keck Hall Room 100. Last years winner, John and Ann Doerr Professor of Computational and Applied Mathematics Mark Embree, will give a lecture about his experiences teaching in the Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics. All Rice students are invited to attend, Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson said the Committee on Teaching, which chooses the recipients from those nominated by alumni, takes class size and subject into consideration.

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Gustin wins George R. Brown teaching award

Skin Tone – The Anti-Aging Market Focuses on Brighter Skin as the Epitome of Youth

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A recently published Marie Claire magazine article highlights various foreign cosmetic markets and their approach to providing clear, even skin tone. Dr. Simon Ourian of Epione Beverly Hills says that the epitome of beauty is always changing and aesthetic practitioners must evolve to meet this challenge.

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) April 19, 2013

According to the article, smooth skin with no wrinkles or crow's feet is always highly valued, but skin without blemishes and that absorbs light may be even more highly regarded. When one is young and skin is at its pinnacle of health, melanocyte cells within the outer dermis supply pigment to the skins surface providing an even tone. With aging this production decreases, so that the remaining pigment clusters up instead of spreading smoothly. The global beauty industry is banking on reversing this trend.

In our medical practice at Epione, Id say that the focus is on wrinkle correction and skin tightening though we also use laser treatments to address skin tone issues, says Dr. Simon Ourian, Medical Director of Epione Beverly Hills. My over-the-counter Signature Series Restoration Firm & Lift Crme was specifically created to address skin tone and clarity.

The Marie Claire goes on to describe efforts around the world to meet the demand for flawless, bright skin:

In China, the trend is to use holistic medicine. A white rose known as rosa roxburhii grows in the Chinese mountains and is packed full of the anti-oxidants that reportedly combat skin aging by attacking blotchy complexions and evening coloration. The French are using sugar structures to boost the strength of skin cells that produce spots when they receive too much melanin. Vitamin C derivatives are said to help the skin reflect more light and appear to be glowing.

Israeli dermatologists have used a compound rich in melanozyme, an enzyme developed from tree fungal growths that keep facial skin from developing the dark spots that lead to discontinuity in tone. In Japan whitening cultures are used to actively keep dark spots from producing. Kojic acid, for example, eliminates free radicals that lead to melanin production.

The ideal of beauty is ever changing and may be different from place to place and country to country, concludes Dr. Ourian. Its my job as a cosmetic practitioner to meet the aesthetic goals of my patients.

Dr. Ourian has been a pioneer in laser technology and non-invasive aesthetic procedures including Restylane, Juvderm, Radiesse and Sculptra. These treatments are used for the correction or reversal of a variety of conditions such as acne, acne scars, skin discoloration, wrinkles, stretch marks, varicose veins, cellulite, and others. More information about the rising concern over skin tone can be found on Epiones website.

Grace Russell Epione Medical Corporation (888) 951-3377 Email Information

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Skin Tone – The Anti-Aging Market Focuses on Brighter Skin as the Epitome of Youth

Jim Stoppani's Six-Week Shortcut To Shred Workout – Nutrition Overview – Bodybuilding.com – Video

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The Hershey Company to Make Nutrition Information Simple

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HERSHEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Hershey Company (HSY) today announced plans to bring an enhanced food labeling system to its U.S. product portfolio. Hershey will provide front-of-pack nutrition information to make it simple and easy for consumers to make choices about the role of confection in their lifestyle.

Hershey will begin to roll out front-of-pack nutrition information in the second half of 2013 and will evolve its product packaging across its varied pack types over the next several years. Hershey also will be updating its website to provide consumer-friendly access to nutrition information.

Front-of-pack labeling is part of Hersheys commitment to well-being providing:

The Hershey Company along with members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and National Confectioners Association (NCA) are voluntarily implementing front-of-pack labeling to share nutrition information, like the Facts up Front program in the United States and a complementary system in Mexico.

In addition to front-of-pack labeling, Hershey specifically:

Hershey continues to work to help consumers find balance through products and programs that promote well-being. This commitment is rooted in the legacy of founder, Milton S. Hershey, who devoted his life to improving the happiness and welfare of others.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company (HSY) is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., The Hershey Company has operations throughout the world and approximately 14,000 employees. With revenues of more than $6.6 billion, Hershey offers confectionery products under more than 80 brand names, including such iconic brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Bliss, Hershey's Special Dark, Kit Kat, Twizzlers, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers. The company is focused on growing its presence in key international markets such as China, Mexico and Brazil while continuing to build its competitive advantage in the United States and Canada.

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The Hershey Company to Make Nutrition Information Simple

Nutrition Tips for Busy Lifestyles

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MISSION, KS--(Marketwired - Apr 18, 2013) - (Family Features) While it's important to maintain a regular health and wellness regimen, busy schedules and last minute commitments can sometimes send us off track. Many Americans may try to maintain a balanced diet but continue to fall short on valuable key nutrients necessary for a healthy body.

In fact, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, the overall quality of the American diet gets a failing grade. According to the Healthy Eating Index, adults (19+ years) score just 50 out of 100 on the quality of their diets.

While hectic lifestyles may play a role in this failing grade, registered dietitian and best-selling author, Dave Grotto has a few simple and effective tips to maintain proper nutrition even when time is tight.

Eat nutrient-filled meals. Set aside five minutes to pack a healthy lunch before you head to work each day. Prepare meals such as a salad with grilled chicken or a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread -- healthy options that provide a combination of protein and fiber to give you sustained energy throughout the day. "It's vital that we find ways to get the nutrients our bodies need and eating well-balanced meals can do just that," says Grotto.

Take your vitamins. In addition to proper food choices, quality dietary supplements can be helpful to fill nutrient gaps. As someone who believes that the vitamin experience can be enjoyable, Grotto has partnered with Nature Made in support of their VitaMelts line. "Nature Made VitaMelts come in great flavors like juicy orange and melt smoothly in your mouth without water which provides an enjoyable vitamin experience," says Grotto. "Plus they come in a handy, portable flip-top pack which can fit perfectly in your gym bag, or work bag, an added convenience factor on days you may not be eating as properly as you should."

Stay active and enjoy the sunshine. Even if it is minimal, find time to move each day while you're at work; take the stairs instead of the elevator or go for a ten minute walk around the block. An added benefit of being outdoors, even for a short amount of time, is the exposure to sunlight, which helps skin produce vitamin D3. Unfortunately, many food sources do not provide nearly enough vitamin D to meet dietary recommendations. Grotto recommends a vitamin supplement such as Nature Made VitaMelts Vitamin D3 in a creamy vanilla flavor.

Don't forget to take time for yourself. Rest and relaxation can help to rejuvenate your mind, and is an important part of an overall healthy lifestyle. Not only does Grotto recommend getting six to eight hours of sleep a night, he also suggests keeping to the same bedtime each night. Maintaining such a simple routine can really do the body good.

To learn more about Nature Made VitaMelts visit http://www.naturemade.com and for more nutrition tips from Grotto visit http://www.davegrotto.com.

About Family Features Editorial SyndicateThis and other food and lifestyle content can be found at http://www.editors.familyfeatures.com. Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for use in print and online publications. Register with no obligation to access a variety of formatted and unformatted features, accompanying photos, and automatically updating Web content solutions.

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Muratec Leverages Innovolt To Improve Longevity Of Equipment And Decrease Service Calls

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ATLANTA, April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Innovolt Inc., the leading provider of intelligent electronics management technology, announces today a partnership with Muratec America, Inc., a manufacturer of multifunction digital office equipment and business productivity solutions. Starting today, Innovolt's patented power protection and management technology will be offered with Muratec's suite of equipment as well as be featured in Muratec's dealer product catalog.

Muratec supplies desktop and workgroup MFP solutions to more than 550 office equipment dealerships throughout North America. Implementing Innovolt's technology platform offers valuable electronic equipment protection against both external and internal power disturbances. Through this partnership Muratec customers will benefit from optimal power protection to help prevent costly service issues before they negatively impact business.

"Innovolt's foundation is within the office equipment industry, and since 2009 we have provided patented and proven electronics management technology for hundreds of millions of dollars of installed systems. We are excited about our partnership with Muratec and are pleased to be able to announce this relationship today, which also allows us to further impact this growing industry," states Jeff Spence, COO and president of Innovolt. "Muratec has seen firsthand the value of Innovolt's technology based on its experience working with others in the industry; they understand the problem with power and the need for optimal protection from the damaging effects of internal and external power."

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the cost of service interruptions in the United States is estimated to reach $71 billion by 2020.Companies that implement Innovolt's solution are able to decrease these service related costs tied to labor, parts and overhead as well as maximize equipment reliability and performance rates.

"We are constantly looking for ways to improve our customer and end-user experience, and working with Innovolt assures just that," says Jim D' Emidio, president of Muratec. "By leveraging Innovolt's technology, our end-users will experience increased performance, reliability and longevity for their equipment as well as fewer service calls related to power issues."

About Innovolt Innovolt combines patented electronics protection technology with comprehensive monitoring and analytics applications to deliver the leading Intelligent Asset Management platform. Significantly reducing the cost of electronics ownership, Innovolt intelligently protects and manages the productivity and usable life of the technology that powers today's digital world. The company's proven solutions guard expensive and sensitive electronic assets against the damaging effects of power disturbances while simultaneously giving businesses the tools they need to predict, measure, and maximize their performance across the distributed enterprise. Innovolt has also been acknowledged as a fastest growing technology company by the Technology Association of Georgia, Atlanta Business Chronicle, American Business Awards, Lead411 and is also a finalist for Forbes list of America's Most Promising Companies. For more information, visit http://www.innovolt.com.

About Muratec Muratec America, Inc. is a manufacturer of multifunction digital office equipment and businessproductivity solutions. The company is a Plano, Texas-based subsidiary of Murata Machinery, Ltd., a privately held multinational corporation based in Kyoto, Japan. Visit http://www.muratec.com for more information.

Contact: Carrie Crabill Trevelino/Keller ccrabill@trevelinokeller.com (404) 214-0722 x102

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Muratec Leverages Innovolt To Improve Longevity Of Equipment And Decrease Service Calls

The Key to Longevity: Cutting-Edge Longevity Now® Conference Led by Nutrition and Health Authority, David Wolfe …

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Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 17, 2013

1300 health enthusiasts from around the world will gather at The Longevity Now Conference at the Orange County Hilton in Costa Mesa, CA. The conference will be held on Friday, May 3rd through Sunday, May 5th and will examine the latest health and wellness advances specifically related to Mega-Immunity. The Longevity Now Conference is followed on May 6th by an exclusive Masters Workshop focusing on fertility, pregnancy and post-partum care.

Led by world famous health lecturer David Wolfe, attendees at the Longevity Now Conference will discover how to achieve their ultimate health goals and create an extraordinary quality of life. In just three days, David Wolfe and a team of experts condense and present the most powerful tools and technologies that will add years to your life.

Immunity is defined as resistance to disease or infection. Our bodys ability to ward off foreign invasions or to succumb to illness is vital in a world that increasingly presents us with toxic challenges. Having a robust immune system could mean the difference between life and death. From fitness to Chinese medicine to oral hygiene and more, the Longevity Now Conference May 3-5 will explore how to maintain a strong and healthy immune system, addressing this topic from many angles.

David Wolfe describes the conference experience as a rare and potent opportunity to hear from many of the worlds leading experts all in one room. Peoples lives are literally transformed from the energy and the cutting-edge information that is shared so generously by all the incredible speakers.

In addition to the powerful offerings from David Wolfe, The Longevity Now Conference includes presentations from many exceptional guests who are specialists in the fields of nutrition, medicine, and wellness. In May, featured speakers at the conference include such notable health and lifestyle experts as bestselling author John Robbins, fitness guru Tony Horton, holistic dental pioneer, Hal Huggins, and longevity specialist Dr. Dave Woynarowski.

Author of the international bestseller, Diet For A New America, John Robbins is a pioneer in the vegetarian world. The only son of the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire, John Robbins was groomed to follow in his fathers footsteps, but chose to walk away from the Baskin-Robbins legacy and instead pursue a deeper American Dream of a society that is truly healthy, practicing a wise and compassionate stewardship of a balanced ecosystem. Considered to be one of the most powerful spokespersons for an ethical and sustainable future, John Robbins has received widespread media attention including numerous appearances on national television including Oprah, Donahue and Geraldo. When John spoke at the United Nations, he received a standing ovation.

The creator of the bestselling fitness program in America, P90X, Tony Horton, inspires and motivates people internationally by sharing his fitness expertise with professional athletes, sports teams, television and film stars, and more. Today, one third of the American population is considered obese. It is a huge burden on our healthcare system, costing $350 billion per year. We need to educate, motivate and take some real steps towards solving this crisis in America, says Tony. Health and fitness are crucial for the well-being of this country. Its time to stop talking about it. Lets get people off the couch and focused on improving their lives.

Hal A. Huggins, D.D.S., the Elder Statesman of holistic dentistry, is a leading pioneer in identifying toxic dental materials, balancing body chemistry and developing a multi-disciplined approach to managing autoimmune diseases. Well known worldwide for his stand against deception in dental practices and regulations, Huggins has remained on the cutting edge of dentistry and holistic health since the beginning of his practice 51 years ago. He has been called the worlds most controversial dentist because of his vigorous stand against silver (mercury) amalgams, and his recommendation that dentists refuse to place amalgam fillings and perform root canals.

For the last twenty years, Harvard-educated physician, speaker and author of the NY Times bestselling book, The Hormone Cure, Dr. Sara Gottfried has been dedicated to helping women feel at home in their bodies. She is known for her cutting-edge ways of delivering medical information and is regularly featured in magazines such as O Magazine, Mens Health, Glamour, and Yoga Journal, and on TV, including The Ricki Lake Show and 20/20.

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The Key to Longevity: Cutting-Edge Longevity Now® Conference Led by Nutrition and Health Authority, David Wolfe ...

Colourful foods for longevity

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In our Wednesday edition, we talked about the reasons to eschew Western diet, what with the findings of researchers who warn that eating a diet filled with trans fats could lead to premature death.

However, it is not enough to know which diet to ditch; we also need to know which one to adopt for healthy living.

A doctor of Chinese medicine, who is also an authority in anti-aging medicine, Mao Shing Ni, contends that human beings can find longevity at the end of the rainbow. By this, he means eating naturally colourful foods as opposed to those laced with artificial food colourings leads to good health, a precursor of sound aging.

Indeed, the new dietary guidelines from the American Dietetic Association encourage people to literally colour their plates with a rainbow of foods, especially to ward off health and beauty problems from heart disease to wrinkles.

Ni notes that these guidelines correspond to an age-old Eastern philosophy that one should eat foods of every colour each day. He says, Eastern wisdom believes that health and longevity depend on a balance of the five elemental energies represented by five colours: red, orange/yellow, green, white and blue/purple.

Nutritionists contend that both Western nutritional science and Eastern wisdom agree that when you eat foods that contain all the colours, you are working far more disease-combating nutrients and vitamins into your meal. Professor of Human Nutrition at Ambrose Alli Univeristy, Ekpoma, Edo State, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, says vegetables, fruits, beans and legumes, nuts and grains all contain these colours in varying degrees, and are therefore worthy for the table.

Red

Colour psychologists say just as is the case in fashion world, red seems to have dominance with regard to actual food products as well. Experts say this is probably because red is the colour that induces hunger, as it instantly attracts attention. Nutritionists say it also makes people excited, energetic, and increases the heart rate.

Ni explains that the pigments that impart the red colouring to many foods are known as anthocyanins, flavonoid compounds that fight free radicals and prevent oxidative damage to cells.

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Colourful foods for longevity

‘Longevity pension’ would cost working Quebecers $843 a year

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QUEBEC If proposals to fix the provinces ailing pension system become law, working Quebecers would pay $843 a year, and their employers would add an equal amount to fund a proposed new longevity pension.

And before the report was even presented Wednesday, Premier Pauline Marois said legislation to do just that is being prepared and would be presented soon.

Marois called for unanimity among all parties in the assembly, to protect the retirement of those who have contributed all their lives to retirement plans and others who have not, who need more support.

The longevity pension is the main recommendation in a 219-page report presented Wednesday by seven pension experts after 18 months of behind-the-scenes consultations and deliberations.

Benefits under the new plan would be paid starting at age 75 on top of federal Old Age Security and existing Quebec Pension Plan benefits, adding as much as $14,564 a year to a pensioners income.

Quebecers are retiring earlier and living longer, putting unsustainable pressure on private pension plans.

The panel of experts was named by the Liberal government of Jean Charest in 2011 because private pension plans in the province have a shortfall, which has grown to $41 billion, between the money they have and the pensions they are committed to paying out.

But the panel, headed by Alban DAmours, former head of Quebecs Desjardins financial co-operative movement, broadened its focus to the restructuring of the provinces pension regime, looking 40 years ahead.

The looming problems are considerable.

The proportion of Quebecers working and paying taxes will drop to two working Quebecers for everyone over 65 by 2030.

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‘Longevity pension’ would cost working Quebecers $843 a year

Mixed vitamin E forms show liver benefits: Rat data

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A mixture of vitamin E tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol may work synergistically to improve liver health in lab animals with non-alcoholic steatohepatits (NASH), the most extreme form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Writing in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, researchers from the Kanagawa Institute of Technology and Eisai Food & Chemical Co. in Japan report results of their investigations into how supplementing the diet of steatohepatitic rats with a mixture of d-mixed-tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol may benefit liver health.

Eisai Food & Chemical Co provided the vitamin E analogs used in the study.

Results showed that supplementation of combined full spectrum d-mixed tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol improved biomarkers of liver health, compared with lab animals that received alpha-tocopherol-only or d-mixed tocotrienol-only.

The researchers concluded that tocotrienol and alpha-tocopherol exert a potent synergistic effect in improving NASH.

Supporting liver health

The studys findings were welcomed by Mr. WH Leong, Vice President of Carotech Inc. This study shows us that taking both natural full spectrum tocotrienol complex and alpha-tocopherol together help to synergistically improve NASH and support healthy liver, he said.

The combination of alpha-tocopherol and d-mixed tocotrienols work synergistically and exert better protection for liver, than the standalone pure alpha-tocopherol and pure mixed-tocotrienol.

In addition, human study published in the Journal of Nutritionin 2012 showed that tocotrienols (Tocomin SupraBio capsules with d-mixed tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol) improved liver disease score (MELD Score) in patients with end stage liver disease.

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Mixed vitamin E forms show liver benefits: Rat data

Origin of life researchers figure out how to build bigger RNAs

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A close up of the active site of a catalytic RNA.

We'll probably never know exactly how life on Earth got its start. The conditions in which it began have long since been lost, and there are simply too many precursor molecules and potential environments that could have gotten the process going. Nevertheless, researchers hope to put together a pathway that's at least plausible, starting from simple molecules that were present on the early Earth and building up to an enclosed system with basic inheritance (from there, evolution can take over).

A lot of progress has been made in understanding how a simple chemical, like hydrogen cyanide, can be built up through a series of reactions into a nucleotide, the basic building block of molecules like DNA and RNA. And we've learned quite a bit about how larger RNAs (more than 100 nucleotides long) can fold into complex structures that can catalyze reactions and undergo the chemical equivalent of Darwinian evolution. The challenge has been bridging the gap between the two, going from a handful of linked nucleotides to a large molecule that's potentially capable of catalyzing chemical reactions.

Now, the team that developed the earlier results is back with another publication. Their latest work shows how short molecules that are composed of just a handful of nucleotides can be linked together, eventually building longer, more complex chains. Once again, the chemistry is simple enough to occur on the early Earth, and the reaction might explain a curious bias in how DNA and RNA are built into long chains of nucleotides.

To understand the chemistry, it's critical to understand the structure of DNA and RNA. Both have a linked backbone that alternates between phosphates (in red) and sugars that are formed into a five-atom ring (in blue, with the O on top). In RNA, the two lower corners of the ring (positions 2 and 3, counting clockwise from the O) are chemically very similar in that they both have oxygens hanging off them. In the chemical synthesis described in one of the previous papers, the authors found that the phosphate was linked to both position 2 and 3, instead of only being linked to position 3.

The authors were curious about how the exclusive bias toward position 3 occurred, so they considered the possibility that another chemical reaction could knock the phosphate off position 2. They tested a very simple compound, one containing only two carbons: thioacetate, which can form spontaneously through the reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfate. Both of these carbons are expected to be present in the atmosphere of the early Earth.

The reaction worked, and it had a strong preference for attaching an acetate to the carbon at position 2. That result left the phosphate hanging off position 3, like it normally is in the DNA and RNA used by existing life.

But that result wasn't the only thing this reaction changed. By altering the chemical environment near the phosphate, the resulting nucleotide became more reactive. Normally, these nucleotides will only react spontaneously to form chains a handful of nucleotides long. But with the acetate added, two of these short pieces would spontaneously link together, forming part of a longer RNA chain.

(This reaction required a third, short piece of RNA before it would occur. This third piece base-paired with both of the first two, lining them up so that the bits that underwent the reaction were in close proximity. Although this piece was supplied by the authors in this paper, in pre-biotic conditions, lots of random, short pieces of RNA would be around, so it isn't a problem from the perspective of whether this chemistry might work outside of the lab.)

There's nothing preventing this sort of reaction from occurring repeatedly, taking a large collection of short chains of nucleotides and gradually building up a significant piece of RNA from them. Since the starting material would have the individual nucleotides linked in a random order and lots of these reactions could occur in parallel, this situation could build up a large population of essentially random RNA molecules, and it's possible that some of those molecules could have catalytic activity.

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MD Endorses Latest US Anti Aging Beauty Secret

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LOS ANGELES, April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ --

Nationally known dermatologist, Dr. Heidi Gilchrist, has announced her endorsement of a Japanese anti aging beauty secret, that is new to America, called Beauty Nectar by the natural anti-aging company Ashieda.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130417/CG96369)

Beauty Nectar, collagen drink, is a 100% natural beauty drink made of liquid collagen, antioxidants, ceramide, resveratrol and vitamin C. All the rage in Japan and the UK, Asheida is the first company to bring this convenient, great tasting, daily 2oz drink to the USA to help women prevent aging naturally. The results of this drink are nothing short of astounding and have been clinically proven. The main benefits are: hydrated skin, skin renewal, anti aging - reduced fine lines and wrinkles, even skin tone, brightened and glowing youthful appearance and firmer skin. Dr. Heidi Gilchrist has solid foundational training in conventional Western medicine, but she also embraces a holistic, integrated approach to skin health.

Ashieda is dedicated to providing women with anti aging products which are formulated from the world's most effective and natural ingredients. Ashieda prides themselves on their natural, world-class ingredients, ones proven to work.

Dr. Heidi Gilchrist and Ashieda complement each other well because both agree on a natural and holistic approach to effective anti aging.

For more information about Beauty Nectar by Ashieda, please visit http://ASHIEDA.com or call Sarah Ehrlich at 310-888-8601 for more information on Dr Heidi Gilchrist visit http://www.gilchristdermatology.com Media Contact:

Sarah Ehrlich Ashieda, 3108888601, sarah@ashieda.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

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MD Endorses Latest US Anti Aging Beauty Secret

Africa: Report On Nutrition Shows Progress in Combating Childhood Stunting

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A United Nations nutrition report released today shows that progress has been made in recent years in addressing stunting in children, and calls for increased efforts to accelerate a response to a condition that affects some 165 million children across the world.

"Stunting can kill opportunities in life for a child and kill opportunities for development of a nation," said the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Anthony Lake. "Our evidence of the progress that is being achieved shows that now is the time to accelerate it."

One in four of all children less than five years of age is stunted because of chronic under-nutrition in crucial periods of growth. The damage done to a child's body and brain by stunting is irreversible. It drags down performance at school and later at work, and puts children at a higher risk of dying from infectious diseases.

The UNICEF report, 'Improving Child Nutrition: The achievable imperative for global progress' notes that a key to success against stunting is focusing attention on pregnancy and the first two years of a child's life.

An estimated 80 per cent of the world's stunted children live in just 14 countries. The report highlights successes in scaling up nutrition and improving policies in 11 countries: Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, the United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam.

Stunting is reduced through a series of simple and proven steps such as improving women's nutrition, early and exclusive breastfeeding, providing additional vitamins and minerals as well as appropriate food - especially in pregnancy and the first two years of a child's life.

In the Maharashtra state in India, the percentage of stunted children dropped from 39 per cent in 2005 to 23 per cent in 2012 largely because of support to frontline workers who focus on improving child nutrition.

In Peru, stunting fell by a third between 2006 and 2011 following an initiative that lobbied political candidates to sign a commitment to reduce stunting in children under five by five per cent over the span of five years and to lessen inequities between urban and rural areas.

Ethiopia cut stunting from 57 per cent to 44 per cent between 2000 and 2011 by implementing a national nutrition programme, providing a safety net in the poorest areas and boosting nutrition assistance through communities.

The report says that existing solutions and the work of new partnerships represent an unprecedented opportunity to address child under-nutrition through countries accelerating progress through national projects coordinated with donor support and measurable targets.

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Africa: Report On Nutrition Shows Progress in Combating Childhood Stunting