Four State Park Beaches Closed Over High Bacteria Levels

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By Austin Robertson

CREATED 3:04 AM

Edited news release from Missouri Department of Natural Resources:

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Four state park swimming beaches have been temporarily closed for water quality issues, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The state park beaches at Finger Lakes located in Columbia, Harry S Truman located in Warsaw and Wakonda located in La Grange are closed following results of water samples taken Tuesday that indicated bacteria levels higher than those recommended for waters used for swimming. Earlier this week, the state park beach at Thousand Hills located in Kirksville closed due to flooding. The beach remains closed due to flooding as well as high bacteria levels.

The campground beach at Harry S Truman State Park remains open. Visitors to Harry S Truman State Park may stop by the office or fee booth to obtain a pass free of charge to swim at the campground beach. Once tests from the four state park beaches indicate the bacteria levels are within the standard suitable for swimming, the beaches will reopen.

The department collects water samples from all designated beaches in the state park system weekly during the recreational season to determine suitability for swimming. Beaches will be closed for high bacteria when a single E. coli sample exceeds 235 cfu/100ml or when the geometric mean a 30-day rolling average exceeds 126 cfu/100 ml. The sample test results indicate a snap shot of the water quality taken at the beaches at a specific time; however, a single sample does not provide an overall sense of the water quality in the lake where the beach is located.

The department will post the information about the beach status on the website as well as mostateparks.com. Visitors to Missouri State Parks are able to sign up to receive free electronic notices about the status of state park beaches while visiting the departments beach status website.

Missouri's state parks and historic sites offer something to suit everyone's taste - outdoor adventure, great scenery and a bit of history. With Missouri's 87 state parks and historic sites, the possibilities are boundless. For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites and swimming beaches, click here.

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Four State Park Beaches Closed Over High Bacteria Levels

3 PH beaches in CNN's 100 best beaches

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by Pia Ranada Posted on 05/31/2013 12:00 PM |Updated 05/31/2013 8:38 PM

PALAUI ISLAND. This raw paradise made it to CNN's list of 100 best beaches in the world. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike. 3.0 Supermanlash, 2012

MANILA, Philippines - Three beaches in the Philippines landed on CNN's 100 Best Beaches list published on their website on May 30. These are Palaui Island in Cagayan Valley, El Nido in Palawan and Puka Beach in Boracay.

Palaui Island earns the 10th spot with CNN praising its "raw beauty." Visitors must trek through thorny grass and a mangrove forest to reach its "glorious white sands," coral gardens and marine reserves.

The absence of hotels and resorts means that visitors must be prepared to "camp under the stars" or ask to stay in a resident's home.

EL NIDO, PALAWAN. Majestic limestone formations make El Nido one of the best beaches in the Philippines, and according to CNN, the world.

14th place goes to El Nido in Palawan, already a famous honeymoon spot among Filipinos. CNN cited its "karst limestone formations, empty lagoons, marble cliffs, prehistoric caves and waterfalls."

Diverse marine life can be observed in this "last frontier" including whale sharks, manta rays and dolphins.

PUKA BEACH, BORACAY. It gets its name from the Puka shells found all over its shore.

Sliding into 84th place is Puka Beach in Boracay, the second-longest beach in Boracay named for the Puka shells that dot its white sand shore. Puka Beach is different from the more famous White Beach in Boracay, more frequently visited destination because of its many restaurants and vibrant night life.

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3 PH beaches in CNN's 100 best beaches

Army Corps will use hundreds of millions to restore beaches in South Jersey

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PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. Wider beaches and protective dunes are closer to reality for those South Jersey beach towns that have not previously had projects built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In its second report to Congress detailing how it will spend its roughly $5 billion allotment of Hurricane Sandy disaster aid, the Army Corps said it plans to use hundreds of millions of dollars to restore beaches for the first time in Ship Bottom, Beach Haven and Long Beach Township, other than Brant Beach. Margate, Longport, the south end of Ocean City, Strathmere and Sea Isle City also are included.

There is no timeline for how and when the projects will be built because there still are numerous decisions that have to be finalized, said Ed Voigt, spokesman for the Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District.

Projects on the list also include constructing a seawall along Absecon Inlet in Atlantic City, Voigt said. From an engineers standpoint, that project is really ready to go.

The projects in south Ocean City, Strathmere and Sea Isle City had been designed in the 1990s and did not include dunes, but Voigt said corps policy now requires dunes and wider beaches.

When we build south Ocean City, Strathmere and Sea Isle City, that project will include a dune, Voigt said.

The report lists 18 projects that have been designed and approved, but have not been built. It estimates the total cost of building the projects in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Virginia to be more than $2.1 billion. Projects for South Jersey are estimated to cost about $180 million. Voigt said the estimates may change significantly, either up or down, as construction costs become more clear.

This is important news for our region, for our tourism-based economy and for the countless businesses and jobs that depend on the beaches of the Jersey Shore for their livelihood, U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2 said in a news release.

Earlier this year, the Army Corps began putting sand back on numerous beaches in South Jersey to repair damage to the beach width and dunes that happened during Sandy and Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. Work has been nearly completed in Stone Harbor, while work was completed earlier this year in Avalon and Brigantine and on Tuesday in Ocean Citys north end. Work is expected to begin in the coming weeks for Brant Beach and Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island, Atlantic City and Ventnor and work will begin in the fall in Cape May.

We knew this was going to come, we just hoped it would have come a month earlier, Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian said about the latest Army Corps plans during the City Councils meeting Thursday night.

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Army Corps will use hundreds of millions to restore beaches in South Jersey

Best beaches in North Africa

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I've never really wanted to go to Japan. Simply because I dont like eating fish. And I know that's very popular out there in Africa. That's what Britney Spears said in an interview once... But fear not, Africa has some great beaches too.

Tunisia

Although the birthplace of the Arab Spring, Tunisia is quickly getting back on its feet and doing what it does best show off some of the worlds most beautiful beaches tailored specifically for independent travellers. Tunisian beaches are among the very best beaches in the Mediterranean, no doubt. The Tunisian coastline makes up 810 km of snowy white sand and pristine waters and its no suprise millions of tourists flock the place all year round.

Menzel Tmim & El Hawaria

Ask any local and they will tell you this is the place to go for the cleanest most azure waters. While the majority of tourists flock to Sousse and Hammamet, the locals will go to Manzil Tmim and El Hawaria for some peace, quiet and crystalline waters. Perhaps the only issue with these places is accommodation there is no amazing quality accommodation. Manzil Tmim is itself a small town well off the beaten tourist track located on Cape Bon, a peninsula in far northeastern Tunisia. Theres not much to do, but if you want to get away from the tourists and swim in beautiful warm water - this is the very place to go.

The Island of Djerba

South from Cape Bon is North Africas largest island Djerba. Its has a small population of 65,000 but thousands of French, German and Italian tourists come here every year to enjoy the beautiful beaches and dramatic sunsets. The north eastern point of the island is where you will find the beach hotels but there are plenty of opportunities to do other-less hotel orientated activities like camel trekking and 4-wheel driving. Dont miss out on the sightseeing and make sure you enjoy the nightlife.

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Best beaches in North Africa

Summer astronomy shows scheduled at ASU

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SAN ANGELO, Texas Angelo State Universitys Global Immersion Center will present two full-dome public astronomy shows during its summer 2013 schedule beginning June 6 in the Vincent Nursing-Physical Science Building, 2333 Vanderventer Ave.

Each Thursday from June 6 to Aug. 8, except for the July 4 holiday, The Cowboy Astronomer will run at 7 p.m. and Saturn: Jewel of the Heavens will run at 8 p.m.

All shows are open to the public with admission prices of $3 for adults and $2 for children, active military and senior citizens. ASU students, faculty and staff are admitted free.

The Cowboy Astronomer features star tales and American Indian legends combined with constellation identification, star-hopping and astronomy tidbits, all told from the viewpoint of a cowboy astronomer.

Saturn: Jewel of the Heavens gives audiences a close-up one of the most dynamic planetary collections of the solar system.

For more information, call 325-942-2136 or visit angelo.edu/dept/physics/planetarium.php.

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Summer astronomy shows scheduled at ASU

PPG Donates $10,000 for Palmdale Aerospace Academy

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PALMDALE, Calif., May 30, 2013 The PPG Industries Foundation donated $10,000 to the Palmdale School District in California for the new Palmdale Aerospace Academy charter school. The grant was made on behalf of PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) aerospace business, which operates a facility in nearby Mojave, Calif.

We greatly appreciate PPGs support of our new school, which emphasizes science, technology, engineering and mathematical (STEM) skills through the lens of aerospace, said Laura Herman, headmaster, Palmdale Aerospace Academy. The goal of this school is to prepare students for college and 21st-century careers that are aligned with workforce needs in the local area and beyond, so its very valuable to form partnerships with local industry employers such as PPG.

The grant helped fund Palmdale Aerospace Academys startup costs for labs and academic materials. The school brings academic concepts to life through a core curriculum with an aerospace theme as well as specialized elective classes, internships at the secondary level, clubs, guest speakers, presentations and other enrichment activities all stemming from local aerospace industry partnerships.

The school opened in August 2012 to seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students. Herman said a grade level is to be added to the school each year until it includes all grades, K through 12.

PPG is strongly committed to supporting the communities where its employees work and live, especially through educational initiatives that encourage students to pursue technology-related studies and careers, said David Morris, PPG general manager and vice president, Americas, aerospace. Because of its unique curriculum, supporting the Palmdale Aerospace Academy is key to PPGs aerospace business. The schools students will be integral to the future of our industry, and the unique programming the school provides shows the value of industrys collaboration with academia and the community.

Established in 1951, the PPG Industries Foundation demonstrates the values of PPG Industries by enhancing the quality of life in communities where the company has a presence. Interests of the foundation, in order of priority, are education, human services, culture and arts, and civic and community affairs. PPG also supports charitable causes by encouraging employees' volunteerism and board service with nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit http://www.ppgfoundation.com.

About the Palmdale Aerospace Academy

The Palmdale Aerospace Academy charter school is a joint venture between the City of Palmdale, the AERO Institute and the Palmdale School District. Inspired by the accomplishments of Palmdale's aerospace heritage, the academy is a project-based learning environment within a STEM-centric professional learning community. For more information, visit http://www.tpaa.org/index.php.

PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.(TM)

PPG Industries vision is to continue to be the worlds leading coatings and specialty products company. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in nearly 70 countries around the world. Sales in 2012 were $15.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit http://www.ppg.com.

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PPG Donates $10,000 for Palmdale Aerospace Academy

Rapid Identification and Strain Typing of Salmonella in Food Using Genome Sequence Scanning Technology

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Woburn, MA (PRWEB) May 30, 2013

PathoGenetix, Inc., a commercial-stage developer of an automated system for rapid bacterial identification, has announced new research demonstrating the use of Genome Sequence Scanning (GSS) technology to confirm and identify pathogenic Salmonella strains in enriched spinach samples in less than five hours. The study findings were detailed in a poster presented last week at the General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Denver.

The results demonstrate the ability of GSS to shorten the time for pathogen subtyping and serotype determination from an enriched food sample, and to quickly derive additional strain and serotype information from the numerous pathogen screening tests commonly used in the food industry. Because GSS isolates and scans microbial DNA directly from a mixed culture and does not require a pure culture isolate, it greatly reduces the time, complexity, skill and cost required by other molecular and whole genome identification approaches. As a result, GSS can enable quicker decisions affecting food safety and public health. The GSS technology will be commercially available in 2014 in the RESOLUTION Microbial Genotyping System.

The research spiked ten common Salmonella strains in leafy spinach greens including multiple serotypes of Typhimurium and Enteritidis, as well as the Javiana, Newport, Montevideo and Heidelberg serotypes. The test samples modeled presumptive-positive enriched food samples like those that would result from a pathogen screening test indicating the presence of Salmonella. Additional non-Salmonella bacteria were added to half of the test samples to evaluate the technologys ability to identify and strain type Salmonella in the presence of competing background microorganisms.

Of the 120 samples spiked with Salmonella, GSS positively identified the correct Salmonella serotype in 116 of the samples. (Salmonella was not detected in four samples, due to poor growth of Salmonella in the enrichment of the initial sample, not related to the GSS technology.) The strain type information provided by GSS was comparable to pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), the current standard for pathogen typing in foodborne outbreak investigation and response. No false positives were recorded from the 12 control samples that had not been spiked with Salmonella.

According to the 2011 Estimates for Foodborne Illness from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Salmonella is the second most common pathogen contributing to domestically acquired foodborne illnesses, causing well over one million illnesses (1,027,561) each year. It tops the list in number of hospitalizations and deaths, and is responsible for an estimated 19,336 hospitalizations (35%) and 378 deaths (28%) each year.

Other research presented by PathoGenetix at ASM showed that GSS also can be used to reliably differentiate and strain type pathogenic E. coli, including the most frequently isolated STEC (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli) serotypes from both sporadic cases and multiple foodborne illness outbreaks.

About PathoGenetix, Inc. PathoGenetix, Inc. is a commercial-stage developer of an automated system for rapid bacterial identification from complex samples. PathoGenetix is a venture-backed company that has received more than $50 million in technology development funding from the Department of Homeland Security. The core GSS technology isolates and analyzes DNA directly from an enriched biological samplewithout the need for a cultured isolateand provides results in just five hours, days faster than current methods. GSS has broad applicability in food safety, industrial microbiology, and clinical diagnostics and research. The first commercial GSS system will be available in 2014 for use in food safety testing and foodborne illness outbreak investigations. Learn more at http://www.pathogenetix.com.

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Rapid Identification and Strain Typing of Salmonella in Food Using Genome Sequence Scanning Technology

MCC student earns summer internship in molecular biology

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Ashley Wallin wanted to be a nurse until she took a microbiology class at Mohave Community College.

Science is definitely for me, said the 19-year-old Lake Havasu High School graduate. I was in love with everything we talked about. Its like there is an entire world (of microbiology) around you that you cant see and people dont think about on a daily basis. Its like discovering new life.

With the encouragement of MCCs science faculty, Wallin began to research summer science internships, eventually applying for nearly 20.

I was excited when my microbiology professor, Dr. Mat Routh, told me about internship possibilities. I had no idea they even existed, she said. I just went out there and took every opportunity I could find.

In March, Wallin was driving to her chemistry lab class on the Havasu campus when her cell phone rang. It was the University of Minnesota, which offers a genetics internship that accepts only 14 students nationally.

I started to cry. It was a long shot, but applying actually worked, she said. I felt like I won the lottery.

Wallin leaves today for the 10-week paid summer internship with the University of Minnesotas Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Molecular Genetics and Proteomics. The program paid for Wallins roundtrip travel expenses, housing and meals, in addition to a $4,000 stipend. The total compensation is expected to equal $8,600, according to the programs website.

The interns will first spend three weeks at the Lake Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories before completing the program on the Minneapolis campus. The molecular genetics laboratory course is designed to teach the interns basic techniques used in gene cloning and practical experience in protein analysis before initiating their own research projects.

During those weeks, Wallin will work with an experienced scientist to investigate the possibility of using bacteria to clean polluted water or produce electricity. Its a new area for Wallin, who has been more focused on medical science.

I think it will be good to get to see this side of it, said Wallin, who plans on earning a Ph.D. and eventually becoming a professor or a lab scientist. She is well on her way, having finished classes at MCC this spring and transferred to Arizona State Universitys Lake Havasu campus to complete a bachelors degree in life sciences.

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MCC student earns summer internship in molecular biology