DNA technology is superfine

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GROWERS of superfine wool are using DNA technology to improve fleece and flock quality.

Genomic testing of young rams can now accurately predict the quality of the wool from their progeny.

Previously, high-value traits such as adult fleece weight could be measured only late in life.

Recently, the head of the Co-operative Research Centre for Sheep Industry and Innovation James Rowe told a seminar in Canberra these traits could now be accurately predicted in young rams using DNA analysis.

He said Merino breeders and superfine wool producers could now make earlier selection of their breeding stock.

"DNA tests can now be used to produce predictive research breeding values, which are based on a blend of new genomic technology and the conventional measurement techniques, which support Australian sheep breeding values," Prof Rowe said.

"ASBVs are the most practical way to objectively assess and select for or against a variety of traits."

The delivery of DNA-based breeding values comes from research led by the Sheep CRC, through its information nucleus flock and genomics pilot projects.

The results have been delivered to producers using MerinoSelect and LambPlan.

The Canberra seminar was run by the Australia Superfine Wool Growers Association, an international association of superfine wool growers and processors founded to ensure a viable superfine Merino wool industry.

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DNA technology is superfine

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Mexican police seek DNA of missing to identify dismembered bodies

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By the CNN Wire Staff

updated 12:27 PM EDT, Thu May 17, 2012

Mexican police work the grisly scene where 49 dismembered bodies were found Sunday near Monterrey.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Monterrey, Mexico (CNN) -- Mexican authorities are asking for DNA samples from families of missing persons nationwide in their efforts to identify 49 decapitated bodies, an official said Wednesday.

That will be the only way to identify the victims -- whose killers cut off their heads, hands and feet -- Nuevo Leon state security spokesman Jorge Domene told reporters three days after investigators found the remains abandoned along a highway.

Officials in El Salvador may also request access to the DNA data authorities in Nuevo Leon have compiled, to compare it with samples from family members of Salvadoran migrants who have gone missing in Mexico, Domene said.

While investigators work to identify the victims behind closed doors, parts of the case have played out quite publicly.

Banners hanging in locations throughout the country, purportedly from the Zetas, claim that the notoriously ruthless cartel had nothing to do with the gruesome crime.

But another message purportedly signed by the Zetas and found Sunday at the crime scene -- a roadside near the industrial city of Monterrey and about 80 miles southwest of the U.S. border -- told a different story, threatening members of rival cartels and Mexican authorities.

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Mexican police seek DNA of missing to identify dismembered bodies

Posted in DNA

Mexican police seek DNA of missing to identify decapitated bodies

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By the CNN Wire Staff

updated 12:27 PM EDT, Thu May 17, 2012

Mexican police work the grisly scene where 49 dismembered bodies were found Sunday near Monterrey.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Monterrey, Mexico (CNN) -- Mexican authorities are asking for DNA samples from families of missing persons nationwide in their efforts to identify 49 decapitated bodies, an official said Wednesday.

That will be the only way to identify the victims -- whose killers cut off their heads, hands and feet -- Nuevo Leon state security spokesman Jorge Domene told reporters three days after investigators found the remains abandoned along a highway.

Officials in El Salvador may also request access to the DNA data authorities in Nuevo Leon have compiled, to compare it with samples from family members of Salvadoran migrants who have gone missing in Mexico, Domene said.

While investigators work to identify the victims behind closed doors, parts of the case have played out quite publicly.

Banners hanging in locations throughout the country, purportedly from the Zetas, claim that the notoriously ruthless cartel had nothing to do with the gruesome crime.

But another message purportedly signed by the Zetas and found Sunday at the crime scene -- a roadside near the industrial city of Monterrey and about 80 miles southwest of the U.S. border -- told a different story, threatening members of rival cartels and Mexican authorities.

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Mexican police seek DNA of missing to identify decapitated bodies

Posted in DNA

Applied DNA Sciences smartDNA(R) System to Protect Against Copper Theft in Sweden

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STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwire -05/17/12)- Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (APDN.OB) announces that its smartDNA anti-theft system will be used by police in Sweden to deter theft of copper wire and other copper electrical components in the Sweden national rail system. APDN's smartDNA will be used as evidence marking on the rail system's often-stolen copper wire and other parts. Applied to the metal, which has skyrocketed in price since 2009, a unique, permanent smartDNA mark will forever associate the specific copper directly to a specific crime. The plant-derived DNA is extremely robust, and has proven highly resistant to harsh weather and to criminals' attempts to clean it from stolen product. Used widely in Sweden and the United Kingdom, smartDNA has proved a powerful deterrent.

The smartDNA security system will be used on a stretch of rail track, in a test beginning shortly. Depending on results, the product could be used nationally on the extensive Sweden rail system.

"Thieves get DNA on them and at the same time, we can link what they have stolen to a specific location. Then we can prosecute them for more serious crime than we do now," stated Harly Nilsen a Sweden Transport Administration maintenance officer.

Anders Burn, Detective Superintendent and head of the surveillance unit at the regional Criminal Investigation Department in Stockholm, agreed with Nilsen, saying "The police are often successful in finding copper theft suspects, along with their haul of copper. But, legally, if we cannot link them to a specific crime we have to let them go, along with the copper itself. smartDNA may help greatly in this problem."

The initiative was met with approval in the U.S. by the former chairman of the U.S. National Grid, Robert Catell, who commented:

"I have been following Applied DNA Sciences for some time and think this is the beginning of a great application of their technology. I applaud the creative thinking of the Swedish Transport Administration and the Swedish Police for their forward-thinking actions."

Theft of copper has become an enormous problem in Sweden and globally. Copper is commonly used in critical infrastructure, such as the rail systems and power grid. On April 10, 2012, rail traffic connecting Stockholm, Malm, and Copenhagen was brought to a standstill after thieves severed the high-voltage overhead lines in order to steal the valuable copper wire inside. Passengers on ten trains that travel on a stretch of track on the Southern Main Line (Sdra stambanan) in south central Sweden were forced to disembark.

"We have to view this as a problem for society when the thefts are so widespread that they can be compared with the sabotage of important societal infrastructure," Sweden Transport Administration chief, Gunnar Malm, said in a statement.

The adoption of smartDNA to fight copper theft follows the decision of the Swedish National Police Board (RPS) to use the security technology in covert police operations nationwide in Sweden starting in June. A spray form of the product is already used in over forty jewelry stores as an anti-intruder system. In the United Kingdom, a similar, and award-winning APDN system has been used since 2009 to apply an evidence mark on cash in transit to and from banks, with great success.

"DNA evidence marking is well proven in the UK, and they have convictions," said Nilsen.

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Applied DNA Sciences smartDNA(R) System to Protect Against Copper Theft in Sweden

Posted in DNA

DNA sought to ID decapitated bodies in Mexico

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By the CNN Wire Staff

updated 12:27 PM EDT, Thu May 17, 2012

Mexican police work the grisly scene where 49 dismembered bodies were found Sunday near Monterrey.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Monterrey, Mexico (CNN) -- Mexican authorities are asking for DNA samples from families of missing persons nationwide in their efforts to identify 49 decapitated bodies, an official said Wednesday.

That will be the only way to identify the victims -- whose killers cut off their heads, hands and feet -- Nuevo Leon state security spokesman Jorge Domene told reporters three days after investigators found the remains abandoned along a highway.

Officials in El Salvador may also request access to the DNA data authorities in Nuevo Leon have compiled, to compare it with samples from family members of Salvadoran migrants who have gone missing in Mexico, Domene said.

While investigators work to identify the victims behind closed doors, parts of the case have played out quite publicly.

Banners hanging in locations throughout the country, purportedly from the Zetas, claim that the notoriously ruthless cartel had nothing to do with the gruesome crime.

But another message purportedly signed by the Zetas and found Sunday at the crime scene -- a roadside near the industrial city of Monterrey and about 80 miles southwest of the U.S. border -- told a different story, threatening members of rival cartels and Mexican authorities.

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DNA sought to ID decapitated bodies in Mexico

Posted in DNA

Slow-motion film reveals what happens when lizards drop their tails

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Timothy Higham is an assistant professor of biology at UC Riverside. He is seen here holding a lizard that has self-amputated its tail. Credit: National Geographic.

Timothy Higham, an assistant professor of biology at the University of California, Riverside, will be featured in the program Animal Superpowers: Extreme Survivors on the National Geographic Wild Channel, 8 p.m., ET and PT, Sunday, June 3.

Broadcast internationally, the series Animal Superpowers is hosted by the actor Sir Patrick Stewart. On the Extreme Survivors episode, Higham will discuss what happens when a lizard drops its tail an escape plan unique in nature that lizards use when they are attacked. Using high-speed cameras, Higham reveals precisely how the tail fools predators, allowing the lizard to escape and survive. The research may, in the future, help humans with spinal cord injuries.

Lizards are incredible in their ability to self-amputate their tail when they encounter a predator, Higham said. The tail, containing a portion of the spinal cord, is voluntarily detached by muscular contractions that break the tail at a weak point within a single vertebra. The tail contains many of these weak points, so the lizard can break off variable amounts of the tail.

Higham explained that the tail, once dropped by the lizard, continues to move around vigorously, doing flips and swinging back and forth. This movement distracts the predator while the lizard is able to run away and avoid being eaten.

Enlarge

Lizards use an escape plan unique in nature when they are attacked. Credit: National Geographic.

Highams lab focuses on biomechanics, functional morphology, and comparative physiology of vertebrate locomotion and feeding. He received his doctoral degree in molecular, cellular and integrative physiology from UC Davis in 2006. Following a postdoctoral appointment at Harvard, he spent three years as an assistant professor of biological sciences at Clemson University. He joined UC Riverside last year.

Viewers are encouraged to check their local listings for Animal Superpowers: Extreme Survivors on the National Geographic Wild Channel.

More information: http://animals.nat hedule/wild/

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Slow-motion film reveals what happens when lizards drop their tails

Wanna Learn Marine Biology? There's an App for That

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Killer photos of orcas, stellar images of Stellar sea lions, and full-color images of gray whales can be seen by even the most landlocked of animal lover by downloading the SeaPhoto app onto their smart phones.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary released the app, which features more than 1,300 images of animals that call the sanctuary home. From the abalone jingle (a bivalve, Pododesmus cepio) to yellowtail rock fish (Sebastes flavidus), 550 species populate the app along with an ecological profile of the animal.

For those who haven't joined the smart phone set, the photos are available here.

The right combination of apps can turn a smart phone into a tool of science by putting biological field stations in the palms of millions of curious students, teachers, researchers and maybe even a few orangutans.

ANALYSIS: Apes Get Apps and iPads

Some apps allow anyone to act as the eyes and ears for biologists and wildlife conservationists. For example, amateur game wardens can use the IveGot1 app to report invasive species in Florida.

COOKBOOK SLIDESHOW: Invasive Species Recipes

Another, Instant Wild uses crowd sourcing to identify animals seen in wildlife camera traps. The app sends the photo to users who then help identify the species and report endangered species. Users can even choose the region they want to monitor so they can watch for favorite species, such as elephants in the Tsavo of Kenya. Having an army of volunteer research assistants to sift through camera trap photos could speed up a task that consumes weeks of a researcher's time.

Apps also exist that help users identify species. Some function like electronic field guides by providing images to compare to what a user finds in the natural world. Others use visual recognition to determine a species using a photo snapped by the phone. LeafSnap, a free app from Columbia University, will try to identify a tree based on a photo of the leaf by analyzing the shape and margins. It then keeps a record of trees it's identified.

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Wanna Learn Marine Biology? There's an App for That

Forest diversity from Canada to the sub-tropics influenced by family proximity

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ScienceDaily (May 17, 2012) How species diversity is maintained is a fundamental question in biology. In a new study, a team of Indiana University biologists has shown for the first time that diversity is influenced on a spatial scale of unparalleled scope, in part, by how well tree seedlings survive under their own parents.

Data from over 3 million trees in the eastern half of the U.S. were aggregated into two-degree-latitude-by-longitude cells in order to study regional patterns of conspecific negative density dependence, a process where the mortality of a species rises in coincidence with its increasing abundance.

Scientists have long considered conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD), a process where the mortality of a species rises in coincidence with its increasing abundance, to be a key mechanism maintaining diversity at the local scale. In new research to be published May 17 in the journal Science, the IU researchers show that this mechanism is driving diversity from the boreal forests to sub-tropical forests.

The report, "Conspecific negative density dependence and forest diversity," is authored by Daniel Johnson, a doctoral student in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Biology. Co-authors are Wesley T. Beaulieu, also a doctoral student in the Department of Biology, and biology professors James D. Bever and Keith Clay, Johnson's major advisor.

Their work analyzed data on forest composition from over 200,000 plots containing more than 1.3 million trees and from paired plots containing over 1.7 million seedlings of 151 different tree species. The plots were located from the Canadian border south to Florida and from the Atlantic coast to the 100th meridian and covered over 1.5 million square miles. The U.S. Forest Service spends about $62 million each year to gather the publicly available forest inventory data used in the IU study.

"We are now able to provide robust evidence that CNDD is pervasive in forest communities from boreal to sub-tropical regions and that it can significantly affect the relative abundance and richness of species with and between forests," Johnson said. "And we now see that the ability to which one tree species can sustain itself in the same area has profound impacts on the diversity of species at a spatial scale that has not been attainable previously. This is the first time it's been shown to be happening not just at a local spatial scale but over the entire eastern US."

The concept of CNDD is based on the well-known Janzen-Connell hypothesis, which proposes that the close proximity of adults reduces seedling survival of that species through increased attack by host-specific pests and pathogens.

Studies of CNDD in the past have mostly focused on forest communities at single sites or of a single species, with the most recent work showing that in tree species, composition and abundance can be influenced by CNDD at the scale of individual trees.

"Local interactions have previously been considered to affect species diversity at a local scale, but our findings indicate that local interactions feed back to species richness and abundance over much larger geographical scale, spanning most of eastern North America," Johnson said.

Evidence that local interactions underlie regional species richness is in contrast to the current understanding that patterns of forest diversity are primarily driven by temperature, precipitation and other physical aspects of the environment. This discovery has implications for how forest modeling is conducted and conservation and management decisions are made.

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Forest diversity from Canada to the sub-tropics influenced by family proximity

Singularity University Announces Inaugural Synthetic Biology Accelerator Program

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Singularity University today announced the companies selected to participate in its inaugural synthetic biology accelerator program, SynBio Startup Launchpad. The program will nurture aspiring SynBio entrepreneurs seeking to apply the rapid-cycle, low-cost approaches employed by tech and biotech startups. Synthetic biology is genetic engineering using software-based design tools coupled with low-cost DNA synthesis and assembly.

The SynBio Accerlator Program was conceived by Andrew Hessel, Co-Chair of SU's Biotechnology and Bioinformatics track, and John Cumbers, Ph.D, a synthetic biologist at NASA Ames Research Center. As Andrew Hessel explains, "advances in technology are allowing scientists to treat DNA, our genetic code, the same way people use code for software programming."

The SynBio Startup Launchpad is Singularity University's first formal initiative to support startups developing exponentially growing technologies. "The SynBio program brings together a powerful community seeking to support startups developing products from the emerging field of synthetic biology to address some of the world's biggest challenges," said Gabriel Baldinucci, Singularity University's Vice President of Strategy and New Venture Development.

Three (3) companies have been selected for the SynBio Program: Evolutionary Solutions, Modern Meadow and SoilGene. Evolutionary Solutions (founders Kettner Griswold and Paul Sebexen) is developing a genome synthesis device. Modern Meadow (co-founder Andras Forgacs) applies tissue-engineering techniques to produce high volumes of animal protein for food and textiles. SoilGene (founders Zachary Apte and Robert Lim) combines metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches to survey land opportunities for the natural resources and agriculture sectors.

A unique aspect of the SynBio program is its partnership with Triple Ring Technologies in Newark, California. The three selected companies will be based at Triple Ring to take advantage of its engineering and lab facilities, and their staff's extensive expertise in life sciences innovation and commercialization. "We are excited to work with the SynBio entrepreneurs taking innovations to market in the emerging synthetic biology space," said Joseph Heanue, Ph.D., president and CEO of Triple Ring Technologies.

The selected entrepreneurs will go through four months of comprehensive, customized mentoring and education in bringing their ideas to market. The companies receive close mentorship from a network of experienced advisors, weekly speakers on critical venture topics, networking with their peers, and valuable discounted services to launch their companies.

The first program will conclude in late August with the SynBio Companies pitching their ventures to investors and the community at "demo day" events.

Sandra Miller, newly appointed SU Managing Director of New Venture Development, will be responsible for the management of the SynBio Launchpad as well as other new Singularity University ventures, working closely with Gabriel Baldinucci, VP of Strategy and New Venture Development.

"Creating, incubating and financing companies to positively affect the lives of a billion people are central elements of SU's vision. We call this 10^9+ impact," said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, SU Chairman and Co-Founder.

About Singularity University

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Singularity University Announces Inaugural Synthetic Biology Accelerator Program

Global Laboratory Chemical Reagents Industry

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NEW YORK, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Global Laboratory Chemical Reagents Industry

http://www.reportlinker.com/p087339/Global-Laboratory-Chemical-Reagents-Industry.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Genomics

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Laboratory Chemical Reagents in US$ Million by the following Product Segments: Molecular Biology (Monoclonal & Polyclonal Antibodies, Gene Expression, Vectors, Cloning, & Sequencing, Gene Synthesis, Extraction Kits, PCR Reagents, Enzymes, & Others), Biochemistry (IVD), Cytokine & Chemokine Testing, Cell/Tissue Culture, Carbohydrate Analysis, Immunohistochemistry, and Environmental Testing (Pesticide Residues, & Others). The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2009 through 2017. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. The report profiles 226 companies including many key and niche players such as BD Biosciences, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Biomerieux, EMD Chemicals Inc., GE Healthcare, Life Technologies Corporation, Meridian Life Science, Inc., PerkinElmer, Inc., SAFC Biosciences, Inc., Shimadzu Biotech, Sigma-Aldrich Corp., Takara Bio, Inc., Wako Pure Chemical Industries Ltd., and Waters Corp. Major Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies suppliers also profiled in the report include Strategic Diagnostics Inc., Gallus Immunotech, Inc., and Lonza Biologics Ltd., key Nucleic Acid Extraction Kits supplier, Quiagen, is also profiled in the report. The two major Biochemistry Reagents and Related Chemical Suppliers highlighted in the report are A.G. Scientific, Inc., and Promega Corporation. R&D Systems, the major Cytokine and Chemokine Reagent and Kits supplier, is also profiled in the report. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are primarily based upon search engine sources in the public domain.

I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & PRODUCT DEFINITIONS

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Global Laboratory Chemical Reagents Industry

Children in U.S., Great Britain Share Risk Factors For Behavioral Problems

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Newswise WASHINGTON, DC, May 16, 2012 Children in the United States and Great Britain share a number of common risk factors that increase the likelihood that they will have behavioral problemsand Britains broader social welfare programs dont appear to mitigate those risks, according to a new study in the June issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior (JHSB).

The researchersfrom North Carolina State University, California State University-Northridge, and the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaignevaluated data from a 1994 study of children between the ages of five and 13 in the U.S. and a 1991 study of children in the same age range from England, Scotland, and Wales.

In both the U.S. and Great Britain, the JHSB study found that male children, children with health problems, and children with divorced mothers were more likely to have behavioral problems.

We also found that stronger home environmentsthose that are intellectually stimulating, nurturing, and physically safedecrease the likelihood of behavior problems in both the U.S. and Great Britain, said Dr. Toby Parcel, a professor of sociology at NC State and lead author of the JHSB study.

We wanted to see whether the role of parents was equally important in both societies because the argument has been made that more developed welfare statessuch as Great Britaincan make the role of parents less important, by providing additional supports that can help compensate for situations where households have more limited resources. This study tells us that parents are important in households, regardless of the strength of the welfare state.

While there were common risk factors for children in the U.S. and Great Britain, there were also some differences between these groups. For example, family structure effects were more pronounced in Great Britain. Family structure, in this context, refers to marital status and family size. In Great Britain, a child from a family with a single mother or multiple children was at a higher risk of having behavioral problems. Additionally, the more children in a British family, the greater the likelihood a child from that family had behavioral problems. These effects were absent in the U.S.

Titled, Childrens Behavior Problems in the United States and Great Britain, the study was co-authored by Dr. Lori Ann Campbell, of Cal State-Northridge, and Dr. Wenxuan Zhong, of University of Illinois, and was funded, in part, by the National Science Foundation.

The researchers are now looking to see how shared risk factors may influence child cognition and academic achievement across these two societies. Parcel and Campbell have previously shown that parents are critical to the creation of strong home environments in both the U.S. and Great Britain.

###

About the American Sociological Association and the Journal of Health and Social Behavior The American Sociological Association (www.asanet.org), founded in 1905, is a non-profit membership association dedicated to serving sociologists in their work, advancing sociology as a science and profession, and promoting the contributions to and use of sociology by society. The Journal of Health and Social Behavior is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal of the ASA.

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Children in U.S., Great Britain Share Risk Factors For Behavioral Problems

Psychological Science Convention in Chicago: Music in the Mind, Mental Health, Learning and More

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available online at: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/releases/ psychological-science-convention-in-chicago-music-in-the-mind-mental-health-learning-and-more.html

Newswise WASHINGTON -- More than 4,000 psychological scientists, academics, clinicians, researchers, teachers, and administrators from 85 countries will gather in Chicago for the Association for Psychological Sciences 24th annual convention May 23-27, 2012 at the Sheraton Chicago.

Culture and ethnicity drive many human processes including science. (Section I, below.)

A concert with a former guitarist from the Black Eyed Peas and a five-time Grammy Award winning bassist will share the stage with musically talented scientists to discuss and explore music and the mind. (II)

Scientists will also present cutting-edge research on topics including: autism (III-A), ADHD(III-B) and learning(III-C); the newest clinical treatments for mental health disorders (IV) ; questions of incivility, ideology, and attitudes in politics (V); and the latest findings in decision-making science (VI).

********** **********

I. DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES IN SCIENCE The theme of the 2012 Convention is Diverse Perspectives, and in a concerted effort to call attention to the importance of diversity in psychological-science research, the Keynote Address and the Presidential Symposium will feature distinguished speakers who will discuss the role of race and culture in scientific inquiry.

Does Mental Health Differ Among Ethnic Groups? Keynote Address: The Masquerade of Racial Group Differences in Psychological Sciences Thursday, May 24, 6:00 PM 8:00 PM Chicago Ballroom VI &VII

Distinguished psychological scientist James S. Jackson from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor will open the convention with his keynote address. Jackson is well-known for his research on how culture influences our health during our lives, attitude changes, and social support. His research has also highlighted how racial discrimination can affect physical and mental health as well as treatments. His talk will focus on racial group disparities in psychological science research. These disparities are common, and widely accepted, but Jackson will discuss how researchers should take a closer look at these easy assumptions of racial group differences. He will use the Environmental Affordances Framework of Health Disparities to demonstrate that these racial disparities are fundamentally only a masquerade.

**********

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Psychological Science Convention in Chicago: Music in the Mind, Mental Health, Learning and More

Children in US, Great Britain share risk factors for behavioral problems

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Public release date: 16-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Daniel Fowler pubinfo@asanet.org 202-527-7885 American Sociological Association

WASHINGTON, DC, May 16, 2012 Children in the United States and Great Britain share a number of common risk factors that increase the likelihood that they will have behavioral problemsand Britain's broader social welfare programs don't appear to mitigate those risks, according to a new study in the June issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior (JHSB).

The researchersfrom North Carolina State University, California State University-Northridge, and the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaignevaluated data from a 1994 study of children between the ages of five and 13 in the U.S. and a 1991 study of children in the same age range from England, Scotland, and Wales.

In both the U.S. and Great Britain, the JHSB study found that male children, children with health problems, and children with divorced mothers were more likely to have behavioral problems.

"We also found that stronger home environmentsthose that are intellectually stimulating, nurturing, and physically safedecrease the likelihood of behavior problems in both the U.S. and Great Britain," said Dr. Toby Parcel, a professor of sociology at NC State and lead author of the JHSB study.

"We wanted to see whether the role of parents was equally important in both societies because the argument has been made that more developed welfare statessuch as Great Britaincan make the role of parents less important, by providing additional supports that can help compensate for situations where households have more limited resources. This study tells us that parents are important in households, regardless of the strength of the welfare state."

While there were common risk factors for children in the U.S. and Great Britain, there were also some differences between these groups. For example, "family structure" effects were more pronounced in Great Britain. Family structure, in this context, refers to marital status and family size. In Great Britain, a child from a family with a single mother or multiple children was at a higher risk of having behavioral problems. Additionally, the more children in a British family, the greater the likelihood a child from that family had behavioral problems. These effects were absent in the U.S.

Titled, "Children's Behavior Problems in the United States and Great Britain," the study was co-authored by Dr. Lori Ann Campbell, of Cal State-Northridge, and Dr. Wenxuan Zhong, of University of Illinois, and was funded, in part, by the National Science Foundation.

The researchers are now looking to see how shared risk factors may influence child cognition and academic achievement across these two societies. Parcel and Campbell have previously shown that parents are critical to the creation of strong home environments in both the U.S. and Great Britain.

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Children in US, Great Britain share risk factors for behavioral problems

Anatomy of a protest

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Yesterday was a tumultuous day for Brisbane's indigenous community, from a pre-dawn eviction of a makeshift tent embassy at Musgrave Park in South Brisbane and impromptu protest marches through the city centre. Amy Remeikis was there to document the entire day, from beginning to end.

The police moved in just before dawn.

Musgrave Park at West End was surrounded by officers.

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The media were directed to a staging point on the corner on Cordelia and Glenelg Streets, but getting there from the Cordelia Street side was difficult.

All side streets linking to the park were cordoned off, even for those on foot. While members of the media tweeted they were being escorted out of the tent embassy site, police were denying others entry.

Reaching the staging area required the showing of ID, both photo and a business card and following police directions to the letter; no, step back three steps please but once in the required area, the media were largely ignored.

For a while, nothing happened. Protesters came in support of the tent embassy members, establishing an area across the road from the park. A microphone and mobile speaker were quickly found. Speeches were made. Songs were sung. Across the road, those inside the fence erected around the embassy alternatively danced, cheered and yelled.

The sticking point in the negotiations was the sacred fire, started from embers from a similar fire at the Canberra tent embassy, where the idea for corresponding tent embassies across the nation was hatched.

Brisbane City Council wanted everything cleared before the Paniyiri Greek Festival this weekend, including the fire.

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Anatomy of a protest

Greece: The anatomy of a default

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FORTUNE -- Everyone from Greece's squabbling political parties to Europe's central bankers are expressing faith that Greece will remain in the Euro. That's not surprising, since simply talking about how to manage an exit would spread panic, making the exit inevitable. But the panic is already here. Greece's departure from the Euro could happen within a couple of weeks, if not a few days.

The pressing problem isn't a splintered legislature that may balk at delivering the reforms that the IMF and European Community are demanding in exchange for the next tranche of bailout money. It's a disastrous, old-fashioned run-on-the bank. "For a year, Greeks have been sending their savings from Greek banks to foreign banks," says Robert Aliber, retired professor of international economics from the University of Chicago. "Now, the flood has reached a crescendo." Indeed on Monday alone, outflows from the Greek banks reached almost $900 million.

The flight of capital is sapping the deposits needed to refinance mortgages and small business loans, causing a full-blown credit crisis. Greeks are also extremely reluctant to spend their Euros on cars, dining or anything else, since they reckon those Euros will buy more at the supermarkets and auto lots in the weeks or months ahead. The disappearing consumer is further crippling the economy.

MORE: 'Austerity' isn't an evil word

Greece's exit is absolutely necessary. "Its prices and costs are far too high under the Euro, so it just cannot compete on international markets," says Aliber. "The Greeks have suffered far more through all these misguided bailouts than they've gained by lowering prices or costs." The political gridlock, argues Aliber, is actually a good thing because it will hasten abandoning a disastrously overvalued currency, just what's needed to get Greece growing again.

The mechanics of shelving the Euro for its own currency are pretty predictable. One day soon, imagine it's late on a Friday afternoon, the Greek government will declare all banks closed for the following week. By Monday, the legislature will vote an emergency law that designates a fixed exchange rate of, say, 1 drachma the Greek pre-Euro currency for each Euro. By Monday, all corporate and personal savings in Greek banks will be denominated in drachma.

The drachma will tumble in value, so that almost immediately, Greek consumers will need at least 1.5 Drachma to buy one Euro. A savings account that held 15,000 euros is now 15,000 Drachma. But those drachmas will soon fetch just 10,000 Euros. That's a "devaluation" of 33%. "That number is the low-end of the range for countries that exit a common currency," says Uri Dadush, an economist at the Carnegie Endowment.

What happens next is the pivotal issue, and top economists disagree strongly on Greece's post-Euro future. To be sure, this isn't a play by Aeschylus or Aristophanes where the audience knows the finale. Yanis Varoufakis of the University of Athens foresees a Greek tragedy in which a run on the banks is followed by a run on the drachma. "Greeks paid in drachma will go to the ATM then immediately exchange their drachma for Euros people have stashed in their freezers," says Varoufakis. He thinks that the drachma will keep plunging against foreign currencies, and Greeks will keep bailing, causing a new crisis of hyperinflation.

MORE: The 3 biggest benefits of producing more oil

But the disaster scenario isn't inevitable. "Other countries have left what's effectively a common currency zone without suffering hyperinflation," says Hans Humes, president of investment firm Greylock Capital, which holds Greek government bonds. Aliber thinks that Greece's exit will create the same growth dynamic that's recharged Iceland and Argentina, both of whom effectively shed overvalued currencies.

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Greece: The anatomy of a default

'Grey's Anatomy' Finale: Bloody Season 8 Sneak Peek (VIDEO)

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MONDAY, MAY 14: "Bones"

"Bones" (8 p.m. ET on Fox) season finale
Evil tech genius Christopher Pelant (guest star Andrew Leeds), a suspect in a previous case Brennan and Booth handled, is back in court on appeal. Knowing what he is capable of, Brennan and Booth inform the judge that he is a suspect in two murder cases. Then, Brennan and Booth are called to the scene of a new murder. After determining the victim is Brennan's friend, who also is linked to Pelant, the Jeffersonian team works to prove he is guilty once and for all. But when law enforcement examines the team's findings, key pieces of evidence are tied to Brennan and suspicion falls on her.

"Gossip Girl" (8 p.m. ET on The CW) season finale
When Gossip Girl goes after Blair as she's never done before, Serena admits she may have unintentionally played an important role in Blair's latest nightmare. Meanwhile, Nate invites Lola to move in with him, and Lily must make a big decision about the future of her marriage. Finally, by episode's end, Blair will make a choice between the two men in her life ... will it be Chuck or will it be Dan? Followed by the finale of the also-renewed "Hart of Dixie."

"How I Met Your Mother" (8 p.m. ET on CBS) one-hour season finale
On Barney's future wedding day, when his wife is finally revealed, the gang reminisces about the time they encouraged Ted to follow his heart and go after the one that got away. Followed by the season finales of "Two and a Half Men" and "Hawaii Five-0."

"Make It or Break It" (9 p.m. ET on ABC Family) series finale
Eight weeks at the USA Training Center have led to this moment: who will make it onto the 2012 Olympic Gymnastics team and who will be left behind in the show's final episode. Payson decides to rework her floor routine at the risk of losing a spot on the team. Kaylie is at a loss when Jordan refuses her help. Still recovering from surgery, Lauren balances her health with her need to make it to the Olympics. Meanwhile, Kaylie is thrown for a loop when she is told that her drug test came back positive for a banned substance.

"The Bachelorette" (9.30 p.m. ET on ABC) season premiere
Fan-favorite Emily Maynard -- the first single mother in "Bachelorette" history -- begins her own search for love in Charlotte, NC in the eighth edition of the romance reality series. Season highlights include trips to Bermuda, London, Dubrovnik and Prague, and appearances from Dolly Parton, Gloriana, Luke Bryant and The Muppets.

"Kurt Sutter's Outlaw Empires" (10 p.m. ET on Discovery) series premiere
"Sons of Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter enters the realm of the gangs and families who have dominated our streets and helped shape our nation's history. Steered by Sutter's compelling insight, each episode tells the complete story of an iconic American outlaw dynasty -- directly from the mouths of people from the inside. Through their no-holds-barred accounts, the series takes an unvarnished look at moment-by-moment experiences that were not only pivotal for the organizations themselves, but life-changing for the individuals telling the stories.

"Smash" (10 p.m. ET on NBC) season finale
The big night is finally here. Tom and Julia race against time to save the show, while Derek makes a decision that will change the lives of Karen and Ivy forever. Ellis reveals his true colors (hmm) -- but when he finally makes his move to save "Bombshell," will it be for or against Eileen? In the midst of it all, another bombshell goes off -- this time in Karen and Dev's relationship.

"Glee" (8 p.m. ET on Fox) double-bill
As the countdown to graduation continues, the kids of New Directions prepare a high-concept routine for Nationals. When Tina bumps her head, the world of New Directions is turned upside down in her eyes. Then, the New Directions perform at Nationals for celebrity judge Lindsay Lohan (guest-starring as herself). Worth watching for the Lohan trainwreck factor alone, no?

"Cougar Town" (8 p.m. ET on ABC) double-bill
Now that the underappreciated (and still genius) comedy has officially made the move to TBS, ABC seems to be in burn-off mode with two weeks of hour-long blocks -- but we're just happy that it'll be around for another year. In the first episode, Grayson moves in with Jules after the hurricane damages his house, but the sudden togetherness makes them wonder if they're going to make the same mistakes in their upcoming marriage that they made in their past relationships. In the second, when Jules realizes that the cul-de-sac crew didn't celebrate Thanksgiving together, she decides to celebrate the holiday, even though it's spring. The "Private Practice" season finale airs at 10 p.m. ET.

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'Grey's Anatomy' Finale: Bloody Season 8 Sneak Peek (VIDEO)

Who survives 'Grey's' finale plane crash?

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ABC

By Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter

"Grey's Anatomy" viewers, buckle up: you're in for screams, blood, exposed bones and a completely stressful episode if the first six minutes of Thursday's Season 8 finale are any indication of what's coming.

STORY: "Grey's Anatomy's" Shonda Rhimes on the deadly finale: "We're literally saying goodbye to people"

After a plane carrying some of Seattle Grace's best and brightest crashed into a forest, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), Derek (Patrick Dempsey), Cristina (Sandra Oh), Lexie (Chyler Leigh), Mark (Eric Dane) and Arizona's (Jessica Capshaw) lives were left hanging in the balance.

STORY: "Grey's Anatomy": Sarah Drew on the boards, April and Jackson's steamy hook-up and the finale "event"

Showrunner Shonda Rhimes has warned that the episode, fittingly titled "Flight," will include what she calls a "pretty big death."

STORY: "Grey's Anatomy" Recap: Whose lives are hanging in the balance?

"We're not talking [about] some guest star [who] is going to come in and die kind of thing; it's a big death and it's fairly shocking," she told The Hollywood Reporter during a recent interview. "It was hard, it was hard to write, it was hard to listen to at the table read. It is a difficult thing to do and not done lightly. When one of your main characters dies, it always affects the heart and soul of the hospital."

So who will survive the first six minutes? Watch the clip to find out, but be warned: it's graphic and severely cringe-inducing.

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Who survives 'Grey's' finale plane crash?

Who's Going to Die on the Grey's Anatomy Season Finale?

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Grey's Anatomy

Who's going to die on the Grey's Anatomy eighth season finale?

Six doctors Meredith, Derek, Cristina, Mark, Lexie and Arizona crash-landed somewhere in the woods on their way to Boise. Though we'd like to think that April (Sarah Drew), who failed her boards, would kill herself and save us the torment of a more shocking loss the promos seem to indicate that it's one of the Stranded Six who won't make it out alive.

Grey's Anatomy Exclusive Finale Scoop: A Seattle Grace exodus and a "dark and twisty" event

So which character bites the dust? We weigh the pros and cons for each potential Seattle Grace casualty in order from most to least likely to die:

1.Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) Why She Will Die: We have come to love Little Grey, so when Shonda Rhimes told us the prospect of a reunion with Mark might be "bittersweet or painful," we were worried. Our guess? They finally reconcile just in time for one of them to die, which is why they're both at the top of this list. Why She Won't: Meredith has already stated that Lexie is one of the reasons she'd stay, so if the writers are planning to keep Mer at Seattle Grace, then why would baby sis have to die?

2. Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) Why He Will Die: Let's face it, Mark is only interesting when he's in a relationship with Lexie, and it's been an entire season since they were dating. And anyway, we're sick of the will-they-won't-they dynamic for a couple that was already together! Also: Rhimes' bittersweet comment above could also apply to Mark. Why He Won't: Slexie fans would be furious if the duo never did get back together. Plus: Do we really want to see Lexie have another mental breakdown like she did after the shooting?

Exclusive Grey's Anatomy Video: Which doctors will be leaving Seattle Grace?

3. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) Why She Will Die: When Arizona cried to Callie (Sara Ramirez) about the impending loss of her friend Nick, she begged Callie to never leave, but moments later, Arizona was the one who took Alex's spot on the plane and flew off to Boise. When writers use the old foreshadowing technique like that, we get anxious. Also, how poetic would it be if the one person who wasn't supposed to be on the plane ended up dying? Writers love that! Why She Won't: Rhimes might fear the wrath of the LGBT community with whom she works closely with and is receiving a GLAAD award from should she kill off one of the few lesbian characters on network television.

4. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) Why He Will Die: His death would singlehandedly reinvigorate the series because it would be a rebirth for Meredith. Sure, she would be sad and go through yet another long "dark and twisty" phase, but to see her come out the other side "bright and shiny" and single again would be a fun journey. (We'll be expecting your hate mail soon!) Why He Won't: He just finished the McMansion! In all seriousness, the likelihood of Derek being killed off is slim considering Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. all reportedly signed two-year contracts last week, which Dempsey later confirmed at least for himself.

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Who's Going to Die on the Grey's Anatomy Season Finale?

Cole Travel in Geneva closes after 52 years

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GENEVA For 52 years, Cole Travel Service arranged tours and vacations all over the world, but especially for folks traveling to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and other Scandinavian countries.

We did Scandinavian travel all over the U.S., said Barbara Cox, who managed the travel agency for 28 years. We are the ones to call for Scandinavian travel. We did so good for so many years. But in the last six years, there was a huge slow down. We still did Scandinavia travel, which is what we specialized in, but it was not enough to keep the business going.

Cox said she would retire now that Cole Travel, at 310 W. State St. in Geneva, will close June 1.

The travel agency shares the same space with The Gift Box, specializing in Scandinavian imports, which will stay open.

Gift Box manager Jane Gaffney said the travel agency space likely would be made into the Christmas room to hold specialty holiday items.

We sell Swedish coffee, medium and dark Arvid Nordquist brand and Lofbergs Lila, Gaffney said. We have chocolate, candies, cookies, Bing and Grondahl and Royal Copenhagen Blue plates. We also serve glogg during the Christmas walk, which we make ourselves from a recipe from the 1700s. And we also carry lutefisk once a year at Christmas.

Lutefisk is a traditional Nordic dish of dried salted whitefish saturated with lye.

The travel agencys original owner, Edythe Anderson, opened the business in 1960 as an additional service to customers of the Gift Box, which opened in 1947.

The current owner, Lennart Jonsson, contributed to the success of both businesses because of his extensive knowledge of Scandinavian countries.

An immigrant from Sweden, Lennart, 87, of St. Charles, said it was unfortunate the travel agency could not support itself any longer.

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Cole Travel in Geneva closes after 52 years

Sampson California Realty to host special event on ‘How To Travel The World For Less Than The Cost of Living at Home’

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Do you want to travel the world, but are afraid you dont have enough money? Are you nervous about the unknowns of traveling? Sampson California Realty will be hosting a free special event and book signing on Plan Your Escape: How To Travel the World For Less Than the Cost of Living at Home on Thursday, May 31, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Sampson California Realty office at 12702 Via Cortina, Suite 101 in Del Mar. Wayne and Pat Dunlap, a Del Mar couple, rented their home and traveled the world for two years, visiting 51 countries. As a result of their travels, they wrote a book called Plan Your Escape: Secrets of Traveling the World for Less Than the Cost of Living at Home. This step-by-step guide to traveling the world gets people exploring possibilities they never thought of, said Wayne Dunlap. During this fabulous evening, you will learn how to safely realize and afford your travel dreams for trips from a weekend getaway to a month or more.

Wayne Dunlap, a former economics professor and experienced world traveler and his travel partner and wife, Pat Dunlap, will discuss powerful cost-saving tips, including proven secrets the travel industry does not want you to know. Learn how to get the best deals on airfare, hotels, tours, car rentals, restaurants, cruises and more. To register for this event, contact SCR at 858-699-1145 or via email at info@scr-sandiego.com.

Short URL: http://www.ranchosantafereview.com/?p=10079

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Sampson California Realty to host special event on ‘How To Travel The World For Less Than The Cost of Living at Home’