County Commissioners Approve Firefighters Contract

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Posted: Apr. 17, 2012 | 5:33 p.m.

The Clark County Commission on Tuesday ratified a three-year contract agreement with firefighters that county officials say will save taxpayers about $60 million over 25 years.

The deal, which runs from July 1 to June 30, 2015, eliminates longevity pay for new hires, where county staff expects to reap most of the savings, and freezes cost-of-living adjustments for the first two years with the option of allowing either party to renegotiate the third year.

Last week, union members approved the agreement, the third consecutive accord in 18 months to include major financial concessions.

Commissioners praised county staff and the union for reaching an agreement and used the discussion to publicly support firefighters caught in the cross hairs because of a few accused of abusing sick leave and overtime.

"It's time for people to recognize that our fire department does a darn good job; these are good men and women," Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said. "You should never discriminate or paint everyone with a broad brush. I'm hoping to get past the spitting on people and derogatory comments made to our firefighters."

Commissioner Tom Collins invited people to visit a firehouse.

"Go out on a call and watch them save a life, put a bloodied body back together from a car wreck or get somebody's heart beating again," Collins said. "Not just anybody knows how to do that, and that's worth something."

County officials have said they spend about $25 million a year on overall longevity pay, originally used to attract employees and reward them annually for their years of service after eight years.

Longevity pay made up about 8 percent of firefighter pay and 15 percent of battalion chief pay, according to the most recent employee compensation report.

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County Commissioners Approve Firefighters Contract

Galleries reflect artistic eyes of curators

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Two South Tampa galleries celebrate their longevity this month in different ways: One is hosting a celebratory exhibit of works by gallery artists; the other is opening a new location across Tampa Bay.

For both it's a celebration of vision, verve and pluck.

In 1987, Cathy Clayton opened the art gallery that bears her name at 4105 South MacDill Ave.

Armed with a degree in art education from the University of South Florida and experience she gained from working a few years at a gallery in Tampa, she was equipped to plunge into the challenging market of selling art.

"I actually ended up representing a lot of the professors who taught me, like George Pappas; or professors who were there at the school while I was there, like Bruce Marsh and Jeffrey Kronsnoble," she said.

Mark Feingold, who also has a degree in art education and 10 years experience in helping put up exhibits at the Tampa Museum of Art, joined Clayton in 1994. He helped promote the framing aspect of the business and rapidly moved into bigger jobs such as managing the gallery, curating exhibits and selecting artists.

"Cathy and I share the same sensibilities about artists and art so she has always included me in her work," Feingold said. "We usually agree on things."

One of the things they agree on is not to follow trends or fads.

"I think we have longevity because we've consistently represented not only professional and talented artists, but we also consistently represented a certain aesthetic," Clayton said. "We don't represent an artist that we wouldn't have in our own collection. We never sold art as an investment. We see art as an investment in beauty and in the culture of Florida and in helping these local artists to thrive and succeed."

A lot of the gallery artists have been with Clayton for 20 years some longer. That kind of long-term presence was something Feingold thought about while conceiving the current exhibit which celebrates the gallery's 25th anniversary.

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Galleries reflect artistic eyes of curators

Barbara Quinn: Genetically modified food facts

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"What are your thoughts on genetically modified foods?" I asked a horticulturist friend.

"It's probably impossible to get an unbiased opinion from either side," he said. On the other hand, he reminded me, life is full of "genetic modifications." Any time a male and female come together to produce offspring either in plants, animals, or humans there is a mixing of genes in the process. And the new offspring are new and different hopefully with desirable traits from both parents.

Genetic manipulation in the plant world is not new, he said. What we call "heirloom" tomatoes were the new varieties a hundred years ago. Growers of food continually mix genetic material to come up with hardier, more tasteful and often more nutritious varieties.

Made me think of my Uncle Cab from Arizona. He was a pharmacist by profession and a farmer by hobby. He had a small orchard where he practiced grafting one species of fruit tree to another. I remember seeing a grapefruit growing on his orange tree that I thought was pretty nifty.

Critics argue that we shouldn't artificially insert genes where they shouldn't be inserted ... that genetic engineering is "an imprecise process" prone to mistakes.

Au contraire, according to Peggy G. Lemaux, Ph.D, UC Berkeley Department of Plant and Microbial Biology (www.ucbiotech.org). In classical plant breeding, she explains, when and where a gene is "expressed" is not controlled

Another concern is that, unlike Uncle Cab's orange/grapefruit tree, biotechnology allows for genes from entirely different species to produce ... who knows what?

In many cases this can be good, however. Insulin medication, for example, is genetically engineered. Prior to 1980, this hormone the key to life for people with type 1 diabetes had to be extracted from the pancreas of cows and pigs. Today, through a process called "recombinant DNA technology," the genetic code (DNA) to make pure human insulin is introduced into organisms that are then able to manufacture this vital medicine in unlimited amounts.

And while one side argues that plants produced by selectively manipulating genetic material can cause health concerns, others argue that genetically modified foods are a humanitarian step to care for our world.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children around the world, affecting an estimated 250million preschool children. Genetically modified rice that is high in beta carotene (a nutrient that converts to vitamin A in the body) is one way to supplement this nutrient in the diets of children who get much of their nourishment from this one staple food.

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Barbara Quinn: Genetically modified food facts

Beyond silicon capitalism to the individual as integrated genetic circuit

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By John Stanton

"After the industries of death brought about by the gas chambers and concentration camps, the industries of life now offer the possibility of a genetically modified human race, calling into question humans born of blood and sperm and therefore the wild, the natural part of humanity. The "naturals" would become the new savages with augmented people leading a new humanity shaped less by political totalitarianism than bioengineering. And now we have entered the question of hyper racism. The deadly consequences of the great ecological fear are extremely disturbing. We are at risk of seeing not military dissuasion established between powers, but civil dissuasion between people.

What would be behind this civil dissuasion? The third bomb, which in truth has not yet exploded, already carries a name: the genetic bomb. It is the mutation of the human species by genetic engineering: the production of a human being with a smaller ecological footprint, consuming less air water and energy; the installation of a genetically modified organism to adapt to new environmental conditions, a new human being with a smaller ecological footprint because it uses less proteins water and oxygen, a creature made compatible with an Earth of dwindling resources..."

"The communism of effects is the privatization of communism. Communism has not disappeared from history; it has been privatized, creating a community of synchronized emotions. Something happened with progress and its propaganda to make us constantly preoccupied with progress and perpetually occupied by it. We are now in a situation of occupation in both the temporal and martial meanings of the word: we are under the pressure of permanent occupation. This occupation places us under surveillance, watching us, revealing us and it is increasingly present, increasingly accepted as a fate, a destiny. Promoting progress means that we are always behind: on the high speed Internet, on our Facebook profile, on our email inbox. There are always updates to be made: we are the objects of daily masochism and under constant tension."

The excerpts above are taken from the book The Administration of Fear. Inside is an interview with Paul Virilio conducted by Bertrand Richard. The book is part of the Semiotext(e) Intervention series and is distributed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The book is at once intellectually stimulating and terribly frightening. Virilio's revelations appeal: he has diagnosed the human condition in the early part of the 21st Century with pointed accuracy and may have predicted its end during some century to come. The title Administration of Fear does not nearly capture the wide range of topics ecological, social and political covered in the 93 page learning experience.

His revelatory statements inspire a belief that it is time to move the focus, the critique past capitalism, particularly capitalism accelerated by the agent silicon. The speed of life-economic, political, and social-and the subsequent compression of time and distance is the reality of the day. Money/capital flows and accumulates. Who or what gets that money is decided by algorithms deep within the world of electronic finance. A human may be encountered in such transactions but only briefly. So, who or what is in front of and behind the electronic facade? The answer is everyone and no one.

There are no critiques of silicon capitalism that have not already been written. The "isms" should focus on silicon individualism and collectivism going forward. How can humanity avoid becoming an integrated genetic circuit or node? How can humanity avoid Virilio's genetically engineered human?

It seems pointless now to rage against silicon based capitalism, at once perfidious and effective. Over the centuries, it has proven that it knows no ideology and, in fact, as Marcuse said, "It has delivered the goods.". It is flexible enough to fit any form of politics/governance. Silicon capitalism comes in all flavors: communist, terrorist, democratic, socialist, totalitarian, Judeo-Christian, or Muslim. Perhaps silicon capitalism has been so reviled because its practice reveals human beings as predators one moment and cooperative gathers at another: it reveals innate human duplicity, looking in the mirror is painful. Or maybe its ability to absorb the most radical philosophies and ideas that humans can muster disturbs; yesterday's radical song is today's car commercial. Everyone relents, there is no space to hide anymore.

Silicon capitalism's most triumphant product was the Internet and World Wide Web, and the computing and telecommunications devices that attach humans to humans, and humans to the Net/Web. In doing this, it has created non-reflective plug and play individuals and collectives around the globe. This dynamic threatens to erase being, thought, mind and self as proactive agents that filter incoming stimulation to reactive integrated genetic circuits prompted for time-restricted reflexive action. Virilio is rides exactly the right train of thought in stating that humanity's survival may depend on the creation of genetically designed human beings built to last in a world of empty concrete spaces, depleted resources and recurring ecological disasters. He makes perfect sense. Privatized communism dominates.

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Beyond silicon capitalism to the individual as integrated genetic circuit

Not by DNA alone: How the epigenetics revolution is fostering new medicines

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Public release date: 18-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 202-872-6042 American Chemical Society

Scientific insights that expand on the teachings of Mendel, Watson and Crick, and underpinnings of the Human Genome Project are moving drug companies along the path to development of new medicines based on deeper insights into how factors other than the genetic code influence health and disease. That's the topic of the cover story in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society.

The article, by C&EN Senior Editor Lisa M. Jarvis, focuses on the quiet revolution in epigenetics that has been sweeping through biology, chemistry and other scientific fields for the last several years. It explains how scientists initially believed that cracking the genetic code, achieved a decade ago, would lay out a straight path for inventing new medicines: Identify the genetic mutation behind a disease and then find a drug that overcomes it. But scientists now know that another layer of biochemical controls, an epigenetics layer, influences how and when genes work in health and disease without changing DNA itself. Early epigenetics research already produced four drugs currently approved to treat blood cancer. But these treatments lack selectivity, limiting their effectiveness.

Now, Jarvis explains, companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Epizyme and Constellation Pharmaceuticals are moving ahead to develop the next generation of epigenetic drugs, particularly for cancer. Armed with a better understanding of how specific epigenetic enzymes are implicated in disease, they are designing compounds to block the activity of those enzymes. The article describes GSK's announcement earlier this month of an epigenetic inhibitor it has developed that might fight lymphoma. "Although no one will know the value of the new epigenetic compounds until they are tested in humans, scientists are confident that the field is moving forward with the right balance of caution and enthusiasm," Jarvis concludes.

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The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 164,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society contact newsroom@acs.org.

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

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Not by DNA alone: How the epigenetics revolution is fostering new medicines

Dyrdek Enterprises acquires DNA Distribution

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Updated: April 18, 2012, 4:51 PM ET

Dyrdek Enterprises Incorporated -- the business arm of pro skater, entertainer, and entrepreneur Rob Dyrdek -- announced Tuesday that it had acquired DNA Distribution from Burton after year-long discussions. DNA includes skateboarding brands Alien Workshop, Habitat and Reflex.

DNA is a foremost supplier of skateboard decks, wheels, trucks, hardware, grip tape, and other accesories. Based out of Dayton, Ohio, Chris Carter and Mike Hill started DNA in 1990, with Alien Workshop as its original label. Dyrdek's ties to Alien Workshop in particular stretch to both the company's early days and his as a young pro skater in the early 90s. "It's hard to put into words what an amazing opportunity this is for me," Dyrdek said in a prepared statement. "I am extremely proud to now own the company that first sponsored me 20 years ago."

In the same release, Burton founder and CEO Jake Burton said, "It's been an honor to call DNA part of the Burton family for the past four years." And while Burton COO Mike Rees acknowledged in January that the company was in talks with Dyrdek about transferring DNA, the motivations behind the transaction -- and which party initiated it -- remain unclear.

Dyrdek established Drydek Enterprises in 1999, and in 2010 launched Street League Skateboarding, whose next season begins in May. His portfolio also contains connections to DC Shoes, Monster, IVI Vision, and the Rob Dyrdek Foundation, founded in 2003, to assist communities with the design, development, construction, and promotion of skateparks.

Dyrdek, the president of his namesake company, has seen his profile extend far beyond the realm of skateboarding in part due to his MTV television shows "Rob & Big," "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory," and "Ridiculousness."

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Dyrdek Enterprises acquires DNA Distribution

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Police collect DNA from middle-schoolers in murder investigation

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Detectives have taken DNA samples from several Sacramento middle-school students in connection with the murder investigation into the death of a 13-year-old girl who was found stabbed, strangled and beaten to death at a park.

Jessica Funk-Haslam was found in the dugout of a baseball field at Rosemont Park on March 5. Investigators saythe girl had argued with her mother and lefthome the night before. She boarded a nearby light-rail train,transferred to a bus and got off near the park.

Police have released surveillance video from a neighbor near the park showing a suspicious man running away from the park along Rosemont Drive toward Mayhew Road about the time Jessica was killed. It showed him ducking down a side street when a car approached.

But last week the investigation took a turn when Sacramento County detectives showed up at Albert Einstein Middle School where Jessica had attended to talk to three or four students and to take DNA cheek swabs from them.

This is the first indication that there may be a possible DNA link to the case, Fox 40 Sacramento reported.

"My child's in a room with two detectives being questioned and grilled and I'm sure he was quite frightened, which is very upsetting," said Michaela Brown, the mother of one of the students who was questioned.

Authorities said they do not need parental consent to obtain a DNA swab.

"Regardless of whether the individual is an adult or a juvenile, they are capable of giving consent. We don't require the consent of a parent if we're doing it with someone of a younger age," said Deputy Jason Ramos of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

If detectives had wanted to draw blood from the middle-schoolers, then a parent would have to be present and because of the 4th Amendment. Detectives would also need a warrant.

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Police collect DNA from middle-schoolers in murder investigation

Posted in DNA

Study reveals 'extraordinary' DNA

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17 April 2012 Last updated at 08:10 ET

The DNA of people living in Scotland has "extraordinary" and "unexpected" diversity, according to a new study.

The Scotland's DNA project, led by Edinburgh University's Dr Jim Wilson, has tested almost 1,000 Scots in the last four months to determine the genetic roots of people in the country.

The project discovered four new male lineages, which account for one in 10 Scottish men.

It also found that actor Tom Conti is related to Napoleon Bonaparte.

Scotland's DNA was set up by Dr Wilson along with historian Alistair Moffat, the current rector of St Andrews University.

Using new technology, scientists were able to pinpoint a participant's DNA marker, from which they tracked the person's history and lineage.

Conti and Napoleon both share the M34 marker, which is Saracen in origin.

The project found that Scotland has almost 100 different groups of male ancestry from across Europe and further afield.

More than 150 different types of female DNA from Europe, Asia and Africa were discovered.

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Study reveals 'extraordinary' DNA

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Cops Take School Kids' DNA in Murder Case

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Apr 18, 2012 9:29pm

(Image Credit: ABC)

Samples of DNA were collected without parental consent from students at a Sacramento, Calif.,middle school in connection with the murder of an 8th grade student who was found stabbed, strangled and beaten to death near the dugout of a local park.

The Sacramento Sheriffs Department, which has been spearheading the investigation into the murder of Jessica Funk-Haslam, 13, said parental consent was not required in the DNA collection and interview of minors, several of whom were taken out of class during the day last week at Albert Einstein Middle School.

These are interviews, not interrogations, Sheriffs Deputy Jason Ramos told ABCNews.com. They are all consensual. Once its done, there is a mechanism in place for school administrators to notify parents.

Ramos said the DNA collection was done at the time of the interview so efforts didnt have to be duplicated. Ramos cautioned that the collection did not necessarily mean authorities had a DNA profile of the suspect.

Over the past few weeks, police have sifted through a number of leads and alibis but have been unable to name a suspect in Jessicas murder.

The teens body was found at Rosemont Community Park on the morning of March 6. Jessica was reportedly arguing with her mother the night before and voluntarily left her home and boarded local transportation to a local park.

There is nothing under California law that prohibits DNA collection of consenting minors, said John Myers, a professor at the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento.

I think the answer is, kids can consent, and if they consented and it was knowing and intelligent, [law enforcement] can do the search, he told the Sacramento Bee.

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Cops Take School Kids' DNA in Murder Case

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DNA Brands and Charles Morgan Securities Sign Agreement

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BOCA RATON, Fla., April 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DNA Brands, Inc. (OTCBB:DNAX.OB - News) today announced that it has entered into an agreement that appointed Charles Morgan Securities, Inc., as its Investment Banker. Under the terms of the Agreement, Charles Morgan has agreed to assist in an initial equity capital raise of $1.5 million at $0.30 per share. A second capital raise of $2.5 is anticipated in the future at a price to be determined. The funds will be used by DNA to increase inventory and implement an aggressive marketing and advertising campaign.

"We are so very pleased to have found a group like Charles Morgan Securities, who not only shares in our vision but is also willing to roll up their sleeves to provide support on so many levels," said DNA's CEO Darren Marks. "Having successful and experienced investment bankers behind us, like Paul Taboada, Charles Morgan's CEO, will allow DNA's management to direct all of its efforts building sales and growing the brand. Specifically, we plan to greatly increase points of distribution (PODS) throughout Florida where we have demonstrated increasingly strong sales and demand for the brand. In addition, this Agreement will allow us to complete the build out of regional markets like California, Wisconsin, Texas and New York. Our goal is to have national distribution by 2014," concluded Marks.

Paul Taboada, CEO of Charles Morgan Securities, Inc., said, "I am excited about working with DNA Brands and their management team. I believe together with the proper funding we can develop a regional brand that has the potential to grow nationally. I have been reviewing the business plan as well as the roll out plan for other states and believe the management team is one that will deliver for all shareholders involved. I am looking into more avenues of distribution as well as other retailers that will carry the brand and am pleased with the response so far. I believe that this company will grow and it's growth will be illustrated in the company's financials as we grow revenues and penetrate new markets. We have signed a long term investment banking deal with DNA BRANDS and I look optimistically toward the future to build this brand and distribute the product into new markets."

About DNA Brands, Inc.

DNA BRANDS, make DNA Energy Drink(R), the award-winning, best-tasting energy drink at the 2010 World Beverage Competition, and DNA Shred Stix(TM). DNA Energy Drink(R) is a proprietary blend of quality ingredients in four flavors Citrus, Lemon Lime, Sugar Free Citrus and CRANRAZBERRY. DNA is a proud sponsor of many action sport teams consisting of top athletes from Motorcross, Surf, Wakeboard and Skateboard has received tremendous TV and media coverage.

Independent retailers throughout the state sell the DNA Brand products as well as national retailers including Walgreens, Race Trac and Circle K. Distribution is primarily through Grass Roots Beverage the Company's wholly owned subsidiary and select Miller and Anheuser-Bush distributors in select markets.

True to its actions sports roots, DNA BRANDS, INC., has earned national recognition through its sponsorship of the DNA Energy Drink/Jeff Ward Racing team where it competes on a world-class level in Supercross and Motocross, reaching millions of fans. DNA Energy Drink(R) can also be found in other action sports such as Surfing, BMX, Wakeboarding and Skateboarding and its athletes are recognized stars in their own right.

For more information about DNA Energy Drink, its athletes and sponsorships, please visit http://www.dnabrandsusa.com or contact:

Darren M. Marks, President (954) 970 3826 darren@dnaenergydrink.com

The DNA Beverage Corp. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7258

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DNA Brands and Charles Morgan Securities Sign Agreement

Posted in DNA

Science, Social Media, #SciComm and Sunny San Diego

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Your Hip Hop Maven of Science is bustin a move this weekend and headed to San Diego, California. I received an invite to attend the 2012 Experimental Biology Conference. Experimental Biology is one of the largest life sciences professional conferences 14,000 attendees. Its a convocation of several scientific societies under the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). I am honored to be speaking at a Science Communication Symposium sponsored by the American Physiological Society (APS), and sharing the dais with the most amazing superstars in online science outreach, EVAH!

I am beyond excited about this. Plus, it gives me a very new arena to network with others FASEB Biologists. Im a biologist and do experiments, but for whatever reason, my science societies arent members of the Experimental Biology sect. FASEB membership includes science societies that focus on applied biology in the health biomedical related research arenas. All of my science societies are part of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) yeah, I know the names certainly dont help clear things up. But AIBS societies are more of the basic biology societies covering alot of the taxonomy, natural history, agriculture, and natural resources fields. I can see how they are different. However, in the last year, Ive become acquainted with FASEB and some of its member organizations. And I have to say this much, FASEB offers an incredible amount of support (financial and otherwise) to students and junior professionals. FASEB has an undeniable committement to diversity and inclusion in STEM and higher education. FASEB sponsors a number of minority access programs such as the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) and has a very strong presence at the SACNAS and ABRCMS annual meetings. Thanks to Alberto Roca of Minority Postdoc.org for introducing me to these amazing organizations and facilitating my attendance to each.

In fact, Ill be presenting a version of this talk at APS: Blogging, Tweeting, & Writing: How an Online Presence can Impact Science and Your Career. But since the goal of the panel is provide wisdom to thec rowd, I expect it be very interactive. And I know my co-panelists, itll sure to be as much fun as it is informative. In fact, theyve each made announcements. Jason Goldman Science and Social Media at Experimental Biology in San Diego Dr. Isis Sessions of Interest at#EB2012 PH Lane Packing for #EB2012 (which reminds me to pack some nice clothes for this trip).

Some folks have asked about live streaming. Im not sure about that, but you can follow the hashtag #apsComm and us on twitter @DNLee5, @DrIsis, @PHLane, @JGold85. Were speaking at 3 pm PST.

Some other #SciComm friends will be at #EB2012 the official hashtag of the meeting such as @SciCurious whose an official blogger for the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics,@hapsci, official meeting blogger for ASBMB, and @Comprendia who is co-hosting an event with ASBMB at the meeting. Cant wait to see all of these great people and many more.

Also check out: Experimental Biology @ExpBio and American Physiology Society Executive Director @ExecDirectorAPS

Although, there wont be many talks or posters in my specific field, I am a science nerd in general. I love learning new things. So I have no doubt Ill be engaged, plus Im a complete nut for Exhibit Hall Swag. However, I am looking forward to any presentations on physiology ad behavior and Ive got my eye out for anyone who does ANY kind of bio-behavior work with rodents. Ive got some experimental design work to do and I think I can get some new insight from researchers who see things a little differently than I do. So all in all, Im looking forward to the entire thing: the presenting, the presentations, the networking, the professional development (and the partying). Ha!

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Could a newly discovered viral genome change what we thought we knew about virus evolution?

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Public release date: 18-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Dr. Hilary Glover hilary.glover@biomedcentral.com 44-203-192-2370 BioMed Central

A study published in BioMed Central's Biology Direct journal reports the existence of a previously undetected group of viruses and, more importantly, a new type of viral genome that could have huge implications for theories of viral emergence and evolution.

Viruses are the most abundant organisms on earth, yet little is known about their evolutionary history since they have exceptionally high rates of genetic mutation which are difficult to track. Viral metagenomics, however, is becoming an increasingly useful tool with which to glimpse virus evolution, as it makes available vast amounts of new sequence data for analysis.

Kenneth M Stedman's team from Portland State University in Oregon, USA, used a metagenomics approach to investigate virus diversity in Boiling Springs Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park, USA, an acidic, high temperature lake (ranging from 52-95C, with a pH of ~2.5) that sustains a purely microbial ecosystem.

Astonishingly, they found a unique viral genome that has never before been reported - a circular, single-stranded DNA virus encoding a major capsid protein seen previously only in RNA viruses. This unusual genome provides proof that integration of an RNA virus into a DNA virus may have occurred between two unrelated virus groups at some point in evolution - something that has not been observed before. Moreover, this suggests that entirely new virus types may emerge via recombination of functional and structural modules between vastly different viruses, using mechanisms that are as-yet unknown.

The team observed that the Boiling Springs Lake RNA-DNA hybrid virus (BSL RDHV) genome is circular, but its size is roughly double that of typical circoviruses, with the ORFs arranged in an uncommon orientation. They compared the BSL RDHV genome to other metagenomic DNA sequences from the Global Ocean Survey, and found strong evidence to conclude that previously undetected BSL RDHV-like viruses could be widespread in the marine environment and are likely to be found in other environments as well.

No mechanism has been proposed to account for the inferred instances of interviral RNA-DNA recombination, but the team speculate that a DNA circovirus-like progenitor may have acquired a capsid protein gene from a ssRNA virus via reverse transcription and recombination.

Lead author Kenneth M Stedman said, "As more viral metagenomic data are generated and analyzed, additional evidence of recombination between RNA and DNA virus groups will likely be discovered. The discovery that novel virus groups can emerge via recombination between highly disparate virus types will have broad implications for the early evolution of viruses and extends the modular theory of virus evolution to encompass a much broader range of possibilities than previously thought."

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Could a newly discovered viral genome change what we thought we knew about virus evolution?

Experimental Biology 2012: Conference Blogging Basics

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Sci is flying out tomorrow to take part in (and blog about) the Experimental Biology meeting in San Diego. I will be blogging on behalf of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, so itll be all things pharmacology from here on out! Make sure to check out the blog and follow along on Twitter! See you in San Diego!

But perhaps I have emailed you, and asked to blog your poster, and perhaps you are considering emailing me about your latest and greatest workand you pause. What IS this conference blogging, exactly? What is it for?

Well, look no further. Because this post (a re-post from my previous blogging of the Society for Neuroscience Meeting) is all about explaining what Im planning for the conference, how Im going to go about it, and what you can look forward to as a scientist when I blog your poster or talk. And because the more you know, the better prepared we will all be!

(source)

I covered much of this information in a guest post over at the Science of Blogging, where I talked about tips for blogging a conference. But that post is from a bloggers point of view, whereas this one will be from the perspective of you, the scientist.

So this is how it goes:

1. Over the next few days, I will either contact you, or you can contact me (scicurious at gmail) with your poster/presentation details. I will set up a time to come by your poster, and possibly also to meet with you for 30 minutes before or after your presentation.

2. If we meet up, I would like to hear from you about your work in detail. I will be reading the abstract that you submitted ahead of time, but If you could bring a copy of your poster or presentation (or send it ahead of time!) that would be wonderful! I will NOT use any of the graphs, tables, or images that you send in any post I may write up. What I will do is use your poster to give my my writing context and help me to remember and understand what weve talked about and the significance of your findings.

2a. If you are a student presenter (or heck, a postdoc!), you may want to bring your advisor along while we talk, if you are worried. Additionally, if your advisor requires credentials, let me know and I will provide them.

3. Once Im done grilling you (gently!) about your work, Ill head back, and start writing! I will try to get the post done before the next day.

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Experimental Biology 2012: Conference Blogging Basics

ASU Professor of Chemistry Named 2012 Professor of the Year

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Newswise The Arizona State University Parents Association honored Ian Gould, professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), as the 2012 Professor of the Year for his lifelong commitment to science and his ability to inspire students to become innovative in often-difficult chemistry classes.

With his internationally recognized career and extensive ongoing research, Gould provides tremendous vision and direction to ASU students. Through passionate and inspirational classroom instruction, he demonstrates a powerful devotion to undergraduate students and inspires each to excel both in and out of the classroom.

The students are number one. Ive learned something from every one of them, said Gould, receiving the honor before more than 200 ASU faculty, students, staff, administrators, parents, friends and other nominees at the Faculty Excellence Awards. I didnt prepare to win. There were a lot of nominees, and statistically it seemed improbable.

Parents Association Special Recognition awards also were presented to Lenore Dai, professor of chemical engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and Danwen Jiang, professor of music in the Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts. Information and a video about the 29 nominees can be found at asu.edu/pty.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Gould has received honors for his distinguished work, including the Organic Chemistry Prize in 1977 from Manchester University and the Gramatacakis Neumann Award in 1985 from the European Photochemical Association. Gould also won a CLAS Distinguished Teaching Award in 2002 and appointment to ASUs Presidents Professors in 2005.

After a substantial research career at Eastman Kodak, Gould joined ASU in 1998 offering students a strong industry perspective of science, resulting in his on-site and online classes filling quickly. While teaching, Gould takes time from his personal life to ensure he allows for one-on-one meetings with any student that requires his assistance. Gould, who received his doctorate in 1980 from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, was promoted to full professor at ASU in 2004.

The ASU Parents Association awarded the first Professor of the Year in 1994. Thanks to the continued generosity of ASU families and the participation of ASU students, faculty and staff, the ASU Parents Association bestows this prestigious honor annually. Four undergraduate students and three faculty colleagues contributed letters in support of Goulds nomination. These letters were considered by the committee of parents, other Professors of the Year and scholarship students in recognizing Gould.

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ASU Professor of Chemistry Named 2012 Professor of the Year

Nature photographer inspires Breck Library

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"Not all nature photography is wonderful and exciting. Im just now getting over my second case of poison ivy this spring alone, joked Bruce Flaig during his talk at the Breckenridge Public Library Tuesday afternoon.

Flaig, a Minnesota native, gave a slide show presentation of his photography and a question- and-answer session as part of the Lake Agassiz Regional Librarys The Beat Goes On! Sugarbeet Series. Hes been a professional photographer for two decades, but in earlier years he worked as an analytical chemist and biochemistry lab technician. He credits his attention to detail and patience with photography to his scientific background.

Birds are his favorite animals to photograph, but his work is peppered with colorful landscape images as well as macro shots of insects and wildflowers. He lives on 120 acres near Fertile, Minn., and is able to view a number of species from his property, which includes native prairie grasslands, oak trees and a lake.

Flaig said the best time to shoot just about anything outdoors is early morning and late afternoon.

Generally you want your shadow pointing at what youre shooting at, he explained. You can have the sun pointing in your face and use it effectively, but generally you want it behind you.

He said when the sun is high in the sky is the worst time to shoot and thats when nature photographers go in to take a nap.

Flaig shared many stories about his experiences seeking out the perfect shot, including one time when he spent 45 minutes walking around a tree to find the perfect angle.

It was a great tree, I just couldn't find the angle, Flaig said.

He uses a Fresnel lens when shooting birds, which amplifies the available light. He also uses a flash, which enhances the feather detail of the avians.

Flaig said its important to be patient when photographing wildlife and to get creative. He said a car can be used as a blind to shoot from. Most birds are used to seeing cars and arent bothered by them.

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Nature photographer inspires Breck Library

Lead Dust Exposure Linked to Violence

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A new study reveals that childhood exposure to lead dust is linked to violence. The research pointed out issues with exposure to leaded gasoline and acts of violence up to 20 years after the exposure.

According to the new findings, which are published in the journal Environment International and written by toxicologist Howard W. Mielke, childhood exposure to lead dust is associated with long-lasting physical and behavioral effects, said Science Daily. Lead dust, says Mielke, has been connected to aggravated assaults two decades after exposure. Mielke, a research professor at the Department of Pharmacology at the Tulane University School of Medicine, collaborated with Sammy Zahran, a demographer at the Center for Disaster and Risk Analysis at Colorado State University.

According to the researchers, vehicles that used leaded gasolinebest known for its air contaminationhave led to increases in aggravated assaults in urban areas, said Science Daily.

The study reviewed lead releases in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New Orleans, Louisiana; and San Diego, California from 1950 to 1985, said Science Daily. Increases in airborne lead dust exposure seen during this time frame were attributed to leaded gasoline, wrote Science Daily; correlative spikes were seen in aggravated assault rates about 20 years later, after exposed children were grown.

After controlling for other potential causes, including community and household income, education, policing efforts, and incarceration rates, Mielke and Zahran revealed that for every 1% increase in tonnage of environmental lead released 22 years prior, the present aggravated assault rate increased by 0.46%, said Science Daily.

Children are extremely sensitive to lead dust, and lead exposure has latent neuroanatomical effects that severely impact future societal behavior and welfare, says Mielke. Up to 90% of the variation in aggravated assault across the cities is explained by the amount of lead dust released 22 years earlier, Mielke added, said Science Daily. Tons of lead dust were released in the years from 1950 to 1985 in urban areas by vehicles that ran on gasoline, said Science Daily. Also, the improper handling of lead-based paint contributed to lead contamination.

As weve long written, exposure to lead in children and unborn children can cause brain and nervous system damage, behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, headaches, mental and physical retardation, and behavioral and other health problems. Lead is also known to cause cancer and reproductive harm and, in adults, can damage the nervous system. The developing brain is of particular concern over negative influences known to have long-lasting effects that can continue well into puberty and beyond. Once poisoned, no organ system is immune.

Children with lead poisoning may experience irritability, sleeplessness or excess lethargy, poor appetite, headaches, abdominal pain with or without vomitinggenerally without diarrheaand constipation, and changes in activity level. A child with lead toxicity can be iron deficient and pale because of anemia and can be either hyperactive or lethargic. In adults there may be motor problems and an increase in depressive disorders, aggressive behavior, and other maladaptive affective disorders, as well as problems with sexual performance, impotence and infertility, and increased fecal wastage and sleep disorders. Lead poisoning can also result in oversleeping or difficulty falling asleep.

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Lead Dust Exposure Linked to Violence

Science finds that alcohol boosts creative problem solving (video)

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According to the Federation Association of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, it is all about the distracting elements that bring the big ideasAnd whats better known for providing distraction, than alcohol?

The study reports that by reducing a persons focus, a persons ability to creatively problem solve is enhanced.

The study concludes, that its all about the reduced role of the working memory part of the brain. This is what gives us the capacity to focus, make decisions, and be logical. When this is not engaged, the brain is simply streaming consciousness and is distracted.

The same occurs by sleeping, taking a hot shower, or getting older.

This distraction gives the brain the ability to be innovative and creative problem solve by associating remote ideas together.

This creative problem solving, essentially entails thinking outside the box.

If you have ever experienced a sudden answer popping into your head, from what seems out of nowhere-you have experienced creative problem solving.

CTV Reporter Elizabeth Drolet speaks with a CSU Cognitive Psychology Grad Student, as well as, hears students reactions about the potential creative outlet they are tapping into when moderate drinking occurs.

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Science finds that alcohol boosts creative problem solving (video)

Getting Out the Vote

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STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Researchers applying psychology to the realm of politics are finding that giving voters a few strategic nudges can push far more people in the direction of polls on election day.

Old standard get-out-the-vote phone call scripts made by volunteers simply asked people to participate in the election and reminded callers that voting was important. But now, using insights on how people make decisions, political parties and other organizations are finding that subtle changes in language even from a verb to a noun can make a substantial difference in how many people cast ballots.

Studies presented at Stanford on March 30 showed that more voters are motivated to go to the booths when they are told turnout will be high and when they are provoked to discuss plans for getting there. Moreover, they also are more likely to vote when they are threatened with personal accountability and when they are encouraged to see voting as an intrinsic part of their identity, rather than just something they do.

Since the 2006 election, in fact, organizations have doubled or tripled the efficiency of their get-out-the-vote budgets by including such messages, according to Todd Rogers, a Harvard professor and former founding executive director of the political research organization Analyst Institute. Rogers presented the work to nonprofit and corporate leaders assembled for The Science of Getting People to Do Good briefing, sponsored by the Center for Social Innovation at the Graduate School of Business.

Typical voter campaign telephone scripts just encouraging people to vote, Rogers said, end up being a total waste of time and have no impact on voting behavior. What works in such calls, instead, is getting people to form a voting plan.

In a controlled study of voter mobilization phone calls in the 2008 Pennsylvania presidential primary, which pitted Hillary Clinton against Barack Obama, researchers discovered that differences in scripts affected turnout. Scripts that guided people to think through the logistical details of their plans for voting such as when they intended to head to the polls, how they would get there, and what they would be doing beforehand were more than twice as effective as the standard scripts that simply asked people if they intended to vote.

This shows that cognitive planning and mechanical logistics, not just motivation, are part of the voting decision, Rogers noted. But the plan-making only affected single-voter households. Voters who live alone are less likely to have a plan than people who live in groups or families, where discussing the next days events are a natural part of life. So the intervention has much more impact on those who live alone, Rogers said.

Personal accountability matters, too. In a study of the 2010 general election, researchers sent one group of potential voters a psychologically sophisticated mailing encouraging them to vote. Another group received the same mailing, plus in the top right corner a box saying: We may call you after the election to talk about your voting experience. Adding that box increased the effectiveness of the mailing in terms of the voting it stimulated by almost half. The effect was especially strong among those who were the most civically engaged, based on their answers to a post-election survey of civic questions like: How many amendments are there in the Bill of Rights?

Join the Trend or Buck the Trend?

A common tactic used by press, politicians, and pundits to get people to vote has simply been to lament low voter turnout. But, Rogers has conducted research showing that such messages actually demotivate voting. This is because people are fundamentally social beings, and so the behavior of others influences their behavior, he explained.

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Getting Out the Vote

Leading Provider of Doctor-Formulated Nutritional Supplements Gets America Moving in a Healthy Direction with the …

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POTOMAC, Md., April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Healthy Directions, a leading health publisher and provider of proprietary, doctor-formulated nutritional supplements, skincare and weight-loss products, today announced the launch of its newly designed health and wellness website http://www.HealthyDirections.com.

With a 20-year track record of highly efficacious doctor-developed formulations, Healthy Directions is known for incomparable safety, quality, and customer service. Its new website has been redesigned to provide consumers with targeted, doctor-guided information on how to prevent, treat and/or cope with common health conditions and ailments that affect a significant number of Americans, including heart disease, diabetes, digestion issues, arthritis, hormonal issues, and aging. In addition to featuring hundreds of pages of expert content, the new website will include an online store, offering an array of supplements, skincare and other health and wellness products.

The website also offers exclusive access to the Healthy Directions doctors -- leaders in the field of alternative and integrative healthcare practices who have earned reputations as the world's leading authorities in natural healing. Together they share a common goal: to help people live longer, healthier, and more vibrant lives. The site outlines each doctor's unique approach to wellness and area of specialty, including specific guidance and recommendations that visitors can begin using right away to improve their health.

The Healthy Directions doctors include:

"It is our mission to get America moving in a healthy direction and we have re-launched HealthyDirections.com to provide consumers with easy access to our extensive collection of health and wellness guidance, advice and resources that were previously only available via subscription newsletters," says Healthy Directions Executive Vice President Connie Hallquist.

In addition to its rich content, HealthyDirections.com offers consumers a vast array of alternative supplements to support specific health needs including bone health, joint health, brain and memory, cardiovascular health, immunity, men's and women's health, weight loss, sleep, and vision. All of Healthy Directions products are proudly made in the USA or Canada from the finest ingredients available worldwide. Adhering to stringent quality standards and a Triple Testing Philosophy that exceeds industry Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and FDA requirements, Healthy Directions delivers safe, superior products backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

"Whether it's through our rich content or doctor-formulated quality nutritional supplements, Healthy Directions continues to stay true to its unwavering commitment to safety, superior product quality, and life-changing expert guidance," Hallquist adds.

About Healthy Directions

Healthy Directions, LLC, a leading health publisher and provider of doctor-formulated nutritional supplements, skincare and diet products, is dedicated to helping people lead healthier, happier lives by providing expert guidance and advanced nutritional supplements from America's leading doctors of integrative medicine. Offering consumers solutions to help them achieve vibrant health throughout their lives, Healthy Directions works with some of the nation's most knowledgeable and highly respected integrative and alternative doctors, including Dr. Julian Whitaker, Dr. David Williams, Dr. Stephen Sinatra, Dr. Susan Lark and Dr. Aaron Tabor. For more information about Healthy Directions, please visit http://www.healthydirections.com.

Media Contact: Lauren Aboulessan Krupp Kommunications (212) 886-6710 LAboulessan@kruppnyc.com

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Leading Provider of Doctor-Formulated Nutritional Supplements Gets America Moving in a Healthy Direction with the ...

The Anatomy of Sovereign Default

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The three primary factors that determine the interest rate level a nation must pay to service its debt in the long term are; the currency, inflation and credit risks of holding the sovereign debt. All three of those factors are very closely interrelated. Even though the central bank can exercise tremendous influence in the short run, the free market ultimately decides whether or not the nation has the ability to adequately finance its obligations and how high interest rates will go. An extremely high debt to GDP level, which elevates the country's credit risk, inevitably leads to massive money printing by the central bank. That directly causes the nation's currency to fall while it also increases the rate of inflation.

It is true that a country never has to pay back all of its outstanding debt. However, it is imperative that investors in the nation's sovereign debt always maintain the confidence that it has the ability to do so. History has proven that once the debt to GDP ratio reaches circa 100%, economic growth seizes to a halt. The problem being that the debt continues to accumulate without a commensurate increase in the tax base. Once the tax base can no longer adequately support the debt, interest rates rise sharply.

Europe's southern periphery, along with Ireland, has hit the interest rate wall. International investors have abandoned their faith in the bond market and these countries have now been placed on the life support of the European Central Bank. Without continuous intervention of the ECB into the bond market yields will inexorably rise.

The U.S. faces a similar fate in the very near future. Our debt is a staggering 700% of income. And our annual deficit is over 50% of Federal revenue. Just imagine if your annual salary was 100k and you owed the bank a whopping 700k. Then go tell your banker that you are adding 50k each year-half of your entire salary--to your accumulated level of debt. After your bankers picked themselves off the floor, they would summarily cut up your credit cards and remove any and all existing lines of future credit. Our gross debt is $15.6 trillion and that is supported by just $2.3 trillion of revenue. And we are adding well over a trillion dollars each year to the gross debt. Our international creditors will soon have no choice but to cut up our credit cards and send interest rates skyrocketing higher.

When bond yields began to soar towards dangerous levels in Europe back in late 2011 and early 2012, the ECB made available over a trillion Euros in low-interest loans to bailout insolvent banks and countries. Banks used the money to plug capital holes in their balance sheets and to buy newly issued debt of the EU nations. That caused Ten-year yields in Spain and Italy to quickly retreat back under 5% from their previous level of around 7% just a few months prior. But now that there isn't any new money being printed on the part of the ECB and yields are quickly headed back towards 6% in both countries. There just isn't enough private sector interest in buying insolvent European debt at the current low level of interest offered.

The sad truth is that Europe, Japan and the U.S. have such an onerous amount of debt outstanding that the hope of continued solvency rests completely on the perpetual condition of interest rates that are kept ridiculously low. It isn't so much a mystery as to why the Fed, ECB and BOJ are working overtime to keep interest rates from rising. If rates were allowed to rise to a level that could bring in the support of the free market, the vastly increased borrowing costs would cause the economy to falter and deficits to skyrocket. This would eventually lead to an explicit default on the debt.

But the key point here is that continuous and massive money printing by any central bank eventually causes hyperinflation, which mandates yields to rise much higher anyway. It is at that point where the country enters into an inflationary death spiral. The more money they print, the higher rates go to compensate for the runaway inflation. The higher rates go the worse economic growth and the debt to GDP ratio becomes. That puts further pressure on rates to rise and the central bank to then increase the amount of debt monetization...and so the deadly cycle repeats and intensifies.

The bottom line is that Europe, Japan and the U.S. will eventually undergo a massive debt restructuring the likes of which history has never before witnessed. Such a default will either take the form of outright principal reduction or intractable inflation. History illustrates that ownership of gold will provide a safe harbor for your wealth when paper currencies are being inflated into oblivion.

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The Anatomy of Sovereign Default