Falklands On HIGH ALERT: Hundreds of British Troops Sent to Islands to Boost Security – Video

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Falklands On HIGH ALERT: Hundreds of British Troops Sent to Islands to Boost Security
http://www.undergroundworldnews.com 300 extra troops are to be sent to the Falklands as the islands reach their highest state of alert in almost 20 years. http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/5554...

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Falklands On HIGH ALERT: Hundreds of British Troops Sent to Islands to Boost Security - Video

String of Earthquakes Shakes Up Pribilof Islands

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A swarm of earthquakes have been recorded in the central Bering Sea. (Credit: AEIC)

The Pribilof Islands arent usually prone to shaking. But more than a dozen earthquakes have been recorded in between St. Paul and St. George since Friday afternoon.

Michael West, the director of the Alaska Earthquake Information Center, describes the activity as a swarm.

That is, a cluster of earthquakes that are responding to some stress in the earth that appears to be releasing itself kind of incrementally, West says.

Most of the earthquakes have been around magnitude 4.0, although five of them exceeded 5.0M.

Residents in St. Paul and St. George have been feeling the effects. But as of Sunday afternoon, there were no reports of damage in either community. And there were no tsunami warnings, either.

The National Tsunami Warning Center will only issue an alert for Unalaska and Sand Point if the earthquakes grow stronger above a magnitude 7.0.

This is a special region in Alaska, says science officer Paul Huang. Its unlike the front part of the Aleutians. The water [around the Pribilofs] is shallower, so we have a different criteria.

Its been over 20 years since the Pribilof Islands saw a significant earthquake. A magnitude 6.7 quake struck north of St. George in 1991, sending a small tsunami across the Bering Sea.

But other than that, the Pribilofs have been pretty quiet. Theyre not affected by subduction along the Aleutian Chain, which causes a lot of seismic activity in the region.

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String of Earthquakes Shakes Up Pribilof Islands

Genetic switch regulates transcription and replication in human mitochondria

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10 hours ago by Heather Zeiger Mitochondria. Credit: Wikipedia commons

(Phys.org)The majority of the human genome is located within the nucleus. However, there is a small but important portion of DNA located within the mitochondria. This mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has received much attention in the last few years for tracing ancestry, mitochondrial disease, and three-parent IVF. Mitochondrial DNA's unique properties mean that it has different regulatory mechanisms. A new study by Dmitry Temiakov from Rowan University reports for the first time evidence that mtDNA transcription and replication are regulated by a molecular switch that may provide insight into developmental processes such as embryogenesis and spermatogenesis. The results are reported in Science.

Mitochondrial DNA, unlike nuclear DNA, undergoes transcription and replication at the same location. The transcriptional proteins used to read the mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) strand, made from the mtDNA, are different from the ones used in replication but occur at the same time and space, which could potentially result in a collision and subsequent problems in gene expression. Temiakov's group investigated whether TEFM, a mitochondrial transcription elongation factor that has been shown to escalate transcription activity in promoterless DNA, plays a role in regulating transcription and replication in the mitochondria.

Transcription in the mitochondria occurs at two locations, the light strand promoter and the heavy strand promoter. Prior studies have shown that transcription terminates early, about 120 base pairs before the light strand promoter, at a region of mtDNA found in most vertebrates, known as CSBII, or conserved sequence block II. A hybrid complex forms with the nascent RNA and the nontemplate strand of DNA.

This complex forms near the origin of the of the replication primer for the heavy strand, and will replicate two-thirds of the mtDNA on the heavy strand. It stops near the origin of the light strand. The now single light strand forms a hairpin structure that is recognized by the mitochondrial RNA polymerase as the signal to begin replication of the light strand.

Temiakov's group showed that in the presence of TEFM, the mitochondrial DNA polymerase does not stop at CSBII as it typically does in human mtDNA transcription, but continues transcribing through the CSBII section. Because TEFM prevents transcription termination, it also prevents the synthesis of the mtDNA polymerase primer that is used in replication. This finding provided one of several clues that TEFM acted to regulate replication and transcription in human mitochondrial DNA.

While conducting this study, the group inadvertently found that because their reference genome has a rare polymorphism in the CSBII region, they observed a decrease in efficiency of the transcription termination mechanism. They believe that the polymorphism disrupted the formation of the G-quadruplex, and that this G-quadruplex is involved in the CSBII mechanism.

Further investigations of how the G-quadruplex is involved in the TEFM mechanism showed that the TEFM interacts with the particular portions of the nascent RNA transcript. Temiakov's group believes that the TEFM interferes with the formation of the G-quadruplex, causing the hairpin structure to not form. This, in turn, does not signal to the mtRNA polymerase to begin replication.

Further studies showed that TEFM affects how well mtRNA polymerase is able to produce long transcripts. Without TEFM, shorter transcripts are formed, terminating at the CSBII region. TEFM increases processivity of mtRNA polymerase.

Temiakov concludes that TEFM serves as a switch that either "turns on" transcription, making it more efficient, or it "turns on" replication. This research indicates that replication and transcription are likely mutually exclusive processes in the human mitochondrial genome precluding the possibility that the transcription and replication processes will collide. Furthermore, this switch may be a key player in the developmental processes in which transcription of mtDNA occurs but not replication.

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Genetic switch regulates transcription and replication in human mitochondria

Retroviruses reveal mammalian genetics

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February 2, 2015

(Credit: Thinkstock)

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Throughout our evolution, viruses have infected an egg or sperm, incorporated themselves into the genetic code and passed on to future generations. While these viruses appear to have no ill effects on us, some of them have been known to cause cancer and other health problems in other mammals.

For geneticists, these endogenous retroviruses (ERVs)serve another function they can reveal details about a species evolution and genetic diversity.

According to a new study published in the journal Retrovirology, humans have far fewer ERVs than other mammals, including close relatives like chimpanzees. The study team said this discrepancy was probably due to humans starting to use tools and weapons in conflicts as opposed to biting and scratching each other like our primate cousins.

Considering us simply as a primate species, the proportion of human individuals that are infected with retroviruses is much less than among our relatives such as chimpanzees, said Robert Belshaw, a genomics professor from Plymouth University in the United Kingdom.

In the study, the scientists analyzed the genetic signature of the two opposite sides of viruses in 40 mammalian species, including humans. These edges are very similar when the virus first incorporates itself into the genome, but as they get random mutations over time, they slowly start to diverge. By monitoring this split, the study team could see how long the retrovirus had been in an animals genome.

Using this gauge, they learned that far fewer retroviruses were included in the genome for humans and other great apes during the last 10 million years compared to other animals. Even compared to animals very similar to us, humans are abnormal in not getting any new kinds of retroviruses in their DNA over the last 30 million years.

Less blood means fewer viruses

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Retroviruses reveal mammalian genetics

Supporting health care needs of the transgender community

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Updated: 02/02/2015 4:17 PM Created: 02/02/2015 1:23 PM WNYT.com By: Benita Zahn

Saratoga Hospital is known for its inpatient and outpatient care. But it's especially proud of a unique honor -- recognition, twice by the Healthcare Equality Index as a "Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality" -- one of just 23 health care organizations in New York State to earn the distinction last year.

"We began to have open groups with our employees who were interested in the LGBT community. And we had a series of meetings and got their feedback with regards to what they saw as opportunities within our culture and where we could do better," explained Mary Jo LaPosta, senior vice president of patient care.

She says someone from the local Rainbow Access Initiative reached out to the hospital. That triggered a self-assessment of how the hospital was doing in providing care for the LGBT community.

That self-assessment yielded a cascade of ideas and suggestions generated by staffers. Some were simple, but with a profound effect on attitudes -- like gender-neutral rest rooms and reviewing how patients are identified.

"And it also starts even with the forms you have to fill out prior to seeing the doctor. If it says a certain thing, seeing your pediatrician [for example], instead of saying mother or father it will say parent or parent" said Amy Smith.

Amy and Caroline Smith are married with two young sons and say the changes helped make them feel more welcome at the hospital, where both babies were born.

"Lends a greater sense of credibility to what we need and that our health care needs are valid and important," said Caroline Smith.

The effort at inclusion is ongoing, says LaPosta, but there's still work to be done.

"I think we had experience in caring for the lesbian, gay and bisexual community, but I think we could argue we had work to do in meeting the unique needs of the transgendered community," she admitted.

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Supporting health care needs of the transgender community

Commission leaders see health care cost control concerns

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Stuart Altman

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By Michael Norton

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

BOSTON -- Health care cost growth in Massachusetts during 2013 held below the 3.6 percent benchmark set under a 2012 cost control law, but leaders of a state commission overseeing the market are worried about the future.

According to Health Policy Commission Chairman Stuart Altman, many important aspects of the health care delivery system have not changed since passage of that law and that's "troubling." And commission vice chair Wendy Everett says some aspects of the Massachusetts system are "embarrassing" and out of sync with the 2012 law's goals.

At a recent commission meeting at the State House, Altman cautioned that forces that helped keep per capita cost escalation at 2.3 percent from 2012 to 2013 - raising total costs from $49 billion to $50.5 billion - may not be repeated.

Dr. Marian Wrobel, the commission's director for research and cost trends, also said Massachusetts had been riding a national wave of lower cost growth that may not continue.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services projects health care spending growth rates nationally of more than 5 percent in 2014 and beyond, according to the commission, based on an aging population, the economic recovery, and additional utilization of services among those newly covered under the Affordable Care Act.

The commission in late January adopted far-reaching recommendations, including consideration of whether additional legislative authority is necessary to help the panel determine whether parties in health care transactions - the Bay State market has undergone significant consolidation in recent years - have fulfilled efficiency, quality and access commitments made in those deals.

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Commission leaders see health care cost control concerns

Health Care Sector Update for 02/02/2015: HART,HEB,PSTI

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Top Health Care Stocks

JNJ +0.50%

PZE +1.15%

MRK +0.87%

ABT +0.87%

AMGN -0.01%

Health care stocks were mixed in late trade with the NYSE Health Care Sector Index declining 0.1% and shares of health care companies in the S&P 500 climbing 0.5% as a group.

In company news, Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology ( HART ) tumbled today after the medical device company late Friday disclosed it will need additional development and testing of its HART-Trachea under it ongoing preclinical testing in large animals.

According to the Jan. 30 regulatory filing, HART executives said they anticipate the additional testing will require an additional two to six months beyond its original projections.

Based on those expectations, the company said it will likely file its application for to begin clincial testing in human subjects with UK authorities during the first half of 2016 rather than its previous goal of starting those tests before the end of 2015.

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Health Care Sector Update for 02/02/2015: HART,HEB,PSTI

Health Care Sector Update for 02/02/2015: CCM,HEB,PSTI

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Top Health Care Stocks

JNJ -0.10%

PZE +0.18%

MRK -0.60%

ABT -0.44%

AMGN -1.29%

Health care stocks were mostly lower, with the NYSE Health Care Sector Index declining 0.6% and shares of health care companies in the S&P 500 also down 0.6% as a group.

In company news, Concord Medical Services Holdings Ltd. ( CCM ) was rising after the radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging company late Friday said it issued nearly 45.8 million newly created Class B shares to an entity controlled by the company's top two executives and giving them control of over 86% of CCM's voting rights.

Under the resolution adopted by shareholders participating in a Jan. 27 special meeting, each of the new Class B shares are eligible to cast 10 votes on future proposals. CCM ordinary shares, which became Class A shares on a one-for-one basis, can cast one vote while American despository shares will have three votes each, matching their current ratio with ordinary shares.

With the addition of the convertible Class B shares, Morgancreek Investment Holdings Ltd. - an investment vehicle 60% owned by CCM Board Chairman and CEO Jianyu Yang with Chief Operating Officer Zheng Cheng owning the other 40% - now controls 44.33% of all CCM issued stock and 86.28% of its voting rights, the company said.

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Health Care Sector Update for 02/02/2015: CCM,HEB,PSTI

Obamas 'Precision Medicine' Database: How Safe And Private Is The Patient Data?

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Scientific progress sometimes requires a leap of faith. And patients who volunteer their records to a national genomic database under President Obamas new initiative for precision medicine will be taking a big one.

In the young field of genomics, scientists are still drawing the ethical road map for open-ended exploration and realizing the privacy implications for what they might uncover. In the meantime, those who sign up for genomic studies are essentially along for the ride.

President Obama is asking Congress to embark down a new path in medicine to create treatments for diseases that have long stumped the scientific community. Obamas 2016 budget proposal grants $215 million to advance the field of precision medicine, an approach in which experts toss out their one-size-fits-all strategy to develop drugs or therapies that target the genetic makeup and lifestyle choices of each patient.

As part of the proposal, the Obama administration intends to give $130 million to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to build a database of records that will include biological samples, test results, medical histories and genomic profiles of a million or more Americans. Theproject should present unprecedented opportunities for researchers but also a host of new challenges for an administration with a dicey record of data protection at HealthCare.gov and a history ofelectronic surveillance in the name of national security.

I think this is a bold initiative, says Michael Zimmer, an expert in Internet privacy issues at University of Wisconsin-Madison. What I'm hoping here is that, given the sensitivity of this data, they will engage with the right communities and do it in a transparent way.

Francis Collins, director of the NIH, has confirmed to International Business Times that many of the genomes included in the database will be gleaned from a network of 200 groups of scientists around the country who have enrolled, or are enrolling, at least 10,000 participants each for the studies. It should be possible to build the precision medicine initiative largely from existing studies, saving a great deal of time and money, he says.

Of course, amassing the data will only be half of the challenge; the federal government must also keep it safe. Holding a persons genomic and medical records is like having a window into their lifestyle, family history and possible future, and the risk is that such intimate information could be abused or misused if found in the wrong hands.

Some patient protections are already in place. The Common Rule, by which most federal agencies abide, prohibits research on human subjects without their consent except in special situations. The Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also generally prohibits research on or the disclosure of information related to a patient's health without their consent among many universities and hospitals that may contribute to the nationwide study. And should this information ever leak out, Congress also passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act in 2008 to prevent insurers or employers from holding genetic findings against a person. Regardless, concerns still loom large in the minds of privacy advocates.

Pam Dixon, founder of a nonprofit concerned with privacy issues called the World Privacy Forum, argues that genomic data can be mishandled in ways that might impact an individuals family or children as well as themselves -- for instance, detecting an inheritable disease or predisposition for a late-onset illness. She thinks these concerns merit extra layers of protection. We cannot miss the mark on this one, she says.

The administration plans to grant $5 million to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology for the sole purpose of ensuring data security. Zimmer takes this investment as a sign that the administration is making privacy a priority from the start.

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Obamas 'Precision Medicine' Database: How Safe And Private Is The Patient Data?