Tranquil and isolated for centuries, until the big waves came

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Port Blair:The December 26 tsunami killed almost a quarter of the indigenous communities of India's remote Nicobar Islands at the southern end of the Bay of Bengal, close to the earthquake's epicentre.

Hit hard by the tsunami: Nancowrie Island, in the Nicobar Islands Photo: Rasheed Yousuf

The eight 20-metre-high waves that smashed the archipelago's 24 islands - only 12 of which are inhabited - not long after dawn wiped out an idyllic way of life forever.

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Tranquil and isolated for centuries, until the big waves came

Editor's Picks: The Best of 2014 in Music

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From pop to indie rock to R&B, the music landscape is dizzyingly vast. So it should come as no surprise that the Zimbio team's taste in tunes is similarly varied. Something we agreed on: Future Islands' soaring synth pop album Singles. Something we disagreed on: Taylor Swift, pop star extraordinaire. Read on to discover the music we loved (and loathed) in 2014.

Lani Conway (Associate Editor)FAVORITE ALBUM Future Islands' Singles SONG YOU COULDN'T STOP LISTENING TO Lana Del Rey's "West Coast" and Metronomy's "Love Letters" SONG YOU COULDN'T TURN OFF FAST ENOUGH Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass". Sorry, I'm not drinking that Kool Aid. MOST WTF TV MUSICAL MOMENT OF 2014 Robin Thicke trying to woo Paula Patton back at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards. Seriously, bro, move on. MOST OVERRATED ALBUM U2's "Songs of Innocence." BAND YOU HOPE BLOWS UP IN 2015 Lolawolf. They're weirdly cool.

Joey Skladany (TV Editor)FAVORITE ALBUM Ed Sheeran's X SONG YOU COULDN'T STOP LISTENING TO"Partition" by Beyonce. If the Queen had released her self-titled album this year, it would definitely be my answer to the question above. I don't dislike one song. SONG YOU COULDN'T TURN OFF FAST ENOUGH#Selfie. I can't believe radio DJs actually played it. Shame on you! MOST WTF TV MUSICAL MOMENT OF 2014Aside from "singers" trying to sing during award shows, I'd have to say Nicki Minaj's dress malfunction. MOST OVERRATED ALBUMMariah Carey's Me. I am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse. I am obsessed with Mariah, but a big LOL to those who said this was her comeback album. BAND YOU HOPE BLOWS UP IN 2015Phillip Phillips. Okay, so he may have won American Idol, but he needs to be known beyond his awesome single "Home." His album Behind the Light is awesome!

Joe Robberson (Associate Editor)FAVORITE ALBUM Singles by Future Islands SONG YOU COULDN'T STOP LISTENING TO"The Ballad of Mr. Steak" by Kishi Bashi SONG YOU COULDN'T TURN OFF FAST ENOUGH"Happy" MOST OVERRATED ALBUMFoo Fighters Sonic Highways BAND YOU HOPE BLOWS UP IN 2015Strand of Oaks

I listen to indie and rap, and this year I loved Spoon, Interpol, War on Drugs, JJ Doom, Lykke Li, Sage Francis, The Drums, Beck, Kishi Bashi, but nothing could eject Future Islands from my CD player. Yes I like CDs still.

JJ Duncan (Senior Editor)FAVORITE ALBUM Swans, To Be Kind" SONG YOU COULDN'T STOP LISTENING TO212 by Azealia Banks SONG YOU COULDN'T TURN OFF FAST ENOUGHShake It Off by Taylor Swift MOST WTF TV MUSICAL MOMENT OF 2014Bette Midler singing The Wind Beneath My Wings at the Oscars BAND YOU HOPE BLOWS UP IN 2015King Tuff

Popular music feels more dominated than ever by a handful of singers, but if you scratch the surface theres a lot of great stuff to be found. As someone who prefers Taylor Swifts singer-songwriter stuff, I was turned off by her new over-the-top pop sensibility. (Im obviously not the target audience.) But I loved the Swans second album since reforming, which constitutes roughly two hours of some very dark soundscapes. Guitar rockers King Tuff were also great this year, as was Frankie Cosmos.

Deena Bustillo (News Editor)FAVORITE ALBUM1989. It took a couple listens to convince me, but now I'm hooked. Radio hit "Shake It Off" is my least favorite song on the album, though. More "Clean," please. SONG YOU COULDN'T STOP LISTENING TOEd Sheeran's cover of Sam Smith's "Stay With Me." It's crazy that the song could get any better, but Sheeran's acoustic version is like the best/saddest lullaby. SONG YOU COULDN'T TURN OFF FAST ENOUGH"All About That Bass." While I fully support the message, I just can't stand the song and I'm usually a sucker for catchy pop. This is maybe just TOO catchy. MOST WTF TV MUSICAL MOMENT OF 2014 Kacey Musgraves' hair at the CMA Awards. You know it's bad when people try to guess what's hiding in your hair. MOST OVERRATED ALBUMAriana Grande's My Everything. She has a killer voice and I can dance along to some of her songs, but the album did nothing for me. I can't get over the feeling that she's just trying too hard. BAND YOU HOPE BLOWS UP IN 2015Harriet. Any band who can make a song called "I Slept With All Your Mothers" something you actually want to listen to deserves more recognition. They've been around a while, so hopefully 2015 is their year.

Hayley Igarashi (Associate Editor)FAVORITE ALBUM First Aid Kits Stay Gold SONG YOU COULDN'T STOP LISTENING TOHoziers Take Me to Church SONG YOU COULDN'T TURN OFF FAST ENOUGH"Bang Bang" MOST WTF TV MUSICAL MOMENT OF 2014Peter Pan Live! BAND YOU HOPE BLOWS UP IN 2015Squalloscope

Lately Ive swapped out music for podcasts on my daily commute (and almost everywhere else), so I feel like I have the least to say here. That being said, Welcome to Nightvale, an awesome podcast, features weird, quirky music in their weather section that I often fall in love with immediately.

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Scientists create human primordial cells in the lab

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CAMBRIDGE, England, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The first time in history, researchers have successfully used human embryonic stem cells to create primordial germ cells, cells that divide and mature into egg and sperm. Previously, the feat had been accomplished using rodent stem cells -- not those from a human embryo.

"Researchers have been attempting to create human primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the petri dish for years," leader author Jacob Hanna, a researcher in the Institute's Molecular Genetics Department, said in a released statement.

Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells capable of dividing and transforming into specialized cells. They are the most basic of biological building blocks.

"The creation of primordial germ cells is one of the earliest events during early mammalian development," study co-author Naoko Irie, researcher at the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute at the University of Cambridge, said in a press release.

"It's a stage we've managed to recreate using stem cells from mice and rats, but until now few researches have done this systematically using human stem cells," Irie added.

Researchers say the newly realized feat has revealed differences between embryo development in humans and rodents -- discrepancies that could undermine studies that extrapolate mice and rat-based evidence to human-related conclusions.

"Having the ability to create human PGCs in the petri dish will enable us to investigate the process of differentiation on the molecular level," Hanna said.

The research was published this week in the journal Cell.

2014 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

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Scientists create human primordial cells in the lab

In a First, Weizmann Institute and Cambridge University Scientists Create Human Primordial Germ Cells

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Newswise Groups at the Weizmann Institute of Science and Cambridge University have jointly managed the feat of turning back the clock on human cells to create primordial germ cells the embryonic cells that give rise to sperm and ova in the lab. This is the first time that human cells have been programmed into this early developmental stage. The results of their study, which were published December 24 in Cell, could help provide answers as to the causes of fertility problems, yield insight into the earliest stages of embryonic development and potentially, in the future, enable the development of new kinds of reproductive technology.

Researchers have been attempting to create human primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the petri dish for years, says Dr. Jacob Hanna of the Weizmann Institutes Department of Molecular Genetics, who led the study together with research student Leehee Weinberger. PGCs arise within the early weeks of embryonic growth, as the embryonic stem cells in the fertilized egg begin to differentiate into the very basic cell types. Once these primordial cells become specified, they continue developing toward precursor sperm cells or ova pretty much on autopilot, says Dr. Hanna. The idea of creating these cells in the lab took off with the 2006 invention of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells adult cells that are reprogrammed to look and act like embryonic stem cells, which can then differentiate into any cell type. Thus several years ago, when researchers in Japan created mouse iPS cells and then got them to differentiate into PGCs, scientists immediately set about trying to replicate the achievement in human cells. But until now, none had been successful.

Previous research in Dr. Hannas lab pointed to new methods that could take human cells to the PGC state. That research had focused on the question of how human iPS cells and mouse embryonic cells differ: The mouse embryonic cells are easily kept in their stem cell state in the lab, while human iPS cells that have been reprogrammed a technique that involves the insertion of four genes have a strong drive to differentiate, and they often retain traces of priming. Dr. Hanna and his group then created a method for tuning down the genetic pathway for differentiation, thus creating a new type of iPS cell that they dubbed nave cells. These nave cells appeared to rejuvenate iPS cells one step further, closer to the original embryonic state from which they can truly differentiate into any cell type. Since these nave cells are more similar to their mouse counterparts, Dr. Hanna and his group thought they could be coaxed to differentiate into primordial germ cells.

Working with nave human embryonic stem and iPS cells, and applying the techniques that had been successful in the mouse cell experiments, the research team managed to produce cells that, in both cases, appeared to be identical to human PGCs. Together with the lab group of Prof. Azim Surani of Cambridge University, the scientists further tested and refined the method jointly in both labs. By adding a glowing red fluorescent marker to the genes for PGCs, they were able to gauge how many of the cells had been programmed. Their results showed that quite a high rate up to 40% had become PGCs; this quantity enables easy analysis.

Dr. Hanna points out that PGCs are only the first step in creating human sperm and ova. A number of hurdles remain before labs will be able to complete the chain of events that move an adult cell through the cycle of embryonic stem cell and around to sperm or ova. For one, at some point in the process, these cells must learn to perform the neat trick of dividing their DNA in half before they can become viable reproductive cells. Still, he is confident that those hurdles will one day be overcome, raising the possibility, for example, of enabling women who have undergone chemotherapy or premature menopause to conceive.

In the meantime, the study has already yielded some interesting results that may have significant implications for further research on PGCs and possibly other early embryonic cells. The team managed to trace part of the genetic chain of events that directs a stem cell to differentiate into a primordial germ cell, and they discovered a master gene, Sox17, that regulates the process in humans, but not in mice. Because this gene network is quite different from the one that had been identified in mice, the researchers suspect that more than a few surprises may await scientists who study the process in humans.

According to Dr. Hanna, Having the ability to create human PGCs in the petri dish will enable us to investigate the process of differentiation on the molecular level. For example, we found that only fresh nave cells can become PGCs; but after a week in conventional growth conditions they lose this capability once again. We want to know why this is. What is it about human stem cell states that makes them more or less competent? And what exactly drives the process of differentiation once a cell has been reprogrammed to its more nave state? It is the answers to these basic questions that will, ultimately, advance iPS cell technology to the point of medical use.

Dr. Jacob Hannas research is supported by Pascal and Ilana Mantoux, France/Israel; the New York Stem Cell Foundation; the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (FAMRI), the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF); the Helen and Martin Kimmel Award for Innovative Investigation; the Benoziyo Endowment Fund for the Advancement of Science; the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; the Sir Charles Clore Research Prize; Erica A. Drake and Robert Drake; the Abisch Frenkel Foundation for the Promotion of Life Sciences; the European Research Council; the Israel Science Foundation, and the Fritz Thyssen Stiftung. Dr. Hanna is a New York Stem Cell Foundation-Robertson Investigator.

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In a First, Weizmann Institute and Cambridge University Scientists Create Human Primordial Germ Cells

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Jeb Bush leaving health-care company

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Jeb Bush is stepping down from the board of a health care company that has reportedly profited from Obamacare, a move that comes as the Republican explores a run for the presidency.

The former Florida governors resignation from the board of directors of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp. is effective Dec. 31, a Bush aide confirmed Thursday. The Los Angeles Times and The Wall Street Journal earlier reported on his departure.

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Bushs business record is considered a potential area of vulnerability for him should he decide to run in 2016. He has been involved in a range of ventures, including private equity funds. Those links have drawn comparisons to Mitt Romney, the GOPs 2012 nominee for president, who was attacked during his campaign over his financial entanglements.

Bushs decision on Tenet is consistent with reviewing all of his commitments as part of actively exploring a potential run, his aide said in a statement to POLITICO.

It is a natural next step as he turns his focus to more actively considering a campaign for the presidency.

According to various media reports, Tenet backed President Barack Obamas health reform act and has seen its revenues rise from it. Bushs involvement with Tenet could give ammunition to conservatives in the GOP who view him as too moderate particularly those who despise the Affordable Care Act.

The L.A. Times report noted that Bush earned cash and stock awards worth nearly $300,000 from Tenet in 2013 and sold $1.1 million in Tenet stock that year. Tenet media officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Bush would be stepping down as a paid adviser to the British bank Barclays by years end. Aides to Bush have also said he has stopped delivering highly paid speeches; the Republican has plans to travel across the country to meet with voters as he mulls a White House run.

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Dr. Tyler Cymet: 2014s top 10 health care stories

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Health care has so much going on that it is hard to choose just 10 stories that had the most impact. Health care providers are learning new ways to do everything that we do. The transitions in health care are technology related, system structured and necessary due to the increasing cost of health care.

Here are the 10 stories that will likely have an effect for many years to come.

1. Non-physician graduates exceed physician graduates in the United States. Of the 43,000 new American graduates entering the workforce each year, only about half are physicians, the other half are nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA). Future physicians will be at an increasingly smaller percentage. New NP and PA programs have opened up at an incredibly fast rate. Some of these programs have the ability to train almost entirely via the Internet. This nontraditional training style is transforming health care education and contributed to the increased number of non-physician providers.

2. Marijuana moves towards an alcohol equivalent. All told, 23 states have approved the legalized use of marijuana in some regard. The shredded leaves of cannabis sativa have become a medical issue Physicians are now working to better understand the medicinal drug uses, their role on prescribing or recommending treatments and how society will address cannabis usage as well as consequences of its use are increasing in importance.

3. Obamacare enrollment starts and system consolidation occurs. Obamacare is the political term for four major health care reforms: insurance reform; creation of health insurance exchanges; Medicaid expansion; and creation of accountable care organizations.

The implementation had a rocky start, which diverted attention from positive changes in the focus of the delivery of health care. Medical care is now a right, and everyone has to contribute to the system. The issues hotly debated include what services should be covered and who pays for services prior to $5,000 deductibles being met for services not covered. What the cost of this program is for individual Americans is only now becoming clear. Let the tweaking commence (once the shouting stops).

4. Assistant Physicians licensed in Missouri without residency training. Medical school graduates will be able to practice medicine without any graduate medical education for the first time due to the new legal definition created by the Missouri state legislature.

A hallmark of medical education is the slow and supervised entry into the health care system. Gradually increasing levels of responsibility with oversight insures patient care is deliberate, careful and gives opportunities for self-correction without harm. As the shortage of primary care physicians becomes increasing evident, new laws will allows physicians to practice sooner. It is a new and different world, and the experimentation has begun.

5. Sugar-sweetened beverages increase risk of coronary heart disease. The jury is back and the decision from a meta-analysis is that early and continued exposure to high-fructose corn syrup beverages will lead to an increase in coronary heart disease. While this knowledge should mean that the use of high-fructose corn syrup in the future will become more limited in its use, the result is still unclear. The first step is knowing, and now we know.

6. Ebola: Health care workers on the front lines. The most likely contact for the Ebola virus in America is a health care provider. Rare but fatal (mortality rate of 50 percent) this RNA virus is not easily contracted. The lack of infrastructure, public health or knowledge of the illness has left health care providers as a major risk group. Lack of preparedness has caused healthcare providers to feel abandoned, and vulnerable

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Dr. Tyler Cymet: 2014s top 10 health care stories