Global warming blamed for 'worst ever' Marshall Islands coral bleaching

Posted on by

"Thermal stress levels set new record highs in CNMI and the NWHI and we saw the first widespread bleaching event in the main Hawaiian Islands."

Mr Fellenius said coral bleaching was a naturally occurring phenomenon but not on the scale currently being seen.

Coral bleaching occurs when the photosynthesising algae on which the reef-building creatures depend for energy disappear. Deprived of these for even a few weeks, the corals die.

"While bleaching can occur on very hot days in pools of water with little circulation [such as] very low tides on reef flats, it has become a global problem due to greenhouse gas emissions causing elevated temperatures under climate change."

He said sea surface temperatures had been on average half to a full degree Celsius higher than normal for months, adding: "This does not seem like a lot but it makes a big difference to corals."

Mr Fellenius said the last major bleaching event was in 1997, when an exceptionally strong El Nino system affected about a quarter of the world's coral reefs.

He said indications were that the latest episode had affected up to 75 per cent of smaller corals and 25 per cent of the larger varieties at some sites in the Marshalls.

He said the bleached coral was becoming covered with algae, hindering its chances of recovery.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) raised the alarm about rising sea temperatures this month on the sidelines of UN climate talks in Lima, saying 2014 was set to be the hottest year on record, consistent with man-made climate change.

"What is particularly unusual and alarming this year are the high temperatures of vast areas of the ocean surface," WMO chief Michel Jarraud said.

Go here to see the original:

Global warming blamed for 'worst ever' Marshall Islands coral bleaching

Sustainable and Equitable Fishing in the Pacific Gets Funding

Posted on by

Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program will initially provide funding to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency to improve the sustainable use of oceanic fisheries, coastal fisheries, and critical habitats.

PROP will initially provide funding to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency to improve the sustainable use of oceanic fisheries, coastal fisheries, and the critical habitats on which they depend.

PROP will also protect critical fishery habitats by creating financing mechanisms to fund the conservation of the growing number of protected marine areas in the region, and providing funds to ensure a coordinated regional approach to the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program.

The program will promote the local implementation of shared regional objectives, together with coordination from the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency. PROP will eventually expand the number of countries involved over its six to 10 year duration, with the potential to involve all 11 eligible Pacific Island Countries.

PROP will be funded through a US$32.97 million in grants and credits from the IDA, the World Banks fund for the poorest countries. An additional US$6.3 million will be provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund to the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency.

Related Link Pacific Islands Oceanscape

View original post here:

Sustainable and Equitable Fishing in the Pacific Gets Funding

White Southerners Likely To Have More Black DNA Than Whites Elsewhere In The US: Study

Posted on by

At least six million Americans who identify themselves as white have more "black" DNA than white people in other parts of the United States, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics. Several states, which have been the focal points of racial tensions in the U.S. over the years, are made up of self-described white people whose ancestors are black, the study claims.

Researchers reportedly examined the genetic records of 145,000 people who submitted saliva samples -- where DNA sequence variations are found -- to 23andMe, a California-based private company that provides ancestry-related genetic reports. From the data, researchers determined that people especially from the South have at least 1 percent of African ancestry. The study also found that states with the highest levels of African ancestry, such as South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, are not those with the highest proportions of African Americans.

European Americans with African ancestry comprise as much as 12 percent of European Americans from Louisiana and South Carolina and about 1 in 10 individuals in other parts of the South, according to the study.

The study also showed that people with less than 28 percent African ancestry identified themselves as European American, and not as African-American. Only people with morethan 50 percent African ancestryidentified themselves as African-American, The Washington Post reported, citing the survey. In addition, the studyfound that African-Americans are more likely to have a European male ancestor (19 percent) than a European female one (5 percent).

"Our study not only reveals the historical underpinnings of regional differences in genetic ancestry, but also sheds light on the complex relationships between genetic ancestry and self-identified race and ethnicity," study author Katarzyna Bryc of 23andMe reportedly said, in a press release.

Go here to read the rest:

White Southerners Likely To Have More Black DNA Than Whites Elsewhere In The US: Study

NewLink Genetics, Merck receive grant to manufacture Ebola vaccine candidate

Posted on by

Published 22 December 2014

NewLink Genetics and Merck announced that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a contract to manufacture Ebola vaccine candidate.

NewLink Genetics' wholly-owned subsidiary, BioProtection Systems, is the prime contractor in a $30 million contract to support the manufacturing and development activities of its investigational rVSV-EBOV (Ebola) vaccine candidate, including clinical development through a new 330-person Phase Ib study.

The vaccine candidate was initially developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and is now being developed under an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement between NewLink Genetics and Merck. The rVSV-EBOV (Ebola) vaccine candidate is currently being evaluated in Phase I clinical studies in humans.

"The current funding provided by BARDA is key to the rapid development of this Ebola vaccine candidate. These funds will support multiple facets of the accelerated Ebola vaccine program including the expansion of critical vaccine supplies and larger clinical studies," said Dr. Charles Link, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of NewLink Genetics.

"Governments and industry are effectively collaborating in an unprecedented effort to accelerate the development of Ebola vaccine candidates," said Dr. Mark Feinberg, chief public health and science officer of Merck Vaccines. "If we can bring an efficacious and well-tolerated vaccine to the outbreak countries, we will not only help protect people at risk in the current crisis, but also may help reduce the likelihood of such tragic events in the future."

Pending the results of Phase I trials underway, the US National Institutes of Health has announced plans to initiate, in early 2015, a large randomized, controlled Phase II/III study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this and another investigational Ebola vaccine candidate.

See original here:

NewLink Genetics, Merck receive grant to manufacture Ebola vaccine candidate

NDSU, Sanford Health Announce Research on Human Health, Nutrition

Posted on by

Contact Information

Available for logged-in reporters only

North Dakota State University, Fargo, and Sanford Health will conduct collaborative research on human nutrition, weight management and other dietary-related areas as part of a seed-grant initiative developed between the two organizations. The research will address key objectives of the Profile by Sanford program.

Profile is a weight-management program that uses customized meal plans, health coaches and real-time technology. It was developed by Sanford physicians and researchers.

NDSU researchers will have opportunities to collaborate with investigators from Sanford Research on topics like metabolism, food choices and consumption, prenatal nutrition, genetics, development of sensors that monitor wellness factors and food manufacturing and nutritional interactions with the human microbiome. Research findings relevant to Profile will be considered as the program evolves and expands.

Sanford will provide $250,000 annually for five years for the seed-grant program.

This collaboration with Sanford represents additional opportunities for faculty to conduct research with potential wide-ranging implications for positive impact on human health, said NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani.

Sanford Health was named as the first Campus Community Partner in 2012, to recognize private sector collaborations with the university that benefit the community, said President Bresciani. Adding this research collaboration to our already strong partnership to train nurses in the region, further illustrates our commitment to the communities we serve.

The Profile system utilizes meal-replacement products, nutritionally complete foods, qualified health coaches and client tracking of body weight, blood pressure and physical activity through smart wireless technology. Jawbone UP24 activity trackers are integrated with the Profile app to allow members to track their movement and sleep patterns. A new fitness tracker will provide additional measurable data helpful to members to monitor progress.

This collaboration offers an additional opportunity to further serve the citizens of the region, while potentially making strides that contribute to important research on health and well-being, said Kelly A. Rusch, NDSU vice president for research and creative activity.

Original post:

NDSU, Sanford Health Announce Research on Human Health, Nutrition

Career Spotlight: Chris Wilding – Assistant Network Engineer – Video

Posted on by


Career Spotlight: Chris Wilding - Assistant Network Engineer
Does information technology interest you? Have you ever considered working in health care? Chris Wilding, Assistant Network Engineer for St. Alexius Hospital, discusses his career in health care IT.

By: Missouri Health Careers

Read this article:

Career Spotlight: Chris Wilding - Assistant Network Engineer - Video

Palm Springs, Fl: Car Accident Personal Injury Treatment | Chiropractic Neurology – Video

Posted on by


Palm Springs, Fl: Car Accident Personal Injury Treatment | Chiropractic Neurology
Injury Treatment - Choice Medical Center: Phone 561-736-8060 http://www.choicemedicalcenters.com/location/ Chiropractic Neurology - Florida Orthopedic Health Care.

By: Medical Chiropractic Center: 561-736-8060

Link:

Palm Springs, Fl: Car Accident Personal Injury Treatment | Chiropractic Neurology - Video

Spine & Injury Center: Auto Accident Chiropractic in Boynton Beach | Personal Injury Treatment – Video

Posted on by


Spine Injury Center: Auto Accident Chiropractic in Boynton Beach | Personal Injury Treatment
Injury Treatment - Choice Medical Center: Phone 561-736-8060 http://www.choicemedicalcenters.com/location/ Chiropractic Neurology - Florida Orthopedic Health Care.

By: Medical Chiropractic Center: 561-736-8060

Excerpt from:

Spine & Injury Center: Auto Accident Chiropractic in Boynton Beach | Personal Injury Treatment - Video

Transforming Health: The Alfred Experience – Bernadette Comitti – Video

Posted on by


Transforming Health: The Alfred Experience - Bernadette Comitti
Bernadette Comitti, Clinical Service Director surgery, perioperative and outpatient services, The Alfred Centre, talks about her experience of change in the Victorian health care system.

By: sahealthaustralia

See the original post here:

Transforming Health: The Alfred Experience - Bernadette Comitti - Video

Transforming Health: The Alfred Experience – Dr Harry Gibbs – Video

Posted on by


Transforming Health: The Alfred Experience - Dr Harry Gibbs
Dr Harry Gibbs, Deputy Director of General Medicine, Medical Director of the Vascular Laboratory, The Alfred, Victoria, talks about his experience of change in the Victorian health care system.

By: sahealthaustralia

Go here to see the original:

Transforming Health: The Alfred Experience - Dr Harry Gibbs - Video

A Special Message From Vik Rajan, M.D. – President and Founder of Houston Patient Advocacy – Video

Posted on by


A Special Message From Vik Rajan, M.D. - President and Founder of Houston Patient Advocacy
Do you or your family: 1. Go to doctors #39; offices or hospitals and come out with more questions than answers about your medical condition? 2. Feel like doctors don #39;t spend enough time explaining...

By: Houston Patient Advocacy, LLC

More here:

A Special Message From Vik Rajan, M.D. - President and Founder of Houston Patient Advocacy - Video

Low Income Health Care Card changes from January 1, 2015

Posted on by

Danny asks:

I am a self-funded retiree and draw an allocated pension from my super fund and currently have a Low Income Health Care Card. Am I going to lose this from January 1 under the new Centrelink rules?

Olivia says:

Changes are certainly coming and from January 1 and the way income from superannuation pensions is means tested will change. The result could be that many Low Income Health Care Cards will be cancelled in the coming week.

Advertisement

The changes

Currently, the full value of an account-based superannuation pension or commonly referred to as an allocated pension, is not counted towards the income test to determine eligibility for the Low Income Health Care Card. The amount received is concessionally assessed and is reduced by a deductible amount based on the member's life expectancy.

By comparison, other financial assets such as bank accounts and shares are 'deemed' to earn a certain amount of income that is assessed under the income test, regardless of how much they have actually earned.

But from January 1, 2015 income from account-based superannuation pensions will also be deemed, putting it on a level footing with assets held outside of super.

Unfortunately, this means that many will lose their Low Income Health Care Card and will be advised of this from Centrelink directly in the coming week.

See the article here:

Low Income Health Care Card changes from January 1, 2015