Livestock, not Mongolian gazelles, drive foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks

ScienceDaily (Jan. 30, 2012) ? Wildlife health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society have published evidence which supports the conclusion that Mongolian gazelles -- one of the most populous large land mammals on the planet -- are not a reservoir of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral disease that threatens both wildlife and livestock in Asia.

Outbreaks of FMD in Mongolia affect domestic sheep, goats, camels, and cattle as well as Mongolian gazelles. In a country where roughly one-third of the human population relies directly on livestock production for their subsistence, outbreaks of FMD cause severe disruption of the rural economy.

The study, titled "Serosurveillance for Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Mongolian Gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) and Livestock on the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia," appears in the January edition of the Journal of Wildlife Diseases. The authors include: Sanjaa Bolortsetseg, Shiilegdamba Enkhtuvshin, Wendy Weisman, Amanda Fine, Angela Yang, and Damien Joly of the Wildlife Conservation Society; and D. Nyamsuren of the Dornod Aimag Veterinary Laboratory, Choibalsan, Dornod Province, Mongolia.

The Mongolian gazelle is a medium-sized antelope with a heart-shaped patch of white fur on its rump. The species gathers in vast migratory herds across Mongolia's Eastern Steppe, considered the largest intact temperate grassland in the world. The gazelle is under pressure from a variety of threats, particularly exploration for oil, gas, and minerals.

The research culminates a decade-long effort to examine the potential role of the gazelles in FMD ecology. In the recently published study (undertaken between 2005-2008), the research team collected blood samples from 36 gazelle calves and 57 adult gazelles in order to determine the prevalence of antibodies to the foot-and-mouth virus (FMDV). The team also collected samples from domestic animals kept in areas frequented by gazelles, including 138 sheep, 140 goats, 139 Bactrian camels, and 138 cattle for comparison.

The authors found that the patterns of FMDV antibody prevalence in gazelle populations reflect the dynamics of FMD in livestock across the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia. During 1998-99 (outbreak free years in livestock), researchers detected no antibodies in gazelles; conversely, during a FMD outbreak in livestock in 2001, researchers detected a 67 percent prevalence rate in gazelles. The recently published study examines the following outbreak free periods, during which the team noted a declining prevalence in FMDV antibodies in the gazelle population. Based on these observations, the authors conclude that the Mongolian gazelle population is not a reservoir for FMDV on the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia, but rather, the virus enters the gazelle population after spillover from livestock during sporadic outbreaks.

"The successful control of foot-and-mouth disease on the Eastern Steppe will require a program that focuses on livestock populations and entails health monitoring and vaccinations of domestic animals when needed," said WCS veterinary epidemiologist and co-author Shiilegdamba Enkhtuvshin.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Wildlife Conservation Society.

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Journal Reference:

1. Sanjaa Bolortsetseg, Shiilegdamba Enkhtuvshin, D. Nyamsuren, Wendy Weisman, Amanda Fine, Angela Yang, and Damien O. Joly. Serosurveillance for Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Mongolian Gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) and Livestock on the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, Jan 2012

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120130172408.htm

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Djokovic has that unbeatable feeling (AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia ? Novak Djokovic has that unbeatable feeling.

And well he should.

The Serb outlasted Rafael Nadal to defend his Australian Open title in the longest ever Grand Slam final and become the fifth man to win three straight majors in the Open Era.

Djokovic now has the French Open ? the one major to elude him ? in his sights. He won't even rule out the ultimate: the Grand Slam.

"One player (Rod Laver) has done it, so it is possible," he said after the traditional post-victory photo shoot in a downtown Melbourne park on Monday. "Obviously the times are different and tennis nowadays is much more competitive and much more physical. And that makes that challenge more difficult to achieve. But everything is possible."

With the London Olympics to follow Wimbledon this year, Djokovic could even make it a Golden Slam by winning the gold medal at London 2012 to go with the four majors.

"The facts are that I'm at the peak of my career," Djokovic said. "I feel physically and mentally at the peak, I feel strong, I feel motivated, I feel eager to win more trophies."

Having slept for only a few hours, Djokovic dispensed with the band and the raucous dressing room celebrations that marked his victory last year, choosing to strum the air guitar and belt out a few lyrics from "Highway To Hell."

Djokovic recalled the brief celebrations after the match at Rod Laver Arena and made a half-hearted attempt to sing the refrain from the AC/DC rock anthem. His legs were too tired, and his throat a bit hoarse. "Oh man, I'm tired."

And so he should be. Djokovic completed a 5-hour, 53-minute 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 victory over Nadal at 1:37 a.m. ? ending an epic match with a forehand winner that finally finished off the Spaniard.

He defied exhaustion to tear off his shirt and flex his bare torso as he made his way to celebrate with friends and family. He was still doing interviews after 4 a.m.

It didn't leave much time for celebrating. Unlike his victory at the 2011 Australian Open, when he beat his friend Andy Murray in straight sets and then kicked off an all-night party with a rock band in the locker room.

"I didn't have any more energy left to celebrate," Djokovic said Monday. "I was preferring my bed."

When he awoke not long after, his body reminded him not just of the incredible events of the previous evening, nearly six hours of physically punishing tennis against one of the game's most ferociously competitive athletes, but also of a near five-hour semifinal two nights earlier against Murray.

"I felt lots of pain all over the body," he said. "The adrenaline is still there and I still am very excited about what I have experienced here in the last two weeks and especially last night. I'm full of joy, but I think still I don't have a real sense of what's going on."

Djokovic wasn't the only one feeling a little dazed Monday. There were still 1.86 million people watching in Australia until after 1:30 a.m. The peak audience was 3.86 million, approaching about one-fifth of the population. When the last ball was struck, hardly any of the almost 15,000 spectators in Rod Laver Arena had left.

A historic final provided a fitting climax to a men's tournament that also featured riveting semifinals between Nadal and No. 3-ranked Roger Federer, and Djokovic and No. 4 Murray.

Tournament director Craig Tiley, celebrating a record attendance of 686,006 over two weeks, described the final as "the greatest match of all time."

A day after earning her first Grand Slam title, even Victoria Azarenka came out to watch the men's final. The 22-year-old Belarusian needed 82 minutes ? two minutes more than the first set lasted between Nadal and Djokovic ? to rout Maria Sharapova and claim both the trophy and the No. 1 ranking.

Djokovic's seventh straight win in a final over Nadal underlined his dominance of the men's game, which until last year had been headlined by Nadal and Federer.

Nadal got closer to ending the Serb's recent success against him, but after being a break up in the fifth set, couldn't get over the line. Despite a third straight loss in a Grand Slam final, Nadal leaves Melbourne more motivated than ever.

Less than 24 hours before the tournament began, he was in tears, believing a freak knee injury he sustained while sitting on a chair would prevent him from competing in the tournament.

To end it having pushed his nemesis to the limit was more than enough consolation for the 10-time Grand Slam champion.

"I wanted to win, but I am happy about how I did," he said. "I had my chances against the best player of the world today. I played one against one."

In the end, Djokovic's unshakable belief that began to develop when he won the Davis Cup with Serbia at the end of 2010, and strengthened when he went the first 41 matches of last season unbeaten, pulled him through.

Once the bridesmaid to Nadal and Federer, Djokovic understood exactly how his opponent felt.

"When I played three, four years ago against Rafa and Roger in Grand Slam semifinals and finals, I felt that they were just superior on the court, that they had this mental advantage," he said. "Because they just know that when the time comes, when the match is breaking down, fifth set, they will always prevail, because they believe more, they have more experience and they know what to do."

Now it's Djokovic's turn to feel like he's the one who can't lose.

___

AP Sports Writer John Pye contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120130/ap_on_sp_te_ne/ten_australian_open

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Signs point to strong Jan. finsh for stocks

NEW YORK?? January has turned out strong for equities with just two trading days to go. If you're afraid to miss the ride, there's still time to jump in. You just might want to wear a neck brace.

The new year lured buyers into growth-related sectors, the ones that were more beaten down last year. The economy is getting better, but not dramatically. Earnings are beating expectations, but at a lower rate than in recent quarters. Nothing too bad is coming out of Europe's debt crisis ? and nothing good, either ? at least not yet.

"No one item is a major positive, but collectively, it's been enough to tilt it towards net buying," said John Schlitz, chief market technician at Instinet in New York.

Still, relatively weak volume and a six-month high hit this week make some doubt that the gains are sustainable.

But then there's the golden cross.

Many market skeptics take notice when this technical indicator, a holy grail of sorts for many technicians, shows up on the horizon.

As early as Monday, the rising 50-day moving average of the S&P 500 could tick above its rising 200-day moving average. This occurrence ? known as a golden cross ? means the medium-term momentum is increasingly bullish. You have a good chance of making money in the next six months if you put it to work in large-cap stocks.

In the last 50 years, according to data compiled by Birinyi Associates, a golden cross on the S&P 500 has augured further gains six months ahead in eight out of 10 times. The average gain has been 6.6 percent.

That means the benchmark is on solid footing to not only hold onto the 14 percent advance over the last nine weeks, but to flirt with 1,400, a level it hasn't hit since mid-2008.

The gains, as expected, would not be in a straight line. But any weakness could be used by long-term investors as buying opportunities.

"The cross is an intermediate bullish event," Schlitz said. "You have to interpret it as constructive, but I caution people to take a bullish stance, if they have a short-term horizon ."

Less than halfway into the earnings season and with Greek debt talks over the weekend, payrolls data next week and the S&P 500 near its highest since July, there's plenty of room for something to go wrong. If that happens, the market could easily give back some of its recent advance.

But the benchmark's recent rally and momentum shift allow for a pullback before the technical picture deteriorates.

"We bounced off 1,325, which is resistance. We're testing 1,310, which should be support. We are stuck in that range," said Ken Polcari, managing director at ICAP Equities in New York.

"If over the weekend, Greece comes out with another big nothing, then you will see further weakness next week," he said. "A 1 (percent) or 2 percent pullback isn't out of the question or out of line."

On Friday, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite closed their fourth consecutive week of gains, while the Dow Jones industrial average dipped and capped three weeks of gains. For the day, the Dow dropped 74.17 points, or 0.58 percent, to close at 12,660.46. The S&P 500 fell 2.10 points, or 0.16 percent, to 1,316.33. But the Nasdaq gained 11.27 points, or 0.40 percent, to end at 2,816.55.

For the week, the Dow slipped 0.47 percent, while the S&P 500 inched up 0.07 percent and the Nasdaq jumped 1.07 percent.

Next week is filled with heavy-hitting data on the housing, manufacturing and employment sectors.

Personal income and consumption on Monday will be followed by the S&P/Case-Shiller home prices index, consumer confidence and the Chicago PMI ? all on Tuesday.

Wednesday will bring the Institute for Supply Management index on U.S. manufacturing and the first of three key readings on the labor market ? namely, the ADP private-sector employment report. Jobless claims on Thursday will give way on Friday to the U.S. government's non-farm payrolls report. The forecast calls for a net gain of 150,000 jobs in January, according to economists polled by Reuters.

Another hectic earnings week will kick into gear with almost a fifth of the S&P 500 components posting quarterly results. Exxon Mobil, Amazon, UPS, Pfizer, Kellogg and MasterCard are among the names most likely to grab the headlines.

With almost 200 companies' reports in so far, about 59 percent have beaten earnings expectations ? down from about 70 percent in recent quarters.

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46181761/ns/business-us_business/

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California orders hike in number of super clean cars

California, long a national leader in cutting auto pollution, pushed the envelope further Friday as state regulators approved rules to cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and put significantly more pollution-free vehicles on the road in coming years.

The package of Air Resources Board regulations would require auto manufacturers to offer more zero- or very low-emission cars such as battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles in California starting with model year 2018.

By 2025, one in seven new autos sold in California, or roughly 1.4 million, must be ultra-clean, moving what is now a driving novelty into the mainstream.

The board also strengthened future emission standards for all new cars, making them the toughest in the nation. The rules are intended by 2025 to slash smog-forming pollutants from new vehicles by 75 percent and reduce by a third their emissions that contribute to global warming.

"Today's vote ? represents a new chapter for clean cars in California and in the nation as a whole," said Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary Nichols.

Auto manufacturers are uneasy with some of the provisions but generally support the package, which took three years to develop. "We know the board wants to push the automakers," said Mike Love, national regulatory affairs manager for Toyota Motor Sales. "We said we're willing to go along with you and do our best."

The requirements are expected to drive up car prices. The board staff predicts that the advanced technologies needed to meet the new standards will add $1,900 to the price of a new car in 2025. But that would be more than offset by $6,000 in estimated fuel savings over the life of the vehicle, according to the board's staff.

Zero-emission autos now make up a minuscule portion of the more than 26 million cars in California, with just a few hundred fuel cell cars and about 34,000 battery electric autos on the road.

"The fact that we are going to change what consumers can buy is one of the most important things we can do," board member Ken Yeager said before the panel, at the end of a two-day hearing in Los Angeles, voted 9 to 0 to approve the rules.

Manufacturers are poised to introduce a number of new electric and plug-in hybrid models. "This year, two dozen or more new vehicles are going to come out in the market," Love said. "Everyone is trying their idea for EVs (electric vehicles), plug-ins."

Nichols said she has seen "a real change in attitudes on the part of auto companies that have seen the handwriting on the wall.... The reality is that companies see the future is going to be in electric drivetrain vehicles. They're moving there as fast they can."

But automakers do still have concerns, particularly whether consumers will buy the ultra-clean cars.

"Automakers are mandated to build products that consumers are not mandated to buy," said Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which includes Chrysler Group, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. "If the electric vehicle infrastructure is not in place, consumers may be reluctant to buy these technologies."

Jack Nerad, Kelley Blue Book market analyst, predicted that "the added expense and lesser versatility of the 'environmental' vehicles" will continue to make them less desirable to consumers. Manufacturers might have to sell clean cars at a loss to meet the requirements, and "buyers of conventional cars will pick up the remainder of the tab," he said. One of the most disputed elements of the rules centered on a clause that in the early years of the mandate gives credits to automakers who reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of their fleets more than required. Those credits would cut the number of electric, fuel cell and plug-in hybrids the companies had to offer in California.

Jay Friedland, legislative director of Plug In America, called it "a loophole you can drive a truck through" that will undermine the 2025 goal of having ultra-clean cars make up 15% of the new vehicles sold in the state.

A zero-emission mandate is not new in California. It dates from 1990 but was progressively watered down over the years.

The state's ambitious goals to slash its greenhouse gas production renewed focus on the role that super clean cars could play.

"The steady drumbeat of the need to get off the dependence on petroleum is really what is driving this," Nichols said. "It's taken longer than we've hoped."

Starting with model year 2015, automakers will have to meet tougher standards for smog-forming emissions and, in 2017, greater limits on pollutants that contribute to global warming.

By 2025, the standards are designed to reduce the average smog-forming emissions of new cars and light trucks by 75% compared with those sold today.

The greenhouse gas limits, which would be the same as the federal government has proposed for vehicles nationally, should cut those auto emissions by a third more in 2025 than required under current standards. To meet the new limits, the board staff anticipates the auto industry will make greater use of advanced hybrid technology, stronger and lighter materials and improved emission control equipment.

If oil companies don't reach an agreement with the state to voluntarily install alternative fueling stations, such as for hydrogen fuel cells, the new rules will also require them to do so when a certain number of cars using that fuel is reached. The outlets could be placed at an existing gasoline station or a free-standing site.

"I hope the oil industry will get on board rather than dragging its feet," said board member Hector De La Torre.

bettina.boxall@latimes.com

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/Wtx2mj-IKg4/la-me-clean-car-20120127,0,7155961.story

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Virtual trees sway in wind just like the real thing

Animators will soon be able to construct startlingly realistic sylvan beauty in movies and video games with a new system for generating 3D virtual trees

ANIMATORS will soon be able to construct startlingly realistic sylvan beauty in movies and video games with a new system for generating 3D virtual trees.

At the moment, computer-generated images (CGI) of trees are either drawn manually on a computer and then animated, or someone has to shoot video of a tree moving in the wind. This is digitally transformed into a CGI copy of the original. Either process takes days - and you can only produce one size and shape of tree, says Chuan Li, a computer animator at the University of Bath in the UK.

To solve this problem, Li and colleagues have developed software that generates realistic-looking 3D animated trees of any size and shape based on a rough 2D sketch. The trees even blow in the wind like their woody counterparts, and can be whipped around just by piping in a soundtrack of a blustery day.

The system can start with just a 2D sketch of a tree's leafless branches, and an outline of what the tree's shape will be once it is in full leaf. The 2D sketch is then copied and rotated 90 degrees into 3D space. From there, an algorithm "grows" additional branches for the tree until a 3D skeleton is complete.

The software contains a model of how real tree branches move in both light and strong winds, based on video footage the team shot. The system applies this model to the tree skeleton to work out how the branch structure would move large clusters of leaves as they billow in the breeze. Each virtual branch in the skeleton is then broken into six segments. "By rotating each segment independently we can get the right magnitude of tree movement for the wind speed," says Li. Once they have captured a tree's 3D skeleton, they can scale it up or down for trees of different shapes and sizes, from a short wispy cherry to a dense, tall oak. The team's work was published in December in the journal ACM Transactions on Graphics (DOI: 10.1145/2070781.2024161).

This means that any sketch of a tree skeleton can be used to generate a 3D model that moves like a real tree. Better still, the trees automatically respond to the sound level of the wind in a soundtrack, measured in decibels, without adding physical parameters like wind speed. So as noise increases from a light breeze to a howling gale, tree branches go from swaying peacefully to flailing wildly.

"When I saw this my jaw was on the floor," says Jordi Bares, 3D creative director at London animation studio The Mill, who marvelled at the package's simplicity and speed, and adds he hopes it will be commercialised soon. "It's a game changer that could save us the huge chunk of our time we currently spend creating natural 3D assets like trees."

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Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/1c313c41/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg213284950B60A0A0Evirtual0Etrees0Esway0Ein0Ewind0Ejust0Elike0Ethe0Ereal0Ething0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

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Conn. home invasion killer is sentenced to death

By NBC News and news services

AP file

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A Connecticut man was sentenced Friday to die for killing a woman and her two daughters during a night of terror in their suburban home, a gruesome crime that unsettled the suburbs and halted momentum to abolish the death penalty in the state.

Joshua Komisarjevsky will be joining Steven Hayes on death row for killing Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11. He is scheduled to be executed in July.

The girls were tied to their beds and doused in gasoline before the house was set ablaze; they died of smoke inhalation. Komisarjevsky was convicted of the killings and of sexually assaulting Michaela.

The only survivor, Dr. William Petit, was beaten with a baseball bat and tied up but escaped.

"I will never find peace within. My life will be a continuation of the hurt I caused," Komisarjevsky?said in court. "The clock is now ticking and I owe a debt I cannot repay."

Komisarjevsky said he walked out of court condemned to die by 12 members of the community.?

"It's a surreal experience, being condemned to die," Komisarjevsky said.

---

Forgiveness is not his to have, he said, and he needs to forgive his worst enemy -- himself.

Read story at NBCConnecticut.com

Before the sentencing, Judge Jon Blue said sentencing another human being to death is the most somber task a judge can have.

The court then?heard some emotional victim impact statements from the Hawke and Petit families.

Petit read his statement as a slide show of his family played on the screen.

Petit called the crime a "personal holocaust" as he testified during the sentencing hearing. He said his wife was his friend and confidante, and a wonderful mother. He also noted that Hayley would have been in medical school by now and that Michaela loved to cook and sing.

"I lost my family and my home," he said. "They were three special people. Your children are your jewels."

Michaela came into the world smiling, Petit said. He recently received a card from one of Michaela's friends. It said it was sad to know that she wouldn't be in 10th grade this year.

"I miss her running to the door and yelling 'Dada's home,'? Petit said.

'Was it worth the price?'
The Rev. Richard Hawke?spoke directly to the?convicted killer?and said he?s presided over many funerals, but never dreamed he would bury his daughter and grandchildren. It was the worst thing he?s had to go through.??

"Was it worth the price?" he asked at one point.

If Jennifer, Hayley and Michaela could endure the pain that Komisarjevsky put them through, their families can endure the pain of the trials,?Hawke said.

?You have not only destroyed your family, you have destroyed your own and destroyed a noble family name,? Hawke told the man who killed his family members.

The statement from Jennifer?s mother, Marybelle Hawke, was also played in court and she said the love of family will carry them through.

The Petit and Hawke families left court before the sentence was handed down.

Lawyers fought for jurors to hear videotaped testimony from Komisarjevsky?s 9-year-old daughter, but the defendant made a plea against it.?

Last month, a jury delivered the death verdict for Komisarjevsky after finding him guilty of the crimes. On Friday, the judge handed down that sentence.

The Associated Press and NBCConnecticut.com contributed to this report.

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Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/27/10251592-second-conn-home-invasion-killer-is-sentenced-to-death

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Google Earth Gets a Seamless Upgrade [Google]

One drawback from Google Earth has always been that if you pull the view back far enough, the terrain begins to look like a scene from Minecraft. Well, no longer! With the version 6.2 update, Google Earth looks even more like the real thing. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/rH8nRqiyB-Y/google-earth-gets-a-seamless-upgrade

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Biscotti

Front-facing cameras have made video chats possible on smartphones and tablets, just like they've been possible on webcams for over a decade. But HDTVs have been devoid of the technology, with a few minor exceptions. Now, you can get HDTV webcams that let you chat with friends or family from your couch. The Biscotti is an integrated webcam and chat device you can get for $199 direct from the company. It connects to your Wi-Fi network and makes Google Talk or Biscotti-to-Biscotti calls, and it has an HDMI passthrough so you can take calls while you watch TV. Its video quality doesn't live up to its price, though, and its lack of Skype makes video chats with other HDTV users who don't have Biscottis awkward. For much easier Skype video chats, the Tely Labs TelyHD ($249.99, 4 stars) offers a better experience (in a bulkier camera) for just a bit more.

Design and Interface
The Biscotti is the same size and shape as the baked good after which it's named, with a gently curving top surface and decidedly cookie-like dimensions of 0.8 by 6.2 by 1 inches (HWD). It weighs just 1.6 ounces and is completely black, with only a Biscotti logo and a red light on the front. The back of the device holds an HDMI input, an HDMI output, and a power port.

Because it's so small and light, the Biscotti is tough to properly place on or under an HDTV. It comes with some adhesive squares and zip-tie fasteners to keep it stable, but you'll need at least two so the cables don't torque the Biscotti sideways or pull it away. When the device weighs less than some of the cables you'd use to connect it to an HDTV or cable box, it's a small problem. The base is also just wide enough to keep it from resting on top of a thin HDTV. Since it's a single piece of plastic with no swivel or tilt function, getting it aligned just right for comfortable video chatting from a couch is nearly impossible. A digital pan and zoom function lets you center the picture on you by cropping the frame, but it's not as useful as a physical pan that can physically point the camera directly at you.

The Biscotti comes with a small, business card-sized remote control that's just under 0.4 inches thick. It has a direction pad and a back button, which are all you need to control the device. The buttons are flat, and while the direction buttons are large, the back button sits just under them, meaning you can accidentally press it when you want to press the down button and undo any text input you entered with the on-screen keyboard.

The interface and feature set of the Biscotti are both simple. The main menu is a set of three buttons that let you browse your friends list, go over recent calls, or change settings. The menu expands out from the buttons, turning into a three-layered menu of lists and options. The interface serves as an overlay for whatever you're watching over HDMI, thanks to the pass-through connection on the Biscotti. If you plug your cable box into it, you can watch TV while keeping Biscotti active, letting you view calls while your shows or movies play behind them, and letting you know whenever you receive a call.

You can only make calls to other Biscotti users or people on Google Plus, Google Talk, or Gmail who have video chat enabled. The lack of Skype support is a major issue, since Skype is one of the biggest names in video chatting, and many other HDTV webcams use it, like the Tely Labs TelyHD ($249.99, 4 stars). The Google support means you can still talk to most of your friends, if they have a webcam. It also supports voice calls over either service, if your friends don't have a webcam but have a microphone or headset.

Performance and Conclusions
Video quality is lacking with the Biscotti. While its camera is capable of high definition video, it can quickly drop to lower quality if the wireless connection isn't excellent. In the PCMag Labs, where the Wi-Fi signals are thick and cloudy, video looked blocky and was prone to hiccups. In a Google Talk video chat, the picture seemed pixelated and jagged, even when seen through a notebook screen. This isn't the high resolution and fluid picture of a Facetime call, or even an average webcam call with Skype. Video chat works well enough, but it doesn't look very smooth or sharp. Compared to the Logitech TV Cam (which requires a Logitech Revue) or the Microsoft Kinect (which requires an Xbox 360), the video quality falls short. The TelyHD, on the same Wi-Fi network, had a much more stable and higher quality video stream. The Biscotti doesn't have an Ethernet port like the TelyHD does, either, so if you don't have a good Wi-Fi network around your HDTV, you'll find yourself with unstable, disappointing video calls.

Google Talk connections were more erratic than direct Biscotti connections; even adding friends to the contact list took a few attempts to "invite" them before they registered. The video chat appears reliably in Google Talk or a Google Plus/Gmail screen with the chat support enabled, but if your friend uses a third party app with Google Talk, chat requests might not even appear at all.

Biscotti has some great ideas about HDTV video chats, but unfortunately its execution is lacking. The small, light camera is too small and light and isn't reliable in less than ideal Wi-Fi conditions. The HDMI pass-through is a great concept for taking video calls while you watch TV, but it can't make up for the disappointing call quality and lack of Skype. If you really want to make video calls with your HDTV, consider paying $50 more for the TelyHD, which looks better, can accept a wired network connection, and uses Skype to make video calls.

More Webcam reviews:
??? Biscotti
??? Tely Labs TelyHD
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??? Avaak VueZone System
??? Creative Live! Cam inPerson HD
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/NJHuzab5rlQ/0,2817,2399154,00.asp

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Sajak: Vanna and I drank between 'Wheel' tapings

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2007 file photo, Co-host Vanna White and host Pat Sajak make an appearance at Radio City Music Hall for a taping of celebrity week on "Wheel of Fortune" in New York. Sajak said in an interview on ESPN2 this week that the long-time game show duo would occasionally walk over to a nearby restaurant for "two or three or six" margaritas during a break in taping early "Wheel of Fortune" shows in California. Sajak has hosted the show since 1981, and White joined him a year later. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2007 file photo, Co-host Vanna White and host Pat Sajak make an appearance at Radio City Music Hall for a taping of celebrity week on "Wheel of Fortune" in New York. Sajak said in an interview on ESPN2 this week that the long-time game show duo would occasionally walk over to a nearby restaurant for "two or three or six" margaritas during a break in taping early "Wheel of Fortune" shows in California. Sajak has hosted the show since 1981, and White joined him a year later. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)

NEW YORK (AP) ? The "Wheel of Fortune" wasn't the only thing spinning for Pat Sajak and Vanna White back in the day.

Sajak said in an interview on ESPN2 this week that the long-time game show team would occasionally walk over to a restaurant for "two or three or six" margaritas during a break in taping early "Wheel of Fortune" shows in California. Sajak has hosted the show since 1981; White joined him a year later.

Sajak recalled the margarita stops after answering "yes" to a question about whether he had ever hosted the show "a little bit drunk."

Although he joked that he had "trouble recognizing the alphabet" for shows taped after the drinks, no one ever said anything to them.

Now that he's older, Sajak said he couldn't do that anymore.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-01-26-People-Sajak/id-6225d857f7f343b695f73bfdc89cddf0

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Oprah Winfrey Named As Blue Ivy Carter?s Godmother

Oprah Winfrey Named As Blue Ivy Carter’s Godmother

Beyonce and Jay-Z have reportedly chosen Oprah Winfrey to be the Godmother of their newborn daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. The Hollywood couple named Oprah and [...]

Oprah Winfrey Named As Blue Ivy Carter’s Godmother Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/stupidcelebrities/~3/Ju30Jm1fTYw/

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Just a few ancestors give Thoroughbreds speed

Thoroughbred horses owe their amazing sprinting capabilities to just a couple of ancestors, according to a new study that traces the genetics of these racehorses.

The research finds that a genetic variant associated with speed likely originated with a single mare in the mid-17th century. The gene variant became widespread in modern thoroughbreds, thanks to a single stallion named Nearctic, the father of the most-bred stallion of modern times.

"Changes in racing since the foundation of the Thoroughbred have shaped the distribution of 'speed gene' types over time and in different racing regions," study researcher Emmeline Hill, a genomics scientist at University College Dublin, said in a statement.

Built for speed
In 2010, Hill and her colleagues announced they had discovered how variations in the genetic code of Thoroughbreds translated to speed. A gene called MSTN, associated with muscle growth, comes in two varieties, or alleles: C and T. Horses with two copies of the C allele are fast, short-distance sprinters. Horses with one C and one T tend to be strong middle-distance runners. And T/T horses have less speed, but greater stamina.

Now, Hill and her colleagues have traced the history of the C and T alleles, reaching back into the horse family tree to learn where these genetic variations arose and how they spread as the demands of horse breeders changed. The C variant doesn't show up in distant horse cousins such as zebras, the researchers found, revealing that the stamina-bestowing T was the norm in ancestral wild horses. That makes sense, Hill and her colleagues reported Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, as wild horses needed the ability to roam over long distances.

The C allele shows up in other breeds of domesticated horses besides Thoroughbreds, the researchers found. European and Asian horses have it, as do almost all American quarter horses, another talented sprinter and the most popular horse breed in the U.S. today.

Registered Thoroughbreds haven't reproduced outside their breed since 1791, so the researchers knew that the C allele had to have been in the line by that time. Fortunately for their research, Thoroughbred breeding records are, well, thorough, and all modern Thoroughbreds can trace their paternal lineages back to one of three stallions: Byerly Turk, which lived in the 1680s; Darley Arabian, born in 1704; and Goldolphin Arabian, born in 1729.

By testing historical samples related to Darley Arabian, the researchers were able to determine that he lacked the C allele. It's not clear whether the other two stallions had this allele, but their contribution to the gene pool is minimal compared with Darley. That makes it most likely that the C variant entered the Thoroughbred line through a single mare bred in the 17th century, right before the thoroughbred population closed off to outbreeding.

"The results show that the 'speed gene' entered the Thoroughbred from a single founder, which was most like a British mare about 300 years ago when local British horse types were the pre-eminent racing horses," Hill said.

Dominating genes
But that finding didn't explain how the C allele became so widespread in modern thoroughbreds. To find out, the researchers examined the pedigrees of 56 elite-performing C/C and T/T horses. They found that the genetic data converged on one horse, Nearctic, born in 1954 to a stallion named Nearco, who was known as one of the best racehorses of the era. Nearctic, in turn, sired a horse named Northern Dancer, in 1961.

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Northern Dancer never came in lower than third in his time as a racehorse, and he won 14 of the 18 races he ran. When he retired, he became the most influential stud horse of the era, according to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. At one point in the 1980s, it cost $1 million to have Northern Dancer breed with a mare.

Northern Dancer's prolific breeding allowed the C allele to spread far and wide among Thoroughbreds, the researchers found. But it wasn't just good looks and luck that made Northern Dancer popular. In the late 1800s and into the 1900s, horses began at racing younger and younger ages, starting at 2 rather than 5 or 6. At the same time, races were becoming shorter. The C allele, which leads to fast muscle growth early in life, made for good sprinters for this new type of racing.

This little gene means big bucks for horse breeders and owners. The winnings of all of Northern Dancer's 635 registered foals, for example, exceeded $26 million at the time of their sire's death in 1990. Hill is a co-founder of Equinome, a company which tests for the C and T alleles. This test is used by the racing industry to determine the optimal racing distances for individual Thoroughbreds.

The study also reveals the power of racing trends in determining the genetics of racehorses, Hill said.

"This just goes to show the power breeders have to shape the genetic make-up of their horses," she said. "Decisions regarding the race pattern in each racing jurisdiction and the commercial demand for certain types will also rapidly influence the genetic make-up of the population."

You can follow LiveScience senior writer Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas. Follow LiveScience for the latest in science news and discoveries on Twitter @livescience and on Facebook.

? 2012 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46118196/ns/technology_and_science-science/

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Fed likely to hint of no rate increase before 2014 (AP)

WASHINGTON ? It could be quite a while yet before the Federal Reserve starts raising the interest rates it's kept at record lows for three years.

Maybe not before 2014.

That's the thinking of many analysts as the Fed prepares this week to provide more explicit clues about how long short-term rates will likely stay near zero.

Starting when their policy meeting ends Wednesday, Fed members plan to forecast the direction of those rates four times a year. The clearer guidance will accompany the Fed's usual quarterly predictions of growth, unemployment and inflation.

The new hints about rates are part of a Fed drive to make its communications with the public more transparent. The more immediate goal is to assure consumers and investors that they'll be able to borrow cheaply well into the future.

No announcements are expected Wednesday of any further Fed action to try to lift the economy. Most analysts think Fed members want to put off any new steps, such as more bond purchases, to see if the economy can extend the gains it's made in recent months.

That's true even though this year's new roster of voting members on the Fed's policy panel suggests that fewer voters would likely oppose further steps to boost the economy. Twice last year, Fed action to try to further lower long-term rates drew three dissenting votes out of 10.

Instead, expectations are focused on the likelihood that the Fed's first quarterly forecast of interest rates will signal no rate increase is probable until at least 2014. That would mark a shift. Since August, the Fed has said in policy statements that it planned to keep its benchmark rate at a record low until at least mid-2013, as long as the economy remained weak.

Here's why analysts expect the Fed to signal that most members see no increase before 2014:

On Wednesday, the Fed will use two charts to signify the thinking of each of its 17 policy committee members about rates.

One chart will illustrate how high each committee member thinks the Fed's benchmark rate will be at the end of 2012, 2013 and 2014.

A second chart will show how many members think the first rate increase will occur in each year from 2012 through 2016.

The charts won't identify any member by name.

Because the range of options extends as far as 2016, many analysts think the consensus view within the Fed is to avoid any rate increase before 2014 ? the average of the possible options.

"Just seeing that the choice of a year for the first hike in the Fed funds rate goes all the way out to 2016 makes us think there are at least a few members of the committee who don't want to raise rates until the unemployment rate gets back down to 5 percent or 6 percent," said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi.

"We guess there will be some hawks looking for a hike in 2013 and some doves thinking more like 2015," Rupkey said. "The weighted average is likely to be 2014."

Ward McCarthy, chief financial economist at Jeffries & Co. Inc., said he thinks the Fed's guidance will hint that the first rate increase could come in early 2014.

Others, such as economists at RBC Capital Markets, think the forecasts will suggest no change until late 2014.

A further clue to the Fed's plans will come in its economic projections. In its last projections in November, the Fed forecast that the economy would grow between 2.5 percent and 2.9 percent in 2012. That figure exceeds the forecasts of many private economists. Should the Fed reduce its expectations for growth, that could signal that it's prepared to do more for the economy.

The Fed has already taken numerous unorthodox steps to try to strengthen the economy. Since 2008, for example, it's kept its key rate, the federal funds rate, at a record low between zero and 0.25 percent. It's also bought government bonds and mortgage-backed securities to try to cut long-term rates and ease borrowing costs.

The idea behind the Fed's two rounds of bond buying was to drive down rates to embolden consumers and businesses to borrow and spend more. Lower yields on bonds also encourage investors to shift money into stocks, which can boost wealth and spur more spending.

Some Fed officials have resisted further bond buying for fear it would raise the risk of high inflation later. And many doubt it would help much since Treasury yields are already near historic lows. But Bernanke and other members have left the door open to further action if they think the economy needs it.

The path to such a move could be easier because three regional Fed bank presidents who dissented last year from further Fed action are no longer voting members of the committee. They're being replaced by three who are seen as more likely to back additional efforts to aid the economy.

Vincent Reinhart, a former Fed economist who is chief U.S. economist at Morgan Stanley, says he thinks the Fed will launch another round of bond buying in the spring. That's because he thinks the economy will slow in the current January-March quarter compared with the final months of 2011.

Some think the Fed is most likely to buy more mortgage-backed securities. Doing so could help further reduce record-low mortgage rates and help boost home sales. The weak housing market has held back the economy.

Brian Bethune, an economics professor at Dartmouth College, expects another round of bond purchases in the second half of the year. Bethune thinks the Fed will use those purchases to counter the economic drag that could result if government spending cuts start next January. Those cuts are to take effect unless Congress resolves an impasse on extending tax cuts first passed during the Bush administration.

In addition to providing more guidance on rates, the Fed is weighing other changes in its communications. One could be a new statement to clarify its long-term targets for inflation and unemployment.

The Fed's inflation goal is thought to be between 1.7 percent and 2 percent. Its long-run goal for unemployment is believed to be roughly between 5 percent and 6 percent.

Some private economists say the Fed would start a new bond-buying program only after it resolves an internal debate on its communications strategy ? which could happen as soon as this week.

"They want to get the communications changes out there and get them understood before they do anything else," said Alan Levenson, chief economist at investment firm T. Rowe Price.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120123/ap_on_bi_ge/us_federal_reserve

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ROLL CALL: Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively Spotted Getting Cozy In New Orleans (omg!)

Your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans

Ryan & Blake Hit The Big Easy: In more star couple news, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds appear to be going strong. According to People, "The Green Lantern" co-stars were spotted this weekend in New Orleans, the location where they filmed their superhero movie. "They seemed to want their privacy and sat close together in a corner of the store while they were eating and talking," an eyewitness, who saw the pair at the Creole Creamery, told the mag. "They did leave the store holding hands, though - super sweet!"

PLAY IT NOW: Drew Barrymore Shares Engagement Details

Miley Chops Her Hair: Miley Cyrus was spotted sporting a new look this weekend in Los Angeles. Check out the star, who cut five inches of hair off, HERE!

"Star Spangled Banner" Showdown: Steven Tyler and Kristin Chenoweth both belted out "The Star Spangled Banner" this weekend at various football games - with the "American Idol" judge taking a bit of heat for his rendition. Check out Steven's rendition, HERE, and Kristin's, HERE, and tells us which one you liked better!

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Celebs Who Moved To Splitsville In 2012

Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Prayers of peace turn to fear of attack in Nigeria

Muslim men pray for peace and for people who lost their lives during the recent attacks, at a mosque in Kano, Nigeria, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. The emir of Kano and the state's top politician offered prayers Monday along with local people for the more than 150 people who were killed in a coordinated series of attacks on Friday by the radical Islamist sect called Boko Haram which means "Western education is sacrilege" in the Hausa language of Nigeria's north.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Muslim men pray for peace and for people who lost their lives during the recent attacks, at a mosque in Kano, Nigeria, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. The emir of Kano and the state's top politician offered prayers Monday along with local people for the more than 150 people who were killed in a coordinated series of attacks on Friday by the radical Islamist sect called Boko Haram which means "Western education is sacrilege" in the Hausa language of Nigeria's north.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Emir of Kano, Ado Bayaro, is seen at his palace in Kano, Nigeria, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. The emir of Kano and the state's top politician offered prayers Monday for the more than 150 people who were killed in a coordinated series of attacks on Friday by the radical Islamist sect called Boko Haram which means "Western education is sacrilege" in the Hausa language of Nigeria's north.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Emir of Kano, Ado Bayaro, right, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, The governor of kano state, front left, prior to offering a prayer for peace and those who lost their lives during the recent attacks, at a mosque in Kano, Nigeria, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. The emir of Kano and the state's top politician offered prayers Monday for the more than 150 people who were killed in a coordinated series of attacks on Friday by the radical Islamist sect called Boko Haram which means "Western education is sacrilege" in the Hausa language of Nigeria's north. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Muslim men pray for peace and for people who lost their lives during the recent attacks, at a mosque in Kano, Nigeria, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. The emir of Kano and the state's top politician offered prayers Monday along with local people for the more than 150 people who were killed in a coordinated series of attacks on Friday by the radical Islamist sect called Boko Haram which means "Western education is sacrilege" in the Hausa language of Nigeria's north.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Muslim girls sell kolanuts along a street in Kano, Nigeria, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, following recent sectarian attacks. The emir of Kano and the state's top politician offered prayers Monday for the more than 150 people who were killed in a coordinated series of attacks on Friday by the radical Islamist sect called Boko Haram which means "Western education is sacrilege" in the Hausa language of Nigeria's north.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

KANO, Nigeria (AP) ? The aging Muslim spiritual leader of this northern Nigeria city, his eyes heavy with fatigue, leaned into a microphone Monday and whispered to God his wish for peace after the killing of at least 185 people in an attack by a radical Islamist sect.

On the street, however, smudged black graffiti written in charcoal gave a different message: "Boko Haram good."

Though businesses reopened and traffic again filled the streets Monday of Nigeria's second-largest city, people in Kano remained fearful the radical sect known as Boko Haram will attack again. That tension only increased as police announced they had discovered 10 unexploded car bombs around the city, as uniformed officers and soldiers melted away from public view in this city of more than 9 million people.

"We are not safe at all," warned resident Aminu Garba, 38. "We are not safe."

Police issued a statement late Monday giving a fuller account of what happened during Friday's attack that saw at least two Boko Haram suicide bombers detonate explosive-laden cars. The statement by state police commissioner Ibrahim Idris described attackers as speaking accented Hausa and other languages not normally heard in Kano as they assaulted police stations, immigration offices and the local headquarters of Nigeria's secret police.

The attack killed 150 civilians, 29 police officers, three secret police officers, two immigration officers and one customs official, Idris said, rising the toll to 185 dead. Medical workers and emergency officials say they still expect the death toll to rise.

Officers also have discovered 10 car bombs in the city, as well as about 300 bombs made from aluminum cans and other explosives, Idris said.

Monday, Emir of Kano Ado Bayero and Kano state Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso sat together at the front of a mosque typically full of worshippers during Friday prayers in this dusty, sprawling city. However, the special service to commemorate the dead and ask God for peace and justice drew much smaller crowds than usual, with half of the prayer mats unoccupied.

"I call on people from all groups to pray for this place," Bayero said.

Meanwhile, secret police officers stood guard outside with assault rifles.

Bayero is one of the premier rulers of the emirates of Nigeria, a system of governance that dates back to the 1800s and still carried spiritual importance to Muslims. British colonialists used the emirates to rule the north by proxy until Nigeria gained its independence in 1960. Many believe Nigeria's corrupt politicians now do the same, as the vast majority of those living in the north deal with crushing poverty in a nation where most earn less than $2 a day.

The influence of traditional leaders in Nigeria has waned in recent years and the 81-year-old emir himself showed his age as he walked slowly away from the mosque, leaning heavily on his cane.

Such leaders previously promised to intercede for the government to stop the increasingly violent sectarian attacks of Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the local Hausa language. However, a leaked U.S. diplomatic cable claims that Nigeria's government in 2008 released suspected Islamist extremists to such leaders as part of a parole program.

Around that same time, Nigerian authorities released a Boko Haram member now suspected of helping organize the August suicide car bombing of the United Nations headquarters in the capital Abuja that killed 25 people.

The coordinated attack Friday in Kano represents Boko Haram's deadliest assault since beginning a campaign of terror last year. Boko Haram has killed 227 people so far in 2012, nearly half of the 510 people the sect killed in all of 2011, according to an Associated Press count.

Nigeria's weak central government has been unable to stop the killings, and its heavy-handed military response has been criticized by civilians who live in fear of sect attacks and government reprisals.

Security forces on Sunday shot dead four people they accused of being Boko Haram members after finding explosive-making materials in their car in the sect's spiritual home of Maiduguri, said Col. Victor Ebhaleme, a military field operation officer in the northeastern city. Local police said at the same time on Sunday, a suspected sect member killed a Maiduguri High Court registrar at his home.

Boko Haram, which means "Western education is sacrilege" in the Hausa language of Nigeria's north, wants to implement strict Shariah law and avenge the deaths of Muslims in communal violence across Nigeria, a multiethnic nation of more than 160 million people split largely into a Christian south and Muslim north.

While the sect has begun targeting Christians in the north, the majority of those killed Friday appeared to be Muslim, officials have said. That leaves Kano residents like Garba, who stood outside the mosque following Monday's prayer service, living in fear.

In the middle of the sect's attack Friday, Garba said his pregnant wife suffered a miscarriage. Now people run at the sound a tire bursting, he said.

Heavily armed soldiers who stood guard during the president's visit Sunday disappeared from Kano's streets shortly after he left the city. Police officers also have moved largely from their bombed stations into the city's outskirts.

"People have this anger because of the poverty and the illiteracy," Garba said. We "have to be very cautious."

___

Associated Press writers Salisu Rabiu and Ibrahim Garba in Kano, Nigeria and Njadvara Musa in Maiduguri, Nigeria contributed to this report.

___

Jon Gambrell can be reached at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-01-23-AF-Nigeria-Violence/id-5befe55a22974e468d69f73328707b5a

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Gene switch 'key to heart health'

22 January 2012 Last updated at 13:01 ET

Scientists may be closer to understanding how genes can influence serious heart conditions, says a Nature Genetics report.

The failure to turn off a specific gene at the right time in an embryo's development could mean illness later in life.

Mice in which the gene was left active were born apparently healthy, but suffered heart muscle problems later.

A heart charity said it might one day be possible to fix the genetic switch.

The science of "epigenetics", which places importance not just on the genes you carry, but also how well they are working, is a relatively new area.

There is increasing evidence that suggests that while you carry the same set of genes for life, environmental factors, such as diet or even your mother's health while you are in the womb, could affect their activity, and your chances of certain illnesses later in life.

The scientists from the Gladstone Institute in San Francisco focused on two genes, and their role in cardiomyopathy, a enlarging and weakening of the heart muscle which is a feature in life-threatening heart defects in children and adults.

Developing signs

One of the genes, called Six1, appears to play an important role in embryonic heart development, while the other, Ezh2, seems to have the job of switching off genes, including Six1, when they are no longer needed.

The researchers tested the precise relationship by stopping Ezh2 from working in the embryo and foetus at various points during pregnancy, thereby allowing Six1 to go on working for longer than usual.

Continue reading the main story

?Start Quote

What this shows is that a really crucial step in normal heart development is the switching off of genes?

End Quote Professor Peter Weissberg BHF

They found that while the mice were born apparently normal and healthy, they then started to develop the signs of cardiomyopathy.

This suggested that although leaving Six1 switched on in humans might produce a seemingly healthy baby, it could be storing up heart problems for later in life.

Analysis of the results revealed that, in a healthy pregnancy, Six1 should only normally be switched on briefly during heart development.

'Crucial step'

Dr Paul Delgado-Olguin, one of the team, said: "When Six1 remains active for too long in Ezh2-deficient mice, it boosts the activity of other genes that shouldn't be activated in heart muscle cells - such as genes that make skeletal muscle.

"The enlargement and thickening of the mice's hearts over time eventually led to heart failure."

They are hopeful that further work will reveal more about the roots of congenital heart problems in early life.

Professor Peter Weissberg, from the British Heart Foundation, said the research was "important".

"What this shows is that a really crucial step in normal heart development is the switching off of genes.

"If this doesn't happen, and they continue to be expressed, this can cause trouble later in life."

He said that there was the possibility that faulty gene expression could be corrected, although it would be some years before such techniques could be used in humans.

The possible reasons for the faulty "switch" - whether dietary, medical or something else - could also be investigated, he added.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/health-16654187

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6 S.C. counties to watch (Politico)

CHARLESTON, S.C. ? There are four regions to know in South Carolina: the Upstate, the Lowcountry, the Midlands and the Pee Dee. All are unique in their own way, but they won?t matter in equal degree in Saturday?s GOP primary.

The Upstate ? in particular, the socially conservative Greenville-Spartanburg area ? is critical to Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich?s chances. The Lowcountry ? which includes Charleston and the coastal areas ? is where Mitt Romney will live or die.

Continue Reading

Ron Paul?s map is more opaque. There are aspects of his message that appeal to various parts of the state but the dovish congressman hasn?t paid much attention to hawkish South Carolina. In 2008, he managed just 4 percent here.

Here are 6 counties across the state to follow this primary night to get a feel for who?s doing well and who?s not:

Greenville County

There?s a reason the candidates spent so much time in and around Greenville County: It?s the state?s most populous county and it?s strongly Republican. More votes were cast here in the 2008 GOP presidential primary than anywhere else in the state ? no other place came close. Home to Bob Jones University and also to Furman University, this was unfriendly terrain for Mitt Romney in 2008 ? he finished in fourth place here. As results come in, Newt Gingrich will have to perform well in Greenville to capture the state.

Lexington County

Located in the Columbia metro area and home to conservative bedroom communities, Lexington County has produced some of the politicians who are most recognizable outside the state?s borders: Rep. Joe Wilson, Gov. Nikki Haley, state Sen. Jake Knotts. This Midlands county, situated roughly halfway between Greenville and Charleston, encompasses the politics of each ? it?s amenable to both socially conservative and free market-oriented candidates. John McCain captured the county with 33 percent in 2008, followed closely by Mike Huckabee, who finished in second place with 29 percent. If Romney is running in third place here, as he did in 2008, it?s a worrisome sign for him.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/politico_rss/rss_politico_mostpop/http___www_politico_com_news_stories0112_71758_html/44254419/SIG=11m1dlh9p/*http%3A//www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71758.html

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SC-2012 Primary: 32% Gingrich, 28% Romney, 13% Paul, 9% Santorum (We Ask America 1/19)

We Ask America
1/19/12; 988 likely voters, 3.1% margin of error
Mode: Automated phone
We Ask America release

South Carolina

2012 President: Republican Primary
32% Gingrich
28% Romney
13% Paul
9% Santorum
3% Huntsman
3% Perry
(chart)

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/20/sc-2012-primary-32-gingri_n_1218537.html

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Primary day at hand, SC voters have their say

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, steps over a table during a crowded campaign stop at Tommy?s Country Ham House, where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, steps over a table during a crowded campaign stop at Tommy?s Country Ham House, where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, is accompanied by his wife Ann, right, as he campaigns outside Tommy?s Country Ham House, where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, gives a thumbs up during his campaign stop at Tommy?s Country Ham House, where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich hold up his campaign sign as the bus of Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, makes a campaign stop at Tommy?s Country Ham House, where Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, makes a campaign stop at Tommy?s Country Ham House, where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also scheduled an appearance, on South Carolina's primary election day in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) ? Primary day at hand, fast-climbing Newt Gingrich told South Carolinians on Saturday that he was "the only practical conservative vote" able to stop front-runner Mitt Romney in the GOP presidential race. Romney acknowledged the first-in-the-South contest "could be real close" and prepared for an extended fight by agreeing to two more debates in Florida, next on the election calendar.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum braced for a setback and looked ahead to the Jan. 31 contest after getting the most votes in Iowa and besting Gingrich in New Hampshire. Texas Rep. Ron Paul made plans to focus on states where his libertarian, Internet-driven message might find more of a reception with voters; his campaign said it had purchased a substantial ad buy in Nevada and Minnesota, which hold caucuses next month.

The first contest without Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who dropped out this past week and endorsed Gingrich, was seen as Romney's to lose just days ago. Instead, the gap closed quickly between the Massachusetts governor who portrays himself as the Republicans best positioned to defeat President Barack Obama and Gingrich, the confrontational former House speaker from Georgia.

Romney avoided a run-in with Gingrich at Tommy's Country Ham House, where both had scheduled campaign events for the same time. Romney stopped by the breakfast restaurant 45 minutes ahead of schedule. When Gingrich arrived, just minutes after Romney's bus left the parking lot, he said: "Where's Mitt?"

Earlier, Gingrich had a message for voters during a stop at The Grapevine restaurant in Boiling Springs not long after the polls opened: Come out and vote for me if you want to help deny Romney nomination.

He told diners who were enjoying plates of eggs and grits that he was the "the only practical conservative vote" to the rival he called a Massachusetts moderate. "Polls are good, votes are better," he said.

Gingrich also said he would put a stop to federal actions against South Carolina's voter ID and immigration laws.

Romney's agreement to participate in Florida debates Monday in Tampa and Thursday in Jacksonville was seen as an acknowledgement of a prolonged battle with Gingrich.

"This could be real close," said Romney as he chatted on the phone with a voter Saturday morning and urged the man to go vote.

Romney still has significant advantages over his three remaining Republican rivals, including an enormous financial edge and a well-organized campaign.

But with his Iowa victory now rescinded, losing in South Carolina would be a setback that could draw the primary contest out much longer. Just 10 days ago, Romney's campaign team was looking ahead to the general election as it anticipated a quick sweep in early primaries.

By Saturday, state Treasurer Curtis Loftis, a top Romney backer, was on an automated telephone message attacking Gingrich's ethics record in Congress, while Romney's wife, Ann, was on a separate one urging voters to consider the candidates character.

"Look at how they've lived their life," she says. "And that's why I think it's so important to understand the character of a person."

Before the ham house standoff that wasn't, Romney stood outside his Greenville headquarters and undertook a new attack on Gingrich. He called on Gingrich to further explain his contracts with Freddie Mac, the housing giant, and release any advice he had provided to the company. He has said the contracts earned two of his companies more than $1.6 million over eight years, but that he only pocketed about $35,000 a year himself.

'I'd like to see what he actually told Freddie Mac. Don't you think we ought to see it?" Romney said.

It was another response to pressure on Romney to release his tax returns before Republican voters finish choosing a nominee.

A day earlier, Romney had called on Gingrich to release information related to an ethics investigation of Gingrich in the 1990s. Gingrich argues that GOP voters need to know whether the wealthy former venture capital executive's records contain anything that could hurt the party's chances against Obama.

Romney has said he will release several years' worth of tax returns in April. Gingrich has called on him to release them much sooner. On Saturday, Romney refused to answer questions from reporters about the returns and whether his refusal to release them had hurt him with South Carolina voters.

Gingrich, buoyed by Perry's endorsement as he left the race Thursday, has called Romney's suggestion about releasing ethics investigation documents a "panic attack" brought on by sinking poll numbers.

The stakes were high for Saturday's vote. The primary winner has gone on to win the Republican nomination in every election since 1980.

It's very important, but it's not do or die," Paul told Fox News

Some of South Carolina's notorious 11th-hour devilry ? fake reports in the form of emails targeting Gingrich and his ex-wife Marianne ? emerged in a race known as much for its nastiness as for its late-game twists.

"Unfortunately, we are now living up to our reputation," said South Carolina GOP strategist Chip Felkel.

State Attorney Gen. Alan Wilson ordered a preliminary review of the phony messages to see if any laws had been broken.

Gingrich's ex-wife burst into the campaign this week when she alleged in an ABC News interview that her former husband had asked her for an "open marriage," a potentially damaging claim in a state where the Republican primary electorate includes a potent segment of Christian conservatives. The thrice-married Gingrich, who has admitted to marital infidelities, angrily denied her accusation.

___

Associated Press writers Beth Fouhy and Thomas Beaumont contributed to this report from South Carolina.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-01-21-GOP%20Campaign/id-6f509156a1844445b1a83cdfbca134b6

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