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Mar 31, 2009 0:11:48 GMT 4
Post by towhom on Mar 31, 2009 0:11:48 GMT 4
Activity Of Individual Brain Cells Predicts Cognitive FlexibilityScienceDaily Mar. 30, 2009www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090325132159.htmA new study provides intriguing insights into mechanisms of cognitive flexibility at the single cell level. The research, published by Cell Press in the March 26th issue of the journal Neuron, may help to explain how we can change our point of view when faced with conflict. We rely on an appropriate configuration of mental resources, known as a cognitive set, to help facilitate our behavior. However, behavioral flexibility relies on an ability to quickly shift to a new cognitive set (i.e. change our point of view) in response to changing external demands. Brain imaging in human subjects while they engaged in trials that induced cognitive set shifts (known as shift trials) identified the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) as a brain region that appears to be involved in set shifting. However, due to imaging limitations, it was not possible to determine whether the PPC neurons were responding to the stimulus presentation or behavioral response or any other cognitive process during the shift trials. Single cell recording studies in monkeys engaging in set-shifting paradigms have been unsuccessful because animals often have difficulty promptly shifting their cognitive sets under experimental conditions. "As a result, dynamic processes of cognitive set shifting have not been explored at the single-unit level in the primate brain," explains the first author Dr. Tsukasa Kamigaki from the Department of Physiology at The University of Tokyo School of Medicine. Dr. Kamigaki and colleagues trained two monkeys to promptly shift their cognitive sets and compared neuronal activity during shift and non-shift trials to detect shift-related activity in the PPC. The experimental paradigm, originally devised for humans but modified to test cognitive flexibility in monkeys, required monkeys to match a sample stimulus to one of three choice stimuli based on one "dimension", shape or color. "Whenever the relevant dimension changed, the monkeys had to shift their cognitive set in order to respond based on the new dimension," explains Dr. Kamigaki. The researchers discovered that PPC neurons were transiently activated when the monkeys shifted from one cognitive set to another (e.g., color to shape), but not when they shifted in the opposite direction (e.g., shape to color). Importantly, the shift-related activity preceded the corresponding behavioral responses by about four seconds and accurately predicted whether or not the cognitive set would be successfully shifted."Beyond the previous views that the PPC is involved mostly in cognitive processes directed to external visual objects or space, the results in the present study provide unprecedented evidence that PPC neurons contribute to flexible shifting of internal cognitive sets in primates," concludes Dr. Kamigaki. The researchers include Tsukasa Kamigaki, Tetsuya Fukushima, and Yasushi Miyashita, of the Department of Physiology, The University of Tokyo School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Journal reference: Tsukasa Kamigaki, Tetsuya Fukushima, Yasushi Miyashita. Cognitive Set Reconfiguration Signaled by Macaque Posterior Parietal Neurons. Neuron, 2009; 61 (6) 941-951 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.01.028 Adapted from materials provided by Cell Press, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
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Mar 31, 2009 0:19:58 GMT 4
Post by towhom on Mar 31, 2009 0:19:58 GMT 4
Starve A Yeast, Sweeten Its Lifespan: Molecular Mechanisms Link Sugar Production And LongevityScienceDaily Mar. 30, 2009www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090324101801.htmJohns Hopkins researchers have discovered a new energy-making biochemical twist in determining the lifespan of yeast cells, one so valuable to longevity that it is likely to also functions in humans. Their findings, published in the March 20 issue of Cell, reveal that making glucose is highly influenced by a large enzyme complex already known to fix damaged DNA, and which apparently affects yeast life span through a common chemical process—acetylation. In a series of experiments, the Hopkins team showed that when continuously acetylated, the so-called NuA4 enzyme complex causes yeast cells to live longer than they would under normal conditions. The team genetically modified yeast cells, designing one to mimic the constantly acetylated form of the enzyme and another to mimic the constantly de-acetylated form. Then they compared these two mutants to a cell in which nothing was genetically altered. They found that the constantly acetylated form of yeast cell can outlive the unaltered cell by 20 percent and that the constantly de-acetylated form had an 80 percent reduction in its lifespan compared to the unaltered cell. "Because the NuA4 complex is highly conserved among species, what we've found in yeast translates to humans as well," explains Heng Zhu, Ph.D., an assistant professor of pharmacology and molecular sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "What we've revealed about longevity in yeast perhaps someday can translate to human health," he added. Using a yeast proteome chip — a glass slide containing 5,800 or more than 80 percent coverage of all of the yeast-encoded proteins — the researchers hunted along this string of proteins to find specific molecular targets of the NuA4 complex. By analyzing the yeast proteome chip and noting which proteins had an acetyl group stuck to them after adding NuA4, the team identified more than 90 such possible targets. To figure out which of these would naturally be acetylated, the team chose a random set of 20 to test further, ultimately confirming 13 as targets of the NuA4 complex. More than simply expanding the list of known targets from three to 13, the team provided the first evidence that acetylation controls the activity of an enzyme called Pck1p, critical to sugar production in yeast and probably human cells. This enzyme is also controlled by the enzyme Sir2, which removes the acetyl group. Sir2 is heavily implicated in aging and a number of diseases by recent studies in mammals. "The new function we identified for Pcklp is regulation of glucose-making, which is what all cells do to survive under conditions of starvation," Zhu explains. Funded by the National Institutes of Health Roadmap Program, this interdisciplinary study involving biochemistry, proteomics, genetics and computational biology is a product of the High Throughput Biology Center, or HiT Center, of Johns Hopkins' Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences. In addition to Heng Zhu, authors on the paper are Yu-yi Lin, Jin-ying Lu, Sheng-Ce Tao, Jun Wan, Jiang Qian and Jef D. Boeke, all of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Junmei Zhang and Yingming Zhao of UT Southwestern Medical Center; and Shelley L. Berger, Wendy Walter and Weiwei Dang of The Wistar Institute. Journal reference: Lin et al. Protein Acetylation Microarray Reveals that NuA4 Controls Key Metabolic Target Regulating Gluconeogenesis. Cell, 2009; 136 (6): 1073 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.01.033
Adapted from materials provided by Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.
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Mar 31, 2009 0:32:01 GMT 4
Post by towhom on Mar 31, 2009 0:32:01 GMT 4
U.S. autos task force rejects GM, Chrysler plansNewsDaily Posted 2009/03/30 at 1:32 am EDTwww.newsdaily.com/stories/tre52t0oj-us-autos-taskforce/WASHINGTON, DC — The Obama administration autos task force on Monday rejected the turnaround plans of General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC and warned both could be put through bankruptcy to slash debts. The announcement by the White House autos panel headed by former investment banker Steve Rattner marked a stunning reversal for management at both automakers and for GM investors and creditors who had bet on a softer line. "We have unfortunately concluded that neither plan submitted by either company represents viability and therefore does not warrant the substantial additional investments that they requested," said a senior administration official, who asked not to be named. Instead of granting GM's request for up to $30 billion in loans, the administration only pledged to fund GM's operations for the next 60 days while the top U.S. automaker develops an even more sweeping restructuring plan under new leadership. GM CEO Rick Wagoner, who met on Friday with the task force, was forced out on Sunday at the request of Rattner, an official said. U.S. officials said plans were also underway to replace most of GM's directors in the coming months.Both Wagoner and GM's board have been criticized for moving too slowly to take on some of the automaker's underlying problems that date back decades, including unprofitable brands such as Hummer and Saab, and a costly surplus of models. Chrysler, which is controlled by Cerberus Capital Management, was given 30 days to complete an alliance with Italy's Fiat SpA or face a cut-off of its government funding that could force its liquidation. The findings of the U.S. autos panel are due to be formally unveiled later on Monday by U.S. President Barack Obama. CHRYSLER UNREALISTIC, OVERLY OPTIMISTICThe autos panel rejected the claim by Cerberus that Chrysler could be viable on its own, citing its smaller size, weaker product line-up and declining U.S. market share. In a written report, the panel said Chrysler's assumptions under the business plan it had submitted to the U.S. Treasury were "unrealistic or overly optimistic." Chrysler had asked for another $5 billion in U.S. government loans on top of the $4 billion the automaker has already received. If Chrysler can complete a tie-up with Fiat and cost-saving deals with creditors and its major union, the Treasury would consider investing up to another $6 billion, officials said. In recent negotiations with the task force, Fiat has agreed to take less than the 35-percent stake in Chrysler the two companies had negotiated and to keep its stake in the U.S. automaker below a controlling 50 percent until the new government loan is paid back, the senior official said. Meanwhile, GM President and Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson, the architect of the automaker's existing turnaround plan, will become CEO and work with U.S. officials and outside advisers in coming up with a "a more aggressive restructuring plan," officials said. "We believe our approach to GM is starting with a clean sheet of paper," the senior official said. The official said the Obama administration had not ruled out a structured, quick bankruptcy process for either GM or Chrysler. Such a process, he said, could shed debt at a time when GM bondholders and Chrysler's bank have held out against concessions."Think of it as a quick rinse," the senior official said. "It would be very, very short. Potentially as little as 30 days. The companies would emerge from the other side very quickly." Now, let's see this type of action with the banking industries and financial investment corporations. Don't stop with the automakers. There is far more "resistance" in the financial communities - and they've received quite a bit more in bailout funds.
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Mar 31, 2009 0:44:53 GMT 4
Post by towhom on Mar 31, 2009 0:44:53 GMT 4
Democrat asks Fed, BofA about Merrill bonusesNewsDaily Posted 2009/03/30 at 3:39 pm EDTwww.newsdaily.com/stories/tre52t6nv-us-financial-merrill-bonuses/WASHINGTON, DC — A senior Democratic lawmaker on Monday asked the Federal Reserve and Bank of America Corp for details on bonuses that were paid to Merrill Lynch executives weeks before the government brokered the bank's $25 billion acquisition of Merrill. At issue are $3.6 billion in bonuses paid to executives at Merrill before it was taken over by Bank of America on January 1. New York state's attorney general is also investigating the payments amid public outrage about executive compensation at some financial companies which are getting billions in taxpayer funds. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, chairman of a subcommittee of the House of Representatives' Oversight and Government Reform Committee, asked for documents related to the bonuses in letters to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Bank of America Chief Executive Ken Lewis.The payments "raise significant questions about what information Merrill Lynch and Bank of America executives shared with federal officials that oversaw the Merrill acquisition by Bank of America," Kucinich said in a letter to Bernanke, dated March 30. The letter was made public on Monday.Bank of America received about $45 billion from the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), the Treasury Department's effort to boost the banking sector that began last year. Outrage among the public and politicians has been brewing since it became known that American International Group Inc, recipient of some $180 billion in federal aid, recently paid $165 million in bonuses to retain executives. Some of the bonuses went to executives in AIG's financial products unit, the division whose trading practices is widely blamed for the company's near-collapse.A spokesman for Bank of America did not have an immediate comment. Earlier this month, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank demanded that Bank of America provide information about employees who received more than $1 million in bonuses in 2008.
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Mar 31, 2009 0:54:33 GMT 4
Post by towhom on Mar 31, 2009 0:54:33 GMT 4
Medvedev hopeful ahead of meeting with ObamaNewsDaily Posted 2009/03/30 at 7:31 am EDTwww.newsdaily.com/stories/tre52t2sp-us-russia-usa/MOSCOW — Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama meet in London on Wednesday to try to "reset" thorny Russia-U.S. ties and find ways for the two biggest nuclear powers to cooperate on key global issues. While their predecessors Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush relied on personal chemistry to survive policy rows, Medvedev and Obama have vowed to be pragmatic in handling contentious issues like arms control, missile defense, Iran and Afghanistan. Both sides say the most likely concrete outcome of the London meeting will be an agreement to start talks on a new treaty limiting long-range nuclear missiles to replace a pact which expires this year. Medvedev and Obama are both former lawyers in their forties. The Russian leader has welcomed Obama's intention to leave behind what Moscow saw as Washington's confrontational approach over the past few years and has praised a letter from Obama outlining international priorities. "Frankly speaking, when I was reading it I was surprised by the fact that many views outlined there coincided with my ideas," Medvedev said in a weekend interview to BBC television.
"The question, certainly, is how we shall be able to present our views during our personal meeting," he added. "To what extent our teams are ready ... to break stereotypes."An Obama aide was equally positive in recent comments. "Our sense is that the atmospherics around our relationship with Russia have dramatically improved over the last several weeks," Denis McDonough, a deputy national security adviser to Obama, told reporters in Washington on Saturday.
"...the bottom line is, I think: we've seen some very positive things over the past several weeks and we look forward to seeing if we can't put those into action," he added.But deep policy disagreements mean both sides are wary. Despite warm personal relations between Bush and Putin, Russian-U.S. relations came to a standstill last year amid rows over U.S. plans to deploy elements of its anti-missile system in central Europe and Russia's war in ex-Soviet Georgia. The United States is suspicious of Russia's warm ties with U.S. foe Iran, while Moscow deplores Washington's drive to grant NATO membership to ex-Soviet Ukraine and Georgia. After taking office, Obama sent signals to Moscow that NATO expansion was off Washington's books at least for now. Medvedev's foreign policy adviser Sergei Prikhodko said the London meeting was expected to give an impetus to cooperation rather than to solve all the problems. "We understand that to an extent their first meeting will be a mutual try-out," he told reporters on Friday. "Being realists, we understand too well the contradictions dividing us and have no illusions that they can be left behind easily." BREAKTHROUGH POINTSArms reductions, an important but less contentious issue in bilateral ties, offers the best chance of early progress. The 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) expires in December. Differences on how to follow it up have stalled work on a replacement deal until now. Prikhodko said Medvedev and Obama were likely to come out with a statement which would give guidelines to negotiators. Russia links further arms reductions with the anti-missile issue. It wants Washington to give up its anti-missile plan and work with Moscow on a new joint project.
Afghanistan, where a U.S.-led force is fighting the Taliban, may be another area where "pressing a reset button" in bilateral ties -- to use a phrase first coined by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in February -- could bring quick results.
Russia has allowed non-lethal supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan through its territory by rail, a vital complement to the existing supply route through Pakistan. But, in a conflicting signal, it has encouraged its ex-Soviet ally Kyrgyzstan to shut a U.S. air base.Some analysts in Moscow have noted that former president and now Prime Minister Putin -- hawkish on the U.S. and still highly influential on foreign policy -- will not be present at the London meeting. Medvedev insisted in his weekend interview that he was in sole charge of policy as president but polls consistently show most Russians still think Putin is running the show.
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Mar 31, 2009 1:04:38 GMT 4
Post by towhom on Mar 31, 2009 1:04:38 GMT 4
And now for the lighter side ... ;DNASA in Colbert conundrum over Space StationNewsDaily Posted 2009/03/30 at 2:35 pm EDTwww.newsdaily.com/stories/tre52t5tn-us-space-colbert/CAPE CANAVERAL, FL — NASA's outreach to the public to drum up interest in the International Space Station started innocently enough with an online contest to name the station's new living quarters. But Stephen Colbert, a comedian who poses as an ultra right-wing news commentator on cable television's Comedy Central, nosed into the act with a grass-roots appeal that has backed the staid U.S. space agency into a corner. The comedian's supporters cast 230,539 write-in votes to name the new module at the $100-billion space outpost "Colbert." The top NASA-suggested name, "Serenity," finished a distant second, more than 40,000 votes behind.Contest rules stipulate that the agency retains the right to basically do whatever it wants, but it may not be that easy. Last week, U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah, a Pennsylvania Democrat, called on NASA to do the democratic thing and use the name that drew the most votes.
"NASA decided to hold an election to name its new room at the International Space Station and the clear winner is Stephen Colbert," Fattah said in a statement. "The people have spoken, and Stephen Colbert won it fair and square -- even if his campaign was a bit over the top."[Note: NASA understands "over the top". It's like their budgets...they're always "over the top".]NASA is taking some time to ponder its next move. "We have a plan and we're working with some folks and in a couple of weeks you'll know what the answer is," NASA's associate administrator Bill Gerstenmaier said. Hey...NASA...it better be the COLBERT module...
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Mar 31, 2009 1:10:48 GMT 4
Post by towhom on Mar 31, 2009 1:10:48 GMT 4
Eastern Congo volcanoes show eruption warning signsNewsDaily Posted 2009/03/30 at 4:32 pm EDTwww.newsdaily.com/stories/tre52t6za-us-congo-democratic-volcano/KINSHASA — Two volcanoes may erupt in heavily populated eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where years of fighting have already forced 1 million people from their homes, scientists and aid agencies said. Scientists in Goma, capital of the border province of North Kivu, have in recent weeks registered high levels of seismic activity, considered an early warning sign of an impending eruption, around the Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes. "There is heavy activity around Nyiragongo, but it's more centered on Nyamulagira, around 13 km (8 miles) away," Dieudonne Wafula, lead scientist at the Volcanological Observatory of Goma, told reporters on Monday. Nyiragongo, which lies just outside Goma, erupted in 2002, sending a river of lava through the city, destroying thousands of homes and killing dozens of people. "Red Cross volunteers are on alert to help the population, which still has memories of the (2002) eruption ... which displaced around 400,000 people," Zebe Kitabingo, head of the local chapter of the Congolese Red Cross, said in a statement. Eastern Congo is still struggling to end more than a decade of lingering fighting between government soldiers, local Mai Mai militias, and rebels that has rumbled on despite the official end of a 1998-2003 war. The conflict and the humanitarian catastrophe it sparked have killed about 5.4 million people over the past decade. The fighting has displaced around 1 million people in North Kivu since late 2006, and tens of thousands of internal refugees have flocked to the relative security of camps on the outskirts of Goma, a city home to more than 600,000 people. Despite the city's close proximity to the two volcanoes, Wafula said Goma itself did not appear to be at risk, as the level of lava in the Nyiragongo crater is relatively low. "It's less worrying. The higher the lava level, the higher the probability of a serious eruption. The risk is greater for the villages west of the Nyamulagira volcano," he said. Aside from the immediate threat of lava flows, Wafula warned against the dangers of airborne ash, which can contaminate drinking water, poison livestock, and disrupt air traffic.
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Mar 31, 2009 1:32:05 GMT 4
Post by towhom on Mar 31, 2009 1:32:05 GMT 4
Private Medicare plans get new rules White House curbs insurance criticized for marketing abuses, high costsMSNBC updated 4:21 p.m. ET, Mon., March. 30, 2009www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29956962/WASHINGTON - The Obama administration Monday placed new curbs on private insurance plans that are popular with seniors in Medicare, but have been criticized for marketing abuses and high costs to the government. Medicare officials said the changes include winnowing the number of versions of a plan that insurers can offer, protecting patients with chronic diseases from excessive copayments and banning a practice by some plans of charging patients more for brand name drugs. "The overall theme here is to make sure there is less confusion and more transparency, so consumers can make well-informed choices," said Jonathan Blum, who runs the Medicare division that oversees private plans. The new policies reflect an administration effort to put its stamp on private plans in Medicare, which flourished under Republicans but are seen by some Democrats as undermining the traditional program. The plans are offered by major insurers such as United Healthcare and Humana. "I think it'll move toward cleaning up the marketplace so it's easier for folks to compare plans," said Paul Precht, policy director of the Medicare Rights Center, an advocacy group. Stronger minimum standards for the plans mean "when you get sick, it's harder to stick you with higher costs," he added. About 10 million seniors get comprehensive medical coverage through such plans, and another 17 million are signed up in private drug plans. Every year, they get the opportunity to sign up or change plans during an open enrollment period. Confusion or choice?In a separate move, the administration has proposed payment cuts of 3.75 percent overall to private medical plans that serve seniors. Insurers claim the cut could be as high as 5 percent for some plans, and they'll have to pass on the cost through higher premiums or fewer benefits.[Note: Like your profit margin may suffer...oh, please, you're breaking my heart here...NOT.]The changes to be announced Monday are in an annual "call letter," a contracting document that sets the rules for insurers wanting to offer coverage in 2010. Insurers must submit their bids by June 1. Officials said the reduction in the number of Medicare plans is meant to cut down confusion, not reduce choice. Most insurers offer several variations on a basic plan. Nearly 1,400 plans out of some 7,000 have fewer than 10 members, officials said. Medicare will closely scrutinize the private plans' bids for 2010 to eliminate offerings that only tweak a basic plan. "These low-volume plans crowd the field and make selecting a plan much more difficult," said a Medicare statement. Medicare will also take a close look at pricing policies that try to shift costs to beneficiaries with chronic illnesses.Insurers are allowed considerable leeway to design their Medicare coverages. Some, for example, offer plans that charge much higher copayments for a nursing home stay, cancer drugs or kidney dialysis than does the traditional Medicare program. That sends a signal to patients that people with those conditions are not welcome. The administration said it will limit copayments to the amounts charged under traditional Medicare.
Finally, Medicare will ban a practice that some prescription drug plans use to increase patients' costs for brand name drugs. In addition to a higher copayment for the brand medication, these plans also tack on the difference between the cost of the brand drug and a generic version. While higher copayments will still be allowed, plans will no longer be able to pass on the difference between the underlying costs of the brand and generic medications.
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Mar 31, 2009 3:52:11 GMT 4
Post by ubleck on Mar 31, 2009 3:52:11 GMT 4
ibid. to add a littol but trying not to flog the dog too much on this religion thing:
jains: nonviolence par excellance, as far as i know
buddhists: primarily nonviolent but the monks can get pissed off at times. excellent course for stilling the internal dialog.
hindu: brilliant visuals, lovely, stunning. there is definately god there. but the caste system absolutly reeks imho
catholic: too much gold for the leaders. they should be ashamed. the christ would chastise them openly, for what that's worth to you.
hebrews: lovely involved dynamics of living faith. 'chosen people' meme however gets a D in my book. just my opinion however.
protestants: the best remnant of christians. martin luther. nail the treatise to the oaken door with a big hammer, martin. this group can get violent in a heartbeat, however.
evangelicals: cultlike, keening desire for armegeddon. yikes!
satanists: puke. imho
atheists: okay in my book. we know if they are energetic and blooming with love they have god nature, belief system or not.
muslims: the koran has beautiful parts. there were always a lot of good arabic poets. but mad mohammed's lifestyle i have to pass on, statutory rape, concubinism, demeaning women, pillage hack and destroy for god. gets an F for prophet sharings.
anyways....just a littol ibid.
i am not the brightest bulb in the pack, but it has astonished me since a youth that in the thousands of years and the quadzillion moments devoted to religion on this planet that it has continued to serve war, grief, and hardship to further its aims.
sometime someone must just lay down their arms, if they have real faith and desire for peace.
otherwise its an endless simmering soup of he said she said he hit he cursed they went to war again. we realllly don't need that now. time is short on that type of experiment at this point. again imho
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Mar 31, 2009 5:03:29 GMT 4
Post by satchmo on Mar 31, 2009 5:03:29 GMT 4
Hello to everyone....and a hearty welcome to all the new members. Like to share this laff with all here. ;D ;D Irish boffins tackle cow-fart ecopocalypse with fish oil Planet-busting bovine guff cloud forestalled?
Irish boffins believe they may be able to save us all from the scourge of cowfart-induced ecological catastrophe, according to reports. It seems that adding fish oil to the parping bovine planet-wreckers' diet can reduce their methane emissions. As any fule kno, methane (CH4) - produced in the guts of various animals including cows and humans, and emitted by means of the trouser cough - is a hugely more potent greenhouse gas than CO2, being some twenty times as effective at trapping heat within the atmosphere. Cattle in particular are so flatulent, and produce so much methane, that there have been calls to limit their numbers for the sake of the planet - despite the impact this would have on the availability of cheeseburgers etc. But there may be no need for all that, says Dr Lorraine Lillis of University College Dublin. She and her team of top Irish guff boffins have recently carried out a trial in which three cows were fed a special diet including fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and had their noxious bottomnal emissions sequestered for analysis. The special fish-fuelled cow farts, according to Lillis, contained 21 per cent less methane than everyday bovine flatulence products. "The fish oil affects the methane-producing bacteria in the rumen part of the cow's gut, leading to reduced emissions," said Lillis, speaking at a microbiology conference in Harrogate today. "Understanding which microbial species are particularly influenced by changes in diet and relating them to methane production could bring about a more targeted approach to reducing methane emissions in animals." However, simply using fish oil as in the trial might be a bit troublesome. "Fish oil is expensive and difficult to get," Lillis admitted to LiveScience. Commercial scale bovine guff-buster diet supplements might have to use other sources of omega-3, or risk being too expensive and perhaps encouraging the ongoing worldwide decimation of fish stocks. When it was revealed recently that human bottom-belch emissions were an eco hazard on a par with Googling - considered by some to be highly damaging ecologically - it became clear that the human race is also part of the problem here. We are farting ourselves towards extinction.We at the Reg naturally called at the time for the immediate development of automated, in-pant flare stack technology. This would free humanity from the mindless and occasionally painful drudgery of burning off our farts in order to offset our compulsive Googling, leaving of TVs on standby etc. (One methane molecule, when burnt, yields one of CO2 and some water vapour, reducing its ecological burden by 95 per cent: failing to light your farts is incredibly environmentally irresponsible.) If the new Irish fish oil fart-squelching technology should fail, it will clearly be time for every cow to be fitted with some type of buttock mounted guff-blast detonator kit, or possibly a storage tank allowing the noxious emissions to be burned later as fuel in fart-propelled cars or something. www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/30/cow_fart_armageddon_thwarted_by_fish_oil/ ;D ;D ;D ;D satchmo
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Mar 31, 2009 5:16:04 GMT 4
Post by locoaz2009 on Mar 31, 2009 5:16:04 GMT 4
Russia backs return to Gold Standard to solve financial crisis Dear Friends, Look for Asia to back Russia on gold. Only the US Sheeple are clueless. Gold is your lifeline. Don’t let the paper players on the COMEX fool you. Anyone without gold is a castaway on the Ocean of Samaras. It is just that serious. Russia has become the first major country to call for a partial restoration of the Gold Standard to uphold discipline in the world financial system. By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard Last Updated: 8:23AM BST 30 Mar 2009 Arkady Dvorkevich, the Kremlin’s chief economic adviser, said Russia would favour the inclusion of gold bullion in the basket-weighting of a new world currency based on Special Drawing Rights issued by the International Monetary Fund. Chinese and Russian leaders both plan to open debate on an SDR-based reserve currency as an alternative to the US dollar at the G20 summit in London this week, although the world may not yet be ready for such a radical proposal. Mr Dvorkevich said it was "logical" that the new currency should include the rouble and the yuan, adding that "we could also think about more effective use of gold in this system". The Gold Standard was the anchor of world finance in the 19th Century but began breaking down during the First World War as governments engaged in unprecedented spending. It collapsed in the 1930s when the British Empire, the US, and France all abandoned their parities. It was revived as part of fixed dollar system until US inflation caused by the Vietnam War and "Great Society" social spending forced President Richard Nixon to close the gold window in 1971. www.jsmineset.com/
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Mar 31, 2009 5:18:44 GMT 4
Post by locoaz2009 on Mar 31, 2009 5:18:44 GMT 4
Deutsche Bank’s Banziger Says Crisis ‘Far From Over’We are nowhere near overcoming the deep credit market lock up. Gold is your only way out. Take it or stay inside the problem. By Aaron Kirchfeld March 30 (Bloomberg) — Deutsche Bank AG Chief Risk Officer Hugo Banziger said the global credit crisis is “far from over” and global financial regulations must be overhauled to regain investor trust. “We are in the middle of it,” Banziger, 53, said today at an event at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. The industry has “an opportunity” to build a stable financial system that seeks higher capital buffers, and encourage investors to return money to the market and help stem the crisis, he said. Deutsche Bank in February reported its first annual deficit in more than 50 years after the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression pummeled bond and stock trading. The crisis has caused $1.3 trillion in losses for financial companies worldwide, a total that may climb to more than $3 trillion, Banziger said today, citing forecasts. Deutsche Bank has gained 40 percent this month in Frankfurt trading, valuing the bank at 18 billion euros ($24 billion), and eclipsing the 5 percent advance in the Bloomberg Europe Banks and Financial Services Index of 65 companies. The bank fell 10 percent to 28.75 euros in trading today. The German bank skirted the worst of the U.S. subprime mortgage collapse by betting against the bonds that contributed to credit losses and writedowns at the world’s largest financial companies and forced government-led bailouts from Berlin to London to Washington. www.jsmineset.com/LOCOAZ
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Mar 31, 2009 5:21:27 GMT 4
Post by towhom on Mar 31, 2009 5:21:27 GMT 4
Hiya satchmo!
Maybe they should check these out...Cow Backpacks Trap Methane GasPhysOrg July 11th, 2008www.physorg.com/news135003243.htmlResearchers from Argentina were surprised to find that a single 550-kg cow produces between 800 to 1,000 liters of emissions each day.In an attempt to understand the extent of cow flatulence on global warming, scientists in Argentina are strapping plastic bags to the backs of cows to capture their emissions. Argentina has more than 55 million cows, making it a leading producer of beef. In the study, the scientists were surprised to discover that a standard 550-kg cow produces between 800 to 1,000 liters of emissions, including methane, each day. Further, methane - which is also released from landfills, coal mines and leaking gas pipes - is 23 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. "When we got the first results, we were surprised," said Guillermo Berra, a researcher at the National Institute of Agricultural Technology in Argentina. "Thirty percent of Argentina´s (total greenhouse) emissions could be generated by cattle." In their study, the researchers attached balloon-like plastic packs to the backs of at least 10 cows. A tube running to the animals´ stomachs collected the gas inside the backpacks, which were then hung from the roof of the corral for analysis. The Argentine researchers say that the slow digestive system of the cows causes them to produce these large amounts of methane. Now, the scientists are performing trials of new diets designed to improve the cows´ digestion and reduce global warming. By feeding cows clover and alfalfa instead of grain, "you can reduce methane emissions by 25 percent," according to Silvia Valtorta of the National Council of Scientific and Technical Investigations. I'm sure they can be "adapted" for other "applications". In fact, some can have fittings at both ends when needed...like when the "Hill of Beans" is in session...
;D ;D ;D ;D
Peace and Joy Always
Sally Anne
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NEWS
Mar 31, 2009 5:25:46 GMT 4
Post by locoaz2009 on Mar 31, 2009 5:25:46 GMT 4
Burning ice new fuel?
How burning ice could soon be used to heat our homes By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:25 PM on 24th March 2009 Gas hydrates, known as 'ice that burns,' may provide a clean, sustainable fuel source in the future.
(Credit: J. Pinkston and L. Stern/US Geological Survey)
Forget coal or oil - we may soon be using ice to heat our homes. Frozen natural gas found deep beneath the sea and Arctic could be used to power homes and factories. The 'gas hydrates' that burst into flames at the touch of a match, could be mined just like gas, say U.S government researchers. There is enough in America to heat 100million homes for a decade. 'These gas hydrates could serve as a bridge to our energy future until cleaner fuel sources, such as hydrogen and solar energy, are more fully realized,' study co-leader Dr Tim Collett from the U.S. Geological Survey said. Gas hydrates, known as 'ice that burns,' are cleaner than other fossil fuels and leave a smaller carbon dioxide footprint, the researchers said. They form when methane gas from decomposing organic material comes into contact with water at low temperatures and high pressures. However, the process of burning gas hydrates will need to become more efficient, if it is to be a viable fuel.
Last November, a team of USGS researchers estimated that 85.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could potentially be extracted from Alaska's North Slope region. 'It's definitely a vast storehouse of energy,' Dr Collett says. 'But it is still unknown how much of this volume can actually be produced on an industrial scale.'
More...£1,390 world's cheapest car headed for Britain
Scientists worldwide are now doing research on gas hydrates in order to understand how this strange material forms and how it might be used to supplement coal, oil, and traditional natural gas. The team's findings will be presented at the American Chemical Society's National Meeting in Utah.
LOCOAZ
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NEWS
Mar 31, 2009 5:31:02 GMT 4
Post by locoaz2009 on Mar 31, 2009 5:31:02 GMT 4
Warning~ "super worm" 60 mins. report
"Y2K", or serious threat?
(copied from another site)
I saw on 60 minutes tonight a story about this "super worm". I decided to google it. This reminds me of the latest Die Hard movie. At the time the movie was created last year this was fiction or even maybe sci-fi. Now it is a reality. The movie wasn't that great, but it sent a message that this is very possible to me at least.
There is this worm called "C'onficker". It is supposedly incredible in the way that it morphs. It has already infected 9 million computers. Not just yours or mine, but major companies. While CBS was making this story they found out that they were infected with this worm. It is extremely advanced. I jumps over firewalls and morphs. They had a team of people working on this worm to remove it and they could only quarantine it. They spent 24/7 for 10 days with a team of people and they don't know that they completely got it. They say that it is so advanced that they can't even controll it or find a way to remove it. This "worm" is going to report back and get instuctions on what to do on April 1.
This is coming from the people from Symantek (Norton Anti-virus and Google, etc...) They have disected what they could of this worm and found that on April 1st, it will report back and then whatever commands the owners want to happen will happen. This could be a wipe-out of hard drives, this could be simply a ton of pop ups wanting you to buy spyware or anti-virus software. Crazy thing is it has infected all of CBS. They said by simply going on ebay you could get it. They also said that it won't be detected by anti-removal programs, and if it is, it is most likely still there because it morphs and morphs and doesn't stop.
I was going to try and copy paste a few articles on this, but I don't want to add in advertisements. The easiest thing is for you to google "worm april 1, or C'onficker".
If this is another Y2K, that's fine and all, but this is a serious reality of our future. We as a nation and as a world are very dependent on the internet. Everyone is hooked up, even all of the companies on the NYSE and even out government computers are on the net. These top officials of "Norton" and google and others said that they can't stop this or if it happens in the future. This is terrorismn at a different level.
Can you imagine in the power companies all shut down, the government computers were all compromised? Anyway this is just something to think about. If I were anyone here I wouldn't at the very least do any banking online. There are 15,000 new worms created everyday and they are designed to take your information and steal from you. Watch the 60 minutes episode if you can, I'm sure it's probably on CBS. The google...... I know we have had Y2K scares before and that wasn't really warented IMO . This however is a scare that is a reality. They have identified a major theat and it is real. I am interested in any opinions ya'll have. Peace.
LOCOAZ
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