Brits who ground their fingers to stumps hammering their Lumia's update button will finally be able to rest, as Nokia UK has confirmed that Windows 7.8 is rolling out today. The company has also revealed O2's pricing for the Lumia 620, the handset that'll bring Windows Phone 8 to the cash-strapped masses. It's available from today on the oxygen-themed network, setting you back ?149.99 or free on contracts priced over ?18.50. Normally, the interchangeable back plates would cost around ?20, but O2 is offering buyers a choice of a yellow, orange, green, white or cyan model for free.
You'll also be able to pick up the quirky handset from ThreeUK and Virgin Media today, although neither has opened up about pricing just yet. Vodafone has announced that it'll launch the phone on February 6th with a choice of white or black covers, while EE has yet to commit to carrying the handset. If you saw removable covers and hoped that the 620 would benefit from the same wireless charging plates we saw in the 820, we've got some bad news -- Nokia has said it's not likely to happen.
A judge ruled Wednesday to keep the upcoming trial of two high school football players charged with raping a 16-year-old girl in the eastern Ohio county where the attack allegedly happened, rejecting requests by the defendants' attorneys who wanted the trial moved.
Prosecutors had opposed the request by the defendants' lawyers, who said some potential witnesses had been threatened and could face intimidation or harassment outside the local courthouse.
Judge Thomas Lipps also said the nonjury trial should be open to the public and media. He set the trial date for March 13.
Adam Nemann, an attorney for defendant Trent Mays, argued Friday the case should be moved to a county with a bigger courthouse where crowds of protesters potentially trying to intimidate witnesses favorable to the accused could be better controlled.
"My big concern is that witnesses aren't going to come in walking past hundreds of people wearing masks," Nemann said.
Brian Deckert, a special prosecutor from the Ohio attorney general's office, responded that witnesses could be compelled to testify by subpoena and would have to testify truthfully because of perjury laws.
Lipps also said the trial would be open to the public, overruling objections by the girl and her family, who wanted to protect her identity and keep evidence that might be ruled inadmissible from becoming public.
A lawyer for defendant Ma'Lik Richmond initially wanted the trial closed, then changed his mind. Closing the trial would have hinged largely on Richmond's concerns - related to possible witness intimidation - since his right to a fair trial was the main issue before Lipps.
The Associated Press generally does not identify juvenile suspects, but Mays' and Richmond's names have been widely reported by local and national media outlets.
Three other students who witnessed the attack but weren't charged are expected to testify at next month's trial. The girl attends a different high school across the river in West Virginia.
Prosecutors say the girl was attacked twice after an alcohol-fueled party last August, once in a car and once in the basement of a house. The AP generally doesn't identity people who say they are the victims of sexual assault.
Actor Richard Gere, right, puts an arm around Chen Guangcheng after the Chinese dissident was awarded the Tom Lantos Human Rights Prize in Washington on Tuesday. Next to Chen is his wife, Yuan Weijing, and adjacent to her is Lantos' widow, Annette Lantos.
By Ed Flanagan, Producer, NBC News
BEIJING -- Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng urged the United States to not put business interests ahead of Beijing's human rights abuses and to help end the Communist Party's "rule of thieves" at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., Tuesday.
"It is clearly difficult to shift attention away from issues of finance and the economy," Chen told the award ceremony's attendees in translated remarks read out in English by actor and noted Tibet advocate Richard Gere., "[But] remember that placing undue value on material life will cause a deficit in spiritual life."
The 41-year-old self-taught lawyer also urged the United States to hold fast to its founding principles such as democracy, human rights and freedom of speech when dealing with China.
Chen's words could well be making some American officials squirm. As the Chinese and U.S. economies become more interdependent, Beijing has applied pressure for the two countries to put aside human rights issues and focus on mutual business interests.
Blind social activist Chen Guangcheng is starting a new life of freedom in the U.S. NBC's Michelle Franzen reports.
China is the United States' second-largest trading partner behind Canada, and growth has it poised to move into the top spot. Goods and services trade between the countries totaled $539 billion in 2011, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Chen is best known for his daring nighttime escape from 19 months of house detention in his native Shandong province in April. Despite breaking his leg during his dash for freedom, he managed to travel some 300 miles to Beijing, where he sought refuge at the U.S. Embassy.
His escape to U.S. custody sparked a diplomatic maelstrom that eventually led to his negotiated release from the embassy to a Beijing hospital. Chen and his family were later granted permission to travel to New York University, where he could continue his legal studies out of the Chinese media spotlight.
Acquaintances 'have been threatened'
Chen accepted the Tom Lantos Human Rights Prize, named after the only Holocaust survivor to have served in the U.S. Congress. Lantos' background had a "profound resonance" in his heart as he remembered his experience, that of his relatives in China and that of other human rights advocates still in detention, Chen said.
"Recently, many friends and neighbors who I have been in touch with by phone have been taken into custody by the authorities for questioning," Chen said. "They have been threatened and made to describe what our conversations have been about."
Chen's nephew Chen Kegui was sentenced last month to three years in prison after he was found guilty of assaulting local officials with a knife. The family says that officials barged into Chen Kegui's home and that he had been acting in self-defense.
In sheltering Chen and helping to negotiate his exit to New York, the U.S. government outraged Beijing, which roundly rejects foreign involvement in its domestic affairs.
Chen's frequent speeches and interviews in the United States regularly make news among China watchers and human rights advocates, but in China his words are blocked and censored.
On China's popular Twitter-like service, Weibo, Chen's name has long been blocked and mention of his award Tuesday generated no comments.
Beijing is likely to have bristled at Chen receiving an American peace prize. State media gave no attention to his award and the Foreign Ministry did not issue a statement on it.
It is common to see that people opt for any kind of exercise program by thinking only for cardiovascular and other kinds of exercises including cycling, running etc. In fact, this is not the right way to plan for fitness activities.
The best possible ways considered for significant health benefits is to opt for the right kind of fitness activity. In this regard, knowing benefits of personal training can be more helpful. One of the best benefits of the training is that it helps one with quality resistance training. It is also called as strength training which is meant to develop endurance and muscle strength by using distinct endurance options like free weights, elastic bands, body mass etc.
Other than resistance training, there are various other benefits of personal training. In terms of efficiency, a professional trainer helps clients in focusing on the fixed fitness goals and in not wasting time in practicing any inefficient workouts.
Another beneficial aspect of personalized training is that it comes with Individualized program to deal with different fitness goals of individuals accordingly. Conclusively, it can be said that it is all due to the benefits of personal training that have lead modern fitness gyms to offer training for the same.
Google is sounding a warning klaxon about a proposed law change in Germany which aims to strengthen copyright law for publishers by requiring search engines and online news aggregators to pay a royalty to display snippets of copyrighted text -- such as the first paragraph of an article displayed within a Google News search. If the law passes, fines would be imposed for unlicensed use of snippets.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Less restocking by businesses and weaker global demand likely held back economic growth in the fourth quarter but consumer spending probably picked up to help keep the recovery intact.
Gross domestic product probably grew at a 1.1 percent annual rate, a step down from the third quarter's brisk 3.1 percent pace, according to a Reuters poll of economists. That would be the slowest growth rate in nearly two years.
"The recovery is expected to have ground to a near halt in the fourth quarter mostly due to the unfavorable global environment and a slowdown in inventory accumulation," said Millan Mulraine, a senior economist at TD Securities in New York.
The Commerce Department will release the fourth-quarter GDP report on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m (1330 GMT).
Despite the anticipated overall weak GDP figure, consumer and business spending are expected to show surprising resilience, given that the economy was on the brink of a so-called fiscal cliff, underscoring some fundamental strength in the economy.
The government lessened the blow the recovery would have taken from the $600 billion "cliff" of scheduled government spending cuts and tax hikes, but taxes still went up for many Americans and the spending cuts were only deferred.
Peter D'Antonio, an economist at Citigroup in New York, said signs domestic demand was well maintained "implies the economy will be able to withstand the hit from a new fiscal drag."
Tepid demand in the third quarter left businesses with unwanted stock in their warehouses and little incentive to accumulate more inventory in the final three months of the year.
Economists estimate that a slowdown in inventory accumulation could slash as much as a full percentage point from fourth-quarter GDP growth. Inventories added almost three-quarters of a percentage point in the July-September period.
With data available so far showing a decline in exports in the fourth quarter, trade will weigh on growth. Export growth has been hampered by a recession in much of debt-stricken Europe and a cooling Chinese economy.
Economists expect trade will subtract at least 0.3 percentage point from fourth-quarter GDP growth.
DEFENSE TO WEIGH ON GROWTH
Another drag to growth is expected to come from government spending, where defense outlays are seen reversing the prior quarter's robust growth. Government spending is seen contracting at a pace of at least 3 percent after expanding 3.9 percent.
A huge storm that struck the East Coast in late October is expected to have proved a further weight on output.
Elsewhere, details of the report should be fairly encouraging. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, is expected to have accelerated from the prior quarter's 1.6 percent growth pace.
A rebound in business investment is expected after outlays fell in the third quarter for the first time in 1-1/2 years.
"None of these developments suggest a worrisome weakening in U.S. fundamentals," said Omair Sharif, an economist at RBS in Stamford, Connecticut.
A measure of underlying domestic demand, which excludes inventories and trade, is expected to have quickened a bit from the third quarter's 1.9 percent rate.
But consumer spending could come under pressure in the first half of this year given that Congress let a temporary payroll tax cut expire at the end of 2012.
Businesses could also pull back given uncertainty over how deeply Washington may cut spending and the likelihood of a protracted fight over raising the nation's debt ceiling.
"Assuming Washington does not derail the economy, we do see a pick-up in the pace of growth in the second half of the year led by the private sector on strengthening consumption, housing and released pent-up demand of capital expenditures," said Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The housing market was another bright spot during the fourth quarter. Investment in residential construction is expected to have gained momentum after notching a 13.5 percent pace in the third quarter.
Homebuilding is expected to have added to growth last year for the first time since 2005 and its continued recovery should help ensure the economy remains on a modest growth path despite headwinds.
(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by James Dalgleish)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon has approved a major expansion of its cybersecurity force to counter a growing threat of hacking and to conduct offensive operations against foreign foes, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing U.S. officials.
The officials, who were not named because the plan is not yet public, said the move would increase the cybersecurity force fivefold, from 900 personnel to a total of 4,900 troops and civilians.
It said senior Pentagon officials made the decision late last year amid a string of attacks, including one that wiped out more than 30,000 computers at a Saudi Arabian state oil company.
The increase in personnel was requested by the head of the Defense Department's Cyber Command.
A Pentagon spokesman had no immediate comment, but said he was aware of the report in the Washington Post.
The plan, the paper said, calls for creating three types of force under the Cyber Command.
"National mission forces," would protect computer systems that undergird electrical grids and other kinds of infrastructure. "Combat mission forces," would help commanders abroad execute attacks or other offensive operations, while "cyber protection forces," would focus on protecting the Defense Department's own systems.
(Reporting by Sarah Lynch; Editing by David Brunnstrom)
On Sunday night, 60 Minutes'?Steve Kroft sat down with President Obama and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, neither of whom seem very interested in talking about the next election. It was a feel-good 30-minutes of chatting if anything and a rare sight to see the two politicians in a joint interview. Niceties were exchanged, heads nodded, hands crossed. Barack wore blue. Hillary wore pink. And neither of them dared say a word about the next election.
RELATED: Obama Foreign Policy: 'Leading from Behind'
That doesn't mean Kroft didn't ask. Pivoting gracefully on the president's praise for Hillary, Kroft asked, "What's the expiration on this endorsement." You can almost ?hear the sound of Obama's internet eye-rolling. "You know, Steve, I gotta tell you, the -- you guys in the press are incorrigible," said the president, whose vice president is eyeing the nomination. "I was literally inaugurated four days ago. And you're talking about elections four years from now."
RELATED: Hillary Clinton Falls on Her Sword
So Kroft turns to Clinton. "Yeah, and I am, as you know, Steve, I am still secretary of state," said Clinton. "So I'm out of politics. And I'm forbidden from even hearing these questions." She could've just said, "Yeah, and I am, as you know, Steve, I am not running for office in 2016. I've said that several times now, okay?" Or, of course, she could've announced her candidacy! (Highly unlikely.) That would've been bad timing, though, because what followed were a bunch of somewhat serious questions about her Benghazi testimony -- She "deeply regrets what happened" -- and her health -- "It's great."
RELATED: Can Conservative Media Stomach Another Week of Weinergate?
The rest of the chat goes about as you might expect. Obama talked about how much he admired Hillary during the primary campaign, and Hillary guffawed about how she tried to turn down the president's job offer. Obama talked about how the world is "big and chaotic" and "dangerous." Clinton reminded everyone, "We're on the side of freedom." It was all very patriotic and appropriate and expected. It's nice to see a couple of powerful political leaders pat each other on the back sometimes, but do go over thinking anything they say. When Kroft asked at the beginning of the interview if there were any political tea leaves to be read into what they were saying, Hillary chimed right in, "We don't have any tea. We've got some water here is the best I can tell."
By Janice WoodAssociate News Editor Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on January 27, 2013
New research has found that qigong, an ancient Chinese mind-body practice, has been found to reduce depression and improve the quality of life in women undergoing radiation for breast cancer.
The study examined qigong in patients receiving radiation therapy and included a follow-up period to assess its benefits over time, according to researchers.
?We were [...] particularly interested to see if qigong would benefit patients experiencing depressive symptoms at the start of treatment,? said Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., a professor in the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center?s Departments of General Oncology and Behavioral Science.
?It is important for cancer patients to manage stress because it can have a profoundly negative effect on biological systems and inflammatory profiles.?
For the study, Cohen and his colleagues recruited 96 women with stage 1-3 breast cancer from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center in Shanghai, China.
About half of the women ? 49 ? were randomly assigned to a qigong group consisting of five 40-minute classes each week during their five-to-six week course of radiation therapy. The remaining 47 women comprised a control group receiving standard care.
The program incorporated a modified version of Chinese medical qigong, which consisted of synchronizing one?s breath with various exercises, the researchers explained.
Participants in both groups completed assessments at the beginning, middle and end of radiation therapy and then one and three months later. Different aspects of quality of life were measured, including depressive symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and overall quality of life.
According to the researchers, patients in the qigong group reported a steady decline in depressive symptom scores beginning at the end of radiation therapy, with a mean score of 12.3, through the three month post-radiation follow-up with a score of 9.5. No changes were noted in the control group over time, the study found.
The study also found that qigong was especially helpful for women reporting high baseline depressive symptoms, Cohen said.
?We examined women?s depressive symptoms at the start of the study to see if women with higher levels would benefit more,? he said.
?In fact, women with low levels of depressive symptoms at the start of radiotherapy had good quality of life throughout treatment and three months later regardless of whether they were in the qigong or control group. However, women with high depressive symptoms in the control group reported the worst levels of depressive symptoms, fatigue, and overall quality of life that were significantly improved for the women in the qigong group.?
As the benefits of qigong were largely observed after treatment concluded, researchers suggest qigong may prevent a delayed symptom burden or expedite the recovery process, especially for women with elevated depressive symptoms at the start of radiation therapy. Cohen notes the delayed effect could be explained by the cumulative nature of the treatments, as the benefits often take time to be realized.
According to the researchers, the findings support other previously reported trials examining the benefits of qigong, but are too preliminary to offer clinical recommendations.
They note that additional research is needed to understand the possible biological mechanisms involved and further explore the use of qigong in ethnically diverse populations with different forms of cancer.
The study was published in the journal Cancer.
Source: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
APA Reference Wood, J. (2013). Qigong Improves Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Patients. Psych Central. Retrieved on January 28, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/01/27/qigong-improves-quality-of-life-for-breast-cancer-patients/50826.html
USGS-NOAA: Climate change impacts to US coasts threaten public health, safety and economyPublic release date: 28-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Catherine Puckett cpuckett@usgs.gov 352-377-2469 United States Geological Survey
According to a new technical report, the effects of climate change will continue to threaten the health and vitality of U.S. coastal communities' social, economic and natural systems.
The report, Coastal Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerabilities: a technical input to the 2013 National Climate Assessment, authored by leading scientists and experts, emphasizes the need for increased coordination and planning to ensure U.S. coastal communities are resilient against the effects of climate change.
The recently released report examines and describes climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems and human economies and communities, as well as the kinds of scientific data, planning tools and resources that coastal communities and resource managers need to help them adapt to these changes.
"Sandy showed us that coastal states and communities need effective strategies, tools and resources to conserve, protect, and restore coastal habitats and economies at risk from current environmental stresses and a changing climate," said Margaret A. Davidson of NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management and co-lead author of the report. "Easing the existing pressures on coastal environments to improve their resiliency is an essential method of coping with the adverse effects of climate change."
A key finding in the report is that all U.S. coasts are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as sea-level rise, erosion, storms and flooding, especially in the more populated low-lying parts of the U.S. coast along the Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic, northern Alaska, Hawaii, and island territories. Another finding indicated the financial risks associated with both private and public hazard insurance are expected to increase dramatically.
"An increase in the intensity of extreme weather events such as storms like Sandy and Katrina, coupled with sea-level rise and the effects of increased human development along the coasts, could affect the sustainability of many existing coastal communities and natural resources," said Virginia Burkett of the U.S. Geological Survey and co-lead author of the report.
The authors also emphasized that storm surge flooding and sea-level rise pose significant threats to public and private infrastructure that provides energy, sewage treatment, clean water and transportation of people and goods. These factors increase threats to public health, safety, and employment in the coastal zone.
The report's authors noted that the population of the coastal watershed counties of the U.S. and territories, including the Great Lakes, makes up more than 50 percent of the nation's population and contributed more than $8.3 trillion to the 2011 U.S. economy but depend on healthy coastal landforms, water resources, estuaries and other natural resources to sustain them. Climate changes, combined with human development activities, reduce the ability of coasts to provide numerous benefits, including food, clean water, jobs, recreation and protection of communities against storms.
Seventy-nine federal, academic and other scientists, including the lead authors from the NOAA and USGS, authored the report which is being used as a technical input to the third National Climate Assessment an interagency report produced for Congress once every four years to summarize the science and impacts of climate change on the United States.
Other key findings of the report include:
Expected public health impacts include a decline in seafood quality, shifts in disease patterns and increases in rates of heat-related morbidity.
Changes in the location and the time of year when storms form can lead to large changes in where storms land and the impacts of storms. Any sea-level rise is virtually certain to exacerbate storm-surge and flooding related hazards.
Because of changes in the hydrological cycle due to warming, precipitation events (rain, snow) will likely be heavier. Combined with sea-level rise and storm surge, this will increase flooding severity in some coastal areas, particularly in the Northeast.
Temperature is primarily driving environmental change in the Alaskan coastal zone. Sea ice and permafrost make northern regions particularly susceptible to temperature change. For example, an increase of two degrees Celsius during the summer could basically transform much of Alaska from frozen to unfrozen, with extensive implications.
As the physical environment changes, the range of a particular ecosystem will expand, contract or migrate in response. The combined influence of many stresses can cause unexpected ecological changes if species, populations or ecosystems are pushed beyond a tipping point.
Although adaptation planning activities in the coastal zone are increasing, they generally occur in an ad-hoc manner and are slow to be implemented. Efficiency of adaptation can be improved through more accurate and timely scientific information, tools, and resources, and by integrating adaptation plans into overall land use planning as well as ocean and coastal management.
An integrated scientific program will reduce uncertainty about the best ways coastal communities can to respond to sea-level rise and other kinds of coastal change. This, in turn, will allow communities to better assess their vulnerability and to identify and implement appropriate adaptation and preparedness options.
###
This report is available online.
NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join NOAA on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels.
USGS provides science for a changing world. Visit USGS.gov, and follow us on Twitter @USGS and our other social media channels.
Subscribe to our news releases via e-mail, RSS or Twitter.
Links and contacts within this release are valid at the time of publication.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
USGS-NOAA: Climate change impacts to US coasts threaten public health, safety and economyPublic release date: 28-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Catherine Puckett cpuckett@usgs.gov 352-377-2469 United States Geological Survey
According to a new technical report, the effects of climate change will continue to threaten the health and vitality of U.S. coastal communities' social, economic and natural systems.
The report, Coastal Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerabilities: a technical input to the 2013 National Climate Assessment, authored by leading scientists and experts, emphasizes the need for increased coordination and planning to ensure U.S. coastal communities are resilient against the effects of climate change.
The recently released report examines and describes climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems and human economies and communities, as well as the kinds of scientific data, planning tools and resources that coastal communities and resource managers need to help them adapt to these changes.
"Sandy showed us that coastal states and communities need effective strategies, tools and resources to conserve, protect, and restore coastal habitats and economies at risk from current environmental stresses and a changing climate," said Margaret A. Davidson of NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management and co-lead author of the report. "Easing the existing pressures on coastal environments to improve their resiliency is an essential method of coping with the adverse effects of climate change."
A key finding in the report is that all U.S. coasts are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as sea-level rise, erosion, storms and flooding, especially in the more populated low-lying parts of the U.S. coast along the Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic, northern Alaska, Hawaii, and island territories. Another finding indicated the financial risks associated with both private and public hazard insurance are expected to increase dramatically.
"An increase in the intensity of extreme weather events such as storms like Sandy and Katrina, coupled with sea-level rise and the effects of increased human development along the coasts, could affect the sustainability of many existing coastal communities and natural resources," said Virginia Burkett of the U.S. Geological Survey and co-lead author of the report.
The authors also emphasized that storm surge flooding and sea-level rise pose significant threats to public and private infrastructure that provides energy, sewage treatment, clean water and transportation of people and goods. These factors increase threats to public health, safety, and employment in the coastal zone.
The report's authors noted that the population of the coastal watershed counties of the U.S. and territories, including the Great Lakes, makes up more than 50 percent of the nation's population and contributed more than $8.3 trillion to the 2011 U.S. economy but depend on healthy coastal landforms, water resources, estuaries and other natural resources to sustain them. Climate changes, combined with human development activities, reduce the ability of coasts to provide numerous benefits, including food, clean water, jobs, recreation and protection of communities against storms.
Seventy-nine federal, academic and other scientists, including the lead authors from the NOAA and USGS, authored the report which is being used as a technical input to the third National Climate Assessment an interagency report produced for Congress once every four years to summarize the science and impacts of climate change on the United States.
Other key findings of the report include:
Expected public health impacts include a decline in seafood quality, shifts in disease patterns and increases in rates of heat-related morbidity.
Changes in the location and the time of year when storms form can lead to large changes in where storms land and the impacts of storms. Any sea-level rise is virtually certain to exacerbate storm-surge and flooding related hazards.
Because of changes in the hydrological cycle due to warming, precipitation events (rain, snow) will likely be heavier. Combined with sea-level rise and storm surge, this will increase flooding severity in some coastal areas, particularly in the Northeast.
Temperature is primarily driving environmental change in the Alaskan coastal zone. Sea ice and permafrost make northern regions particularly susceptible to temperature change. For example, an increase of two degrees Celsius during the summer could basically transform much of Alaska from frozen to unfrozen, with extensive implications.
As the physical environment changes, the range of a particular ecosystem will expand, contract or migrate in response. The combined influence of many stresses can cause unexpected ecological changes if species, populations or ecosystems are pushed beyond a tipping point.
Although adaptation planning activities in the coastal zone are increasing, they generally occur in an ad-hoc manner and are slow to be implemented. Efficiency of adaptation can be improved through more accurate and timely scientific information, tools, and resources, and by integrating adaptation plans into overall land use planning as well as ocean and coastal management.
An integrated scientific program will reduce uncertainty about the best ways coastal communities can to respond to sea-level rise and other kinds of coastal change. This, in turn, will allow communities to better assess their vulnerability and to identify and implement appropriate adaptation and preparedness options.
###
This report is available online.
NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join NOAA on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels.
USGS provides science for a changing world. Visit USGS.gov, and follow us on Twitter @USGS and our other social media channels.
Subscribe to our news releases via e-mail, RSS or Twitter.
Links and contacts within this release are valid at the time of publication.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Jan. 28, 2013 ? To ensure that the genetic material is equally and accurately distributed to the two daughter cells during cell division, the DNA fibers must have an ordered structure and be closely packed. At the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich scientists have now elucidated the structure of a ring-shaped protein complex (SMC-kleisin), which ensures order in this packaging process. Together with their cooperation partners at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, they studied these proteins in bacteria and found structural analogies to the human complex.
The findings have now been published in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.
In each cell about two meters of DNA must fit into a cell nucleus that has a diameter of only a few thousandths of a millimeter. There the DNA is organized in individual chromosomes in the form of very long filaments. If they are not equally and accurately distributed to the daughter cells during cell division, this can result in cancer or genetic defects such as trisomy 21. Therefore, to ensure safe transport of DNA during cell division the long and coiled DNA fibers must be tightly packed.
Scientists have only a sketchy understanding of this step. The SMC-kleisin protein complexes play a key role in this process. They consist of two arms (SMC) and a bridge (kleisin). The arms wrap around the DNA like a ring and thus can connect duplicated chromosomes or two distant parts of the same chromosome with each other.
Learning from bacteria Simple organisms like bacteria also use this method of DNA packaging. The scientists, in collaboration with colleagues from South Korea, have now elucidated the structure of a precursor of human SMC-kleisin complexes of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. The researchers showed that the bacterial SMC-kleisin complex has two arms made of identical SMC proteins that form a ring. The arms differ in their function only through the different ends of the kleisin protein with which they are connected.
In humans the DNA packaging machinery is similarly organized. "We suspect that this asymmetric structure plays an important role in the opening and closing of the ring around the DNA," explains Frank B?rmann, PhD student in the research group 'Chromosome Organization and Dynamics' of Stephan Gruber. In addition, the scientists discovered how the ends of the kleisin can distinguish between correct and wrong binding sites on one pair of arms.
The cohesion of chromosomes is of critical importance for reproduction as well. In human eggs this cohesion must be maintained for decades to ensure error-free meiosis of the egg cell. Failure of cohesion is a likely cause for decreased fertility due to age or the occurrence of genetic defects such as trisomy 21. "The elucidation of the structure of SMC-kleisin protein complexes is an important milestone in understanding the intricate organization of chromosomes," says group leader Stephan Gruber.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
Frank B?rmann, Ho-Chul Shin, J?r?me Basquin, Young-Min Soh, Victor Gim?nez-Oya, Yeon-Gil Kim, Byung-Ha Oh, Stephan Gruber. An asymmetric SMC?kleisin bridge in prokaryotic condensin. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2488
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.
The $20 million home built by Patriots QB Tom Brady and his other half who earns well over half of the family income has a moat.? (And if they get past the moat, Tom will be ready with his sliding crane kick.)
With Ike Hilliard serving as the Bills? receivers coach, the wideouts will have a position coach who played at the NFL level for the first time since Charlie Joiner in 2000.
So what should the Dolphins do with LT Jake Long?
CB Antonio Cromartie says the Jets ?can?t lose a guy like? Darrelle Revis.
Steelers RB Isaac Redman is due to become a restricted free agent in March.
The defamation lawsuit filed by the Bengals cheerleader who pleaded guilty to having a relationship against a gossip website ended in a mistrial.
Here are some thoughts about the things about which the Browns are thinking.
Ravens CB Asa Jackson says the people hitting him up for seats at the Super Bowl are ?not quite in the ticket budget range? for this specific game.
The Texans average general-admission ticket price will increase by 9.8 percent in 2013.
Some Colts fans had some questions about teams, and someone from the Colts website had some answers.
The radio description of the Titans? ?Music City Miracle? has been named one of the top calls in sports history.
The Jaguars continue to support local charities and programs in Jacksonville.
The mother of deceased Chiefs LB Jovan Belcher is still trying to secure custody of Belcher?s daughter, Zoey.
The powers-that-be in Oakland will spend $1 million to study new stadium proposals.
In an appearance with CNN?s Piers Morgan, Broncos V.P. of football operations John Elway talked about fake girlfriends and real guns.
Since the Chargers didn?t make it to the real tournament, they?ve concocted a tournament of the best plays from a year that wasn?t good enough to get them to the real tournament.
Former Giants DE Michael Strahan talks about his upcoming Hall of Fame bid.
MADD is working with the Cowboys on strategies to raise team awareness regarding the consequences of drunk driving.
The lawyer for former Redskins CB Fred Smoot wants to make one thing clear about Smoot?s recent DUI arrest in D.C.:? Smoot did not pee in his pants.
If the Eagles return to a 3-4 defense, there could be plenty of changes on the defensive line.
Here?s an argument for the Lions drafting Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro.
Vikings K Blair Walsh offered to pay for P Chris Kluwe to attend the Pro Bowl, but Kluwe doesn?t want a free ride unless he earns it.
Even if the read-option is only a fad, teams like the Packers need to adjust to it.
Bears DT Henry Melton remains optimistic that he?ll work out a deal to stay in Chicago before the start of free agency.
Saints P Thomas Morstead finds it ?surreal? to be hanging out at the pool after Pro Bowl practice with the ?best athletes in the world.?? (Meanwhile, the ?best athletes in the world? find it surreal that Morstead has a puzzled look on his face when they tell him they?d like a Mai Tai and a bowl of macadamia nuts.)
It could be that the Falcons will get $300 million in public money for their proposed new stadium only if the effort avoids a vote from the Georgia legislature.
So how can the Bucs recapture their 10-year-old glory?? Here are 12 steps for getting there.
Panthers LB Luke Kuechly is still working toward finishing his marketing degree at Boston College.
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh sought advice from John Madden on how to handle the Super Bowl:? ?I just know that over the years watching it, the team that complains the most when they get down there usually loses,? Madden said.? ?The other thing I know is that you haven?t done anything yet.? And I think that the team that celebrates having gotten there the most usually loses focus.?
Rams G.M. Les Snead talks about the pool of talent at the Senior Bowl.
Here?s photographic proof that Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is the same size as Drew Brees.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said this week of the team?s quarterbacks:? ?I?m going to give them all a shot.?? (John McKay would be in favor of that.)
First Round Capital is releasing its 2012 year in review, which delves into hard data, such as how much the seed fund invested in the year and the most common CEO name within the firm's?portfolio.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kelsey Goldsmith 207-619-7350 kelseyg@broadreachpr.com
Record number of Maine real estate leaders gather to sort through mixed signals; MEREDA Index unveiled Annual conference drew more than 650 from Maine?s real estate, construction, finance, architecture, legal, engineering, tourism, and economic development communities
PORTLAND, Maine (January 24, 2013) ? The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) hosted its annual Real Estate Forecast Conference and Member Showcase today in Portland.? The crowd was standing room only and broke attendance records, with more than 650 professionals from Maine?s real estate industry attending, included brokers, architects, developers, engineers, bankers, and economic development professionals.? The day-long event featured nine presentations, many of which provided a forecast of a particular segment of the industry, plus the unveiling of the ?MEREDA Index,? and a keynote from a representative from Maine?s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).
MEREDA?s board president, Drew Sigfridson of CBRE | The Boulos Company, welcomed attendees, the vast majority of whom expressed optimism about Maine?s real estate economy in an informal show of hands.? In fact, throughout the day, realtors, lenders, developers, and others chatted informally with one another, sharing anecdotes about how business for them has been on the uptick.? But, there are ?confusing messages out there as to whether Maine is headed to a real estate rebound or not,? noted Sigfridson.? ?That is why, today, we are unveiling the MEREDA Index, which will be an important indicator of Maine?s real estate economy, and an important barometer of confidence in the market,? he said.
As a new addition for this annual event, MEREDA partnered with Dr. Charles Colgan, a well-known Maine economist from USM?s Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service.? Today, Colgan unveiled what has been coined the ?MEREDA Index,? a new metric Colgan developed to illustrate the statistical changes and measure the pulse of the real estate industry in Maine, including sale and lease activity, construction starts and other data ? aggregated into one figure as an indicator of this important sector of Maine?s economy.
?The MEREDA Index shows that the real estate industry has already hit bottom, and has leveled out,? noted Sigfridson. Colgan spoke with caution, noting that current benchmark figures which would typically indicate growth in the real estate economy are on the rise, but still at lows compared to height of the 2006 economy.? This includes construction employment, housing permit applications, median home prices, sales of existing homes, and commercial sales.? ?Housing sales are increasing, but barely,? said Colgan.
?We have definitely seen more activity and more people interested in doing something,? noted Sigfridson.? ?The MEREDA Index notes a steady uptick in activity from the bottom of the recession, which would indicate that now is the time to get into the market if possible.?
Brian Whitney of DECD joined the conversation, serving as event keynote.? He acknowledged the importance of the real estate industry in Maine, and offered DECD?s assistance to all of those in attendance, as they work to put together deals and/or navigate the beurocracy.
Also stepping to the podium were leading experts from across Maine, who offered forecasts of what lies ahead for particular segments of Maine?s real estate economy, including projections by region and key market sectors, including office, retail, industrial, residential, and multi-family properties.? Many of these industry-insiders seemed to agree with the MEREDA Index?s assessment: the real estate economy is improving, slowly.
?The savvy investor is taking advantage of the here and now,? said Harper Lee Collins of RE-MAX Heritage.? Collins noted that the last three months ending in November saw an 18.64% uptick in single-family sales as compared to 2011 and a median price increase by about 4%, with particular gains in price in Sagadahoc and Lincoln counties, and in the municipalities of Auburn and Bath, with losses in Knox, Kennebec, and Cumberland counties, and the municipalities of Brunswick and Bethel.? ?It?s time for folks to get off the fence,? noted Collins, pointing out low interest rates and low pricing.
In his forecast of multi-family properties, Brit Vitalius of Vitalius Real Estate Group noted that ?low interest rates and strong rents attract buyers to the Portland area,? but that ?inventory is down in all markets? as the buyer pool increases substantially, especially as young, owner occupants compete with one another to scoop up two-, three-, and four-unit properties.
It was perhaps Mark Malone who said it best, noting that it has been a ?year of mixed signals and messages? for their industry.? He reported that commercial vacancy rates have slowly decreased from the highs of 2009.? Malone noted that, in the grocery market, competition between Market Basket, Super WalMart, various dollar stores, Shaw?s (under new ownership), and smaller boutique markets has heated up.? Additionally, Malone pointed out the increased development of gyms and other fitness facilities, and projected ?slow but steady new construction gains in prime markets.?
Attendees at today?s MEREDA event seemed optimistic, continually noting great financing options and competitive pricing, both in residential and commercial real estate.? ?The future is now,? said Malone.? And, based on anecdotal trends and the small statistical upticks as displayed in the MEREDA Index, he might be right.
About the Maine Real Estate & Development Association The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) is a nonprofit entity whose members banded together in 1985 to present the views of the state?s real estate industry to lawmakers in Augusta. MEREDA?s mission is the same today as it was at its founding: to promote fair and responsible development and ownership of real estate throughout the State of Maine. MEREDA?s more than 200 members firms employ thousands of Maine citizens and drive a huge percentage of Maine?s economic activity. ?
The Forecast Conference & Member Showcase MEREDA?s annual Forecast Conference is a unique Maine event.? In 2013, a record number of the state?s developers, brokers, architects, bankers, attorneys, accountants, builders, managers, engineers, consultants, appraisers, suppliers, community development advocates, housing authorities, municipal officials, and other industry professionals gathered to learn more about the future of Maine?s real estate industry.
The MEREDA Index New in 2013, MEREDA partnered with renowned Maine economist Dr. Charles Colgan of USM?s Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service.? Today, Colgan unveiled the new ?MEREDA Index,? a metric which will illustrate the statistical changes and measure the pulse of the commercial real estate industry in Maine, including sale and lease activity, construction starts and other data ? for the first time ever, aggregated into one figure as an indicator of this important sector of Maine?s economy.
Saying that more needs to be done to reform Wall Street, President Barack Obama named tough former federal prosecutor Mary Jo White to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, bringing a proven white-collar crime watchdog into an agency that has been criticized for being soft on the financial industry.
"We need to keep going after irresponsible behavior in the financial industry so that taxpayers don't pay the price. I am absolutely confident that Mary Jo has the experience and the resolve to tackle these complex issues and to protect the American people in a way that is smart and in a way that is fair," Obama said at a White House event to announce Whites' nomination.
At the same event, the president rounded out his watchdog arsenal by renominating Richard Cordray to remain as the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, created in the wake of the financial crisis as part of the Dodd-Frank act to reform Wall Street.?
Obama urged Congress to swiftly confirm both nominees, adding that there was "no excuse for the Senate to wait any longer."
Cordray was never confirmed when Obama appointed him to the position in 2012. The appointment set up a contentious debate with Senate Republicans, who objected to the entire concept of the CFPB.?The renomination could reignite that clash.
The?choice?of?White?drew praise from both Wall Street and reform advocates who say White would ably steer the powerful agency that plays a key role in overseeing U.S. financial markets.?
New York's Charles Schumer, a Democrat who is part of the Senate leadership and sits on the powerful Senate Banking Committee, praised White's reputation as a tough-as-nails prosecutor and predicted she will "easily be confirmed."?
A swift confirmation for White could help the SEC speed up its implementation of the dozens of unfinished rules required by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law.?
White would succeed current SEC Chairman Elisse Walter, a Democratic commissioner who took over in December after predecessor Mary Schapiro stepped down.?
Schapiro's departure left the commission divided between two Democrats and two Republicans, and observers said the split could make it nearly impossible to complete controversial rules, such as the Volcker Rule, which bans banks from proprietary trading.?
High-profile?cases White, now a respected white-collar defense attorney with the law firm Debevoise and Plimpton, was the only woman in the 200-year history of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York to serve in the top spot there.?
She was in office from 1993 through to 2002, during a tumultuous time starting with the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and then later, the infamous Sept. 11 attacks of 2001.?
Under her watch, the U.S. Attorney's office won about 35 convictions of militant Muslims charged with plotting against Americans.?
"I view her as an incredibly well-regarded lawyer who has spent a significant amount of time as a partner at Debevoise representing companies and individuals in high-profile securities related matters," said Cheryl Scarboro, the former head of the SEC's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act unit and now a partner with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.?
As a defense attorney, White has been involved in high-profile SEC and Justice Department cases.?
She conducted an internal investigation into corruption at Siemens AG that resulted in a record settlement for the German engineering conglomerate. She also represented healthcare provider HCA Holdings Inc in an insider-trading investigation, according to her online biography.?
She has also represented JPMorgan Chase & Co in major matters related to the financial crisis, as well as former Bank of America CEO Lewis over a civil lawsuit in connection with Bank of America's acquisition of Merrill Lynch.?
It is unclear whether her defense of Wall Street clients could prove troublesome for her during the U.S. Senate confirmation process. But Wall Street champions and critics both had positive takes on White.?
"I have met Mary Jo White, and anyone who knows her at all - extremely capable, competent, bright, tough, and a perfect choice," JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said in an interview on Thursday with Fox Business News from Davos.?
Neil Barofsky, who was hired as an assistant U.S. attorney by White in 2000 and went on to become the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, called Obama's pick an "inspired choice."?
"I expect that she will be unfazed by the intimidation tactics of the usual suspects in Washington - be they antagonistic members of Congress, captured officials from other parts of government or those who so relentlessly push the agendas of the largest banks," Barofsky said.?
Like Schapiro, White has previously been identified as a political independent. Unlike Schapiro, White has not worked as a Wall Street regulator.?
However, White's husband, John White, served as the director of the SEC's Corporation Finance division, which oversees public company disclosures, from 2006 to 2008.?
Known for a legendary work ethic and a fondness for beer and baseball, White also developed a reputation as a ferocious basketball player when in the U.S. Attorney's office, even though she stands around 5 feet tall.?
Former SEC enforcement director William McLucas said it was an "excellent sign" that the White House could get someone of her caliber to take the position. "There is no one I know that works harder," McLucas said.?
James Cox, a professor of law at Duke University who has served with White on various panels, said White will be a very different SEC chairman than Schapiro.?
"Mary Schapiro was a politician," Cox said. Mary Jo White, by contrast, he said, will be more blunt and direct. "She can unpack somebody's argument really quickly."?
Cordray controversy Cordray has already faced some uphill battles with Republicans in Congress.?
Cordray, a former Ohio attorney general, was appointed in January 2012 while Congress was in recess after Republicans who were wary of the CFPB's independence blocked his nomination.?
The controversial appointment limited the amount of time Cordray could serve without going through a full confirmation process.?
The CFPB has drawn criticism from Republicans and business groups, who say it is virtually unchecked and will hurt lending and put small banks out of business.?
Asked whether the administration foresees any problems getting Cordray confirmed, White House spokesman Jay Carney said he did not expect any objections to him "on substance."?
"He is absolutely the right person for the job," Carney said. He said earlier obstacles to Cordray's nomination had been based on "political considerations" from lawmakers who had opposed the creation of the financial protection board.?
Some political observers, however, said Thursday that any fights to come will not be about Cordray personally, but about the overall structure of the CFPB itself.?
"Issues larger than his handling of the bureau will probably dictate that," said Jason Rosenstock, the director of government relations at ML Strategies.?
LONDON (Reuters) - London's West End, the home of Britain's hedge fund industry, overtook Hong Kong's Central district as the world's costliest office location in 2012 as budget-conscious firms scaled back in the Asian financial centre, data showed.
The annual occupancy cost per desk in the West End was stable last year at $23,500 (14,888.49 pounds) but fell 12 percent to $22,190 in Hong Kong Central, property consultancy DTZ said in a report.
The report, which measured costs in 126 business districts in 49 countries, included items like rent, maintenance and property taxes.
Geneva was the third most expensive locale while Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, was the cheapest at $1,610 per annum, the report said.
Companies have been pulling out of Hong Kong's traditional core business areas to cut costs amid lingering uncertainties over the health of the global economy, leaving a rising amount of vacant space that is pushing down rents.
In 2011, occupancy costs in Hong Kong Central were 11 percent higher than London's West End at $25,160, DTZ said.
A lack of supply is pushing up rents in the West End, aggravated by a growing trend to convert offices to homes as developers cash in on the insatiable demand from overseas buyers of luxury London property as a safe place to park cash.
The West End is home to many of Europe's hedge funds, which have shunned the glass blocks of the traditional financial districts further east, preferring former Georgian houses and high-end restaurants and shops in neighbourhoods like Mayfair and St James's.
Average global office occupancy costs grew by 1 percent over 2012 and DTZ said it expects them to increase by 2.3 percent over the next two years, boosted by demand from firms for offices in emerging, Asian markets like Beijing and Jakarta.
(Reporting by Brenda Goh, additional reporting by Tom Bill; Editing by David Cowell)
Jan. 23, 2013 ? During a five-hour surgery last October at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Kathy Sanford became the first Alzheimer's patient in the United States to have a pacemaker implanted in her brain.
She is the first of up to 10 patients who will be enrolled in an FDA-approved study at Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center to determine if using a brain pacemaker can improve cognitive and behavioral functioning in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
The study employs the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS), the same technology used to successfully treat about 100,000 patients worldwide with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease. In the study, researchers hope to determine whether DBS surgery can improve function governed by the frontal lobe and neural networks involved in cognition and behavior by stimulating certain areas of the brain with a pacemaker.
Dr. Douglas Scharre, neurologist and director of the division of cognitive neurology, and Dr. Ali Rezai, neurosurgeon and director of the neuroscience program, both at Wexner Medical Center, are conducting the study.
"If the early findings that we're seeing continue to be robust and progressive, then I think that will be very promising and encouraging for us," says Rezai, who also directs the Center for Neuromodulation at Ohio State. "But so far we are cautiously optimistic."
The deep brain stimulation implant is similar to a cardiac pacemaker device with the exception that the pacemaker wires are implanted in the brain rather than the heart. "Basically, the pacemakers send tiny signals into the brain that regulate the abnormal activity of the brain and normalize it more," says Rezai. "Right now, from what we're seeing in our first patient, I think the results are encouraging, but this is research. We need to do more research and understand what's going on."
The study, which will enroll people with mild or early-stage Alzheimer's disease, will help determine if DBS has the potential to improve cognitive, behavioral and functional deficits.
Sanford continues to be evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the technology, says Rezai. She says she volunteered for the study to help others avoid the angst she has suffered as Alzheimer's slowly disrupted her life.
"I'm just trying to make the world a better place," says Sanford. "That's all I'm doing." Her father, Joe Jester, says he is proud that his daughter is participating in the study, and is pleased to see her showing improvements.
"This study seemed to just give us hope," said Jester. "I guess we were at the place where you just don't do anything and watch the condition deteriorate over the years, or try to do something that would give us hope and might stop the progression of this disease."
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of degenerative dementia, afflicting about 5.5 million Americans and costing more than $100 billion per year, ranking it the third costliest disease in terms of health care expenditures in the United States.
Alzheimer's disease -- which has no cure and is not easily managed -- becomes progressively disabling with loss of memory, cognition, worsening behavioral function, in addition to a gradual loss of independent functioning, says Scharre.
The Alzheimer's study is scheduled to be completed in 2015.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
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Could North Korea hit the United States with a ballistic missile? Could it mount a nuclear warhead on the tip of that missile?
The short answers to these questions are ?in theory maybe, in practice probably not? and ?no, not yet.? Longer answers revolve around the fact that experts in and outside the US intelligence community have struggled for decades to understand North Korea?s weapons programs and geopolitical intent.
Yet North Korea?s current and future military capabilities are among the most profound national-security issues facing the US. They?ve taken on a new urgency this week in the face of renewed threats from the secretive Pyongyang regime. A launcher-rattling statement from North Korea on Thursday described the US as its ?sworn enemy? and announced plans for a third nuclear test and more tests of long-range missiles in the months ahead.
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?Settling accounts with the US needs to be done with force, not with words as it regards jungle law as the rule of its survival,? said the statement from North Korea?s National Defense Commission.
When it comes to ballistic missile capabilities, official US intelligence comments about North Korea tend to be fairly bland.
?North Korea continues to pursue the development, production and deployment of ballistic missiles with increasing range and sophistication,? judges a 2012 unclassified report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to Congress on threatening technology developments, for instance.
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Yet sometimes top officials sound more concerned in their public statements. In January, a few weeks after North Korea had successfully placed a satellite in orbit with the Unha-3 space-launch variant of its longest-range missile, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told American troops, ?North Korea just fired a missile. It?s an intercontinental ballistic missile, for God sakes. That means they have the capability to strike the United States.?
Secretary Panetta?s predecessor, Robert Gates, before he left office, warned that North Korea would have missiles capable of reaching the continental US by 2015 or 2016. US officials have also talked about a new, road-mobile North Korean missile that may or may not have intercontinental capabilities.
In theory, a ballistic missile based on the Unha rocket would be able to deliver a nuclear warhead-sized payload as far as Alaska, Hawaii, or part of the Lower 48, according to an analysis from the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California.
But previous launches of Unha-based rockets in 2006 and 2009 failed, raising questions about the technology?s reliability, CNS points out. In addition, it is a liquid-fueled rocket. This means it has to stand on the launchpad for hours, indeed days, for fueling. During that time it would be a sitting duck for attack.
?Although the Unha is clearly a step toward such a capability, it does not in itself represent a reliable system capable of delivering a nuclear weapon to the continental United States,? CNS judges.
North Korea has carried out two nuclear weapons tests and now says it is planning a third. The ability to produce a nuclear explosion, however, is not nearly the same thing as the ability to produce a device small enough to fit on the top of a missile.
As noted in a recent Congressional Research Service report, it is possible that Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan provided North Korea with the same Chinese-based design for a small nuclear weapon that he provided to Libya and Iran. But most experts judge that North Korean scientists have yet to shrink their nuclear technology into a package small enough for missile delivery.
North Korean officials have long talked with bellicosity unmatched in geostrategic circles. Some say that when it comes to their nuclear missile programs, this chest thumping is largely a bluff ? pro wrestling drama translated for an international stage.
Their past missile tests have been maximized to give the appearance of performance, and they have never exploded an actual nuclear warhead design, according to RAND analyst Markus Schiller.
Thus concerns about their missile tests are overblown, wrote Mr. Schiller in a lengthy 2012 report on North Korea?s missile programs.
?Every launch further depletes the limited North Korean arsenals, and North Korea gains no real experience from these events. Since the purpose of the launches seems to be political, the United States and other nations should downplay or even ignore them,? he writes.
Not all experts are so sanguine.
For instance, the South Korean Navy has managed to retrieve first-stage debris from North Korea?s December Unha-3 launch, and certain aspects of the space junk appear to reflect novel North Korean use of foreign-obtained technology.
The engine, for instance, appears to have new and slightly unexpected technological additions, such as the ability to steer with small auxiliary engines instead of jet vanes.
The United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday condemning December's rocket launch.
North Korea is not Iraq, whose ballistic missiles turned out to be cruder than US intelligence expected, points out Jeffrey Lewis, director of the CNS East Asia Nonproliferation Program, on the Arms Control Wonk blog.
?There has been a tendency to underestimate what North Korea can do in the space and missile field, and possibly with technology in general,? Mr. Lewis writes.
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Google is sounding a warning klaxon about a proposed law change in Germany which aims to strengthen copyright law for publishers by requiring search engines and online news aggregators to pay a royalty to display snippets of copyrighted text -- such as the first paragraph of an article displayed within a Google News search. If the law passes, fines would be imposed for unlicensed use of snippets.
New research has found that qigong, an ancient Chinese mind-body practice, has been found to reduce depression and improve the quality of life in women undergoing radiation for breast cancer.![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s5XYMgyYh-pRJELQn-6s6PeX4dZq15IePXvQ26EIEJfI7QbRO5_XAHTBRAk4YxXp5nAMv_ZFunBG-rJIV0Zi7_hefSCWVECPPz-0ky7-M=s0-d){kind=small}
Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
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