A new report published today concludes that nearly half of Africa's wild lion populations may decline to near extinction over the next 20-40 years without urgent conservation measures. The plight of many lion populations is so bleak, the report concludes that fencing them in - and fencing humans out - may be their only hope for survival. Led by the University of Minnesota's Professor Craig Packer and co-authored by a large team of lion biologists, including Panthera's President, Dr. Luke Hunter, and Lion Program Director, Dr. Guy Balme, the report, entitled Conserving ...

In order to build and maintain cells, DNA is copied into ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules, also called transcripts. Transcripts are often like a recipe for making proteins, and a collection of all the transcripts in a cell is called a transcriptome. Pankaj Jaiswal, Assistant Professor of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University, Samuel Fox, a Postdoctoral Associate in Jaiswal's laboratory, and colleagues assembled transcriptomes of a noxious weed, Brachypodium sylvaticum, or slender false brome. The transcriptome provides an extensive genetic tool for studying ...

Antarctica's topography began changing from flat to fjord-filled starting about 34 million years ago, according to a new report from a University of Arizona-led team of geoscientists. Knowing when Antarctica's topography started shifting from a flat landscape to one with glaciers, fjords and mountains is important for modeling how the Antarctic ice sheet affects global climate and sea-level rise. Although radar surveys have revealed a rugged alpine landscape under Antarctica's two-mile-thick ice sheet, the surveys tell nothing about when the continent's deep valleys ...

Washington, D.C.—New theoretical modeling by Carnegie's Alan Boss provides clues to how the gas giant planets in our solar system—Jupiter and Saturn—might have formed and evolved. His work was published recently by the Astrophysical Journal. New stars are surrounded by rotating gas disks during the early stages of their lives. Gas giant planets are thought to form in the presence of these disks. Observations of young stars that still have these gas disks demonstrate that sun-like stars undergo periodic outbursts, lasting about 100 years, which transfer mass from the ...

Men with low-risk prostate cancer who previously had to choose between aggressive treatment, with the potential for significant side effects, and active surveillance, with the risk of disease progression, may have a new option. Focal laser ablation uses precisely targeted heat, delivered through a small insertion and guided into the prostate by magnetic resonance imaging, to burn away cancerous cells in the prostate. A small, phase 1 trial, to published early online in the journal Radiology, found that this approach, designed to treat just the diseased portion of the ...

Isolation of DNA from some organisms is a routine procedure. For example, you can buy a kit at your local pharmacy or grocery store that allows you to swab the inside of your cheek and send the sample for DNA sequencing. However, for other organisms, DNA extraction is much more problematic. Researchers at Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, have developed a novel procedure that greatly simplifies genomic DNA isolation from cactus tissue. For members of the family Cactaceae, isolation of genetic material can be difficult due to the presence of polysaccharide-based ...

(Philadelphia, PA) – Some 5.8 million Americans suffer from heart failure, a currently incurable disease. But scientists at Temple University School of Medicine's (TUSM) Center for Translational Medicine have discovered a key biochemical step underlying the condition that could aid the development of new drugs to treat and possibly prevent it. "Drugs we currently use for heart failure are not very effective," explained lead investigator Walter J. Koch, PhD, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology at TUSM, and Director of the Center for Translational Medicine ...

PHILADELPHIA — A series of microRNA expression signatures that may help to define progression of the precancerous condition Barrett's esophagus into esophageal adenocarcinoma was reported recently in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. "Once a rare cancer representing only 5 percent of all esophageal cancers in the United States, esophageal adenocarcinoma is the cancer with the fastest-rising incidence — six-fold increase in the past three decades — and currently comprises more than 80 percent of all new esophageal cancer ...

PHILADELPHIA — Visceral fat, or fat stored deep in the abdominal cavity, is directly linked to an increased risk for colon cancer, according to data from a mouse study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. "There has been some skepticism as to whether obesity per se is a bona fide cancer risk factor, rather than the habits that fuel it, including a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle," said Derek M. Huffman, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine ...

These days the core of the Milky Way galaxy is a pretty tame place...cosmically speaking. The galactic black hole at the center is a sleeping giant. Existing stars are peacefully circling. Although conditions are favorable, there doesn't even seem to be much new star formation going on. But there is growing evidence that several million years ago the galactic center was the site of all manner of celestial fireworks. A pair of assistant professors – Kelly Holley-Bockelmann at Vanderbilt and Tamara Bogdanović at Georgia Institute of Technology – have come up with an ...

Protect your finances when you go through a divorce Article provided by Joseph Indelicato, Jr., P.C. Visit us at http://www.indelicato.com/ Financial and marital problems can be difficult to deal with, especially when you are facing both of these issues at the same time. During a divorce, many people deal with a great deal of stress that can sometimes lead to poor decision-making. The following tips can help you deal with money matters as you split from your spouse, and help ensure that your finances will be in order post-divorce. Financially protecting your ...

Creating successful non-compete agreements Article provided by The Stevenson Law Firm, PC Visit us at http://www.texashealthlawattorney.com Creating successful non-compete agreements In today's competitive market, many companies -- Fortune 500s, sole proprietors, nonprofits and more -- are taking whatever measures they can to protect the secrets of their business practices and prevent the loss of dedicated customers. If employers need to protect trade secrets, they may require employees to sign a non-compete agreement. Non-compete agreements can be helpful ...

Tips for successful co-parenting in Alabama Article provided by The Oncale Firm Visit us at http://www.thebirminghamdivorceattorney.com Although divorce signifies the end of a marriage between two people, for some couples it also signifies the beginning of a new type of relationship. For those who have children, a divorce is not the end. In most cases, the couple must continue to communicate with each other. There are many different types of relationships parents can establish in this situation. Some couples choose the sole custody route, where one parent retains ...

The best interests of a child: Tennessee's considerations Article provided by Runyon & Runyon Visit us at http://www.runyonandrunyon.com Tennessee law requires that a court consider the best interests of a child when deciding child custody and visitation matters. In making a determination for a family law matter, the court looks to several important factors. The court's ultimate goal is to make an order that does not disrupt the child's life and permits the child to maintain a relationship with both parents, if possible. Once the order is created by the court, ...

Intentionally defective grantor trusts survive the threat of extinction Article provided by Louis Pacella Law Offices Visit us at http://www.athomeplanning.com/ Intentionally defective grantor trusts have long been a staple of estate planning. They help reduce the size of a person's estate for estate tax purposes, and they also keep the amount of taxes that the beneficiaries of the trust must pay low. President Obama's 2012 budget proposal recommended changes to the law that would have eliminated the financial benefits of these trusts, causing concern around the ...

Estate planning for entrepreneurs Article provided by Louis Pacella Law Offices Visit us at http://www.athomeplanning.com/ Running a business takes a lot of time, energy and attention. People who own their own businesses can sometimes feel like they do not have time to take care of other things in life outside of the business. However, business owners should take the time to engage in careful estate planning so their families and businesses are protected after they are gone. Plan for business succession A classic estate planning mistake that many people -- ...

Florida divorce: do you have to share if you win the lottery? Article provided by Alan R. Burton Visit us at http://www.alanburtonlaw.com The well-publicized Florida divorce case of Donna Campbell and lottery winner Arnim Ramdass is in the news again. Floridians will recall that Ramdass, an airline mechanic, allegedly won his $450,000 allocation of 2007 Lotto proceeds after splitting the pot with colleagues. Rather than sharing his new wealth with his wife, Ramdass disconnected the telephone and kept the television off in their home, apparently to keep the news ...

Child custody in Arkansas Article provided by Rice & Adams Visit us at http://www.rice-adams.com Going through a divorce can be emotionally challenging, especially when children are involved. When getting divorced, parents should try to work together to make decisions regarding their child's future, because both parents will often continue to be involved in the child's upbringing, depending on the child custody and visitation arrangement. Child custody Joint custody of a child is rarely awarded in Arkansas. In a joint custody agreement presented by the ...

Woman awarded $3.35 million in transvaginal mesh implant lawsuit Article provided by Guerra Law Group P.L.L.C. Visit us at http://www.yourbadproductslawyer.com/ After years of severe, chronic pain and 18 additional surgeries to repair damage caused by a defective vaginal mesh implant, a woman finally prevailed in a lawsuit this month against the manufacturer of the device, Johnson & Johnson. Damages awarded Describing her life as a "living hell" since her 2006 surgery, the woman was awarded $3.35 million for compensatory damages by the jury. ...

Transvaginal mesh implants causing severe side effects in numerous women Article provided by Guerra Law Group P.L.L.C. Visit us at http://www.yourbadproductslawyer.com/ In the 1990s, doctors began using a medical device called transvaginal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in women who suffered from weakened pelvic muscles following childbirth, menopause or hysterectomies. POP occurs when the pelvic muscles are no longer strong enough to hold up organs within the pelvic region. Once viewed as permanent cure to POP, the hammock-like mesh, which is implanted ...

Tax planning tips for business owners Article provided by M. Bradford Randolph, Esq., PLLC Visit us at http://www.mbrlawfirm.com While it is easy to put off thinking about taxes until the spring every year, New York City business owners should consider the tax implications of purchases, sales, income and expenses throughout the year. A tax planning professional can help businesses create plans that ensure they minimize the amount of taxes they pay. The value of working with a professional tax planner Making a mistake on tax forms can be quite costly for businesses. ...

Why everyone needs an estate plan Article provided by Louis Pacella Law Offices Visit us at http://www.athomeplanning.com/ No matter how large or small a person's estate is, it is important for everyone to have an estate plan in place that covers how and to whom assets will be distributed after one's death. Drafting a will or designating beneficiaries is not a one-time task, however. Estate planning is a process that evolves with life's changing circumstances, like getting married, having children, getting divorced and entering retirement. Having a plan that adapts ...

$3.35 million awarded in transvaginal mesh lawsuit Article provided by Reed & Terry, L.L.P. Visit us at http://www.dangerousproductslaw.com Pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence are relatively common medical conditions among adult women. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, millions of American women are affected by these conditions. In most cases, they occur because the pelvic muscles have weakened, allowing the bladder to sink and press against the vaginal wall. For many women, this condition has been addressed through the ...

Pennsylvania report finds EHR-related errors are on the rise Article provided by Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy Visit us at http://www.edshau.com As technology has improved and people have become more reliant on electronic gadgets for tasks ranging from communicating with friends to managing their calendars, it should come as no surprise that the medical field is also finding ways to use technological developments to its advantage. In recent years, physicians and hospitals across the country have started using electronic health records -- or EHRs -- to maintain ...

Elective cesareans may increase newborn's risk of jaundice Article provided by TODD & WELD LLP Visit us at http://www.kernicterus.com The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Family Physicians are advising physicians and pregnant woman to refrain from inducing early deliveries unless medically necessary. Despite the recommendations of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), some physicians continue to schedule cesareans for convenience. This is one factor contributing to the increased rate of premature ...