clipped from www.nih.gov

New Insights Into Novel H1N1

Several research groups funded by NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) have recently put together a picture of where the novel H1N1 virus came from and how it evolved. They discovered that the novel H1N1 virus is a descendent not only of swine viruses but also of the H1N1 virus that caused the 1918 pandemic, which killed 40-50 million people worldwide.

clipped from view.newsletters.nas.edu

“This represents the largest commitment to scientific
research and innovation in American history.”
-President Obama addressing members of the National Academy of Sciences, 4/27/09

“I am here today to set this goal: we will devote more than three percent of our GDP to research and development. We will not just meet, but we will exceed the level achieved at the height of the Space Race, through policies that invest in basic and applied research, create new incentives for private innovation, promote breakthroughs in energy and medicine, and improve education in math and science.”

clipped from latimesblogs.latimes.com

Animal research rallies peaceful; pro-research demonstration much larger

Competing rallies at UCLA today over the controversial issue of animal research are peaceful so far, with supporters of the research appearing to outnumber opponents by more than 10 to 1.

About 400 people, including UCLA faculty, staff and students, have joined a pro-research rally on the northwest corner of Westwood Boulevard and Le Conte Avenue, just south of the campus. The demonstrators are carrying signs with such slogans as “Animal research saves lives” and “Campus terrorism is not OK.”

clipped from www.sfgate.com

Animals in crisis: how you can help

A new Petfinder.com survey found that 84 percent of a total of 700 shelters and rescue groups that responded from across the country are experiencing an increase in pets being surrendered as a result of job loss and foreclosures linked to the economic downturn.

How can you protect your pet from financial uncertainty?

Budget for vet care in advance: Setting aside a few dollars every month can help ensure that you have enough cash to cover basic medical costs.

Invest in preventative medicine: Make sure your pet’s vaccines are up to date and don’t skimp on their annual checkups.

Consider subscribing to a pet health insurance plan: A small monthly contribution can help you sidestep unexpected big bills in the future.

clipped from www.venturacountystar.com

Panel approves pet neutering bill

SACRAMENTO — Treading cautiously back into an issue that lawmakers say generated more letters, e-mails and phone calls than any other last year, a Senate panel on Wednesday approved a bill that would force dog and cat owners to have their pet spayed or neutered if they are also cited for certain other offenses, such as allowing the animal to roam free.

Legislators have wrestled for years with the question of how far to go in trying to control the overpopulation of dogs and cats, and the costs to local governments for animal control services and operating animal shelters. State law already requires shelters to spay or neuter animals before they can be adopted and also imposes escalating state fees on owners who claim an unaltered pet that has been impounded.

clipped from news.yahoo.com

Jury: Colorado school wrongly fired professor

DENVER – A jury ruled Thursday that the University of Colorado wrongly fired the professor who compared some Sept. 11 victims to a Nazi, a verdict that gives the professor $1 and a chance to get his job back. “What was asked for and what was delivered was justice,” Ward Churchill said outside the courtroom.

Churchill said claims including plagiarism were just a cover and that he never would have been fired if it weren’t for the essay in which he called World Trade Center victims “little Eichmanns,” a reference to Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi leader who helped orchestrate the Holocaust. Jurors agreed.

clipped from www.mbari.org

Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute recently solved the half-century-old mystery of a fish with tubular eyes and a transparent head. Ever since the “barreleye” fish Macropinna microstoma was first described in 1939, marine biologists have known that its tubular eyes are very good at collecting light. However, the eyes were believed to be fixed in place and seemed to provide only a “tunnel-vision” view of whatever was directly above the fish’s head. A new paper by Bruce Robison and Kim Reisenbichler shows that these unusual eyes can rotate within a transparent shield that covers the fish’s head. This allows the barreleye to peer up at potential prey or focus forward to see what it is eating.