Dozens reported killed in Venezuela prison riot

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ? Venezuelan authorities promised a high-level investigation Saturday into a deadly prison riot that reportedly left dozens of people dead when National Guard soldiers clashed with armed inmates.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro called the violence tragic while speaking on television early Saturday and said Prosecutor General Luisa Ortega Diaz and National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello would lead the investigation. He and other officials didn't give a death toll from the riot Friday at Uribana prison in the central Venezuelan city of Barquisimeto.

"The prisons have to be governed by law," Maduro said.

Humberto Prado, an activist who leads the watchdog group Venezuelan Prisons Observatory, said inmates' relatives and media accounts put the toll at 55 killed and 88 injured.

The Venezuelan newspaper Ultimas Noticias and the television channel Globovision reported more than 50 killed, both citing Ruy Medina, the director of Central Hospital in the city.

Relatives wept outside the prison during the violence, and cried at the morgue Saturday as they waited to identify bodies.

Penitentiary Service Minister Iris Varela said Friday that the riot broke out when groups of inmates attacked National Guard troops who were attempting to carry out an inspection.

Varela said the violence had affected a number of prisoners and officials, but said the authorities would hold off until control had been re-established at the prison to confirm the toll. She said the government decided to send troops to search the prison after receiving reports of clashes between groups of inmates during the past two days.

The death toll provided by Medina rose late Friday after he had initially reported four killed and dozens injured. Ultimas Noticias reported that the victims included a Protestant pastor and a member of the National Guard, as well as inmates.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles condemned the government's handling of the country's overcrowded and violent prisons.

"Our country's prisons are an example of the incapacity of this government and its leaders. They never solved the problem," Capriles said on his Twitter account. "How many more deaths do there have to be in the prisons for the government to acknowledge its failure and make changes?"

The Venezuelan Prisons Observatory said in a statement that in 2007 the Costa Rica-based Inter-American Court of Human Rights had ordered the government to seize weapons that inmates had in their possession at Uribana prison and to take measures to avoid deaths in the facility. The group called for the government to release a list with the names of the dead and wounded in Friday's violence, as well as details about weapons seized in the search.

"No one doubts that inspections are necessary procedures to guarantee prison conditions in line with international standards, but they can't be carried out with the warlike attitude as (authorities) have done it," Prado told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "It's clear that the inspection wasn't coordinated or put into practice as it should have been. It was evidently a disproportionate use of force."

Prado's group says Uribana prison was built to hold up to 850 inmates but currently has about 1,400.

It was the latest in a series of bloody riots in the country's severely overcrowded prisons where inmates often freely obtain weapons and drugs with the help of corrupt guards. Venezuela currently has 33 prisons built to hold about 12,000 inmates, but officials have said the prisons' population is about 47,000.

In April and May, a prison uprising in La Planta prison in Caracas blocked authorities from going inside for nearly three weeks. One prisoner was killed and five people were wounded, including two National Guard soldiers and three inmates.

Two months later, another riot broke out at a prison in Merida, and the Venezuelan Prisons Observatory reported 30 killed.

In August, 25 people were killed and 43 wounded when two groups of inmates fought a gunbattle inside Yare I prison south of Caracas.

Chavez's government has previous pledged improvements to the prison system, but opponents and activists say the government hasn't made progress.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dozens-reported-killed-venezuela-prison-riot-171656137.html

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China urges Japan to co-operate in resolving islands dispute

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping said on Friday that China's position on a series of islands disputed with Japan is clear and consistent and urged Japan to co-operate in resolving the issue.

Japan should respect the feelings of the Chinese people and "correctly handle" historical problems, Xi told Natsuo Yamaguchi, a visiting lawmaker and head of the junior partner in Japan's ruling coalition.

"The Japanese side ought to face up to history and facts, take practical step and work hard with China to find an effective way to appropriately resolve and manage the issue via dialogue and consultations," Xi said, according to a statement on the Foreign Ministry's website.

The islands are called the Diaoyu in Chinese and the Senkaku by Japan. Relations between the countries are at a low after the Japanese government bought three of the islands last year, sparking widespread, violent anti-Japan protests across China.

(Reporting by Terril Yue Jones and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-urges-japan-co-operate-resolving-islands-dispute-070313989--business.html

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Scientists discover how epigenetic information could be inherited

Friday, January 25, 2013

New research reveals a potential way for how parents' experiences could be passed to their offspring's genes. The research was published today, 25 January, in the journal Science.

Epigenetics is a system that turns our genes on and off. The process works by chemical tags, known as epigenetic marks, attaching to DNA and telling a cell to either use or ignore a particular gene.

The most common epigenetic mark is a methyl group. When these groups fasten to DNA through a process called methylation they block the attachment of proteins which normally turn the genes on. As a result, the gene is turned off.

Scientists have witnessed epigenetic inheritance, the observation that offspring may inherit altered traits due to their parents' past experiences. For example, historical incidences of famine have resulted in health effects on the children and grandchildren of individuals who had restricted diets, possibly because of inheritance of altered epigenetic marks caused by a restricted diet.

However, it is thought that between each generation the epigenetic marks are erased in cells called primordial gene cells (PGC), the precursors to sperm and eggs. This 'reprogramming' allows all genes to be read afresh for each new person - leaving scientists to question how epigenetic inheritance could occur.

The new Cambridge study initially discovered how the DNA methylation marks are erased in PGCs, a question that has been under intense investigation over the past 10 years. The methylation marks are converted to hydroxymethylation which is then progressively diluted out as the cells divide. This process turns out to be remarkably efficient and seems to reset the genes for each new generation. Understanding the mechanism of epigenetic resetting could be exploited to deal with adult diseases linked with an accumulation of aberrant epigenetic marks, such as cancers, or in 'rejuvenating' aged cells.

However, the researchers, who were funded by the Wellcome Trust, also found that some rare methylation can 'escape' the reprogramming process and can thus be passed on to offspring ? revealing how epigenetic inheritance could occur. This is important because aberrant methylation could accumulate at genes during a lifetime in response to environmental factors, such as chemical exposure or nutrition, and can cause abnormal use of genes, leading to disease. If these marks are then inherited by offspring, their genes could also be affected.

Dr Jamie Hackett from the University of Cambridge, who led the research, said: "Our research demonstrates how genes could retain some memory of their past experiences, revealing that one of the big barriers to the theory of epigenetic inheritance - that epigenetic information is erased between generations - should be reassessed."

"It seems that while the precursors to sperm and eggs are very effective in erasing most methylation marks, they are fallible and at a low frequency may allow some epigenetic information to be transmitted to subsequent generations. The inheritance of differential epigenetic information could potentially contribute to altered traits or disease susceptibility in offspring and future descendants."

"However, it is not yet clear what consequences, if any, epigenetic inheritance might have in humans. Further studies should give us a clearer understanding of the extent to which heritable traits can be derived from epigenetic inheritance, and not just from genes. That could have profound consequences for future generations."

Professor Azim Surani from the University of Cambridge, principal investigator of the research, said: "The new study has the potential to be exploited in two distinct ways. First, the work could provide information on how to erase aberrant epigenetic marks that may underlie some diseases in adults. Second, the study provides opportunities to address whether germ cells can acquire new epigenetic marks through environmental or dietary influences on parents that may evade erasure and be transmitted to subsequent generations, with potentially undesirable consequences."

###

University of Cambridge: http://www.cam.ac.uk

Thanks to University of Cambridge for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126467/Scientists_discover_how_epigenetic_information_could_be_inherited

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plumbing - Is it normal for tap water to turn brown/blue when the ...

We're seeing here in action why backflow preventers (check valves) are mandated in various municipalities.

Blue water sounds like someone was using one of those toilet cleaner tablets in the tank, the system lost pressure due to the freeze blockage and siphoned the toilet tank till the fill tube on the ballcock was exposed. Not something I'd want circulating in my drinking water. It also could be copper sulfate from corrosion that occurs in copper piping, but that usually is only enough to stain sinks and tubs.

If the water is orangish brown, it may be that the stress from freezing has knocked a lot of iron rust loose in the pipes. Typically, there is always a major air gap between sewage and potable water (nigh impossible to get the toilet bowl to empty into the flush tank due to gravity and four inches of air the water would have to jump).

Your major worries with pipes freezing is that if they do burst, they can draw contaminated water back in if they're in places like flooded basements and the act of draining causes a vacuum within. At that point, you have bacteria contaminated water to deal with.

Your landlord definitely should be notified and should tell you what the water contaminant is.

Source: http://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/24709/is-it-normal-for-tap-water-to-turn-brown-blue-when-the-pipes-freeze

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Latin American Exhibitors Promote Their Product at the New York ...

On?a cold, crisp New York weekend, consumers streamed in to the New York Times Travel Show with visions of tropical beach vacations and exotic cruises. Celebrating their 10th anniversary, this annual event, held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, showcased more than 500 travel destinations from all over the world.

It offered seminars on travel and media, cooking classes, books signings and music and dance performances. Malaysian women in traditional dress with elaborate gold headpieces offered local delicacies while steel drums echoed across the exhibition space playing Jamaican rhythms. It was loud, it was crowded, it was festive?with consumers strolling by exhibitors, gathering brochures, talking with tourist boards and tour operators, dreaming of their next vacation. And, on the Pavilion Stage, Panama?s Ballet Arte Folklorico drew enthusiastic crowds as the nearby Latin American booths were busy showcasing their countries to potential visitors.

The Panama Tourism Authority?s Octavio Abad, International Events coordinator, told Travel World News that ?the buzz is out there? promoting Panama. Their colorful exhibit promoting a jungle and beach destination was busy with activity. Tourism Authority representatives informed consumers of Panama?s attractiveness to American travelers: using the US dollar, not requiring a visa and offering direct flights on Copa Airlines from NY and Washington, DC. Perhaps most intriguing was how every traveler to Panama is covered by the country?s medical insurance for 30 days.

Morgan?s Rock, a nearby exhibitor, is a hacienda and eco-lodge in the mountains of Nicaragua. It?s 15 upscale bungalows sit on four thousand acres. Irene Edwards, head of Morgan?s Rock PR and Marketing, was approached by a couple who had honeymooned there a few years ago. ?Amazing! Beautiful!? the young couple exclaimed rather loudly as others inched in closer to hear about the resort.
A 25 minute flight from Managua, the resort is close to local markets and villages and welcomes families and couples.

The Costa Rica Tourist Board and Costa Rica Experts also attracted a very large crowd. Amy Bonanata from Costa Rica Experts in Chicago told Travel World News that there was lots of interest in the destination especially with their show special, a 10% off card for bookings until August 2013. Promoting Costa Rica as having everything?rainforest, jungles, cloud forests, volcanoes and beaches, makes it an easy sell, according to Bonanata.

Adventures Within Reach, CT Charters, Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay, Nicaraguan Tourism Board, Quark Expeditions, International Expeditions, Treks and Trails International, U-Wrap and Yampu Tours; all offered tours to Latin America and were exhibitors in the show.

New York Times Travel Show, www.nyttravelshow.com

Source: http://travelworldnews.com/2013/01/25/latin-american-exhibitors-promote-their-product-at-the-new-york-times-travel-show-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=latin-american-exhibitors-promote-their-product-at-the-new-york-times-travel-show-2

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Networking mixer in February | mixer, networking, business - News ...

The Business Alliance of Orange County is holding a membership and networking mixer Feb. 13.

The theme is "We love our members," and the mixer is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Zito's Bar and Grill, 17320 17^th St. in the Enderle Center in Tustin. Admission is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers which includes nonalcoholic beverages, a no-host bar and appetizers, the Business Alliance stated. Attendees will also receive a surprise Valentine's Day gift. RSVP by Monday, Feb. 11.

Information: 714-669-0763, charette2@cox.net or businessallianceoc.net.

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/news/mixer-409255-networking-business.html

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Brother P-touch PT-H100

Completely self-contained label printers like the Brother P-touch PT-H100 ($34.99 direct), generally come in one of two form factors. Some, like the Editors' Choice Brother P-touch PT-D200 offer a more or less rectangular shape, and are wider than you can easily wrap your hand around. Others, like the PT-H100, are designed precisely to hold in one hand, with curved sides designed for a comfortable grip. For those who prefer the fully handheld design, the PT-H100 offers an inexpensive, easy-to-use option for printing labels without a computer.

Like the PT-D200, the PT-H100 prints the sort of laminated labels suitable for indoor or outdoor use. In fact, it prints on the same tapes as the PT-D200, at widths of 0.14 to 0.47 inches and a variety of tape types including standard laminated labels; flexible labels; labels with extra strength adhesive for uneven surfaces or harsh environments; non-laminated iron-on fabric labels; and acid-free labels, which actually means labels with acid-free adhesive so you can use then safely on, say, a photo without damaging the photo.

Despite the fact that they use the same labels and are relatively close in price, the two printers offer different sets of features beyond their shapes and keyboards. In particular, the PT-H100 has only one font, rather than eight; can store only 9 labels in memory rather than 30; and runs strictly off batteries, with no power adapter option. Rather than being essentially the same printer with a different form factor, in short, it's a significantly different printer.

The Basics
Physically, the PT-H100 is similar to the much more expensive DYMO LabelManager 420P, but smaller. It weighs roughly 1.1 pounds complete with batteries and measures 2.3 by 4.3 by 8.2 inches (HWD). However, it's much smaller than you would expect from the measurements, because the maximum width and height applies only at the top right corner, where the manual cutter sticks out. The body of the unit is only about 7.75 inches long, and only about 2.75 inches wide for about half of that length, so it's easy to hold. It widens out to about 3.75 inches on one end to make room for the 12-character LCD.

Setting up the printer consists of snapping in the tape cartridge and six AAA batteries. Brother doesn't supply batteries, however; you'll have to get them elsewhere. For my tests, I used both rechargeable NiMH batteries and alkaline batteries, just to make sure both work.

Creating and Printing Labels
Creating and printing labels is straightforward enough so you can learn everything you need to know without ever looking at the User Guide. The vast majority of the choices on the control panel menu and special purpose buttons are self-explanatory. The only feature that wasn't obvious was how to save a label to memory, and even that took me only a few false starts to get right.

To print a label, you punch in the text on the keyboard, hit the Print button, set the number of copies, hit Print again, wait for printing to finish, and then press the manual cutter. You can set text size to Large, Medium, or Small; set the text to Normal, Bold, Outline, Shadow, and Italic; add an underline or a frame with various decorations on the left and right sides; and add any of 178 symbols, including options like a palm tree, four-leaf clover, and a standard warning icon.

One minor issue is that the LCD isn't backlit. But since you're most likely to be holding the printer in one hand, while creating the label with the other, you should usually be able to find a good angle to make it readable. On the plus side, the batteries will last longer than they would with backlighting. Also helping the batteries last is that if you forget to turn the unit off, it will turn off automatically, waiting just five minutes after the most recent press of a button.

Speed and Other Issues
Print speed for label printers varies primarily with the length of the label, with the printers often rated in inches or millimeters per second. Brother rates the PT-H100 at 20mm per second, or 0.79 inches per second (ips). In my tests, it came out a touch slower, printing a 3.8-inch label with the text PCMag: Printer Test in 5.1 seconds and a 3.5-inch label with the text PCMag Print Test in 4.7 seconds, or about 0.74 ips in both cases. That's actually surprisingly fast for the price. The much more expensive 420P, for example, took 6.5 seconds for a 3.5-inch label.

Finally, note that Brother offers about 30 tape cartridges for the PT-H100. In addition to the variety of types and sizes I've already mentioned, they also come in a variety of color combinations, including black on clear, white on clear, red on white, black on white, navy blue on white, and black on yellow. Almost all of the tapes are either 26.2 feet or 16.4 feet long, with the fabric tape a bit shorter, at 9.8 feet. Prices range from $14.99 to $26.49 (list) per tape cartridge, depending on the type of tape.

If you insist on a QWERTY keyboard instead of one that's alphabetical, the Brother P-touch PT-H100 is obviously the wrong choice for you, and you should be looking at the PT-D200 instead. Similarly, if you want a printer that can either print from a computer or work as a self-contained labeling system, you'll want to look at the DYMO LabelManager 420P. But if you want the handheld form factor and don't need to print from a computer, the Brother P-touch PT-H100 can serve nicely as an inexpensive choice for easy label printing.

More printer reviews:
??? Brother P-touch PT-H100
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?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/acsFZShd2f4/0,2817,2414527,00.asp

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