YouTube has added more musicians to the performers lineup for its first YouTube Music Awards.
Avicii, M.I.A., Tyler the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt and Walk Off the Earth have joined previously announced headliners Eminem, Lady Gaga and Arcade Fire on the slate for the live-streamed Nov. 3 event at New York City's Pier 36.
Comedian and musician Reggie Watts has joined the bill as co-host of the event with Jason Schwartzman.
Nominations for the six categories, which include Video, Artist and YouTube Phenomenon of the Year, were also unveiled. One Direction, Demi Lovato, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Selena Gomez were among the boldfaced names getting recognition on the shortlists.
Determined through YouTube data over the last 12 months, the final list of nominees represent "the artists and videos with the highest levels of YouTube fan engagement, including views, likes, shares, comments and subscriptions."
YouTube breakouts Lindsey Stirling and CDZA were previously annuonced as performers. Leading into the awards show, being presented in partnership with Kia, YouTube will feature performances from Seoul, Tokyo, Moscow, London and Rio that will kick off at 2 a.m. PT/5 a.m. ET on Nov. 3.
Filmmaker and music video director Spike Jonze serves as creative director, with Vice Media and Sunset Lane executive producing.
YouTube has been aggressive in its initiatives in the past year. In August, the company kicked off Geek Week, dedicating several days to geek-centric programming, and in May, launched its first star-studded Comedy Week.
The full list of nominees below:
Video of the Year: Honoring the world’s most loved music videos, these nominees represent the videos with the most fan engagement on YouTube over the last year.
‣ Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney. Epic Rap Battles Of History ‣ Demi Lovato Heart Attack ‣ Girls' Generation I Got A Boy ‣ Justin Bieber (feat. Nicki Minaj) Beauty And A Beat ‣ Lady Gaga Applause ‣ Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (feat. Mary Lambert) Same Love ‣ Miley Cyrus We Can't Stop ‣ One Direction Best Song Ever ‣ PSY Gentleman ‣ Selena Gomez Come & Get It
Artist of the Year: Honoring YouTube’s most-loved acts, nominees represent the most watched, shared, liked, and subscribedto artists over the last year.
‣ Eminem ‣ Epic Rap Battles of History ‣ Justin Bieber ‣ Katy Perry ‣ Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ‣ Nicki Minaj ‣ One Direction ‣ PSY ‣ Rihanna ‣ Taylor Swift
Response of the Year: Honoring the best fan remix, parody or response video, these nominees represent the top “unofficial” fan videos on YouTube based on the videos fans watched, shared or liked.
‣ Boyce Avenue (feat. Fifth Harmony) Mirrors ‣ Jayesslee Gangnam Style ‣ Lindsey Stirling and Pentatonix Radioactive ‣ ThePianoGuys Titanium / Pavane ‣ Walk Off the Earth (feat. KRNFX) I Knew You Were Trouble
YouTube Phenomenon: Recognizing the YouTube trends that the world could not get enough of, nominees are based on the songs that generated the most fan videos.
‣ Diamonds ‣ Gangnam Style ‣ Harlem Shake ‣ I Knew You Were Trouble ‣ Thrift Shop
YouTube Breakthrough: Honoring music’s breakout new acts, nominees represent the artists who experienced the biggest growth in views and subscribers over the last year.
‣ Kendrick Lamar ‣ Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ‣ Naughty Boy ‣ Passenger ‣ Rudimental
Innovation of the Year: Starting with videos selected by a international panel of musicians, YouTubers and creative luminaries, we then selected the creative video innovations that resonated most with fans on YouTube, based on views, likes, shares and comments.
‣ Anamanaguchi ENDLESS FANTASY ‣ Atoms For Peace Ingenue ‣ Bat For Lashes Lilies ‣ DeStorm See Me Standing ‣ Toro Y Moi "Say That"
A Norfolk Southern Railroad train pulls transport cars full of coal near Goodfield, Ill., on Oct. 9, 2012. The United States cut its energy-related carbon dioxide pollution by 3.8 percent in 2012, the second biggest drop since 1990, the Department of Energy said Monday, Oct. 21, 2013. Energy Department economist Perry Lindstrom said carbon pollution reduction is due to warm winter weather, more efficient cars because of new mileage requirements and an ongoing shift from coal-power to natural gas to produce electricity. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
A Norfolk Southern Railroad train pulls transport cars full of coal near Goodfield, Ill., on Oct. 9, 2012. The United States cut its energy-related carbon dioxide pollution by 3.8 percent in 2012, the second biggest drop since 1990, the Department of Energy said Monday, Oct. 21, 2013. Energy Department economist Perry Lindstrom said carbon pollution reduction is due to warm winter weather, more efficient cars because of new mileage requirements and an ongoing shift from coal-power to natural gas to produce electricity. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States cut its energy-related carbon dioxide pollution by 3.8 percent last year, the second biggest drop since 1990, the Department of Energy said Monday.
The only recent year with a bigger percentage drop was in 2009, when America was in a large recession. American cars and factories spewed 5.83 billion tons of carbon dioxide in 2012, down from 6.06 billion in 2011. It is the lowest level for U.S. emissions since 1994. Carbon dioxide is the chief man-made global warming gas.
Energy Department economist Perry Lindstrom said carbon pollution reduction is due to warm winter weather, more efficient cars because of new mileage requirements and an ongoing shift from coal-power to natural gas to produce electricity.
The coal shift is a big factor as is a sluggish economic recovery, said Jay Apt, director of the Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center. He said in 1994 coal provided 52 percent of the U.S. power and now it is down to 37 percent. Burning coal produces far more carbon dioxide than burning natural gas.
Some past cuts in carbon pollution were mostly due to economic factors, such as the 7.1 percent drop in 2009, Lindstrom said. But this drop happened while the U.S. economy was growing 2.8 percent, as reflected by the gross domestic product, and its energy use was dropping by more than 2 percent.
Economists measure energy efficiency and how real reductions are in carbon pollution, by calculating carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP. And from 2011 to 2012, the United States carbon pollution per GDP dropped by a record 6.5 percent, Lindstrom said.
That shows this drop was clearly not due to a recession, Lindstrom said.
In 2012, America spewed more than 368,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per second.
"This latest drop in energy-related carbon emissions is reason for cautious optimism that we're already starting to move in the right direction," said Pennsylvania State University climate scientist Michael Mann. "But this alone will not lead us toward the dramatic carbon reductions necessary to avoid dangerous climate change."
The world is heading in the opposite direction. In 2011, the world carbon dioxide emissions jumped 3 percent, because of a large increase by China, the No. 1 carbon polluting country. The U.S. is No. 2 in carbon emissions.
___
Online:
The Department of Energy: http://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/carbon/
___
Seth Borenstein can be followed at http://twitter.com/borenbears
iMore's sibling site, Android Central will be doing Android Central Live at next week's Samsung Developer Conference. That's right, Samsung is holding their own dev event, and AC is their official community partner. What can you expect from their amped up coverage? Pretty much what Mobile Nations did for BlackBerry with CrackBerry Live last spring. That means live interviews, show coverage, podcasts, and more, all hosted by our very own Phil Nickinson and Andrew Martonik.
So if you're into Android, Android Central, Samsung, or simply want to meet some great people from Mobile Nations, and you're in San Francisco, grab a ticket and head on over. Otherwise, keep your browsers locked to http://androidcentral.com/sdc13 for all the action.
Any questions? Check out the MarketWired press release below!
Android Central is the Official Community Partner of the Samsung Developers Conference
AndroidCentral.com to provide live coverage, interviews and demos from the floor of Samsung’s debut developer event
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - (Marketwire – October 21, 2013) - Mobile Nations today announced that Android Central, the premier online destination for Android smartphone and tablet owners, will be the Official Community Partner of the upcoming Samsung Developers Conference. The event takes place at San Francisco’s St. Francis Hotel, from October 28-29, 2013. Android Central will be providing live coverage, interviews and demos with Samsung engineers as well as Android app developers from the show floor.
The inaugural Samsung Developers Conference will feature more than 50 technical sessions, hands-on workshops and inspiring talks from leading influencers in the mobile, consumer electronics and digital content industries.
Hosted by Phil Nickinson and Andrew Martonik, Android Central Live will air on October 28th and 29th. Each day will feature the Android Central show, a 1-hour discussion wrapping up and analyzing all the day’s news, and 2 hours of interviews with developers, session leaders and other notables.
“Samsung is the dominant player in Android-based mobile devices today, and its ecosystem stretches beyond phones and tablets,” said Phil Nickinson, Editor in Chief of Android Central. “It’s great to see Samsung take this leap to hosting its own Dev Con. We’re happy to be the official community partner and help bring the event to the entire world. If you can’t be there in person, the absolute best way to share in the excitement is Android Central Live.”
For more information on show times, guests and to watch the live stream and join in the conversation, go to androidcentral.com/sdc13.
Tickets to the Samsung Developer Conference cost $299 and include access to keynotes, sessions, and more. Additional information about the conference, including details on how to register, can be found at www.samsungdevcon.com.
iMore's sibling site, Android Central will be doing Android Central Live at next week's Samsung Developer Conference. That's right, Samsung is holding their own dev event, and AC is their official community partner. What can you expect from their amped up coverage? Pretty much what Mobile Nations did for BlackBerry with CrackBerry Live last spring. That means live interviews, show coverage, podcasts, and more, all hosted by our very own Phil Nickinson and Andrew Martonik.
So if you're into Android, Android Central, Samsung, or simply want to meet some great people from Mobile Nations, and you're in San Francisco, grab a ticket and head on over. Otherwise, keep your browsers locked to http://androidcentral.com/sdc13 for all the action.
Any questions? Check out the MarketWired press release below!
Android Central is the Official Community Partner of the Samsung Developers Conference
AndroidCentral.com to provide live coverage, interviews and demos from the floor of Samsung’s debut developer event
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - (Marketwire – October 21, 2013) - Mobile Nations today announced that Android Central, the premier online destination for Android smartphone and tablet owners, will be the Official Community Partner of the upcoming Samsung Developers Conference. The event takes place at San Francisco’s St. Francis Hotel, from October 28-29, 2013. Android Central will be providing live coverage, interviews and demos with Samsung engineers as well as Android app developers from the show floor.
The inaugural Samsung Developers Conference will feature more than 50 technical sessions, hands-on workshops and inspiring talks from leading influencers in the mobile, consumer electronics and digital content industries.
Hosted by Phil Nickinson and Andrew Martonik, Android Central Live will air on October 28th and 29th. Each day will feature the Android Central show, a 1-hour discussion wrapping up and analyzing all the day’s news, and 2 hours of interviews with developers, session leaders and other notables.
“Samsung is the dominant player in Android-based mobile devices today, and its ecosystem stretches beyond phones and tablets,” said Phil Nickinson, Editor in Chief of Android Central. “It’s great to see Samsung take this leap to hosting its own Dev Con. We’re happy to be the official community partner and help bring the event to the entire world. If you can’t be there in person, the absolute best way to share in the excitement is Android Central Live.”
For more information on show times, guests and to watch the live stream and join in the conversation, go to androidcentral.com/sdc13.
Tickets to the Samsung Developer Conference cost $299 and include access to keynotes, sessions, and more. Additional information about the conference, including details on how to register, can be found at www.samsungdevcon.com.
In response to a VMware user group security survey conducted earlier this year, VMware said it would consider certain initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of security updates to its customers and provide them with additional details by way of the company's VMware Security Advisories (VMSAs). Last week, the company made good on those promises.
VMware released a host of new security patches that address multiple security vulnerabilities impacting a range of the company's virtualization products, including vCenter Server, vCenter Server Appliance, vSphere Update Manager, ESX, and ESXi. Some of the identified flaws can be used to bypass security restrictions to elevate privileges, execute malicious code, or overwrite important files. Other vulnerabilities could lead to denial-of-service (DoS) on affected products.
One of those vulnerabilities is a bug in vCenter Server 5.0 and 5.1 that could enable an attacker to bypass the need for valid credentials under some circumstances. In order for the vulnerability to be exploited, the affected product must be deployed in an environment that uses Active Directory with anonymous LDAP binding enabled.
This type of setup doesn't properly handle log-in credentials. The VMware advisory warns, "In this environment, authenticating to vCenter Server with a valid user name and a blank password may be successful even if a non-blank password is required for the account."
The workaround is to discontinue the use of AD anonymous LDAP binding if it is enabled in your environment.
Organizations running version 5.1 of VMware's vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) on Linux should be aware of two other sets of vulnerabilities. The first is a remote code execution flaw that enables an attacker with stolen credentials to run existing files as root. The second vulnerability is found within the Virtual Appliance Management Interface (VAMI), where an authenticated remote attacker is allowed to upload files to an arbitrary location thereby creating new files or overwriting existing files. According to the VMware advisory, replacing certain files could result in a denial-of-service condition.
Certain versions of VMware's ESX and ESXi hypervisors (4.0, 4.1 and 5.0) are also affected. According to VMware, there is a flaw in the hostd-vmdb that could allow an attacker to cause a denial-of-service condition. In order to exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to intercept and modify the management traffic.
The advisory also identified a session fixation vulnerability in the vSphere Web Client Server through which an attacker could gain elevated privileges within the environment. However, exploiting this flaw may not prove easy as it requires some knowledge of the target user's session. According to VMware, an attacker would have to know a valid session ID of an already authenticated user.
In either instance, VMware said users can reduce the likelihood of these vulnerabilities from causing a problem by running vSphere components in an isolated management network to ensure that traffic does not get intercepted.
NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt is lined up to deliver the keynote address of the second edition of the INTV conference, produced by Israel's Keshet Media Group.
Greenblatt's speech, focusing on the convergence of innovation and technology in the television industry, will be hosted by Keshet's CEO Avi Nir and Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem.
Nir said he is "delighted to welcome Bob to Israel, and we are thrilled to have him share his valuable insight at this year's conference."
Keshett, the company behind the Emmy-winning format Homeland/Prisoners of War, first hosted INTV last year in Israel.
Said Nir: "Bob, with his extraordinary track record in creating quality groundbreaking content and his keen eye toward emerging trends in the TV industry, embodies the spirit of innovation that we hope to cultivate at INTV. We cannot think of anyone more qualified to keynote the conference, especially during such an exciting period of industry transformation and globalization."
During his tenure as NBC Entertainment's chief executive, Greenblatt oversaw a turnaround in the network's primetime performance, leading NBC to a second place finish for the 2012-13 broadcast year in adults 18-49.
It marked the first time in 10 years that the network has topped Fox and ABC with no boost from the Olympics or the Super Bowl.
Gathering executives and industry leaders from around the world, INTV aims to address the sea change that has occurred within the global TV industry over the last few years.
With viewers taking center stage, new online outlets emerging, integrated social media becoming essential, and the growth of interactive services and new business models, industry leaders and disruptors will gather to confront modern TV's many questions and share their visions.
Keshet's confirmed speakers for the second edition include Hulu head of content acquisition Alex Kruglov, Lionsgate COO of television Sandra Stern and CarynMandabach (NurseJackie, That '70sShow, TheCosbyShow), head of Caryn Mandabach Productions.
On Thursday, a junior at Coral Springs High School in the sunny suburban sprawl north of Miami decided that the best thing to do when his teacher went into labor in front of class was to take a selfie of the situation — with his distressed teacher squarely in the background.
As the student, who goes by @SpideyNikka on Twitter, smiles winsomely in the foreground, his teacher is at her desk in the background clearly in the midst of a contraction. According to Miami ABC affiliate WPLG, the mother-to-be was on the phone assuring her own mother that everything was going to be okay.
Turns out, the baby was not ready to be delivered. After going to the hospital, the teacher left and returned to school later in the day.
Here are a few choice tweets concerning the viral kerfuffle:
Selfie with my teacher while she having contractions pic.twitter.com/EuOf7vTxlc
— Malik . (@SpideyNikka) October 15, 2013
@SpideyNikka I have honestly laughed until I cried looking at that pic on two different occasions tonight. Think I’m making it my wallpaper.
— WorstFootballBettor (@PARecSpecs) October 18, 2013
@SpideyNikka OMG!!! That is freakin hysterical!!!! Yeah, you DO win twitter! Best pic ever.
— Hpygoluki (@hpygoluki) October 18, 2013
If you Google student selfie with teacher in labor the first ten pages are of @SpideyNikka and different news channels haha
— Vincent Ibarrola (@24vincenti) October 18, 2013
Follow Eric on Twitter and on Facebook, and send education-related story tips to erico@dailycaller.com. Join the conversation on The Daily Caller
Read more stories from The Daily Caller
High school dude snaps this selfie with his teacher behind him IN LABOR
Report: Feds didn't allow testing of Obamacare site until week before launch
Mark Steyn: 'The governing institutions of the United States are utterly repulsive and disgusting'
Coulter laments GOP infighting during government shutdown [VIDEO]
President 'Two Face' Obama sings a new tune after government shutdown [VIDEO]
NEW YORK (AP) — The results of an autopsy could determine whether two teenage girls are hit with serious charges after one of them was found carrying a dead fetus in a bag while shopping at a Victoria's Secret store in Manhattan.
Police were called to the store Thursday after a security guard on the lookout of shoplifters searched the 17-year-old girls, discovered a strong odor coming from one of their bags and found the fetus.
The girls were arrested on charges of petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, police said. The teenager thought to have given birth was hospitalized, and the other was questioned by police.
One of the girls told detectives she was carrying the remains because she had delivered a day earlier and didn't know what to do, authorities said. It wasn't clear whether the fetus was alive or dead when delivered, or how far along the girl was in her pregnancy.
The medical examiner's office was performing an autopsy on the remains, and more charges could follow depending on the results.
A person who answered the phone at the home of the girl believed to have given birth had no comment. No phone number was available at the address provided by police for the second teenager.
We know that Google is fond of puzzles, and it may be using a few of them to tease the launch of Android 4.4 KitKat. Nestle's @KitKat Twitter account has posted two musical references (embedded after the break) that suggest the OS could appear on October 28th. The first, "everybody dance now," ...
AAAOct. 17, 201312:17 PM ET 10 Things to See: A week of top AP photos By The Associated PressBy The Associated Press, Associated Press
Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Oct. 14, 2013. Joined by their faith and a desire to purify their souls, more than 2 million Muslims from nearly 200 countries gathered around a hill in Saudi Arabia on Monday marked by a small white pillar. It is here, in Mount Arafat on the Mountain of Mercy, known in Arabic as Jabal al-Rahma, that the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his last sermon to tens of thousands of followers, calling on Muslims to unite.(AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Oct. 14, 2013. Joined by their faith and a desire to purify their souls, more than 2 million Muslims from nearly 200 countries gathered around a hill in Saudi Arabia on Monday marked by a small white pillar. It is here, in Mount Arafat on the Mountain of Mercy, known in Arabic as Jabal al-Rahma, that the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his last sermon to tens of thousands of followers, calling on Muslims to unite.(AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this Oct. 14, 2013 photo, ecology professor Ricardo Freitas, wearing camouflage barefoot sport shoes, sits on top of a broad-snouted caiman he captured in a water channel to examine and release in the affluent Recreio dos Bandeirantes suburb of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While a few caimans wander from the canal, sometimes getting hit by cars, Freitas said he is aware of only one other person attacked by a caiman, a fisherman who was superficially bitten after he stepped on one.(AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Thania Sayne of Effingham, Ill., cries at the grave of her husband, Army Sgt. Timothy D. Sayne, during the playing of taps at a nearby burial service at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013, a day before what would have been their third wedding anniversary. Sayne, was 4 months pregnant with their second son, Douglas, when her husband was killed on Sept. 18, 2011, in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
A rescue worker searches the remains of a building that collapsed late Saturday, in Medellin, Colombia, on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013. Medellin disaster preparedness chief Jaime Enrique Gomez says they're trying to rescue 11 people missing in the collapse of a high-rise building and they still hold out hope of finding all alive following the Saturday night collapse in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods of Medellin, Colombia's second-largest city. (AP Photo/Luis Benavides)
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., center, pauses during a news conference with Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., (not shown) and Sen. Patty Muray, D-Wash., right, during on Capitol Hill on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013 in Washington. The federal government remains partially shut down and faces a first-ever default between Oct. 17 and the end of the month. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Here's your look at highlights from the weekly AP photo report, a gallery featuring a mix of front-page photography, the odd image you might have missed and lasting moments our editors think you should see.
This week's collection includes a man subduing a caiman in Rio de Janeiro, Secretary of State John Kerry in a black hawk helicopter in Kabul and Muslim pilgrims praying on the Mountain of Mercy in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
__
This gallery contains photos published Oct. 10-17, 2013.
Follow AP photographers on Twitter: http://apne.ws/XZy6ny
The Archive: Previous "10 Things to See" galleries: http://apne.ws/13QUFKJ
___
See other recent AP photo galleries:
Muslims mark Eid al-Adha holiday: http://apne.ws/16dBlhD
Bolivian villagers round up vicunas: http://apne.ws/16R786w
Pilgrims start hajj in Saudi Arabia: http://apne.ws/H68Zdc
A look at the Chicago Marathon: http://apne.ws/174XfV2
The Mercury 7 Astronauts: http://apne.ws/1arBkmc
___
Follow AP Images on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Images
Visit AP Images online: http://www.apimages.com
___
This gallery was curated by news producer Caleb Jones. Follow him on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CalebAP) and Instagram (http://instagram.com/calebnews)
The consensus is that Apple currently plans on announcing the details of OS X Mavericks availability and pricing during this week’s event in San Francisco. We’re hearing that, in order to kill some last-minute bugs, a quiet update has been made to the Gold Master version of Mavericks previously shipped out to developers.
Apple has pushed out updated “Gold Master” versions of its OS before, but it does so very rarely. Once an OS goes to a GM build, it’s a statement that the bits are pretty much ready for public consumption. Most of the time they do not change at all until release. At this point only bugs that could affect first-run experiences or upgraders are likely to be the cause of such a new release. We don’t know exactly what the bugs are, just that this was not a “planned” update and that some last-minute patches were the cause, but that it was also not a mistake. Apple is just getting Mavericks in ship-shape.
The Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac noticed the build number change earlier today, which went from 13A598 to 13A603 if you’re interested in that sort of thing. We had heard that a “new GM” build of Mavericks was inbound, but had assumed it would be a full-on push through Apple’s developer portal. In this case, it has apparently simply changed the build that it’s offering from its servers to the new edition. That would fit with bug fixes that could affect upgraders, as they’ll simply get the new version from the MAS.
All of this points to Apple being fairly prepared to announce Mavericks at Tuesday’s event and ship it out to customers fairly shortly thereafter.
PiracyData.org, a new website built by folks from the Mercatus Center at George Washington University, highlights a fact that has been too little known for some time: The most popular pirated content is often unavailable for streaming, rental, or digital purchase and is, therefore, virtually impossible to view legally.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/L4reWKvH9CA/ Similar Articles: dextertim tebow
LSUHSC bird study finds key info about human speech-language development
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
17-Oct-2013
[
| E-mail
| Share
]
Contact: Leslie Capo lcapo@lsuhsc.edu 504-568-4806 Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, LA A study led by Xiaoching Li, PhD, at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans Neuroscience Center of Excellence, has shown for the first time how two tiny molecules regulate a gene implicated in speech and language impairments as well as autism disorders, and that social context of vocal behavior governs their function. The findings are published in the October 16, 2013 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
Speech and language impairments affect the lives of millions of people, but the underlying neural mechanisms are largely unknown and difficult to study in humans. Zebra finches learn to sing and use songs for social communications. Because the vocal learning process in birds has many similarities with speech and language development in humans, the zebra finch provides a useful model to study the neural mechanisms underlying speech and language in humans.
Mutations in the FOXP2 gene have been linked to speech and language deficits and in autism disorders. A current theory is that a precise amount of FOXP2 is required for the proper development of the neural circuits processing speech and language, so it is important to understand how the FOXP2 gene is regulated. In this study, the research team identified two microRNAs, or miRNAs, miR-9 and miR-140-5p that regulate the levels of FOXP2. (MicroRNAs are a new class of small RNA molecules that play an important regulatory role in cell biology. They prevent the production of a particular protein by binding to and destroying the messenger RNA that would have produced the protein.) The researchers showed that in the zebra finch brain, these miRNAs are expressed in a basal ganglia nucleus that is required for vocal learning, and their function is regulated during vocal learning. More intriguingly, the expression of these two miRNAs is also regulated by the social context of song behavior in males singing undirected songs.
"Because the FOXP2 gene and these two miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved, the insights we obtained from studying birds are highly relevant to speech and language in humans and related neural developmental disorders such as autism," notes Xiaoching Li, PhD,
LSUHSC Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy as well as Neuroscience. "Understanding how miRNAs regulate FOXP2 may open many possibilities to influence speech and language development through genetic variations in miRNA genes, as well as behavioral and environmental factors."
###
The research team also included Zhimin Shi, PhD, and Lijuan Fu, PhD, from the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans Neuroscience Center, Zhide Fang, PhD, from the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health, and Guanzheng Luo, PhD, and XiuJie Wang, PhD, from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This research was supported by grants to LSUHSC's Dr. Li from the National Institutes of Health and the Brain Behavior Research Foundation.
LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans educates Louisiana's health care professionals. The state's academic health leader, LSUHSC comprises a School of Medicine, the state's only School of Dentistry, Louisiana's only public School of Public Health, and Schools of Allied Health Professions, Nursing, and Graduate Studies. LSUHSC faculty take care of patients in public and private hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In the vanguard of biosciences research in a number of areas in a worldwide arena, the LSUHSC research enterprise generates jobs and enormous economic impact. LSUHSC faculty have made lifesaving discoveries and continue to work to prevent, advance treatment, or cure disease.
To learn more, visit http://www.lsuhsc.edu and http://www.twitter.com/LSUHSCHealth
[
| 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.
LSUHSC bird study finds key info about human speech-language development
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
17-Oct-2013
[
| E-mail
| Share
]
Contact: Leslie Capo lcapo@lsuhsc.edu 504-568-4806 Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, LA A study led by Xiaoching Li, PhD, at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans Neuroscience Center of Excellence, has shown for the first time how two tiny molecules regulate a gene implicated in speech and language impairments as well as autism disorders, and that social context of vocal behavior governs their function. The findings are published in the October 16, 2013 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
Speech and language impairments affect the lives of millions of people, but the underlying neural mechanisms are largely unknown and difficult to study in humans. Zebra finches learn to sing and use songs for social communications. Because the vocal learning process in birds has many similarities with speech and language development in humans, the zebra finch provides a useful model to study the neural mechanisms underlying speech and language in humans.
Mutations in the FOXP2 gene have been linked to speech and language deficits and in autism disorders. A current theory is that a precise amount of FOXP2 is required for the proper development of the neural circuits processing speech and language, so it is important to understand how the FOXP2 gene is regulated. In this study, the research team identified two microRNAs, or miRNAs, miR-9 and miR-140-5p that regulate the levels of FOXP2. (MicroRNAs are a new class of small RNA molecules that play an important regulatory role in cell biology. They prevent the production of a particular protein by binding to and destroying the messenger RNA that would have produced the protein.) The researchers showed that in the zebra finch brain, these miRNAs are expressed in a basal ganglia nucleus that is required for vocal learning, and their function is regulated during vocal learning. More intriguingly, the expression of these two miRNAs is also regulated by the social context of song behavior in males singing undirected songs.
"Because the FOXP2 gene and these two miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved, the insights we obtained from studying birds are highly relevant to speech and language in humans and related neural developmental disorders such as autism," notes Xiaoching Li, PhD,
LSUHSC Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy as well as Neuroscience. "Understanding how miRNAs regulate FOXP2 may open many possibilities to influence speech and language development through genetic variations in miRNA genes, as well as behavioral and environmental factors."
###
The research team also included Zhimin Shi, PhD, and Lijuan Fu, PhD, from the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans Neuroscience Center, Zhide Fang, PhD, from the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health, and Guanzheng Luo, PhD, and XiuJie Wang, PhD, from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This research was supported by grants to LSUHSC's Dr. Li from the National Institutes of Health and the Brain Behavior Research Foundation.
LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans educates Louisiana's health care professionals. The state's academic health leader, LSUHSC comprises a School of Medicine, the state's only School of Dentistry, Louisiana's only public School of Public Health, and Schools of Allied Health Professions, Nursing, and Graduate Studies. LSUHSC faculty take care of patients in public and private hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In the vanguard of biosciences research in a number of areas in a worldwide arena, the LSUHSC research enterprise generates jobs and enormous economic impact. LSUHSC faculty have made lifesaving discoveries and continue to work to prevent, advance treatment, or cure disease.
To learn more, visit http://www.lsuhsc.edu and http://www.twitter.com/LSUHSCHealth
[
| 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.
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit today against the Grocery Manufacturers Association, alleging the group illegally collected and spent more than $7 million to oppose Initiative 522, the measure requiring labeling of genetically modified foods.
Ferguson’s lawsuit, filed in Thurston County Superior Court, said the Washington D.C.-based trade association solicited big money from its members specifically for the anti-GMO-labeling campaign, yet illegally concealed the identity of those donors from the public by failing to register and file reports as a political committee.
“In our view it’s a clear violation. It’s an important violation,” Ferguson said at a news conference in Seattle.
Ferguson said unless the GMA immediately discloses its donors, his office will ask a judge for a temporary restraining order to force the grocery association to register as a political committee and reveal its donors so that voters will have the information as they cast their ballots for or against I-522. He added the state will seek civil penalties and attorney’s fees from the group.
The state’s lawsuit cites internal GMA communications in which the group’s leaders planned their big-money effort to fight GMO labeling measures while protecting its corporate members from criticism.
In a Feb. 18 memo obtained by the Attorney General’s office, Pamela Bailey, CEO of the grocery association, discussed creating a new GMA fund, subsequently called the Defense of Brand Strategic Account, “to combat current threats and better shield individual companies from attack that provide funding for specific efforts.” That memo specifically mentioned the need “to fight Washington state’s ballot measure.”
In an emailed statement, the GMA said it was looking into the lawsuit’s claims.
“GMA takes great care to understand and comply with all state election and campaign-finance laws and is surprised to learn that the Washington state authorities viewed the association’s actions as improper,” the statement said, adding the group will review its actions and cooperate with authorities “to fully resolve the issue as promptly as possible.”
Delana Jones, campaign manager for the Yes on I-522 campaign, said Ferguson’s lawsuit proves opponents of the campaign have been dishonest.
“They don’t want to tell us whats in their food and they don’t want tell us who is paying for their ads,” Jones said, calling for the opposition’s TV ads to be taken off the air until the donors are disclosed.
Ferguson noted his office is not suing the No on I-522 campaign itself, just the grocery association. He added he’s taken no position for or against the initiative.
A spokeswoman for the No on I-522 campaign had no immediate comment.
Ferguson’s action follows a similar lawsuit that was filed by Moms For Labeling, a nonprofit group favoring I-522. A judge dismissed that lawsuit and fined its plaintiffs earlier this month, ruling they’d filed the case before a required waiting period was up.
The No on 522 campaign already has set a new record for the most money ever raised to oppose an initiative in Washington. Opponents have raised more than $17 million, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Supporters have raised $5.6 million.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, left, walks next to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, during a photo opportunity prior to the start of two days of closed-door nuclear talks Tuesday, October 15, 2013, at the United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland. Iran's overtures to the West are being tested as the U.S. and its partners sit down for the first talks on Tehran's nuclear program since the election of a reformist Iranian president. Negotiations between Iran and the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany began Tuesday morning at the main United Nations building in Geneva. (AP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini, pool)
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, left, walks next to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, during a photo opportunity prior to the start of two days of closed-door nuclear talks Tuesday, October 15, 2013, at the United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland. Iran's overtures to the West are being tested as the U.S. and its partners sit down for the first talks on Tehran's nuclear program since the election of a reformist Iranian president. Negotiations between Iran and the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany began Tuesday morning at the main United Nations building in Geneva. (AP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini, pool)
US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, center, waits for the start of the two days of closed-door nuclear talks on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013 at the United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland. Iran's overtures to the West are being tested as the U.S. and its partners sit down for the first talks on Tehran's nuclear program since the election of a reformist Iranian president. Negotiations between Iran and the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany began Tuesday morning. (AP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini, pool)
Political director at the French Foreign Ministry Jacques Audibert looks on at the start of the two days of closed-door nuclear talks on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013 at the United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland. Iran's overtures to the West are being tested as the U.S. and its partners sit down for the first talks on Tehran's nuclear program since the election of a reformist Iranian president. Negotiations between Iran and the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany began Tuesday morning. (AP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini, pool)
General view prior to the start of the two days of closed-door nuclear talks on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013 at the United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland. Iran's overtures to the West are being tested as the U.S. and its partners sit down for the first talks on Tehran's nuclear program since the election of a reformist Iranian president. Negotiations between Iran and the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany began Tuesday morning at the main United Nations building in Geneva. (AP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini, pool))
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, left, talks to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, during a photo opportunity prior to the start of two days of closed-door nuclear talks Tuesday, October 15, 2013, at the United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland. Iran's overtures to the West are being tested as the U.S. and its partners sit down for the first talks on Tehran's nuclear program since the election of a reformist Iranian president. Negotiations between Iran and the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany began Tuesday morning at the main United Nations building in Geneva. (AP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini, pool)
GENEVA (AP) — Six world powers sat down with Iran for a closer look Wednesday at what Tehran is describing as a possible breakthrough deal that could lessen suspicions it is interested in nuclear arms and lead to the easing of sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Iran says it is not interested in getting the bomb. Its proposal Tuesday to the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany focused on their demands that uranium enrichment and other activities that could be used to make nuclear arms be stopped or reduced.
No details were made public. But comments from Western officials meeting with Iranian negotiators indicated interest in the proposal, described by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as designed to allow Iran to leave the "dark" path of international isolation.
Iran's version of success is for painful international sanctions to be lifted in exchange for possible concessions it had been previously unwilling to consider, such as increased monitoring and scaling back of uranium enrichment — a potential path to nuclear arms and the centerpiece of the impasse with the West.
International talks designed to reduce fears that Iran may make such arms have been stalled for most of their 10-year history, with Tehran insisting it has no interest in weapons production, while resisting both enticements and sanctions designed to force it into ending uranium enrichment and other activities that could be used to make weapons.
But negotiations appear now to be driven by the new wind generated since reformist President Hassan Rouhani was elected in June.
Wednesday's meeting started several hours late, as the six powers discussed further steps among themselves before the talks resumed for a closer look at the proposal.
Asked for details beyond broad outlines made public by the Iranians ahead of the talks, a member of one of the delegations at the table said the plan offered reductions in both the levels of uranium enrichment being conducted by Iran and the number of centrifuges doing the enrichment — a key demand of the six powers.
An Iranian official said any plan would be implemented in three stages lasting from six months to a year. Both men demanded anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss the confidential plan.
Iran's state TV, which closely reflects government views, said Tehran offered to discuss uranium enrichment levels. The report also said Iran proposed adopting the additional protocols of the U.N.'s nuclear treaty — effectively opening its nuclear facilities to wider inspection and monitoring — if the West recognizes Iran's right to enrich uranium.
But the Iranian official said any acceptance of the protocols would be one of the last steps in implementing the plan.
NASA sees Typhoon Francisco headed to the other side of Guam
Public release date: 17-Oct-2013 [
| E-mail
| Share
]
Contact: Rob Gutro robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Typhoon Francisco on Oct. 17 after it had passed the eastern side of Guam and started to head on a track that would take it past the western side of Guam. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for Guam on Oct. 17 and 18 (local time).
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of Typhoon Francisco on Oct. 17 at 04:05 UTC in the Pacific Ocean as it started turning to the northwest after passing the eastern side Guam. The MODIS image clearly showed Francisco's eye, indicating its strength and organization.
On Oct. 17 at 1500 UTC/11 a.m. EDT Francisco had maximum sustained winds near 85 knots and was moving to the north-northeast, but is expected to take a turn to the northwest. Francisco's center was located about 147 nautical miles southwest of Guam, near 12.5 north and 143.1 east.
On Oct. 17 and 18 (local time), a Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for Guam. The National Weather Service bulletin on Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. EDT noted: as Typhoon Francisco (26w) passes...sustained tropical storm force winds are expected. Maximum winds are still forecast to be in the 30 to 40 mph range with gusts to 60 mph. Minor damage may occur to poorly constructed homes. Isolated power outages will be possible. Choppy seas of 12 to 14 feet will persist through tonight.
###
Text credit: Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
[
| 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.
NASA sees Typhoon Francisco headed to the other side of Guam
Public release date: 17-Oct-2013 [
| E-mail
| Share
]
Contact: Rob Gutro robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Typhoon Francisco on Oct. 17 after it had passed the eastern side of Guam and started to head on a track that would take it past the western side of Guam. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for Guam on Oct. 17 and 18 (local time).
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of Typhoon Francisco on Oct. 17 at 04:05 UTC in the Pacific Ocean as it started turning to the northwest after passing the eastern side Guam. The MODIS image clearly showed Francisco's eye, indicating its strength and organization.
On Oct. 17 at 1500 UTC/11 a.m. EDT Francisco had maximum sustained winds near 85 knots and was moving to the north-northeast, but is expected to take a turn to the northwest. Francisco's center was located about 147 nautical miles southwest of Guam, near 12.5 north and 143.1 east.
On Oct. 17 and 18 (local time), a Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for Guam. The National Weather Service bulletin on Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. EDT noted: as Typhoon Francisco (26w) passes...sustained tropical storm force winds are expected. Maximum winds are still forecast to be in the 30 to 40 mph range with gusts to 60 mph. Minor damage may occur to poorly constructed homes. Isolated power outages will be possible. Choppy seas of 12 to 14 feet will persist through tonight.
###
Text credit: Rob Gutro
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
[
| 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.