Martian clay contains chemical implicated in the origin of life, astrobiologists find

June 10, 2013 ? Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa NASA Astrobiology Institute (UHNAI) have discovered high concentrations of boron in a Martian meteorite. When present in its oxidized form (borate), boron may have played a key role in the formation of RNA, one of the building blocks for life.

The work was published on June 6 in PLOS ONE.

The Antarctic Search for Meteorites team found the Martian meteorite used in this study in Antarctica during its 2009-2010 field season. The minerals it contains, as well as its chemical composition, clearly show that it is of Martian origin.

Using the ion microprobe in the W. M. Keck Cosmochemistry Laboratory at UH, the team was able to analyze veins of Martian clay in the meteorite. After ruling out contamination from Earth, they determined boron abundances in these clays are over ten times higher than in any previously measured meteorite.

"Borates may have been important for the origin of life on Earth because they can stabilize ribose, a crucial component of RNA. In early life RNA is thought to have been the informational precursor to DNA," said James Stephenson, a UHNAI postdoctoral fellow.

RNA may have been the first molecule to store information and pass it on to the next generation, a mechanism crucial for evolution. Although life has now evolved a sophisticated mechanism to synthesize RNA, the first RNA molecules must have been made without such help. One of the most difficult steps in making RNA nonbiologically is the formation of the RNA sugar component, ribose. Previous laboratory tests have shown that without borate the chemicals available on the early Earth fail to build ribose. However, in the presence of borate, ribose is spontaneously produced and stabilized.

This work was born from the uniquely interdisciplinary environment of UHNAI. The lead authors on the paper, Stephenson, an evolutionary biologist, and Lydia Hallis, a cosmochemist who is also a UHNAI postdoctoral fellow, first came up with the idea over an after-work beer. "Given that boron has been implicated in the emergence of life, I had assumed that it was well characterized in meteorites," said Stephenson. "Discussing this with Dr. Hallis, I found out that it was barely studied. I was shocked and excited. She then informed me that both the samples and the specialized machinery needed to analyze them were available at UH."

On our planet, borate-enriched salt, sediment and clay deposits are relatively common, but such deposits had never previously been found on an extraterrestrial body. This new research suggests that when life was getting started on Earth, borate could also have been concentrated in deposits on Mars.

The significance goes beyond an interest in the red planet, as Hallis explains: "Earth and Mars used to have much more in common than they do today. Over time, Mars has lost a lot of its atmosphere and surface water, but ancient meteorites preserve delicate clays from wetter periods in Mars' history. The Martian clay we studied is thought to be up to 700 million years old. The recycling of the Earth's crust via plate tectonics has left no evidence of clays this old on our planet; hence Martian clays could provide essential information regarding environmental conditions on the early Earth."

The presence of ancient borate-enriched clays on Mars implies that these clays may also have been present on the early Earth. Borate-enriched clays such as the ones studied here may have represented chemical havens in which one of life's key molecular building blocks could form.

UHNAI is a research center that links the biological, chemical, geological, and astronomical sciences to better understand the origin, history, distribution, and role of water as it relates to life in the universe.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/Hus74qjPe3I/130610220132.htm

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Israel signals readiness to limit settlement building for peace

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted on Monday that Israel was ready to confine Jewish settlement expansion to the blocs of occupied territory it wants to keep under any peace deal with the Palestinians, in a nod to U.S. efforts to revive stalled negotiations.

Settlement construction was cited as a key reason for the breakdown of U.S.-sponsored peace talks in 2010, and a stumbling block to Secretary of State John Kerry's latest efforts to revive negotiations towards founding a Palestinian state in land Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

Netanyahu told Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that he wanted to resume peace talks, but that construction in the settlements in the West Bank would continue, "and continues today".

He added, though, that "we have to be smart about it, not just correct".

"Settlement in the blocs wouldn't substantively change the ability to reach an agreement," he said, referring to several clusters of enclaves where a majority of settlers live.

Netanyahu spoke behind closed doors and officials released some of his remarks in a statement issued later to reporters.

Israel has long said that under any peace agreement it intends to keep its largest settler enclaves built in Ariel, near the Palestinian city of Nablus, in Gush Etzion in the Bethlehem area, and in the Jerusalem area.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has so far linked a resumption of peace talks to a total freeze in settlement construction, which Palestinians see as establishing facts on the ground that deny them land they need for a viable state.

One of Netanyahu's senior political partners, member of parliament Avigdor Lieberman, told Army Radio Israel was already observing a break in construction in East Jerusalem.

"One should view this as a temporary hiatus," the former foreign minister said. He added: "We have an interest in Kerry succeeding."

Israel captured East Jerusalem in the same war in which it took the West Bank, but annexed the city as part of its capital in a move never recognized internationally. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be capital of their future state.

Since taking office in February, Kerry has visited Israel and the Palestinian territories four times in his drive to win the agreement of the sides to renew negotiations.

(Writing by Allyn Fisher-Ilan; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israel-signals-readiness-limit-settlement-building-peace-182853526.html

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Asia stock markets seen cautious on China growth worries, dollar up

By Cecile Lefort

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian stock markets are set for a cautious start on Monday as another set of soft data from China over the weekend rekindled global growth worries, but any selling may be contained on easing concerns that the massive U.S. stimulus could be scaled back in the near future.

The U.S. dollar rose on Friday on resilient U.S. jobs data, while Wall Street rallied as investors came round to the view that the Fed would need to see firm evidence of economic strength before scaling back its bond-buying programme.

New Zealand shares opened modestly firmer, while Australian markets are closed for a public holiday.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ended Friday down 1.07 percent.

The U.S. dollar jumped three-quarters of a yen in early Asian trading to hit 98.36, well off a two-month low around 95 yen hit on Friday.

Against a basket of currencies, the dollar rose 0.2 percent, pulling back from its lowest since February hit last week.

On Friday, the U.S. Labor Department's data showed job gains of 175,000 in May, slightly above the economists' forecast. But the unemployment rate increased to 7.6 percent from 7.5 percent in April, easing concerns that the Fed may be reducing its stimulus in the near future, boosting U.S. stocks.

The dollar's extended rally from Friday may have been driven by safe-haven demand after weekend data in China showed unexpected weakness in May trade and domestic activity struggling to pick up.

The data underscores rising risks that China's economic growth will slide further in the second quarter, dealing a blow to global growth prospects as investors fret over an uneven recovery in the U.S. and a deep slump in Europe.

"The China train is hardly derailing, but it does seem to be running out of puff somewhat for the moment," wrote ANZ Bank, having revised GDP growth expectations to 7.6 percent this year, from 7.8 percent.

The Antipodean currencies were the hardest hit with the Australian dollar plumbing more than one percent to $0.9413, its lowest in 20 months.

It fell as deep as $0.9393 in early trade, very near key support of $0.9388. A break would take it to the lowest since September 2010.

The Aussie dollar has lost 12 percent in just two months.

The kiwi dollar slipped 0.6 percent to $0.7836, pulling closer to its lowest in 11 months.

Australia and New Zealand are very sensitive to news out of China, a key export market.

(Editing by Shri Navaratnam)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asia-stock-markets-seen-cautious-china-growth-worries-000627440.html

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Nadal wins 1st set of French final against Ferrer

PARIS (AP) ? Rafael Nadal has won the first set in his French Open final against fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, 6-3.

Nadal is seeking to become the first man to win eight titles at the same Grand Slam event, while Ferrer is a first-time major finalist.

Anticipated rain held off for the start on a gray, cool afternoon Sunday. Nadal broke three times in the opening set and won the final three games.

Nadal is seeking his 12th Grand Slam title, which would move him into a tie for third place with Roy Emerson behind Roger Federer's 17 and Pete Sampras' 14.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nadal-wins-1st-set-french-final-against-ferrer-140536176.html

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Police searching for motive behind Calif. shooting

>>> tonight while we've learned who the apparent gunman was in the deadly rampage at santa monica community college in california friday, police are trying to determine his motive. this is a fifth victim, a student, has died from her wounds. now the latest on the investigation.

>> reporter: this was the moment police say that gunman entered the liar braer brary at santa monica college armed to kill. the shooter is a 23-year-old student once enrolled at the college.

>> the police department did have contact with this individual in 2006 . however, because the individual was a juvenile at the time, i am not at liberty to discuss circumstances of the contact.

>> reporter: police are investigatesing what may have motivated the gun plan to go on a calculated shooting rampage.

>> i would presume that any time someone puts on a vest, comes out with a bag full of loaded magazines, has a handgun, lass a semi- automatic rifle and car jacks folks, goes to a college, kills more people, i would say that's premeditated.

>> reporter: it began friday around noon when shots were reported near a house on fire. law enforcement sources say zawahiri allegedly targeted and killed his father and brother inside that home, then hijacked the car demanding the driver take him to the college campus . along the way opening fire on a city bus . once on campus official say zawahiri enters the library and it was there zawahiri was shot and killed by police. some of the 1,300 rounds of ammunition, weapons and gear the suspect were carrying were recovered on campus. today the college community mourned it would have its own, 26-year-old marcella franco, a student, and her father, carlos, a groundskeeper.

>> her father was very well liked and respected.

>> reporter: the two were driving on the campus when their car was attacked. now counselors have called to help grieving students. nbc news, los angeles .

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/2d0ede82/l/0Lvideo0Bmsnbc0Bmsn0N0Cid0C52151931/story01.htm

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5 things to know about Iran's presidential vote

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran's presidential election is June 14. Here are five things you should know:

THE FIELD

Iran's election overseers allowed eight candidates on the ballot to succeed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who cannot run again because of term limits. Most are solid loyalists to the ruling Islamic theocracy, headed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Among the main questions: Will pro-reform voters rally behind one of the relative moderate candidates or boycott in protest of the relentless crackdowns in recent years?

WHO REALLY RULES

The Iranian president does not have a direct say in major policies such as the country's nuclear program or relations with the West. Those decisions are in the hands of the ruling clerics and its defenders, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard. The presidency, however, can help sway views. The president also directs the economy, which is an increasingly important role as international sanctions bite deeper over Tehran's nuclear program.

RAFSANJANI REBUFF

One of the major backstories of the election is the decision to bar former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani from the ballot. The ruling clerics appeared worried that Rafsanjani would revive the opposition movement, which has been shattered by security forces. But blocking Rafsanjani deeply tarnished Iran's claims of a free election.

TIGHT SECURITY

Iran's security forces are on high alert. In 2009, massive protests rocked the country after Ahmadinejad's rivals claimed the outcome was rigged in his favor. There have been no indications of widespread demonstrations this time. Authorities, however, are clamping down on everything from pro-reform gatherings to social media.

OPPOSITION UNDER WRAPS

The leaders of the 2009 protests, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Madhi Karroubi, have been under house arrest since early 2011. Both ran against Ahmadinejad and alleged vote fraud. Mousavi is a former prime minister. Karroubi served as speaker of Iran's parliament.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/5-things-know-irans-presidential-vote-171755252.html

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Chinese bear bile farming draws charges of cruelty

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 22, 2013

CHENGDU, China ? It was, at first glance, a rather modest initial public offering by a small Chinese company seeking to expand production of the key ingredient used in traditional remedies said to shrink gallstones, reduce fevers and sooth the aftereffects of excessive drinking.

But Guizhentang Pharmaceutical, the country's largest producer of bear bile extract, apparently overlooked one important factor before submitting its application to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange: China's increasingly audacious animal rights movement.

Guizhentang's proposal to triple the company's stock of captive bears, to 1,200 from 400, provoked a firestorm from those opposed to bear bile farming, a process that involves inserting tubes into the abdomens of bears and "milking" them, sometimes for years.

Protesters in bear suits picketed drugstores, hackers briefly brought down Guizhentang's website and more than 70 Chinese celebrities, including the basketball legend Yao Ming and the pop diva Han Hong, circulated a petition calling on the stock exchange to reject the IPO.

After some of China's biggest news media outlets posted harrowing undercover footage revealing cages so tight the bears could barely move, Guizhentang last month withdrew its application, saying it needed more time to put together its filing.

For China's animal welfare advocates, the victory signaled the growing clout of a movement that is frequently derided as bourgeois, frivolous or worse. Its most vociferous opponents paint animal advocates as foreign-financed traitors who would do away with such hallowed Chinese traditions as dog meat hot pot, ivory carving and dried deer penis.

Deborah Cao, a lawyer who frequently writes about animal rights in China, said campaigns like the one that defeated Guizhentang showed how social media brought together the generation of educated Chinese urbanites who grew up with household pets and anthropomorphic Disney characters. "It's a bottom-up, grass-roots movement, one that is contributing to an emerging civil society increasingly aware of individual rights and obligations, be it to humans or animals," she said.

Such activism is even more notable given the constraints the Communist Party typically imposes on public lobbying, street protests or any unsanctioned organizing.

Advocates have not yet persuaded the government to enact animal welfare legislation. But optimists say they have started to chip away at the long-held notion that animals exist to satisfy the medicinal and gastronomical needs of humans.

Activists point to the growing visibility of public awareness campaigns targeting the consumption of shark fins as well as a recent spate of vigilante attacks that have blocked trucks laden with cats and dogs from reaching the slaughterhouse. In December, the state-run broadcaster CCTV ran a series of exposis highlighting the illegal consumption of monitor lizards, rhesus monkeys, barking deer and other wildlife, and the police crackdown on black market dealers that followed.

"Animal rights activists are walking an incredibly sensitive tightrope, but I think they're reaching a tipping point right now," said Jill Robinson, the director of Animals Asia, an organization based in Hong Kong that has been campaigning for two decades to end bear bile farming.

Still, despite what appears to be growing public opposition to the practice, the Chinese government is not prepared to end the lucrative trade in ursodeoxycholic acid, the active ingredient found in bear gallbladders. Although scientists have engineered a synthetic alternative, traditionalists claim it lacks the therapeutic punch of raw bile, which can sell for as much as $24,000 a kilogram, roughly half the price of gold.

Scientists have scrutinized the health effects of bear bile but have come to no definitive conclusions. But sold in powdered form as capsules, or as a tonic, bile is considered by many to be an elixir of sorts. Bile marketers say it fortifies the liver, reduces flu symptoms and improves eyesight.

Yang Tingying, a vendor at the wholesale Chinese medicine market here in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, insisted that bear bile cures all manner of liver ailments, including hepatitis. "It's the best because it's from nature," she said, pulling out a pair of desiccated gall bladders, which are illegal to sell.

To the distress of its opponents, the industry has grown significantly in the 13 years since Chinese officials first pledged to gradually reduce the number of captive bears to 1,500 from 7,000. These days, there are an estimated 20,000 bears on nearly 100 domestic bear farms, an expansion fueled in part by marketing efforts promoting novel uses for bear bile, such as a hangover cure for well-to-do businessmen who engage in nightly carousing.

Besides China, there are bear bile farms in Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and North Korea.

For animal welfare advocates, the challenge is to convince Chinese consumers that the barbarity of bile farming outweighs the supposed medicinal benefits of natural bile - or that the risks of consuming bile from sick bears pumped with antibiotics are high.

In addition to circulating videos of harvesting practices, organizations like Animals Asia wield a number of secret weapons, including Sun Li, Caesar and Buddha. They are among the 158 rescued bears that roam the group's sanctuary near Chengdu. The center receives school groups, celebrities and Chinese reporters, all of who are invariably smitten with the bears.

Most of the animals came from farms closed by the authorities because they had fewer than 50 bears, a violation of industry rules. The bulk of the animals are Asiatic black bears, a threatened species better known as the moon bear.

Nicola Field, the sanctuary's chief veterinarian, said bears often arrived emaciated, their abdomens riddled with the infections, hernias and tumors that are hallmarks of a extraction process requiring open wounds for thrice-daily milkings.

The bears' teeth are invariably worn down from gnawing on the bars of their cages and their feet are often in pitiful shape because few of the animals have ever walked on the ground. "The catalog of abuse they've endured is appalling," Field said.

The years of pain and confinement are so traumatizing, some of the rescued bears spend endless hours butting their heads against walls or gnawing on their limbs.

Industry supporters have mounted their own pro-bile public relations campaign, stressing China's history of traditional medicine and suggesting that animal rights advocates are doing the bidding of foreign drug companies out to promote Western medicine at the expense of homegrown remedies.

During a news conference last year called to counter critics, Fang Shuting, chairman of the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, suggested that bears enjoy the process, which he likened to turning on a tap. "Natural, easy and without pain," he said. "After they're done, the bears can even play happily outside."

His remarks backfired, producing a torrent of ridicule on social media and refutations from experts who said bear farmers could not possibly let the animals leave their cages. "Bears are smart like dogs and remember pain," said Zhang Xiaohai, who has visited a number of bear farms as an undercover investigator for Animals Asia. "They would never willingly come back to be milked again."

But animal rights activists find hope in the attitudes of young Chinese like Guan Zhiling, who was visiting the sanctuary with her high school classmates. "It's brutal and disrespectful to the bears, and a disgrace to the human race," she said.

Source: http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20130522_Chinese_bear_bile_farming_draws_charges_of_cruelty.html

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