:: Some bittersweet news for No Doubt fans as the band has canceled their upcoming tour. But, it?s supposedly because they?re feeling ?inspired to write new music? and will spend their time in the studio instead of on the road. [No Doubt]
:: A$AP Rocky talked style and music in his spread with high-end?men?s fashion journal Mr. Porter. The fashionable Harlem rapper revealed he once wanted to be a model. He?s already been in an Alexander Wang ad, so, close enough, right? [Miss Info]
:: Chris Brown says he wouldn?t mind working with Elton John. Apparently Elton has been somewhat of a moral support system for Breezy in the wake of his assault of Rihanna. Hey, it?s worth a shot: Eminem shed his homophobic shell after Elton collaborated with him. [New York Post]
:: Nick Lachey is readying a new lullaby album (with an adorable cover featuring the 98 Degrees star and his baby son, Camden). The album was inspired by his newborn son, and will hit stores March 13. [Reuters]
:: Wynonna Judd?and Kellie Pickler have joined the cast of Dancing With The Stars. The country singers will compete in the show?s sixteenth (!) season, which premieres March 18. [Wynonna Judd]
After the jump, find out which music acts you can catch on TV today.
Music On TV:
:: Late Show with David Letterman (CBS) ? Solange :: Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC) ??Father John Misty :: Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC) ? Gold Fields :: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC) ? Jason Aldean
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - More than 40,000 people a week are fleeing war-torn Syria and the total number of refugees will likely pass 1 million in less than a month, a senior U.N. official told the Security Council on Wednesday.
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Ant?nio Guterres said the U.N. agency as of Tuesday had registered 936,000 Syrians across the Middle East and North Africa, nearly 30 times as many people as April last year.
"We expected to have 1.1 million Syrian refugees by June. If things continue to accelerate like this, it will take less than a month to reach that number. Just last night, and just into Jordan, 4,585 fled the country," he told the 15-member council.
"The refugee numbers are staggering, but they cannot convey the full extent of the tragedy. Three-quarters of the refugees are women and children. Many of them have lost family members. Most of them have lost everything," he said.
Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt have been flooded with the bulk of the refugees.
The United Nations says nearly 70,000 people have died during the revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which began two years ago with peaceful protests but turned violent when Assad's forces tried to crush the demonstrations.
U.N. aid chief Valerie Amos, who also briefed the Security Council, appealed for countries that pledged money at a January 30 donor conference in Kuwait to pay up. She said only $200 million of the more than $1.5 billion pledged had been received so far.
"This is a crisis that is completely stretching our capacity," Amos told reporters. "I am extremely concerned by the rising costs of this. We asked for $1.5 billion for our response for the next six months. Those figures are already out of date."
"The first two months of this year have been a real game-changer," she said. "It demands more of us ... but even with us working full-tilt, the scale is outpacing whatever we do on the response side."
Zainab Hawa Bangura, the special representative of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on sexual violence in conflict, said there had been systematic use of sexual violence in Syria, but added that her agency could not get information from most of the areas controlled by armed opposition groups.
"Sexual violence against women, against men, against boys and girls, it's widespread," she told reporters after briefing the council. "Sexual violence, especially against men and boys, it's a way of soliciting information when people detained."
She said victims who had been detained by the government had told U.N. agencies that sexual violence was used as "a technique to get information."
Syria's U.N. ambassador, Bashar Ja'afari, said the Syrian government would ensure that the perpetrators of sexual crimes would face justice. He also described the pledging conference as a "humanitarian bazaar" for Gulf states to show off to the media "that they care a lot about the dramatic situation of Syrian refugees."
The Security Council has been deadlocked on Syria since 2011 over Russia and China's refusal to consider sanctions against Assad's government. They have vetoed three resolutions condemning Assad's attempts to crush the revolt.
New study shows continued decline in the last remaining stronghold for leatherback sea turtles
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Critically endangered leatherback sea turtle populations in the western Pacific Ocean may be losing their last foothold of survival on the beaches of Indonesia, according to a paperpublished today in the scientific journalEcosphere by an international group of scientists.
Researchers from the State University of Papua Indonesia, NOAA Fisheries Service, University of Alabama at Birmingham and World Wildlife Fund Indonesia released a report today documenting the continued decline of leatherback sea turtle nesting in the western Pacific Ocean.
"At least 75 percent of all Leatherback turtles in the western Pacific Ocean hatch from eggs laid on a few beaches in an area known as Bird's Head Peninsula in Papua Barat-Indonesia," said Peter Dutton of NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center and one of the researchers who co-authored the paper. "Our analysis indicates the number of leatherback turtle nests on this beach has declined 78 percent over the last 27 years."
Leatherbacks are the largest of all marine turtles and the largest living reptile in the world weighing up to 2000 pounds and over six feet in length. Female leatherbacks lay clutches of approximately 100 eggs and typically nest several times during a nesting season. After about two months, the hatchlings emerge from the nest and enter the ocean where they mature and may migrate as far away as California to feed on jellyfish; a distance of about 6,000 miles.
Scientists believe there are a number of reasons why the leatherback turtle populations have continued to decline over the past three decades. Extensive harvesting of eggs, predation of nests by feral pigs and other predators, and the accidental capture in commercial fisheries are the primary factors involved.
Ricardo Tapilatu, lead author on the Ecospherepaper, and co-authors Manjula Tiwari and Dutton, began assessing and developing a nesting beach census and management plan over a decade ago as part of an international partnership to halt the species decline.
"The turtles nesting at Papua Barat, Papua New Guinea, and other islands in our region depend on food resources in waters managed by many other nations for their survival," said Tapilatu. "It is important to protect leatherbacks in these foraging areas so that our nesting beach conservation efforts can be effective".
"The international effort has attempted to develop a science-based nesting beach management plan by evaluating and addressing the factors that affect hatching success such as high sand temperatures, erosion, feral pig predation, and relocating nests to maximize hatchling output," said Manjula Tiwari, a researcher at NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center, in La Jolla, California.
The conservation value of nesting beach protection has also been recognized by groups like the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) that have raised funds from industry-affiliated members including tuna canners and processors, to help support UNIPA's nest protection program with the local communities on Bird's Head Peninsula.
"NOAA Fisheries Service is committed to doing our part in the international effort to recover the leatherback turtle through advancing science, implementing our recovery plans and management efforts such as the establishment of critical habitat off California," said Cisco Werner, Director of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. "Reducing threats on the nesting beaches and at leatherback foraging areas will require continued international cooperation and action if we hope to save Pacific leatherbacks from extinction."
###
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov
Thanks to NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service for this article.
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NEW YORK (AP) ? Target is setting its bullseye on Canada in 2013.
Its investment in a Canadian launch this year and weaker-than-expected holiday sales caused Target Corp.'s net income to fall 2 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. But the second largest discounter in the U.S. said its foray into Canada, policy of matching competitors' prices and new designer lines will help its business this year.
"We believe that we are well positioned to succeed even in this uncertain environment, said CEO Gregg Steinhafel said in a call with investors.
The big-box retailer, known for its cheap but trendy merchandise, pulled out all the stops to lure in cautious shoppers during the winter holiday season, which runs from November through December. It launched a line of gifts created by 24 high profile designers in partnership with luxury department store Neiman Marcus and offered to match prices of online competitors such as Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Bestbuy.com and Toysrus.com.
But the initiatives did not spur customers to buy more during the period, a time when retailers can make up as much as 40 percent of their annual revenue. In fact, Target noted that sales "bar belled," meaning that they were strong around Black Friday, the busy shopping day after Thanksgiving, and the days before and after Christmas, but not in between.
Overall, Target's number of transactions fell 1 percent during the quarter, although the amount spent per transaction rose 1.4 percent. The company said its gross margin ? the percentage of each dollar in revenue made that a company actually keeps ? declined during the quarter due to holiday markdowns.
Edward Jones analyst Brian Yarbrough said the problem during the holidays was seasonal merchandise that didn't sell during a slow December. But overall it was a decent report, he added.
"Results were in-line, and forward guidance was pretty solid," he said.
Many had wondered how Target would do now that consumers are being squeezed by an increase in the Social Security payroll tax of 2 percentage points that was rolled out last month. Burger King and Wal-Mart have already noticed a pull-back from the tax hike.
Steinhafel did not mention an effect in the fourth quarter, but said that the payroll tax increase was one of several challenges that are giving the company a "tempered" view of revenue in 2013.
"While there are some encouraging signs in the housing market, volatility in consumer confidence, the payroll tax increase and rise in the price of gas all present incremental headwinds," Steinhafel said Wednesday in a call with analysts.
For now, Target, which has 1,778 stores across the U.S., is focusing on its launch in Canada. The company plans to open 24 Canadian stores by early April, one of five waves that should add up to 124 stores open before the end of the year. In addition, the chain plans to open 15 to 20 new stores in the U.S. It is the most new stores the company has opened in one year in its history.
"This is a big investment, people are going to be anxious to see how those are trending," said Yarbrough, the Edward Jones analyst.
For the three months ended Feb. 2, Target earned $961 million, or $1.47 per share, for the period ended Feb. 2. That's down from $981 million, or $1.45 per share, a year earlier.
Removing costs related to its investment in Canada stores and interest expense, earnings were $1.65 per share. Analysts expected earnings of $1.47 per share, on average, according to research firm FactSet, but some may have included the Canadian expense in their projections. Target had forecast adjusted earnings between $1.64 and $1.74 per share.
Revenue climbed 7 percent to $22.73 billion from $21.29 billion. This met Wall Street's expectations.
During the quarter, revenue at stores open at least a year edged up 0.4 percent. This figure is a key indicator of a retailer's health because it excludes results from stores recently opened or closed.
For the full year, the Minneapolis company earned $3 billion, or $4.52 per share. A year earlier it earned $2.93 billion, or $4.28 per share. Adjusted earnings were $4.76 per share. Annual revenue increased 5 percent to $71.96 billion from $68.47 billion.
Target's outlook for 2013 was brighter. The chain foresees first quarter adjusted earnings of $1.10 to $1.20 per share. Analysts predict earnings of $1.05 per share. It expects revenue in stores open at least one year to be flat to up 2 percent.
The chain's fiscal 2013 outlook is for adjusted earnings between $4.85 and $5.05 per share. Wall Street expects earnings of $4.87 per share.
In a call with investors, Chief Financial Officer John Mulligan said he expects revenue in stores open at least one year to be in line with the current year's 2.7 percent rise.
Target's stock fell 72 cents to $63.33 in afternoon trading amid a broad market rally.
You know that scene in movies where a character has a sudden realization and their coffee cup dramatically slips from their fingers and crashes to the floor? That, in theory, would never happen were the characters using these Crux Mugs, which employ an artificial climbing hold for the handle. More »
For the first time since the Syrian civil war began almost two years ago, a top member of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government today offered to engage in talks with rebel leaders to find a diplomatic resolution to the fighting. But the opposition leadership has reportedly dismissed the offer, insisting that the president must first step down.
Speaking at a press conference in Moscow before talks with his Russian counterpart, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said that "We're ready for a dialogue with anyone who's willing for it, even those who carry arms," reports the Associated Press.
"We are confident that reforms will come about not with the help of bloodshed but through dialogue," he added. The AP notes that it is unclear whether he meant that the government would be willing to negotiate with rebels before they laid down their arms.
RECOMMENDED: Think you know the Middle East? Take our geography quiz.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also called upon Syria to open negotiations with the rebels, saying that "the situation in Syria is at a crossroads now."
But in an email to the Guardian, Khalid Saleh, a spokesman of the Western-backed Syrian opposition umbrella group known as the Syrian National Coalition, called Mr. Moallem's offer "empty" and "deceitful." Mr. Saleh insisted that talks could not involve Mr. Assad or his allies, and that Assad must resign.
There is nothing new in what Moualem said. It is more of the same empty offers the regime has been putting out for the last few months.
We are not looking for a dialogue. We are offering negotiations with those who have not committed crimes against Syrians to transfer powers from the Assad regime to the Syrian people. Moualem's offer is deceitful, and it seems that he wants to divide up those who are fighting against Assad. It will be more appropriate for Moualem ? who is offering dialogue with those carrying weapons ? to ask his regime to stop using scud missiles against those who are not armed.
We need serious movement from Assad regime not repeated empty offers.
Still, Moallem's comments come amid signs from both sides of the conflict ? and from the US and Russia ? in favor of a diplomatic solution. Despite Saleh's rejection of Moallem's proposal, it was only a few weeks ago that Mouaz al-Khatib, the SNC's leader, called for Assad to open negotiations with his organization. BBC News reported that Mr. Khatib's offer displeased many in the SNC, which has long insisted that Assad's resignation was a precondition for any talks.
And Mr. Lavrov is scheduled to meet with newly appointed US Secretary of State John Kerry in Berlin on Wednesday. The New York Times notes that even before the meeting was planned, Mr. Kerry had indicated that he had new ideas toward resolving the Syrian conflict, and that working with Russia, a staunch ally of Mr. Assad, appears to be part of those ideas.
Reuters notes that there are multiple sticking points before even an initial meeting could take place. One is the venue: the rebels insist that any negotiations would have to take place abroad or in rebel-held territory, while the Syrian government insists that it should host someplace within state control.
RECOMMENDED: Think you know the Middle East? Take our geography quiz.
Further, the rebels demand that any peace talks must ultimately lead to Assad's departure from the government. Assad told UN envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi that he intends to complete his term and run for reelection in 2014.
And even if talks were held, Reuters adds, the Syrian opposition's political leaders, who would be conducting the talks, are in large part disconnected from the rebels on the ground, who appear to be willing to fight until Assad is toppled.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? A University of California-Berkeley engineer who played a prominent role in investigating levee breeches in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina is scheduled to be the first witness Tuesday at a trial involving another Gulf Coast catastrophe: the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
Robert Bea, an expert witness for the plaintiffs who sued BP PLC and other companies involved in the Deepwater Horizon disaster, will share his theories about what caused BP's Macondo well to blow out on April 20, 2010, provoking an explosion on the Horizon rig that killed 11 workers and spewed an estimated 172 millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf.
Bea's testimony was scheduled for the second day of a civil trial that could result in the oil company and its partners being forced to pay tens of billions of dollars more in damages. The case went to trial Monday after attempts to reach an 11th-hour settlement failed.
The second witness slated to appear on the stand is Lamar McKay, president of BP America. The highest-ranking executive of BP scheduled to testify in the courtroom, McKay is likely to discuss corporate decisions that were made throughout the duration of the disaster. It was not clear if there would be time for his testimony Tuesday, however. Other BP officials were expected to give videotaped testimony.
In pretrial depositions and in an expert report, Bea argued along with another consultant that BP showed a disregard for safety throughout the company and was reckless in its actions ? the same arguments made in opening statements Monday by attorneys for the U.S. government and individuals and businesses hurt by the spill.
Attorneys for BP tried to block the testimony of Bea, whom they accused of analyzing documents and evidence "spoon-fed" to him by plaintiffs lawyers. BP accused Bea and the other expert, William Gale, a California-based fire and explosion investigator and consultant, of ignoring the "safety culture of the other parties" involved in the spill, in particular Transocean Ltd., the drilling company running operations aboard the Deepwater Horizon.
Gale does not appear on a list of potential witnesses to be called during the trial.
Just last year, Bea testified for plaintiffs who sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over broken levees in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
In opening statements Monday, U.S. Justice Department attorney Mike Underhill said the catastrophe resulted from BP's "culture of corporate recklessness."
"The evidence will show that BP put profits before people, profits before safety and profits before the environment," Underhill said. "Despite BP's attempts to shift the blame to other parties, by far the primary fault for this disaster belongs to BP."
BP attorney Mike Brock acknowledged that the oil company made mistakes. But he accused Transocean of failing to properly maintain the rig's blowout preventer, which had a dead battery, and he claimed cement contractor Halliburton used a "bad slurry" that failed to prevent oil and gas from traveling up the well.
BP has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other criminal charges and has racked up more than $24 billion in spill-related expenses, including cleanup costs, compensation for businesses and individuals, and $4 billion in criminal penalties.
But the federal government, Gulf Coast states and individuals and businesses hope to convince a federal judge that the company and its partners in the ill-fated drilling project are liable for much more in civil damages under the Clean Water Act and other environmental regulations.
One of the biggest questions facing U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier, who is hearing the case without a jury, is whether BP acted with gross negligence.
Under the Clean Water Act, a polluter can be forced to pay a minimum of $1,100 per barrel of spilled oil; the fines nearly quadruple to about $4,300 a barrel for companies found grossly negligent, meaning BP could be on the hook for nearly $18 billion.
The judge plans to hold the trial in at least two phases. The first phase, which could last three months, is designed to determine what caused the blowout and assign percentages of blame to the companies involved. The second phase will determine what efforts the companies made to stop oil from spilling, and how much crude actually spilled into the Gulf.
During opening statements, BP and its partners pointed the finger at each other in a tangle of accusations and counter-accusations. But BP got the worst of it, from its partners and the plaintiffs in the case.
Jim Roy, who represents individuals and businesses hurt by the spill, said BP executives applied "huge financial pressure" to "cut costs and rush the job." The project was more than $50 million over budget and behind schedule at the time of the blowout, Roy said.
"BP repeatedly chose speed over safety," Roy said, quoting from a report by an expert who may testify.
Roy said the spill also resulted from Transocean's "woeful" safety culture and failure to properly train its crew. And Roy said Halliburton provided BP with a product that was "poorly designed, not properly tested and was unstable."
Brad Brian, a lawyer for Transocean, said the company had an experienced, well-trained crew on the rig. He said the Transocean workers' worst mistake may have been placing too much trust in the BP supervisors on the rig.
"And they paid for that trust with their lives," Brian said. "They died not because they weren't trained properly. They died because critical information was withheld from them."
A lawyer for Halliburton defended the company's work and tried to pin the blame on BP and Transocean.
"If BP had shut in the well, we would not be here today," Halliburton's Donald Godwin said.
Brock said Transocean's crew members ultimately were responsible for well control on the rig and didn't need permission from BP supervisors to shut in the well.
"Shut in the well, then seek advice," he said.
Underhill, the Justice Department attorney, heaped blame on BP for cost-cutting decisions made in the months and weeks leading up the disaster. He said two BP rig supervisors, Robert Kaluza and Donald Vidrine, disregarded abnormally high pressure readings that should have been glaring indications of trouble.
Kaluza and Vidrine have been indicted on federal manslaughter charges.
The 2010 spill fouled marshes, killed wildlife and closed fishing grounds. Scientists warn that the disaster's full effect may not be known for years. But they have reported dying coral reefs and fish afflicted with lesions and illnesses that might be oil-related.
U-M study challenges notion of using Herceptin only for HER2-positive breast cancerPublic release date: 26-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Nicole Fawcett nfawcett@umich.edu 734-764-2220 University of Michigan Health System
Breast cancer stem cells express HER2, even in 'negative' tumors, study finds
ANN ARBOR, Mich. New research from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center finds that the protein HER2 plays a role even in breast cancers that would traditionally be categorized as HER2-negative and that the drug Herceptin, which targets HER2, may have an even greater role for treating breast cancer and preventing its spread.
About 20 percent of women with breast cancer have tumors labeled HER2-positive. And since the drug Herceptin has come on the scene, it has had a tremendous impact on survival for these women, particularly when it is given in the adjuvant setting, after surgery to remove the primary cancer. The new findings have potential implications for an additional 65 percent of women with breast cancer.
A recent study based on new analyses of old data found some tumors were incorrectly categorized as HER2-positive and as a result those women received adjuvant Herceptin. It turns out, they benefited as much from the treatment as woman with actual HER2-positive cancer.
"We now provide a molecular explanation for the surprising finding that adjuvant Herceptin benefited some women with HER2-negative breast cancer. If this is confirmed in clinical trials, it could alter our approach to breast cancer treatment," says study author Max S. Wicha, M.D., distinguished professor of oncology and director of the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center.
At this point, patients with HER2-negative breast cancer are not advised to take Herceptin.
The explanation is that HER2 is selectively expressed in the cancer stem cells of many HER2-negative breast tumors. Because the stem cells represent such a small number of cells in a tumor, the amount of HER2 is not high enough to meet the threshold for a HER2-positive cancer.
The researchers had previously shown HER2 plays an important role in cancer stem cells the small number of cells in a tumor that fuel its growth and spread. These cells represent 1 percent to 5 percent of all the cells in a tumor. They are resistant to current chemotherapy and radiation treatments but since they express HER2, they are effectively targeted by Herceptin.
Further, the researchers in this new study found that for tumors classified as HER2-negative, HER2 levels were higher in bone metastases compared to the primary breast tumor. Bone is the most frequent site to which breast cancer spreads.
The researchers administered Herceptin to mice with these bone lesions and found that it was most effective when given early, when tumors were small or mere "micrometastases." In these cases, Herceptin almost completely blocked the tumors from growing. When the drug was given later, after tumors were established, it had little effect.
"We have shown that the bone microenvironment induces HER2 expression in these tumors. If Herceptin can target bone micrometastases, then administering it to patients before metastases develop could help reduce tumor recurrence," says study author Hasan Korkaya, Ph.D., research assistant professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School.
The implications of this finding are that we need cancer treatments that target the small number of cancer stem cells in addition to traditional chemotherapies that eliminate the bulk tumor cells. This means that merely looking at whether a tumor shrinks is not good enough to determine whether the treatment will have long term benefit.
"This work has very significant implications for how we have developed adjuvant therapies. The idea of using drugs that cause tumors to shrink, which has been the accepted paradigm for developing therapies, is flawed. Our work suggests that adjuvant therapies will need to target the cancer stem cell population. Eliminating cancer stem cells by effective adjuvant therapies should prevent tumor recurrence, ultimately resulting in more cures," Wicha says.
###
A large randomized clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health is currently open at U-M and other sites across the country to address this question. Patients whose tumors are not considered HER2-positive by classic testing should not receive Herceptin outside of this trial. For information about the trial, call the U-M Cancer AnswerLine at 800-865-1125.
Additional authors: Suthinee Ithimakin, Kathleen C. Day, Fayaz Malik, Qin Zen, Scott J. Dawsey, Tom F. Bersano-Begey, Ahmed A. Quraishi, Kathleen Woods Ignatoski, Stephanie Daignault, April Davis, Christopher L. Hall, Nallasivam Palanisamy, Amber N. Heath, Nader Tawakkol, Tahra K. Luther, Shawn G. Clouthier, Whitney A. Chadwick, Mark L. Day, Celina G. Kleer, Dafydd G. Thomas, Daniel F. Hayes
Funding: National Cancer Institute grants CA129765 and CA101860; Breast Cancer Research Foundation; Komen for the Cure; Taubman Institute at the University of Michigan; Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation of New York/QVC Presents Shoes-On-Sale; Stand Up to Cancer grant SU2C-AACR DT0409
Disclosure: Max Wicha has financial holdings in OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, receives support from Dompe and MedImmune and serves on the scientific advisory board of Veristem; Hasan Korkaya receives research support from MedImmune; Daniel Hayes has received research support from Pfizer, Novartis and Veridex and holds stock options for his role on the scientific advisory board for OncImmune.
Reference:Cancer Research, published online Feb. 26, 2013
Resources:
U-M Cancer AnswerLine, 800-865-1125
U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, www.mcancer.org
Clinical trials at U-M, www.UMClinicalStudies.org/cancer
[ | 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.
U-M study challenges notion of using Herceptin only for HER2-positive breast cancerPublic release date: 26-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Nicole Fawcett nfawcett@umich.edu 734-764-2220 University of Michigan Health System
Breast cancer stem cells express HER2, even in 'negative' tumors, study finds
ANN ARBOR, Mich. New research from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center finds that the protein HER2 plays a role even in breast cancers that would traditionally be categorized as HER2-negative and that the drug Herceptin, which targets HER2, may have an even greater role for treating breast cancer and preventing its spread.
About 20 percent of women with breast cancer have tumors labeled HER2-positive. And since the drug Herceptin has come on the scene, it has had a tremendous impact on survival for these women, particularly when it is given in the adjuvant setting, after surgery to remove the primary cancer. The new findings have potential implications for an additional 65 percent of women with breast cancer.
A recent study based on new analyses of old data found some tumors were incorrectly categorized as HER2-positive and as a result those women received adjuvant Herceptin. It turns out, they benefited as much from the treatment as woman with actual HER2-positive cancer.
"We now provide a molecular explanation for the surprising finding that adjuvant Herceptin benefited some women with HER2-negative breast cancer. If this is confirmed in clinical trials, it could alter our approach to breast cancer treatment," says study author Max S. Wicha, M.D., distinguished professor of oncology and director of the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center.
At this point, patients with HER2-negative breast cancer are not advised to take Herceptin.
The explanation is that HER2 is selectively expressed in the cancer stem cells of many HER2-negative breast tumors. Because the stem cells represent such a small number of cells in a tumor, the amount of HER2 is not high enough to meet the threshold for a HER2-positive cancer.
The researchers had previously shown HER2 plays an important role in cancer stem cells the small number of cells in a tumor that fuel its growth and spread. These cells represent 1 percent to 5 percent of all the cells in a tumor. They are resistant to current chemotherapy and radiation treatments but since they express HER2, they are effectively targeted by Herceptin.
Further, the researchers in this new study found that for tumors classified as HER2-negative, HER2 levels were higher in bone metastases compared to the primary breast tumor. Bone is the most frequent site to which breast cancer spreads.
The researchers administered Herceptin to mice with these bone lesions and found that it was most effective when given early, when tumors were small or mere "micrometastases." In these cases, Herceptin almost completely blocked the tumors from growing. When the drug was given later, after tumors were established, it had little effect.
"We have shown that the bone microenvironment induces HER2 expression in these tumors. If Herceptin can target bone micrometastases, then administering it to patients before metastases develop could help reduce tumor recurrence," says study author Hasan Korkaya, Ph.D., research assistant professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School.
The implications of this finding are that we need cancer treatments that target the small number of cancer stem cells in addition to traditional chemotherapies that eliminate the bulk tumor cells. This means that merely looking at whether a tumor shrinks is not good enough to determine whether the treatment will have long term benefit.
"This work has very significant implications for how we have developed adjuvant therapies. The idea of using drugs that cause tumors to shrink, which has been the accepted paradigm for developing therapies, is flawed. Our work suggests that adjuvant therapies will need to target the cancer stem cell population. Eliminating cancer stem cells by effective adjuvant therapies should prevent tumor recurrence, ultimately resulting in more cures," Wicha says.
###
A large randomized clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health is currently open at U-M and other sites across the country to address this question. Patients whose tumors are not considered HER2-positive by classic testing should not receive Herceptin outside of this trial. For information about the trial, call the U-M Cancer AnswerLine at 800-865-1125.
Additional authors: Suthinee Ithimakin, Kathleen C. Day, Fayaz Malik, Qin Zen, Scott J. Dawsey, Tom F. Bersano-Begey, Ahmed A. Quraishi, Kathleen Woods Ignatoski, Stephanie Daignault, April Davis, Christopher L. Hall, Nallasivam Palanisamy, Amber N. Heath, Nader Tawakkol, Tahra K. Luther, Shawn G. Clouthier, Whitney A. Chadwick, Mark L. Day, Celina G. Kleer, Dafydd G. Thomas, Daniel F. Hayes
Funding: National Cancer Institute grants CA129765 and CA101860; Breast Cancer Research Foundation; Komen for the Cure; Taubman Institute at the University of Michigan; Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation of New York/QVC Presents Shoes-On-Sale; Stand Up to Cancer grant SU2C-AACR DT0409
Disclosure: Max Wicha has financial holdings in OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, receives support from Dompe and MedImmune and serves on the scientific advisory board of Veristem; Hasan Korkaya receives research support from MedImmune; Daniel Hayes has received research support from Pfizer, Novartis and Veridex and holds stock options for his role on the scientific advisory board for OncImmune.
Reference:Cancer Research, published online Feb. 26, 2013
Resources:
U-M Cancer AnswerLine, 800-865-1125
U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, www.mcancer.org
Clinical trials at U-M, www.UMClinicalStudies.org/cancer
[ | 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.
What do you do after the trailer for a movie you never made gets 20 million hits on YouTube? That's a question Jimmy Kimmel had to answer after his "Movie: The Movie" star-studded parody racked up huge numbers of clicks following its post-2012 Oscars premiere.
But he knew what had to be done: Make another one!
"When you have a big success in Hollywood, there's only one reasonable thing you can do, and that is is cheapen it with a sequel," he told his "Live!" audience Sunday night after the 2013 awards fest. Then he premiered ... "Movie: The Movie: 2V."
Yet again the world is in danger, and it's up to Kimmel to organize the forces of good to save everybody. But this time there's no meteor hurtling toward the planet -- instead, sexy, deadly vampires, mummies and leprechauns have unleashed the "sexpocalypse," and no one is safe. Kimmel plays the double-eyepatch-wearing leader of an "Avengers"-esque task force that is the Earth's only hope.
Here's what you can expect from the 7-minute-plus trailer:
Jessica Chastain, watching the carnage, noting "Teenage girls and their weird moms don't stand a chance."
Gerard Butler imitating Liam Neeson's fierce, family-saving character from "Taken."
Brian Cranston playing the piano with his face.
John Krasinski morphing into a crime-fighting crustacean. "It's shrimpin' time," he gloats.
President Oprah Winfrey.
Kimmel's nemesis Matt Damon, in a full-body motion-capture suit eating a sandwich, kind of.
Amanda Seyfried singing and breakdancing in a "Les Miserables" dress.
A giant Channing Tatum saving the world.
Samuel L. Jackson toppling over an even more enormous Jenga game, also to save the world.
Yes, there's some swearing, but it's bleeped out. And, as Kimmel promises at the end of the video, Monday night's show will feature "a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of 'Movie: The Movie: 2V' for film buffs."
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on ABC.
MIAMI -- Bishop Ivory Wilson on Sunday gazed on the shattered window of a building that serves as a church on the weekend and as a day care during the week.
There is the charred cafeteria where children would eat their snacks. A roof is now blackened with soot. It's just feet away from where students learn and play at the day care center.
"We worked hard to make this,? Wilson said. ?The kids love us, the parents love us and we love them.?
Director Sandra Wilson said: ?This just broke my heart, I couldn't stop crying -- couldn't stop crying.??
They say they believe the fire was deliberately set, given the vandalism spray-painted on the walls: three large red swastikas.?
The owners of Little Leapers Childcare center in Fort Lauderdale say it?s a hate crime. In the last few weeks, employees say they also have been on the receiving end of a verbal threat.?
Three weeks before the fire, an anonymous someone phoned ?and threatened us,? said Joyce Bryant, lead schoolteacher. The caller told staff to pack their bags and get out, Bryant said.
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When that call came in, the bishop and his wife contacted police. Sunday, instead of singing and praising in the auditorium, they're tallying up items that were stolen: Cameras, music equipment and flat-screen TVs used to live-stream sermons.
"Here we've got parents that won't know where to take their kids tomorrow morning," Wilson said.
They've been present in the community now for more than four years. They can?t understand why they?ve been attacked.
"We think everyone should be able to run their own business without anyone trying to run them out," Bryant said.
The bishop said vacating the building is the last thing they'll do, unwilling to let hatred win.
"We're not going to run,? he said. ?Whatever game they're playing doesn't frighten me.?
Suleman Sultan, a survivor of a blast almost identical to the recent attack in Hyderabad, says the government's response is following the same old script.?
By Raksha Kumar,?Contributor / February 24, 2013
Hindu priests lift up an oil lamp as they perform an evening prayer ceremony for the victims of the explosions which took place in Hyderabad on Thursday, on the banks of the river Ganges in the northern Indian city of Allahabad February 24.
Jitendra Prakash/Reuters
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Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited today the southern city of Hyderabad, the scene of a double bombing on Thursday.?The deadly attacks echoed another double blast six year ago here, as well as a long string of terrorist incidents around the country, most of which remain unresolved and have upended the lives of ordinary people.?
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Thursday's bombs ripped through the crowded?Dilsukhnagar area in quick succession killing 16 people and injuring more than 120. The city, including the volatile Old City area, has been peaceful since the blasts.
?I am happy that people of Hyderabad have refused to be provoked by this nefarious incident,? said Prime Minister Singh while speaking to the media.?
The plaudits, however, are not flowing as freely in the other direction, with Indian citizens and the media expressing weariness with the repetitive urban bombings over the years and the government's inability to solve and stop them.?
While in Hyderabad, Singh visited a hospital to meet with survivors of the blasts.?He had announced earlier a?compensation of 200,000 rupees ($3,700) to relatives of the deceased and 50,000 rupees?($900) to those severely injured in the attacks from the Prime Minister?s Relief Fund. The chief minister of the state of Andhra Pradesh, where Hyderabad is located, also announced additional compensation of 600,000 rupees ($11,900) each for the families of those killed in the blast, and assured that the government would bear the expense of the treatment of those who were injured.
This is d?j? vu for Suleman Sultan, a victim of one of the 2007 bombs that went off in a snack bar in Hyderabad.
?They gave me 200,000 rupees [$3,700] and took care of my treatment for five months in a hospital,? says Mr. Sultan. ?I guess, that is all the Indian state can offer its citizen, right?? he smiled a painful smile. Sultan's lower body is paralyzed after shrapnel from the bomb damaged his spinal cord. He had returned from Australia a few days before the 2007 blast and was very happy to have landed a job as a telecom engineer. He could not take that job and the mostly immobilized 28-year-old now must be supported by his father and younger brother.?
Sultan used to be edgy and irritable immediately after his surgery, he snapped at many a reporter, he confesses. He has mellowed down, says his mother. ?So much so, that my talkative child remains silent most of the time,? she adds.
It is customary for Indian authorities to offer compensation to high-profile victims of crime, disasters, or terrorism. But the money often cannot repair the damage done, and attention to victims and their cases wanes quickly.?
Like Thursday's attacks, the two bombs in 2007 ripped through crowded civilian areas?? an amusement park and a snack bar?? within a span of five minutes.?The explosive materials (ammonium nitrate and RDX ) used were the same in 2007 as the recent blasts.
Even though several people were arrested immediately after the blasts in 2007, no one has been convicted yet. The slow pace of investigation has frustrated the victims.
?Now you will hear the police saying similar things they did at that point. The conspiracy theories, the arrests, the acquittals will all take place and there will be more blasts again in a few years,? Sultan says.
Sultan?s prediction saw some truth on Sunday as newspaper reports pointed fingers at several possible suspected terrorist groups, notably the Indian Mujahideen, a banned terrorist organization. According to unnamed investigators in several newspapers, Indian Mujahideen?s co-founder, Yasin Bhaktal, is the main suspect. Mr. Bhaktal has been named almost every year in a terror attack in the country since 2007, but has always managed to escape.
"We have footage from the camera [at the blast site] which we are analyzing," said Hyderabad Commissioner of Police Anurag Sharma while speaking to media on Saturday. "We have not arrested anyone in this case. We are examining all types of evidences," he added.
?We are all Muslims, why don?t they understand that?? asked Sultan, as the group that is suspected of planting the bombs in 2007 was a Bangladesh-based militant group. As for the government, he asks: ?We want to live peacefully, and if we expect that from our elected representatives what is wrong in that??
First lady Michelle Obama joined late-night TV host Jimmy Fallon in a dance skit to promote her 'Let's Move' anti-childhood obesity program. 'Evolution of Mom Dancing' went viral on YouTube.
By Brad Knickerbocker,?Staff writer / February 23, 2013
Jimmy Fallon dances with first lady Michelle Obama during an appearance on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," Friday. Mrs. Obama was promoting her "Let's Move" anti-obesity campaign and to perform in a sketch called "Evolution of Mom Dancing."
Lloyd Bishop/NBC/AP
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First lady Michelle Obama is rocking YouTube with a viral video of her dancing with the host of "Late Night With Jimmy?Fallon.?
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First lady Michelle Obama and Jimmy Fallon in a dance skit called 'Evolution of Mom Dancing.'
On Friday night, Mrs. Obama joined Mr. Fallon ? both were dressed as suburban moms ? for a dance routine called the ?Evolution of Mom Dancing? ? a take-off on Judson Laipply?s wildly popular video ?Evolution of Dance? (more than 200 million views so far).
Steps included "Go Shopping, Get Groceries", "Driving the Station Wagon?, "Oh My God, I Love This Song", and ?Where?s Your Father (Get Him Back Here).?
Michelle Obama: 10 quotes on her birthday
Social media and the blogosphere went nuts. ?The first lady demonstrated an uncanny ability to make the lamest dance moves look cool,? wrote Daniel Politi on Slate.
One tries to imagine Mamie Eisenhower or Pat Nixon doing "The Sprinkler." Bette Ford or Hillary Clinton (before she became a US Senator and Secretary of State) maybe, but probably not either of the Bush first ladies.
Fallon suggested a Michelle-Hillary ticket for president in 2016. But the first lady said she had her eye on another post-White House job. ?I hear that when Jay Leno retires that 'The Tonight Show' position is going to open and I'm thinking about putting my hat in the ring,"?she joked.
The President?s dancing skills inevitably came up.
"How about Barack, is he a good dancer?" Fallon asked.
"You know, I give him a B," Mrs. Obama said, tactfully. "His dancing is right here in the pocket. He's got like three good moves. But they're all right here," she said while dancing with her hands by her hips.?
Dancing with Fallon is part of an effort to promote Mrs. Obama?s "Let's Move" anti-childhood obesity campaign, which marked its third anniversary this month.
Besides the appearance on "Late Night," Mrs. Obama discussed the initiative while in New York City during segments taped for broadcast Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" and Thursday on "The Dr. Oz Show," the Associated Press reports. Next Wednesday, Mrs. Obama embarks on a two-day promotional tour, with stops in Clinton, Miss.; Chicago; and Springfield, Mo.
For the second anniversary of "Let's Move," she and?Fallon?turned the East Room of the White House into a playground. They did pushups, twirled hula hoops, and competed at dodge ball and tug-of-war before the first lady triumphed over the comedian in a climactic potato sack race.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ? Even before she takes office Monday as South Korea's first female president, Park Geun-hye's campaign vow to soften Seoul's current hard-line approach to rival North Korea is being tested by Pyongyang's recent underground nuclear detonation.
Pyongyang, Washington, Beijing and Tokyo are all watching to see if Park, the daughter of a staunchly anti-communist dictator, pursues an ambitious engagement policy meant to ease five years of animosity on the divided peninsula or if she sticks with the tough stance of her fellow conservative predecessor, Lee Myung-bak.
Park's decision is important because it will likely set the tone of the larger diplomatic approach that Washington and others take in stalled efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions.
It will also be complicated by North Korea's warning of unspecified "second and third measures of greater intensity," a threat that comes as Washington and others push for tightened U.N. sanctions as punishment for the Feb. 12 atomic test, the North's third since 2006.
That test is seen as another step toward North Korea's goal of building a bomb small enough to be mounted on a missile that can hit the United States. The explosion, which Pyongyang called a response to U.S. hostility, triggered global outrage.
Park has said she won't yet change her policy, which was built with the high probability of provocations from Pyongyang in mind. But some aren't sure if engagement can work, given North Korea's choice of "bombs over electricity," as American scientist Siegfried Hecker puts it.
"Normalization of relations, a peace treaty, access to energy and economic opportunities ? those things that come from choosing electricity over bombs and have the potential of lifting the North Korean people out of poverty and hardship ? will be made much more difficult, if not impossible, for at least the next five years," Hecker, a regular visitor to North Korea, said in a posting on the website of Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation.
As she takes office, however, Park will be mindful that many South Koreans are frustrated at the state of inter-Korean relations after the Lee government's five-year rule, which saw two nuclear tests, three long-range rocket launches and attacks blamed on North Korea that killed 50 South Koreans in 2010.
Park's policy calls for strong defense but also for efforts to build trust through aid shipments, reconciliation talks and the resumption of some large-scale economic initiatives as progress occurs on the nuclear issue. Park has also held out the possibility of a summit with new North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Much is riding on Park's conclusion.
"The overall policy direction on North Korea among the U.S., Japan and South Korea will be hers to decide," said Victor Cha, a former senior Asia adviser to President George W. Bush. "If Park Geun-hye wants to contain, the U.S. will support that. But if Park Geun-hye, months down the road, wants to engage, then the U.S. will go along with that too. "
Engagement by Park would provide a sharp contrast with the rule of her father, Park Chung-hee, whose antipathy toward Pyongyang during his 18-year rule in the 1960s and '70s prompted a failed attack on the Blue House by 31 North Korean commandos in 1968. In 1974, Park's wife was shot and killed by a Japan-born Korean claiming he was acting on assassination orders by North Korea founder and then leader Kim Il Sung.
Critics say Park Geun-hye's North Korea policy lacks specifics. They also question how far she can go given her conservative base's strong anti-Pyongyang sentiments.
But Park has previously confounded ideological expectations. She travelled to Pyongyang in 2002 and held private talks with the late Kim Jong Il, the father of Kim Jong Un, and her gifts to Kim Jong Il are showcased in a museum of gifts to the North Korean leaders. During the often contentious presidential campaign, she responded to liberal criticism by reaching out to the families of victims of her father's dictatorship.
She said in her 2007 autobiography that she visited Pyongyang because she thought her painful experiences with the North made her "the one who could resolve South-North relations better than anyone else." She also wrote that Kim Jong Il apologized for the 1968 attack.
"I don't think this latest spike in the cycle of provocation and response undermines her whole platform of seeking to somehow re-engage the North," said John Delury, an analyst at Seoul's Yonsei University. North Korea wants a return of large-scale aid and investment from South Korea.
Before the election, Pyongyang's state media repeatedly questioned the sincerity of Park's engagement overture. Since the election, however, although regular criticism of Lee as "human scum" continues, the North's official Korean Central News Agency hasn't mentioned Park by name, though her political party is still condemned.
Pyongyang sees the nuclear crisis as a U.S.-North Korea issue, Delury said. "From a North Korean mindset, ramping up the tension and hostility with the U.S. does not equal jettisoning relations with the South."
Park may take a wait-and-see stance in coming months.
A possible positive turning point could come if North Korea resists tests or launches during April, when it celebrates two state anniversaries ? Kim Il Sung's birthday and the army's founding anniversary ? according to analyst Hong Hyun-ik at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea. Pyongyang conducted a failed long-range rocket launch during last year's celebrations.
Hong predicts that the United States will seek nuclear talks with North Korea in a few months, something that could help Park's efforts to engage North Korea.
"The nuclear test sets back and complicates but does not necessarily doom her engagement efforts over the long term," said Ralph Cossa, president of Pacific Forum CSIS, a Hawaii-based think tank.
Park warned after the test that North Korea faces international isolation, economic difficulties and, eventually, a collapse if it continues to build its atomic program. She also pressed Pyongyang to respond to her overtures.
"We can't achieve trust with only one side's efforts. Isn't there a saying that 'We need both hands to make a clapping sound?'" she said.
The Leading Hotels of the World Accepts New Members in Europe, Africa and Asia. Luxury Leader Adds Urban Icons and Stylish Resorts.
Ideally situated next to the Royal Danish Theatre on the Kongens Nytorv Square in the heart of Copenhagen, the legendary Hotel d?Angleterre is slated to reopen in May following a total refurbishment. Constructed as a neoclassic palace, it has maintained its 19th-century historical aspects, blending elements of its original legacy with the latest in tailored services, elegance and technology. Guest accommodations, in 37 rooms and 53 suites, feature spacious marble bathrooms; the latest technology and individually controlled climate systems. The stunning Royal Suite, with one to three bedrooms, also boasts a grand balcony, a fireplace, and a private dining room. For fine dining, Restaurant d?Angleterre offers an international menu, while the Balthazar champagne bar and Angleterre Bar are ideal venues for relaxing and socializing. An indoor pool will be complemented by a spa and fitness studio. In addition, there are eight meeting and banquet rooms as well as a ballroom.
The soon-to-open Marker Hotel is located in the Docklands section of Dublin. Set in the thriving entertainment and business centers, it shares space with some of the city?s recently developed architectural landmarks such as the Grand Canal Square, close to Dublin?s newest cultural and leisure venues, including the Bord Gais Energy Theatre and the Aviva Stadium. With a unique architectural concept which draws on the nature of the Irish landscape, combined with a sleek urban aesthetic, the 187-room hotel is the perfect retreat for those who crave the unconventional, yet still expect exceptional standards. The Brasserie is a contemporary setting offering fresh, locally sourced produce and an extensive wine list, while The Marker Bar offers classic cocktails and relaxed all-day dining. The Roof Top Lounge serves single and sharing plates throughout the day. The Spa features four treatment rooms, a relaxation area, infinity pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room and a fitness area. Events for up to 350 people can be accommodated in nine banquet and function rooms.
Centrally situated on the famous Via Veneto, Regina Hotel Baglioni in Rome is in easy walking distance of the Galleria Borghese museum, the Spanish Steps and Via Condotti. With 95 rooms and 23 suites ? and an outstanding new penthouse which will be available from this June ? the hotel?s interiors are a blend of traditional, Liberty and Deco styles. In recognition of the kindness shown to Queen Margherita of Savoy during her stay while she awaited the completion of her residence, the hotel?s owner was granted permission to add ?Regina? to the hotel name. For dining, Brunello Lounge & Restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine in an atmosphere which unites traditional elegance with contemporary design. A wellness and fitness area is available for relaxation, and there are also facilities for meetings and banquets.
Occupying a historic 14th-century palace, Hotel Due Torri is situated in the heart of Verona, just a stone's throw from Juliet's famous balcony. The superb quality of the furnishings and the professional service are highly valued by its devoted international clientele. Extensive recent refurbishments have yielded a fresh facade, contemporary touches, a new dining room, an exclusive interior courtyard, and a panoramic terrace with spectacular views of the history city center. The 89 rooms and suites are appointed with period furniture, and hand-crafted marble in warm tones, mosaic decorations, and refined textiles. Due Torri Lounge & Restaurant serves regional and international cuisine complemented by an extensive wine list. In summer, the terrace enables guests to enjoy relaxing cocktails or a pre-opera buffet dinner. The hotel also offers children?s programs and seven function rooms for meetings and banquets.
Recently opened, The Grand Tarabya is just 20 minutes from Taksim Square and the city center, yet removed from the hustle and bustle of the old sectors of Istanbul. A landmark of traditional Turkish hospitality, the hotel comes alive again on the shores of the Bosphorus with breathtaking views all the way to the entrance of the Black Sea. Guest accommodations are in 247 spacious and tastefully decorated rooms and suites, designed to cater to discerning international travelers. Dining options include Papalinas Restaurant, for Aegean specialties; the Brasserie, with international selections; Pool Bar, for light fare; and The T Lounge and Diba Bar, both overlooking the Bosphorus, for casual get-togethers in a relaxed setting. The 4,000-square-meter Therapia Spa, offers indoor and outdoor pools, traditional Turkish hammams, sauna and steam rooms, relaxation areas, a private spa suite, and a Thalasso suite, while the fitness center features the latest technology and natural daylight. For meetings and social events, there are 14 function rooms, a state-of-the-art ballroom and a summer terrace.
Reopening in late April, D-Hotel Maris is situated high on a hillside of the Datca Peninsula in Turkey, where the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas meet. Overlooking small islands, lush forests and volcanic mountain ranges, it is a peaceful enclave of beauty, serenity and luxury. The 201 accommodations comprise luxurious rooms, suites, a duplex Presidential Suite and an exclusive Villa, all designed with the finest materials and sophisticated amenities to create a perfect retreat. Restaurants include Spice, fusing Ottoman-style gastronomy with Asian cuisine; Breeze, serving Aegean fare; and The Bay, on the beach, for daytime snacks and evening buffet. Among the bars and cocktail lounges are Aqua Bar, on the beach; Bar 180?, overlooking the bay; the Coliseum, at the tip of the peninsula; and El Vino, featuring fine wines, whisky and cognac. For relaxation, there are indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, water sports at the private beaches, a fitness center and an ESPA-designed Spa with a private hammam. The hotel also has private yachts, a seaplane and a helicopter. Children eight and up are welcome.
Constance Le Prince Maurice enjoys an idyllic location on the north-east coast of Mauritius. Set amidst 60 hectares of unspoiled terrain, it is sheltered from the prevailing winds and provides maximum privacy for its guests. The 89 suites and villas are surrounded by lush vegetation, and the calm turquoise lagoon blends perfectly with the landscape and the secluded white sand beaches. A natural fish reserve situated in the western part of the hotel adds to the uniqueness and natural beauty of the location. Restaurants include L?Archipel overlooking the pool and beach, for buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner; Le Beach Deck for ? la carte lunches and light fare; Le Barachois for romantic dinners over the waters of the lagoon. For recreation, there are two award-winning 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, water sports, scuba diving, private fitness coaching and the Spa de Constance Le Prince Maurice, offering Sisley treatments. In addition, there are wedding venues and a children?s club for ages 4 to 11.
Nestled in the exclusive Palmeraie region, Taj Palace Marrakech is set on 55 hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens. Surrounded by palm trees and olive groves, the property has been meticulously crafted with a blend of Moroccan and Indian themes. Its 161 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, all with views over the Atlas Mountains, the desert landscape, or the pool and gardens, are spread between the main Palace and four exclusive Riads. Restaurant choices include Rumi, for contemporary Moroccan flavors with Mediterranean influences; Mantra, the Pan-Asian signature restaurant; Menzah, serving international fare poolside; and Jade Room, the lobby lounge with all-day dining options. Jiva Grande Spa, with 14 treatment rooms, offers Indian therapies, signature treatments, Ayurveda, yoga and meditation. There are also indoor and outdoor pools; a fitness center with state-of-the-art fitness equipment and personal trainers; dedicated yoga temple; jogging track and biking trails. Nearby diversions include horse, camel and quad-bike riding; golf on three acclaimed courses; and hot-air balloon rides. Other facilities include four conference and banquet rooms and a kids club.
Set on the northwest coast of the island of Praslin in the Seychelles, Constance L?muria Resort is bordered by the white sand beaches of the Indian Ocean, and surrounded by luxuriant vegetation. The 105 guest accommodations range from elegant, secluded suites with ocean views to regal villas, all thoughtfully designed using only natural materials such as wood, marble, limestone and pink granite, to complement their stunning environment. Dining options include Legend, the resort?s main restaurant with a refined and relaxed atmosphere; The Seahorse, with views over the 11th green of the award-winning L?muria golf course; and the Beach Bar & Grill specializing in seafood. Nestled amidst swaying palm trees and bamboo, the Spa de Constance L?muria offers a range of treatments including Swedish massage, hydrotherapy and Indian Ayurvedic. There is also a full complement of water sports, deep-sea fishing, diving, and an 18-hole golf course.
Reachable by seaplane, the Constance Halaveli resort, set in the North Ari Atoll of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, is a place where time seems to have stopped and dreams become reality. Crystal waters, sparkling sand and exuberant green foliage combine to create an idyllic backdrop for the resort. Spacious accommodations, in 86 overwater and beachside villas, are constructed and appointed with natural materials to blend seamlessly into the surrounding environment. Restaurant choices include beachside Meeru, with a laid-back barefoot vibe, for relaxed meals al fresco; Jahaz, at the heart of the resort, serving a variety of international fare; and Jing, for exotic Asian-inspired fine dining. A perfect setting for water sports, the resort offers pedal boats, windsurfing, kayaking, diving and PADI certification, catamarans, water skiing, wakeboarding, and banana boats. Situated on stilts over the tranquil lagoon, the Health Centre consists of Le Spa de Constance and Valmont Spa, both tranquil havens for body and mind. Younger guests are well looked after by the childcare team at Kuda children's club.
For reservations, visit www.LHW.com. In the USA & Canada please call 1-800-223-6800 or contact a travel professional.
Feb. 20, 2013 ? When a shark is spotted in the ocean, humans and marine animals alike usually flee. But not the remora -- this fish will instead swim right up to a shark and attach itself to the predator using a suction disk located on the top of its head. While we know why remoras attach to larger marine animals -- for transportation, protection and food -- the question of how they attach and detach from hosts without appearing to harm them remains unanswered.
A new study led by researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) provides details of the structure and tissue properties of the remora's unique adhesion system. The researchers plan to use this information to create an engineered reversible adhesive inspired by the remora that could be used to create pain- and residue-free bandages, attach sensors to objects in aquatic or military reconnaissance environments, replace surgical clamps and help robots climb.
"While other creatures with unique adhesive properties -- such as geckos, tree frogs and insects -- have been the inspiration for laboratory-fabricated adhesives, the remora has been overlooked until now," said GTRI senior research engineer Jason Nadler. "The remora's attachment mechanism is quite different from other suction cup-based systems, fasteners or adhesives that can only attach to smooth surfaces or cannot be detached without damaging the host."
The study results were presented at the Materials Research Society's 2012 Fall Meeting and will be published in the meeting's proceedings. The research was supported by the Georgia Research Alliance and GTRI.
The remora's suction plate is a greatly evolved dorsal fin on top of the fish's body. The fin is flattened into a disk-like pad and surrounded by a thick, fleshy lip of connective tissue that creates the seal between the remora and its host. The lip encloses rows of plate-like structures called lamellae, from which perpendicular rows of tooth-like structures called spinules emerge. The intricate skeletal structure enables efficient attachment to surfaces including sharks, sea turtles, whales and even boats.
To better understand how remoras attach to a host, Nadler and GTRI research scientist Allison Mercer teamed up with researchers from the Georgia Tech School of Biology and Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering to investigate and quantitatively analyze the structure and form of the remora adhesion system, including its hierarchical nature.
Remora typically attach to larger marine animals for three reasons: transportation -- a free ride that allows the remora to conserve energy; protection -- being attacked when attached to a shark is unlikely; and food -- sharks are very sloppy eaters, often leaving plenty of delectable morsels floating around for the remora to gobble up.
But whether this attachment was active or passive had been unclear. Results from the GTRI study suggest that remoras utilize a passive adhesion mechanism, meaning that the fish do not have to exert additional energy to maintain their attachment. The researchers suspect that drag forces created as the host swims actually increase the strength of the adhesion.
Dissection experiments showed that the remora's attachment or release from a host could be controlled by muscles that raise or lower the lamellae. Dissection also revealed light-colored muscle tissue surrounding the suction disk, indicating low levels of myoglobin. For the remora to maintain active muscle control while attached to a marine host over long distances, the muscle tissue should display high concentrations of myoglobin, which were only seen in the much darker swimming muscles.
"We were very excited to discover that the adhesion is passive," said Mercer. "We may be able to exploit and improve upon some of the adhesive properties of the fish to produce a synthetic material."
The researchers also developed a technique that allowed them to collect thousands of measurements from three remora specimens, which yielded new insight into the shape, arrangement and spacing of their features. First, they imaged the remoras in attached and detached states using microtomography, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. From the images, the researchers digitally reconstructed each specimen, measured characteristic features, and quantified structural similarities among specimens with significant size differences.
Detailed microtomography-based surface renderings of the lamellae showed a row of shorter, more regularly spaced and more densely packed spinules and another row of longer, less densely spaced spinules. A quantitative analysis uncovered similarities in suction disk structure with respect to the size and position of the lamellae and spinules despite significant specimen size differences. One of the fish's disks was more than twice as long as the others, but the researchers observed a length-to-width ratio of each specimen's adhesion disk that was within 16 percent of the average.
Through additional experiments, the researchers found that the spacing between the spinules on the remoras and the spacing between scales on mako sharks was remarkably similar.
"Complementary spacing between features on the remora and a shark likely contributes to the larger adhesive strength that has been observed when remoras are attached to shark skin compared to smoother surfaces," said Mercer.
The researchers are planning to conduct further tests to better understand the roles of the various suction disk structural elements and their interactions to create a successful attachment and detachment system in the laboratory.
"We are not trying to replicate the exact remora adhesion structure that occurs in nature," explained Nadler. "We would like to identify, characterize and harness its critical features to design and test attachment systems that enable those unique adhesive functions. Ultimately, we want to optimize a bio-inspired adhesive for a wide variety of applications that have capabilities and performance advantages over adhesives or fasteners available today."
In addition to those already mentioned, the following researchers also contributed to this work: Georgia Tech mechanical engineering research engineer Angela Lin, professor Robert Guldberg and graduate student Michael Culler; Georgia Tech biology graduate student Ryan Bloomquist and associate professor Todd Streelman; and GTRI research scientist Keri Ledford.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Georgia Institute of Technology, Research Communications, via Newswise. The original article was written by Abby Robinson.
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Public release date: 26-Feb-2013
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