Thursday, April 11, 2013

Surf's up: Turbulence tells sea urchins to settle down

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Tumbling in the waves as they hit a rocky shore tells purple sea urchin larvae it's time to settle down and look for a spot to grow into an adult, researchers at the University of California, Davis, Bodega Marine Laboratory have found. The work is published April 8 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"How these animals find their way to the right habitat is a fascinating problem," said Brian Gaylord, professor of evolution and ecology at UC Davis and a researcher at the Bodega Marine Lab. "The turbulence response allows them to tell that they're in the right neighborhood."

Like most shoreline animals, purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) have a two-stage life cycle. The young are microscopic, look completely different from adults and drift in the upper levels of the ocean for about a month before settling on a rocky shore and transforming into the familiar spiny adult.

"Once they decide to settle, they attach to a rock and undergo body remodeling into a juvenile sea urchin with spines," Gaylord said.

Over short distances, the larvae can respond to chemical traces in the water, especially substances that might be given off from a rock thick with algae or other food for the growing urchins.

But how do the larvae know they are close enough to the right shoreline habitat to start searching for such signals?

On the California coast, rocky headlands ? the urchins' preferred environment ? are interspersed with long stretches of beach that experience lower levels of turbulence. The larvae don't have the resources to swim for miles along a beach looking for a nice slimy rock, but when carried by currents near a wave-swept rocky reef, the high turbulence tells them to begin a finer-scale search, the researchers found.

Gaylord and co-authors Jason Hodin of Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station and Matthew Ferner of San Francisco State University used a device called a Taylor-Couette cell to see how urchin larvae responded to being churned by shear forces comparable to those in waves breaking on a rocky shore.

The Taylor-Couette cell consists of one rotating cylinder inside another, with a layer of fluid in between. When the cylinders spin relative to each other, they set up shear forces in the fluid. Scientists more typically use the device for studying fluid dynamics, especially the transition where flows becomes chaotic and turbulence appears.

Gaylord and his colleagues took the urchin larvae for a spin through a Taylor-Couette cell then exposed them to potassium, known to act as a chemical signal that triggers larvae to begin settling.

Larvae that had been exposed to turbulence responded to the chemical signal earlier in development than those that had not ? in fact, they responded at a stage at which it had previously been believed larvae could not settle.

Especially telling was that neither turbulence nor the chemical signal alone promoted settling at this earlier developmental stage.

The experiment shows that the shift from living free in the ocean to living on a rock is a two-step process, Gaylord said. In the first step, exposure to turbulence initiates an abrupt transition to a state in which the larvae are "competent to settle." A chemical signal triggers the second step, actual settlement, and the larvae then complete their transformation into juvenile sea urchins.

It's not yet clear how the larvae detect turbulence, Gaylord said. That might happen through receptors that respond to stretching or flexing. The two-step settlement process might occur in other species that settle on shorelines, he said.

###

University of California - Davis: http://www.ucdavis.edu

Thanks to University of California - Davis for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127681/Surf_s_up__Turbulence_tells_sea_urchins_to_settle_down

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Cardiopoietic 'smart' stem cells show promise in heart failure patients: First-in-humans study introduces next generation cell therapy

Apr. 10, 2013 ? Translating a Mayo Clinic stem-cell discovery, an international team has demonstrated that therapy with cardiopoietic (cardiogenically-instructed) or "smart" stem cells can improve heart health for people suffering from heart failure. This is the first application in patients of lineage-guided stem cells for targeted regeneration of a failing organ, paving the way to development of next generation regenerative medicine solutions. Results of the clinical trial appear online of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The multi-center, randomized Cardiopoietic stem cell therapy in heart failure (C-CURE) trial involved heart failure patients from Belgium, Switzerland and Serbia. Patients in the control group received standard care for heart failure in accordance with established guidelines. Patients in the cell therapy arm received, in addition to standard care, cardiopoietic stem cells -- a first-in-class biotherapeutic. In this process, bone marrow was harvested from the top of the patient's hip, and isolated stem cells were treated with a protein cocktail to replicate natural cues of heart development. Derived cardiopoietic stem cells were then injected into the patient's heart.

"The cells underwent an innovative treatment to optimize their repair capacity," says Andre Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., study senior author and director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine. "This study helps us move beyond the science fiction notion of stem cell research, providing clinical evidence for a new approach in cardiovascular regenerative medicine."

Every patient in the stem cell treatment group improved. Heart pumping function improved in each patient within six months following cardiopoietic stem cell treatment. In addition, patients experienced improved fitness and were able to walk longer distances than before stem cell therapy. "The benefit to patients who received cardiopoietic stem cell therapy was significant," Dr. Terzic says.

In an accompanying editorial, Charles Murry, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Washington, Seattle, say, "Six months after treatment, the cell therapy group had a 7 percent absolute improvement in EF (ejection fraction) over baseline, versus a non-significant change in the control group. This improvement in EF is dramatic, particularly given the duration between the ischemic injury and cell therapy. It compares favorably with our most potent therapies in heart failure."

The science supporting this trial is a product of a decade-long journey in decoding principles of stem cell-based heart repair. "Discovery of rare stem cells that could inherently promote heart regeneration provided a critical clue. In following this natural blueprint, we further developed the know-how needed to convert patient-derived stem cells into cells that can reliably repair a failing heart," says Dr. Terzic, underscoring the team effort in this endeavor.

Initial discovery led to the identification of hundreds of proteins involved in cardiogenesis, or the heart development process. The research team then identified which proteins are necessary in helping a stem cell become a reparative cell type, leading to development of a protein cocktail-based procedure that orients stem cells for heart repair. Such upgraded stem cells are called cardiopoietic or heart creative.

Mayo Clinic partnered with Cardio3 Biosciences, a bioscience company in Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium, for advanced product development, manufacturing scale-up, and clinical trial execution.

Mayo Clinic and Dr. Terzic have a financial interest related to technology in this research program.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/mn3_XAF0Kl4/130410103349.htm

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7 Things to Know About Obama's Budget

Now that President Obama has unveiled his budget, some 65 days late, it?s worth remembering one of the ironies of history. One of the most corrupt presidents?Warren Harding?gave us one of the great reforms, the Budget and Accounting Act, that led to the creation of the Office of Management and Budget. After World War I, Republicans were eager to control government spending, and the idea of taming it with a department that would review proposals and set a deadline for the president to submit his own budget gained credence. Now, as then, we?re dealing with the budget woes caused by war. OK, we do have the additional cleanup from tax cuts and a financial crisis.

So what?s in this tome? Lots of programs get cut: The Environmental Protection Agency's state indoor radon grants? Gone! High-intensity drug-trafficking areas, Office of National Drug Control Policy? Pretty much gone. A bunch of math programs at the National Science Foundation get cut, as does the Presidio Trust that helps preserve and develop the beautiful park in San Francisco. Tons more programs get increases or instituted, from vocational ed programs to nine-figure sums to get state and local governments to cut electricity use. Do they really need to be bribed to spend less?

Because this budget is going to get worked over and taken apart by a Republican House and sclerotic, filibuster-happy Senate, the budget is pretty much a wish list, more useful for what it says about Obama than for predicting what we?re going to end up with. You?ll see a lot of stories about the aggregate size of $3.7 trillion. But here are the things that are really worth knowing:

1. Cigarettes helping kids grow. The president?s budget includes a big preschool initiative paid for by doubling the cigarette tax. Can the president get it through Congress? It?ll be tough. Tobacco taxes are high, and if Republicans are going to give on various deductions, this may be tough to handle.

2. Hiking taxes on wealthier folk.?Well, after raising taxes on individuals making over $400,000 and families making over $450,000 earlier this year, Obama comes back trying to raise $580 billion for deficit reduction by limiting high-income tax benefits. Obama would implement the "Buffett Rule," requiring that households with incomes over $1 million pay at least 30 percent of their income (after charitable giving) in taxes. He?d limit the value of tax deductions and other tax benefits for the top 2 percent of families to 28 percent, reducing these tax benefits to levels closer to what middle-class families get.

3. There?s asteroid money!?This gem from the NASA budget: "Pursues Innovative Approach to Visiting an Asteroid. The Budget includes $78 million for NASA to develop needed technologies and study alternative approaches for a robotic mission to rendezvous with a small asteroid?one that would be harmless to Earth?and move it to a stable location outside the Moon?s orbit." Would be surprised if this Bruce Willis movie doesn't get trimmed.

4. Remember Jack Kemp? The late Republican was the proponent of enterprise zones that sought to help poor areas by cutting taxes. Bill Clinton talked empowerment zones. Now Obama wants to create "promise zones" to rebuild high-poverty communities across the country by attracting private investment to build housing; improve educational opportunities; provide tax incentives for hiring workers and investing within the zones; reduce violence; and assist local leaders in navigating federal programs and cutting red tape. Republicans and Democrats love these policy approaches, so this one could get through.

5. That Social Security measure is big but not that big. $230 billion in savings from using a chained measure of inflation for cost-of-living adjustments throughout the budget. But that?s not until 2023. This year?s budget alone is $3.7 trillion, so such savings are a tiny number compared with the tens of trillions that will be spent over the next decade. Democrats are howling, but some version of this will get through.

6. Hillary didn?t do so well. Hillary Rodham Clinton may have been The Greatest Secretary of State Ever in Our History (according to some), but the State Department takes a 6 percent hit in its budget, although it contains some increases for embassy security, which she long championed during her stint as secretary. Eric Holder?s Justice Department sees a 3 percent hike, with more money for counterterrorism and for state and local crime-prevention programs.

7. TARP winds down.??It?s been more than two years since the Troubled Asset Relief Program has issued new loans and guarantees. Now it?s going out of business. Obama brags that "TARP?s banking programs have generated a positive return for taxpayers, with over $268 billion recovered for taxpayers as of December 31, 2012, compared to the $245 billion originally invested in banks. The progressing economic recovery and the Administration?s prudent management have resulted in an estimated lifetime TARP cost of $47.5 billion, significantly lower than the $341 billion cost originally estimated for the program in its first year." Hey, loan me a few billion and I'll get you a return. The rest of us weren't so fortunate.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/7-things-know-obamas-budget-122313014--politics.html

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Radioactive tuna from Fukushima? Scientists eat it up

Marine biologist Dan Madigan stood on a dock in San Diego and considered some freshly caught Pacific bluefin tuna. The fish had managed to swim 5,000 miles from their spawning grounds near Japan to California's shores, only to end up the catch of local fishermen.

It was August 2011, five months since a magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami had struck in Japan, crippling the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Madigan couldn't stop thinking about pictures he'd seen on TV of Japanese emergency crews dumping radioactive water from the failing reactors into the Pacific Ocean.

The graduate student looked at the tuna and wondered: Could they have transported any of that radiation to California?


FOR THE RECORD:
Radioactive fish: An article and photo caption in the Feb. 26 Section A about marine animals contaminated by radiation referred to cesium-37 as a known waste product from Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster. The references should have said cesium-137. ?

For most people, the thought of radioactive sushi tuna is nightmarish, but for Madigan it represented an opportunity.

If radiation from Fukushima was detectable, scientists might look for traces of the contamination in all sorts of amazing creatures that make epic journeys across the open seas, from tuna to sharks to turtles to birds. They might learn more about where the animals came from, when they made their journeys, and why.

They might learn how a single, man-made event ? the plant failure in Fukushima ? could be linked to the lives and fates of animals making homes over half the globe.

Madigan bagged some tuna steaks he had collected from the fishermen, threw them in a cooler and made a mental note to call Nicholas Fisher, a scientist he knew who would be able to tell him whether the tuna had carried radiation from the disaster.

Maybe the fish could still tell their story.

***

Madigan began thinking about the globe-spanning migrations of marine animals in 2006, during a fishing trip in the open waters off Costa Rica.


Radioactive fish: An article and photo caption in the Feb. 26 Section A about marine animals contaminated by radiation referred to cesium-37 as a known waste product from Japan?s Fukushima nuclear disaster. The references should have said cesium-137.

For hours, he and his friends saw nothing ? no land, no features in the water, no fish. Then, in a flash, they hooked and released a dozen sailfish, magnificent 150-pound catches known for their spectacular jumping maneuvers and brilliant colors.

"It's black water, and all of a sudden you have a huge animal," said Madigan, a Long Island, N.Y., native who camps on the weekends and catches all of the fish he eats. "Why? Why now? And why here?"

Intrigued, Madigan enrolled in a doctoral program at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, Calif., where scientists used electronic tags to track the journeys of sea creatures such as white sharks, leatherback turtles and the black-footed albatross.

They had also tagged the Pacific bluefin tuna, a creature distinguished by its unusual biology (it's one of the few warm-bodied fish) and its popularity on sushi menus. At a January auction in Tokyo, a buyer paid a record $1.8 million for just one of the fish, which are carved up into toro and other choice bites.

Pacific bluefin tuna migration is mysterious. Only some of the tuna born each year leave the Western Pacific around Japan for California, swimming for two months or more to reach their destination. They stay here for a few years, and then they swim back to the waters where they were born so that they can reproduce. Some tuna are thought to cross the ocean multiple times.

Researchers don't really understand why. It may have to do with food availability, ocean temperatures or other factors.

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/Ru40IDK0akE/la-sci-fukushima-radiation-20130225,0,3785100.story

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Apple to hand out iTunes credits in settlement

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) ? Apple has agreed to give more than $100 million in iTunes store credits to settle a lawsuit alleging that the iPhone and iPad maker improperly charged kids for playing games on their mobile devices.

The 2-year-old case centers on allegations that Apple didn't create adequate parental controls to prevent children from buying extra features while playing free games on iPhones and iPads in 2010 and 2011. Parents who filed the lawsuit in 2011 said they didn't realize their children were racking up the charges until they received bills or other notifications after the purchases were made. The games that had been downloaded were designed for kids as young as 4 years old, according to the lawsuit.

Apple introduced more stringent controls governing in-game purchases as part of a March 2011 update to the software that runs its mobile devices.

Under an agreement filed in federal court last week, Apple has agreed to award an iTunes credit of $5 to each of the estimated 23 million accountholders who may have been affected. Parents could receive more if they can show their bills exceeded $5. If the charges exceeded $30, cash refunds will be offered.

The lawyers who sued Apple said it's still too early to determine how many people ultimately will qualify for the iTunes credits and cash refunds. As part of the settlement, the attorneys are seeking $1.3 million in fees, which would be paid by Apple.

Apple, which is based in Cupertino, Calif., declined to comment Tuesday.

A hearing on the proposed settlement is scheduled Friday in San Jose, Calf.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/apple-hand-itunes-credits-settlement-182002285--finance.html

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Kaley Cuoco hosting Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' hall of fame ceremony

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Big Bang Theory" star Kaley Cuoco is hosting the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' 22nd Annual Hall of Fame ceremony, the academy announced on Tuesday.

This year's inductees include Ron Howard, Al Michaels, Leslie Moonves, Bob Schieffer, Dick Wolf and Philo T. Farnsworth - the long-deceased pioneer of all-electronic television. The six will be honored for their contribution to the medium at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 11.

Will Arnett, John Madden, Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson, Jeff Fager and David Rhodes, Ice-T, and Aaron Sorkin are scheduled to present the honorees.

The actress also hosted the People's Choice Awards in 2012 and 2013.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kaley-cuoco-hosting-academy-television-arts-sciences-hall-231129887.html

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Monday, February 25, 2013

We're live at the Nokia MWC press event!

We're live at the Nokia MWC press event!

Are you curious as to what mystery gadgets are hanging out in Stephen Elop's pocket right now? So are we, and thankfully we won't have to wait much longer to find out. The Nokia CEO is set to take the stage at MWC in just a few minutes to show off the latest and greatest mobile wares coming out of Finland, so sit down and join us as we bring you the announcements as they come.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/gAGgUL_clFM/

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LG brings together entire four-tier smartphone lineup at MWC

LG at MWC

Android Central at Mobile World Congress

LG is taking some time at MWC 2013 to lay out its entire portfolio of phones for 2013, which it calls its "four-tier strategy". LG is hoping to cover an entire range of specs, sizes and price points with four lines -- Optimus G Series, Vu: Series, F Series and LII (L2) Series. We've already seen what LG has in store for the G Series, which is the highest end specs possible -- think Optimus G, Optimus G Pro. The Optimus Vu hasn't exactly been the hit LG was hoping for, but they're sticking with it going forward, focusing on pen input and multi-window apps as part of its QSlide software.

The newest additions to the lineup are the F Series and LII Series, filling out the middle and low-end, respectively. We received some details on the first F Series devices -- the F5 and F7 -- which have solid specs and are meant to expand LG's LTE offerings. The LII Series is focused on design rather than raw specs, with 3G-only devices that seem to be a playground for LG to try out new design elements in the low end.

LG is clearly trying to focus its design and product portfolio around the Optimus name in new ways for 2013, falling in line with the likes of Samsung and HTC that are focusing on a single flagship brand name. We'll see if this can help LG push its portfolio ahead in the coming year.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/lW-C7Rhh768/story01.htm

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Kerry takes case on Syria to Europe, Mideast

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2013 file photo, Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at the State Department in Washington. Kerry will make his first overseas trip next week to Europe and the Middle East, but is skipping Israel because that country's government isn't fully formed after recent elections. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2013 file photo, Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at the State Department in Washington. Kerry will make his first overseas trip next week to Europe and the Middle East, but is skipping Israel because that country's government isn't fully formed after recent elections. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

(AP) ? Secretary of State John Kerry is embarking on his first official overseas voyage, bringing new ideas to capitals in Europe and the Middle East on how to end nearly two years of brutal violence in Syria.

Kerry leaves Washington on Sunday on a grueling nine-nation, 10-day trip that will bring him to America's traditional western European allies of Britain, Germany, France and Italy along with Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. In addition to Syria, he will focus on conflicts in Mali and Afghanistan and Iran's nuclear program.

Kerry has said he is eager to discuss new ways of convincing Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down and usher in a democratic transition in the country that has been wracked by increasing violence that has killed at least 70,000 people. He has not offered details of his ideas but officials say they revolve around increasing pressure on Assad and his inner circle.

Kerry begins his trip in London where he will see senior British officials on a range of issues, from Afghanistan to the status of the Falkland Islands, over which Britain is in a major dispute with Argentina.

He then travels to Germany to discuss trans-Atlantic issues with German youth in Berlin, where he spent time as a child as the son of an American diplomat posted to the divided Cold War city. He will also meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the German capital.

In Paris, Kerry will discuss France's ongoing intervention in Mali. And in Rome, he'll attend a meeting with Syrian opposition leaders.

U.S. officials have said the trip will be primarily a "listening tour" when it comes to Syria and won't result in immediate shifts in U.S. policy that has until now stayed clear of military support for the rebels fighting Assad.

Despite the numerous Middle East stops. Kerry will not travel to Israel or the Palestinian territories. He will wait to visit them when he accompanies President Barack Obama there in March.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-24-Kerry/id-0495e16b4d954cdeb1537beb112bfb92

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Women's Nordic Skiing at NCAA Central Region Championships at Houghton, Mich.

Women's Nordic Skiing at NCAA Central Region Championships Houghton, Mich.

Classic Results

The Gustavus women's nordic skiing team will compete in the NCAA Central Region Championships in Houghton, Michigan on Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24.

Source: https://gustavus.edu/calendar/women-s-nordic-skiing-at-ncaa-central-region-championships-2/35692

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

FF waffle hard to take from the man who presided over the loss of 90,000 jobs a year - Collins

Fine Gael Cork North West Deputy and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, ?ine Collins, has said the waffle coming from Fianna F?il?s Dara Calleary today (Friday) in respect of the Government?s Action Plan for Jobs is hard to take considering he was the Minister for Labour Affairs for two years when 90,000 jobs a year were being lost.

?Fianna F?il?s neck simply couldn?t be harder. Dara Calleary has been waxing lyrical all day about what he does and doesn?t approve of in the Government?s Action Plan for Jobs 2013. This, from the man who was in the Department of Enterprise for the two years before the electorate showed Fianna F?il the door. During this time somewhere in the region of 90,000 jobs a year were being lost in the private sector.

?It is unfathomable that Calleary would have the nerve to lecture the Government about the best way forward to create jobs. Since when is he qualified to give such advice?

?The Action Plan for Jobs is designed to support indigenous business, encourage multinationals to base themselves here and to plot the best way for our SMEs to increase market share and boost export potential. The Plan has been endorsed by all of the heavy hitters in industry; IBEC, ICTU, SFA, Chambers Ireland, IHF, ICT Ireland and Retail Excellence Ireland.

?Despite Fianna F?il?s deepest hope that the Irish electorate will simply forget what they did to our country, the daily reminders persist in too many people?s everyday lives. This Government has stemmed the tide of unemployment and we are working hard to get the country back to work. We are undaunted by the task and will continue to work to create 100,000 new jobs by 2016, get our people are off the dole and back to work.?

Ends
?

Source: http://www.finegael.ie//latest-news/2013/ff-waffle-hard-to-take-fr/index.xml

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Banksy street murals pulled from Miami auction after controversy

MIAMI (Reuters) - Two spray-paint murals by the elusive street artist Banksy, including one that vanished last week from a North London wall, were pulled in the 11th hour from a Miami auction on Saturday.

Who owns the London mural remains a mystery, as does how it ended up in a Miami auction house shortly after going missing.

Frederic Thut, owner of Fine Art Auctions Miami, which had been due to sell the piece, has said his firm did "all necessary due diligence" to establish the ownership of the work. But the London piece and another Banksy mural were pulled nevertheless.

"Although there are no legal issues whatsoever regarding the sale of lots 6 and 7 by Banksy, Fine Art Auctions Miami convinced its consignors to withdraw these lots from the auction and take back the power of authority of these works," Thut wrote in an email. They had been due to be auctioned on Saturday.

The work at the center of the controversy was painted on a building occupied by Poundland Stores, a British retailer that sells various items for only a pound. The work, titled "Banksy: Slave Labour," shows a young boy kneeling at a sewing machine with Union Jack bunting.

The mural appeared in 2012 during Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee celebrating her 60th year on the throne. The Poundland chain was a focal point of controversy in 2010 because of allegations it sold goods made by Indian children as young as 7.

The Miami auction house has declined to say who owns the mural, valued between $500,000 and $700,000.

Banksy's trademark spray-paint stencils offering ironic social commentary are never verified, although they are hotly sought after by collectors.

Poundland was only a tenant of the property, and has condemned the removal via a spokesperson and social media.

SECOND MURAL PULLED

Also pulled from the auction was a piece titled Wet Dog, valued between $600,000 and $800,000, owned by Stephan Keszler, a New York gallery owner who specializes in Banksy's work.

The spray-painted piece shows a silhouette of a dog wildly shaking water out of its fur, and was said to have been painted in the West Bank in 2006 or 2007. It was salvaged in 2010 by Keszler and his team on behalf of the property's owner, and he later purchased it.

"We pulled it because of the hype. We did not feel comfortable in this environment," Keszler said of the decision to remove the piece from the auction. "But I think we are very happy that an auction has tried to get Banksy's street works into auction. It's a breakthrough."

Keszler declined to answer whether he represented the yet-to-be-named owner of Slave Labour.

Keszler has come under fire from critics who say he is selling stolen art. He contends the works belong to the owners of the properties where they first appeared.

"Banksy's not asking you if you're happy with the work on your house. It's your property and you can do with this whatever you want without asking Banksy, so a lot of people they destroy it, they paint over it," he said. "Some people see it's worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, so they're trying to get them removed and they're trying to sell them."

(Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Peter Cooney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/banksy-street-murals-pulled-miami-auction-controversy-025930602.html

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South Africa?s fear of violence

(CNN) ? Oscar Pistorius has claimed in a court hearing that when he heard noises in his home, he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder and accidentally shot her with his 9 mm pistol.

Plausible? The courts will decide. In the meantime, the killing has highlighted South Africa?s history of gun violence and high crime. And it?s shown the world that many South Africans live with a palpable, almost paranoid, fear of having their homes broken into.

In the past year, more than 50% of South Africans told the country?s police force that they?re afraid. The number of home burglaries across the country of 50 million have more than doubled. They totaled 9,063 in a 12-month period spanning 2002/2003; seven years later, it was up 18,786. And in a similar period ending in 2012, reported break-ins dipped to 16,766, according to South Africa?s crime reporting body, the Institute for Security Studies.

The international group Gunpolicy.org reports that there are about 6 million licensed firearms in South Africa.

?The paranoia about being a victim of a house robbery is understandable,? said the group?s small arms researcher Lauren Tracey. ?Victims are relatively helpless against these attacks.?

It?s common to see armed guards patrolling gated, middle-class neighborhoods.

South African Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius appears at Magistrate Court in Pretoria, South Africa, on Tuesday, February 19. He's charged with premeditated murder in the death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.South African Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius appears at Magistrate Court in Pretoria, South Africa, on Tuesday, February 19. He?s charged with premeditated murder in the death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.

A picture taken on January 26, 2013, shows Pistorius, 26, and his Steenkamp, 29, at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg. A picture taken on January 26, 2013, shows Pistorius, 26, and his Steenkamp, 29, at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg.

Pistorius leaves the Boshkop police station with his face covered in Pretoria East to be taken into custody on Thursday, February 14. Pistorius leaves the Boshkop police station with his face covered in Pretoria East to be taken into custody on Thursday, February 14.

Pistorius appears in an advertisement for Nike with the unfortunate slogan I am the bullet in the chamber. The image appeared on Pistorius' offical website, but has now been removed.Pistorius appears in an advertisement for Nike with the unfortunate slogan ?I am the bullet in the chamber.? The image appeared on Pistorius? offical website, but has now been removed.

Pistorius won gold for the first time at the 2004 Athens Paralympics in the men's 200 meter final and set a new world record.Pistorius won gold for the first time at the 2004 Athens Paralympics in the men?s 200 meter final and set a new world record.

A pair of prosthetic legs stand on the ground as Pistorius coaches children at the Regional Arena, in Manchester, England, April 11, 2006. A pair of prosthetic legs stand on the ground as Pistorius coaches children at the Regional Arena, in Manchester, England, April 11, 2006.

Pistorius competes in a 400-meter race at the International German Championships Athletics for Disabled in Berlin on June 14, 2008. Pistorius competes in a 400-meter race at the International German Championships Athletics for Disabled in Berlin on June 14, 2008.

Pistorius looks on during the the men's 400-meter B race during the IAAF Golden Gala on July 11, 2008, in Rome, Italy.Pistorius looks on during the the men?s 400-meter B race during the IAAF Golden Gala on July 11, 2008, in Rome, Italy.

Pistorius runs to win gold ahead of Jerome Singleton, left, of the U.S. in the final of the 100-meter T44 as Marlon Shirley of the U.S. falls during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games on September 9, 2008. Pistorius runs to win gold ahead of Jerome Singleton, left, of the U.S. in the final of the 100-meter T44 as Marlon Shirley of the U.S. falls during the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games on September 9, 2008.

Pistorius poses with his medals from the IPC Athletics Championships at QE II Park on January 29, 2011, in Christchurch, New Zealand. He won three world titles, but lost the 100-meter T44 final to Jerome Singleton of the U.S., his first loss in a race over 100 meters since the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.Pistorius poses with his medals from the IPC Athletics Championships at QE II Park on January 29, 2011, in Christchurch, New Zealand. He won three world titles, but lost the 100-meter T44 final to Jerome Singleton of the U.S., his first loss in a race over 100 meters since the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

Pistorius speaks with Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson of the United States during a media gathering prior to the 13th IAAF World Athletics Championships Daegu 2011 on August 26, 2011, in Daegu, South Korea. Pistorius was the first amputee athlete to compete at the World Athletics Championships.Pistorius speaks with Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson of the United States during a media gathering prior to the 13th IAAF World Athletics Championships Daegu 2011 on August 26, 2011, in Daegu, South Korea. Pistorius was the first amputee athlete to compete at the World Athletics Championships.

Pistorius passes the relay baton to Ofentse Mogawane of South Africa in the men's 4x400-meter relay heats during the IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Daegu Stadium on September 1, 2011, in Daegu, South Korea. Pistorius passes the relay baton to Ofentse Mogawane of South Africa in the men?s 4?400-meter relay heats during the IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Daegu Stadium on September 1, 2011, in Daegu, South Korea.

Pistorius, center, races in the men's 400-meter Round 1 heat in the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012. Pistorius, center, races in the men?s 400-meter Round 1 heat in the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012.

Pistorius of South Africa competes in a Round 1 heat on August 4 at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium.Pistorius of South Africa competes in a Round 1 heat on August 4 at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium.

Pistorius carries the flag during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29.Pistorius carries the flag during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29.

Pistorius runs across the finish line to win the men's 4x100-meter relay T42-46 final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games on September 5.Pistorius runs across the finish line to win the men?s 4?100-meter relay T42-46 final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games on September 5.

Pistorius competes in a men's 400-meter T44 heat at the London 2012 Paralympic Games on September 7.Pistorius competes in a men?s 400-meter T44 heat at the London 2012 Paralympic Games on September 7.

Pistorius poses on the podium with his gold medal after winning the men's 400 meter T44 final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games on September 8, 2012. Pistorius poses on the podium with his gold medal after winning the men?s 400 meter T44 final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games on September 8, 2012.

Pistorius waves after receiving his honorary doctorate from Strathclyde University on November 12 in Glasgow, Scotland. Pistorius waves after receiving his honorary doctorate from Strathclyde University on November 12 in Glasgow, Scotland.


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Photos: 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius Photos: ?Blade Runner? Oscar Pistorius


A virtual look at Pistorius? defense


Why Pistorius was granted bail

Hiring a private security firm is not the exception but the norm. Workaday people install panic buttons, closed-circuit televisions, man trap doors, boom gates and outdoor point-to-point infrared motion-sensing beams on their houses.

Also unique to South Africa: When burglars break in, they likely aren?t after a flat-screen television or jewelry, experts say. They want the homeowner?s guns.

South African model Reeva Steenkamp died early Thursday, February 14, 2013 after a shooting at the Pretoria home of Olympian Oscar Pistorius, her boyfriend. South African model Reeva Steenkamp died early Thursday, February 14, 2013 after a shooting at the Pretoria home of Olympian Oscar Pistorius, her boyfriend.

This undated handout picture released on February 14, 2013 by Ice Models in South Africa shows model Reeva Steenkamp.This undated handout picture released on February 14, 2013 by ?Ice Models? in South Africa shows model Reeva Steenkamp.

Capacity Relations, the agency that represents Steenkamp, announced her death. She was the kindest, sweetest human being; an angel on earth and will be sorely missed, the agency said on Twitter.Capacity Relations, the agency that represents Steenkamp, announced her death. ?She was the kindest, sweetest human being; an angel on earth and will be sorely missed,? the agency said on Twitter.

The model was born in Cape Town and grew up in Port Elizabeth. She later moved to Johannesburg, where she worked for various companies, including Toyota and cosmetics maker Avon.The model was born in Cape Town and grew up in Port Elizabeth. She later moved to Johannesburg, where she worked for various companies, including Toyota and cosmetics maker Avon.

Steenkamp, who had a law degree, has also worked as a presenter for FashionTV in South Africa and as a FHM covergirl.Steenkamp, who had a law degree, has also worked as a presenter for FashionTV in South Africa and as a FHM covergirl.

Her passion included cars and cooking, and she was set to appear in the Tropika Island of Treasure Show on Saturday, according to the show's website. Her passion included cars and cooking, and she was set to appear in the Tropika Island of Treasure Show on Saturday, according to the show?s website.

We are deeply saddened and extend our condolences to Reeva's family and friends, the show said in a message on its website.?We are deeply saddened and extend our condolences to Reeva?s family and friends,? the show said in a message on its website.

Steenkamp died early Thursday after a shooting at the Pretoria home of Olympian Oscar Pistorius, her boyfriend. She is pictured here on February 07, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa.Steenkamp died early Thursday after a shooting at the Pretoria home of Olympian Oscar Pistorius, her boyfriend. She is pictured here on February 07, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

A picture taken on January 26, 2013 shows Olympian sprinter Oscar Pistorius posing next to his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg. A picture taken on January 26, 2013 shows Olympian sprinter Oscar Pistorius posing next to his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg.


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Reeva Steenkamp in photosReeva Steenkamp in photos

That?s in part because it?s very hard to acquire a gun legally in South Africa, but it remains, many say, relatively easy to get a gun illegally.

Related: Pistorius out on bail: Now what?

A history of violence

To understand South Africa?s gun culture, it?s crucial to go back nearly two decades. In 1994, apartheid ended. The official system of racial segregation, in place since 1948, took rights away from black Africans and gave virtually all power in every aspect of life to whites.

For generations, violence born out of apartheid spawned a kind of arms race; blacks and whites fought against each other, and everyone else armed themselves, afraid to be caught in the cross fire.

Gun violence was at a record high as the country made its first effort to become what archbishop and peace crusader Desmond Tutu envisioned ? a rainbow nation.

Other spiritual leaders around the country began campaigning to reduce violence.

?Before 1994, there was a low-key civil war in South Africa,? said Claire Taylor, a spokesperson for Gun Free South Africa, a non-profit group that grew out of a movement to cut down on crime born from years of inequity during apartheid. ?Both sides ? white and blacks ? were armed soldiers in a way.?

The roots of gun culture in South Africa are not unlike those of the United States, she said.

?There is a history of colonization, of taking, of settling,? she said. ?For black people, the AK-47 was a symbol of liberation, of fighting back. There is huge meaning attached. Gun are about fighting and superiority.?

Unlike the United States, the right to own a gun is not written in the country?s constitution.

Related: U.S. gun debate: Where is the middle ground?

Police have confiscated and destroyed hundreds of thousands of unlicensed guns, but it?s unclear how many illegal guns remain on the street.

Researcher Tracey also believes that criminal violence is rooted in South Africa?s historical traumas. There was rampant proliferation of firearms in the nation before the end of apartheid, and liberation movements stockpiled them.

Many of those weapons, she said, were never recovered.

Laying down the guns

As Nelson Mandela, South Africa?s first black president, took office in 1994, there was a tremendous desire to put the guns down.

?There was a national feeling that we had lived under the gun for so many years during apartheid, and we had to do something to signal that beginning anew was possible,? said Claire Taylor, the non-profit?s spokesperson.

Taylor was personally motivated to act. At the time, one of her closest friends was shot to death during a break-in.

In 2000, South Africa passed the Firearms Control Act. Since then, violence by handguns, Taylor said, has dropped steadily, often by double digits.

Among the law?s rigors: Before it was enacted, 16 was the minimum age to own a gun; today it?s 21. To apply for a gun, you have to take competency tests, akin to a driver?s license test, which demonstrates that not only can you shoot straight, but that you also know the law and how to store your firearm safely.


Toobin: Bail is huge victory for Pistorius

Next, law enforcement conducts a background check that runs an applicant?s criminal history and also tries to assess whether the applicant has a propensity for violence, may be mentally ill or suffers from an addiction that might cloud their judgment. An applicant must give references whom the authorities will interview, including relatives and a spouse, if that?s possible, Taylor said.


Mixed response to Pistorius bail

Authorities go a step further, checking medical information and digging into any instances of domestic violence or employment issues.

Once licensed, gun owners must reapply and requalify for their licenses every two to 10 years.

South African law also helps ensure that only one gun per person is approved. If someone is a sport shooter or has a reason that for needing to own more than one gun, he must file a separate application and explain, Taylor said.

The law isn?t a fix-all

The law isn?t perfect. As one South African correspondent put it, guns are still very much a part of the culture. Signs at South African airports and casinos point to where consumers should drop off their weapons.

And gun ownership advocates say that is why people are still incredibly afraid of hearing someone creeping in their house at night.

There are about 2,000 guns stolen from legal gun owners in South Africa every month, according to Gun Free South Africa.

Between April 2005 and March 2011, more than 18,000 police firearms were reportedly stolen or lost. Guns have gone missing from police stations.

There?s also a severe backlog in gun license applications, some of which date back several years. A task force has been appointed to look into the problem, Taylor said.

All of this has highlighted one fact for the country gun rights organization Gun Owners of South Africa.

Executive Wouter de Waal told CNN that it is ?dead easy? to get weapons illegally.

And there?s little reason for armed burglars to think they?ll be caught and punished. The rate of arrest and prosecution in the country is 7%, said former detective Rudolph Zinn, who wrote a book about home invasions and now trains South African police.

He believes there?s one chief reason for that: Few South Africans trust law enforcement because in recent years, the police force has become politicized, with higher ranking officers who are politically appointed.

?In 1994 there was a push to have policing more community-focused, there was more legislation to focus on that,? he said.

?There was a distrust related to our heritage,? he says, referring to apartheid, ?and unfortunately, over the years, we?ve gone back to that. I saw it often when I was a detective.

There are undoubtedly more home invasions, he said, than are officially counted.

?People don?t even want to report a crime,? he said, ?because they don?t believe anything is going to come of it.?

What?s life like in a South African prison

How UK school massacre led to tighter gun control

Photos: Athletes charged with murder

CNN?s Emily Smith contributed to this report.

Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/23/world/africa/south-africa-gun-violence/index.html?eref=edition

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