Monday, August 5, 2013

The River Odra mouth area's biological diversity explained in new open access books

The River Odra mouth area's biological diversity explained in new open access books [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 4-Aug-2013
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Contact: Maria Hrynkiewicz
maria@versita.com
48-660-476-421
Versita

'The Szczecin Lagoon Ecosystem: The Biotic Community of the Great Lagoon and its Food Web Model'

According to Greenpeace, one of the biggest single threats to marine ecosystems today is overfishing. It is a global phenomenon, frequently resulting in elimination of the species, followed by advanced environmental degradation and irreversible biological damage. The continuous resource depletion has led to a realization that the fisheries policy and governance have to be rooted in the ecosystem context. Healthy aquatic ecosystems are those where human disturbances have not impaired the natural functioning nor appreciably altered the character of the system. During the last two decades, the concept of the 'Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management' has been recognised worldwide. It requires the development of models as one of the major activities indispensable for effective policy of sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems.

In their book, "The Szczecin Lagoon Ecosystem.The Biotic Community of the Great Lagoon and its Food Web Model" -- to be published this summer by Versita, the Polish biologists Norbert Wolnomiejski and Zbigniew Witek offer a comprehensive assessment of the Great Lagoon's environment and biota, presenting a multifaceted analysis of the Lagoon's ecosystem. The authors summarise the results of a five-year study of a particularly complex environmental system, where simultaneous influences of fluvial and marine environments are combined with exceptionally strong anthropopressure. The obtained image of the structure and functioning of the Great Lagoon is compared to studies of other estuary ecosystems in the world, based on a thorough analysis of related literature.

Aquatic ecosystem health is important to humans since everything is connected, and when an ecosystem is out of balance, humans will eventually begin to suffer as well. Our health and many of our activities are dependent on the health of aquatic ecosystems. Most of the water that we drink is taken from lakes or rivers. If the lake or river system is unhealthy, the water may be unsafe to drink or unsuitable for industry, agriculture, or recreation. The authors discuss how the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan for the Szczecin Lagoon should thus be implemented. The project, set to enhance the chances of appropriate use of the natural resources of the area, particularly fish, should act as an aid to rational actions aimed at water quality improvement, in line with ecological, societal, and economic interests of the entire River Odra mouth area.

According to Professor Ryszard Kornijw from National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, in Gdynia (Poland): "The book constitutes a valuable source of information for institutions dealing with environmental protection, and those providing business and investment activity in the study area, using the natural resources of the Lagoon."

This comprehensive study of the large brackish water body on the border between Germany and Poland has also been applauded by Prof. Jan Marcin W?s?awski from The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences for its "unique and detailed data archeology". Due to the comprehensive analysis, the book will secure the use among hydrobiologists as well as specialists in the field of aquatic ecosystem ecology, scientific employees, and students of environmental majors.

###


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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.


The River Odra mouth area's biological diversity explained in new open access books [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 4-Aug-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Maria Hrynkiewicz
maria@versita.com
48-660-476-421
Versita

'The Szczecin Lagoon Ecosystem: The Biotic Community of the Great Lagoon and its Food Web Model'

According to Greenpeace, one of the biggest single threats to marine ecosystems today is overfishing. It is a global phenomenon, frequently resulting in elimination of the species, followed by advanced environmental degradation and irreversible biological damage. The continuous resource depletion has led to a realization that the fisheries policy and governance have to be rooted in the ecosystem context. Healthy aquatic ecosystems are those where human disturbances have not impaired the natural functioning nor appreciably altered the character of the system. During the last two decades, the concept of the 'Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management' has been recognised worldwide. It requires the development of models as one of the major activities indispensable for effective policy of sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems.

In their book, "The Szczecin Lagoon Ecosystem.The Biotic Community of the Great Lagoon and its Food Web Model" -- to be published this summer by Versita, the Polish biologists Norbert Wolnomiejski and Zbigniew Witek offer a comprehensive assessment of the Great Lagoon's environment and biota, presenting a multifaceted analysis of the Lagoon's ecosystem. The authors summarise the results of a five-year study of a particularly complex environmental system, where simultaneous influences of fluvial and marine environments are combined with exceptionally strong anthropopressure. The obtained image of the structure and functioning of the Great Lagoon is compared to studies of other estuary ecosystems in the world, based on a thorough analysis of related literature.

Aquatic ecosystem health is important to humans since everything is connected, and when an ecosystem is out of balance, humans will eventually begin to suffer as well. Our health and many of our activities are dependent on the health of aquatic ecosystems. Most of the water that we drink is taken from lakes or rivers. If the lake or river system is unhealthy, the water may be unsafe to drink or unsuitable for industry, agriculture, or recreation. The authors discuss how the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan for the Szczecin Lagoon should thus be implemented. The project, set to enhance the chances of appropriate use of the natural resources of the area, particularly fish, should act as an aid to rational actions aimed at water quality improvement, in line with ecological, societal, and economic interests of the entire River Odra mouth area.

According to Professor Ryszard Kornijw from National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, in Gdynia (Poland): "The book constitutes a valuable source of information for institutions dealing with environmental protection, and those providing business and investment activity in the study area, using the natural resources of the Lagoon."

This comprehensive study of the large brackish water body on the border between Germany and Poland has also been applauded by Prof. Jan Marcin W?s?awski from The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences for its "unique and detailed data archeology". Due to the comprehensive analysis, the book will secure the use among hydrobiologists as well as specialists in the field of aquatic ecosystem ecology, scientific employees, and students of environmental majors.

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share 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.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-08/v-tro073013.php

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Sunday, August 4, 2013

Surprise! This is the least productive Congress ever. (VIDEO) (Washington Post)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/323729968?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Candidate's 'I Heart Head' Signs Stolen (Taegan Goddard's Political Wire)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/323837265?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Influenza A virus infection of healthy piglets in an abattoir in Brazil: animal-human interface and risk for interspecies transmission.

Asymptomatic influenza virus infections in pigs are frequent and the lack of measures for controlling viral spread facilitates the circulation of different virus strains between pigs. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the circulation of influenza A virus strains among asymptomatic piglets in an abattoir in Brazil and discuss the potential public health impacts. Tracheal samples (n = 330) were collected from asymptomatic animals by a veterinarian that also performed visual lung tissue examinations. No slaughtered animals presented with any noticeable macroscopic signs of influenza infection following examination of lung tissues. Samples were then analysed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction that resulted in the identification of 30 (9%) influenza A positive samples. The presence of asymptomatic pig infections suggested that these animals could facilitate virus dissemination and act as a source of infection for the herd, thereby enabling the emergence of influenza outbreaks associated with significant economic losses. Furthermore, the continuous exposure of the farm and abattoir workers to the virus increases the risk for interspecies transmission. Monitoring measures of swine influenza virus infections and vaccination and monitoring of employees for influenza infection should also be considered. In addition regulatory agencies should consider the public health ramifications regarding the potential zoonotic viral transmission between humans and pigs.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23903968?dopt=Abstract

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Kathy Bates happy being part of FX's 'Horror'

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) ? Kathy Bates says she's thrilled to be a regular on FX's "American Horror Story."

It's almost good enough to rid her of the bad taste from her previous stint on series TV.

Even so, she told reporters at a Television Critics Association session on Friday that she's got a bone to pick with NBC, which cancelled "Harry's Law" last season after a two-year run.

Bates said NBC "kicked us to the curb."

Things are happier on her current project, which just began shooting in New Orleans.

The Oscar-winning Bates plays Madame LaLaurie, a real-life 19th-Century Louisiana socialite and serial killer. She co-stars with Sarah Paulson, Angela Bassett and Jessica Lange, who plays a witch.

"American Horror Story: Coven" premieres in October.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kathy-bates-happy-being-part-fxs-horror-224407096.html

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Saturday, August 3, 2013

Low-cost iPhone 5C to feature an 8-megapixel camera: Report

While the purported low-cost iPhone is making waves with leaked pictures and videos surfacing online every now and then, not much has been said about its specifications. Until now.

A new report (via MacRumors) by Chinese website IT168, claims that the low-cost iPhone, which might be christened iPhone 5C, would sport an 8-megapixel camera and that the camera module on the phone would be similar to the iPhone 5's camera module complete with the blue lens glass.

The iPhone 5S, which is the next generation iPhone, is expected to get an upgrade interns of the camera resolution. It is rumoured to sport a 12-megapixel camera lens.

The purported budget iPhone has made several online appearances. The leaks hint at colourful back panels made of polycarbonate/ plastic and a 4.0-inch screen. The phone is likely to release in fall with iOS 7 and the next generation iPhone.

Previously, a leaked photograph of plastic retail packaging that appeared on a Chinese website featured white plastic boxes marked 'iPhone 5C' complete with the Apple logo, suggesting that the phone could be named iPhone 5C.

A video of the phone appeared on the blog of Techdy, showing the plastic polycarbonate body back panel of the alleged low-cost iPhone that appeared in recent leaks.

French website Nowhereelse.fr had earlier shared a couple of pictures that originally appeared on a Chinese website depicting Red, Yellow and Green plastic shell cases of what looks like the back of a new variant of iPhone.

Another picture of the rear shell appeared in April, and was shared by case manufacturer Tactus. The case maker had said that the cheaper iPhone would be available in Black, White, Blue, Red and Yellow colours, citing the 'factory producing this secretive project' as a source. Tactus had informed that the actual phone might be around 9mm thick, 120mm in height and around 62-65mm in width, making it both taller and wider than the iPhone 4 and 4S.

Apple-focused Japanese blog Macotakara had also suggested that the new low-cost iPhone will come in multiple colours.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NDTV-Tech/~3/zOGzfIkoi0o/story01.htm

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Murder charges dropped against Indiana woman who ate poison while pregnant

By Susan Guyett

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Indiana prosecutors dropped murder and attempted feticide charges on Friday against an Indianapolis woman who tried to commit suicide by eating rat poison near the end of her pregnancy.

Bei Bei Shuai, 36, was charged in March 2011 with knowingly killing a viable fetus, prosecutors said.

Shuai walked out of Marion County Superior Court in Indianapolis a free woman on Friday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of criminal recklessness for the death of her daughter, Angel. She had been released from prison on bond in May 2012. Under the plea agreement, she did not have to serve more jail time.

"I have to say thank you to everyone who supported me before because without them, I'm not going to be able to continue to today," Shuai told reporters in footage posted on the Indianapolis Star website.

Shuai consumed rat poison while 33 weeks' pregnant in December 2010, prosecutors said. She was taken to a hospital where she admitted to attempting to kill herself after her boyfriend left her, according to a police statement.

Shuai's baby girl, Angel Shuai, was born alive, but died a few days after being taken off life support.

Shuai is from China and has no family members in the United States, according to her lawyer, Linda Pence.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said his office had always been willing to resolve the case for lesser charges. Earlier proposed deals had been rejected by the defense.

Curry said decisions by the trial judge about what could and could not be entered into evidence at the trial played a role in the negotiations.

(Reporting by Susan Guyett; Editing by Mary Wisniewski and Peter Cooney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/murder-charges-dropped-against-indiana-woman-ate-poison-031307368.html

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Friday, August 2, 2013

Realtor Image | Save Our Orchard

2 Aug

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Experiment and test, test, test! Monitoring your marketing campaigns isn?t a choice if you wish to be among the top creating Real estate agents in the industry!
Josh F. Sanders is indeed a Estate Broker and also the Founding father of Shiloh Street College in Dallas, WA, a web-based marketing school designed particularly for Real estate agents and agents.<a href=?http://www.chriscrosbyhomes.com?>www.chriscrosbyhomes.com</a>

?

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments ?

Source: http://www.saveourorchard.org/?p=47

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Moto X finally official: Motorola X8, 4.7-inch 720p AMOLED, custom finishes, assembled in the USA from $199

Well, you've gotta hand it to Motorola -- the company has managed to build an unprecedented amount of buzz surrounding what's turned out to be a relatively mundane mainstream smartphone launch. The Moto X is likely to be a big hit, don't get us wrong, but many of the device's banner features debuted last week, with Verizon's 2013 Droid lineup. The major differentiator here is that the X is uniquely customizable, and available through multiple carriers. At the core, there's Moto's new X8 Mobile Computing System. It's not simply a custom SoC; there's a Snapdragon S4 Pro under the hood, with a 1.7GHz dual-core Krait CPU and a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU, positioned alongside two unique Motorola processors, including one to handle language interpretation (Google Now without the associated battery drain) and a contextual computing core, which manages the smartphone's sensors.

From there, we're looking at a 4.7-inch 720p (316 ppi) AMOLED panel, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of base storage (there's a 32GB option with AT&T), a 2,200mAh battery offering up to 24 hours of "mixed" usage and your standard suite of 4G radios. On the imaging front, there's a 10-megapixel Clear Pixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, both of which shoot 1080p video. As for connectivity, there's Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, GPS and GLONASS, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, Miracast Wireless Display, NFC and a nano-SIM. Beginning at the end of August, the 16GB model will retail for $199 with a two-year contract on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon, while the 32GB flavor (an AT&T exclusive) will ship for $249. Only AT&T customers will have access to additional color options -- those on other carriers can choose from black and white.

You'll be able to pick up a standard Moto X at carrier retail and Best Buy stores, or you can configure your own at the Moto Maker site, available exclusively for AT&T customers. There you can select from multiple case and accent colors, which you can pair with a black or white faceplate. There's also an option to add custom text to the rear, such as an email address in case you lose your device, and you can pre-select a wallpaper and power-on greeting as well. Finally, several wood backings are set to be available in the future, assuming you don't mind waiting until Q4 to configure your phone. Motorola hasn't detailed global availability, but the device is expected to launch in several other countries soon, albeit without customization options and Texas assembly. Check our our Moto X preview, spec comparison, Moto Maker walkthrough and unboxing video (after the break) for more.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/01/moto-x-official/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Former Jackson State football coach dies

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) ? Former Jackson State football coach Robert "Judge" Hughes has died at the age of 68.

Jackson State says in a news release Hughes died Wednesday from complications of diabetes. Services are pending.

Hughes was head coach from 1999-2003 with a career record of 30-15. Services are pending.

Hughes was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under head coach W.C. Gorden.

In his first year as head coach, Hughes started with a 9-2 record, en route to the SWAC Eastern Division title and a trip to Birmingham for the inaugural SWAC Championship game. The Tigers lost 31-30 to the Southern Jaguars. A former Tiger player, Hughes was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1967 and played for the Atlanta Falcons as well.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce, and three children.

Source: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/article/Former-Jackson-State-football-coach-dies-4700219.php

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Is Waste Management turning into an energy services company?

David Steiner, the CEO of Waste Management, is taking the company in a more energy-intensive direction.?

Waste Management Inc. (NYSE: WM), the Houston-based waste services company, may be thinking more like an energy services company: one that's bullish on the Bakken Shale play in North Dakota.

On Thursday, Waste Management said it has acquired two energy services companies in the North Dakota area: Summit Energy Services and Liquid Logistics.

?Our plan is to collaborate with our customers to become the most capable and comprehensive oilfield services provider in the Bakken Shale,? Harry Lamberton, vice president of energy and environmental services for Waste Management, said in a statement.

The companies provide services that represent a new business area for Waste Management ? Summit Energy Services provides oil and gas construction services and Liquid Logistics sells, rents and services frac storage pools that oil and gas companies use to complete their wells. Combined, the two companies will bring 140 new employees into Waste Management.

?While we work with oil and gas customers around the country, these acquisitions give us access to an element we haven?t previously served,? Lamberton said. ?They also add expertise that we will use in the other North American regions where we provide environmental services to oil and gas customers.?

Lamberton said Waste Management plans to add other energy-intensive services, such rig maintenance and tank cleaning, drill cuttings solidification and disposal.

Waste Management did not disclose the terms of the deal. However, Waste Management said it acquired the two companies from the same private owner.

Molly Ryan covers manufacturing, technology, the Port and logistics for the Houston Business Journal. For her breaking stories and industry insights, follow her on Twitter.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vertical_30/~3/D16v9q21-wE/is-waste-management-turning-into-an.html

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Thursday, August 1, 2013

Facebook 'On This Day' Feature: Social Network Users Can Reminisce With Latest News Feed Addition

Facebook Like
The new Facebook 'On This Day' feature lets users see what they and their friends were doing a year ago today. The News Feed addition is currently being tested on select users accounts. (Photo: Facebook)

The Facebook "On This Day" feature is popping up in select users' News Feeds. The social network is testing out the latest feature, which shows users what they and their friends were doing a year ago today.

Follow Us

"We are currently testing a feature that will show users content from their News Feed 'from a year ago today,'" a Facebook spokeswoman confirmed to ABC News.

The new Facebook feature serves as a keyhole into the past. The Verge reports that Facebook filters out the more unmemorable entries and instead displays more popular stories, determined by likes and comments.

Select users can visit facebook.com/feed/todayinhistory to see the year-old statuses, as well as other milestones and events from that month. For example, an "On This Day" snapshot reveals information such as birthdays, new jobs, graduations and relocations posted along the right hand side.

Business Insider notes that, for users that have the "On This Day" feature already, it can be accessed directly through their News Feed. In the left hand drop-down menu, Facebook users can sort their feed by "On This Day."?

Facebook is known for testing out new features on a limited population ahead of a widespread release. ?Earlier this month, the social network tested out an upgraded search engine feature, Facebook Graph Search, which launched on select users' home pages.

So far, the new Facebook feature is just in testing, but users can anticipate the new feature to roll out on their News Feed shortly. Do you have the latest Facebook "On This Day" feature? Let us know in the comment section.?

For tips, complaints and observations on all things digital, email us at tips [at] idigitaltimes.com

? 2012 iDigitalTimes All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Source: http://www.idigitaltimes.com/articles/19186/20130731/facebook-day-feature-social-network-news-feed.htm

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Sensitive parenting can boost premature children's school performance

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Sensitive parenting helps protect against the negative effects of being born prematurely on children?s school success, a new study has found.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/Ocr8NAWDQNQ/130731104140.htm

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$1.8 million grant to support research on impact of social stress

$1.8 million grant to support research on impact of social stress [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 31-Jul-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Natasha De Veauuse Brown
ndeveauusebrown@gsu.edu
404-413-3602
Georgia State University

ATLANTADr. Kim Huhman, a researcher in the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience (CBN) at Georgia State University, has received a federal five-year, $1.8 million grant for research that may lead to improved strategies for treating and preventing mental health problems associated with exposure to social stress.

The grant from the National Institute of Mental Health will aid Huhman's study of how exposure to social stress causes changes in brain and behavior. Most humans experience social stress as the result of exposure to bullying, abuse or conflict in school, home and the workplace.

"These social stressors have been shown to cause or contribute to a wide variety of illnesses, including heart disease, depression and anxiety disorders," said Huhman, who, in addition to her role as a CBN researcher, is a professor in Georgia State's Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology. "The current treatment strategies for stress-related illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders are inadequate for a significant number of patients. We hope to improve these outcomes significantly."

To study how social stress leads to changes in the brain and behavior, Huhman developed an animal model of social stress in hamsters. After being defeated even a single time by a larger, more aggressive opponent, hamsters exhibit pronounced social avoidance even when interacting with much smaller, non-aggressive individuals. The Huhman lab calls this pronounced change in behavior "conditioned defeat."

Conditioned defeat occurs even though hamsters are not injured during the initial defeat. The social stress is relatively mild and mainly psychological. Defeated hamsters (as well as rats and mice) also show anxiety- and depression-like changes in behavior such as alterations in feeding, sleep and startle responses, and decreases in interest in previously preferred stimuli. By studying how social stress causes conditioned defeat, Huhman aims to improve understanding of how, from a neurobiological standpoint, psychological stress has deleterious effects on physical and psychological health.

Conditioned defeat offers a unique opportunity to explore how multiple brain circuits that mediate fear/anxiety, emotional learning, social behavior and motivation interact to control complex social behavior and to "shift" or "switch" individuals among stable behavioral states. The nature of such switches and how they can have such a dramatic impact on future behavior is a fundamental unanswered question in behavioral neuroscience.

According to Huhman, "because these brain circuits are largely the same in rodents and humans, the data generated by this project will have important implications for the potential therapeutic usefulness of drugs, currently in the testing phase, to alter behavioral responses to social stress".

###

An abstract of the grant is available on the NIH's Project RePORTER website, http://projectreporter.nih.gov.

For more information about Dr. Huhman and the research being conducted in her laboratory, visit http://neuroscience.gsu.edu/khuhman.html.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share 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.


$1.8 million grant to support research on impact of social stress [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 31-Jul-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Natasha De Veauuse Brown
ndeveauusebrown@gsu.edu
404-413-3602
Georgia State University

ATLANTADr. Kim Huhman, a researcher in the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience (CBN) at Georgia State University, has received a federal five-year, $1.8 million grant for research that may lead to improved strategies for treating and preventing mental health problems associated with exposure to social stress.

The grant from the National Institute of Mental Health will aid Huhman's study of how exposure to social stress causes changes in brain and behavior. Most humans experience social stress as the result of exposure to bullying, abuse or conflict in school, home and the workplace.

"These social stressors have been shown to cause or contribute to a wide variety of illnesses, including heart disease, depression and anxiety disorders," said Huhman, who, in addition to her role as a CBN researcher, is a professor in Georgia State's Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology. "The current treatment strategies for stress-related illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders are inadequate for a significant number of patients. We hope to improve these outcomes significantly."

To study how social stress leads to changes in the brain and behavior, Huhman developed an animal model of social stress in hamsters. After being defeated even a single time by a larger, more aggressive opponent, hamsters exhibit pronounced social avoidance even when interacting with much smaller, non-aggressive individuals. The Huhman lab calls this pronounced change in behavior "conditioned defeat."

Conditioned defeat occurs even though hamsters are not injured during the initial defeat. The social stress is relatively mild and mainly psychological. Defeated hamsters (as well as rats and mice) also show anxiety- and depression-like changes in behavior such as alterations in feeding, sleep and startle responses, and decreases in interest in previously preferred stimuli. By studying how social stress causes conditioned defeat, Huhman aims to improve understanding of how, from a neurobiological standpoint, psychological stress has deleterious effects on physical and psychological health.

Conditioned defeat offers a unique opportunity to explore how multiple brain circuits that mediate fear/anxiety, emotional learning, social behavior and motivation interact to control complex social behavior and to "shift" or "switch" individuals among stable behavioral states. The nature of such switches and how they can have such a dramatic impact on future behavior is a fundamental unanswered question in behavioral neuroscience.

According to Huhman, "because these brain circuits are largely the same in rodents and humans, the data generated by this project will have important implications for the potential therapeutic usefulness of drugs, currently in the testing phase, to alter behavioral responses to social stress".

###

An abstract of the grant is available on the NIH's Project RePORTER website, http://projectreporter.nih.gov.

For more information about Dr. Huhman and the research being conducted in her laboratory, visit http://neuroscience.gsu.edu/khuhman.html.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

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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.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-07/gsu-mg073113.php

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