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Thursday, June 28, 2012
New planet-weighing technique found
ScienceDaily (June 27, 2012) ? Although there have been about 800 extra-solar planets discovered so far in our galaxy, the precise masses of the majority of them are still unknown, as the most-common planet-finding technique provides only a general idea of an object's mass. Previously, the only way to determine a planet's exact mass was if it transits -- has an orbit that periodically eclipses that of its host star. Former Carnegie scientist Mercedes L?pez-Morales has, for the first time, determined the mass of a non-transiting planet.
The work will be published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Knowing a body's mass is essential first to confirm it is a planet and if so, to determine whether it is rocky and possibly habitable or large and gassy. Until now, only the masses of transiting planets have been measured. Transiting planets are also the only type of extra-solar objects on which atmospheres have been detected.
L?pez-Morales, along with her colleagues Florian Rodler and Ignasi Ribas of the Institute of Space Sciences, ICE (CSIC-IEEC, in Barcelona, Spain) measured the exact mass of a non-transiting planet. They did this using a new method that involves studying the carbon monoxide signature of the planet's atmosphere -- detecting, in the process, the atmosphere of this non-transiting planet.
The planet is called Tau Boo b, located in the constellation of Bootes, and it orbits a star about 50 light years from Earth that's bright enough to be visible to the naked eye. The planet is similar in size to Jupiter and is so close to its star (only 8 stellar radii), that a year for this planet asts only 3.3 Earth days. Furthermore, its surface temperature reaches 1,500 ? C, making it inhospitable to life.
Discovered in 1996, Tau Boo b was one of the first planets originally detected by the radial velocity method. This planet does not transit, but its presence and characteristics were initially determined by the wobble of its host star. This technique only provides a rough indication of a detected planet's mass.
In June 2011, L?pez-Morales' team conducted five hours of observations at near infrared wavelength (2.3 microns). They obtained data from the high-resolution spectrograph CRIRES, an instrument mounted on one of the four 8.2m Very Large Telescopes (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile.
The observations and subsequent data analysis revealed the presence of carbon monoxide in the planet's atmosphere. In addition, by studying the planet's orbital motion through the displacement of spectral lines of carbon monoxide, the team was able to calculate its exact mass -- 5.6 times Jupiter -- a first using this particular method, and also a first for a non-transiting planet.
An independent study conducted by researchers at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands obtained a similar result for the same planetary system, confirming the potential of this technique.
"This method represents a strong advance in the field of exoplanets," said Lopez-Morales. "It opens a new path to determine masses of exoplanets and the composition of their atmospheres"
The research team expects many more planets will be weighted using this new technique. They are also convinced that in the future, they will be able to detect molecules that are associated with the presence of life in non-transiting distant planets."
This work has been partially supported by the NSF.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Carnegie Institution.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
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Google sells small tablet, challenges Kindle Fire
Hugo Barra, Director of Google Product Management, holds up the new Google Nexus7 tablet at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Hugo Barra, Director of Google Product Management, holds up the new Google Nexus7 tablet at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Hugo Barra, Director of Google Product Management, holds up the new Google Nexus7 tablet at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Hugo Barra, Director of Google Product Management, holds up the new Google Nexus7 that will sell for $199, at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. The tablet will have a screen that measures 7 inches diagonally, smaller than the nearly 10 inches on Apple Inc.?s popular iPad. That means it?s more likely to challenge Amazon.com Inc.?s Kindle Fire, which is also 7 inches. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Hugo Barra, Director of Google Product Management holds up the new Google Nexus7 selling at $199, at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. The tablet will have a screen that measures 7 inches diagonally, smaller than the nearly 10 inches on Apple Inc.?s popular iPad. That means it?s more likely to challenge Amazon.com Inc.?s Kindle Fire, which is also 7 inches. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Hugo Barra, Director of Google Product Management, holds up the new Google Nexus7 tablet at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Google unveiled its attempt to catch up to Apple and Amazon in the growing market for tablet computers. It also provided a titillating glimpse at its vision of a digital future through the mind-boggling lens of Internet-connected glasses.
The debut of a long-anticipated tablet computer bearing Google's brand and equipped with its latest operating software kicked off an annual conference for about 6,000 computer programmers.
Although the tablet drew plenty of applause, the biggest crowd-pleasing moment came near the end of a nearly two-hour performance Wednesday when Google conjured a scene worthy of a "Mission Impossible" movie.
After Google co-founder Sergey Brin trotted on stage during the middle of a presentation, he cut away to a live video feed showing a group of skydivers the company hired to jump out of a blimp hovering about 7,000 feet above downtown San Francisco.
The skydivers were wearing a pair of Internet-connected glasses. That allowed the audience inside to see what the skydivers were seeing as they parachuted on to the roof of the building where the conference was being held.
The glasses are still a work in progress, although Google gave U.S. programmers attending the conference a chance to order a $1,500 prototype that they can start experimenting with early next year.
The Google-branded tablet, called the Nexus 7, will start shipping next month in a direct challenge to Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle Fire. The tablet also could appeal to consumers looking for a less expensive, less sophisticated alternative to Apple Inc.'s iPad.
The Nexus 7 is designed specifically for Google Play, an online store that sells movies, music, books, apps and other content. That mirrors Amazon's strategy with the Kindle Fire, although Amazon's strength in online retailing has seeded its store with a more extensive selection than Google Play. Amazon declined comment.
The size and price of the Nexus 7 also matches the Kindle Fire. Both have 7-inch screens and sell for $199. The Nexus 7 is slightly lighter at about 0.75 pound, compared with the Kindle Fire's 0.9 pound.
By contrast, the iPad's screen measures nearly 10 inches diagonally and weighs 1.44 pounds. Apple sells its latest models for $499 and up, though an older version is available for $399.
Customers can start ordering the Nexus 7 through Google on Wednesday, initially in the U.S., Canada and Australia. The device won't ship until mid-July.
Google's announcement that it's putting its brand on a tablet comes a week after Microsoft Corp. did the same thing. Both moves risk alienating Google's and Microsoft's hardware partners. Those companies, in turn, could be less inclined to work closely with Google and Microsoft.
The Nexus 7's price looks like a relative bargain, given that it boasts more features than the Kindle, including a front-facing camera with 1.2 megapixels. The Kindle is believed to be a roughly break-even product for Amazon at $199. Samsung Electronics Co. sells a tablet similar to Google's for $250.
Andrew Rassweiler, an analyst with IHS iSuppli, said he suspects Google will be selling the Nexus 7 at a loss.
Google has previously put its own brand on a flagship line of "Nexus" smartphones. But that market is more mature than the tablet market, and there was less risk of Google alienating partners, particularly because it didn't price the phones lower than the norm.
Much like the Nexus phones, the Nexus 7 tablet will be a showcase for a new version of Google's Android operating system ? this one called Jelly Bean.
Although the tablet carries the Google brand, the machine will be made by AsusTek Computer Inc. Google recently expanded into the device-making business with its $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility, but the company has stressed that it intends to continue to rely on Asus and other manufacturers that have embraced Android.
Jeff Orr, an analyst with ABI Research, said Microsoft's announcement of its Surface tablet last week and Google's Nexus 7 add up to a "troubling" situation for tablet makers such as Samsung Electronics Co., which makes the Galaxy line.
When a software-supplying partner turns around and puts out its own hardware product, "is that a partner or an enemy?" Orr asked.
Orr also questioned whether Google's strategy of pricing the tablet low is really going to win it any fans in the long term. Apple, he noted, dominates the tablet market with a product that's expensive but works well.
There are already other Android-powered tablets on the market, but none have proven nearly as popular as the iPad or Kindle Fire. That has raised worries at Google as more people rely on tablets to surf the Internet.
For Google, advertising dollars are at stake. If Apple retains its dominance and other players such as Amazon and Microsoft gobble up the rest of the sales, they could set up their operating systems in ways that de-emphasize Google's Internet search engine and other services. Apple develops its own system, while Amazon modifies Android for use in Kindles. Microsoft's will run on a new version of Windows.
Apple already has announced that the next version of the iPad operating system will abandon Google's digital maps as the built-in navigation system. That shift could cause neighborhood merchants to spend less money advertising on Google.
The iPad currently has about 68 percent of the tablet market, according to Forrester Research. The research firm expects the increasing competition to whittle the iPad's share to 53 percent in 2016, with Android-powered tablets at about 30 percent and Windows tablets accounting for the remainder. Forrester predicted 760 million tablets will be in use by 2016.
"Google's user base for music, books, and movies is not nearly as strong as Apple or Amazon, so it will take time to build a strong customer base" for the Nexus 7, predicted Forrester analyst Frank Gillett.
He also said the Nexus 7 and other Android tablets are at a disadvantage because computer programmers still haven't built as many compelling applications for that platform as they have for the iPad.
In another expansion into consumer electronics, Google also announced a home entertainment device called Nexus Q that is similar to Apple TV, a small box that can stream music and movies over Internet connections. The Nexus Q sends content from your personal collection or YouTube to your existing TV and speaker systems. You control it through a separate Android phone or tablet.
The Nexus Q, which Google is calling the world's first "social streaming device," will be available in July in the U.S. initially and sell for $299. Apple TV currently sells for just $99. Other Internet-streaming devices, such as the Roku, that connect to TVs sell for even less than that.
The Internet-connected glasses that Google demonstrated won't be cheap either, although Brin told reporters Wednesday that the company plans to charge consumers significantly less than the $1,500 that developers had to pay for prototypes. The glasses, which Google is calling Project Glass, probably won't be released to the mass market until early 2014, Brin said.
"It's not a commodity product," Brin said. "We view this as a premium sort of thing."
Google began developing the Internet-connected glasses in a secret research lab more than two years ago and announced what it was working on in April. Wednesday's presentation marked the first extended demonstration of how the glasses might work.
Also on Wednesday, Google unveiled a new search tool to help you get the right information at the right time on your mobile device. Called Google Now, the tool will be part of Jelly Bean, which will be available in mid-July. Some devices, including the Galaxy Nexus, will get the upgrade automatically over the air.
With Google Now, if you say "traffic," for example, it will look at your usual commute to work and show you alternative routes if there's a lot of traffic. It will tell you the scores of your favorite sports teams automatically, and it will keep you up to date on flight statuses if you are flying somewhere.
The feature bears resemblance to the Siri virtual assistant on Apple's iPhone.
Jelly Bean will also come with the ability to share photos by tapping two phones together.
___
Peter Svensson contributed from New York. AP Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay in New York contributed to this story.
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012
DuPont City Administrator's Friday Letter, June 22 | The Suburban ...
By Dawn Masko, City Administrator, City of DuPont
1. Financial Strategy Recommendations.?Mayor Michael Grayum proposed his sustainable plan forward to address the financial stability of the City at the June 12thCity Council meeting.? His plan is intended to be proactive and forge a new path forward towards a prosperous future for our city.? His recommendations were developed after listening to the feedback from the Community Finance Committee, and comments from business owners and citizens at the Town Hall meeting.
The City Council held a workshop on Tuesday, June 19th?to begin discussing the Mayor?s proposed financial solvency plan.? The Mayor?s proposed plan includes a temporary 6-year property tax levy lid lift to fund the debt service payments for City Hall, Police and Fire facilities, and preserve the 3 firefighters who are currently funded by a SAFER grant.? The temporary levy lid lift will provide the City with time to strengthen economic development and look at other revenue options, including a more cost effective restructuring of our debt, which is currently not an available option.? Although not part of the Mayor?s official proposal, another option put forward for Council consideration was a public safety sales tax which would be used to hire an additional police officer.
The City Council received information regarding the different options available for property tax levy lid lifts.? Additionally, the timeline and documents needed to place a tax measure on the November ballot were reviewed. ?Information documents that were distributed to the Council relating to each of these topics have been posted to the City?s website on a new Financial Strategy webpage.? The workshop continued with each Council member stating their views of the Mayor?s proposal, offering up their own ideas for long-term solutions and future improvements, and voicing support, concerns and questions they had related to the proposed property tax measure.
Council will continue their deliberations on the financial strategy at the June 26th?City Council regular meeting.? Follow up information will be provided to Council related to the timing and rate of the proposed property tax measure as well as clarification of questions surrounding the ballot title and eligible uses for Real Estate Excise Tax (REET).? Please visit the Financial Strategy?webpage?on the City?s website to see more details about the financial strategy discussions, view Council meeting materials and presentations, and link to the work of the?Community Finance Committee.
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2.?????July 4th?Vendors Needed
The July 4th?Planning Committee is currently looking for Arts & Crafts vendors for the July 4th?celebration.? Vendors will be set up in Clocktower Park.? The booth cost is $50.? This serves as an excellent opportunity to showcase your craft to a large audience.? Interested vendors are encouraged to contact Vendor Coordinator Roy Coffey at?roy@tailboard.net.
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3.?????DuPont PowderWorks Park Field Repairs
The PowderWorks Park soccer field is closed for scheduled turf repair and maintenance until July 8th.? No practices, games or other uses of the field are authorized during this period.? The soccer field will reopen for use on Monday, July 9thin time for the Skyhawks youth soccer camp.? We appreciate your assistance in observing the field closure!
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4.?????Upcoming Meetings ? Week of June 25th?? 29th
- Planning Agency Meeting???????????????????????
?????????????????????????????? ??? Monday, June 25th?at 7:00 PM - City Council Meeting???????????????????????
?????????????????????????????? ???????????? Tuesday, June 26th?at 7:00 PM
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5.?????Council Agenda Items ? June 26th, 2012??????????????????????????
- Consent Agenda Items:? Council Meeting Minutes; Claims Vouchers; Environmental Covenant
- Discussion Item:? Financial Strategy
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6.?????Community Development Update
- Sign Code Update??The Planning Agency will continue their discussion of the draft Sign Code at the June 25thmeeting.
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- Planning Agency Vacancy?- The City is seeking interested residents for appointment to the Planning Agency.? Eligible applicants must be residents of DuPont for at least one year.? Please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk that includes your relevant professional experience, your reasons for desiring to be appointed to this position, and your thoughts on the most significant planning issues facing the City in both the short and long term.
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7.?????FEMA Emergency Management Training
From June 25th?? 29th?the City Administrator (who is the City?s Emergency Manager) , along with representatives from throughout Pierce County, will attend the Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC) hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at their National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.? The focus of the course will be to provide local governmental jurisdictions the opportunity to work together and improve their ability to respond to various crisis events.? Attendees will receive special emergency response training and be put through a simulated disaster scenario.?? Costs for this training and associated expenses will be fully funded by FEMA.
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8.?????Fireworks Regulations
The DuPont Police and Fire Departments want to help keep families safe this Independence Holiday and make citizens aware of our fireworks regulations.? In the City of DuPont it is only legal to discharge fireworks on July 3rd?and 4th?between the hours of Noon and Midnight.? It is illegal to discharge fireworks on any public property, including streets, sidewalks and public parks.? Illegal fireworks in DuPont are firecrackers, bottle rockets and individual missiles and rockets, cherry bombs, and any altered or homemade fireworks.? Legal fireworks in DuPont include roman candles, cones and fountains, reloadable tubes and multiple aerials.? A comprehensive list of legal fireworks devices and illegal explosive devices can be found?here.
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The City encourages its residents to have a safe and fun 4th?of July and enjoy the liberty of discharging fireworks in DuPont, but please do so safely and with consideration for others and within the limitations of City law.? Please contact the Police Department?(253-964-7060) or the Fire Department?(253-964-8414) for additional information.
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9.?????PCTV Cameras Installed in Council Chambers
If you don?t see the Pierce County TV production truck at the next taped DuPont City Council meeting, don?t be alarmed.? PCTV has recently installed cameras inside the Council Chambers.? The remotely controlled wall-mounted cameras will allow PCTV to record the Council meetings more efficiently, utilize fewer crew, and require a much shorter set-up and tear-down time.? Funding for the cameras comes from combinations of Pierce County resources and PEG (Public, Education & Government use) fees, which are passed through on subscribers? cable bills.
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10.??Parks & Recreation
Please call?(253) 912-5245?or go to the City?s website at?www.ci.dupont.wa.us?for registration information, questions on Parks & Recreation activities, or for volunteer opportunities.??Want to know more?? Like us on Facebook at?"City of DuPont Events, Recreation & Tourism".
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- July 4th?Mandatory Volunteer Meeting?? A mandatory volunteer meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 27th?at 6:00 PM at the Community Center (303 Barksdale Avenue).? A BBQ dinner will be served.? If you have not yet registered as a volunteer but are planning to help, please contact Gina Irvin at?irvjam@msn.com.
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- Youth Summer Baseball League?? Parks & Recreation is offering a summer baseball league for kids entering Kindergarten through 3rd?grade.? The cost is $25 and includes a tee shirt.? The season runs from July 9th?? August 2nd?on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 ? 7:30 PM at DuPont PowderWorks Park.? Players are guaranteed 4 clinics and 4 scrimmages.? Registration forms are available on the City?s?website.? If you would like to volunteer to help or have any questions, please contact Tom Bradbury at?dupontbaseball@yahoo.com.
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- Summer Olympics are headed to DuPont?? If you love the Olympics but just can?t quite get to London, consider joining our Olympic Team right here in DuPont!? Applications to participate are now available?online.? The cost to participate is $25 per person or $75 per family if registered by July 13th.? Fee includes Olympic events, BBQ lunch and a tee shirt.? ?Events will run throughout the day on July 21st?at Pioneer Middle School and will consist of track and field events similar to the Olympic Games.? Many, many helping hands are needed.? Please contact Amy Walker at?(253) 912-5245?if you are interested in helping.
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Seniors, be sure to join us for Day 2 of our Summer Olympics by participating in the Northwest Senior Games Golf Tournament at The Home Course on July 22nd.? Registration forms are available atwww.northwestseniorgames.com.?
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- July 4th?Parade & Celebration?? Special thanks to Northwest Landing ROA for sponsoring the July 4th?Parade & Celebration!? This event has become a hometown favorite and this year is no exception.? Vendor applications are currently available by contacting Roy Coffey at?roy@tailboard.com.? Thanks to the DuPont Lions who are overseeing the vendors this year.
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Want to build a float or decorate your car for the parade?? Contact Parade Coordinator Anna Skretting atcranaberry@aol.com.? Please note, participants in the Bike, Buggy & Pet Parade do not need to register.
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- Youth Block Party?? The DuPont Youth Council is holding a Block Party in conjunction with National Night Out.? The event will be from 6:00 ? 8:00 PM on Tuesday, August 7th?at Clocktower Park, 1401 Palisade Blvd.? The cost is $5.00.? Ages 13-18 are welcome.? Join the Youth Council for a night of fun, BBQ, live music, and visits from the Police & Fire departments.? Please bring any school supplies that may be donated to a local family this fall.? Registration forms are available on the City?s?website.
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- Summer Sports Camps? Register today for summer sports camps in DuPont by logging on to?www.skyhawks.comor?www.challengersports.com?.? Sports camps are open to kids ages 4-16 and include soccer, baseball and basketball.? All camps will occur at PowderWorks Park.
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- Visit our website for information on other programs and events including Karate, Yoga, Track, Kidz Love Soccer, Dance4Life, summer camps, and more!
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11.??National Night Out Block Parties
National Night Out is always the first Tuesday in August and this year?s event is on August 7th. The Police Chief and Fire Chief are encouraging residents of DuPont to organize a Block Party that evening to get better acquainted with their neighbors and discuss public safety issues.? Generally the block parties are held between the hours of 4 PM and 9 PM and usually include a BBQ for all to enjoy.? Police Chief Ron Goodpaster and his police officers and Fire Chief Greg Hull and his firefighters will be available to attend all events.? This is a great time to get acquainted with your public safety responders in DuPont and get your questions answered.? For more information please contact Heidi Wiser at?(253) 964-8414.
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12.??Debris Disposal
The City would like to remind all residents and businesses that dumping on vacant property is not allowed.? Please properly dispose of refuse, yard waste and construction debris.
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13.??Pierce County Seeks Applicants
The Pierce County Council invites members of the public to apply for positions on the committees that will write ?for? and ?against? statements in the voters? pamphlet about a ballot measure regarding tax increases.? The Council recently voted to put a proposed amendment to the Pierce County Charter on the November 6th?ballot.? If approved, the amendment would require a two-thirds vote of the Council (five out of seven members) to raise new taxes after January 1, 2013.? The current threshold is a simple majority of four votes.? More information about the proposal, Ordinance 2012-15s, is available?here.
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Under state law, the Council has the authority to appoint up to three members to each committee.? The Council invites people who want to participate to submit letters of interest by July 2, 2012.? Letters should be sent to Denise Johnson, Clerk of the Council, 930 Tacoma Ave. S., Room 1046, Tacoma, WA 98402 or?djohnso@co.pierce.wa.us.? The Council intends to select the members by Resolution at a public hearing on July 10, 2012.? Once selected by the Council, the two committees have until August 7th?to submit the ballot statements to the County Auditor.
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14.??Intense DUI Crackdown Begins
Law enforcement will be highly visible beginning this weekend as they launch a nearly two-week statewide campaign to remove impaired drivers from the road.? City, county and state police in King and Pierce counties will be targeting roads where motorists are most at risk for being hit by a drug- or alcohol-impaired driver.? More than 25 law enforcement agencies will participate in the stepped-up enforcement, including both counties? dedicated Target Zero DUI teams and two dozen drug recognition experts who test drivers to determine if they are impaired by either illegal or prescription drugs.? Within the last two years, DUI fatalities and serious injuries in King and Pierce counties have been reduced by more than 40 percent through the deployment of Target Zero?s dedicated, full-time officer teams.
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Officer teams, including the Washington State Liquor Control Board, will be visiting bars as part of the Home Safe Bar program.? Officers will give bar patron?s cards that can be scanned by a smart phone to call a taxi.? Additionally, taxi chips for members of the military to use to get home will be given to bouncers, bartenders and servers.
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15.??Low Tides will affect Pierce County ferry service
Pierce County ferry riders in large vehicles should plan ahead to avoid low tides from July 1-8.? Load restrictions will be in place on some sailings on ferry service between Steilacoom, Anderson Island and Ketron Island.? More information is available at?www.piercecountywa.org/ferry.
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16.??Summer Reading Program
The DuPont Library?s Summer Reading Program starts June 23rd?and runs through September 2nd.? This year?s theme is ?Dream Big ? Read!?? Summer reading helps children continue to learn and hold steady in their reading skills.? More information can be found at?Summer Reading Program.
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17.??Lakewood Station Open for Sounder Service this Fall
Sounder trains will begin service at stations in Lakewood and South Tacoma this fall.? Once open, Sounder will offer service between Lakewood, South Tacoma and Seattle, with stops along the way in downtown Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent and Tukwila.? Trains have plush seating, outlets for computers, bicycle storage, restrooms and fantastic views.
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Sounder trains run Monday through Friday in the morning and afternoons.? There will be five roundtrips between Lakewood, South Tacoma, and Seattle.? Rides from Lakewood and South Tacoma to Seattle will take about an hour and 10 minutes.
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Starting this summer, Sounder trains will be running on the tracks between downtown Tacoma and Lakewood for testing.? Sounder trains are fast and quiet.? Obey all warning signs.? Look both ways, and pay special attention when crossing the tracks.? For additional information please visit the Sounders?website.
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18.??Steilacoom Farmers? Market & Concert Series
The Steilacoom Farmers? Market is now open and will run each Wednesday through August 29th.? The market is open from 3:00 ? 7:00 PM and runs in conjunction with the Steilacoom Concerts in the Park which start at 6:30 PM each Wednesday.? Fresh produce, flowers, cheese, baked goods (including gluten-free) and a variety of specialty foods and crafts will be offered.? For weekly ?fresh finds at the market? updates please follow the market on Facebook or join the mailing list atwww.steilacoomfarmersmarket.
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The third concert of the series is the?Darren Motamedy (Smooth Jazz)?on June 27th.? The concerts are held at Pioneer Park, 1700 Commercial Street.? In the event of inclement weather the alternate location is the Steilacoom Community Center, 2301 Worthington Street.? No alcoholic beverages are allowed.? The series is sponsored by the Town of Steilacoom and the MTC Group.? For more concert information please call?(253) 581-1076.
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19.??Toll Increases Starting July 1st
New toll rates for the Tacoma Narrows and State Route 520 bridges take effect at midnight July 1st.? The change reflects the next necessary rate increase approved by the Washington State Transportation Commission to ensure both bridges generate enough revenue to meet construction-related bond payments.? The state Transportation Commission annually reviews traffic and revenue to determine whether new toll rates are needed to cover operational costs and debt payments.? The review process starts in the fall and if new rates are adopted, they are in effect the following July.
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Tacoma Narrows:? The?Good To Go!?rate will increase from $2.75 to $4.00, cash tolls from $4.00 to $5.00 and Pay By Mail to $6.00, up from $5.50.
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SR 520 Bridge:? Toll rates on the SR 520 bridge will increase 2.5 percent and continue to vary by time of day.? The current peak?Good To Go!?rate of $3.50 will increase to $3.59, and the peak Pay By Mail rate of $5.00 will rise to $5.13.? The toll increase affects all rate levels.
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Video: Wildfires continue to rage in West
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Arizona police see "difficulties" enforcing immigration law
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Why do fat cells get fat? New suspect ID'd
Monday, June 25, 2012
As the world fights obesity at the human level, scientists at the University of Michigan and their colleagues have made a surprising finding at the microscopic level that could help fuel that fight.
Their work helps explain why fat-storing cells get fatter, and burn fat slower, as obesity sets in. If their findings from mice can be shown to apply to humans, they may provide a new target for obesity-fighting drugs.
By studying the tiny signals that fat-storing cells send to one another, the team has shown a crucial and previously unknown role for a molecule called Sfrp5.
The results, which appear online today and will be in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, surprised them.
In a series of experiments, the team showed that Sfrp5 influences a signaling pathway known as WNT to stimulate fat cells ? called adipocytes ? to grow larger and to suppress the rate at which fat is burned in the mitochondria inside them.
By stopping cells from making Sfrp5, they were able to make mice that didn't get as fat as quickly because their adipocytes didn't grow large ? even when the mice were fed a high-fat diet. They even showed the impact when transplanting fat from Sfrp5?deficient mice into other mice.
The research was performed with National Institutes of Health funding in the U-M Medical School laboratory of Ormond MacDougald, Ph.D., the Faulkner Professor in the Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, a professor of internal medicine and a member of U-M's Brehm Center for Diabetes Research.
Working with postdoctoral fellow and first author Hiroyuki Mori, Ph.D., and colleagues, MacDougald says the team built on its previous findings about the importance of WNT signaling in fat cell development.
"WNT signaling plays a crucial role in regulating, and inhibiting, white fat cell growth and the recruitment of new cells to store fat," he explains. "But it appears that in obesity, Sfrp5 can interfere with that signaling, and may create a feedback loop that keeps stimulating production of more of itself."
He notes that the new results contradict previous work published by another group, which found essentially the opposite role for Sfrp5. A commentary accompanying the new U-M paper, by scientists from Denmark, notes the strong evidence behind the new findings and emphasizes the importance of further research on the topic.
MacDougald and his team zeroed in on Sfrp5 after years of studying WNT signaling between adipocytes. They and other teams had already seen that the amounts of Sfrp5 produced within fat tissue were higher in obese animals.
They were able to breed mice that could not make the molecule, and expected to see that these mice resisted obesity because they couldn't convert more cells into adipocytes to store excess fat from their high-fat diet.
But instead, they found that the mice without Sfrp5 did have just as many fat cells as other mice -- but that these cells didn't accumulate fat and grow bigger. As a result, the mice didn't get fat, no matter how rich their diet.
Looking more closely at Sfrp5-deficient mice, they saw a surge of activity in expression of genes related to mitochondria ? the furnaces inside cells that burn fat or other fuel to power cell activity. It was as if the furnaces had been stoked when Sfrp5 wasn't present, so fat could be burned at a higher rate than normal.
"From our results, we believe that Sfrp5 is an important moderator of mitochondrial activity, the first time this has been seen for the WNT signaling pathway in adipocytes," says Mori. "This underscores the complexity of WNT signaling."
In essence, MacDougald says, Sfrp5 poses as a decoy receptor for WNT signals to bind to, keeping them from binding to the receptors on the cell surface that they otherwise would bind to. With WNT signaling reduced, cells store fat and grow larger, and don't burn it as quickly. Then, the cells produce even more Sfrp5, creating the feedback loop that perpetuates the tendency for adipocytes to accumulate lipid.
While pharmaceutical companies are already looking at WNT signaling as a possible target for drugs related to bone formation, the new findings suggest that perhaps the same signaling pathway could be a target for anti-obesity drugs.
But, MacDougald cautions, the findings need to be explored further in both mice and humans. With the obesity epidemic putting hundreds of millions of people at risk of all types of diseases, that research has a special urgency behind it.
###
University of Michigan Health System: http://www.med.umich.edu
Thanks to University of Michigan Health System for this article.
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