Fish make sacrifices to play great dads

Posted on: 10 Mar 2012

Sydney:Cardinal fish can go to great lengths to protect their young. That means starving or even putting up with a jealous spouse - and often, dying young for their sake, a study reveals.

According to scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University, the survival strategy that has served Cardinal fish so well for 50 million years could come unstuck due to rapid global warming. 

'We studied how Cardinal fish has evolved over millions of years and found that these mouthbrooders haven't changed much - their jaw cavities have become larger for keeping more young in their mouths, and their colours are different, but that's about it,' explained David Bellwood, professor and study co-author. 

'While other fishes have evolved by changing shape and broadening their diet, the mouthbrooding fishes remain simple feeders that eat mainly plankton. This can be bad news when food is scarce,' added Bellwood, the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B reported. 

With a lifespan of about two years, Cardinal fish breed several times a year, mostly in summer. Instead of laying thousands of eggs in a batch like other fish, they lay hundreds of slightly larger eggs, according to a university statement. 

When the female releases the eggs, the male gathers them into a tight bundle which he keeps safe in his mouth for a couple of weeks until the young hatch and become free-swimming. 

'These eggs occupy up to 100 percent of the oral cavity, and the dad's mouth would expand and look like a large bubble,' said Andrew Hoey, who conducted the study. 

'It's a wonder that they can even breathe. They don't feed, but live on stored energy, and stay sedentary in and around corals,' said Hoey. 

'The females play the role of jealous wives. They stay close to the males, not to help rear the kids, but to prevent other females from swimming off with such a desirable mate. Our guess is these stay-at-home dads are very much in demand,' Hoey said. 

Although the 50 million-year-old breeding technique has proved successful so far, providing large and happy families for cardinal fishes, their future is looking grim, Bellwood said. 

The other problem is the increasing lack of shelter as corals around the world die from bleaching and disease: Cardinal fish are popular prey for larger predatory fish like coral trout. 

Arthritis invites higher risk of heart attacks

Posted on: 10 Mar 2012

London: Arthritis sufferers have 40 percent higher risk of developing erratic heartbeat which can trigger heart attacks and death, warn researchers.

The researchers believe the inflammation of joints in arthritis may cause irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, besides formation of blood clots and stroke.

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to strike between the ages of 40 and 70 years and is more common amongst women than men. It is the result of the immune system attacking cells lining the joints, making them swollen, stiff and very painful, reported online journal BMJ.com. 

Copenhagen University scientists studied more than four million people of whom 18,250 had rheumatoid arthritis over a period of five years, and found those afflicted were 40 percent at higher risk of atrial fibrillation and 30 percent higher risk of strokes than the general public. 

In a group of 1,000 normal patients, six would likely suffer from atrial fibrillation in any given year while 5.7 would be likely to have a stroke. 

However, amongst a group of 1,000 rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, eight would be expected to have atrial fibrillation while 7.6 would be likely to have a stroke. 

'Inflammation plays a central role in rheumatoid arthritis and in the disease process of many other related conditions, so it's not surprising that it may also play a role in the development of atrial fibrillation,' said Michael Ehrenstein of Arthritis Research, Britain.

Arthritis invites higher risk of heart attacks

Posted on: 10 Mar 2012

London: Arthritis sufferers have 40 percent higher risk of developing erratic heartbeat which can trigger heart attacks and death, warn researchers.

The researchers believe the inflammation of joints in arthritis may cause irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, besides formation of blood clots and stroke.

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to strike between the ages of 40 and 70 years and is more common amongst women than men. It is the result of the immune system attacking cells lining the joints, making them swollen, stiff and very painful, reported online journal BMJ.com. 

Copenhagen University scientists studied more than four million people of whom 18,250 had rheumatoid arthritis over a period of five years, and found those afflicted were 40 percent at higher risk of atrial fibrillation and 30 percent higher risk of strokes than the general public. 

In a group of 1,000 normal patients, six would likely suffer from atrial fibrillation in any given year while 5.7 would be likely to have a stroke. 

However, amongst a group of 1,000 rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, eight would be expected to have atrial fibrillation while 7.6 would be likely to have a stroke. 

'Inflammation plays a central role in rheumatoid arthritis and in the disease process of many other related conditions, so it's not surprising that it may also play a role in the development of atrial fibrillation,' said Michael Ehrenstein of Arthritis Research, Britain.

Fish make sacrifices to play great dads

Posted on: 10 Mar 2012

Sydney:Cardinal fish can go to great lengths to protect their young. That means starving or even putting up with a jealous spouse - and often, dying young for their sake, a study reveals.

According to scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University, the survival strategy that has served Cardinal fish so well for 50 million years could come unstuck due to rapid global warming. 

'We studied how Cardinal fish has evolved over millions of years and found that these mouthbrooders haven't changed much - their jaw cavities have become larger for keeping more young in their mouths, and their colours are different, but that's about it,' explained David Bellwood, professor and study co-author. 

'While other fishes have evolved by changing shape and broadening their diet, the mouthbrooding fishes remain simple feeders that eat mainly plankton. This can be bad news when food is scarce,' added Bellwood, the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B reported. 

With a lifespan of about two years, Cardinal fish breed several times a year, mostly in summer. Instead of laying thousands of eggs in a batch like other fish, they lay hundreds of slightly larger eggs, according to a university statement. 

When the female releases the eggs, the male gathers them into a tight bundle which he keeps safe in his mouth for a couple of weeks until the young hatch and become free-swimming. 

'These eggs occupy up to 100 percent of the oral cavity, and the dad's mouth would expand and look like a large bubble,' said Andrew Hoey, who conducted the study. 

'It's a wonder that they can even breathe. They don't feed, but live on stored energy, and stay sedentary in and around corals,' said Hoey. 

'The females play the role of jealous wives. They stay close to the males, not to help rear the kids, but to prevent other females from swimming off with such a desirable mate. Our guess is these stay-at-home dads are very much in demand,' Hoey said. 

Although the 50 million-year-old breeding technique has proved successful so far, providing large and happy families for cardinal fishes, their future is looking grim, Bellwood said. 

The other problem is the increasing lack of shelter as corals around the world die from bleaching and disease: Cardinal fish are popular prey for larger predatory fish like coral trout. 

Examination of Italian weapons to take more time: Police

Posted on: 10 Mar 2012

Thiruvananthapuram : Even as Italy makes hectic efforts for an amicable resolution of the arrest of its two Marines for shooting two Indian fishermen dead, Kerala Police Friday said the ballistic examination of the weapons seized from the Italian vessel will take at least one week more.
Seven Italian rifles were seized from 'Enrica Lexie' after the Kollam court issued a search warrant.

The court ordered the seized weapons be sent for ballistic examination and by now test firings have also been done.

However, a police official said the process will take one week more, at the minimum.

A two-member Italian team has also been allowed to be present at the time of the ballistic examination.

The two Marines -- Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone -- were Feb 20 sent to custody by a court in Kollam.

Making efforts to resolve the matter is Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura, currently staying in a hotel here along with a few officials.

So far, his efforts to have an 'open' audience with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy appear not to have been successful, and Mistura, while giving interviews to the Italian media, is not very keen to speak to the local media.

Meanwhile, Chandy has emphasised that the law will take its course and there has been no problems in the diplomatic relations between the two countries over this incident.

He has also said that it is for the police to decide if the two Italians need be shifted out from the prison.


The court, while sending the Marines to judicial custody, had noted that if the Italians have to be shifted, the court should be informed.

It also allowed Italian officials to meet the duo in jail every day for an hour between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (IANS) 

Thiruvananthapuram, March 9 : Even as Italy makes hectic efforts for an amicable resolution of the arrest of its two Marines for shooting two Indian fishermen dead, Kerala Police Friday said the ballistic examination of the weapons seized from the Italian vessel will take at least one week more.
Seven Italian rifles were seized from 'Enrica Lexie' after the Kollam court issued a search warrant.

The court ordered the seized weapons be sent for ballistic examination and by now test firings have also been done.

However, a police official said the process will take one week more, at the minimum.

A two-member Italian team has also been allowed to be present at the time of the ballistic examination.

The two Marines -- Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone -- were Feb 20 sent to custody by a court in Kollam.

Making efforts to resolve the matter is Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura, currently staying in a hotel here along with a few officials.

So far, his efforts to have an 'open' audience with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy appear not to have been successful, and Mistura, while giving interviews to the Italian media, is not very keen to speak to the local media.

Meanwhile, Chandy has emphasised that the law will take its course and there has been no problems in the diplomatic relations between the two countries over this incident.

He has also said that it is for the police to decide if the two Italians need be shifted out from the prison.


The court, while sending the Marines to judicial custody, had noted that if the Italians have to be shifted, the court should be informed.

It also allowed Italian officials to meet the duo in jail every day for an hour between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (IANS) 

Two burnt to death in Malappuram

Posted on: 09 Mar 2012

Malappuram: A woman and her daughter were found burnt to death in their house at Vattakulam in Malappuram. Palakootil Jayanti and her daughter Nandana (2) were the deceased

Two burnt to death in Malappuram

Posted on: 09 Mar 2012

Malappuram: A woman and her daughter were found burnt to death in their house at Vattakulam in Malappuram. Palakootil Jayanti and her daughter Nandana (2) were the deceased

Examination of Italian weapons to take more time: Police

Posted on: 10 Mar 2012

Thiruvananthapuram : Even as Italy makes hectic efforts for an amicable resolution of the arrest of its two Marines for shooting two Indian fishermen dead, Kerala Police Friday said the ballistic examination of the weapons seized from the Italian vessel will take at least one week more.
Seven Italian rifles were seized from 'Enrica Lexie' after the Kollam court issued a search warrant.

The court ordered the seized weapons be sent for ballistic examination and by now test firings have also been done.

However, a police official said the process will take one week more, at the minimum.

A two-member Italian team has also been allowed to be present at the time of the ballistic examination.

The two Marines -- Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone -- were Feb 20 sent to custody by a court in Kollam.

Making efforts to resolve the matter is Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura, currently staying in a hotel here along with a few officials.

So far, his efforts to have an 'open' audience with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy appear not to have been successful, and Mistura, while giving interviews to the Italian media, is not very keen to speak to the local media.

Meanwhile, Chandy has emphasised that the law will take its course and there has been no problems in the diplomatic relations between the two countries over this incident.

He has also said that it is for the police to decide if the two Italians need be shifted out from the prison.


The court, while sending the Marines to judicial custody, had noted that if the Italians have to be shifted, the court should be informed.

It also allowed Italian officials to meet the duo in jail every day for an hour between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (IANS) 

Thiruvananthapuram, March 9 : Even as Italy makes hectic efforts for an amicable resolution of the arrest of its two Marines for shooting two Indian fishermen dead, Kerala Police Friday said the ballistic examination of the weapons seized from the Italian vessel will take at least one week more.
Seven Italian rifles were seized from 'Enrica Lexie' after the Kollam court issued a search warrant.

The court ordered the seized weapons be sent for ballistic examination and by now test firings have also been done.

However, a police official said the process will take one week more, at the minimum.

A two-member Italian team has also been allowed to be present at the time of the ballistic examination.

The two Marines -- Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone -- were Feb 20 sent to custody by a court in Kollam.

Making efforts to resolve the matter is Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura, currently staying in a hotel here along with a few officials.

So far, his efforts to have an 'open' audience with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy appear not to have been successful, and Mistura, while giving interviews to the Italian media, is not very keen to speak to the local media.

Meanwhile, Chandy has emphasised that the law will take its course and there has been no problems in the diplomatic relations between the two countries over this incident.

He has also said that it is for the police to decide if the two Italians need be shifted out from the prison.


The court, while sending the Marines to judicial custody, had noted that if the Italians have to be shifted, the court should be informed.

It also allowed Italian officials to meet the duo in jail every day for an hour between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (IANS)