No. 263 December 2004
EARTHQUAKES IN HISTORY On December 26, 2004 at 7:58:53 AM EST and 00:58:53 UCT an Earthquake of 9.0 Magnitude occurred in the Indian Ocean off the West coast of Northern Sumatra. The resulting Tsunamis killed over 150,000 people in Indonesia and other countries impacted by the earthquake produced walls of water. This earthquake is the fourth largest since 1900. However it was smaller than the 9.5 earthquake that struck Prince William Sound Alaska on Good Friday March 28 1964. Did you know the first earthquake experienced by the colonists in North America was in 1663? This fact is number 34 in the U.S. Geological Survey’s For Kids Only Cool Earthquake Facts (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/4kids/facts.html) list of 37 very interesting historical facts. In China, in 1556 an earthquake killed 830,000 people, and in 1976 another earthquake killed 250,000 people. There is also evidence that the earliest earthquake happened in China in 1831 B.C. The earliest recorded significant earthquake heads the List of Significant World-Wide Earthquakes: “Magnitudes of Significant Quakes” (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/docs/sign_eqs.htm). This List which is revised annually, is part of the Geological Survey’s Past and Historical Earthquakes (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/activity/past.html) set of pages which provide current and historical information, data, and statistics about earthquakes by world, region, country, and (each of ) the United States. This Earthquakes site (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ ) has something for kids, teachers, scientists, and even those who think they feel an earthquake.
FOCUS ON FEATHERS We have always been focused on feathers. Chicken (and other bird) feathers have a long history of usage in feather pillows, quilts, mattresses, and coats. Most recent however are a few new uses developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory and the Iowa State University food science researchers. The keratin protein found in processed chicken feathers has been mixed with soy protein and biodegradable polyesters and plasticizers to produce a feather-based resin. From the resin they have produced biodegradable plastics for garden mulching plastic which is biodegradable. This is the alternative to the use of petroleum-based mulching film which does not readily decompose after it is disposed of and becomes solid waste. The Ames Laboratory and Iowa State researchers have found a favorable response to their research and have received an $80,000 grant to develop other products in their chicken feather research. You can read about the “Focus on Feathers” in DOE Pulse, Science and Technology Highlights from the DOE National Laboratories, V. 172, November 29, 2004 (http://www.ornl.gov/info/news/pulse/pulse_v172_04.htm).
MANY AMERICANS ARE OVERWEIGHT, WHY? Too many Americans are overweight says The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/ ). Why? Even though many people are without jobs, hungry, and homeless, America’s companies are thriving and productivity is very good. Some companies have refined their methods and processes applying computers and new technology creating new and cheaper products more efficiently, making things cheaper and life easier. Food science, agriculture, and the food packaging and service industries produce and market fast foods. Many of the fast foods provide us with more calories than nutrients. The application of computers to production and service industries make work faster and more efficient allowing for more leisure time. Also, the computer has given us the new satellite television and playing the new computerized games and activities do not require user activity. “As we benefit from greater convenience and efficiency, our waistlines are widening in the process,” is the observation and the subtitle of “The Fattening of America” by Charles Gerena, in Region Focus, V. 8, No. 4, Fall 2004 pages 22-25 (http://www.rich.frb.org/publications/economic_research/region_focus/fall_2004/feature2.cfm ). Mr. Gerena, a Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Business Writer, presents an economic perspective of the causes of America’s obesity. His analysis, which centers on the people in his Fed District, has implications for every American. His views are supported by the “A Better Way, Productivity and Reorganization in the American Economy” pages 2-24 in the 2003 Annual Report of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found at http://www.dallasfed.org/fed/annual/2003/index.html. However, Gerena does not cite this title in his list of sources
FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY Genealogies are good for learning about your parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. It is nice to remember those relatives who may have left you some of their material possessions. In some instances, the parents who had cancer, high bad cholesterol, sickle cell anemia, or diabetes have left you more than their material possessions. What are the chances you inherited some of your relatives medical problems? Knowing about the diseases, illnesses, and medical problems of your relatives is a primary step for maintaining your well being. This knowledge could save your life. According to the Surgeon General “health professionals have known for a long time that common diseases – heart disease, cancer, and diabetes – and even rare diseases – like hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia – can run in families.” The Surgeon General’s Family History Initiative Home page http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/ provides the background and significance of the Family History Portrait as a screening tool for health professionals. The Home page also provides a link to 15 Questions and Answers (http://answers.hhs.gov/cgi-bin/hhs.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?&p_cat_lvl1=3&p_cat_lvl2=45) which discuss the scope and content of a Family Health History. This history may lower your risk of getting these diseases, help collect family medical information, and can be used how your health professional. To record and organize your family health history, the Surgeon General has provided a My Family Health Portrait form in both English and Spanish in a printable PDF file format (http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/order.html). This three page form includes a brief set of instructions and is expandable to cover all of one's aunts, uncles, and cousins. My Family Health Portrait software is also provided to put your Family History on your computer (http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/download.html).
LIFE IN EXTREME RADIATION Kineococcus radiotolerans (KR) is a bacteria microorganism discovered a few years ago in the Department of Energy’s Savannah River National Laboratory’s (SRNL) Savannah River Site’s high-level waste tanks. Since that discover, researchers have found KR is able to withstand radiation doses which are very lethal to humans. KR has been shown to survive Ultraviolet exposure and prolonged desiccation. It has also survived the chemical toxins which have killed other radiation-resistant bacteria. KR has survived because it has very powerful self-repair mechanisms that repair its damaged cells. KR is currently being studied by the genome sequencing work at the Department of Energy’s DOE Joint Genome Institute (http://www.jgi.doe.gov/ ). More information and details about the discovery of KR are found in the Department of Energy Contractors Report WSRC-MS-2000-00220, Characterization of a Kineococcus-like Isolate from a Radioactive Work Area, by C.J. Berry, C Fliermans, R. W. Phillips, J. Weigel, and L. J. Shimkets, June 27, 2000. The full text of this report is found at http://sti.srs.gov/fulltext/ms2000220/ms2000220.html. This bacterium is a second example of life in extreme circumstances. Strain 121 is a microbe which was found in an undersea volcano living and reproducing at temperatures of 185 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. For more details go to Microbe From Depths Takes Life to the Hottest Known Limits (http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/03/pr0384.htm), the 2003 National Science Foundation August 23, 2003 Press Release which provides more details about this form of life in extreme heat. Actually my discussion which makes use of the bacteria is incorrect. The living microbe under discussion is an Archaea which makes up the newest Domain of (Ancient) Life was uncovered in the 1970s. Read on….
ARCHAEA: EXTREME AND ANCIENT LIFE FORMS The Eukaryote is a first form of life we know as plants, animals, fungi, and protists which have been studied since the time of Aristotle. Yet, these plants, animals, and fungi may not be the oldest form of life. There was an advancement in the study of life, in the 17th century with Antony van Leeuwenhoek. He used his microscope to be the first to see and discover bacteria. These living cells, commonly called bacteria, are the prokaryotes microbes as shown in Kenneth Todar’s Major Groups of Procaryotes (http://www.bact.wisc.edu/Bact303/MajorGroupsOfProkaryotes ). In the 1970s Dr. Carl Woese found within these prokaryotes a new cell with a different structure. He found a third kind of microbe with a unique cell structure. A new microbe (cell) which can live under extreme environmental conditions also signifies a new domain of life. He named these microbes Archaea, which means ancient, because further research has shown them to be the oldest form of life. Archaea: Systematics (http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/archaea/archaeasy.html) will provide some of the basics, and Introduction to the Archaea, Life Extremists… (http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/archaea/archaea.html) will provide more explanation and links to topics such as the Tree of Life (http://tolweb.org/tree/phylogeny.html). A Tree which shows Archaea as its roots. National Science Foundation (NSF) Press Release December 15, 2002 announced Researchers Uncover Extreme Lake -- and 3000-Year-Old Microbes – in Mars-Like Antarctic Environment (http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/02/pr02100.htm) found below the surface of the Antarctic. The NSF Press Release of August 14, 2003 (http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/03/pr0384.htm) announced the discovery of Strain 121. Leslie Mullen’s The Three Domains of Life (http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/news_stories/news_print.cfm?ID=94 ) is a very good over all discussion, explanation of the concepts, terms and illustrations of the Phylogeny of Life, Eukaryota, Bacteria, and Archaea ( http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/alllife/threedomains.html).
NEGRO STATISTICAL HISTORY COLONIAL TIMES TO 2000 The 2000 Census of Population and Housing Summary File 2 has set a new record for the number of racial categories of information. In contrast, even though the First Census of Population in 1790 provided statistical information for the categories free white males, free white women, all other free persons, and Slaves it did not provide adequate information about America’s negro population. It was not until 1918 that the Census Bureau rectified the problem of Negro population information when it issued Negro Population, 1790-1915 (C 3.2:N31). This 844 page compilation of narrative and statistical information was taken from publications, census schedules, and unpublished manuscript tables. It was the companion volume to Negroes in the United States [1900] , 333 pages (C 3.3:8) issued in 1904 and Negroes in the United States [1910] (207 pages) (C 3.3:129) issued in 1910. These two Census Bulletins were follow by Negroes in the United States, 1920-1935, (845 pages)(C 3.2:N31/2) in 1935 to complete this 4 volume set. These volumes provide a comprehensive coverage and an extensive 142 year picture of the America’s Black population. The 1940 Census of Population and Housing (C3.940: ) and later decennial Censuses, supplemented by other Census and Department of Labor special publications will complete the statistical portrait of Black Americans to the year 2000.
HISTORICAL MORTALITY STATISTICS ONLINE Mortality recordkeeping is taking note of the number of people dying and why they died. In England, in 1583, the English Clergy were required to keep records of christenings, marriages, and burials. In the American Colonies, Virginia (in 1632) and later Massachusetts passed a law requiring records of wills, marriage, births, deaths, wills, inventories, and administrations be kept. The history of vital statistics recordkeeping and statistics in the United States from 1632 to 1995 is found in United States Vital Statistics System: Major Activities and Developments, 1950-95. It explains how America went from recording births and deaths in Bibles to a nationwide vital statistics database. This 60 page volume provides details as to how and why birth, death, marriages, and divorces came to be recorded, kept, and compiled. “Appendix II – ‘History and Organization of the Vital Statistics System to 1950’” (pages 43-66) discusses the first data collection and compilation techniques. This volume includes data tables and citations to specific data compilations and book titles. This concise history of the U. S. vital statistics can be viewed or downloaded as a PDF file at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/other/miscpub/vsushist.htm . For Mortality Statistics from 1890-1993, there are two compilations found at Vital Statistics of the United States (VSUS) (http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS25040). First, VSUS Bound Volumes from 1900 - 1984 and 1985 - 1993 (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/vsus/1963/1963.htm) includes (1) annual mortality volumes from 1900 -1993, (2) a 1900-1940 compilation, and (3) a 1940-1960 compilation. Second, the Historical Volumes 1890 -1936 (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/vsus/historical/historical.htm) includes the Special Tables of Mortality from Influenza and Pneumonia, Indiana, Kansas, and Philadelphia, PA September 1 to December 31, 1918. These are the statistics for the last(?) major flu epidemic, early in America’s twentieth century which killed so many people
March 21, 2005
http://www.nku.edu/~yannarella/news0412.html