Deadly Fungus Wiping Out Amphibians

A deadly and infectious fungal disease first struck Mexican salamanders in the 1970s, found a new study. From there, it spread through Guatemala and Costa Rica over the next two decades.

As the first study among salamanders to document the history of an epidemic of the sickness, the research helps verify the fungus (known as Bd, for Batrachyochytrium dendrobatidis) as a major cause of widespread amphibian collapse in current decades. Some 40 percent of frogs, toads and other amphibian species are presently in decline.

The findings could also lead to enhanced ways of slowing or preventing the spread of Bd and similar outbreaks in the years to come.

"This really shows how devastating this disease can be," said lead author Tina Cheng, a graduating master’s student in ecology at San Francisco State University. "Up until now, it was not known that this pathogen had any bang on salamanders, and many are highly threatened right now."

Animals that become tainted with the fungus develop chytridiomycosis. They shed their skin and become lethargic. Sickened salamanders lose their tails. Frogs lose weight and become so insensitive that they fail to turn themselves over when put on their backs. Death comes in a matter of weeks.

Since the discovery of Bd, researchers have associated the fungus to the collapse of frog and toad populations in California, Australia, Panama and Peru. Some species have already gone extinct because of it.

Underwater Card Sport Breaks Records

A group of German scuba divers are claiming a new world record after playing the same card game undersea for 36 hours.

The 16 divers who worked in shifts so they could modify oxygen tanks sat on the bottom of a pool in Geiselhoering, playing a traditional Bavarian card game called 'Sheep's head'.

Organiser Eric Schlegelmilch said: "We gave up counting who owed what after an hour. We didn't want anyone going tummy up."

Now the group decided to contact Guinness World Records officials with a video record of their stunt.

Djokovic Out Of Rotterdam Event Due To Injury

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has announced his departure from next week's ATP Tour event in Rotterdam because of a shoulder injury.

Djokovic, who won Andy Murray in straight sets to add the Melbourne crown to his victory in 2008, was to have been top seed for the indoor event.

The Serb's place in the draw has now been taken by Dutchman Theimo de Bakker, while Djokovic's absence means Murray and Swede Robin Soderling are now favorites to triumph the title.

Confirming the news, director Richard Krajicek told the tournament's official website: "Novak Djokovic has personally called me to declare that he will be not be present in Rotterdam.

"He is recovering from a very exhausting period and is now suffering from this injury to his shoulder," added Krajicek.

"Because of the wound he will be unable to train for a week, let alone playing high-level matches. He is apparently very disappointed that he will not attend."

Ding Wins Masters Snooker Crown

China's Ding Junhui has beaten Hong Kong's Marco Fu 10-4 in the 2011 Masters final at Wembley Arena in London.

The previous two-time winner of the UK Championship never looked in difficulty throughout the match setting the tone with a masterly break of 120 in the opening frame of the match.

Additional breaks of 74, 66 and 60 helped him open up a 6-2 lead at the end of the afternoon conference.

But he didn't have it all his way in the evening as Fu battled back captivating the opening two frames to halve his arrears.

Then came the essential 11th frame of the match. After both players had scrapped around, Fu looked to have conserved the frame with just pink and black remaining on the table and Ding requiring one snooker.

But the 23-year-old from China played an astonishing shot sending the cue ball around the angles before nestling it behind the black.

Fu then failed to escape from the snooker, parting Ding to clear up to lead 7-4.

Ding didn't look back recording breaks of 94, 83 and 85 in the final three frames to take the title.

Snooker's first major all-Asian final is expected to have gained an audience of over 100 million worldwide.

Ding becomes only the third person from outside the UK and Ireland to win the important tournament.

Perrie Mans of South Africa won in 1979 and Canada's Cliff Thorburn achieved the achievement in 1986.

Besiktas In Double Jump For Portugal Stars

Faltering Besiktas have re-inforced their ranks by acquiring their second Portugal international star this week as Hugo Almeida signed for the Turkish side.

Almeida has been given a three-year deal after switching from Bundesliga Werder Bremen for €2 million ($2.62 million).

The 26-year-old has been at Bremen since 2006 -- scoring 41 goals in 117 appearances -- with news saying he has left after failing to agree a new deal.

Almeida, who has also scored 12 goals in 33 games for his country, joins fellow Portugal international Simao at the 13-time Turkish champions.

Simao, who played in the Portugal side which reached the Euro 2004 final and the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup, joins from Atletico Madrid for €7 million ($9.18 million) on a two-and-half-year deal.

The 31-year-old retired from international football after this year's World Cup having made 85 appearances.

The pair will join a team which has slipped to fifth in the Turkish standings, 14 points behind leaders Bursaspor.

Els Wins Fifth South African Open Title

Ernie Els has won his fifth South African Open title after an action-packed final day at the Durban Country Club.

The three-time major champion posted a final round 66 to finish on 25 under, one stroke ahead of national Retief Goosen.

Goosen, winner of the tournament in 2005, finished strongly closing out his round with three successive birdies, but it wasn't enough to overhaul Els who had led since the halfway stage.

Earlier, Els had looked as though he may give up his lead after bogeying the par five eighth hole. But back-to-back birdies at the ninth and the 10th, followed by a birdie two at the 12th put the 41-year-old decisively back in control.

"This is a extraordinary day for me as I faced a lot of pressure, given I was up against great players and a great course," Els said.

"I realized from the start of the day that Retief was the one I had to finish ahead of. He has beaten me down the final straight quite a few times so it was immense to victory this time," he added.

South African Open Postponed Due To Heavy Rain

 Heavy rain brought an early end to the opening round of the 100th South African Open in Durban. Only half of the field was able to tee off at the Durban Country Club as the inclement weather brought play to an end before 9am local time.

Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen was one of five players tied for the lead on two-under-par when officials determined to give way to persistent rain.

In among a group of 12 players on one-under was Open Championship winner Louis Oosthuizen, who finished six holes, and former European Ryder Cup star David Howell.

Defending champion Richie Ramsay, from Scotland, was on one-over while South African legend Ernie Els didn't even make it off the first tee.

Play was lastly called off for the day at 14.30pm local time with organizers planning to stage round one on Friday, and round two on Saturday.

Tournament director Gary Todd told the European Tour website: "We've had in surplus of three inches of rain, that's a massive amount. Hopefully the wind picks up this evening and it dries up a little bit and it gives the green keeper two hours tomorrow morning.

Laura Bechtolsheimer Wins At Olympia

British number one Laura Bechtolsheimer continued her rich vein of form by posting an vigorous victory in dressage World Cup grand prix qualifier at the London International Horse Show.

Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris, the horse on which she won three silver medals at this year's World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, cruised home amongst a 15-strong field.

Their score of 82.936% after being drawn last to go beat nearby challenger Adelinde Cornelissen, aboard Parzival, by more than 4%.

Cornelissen's Dutch colleague Edward Gal was third on Sisther de Jeu, while the British combination of Amy Stovold and Macbrian completed a creditable fifth on their Olympia debut.

Sampras Issues Public Request To Find Stolen Trophies

Retired tennis star Pete Sampras has exposed that most of the trophies and memorabilia collected during his 15-year career have been stolen.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times the former World No.1 said the trophies were robbed from a public storage rental unit.

The missing items comprise two Davis Cup trophies, an Olympic ring and his first Australian Open title which he won in 1994.

He said his other 13 grand slam trophies are safe, but none of the stolen objects were insured.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion told that the items were placed in storage after he had moved homes two times.

Sampras, who retired in 2003, is publicizing the theft which took place three weeks ago in the hope that someone might offer a new lead.

World's Largest Airship To Be Hosted By NASA

If you like big and green, NASA's Ames Research Center will shortly have something for you: the world's largest and greenest airship.

The space agency announced that the Mountain View, Calif., research center's Moffett Field will soon play host to a mammoth 265-foot-long and 65-foot-diameter airship from Kellyton, Ala.'s E-Green Technologies. The Bullet Class 580 will be developed and tested at Ames in 24,000 square feet of Ames' well-known Hangar 2.

The new airship, which has a planned first flight date of early 2011, is probable to run on algae-based biofuel, and fly at speeds of up to 75 miles an hour at altitudes of up to 20,000 feet.

Ames and Moffett Field are becoming a hotbed for airships. Already, the capacity is the home of Airship Ventures, and its own giant zeppelin. And, of course, Moffett Field has a storied history of hosting airships, stretching back to 1933, when the U.S. Navy's Zeppelin ZRS-5 785-foot-long zeppelin resided there.

The E-Green Technologies Bullet Class 580 is expected to fly with "a joint NASA Langley Research Center and Old Dominion University payload, the Radar Oxygen Barometric Sensor Project, a remote sensing instrument for measuring barometric pressure at sea level-an important meteorological measurement in the calculation and forecasting of tropical storms and hurricanes."

Graeme McDowell And Martin Kaymer Share Top Award

European Ryder Cup teammates Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer have together won the 2010 European Tour Golfer of the Year award the first time the honor has been shared in its 26-year history.

Both players enjoyed outstanding seasons, with 25-year-old German Kaymer wiining the U.S. PGA designation, as well as pipping Northern Irishman McDowell to the Race to Dubai money list title.

Meanwhile, 31-year-old McDowell also won his first major - the U.S. Open -and sunk the winning putt that gave Europe victory over the American in the Ryder Cup.

McDowell told the official European Tour website: "I am truly humbled to get this coveted award. It is the icing on the cake on what has been a very unique year for myself, Martin and everyone involved in European golf.

"It is an honor to share this prize with a player of Martin's caliber. He is one of the best players of our generation and I am confident will enjoy many more successes in the years to come."

Kaymer echoed those sentiments, adding: "This has been a really great year for me and winning this award is the perfect ending.

"It is credit for my performances in 2010 and to be voted for by the golfing media, the people who watch and report on our sport throughout the year, makes me feel very proud."

Facebook Newspaper “PostPost” Launched

PostPost is a new “social newspaper” from TigerLogic that has just been deployed for Facebook. The application basically takes your newsfeed and displays it in a more controllable way. It takes your links, photos, and videos, and compiles them into a legible format, sort of like a newsletter.

TigerLogic is a rapid application deployment solutions company that developed PostPost, which also uses Yolink search API so that users can simply locate passed backlinks and context.

According to some reviews, the application marks a sign of the movement away from RSS feeds to most of these newspaper-type solutions as social media sites grow in fame.

Using the plugin jQuery Masonry, created by David DeSandro, PostPost imports links, videos, and photos from the Facebook Open Graph API. Displayed in such a way to look like a typical newspaper, the PostPost news can also be adjusted to the size of the user’s browser window for easy presentation.

PostPost has the potential to scale well as it was built using JavaScript, using the platform for the display and user controls. It also uses the existing Facebook infrastructure to host content. Using JavaScript means that PostPost can display the ‘newspaper’ in real time with the capability to fetch news as it is issued.

Using Yolink’s search integration capabilities, finding and indexing the backlinks within stories will be made much simpler. The panel that serves as the ‘newspaper’ from PostPost allows users to comment straight from the panel.

Juliana Kenny graduated from the University of Connecticut with a double degree in English and French. After managing a small corporation for two years, she joined TMC as a Web Editor for TMCnet. Juliana at present focuses on the call center and CRM industries, but she also writes about cloud telephony and network gear with softswitches.

Innovative Taxi with Global Ambitions Is The "Taxi of Tomorrow"

It's a long way from the streets of New York to the factories of Turkey, but this 5,000-mile voyage could soon be made by all of the city's iconic yellow taxis.

A glass-roofed, eco-friendly vehicle intended by Turkish automaker Karsan is among the three finalists in New York City's search for a taxicab for the future.

New York launched the "Taxi of Tomorrow" competition to find a safe, energy proficient and accessible model. The winning design will be the exclusive New York City taxi for at least 10 years, according to city officials.

Karsan's V1 is the only model that was planned from scratch for the contest.
A reflection of the country's growing automotive ambitions, it would be Turkey's first high-profile recognized vehicle if it wins.

So far all the cars Turkey makes are built under license for major manufacturers. Karsan, while not accurately a household name outside its homeland, makes vehicles for Hyundai, Peugeot, Citroen and Renault.

"Having a vehicle designed and built in Turkey being used as a New York taxi would be a very strong branding chance for the Turkish automotive industry," said Jan Nahum, executive director of Karsan.

"It's an incredible source of pride and obsession for us," he said of being named a finalist. "New York is probably the most popular and visible city in the world, and its iconic yellow taxis are seen in almost every picture."

The Karsan V1 would be wheelchair available, spacious enough to hold five passengers and a stroller, and have a glass roof to give passengers a view of New York's skyscrapers.

It could hold a gasoline, compressed natural gas or electric engine, depending on which knowledge is the greenest at any time.

The winner of the "Taxi of Tomorrow" contest will be the first ever custom-built New York taxi. There are 16 different vehicles from nine manufacturers in the present fleet of 13,000 licensed taxicabs.

Studies Affirm That Boy Fetus Vulnerable To Stress

After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, there was a small but actual rise in the number of miscarriages across the country -- especially for women who were pregnant with boys.

The finding adds to confirmation that boys are more vulnerable to stress than girls while in the womb. The study also affirms that the tragic events of 9/11 intensely affected people far beyond the limits of New York City.

"The stress of a mother affects the fetus, and it's not just these individual stressors like whether you had a divorce or lost your job, but also these ambient stressors, like the economy and September 11," said Tim Bruckner, a population health researcher at the University of California, Irvine. "The effects resonated across the whole society. We were fundamentally bereaving what we saw on TV."

In the United States an average of 105 boys are born for every 100 girls. But in times of stress, like after natural disasters or economic subside, studies have shown that the ratio drops, and fewer boys are born than expected. So far, it hasn't been clear why.

One theory is that stress harms sperm that bear Y-chromosomes. It could also be that people just have less sex during stressful times, which might favor girls. Or perhaps something happens during pregnancy to influence the birth ratio.

The tendency of an tremendously anxious woman to miscarry male babies might have developed in our ancestors as a way to maximize the number of grandchildren she would eventually have, Bruckner said.

When times were flush and food plentiful, the theory goes, women could pour more resources into their rising sons, boosting the chances that they would go on to become alpha males. In many mammals, including red deer, alpha males are more probable to find mates and have babies.

If conditions turned sour during a pregnancy, on the other hand, it might be fine for a woman to miscarry a male baby and try again next year when life is less stressful.

The new study doesn't offer any clear advice to pregnant women about how to avoid miscarriages, Bruckner said. Instead, it highlights one of the ways that collective stress can impact the health of our nation at its core.

Serbia Claim Davis Cup Defeating Nine Time Champions France

Viktor Troicki brushed aside Michael Llodra in straight sets in the deciding singles rubber as Serbia won the Davis Cup final for the first time with a 3-2 win over nine-time champions France on Sunday.

The 24-year-old was in appealing form as he won 6-2 6-2 6-3 in just two hours 13 minutes as the hosts claimed the most popular team award in tennis to spark scenes of wild celebration on and off the court at the Belgrade Arena.

Earlier, Novak Djokovic won his sixth singles tie from six matches in the Davis Cup this season as he beat France's Gael Monfils to level the tie at 2-2.

Troicki was drafted into the deciding singles in place of Janko Tipsarevic and it proved an enthused choice by Bogan Obradovic.

By contrast, French captain Guy Forget saw his gamble of picking Llodra ahead of Gilles Simon backfire as the left-hander could not cope with the violent play of Troicki, who hit a stream of winners and broke him eight times.

Tiger Woods Last Chance To Claim His No.1 Position

Tiger Woods has one last chance to recover a victory from a sorry 2010 and maintain back his World No.1 spot from England's Lee Westwood.

Woods is the tournament host this week at the Chevron World Challenge in California, which is not an official PGA Tour event but does calculate towards the world rankings.

If the American wins and Westwood finishes outside the top two in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, Woods will get back to the top.

But it will be a transitory success as Westwood is certain to go into 2011 as No.1 as Woods will lose some of the points he accumulated over the past two years by the end of the year.

But for Woods it will be a win that will be his primary inspiration.

Puppy Without Ears Doing Well In Foster Care

The puppy who survived the exclusion of its ears in a recent attack has found a foster home, according to San Diego County animal control officers.

The Labrador-shepherd puppy, named Sunny by staff at the county shelter, has not officially been put up for adoption in spite of a lot of requests from interested locals.


Veterinarians suspect the puppy’s ears were possibly cut off with either a pair of scissors or a serrated knife, said Animal Control Lt. Daniel DeSousa.

The department is asking for the public's help to recognize whoever may have committed this crime. A local group is offering a $3000 prize for any information about the suspect.

Despite his ordeal, Sunny's future looks brilliant. "He still cuddles up to people," DeSousa said. "It just goes to show you how low humans can be and how merciful animals can be."

Caroline Wozniacki Enters Sydney International

World number one Caroline Wozniacki will join a severely competitive field heading to Sydney in the lead up to next month's Australian Open in Melbourne.

The 20-year-old Dane established her entry alongside US Open champion Kim Clijsters, Australian number one Samantha Stosur and former world number one Ana Ivanovic in the Sydney International from January 9-15.

And tournament director Craig Watson said he anticipated seven of the world's top 10 women to be in the field when entries close early next week.

"I feel that the Medibank International Sydney is the most excellent preparation for the Australian Open," Wozniacki said.

"All the top players will be competing there in Sydney and as of this I am confident that I'll get the matches I need."

Wozniacki has played the Sydney tournament for the past two years with her finest result coming in 2009 when she lost a three-set quarter-final to top seed Serena Williams.

She took over the number one ranking on October 11 after an outstanding 2010 season which saw her claim six titles, with Montreal, Tokyo and Beijing.

She also entered the semi-finals at the US Open in September for the second straight year and the final at Indian Wells in March.

Honda Adds Small Car Brio To Eco-Car Market

Honda has confirmed plans to sell an eco-car in Thailand early next year but plans for a hybrid remain unclear even though Japanese competitor Toyota has two petrol-electric models available.

Honda introduced its Brio eco-car prototype, which will be featured at the Thailand International Motor Expo that runs till Dec 12 at Impact Muang Thong Thani.

The prototype is close to the mass-production model, which will go on sale in March at a starting price of around 400,000 baht, said Honda Motor chief manager Takanobu Ito.

The Brio five-door hatchback has a 1.2-litre gasoline engine, and a four-door sedan might be analyzed later.

Honda also aims to initiate the Brio in India next year with a starting price below 500,000 rupees. Brios made in Thailand and India might be exported to other markets in the region excluding Japan and China.

Mr. Ito said the Brio, which is smaller than the City and Jazz, reflected worldwide order for smaller cars as well as consumers' concerns about fuel economy and impact on the environment.

Maria Pietilae-Holmner Wins Her First World Cup In Aspen

Sweden's Maria Pietilae-Holmner outclassed the rest of the field to succeed her first World Cup race in the Aspen slalom.

The 24-year-old was fastest in both runs to clock a mutual time of one minute and 46.19 seconds.

Appropriately wearing a gold helmet and matching goggles, the very small Swede was nearly perfect in Sunday's World Cup slalom on Aspen Mountain. Pietilae-Holmner laid down a scorching first run on Lower Ruthie's Run, building a lead of 0.64 seconds over her nearest competitor. She closed out Winternational in style during an overcast afternoon, negotiating the 61-gate course with poise and accuracy to post a combined time of 1 minute, 46.19 seconds.

The attempt was good enough to propel her past Germany's Maria Riesch, who was 0.68 seconds off the pace. Finland's Tanja Poutiainen settled for third place and her eighth podium finish here.

The win is Pietilae-Holmner's first in 104 World Cup starts. She is the third skier in as many years to pick up her first triumph in Aspen, joining France's Tessa Worley and Germany's Kathrin Hoelzl.