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A beneficial bacteria, which wild rock lobster larvae host naturally, could help their farmed cousins ward off infections and remove a large barrier to commercial production.

Microbial ecologist Lone Høj and her colleagues at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has shown that the farmed variants of this lobster lacks the beneficial bacteria, because of lack of exposure to complex ocean ecology.

Following several successful field trips to capture tiny, translucent rock lobster larvae from the Coral Sea, Lone Høj has been able to compare natural microbial communities that live on the wild larvae with the microbes present in experimental farmed animals.

She has found that wild rock lobster larvae do not have the filamentous bacteria found on farmed animals that compromise their health.

Instead, they have small quantities of a bacteria that appear to be good candidates as probiotics, helping the young lobsters grow rather than inducing disease.

“Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that you introduce to the aquaculture system to gain an advantage,” Høj said. “For example, they might compete with or inhibit the growth of pathogens and thereby promote the growth and survival of the aquaculture target species.”

While animal industries often depend upon antibiotics, Høj and her colleagues at the rock lobster aquaculture team are hoping to increase the sustainability of lobster farming by using probiotics instead.

These findings were presented on Monday at the 12th International Society for Microbial Ecology paper at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Bigfoot remains as elusive as ever. Results from tests on genetic material from alleged remains of one of the mythical half-ape and half-human creatures, made public at a news conference on Friday held after the claimed discovery swept the Internet, failed to prove its existence.Its spread was fueled by a photograph of a hairy heap, bearing a close resemblance to a shaggy full-body gorilla costume, stuffed into a container resembling a refrigerator.

One of the two samples of DNA said to prove the existence of the Bigfoot came from a human and the other was 96 percent from an opossum, according to Curt Nelson, a scientist at the University of Minnesota who performed the DNA analysis.

Bigfoot creatures are said to live in the forests of the U.S. Pacific Northwest. An opossum is a marsupial about the size of a house cat.

Results of the DNA tests were revealed in an e-mail from Nelson and distributed at the Palo Alto, California, news conference held by Tom Biscardi, host of a weekly online radio show about the Bigfoot.

Also present were Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, the two who say they discovered the Bigfoot corpse while hiking in the woods of northern Georgia. They also are co-owners of a company that offers Bigfoot merchandise.

Despite the dubious photo and the commercial interests of the alleged discoverers, the Bigfoot claim drew interest from Australia to Europe and even The New York Times.

Biscardi said the DNA samples may not have been taken correctly and may have been contaminated, and that he would proceed with an autopsy of the alleged Bigfoot remains, currently in a freezer at an undisclosed location.

Impotence drugs may be able to help reduce the symptoms caused by enlarged prostates, such as trouble urinating, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.Men who took Eli Lilly and Co’s Cialis every day had fewer symptoms, such as urinary frequency, urgency, intermittence, straining, incomplete emptying or a weak urinary stream, they reported in the journal Urology.

With about 50 percent of men over 50 suffering from some version of this problem, the study suggests a large potential market for erectile dysfunction drugs.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Northwestern University in Chicago and Lilly Research Laboratories tested more than 1,000 men with enlarged prostates — a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH.

Some got various doses of Cialis, known generically as tadalafil, while some got a placebo. Those who got Cialis were more likely to report their symptoms had improved, and a relatively low dose of 5 mg a day did the trick, reported the researchers, led by UTSW’s Dr. Claus Roehrborn.

Cialis caused relatively few side effects, they added, in contrast to the drugs now used to treat BPH.

“Although they are effective, each of these drug classes can produce unwanted side effects, including dizziness, hypotension (low blood pressure) and sexual dysfunction,” they wrote.

Clay Bennett’s ownership group has reached a final settlement with the city of Seattle, allowing the former SuperSonics franchise to move to Oklahoma City.

Attorneys filed a document Tuesday in Seattle federal court noting that the parties had agreed to pay their own court costs after reaching the settlement.

Bennett announced last month that a settlement was being negotiated that would involve him making a payment of up to $75 million to Seattle to get out of the final two years of a lease at KeyArena.

At that time, he had expected the settlement to be finalized by Aug. 1. Instead, an extension was sought from the court and terms weren’t reached until now.

Seattle City Attorney Tom Carr said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the city had reached an agreement superseding the memorandum of understanding the parties had reached on July 2.

“It’s a more detailed agreement on the same principles,” Carr wrote in the e-mail.

The initial memorandum called for Bennett to make a $45 million payment to the city of Seattle to break the lease, and another $30 million payment if the city doesn’t have a new NBA team within five years despite the Washington Legislature approving funding for a new arena by the end of next year.

That agreement also allowed Seattle to retain the rights to the SuperSonics’ name, logo and team colors. The NBA hasn’t yet announced what the Oklahoma City team will be called, and Bennett has refused to confirm a television station’s report that the name would be “Thunder.”

The federal court didn’t release terms of the final settlement, and Carr didn’t immediately have them available. Dan Mahoney, a spokesman for Bennett, declined to comment on the settlement.

Bennett still faces a lawsuit filed by former SuperSonics owner Howard Schultz seeking to void his 2006 sale of the team. If Schultz were to succeed in that lawsuit and the team moved back to Seattle, Bennett’s initial agreement with the city called for a refund of his payment to break the lease.

The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) here is setting up a digital herbarium through which about 250,000 plant specimens would be made available on-line to scientists across the globe.

“In order to facilitate research work, we decided to set up the herbarium that will provide the desired plant specimen at the click of the mouse,” Tariq Husain, a scientist in the taxonomy and biodiversity division of the institute, told IANS.

The upcoming herbarium would help scientists from foreign countries, who have no other option but to visit the institute for collecting the plant specimen, he added.

The first-of-its kind digital herbarium in the country is being set up on the lines of Britain’s Royal Botanic Gardens, scientists said.

For setting up the herbarium, at present, about 4,000 specimens of different plants have been scanned for their digital version, they added.

They digital version of plant specimens would soon be made available on NBRI’s website nbri-lko.org

Stocks fell sharply Tuesday after a hefty jump in wholesale inflation and a drop in new home construction gave investors more reasons to believe the economy won’t rebound anytime soon. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped by more than 100 points.

The Labor Department said its Producer Price Index rose by 1.2 percent in July, more than double the expected rate. The increase means prices have risen in the past 12 months at the fastest pace in 27 years.

The data also showed that core wholesale inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.7 percent - the biggest increase since November 2006 and more than triple the 0.2 percent rise in core prices that had been expected.

“Maybe investors were hoping to shrug off the challenges of high commodity prices and inflation,” said Jack A. Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank. “But now we find out that perhaps the inflation situation is worse than we thought.”

A weak report on new home construction did little to quell investors’ worries. The Commerce Department said July housing starts fell to an annual rate of 965,000 units - higher than analysts predicted, but the lowest level in more than 17 years nonetheless.

Tuesday’s pair of economic reports indicated not only that the financial sector is struggling to right itself after billions of dollars in credit losses, but also that the rest of the economy is still showing significant signs of stress.

The weakness in housing has not only imperiled home builders and suppliers, but has left financial companies reeling over how to cope with soured mortgage debt. Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., for one, came under pressure Tuesday after a JPMorgan Chase & Co. analyst estimated that Lehman will have to write down its investments during the third quarter by $4 billion.

In late morning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 119.69, or 1.04 percent, to 11,359.70.

Broader stock indicators also dropped. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 11.56, or 0.90 percent, to 1,267.04, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 22.87, or 0.95 percent, to 2,394.11.

Bond prices slipped. While investors often seek the shelter of government debt when bad news arrives, inflation is unwelcome for bonds because it devalues their fixed returns. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 3.83 percent from 3.82 percent late Monday.

The dollar was mixed against other major currencies, while gold prices fell.

One of the few bright spots for Wall Street has been the price of oil. Crude has fallen substantially from its July record above $147 a barrel, and fell 32 cents to $112.55 a barrel Tuesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Lehman fell $1.26, or 8.3 percent, to $13.77. There have been reports swirling that the investment bank might have to sell one of its businesses to raise cash.

Retailers reported mixed quarterly results, adding to investors’ uncertainty about the economy.

Home Depot Inc. reported a 24 percent decline in its second-quarter earnings but topped Wall Street’s expectations. The nation’s largest home improvement retailer reiterated its forecast for the year. Shares dipped 50 cents to $26.46.

Target Corp. said its second-quarter earnings fell 7.5 percent but beat forecasts despite anemic sales. Shares fell 22 cents to $49.83.

And Saks Inc. reported a wider-than-expected loss in the second quarter as its affluent shoppers cut back on apparel. The luxury goods retailer also issued a downbeat forecast for the year. Shares dropped $1.42, or 13 percent, to $9.80.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 9.45, or 1.27 percent, to 732.52.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by about 3 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 270.8 million shares.

Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei stock average fell 2.28 percent. In afternoon trading, Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 2.10 percent, Germany’s DAX index lost 2.08 percent, and France’s CAC-40 fell 2.27 percent.

Around 40 people, including a councillor of Burdwan Municipality, was injured on Monday when CPI(M) cadre and Trinamool Congress activists clashed at Badgacha in West Bengal’s Burdwan district.

TC councillor Samir Roy and four other TC supporters were seriously injured when CPI-M cadre allegedly beat him up in the second-floor emergency ward of Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, police said.

Roy came to the hospital to see the injured TC supporters who was injured in the clash at Badgacha.

Local TC leaders alleged that policemen posted in the hospital following the clash at Badgacha were mute spectators as the CPI-M cadres beat up Roy.

Superintendent of Police, R Rajasekharan said he would enquire into the allegations on the role of the policemen.

Earlier at Badgacha village, the TC was supposed to hold a meeting in the area where those who had quit the CPI(M) were likely to join the TC. To stop the meeting, CPI(M) cadre attacked the TC party office at Badgacha, TC leaders claimed.

Police sources said around 35 people, including former CPI(M) MLA Sayampada Pal, was injured in the clash.

Many of the injured have been admitted to Burdwan Medical College Hospital and in the local primary health centre, sources added.

Stunned by excellent facilities built in record time by the organisers of Beijing Olympics, sports officials from India lamented that preparations for hosting the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games was faltering. “There is no doubt we are behind schedule right now,” a senior Indian sports official said here.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Delhi from October 3-14. “There is adhocism and lethargy,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“There is no clear planning and things are moving at snail’s pace,” another official said, expressing concern that Delhi may falter if no urgent decisions are taken to step up construction and related activities for hosting the prestigious event. Other officials, involved in the preparations for the Delhi Commonwealth Games, said the sheer planning that has gone into the Beijing Olympics has stunned them.

“The sheer magnitude of planning involved in the Olympics is mind-boggling and we would draw inspiration from the best practices followed here,” said an official. A number of sports officials from India are currently camping here and visiting Beijing sports facilities to get first-hand knowledge of how the organisers of the Olympics managed to ensure world-class facilities in record time.

“We are very impressed by what Beijing has done,” one official said. The Indian officials were also stunned by the ongoing gold sweep by Chinese athletes.

No Tom Brady equals little offense for the New England Patriots this preseason. With the 2007 MVP sitting out for the second straight week, the defending AFC champions sputtered with backup Matt Cassel running the show in a 27-10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.

Brady didn’t make the trip to Tampa, reportedly remaining home to rest a sore foot, and Cassel had limited success moving the ball against a feisty Bucs defense that scored on his third-quarter fumble and intercepted the first pass thrown by successor, Kevin O’Connell.

Bucs starting quarterback Jeff Garcia also has yet to play this preseason after missing most of training camp with a sprained right calf. His absence is creating plenty of opportunities for Brian Griese, Luke McCown and Chris Simms to build their cases for being No. 2.

Griese and McCown produced a 17-3 halftime lead, with the Patriots scoring on Stephen Gostkowski’s 53-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter.

Blitzing safety Sabby Piscitelli scooped up an errant shotgun snap to Cassel and ran 24 yards for a touchdown that made 24-3 early in the third.

Griese, listed third on the depth chart, got the start and directed an impressive 17-play, 80-yard TD drive on the first possession of the night. Earnest Graham finished the nine-plus minute march with a 1-yard run.

“It was a good opportunity for us to go against a quality defense,” said Griese, who worked two series and completed nine of 10 passes for 44 yards. “I know they had some guys out, but this team is a really good team. And for us to come out and put a drive together to start the game was good for our confidence.”

McCown, who entered camp No. 2 after winning one of three starts last season, produced a 34-yard field goal and threw a 1-yard TD pass to Byron Storer to complete an eight-play, 86-yard drive in the second quarter.

The big play in the drive leading to the field goal was a 33-yard completion to Antonio Bryant, who’s asserting himself in the battle to claim the receiver’s spot opposite Joey Galloway.

The sixth-year pro, a former 1,000-yard receiver who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2006, had two receptions for 37 yards and also gained 16 yards on a reverse during the Bucs’ game-opening drive.

“I played with Luke before, so it was an opportunity for us to run some old plays,” Bryant said of his 33-yard catch and run.

“He and I played together in Cleveland, so we have a way of connecting. I kind of had an idea he was going to throw it because of the way the coverage looked. We just happened to make the play.”

Randy Moss, the other half of New England’s record-breaking passing combination, made his preseason debut and caught two passes for 25 yards. Both receptions came on the five-play drive Cassel used to get the Patriots on the scoreboard at the end of the first half.

Safety John Lynch, who helped the Bucs win the Super Bowl six seasons ago, made his New England debut, despite only joining the team on Friday.

Lynch, entering his 16th season, was announced as a starter, giving the crowd of 63,365 a chance to give him a nice ovation. It was only ceremonial, though, as Brandon Meriweather and Antwain Spann were on the field as planned for the first snap.

Meriweather left in the first half with a leg injury and did not return.

Cassel was 6-of-10 for 57 yards before being replaced by O’Connell, who led a fourth-quarter touchdown drive that Heath Evans finished with a 1-yard run.

Italy are aiming to put their disappointing Euro 2008 campaign behind them and regain the aura of world champions here on Wednesday, when Marcello Lippi starts his second stint as national team coach with a friendly against Austria.

While nothing is officially at stake, the match is important as it is Lippi’s only chance to knock his side into shape before they begin the serious business of defending their world title in next month’s South Africa 2010 qualifiers away in Cyprus and at home to Georgia.

Lippi’s last match on the Azzurri bench was the 2006 World Cup final victory over France in Berlin and the 60-year-old wants to continue where he left off.

“Starting again is even more beautiful,” Lippi, who was recalled to replace Roberto Donadoni after Italy were knocked out of the Euro 2008 quarterfinals by Spain, said at a press conference on Monday.

“And I’d like to start with a victory to avoid breaking the World Cup streak.”

In naming his list of 20 players for the friendly, the former Juventus boss stuck largely with the squad that won only one game in four at Euro 2008 under Donadoni, which in turn was based on his own World Cup outfit.

“When I started my national team adventure four years ago there was a team and a group to build from nothing,” he said on Monday.

“We achieved this and today we are starting again from there. This is a team of moral and technical quality that can still give a lot.”

With forwards Luca Toni and Marco Borriello injured, Lippi has recalled Alberto Gilardino, a member of his 2006 squad who is seeking to put his career back on track at new club Fiorentina after some poor seasons at AC Milan.

Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta, another World Cup winner, is also back after missing Euro 2008 through injury.

Gilardino has a good chance of getting a start, possibly in the centre of an attacking trident along with Juventus duo Alessandro Del Piero and Mauro Camoranesi.

Juve’s Giorgio Chiellini is out with a knee problem he suffered in a 4-1 friendly defeat against Milan on Sunday, further stretching a defence that was already without captain Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi and Alessandro Gamberini.

Nevertheless, Lippi will still be able to field three of his World Cup winners in his back-line, Andrea Barzagli, Fabio Grosso and Gianluca Zambrotta, with Milan centre back Daniele Bonera likely to complete it.

Wednesday’s game is also the opening match for new Austria coach Karel Brueckner after he stepped down as manager of the Czech Republic.

Joint-hosts Austria were knocked out of Euro 2008 at the group stage although Lippi will still be wary as he started his first stint in charge of Italy with a defeat against modest opposition, losing 2-0 to Iceland in August 2004.