(March 10, 2014) The gut microbiota contains a vast number of microorganisms from all three domains of life, including bacteria, archaea and fungi, as well as viruses. These interact in a complex way to contribute towards both health and the development of disease — interactions that are only now being elucidated thanks to the application of advanced DNA sequencing technology in this field. "Using novel metagenomic approaches, scientists are at last beginning to characterize the taxonomic abundance and community relationships not only of bacteria, but also the other ...

(March 10, 2014) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) belongs to the most widespread diseases in Western countries, causing up to sixty per cent of the workload of gastrointestinal physicians. One of the most frequent symptoms of IBS is bloating, which reduces quality of life considerably as patients perceive it as particularly bothersome. For quite a long time, IBS was believed to be a primarily psychological condition. "Contrary to this view, recent findings suggest that IBS is linked to clearly detectable gut microbiota alterations. Additionally, bloating can be related ...

CHESTNUT HILL, MA (March 10, 2014) – In a relatively recently discovered class of materials, known as spin-orbit Mott insulators, theorists have predicted the emergence of new properties at points just beyond the insulating state, when electronic manipulation can transform these compounds into conducting metals. A better understanding of electrons near this transition, theorists have predicted, could allow these new Mott insulators to pave the way to discoveries in superconductivity, new topological phases of matter, and new forms of unusual magnetism. What scientists ...

Farmed salmon show full reproductive potential to invade wild gene pools and should be sterilised - according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA). Findings published today reveal that, while farmed salmon are genetically different to their wild counterparts, they are just as fertile. This is important information because millions of farmed salmon escape into the wild – posing threats to wild gene pools. Lead Researcher Prof Matt Gage from UEA's school of Biological Sciences said: "Around 95 per cent of all salmon in existence are farmed, and domestication ...

Scientists at the University of East Anglia have identified four new man-made gases in the atmosphere – all of which are contributing to the destruction of the ozone layer. New research published today in the journal Nature Geoscience reveals that more than 74,000 tonnes of three new chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and one new hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) have been released into the atmosphere. Scientists made the discovery by comparing today's air samples with air trapped in polar firn snow – which provides a century-old natural archive of the atmosphere. They also looked ...

VIDEO: Howard J. Federoff, M.D., Ph.D., of Georgetown University Medical Center, explains a new blood test that can predict onset of MCI or Alzheimer's. Click here for more information. WASHINGTON — Researchers have discovered and validated a blood test that can predict with greater than 90 percent accuracy if a healthy person will develop mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease within three years. Described in Nature Medicine published online today, the study heralds ...

Mutations in a gene associated with leukaemia cause a newly described condition that affects growth and intellectual development in children, new research reports. A study led by scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, identified mutations in the DNA methyltransferase gene, DNMT3A, in 13 children. All the children were taller than usual for their age, shared similar facial features and had intellectual disabilities. The mutations were not present in their parents, nor in 1,000 controls from the UK population. The new condition has been called 'DNMT3A ...

The evolution of the first animals may have oxygenated the earth's oceans – contrary to the traditional view that a rise in oxygen triggered their development. New research led by the University of Exeter contests the long held belief that oxygenation of the atmosphere and oceans was a pre-requisite for the evolution of complex life forms. The study, published today in the leading journal Nature Geoscience, builds on the recent work of scientists in Denmark who found that sponges – the first animals to evolve – require only small amounts of oxygen. Professor Tim ...

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland – A comparative study of grasslands on six continents suggests there may be a way to counteract the human-made overdose of fertilizer that threatens to permanently alter the biodiversity of the world's native prairies. The solution is one that nature devised: let grazing animals crop the excess growth of fast growing grasses that can out-compete native plants in an over-fertilized world. And grazing works in a way that is also natural and simple. The herbivores, or grazing and browsing animals, feed on tall grasses that block sunlight from reaching ...

ZENBU, a new, freely available bioinformatics tool developed at the RIKEN Center for Life Science Technology in Japan, enables researchers to quickly and easily integrate, visualize and compare large amounts of genomic information resulting from large-scale, next-generation sequencing experiments. Next-generation sequencing has revolutionized functional genomics, with protocols such as RNA-seq, ChIP-seq and CAGE being used widely around the world. The power of these techniques lies in the fact that they enable the genome-wide discovery of transcripts and transcription ...

Changes in the sun's energy output may have led to marked natural climate change in Europe over the last 1000 years, according to researchers at Cardiff University. Scientists studied seafloor sediments to determine how the temperature of the North Atlantic and its localised atmospheric circulation had altered. Warm surface waters flowing across the North Atlantic, an extension of the Gulf Stream, and warm westerly winds are responsible for the relatively mild climate of Europe, especially in winter. Slight changes in the transport of heat associated with these systems ...

The system that allows the sharing of genetic material between bacteria – and therefore the spread of antibiotic resistance – has been uncovered by a team of scientists at Birkbeck, University of London and UCL. The study, published today in Nature, reveals the mechanism of bacterial type IV secretion, which bacteria use to move substances across their cell wall. As type IV secretion can distribute genetic material between bacteria, notably antibiotic resistance genes, the mechanism is directly responsible for the spread of antibiotic resistance in hospital settings. ...

It does not get any thinner than this: The novel material graphene consists of only one atomic layer of carbon atoms and exhibits very special electronic properties. As it turns out, there are other materials too, which can open up intriguing new technological possibilities if they are arranged in just one or very few atomic layers. Researchers at the Vienna University of Technology have now succeeded for the first time in creating a diode made of tungsten diselenide. Experiments show that this material may be used to create ultrathin flexible solar cells. Even flexible ...

Two wrongs may not make a right. But when it comes to grassland plant species diversity, it just might. Two impacts often controlled by humans — being fertilized and being eaten — can combine to the benefit of biodiversity, according to an innovative international study led by U of M researchers Elizabeth Borer and Eric Seabloom. The findings, published March 9 in the online edition of Nature in advance of print publication, are important in a world where humans are changing both herbivore distribution and the supply of nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorus, and where ...

VIDEO: When the drug analog of rapamycin binds to and activates the Src kinase, the cell reacts in real time, revealing Src's role in metastasis. Click here for more information. March 10, 2014 CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine have devised a new biochemical technique that will allow them and other scientists to delve much deeper than ever before into the specific cellular circuitry that keeps us healthy or causes disease. The method – developed ...

DALLAS – March 9, 2014 – For the first time, researchers have shown that an essential biological process known as protein synthesis can be studied in adult stem cells – something scientists have long struggled to accomplish. The groundbreaking findings from the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) also demonstrate that the precise amount of protein produced by blood-forming stem cells is crucial to their function. The discovery, published online today in Nature, measures protein production, a process known as translation, and shows that ...

Announcing the annual Crab Run & Seafood Festival with stops in 6 metro cities throughout the United States. The festival opens to the West Coast in late April. The Crab Run & Seafood Festival is the official season kickoff of Pacific Fisheries LLC and is an annual toast of the seafood season in America. It is a one-day sensational crab tasting, mainly crab with chef demos, educational events and family fun. Opening weekend takes place Saturday, April 26, 2014 and will be held, rain or shine, at the Engelmann Cellars 3275 N Rolinda Ave, Fresno, CA. Event runs12:00 ...

NKSJ Holdings, Inc has received the RobecoSAM Bronze Class distinction in RobecoSAMfs Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Having earned the RobecoSAM Bronze Class distinction in 2013, NKSJ Holdings has been recognised for the fourth consecutive year since the company was founded in April 2010, and for the seventh consecutive year including distinctions received by its subsidiary, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. (hereinafter gSompo Japanh). NKSJ Holdings will continue to play an active role in efforts to resolve social issues and contribute to the building of a sustainable ...

Writer/creator Darryl Hughes and artist Monique MacNaughton, the creative team of the 2007 Glyph Comic Award nominated ("Rising Star" category) alien invasion adventure "G.A.A.K: Groovy Ass Alien Kreatures" and the 2011 and 2012 Drunk Duck Award nominated (Best mystery/crime noir" category) mystery adventure "The Continentals", are very proud to tell you that we have a brand new offering. A fairy tale fantasy adventure book for kids ages 4 to 10 entitled "Chevalier The Queen's Mouseketeer: The Hither and Yon", which is best describe ...

We are pleased to announce Alberta Handmade Soap Co., in association with The Artisan Group , will participate in an invitation-only luxury celebrity gift lounge hosted by GBK Productions on April 11-12, 2014 at an exclusive location in Beverly Hills, California, in honour of The 2014 MTV Movie Awards Nominees and Presenters. All attending celebrities will receive our Bergamot & Tarragon Leaves Handmade Soap in their swag bags. We provided 100 gifts for this event; the same soap will be available for the general public to purchase in mid-April 2014, on our website. ...

Akyumen, the award winning innovative company that's the producer of the patent pending Projector Phone technology, announce today a five-year partnership with the Recording Artists Guild (RAG). This agreement will allow the more than twelve thousand RAG artists the opportunity to have their songs and videos projected in front of millions of music fans who are posed to purchase the world's first and fully integrated mobile Projector Phone . Not only will RAG members have the promotional push of Akyumen (worth millions), they will also have their content pre-sold allowing ...

Travel To Go, a San Diego-based company celebrating 23 years in the vacation and travel industry, received the " Best Membership Program" award at the GNEX 2014 Meeting of the Minds conference held recently in Sarasota, FL. Travel To Go was selected from a field of industry leaders as a result of its rigorous adherence to its mission of "Making Dreams Come True." Because the company emphasizes personal/concierge type service with its members, each agent is empowered to helping clients get the very best accommodations and travel arrangements possible ...

Infiniti HR, a leading payroll and benefits company, has selected HiringThing as the exclusive provider of recruiting software to the company's payroll clients. HiringThing is an employee recruiting solution that integrates directly with HRPyramid and helps small and medium businesses effectively post jobs online, manage applicants and hire great employees. Its features include: Online job board syndication and premium paid job placements Ability to post jobs through social media sites Company careers page that integrates easily into existing company website A ...

benefitsCONNECT, a leading provider of web-based software applications for the health and benefits industry, today announces the real-time integration of Transamerica insurance products on the benefitsCONNECT platform. benefitsCONNECT provides an easy-to-use technology solution for benefits enrollment and administration with fully automated EDI data exchange connectivity among employer groups, insurance carriers, TPAs, payroll vendors, and brokers. With a few clicks, employees can now seamlessly enroll in a broad suite of Transamerica's insurance products -- including Universal ...

To kick off Women's History Month on March 1, Nene's Secret ethnic hair care sponsored the Birthing Project USA Baby Shower in Atlanta celebrating 24 low-income Atlanta moms, some pregnant and others with infants ages two weeks to three months, at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center. The Birthing Project USA Baby Shower was held in collaboration with BeautifulOnes Georgia, Inc, a non-profit organization that provides community based doula support to women who want, but may not be able to afford, doula services, directed by Perez Ridley-Davis and the ...