More resistant than steel, carbon nanotubes are one of the strongest and hardest materials known. Their impressive electrical and thermal properties make them an extremely versatile material. Hollow on the inside and only one-atom thick, they lend themselves to a large variety of potential uses, from tennis rackets and bulletproof vests, to electronic components and energy storage devices. New research shows that they may also hold the potential for revolutionizing medical research with magnetic resonance imaging of individual molecules. Scientists from ICFO- Institute ...

Blood vessels within a sensory area of the mammalian brain loop and connect in unexpected ways, a new map has revealed. The study, published June 9 in the early online edition of Nature Neuroscience, describes vascular architecture within a well-known region of the cerebral cortex and explores what that structure means for functional imaging of the brain and the onset of a kind of dementia. David Kleinfeld, professor of physics and neurobiology at the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues mapped blood vessels in an area of the mouse brain that receives ...

Paris, France: The group of genetic conditions known as spinocerebellar ataxias currently have no treatment or cure and are always fatal, in the case of affected children at an early age. Symptoms include a progressive lack of co-ordination of gait, and poor co-ordination of hands, speech and eye movements, due to a failure of co-ordination of muscle movements. Now researchers from France and the US have found a new way of controlling the symptoms and significantly improving the physical condition of animal models of the disease, the annual conference of the European Society ...

MRI scans of children who have had chemotherapy can detect early changes in their hearts finds research in biomed Central's open access journal Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. Chemotherapy with anthracyclines, such as Doxorubicin, is one of the most effective treatments against many types of cancer, including leukaemia and Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast, lung, and ovarian cancer. However it can also lead to irreversible heart damage, which may not be apparent until several years after treatment. Being able to detect this damage at an early stage, in order to ...

Shenzhen, China - The duck genome consortium, consisted of scientists from China Agricultural University, BGI, University of Edinburgh and other institutes has completed the genome sequencing and analysis of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos), one principal natural host of influenza A viruses, which caused a new epidemic in China since this February. This work reveals some noteworthy conclusions and provides an invaluable resource for unraveling the interactive mechanisms between the host and influenza viruses. The new H7N9 bird flu strain killed 36 people and caused $6.5 ...

EAST LANSING, Mich. — An international team of scientists has developed crop models to better forecast food production to feed a growing population – projected to reach 9 billion by mid-century – in the face of climate change. In a paper appearing in Nature Climate Change, members of the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project unveiled an all-encompassing modeling system that integrates multiple crop simulations with improved climate change models. AgMIP's effort has produced new knowledge that better predicts global wheat yields while reducing political ...

The BMJ and Channel 4 Dispatches investigated and found that evidence suggesting potential harm from the drugs in industry studies has not been published. Some independent studies challenge the conclusions of the drugs manufacturers' own research. Now some medical experts and patient groups are calling on the pharmaceutical companies to be more transparent in reporting of study data and to enter into dialogue about safety concerns. As a result, millions of patients around the world have not been fully informed about some of the possible risks. Some critics say the ...

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (June 9, 2013) – Researchers at Whitehead Institute have identified a protein that is the target of glucocorticoids, the drugs that are used to increase red blood cell production in patients with certain types of anemia, including those resulting from trauma, sepsis, malaria, kidney dialysis, and chemotherapy. The discovery could spur development of drugs capable of increasing this protein's production without causing the severe side effects associated with glucocorticoids. "This research is medically important, and we are using it to find a better way ...

Many maple trees share a suite of important arthropod pests that have the potential to reduce the trees' economic and aesthetic value. Now a new open-access article in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management offers maple tree owners information about the biology, damage, and management for the most important pests of maples with an emphasis on integrated pest management (IPM) tactics for each pest. In the article, entitled "Biology, Injury, and Management of Maple Tree Pests in Nurseries and Urban Landscapes," the authors identify 81 potentially damaging arthropod ...

Canada's Mackenzie River basin -- among the world's most important major ecosystems -- is poorly studied, inadequately monitored, and at serious risk due to climate change and resource exploitation, a panel of international scientists warn today. In a report, nine Canadian, US and UK scientists convened by the US-based Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy, say effective governance of the massive Basin, comprising an area three times larger than France -- holds enormous national and global importance due to the watershed's biodiversity and its role in hemispheric ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ – They may volunteer to be the one to get their friends home safely, but "designated drivers" often drink—even to a level that impairs them behind the wheel, according to a report in the July issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The study, of more than 1,000 bar patrons, found that approximately 40 percent of designated drivers had downed alcohol. What's more, most of those drinkers had blood alcohol levels that could impair their driving. It's not clear why those designated drivers drank despite their role. Some of them might think that ...

A new study has found that women can be screened for colorectal cancer at least five to 10 years later than men when undergoing an initial "virtual colonoscopy." Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings may help establish guidelines for the use of this screening technique, which is less invasive than a traditional colonoscopy. Detecting precancerous polyps through the use of imaging techniques such as a traditional colonoscopy may prevent colorectal cancer. However, some people may feel that this technique ...

A new study published in the June 2013 issue of the journal Education (Vol. 133, No. 4)* shows practice of the Transcendental Meditation® technique was associated with higher graduation rates, compared to controls. Higher graduation rates affect not only the academic and personal life of the individual students, but also society as a whole. Graduation (versus dropping out) from high school translates into higher earning potential, less crime and incarceration, and less dependence on government assistance programs. The most recent data shows that only 69 percent of ...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Maybe better call that cab, after all: A new University of Florida study found that 35 percent of designated drivers had quaffed alcohol and most had blood-alcohol levels high enough to impair their driving. Adam Barry, an assistant professor of health education and behavior at UF, and his team interviewed and breath-tested more than 1,000 bar patrons in the downtown restaurant and bar district of a major university town in the Southeast. Of the designated drivers who had consumed alcohol, half recorded a blood-alcohol level higher than .05 percent ...

A forthcoming article in The Quarterly Review of Biology provides the basis for an argument against using the Gibbs free energy equation to accurately determine the thermodynamics of microbial growth. Microbial growth is a biological process that has been previously treated as a chemical reaction operating in accord with the Gibbs free energy equation, developed during the 1870s. The heat of yeast growth was the first to be measured by direct calorimetry, in 1856. However, the full application of the Gibbs equation to microbial growth did not occur until 1997, with the ...

Helping to protect newborns and older patients against more severe effects of jaundice is the hope of University of Guelph researchers, who have shown how a liver enzyme protects cells from damage caused by the condition. Their discovery might ultimately lead to an alternative treatment for jaundice, such as a new drug or supplement, says Daniel Kim, a research technician in Guelph's Department of Biomedical Sciences. He is lead author of a paper published recently in the journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. Co-authors are biomedical sciences professor Gordon ...

Three years ago, in June 2010, the Vitamin Mineral Shop, LLC and its website http://www.vitaminmineralshop.com were launched. Since then, the web site has grown with the number of Vitamin Power products offered, and from additional related information being added. "The first three years have been an unique experience. The internet search environment has changed. The simple techniques that worked in the past no longer work, and some have a negative impact. For this upcoming fourth year, the website will have new pages added, and existing pages will be rewritten to ...

University of the Body, the first product in the world to deliver a year-long gym fitness training program in HD video, has launched a crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo (http://bit.ly/12JgBrm). The feature length films are compatible with any smart phone and are made to provide gym goers with real-time personal training throughout their entire workout sessions. University of the Body has been developed by a team of certified fitness trainers, app developers and a professional film crew, who aim to revolutionize the fitness industry. Videos will be delivered directly ...

We can all think of times when a miscommunication has caused big problems. Even though we spend our entire lives communicating, we're often so busy getting our message out there that we don't find time to gauge whether it has been effective. That's why, during "Effective Communication Month," one Time Management Expert is striving to make sure that her actions and words communicate what she intends, as clearly, fully, and effectively as possible - and she is urging other entrepreneurs and business owners to do the same. From June 1st to the 30th Paula Eder, ...

The stories premise is as follows: A child, coping with death in the family, is visited by a stranger from the stars. The themes and subjects of the film touch on the way a child's imagination can protect them and the coping mechanisms children use to deal with death. The nostalgic and touching story of Alexandria, our protagonist, is one Jeff has been working on for over two years. While this isn't Jeff's first short film, it has been the most challenging. The film was funded by over 200 individuals through a 60 day fundraiser via website rockethub.com. Pinilla co-wrote ...

"You pick up a booklet, you read it, and you change your life around," says Chris Hays who organizes the Nashville Chapter of The Way to Happiness Foundation. "It seems incredible, and it is - but people are able to learn the concepts of this book and apply them when they couldn't before." Hays is referring to the booklet The Way to Happiness, a nonreligious moral code that is distributed across the world. "Viewed from almost any perspective, the world today suffers from a moral and ethical crisis of epidemic proportions," according ...

Philadelphia based inRecruit is honored to announce that the 2012-2013 High School Basketball National Champions Montverde Academy (FL) have joined the inRecruit sports networking platform. "The Montverde Academy boys basketball program is the preeminent high school basketball team in the entire country. They are the gold standard for high school basketball. We are thrilled that coach Kevin Boyle and Montverde Academy have elected to join inRecruit, said Malik Allen, co-founder of inRecruit. "inRecruit is a new and contemporary way for us to build and further ...

The newly redesigned website by Premier Corporate Housing presents sleek, stylish, and full of new features, in order to make the site more user-friendly and encourage user interaction. The redesign incorporates bold colors, graphics, and new navigational tools. They proudly announce the launch of their new website that aims to provide customers and visitors with a seamless exploration of information and services. The company began the comprehensive rebranding effort in January 2013 and expects compete roll-out by July 2013. The rebranding initiative is a reflection ...

TreeBox Solutions, a Singapore-based company that specialises in secure mobile communications solutions, has unveiled its new brand identity. The company has introduced its new logo and corporate tagline: "Secure Mobile Communications." The new logo features a simple green tree that has grown out of the box, symbolising the readiness of the Company to expand into Global Markets and the Company's vision to be a Global Technology Company. "For the past 2 years, TreeBox has been focused on developing niche and innovative products that are positioned for ...

According to Cherie Hawkins, owner of Able Liquidation, Relocation and Personal Services, there seems to be an increase in demand for Professional Estate Liquidation services. Because of continuing foreclosures and cheaper interest rates, said Cherie, many people are looking to unload entire households of merchandise and simply start over while others are taking advantage of the economy to acquire goods they normally would not be able to afford. Director of Creative Design and Marketing for Able Liquidation, Relocation and Personal Assistance Services, Dana Diamond, ...