How do immune cells manage to sort through vast numbers of similar-looking proteins within the body to detect foreign invaders and fight infections? "For immune cells, singling out foreign proteins is like looking for a needle in a haystack – where the needle may look very much like a straw, and where some straws may also look very much like a needle," notes McGill University physics professor Paul François. Understanding how immune cells tackle this formidable challenge is important, because it could provide crucial insights into the understanding of immune diseases, ...

NASA's Aqua satellite collected this natural-color image with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, MODIS, instrument on June 05, 2013. Actively burning areas, detected by MODIS's thermal bands, are outlined in red. All three fires noted here are more than 100 hectares in size (>247 acres). According to the Government of Saskatchewan's wildfire website, this area of the province has been designated an "observation zone." This means in this area there are fewer human values or commercial timber and fire is generally allowed to play its natural, beneficial ...

Amsterdam, NL, 7 June 2013 – The presence of Lewy bodies in nerve cells, formed by intracellular deposits of the protein α-synuclein, is a characteristic pathologic feature of Parkinson's Disease (PD). In the quest for an animal model of PD that mimics motor and non-motor symptoms of human PD, scientists have developed strains of mice that overexpress α-synuclein. By studying a strain of mice bred to overexpress α-synuclein via the Thy-1 promoter, scientists have found these mice develop many of the age-related progressive motor symptoms of PD and demonstrate ...

(Santa Barbara, Calif.) –– A new study by researchers at UC Santa Barbara provides clues into the understanding of the behavior of the charged molecules or particles in ionic liquids. The new framework may lead to the creation of cleaner, more sustainable, and nontoxic batteries, and other sources of chemical power. The research was published in an early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "I think this framework would provide a nice strategy to begin discussions toward batteries utilizing ionic liquids," said graduate student researcher ...

Over the years ecologists have shown how biological diversity benefits the health of small, natural communities. New analysis by ecologists at UC Santa Cruz demonstrates that even higher levels of biological diversity are necessary to maintain ecosystem health in larger landscapes over long periods of time. Think of it as patches on a quilt, says Erika Zavaleta, UCSC associate professor of environmental studies. Each patch may be a diverse habitat of plants, animals, and insects but it is equally important that the landscape "quilt" is made up of a diversity of patches ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. ¬— A typical American consumes approximately 3 or more tablespoons of vegetable oil each day. Vegetable oils, like those from soy, corn and canola, are a significant source of calories and are rich in linoleic acid (LA), which is an essential nutrient. Since the 1970s, researchers have known that LA helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, and for decades, scientists have known that consuming LA can help lower the risk of heart disease. However, some experts have been claiming recently that Americans might be getting too much of a good thing. A new study from ...

VIDEO: This flyby animation showed most of the rain was well ahead of the center of circulation. A broad area of light (shown in blue) to moderate rain (shown in green)... Click here for more information. As Tropical Storm Andrea continued pushing up the east coast of the United States on Friday, June 7, NOAA's GOES-East satellite captured an image that showed its extensive cloud cover. By early afternoon on June 7, Andrea was centered over North Carolina, but its cloud ...

The first-known definitive case of a benign bone tumor has been discovered in the rib of a young Neandertal who lived about 120,000 years ago in what is now present-day Croatia. The bone fragment, which comes from the famous archaeological cave site of Krapina, contains by far the earliest bone tumor ever identified in the archaeological record. Details of the tumor confirmation, announced by an international research team led by Penn Museum Associate Curator and Paleoanthropologist Janet Monge, is available in a research paper, "Fibrous dysplasia in a 120,000+ year old ...

Using an innovative satellite technique, NASA scientists have determined that a previously unmapped type of wildfire in the Amazon rainforest is responsible for destroying several times more forest than has been lost through deforestation in recent years. In the southern Amazon rainforest, fires below the forest treetops, or "understory fires," have been hidden from view from NASA satellites that detect actively burning fires. The new method has now led to the first regional estimate of understory fire damages across the southern Amazon. "Amazon forests are quite vulnerable ...

Danish researchers have just published findings that explain a previously unknown mechanism used by cells to communicate with one another. The research significantly contributes to understanding why some children are born with malformations and why children and adults may develop life-threatening diseases. Dr. Søren Tvorup Christensen (Department of Biology) and Professor Lars Allan Larsen (Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine) at the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with colleagues in Denmark and France, have spearheaded the recent discovery which ...

Tips for fathers seeking child custody in Indiana Article provided by The Bellinger Law Office Visit us at http://www.bellingerlaw.com In most families these days, fathers play just as active a parenting role as mothers do. Gone are the days when dads were expected to bring home the bacon and let mom handle the rest. Now, the more common situation is to see dads being very involved in their children's day-to-day lives. However, if a couple breaks up, this parenting equality doesn't always translate into confidence during a child custody case. Many dads still ...

Connecticut man loses 8 fingers in workplace accident Article provided by Sousa & Stone, LLC Visit us at http://www.sousastonelaw.com Nearly every occupation carries some risk of injury. However, individuals who work around dangerous machinery are particularly susceptible to traumatic injuries on the job. For that reason, it is important for employers and workers alike to take proactive steps to ensure the workplace is as safe as is reasonably possible. A recent accident in New Milford shows what can happen if workplace safety rules aren't properly observed. The ...

U-visas are available to immigrants who have been victimized by crime Article provided by Petty & Stewart, PLLC Visit us at http://www.roypetty.com Immigrants without legal status in the United States are often considered to be some of the most vulnerable in our society. Unfortunately, many immigrants in such situations may find themselves in dangerous situations, as victims of terrible crimes. As many individuals may not be aware of their rights, many of these crimes go unreported. This need not be the case, however, as protections are in place for immigrants ...

Immigration reform bill passes out of Senate committee Article provided by Petty & Stewart, PLLC Visit us at http://www.roypetty.com The focus on immigration reform is gaining momentum in Congress, as an immigration reform bill recently was passed out of committee in the Senate. The bill was introduced by the so-called Gang of Eight, which includes senators from both sides of the aisle. The bill -- called the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act -- would provide approximately 11 million immigrants without status in the ...

Michigan parents may still be struggling with child support Article provided by Joseph L. Bernwanger, P.L.L.C. Visit us at http://www.michiganattorneyonline.com With a distressed job market and the ever-increasing costs of almost every product, the cost of raising a child is daunting. Many Michigan parents depend on the child support payments that have been awarded to them. Unfortunately, though, just because payments are ordered doesn't mean they are actually received. Child support payments in Michigan Like many other states, Michigan law provides a standard ...

Proposal to change BAC limits may mean more DUI arrests Article provided by Palmer | George, PLLC Visit us at http://www.palmergeorgelaw.com Police and prosecutors take many different actions in their efforts to reduce crime. Law enforcement officers may increase their presence in high-crime areas so that people know they are being watched. Prosecutors may seek aggressive penalties when trying their cases, meaning that there are severe consequences for those convicted. Many people who are arrested for DUIare unaware that they have had too much to drink before ...

Maryland divorce: How to prepare for dealing with joint custody Article provided by Law Office of Christine Saverda Nielson, P.A. Visit us at http://www.nielsonlaw.com When parents in Baltimore County decide to divorce, they often face multiple choices and challenges relating to the custody of their children. Questions rise over who should retain physical custody and how much visitation or co-parenting time the non-custodial parent should have, among other issues. Experts agree that it is vital for children to have both their mother and their father as a constant ...

Man faces serious drug charges after routine traffic stop Article provided by Benca & Benca Visit us at http://www.bencaandbenca.com An individual charged with drug possession faces severe penalties. Penalties increase if the charges include intending to distribute or manufacture the drug. After being pulled over by a police officer, a 28 year-old man is now facing similar charges. Several items are found during search According to KARK News, the 28 year-old man was pulled over by an officer for a routine traffic violation. The officer ran the man's driver's ...

Narcotic dogs go to Court, ruling impacts drug charges in Pennsylvania Article provided by Shaffer & Engle Law Offices, LLC Visit us at http://www.shafferengle.com The Supreme Court of the United States recently issued a series of rulings on drug-sniffing dog cases. Two cases gaining the most publicity involve the use of a narcotics trained dog on a home's front porch and in a traffic stop. Both cases will impact criminal charges in Pennsylvania. Case #1:Florida v. Harris In, Florida v. Harris, the court considered the background required for a narcotics ...

The bias ingrained in our criminal justice system Article provided by Jaime J. Garcia Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.jaimegarcialaw.com You probably do not want to think that the criminal justice system is tainted or biased, but new evidence suggests that this may be true. New federal data reports that African Americans were almost four times as likely to be detained on marijuana charges as whites, despite drug use at similar rates between the two groups. However, this is just an average. In some states, the likelihood is eight times as much as whites. The ...

The DNA decision: Supreme Court favors DNA collection of arrestees Article provided by Jaime J. Garcia Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.jaimegarcialaw.com In June 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States determined that authorities can collect DNA from those arrested for serious crimes. This is true even if the person remains a suspect and has not been convicted of the particular offense in question. Currently, 26 states in the country permit the collection of DNA from arrestees for felonies or other egregious crimes. The standard collection practice ...

Overview of issues specific to military divorce in Texas Article provided by Law Offices of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. Visit us at http://www.esparzalawfirm.com Military service members clearly have obligations that civilians do not, and a military member's service to country uniquely impacts a service member's marriage. A service member may marry in one state, be stationed in another, go on deployment and need to be ready to live in yet another state upon return. As a result, these unique obligations can also complicate a military service member's divorce; however, ...

A brief overview of child support in Texas Article provided by Law Offices of Roland R. Esparza, P.C. Visit us at http://www.esparzalawfirm.com All parents in Texas have the legal duty to provide for their children, so if you're divorcing and you have children, child support will likely be an issue in your divorce case. Generally, child support is a percentage of income based on the number of children subject to the divorce; however, there are certain requirements the court may consider in the calculation. In Texas, like other states, the child custody agreement ...

Repeat DUI offenders the focus of new laws under consideration Article provided by Law Office of John Anthony Ward Visit us at http://www.attorneyjohnanthonyward.com/ When Wisconsin legislators meet at the start of each session, there are many items on the agenda that need to be addressed. Many of these issues can be quite costly, and the state needs to be sure that any new initiatives have the appropriate funding. Many resources have been devoted toward reducing the amount of crime that is happening statewide. Often, legislators consider passing new laws that ...

Official 2012 Florida crime statistics show lowest rate in 42 years Article provided by Law Office of Casey Bryant, P.A. Visit us at http://www.bryantlegal.com In May 2013, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued its 2012 Annual Uniform Crime Report, known as the UCR, with startling results. Despite population growth, the statewide crime rate in 2012 was the lowest since 1971 when the agency started compiling them. Even in the short one-year time period from 2011 to 2012, the state crime rate decreased 6.5 percent; and the total number of crimes dropped ...