An international team of scientists led by King's College London has discovered 24 new genes that cause refractive errors and myopia (short-sightedness). Myopia is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment worldwide, and currently there is no cure. These findings, published today in the journal Nature Genetics, reveal genetic causes of the trait, which could lead to finding better treatments or ways of preventing the condition in the future. Thirty per cent of Western populations and up to 80 per cent of Asian people suffer from myopia. During visual development ...

National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists have identified a promising lead for developing a new type of drug to treat infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that frequently resists traditional antibiotics. The researchers discovered a system used by S. aureus to transport toxins that are thought to contribute to severe staph infections. These toxins—called phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs)—have gained much attention in recent years, but their multitude and diversity have hindered efforts to target them for drug development. Expanding on work that first ...

Ultraviolet vision evolved at least eight times in birds from a common violet sensitive ancestor finds a study published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology. All of these are due to single nucleotide changes in the DNA. Modern daytime birds either have violet sensitive or ultraviolet sensitive vision. Being ultraviolet sensitive alters visual cues used to select a mate, avoiding predators, and in finding food. Researchers from Uppsala University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences sequenced the genes responsible for producing ...

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (February 10, 2013) – Researchers at the University of Minnesota's Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology and the Lillehei Heart Institute have utilized molecular genetic engineering to optimize heart performance in models of diastolic heart failure by creating an optimized protein that can aid in high-speed relaxation similar to fast twitching muscles. Within heart cells, calcium plays a major role in orchestrating normal heart pump function. However, in diastolic failure the calcium signaling process is slowed; calcium levels rise to ...

A new study suggests that exercise may reduce Caucasian men's risk of developing prostate cancer. And among Caucasian men who do have prostate cancer, exercise may reduce their risk of having more serious forms of the disease. Unfortunately, the benefits do not seem to apply to African- American men. The study is published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Previous research has linked exercise to a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer. Studies have also revealed that African-American men have an increased risk of developing ...

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – About two of every three children will experience at least one traumatic event before they turn 18. Despite this high rate of exposure, little is known about the effectiveness of treatments aimed at preventing and relieving traumatic stress symptoms that children may experience after such events, according to researchers at RTI International, the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, the RTI-UNC Evidence-based Practice Center, and Boston Medical Center. The article, published today in the journal Pediatrics, summarizes the results ...

Participating in the ITB Berlin under the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing umbrella, a team from the Grand Millennium Dubai will be presenting a set of competitive leisure packages to the leading tour operators from Germany and elsewhere in Europe. Leading the team will be Director of Sales Ghassan Farhat.He said it will be the fifth time for the hotel to be in Berlin at the world's largest travel show, and he was confident of securing new business there, as well as reinforcing existing contacts and contracts. "Figures show that the average ...

A team of researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine in California recently embarked upon a study to help determine the causes of insomnia among premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The team conducted phone interviews with 982 women and gathered information about their sleep history, frequency of hot flashes, and overall health. They found that 51% of postmenopausal women suffer with hot flashes and that 79% of premenopausal women have them. Among the women with the most intense hot flashes (based on their severity and frequency), 81% of them experienced ...

Festa Parties, a Chicago-based event planning company known for its festive events including TBOX, The Twelve Bars of Xmas in Wrigleyville, will be holding its 5th annual BeadQuest, a Mardi Gras themed pub crawl taking place on Saturday, February 16th, 2013. The 5th edition of this gala party and cultural event will once again bring a taste of the "Fat Tuesday" tradition to the north side of Chicago. Festa Parties has been planning and organizing great Chicago party events since its first TBOX way back in 1996. BeadQuest originated in February of 2009 in collaboration ...

They are more immersed in the culture of a country and its people when participating in activities with locals who share the same interests - gardens, golf, castles, hiking, biking, genealogy, cooking lessons - than when surrounded by other tourists, in a bus, staring out the window. With this option for the more sophisticated traveler, the homestays offer the comfort level preferred by Adults and Seniors. Three categories of comfort: Standard, Standard Plus, Luxury. FEXEXA is for individuals, couples, independent travelers, women travelling alone. It is available ...

Coinciding with "Love Season" - of which Valentine's Day is the pinnacle, when so many people are looking for healing/improvement/expansion of their love relationships - The Mysteries of Love course being launched presents a revolutionary model of human love. Developed by Dr. George A. Parks over the past 35 years of experience counseling couples in their relationship teaching at the University of Washington, the "Mount Eros" model of understanding love honors the mythical Greek god, Eros (and does not refer to erotica). The model reveals that ...

The Alfa Art Gallery New Brunswick Art Salon has been a successful program for the last three years. Previously twice, now three times (Winter: Photography, Spring: Water Color / Mixed Media, Fall: Oil Color / Mixed Media), during the year, we present salons exhibiting emerging and professional artists in different mediums. The goal of these salons is to bridge the gap between artists and their communities, as well as unifying the diverse city of New Brunswick through the use of art. Originating in Paris in the 18th century, art salons were the most anticipated annual ...

Streaming live on the Co-Creator Radio Network on Tuesday, February 12, at 11 a.m. Pacific time/2 p.m. Eastern time, on her show "Why Shamanism Now? A Practical Path to Authenticity," shaman and founder of the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing Christina Pratt addresses the questions: How do we walk the line between the Old Story Rules and the New System we are creating? Once you have found the path to your soul's purpose, how do you stay the course? According to Pratt, our lives are often a great web of responsibilities, expectations, addictions, and distractions ...

Author Penny Wagner Presents Her New Book "Two Elephants in a Bathtub Taking Care of Mom." "I particularly liked the honesty, compassion, and truth about what we humans go through in challenging times with family dynamics." You'll want to read, "Two Elephants in a Bathtub Taking Care of Mom." When Mom was diagnosed with COPD, a respiratory disease, I knew that I had no choice but to stop working. I would move to Florida with my children, and we would take care of Mom. After all, that was what Mom needed and I would be there for her. Really; ...

Today, Sonny Olsen, brother of Utah Mom and fearless demolition derby driver Katy Sweat, is pleased to announce a celebration in honor of his family members, Ryan and Katy Olsen Sweat, demolition derby racers with Sweat Demo Derby Drivers team, and their premier on the new KINGS OF CRASH Reality TV show Sunday from 8 pm-9 pm on Mountain Time on Direct TV 281 or Dish Network 364 or Comcast 663. The celebration event to watch the show will be held February 10th at 7:30 pm in Orem. Everyone who would like to watch the show on the big screen is invited to come and meet ...

Few of us will ever experience the devastating horror of living within a war zone. Yet all of us know what it means to form a life-long, sustaining connection with another human being. Together, they weave a spellbinding story ultimately affirming the possibility of peace and reconciliation. In Love and Terror in the Middle East, 3rd Edition (World Audience Publishers), readers walk the war-torn streets of Israel and the West Bank with peace activist Frank Romano, and struggle with the inevitable casualties within his personal life as it becomes caught up in his work. Romano's ...

EzPaycheck payroll software 2013 new version rolled out this morning to small businesses from halfpricesoft.com. The latest version of this popular and easy-to-use software includes updated tax information for 2013 and added the new graphic check design interface to make it more user-friendly. Priced at just $89 per installation for new users ($59 for ezPaycheck 2012 users), ezPaycheck payroll software is affordable for any size business. Designed for ease of use by business owners and managers, ezPaycheck saves time and expense while increasing accuracy when running ...

Florida residents looking for credible legal help in Miami estate planning are in luck; Ally Glaser PA, a leading estate lawyer, is a reputable option when searching for someone who provides professional and comprehensive legal services with personal care. One of the leading probate attorneys in Miami Beach, Glaser is a native and graduated from St. Thomas Law School. She currently holds membership the Probate, Real Estate, and Trust section of the Florida Bar. Glaser states, "I am extremely passionate about helping others and take a personalized approach for every ...

Name Tag Pros is pleased to introduce their new metal employee badges and name tags as the latest and most prestigious addition to their product line-up. The name tags are available now with a minimum order of only one piece, although bulk orders are at a discount as also available at http://nametagpros.com/ The metal name tags are made from a lightweight .025 aluminum and come in white, silver or gold with a brushed finish on the gold and silver tags. The white version is suitable for printing custom designed multi-color logos and work best as badges. The metal badges ...

Corum, leading Swiss manufacturers of exclusive high-end watches is set to unveil their latest collections at an exclusive launch evening at the Dubai Mall on February 19th. The glittering unveiling being held in concert with Corum's regional partners Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, will give luxury watch lovers in the Middle East their first look at the glamorous new collections from the Swiss maison. Presiding over the reveal will be Corum Partner and CEO, Antonio Calce and Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Vice Chairman of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. Adding a touch of glimmer and ...

Over 3.6 million passengers traversed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, FL last year bound for adventure on one of forty-two cruise ships, including Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Cruise Lines. When four of the port terminals underwent a major restoration project, the facility managers wanted a flooring solution that could hold up to the foot traffic demands of up to 50,000 guests per day. The existing flooring consisted primarily of epoxies, mortars, and carpet, which had become costly to maintain due to repeating coating reapplication required and unsightly ...

The Editors' Lounge recently kicked off their 2013 educational series with demonstrations on time-saving tools for the post-production professional. Editors and other industry professionals enjoyed an evening chocked full of invaluable tips and trade secrets, including how you can now edit from anywhere with the use of your i-Pad. The Editors' Lounge hosts these free educational events monthly at AlphaDogs Post Production in Burbank, CA. http://www.editorslounge.com Senior Product Marketing Manager for Boris FX, Kevan O'Brien, demonstrated the power of the Boris Continuum ...

For the second year in a row, Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital (RPMH) will be hosting a 24-hour Treadmill Walkathon. The hospital announced that the event is scheduled to kickoff at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 and run through 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 23, at the hospital's Cardiac Rehab Center. As cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States, RPMH continues to raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases through community events such as the walkathon. "Last year, we tried something new with the 24-Hour Treadmill Walkathon, and we were ...

The official launch events for the VFBC Center, an independent venue rental space for education and community events, take place March 1 through March 2, 2013. VFBC Center is located at 3101 Cove Road, NW Building 1, Roanoke, VA 24017, adjacent to the Garden of Prayer Church. The Center offers a banquet hall, fellowship hall, and several meeting rooms. On Friday, March 1st, at 6PM everyone is invited to attend the free ribbon cutting ceremony where you can enjoy refreshments while touring the facility. On Friday at 7PM, Hers&Mine Enterprises will present "First ...

Ventana Research has launched its newest benchmark research, Next-Generation Customer Engagement. The research will examine shift in customer engagement channel preferences and assess the technology utilized in these new channels. The primary channel for customer engagement for the time being remains interaction with customer service agents in contact centers but a paradigm shift has begun to take place. Ventana Research's recent research on customer experience shows customer expectations have extended beyond traditional channels, opening up to include company-wide contact ...