(Santa Barbara, Calif.) –– Understanding exactly how stem cells form into specific organs and tissues is the holy grail of regenerative medicine. Now a UC Santa Barbara researcher has added to that body of knowledge by determining how stem cells produce different types of "daughter" cells in Drosophila (fruit flies). The findings appear today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Denise Montell, Duggan Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at UCSB, and colleagues studied the ovaries of fruit flies in order to see stem cells in their ...

AURORA, Colo. (April 22, 2013) – As natural gas development expands nationwide, policymakers, communities and public health experts are increasingly turning to health impact assessments (HIA) as a means of predicting the effects of drilling on local communities, according to a new study from the Colorado School of Public Health. The report, published this week in the American Journal of Public Health, highlights lessons learned when scientists from the school were hired to assess the possible health impacts of fracking in a small western Colorado town. "Health impact ...

IQ directly relates to how students perform on tests in the first two years of dental school. But emotional intelligence (EI) trumps IQ in how well dental students work with patients, report researchers from Case Western Reserve University's School of Dental Medicine and Weatherhead School of Management. EI influences how well dental students recognize and manage their emotions and professional relationships, explain Kristin Victoroff, DDS, PhD, and Richard Boyatzis, PhD, in the current issue of the Journal of Dental Education article, "What is the Relationship Between ...

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — New research finds that double cropping — planting two crops in a field in the same year — is associated with positive signs of economic development for rural Brazilians. The research focused the state of Mato Grosso, the epicenter of an agricultural revolution that has made Brazil one of the world's top producers of soybeans, corn, cotton, and other staple crops. That Brazil has become an agricultural powerhouse over the last decade or so is clear. What has been less clear is who is reaping the economic rewards of that agricultural ...

Pluripotent stem cells can turn, or differentiate, into any cell type in the body, such as nerve, muscle or bone, but inevitably some of these stem cells fail to differentiate and end up mixed in with their newly differentiated daughter cells. Because these remaining pluripotent stem cells can subsequently develop into unintended cell types — bone cells among blood, for instance — or form tumors known as teratomas, identifying and separating them from their differentiated progeny is of utmost importance in keeping stem cell–based therapeutics safe. Now, UCLA scientists ...

Pioneering biophotonics technology developed at Northwestern University is the first screening method to detect the early presence of ovarian cancer in humans by examining cells easily brushed from the neighboring cervix or uterus, not the ovaries themselves. A research team from Northwestern and NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) conducted an ovarian cancer clinical study at NorthShore. Using partial wave spectroscopic (PWS) microscopy, they saw diagnostic changes in cells taken from the cervix or uterus of patients with ovarian cancer even though the cells ...

To Robert Green, light contains more than meets the eye: It contains fingerprints of materials that can be detected by sensors that capture the unique set of reflected wavelengths. Scientists have used the technique, called imaging spectroscopy, to learn about water on the moon, minerals on Mars and the composition of exoplanets. Green's favorite place to apply the technique, however, is right here on the chemically rich Earth, which is just what he and colleagues achieved this spring during NASA's Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) airborne campaign. "We have ideas ...

An image from an instrument aboard NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission or LDCM satellite may look like a typical black-and-white image of a dramatic landscape, but it tells a story of temperature. The dark waters of the Salton Sea pop in the middle of the Southern California desert. Crops create a checkerboard pattern stretching south to the Mexican border. If you looked at the Salton Sea in person, your eyes would not see anything presented in the LDCM image. Instead of showing visible light, the image shows the amount of heat -- or thermal energy -- radiating from ...

TAMPA, Fla. (April 22, 2013) – The current special issue of Technology and Innovation – Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors® (https://www.cognizantcommunication.com/component/content/article/636), devoted to studies on medical technology and health care delivery, focuses on a wide range of topics, from new technologies to reduce the cost of health care to understanding the human microbiome. "This special issue of Technology and Innovation on transformative health care technologies truly explores new frontiers where technology and health care cross," said ...

BOSTON – March 22, 2013 – Joslin scientists report significant findings about the location, genetic expression and function of human brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the generation of new BAT cells. These findings, which appear in the April 2013 issue of Nature Medicine, may contribute to further study of BAT's role in human metabolism and developing treatments that use BAT to promote weight loss. Two types of adipose (fat) tissue – brown and white -- are found in mammals. Unlike the more predominant white adipose tissue (WAT) which stores fat, BAT burns fat to produce ...

OAK BROOK, Ill. – Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of atrophy in an important area of the brain are an accurate predictor of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology. According to the researchers, these atrophy measurements offer an improvement over current methods for evaluating patients at risk for MS. MS develops as the body's immune system attacks and damages myelin, the protective layer of fatty tissue that surrounds nerve cells within the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include visual disturbances, ...

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have found that a deficiency in an important anti-tumor protein, p53, can slow or delay DNA repair after radiation treatment. They suggest that this is because p53 regulates the expression of two enzymes (JMJD2b and SUV39H1) that control the folding of DNA. According to the researchers, p53 is highly inducible by radiation. Activation of p53 stabilizes chromosomes by promoting the repair of heterochromatin DNA, which controls the expression of nearby genes and ensures accurate distribution of chromosomes during cell division. Their ...

New York, NY – April 23, 2013 – New, nationally projectable survey results released today by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and MetLife Foundation confirmed that one in four teens has misused or abused a prescription (Rx) drug at least once in their lifetime – a 33 percent increase over the past five years. The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) also found troubling data on teen misuse or abuse of prescription stimulants. One in eight teens (13 percent) now reports that they have taken the stimulants Ritalin or Adderall when it was not prescribed for them, at least ...

Prenuptial asset protection for Maryland couples Article provided by Jeffrey N. Greenblatt of Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, PA Visit us at http://www.jnglaw.net Prenuptial agreements were long viewed as tools for only the super wealthy. These pre-marital agreements were once even considered taboo. However, with nearly half of marriages ending in divorce, a prenuptial agreement is a wise precaution for Maryland residents, especially if they are bringing significant assets into their marriage. Why get a prenuptial? A prenuptial agreement serves to mitigate ...

Florida law not equipped to handle same-sex custody disputes Article provided by Leininger Law Firm, P.A. Visit us at http://www.leiningerlawfirmpa.com In the last couple of years, Florida has seen a rise of same-sex couples enter the courts with disputes over the custody of children born into the household. Generally, this applies to female relationships in which one of the women has given birth to a child or children. However, the other partner often feels that the child is hers too, and this can put the courts in an unprecedented position of trying to interpret ...

Survey shows adults guilty of texting while driving more often than teens Article provided by Phelan Law Office Visit us at http://www.phelanlawoffice.com Despite nationwide efforts to spread awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, a new study from AT&T has revealed that many Americans continue to participate in these risky behaviors. Not only is it more common than one might imagine, the research showed that adults are actually guilty of driving while distracted by cellphones more often than teenagers. According to the survey, 49 percent of adults ...

Implications of felony drug charges extend beyond legal system Article provided by Law Office of Jeffrey R. Gilbert, P.C. Visit us at http://www.jeffgilbertlaw.com Texans know that the state is very strict when it comes to drugs. Texas has such a low tolerance for drug-related crime that if someone is convicted of a felony, he or she is banned from getting food stamps as well as other types of government assistance. Research has shown that the banning of these programs can lead a person to make negative lifestyle choices. Marijuana possession as an example of ...

DUI accidents a problem despite Connecticut's ignition interlock law Article provided by Law Offices of Wesley Malowitz Visit us at http://www.malowitzlaw.com Four people were taken to the hospital after a recent automobile crash in Stamford. The driver of one vehicle was traveling too fast and ran a red light, hitting the other car that contained three people. The 18 year old driver allegedly had a blood alcohol level that was elevated and alcohol was located in the vehicle. If convicted, the driver will face a variety of penalties that may include having an ignition ...

Unmarried parents face unique obstacles in Tennessee Article provided by Judy A. Oxford, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.judyoxfordlaw.com About 25 percent of babies are now born to unmarried couples, according to recent statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is nearly double the rate seen in 2002, Time reported recently. Compared to married couples, unmarried parents often face a unique set of legal obstacles when they decide to part ways, owing to the fact that their relationships with one another and their children ...

Washington State's minor in possession laws Article provided by Jeff Staples, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.jeffstapleslaw.com/ A number of states throughout the U.S. have what are referred to as "minor in possession" laws. These laws specifically pertain to drugs and alcohol that are found on minors, whether they used the substances or not. In general, MIP laws were created to inform and educate minors about the issues and dangers that surround drinking and driving. The laws were also created to get minor children more involved in community ...

Insurance companies deny claims after storm causes damage in Texas Article provided by The Voss Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.storm-insurance-claims.com A storm recently moved through Texas causing damage to homes, cars and property blanketing some areas of the state with over six inches of hail. The hail ripped through siding on homes and shattered windows. The hail damage resulting from the heavy winds and dangerous pieces of ice produced by this storm provide a timely example of the harm that can result from a powerful storm. Those who own property ...

Regulation aiming to protect young farm workers reversed Article provided by Herr & Low PC Visit us at http://www.herrlow.com Pennsylvania farm workers may recall hearing about the recent reversal of a directive promulgated by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The regulation attempted to prevent injuries to children by placing limits on the ability of children to work on farms. Details of the reversal The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, along with other state bureaus, successfully implemented a campaign against the directive. The directive placed limitations ...

New bill in Texas could cut cost of storm-mitigation equipment Article provided by The Voss Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.storm-insurance-claims.com Lawmakers in the Texas House of Representatives are considering a bill that would create Hurricane Mitigation Week. During this time period, sales tax exemptions would apply to the purchase of hurricane-mitigation equipment such as portable generators, fuel containers, flashlights and devices made to prevent window damage in storms. If passed, Hurricane Mitigation week would be observed from May 25 to May ...

Survey Finds That Vast Number of Medical Errors Are Unreported Article provided by Greene & Eisen, Co. L.P.A. Visit us at http://www.malpracticeohio.com A survey recently conducted by ProPublica (a nonprofit investigative journalism organization) concluded that the great majority of people who suffer harm at the hands of a physician, nurse, hospital or clinic do not file formal complaints about their injuries. Injuries are probably coming at a rate far faster than any of us ever realized; data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows ...

The plea bargain: An essential part of the California legal system Article provided by Law Offices of David P. Schwarz Visit us at http://www.orangecountycriminaldefenselawfirm.com In Santa Ana last year, a man avoided a sentence of life in a California prison by taking what is known as a plea bargain. The plea bargain required the man to plead guilty to the attempted murder charge filed against him and in return, he received a sentence of 19 years. Every day plea deals, such as this one, are negotiated in the majority of criminal cases in California and across ...