BEER-SHEVA, Israel, December 27, 2012 -- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's (BGU) Social Networks Security Research Group in its Department of Information Systems Engineering has developed a novel method to predict how well or badly a student will perform in an academic course. The information can be used to determine which students need the most help, as well as which ones excel and might be guided to further study or careers in that subject area. The paper, "Predicting Student Exam Scores by Analyzing Social Network Data," was presented earlier this month at the Advanced ...

Two studies in The Journal of General Physiology (JGP) help pave the way for a "shortcut" model-free approach to studying activation of "polymodal" ion channels—channels that open in response to multiple stimuli. Transmembrane ion channels respond to various physiological stimuli to regulate numerous cellular functions. Different classes of channels respond to different types of stimuli; some channels, for instance, respond to changes in membrane potential whereas others are activated by ligand binding. Polymodal channels integrate different cellular signals, enabling them ...

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. (December, 26 2012) – Tufts University School of Engineering researchers have developed a novel method for fabricating collagen structures that maintains the collagen's natural strength and fiber structure, making it useful for a number of biomedical applications. Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, is widely used to build scaffolds for tissue engineering because it is biocompatible and biodegradable. Collagen is, however, hard to work with in its natural form because it is largely insoluble in water, and common processing techniques ...

Boulder, Colo., USA – GSA BULLETIN articles posted online between 10 Dec. and 21 Dec. 2012 include a new version of The Geological Society of America's Geologic Time Scale. This paper marks the beginning of a special series of invited papers in celebration of GSA's 125th Anniversary in 2013. Highlights are provided below. 1. A new/revised GSA geologic time scale. 2. Complex mammal fossil record of the Gran Barranca, Patagonia, Argentina. 3. A new and simple method for estimating the rate of sediment delivery to ancient basins. 4. A study of the provenance of volcanic ...

Research using new technology shows that our ability to imitate facial expressions depends on learning that occurs through visual feedback. Studies of the chameleon effect confirm what salespeople, tricksters, and Lotharios have long known: Imitating another person's postures and expressions is an important social lubricant. But how do we learn to imitate with any accuracy when we can't see our own facial expressions and we can't feel the facial expressions of others? Richard Cook of City University London, Alan Johnston of University College London, and Cecilia Heyes ...

One approach to understanding components in living organisms is to attempt to create them artificially, using principles of chemistry, engineering and genetics. A suite of powerful techniques—collectively referred to as synthetic biology—have been used to produce self-replicating molecules, artificial pathways in living systems and organisms bearing synthetic genomes. In a new twist, John Chaput, a researcher at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute and colleagues at the Department of Pharmacology, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ have fabricated an artificial ...

PHILADELPHIA - Calpain, a calcium-regulated enzyme, is essential to a host of cellular processes, but can cause severe problems in its overactivated state. It has been implicated as a factor in muscular dystrophy, AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. As such, finding and exploiting calpain inhibitors is an important area of research. A team from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, in collaboration with the University of California at San Francisco and the Department of Biochemistry and Protein Function Discovery at Queen's ...

Nashville (Tenn.) - The decision by several states not to expand Medicaid health insurance for the poor may create unintended cuts for hospitals that provide uncompensated care, according to a study by John Graves, Ph.D., a Vanderbilt policy expert in the Department of Preventive Medicine. Graves used financial data from U.S. hospitals and insurance data in each state to predict cuts in Medicare and Medicaid disproportionate share (DSH) funds paid to the nearly three-fourths of U.S. hospitals that serve low-income patients. The results, published in the Dec. 20 issue ...

PHILADELPHIA - One of the world's most devastating diseases is malaria, responsible for at least a million deaths annually, despite global efforts to combat it. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, working with collaborators from Drexel University, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Johns Hopkins University, have identified a protein in human blood platelets that points to a powerful new weapon against the disease. Their work was published in this months' issue of Cell Host and Microbe. Malaria is caused by parasitic ...

Researchers from the University of Vigo, in collaboration with the Environmental Services Unit at the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park (Cuba), have discovered two new species of Caribbean orchid. The Caribbean islands have been natural laboratories and a source of inspiration for biologists for over two centuries now. Suffice to say that the studies by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace in the tropical archipelagos contributed to the emergence of the theory of evolution. In this case, a Spanish research team from the University of Vigo has discovered two new ...

UC Davis Health System is improving lives and transforming health care by providing excellent patient care, conducting groundbreaking research, fostering innovative, interprofessional education, and creating dynamic, productive partnerships with the community. The academic health system includes one of the country's best medical schools, a 619-bed acute-care teaching hospital, a 1000-member physician's practice group and the new Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. It is home to a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, an international neurodevelopmental ...

AURORA, Colo. (Dec. 27, 2012) – Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have figured out intimate details of how the hepatitis C virus takes over an invaded cell, a breakthrough that could point to way for new treatments for the virus. Hep C hijacks the machinery by which a cell makes proteins and uses it instead to create proteins for the virus. Over the last two decades, researchers have figured out that Hep C uses an RNA molecule to do this. Now they're trying to fill in the details. One key detail is reported in a paper published online Dec. ...

(CHICAGO)--Researchers at Rush University Medical Center, in collaboration with researchers at Northwestern University, have identified a molecular mechanism central to the development of osteoarthritis (OA) pain, a finding that could have major implications for future treatment of this often-debilitating condition. "Clinically, scientists have focused on trying to understand how cartilage and joints degenerate in osteoarthritis. But no one knows why it hurts," said Dr. Anne-Marie Malfait, associate professor of biochemistry and of internal medicine at Rush, who led ...

Australian scientists have shown how a 'transcription factor' causes breast cancer to develop an aggressive subtype that lacks sensitivity to oestrogen and does not respond to anti-oestrogen therapies such as Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. Transcription factors are molecules that switch genes on or off. In this case, the transcription factor known as 'ELF5' inhibits sensitivity to oestrogen very early in the life of a breast cancer cell. In 2008, Associate Professor Chris Ormandy from Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research showed that ELF5 was responsible ...

Lisa brings a lifetime of experience reading well over 20,000 hands from around the globe. Her readings include iconic film stars, rock stars, international CEO's, television personalities and people just like you. Lisa has an unparalleled history in Hand Analysis that brings a rich, deep understanding of human nature reflected in the lines on hand. Her latest e-book called "Relationship Rescue using CPR," teaches what your map of original programming is, and how to go beyond any conflicts. Lisa Greenfield is the founder and CEO of TruthinHand.com. Her business ...

MediPurpose(tm), a master distributor and manufacturer of medical products, today announced its endorsement of the 11th Annual International Sharps Injury Prevention Month. Promoted by the International Sharps Injury Prevention Society (ISIPS), the sharps injury awareness campaign is launched every December 1 in conjunction with World AIDS Day. According to the United States Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), a sharps injury -- also known as a needlestick injury -- is a wound caused by a needle that accidentally punctures ...

The Ironman World Championship held annually in Kona, Hawaii, is renown for its grueling three-part course: a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2 mile run. Many try out but few qualify for the televised athletic event. Dr. Bennett Isabella, Dakota Dental's family dentist in Apple Valley, MN, was one of the few. Having successfully finished the Florida Ironman Triathlon among the top three of his age bracket, Dr. Isabella was cleared to enter the Ironman World Championship held October 13, 2012. With a completion time of 9 hours and 32 minutes in Florida, ...

As friends and families come together to celebrate the Christmas holiday, the challenge is always how to make the moments last. GiftWorksPlus, a leader in the production of custom picture frames, offers a broad line of family photo frames to capture those festive memories and keep them alive throughout the year. Christmas picture frames, Hanukkah picture frames, family picture frames for every relative and friend, military welcome home gifts, and even memorial frames are available. To display several pictures at one time, see the 11x14 Center Family Name engravable frames ...

Fire Side Homes & Excavating is pleased to announce they will be working closely with iWebContent to improve their web presence. In today's world, it is important for businesses to have a website, as well as a blog, to ensure their success. Many customers turn to the Internet for information before they hire someone to complete a job for them. When they look for the right company, they want to find the information they need quickly and easily. This requires an experienced Internet marketing firm. Fire Side Homes & Excavating is a construction company that specializes ...

Government Auction will start off the New Year on a high note with a Jan. 1 sale featuring exclusive designer watches, fine jewelry and gold coins. The auction will begin at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time, with an opening bid of only $2 on most lots. The fine jewelry selection is led by a stunning 16.92-carat sapphire and diamond ring. Considered in ancient times represent holiness or the heavens, the blue sapphire was a favorite amongst kings, who believed the precious stone could attract Divine favor. The ring to be auctioned by Government Auction is made of 14K white gold ...

SBT Seabuckthorn International Inc. is pleased to announce that Douglas Kalman, formerly the Eastern Sales Manager of SBT Seabuckthorn, is their newest distributor. In his new role as an independent distributor of SBT Seabuckthorn products, Mr Kalman will focus on building relationships and business within the Naturopathic and holistic health care markets. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND After several years pursuing other interests, Doug Kalman has returned to Peachland, BC's SBT Seabuckthorn to leverage his extensive knowledge and experience towards educating and enrolling ...

Cut-It-Out Communications, Inc. (www.cioediting.com), a Westchester public relations agency, today announced it is instituting a statistical approach to evaluate keywords for its clients for search engine optimization (SEO). The method employed evaluates search engine behavior -- the number of people searching for any given keyword -- combined with competition, the number of people trying to optimize for the same keyword. The two parameters are compared to create a KEI (keyword effectiveness index): a high volume of searches with a low number of optimizers will create ...

Northwest Flyers, Inc., a provider of Aircraft Management and Private Jet Charter announced the addition of a Citation Ultra to it's ever expanding Chicago based fleet. With seating for up to 9 passengers the Citation Ultra can accommodate business and family travel alike. Fold away tray tables, mini galley, accessory power outlets, in-flight WI-FI, and ample leg room create unsurpassed passenger comfort. The Cessna Citation Ultra received high accolades from Flying magazine as "Best Business Jet" in 1994, one year after it went into production as an upgraded ...

Taylor Morrison is pleased to announce that it has begun construction in the Parrish community of River Plantation. Featured homes will include some of Taylor Morrison's most popular designs, all with four bedrooms and its trademark open space concepts. River Plantation is a community enjoyed by many for its peaceful location. With oversized homesites and pedestrian-friendly streets, this neighborhood has many of today's most sought-after amenities, including a beautiful clubhouse with swimming pool, a playground, tennis and basketball courts, a canoe launch with access ...

Oridel, a cosmetic skincare product line based on Long Island, NY, today announced their latest blog post about how to care for dry skin. The newest blog post features new tips on how to take care of dry skin, such as how to make your own masks to keep skin moisturized, what kind of skincare products you should buy and what causes dry skin. This article is the third in a series of articles on skin care tips for your skin using items that are readily available in your home. Founder, Marina Oridel, is a Russian born skincare expert. "There are so many catching ...