Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center scientists have completed a comprehensive map of genetic mutations occurring in the second-most common form of brain cancer, oligodendroglioma. The findings, reported in the Aug. 4 issue of Science, also appear to reveal the biological cause of the tumors, they say. To create the map, the scientists sequenced protein-coding genes in seven oligodendroglioma tissue samples, and focused attention on recurring mutations in two genes not previously associated with these tumors – CIC and FUBP1. The investigators say that CIC and FUBP1 are ...

(NEW YORK, NY, (August 4, 2011) – Columbia University Medical Center researchers have for the first time directly converted human skin cells into functional forebrain neurons, without the need for stem cells of any kind. The findings offer a new and potentially more direct way to produce replacement cell therapies for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Such cells may prove especially useful for testing new therapeutic leads. The study was published in the August 4 online issue of the journal Cell. In another first, the researchers used this method — called ...

PASADENA, Calif.—Stretching for thousands of miles beneath oceans, optical fibers now connect every continent except for Antarctica. With less data loss and higher bandwidth, optical-fiber technology allows information to zip around the world, bringing pictures, video, and other data from every corner of the globe to your computer in a split second. But although optical fibers are increasingly replacing copper wires, carrying information via photons instead of electrons, today's computer technology still relies on electronic chips. Now, researchers led by engineers at ...

Bond Ladders, a powerful tool for retirement. A bond ladder works by spreading investment dollars among bonds that will mature at various times between one and fifteen years from now. In a normal interest rate environment, shorter maturities will yield less than longer maturities. Think of the individual bonds as rungs on your ladder. As each individual bond matures, your principal is made available for reinvestment at current interest rates. The value of a ladder is the ability to reinvest the principal from the maturing bond into a new bond with a higher yield. The ...

This press release is available in French. By working with individuals suffering from a severe disorder that causes sensory neurons to degenerate, researchers at the University of Montreal Hospital and CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital have discovered how a specific genetic mutation causes their patients' condition, which in turn has revealed more information about the mechanisms in our bodies which enable us to sense pain. Genetic mutations are mistakes in our genetic code that can either be passed from parents to their children or created when DNA is replicated. Lead author ...

Honeywell Safety Products announces the new Miller ShockFusion Permanent Horizontal Lifeline (HLL) Roof System - a versatile surface-mounted lifeline system that accommodates most industrial and commercial roof designs including standing seam, membrane, built-up, metal sheathing, concrete and wood. - Attaches to the surface of existing roof structures - Quick, easy installation reduces costs by requiring minimal labor and eliminating the need for structural roof penetration and repair. - Significantly reduces system forces on the roof - In the event of a fall, the ...

New Haven, Conn.—Over one-third of the world's population already lives in areas struggling to keep up with the demand for fresh water. By 2025, that number will nearly double. Some countries have met the challenge by tapping into natural sources of fresh water, but as many examples – such as the much-depleted Jordan River – have demonstrated, many of these practices are far from sustainable. A new Yale University study argues that seawater desalination should play an important role in helping combat worldwide fresh water shortages – once conservation, reuse and other ...

DALLAS – Aug. 4, 2011 – Findings by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers may suggest new strategies for successful donor adult stem cell transplants in patients with blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The study, published Aug. 5 in Cell Stem Cell, showed for the first time that adult blood stem cells can be regulated to overcome an immune response that leads to transplant rejection. It also opens up further studies in stem cell immunology, said Dr. Chengcheng "Alec" Zhang, assistant professor of physiology and developmental biology at UT Southwestern ...

Drinking just one 4cl measure of spirits can increase the risk of an acute attack of pancreatitis, but wine or beer does not appear to have the same effect, according to a study published online by BJS, the British Journal of Surgery. Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden followed 84,601 people from 46 to 84 years of age from the general population in Vastmanland and Uppsala for a median of ten years. During that time 513 developed acute pancreatitis. "Our study revealed a steady increase between each measure of spirits a person drank on one occasion ...

For male houbara bustards sexual extravagance is the key to attracting mates in some of the world's harshest desert environments. However, new research in Ecology Letters reveals that males who perform the most extravagant sexual displays will suffer from premature biological aging and will pass their reproductive prime years earlier than their less ostentatious rivals. Houbara bustards, Chlamydotis undulata, are found across the deserts of the Southern Hemisphere, from the Persian Gulf to the Gobi Desert, and for six months of the year the males spend their days in elaborate ...

This release is available in German. People who buy an expensive solid wooden table or wardrobe want to be certain that their new piece of furniture is absolutely faultless. Pianos – whether upright or grand – can only produce an opulent tone if their soundboard, bridge and keyboard are made of high-quality materials. And wood that is free of imperfections is also essential in house building and window construction: load-bearing wooden beams need to be of the highest quality, as even the smallest crack can cause them to fail. Research scientists from the Fraunhofer ...

This release is available in German. It might have happened over ten years ago now, but most people can still recall the Concorde crash: the TV images showing the supersonic jet with flames streaming from its tail were unforgettable. It was a piece of metal lying on the runway during take-off that caused the accident. The aircraft's tire burst as it rolled over the metal, sending chunks of rubber flying into the fuel tank, which then exploded – with the loss of 113 lives. To avoid accidents such as this, airport staff drive up and down runways at six-hour intervals ...

Speaking about the makeover, Luxury yacht charter Croatia, Magnum Nautica said, "We have refreshed the interiors of all the Magnum Yachts. We have added brand new carpets, new curtains, new sofa covers and new teak on the swimming platform on the motor yacht Banana. We recently had an exclusive photoshoot by famous Croatian photographer Mario Jelavich, when our fleet went out into the Adriatic. We are planning to launch a whole new website with these photographs." The Croatia yacht charter company Magnum Nautica owns four motor yachts in Croatia and is reputed ...

5 August 2011 | Potsdam: For 20 000 years, climate variability in East Africa has been following a pattern that is evidently a remote effect of the ENSO phenomenon (El Niño Southern Oscillation) known as El Niño/La Niña. During the cold phase of La Niña, there is marginal rainfall and stronger winds in East Africa, while the El Niño warm phase leads to weak wind conditions with frequent rain. Moreover, during the coldest period of the last ice age about 18 000 to 21 000 years ago, East Africa's climate was relatively stable and dry. This result was published by an international ...

Malignant Sézary syndrome is characterized by the reproduction of a special type of white blood cells in the skin of male and female patients. In contrast to most other skin lymphomas, patients with Sézary syndrome manifest not only skin contamination but also contamination of blood and lymph nodes by degenerate T cells even at the onset of the disease. The researchers investigated highly purified tumor cells from patients with Sézary syndrome using modern, high-resolution genetic procedures (the so-called array comparative genomic hybridization technique) for hitherto ...

The research, led by Dr Clea Warburton and Dr Gareth Barker in the University's School of Physiology and Pharmacology and published in the Journal of Neuroscience, has investigated why we can recognise faces much better if we have extra clues as to where or indeed when we encountered them in the first place. The study found that when we need to remember that a particular object, for example a face, occurred in a particular place, or at a particular time, multiple brain regions have to work together - not independently. It has been known for some time that three brain ...

Newly synthesized polymer, fitted with molecular pincers of carefully tailored structure, effectively captures nicotine molecules and its analogues. The polymer can be used for fabrication of sensitive and selective chemical sensors to determine nicotine in solutions, and in the near future also in gases. Moreover, the polymer is suitable for slow, controlled release of nicotine, e.g., for therapeutic purposes. The collaboration of researchers of the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) and of the Department of Chemistry, Wichita ...

Two new rodent fossils were discovered in the arid highlands of southern Bolivia by researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Universidad Autónoma Tomás Frías. The larger of the two rodents, named Mesoprocta hypsodus, probably looked something like a guinea pig on stilts, said Darin Croft, an anatomy professor at Case Western Reserve. The smaller, Quebradahondomys potosiensis, was a spiny rat. An online article in the Journal of Mammalian Evolution describes the new species, a possible third, and two known species that are new inhabitants ...

Photo in Canvas provide a premium service to customers looking to transform photographs into exceptional canvas prints. The Hampshire based studio specialise in producing custom effects and one of the latest, contrasting black and white, can completely revamp a tired looking photo. The designer custom effects range at Photo in Canvas is extensive giving customers plenty of choice when it comes creating their canvas prints. The custom effects are usually free of charge and customers can preview their creations before buying them to ensure everything is at it should be. One ...

This release is available in Spanish. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have developed a fully cooked food-aid product called Instant Corn Soy Blend that supplements meals, particularly for young children. The work was led by food technologist Charles Onwulata at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Dairy Processing and Products Research Unit at the agency's Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC) in Wyndmoor, Pa. ARS is USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency, and this research supports the USDA priority of promoting international food ...

A little vibration can be a good thing for people who need a sensitive touch. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a glove with a special fingertip designed to improve the wearer's sense of touch. Applying a small vibration to the side of the fingertip improves tactile sensitivity and motor performance, according to their research results. Previous research has shown that adding an appropriate amount of white noise -- a concept called stochastic resonance -- can improve sight, hearing, balance control and touch, but the white noise had not ...

Anyone keen to learn about the best ways of staying in shape may enjoy the Asia Fitness Convention (AFC) 2011, which will be held in Bangkok soon. While the official conference programme runs from October 21st to 23rd, there will be additional sessions taking place before and after those dates in specialist areas such as sports conditioning, ultimate six plus trigger point therapy and freeform body workshop. The organisers have urged people to register for their tickets as soon as possible, so that they can be sure they do not miss out on the workshops they want ...

Researchers demonstrate for the first time that programmed cell death - a process by which cells deliberately destroy themselves - is involved in mandibular regression in termites. And it appears this regression may be the price to pay for the formation of termites' defensive organs, according to Kouhei Toga and Kiyoto Maekawa from the University of Toyama, and Shinichi Yoda from the University of Tokyo, in Japan. Their findings have just been published online in Springer's journal Naturwissenschaften – The Science of Nature. As termites molt from workers, to presoldiers ...

Jim Newport will be hosting an exhibition of his film and television-related work in Phuket this month, as well as taking the stage with his blues band.   While many people on the island may recognise him from a handful of appearances as the lead singer of Jimmy Fame at the Phuket International Blues Festival, Newport is also an acclaimed production designer.   Among the work that has won him Emmy nominations is baffling sci-fi series Lost, which revolved around a group of people from across the world stranded on an exotic island.   In addition to this, Newport has ...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Even though many Americans learn through community health screenings that they are at high risk for having a stroke, they rarely follow-up with their doctor for care. But a new University of Michigan study shows high-risk stroke patients are twice as likely to get follow-up care from a primary care doctor if they receive a pep talk over the telephone. "It is unfortunate that these high-risk patients often have a lower rate of follow-up with their primary care physicians," says Rajesh Balkrishnan, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Pharmacy ...