WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2011 — With the curtain about to rise on a much-anticipated new era of "nanoagriculture" — using nanotechnology to boost the productivity of plants for food, fuel, and other uses — scientists are describing huge gaps in knowledge about the effects of nanoparticles on corn, tomatoes, rice and other food crops. That's the topic of the latest episode in the American Chemical Society's (ACS) award-winning "Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions" podcast series. Jorge Gardea-Torresdey, Ph.D., notes in the podcast that nanoparticles, which are 1/50,000th ...

Boulder, CO, USA - Research topics in the latest GSA BULLETIN posting include: the study of paleo-hurricane records from South Carolina marshlands; geochronology of the Chinle Formation that provides new insights into early dinosaur evolution; water tracks in Antarctica; analysis of magma ascent in large-scale volcanic systems; deep-seated, non-eruption produced volcano collapse and the role of weak bedrock foundation; the transportation of suevite; and a refined timeline of deposition to the famous fossil-rich deposits in the Cibao basin. Spatio-lateral continuity ...

A George Mason University researcher team has revealed the specific process by which the HIV virus infects healthy T cells—a process previously unknown. The principal investigator, HIV researcher Yuntao Wu, says he hopes this breakthrough will start a new line on inquiry into how researchers can use this knowledge to create drugs that could limit or halt HIV infection. Wu, a professor of molecular and microbiology at Mason, published these findings in an April 2011 edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, along with researchers Paul J. Vorster, Jia Guo, Alyson ...

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — UC Davis Health System researchers have discovered biological indicators that help explain why some obese people develop chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and others do not. The researchers took a novel approach of looking specifically at the body fat of people with metabolic syndrome -- a condition characterized by increased blood pressure, high-fasting blood-sugar levels, excess abdominal fat and abnormal cholesterol levels. They found the fat cells released biomarkers associated with insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, ...

Scientists at Northwestern University report a surprising discovery that offers a possible new route for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In a study of the transparent roundworm C. elegans, they found that a genetic switch in master neurons inhibits the proper functioning of protective cell stress responses, leading to the accumulation of misfolded and damaged proteins. Neurodegenerative diseases, ranging from Huntington's and Parkinson's to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's, are believed to stem from early events that lead to an accumulation of ...

Strains of a bacterium commonly found in fruit flies can prevent the Aedes aegypti mosquito from transmitting the virus that causes dengue fever, researchers have found. Their discovery could lead to a more effective way to control dengue worldwide. North Carolina State University mathematical biologist Dr. Alun Lloyd is part of the Eliminate Dengue program, a research consortium that includes scientists from Australia and the United States. The program aims to stop the Aedes aegypti mosquito from transmitting dengue virus between humans by introducing a naturally occurring ...

WASHINGTON -- Two studies appearing in the Aug. 25 issue of the journal Nature provide new insights into a cosmic accident that has been streaming X-rays toward Earth since late March. NASA's Swift satellite first alerted astronomers to intense and unusual high-energy flares from the new source in the constellation Draco. "Incredibly, this source is still producing X-rays and may remain bright enough for Swift to observe into next year," said David Burrows, professor of astronomy at Penn State University and lead scientist for the mission's X-Ray Telescope instrument. ...

AURORA, Colo. (Aug. 24, 2011) – A scientist investigating why those with Down syndrome often have poor balance and motor coordination has found that key eye reflexes are substantially altered. The findings by University of Colorado School of Medicine researcher Alberto Costa, MD, Ph.D., could lead to new tools to assess the effectiveness of new drugs and therapies aimed at improving quality of life for those with this genetic disorder. "People with Down syndrome suffer various degrees of motor difficulty," said Costa, whose study was published last week in the journal, ...

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night with a sick child. He has a rash, severe cough and nausea. What does he have that is making him sick? What is the best course of action? You may not know, but your MobileNurse can help. Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation, based in Madison, Wisconsin, is proud to announce the launch of a mobile application for smart phones that can be used to diagnose what to do in a range of medical situations. The application, called MobileNurse, is the first of its kind to be offered by a health plan in the Midwest and the State of Wisconsin; ...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Rates of HIV have increased in Pakistan's general population, as the virus has spread beyond at-risk groups to women and their children, according to an international team of researchers, including a University of Florida scientist. The researchers raise concern that the transmission across subgroups into Pakistan's general population may serve as indication that the virus may be spreading into populations within neighboring Afghanistan. The team's epidemiological findings were published in July in the journal PLoS One. The technique used to understand ...

A study by researchers at the Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California, San Diego finds that successful aging and positive quality of life indicators correlate with sexual satisfaction in older women. The report, published online in the August edition of the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, also shows that self-rated successful aging, quality of life and sexual satisfaction appear to be stable even in the face of declines in physical health of women between the ages of 60 and 89. The study looked at 1,235 women enrolled at the San ...

For more than 30 years, Inc.'s list has served as evidence of the significant accomplishments of enterprises such as Orion. Earning a place for the second year in a row on this prestigious list is a testament to the creativity and resilience of Orion Systems Integrators, Inc. and its growth of 108% over a three year period. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy--America's independent entrepreneurs. Orion Systems Integrators, Inc. joins Spirit Airlines, television maker Vizio, Honest Tea, Dunkin Donuts and Metrokane, ...

VIDEO: Bone marrow transplantation with genetically modified cells may prolong the period of disease-free survival for cancer patients, suggests a study led by Dr. Vivek Rangnekar, associate director of translational research... Click here for more information. LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 23, 2011) — Bone marrow transplantation with genetically modified cells may prolong the period of cancer-free survival, suggests a study led by Dr. Vivek Rangnekar, associate director of translational ...

"I'll meet you at the place near the thing where we went that time," says the character Aaron in the 1987 movie Broadcast News. He and the woman he's talking to have a lot of common ground, the shared territory that makes conversations work. Common ground is why, after you've mentioned Great-Aunt Mildred's 80th birthday party once in a conversation, you can just refer to it as "the party." In a new study to be published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, the authors pinpoint the type of memory required ...

The recent sunny weather may have been a reason to rejoice for many Brits keen to lie back and top up their tans, but not everyone appears to have been celebrating. According to figures released by Transform Cosmetic Surgery Group, a 45% surge in enquiries about BOTOX injections to treat excessive sweating was recorded during a three-day period at the height of the heatwave. For scores of Brits, worries about sticky pits and clammy hands took prescience over soaking up the sun and enjoying the weather. Also known has Hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating is caused ...

LA JOLLA, CA – August 24, 2011 – A team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have successfully reengineered an important antibiotic to kill the deadliest antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The compound could one day be used clinically to treat patients with life-threatening and highly resistant bacterial infections. The results were published in an advanced online issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society. "[These results] have true clinical significance and chart a path forward for the development of next generation antibiotics for the treatment ...

From Imajin Books and author Gloria Ferris comes the paranormal suspense, CHEAT THE HANGMAN, which delves into old family secrets, an ill-fated family reunion and the murder of an innocent child. "Southern Ontario Gothic at its spine-chilling, provocative, hilarious best."--John Moss, author of Reluctant Dead Lyris Pembrooke unearths a terrible family secret in the old mansion she recently inherited. Investigating the tragedy, she delves into the psyche of a damaged WWII soldier, aided by her irrepressible spirit guide and the family psychic. After inheriting ...

Research published by two teams of Army scientists and collaborators has identified a cellular protein that plays a critical role in Ebola virus infection. The findings, published online today in separate studies in the journal Nature, suggest a possible strategy for combating one of the world's most deadly viruses. Ebola causes hemorrhagic fever with case fatality rates as high as 90 percent in humans. The virus is of concern both as a global public health threat and as a potential agent of biological terrorism. Currently there are no available vaccines or therapies ...

New nationwide benchmarks representing current critical care practices for ICUs may highlight opportunities for care improvement. Researchers from the University of Massachusetts, the University of Maryland, and Maine Medical Center analyzed data representing 243,553 adult admissions from 271 ICUs and 188 US nonfederal hospitals during 2008. Using electronic medical records, they found that more than half of these critically ill adults were less than 65 years old and returned to their homes after discharge. Admission to an ICU in 2008 involved active treatments, frequently ...

Researchers from The Netherlands report that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have higher levels of self-efficacy for physical activity are more likely to achieve their physical activity goals. According to the study now available in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), achievement of physical activity goals is associated with lower self-reported arthritis pain and increased health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that RA, a chronic autoimmune disease causing inflammation ...

Although Americans are increasingly tolerant of the open expression of a variety of views, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 have made most Americans reluctant to extend those freedoms to Muslim extremists, research released Aug. 25 by NORC at the University of Chicago shows. The finding, reported in NORC's General Social Survey, illustrates a lingering impact of the horrific events from ten years ago, as well as the consequences on American public opinion of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Tom W. Smith, director of the survey. "These figures are a result ...

Since HIV infection rates began to rise again around 2000, researchers have been grasping for answers on what could be causing this change, especially in the homosexual community. The rising numbers are a stark contrast to the 1990's, when infection rates dropped due to increased awareness of the virus. A new study in Israel reveals that the number of new HIV cases diagnosed each year in the last decade saw a startling increase of almost 500% compared to the previous decade, and similar trends have been reported in a number of other developed nations, including the U.S. ...

Plackers, makers of the first disposable dental flosser, and Oral Health America (OHA), a national, charitable non-profit, announced five winners of the first-ever Smiles Across America Innovation Grants, each of whom will receive monetary grants to kick-start innovative new programs intended to deliver oral health preventative products and services to children at increased risk for oral diseases. Among numerous proposals received from OHA's sizable network of Smiles Across America Product Donation Partners, five dental care service providers and academic institutions ...

Namosofts Co., Ltd., an innovative provider of consumer software, today further completes its data recovery solution line by releasing its flagship new item - Namosofts Data Recovery 12.0.8.15 with 10% discount. As a software producer specialized in data recovery field, Namosofts is committed to providing customers with cost-effective utilities, which are designed on the aims of relieving people's headache when encountering data loss within minutes. As a software producer specialized in data recvery field, Namosofts is committed to providing customers with cost-effective ...

Las Vegas, NV - October 20, 2010 - If you are a woman who aspire to learning how to deal with men in business instead of trying to act like them, or rather a man who want to get firsthand impression of the ultimate question: "Do I measure up to a locker room full of naked football players?" then you ought to get a copy of Susan T. Spencer's new book, Briefcase Essentials _http://www.briefcaseessentials.com/book/_. "I've been focusing on women's leadership strengths for fifteen years," says Tom Peters, author of 'Leadership' and many other bestselling ...