Astronomers using ESA's Herschel Space Observatory have studied a ring of dust around the nearby star Fomalhaut and have deduced that it is created by the collision of thousands of comets every day. Fomalhaut, a star twice as massive as our Sun and around 25 light years away, has been of keen interest to astronomers for many years. With an age of only a few hundred million years it is a fairly young star, and in the 1980s was shown to be surrounded by relatively large amounts of dust by the IRAS infrared satellite. Now Herschel, with its unprecedented resolution, has ...

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have resolved the debate over the mechanisms involved in the shut-down process during cell division in the body. Research findings, published in the journal PNAS, may contribute to future studies on how scientists could manipulate this shut-down process to ensure that viruses and other pathogens do not enter the cells of the body and cause harm. Previous research has shown that when cells divide, they cannot perform any other task apart from this one. They cannot, for example, take in food and fluids at the same time as ...

Our obsession with multiple forms of media is not necessarily all bad news, according to a new study by Kelvin Lui and Alan Wong from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Their work shows that those who frequently use different types of media at the same time appear to be better at integrating information from multiple senses - vision and hearing in this instance - when asked to perform a specific task. This may be due to their experience of spreading their attention to different sources of information while media multitasking. Their study is published online in Springer's ...

Researchers at the Hospital de Mar Research Institute (IMIM) have discovered that the protein LOXL2 has a function within the cell nucleus thus far unknown. They have also described a new chemical reaction of this protein on histone H3 that would be involved in gene silencing, one of which would be involved in the progression of breast, larynx, lung and skin tumours. Led by Dr Sandra Peiró and published in Molecular Cell journal, the study is a significant advance in describing the evolution of tumours and opens the door to researching new treatments that block their ...

About 300 000 years ago humans adapted genetically to be able to produce larger amounts of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. This adaptation may have been crucial to the development of the unique brain capacity in modern humans. In today's life situation, this genetic adaptation contributes instead to a higher risk of developing disorders like cardiovascular disease. The human nervous system and brain contain large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and these are essential for the development and function of the brain. These Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids occur ...

Casanova's notion is that stem cells emerge not because of the presence of factors that confer capacity to the stem cell but because of factors that repress the cellular signals for differentiation and specialization. Casanova believes that somehow all non-differentiated cells intrinsically carry the qualities of the stem cell by default and that there are factors at work that remove these capacities. Said another way: a stem cell is a stem cell because it has evaded differentiation. According to Casanova, if the idea of "a stem cell by default" is considered, research ...

DURHAM, N.H. -- University of New Hampshire researchers have found that residents of Louisiana and Florida most acutely and directly affected by the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster -- the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history -- said they have changed their views on other environmental issues as a result of the spill. "If disasters teach any lessons, then experience with the Gulf oil spill might be expected to alter opinions about the need for environmental protection. About one-fourth of our respondents said that as a result of the spill, their views on other environmental ...

Biomarkers which could help to predict resistance to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients have been identified by researchers from the University of Hull, UK. The researchers found a family of proteins to be twice as prevalent in clinical samples obtained from breast cancer patients who were resistant to chemotherapy than those who were successfully treated. Chemotherapy resistance is a major problem for some types of breast cancer and many patients undergo treatment that does not work, delaying other more suitable treatments and subjecting the patient to adverse ...

The discovery was made possible by exceptionally sharp ALMA images of a disc, or ring, of dust orbiting Fomalhaut, which lies about 25 light-years from Earth. It helps resolve a controversy among earlier observers of the system. The ALMA images show that both the inner and outer edges of the thin, dusty disc have very sharp edges. That fact, combined with computer simulations, led the scientists to conclude that the dust particles in the disc are kept within the disc by the gravitational effect of two planets — one closer to the star than the disc and one more distant [1]. Their ...

(Boston) – A first of its kind study conducted by researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC)'s Injury Prevention Center (IPC) found that one fall requiring first responder emergency medical services response occurs, on average, approximately every 56 hours at Boston Logan International Airport, with 37 percent of those incidents involving transport to a hospital. The study, which was done at the request of the Massachusetts Port Authority and Massport Fire/Rescue, concludes that diverting at-risk passengers from escalators to elevators could significantly reduce the number ...

In order to accurately identify skulls as male or female, forensic anthropologists need to have a good understanding of how the characteristics of male and female skulls differ between populations. A new study from North Carolina State University shows that these differences can be significant, even between populations that are geographically close to one another. The researchers looked at the skulls of 27 women and 28 men who died in Lisbon, Portugal, between 1880 and 1975. They also evaluated the skulls of 40 women and 39 men who died between 1895 and 1903 in the rural ...

Nowspeed, a top Internet marketing agency, has released a new search engine optimization (SEO) white paper entitled, How to Build a Winning SEO Strategy, written by President & Founder of Nowspeed, David Reske. The white paper explains how and why it is important for companies to incorporate a search engine optimization strategy to ensure a steady flow of new lead generation prospects. Businesses will learn the efficiencies of SEO through 8 tips and best practices that will jumpstart your efforts to create a SEO friendly strategy that works. The goals of any SEO ...

Stoneflies, or Plecoptera, are insects that live in water during immature stages, but are terrestrial as adults. They are among the best bioindicators of river water quality and general landscape disturbance. Anglers often model their dry and wet flies (lures) after these insects. Scientists at the University of Illinois and Western Kentucky University, funded by the USA National Science Foundation, have completed the first ever statewide assessment of stonefly diversity in Ohio. The study has been published in the open-access journal ZooKeys. The team used over 30,000 ...

TeamSupport.com (http://www.TeamSupport.com) - the popular provider of web-based customer support and help desk software solutions - has been recognized as an Innovator in Customer Service Management (CSM) and received high scores for Affordability and Strategy in a recent evaluation report conducted by Info-Tech Research Group titled "Vendor Landscape Plus: Customer Service Management Platforms." "TeamSupport's product offers Help Desk and customer service capabilities, making them a more comprehensive solution for businesses," said Tim Hickernell, ...

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Environmental disasters impact individuals and communities; they also affect how family members communicate with each other, sometimes in surprising ways, according to a paper published by a faculty member at the University at Buffalo in the Journal of Family Issues. The study is the first systematic analysis of how families communicate when faced with serious health issues brought on by "slow moving technological disasters," like environmental disasters. The purpose was to identify how people in families communicate when they are facing these issues in ...

Through excellent care, Dr. Adam Burton, dentist in London, produces beautiful results. Northland Dental Centre believes in educating patients so that they better understand the importance of maintaining proper oral health care. By keeping teeth and gums clean, patients can ensure their smile is healthy and will last a lifetime. "Knowing the basics of good oral hygiene can make a big difference in the health of your smile. By showing my patients the most effective ways to brush and floss now, helps them to avoid problems like cavities, plaque, tartar and gum disease ...

Since 2005, Dr. James Jensen, Lethbridge, AB dentist, has been working with his patients to provide them the best in available dental health care. To further expand on not only Jensen Dentistry's availability, but dental health awareness as well, Dr. Jensen is pleased to offer his patients instant access to the practice through an interactive mobile website. The new mobile website is easy to use, and can be accessed by patients at any point throughout their day-to-day lives. Patients can easily access the website for Jensen Dentistry from their mobile phones and devices. ...

April 12, 2012 - The color of our skin or where we come does matter when it comes to how we react to a racist insult. A new study has found that African American women are more likely than Asian American women to directly rebuff racist comments, a difference that may reflect deeply rooted cultural differences. "Our work shows that racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds are sources of diversity that may explain why different targets of racism behave the way they do," says Elizabeth Lee who conducted the research with co-lead author José Soto while at The Pennsylvania ...

Burger Sotheby's International has appointed Sandrine Palmier as Managing Director following the appointment of Jean-Francois Favelier as Chief Executive Officer. Favelier co-founded Burger Realty with is wife Anne-Maria Burger more than 30 years ago and has grown the company to become the premier luxury estate agency on the French Riviera. Palmier first joined Burger Sotheby's International Realty in 2005 as a Commercial Assistant and most recently held the position of Sales Manager working from the Cannes Office. 'I am delighted to be given this opportunity to take ...

Davis, CA, April 9, 2012 – In a study published in Nutrition Research, researchers looked at the association of out-of-hand nut (OOHN) consumption with nutrient intake, diet quality and the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome in both children and adults. Consumers of OOHN, including tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts), had higher intakes of energy, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (the good fats) and dietary fiber, and lower intakes of carbohydrates, ...

Toronto-based independent web series Clutch took home 8 awards at LA WebFest last weekend, and Out With Dad 5, including the Grand Jury Prize which sends them both to the acclaimed Marseille WebFest in October where they will compete internationally. These wins did not go unnoticed. When The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson heard of Clutch star Elitsa Bako's win for Actress in a Leading Role, they pulled her up for an appearance on Monday night's show. The segment was ultimately cut due to length, but after re-recording a bit where Ferguson delighted with a one-man ...

In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition[i], researchers compared risk factors for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome of nut consumers versus those who did not consume nuts. Tree nut (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts) consumption specifically, was associated with higher levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (good cholesterol) and lower levels of C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation which can lead to a variety of chronic diseases including heart ...

BANGKOK (12 APRIL 2012)—Severe outbreaks of new, invasive pests triggered by rising temperatures could threaten Southeast Asia's multi-billion dollar cassava industry, as well as the livelihoods of the hundreds of thousands of small farmers that rely on the crop for income, according to research from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). "Warmer conditions and longer dry seasons linked to climate change could prove to be the perfect catalyst for outbreaks of pests and diseases. They are already formidable enemies affecting food crops," said Pramod ...

When you look in the mirror, do you like the face you see? More to the point: do you find it attractive and representative of how you feel? Or do you see a face that no longer looks like you, causes you to feel unattractive, or old before your time? When you are unhappy with the way you look, it can have a tremendously negative impact on every aspect of your life. Looking older than you feel or no longer recognizing your own face can lead to depression, anxiety, and feeling less attractive and appealing. What's more, this can begin happening as early as your mid-20s ...

Contact: Jeff Haskins jhaskins@burnesscommunications.com 66-815-476-685 Michelle Geis mgeis@burnesscommunications.com 301-280-5712 Burness Communications Rapid climate change threatens Asia's Rice Bowl Researchers focus on innovations to adapt agriculture to wild swings in climate extremes, as vividly manifested by Southeast Asia's catastrophic flood-drought cycles Bangkok -- As Asia's monsoon season begins, leading climate specialists and agricultural scientists warned today that rapid climate change and its potential to intensify droughts and floods could ...