(Boston) – Researchers from Boston University's Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM) have demonstrated that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can differentiate into definitive endoderm cells, in vitro, with similar functional potential when compared to embryonic stem cells (ESCs), despite minor molecular differences between the two cell types. These findings are particularly important given growing controversy in the scientific literature about whether subtle differences between iPSCs and ESCs should dampen enthusiasm for iPSCs to serve as an alternative source ...

MAY/JUNE PBZ TIPSHEET Giant Hummingbirds: Running a little hot, but not on empty What keeps an asexual fish species from taking over? Small sea birds: Holding heat, rather than cranking up the furnace For the complete table of contents for the May/June issue, go to journals.uchicago.edu/pbz. Giant Hummingbirds: Running a little hot, but not on empty Scientists have long thought that the giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) was just about as big as a hummingbird could get. They're nearly twice the size of the next largest species, and it was assumed that ...

People who wash their hands with contaminated soap from bulk-soap-refillable dispensers can increase the number of disease-causing microbes on their hands and may play a role in transmission of bacteria in public settings according to research published in the May issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. "Hand washing with soap and water is a universally accepted practice for reducing the transmission of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. However, liquid soap can become contaminated with bacteria and poses a recognized health risk in health care ...

Exposure to secondhand smoke, such as a person can get by riding in an enclosed car while someone else smokes, has a direct, measurable impact on the brain—and the effect is similar to what happens in the brain of the person doing the smoking. In fact, exposure to this secondhand smoke evokes cravings among smokers, according to a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study, published today in Archives of General Psychiatry, used positron emission tomography (PET) to demonstrate that one hour of secondhand ...

The best teacher for a young mother is her baby, contend experts who train social workers to interact with first-time moms. "We like to think of babies as 'ordinary miracles,'" said Victor Bernstein, a research associate at the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. But adjusting to a baby can take work, and the task of social workers often is to help young mothers learn to focus on an infant's needs, say Bernstein and other SSA experts. "Mothers are not only important to their kids, but kids are really important to their mothers," Bernstein ...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An antioxidant may prevent damage to the liver caused by excessive alcohol, according to new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The findings, published online April 21, 2011, in the journal Hepatology, may point the way to treatments to reverse steatosis, or fatty deposits in the liver that can lead to cirrhosis and cancer. The research team, led by Victor Darley-Usmar, Ph.D., professor of pathology at UAB, introduced an antioxidant called mitochondria-targeted ubiquinone, or MitoQ, to the mitochondria of rats that were given alcohol ...

MRI can determine if a patient has endometrial versus cervical cancer even when a biopsy can't make that distinction, according to a new study. Determining the primary site of a tumor helps determine appropriate cancer treatment. The study, which is being presented during the American Roentgen Ray Society Annual Meeting on May 3 in Chicago, found that radiologists using MRI could correctly identify the primary site of cancer in 79% of cases (38/48 patients) when biopsy results are inconclusive. Endometrial and cervical cancers are common cancers in women, said Heather ...

A recent study shows that pelvic imaging using computed tomography (CT) examinations are not necessary for diagnosing patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and eliminating this exam can significantly reduce a patient's exposure to excessive radiation dose. CT venography of the pelvis during CT pulmonary angiography does not improve the detection of VTE, says Dr. Charbel Ishak, lead author for this study. He asserts, "Using CT venography in the lower extremities without including the pelvis can decrease the population's radiation dose generated by CT usage." In ...

A recent study shows how one medical center implemented strict protocols for administering gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) before imaging and eliminated new cases for nephrogenic system fibrosis (NSF). Implementing this protocol is particularly important for patients with diminished kidney function says Dr. Ozden Narin, presenting author for this study. "In the past, we had some patients who developed NSF after they were given a gadolinium-based agent before imaging. We implemented this new policy to see if we could make any change in preventing this condition," ...

DENVER – A program that teaches health care workers in developing countries basic techniques to resuscitate babies immediately after birth is saving lives, according to a study to be presented Tuesday, May 3, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Denver. Called Helping Babies Breathe, the program focuses on simple techniques such as rubbing the baby dry, keeping the baby warm and suctioning the baby's mouth, all within the first minute of life called "The Golden Minute." If the baby does not start breathing at this time, the provider has been taught ...

ULTRASONOGRAPHY COULD REPLACE CHEST X-RAY FOR DETERMINING SOURCE OF ACUTE SHORTNESS OF BREATH A new study suggests that ultrasonography could replace standard chest x-ray as the first choice of technique for imaging when rapid, accurate identification of the source of acute dyspnea is needed. Italian researchers studied 404 patients admitted to the emergency department and found strong agreement between the results of chest ultrasonography and x-ray for diagnosing the underlying pulmonary disease. Chest CT, long considered the gold standard for most pulmonary diseases, ...

MIAMI – May 3, 2011 – An international team of scientists report on the first observatory experiment to study the dynamic microbial life of an ever-changing environment inside Earth's crust. University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science professor Keir Becker contributed the deep-sea technology required to make long-term scientific observations of life beneath the seafloor. During the four-year subsurface experiment, the research team deployed the first in situ experimental microbial observatory systems below the flank of the Juan de Fuca ...

According to the author and owner of Seomarketingmedia, Annette Thomas "while their are many branding and marketing books with techniques out their in the marketplace and on the book shelves of many stores, I chose to really put one out their in as a simplistic a way as possible." "Also, most books don't really give you a whole lot for the money spent as well as the informative step by step approach." Here are some of the topics that are covered: Promoting Your Brand, here you will find out the "how to's" on how to get your product and ...

OptionsU Forex Trader (OUFX), creators of the recently launched Forex Trader Pro 2.0, have announced the next live Non Farm Payroll Event on May 6, 2011 from 8am to 10am EDT, hosted by "Forex Joe" Atkins, creator of the Forex Trader Pro series. During this free online event, "Forex Joe" will discuss the effect the monthly Non Farm Payroll announcement has on Forex trading and ways traders can use this information to increase pip gains in their Forex portfolios. The event will also include a free preview of the C4 Sniper enhancement found in Forex Trader ...

Dynamic Living Inc. is proud to announce a new partnership with Ponte Giulio USA that expands the selection of ADA compliant Grab Bars available on AdaptMy.com. This partnership adds a dimension not often available in the world of grab bars - color! Ponte Giulio USA offers safety solutions that add style, with the use of brilliant hues like red or navy blue, pastels and neutral colors. Andrea Tannenbaum, president of Dynamic Living Inc. says "we are excited about the addition of these colorful grab bars. The bright colors and warm neutrals of the Ponte Giulio ...

Plackers, makers of the first disposable dental flosser, expands its family-friendly line of oral healthcare products with Plackers OrthoPick, a dental flosser designed to make flossing easier and more convenient for millions with orthodontics such as braces, bridges and other dental appliances that make flossing difficult. To help these individuals more easily maintain their daily dental hygiene routine, Plackers is giving away free OrthoPick flosser samples to the first 10,000 people who sign up on its website at http://www.plackers.com/FreeOrthoPick. Plackers OrthoPick ...

With the advent of social media, mobile marketing and a host of other new, "sexier" communication channels, one might assume stodgy email marketing has gone the way of the Dodo bird or horse and buggy. But if anything the reverse is true. "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." Mark Twain With all the hype surrounding social media and mobile marketing, it would be easy to assume that email is yesterday's news, with little chance of keeping up with the other marketing methods now available. But according to the numbers this assumption ...

It's peculiar how little men and women seriously know about cash and just how to tackle it. Most are economically illiterate - they don't fully grasp tips on how to invest dollars, tips on how to make money quickly, how you can get from debt, tips on how to get to the proper credit card debt, how to raise their cash flow. Bradley Associates has developed an extensive network of professional resources. We select from among an array of carefully chosen managers to structure portfolios that meet the needs of our clients. We help our clients stay competitive in the constantly ...

The second Hinduism Summit (Hindu Dharmajagruti Sabha) in Australia will be held in Melbourne at the Union Hall, Latrobe University, Bundoora on Saturday, 21st May 2011 (on the occasion of Vaishakh Krushna Chaturthi as per the Hindu calendar). This unique event will commence with Vedic recitations, lighting of an auspicious oil lamp and blowing of a conch in the tradition of Hinduism. The Hinduism Summit is being organized by the Forum for Hindu Awakening (FHA), a non-profit organization. Hinduism is often misunderstood due to misconceptions, such as "Hindus worship ...

Anthony Wright, also author of the short story collection Smoke Ghosts & Other Outr� Tales, presents powerful storytelling with a sense of compassion for people, the environment, and indigenous customs and beliefs. His perceptive description of native peoples, places, and beliefs mingles with modern-day explorers and flirts with magical realism. Wright has been compared to Burroughs, Bowles, Dostoyevsky, Kerouac, and even to some degree Joyce as he searches out the sacred and profane of contemporary society. Infernal Drums explores the spiritual awakening of protagonist ...

Celebrate mom with heartfelt sentiments of love and beauty expressed in one-of-a-kind mosaic creations. Miami-based artist Julie Galvin Weilbacher has designed unique, mother-inspired mosaic artwork perfect for celebrating moms or special women in your life. Showcase your love for dear mom with a beautifully scripted representation of the word itself. Love in a Box ($325) features intricately cut tiles spelling "Love" in cursive letters and presented in a tastefully matted shadow box. In a vibrant burst of yellow, orange and red, The Sunburst Box ($110) ...

Polyester The Musical is now available for licensing thru Samuel French Publishers at (866) 598-8449. http://www.PolyesterTheMusical.com Synopsis: Written by Phil Olson and Wayland Pickard, Polyester The Musical is the story of The Synchronistics, an over-the-hill ABBA wannabe group that reunites after 20 years to perform at a public access TV Telethon. It's "Mamma Mia" meets "Spinal Tap." The year was 1979 and The Synchronistics were big. Johnny Carson big. Their hit single, "Better Together" rose to number two on the Billboard Charts. ...

Apantac LLC, designer and developer of high quality, cost effective multiviewers and signal processing equipment announced that Euromedia, one of Europe's leading outside broadcast contractors has equipped it's OB Van 740 with TAHOMA-LE high definition Multiviewers and MT HOOD DVI Receivers. Ten high definition TAHOMA-LE Multiviewers are used with slim high resolution LCD displays to replace CRT monitor stacks and are being used to visually monitor HD video and audio signals throughout the vans' four operational areas. Three TAHOMA-LE-32HD Multiviewers are used for ...

Atlanta-based MCIPE Constructors & Professional Engineers has joined forces with the architectural and engineering divisions of several southeastern real estate development companies. MCIPE Constructors & Professional Engineers of Atlanta, Georgia joined forces with several southeastern architectural and engineering divisions, the companies announced Monday. Each company will retain their name and continue to have offices in their respective cities. Some of these locations include: Savannah, GA; Augusta, GA; Charlotte, NC; Raleigh, NC; Greensboro, NC; Charleston, ...

The official website of F2P Expo has been revealed today in hopes to capture support from the free-to-play (F2P) game community. The annual event is designed to draw thousands of gamers who want to learn about the latest free online games and to interact with the game companies for free. We are asking all gamers with a passion for free-to-play games to help shape the first annual F2P Expo by taking our survey at (http://www.f2pexpo.com). The future venue will be open to the public (FREE of admission costs) and will feature the famous item mall attraction that many online ...