Scientists dream of developing a real-world version of the Pied Piper's magic flute — new poisons that pose no threat to people, pets or wildlife, while specifically targeting rats, those germ-laden creatures that outnumber humans 6 to 1 in some urban areas. An article in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS' weekly newsmagazine, details some of the steps toward that goal. C&EN Associate Editor Jyllian Kemsley points out that rats not only are notorious carriers of infectious disease, but threaten the survival of native plants and wildlife. ...

A new ultrasound technique is proving valuable in distinguishing malignant from benign breast lesions in some patients – results that could mean fewer unnecessary breast biopsies, a new study shows. The study found that ultrasound elastography, which indicates tissue softness, can help predict cancer in patients with BI-RADS category 4 masses. "Because malignant tumors predominantly are harder than benign tissues, this technique significantly improves the differentiation between benign and malignant tissue" said Hiroko Satake, MD, lead author of the study. Dr. Satake ...

The use of preoperative Breast MRI detects otherwise occult cancer with a relatively high degree of accuracy when applied to a diverse population of patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer, according to a study in the January issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology. The study was performed at the University of Washington and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in Seattle, WA. The review initiated with 592 patients who were recently diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent staging with preoperative breast MRI. The analysis set was comprised of 570 patients, whose ...

Researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute have discovered that the genetic mechanism which destroys brain cells is responsible for early development of Alzheimer's Disease in people with Down Syndrome and for development of Alzheimer's Disease in general population – providing a potential new target for drugs that could forestall dementia in people with either condition. The research, led by Dr. Weihong Song, Canada Research Chair in Alzheimer's Disease and a professor of psychiatry in the UBC Faculty of Medicine, ...

CORAL GABLES, FL (January 12, 2011) --Living through a natural disaster is a traumatic experience for everyone, but especially for children. A new study by University of Miami Psychologist Annette La Greca and her collaborators, indicate that some children who directly experience a devastating hurricane still show signs of posttraumatic stress (PTS) almmost two years after the event. The findings suggest that new models for intervention to help children after a natural disaster are needed. The study, titled "Hurricane-Related Exposure Experiences and Stressors, Other Life ...

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Jan. 12, 2011) -- As adolescents move from elementary school into their middle or junior-high years, changes in friendships may signal potential academic success or troubles down the road, say University of Oregon researchers. A new study, appearing in the February issue of the Journal of Early Adolescence, found that boys and girls whose friends are socially active in ways where rules are respected do better in their classroom work. Having friends who engage in problem behavior, in contrast, is related to a decrease in their grades. Having pro-social ...

Scientists from Texas have made an important step toward understanding human mating behavior by showing that certain genes become activated in fruit flies when they interact with the opposite sex. This research, published in the January 2011 issue of the journal GENETICS (http://www.genetics.org), shows that courtship behaviors may be far more influenced by genetics than previously thought. In addition, understanding why and how these genes become activated within social contexts may also lead to insight into disorders such as autism. "Be careful who you interact with," ...

PASADENA, Calif.—Glass is inherently strong, but when it cracks or otherwise fails, it proves brittle, shattering almost immediately. Steel and other metal alloys tend to be tough—they resist shattering—but are also relatively weak; they permanently deform and fail easily. The ideal material, says Marios Demetriou, a senior research fellow at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), has the advantage of being both strong and tough—a combination called damage tolerance, which is more difficult to come by than the layperson might think. "Strength and toughness ...

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – January 11, 2011 – 23andMe has released its first annual list of what it felt to be the 10 most interesting and significant genetic findings in 2010, as part of an ongoing journey to understand the role of genetics in personal health and human development. "Our understanding of the human genome is accelerating at a phenomenal rate," stated Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and CEO of 23andMe. "Below we have compiled a list of our top ten favorite genetic discoveries from 2010. We look forward to exploring more discoveries in 2011." Customers of 23andMe ...

Grand Rapids, Mich. (January 12, 2011) – Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) researchers have developed a method that can yield more information from archived newborn blood that has implications for a vast array of research, including population health studies and answering questions about diseases in infants and children. In a recent study published in Pathology International, VARI researchers detected approximately 9,000 activated genes in samples from adult blood spots on Guthrie cards that had been archived anywhere from six months to three years. Researchers say ...

Nature has a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde relationship with mercury, but researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have made a discovery that ultimately could help explain the split personality. While scientists have known that microbes in aquatic environments make methylmercury, a more toxic form of mercury that accumulates in fish, they also know that nature and other types of bacteria can transform methylmercury to less toxic forms. What they haven't completely understood are the mechanisms that cause these transformations in anoxic environments ...

This press release is available in French. Robot-assisted surgery dramatically improves outcomes in patients with uterine, endometrial, and cervical cancer, said researchers at the Jewish General Hospital's Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research in Montreal. Moreover, because of fewer post-operative complications and shorter hospital stays, robotic procedures also cost less. These results were published in late 2010 in a series of studies in The Journal of Robotic Surgery and The International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. To date, adoption of robotic surgery ...

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Bahram Mobasher, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Riverside, is a member of an international team of astronomers that has uncovered a burgeoning galactic metropolis, the most distant known in the early universe. This ancient collection of galaxies presumably grew into a modern galaxy cluster similar to the massive ones seen today. The developing cluster, named COSMOS-AzTEC3, was discovered and characterized by multi-wavelength telescopes, including NASA's Spitzer, Chandra and Hubble space telescopes, and the ground-based ...

Using two NASA X-ray satellites, astronomers have discovered what drives the "heartbeats" seen in the light from an unusual black hole system. These results give new insight into the ways that black holes can regulate their intake and severely curtail their growth. This study examined GRS 1915+105 (GRS 1915 for short), a binary system in the Milky Way galaxy containing a black hole about 14 times more massive than the Sun that is feeding off material from a companion star. As this material falls towards the black hole, it forms a swirling disk that emits X-rays. The black ...

In the first update of the American Geriatrics Society and the British Geriatric Society's guidelines on preventing falls in older persons since 2001, they now recommend that all interventions for preventing falls should include an exercise component and that a number of new assessments should be used, including; feet and footwear, fear of falling, and ability to carry out daily living activities. The guidelines, a summary of which are published today in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, also state that fall screening and prevention should be a part of all ...

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Jan. 13, 2011 — Genomic research could help doctors better target a drug widely used to treat colorectal cancer patients, according to a study by Genomic Health Inc. (Nasdaq: GHDX) and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). The drug, oxaliplatin, is widely used in colon cancer. It is used in early disease, following surgery in those cancers that are likely to recur. It is also used in advanced disease to slow progression of the cancer where it has spread to other parts of the body. However, a significant number of patients experience ...

The development and growth of much of Asia over the past two decades has been nothing short of spectacular. Yet, there remains a huge void of great brands (Japan aside) emerging from this region - Surveys repeatedly confirm that Asian consumers overwhelmingly prefer great Western brands to home-grown ones: given the choice, they will drink Coke, wear Nike shoes, and drive a BMW every time. This begets the question: How effective will be the current transition of the world order from West to East in the absence of great Asian brands? And will that momentous transition remain ...

iFunia, a professional developer of Mac multimedia software, is pleased to announce that their flagship product iFunia MOD Converter for Mac is currently available on the Mac App Store. iFunia MOD Converter is the multifunctional tool which helps camcorder enthusiasts easily convert MOD,TOD files recorded by most popular digital camcorder to all popular video and audio formats for use on Mac, iPad, iPhone or iPod, or Apple TV. "With more than 1,000 free and paid apps, the Mac App Store brings the revolutionary App Store experience to the Mac, and we are thrilled to have ...

The Canadian Short Screenplay Competition, the most prestigious name in short film script contests, has earned one more honour: first place in the Writing and Literature category as part of the first edition of the Canadian Weblog Awards, a recently introduced annual event administered by Schmutzie.com, which was created to promote good weblogs of all genres from across Canada year round through regular interviews, articles, and the nomination, judging and award process that culminates with the announcement of the top three weblogs in each category on January 1st of each ...

Look what hatched on December 4, 2010: It's my bum2 book, a daily journal for TWINS! With my bum2 [squared] book ("bum2"), parents of twins won't have to use two my bum books anymore! They can now record all their twins' daily deeds in one convenient book. "Bum2 was such a natural addition to the bum book line. I'd gotten so many requests for a twins' book - we just knew it would be a great way to help mothers with multiples make sense of their busy baby days." said Cory Kingston, founder. For the same affordable price as the original my bum book ($19.95), the new ...

Improve the quality of your indoor air with houseplants as well as use them to brighten up a room. Plant leaves act as filters for many of the harmful toxins which are produced from carpet, paint, insulation and many other building materials found in our homes and offices. To learn how to clean the air using indoor plants, come to Calloway's or Cornelius Nursery for a free "Dressing Your Indoors" Clinic Saturday, January 15, 2011, at 10:15 a.m. Stay for Repotting Day on January 15th which will be held all day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. We provide: the working space and tools, ...

An innovative new treatment performed by the chiropractors in San Diego at New Century Spine Centers is helping many victims of back pain. Spinal Decompression Therapy along with an Arthritis Relief Program also known as ARP is helping patients avoid surgery for back and neck pain in San Diego, CA. At a fraction of the cost of spinal surgery, Spinal Decompression Treatment is extremely safe, very effective, FDA cleared, and best of all, non-operative. Many patients describe the treatment as very safe and comfortable and the rehabilitation as very helpful in eliminating ...

CFO WISE Founder & CEO, Ken Kaufman, was given moderated the Focus Finance Round Table on January 6, 2011 on Effective Tax Strategies for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses. This round table covered three main topics, recent tax law changes and how they impact you, actionable tips to help minimize tax and increase compliance, and an insider's perspective on how to get the most from your relationship with your CPA. The podcast for this discussion can be heard here. About CFOwise With over two centuries of senior-level executive experience, CFOwise is the premier ...

Woodycrest United Methodist and Nourishing NYC are pleased to announce Community Healthy Eating and Nutrition Classes for those in-need on February 16, 2011. In response to the scarcity of nutrition education within parts of New York City, Nourishing NYC and Woodycrest United Methodist will be offering a nutrition class free to those in-need on February 16th to help families and individuals that suffer disproportionately from poverty, obesity, and diabetes. On February 16th, Nourishing NYC will be sending nutrition volunteers to Woodycrest United Methodist. The goal ...

Dr. Bedi of PSA Zero says, "Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer prevalent in men. Prostate cancer is a slow grows slowly inside the prostate gland with hardly noticeable symptoms. Even though some early symptoms are apparent, men usually ignore it. It is pathetic to know most of the victims who are prone to prostate cancer are highly educated but they succumb to disease without awareness. He also added that if a person is well aware of the early symptoms then it is easy to cure the disease and prolong the life of the victim. PSA Zero is a specially ...