STANFORD, Calif. — Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have successfully transformed normal human tissue into three-dimensional cancers in a tissue culture dish for the first time. Watching how the cells behave as they divide and invade surrounding tissue will help physicians better understand how human cancers act in the body. The new technique also provides a way to quickly and cheaply test anti-cancer drugs without requiring laboratory animals. "Studies of this type, which used to take months in animal models, can now occur on a time scale of ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 21, 2010 -- Airplanes do not look much like birds -- unless you were to imagine a really weird bird or a very strange plane -- but should they? This question is exactly what a pair of engineers in California and South Africa inadvertently answered recently when they set about re-thinking the ubiquitous tube-and-wings aircraft architecture from scratch in order to make airplanes more fuel efficient. The modern airplane design works well, but from a fuel efficiency standpoint, could planes be designed more aerodynamically -- to lower drag and ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 21, 2010 -- For centuries, hunters have imitated their avian prey by whistling through their fingers or by carving wooden bird calls. Now a team of physicists at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has reproduced many of the characteristics of real bird song with a simple physical model made of a rubber tube. "We wanted to know if you [could] build a simple device, which has minimal control but reproduces some non-trivial aspects of bird song," says L Mahadevan, a professor at Harvard. The work is being presented today at the American ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 21, 2010 -- Hummingbirds rank among the world's largest and most accomplished hovering animals, but how do they manage it in gusty winds? A team of researchers at New Mexico State University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, and Continuum Dynamics Inc. has built a robotic hummingbird wing to discover the answer, which they describe today at the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD) meeting in Long Beach, CA Hummingbirds do not fly like other birds, whose wings flap up and down, explained ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 21, 2010 -- Jump ropes are used by kids for fun and by athletes for training. But what about the underlying physics? How do jump ropes work? Can important engineering principles be studied? Jeff Aristoff and Howard Stone of Princeton University have built themselves a robotic jump rope device that controls all the rope parameters -- rope rotation rate, rope density, diameter, length, and the distance between "hands." They capture the motion of the ropes by high-speed cameras, one to the side and one at the end. Then they compare the observed ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 21, 2010 -- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a medical imaging technology used to image organs and soft tissues, may hold the key to improving the efficiency of jet engines, according to Lt. Colonel Michael Benson, a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. In only a few hours, an MRI collects as much three-dimensional data on flow and mixing as conventional methods that take two or more years of intensive measurement. This promises to slash the time needed to develop and test new designs that improve efficiency and ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 22, 2010 -- From a baby's first blurted "bowl!'" for the word "ball" to the whispered goodbye of a beloved elder, the capacity for complex vocalizations is one of humankind's most remarkable attributes -- and perhaps one we take for granted most of our lives. Not so for people who are afflicted with paralysis to their vocal folds and who suffer the social stigma of affected speech. Nor so for engineering professor Michael Plesniak and post-doctoral researcher Byron Erath at the George Washington University (GWU) Biofluid Dynamics Laboratory ...

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 21, 2010 -- A milestone in the history of renewable energy occurred in the year 2008 when more new wind-turbine power generation capacity was added in the U.S. than new coal-fired power generation. The costs of producing power with wind turbines continues to drop, but many engineers feel that the overall design of turbines is still far from optimal. New ideas for enhancing the efficiency of wind turbines are being presented this week at the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics meeting in Long Beach, CA. One issue confronting ...

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Nov. 21, 2010) — What prompts normal cells to transform themselves into cancerous cells? Researchers from Texas institutions, including the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, have identified factors in the very first step of the process and reconstituted this first step in the test tube. The latter accomplishment was reported Sunday [Nov. 21] in the top-tier journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. The DNA molecule — the elegant, twin-stranded necklace of life in all cells — gets broken and repaired all the time. Breaks are caused by the body's ...

Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – the main contributor to global warming – show no sign of abating and may reach record levels in 2010, according to a study led by the University of Exeter (UK). The study, which also involved the University of East Anglia (UK) and other global institutions, is part of the annual carbon budget update by the Global Carbon Project. In a paper published today in Nature Geoscience, the authors found that despite the major financial crisis that hit the world last year, global CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuel in 2009 were ...

(Boston) - Scientists have discovered 30 new genes that control the age of sexual maturation in women. Notably, many of these genes also act on body weight regulation or biological pathways related to fat metabolism. The study, which appears in Nature Genetics, was a collaborative effort by the international ReproGen consortium, which included 175 scientists from 104 worldwide institutions, including Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston University School of Public Health. Menarche, the onset of first menstruation in girls, indicates the attainment of ...

Researchers at King's College London's Department of Twin Research have discovered, as part of a large international consortium, 30 new genes that control the age of sexual maturation in women, the Journal Nature Genetics publishes today. Many of these genes are also known to act on body weight regulation or biological pathways related to fat metabolism. This large new study of more than 100,000 women from Europe, US and Australia highlights several specific genetic links between early puberty and body fat. Puberty in women normally occurs between 11 – 14 years of ...

A new study challenges the current staging system that determines the extent or severity of prostate cancer that has not metastasized. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study found that there is no link between localized prostate cancer's clinical stage and a patient's risk of cancer recurrence after having his prostate removed. One of the primary purposes of staging prostate cancers is to help physicians determine a patient's prognosis. For example, a more advanced clinical stage should indicate a higher risk ...

With the financial crisis still hanging over many countries, this year's World Health Report from the World Health Organization, "Health Systems Financing: The Path to Universal Coverage" is timely and relevant to the question of how to ensure that all people have access to health care services, without suffering financial hardship. This is the conclusion of a Perspective article on the 2010 World Health Report from Sara Bennett (Johns Hopkins University, USA) and colleagues, published in PLoS Medicine to coincide with the release of the Report. 20-40% of health care ...

PAVA's production capacities allow to develop such new ways of cooperation without losing positions on domestic market. "Such partnership suggests some sort of compromise between two businesses. For grain traders it is an opportunity to maintain their presence on foreign markets whereas for us it is another efficient distribution channel for the products", - comments PAVA's CCO Angela Kiseleva. According to contractual obligations, the grain processor ships bran to a desired port. Depending on destination and partner's requirements, the company ships granular bran from ...

R. Jason Smith, a photographer and graphic design artist, has been creating wonderful works of art for the past decade under his studio name "Original Perspective Photography and Graphic Design" and has created and sold prints of his works, as well as a variety of products featuring his art. Now he's been given the opportunity to design cases for Apple iPhones and iPads on Zazzle.com. These hard-shell cases are easy to grip and ensure that the enclosed iPhone is easy and comfortable to use all day long. iPhone cases make great gifts for any occasion and usually ship ...

Ever wondered while walking in a garden which trees are you surrounded with? What is shocking is that most take them for granted. The fact of the matter is that trees are one of the most precious parts of our environment. And in order to protect and save our environment it is critical to know the trees, to understand their needs and to care for them accordingly. Come join us at our tree identification workshop and get to know our long ignored friend. Like humans, trees have names too and until we know the names of trees, our interest and appreciation for these beautiful ...

Brian Wainstein of GenXXL - Turning 40 can be a psychological hurdle for many people, a magic number that symbolizes the end of their youthful years and the transformation into full adulthood. Most people upon turning 40 battle that transition, holding onto those youthful days by planning outrageous parties on their 40th birthday, maybe purchasing some lavish gift, or planning an extreme sport or event, anything to feel young again. Yet, biologically, their bodies are changing when they reach so-called "middle age." The body's metabolism begins to slow, reactions are not ...

Me and My Big Career is a career exploration book for children's birth through 9 years old. It highlights Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers in a fun exciting fictional story format. Career exploration is the process by which students are exposed to diverse future emerging careers that align with their hobbies and interest. Students with specific career goals are driven to acquire the credentials necessary to reach their goals. They study and apply enormous effort. Every moment of education becomes important as they strive to secure high ...

It does not matter if you are naughty or nice, Black Friday shoppers at Metro Center Mall, 9617 N. Metro Parkway West and Desert Sky Mall, 7611 West Thomas Road will receive a treat from the International Academy of Hair Design in their goody bags supplied by the two Arizona malls. The first 250 shoppers in the malls will receive shopping bags of goodies including a coupon for a free kid's haircuts, as well as free samples of either eXo or Peter Hantz shampoo or conditioner. "Everyone wants to look great for the holidays, especially the children who want to have their ...

Retailers are telling the story that they are witnessing a distinct increase in shoplifting and violence which they claim is a direct result of the recession. The most recent crime review by the trade body the British Retail Consortium shows retail theft carried out by the public increased by a third between 2008 and 2009. It makes outrageous reading that a shop theft takes place almost every minute of the day, twenty four hours a day, and is one reason why business experts are requesting that the police and those others who are in authority take retail theft more ...

This time of year, customers have a ton on their plates, and we don't mean delicious turkey and stuffing. The experts at The UPS Store #5422 Jamaica Center located in Jamaica Queens can ease holiday stress by helping with customers' holiday logistics. "Customers are busy running from point A to point B making all the necessary preparations for the holidays," said The UPS Store franchisee Mr. Dyce. "Whether it's packing and shipping gifts to loved ones, shipping luggage ahead to grandma's house, opening a mailbox to receive all those online orders, or printing the family's ...

Sit in the Console Sweetspot "In Session with The Guys" The METAlliance (Music Engineering and Technical Alliance) is presenting the second In Session event, February 19-20, 2011 in NYC at famed Avatar Studios. "In Session with The Guys" attendees will participate and interact with the METAlliance founders in live recording and mixing sessions. By special arrangement, The METAlliance will occupy the historic Avatar Studios for the entire weekend. The inaugural 2010 METAlliance event in Hollywood at the historic studios in the Capitol Records tower was a resounding ...

Bliss Salon and Spa, a hair salon in Lafayette, IN, has announced they will be holding an open house on Friday, November 26th for the holiday shoppers who need a break during the day. The event will be held at Bliss Salon and Spa from 12:00 - 3:00 and will feature local vendors of handmade jewelry, Pampered Chef (kitchen utensils), Scentsy (candles), Thirty One (purses and bags), Wild Tree Food (healthy snacks for the holidays), and live presentations from Benedict Flowers to give ideas on holiday decor. According to Bliss Salon and Spa owner, Bethany Tyrrell, "I wanted ...

(Straight Line PR) -- SAFE International Expands Women's/Family Self Defense Programs throughout Toronto, Ontario, as well as Eastern Ontario. Many women and men join a class to learn self defense, but the best environment to learn the Toronto Self Defense skills is definitely in a private or small group setting. While learning in a class atmosphere might be less expensive and fun, there are several reasons why taking men's or women's self defense lessons privately, with your family or in a small group like our "Best Friends" Course makes the most sense. 1) Location ...