INDIANAPOLIS – Technologies for rapid detection of bacterial pathogens are crucial to maintaining a secure food supply. Researchers from the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and the Bindley Bioscience Center at Purdue University have developed a novel approach to automated detection and classification of harmful bacteria in food. The investigators have designed and implemented a sophisticated statistical approach that allows computers to improve their ability to detect the presence of bacterial contamination in tested samples. ...

UPTON, NY - A new source of ions will soon be the starting point for the beams entering two major research facilities at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory - the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC - http://www.bnl.gov/rhic), where physicists are recreating conditions of the early universe to learn more about the forces that hold matter together, and the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL: http://www.bnl.gov/medical/NASA/NSRL_description.asp), where scientists study the effects of space radiation to help find ways to protect astronauts. ...

Alzheimer's disease is not the only type of dementia. Two particular forms are dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia. In both forms, the diagnosis is of vital importance because the treatment for these dementias differs from that for Alzheimer's dementia, as Brit Mollenhauer and co-authors explain in the dementia theme issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2010; 107[39]: 684-91). In more than 75% of patients, the memory impairments are due to Alzheimer's disease. In Lewy body dementia, which is accompanied by cognitive and/or ...

Scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in conjunction with the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Ca., recently reported a detailed study of the interactions of water soluble semi-conductor quantum dots (QDs) with the electro-active neuro-transmitter dopamine. These biocompatible QD-dopamine nano-assemblies may be used as the active component for sensors that are used to detect a wide variety of target analytes ranging from sugars to peroxides. According to NRL's Dr. Michael Stewart, a member of the research team "The nature of the QD-dopamine ...

The ordinary squid, Loligo pealii—best known until now as a kind of floating buffet for just about any fish in the sea—may be on the verge of becoming a scientific superstar, providing clues about the origin and evolution of the sense of hearing. In a hangar-like research building at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), biologist T. Aran Mooney is exploring virtually uncharted waters: Can squid hear? Is their hearing sensitive enough to hear approaching predators? How do squid and other marine species rely on sound to interact, migrate, and communicate? Will ...

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- We've all heard the adage that whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger, but until now the preponderance of scientific evidence has offered little support for it. However, a new national multi-year longitudinal study of the effects of adverse life events on mental health has found that adverse experiences do, in fact, appear to foster subsequent adaptability and resilience, with resulting advantages for mental health and well being. The study, "Whatever Does Not Kill Us: Cumulative Lifetime Adversity, Vulnerability and Resilience," to be published in ...

For the first time researchers have found out what effect multiple, rather than just single, foods with anti-inflammatory effects have on healthy individuals. The results of a diet study show that bad cholesterol was reduced by 33 per cent, blood lipids by 14 per cent, blood pressure by 8 per cent and a risk marker for blood clots by 26 per cent. A marker of inflammation in the body was also greatly reduced, while memory and cognitive function were improved. "The results have exceeded our expectations! I would like to claim that there has been no previous study ...

An article published in the October issue of the Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden describes a new genus of tree of the Aptandraceae family, a group that is related to the sandalwoods (order Santalales). The genus, which has been given the name Hondurodendron, is endemic to Honduras and means "tree of Honduras." In the article, "Hondurodendron, a New Monotypic Genus of Aptandraceae from Honduras," lead author Dr. Carmen Ulloa, associate curator at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and co-authors Dr. Daniel L. Nickrent, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Dr. ...

How do astronomers weigh a star that's trillions of miles away and way too big to fit on a bathroom scale? In most cases they can't, although they can get a best estimate using computer models of stellar structure. New work by astrophysicist David Kipping says that in special cases, we can weigh a star directly. If the star has a planet, and that planet has a moon, and both of them cross in front of their star, then we can measure their sizes and orbits to learn about the star. "I often get asked how astronomers weigh stars. We've just added a new technique to our toolbox ...

Calgary, AB - Researchers at the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine are using an innovative new imaging technique to study how white blood cells (called neutrophils) respond to inflammation, and have revealed new targets to inhibit the response. When the body is invaded by infection, the immune system counters by generating inflammation with deployment of white blood cells to the site of danger to kill invading bacteria. However, inappropriate inflammation occurs in the absence of infection when tissues are damaged, and this inappropriate response contributes ...

Western culture is increasingly obsessed with physical appearance and beauty, but vanity is nothing new, nor is it limited to just one culture. Moreover, differences in our perception of physical beauty have an enormous impact on the fashion, cosmetics, and weight control industries, and more recently on aesthetic surgery trends. Understanding how culture and region alter the perception of beauty is therefore not only of anthropological and social interest but underpins multibillion dollar industries across the globe. According to Anil Mathur of Hofstra University in ...

(Phoenix, Arizona October 15, 2010) -- An internationally-recognized gynecologic oncologist at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona is warning that the results from a long-awaited global study of ovarian cancer should be viewed cautiously. Published in The Lancet last month, the study reported that women who received early chemotherapy for a recurrence of ovarian cancer did not live longer than those whose treatment is delayed. London-based, The Lancet is one of the world's most respected medical journals. "While this study is a bold challenge ...

UCSF Nobel laureate Stanley B. Prusiner, MD, UCSF professor of neurology and director of the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, today (Oct. 15, 2010) was named to receive the National Medal of Science, the nation's highest honor for science and technology. Prusiner was among 10 recipients named by President Barack Obama. In addition, three individuals and one team were named as recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. All of the awardees will receive their medals at a White House ceremony later this year. The National Medal of Science honors ...

PHILADELPHIA – How a T cell decides to make protein X, Y, or Z can have profound effects for fighting foreign invaders or staving off dire autoimmune reactions. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified the steps that control how different forms of an immune cell protein called CD45, which is critical for activating the immune system when faced with pathogens, are controlled in the arc of a body's immune response. The shift between different forms of CD45 helps T cells function properly and also prevents hyperactivity, which could ...

America's higher education system is widely regarded to be one of the largest and most flexible systems in the world. Despite this advantage, the U.S. is in danger of being outpaced by other countries in producing innovative scientists and engineers. Recent reports by the federal government underscore the challenge faced by the U.S.: science and engineering students need to be better prepared with the motivation, competence, and critical thinking skills required to solve problems and generate technological breakthroughs if the nation is to remain a global economic ...

In a Policy Forum article in today's issue of Science, a group of leading biodiversity scientists, including NJIT's Daniel Bunker, have argued that targets to be met by 2020 under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) must consider the real value of biodiversity if they are to be attained. "Ecosystem Services for 2020" outlines how biodiversity can be valued by considering the ecosystem services that biodiversity provides. By incorporating this ecosystem services approach into the CBD targets, signatory nations can better justify and thereby improve biodiversity ...

New Haven, Conn.—It turns out that the undisputed king of the dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex, didn't just eat other dinosaurs but also each other. Paleontologists from the United States and Canada have found bite marks on the giants' bones that were made by other T. rex, according to a new study published online Oct. 15 in the journal PLoS ONE. While searching through dinosaur fossil collections for another study on dinosaur bones with mammal tooth marks, Yale researcher Nick Longrich discovered a bone with especially large gouges in them. Given the age and location of ...

For more than 15 years Pre-employ.com has long been established as a leader of the background screening industry: This month, the company welcomes Phillip A. Smith—an accomplished professional with extensive industry experience—to the role of President. "I am looking forward to joining the Pre-employ.com team and to working with its outstanding group of professionals," said Smith. "This is an exciting organization and I expect that we will continue to accomplish great things." Smith will assume the role of President and will oversee a variety of ongoing initiatives, ...

Danny Bushart has released his new line of handmade plumeria jewelry in fine sterling silver. The new line, titled Plumeria Nouveau, seeks to capture the essence of Hawaii, something for which the artist has already achieved widespread acclaim. "The sweet scent of the plumeria lei is one of my first memories of arriving in Hawaii 12 years ago," says Bushart. "I was inspired immediately, and have wanted to design a line devoted to plumeria for years. With the evolution of my art, I discovered that I could now tap into that feeling in a way that I never imagined before." For ...

Ramon Desage, President of Las Vegas based hotel and casino luxury goods supplier Cadeau Express, has made a $25,000 contribution to the Salt Lake City based Urban Youth Scholarship fund. The Urban Youth Scholarship fund provides scholarships to accomplished young people nationwide who have aspirations and dedication to earn a higher education but are limited by their means, and this gift will provide five talented young people the opportunity to pursue this dream. Their scholarships are awarded based on need, scholastic performance, and community service. To date, ...

Former US Air Force (USAF) Physical Training Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer, Weight Management Counselor, William Matthews, has officially launched Airforcept.com (www.airforcept.com), a website that introduces a new product that promises to help you ace your Air Force physical test, glide you into basic training, and transform your body. "So, if you're about to undertake U.S. Air Force (USAF) basic training, if you're already an actively serving Airman, or if you want to become as fit and strong as one, then be warned that the Air Force is now placing greater ...

Huntington Beach City Attorney Jennifer McGrath attended the Kiwanis City Attorney Candidate Forum held at the Meadowlark Country Club in Huntington Beach, California, on September 28, 2010. The Kiwanis Club of Huntington Beach holds candidate forums during election years as a service to help the community become better informed as they go to the polls in the November 2, election. Jennifer McGrath, the current Huntington Beach City Attorney and incumbent candidate, was pleased to attend the forum to discuss the office of Huntington Beach City Attorney. The Huntington ...

Surround yourself with Playboy Bunnies at the "Mansion Madness" Halloween bash at Ivy Nightclub at Andaz San Diego on Friday, October 29. Produced by Sfinx Productions and White Label Productions, in partnership with Playboy and S.K.A.M. Artist, the "Mansion Madness" party will be hosted by Playboy Playmates Amy Andrews, Miss April 2010; Jamie Edmondson, Miss January 2010; and Heather Young, Miss February 2010. Ivy Nightclub guests will be entertained by the beats of two S.K.A.M. Artists - DJ Ross One, of famed Miami hot spots Mokai and Set, and renowned Las Vegas ...

Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals announces a 406.7% increase in sales revenue from March 2010 to August 2010, compared to the same period in 2009. These growth figures are reflective of the expansion into new markets as well as a push of brand awareness through social networking and revamping the RMVR website and blogsite. Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals has made their site more user friendly by implementing a "vacation quote request" form so clients can communicate desired travel details and then receive a call from a sales agent in the specified location, making the booking ...

Portico Systems, the leader in Integrated Provider Management (IPM) solutions, has been ranked by Philadelphia Business Journal's 2010 list of Software Developers. Portico is ranked fifth out of 23 companies that participated in the survey. The consistent recognition is evidence that Portico continues to develop healthcare IT solutions to meet the demands of healthcare reform mandates, and invest in the Philadelphia software developer community. Portico develops enterprise, Integrated Provider Management software and service solutions for health plans and insurers. ...