Monthly Archives: March 2014

Uploading Consciousness & Digital Immortality | Interview with Theoretical Physicist Michio Kaku – Video

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Uploading Consciousness Digital Immortality | Interview with Theoretical Physicist Michio Kaku
Breaking the Set #39;s Manuel Rapalo speaks with theoretical physicist, Michio Kaku, about his latest book #39;The Future of the Mind #39; discussing a the how realisti...

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Uploading Consciousness & Digital Immortality | Interview with Theoretical Physicist Michio Kaku - Video

Chemistry 131A. Quantum Principles. Lec 10. Particles on Rings and Spheres… A Prelude to Atoms – Video

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Chemistry 131A. Quantum Principles. Lec 10. Particles on Rings and Spheres... A Prelude to Atoms
Athan J. Shaka, Ph.D. Recorded on January 30, 2014. Potentials + Quantization in Two Spatial Dimensions License: Creative Commons CC-BY-SA For more informati...

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Chemistry 131A. Quantum Principles. Lec 10. Particles on Rings and Spheres... A Prelude to Atoms - Video

Erasing a genetic mutation

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

30-Mar-2014

Contact: Sarah McDonnell s_mcd@mit.edu 617-253-8923 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Using a new gene-editing system based on bacterial proteins, MIT researchers have cured mice of a rare liver disorder caused by a single genetic mutation.

The findings, described in the March 30 issue of Nature Biotechnology, offer the first evidence that this gene-editing technique, known as CRISPR, can reverse disease symptoms in living animals. CRISPR, which offers an easy way to snip out mutated DNA and replace it with the correct sequence, holds potential for treating many genetic disorders, according to the research team.

"What's exciting about this approach is that we can actually correct a defective gene in a living adult animal," says Daniel Anderson, the Samuel A. Goldblith Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT, a member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and the senior author of the paper.

The recently developed CRISPR system relies on cellular machinery that bacteria use to defend themselves from viral infection. Researchers have copied this cellular system to create gene-editing complexes that include a DNA-cutting enzyme called Cas9 bound to a short RNA guide strand that is programmed to bind to a specific genome sequence, telling Cas9 where to make its cut.

At the same time, the researchers also deliver a DNA template strand. When the cell repairs the damage produced by Cas9, it copies from the template, introducing new genetic material into the genome. Scientists envision that this kind of genome editing could one day help treat diseases such as hemophilia, Huntington's disease, and others that are caused by single mutations.

Scientists have developed other gene-editing systems based on DNA-slicing enzymes, also known as nucleases, but those complexes can be expensive and difficult to assemble.

"The CRISPR system is very easy to configure and customize," says Anderson, who is also a member of MIT's Institute for Medical Engineering and Science. He adds that other systems "can potentially be used in a similar way to the CRISPR system, but with those it is much harder to make a nuclease that's specific to your target of interest."

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Erasing a genetic mutation

U.S. House bill threatens social- science funding

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Research in the social, behavioral and economic sciences could suffer a 22 percent cut in federal funding if recently proposed legislation is voted into law.

Earlier this month, a House of Representatives committee advanced legislation that if passed will keep the National Science Foundation funding approximately the same but cut deeply into the pool of funding for humanities- and-social-science research. The current $256 million funding level would be reduced to $200 million.

Tom Birkland, associate dean for research and engagement in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said the proposed legislation would be a savage cut, and that CHASS researchers would only receive about 60 percent of the funding they received in 2000.

It really beats it up, Birkland said.

Currently, social, behavioral and economic research funding composes a small 3.5 percent of the NSFs $7.28 billion budget, and Birkland said the proposed changes would save the agency very little money.

The problem is that sometimes, Congress doesnt see the point in social-science research, Birkland said.

Last year, the NSF awarded a group of researchers to study how Native American communities used legal strategies to effect policy change, Birkland said.

Congress looks at that and thinks, What is the value? Birkland said. They think, Do we want to encourage that?

But some things are worth knowing simply for the sake of knowing them, Birkland said.

Astronomy has little practical benefit, Birkland said. Congress rejects certain research on the grounds of fiscal responsibility, or other ideological grounds. Thats a legitimate conversation to have in a democracy, but why cant we pursue the science of sociology as well as biology and astronomy?

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U.S. House bill threatens social- science funding

JULIANA’S WORLD TRAVEL AND TOURS: AMA Certo-Sailing in Vlatava River In Prague – Video

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JULIANA #39;S WORLD TRAVEL AND TOURS: AMA Certo-Sailing in Vlatava River In Prague
The Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic. The river is crossed by 18 bridges (including the famous Charles Bridge, as it runs through Prague.

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JULIANA'S WORLD TRAVEL AND TOURS: AMA Certo-Sailing in Vlatava River In Prague - Video

Kyvernitis Travel: Global Marine Partners With Cornerstone

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Bloomington, IN (PRWEB) March 27, 2014

Kyvernitis Travel: Global Marine, the latest project of the well-established Greek agency Kyvernitis Travel, has chosen to partner with Cornerstone Information Systems to take advantage of custom quality control products to improve efficiency and customer service. Global Marine specializes in transporting crew members to offshore sites, for example, oil platforms, cruise embarkation points, and shipping sites. This type of booking is more complex than traditional business travel because it is largely international, focuses on far-away hubs, and includes many one-way trips.

Cornerstones iQCX technology is uniquely suited to manage the complex world of marine travel booking. A rules-based quality control engine offers much more flexibility than a standard QC product and allows agents to handle more PNRs with less effort. Instead of struggling against a standard QC products pop-up windows and warnings, iQCX QC can be tailored to meet any agencys needsincluding those as complex as marine booking.

Cornerstone prides itself on the ability to customize its technology to meet the specific needs of an agency, and entering into the world of marine travel has been no exception. Kyle Moser, Managing Director of Global Business Development, says, We are very excited about working with Kyvernitis. As a leading player in the marine travel market, we believe we can help them deliver even greater value to their customers, and at the same time they can help us push the envelope on iQCX bringing automation into new markets. We expect to do great things together.

About Cornerstone Information Systems: Cornerstone Information Systems is a technology and professional services company helping travel management companies, corporate travel departments, travel technology companies and global distribution systems work more efficiently and more profitably. Founded in 1992, Cornerstone Information Systems is a privately held company headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana with personnel in eight locations worldwide. Further information about the company is available at http://www.ciswired.com or by contacting Alan Minton at (812) 269-0014, aminton(at)ciswired(dot)com. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, & LinkedIn.

About Kyvernitis TravelGlobal Marine: Kyvernitis Travel has over 40 years of experience in crew travel and established Global Marine to better serve their shipping and marine clients. Headquartered in Athens, Greece, they have presences in Manila, Mumbai, and Cyprus to offer constant support to their clients. Kyvernitis is a member of the UNIGLOBE Global Partners Network. More information is available at http://www.kyvernitis.gr/global-marine/, and you can find them on Facebook & Twitter.

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Kyvernitis Travel: Global Marine Partners With Cornerstone

Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury: Jamie Richie discusses her improvements – Video

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Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury: Jamie Richie discusses her improvements
Jamie Richie discussed her treatments and improvements while undergoing her third round of stem cell therapy at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama City, Panam...

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Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury: Jamie Richie discusses her improvements - Video