Author Archives: ev1

Synthetic biology: Stanford, Cal engineering a new frontier

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Most people look at the cedar in Drew Endy's front yard and admire its graceful green boughs, heavy with needles, sap and cones.

Endy sees something much different: an industrial manufacturing platform, waiting to be exploited.

"I dream we could someday reprogram trees that could self-assemble a computer chip in your front yard," exudes the brilliant and intense Stanford University bioengineer, who has emerged as a leading evangelist in the new field of synthetic biology.

One gene at a time, Endy and other elite teams of Bay Area scientists are striving to design and build organisms unlike anything made by Mother Nature.

It's not yet possible to create artificial life from scratch. But it's getting closer, through projects that essentially swap out a cell's original operating system for a lab-designed one. These made-to-order creations then can be put to work.

The Human Genome Project gave us the ability to read nature's instruction manual -- DNA -- like words in a book. But the real opportunities, scientists say, lie in our ability to not only read genetic code, but to write it, then build it using off-the-shelf chemical ingredients, strung together like holiday lights. It is the creation of new genomes -- and a new frontier in bioengineering.

Synthetic biology works because biological creatures are, in essence, programmable manufacturing systems. The DNA instruction manual buried inside every cell -- its software, in a

This presages the distant day when Endy's big Menlo Park cedar churns out computer chips, not cones. Or makes cancer-fighting drugs. Or fuels. Or building materials. Or anything else.

There are concerns about safety and ethics. In the wrong hands, lone villains or rogue regimes could unleash dangerous life forms. A review in 2010 by a White House commission concluded the field needs monitoring, but the risks are still limited.

Synthetic biology is different from genetic engineering, which simply inserts a gene from one organism into another.

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Synthetic biology: Stanford, Cal engineering a new frontier

Mentoring Achievement Award: Sandra Degen, PhD – Video

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Mentoring Achievement Award: Sandra Degen, PhD
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org Sandra Degen, PhD Associate Chair for Academic Affairs, Department of Pediatrics Professor of Pediatrics From high school summer interns to scientists at all stages of their careers, Sandra Degen, PhD, has been an outstanding mentor to a generation of faculty and trainees. Since 1998, Degen has served as Associate Chair for Academic Affairs, a role in which she oversees the reappointment, promotion and tenure process for 650 faculty members of the Department of Pediatrics. She also mentors new division directors, junior faculty, and graduate and undergraduate students. Degen has long championed the role of women in academic medicine. She founded the Schmidlapp Women #39;s Scholars Program in 1998, which provides early funding for the research of some of Cincinnati Children #39;s most promising faculty. Each year, she identifies candidates for the national Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program, which trains women for leadership roles; Degen herself was one of the first fellows in this program. Degen has long worked to maintain a strong relationship between Cincinnati Children #39;s and the University of Cincinnati (UC). Among her roles, she served as UC #39;s vice president of research from 2004 to 2011 and currently serves as interim chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology. Her dedication to the pursuit of science and to guiding others along the way has helped shape the successful research careers of ...

By: CincinnatiChildrens

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Mentoring Achievement Award: Sandra Degen, PhD - Video

Applying Behavioral Science to the Challenges of Cybersecurity – Video

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Applying Behavioral Science to the Challenges of Cybersecurity
Deanna Caputo, a behavioral scientist in MITRE #39;s Social, Behavioral, and Linguistic Sciences Department, uses her expertise in human nature to help design cybersecurity and insider threat detection systems and training programs.

By: mitrecorp

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Applying Behavioral Science to the Challenges of Cybersecurity - Video

Beckers Muscular Dystrophy After Stem Cell Therapy in Mumbai India – Video

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Beckers Muscular Dystrophy After Stem Cell Therapy in Mumbai India
He is a 12 year old and a known case of BMD with history of gradual onset of progressive lower extremities muscle weakness since age of 7 years with complaints of difficulty in climbing stairs, getting up from floor. Weakness even progressed to upper extremities with difficulty in overhead activities and frequent falls. No family history. On examination, he has grade 3 #713; muscle power in proximal muscles of both upper extremities and lower extremities and 4 in distal muscles of both upper extremities and lower extremities. He has bilateral pseudohypertrophy of calf muscles and walks on toes. Neurologically, he is hypotonic and hyporeflexic. Functionally, he is independent in most of the ADL, needs assistance in lower body dressing. On FIM he score 109. After Stem Cell Treatment 1. Reports overall feeling of freshness and energetic. 2. Can manage to walk on heels. Earlier he would walk on toes. 3. Posture has improved. Earlier he would walk with lordosis. 4. Earlier he would need maximum support for stair climbing from both railing and one hand on knee, now only uses railing to climb stairs. 5. Stamina has improved and he has increased level of confidence. 6. Sit to stand and stand to sit transfers requires less efforts. 7. Can perform overhead activities with ease and maintains for a longer time. 8. Is more active than before. 9. Speech is clear and loud followed by deep inhalation and slow rate with prolongation technique. 10. Secondary behaviors also reduced like reduced ...

By: neurogenbsi

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Beckers Muscular Dystrophy After Stem Cell Therapy in Mumbai India - Video

Mysteries Of African Physiology (Lecture #6) – Video

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Mysteries Of African Physiology (Lecture #6)
This Is A Excerpt From Audio Lecture #6 Of The Worldwide Temple Of Nunology #39;s "African Purification Rite" Audio Series. In This Audio Lecture Neb Abakau Asare Ptah, The Master Teacher Of The #39;Official #39; Worldwide Temple Of Nunology, Teaches Unknown Facts About The Physiology Of African People. For More Information Visit http://www.templeofnunology.com

By: TempleOfNunology

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Mysteries Of African Physiology (Lecture #6) - Video

MSc Human

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MSc Human Applied Physiology visit the Centre of Aviation Medicine, RAF Henlow (2013)
Students studying for an MSc in Human Applied Physilology at King #39;s College London visit the Centre of Aviation Medicine, RAF Henlow, for a week to carry out experiments in a hypobaric chamber. Filmed entirely with a Sony HX10 camera. Music: Tom Petty, Learning to Fly. ©2013 Dory Video http://www.doryvideo.co.uk

By: doryproductions

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MSc Human

How to find good nutrition advice

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Anyone can claim to be a nutritionist, which is why finding a good one can be a challenge. Licensure and credentials are an important place to start, but they dont necessarily ensure quality, some experts say.

Nutrition is a controversial and changing area. Keeping up to date requires a lot of work, said Dr. Stephen Devries, executive director of the nonprofit Gaples Institute for Integrative Cardiology in Deerfield, Ill.

The best professionals, he said, have undergone a rigorous formal training program and continuously update their nutrition knowledge.

Red flags that your nutrition professional may be unqualified include over-the-top promises such as a guarantee of permanent or quick weight loss or the idea that diet can cure cancer. Also be wary of practitioners who sell products and who have a one-size-fits-all philosophy. If they cant support their claims with scientific research instead of anecdotes, consider one who can.

Marion Nestle, who has spent her career telling people how to eat, is not a registered dietitian but holds a New York State license as a nutritionist/dietitian. She has a masters in public health nutrition and a doctorate in molecular biology.

Nestle suggests approaching anyones advice, including her own, with skepticism. She likes nutritionists with critical thinking skills, those who understand how and why people eat the way they do, focus on food rather than nutrients, and are able to read current research as well as interpret and apply it in context.

I know people trained in dietetics who can do that, said Nestle, a professor in the department of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University. But I know even more nutritionists who are not dietitians who also do that. Would licensing straighten all this out? Only if it sets academic standards that all nutritionists must meet.

TYPES OF NUTRITIONISTS

Consumers should know theres a big difference between the training of a certified nutrition specialist and a certified nutrition consultant. Heres a look at the meaning behind the credentials.

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How to find good nutrition advice

Lambda To Lyse – Video

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Lambda To Lyse
This is a nerded out version of Alex Clare #39;s "Too Close". I #39;ve taken the bacteriophage Lambda #39;s decision to lyse or go lysogenic and put it to song. I am by no means a professional, and it probably sounds like crap, but I had fun coming up with and recoding the song. Cheers to Microbiology!

By: chatman88

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Lambda To Lyse - Video

TA-65 Teloomerase Activator Health and Longevity Benefits – Preliminary Results of TA-65 User's Survey

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The TA-65 Users Survey included the collection of qualitative data gathered through survey research. This study outlined the TA-65 longevity and health benefits seen in actual human subjects, during the course of the 6 months.

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 17, 2013

As we age our telomeres shorten. Scientific studies have shown that short telomeres are associated with age related decline and dysfunction. Evidence clearly shows that people with long telomeres age healthier and live longer. The only way to lengthen telomeres is through the activation of an enzyme called telomerase. Currently the only way to activate telomerase is to take the TA-65 supplement.

TA-65 Users Survey Preliminary Results:

The TA-65 User Survey was carried out from October 2012 to February 2013. The multi-ethnic survey with an average participant age of 61 years, helped us to understand better, the benefits of the TA-65 supplement and minimum amount of time after constant use to show these benefits.

To evaluate the benefits of this natural product-derived telomerase activator TA-65, we analyzed data from 54 participants aged 30 yr, in 9 countries.

Each participant in the study completed a confidential survey that contained questions about observed changes compared with how they felt before, starting TA-65 Questions were also asked about information detailing their current health status and behavior. This information was combined with their daily supplement dosage to form the baseline data for the study.

The TA-65 Users Survey included the collection of qualitative data gathered through survey research. A survey seeks to gather peoples opinions by measuring their responses to a set of questions.

As we already know, the full spectrum of TA-65 benefits can only be seen after a taking the supplement for a minimum of 6 months. This study outlined the benefits seen in actual human subjects, during the course of the 6 months.

There were slightly more males (60%) in this survey than females (40%). The average age of respondents was 61 years. Survey participant ages ranged from the youngest participant who was 30 years old, to the oldest respondent at 83 years. All (100%) respondents were currently taking at least two TA-65 supplement capsules daily.

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TA-65 Teloomerase Activator Health and Longevity Benefits - Preliminary Results of TA-65 User's Survey