Author Archives: Fredricko

Grey’s Anatomy needs urgent surgery – Stuff.co.nz

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MALCOLM HOPWOOD

Last updated05:30, April 29 2017

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New Zealand's own Martin Henderson stars as Dr Nathan Riggs in Grey's Anatomy.

"I could bring a whitebait fritter?" asks Dr Nathan Riggs. With that he disappears.

It was a great opening line from Grey's Anatomy newcomer but he was gone, only to turn up at a housewarming minus the West Coast delicacy.

I watched Grey's Anatomy (TV2, Tuesdays) purely to see how Martin Henderson replaced Dr McDreamy. It was all very strange. As Dr Riggs, he attended the dinner party, sat on the couch, was treated as if he was infectious and received instructions not to date Dr Maggie.

When she suggested dinner, he delivered the line "I'm not ready to date anyone, right now".

READ MORE: *How Grey's Anatomy star Jesse Williams dominated the BET Awards *Martin Henderson discusses being Grey Anatomy's new McHunky *Sara Ramirez as Dr Callie Torres clocks out of Grey's Anatomy

What Martin is doing on Grey's Anatomy, a series beyond its used by date, is mysterious. Probably he's earning a pay cheque while he sorts his career out.

Meanwhile, can someone freeze a kilo of whitebait and send it to him so he can do something meaningful?

The episode focused on the future of Dr Alex Karev who'd previously attacked Dr Andrew DeLuca. He's slapped on the wrist with a wet admissions ticket and gets assigned to "the clinic", whatever that is.

The highlight of the episode was a patient who's called her tumour Wilma after her ex-husband's mistress. She wants it removed. It could be time for Grey's Anatomy to surgically remove itself.

Have you heard of a target shooter who farms, preaches, reads, drinks and sings tenor in the choir? Country Calendar (TV One, Sundays) had it all when it featured Tracey Peters, who farms somewhere north of Taihape.

Since her husband died 25 years ago, Tracey has run sheep, beef, deer and ponies on her two farms and accomplished enough in her spare hours to fill two lifetimes. Paramount is being chaplain to the army and priest in charge of St Margaret's Anglican Church, Taihape.

There, her flock don't need to be dagged or neutered. They stand on two legs, sing hymns, take communion and wear merino in winter.

Tracey is an intriguing woman. She doesn't pull the wool over your eyes when she talks of filling the day with farming, visiting, preaching and belonging to just about every club listed in the Rangitikei electorate.

Country Calendar remains enjoyable and meaningful because it tells stories about rural people such as Tracey who achieve incredible things. And if her life isn't busy enough, Tracey's represented New Zealand at the Oceania Games in target shooting. When she retires there won't be anyone left of her calibre.

Horror Homes (Prime, Wednesdays) is a misnomer. The programme's not another name for Cowboy Builders where dodgy handymen inflict nightmare repairs on people's properties. These homes are thoroughly liveable. The horror comes from elsewhere.

In the case of a bed and breakfast in Staffordshire, the owners discovered a sink hole close to their front door and land slipping away into the valley below. In London, an elderly woman experienced a tsunami of sewage filling her bath and toilet and flowing around her floors, while heavy trucks ruined Andy and Dawn Drummond's idyllic existence when they trundled to a new subdivision at the end of the cul-de- sac.

While I feel for those people, including the elderly reporter whose home was struck by a maverick bolt of lightning, Horror Homes is an hour of misery. I'd prefer to watch a repeat of Hogan's Heroes.

If you've ever listened to a recorded voice say "your call is important to us" and hung on while the world has moved to another millennium, then Fair Go (TV One, Mondays) has joined you.

They tested out five major businesses. The fastest was Spark which replied in two minutes while KiwiBank took 34 minutes. Fair Go didn't say whether the call was answered in Bombay or the Philippines, although one of the team members had a manila folder.

I applaud them but, to achieve success, they need to try out the call centres for weeks on end until there's an improvement. Wouldn't it be great if a real live voice answered the phone? You'd forget what you rang about.

Hosted by Neil Oliver, Coast NZ (TV One, Mondays) visited the West Coast and Buller. A friend of mine was once described as a plate of collapsed pancakes on jandals and, sure enough, the Punakaiki Rocks, which inspired his looks, were featured.

Neil's team explored Denniston and sought greenstone on the driftwood strewn beaches south of Greymouth. They also discovered a hideaway near Westport where Brian Morgan has been whitebaiting for 65 years.

Brian, could you courier Martin Henderson a kilo so he doesn't fritter his life away?

-Stuff

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Grey's Anatomy needs urgent surgery - Stuff.co.nz

Global Project Will Help Promote Green Chemistry in Developing Countries – Yale News

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The F&ES-based Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale (CGCGE) has entered into a three-year global collaboration that will promote the principles and implementation of green chemistry in low- and middle-income countries.

The Global Project on Green Chemistry, a public-private initiative led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), will increase global awareness and deploy green chemistry approaches and technologies.

Drawing on a large research consortium led by experts at the Yale center and other international partners, the collaboration will develop curricula and training on green chemistry practices.

Green chemistry is defined as the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry approaches have benefited people around the world by making the products people use safer and their manufacturing processes less polluting, said Paul T. Anastas, director of the CGCGE.

While many nations have enacted laws and established structures to reduce the amount of chemicals used and numerous companies have adopted chemical management programs to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals the increasing variety and complexity of chemicals expose serious gaps in government and international policies and corporate practices.

As a partner in the collaboration, the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale will provide technical content and organize training workshops for partner institutions in other countries.

We are very happy to be working with UNIDO and GEF on this important project. Anastas added.

The Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale advances sustainability by catalyzing the effectiveness of the green larger chemistry community through research, policy and outreach, education, international collaborations, and working with industry.

While the Center's education program is focused on teaching undergraduate and graduate students in the principles and practices of green chemistry, it also provides opportunities for faculty training and offers development and dissemination of curriculum materials on green chemistry and green engineering to practitioners as well.

The Global Project on Green Chemistry is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a partnership that uses targeted investments to address some of the worlds most challenging issues.

The GEF is pleased to fund this first global public-private initiative that will help bridge the gap between science and real-world application of Green Chemistry approaches, said Evelyn Swain, environmental specialist at the GEF.

UNIDO is a leader in chemicals management, having advanced initiatives that address the challenges of hazardous chemicals through holistic, wide-ranging actions and preventive design and management of chemicals and waste.

Other partners in the global project include the German Federal Environmental Foundation and Braskem, the largest thermoplastic resins producer in the Americas.

The collaboration was officially launched during an event in Brazil, which was attended by more than 150 participants from industry, science, policy, and other professional backgrounds. In addition to numerous presentations about the different facets of green chemistry including a keynote by Paul Anastas green chemistry experts from Brazil, Egypt, Peru, Serbia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka gave presentations on the potential for green chemistry in their countries.

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Global Project Will Help Promote Green Chemistry in Developing Countries - Yale News

7007 Shares in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) Acquired by David R. Rahn & Associates Inc. – The Cerbat Gem

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7007 Shares in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) Acquired by David R. Rahn & Associates Inc.
The Cerbat Gem
iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index logo David R. Rahn & Associates Inc. acquired a new position in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (NASDAQ:IBB) during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange ...
Oakwood Capital Management LLC CA Sells 200 Shares of iShares ...Markets Daily
iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) Shares Sold by Greystone Investment Management LLCBBNS
Reviewing Indicator Levels for Ishares Nasdaq Biotechnology (IBB ...Sherwood Daily
Transcript Daily -Sports Perspectives -Petro Global News 24
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7007 Shares in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) Acquired by David R. Rahn & Associates Inc. - The Cerbat Gem

Mother Makes Ultimate Sacrifice for Unborn Child on ABC’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ – NewsBusters (blog)

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Mother Makes Ultimate Sacrifice for Unborn Child on ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy'
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But in April 27th's episode of Grey's Anatomy on ABC, we got to see that rarity played out in a heart-wrenching yet inspiring storyline. Patient Veronica is in the ER at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital for back pain. She's almost 35 weeks pregnant and her ...

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See The Original Cast of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Then and Now (PHOTOS) – Wetpaint

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We all suffered when Dr. Derek Shepherd aka Patrick Dempsey died a hero on Season 11 of Greys Anatomy. We were still trying to recover from losing Cristina Yang when another member of the original cast left abruptly!

Lets just say its been a rough thirteen seasons of Greys, and there are a lot of characters that deserve to be remembered.

From Izzie Stevens to George OMalley, scroll down to see what Seattle Graces OGs look like now!

Greys Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8p.m. ET on ABC.

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We all suffered when Dr. Derek Shepherd aka Patrick Dempsey died a hero on Season 11 of Greys Anatomy. We were still trying to recover from losing Cristina Yang when another member of the original cast left abruptly!

Lets just say its been a rough thirteen seasons of Greys, and there are a lot of characters that deserve to be remembered.

From Izzie Stevens to George OMalley, scroll down to see what Seattle Graces OGs look like now!

Greys Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8p.m. ET on ABC.

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See The Original Cast of 'Grey's Anatomy' Then and Now (PHOTOS) - Wetpaint

Anti-Aging Benefits of Yoga – Medical News Bulletin

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Researchers in India report that yoga postures, breathing disciplines and meditation may be the key to prolonging that proverbial fountain of youth. Biomarkers found in human blood samples drawn during a clinical trial showed the anti-aging benefits of practicing these ancient holistic practices.

In the Yoga and Meditation Based Lifestyle Intervention (YMLI) clinical trial, scientists enrolled a homogenous, seemingly healthy group of 96 men and women aged 30-65 years old, who had not experienced any significant lifestyle or physical challenges over the preceding three months between August 2015 and May 2016. Once enrolled, participants had 5 milliliters of fasting venous blood drawn to establish baseline markers for a range of primary and secondary aging characteristics. They next practiced yoga and meditation in the 12-week program to measure the disciplines anti-aging benefits.

During the trials initial 14 days, the group received instructions from registered, specialized yoga instructors for five days each week at the AIIMS health clinic in New Delhi, India. The YMLI instructions incorporated Hatha and Raja yoga techniques including physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation into their 90-minute classes. Following yoga, a 30-minute lecture focused on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and diet in warding off conditions like cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, among others.

The participants then were required to continue their practices at home for the subsequent 10 weeks and were responsible for self-monitoring their progress in a diary or by regular telephone conversation. At the trials conclusion, another 5 milliliters venous blood was drawn to compare the pre- and post-YMLI levels of various markers.

The scientists analyzed the changes in primary and secondary aging characteristic found in participants blood before and after the 12-week program. Primary measures included DNA damage that leads to metabolic instability, oxidative stress levels, total antioxidant levels, among others. As secondary factors, they examined cortisol levels a reading of stress responsiveness inflammation and cellular plasticity, among others.

The researchers hypothesis was confirmed when they examined the trial participants blood at the end of the 12-week trial. In every instance, YMLI was associated with changes for the better, indicating a slow-down of the cellular aging process. The authors hailed their clinical trial as the first to investigate the effects of YMLI on age-related biomarkers. Almost no gender-based biomarker differences appeared in the trial. This trial serves as a springboard bringing the practice of yoga and meditation further into mainstream science surrounding aging and disease prevention.

The study is limited by its small size, homogenous population and lack of a similarly sized control group.

The trials findings were published online on Jan. 16, 2017, by Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.

So, you may want to bend and twist into a yogic position, breathe deeply and meditate in your individual quest to recapture that elusive fountain of youth.

Written By:Susan Mercer Hinrichs, MA, MBA, CPhT

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Anti-Aging Benefits of Yoga - Medical News Bulletin

Google is super secretive about its anti-aging research. No one knows why. – Vox

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In 2013, Time magazine ran a cover story titled Google vs. Death about Calico, a then-new Google-run health venture focused on understanding aging and how to beat it. We should shoot for the things that are really, really important, so 10 or 20 years from now we have those things done, Google CEO Larry Page told Time.

But how exactly would Calico help humans live longer, healthier lives? How would it invest its vast $1.5 billion pool of money? Beyond sharing the companys ambitious mission to better understand the biology of aging and treat aging as a disease Page was vague.

I recently started poking around in Silicon Valley and talking to researchers who study aging and mortality, and discovered that four years after its launch, we still dont know what Calico is doing.

I asked everyone I could about Calico and quickly learned that its an impenetrable fortress. Among the little more than a dozen press releases Calico has put out, there were only broad descriptions of collaborations with outside labs and pharmaceutical companies most of them focused on that overwhelmingly vague mission of researching aging and associated diseases. The media contacts there didnt so much as respond to multiple requests for interviews.

People who work at Calico, Calicos outside collaborators, and even folks who were no longer with the company, stonewalled me.

We should pause for a moment to note how strange this is. One of the biggest and most profitable companies in the world has taken an interest in aging research, with about as much funding as NIHs entire budget for aging research, yet its remarkably opaque.

Google also prides itself for being a leader on transparency and for its open culture. And were living in a time when the norms in science, particularly biomedical science, are centered around openness and data sharing. But these values have somehow eluded Calico.

For now, I think its safe to say Google has not solved aging. Or if it did, they havent told anybody.

Its not unusual for new startups to be stealthy for a period while they get going, but theres usually some public statement with specific details about the technology or science being developed, strategies and targets. That Calico wont say what its doing bothers leading aging researchers. They expressed confusion or frustration about Calicos stealthiness, and said the secrecy is not productive for science.

Eric Topol is a cardiologist who studies aging and the director of Scripps Translational Science Institute. Topol knows some of the scientists at Calico from their pre-Calico days. Theyre hyper secretive, he said. Since they moved to Google, he cant seem to reach them. I have invited them to speak at our program we have on genomic medicine. They say no, they cant talk about what theyre doing. I am not sure why thats the case.

There were no clinical trials or patents filed publicly under the Calico brand that I could find, and out of the 22 papers published by the company and its affiliates, only about half related to aging and many were review articles (not original research).

Nir Barzilai, a geneticist and one of the leading researchers in aging based at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said the publications didnt give him any special insights into what Calico is up to. Our field is interested in delaying aging and by that, delaying disease. [It seems] they are not doing that, he said. Its weird they dont come to us, look at our patents We have resources, we are eager to do partnerships and form bio-techs. And nobody from Calico talks to us.

Other top researchers on aging told me much the same. I dont interact with them, Felipe Sierra, director of the division of aging biology at NIHs National Institute on Aging, said. They dont want to interact with me. I ignore them as much as they ignore me. He also invited Calico scientists to present at NIH. They come to the meeting but they dont talk about what they are doing [They] wouldnt even talk about general directions [of their research].

There are a few potential explanations for Calicos secrecy. Among them: that Calico is just waiting for a big reveal. A December article in the MIT Technology Review, which was also scant on details about Calicos anti-aging science, hinted that might be the case:

[David] Botstein [the Calico Chief Scientific Officer] says a best case scenario is that Calico will have something profound to offer the world in 10 years. That time line explains why the company declines media interviews. There will be nothing to say for a very long time, except for some incremental scientific things. That is the problem.

But avoiding media hype does not require secrecy among scientific colleagues. If Calicos scientists were truly interested in pushing the boundaries of science, they might think about using some of the best practices that have been developed to that end: transparency, data sharing, and coordinating with other researchers so they dont go down redundant and wasteful paths.

As Topol said, Secretive research is pass. The world has moved on to fully demonstrate the value of openness, transparency, and avoidance of insular thinking.

There are other possible explanations for the stealthiness. A recent news release from Calico announced a partnership with C4 Therapeutics to work on coming up with drugs for "diseases of aging," such as cancer one of a number of drug company partnerships Calico has formed. If Calicos now focused on drug development, then a degree of secrecy might make sense. (Drug companies typically develop their products quietly to stay ahead of the competition.)

But researchers dont buy that explanation, either. The researchers [Calico] hired are using models such as yeasts, nematodes, and naked mole rats, said Barzilai. These are not the models that are relevant for drug development. Developing cures also doesnt fall in line with the companys original mission to treat aging as a genetic disease instead of hunting for treatments for age-related diseases.

Another potential reason for the lack of transparency the one I find most compelling is that its the company culture. Art Levinson, the CEO of Calico, is also chair of the board of Apple Inc. and was close to Steve Jobs, who was renowned for his clandestine approach to research and development and running a business. Its possible that Levinson has made secrecy part of Calicos DNA, the way its part of Apples DNA.

Perhaps Calico will one day justify its secrecy, Topol said. But at this point, he added, I dont understand it. Potentially withholding information about advances in biomedical science or cures for diseases is unacceptable: Lives are ultimately at stake. Anything that slows down progress in biomedical research cant be condoned.

For that reason, Id like to humbly invite Calico or people who have worked with the company to share what they are up to. I promise we wont hype it.

Have information about Calico? You can send me tips over email at julia.belluz@vox.com or secure PGP. (My key: 0AC1 64FA E095 851B 112A 0670 6D24 B5A4 56ED 285E)

Update Friday April 28, 2:34 p.m.: Thanks to reader tips and additional searches in PubMed, weve located and linked to several Calico papers we werent aware of when we first published this story on Thursday. I flagged the papers with the researchers quoted in this story who said they did not change their assessment of Calico.

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Google is super secretive about its anti-aging research. No one knows why. - Vox

Chili Pepper and Marijuana Soothe Gut Inflammation – Anti Aging News

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Researchers at the University of Connecticut have discovered a chemical compound that could lead to new treatments for diabetes and gastrointestinal conditions. The research team, led by Professor of Immunology and Medicine Pramod Srivastava from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, published their official findings in the April 24 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

Anandamide Production

Capsaicin is a chemical compound contained in spicy chili peppers. This chemical is responsible for the sensation of heat felt when they are consumed. The chemical binds to brain receptors, called TPRV1 receptors, to signal the sensation of heat from the tongue to the brain. TPRV1 receptors are also found in the gastrointestinal tract.

As part of their research, the team administered capsaicin to lab mice. These mice were found to have less inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Some mice who previously showed signs of Type 1 diabetes showed normal blood sugar levels after the trials.

The results are contributed to the capsaicin binding with TPRV1 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract. The binding process prompts the receptors to produce the chemical anandamide. This chemical soothes and relaxes the gastrointestinal tract. Researchers could repeat their original results by feeding anandamide directly to the lab mice, rather than using chili peppers.

Researchers do not fully understand how the chemical causes the immune system and brain to interact.

Anandamide and cannabinoids are chemically similar. When a person consumes marijuana, anandamide receptors in the brain react to the presence of cannabinoids. This produces feelings of euphoria and relaxation, or a high. Marijuana consumption causes anandamide production.

Anandamide and the Gastrointestinal Tract

While the team has not uncovered the mechanism that allows the brain to communicate with the immune system, they do understand how it helps heal the gastrointestinal tract.

There are other receptors that react to anandamide. These signal the production of immune cells called macrophages. These cells reduce inflammation. Higher anandamide levels correlate with higher macrophage presence, which can mean a significant reduction in inflammation. Anandamide and macrophage production can positively affect conditions in the esophagus, stomach, and pancreas.

Current trials are testing the effect of anandamide on conditions affecting the lower gastrointestinal tract, such as colitis.

Future Trials

Current federal marijuana regulations make clinical trials using human subjects difficult. Researchers are hoping to partner with the state of Colorado to obtain statistics on the effect of edible marijuana on colitis sufferers. That evidence could support the use of medicinal marijuana to treat severe gastrointestinal disorders.

Future research will focus on finding the specific molecular pathway anandamide uses to send signals between the stomach and the brain. The team is also investigating how anandamide reacts with other receptors, and the functions they serve.

Nandini Acharyaa, Sasi Penukondab, Tatiana Shcheglovaa, Adam T. Hagymasia, Sreyashi Basua,1, and Pramod K. Srivastavaa,1, April 24 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Endocannabinoid system acts as a regulator of immune homeostasis in the gut, Nandini Acharya, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1612177114

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Chili Pepper and Marijuana Soothe Gut Inflammation - Anti Aging News

Exercise can help offset effects of ‘fat gene,’ study finds – ABC News

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Doctors have long known that genetics can predispose some people to gain weight despite a healthy lifestyle while others seemingly never gain an ounce no matter how much they eat. A new study sheds light on how people can counteract their genetic makeup, even if it's in their DNA to put on more weight than others.

Researchers from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, the University of Copenhagen and other institutions conducted a meta-analysis examining 60 past genetic studies to see if physical activity could mitigate the effects a genetic predisposition to weight gain.

"Decline in daily physical activity is thought to be a key contributor to the global obesity epidemic," the authors wrote. However, they explained that genetic make-up may also play a role in weight gain for people who are not physically active.

They screened for 2.5 million genetic variants in 200,452 adults and also separated the subjects between those who were physically active -- about 77 percent -- and those who were physically inactive, about 23 percent. The researchers then looked at different markers that would indicate if a person was overweight including their body-mass index, waist circumference and hip-to-waist ratio.

They found those with a genetic variation that predisposed them to gain weight -- called an FTO gene -- had the ability counteract the effects that gene through exercise. By looking at the data they found that those with the FTO gene who were physically active were able to reduce the weight-gain effects associated with the gene by about 30 percent.

Dr. Goutham Rao, chairman of Family Medicine and Community Health at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, said this type of research is key in helping patients better understand their weight and health.

"Despite that sort of bad luck of having a genetic predisposition to obesity if you are physically active ... you're not going to reduce risk of obesity entirely but you reduce it significantly," Rao said.

The mechanism that leads to people with FTO to be predisposed to gain weight is still not fully understood, but Rao said it's key to give people encouragement that taking healthy steps has an effect even if they haven't reached their goal weight.

"The message is to be sympathetic," Rao said. Explaining he tells frustrated patients, "if you weren't doing your best you would weigh a lot more and be much less healthy."

Dr. Kevin Niswender, associate professor of medicine, molecular physiology and biophysics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said the study took on the "really interesting question" of if people can counteract their genetics through their lifestyle.

"This study definitively confirms that lifestyle has an impact," he said.

During their research the team also discovered 11 new genetic variants that likely predispose a person to weight gain and they said more may be found through similar studies.

"In future studies, accounting for physical activity and other important lifestyle factors could boost the search for new obesity genes," said Mariaelisa Graff of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the lead author of the study. "To identify more genes whose effects are either dampened or amplified by physical activity, we need to carry out larger studies with more accurate measurement of physical levels."

Niswender said finding new variants that indicate predisposition for weight gain can help give a better understanding of the complex mechanisms behind obesity.

"For a long time we've been searching for this gene, the gene that causes obesity and it's just not like that," Niswender."there are a bunch of genes that cause obesity and the effect of each gene variant is really quite small."

Graff said more study should need to be done to get more accurate measurements of the participants' physical activity. The researchers classified those as having a sedentary job, commute and leisure time as "inactive" while everyone else was declared physically active. Additionally, the study was done primarily in people of European descent, so the findings may not be be easily extrapolated to other groups.

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Exercise can help offset effects of 'fat gene,' study finds - ABC News

MAFS’ Anthony D’Amico on His ‘Great Chemistry’ with Ashley Petta: ‘She’s an Absolute Knockout’ – PEOPLE.com

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MAFS' Anthony D'Amico on His 'Great Chemistry' with Ashley Petta: 'She's an Absolute Knockout'
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Married at First Sight is back! On season 5 of Kinetic Content's hit social experiment show, three couples meet for the first time at the altar just minutes before exchanging vows. The newlyweds (whose wedding portraits were taken by Mike Staff ...

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MAFS' Anthony D'Amico on His 'Great Chemistry' with Ashley Petta: 'She's an Absolute Knockout' - PEOPLE.com

UC San Diego Receives $7.5 Million to Develop Innovative Uses for Melanin – Scripps Oceanography News

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A team of scientists from the University of California San Diego and two other universities has received a five year, $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to unravel the fundamental properties of melanins, a family of natural pigments found in skin, hair, eyes and even the plumage of brightly colored birds.

The basic research effort, which will be conducted in part by Scripps Institution of Oceanography marine biologist Dimitri Deheyn, will focus on elucidating the biochemical pathways that lead to the production of melanins in a range of organismscompounds that efficiently absorb ultraviolet light and protect skin cells in humansand gain a better understanding of the chemistry and morphology of melanin polymers at the molecular scale, nanoscale, micrometer and at the macroscale.

The project is being funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, under the Defense Departments Multidisciplinary Research Initiative, or MURI program, with the goal of using these natural pigments to develop new kinds of advanced materials.

Melanin is a ubiquitous natural material that has so far been underutilized in materials science and technological applications, said Nathan Gianneschi, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, materials science and engineering and nanoengineering at UC San Diego, who heads the research team. But this polymer has a unique blend of properties, including strong ultraviolet and gamma radiation absorbance, a high refractive index, material toughness, high conductivity, magnetism and a high metal-binding capacity.

By unraveling the basic biology, chemistry and structural properties of melanins at multiple length scales, the team plans over the next three years to provide the foundation for the development of melanin-based synthetic materials for a wide range of applications.

We hope this basic research effort will eventually lead to the establishment of new methods of assembly to create functional arrays and structures that can be integrated into materials, providing them with unprecedented new optical, infrared, magnetic and biochemical properties, said Gianneschi.

Other melanin-based materials, the researchers added, could include new kinds of adaptive camouflage or detection systems, protective coatings that make structures resistant to ultraviolet and gamma radiation, and bioremediation devices that employ the ability of melanins to bind heavy metals.

Other members of the research team from UC San Diego are Michael Burkart, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and Jeffrey Rinehart, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry. Ali Dhinojwala from the University of Akron and Arthi Jayaraman from the University of Delaware round out the multidisciplinary team.

The research team will collaborate with Wendy Goodson from the Air Force Research Laboratory and Matthew Shawkey, an associate professor of biology at the University of Ghent in Belgium, who were awarded an additional $1.25 million from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research for a cooperative research project.

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UC San Diego Receives $7.5 Million to Develop Innovative Uses for Melanin - Scripps Oceanography News

‘Riverdale’ 1.12 ‘Anatomy Of A Murder’ Trailer – Heroic Hollywood (blog)

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Riverdale just wrapped up its eleventhepisode on the East Coast with plenty more twists, turns, and secrets to savor. Immediately following the episode, The CW aired the trailer for the nextepisode,Chapter Twelve: Anatomy of a Murder,which airs Thursday, May 4.

Next week, Jason Blossoms killer is finally revealed. Archie and Veronica reveal what they found(or didnt find) in FPs trailer in an attempt to prove Jugheads fatherwas framed, the Blossoms and Coopers face new threats, and the gang discovers a video of Jasons murder that changes things forever. As Fred cautions Archie, You stay on this path and you will end up dead.

You can check out the brief trailer for next weeks episode below along with the official description from The CW; however, be aware of some potential spoilers for Chapter Twelve: Anatomy of a Murder.

Chapter Twelve: Anatomy of a Murder (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) (TV-14, LV) (HDTV)

THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM Archie (KJ Apa) and Veronica (Camila Mendes) are shocked to learn of the arrest but know they need to come clean to their parents about what they uncovered. Still hurt by the betrayal of his friends and torn over who to trust, Jughead (Cole Sprouse) reluctantly joins them in a quest for truth. Meanwhile, Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) confronts her mom about why she treats her so much worse than she ever did with Jason. Lili Reinhart, Luke Perry, Madchen Amick, Marisol Nichols also star. Rob Seidenglanz directed the episode written by Michael Grassi (#112). Original airdate 5/4/2017.

Riverdaleairs on Thursday nights at 9/8c on The CW. Make sure to check back after each episode for our weekly review.

Did you enjoy tonights episode? What are you looking forward tonext time? Sound off below!

If theSmurfsorTransformersmovies have taught us anything, old Saturday morning cartoons are the new grade-A meat for the movie studios. Cartoons can be turned into animated movies, just look at the success of theSpongebob Squarepants movies, but they can also make successful live-action adaptations. Well, withPower Rangerscoming out soon, an idea so silly it might as well have been a Saturday morning cartoon its time for studio execs to take a look at some of these hidden classics. Theres clearly a lot of money to be made adapting beloved children franchises.

I want to point out a key word to all of you guys in case you get mad at my list. I dont necessarily know if all of these cartoons could makegood movies, but Im pretty sure they could turn a profit and be consideredsuccessful.Some of these can be enjoyable and theyre ones you might not necessarily expect.If I forgot about your favorite Saturday morning cartoon, head to the comment section and let me know!

HitNextto find out more about 10 cartoons that could translate to box-office gold.

Whitney Eklof

Whitney Eklof is a writer for Heroic Hollywood and is a self-professed nerd, gamer, and media lover. She spends her days undercover as a marketing...

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'Riverdale' 1.12 'Anatomy Of A Murder' Trailer - Heroic Hollywood (blog)

Anatomy Of A Growing Threat: North Korea’s Evolving Brinkmanship – Fox News

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Associated Press, FOX NEWS

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea observers have long marveled at the ability of a small, impoverished, autocratic nation to go toe-to-toe with the world's superpowers.

Part of the secret to North Korean success has always been the ruling Kim family's mastery of the art of brinkmanship.

What looks to outsiders like bluster, bombast and recklessness is actually a proven technique that over the years has won North Korea grudging respect from Washington and its allies, and at times filled its coffers with aid offered by rivals relieved to see animosity on the Korean Peninsula ease.

In recent weeks, however, the roles may have reversed, with a new administration in Washington bulldozing its way to the brink before finally backing away.

Korean war jitters made global headlines after U.S. President Donald Trump issued repeated, ambiguous warnings about his willingness to take unilateral action and sent U.S. military vessels to Korean waters. This week, however, Trump announced a much softer policy that combines diplomacy and economic sanctions and is strikingly similar to what frustrated past presidents embraced.

North Korea used to employ a comparable method: Forcing the world to pay attention by staging nuclear and missile tests, issuing outrageous threats and occasionally lashing out with violence and then offering up negotiations.

For decades, the tiny, Third World dictatorship sandwiched between rich behemoths played the game remarkably well. But some now see North Korea entering a frightening new phase, barreling across what were once considered red lines in a dash to build nuclear-armed missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland.

Here is a brief examination of North Korea's mastery of brinkmanship, and what might be coming next:

___

US BRINKMANSHIP?

Brinkmanship can be defined as the technique of pushing a dangerous policy to the edge of safety before stopping.

Some Korea experts, analyzing what happened in recent weeks on the Korean Peninsula, believe that this time Washington engineered the brinksmanship.

Presumably worried that North Korea would soon conduct its sixth nuclear test, the Trump administration threatened a possible attack, ordered a supercarrier and nuclear-powered submarine to Korea and linked the recent U.S. bombing of Syria to North Korea.

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Anatomy Of A Growing Threat: North Korea's Evolving Brinkmanship - Fox News

Roommates Bud Cauley and Justin Thomas hope their chemistry … – GolfDigest.com

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The prized possession in the house they share in Jupiter, Fla., is a pool table specially designed with crimson-colored felt and the fabled Bama logo. So if youre looking for chemistry and energy between partners in this weeks Zurich Classic, then look no further than the Roll Tide team of Bud Cauley and Justin Thomas.

The pool table in the house Justin Thomas shares with Bud Cauley.

Their insane love of Alabama has them traveling to Tuscaloosa for football games when theyre not shooting pool or practicing at The Bears Club and Medalist G.C. during breaks at home.

Were racked up a couple games on that [table], Thomas was telling me before leaving for New Orleans. If this was a golf/pool contest, Id like our chances even more.

They are one of two teams from the University of Alabama golf program competing in this weeks team championship at the TPC Louisiana. Trey Mullinax and Bobby Wyatt will also be representing the Crimson Tide.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 21: Bud Cauley plays his shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio AT&T Oaks Course on April 21, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

Steve Dykes

Cauley was a junior when Thomas made one of his visits to Alabama but they never connected until after school. Cauley turned pro his senior year and never had a chance to team up with Thomas in a college event. Their compatibility developed while Cauley identified himself among a peer group now in their late 20s that included Rickie Fowler, Peter Uihlein and Patrick Reed. You could put us in any sort of situation, Thomas says, and wed have fun.

Only five players prior to Cauley earned their PGA Tour cards without going to Q School, and its an illustrious list comprised of Gary Hallberg, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Tiger Woods and Ryan Moore, with Jon Rahm joining the group last year. Only Woods and Mickelson qualified with less starts than the 10 it took Cauley to earn full-time playing privileges for the 2011 season. This was lost on Ernie Els when they were paired together in the Frys.com Open that year, when Els asked Cauley when he was going to turn pro. Cauley shot 66 in the final round to finish T-3 and earn $340,000.

I always looked up to him a little bit, says Thomas, who is five years younger. He was the first person I reached out to once I got on tour [in 2014]. We started playing together, hanging out more. Hes kind of become one of my best friends.

Thomas enrolled at Alabama in fall 2011 and won the Fred Haskins Award as the nations top collegiate golfer the next spring. He was on a National Championship team in 2013 and turned pro later that fall.

Cauleys early success on tour was slowed by injury in 2014 when he tore the labrum in his left shoulder. He needed surgery which forced him to spend 15 months of inactivity on his couch, binge-watching movies and TV shows on Netflix.

That drove me absolutely insane, Cauley says of those days. It was frustrating professionally and not the way I saw my career going at all.

As Alabama coach Jay Seawell pointed out, Cauley was the type of player he needed to make take a day off. It does deflate you, Seawell says of Cauleys mandatory downtime. But it matures you at the same time. As much as it hurt, I think he learned to appreciate the game even more.

Swing instructor Matt Killen has the same takeaway after caddieing for Cauley at TPC San Antonio. He hasnt lost any speed. None of injuries cost him long term, says Killen, who also works with Thomas. Once he settles into golf, and gets back in the mode, hell be able to score.

A T-3 at the CareerBuilder Challenge in January was the career builder Cauley needed for his confidence. Some of that scoring ability Killen referred to came through three months later in back-to-back top-10s at the RBC Heritage (where he opened with a 63) and the Valero Texas Open (where he was tied for the lead with Tony Finau after opening rounds of 70-66).

One thing for certain, hes got a strong partner. Now 23, Thomas has established himself among the players of his generation with three victories in the 2016-17 wrap-around season. That doesnt account for the wins theyve recorded among the matches played by tour pros living in the Jupiter area. Unless its a Wolf game, Cauley and Thomas are always partners.

I know hes excited where his game is at, and I am, too, Thomas. Because hes my partner this week.

In other words, rack em up.

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Roommates Bud Cauley and Justin Thomas hope their chemistry ... - GolfDigest.com

LANL: Jaqueline L. Kiplinger To Receive Award For Pioneering Contributions To Chemistry – Los Alamos Daily Post

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Jaqueline Kiplinger is the recipient of the 2017 Violet Diller Professional Excellence Award. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Jaqueline Kiplinger, Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow within the Inorganic, Isotope and Actinide Chemistry Group, is the recipient of the 2017 Violet Diller Professional Excellence Award given triennially by Iota Sigma Pi (the National Honor Society of Women in Chemistry). The award recognizes contributions to chemistry that have had widespread significance to the scientific community or society on a national level.

The Violet Diller Professional Excellence Award recognizes Kiplingers outstanding achievements in science, service to the broad chemistry community and mentoring of early career researchers, said Alan Bishop, Principal Associate Director of Science, Technology and Engineering at Los Alamos.

As a pioneer in uranium and thorium chemistry, her research has significantly expanded the understanding of actinide and lanthanide chemical bonding and reactivity. Her workprovides scientific underpinning that supports the Laboratorys national security mission, advances the fundamental understanding of actinide chemistry and promotes the development of postdoctoral fellows at a critical time in their careers, he said.

Kiplinger will present a summary of her work and receive her award during a ceremony at the July 2017 Iota Sigma Pi national convention. Iota Sigma Pi was founded in 1902 and serves to promote the advancement of women in chemistry by granting recognition to women who have demonstrated superior scholastic achievement and high professional competence by election into Iota Sigma Pi.

Kiplinger is an internationally recognized leader in f-element chemistry, the study of lanthanides and actinides. Kiplinger came to Los Alamos as the first Frederick Reines Postdoctoral Fellow in 1999. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the American Institute of Chemists. The breadth and depth of her accomplishments are reflected by her peer-reviewed publications, granted patents, invitations to contribute to prestigious monographs and review articles, and plenary lectures delivered at international conferences in the field.

Her scientific achievements have been recognized by a Los Alamos Fellows Prize for Research, two R&D 100 Awards, three mentoring awards, and several Los Alamos/NNSA Best-in-Class Pollution Prevention Awards. In 2015, Kiplinger was selected as the first woman to receive the F. Albert Cotton Award in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry from the American Chemical Society.She is also the first scientist at the Laboratory to have been honored with two national-level ACS awards, the first being the 1998 Nobel Laureate Signature Award in Chemistry. Earlier this year, she was also the recipient of the 2017 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Distinguished Women in Chemistry award.

About Los Alamos National Laboratory (www.lanl.gov)

Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, BWX Technologies, Inc. and URS Corporation for the Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration.

Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and global security concerns.

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LANL: Jaqueline L. Kiplinger To Receive Award For Pioneering Contributions To Chemistry - Los Alamos Daily Post

Skepticism About Biotechnology Isn’t Anti-Science – Slate Magazine

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AquAdvantage salmon.

AquAdvantage

Keep Frankenfish off my Dish! a protesters sign read. Another, adorned with six red hearts, suggested that real people love real salmon. A couple of years ago, protests against the approval and sale of genetically modified salmon targeted the Food and Drug Administration and supermarket chains across the country, attempting to halt the approval and sale of the AquAdvantage salmonan Atlantic salmon modified with DNA from the Chinook salmon and the ocean pout. The borrowed genetic material lets the fish grow year-round and reach market size in half the time as its natural counterpart, but its also spurred passionate public debate.

In November 2015, the FDA approved the AquAdvantage salmon as the first genetically engineered animal for human consumption. According to the hype, the AquAdvantage salmon could help with reducing global hunger, decreasing the carbon footprint of aquaculture (the cultivation of fish and other aquatic life), and shoring up dwindling wild fish stock. The regulatory process behind the approval of the AquAdvantage salmon took almost 20 years.

But the approval was quickly followed by a flurry of controversy and charges of insufficient consideration of key issues. A consortium of environmental groups lead by Earthjustice and the Center for Food Safety sued the FDA for approving the AquAdvantage salmon, in their words, without considering or fullydisclosing the environmental and other risks of this unprecedented decision. Two months after the approval, Congress also threw a wrench in the works by adding a rider to a spending bill that tasked the FDA with spending not less than $150,000 to develop labeling and implement a program of consumer disclosure for the fish before it could be made available for sale. As a result the fish is not yet anywhere near U.S. dinner plates, caught up in a seemingly endless process of contestation, with no clear end in sight.

To many in bioscience and biotechnology circles, this is a case of politics contaminating science. In an open letter to President Obama in 2014, a group of concerned international scientists and global technology company executives argue this point:

These scientists and others offer a picture of a Manichean world divided into those who are for scientific and technological progress and those who are against ita representation of the world that we have been seeing more and more of lately in reports of a war on science. But drawing this line is dangerous. The real problem here is the regulatory process itself, which forces dissent to take the narrow form of challenges to scientific data and methodology and ignores other questions about whats at stake.

The FDA approval process for the AquAdvantage salmon took longer and included more opportunities for public comment than most products the FDA reviews. This unique openness to public input was balanced by a careful parsing of what counts as scientifically and contextually relevant and what does not. The agency received 38,000 comments in response to its draft assessment alone, but it determined that just 90 were worth considering. The remaining comments were discounted as irrelevant because they did not directly address the details of the regulation process, or they raised issues beyond the mandate of the agency. These disregarded comments focused on a wide range of concerns, including patenting and ownership regimes of seed and crops; how deploying genetically modified corn and soy would affect the United States image around the world; continuing failures of existing market configurations to address inequality and food distribution; and the long history of multinational corporations central to the commercialization of biotechnologies, such as Monsanto, intentionally obscuring the negative impacts of their chemical products and byproducts while undermining human health.

Your Cheat-Sheet Guide to Synthetic Biology

What Exactly Is Synthetic Biology? Its Complicated.

Can You Patent an Organism? The Synthetic Biology Community Is Divided.

The U.S. Regulations for Biotechnology Are Woefully Out of Date

Synthetic Biology and Queer Theory Are Cutting Down the Tree of Life You Learned About in School

Being Skeptical About Biotechnology Doesnt Make You Anti-Science

So the FDA is not the forum for deliberation on the meaning of giving entry to this new form of life into our environment, grocery stores, and dining rooms. But what is? The FDA approval process is the only existing avenue for public consideration of technological innovation of this kind. Accordingly, the agencys narrow reading of what kinds of input are relevant represents a significant dismissal of a broad range of relevant concerns.

Some might read the vast public preoccupation with a broad set of social, political, and economic issues as the contamination of science with politics. But I would suggest that this is actually a case of the reverse problem: seemingly endless conflict around the AquAdvantage salmon reflects the limitation of using narrow scientific terms to address questions of broad social, political, and economic significance. As things stand, the only legitimate way to engage in debates about the entry of the AquAdvantage salmon and other genetically modified organisms into our environments, meals, intellectual property regimes, and beyond is to contest its approval at the level of regulatory science. When the system asks the public to limit objections to narrow technical concerns, it undermines regulatory legitimacy and stultifies democratic debateand perhaps most importantly, it contributes to the problematic discourse around science itself. When our modes of public deliberation strictly define what counts as a legitimate view on these issues, we end up portraying a good portion of the population as against science, when that in fact could not be further from the truth.

The vast majority of people in the world, not being scientists or angel investors, have no say over the technological trajectories that will shape our world and our lives. We are instructed to continue funding basic science and patiently wait and watch as the world is transformed around us. Scientists often dismiss resistance to the AquAdvantage salmon and other biotechnologies as borne of scientific ignorance. But its a lot easier to understand peoples reluctance if you realize that the debate is about much broader questions than science alone can answer.

To position science on one side of these debates is not only patently false but detrimental to public discourse.

As the first genetically engineered animal developed for human consumption, the AquAdvantage salmon can be understood as an early form or precursor to products of more advanced practices of synthetic biology. Even as the power and precision of these techniques increases and the particular technical challenges associated with the salmon are left behind, the core issues and deep public resistance around the AquAdvantage salmon will likely persist and haunt continued efforts to reshape environments, economies, and human life through the biological sciences. Synthetic biology is billed as having the potential to transform the world in a way that will disrupt prevailing economic and geopolitical paradigms and reshape the very fabric of life. The one thing both sides of the fishy debate seem to agree on is that the AquAdvantage salmon is a pioneer technology, and what happens to this fish could set the stage for the role that biotechnology will play in our food system in the century to come. As one commentator opined for the New York Times:

This framing suggests that biotechnological innovation is a necessary and unmitigated good. But for many, the prospect of a world radically altered by biotechnology conjures past experiences in which scientific progress didnt go as plannedlike the devastation and political instability ushered in by nuclear weapons. Similarly, to some, a dam looks like progress, development, and economic prosperity. But to others, it looks like the violent end of a way of life, heralded by the destruction of ecosystems and entire species.

The debates over the AquAdvantage salmon arent narrow and technicaltheyre multifaceted, laden with questions of political, economic, and social values. They are about what kind of world we want to live in and what types of transformations are beneficial, desirable, and helpfuland for whom. To position science on one side of these debates is not only patently false but detrimental to public discourse and productive political deliberation.

Nonetheless, resistance to biotechnologies is often framed as a problem of the uneducated masses meddling in areas where they dont belong. The open letter to Obama by the concerned scientists and technologists, for example, claims:

Characterizing legitimate concerns about what kinds of technologies enter and help shape our world as anti-science is more likely to alienate than inspire everyday Americans to identify with this vision of what science can do, and to believe in it.

The long journey of the AquAdvantage salmon may turn out to have been a waste of time, energy, and resources on all sides, but perhaps we can make it productive in one way. Understanding the limitations of the process can help us think critically about how decision-making about synthetic biology going forward might be more open to a broader set of concerns and voices much earlier in the innovation process. The way forward is not drawing battle lines between those who are for or against science and closing down regulatory processes to all but the narrowest risk-based considerations. Rather, we should be forming and expanding spaces for a wide range of participants in creatively considering how to solve societys biggest challenges. We need new ways of thinking and talking about technological promise and possibility in the world that we live in.

This article is part of the synthetic biology installment of Futurography, a series in which Future Tense introduces readers to the technologies that will define tomorrow. Each month, well choose a new technology and break it down. Future Tense is a collaboration among Arizona State University, New America, and Slate.

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Skepticism About Biotechnology Isn't Anti-Science - Slate Magazine

SSCI Receives a 2017 Biotechnology Award for Global Research and Manufacturing – Yahoo Finance

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., April 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --SSCI, a division of Albany Molecular Research Inc. (AMRI), has been recognized by Global Health & Pharma (GHP) magazine as the winner of the 2017 Biotechnology Award for Best Global Research & Manufacturing Company in the United States.

"I am truly honored to accept this award on behalf of our dedicated team that is deeply committed to the mission of helping our clients achieve their product development goals and generate valuable intellectual property day in and day out," said David A. Engers, Ph.D., general manager at SSCI. "We are grateful to GHP for recognizing our commitment to client service and data integrity in order to provide unmatched value to the industries we have served for more than a quarter century."

GHP magazine recognizes that the biotechnology industry is increasingly viewed as being the frontline of medical science, and as this movement continues to gain momentum the publication is committed to following the most game-changing advances and revolutionary developments that will form the healthcare world for years to come.

Nathan Angell, GHP awards coordinator, expressed pride in every one of the award winners, "This award recognizes the hard work and dedication of the firms, such as SSCI, and the individuals behind them, that are driving innovation in this vital market. It has been my honor to recognize these dedicated professionals and I would like to wish them the very best of fortunes for the future."

About SSCIAMRI SSCI, LLC (SSCI), a division of AMRI, provides industry leading contract solid-state and analytical testing services and exists to help companies in the pharmaceutical, food, agrochemical, and other chemical industries develop better products and get them to market more quickly. SSCI provides comprehensive cGMP research and analytical services in the characterization and chemistry of solid materials, with particular expertise in small and large molecules being investigated for pharmaceutical use.To learn more about SSCI's solid-state and analytical chemistry services and capabilities,please contact 1-800-375-2179 | http://www.ssci-inc.com.

About GHP MagazineGlobal Health and Pharma (GHP) magazine is a global, information-sharing platform and a multi-disciplinary members community. The publication was established to enhance communication networks and collaboration across all themes and disciplines within three main categories; Human, Animal and Environmental Health.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ssci-receives-a-2017-biotechnology-award-for-global-research-and-manufacturing-300445541.html

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SSCI Receives a 2017 Biotechnology Award for Global Research and Manufacturing - Yahoo Finance

Researchers investigate technique to accelerate learning – Medical Xpress

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April 26, 2017

Researchers at the Texas Biomedical Device Center (TxBDC) at The University of Texas at Dallas have been awarded a contract worth up to $5.8 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to investigate a novel approach to accelerate the learning of foreign languages.

The contract is part of DARPA's Targeted Neuroplasticity Training (TNT) program, which seeks to advance the pace and effectiveness of a specific kind of learningcognitive skills trainingthrough precise activation of peripheral nerves, which in turn can strengthen neural connections in the brain.

"Military personnel are required to utilize a wide variety of complex perceptual, motor and cognitive skills under challenging conditions," said Dr. Robert Rennaker, Texas Instruments Distinguished Chair in Bioengineering, director of the TxBDC and chairman of the Department of Bioengineering.

"Mastery of these difficult skills, including fluency in foreign language, typically requires thousands of hours of practice," said Rennaker, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

DARPA's TNT program aims to develop an optimized strategy to accelerate acquisition of complex skills, which would significantly reduce the time needed to train foreign language specialists, intelligence analysts, cryptographers and others.

Rennaker and his colleagues at the TxBDC will focus on developing an approach that uses vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) during training to specifically reinforce neural networks that are involved in learning a particular task.

VNS is an FDA-approved method for treating various illnesses, such as depression and epilepsy. It involves sending a mild electric pulse through the vagus nerve in the neck. When stimulated, the vagus nerve affects the brain, where it boosts the release of chemicals called neuromodulators. These chemicals facilitate synaptic plasticity, a process in which the connections between brain cells change and strengthen during learning.

"Imagine you're struggling to learn something new, like multiplication tables or how to hit a golf ball. When you get it right, when that light bulb comes on, this system is being activated," Rennaker said. "By stimulating the vagus nerve during the learning process, we're artificially releasing these chemicals to enhance those connections active during learning."

In the DARPA project, the aim is to accelerate learning of foreign languages by stimulating the vagus nerve during specific tasks.

"DARPA is approaching the study of synaptic plasticity from multiple angles to determine whether there are safe and responsible ways to enhance learning and accelerate training for skills relevant to national security missions," said Doug Weber, TNT program manager at DARPA.

Over the past several years, researchers at the TxBDC have developed techniques to pair VNS with traditional rehabilitation to enhance recovery from an injury, an innovation they call Targeted Plasticity Therapy (TPT). In preliminary clinical studies, their technique has been shown to restore movements, reduce pain, increase feeling, improve memory and possibly speed up learning.

"This new project is focused on understanding if TPT can be used to accelerate learning in non-injured individuals," Rennaker said. "If successful, this approach could benefit not only those that need to rapidly learn a new language but also those with learning impediments or conditions such as autism or brain injuries."

Dr. Michael Kilgard, Margaret Fonde Jonsson Professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and associate director of the TxBDC, is the principal investigator.

"We believe that we will be able to substantially increase the rate of language learning. With VNS, we may be able to improve on the brain's natural ability to learn," Kilgard said. "We're trying to march forward and make new technologies that aren't currently available. I think it's exciting."

In addition to Rennaker and Kilgard, other co-principal investigators on the project are Dr. Seth Hayes, assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering; Dr. Sven Vanneste, associate professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences; and Dr. Diana Easton, clinical professor in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. Also participating are Dr. Jane Wigginton from UT Southwestern Medical Center and Dr. Beverly Wright from Northwestern University.

Explore further: Researchers use vagus nerve stimulation outside the forebrain

A group of leading clinicians and experts dedicated to translational research in spinal cord injuries has recognized the work of a research fellow in the Texas Biomedical Device Center at UT Dallas.

A new study led by UT Dallas researchers shows that a gene associated with dyslexia may interfere with the processing of speech, ultimately leading to reading problems that are characteristic of the disorder.

A new study involving UT Dallas researchers shows that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) technology could help improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people who suffer weakness and paralysis caused by strokes.

UT Dallas researchers recently demonstrated how nerve stimulation paired with specific experiences, such as movements or sounds, can reorganize the brain. This technology could lead to new treatments for stroke, tinnitus, ...

(Medical Xpress) -- UT Dallas researchers recently demonstrated how nerve stimulation paired with specific experiences, such as movements or sounds, can reorganize the brain. This technology could lead to new treatments for ...

(Medical Xpress)Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have taken a step toward developing a new treatment to aid the recovery of limb function after strokes.

Peering into laboratory glassware, Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have watched stem-cell-derived nerve cells arising in a specific region of the human brain migrate into another brain region. This process ...

In two independent studies, scientists at the University of Basel have demonstrated that both the structure of the brain and several memory functions are linked to immune system genes. The scientific journals Nature Communications ...

Scientists write in Nature Communications it may be possible to therapeutically fine tune a constantly shifting balance of molecular signals to ensure the body's peripheral nerves are properly insulated and functioning normally. ...

An international collaboration of neuroscientists has shed light on how the brain helps us to predict what is coming next in speech.

Using human skin cells, University of California, Irvine neurobiologists and their colleagues have created a method to generate one of the principle cell types of the brain called microglia, which play a key role in preserving ...

Have you ever thought someone was angry at you, but it turned out you were just misreading their facial expression? Caltech researchers have now discovered that one specific region of the brain, called the amygdala, is involved ...

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Anatomy Of A Fake News Story: The Muslim Politician And The Anzac Day "Disgrace" – BuzzFeed News

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Did you hear the one about how Anne Aly, Australias first female Muslim federal MP, refused to lay a wreath at a recent Anzac Day service?

If youre a traveller in right wing Australian Facebook circles, theres a fair chance you did. From the Kim Vuga Love Australia Or Leave Party page to the Bolt Report Supporters group, rumours of Alys disrespect have been circling for a few days.

The only problem is, its just not true.

The rumour appears to have kicked off at around 8:30pm on Anzac Day which marks the anniversary of Australia and New Zealands first major battle in WWI when it was posted to the Kim Vuga Love Australia or Leave Party page.

The must read story was posted by Vuga, the founder and president of the Love Australia or Leave Party and posed the question: What the hell are they doing in our country? You can guess who they refers to.

The story came to Vuga from Gary, a regular commenter on the page who apparently sent it to her via direct message. It claimed that Gary was at the Wanneroo RSL dawn service, north of Perth in Western Australia.

Everything went very well until the Wreath laying ceremony when the guy announcing the people laying Wreaths said the Local Member Anne Ally would not be presenting the Wreath for the local government, the post said.

What a bitch.

A few hours later Vugas post was picked up by the Fair Suck Of The Sav, Mate Facebook page, where Alys failure to lay a wreath had now become a refusal.

That post was shared more than 450 times by the pages 49,000 followers, and from there it took off, bouncing around the right wing Facebook echo chamber, whipping conservatives into a fevered frenzy about the Muslim MP who disrespected our Diggers.

Alys WA electorate of Cowan has two dawn services one at Wanneroo and one at Ballajura and because the sun only rises once a day, she can only attend one.

Last year it was Wanneroo, so this year she attended the Ballajura ceremony and sent a wreath to Wanneroo, where state MP Sabine Winton laid it on her behalf.

Alys been to three Anzac ceremonies this week, and shell attend three more before the week is out.

Aly, who was a counter terror and deradicalisation expert before entering parliament, says the claims are offensive and distracting.

I have a strong relationship with the RSL, she told BuzzFeed News. I take a lot of pride in it. I work a lot with victims of terror and with first responders, with people who have sacrificed. I have a lot of respect for our service men and women.

The news has now seeped into the mainstream. Aly says shes heard it being reported on some local talkback stations.

Its absolutely disgusting that the very people who are falsely claiming outrage are the same people who are disrespecting Anzac day for their own agenda, she said.

I dont look at my life through the lens of my religious identity. I dont look at everything only through the lens of Islam. But people look at me only through that lens and cant see me as anything else.

When contacted by BuzzFeed News Kim Vuga was unrepentant about any role she played in the spreading of a false rumour.

She said she had never claimed that Aly had refused to lay a wreath, only that she had failed to lay one, and said she trusted her friend Gary to tell the truth.

I only shared what I was given, she told BuzzFeed News.

When asked why she hadnt checked her facts before posting, she said that that was the job of journalists, and perhaps BuzzFeed News would be better off investigating the recent controversy surrounding Muslim writer and TV host Yassmin Abdel-Magied.

Vuga hasnt yet passed on Garys details to us, but if she does, well update this post.

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Anatomy Of A Fake News Story: The Muslim Politician And The Anzac Day "Disgrace" - BuzzFeed News

Achieve a lifetime of good health with care at medAge – The Mountaineer

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medAge is customized medicine using a team approach to help patients become healthier and more energetic.

medAge patients lose fat and are leaner.They have lower risks for heart disease, cancer, arthritis, bone loss and other chronic conditions frequently associated with aging and the typical American lifestyle.

These are conditions that are commonly diagnosed and treated but rarely prevented in many medical offices. medAge is also anti-aging medicine staying abreast of the science to help patients stay healthy and look and feel young. medAge was founded in Asheville, a mecca for health and wellness centers. Due to its success at identifying and reversing early stages of disease,medAge can now be found in other parts of the country.

How medAge is different from other medical practices:

medAge is scientifically sound medicine and helps each individual patient formulate a healthy, sustainable way of living which is enjoyable and tailored to their specific lifestyle.

A division of medAge is dedicated to professional and amateur athletes of all ages. medAge for Athletes uses precise biometric measurements to test and train athletes allowing them to achieve peak performance in their individual sport. medAge trained athletes can be found all over the world competing and excelling in professional sports.

For more information on how to achieve optimal health visit http://www.medage.com.

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Achieve a lifetime of good health with care at medAge - The Mountaineer