Introduction to DNA – Video

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23-01-2012 15:02 This is a 4 minute HD dramatic video choreographed to powerful music, which introduces the viewer to the wonder of DNA. It is designed as a "trailer" to be shown by Biology teachers in middle and high school and college as a visual "Introduction" to this amazing molecule, and how it has directed all life on Earth. Please rate this video and feel free to comment. If you like it, please spread the word via any social media sites you can. The more teachers and students who can enjoy these dramatic videos, the better! I wish to thank all of the video and music producers whose postings enabled me to create this video for educational use. I wish to specifically thank Eric Whitacre for stunning visuals of the Tree of Life. To best enjoy this video, turn up your speakers. The music is very powerful and stirring. Subscribe to my channel for other video trailers in Biology, Earth Science, Astronomy and other topics. I will be releasing new ones periodically. I can customize this video to add your name or school name at the end credits, for a very modest fee. If interested, email me at "inquiry@gregs-educational.info"

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Introduction to DNA - Video

Posted in DNA

Lt. Gov., Mayor Brown Show Support for DNA Databank Expansion

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January 31, 2012 Updated Jan 31, 2012 at 5:31 PM EST

Buffalo, N.Y. (WKBW release) -- New York Lieutenant Governor Robert J. Duffy on Tuesday joined with City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and law enforcement officials to show support for Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's proposal to expand the state's DNA Databank, which will help solve more crimes, bring justice to victims and exonerate innocent New Yorkers.

The Lieutenant Governor and Mayor were joined at the Buffalo City Hall press conference by Erie County's First Assistant District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda, Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards and Robyn Wiktorky-Reynolds, the Advocate Program Coordinator at Crisis Services.

"When Governor Cuomo detailed his Executive Budget proposal last month, he unveiled the next steps in his plan to build a new New York," Lieutenant Governor Duffy said in a news release. "His plan to expand the state's DNA Databank will transform our criminal justice system. During my law enforcement career, I saw case after case where DNA evidence made a difference – excluding individuals from suspicion, identifying those responsible for crimes and giving victims closure and a measure of justice. I can't imagine why anyone would want to preclude such a powerful tool from being used to its fullest potential."

Mayor Brown said, "Governor Cuomo's proposal to expand the DNA Databank is critically important to solving crimes, and equally as important to keep people who are innocent from being wrongly convicted. This is going to be another useful crime fighting tool to help the Buffalo Police Department and other law enforcement agencies further reduce crime in Buffalo, and across New York."

Chief Richards said, "It is important to mention that both Governor Cuomo, as former State Attorney General, and Lieutenant Governor Duffy, as the former Chief of the Rochester Police Department, truly understand the value of DNA collection. In Buffalo, we know the value of DNA evidence, which was invaluable in solving a string of three homicides, committed by Altemio Sanchez, or the cold case murder investigation of Barbara Lloyd, who was brutally killed in 1974. It was DNA evidence that led to an arrest on February 1, 2007 and subsequent conviction of Leon Chatt for her stabbing death."

New York State has yet to realize the full potential of the DNA Databank because state law only permits DNA to be collected from 48 percent of offenders convicted of a Penal Law crime. Currently, anyone convicted of a felony or one of 36 misdemeanors under the Penal Law must provide a DNA sample.

The Governor's proposal would require DNA samples to be collected from anyone convicted of all remaining Penal Law misdemeanors and any felony under other state laws, such as felony driving while intoxicated under the Vehicle and Traffic Law, aggravated animal cruelty under the Agriculture and Markets Law, and prescription drug offenses under the Public Health Law.

The Databank was created in 1996. Since that time, DNA evidence has helped prosecutors solve more than 2,700 crimes and has exonerated 27 New Yorkers, including three men in Erie County.

New York's Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Elizabeth Glazer said: "Every day we wait to expand the state's DNA Databank, another cold case goes unresolved, a person wrongly convicted sits in prison, and we risk one of our loved ones falling victim to a crime that could have been prevented. How do we know this? Because we have evidence that shows every time we expanded the Databank, we solved more crimes. It's just that simple."

The last expansion in 2006, which for the first time made some misdemeanors DNA-eligible, showed that criminals do not specialize. Today's low-level offender is often yesterday's violent felon:

•?DNA samples taken from individuals convicted of the misdemeanor crime of petit larceny have been linked to 965 crimes, including 51 murders, 222 sexual assaults, 117 robberies, and 407 burglaries.

•?And DNA samples taken from individuals convicted of second-degree criminal trespass have been linked to 30 homicides, 110 sexual assaults and 121 burglaries, among other crimes.

Data from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) also shows that offenders linked to crimes through the DNA Databank had three prior convictions for non-DNA eligible offenses before they were convicted of offenses that required DNA samples. Many of low-level, non-DNA eligible misdemeanors are precursors to violent crime:

•?27 percent of individuals convicted of unauthorized use of a vehicle are subsequently arrested for a violent felony offense within five years of the misdemeanor conviction.

•?21 percent of individuals convicted of three other misdemeanors – third-degree criminal trespass, fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services – also are subsequently arrested for a violent felony offense within five years of being convicted of one of those crimes.

Taking a DNA sample is not an invasive process: convicted offenders rub the inside of their cheek with a swab. The New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center then converts that material into a numerical profile, specifically unique to that offender. The profile is only used to match convicted offenders to evidence found at a crime scene, and link crimes that may involve the same perpetrator. The profile cannot be used for any other purpose and cannot identify anything about a person's race, appearance, health or behavior.

The process in which DNA profiles are uploaded, tested and matched to convicted offenders ensures that nothing, other than science, affects the outcome of a match. Names, photographs or criminal history records that correspond to the DNA profiles are not maintained in the Databank, and DCJS, the agency confirming the identity once a match has been made, does not have access to the DNA profiles maintained in the Databank. Also, once a DNA match has been made, confirmatory testing is done to ensure its accuracy before local labs and law enforcement personnel are notified.

The New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center in Albany can process 10,000 DNA samples from convicted offenders a month. The Governor's proposed expansion will bring the monthly total to less than 7,000 and will not create a backlog.

If enacted, the Governor's proposal would take effect Oct. 1, 2012, and it would not be retroactive. In addition, the proposal would not apply to children involved in Family Court matters or youthful offenders.

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Lt. Gov., Mayor Brown Show Support for DNA Databank Expansion

Posted in DNA

Exposure to common environmental bacteria may be source of some allergic inflammation

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Public release date: 31-Jan-2012
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Contact: Cody Mooneyhan
cmooneyhan@faseb.org
301-634-7104
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Could some cases of asthma actually be caused by an allergic reaction to a common environmental bacteria? New research findings published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology (https://www.jleukbio.org) suggests that this idea may not be as far-fetched as it seems. In a research report appearing in the February 2012 print issue, researchers show a link between common environmental bacteria and airway inflammation. Specifically, their research suggests that some strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cause white blood cells to produce very high levels of histamine, which in turn leads to inflammation, a hallmark symptom of asthma.

"We hope that these findings in mice will encourage human-focused research regarding bacterial stimulation of histamine production by white blood cells, like neutrophils, that are not traditionally associated with allergic inflammation," said George Caughey, M.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California in San Francisco. "Such research could improve our understanding of inflammation in bacterial infections, and help us to craft therapies for relief of inflammation and its consequences for short and long-term health."

To make this discovery, scientists studied the effect of two strains of pseudomonas bacteria on isolated mouse white blood cells tasked with killing bacteria, called neutrophils. Results showed that one strain killed the neutrophils, but the second strain produced substances that caused the neutrophils to increase their production of histamine significantly. To see if their discovery was applicable outside of the test tube, the histamine-stimulating strain was then used to infect mice to produce bronchitis and pneumonia. These mice experienced a significant increase of histamine in their airways and lungs. Additional work showed that the bacteria persuade neutrophils to produce histamine by causing them to make much more of the key enzyme in histamine synthesis (histidine decarboxylase) than neutrophils would otherwise do in the unstimulated state.

"Despite advances in diagnosing and treating the symptoms of asthma and allergy, our understanding of the underlying initiating events remains elusive," said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. "This report helps shed light on how an 'everyday organism' might trigger asthma and allergy from an immune cell type not normally thought to be involved in allergic disease."

###

The Journal of Leukocyte Biology (http://www.jleukbio.org) publishes peer-reviewed manuscripts on original investigations focusing on the cellular and molecular biology of leukocytes and on the origins, the developmental biology, biochemistry and functions of granulocytes, lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes and other cells involved in host defense and inflammation. The Journal of Leukocyte Biology is published by the Society for Leukocyte Biology.


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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

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Exposure to common environmental bacteria may be source of some allergic inflammation

Test scores up in biology, down slightly in English, Algebra I

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High school test scores in biology went up in the Alamance-Burlington School System during the first half of 2011-12, while declining slightly in English and Algebra I compared to the first half of 2010-11.

The percentage of students achieving what the state considers proficiency in biology was 86.2 percent in the fall, up from 79.1 a year earlier.

The percentage of students achieving proficiency in English was 81.6 percent, down less than a percentage point from 82.1 percent a year earlier.

In Algebra I, 65.3 percent of students achieved proficiency in Algebra I, compared to 66.4 percent a year earlier. Neither of those figures includes the performance of eighth-grade students who take the test at the end of the year.

Dain Butler, the system’s director of accountability and school improvement, said the test scores are preliminary and are likely to change a little as results of re-tests continue to be added. But “it’s a close representation” of what final results will be, he said. Butler also warned against drawing too many conclusions about student progress before scores from the second half of the year are available in June.

Butler reviewed the information with the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education during a Monday night meeting. He said it’s hard to say why biology results improved while scores in the other two areas dipped slightly. He did say the state’s elimination of some end-of-grade tests means educators have more time to focus on the remaining subjects.

Board member Patsy Simpson said she wants to get more information about what efforts take place at schools when the percentage of students reaching proficiency in a subject is far lower than the system average.

“Be very specific,” she said.

Here are the results broken down by high school:

Cummings High School: In Algebra I, 58.2 percent of students were proficient, up from 56.5 percent.  In biology, 79.4 percent were proficient, up from 66.7 percent. In English, 68.2 percent were proficient, down from 80.4 percent.

Eastern Alamance High School: In Algebra I, 81.9 percent of students were proficient, down from 82.6 percent. In biology, 91.5 percent were proficient, up from 76 percent. In English, 79.8 percent were proficient, down from 81.8 percent.

Graham High School: In Algebra I, 54.7 percent of students were proficient, down from 60.8 percent. In biology, 90 percent of students were proficient, up from 77.9 percent. In English, 79.6 percent were proficient, down from 82.4 percent.

Southern High School: In Algebra I, 62.6 percent of students were proficient, down from 69.9 percent. In biology, 88.5 percent were proficient, up from 83.5 percent. In English, 86.6 percent were proficient, up from 79.9 percent.

Western Alamance High School: In Algebra I, 88.3 percent of students were proficient, up from 84.3 percent. In biology, 95 percent of students were proficient, up from 92.9 percent. In English, 89.7 percent were proficient, up from 88.3 percent.

Williams High School: In Algebra I, 62.2 percent of students were proficient, up from 50.4 percent. In biology, 72.3 percent were proficient, down from 73.8 percent. In English, 86.9 were proficient, up from 83.3 percent.

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Test scores up in biology, down slightly in English, Algebra I

Sears® Releases National Survey Revealing What Men and Women Really Want This Valentine's Day

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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- If a new national survey from Sears of more than 1,000 men and women is any indication, this Valentine's Day will take a romantic and generous turn for many lucky couples. Thirty-seven percent of men in relationships say they expect or are planning to spend $100 or more this year, according to the survey conducted by Sentient Decision Science for Sears. Even men with more modest resources (30 percent) reported they would look for creative ways to gift their loved ones within a $50 budget.

Sears has teamed up with David Tutera, the party and entertaining guru and TV host to share this year's Valentine's gift giving trends  and offer men everywhere ways to make the day special for their significant other.

To plan the perfect evening, Tutera suggests the following:

Everyone Loves Electronics. Instead of the expected flowers or chocolates, go for something unexpected. Case in point: Roughly three quarters (80 percent) of women surveyed said they would be excited to receive the latest technology product this Valentine's Day. Help your loved one stay entertained and connected with the SVP 7-inch Touch Panel Wifi Android 2.2 Tablet- $89.99 Wine, Dine & Be Mine.A menu of favorite dishes shared on previous dates or special occasions would be ideal for the nearly one-third of survey respondents (27 percent) who plan a low-key evening at home. Time crunch? Grab your favorite fruit, cheese or bread and share a intimate meal fondue style with the Rival 3-Quart Fondue Pot- $42.99 Calendar Girl. This Valentine's Day falls on a busy weeknight that can interfere with work or family obligations. Move your celebration to a more convenient weekend night so neither you nor your sweetheart will feel rushed or stressed. Surprise your Valentine with a private Award Season Movie Screening at home.

To browse all the hottest Valentine's Day gifts at affordable prices, visit Sears.com/gifts.

Sears Valentine's Day Survey Methodology

The Sentient Decision Science Valentine's Day study examines Valentine's Day perceptions and behaviors among U.S. consumers. Sentient Decision Science, an independent behavioral science and consulting firm, was commissioned by Sears to conduct this study. The research is based on a survey of 1,008 U.S. consumers (600 Females; 454 currently in a relationship, 146 not in a relationship and 408 males currently in a relationship), ages 18 and older, and the data is representative of the U.S. census population. The margin of error for a survey based on 1,008 interviews is +/- 3.1 percentage points with a 95 percent level of confidence. For more information about the sampling methodology of this study, please contact Meghan Van Horn at Sentient Decision Science.

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD - News), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,700 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes over 890 full-line and more than 1,350 specialty stores in the U.S.   Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck is the 2011 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 11 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at http://www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at http://www.searsholdings.com.

 

 

 

 

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Sears® Releases National Survey Revealing What Men and Women Really Want This Valentine's Day

Netter's Anatomy Atlas for iPad [Book and Media Reviews]

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iPad version 1.0.1 (updated October 7, 2011)
By Frank Netter
$89.99
Philadelphia, PA, Elsevier, 2012
Available through iTunes
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/netters-anatomy-atlas/id461841381?mt=8

Roger P. Smith, MD Author Affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (rogpsmith@iupui.edu).

Few authors achieve “superstar” status in medicine, and even fewer do so as medical illustrators. The work of Frank Netter (1906-1991) resonates with all students of medicine, from those considering the field to those old enough to remember eagerly anticipating the next publication of a work by Netter. As iconic as the Netter illustrations are, that level of recognition and quality is not sufficient to guarantee the value of a book or iPad application, and those attributes set a high bar of expectation for any product. In this case, the application seems to live up to those expectations.

Left, The home screen for Netter's Anatomy Atlas for iPad provides multiple ways of locating anatomical information fast: users can search, browse by region or system, or proceed directly to Netter plates tagged with personal bookmarks or notes. Right, Label quizzes test users' memory of anatomical terminology. Reprinted with permission from Elsevier. …

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Netter's Anatomy Atlas for iPad [Book and Media Reviews]

'Mirracle' Kinect hack used to teach anatomy

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Kinect hacks have been used for many a grand feat, from a tool that helps the blind navigate more easily to hands-free questing in World of Warcraft and virtual cat brushing.

The Mirracle system projects a CT image onto the user's reflection to give the illusion of seeing inside one's own body.

(Credit: Screenshot by Elizabeth Armstrong Moore/CNET)

So why not integrate the powers of Microsoft Kinect with a mirror to teach such subjects as basic anatomy?

For the past year, a team out of the Technical University of Munich in Germany has been working on just that. The researchers use Kinect to estimate the position of a person in front of an augmented-reality mirror in order to create the illusion that the user can see inside her own body.

Researchers Tobias Blum and Nassir Navab say the tool, which they call Mirracle--for "mirror miracle," I suppose--is largely educational, and report that they installed a prototype of their Mirracle system in the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam in September 2011.

The Kinect provides tracking, while software from OpenNI and PrimeSense NITE project the skeleton of a person onto the subject in front of the mirror. The Kinect is positioned next to the screen, so that the person standing in front of the Mirracle system can interact with the screen, using touch-screen gestures without having to actually touch anything.

While the end result is a little crude--for instance, it uses someone else's CT image instead of the subject's own--the Mirracle system certainly enables more user interaction and visualization. Those are two big perks for studying anatomy.

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'Mirracle' Kinect hack used to teach anatomy

Use Kinect to teach anatomy? It's a 'Mirracle'!

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Kinect hacks have been used for many a grand feat, from a tool that helps the blind navigate more easily to hands-free questing in World of Warcraft and virtual cat brushing.

The Mirracle system projects a CT image onto the user's reflection to give the illusion of seeing inside one's own body.

(Credit: Screenshot by Elizabeth Armstrong Moore/CNET)

So why not integrate the powers of Microsoft Kinect with a mirror to teach such subjects as basic anatomy?

For the past year, a team out of the Technical University of Munich in Germany has been working on just that. The researchers use Kinect to estimate the position of a person in front of an augmented-reality mirror in order to create the illusion that the user can see inside her own body.

Researchers Tobias Blum and Nassir Navab say the tool, which they call Mirracle--for "mirror miracle," I suppose--is largely educational, and report that they installed a prototype of their Mirracle system in the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam in September 2011.

The Kinect provides tracking, while software from OpenNI and PrimeSense NITE project the skeleton of a person onto the subject in front of the mirror. The Kinect is positioned next to the screen, so that the person standing in front of the Mirracle system can interact with the screen, using touch-screen gestures without having to actually touch anything.

While the end result is a little crude--for instance, it uses someone else's CT image instead of the subject's own--the Mirracle system certainly enables more user interaction and visualization. Those are two big perks for studying anatomy.

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Use Kinect to teach anatomy? It's a 'Mirracle'!

Lafayette Chiropractor Holds Weekly Nutrition and Weight Management Programs for the Public

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LAFAYETTE, LA--(Marketwire -01/31/12)- Dr. John Sullivan, a Lafayette chiropractor for 25 years, leads a weekly weight management and nutrition class every Thursday night at 6:00 PM. The class, which is free and open to the public, is held at Dr. Sullivan's Independence Chiropractic clinic on Independence Boulevard. Dr. Sullivan says that instead of focusing on popular diets the way many other weight management programs do, his class centers on teaching people healthy diet and lifestyle changes they can maintain throughout their lives, both for weight loss and overall health improvement.

Dr. Sullivan says that his inspiration for the class is the famous quote by Hippocrates: "Let your food be your medicine." He says that good health often hinges not only what people eat, but the combination of foods they eat, and when they eat them. He cites several scientific studies on nutritional healing and examples of students and patients whose lives have drastically improved by making the suggested diet and lifestyle changes. People in the class have reportedly experienced an average weight loss of 30 pounds in as little as 3 months.

Although weight loss is a primary goal for many of his students, the Lafayette chiropractor explains that, "This class is really about finding out what your body needs to be the healthiest it can be, and then doing it. Of course, weight loss can make a person healthier, but unlike other diet and weight management programs that focus solely on weight loss, we teach people how food works in their bodies to accomplish all sorts of important wellness goals."

In addition to the weekly class, Dr. Sullivan encourages students to go through personalized nutrition counseling and health testing at the clinic. Dr. Sullivan knows how to stop the dependency on sugar and high fructose corn syrup that is the ultimate cause of such conditions as Heart Disease, Obesity, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and most inflammatory conditions. Dr. Sullivan has been a student of nutrition for over 40 years and is also a member of the Elite RKC (Russian Kettlebell Certified) Fitness Instructors. These are the instructors sought out by the Secret Service, FBI, SEAL team members and many other law enforcement and fire fighting personnel.

Proper eating is so important that RKC instructors believe there is no drug, supplement, therapy, hormone replacement or exercise program that will counteract a bad diet. Dr. Sullivan says, "I know what it's like to try all of the fad diets on the books and fail, so I have personally been where a lot of my students and patients are when they come to the class. My message is: don't give up hope! We provide the support and education people need to make truly positive and permanent changes in their lives."

Anyone interested in signing up for the class can visit the doctor's website at: http://drjohn1.com.

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Lafayette Chiropractor Holds Weekly Nutrition and Weight Management Programs for the Public

Research and Markets: Thailand Baby Food & Paediatric Nutrition Market: Analysis & Forecast (2007 – 2017)

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/a14ce4/thailand_baby_food) has announced the addition of the "Thailand Baby Food & Paediatric Nutrition Market: Analysis & Forecast (2007 - 2017)" report to their offering.

With a large number of Thai youth denying marriage and preferring to have 1-2 children, the birth rate has declined considerably in Thailand over the last few years. This has considerably slowed the volume growth rate in Thailand; however, growth in price due to demand in specialty baby food products, balanced the market in revenue terms. The Thai baby food and paediatric nutrition market grew with a CAGR of 6.99% during 2007 - 2011 to reach USD 692.1 million in 2011. The market is further expected to grow with a CAGR of 5.97% during 2012 - 2017.

This report provides a holistic view to the overall Thailand Baby Food and Paediatric Nutrition market with over view of Asia - Pacific Market and 11 year market data & forecast based on following segmentation:

By Product:

Bottled baby food Baby cereals Baby snacks Baby soups Canned & Frozen baby foods

By Type:

Dried Baby Food Milk Formula Prepared Baby Food Other Baby Food

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Objectives & Coverage 1.2 Report Description 1.3 Scope And Definitions 1.3.1 Segmentation & Analysis 1.4 Stakeholders 1.5 Data Sources, Methodology & Forecasting

Chapter 2 Asia - Pacific Baby Food & Pediatric Nutrition Market 2.1 Overview 2.2 Demographic Trends 2.3 Drivers 2.4 Inhibitors 2.5 Opportunities 2.6 Market Size & Growth 2.7 Market Trend 2.8 Future Prospect 2.9 Market Forecast 2.10 Competitive Landscape

Chapter 3 Thailand Baby Food & Pediatric Nutrition Market 3.1 Market Size & Growth 3.2 Market Trend 3.3 Future Prospect 3.4 Market Forecast 3.5 Competitive Landscape

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/a14ce4/thailand_baby_food

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Research and Markets: Thailand Baby Food & Paediatric Nutrition Market: Analysis & Forecast (2007 - 2017)

Research and Markets: Singapore Baby Food & Paediatric Nutrition Market: Analysis & Forecast (2007 – 2017)

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/e23efe/singapore_baby_foo) has announced the addition of the "Singapore Baby Food & Paediatric Nutrition Market: Analysis & Forecast (2007 - 2017)" report to their offering.

With high disposable income and small family size, parents in Singapore are willing to spend extra on quality baby food products. Moreover, recovering from economic down turn more and people have started their family, which has raised the demand of baby food in the country. The Singapore baby food and paediatric nutrition sales value increased with a CAGR of 2.13% during 2007 - 2011 to reach USD 59.6 million in 2011 and it is further expected to grow with a CAGR of 2.13% during 2012 - 2017 to be worth USD 68.4 million in 2017.

This report provides a holistic view to the overall Singapore Baby Food and Paediatric Nutrition market with over view of Asia - Pacific Market and 11 year market data & forecast based on following segmentation:

By Product:

Bottled baby food Baby cereals Baby snacks Baby soups Canned & Frozen baby foods

By Type:

Dried Baby Food Milk Formula Prepared Baby Food Other Baby Food

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Objectives & Coverage 1.2 Report Description 1.3 Scope And Definitions 1.3.1 Segmentation & Analysis 1.4 Stakeholders 1.5 Data Sources, Methodology & Forecasting

Chapter 2 Asia - Pacific Baby Food & Pediatric Nutrition Market 2.1 Overview 2.2 Demographic Trends 2.3 Drivers 2.4 Inhibitors 2.5 Opportunities 2.6 Market Size & Growth 2.7 Market Trend 2.8 Future Prospect 2.9 Market Forecast 2.10 Competitive Landscape

Chapter 3 Singapore Baby Food & Pediatric Nutrition Market 3.1 Market Size & Growth 3.2 Market Trend 3.3 Future Prospect 3.4 Market Forecast 3.5 Competitive Landscape

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/e23efe/singapore_baby_foo

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Research and Markets: Singapore Baby Food & Paediatric Nutrition Market: Analysis & Forecast (2007 - 2017)

Gardens Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Center is the First Practice in Florida to Offer Innovative TriPollar Wrinkle …

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TriPollar wrinkle reduction treatments recently gained FDA clearance and are now available in Florida at the Gardens Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Center. TriPollar anti-aging treatments deliver immediate visible and long –term results achieved by undergoing several treatment sessions. Treatment is completely non-invasive, painless and fast.

(PRWEB) January 31, 2012

The anti-aging solution that patients all over the world have discovered is for the first time available in the US. TriPollar treatments effectively rejuvenate skin in a quick and simple non-surgical and pain-free treatment. Visible results are evident after the very first session and long-term results are achieved by undergoing a series of treatments. TriPollar offers a convenient “walk-in, walk-out” treatment after which patients can immediately resume their daily routine. The treatment is safe and effective on all skin types and colors.

TriPollar treatments are based on TriPollar technology, an advanced 3rd generation radio-frequency based solution that safely and effectively reduces facial wrinkles. During treatment, TriPollar energy heats the skin from within using medically proven radiofrequency energy. The internal heat causes collagen fibers, which are the key structural components of the skin, to contract. This contraction results in immediate wrinkle reduction. Simultaneously, the heating causes fibroblast cells, the cells responsible for collagen production, to generate new collagen. The new collagen provides the skin with added flexibility which yields long term wrinkle reduction. The effectiveness of TriPollar technology has been demonstrated internationally in clinical studies and peer reviewed papers.

“As principle investigator of Pollogen’s FDA clinical trial, I am pleased to be the first practice to work with TriPollar technology in the USA. We performed 136 treatments in our FDA study without any side effects,” stated Steven Shapiro M.D., Vol. Associate Professor in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine. “Patients reported a pleasant and pain-free experience and were satisfied with the results. I observed a significant reduction in wrinkles and overall, I am impressed by the immediate and long-term results achieved with the TriPollar technology and its strong safety profile.”

Gardens Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Center, located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, offers the latest advancements in General Dermatology, Dermatologic Surgery, and Cosmetic Procedures. We are dedicated to excellence in the provision of total and preventive care for your skin, hair and nails. Our team of Board Certified Dermatologists provide full service Medical and Cosmetic Surgery for general, adult, and pediatric dermatology. We perform Mohs skin cancer surgery, as well as many cosmetic procedures, including all categories of lasers and newest skin devices.

For a limited time, TriPollar treatments are available at a special introductory price. Contact the Gardens Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Center for more details.

For more details contact:

Gardens Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Center

11030 RCA Center Drive

Suite 3015

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

(561) 776-7041

info(at)gardensdermatology(dot)com

###

Abigail Calvet
Pollogen Ltd.
+972 3-510-4110
Email Information

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Gardens Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Center is the First Practice in Florida to Offer Innovative TriPollar Wrinkle ...

Stanford scientists turn skin cells into neural precusors, bypassing stem-cell stage

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Public release date: 30-Jan-2012
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Contact: Krista Conger
kristac@stanford.edu
650-725-5371
Stanford University Medical Center

STANFORD, Calif. ? Mouse skin cells can be converted directly into cells that become the three main parts of the nervous system, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The finding is an extension of a previous study by the same group showing that mouse and human skin cells can be directly converted into functional neurons.

The multiple successes of the direct conversion method could refute the idea that pluripotency (a term that describes the ability of stem cells to become nearly any cell in the body) is necessary for a cell to transform from one cell type to another. Together, the results raise the possibility that embryonic stem cell research and another technique called "induced pluripotency" could be supplanted by a more direct way of generating specific types of cells for therapy or research.

This new study, which will be published online Jan. 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is a substantial advance over the previous paper in that it transforms the skin cells into neural precursor cells, as opposed to neurons. While neural precursor cells can differentiate into neurons, they can also become the two other main cell types in the nervous system: astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. In addition to their greater versatility, the newly derived neural precursor cells offer another advantage over neurons because they can be cultivated to large numbers in the laboratory ? a feature critical for their long-term usefulness in transplantation or drug screening.

In the study, the switch from skin to neural precursor cells occurred with high efficiency over a period of about three weeks after the addition of just three transcription factors. (In the previous study, a different combination of three transcription factors was used to generate mature neurons.) The finding implies that it may one day be possible to generate a variety of neural-system cells for transplantation that would perfectly match a human patient.

"We are thrilled about the prospects for potential medical use of these cells," said Marius Wernig, MD, assistant professor of pathology and a member of Stanford's Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. "We've shown the cells can integrate into a mouse brain and produce a missing protein important for the conduction of electrical signal by the neurons. This is important because the mouse model we used mimics that of a human genetic brain disease. However, more work needs to be done to generate similar cells from human skin cells and assess their safety and efficacy."

Wernig is the senior author of the research. Graduate student Ernesto Lujan is the first author.

While much research has been devoted to harnessing the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells, taking those cells from an embryo and then implanting them in a patient could prove difficult because they would not match genetically. An alternative technique involves a concept called induced pluripotency, first described in 2006. In this approach, transcription factors are added to specialized cells like those found in skin to first drive them back along the developmental timeline to an undifferentiated stem-cell-like state. These "iPS cells" are then grown under a variety of conditions to induce them to re-specialize into many different cell types.

Scientists had thought that it was necessary for a cell to first enter an induced pluripotent state or for researchers to start with an embryonic stem cell, which is pluripotent by nature, before it could go on to become a new cell type. However, research from Wernig's laboratory in early 2010 showed that it was possible to directly convert one "adult" cell type to another with the application of specialized transcription factors, a process known as transdifferentiation.

Wernig and his colleagues first converted skin cells from an adult mouse to functional neurons (which they termed induced neuronal, or iN, cells), and then replicated the feat with human cells. In 2011 they showed that they could also directly convert liver cells into iN cells.

"Dr. Wernig's demonstration that fibroblasts can be converted into functional nerve cells opens the door to consider new ways to regenerate damaged neurons using cells surrounding the area of injury," said pediatric cardiologist Deepak Srivastava, MD, who was not involved in these studies. "It also suggests that we may be able to transdifferentiate cells into other cell types." Srivastava is the director of cardiovascular research at the Gladstone Institutes at the University of California-San Francisco. In 2010, Srivastava transdifferentiated mouse heart fibroblasts into beating heart muscle cells.

"Direct conversion has a number of advantages," said Lujan. "It occurs with relatively high efficiency and it generates a fairly homogenous population of cells. In contrast, cells derived from iPS cells must be carefully screened to eliminate any remaining pluripotent cells or cells that can differentiate into different lineages." Pluripotent cells can cause cancers when transplanted into animals or humans.

The lab's previous success converting skin cells into neurons spurred Wernig and Lujan to see if they could also generate the more-versatile neural precursor cells, or NPCs. To do so, they infected embryonic mouse skin cells ? a commonly used laboratory cell line ? with a virus encoding 11 transcription factors known to be expressed at high levels in NPCs. A little more than three weeks later, they saw that about 10 percent of the cells had begun to look and act like NPCs.

Repeated experiments allowed them to winnow the original panel of 11 transcription factors to just three: Brn2, Sox2 and FoxG1. (In contrast, the conversion of skin cells directly to functional neurons requires the transcription factors Brn2, Ascl1 and Myt1l.) Skin cells expressing these three transcription factors became neural precursor cells that were able to differentiate into not just neurons and astrocytes, but also oligodendrocytes, which make the myelin that insulates nerve fibers and allows them to transmit signals. The scientists dubbed the newly converted population "induced neural precursor cells," or iNPCs.

In addition to confirming that the astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes were expressing the appropriate genes and that they resembled their naturally derived peers in both shape and function when grown in the laboratory, the researchers wanted to know how the iNPCs would react when transplanted into an animal. They injected them into the brains of newborn laboratory mice bred to lack the ability to myelinate neurons. After 10 weeks, Lujan found that the cells had differentiated into oligodendroytes and had begun to coat the animals' neurons with myelin.

"Not only do these cells appear functional in the laboratory, they also seem to be able to integrate appropriately in an in vivo animal model," said Lujan.

The scientists are now working to replicate the work with skin cells from adult mice and humans, but Lujan emphasized that much more research is needed before any human transplantation experiments could be conducted. In the meantime, however, the ability to quickly and efficiently generate neural precursor cells that can be grown in the laboratory to mass quantities and maintained over time will be valuable in disease and drug-targeting studies.

"In addition to direct therapeutic application, these cells may be very useful to study human diseases in a laboratory dish or even following transplantation into a developing rodent brain," said Wernig.

###

In addition to Wernig and Lujan, other Stanford researchers involved in the study include postdoctoral scholars Soham Chanda, PhD, and Henrik Ahlenius, PhD; and professor of molecular and cellular physiology Thomas Sudhof, MD.

The research was supported by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the New York Stem Cell Foundation, the Ellison Medical Foundation, the Stinehart-Reed Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://mednews.stanford.edu. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. For information about all three, please visit http://stanfordmedicine.org/about/news.html.

PRINT MEDIA CONTACT: Krista Conger at (650) 725-5371 (kristac@stanford.edu)
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Stanford scientists turn skin cells into neural precusors, bypassing stem-cell stage

Ferguson to look at improving island’s pathology services

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MONTEGO BAY, St James — Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson has promised to improve the island's pathology services in the aftermath of Thursday's massive demonstration over the failure of the police to have the days-old decomposing body of a man removed from an abandoned house in Niagara, southern St James.

"It is a disgrace when a body would lie for hours or even without attention to the elements. It is bad to have died but then in death we still believe in reverence and respect and as the new minister it is an area — it is a lot that is on the plate — but is an area that must be looked at," Dr Ferguson told members of the media during an interview in Montego Bay on Friday.

He added: "There has been a problem in terms of the pathology service in the public sector for sometime now. There was a couple years ago when there was some improvement — and then we are back to square one."

But Dr Ferguson was unable to say how many pathologists are in the public sector amidst reports that there is only one.

He, however, argued that as the new health minister he was obligated to provide incentives to attract qualified persons both locally and from overseas.

Last Thursday, dozens of Niagara residents used tree trunks and boulders to block a bridge that links St James and St Elizabeth — severely disrupting traffic — over the failure of the police to have the body of 40-year-old Harold James removed from the community.

The residents had complained that the police were made aware of the body the Monday prior, the day it was discovered.

The residents said that the stench from the rotting body had become unbearable. However, there were claims that the body had to remain in the house until a pathologist arrived to conduct an on-the-spot post-mortem.

The examination was done on Thursday, following which undertakers removed the body from the house.

Friday, the health minister lamented that the delay of post-mortems was placing a financial burden on bereaved families.

"It is costing families across the country an enormous amount of money because of the length of time it has taken, in many instances, to do the post-mortem. And so, it is an area that is going to be addressed because my focus is going to be service delivery. That is going to be the essence of my tenure," Dr Ferguson argued.

"We have been sidetracked with other things, but service delivery is going to be at the heart of my tenure as minister of health," he reiterated.

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Ferguson to look at improving island's pathology services

Bodybuilder Shares Nutrition

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12-01-2009 15:32 Click here budurl.com ToLose Fat and Gain Muscle With Darin Any Where In The World by using his On-line Program. Sign up for my free tools and newsletter at http://www.FatlossLifestyle.com I started passionately studying what lean people were doing in 1981 because my waistline was 40 inches. I have learned a lot since then. I am now in the best shape of my life at the age of 44. My waistline is now 31 inches. Nutrition is 60-70% of your fat loss / muscle gain program. Follow me and I will teach you exactly how to eat for your body type, activity level, starting point, and your goals. You can work-out till your blue in the face but if you do not incorporate Interval Cardio (done first thing in the morning in a fasted state), intense functional multi-joint, compound exercises, small healthy meals often with protein and carbs combined together, positive mindset, goal setting and social support (you will turn into who you hang around) you will not change your body much. But if you do focus on the 5 pillars of fitness and health, you will radically change your waistline, your lifestyle, and your life. YOUR ATTITUDE WILL DETERMINE YOUR ALTITUDE (how high you go in life) YOUR WAISTLINE DETERMINES YOU ATTITUDE GET A BETTER BODY; GET A BETTER LIFE!! The main reason to workout abs is because strong abs will stabilize your lower back and prevent you from an injury; but as a side benefit a 6-pack looks great! Anyone can be healthier, have more energy, sleep better, and feel better about themselves ...

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The Big Bread Lie, The Whole Truth, Nutrition by Natalie – Video

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09-11-2008 17:30 Be My Friend on MySpace http://www.myspace.com Nutrition by Natalie Website http://www.nutritionbynatalie.com The Big Bread Lie, The Whole Truth, Nutrition by Natalie Food companies often put misleading claims on packaging. You whole wheat bread might be nothing more than white bread that died to look brown. Are Food Makers Lying? Fake Fiber, Nutrition by Natalie http What is Fiber, Truth about Fiber, Nutrition by Natalie http://www.youtube.com Super Food and Health Food, Buckwheat, Nutrition by Natalie http://www.youtube.com Whole Foods vs. Processed Foods - Nutrition by Natalie http://www.youtube.com Super Food and Health Food, Sprouts, Nutrition by Natalie http://www.youtube.com The FDA Conspiracy and Bleached Flour, Austin Nutrition http://www.youtube.com Fat To Sexy Fit Secret For Girls and Boys, What Foods to Eat http://www.youtube.com This video was produced by psychetruth http://www.youtube.com http://www.myspace.com psychetruth.blogspot.com Music by Jimmy Gelhaar http Psychetruth is empowered by TubeMogul http://www.tubemogul.com © Copyright 2008 Zoe Sofia. Thisvideo may be displayed in public, copied and redistributed for any strictly non-commercial use in its entire unedited form. Alteration or commercial use is strictly prohibited. Distributed by Tubemogul.

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The Big Bread Lie, The Whole Truth, Nutrition by Natalie - Video

Research and Markets: China Baby Food & Paediatric Nutrition Market: Analysis & Forecast (2007 – 2017)

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d417e8/china_baby_food) has announced the addition of the "China Baby Food & Paediatric Nutrition Market: Analysis & Forecast (2007 - 2017) " report to their offering.

As the consumer spending on baby food products increasing in China (0.08% in 2009 to 0.09% in 2010 of total GDP) the sales value has increased considerably over last five years. The baby food sales value in China increased by 122% during 2007 - 2011 from USD 3.2 billion in 2007 to USD 7.1 billion in 2011. Due to high demand of bay food products in China, the country has become a hot spot for baby food manufacturers and agri-food developers. This is evident in as the more than 175 new baby food products has been launched in Chinese market over the last 12 months. Moreover, Agri-food imports in China has also increased considerably, from USD 51.5 billion in 2009 to USD 73.3 billion in 2010 (an 42% increase).

This report provides a holistic view to the overall China Baby Food and Paediatric Nutrition market with over view of Asia - Pacific Market and 11 year market data & forecast based on following segmentation:

By Product

Bottled baby food Baby cereals Baby snacks Baby soups Canned & Frozen baby foods

By Type

Dried Baby Food Milk Formula Prepared Baby Food Other Baby Food

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Objectives & Coverage 1.2 Report Description 1.3 Scope And Definitions 1.3.1 Segmentation & Analysis 1.4 Stakeholders 1.5 Data Sources, Methodology & Forecasting

Chapter 2 Asia - Pacific Baby Food & Pediatric Nutrition Market 2.1 Overview 2.2 Demographic Trends 2.3 Drivers 2.4 Inhibitors 2.5 Opportunities 2.6 Market Size & Growth 2.7 Market Trend 2.8 Future Prospect 2.9 Market Forecast 2.10 Competitive Landscape

Chapter 3 China Baby Food & Pediatric Nutrition Market 3.1 Market Size & Growth 3.2 Market Trend 3.3 Future Prospect 3.4 Market Forecast 3.5 Competitive Landscape

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d417e8/china_baby_food

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Research and Markets: China Baby Food & Paediatric Nutrition Market: Analysis & Forecast (2007 - 2017)