Daily Archives: April 8, 2015

59-1 DNA Gameplay – Video

Posted: April 8, 2015 at 4:43 am


59-1 DNA Gameplay
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59-1 DNA Gameplay - Video

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A Step Closer to Eternal Data Storage in DNA

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Methods for storing data in DNA are becoming more feasible, and may now enable the data to survive intact for over a million years. Researchers in Switzerland have recently conducted successful experiments in this field.

The idea of storing data in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the natural genetic information storage medium, has been around for a number of years. Scientists have already known for some time that information could be stored in a DNA sequence. Now researchers at the ETH Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland have taken a further step towards achieving uncorrupted data storage for a period approaching eternity. Robert Grass, a lecturer at the ETH Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, and his team set out to test the procedure, basing their research on preserving the information-bearing segments of DNA.

The technique used by the ETH scientists to encode and decode data from synthetic DNA

In order to do this, they drew some lessons from fossilised bones. Scientists are able to isolate and analyse genetic material several hundreds of thousands of years old because it has been encapsulated and protected. The ETH research team encapsulated the DNA in microscopic silica spheres (essentially glass) with a diameter of roughly 150 nanometres. Thus they basically created a synthetic fossil in which they encoded documents including Switzerlands Federal Charter of 1291. To test the robustness of this data storage method they then kept the capsules at a temperature of 60 -70C for one month. This high temperature serves to replicate within a few weeks the chemical degradation that normally takes place over hundreds of years. Results showed that the DNA encapsulated in the glass shell was particularly robust compared with other storage approaches. Even after such treatment it could be easily separated from the silica glass and the information retrieved intact.

The idea is that such information capsules could be stored at around minus18C the temperature maintained inside the Norwegian Svalbard Global Seed Vault, an international venture designed to preserve thousands of seed strains for agricultural posterity. The ETH team reckon that under these conditions the DNA-encoded data can be preserved for a million years.

Norways Svalbard Global Seed Vault could serve as a model for storing DNA-encoded information: Global Crop Diversity Trust

Tests have revealed a small margin of error due to current DNA sequencing techniques, but these techniques are constantly improving. Costs are falling and margins of error are becoming smaller every year, and this will certainly continue to boost efforts to store data in DNA form.

Having said that, we are still a long way away from DNA-based hard disks. The Zurich scientists have in the main been focusing their efforts on storing information for the longer term in a more secure manner than is currently being done in data centres, which are able to store data for only a limited period. This research is not intended to revolutionise the storage of data on our everyday devices, but rather to preserve the sum of world knowledge for posterity. As a priority, DrGrass says he would save the documents in Unescos Memory of the World Programme, plus those in Wikipedia, as they provide a good overview of what our society knows, what occupies it and to what extent, he argues. Back in 2010 a report by the French Academy of Sciences looked into the issue of preserving digital information for posterity.

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A Step Closer to Eternal Data Storage in DNA

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Primordial DNA spontaneously appeared 4 billion years ago

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Scientists say early DNA-like fragments guided their own growth They claim the process can drive the formation of chemical bonds These connect short DNA chains to form long ones for life to evolve This self-assembly capability has been shown to take place in RNA

By Ellie Zolfagharifard For Dailymail.com

Published: 12:53 EST, 7 April 2015 | Updated: 14:27 EST, 7 April 2015

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Scientists believe life on Earth began evolving around 3.8 billion years ago.

But while they have been able to put a date on when life appeared, they are still far from knowing how it appeared.

Now researchers in the US and Italy say they have evidence that DNA-like fragments may have come with 'instructions' that guided their growth into complex life forms 4 billion years ago.

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dna Masterclass on photography this Sunday

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dna in association with some of the biggest names in the field of art, education, and lifestyle, will conduct dna Masterclass, a month-on-month engagement activity for our readers.

dna in association with some of the biggest names in the field of art, education, and lifestyle, will conduct dna Masterclass, a month-on-month engagement activity for our readers.

The first workshop of dna Masterclass is on photography. The workshop will be conducted by ace celebrity photographer Avinash Gowariker.

The Westin Mumbai Garden City comes on board as the Hospitality Partner & Zee 24 Taas as the television partner.

"At The Westin Mumbai Garden City everything we do is designed to help you feel your best. The pillar of Westin Wellbeing Movement "Play Well" ideology is to renew and reconnect, and we incorporate this brilliant belief through the dna Masterclass with ace photographer Avinash Gowariker which gives our guests a chance to pursue their passion and further explore their favorite vocation. The spectacular views of India's Tinsel Town and charming green reserves from the F & B venues on Level 18 at The Westin Mumbai Garden City give a picture-perfect backdrop for awe-inspiring snapshots/ photos," said Vinay Singh, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Westin Mumbai Garden City.

Venue: The Westin Mumbai Garden City, Goregaon (E)

Date: Sunday, 12th April

Time: 2:30 pm - 5 pm

Entry Free. Limited Seats Available.

To register: SMS dna MC to 575758

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dna Masterclass on photography this Sunday

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Regular, vigorous exercise may lengthen your life

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MONDAY, April 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Although any amount of exercise offers health benefits, a new study suggests that rigorous physical activity may be key to boosting longevity.

Australian researchers found that middle-aged or older people who get at least some high-intensity exercise that makes them sweaty and winded may reduce their chances of dying early by up to 13 percent.

The researchers concluded that doctors' recommendations and public health guidelines should encourage participation in some vigorous types of exercise.

The study involved more than 204,000 people aged 45 or older who were followed for more than six years. Researchers compared those who engaged in only moderate activities -- like gentle swimming, social tennis or household chores -- with people who got some amount of vigorous activity -- such as jogging, aerobics or competitive tennis.

The participants were divided into three groups based on their levels of physical activity: those who didn't engage in any vigorous activity, those who said up to 30 percent of their exercise was vigorous and those who said more than 30 percent of their exercise was vigorous.

The death rate for those who said up to 30 percent of their physical activity was vigorous was 9 percent lower than those who reported no vigorous activity. The risk of death dropped 13 percent for those who said that more than 30 percent of their exercise was vigorous, the study authors reported.

"The benefits of vigorous activity applied to men and women of all ages, and were independent of the total amount of time spent being active," study author Dr. Klaus Gebel, a senior research fellow at the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention at James Cook University in Cairns, said in a university news release. "The results indicate that whether or not you are obese, and whether or not you have heart disease or diabetes, if you can manage some vigorous activity it could offer significant benefits for longevity."

The findings were published online April 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Most current guidelines for physical activity advise adults to get 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise on a weekly basis. The idea is that two minutes of moderate activity is the same as one minute of vigorous activity.

"It might not be the simple two-for-one swap that is the basis of the current guidelines," said study co-author, Dr. Melody Ding, who's with the University of Sydney's School of Public Health. "Our research indicates that encouraging vigorous activities may help to avoid preventable deaths at an earlier age."

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Study reports peak longevity benefit with an hour of daily exercise

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NCI News Note

A new study has found that people who engage in three to five times the recommended minimum level of leisure-time physical activity derive the greatest benefit in terms of mortality reduction when compared with people who do not engage in leisure-time physical activity. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, developed by the Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, recommend a minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise per week or 1.25 hours of vigorous aerobic activity, but more activity is encouraged for additional health benefits. Before this study, experts did not know how much additional health benefit might accrue for those doing more exercise. This study confirms that much of the mortality benefit is realized by meeting the minimum recommended levels of physical activity and describes the increased mortality benefit associated with higher levels of physical activity. The study appeared online April 6, 2015, in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Hannah Arem, Ph.D., Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI, and her colleagues studied data from over half a million men and women in the United States and Europe who reported on their leisure-time physical activities, which included walking for exercise, jogging/running, swimming, tennis/racquetball, bicycling, aerobics, and dance. The investigators also factored in data such as race/ethnicity, education, smoking status, history of cancer, history of heart disease, alcohol consumption, marital status, and body mass index. Their findings, which will help inform healthcare professionals, included the following:

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Study reports peak longevity benefit with an hour of daily exercise

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Grand National jockey who grew up allergic to horses hoping to become race's second-youngest winner

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Being allergic to horses wasnt the perfect start in life for the little boy born in a racing stables.

As a toddler, Sean Bowen had an acute dislike for his parents 50 thoroughbreds as he suffered eczema every time he got near horse hair.

Now 17, its a different story. This weekend, Sean will bid to become the second youngest jockey ever to win the Grand National.

It is a chance he has been dreaming of for years. Its in his blood so much so that Sean went to his first races at just 10 days old.

But his allergy to horses will not be the only hurdle he has overcome if he rides to victory this weekend.

One of his 39 rivals is horse Al Co the pride of trainer dad Peters stables, where rising star Sean grew up in Little Newcastle, near Haverfordwest, in West Wales.

Thats all dad ever says to me, his dream is to train the Grand National winner, says Sean. But words couldnt describe what it would be like for me to win.

Parents and son going head-to-head is certainly going to be emotional.

But for Seans mum Karen it seems like no time since she first took Sean to the races a nightmare 310-mile journey to Market Rasen when he was 10 days old.

I drove the horse box and Sean was beside me in his baby seat, the mum of three recalls. His older brother Mickey used to fall asleep the moment we left the yard and he wouldnt wake up until we arrived at the races.

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Psoriasis (Medical Condition) – Video

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Psoriasis (Medical Condition)
Symptoms, risk factors and treatments of Psoriasis (Medical Condition) Psoriasis, is a common, chronic, relapsing/remitting, immune-mediated systemic disease characterized by skin lesions...

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Group fighting 'Net censorship in China presses on despite DDoS attack

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After facing a DDoS attack, an activist group isnt backing down in its attempts to end Chinas Internet censorship.

I think that we are more confident than we were before that our successful execution of our strategy is going to lead us to achieve our mission, said the group via email on Tuesday.

GreatFire.org suffered a distributed denial of service attack last month that threatened to cripple its activities. The anonymous group, which is based out of China, believes the countrys government was behind the attack.

Although China has always denied any involvement in state-sponsored hacking, the country has been suspected of carrying out cyberattacks against U.S. companies and other activist groups.

GreatFire tries to offer ways to bypass Chinas censorship, including by hosting mirror websites to blocked destinations such as Google, the BBC and The New York Times.

Links to these mirror websites are hosted on GitHub, a software development platform China hasnt censored. But last month, GitHub also suffered a DDoS attack that was the largest in its history and appeared to target GreatFires page on the platform.

Both DDoS attacks have ended. During the attack against GreatFire, the group requested public support, and said that its bandwidth costs had reached up to US$30,000 a day, as a result.

We learned a lot from the attacks and there was a great outpouring of support and folks offering their financial and technical assistance, GreatFire said.

GitHub continues to host links to the mirror websites the group has created. But on Tuesday, the actual mirror websiteswhich are hosted through Amazon.com and othersappeared to be down.

We are experiencing minor hiccups but everything is moving forward on our end, the group added, without elaborating.

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Corporations cannot muzzle whistleblowers with secrecy agreements any longer

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Big corporations have a history of bullying whistleblowers into submission. Photograph: Grant Faint/Getty Images

Corporations intent on blunting the whistleblower reforms embodied in the Dodd-Frank Act have long been muzzling their employees with non-disclosure agreements. Restrictive confidentiality agreements are nothing but corporate censorship - and it needs to end.

People working in big financial services industries need to be able to alert the public and the courts of questionable practices. Thats why President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Act into law in July 2010: it was designed to address the fraud that contributed to the massive financial meltdown experienced in Europe, the United States and the rest of the world.

Its thanks to whistleblowers that we learned about illegal activity at Enron, Bernie Madoffs offices and Swiss banks like UBS and HSBC, resulting in the collection of billions of dollars in sanctions. Any doubt as to the importance of whistleblower protections in exposing corporate fraud was laid to rest in 2012 by the US Attorney General Eric Holder who described them as nothing short of profound.

No wonder that companies tried to undermine Dodd-Frank from the get go.

Numerous companies have developed broadly worded non-disclosure agreements that restrict the release of confidential information to the companys legal department as a condition of employment though the exact number is unknown. When leaving the company, employees who have threatened to file a whistleblower claims were also forced to accept non-disclosure requirements as a condition of a settlement or before they could obtain a severance payment after they were fired or laid off.

These agreements explicitly prohibit employees from communicating with anyone, except attorneys hired by the company. Some go as far as explicitly barring communication with regulators, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We have seen numerous companies require employees questioned by the government to secretly provide them with insights into the scope of the investigation. These employees can then be effectively turned into informers against the government itself.

Whats even more Kafkaesque is that almost every non-disclosure agreement strictly prohibits the employee from telling the government of the existence of these secrecy agreements, and the restrictions placed upon them.

But thats about to change. On 1 April, the US Securities and Exchange Commission fined the mammoth defense contractor, KBR, Inc. (formerly Kellogg, Brown & Root), for requiring employees to sign restrictive non-disclosure agreements. It took the courage of a single whistleblower, Harry Barko, to get us to this point.

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Corporations cannot muzzle whistleblowers with secrecy agreements any longer

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