Tuesday, June 21, 2016

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वोक्हार्टमध्ये थॅलेसेमिया रुग्णांसाठी ब्लडबँक

महाराष्ट्रात रक्तदान चळवळीने जोर धरला असून रक्तदानाबाबत जनजागृती करण्यासाठी जागतिक रक्तदान दिनानिमित्त मीरा रोड येथील वोक्हार्ट हॉस्पिटलमध्ये रक्तदान शिबीर आयोजित केले होते.

या रक्तदान शिबिरात ५० बाटल्या रक्त जमा झाले. या शिबिरातून जमा झालेले रक्त हे घाटकोपर येथील समर्पण रक्तपेढीमध्ये जमा करण्यात आले तसेच या शिबिरासाठी युथ थॅलस्यामिक अलायन्स या सामाजिक संघटनेसोबत अशाच प्रकारे भविष्यामध्ये पुन:श्च रक्तदान शिबीर घेऊन सतत ह्या सामाजिक कार्यात सहभाग ठेवण्याचा वोक्हार्ट हॉस्पिटलचा मानस आहे.

अजूनही आपल्या समाजात रक्तदानाबाबत अनेक गरसमज असल्याने आणि सुशिक्षित लोकही रक्तदानाकडे पाठ फिरवताना दिसतात. या शिबिरात १८ ते ४० वयोगटातील नागरिकांनी भाग घेतला असून अनेक रक्तदात्यांनी आयुष्यात पहिल्यांदा रक्तदान केले.

अपघातामुळे, आजारामुळे किंवा छोटया-मोठया शस्त्रक्रिया करताना कोणाला रक्ताची गरज भासल्यास ते दुस-या कोण्या व्यक्तीकडूनच घ्यावे लागते आणि या गोष्टीचा थेट संबंध त्या व्यक्तीच्या जीवन मरणाशी असतो, म्हणूनच तर रक्तदानाला विशेष महत्त्व आहे आणि ते आजच्या युगात सर्वश्रेष्ठ दान मानले जात आहे, अशी भावना यामध्ये भाग घेतलेल्या रक्तदात्यांनी बोलून दाखवली.

मीरा रोड येथील वोक्हार्ट हॉस्पिटलमध्ये अत्याधुनिक अतिदक्षता कक्ष असून मुंबई ते अहमदाबाद महामार्गावरील अपघात्ग्रस्त रुग्णांना रक्ताची गरज लागत असते तसेच येथे थॅलेसेमिया व रक्त-कर्करोगासंबंधित रुग्णांवर आधुनिक उपचारपद्धती उपलब्ध असून मुंबई-पालघर, गुजरात व राजस्थान इथून अनेक रुग्ण उपचारासाठी दाखल होत असतात व त्यांना वेळोवेळी रक्ताची गरज भासत असल्यामुळे रक्तदान चळवळ समाजात, जनमानसात रुजवण्यासाठी हा उपक्रम राबविला होता.

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औषधांवरील खर्च वाचवणारं अॅप

आजकाल डॉक्टरकडे गेले की डॉक्टर औषधांची पावती (प्रिस्क्रिप्शन) लिहून देतात. पण त्यात औषधांची नावे ही ब्रँडच्या नावाने लिहिलेली असतात. 

आजकाल डॉक्टरकडे गेले की डॉक्टर औषधांची पावती (प्रिस्क्रिप्शन) लिहून देतात. पण त्यात औषधांची नावे ही ब्रँडच्या नावाने लिहिलेली असतात. ती त्यातील औषधांच्या घटकांनुसार लिहिलेल्या नसतात. त्यामुळे आपल्याला जास्तीचे पैसे आदा/खर्च करावे लागतात. पण तुम्हाला हे पैसे वाचवायचे आहेत काय? मग खालील गोष्टीचे पालन करा व औषधांवरील पैसे वाचवा.

»  सर्वप्रथम प्लेस्टोअरवरून, 1 mg-health app for India WZ 6 MB चे सॉफ्टवेअर (ऑन्ड्रॉइड मोबाईलकरिता) डाऊनलोड करा.

»  सॉफ्टवेअर सुरूकरून हवं त्या औषधांचा शोध घ्या.

»  तुम्ही हवं त्या औषधाचं स्पेलिंग टाका. (e.g. Lyrics 75mg, Pfizer company)

»  सॉफ्टवेअर तुम्हाला औषधाचं नाव, कंपनी, किंमत व त्यातील घटक दाखवेल.

»  आता महत्त्वाचा मुद्दा तुम्ही सॉफ्टवेअरमधील, रवइरळकळवळएवर क्लिक करा.

आपण आश्चर्यचकीत व्हाल. जेव्हा पर्यायी औषधांच्या प्रतिथयश कंपन्या आणि किमती बघून. (e. g. 'Lyrica' WZ 'Pfizer कंपनीचे औषधांची किंमत ७६८.५६ रुपये १४ गोळ्या. म्हणजे ५४.८९ रु. प्रती गोळी. पण याच औषधी घटकांचा समावेश असलेली अन्य कंपनीचे औषध PrebaxeWZ (CIPLA कंपनी) औषध मात्र ५९ रुपयांना मिळते (१० गोळ्या) म्हणजे फक्त ५.९० रुपयांना १ गोळी. याप्रमाणे अन्य औषधाचे पर्याय आपण शोधू शकतो व औषधांवरील खर्च वचवू शकतो.

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स्टेम सेल आशेचा नवा किरण

वैद्यकीय क्षेत्रात प्रगती केली असली तरी, आजही मानवाला अनेक असाध्य आजारामुळे मृत्यूला सामोरे जावं लागतंय हेदेखील तितकंच खरं आहे, मात्र अशा असाध्य रोगांपासून मुक्ती मिळवण्यासाठी स्टेम सेल थेरपी सध्या महत्त्वाची मानली जाते.

असाध्य आजारांनी ग्रस्त असणा-या रुग्णांसाठी ही थेरपी आशेचा एक नवीन किरण घेऊन आली आहे. आपल्याच शरीरातील मूळ पेशींच्या आधारावर असलेल्या या थेरपी सध्या जगभरातून विश्वासाने स्वीकारल्या जात आहेत.

स्टेम सेल म्हणजे शरीरातील मूळ पेशी. या पेशी कुठल्याही प्रकारच्या नवीन पेशी निर्माण करण्यास सक्षम असतात. स्टेम सेल हे, प्रसूतीच्या वेळी मातेच्या गर्भ नाळेतून, रक्त किंवा अस्थिमज्जा (बोनमॅरो) मधून प्राप्त करता येतात. यातील पहिला आणि सर्वात चांगला प्राप्तीचा स्रोत म्हणजे मातेच्या गर्भ नाळेतील निघणारे रक्त होय.

ज्या पेशींच्या अभावी रुग्णाला असाध्य आजार जडलेला असतो वा एखाद्या आजारात ज्या अवयवाचं नुकसान झालेलं असतं त्या भागावर स्टेम सेलद्वारे यशस्वी उपचार करणं आता शक्य झालं आहे. त्या रुग्णाच्या शरीरातील रक्तप्रवाहात किंवा शरीराच्या कुठल्याही भागात स्टेम सेल म्हणजे मूळ पेशीचे प्रत्यारोपण करता येते. अशा प्रकारच्या प्रत्यारोपणामुळे अनेक असाध्य रोगांचा उपचार उपलब्ध झाले आहेत.

ज्या रुग्णावर सध्या सर्व प्रकारचे उपचार करूनदेखील यश मिळाले नाही, त्यांच्यावर स्वत:च्या शरीरातून प्राप्त केलेल्या मूळ पेशींच्या प्रत्यारोपणाने उपचार केले जात असून त्याचा आजार बरा होण्यात बराच लाभ होत आहे. स्टेम सेल प्रत्यारोपण उपचार पद्धतीने कायम स्वरूपाचे अपंगत्व, जैविक असाध्य आजार, अनुवांशिक आजार कायमचे बरे होऊ शकतात.

आपल्या शरीरात अशा प्रकारच्या मूळ पेशींचा साठा असतोच. बोनमॅरोद्वारे स्टेम सेल प्राप्त करून त्याद्वारे निकामी झालेल्या अवयवाचे कार्य पुन्हा सुरू करणे शक्य होते. यालाच 'ऑर्गन ट्रान्सप्लान्ट' असं म्हटलं जातं. यात काही अवयव वा त्याच्या पेशींच्या ऊती नव्याने तयार करता येतात. मधुमेहासारखा आजार असो वा लिव्हर सोरायसिससारख्या आजारातही याचा प्रभावी लाभ झाला आहे.

आपल्या शरीरात स्वत:चा आजार बरा करण्याची शक्ती असते आणि ती पुनरुज्जीवनाची शक्ती स्टेम सेलद्वारे प्राप्त होते. गुडघ्याच्या जुनाट दुखण्यावरील नि रिप्लेसमेंटची शस्त्रक्रियादेखील यशस्वी झाली आहे.

आपल्या शरीरातील प्रत्येक पेशीचे वय वाढते. त्यानुसार आपलं क्रोनोलॉजिकल वय ठरतं. आपलं बायोलॉजिकल म्हणजेच जैविक वय हे काळानुसार वाढत असतं, परंतु आपल्या शरीराच्या क्षमतेनुसार प्रत्येकाच्या क्रोनोलॉजिकल वयाची पातळी वेगवेगळी असते. त्यानुसार आपल्या एखादा आजार जडल्यानंतर त्या अवयवाची पुन्हा कार्यक्षम होण्याची मर्यादाही ठरवता येते आणि पद्धतीत स्टेम सेल प्रत्यारोपणाचा खूप लाभ होतो. स्टेम सेलद्वारे अवयव प्रत्यारोपण हे इतर अवयव प्रत्यारोपणापेक्षा कमी खíचक व सुलभ असतं. तसंच यात निराळी जैविक कार्यक्षमता असणा-या अवयवाचं प्रत्यारोपण न होता स्वत:च्या शरीरातील ऊतींपासून बनलेल्या अवयवाचं प्रत्यारोपण केलं जातं, त्यामुळे आजार बरा होण्याची क्षमता अनेक पटीने वाढते.

तसंच अवयव प्रत्यारोपणानंतर होणारा त्रास अनेक पटींनी कमी असल्याचं दिसून येतं व ही कार्यक्षमता कायमस्वरूपी राखली जाते. तसंच या उपचारांना खूप कमी कालावधी लागतो. अशा पद्धतीने ही टु वे उपचार पद्धत असल्याने तिचा अवलंब केला पाहिजे.
अल्झायमर, पाíकसन्स, रक्ताचा कर्करोग अशा असाध्य रोगांवरही उपचार पद्धती बव्हंशी यशस्वी झाल्याचं दिसून आलं आहे. थॅलेसेमियासारख्या आजारात जिथे सतत रक्ताची आवश्यकता असते, अशा आजारात तर पूर्ण उपचार पद्धतीने चांगला बदल घडवता येतो. या आजारात दर सहा महिन्यांनी रक्तसंक्रमण करावे लागते.

यात प्रत्येक वेळी मिळता-जुळता रक्तगट सहज उपलब्ध होईल, याची खात्री नसते. अशा स्थितीत रक्तपेशी प्रत्यारोपणाच्या (ब्लड स्टेम सेल) माध्यमातून या जीवघेण्या रक्तविकारांपासून रुग्णाचे प्राण वाचवता येणे शक्य होत आहे. या उपचाराद्वारे रक्तपेशी आणि रोगप्रितकार शक्ती पुन्हा निर्माण करणे व आजारविषयक निगा राखणे हे प्रत्यारोपणाचे उद्देशही सहज साध्य होताना दिसतात.

अनेक आजारामध्ये उपयुक्त ठरू लागल्याचे समोर आल्यानंतर जगासह भारतात या थेरेपीला लोकमान्यता हळूहळू मिळायला सुरुवात झाली आहे. सध्याच्या काळात असाध्य आजारामधील स्टेम सेल उपचार पद्धत सर्वात चांगली उपचार पद्धती आहे, असे म्हटले तर चुकीचे ठरणार नाही.

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मेरुदंडासन

हात, पाय, मान, पोट, ओटिपोट, गुडघे अशा सगळ्या अवयवांना या आसनामुळे चांगलाच ताण मिळतो.

योगामॅटवर पाय सोडून बसावे. दोन्ही पाय सरळ आणि ताठ असावेत. आता पायांना गुडघ्यातून वाकवावे. दोन्ही हातांच्या मदतीचे पायांचे अंगठे पकडा आणि हळुवारपणे पायांना वरती आणताना दोन्ही पाय पसरावे. (चित्रात दाखवल्याप्रमाणे) दोन्ही पाय ताठ असावे. तसंच हातसुद्धा ताठ असावेत.

दोन्ही पाय जितके स्ट्रेच करता येईल तितके ताणावेत. मात्र गुडघा वाकवू नये. त्याचबरोबर हातसुद्धा सरळ आणि ताठ असावे. पूर्ण शरीराचा तोल वर आणावा. सुरुवातीला जितके जमेल तितकेच सेकंद त्यात थांबावे.

काही सेकंद थांबल्यावर पुन्हा दोन्ही पाय समोर आणावे. हळुवारपणे वाकवावे आणि खाली ठेवावे. जसं आसनास सुरुवात करतो अगदी तसाच शेवट करावा.

श्वास

»  सुरुवातीच्या स्थितीमध्ये श्वास घ्यावा.
»  श्वास आत घेत पायांना ताण द्यावा आणि अंतिम स्थितीमध्ये थांबावे.
»  अंतिम स्थितीमध्ये श्वास नियमित असावा. जमल्यास थांबावे.
»  पायांना खाली आणताना श्वास सोडावा.

वेळ

मेरुदंडासनाचा सराव तीन ते चार वेळा करावा. सुरुवातीला जेवढे सेकंद थांबू शकता तेवढेच सेकंद थांबावं. पूर्ण शरीराचा तोल सांभाळता आला पाहिजे. चित्रात दाखवल्याप्रमाणे पायांना वाकवताना घाई करू नये.

घाई केल्यास पायात क्रॅम्प येण्याची शक्यता असते आणि जितका ताण देता येईल तितकाच ताण द्यावा. पण पाय हे शक्यतो सरळ असावेत. गुडघ्यातून वाकवू नये. तसंच हातसुद्धा सरळ आणि ताठ असावे. जितकं थांबू शकता तितकं थांबावं. आसन करताना जशी आपण सुरुवात करतो तशीच आसन सोडतानासुद्धा करावी.

विशेष नोंद

ज्या व्यक्तींना रक्तदाब, हार्ट अलायमेंट, स्लिपडिस्क, सायटिका असणा-यांनी हे आसन करू नये.

फायदे

»  पोटाला चांगलाच व्यायाम मिळतो. तसंच लिव्हर अािण ओटिपोटाचे स्नायूंची मजबुती वाढते.
»  या आसनामुळे एकाग्रता वाढते.
»  शरीराचा तोल सांभाळता येतो.
»  पाय, हात आणि पाठीला चांगलाच ताण मिळतो.
»  पायातील थकवा दूर करण्यास मदत होते.
»  गुडघ्यांसाठी हे अतिशय उत्तम आसन आहे.

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पालेभाज्यांचे औषधी उपयोग

चाकवत ही पचण्याला सुलभ असून ज्वरनाशक आहे. त्वचेला कांती देणारी अशी ही भाजी आहे. ही भाजी कृमीनाशक असून यकृताच्या सर्व विकारांवर उपयुक्त आहे.

कोथिंबीर : उष्णता कमी करणारी, पित्तनाशक असते. हृदरोगावर अतिशय उपयुक्त आहे.

कढीलिंब : पित्तनाशक व कृमीनाशक म्हणून याचा उपयोग होतो.

पालक : मूत्रसंस्था, पचनसंस्था यांच्या आतील सूजेला मऊपणा आणण्यास उपयुक्त असून दमा व खोकला कमी करणारी आहे.

माठ : हृदयाच्या कार्याला उपयोगी असून ही भाजी खाल्यावर शौचाला साफ होते.

चाकवत : ही पचण्याला सुलभ असून ज्वरनाशक आहे. त्वचेला कांती देणारी अशी ही भाजी आहे. ही भाजी कृमीनाशक असून यकृताच्या सर्व विकारांवर उपयुक्त आहे.

हादगा : खोकला, पित्त, हिवताप कमी करणारी ही भाजी आहे. या भाजीच्या फुलाच्या रसाचे दोन थेंब काही दिवस डोळ्यांत घातल्यास रातआंधळेपणा नाहीसा होतो, असे म्हणतात. हा फुलांचा रस मधातून घेतल्याने छातीतील कफ लवकर सुटतो.

अळू : याच्या पानांचा व दांडय़ांचा रस जंतुनाशक आहे. त्यामुळे शरीराच्या कापलेल्या भागावर याचा रस लावून पट्टी बांधल्यास जखमा लवकर भरून येतात. याचा रस साखरेबरोबर दिवसातून दोन-तीन वेळा घेतल्यास मूळव्याध कमी होतो.

अंबाडी : मीरपूड व साखर यांच्याबरोबर अंबाडीचा रस प्राशन केल्यास तो पित्तनाशक ठरतो.

घोळ : मूळव्याध कमी करण्यास ही भाजी उपयुक्त आहे. शिवाय ती खाल्ल्यामुळे लघवीला साफ आणि भरपूर होते.

टाकळा : सर्वागाला येणारी खाज ही भाजी खाल्याने कमी होते. या भाजीच्या बियांच्या पीठ अशक्तपाणा कमी करण्यास उपयुक्त आहे.

मायाळू : अंगावर पित्त उठले असताना याच्या पानांचा रस आंगाला चोळल्यास पित्त कमी होते. लहान मुलांना थंडी-खोकला झाला असताना मायाळूच्या पानाचा रस चमचाभर देतात.

तांदूळजा : बाळंतिणीला दूध वाढवण्यास ही भाजी उपयोगी ठरते.

मेथी : सारक व पथ्यकर असलेल्या या भाजीमध्ये लोहाचे प्रमाण बरेच आहे. याचे बी वातहारक व शक्तिकारक असते म्हणून बाळंतपणात याचा उपयोग केला जातो. दूधवाढीसाठीही त्याचा उपयोग होतो. मेथ्यांचे पीठ तोंडाला लावल्यास चेह-यावरील सुरकुत्या नष्ट होतात व चेहरा तजेलदार दिसतो.

शेपू : वातनाशक व पोटदुखी कमी करणारी अशी ही भाजी आहे.

शेवगा : ही भाजी वातनाशक व पित्तनाशक आहे. हृदय व रुधिराभिसरण क्रिया यामुळे सुधारतात.

सॅलड : या भाजीमध्ये लेसीथीन नावाचे द्रव्य असते. मजासंस्थेचे कार्य सुधारण्यास त्यामुळे मदत होते. मेंदूवर जास्त ताण पडणा-यांनी नियमित सॅलड खावे.

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Not everyone likes me… but not everyone matters.

Not everyone likes me… but not everyone matters.


Not everyone likes me… but not everyone matters.

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:58 PM PDT

Not everyone likes me... but not everyone matters.

Not everyone likes me… but not everyone matters.

The post Not everyone likes me… but not everyone matters. appeared first on .

Not everyone will appreciate what you do for them. You have to figure out who’s worth your kindness and who’s just taking advantage.

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:48 PM PDT

Not everyone will appreciate what you do for them. You have to figure out who's worth your kindness and who's just taking advantage.

Not everyone will appreciate what you do for them. You have to figure out who’s worth your kindness and who’s just taking advantage.

The post Not everyone will appreciate what you do for them. You have to figure out who’s worth your kindness and who’s just taking advantage. appeared first on .

Just because you don’t look like the other “crayons” in the box.. does not mean you still can’t make the most beautiful pictures! don’t you ever give up on you! you are simply amazing!

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Just because you don't look like the other "crayons" in the box.. does not mean you still can't make the most beautiful pictures! don't you ever give up on you! you are simply amazing!
image credit

Just because you don’t look like the other “crayons” in the box.. does not mean you still can’t make the most beautiful pictures! don’t you ever give up on you! you are simply amazing!

The post Just because you don’t look like the other “crayons” in the box.. does not mean you still can’t make the most beautiful pictures! don’t you ever give up on you! you are simply amazing! appeared first on .

There’s no need for Revenge. Just sit back and wait. Those who hurt you will eventually screw up themselves and, if you’re LUCKY, God will let you watch.

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:10 PM PDT

There's no need for Revenge. Just sit back and wait. Those who hurt you will eventually screw up themselves and, if you're LUCKY, God will let you watch.

There’s no need for Revenge. Just sit back and wait. Those who hurt you will eventually screw up themselves and, if you’re LUCKY, God will let you watch.

The post There’s no need for Revenge. Just sit back and wait. Those who hurt you will eventually screw up themselves and, if you’re LUCKY, God will let you watch. appeared first on .

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Long-term opioids may not be best pain management option for all sickle cell patients

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 04:14 PM PDT

In a small study looking at pain assessments in adults with sickle cell disease, researchers say overall, those treated long-term with opioids often fared worse in measures of pain, fatigue and curtailed daily activities than those not on long-term opioids.

Ten simple rules to use statistics effectively

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 04:14 PM PDT

Under growing pressure to report accurate findings as they interpret increasingly larger amounts of data, researchers are finding it more important than ever to follow sound statistical practices.

Coral reefs facing a hot time and increased bleaching, especially along US coasts

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 04:13 PM PDT

A new NOAA outlook shows that many coral reefs across around the world will likely be exposed to higher-than-normal sea temperatures for an unprecedented third year in a row, leading to increased bleaching - and with no signs of stopping. While the bleaching event is global, it will hit the US hard.

Researchers link childhood hunger, violence later in life

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:11 PM PDT

Children who often go hungry have a greater risk of developing impulse control problems and engaging in violence, according to new research.

RedEye could let your phone see 24-7

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:11 PM PDT

Researchers have just the thing for information overload: image-processing technology that sees all and remembers only what it should. RedEye could allow computers to continuously see what their owners see.

Rediscovering a wasp after 101 years

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:11 PM PDT

A species of wasp that is a natural enemy of a wood-boring beetle that kills black locust trees has been rediscovered, more than 100 years after the last wasp of this species was found.

Simple reward-based learning suits adolescents best

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:10 PM PDT

Adolescents focus on rewards and are less able to learn to avoid punishment or consider the consequences of alternative actions, finds a new study. The study compared how adolescents and adults learn to make choices based on the available information.

Manta rays are local commuters, not long-distance travelers, study finds

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:10 PM PDT

Oceanic manta rays -- often thought to take epic migrations -- might actually be homebodies, according to a new study. A research team studied satellite-tracked manta rays to shed light on the lives of these mysterious ocean giants.

New electron microscope method detects atomic-scale magnetism

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:10 PM PDT

Scientists can now detect magnetic behavior at the atomic level with a new electron microscopy technique. The researchers took a counter intuitive approach by taking advantage of optical distortions that they typically try to eliminate.

Researchers find Highland East Asian origin for prehistoric Himalayan populations

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:10 PM PDT

Researchers have conducted the first ancient DNA investigation of the Himalayan arc, generating genomic data for eight individuals ranging in time from the earliest known human settlements to the establishment of the Tibetan Empire. The findings demonstrate that the genetic make-up of high-altitude Himalayan populations has remained remarkably stable despite cultural transitions and exposure to outside populations through trade.

How China can ramp up wind power

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:10 PM PDT

China has an opportunity to massively increase its use of wind power -- if it properly integrates wind into its existing power system, according to a new study. The research forecasts that wind power could provide 26 percent of China's projected electricity demand by 2030, up from 3 percent in 2015.

Study focuses on use of instructional videos to aid problem solving

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:02 PM PDT

New research aims to help educators quantify how the best students perform problem solving with the aid of instructional videos, a step toward learning how to better coach students in difficult engineering curricula.

Scientists glimpse why life can't happen without water

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:02 PM PDT

Scientists are getting closer to directly observing how and why water is essential to life as we know it.

Tumor cells develop predictable characteristics that are not random, say researchers

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:02 PM PDT

Tumors are composed of many subpopulations of cells. Some of these subpopulations of cancer cells can be predicted and do not develop randomly as previously thought, report investigators.

Lessons on personalities help teens cope with social stressors, study says

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:02 PM PDT

Teaching teens that social and personality traits can change helps them cope with social challenges such as bullying, which in turn can help mitigate stress and improve academic performance, according to a study.

Silencing of gene affects people's social lives

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 01:01 PM PDT

Psychologists have found that the silencing of a specific gene may affect human social behavior, including a person's ability to form healthy relationships or to recognize the emotional states of others.

E-cigarette use can alter hundreds of genes involved in airway immune defense

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:13 AM PDT

Smoking cigarettes alters dozens of genes important for immune defense in epithelial cells in the respiratory tract. These changes likely increase the risk of bacterial infections, viruses, and inflammation. Now, scientists report that e-cigarette use alters hundreds of genes, including the same ones that smoking suppress.

Research aims to make water-cycle modeling data more accessible

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:13 AM PDT

Improved publication strategy for authors who use hydrological modeling software will make model data easier for readers to understand and reuse, according to an international team of researchers.

Better way to 'herd' electrons in solar fuel devices

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:13 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered a new way to optimize electron transfer in semi-conductors used in solar fuel solutions.

Disney princesses: Not brave enough, say researchers

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:13 AM PDT

Gendered behavior can become problematic if girls avoid important learning experiences. A new article looks at how Disney Princesses play a role.

Breast cancer cells use newfound pathway to survive low oxygen levels in tumors

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:13 AM PDT

Oxygen is important for the proper function of all human cells, but cancer cells thrive even when deprived of it. Now, researchers have identified a new signaling pathway that helps cancer cells cope with the lack of oxygen found inside tumors.

Tailored DNA shifts electrons into the 'fast lane'

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:13 AM PDT

DNA molecules don't just code our genetic instructions. They also have the unique ability to conduct electricity and self-assemble into well-defined shapes, making them potential candidates for building low-cost nanoelectronic devices. A study now shows how DNA sequences can be manipulated to turn these ribbon-shaped molecules into electron 'highways,' allowing electricity to flow more easily through the strand.

Brain markers of numeric, verbal and spatial reasoning abilities

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:09 AM PDT

A new study begins to clarify how brain structure and chemistry give rise to specific aspects of 'fluid intelligence,' the ability to adapt to new situations and solve problems one has never encountered before.

Marketing study shows lenient return policy may increase sales

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:09 AM PDT

A meta-analysis of retail return policies may lead businesses to modify their policies to increase sales and reduce returns. The study found that return policies that offer consumers more monetary rewards are likely to increase their consumer purchases.

A novel therapy for genital herpes engages immune cells to provide significant patient benefits

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:09 AM PDT

A phase II clinical trial demonstrated that a new type of treatment for genital herpes, an immunotherapy called GEN-003, may reduce the activity of the virus and the number of days with recurrent herpes. This effect of treatment, given by a series of three injections, appears to last for up to at least one year.

Stealth nanocapsules kill Chagas parasites in mouse models

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Lychnopholide, a substance isolated from a Brazilian plant, and formulated as part of 'nanocapsules' cured more than half of a group of mice that had been infected experimentally with Chagas disease parasites.

How early mammals evolved night vision to avoid predators

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Early mammals evolved in a burst during the Jurassic period, adapting a nocturnal lifestyle when dinosaurs were the dominant daytime predator. How these early mammals evolved night vision to find food and survive has been a mystery, but a new study suggests that rods in the mammalian eye, extremely sensitive to light, developed from color-detecting cone cells during this time to give mammals an edge in low-light conditions.

Understanding the resistance to treatments against breast cancer

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 11:09 AM PDT

Estrogens are responsible for the survival and proliferation of tumor cells in 70 percent of breast cancer cases. Nearly a third of the patients develop a resistance to anti-estrogen treatments such as tamoxifen after a few years. Biologists now reveal how tumor cells become refractory to the drug. They succeeded in identifying eight factors involved in the process of resistance to the treatment. The researchers also suggest various approaches for developing new therapies.

When suppressing immunity is a good thing

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A receptor, first known for its role in mediating the harmful effects of the environmental pollutant dioxin in our body, is now understood to play other important roles in modulating the innate immune response.

Scientists discover on/off switch for obesity-associated cancer

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Having established that excessive fat tissue can fuel the growth of certain cancers, researchers have turned their attention to the molecular mechanisms involved in the process in the hopes of developing new cancer treatments. Now new research sheds light on the link between obesity and cancer.

Mystery of powerful lightning at sea not solved completely

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The mystery of why most of the most powerful lightning on Earth happens over the oceans isn't solved, but a few of the usual suspects are no longer in custody. It's possible the increased presence of salt in the atmosphere plays a role.

Threats to habitat connectivity as sea waters inundate coastal areas

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By the year 2100, sea levels might rise as much as 2.5 meters above their current levels, which would seriously threaten coastal cities and other low-lying areas. In turn, this would force animals to migrate farther inland in search of higher ground. But accelerated urbanization, such as the rapidly expanding Piedmont area that stretches from Atlanta to eastern North Carolina, could cut off their escape routes and create climate-induced extinctions.

Crowdsourcing platform makes public gene expression data more accessible

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:03 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a free online platform that uses a crowdsourcing approach to make public gene expression data more accessible to biomedical researchers without computational expertise.

Low attention control in early adolescence is a genetic risk factor for anxiety disorders

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:03 AM PDT

Low attention control in early adolescence is related to a genetic risk factor for four different anxiety disorders, researchers have found. Young teens who suffer from anxiety are also more vulnerable to additional problems like depression, drug dependence, suicidal behavior and educational underachievement.

Solar cells for greener and safer energies

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:03 AM PDT

Researchers report on low-temperature, solution-processed, environmentally friendly inorganic solar cells made with Earth-abundant materials capable of operating with a power conversion of 6.3 percent.

Chip makes parallel programs run faster with less code

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:03 AM PDT

Researchers present a new chip design they call Swarm, which should make parallel programs not only much more efficient but easier to write, too.

'Space tsunami' causes the third Van Allen Belt

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:03 AM PDT

Earth's magnetosphere, the region of space dominated by Earth's magnetic field, protects our planet from the harsh battering of the solar wind. Like a protective shield, the magnetosphere absorbs and deflects plasma from the solar wind which originates from the Sun. Extreme space weather storms can create intense radiation in the Van Allen belts and drive electrical currents which can damage terrestrial electrical power grids. Earth could then be at risk for up to trillions of dollars of damage.

Breathing space for the Gulf Stream

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:02 AM PDT

The salinity of the waters around Greenland plays an important role in driving the Gulf Stream. There are concerns that a freshening by the increasing ice losses from the Greenland ice sheet could weaken the current system. New model calculations conducted by an international research team suggest, however, that a large fraction of this meltwater is removed from the most sensitive areas by boundary currents, delaying the influence on the Gulf Stream.

Shedding light on an assistant protein

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:02 AM PDT

Scientists can now observe in-protein motions with high spatial and temporal resolution. This is made possible by a new technology, giving new insight into the functional mechanisms of very special proteins.

New brain map could enable novel therapies for autism,Huntington's disease

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:02 AM PDT

Scientists have mapped an uncharted portion of the mouse brain to explain which circuit disruptions might occur in disorders such as Huntington's disease and autism. They looked at the connections of a part of the brain responsible for motor learning, the dorsal striatum. Researchers said they are the first to create the most comprehensive map of connections between the dorsal striatum and the cerebral cortex that is available for any mammal.

'Holy grail' of breast cancer prevention in high-risk women may be in sight

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 09:02 AM PDT

An existing medication could have promise in preventing breast cancer in women carrying a faulty BRCA1 gene, researchers have discovered.

'Aspirin-Guide' app for clinicians helps personalize decisions about aspirin use

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:59 AM PDT

To help clinicians and patients make informed decisions about aspirin use, researchers have developed a new, free, mobile app, 'Aspirin-Guide' that calculates both the CVD risk score and the bleeding risk score for the individual patient, and helps clinicians decide which patients are appropriate candidates for the use of low-dose aspirin.

10,000 windows onto biomolecular information processing

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:59 AM PDT

A new 'brute force' technique has been developed to test thousands of biochemical reactions at once and quickly home in on the range of conditions where they work best. Until now, optimizing such biomolecular systems, which can be applied for example to diagnostics, would have required months or years of trial and error experiments, but with this new technique that could be shortened to days.

Scientists engineer tunable DNA for electronics applications

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:59 AM PDT

A team has been able to understand and manipulate DNA to more finely tune the flow of electricity through it. The key findings, which can make DNA behave in different ways -- cajoling electrons to smoothly flow like electricity through a metal wire, or hopping electrons about like the semiconductors materials that power our computers and cell phones, paves the way for an exciting new avenue of research advancements.

Has incidence of Parkinson's disease increased over past 30 years?

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:59 AM PDT

A study of patients in a Minnesota county suggests the incidence (new cases) of parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease may have increased over the past 30 years but that trend may not be genuine and must be confirmed in other populations.

Titan shines light on high-temperature superconductor pathway

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:28 AM PDT

Scientists have used the Titan supercomputer at ORNL to simulate cuprates on the path to superconductivity. The team focused on a pivotal juncture on the cuprates' path called the pseudogap phase, an in-between phase before superconductivity in which cuprates exhibit both insulating and conducting properties.

Tiny alpaca-derived antibodies point to targets preventing viral infection

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:28 AM PDT

Using tiny, alpaca-derived, single-domain antibody fragments, scientists have developed a method to perturb cellular processes in mammalian cells, allowing them to tease apart the roles that individual proteins play in these pathways. With improved knowledge of protein activity, scientists can better understand not only basic biology but also how disease corrupts cellular function and identify potential therapeutics to rectify these aberrations.

The healing powers of music: Mozart and Strauss for treating hypertension

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:25 AM PDT

The music of Mozart and Strauss is able to lower blood lipid concentrations and the heart rate. This is the result of a study of the effect of different musical genres on the cardiovascular system.

Newborn giant planet grazes its star

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:25 AM PDT

For the past 20 years, exoplanets known as 'hot Jupiters' have puzzled astronomers. These giant planets orbit 100 times closer to their host stars than Jupiter does to the Sun, which increases their surface temperatures. But how and when in their history did they migrate so close to their star? Now, an international team of astronomers has announced the discovery of a very young hot Jupiter orbiting in the immediate vicinity of a star that is barely two million years old -- the stellar equivalent of a week-old infant. This first-ever evidence that hot Jupiters can appear at such an early stage represents a major step forward in our understanding of how planetary systems form and evolve.

Ultra-thin solar cells can easily bend around a pencil

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:25 AM PDT

New flexible photovoltaics could power wearable electronics.

Apparel causes additional barriers for people living with disabilities

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:23 AM PDT

The US clothing industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, but for the millions of Americans with disabilities and their families, a lack of options in the apparel industry presents daily challenges. One researcher has found that the lack of adequate, accessible apparel created barriers for people with disabilities from engaging in their communities. She identified the need for innovation in design, production, distribution and sale of adaptive clothing.

Molecular map provides clues to zinc-related diseases

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:22 AM PDT

Mapping the molecular structure where medicine goes to work is a crucial step toward drug discovery against deadly diseases. Researchers have taken that critical first step by providing a crystal structure of the extracellular domain, or ECD, of ZIP4 -- the exclusive protein responsible for the uptake of zinc from food. The ZIP family consists of thousands of zinc/iron transporter proteins, and this work represents the first-ever structural information of the ZIP family at the atomic level.

First harvest of ancient southern wheat exceeds expectations

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:22 AM PDT

Last month, a scientist harvested about 145 pounds of Purple Straw seed, which was grown from less than half a pound. Purple Straw is the only heirloom wheat to have been cultivated continually in the South from the Colonial Period into the last quarter of the 20th century.

New technique improves accuracy of computer vision technologies

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:22 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new technique that improves the ability of computer vision technologies to better identify and separate objects in an image, a process called segmentation.

Plant kingdom provides two new candidates for the war on antibiotic resistance

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:22 AM PDT

New research has discovered peptides from two crop species that have antimicrobial effects on bacteria implicated in food spoilage and food poisoning. They are similar in structure to a human peptide used to guard against beer-spoiling bacteria.

Research team synthesizes new cancer fighter

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:20 AM PDT

Scientists have synthesized a novel anti-cancer agent, Thailanstatin A, which was originally isolated from a bacterial species collected in Thailand.

Osimertinib in lung cancer: Added benefit not proven

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:20 AM PDT

Due to a lack of studies of direct comparisons the manufacturer subsequently submitted historical comparisons, but the visible effects were not large enough for conclusions on added benefit.

Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure: Differing added benefit

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:20 AM PDT

Due to a subgroup effect, reviewers have found that there is an indication of a minor added benefit for patients with diabetes, and an indication of a considerable added benefit for patients without diabetes, when using Sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure.

Four new risk genes associated with multiple sclerosis discovered

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:20 AM PDT

Scientists have identified four new risk genes that are altered in patients with multiple sclerosis. The results point to a possible involvement of cellular mechanisms in the development of the disease, through which environmental influences affect gene regulation.

Heat sickens corals in global bleaching event

Posted: 20 Jun 2016 08:20 AM PDT

Australian scientists report that many surviving corals affected by mass bleaching from high sea temperatures on the northern Great Barrier Reef are the sickest they have ever seen.