Older brains ‘rise to the challenge’

When the going gets tough, older adults’ brains get going, according to new research by a University of Michigan professor studying how key regions of the brain click on when needed. Several regions in the brain, especially in the frontal cortex, are involved in helping people meet the demands of a constantly changing environment. While earlier research focused on older adults’ failures to activate these regions, the new U-M research found that older adults can activate these regions in response to a challenging task, and may also bring additional brain regions online to help their performance.

Giant ape lived along-side humans

A gigantic ape, measuring about 10 feet tall and weighing up to 1,200 pounds, co-existed alongside humans, a geochronologist at McMaster University has discovered. Using a high-precision absolute-dating method (techniques involving electron spin resonance and uranium series), Jack Rink, associate professor of geography and earth sciences at McMaster, has determined that Gigantopithecus blackii, the largest primate that ever lived, roamed southeast Asia for nearly a million years before the species died out 100,000 years ago. This was known as the Pleistocene period, by which time humans had already existed for a million years.

Biologist coaxing stem cells to make dopamine in simpler, faster method

For all of the promise embryonic stem cells hold for therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, they are notoriously difficult to use. One problem is in coaxing them into becoming brain cells that make dopamine, which is in short supply in the brains of individuals with Parkinson’s. Such cells might be used for transplantation in these patients, but current methods involve extremely complex growth media and potentially contaminating animal products.

Exercise may ward off death in women with metabolic syndrome

A high level of fitness may extend the lives of women with metabolic syndrome, according to new findings presented today. Researchers followed nearly 6,000 women who had no signs of heart disease when the study launched in 1992. Over the next nine years, those with metabolic syndrome were 57 percent more likely to die than those who didn’t have the cluster of risk factors that defines metabolic syndrome.

Ketogenic diet prevents seizures by enhancing brain energy production

Although the high-fat, calorie-restricted ketogenic diet (KD) has long been used to prevent childhood epileptic seizures that are unresponsive to drugs, physicians have not really understood exactly why the diet works. New studies by a research team at Emory University School of Medicine show that the diet alters genes involved in energy metabolism in the brain, which in turn helps stabilize the function of neurons exposed to the challenges of epileptic seizures. This knowledge could help scientists identify specific molecular or genetic targets and lead to more effective drug treatments for epilepsy and brain damage.

‘ Flying Saucer ‘ patent issued . . .

Well, I expect everyone knows about this already . . .

but it seems the US patent office has granted a patent for something which looks very much like a ‘ flying saucer ‘ which ” may move at a speed approaching the light-speed ” . . .

Really ?

I’m not dreaming am I ?

More info and a direct link to the online patent docs via :

www.ohpurleese.com

Spitzer Captures Cosmic Mountains of Creation

A new image from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope reveals billowing mountains of dust ablaze with the fires of stellar youth. Captured by Spitzer’s infrared eyes, the majestic image resembles the iconic “Pillars of Creation” picture taken of the Eagle Nebula in visible light by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope in 1995. Both views feature star-forming clouds of cool gas and dust that have been sculpted into pillars by radiation and winds from hot, massive stars.

Massive international effort stops polio epidemic across Africa

Public health experts have confirmed that a polio epidemic in ten countries in west and central Africa – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Togo – has been successfully stopped. The epidemic has paralysed nearly 200 children for life since mid-2003, but no new cases have been reported in these countries since early June. At the same time, polio eradication efforts are intensifying in Nigeria, where extensive disease transmission continues, as part of a mass polio campaign across 28 African countries beginning today.

FDA Updates Labeling for Ortho Evra Contraceptive Patch

The Food and Drug Administration today approved updated labeling for the Ortho Evra contraceptive patch to warn healthcare providers and patients that this product exposes women to higher levels of estrogen than most birth control pills. Ortho Evra was the first skin patch approved for birth control.

Exercise adds years to life and improves quality

Exercise is a lot like spinach … everybody knows it’s good for you; yet many people still avoid it, forgoing its potential health benefits. But researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who study the effects of exercise on aging point to new findings that may inspire people to get up, get out and get moving on a regular basis. The research team, led by kinesiology professor Edward McAuley, found that previously sedentary seniors who incorporated exercise into their lifestyles not only improved physical function, but experienced psychological benefits as well.

Research helps identify precursors to foot disease in diabetes patients

Foot ulcerations are one of the most serious complications of diabetes, resulting in more than 80,000 lower-leg amputations each year in the U.S. alone. A new study led by researchers at the Joslin-Beth Israel Deaconess Foot Center and Microcirculation Laboratory finds that early changes in the oxygenation of the skin could help foretell the development of ulcerations and enable doctors to treat patients at an earlier stage, before the onset of serious complications.

Balzan Prizes 2005

Berne, 11 November 2005 – Today, the Balzan Foundation presented the 2005 Balzan Prizes to Peter and Rosemary Grant (GB/USA) of Princeton University, New Jersey (USA) for population biology, to Peter Hall (Great Britain) of University College, London for the social and cultural history of cities since the beginning of the XVI century, to Russell J. Hemley and Ho-kwang Mao (USA) of the Carnegie Institution of Washington for mineral physics and to Lothar Ledderose (Germany) of the Universität Heidelberg for the history of the art of Asia. The winners in each subject area will receive one million Swiss francs (about EUR 650,000). Half of each award must be allocated by the winner for the funding of research projects carried out by young scholars or scientists.