sagansense: During our journey through The Woodlands cemetery...

sagansense:

During our journey through The Woodlands cemetery in Philadelphia for mini-Mutter Museum display and walking tour, Melissa (lawngirl) and I also enjoyed the All Hallows’ Read book swap, where I (of course) happened upon the only space-themed book there: Don Freeman’s ‘Space Witch’ from 1959!

I didn’t want to give the whole book away with tons of pictures - which are illustrated wonderfully by the way - so I picked the best ones and below, provide you with an excerpt/summary:

It was Halloween, and Tilly Ipswitch was restless. Where on Earth was there any excitement for a self-respecting witch? She would stir something up herself! And she did - a big caldron of remarkable leftovers.

It turned out (after some abracadabra chanted over it) to be a fantastic plastic, just perfect for the space ship she planned to build. Tilly and Kit, her cat, set off to scare the wits out of the inhabitants of other planets. But what a time they had! Kit was cross because there was no milk at all in the Milky Way, and just everything went wrong.

At last the two weary, discouraged travelers came back again to their own mountain peak, where they made the biggest discovery of all: for real spine-tingling adventure, there’s no space like home!

#AllHallowsRead encourages everyone this Halloween season to share a scary book with another by reading, donating, or swapping.

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neurosciencestuff: (Image caption: Scanning electron micrograph...

neurosciencestuff:

(Image caption: Scanning electron micrograph showing a neuron on a nanorough surface making intimate contact with the surface. Surfaces has been given a false color for visualization. Source: Nils Blumenthal and Prasad Shastri)

Nano Ruffles in Brain Matter

An accumulation of a protein called amyloid-beta into large insoluble deposits called plaques is known to cause Alzheimer’s disease. One aspect of this illness that has not received much attention is which role the structure of the brain environment plays. How do macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies, such as polysaccharides, influence cell interaction in the brain? In a paper published in the journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ”, Prof. Prasad Shastriand graduate student Nils Blumenthal, in collaboration with Prof. Bernd Heimrich and Prof. Ola Hermanson, have discovered that macromolecules or support cells like astrocytes provide well-defined physical cues in the form of random roughness or ruffles that have a crucial role in promoting and maintaining healthy interactions between cells in the hippocampus. This brain area is regarded as the brain’s GPS system: It processes and stores spatial information. In Alzheimer’s disease, this area degenerates. Shastri says, “It has been long thought that only biological signals have a role in health and function of brain cells, but here we show that the structure of the molecules that surround these cells may be equally important.”

The researchers found that there is a restricted regime of roughness at the nanoscale that is beneficial to neurons. If the magnitude of roughness exceeds or is below this regime, neurons experience detrimental changes to their function. By analyzing human brain tissue from patients who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, Shastri’s team has found a crucial link between regions in the brain that have amyloid-beta plaque accumulation – which are responsible for neuron death – and unfavorable changes to the nanotopography in the tissue surrounding these neurons, that is the features of its surface.

Shastri and his co-workers have found that astrocytes provide a nanoscale physical environment that neurons need to function well. “Our discovery shows for the first time that stretch-activated ion channels may have a role in central nervous system function and disease. Hence, our findings offer new pharmacological targets”, says Blumenthal. Using synthetic substrates of precise roughness, they found out that stretch-sensitive molecules, including the so-called Piezo-1 ion channel in murine brain cells, direct the interaction between nanotopography, astrocytes and neurons. Former research has shown that the expression of MIB-1, a human analog of Piezo-1, is altered in human Alzheimer’s patients.

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currentsinbiology: Blood Test For Ebola Doesn’t Catch Infection...

currentsinbiology:

Blood Test For Ebola Doesn’t Catch Infection Early (NPR)

In an ideal world, health care workers returning from West Africa would get a quick blood test to prove they aren’t carrying the Ebola virus. A test like that would likely put to rest some of the anxiety surrounding these doctors, nurses and scientists.

Unfortunately, even the best blood test in the world can’t do that.

The test uses a technology called PCR, for polymerase chain reaction. It can detect extraordinarily small traces of genetic material from the Ebola virus.

But the catch is, the test is usually used on blood samples. And in the beginning, that’s not where the Ebola virus hides.

"The initial sites of replication actually are not in the blood itself — they’re mostly in tissues like spleen or liver," says Thomas Geisbert, a microbiologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Magnified 25,000 times, this digitally colorized scanning electron micrograph shows Ebola virus particles (green) budding from an infected cell (blue).

via Tumblr http://ift.tt/1zS4jlf October 31, 2014 at 10:25PM

Canada security services struggle with extremist threat, resources gap

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's spy agency and national police force are so constrained by a lack of resources that they can’t keep close track of all the Islamic extremists who may be a potential threat at home and they have also had to abandon some counter-espionage work and criminal investigations, according to current and former intelligence and police officials.

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Η Lenovo εξαγόρασε τον τομέα κινητής τηλεφωνίας της Motorola

Η κινέζικη εταιρεία Lenovo ολοκλήρωσε την εξαγορά του τομέα κατασκευής και συντήρησης κινητών τηλεφώνων της Motorola, ο οποίος ανήκε στην…

Η απόκτηση του τμήματος κινητών τηλεφώνων της Motorola σημαίνει πλέον οι 3.500 υπάλληλοι της εταιρείας (εκ των οποίων οι 2.800 βρίσκονται στις ΗΠΑ) θα εργάζονται για τη Lenovo.

Η Lenovo τόνισε σε ανακοίνωσή της, ότι η κίνηση την καθιστά πλέον την τρίτη μεγαλύτερη κατασκευάστρια εταιρεία κινητών τηλεφώνων παγκοσμίως μετά την Apple και τη Samsung.

Με τον τρόπο αυτό, η επίσης κινεζική Xiaomi «υποχωρεί» στην τέταρτη θέση σε παγκόσμια κλίμακα.

Εδώ και ένα χρόνο, η Motorola κατόρθωσε να σημειώσει αξιοπρόσεκτη επιτυχία σε πωλήσεις με τα σχετικά προσιτά σε τιμή μοντέλα της από τη σειρά Moto G.

Παράλληλα, εδώ και λίγο καιρό, η Motorola εισήλθε στο χώρο των «έξυπνων» συσκευών που φοριούνται από τους χρήστες με την κυκλοφορία του «έξυπνου» ρολογιού Moto 360.

Επίσης, η εταιρεία έχει ανακοινώσει, ότι σύντομα θα κυκλοφορήσει η πρώτη της συσκευής της σειράς Nexus της Google (για την ίδια σειρά έως τώρα κυκλοφορούσαν συσκευές της νοτιοκορεατικής LG).

Πρόκειται για ένα "phablet" (κάτι μεταξύ «έξυπνου» κινητού τηλεφώνου και υπολογιστή - ταμπλέτα) με οθόνη έξι ιντσών το οποίο θα «τρέχει» με το εξελιγμένο λογισμικό Android 5.0.

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Σοκ στο Κονγκό - όχλος λιθοβόλησε και έφαγε νεαρό ισλαμιστή

Οι εξοργισμένοι κάτοικοι μιας περιοχής στη βορειοανατολική Λαϊκή Δημοκρατία του Κονγκό λιθοβόλησαν έναν νεαρό και κατόπιν τον έψησαν και τον έφαγαν, προφανώς...



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​Yummly Suggests Recipes Based on Cooking Skill, Weather, and More

iOS/Web: Yummly returns search results based on dietary restrictions and preferences. It also makes recipe suggestions based on things like location, weather, time, and your grocery list.

You may already know that with Yummly, you can search by ingredients to find new recipes, but that's not what makes it special. Yummly is best known for its customization and intelligent suggestions. When you make a profile, you can set your cooking skill level, and personalize your search results and suggestions with dietary restrictions (like "pescetarian" or food allergies). It also makes suggestions based on your grocery list, and, with the newest iOS update, weather, location, and time as well.

Yummly is available for free for iOS and on the web. Hit the link below to check it out.

Yummly

Yummly | iTunes App Store via The Next Web

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Αποκάλυψη ΣΟΚ για τους καταναλωτές: Μεγαλέμποροι σαμποτάρουν τα ελληνικά προϊόντα και γεμίζουν την αγορά με εισαγόμενα (τουρκικής προέλευσης) αμφιβόλου ποιότητας και ουσιαστικών υγειονομικών ελέγχων

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Is Drake Crushing On Nicki Minaj?

According to a report, the two rappers may be on track to become hip-hop's next power couple.



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How to use the sleep tracker with the Microsoft Band

The Microsoft Band has a built-in sleep tracker. I've never used one before, so I was looking forward to testing it out for the first time. You'll need to activate it before you sleep and then stop the monitoring when you wake up. Here's my experience with it last night.

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ΑΥΤΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΤΑ 10 ΠΙΟ ΣΤΟΙΧΕΙΩΜΕΝΑ ΜΕΡΗ ΣΤΟΝ ΠΛΑΝΗΤΗ...

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Osm kusů brokátů / Baduanjin / Eight pieces of brocade - 6th brocade

	Osm kusů brokátů / Baduanjin / Eight pieces of brocade - 6th brocade 6. brokát sestavy baduanjin - Osm kusů brokátů (čchi-kungová sestava). Předcvičuje Michal Ďuro z Evropské školy tuiny. 6th form of eight pieces of brocade (qigong form). performed...	From: QIGONGTUINA Views: 0 0 ratings
	Time: 02:44	More in Education

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Medical Qiqong Treatment by Dr. Laura McCreary

	Medical Qiqong Treatment by Dr. Laura McCreary Post treatment discussion with Dr. Laura -- http://ift.tt/1wNrOGL	From: Warner Blake Views: 10 0 ratings
	Time: 04:04	More in Education

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I Curso livre de Daogong® online - Lição 3 - Desbloquear os canais de energia vital

	I Curso livre de Daogong® online - Lição 3 - Desbloquear os canais de energia vital Daogong é uma prática exclusiva da Casa Céu e Terra, inspirada em exercícios milenares e na sabedoria da Escola do Tao. Serve para cultivar energia vital, promover a saúde, a vitalidade...	From: Casa Céu e Terra Views: 0 0 ratings
	Time: 12:23	More in Education

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David Guetta debuts racing-themed music video during Google Hangout

NEW YORK — DJ and producer David Guetta revved his engine for his latest music video, getting behind the wheel of a race car to create "Dangerous."

The elaborate seven-minute video, which the multiplatinum artist debuted Friday during a Google Hangout at YouTube's new New York City office, tells the story of Guetta heatedly competing against actor James Purefoy (The Following).

"As an artist, you get to make all of your fantasies happen," Guetta said during the Hangout, which Mashable attended. "Like I want to be a Formula One driver, and I want to win."

However, the DJ admitted he felt claustrophobic while strapped in one of the cars Read more...

More about Music, Entertainment, Music Videos, and David Guettta



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tromaktiko: Θλιβερή πρωτιά της Ελλάδας στα θανατηφόρα...

tromaktiko: Θλιβερή πρωτιά της Ελλάδας στα θανατηφόρα τροχαία

tro-ma-ktiko.blogspot.gr

Η Ελλάδα έχει το υψηλότερο ποσοστό θανάτων από τροχαία ατυχήματα στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, σύμφωνα με… στοιχεία που δημοσιεύονται σε σημερινή ανακοίνωση της Allianz Ελλάδας. Όπως αναφέρεται στην ανακοίν …

via Tumblr http://stefs.tumblr.com/post/101425877784 October 31, 2014 at 06:13PM