Genetic variant linked to TB susceptibility in Africans identified

LONDON – Using a technique known as a genome-wide association (GWA) study, scientists have identified a genetic variant which increases susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) in African populations.

This is the first novel disease variant to be identified using this technique in Africans and demonstrates that such studies are viable in African populations, which have a [..] Read the original article: here.

‘Liquid-glass’ spray prevents build-up of hospital-acquired infections

LONDON – Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool is using toys sprayed with ‘liquid glass’ to prevent the build-up of hospital-acquired infections such as the superbug Staphylococcus aureus, which is resistant to many antibiotics.

The liquid glass, which is safe and completely inert, forms an invisible, flexible coating on the surface of an object and repels … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : ‘Liquid-glass’ spray prevents build-up of hospital-acquired infections.

India to launch forestry satellite in 2013

NEW DELHI – A satellite for monitoring the country’s forest cover will be launched in 2013, the Rajya Sabha was informed Monday.

“A forestry satellite will be launched in 2013 so that we can monitor the forest cover of the country on day to day basis,” Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh informed the Rajya [..] Read the original article: here.

Feds get Hawaii sugar plantation’s help to power Navy, shift away from fossil fuels

Hawaii sugar grower working to power Navy
HONOLULU – The federal government has turned to a 130-year-old Hawaii sugar grower for help in powering the Navy and weaning the nation off a heavy reliance on fossil fuels.

It will spend at least $10 million over the next five years to fund research and development at Maui cane …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

New anti-viral drug ‘doubles hepatitis C treatment’s effectiveness’

LONDON – Adding a new antiviral drug to the standard treatment for hepatitis C considerably increases the cure rate in severe patients, according to a new study.

Paul Kwo of Indiana University School of Medicine reported that the drug nearly doubled the treatment’s effectiveness when given for 48 weeks.

Hepatitis C infections occur mainly through transmission of … Original article on : New anti-viral drug ‘doubles hepatitis C treatment’s effectiveness’.

Breakthrough: Nerve connections regenerated after spinal cord injury

LONDON – In a breakthrough study, scientists have successfully achieved regeneration of nerve connections after a spinal cord injury.

UC Irvine, UC San Diego and Harvard University team conducted the study on rodents.

They did this by deleting an enzyme called PTEN (a phosphatase and tensin homolog). PTEN activity is low early during development, allowing cell proliferation.

It …. Read the original article  : Breakthrough: Nerve connections regenerated after spinal cord injury.

Briton set to complete epic, 2-year expedition to become 1st man to walk entire Amazon river

British man walks entire Amazon river in 2 years

MARUDA, Brazil – After 859 days, thousands of miles and “50,000 mosquito bites,” Ed Stafford intends to be the first man known to have walked the entire length of the Amazon river when the waves of the Atlantic Ocean lap his feet in northern Brazil on Monday.
While …. Read the original article  : Briton set to complete epic, 2-year expedition to become 1st man to walk entire Amazon river.

‘Mars as big as the moon’ myth makes a comeback

MELBOURNE – An eight-year-old claim that Mars is inching its way closer to the Earth so fast that soon it will appear as big as the moon.

The hoax email has been spreading like wildfire over the Internet.

Although rubbished by scientists, if it were true, the planet’s gravitational impact on Earth would make for some disturbing …. Original article  : ‘Mars as big as the moon’ myth makes a comeback.

Personality in 1st grade sticks for life: Study

WASHINGTON – The personalities we develop as children stay with us throughout our life, says a new study.

“We remain recognizably the same person,” Live Science quoted Christopher Nave, a doctoral candidate at the University of California, Riverside.

“This speaks to the importance of understanding personality because it does follow us wherever we go across time …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Family dinners up parent-teen communication

WASHINGTON – One way parents can keep up communication with there teenage children is to sit down together for dinner, finds a new study.

The results show that while parent-child communication generally declines as kids go through middle school, eating meals together can help protect against this conversation dip.

Kids who frequently ate dinner with their … Read : Family dinners up parent-teen communication.

Agra city going green – the voluntary way

AGRA – The city of the Taj Mahal is set to look greener from the barren wasteland it has been reduced to over the decades.

Inspired by one man’s example of planting trees, now educational institutions, cultural groups, resident welfare associations and other groups are participating in a major plantation drive in the city.
Harvijay Singh …. Original source  : Agra city going green – the voluntary way.

Everest’s biggest mystery solved

TORONTO – The greatest mystery in mountain climbing involving the death of two British mountaineers who might have climbed Mount Everest in 1924, nearly 30 years before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the world’s highest summit, has been solved, claim Canadian and Indian researchers.

Legendary British adventurers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappeared near the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Everest’s biggest mystery solved.

Humid day ahead, showers likely in Delhi

NEW DELHI – The week began on a hot and humid note for Delhiites Monday but the weather office forecast light showers and thunderstorms in parts of the city later in the day.

“The skies will be partly cloudy. Light showers and thunderstorm may occur in some parts of the city,” said an official of the … Read more »».

Recession doesn’t slow makers of expensive outdoor gear; a $430 tent with ‘air beams’

What recession? US outdoor gear makers ‘buoyant’

SALT LAKE CITY – Despite an economy hammered by recession, sales have doubled every year for a tiny New Hampshire company that makes tents of all things. But these aren’t just any tents. They are for outdoor enthusiasts – not families forced out by foreclosures – and they are …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Hundreds of Hawksbill turtles hatch on Saadiyat island

Abu Dhabi, Aug 8 (IANS/WAM) More than 350 endangered Hawksbill turtles, named for their conspicuous beaked snouts, have hatched on UAE’s Saadiyat island, an official said Sunday.

The moment they emerge, the turtles instinctively head to the sea, as bright light disorients them.
The Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), which is developing the island …. Original source  : Hundreds of Hawksbill turtles hatch on Saadiyat island.

Humans subconsciously mimic other accents

LONDON – Human brains imitate speech patterns of other people, even complete strangers, without meaning to due to an inbuilt urge of the brain to “affiliate” with them.

Researchers say humans want to “bond” with others, even when a voice cannot be heard or, somewhat embarrassingly, even if another person is a foreigner.
Scientists from the …. Read the original article  : here.

New Digital Ink Library to speed up investigation of documents

WASHINGTON – Analysing ink samples to determine a document’s origin can be a lengthy and time consuming process, but a new Digital Ink Library is set to change all that.

Currently, the International Ink Library managed by the U.S. Secret Service is used by … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : New Digital Ink Library to speed up investigation of documents.

Python in hospital creates panic

AGRA – A seven-foot python that strayed into a nursing home here creating panic among patients and staff was Sunday moved to a forest, police said.

The high drama at Khushi Hospital in Kalindi Vihar neighbourhood started around 11 p.m. Saturday when the reptile was spotted and ended around 12 hours later.
Hospital employees, patients, police … Original article on : Python in hospital creates panic.

Now, software to help track down child sexual predators

WASHINGTON – University of Massachusetts Amherst computer scientists have developed new software that would help police catch people who possess and share illegal images and produce child pornography for the Internet.

Brian Levine and Marc Liberatore’s software provides the first comprehensive threat assessment …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Digital music players blamed for 17 accidents a day

LONDON – Believe it or not, but digital music players are blamed for up to 17 accidents every day in Britain.

Motoring groups have warned that road users are driving themselves towards “iPod oblivion”.
Pedestrians, joggers, car drivers and cyclists are all at risk of falling into a zombie-like state while plugged into modern technology, the …. Read the original article  : Digital music players blamed for 17 accidents a day.