Author Archives: Guest Post

Obesity: Yale Researcher Explains Why It’s All in Our Heads

By Guest PostOctober 28, 20101 commentHealth, Sciencealzheimer, appetite, diabetes, environmental factors, estrogen, genetic, higher brain functions, human brain imaging, hungary, hypothalamus, metabolic disorders, metabolism, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, parkinson, pioneer award, tamas horvath, type 2 diabetes, veterinary medicine, yale daily bulletin

Tamas Horvath. Image credit: Yale University

Tamas Horvath is the first to tell you that he doesn’t study obesity. But his research on the effects of metabolism on higher brain functions could provide deeper understanding of the brain’s link to appetite, weight and to metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity.

His lab was the first to provide evidence that the brain uses fat as fuel. Horvath has also studied how endocrine signals in the brain regulate neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Horvath followed his father and grandfather into veterinary medicine in his native Hungary, but his training sparked a passion for basic research. His achievements have earned him a long title that speaks to his varied research interests. He became chair of the Department of Comparative Medicine at Yale School of Medicine in 2005, and he is also a professor in the Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Neurobiology. Horvath also heads the Program on Integrative Cell Signaling and the Neurobiology of Metabolism. (more…)

Friends with Cognitive Benefits: Mental Function Improves After Certain Kinds of Socializing

By Guest PostOctober 28, 2010Culturebrain functions, cognitive benefits, cognitive flexibility, common life problems, conversation, friends, mental benefits, oscar ybarra, psychologist, social cognitive, social contact, social interactions, social research, university of michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich.— Talking with other people in a friendly way can make it easier to solve common problems, a new University of Michigan study shows. But conversations that are competitive in tone, rather than cooperative, have no cognitive benefits.

“This study shows that simply talking to other people, the way you do when you’re making friends, can provide mental benefits,” said psychologist Oscar Ybarra, a researcher at the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR). (more…)

Researchers Find ‘Goldilocks’ of DNA Self-Assembly

By Guest PostOctober 28, 2010Scienceabhishek singh, assembly technology, DNA, dna assisted self assembly, dna self assembling, dna self assembly, dna strands, genetic coding, genetic sequence, goldilocks, length, materials, north carolina state university, stacy snyder, university of melbourne, yara yingling

This image is a simulation snapshot of the molecular dynamics of DNA strands. Image credit: North Carolina State University

Researchers from North Carolina State University have found a way to optimize the development of DNA self-assembling materials, which hold promise for technologies ranging from drug delivery to molecular sensors. The key to the advance is the discovery of the “Goldilocks” length for DNA strands used in self-assembly – not too long, not too short, but just right.

DNA strands contain genetic coding that will form bonds with another strand that contains a unique sequence of complementary genes. By coating a material with a specific DNA layer, that material will then seek out and bond with its complementary counterpart. This concept, known as DNA-assisted self-assembly, creates significant opportunities in the biomedical and materials science fields, because it may allow the creation of self-assembling materials with a variety of applications.

But, while DNA self-assembly technology is not a new concept, it has historically faced some significant stumbling blocks. One of these obstacles has been that DNA segments that are too short often failed to self-assemble, while segments that are too long often led to the creation of deformed materials. This hurdle can lead to basic manufacturing problems, as well as significant changes in the properties of the material itself. (more…)

Amazon to Launch Kindle App for Windows Phone 7

By Guest PostOctober 28, 2010TechnologyAmazon, dorothy nicholls, kindle app, kindle book, kindle for windows phone 7, Microsoft, windows phone 7

*Free Kindle application extends Amazon’s Buy Once, Read Everywhere approach, bringing over 725,000 Kindle Books to Windows Phone 7*

SEATTLE, Oct 28, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Amazon.com, Inc. today announced that Kindle for Windows Phone 7 will be the first major eBook application available for Windows Phone 7. Kindle for Windows Phone 7 will be released later this year, and includes the features customers love about all of the Kindle apps, plus new features built into a Kindle app for the first time, such as personalized book recommendations on your Kindle app home screen and the ability to send a book suggestion to a friend from any book in your library without leaving the app.

Like all Kindle apps, Kindle for Windows Phone 7 will let customers Buy Once, Read Everywhere–on Kindle, Kindle 3G, Kindle DX, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Mac, PC, BlackBerry, Android-based devices and in the coming months, on Windows Phone 7-based devices. Customers can sign up to be notified when the Kindle for Windows Phone 7 is available later this year at www.amazon.com/kindleforwindowsphone. (more…)

Learning the Truth not Effective in Battling Rumors About NYC Mosque, Study Finds

By Guest PostOctober 28, 2010Culture, Politicsamericans, annenberg public policy center, arab, erik nisbet, factcheck, feisal abdul rauf, ground zero, imam, islamic cultural center, middle east, mosque, new york city, ohio state university, r kelly garrett, rumors, terrorism, united states

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Evidence is no match against the belief in false rumors concerning the proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero in New York City, a new study finds.

Researchers at Ohio State University found that fewer than one-third of people who had previously heard and believed one of the many rumors about the proposed center changed their minds after reading overwhelming evidence rejecting the rumor.

The false rumor that researchers used in the study was that Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Imam backing the proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque, is a terrorist sympathizer who has refused to condemn Islamic attacks on civilians. (more…)

Climate Change: Cultural Shift Needed Similar to Smoking, Slavery

By Guest PostOctober 28, 2010Culture, Environmentandy hoffman, attitudes, cigarette smoking, climate change, cultural attitudes, cultural shift, earth, ecological systems, erb institute, fossil fuels, holcim professor, moral problem, planetary scale, scientific evidence, slavery, university of michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich.— Despite scientific evidence of climate change, it will take a significant cultural shift in attitudes to address the situation, says a University of Michigan researcher.

The shift would be much like what has happened with recent cigarette smoking bans and even similar to the abolition of slavery in the 19th century.

“The present reality is that we tend to overlook the social dimensions of environmental issues and focus strictly on their technological and economic aspects,” said Andy Hoffman, the Holcim (U.S.) Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the Ross School of Business and School of Natural Resources and Environment. “To properly address climate change, we must change the way we structure our organizations and the way we think as individuals. (more…)

Microsoft’s First Annual Global BizSpark One Summit Brings Tech Startup Companies Together in Silicon Valley

By Guest PostOctober 27, 2010Technologybizspark one, calif, club cooee, danl lewin, david ossip, dayforce, flixster, glostream, matthew clark, micah baldwin, Microsoft, microsoft bizspark one summit, mountain view, technology startups

*Some of the world’s most accomplished entrepreneurs and venture capitalists gather to share insights, knowledge and resources with young companies.*

Image credit: Microsoft

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Oct. 27, 2010 –

Executives from dozens of the world’s most promising technology startups are coming together today in Mountain View, Calif., to explore the challenges and best approaches to creating new technologies and businesses. The Microsoft BizSpark One Summit is the first annual gathering of participants in BizSpark One, a program that offers Microsoft technologies and gives support to young companies pioneering new business and technologies.

Microsoft executives and members of the entrepreneurial community will share experiences, foster discussions, problem-solve, and in general offer support for the young companies. “The objective of the One Summit is to share the collective knowledge and experience of those attending,” says Dan’l Lewin, corporate vice president of Strategic and Emerging Business Development at Microsoft. “These are smart, capable people who can benefit greatly from the exchange of knowledge and insights on growing a business and taking on the challenges of success.” (more…)

Investing in Kids’ Future Pays Off

By Guest PostOctober 27, 2010Culture, Generaland downpayment, business start ups, cda, child development accounts, entrepreneurship, feel, kids, long term savings accounts, mich, parent child interactions, parents, pontiac, saving for education, secure, seed, trina shanks, university of michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — When parents set up long-term savings accounts for college, business start-ups or home ownership, kids feel more financially and emotionally secure, new research shows.

The studies show the importance of families using child development accounts (CDA) as one measure to shift from an overreliance on credit and create a foundation for asset building. In other words, this program encourages households to maintain less debt and more savings. (more…)