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Study Finds Natural Compound Can Be Used for 3-D Printing of Medical Implants

By Guest PostNovember 3, 2013Science3d printing, 3d printing technology, alexander nguyen, anastasia koroleva, biocompatible, chapel hill, laser zentrum hannover, medical implants, natural compound, non toxic polymers, nontoxic, north Carolina, photoreactive liquid precursors, riboflavin, roger narayan, shaun gittard, solid polymer, state university, three-dimensional, university, vitamin b2

Researchers from North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Laser Zentrum Hannover have discovered that a naturally-occurring compound can be incorporated into three-dimensional (3-D) printing processes to create medical implants out of non-toxic polymers. The compound is riboflavin, which is better known as vitamin B2.

“This opens the door to a much wider range of biocompatible implant materials, which can be used to develop customized implant designs using 3-D printing technology,” says Dr. Roger Narayan, senior author of a paper describing the work and a professor in the joint biomedical engineering department at NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill. (more…)

Single mutation gives virus new target

By Guest PostNovember 3, 2013Sciencecell cultures, ganglioside sugar, human polyomavirus, surface of cells

A mutation as minute as swapping just one amino acid can completely change the target that a virus will bind to on a victim cell — potentially shifting what kind of cell and eventually what kind of organism a virus could infect.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — In a new study published online in the journal PLoS Pathogens, an international team of scientists showed that by swapping a single amino acid they could change the sugar to which the human BK polyomavirus will binds on the surface of cells. The BK polyomavirus lost the ability to bind its usual target sugar and instead “preferred” the same sugar as its cousin SV40 polyomavirus, which is active in monkeys. (more…)

‘Witch Head’ Brews Baby Stars

By Guest PostNovember 2, 2013Sciencebaby stars, clouds of nebula, witch head, witch head nebula

A witch appears to be screaming out into space in this new image from NASA’s Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE. The infrared portrait shows the Witch Head nebula, named after its resemblance to the profile of a wicked witch. Astronomers say the billowy clouds of the nebula, where baby stars are brewing, are being lit up by massive stars. Dust in the cloud is being hit with starlight, causing it to glow with infrared light, which was picked up by WISE’s detectors. (more…)

UCLA scientist uncovers biological clock able to measure age of most human tissues

By Guest PostNovember 1, 2013Health, Scienceage, age predictive tool, biological clock, cancer, cancer in women, chronological age, dna methylation levels, embryonic stem cell, genome biology, hormones, human aging process, human tissues, saliva, stem cell research, steve horvath, telomeres, ucla scientist

Study finds women’s breast tissue ages faster than the rest of the body

Everyone grows older, but scientists don’t really understand why. Now a UCLA study has uncovered a biological clock embedded in our genomes that may shed light on why our bodies age and how we can slow the process.

Published in the Oct. 21 edition of the journal Genome Biology, the findings could offer valuable insights to benefit cancer and stem cell research. (more…)

New material for quantum computing discovered out of the blue

By Guest PostOctober 31, 2013Scienceblue pigment, copper phthalocyanine, matter, organic semiconductor, quantum computer, quantum properties

A common blue pigment used in the £5 note could have an important role to play in the development of a quantum computer, according to a paper published in the journal Nature. (more…)

What is it About Your Face?

By Guest PostOctober 30, 2013Sciencecraniofacial birth defects, craniofacial development, craniofacial pathologies, facial morphology, human face

The human face is as unique as a fingerprint, no one else looks exactly like you. But what is it that makes facial morphology so distinct? Certainly genetics play a major role as evident in the similarities between parents and their children, but what is it in our DNA that fine-tunes the genetics so that siblings – especially identical twins – resemble one another but look different from unrelated individuals? (more…)

Watching Earth’s Winds, on a Shoestring

By Guest PostOctober 30, 2013Scienceiss rapidscat, microwave echo, ocean wind monitoring, scatterometer carrying satellites, scatterometer instrument, sun synchronous orbit

Built with spare parts and without a moment to spare, the International Space Station (ISS)-RapidScat isn’t your average NASA Earth science mission. (more…)

Mosquitofish Genital Shape Linked to Presence of Predators

By Guest PostOctober 29, 2013Scienceblue holes, evolutionary changes, gambusia hubbsi, gambusia predators, justa heinen kay, male bahamas mosquitofish, male genital shape, mosquitofish genital shape, north Carolina, presence of predators, sperm transferring organ, state university, threat of predation

When predators lurk nearby, male Bahamas mosquitofish (Gambusia hubbsi) change mating strategies, rejecting elaborate courting rituals for more frequent and sometimes forceful encounters with females.

But as a recent North Carolina State University study shows, mating strategies aren’t the only things changing for G. hubbsi when predators abound. The shape and size of the male fish’s genitalia are also linked to the presence or absence of predators. (more…)

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