MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'ecology'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:48:53 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960002&cid=t_99081_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fjournal-of-public-health-2011-vol-33-no-2%2F This article considers the impact of the use of private cars on people’s health and what measures could be initiated to reduce car dependence. (Print subscription held at Fade Library) Filed under: Current Awareness, Journals Tagged: Climate Change, Ecology, Environment, Obesity, Physical Activity, Pollution, Public Health, Transport (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960002 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:32:43 +0100 4960002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4627020&cid=t_99081_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F0IjRn8so-AU%2F Earlier this month, controversy erupted after KV Pharmaceuticals disclosed plans to charge $1,500 for an injection of its Makena drug for preventing premature births. Why? Makena is actually a form of progesterone that has been available for decades from compounding pharmacies at roughly $10 to $20 a week (read this and this). Now, though, KV Pharma has a lock on the market, because Makena is the only drug approved by the FDA for this purpose. And the agency did so under the auspices of the Orphan Drug Act, which means KV Pharma was granted seven years of market exclusivity. In response, two senators asked the US Federal Trade Commission to investigate (see here), but Jamie Love of Knowledge Ecology International, a non-profit advocacy group that focuses on intellectual property issues tha... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4627020 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:37:04 +0100 4627020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4611003&cid=t_99081_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FWXsonFvU_bM%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that MTI Information Technologies, which provides marketing services to healthcare providers, hired Brian Tvenstrup as sr vp of business analytics. Previously, he headed analytics for First Equity Card, a commercial lender to small businesses, and w... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4611003 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:03:11 +0100 4611003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372245&cid=t_99081_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FzyuRjTzSabs%2F Late last month, the World Health Organization proposed members for what it calls a consultative expert working group for R&D financing, which would evaluate and recommend funding for partnership projects for such problems as neglected diseases. The protocol involves nominating individuals from different countries and regions in order to create a balance reflecting varying needs and views. But one suggested member is reportedly generating some controversy - Paul Herrling, who heads the Institutes for Developing World Medical Research at Novartis. Among the 21 people suggested for the working group, he is the only one listed as currently working as an executive for a drugmaker (see the list here). And for that reason, his nomination stirred some opposition over concerns of any potentia... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372245 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:15:44 +0100 4372245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4178930&cid=t_99081_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FkfiLCB5KGGg%2F I’ve been hearing about the vertical farm concept from Dickson Despommier for years – as a faculty colleague of his here at Columbia University Medical Center, and more recently as co-host of TWiV and TWiP. I could not help but be enthusiastic as the idea grew from a seed, to seeing Dickson jetting around the globe trying to build the first prototype. Now that the eponymous book is out, does it stand up to the hype? The Vertical Farm begins with a brief history of agriculture: how humans learned how to grow their food, slowly developing the technology to eke more and more from the earth. We learn about how machinery, petroleum, and fertilizer have impacted farming. But more importantly, Dr. Despommier reveals how farming, while growing more efficient, has slowly destroyed earth... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4178930 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:44:07 +0100 4178930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119468&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2FTon_fTEQfqs%2F As part of background in preparing a grant I ended up writing a few scripts to see the distribution of fungal species with ITS data in GenBank.  The whole spreadsheet of the data is public and available here and I walk you through the data generation and summary below. ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) is the typically used barcode for identifying fungi at the species level as it works for most (but not all) groups of Fungi. It falls between highly conserved nuclear rDNA genes (18S, 5.8S, 28S) but tends to be hypervariable making it a reasonable locus for identification of species since it tends to be unique between species but fairly unchanged among individuals from the same species. You can see a Map of the amplified region from Tom Brun’s site or info at Rytas Vilgalys’s ... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119468 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 06:10:20 +0100 4119468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119040&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSciencebaseScienceBlog%2F%7E3%2FPqmQqTsh2mM%2Fsix-sexy-science-books.html at least one or two of which would make perfect holiday gifts for the science geek, nerd, dweeb, or dork in your life. Remember Science is Vital and so are books. Science: The Definitive Guide by Piers Bizony – As a kid, I devoured books like this, you probably did too, it is a big, bold, and eyecatching introduction to chemistry, physics, geology, biology and cosmology. Each section has a big-fonted title and a lively opener followed by more in-depth exploration. But, these days, having authored and co-authored several of the genre myself, I find each new one sadly lacking. Yes, they give you a nice taste of science, but they're never definitive, there's always some topic that has been overlooked, some niche that is not covered in quite enough depth. Casual readers ar... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119040 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:42:36 +0100 4119040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965695&cid=t_99081_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FrIq-yS7snsQ%2F In response to US pricing of the Norvir AIDS drug sold by Abbott Laboratories, an advocacy group plans to petition the National Institutes of Health this month to break several patents on the drug. The forthcoming move by Knowledge Ecology International comes six years after the group failed at a similar attempt to convince the agency to override patents held by the drugmaker on the grounds that a recent 400 percent price hike was unreasonable, anticompetitive and threatened the health and safety of people with AIDS (here is the 2004 petition and the NIH denial). In a recent report, however, KEI notes that for patients without some form of government assistance or insurance, Norvir continues to cost much more than in other countries, both those are that considered developed and less-devel... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965695 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:13:13 +0100 3965695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3854557&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=35026&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheTreeOfLife%2F%7E3%2F0WIhpVJ3xNk%2Fquick-blog-post-interesting-piece-on.html There is a very interesting piece in the Chronicle of Higher Education by Simon Levin on the "Evolution of Ecology." See The Evolution of Ecology - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher EducationIn it Simon, who I consider both a friend and colleague and who has been an inspiration to me for much of my work, discusses the history of the concept and the field of ecology. He repeats a key phrase he has used elsewhere:Ecology, the unifying science in integrating knowledge of life on our planet, has become the essential science in learning how to preserve it.I like this phrase and plan to use it a bit here and there, with attribution of course.Levin also discusses how Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle helped launch the field of ecology because it defined a new and synthetic way of looking... The Tree of Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3854557 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:45:37 +0100 3854557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3802384&cid=t_99081_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhealth-consequences-and-ecological-effects-of-the-oil-spill%2F2010.07.29 The health consequences of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could be really serious and may include cancer, respiratory diseases, and hormonal disruptions. These health effects and the ecological issues are shown on a new infographic. Click on the image for the full version: *This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3802384 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:00:43 +0100 3802384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750072&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FM-u-xynoISg%2Fthe_importance_of_gut_flora.php Blogging from Atlanta at ICEID, the perfect venue to highlight today's story in the NY Times by Carl Zimmer discussing gut microbes in health and disease--including an introduction focusing on fecal transplants to treat Clostridium difficile infections. If you're at ICEID, be sure to swing by several posters in both sessions today showing new work (ours and others') on zoonotic MRSA. Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750072 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:12:51 +0100 3750072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633632&cid=t_99081_154_f&fid=36427&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FABlogAroundTheClock%2F%7E3%2FANwXx5KjsjE%2Fdeepwater_horizon_oil_spill_in.php According to a new paper showing temporal and spatial patterns of migratory routes and spawning grounds of bluefin tuna, they were in the Gulf of Mexico spawning at the moment the oil well exploded and all that oil started gushing out (and then dispersed with toxic chemicals). Nobody is fishing there now, and no professional media or amateur reporting or photography are allowed, but I am assuming some of the radiotransmitters in some of the individuals may still be operational and that data from the area, during the spill, will become available in the future. Read the comments on this post... (Source: A Blog Around The Clock) A Blog Around The Clock blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633632 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:34:17 +0100 3633632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3519050&cid=t_99081_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2Ffiles%2Fecology-of-baculoviruses.html%23unique-entry-id-63 from Jenny S. Cory in Insect VirologyEcological studies involving insect viruses have centred on baculoviruses, partly because they are associated with population declines of some insect species, and also because they are highly pathogenic to insects, making them ideal candidates for pest control. Recent research has focussed on four main areas; (i) the influence of host condition on resistance to viral infection, (ii) the role and maintenance of baculovirus diversity, (iii) the prevalence of covert infections, and (iv) the elucidation of patterns of host resistance in field populations. Tritrophic interactions, either via direct effects of plant secondary chemicals or through nutritionally mediated changes in host immunity, can have a significant impact on baculovirus efficacy. Variation ... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3519050 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3519050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3494298&cid=t_99081_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FAyhd8t2Aymo%2F By Jim HarperSecrecy breeds suspicion, and little in the intellectual property area has garnered more suspicion than ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. ACTA is a multilateral trade agreement that has been under negotiation since 2007. But the negotiations haven’t been public, and access to key documents has only been provided to people willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement. It is inconsistent with the U.S. public’s expectations to have government officials negotiate public policies without providing public access to the deliberations and the documents. There are some limitations and exceptions to this principle. Generic diplomatic relations probably develop best in an environment where candor can prevail. Issues related to national security may require secret ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3494298 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:02:47 +0100 3494298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3471971&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.discovermagazine.com%2Fgnxp%2F2010%2F04%2Fthere-are-still-mysterious-lands%2F I’m still a sucker for stories like this, Only Known Living Population of Rare Dwarf Lemur Discovered: Researchers have discovered the world’s only known living population of Sibree’s Dwarf Lemur, a rare lemur known only in eastern Madagascar. The discovery of approximately a thousand of these lemurs was made by Mitchell Irwin, a Research Associate at McGill University, and colleagues from the German Primate Centre in Göttingen Germany; the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar; and the University of Massachusetts. The species was first discovered in Madagascar in 1896, but this tiny, nocturnal dwarf lemur was never studied throughout the 20th century. Following the destruction of its only known rainforest habitat, scientists had no idea whether the species still exis... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3471971 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:08:14 +0100 3471971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3441077&cid=t_99081_154_f&fid=36427&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FABlogAroundTheClock%2F%7E3%2FzeR8jTdWoZ4%2Fwhen_the_dinner_bell_rings_for.php News from NESCent - Craig MccLain of the Deep Sea News fame just had a paper published. This is the video that explains what that is all about: Also read the press release. And the reference is: McClain, C. and J. P. Barry (2010). "Habitat heterogeneity, biogenic disturbance, and resource availability work in concert to regulate biodiversity in deep submarine canyons." Ecology. Related: Deep sea paradox: little food, tons of life Craig McClain talk at Sigma Xi Read the comments on this post... (Source: A Blog Around The Clock) A Blog Around The Clock blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3441077 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:57:52 +0100 3441077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420668&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2FSPKY6grDnPM%2F John Hawks has an excellent post rebutting some misinformation and confusion on the part of Colin Blakemore, an Oxford neurobiologist. Blakemore asserts that: * There was a sharp spike in cranial capacity ~200,000 years ago, on the order of 30% * And, that the large brain was not deleterious despite its large caloric footprint (25% of our calories service the brain) because the “environment of early humans was so clement and rich in resources” Hawks refutes the first by simply reposting the chart the above (x axis = years before present, y axis = cranial capacity). It’s rather straightforward, I don’t know the paleoanthropology with any great depth, but the gradual rise in hominin cranial capacity has always been a “mystery” waiting to be solved (see Gro... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420668 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:38:08 +0100 3420668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408427&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fhp_coupon_codes_and_ewaste.php © U.S. Army Environmental CommandElectronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) refers to loosely discarded, surplus, obsolete, or broken electrical or electronic devices. They ares often exported from the United States and other developed nations to regions in China, India, Thailand and less developed countries where recycling is done in crude methods that result to health and pollution problems due to the release of contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium and brominated flame retardants. A proposal is currently under debate ... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408427 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:02:35 +0100 3408427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370597&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2FoVEOZouHHQY%2Fapartheid_of_iberian_neanderta.php This article presents data on the stratigraphy, archaeology, and 14C AMS dates of three Early Upper Palaeolithic and four Late Middle Palaeolithic levels excavated in Cova Gran. All these archaeological levels fall within the 34-32 ka time span, the temporal frame in which major events of Neanderthal extinction took place. The earliest Early Upper Palaeolithic (497D) and the latest Middle Palaeolithic (S1B) levels in Cova Gran are separated by a sterile gap and permit pinpointing the time period in which the Mousterian disappeared from Northeastern Spain. Technological differences between the Early Upper Palaeolithic and Late Middle Palaeolithic industries in Cova Gran support a cultural rupture between the two periods. A series of 12 14C AMS dates prompts reflections on the validity of re... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370597 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:44:03 +0100 3370597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3362420&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fbio_whitepaper_biotech_chemical_platforms_to_create_green_jobs.php The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has released a white paper on the growth and jobs potential of green chemicals and briefed Congressional staff on the commercial status of industrial biotechnologies for algae applications, biobased products, and advanced biofuels. The white paper, Biobased Chemicals and Products: A New Driver of U.S. Economic Development and Green Jobs (pdf file), indicats that the biobased chemicals and plastics industry accounts for over 5,700 direct jobs and is likely responsible for over 40,000 jobs economy wide. A related report ... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3362420 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:38:16 +0100 3362420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366245&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fchitosan_as_alternative_to_antibiotics_for_ruminants.php © Sadie_GirlThe use of antibiotics in animal feed is strictly regulated as it has been linked to the emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms. This prohibition has been reported, however, to raise production costs by an estimated 3.5% to 5%. In a new research, scientists explore the use of a natural-occurring biopolymer known as chitosan as an effective alternative to growth-promoting antibiotics in the diet of ruminants. Apart from its proven antimicrobial activity, chitosan is a viable alternative as it is biodegradable, renewable and a ... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366245 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:57:11 +0100 3366245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298353&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2FqVHA7RXsTn4%2Fwhat_is_the_hygiene_hypothesis.php Guest post by Zainab Khan In most western countries, germs have become synonymous with the idea of something bad that needs to be killed as quickly as possible. However, people have long been questioning the validity of these ideas; a few decades ago it was hypothesized that not enough exposure to germ can and does cause insufficient development of an individuals immune system. New studies have recently shown that this idea of getting rid of all germs, and keeping children exposure to them at an absolute minimum, may possibly cause more harm then good; over cleanliness is suspected to be one of the main reasons that there is such an increased number in asthma and allergy ridden people in western countries. Also, compared to just a generation or two ago, people today have an increased chan... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298353 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:30:42 +0100 3298353 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366246&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fseeds_from_moringa_oleifera_can_be_used_for_water_treatment.php © treesftfMoringa oleifera is a vegetable crop cultivated in many Africa, Central and South America, the Indian subcontinent, and South East Asia. In a new study, it appears that this plant is not only useful as a food source, but extracts from its seeds can also be used as a http://www.uu.se/news/news_item.php?typ=pm&id=935">flocculant in a form of low-cost water treatment. An indigenous water treatment method uses Moringa oleifera seeds in the form of a water-soluble extract in suspension, resulting in an effective natural clarification agent for highly ... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366246 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:43:04 +0100 3366246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3275811&cid=t_99081_93_f&fid=35707&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHemodynamics%2F%7E3%2F20y7kywO9Jc%2Fblack-tar-heroin-coming-to-white-people.html Graph: Black tar heroin vs powder heroin, and HIV among injection drug users vs HIV among men who have sex with men, in a map of the US and Canada from Ciccarone and Bourgois 2003--click on the graph for a full-size picture.Black tar heroin is moving east, says the LA Times, in this first part of a three part article I'll be reading over the next days, being moved by folks from Xalisco, Mexico. The strategy described in the LA Times article involves low-profile low-weaponry low-volume operations targeting white people who've been using prescription opiates, and moving small cheap quantities of black tar heroin as an alternative to Oxycontin and Percocet. What will this mean for clinicians on the East Coast if the Xalisco teams and their ilk manage to continue moving black tar heroin eastwa... hemodynamics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3275811 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:08:00 +0100 3275811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3246715&cid=t_99081_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2010%2F02%2Fconference-update-microbial-ecology-and.html September 6 - 10, 2010 XXXIII International Congress of the Society for Microbial Ecology and DiseaseCruiseship Aegean Pearl, Greece Further information1st Day,Medical Microbial Ecology; 2nd Day,Dental Microbial Ecology; 3rd Day,Nutrition, Probiotics, Food and Water Microbial Ecology Health Related 4th Day,Environmental Microbial Ecology. The cruise programme includes some of the most well known Greek Islands such as Cosmopolitan Myconos, Rhodes, Patmos, Crete, the fascinating island of Santorini and Ephesus and Kusadasi in Turkey. Suggested reading: Environmental Molecular MicrobiologyFull range of books on microbiology at Microbiology Books (Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists.) Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3246715 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 +0100 3246715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212495&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2F9Fpo8B28kcc%2Fhobbits_small_brains_not_so_an.php Is the Hobbit's Brain Unfeasibly Small?: Brain expansion began early in primate evolution and has occurred in all major groups, suggesting a strong selective advantage to increased brainpower in most primate lineages. Despite this overall trend, however, Mundy and his colleagues have identified several branches/lineages within each major group that have shown decreasing brain and body mass as they evolve, for example in marmosets and mouse lemurs. According to Mundy, "We find that, under reasonable assumptions, the reduction in brain size during the evolution of Homo floresiensis is not unusual in comparison to these other primates. Along with other recent studies on the effects of 'island dwarfism' in other mammals, these results support the hypothesis that the small brain of Homo flores... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212495 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:35:33 +0100 3212495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3175457&cid=t_99081_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2010%2F01%2Fbook-review-environmental-microbial.html Environmental Molecular MicrobiologyPublisher: Caister Academic PressEdited by: Wen-Tso Liu and Janet K. JanssonPublication date: 2010ISBN: 978-1-904455-52-3"For this essential book, editors ... brought together experts to examine the current state of the art ... This volume will interest advanced students and researchers" Read more ...from SciTech Book News Further reading: Environmental Molecular MicrobiologyFull range of books on microbiology at Microbiology Books (Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists.) Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3175457 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:22:00 +0100 3175457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3175462&cid=t_99081_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2010%2F01%2Freview-of-book-environmental-molecular.html A review of the book Environmental Molecular Microbiology from Mercedes Berlanga, University of Barcelona, Spain: "Although measuring the reservoir of prokaryotic diversity is not a trivial task, fortunately, microbial ecology is currently benefiting from a technological boom with respect to the rapid development of molecular techniques, in general, and 'omics' technologies in particular (genomics-metagenomics, proteomics-metaproteomics, transcriptomes). These techniques and their applications are the subject of Environmental Molecular Microbiology, which provides a state-of-the- art molecular toolbox to study microbial ecology.Understanding the ecology of microorganisms is inarguably one of the most compelling intellectual challenges facing contemporary ecology. Environmental Molecular Mi... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3175462 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:07:00 +0100 3175462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115232&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2F1AucOvQIA7g%2Fwhen_mammoths_roamed_rarely.php Brian Switek, The extended twilight of the mammoths: So, if the team's analysis is correct, both mammoths and horses lived in the interior of Alaska between about 11,000 and 7,000 years ago. This is significantly more recent than the youngest fossil remains of horses and mammoths, dated between 15,000 and 13,000 years ago. There are at least two factors that might contribute to this disparity. The first is that fossils from this more recent time were preserved but have not yet been found. More likely, though, is that the populations of both mammoths and horses had dwindled to the point where fossil preservation was becoming increasingly unlikely. There were so few of them that the death of an individual in circumstances amenable to preservation was becoming rarer and rarer. Either way, th... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115232 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:02:33 +0100 3115232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089473&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2FbalHE_9rDh0%2Fi_for_one_welcome_our_future_c.php Cool new report in Current Biology, Defensive tool use in a coconut-carrying octopus: The use of tools has become a benchmark for cognitive sophistication. Originally regarded as a defining feature of our species, tool-use behaviours have subsequently been revealed in other primates and a growing spectrum of mammals and birds...Among invertebrates, however, the acquisition of items that are deployed later has not previously been reported. We repeatedly observed soft-sediment dwelling octopuses carrying around coconut shell halves, assembling them as a shelter only when needed. Whilst being carried, the shells offer no protection and place a requirement on the carrier to use a novel and cumbersome form of locomotion -- 'stilt-walking'. No surprise that when we are looking to a violation of... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089473 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:13:59 +0100 3089473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3084858&cid=t_99081_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F12%2F13%2Fmobile-phones-to-record-and-map-noise-pollution.html Via Mobile Active From traffic to construction to everyday chatter, noise pollution is a part of city life. But with the ubiquity of mobiles, documenting noise pollution is getting a little bit easier. NoiseTube and LHR NoiseMap are two projects that use mobile phones to record and map instances of noise pollution. NoiseTube uses crowd-sourcing to monitor noise pollution. Users with GPS-enabled phones can install a free application that measures the noise level wherever they are. Users tag the recordings with a description of the noise, its source, the time of day, and other criteria, and the data is then mapped onto GoogleEarth; in this way participants can use their phones as noise sensors to automatically share information about their city with other members of the community. (Source: P... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3084858 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:50:36 +0100 3084858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3106751&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=35026&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheTreeOfLife%2F%7E3%2FBM1pExTgrrg%2Fnsf-looking-for-grants-on-life-in.html Just got this email from the National Science Foundation saying that NSF is looking for more grants relating to responses of organisms/ecosystems to climate change. The Divisions of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) and Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) in the Directorate for Biological Sciences at NSF encourage submission of proposals that address the biochemical, molecular, cellular, genetic and/or organismal underpinnings of adaptation and biological feedbacks to climate change.  Interdisciplinary and systems level approaches to these problems are encouraged. A cross-divisional working group has been established to ensure that exciting proposals in this area receive adequate and appropriate attention.  Life on earth contributes actively to the forces involved in tr... The Tree of Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3106751 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:39:45 +0100 3106751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3023350&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2FBcXr8O66z2Q%2Fapocalypse_73000_bc.php FuturePundit points me to a new paper on the Toba explosion, Environmental impact of the 73 ka Toba super-eruption in South Asia: The cooling effects of historic volcanic eruptions on world climate are well known but the impacts of even bigger prehistoric eruptions are still shrouded in mystery. The eruption of Toba volcano in northern Sumatra some 73,000 years ago was the largest explosive eruption of the past two million years, with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of magnitude 8, but its impact on climate has been controversial. In order to resolve this issue, we have analysed pollen from a marine core in the Bay of Bengal with stratified Toba ash, and the carbon isotopic composition of soil carbonates directly above and below the ash in three sites on a 400 km transect across central India... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3023350 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:07:45 +0100 3023350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015420&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2FRy0grn4USkA%2Fwhen_mammoths_roamed.php Pleistocene Megafaunal Collapse, Novel Plant Communities, and Enhanced Fire Regimes in North America: Although the North American megafaunal extinctions and the formation of novel plant communities are well-known features of the last deglaciation, the causal relationships between these phenomena are unclear. Using the dung fungus Sporormiella and other paleoecological proxies from Appleman Lake, Indiana, and several New York sites, we established that the megafaunal decline closely preceded enhanced fire regimes and the development of plant communities that have no modern analogs. The loss of keystone megaherbivores may thus have altered ecosystem structure and function by the release of palatable hardwoods from herbivory pressure and by fuel accumulation. Megafaunal populations collapsed ... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015420 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:19:44 +0100 3015420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2963260&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2F7lE4_68k0qY%2Fbest_paper_title_ive_seen_in_a.php Cooperation and individuality among man-eating lions. Read the comments on this post... (Source: Gene Expression) Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2963260 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:58:56 +0100 2963260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2931077&cid=t_99081_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F10%2F27%2Fthe-green-watch.html From the project's website The project Green Watch/Citypulse aims at multiplying by 1000 the number of environmental sensors in the city, while encouraging people’s implication in measuring environmental indices, thus associating them directly to building a sustainable city. The green watch comprizes a watch and two environmental sensors (ozone, noise). Data are regularly broadcasted via a mobile phone to an open platform called Citypulse which receives, stores and makes measure data available and anonymous. Data can then be used freely in order to be shown on maps, used in models.   30 prototypes of the green watch was tested in May 2009 by residents of the 2nd arrondissement of Paris (Digital District) and also during Futur en Seine, by highschool students of Montreuil (Maison Po... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2931077 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:20:00 +0100 2931077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2851202&cid=t_99081_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F10%2Fphysiology-and-ecology-of-aspergillus.html Aspergillus spores are common components of aerosols where they drift on air currents, dispersing themselves both short and long distances depending on environmental conditions. When the spores come in contact with a solid or liquid surface, they are deposited and if conditions of moisture are right, they germinate. The ability to disperse globally in air currents and to grow almost anywhere when appropriate food and water are available means that 'ubiquitous' is among the most common adjectives used to describe these moulds. One of the defining characteristics of the entire fungal kingdom is its distinctive nutritional strategy. These organisms secrete acids and enzymes into the surrounding environment, breaking down polymeric molecules down into simpler ones that are then absorbed back i... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2851202 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:31:00 +0100 2851202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2834391&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2FZLNE8c570I8%2Faltruism_the_apes.php Eric Michael Johnson of Primate Diaries has a piece up for Seed, where he reviews Franz De Waal's newest book, The Age of Empathy: Nature's Lessons for a Kinder Society. Also a post, Misunderstanding Dawkins: The Role of Metaphor in Science is worth a read. I'll respond to Michael at some point in the near future, Read the comments on this post... (Source: Gene Expression) Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2834391 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:52:13 +0100 2834391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2827946&cid=t_99081_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F09%2Fmicrobial-ecology.html A new update on research in Microbial Ecology Microbial Diversity and PhylogenyGenomics and MetagenomicsMetaproteomicsNucleic-Acid-based CharacterizationMicroarrays in Microbial EcologyThe Soil EnvironmentPlant Microbial CommunitiesMarine Microbial EnvironmentsOcean microbial communitiesHuman Microbial EnvironmentWastewater TreatmentBacterial BiofilmsRead more at: Microbial EcologyFull range of books on microbiology at Microbiology Books (Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists.) Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2827946 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:58:00 +0100 2827946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823675&cid=t_99081_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F09%2Fmetaproteomics.html Microbial ecology is currently experiencing a renaissance spurred by the rapid development of molecular techniques and "omics" technologies in particular. As never before, these tools have allowed researchers in the field to produce a massive amount of information through in situ measurements and analysis of natural microbial communities, both vital approaches to the goal of unraveling the interactions of microbes with their environment and with one another. While genomics can provide information regarding the genetic potential of microbes, proteomics characterizes the primary end-stage product, proteins, thus conveying functional information concerning microbial activity. Advances in mass spectrometry instrumentation and methodologies, along with bioinformatics approaches, have brought th... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823675 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:10:00 +0100 2823675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823676&cid=t_99081_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F09%2Fsoil-microbiology.html Until fairly recently, the living soil has been considered as a functional black box that is intrinsically too difficult to be unravelled into its core components. However, this concept has changed with the advent of the modern methodologies. The intricacies of microbial life in soil has been impacted by the advanced, mainly molecular-based, approaches that have been unleashed on the soil habitat in recent years. The application of molecular and other advanced methods (cultivation-independent analyses) has provided exciting new insights into microbial life in soil. Soil is an extremely diverse and complex habitat containing many microsites and gradients that form a range of different biogeochemical interfaces. Depending on the proportion of sand, silt and clay, the surface area in soil can... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823676 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:02:00 +0100 2823676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2812527&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2FldegGOEBOhQ%2Fthe_contingent_history_of_scie.php p-ter points out that selection of model organisms can shape the path of scientific research because of the very nature of model organisms. Normative considerations in science are pretty obvious when you look at the set of disciplines; there's a whole field of biological anthropology which studies one species. There is the rather well known case that doctoral research arcs are constrained to a relatively short period, which resulted in a focus short-lived organisms in zoological studies. Imagine trying to write up grant applications focusing on the life history of the tortoise. Read the comments on this post... (Source: Gene Expression) Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2812527 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:38:38 +0100 2812527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2790391&cid=t_99081_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2FWNhS9Sc0a1M%2F One thing that I love about Boulder is that it gets me out of the house, quite literally, and moving. The reason for this is that everything (almost) that we might want to do is within walking distance of where we live, or accessible on a bus route. Now my great fear in this particular post is that I will start sounding like some naive eco-person whose interest in saving the earth comes from a desire to be fashionable as much as it does from a concern for the earth. I am like this sometimes, unfortunately — buying massive amounts of reusable grocery bags, and never bringing them back to the grocery store. Buying, buying — anything with a green or eco label on it. Another manifestation of this outlook in myself is the long-held and firmly entrenched belief that public transporta... white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2790391 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:20:06 +0100 2790391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2664074&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2FFRO_ICQMtCc%2Frainforests_in_strange_places.php Where is the rainforest above located? For the answer see below.... Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Gene Expression) Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2664074 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:58:31 +0100 2664074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2645578&cid=t_99081_154_f&fid=36427&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FABlogAroundTheClock%2F%7E3%2FMnfVmkjYuJs%2Fput_down_the_duckie_at_least_d.php Miriam Goldstein of the Oyster's Garter and Double X blogs (follow her on Twitter) is embarking on a sea-faring expedition! SEAPLEX is a Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego project studying plastics - yes, including the rubber duckies - accumulating in the oceans, specifically in the North Pacific Gyre. Miriam is leading the team of PhD students and volunteers who will be studying various aspects of the plastics in the sea and their environmental impact. Though the life at sea is hard and busy and they will not have much time (or access) to do so, they will try to keep us all updated via blog and Twitter, so start following them now. Read the comments on this post... (Source: A Blog Around The Clock) A Blog Around The Clock blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2645578 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:55:49 +0100 2645578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2614044&cid=t_99081_136_f&fid=36070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnetwork.nature.com%2Fpeople%2Fbasanta%2Fblog%2F2009%2F07%2F17%2Fpbs-programme-foreign-species-invading-american-ecosystems I don’t watch telly so although I imagine that this programme was meant to be watched in the comfort of your living room I only found about it on the PBS website. The programme I am referring to is called Animals behaving worse: America’s least wanted and shows some species that have (relatively) recently arrived to America and, in many cases, displaced the local populations. People have already found parallelisms between species invading new ecosystems and tumour cells metastasing to different sites so this show will appeal to those of us that see tumour cells as constituents of a tissue ecosystem. For instance, the africanised honeybee has displaced the european kind from the south of the USA as they outcompete other pollinators. Other invading species might not have clear l... Cancerevo: Evolution and cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2614044 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:01:33 +0100 2614044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2591674&cid=t_99081_136_f&fid=36070&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnetwork.nature.com%2Fpeople%2Fbasanta%2Fblog%2F2009%2F07%2F05%2Fstem-cells-and-ecosystems TBA (Source: Cancerevo: Evolution and cancer) Cancerevo: Evolution and cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2591674 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:27:27 +0100 2591674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2573046&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2FGnct9OMkr1Q%2Fhornet_vs_bee_insect_wars.php Many of you might have seen this video of Japanese bees defending their nest against giant hornets: The Japanese bees swarm and bake the giant hornets. But Ed Young reports that there is more to this story. Read the comments on this post... (Source: Gene Expression) Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2573046 Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:43:44 +0100 2573046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561367&cid=t_99081_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F07%2F01%2Ftowards-participatory-sensing.html In this interesting paper Burke and coll. describe how the massive proliferation of mobile devices and sensors may give raise to interactive, participatory sensor networks that enable users to gather, analyze and share local knowledge. The authors also explain how the vision of Participatory Sensing can inspire new applications in different domains, such as healthcare or urban planning.   (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561367 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:36:00 +0100 2561367 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512904&cid=t_99081_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2FgDsnqpiFBdk%2F In 1979, somewhere in Dartmoor, a butterfly died. That would hardly have been an exceptional event, but this individual was a Large Blue butterfly (Maculinea arion) and it was the last of its kind in the United Kingdom. Over more than a century, the Large Blue’s population had been declining and it was finally declared nationally extinct 30 years ago. Now, it’s back. A bold conservation effort managed to work out the factors behind the butterfly’s decline, and resurrect this vanished species. The Large Blue’s reintroduction has been one of conservation’s flagship successes and it was the first time that efforts to save a declining butterfly had actually paid off. via How research saved the Large Blue butterfly : Not Exactly Rocket Science. Technorati Tags: ... white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512904 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:27:08 +0100 2512904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469654&cid=t_99081_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F06%2F10%2Ffrontiers-of-interaction-v.html     Last Monday I attended Frontiers of Interaction V, where I gave a talk on Participative Ecology. The conference took place in Rome, at the wonderful Acquario Romano, Casa dell'Architettura.   I was really excited to be there, because I consider Frontiers the most interesting interaction design event in Italy.   Frontiers is organized and produced by Leandro Agrò and Matteo Penzo, who are also the founders of the Idearium community, the largest e-community on Interaction Design in Italy.   The format of the conference is very informal and fresh. You can meet people of all sorts, from academic researchers to superstars of interaction design, from anthropologists to futurists and young entrepreneurs, a mix of creativity and talent.   At... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469654 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:55:00 +0100 2469654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458195&cid=t_99081_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F06%2F05%2Fdigital-hologram-of-smart-grid-technology.html General Electric has a great mini-site up showcasing their newest energy services and smarter power management tools. But the most intriguing part of the site is the augmented reality applications that you can play with using your computer’s webcam. What you do is you print out a piece of paper that the webcam “sees” and GE’s augmented reality program builds a virtual hologram. Check out the demo video and then try the AR apps here   (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458195 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:02:10 +0100 2458195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452783&cid=t_99081_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F06%2F05%2Fenergy-dashboards.html   InfoAesthetics has collected some interesting examples of what I call Participatory Ecology - the use of social media to foster collective awareness of environmental challenges and promote sustainable development. - The Energy Detective project merged the actual energy output of an everyday family with a Google Visualization API Timeline visualization, which itself is based on a Twitter-based feed from the smart metering device. Remarkable events or peaks are regularly annotated, and one can easily make out when typical household activities have taken place. - The flashy Radisson Hotel Building Dashboard seems to offer near real-time statistics about water, electricity and natural gas usage, and the weather. As a hotel, it should really try to consider offering some real da... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452783 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:01:15 +0100 2452783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405304&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fbacteria_with_multiple_antibiotic_resistance_in_waste_treatment_plants.php © DefMoResearchers have discovered increasing populations of bacteria with multiple resistance to antibiotics in waste water treatment plants. They found the so-called superbugs-bacteria resistant to ... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405304 Sun, 10 May 2009 06:20:17 +0100 2405304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2367425&cid=t_99081_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F04%2Fdeep-ecologists-might-get-their-human.html The Deep Ecology Movement wants to reduce the human population to 500 million. The genocidal implications of this idea are obvious--although DEs usually say they would like to see it done via voluntary birth control (fat chance), or perhaps a pandemic will do the trick. This is not only a rejection of human exceptionalism, but it is to embrace explicit anti-humanism.Enter a possible swine flu pandemic. From the story:A new swine flu strain that has killed as many as 68 people and sickened more than 1,000 across Mexico has "pandemic potential," the World Health Organization chief said Saturday, and it may be too late to contain the sudden outbreak.The disease has already reached Texas and California, and with 24 new suspected cases reported Saturday in Mexico City alone, schools were closed... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2367425 Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:14:00 +0100 2367425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2357439&cid=t_99081_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F04%2Fmicrobial-ecology-modeling-summer-phd.html June 21 - 26, 2009 Microbial Ecology Modeling Summer PhD CourseLyngby, Denmark Further informationPhD Course on Individual-based Modeling of Microbial Interactions and Processes. In this course we will introduce individual-based modeling in the context of microbial ecology, and will detail some of the history behind this field as well as the current work being carried out. We will also introduce software for individual-based models in microbial ecology and will assist students as they adapt the software to their own problemsSuggested reading: Environmental Molecular MicrobiologyFull range of books on microbiology at Microbiology Books (Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists.) Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2357439 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:23:00 +0100 2357439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2356933&cid=t_99081_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F04%2Fwjs-skink-at-earth-day-party.html As usual, I find myself the skunk at the party. As the world celebrates Earth Day, that term has become a bit ominous. Environmentalism is devolving into an increasingly anti-human movement that could end up costing the human race dearly. I have a piece on the matter in today's NRO called "Homo Sapiens, Get Lost." Here are a few excerpts: Over the last few hundred years in the West, the moral foundations of society were profoundly pro-human. Judeo-Christian moral philosophy and secular humanism both promoted human flourishing and the protection of individual rights as primary purposes of society. But in recent years we have witnessed a rebellion against "human exceptionalism"--the view that ultimate moral value comes with being a member of the human species...Here and abroad, environmental... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2356933 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:02:00 +0100 2356933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348316&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fvarnish_alternative_derived_from_glycerin.php © Elsie esq.German researchers have developed a varnish alternative in which the majority of petrochemical components have been substituted by vegetable oils and sugars. It has identical properties to... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348316 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:18:53 +0100 2348316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2312626&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fbanana_briquettes.php © choyaw99Researchers have developed a method of converting banana crop waste into briquettes as a source of fuel. First, the banana skins and leaves are mashed to a pulp in a hand-operated domestic ... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2312626 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:39:48 +0100 2312626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2312628&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fmicrobes_convert_carbon_dioxide_and_electricity_to_methane.php Researchers have developed microbial electrolysis cells using Archaea species that could use the current to convert carbon dioxide and water to methane without any organic material, bacteria or hydrog... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2312628 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:21:39 +0100 2312628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2266279&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fbioremediation_of_chromiumcontaminated_waste_with_acetic_acid.php Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Image# 3765679Scientists have discovered that the addition of dilute acetic acid or vinegar can help jumpstart bioremediation of chromium-contaminated industrial... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2266279 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:23:11 +0100 2266279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2261213&cid=t_99081_154_f&fid=36427&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FABlogAroundTheClock%2F%7E3%2FKop0aSVy4mk%2Fwarm_temperature_affects_sex_r.php Anne-Marie writes, in Hot Mommas Make Boys: A study published in the latest edition of the Journal of Mammalogy reports the results of a 30 year study on a population of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), which shows that the male:female pup ratio is significantly higher in years with warmer sea surface temperature and weaker atmospheric pressure differentials. What is the mechanism behind this? Unlike reptiles, which actually have their biological sex determined by temperature, the sex of mammalian embryos is entirely dependent on their chromosomes. This is where the phenomenon differs between the two taxa: reptiles depend on environmental factors to determine sex, whereas in mammals it is the sex ratio of offspring that complete development that is affected. Sex ratios ... A Blog Around The Clock blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2261213 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:38:40 +0100 2261213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2236544&cid=t_99081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdeepesthealth.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F03%2Fjohnsoncreekflooding.mp3 So, you may remember all this talk about the Awareness project.  The idea was (and is, though evolved now) that we wanted to bring all of our senses to bear IN THE WORLD as people nourished by particular types of practices to really live what the Classics tell us about.  This in turn would be productive of particular kinds of character traits that would, in turn, inform our medical practice and so on.  A kind of evolutionary development watered at the deepest level by taking seriously the Classical literature - particularly that of our spiritual traditions and our medical traditions. Something like that. Anyway - you might have thought we forgot.  We didn’t.  It just needed some time to come to maturity.  It’s still doing that… coming to maturity.  It takes time. ... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2236544 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:03:01 +0100 2236544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211368&cid=t_99081_154_f&fid=36427&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FABlogAroundTheClock%2F%7E3%2FBAcfXj3kKkw%2Fmeetings_id_like_to_go_topart_4.php Genetic Manipulation of Pest Species: Ecological and Social Challenges: In the past 10 years major advances have been made in our ability to build transgenic pest strains that are conditionally sterile, harbor selfish genetic elements, and express anti-pathogen genes. Strategies are being developed that involve release into the environment of transgenic pest strains with such characteristics. These releases could provide more environmentally benign pest management and save endangered species, but steps must be taken to insure that this is the case and that there are no significant health or environmental risks associated with releases. Our conference will foster discussion of risks and benefits of these technologies among scientists, policy makers, and citizens. March 4-6, 2009 North Ca... A Blog Around The Clock blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211368 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:48:16 +0100 2211368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2083909&cid=t_99081_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F01%2Fi-learn-about-georgia-guidestones.html I gave a speech on Sunday hitting on the threats to human exceptionalism. I brought up my concern about deep ecology's call to reduce humankind to under 1 billion, as well as Spain passing the Great Ape Project, Switzerland's "plant dignity," and Ecuador's granting rights to Nature.During the Q and A, an audience member asked me what I thought of the Georgia Guide Stones. I had never heard of them, but promised to look it up. Here is what I found. From Wikipedia, I learned that that huge granite monoliths were erected by unknown persons in 1979, written in different languages. The Stones' message pushes one world government, and may involve occultism, issues with which we don't concern ourselves here. Some of it is feel good pabulum. But some of the directives do appear to chillingly call ... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2083909 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:56:00 +0100 2083909 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2081647&cid=t_99081_105_f&fid=36987&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FIvorKovicMd%2F%7E3%2F502895224%2F This article discusses the issue of health equity. How is it possible that there is a 28 year difference in life expectancy between the most and least fortunate residents of Glasgow, Scotland? The Transformative 120: Text Messages Prove a South African HIV Lifeline Six million South Africans are infected with the HIV, but just one in ten are currently in treatment. Project Masiluleke sends mobile customers texts pointing them to the National AIDS Helpline (0800-012-322) and HIV911 (0860-448-911). Worldchanging Interview: Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Health Solutions Interview with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent at CNN. He is a practicing neurosurgeon and award-winning journalist who is dedicated to helping improve public health and spreading awareness of health-related environmental ... Ivor Kovic, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2081647 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:39:29 +0100 2081647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2078238&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2F501483294%2Fdiamonds_the_younger_dryas_ext.php We report abundant nanodiamonds in sediments dating to 12.9 ± 0.1 thousand calendar years before the present at multiple locations across North America. Selected area electron diffraction patterns reveal two diamond allotropes in this boundary layer but not above or below that interval. Cubic diamonds form under high temperature-pressure regimes, and n-diamonds also require extraordinary conditions, well outside the range of Earth's typical surficial processes but common to cosmic impacts. N-diamond concentrations range from 10 to 3700 parts per billion by weight, comparable to amounts found in known impact layers. These diamonds provide strong evidence for Earth's collision with a rare swarm of carbonaceous chondrites or comets at the onset of the Younger Dryas cool interval, producing m... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2078238 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:22:16 +0100 2078238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2006406&cid=t_99081_154_f&fid=36427&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FABlogAroundTheClock%2F%7E3%2F472477097%2Fcoral_disease_outbreaks_and_wa.php The next Sigma Xi Pizza Lunch -- noon, Wednesday, Dec. 17 -- is a chance to learn more about climate change's expected environmental toll. UNC-Chapel Hill marine biologist and ecologist John Bruno will discuss recent research on links between coral disease outbreaks and warming waters. The Pizza Lunch speaker series is free and open to science journalists and science communicators of all stripes. Feel free to forward this invitation to anyone you would like to see included. RSVPs are required (so we can get a reliable slice count) to cclabby@amsci.org. Directions to Sigma XI: http://www.sigmaxi.org/about/center/directions.shtml Read the comments on this post... (Source: A Blog Around The Clock) A Blog Around The Clock blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2006406 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:20:06 +0100 2006406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1992279&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.creative-weblogging%2Faudio%2F%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fpatagonia_fungus_produces_mycodiesel.php Researchers have identified a fungus found in the Patagonia forest that produces a new type of diesel fuel. Tests indicated that the fungus Gliocladium roseum, which grows on the branches of a tree called Eucryphia cordifolia, produces compounds normally associated with diesel fuel, which is obtained from crude oil. Will the fungi be able to produce enough to be a viable alternative source of fuel? Perhpas indirectly, according to the researchers. "The main value of this discovery may not be the organism itself, but may be the genes responsible for the production of these gases," Gary Strobel said."There are certain enzymes that are responsible for the conversion of substrates such as cellulose to myco-diesel." Scott Strobel said his team is already screening the fungus' genome. Besid... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1992279 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:08:05 +0100 1992279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1969864&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.creative-weblogging%2Faudio%2F%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fbiofuel_from_olive_stones.php Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Image# 6892306Researchers are exploring the potential of olive stones, otherwise a waste product of the olive processing industry, as a substrate for bioethanol production. The stones are rich in polysaccharides (cellulose and hemicellulose) that can be broken down into sugar and then fermented to produce ethanol. In a pilot study, the olive stones were pre-treated using high-pressure hot water before the addition of enzymes which degrade plant matter and generate sugars. The hydrolysate obtained from this process was then fermented with yeasts to yield about 5.7 kg of ethanol per 100kg of olive stones. See full article. Related Entries: Converting Agricultural Waste Into Biofuel - 30 July 2006 Compound May Boost Biofuel Production from Plant Fiber - 0... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1969864 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:42:02 +0100 1969864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1952957&cid=t_99081_105_f&fid=36987&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FIvorKovicMd%2F%7E3%2F449620703%2F TIME magazine picked top 50 innovations of 2008. Among them there are some related to medicine. 1. The Retail DNA Test 14. The Bionic Hand 21. The Synthetic Organism 24. Bionic Contacts 33. Biomechanical Energy Harvester 50. A Camera For the Blind (Source: Ivor Kovic, M.D.) Ivor Kovic, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952957 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:04:41 +0100 1952957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933439&cid=t_99081_154_f&fid=36427&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FABlogAroundTheClock%2F%7E3%2F442130439%2Fclimate_change_and_the_neglect.php The next Sigma Xi lunch pizza in RTP will be noon MONDAY, Nov. 17. Come hear Rob Dunn, assistant professor of zoology at NC State, talk about "Climate Change and the Neglected Majority." Dunn, among other things, is interested in insects and how changes in their distribution affect ecosystems. Sigma Xi's Pizza Lunch speaker series is free and open to science journalists and science communicators of all stripes (feel free to forward this message to anyone you would like to be included). RSVPs are required to cclabby@amsci.org. Read the comments on this post... (Source: A Blog Around The Clock) A Blog Around The Clock blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933439 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:03:48 +0100 1933439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1902600&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.creative-weblogging%2Faudio%2F%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Forange_peel_removes_acidic_dyes_from_industrial_effluents.php Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Image# 6203040Algerian researchers explored the use of orange peel in the removal of acidic dyes from industrial effluent from manufacturers of dyes, paper printers, textile dyers, color photography and petroleum products. The research demonstrates that absorption time depends on the initial concentration of the dyes as well as the chemical structures of the particular dyes being tested, but absorption can occur at just 25 Celsius rather than elevated temperatures. However, strong dyes including Nylosane Blue, Erionyl Yellow, Nylomine Red, and Erionyl Red were absorbed at between 40 and 70 milligrams per gram of orange peel from the samples. "In laboratory-scale studies, the data show that orange peel has a considerable potential for the removal of dyes from... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1902600 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:44:55 +0100 1902600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1892430&cid=t_99081_105_f&fid=36987&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FIvorKovicMd%2F%7E3%2F427083120%2F Just 2.5% of the planet’s water is fresh and less than 1% is available for human consumption because the rest is stored in the form of ice bergs. Think about this the next time you’re taking a shower. The average shower uses 64 liters of water, but this number can be even higher. Modern power shower can easily use 20 liters of water a minute, meaning more than five minutes in the shower could use more than 100 liters. Astonishing figures! There are some cheap and smart devices on the market which can help you save water, money and maybe even your life. CUE the breast self-exam reminder is an electronic breast self-exam reminder, a shower timer, a clock, a doctor’s visit reminder. It helps you reduce the time you spent in the shower and the amount of water you use, but it... Ivor Kovic, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1892430 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:01:01 +0100 1892430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841647&cid=t_99081_105_f&fid=36987&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FIvorKovicMd%2F%7E3%2F407661104%2F Lloyd Alter of TreeHugger interviewed Suzanne Drake of the architectural firm Anshen+Allen during the IIDEX in Toronto. IIDEX NeoCon is Canada’s largest exposition and conference for the design, construction and management of the built environment. Anshen+Allen presented their idea of the green patient room at the conference. Watch the whole interview here… To learn more you can download the Greening the Patient Experience Room brochure (pdf). (Source: Ivor Kovic, M.D.) Ivor Kovic, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841647 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:56:45 +0100 1841647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1750670&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fsweet_potato_as_biofuel_source.php Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Alasdair ThomsonIn small scale trials, sweet potatoes grown in Maryland and Alabama has been shown to yield two to three times as much carbohydrate for fuel ethanol production as field corn grown in the same areas. in fact, the sweet potato carbohydrate yields approached the lower limits of those produced by sugarcane, the highest-yielding ethanol crop. It is however unclear whether sweet potatoes may be a viable alternative as biofuel source. Although they require less pesticides and fertilizer than corn, planting and harvesting incurs higher labor costs. Source See full article. Related Entries: Biofuel Facts - 22 August 2006 Compound May Boost Biofuel Production from Plant Fiber - 09 November 2006 Russia's Biohim Company Plans to Expand its Biofuel... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1750670 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:41:23 +0100 1750670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734263&cid=t_99081_154_f&fid=36427&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FABlogAroundTheClock%2F%7E3%2F375843952%2Finaturalist_rocks.php Thanks Bill for drawing my attention to iNaturalist which has the makings of an awesome site! What is it? It is essentially a Google Map where people can add pins every time they see an interesting critter: a plant, fungus, animal, etc. What is recorded is geographical coordinates and time when it was posted. Moreover, people can link from the pins to pictures of the sighted critters if they upload them on Flickr (nice way to interlink existing social networking sites instead of reinventing the wheel). And they can put additional information, e.g., description of the habitat where they saw the creature. They can try to identify it and others can chime in agreeing or disagreeing on the ID. One can also view maps in various ways - by time, by broader groups (e.g., insects, birds...), or b... A Blog Around The Clock blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734263 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:13:21 +0100 1734263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1688925&cid=t_99081_132_f&fid=35016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpeanutbutter.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F08%2F07%2Fdouble-standards-in-nature-biotechnology%2F OK, So that is a relatively inflammatory and controversial headline, edging on the side of tabloid sensationalism. What is refers to is probably a situation that I may never find myself in again, which is in this months edition of Nature Biotechnology I am an author on two, biological standards related publications. The first is a letter advertising the PSI’s MIAPE Guidelines for reporting the use of gel electrophoresis in proteomics. This letter is also accompanied by letters referring to the  MIAPE guidelines for Mass Spectrometry, Mass Spectrometry Informatics and protein modification data. The second is a paper on the Minimum Information about a Biomedical or Biological Investigations (MIBBI) registry entitled Promoting coherent minimum reporting guidelines for biological and bi... peanutbutter blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1688925 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:46:08 +0100 1688925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1618162&cid=t_99081_154_f&fid=36427&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FABlogAroundTheClock%2F%7E3%2F334745873%2Fthe_machete_therapy.php Anne-Marie is in Belize, doing some field-work, including chasing jaguars with specially trained dogs (scat-sniffers). Although electricity is rare and sporadic, she manages occasionally to post a quick dispatch on her blog. I wish I was there to see her (and those of you who have met her at the Science Blogging Conference may also have a hard time imagining the scene, as she is so nice and gentle) indulging herself in Machete Therapy: I have discovered the wonders of Machete Therapy. If you have anything bothering you, stressing you out, weighing on your mind, just take on 100 m transects of jungle with a machete. It is astoundingly cathartic. Not sure what this says about me? For us here back in the civilization, would hedge-trimming do? Read the comments on this post... (Source: A Blo... A Blog Around The Clock blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1618162 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:30:31 +0100 1618162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1522208&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2F312751464%2F NPR had a story this weekend on Cocoa plantation collapse and the ecological aftermath of the changes the witches' broom fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa has wreaked. The genome sequence project for this Homobasidiomycete fungus (also known as Crinipellis perniciosa, phylogenetic relationships discussed by Aime and Philips-Mora 2005) is underway at the Laboratory Genomica e Expressao at UNICAMP, Brazil.  The witches's broom (not this witches' broom) is named because of the bristly form it induces in the cacao plants. The genome project will hopefully improve the diagnosis and treatment work that is needed.  Beyond the insatiable need for chocolate, the NPR story does talk about the impact on farmers, the economy, and the environment with the loss of these cacao plantations. Some links:... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1522208 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:57:26 +0100 1522208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1497501&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2F305452837%2F A year ago researchers at James Madison University discovered that, Pedobacter cryoconitis, a bacteria first found on the skin of red backed salamanders, was found to prevent the growth of the chytrid B. dendrobatidis, which is currently decimating frog populations. (Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog from wikipedia) The newest research on the subject is being presented this year at ASM by Brianna Lam who worked with other biologists from both San Francisco State University and JMU. Lam’s research indicates that adding pedobacter to the skin of mountain yellow-legged frogs would lessen the effects of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a lethal skin pathogen that is threatening remaining populations of the frogs in their native Sierra Nevada habitats. Lam first conducted petri dish experi... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1497501 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:49:39 +0100 1497501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1489346&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fbioenergy_alternative_energy_from_microorganisms.php The ASM Press has released Bioenergy, a new book focusing on microorganisms as a sustainable and cost-effective source of alternative energy. In 31 detailed chapters, Bioenergy provides thorough explanations of the current knowledge and future areas for research on microbial energy conversions. The volume begins with 10 chapters on ethanol production from cellulosic feedstocks, which is more sustainable than ethanol production from corn. These chapters are followed by explanations of the status of energy sources that are in various stages of development, including methane, methanol, hydrogen, electricity, and butanol. Also examined are possible areas for new research that may contribute to future breakthroughs via alternative fuels. Chapters are written by experts currently engaged in the ... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1489346 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:39:11 +0100 1489346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1478026&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2F300567206%2F Science has a section dedicated to Microbial Ecology including a review describing microbial biogeography studying communities on the basis of trait rather than taxonomic diversity. Certainly this interlinks with metagenomic approaches well, something I've been thinking about more after visiting some of the folks at Montana State Thermal Biology Institute and all the increasingly massive datasets like what CAMERA provides. © Jason Stajich for Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics, 2008. | Permalink | No comment Add to del.icio.us Search blogs linking this post with Technorati Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under ecology, metagenomics. (Source: Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics) Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1478026 Thu, 29 May 2008 14:01:03 +0100 1478026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1434695&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fwakame_and_halomonas_bacteria_may_help_remediate_polluted_seawater.php Scientists from Japan and China are exploring the use of the brown seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida, known as wakame as a means to extract organic and inorganic pollutants in seawater. After culturing wakame in polluted seawater, it may then be used as a fertilizer,; thus, the composting process could be an effective means of degrading wakame into a useful form and so recycling organic substances containing C, N and P from seawater. To accelerate the composting process, a novel marine bacterium, identified as a Halomonas species may help, researchers say. Partial DNA analysis helped identify the active species isolated from the seaweeds in Awaji Island, Japan, and that the bacteria grows well even at high salt (sodium chloride) concentrations and can reduce the total organic components, inclu... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1434695 Sun, 11 May 2008 01:52:00 +0100 1434695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1427210&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Ft_reesei_genome_analysis_reveals_potential_in_biofuel_production.php In a study published in Nature Biotechnology, scientists discover that based on the genome analysis of Tricoderma reesei, the fungus has the genes required to break down plant cell walls, to simple sugars, indicating its possible utility in biofuel production. The researchers believe that T. reesei's genome includes "clusters" of enzyme-producing genes, a strategy that may account for the organism's efficiency at breaking down cellulose. On an industrial scale, T. reesei could be employed to secrete enzymes that can be purified and added into an aqueous mixture of cellulose pulp and other materials to produce sugar. The sugar can then be fermented by yeast to produce ethanol. Photo: Microscope image of T. reesei hyphae with vesicle membranes stained red and cell wall chitin in bl... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1427210 Wed, 07 May 2008 11:54:29 +0100 1427210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1396639&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fengineered_cyanobacteria_new_source_for_biofuels.php Scientists have engineered a cyanobacteria to produce sugars which may be used as raw material for ethanol and designer fuels production. Nobles made the new cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) by giving them a set of cellulose-making genes from a non-photosynthetic "vinegar" bacterium, Acetobacter xylinum, well known as a prolific cellulose producer. The new cyanobacteria produce a relatively pure, gel-like form of cellulose that can be broken down easily into glucose. Considering that the bacteria can be grown in production facilities on non-agricultural lands using salty water unsuitable for human consumption or crops, and that the sugars produced are more readily convertible to ethanol, the authors suggest that the bacteria may be a feasible alternative to using plant crops... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1396639 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:13:22 +0100 1396639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1392541&cid=t_99081_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F275731684%2F We’re down to the last week-plus of Autism Awareness Month 2008. We’ve been asked to wear our awareness, to eat and shop and to give $$$$ in support of autism—not that my autistic son has been asked or even expected to do anything in honor of the month. The funny, or curious, or ironic thing about Autism Awareness Month is that an autistic child doesn’t have to do anything except (which is not a bad thing, not at all!) to be him or herself. Today being Earth Day, our small household is doing our part to be eco-minded and -acting. Plenty for Charlie and us to do: He’s been taking out the recycling, I carry around my coffee cup to refill and avoid printing out what I can see on my computer. We’ve been walking whenever we can (to the grocery store yesterday... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1392541 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:00:33 +0100 1392541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1370877&cid=t_99081_154_f&fid=36427&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FABlogAroundTheClock%2F%7E3%2F269903952%2Fecological_succession_scientif.php Since I am not an ecologist, when I teach the ecology lecture I 'go by the book' and trust that the textbook will be reasonably accurate. But now, perhaps I should rethink the way I teach about ecological succession...What do my ecological readers think? Read the comments on this post... (Source: A Blog Around The Clock) A Blog Around The Clock blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1370877 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:08:13 +0100 1370877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1367155&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fnew_genetically_modified_corn_variety_for_fuel_production.php To facilitate the conversion of cellulose from corn into ethanol, scientists have created a new genetically modified variety of corn, called Spartan Corn III, which bears a gene from a microbe naturally occurring in the gut of a cow. This gene produces an enzyme that transforms plant fibers into simple sugars. Turning plant fibers into sugar requires three enzymes. The new variety of corn created for biofuel production, called Spartan Corn III, builds on Sticklen's earlier corn versions by containing all three necessary enzymes. The first version, released in 2007, cuts the cellulose into large pieces with an enzyme that came from a microbe that lives in hot spring water. Spartan Corn II, with a gene from a naturally occurring fungus, takes the large cellulose pieces created by the ... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1367155 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:42:37 +0100 1367155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1358501&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F266601669%2Flandscape_ecology_and_infectio.php I spent all day yesterday in Madison, Wisconsin, at a conference on Landscape Ecology and infectious disease. I'll discuss a few of the talks and issues below, but I wanted to start out with a bit of an introduction and explain just what landscape ecology (LE) is. The introductory talk, which covered this ground, was presented by Dr. Michael Wimberly of South Dakota State University. He noted that defining LE wasn't an easy task. At its most basic, of course, it's a field looking at ecology from a landscape perspective--taking a big picture view, if you will. However, what one means by a "landscape" can vary widely. The landscape could be a few square feet of soil in a rainforest; it could be a village; or even an entire country or beyond. Whichever landscape one is looking at, it all bo... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1358501 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:20:00 +0100 1358501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1327442&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F257856673%2Fthe_threat_of_emerging_poxviru.php 1980 marked a milestone in infectious disease epidemiology: the World Health Organization declared the smallpox virus eradicated in the wild. However, while smallpox currently exists only in frozen stocks, poxviruses as a class certainly haven't disappeared. A related virus, monkeypox, regularly causes illness in Africa, and even spread half a world away in the American midwest. Additionally, Africa isn't the only area with endemic poxvirus infections. Brazil has been dealing with their own poxvirus outbreak, and poxviruses have popped up in Europe as well. More on both of those after the jump... Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1327442 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:35:00 +0100 1327442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1323124&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F257209379%2Fwhats_google_got_to_do_with_em.php As I mentioned Friday, the good folks from Google were part of the crowd at this year's ICEID. This included a talk by Larry Brilliant, described on his wikipedia page as "...medical doctor, epidemiologist, technologist, author and philanthropist, and the director of Google's philanthropic arm Google.org." His talk discussed not only stopping outbreaks in their tracks--as current outbreak investigations seek to do, and Brilliant himself as worked on, as part of his background in vaccination campaigns for polio and smallpox--but to pay attention to "the left of the epidemic curve" as part of Google's "Predict and Prevent" initiative. More on what that means after the jump. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1323124 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:30:00 +0100 1323124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1309138&cid=t_99081_154_f&fid=36427&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FABlogAroundTheClock%2F%7E3%2F253379949%2Fbut_do_elephants_like_to_eat_m.php The wilding of the American West is definitely a controversial idea. Josh Donlan provides links to the details of the proposal and asks the readers to do a quick poll about it - go do it! Read the comments on this post... (Source: A Blog Around The Clock) A Blog Around The Clock blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1309138 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:45:57 +0100 1309138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1269546&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F243559937%2Fthars_bacteria_in_that_there_s.php I really need more time to fill in a gap in my microbiology education: environmental microbiology. I run across papers all the time that are absolutely fascinating, and wish I had a free year to just take some additional coursework in this area. For instance, a paper in today's Science magazine discusses how atmospheric bacteria result in the formation of snow; more after the jump. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1269546 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:00:00 +0100 1269546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1268858&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fusing_dehalococcoides_to_reduce_tricholorethene_contamination_in_groundwater.php Researchers have demonstrated that a water treatment system using microorganisms called membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) is effective in eliminating the common contaminant chlorinated solvent trichloroethene (TCE) from groundwater. They took an existing MBfR that was handling perchlorate removal and then introduced TCE into the system. Rittmann's MBfR works by delivering hydrogen gas to the bacteria through tiny hollow tubes submerged in water. In the right environment, the tubes become coated with a biofilm containing microorganisms. The system provides the microorganisms with hydrogen gas, which must be present for the microorganisms to change the chemical composition of a contaminant and render it harmless. In the process, the researchers were able to enrich the population of a ne... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1268858 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:07:11 +0100 1268858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1060303&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Flight_activated_biomasspowered_fuel_cell.php In the latest issue of the International Journal of Global Energy Issues, researchers report of an experimental device that use sunlight to convert glucose into hydrogen to power the cell, which produces several hundred millivolts. The researchers have built the device with a transparent conductive glass electrode coated with a highly colored molecule that can mimic the natural process of photosynthesis. This molecule is incorporated into light-absorbing titania. The coating can absorb energy from sunlight and release it into another chemical layer on the electrode. This is connected to a platinum electrode and the pair is immersed in a glucose solution to complete the circuit. When light shines on the light-active electrode enzymes in the chemical layer are triggered to react with glucos... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1060303 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:23:20 +0100 1060303 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007204&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F180559023%2Fbad_science_writing_of_the_day.php I've written a post or two (or a dozen) discussing science journalism--the good, the bad, and, mostly (because they're the most fun), the ugly. There was this story about how blondes "evolved to win cavemen's hearts." Or this one that completely omitted the name of the pathogen they were writing about. Or this one, where a missing "of" completely changed the results being discussed. I ran across another glaring example yesterday, dealing interestingly enough with one of my favorite topics: chocolate, and bringing in an "omics" prospective to it. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007204 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:30:00 +0100 1007204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=995117&cid=t_99081_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F177720247%2F Last week, Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, introduced a Senate bill that would swap prizes for patents. Essentially, the idea would eliminate market exclusivity for new drugs, but give inventors or developers cash rewards from a fund that would start with $80 billion a year. By doing so, the scheme would eliminate monopolies, allow generic competition, lower drug prices and produce savings of more than $200 billion annually. Working behind the scenes on the concept for several years was Jamie Love, a consumer advocate who heads Knowledge Ecology International and who brainstormed with numerous people, including members of Sanders’ staff and Aventis execs during a 2002 global health planning meeting. The proposal, not surprisingly, is controversial and whether the bill w... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=995117 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:17:38 +0100 995117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=982728&cid=t_99081_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F175487660%2F The other day, we wrote about a bill introduced by Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, who proposes eliminating market exclusivity for new drugs. Instead, inventors or developers would receive cash rewards from a new “Medical Innovation Prize Fund.” A key requirement - the products have to improve health outcomes. The funding would start at $80 billion a year, and increase with the growth in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, or GDP. The idea is to eliminate monopolies and allow generic competition in the hopes that drugs prices would fall ‘dramatically,’ and produce savings of more than $200 billion a year. Each Each new prescription drug or biologic registered by the FDA would “win” something from the prize fund, but the amount given to a developer would... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=982728 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:38:10 +0100 982728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=972676&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F173981714%2Fnewly_discovered_ebola_viruses.php It's only taken 30 years, but information about Ebola in nature is finally starting to snowball. First, after almost 15 years of disappearing from the human population, Ebola returned with a vengeance in the mid 1990s, causing illness in 6 separate outbreaks in Gabon, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Africa (imported case) between 1994 and 1996. As doctors and scientists rushed in to contain the outbreaks, they were also able to collect viral samples, and trap animals and insects in the area, searching for a reservoir for the virus. In this decade, there have been almost yearly outbreaks of Ebola and/or the closely related Marburg virus in Africa, resulting in the discovery of both Ebola and Marburg infection in species of fruit bats--suggesting these animals may ... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=972676 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:45:00 +0100 972676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=970223&cid=t_99081_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F173418732%2F Here’s a way to achieve patent reform - blow up the system. And that’s what Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, is proposing in legislation he introduced late last week. The bill, which is, in part, the brainchild of consumer activists who follow patent issues, would eliminate market exclusivity for new drugs, but would give inventors or developers cash rewards from a new “Medical Innovation Prize Fund.” A key requirement - the products have to improve health outcomes. The funding would start at $80 billion a year, and increase with the growth in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, or GDP. The idea is to eliminate monopolies and allow generic competition in the hopes that drugs prices would fall ‘dramatically,’ and produce saving... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=970223 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:10:50 +0100 970223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=966556&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Ftropical_maize_better_than_conventional_corn_for_biofuel_production.php University of Illinois researchers have found out that tropical maize, when grown in the US midwest, may be a far superior crop for biofuel production in comparison to corn. Early research results show that tropical maize, when grown in the Midwest, requires few crop inputs such as nitrogen fertilizer, chiefly because it does not produce any ears. It also is easier for farmers to integrate into their current operations than some other dedicated energy crops because it can be easily rotated with corn or soybeans, and can be planted, cultivated and harvested with the same equipment U.S. farmers already have. Finally, tropical maize stalks are believed to require less processing than corn grain, corn stover, switchgrass, Miscanthus giganteus and the scores of other plants now being studied... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=966556 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:41:52 +0100 966556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=939840&cid=t_99081_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2F167909072%2F givegreener.com - handbag - give greener - bag Stylehive BM 240472 #:240472 Technorati Tags: ecology, environment (Source: white pebble) white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=939840 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:28:27 +0100 939840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=966586&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Funh_to_use_landfill_gas_as_energy_source.php The University of New Hampshire has launched EcoLine, a first of a kind landfill gas project that will pipe enriched and purified gas from Waste Management's landfill in Rochester to the Durham campus. By replacing the commercial natural gas as the primary fuel in UNH's cogeneration plant, the UNH will receive 80 to 85 percent of its energy from a renewable source. onstruction began in August on a landfill gas processing plant in Rochester which will purify the gas, and on a 12.7-mile underground pipeline which will transport the gas from the plant to the university's Durham campus. UNH is expected to fuel its cogeneration plant with landfill gas by the fall of 2008. Estimated cost of the project, including the construction of a second generator at UNH, is $45 million. Aside fr... The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=966586 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:06:46 +0100 966586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=867224&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F155562116%2Fsearching_for_drugs_in_new_pla.php I mentioned that it's microbiology week at fellow Scienceblog Deep Sea News. Today's post over there is on "bioprospecting" in the sea--looking for naturally-produced chemicals that we can harness for employment as drugs or other uses. For example: Over the last 20 years at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution we have developed a culture collection containing 17,000 bacteria and fungi from deep-water marine invertebrates and sediments. We have shown that the collection contains many unusual microbes which are not known from the terrestrial environment and are fermenting the isolates to produce extracts for screening as antibacterial or anticancer agents. Click the link for more... Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=867224 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:25:00 +0100 867224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=847230&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F153078045%2Fah_e_coliis_there_any_limit_to.php While E. coli typically makes the news as a food-borne pathogen, that's only one facet of the bacterium. It can be deadly, sure, but it also helps us digest our food; it produces vitamin K for us; benign strains can even protect us from invading pathogens. It's one of the most-studied bacterial species and a "workhorse" for research in microbiology and molecular biology. We use it as a marker of fecal contamination in water, and it can even be used to produce insulin for diabetes patients. So it may come as no surprise that it may one day be a cavity fighter as well: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=847230 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:25:00 +0100 847230 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=835388&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F150624175%2Fmarburg_in_bats.php As I mentioned in the introductory post, we know incredibly little about the very basics of Marburg virus ecology and epidemiology. The sporadic nature of outbreaks of illness, their occurrence in remote areas of Africa lacking established medical research capabilities, and often in countries experiencing governmental strife and instability, compound the difficulty of determining the ecology of this particular virus. Often, the primary case (the first person in an outbreak known to be infected, and who likely acquired the virus from its wild reservoir) died before questions could be answered regarding his previous whereabouts, diet, and other activities; thus, it was difficult to determine where the case could have contracted the disease. Seasonality may also play a role; if a search for t... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=835388 Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:40:00 +0100 835388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=776132&cid=t_99081_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F004447.html Those of you moved by my story Heroic Wolves Save Glorious Aspens From Evil Elks about how the carnivores are the good guys will no doubt be delighted to learn... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=776132 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 776132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=764213&cid=t_99081_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F004430.html No, I'm not talking about the people and buildings in Aspen Colorado. Aspen Colorado's roads and buildings exist instead of trees after all. I'm talking about how wolves play a... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=764213 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 764213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=716446&cid=t_99081_132_f&fid=35006&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnsaunders.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F07%2F06%2Ffungal-collage%2F There’s a lot to love about Fraser Island. Its original name, K’gari, means paradise and they weren’t wrong. One feature that you won’t read about in the tourist brochures is an incredible variety of colourful fungi. This collage illustrates a few that we encountered on our travels (click for full-size). I’d like to claim it as my own, but it’s the work of my talented better half. Maybe the fungal genomes crew can put a name to some of them? (Source: What You're Doing Is Rather Desperate) What You're Doing Is Rather Desperate blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=716446 Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:49:02 +0100 716446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=637636&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F119290020%2Fprobiotics_may_fend_off_frogki.php Way back in a few editions of Animalcules, several of the submissions mentioned a fungus that was killing frogs. Wednesday at the ASM meeting suggested that there may be a way to protect these amphibians: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=637636 Thu, 24 May 2007 13:30:00 +0100 637636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=631464&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F118984852%2Fenvironmental_change_is_much_m.php Everyone knows about the "butterfly effect": the idea that a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil could eventually result in the formation of a tornado in Texas by virtue of very small alterations in the initial conditions of a system. Though this description of it is often decried by people who study chaos theory as an inaccurate oversimplification, it's a useful illustration of the tiny perturbations that can have vast effects on a downstream chain of reactions. When it comes to infectious diseases, climate change may be the beginning, but environmental effects extend much farther than just the weather. And while they may not be affected by the movement of a butterfly, even small environmental changes can mean large effects when it comes to microbiology. At a session Tuesday on Envi... Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=631464 Wed, 23 May 2007 13:15:00 +0100 631464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=545335&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=35009&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsciencesque.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F04%2F15%2Foekologie-40-blog-carnival-is-available%2F Matt has posted the 4th edition of Oekologie at his Behavioral Ecology Blog. Although I don’t often delve into matters ecological, I submitted two Hinterland Who’s Who-related articles to this new blog: Hinterland Who’s Who - The Beaver, and Moose to be moved to the “Hinterland Has Been” list?. Check out the rest of this carnival for the best in environmental science blogging. Blogged with Flock Tags: blog carnival, Oekology, ecology, environment, zoology, climate change, global warming (Source: Sciencesque) Sciencesque blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=545335 Sun, 15 Apr 2007 15:33:54 +0100 545335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=500111&cid=t_99081_131_f&fid=34995&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgnxp%2F%7E3%2F104317741%2Fpeyton_manning_on_snl.php Don't know how long this will last on YouTube: Read the comments on this post... (Source: Gene Expression) Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=500111 Sun, 25 Mar 2007 18:40:59 +0100 500111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=450338&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F89847193%2Fbasics_elsewhere.php I'll try to get the third installment on normal flora "basics" up tomorrow, before I spend Wednesday at Darwin Day events here in Iowa City and then the next few days at AAAS in San Francisco. In the meantime, in case you've not come across it yet, John Wilkins has been keeping an updated list of "Basics" posts here; new and notable for readers here include Shelley's post on prions and Jeremy's on ecology. Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=450338 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:30:00 +0100 450338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=450341&cid=t_99081_99_f&fid=34589&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Faetiology%2F%7E3%2F88199728%2Fnormal_flora_ii.php So, I left off on Tuesday noting two things about our normal flora: 1) that in the big picture, we know hardly anything about them; and 2) that one reason we know so little about them is because we've never grown many of them in a laboratory setting--that is, we've never cultured them using our typical tools of the trade. What's one way to remedy this? Eliminate the need for culture, and take some cues from the microbial ecologists. More on this below. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology) Aetiology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=450341 Thu, 08 Feb 2007 20:15:00 +0100 450341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2744098&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fwatermelons_as_source_of_biofuel.php © La Grande Farmers' MarketWatermelons that do not make it to the market may be a valuable source of alternative energy. A study has shown that the juice of reject watermelons can be fermented eff... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2744098 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100 2744098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2719741&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fgeneratying_electricity_from_cow_manure.php © pamzpixAccording to US research paper "Cow Power: The Energy and Emissions Benefits of Converting Manure to Biogas" published in the Institute of Physics' Environmental Research Letter... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2719741 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100 2719741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2719739&cid=t_99081_107_f&fid=36584&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotech-weblog.com%2F50226711%2Fimproved_butanol_production_from_mutant_bacteria.php © futureatlas.comResearchers have doubled the production of butanol, a possible alternative to gasoline, by developing a mutant strain of the bacterium Clostridium beijerinckii in a bioreactor contain... (Source: The Biotech Weblog) The Biotech Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2719739 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100 2719739