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Will The Solar Eclipse Cause Strange Changes In Animal, Human Behavior? – International Business Times

August 17, 2017 medical

A Chow pup ran frightened under a shed and could not be coaxed out, reads an observation recordedduring a total solar eclipse in 1932. The observation is one of hundreds collected during the eclipse that year on the behavior of animals during the rare event. When day suddenly turns to night during the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, most animalsaside from humans wont have any idea what is transpiring. Some animals, primarily those that reside outside, will notice the change but pets that live indoors likely wont even notice the eclipse.

Once the moon moves between the sun and Earth and briefly blocks the suns light from reaching anything in the path of totality those animals and people in the path will experience night-like conditions. Animals that live outdoors might exhibit slightly different behavior than usual during the eclipse, but its hard to know what to expect.

I think its gonna vary between I would say animal to animal, organism to organism, with the larger animals or larger organisms, except for humans, not really being that affected, Sergio Arispe, an animal biologist and assistant professor at the Oregon State University extension service in eastern Oregon, told International Business Times.

Large grazing animals like cows will likely act normally during the eclipse. Photo: Nicolas Vigier/Flickr

The eclipse will cross14 states in the continental United States, first in Oregon cutting right across the country to South Carolina before it heads out into the Atlantic. The states it will be crossing are full of open space and farmland where livestock and wild animals are staples, but Arispe doesnt think the eclipse will impact them much. When it comes to larger animals, cattle, horses, livestock, sheep, deer Some of these animals are dependent on the sun from a reproductive standpoint, Arispe said, But thats not gonna be detrimental or effected in two minutes. Its gonna be so acute, so miniscule in the life of that animal that its not gonna affect those processes.

But smaller animals might present some out of the ordinary behaviors. In 1932, the United States saw a total solar eclipse just like the one expected next week. But the 1932 eclipse covered parts of the Northeast like Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. During that eclipse the public, game wardens and naturalists all recorded observations about animals and their surroundings and submitted them for a journal article, said Arispe. This journal articlewas published in 1935 entitled Observations on the Behavior of Animals during the Total Solar Eclipse of August 31, 1932, and it can still be accessed online.

The moon eclipses the sun shortly before sunset. Photo: NASA/Bill Ingalls Multiple observations recorded during the eclipse note cricket activity, several observers even said the cricket noises were all they could hear during the eclipse, according to thearticle. Other observers including some beekeepers who noted that as the darkness increased and totality came closer their bees returned to their hives in larger groups and more and more rapidly than usual as if preparing for night time.

Household dogs were reported to exhibit all sorts of different behavior, one person reported that the dog seemed quieter than usual while another observer said their dog acted as it does when its time to turn in at night. The behavior of the dogs was so variable that it doesnt point to one specific behavior. House cats didnt exhibit any odd behavior either, In general no very obvious reaction appears that seems directly attributable to the eclipse, says thearticle.

While the observations are interesting to read through, theyre not exactly any indication of how animals will act this time around, These were individual observations and definitely not science, said Arispe. But if they were observed once, theres a chance they could occur again. I would say these are a few observations but they were observed. So theres a chance they could happen again... Arispe explained, I wouldnt dismiss what has been reported in the past.

But overall theres no particular behavior Arispe is on the lookout for. Honestly, theres no expectation that theres gonna be any behavior that could be measured, Arispe said.

The behaviors of some animals are unpredictable, but there is one species sure to alter its behavior drastically during the eclipse, that species being humans. Its the people thats gonna be effected, this is gonna be unprecedented in the number of people who will be observing and recording, he told IBT.

Safety glasses or a filter should be used to view the solar eclipse directly. Photo: National Parks Service/Flickr

Millions of people are expected to flock to the states where the eclipse will be visible in its totality, some are even spending hundreds or thousands of dollar on flights. That alone is an out-of-the-ordinary behavior. But some of those people also have certain activities planned for during the event. A group of people who believe in a connection between Christianity and marijuana are planning to burn oil in the countrys largest Roman Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., during the eclipse, reported U.S News and World Report. The oil will have THC, or the compound responsible for the high marijuana offers, in it.

Other religious groups like one in South Carolina will hold day-long rituals to relieve themselves of burdens from the past and bless the future. Using the eclipse as a way to sort of cleanse oneself. And guides for eclipse meditation or cleansing have been popping up online in preparation.

Some states in the path of totality have issuedwarnings that smoking marijuana is still illegal during the eclipse. The Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police posted a press release online warning that Wyomings laws around marijuana would be strongly enforced during the eclipse. Meanwhile smoke shops in Oregon, where the drug is legal, are gearing up for a spike in marijuana sales, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Some people are planning activities a bit more eccentric than smoking while viewing the eclipse. Last week, an ad on Craigslist appeared in the Activity Partners section of the site posted by a self-identifying 40-year-old man. He was seeking a woman to conceive with during the eclipse but the ad has since been removed from the site.

All of these acts are far more out of the ordinary than a dog barking or hiding, crickets chirping or bees rushing to their hives. When it comes to animal behavior during the eclipse, humans are actually most likely to to go the extra mile, sometimes literally, and act different than usual.

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Will The Solar Eclipse Cause Strange Changes In Animal, Human Behavior? - International Business Times

Human Behavior

Studying the Obvious – TheHorse.com

August 17, 2017 medical

Photo: Photos.com

Q. Im fascinated to see studies (such as Horses Ask Humans for Help With Unsolvable Tasks,) on horses possibly trying to communicate with humansits rather like scientists trying to tell us the world is flat when we can see perfectly well it isnt!

Most of the problem equine behaviors result from blinkered or ignorant humans not understanding what horses are desperately trying to tell them. For instance, Im bucking because the saddle pinches, Im kicking because you havent noticed Im saying youre hurting me, Im chewing my stable because Im sick to death of being cooped up, etc. My very hairy Minis push their heads at me only when they need their eyes cleaned; they and my horse vocally communicate using the same intonations as humans do; they complain if I dont feed them at the usual time. And my horse understands pointing directions to a fair extent.

My last horse got put in a different stable for a day, where the water basin was filled with rotting months-old crud. When I found him and opened the door, he grabbed the shoulder of my jacket and dragged me over to the corner in front of the basin to show me and indicate he was disgusted, very annoyed, and desperately thirsty. He drank nearly two buckets of fresh water when I offered it. How can any sensible person suggest that horses might be trying to tell us things?

All creatures who evolved to live in social groups must have the ability to communicate and often, if not always, between species. Prey animals know when predators are not interested in hunting them, they learn other species predatory calls, and many species will adopt and raise different species young and manage to communicate well enough. The more I see of this kind of scientific research, the less respect I have for the researchers, who must not be very observant or animal-orientated to doubt the obvious.

Gill Evans, via e-mail

A. I certainly can relate to your exasperation with researchers investigating a question that, to you, seems so obviously already known to anyone paying attention. Over my long career in horse research, I very often have been similarly frustrated when asked, wheres the scientific evidence? on topics in horse management and behavior that seemed to be obvious facts requiring no peer-reviewed scientific research to back them up. And there have been times it led to research that demonstrated the exact opposite of what I thought was the no-brainer interpretation.

The way scientific knowledge advances is to actually start with what seems like the most basic questions, formulate and then test hypotheses such as this, and report the results for further scientific scrutiny and refinement. In the case of interpreting animal behavior in terms of communication and the underlying cognitive processes, I can guarantee you that, as you say, not everyone sees the same thing, and the interpretations that seem just as obvious to individual observers vary widely. And without scientific knowledge, there is no way to know which interpretation among the many is correct. These different interpretations in scientific terms are essentially untested conflicting hypotheses.

I personally have come to realize that it is becoming more and more important to better understand equine cognition, particularly as it relates to horse-horse and horse-human behavioral interactions. Its not just trivial information, since our interpretation of a horses behavior and complexity of cognition and motivation often has welfare/safety implications both for the animal and for us. So these basic studies on equine cognition and communication, as silly as they may seem to you, really do need to be done. And the results need to be carefully scrutinized and scientifically refined for decades to come. I am looking forward to reading the full scientific report from the study you mentioned when it comes out. No doubt it will generate a lot of discussion among behavioral scientists, with most likely disagreement concerning the adequacy of the methods, the interpretation of results, and the validity of the conclusion. This is especially the case for a very new science such as this. That discussion/disagreement will hopefully stimulate further research.

Sue M. McDonnell, PhD, is a certified applied animal behaviorist and the founding head of the equine behavior program at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. She is also the author of numerous books and articles about horse behavior and management.

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Studying the Obvious - TheHorse.com

Human Behavior

Finding the Antidote: How to neutralize the toxic member of your team – Utah Business

August 17, 2017 medical

The number one reason you should deal with that toxic person at work? Counterintuitively, says Joseph Grenny, business social scientist at VitalSmarts, you should do it because you deserve it. While some think confronting a toxic person is about sacrificing for the team or the greater cause, Grenny says its really about being responsible for your wellbeing and emotional health.

Being around people who are dysfunctional is a huge drain on our quality of life, says Grenny.

Grenny, co-author of Crucial Conversations, has seen it all when it comes to toxic co-workers: the conniving team member, the boss who bullies employees, the co-worker who always plays the victim.

If you have never worked with a toxic person, Grenny says to consider yourself lucky. While theres not a clinical definition for a toxic person, it could be someone who bullies, spreads gossip or is consistently negative. When someones behavior creates misery for others at work, chances are that person is toxic.

Group dysfunction

The problem usually isnt the toxic person, though. The problem often stems from the dozen people around the toxic person who enable the behavior to continue. Basically, toxic behavior continues in the workplace when theres active cooperation from people who think theyre victimsbut who are actually enablers.

The most important thing to remember is that youre responsible for your own boundaries, Grenny says. You have to decide what the effect is on you.

Sometimes toxicity is a passive-aggressive boss, for example. Grenny says he once sat down with a CEO for a coaching session. The CEO started going through his employee list. When he got to certain names, he told Grenny he wished he could fire them based on poor performance.

It struck me as oddbecause he can do that, Grenny says.

And yet, the CEO hadnt taken action. He spent years only wishing he could fire these employees, and instead punished them in other ways: He wouldnt make eye contact with themin meetings. He often cut them off when they spoke. Or he rolled his eyes while the employees had the floor.

This passive-aggressive approach sent a message in the team that created enormous conflict, says Grenny. Its surprising how many CEOs Ive worked with who run incredibly functional teams, but who dont deal with accountability.

Were all broken

Some people act out their drama on other people but arent self-aware enough to notice. The first thing you can do is increase their realization by providing a high-accountability environment in the office. The second thing? Admit we all need help sometimes.

All of us are broken. All of us are toxic at different times in different relationships. The best we can do where others will address their own brokenness is to hold boundaries with them, and also work on our own brokenness.

Grenny says the ideal workplace is an environment of vulnerable self-improvement. Being around emotionally healthy people offers rewards because everyone is constantly practicing personal reflection.

Its intoxicating, he says. It inspires everyone around them.

One of the most influential things Grenny learned in the last 30 years is this: The vast majority of human behavior problems dont stem from ability or motivation problems. Thats a huge insight, he says, because we tend to tell ourselves that someone knows what theyre doing when they misbehave. But its usually because the person doesnt possess the skill set to improve.

Most of us dont realize we need additional skills and cant fathom what they would be. High-accountability environments help people learn boundaries.

Speaking up

Grennys watched this boundary situation play out dozens of times, and he says when someone in a subordinate position holds their toxic boss accountable, they arent fired as often as you think.

It works far more often that it fails and it is remarkable to watch.

He once saw a doctor say something abusive to a nurse. Later, the nurse approached the doctor and asked if he had time to talk. She quoted his words and said she felt disrespected. She then asked for the doctors commitment that he wouldnt do it again. The nurse wasnt angry or hostile, just firm and clear.

And he looked like a whooped schoolboy. Rather than puffing up and invoking his position, he muttered an apology, and I never saw him behave impatiently toward [the nurse] again. Interestingly, he continued to behave inappropriately with other nurses who didnt hold boundaries around him, says Grenny.

Overall, if a toxic work situation doesnt improve, its time to reassess.

You have to make a decision. Whats more important: a steady paycheck or the quality of your life?

Im interviewing for a new job. How can I tell if a toxic culture exists at a company?Ask inappropriate questions to find out if its a good trust environment. I might say: What is one of the biggest growth areas for your boss? What do you have to do around here to get fired? When someone gets let down with someone else, what happens here? Ask about personally uncomfortable things. Poke the culture a little bit and see their reaction. Do they smile and answer easily? Or do they shift their eyes right and left before they answer? Joseph Grenny, VitalSmarts

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Finding the Antidote: How to neutralize the toxic member of your team - Utah Business

Biochemistry

Lab learning scores with teen athletes – Harvard Gazette

August 16, 2017 medical

For high school student Simo Silva, visiting a biology lab at Harvard was just part of his summer school curriculum. What the 17-year-old Cristo Rey High School student didnt plan on this summer was receiving practical lessons about the human body and biochemistry.

After his Harvard experience, the student athlete is now focusing on how to improve his running technique, and is even talking about how to become a biochemist. Silva credits Harvard Professor Daniel Lieberman, Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences, for teaching him about the mechanics of running.

I went running a few days later and what [Lieberman] had talked about really made me think and notice what I was doing, said Silva, who is a wrestler, boxes, runs track, and plays soccer.

Silva was among a group of local high school biology students visiting Harvards Department of Human and Evolutionary Biology to conduct a lab session with Lieberman as part of the Cambridge-Harvard Summer Academy. The six-week summer school program provided both enrichment opportunities and remedial classes at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. The program, which has served more than 4,500 local students since it began in 2001, is a partnership between the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Cambridge Public Schools.

By Deborah Blackwell, Harvard Correspondent | August 14, 2017 | Editor's Pick

Science is a process and its nice to show students how we get to where we are now, and how we collect data, analyze data, and make predictions, Lieberman said.

It was that special day on the fourth floor of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, that Silva got a peak into the world of biochemistry.

Ive always been interested in working in a bio lab, so when I got the opportunity to visit one it was really cool and showed me I want to be a biochemist even more, he said.

Silvas biology teacher, Quan Le, 15, recently completed the Harvard Graduate School of Educations Harvard Teacher Fellows program and tries to introduce fun and practicality into his lessons to make them as applicable to the real world as possible. Since many of his students are athletes, Le said he looks for ways to apply science to their passions and interests.

Professor Lieberman was able to make this lab really about how you can use science in your own life, said Le. This is science and it is related to evolution, but it can be useful if youre an athlete. He was able to make it very personal.

The students were thrilled at the idea of visiting a Harvard research lab to learn about biomechanics and how it related to their athletic endeavors, Le said. He first became interested in teaching while volunteering with the Phillips Brooks House Associations (PBHA) Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment program (BRYE) as an undergrad.

When I started volunteering with BRYE through PBHA and teaching during the semesters, I felt like my identity as an immigrant and first-generation student really mattered, said Le. I could really relate to these kids.

Cambridge-Harvard Summer Academy is one of many partnerships and programs that Harvard and Cambridge Public Schools utilize to enhance student performance. The programs range from curriculum-based efforts as well as individualized learning programs serving students of all grade levels.

When students understand why and what they learn, it can make a big difference. We really tried to do that here.Its not just science for the sake of science, Le said. Everything involves science. Once they get that you can really see their interest levels change. And if we can do that, I would consider that a success.

By Peter Reuell, Harvard Staff Writer | August 14, 2017

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Lab learning scores with teen athletes - Harvard Gazette

Genetics

Biotechnology Conferences | Biotechnology Events …

August 16, 2017 medical

Sessions and Tracks

Industrial Biotechnology

Industrial biotechnology is the application of biotechnology for industrial purposes, includingindustrial fermentation. The practice of using cells such as micro-organisms, or components of cells like enzymes, to generate industrially useful products in sectors such as chemicals, food and feed, detergents, paper and pulp, textiles andbiofuels. Industrial Biotechnology offers a premier forum bridging basic research and R&D with later-stage commercialization for sustainable bio based industrial and environmental applications.

Related Conferences:

International Conference on Agri Biotech and Environmental Engineering, September 11-12, 2017, San Antonio, Texas, USA; 15th Asia-Pacific Biotechnology Congress, July 20-22, 2017, Melbourne, Australia; 17th Euro Biotechnology Congress, September 25-27, 2017, Berlin, Germany; 18th Biotechnology Congress, October 19-20, 2017, Hilton New York JFK Airport Hotel New York, USA; 19th World Congress on Biotechnology, November 13-14, 2017, Osaka, Japan; 2nd World Biotechnology Congress, December 04-05, 2017, Sao Paulo, Brazil; BioTech 2017 Sensor Technology and Online Analytics for (Bio)Process Understanding, September 07-08, 2017, Wadenswil, Switzerland; SBA17 Synthetic Biology Australasia Conference 2017,September 21-22, 2017, Sydney, Australia; ICONAN2017 International Conference On Nanomedicine And Nanobiotechnology, September 25-27, 2017, Barcelona, Spain; The European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy, October 10-11, 2017, Brussels, Belgium; World convention on sustainable biotechnology, October 12-13, 2017, Auckland, Newzealand; EFIB 2017 The European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy, October 19-20 2017, Brussels, Belgium; InnovateBopitech2017 Biotechnology & Industrial Revolution, November 27-28, 2017, Brisbane, Australia.

Related Societies:

Spanish Society of Biotechnology, Spain;Society for Biotechnology, Japan;Mexican Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Mexico;Society for Chemical Engineering Biotechnology, UK;Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB), India;Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, India;Tanta Pharmaceutical Scientific Society (TPSS), Egypt;The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, Ireland;The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea, Korea;Society for Biological Engineering, USA;Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore, Singapore;Romanian Society of Medical Mycology and Mycotoxicology, Romania;Russian Medical Society, Russia;Korean Society of Food Science And Technology, Korea;Korean Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Korea;National Society of Agriculture, USA;Society for Engineering in Agriculture, Australia;New Zealand Plant Protection Society, New Zealand;Society of Microbial Ecology and Disease, Italy;European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, UK;Indian Society of Nano science And Nanotechnology, India;Iran Society for Cell Biology, Iran;Israel Societies for Experimental Biology, Israel;The Protein Society, USA;International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, UK;Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society, Malaysia;Manchester University Pharmaceutical Society, UK;Pharmaceutical Marketing Society, USA;Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Australia;Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, Ireland;Pharmaceutical Society of Korea, Korea;Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Italy;Japanese Society for Quantitative Biology, Japan.

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is the science that covers all technologies required for producing, manufacturing and registration of biological drugs.Pharmaceutical Biotechnologyis an increasingly important area of science and technology. It contributes in design and delivery of new therapeutic drugs,diagnosticagents for medical tests, and ingene therapyfor correcting the medical symptoms of hereditary diseases. The Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is widely spread, ranging from many ethical issues to changes inhealthcarepracticesand a significant contribution to the development of national economy.Biopharmaceuticalsconsists of large biological molecules which areproteins. They target the underlying mechanisms and pathways of a disease or ailment; it is a relatively young industry. They can deal with targets in humans that are not accessible withtraditional medicines.

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Related Societies:

European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, UK;Indian Society of Nano science And Nanotechnology, India;Iran Society for Cell Biology, Iran;Israel Societies for Experimental Biology, Israel;The Protein Society, USA;International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, UK;Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society, Malaysia;Manchester University Pharmaceutical Society, UK;Pharmaceutical Marketing Society, USA;Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Australia;Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, Ireland;Pharmaceutical Society of Korea, Korea;Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Italy;Japanese Society for Quantitative Biology, Japan;Spanish Society of Biotechnology, Spain;Society for Biotechnology, Japan;Mexican Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Mexico;Society for Chemical Engineering Biotechnology, UK;Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB), India;Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, India;Tanta Pharmaceutical Scientific Society (TPSS), Egypt;The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, Ireland;The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea, Korea;Society for Biological Engineering, USA;Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore, Singapore;Romanian Society of Medical Mycology and Mycotoxicology, Romania;Russian Medical Society, Russia;Korean Society of Food Science And Technology, Korea;Korean Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Korea;National Society of Agriculture, USA;Society for Engineering in Agriculture, Australia;New Zealand Plant Protection Society, New Zealand.

Bioeconomy

Biotechnology is an innovative science in which living systems and organisms are used to develop new and useful products, ranging from healthcare products to seeds. The field ofBiotechnologyis growing rapidly making tremendous impacts in Medical/Health Care, Food & Agriculture. The Global Biotechnology industry is in the growth phase of its economic life cycle. Over the five years to 2014, revenue and industry value added (IVA) growth have outpaced world GDP growth. The Frontiers in Biotechnology track will cover current technological aspects that aim at obtaining products with scientific, industrial, health and agricultural applications, from organisms with increasing levels of complexity from bacteria, yeast, plants, animal cells and virus. With the lectures and demonstrations on stem cell therapy,Embryo transfer technology, next generation sequencing, Drug discovery, biotechnology in food and dairy, etc... The participants are expected to acquire knowledge in techniques and methodologies used in Biotechnology.

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Medical Biotechnology

Medicine is by means of biotechnology techniques so much in diagnosing and treating dissimilar diseases. It also gives opportunity for the population to defend themselves from hazardous diseases. The pasture of biotechnology, genetic engineering, has introduced techniques like gene therapy, recombinant DNA technologyand polymerase chain retort which employ genes and DNA molecules to make adiagnosis diseasesand put in new and strong genes in the body which put back the injured cells. There are some applications of biotechnology which are live their part in the turf of medicine and giving good results.

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Systems and Synthetic Biotechnology

Systems and Synthetic Biotechnology is the use of laboratory techniques to study and modify nucleic acids and proteins for applications in areas such as human and animal health, agriculture, and the environment.Molecular biotechnologyresults from the convergence of many areas of research, such as molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology,genetics, and cell biology. It is an exciting field fueled by the ability to transfer genetic information between organisms with the goal of understanding important biological processes or creating a useful product.

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Biotechnology Applications

Biotechnology has application in four major industrial areas, including health care (medical), crop production and agriculture, nonfood (industrial) uses of crops and other products (e.g. biodegradable plastics, vegetable oil, biofuels), and environmental uses. AppliedMicrobiologyand Biotechnology focusses on prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells, relevant enzymes and proteins, applied genetics and molecular biotechnology,genomicsand proteomics, applied microbial and cell physiology, environmental biotechnology, process and products and more.

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Algal Biotechnology

It improves the food we eat - meat, milk and eggs. Biotechnology can improve an animals impact on the environment.Algalbiotechnologyis the use of science and engineering to modify living organisms. The goal is to make products, to improve animals and to developmicroorganismsfor specific agricultural uses. It enhances the ability to detect, treat and prevent diseases, include creating transgenic animals (animals with one or more genes introduced by human intervention), using gene knock out technology to make animals with a specific inactivated gene and producing nearly identical animals by somatic cell nuclear transfer (orcloning).

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Environmental Biotechnology

The biotechnology is applied and used to study the natural environment. Environmental biotechnology could also imply that one try to harnessbiological processfor commercial uses and exploitation. It is "the development, use and regulation of biological systems for remediation of contaminated environment and forenvironment-friendly processes(green manufacturing technologies and sustainable development). Environmental biotechnology can simply be described as "the optimal use of nature, in the form of plants, animals, bacteria, fungi and algae, to producerenewable energy, food and nutrients in a synergistic integrated cycle of profit making processes where the waste of each process becomes the feedstock for another process".

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Nano Biotechnology

Nano biotechnology, bionanotechnology, and Nano biology are terms that refer to the intersection of nanotechnology and biology. Bio nanotechnology and Nano biotechnology serve as blanket terms for various related technologies. The most important objectives that are frequently found inNano biologyinvolve applying Nano tools to relevantmedical/biologicalproblems and refining these applications. Developing new tools, such as peptide Nano sheets, for medical and biological purposes is another primary objective in nanotechnology.

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Microbial Biotechnology

Microorganisms have been exploited for their specific biochemical and physiological properties from the earliest times for baking, brewing, and food preservation and more recently for producingantibiotics, solvents, amino acids, feed supplements, and chemical feedstuffs. Over time, there has been continuous selection by scientists of special strains ofmicroorganisms, based on their efficiency to perform a desired function. Progress, however, has been slow, often difficult to explain, and hard to repeat. Recent developments inmolecular biologyand genetic engineering could provide novel solutions to long-standing problems. Over the past decade, scientists have developed the techniques to move a gene from one organism to another, based on discoveries of how cells store, duplicate, and transfer genetic information.

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Food Biotechnology

Food processingis a process by which non-palatable and easily perishable raw materials are converted to edible and potable foods and beverages, which have a longer shelf life. Biotechnology helps in improving the edibility, texture, and storage of the food; in preventing the attack of the food, mainly dairy, by the virus like bacteriophage producing antimicrobial effect to destroy the unwanted microorganisms in food that cause toxicity to prevent the formation and degradation of other toxins andanti-nutritionalelements present naturally in food.

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Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

One kind of biotechnology is gene technology, sometimes called 'genetic engineering' or'genetic modification', where the genetic material of living things is deliberately altered to enhance or remove a particular trait and allow the organism to perform new functions. Genes within a species can be modified, or genes can be moved from one species to another. Genetic engineering has applications inmedicine, research, agriculture and can be used on a wide range of plants, animals and microorganisms. It resulted in a series of medical products. The first two commercially prepared products fromrecombinant DNA technologywere insulin andhuman growth hormone, both of which were cultured in the E. coli bacteria.

The field of molecular biology overlaps with biology and chemistry and in particular, genetics and biochemistry. A key area of molecular biology concerns understanding how various cellular systems interact in terms of the way DNA, RNA and protein synthesis function.

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Biotechnology Companies & Market Analysis

From agriculture to environmental science, biotechnology plays an important role in improving industry standards, services, and developing new products. Biotechnology involves the spectrum of life science-based research companies working ontransformative technologiesfor a wide range of industries. While agriculture, material science and environmental science are major areas of research, the largest impact is made in the field medicine. As a large player in the research and development of pharmaceuticals, the role ofbiotechnologyin the healthcare field is undeniable. From genetically analysis and manipulation to the formation of new drugs, many biotech firms are transforming into pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical leaders.

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Biotechnology Capital & Grants

Every new business needs some startup capital, for research, product development and production, permits and licensing and other overhead costs, in addition to what is needed to pay your staff, if you have any. Biotechnology products arise from successfulbiotechcompanies. These companies are built by talented individuals in possession of a scientific breakthrough that is translated into a product or service idea, which is ultimately brought into commercialization. At the heart of this effort is the biotech entrepreneur, who forms the company with a vision they believe will benefit the lives and health of countless individuals. Entrepreneurs start biotechnology companies for various reasons, but creatingrevolutionary productsand tools that impact the lives of potentially millions of people is one of the fundamental reasons why all entrepreneurs start biotechnology companies.

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Biotechnology Investor & partnering Forum

The Biotech Investor & Partnering Forum is one of the unique conclave focused on the management and economics ofbiotechnologywhich became so important as the field is growing on a fast paced. From agriculture and environment sectors to pharmaceutical and healthcare products and services, the industries and institutions emerging from the biotech revolution Bio-Based Economy represent one of the largest and most steadily growing building blocks of the Global economy. The social impact is overwhelming, generating tremendous progress in quality of life but also difficult issues that needs responsible management based on consumer &bio-industryperspective, solid ethical principles, growing intellectual property rights complexity, long drug development times, Bio security, unusual market structures and highly unpredictable outcomes are just some of the challenges facing biotechnology management today.

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Genetics

The genetics of heart disease: An update – Harvard Health

August 16, 2017 medical

Recent discoveries hold the promise of better detection and treatment of coronary artery disease.

Published: September, 2017

Image: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Thinkstock

Coronary artery disease the buildup of cholesterol-laden plaque in the heart's arteries is by far the most prevalent life-threatening heart condition. Despite many important discoveries, the genetic influence on this complex condition remains far from clear. But research continues to provide clues that may soon improve both the prediction and the treatment of this common disease beyond current testing of risk factors.

Many different types of heart disease can be passed down through families. Some are caused by just one or a few genetic changes that have a very strong effect in causing disease. Known as monogenic conditions, they include uncommon disorders that mostly affect the heart's muscle (such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) or electrical system (such as long QT syndrome). Another example is familial hypercholesterolemia, which causes very high cholesterol levels and may lead to premature coronary artery disease (occurring before age 50).

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The genetics of heart disease: An update - Harvard Health

Cell Biology

The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Appoints SPARGO, Inc. as Official Exposition and Advertising Sales and … – Newswise (press release)

August 16, 2017 medical

Newswise In August of 2017, SPARGO, Inc. will assume responsibility for the management of exhibit and sponsorship sales for the American Society for Cell Biologys 2017 and 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meetings and 2019 and 2020 ASCB Annual Meetings. Additionally, SPARGO will sell advertising in ASCBs three publications and other digital communications.

The Annual Meeting, which has seen steady attendance growth over the past four years, brings together scientists from all over the world to discuss new experimental results and techniques in various domains of basic science and creates the environment for broader discussions on topics ranging from what is cell biology to the future of biomedical research, funding, training, and publishing. The Learning Center at the Annual Meeting will continue to feature technical and scientific exhibits, integrate the poster sessions, and host the popular Tech Talks and microsymposia presentation theaters in which cutting edge content is delivered by the exhibiting companies.

The 2017 ASCB|EMBO meeting will be held December 2-6 in Philadelphia, PA. The Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region boasts a large concentration of medical and academic institutions. Holding the conference in this region makes it affordable and convenient for both domestic and international scientists to attend.

We are proud to partner with SPARGO, says Alison Harris, ASCB's Director of Meetings. Our aim is to continually improve the meeting experience for attendees and exhibitors, and were confident that SPARGOs experienced team of event management professionals will help us fulfill this mission.

We are honored to have been selected as a partner to ASCB. We will focus on exhibitor satisfaction, improved ROI, and show growth and capitalize on the advertising opportunities as a key strategy for exhibitors to have a year-long exposure to the influential members of the ASCB community, says Susan Bracken, President and CEO at SPARGO, Inc.

About ASCB:

The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) was founded in 1960 to bring the varied facets of cell biology together. The Society's purpose is to promote and develop the field of cell biology. ASCBs mission is to: advance scientific discovery, advocate for sound research policies, improve education, promote professional development, and increase diversity in the scientific workforce. Its objectives are achieved through the scholarly dissemination of research at its Annual Meeting and in its publications. See more at http://www.ascb.org.

About SPARGO, Inc.:

SPARGO is a full-service event management company. SPARGO offers a full suite of services that support the production of tradeshows, conventions, conferences, symposiums, and seminars. See more atwww.spargoinc.com.

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The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Appoints SPARGO, Inc. as Official Exposition and Advertising Sales and ... - Newswise (press release)

Cell Biology

We Just Figured out How to Activate Stem Cells to Treat Baldness – Futurism

August 16, 2017 medical

In BriefResearchers from UCLA have found a way to successfully reactivate stem cells in dormant hair follicles to promote hair growth in mice. Through this research, they've developed two drugs that could help millions of people worldwide treat conditions that lead to abnormal hair growth and retention.

Researchers have already explored ways to use stem cells totreat everything from diabetes toaging, and now, ateam from UCLAthinks they could potentially offer some relief for people suffering from baldness.

During their study, which has beenpublished in Nature, the researchers noticedthat stem cells found in hair follicles undergo a different metabolic process than normal skin cells. After turning glucose into a molecule known as pyruvate, these hair follicle cells then do one of two things: send the pyruvateto the cells mitochondria to be used as energy or convert it into another metabolite known as lactate.

Based on these findings, the researchers decided to see if inactive hair follicles behaved differently depending on the path of the pyruvate.

To that end, the UCLA team compared mice that had been genetically engineered so that they wouldnt produce lactate with mice that had been engineered to produce more lactate than normal. Obstructing lactate production stopped the stem cells in the follicles from being activated, while more hair growth was observed on the animals who were producing more of the metabolite.

No one knew that increasing or decreasing the lactate would have an effect on hair follicle stem cells, co-lead on the study and professor of molecular, cell, and developmental biology William Lowry explained in a UCLA press release. Once we saw how altering lactate production in the mice influenced hair growth, it led us to look for potential drugs that could be applied to the skin and have the same effect.

Based on their study, the researchers were able to discovertwo different drugs that could potentially help humans jumpstart the stem cells in their hair follicles to increase lactate production.

The first is called RCGD423, and it works by establishing a JAK/STAT signalling pathway between the exterior of a cell and its nucleus. This puts the stems cells in an active state and contributes to lactate production, encouraging hair growth.

The other drug, UK5099, takes the opposite approach. It stops pyruvate from being converted into energy by the cells mitochondria, which leaves the molecules with no choice but to take the alternate path of creating lactate, which, in turn, promotes hair growth.

Both of the drugs have yet to be tested on humans, but hopes are high that if tests are successful, they could provide relief for the estimated 56 million people in the U.S. alonesuffering from a range of conditions that affect normal hair growth and retention, including alopecia, hormone imbalances, stress-related hair loss, and even old age.

However, as undoubtedly pleased as many of those people would be to stimulate their hair growth, the potential relevance of this research stretches far beyond hair loss. The new knowledge gained regarding stem cells, specifically their relation to the metabolism of the human body, provides a very promising basis for future study in other realms.

I think weve only just begun to understand the critical role metabolism plays in hair growth and stem cells in general, noted Aimee Flores, first author of the study and a predoctoral trainee in Lowrys lab. Im looking forward to the potential application of these new findings for hair loss and beyond.

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We Just Figured out How to Activate Stem Cells to Treat Baldness - Futurism

Cell Biology

Breast cancer breakthrough: This technique could predict if disease will spread to lungs – Express.co.uk

August 16, 2017 medical

Almost 54,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the UK during 2013, according to Cancer Research UK figures.

In 2014, 11,400 people died from the disease.

Now scientists are hoping more lives could be saved following a medical breakthrough.

Scientists part-funded by Breast Cancer Now, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and other collaborators have developed an innovative imaging technique that could predict whether breast cancer will spread to the lung.

In a new study published in Theranostics, researchers have demonstrated in mice that a new non-invasive imaging method can be used to detect changes in the lungs that signal breast cancer may soon spread there before any metastases are visible.

If given the green-light for use in humans, this approach could enable patients to be offered more intensive therapy earlier, to potentially prevent breast cancer spread.

Dr Fabian Flores-Borja, Research Fellow at the Breast Cancer Now Research Unit at Kings College London said: By combining cell biology and imaging techniques, we have established a method to predict, at an early time-point during tumour development, whether tumour invasion will occur.

We envision this technique being used to help select patients for either further surveillance or intensified therapy, as well as aiding cancer research.

The development of a test that is able to identify an increased risk of metastasis soon after a patient is diagnosed with breast cancer, would be very useful in helping choose the best treatment for patients.

Previous research has shown that the gathering of a special type of immune cell called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in locations such as the lung prepares the ground for breast cancer metastasis - spread.

This is because the local immune system is suppressed promotes the formation of new blood vessels - a condition called angiogenesis.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BREAST CANCER?

Researchers at Kings College London have now developed a radioactive tracer molecule to detect MDSCs accumulating in the lung in preparation for the arrival of breast cancer cells and the formation of metastases.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, has hailed the news as incredibly exciting.

While more research is needed before this could be tested in patients, the prospect of a hospital scan which could predict whether breast cancer will spread to the lungs is incredibly exciting.

More immediately, this study brings a brand new method to the table that will help researchers unpick how the immune system is involved in the spread of breast cancer.

Finding ways to predict and halt the spread of the disease will be crucial if we are to finally stop people dying from it.

This is a promising step towards being able to use 3D imaging to help offer more personalised therapy. Ultimately, anything that could provide patients and their doctors with a more accurate picture of whether their breast cancer may spread will help us tailor treatments to stop this from happening.

Dr Mariana Delfino-Machin, MRC Programme Manager for Cancer, said the research paves the way for new treatment in the clinic.

"Innovative, non-invasive imaging methods like this, which can help predict and diagnose disease as early as possible and avoid the discomfort of current invasive tests, have the potential to greatly impact cancer treatment and outcomes, she said.

Experts said more studies are now required to develop a more effective tracer molecule - suited for use in humans - to be tested in future clinical trials.

SIX BREAST CANCER MYTHS BUSTED

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Breast cancer breakthrough: This technique could predict if disease will spread to lungs - Express.co.uk

Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy Spoilers: Maggie Doesn’t Know If She Has Feelings … – TV Guide

August 16, 2017 medical

Now PlayingGrey's Anatomy Season 14: Who's In, Who's Out (So Far)

Welcome to Mega Buzz, your go-to place for the latest and greatest spoilers on your favorite TV shows. We know you have questions, and we have answers! If you're craving scoop on something in particular, e-mail us your question at mega_scoop@tvguide.com or drop us a line at Twitter.com/TVGuide. You can also catch up on all the latest Mega Buzz right here!

April (Sarah Drew) dropped a truth bomb that everyone but Maggie (Kelly McCreary) saw coming in the Grey's Anatomy Season 13 finale. Jackson (Jesse Williams) has the hots for the head of cardio and she's got the hots for him too. But are they ready to make the leap to coupledom? When the show returns, Maggie still isn't sure how to react to the info that April served up.

"April left Maggie with a lot of questions. Maggie having feelings, Jackson having feelings -- that was something that had literally never crossed Maggie's mind," McCreary told TV Guide. "What [we pick up] with is Maggie trying to find out if that's true or not and beyond that, none of us knows."

Um, then what's up with all the Instagram photos trying to tell fans that #jaggpril (Jackson-Maggie-April) is a real thing? Turns out the cast of Grey's Anatomy has got jokes.

"That's us trolling you. We don't know what's going on. We know how hot and bothered everyone gets about it and we are just having a good time," McCreary said. "We're f---king with you guys."

Don't worry, we didn't let McCreary off that easy. Even if Jackson and Maggie aren't immediately fogging up the on-call room windows, she knows there's potential there and wants to see what's up.

"Those two characters for all of the reasons that people don't want them to be together -- that's what makes good drama," she teased. "Whether they come together in a romantic way or in a strictly platonic way, there's a dynamic there. There's shared family. There's background that is worth exploring for character and story purposes. So yeah, I want to have scenes with him."

Grey's Anatomy returns Thursday, Sept. 28 at 8/7c on ABC.

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Grey's Anatomy Spoilers: Maggie Doesn't Know If She Has Feelings ... - TV Guide