Experts advise world policies to cope with causes, rising consequences of creeping desertification
...a-based Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, notes estimates that Africa may be able to feed just 25%...s a top-of-mind political issue in many countries, notes Dr. Bogardi. These include countries like the United States, France, Spain and Italy which are exp...One gene 90 percent responsible for making common parasite dangerous
...ors the parasite's growth and reproduction. Sibley notes that ROP18's primary role in T. gondii virulence suggests that similar genes in malaria parasites may be worthy of further study. Sibley and his colleagues are currently working to identify ROP18's targets in the host cell. They are also looking fo...Moderate drinking may help older women live longer
...ften accompanies modest alcohol intake. The author notes that the study does not advocate non-drinkers to begin drinking. Changes in diet need to be determined through consultation with a doctor due to the potential complications of mixing alcohol and medication....'Lessons learned' highlighted as global politics of HIV/AIDS examined in new research
...ent_37799.cfm ,Andrea Densham (Densham Consulting) notes that "inadequate societal and political responses to HIV have caused immense human misery, evident not only in loss of life, but also in the impact of the disease on social structures, economic potential, and political stability." Despite this urgent...American Chemical Society's Weekly PressPac -- December 6, 2006
.... coli episode and other outbreaks. The article notes a contrast in staffing at the two agencies, with USDA's 7,000 inspectors able to visit 6,000 food processing plants daily and FDA's 800 inspectors capable of inspecting a particular processing plant only once every five years. Hileman also describes ...A new approach to growing heart muscle
...an work toward building a bioengineered heart." He notes that while many other labs focus on growing one heart component, only U-M is working on growing all the different heart components. Already, the U-M team has begun experiments to transplant BEHM into the hearts of rats that have suffered heart attac...Scientific meeting on pulmonary hypertension, December 7-8
...y was only a couple of years following diagnosis," notes NHLBI Director Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D. "Scientific advances have begun to transform our understanding of this debilitating disease, moving pulmonary hypertension from the ranks of diseases that once were considered to be untreatable to the growing l...Reef sharks threatened by overfishing
...y whales and dolphins, produce very few offspring, notes Mizue Hisano, a co-author of the study. This makes it hard for them to bounce back from even low levels of fishing, such as poaching in green zones. The study highlights the importance of ensuring high compliance with no-take regulations. The rec...New hope for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
...ell Park and other cancer centers in the country," notes Dr. Chanan-Khan....Study uncovers mutation responsible for Noonan Syndrome
...mutations in an exchange factor in human disease," notes Neel, explaining that for families at risk for Noonan syndrome, the findings will aid in prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling for the disorder. "Furthermore," Neel adds, "because the other two genes that cause Noonan syndrome are also mutated ...Cities change the songs of birds
... low-frequency noise used fewer low-frequency song notes compared to nearby individuals in quieter territories. That single-population study, in Leiden, The Netherlands, included only urban birds, but territory conditions ranged from very quiet to very noisy. The earlier study predicted the possibility tha...ACS News Service Weekly PressPac -- Nov. 22, 2006
...y C&EN Editor-at-Large Michael Heylin, the article notes that the National Science Foundation has launched a special study to find explanations for the stagnation in U. S. R&D publications -- a key indicator of scientific activity. Heylin uses the latest data from several sources, including the ACS' Chemi...UNH research uses satellite observation to track avian flu
...n preparing for a potential pandemic crisis. Xiao notes that the four-year project represents a shift for EOS and CSRC in terms of their traditional areas of focus. The Institute as a whole and the center in particular have focused more on remote sensing in the areas of the carbon cycle, the water cycle,...NIH launches 'Health Info Rx Program' on newborn screening and related genetic disorders
...t who takes an active role is a 'better' patient," notes Duane Alexander, MD, Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Hunan Development. "We believe that both patients and their doctors will welcome this additional tool -- good medical information -- in their continuing efforts to provide go...Does natural selection drive the evolution of cancer?
... for resistant pests. It's the same idea." Maley notes that there are three necessary and sufficient conditions for natural selection to occur and that all are met in a population of tumor cells. The first requirement is that there be variation in the population. This variation is evident in tumors, whic...New maps emphasize the human factor in wildfire management
...ology and management, who will give the talk. She notes that this fuel is easy tinder for cigarette butts, campfires run amok and the intentional flames of arsonists. Through these and other means, humans cause 95 percent of fires in southern California. Most of these fires occur near the wildland-urb...Dad inspired 'Jurassic Park,' son inspires 'Jurassic Poop'
...cans over the course of about 8000 years. The book notes that these human remains are about 95-per cent fibre. That's about 15 times the amount of fibre the average American eats today. Hendrik Poinar is now collaborating with Vaughn Bryant of Texas A&M University to extract genetic information from the Hi...Bright future for nuclear medicine technologists
...s results in changing responsibilities. The report notes some coming trends, including the evolution of medical imaging, the increasing importance of fusion imaging technologies and the shift of nuclear medicine practice toward cardiologists, oncologists and other specialists. The study also provides recom...End of deforestation in view? Experts advance new way to size up global forest resources
...but its area of forested land has steadily risen," notes ecologist Dr. Fang of Beijing. "The net result: an increase in China's growing stock, biomass, and carbon sequestration." The graph shows Indonesia down roughly 2% per year in forested area and down 4% in density. At the other end of the spectrum...