Wasabi, (Wasabia japonica) is commonly known as the Japanese horseradish used to enhance the enjoyment of sushi. This spice is a member of the Cruciferae family of plants; its rhizome, the creeping underground stem, is ground into a green paste and used as a condiment. Oral ingestion of wasabi causes a transient burning sensation in the nose, and there is a widely held notion that this produces a decongestant effect. This conclusion is anecdotal, because there have been no scientific studies to p
It is estimated that some 37 million Americans suffer from allergic rhinitis and sinusitis each year. Many do not seek treatment; most find relief through prescription and over-the-counter medications. A minority of this population comes to the conclusion that medication is not a solution and seeks relief through endoscopic surgery. But the relief from sinusitis may have a cost – the quality of the voice.
A great voice has great resonance, affected by the body’s supraglottic area, pha
Study published in Science also finds answers to the question: How do cells know to grow?
Researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah and a collaborator at the University of California at Santa Cruz report they have developed a unique computational approach to investigate a regulatory network for gene expression that is implicated in cell growth and development. The study was published today in the journal Science.
“When studying the genome of
Improved production of polyunsaturated fats in oilseed crops will benefit human health and the environment
In research reported this month in The Plant Cell, scientists succeeded in producing genetically modified linseed plants that accumulate significant levels of very long chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in seed. This is the first report of the successful engineering of very long chain PUFA into an oilseed crop, and is an excellent example of how genetic engineering of ag
Differentiated thyroid cancer, the most common form of thyroid cancer, is one of the success stories in the war on cancer. Since the advent of radioiodine therapy, it has been considered one of the most curable cancers. On the downside, current treatment involves taking patients off their thyroid medication. This can lead to serious side effects including symptoms of hypothyroidism, an unbalanced metabolic state that can induce fatigue, depression, and other unpleasant conditions.
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In 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) appeared in New York City, marking the most significant beginning of a new, vector-borne human pathogen in the United States over the past century. Throughout North American history, rapid expansion of various modes of travel and commerce have led to the introduction of such vector-borne human pathogens as dengue, yellow fever, plague and malaria. Now, it is West Nile Virus that has captured the attention of infectious disease officials as well as the American public.
Marine biologists want to find out more about the Giant Pacific Octopus, but this elusive creature doesn’t willingly reveal its secrets.
Divers can follow the octopus for short periods, but what’s really needed is an undersea robot that will wait patiently outside the creature’s den, ready to shadow its every move. UA engineering undergrads, in collaboration with students from two other universities, are building a mini-sub to answer this need. In July, they took a prototype to Ala
Scientists are a step closer to understanding the health benefits of drinking red wine. Researchers funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and affiliated with the Salk Institute in San Diego, Calif., have succeeded in converting chalcone synthase, a biosynthetic protein enzyme found in all higher plants, into an efficient resveratrol synthase. Resveratrol, a beneficial component of red wine, is thought to contribute to the improved cardiovascular effects associated with moderate consumpt
The new Centre for Applied Medicine Research (CIMA) will be officially opened at the University of Navarre (Universidad de Navarra).
More than 15,000 square metres on four floors will be given over to investigative work – both basic and clinical – by some 350 biologists, doctors, pharmacologists and technicians. Those responsible for the project wished to direct their efforts in four areas of research involving 90 per cent of deaths in the West. The CIMA scientists will work within t
Fogged up glasses, windscreens and bathroom mirrors may be a thing of the past.
Researchers have invented a new, permanent, multi-purpose coating technology that will prevent your spectacles, car windscreen or bathroom mirror fogging up ever again. The coating, called XeroCoat, also cuts out unwanted reflections from glass, letting more light through. Making it ideal for spectacles and improving the performance of solar cells and glasshouses.
University of Queensland phys
Sporting technology has been used on lizards to watch them run.
The same camera that analysed the bowling action of Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan is being used to study how dragon lizards can escape a bigger, faster predator – the goanna. “It’s all in the running action,” says zoologist, Chris Clemente from the University of Western Australia.
His work has shown that lizards have adapted their locomotion to fit with their habitats. For example, the dragon liz
Scientists in India have developed a new gel that is taken orally and is capable of delivering drugs to manage diseases often requiring an injection. The research, published in the journal Polymer International, suggests the gel could offer a painless way of treating diabetes, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, bowel cancer, constipation and some infections, all of which require local drug delivery.
In these conditions, oral administration of medication cannot be achieved easily b
A Queensland PhD student’s discovery speeds up tissue growth and repair and sparks off a new listed biotech company.
“The key to recovering from a burn or a wound is the ability for cells to move and grow. We have discovered a naturally occurring novel complex of growth factors that speeds this process up,” says Jennifer Kricker, finalist in the Fresh Innovators forum and co-discoverer of the complex, now called VitroGro. “Speeding up healing reduces the risk of infection and scar
A new study being carried out at the University of Leicester traces the erosion of the traditional concept of Maasai manhood and the emergence of new role for Maasais- reliving their warrior dreams in paid employment, business or trading in livestock.
The romantic notion of the ‘noble savage’ Maasai warrior, replete with traditional ponytails and weapons- a key image for tourism in Kenya – masks a crisis of cultures that has blighted this once proud tribal race, according to a study
When the Ariane 5 ECA qualification flight lifts off in October, one of the ‘passengers’ will be 33.5 litres of water. Onboard will be the experimental Sloshsat-FLEVO satellite, designed to help European scientists find out more about the movement of water in microgravity and its effects on satellites.
Sloshsat-FLEVO is aptly named: slosh for the movement of water, sat for satellite and FLEVO, the project’s acronym: Facility for Liquid Experimentation and Verification in Orbit. Flev
New research indicates that helping others raises quality of life for British Citizens.
When we volunteer our time to do something for others, such as helping out an elderly neighbour or taking part in a local community project, it can be good news for our health, our children’s education and even reduce the local crime rate too.
Recent research funded by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) has revealed that people who live in areas that record high levels of inf
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