Suspicion resides in two regions of the brain

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice. Shame on my parahippocampal gyrus.

Scientists at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have found that suspicion resides in two distinct regions of the brain: the amygdala, which plays a central role in processing fear and emotional memories, and the parahippocampal gyrus, which is associated with declarative memory and the recognition of scenes.

"We wondered how individuals assess other people's credibility in simple social interactions," said Read Montague, director of the Human Neuroimaging Laboratory and the Computational Psychiatry Unit at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, who led the study. "We found a strong correlation between the amygdala and a baseline level of distrust, which may be based on a person's beliefs about the trustworthiness of other people in general, his or her emotional state, and the situation at hand. What surprised us is that when other people's behaviour aroused suspicion, the parahippocampal gyrus lit up, acting like an inborn lie detector."

The scientists used functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, to study the neural basis of suspicion. Seventy-six pairs of players, each with a buyer and a seller, competed in 60 rounds of a simple bargaining game while having their brains scanned. At the beginning of each round, the buyer would learn the value of a hypothetical widget and suggest a price to the seller. The seller would then set the price. If the seller's price fell below the widget's given value, the trade would go through, with the seller receiving the selling price and the buyer receiving any difference between the selling price and the actual value. If the seller's price exceeded the value, though, the trade would not execute, and neither party would receive cash.

The authors found, as detailed in a previous paper that buyers fell into three strategic categories: 42 per cent were incrementalists, who were relatively honest about the widget's value; 37 per cent were conservatives, who adopted the strategy of withholding information; and 21 per cent were strategists, who were actively deceptive, mimicking incrementalist behaviour by sending high suggestions during low-value trials and then reaping greater benefits by sending low suggestions during high-value trials.

The sellers had a monetary incentive to read the buyers' strategic profiles correctly. Yet, they received no feedback about the accuracy of the information they were receiving, so they could not confirm any suspicions about behaviour patterns. Without feedback, the sellers were forced to decide whether to trust the buyers based on the pricing suggestions alone. "The more uncertain a seller was about a buyer's credibility," Montague said, "the more active his or her parahippocampal gyrus became."

The authors believe a person's baseline suspicion may have important consequences for his or her financial success. "People with a high baseline suspicion were often interacting with fairly trustworthy buyers, so in ignoring the information those buyers provided, they were giving up potential profits," said Meghana Bhatt, the first author on the research paper. "Recognizing credible information in a competitive environment can be just as important as detecting untrustworthy behavior."

The findings may also have implications for such psychiatric conditions as paranoia and anxiety disorders, said Montague. "The fact that increased amygdala activation corresponds to an inability to detect trustworthy behavior may provide insight into the social interactions of people with anxiety disorders, who often have increased activity in this area of the brain," he said.

The research appeared in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on May 10 in the article "Distinct contributions of the amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus to suspicion in a repeated bargaining game" by Meghana Bhatt, PhD, an assistant research professor at the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, Calif.; Terry Lohrenz, PhD, a research assistant professor in the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute; Colin F. Camerer
, PhD, the Robert Kirby Professor of Behavioral Economics at the California Institute of Technology; and Montague, PhD, the corresponding author, who is a professor of physics at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and in the College of Science at Virginia Tech. The research was supported by grants to Read Montague from the Wellcome Trust and the National Institutes of Health.

Provided by Virginia Tech

"Suspicion resides in two regions of the brain." May 17th, 2012. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-suspicion-resides-regions-brain.html

Posted by

Robert Karl Stonjek

Old Indian Temples

Temple at Bhaniyar, Kashmir - 1880's

Martand Sun Temple - Kashmir 1900's

Hoysaleswara temple, Karnataka - 1870's

 Hoysaleswara temple is a temple dedicated to Hindu God Shiva. It was built in Halebidu (in modern Karnataka state) during the Hoysala Empire rule in the 12th century by King Vishnuvardhana. The construction was completed in 1121 CE. During the early 14th century, Halebidu was sacked and looted by Muslim invaders from northern India and the temple fell into a state of ruin and neglect. 

 One of Seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram - Tamil Nadu Early 19One of Seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram - Tamil Nadu Early 1900's00's

One of Seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram Early 1900's

Rock Temple - Somewhere in India 19th Century Photograph

Kailash Temple of Ellora, Maharashtra - Vintage Photograph 1880's

Hathee Singh Jain Temple - Ahmedabad c1868

Hathee Singh temple is a famous Jain temple. It was constructed in 1850. The temple was named after its founder Seth Hathee Singh. He was a wealthy Jain merchant. This temple was built in the dedication of the 15th Jain Trithanakara Dharmnath. The temple is famous for its architectural styling and designing that consists of intricate carvings. 

 

Temple Decorated with Terracotta Designs - Circa 1900's

Beach Candy. Mahaluxumee Temple - Bombay (Mumbai) - 19th Century Photograph

Walkeshwur Temples & Tanks - Bombay (Mumbai) - 19th Century Photograph

Vintage Photograph of Temples in the Suburbs of Calcutta (Kolkata) - Mid 19th Century (between 1858 - 1861)

Shiv Temples at Dakshineswar Kali Temple - Albumen Photograph Calcutta (Kolkata) 1880's

Golden Temple of Amritsar, Punjab - c1860's

Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib Sikh Gurdwara in Amritsar Punjab - 1880's

Shankaracharya temple on Takht-e-Suleiman hill - Srinagar Kashmir 1880's

Splendid Beauty Of Desert Life photography

Taj Mahal - Corinna (1968)

Ed Odel
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks (born May 17, 1942), who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music. A self-taught singer-songwriter and film composer who plays the guitar, banjo and harmonica (among many other instruments)...

From the album Natch'l Blues - what a beauty!

Album credits:
* Taj Mahal - harmonica, Mississippi "National" steel bodied guitar, vocals

* Jesse Ed Davis - guitar, piano, brass arrangements
* Gary Gilmore - bass
* Chuck Blackwell - drums
* Al Kooper - piano
* Earl Palmer - drums

• 
  

Health Benefits of " Spinach "

                                                                                          

1 ) Anti-Cancerous Property: Spinach made up of various important constituents is promising in various kinds of cancer. These include Bladder, Prostate, Liver and Lung Cancer. Different constituents in spinach like folate, tocopherol, and chlorophyllin act via different mechanisms to treat and protect patients suffering from cancer. İt can repair the damaged genes to some extent thereby preventing Skin Cancer in the long run.

2 ) Atherosclerosis and Heart Attack: Atherosclerosis is caused due to hardening of arteries. A pigment named lutein found in spinach has been shown to reduce the occurrence atherosclerosis, heart attack as well as stroke. This is because spinach proteins tend to reduce the cholesterol and other fat deposits in the blood vessels.

3 ) Immunity: spinach contains Antioxidants ( vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, manganese, zinc and selenium) vitamin A that not only protects and strengthens "entry points" into the human body, such as mucous membranes, respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts, but is also a key component of lymphocytes (or white blood cells) that Fight İnfection. 

4 ) Blood Pressure: Spinach has high content of potassium and low content of sodium. This composition of minerals is very beneficial for high blood pressure patients as potassium lowers and sodium raises the blood pressure. Folate present in spinach contributes in reducing hypertension and relaxes blood vessels, maintaining proper blood flow.

5 ) Anti-Ulcerative: It has been found that spinach and some other vegetables can protect the mucous membrane of stomach thereby decreasing the occurrence of gastric ulcers.

6 ) Neurological Benefits: Several components of spinach like potassium, folate, and various antioxidants are known to provide neurological benefits. According to Neurology, folate which reduces due to the occurrence of Alzheimer's Disease can be revived by spinach.

7 ) Bone Mineralization: Spinach is a good source of Viatmin K, which functions in retaining calcium in the bone matrix thereby leading to bone mineralization. Apart from this, other minerals like manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus also help in building up of strong bones. This in turn can prevent an individual from osteoporosis of bones.

8 ) Pregnant Women : 

a ) Foetus Development: Folate found in spinach is needed by the growing foetus for proper development of new nervous system. Defects like cleft palate or spina bifida may occur due to deficiency of folate. Vitamin A offered by spinach is advised to be consumed in more quantities by the mother. Vitamin A is required in lung development of foetus as well as during Breast Feeding.

b ) Protein Rich for Infant’s Proper Growth: ‘Popeye’, the sailor man is known for his obsession for spinach. The cartoon was deliberately shown to eat spinach and get strong. Infants are advised to be fed with spinach which is a rich in protein, vitamins minerals and phytonutrients. These will result in proportionate development in there growing stages.

9 ) Eye Health : 

a ) Cataract: Lutein and zeaxanthin present in spinach act as strong antioxidants thus preventing the eyes from harsh effects of UV rays that lead to cataract.

b ) Good Eyesight: Spinach is a rich source of beta carotene, lutein and xanthene, all of which are beneficial for eyesight. Beta carotene is supplied to the eyes by cooked spinach. It can prevent one from vitamin A deficiency disease, itching eyes, eye ulcers and dry eyes

சிவப்பழமான ஆஞ்சநேயர்...!

,

     அனுமார் மிக சிறந்த ராம பக்தர் என்பது உலகறிந்த சங்கதி ஆனால் அவரை சிவ அம்சம் பொருந்தியவர் என்று சிலர் கூறுவது ஏன்? 

சங்கரநாராயணன்,வில்லிவாக்கம் 

   வைஷ்ணவ சம்பிரதாயத்தில் கருடாழ்வாரை பெரிய திருவடி என்று அழைப்பார்கள் அதே போலவே ஆஞ்சநேயருக்கும் சிறிய திருவடி என்ற சிறப்பு பட்டம் உண்டு ராம அவதாரத்தில் பகவானுக்கு தொண்டு செய்து தாசானுதாசனாக வாழ்ந்ததனால் இந்த சிறப்பை அனுமன் பெறுகிறார்

அத்தகைய அனுமன் சிவ அம்சம் பொருந்தியவர் என்பது அதியசயமான உண்மையாகும் திரேதா யுகத்தில் குஞ்சரன் என்ற மகாசிவபக்தன் வாழ்ந்தான் அவனுக்கு வெகுநாட்களாக குழந்தைகள் இல்லை குழந்தைவரம் வேண்டி அதுவும் ஆண் குழந்தை வேண்டுமென்று சிவபெருமானை நோக்கி அவன் கடுதவம் மேற்கொண்டான்

குஞ்சரனின் தவத்தை மெச்சிய கைலாச நாதன் அவன் முன்னால் தோன்றி உனக்கு என்ன வரம் வேண்டும் என்று கேட்டார் தனக்கு அழகான ஆண்குழந்தை வேண்டுமென்று அவன் சொன்னான் அதற்கு சிவபெருமான் உனது கர்மப்படி ஆண்குழந்தை பெறுகின்ற பாக்கியம் உனக்கில்லை ஆனால் மகாபதிவிரதையாக ஒரு மகளை பெறுவாய் அவள் மூலம் என் அம்சத்தில் உனக்கொரு பேரன் பிறப்பான் என்று வரம் கொடுத்தாராம்

குஞ்சரன் மிகவும் சந்தோசபட்டான் குழந்தை இல்லையே என்று வருந்துவதை விட பிள்ளை கலி தீர்க்க பெண் குழந்தையாவது பிறக்கட்டுமென்று தவத்தை முடித்து வீட்டுக்கு போனான் அவனுக்கு சில நாளில் அஞ்சனா என்ற அழகான மகள் பிறந்தாள்

கன்னிபருவம்' எய்திய அஞ்சனா தேவி கேசரி என்ற வானர வீரனை காந்தர்வ முறையில் மணம் முடித்தாள் அஞ்சானா தேவி முன் குறத்தி வடிவாக வந்த தர்மதேவதை திருவேங்கட மலைக்கு சென்று தவம் செய் அதன் பயனாக தேஜசும் வீரியமும் நிறைந்த மகன் பிறப்பான் என்று சொன்னாள்

அஞ்சனா தேவியும் திருமலை சென்று தனது தவத்தை துவங்கினாள் பக்தி சிரத்தையோடு அவள் செய்த தவம் வாய்வு பகவானுக்கு மிகவும் பிடித்துவிட்டது அவள் தவத்திற்கு தன்னால் முடிந்த உதவி செய்யவேண்டும் என்று விரும்பி தினசரி ஒரு பழத்தை அவள் அறியாமல் அவள் முன்னால் வைத்து போனான் ஒருநாள் சிவபூஜைக்காக வைத்திருந்த பழம் ஒன்றை எடுத்து அவள் இருந்த இடத்தில் வைத்து விட்டான்

கண்விழித்து பார்த்த அஞ்சானா தேவி தன்முன்னால் இருந்த பழத்தை வணங்கி சாப்பிட்டாள் அப்போதே அவள் கர்பவதியானாள் சிவனுக்கான பழம் என்பதனால் சிவ அம்சத்தோடும் வாயு பகவான் அதை கொடுத்ததினால் வாயு புத்திரனாகவும் அஞ்சனா தேவிக்கு பிறந்த அனுமான் கருதபடுகிறார்

எனவே ஆஞ்சநேயர் சைவ வைஷ்ணவ ஒற்றுமை சின்னம் என்றே கருததக்கவர் ஆவார் அவரை பக்தியோடு வணங்கினால் பக்தர்கள் வேண்டி விரும்பி கேட்கும் நியாயமான கோரிக்கைகள் எதை வேண்டுமென்றாலும் நிறைவேற்றி வைப்பார்.

Parents are happier than non-parents, new research suggests

New research by psychologists at three North American universities, including the University of British Columbia, finds that parents experience greater levels of happiness and meaning from life than non-parents.

The findings, which contrast sharply with recent scholarship and popular beliefs, suggest that parents are happier caring for children than they are during other daily activities. The research also suggests that the benefits of parenthood appear more consistently in men and older and married parents.

To be published in the journal Psychological Science, the findings are among a new wave of research that suggests that parenthood comes with relatively more positives than negatives, despite the added responsibilities. The research also dovetails with emerging evolutionary perspectives that suggest parenting may be a fundamental human need.

"This series of studies suggest that parents are not nearly the 'miserable creatures' we might expect from recent studies and popular representations," says UBC Psychology Prof. Elizabeth Dunn, who co-authored the study with colleagues at the University of California, Riverside and Stanford University. "If you went to a large dinner party, our findings suggest that the parents in the room would be as happy or happier than those guests without children."

Over three studies, the researchers tested whether parents are happier overall than their childless peers, if parents feel better moment-to-moment than non-parents, and whether parents experience more positive feelings when taking care of children than during their other daily activities. The consistency of their findings, based on data and participants in both the U.S. and Canada, provides strong evidence challenging the notion that children are associated with reduced well-being, the researchers say.

The study identifies age and marital status as factors in parental happiness. "We find that if you are older (and presumably more mature) and if you are married (and presumably have more social and financial support), then you're likely to be happier if you have children than your childless peers," says co-author Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at UC Riverside. "This is not true, however, for single parents or very young parents."

Fathers in particular expressed greater levels of happiness, positive emotion and meaning in life than their childless peers. "Interestingly, the greater levels of parental happiness emerged more consistently in fathers than mothers," says Dunn. "While more research is needed on this topic, it suggests that the pleasures of parenthood may be offset by the surge in responsibility and housework that arrives with motherhood," she says.

The researchers also found that the stresses associated with single parenthood did not wipe out the greater feelings of meaning and reward associated with having children.

"We are not saying that parenting makes people happy, but that parenthood is associated with happiness and meaning," Lyubomirsky says. "Contrary to repeated scholarly and media pronouncements, people may find solace that parenthood and child care may actually be linked to feelings of happiness and meaning in life."

Provided by University of British Columbia

"Parents are happier than non-parents, new research suggests." May 17th, 2012. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-parents-happier-non-parents.html

Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek

Research shows how to increase mental wellbeing and feel happy

Why is it that some people seem to waltz through life in a bubble of happiness, when for others each day is a struggle? Should we just accept the personality we're born with? Or can we act and think ourselves to happiness?

Victoria University PhD researcher Dr Erica Chadwick spent three years examining 'savouring strategies'—the thoughts and behaviours people use to create, maintain or enhance positive experiences—to ascertain what strategies were most effective for overall wellbeing and happiness.

While past research has examined how people savour major but fleeting events, such as going on holiday or receiving a high mark at school, Dr Chadwick investigated the impact of the minor, everyday positive events that make up life.

"I wanted to know not only what increased the feeling of happiness for a moment, but what made a difference to mental wellbeing over time. I also wanted to examine how savouring strategies changed from adolescence to adulthood."

Her research gathered the actions and thoughts of more than 400 young New Zealanders in the Bay of Plenty and 1,500 adults from across New Zealand and overseas, and grouped them into four overall strategies.

Actively boosting feelings of happiness involved physical actions such as celebrating by jumping up and down, high fiving or rushing over to a friend to share good news.

Subtle actions included being more mindful of your surroundings, living in the moment and paying greater attention to your enjoyment of minor events—such as savouring a meal.

Self-focused actions included thinking about being a lucky or fortunate person. They also included congratulating oneself after an achievement and actively realising a moment would be a memory to enjoy again in the future.

Dampening or "keeping things low key" had a negative effect on mental wellbeing.

"What I found interesting as I analysed my research results was that while subtle strategies such as mindfulness positively influenced adult wellbeing, they had a negative effect on adolescents. Instead, self-focused actions were the most powerful savouring strategies for youth," says Dr Chadwick.

"They may be the most effective because teenagers are naturally inward-looking, or it might be because New Zealanders' humble attitude and tall poppy syndrome thwart the effectiveness of more public behaviours."

Dr Chadwick says that for everyone, regardless of age, research clearly shows that meaningful social connections with family and friends remains the most valuable tool for feeling happy and mentally well.

Dr Chadwick graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Tuesday's Graduation ceremony.

How to feel happier and improve your mental wellbeing:

1. Activate your mind:  savouring is a conscious process so look for opportunities to make more of an experience or event, but don’t over think it.

2. Share positive news with other people, especially with those who’ll be happy for you too.

3. Acknowledge your achievements: although this might be anathema to New Zealanders, the research showed taking a moment to congratulate yourself, even silently, greatly improves your wellbeing.

4. And for adults particularly, slow down to more mindfully appreciate day to day activities. Be in the moment.

Provided by Victoria University

"Research shows how to increase mental wellbeing and feel happy." May 17th, 2012. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-mental-wellbeing-happy.html

Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek

பிதாகரஸ் தேற்றம்

கணித தேர்விற்காக பிதாகரஸ் தேற்றத்தை மனப்பாடம் செய்து கொண்டிருந்தாள் அமிர்தா.
இதை... கேட்டபடியே உள்ள வந்து கொண்டிருந்த அமிர்தாவின் பாட்டனார் இரத்தினம், "என்னம்மா பிதாகரஸ் தேற்றத்தை மனப்பாடம் செய்கிறாயா?" என்றார்.
"ஆமாம் தாத்தா. ரொம்ப கடினமா இருக்கு, இதை எப்படித்தான் கண்டுபிடிச்சாங்களோ!" என்றாள்.

இரத்தினம் தாத்தா: "இந்த தேற்றம் கி.மு 500ல் பிதாகரஸ் என்ற கணித அறிஞர் தொகுத்தார், அதனால் "பிதாகரஸ் தேற்றம்" என்று பெயர் வந்தது. ஆனால் அதுக்கும் முந்தியே நம்ம தமிழ் அறிவியலாளர்கள் அதை பாட்டாவே சொல்லிருக்காங்க தெரியுமா"

அமிர்தா: "சும்மா பொய் சொல்லாதீங்க தாத்தா"

இரத்தினம் தாத்தா: "சொல்றேன் கேள்,
இன்றைக்கு நாம் அனைவரும் சொல்லிக்கொண்டிருக்கின்ற பிதாகரஸ் கோட்பாடு (Pythagoras Theorem) என்ற கணித முறையை, பிதாகரஸ் என்பவர் கண்டறிவதற்கு முன்னரே, போதையனார் என்னும் புலவர் தனது செய்யுளிலே சொல்லியிருக்கிறார்.

"ஓடும் நீளம் தனை ஒரேஎட்டுக்
கூறு ஆக்கி கூறிலே ஒன்றைத்
தள்ளி குன்றத்தில் பாதியாய்ச் சேர்த்தால்
வருவது கர்ணம் தானே"
- போதையனார்
விளக்கம்:

இவற்றின் பொருள் செங்கோண முக்கோணத்தின், நீளத்தில் (அடிப்பாகம்) 8 பங்கில் ஒன்றைக் கழித்துவிட்டு உயரத்தில் பாதியை எடுத்து கூட்டினால் வரும் நீள அளவே கர்ணம் என்பதாகும். இவ்வளவு எளிமையாக கர்ணத்தின் நீளம் காணும் வாய்ப்பட்டை விட்டுவிட்டு வர்க்கமூலம், பெருக்கல் என பிதார்கரஸ் தியரம் சொல்லிவருவதை நாம் பயன்படுத்துகிறோம் இன்று.

இக்கணித முறையைக் கொண்டுதான், அக்காலத்தில் குன்றுகளின் உயரம் மற்றும் உயரமான இடத்தை அடைய நாம் நடந்து செல்லவேண்டிய தூரம் போன்றவைகள் கணக்கிடப்பட்டுள்ளன.

போதையனார் கோட்பாட்டின் சிறப்பம்சம் என்னவென்றால், வர்க்கமூலம் அதாவது Square root இல்லாமலேயே, நம்மால் இந்த கணிதமுறையை பயன்படுத்த முடியும்.

தமிழன் ஒரு வேலை கற்றலையும் / கல்வியையும் பொதுவுடமையாக, உலகறியச் செய்து இருந்தால் .... அவர்கள் தரணி எங்கும் அறியப்பட்டு இருப்பார்கள்." என்றார்.

அமிர்தா: "தாத்தா இது ரொம்ப எளிதாக இருக்கு, இதை படிச்சாலே நான் எளிதாக தேர்வில் எழுதி முழு மதிப்பெண்ணும் வாங்கிடுவேன். ரொம்ப நன்றி தாத்தா" என்றாள்.

நாமும் நம்மிடையே உள்ள சிறப்புகளை, எடுத்துரைத்தால் இன்றைய மாணவர்களும் எளிதில் தேர்ச்சி பெறுவார்கள் என்பது திண்ணம்.

சிந்திப்பார்களா நம் ஆசிரியர்கள்!

C = [{a-(a/8)}+{b/2}]

-- 
K.Kunanathan
Assistant Commissioner of Local Government,
St.Antony's Road,
Trincomalee.

எம்பி3 பிளேயரை, ஹெட் செட் மாட்டி கேட்டு வருபவர் களுக்கு, மிக இளம் வயதிலேயே காது கேட் கும் திறன் படிப்படியாக குறையத் தொடங் குகிறது

வாக்மேன் மறைந்து எம்பி3 பிளேயர் வந்த போது, இசையை ரசிக்க, அனைவரும் அதற்கு மாறினர். மிகத் துல்லிதமான இசை, எவ்வளவு நேரம் வேண்டுமானாலும் தொடர்ந்து பிரச்னை இன்றி தரும் வசதி ஆகியவற்றினால், பலரும் இதன்பால் ஈர்க்கப்பட்டனர்.

ஆனால், இது வேறு சில பிரச்னைகளைத் தருவதாக, டெல் அவிவ் பல்கலைக் கழகம் நடத்திய ஆய்வில் தெரிய வந்துள்ளது. தொடர்ந்து எம்பி3 பிளேயரை, ஹெட் செட் மாட்டி கேட்டு வருபவர் களுக்கு, மிக இளம் வயதிலேயே காது கேட் கும் திறன் படிப்படியாக குறையத் தொடங் குகிறது என்று கண்டறிந்துள்ளனர்.

தற்போது நால்வரில் ஒருவருக்கு இது உறுதிப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது என்றும் இந்த ஆய்வினை மேற்கொண்ட விஞ்ஞானிகள் எச்சரித்துள்ளனர். எம்பி3 பிளேயர் மட்டு மின்றி, தற்போது பரவலாகப் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டு வரும் ஐ-பாட் மியூசிக் பிளேயர் பயன் படுத்துபவர்களின் கதியும் இதே தான் என வும் கூறி உள்ளனர்.

இதனால், இன்னும் 10 அல்லது 20 ஆண்டுகள் கழித்து, ஒரு சந்ததியே செவிகளின் கேட்புத் திறன் குறைவாக உள்ளதாக அமைந்துவிடும் என்றும் எச்சரித்து உள்ளனர்.

அதிக சத்தத்தில் பாடல்களைக் கேட்பதனால், தொடர்ந்து தாங்க முடியாத அளவிற்கு ஒலி அலைகள் காதுகள் வழியாகமூளைக்குப் பயணமாகின்றன. இவை ஏற்படுத்தும் தீய விளைவுகளை, உடனடி யாக நாம் அறிய முடிவதில்லை. படிப் படியாக அவை நம் கேட்கும் திறனைக் குறைக்கின்றன.

தெரிய வரும்போது இதற்கான தீர்வு கிடைப்பதில்லை. வளரும் இந்த தீய பழக்கம் குறித்து பள்ளிகள் மற்றும் கல்லூரிகளில் மாணவர் களுக்கு அறிவித்தால் நல்லது.

Preventing cancer development inside the cell cycle

Researchers from the NYU Cancer Institute, an NCI-designated cancer center at NYU Langone Medical Center, have identified a cell cycle-regulated mechanism behind the transformation of normal cells into cancerous cells. The study shows the significant role that protein networks can play in a cell leading to the development of cancer. The study results, published in the October 21 issue of the journal Molecular Cell, suggest that inhibition of the CK1 enzyme may be a new therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer cells formed as a result of a malfunction in the cell’s mTOR signaling pathway.

In the study, NYU Cancer Institute researchers examined certain multi-protein complexes and protein regulators in cancer cells. Researchers identified a major role for the multi-protein complex called SCF^βTrCP . It assists in the removal from cancer cells the recently discovered protein DEPTOR, an inhibitor of the mTOR pathway. SCF (Skp1, Cullin1, F-box protein) ubiquitin ligase complexes are responsible for the removal of unnecessary proteins from a cell.

This degradation of proteins by the cell’s ubiquitin system controls cell growth and prevents malignant cell transformation. Researchers show that inhibiting the ability of SCF^βTrCP to degrade DEPTOR in cells can result in blocking the proliferation of cancer cells. In addition, researchers discovered that the activity of CK1 (Casein Kinase 1), a protein that regulates signaling pathways in most cells, is needed for SCF^βTrCP to successfully promote the degradation of DEPTOR.

“Low levels of DEPTOR and high levels of mTOR activity are found in many cancers, including cancers of the breast, prostate, and lung,” said senior study author Michele Pagano, MD, the May Ellen and Gerald Jay Ritter Professor of Oncology and Professor of Pathology at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. “It is critical for researchers to better understand how the protein DEPTOR is regulated. Our study shows it would be advantageous to increase the levels of DEPTOR in many types of cancer cells to inhibit mTOR and prevent cell proliferation.”

The mTOR pathway (mammalian Target Of Rapamycin) regulates the growth, proliferation, and survival of a cell, and its proper regulation is essential to prevent the formation of cancer cells. DEPTOR interrupts the mTOR pathway by binding to mTOR protein complexes and blocking their enzymatic activities, restraining cell growth. This helps support the proliferation and survival of cancer cells.

Study experiments showed that a reduction of SCF^βTrCP and CK1 proteins in cells resulted in accumulation of DEPTOR. Also, DEPTOR was destroyed in cells only when SCF^βTrCP and CK1 were both present. Thus, inhibition of SCF^βTrCP or CK1 represents a novel and promising way to inhibit the mTOR pathway. A pharmacologic inhibitor of CK1 was tested by researchers and shown to successfully stabilize DEPTOR in cells, while other pharmacological agents had no effect.

“Our study findings demonstrate that DEPTOR is regulated by the protein complex in cells reentering the cell cycle, and deregulation of this event could contribute to the aberrant activation of the mTOR pathway in cancer,” said lead author Shanshan Duan, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Pathology at NYU School of Medicine in Dr. Pagano’s Laboratory. “This study suggests a novel approach to stop the deregulation of the mTOR pathway in cancer cells with promising small molecule inhibitors of CK1.This study is another step forward in the translation of laboratory findings into more effective approaches to cancer prevention and treatment.”

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This study was done in collaboration with the NYU Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology, and Hebrew University in Israel.

Delivery system for gene therapy may help treat arthritis

Researchers report that a DNA-covered submicroscopic bead used to deliver genes or drugs directly into cells to treat disease appears to have therapeutic value just by showing up.

Within a few hours of injecting empty-handed DNA nanoparticles, Georgia Health Sciences University researchers were surprised to see increased expression of an enzyme that calms the immune response.

Researchers report in the study featured on the cover of The Journal of Immunology that the enhanced expression of indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase, or IDO, significantly reduced the hallmark limb joint swelling and inflammation of this debilitating autoimmune disease in an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis.

“It’s like pouring water on a fire,” said Dr. Andrew L. Mellor, Director of the GHSU’s Medical College of Georgia Immunotherapy Center and the study’s corresponding author. “The fire is burning down the house, which in this case is the tissue normally required for your joints to work smoothly,” Mellor said of the immune system’s inexplicable attack on bone-cushioning cartilage. “When IDO levels are high, there is more water to control the fire.”

Several delivery systems are used for gene therapy, which is used to treat conditions including cancer, HIV infection and Parkinson’s disease. The new findings suggest the DNA nanoparticle technique is also valuable for autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, type 1 diabetes and lupus. “We want to induce IDO because it protects healthy tissue from destruction by the immune system,” Mellor said.

The researchers were exploring IDO’s autoimmune treatment potential by inserting the human IDO gene into DNA nanoparticles. They hoped to enhance IDO expression in their arthritis model when Dr. Lei Huang, Assistant Research Scientist and the paper’s first author, serendipitously found that the DNA nanoparticle produced the desired result. Exactly how and why is still being pursued. Early evidence suggests that immune cells called phagocytes, white blood cells that gobble up undesirables like bacteria and dying cells, start making more IDO in response to the DNA nanoparticle’s arrival. “Phagocytes eat it and respond quickly to it, and the effect we measure is IDO,” Mellor said.

Dr. Tracy L. McGaha, a GHSU immunologist and co-author of the current study, recently discovered that similar cells also prevented the development of systemic lupus erythematosus in mice.

Follow-up studies include documenting all cells that respond by producing more IDO. GHSU researchers work with biopolymer experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California, Berkeley and the Georgia Institute of Technology to identify the optimal polymer.

The polymer used in the study is not biodegradable, so the researchers need one that will eventually safely degrade in the body. Ideally, it would also target specific cells, such as those near inflamed joints, to minimise any potential ill effects.

“It’s like a bead, and you wrap the DNA around it,” Mellor said of the polymer. While the DNA does not have to carry anything to get the desired response, in this case, DNA itself is essential to make cells express IDO. To ensure that IDO expression was responsible for the improvements, they also performed experiments in mice given an IDO inhibitor in their drinking water and in mice genetically altered to not express IDO. “Without access to the IDO pathway, the therapy no longer works,” Mellor said.

Drs. Andrew Mellor and David Munn reported in 1998 in the journal Science that the fetus expresses IDO to help avoid rejection by the mother’s immune system. Subsequent studies have shown that tumours also use IDO for protection, and clinical trials are studying the tumour-fighting potential of an IDO inhibitor. On the flip side, there is evidence that increasing IDO expression can protect transplanted organs and counter autoimmune disease.

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Mellor is the Bradley-Turner and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Molecular Immunogenetics at MCG. The research was funded by the Carlos and Marguerite Mason Trust and the National Institutes of Health, and a patent is pending on the findings.