Solving technology problems, one at a time
This pot-bellied piglet is about 10 days old, and lives at Domino’s petting farm. We were told that these pigs are mostly used as pets, are very smart, and keep their enclosure clean. There are about 20 of these little critters running around in the pen, and they all sleep together in a long line.
Extra! Extra! This Piglet featured on Cute Overload!
Research on the causes of autism is still at the stage where many etiologies seem possible. Althought a genetic link is likely, it may play a role of predisposition to another factor rather than being the only necessary and sufficient cause of autism.
One such connection being explored is the role of gastrointestinal infections in promoting autistic type behaviors.
This blog entry written by an occupational therapist refers to improvement in a young patient’s autistic type behaviors after she was treated for a Clostridium Bacteria infection.
Continue readingThe British Museum, probably my favorite museum in the whole world, is a monument to curiosity, exploration and a refreshingly innocent nineteenth-century sense of national entitlement to the best the world has to offer.
The Great Court of the British Museum, transformed into a glass-covered public space in 2000 for the millennium. More…
Blocking TGF-β-Smad2/3 innate immune signaling mitigates Alzheimer-like pathology.
A new possible treatment target has been demonstrated by a group of researchers working with transgenic mice that are used to model Alzheimer’s in humans. According to New Scientist:
“Richard Flavell at Yale University and colleagues created transgenic mice predisposed to develop brain plaques, and doubly transgenic mice that also had a gene that blocks TGF-beta, a chemical used by the immune system.”
“The researchers expected the second set to fare worse than the first. But to their surprise, the doubly transgenic mice performed better on various mazes”…
Continue readingIt seems a species of pig that was thought to be extinct was really just hiding out in people’s gardens. They have been rescued from the brink, and are being re-introduced to the wild in
Continue readingTumor Necrosis Factor is a type of signaling molecule (cytokine) involved in inflammation. It has been found to be an important factor in a variety of disease processes, because it promotes the inflammatory response which,
Continue readingAfter a trip to the new Borders in Ann Arbor yesterday, and another disgruntled look at their Sony ebook reader, I’ve come up with a wishlist for the perfect ebook reader. It folds up, into
Continue readingI shot this picture of a saguaro cactus in March of 2006 in Sabino Canyon, just outside Tucson, AZ. This is located near the nature center there, before you start going up the canyon. It
Continue readingThe influenza virus is unique in its ability to mutate and adapt, with new variants arising every year in animal populations around the world. This has been the chief obstacle to creating a once-in-a-lifetime vaccine
Continue readingThe last year saw some very exciting developments in Alzheimer’s research. Among them, the relationship of inflamation processes to cognitive decline and a possible relationship of the herpes simplex virus in the presence of a certain genotype to the development of Alzheimers.
Simon Cooke, who writes a blog called the "Accidental Scientist," has posted a very readable and informative summary of some of the most interesting highlights of the latest research. He does a great job of explaining the new discoveries, and speculates about links between infectious diseases and chronic diseases yet to be confirmed. In particular his post on the use of an anti-inflammatory drug to treat Alzheimers – in minutes!, and his post on the possible role of Herpes in many chronic diseases are particularly worth reading.
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