“Hammerheads see the big picture - Honolulu Advertiser” plus 4 more |
- Hammerheads see the big picture - Honolulu Advertiser
- TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Adds Genetic Association and Copy ... - PR Inside
- 5 Questions: All by themselves - Argus Leader
- Applied Biosystems Debuts Industry's First Acoustic Flow Cytometer - Phramalive.com
- TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Adds Genetic Association and - MSN Money
| Hammerheads see the big picture - Honolulu Advertiser Posted: 07 Dec 2009 07:50 AM PST A new study involving hammerhead sharks from Kane'ohe Bay indicates the weird-looking creatures have outstanding binocular eyesight and a 360-degree field of vision. Binocular vision, which occurs when the view fields of two eyes overlap, gives the sharks excellent depth perception, making it easier for them to pinpoint squid, fish and other prey against the one-dimensional backdrop of an expansive blue ocean and to avoid becoming prey for larger sharks, said Mikki McComb, a researcher at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. "Being able to see what's happening all around you is certainly an advantage," she said. Scientists have debated whether the wide-spaced placement of the hammerhead's eyes improves its vision or makes it more difficult for the shark to look forward. "To be honest, when we first started the project, I thought no way the hammerhead would have binocular vision," McComb said. Her study examined three hammerhead shark species, ranging from the bonnethead, with its semicircular head that resembles a shovel, to the winghead hammerhead, whose long and narrow lateral head blades measure half the length of its body. In between is the scalloped hammerhead found in Kane'ohe Bay. Six juvenile scalloped hammerheads were caught by McComb and associates and taken to the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology on Coconut Island, where they were anesthetized and strapped to a stationary board in an aerated tank. Using an electroretinogram technique, researchers measured the sharks' field of view by sweeping a weak beam of light in horizontal and vertical arcs around each eye and recording the eye's electrical activity. McComb said the tests took 60 to 90 minutes, after which the sharks were returned to the ocean. The researchers also examined winghead hammerheads in Australia and bonnethead hammerheads, and "normal-looking" lemon and blacknose sharks from Florida. The results showed the winghead hammerhead — the shark with the widest head — had the best binocular vision, with a 48-degree overlap of visual fields, nearly four times that of the "normal" sharks. The scalloped hammerheads showed a 34-degree overlap, and the bonnethead was at 13 degrees, not much better than the lemon and blacknose sharks. When researchers factored in eye rotation and head movements, the forward binocular overlaps stretched to 69 degrees for the scalloped hammerheads and 52 degrees for the bonnetheads. "We found that hammerheads not only have frontal vision but binocular vision and overlaps that are even larger than in normal sharks," McComb said. "And the binocular overlap increases with the lateral expansion of the head." The study also found the sharks compensate for blind spots by rotating their eyes and moving their heads while swimming. "When they move their head and move their eyes, they can actually see 360 degrees around their head," McComb said. Hammerheads are one of the most recently evolved groups of sharks, and McComb said the study suggests the benefit of enhanced vision may have influenced evolution of the shark's unusual head. Still unanswered, she said, are questions about whether the hammerhead's lateral head blades improve its sense of smell and electrosensory capabilities, and aid swimming by producing hydrodynamic lift. Teaming up with McComb for the research were Stephen Kajiura of Florida Atlantic University and Timothy Tricas of the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology. Their research is published in the Nov. 27 Journal of Experimental Biology. Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com. • • • 
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| TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Adds Genetic Association and Copy ... - PR Inside Posted: 07 Dec 2009 08:04 AM PST 2009-12-07 17:06:39 -
Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) introduced GeneSpring GX 11, : Designed to support multi-omics research, GeneSpring 11 adds capabilities for genetic association analysis using genotyping data, genomic copy number analysis, and other analytical and visualization tools to facilitate comparison of these heterogeneous data. Agilent's bioinformatics portfolio also includes Mass Profiler Professional, : built on the same platform as GeneSpring, supporting proteomics and metabolomics data analysis."The multi-omics approach to defining mechanism of disease in systems biology research has created a bioinformatics bottleneck, where the ability to extract biological knowledge from the data often lags behind the ability to generate the data," said Chris Grimley, Agilent senior director of marketing, Genomics. "GeneSpring 11 was developed with this bottleneck in mind and addresses some of the challenges of integrative analysis." "GeneSpring 11 represents a significant advance in data analysis software for life sciences," said Bruce Aronow, Ph.D, scientific director of the Center for Computational Medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and a longtime GeneSpring user. "Here we see for the first time an all-wheel driving machine for multi-omics technologies that shape a new roadmap for integrative systems biology." In GeneSpring 11, researchers can have multiple experiment types, such as microRNA, gene expression, genotyping, and copy number, open simultaneously within a single window. This allows users to move back and forth between the data as needed without having to load each experiment separately. This functionality also allows researchers to easily combine data within a logical unit and compare results from different experiment types. GeneSpring 11 also allows researchers to find critical linkages and concordance between them. While there are other software applications that support multi-omics data analysis, a major differentiator of GeneSpring 11 is the ease with which users can compare heterogeneous data and the depth with which they can perform biological contextualization. A key tool for data comparison is the new genome browser, where researchers can plot multiple data types as tracks in the same view, and merge tracks to overlay different data types. For example, researchers can overlay copy number and gene expression data to assess concordance, or overlay copy number data and microRNA tracks to see if critical microRNAs are found in amplified or deleted regions. Automatic translation of probes across different microarray platforms and organisms allows researchers to compare results through simple drag-and-drop function into a Venn diagram. This seamless translation also allows researchers to quickly identify entity lists that share a statistically significant overlap in content. This ease of data exploration allows the quick discovery of drug treatments, disease states, or other experimental factors that share similar biological profiles and, therefore, may share similar underlying mechanisms. GeneSpring 11 continues to build on its strength in biological contextualization by extending the functionality of its network analysis tool. A set of algorithms combined with provided organism-specific pathway interaction databases enable researchers to generate a range of network types and dynamically explore the biochemical network depicting the interaction of their entities of interest. GeneSpring 11 adds the ability for researchers to use MeSH terms as input for generating networks. For example, researchers can use "heart failure" as the input MeSH term and a network containing interactions associated with heart failure is automatically generated. Researchers can then determine how their gene expression data intersects with this disease network. The release of GeneSpring Workgroup 11 also adds two Web-enabled clients for its enterprise-level product, with central database for storage of multi-omics data. The data browser provides an interface where users can search for experiments and samples stored in Workgroup's database using configurable search fields. Associated data files can then be downloaded, and published static images from GeneSpring can be viewed. For an image related to this press release, please visit the ImageLibrary (Image #133) : About Agilent Technologies NOTE TO EDITORS: Further technology, corporate citizenship, and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news : Agilent Technologies, Inc.Stuart Matlow, +1-408-553-7191 stuart_matlow@agilent.com : mailto:stuart_matlow@agilent.com This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| 5 Questions: All by themselves - Argus Leader Posted: 07 Dec 2009 06:24 AM PST Allison Hutchinson isn't afraid to admit it:Her book was inspired by a cow pie. And the stress of potty-training her daughter, Harmony. "I wanted to bring laughter to the process," says the Roosevelt High School biology teacher. Bringing in illustrator Jason Folkerts helped her through the process of self-publishing, Hutchinson says. "That's what really took the project to the next level." Here's her take on self-publishing, writing and moving on to her next project: 1. How did this book come about? "I think I've always wanted to be a writer; even in elementary school, my mom saved all my stories and saved them in a book. "We were up in Isabel on my in-laws ranch that they rent out. We'd been trying to potty-train Harmony for months. "There's cow pies all over the place. "Micki, my mother-in-law, warned her not to step in the cow patties. So Harmony said, 'Cows: Go on the potty!' "Really over the weekend, I would just toss around different phrases and different rhymes about a girl telling farm animals to go potty." 2. How did you find a self-publisher? "Jason Folkerts agreed to do the illustration and helped me to find a self-publisher. He connected me to Dave Volk, who had self-published a novel about his trip to Vietnam. "The company he used was Book Surge; now it's called Create Space. "I'd love people to hear that it's possible that you can have something copyrighted and have its own ISBN number. "My mom is a librarian so that really thrilled her." 3. Was the self-publishing process easy? "It all went through on e-mail. I talked to a representative a few times. You can get help from the design team, uploading files. "Book Surge was not the first self-publisher I called or contacted. "I would strongly suggest just searching the name of the self-publisher, and then type in criticism. I did see a lot online about the first company I went to not paying the authors royalties. "It does kind of cost something up front. But you can enter the self-publishing realm at whatever level you need. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Applied Biosystems Debuts Industry's First Acoustic Flow Cytometer - Phramalive.com Posted: 07 Dec 2009 04:58 AM PST Attune™ Features Enhanced Sample Throughput, Sensitivity, Accuracy and Productivity for Cell Biology Applications Flow cytometry allows scientists to count and examine cells by passing them through a laser-based detection device. Thousands of cells per second may be counted, allowing rapid characterization of entire populations of cells. Cellular biologists engage in flow cytometry for a rapidly growing range of applications, including the study of proteins expressed by cells (immunophenotyping), quantifying the amount of DNA in cells, cell counting, among others. Attune enables scientists to gather statistical data on a large number of heterogeneous cells to study parameters within a cell population, including size, complexity, phenotype and health. Attune's proprietary technology allows scientists to achieve enhanced sensitivity, saves time by increasing throughput, and can be used with small sample sizes. In addition, it offers these enhanced capabilities with a reduced footprint due to the compact acoustic technology and the far smaller volume of consumables required to perform an experiment. These unique capabilities will enable scientific applications not previously possible on traditional cytometry systems, ranging from sample preparation to bead-based analyses. "The Attune technology will accelerate research workflows by reducing the time of some experiments by an order of magnitude with greatly increased sensitivity," said Nicolas Barthelemy, President of Cell Systems at Life Technologies. "The introduction of this unique instrument is another example of how Life Technologies is using its expertise in both world-class instrumentation and cell biology to create an innovative solution for life science researchers. This instrument is ideally suited for cell signaling and rare event applications where sensitivity is critical and is a great addition to any cellular analysis laboratory." "In flow cytometry, acoustic focusing enables both longer transit times and higher throughput, which simultaneously permits better interrogation of every cell in a sample as well as the analysis of much larger numbers of cells," said Mike Olszowy, Head of Flow Cytometry at Life Technologies. "The introduction of Attune brings Life Technologies one step closer to its vision of ˜Digital Biology' whereby scientists can move beyond ensemble measurements of heterogeneous mixtures to a more precise quantitation of molecular phenotypes at the single cell level." About Life Technologies Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. For more information on how we are making a difference please visit our website: www.lifetechnologies.com. Follow Life Technologies on Twitter @LIFECorporation and on Facebook. Safe Harbor Statement This press release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
Contact: Life Technologies
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| TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Adds Genetic Association and - MSN Money Posted: 07 Dec 2009 07:57 AM PST Agilent Technologies, Inc. A introduced GeneSpring GX 11, the latest generation of its popular desktop software for visualizing and analyzing microarray data, and GeneSpring Workgroup 11, the enterprise version of the GeneSpring desktop software. Designed to support multi-omics research, GeneSpring 11 adds capabilities for genetic association analysis using genotyping data, genomic copy number analysis, and other analytical and visualization tools to facilitate comparison of these heterogeneous data. Agilent's bioinformatics portfolio also includes Mass Profiler Professional, built on the same platform as GeneSpring, supporting proteomics and metabolomics data analysis. "The multi-omics approach to defining mechanism of disease in systems biology research has created a bioinformatics bottleneck, where the ability to extract biological knowledge from the data often lags behind the ability to generate the data," said Chris Grimley, Agilent senior director of marketing, Genomics. "GeneSpring 11 was developed with this bottleneck in mind and addresses some of the challenges of integrative analysis." "GeneSpring 11 represents a significant advance in data analysis software for life sciences," said Bruce Aronow, Ph.D, scientific director of the Center for Computational Medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and a longtime GeneSpring user. "Here we see for the first time an all-wheel driving machine for multi-omics technologies that shape a new roadmap for integrative systems biology." In GeneSpring 11, researchers can have multiple experiment types, such as microRNA, gene expression, genotyping, and copy number, open simultaneously within a single window. This allows users to move back and forth between the data as needed without having to load each experiment separately. This functionality also allows researchers to easily combine data within a logical unit and compare results from different experiment types. GeneSpring 11 also allows researchers to find critical linkages and concordance between them. While there are other software applications that support multi-omics data analysis, a major differentiator of GeneSpring 11 is the ease with which users can compare heterogeneous data and the depth with which they can perform biological contextualization. A key tool for data comparison is the new genome browser, where researchers can plot multiple data types as tracks in the same view, and merge tracks to overlay different data types. For example, researchers can overlay copy number and gene expression data to assess concordance, or overlay copy number data and microRNA tracks to see if critical microRNAs are found in amplified or deleted regions. Automatic translation of probes across different microarray platforms and organisms allows researchers to compare results through simple drag-and-drop function into a Venn diagram. This seamless translation also allows researchers to quickly identify entity lists that share a statistically significant overlap in content. This ease of data exploration allows the quick discovery of drug treatments, disease states, or other experimental factors that share similar biological profiles and, therefore, may share similar underlying mechanisms. GeneSpring 11 continues to build on its strength in biological contextualization by extending the functionality of its network analysis tool. A set of algorithms combined with provided organism-specific pathway interaction databases enable researchers to generate a range of network types and dynamically explore the biochemical network depicting the interaction of their entities of interest. GeneSpring 11 adds the ability for researchers to use MeSH terms as input for generating networks. For example, researchers can use "heart failure" as the input MeSH term and a network containing interactions associated with heart failure is automatically generated. Researchers can then determine how their gene expression data intersects with this disease network. The release of GeneSpring Workgroup 11 also adds two Web-enabled clients for its enterprise-level product, with central database for storage of multi-omics data. The data browser provides an interface where users can search for experiments and samples stored in Workgroup's database using configurable search fields. Associated data files can then be downloaded, and published static images from GeneSpring can be viewed. The Web client allows users to visualize and dynamically explore experiments and results stored in Workgroup using all views and plots available in GeneSpring through a Web-enabled interface. With multiple ways to access the stored data, Workgroup provides an efficient way for scientists to collaborate and share analysis results and knowledge. For an image related to this press release, please visit the ImageLibrary (Image #133) About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. A is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 17,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $4.5 billion in fiscal 2009. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com. NOTE TO EDITORS: Further technology, corporate citizenship, and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news. Agilent Technologies, Inc. Copyright 2009 Business Wire This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
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