Scientists grow human brain tissue in petri dish

  

In an effort to better study neurological diseases such as autism and schizophrenia, Austrian biologists are growing human brain cells in a petri dish.

"The complexity of the human brain has made it difficult to study many brain disorders in model organisms, highlighting the need for an in vitro model of human brain development," the authors write in the Aug. 28 issues of the journal Nature.

They created the pieces of human brain tissue using embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, which come from human skin and blood cells.

At three to four millimeters, the 3D model cells are about as developed as the brain of a 9-week-old fetus. They already resemble distinct regions of the brain including the dorsal cortex, ventral forebrain and an immature retina. The cells will not grow much more, as it is harder to get enough nutrients and oxygen to the cells to continue growing beyond 4 millimeters.

"The parts are correctly organized, but not put together," study coordinator Juergen Knoblich said in a press conference, going on to describe it as "a car where you have an engine, you have the wheels -- but the engine is on the roof... that car would never drive, but you could still take that car and analyze how an engine works."

Based out of the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology in Vienna, the scientists say that studying human brain cells is better than studying animal brains, as there are such differences in brain development between the different species.

Human liver and heart tissue have been studied in a similar fashion. While growing a brain might seem different, it is, at the end of the day, simply another not-so-simple organ that needs to be understood in order to advance medicine and science.

Your spouse’s voice is easier to hear — and easier to ignore

With so many other competing voices, having a conversation on a bustling subway or at a crowded cocktail party takes a great deal of concentration. New research suggests that the familiar voice of a spouse stands out against other voices, helping to sharpen auditory perception and making it easier to focus on one voice at a time.

“Familiar voices appear to influence the way an auditory ‘scene’ is perceptually organized,” explains lead researcher Ingrid Johnsrude of Queen’s University, Canada.

Johnsrude and her colleagues asked married couples, ages 44-79, to record themselves reading scripted instructions out loud. Later, each participant put on a pair of headphones and listened to the recording of his or her spouse as it played simultaneously with a recording of an unfamiliar voice.

On some trials, participants were told to report what their spouse said; on other trials, they were supposed to report what the unfamiliar voice said. The researchers wanted to see whether familiarity would make a difference in how well the participants understood what the target voice was saying.

The results, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, show a clear benefit of listening to the familiar voice.

Participants tended to be much more accurate on the task when they had to listen to their spouse’s voice compared to an unfamiliar voice matched on both age and sex — they perceived their spouse’s voice more clearly. Furthermore, accuracy didn’t change as participants got older when they were listening to their spouse’s voice.

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Human heart disease recently found in chimpanzees

According to an article published today in the SAGE journal Veterinary Pathology, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a human heart disease that causes sudden cardiac death in teenagers and young adults (particularly healthy athletes), has now been identified in chimpanzees.

"It is the first description of this condition in a primate species apart from humans," stated primary author of the study Dr. Lydia Tong. "The circumstances of these two cases in chimpanzees mirror the common presentation of the condition in humans. The two half-brother chimps were teenagers apparently at their peak health (16 and 17 years old), and one of the chimp died suddenly during physical exertion."

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Arsenal’s Podolski out for up to 10 weeks

Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski will be unavailable for up to 10 weeks due to a hamstring injury, manager Arsene Wenger revealed on Thursday.

The Germany international had to be stretchered off during Arsenal’s 2-0 home win over Fenerbahce on Tuesday, which saw the Premier League giants qualify for the group stage of the Champions League.

Speaking immediately after the game, Wenger predicted that Podolski would be out for around three weeks, but subsequent tests revealed that the extent of the injury was greater than initially feared.

“It is bad news about Lukas Podolski as he will be out for eight to 10 weeks,” Wenger told the Arsenal website.

“His hamstring is much more damaged than we thought at the start. It is very disappointing and we have paid a very heavy price for that win. We have to be patient now.”

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey scored both goals against Fenerbahce but came off in injury time with a groin problem, while Jack Wilshere was the recipient of some robust challenges in the game’s final stages.

However, Wenger said that both players should be available for Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

“The news is quite positive,” he said. “They just had bumps and bruises. They will be involved.”

Wenger also revealed that midfielder Mikel Arteta and captain Thomas Vermaelen are still weeks away from full fitness.

“Arteta is doing OK, but there are a few weeks to go with him,” he said. “Thomas Vermaelen could be back after the international break.”

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BREAKING NEWS: SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS MIMIKO’S ELECTORAL VICTORY

The Supreme Court has affirmed the re-election victory of Ondo state governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The apex court today in Abuja equally dismissed the petition of Rotimi Akeredolu of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN), as well as Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The judgement of the Presiding Judge, Justice Murktar, has it that only two out of the five issues for determination in Akeredolu’s appeal are valid.

The judge added that the appellant failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt criminal allegation of connivance in injection of names.

“When a mercenary expert presents evidence, the court has the right to disregard. ACN’s appeal dismissed and parties to bear costs,” the judge said.

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Twitter changes to be 'more like Facebook'

Twitter has begun rolling out a number of new features, which it says will make it easier to follow conversations.

Conversations will now be shown together rather than in a strictly reverse chronological order, in a feature which has already rolled out to some handsets and will now be updated in all iPhone and Android apps, as well as twitter.com.


Up to three tweets will be displayed in sequence, with a line connecting them to show they are part of the same conversation. If users want to view the whole conversation they can tap on the first tweet.


The company said in a statement on Thursday: “From buzz about the VMAs to debates around upcoming football games, people come toTwitter to take part in these real-time, global, public conversations.


“To date, such exchanges haven’t always been easy to follow. With this in mind, we’ve now made it easier for you to see conversations as they’re taking place.”


Some commentators have suggested the move will make the social networking site more like Facebook, with tweets becoming more like comments on a status posting.

ed that aren't. But overall, this is a fantastic first step."

Difference between Phablet and tablet

Phablet is a combined term Smartphone and Tablet, is a class of smart phones that has a screen size between 5 and 8 inches and is designed to incorporate or complement the functions of smart phones and tablets. Tablet is a gadget that has a touch screen interface, and usually measuring 8.9 to 10 inches. Usually not mepunyai tablet features to call or send sms. Examples such as iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Motorola Xoom and the like.
Phablet is a term commonly used to describe a gadget that combines the capabilities of smartphones and tablets. Phablet usually larger than a smartphone, but smaller than a tablet. The term "phablet" was first used at the site on Engadget technology and Forbes. The term "phablet" also want to patented by LG Electronics, although the final decision has not been ascertained.


Although larger than a smart phone, phablet tend to be smaller and thinner than the tablet, making it convenient to carry or bagged users. Phablet usually used for mobile web access and multimedia, including activities that require a large screen. In a series of Samsung Galaxy Note, phablet has special software that allows the stylus features sketches, and notes.

Screen size varies between 5-7 inches. Phablet also has a feature that is owned by a smartphone such as voice calling, although the screen size of the tablet resembles. One of the traits - traits phablet, though not absolute, is a stylus pen, which can be used for sketching or writing something on phablet.

Futminna pre-degree 2012/2013 programme's final result is out

This is to inform all concerned candidates of pre-degree programme in the Federal University of Technology, Minna that their final result is out. 

The results released are for those who registered and participated fully in the 2012/2013 predegree programme of the varsity. Successful students in this examination will be admitted into chosen 100L academic/degree programmes in the school this 2013/2014.

To check your FUTMINNA pregree final results;
1. Visit http://www.futminna.edu.ng/pdrslt13/login.php.
2. Log in with your credentials and check.

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