It's the corporate way.

Salutes.

In this new study, the researchers used a rat model of ALS to test for possible nerve cell- restoring properties of stem cells. The rats were exposed to Sindbis virus, which infects the central nervous system and destroys the motor neurons in the spinal cord. Rats that survive are left with paralyzed muscles in their hindquarters and weakened back limbs. Scientists assess the degree of impairment by measuring the rats' movement, quantifying electrical activity in the nerves serving the back limbs, and visually judging the extent of nerve damage through a microscope.

The researchers wanted to see whether stem cells could restore nerves and improve mobility in rats. Because scientists have had difficulty sustaining stem cell lines derived from rat embryos, the investigators conducted their experiments with embryonic germ cells that John Gearhart and colleagues isolated from human fetal tissue in 1998. These cells can produce unchanged copies of themselves when maintained in culture, and they form into clumps called embryoid bodies. Under certain conditions, research has shown that the cells in the embryoid bodies begin to look and function like neurons when subjected to specific laboratory conditions. The researchers had an idea that these embryoid body cells in their nonspecialized state might become specialized as replacement neurons if placed into the area of the damaged spinal cord. So they carefully prepared cells from the embryoid bodies and injected them into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord of the paralyzed rats that had their motor neurons destroyed by the Sindbis virus.

To test this idea, the researchers selected from laboratory culture dishes barely differentiated embryonic germs cells that displayed the molecular markers of neural stem cells, including the proteins nestin and neuron specific enolase. They grew these cells in large quantities and injected them into the fluid surrounding the spinal cords of partially paralyzed, Sindbis-virus-treated rats.

The response was impressive. Three months after the injections, many of the treated rats were able to move their hind limbs and walk, albeit clumsilywhile the rats that did not receive cell injections remained paralyzed. Moreover, at autopsy the researchers found that cells derived from human embryonic germ cells had migrated throughout the spinal fluid and continued to develop, displaying both the shape and molecular markers characteristic of mature motor neurons. The researchers are quick to caution that their results are preliminary, and that they do not know for certain whether the treatment helped the paralyzed rats because new neurons took the place of the old, or because trophic factors from the injected cells facilitated the recovery of the rats' remaining nerve cells and helped the rats improve in their ability to use their hind limbs.

Nor do they know how well this strategy will translate into a therapy for human neurodegenerative diseases like ALS. And they emphasize that there are many hurdles to cross before the use of stem cells to repair damaged motor neurons in patients can be considered. Nevertheless, researchers are excited about these results, which, if confirmed, would represent a major step toward using specialized stem cells from embryonic and fetal tissue sources to restore nervous system function. http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/chapter8.asp

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I am not in Rome, I am in a rush.

Remind me again how those sheep got those broken bones? ---- Recycle used countries.

mod up

Say it again, now.

And in none of them you'll convince me that a dinoflagellate isn't actually human.

Just for the record, Megadeth's frontman is Dave Mustain. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Mustaine

For all intensive purposes.

And the Pirates have won.

Seriously, pirate? When you smell a bottle of shampoo in the store have you pirated the scent?

Of course if you're lathering yourself daily in the cosmetics aisle then there might be a bit of Bluebeard in ya.

The music industry cries foul about file sharing, but you can find almost any music track on Youtube.

Music execs are finally getting wise to the benefits of try-before-you-buy. Artists certainly have been for a while.

What exactly is the difference between listening to a new album - or even watching full videos - on Youtube, and downloading them from peers to listen to before buying? They know it increases sales, yet insist on draconian measures to the contrary. I smell a rat.

I listen to a lot of stuff. When I find something that really excites me I want to buy it. I want to support the artist(s). It makes me feel good to give them direct feedback that what they've created is worthwhile and they should do more. It's as much a gift to me as to them. You know, like charity or volunteering, giving is the greatest gift, own reward, etc. Music that makes my heart sing is *really* worth something.

It doesn't matter if they're some kids from the ghetto, or dinosaur rockers who got it together to put out something that cooks like they used to, before they sold out to the cookie cutter pop machine. Even though I can listen to it already.

I'm sure the music industry gets this. It seems to me that these sopa/pipa/acta type laws are more about censorship and consolidation of power than lost sales.

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"Do what I say when I tell you to do it."

I waited 20 years. Then I waited another 20. And it's still the same ol' ^%@#@. I've been waiting for the old guard to pass away my whole life. The old white bigoted, sexist, racist dudes. You know the ones. You've seen them on TV recently "debating". Well, it's been years, and some of them are gone, but it seems there's an endless supply. And some of them aren't even old, white, or male. Despite the consciousness raising of the mid-to-late 20th century. Despite the promise of democratized education through technology - remember the utopian dreamers who thought the radio/television/internet would educate the world, instead of becoming a palliative pablum? We still have would-be rulers who are "tired of being criticized for not being sensitive to other religions of the world". The mayor of Oakland this week entreating Occupiers not to use violent means, after authorizing riot police to escalate protest into riot so as to be able to justify point blank non-lethal response (flashbang, beanbag shotgun, jumbo pepper spray, teargas to the head). The hypocrisy is stunning. In the ecosystem of governance and politics there is always a niche for such folks, and a surfeit of up and comers eager to fill it.

In one of Larry Niven's Draco Tavern short stories an alien race tries to negotiate for the cloning rights for human flesh, to be used as a foodstuff. I think humanity is shocked, and denies them, but they already have genetic samples - so who knows?

You're not redistributing if you're "leeching", i.e disallowing upload bandwidth. Or am I incorrect?

Keep wearing that gear - you'll be glad you did if you ever go down. Even a 3 mph spill will rip through denim jeans at the knee, ditto elbows. I showed up at the cycle store on my 50cc scooter in full leather gear to buy a part for the motorcycle. Clerk smirked and said, "A little overdressed, aren't you?" This in a major metropolitan city - most dangerous place to drive. "Hurts just as bad if you get off no matter what you're riding", I said.

Try teaching a senior to use WX without a "Windows" key. WX-E. What a grind. That's why phone tech support always says "go to My Computer." Worse is having to resort to the Start Menu.

Maybe 5 people out of 500 have learned a KB shortcut or two. The rest - right click. Aargh. So slow.