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Science

Submission + - Researchers zero in on protein that destroys HIV (physorg.com)

Julie188 writes: Using a $225,000 microscope, researchers have identified the key components of a protein called TRIM5a that destroys HIV in rhesus monkeys. The finding could lead to new TRIM5a-based treatments that would knock out HIV in humans, said senior researcher Edward M. Campbell, PhD, of Loyola University Health System.
Science

Submission + - First discovery by an @Home project (sciencemag.org)

pq writes: In a paper published today in Science, astronomers are reporting the discovery of a radio pulsar in data acquired at the world's largest radio telescope and analyzed by hundreds of thousands of volunteers in 192 countries for the Einstein@Home project. This is the first scientific discovery by a distributed computing project, and specific credit is being given to Chris and Helen Colvin of Ames, Iowa, and Daniel Gebhardt of Germany. More at MSNBC etc.

Submission + - Giant Guatemalan Sinkhole Isn't a Sinkhole (discovery.com)

reillymj writes: Despite hundreds of media reports to the contrary, a geologist whose life's work has been studying Guatemalan geology has plainly said that the dramatic "sinkhole" in Guatemala City that opened over the weekend isn't a sinkhole at all. Instead, he called it a "piping feature" and warned that because the country's capital city sits on a pile of loose volcanic ash, the over one million people living on top of the ash are in danger of having it happen again in the future.
Software

Submission + - SPAM: Company liable for software defects rules Court

normsky writes: A software company's stipulation that customers could not take action against it for the poor performance of its software was unfair and could not be enforced, the High Court has said.

"Pursuant to `the Sale of Goods Act 1979, a term is to be implied into the contract that Entirety would be fit for the purpose for which it was bought, namely that the system would increase revenue and occupancy levels and would allow quicker check-in and check-out, including accurately processing groups and making changes to group reservations while preserving the accuracy of the system," he wrote.

"I am satisfied that Entirety was not fit for the purpose for which it was sold ..

Link to Original Source
Apple

Submission + - Convert a SIM to a MicroSIM with a Meat Cleaver (johnbenson.net)

An anonymous reader writes: How To Convert a SIM to a MicroSIM with a Meat Cleaver!

This morning, my shiny new iPad 3G 64Gb arrived from the USA! The only problem was, it had an AT&T MicroSIM and as yet there is no such thing in the UK.

So what's the solution? Get a chopping board, a meat cleaver and a pair of scissors — simples!

Biotech

Submission + - Sight Restored to Blind with Gene Therapy (ucl.ac.uk)

An anonymous reader writes: Looks like we found a cure for genetic blindness. This gene therapy treatment increases both cone and rod photoreceptor-based vision. These engineered viruses are implanted to do our bidding to restore vision. Clinical trials proved the therapy and didn't find any notable side effects. Crazy huh?

Scientific Abstract from Clinical Trial — http://nejm.highwire.org/cgi/content/abstract/NEJMoa0802268v1
Scientific Abstract for the Therapy — http://www.pnas.org/content/105/39/15112.abstract
Full Scientific Paper for the Therapy — http://www.pnas.org/content/102/17/6177.full.pdf

Video feature on ABC — http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=4738923

Idle

Submission + - How Nintendo's Mario got his name (technologizer.com)

harrymcc writes: In 1981, tiny Nintendo of America was getting ready to release Donkey Kong. When the company's landlord, Mario Segale, demanded back rent, Nintendo staffers named the game's barrel-jumping protagonist after him. Almost thirty years later, neither Nintendo--which continues to crank out Mario games--nor Segale--now a wealthy, secretive Washington State real estate developer--like to talk about how one of video games' iconic characters got his name and Italian heritage. Technologizer's Benj Edwards has researched the story for years and provides the most detailed account to date.

Comment How useless... (The article, that is) (Score 5, Insightful) 151

The article says, in essence, that the study found that using Brain Academy type software for six weeks did not improve cognitive function. However, nowhere does the study prove, as the article alleges, that use of such software could not slow the rate of cognitive decay. These are two entirely different things - the second one would require a long-term study tracking both users and non-users over, say, 20 or 30 years.

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