science newsletter: Science News SciGuru.com

Πέμπτη 6 Μαρτίου 2014

Science News SciGuru.com

Computational Tool Offers New Insight Into Key Biological Processes
Insomnia: changes in brain activity both day and night
‘Melbourne Shuffle’ secures cloud data
Plague demographics in driving evolution of the immune systems of both Europeans and Rroma

Computational Tool Offers New Insight Into Key Biological Processes

Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:34 AM PST

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a computational tool designed to guide future research on biochemical pathways by identifying which components in a biological system are related to specific biochemical processes, including those processes responsible for gene expression, cell signaling, stress response, and metabolism.

Insomnia: changes in brain activity both day and night

Posted: 06 Mar 2014 06:22 AM PST

Insomnia is associated with brain activity changes during wakefulness according to a new study. The results showed that the motor cortex of the brains of people with insomnia were surprisingly more neuroplastic- that is more adaptable to change and retraining- than those of good sleepers. This is despite association of insomnia with decreases in concentration and memory.

‘Melbourne Shuffle’ secures cloud data

Posted: 05 Mar 2014 10:42 AM PST

Encryption might not be enough for all that data stored in the cloud. An analysis of usage patterns — which files are accessed and when — can give away secrets as well. Computer scientists at Brown have developed an algorithm to sweep away those digital footprints. It’s a complicated series of dance-like moves they call the Melbourne Shuffle. To keep data safe in the cloud, a group of computer scientists suggests doing the Melbourne Shuffle.

Plague demographics in driving evolution of the immune systems of both Europeans and Rroma

Posted: 05 Mar 2014 07:54 AM PST

The medical history of Europe has been punctuated by epidemics including plague, smallpox and influenza. This has driven evolution of elements of the immune system from Europeans and Rroma (Gypsies) - populations of different genetic ancestry but living in the same areas- to converge. Plague is a major factor that has shaped these converged immune system elements of both modern Europeans and Rroma. These are the findings of a paper in the current issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences from a team of researchers from Spain, Romania, the Netherlands and India.