100,000 years Old Life forms

Preliminary Analysis of Life within a Former Subglacial Lake Sediment in Antarctica

David A. Pearce ^1,2,3,* , Dominic A. Hodgson ², Michael A. S. Thorne ², Gavin Burns ² and Charles S. Cockell ⁴

¹ Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Northumbria, Ellison Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK² British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OET, UK³ University Centre in Svalbard, Post Box 156, 9171 Longyearbyen, Norway⁴ School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, UK

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 15 May 2013; in revised form: 5 July 2013 / Accepted: 8 August 2013 / Published: 6 September 2013

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Ecology and Diversity)

Abstract: Since the first descriptions of Antarctic subglacial lakes, there has been a growing interest and awareness of the possibility that life will exist and potentially thrive in these unique and little known environments. The unusual combination of selection pressures, and isolation from the rest of the biosphere, might have led to novel adaptations and physiology not seen before, or indeed to the potential discovery of relic populations that may have become extinct elsewhere. Here we report the first microbiological analysis of a sample taken from a former subglacial lake sediment in Antarctica (Lake Hodgson, on the Antarctic Peninsula). This is one of a number of subglacial lakes just emerging at the margins of the Antarctic ice sheet due to the renewed onset of deglaciation. Microbial diversity was divided into 23.8% Actinobacteria, 21.6% Proteobacteria, 20.2% Planctomycetes and 11.6% Chloroflexi, characteristic of a range of habitat types ( Overall, common sequences were neither distinctly polar, low temperature, freshwater nor marine). Twenty three percent of this diversity could only be identified to “unidentified bacterium”. Clearly these are diverse ecosystems with enormous potential.

Keywords: Antarctica; bacteria; biodiversity; lake; polar; subglacial; sediment

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Erasing Bad Memories

Putting Bad Memories to Bed

Researchers selectively erase methamphetamine-related memories in mice and rats.

Unwanted memories associated with drug use can sometimes lead to relapse. But scientists have shown it may be possible to selectively erase methamphetamine-related memories in mice and rats through depolymerizing actin in the amygdala, according to a paper published yesterday (September 10) in Biological Psychiatry.

The scientists taught mice and rats to associate methamphetamine with various stimuli. Then, after the rodents consolidated their drug-related memories, the scientists infused some of the animals’ amygdalas with an actin-depolymerizing agent and then tested their behavior when exposed to drug-related stimuli. The control mice showed signs of methamphetamine-related memories, while mice with inhibited actin polymerization did not respond to the stimuli. The treatment mice did not experience global memory loss, however; they still responded to stimuli associated with food rewards or electric shocks.

The researchers chose to depolymerize actin because F-actin is known to be important for rapid changes in neural structures called dendritic spines, which are thought to be involved in memory maintenance.

“We are focused on understanding what makes [drug-related] memories different,” study coauthor Courtney Miller, a neurobiologist at The Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida, said in a press release. “The hope is that our strategies may be applicable to other harmful memories, such as those that perpetuate smoking or PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder].”

Source

methamphetamine, memory consolidation, drugs and actin

SIV Vaccine Success

SIV Vaccine Success

A cytomegalovirus-based vaccine eliminated simian immunodeficiency virus from rhesus macaques, raising hopes of a similarly effective HIV vaccine.

A vaccine has eliminated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in some rhesus macaques, which remained uninfected for as long as three years post-treatment, according to a study published inNature yesterday (September 12).

Previously, researchers had shown that about half of rhesus macaques given the vaccine wereprotected from SIV infection. The new study showed that monkeys given the vaccine and then infected with SIV showed no signs of the virus in their systems even though it had originally taken hold.

“The virus got in, it infected some cells, moved about in various parts of the body, but it was subsequently cleared, so that by two or three years later the monkeys looked like normal monkeys,” study coauthor Louis Picker from Oregon Health and Science University told Gizmodo.

The vaccine contains a cytomegalovirus that expresses SIV proteins, stimulating the immune system to recognize and attempt to eliminate the virus. The researchers now hope to determine whether the vaccine can eliminate SIV if administered after an SIV infection has taken hold, BBC Newsreported. The researchers hope to launch human trials within two years.

“It’s always tough to claim eradication—there could always be a cell which we didn't analyze that has the virus in it,” Picker told BBC. “But for the most part, with very stringent criteria . . . there was no virus left in the body of these monkeys.”

Source:

vaccine, SIV, rhesus macaque and HIV

A world first Success at complete quantum teleportation

Furusawa group at the University of Tokyo has succeeded in demonstrating complete quantum teleportation of photonic quantum bits by a hybrid technique for the first time worldwide. In 1997, quantum teleportation of photonic quantum bits was achieved by a research team at Innsbruck University in Austria. However, such quantum teleportation couldn't be used for information processing, because measurement was required after transport, and the transport efficiency was low. So, quantum teleportation was still a long way from practical use in quantum communication and quantum computing. The demonstration of quantum teleportation of photonic quantum bits by Furusawa group shows that transport efficiency can be over 100 times higher than before. Also, because no measurement is needed after transport, this result constitutes a major advance toward quantum information processing technology.

"In 1997, quantum bit teleportation was successfully achieved, but as I said just now, it was only achieved in a probabilistic sense. In 1998, we used a slightly different method to succeed at unconditional, complete teleportation. But at that time, the state sent wasn't a quantum bit, but something different. Now, we've used our experimental technology, which was successful in 1998, to achieve teleportation with quantum bits. The title of our paper is "Hybrid Technique," and developing that technique is where we've been successful."

The hybrid technique was developed by combining technology for transporting light waves with a broad frequency range, and technology for reducing the frequency range of photonic quantum bits. This has made it possible to incorporate photonic quantum bit information into light waves without disruption by noise. This research result has been published in Nature, and is attracting attention worldwide, as a step toward quantum information processing technology.

"I think we can definitely say that quantum computers have come closer to reality. Teleportation can be thought of as a quantum gate where input and output are the same. So, it's known that, if we improve this a little, the input and output could be produced in different forms. If changing the form of input and output like that is considered as a program, you have a programmable quantum gate. So, I think a quantum computer could be achieved by combining lots of those."

Looking ahead, Furusawa group aims to increase the transport efficiency and make the device smaller by using photonic chips. In this way, the researchers plan to achieve further advances toward quantum computing.

Source: 

Diginfo.tv

DAMAC awarded a SAR336m for Haramain Gate Construction

Real estate developer, DAMAC Properties, has announced it has awarded a SAR336m ($89.5m) main construction contract in its Riyadh project DAMAC Esclusiva Luxury Serviced Apartments to Haramain Gate for Construction, a subsidiary of Saudi Binladin group

 

The contract has been awarded for the construction of a luxury serviced apartments tower in the golden strip on King Fahad Road in Riyadh, interiorly designed by the Italian brand FENDI Casa.

“DAMAC Properties is thrilled to be working with Biladin group on the construction of DAMAC Esclusiva which will take the standards of luxury home living in the Middle East to a new level,” said Niall McLoughlin, senior vice president at DAMAC Properties.

“Together we can bring an experience to the market which the region is yet to see. It is a perfect synergy between two visionary companies looking to reach the pinnacle of luxury living.”

 

“DAMAC Esclusiva Luxury Serviced Apartments in Riyadh are being made available by invitation and pre-approval to a limited number of VIP’s only, reflecting the quality and refinement on offer. We believe these will be the most desirable serviced apartments available anywhere in the Middle East,” he added.

DAMAC Properties announced its major regional strategic tie-up with luxury global brand FENDI in February, to provide interior designs on projects in Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Dubai, UAE.

DAMAC Esclusiva Luxury Serviced Apartments, a 150 metre high tower overlooking the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, will provide refined interiors by the Italian fashion house for more than 100 luxury serviced apartments.

The two companies will also partner on the interiors for exclusive private apartments in DAMAC Residenze in the Dubai Marina.

The  project, which has already reached the first typical residential level after finishing the four podium levels, is set to be completed in 2016.