Scientists have captured for the first time the image of memory formation.

Scientists have captured for the first time the image of memory
formation.

An international team has in fact got the image of a mechanism,
specifically protein translation, which underlies long-term memory
formation, a finding which shows when a new memory is formed new
proteins are made locally at the synapse -- the connection between nerve
cells.

And, according to the scientists, this increases the strength of the
synaptic connection and reinforces the memory.

"An important step in long-term memory formation is 'translation', or
the production, of new proteins locally at the synapse strengthening
synaptic connection in reinforcement of a memory, which until now has
never been imaged.

"Using a translational reporter, a fluorescent protein that can be
easily detected and tracked we directly visualised the increased local
translation, or protein synthesis, during memory formation.

"Importantly, this translation was synapse-specific and it required
activation of the post-synaptic cell, showing that this step required
cooperation between the pre and post -synaptic compartments, the parts
of the two neurons that meet at the synapse.

"Thus highly regulated local translation occurs at synapses during
long-term plasticity and requires trans- synaptic signals," lead
scientist Dr Wayne Sossin of Montreal Neurological Institute and
Hospital said.

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http://www.fastmail.fm - Faster than the air-speed velocity of an
unladen european swallow

Win32 to Linux Application Crossover Chart

See http://www.grokdoc.net/index.php/Application_Crossover_Chart
(includes gamez!)

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Mathematics the way she is taught

Scott Aaronson comments on Paul Lockhardt's complaint on the way Mathematics is taught: http://scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=410

And Paul Lockhard's complaint ? A Mathematician's Lament, actually --
is at a http://www.maa.org/devlin/LockhartsLament.pdf

Frolicking bull unearths big slice of history

Sanat K Chakraborty | Guwahati

A frolicking bull triggered off archeological interest after it dug out
a few cannon balls with its horns from a mound near a place called
Kajolichowk, about 30 km away from Guwahati.

The granite-type round balls — 165 of them — tumbled out after the
playful animal knocked at a heap, which were noticed by local people,
who later brought this to the notice of the authorities of the Assam
State Museum.

Experts believe that the cannon balls may date back to the Ahom rule in
the 17th century. The Ahoms were said to have come from Southern China
and set up their first kingdom by King Sukapha way back in 1228 and
ruled Assam for nearly 600 years.

The stone spheres of various sizes resemble the cannon balls kept in the
museum, which belonged to the Ahom age. "However, the antiquity of the
cannon balls can be established only after investigation," said
assistant curator of the State Museum Jiten Shyam.

Shyam, who rushed to the site, said the location of the cannon ball pile
looked like a fortification, which also sits well with the local name,
Kajolichowki. In Hindi, Chowki also means a watch-post.

Researchers like Shyam believed that there could be many more such
cannon balls in the site, which might be remnants of an armoury,
connecting it with the famous Battle of Saraighat between the Ahoms and
the invading Mughals of 1671.

The Mughals met with their most embarrassing defeat at Saraighat, even
as they made their last unsuccessful attempt to enter the Brahmaputra
valley.

The Ahom forces under the command of legendary Ahom general Lachit Bor
Phukan fought valiantly and defeated the mighty Mughals. The crafty
general deftly using his enormous knowledge of hilly terrain and war
craft resisted the great advancing forces of the Mughals at the
Saraighat.

Borphukan reclaimed Ahom territory on both sides of the Brahmaputra and
defended Guwahati by constructing huge ramparts surrounding the ancient
capital of Pragjyotispur.

It is believed that the site of the new archeological find might be one
of the military posts, which is not quite far from the site of Saraighat
battle.

Locals say that they used to find similar cannon balls from time to
time, but unaware of such a historically important site.

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http://www.fastmail.fm - mmm... Fastmail...

Calcium in food

Calcium from food sources is better absorbed than calcium taken as supplements. Children absorb a higher percentage of their ingested calcium than adults because their needs during growth spurts may be two or three times greater per body weight than adults. Vitamin D is necessary for intestinal absorption, making Vitamin D–fortified milk a very well-absorbed form of calcium. Older persons may not consume or make as much vitamin D as is optimal, so their calcium absorption may be decreased. Vitamin C and lactose (the sugar found in milk) enhance calcium absorption, whereas meals high in fat or protein may decrease absorption. Excess phosphorous consumption (as in carbonated sodas) can decrease calcium absorption in the intestines. High dietary fiber and phytate (a form of phytic acid found in dietary fiber and the husks of whole grains) may also decrease dietary calcium absorption in some areas of the world. Intestinal pH also affects calcium absorption—absorption is optimal with normal stomach acidity generated at meal times. Thus, persons with reduced stomach acidity (e.g., elderly persons, or persons on acid-reducing medicines) do not absorb calcium as well as others do.

 

<from faqs.org>

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