# s-gene: epigenetics: much more (m6dA)

<< Epigenetics (epi - the Greek prefix meaning ‘on top of’) is the study of how genes are switched on or off. It is thought to be one explanation for how our environment and behaviour, such as our diet or smoking habit, can affect our DNA and how these changes may even be passed down to our children and grandchildren >>

http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/epigenetic-discovery-suggests-dna-modifications-more-diverse-than-previously-thought

<< Methylation of cytosine deoxynucleotides generates 5-methylcytosine (m5dC), a well-established epigenetic mark. However, in higher eukaryotes much less is known about modifications affecting other deoxynucleotides. Here, we report the detection of N6-methyldeoxyadenosine (m6dA) in vertebrate DNA, specifically in Xenopus laevis but also in other species including mouse and human. Our methylome analysis reveals that m6dA is widely distributed across the eukaryotic genome and is present in different cell types but is commonly depleted from gene exons. Thus, direct DNA modifications might be more widespread than previously thought >>

Magdalena J Koziol, Charles R Bradshaw, et al. Identification of methylated deoxyadenosines in vertebrates reveals diversity in DNA modifications. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 2015; DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.3145

http://www.nature.com/nsmb/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nsmb.3145.html

# s-brain: a safer way to rapidly treat depression

It was <<  identified a brain circuit that brings about the beneficial effects of ketamine. The circuit sends signals between the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex >>

<< activating the circuit in rats causes antidepressant-like effects similar to those caused by ketamine, whereas preventing activation of the circuit eliminates the antidepressant-like effects of ketamine >>

<< The idea is, if one part of the brain contributes to the beneficial effects of ketamine, and another part contributes to its abuse and effects such as hallucinations, now we can come up with medications to target the good part and not the bad >>

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-12/uoth-tib122115.php

F R Carreno, J J Donegan,  et al.   Activation of a ventral hippocampus–medial prefrontal cortex pathway is both necessary and sufficient for an antidepressant response to ketamine. Molecular Psychiatry, 2015; DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.176

http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/mp2015176a.html

# s-ecol: fresh air inside

"Vitality Air - Enhancing Vitality - One Breath At A Time"

http://vitalityair.com/products/bottled-goodness/air.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2015/12/22/smog-cinesi-comperano-aria_n_8859690.html?utm_hp_ref=italy

<< China smog: Beijing residents buy fresh air from Canada >>

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35155357

# s-acad: the 50 best business schools in the world

Emmie Martin, Melissa Stanger and Tanza Loudenback
Dec. 14, 2015, 2:55 PM

http://uk.businessinsider.com/best-business-schools-in-the-world-2015-12?r=US&IR=T

breakdown of the methodology:

http://uk.businessinsider.com/business-schools-ranking-methods-and-sources-2015-12?r=US&IR=T

# rmx-n-lang: drastic changes from prescriptive grammars

the study << demonstrates the importance of prescriptive grammar as a social force and its steady increase over the course of the twentieth century >>

<< these changes can sometimes be rather drastic >>

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151218161433.htm

http://www.linguisticsociety.org/sites/default/files/Language_12_15.pdf

Joseph Frazee, Lars Hinrichs, et al. Which-hunting and the Standard English relative clause: Online Supplement: Automatic Zero-Relative Detection. Language, 2015; 91 (4): s1-s3 [link]

https://muse.jhu.edu/journals/language/summary/v091/91.4.frazee.html

# s-zen-behav: a compassionate, fundamental approach

<< compassion — and intentionally cultivating it through training — may lead us to do more to help the wronged than to punish the wrongdoer. Researchers found compassion may also impact the extent to which people punish the transgressor >>

http://news.wisc.edu/a-compassionate-approach-leads-to-more-help-and-less-punishment/

Helen Y. Weng, Andrew S. Fox, et al.  The Role of Compassion in Altruistic Helping and Punishment Behavior. PLOS ONE, 2015; 10 (12): e0143794 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143794

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0143794

<< Un punto focale del pensiero di Shih T'ou e' il concetto di mutua interazione (hui hu) tra chiarezza e oscurita'. Questo significa che il mondo delle contaminazioni e quello della purezza sono interdipendenti. Se abbandoni uno, abbandoni anche l'altro >>

"6. Meta' combacianti (Ts'an t'ung ch'i) del maestro Shih T'ou Hsi Ch'ien (700-790)";  in "La poesia dell'illuminazione ". Astrolabio, Ubaldini Ed., Roma (2001); pag.97. " The poetry of enlightenment". Dharma Drum Publications, New York (1987).

# s-gst: dogs lap: a precise method

<< sloppy-looking actions at the dog bowl are in fact high-speed, precisely timed movements that optimize a dogs’ ability to acquire fluids >>

<< even though feline and canine mouths structurally are similar, their approaches to drinking are as different as — cats and dogs >>

http://www.newswise.com/articles/dogs-may-be-sloppy-drinkers-but-they-get-the-job-done

Sean Gart, John J. Socha, et al. Dogs lap using acceleration-driven open pumping. PNAS, December 14, 2015 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1514842112

http://m.pnas.org/content/early/2015/12/09/1514842112

<< (..) tuttavia cani e gatti leccano in modi differenti >> Anonymous, XX e.V.