Imaging leap rewarded with $3M
The problem, Zhuang said, was that a fundamental physical property called the diffraction limit capped the resolution of conventional light microscopes at about 200 nanometers, or half the wavelength of visible light.“That is still about one to two orders of magnitude too large to be able to directly resolve these molecular interactions,” Zhuang said. “STORM is one of the major super-resolution imaging methods that overcomes the diffraction limit, so now we can achieve resolution that is much better than 200 nanometers, as high as a few nanometers in some cases … and we can look inside cells and see how these molecules interact and how they function with much better clarity.”When Zhuang and colleagues put those tools to use, they discovered a number of novel cellular structures, including a periodic membrane skeleton in neurons made of rings of a protein called actin that are evenly spaced by a second protein, called spectrin. They also discovered a new understanding of how genetic material, DNA, is packaged inside the cell.Ultimately, Zhuang said, making those types of discoveries is among the most gratifying parts of her career in science.“It feels particularly rewarding, and it’s a great feeling that we can make new biological discoveries using new methods we ourselves invented,” she said.Zhuang received her B.S. degree in physics from the University of Science and Technology of China, and completed her Ph.D. in physics at the University of California, Berkeley, before doing postdoctoral work in biophysics at Stanford University.In 2001, she joined Harvard’s faculty, and was promoted to full professor in 2006. She has received a number of prizes and awards, including the 2018 Dr. H.P. Heineken Prize for Biochemistry and Biophysics from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.Zhuang was named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator in 2005, and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a fellow of the American Physical Society, and a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the European Molecular Biology Organization. Lurie wins award Harvard researchers receive Breakthrough Prizes Geneticist Stephen J. Elledge wins Breakthrough Prize Recognition for their discoveries Math professor receives Breakthrough Prize for innovative work in his field Related Xiaowei Zhuang, the David B. Arnold Jr. Professor of Science, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, has been named the recipient of the 2019 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in recognition of her pioneering work in the development of super-resolution microscopy techniques that have transformed research capabilities in fields from chemistry to biology to medicine.“I was thrilled [to receive this news],” Zhuang said. “It is really a remarkable honor. Being recognized is gratifying, but as scientists we don’t work with a goal of winning prizes. We do science because we love it and we love making discoveries and understanding how things work … but this is a very pleasant surprise.”Created in 2012 by Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, and Yuri and Julia Milner to recognize paradigm-shifting research in a number of fields, the Breakthrough Prizes are intended to celebrate the achievements of the world’s top scientists and inspire the next generation of research.Sometimes called the “Oscars of Science,” the prizes are the richest in the field, with winners receiving $3 million. In addition to the life sciences, prizes are handed out in mathematics and fundamental physics.Thus far, Zhuang said, she hasn’t contemplated how to spend the money that comes with the prize.“I have to say I have not been thinking about it at all,” she said. “It’s one of those things … honestly, I don’t know. Maybe when it sinks in and I receive the money, and I have to really think about it, then I’ll make a decision.”Zhuang was selected for the prize by a committee made up of past laureates, “for discovering hidden structures in cells by developing super-resolution imaging — a method that transcends the fundamental spatial resolution limit of light microscopy.”,The technique Zhuang developed — called stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy, or STORM — allowed researchers to use optical microscopes to see objects believed to be too small to be seen by conventional light microscopes.“My broad interest is in understanding the nature of living things — how life arises from the collective actions of molecules, i.e., the molecular basis of life,” Zhuang said. “We love to study living systems by imaging, but there are challenges to that approach.”One of the main challenges, she said, has to do with the size of the objects that researchers want to observe in living systems.“Our bodies are made up of cells which range in size from about 10 to 100 microns in size, or about the width of a human hair,” Zhuang said. “Inside a cell, there are many types of molecules that form intricate networks of interactions that control its function and behavior.”Even the larger of those molecules, called biomacromolecules, such as proteins, RNAs, and DNAs, are often only several nanometers in size — some 10,000 times smaller than the width of a hair. Award recognizes scientist’s trail-blazing work on how cells sense DNA damage and initiate self-repair 
By Stephanie SchupskaUniversity of GeorgiaWhether the chicken or the egg or calf or piglet came first, the waste stream always comes next. And with the meat and milk demand growing worldwide, waste can be a problem. But a U.S. and Mexican research and teaching team is turning it into money.University of Georgia engineering professor K.C. Das and Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila professor Nagamani Balagurusamy in Mexico are jointly developing a program to manage animal waste while producing fuel from the byproducts.Their focus is the Laguna region in northern Mexico. A poor part of the country, the region is also an area where U.S. livestock companies are moving.“The Mexican market is the primary need that will drive this growth” as they buy more meat, Das said. As the demand for meat rises, so does the demand for feed. And “we provide a lot of the feed from here.”Besides UGA and UAC, partners in the research and education program include the Ecogenics Center for Study of Alternative Solutions in Tennessee, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey and Universidad Autonoma de Agraria Antonio Narro in Saltillo.The scientists share technical information and train Mexican students. And they research solutions for animal waste problems that affect both countries through a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development. The grant is administered by Higher Education for Development (HED Office).The grant will also provide scholarships for 18 Mexican students and sponsor UGA-Mexico faculty exchanges over two years. And “it’s an opportunity to internationalize the student experience in our lab,” Das said.The program’s goal is cost-effective waste management with benefits. It will help livestock farmers add to their income by producing biofuels.The biofuels research will focus on algae and methane gas.When livestock waste isn’t managed, too much nitrogen and phosphorous can end up in streams and rivers and cause fish kill and pest growth, including algae. In such cases, the algae signal a problem. But in a controlled environment, algae growth can be a good thing by removing nutrients from wastes and producing usable biomass.Das and others at UGA are studying types of algae now and trying to find which will produce the most oil. In Mexico, their plan is to grow algae in the livestock waste, using two problems to come up with a moneymaking solution.When livestock waste is put in a sealed container without any oxygen, bacteria will digest the waste and produce a gas, commonly called biogas, that contains 60 percent methane. This biogas is a renewable energy source. It’s used for cooking and heating.“The methane in the biogas is combustible, the same as landfill gas,” Das said.Das says this way of producing methane is old technology. But it’s a good time to employ such ways to use waste.Worldwide, people are eating more animal products as their incomes increase, said Christopher Delgado in an International Food Policy Research Institute report. By 2020, developing countries will consume 63 percent of the world’s meat, up from 52 percent in 2003.“From the beginning of the 1970s to the mid 1990s, consumption of meat in developing countries increased by 70 million metric tons,” he said. That almost triples the increase in developed countries.Milk consumption had almost twice the increase in developing countries as in developed countries. This boom had a combined market value of $155 billion. And it’s not expected to slow.“The growth of the livestock industry across our border has many implications for the U.S.,” said Dale Threadgill, who heads agricultural and biological engineering department in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.“We look forward to sharing and expanding our bioenergy expertise through this program,” he said, “and seeing this industry positively affect the economy and the environment.”
Homeowners, businesses, and renewable energy manufacturers, installers and developers will discuss the role of Vermont’s net-metering law in creating jobs and deploying home-grown renewable energy to Vermonters at a State House press conference Friday.Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), the state’s leading trade association for the renewable energy industry, will be holding a press conference on Friday with House Natural Resources and Energy Committee leadership to address expanding Vermont’s successful net-metering program.Afterward, the group will testify before the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee at 1:00 p.m.The testimony will address how expanding Vermont’s successful net metering program will create jobs and support renewable energy generation statewide at no cost to state government.WHAT: Press conference with legislators, homeowners, businesses and Vermont renewable energy leaders on expanding net metering lawsWHEN: Friday, January 28th, 2011, 12:00 p.m.WHERE: Cedar Creek Room, 2nd Floor, Vermont State House, Montpelier, VTNet metering allows Vermont rate-payers to generate their own power using enewable energy systems. Excess power they generate can be fed back to their utilities, running their electric meters backwards.Partial List of ParticipantsChairman Tony Klein, House Natural Resources and Energy CommitteeVice Chair Margaret Cheney, House Natural Resources and Energy CommitteeOther members of the House Natural Resources and Energy CommitteeAndy Kehler, Jasper Hill Farm, HardwickMartha Staskus, VERA & REV Board ChairChad Farrell, Encore RedevelopmentDavid Blittersdorf, AllEarth RenewablesLeigh Seddon, Alteris RenewablesAbout Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), www.revermont.org(link is external)REV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing nearly 300 businesses, individuals, colleges and others committed to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and expanding the availability of renewable sources of energy in Vermont.
June 15, 2004 Errata Errata Faith E. Gay was inadvertently listed as just joining the Miami office of White & Case as a litigation associate in the June 1 On the Move column. Gay actually is one of the firm’s most established litigation partners in its Miami office. The News regrets the error. Errata
Arsenal could play in the Community Shield even if they lose to Manchester City in FA Cup semi-final Advertisement Advertisement Mikel Arteta could be handed an early shot at silverware to start the 2020/21 season (Picture: Getty)Arsenal could be surprise opponents for Liverpool in the Community Shield next month even if they lose their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, according to reports.The curtain-raising showpiece is usually contested by the winners of the FA Cup and the champions of the Premier League, with the second-placed side in the league taking the spot if a team does the double.But UEFA’s rearranged European tournaments have created big issues with the FA’s hopes of staging the Community Shield this year. Comment
City’s European adventure has opened the door for Arsenal to take on Liverpool (Picture: Getty)On the one hand, it would give Arteta an early shot at lifting silverware at the start of the 2020/21 campaign, but on the other hand it would cut into the already preciously short preparation time Premier League clubs will be afforded.As things stand, players are only expected to receive two weeks of holiday after the final game of the current season with Premier League bosses hoping to get the next campaign up and running for the weekend of September 12.MORE: Jose Mourinho responds to Mikel Arteta’s praise and reveals his nickname for the Arsenal bossMORE: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praises Jose Mourinho’s start at Tottenham ahead of north London derby clashFollow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.For more stories like this, check our sport page. Metro Sport ReporterSaturday 11 Jul 2020 1:05 amShare this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messengerShare this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link9.2kShares Arteta won the Community Shield twice with Arsenal while skipper (Picture: Getty Images)The Europa League final does not take place until August 21, with the Champions League final following two days later, and Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are still involved – as well as being in the FA Cup semi-finals.AdvertisementAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTWith the proposed date for the Community Shield currently just a week later, on August 30, any team that wins the FA Cup and also goes deep in European competition will be unable to take part.However, according to the Daily Mail, FA bosses are still absolutely determined for the Community Shield to go ahead as planned, even if United or City win the FA Cup and play in a European final.More: Arsenal FCArsenal flop Denis Suarez delivers verdict on Thomas Partey and Lucas Torreira movesThomas Partey debut? Ian Wright picks his Arsenal starting XI vs Manchester CityArsene Wenger explains why Mikel Arteta is ‘lucky’ to be managing ArsenalTheir new plan is to invite the most successful club in the Shield’s history to take part against Liverpool instead, which is Arsenal, who have won the trophy 15 times.The proposal represents something of a double-edged sword for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who twice won the trophy as captain of the club in 2014 and 2015, as well as lifting it while coach at Manchester City.
SHARE TWEET Governor’s Budget Proposes $26.2 Million to Expand Employment and Community Services for Those with Intellectual Disabilities Human Services, The Blog Governor Wolf has announced that the month of March is Intellectual Disability Awareness Month in Pennsylvania – a time for us to recognize the valuable roles that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have in our families, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Today, there are more opportunities in education and employment and more protections in health care, the legal system, and other areas of human rights – but that is not enough.Governor Wolf’s proposed budget provides $26.2 million to enable individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism to move from the waiting list, providing employment and other community services to an additional 820 special education graduates, and reducing the waiting list by another 1,000 through the creation of a new community support waiver.Recognizing the increased costs to provide service, the funding includes a pay increase for those professionals providing direct care, and realizing a need to target specific needs, expands the Adult Autism Waiver to serve 50 more individuals, adds more than 2,000 individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities to the Targeted Services Management State Plan, and establishes two bio-behavioral units to support people with complex neurodevelopmental needs.This administration is committed to helping every Pennsylvanian realize all of us are valued members of society and our communities and funding provides community services for 80 individuals transitioning from Hamburg Center and an additional 40 individuals at other state centers.We find fulfillment living everyday lives by expanding services to individuals in need and by serving more people in the community, where people want to be served.Throughout this month and every month, I encourage all citizens to support Pennsylvanians with an intellectual disability and their families in all aspects of Pennsylvania community life. Like Governor Tom Wolf on Facebook: Facebook.com/GovernorWolf By: Secretary Ted Dallas, Department of Human Services March 21, 2017 SHARE Email Facebook Twitter
Officers of the Talisay City policestation have yet to identify the suspects and the motive in the incident./PN The 49-year-old resident Melvin ArnelBorja died of gunshot wounds on the body, a police report showed. According to police investigators,Borja was on his way home riding a tricycle when one of the unidentifiedmotorcycle-riding suspects peppered him with bullets around 3 p.m. on Sunday. Borja was rushed to the Talisay CityHealth Office where the attending physician declared him “dead on arrival.” BACOLOD City – A voice instructor wasshot to death in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City, Negros Occidental. 
PRICE, Utah – Common sense and common rules bring IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks back to Desert Thunder Raceway.Sanctioned Hobbies ran at the Price, Utah 3/8-mile dirt oval from 2009-2012. They’ll return for four Friday-Saturday doubleheaders this season, joining IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods.“We tried them for a while at a time when dirt track racing was expanding in Utah,” track owner and co-promoter Harvey Howard said. “Then some other people decided they could do things better with what I call outlaw rules.”“It’s taken a while but other people have figured out what we knew 10 years ago,” he continued. “We have done everything we can to move back and hope that now we’ve come full circle. It’s just common sense to go to a national sanction and not have to argue over rules.”Race dates for all IMCA divisions at Desert Thunder are April 13 and 14, April 27 and 28, May 11 and 12, and Sept. 28 and 29.“We had 21 Hobby Stocks at our Castle Country Clash last fall and almost all of them were already IMCA legal,” said Howard. “I believe that as we work together, we can get other tracks in the area to sanction the Hobby Stocks.”The Hobbies return to IMCA’s Big Daddy Race Cars Southern Region. Modifieds running at Price are in the Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region while Stock Cars are part of the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region.
Garry Monk was perplexed by Swansea’s capitulation in the second half. “You never have it won by half-time, whatever game you play in,” he said. “The way we played first half was pretty much exactly how we wanted them to play. “They carried it out, we were getting crosses, we were causing problems, we were getting chances and probably could have taken a few more, so probably should have taken more from the first half. “You’ve got them on the ropes and if you don’t knock them out, you’re always open to them coming back into the match and that’s exactly what happened. (It was a) very good first half and very poor second half. “The way we come out second half was very sloppy, very poor. Our passing was poor, our touches invited West Brom onto us and then unfortunately the second goal in these sorts of games is always crucial. “They got the second one, which gave them the impetus going forward and unfortunately we conceded a second. I don’t think we deserved to lose the game, but we definitely didn’t deserve to win it after that second-half performance.” West Brom are now 16th, with the Swans one point and two places better off in 14th. Spaniard Mel, who took charge on January 9, said: “I am blessed. For the fans, for the players, we need to win and in football, confidence is all. “The players need to win and now it’s different, I hope.” Mel felt his midfield was over-run by Swansea in the first half, but thought the tactical changes he made shifted the momentum. Revealing what he spoke about at half-time, he added: “We talked about the problems, talked about the football, talked about the future face to face, and it’s only 45 minutes and we need to change. The football players at West Brom are intelligent. “The pressure is the same for all the countries – in Spain, in England, Germany it’s the same. “My work is dangerous. Head coach is a difficult job, but the most important in football is the player.” Swansea started with a bang as Belgian winger Roland Lamah put them in front after less than two minutes, beating Steven Reid on the by-line before curling the ball past England international Ben Foster. The Baggies took hold of the game in the second half and Congolese midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu’s side-footed effort from 20 yards nabbed the much-needed three points after Stephane Sessegnon levelled from outside the box on 53 minutes. Press Association Under-pressure manager Pepe Mel felt “blessed” to finally get a win under his belt as West Brom manager. The Baggies upset the odds at the Liberty Stadium to come from behind and earn a 2-1 win which saw them move three points clear of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone. It was their first away win since September 28, when they upset Manchester United at Old Trafford, and their first victory of any kind since beating Newcastle on New Year’s Day. 
AFTER a hiatus of over two years, Guyana’s Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy will step back into the ring on Saturday against American Eric Moon in Atlanta Georgia at the Buckhead Fight Club.With the legendary Colin Morgan in his corner, Moon is undefeated in his four outings and the 26-year-old is tipped to be one of USA’s ‘upcoming’ super middleweights.Hardy’s last outing in the ring was against Vito Gasparyan where he suffered a Unanimous Decision loss, despite a good showing against the Armenian.The defeat to Gasparyan was Hardy’s first blemish, which puts his ring-record at 13 wins from 14 outings. Ten of his wins came from knocking his opponents out, using his notorious right hand.The 30-year-old Hardy, who hails from Sophia, is tipped to be Guyana’s next world champion. With constant improvement in the ring since moving to the U.S. he is travelling the path to live up to that expectation.Before migrating, Hardy had kayoed Iwan Azore to win the vacant WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) welterweight title at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.Hardy’s last fight in Guyana was against Howard Eastman in 2012 where he picked up a Majority Decision win after out-boxing the former Commonwealth middleweight champion.