New fitting analyses of two-dimensional diffraction-spot shapes are demonstrated to evaluate strain, strain distribution and domain size in a crystalline ultra-thin film. The evaluations are displayed as residual and population maps as a function of strain or domain size.

A new ZnII metallocryptand is presented, with an unprecedented diflexure helix.

The study found that infants whose mothers had higher levels of available milk energy soon after their birth, coped more effectively (moved around more, explored more, ate and drank) and showed greater confidence (were more playful, exploratory, curious and active) with this novel situation.

The post New study sees mother’s milk as a communications link that shapes infant temperament appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

In addition to the species name, Leafsnap provides high-resolution photographs and information about the tree's flowers, fruit, seeds and bark—giving the user a comprehensive understanding of the specie

The post Leafsnap, a new mobile app that identifies plants by leaf shape, is launched by Smithsonian and collaborators appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The most peculiar feature of this new turtle is its extremely circular shell, about the size and shape of a big car tire.

The post Prehistoric turtle was size and shape of a big car tire appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Snowstorms and blizzards send people to raid supermarkets and prepare their homes for days of staying indoors, but how do the animals at the Smithsonian’s […]

The post What happens at the National Zoo when it snows? appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

With over 138 million collection objects, 2.1 million library volumes, and 137,000 cubic feet of archives, the stories of how our collections have made their […]

The post Seventeen Objects for 170 Years (Happy Birthday to us!) appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

“Probably no genus of birds in the American avifauna has received the amount of attention that has been bestowed upon the turkeys…there has been no […]

The post Happy Thanksgiving! Here are 25 fun turkey-related objects in Smithsonian collections! appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Imke K. Mandemaker, Di Zhou, Serena T. Bruens, Dick H. Dekkers, Pernette J. Verschure, Raghu R. Edupuganti, Eran Meshorer, Jeroen A. Demmers, and Jurgen A. Marteijn

Many chromatin remodeling and modifying proteins are involved in the DNA damage response by stimulating repair or inducing DNA damage signaling. Interestingly, here we identified that down regulation of the H1-interacting protein SET results in increased resistance to a wide variety of DNA damaging agents. We found that this increased resistance is not the result of an inhibitory effect of SET on DNA repair, but rather the consequence of a suppressed apoptotic response to DNA damage. We further provide evidence that the histone chaperone SET is responsible for the eviction of H1 from chromatin. Knock down of H1 in SET-depleted cells resulted in re-sensitization of cells to DNA damage, suggesting that the increased DNA damage resistance in SET-depleted cells is the result of enhanced retention of H1 on chromatin. Finally, clonogenic survival assays show that SET and p53 are epistatic in attenuating DNA damage-induced cell death. Altogether, our data show a role for SET in the DNA damage response as a regulator of cell survival following genotoxic stress.

Bipasha Dey and Richa Rikhy

Cell shape morphogenesis from spherical to polygonal occurs in epithelial cell formation in metazoan embryogenesis. In syncytial Drosophila embryos, the plasma membrane incompletely surrounds each nucleus and is organized as a polygonal epithelial-like array. Each cortical syncytial division cycle shows circular to polygonal plasma membrane transition along with furrow extension between adjacent nuclei from interphase to metaphase. In this study, we assess the relative contribution of DE-cadherin and Myosin II at the furrow for polygonal shape transition. We show that polygonality initiates during each cortical syncytial division cycle when the furrow extends from 4.75 to 5.75 µm. Polygon plasma membrane organization correlates with increased junctional tension, increased DE-cadherin and decreased Myosin II mobility. DE-cadherin regulates furrow length and polygonality. Decreased Myosin II activity allows for polygonality to occur at a lower length than controls. Increased Myosin II activity leads to loss of lateral furrow formation and complete disruption of polygonal shape transition. Our studies show that DE-cadherin-Myosin II balance regulates an optimal lateral membrane length during each syncytial cycle for polygonal shape transition.

Could the universe’s earliest stars have formed planets, and if so, what might they have looked like? That was the question Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics […]

The post Diamonds are a planet’s best friend? In the early universe, perhaps appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

If a supernova vaporized Earth’s ozone layer, what would happen to life in the ocean? Smithsonian biologist Pat Neale shows how UV rays could harm […]

The post If a supernova vaporized our ozone layer, what would happen to life on Earth? appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Happy Holidays from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum!

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 The zoo extends the collecting mission of the Smithsonian into the realm of the living. From the Series: Stories From the Vault: Random? http://bit.ly/2gfy5hO

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This work presents a technique for extracting the detailed shape of peaks with extended, overlapping tails in an X-ray powder diffraction pattern. The application discussed here concerns crystallite size broadening, though the technique can be applied to spectra of any origin and without regard to how the profiles are to be subsequently analyzed. Historically, the extraction of profile shapes has been difficult due to the complexity of determining the background under the peak, resulting in an offset of the low-frequency components of the Fourier transform of the peak known as the `hook' problem. The use of a carefully considered statistical weighting function in a non-linear least-squares fit, followed by summing the residuals from such a fit with the fit itself, allows one to extract the full shape of an isolated peak, without contributions from either the background or adjacent peaks. The extracted shape, consisting of the fit function recombined with the residuals, is not dependent on any specific shape model. The application of this to analysis of microstructure is performed independently of global parametric models, which would reduce the number of refined parameters; therefore the technique requires high-quality data to produce results of interest. The effectiveness of the technique is demonstrated by extraction of Fourier transforms of peaks from two sets of size-broadened materials with two differing pieces of equipment.

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National Science Foundation-funded engineers have developed a mathematical framework that can turn any sheet of material into any prescribed shape, inspired by the paper craft kirigami (from the Japanese, kiri, meaning to cut and kami, meaning paper). Unlike its better-known cousin origami, which uses folds to shape paper, kirigami relies on a pattern of cuts in a flat paper sheet to change its flexibility and allow it to morph into 3D shapes. Artists have long used this artform to create everything from pop-up cards to castles and dragons. This research follows previous work by the researchers that characterized how origami-based patterns could be used as building blocks to create almost any three-dimensional curved shape. Next the researchers aim to explore how to combine cuts and folds to achieve any shape with a given set of properties, thus linking origami and kirigami.

Image credit: Harvard SEAS

Ten questions driving the geological and planetary sciences were identified today in a new report by the National Research Council.

If we can’t secure the supply chain, eventually everything else will break

The post What happens when the global supply chain breaks? appeared first on WeLiveSecurity

A new German study suggests that residents??? level of satisfaction with their urban neighbourhood can be predicted from their perceptions of multiple and co-occurring burdens, such as poor air quality, lack of green space, noise and low cleanliness.

The study, published today in Nature Microbiology, holds promise for a new treatment method against antibiotic-resistant bacteria (commonly known as superbugs).

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Waves hitting Europe’s Atlantic coast during the winter of 2013–2014 were the most powerful in nearly 70 years, reports a new study. They caused significant coastal erosion and the study found examples of beaches which are now several metres lower. The study’s authors say that coastal planners should consider increasingly stormy conditions in the north-east Atlantic, as predicted by some climate change models.

A new study has analysed four Scandinavian examples of public involvement in nature conservation and suggested that successful participation requires clear rules to enable public involvement and a process to resolve conflicts.

Reindeer grazing and climate change both affect Arctic plant communities, according to new research. The study suggests that reindeer grazing management strategies could significantly influence the future Arctic landscape.

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill saw the first ever use of chemical dispersants to reduce the impacts of an oil spill at a deepwater level. A new study has investigated the fate of these dispersants in deepwater and concluded that they do not biodegrade well.

Today I will show you how I plotted this treble clef symbol in MATLAB:... read more >>

Grey's productivity is being disrupted, Myke is giving in to the tropes of Youtube, and they both played PewDiePie's Tuber Simulator.

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Survey by Louisiana oil and gas industry group shows 23-percent layoff and 77.5-percent well shut-in figures.

California wine country may be the happiest place in the United States, at least if its Twitter feed is any indication.

A seagull is taking social media by storm by 'tweeting' the bird’s eye view from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

April 15, 2013, the date of the Boston Marathon bombings, was the saddest recorded day in five years.

Because there's no shame in being single on Valentine's Day.

These heart-shaped islands are top-notch destinations for romantic vacations, honeymoons, weddings and marriage proposals.

Though childbirth is frequently spoken of in terms of pain and punishment, some women do experience what are known as orgasmic or ecstatic births.

If you're looking for a boost in happiness, having more sex may not be your best bet.

A brightly-colored fungus found only on Hawaiian lava flows might be the most powerful aphrodisiac ever discovered.

Get out of the car and onto public transit to celebrate National Dump the Pump Day!

She was expecting a nasty comment for breastfeeding her baby in public. What she got was a free dinner.

Naturally, the man responsible for the geodesic dome also lived in one. Now, Bucky's landmark 1960 structure will be restored and opened as a museum.

As the Earth heats up and weather grows wilder, meteorologists are on the front lines of an intensifying war with the elements.