The diagnosis of cancer is a shock in itself and then comes another - the risk of infertility

September 22, 2015

Coffee and running are addictive in their own unique ways. Each provides a buzz that keeps people coming back for more. In kind, Runkeeper and Starbucks don’t just help people feed their addictions; these apps are as habit-forming as the behaviors they supplement.

Due to its goal-based reward system, Runkeeper’s users don’t feel like their run “counts” unless it’s tracked within the app. And due to Starbucks’ loyalty-based reward system, customers feel compelled to purchase with the app because they don’t want to miss out on the rewards and VIP status that come with being a regular customer.

When apps aren’t addictive, users open them one time, explore for a few minutes, and promptly delete them from their devices. Depending on your industry,...read more
By Bobby Emamian

Germany gets a respite while Brazil emerges as a hotspot, and gyms open in Beijing

The bond-valence method was performed on 51 crystal data sets from nitrogenase proteins, indicating the presence of molybdenum(III) in FeMo cofactors and vanadium(III) with more reduced iron complements in FeV cofactors.

The Y128F single mutant of p-hydroxymandelate oxidase (Hmo) is capable of oxidizing mandelate to benzoate via a four-electron oxidative decarboxylation reaction. When benzoylformate (the product of the first two-electron oxidation) and hydrogen peroxide (an oxidant) were used as substrates the reaction did not proceed, suggesting that free hydrogen peroxide is not the committed oxidant in the second two-electron oxidation. How the flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-dependent four-electron oxidation reaction takes place remains elusive. Structural and biochemical explorations have shed new light on this issue. 15 high-resolution crystal structures of Hmo and its mutants liganded with or without a substrate reveal that oxidized FMN (FMNox) possesses a previously unknown electrophilic/nucleophilic duality. In the Y128F mutant the active-site perturbation ensemble facilitates the polarization of FMNox to a nucleophilic ylide, which is in a position to act on an α-ketoacid, forming an N5-acyl-FMNred dead-end adduct. In four-electron oxidation, an intramolecular disproportion­ation reaction via an N5-alkanol-FMNred C'α carbanion intermediate may account for the ThDP/PLP/NADPH-independent oxidative decarboxylation reaction. A synthetic 5-deaza-FMNox cofactor in combination with an α-hydroxyamide or α-ketoamide biochemically and structurally supports the proposed mechanism.

White, who was a student at Columbian College from Accomack County, Va., died of pneumonia and complications from a mitral heart defect. When his coffin was unearthed, his identity was a deep mystery.

The post Remains of William Taylor White (1837-1852) donated to Smithsonian with his coffin and clothing appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

There is a new candidate for coldest known star: a brown dwarf with about the same temperature as a hot cup of coffee. That’s cool enough to begin crossing the blurry line between small cold stars and big hot planets.

The post New candidate for “coldest star” is same temperature as a hot cup of coffee appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The bond-valence method has been used for valence calculations of FeMo/V cofactors in FeMo/V proteins using 51 crystallographic data sets of FeMo/V proteins from the Protein Data Bank. The calculations show molybdenum(III) to be present in MoFe7S9C(Cys)(HHis)[R-(H)homocit] (where H4homocit is homocitric acid, HCys is cysteine and HHis is histidine) in FeMo cofactors, while vanadium(III) with a more reduced iron complement is obtained for FeV cofactors. Using an error analysis of the calculated valences, it was found that in FeMo cofactors Fe1, Fe6 and Fe7 can be unambiguously assigned as iron(III), while Fe2, Fe3, Fe4 and Fe5 show different degrees of mixed valences for the individual Fe atoms. For the FeV cofactors in PDB entry 5n6y, Fe4, Fe5 and Fe6 correspond to iron(II), iron(II) and iron(III), respectively, while Fe1, Fe2, Fe3 and Fe7 exhibit strongly mixed valences. Special situations such as CO-bound and selenium-substituted FeMo cofactors and O(N)H-bridged FeV cofactors are also discussed and suggest rearrangement of the electron configuration on the substitution of the bridging S atoms.

Scientists have long known that in the tropics shade-grown coffee plantations provide critical habitat for migratory and resident birds. Now a new survey conducted in […]

The post Shade-grown coffee plantations are mammal friendly as well, study shows appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Finding a mouse in your morning coffee might give you an unwelcome jolt, but there’s a strong connection between small mammals, birds and the plantations […]

The post Of mice and macchiato: Bird Friendly coffee gives a paw-up to small mammals as well appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Should kids drink coffee? The answer depends heavily on the other sources of caffeine that are already in their diet.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of coffee.

How a cup of coffee or a shot of espresso is made affects its flavor—and here's the science of why.

MNN's lifestyle blogger ended her 20-year-old affair with coffee this year. Could you do the same?

Forgo the cuppa Joe, and start your morning with yoga moves guaranteed to get you awake and ready for the day.

It's unlikely that coffee or tea is growing in your garden, so after you finish that cup, put the grounds to work with these clever ideas.

There can be both positive and negative effects of drinking coffee on a regular basis.

It took a surprising amount of engineering magic to build a coffee cup suitable for those in zero gravity.

You don't have to be Irish to try this whiskey-filled classic hot drink.

Longtime eco-friendly coffee makers attempt a green solution to the waste of single servings.

Can drinking coffee reduce your carbon footprint? Tiny Footprint Coffee claims it roasts the world's first carbon-negative coffee.

May 14, 2011, is Stamp Out Hunger Day and World Fair Trade Day. It's one of those occasions when you can do some good for other people while you're still in you

Forthcoming documentary follows movement to link poor growers with roasters and consumers.

October is Fair Trade month! I am celebrating with the following products.

With all of the conflicting studies about caffeine's effect on the body, should you shun the pick-me-up or have a second cup? According to the Mayo Clinic, mode

This new drink makes all your coffee and wine meme dreams come true.

A lunchbox and a thermos may be the best tools for saving money during the work week.

This artisan, certified organic, Fair Trade coffee is one of the best our food blogger has had in her home.

No, it won't be called Luke's coffee, but 'Gilmore Girls' Scott Patterson's new java seems to hint at the coffee served in the fictional diner.

New Zealand filmmaker showcases free-spirited seniors embracing death by building and decorating their own coffins.

Filipino artist and environmentalist Vincent Francisco Navarro paid homage to coffee farmers by painting portraits of them with used grounds.

The chicken chain is working with THRIVE to purchase coffee from farmers who can by-pass the middleman and get paid up to 10x more for their beans.

Starbucks just recycled 25 million unused Starbucks cups, and that's good news. But don't ditch your reusable travel mug just yet.

By turning coffee waste into auto parts, this collaboration builds on the two companies' commitments to environmental stewardship.

The paper Unocup ditches plastic in a bid to reduce waste and improve ergonomics.

Coffee-growing regions are set to lose key pollinators like bees by midcentury due to climate change.

The Sip of Hope coffeehouse in Chicago's Logan Square supports mental health initiatives, including suicide prevention.

This simple flavored salt brings a pinch of caffeinated brightness to your culinary creations.

Insurance Age content director Jonathan Swift mulls whether insurance broking needs to go back to its beginnings to find the right blend for future success.

Dr John Mitchell speaks to Jonathan Swift about his venture Wessex Business Services, an insurance broker – although not in name - with quite a few interesting side lines from scented candles to hot desking spaces.

What you drinking?

A French PhD student designed a special disposable coffee cup lid named Flies Trap Lid, which can catch flies after using. His purpose is saving lives by cutting the spread of vector-borne diseases carried by flies.

Ruumi lid moves away from the traditional flat, canister-style shape to one that follows the human form. This means it will not compress the nose or force the head to tilt back, creating the feeling of an open cup rather than a standard to-go cup.

Small, medium and large coffee producers from across Mexico feature at three-day event focusing on quality and innovation

Mr. Cofrancesco serves as president, chief financial officer and treasurer of All Around Town Home Care, Inc.

Dallas Firefighter's Museum and Fire Grounds Coffee announce they have entered into a strategic partnership, combining Dallas Firefighter's Museum's history and education efforts and Fire Grounds Coffee Company's high-grade coffee.

Jim McKelvey, entrepreneur and cofounder of Square, says that most companies that think of themselves as innovative are really just copycats. True innovation, he argues, is about fearlessly exploring novel solutions and dramatically expanding markets. Doing so also helps startups defend their innovations against industry giants, as Square did against Amazon. McKelvey is the author of the book “The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time.”

J. Martinez & Company fine coffees would like to discuss the recent rise in coffee tastings.