Tuscaloosa Times
TuscaloosaTimes.com Tuesday 9th February 2010 Volume 3/06
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DJI: 103.84 9908.39 1.04%
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FTSE: 14.02 5106.35 0.28%
Nikkei: 18.92 9932.9 0.19%

bullet Reported in the press corner
"It is unfair you enjoy a safe life while our brothers in Gaza suffer greatly. Our attacks will continue as long as you support Israel. "
Osama bin Laden
The al-Qaeda leader was addressing U.S. President Barack Obama in a recently-released videotape.

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$£€ United States, Dollar Euro Canada, Dollar United Kingdom, Pound Japan, Yen
United States, Dollar - 0.729 1.070 0.640 89.39
Euro 1.370 - 1.467 0.877 122.5
Canada, Dollar 0.934 0.681 - 0.597 83.49
United Kingdom, Pound 1.562 1.139 1.672 - 139.6
Japan, Yen 0.011 0.008 0.011 0.007 -

bullet More Tuscaloosa News corner
A Local Company Fights To Keep Its Jobs
Greene County's Sheriff Firm On Protecting 'Greenetrack'
Pell City Passes New Sales Tax
Break on Power Payments in Piedmont
Soul Food, Quilting & Books
Price of Illegal Drugs Increases in Etowah County

bullet Editorials corner
Super Bowl ads draw lightweight praise
Business Insight: Use the power of PR to boost profits
Air standards ever changing
Listen to my Mark: Get your heart checked out

bullet Seniors corner
High BP may help predict dementia in older adults
Older mums likely to have autistic children
Poor hand grip linked to poor survival
Haiti’s elderly struggling to rebuild their lives

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Breaking News
Spain Park HS Principal Accused of Misuse of Funds
');} //--> Hoover, AL - The Spain Park High School principal resigns after he's accused of misusing school funds. Hoover school leaders believe Billy Broadway used nearly $5,000 of school funds...

Vulcan's Pedestal Needs Waterproofing
But the pedestal Vulcan is standing on has some issues. Water is seeping through hairline cracks. Director of Operations Owen Blomeley says the tower is structurally sound, but the sandstone absorbs...
Bingo Battle Also Halts Halls on Brink of Opening
As the gaming battle continues to brew, not only are most Alabama bingo halls now closed but the plugs have also been pulled on dozens that were on the brink of opening. 3 new halls were expected to...
More breaking stories
The World
US warned to beware terror incidents overseasUS warned to beware terror incidents overseas
Al-Qaeda has made another threat toward the...

Mogadishu residents flee impending fightMogadishu residents flee impending fight
There have been more terror attacks linked to rebel and government forces in Mogadishu,...
Terror attack averted in Pakistan
Pakistani police claim to have prevented an attack on a five-star hotel in Lahore, the country's second largest...
More international stories
Business News
Toyota receives summons from Japanese government over problemsToyota receives summons from Japanese government over problems
Toyota's president is due to brief the Japanese government on the Prius...

More nuclear power for ArgentinaMore nuclear power for Argentina
Argentina has decided to build a third nuclear plant by end of the...
Greece to boost government revenues with taxGreece to boost government revenues with tax
Greece will institute tax reforms to urgently boost government...
More business stories

bullet Worms may offer new epilepsy treatments corner

Washington, Dec 10 : A new study on worms by researchers at the University of Alabama has shed light on cellular mechanisms that could be exploited to treat epilepsy.

The researchers said that the transparent roundworm, C. elegans, helped them identify key 'molecular switches' that control the transport of a molecule (gamma-aminobutyric acid or 'GABA') that if manipulated within our cells, might prevent the onset of seizures.

"It is our hope that this work serves to accelerate the path toward the identification of genetic factors that cause a susceptibility to epilepsy," said study co-author Guy A. Caldwell, from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

"Simultaneously, this work has the potential to uncover new avenues toward therapeutic development to control or prevent seizures in the future," Caldwell added.

The researchers conducted experiments involving drugs known to affect neuronal activity in combination with DNA mutations in genetic factors shared between C. elegans and humans.

Changes in the worm's neuronal activity led to repetitive convulsions believed to be similar to those experienced in epilepsy.

These convulsions were observed under a microscope, and videos of those events were used to evaluate the severity of the neuronal changes.

At the same time, the researchers used a green fluorescent protein to "tag" or "label" the cellular locale and delivery of GABA in neurons.

This tagging allowed the researchers to see the specific genetic factors that led to abnormal movement of GABA in neurons as they coincided with worm seizures and to make appropriate comparisons with worms from the control group.

The study has been published in the journal Genetics.


bullet Tuscaloosa Times corner
The Tuscaloosa Times is essentially a local Tuscaloosa newspaper, but with a national and international perspective, designed to provide readers with a one-stop shop for Tuscaloosa, national US, regional, and world news coverage, weather and sports information, with live updates on breaking business stories, and what's happening in the financial markets.

The biggest advantage we have is that we are an online newspaper, which means we are constantly refreshing our stories as more and more information comes to hand. Often when a story breaks the initial details are sketchy.

We and our sources around the world work hard to gather more information, verify facts, and provide a perspective of the major stories. Expert opinion often accompanies our articles to better inform readers, and provide a more complete understanding
of the news we deliver.

Financial markets and business reports are regular features as we pin down what's happening, and constantly refresh stock market indice readings, dollar currency rates, and breaking business news reports. Our world sports coverage is a priority, as is our regional news.

We like to think if you're looking for breaking news out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the United States, or the world, you'll look for it first at the Tuscaloosa Times.

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    bullet Tuscaloosa Weather corner
    Tuscaloosa, Alabama
    Now 47.2°F/8.4°C Rain
    Tuesday 45°F/7°C Rain
    Wednesday 43°F/6°C Partly Cloudy
    Thursday 45°F/7°C Mostly Cloudy
    Friday 38°F/3°C Snow
    Saturday 47°F/8°C Partly Cloudy

    bullet Movie Review corner

    bullet Alabama corner
    Alabama senator releases holds on Obama nominees
    Cousins wasn't a fan favorite in Alabama
    'Surprise' snow closes some North Alabama schools

    bullet National corner
    Hillary Clinton still trying to decide what to wear to daughter's wedding
    Anti-Valentine's events in NYC to cheer up lonely hearts, love haters
    Ex-madam Kristin Davis to run for New York Governor
    Mum of Vladimir Putin's love child 'vanishes'
    Tiger Woods could return to golf at Tavinstock Cup next month
    2010 Super Bowl most-watched TV show in history
    Iraq inquiry: Bush was determined to overthrow Saddam

    bullet Have Your Say corner
    Stock markets around the world are falling again. How do you think they will fare by the end of the year?


    bullet Hotel Review corner
    Novotel Hotel St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia
    Novotel Hotel St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia

    Just a few minutes drive north of Melbourne lies St Kilda beach. Overlooking the ocean is the six-storey Novotel, built in...


    bullet Space corner
    Cassini finds new evidence for Enceladus hiding water beneath icy skin
    NASA's space shuttle Endeavour launched
    Endeavour heads for space station with new picture window
    Endeavour blasts off for mission to space station
    Space shuttle blasts off on last night flight