 |
|
Ants hold the key to traffic chaos
January 29, 2003Drivers wishing to avoid traffic jams could learn from the behaviour of army ants, according to new research by biologists at the University of Bristol.
The study, carried out by Professor Nigel Franks, found similarities between the problems encountered by New World army ants as they migrate between nest sites and the thousands of drivers who commute to work daily in British cities.
While commuting drivers tend to want to beat jams by cutting in and trying to take short-cuts, the ants keep constant speed, stay in their lanes and, essentially, act unselfishly.
The New World army ant (Eciton burchelli) stages huge swarm raids with up to 200,000 virtually blind foragers forming trail systems up to 20m wide and 100m long. These massive raids are severely time-constrained, beginning at dawn and ending at dusk.
However, the ants have developed a simple yet highly effective way of ensuring they don’t get stuck in a traffic jam. They create trails of pheromones which act as a guide to other ants and ensure the trail continues at a fast pace in a steady stream.
Professor Franks said: “The ants always act for the good of the whole rather than the individual and are never unpredictable. Selfish humans clearly have a lot to learn from the ants’ ability to arrange smooth traffic flows.”
Bristol, University of
The New World army ant (Eciton burchelli) stages huge swarm raids with up to 200,000 virtually blind foragers forming trail systems up to 20m wide and 100m long. These massive raids are severely time-constrained, beginning at dawn and ending at dusk.
However, the ants have developed a simple yet highly effective way of ensuring they don’t get stuck in a traffic jam. They create trails of pheromones which act as a guide to other ants and ensure the trail continues at a fast pace in a steady stream.
Professor Franks said: “The ants always act for the good of the whole rather than the individual and are never unpredictable. Selfish humans clearly have a lot to learn from the ants’ ability to arrange smooth traffic flows.”
Bristol, University of
AIDS Current Events and AIDS News RSSLandmark study defines benefits of early HIV testing and treatment for infected infants
Testing very young babies for HIV and giving antiretroviral therapy (ART) immediately to those found infected with the virus dramatically prevents illness and death, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine.
First Holistic Guide to Primate Disease Covers Critical Gap in Global Health
Why are so many infectious diseases jumping from animals to humans? Why do we have so little capacity to predict epidemics, or avoid them?
Applying 'supply and demand' business principles to treat infectious diseases worldwide
Treating infectious diseases while meeting escalating costs to do so continues to pose worldwide challenges, with one of the main issues being the ability to provide an adequate supply of drugs to treat infectious diseases.
Results of landmark study of HIV vaccine published in the Lancet
Results from the Step study, a test-of-concept efficacy study of a Merck & Co., Inc. HIV vaccine candidate, were published online today in two papers in The Lancet. These analyses of the Step study are being conducted, presented and published to inform the continued search for an effective HIV vaccine.
Stem Cells from Monkey Teeth Can Stimulate Growth and Generation of Brain Cells
Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, have discovered dental pulp stem cells can stimulate growth and generation of several types of neural cells. Findings from this study, available in the October issue of the journal Stem Cells, suggest dental pulp stem cells show promise for use in cell therapy and regenerative medicine, particularly therapies associated with the central nervous system.
A new approach in tsunami-early warning
The newly implemented Tsunami Early Warning System for the Indian Ocean, GITEWS, goes into operation today and with this, the system enters its final phase of optimisation.
Researchers describe how cells take out the trash to prevent disease
Garbage collectors are important for removing trash; without them waste accumulates and can quickly become a health hazard. Similarly, individual cells that make up such biological organisms as humans also have sophisticated methods for managing waste.
Researchers use chemical from medicinal plants to fight HIV
Like other kinds of cells, immune cells lose the ability to divide as they age because a part of their chromosomes known as a telomere becomes progressively shorter with cell division. As a result, the cell changes in many ways, and its disease fighting ability is compromised.
T cell-based HIV vaccine candidate demonstrates positive results
The question of whether or not to continue to pursue the development of T-cell-based HIV-1 vaccines has been a source of controversy following last year's widely publicized failure of the field's most promising candidate, a vaccine developed by Merck known as V520.
New study shows that important gene controls the ability of the thymus to produce disease-fighting T-cells after an organism's birth
New research, just published by researchers from the University of Georgia, provides the first evidence that a key gene may be crucial to maintaining the production of the thymus and its disease-fighting T-cells after an animal's birth.
More AIDS Current Events and AIDS News Articles
 | First Aid for the USMLE Step 1: 2008 (First Aid for the Usmle Step 1) by Tao Le, Vikas Bhushan, Deepak A. Rao The #1 selling medical review book in the world—updated with the very latest must know facts and test-taking advice for the USMLE Step 1 This annually updated collection of the most frequently tested high-yield facts and mnemonics delivers everything you need to pass the most anxiety-provoking exam of your career.Written by students who just passed the boards, this is the undisputed... |
 | The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe "An American classic" (Newsweek) that defined a generation. “An astonishing book” (The New York Times Book Review) and an unflinching portrait of Ken Kesey, his Merry Pranksters, and the... |
 | First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CK (First Aid USMLE) by Tao Le, Vikas Bhushan This high-yield guide is designed to prepare students for part two (of four) of the United Stated Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Written by medical students and reviewed by top faculty, this unique book provides practical, tested advice for acing the USMLE Step 2... |
 | First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CS (First Aid for the USMLE Step 2: Clinical Skills) by Tao Le, Vikas Bhushan A STUDENT TO STUDENT GUIDE The top-selling CS review book written by students and IMGs who recently passed 100+ high-yield minicases by chief complaint 30 complete cases simulate the exam experience Contains new Patient Encounters, including telephone interviews Perfect for group or solo study YOUR COMPLETE CS SURVIVAL GUIDE FROM THE AUTHORS OF FIRST AID FOR THE USMLE STEP 1 INSIDER... |
 | First Aid for the USMLE Step 3 (First Aid USMLE) by Tao Le, Vikas Bhushan, veronique Let the authors of First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 show you how to ace the USMLE Step 3 with this proven survival guide.. . Written by residents who passed the boards and reviewed by top faculty, First Aid for the USMLE Step 3 delivers the content and practical advice you need to pass the USMLE Step 3.. . Turn to this trusted guide for:. High-yield information, mnemonics, and visual aids. ... |
 | The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery by Alexander Cynthia L. |
 | First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 2009: A Student to Student Guide (First Aid Series) by Tao Le, Vikas Bhushan Trust the world's #1 selling medical review book to help you excel on the USMLE Step 1! . . This annually updated collection of the most frequently. tested high-yield facts and mnemonics. delivers everything you need to pass the. most anxiety-provoking exam of your career.Written. by students who just passed the boards, this is the. undisputed �bible� of USMLE Step 1 preparation --... |
 | First Aid for the Psychiatry Clerkship (Clinical Clerkship) by Latha Stead, S. Matthew Stead, Matthew S. Kaufman This student -to-student guide helps you: discover med students' "secret weapon" for the clerkship; impress on the wards and succeed in the clerkship; get answers to shelf-exam questions from students who passed; remember the essentials with high-yield topics, mnemonics, and pocket-sized reminders; and apply the First Aid formula for clerkship success! This insider's guide to psychiatry clerkship... |
 | AIDS Sutra: Untold Stories from India In this groundbreaking anthology, sixteen renowned writers tell the hidden story of the AIDS crisis, illuminating the complex nature of one of the major problems facing the developing world. India is home to almost 3 million HIV cases, but AIDS is still stigmatized and shrouded in denial. Discrimination against HIV-affected individuals in hospitals, schools, and even among families is common,... |
 | Getting Financial Aid 2009 (College Board Guide to Getting Financial Aid) by The College Board This simple, friendly, step-by-step guide explains how to get financial aid. It also gives the "financial aid picture" for each of 3,000 colleges, universities, and technical schools including "Know the Lingo" guides to financial aid terms; step-by-step guides to filling out the FAFSA and other forms; details about unique scholarships offered by colleges; advice on working through college; and... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |