The 3DS managed to beat records for the most hardware units sold in a single month in Japan last month.
That's according to figures from Japanese sales tracking firm Enterbrain, which says that the 1,492,931 units sold between November 28 and December 25 is the highest hardware sales total for any single month since it began records in 1997.
December is also the seventh month running that 3DS has topped Enterbrain's Japanese monthly hardware charts.
Sony's Vita, which launched on December 17 in the region, came in a distant second for the month, with 402,794 units sold.
3DS was the best-selling console in Japan in 2011, while Mario Kart 7 beat Super Mario 3D Land to the top of the annual software sales chart. The 3D portable's fortunes have really turned around, it seems.
Our iVoices made us laugh, cry and learn throughout the year -- and inspired us with their diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Here's to more from this amazing -- and unprecedented -- network of real women, men, moms and dads in 2012.
Contact: Becky Terns rterns@bmb.uga.edu 706-542-1703 University of Georgia
Discovery reveals new possibility for gene silencing in bacteria and other organisms
Athens, Ga. The knowledge that bacteria possess adaptable immune systems that protect them from individual viruses and other foreign invaders is relatively new to science, and researchers across the globe are working to learn how these systems function and to apply that knowledge in industry and medicine.
Now, a team of University of Georgia researchers has discovered how to harness this bacterial immune system to selectively target and silence genes. The finding, published today in the early online edition of the journal Molecular Cell, reveals a powerful new tool that has far-reaching implications for biotechnology and biomedical research.
"Scientists study bacteria and other microorganisms to understand essential life processes as well as to improve their use in the safe production of foods, biofuels and pharmaceuticals, and to fight those that cause disease," said Michael Terns, a professor in the departments of biochemistry and molecular biology, and genetics in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. "And now we have a new way to engineer bacteria to decrease or even eliminate the expression of the genes of our choosing."
The bacterial immune system consists of two components. The first is an RNA (a molecule that, like DNA, contains genetic information) that acts as a homing signal to target a virus or another cellular invader. The second component is a complex of proteins that cleaves the invader's genetic material. In a 2009 paper published in the journal Cell, Terns, co-principal investigator Becky Terns and their colleagues were the first to describe how this pathway, known as the Cmr branch of the CRISPR-Cas immune system, works.
In their latest study, the researchers further their understanding of the system and use that in-depth knowledge to essentially hijack the bacterial immune system to direct its homing system to a target of their choosing. Using customized CRISPR RNAs with a modified homing signal, the scientists were able to destroy the message for a protein that is responsible for resistance to the most commonly prescribed family of antibiotics, the beta-lactam antibiotics (that includes, for example, amoxicillin).
Becky Terns, co-leader of the UGA team, explained, "In this study we identified the key features of the RNAs that the system normally uses, and then showed that using this information we can program the system with engineered 'homing' RNAs to destroy new targets. New targets would go beyond viruses and other invaders to include essentially any gene present in the organism being studied. And because we have defined the components of this system, it is possible that we can introduce it into organisms that do not already possess it to further expand the potential industrial and biomedical applications."
She pointed out that most known CRISPR-Cas systems target and cleave DNA. The system that the UGA team studies is the only known example of a CRISPR-Cas system that targets RNA, the molecule that functions as an intermediary between DNA and the proteins that carry out various functions within cells. "Cleaving its own DNA would kill an organism. Silencing specific RNAs allows more sophisticated applications," Terns said.
Researchers could systematically shut down the function of individual genes, for example, to discern the role they play in essential cellular processes. Gene expression could be modified in bacteria that are used to break down plant materials for biofuels or that produce medications, such as insulin, to improve quality and production.
"This detailed biochemical study of a new branch of the CRISPR-Cas defense systemone that targets RNA moleculeshas shed light on a powerful weapon in the bacterial arsenal against invading viruses and mobile elements," said Michael Bender, who oversees RNA processing and function grants at the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of General Medical Sciences. "In addition, by defining the key components of the system, Drs. Terns and their colleagues have set the stage for the development of a new tool for targeting specific RNA molecules in diverse cell types, potentially providing biomedical researchers with a valuable new way to analyze gene functions."
Michael Terns added, "The possibility of exploiting the CRISPR-Cas system in biotechnology has been discussed since its discovery, and this work begins to realize some of that enormous potential."
###
Additional UGA authors on the paper include postdoctoral researcher and lead author Caryn Hale, graduate students Sonali Majumdar and Joshua Elmore, former undergraduate student Neil Pfister and Associate Professor of Poultry Science Mark Compton. Collaborators from the University of Connecticut are Associate Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology Brenton Graveley, postdoctoral researcher Sara Olson and graduate student Alissa Resch.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Contact: Becky Terns rterns@bmb.uga.edu 706-542-1703 University of Georgia
Discovery reveals new possibility for gene silencing in bacteria and other organisms
Athens, Ga. The knowledge that bacteria possess adaptable immune systems that protect them from individual viruses and other foreign invaders is relatively new to science, and researchers across the globe are working to learn how these systems function and to apply that knowledge in industry and medicine.
Now, a team of University of Georgia researchers has discovered how to harness this bacterial immune system to selectively target and silence genes. The finding, published today in the early online edition of the journal Molecular Cell, reveals a powerful new tool that has far-reaching implications for biotechnology and biomedical research.
"Scientists study bacteria and other microorganisms to understand essential life processes as well as to improve their use in the safe production of foods, biofuels and pharmaceuticals, and to fight those that cause disease," said Michael Terns, a professor in the departments of biochemistry and molecular biology, and genetics in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. "And now we have a new way to engineer bacteria to decrease or even eliminate the expression of the genes of our choosing."
The bacterial immune system consists of two components. The first is an RNA (a molecule that, like DNA, contains genetic information) that acts as a homing signal to target a virus or another cellular invader. The second component is a complex of proteins that cleaves the invader's genetic material. In a 2009 paper published in the journal Cell, Terns, co-principal investigator Becky Terns and their colleagues were the first to describe how this pathway, known as the Cmr branch of the CRISPR-Cas immune system, works.
In their latest study, the researchers further their understanding of the system and use that in-depth knowledge to essentially hijack the bacterial immune system to direct its homing system to a target of their choosing. Using customized CRISPR RNAs with a modified homing signal, the scientists were able to destroy the message for a protein that is responsible for resistance to the most commonly prescribed family of antibiotics, the beta-lactam antibiotics (that includes, for example, amoxicillin).
Becky Terns, co-leader of the UGA team, explained, "In this study we identified the key features of the RNAs that the system normally uses, and then showed that using this information we can program the system with engineered 'homing' RNAs to destroy new targets. New targets would go beyond viruses and other invaders to include essentially any gene present in the organism being studied. And because we have defined the components of this system, it is possible that we can introduce it into organisms that do not already possess it to further expand the potential industrial and biomedical applications."
She pointed out that most known CRISPR-Cas systems target and cleave DNA. The system that the UGA team studies is the only known example of a CRISPR-Cas system that targets RNA, the molecule that functions as an intermediary between DNA and the proteins that carry out various functions within cells. "Cleaving its own DNA would kill an organism. Silencing specific RNAs allows more sophisticated applications," Terns said.
Researchers could systematically shut down the function of individual genes, for example, to discern the role they play in essential cellular processes. Gene expression could be modified in bacteria that are used to break down plant materials for biofuels or that produce medications, such as insulin, to improve quality and production.
"This detailed biochemical study of a new branch of the CRISPR-Cas defense systemone that targets RNA moleculeshas shed light on a powerful weapon in the bacterial arsenal against invading viruses and mobile elements," said Michael Bender, who oversees RNA processing and function grants at the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of General Medical Sciences. "In addition, by defining the key components of the system, Drs. Terns and their colleagues have set the stage for the development of a new tool for targeting specific RNA molecules in diverse cell types, potentially providing biomedical researchers with a valuable new way to analyze gene functions."
Michael Terns added, "The possibility of exploiting the CRISPR-Cas system in biotechnology has been discussed since its discovery, and this work begins to realize some of that enormous potential."
###
Additional UGA authors on the paper include postdoctoral researcher and lead author Caryn Hale, graduate students Sonali Majumdar and Joshua Elmore, former undergraduate student Neil Pfister and Associate Professor of Poultry Science Mark Compton. Collaborators from the University of Connecticut are Associate Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology Brenton Graveley, postdoctoral researcher Sara Olson and graduate student Alissa Resch.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Acer Thursday unveiled that its Android-based Iconia Tab A200, a tablet with a 10.1-inch display, will be available in U.S. stores Jan. 15. The tablet comes in a 16GB, Wi-Fi only version ($350), or an 8GB Wi-Fi only model ($330).
The A200 is a solid addition to Acer's existing tablet lineup, which includes the 7-inch Iconia Tab A100,?which weighs less than a pound.
The cost of the A200 shows how aggressively prices are dropping in the tablet market: It's the same as Acer has charged for the smaller A100 tablets,?though that one comes with front- and rear-facing cameras. (The A200 has only a front-facing camera, for low-resolution video conferencing.)
The tablet ? at 1.5 pounds ? is a bit heftier than Apple's iPad 2 (1.33 pounds), which has a 9.7-inch display.
The A200 uses Nvidia's 1 GHz Tegra 2 dual-core mobile processor and integrated GeForce graphics processing unit "that allows users to enjoy HD gaming, 1080p video, Flash-based applications, faster browsing and multitasking," Acer says. (The iPad 2 has Apple's own 1 GHz, dual-core A5 processor.)
While the A200 comes with the Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) operating system, Acer says tablet buyers will be able to upgrade to Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich, when it becomes available in February, with the update pushed to users.
The tablet comes in either "Titanium Gray" or "Metallic Red." Here's the back of the tablet, in Metallic Red:
Acer
Among the A200's specs:
?WXGA HD multi-touch display (1280 x 800) resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio
2 MP front-facing camera
Estimated 8 hours of battery life
1,024 MB DDR2 memory
One Micro-USB 2.0 port
One USB 2.0 Port 1
MicroSD memory slot, taking SD cards of up to 32GB
3.5mm combo jack (headphone/speaker)
Related stories:
Check out Technolog, Gadgetbox, Digital Life and In-Game on?Facebook,?and on Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.
WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama is looking to boost summer job prospects for kids.
The White House says that with help from the private sector it's gotten commitments for nearly 180,000 youth employment opportunities for next summer and is aiming for tens of thousands more.
Obama says that with young people facing record unemployment the government must do everything it can to make sure they have opportunities to learn skills and a work ethic.
The summer jobs plan is to be announced Thursday. It's the administration's latest "We Can't Wait" initiative to go around Congress. Many of the positions would be unpaid training opportunities.
Republicans charged that the White House is taking credit for positions at places like CVS and Bank of America that were going to be created anyway.
Behold! The Indian Church Of #Kopimism - kopimi.in 
Asher_Wolf 
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Public release date: 5-Jan-2012
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