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A type of dietary fiber called inulin, commonly used in health supplements and known to have certain anti-inflammatory properties, can also promote an allergy-related type of inflammation in the lung and gut, and other parts of the body. The study found that dietary inulin fiber alters the metabolism of certain gut bacteria, which in turn triggers what scientists call type 2 inflammation in the gut and lungs. This type of inflammation is thought to have evolved in mammals chiefly to defend against parasitic worm ("helminth") infections, and is also part of normal wound healing, although its inappropriate activation underlies allergies,...

Drs. Yuhai Zhao and Walter J Lukiw report a pathway that begins in the gut and ends with a potent pro-inflammatory toxin in brain cells contributing to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). They also report a simple way to prevent it. The researchers found a molecule containing a very potent microbial-generated neurotoxin (lipopolysaccharide or LPS) derived from the Gram-negative bacteria Bacteroides fragilis in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract generates a neurotoxin known as BF-LPS. "LPSs are probably the most potent microbial-derived pro-inflammatory neurotoxic glycolipids known," says Dr. Lukiw. "Laboratories have detected LPS within neurons of the Alzheimer's disease-affected human...

A rigorous examination of the gut microbes of study participants who were fed three different kinds of supplements in different sequences concludes that people who had been eating the least amount of fiber before the study showed the greatest benefit from supplements, regardless of which ones they consumed. "The people who responded the best had been eating the least fiber to start with," said Lawrence David. The benefit of dietary fiber isn't just the easier pooping that advertisers tout. Fermentable fiber—dietary carbohydrates that the human gut cannot process on its own but some bacteria can digest—is also an essential source...

Scientists are reporting what they say is the longest sediment avalanche yet measured in action. It occurred underwater off West Africa, in a deep canyon leading away from the mouth of the Congo River. Something in excess of a cubic kilometre of sand and mud descended into the deep. This colossal flow kept moving for two whole days and ran out for more than 1,100km across the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. The event would have gone unrecorded were it not for the fact that the slide broke two submarine telecommunications cables, slowing the internet and other data traffic between...

Imagine an entire twenty-story concrete building that can store energy like a giant battery. Thanks to unique research from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, such a vision could someday be a reality. Researchers from the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering recently published an article outlining a new concept for rechargeable batteries — made of cement. The ever-growing need for sustainable building materials poses great challenges for researchers. Doctor Emma Zhang, formerly of Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, joined Professor Luping Tang’s research group several years ago to search for the building materials of the future. Together they have now...

I have a fairly new tower computer with a built-in network RJ45 port. The motherboard has a Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller built in that is supposed to get speeds up to 1GB but in the device manager it only says 100MB/100MB up and down. I have a fiber connection that was 600MB Full Duplex but is being upgraded to Gigabit fiber soon. Since my computer is upstairs I use a TP-Link R305 range extender that is supposed to be capable of up to 1.2GB. The signal is strong and I connect directly from that to my PC with a...

President Donald Trump said Friday the United States should not nationalize its 5G network and said private companies should move quickly to deploy the faster next-generation network. “In the United States our approach is private-sector driven and private-sector led. The government doesn’t have to spend lots of money,” Trump said. “Leading through the government, it won’t be nearly as good, nearly as fast.” The White House mulled the idea of nationalizing the 5G network for more than a year. In March Politico reported that Trump’s reelection campaign supported a government role in managing the 5G networks even as White House...

It is well known that healthy eating increases our general sense of wellbeing. Researchers have now discovered that a fiber-rich diet can have a positive influence on chronic inflammatory joint diseases, leading to stronger bones. The key to the effect our diet has on our health are intestinal bacteria: healthy intestinal flora consists of a multitude of different species of bacteria. Every adult carries approximately two kilogrammes of benign bacteria in their intestines. They help our digestion by breaking fibre down into its individual components, which can then be absorbed by the body. A by-product of this process are short-chained...

Innovation and caring for the environment are two traits often associated with the Swedes, and the latest creation from a Swedish outdoor brand attempts to combine both by making a jacket comprised of the unlikely materials of beans, wood and nuts. Tierra claim their new jacket is the first in the world comprised entirely of 100 percent plant-based materials since synthetic fossil-based polymers were invented and started to be used in clothing production in the early 1900s. Whether that's true or not, it's certainly unusual sounding. The main outer material is made from a castor bean base described as resembling...

That's the promise of G.Fast. It's a new technology that can deliver blazing fast internet over the wires (phone lines) you already have in your home. For many, it will be the first time they'll have more than one choice for broadband.

Last week we noted how AT&T has effectively conned the press into believing the telecom giant is engaged in a massive gigabit fiber to the home build, despite the fact that the company's CAPEX and fixed-line network investment budget continues to drop. In reality, AT&T's singling out high-end developments and universities (where fiber is already in the ground) for highly selective gigabit service, then declaring an entire market "launched."

Spiders sprayed with water containing carbon nanotubes and graphene flakes have produced the toughest fibers ever measured, say materials scientists. Spider silk is one of the more extraordinary materials known to science. The protein fiber, spun by spiders to make webs, is stronger than almost anything that humans can make. The dragline silk spiders use to make a web’s outer rim and spokes is amazing stuff. It matches high-grade alloy steel for tensile strength but is about a sixth as dense. It is also highly ductile, sometimes capable of stretching to five times its length. This combination of strength and...

When it comes to beverages with benefits, wine always seems to get the credit. If you're a brew lover, that might make you want to cry in your beer. But before you do, you'll be glad to learn that, like wine, beer delivers some decided perks as well. "A cold beer is the perfect way to relax at the end of the day, it tastes great and, in moderation, it can even be good for you," says Ethan A. Bergman, PhD, RD, CD, FADA, past president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Here are five ways your favorite brew...

Passing gas: Everybody does it – and no one wants to admit it. This embarrassing habit may seem foul, but breaking wind is simply an unavoidable byproduct of our daily digestion. In fact, the average individual can pass gas anywhere from 13 to 21 times a day. But your gaseous patterns can actually speak volumes about your health, especially in regards to your eating habits, and they may even serve as an indication of larger digestive health issues. “People who produce excessive amounts of gas and particularly foul smelling gas – if you’re eating a super high fiber diet, that...

SAN FRANCISCO — The recent revelation that the National Security Agency was able to eavesdrop on the communications of Google and Yahoo users without breaking into either company’s data centers sounded like something pulled from a Robert Ludlum spy thriller. How on earth, the companies asked, did the N.S.A. get their data without their knowing about it? The most likely answer is a modern spin on a century-old eavesdropping tradition. People knowledgeable about Google and Yahoo’s infrastructure say they believe that government spies bypassed the big Internet companies and hit them at a weak spot — the fiber-optic cables that...

As you've probably heard, this morning Google confirmed the rumors that Austin, Texas would be the second city in which Google Fiber is rolled out. Google still appears to be treating this as an experiment, rolling it out in just a few areas, but it's still worth watching what happens. For example, within hours of Google making the announcement, AT&T rushed out a somewhat hilarious press release insisting that it, too, would build a 1 gigabit fiber network in Austin. No one actually believes this is true. What you're seeing is a bit of gamesmanship, but which reveals something interesting.

Pepsi seeks lead in the cola wars with new ‘fat-blocking’ sodaBy: Danielle Tworek November 12, 2012 In the endless battle to shake their growing reputation as a key trigger point in America’s obesity epidemic, the major soda manufacturer, Pepsi, has a new invention for the soda market: Pepsi Special, the “fat-blocking” cola. On November 13, consumers in Japan will believe they can say yes to the fries and even add a little bacon on that burger as they head through the drive-thru, as long as they include a large Pepsi Special with their meal deal. At least that’s the concept...

CBN.com –Fresh apples signal the fall harvest—bright red with an amazing aroma. We have heard the saying “an apple a day,” but with exotic fruits getting the headlines, what are the benefits of the ordinary apple? According to research, apples may have beneficial effects for diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and asthma. The emerging data on apples is impressive and should have a profound impact on making healthy eating choices. Apples are packed with powerful phytonutrients that can support the body’s healing and disease-fighting ability. That’s why apples are a star ingredient in the recipes and meal plans of our...

Based on the long-time claim by General Mills that its Cheerios cereal can lower cholesterol by 4 percent in just six weeks — when part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, of course — the Food and Drug Administration has admonished the giant breakfast cereal producer and said those claims mean the little round “o’s” of oats are to be considered a drug. Simply by indicating the cereal is intended for use as a cholesterol-lowering product, it now falls under the FDA regulations regarding drugs, and because it’s a “new” drug by definition — never mind that...

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – People who get enough fiber in their diets, particularly from whole grains, may have a lower risk of developing chronic lung disease than those who eat few high-fiber foods, a new study finds. The study, of more than 100,000 U.S. adults followed between 1984 and 2000, found that those with the highest fiber intake at the outset had a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung disorders that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Out of the 111,580 study participants, 832 were diagnosed with COPD during the study period, for...