Like hot peppers? Pungent garlic? Mouth-howling pain? You can thank TRPV1 and now, thanks to researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, you can also see it in full 3D.

A research team led by Dr Theodore G. Wensel, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at BCM, generated the first three dimensional view of the protein that allows you to sense the heat of a hot pepper.

The outside stimulus used in this study was the heat of a chili pepper. It has been known for years that the burning sensation results from the action of a chemical known as capsaicin on TRPV1 found on the nerve cell membrane. TRPV1 is an ion channel, a tiny pore on the cell membrane that allows chemicals such as calcium to flux in and out.

AMELIA ISLAND, Florida, May 19 /PRNewswire/ --

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants announced the introduction of IFRS.com, a new Web site developed in partnership with its marketing and technology subsidiary CPA2Biz to help members and financial professionals learn about and stay informed on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

"It is increasingly clear that as international standards gain wider acceptance and use in the United States, the accounting profession must keep pace," said Barry C. Melancon, president and chief executive officer of the AICPA. "Our hope is IFRS.com will provide the information and resources CPAs need."

LONDON, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The MS Society welcomes the decision by MPs to allow scientists to use 'hybrid' human - animal embryos in research into conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

Jayne Spink, Director of Policy and Research at the MS Society, said: "This really is a victory for common sense.

"Allowing scientists to further explore this avenue of research may prove to be hugely beneficial not just to the 85,000 people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but to the hundreds of thousands of people living with debilitating, degenerative and life limiting conditions.

HONG KONG, May 19 /PRNewswire/ --

One of the leading game developers and operators in the PRC, NetDragon Websoft Inc. ("NetDragon" or the "Company", with its subsidiaries collectively the "Group"; Stock Code: 8288.HK) has donated an additional RMB1.5 million in cash to support recovery work in Sichuan with the increasing need of aid following the recent earthquake, reaching a monetary donation of RMB3 million in total.

The Group had already donated RMB1 million in cash and a total value of RMB500,000 in terms of transportation vehicles, drinking water, food, lighting equipments and power generators last week. All the goods are now on their way to the disaster areas.

On April 25, NASA’s Swift satellite picked up the brightest flare ever seen from a normal star other than our Sun. The flare, an explosive release of energy from a star, packed the power of thousands of solar flares. It would have been visible to the naked eye if the star had been easily observable in the night sky at the time.

The star, known as EV Lacertae, isn’t much to write home about. It’s a run-of-the-mill red dwarf, by far the most common type of star in the universe. It shines with only one percent of the Sun’s light, and contains only a third of the Sun’s mass. At a distance of only 16 light-years, EV Lacertae is one of our closest stellar neighbors. But with its feeble light output, its faint magnitude-10 glow is far below naked-eye visibility.

TROY, Michigan, May 19 /PRNewswire/ --

- Newest version of Altair's simulation platform delivers on-demand access to ISV applications and offers multi-core licensing business model

Altair Engineering, a global provider of technology and services empowering client innovation and decision making, today announced the release of Altair HyperWorks 9.0, the next generation of its popular integrated suite of computer-aided engineering (CAE) software applications.

HyperWorks is an enterprise simulation platform to support product lifecycle management (PLM) processes. It is the leading simulation-driven design solution for product development across the world's top corporations.

A self-healing aircraft could be available in the near future, thanks to an epoxy resin developed by Bristol University aerospace engineers that ‘bleeds’ from embedded vessels near the holes or cracks and quickly seals them up, restoring structural integrity.

As well as the obvious safety benefits, this breakthrough could make it possible to design lighter aeroplanes in the future. This would lead to fuel savings, cutting costs for airlines and passengers and reducing carbon emissions too.

By mixing dye into the resin, any ‘self-mends’ could be made to show as colored patches that could easily be pinpointed during subsequent ground inspections, and a full repair carried out if necessary. The dye mixed with the resin would be ultra-violet fluorescent and so would not show up in normal lighting conditions.

LONDON, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite the Union members working in the NHS as ancillary and ambulance staff, have overwhelmingly rejected the Government's 7.99% three year pay deal.

In a ballot ambulance staff and low paid workers including porters, caterers and cleaners resoundingly rejected the deal by 6 to 1. The union will be meeting with the other public sector unions to discuss the next steps.

The rejection comes on behalf of 12,000 ancillary and ambulance staff. On the 22nd April, the Unite committee representing a further 100,000 NHS healthcare members unanimously rejected the three-year deal.