Stem Cell Research & Therapy tracked

Stem Cell Research & Therapy is expected to receive its first Impact Factor in June 2012, having been accepted for tracking by Thomson Reuters (ISI). The journal launched in March 2010 and recently marked its first anniversary. Congratulations to Rocky Tuan and Timothy O'Brien, the Editors-in-Chief, and the Editorial Board for ensuring such a strong start for the journal, as indicated by the fact it will be indexed from Volume 1.

In addition to outstanding open access research articles with a focus on stem cell therapeutics, such as a recent article from Deborah Sullivan's group investigating how human multipotent stromal cells attenuate inflammation in acute lung injury, Stem Cell Research & Therapy also publishes in-depth reviews and commentaries on the latest developments in stem cell research, which are available by subscription. Why not visit the website and check out our most popular articles, including Maya Sieber Blum's commentary on epidermal stem cell dynamics, and a review from Johnny Huard and colleagues discussing the paracrine effect of transplanted stem cells in regeneration?

BioMed Central and ISCB dancing to the same tune

Genome Biology’s recent waltz around the 19th Annual Conference on Intelligent Systems in Molecular Biology (ISMB) in Vienna gave us a quickstep tour around the current developments in the computational biology community, including advances in the fields of personalized medicine and the genomic “data deluge”.

It also highlighted the acute awareness that computational biologists have of the importance of sharing data.

The International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB), who organized the conference, are stepping up and taking the lead when it comes to endorsing the free availability of data and open access to research—a theme that was heavily present among this year's speakers. In a compelling announcement published last year, the society released the following public policy statement in support of open access:

“The International Society for computational Biology strongly advocates free, open, public, online (i) access by person or machine to the publicly funded archival scientific and technical research literature; and (ii) computational reuse, integration, and distillation of that literature into higher-order knowledge elements”

This ethos is fully endorsed by BioMed Central. All articles published with us have always been freely available to anyone wishing to access them, and all of our journals require that readily reproducible materials be freely available to any scientist wishing to use them for non-commercial purposes. For computational journals such as BMC Bioinformatics, we ensure that all software and data is made freely available, and we strongly encourage the deposition of all source code—the nuts and bolts of how an application works—as an additional file with every article.

Other journals within the BioMed Central portfolio are already striking up new initiatives to create more transparent access to open data, such as the recent launch of the “Availability of Supporting Data” section in BMC Research Notes. Similarly, some are tackling the problem of deposition of massive datasets for the post-genomic era, such as GigaScience (in collaboration with the BGI in China), one of our newly launched titles.

We also endorse all efforts to bring science to the wider community, especially where subscription costs may be prohibitive to knowledge access. BioMed Central’s initiatives to aid researchers in developing economies, and efforts to promote computational biology through the Open Access Africa program, should go some way to realising the ISCB’s aims to "empower citizens and scientists".

In his keynote speech to close the conference, the winner of this year’s “ISCB Accomplishment by a Senior Scientist Award”, Michael Ashburner, was characteristically clear. Addressing a crowded auditorium, the pioneering computational biologist stated that he was “absolutely committed to open source publishing”, urging young researchers to “try to do your research in an open way” because “if science is not public, then it is not science”.

Guided Meditation - Path to Physical And Mental Well-Being

If stress and anxiety are taking over your life, you should get help of guided meditation as your stress management resource. Learn how to meditate and free your mind of worries in order to lead a healthy and peaceful life.
The high-speed lifestyle that all of us lead today doesn't leave us much of choice other than juggling a number of tasks. Some of your time is spent enlisting the jobs that are needed to be done, some carrying out the jobs and the rest in worrying about the ones that you weren't able to finish. All this leaves you stressed out. Meditation is a great way to shift your focus from anxiety to peace. It is a complementary medicine that cures all three, mind, body and soul of a person. Meditation can help you release stress and lead a happy and peaceful life.
By providing a state of relaxation, it helps you remove the troubled thoughts that cloud your mind and cause stress. Moreover, it helps you focus your attention resulting in improved physical and metal well-being. Studies have found that meditation is beneficial in treating various health conditions that are worsened by stress. Some of them are high blood pressure, chronic pain, fatigue, sleeping habits, depression and others. Furthermore, it also helps you control your anger and anxiety.
When you meditate, all your tensions seem to go away. Releasing stress isn't just limited to the meditation session, it gradually eliminates the stress from your life given that you practice it on a regular basis. The true profoundness of meditation lies in the stability that you develop overtime. It helps you lead a life that remains unperturbed by anxiety and stress. Though difficulties will still come along at times, you will be able to handle them with much ease and won't be troubled by negative thoughts.
The technique of meditation requires much practicing and can be mastered overtime. For learning to meditate, however, you need the guidance of an expert. Searching online is the easiest way to find an experienced meditation practitioner. There are some experts who provide online podcast about meditation. From teaching you the basics as well as the latest findings on meditations, helping you achieve a relaxed state of mind to guided meditations for listening while you meditate, they share expert tips and help you find what works best for you to release tension.
Listening to a podcast is so much a better option for learning to meditate than reading about it. During a meditation podcast, you are guided by the soothing voice of a meditation expert to help you relax. Since your mind needs reason to be calm and peaceful, it should be preferred if someone guides you, taking your mind off the worries and helping you find inspiration to feel fresh and relaxed. You need someone who holds years of experience in meditation to free you of your stress.
Besides the online meditation podcast, several clinics also hold meditation sessions where you can join meditation gurus as well as others coping with stress. Find one such clinic in your city and take an action against the stress that continues to rise. Don't wait until you have a breakdown! Contact a clinical psychologist who specializes in meditation to help you control your stress before your body goes into a tailspin.

Five Tips for Better Meditation

During Yoga sessions, meditation is usually practiced near the end of class. Some Yoga teachers are very strict about the exact procedure, while others take a more casual approach. In "The Journey of Awakening: A Meditator's Guidebook," Ram Dass - American psychologist and spiritual teacher - discusses the many kinds of meditation, how the process works, and what its benefits are.
Although the book was originally published over 30 years ago, its message is as refreshing and timeless now as it was then. A reminder to stop worrying about using the "right" technique or overzealous expectations, the guide encourages the reader to find his or her own path through experimentation and practice. Below are five classic tips.
Five Tips for Better Meditation Practice
• Getting started
Especially in the beginning, meditation experiences vary from boring and uncomfortable to calm and exhilarating. The state of the physical body and its posture contribute to the quality of meditation. If it is hard to maintain an erect spine, or if there is physical discomfort, body work, such as Yoga asana practice, may help to prepare for sitting. Be aware of how sleep, diet, and thoughts affect the body and mind. If necessary, make gradual changes in lifestyle. Establish a routine, preferably practicing meditation at the same time and in the same place every day. Changes in routine are not required, but they yield optimum results.
• Finding your own path
When learning to meditate, choose a style that feels comfortable and make adjustments as changes occur. There are many methods, including prayer, mantras, visualization, singing, ecstatic dance, walking, qigong, and Yoga, as well as contemplative and transcendental techniques. Yoga asana practice, Tai Chi, and Qigong may be used to prepare for sitting meditation. Ordinary actions, like eating, walking, or working, can become meditative practices when done with mindfulness.
• Staying on track
Meditation brings clarity and simplicity to daily life; like life, it flows in cycles - continuously evolving. As the meditative practice grows, choices of lifestyle and company change to meet new ways of looking at the world. Some people find encouragement in groups ranging from spiritual to secular. The choice of a teacher becomes more important with advanced practice and should be determined by personal feelings and needs. Retreats, or solitude, are important for practitioners who focus on spiritual development.
• Getting stuck
As meditative practice progresses, experiences of bliss or awareness may be seductive, leading to feelings of spiritual beauty, a desire for power, or a continued state of bliss. As old habits die, changes to the personality and lifestyle can be scary. Aspects of the personality that have been hidden may be visible for the first time. These stages, when simply observed, usually pass.
• Getting free
What feels right at one moment may not be right for the next. There will inevitably be plateaus when faith and persistence are necessary, and humor always lightens the load. In the end, every person must find his or her own truth and balance in the world.
"There is a universal tradition to people who complete the path of meditation, who transcend their intellects, open their hearts, and come into tune with that from which the universe flows. Such beings are sages, enlightened, realized, free, children of God." Ram Dass

How to Incorporate Meditation Into Your Busy Life

For its well-documented benefits of improved health and emotional equilibrium, many people become interested in meditation but find it too difficult. Their mind wanders. They feel impatient. Their body gets twitchy. They can't release their worries enough to focus. Or they feel out of tune with the spiritual overtones of a particular meditation tradition they may have sampled.
People have been practicing meditation for centuries. It is the most popular and effective way to combat stress. It is the process of achieving calmness and tranquility of the mind. In many parts of the world, doctors prescribe meditation along with other medicines for treating diseases. However, it is not so easy to make it a daily routine, especially for those who are new to meditation.
Advantages of Meditation
The medical and psychological benefits of meditation include reduction in stress, less tension, lower blood pressure, increased energy, improved ability to concentrate, less anxiety and a better mood.
The good effects of meditation are not a secret. Even those who do not meditate know what it can do to your mind and body. On the other hand, people who meditate regularly rely on it to achieve peace of mind and body. It can have magical effects on your mind. It helps to maintain a balance between your subconscious mind and conscious mind.
Meditation can also help you to tackle everyday stress and other emotional problems of life. Emotional wellbeing is very important to have a good, successful life. Meditation can slow down aging, which has been scientifically proven. It also reduces blood pressure in people with hypertension.
How Meditation Works
The environment where the meditation is done is a very important factor that affects its outcome. It is usually done in a silent room away from noise and other disturbances. Even the lights are dimmed to get a calm, serene environment. Such an environment will make meditation easier for anyone new to it.
During meditation, an invisible connection is made between the body and the mind. It affects the mind at the subconscious level. It produces a change in brain waves which leads to relaxation. It also has a calming effect on the nervous system. With this, the amount of stress hormones in the body is lowered, thus eliminating stress.
Even a beginner can experience the amount of change it makes with just one session. Daily meditation can have long term benefits. When you experience the real benefit of meditation, the negative thoughts in the mind are eliminated and are replaced with a positive attitude towards life. In turn, your whole body benefits.
Using Guided Meditation
Guided meditation makes it far easier to drop into a deep, stress-releasing state of calm. All you have to do is close your eyes and listen. It's compatible with any religious faith. An interesting, soothing narration invites you to envision scenes of serenity, and your body responds with a slower heartbeat and relaxed brain waves.
There are many guided meditation options in the market. It is not difficult to find something that will make it much easier to set aside regular time for meditation by offering a variety of approaches to achieving relaxation and peace.
The four part guided meditation program, "Pure Meditation" includes a focus on relaxing the body, achieving a positive outlook, letting go of negative feelings like anger, bitterness or resentment, and taking a healing journey through tranquil landscapes. Users can either cycle through the four recordings to keep their sessions fresh or choose the one that best corresponds to their mood and needs that day.
Whatever you choose to use, it is possible to enjoy the incredible, scientifically proven benefits of meditation regardless of your schedule.

What are the secrets to an anxiety-free life? What are the keys to a life of emotional freedom, health and joy? Free Videos at MindBody101.com
Avinoam Lerner is a certified hypnotherapist and healer working mostly with cancer and chronic illness patients while providing everyone the tools to stay healthy using the power of the mind-body connection.
Unlike other self-hypnosis audio programs, MindBody101.com's CDs and MP3s go far deeper while Avinoam Lerner's narration has an inviting, compassionate tone that engages the listener's feelings and all five senses - hearing, seeing, touch, smell and taste.

Meditation Shows You Yourself

Meditation shows you yourself and all your inner and outer restlessness. The simple practice of sitting quietly within oneself is surprisingly difficult. Physical discomfort arises, mental distraction too, and emotional turbulence sometimes overwhelms us.
Perhaps the biggest difficulties are found among the small, insidious phenomena -- irritability, planning, not being able to resist making a phone-call or writing down a reminder to do something. If -- and it may be a big if -- we can surmount all these obstacles then the rewards are great; a tranquil sense of inner abiding, or being in oneself, a serenity which no amount of pretence can get close to and an experience of inner peace of rectitude and honoring life, movements of grace and wisdom that surfaces in you like reflections of the sky in a still lake. Finally meditation shows you yourself, so what are you waiting for?
It is a flawless guide to your ego's attempts to fail you in becoming your true self, learning to live from the stillness of compassion, centering, learning and practicing inner guidance and cultivating inner peace. Only through thorough in-turning do we learn who we really are, beneath the level of facade and disguise we have presented to the world for so long. This experience is a great home-coming and a simple gift of authenticity. When we arrive the heart opens in an unmistakable way and we become capable of compassion, quietly caring, profoundly kind. The heart becomes our new and constant, genuine center and a reservoir and source of inner peace and guidance.
Meditation is the dependable link to your source and self-abiding truth; it is the essential spiritual practice for all serious aspirants on the spiritual path, because it urges you towards awakening to transcendence, and ultimately to the divine. What other way, other than sitting quietly, can direct us to ourselves? It is openly available at any time. When we practice just sitting, quietly allowing thoughts, feelings and all kinds of experiences to go by, we become identified with our awareness which in turn lodges us firmly in truth. It is the central practice in spirituality because it is the closest we can get in holistic form to the experience of complete emptiness and profound fullness, both at the same time.
This presence, residing in the opposites short-circuits the rational mind and expands into areas of truth, the unknown and the truly spiritual. For there are no truly spiritual experiences, and no rationally or intellectually expressed truths. We can only point at the moon, only speak in image and metaphor, simile and symbol to express the timeless truths of the perennial philosophy; that which has always been, always is and always will be.

Biomedical Cooptation of the Psychosocial Care and Support Continuum for Severely Distressed Persons

Abstract:
In this issue of Ethical Human Sciences and Services, Lehrman describes his vision, focusing on continuity of care, of a mental health care system for psychosis. His main argument is that the same psychiatrist should treat an individual patient whatever the settings (hospital, community) that the patient shifts through, and that the psychiatrist is the key treating professional and as such should manage and direct care over the continuum. While continuity of psychiatric care is desirable and indeed noncontroversial and feasible, psychiatric services are not central to the care continuum, and its psychiatric control will lead to an even more biomedical orientation in patient care. This would undermine another key aspect of Lehrman's vision: a mental health system focused upon the whole person in interaction with the environment. The history of psychiatry shows that, as a medical specialty, psychiatry will inevitably focus upon the brain rather than the person. Psychiatric care could serve as adjunct to appropriate supports, services, and treatment, but if it determines them, they will merely become a downplayed accessory of biomedical (i.e., psychotropic drug) treatment.

Document Type: Miscellaneous
Affiliations: 1: CLSC Haute-Ville-des-Rivières (GRIOSE-SM) and Laval University Québec City, Canada
Publication date: 2003-01-01