Diet rich in fish, meat and milk may help to protect against memory loss in old age.

A new study says that a diet rich in vitamin B12, which includes fish, meat and milk, may help to protect against memory loss in old age.

The study has been published in the Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

For the study, 107 people between the ages of 61 and 87 underwent brain scans, memory testing and physical exams.

Researchers also collected blood samples to check vitamin B12 levels. Brain scans and memory tests were also performed again five years later.

The study found that people who had higher vitamin B12 levels were six times less likely to experience brain shrinkage compared with those who had lower levels of the vitamin in their blood.

None of the people in the study had vitamin B12 deficiency.

"Many factors that affect brain health are thought to be out of our control, but this study suggests that simply adjusting our diets to consume more vitamin B12 through eating meat, fish, fortified cereals or milk may be something we can easily adjust to prevent brain shrinkage and so perhaps save our memory," said study author Anna Vogiatzoglou, MSc, with the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

"Research shows that vitamin B12 deficiency is a public health problem, especially among the elderly, so more vitamin B12 intake could help reverse this problem.

"Without carrying out a clinical trial, we acknowledge that it is still not known whether B12 supplementation would actually make a difference in elderly persons at risk for brain shrinkage."


"Previous research on the vitamin has had mixed results and few studies have been done specifically with brain scans in elderly populations. We tested for vitamin B12 levels in a unique, more accurate way by looking at two certain markers for it in the blood," said Vogiatzoglou.

Vogiatzoglou says the study did not look at whether taking vitamin B12 supplements would have the same effect on memory.

Via Medindia

Porsche Announce Cayenne S Transsyberia Special Edition for 2009 Model Year

Porsche are to celebrate the success of the Cayenne model series by honouring it with a very special money making special edition. Named after the 7200km intercontinental rally which the Cayenne won in 2007, the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia Special Edition offers a number of enhancements to entice those unsuspecting punters in. In a move that is generally unheard of these days, this is an SUV that can actually survive off-road.

The Cayenne S Transsyberia Special Edition takes the 4.8-liter V8 unit that develops 405bhp and 500Nm of torque from the range topping GTS allowing the model to drop its base 0-100km/h time down by 0.5 seconds to 6.1 seconds. It is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or alternatively consumers can optionally grab the six-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission with a 4.1:1 drive ratio giving the model an even higher level of performance.

The special edition features air suspension coupled with PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) which continuously adjusts the damper forces, add this to the incorporated PTM (Porsche Traction Management) system that passes the torque to the wheels with a 62% bias favouring the rear end and we have a model supremely enhanced for off road effectiveness

Four exterior color concepts will be available: Black/Orange, Crystal Silver Metallic/Orange for those wanting that extra bit of attention and Black/Meteor Grey Metallic and Meteor Grey Metallic/Crystal Silver Metallic for the more conservative consumers. A set of four lights sitting nicely on the roof pays homage to the Transsyberia victory and can be installed at no extra cost.

Pricing will start at €77,558 for the German market with deliveries to commence in January next year.

Via Worldcarfans

The German Federal Office for Information Security has told people not to use Google Chrome

The German Federal Office for Information Security has told people not to use Google Chrome for surfing the internet, saying it is unacceptable to have all internet user information - search engine, email and now browser - with the same company.

The news was broadcasted on "Tagesschau", Germany's biggest prime time news show and also in "Berliner Zeitung", Berlin's biggest newspaper. Here was what they said (translated from the German) :

The Federal Office for Information Security warned internet users of the new browser Chrome. The application by the company Google should not be used for surfing the internet, as a spokesperson for the office told the Berliner Zeitung. It was said to be problematic that Chrome was distributed as an unfinished advance version. Furthermore it was said to be risky that user data is hoarded with a single vendor. With its search engine, email program and the new browser, Google now covers all important areas on the internet.

Needless to say, the German Government isn't going to go as far as blocking downloads of Chrome. People will always have the choice of whether to use it or not. But not since the squabble over the Microsoft Windows monopoly has the government spoken up like this over a software application, and I'm sure Google didn't want publicity like this.

Scientists Have Found That Milk Helps Dangerous Bacteria to Survive Against Antibiotics

In a surprising discovery, scientists have found that milk makes potentially dangerous bacteria like Staphylococcus resistant to antibiotics used for treating animals.

It is known that many times, bacteria create structures called biofilms to protect them against antibiotics and the body's natural defences.

However, scientists have now found that Staphylococcus, which causes mastitis in cows and sheep, can form such protective biofilms to destroy the animal's defences and veterinary medicines.

Mastitis is an infection of the udder in cattle and sheep. It is often a painful condition for the cows, and can even cause death.

"Mastitis is a difficult disease to control. It causes risks for public health if people drink infected milk and is expensive for farmers as it usually causes severe milk production losses, increased treatment costs and means the animals may have to be culled," said Dr Manuela Oliveira from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal.

She added: "When the staphylococci produce a biofilm, the structure protects them against host defences and antibiotic treatment, allowing the bacteria to persist in the udder."

Earlier studied were conducted in laboratories, and thus missed important contributory factors. But in this study, the researchers used realistic conditions found in living animals to overcome this problem.

"We have discovered that milk may also protect bacteria against low concentrations of antibiotics - in the presence of milk, three of the five antibiotics tested, penicillin, gentamicin and sulphamethoxazole combined with trimethoprim, were less effective against Staphylococcus when compared with the same experiment performed in the absence of milk," said Oliveira.

Now, the researchers are trying to find the correct antibiotic concentrations needed to stop biofilms forming in the first place, and also the concentrations needed to destroy a biofilm that has already formed.

They are also analysing the influence of the forces acting inside an udder ate the time of milking to know whether these help or hinder the bacteria in producing biofilms.

"This will allow for a better control of staphylococcal mastitis, cut disease costs and give an important improvement in the protection of consumers' health," said Oliveira.

She added: "If we can get the doses right, and the animals are cured quicker, we will have less antibiotic residue in the environment and the risk of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus developing and spreading antibiotic resistance is lower."

The study was presented at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity College, Dublin.

Via Medindia

Vauxhall has released Opel Astra Teasers

Vauxhall has released today first teaser sketches of the all-new sixth generation Vauxhall/Opel Astra, which makes it's world premiere one year from now at the 2009 IAA Frankfurt motor show. According to Vauxhall, the Astra will be going for a premium approach similar to the recently unveiled mid-size Insignia and adopt similar features such as the Front Camera System which combines traffic sign recognition with lane departure warning system and next generation Adaptive Front Lighting (AFL). The same premium approach continues inside with a wrap-around interior and a wing-line sweep that links the instrument panel to the door. Adopted from the new Corsa is the FlexFix integrated bike carrier. The Astra will debut in 5-door hatchback form, but we expect the all new Delta platform to spawn several other familiar variants like the coupe, twintop and wagon (estate) with greener engines. Production for the next generation Astra starts at Ellesmere Port in late 2009.

Although these silhouette sketches reveal very little, we could not help but notice one of the included press images which contains a collage of sorts. In the foreground we can clearly see the left rear corner of the Insignia, but in the background is a red vehicle that is heavily blurred, perhaps new Astra? Also, a bald guy is pushing a display board containing a few curious design sketches of what appear to be a vehicle matching the body profile of the Astra. Let the speculation begin...

Via Worldcarfans

The Audi Q7 V12 TDI

The Audi Q7 V12 TDI started its life in concept form when it was unveiled to the public at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, the progress towards full production made a massive step when the production model was introduced just over a year later in Geneva. Now as we draw ever closer to the models full launch near the end of 2008 Audi has released a new tell-all video along with 31 new high resolution images of the model.

The Audi Q7 V12 TDI is the worlds most powerful diesel-engined Sport Utility Vehicle, it packs a monstrous 6-liter V12 diesel powerplant that generates 500hp(368kW) and a quite insane 1000Nm(737.56 lb-ft) of torque. Performance matches these figures with 0-100km/h achievable in just 5.5 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. Despite the power the Audi engineers have managed to keep the fuel consumption figures at a politician acceptable level, it can do 100km on an average of 11.3 liters of fuel, equivalent to 20.82 miles per gallon.

To cope with the powerful engine, the model features an enhanced version of its six-speed tiptronic

transmission whilst the braking system is enhanced with high-performance brakes made of carbon-fiber ceramic.

Exterior modifications differentiate it from the regular model adding the the models presence and aggression on the road. The headlights are remodelled to incorporated LED daytime running lights, the grille features vertically opposed bars and the front bumper also gets a redesign, 20 inch rims come as standard whilst consumers also have the option of a set of 21 inch wheels as well.

There is no word on pricing yet, we expect to here full confirmation just before the model is launched.

Via Worldcarfans

Autonomous Helicopter Using Artificial Brain

The helicopter in the video below may look dangerously out of control. But it is being piloted by a piece of software able to perform the "chaos" manoeuvre shown for indefinite periods.

Researchers in the Stanford University AI Lab have created software able to learn complex aerobatics from human pilots.

Using the data from a suite of sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers) on a helicopter piloted by an expert human, the software works out how to pull off the same moves. This is not simply a case of mimicking the commands sent from the controller, the software must learn to deal with the effects of varying wind conditions and other complications.

Smart as it is, the Stanford software doesn't get it first time. Watch this video (wmv format) to see a helicopter improve it's "tic-toc" manoeuvre.

Small autonomous aircraft are learning aerobatics elsewhere, too. A team at the Georgia Institute of Technology has created helicopters that can land on slopes steeper than any human pilot can handle, and MIT researchers have built planes that are able to perform vertical, perching, landings. Video of both those craft in action are below.

Via Newscientist

Ecologists have discovered that bumblebees can even learn to outwit colour-changing crab spiders.

 

Many animals learn to avoid being eaten by predators. Now ecologists have discovered that bumblebees can even learn to outwit colour-changing crab spiders.

Bumblebees learn to avoid camouflaged predators by sacrificing foraging speed for predator detection, according to scientists from Queen Mary, University of London.

One of the bumblebee's main predators is the crab spider. Crab spiders hunt pollinating insects like bees and butterflies by lying in wait on flowers, and are particularly difficult for their prey to spot because they can change their colour to blend in with their surroundings.

Dr Tom Ings and Professor Lars Chittka from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences wanted to discover whether bumblebees could learn to avoid these crab spiders. Their study, funded by the NERC and published in the journal Current Biology, shows how a run in with a spider affected the bees' foraging patterns.

Dr Ings and his team allowed a colony of bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) to forage in a meadow of artificial flowers in a 'flight arena' which contained 'robotic' crab spiders. Some of the spiders were well hidden, others were highly visible. Whenever a bee landed on a flower which contained a robot spider, the spider 'caught' the bee by trapping it briefly between two foam pincers, before then setting it free to continue foraging.

The team used 3D tracking software to follow the bees' movements, and found that the bees which were caught by a camouflaged spider slowed down their subsequent inspection flights. Although they lost valuable foraging time by slowing down, they were more likely to accurately detect whether there was a hidden crab spider present.

In addition, the bees which had already been caught a few times the day before by the hidden spiders behaved as if they saw spiders where there were none i.e. they rejected foraging opportunities on safe flowers, 'just in case' and were more wary than bees which had been caught by the more conspicuous spiders.

Dr Ings commented: "Surprisingly, our findings suggest that there is no apparent benefit to the spider in being camouflaged, at least in terms of prey capture rates. Spider camouflage didn't increase the chances of a bumblebee being captured, or reduce the rate at which the bees learnt to avoid predators. But our results did show that the bees which encountered camouflaged spiders were worse off in terms of reduced foraging efficiency."

Via Sciencedaily

(NIAID) have identified a gene that may influence the production of antibodies that neutralize HIV

Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology (GIVI) and the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have identified a gene that may influence the production of antibodies that neutralize HIV. This new information will likely spur a new approach for making an HIV vaccine that elicits neutralizing antibodies.

Neutralizing antibodies, once produced in the host, can attack and checkmate an infecting virus.

Scientists have been striving in vain to stimulate strong protective antibodies with an HIV vaccine for years because these antibodies hold great promise for controlling HIV infection in humans. HIV is a type of virus called a "retrovirus," which copies its RNA genetic material into DNA and incorporates it into the DNA of its host.

In 1978, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) studying a similar retrovirus in mice discovered a gene called Rfv3 that influenced the production of neutralizing antibodies that allowed the animals to recover. By 1999, they had narrowed the location of Rfv3 to a relatively small region on mouse chromosome 15, but that region contained more than 60 genes. The laboratory of GIVI Director Warner C. Greene and a team of scientists from NIAID now demonstrate that Rfv3 is Apobec3, an innate immunity gene with antiretroviral activity.

"This newfound link between Apobec3 and the production of neutralizing antibodies came as a complete surprise," said Dr. Greene, senior author on the paper.

While the studies involved a different retrovirus infecting mice, the findings may extend to HIV. HIV uses one of its genes, Vif, to specifically disable human Apobec3 proteins and HIV-infected patients rarely make broadly neutralizing antibodies against this virus. This new study raises the possibility that drugs or vaccines that interfere with Vif might allow humans to naturally make better neutralizing antibody responses against HIV.

"We now have a host factor needed for the production of neutralizing antibodies that HIV targets and destroys," said Gladstone scientist Mario Santiago, PhD. "This offers a fresh perspective on how to strengthen this arm of the immune response against HIV, with direct implications for immunotherapy and vaccine development."

The scientists conducted a series of genetic experiments by mating mice with different Rfv3 and Apobec3 profiles. The researchers demonstrated that Apobec3, like Rfv3, contributes to the early control of retroviral infection in mice, and also influences specific retroviral antibody responses. In addition, they discovered that Rfv3 susceptible mouse strains that fail to make antibody responses have a natural defect in Apobec3. These results provide convincing evidence that Rfv3 and Apobec3 are the same gene.

"We set out to solve a 30-year old mystery in retrovirus biology and in the process made a discovery that might impact future development of HIV vaccines. Science really is full of unexpected twists and turns," said Dr. Greene.

The link between Apobec3 and neutralizing antibody responses becomes even more tantalizing in view of other recent studies of people who somehow resist HIV infection despite years of frequent exposure to the virus. These individuals produce a particular type of antibody recognizing the virus and genetic mapping studies of their resistance points to a chromosomal region where the human Apobec3 genes are clustered.

The research group is now poised to investigate Apobec3 differences in these individuals and is currently screening for compounds that would rescue Apobec3 function during HIV infection.

Via Sciencedaily

Bad Sign For Global Warming

blanketing the northern hemisphere contains more than twice the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, making it a potentially mammoth contributor to global climate change depending on how quickly it thaws.

So concludes a group of nearly two dozen scientists in a paper appearing this week in the journal Bioscience. The lead author is Ted Schuur, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Florida.

Previous studies by Schuur and his colleagues elsewhere have estimated the carbon contained in permafrost in northeast Siberia. The new research expands that estimate to the rest of the permafrost-covered northern latitudes of Russia, Europe, Greenland and North America. The estimated 1,672 billion metric tons of carbon locked up in the permafrost is more than double the 780 billion tons in the atmosphere today.

"It's bigger than we thought," Schuur said.

Permafrost is frozen ground that contains roots and other soil organic matter that decompose extremely slowly. When it thaws, bacteria and fungi break down carbon contained in this organic matter much more quickly, releasing it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide or methane, both greenhouse gases.

Scientists have become increasingly concerned about this natural process as temperatures in the world's most northern latitudes have warmed. Just last week, it was announced that the amount of sea ice covering the Arctic may reach a new low this summer. Meanwhile, there is widespread consensus that the highest latitudes will warm the fastest, a process already visible in the accelerated thawing of glaciers worldwide.

Two years ago, Schuur and two colleagues authored a paper in the journal Science estimating that 400,000 square miles of northeast Siberian permafrost contained 500 billion metric tons of carbon. For this new paper, scientists combined an extensive database of measurements of carbon content in different types of permafrost soils with the estimated spatial extent of those soils in Russia, Europe, Greenland and North America.

Schuur said the researchers estimated the carbon contained in permafrost to a depth of three meters, two meters deeper than many earlier estimates. Although permafrost depths vary greatly with location, basing the estimate on three-meter depth "better acknowledges the true size of the permafrost carbon pool," Schuur said.

The new estimate is important because it mirrors other climate change science suggesting that at a certain tipping point, natural processes could contribute significant amounts of greenhouse gases, supplementing human-influenced, industrial processes that release fossil fuel carbon, Schuur said.

"There are relatively few people living in the permafrost zone," Schuur said. "But we could have significant emissions of carbon from thawing permafrost in these remote regions."

How fast the permafrost would release its carbon is a hugely important question.

Schuur said the burning of fossil fuels contributes about 8.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year. Deforestation of the tropical forests and replacement of the forest with pasture or other agriculture is thought to add about 1.5 billion tons per year. How much permafrost will add will depend on how fast it thaws, but Schuur said his research indicates the figure could approach .8-1.1 billion tons per year in the future if permafrost continues to thaw.

With the Arctic warming and permafrost thawing, shrubs and trees are likely to grow on ground formerly occupied by tundra – indeed, such a transformation has already been observed in parts of Alaska, where some arctic tundra is becoming shrub land.

Because plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, it might appear they could compensate for whatever carbon is released by the thawed permafrost. But Schuur said the amount of carbon stored in the permafrost is far greater than what is found in shrubs or trees.

For example, he said, a mature boreal forest may contain five kilograms per meter squared of stored carbon. But the same area of permafrost soil can contain 44 kilograms, and 80 percent of that could be lost over long-term warming. "The bottom line," he said, "is that you can't grow a big enough forest to offset the carbon release from the permafrost."

The research was conducted as part of the International Polar Year 2008-2009 and sponsored by the National Science Foundation-funded National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in a grant to the Global Carbon Project.

Via Sciencedaily

Scientists have devised a new method of simulation that can enable a dentist to choose the best plastic fillings

Scientists have devised a new method of simulation that can enable a dentist to choose the best plastic fillings to close cavities, to prevent gaps from appearing between the tooth and the filling.

The plastic that dentists use to fill the cavity tends to shrink slightly as it hardens, occasionally producing tension that can cause tiny gaps to form between the filling and the tooth. Bits of food can get caught in these gaps and lead to more caries.

Though manufacturers of filling materials offer a variety of plastics to choose from, dentists often find it hard to determine which filling is best suited to a particular shape of cavity.

"Until now, it has not been possible to establish a theoretical model of the hardening process. The tension occurring in the material always depends on the shape of the cavity, and can vary widely by a factor of up to ten, particularly at the edges," says Dr.-Ing. Christof Koplin, research assistant at the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Freiburg.

The researchers insist that their new method of simulation can enable tension in dental fillings to be accurately predicted, and thus be helpful to dentists in choosing the least tension-prone plastic for each shape of cavity.

They say that dentists can draw on the results of the IWM to select the best material, and manufacturers can use the simulations to optimise their products.

"We theoretically subdivide the dental filling into thousands of small parcels and calculate how each element affects its neighbour. Experimental parameters are incorporated in the individual elements. We started our laboratory tests by using a standard geometry to find out how each material reacts to the stresses that occur when the volume shrinks, and how the flow capability of the material changes as it hardens," says Koplin.

The IWM researchers have now successfully simulated the development of tension in dental fillings for various cavity shapes and materials, and more will follow.

Via Medindia

According to a new study: Obese People are at Increased Risk of Developing Cancer

Overweight people are at a significantly higher risk of developing a range of common cancers, according to a new study.

In the study, carried out at the Washington University School of Medicine in the US, researchers analysed data from around the world on obesity, weight gain and weight loss in relation to cancers of the breast, pancreas, kidney, colon, prostate, oesophagus and endometrium, which is the lining of the womb.

"Most people associate high body weight with conditions like diabetes and heart disease, and a lot of people are not aware of the links between body weight and cancer," the Telegraph quoted Ed Yong, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, as saying.

"This is a very important and growing issue. Maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the most important things you can do to prevent cancer after not smoking.

"If you look at these cancers, they include two of the most common, breast and colon, and some which have very low survival rates, pancreatic and oesophagus. So body weight has a substantial impact on cancers that are common and those that are difficult to treat," Yong added.

During the study, researchers found that the cancer that emerged, as having the clearest link to weight gain was breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

They found that the risk of developing the disease increased by five per cent with every five kilograms of weight gained.

On contrary, women who lost weight were at a significantly lower risk of the disease. According to researchers, this may be because weight loss lowers oestrogen levels.


Study into colon cancer found that men who put on six kilograms or more in weight ran twice the risk of contracting the disease as men who lost two kilograms or more.

Those who gained 21 kilograms or more after reaching the age of 20 had a 60 per cent increased risk compared to men who have gained less than five kilograms.

According to researchers, weight loss and increased activity reduces circulating levels of insulin, which may help to prevent the cancer from developing.

During the study, it was found that a BMI increase of one, after the age of 20, gives a 14 per cent increased risk of oesophageal cancer. Those with a BMI increase of more than eight ran a threefold risk of contracting the cancer.

A person whose BMI increases by five runs a 14 per cent increased risk of pancreatic cancer, a 31 per cent increased risk of kidney cancer, and, among women, a 52 per cent increased risk of endometrial cancer.

Links between prostate cancer and obesity were less clear. However, men who put on more than 10 per cent of their body weight and had a BMI greater than 24.4 were twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as men with a lower BMI.

Via Medindia

Sexual Satisfaction Is More Psychological Than Biological

A new study of cervical cancer survivors has challenged commonly held perception of hormones' role in sexual activity, after finding that the 'fighters' reported satisfying sex lives following surgical intervention.

Conducted at the University of Southern California-Yale University, the study details the sexual experiences of women who presumably had no hormonally-motivated sexual behaviour or interest.

Surgical intervention for cervical cancer often involves removing the ovaries, which reduces or eliminates circulating testosterone. The hormone is a factor in both male and female sexual behaviour.

"Our findings, which demonstrate the existence of widespread interest and satisfaction with sex in the absence of a crucial hormone underscore the importance of non-hormonal components of sexual interest and satisfaction," said lead author Howard Greenwald, a USC professor with the School of Policy, Planning, and Development.

He added: "That may mean the key to sexual satisfaction is less about biology and more about psychology."

He claimed that during the first months and years following treatment for cervical cancer, women often struggle with what they perceive to be assault on their sexual organs and identity.

In their study, the researchers found that after six years most women's sexual desire and enjoyment rebounds. In this particular study, the researchers interviewed women six to 28 years from their initial diagnosis.

After interviewing 179 women, the researchers found that more than 80 percent of the cervical cancer survivors reported being sexually active. Whereas, 81.4 percent said they 'sometimes,' 'almost always' or 'always' desired sexual activity and 90.9 percent indicated they enjoyed sexual activity at least some of the time.

One-third of the women answered in affirmative when asked if cervical cancer had a negative effect on their relationships. On the other hand, two-thirds disagreed with that statement.


"This observation is important because the public places so much emphasis on 'hormones' in sex and the pharmaceutical industry is poised to release a whole new generation of hormone-based drugs for female sexuality," said Greenwald.

"A person's outlook, relationships and other factors may be just as important, or even more important."

After cancer is diagnosed, doctors perform hysterectomies - surgical removal of the uterus - or oophorectomies - removal of one or both ovaries - to treat invasive cervical cancer.

The researchers found a difference in sexual interest between these two groups and found that women with hysterectomies were less likely to report a lack of interest in sex compared to the other women.

Conversely, women who had oophorectomies were less likely to report they enjoyed sex compared to the other women. Oophorectomies typically affect circulating sexual hormones and results in reduced vaginal lubrication.

"The women who've lost their ovaries, and thus the naturally circulating testosterone, are less likely to enjoy sex. However, women who've had this ovary-removing procedure are statistically no less likely to be sexually active or more likely to lack sexual desire than women who still have their ovaries," said Greenwald.

"These results underscore how important it is to include people who are long-term survivors and to assess their quality of life in terms of their sexuality, their relationships with others, and their ability to be productive members of our society."

The study, "Sexuality and Sexual Function in Long-Term Survivors of Cervical Cancer," appears in the recent issue of Journal of Women's Health.

Via Medindia

Spy satellites may soon use gait analysis to identify you from orbit.

According to experts, aerial shots of a person are not good enough to measure stride length and walking rhythm.

{Stoica} has created computer software that can seek out and recognise the shadows of individuals in aerial video footage, reports New Scientist magazine.

It isolates moving shadows and uses data on the position of the sun and camera angle to 'correct' the shadows if they are foreshortened or elongated.

Dr Stoica, who presented his research at a security conference in Edinburgh, said the software then applies regular gait analysis to the corrected images.

In tests on video footage taken from the sixth floor of an office building, the software spotted shadows and extracted information that could be used to identify someone.

Via Technovelgy

Harmful and Toxic effects of vitamins and minerals supplements

Vitamin deficiency syndromes are uncommon in Western countries, but many patients consume over-the-counter vitamin and mineral supplements with the hope of improving their health and preventing disease. Although the benefits of vitamin and mineral supplementation are commonly highlighted in both the professional and lay literature, their harmful effects often receive little attention. A recent review of 36 vitamins and minerals by the UK Food Standards Agency discussed the potential harms that can come from supplementation with some of these agents.

The agents: For otherwise healthy individuals, daily consumption of a multivitamin is often recommended to round out a well-balanced diet. Although some specific supplements are routinely recommended for disease prevention (e.g., folic acid for women of child-bearing age to prevent neural tube defects), it is beyond the scope of this column to review the potential benefits of vitamin and mineral supplementation.

Scientific bodies around the world regularly review and recommend the daily vitamin and mineral intake levels (now expressed as Dietary Reference Intakes), taking into account age, sex, physiologic status (e.g., pregnancy) and concurrent disease states. Recommended intake levels are summarized in the purple pages of the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties. Consumption of doses at or near the recommended levels (as is often, but not necessarily, the case for multivitamins8) is unlikely to cause harm, and some vitamins, such as thiamine and riboflavin, are relatively benign even at doses several times their recommended levels. However, high doses of some vitamins, especially when taken regularly, can be toxic.

Minerals taken as supplements can also be toxic. For example, magnesium can cause diarrhea at doses above 400 mg/d; phosphorus can cause diarrhea at doses above 750 mg/d, and mild nausea and vomiting at lower doses; iron can cause constipation, nausea and vomiting, reduced zinc uptake, and iron overload in hemochromatosis; zinc can cause nausea and vomiting, immunosuppression and impaired copper uptake; and selenium at doses above 0.91 mg/d can cause brittle hair and nails, peripheral neuropathies and gastrointestinal upset.

What to do: Regular screening enquiries about the use and dose of vitamin and mineral supplements may help to optimize a patient's nutrient intake and avoid potential harm from inappropriate use of supplements (e.g., intake of beta carotene by smokers may increase the risk of lung cancer). The European Union recently moved to adopt strict labelling standards for vitamin and mineral supplements, including having manufacturers list the percentage of a person's daily intake that is represented by one dose of the product, as well as toxicity warnings when they are appropriate. It is unknown whether Canada will adopt similar standards.

Via CMAJ

Sony has launched a voluntary recall of 438,000 Vaio laptops on burn concern

It is one of the biggest computer recalls since 2006 when Dell Inc (DELL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) recalled 4.1 million notebook computer batteries because they could overheat and catch fire.

Sony's recall affects 72,800 computers in the United States, a Sony spokesman said on Thursday.

Sony received 15 reports of overheating, including one of a consumer who suffered a minor burn, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission said.

The flaw, in Sony's VGN-TZ100, VGN-TZ200, VGN-TZ300 and VGN-TZ2000 series computers, is related to "irregularly positioned wires near the computer's hinge and/or dislodged screw inside the hinge" that can cause a short circuit and overheat, the agency said.

"This poses a burn hazard to consumers," the agency added. "Sony has initiated a voluntary program to perform a free inspection and, if necessary, a repair to ensure these units meet our high quality standards."

Sony has been dogged in recent years by recalls of laptop computer batteries amid concerns they would overheat and catch fire. In 2006, Dell, Apple Inc (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Lenovo Group Ltd (0992.HK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Toshiba Corp (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and some other PC makers recalled more than 8 million Sony batteries.

Sony declined to comment on the potential cost it will incur to repair the computers.

Shares of Sony trading in the U.S. dipped 2.4 percent to $36.75 on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday afternoon. The shares are down more than 30 percent so far this year.

Sci-fi Helps Robot builders

"It's surprising how often people make nervous jokes about robots taking over the world. I don't want to make too much of that, but I think there's something there." So says one roboticist who thinks finding out exactly how fictional robots influence people can help engineers build real ones.

Roboticist Bill Smart and literature researcher Lara Bovilsky, both at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, recently held a workshop on the topic at the RO-MAN conference on human-robot interactions in Munich, Germany.

"Most people have never seen a robot before," Smart told New Scientist. "Their experiences – such as they are – all come from movies or literature."

That affects the way people react to real robots, he says.

"People have a theory in their head about how something will behave, and if a robot doesn't fit with that theory, people get nervous," he explains. "It's like standing next to the twitchy guy at the bus stop. He goes against your expectations and you get worried."
Great expectations

For example, not everyone responded well to a robot built by Smart and colleagues that moves around a room composing and then snapping photos of people.

"People that thought of it as a camera with legs were really pleased, but people that thought of it as a photographer were really disappointed," he says.

Smart thinks those raised expectations were down to the impact of unrealistically human-like robots in movies and books. "People don't really know what they are. C-3PO in Star Wars is very humanlike, intelligent and capable, but real robots are not like that at all."

Instead of just forcing people to alter their expectations, Smart thinks it makes sense to study how people's ideas about robots are influenced by fiction. That knowledge could be used to design robots that make the most of those expectations.

"My real concern is to get people and robots to play together nicely," says Smart.
Work in progress

The workshop was an attempt to start a discussion among roboticists about those ideas. "We hope to have future meetings and are working towards designing experiments," says Smart.

Noel Sharkey, a roboticist at Sheffield University, is currently researching the history of robotics and uncovered evidence of simple robots in ancient Greece. Robots have appeared in fiction as far back as that too, he says.

"All robot researchers have experienced the way that people's behaviour towards robots is influenced by their experiences with science fiction," he says. Attempting to come up with robot design ideas based on studying that sci-fi influence is an interesting idea, says Sharkey. "But this is an early stage discussion – who knows if this will develop into a more substantial field."
Robot dreams

Engineers might learn from fictional robots in other ways, says Sharkey.

"It would be worthwhile to study the way computer animators make us connect with simple, non-human objects." Pixar's WALL-E, for example, is easy to connect with, he says.

There are precedents for roboticists working with Hollywood, he points out. The expressive eyes of the ground-breaking MIT robot Kismet, with a face designed to express emotions, came from a Hollywood effects company.

Via Newscientist

Milan-based coachbuilder Castagna has created a posh beach-buggy based on the Fiat 500.

The 500 Tender Two - using the name for vehicles used by yacht-owners to travel from their boats when in harbour - is in the spirit of the original Ghia-built Fiat 500 Jolly.

The doors, tailgate and roof of the 500 have been removed, while the side sills have been raised and reinforced to maintain structural rigidity. A removable canvas hood with retro red and white stripes offers some shelter and sun-shade, and the interior and cargo bay is finished in teak with wicker and blue upholstery.

The smartest thing about the Tender, however, is its powertrain: it's been converted into an EV by Swiss firm MES-DEA. It can do up to 80mph, and has a range of 86 miles between battery recharges (it can be recharged in just four hours).

Via Channel4

Toyota is updating its Hilux pick-up for 2009

Toyota is updating its Hilux pick-up for 2009, with a new grille and wider front bumper, new alloy wheel designs, and new kit including a lockable tailgate for hardtop-equipped Extra and Double Cab models.

The 3.0 D4D diesel engine now comes with a new five-speed automatic gearbox, promising improved torque and fuel economy: it'll now return 31.7mpg and 236g/km.

Interior improvements include a new steering wheel with audio controls, a redesigned gearshift console and new instruments, a new automatic air conditioning system with dust and pollen filter, and new sports seats in the Double Cab. Invincible models have leather upholstery.

Minor modifications have been made to the suspension, with revised front shock absorbers and new rear axle bearings, plus new bushes, and Toyota promises more stable and predictable handling with a reduction in vibration. Larger brakes are also fitted.

The range now starts with the 2.5-litre D-4D HL2 Single Cab, Extra Cab and Double Cab, and all of these models have electric windows, air conditioning, an alarm, remote central locking, twin front airbags and anti-lock brakes. HL3 models add a leather-trimmed steering wheel, automatic air conditioning, tinted glass and 15" alloy wheels, and Invincible versions have 17" alloys, leather upholstery and stability control. 3.0 D-4D Double Cab models now have side and curtain airbags. There are new metallic paint colours available.

Sales of these revised models start in the UK towards the end of the year.

Via Channel4

Volkswagen recently launched its most powerful Passat ever to adorn the line-up in the Middle East

The Passat R36 with 300bhp on tow. Hot on the heels is yet another exciting launch – the powerful new entry-mid Volkswagen Jetta GLI sedan.

The Jetta GLI is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TFSI petrol engine making 200 horsepower and a maximum torque of 207Nm. The same engine powers the Golf GTI too. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic DSG transmission with both manual and automatic settings. There is also F1-style paddle shifts behind the steering wheel for buyers looking for a sporty content. The steering wheel is also of the flat-bottom F1-style wheel. Volkswagen claimed 0-100km/h time for the Jetta GLI is under 7.0 seconds.

The new Jetta GLI is expected to arrive at dealerships in the Middle East soon and will be available with a single trim specification with all the bells and whitsles. Featured standard equipment will include tyre pressure monitoring system, 17-inch alloy wheels and bi-Xenon head lights.

Blood has been grown artificially in the lab from human embryonic stem cells.

The research was done at Advanced Cell Technology, with researchers from the Mayo Clinic and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Up to 65% of the cells resulting from the process matured to the point where they shed their nucleus, taking on the distinctive doughnut shape of red blood cells.

The team still has plenty of work to do. One question: do the resulting cells have enough globin to carry oxygen? Also, human beings are remarkably efficient in producing cheap blood in quantity; fourteen million pints are used every year in transfusions.

Early next week (09/08/2008), American television audiences will get a taste of Tru Blood, a TV series based on the work of Charlaine Harris, set in a small Louisiana town. After Japanese synthetic blood hits the market, humans and vampires coexist for the first time.

Via Technovelgy

HKS GT570 Package for Nissan GT-R Video

Hot on the heels of yesterday's HKS Genesis Coupe comes another highly anticipated project by the well known Japanese tuning firm. Referred to as the R35 GT570 Racing Package, the turbo enhancement kit seeks to reducing exhaust resistance via new reinforced wastegate actuators, new boost controller, aluminum intercooler pipe kit and a front exhaust pipe without catalytic converters, which therefore makes it not legal for road use. The result is 570PS or 562hp and 540 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. The sound is amazing.

Subaru's horizontally-opposed 2.0-liter four cylinder diesel engine is the first of its kind.

Subaru's horizontally-opposed 2.0-liter four cylinder diesel engine is the first of its kind. First revealed in the Outback/Legacy range in Geneva earlier this year, Subaru is now debuting the engine in Paris this October in two of its other models, the Impreza 5-door hatchback and Forester SUV.

Both the Forester and Impreza Boxer Diesels feature new six-speed manual gearboxes while the engine receives a new closed-type diesel particulate filter.

Subaru states the Forester 2.0D boasts class-leading fuel economy and emissions with 44.8 mpg combined and 167 g/km.

The Forester 2.0D produces 147 PS and 258 lb ft torque and the Impreza 150 PS and 258 lb ft – both at 3,600 rpm and 1,800 rpm respectively.

The new Forester Boxer Diesel goes on sale in the UK in late September and the Impreza Boxer Diesel in January 2009.

Via Worldcarfans

Hyundai Genesis Coupe for SEMA Shown by HKS

The new Genesis coupe is a hot car, but Hyundai expects more. By the time the Genesis coupe hits the market in spring of 2009, Hyundai wants it to be on the wish list of every young tuning enthusiast. That's why they have enlisted the help of prominent tuners to make it even hotter. Following the Rhys Millen Tuned Genesis, Hyundai has announced HKS as the second tuning firm to apply their craft to the Genesis Coupe, which is set to make its debut at SEMA in Las Vegas.

"Genesis Coupe has the basic DNA that HKS looks for – an excellent chassis, rear-wheel drive, aggressive styling and a new generation turbo-charged engine. These attributes provide the opportunity for HKS to maximize the Genesis Coupe driving performance capabilities for the serious driving enthusiast," said Rick Lafferty, president, HKS USA, Inc. "HKS is allocating R&D, engineering and prototyping resources to lay the groundwork for HKS-brand Genesis Coupe performance parts. We are looking forward to working with Hyundai to realize the full performance potential of the Genesis Coupe."

Although no power figures have been provided yet, HKS plans to upgrade the 2.0-liter turbo coupe with a HKS GT Turbo kit, HKS engine internals, HKS limited-edition turbo exhaust system, HKS Super Mega Flow Intake System, HKS Engine Management and HKS Hipermax III fully-adjustable suspension.

"We've designed Genesis Coupe from the start to be tuner-friendly," said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "Partnering with an industry leader like HKS is a terrific way for us to stretch the performance envelope of Genesis Coupe."

For the exterior, the HKS Genesis Coupe will also showcase functional body kit designed by Ken Style. The interior will receive HKS electronics including CAMP2 that monitors up to 24 data signals from the Genesis OBD2 and programmable calculations for fuel costs, average fuel consumption and fuel efficiency in real time. More details and photos in November.

Via Worldcarfans

Mice given quercetin, a naturally occurring substance found in fruits and vegetables, were less likely to contract the flu

According to a study published by The American Physiological Society. The study also found that stressful exercise increased the susceptibility of mice to the flu, but quercetin canceled out that negative effect.

Quercetin, a close chemical relative of resveratrol, is present in a variety of fruits and vegetables, including red onions, grapes, blueberries, tea, broccoli and red wine. It has been shown to have anti-viral properties in cell culture experiments and some animal studies, but none of these studies has looked specifically at the flu.

The new study was conducted using mice, but if quercetin provides a similar benefit for humans, it could help endurance athletes, soldiers and others undergoing difficult training regimens, as well as people under psychological stress, according to Davis.

Study builds on previous research

"Quercetin was used because of its documented widespread health benefits, which include antiviral activity, abundance in the diet and reported lack of side effects when used as a dietary supplement or food additive," Davis said.

Earlier mouse studies have found that stressful exercise can increase susceptibility to upper respiratory infections, although it is not yet clear if the same is true for humans. There was also preliminary information that mice may be more susceptible to the flu when they exercise to fatigue. The researchers in the current study hypothesized that exercise would increase the chance of the mice getting the flu but that quercetin would counteract the increased risk.

Davis and his colleagues examined four groups of mice. Two groups performed three consecutive days of running to fatigue on a treadmill to mimic a short period of stressful exercise. One group of runners received quercetin, the other did not.

The remaining two groups did not exercise. One non-exercise group received quercetin while the other did not. All four groups were then exposed to a common flu virus, H1N1.

The researchers found that:

* Stressful exercise increased susceptibility to the flu. The mice that exercised to fatigue for three days were more likely to develop the flu than the mice that did not exercise (91% versus 63%).
* The mice that exercised developed the flu much sooner than those that did not (6.9 days versus 12.4 days).
* Mice that exercised and took quercetin had nearly the same rate of illness as those that did not exercise. In other words, quercetin canceled out the negative effect of stressful exercise.
* The severity of the symptoms among those mice that either did not exercise or those that exercised but took the quercetin was about the same.
* Quercetin had protective effects for the mice that did not exercise.

Although this study was done with mice, a recent human study found that people who took quercetin suffered fewer illnesses following three days of exhaustive exercise compared to those who did not. Unlike the mouse study, the humans were not inoculated with a virus.

"This is the first controlled experimental study to show a benefit of short-term quercetin feedings on susceptibility to respiratory infection following exercise stress," said Davis. "Quercetin feeding was an effective preventive strategy to offset the increase in susceptibility to infection that was associated with stressful exercise."

Via Sciencedaily

Sanyo on Wednesday introduced its Xacti E2 digital camcorder.

The camcorder records video onto a flash media card and can work underwater, as well. It costs $399.99.

The Xacti E2 can record video for up to an hour, in five feet of water.The Xacti E2 features a "pistol grip" style design and records video in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format at 640 x 480 pixels. It can also take 8-megapixel still images. The device is waterproof and can operate underwater to a depth of five feet, according to Sanyo, for up to one hour at a time.

Video and still images are recorded to SD or SDHC flash media cards -- a single 8GB SDHC card can store up to eight hours of full motion video or about 2000 images, according to the company. Video and still images can be uploaded and viewed on a Mac or PC using an included cable.

The camera features 5x optical zoom, a flip-out 2.5-inch LCD display, 60 frame per second recording, anti-shake digital image stabilizer, sequential still image shooting at up to five frames per second, and a new underwater scene selection that adjusts colors.

The Xacti E2 measures 2.8 x 4.4 x 1.6 inches and weighs 9.1 ounces with a battery installed. It comes in either blue or pearlescent white finishes.


Via PC world

Catalyst system to slash hydrogen costs?

Scientists at Ohio State University have developed a catalyst system which could dramatically cut the cost of generating hydrogen from biofuels.

The Guardian reports that the catalyst enables the local production of hydrogen at much lower temperatures, using less expensive precious metals, and without the need for costly transportation and storage in special high-pressure containers.

It is made from calcium, cobalt and cerium oxide, rather than expensive rhodium and platinum, and it can produce hydrogen at 90% efficiency at around 350 degrees Centigrade.

The catalyst works with ethanol, with the by-products of carbon dioxide and methane. The methane can be trapped and also used as fuel in the conversion process.

Professor Umit Ozkan said: 'Instead of making hydrogen from biofuel at a centralised facility and transporting it to gas (petrol) stations, we could use our catalyst inside reactors that are actually located at the gas stations. We wouldn't have to transport or store the hydrogen - we could store the biofuel and make the hydrogen on the spot.'

Via Channel4

latest-generation diesel injection technology which will enable diesel engines to meet the future Euro 6 emissions standards

Delphi, supplier of technology to many major motor manufacturers, is launching its latest-generation diesel injection technology which will enable diesel engines to meet the future Euro 6 emissions standards (to take effect 2014).

The Delphi Direct Acting Common Rail system uses piezo ceramic actuators which can set the injector needle in motion directly, rather than by an electro-hydraulic circuit as in current production piezo-electric systems.

The fuel is sprayed into the combustion chamber faster and with greater accuracy, with quicker-yet closing and opening of needle valves, and Delphi promises reductions in emissions, more torque and power across all engine speeds and significantly improved fuel economy and refinement as well as reduced nitrous oxide emissions.

Delphi says the system will be available on a European production car to be launched later this year.

Via Channel4

Porsche Design will design luxury catamarans and mega-yachts for Royal Falcon Fleet

Porsche Design Group has announced today the signing of a design and marketing agreement with Singapore-based yacht builder, Royal Falcon Fleet. Under this agreement Porsche Design will design luxury catamarans and mega-yachts for Royal Falcon Fleet on an exclusive basis in addition to developing a marketing concept for the yachts.

Seen above, a design sketch of a motor catamaran over 40 meters (135ft) in length represents the first collaborative project to be sold under the Royal Falcon Fleet brand. Porsche Design will design both the hull exterior and the interior of the mega yacht. Royal Falcon Fleet has engaged Kockums and Incat Crowther for the engineering and the naval architect of the project. Kockums is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp and is based in Sweden; it is renowned for its cutting-edge technology in the field of marine engineering. Incat Crowther is a naval architect based in Australia with decades of experience in the construction of large motor catamarans.

Via Worldcarfans

Ferrari are developing a spider version of their 430 Scuderia

According to a report by the Italian obsessed guys over at autoblog.it, Ferrari are developing a spider version of their 430 Scuderia which was originally presented at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show by Michael Schumacher. Just 300 units of the Scuderia were planned to be built by the Prancing Horse but these latest details could point towards an unintended increase in its production numbers, a trend not totally unheard of – remember the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport?

Clearly the performance aspect will be the most challenging area, the 430 Scuderia Coupe weighs in at just 1250kg and considering the spider model is likely to be fitted with a retractable hard-top we expect to see the overall dry weight raise by around 70kg.

The 510hp 4.3-liter V8 power unit will stay unchanged, therefore we would expect Ferrari to maintain its acceleration and top speed performance figures with the introduction of the new 7-speed dual clutch transmission system which will debut in the brand new Ferrari California.

November 5th is the date you should cross off in your diaries, it is the day when the Ferrari Challenge at Mugello commences and it is the expected venue of the unveiling of the new model.

Via Worldcarfans

Study shows : Fish Oil Benefits the Heart

It seems like every other day we hear about another health benefit to adding omega-3 fatty acids to our diet. This group of fats, the kind found in fish oil, have been proven to reduce the risk of some forms of cancer, relieve joint pain and other rheumatoid problems, and lessen the effects of depression and other mental disorders. Omega-3 fats can also help with some forms of skin problems and has been reported to ward off Alzheimer's disease. And most recently, daily fish oil supplements were shown to benefit the heart of people with chronic heart failure-slightly better than a popular cholesterol-reducing drug!

For the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) study, Italian researchers enlisted more than 7,000 people who had been diagnosed with heart failure, a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and loses its ability to effectively pump blood around the body. Half of the participants were given a daily capsule of omega-3, in addition to their other daily medications, while the other half took a placebo. They were followed for an average of four years, during which 1,981 (27 percent) of the group taking omega-3 died of heart failure or were admitted to the hospital with cardiovascular problems, compared to 2,053 (29 percent) of the placebo group.

In a parallel study, the same team studied heart failure rates of 2,285 patients who were given the statin rosuvastatin, also known as Crestor, while 2,289 were given a placebo. After tracking the patients for an average of four years, the doctors found little difference in the death rate between the two groups. When they compared the results from both studies, the researchers concluded that omega-3 is slightly more effective than the drug because it performed better against a placebo. "Our study shows that the long-term administration of 1g per day of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid was effective in reducing both all-cause mortality and admissions to hospital for cardiovascular reasons," said Professor Luigi Tavazzi from the research center of the of the Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists based in Florence.

This new study confirms the results of previous studies that investigated the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, but they have largely been observational and have lacked a direct comparison to a placebo. "This study changes the certainty of the evidence we have about fish oils," said Dr. Douglas Weaver, president of the American College of Cardiology. He said that guidelines in the U.S. would likely change to recommend more heart patients take supplements or eat more fish. "This is a low-tech solution and could help all patients with cardiovascular problems," he said.

However, in an editorial accompanying the journal report, Dr. Gregg Fonarow, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, said the positive trial results doesn't mean that a statin should not be prescribed for someone with heart failure and high cholesterol, but "indicates that heart failure, in and of itself, should not be a reason to start a patient on a statin." He also stressed that people with heart failure should not start taking fish oil supplements on their own. "They used a specific formulation, a prescription formulation. Heart failure is a very high-risk condition. It is absolutely critical for patients, whether it is a prescription medicine or modification of diet or a supplement, that they consult their physician," he said.

Public health organizations recommend that everyone eat fish twice a week. Oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel, halibut, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and anchovies are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. However, fish is not the only source. You should also consider other seafood, such as Pacific oysters, shrimp, mollusks and Alaskan king crab. Walnuts and flaxseed can also add substantial amounts of omega-3 to your diet, as can vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower. But the most certain prescription is to take a fish oil supplement, since it has specified doses of EPA and DHA, and can also alleviate concerns about fish being contaminated with mercury or PCB's.

Via Health News

A deficiency of B-vitamins may cause vascular cognitive impairment

according to a new study. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University used an experimental model to examine the metabolic, cognitive, and microvascular effects of dietary B-vitamin deficiency.

"Metabolic impairments induced by a diet deficient in three B-vitamins -folate, B12 and B6- caused cognitive dysfunction and reductions in brain capillary length and density in our mouse model," says Aron Troen, PhD, the study's lead author. "The vascular changes occurred in the absence of neurotoxic or degenerative changes."

Troen, who is an assistant professor at Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, explains, "Mice fed a diet deficient in folate and vitamins B12 and B6 demonstrated significant deficits in spatial learning and memory compared with normal mice." Troen and colleagues observed similar but less pronounced differences between normal mice and a third group of mice that were fed a diet enriched with methionine.

"The B-vitamin-deficient mice also developed plasma homocysteine concentrations that were seven-fold higher than the concentrations observed in mice fed a normal diet," adds Troen. Homocysteine is produced by the breakdown of a dietary protein called methionine. B-vitamins, including folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6, are required to convert homocysteine back to methionine, thereby reducing the blood concentration of homocysteine.

Studies have linked elevations in plasma homocysteine with an increased risk for cognitive impairment. "However," Troen says, "it has not been determined that homocysteine is directly responsible. Based on the findings of our study, we theorize that a deficiency of B-vitamins induces a metabolic disorder that manifests with high homocysteine, as well as cerebral microvascular dysfunction."

Troen and colleagues divided their study mice into three groups and fed each group a different diet for 10 weeks. While the control (comparison) group was fed a normal diet containing methionine and B-vitamins, the other two diets were designed to induce high homocysteine levels but through different metabolic mechanisms. One was methionine-enriched, and the other was deficient in B vitamins. Researchers measured blood concentrations of B-vitamins and homocysteine and assessed the brain anatomy and vasculature. They also evaluated psychomotor function by a battery of age-sensitive tests, such as holding on to a wire and walking a beam, and assessed spatial learning and memory with the Morris water maze, a well-validated and sensitive test of rodent cognitive function.

"It took longer, on average, for the B-vitamin-deficient mice to maneuver the water maze, compared with controls," says Troen. "Longer latencies were associated with higher plasma homocysteine levels and shorter capillaries, particularly in the brain region called the hippocampus." Troen adds, "Despite the vascular changes, the brain anatomy appeared normal, and there was no evidence of a cellular proliferation process called gliosis, which typically accompanies neurodegeneration."

Irwin Rosenberg, MD, director of the Nutrition and Neurocognition Laboratory at the HNRCA, notes, "The elevated levels of homocysteine that were associated with vascular cognitive impairment in the mice in our study are comparable to the levels that are associated in older adults with an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular disease, the latter of which manifests with conditions such as stroke and atherosclerosis. These findings may indicate that microvascular changes mediate the association between high homocysteine levels and human age-related cognitive decline."

Troen and colleagues write that their study helps to "…define more precisely the mechanisms underlying cerebral microvascular disease, independent of or prior to the onset of irreversible neurodegeneration." According to Troen, this work, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, "may provide a model system in which to study the role of the brain's microvascular circulation in cognitive function."

Via Science Daily

Millions of people will grow old faster than they should because of past exposures to the toxic metal

Two studies conducted at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and the University of Michigan have revealed that lead accelerates ageing by up to six years, and can remain in the body for years after the exposure.

The harmful effects of exposures to the metal include memory loss and difficulties with language.

The researcher say that lead has the ability to accumulate and lie hidden in the bones of the human body, and thus they were able to measure middle-aged to elderly people's past exposure, and relate it to their process of mental decline.

During a study, the Johns Hopkins researchers looked at 1,000 people aged 50 to 70, estimated past doses by scanning their shinbones, and gave them tests for their mental ability.

They found that the higher the dose the more they suffered from "accelerated ageing", with a deteriorating ability to think, learn, remember and express themselves.

They also found that the subjects who had the most lead aged up to six years faster than those with the least.

"A portion of what has been called normal ageing might in fact be due to ubiquitous environmental exposures like lead," the Independent quoted Professor Brian Schwartz, who led the research, as saying.

In the other study, the University of Michigan researchers tested elderly men twice, some years apart.


The study, however, produced strikingly similar results, concluding that the metal hastened ageing by five years.

Professor Ellen Silbergeld of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health says that lead that has been lurking in the skeleton gets released into the blood when bones lose calcium through ageing, spreading its poison throughout the body.

A study from Boston University recently showed that lead was contained in a fifth of the ayurvedic medicines being sold on the Internet.

Other researchers have found that children having lead in their blood are four times more likely to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and established a "very strong association" between the exposure of young children to the toxic metal and crime rates some 20 years later, when they have become young adults.

Scientists are now worried that other pollutants that accumulate in the body - such as mercury and many pesticides - may similarly be biding their time to wreak havoc.

Via Medindia

Men are more prone to, and likely to die of, heart disease compared with women of a similar age – and sex hormones are to blame,

ََََAccording to a new University of Leicester led study, the findings of a study by Dr Maciej Tomaszewski, New Blood Lecturer in Cardiovascular Medicine in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester, suggest that this "male disadvantage" may be related to the sex-specific effects of naturally occurring sex hormones.

The research by Dr Tomaszewski and his colleagues, which has been published on line in the journal Atherosclerosis, involved 933 men aged, on average, 19 years, from the Young Men Cardiovascular Association study. The researchers looked at ways that the sex hormones - estradiol, estrone, testosterone and androstenedione - interacted with three major risk factors of heart disease (cholesterol, blood pressure and weight).

They found that two of these sex hormones (estradiol and estrone, called together estrogens) are linked to increased levels of bad cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) and low levels of good cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) in men.

This suggests that certain sex hormones may be important risk factors of heart disease in men, even before they present symptoms of coronary artery disease or stroke.

Dr Tomaszewski commented: "We hypothesised that circulating concentrations of sex hormones were associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors in men long before any apparent manifestations of cardiovascular disease such as stroke or myocardial infarction".

"We examined associations of circulating estrogens (estradiol and estrone) as well as androgens (testosterone and androstenedione) with major cardiovascular risk factors (lipids, blood pressure, body mass) in 933 young (median age – 19 years), apparently healthy men.

"Our studies showed that one of the sex hormones - estradiol - was associated positively with total cholesterol and negatively with HDL-cholesterol. Circulating concentrations of another sex hormone - estrone - showed strong positive associations with both total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol.

"Thus, men with the highest concentrations of estrone and estradiol may have the highest level of cardiovascular risk as their levels of detrimental LDL-cholesterol are high whilst their cardio-protective HDL-cholesterol is low.

"Most importantly, the demonstrated associations between cholesterol and estrogens were independent of other sex hormones (testosterone and androstenedione), age, body weight, blood pressure and other potential confounding factors.

"Our data suggest that higher levels of estrogens may have negative influence on lipid profile in men early in life, before the apparent onset of cardiovascular disease.

"Why natural endogenous estrogens that are generally seen as cardio-protective in women increase cardiovascular risk in men remains to be elucidated. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm that higher levels of endogenous estrogens in youth increase the risk of heart disease later in man's life.

"A number of other investigations on sex-specific aspects of cardiovascular disease are in progress in our Department and I am sure that we will be able to continue providing information in this area of research in the future."

Via Science Daily

Official Nissan motorsports and performance tuning arm, Nismo, has revealed its eagerly anticipated Club Sport upgrade package for the R35 Nissan GT-R

With a focus on reducing weight and increased handling, the package consists of RAYS forged aluminum wheels (Front 20x9.5 (+45mm offset) and Rear 20x10.5 (+25mm offset) with Bridgestone RE070R run-flats (F 225/40 and R 285/35), Bilstein's Damptronic struts, which are basically height adjustable coilovers with electronically controlled dampening, 11-pound lighter rear exhaust system and carbon fiber undertray. Inside the seats get upgraded to a carbon fiber backrest trimmed in leather with side airbags but without heavy electrical adjustment resulting in 13 pounds saved. Unfortunately, the package is only available in Japan through official Nismo shops with a huge price of ¥5,460,000 (€35,000), however, rest assured specialty importers have already inked distribution deals with Nismo, although without a warranty.

Via Worldcarfans

Study shows more allergic reactions after HPV jab

Young women in Australia who got a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer were five to 20 times more likely to have a rare but severe allergic reaction than girls who got other vaccines in comparable school-based vaccination programs, researchers said on Monday.

They said the severe allergic reactions to the human papillomavirus or HPV vaccine were unusual and manageable and that the vaccine remained safe.

The team of Australian researchers led by Dr. Julia Brotherton of The Children's Hospital at Westmead studied 114,000 young women vaccinated with Merck & Co's Gardasil vaccine as part of a 2007 vaccination program in New South Wales.

Of these, 12 had suspected cases of anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause difficulty breathing, nausea and rashes, they reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Eight out of the 12 young women had confirmed anaphylactic reactions after getting the vaccine, for an estimated rate of reaction of 2.6 per 100,000 doses administered. That compared with a rate of 0.1 per 100,000 doses in a 2003 school-based meningitis vaccination program.

Brotherton and colleagues suspect the higher rates of allergic reaction could be due to better surveillance programs to watch for such reactions, the higher tendency for young women to have such reactions compared with men and an apparent overall rise in the incidence of anaphylaxis in Australia.

Nevertheless, they said that the rates remain rare and should not discourage use of the vaccine, which targets four strains of the human papillomavirus, a common sexually transmitted virus that causes genital warts and most cases of cervical cancer.

"It's just a reminder that there are rare adverse effects," said Dr. Neal Halsey of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, who wrote a commentary on the study.

"It doesn't change the strong recommendations for all adolescent girls to get this vaccine but we just have to watch them to make sure they don't have this allergic reaction," he said in a telephone interview.

Last May, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Gardasil has been associated with a higher risk of fainting, in some cases resulting in injury.

In the United States, Merck has distributed more than 16 million doses of Gardasil, which is approved for women and girls ages 9 to 26.

Via Yahoo Health News

A study has shown that bird flu vaccine gives strong protection in mice

An experimental bird flu vaccine that uses DNA from various strains of the H5N1 virus appears to trigger a strong immune response in mice after it is injected straight into the muscles, a study has shown.

In the journal Cell Research, scientists in Taiwan and the United States said the vaccine protected mice fully against H5N1 strains from Vietnam, Turkey and China's eastern Anhui province.

"We injected it into mice and after more than a week, the mice were immunized and we challenged the mice with live virus strains from Vietnam, Indonesia, Turkey and Anhui," Chi-Huey Wong from The Genomics Research Center in Taiwan's Academia Sinica told Reuters by telephone.

"The mice were fully protected from the strains from Vietnam, Turkey and Anhui, while 80 percent (of mice) were protected from the Indonesian strain, but that's still very high."

Another group of mice which were not immunized all died within days of being infected with lethal doses of the virus.

Vaccines using DNA are a departure from the traditional way vaccines are made -- painstakingly grown in chicken eggs, which could well be in very short supply in the case of a pandemic.

The H5N1 avian influenza virus currently mostly affects birds and is endemic in flocks in many parts of Asia. It has also swept through flocks in Africa and occasionally in Europe.

It rarely infects humans but when it does, the casualty toll is heavy. Since 2003, it has infected 385 people, killing 243 of them, according to the World Health Organization.

At least 16 companies are working on vaccines to prevent bird flu infection in people, but the process is problematic. Flu vaccines are hard to make because they must be grown in chicken eggs for months, and viruses mutate all the time.

Wong said their vaccine was designed using a "consensus DNA sequence" that was based on varieties of H5N1 viruses found since 1997, when the virus first infected people in Hong Kong.

The scientists hope to take their experiment a step further into human clinical trials once approval is given.

Via Yahoo Health News

A new research by a team of scientists has shown that sea level rise as a result of ice sheet melt can happen very rapidly

A new research by a team of scientists has shown that sea level rise as a result of ice sheet melt can happen very rapidly, with a prominent example being the increased Greenland ice melt and sea level rise.

The research came about because of the fact that scientists still have to reach a consensus on how much and how quickly melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet will contribute to sea level rise.

To shed light on this question, scientists at the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research analyzed the disappearance of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, the last ice sheet to melt completely in the Northern Hemisphere and the closest example of what can be expected to happen to the Greenland Ice Sheet in the next century.

"We have never seen an ice sheet retreat significantly or even disappear before, yet this may happen for the Greenland Ice Sheet in the coming centuries to millennia," said Anders Carlson, the study's lead author and assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"What we don't know is the rate of melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet. The geologic data we compiled on the retreat history of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, however, gives us a window into how fast these large blocks of ice can melt and raise sea level," he added.

Analyzing geologic data and computer models, the team of researchers used terrestrial and marine records to reconstruct the demise of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, a land-based ice mass that covered much of North America, until its ultimate disappearance at around 6,500 years ago.

The ice sheet, which once covered most of Canada and the upper reaches of the United States, had two intervals of rapid melting, the first around 9,000 years ago, and the second 7,500 years ago.

The researchers estimate that around the time of the first melting phase, the retreating ice sheet led to about approximately 7 meters of sea level rise at about 1.3 cm a year. The second phase accounts for around 5 meters of sea level rise at about 1.0 cm a year.

These rates are comparable to evidence for global sea level rise for this interval derived from coral records.

"I was surprised to see that the model-in agreement with Anders' data-showed the Laurentide Ice Sheet disappearing at 2.7 m/year," said Allegra LeGrande, who led the computer modeling portion of this study and is a postdoctoral research scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University.

"This finding shows the potential for ice to disappear quickly, given the right push," she added.

Via Medindia

British-built Toyota Avensis will make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in October.

The new Avensis is the third generation of the model to be built at the Burnaston plant in Derbyshire and it is due to go on sale in January 2009.

Toyota says it will use more powerful engines that emit less carbon dioxide and promises higher quality, more refinement and generous equipment levels. Full details of pricing will be announced later in the year.

Joining the new Avensis will be two other new cars due on sale in early next year: the Toyota iQ and Urban Cruiser, both showcased in design concept form at the Geneva motor show earlier this year, will appear in Paris in final production trim.

Measuring less than three metres long, the iQ is the world's smallest premium four-seater and emits just 99g/km of carbon dioxide. The iQ also includes the world's first curtain shield airbags installed behind the rear seats.

The Toyota stand will also feature the 1.4-litre D-4D diesel all-wheel-drive (AWD) Urban Cruiser. The Japanese company is trying to reinvent the 4x4 market with its low-emitting SUV: the four-wheel-drive Urban Cruiser emits just 133g/km of carbon dioxide.

Via Channel4

Giving patients Novartis's anti-cholesterol drug Lescol after major vascular surgery reduces the risk of serious heart problems

Giving patients Novartis's anti-cholesterol drug Lescol after major vascular surgery reduces the risk of serious heart problems, researchers said on Monday.

More than 2 percent of patients undergoing non-cardiac vascular surgery -- surgery to arteries and veins -- die from heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems.

Lescol, a so-called statin drug, appears to be effective in reducing this risk by cutting inflammation and stabilizing plaques in coronary arteries that might otherwise rupture, Don Poldermans of the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam said.

Results of a 500-patient study presented by Poldermans at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology showed only 10.9 percent of vascular surgery patients taking Lescol suffered myocardial ischemia -- reduced blood supply to the heart muscle -- against 18.9 percent of those on placebo.

Lescol is less potent than some other statin drugs but patients in the study were given the highest dose of the medicine as an extended release formulation, which lasts around four days.

Lescol, known generically as fluvastatin, is one of Novartis's older products. Sales in 2007 totaled $665 million, down 8 percent on a year earlier.

Via Yahoo Health News