LS,
RN08 - Februari 2007
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Microwave experiments cause sponge disasters
Reports about a study that found microwave ovens can be used to
sterilize kitchen sponges sent people hurrying to test the idea.
Experimenters evidently left out the crucial step of wetting the sponge
resulting in smoking up the house and ruining the microwave.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/01/24/germs.sponges.reut/index.html
Half of Americans have a version of a gene that causes them to
metabolize food differently
Those people with the variant gene processed fat differently than
those who don't have it. They burned more fat, which may have hindered
their ability to remove sugar from the blood stream and burn it.
Diabetes is characterized by too much sugar in the blood.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/slu-ndr012607.php
Protection Against Cancer May Begin During Pregnancy, Nursing
A new study by scientists from the Linus Pauling Institute at
Oregon State University, done with laboratory mice, found that
supplements of a key phytochemical found in certain vegetables provided
a very high level of protection against leukemia and lymphoma in young
animals, and also significantly protected against lung cancer during
the rodent's equivalent of middle age.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061222092311.htm
Purification And Dilution Reduce Risk Of Fish Being Injured By
Hormone-disrupting Compounds
The problem of hormone-disruption in fish is not as widespread in
Sweden as in many other European countries. This is probably due to the
fact that Swedish purification plants use purification techniques that
reduce the amount of hormone-disrupting compounds, or that dilution of
wastewater in recipient containers is greater than in many other
countries.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061222092956.htm
Air pollution: haze over Eastern China and Himalaya
Dense haze completely obscured the North China Plain and the Bo Hai
(a bay in the Yellow Sea) when the Moderate Resolution Imaging
Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite flew over on
December 20, 2006. China’s State Environmental Protection
Administration reported that the air over Beijing was lightly polluted,
the fourth designation on a seven-point scale for air quality where
“heavily polluted” is the highest designation.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=14042
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=14038
2020 foresight sees threat to UK farm birds
Farmland birds in the UK are under serious threat because the
nation's agricultural policy – designed in part to protect them – does
not go far enough, a new study warns. "The UK is further down the road
than anyone else in protecting its farmland birds," says Ken Norris at
the University of Reading in the UK. "That's the good news. The scary
thing is we're not doing enough."
http://environment.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn10982
UK scientists downplay GMO threat to biodiversity
Thirty-nine farmland birds could be threatened by a switch to GMO
herbicide-tolerant sugar beet and rapeseed but with only one species,
the meadow pipit, is the change likely to move it into a more
threatened category, the scientists concluded.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=CDF039A172C2935F315A7D4CEC997C35
Mild temperature rise can endanger species
For many species, the threat of global warming is more than too
much heat. You can get temperature-related effects that may not be what
you expect. Subtle environmental change can interact with physiological
needs to weaken the ability of a species to maintain a viable
population even when the temperature rise is too mild to kill
individual organisms.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2007-01-18-mild-temp-rise_x.htm
http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/home/Frontpage/2007/01/16/01311.html
Protection for 'weirdest' species
A conservation programme for some of the world's most bizarre and
unusual creatures has been launched by the Zoological Society of London
(ZSL). The scheme targets animals with unique evolutionary histories
that are facing a real risk of extinction.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6263331.stm
Media must be alert to all threats to human life
No matter how terrible a tragedy, most of the world will not know
it has occurred unless it is reported by the media. Unless that
happens, survivors would not get the help they need.
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200701160100.html
The Warming of Greenland
All over Greenland and the Arctic, rising temperatures are not
simply melting ice; they are changing the very geography of coastlines.
The sudden appearance of the islands is a symptom of an ice sheet going
into retreat, scientists say. Greenland is covered by 630,000 cubic
miles of ice, enough water to raise global sea levels by 23 feet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/16/science/earth/16gree.html?ex=1326603600&en=b018c85a1b03d90f&ei=5090
High Levels of Vitamin D In the Body May Decrease the Risk of
Multiple Sclerosis
Many cases of MS could be prevented by increasing vitamin D levels.
Although these levels could be increased by taking supplements, before
any recommendation is made it is important to establish whether we are
seeing a true causal association or whether vitamin D levels are only a
marker of MS risk.
http://www.health.am/ab/more/vitamin-d-decrease-the-risk-of-multiple-sclerosis/
Multiple sclerosis risk linked to mononucleosis
ndividuals who have had infectious mononucleosis have an increased
risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), even 30 years after
infection, according to findings published in the Archives of Neurology.
http://www.health.am/ab/more/multiple-sclerosis-risk-linked-to-mononucleosis/
ESA launches new project to protect biodiversity
The world's biodiversity is vanishing at an unprecedented rate –
around 100 species every day – due to factors such as land use change
and pollution. Addressing this threat, world governments agreed through
the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to reduce significantly the
current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. To support this initiative,
ESA has kicked off its new DIVERSITY project.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/esa-eln010907.php
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/20070109-042603-8131r/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070109142156.htm
MI5 unveils e-mail terrorism alert service
Anyone who wants to track the perceived level of threat to Britain
can receive e-mail updates under the new MI5 scheme. The United States
and France have similar alert systems, but do not offer any kind of
official e-mail service.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16547675/
Telomeres may predict heart disease risk
British researchers, who measured telomere length in leukocytes, or
white blood cells, in 1,500 men aged 45-64 years old, found short
telomeres indicate a higher likelihood of developing heart disease.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=60809
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2007-01-12T022137Z_01_L11645438_RTRUKOC_0_US-HEART-TELOMERE.xml&WTmodLoc=SciNewsHome_C1_%5BFeed%5D-2
Test may identify heart attack, stroke risk
An inexpensive blood test may identify which heart disease patients
are at the highest risk of a stroke or heart attack, allowing doctors
to move more aggressively to help them. The blood test measured a
combination of amino acids called NT-proBNP related to heart function.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyid=2007-01-10T035339Z_01_TON013979_RTRUKOC_0_US-HEART-ATTACK-RISK.xml
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/uoc--btp010407.php
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=60501
New Imaging Technique Identifies People At Risk For Alzheimer's
Disease
UCLA researchers used innovative brain scan technology to show that
the abnormal brain protein deposits that define Alzheimer's disease can
be detected in mild cognitive impairment. The researchers used positron
emission tomography (PET) imaging with a small molecule invented at
UCLA that binds to the abnormal proteins -- amyloid plaques and tangles
-- that may cause the disease. Previously only an autopsy could
determine these deposits and confirm a definitive diagnosis.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061221075148.htm
A Second Risk Factor for Alzheimer's
Researchers led by Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
international research scholar Peter St George-Hyslop have identified a
new genetic risk factor associated with the most common form of
Alzheimer’s disease. The research implicates a gene called SORL1 in
late-onset Alzheimer’s, which usually strikes after age 65.
http://www.health.am/ab/more/a-second-risk-factor-for-alzheimers/
Higher folate levels linked to reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease
By the year 2047, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease is expected
to quadruple, according to background information in the article.
Delaying the onset of this neurodegenerative disease would
significantly reduce the burden it causes. Researchers suspect that
elevated levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood, which is
linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke, may also
increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease. Folate, vitamin B12 and
vitamin B6, are important in the body's processing of
homocysteine-therefore, deficiencies in these nutrients increase
homocysteine levels and may contribute to cardiovascular disease,
stroke and dementia.
http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/28323/Higher_folate_levels_linked_to_reduced_risk_for_Alzheimer%E2%80%99s_disease.html
http://health.yahoo.com/news/170672
Physicians Face Significant New Liability Risks With Advent Of
Personalized Medicine Era
Side effects from prescription drugs kill over 100,000 Americans
every year, according to 1998 data published in The Journal of the
American Medical Association. A growing number of these deaths could be
prevented by the use of genetic testing, experts say. Legal liability
is a powerful driver that could dramatically hasten the development of
personalized medicine.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=60250
European Union Outpaces United States On Chemical Safety
Recently, the European Union has adopted some of the world’s
strictest policies on e-waste and potentially hazardous chemicals. In
particular, three recent E.U. environmental policies are gradually
being implemented across the 27 European Union member nations. The
rules affect products including household appliances, toys, computers
and many more.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070103110258.htm
Proposed FDA claim recognizes role of key nutrients in dairy in
reducing osteoporosis risk
An amended health claim that would communicate to consumers the
value of foods high in calcium and vitamin D for reducing the risk of
osteoporosis. The National Dairy Council (NDC) acknowledges and
supports the body of scientific evidence that backs the proposed claim,
which indicates that a lifestyle that includes a well-balanced diet
with adequate calcium and vitamin D, and physical activity, helps
reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/ndc-pfc010507.php
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/aaop-cif010907.php
Escalating threat to the future of Scotland's / UK seas
Sixteen out of 21 Scottish fish stocks, including cod and Atlantic
salmon, are currently being exploited beyond sustainable levels. Unless
we get some kind of planning system in place to ensure recovery and
sustainable use of all our marine life then, in combination with the
effects of climate change, in 40 or 50 years' time much of our
important wildlife will have perished.
http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=26872007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6264993.stm
Super Soldiers: Tomorrow's 'Army of One' Technology
Although some of the technologies could take years to reach actual
battlefields, novel devices developed by the U.S. Army's Future Force
Warrior initiative such as advanced sound equipment and smarter lasers
should be available to active soldiers as soon as 2010, promising to
make them more lethal than ever.
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/070104_future_warrior.html
North Korea's Secret Biochemical Arsenal
While its nuclear test spurs outrage, North Korea has grown a vast
biochemical weapons arsenal in secrecy. Kim Jong Il's deception was
investigated, plus his rogue nation's human trials and its deadly
harvest's terror potential.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4208958.html
Stem cell experts slam UK stance on hybrid embryos
Britain risks losing its position as a stem cell pioneer if the
government goes ahead with a proposed ban on creating embryos made from
human DNA and animal eggs, scientists said
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2007-01-05T000355Z_01_L04399379_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-STEMCELLS-BRITAIN-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C3-Science-5
Anthrax attack posed greater potential threat than thought
A new study shows that more people were at risk of anthrax
infection in the Oct. 2001 attack on U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle's office
than previously known. The research is published in the January 15
issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online. On
the other hand, the study shows, prompt intervention with antibiotics
and vaccination appeared to be highly effective against the disease.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070104144726.htm
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2007/01/04/anthrax_attack_posed_greater_potential_threat_than_thought.html
Avian flu virus unlikely to spread through water systems
Cornell researchers studied the related virus, called H5N2, to see
whether a hypothetical mutated form of H5N1 could infect people through
drinking and wastewater systems. Researchers at Cornell and the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point collaborated on the study, published in
a recent issue of Environmental Engineering Science. To test the
effectiveness of UV radiation for killing the H5N2 virus, the
researchers exposed the virus in drinking water as well as in
wastewater effluents to UV light at varying levels. The treatment was
very effective in killing H5N2 at levels well within industry standards
(and at lower levels than are used for killing Cryptosporidium and
Giardia in water).
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/cuns-afv010307.php
NIAID DNA vaccine for H5N1 avian influenza enters human trial
The first human trial of a DNA vaccine designed to prevent H5N1
avian influenza infection began on December 21, 2006, when the vaccine
was administered to the first volunteer at the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. Scientists from the
Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the NIH Institutes, designed the
vaccine. The vaccine does not contain any infectious material from the
influenza virus.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070103201449.htm
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2007/01/03/niaid_dna_vaccine_for_h5n1_avian_influenza_enters_human_trial.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070102100646.htm
Rapid Response to Avian Flu Threat
An interdisciplinary team of researchers led by Yanbin Li,
professor of biological engineering in the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture, has developed a portable biosensor for
in-field, rapid screening of avian influenza virus.
http://www.physorg.com/news89043789.html
Occurrence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in diverse farm environments
In the United States, foodborne outbreaks of Escherichia coli
O157:H7 illness have often been linked to the consumption of
contaminated, undercooked ground beef. However, the occurrence of E.
coli O157:H7 has also been reported in other farm animals.
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsafety/news/fsnews.cfm?newsid=16553
Age, sex affect traffic accidents
Researchers found significant differences in the severity of
injuries sustained in accidents involving men and women and drivers
within three age groups: young, 16-24; middle-aged, 25-64; and older,
65 and above.
http://www.physorg.com/news87050400.html
Harmful Levels Of Neurotoxin Detected In Fish And Birds
A U.S. and Canadian research team surveying mercury contamination
in fish and birds in the northeastern United States and southeastern
Canada has identified five "hotspots" where concentrations of the
element exceed those established for human or wildlife health. The
hotspots are believed to result from complex processes that move
atmospherically released mercury through the environment, and from
site-specific characteristics such as the high sensitivity of wetlands
and forested areas to mercury inputs. Local sources of mercury are also
significant. Although mercury is not directly harmful at ambient
levels, it is concentrated up to a millionfold and chemically modified
in aquatic food chains, resulting in dangerous levels of methylmercury
in some wildlife species.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070103110132.htm
Moderate Drinking Cuts Heart Attack Risk in Hypertensive Men
The study of almost 12,000 hypertensive patients found that
moderate drinking did not affect stroke risk or the risk for death from
all causes, but may lower risk for heart attack when compared to men
who don't drink at all.
http://health.yahoo.com/news/170454
Gene doubles breast cancer risk
Women with a damaged copy of the gene called PALB2 have twice the
risk of breast cancer, the Institute of Cancer Research scientists
found. They estimate that faulty PALB2 causes about 100 cases of breast
cancer in the UK each year.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6214451.stm
Food From Cloned Animals Safe?
The draft risk assessment finds that meat and milk from clones of
adult cattle, pigs and goats, and their offspring, are as safe to eat
as food from conventionally bred animals. The assessment was
peer-reviewed by a group of independent scientific experts in cloning
and animal health. They agreed with the methods FDA used to evaluate
the data and the conclusions set out in the document.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061231101400.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=59873
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200612281.html
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsafety/news/fsnews.cfm?newsid=16552
Too much fish risky for foetuses
Pregnant women who eat fish more than three times a week could be
putting their baby at risk because of higher mercury levels in their
blood, according to a study by Taiwanese researchers.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=iol1167481853662P625
Technique Quickly Identifies Bacteria For Food Safety
The technique, called desorption electrospray ionization, or DESI,
could be used to create a new class of fast, accurate detectors for
applications ranging from food safety to homeland security. Using a
mass spectrometer to analyze bacteria and other microorganisms
ordinarily takes several hours and requires that samples be specially
treated and prepared in a lengthy series of steps. DESI eliminates the
pretreatment steps, enabling researchers to take "fingerprints" of
bacteria in less than a minute using a mass spectrometer.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061228153849.htm
Risk Of Spina Bifida Associated With Choline Metabolism Genes, But
Unrelated To Choline Intake
A new study finds an association between two genes involved in
choline metabolism and the risk of spina bifida. The study, published
in the open access journal BMC Medicine, also shows that this
association is independent of dietary choline intake by the mother
during pregnancy.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59623
NASA Data Helps Pinpoint Wildfire Threats
By studying shrublands prone to wildfire in southern California,
scientists found that NASA earth observations accurately detected and
mapped two key factors: plant moisture and fuel condition - or
greenness - defined as the proportion of live to dead plant material.
Moisture levels and fuel condition, combined with the weather, play a
major role in the ignition, rate of spread, and intensity of wildfires.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061220143843.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6196277.stm
Safety of nano-workplaces
Last year, nanotechnology was incorporated into $30 billion in
manufactured goods--a number predicted to grow to $2.6 trillion in
annual manufactured goods by 2014. But little is known about potential
risks in many areas of nanotechnology--including worker exposures.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061228131311.htm
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/poen-nsn010307.php
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=60989&nfid=crss
http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/28290/Nanotech_safety_needs_specific_government_risk_research_strategy_and_funding.html
compiled by PBP
risk (-at-) sciencemedia.eu