Science review

Coming Together to Pray, and Also to Find Reduced-Rate Energy Deals

By MIREYA NAVARRO

Washington congregations are discovering ways to cut bills and support renewable power.

LIFE OUT THERE

‘It’s Alive! It’s Alive!’ Maybe Right Here on Earth

By DENNIS OVERBYE

Chemists and biologists are trying to generate the Frankensteinian spark that will jump the gap separating the inanimate and the animate.

• Video: Eden in a Test Tube |  Post a Comment | Read (134)

OBSERVATORY

A Vine Bounces Back Sound to Signal Bats

By SINDYA N. BHANOO

The plant, Marcgravia evenia, has dish-shaped leaves that reflect sounds especially well, making it easy for bats to identify it though echolocation.

OBSERVATORY

Herbivores’ Nibbles Affect Climate Tales That Tree Rings Tell

By SINDYA N. BHANOO

Analyzing past climate conditions using tree rings is complicated when the trees have been food for animals, researchers have found.

• More Observatory Columns »

Report on Dead Polar Bears Gets a Biologist Suspended

By FELICITY BARRINGER

Charles Monnett’s sightings in Arctic waters became a rallying point for those concerned about global warming.

Science Times: July 26, 2011

Evolution Right Under Our Noses

By CARL ZIMMER

Damon Winter/The New York Times

URBAN LAB Clockwise from top left: An ant trap in a Broadway median; James Danoff-Burg taking notes in Riverside Park; a white-footed mouse in Highbridge Park; Dr. Danoff-Burg collecting ants.

A small but growing number of field biologists study urban evolution — the biological changes that cities bring to the wildlife that inhabits them.

• Read Comments (111)

BASICS

A Forbidding Kingdom of Snow Leopards

By NATALIE ANGIER

A wealth of snow leopard images has helped estimate population numbers, identify individuals and track migrations.

• More Basics Columns »

ON VIEW

It’s Fashionable to Take a Trip to Another Universe

By DENNIS OVERBYE

Multiple universes are all the rage these days, and the new film “Another Earth” explores those crisscrossing worlds.

Codebook Shows an Encryption Form Dates Back to Telegraphs

By JOHN MARKOFF

A computer scientist discovered that a form of cryptography, believed to have been invented in the 20th century, actually has older roots.

More Science News

• Ruling Upholds Gene Patent in Cancer Test

• Republicans Seek Big Cuts in Environmental Rules

• N.R.C. Lowers Estimate of How Many Would Die in Meltdown

• Japanese, in Shortage, Willingly Ration Watts

• By Sterilizing Stray Cats, City Hopes to Cut Shelter Numbers

• Human Run-Ins With Bears May Portend Deeper Changes

• Precious Waters: Storing Water for a Dry Day Leads to Suits

• Colleges Join Plan for Faster Computer Networks

• Suspect’s Manifesto Points to Planned Anthrax Use, but Also to a Lack of Expertise

Health News

NEWS ANALYSIS

Grasping for Any Way to Prevent Alzheimer’s

By PAM BELLUCK

Scientists have calculated that if people address certain risks, a significant number of Alzheimer’s cases could be prevented, with the operative word being “could.”

• Health Guide: Alzheimer's Disease »
•  Post a Comment

• Biologist’s Suspension Is Not Related to Scientific Integrity, Bureau Official Says

• David Servan-Schreiber, Exponent of Cancer Treatments, Dies at 50

• John H. Marburger, Bush Science Adviser, Dies at 70

• Robert C. W. Ettinger, 92, Dies; Proponent of Life After (Deep-Frozen) Death

• Men in Grief Seek Others Who Mourn as They Do

• Well: Migraine Miseries Push Patients to Ways of Coping

More Multimedia

SLIDE SHOW: Animals at Play

“The Exultant Ark” examines animal pleasure, with surprising, funny, touching, sad, heartwarming pictures by photographers from all over the world.

INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC: 30 Years of the Space Shuttle

An interactive timeline of the 135 space shuttle missions.

• An Appraisal: 3, 2, 1, and the Last Shuttle Leaves an Era Behind
• Essay: As Shuttle Era Ends, Dreams of Space Linger
•  Slide Show: Final Launching of Atlantis

VIDEO: Nora Volkow

An interview with the neuroscientist in charge of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, who also happens to be the great-granddaughter of Leon Trotsky.

• A General in the Drug War

Rock-Paper-Scissors: You vs. the Computer

Test your strategy against the computer in this rock-paper-scissors game illustrating basic artificial intelligence.

• Related Article | Previous Articles in the Series »

Jamaica Bay: Wilderness on the Edge

By ALAN FEUER

With the city pushing relentlessly against Jamaica Bay, advocates are toiling to keep the 20,000-acre wildlife haven vital.

• Video: On the Edge

Removing Barriers to Salmon Migration

By WILLIAM YARDLEY

A promising environmental restoration project will soon get under way in Washington state in the form of the largest dam removal in American history.

• Slide Show: Reviving a Habitat

SCIENTIST AT WORK BLOG

Plants, Climate and a Festival

By LAURA FOX

How will climate change affect the diverse plant community that feeds the inhabitants of the northern Mongolian steppe?

The Right Elephant Stuff

July 28, 2011

The Puzzle of Plant-Pollinator Interactions

July 28, 2011

Leave the Tusks, Take the Cannoli

July 27, 2011

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How to Pick a Site for a Nuclear Waste Dump

July 29, 2011

Projecting Our Nature Onto Ravenous Bears

July 29, 2011

On Hudson Pollution, Back to Routine Worries

July 29, 2011

Go to Blog »

Science Columns

OBSERVATORY

Rocky Surprises on the Far Side of the Moon

By SINDYA N. BHANOO

Researchers have found dome-shaped volcanic deposits that measure half a mile to three miles across on the Moon.

OBSERVATORY

Dolphin Tool Helps to Find Fare on Seafloor

By SINDYA N. BHANOO

Some dolphins use marine basket sponges to forage for food because it allows them to uncover prey undiscoverable by echolocation.

OBSERVATORY

Blame for Extinction Spreads to Methane Gas

By SINDYA N. BHANOO

The study could be foreshadowing the effect of climate change on Earth, its lead author says.

• More Observatory Columns »

Q & A

The Rocking Boat

By C. CLAIBORNE RAY

Why do some people become seasick while others on the same boat do not?

• More Q & A Columns »

Podcast: Science Times

This week: Evolution on a small island, running with the elephants and is Alzheimer's disease preventable?

Health Columns

PERSONAL HEALTH

Sun’s Rays May Leave Mysterious Marks

By JANE E. BRODY

Many rashes result from a photosensitivity reaction, a combination of the sun’s UVA radiation and exposure to a drug, perfume or another substance.

• More Personal Health Columns »

REALLY?

The Claim: Air-Conditioning Can Cause Colds

By ANAHAD O'CONNOR

Though colds and other respiratory ailments are caused by viruses, not cold temperatures, there is some evidence that air-conditioning may contribute in some small way to such illnesses.

Opinion

DOT EARTH BLOG

Radiation's Role in (Safely) Feeding the Planet

By ANDREW C. REVKIN

After recent outbreaks of deadly food-borne illness, the notion of irradiating food gets a bit of traction.

More From Dot Earth »

Hierbas pre operatorias en cirugía plastica

Uso perioperatorio de hierbas, medicamentos complementarios y sin receta en pacientes de cirugía plástica Perioperative use of herbal, complementary, and over the counter medicines in plastic surgery patients. Collins D, Oakey S, Ramakrishnan V. St Andrew's Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Court Road, Broomfield, Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom. Eplasty. 2011;11:e27. Epub 2011 May 19.Abstract Objective: Over the last 50 years, there has been a surge of interest by both the public and medical practitioners in therapies and disciplines that are not considered part of mainstream medical care. The title given to these is complementary and alternative medicine. Of all these branches, our interest is the increasing use of herbal medicines, traditional medicines (such as Chinese or Indian), homeopathy and "dietary supplements," and the influence they may have on our practice. Our objective was to examine the prevalence and reasons for use of complementary and alternative medicines, the current regulations, and proposed policy changes affecting the licensing of these products. In addition, we highlight some of the problems that have been experienced with herbal and traditional medicines. Methods: A prospective analysis of herbal and over the counter medicines used by elective plastic surgery patients. Results: Of 100 elective plastic surgery patients undergoing procedures at St Andrew's Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, 44% of patients were taking a dietary supplement, herbal, or homeopathic remedy. In none of the patients was this documented in the notes by either the surgeon or anesthetist. Conclusions: We recommend that clear documentation of the use of nonprescribed medicines becomes part of standard practice and, furthermore, that patients stop all such medications 2 weeks prior to surgery until the efficacy, interactions, and safety profiles are clearly established http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3098682/pdf/eplasty11e27.pdf Fitoterapéutica: evaluación del potencial de 1000 plantas. Phytotherapeutics: an evaluation of the potential of 1000 plants. Cravotto G, Boffa L, Genzini L, Garella D. Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. giancarlo.cravotto@unito.it J Clin Pharm Ther. 2010 Feb;35(1):11-48. Abstract OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to evaluate and summarize the available scientific information on the commonest plant extracts marketed in Western countries. In view of the intense, ongoing search for new plant extracts with powerful anti-inflammatory activity, we paid particular attention to this topic. The aim is to provide broad coverage of as many potentially useful plants as possible and then to focus on those with the greatest therapeutic potential. METHODS: Our bibliographic sources were the SciFinder databases: CAPLUS, MEDLINE, REGISTRY, CASREACT, CHEMLIST, CHEMCATS (update to October 2007). In order to assess the value of clinical trials, we focused a specific search on clinical investigations concerning nine plants with the most trial data, viz., Althaea officinalis, Calendula officinalis, Centella asiatica, Echinacea purpurea, Passiflora incarnata, Punica granatum, Vaccinium macrocarpon, Vaccinium myrtillus, Valeriana officinalis. This was carried out in several databases (update to June 2008): ISI Web of Knowledge(SM) (ISI WoK), SciFinder (CAPLUS, MEDLINE, REGISTRY, CASREACT, CHEMLIST, CHEMCATS) and PubMed (indexed for MEDLINE). RESULTS: Our survey covers roughly a 1000 plants, although clinical trials have been published only for 156 plants supporting specific pharmacological activities and therapeutic applications. However, for about half of the plants, in vitro and in vivo studies provide some support for therapeutic use. For one-fifth of the plants included in our search, only phytochemical studies were found. Their properties and indications were often attributed to the presence of certain compounds, but no evidence concerning the activities of the whole extracts was presented. We found that for about 12% of the plants, currently available on the Western market, no substantial studies on their properties had been published, while there was strong evidence that 1 in 200 were toxic or allergenic, so that their use ought to be discouraged or forbidden. Nine plants had considerable evidence of therapeutic effect, viz., A. officinalis, Calendula officinalis, Centella asiatica, E. purpurea, Passiflora incarnata, Punica granatum, Vaccinium macrocarpon, Vaccinium myrtillus, Valeriana officinalis. CONCLUSION: The present review provides a baseline on the level of evidence available on many herbal preparations and should be of help to those intending to research further on these topics. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2710.2009.01096.x/pdf

Atentamente Dr. Benito Cortes-Blanco Anestesiología y Medicina del Dolor www.anestesia-dolor.org

Esto va en serio...

¡Esto va en serio!

Este es un programa que pretende reflexionar sobre el consumo de tabaco, sobre sus efectos y sobre cómo hacerpara dejarlo cuando así se desea.

Según investigaciones internacionales la dependencia al tabaco evoluciona rápidamente en la juventud que empieza a fumar, aunque también el deseo de dejarlo aparece pronto. Ya en los 3 primeros meses tras haber empezado a fumar, las personas jóvenes empiezan a considerar seriamente el dejarlo. Se encontró que tras un periodo de consumo de tabaco de 2 años y medio las personas jóvenes se van haciendo conscientes de su adicción, aproximadamente un 60% habían tratado de dejarlo.

Este deseo de dejar el tabaco también se hace presente en Asturias, donde está disminuyendo el consumo de tabaco entre la población joven:

(Observatorio sobre Drogas para Asturias, Encuesta Estatal sobre Uso de Drogas en Enseñanzas Secundarias ESTUDES 1994-2008, submuestra asturiana).

Para ayudar a clarificar la posición ante el tabaco hemos editado un folleto que plantea una reflexión sobre los principales efectos del mismo.

También hemos editado una guía que profundiza esta reflexión, ayuda a clarificar los motivos que empujan el deseo de dejarlo y facilita un plan para dejarlo paulatinamente en cuatro semanas. Esta guía se ha hecho conforme a los métodos que han demostrado mayor eficacia para ayudar a dejar de fumar.

Además, desde el Servicio de Información para Jóvenes sobre Salud situado en las oficinas del Conseyu de Mocedá de Xijón (Avda. Manuel Llaneza, 68, bajo) organizamos periódicamente talleres en grupo para ayudar a dejar de fumar. Si tienes interés en participar en estos talleres pásate por allí o envía la ficha de inscripción apromocionsocial.fmss@gijon.es . Cuando organicemos el siguiente taller te avisaremos. La asistencia a estos talleres es gratuita, duran cuatro semanas con una sesión a la semana de una hora, por la tarde.

El grupo de voluntarios y voluntarias del Conseyu de Mocedá de Xixón llevará estos folletos y la guía cuando haga intervenciones en zonas de ocio, para distribuir entre las personas interesadas.

Todo este programa se ha realizado conjuntamente entre la Fundación Municipal de Servicios Sociales del Ayuntamiento de Gijón y la Gerencia de Atención Primaria del Área V del Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias. Contando con el apoyo del Plan sobre Drogas para Asturias de la Consejería de Salud y Servicios Sanitarios del Principado de Asturias y la colaboración del Conseyu de Mocedá de Xixón y del programa Información sobre Drogas deCruz Roja Juventud.

• Descargar ficha de inscripción del Taller para dejar de fumar, aquí.
• Descargar el folleto de la campaña, aquí.
• Descargar la Guía para dejar de fumar, aquí.

¡Sigue la campaña en las redes sociales!

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síndrome coronario agudo

Características diferenciales de los pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST con respecto a los que tienen elevación transitoria del segmento ST
E. Arroyo Úcar.  A. Domínguez-Rodríguez.  R. Juárez Prera.  G. Blanco Palacios.  C. Hernández García.  M. Carrillo-Pérez Tome.  P. Abreu-González. 
Med Intensiva. 2011;35:270-3.

Ver PDF pulse sobre visualizar documento
Se define la elevación transitoria o no persistente del segmento ST como aquella cuya resolución se alcanza en menos de 30 minutos sin terapia de reperfusión alguna. Las actuales guías terapéuticas indican un manejo similar al del SCA sin elevación del segmento ST, no existiendo en número suficiente trabajos o publicaciones que avalen dichas recomendaciones ni que ahonden en las características diferenciales de ambas entidades. Mediante este estudio de cohorte prospectivo realizado en una unidad coronaria de un hospital de tercer nivel, se pretende profundizar en dichos aspectos y discutir la posible relevancia en su manejo y pronóstico.


Prevalencia del síndrome metabólico y de sus componentes en pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo
Ana Jover.  Emili Corbella.  Anna Muñoz.  Jesús Millán.  Xavier Pintó.  Alipio Mangas.  Manuel Zúñiga.  Juan Pedro-Botet.  Antonio Hernández-Mijares. 
Rev Esp Cardiol. 2011;64:579-86.

Ver PDF pulse sobre visualizar documentoEl síndrome metabólico (SM) es una combinación de anomalías metabólicas interrelacionadas, que comportan un significativo incremento del riesgo de: enfermedad cardiovascular y diabetes mellitus tipo 2.Su prevalencia está en progresión ascendente en todo el mundo y supone un auténtico problema de salud pública. Cada uno de los componentes del SM se asocia por separado con aumento de riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular y hay controversia sobre si el SM implica mayor riesgo cardiovascular que la suma de sus componentes.El objetivo del presente estudio es determinar tanto la prevalencia de SM como la frecuencia y la combinación de sus diferentes componentes definitorios en pacientes con un síndrome coronario agudo en nuestro medio.

En este día

ON THIS DAY

On This Day: July 30

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On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis, which had just delivered key components of the Hiroshima atomic bomb to the Pacific island of Tinian, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. Only 316 out of 1,196 men survived the sinking and shark-infested waters.

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On July 30, 1863, Henry Ford, the American automobile manufacturer who founded the Ford Motor Company, was born. Following his death on April 7, 1947, his obituary appeared in The Times.

Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »

On This Date

1619	The first representative assembly in America convened in Jamestown, Va.
1729	The city of Baltimore was founded.
1792	The French national anthem, "La Marseillaise" by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, was first sung in Paris.
1863	American automaker Henry Ford was born in Dearborn Township, Mich.
1930	Host Uruguay won soccer's first World Cup with a 4-2 victory over Argentina in the final in Montevideo.
1942	President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill creating a women's auxiliary agency in the Navy known as Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, or WAVES.
1945	The USS Indianapolis, which had just delivered key components of the Hiroshima atomic bomb to the Pacific island of Tinian, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine; 880 men lost their lives.
1966	England won the World Cup when Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick in a 4-2 victory over West Germany at London's Wembley Stadium.
1971	Apollo 15 astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin landed on the moon.
1975	Former Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa disappeared in suburban Detroit. (His remains have never been found.)
2002	Expelled from Congress a week earlier, James A. Traficant Jr. was sentenced to eight years behind bars for corruption.
2008	Ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was extradited to The Hague to face genocide charges after nearly 13 years on the run.

Software Libre, los mejores programas de libre acceso para la ciudadanía, y todo 100% legal

Software Libre, los mejores programas de libre acceso para la ciudadanía, y todo 100% legal

Mapa de las redes sociales 2011

Autismo