A collaboration between chemists and biologists has made it possible to identify the effects of a new class of molecules, polyoxometalates, primarily composed of metals and oxygen.

Polyoxometalates are anionic inorganic metal oxide structures that have valuable catalytic properties. These molecules are very powerful inhibitors of a specific protein kinase, CK2, an enzyme that is overactive in a number of cancers. The enzyme's instrumental role in controlling cell proliferation and survival makes it an important target in the search for new medications.

Individuals affected by celiac disease (gluten intolerance) often present an altered calcium (Ca2+) metabolism that can cause osteopenia, a bone mass decrease due to the impaired adsorption of this mineral, which can lead to osteoporosis (in 35-85% of the cases).

This phenomenon is particularly frequent among late-diagnosed celiac patients, as in the case of adult people, but can be present in children too.

With the aim of recognizing calcium metabolism alterations and impaired bone mineralization, laboratory and radiology exams, such as dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), are often performed. These exams – that provide information on the health status of the bones before the onset of a specific therapy (namely the gluten-free diet) and help to monitor the progression of the bone disease once the diet is started - are nowadays indicated in children too. But are they really necessary in the celiac child?

Stories stating that soy products lower sperm count do not tell the whole story, according to a statement released by the Soyfoods Association of North America is a non-profit trade association that has been promoting consumption of soyfoods in the diet since 1978.

They say the small scale, preliminary study that Dr. Jorge Chavarro published in Human Reproduction is based on recollected intake of soyfoods and not on specific diets containing soyfoods.

“This study is confounded by many issues, thus I feel the results should be viewed with a great deal of caution,” said Dr. Tammy Hedlund, a researcher in prostate cancer prevention from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Department of Pathology. Dr. Chavarro found that “soyfood and soy isoflavone intakes were unrelated to total sperm count, ejaculate volume, sperm motility, or sperm morphology” which are the important measures of sperm quality and male fertility.

Here are some quotes we have all heard (or said ourselves) on the golf course or at the ball diamond. 
On a good day:
"It was like putting into the Grand Canyon"
"The baseball looked like a beach ball up there today"

On a bad day:
"The hole was as small as a thimble"
"I don't know, it looked like he was throwing marbles"

The baseball and the golf hole are the same size every day, so are these comments meaningless or do we really perceive these objects differently depending on the day's performance?  And, does our performance influence our perception or does our perception help our performance?

SAO PAULO, Brazil, July 26 /PRNewswire/ --

- Amid reports that G-7 members are close to an agreement in the current phase of Doha Round talks in Geneva, the president of the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association is en route to Switzerland to closely monitor the final stages of the negotiation.

Access to major markets around the globe for Brazilian sugarcane ethanol with lower tariffs, and full integration of ethanol in global trade, as is the case with any other product: these are the key expectations of the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) as the current phase of Doha Round negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, draws to a close.

Puffer fish might kill, oysters are slimy and salmon skin is uncommon to eat, but around the word there are some even more unique drinks and delicacies that tests ones sensory analysis and may take customary valor to a new universe.

The scorpion drink—Is made by soaking a scorpion in vodka for three months after it has gone through a special detoxification process. Originated in China, sold in the U.K. supposedly improves libido, lowers toxins in the blood stream and lowers blood pressure.

Fried Spiders—The recent Cambodian craze involves frying Thai Zebra Tarantula’s as big as a hand in a mixture of MSG, sugar, salt and garlic. This spider dish began in the 1970’s after people had little to eat during the rule of Khmer Rouge.

Cobra blood—Though research on the effects of cobra blood is limited, it can be found in restaurants and bars in places like Indonesia. The potent delicatessen is consumed in a shot-glass amount and is reported to cause vivid dreams.

As Albert Einstein once said about balance, "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." The same is true of bone mineral density in testing for breast cancer—balance is better.

The September 2008 issue of “CANCER” journal of the American Cancer Society published findings that higher bone density hints at higher frequency of breast cancer in premenopausal women, meaning normal or even lower bone mass points to a lower breast cancer rate.

As a futurist, I think, speak, and write about the future. A large part of what I do is to make forecasts on the future and what might happen. This forecasting is based upon analysis of trends and the underlying forces and flows that create and shape these trends. The more specific the forecast or the further out the forecast, the higher probability of error in the forecast. When I look 5, 10 or 20 years out I look at the macro forces at play in the world to predict the overarching changes and reorganizations that will occur. Here in this column the future focus is 3 months to 3 years and is much more specific and news related.

Visit any youth soccer field, baseball diamond, basketball court or football field and you will likely see them:  parents behaving badly.  Take a look at this Good Morning America report on "sideline rage".  Sometimes, these are the extremes, but at most games, you can find at least one adult making comments at the referee, shouting at their child, or having a verbal exchange with another parent.  Thankfully, these parents represent only a small percentage of those attending the game.  Does that mean the others don't become upset at something during the game?  Usually not, as there are lots of opportunities to dispute a bad call or observe rough play or react to one of these loud parents.

The difference is in our basic personality psyche, according to Jay Goldstein, a kinesiology doctoral student at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.  His thesis, recently published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology (see reference below), hypothesized that a parent with "control-oriented" personality would react to events at a game more than a parent with an "autonomy-oriented" personality.