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Medicine

WHO To Investigate Handling of Swine Flu Information, Vaccine Orders 372

Posted by timothy from the here-little-piggy dept.
krou writes "With swine flu fading in the UK (projected winter deaths of 65,000 have been downgraded to 1,000, and new cases are decreasing) the UK government has been left with millions of unused vaccines, and (unlike its contract with Baxter) no clear break-clause to get out of its contract with GlaxoSmithKlein. Although the amount paid for vaccines has not been disclosed, it likely cost the UK government several hundred million pounds. Other governments are also in a similar position: the US ordered 251 million doses of the vaccine, and France and Germany are aiming to cut back on their orders considerably. To say that the case for the pandemic has been over-estimated appears to be an understatement. Now, the WHO has announced that it is to investigate whether or not it bowed to pressure from drugs companies to overplay the threat." (Continues, below.)
Google

Submission + - Microsoft warns of IE bug used in Chinese attacks

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: While investigating the recent attacks disclosed by Google earlier this week, Microsoft has concluded that Internet Explorer was used as an attack vector. As a result, the software giant has issued a security advisory for the vulnerability.

Ars Technica
Idle

Submission + - Tower switch-off embarrases electrosensitives (mybroadband.co.za) 2

Submitted by Sockatume
Sockatume writes: Residents in Craigavon, South Africa complained of "[h]eadaches, nausea, tinnitus, dry burning itchy skins, gastric imbalances and totally disrupted sleep patterns" after an iBurst communications tower was put up in a local park. Symptoms subsided when the residents left the area, often to stay with family and thus evade their suffering. At a public meeting with the afflicted locals, the tower's owners pledged to switch off the mast immediately to assess whether it was responsible for their ailments. One problem: the mast had already been switched off for six weeks. Lawyers representing the locals say their case against iBurst will continue on other grounds.

Submission + - Transplanted windpipe renews Belgian woman's life

Submitted by mykepredko
mykepredko writes: While an organ transplant might now sound important, the CBC is reporting on Linda De Croock who has a working windpipe after surgeons implanted the trachea from a dead man into her arm, where it grew new blood vessels before being transplanted into her throat. For about eight months, she took drugs to stop her immune system from rejecting the new organ. Though some of the tissue from the windpipe's male donor remains, enough of De Croock's own tissue now lines the organ that she no longer needs anti-rejection medicines.
Government

Obama Appointee Sunstein Favors Infiltrating Online Groups 689

Posted by timothy from the freedom-of-somethingeruther dept.
megamerican writes "President Barack Obama's appointee to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs advocated in a recent paper the 'cognitive infiltration' of groups that advocate 'conspiracy theories' like the ones surrounding 9/11 via 'chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups and attempt to undermine' those groups. Sunstein admits that 'some conspiracy theories, under our definition, have turned out to be true' Sunstein has also recently advocated banning websites which post 'right-wing rumors' and bringing back the Fairness Doctrine. You can find a PDF of his paper here. For decades (1956-1971), the FBI under COINTELPRO focused on disrupting, marginalizing and neutralizing political dissidents, most notably the Black Panthers. More recently CENTCOM announced it would be engaging bloggers 'who are posting inaccurate or untrue information, as well as bloggers who are posting incomplete information.' In January 2009 the USAF released a flow-chart for 'counter-bloggers' to 'counter the people out there in the blogosphere who have negative opinions about the US government and the Air Force.'"
Google

Submission + - IE Flaw -- Not PDF -- Fueled Google Cyberattacks (computerworld.com)

Submitted by CWmike
CWmike writes: Hackers exploited an unpatched vulnerability in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser in a widespread attack that compromised Google's and Adobe's corporate networks last year and earlier this month, McAfee said on Thursday. Dmitri Alperovitch, vice president of threat research at McAfee, said the unpatched vulnerability in IE was the only exploit — not a flaw in PDF as reported earlier this week — used to hack into several of the companies attacked starting last month. Other researchers have said that as many as 33 firms were attacked, their networks compromised and in some cases, data stolen. Alperovitch said that Microsoft would release additional information about the IE vulnerability in a security advisory later on Thursday. "Microsoft is investigating these reports and will provide more information when it is available," a Microsoft spokesman said in an e-mail. The attacks have also been fingered as part of widespread spying effort from China.

Submission + - Step forward in Deciphering Brain's Dictionary (sciencedaily.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Two hundred years ago, archaeologists used the Rosetta Stone to understand the ancient Egyptian scrolls. Now, a team of Carnegie Mellon University scientists has discovered the beginnings of a neural Rosetta Stone. By combining brain imaging and machine learning techniques, neuroscientists Marcel Just and Vladimir Cherkassky and computer scientists Tom Mitchell and Sandesh Aryal determined how the brain arranges noun representations. Understanding how the brain codes nouns is important for treating psychiatric and neurological illnesses.

Submission + - WHO Handling Of Swine Flu To Be Investigated

Submitted by krou
krou writes: With swine flu fading in the UK (projected winter deaths of 65,000 have been downgraded to 1,000, and new cases are decreasing) the UK government has been left with millions of unused vaccines, and (unlike its contract with Baxter) no clear break-clause to get out of its contract with GlaxoSmithKlein. Although the amount paid for vaccines has not been disclosed, it likely cost the UK government several hundred million pounds. Other governments are also in a similar position: the US ordered 251 million doses of the vaccine, and France and Germany are aiming to cut back on their orders considerably. To say that the case for the pandemic has been over-estimated appears to be an understatement. Now, the WHO has announced that it is to investigate whether or not it bowed to pressure from drugs companies to overplay the threat. The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly has also announced an investigation into the matter after a resolution [pdf] from Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, was adopted. Dr. Wodarg labelled swine flu as a "false pandemic", and claims in the resolution that '"in order to promote their patented drugs and vaccines against flu, pharmaceutical companies influenced scientists and official agencies responsible for public health standards to alarm governments worldwide and make them squander tight health resources for inefficient vaccine strategies, and needlessly expose millions of healthy people to the risk of an unknown amount of side-effects of insufficiently-tested vaccines."' By some estimates, GSK was expected to net over £1 billion from vaccine sales.
Medicine

Submission + - Alzheimer's disease could be detected by eye test (bbc.co.uk)

Submitted by SpuriousLogic
SpuriousLogic writes: A simple eye test might be able to detect Alzheimer's and other diseases before symptoms develop, according to UK scientists.
The technique uses fluorescent markers which attach to dying cells which can be seen in the retina and give an early indication of brain cell death.
This new technique enables scientists to track the progress of brain disease by looking at dying cells in the retina.
The cells show up as green dots because they absorb the fluorescent dye.
The research has so far been carried out on mice, but the team is optimistic that the technique can be translated to humans.
Professor Francesca Coredeiro, lead author from University College London Institute of Ophthalmology said: "Few people realise that the retina is a direct, albeit thin, extension of the brain."
Security

Submission + - Mobile App Stores: How Open Is Too Open? (infoworld.com)

Submitted by snydeq
snydeq writes: Fatal Exception's Neil McAllister questions how open is too open when it comes to mobile app markets, especially in light of the recent discovery of suspected malware in the Android Market. 'Open platforms are attractive to developers, but as we have now seen, developers come in all flavors.' McAllister writes. 'If smartphone vendors aren't careful, they risk repeating the mistakes of the PC software industry, with mobile platforms becoming the new Wild West of computing.' As McAllister sees it, strong governance is the only solution, and this includes the ability to act swiftly when exploits arise — 'something only centralized oversight can provide.' Sure, Apple's App Store approval policies are somewhat 'draconian', 'but by ensuring that each and every app in the App Store has met its rigorous standards, Apple has forged a bond of trust with iPhone users that no other smartphone vendor can match.'
Cellphones

Submission + - Kodak Sues Apple & RIM Over Preview In Cameras (theglobeandmail.com)

Submitted by
Dave Knott
Dave Knott writes: "Kodak is suing Apple and Research In Motion over technology related to digital cameras in their iPhone and BlackBerry smart phones. The complaint specifically relates to photo preview functionality which Kodak claims infringes on their patents. The company is asking for unspecified monetary damages and a court order to end the disputed practices. Kodak has amassed more than 1,000 digital-imaging patents, and almost all of today's digital cameras rely on that technology. Kodak has licensed digital-imaging technology to about 30 companies, including mobile-device makers such as LG Electronics Inc., Motorola Inc., Nokia Corp. and Sony Ericsson, all of which pay royalties to Kodak."
Biotech

Organ Damage In Rats From Monsanto GMO Corn 766

Posted by kdawson from the ditch-the-high-fructose-corn-syrup dept.
jenningsthecat writes "A study published in December 2009 in the International Journal of Biological Sciences found that three varieties of Monsanto genetically-modified corn caused damage to the liver, kidneys, and other organs of rats. One of the corn varieties was designed to tolerate broad-spectrum herbicides, (so-called 'Roundup-ready' corn), while the other two contain bacteria-derived proteins that have insecticide properties. The study made use of Monsanto's own raw data. Quoting from the study's 'Conclusions' section: 'Our analysis highlights that the kidneys and liver as particularly important on which to focus such research as there was a clear negative impact on the function of these organs in rats consuming GM maize varieties for just 90 days.' Given the very high prevalence of corn in processed foods, this could be a real ticking time bomb. And with food manufacturers not being required by law to declare GMO content, I think I'll do my best to avoid corn altogether. Pass the puffed rice and pour me a glass of fizzy water!"
Education

Ocean-Crossing Dragonflies Discovered 95

Posted by samzenpus from the incredible-journey dept.
grrlscientist writes "While living and working as a marine biologist in Maldives, Charles Anderson noticed sudden explosions of dragonflies at certain times of year. He explains how he carefully tracked the path of a plain, little dragonfly called the Globe Skimmer, Pantala flavescens, only to discover that it had the longest migratory journey of any insect in the world."

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