Nexus - 0702 - New Times Magazine-pages

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... GLOBAL NEWS. ... NEWS ... their own documents. In fact, for about four to five seconds, all activity at this Kinko's stopped—meaning that this was not widely known information. "Secret Service?" I asked. The customers also waited for an answer. The Kinko's supervisor repeated the same statement again. In shock, I walked away and paid for my copies. But there's more: After paying, I was compelled to return to this person and thank him for this information. But I want- ed to talk to him alone and press for more information. I found him with another cus- tomer, converting computer documents from IBM to Mac format. When I approached, it was as if he already knew what I was thinking. I thanked him. He replied: "It's not just Kinko's. The same thing will happen everywhere. All the machines are like that. I personally know that Xerox had to sign a contract with the government in order to be allowed to sell them." (Source: J. J. Johnson, 20 November 1999, www.jj-johnson.com/) patients in the group who were prayed for had a significantly better outcome than the 524 patients who received no prayer. Harris believes his study is as rigorous as most drug trials. "If people are willing to accept the outcome of a drug study...they have to accept this one, too," he says. (Source: New Scientist, 13 November 1999) zonulin and zot also react with similar receptors in the brain. "The identification of these proteins in the human brain holds the promise of allowing us to deliver new types of medica- tions across the blood-brain barrier. It would be a boon to humanity if the blood- brain barrier could be opened briefly, and safely, to allow passage of a new genera- tion of drugs into the brain," says co-author Ronald Zielke, PhD, professor of paedi- atrics and director of the brain and tissue bank at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. (Source: University of Maryland Medical Center, 4 January 2000, www.umm.edu/) eee prea tue ey Spee Jo NM MkU prune UE we Qe atee « ° But there's more: After paying, I was BREAKING THE tion of drugs into the brain," co-author compelled to return to this person and BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER Ronald Zielke, PhD, professor of paedi- thank him for this information. But I want- esearchers at the University of atrics and director of the brain and tissue ed to talk to him alone and press for more Maryland School of Medicine, bank at the University of Maryland School information. I found him with another cus- Baltimore, USA, have identified a receptor of Medicine. tomer, converting computer documents _ in the human brain that regulates the inter- (Source: University of Maryland Medical from IBM to Mac format. When I face between the bloodstream andthe Center, 4 January 2000, www.umm.edu/) approached, it was as if he already knew _ brain—the so-called "blood-brain barrier". what I was thinking. I thanked him. The findings, published in the Journal of | SATELLITES TO STOP SPEEDING He replied: "It's not just Kinko's. The Neurochemistry (January 2000 issue), CARS IN THEIR TRACKS same thing will happen everywhere. All could lead to a new understanding of this ritish and European drivers might soon the machines are like that. I personally nearly impenetrable barrier and to treat- be automatically stopped from speed- know that Xerox had to signa contract _ ment of diseases that affect the brain. ing by an electronic device that could be with the government in order to be allowed The blood-brain barrier is a collection of _ fitted to all cars within 10 years. to sell them." cells that press together to block many sub- The system uses satellite navigation to (Source: J. J. Johnson, 20 November 1999, stances from entering the brain, while __ pinpoint the location of each vehicle, an in- www.jj-johnson.com/) allowing others to pass. For years, scien- car computer loaded with a road map and tists knew little about how this barrier is _ the speed limits for each street in the coun- POWER OF PRAYER CONFIRMED? _ regulated or why certain diseases are able __ try, and a device to cut off the fuel supply De panic if you haven't. According to to manipulate the barrier and infect the _ if the speed limits are exceeded. a study just published in Archives of _ brain. Researchers predict that the equipment, Internal Medicine (vol. 159, p. 2273), Research conducted at the University of expected to cost only a few hundred prayers can help patients recover, even Maryland School of Medicine found that pounds per car, will come to be widely when they don't know that people are pray- two proteins, known as zonulin and zot, accepted as a life-saver—just as seat-belts ing for them. unlock the cell barrier in the intestine. The were, despite the fierce resistance initially. William Harris, of Saint Luke's Hospital proteins attach themselves to receptors in The trials were commissioned by the UK in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, studied _ the intestine to open the junctions between Department for Environment, Transport patients who came to the hospital's coro- the cells and allow substances to be and the Regions and were carried out by a nary care unit, and found that the 466 absorbed. The new research indicates that team at Leeds University together with the Motor Industry Research Association. Their final report is expected to recom- mend a 10-year phasing-in period, with the system initially voluntary for older models, compulsory for all new cars by 2005 and mandatory by the end of the decade. (Source: Sightings, 4 January 2000, www.sightings.com) "Honey, sorry to keep you waiting at the station, but | think | nodded off and missed my stop." SECURITY SYSTEM AIMS TO "TRIP-UP" CRIMINALS At security system being developed in Britain can identify individuals by the unique way in which they walk. Unlike faces and irises, someone's gait can be spotted from a great distance with low-resolution cameras, and so be observed from just about any angle. A gait is also very difficult to mask, says Mark Nixon, a computer scientist at Southampton University's Image, Speech 8 = NEXUS FEBRUARY — MARCH 2000