Thiamine Protects Against Kidney Damage

Between 70% and 90% of diabetics are thiamine deficient. Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is a cheap and readily available supplement, and researchers believe it may protect cells against the harmful effects of the high blood sugar levels found in diabetes. Diabetics often suffer damage to small blood vessels in the body, including those that supply the kidneys. When the blood supply to the kidneys is impaired, important proteins like albumin are lost from the blood into the urine. In a recent study, one-third of the diabetic patients given daily doses of thiamine for three months saw a return to normal urinary albumin excretion. More ...

Deeply or seriously thoughtful

pensive

Definition:(adjective) Deeply or seriously thoughtful.Synonyms:contemplative, meditative, musing, pondering, reflective, ruminative, brooding, broodyUsage:Emma's pensive meditations, as she walked home, were not interrupted; but on entering the parlor, she found those who must rouse her.

Dinosaur Dads Guarded Eggs

Scientists examining the remains of three medium-sized dinosaurs found with large clutches of eggs have concluded that the males were the ones to guard the nest and brood the eggs. The three types of dinosaurs—Troodon, Oviraptor, and Citipati—lived about 75 million years ago and were theropods, bipedal, carnivorous dinosaurs from which scientists believe all modern birds descended. In more than 90% of living bird species, males participate in the parental care of their young, helping incubate eggs, feed babies, and guard nests. This analysis suggests that such paternal care actually developed long before modern birds evolved from their dinosaur ancestors. More ...

Percentage of Cell-Only Households Grows in US

Nearly 18% of households in the US have no traditional telephone and rely entirely on cell phone services, up from just 13.6% of households in the beginning of 2007. The weak economy may have exacerbated the trend, perhaps prompting some customers to cancel home phone service in order to save money. The majority of households without landlines are comprised of unrelated adults, renters, and young people. While just 9% of homeowners have cell phones but no home phones, 34% of renters are living this way. The growing trend has even skewed poll results, since pollsters have traditionally interviewed only people who have landlines. More ...

The Simpsons Debuts (1989)

One of the most popular animated TV shows in US history, The Simpsons has earned its spot in pop culture history through its parodies of the "Middle American" lifestyle. The show, created by Matt Groening, is a spin-off of a series of animated shorts originally aired on The Tracey Ullman Show and is currently both the longest-running American sitcom and the longest-running American animated program. How many episodes of The Simpsons have aired since the show debuted in 1989? More...

The Mad Baron

Known as both the "Mad" and "Bloody" Baron, Baron Roman Ungern von Sternberg was a military commander who became an independent warlord after the Russian Civil War. A mystic who believed he was the reincarnation of Genghis Khan, he aimed to unite the Far-Eastern nations under one monarch. In 1921, he achieved this goal, becoming dictator of Mongolia before being captured by his own troops and executed by the Red Army. How did he trick the Chinese into abandoning Mongolia's capital city, Urga? More...

Malaria Vaccine Protects Infants

Early tests of a malaria vaccine have shown that it is more than 50% effective at preventing the deadly disease in infants and toddlers. Malaria is a tropical disease caused by a parasite that is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The parasite travels quickly to the liver, where it replicates before moving into the bloodstream and attacking red blood cells. The vaccine is designed to attack the parasite before it can infect the liver. This is the first malaria vaccine to make it this far in the testing process, and a larger and longer running test is slated to begin early next year. More ...

First Nobel Prizes Awarded (1901)

The Nobel Prizes, named after Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, are awarded to individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to fields including physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. Nobel is said to have been inspired to create the prizes after reading his own prematurely published obituary, which condemned his invention of dynamite. Why did Nobel choose not to create a prize for advances in the field of mathematics? More...

TV and Media Harmful to Youths' Health

After reviewing the results of 173 studies on media and health, researchers have concluded that the more media children and adolescents are exposed to, the greater the health risks they face. According to the study, the average child or adolescent spends approximately 45 hours a week watching TV and movies, listening to music, and using other forms of media. In contrast, they spend only 17 hours with their parents each week and just 30 at school. Researchers found strong evidence linking media exposure to obesity, smoking, and early sexual activity. The study also showed that drug and alcohol use and poor academic outcomes are associated with media exposure. More ...

The English Civil War

The English Civil War, which began in 1642, consisted of a series of conflicts between Parliamentarians and the Royalist supporters of King Charles I and, later, King Charles II. Ending with Parliamentary victory in 1651, the conflicts left England, Scotland, and Ireland without a monarch. After the execution of Charles I and the exile of Charles II, the monarchy was replaced with a republican commonwealth government led by Oliver Cromwell. When was Charles II restored to the throne? More...

Carmakers try to sell Congress on rescue for troubled US industry that could reach $34 billion

U.S. automakers are returning to Congress for high-stakes hearings they hope will persuade skeptical lawmakers to save their troubled industry with $34 billion in emergency aid, but a top Senate Democrat wants to hand their problem to the Federal Reserve.

Two weeks after a botched attempt on Capitol Hill, repentant leaders of General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC were appealing to the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday with three separate survival plans that include massive restructuring, the ditching of corporate jets and vows by CEOs to work for $1 a year.

But they could expect a chilly reception on Capitol Hill. Even a top Democrat in charge of evaluating their aid requests made it clear he was eager to avoid voting on a bailout. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday asking the central bank chief whether there was anything stopping him from using his considerable lending authority to help the automakers.

And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said it was up to the Bush administration to unilaterally rescue the Big Three with loans drawn from the $700 billion Wall Street rescue fund, since Congress was still unwilling to do so. "I just don't think we have the votes to do that now," he told The Associated Press.

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The Grammy Nominations Hit Prime Time

A concise, one-hour Grammy show, heavy on performances and with no acceptance speeches. Many of you doubtless wish that this were the format for the regular Grammy telecast in February. Dream on. But it was the winning formula for a special in which the Grammy nominations were announced, for the first time, in prime time.

The Wednesday night show on CBS, co-hosted by LL Cool J and Taylor Swift, was smartly produced. The best decision was to have the performers pay tribute to other artist's songs. Christina Aguilera stepped out of her comfort zone on a tender, jazz-shaded reading of "I Loves You, Porgy," a hit for Nina Simone. Celine Dion toned down her chest-thumping power on a surprisingly effective version of Janis Ian's poignant "At Seventeen." Taylor Swift was unimpressive on Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry," but sounded more sure on her own current hit, "White Horse." Swift was the only performer to get to perform two songs. (Her co-host didn't perform at all.)

There were, as always, some surprises in the nominations. Leona Lewis, who has the year's #1 song with "Bleeding Love," was passed over in the Best New Artist category--though she did show up in the Record of the Year contest. Sara Bareilles, who had one of the year's biggest hits with the lilting "Love Song," also missed the cut for Best New Artist, though she rated a nomination for Song of the Year.

Kid Rock, whose "All Summer Long" was a hit on a wide range of radio formats, was passed over for a nomination for Record of the Year. A spot in that contest went instead to "Please Read The Letter," a track from the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss collaboration, Raising Sand.

Here are the nominees and surprising shut-outs in the top categories.

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A New Picture of the Early Earth

The first 700 million years of Earth’s 4.5-billion-year existence are known as the Hadean period, after Hades, or, to shed the ancient Greek name, Hell.

That name seemed to fit with the common perception that the young Earth was a hot, dry, desolate landscape interspersed with seas of magma and inhospitable for life. Even if some organism had somehow popped into existence, the old story went, surely it would soon have been extinguished in the firestorm of one of the giant meteorites that slammed into the Earth when the young solar system was still crowded with debris.

Scars on the surface of the Moon record a hail of impacts during what is called the Late Heavy Bombardment. The Earth would have received an even more intense bombardment, and the common thinking until recently was that life could not have emerged on Earth until the bombardment eased about 3.85 billion years ago.

Norman H. Sleep, a professor of geophysics at Stanford, recalled that in 1986 he submitted a paper that calculated the probability of life surviving one of the giant, early impacts. It was summarily rejected because a reviewer said that obviously nothing could have lived then.

That is no longer thought to be true.

“We thought we knew something we didn’t,” said T. Mark Harrison, a professor of geochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles. In hindsight the evidence was just not there. And new evidence has suggested a new view of the early Earth.

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Provider SpotlightInternational College Wales Swansea

ICWS (International College Wales Swansea) is a modern and dynamic educational institution committed to providing quality educational programmes and excellent student support services in an environment that encourages students to achieve the best possible results in their studies.

Quality teaching, outstanding facilities and academic and welfare support services allow you the opportunity and freedom to challenge yourself in a university environment. You will study a university designed programme, taught by qualified lecturers, in a relaxed, friendly and supportive environment on the Swansea University campus.

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High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)

How lovely the American high school experience might be if it offered even a smidgen of the euphoria that spirals “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” into a candy-colored never-never land that Peter Pan might envy. In making the leap from Disney Channel to the big screen, the third chapter of the phenomenally popular franchise crystallizes a moment in movie-musical history that is probably as evanescent as it is triumphant. If you recall all that hyperbolic talk in the ’80s about music videos spurring a full-scale revival of the movie musical — a revival that fizzled after “Footloose” and “Flashdance” — here it is (without frantic MTV-style editing). Or was. “High School Musical 4” has already been announced. But whether the franchise can continue after the major characters graduate is open to question. Quirky new characters are introduced. But are they stars?

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Daily Cosmic Calendar

Self-centered activities are out; volunteer efforts and charity work are in. When the Moon transits through Aquarius, it is the larger spheres of influence that should grab your attention. Focus more on making vital contributions to your greater community, national movements and global initiatives that raise the consciousness of humanity. Team sports, group projects and networking on the world wide web get the nod right now. This sense of support and working in harmony with others is reinforced by a Mercury-Venus parallel (12:57AM PST). Scour the business landscape to ascertain what's happening in the investment realm as Vesta trines Pluto in earthy signs (3:21PM PST). This can be a time to make money and improve your bottom line, but make sure you double-check financial moves with one or two trusted experts. Enjoy an evening of fun and games as the Sun and Moon form a constructive, 60-degree rapport (9:46PM PST). This is magnified shortly thereafter as the Moon connects to the red planet in a similar link of 60 degrees (11:23PM PST). Rekindle your interest in exercise, gymnastics or a favorite athletic pastime. Start gearing up for Friday's Sun-Mars union in mid-Sagittarius. With each passing day between now and then, emotional mood swings can become more pronounced and -- potentially -- more volatile.

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