| Science News in Brief
Scientists at Harvard have dramatically expanded the list of potential drug targets for AIDS with an announcement yesterday of the discovery of 273 proteins required for survival of the AIDS virus in humans.
Prior to the study, researchers had identified only a few dozen molecules needed by the virus to infect human cells. Because AIDS progression hinges on their presence, targeting them could slow infection.
The authors found the proteins by using an emerging research method called RNA interference that eliminates individual proteins and elucidates their role by measuring the effect of their absence.
The eight Harvard researchers urged use of the technique for other human pathogens as well, writing that their experiment had demonstrated the “power" of RNA interference to find new forms of treatment.
Irrigation Dept told to review
When the journalist refused to supply the CD which contained footage of the incident, a false FIR was registered against them under Section 306 of the IPC. The complainants stated before the Commission that the SSP, Mukstsar, had threatened them as they had refused to hand over the CD which showed the inhuman act of the police. One of the scribes, Mr Harjit Singh, who moved the Commission, stated that after arresting the girl and the boys, the police took them to the Gidderwaha Police Station and produced them before the Station House Officer Balkar Singh. The police tried to snatch the video camera of the scribes when the footage was being recorded. On July 29, 2006, the complainants were called to the office of the SSP, Mr Nageswar Rao, who asked them to hand over the CD to him.
Rogers shares hurt by talk of Telus technology shift
The main selling point of GSM (global system for mobile communication) is that it's the most popular cellphone technology around the world. That means GSM carriers such as Rogers tend to get devices at cheaper prices and sooner than their rivals, including Telus, which use CDMA (code division multiple access) technology. Making such a jump, however, would be a tricky endeavour for Telus. It could cost anywhere from several hundred million up to a billion dollars, analysts reckon. Moreover, the time required for such a change is uncertain, with some suggesting it could be done within a year and others estimating it could take twice as long. "I don't envy the decision because I don't think it's an easy one," said National Bank Financial Inc. analyst Greg MacDonald.
Ex-addicts are turning lives around: Treatment called key to staying out of jail
A few weekends ago, Shannon Leeson went roller-skating for the first time in decades. "It was fun," she said. "I haven't ever done that go out and have fun without getting high. When you're an addict, you think (getting high) is fun, but it's not." Leeson has been off drugs for two years now, and she attributes the strength to stay clean to skills she learned through DORA classes at the Utah County Division of Substance Abuse. "I'd been a drug addict for 15 years, on and off," Leeson said. "It was time to take a turn for myself and my kids. DORA (has) been so helpful. I've never had (this) kind of treatment." DORA, the Drug Offender Reform Act, passed by the Utah Legislature in 2007, allocates $9 million each year to fund substance-abuse treatment for people immediately after they get out of jail or prison.
New mental health centres for youth
The Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has announced the establishment of 20 new treatment centres for young people with mental illness. The centres will be located mostly in regional and rural areas and will help young people at risk of mental health, drug and alcohol problems. The Government says as many as one-in-four young people have a mental health problem. The Minister says the need for more youth services is particularly urgent in regional areas where communities continue to struggle with the impact of drought and high unemployment. Young people have welcomed the announcement. 21-year-old Carla Frost of Melbourne was treated in an adult facility several years ago and she says it was a frightening experience. "I sort of thought oh my God that could be me," she said.
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