Source: Times Higher Education
WHERE Australian institutions ranked in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings this year.
| 2013-14 rank | 2012-13 rank | Institution | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 34 | 28 | Melbourne |
| 2 | 48 | 37 | ANU |
| 3 | 63 | 65 | UQ |
| 4 | 72 | 62 | Sydney |
| 5 | 91 | 99 | Monash |
| 6 | 114 | 85 | UNSW |
| 7 | 168 | 190 | UWA |
| 8 | 201-225 | 176 | Adelaide |
| 9 | 251-275 | 276-300 | Newcastle |
| 10 | 276-300 | 251-275 | Macquarie |
| 11 | 276-300 | 251-275 | QUT |
| 12 | 276-300 | 301-350 | Wollongong |
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Source: News.com.au
It’s a steep decline. Picture: Supplied Source: NewsComAu
IT WILL allegedly be the highest and fastest waterslide … in the world. Will you take the ride of your life?
Appropriately called ‘The Verrückt’ (which means insane in German) Meg-A-Blaster, the slide (or supported fall) is due to open May 23 next year in the Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark in America.
The Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark states: “Are you Insane? The new Meg-a-Blaster speed-slide combines the best elements of Schlitterbahn’s patented Master Blaster™ technology with the insane drops of a speed slide. This new category of attraction will shatter all existing records and tower over the current record holder.”
New photos on the company’s blog who the project’s progress, and it’s already evident that this won’t be a ride for the faint hearted.
Waterside or supported fall? Picture: Supplied Source: NewsComAu
Schlitterbahn co-owner and designer of the slide, Jeff Henry, won’t reveal the statistics we all want to know just yet – that is exactly how high and how fast will the slide will be – but he did say, “Our greatest challenge will be to find thrill seekers brave enough to ride.”
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Media Release
Researchers from Melbourne’s Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre have revealed a potential new treatment option for some women with the most lethal form of ovarian cancer, using a class of therapies already clinically approved to treat blood cancer.
Senior author of the study, Professor David Bowtell, says the findings, published this morning in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveal that in a subset of women with high-grade serous carcinomas, the growth of their cancer is dependent on the activity of the BRCA1 gene.
‘In women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, ten to 20 per cent of cases are driven by amplification of the Cyclin E1 gene, and about 20 per cent of patients have mutations that inactivate BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes — recently it has been shown that BRCA1 mutations and Cyclin E1 gene amplification rarely occur in the same patient.
‘By screening tens of thousands of genes, we found that cancers with Cyclin E1 amplification were particularly dependent on an in-tact BRCA1 gene — if the tumour has amplified Cyclin E1 and also mutation of BRCA1, then the cancer cells can not survive.’
Lead author, Dr Dariush Etemadmoghadam (pictured) says researchers sought to exploit the dependency of Cyclin E1 amplified cancers on BRCA1 to develop a new therapeutic approach for these tumours.
‘Recent research has shown a class of drugs known as proteasome inhibitors — approved to treat multiple myeloma in humans — are very effective at inhibiting the pathway involving BRCA1 and our laboratory experiments confirmed these drugs are effective for treating Cyclin E1 amplified tumours.
Professor Bowtell says there is great need for new therapeutic approaches for women whose ovarian cancer has Cyclin E1 amplification.
‘Women in this subset generally have poor response to standard treatment and reduced survival rates, so we are hopeful this new approach can be tested in a clinical trial in the near future.
‘We now know ovarian cancer is a very diverse disease, analogous to a Russian babushka doll — it looks like one doll until you take it apart and find layer after layer — but we’re confident when we have finally separated this cancer into all its molecular groups, we will have a much better chance of improving survival for all women.’
Source: beaker.sanfordburnham.org
A new study has revealed a rare cell type that gives rise to a type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma.
The unusual cells, called “nestin-expressing progenitors” (NEPs), are more efficient at generating medulloblastoma than other brain cells.
The research, published in Nature Neuroscience and conducted by Sanford-Burnham researchers in collaboration with scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center, provides critical insight into how normal cells transform into tumors and may yield new approaches for targeting brain tumors. Medulloblastoma is an aggressive tumor that is located in the cerebellum, and accounts for 18 percent of all pediatric tumors.
Medulloblastoma is thought to arise during development of the cerebellum, from cells called granule neuron precursors (GNPs) that reside in the external granule layer (EGL) on the outside of the cerebellum.
Until now, most scientists believed that GNPs were the only cells that could give rise to medulloblastoma.
The study team, co-led by Robert Wechsler-Reya, Ph.D., of Sanford-Burnham, and Zeng-jie Yang, Ph.D, of Fox Chase Cancer Center, used genetically engineered mice to identify a new cell type in the EGL—NEPs. Like GNPs, NEPs are committed to generating granule neurons—very small neurons that make up 75 percent of all brain cells.
But unlike GNPs, NEPs have high levels of a protein called nestin, which is commonly found only in stem cells. The presence of nestin suggested that NEPs might be more primitive than GNPs, and like stem cells, more capable of long-term growth and survival.
“Another major difference between NEPs and GNPs is that the DNA repair mechanisms of NEPs are less active,” said Wechsler-Reya. “Since DNA repair protects cells from becoming cancerous, we speculated that NEPs might be more likely than GNPs to give rise to brain tumors.” To directly compare the tumor-forming ability of NEPs and GNPs, the researchers performed a series of transplantation experiments, using NEPs and GNPs carrying a cancer-causing mutation.
When they transplanted large numbers of cells, both NEPs and GNPs gave rise to tumors. But when they transplanted very few cells, GNPs did not cause tumors, whereas NEPs were still capable of doing so.
These results confirmed that NEPs have an increased capacity to form tumors. “Identifying the cells that can give rise to medulloblastoma allows us to compare tumor cells to their normal counterparts, so that key differences and vulnerabilities of tumor cells can be identified.
Our study describes a novel ‘tumor-prone’ cell population that may provide new insights into the mechanisms of cancer development. By studying these cells, we may find new approaches to targeting brain cancer,” Wechsler-Reya said. About Medulloblastoma Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor, affecting about 500 children in the United States annually. Current treatment options for medulloblastoma include aggressive surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Today, over two-thirds of children are successfully treated. However, survivors generally suffer long-term side effects such as cognitive and developmental disabilities due to the aggressive treatment, and in many cases the tumor reappears within a few years after treatment. Li P, Du F, Yuelling LW, Lin T, Muradimova RE, Tricarico R, Wang J, Enikolopov G, Bellacosa A, Wechsler-Reya RJ, & Yang ZJ (2013). A population of Nestin-expressing progenitors in the cerebellum exhibits increased tumorigenicity.
Source: DailyMail.uk
Art historian Paul Koudounaris hunted them down in secret Catholic vaults
Said to be remains of Catholic martyrs dug up from Roman catacombs
They were sent to churches to replace relics destroyed in Reformation
Some took up to five years to decorate in gold, silver and gemstones
But none were actually canonised, so many have been stripped of honours
A relic hunter dubbed ‘Indiana Bones’ has lifted the lid on a macabre collection of 400-year-old jewel-encrusted skeletons unearthed in churches across Europe.
Art historian Paul Koudounaris hunted down and photographed dozens of gruesome skeletons in some of the world’s most secretive religious establishments.
Incredibly, some of the skeletons, said to be the remains of early Christian martyrs, were even found hidden away in lock-ups and containers.
St Valerius in Weyarn: Art historian Paul Koudounaris hunted down and photographed dozens of gruesome skeletons in some of the world’s most secretive religious establishments
St Albertus and St Felix: Incredibly, some of the skeletons, said to be the remains of early Christian martyrs, were even found hidden away in lock-ups and containers
They are now the subject of a new book, which sheds light on the forgotten ornamented relics for the first time.
Thousands of skeletons were dug up from Roman catacombs in the 16th century and installed in towns around Germany, Austria and Switzerland on the orders of the Vatican.
Laughing in the face of death: Revealed, a poignant treasure trove of memorabilia from the trenches
They were sent to Catholic churches and religious houses to replace the relics destroyed in the wake of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s.
St Benedictus: Thousands of skeletons were dug up from Roman catacombs in the 16th century and installed in towns around Germany, Austria and Switzerland on the orders of the Vatican
Spooky: St Deodatus in Rheinau, Switzerland (left) and St Valentinus in Waldsassen (right). The skeletons were sent to Catholic churches and religious houses to replace the relics destroyed in the wake of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s
St Getreu in Ursberg, Germany: Mistaken for the remains of early Christian martyrs, the morbid relics, known as the Catacomb Saints, became shrines reminding of the spiritual treasures of the afterlife
Mistaken for the remains of early Christian martyrs, the morbid relics, known as the Catacomb Saints, became shrines reminding of the spiritual treasures of the afterlife.
They were also symbols of the Catholic Church’s newly found strength in previously Protestant areas.
Each one was painstakingly decorated in thousands of pounds worth of gold, silver and gems by devoted followers before being displayed in church niches.
Some took up to five years to decorate.
St Friedrich at the Benedictine abbey in Melk, Austria: They were also symbols of the Catholic Church’s newly found strength in previously Protestant areas
Long dead: The hand of St Valentin in Bad Schussenreid, Germany (left) and St Munditia, in the church of St Peter in Munich (right). By the 19th century they had become morbid reminders of an embarrassing past and many were stripped of their honours and discarded
They were renamed as saints, although none of them qualified for the title under the strict rules of the Catholic church which require saints to have been canonised.
But by the 19th century they had become morbid reminders of an embarrassing past and many were stripped of their honours and discarded.
Mr Koudounaris’ new book, Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs, is the first time the skeletons have appeared in print.
Mr Koudounaris, from Los Angeles, said: ‘I was working on another book looking into charnel houses when I came across the existence of these skeletons.
‘As I discovered more about them I had this feeling that it was my duty to tell their fascinating story.
Lounging louche: aSt Vincentus’ ribs are exposed beneath a web of golden leaves In Stams, Austria. Mr Koudounaris’ new book, Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs, is the first time the skeletons have appeared in print
Adorned: St Luciana (right) arrived at the convent in Heiligkreuztal, Germany and was prepared for display by the nuns in Ennetach. The identity of the skull on the left is unknown
‘After they were found in the Roman catacombs the Vatican authorities would sign certificates identifying them as martyrs then they put the bones in boxes and sent them northwards.
‘The skeletons would then be dressed and decorated in jewels, gold and silver, mostly by nuns.
‘They had to be handled by those who had taken a sacred vow to the church – these were believed to be martyrs and they couldn’t have just anyone handling them.
‘They were symbols of the faith triamphant and were made saints in the municipalities.
‘One of the reasons they were so important was not for their spiritual merit, which was pretty dubious, but for their social importance.
‘They were thought to be miraculous and really solidified people’s bond with a town. This reaffirmed the prestige of the town itself.’
He added: ‘It’s impossible to put a modern-day value on the skeletons.’
Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs is published by Thames and Hudson and costs 18.95 pounds.
Source: highoctane.gr
Δύο παγκόσμια Ρεκόρ Guinness από τις Kosmocar-Volkswagen, EKO & Driving Academy. Οι τρεις ελληνικές εταιρίες συνεργάστηκαν και πέτυχαν σε πραγματικές συνθήκες οδήγησης, παγκόσμιο ρεκόρ χαμηλής κατανάλωσης, διασχίζοντας 9 ηπειρωτικά διαμερίσματα της Ελλάδας και πάνω από 1.577 χλμ εθνικού και επαρχιακού οδικού δικτύου.
Στις 16-18 Οκτωβρίου 2013 η Kosmocar – Volkswagen διέθεσε στους εξειδικευμένους εκπαιδευτές στην οικονομική οδήγηση της Driving Academy, 2 αυτοκίνητα ένα Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TDI BlueMotion και ένα Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 140PS με Ενεργό Σύστημα Διαχείρισης Κυλίνδρων (ACT), τα οποία ανεφοδίασε αντίστοιχα η ΕΚΟ με τα εξελιγμένα καύσιμά της ΕΚΟ Diesel Ekonomy και ΕΚΟ 95 Εkonomy. Τα ρεκόρ;
Guinness World Record χαμηλότερης κατανάλωσης καυσίμου για αυτοκίνητα Diesel – Ο γύρος της Ελλάδας:
Η πρώτη ομάδα είχε το Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TDI BlueMotion με οδηγούς τους εκπαιδευτές της Driving Academy, Δημήτρη Χατζητόλιο και Νικόλα Παπαπάσχο, εφοδιασμένο με ΕΚΟ Diesel Ekonomy και κάλυψε την απόσταση των 1.577 χιλιομέτρων με συνολική κατανάλωση diesel 46,75lt, που αντιστοιχεί σε μέση κατανάλωση 2,96 lt/100 km. Στην επιτυχία αυτή συνέβαλαν εξίσου η νέα τεχνολογία TDI και BlueMotion της Volkswagen, οι πλέον σύγχρονες τεχνικές οικονομικής οδήγησης της Driving Academy, που διδάσκει σε πάνω από 1000 οδηγούς κάθε χρόνο και βέβαια τα εξελιγμένα καύσιμα τελευταίας τεχνολογίας Ekonomy, που έφεραν την επανάσταση στα ελληνικά δεδομένα επιτυγχάνοντας ιδιαίτερα χαμηλές καταναλώσεις. Η αφετηρία ήταν η πόλη της Αλεξανδρούπολης με τερματισμό την Κόρινθο και έκταση σε όλο το εθνικό και επαρχιακό εθνικό δίκτυο.
Η δεύτερη ομάδα οδήγησε το Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 140PS – ACT, με οδηγούς τους εκπαιδευτές Θωμά Παπαπάσχο και Γιάννη Τσιγκρή, εφοδιασμένο με EKO 95 Ekonomy, και κάλυψε την απόσταση των 1.592 χιλιομέτρων με συνολική κατανάλωση βενζίνης 54,52lt, που αντιστοιχεί σε μέση κατανάλωση 3,42 lt/100 km. Εδώ βέβαια σημαντικό ρόλο έπαιξαν η τεχνολογία TSI και Ενεργού Συστήματος Διαχείρισης Κυλίνδρων της VW, η εξαιρετική εφαρμογή των πρακτικών οικονομικής οδήγησης της Driving Academy και φυσικά, το εξελιγμένο καύσιμο ΕΚΟ 95 Ekonomy ένα καύσιμο που με τη βελτιωμένη σύνθεσή του, μειώνει αποτελεσματικά την Τα δύο πληρώματα επιτηρούνταν σε όλη τη διάρκεια της διαδρομής από εξειδικευμένους συνεργάτες του Οργανισμού Guinness World Records, του ΚΑΠΕ, της Ελληνικής Αστυνομίας και άλλων δημόσιων φορέων. Στο τέλος της διαδρομής πιστοποιήθηκαν οι μετρήσεις ανεφοδιασμού των αυτοκινήτων, η χιλιομετρική απόσταση που κάλυψε κάθε αυτοκίνητο αλλά και η ακρίβεια των στοιχείων μέσα από τις αυστηρές προδιαγραφές και οδηγίες του οργανισμού Guinness World Records. Ο οργανισμός, αφού αξιολόγησε όλα τα δεδομένα, τις μετρήσεις του εγχειρήματος, τις μαρτυρίες των επίσημων φορέων, το ολοκληρωμένο βίντεο της διαδρομής και τα δεδομένα των GPS, πιστοποίησε την επίτευξη και των δύο ρεκόρ.
Την απονομή των δύο σημαντικών βραβείων πραγματοποίησε την 1 Νοεμβρίου, ο απεσταλμένος κριτής του Guinness World Records, κος Mark McKinley.
Source: theyeshivaworld.com
It’s been one year since Norman’s Dairy Delights introduced the first ever Cholov Yisroel Greek Yogurt at Kosherfest 2012, winning the best new dairy product award at the show’s annual New Product Competition. It subsequently received accolades in Jewish as well as mainstream media, including The New York Times and the New York Daily News. The success of the Greek Yogurt was part of a very active year for the dairy manufacturer, largely as a result of the introduction of many new quality and tasty products.
“We never stop brainstorming about potential new products that will making eating better and healthier for consumers,” says a key member of the Norman’s product development team. “I can’t wait for our loyal customers to have even more top-quality choices in cholov yisroel.”
Norman’s Dairy Delights has continued to expand on its previous successes, adding 3 new flavors to its wildly popular Greek Yogurt line. The Greek is now available in 9 flavors- Mango, Pomegranate, Apple & Honey, Plain, Strawberry, Black Cherry, Blueberry, Peach, and Vanilla. The new flavors have been carefully lab tested and developed with the highest quality ingredients, as all Norman’s products are.
At last week’s Kosherfest food show, Norman’s also released their new line of Greek Light, a premium Greek yogurt with only 100 calories. Greek Light was a response to the persistent requests received by Norman’s for an even healthier version of their already successful original Greek. Greek Light was released in 3 flavors- Strawberry, Coffee, and Vanilla, with more on the way. It will be in stores mid-October.
This past year saw Norman’s expand in all their dairy offerings, including 80 Lite, Poppers, Low-Fat, and milk chocolate Leben. All have been excitedly received by the public and became instant winners. In honor of their first anniversary and the extraordinary response by consumers, Norman’s will be offering a special price on their entire Greek Yogurt line.
Source: News.com.au
The Full House cast got together for a 25th reunion last year. Photo: Twitter/@fullhouseguy
THE internet is abuzz with rumours that a new series of Full House is in the works.
The show’s creator, Jeff Franklin, allegedly told a reporter from the Newport Gazette, “Last month I was asked by ABC and [Warner Bros.] to write a new show for the Full House characters. Everyone I’ve spoken with were very open to the idea [of returning].”
There’s speculation that the show will focus on the adult lives of Stephanie and DJ Tanner, with both of the original actors (Jodie Sweetin, 31 and Candice Barker, 37) set to appear.
But don’t get too excited just yet because it appears this is actually a well-orchestrated internet hoax.
None of the cast members have spoken about the rumours and it turns out that the Newport Gazette was a newspaper that ceased publication in 1799.
Full House ran from 1987 to 1995 with the hour-long finale attracting over 24 million viewers in the US.
So it looks like there won’t be a revival any time soon. Oh well, the Olsen twins will be so disappointed.
The Full House girls with creator Jeff Franklin. Photo: Twitter/@fullhouseguy
Source: YahooNews
AAPNZ has introduced a new law which could see cyber bullies face up to three years’ imprisonment.
Cyber bullies could face up to three years’ imprisonment, with their bullying set to be criminalised in a new bill being introduced to the New Zealand parliament.
It comes just two days after news broke that a group of Auckland teenage boys, calling themselves Roast Busters, were having sex with drunk girls, many of them underage, and posting details – including the girls’ names – online.
Communications Bill, backed by NZ Justice Minister Judith Collins, to crack down on bullying via social networking, email, mobile phones and websites.
It creates a new criminal offence for sending messages or posting material online with intent to cause harm – including threatening and offensive messages, harassment, damaging rumours and invasive photographs – with penalties of up to three months’ imprisonment or a $NZ2000 ($A1766) fine.
It also creates a new offence of incitement to commit suicide – even in situations when a person does not attempt to take their life – punishable by up to three years’ jail.
Both changes were recommended by the Law Commission in August.
Ms Collins’ bill will also create a new agency and enforcement regime as the first port of call for complaints, which will be able to contact service providers like Twitter and Facebook to request information be removed.
Serious complaints can head to court, which will have the power to issue remedies such as take-down orders and cease-and-desist notices.
School principals will be able to apply on behalf of their students, while police can apply where a communication constitutes a threat to a person’s safety, and the chief coroner can apply for a take-down order for material relating to suicides.
The law relating to website hosts will be clarified, and it will be easier for people to request harmful content to be removed.
Website hosts could face legal action if they fail to remove the content.
GREEK WORLD MEDIA 