PBS lets you choose your favourite science program

januari 16, 2007

As I wanted to watch my all-time favourite PBS’ “The Elegant Universe”, I discovered PBS has come up with a new initiative to let the viewer decide which series is being broad-casted for the rest of the year. A wonderful idea, I think, because this voting-mania on television has never surpassed the level of dating-, survival- or big-brother shows. Now, for the cause of science, it suddenly seems like a revelation!

PBS gives us the choice between three series:

  • Wired Science – A jeu de mots with Weird Science, the famous eighties series and film in which two youngsters invent and make (?) a woman. Apparently, Wired is a popular science magazine, with which the series is affiliated. The pilot shows a lot of diverging but all interesting subjects, for example: they scrutinize the most recent stem-cell research. Not bad!
  • Science Investigators -Delivers answers to science questions from the viewers. As there where no viewers before the pilot program, they came up with some themselves: Is the bionical man coming? Hmm, quite boring; Myth Busters and Brainiac combined.
  • 22nd Century – In form and subject, the most progressive of the three series. In this pilot they discuss brain implants, which are already available. However, they don’t shun a little speculation and suppose this might make a world-wide brain (WWB?) which compromise all of mankind. A little far-fetched, but quite nice to look at.

All programs are available here, and await your evaluation!


Miltefosine: een nieuw geneesmiddel voor leishmaniasis

januari 14, 2007

Finally; my first indexiation (as first author!) in PubMed.
Read the pdf-file below to get to know everything you always wanted to know about miltefosine (Impavido®) for the treatment of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis.

Abstract:
There is a need for a safe and effective oral treatment for cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. Miltefosine is the first oral drug that is efficacious against different forms of leishmaniasis, however it is not equally effective against all Leishmania species. Miltefosine is an alkylphosphocholine, originally developed for the treatment of cancer. The mechanism of action is probably based on interference with the synthesis and degradation of parasitic membrane lipids. Little is known about the pharmacokinetics of miltefosine; an important characteristic is its long elimination half-life of seven days or longer. The most frequent adverse effects are of gastrointestinal origin. Miltefosine should not be used during pregnancy. Over thirty leishmaniasis patients have already been treated with miltefosine in the Netherlands.

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Extremely loud & incredibly close – Jonathan Safran Foer

januari 5, 2007

Jaar: 2005
Originele Titel: -
Aantal Pagina’s: 356
Uitgave: paper-back

Eerste zin: ‘What about a teakettle? What if the spout opened and closed when the steam came out, so it would become a mouth, and it could whistle pretty melodies, or do Shakespeare, or just crack up with me?’ 

Laatste zin: ‘ We would have been safe.’


Oom Petros en het vermoeden van Goldbach – Apostolos Doxiadis

november 3, 2006

Jaar: 1992
Originele Titel: Ο θείος Πέτρος και η Εικασία του Goldbach (Γκόλντμπαχ)
Aantal Pagina’s: 191
Uitgave: hard-cover

Eerste zin: ‘Iedere familie heeft een zwart schaap – in die van ons was het oom Petros.’

Laatste zin: ‘ ‘IEDER EVEN GETAL GROTER DAN 2 IS DE SOM VAN TWEE PRIEMGETALLEN’ ’

  

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Onze man in Havana – Graham Greene

oktober 31, 2006

Jaar: 1958
Originele Titel: Our man in Havana
Aantal Pagina’s: 212
Uitgave: paperback

Eerste zin:  ‘”Die nikker daar op straat”, zei dr. Hasselbacher, terwijl hij in de Wonder Bar naar buiten stond te kijken, “die doet me aan u denken, meneer Wormold”.’

Laatste zin:  ‘”Maar we zijn met ons drieën”, zei Wormold en ze begreep, wat in hun verder leven altijd de grootste moeilijkheid zou blijven: hij was wel dwaas, maar net niet dwaas genoeg.’

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De luiaards in de vruchtbare vallei – Albert Cossery

oktober 25, 2006

Jaar: 1964
Originele Titel: Les Faitnéants dans la vallée fertile
Aantal Pagina’s: 181
Uitgave: hard-cover

Eerste zin:  ‘De jongen laadde zijn katapult en richtte heel lang, met ingehouden adem.’

Laatste zin:  ‘Daarna drukten ze zich dicht tegen elkaar aan en vielen in slaap, onverschillig voor het fanatieke zware werk van de mensen, onder de trage blik van de lome sterren.’

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