SAN DIEGO (AP) ? Sandra Bullock has landed at Comic-Con.
The actress came to the pop-culture convention for the first time Saturday to discuss the new film "Gravity," in which she and George Clooney play astronauts floating through space.
Director Alfonso Cuaron said the two Oscar winners comprise the entire cast.
Bullock spent more than six months physically preparing for the role, which required her to spend dozens of hours in a 9-by-9 foot cube that simulated zero gravity. Other shots required her to be "strung up from 12 wires 18 hours a day."
Cuaron said, "It was a very intense experience for Sandra."
After promoting the film, Bullock said she planned to stroll the Comic-Con convention floor trying to "get free stuff."
British actress Lynda Bellingham is refusing to despair over her recent cancer diagnosis, insisting she was more concerned about dropping out of a play.
The 65-year-old was due to tour the U.K. as the star of Kay Mellor's play A Passionate Woman but has postponed her appearances to receive treatment.
She released a statement saying she was "devastated" to pull out of the national tour, but refused to divulge any further details of her condition.
Now she has spoken up about the diagnosis, revealing she will keep the type of cancer from which she's suffering a secret and will refuse to allow her upcoming chemotherapy sessions get her down.
The All Creatures Great and Small star tells Britain's Daily Mail, "You have no idea. I honestly minded more about having to pull out of the play than I did about the cancer itself.
"(After the cancer diagnosis) I sat down and it was then that he (the doctor) uttered the immortal words: 'Lynda Bellingham, you are not going to die.' I could have hugged him. It's the mantra I've since repeated every day to myself.
"I'm just not ready to share the intimate details of all of that at the moment. It's my body and nobody else's business. In months to come, I may change my mind... It's early days. It's been a lot to absorb and I'd like to hang on to something so private, something that remains mine and mine alone.
"There have been so many advances in the field of medicine in the last few decades. Two generations ago, for example, diabetes was a killer. Now, we understand more how to live with it and manage it. The same is true of lots of cancers. I certainly don't regard the course of chemo as being a hiding to nothing (hopeless).
"Nor am I in denial. I'm taking it seriously. I know I couldn't tour the country in a demanding play. But I've always been a positive person and I'm now putting myself first."
It's not just the heat -- it's the ozone: Study highlights hidden dangersPublic release date: 19-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: David Garner david.garner@york.ac.uk 44-019-043-22153 University of York
During heat waves -- when ozone production rises -- plants' ozone absorption is curtailed, leaving more pollution in the air, and costing an estimated 460 lives in the UK in the hot summer of 2006.
Vegetation plays a crucial role in reducing air pollution, but new research by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) at the University of York shows that they may not protect us when we need it most: during extreme heat, when ozone formation from traffic fumes, industrial processes and other sources is at its worst.
The reason, explained lead author Dr Lisa Emberson, is that during heat waves -- when the ground is especially dry -- plants become stressed and shut their stomata (small pores on their leaves) to conserve water. This natural protective mechanism makes them more resilient to extreme heat and high ozone levels, but it also stops them from absorbing ozone and other pollutants.
"Vegetation can absorb as much as 20 per cent of the global atmospheric ozone production, so the potential impact on air quality is substantial," says Dr Emberson, a senior lecturer in the Environment Department at the University of York and director of SEI's York Centre. "What we set out to do in this study was to quantify that impact in terms of increased ozone levels and the toll on human life."
The research team, which also included scientists at King's College, London, focused on the summer of 2006, when a heat wave and drought occurred across the UK and much of Europe. They combined two models used for human health and ecosystem risk assessment to compare two scenarios, one with perfect ozone uptake by plants, and one with minimal ozone absorption.
The difference between perfect and minimal uptake was equivalent to 16 days of ozone levels above the threshold for human safety across the entire UK -- and as many as 20 days in the East Midlands and eastern UK. Using these same scenarios, the team also estimated that 970 premature deaths due to ozone would have occurred under minimal plant ozone uptake conditions over the June to July period; of these 460 could have been avoided if plants had been absorbing ozone at full capacity. All estimated premature deaths are in addition to human health and mortality impacts from the heat itself.
"The most vulnerable people to ozone pollution are those with existing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases," explains Dr Emberson. "For example, ground-level ozone can lead to lung inflammation, decreased lung function, and an increase in asthma attacks. That is why, during high ozone episodes, especially in urban areas, people are generally advised not to do physical activity."
The study findings were published this week in the peer-reviewed journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. The research was financed by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The timing of the publication coincides with yet another major heat wave in the UK, and Dr Emberson says it is likely that ozone uptake by vegetation is once again curtailed. The extent of the problem, however, will depend on how dry the soil is, since it is the combination of heat and drought that stresses plants the most.
Dr Emberson says the study highlights the importance of understanding the frequency with which such heat waves and droughts will occur in the future as well as how ozone uptake by vegetation is affected by droughts, extreme heat, and interaction with other pollutants.
"The more we know, the better we will be able to judge how successful our emission reduction efforts have been so far, and whether we need additional efforts -- in the UK, across Europe and beyond, since we know that pollutants such as ozone and its precursors can carried around the globe," she says.
The research can also inform public-health responses, Dr Emberson says. For example, people may mistakenly believe that as long as they get out of the city, they are not at risk from poor air quality, so it is important to raise their awareness. Greater efforts can also be made to reduce traffic congestion and other sources of ozone-forming pollutants -- every day, but especially during heat waves.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
It's not just the heat -- it's the ozone: Study highlights hidden dangersPublic release date: 19-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: David Garner david.garner@york.ac.uk 44-019-043-22153 University of York
During heat waves -- when ozone production rises -- plants' ozone absorption is curtailed, leaving more pollution in the air, and costing an estimated 460 lives in the UK in the hot summer of 2006.
Vegetation plays a crucial role in reducing air pollution, but new research by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) at the University of York shows that they may not protect us when we need it most: during extreme heat, when ozone formation from traffic fumes, industrial processes and other sources is at its worst.
The reason, explained lead author Dr Lisa Emberson, is that during heat waves -- when the ground is especially dry -- plants become stressed and shut their stomata (small pores on their leaves) to conserve water. This natural protective mechanism makes them more resilient to extreme heat and high ozone levels, but it also stops them from absorbing ozone and other pollutants.
"Vegetation can absorb as much as 20 per cent of the global atmospheric ozone production, so the potential impact on air quality is substantial," says Dr Emberson, a senior lecturer in the Environment Department at the University of York and director of SEI's York Centre. "What we set out to do in this study was to quantify that impact in terms of increased ozone levels and the toll on human life."
The research team, which also included scientists at King's College, London, focused on the summer of 2006, when a heat wave and drought occurred across the UK and much of Europe. They combined two models used for human health and ecosystem risk assessment to compare two scenarios, one with perfect ozone uptake by plants, and one with minimal ozone absorption.
The difference between perfect and minimal uptake was equivalent to 16 days of ozone levels above the threshold for human safety across the entire UK -- and as many as 20 days in the East Midlands and eastern UK. Using these same scenarios, the team also estimated that 970 premature deaths due to ozone would have occurred under minimal plant ozone uptake conditions over the June to July period; of these 460 could have been avoided if plants had been absorbing ozone at full capacity. All estimated premature deaths are in addition to human health and mortality impacts from the heat itself.
"The most vulnerable people to ozone pollution are those with existing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases," explains Dr Emberson. "For example, ground-level ozone can lead to lung inflammation, decreased lung function, and an increase in asthma attacks. That is why, during high ozone episodes, especially in urban areas, people are generally advised not to do physical activity."
The study findings were published this week in the peer-reviewed journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. The research was financed by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The timing of the publication coincides with yet another major heat wave in the UK, and Dr Emberson says it is likely that ozone uptake by vegetation is once again curtailed. The extent of the problem, however, will depend on how dry the soil is, since it is the combination of heat and drought that stresses plants the most.
Dr Emberson says the study highlights the importance of understanding the frequency with which such heat waves and droughts will occur in the future as well as how ozone uptake by vegetation is affected by droughts, extreme heat, and interaction with other pollutants.
"The more we know, the better we will be able to judge how successful our emission reduction efforts have been so far, and whether we need additional efforts -- in the UK, across Europe and beyond, since we know that pollutants such as ozone and its precursors can carried around the globe," she says.
The research can also inform public-health responses, Dr Emberson says. For example, people may mistakenly believe that as long as they get out of the city, they are not at risk from poor air quality, so it is important to raise their awareness. Greater efforts can also be made to reduce traffic congestion and other sources of ozone-forming pollutants -- every day, but especially during heat waves.
###
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?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
I can hear my heartbeat in my left ear. Should I be worried that I might lose my hearing?
DEAR READER:
A few years ago a patient of mine asked me the same question. What he was worried about was not that he might have an ear condition which could take away his hearing ? he was worried that he might be going crazy!
I told him that if all he heard was his heart, he wasn?t crazy. On the other hand, if he heard the voice of Abraham Lincoln whispering in his ear, he might have something to worry about.
A condition called tinnitus causes unusual sounds in the ears: high-pitched hisses, lower-pitched buzzing sounds, clicking. This is a remarkably common problem; an estimated 50 million people in the United States have it to some degree.
I consulted with my colleague Dr. David Vernick, assistant clinical professor of otology and laryngology at Harvard Medical School. We agreed that what you describe sounds like what?s called ?pulsatile tinnitus.? This is a rhythmic thumping or whooshing only you can hear, often in time with your heartbeat.
The most common causes of pulsatile tinnitus include:
Conductive hearing loss. This type of hearing loss intensifies internal head noises ? sounds such as breathing, chewing, and blood flowing through the ear.?Conductive hearing loss makes it easier to hear blood flowing through two large blood vessels that travel near to each ear. These are the carotid artery and the jugular vein, which circulate blood to and from the brain. (I?ve put an illustration of these blood vessels, and where they sit in relation to your middle and inner ear, below.)
?Carotid artery disease. The accumulation of fatty buildup (plaque) inside the carotid arteries can create turbulent blood flow. This can cause a pulsating sound.
?High blood pressure. When blood pressure is high, blood flow through the carotid artery is more likely to be turbulent. That turbulence generates the pulsatile tinnitus.
?Blood vessel disorders. Many blood vessel disorders can cause pulsatile tinnitus. These include an abnormal connection between an artery and vein, twisted arteries, or a benign blood vessel tumor behind the eardrum.
?Ear muscle disorders. Tiny little muscles that attach to the bones inside the ear can sometimes go into spasms, and this can cause pulsatile tinnitus.
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Ear anatomy and hearing
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Conductive hearing loss makes it easier to hear blood flowing through two large blood vessels that travel through each ear. These are the carotid artery and the jugular vein, which circulate blood to and from the brain.
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Most of the time, pulsatile tinnitus is nothing to worry about. If it doesn?t go away on its own or becomes really bothersome, talk to your doctor.
Your doctor will likely examine your ears and listen to the blood flow through the arteries in your neck. He or she will listen for an unusual sound that blood makes when it rushes past an obstruction. If your doctor hears this sound, you?ll likely need a test to look for a narrowing or malformation in your carotid artery ? and possibly surgery to correct the problem. Otherwise, you may need a hearing test or other additional testing.
When Hearts of Gold was alerted by partner organization, Fundaci?n El Arenal, about the precarious living situation of one of their families, Hearts of Gold set out with a team to assess the safety of their home and to learn from the family and the accompanying social workers how we could best help with a home improvement project.? The Ruales family home for eleven family members is located on the outskirts of Cuenca on a steep hillside and is inaccessible by vehicle.
Se?or Manuel and Se?ora Maria have 8 children and 3 grandchildren. Their eldest daughter lives illegally in the US and another one of their children has gotten married and lives in another part of town. They have seven guinea pigs that live on a bed of grass under the kitchen sink. Se?ora Maria works at the Feria Libre market during the week.
The home measures approximately 500 square feet, consists of a small kitchen and three other small rooms as well as a bathroom entered by way of an outside door opening.? Two of the three house doors were not locking doors and there was no door on the bathroom.? Without doors and locks, the threat of theft and damage to their home in this remote location was obvious. ?When the family is away, neighbors and others enter the home and borrow things? permanently.
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However, the Arenal Foundation?s social worker pointed out an even greater problem for the family.? Three of their children are too young to attend school. The parents cannot safely bring their children to work in town, nor can they afford childcare.? Therefore, like many struggling families here, they lock their youngest children inside the home to keep them out of sight of strangers. A home improvement project is necessary to keep the children safe until the parents arrive at the end of the work day.
Hearts of Gold volunteers, Tom Wine and Tony Hartwell, lead the initial visit to the home in June and revealed that to best secure the house, one door could be repositioned and a dead-bolt installed, a second door and door frame was needed, and a new custom door and frame was measured for the outside-access bathroom.? Additionally, a plan was made to allow for more light by cutting a window into the concrete block wall and installing a prefab window with safety bars.
Tom and Tony got to work right away sourcing the building supplies, having a door custom built, and gathering tools for the various jobs they would need to do on the job-site.
Tom also volunteered to drive out to the job site each workday, taking a helper or two with him.? The effort will take numerous visits and will cost about $300, but thanks to our generous donors and the helping hands of our resourceful volunteers, as of June 28, 2013 all the doors to the home were locking securely and the new window was cut out and framed and a safety grill installed.
Four of the children in this family attend Fundacion El Arenal, which serves over 40 at-risk families each year.? These four siblings will benefit from this year?s shoes and school supplies drive made possible by our generous Hearts of Gold donors.
With the improvements to their home, we expect that these children will continue to attend at El Arenal and go to school this coming September.
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Public release date: 19-Jul-2013
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