United States

Matthew McConaughey to gain weight for new film role

Matthew McConaughey’s Airstream trailer obsessionWashington, Apr 28 : Matthew McConaughey is set to trade his lean muscular frame for a fat belly for a new movie in which he is playing an overweight fighter.

The Hollywood heartthrob, who is regularly snapped topless on the beach or working out semi-nude near his California home, has earned a strong female following owing to his toned body.

However, now ‘The Wedding Planner’ actor has revealed he''s swapping muscles for flab for new film ‘The Grackle’.

Smoking, high BP, obesity: Leading causes of death in US

smokingWashington, Apr 28 : Smoking, high blood pressure and being overweight—these are the top three preventable risk factors for premature mortality in the United States, according to a new study.

Led by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), the collaborative study found that smoking is responsible for 467,000 premature deaths each year, high blood pressure for 395,000, and being overweight for 216,000.

The effects of smoking work out to be about one in five deaths in American adults, while high blood pressure is responsible for one in six deaths.

Potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s identified

Alzheimer''s disease identifiedWashington, Apr 28 : Researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a protein which, when over-expressed, leads to the formation of senile plaques that cause Alzheimer’s disease.

It can be a potential new therapeutic target to block the accumulation of amyloid plaque in the brain.

"The role of the multi-domain protein, RANBP9, suggests a possible new therapeutic target for Alzheimer''s disease," said Dr David E. Kang, assistant professor of neurosciences at UC San Diego and director of this study.

‘Copycat’ octomom gets Jolie-like tattoo

Nadya SulemanNew York, April 28 : The mother of octuplets Nadya Suleman has got herself a new tattoo resembling that of actress Angelina Jolie.

The history-making mum, who gave birth to eight babies in January, adding to her previous lot of six, already has seven tattoos, a passion that she “shares” with the Hollywood star.

According to RadarOnline. com, the single, unemployed mum went under the needle to get a tattoo of an angel with 14 stars, representing her brood, reports the New York Daily News.

Interestingly, Jolie has a tattoo reminding her of her 6 kids with the geographical coordinates of their birthplaces.

Flu vaccine given in microneedle skin patches offers new hope

Flu vaccine given in microneedle skin patches offers new hopeWashington, Apr 28 : Researchers at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology have found flu vaccine delivered through skin patches containing microneedles as effective at preventing influenza in mice as intramuscular, hypodermic flu immunization.

The researchers claims that the microneedle skin patch method could improve overall seasonal vaccination as it is simpler, safer and painless.

The patches contain an array of stainless steel microneedles coated with inactivated influenza virus.

Pizza tossing art inspires next-gen micro motors

Pizza tossing art inspires next-gen micro motorsWashington, Apr 28 : The physics of the perfect pizza toss has been unlocked by Monash University scientists who will use it to design the next generation of micro motors thinner that a human hair.

Daniel (Kuang-Chen) Liu, a PhD student supervised by Associate Professor James Friend and Senior Lecturer Leslie Yeo, videotaped a professional pizza tosser at work.

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