News in brief

Terrorism on screen
Dr Alan O’Leary (School of Modern Languages and Cultures) has been touring Italy to promote his book on terrorism in Italian cinema, Tragedia all’italiana: Cinema e terrorismo tra Moro e memoria (Angelica Editore, 2007), making appearances on television and radio. Dr O’Leary says the Italians are extremely interested in this theme, “particularly this year, the 30th anniversary of the kidnap and murder of the former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro by the Red Brigades. I think they are keen to hear a foreigner’s perspective, and they are very keen to discuss the films. Many Italians still remember the trauma of terrorism in the ‘70s, and everyone has an opinion.”

Common drug halts lung damage
An antibiotic commonly used to treat acne and sinusitis can prevent tissue damage caused by lung diseases such as emphysema, researchers from the universities of Leeds and California, San Diego have found.

While studying a protein called VEGF, which helps maintain healthy lung tissue in humans, they found that the antibiotic doxycyline also boosts the body’s ability to protect against damage to the lungs.

Emphysema sufferers have unusually low levels of the protein, which inhibits the body’s natural protective processes, says Dr Harry Rossiter from the Institute for Membrane and Systems Biology.

In the fast lane
More than 30 students from the School of Mechanical Engineering are building their own single-seater racing car to enter in Formula Student (FS), one of the world’s biggest student motorsport competitions, taking place at the legendary Silverstone track from 10 to 13 July.

Assisted by their project manager Jonathan Stephenson, the Leeds car will undergo a series of tests for acceleration, braking and handling performance, as well as being judged on its design and costs.