How to Care for an Elderly Person or Senior

It is not always easy caring for an elderly person. Their physical condition, health issues and their emotional state can present challenges for you, the caregiver. There are no doubts that caring for an elderly person is admirable, but it certainly comes with stress and at times can be overwhelming.

Far too many people feel guilty that they can not care for an elderly person on their own. Life presents far too many challenges and more often than not raising a family, paying into a mortgage and keeping food on the table can be challenging enough let alone adding to this caring for an elderly loved one. Although this can be challenging – it is not impossible. Preparing yourself and your family members for the transition is essential in order to make this work well.

Physical Considerations

Get informed about the physical needs of your loved one. Talk to the doctor and to anyone else who may have the wisdom and knowledge to help you care for the elderly member of your family. Know what to expect, what medications are required. Using services provided by a certified in-home caregiver from a professional agency can assist you in times that you need that extra help.

Keeping all important information in one file is important and this includes all medical information including test results, names and phone numbers of doctors, appointment dates, hospital cards, and insurance information. If your loved one is taking a lot of medications, make a chart to help keep track of what medication is to be taken and when.

Always be sure the home is safe. If your loved one uses a walker be sure throw rugs are secure, and there are no obstacles for them to trip over. Install safety railings should this help. If your loved one can get confused at times, it’s also a good safety precaution to have a baby gate positioned high enough in the door frame at staircases so that they can not fall down.

Emotional Considerations

Spending time caring for the elderly does not have to be all about taking care of their personal needs. Spend time asking them about their life. Everyone has stories to share about their life and some seniors have great experiences to share.

Teach an elderly person about the Internet. Many elderly people are nervous about computers and teaching them about all the amazing benefits of the Internet can spark new life in the person you are caring for.

The brain likes to stay active and no better way to do this than to play word games, crossword puzzles or even some board games such as Scrabble.

Always remember to be understanding because as we get older we tend to be very set in our ways and this means being stubborn at times. If the person you are caring for is being very stubborn and it is not a big issue, let it go. If the stubbornness is over something that is not negotiable it's much easier to handle and you'll have much less stress when you know to expect it.

When you have all the tools you need, it will make caring for the elderly much easer.
  by: Starlet Nicole .The author invites you to visit:
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Details About The Rising Investments In Mexico

Despite significant hurdles, such as a national drug war, worldwide recession, and a decline in oil production investments in Mexico have continued to rise. In 2007 Mexico was only ranked 19th as an appealing foreign market to invest in, yet by 2010 it had sky rocketed to an impressive number 8.

Mexico indeed has it's issues. However, the country still attracts commerce from American companies seeking to lower operating costs. Additionally, as the world economy improves more investments is expected. The United States is the leader when it comes to making investments in Mexico, having increased by 400% over the last fifteen years.

Certainly, China has become a popular place for American investments, yet Mexico has that closeness attached to it. In other words, Mexico is right on our doorstep. NAFTA and other trade agreements have served to increase commerce and investments in Mexico. Services have overtaken manufacturing in FDI, foreign direct investments in Mexico, and an incredible increase for the lodging sector is expected.

An example of increased commerce into Mexico is when General Motors announced in January, 2011 an investment of $540,000,000 to make its new 4 cylinder engines. Mexico will also profit from the expected 500 employees that will be hired. Naturally, GM can conduct business anywhere on the earth, yet they have selected Mexico for their commerce. This action adds credibility to Mexico and it's work force.

Mexico is actively seeking a lot more Chinese investment and commerce. Their rationale being, their close proximity to the American market can eliminate long shipping delays that frequently occur between the United States and China. In a sense, Mexico is looking to act as a go-between, between China and the United States.

As an added advantage, Mexico can bypass California as China’s entry point to the American market, and drive their products by truck. Plus, Mexico has many free trade agreements, enabling China a tariff free environment to conduct commerce. While China and Mexico do have agreements in place; Mexico continues to pitch in exclusive physical closeness to the American market to Chinese companies.

Mexico, despite considerable struggles with the worldwide recession and an ugly drug war has managed to steadily increase the foreign investment it receives. Even GM has announced a new investment to build new 4 cylinder engines for it's cars. Mexico would profit from 500 new jobs. NAFTA has helped to increase investment and business into Mexico.

ProMexico is the Mexican Government institution in charge of strengthening Mexico’s participation in the international trade (comercio). With this objective in mind, the institution supports the export activity of companies established in the country and co-ordinates actions to attract foreign direct investment to national territory. ProMexico was established on June 13, 2007, as a sectoral public trust under the Ministry of the Economy, and operates through a network of 25 offices throughout Mexico and more than 27 offices abroad.
 ARTICLE SOURCE: http://www.promexico.gob.mx to know more.
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Where to Find Affordable Popcorn Makers

Popcorn is a wholesome snack. That is when you do not put too much salt or fatten it up with greasy butter. This is why, it is a incredibly good notion to invest on your own popcorn popper. When you adore this snack and you see oneself buying it continuously, then you'd be much better off making your own at home. This would guarantee that you would use the healthier oil and you do not load it up with too much flavoring. Fortunately, popcorn makers are fairly inexpensive specifically if you know the proper places to look. Here are some tips on where to look for inexpensive popcorn machines.

Discount Stores

One of the first places where you’d look for affordable popcorn makers would be in discount stores. As the name suggests, these are stores that sell products at much lower rates. They either sell brand-less items or phased out models. When looking for discount stores in your vicinity, check for quality and reputation. Ask about what shops have credible reputation and are popular for selling high quality merchandise. You need to save funds but you don’t want to wind up with a poor quality popcorn machine. You need to strike the balance between quality and price.

Garage Sales

Yet another excellent spot to search is at garage sales. You will find often plenty of garage sales held within your neighborhood or nearby residential places. That’s because folks keep on moving to new houses. You will often discover popcorn machines getting sold by household owners because these are too bulky to pack. You are able to have a chance to look upon a brand new and good quality popcorn machine in a garage sale if you are savvy enough. Make sure you examine the device cautiously as you do not would like to bring home something that does not function anymore. Do not forget to haggle with the cost at the same time. Some household owners would just like to get rid of their items without having too much concern concerning the cost.

On the net Retailers

A lot of people would need to agree that this is the greatest option among the 3. On-line, you will get affordable rates along with the perks of convenience and quick shopping time. That’s mainly because you'll be able to browse through hundreds or even thousands of possibilities with just a number of minutes or hours in front of the pc. The reason on-line retailers lower their cost is as a result of the stiff competition plus the truth that they have lesser overhead expenses to pay for. Bare in mind though that you can find some dangers in on the net shopping that you will have to be cautious about. For one, look for a reputable online shop that sells only the highest quality products. Then inquire about its security method. Purchase only from a store that's equipped with a secure transaction program so you do not bother about putting your credit card information in jeopardy. Spend ample time shopping around. Do not buy from the very first store which you see as you will discover plenty of possibilities on the net. Compare rates thoroughly and study the terms and conditions before having a purchase
  ARTICLE SOURCE:WWW.NEWSPAMA.COM

Photography In A Pinch

Good photographers try to be prepared for almost any contingency. Unfortunately, if you tried to carry everything you'd need to meet every contingency in the field, you'd have to pack like a Bedouin trader.

Many times that simply isn't possible and other times it's not desirable. So the seasoned photographer learns to be resourceful. Here are a few miscellaneous tips that can save your back, particularly on short trips near home.

A Monopod

In all but the most extreme lighting situations a monopod can substitute nicely for a tripod and is a lot easier to carry. With practice you'll be able to hold a monopod nearly as stable as a tripod, for a short time anyway.

Another trick for stabilizing a monopod is to wrap the camera strap around your upper arm and push on the monopod while exerting gentle backward pressure on the strap. Similarly, you can place a large clamp on your monopod and use it as a shoulder brace, almost like a gun mount. It might look a little funny but it works surprisingly well.

Working In Sand

For those times you have to drag a tripod to the beach or sandy area, grab three tennis balls on the way out the door. Cut a hole big enough for your tripod leg and fit a tennis ball over each end.

The tennis balls won't sink in the sand, will keep most of the grit out of the end of your tripod leg and you can throw them away when you're finished.

Another great thing about working at the beach is you don't need to carry sand bags, just bring bags. There's usually plenty of sand already on the beach. Those are priceless for weighting reflectors, which tend to act like a sail in ocean breezes.

Bring A Cooler

But leave the ice packs at home. A cooler has several advantages over an equipment case in many situations. They're solid, many have a handle and wheels, and you can sit or stand on them in a pinch. If you lose or break it, you're only out about $40.

You can still carry drinks with the camera gear, but carefully. Get those drink cozies you put in the freezer. Those will keep your drinks cold without bringing down the temp too much in the cooler. The last thing you want to do is bring cold optics or a camera out into warm, muggy atmosphere. Expect instant condensation if you do.

Carry a Bag of Rubber Bands

They're just so handy for so many things and so easy to carry. You can use them for emergency repairs and to keep papers from flying away.

A fat rubber band is handy for dislodging a stuck filter. Wrap the rubber band around the edge of the filter and that should give you enough grip to get it loose.

And, if you're stuck waiting outside a courthouse waiting for a photo op, they're also endlessly entertaining for taunting your fellow photographers.

Incident Light Meter

Many photographers still carry a light meter, even in the days of high end digital SLRs. If you're packing light you can use a styrofoam cup over the end of your lens and use your camera's light meter, hold it in place with one of your rubber bands.

Note that cups do come in different thicknesses, so you may want to calibrate yours using the Sunny 16 rule before yo
Record the exposure at the subject, then walk back to shoot the picture.
 ARTICLE SOURCE:WWW.NEWSPAMA.COM
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Indian Fair: Pakistani items end up being popular

Traditional cotton textile with embroidery, aromatic spices or herbs and crafts emerged as huge hits for Pakistani traders in the annual India Worldwide Trade Fair (IITF).
“I have been getting good response from clients, whose amounts continue growing even on working days,” Sayyada Dhanji, partner in textile firm Mars Hoor Gallery, told .
The Karachi-based businesswoman, that has been visiting India since 1998, stated cultural commonalities between people of both nations, particularly in clothing, attract Indian clients.
“This isn’t a unique trend and happens always with Pakistani goods, particularly textiles, spices or herbs, crafts and leather items. I’m expecting a sell-out throughout the weekend.”
Dhanji expected her business to improve in India. “I have always dreamed of the day after i sell my items at competitive rates and today with MFN (most-preferred nation) status, I don’t need to watch for IITF each year. I’m prepared to sell throughout every season in India.” Pakistan having a presence of 70 traders in the fair is among the greatest foreign contingents with presence from textile firms including Laila Art, Rohhirung & Nadia’s and handicraft maker Warsi Impex, that have been visiting India for more than ten years. Indian grocery list from Pakistani stalls include textiles and Lahore shoes.

Exporters demand trade in fruits veggies with India

ISLAMABAD:&nbspExporters have required the federal government to not add veggies and fruits within the negative listing of do business with India as Pakistan can earn as much as $1.2 billion in next 2 yrs by delivering fruits towards the neighbouring country.
Pakistan is incorporated in the procedure for changing the positive list with negative list to grow do business with the once arch-rival.
The positive list consists of over 2,000 products that may be exchanged with India as the negative list will contain only couple of hundred products that won’t be exchanged until Pakistan grants or loans Most Preferred Nation status to India by December 2012. The government commerce ministry has introduced to enforce the negative list by Feb 2012.
There’s an excellent scope for joint endeavors between India and Pakistan especially in the agriculture sector, stated agriculture experts and traders while speaking to .
Khan Buying and selling Company Ceo Khalid Khan told that India could be a large marketplace for Pakistani kinnow (oranges). He stated based on various estimations Pakistan can export 400,000 a lot of kinnow to India.
The exports of Pakistani fruit supplies could fetch $1.2 billion within the next 2 yrs, he mentioned. Some Pakistani items are better in quality and cost than Indian goods although some Indian items are better in quality and cost than Pakistani goods, he added.
Abad Buying and selling Company Boss Javed Ali stated the federal government should concentrate on free trade of fruits, veggies along with other agriculture items to boost the exports. Some items which are cheap in India ought to be imported by Pakistan, he stated.

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Airblue Flight 202

Airblue Flight 202 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight which crashed on 28 July 2010 near Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, killing all 146 passengers and six crew on board.^[2][3][4] It is the deadliest air accident to occur in Pakistan to date.^[5] The aircraft, an Airblue operated Airbus A321-231 narrow-body jet airliner, crashed in the Margalla Hills north of Islamabad during a flight from Karachi's Jinnah International Airport to Benazir Bhutto International Airport.^[6] Air traffic controllers reportedly lost contact with the flight crew during its attempt to land in dense fog and heavy monsoon rain.^[7][8]
The accident was the first fatal crash involving an Airbus A321, a long variant of the Airbus A320 family of short to medium range airliners.^[9] Based in Islamabad, Airblue is Pakistan's second largest airline, with over 30% share of the domestic market. At the time of the accident the airline operated seven aircraft, all in the A320 family.
The flight left Karachi at 07:50 local time (01:50 UTC).^[2] Initial reports suggested that flight controllers at Benazir Bhutto International Airport lost contact with the aircraft at 09:43 local time (03:43 UTC) ^[6] after they delayed its landing 13 minutes earlier.^[4] It was reported that the poor weather had forced controllers to divert another aircraft attempting to land 30 minutes before the crash.^[14]
The aircraft approached Islamabad from the southeast, following a procedure that required it to fly toward the airport until making visual contact. It was then to have flown around the airport to the east and north, keeping within a distance of 5 nmi (9.3 km), until lining up with runway 12, which faces toward the southeast. The aircraft crashed in the mountains outside the 5 nmi (9.3 km) radius, approximately 8 nmi (15 km) north of the airport, facing almost due west, before it could line up with runway 12 for final approach.^[15]
While the BBC reported that officials stated that "there was nothing in conversations between the pilot and the Islamabad control tower that suggests anything was wrong",^[2] The New York Times gave an account of communications between the aircraft and the ground that indicated otherwise. The newspaper claimed that the pilots were warned that they were flying away from the runway, to which the pilot responded “I can see”.^[14] The controller then told the flight crew to “immediately turn left, Margalla [Hills] are ahead”, before the pilot again replied “we can see it”.^[14] An airline official stated that the pilots did not send any emergency signals prior to the crash.^[16] Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik stated that the plane was at 2,600 feet (790 m) as it approached Islamabad but went back up to 3,000 feet (910 m) before eventually crashing.^[17] The altitude of 2,600 feet (790 m) was above the safe minimum descent altitude (2,510 feet (770 m) above sea level, or 852 feet (260 m) above ground level) had the aircraft remained within the 5 nmi (9.3 km) radius of the airport.^[18][19]
One witness on the ground, who was out walking, stated that "the plane had lost balance, and then we saw it going down".^[8] Others described the plane as being lower than it should have been. "I wondered why the plane wasn't flying higher as it was flying towards the hill", one stated. "Then within three or four minutes I heard a loud explosion". Another said that "it was raining. I saw the plane flying very low from the window of my office".^[2] Imran Abbasi told The New York Times that he "could tell it was trouble because it stayed so low even though the mountains were up ahead". He stated that the jet was "flying as low as a four-story building".^[14] It was reported that Mr. Abbasi said that "as the aircraft started to turn, the right side of its front banged into the highest mountain, emitting an instant billow of blue fire and black smoke".^[14]
The plane was found near Daman-e-Koh viewing point in the Margalla Hills outside Islamabad.^[20] The Los Angeles Times reported that "television footage of the crash site showed smoke and burning debris strewn in a swathe cutting through the forest. Rescue helicopters hovered overhead. Fire was visible, and smoke was blowing up from the scene."^[8]
The weather conditions before the accident, as detailed by the 03:00 UTC METAR (aviation routine weather observation message) report for Benazir Bhutto International Airport, were as follows: Wind from 50° (approximately north east) at 16 knots (30 km/h). Visibility 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), rain, few clouds at 1,500 feet (460 m), few clouds at 3,000 feet (910 m) with towering cumulus. Scattered clouds at 4,000 feet (1,200 m), broken clouds at 10,000 feet (3,000 m). Temperature 24°C, dewpoint 23°C. QNH 1006.5 hPa.^[10]

Pakistan plane crash: no evidence of mechanical failure

Pakistan has barred the head of an airline whose jet crashed near Islamabad from leaving the country as the country's aviation authority said mechanical failure was not to blame. 

 

The Bhoja Air flight from Karachi, came down in fields near a village on the outskirts of the capital on Friday evening, killing all 127 people onboard, in the country's second major fatal air crash in less than two years.

Speaking at a press conference today, the head of the country’s civil aviation authority, Nadeem Yousafzai, said the Bhoja Airlines Boeing 737 was correctly positioned for landing when, at 2,600 feet, the plane began to descend sharply.

Mr Yousafzai said he had listened to recordings of conversations between air traffic controllers at Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto international Airport the pilot, Noor Ullah Afridi.

All had seemed normal, with the air traffic controller reminding the pilots to lower the plane’s landing gear in preparation for landing.

“Suddenly, the blip disappeared from the radar screen and contact was lost with the plane,” Mr Yousafzai said.
 It hit the ground next to the village of Hussainabad at 6.40pm, four miles short of the airport runway, three minutes after losing contact with air traffic controllers, he told a press conference in Islamabad.


Earlier leaks of the civil aviation authority’s initial investigation, submitted to the interior ministry, reported the pilot had issued a mayday call after a fire in one of its fuel tanks caused him to lose control of the aircraft.
The plane had accelerated to 300 miles per hour and exploded at 1,500 feet, the leaked findings said.
Given the violent storm lashing Islamabad during the accident, some experts have speculated that "wind shear" - sudden changes in wind that can lift or smash an aircraft into the ground during landing - may have been a factor.
Mr Yousafzai said it was “too early to rule out any cause” for the crash.
Tyre marks and landing gear found in tact in the wheat fields by the village indicated the plane had “landed, bounced into the air and disintegrated”, suggesting the pilots had attempted an emergency landing, he said.
At the crash site on Friday night, a Sunday Telegraph reporter saw one set of landing gear and some small parts of the plane’s machinery in a field on the southern periphery of Hussainabad. Most debris, including sections of the plane’s fuselage and the other sets of landing gear, were found in the fields on the northern side of the village.
Residents, who were inside their homes having dinner at the time of the accident, said they had seen a flash of light, followed by an explosion, and the sound of debris and bodies landing.
A former navy pilot, Arshad Mehmood, told Pakistan cable news channels he had watched the plane stall and fall rapidly.
Yousaf Raza Gilani, Pakistan's Prime Minister, on Saturday ordered a judicial investigation into the accident.
Rehman Malik, the Interior Minister, promised a sweeping criminal investigation into the accident.
"The causes will be investigated, whether it was any fault in the aircraft, it was lightning, the bad weather or any other factor that caused the loss of precious lives," he said.
He said the plane's black box has been recovered and would be sent abroad for its contents to be decoded. Pakistani investigators would also travel to South Africa, where the 32-year-old plane had last undergone safety checks into its flightworthiness.
"If the plane was that old, why was it bought?" said Mr Malik.
He said investigators would probe the owner of Bhoja Airlines, Farooq Bhoja, and all civil aviation officials who cleared the flight for take-off from Karachi.
Mr Bhoja has been banned from leaving the country and placed in protective custody.
Rescue workers have recovered the remains of all 127 passengers and crew, and have identified all but 12 of them. Relatives have been asked to give DNA samples to aid identification.
Post mortem examinations have been carried out on the victims, and their bodies handed over to relatives in Islamabad and Karachi so they could be buried quickly, as per the Muslim custom.
ARTICLE SOURCE:wwwnewspama.com

Is Pakistan's military plotting a coup?

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told parliament Friday that it had to choose democracy or dictatorship, as his tried to face down the army and the Supreme Court. Is Pakistan heading for a military coup? And, whether it is or isn’t, is Gilani’s government under threat?

Monday could be crunch day for Pakistan. Parliament will vote on a motion of confidence in the government tabled by a junior partner in the ruling coalition. And the government will give evidence to the Supreme Court in a highly sensitive corruption case and to a special commission on the Memogate scandal.

Dossier: AfPak news and analysis

"Now we have to decide whether we should have democracy or dictatorship in this country,” Gilani told MPs Friday. “If we have committed any mistakes, it does not mean that democracy or parliament should be punished."
Earlier that day President Asif Ali Zardari returned to the country after a brief visit to Dubai, either for a wedding or for medical treatment, according to which rumour you believe. Like his visit to the Gulf last month, the trip – and the speedy return - stoked rumours that he feared that the military might stage a coup.

Those are rumours that the ruling People’s Party (PPP) seems more than happy to encourage, even if the government Friday denied reports that Gilani had made a “panicky” call to British High Commissioner Adam Thompson asking for the UK’s help if the military made a move.

The Pakistani military – the seventh biggest in the world - has form. It has staged four coups and ruled the country for much of its brief history. The last bout of military rule, under President Pervez Musharraf, only ended in 2008.

And the army rattled the politicians’ cage on Wednesday when it responded to criticism by Gilani with a thinly veiled threat.
“This has very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country,” a military statement said after Gilani slammed affidavits by army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and military intelligence boss Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha to the Supreme Court as “unconstitutional and illegal” because they did not have government clearance.
A meeting of corps commanders and principal staff officers at army HQ on Thursday to discuss “the prevailing situation and security operations in the country” won’t have done much to reassure the PPP and its allies, either.
The government has hit back, firing defence secretary Retired Lt. Gen. Naeem Khalid Lodhi, who is close to Kayani, and replacing him with a close Gilani aide, Nargis Sethi.
The prime minister has also called a meeting of the cabinet defence committee which Kayani is obliged to attend.
And the leader of the Awami National Party, Asfandyar Wali Khan, tabled a resolution backing the government and praising “the political leadership’s efforts to safeguard democracy”.
That is likely to be passed on Monday but the government may have a tougher ride in the courts, which, since the legal profession clashed with military ruler Musharraf, have become decidedly feisty and independent of those in power.
But there will be serious challenges to the Gilani and Zardari elsewhere on the same day.
A three-member judicial panel will resume hearings on the Memogate scandal – sparked by an alleged memo by the then-ambassador to Washington Hussain Haqqani asking for US help in the event of a coup – and will hear the government’s side.
And the Supreme Court will summon the government to explain why it failed to comply with earlier orders to restart a corruption investigation into Zardari, accused of taking millions in bribes when his wide Benazir Bhutto was prime minister.
That may be the focus of the government’s true concern and the military’s real hopes.
The court is seen as openly hostile to the government and the feeling is mutual. As head of state, Zardari enjoys immunity from prosecution and he and his wife benefited from a pardon towards the end of Musharraf’s reign.
But, if he is sacked, he could be jailed, an experience he is already familiar with, and his allies could be dragged down with him, a prospect that doubtless makes their attachment to democracy all the more intense.
So the government may fear a coup by proxy and an early election. That may also be what the army is hoping for, rather than plotting to roll out the tanks - in the near future, at least.

2011 Flood Relief Will Help 50,000 Survivors in Pakistan

More than 5.4 million people are struggling to survive in Pakistan after torrential monsoon rains pounded the southern provinces in September, triggering massive flooding. More than 1.5 million houses were damaged, 3 million acres of crops were destroyed and more than 3 million people are in dire need of assistance. Shelter, relief items, food rations, access to safe water and emergency health services are especially needed. 
AmeriCares has coordinated a targeted response to help an estimated 50,000 flood victims, many of whom are still recovering from the disastrous 2010 floods with:

• Distributions of relief items including tents, mats, cooking sets for distribution in camps for the displaced and in affected villages.  The first distribution took place on October 18.
• Financial Support to help rehab a flood-damaged health clinic.
• Medicines to support 30 mobile medical clinics that will visit camps and settlements for the displaced in the hard-hit Sindh province, including medicines to treat pain, skin diseases, acute respiratory infections, diarrheal disease and  malaria.

With winter setting in, there is widespread concern that the situation will worsen rapidly, especially in Sindh, where 850,000 impoverished people live in temporary shelters, including vulnerable children who have already lived through one devastating flood.

Photo: Courtesy of HAI

AmeriCares 2010 Flood Response
In August, 2010, severe monsoon flooding across Pakistan displaced more than 20 million people. More than 450 health facilities were damaged, with 200 completely destroyed, greatly limiting health care services available to affected communities.  AmeriCares responded quickly by coordinating donations of crucial medicines from our donors’ in-country affiliates to our local partners.  In total, AmeriCares has provided $6,276,938 in direct assistance to Pakistan for the 2010 flooding.

New dangers from bird flu

U.S. government asks scientists to keep some secrets about their bird flu research

 

The viruses that cause “bird flu” spread easily among chickens, ducks and turkeys, often causing serious illness and sometimes death. These viruses don’t usually spread to humans, but it happens. And when it does, the results can be deadly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based in Atlanta, about 6 of every 10 people infected with the bird flu virus called H5N1 have died. If the virus ever did pass easily between people, it would cause widespread harm around the world.
Understandably, scientists want to know more about the virus and how it spreads to try to prevent a disaster. In two recent studies, scientists demonstrated how the virus could be changed to pass more easily between mammals, making it more infectious. (In the experiments, the scientists tested the virus on ferrets.)
In the hands of a bioterrorist who wants to cause harm on a large scale, such studies might be dangerous. They show how to turn H5N1 into a deadly biological weapon. That’s the concern of a committee organized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is part of the U.S. government and the world’s largest medical research agency. The committee studied the new H5N1 papers and concluded that the virus could be made very dangerous, and that the new papers show how to do it.
An NIH statement from December 20, 2011, acknowledges that this kind of research can benefit the public. On the other hand, according to the statement, “Certain information obtained through such studies has the potential to be misused for harmful purposes.” The NIH argues that some of the information in the studies should be kept under lock and key — and only shared with certain scientists on a demonstrated need-to-know basis. If terrorists created an H5N1 virus that spreads easily, they could start a global health threat. The NIH panel has therefore recommended that the scientists and scientific journals publishing the studies release the conclusions of the experiments — but withhold the methods used to make the germ more infectious.
The U.S. government agrees with the panel’s recommendation. The government has formally requested, but not demanded, that scientists and journals hold back some of their new bird flu data. The editors of the journals are considering the request.
The U.S. government already has rules in place that permit only some people to know secrets about nuclear weapons. Scientists need access to information, but the same information should be kept away from people with the intent to harm. The question is: Who gets to decide which people can see the science, and how much of it?
The tricky part of this decision-making process is “drawing the line at which aspects of science are too risky to share,” Janet Raloff wrote in an article for Science News. Shrouding too much scientific research in secrecy may slow the advance of important scientific fields. But if studies like the recent H5N1 experiments always become public knowledge, they could offer terrorists easy access to dangerous new weapons.
This back-and-forth between the government and the scientific community over bird-flu data shows that both sides are struggling to find the right answer. It also shows that medical research has moved into sensitive terrain, where there are no easy answers.
POWER WORDS (adapted from the New Oxford American Dictionary)
flu, or influenza A highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages that causes fever, swelling and severe aching.
virus An infection-causing agent that typically has genetic material surrounded by a protein coat. A virus is too small to be seen under the microscope and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host organism.
infectious Likely to be transmitted to people, organisms, etc., through the environment.
bioterrorism Terrorism involving the release of toxic biological agents.

Students’ Experiments To Be Conducted In Space

Three students have won the chance to have science experiments they created carried out by astronauts in space.
The students won an international competition called the YouTube Space Lab Contest. Last October, students around the world aged 14 to 18 were invited to come up with ideas for experiments that could be performed on the International Space Station.
The space station is a satellite that orbits the Earth. It includes a research laboratory where astronauts from the United States, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada conduct experiments. Because there is no gravity on the space station, they are able to do experiments they could not do on Earth.
For the contest, students had to make a video explaining their hypothesis – the idea they wanted to test – and the method for doing the experiment. Then they posted the videos on YouTube.
Winners were chosen by people voting on YouTube, and by a panel of judges that included scientists, teachers, astronauts and journalists.

The winners were announced in March. They are Amr Mohamed, 18, from Egypt, and Dorothy Chen and Sara Ma, both 16, from the United States.
Amr’s experiment will test the effects of zero gravity – or weightlessness – on zebra spiders. Zebra spiders catch food by leaping onto it. But without gravity, the spider would continue travelling in a straight line when it leaps, instead of landing on its prey. Amr wants to find out if the spiders can learn to hunt in a weightless environment.
Dorothy and Sara want to study a type of bacteria, called Bacillus subtilis, which kills fungus. They want to see whether feeding it certain nutrients in a zero-gravity environment will make it better at killing fungus on Earth. If it works, it could be used to help fight disease one day.
An astronaut will conduct the winning experiments on the space station sometime this summer and broadcast them live on YouTube.
As part of their prize, the winners also got to choose between a trip to Japan to watch their experiments being launched into space, or a week of cosmonaut training in Russia. Dorothy and Sara will go to Japan. Amr chose the cosmonaut training.
The contest was organized by YouTube, a website that lets users share videos, and Lenovo, a company that makes computers.

Amr Mohamed; Image: YouTube Space Lab Contest website

Related websites
Contest website
Canadian Space Agency page on the International Space Station
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
By Kathleen Tilly
Writing/Discussion Prompt
Work with a partner to invent an experiment that could be done in space. What would you want the astronauts to do and why?
Reading Prompt: Metacognition
Whether we are aware of it or not, when we read we are constantly asking ourselves questions in order to figure out what we understand.
While you read the article, monitor what questions you ask yourself to make sure you understand.
Primary
Identify, initially with some support and direction, what strategies they found most helpful before, during, and after reading and how they can use these and other strategies to improve as readers (OME, Reading: 4.1).
Junior
Identify the strategies they found most helpful before, during, and after reading and explain, in conversation with the teacher and/or peers or in a reader’s notebook, how they can use these and other strategies to improve as readers (OME, Reading: 4.1).
Intermediate
Identify a range of strategies they found helpful before, during, and after reading and explain, in conversation with the teacher and/or peers or in a reader’s notebook, how they can use these and other strategies to improve as readers (OME, Reading: 4.1).
Grammar Feature: Verb tense
Verbs (action words) can be written in several tenses. Find  examples of sentences written in each of the following three tenses: past, present and future.

 

Seoul Nuclear Security Summit 2012: An Analysis of Pakistan’s Position

Genesis
The Seoul Nuclear Security Summit 2012 concluded on a satisfactory note that the participant states have lived up to their commitments towards strengthening nuclear security and safety and minimising the threat of nuclear terrorism which was envisioned during the first Summit of the NSS at Washington in 2010. Contrary to the Bush administration’s Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which aimed to halt illicit trafficking of nuclear materials to- and from- states and non-state actors, the NSS intends to build a multilateral normative nuclear security regime based on individual states’ commitment to their respective national laws and international obligation. During the 2012 Summit these states presented their progress reports in terms of what was promised earlier and what has been achieved so far.

Pakistan’s National Statement on Nuclear Security Measures spelled out by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani drew more attention than others given the curiosity amongst internal players about the kind of measures that this country notorious for its clandestine nuclear network and vulnerable for nuclear theft and misuse would have taken towards nuclear security. Hence, Pakistan’s stance on nuclear security measures warrants closer scrutiny.

Pakistan’s promises: A Progress Report card
At the Washington Summit, Pakistan had agreed to take necessary steps to implement the security measures outlined in the Work Plan to prevent nuclear terrorism. Some of the measures included nuclear forensics, intelligence sharing to combat illicit trafficking of nuclear materials, and international cooperation on fissile materials use. Pakistan also promised to ratify the amendments made to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM).

Since then Pakistan has made significant progress towards nuclear security by taking necessary steps to allay the fears of possibility of nuclear terrorism. While presenting the progress report in the Nuclear Security Summit 2012, Pakistan’s PM welcomed the NSS process as a catalyst for fostering nuclear security culture and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the goal of enhancing nuclear security. He also illustrated the four pillars of Pakistan’s nuclear security regimen in the National Statement on security measures.

First, a 'well-defined robust command and control system', which exercises control over all aspects of nuclear policy, procurement, operations and nuclear security. This includes the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), which develops technical solutions, personnel reliability programme and intelligence capabilities to deal with non-proliferation, nuclear accidents and WMD terrorism.

Second, a rigorous regulatory regime which encompasses all matters related to nuclear safety and security including physical protection of materials and facilities, material control and accounting, transport security, prevention of illicit trafficking and border controls. Notably, Pakistan is a party to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM).

The last two pillars are: a comprehensive export control regime and international cooperation. Whilst the export control laws are at par with international standards set by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and Australia Group as claimed by Pakistan, it still has a long way to go to meet the international requirements in terms of technology transfers.

In terms of achievement on nuclear security related activities, the statement emphasises two areas: capacity building and interaction with international community. Meanwhile, as part of its capacity building measures, Pakistan has established a Training Academy which conducts specialist courses in physical protection and personnel reliability. The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has also established a separate school for Nuclear Radiation Safety and in the process of setting up a Nuclear Security Training Centre (NSTC). It also renewed its Nuclear Security Action Plan (NSAP) last year, which periodically upgrades the physical security of nuclear medical centres functioning under Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).

On combating illicit trafficking, Pakistan is developing “Special Nuclear Material (SNM) Portals on key exit/entry points to deter detect and prevent illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials.” The PM also stated that the Strategic Export Control Division (SECDIV) revised the National Export List in July 2011. On nuclear forensics, it is reiterated in his statement that Pakistan has been actively working in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and is preparing guidelines on nuclear detection architecture.

Revelations: Parochial Altruism in nuclear security regime
Pakistan’s participation and its active involvement in the NSS was broadly welcomed and appreciated. Pakistan’s national progress statement gives an impression that its nuclear security and safety measures are so far so good. But, the most interesting and revealing aspect of the report is its future commitments which reflect its aspirations. Most stunningly, there was a statement made that Pakistan qualifies to become a member of the NSG and other export control regimes on a non-discriminatory basis.

This behaviour at the Seoul Security Summit reveals Pakistan’s parochial altruistic attitude towards nuclear security regimes – practicing altruism in the NSS and pursuing parochialism outside of it. One cannot easily forget the impact of A.Q. Khan clandestine nuclear network on global nuclear regime. It appears that the civilian government desires to pursue the altruistic goal of working towards common objective of global nuclear security, whereas the military regime in Pakistan still retains a strong control over all aspects of nuclear policy for strategic interests. In a nutshell, the progress report is quite unrealistic.

Ghulam Nabi Fai Indictment: Regional Implications

Ghulam Nabi Fai, the American of Kashmiri origin, who was charged with working for Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to influence American policy on Kashmir, was sentenced to two years in jail by a US court. Fai, 62, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release after the end of his jail term by the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, a suburb of Washington DC. Fai was also ordered not to maintain any contact with the officials and agents of the government of Pakistan and the ISI. He was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on July 19 last year and had pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiracy and one count of corruptly endeavouring to impede the Internal Revenue Service. Fai headed an outfit called Kashmiri American Council (KAC), which was "a front" for ISI to lobby US government, lawmakers and opinion-makers on Kashmir, on the directions of his ISI handlers.

Fai had admitted that the KAC received money from the ISI and other Pakistani government agencies but had not disclosed about the origins of the funds. His plea agreement says that he concealed at least US$ 3.5 million sent to the lobbying group between 1990 and 2011. US prosecutors were quoted in a sentencing memorandum that Fai "laboured mightily" to hide his association with the ISI and the sentencing guidelines "do not even purport to measure the harm caused by Fai's concealment of the fact that the influence he peddled through his conferences and campaign contributions was financed by the ISI." According to court records Fai organised conferences, contributed to candidates and met with congressional officials about unifying Kashmir. Fai was cheating the American people by pretending that the funds for those efforts came from American citizens. In a seven-page letter to O'Grady, the Judge who sentenced him, Fai said his commitment to peace in Kashmir led to his crimes. "The reason for going astray of US law was that I was passionate about freedom for the Kashmiri people," Fai wrote. The question is, was he passionate about the freedom of the Kashmiri people, or only about merging Kashmir with Pakistan?

There is now evidence that Fai, who was born in Budgam district of Kashmir valley, was a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami. The strong nexus of the Jamaat-e-Islami of Kashmir with the ISI is well known. Pakistani academics and journalists like Hussain Haqqani and Arif Jamal have given detailed accounts in their books, ‘Pakistan Between the Mosque and the Military and Shadow War: The untold story of jihad in Kashmir,’ of how General Zia ul-Haq had met with Jamaat leaders of Kashmir and invited them to work with the ISI. The strategy was very clear- unleash a jihad in Kashmir, using the Hizbul Mujahideen, the armed wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, and use the Kashmiri Jamaat-e-Islami to garner support for Pakistan by appealing to disaffected Muslims in India. There is evidence that senior Jamaat leaders travelled from Kashmir to Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and even to Kerala for this purpose-and that was much before the Babri Masjid destruction. The place visited in Kerala was a charity home in Quilon. Abdul Nasser Ma-Adani was running a charity home in Quilon at that time! We are yet to understand the extent of damage Ma-Adani has caused to our secular fabric. It indeed was an ambitious plan to inflict a thousand cuts on India.

India went through a turbulent period in the early, mid, and late nineties, and has come out much more strong and robust through economic development. Pakistan has, in the meantime, spiralled into chaos, itself a victim of terrorism that it was using against neighbours. But dominated by its Army, Pakistan doesn’t appear to have learned any lesson from its own experiences, and refuses to wind up the terrorist infrastructure in that country. While the bounty announced by the US Government on the heads of Hafeez Sayeed, the LeT patron and his brother-in-law and deputy Abdul Rehman Makki may only be symbolic, for it is difficult to think of an Abbotabad type operation to knock out Sayeed, or even a Drone attack in Lahore, there was no such problem for the US authorities in sending Ghulam Nabi Fai to jail for his crime. It is clear as daylight that Fai was playing a significant role in getting speakers from Pakistan and India on ISI’s directions to participate in conferences on Kashmir in the United States, carefully choosing the Indian lot from among the liberals. It is a pity that our liberals do not see the ISI’s game. After this exposure, it appears that Ghulam Nabi Fai will be of no use to the Pakistanis. Except for a few voices of support for his ‘diplomatic’ efforts in highlighting the Kashmir issue, there was no indication of any support to this Kahmiri ‘nationalist’ either from our part of Kashmir, or from the other side. This may very well mark the end of the Ghulam Nabi Fai show.
 ARTCLE SOURCE:www.newspama.com

Former Ambassador to U.S. Cites Threats in Pakistan Over Memo Case

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Husain Haqqani, the former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, has told his country’s top court that he faces threats to his life if he returns from Washington to testify before a judicial inquiry into whether the government sought American help to stave off a military coup last year.

Mr. Haqqani expressed his fears in a confidential letter to Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry this week as part of his request that the inquiry panel record his statement via satellite video link. The New York Times obtained a copy of the letter on Thursday.

Justice Chaudhry did not rule on the request but gave the panel six more weeks to complete its work, the second such extension it has been given.

The Supreme Court began the three-judge inquiry last December to discern the truth behind allegations that President Asif Ali Zardari’s government had written a secret memo seeking the Obama administration’s help to prevent a military takeover in the turbulent aftermath of the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May.

The memo accusations, which were made under murky circumstances by an American businessman of Pakistani origin, Mansoor Ijaz, caused sharp tensions between Mr. Zardari and the military leadership which, at one point, led to frenzied coup rumors. But the judicial panel has run into difficulties and scandal of its own, and it is seen as a waste of time by a growing legion of skeptics in Pakistan. It has, however, had notable political effects.

Mr. Ijaz accuses Mr. Haqqani, the former Washington ambassador, of writing the memo, which Mr. Haqqani has denied. In November, Mr. Haqqani returned to Pakistan and resigned his post and spent weeks sequestered in a guest suite at the prime minister’s residence under a travel restriction imposed by the court.

He was allowed to travel to the United States in late January on the understanding that he would return when summoned by the inquiry panel. But now, Mr. Haqqani says he faces death threats in Pakistan and needs to continue his testimony from abroad; his nemesis, Mr. Ijaz, was allowed to record a statement from London early this month.

“Every day I receive messages on Twitter, telephone and e-mail that I will be killed the day I set foot in Pakistan,” Mr. Haqqani wrote in a confidential letter to Justice Chaudhry dated March 28.

“Several Web sites connected to jihadi groups as well as individuals and organizations connected to a covert institution of state have called me a traitor.”

Furthermore, he wrote, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha, a former head of the powerful ISI spy agency, “took it upon himself” to implicate Mr. Haqqani in the memo controversy.

While Mr. Ijaz’s assertions initially captivated Pakistan’s vibrant news media, with extensive airtime on television news networks, interest has waned of late as his credibility has repeatedly been called into question. Several claims by Mr. Ijaz have been knocked down, prompting Dawn, the country’s leading English daily newspaper, to note in its March 20 editorial, “Mr. Ijaz’s penchant for making an outrageous allegation one day and then quietly suggesting he isn’t sure of its veracity the next has shredded his credibility to the point of nothingness.”

Disaster Reignites Debate Over Battle at Earth’s Ceiling

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — In the snowy wastes of Siachen, where Pakistani and Indian soldiers face off in a high-altitude battle zone ringed by Himalayan peaks, the fight is against the mountain, not the man.

In outposts up to 22,000 feet above sea level, the temperature can plunge to 58 below, and linger there for months. Patrolling soldiers tumble into yawning crevasses. Frostbite chews through unprotected flesh. Blizzards blow, weapons seize up and even simple body functions become intolerable.

Some soldiers go crazy and end up “staring into space,” as one veteran put it, unhinged by the dazzling whiteness of rock, sun and snow.

Then there are the avalanches.

The latest occurred on April 7, when a giant wall of snow crashed down on the Pakistani side of the battlefield, swamping the battalion headquarters of 6 Northern Light Infantry, where 124 Pakistani soldiers and 14 civilians were stationed. The avalanche buried a cluster of buildings in 80 feet of snow; a week later, rescuers have yet to pull out a single person, dead or alive.

The battalion’s fate drew an anguished reaction across Pakistan and swung a spotlight onto an often-forgotten corner of the 65-year-old conflict over Kashmir, the disputed mountain territory that lies at the emotional heart of the conflict with India. And it reinvigorated an incendiary question: Is Siachen, a glacier on Kashmir’s northern edge, worth fighting over?

“It is time for both countries to step back from this madness,” said Mehmood Shah, a retired army brigadier who was once involved in talks to end the standoff. “Every day, people die in this conflict. Going on is in nobody’s interest.”

Many critics echoed that view, describing the conflict as a pointless and sinfully expensive battle for a piece of Himalayan real estate that, while stunningly beautiful, is unfit for human habitation. About 3,000 Pakistani soldiers have died at Siachen since 1984, of whom about 90 percent perished from weather-related causes, said the Pakistani military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas.

Military analysts estimate the deployment costs Pakistan $5 million a month; Indian costs are higher still because of higher troop numbers and because supplies are transported by helicopter.

Still, many military strategists and security hawks in both countries insist the fight must go on. In any peace negotiation with Pakistan, wrote Vikram Sood, a former chief of Indian intelligence, Siachen should be the “last issue on the table, not the first.”

Pakistani military photographs of the rescue operation, released in recent days, paint a dispiriting picture of the scene: white-suited rescuers, aided by sniffer dogs, digging amid driving snow; bulldozers tapping into an immense snowdrift. A three-person American military rescue team has arrived to help, and was due to travel to Siachen; German and Swiss experts are already on site.

The effort is now focused on burrowing a 130-foot tunnel toward the troop barracks, where soldiers were sleeping when the avalanche hit. Ominously, the army has already released pictures of those inside: mostly soldiers in their 20s, wearing green berets and striped neck-scarves. Few Pakistanis dare hope any will emerge alive; as many see it, the mountain has won yet again.

“Damn you, Siachen,” Kamran Shafi, a former army officer and a prominent columnist, wrote Friday in The Express Tribune, echoing a widely shared sentiment.

While India and Pakistan have fought over Kashmir since 1947, the battle for Siachen erupted in April 1984, when Indian commandos captured the peaks overlooking the 49-mile Siachen Glacier, the world’s second-longest outside a polar region.

The dispute stemmed from a mix of bad politics and worse cartography: a 1972 agreement between Pakistan and India that demarcated the Line of Control was ambiguously worded, allowing both countries to claim the glacier. Fighting raged for almost two decades until 2003, when Pakistan and India agreed to a cease-fire that, despite occasional flare-ups, has largely held. Still, up to 8,000 soldiers from both sides, mostly Indians, remain stationed in the battle zone, according to unofficial estimates, facing each other across an expanse of rock and snow.

For those who have served in Siachen, it is an unforgettable experience.

Should you invest in Facebook IPO

After much speculation and a long anticipated wait, Facebook filed IPO registration documents on 1 February 2012 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Facebook says it plans to raise  $5 billion, but funds raised could go up to  $10 billion. This would make this biggest IPO in Internet space ever.

Facebook’s IPO filing made it possible for the public market investors to examine the company’s books. Facebook said it earned $1 billion in profit on revenue of $3.7 billion in 2011.

How does this valuation compare with valuation of other iconic tech giants like Google and Apple?  Facebook’s valuation is 100 times earnings  or 27 times annual revenue, as against a stock market that is currently trading at 12 times earnings. This seems over hyped and puts retail investors at risk. Facebook users feel strong emotional connections to Facebook, which could attracts many retail investors, who may fail to evaluate the IPO diligently and unemotionally.  Apple Inc  went public at a valuation of $1.19 billion in 1980, equivalent to 25 times revenue and 102 times earnings. Google  valued at $23 billion at the time of its 2004 debut, or 218 times earnings. Viewed against valuations of Google and Apple’s IPO, Facebook’s does not seem overvalued.

The 100 times historic P/E of Facebook's IPO  seems unrealistic, seen in context of Apple - with nearly $100 billion in cash and securities – trading  at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13 times.

While retail investors are still crunching the numbers and doing due diligence, institutional investors have quietly bought Facebook shares through private pre-IPO exchanges like SharesPost and SecondMarket.  About 50 equity funds of the 3,842 disclosed holdings of Facebook stock, led by Morgan Stanley's institutional Opportunity H fund with 3.5 per cent of its $242 million portfolio invested in Facebook.

Morgan Stanley is the lead book-runner for the IPO. Goldman Sachs. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital and JP Morgan will also participate on the deal.  Can their due diligence of this IPO be trusted.  Recall that lead under-writer’s Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America  were responsible for the US housing mortgage over-valuation racket  worth over a trillion dollars for nearly two decades

A major risk factor is that Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, owns 28.2% of Facebook shares, the largest single stake in the company Mark  controls 57% of the voting shares after other shareholders granted their voting rights to him by irrevocable proxy. Directors and shareholders will have less sway over the company's direction.
ARTICLE SOURCE:WWW.NEWSPAMA.COM

Demand for Montessori education in Bangalore

Demand for Montessori form of education instead of the regular Kindergarten schools is increasing rapidly.  Koramangala, which has a  number of Montessori establishments, is witness to this trend, with a 25 percent growth in the number of admissions in  Montessori  schools in the last two years.

The awareness about the Montessori form of education is growing fast and and the  number of parents who now moving to this form of education for their children from a regular play school and kindergarten format is increasing rapidly.

Kindergarten & Playschool are actually parallel, in a way competing  methodologies. Montessori is a superior methodology.

There are crucial differences between a Montessori kindergarten and a traditional one.  In most traditional kindergarten classes, the primary emphasis is on developing social skills with some preliminary work in cognitive “readiness”, whereas, in a Montessori classroom the primary emphasis is on developing cognitive skills on the firm foundation of sensory and motor skill training. In a Montessori classroom, a child progresses at his/her own rate; there are no pressures to “catch up” or “slow down” to the level of the class. The child working at his/her own rate develops good work habits such as initiative, the ability to process information, and the ability to persist in completing a task. The emphasis is on making each child feel competent in his or her own abilities and interested in learning for its own sake.

In Montessori schools,  education is  imparted only through activity based methods.  Instead of books, children are given special material to handle and learn from. By doing it practically, the retention power increases drastically.

The main difference between a regular kindergarten and a Montessori is the composition of a class. While kindergarten class has children of only one age group, Montessori schools have classes, called environments, with children of different age groups.  In this set-up, younger children grasp things much quicker as they learn by following example of the elder children, and elder children in turn become more competent by doing different activites and move faster to the next level.

TAILOR-MADE PROGRAMMES
Programmes at Montessori are devised according to individuals.  Every child has a different character and personality and the child is free to choose his own activity. It is not the teacher who sets the pace but children themselves.

In Koramangala, most of the parents are IT professionals, with both of them working. Recently, there are also children from non- IT industry family background who are joining Montessor schools .

Since running a proper Montessori requires a lot of physical infrastructure, the investment that goes into setting up a Montessori is much higher than a kindergarten school. Investment of close to `2 lakh per room is needed to prepare a proper Montessori setup.

Elements Montessori , which is one of the top Montessori schools in Bangalore,  is aesthetically built over 12,000 sqft area. The structure is a two storied complex with green lawns which provides a serene ambience, neat surroundings and large spacious well lit rooms. The play area is specially designed over 8000 sq. ft area and separate sections are carved using green grass and soft sand to suit a variety of play activities. The structure, which was featured in the Indian Express, is designed to be environment friendly

This explains why the fees charged by Montessori schools are higher than kindergarten schools.

Teachers, who are called assistants or Montessori adults, are required to have formal training in Montessori form of education. There are specific training courses provided by associations in India.

Players say that one of the main issues that they face while convincing the parents about Montessori form of education is about the admission prospects to a regular school when moving on to the mainstream education. However, they add the feedback they get from mainstream schools is that children passing out of Montessori perform better than a child from regular kindergarten set-up.


Children moving on from Montessori do extremely well not just in school and colleges but in all aspects of life. In the last phase of the training, at the age of five, the schools starts preparing them for regular schools by various activities like giving them home task.  This lets  them transition to  the traditional system of education.

One other issue that they point out is the sprouting up of many institutions which call themselves Montessori but do not follow all the Montessori philosophies.  This sometimes affects the credibility of the whole system.

X-ray 'brain tumour risk' uncertain

Regular dental X-rays “can double or even triple the chance of developing a common type of brain tumour,” according to The Daily Telegraph.
This news is based on a large US study comparing the dental histories of people who had a brain tumour known as intracranial meningioma with a group of similar people who did not have tumours. People with brain tumours were twice as likely to report having had a specific type of dental X-ray called a “bitewing” in their lifetime, compared with people without a brain tumour. Bitewings are a common type of X-ray, where patients bite down on a small holder containing X-ray film.
What didn’t make the headlines was that the same study showed that having a series of full-mouth X-rays was not associated with any increased risk of brain tumour, which throws doubt on the proposed link between dental X-rays and brain tumour. Furthermore, participants reported their own history of X-rays rather than researchers checking their dental records. This means people with brain tumours may have been focusing on the potential causes of their cancer and therefore may have been more likely to recall dental X-rays than people without one, potentially biasing the results.
Most importantly though, the chance of developing a brain tumour is very small and, even if X-rays can double the risk, it would still be a very rare event. According to one academic quoted in the press, this doubling of risk actually translated into just a 0.07% increase in lifetime risk, once the overall rarity of brain tumours was taken into account
While this study suggests that dental X-rays may be linked to brain tumour, it falls short of proving an actual link. It is known that exposure to ionising radiation is linked to cancer (which is why X-ray use is kept to a minimum), but people should not be alarmed by today’s sensationalist headlines and should not be dissuaded from having dental X-rays when recommended by their dentist.

Where did the story come from?

The study was led by researchers from Yale University School of Medicine and was funded by grants from the US National Institutes of Health, the Brain Science Foundation and Meningioma Mommas (a not-for-profit organisation providing support for those affected by meningioma brain tumours).
The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal, Cancer.
It was picked up by a variety of papers and online media. Most had attention-grabbing headlines reporting that dental X-rays “raise the risk of brain tumours” while others said they could “double brain tumour risk”. Reassuringly, once past the headlines, most coverage went on to mention that the absolute risk of getting a brain tumour was tiny even after X-rays, and that the reported doubling of the risk should not be a reason to avoid necessary dental X-rays. The Sun included a reasoned quote from Dr Paul Pharoah from Cambridge University who provided a clear message for worried readers: “People who have had dental X-rays do not need to worry about the health risks of those X-rays.”

What kind of research was this?

This research was a case-control study that aimed to examine the link between dental X-rays and the risk of a brain tumour called intracranial meningioma. A case-control study compares the histories of a group of people with a particular condition (the “cases”) with a group of similar people without that condition (the “controls”). Through this process they can identify differences between the two groups and identify factors that may have caused the condition of interest. They are particularly useful for studying rare conditions such as brain tumours, which would not be detected in sufficient numbers by many study types designed to follow a population over time.
The researchers said that intracranial meningioma brain tumours are the most frequently reported primary brain tumour in the US (a primary brain tumour means that the cancer started within the brain, as opposed to secondary tumours that start in other organs and spread to the brain). The researchers also stated that ionising radiation is consistently identified as being a potential risk factor for this type of brain tumour and that dental X-rays are the most common artificial source of this radiation.
Case-control studies cannot not prove on their own that dental X-rays cause brain tumours. However, this study type is a practical method for studying rare conditions or diseases such as brain cancers.

What did the research involve?

The study enrolled 1,433 patients with intracranial meningioma diagnosed between the ages of 20 to 79. They were called the “cases”. A control group of 1,350 people without brain cancer was also assembled and selected to match the cases in age, gender and geographical location (state of residence). All participants lived in the US and were enrolled into the study between May 2006 and April 2011. People with a previous history of brain tumour were excluded from the control group.
Shortly after enrolment, both groups were contacted by telephone and interviewed by a trained interviewer. The interview included questions about the onset, frequency and type of dental care received over their lifetime. This included orthodontic work, endodontic (root canal) work, dental implants and dentures. Participants were also asked to report the number of times they had received various types of dental X-rays during four periods of life:

• aged less than 10 years old
• between 10 and 19 years old
• 20 to 49 years old
• over 50

The researchers were interested in three types of dental X-ray:

• Bitewing – a small X-ray view used to look at several upper and lower teeth simultaneously. Bitewing takes its name from the way in which the X-ray film is held in place which involves the patient biting down on a small holder filled with the X-ray film. Bitewing X-rays are often used during routine check-ups to look for tooth decay
• Full-mouth – a series of multiple X-rays is used to build a complete picture of the mouth
• Panoramic – a single X-ray that provides a broad view of the teeth, jaw and lower-skull to check dental alignment rather than find cavities

Information was also gathered on the occurrence and timing of other treatments involving radiation (such as radiotherapy for cancer) – specifically, radiation treatments applied to the face, head, neck or chest.
The researchers then compared the information on dental X-rays between the case and control group to see if there were any significant differences.
The statistical techniques used to analyse the results were appropriate. The researchers made statistical allowances for differences in a variety of factors, including age, ethnicity and educational attainment. People who had radiation of the head, neck, chest or face to treat a condition were excluded from the statistical analysis comparing differences between dental X-rays.

What were the basic results?

Among the main results from this study the researchers found that:

• Over a lifetime, cases were more than twice as likely as controls to report having had a bitewing examination (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.9).
• People who reported receiving bitewing X-rays yearly or more frequently were at a significantly higher risk of having a brain tumour across all the age-groups tested, except in the over-50s. The majority of study participants (from both groups) reported having at least one bitewing X-ray in their lifetime.
• There was no significant difference between the self-reported frequency of full mouth X-rays in those with a brain tumour and those without.
• More people in the case group reported having panoramic dental X-rays at a young age, on a yearly basis or with greater frequency compared with controls. For instance, individuals in the case group (with brain tumour) were almost five times more likely to report having received panoramic X-rays before the age of 10 than people in the control group (OR 4.9 95% CI 1.8 to 13.2).

How did the researchers interpret the results?

The researchers’ cautious conclusions were that “exposure to some dental X-rays performed in the past, when radiation exposure was greater than in the current era, appears to be associated with an increased risk of intracranial meningioma [brain cancer]”.
They added, “As with all sources of artificial ionising radiation, considered use of this modifiable risk factor may be of benefit to patients.”

Conclusion

This large case-control study shows that people with a brain tumour report having dental X-rays (specifically bitewing and panoramic types) significantly more frequently over their lifetime than similar individuals without tumour. The differences were only significant for bitewing and panoramic type dental X-rays and not for full-mouth X-rays.
These mixed results raise the possibility that dental X-rays may be associated with brain tumours but it stops short of proving this link. The study has significant limitations which should be borne in mind when interpreting the results of the research:

• This was a case-control study that looked at people with and without a brain tumour and analysed differences in their past exposure to dental X-rays. More of the people with brain tumours recalled having dental X-rays (bitewing and panoramic) in the past and so an association was identified. However, this does not prove that dental X-rays cause brain tumours, merely that the two events may be linked. There could be many other factors at play that are contributing to this association.
• It is slightly odd that full-mouth X-rays were not shown to be linked with brain tumour in this study, which we would expect to be the case if the X-rays were indeed linked to brain tumours, particularly as they are performed using a series of X-rays. This highlights that further work is need to prove any link between dental X-rays and brain tumour. A cohort study that followed people over time to see who developed tumours and who did not would be needed to establish a causal link.
• Participants were asked to recall their own history of dental X-rays from throughout their lifetime. The accuracy of recalling this information may not be perfect and this may reduce the reliability of the results. It would have been preferable to assess the use of X-rays by examining people’s medical records.
• In particular, a specific type of bias called “recall bias” may also be at play here. There is a public perception that X-rays are linked with cancer and so people with cancer may be more likely to recall X-rays in their lifetime as it has more perceived significance to their lives than someone without cancer. This would bias the results to suggest a link between dental X-rays and cancer when there may not be one, or to show a stronger link than actually exists.

The study’s design and these limitations mean that the study cannot prove that X-rays cause brain tumours. However, even if the chance of developing brain tumours is indeed doubled by a history of regular dental X-rays (a big “if” based on this study alone) it would still be a very rare event given that the absolute risk of developing a brain tumour is very small. To put this into context, the increase in risk of meningioma over a lifetime has been estimated at 0.07% - with X-rays associated with an increase from 15 cases to 22 cases in every 10,000 people.
Therefore, people should not be alarmed by the findings of this study and should not worry about the risk of brain tumour when deciding whether to have a dental X-ray, which is a useful tool for dentists to monitor and maintain oral health.
The authors note that radiation exposure from dental X-rays in the past was stronger than is currently the case and so the results gained from X-rays in the more distant past may not be relevant to contemporary dentistry. It is known that exposure to ionising radiation is linked to cancer, which is why X-ray use is minimised, but people should not be alarmed by today’s sensationalist headlines and should not be dissuaded from having dental X-rays when recommended by their dentist.
Analysis by Bazian

Evidence lacking for insect bite treatments

Over-the-counter insect bite remedies are not worth buying, the Daily Mail has reported. The newspaper said a review of the evidence on treating insect bites has found that there is little research to prove they are effective.
To conduct the new review, experts looked at the general evidence on various treatments for insect bites not accompanied by complications, such as infections or serious allergic reactions. Treatments examined included simple painkillers, antihistamines and steroid creams. For most treatments, the researchers said there was a lack of direct evidence that they work for treating insect bites.
The new review of the evidence is useful, but did not involve an exhaustive search for studies. Therefore, it may not have included the best research on this topic. Also, despite the lack of research specifically on insect bites, some treatments such as simple painkillers and local corticosteroid creams are considered helpful by experts for mild reactions, such as inflammation and swelling in general. Allergic skin reactions can be treated with antihistamine tablets or capsules.
Occasionally, an insect bite can lead to complications which may need treatment, including infection and eczema. In a small number of cases, an insect bite can result in a dangerous reaction called anaphylactic shock. In this case, medical help should be sought immediately. There are also effective means for preventing insect bites, which are particularly important in countries with a risk of malaria.
It’s also worth remembering that a lack of evidence for a particular treatment is not the same as evidence that it is not effective.

Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by authors from the Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin, a journal for doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. It was also published by this journal. There was no external funding.
It was widely covered in the papers, which generally concentrated on the lack of evidence for over-the-counter remedies.

What kind of research was this?

This was a general review of the evidence on the management of simple bites by insects commonly encountered in the UK, such as midges, mosquitoes, biting flies, fleas and bedbugs. It pointed out that although insect bites are thought to be common, the actual incidence is unknown. An insect’s saliva, once injected into its victim, contains a number of substances which can cause a variety of responses. These range from mild local reactions to allergic reactions (such as anaphylactic shock) and infections. The review only covered simple insect bites and not those that are followed by anaphylaxis or a systemic infection.
This was not a systematic review of the evidence for the management of insect bites, so it is not certain that its authors included all the best research on the subject. A systematic review would have included a comprehensive search of several databases for relevant study data on the topic and would have described the strict criteria used to assess the quality of research found.

What were the basic results?

The authors said that there is a lack of evidence on whether many available treatments work. They also said that, in general, recommendations for treatment are based on expert opinion and clinical experience rather than study data. Their paper reviewed what evidence there is for the management of simple bites by insects commonly encountered in the UK, but excluded ticks, mites and lice. Below are the review’s main findings of different treatments for simple insect bites.

Oral antihistamines (tablets and capsules)

Antihistamines are widely recommended by experts to treat itching associated with insect bites, although apparently few studies support their use. Guidelines recommend the use of non-drowsy antihistamines during the day and sedating antihistamines at night, if sleep is interrupted. Topical antihistamine creams applied directly to the skin are generally not recommended.

Corticosteroids (creams and tablets)

Corticosteroid creams are recommended in doctors’ guidelines, although the researchers say no studies have been found to support their use for insect bites. They suggest they should be used sparingly and for a short time to reduce the risk of unwanted effects. Topical hydrocortisone cream is available over-the-counter and is commonly recommended to reduce inflammation and itching, but should not be used on the face or on broken skin. Corticosteroid tablets are recommended in guidelines for more severe reactions, but again there is no published evidence to support their use and they can cause adverse effects.

Painkillers and local anaesthetics

Simple painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen are recommended by experts for painful insect bites. However, once again the researchers say no published evidence was found to support this use. Topical anaesthetics such as lidocaine are included in some over-the-counter products for insect bites, but are thought to be only marginally effective.

Anti-itching remedies

Crotamiton lotion or cream is recommended by experts, but the researchers say they have found no evidence to support its use. Calamine lotion is not recommended.

Counter-irritants

One small trial of dilute ammonium solution found it relieved symptoms such as itching and burning compared to a placebo.

Other medicines and lotions

Other over-the-counter and prescription products sometimes recommended for insect bites include antiseptics (such as chlorhexidine) and astringents (such as aluminium sulphate). The researchers say there is also a lack of evidence supporting their effectiveness. Some topical preparations can cause allergic and sensitivity reactions, which can exacerbate the original symptoms of a bite.

Managing complications of insect bites

The guidelines above apply to insect bites without complications, but the researchers also point out the importance of treating insect bites with complications, such as infections:

• If an insect bite causes general symptoms of allergy or if there is a large area of redness and swelling, patients should be referred to an allergy clinic.
• If there is a bacterial infection, guidelines recommend treatment with antibiotics.
• Severe reactions such as anaphylaxis should be treated urgently. Adrenaline should be administered as soon as possible and the patient admitted to hospital.

How did the researchers interpret the results?

The authors say there is little direct evidence for the effectiveness of treatments for simple insect bites and that guidelines on their management are generally based on expert opinion. In many cases, no treatment may be needed and, for mild local reactions, a cold compress often suffices.

Conclusion

This review provides a useful round-up of the current approaches for treating simple insect bites. These approaches, the authors say, are generally based on expert opinion and clinical experience, rather than evidence from studies. However, as this was not a systematic review, it did not necessarily include the best research on the treatments it discussed, and there may be valid studies supporting the use of these treatments which the authors have not encountered. It is also worth remembering that, even if there is no direct evidence supporting a particular treatment, this does not mean it is not effective. Rather, it indicates that we can’t be certain whether a treatment is effective.
The review’s focus on the lack of research evidence for particular remedies is useful. However, some treatments, such as painkillers and antihistamines, are known from clinical experience and broader research to generally reduce pain and allergic reactions.
There are also effective pharmaceutical options, such as insecticides, for preventing insect bites. These can be important when going abroad, particularly to ward off malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Anti-malarials are also important for reducing the risk of infections if mosquitoes do bite. Even in the UK, insect bites can cause potentially serious complications such as bacterial infections, and there is clear evidence that antibiotics can stop these progressing.  
Insect bites can be irritating and painful. However, most people require little or no treatment as they generally get better on their own. Cleaning the area and applying a cold compress may help in the first instance. A simple painkiller may also be helpful, while a mild corticosteroid cream may reduce swelling. For a larger local reaction, a non-drowsy antihistamine is advised.

Links to the headlines

Over-the-counter remedies for insect bites may not work. The Daily Telegraph, April 11 2012
Over-the-counter insect bite remedies just not worth buying, say experts. Daily Mail, April 11 2012