"Reflections" - Doctor Bruno's Blog

Admissions to medical colleges get tougher

2009-06-07T03:22:00.000+05:30

http://m.timesofindia.com/PDATOI/articleshow/4549274.cms

The application form for the undergraduate medical programme will be issued from June 3, officials at the Directorate of Medical Education confirmed here on Monday. While the officials, after a quick market survey, have printed an additional 2,000 copies of the form and also made it available online, educational analysts say getting into medical schools would be tougher this year as cut off marks are likely to go up by 0.25-0.5.

"Many students have got better scores when compared to last year so we expect competition to get tougher. Moreover, some parents don't want to send their children to engineering schools as most of them have not seen good campus placement this year due to recession. So, we are likely to see an increase in applicants for medical colleges," says director of medical education Dr S Vinayagam.

The selection committee will offer 1,483 seats in the 15 medical colleges for the counselling, after offering 262 seats to the all India quota. Besides this, there will be 251 government quota seats from the four private medical colleges affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University.

"We have printed 18,000 forms this year after analysing the market trend. There has been no increase in the number of seats from last year and this could make entry tougher," said selection commission secretary Sheela Grace.

Career consultants and analysts can't agree less with the directorate of medical education. "Last year 121 students joined engineering even after they got their medical seats in the counselling. This year, we know of first year engineering students in the Anna University who want to apply for medicine not minding a year's loss. This will add up to the number of applicants and make competition tougher," said career consultant and educational analyst Jayaprakash Gandhi.

They forecast an increase between 0.25 and 0.5 in the cut offs marks when compared to 2008. In 2008, the cut off stood at 197 for Open Catergory, 194.5 for Backward Classes, 193 for backward class Muslim, 191 for most backward classes, 186 for scheduled classes and 171.25 for the undergraduate medical seats. "The reason for the increase in cut-off this year is the increase in the number of students who have secured greater marks in science subjects," he said.

The number of students who scored 200/200 has gone up from eight last year to nine this time. Between 199 and 200, there were 135 students in 2008. This year, there are 162 students. "This will add to the competition in not only medical admissions, but dental admissions too," a senior analyst said.

There are 18 private dental colleges offering 866 government quota seats and just one government college with 85 seats in the state. "It will be a tough fight for the 85 seats in the lone Government Dental College in Chennai. Unlike last year, the 866 government quota seats in private dental colleges would also be taken up fast," he said. "Even this would be tough as the Dental Council of India has reduced the eligibility for the open category from 60 per cent to 50 per cent, as there were not many takers for private seats last year" he added.

Sardar Strikes Again.............

2009-06-02T20:18:00.002+05:30

One tourist from U.S.A. asked to Sardar: Any great man born in this village???
Sardar: no sir, only small Babies!!!

Doctor to patient: You will die within 2 hours. Do you want to see any one before you die?
Patient: Yes. A good doctor.

One sardarji professor asked a plumber to come to his college.
U know why?
Because he wanted to check from where the question paper is leaking...

Sardar: My mobile bill how much?
Call centre girl: sir, just dial 123to know current bill status
Sardar: Stupid, not CURRENT BILL my MOBILE BILL.

Sardar built 2 Swimming Pools. And he left one of them unfilled y?
When asked him, he said,
"Oye, that’s for those who don’t know Swimming.

A sardarji Doctor falls in Love with a Nurse.He writes a love letter to the Nurse :- I Love U sister...

Ek sardar Indian Flag lene shop mein gaya tha. Shopwale ne usse flag diya. Sardar bola: Isme aur colour dikhao!!!

Sardar: I think that girl is deaf..
Friend: How do u know?
Sardar: I told I Love her, but she said her chappals are new

Sardar: Miss, Did u call me on my mobile?
Teacher: Me? No, why?
Sardar: Yesterday I saw in my mobile- “1 Miss Call".

Judge: Don't U have shame? It is d 3rd time U R coming to court.
Sardar to judge: U R coming daily, don't U have shame?

Sir: What is difference between Orange and Apple?
Sardar: Color of Orange is orange, but color of Apple is not APPLE.

Sardar attending an interview in Software Company.
Manager: Do U know MS Office?
Sardar: If U give me the address I will go there sir.

Sardar in airplane going 2 Bombay .. While its landing he shouted: " Bombay ... Bombay "
Air hostess said: "B silent."
Sardar: "Ok. Ombay. Ombay"

Sardar got a sms from his girl friend:
"I MISS YOU"
Sardarji replied:
"I Mr YOU" !!.

Sardar: Doctor! My Son swallowed a key
Doctor: When?
Sardar: 3 Months Ago
Dr: Wat were u doing till now?
Sardar: We were using duplicate key
Dr: So why did you come today?
Sardar: We lost the duplicate key!!

Why Sardar opens his lunch box in the middle of the road???
Just 2 confirm whether he is going to or coming back from the office....

Son: papa, 4+3 kithne hai?
Sardar: idiot ,tujhe kuch nahi aathaa? Jaa andhar se CALCULATOR le ke Aa..

After finishing MBBS Sardar started his practice.
He Checked 1st Patient's Eyes, Tongue & Ears with a Torch & Finally Said:
"Oye, Torch is okay"

Teacher: "What is common between JESUS, KRISHNA , RAM, GANDHI and BUDHA?"
Sardar: "All are born on government holidays...!!!

Haste raho…..

Menstrual cycle linked to suicides, claims AIIMS study

2009-05-24T18:27:00.002+05:30

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/099200905241011.htm

Women in depression, especially during their menstrual periods, run a greater risk of harming themselves including committing suicide, an AIIMS study has claimed.

A team of researchers at the country's premier medical institute here have found that complexities in menstrual cycle may be a reason for heightened suicide risk.

"Women with menstrual problem were more likely to have a major depressive disorder than women with no such problems and menstrual cycle has a positive association with suicidal behaviour," said Dr. T.D. Dogra, Head of the Department of Forensic Sciences, AIIMS.

Using Hispathological examination, a method of collecting tissues from uterus through biopsy, was used to determine the stage of menstrual cycle of the women who committed suicide and were brought for autopsies at the department.

The doctors at the forensic department studied 100 cases of women, between the age group of 15-45, the bodies of whom came for the post-mortem. Of these, 56 were suicide cases while the remaining had died due to other reasons.

Monday Wednesday Friday

2009-05-23T15:27:00.000+05:30

A husband and wife came for counseling after 20 years of marriage. When
asked what the problem was, the wife went into a passionate, painful
tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the 20 years they had
been married.

She went on and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness,
loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, an entire laundry list of
unmet needs she had endured over the course of their marriage.

Finally, after allowing this to go on for a sufficient length of time,
the therapist got up, walked around the desk and, after asking the wife
to stand, embraced and kissed her passionately as her husband watched
with a raised eyebrow. The woman shut up and quietly sat down as though
in a daze.

The therapist turned to the husband and said, 'This is what your wife
needs at least three times a week. Can you do this?'

The husband thought for a moment and replied, 'Well, I can drop her off
here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I go fishing

Genetic link to transexuality 'discovered'

2009-05-19T15:00:00.000+05:30

Washington (PTI): For decades, there has been debate over the causes of transexuality. Now, researchers have discovered a significant genetic link between gender identity and a gene involved in testosterone action.

From an early age people develop an inner sense of being male or female -- their gender identity. Transsexuals however, identify with a physical sex opposite to their perceived biological sex.

For the study, an international team collected DNA samples from 112 male to female transsexuals and then compared genetic differences with non-transsexuals.

The researchers discovered that male to female transsexuals were more likely to have a longer version of a gene which is known to modify the action of the sex hormone testosterone, the 'Biological Psychiatry' journal reported.

"We think that these genetic differences might reduce testosterone action and under masculinise the brain during foetal development," said lead researcher Lauren Hare.

Added co-researcher Professor Vincent Harley of Prince Henry's Institute: "There's social stigma that transsexualism is simply a lifestyle choice, however our findings support a biological basis of how gender identity develops. As with all genetic association studies, it will be important to replicate these findings in other populations."

The researchers are now planning even larger genetic studies and are investigating a wider range of genes that may be related to gender identity.

Condoms 'too big' for Indian men

2009-05-17T12:32:00.002+05:30

From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6161691.stm

A survey of more than 1,000 men in India has concluded that condoms made according to international sizes are too large for a majority of Indian men.

The study found that more than half of the men measured had penises that were shorter than international standards for condoms.

It has led to a call for condoms of mixed sizes to be made more widely available in India.

The two-year study was carried out by the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Over 1,200 volunteers from the length and breadth of the country had their penises measured precisely, down to the last millimetre.

The scientists even checked their sample was representative of India as a whole in terms of class, religion and urban and rural dwellers.

It's not size, it's what you do with it that matters
Sunil Mehra
The conclusion of all this scientific endeavour is that about 60% of Indian men have penises which are between three and five centimetres shorter than international standards used in condom manufacture.

Doctor Chander Puri, a specialist in reproductive health at the Indian Council of Medical Research, told the BBC there was an obvious need in India for custom-made condoms, as most of those currently on sale are too large.

The issue is serious because about one in every five times a condom is used in India it either falls off or tears, an extremely high failure rate.

And the country already has the highest number of HIV infections of any nation.

'Not a problem'

Mr Puri said that since Indians would be embarrassed about going to a chemist to ask for smaller condoms there should be vending machines dispensing different sizes all around the country.

"Smaller condoms are on sale in India. But there is a lack of awareness that different sizes are available. There is anxiety talking about the issue. And normally one feels shy to go to a chemist's shop and ask for a smaller size condom."

But Indian men need not be concerned about measuring up internationally according to Sunil Mehra, the former editor of the Indian version of the men's magazine Maxim.

"It's not size, it's what you do with it that matters," he said.

"From our population, the evidence is Indians are doing pretty well.

"With apologies to the poet Alexander Pope, you could say, for inches and centimetres, let fools contend."

Neurosurgery

2009-05-15T08:06:00.000+05:30

* Anton Eiselsberg – Established Neurosurgery as an independent discipline
* Harvey Cushing – Known as the father of neurosurgery
* Wilder Penfield – Known as one of the founding fathers of neurosurgery
* Walter Dandy – Known as one of the founding fathers of neurosurgery
* Gazi Yasargil – Known as the father of modern microneurosurgery
* Ben Carson – Famous African American Neurosurgeon
* Brian Andrews (doctor) – Noted American Neurosurgeon
* Lars Leksell – Swedish Neurosurgeon who developed the Gamma Knife
* Frances K. Conley – Pioneer woman neurosurgeon at Stanford University

Tamil Nadu State Board Plus Two, +2, 12th , HSC Exam Results to be Announced on May 14th 2009

2009-05-13T11:15:00.000+05:30

From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/State-Board-Plus-Two-results-to-be-declared-on-Thursday/articleshow/4522152.cms

Results of the State Board Plus Two public examinations will be declared on Thursday (May 14), just a day after the State goes to polling in the general elections and when tired teachers return after a hectic poll duty from centres located in different parts.

The directorate of government examinations surprised many on Tuesday by declaring that the results of the Board examinations will be released at 9 am on May 14. "School students can get their marks at the same time from their respective schools," an official release issued by the state government said. The results can be accessed on a host of websites and through phone and e-mail as well.

Earlier, there were intense speculations about the date of the results leading to anxiety among the student community. Initially it was learnt that the directorate of government examinations was under pressure from the school education ministry to declare the results before the elections were held to create positive vibes among voters. However, later officials had indicated that the results will be published only around May 18 by when the results of the general elections would be announced and the teachers who were deputed for poll duty would have returned to their homes.

The decision to sandwich the results of the public examination between the time when the State goes to the polls and the results of the elections are declared has made critics wonder about the need for exhibiting such urgency.

Officials, however, discounted any ulterior intentions behind the decision and said since the results were ready they decided to publish "to end the anxiety of students and parents as the admission season has already begun."

Officials said the students can register for free at the website of the school education department, www.pallikalvi.in, to get their marks via SMS. BSNL subscribers can send a message in the following format: Send HSC to 54373 to get the results on their mobile phones.

Some of the websites on which the results will be available are:

www.tnresults.nic.in,
www.dge1.tn.nic.in,
www.dge2.tn.nic.in,
www.dge3.tn.nic.in,
www.tngde.in,
www.collegesintamilnadu.com,
www.classontheweb.com,
www.schools9.com,
www.chennaivision.com,
www.mygaruda.com,
www.tnagar.com,
www.indiacollegefinder.com,
www.chennaionline.com,
www.nakkeeran.com,
www.getyourscore.in,
www.examresults.net,
www.webdunia.com,
www.jayanews.in, and
www.findchennai.com.

Results in SMS On Your Mobile :

Tamilnadu 12th std results sms DTHSC ROLLNO to 54545 ( visit

Results In Your Mail Inbox :

Tamilnadu +2,12th Results ( HSC Resullts ) visit http://results.sify.com?vsv=smm

Teacher Student Jokes

2009-05-13T06:00:00.000+05:30

Here are some sayings from School....smile!

Teacher: 'What is your name?'
Student: 'Mera naam Suraj Prakash hai.'
Teacher: 'When I ask a question in English, answer it in English.'

Student: 'My name is Sunlight.

Teacher: 'What is your name?'.
Student: 'My name is Beautiful Red Underwear'
Teacher: 'What kind of a name is this? Don't joke tell me the right name'
Student: 'My name is Sunderlal Chadda."

Teacher: What happened in 1869?
Student: Gandhiji was born.
Teacher: What happened in 1873?
Student: Gandhiji was four years old.

Teacher: What is the full form of maths?

Student: Mentally affected teachers harassing students

Teacher: Now children, if I saw a man beating a donkey and stopped him
then what virtue would I be showing?
Student: BROTHERLY LOVE

Teacher: Because of Gandhiji's hard work what do we get on 15th August?
Student: A holiday

Teacher: 'Can anyone give me an example of Coincidence? '

Johnny: 'Sir, my mother and father got married on the same day same time.'

Teacher: How old is ur father.
Sunny: As old as I am.
Teacher: How is it possible?

Sunny: He became father only after I was born. (1st Rank)

Teacher: There is a frog, Ship is sinking, potatoes cost
Rs3/kg...Then, what is my age?
Student: 32 yrs.
Teacher: How do you know?
Student: Well, my sister is 16 yrs old and she is half mad.

India logs over 2 lakh traditional medical formulations

2009-05-10T16:15:00.000+05:30

From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_logs_over_2_lakh_traditional_medical_formulations/articleshow/4101577.cms

NEW DELHI: In what is the world's first Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), India has completed documenting over two lakh medical
formulations of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani to save them from piracy.

After eight years of toil, over 200 scientists and researchers from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Union health ministry's department of Ayush have scientifically converted information of traditional Indian medicine from Hindi, Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, Urdu and Tamil to five international languages - English, Japanese, French, German and Spanish.

The TKDL, 30 million pages of information, has been created to prevent those living abroad from claiming patent for existing formulations. India, till now, has lost over 15,000 patents of medicinal plants to the West.

According to Dr V P Gupta from CSIR who created TKDL, India would lose 2,000 new patents every year without such a digital library.

In the past, patents have been granted by the European Patent Office
(EPO) on the use of over 285 Indian medicinal plants such as papaya, Indian long pepper, kali tulsi, pudina, ginger, aloe, isabgol, aaonla, jira, soybean, tomato, almond, walnut and methi.

This is why India has now also signed a landmark agreement with the EPO. Under the three-year agreement, which came into effect on February 3, TKDL's database would be available to the patent examiners at EPO (34 member states) "for establishing prior art", in case of patent applications based on Indian systems of medicine (ISM).

However, TKDL's information will be restricted only for patent search and examination purposes. EPO will not be able to disclose the information to a third party.

While India will help EPO with search assistance, EPO will, once every three months, inform India about what information was used as citation from the TKDA.

According to CSIR DG Prof Samir Brahmchari, on an average, it takes five to seven years to oppose a granted patent internationally and costs Rs 1-3 crore. "Therefore, the cost of protecting all ISM formulations in the absence of TKDL would be staggering and completely unaffordable," Brahmchari said.

Ayush secretary S Jalaja added, "People will now think twice before even applying for such dubious patents. Till now, we have documented 81,000 Ayurveda, 1.4 lakh Unani and 12,000 Siddha formulations."

TKDL has become a model for other countries wanting to defend their traditional knowledge from misappropriation. South Africa, African Regional Property Organisation, Mongolia, Nigeria, Malaysia and Thailand have asked India to help them replicate TKDL.

Health secretary Naresh Dayal said, "TKDL will ensure Indian traditional medical knowledge remains safe, used by Indian companies for the benefit of Indians."

The decision to create TKDL was taken in 2001 in the aftermath of wrong patents granted by US Patent and Trade Mark Office (USPTO) on wound healing properties of turmeric (1995) and on anti-fungal properties of neem granted by European Patent Office (EPO), even though the plants were being used for centuries under ISM for such benefits.

"If TKDL existed earlier, then international disputes regarding patenting of neem, turmeric and basmati would not have occurred," CSIR's Dr Gupta said.

He added that in a study conducted in 2000, 4,896 patents were granted by US PTO on medicinal plants, 80% on which were on plants of Indian origin. "In a study of 760 such patents, we found 350 patents should have never been granted. Over 200-500 such patents are granted every year, mainly due to the lack of access to documented knowledge in India," Dr Gupta said.

Women who enjoy stimulating childhoods 'have brighter kids'

2009-05-05T07:16:00.000+05:30

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/008200902050312.htm

Women who enjoy stimulating childhoods 'have brighter kids'

London (PTI): Women who enjoy more stimulating childhoods are likely to have naturally brighter kids, says a new study.

An international team has carried out the study and found that a mother's life experience during her childhood can have a direct impact on her offspring's memory and ability to learn, the 'Journal of Neuroscience' reported.

Researchers, led by Rush University Medical Center, have based their findings on an analysis of laboratory mice. The team gave a set of infant female mice an enriched environment, including exposure to toys, social interaction and exercise. They stopped the stimulation once adolescence ended and impregnated the mice who subsequently gave birth.

They found that a mother mouse who had a childhood filled with toys, socialising and exercise, gave birth to an offspring with more powerful brains.

To prove that improved memory of the offspring was not the result of better nurturing by mothers who're enriched when they were young, a number of offspring were raised by foster mothers. Even in the offspring raised by non-enriched mothers, they still maintained an improved memory.

"What's so unique about this study is that we provided an enriched environment during pre-adolescence, months before the mice became pregnant, yet the beneficial effect reached into the next generation.

"The offspring had improved memory even without an enriched environment," 'The Daily Telegraph' quoted lead researcher Dean Hartley as saying.

According to the researchers, if a similar phenomenon occurs in humans it could explain why educated middle classes tend to have higher achieving children and lead to ways of helping underachieving sections of society.

"The study suggests that environmental changes can permanently change the DNA of offspring," co-researcher Larry Feig of Tufts University School of Medicine said.

Fleas on flight

2009-04-26T15:25:00.000+05:30

Two fleas were drinking up spilled drops of beer on the bar table in a
bar near Logan International Airport in Boston. One of them mentioned
he was taking a trip to Florida.

"I am too!" said the other. "I go often."

"Really?" The first asked, "How do you travel?"

The second replied, "I usually travel in a man's mustache. It gets me
there, but the big drawback is that it's terribly cold. The chilly
wind always gets to me. I arrive in sunny Florida and I'm still
shivering."

"Ah, you just don't know how to do it," replied the first. "This is
how you travel to Florida. First, find a woman who is wearing a skirt.
A stewardess will do fine. Then jump on her leg, make your way up and
snuggle into her - well, you know - and then just settle in. It's a
nice warm ride. You can even sleep the whole way!"

"Egad!" the second replied. "Great idea! I'll try it. Thanks!"

Just by chance, the two fleas once again met up in a bar in Florida
after their flight had touched down in Miami.

"So how was your trip?" the first asked.

"Not so good," answered the second.

"Why?" asked the first. "Did you do what I suggested?"

"I did," answered the second. "It was like this. I'm in a man's
mustache when I see this woman flight attendant. Just by coincidence,
she walks up to the man and they embrace. Then they just start making
out right there in the middle of the airport. I see my chance. Just
before they kiss, I jump out of the man's mustache, onto the woman's
leg, work my way up and settle into her You Know. Then I go to sleep.
And when I wake up, I'm back in the man's mustache!" ;-)

AIPG 2009 : 25/04/2009 : DAILY COMPOSITE LIST OF COLLEGES FROR MD/MDS/MDS COURSES & SUBJECT - Round 2

2009-04-26T09:10:00.003+05:30

"Life is about correcting mistakes."

2009-04-23T14:56:00.000+05:30

Monica married Hitesh this day. At the end of the wedding party,

Monica's mother gave her a newly opened bank saving passbook.
With Rs.1000 deposit amount.
Mother: 'Monica, take this passbook. Keep it as a record of your marriage
life. When there's something happy and memorable happened in your new
life, put some money in. Write down what it's about next to the line. The
more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in. I've done the
first one for you today. Do the others with Hitesh.When you look back
after years, you can know how much happiness you've had.'
Monica shared this with Hitesh when getting home. They both thought it
was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit can be
made.
This was what they did after certain time:
- 7 Feb: Rs.100, first birthday celebration for Hitesh after marriage
- 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Monica
- 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali
- 15 Apr: Rs.2000, Monica got pregnant
- 1 Jun: Rs.1000, Hitesh got promoted
..... and so on...

However, after years, they started fighting and arguing for trivial
things.They didn't talk much. They regretted that they had married the
most nasty people in the world.... no more love...Kind of typical
nowadays, huh?
One day Monica talked to her Mother:
'Mom, we can't stand it anymore. We agree to divorce. I can't imagine how
I decided to marry this guy!!!'
Mother: 'Sure, girl, that's no big deal. Just do whatever you want if you
really can't stand it. But before that, do one thing first. Remember the
saving passbook I gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and
spend it first. You shouldn't keep any record of such a poor marriage.'
Monica thought it was true. So she went to the bank, waiting at the queue
and planning to cancel the account.
While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record. She looked,
and looked, and looked. Then the memory of all the previous joy and
happiness just came up her mind. Her eyes were then filled with tears. She
left and went home.
When she was home, she handed the passbook to Hitesh, asked him to spend
the money before getting divorce.
The next day, Hitesh gave the passbook back to Monica. She found a new
deposit of Rs.5000. And a line next to the record: 'This is the day I
notice
how much I've loved you thru out all these years. How much happiness
you've brought me.'
They hugged and cried, putting the passbook back to the safe.
Do you know how much money they had saved when they retired? I did not
ask.I believe the money did not matter any more after they had gone thru
all the good years in their life.
When you fall, in any way,
Don't see the place where you fell, Instead see the place from where you Slipped

Wealthy men give women more orgasms

2009-04-19T22:18:00.000+05:30

Scientists have found that the pleasure women get from making love is directly linked to the size of their partner’s bank balance.

They found that the wealthier a man is, the more frequently his partner has orgasms.

“Women’s orgasm frequency increases with the income of their partner,” said Dr Thomas Pollet, the Newcastle University psychologist behind the research.

He believes the phenomenon is an “evolutionary adaptation” that is hard-wired into women, driving them to select men on the basis of their perceived quality.

The study is certain to prove controversial, suggesting that women are inherently programmed to be gold-diggers.

However, it fits into a wider body of research known as evolutionary psychology which suggests that both men and women are genetically predisposed to ruthlessly exploit each other to achieve the best chances of survival for their genes.

The female orgasm is the focus of much research because it appears to have no reproductive purpose. Women can become pregnant whatever their pleasure levels.

Pollet, and Professor Daniel Nettle, his co-author, believed, however, that the female orgasm is an evolutionary adaptation that drives women to choose and retain high-quality partners.

He and Nettle tested that idea using data gathered in one of the world’s biggest lifestyle studies. The Chinese Health and Family Life Survey targeted 5,000 people across China for in-depth interviews about their personal lives, including questions about their sex lives, income and other factors. Among these were 1,534 women with male partners whose data was the basis for the study.

They found that 121 of these women always had orgasms during sex, while 408 more had them “often”. Another 762 “sometimes” orgasmed while 243 had them rarely or never. Such figures are similar to those for western countries.

There were of course, several factors involved in such differences but, said Pollet, money was one of the main ones.

He said: “Increasing partner income had a highly positive effect on women’s self-reported frequency of orgasm. More desirable mates cause women to experience more orgasms.”

This is not an effect limited to Chinese women. Previous research in Germany and America has looked at attributes such as body symmetry and attractiveness, finding that these are also linked with orgasm frequency. Money, however, seems even more important.

David Buss, professor of psychology at the University of Texas, Austin, who raised this question in his book The Evolution of Desire believes female orgasms have several possible purposes.

“They could promote emotional bonding with a high-quality male or they could serve as a signal that women are highly sexually satisfied, and hence unlikely to seek sex with other men,” he said. “What those orgasms are saying is ‘I'm extremely loyal, so you should invest in me and my children’."

The lamb of God

2009-04-19T19:26:00.000+05:30

Behold! The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world! (John 1: 29)
Holy Scripture testifies clearly and in many different
passages that atonement is possible only by the shedding of blood.
"Without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Hebrew 9:22). "To
Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, ... to
him be glory and dominion" (Revelation 1:5,6). These verses speak for
themselves.
It is important to distinguish between Christ as the
propitiation for the whole world and as the Substitute for all who
belong to Him by faith. On the cross Christ accomplished a work that
fully satisfied God's righteousness with regard to sin. On the ground
of His atoning death every trace of sin will one day to blotted out
from the whole of creation. But its true result will not be seen until
the new heavens and the new earth appear as the eternal dwelling place
of righteousness.
By means of Christ's work of atonement God has dealt with the world
in goodness and mercy from the fall through sin until now. He has sent
sunshine and rainfall to the earth and "filled our hearts with food
and gladness" (Acts14:17). He has met man's needs with patience and
grace.
In view of the work of atonement of Jesus Christ the gospel can
now be preached throughout the world. Because Christ has made
atonement before God, salvation is offered to everyone. God
attributes the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ to whoever accepts
His offer.

Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA): Departmental Examinations - May 2009 - Instructions

2009-04-14T09:25:00.000+05:30

Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA): Departmental Examinations - May 2009 - Instructions

Exercise staves off age-related brain changes

2009-04-07T14:51:00.000+05:30

Regular exercise increases cerebral blood flow and helps to stave off age-related brain changes, so say researchers from the University of North Carolina (UNC).

J. Keith Smith and colleagues compared brain scans of 12 healthy adults aged between 60 and 76. Half of the participants were very active and had exercised for at least three to four hours each week for the last ten years, whereas the other half had led a sedentary life and had exercised for less than one hour each week. Results showed that the sedentary participants had fewer small blood vessels in the brain, and that the blood flow through the brain was somewhat unpredictable. However, the active participants had more small blood vessels and improved blood flow.

"Our results show that exercise may reduce age-related changes in brain vasculature and blood flow," said Feraz Rahman, M.S., who presented the findings at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. "Other studies have shown that exercise prevents cognitive decline in the elderly. The blood vessel and flow differences may be one reason."

News release: Exercise helps prevent age-related brain changes in older adults. Radiological Society of North America. December 1st 2008.

BIOENERGY PROJECT SAVES CHEETAH HABITATS AND WINS 2008 INTEL AWARD

2009-04-05T17:22:00.000+05:30

The Biomass Energy Project of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) (a Namibia-based international NGO with charity status) was awarded the 2008 Intel Environment Award. In an attempt to develop an “ecologically sound and economically viable habitat improvement program”, the CCF looked into the viability of an income generating initiative which utilizes an invasive African thorn bush as a resource. It came up with a biomass project which uses a technology to convert this invasive African thorn bush into clean biomass fuel. In so doing, the habitats of cheetahs and other wildlife species that have been threatened by the bush are saved. The biomass processing plant of the “Bush Project” uses a “high-pressure extrusion process” to convert the bush into a clean and economically viable alternative to firewood and charcoal. Aside from ensuring the survival of the cheetah and its ecosystem, the project provides income-generating opportunities for self-employed entrepreneurs in Namibia.

India trails Pakistan, Bangladesh in sanitation

2009-04-04T17:35:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: India might be an emerging economic power, but it is way behind Pakistan, Bangladesh and even Afghanistan in providing basic sanitation facilities, a key reason behind the death of 2.1 million children under five in the country.

United Nations Children's Education Fund (Unicef) Water and Environment Sanitation Chief Lizette Burgers on Monday said that India is making progress in providing sanitation but it lags behind most of the other countries in South Asia, reports IANS.

While a mere 14 per cent of people in rural areas of the country—that account for 65 per cent of its 1.1 billion population—had access to toilets in 1990, the number had gone up to 28 per cent in 2006.

In comparison, 33 per cent rural Pakistanis had access to toilets in 1990 and it went up to an impressive 58 per cent in 2006.

Similarly in Bangladesh, 36 per cent of rural people have access to proper sanitation. The corresponding figures for Afghanistan and Sri Lanka were 30 per cent and 86 per cent, respectively.

"This is a huge problem. India has made some progress but there is a lot to be desired. The speed in which we are (India) increasing the toilet usage will not help much," Burgers said, a day before an international sanitation campaign in Delhi.

She, however, said that the huge population in India is a major challenge. Burgers said that between 1990 and 2006, rural areas of the country has witnessed a growth of 181 million people of which 39 million people did not have access to toilets.

According to the international health and sanitation watchdog, there are at least 2.5 billion people across the globe who do not have access to toilets and 50 per cent of them are in the south Asian region.

That is the main reason why 50 per cent of the global child mortality rate is reported from the same region. Besides, many children suffer from diarrhoea as well as pneumonia and other respiratory problems in India.

While 88 per cent of all diarrhoea case are attributed to water, and lack of sanitation and hygiene, all roundworm and hookworm cases in children are due to poor sanitation facilities.

Experts said that open defecation is one of the key reasons for malnutrition and stunted growth among kids and looking at the sanitation scenario, the situation is not bright for Indian children.

India okays Rs 2,276 Cr to boost agri-education

2009-04-03T17:17:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: A cabinet panel on Thursday sanctioned Rs 2,276 Cr (US $460 million) for strengthening and developing higher agricultural education in the country.

Of this, Rs 1,125 crore will be spent on development and strengthening of agricultural universities and Rs 421 crore on modernisation of agricultural university farms, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Prithviraj Chavan said.

He was briefing reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reports IANS.

The rest of the amount would be spent on sectors like niche areas of excellence and experiential learning.

"The scheme aims to enhance quality and relevance of agricultural education so that the human resource thus developed can contribute to sustainable development of agriculture and is also able to respond to national challenges," Chavan said.

"This will lead to improvement in structural and infrastructure facilities like classrooms, laboratories, girls' and boys' hostels, international hostels, libraries, museums, sports complexes and examination halls.

The scheme will also provide fellowships and students' amenities and enable faculty development," Chavan added.

Elephant dung, high on demand in Bihar

2009-04-02T17:17:00.000+05:30

Sonepur (Bihar): Elephant dung is selling like hot cake at the famous annual cattle fair here for use as a mosquito repellent and also as fuel.

The high demand for elephant dung as a mosquito repellent has made it much sought after at this cattle fair, about 35 km from Bihar capital Patna. "We are selling elephant dung; it is in high demand," Arvind Kumar Singh, owner of an elephant said here.

He said villagers have traditionally bought elephant dung to use as mosquito repellent. When it's burnt, the smoke is considered as an instant killer of mosquitoes.

"Elephant dung is the cheapest mosquito repellent. And like herbal medicines, it has no side effects," says Maheshwar Rai, a cattle farmer who bought five kg for Rs 20.

Rai said that he would use the dung to save his family and half a dozen cows from the mosquito menace, which becomes very bad in early winter.

Another buyer, Satyendra Mahato of neighbouring Vaishali district, said that elephant dung is more effective than any other mosquito repellent available in the market. "Ten kg of elephant dung is enough for my family to get rid of mosquitoes and keep us warm on winter nights."

Akhilesh Kumar, the mahout (caretaker) of an elephant, said that he collects the dung every night and sells it in the day. "It is a business for us, just like cow owners sell milk."

Mithilesh Kumar, a forest department official on duty at the cattle fair, said that the demand for elephant dung was far higher this year. "Earlier there were a few buyers who used to take it away at throwaway prices."

"People prefer elephant dung as a mosquito repellent because it does not pollute," he added.

Over 70 elephants are at the fair this year. They are brought here for show, as their sale at the fair is banned under wildlife protection laws, said another forest department official, CP Khanduja. Elephants are big attractions at the fair, especially for tourists.

But there are unofficial reports that elephants are bought and sold at the fair in the garb of gifting them.

The nearly-month-long fair, spread across 500 acres near the confluence of two rivers—the Ganga and the Gandak—has been held every year for centuries.

The fair, which begins on the auspicious Kartiki Purnima day, is perhaps the only one of its kind in the entire sub-continent where many birds and animals—including parrots, eagles, elephants, horses, sheep, goats and buffaloes—are bought and sold.

UN to verify complaints of child soldiers in India

2009-04-01T17:17:00.000+05:30

New York: A Unite Nations body has received complaints about the presence of child soldiers in certain militancy and Maoist-affected parts of India and has started the process to verify them.

Complaints about the presence of child soldiers in certain parts of India have come from Human Rights Watch and several other non governmental organisations (NGOs).

"As of now, we do not know the authenticity of those claims. We are now in the process of verifying those complaints through our country team in India," Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict Special Representative Radhika Coomaraswamy said.

The complaints and evidences about the child soldiers came from northeastern states like Manipur and the Maoist-affected areas of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, she said.

"Depending on what kind of information we get, we would begin a dialogue with the Indian government," she said.

Coomaraswamy said that most of the complaints were based on newspaper clippings and media reports.

In its report "Children and the Chhattisgarh Conflict" in September, the Human Rights Watch had documented the presence of child soldiers in the state and said children are being used by all parties to the conflict.

Tripura gets Rs 258 Cr financial discipline award

2009-03-31T17:17:00.000+05:30

Agartala: The central government has awarded Rs 258 crore to Tripura for being the best state in terms of financial management, officials said here on Thursday.

"As per the guidelines of the 12th Finance Commission, the state government had introduced a fiscal responsibility and budget management (FRBM) system and maintained a strict financial discipline among all departments," state Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury said.

"Of the Rs 258 crore, the government has already received Rs 68 crore and the centre reduced the interest of central loan from 16 per cent to 7.5 per cent," he said.

A report of the FRBM would be tabled in the winter session of the Tripura assembly, beginning on Friday, reports IANS.

The 12th Finance Commission was constituted to make recommendations for distribution between the union and the state governments of net proceeds of shareable taxes and other revenues besides consolidated funds of states. It submitted its report to the central government in November 2004, making recommendations for the period 2005-10.

"The Tripura government has no revenue deficit since 2000, and we are holding meetings every three months to review the financial management," Chowdhury said.

$150,000 ADB aid for anti-flood measures in Assam

2009-03-30T17:17:00.000+05:30

Manila: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is extending a US $150,000 technical assistance grant to help lay the groundwork for a project designed to improve Assam's shields against flooding.

The project also aims to strengthen the state's policy, planning, and institutional framework to address the problems with a long-term strategy, an ADB release said.

Another US $750,000 grant will be provided by the Multi-donor Trust Fund under the Water Financing Partnership Facility, reports IANS.

The fund, administered by the ADB, is contributed by the governments of Australia, Austria, and Norway. Additional counterpart financing of US $230,000 is being provided by the Assam government.

India is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to floods and land erosion. Assam is especially vulnerable with 90 per cent of its agricultural and urban land located in flood-prone areas.

The Indian government has developed a policy framework for integrated flood management but major gaps continue to exist between the national framework and actual implementation at the state level, ADB said.