S&T Watch-33: "Treating Type-I Diabetes without Insulin"

Type-I diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and kills insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. About 10% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. The only treatment for Type-I diabetes hitherto has been intramuscular administration of insulin. But soon a new line of treatment may be available using the hormone leptin. Recent studies with rodents suggest that a little extra production of leptin through gene therapy can bring terminally ill rodents with Type-I diabetes back from the brink of death (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 25 August 2008).

Leptin is a hormone made by fat cells and plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure. It also helps control eating behaviour. A new study suggests that it can also treat diabetes , the first demonstration that the disease can be treated without replacing insulin.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre at Dallas, USA, used adenovirus to insert extra copies of the leptin gene in diabetic mice and rats. The rodents recovered from the most severe side-effects of diabetes, even though they were not given insulin. The terminally ill diabetic rodents making extra leptin recovered with no trace in their bodies, and leptin produced more sustained health improvements than insulin injections did. These included normalising blood sugar for up to 80 days without insulin, stopping the overproduction of glucose by the liver, improving sugar use in the muscles, and allowing the animals to gain weight. The gene therapy also corrected ketosis - a process characteristic of diabetes in which the body burns fat, producing sweet-smelling chemicals called ketones.

According to the researchers, excess leptin probably blocks the action of glucagon, a hormone that works as a counterpoint to insulin, which helps cells use glucose for energy. Glucagon signals the liver to produce glucose from fats and other non-carbohydrate sources. In diabetics, high glucagon levels just raise blood sugar levels even higher and lead to other side-effects.

The researchers are not sure whether injections of leptin will work as well as making extra leptin through gene therapy does. But it is known that persons given injections of leptin for other reasons do show some improvement in blood sugar levels.

Courtesy: 'DREAM 2047', October 2008 ("Recent Development in Science and Technology" by Biman Basu - Email: bimanbasu@gmail.com).

Grateful thanks to Mr.Biman Basu and Dream 2047.

Eyecatchers-114: "Rs.12 crore Unclaimed Deposits!"

Throughout the country about Rs.1200 crores remain unclaimed in various bank deposits. This information was furnished by the Reserve Bank of India in reply to a petition by Mr.Siddharth Mishra of Orissa under Right to Information Act.

Courtesy: 'Dinamalar', Tamil daily, Madurai, Sep.14, 2008.

Grateful thanks to Dinamalar.

Facts & Figures-51: "World Standards Day"

World Standards Day is celebrated today. It aims to create an awareness about the importance of standardization. For more details:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Standards_day

Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

S&T Watch-32: "Mars Project"

NASA has decided to proceed with plans to launch a new big rover to Mars in 2009, despite concerns about the Mars Science Laboratory's budget.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.12, 2008.

Wikipedia articles on "MARS" and "NASA":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasa

Grateful thanks to The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Open Access-5: "Open Access Day"

Today is Open Access Day. Enthusiasts of OA world over have planned various events to celebrate the occasion. It looks very good and encouraging.

For details:

http://oad.simmons.edu/oadwiki/Events_celebrating_Open_Access_Day

Environment-13: "Green Roof Movement"

Have heard about the Green Roof Movement? I came to know about it only very recently through an article in The San Diego Union-Tribune. The article was titled, "CINCINNATI WANTS TO LEAD GREEN ROOF MOVEMENT IN U.S." and was authored by Terry Kinney of Associated Press.

It says that the City Council of Cincinnati plans to support residents and business houses to replace tar and shingles with vegetation by channeling grants and loans.

Originally European-born, this Green Roof Movement, is spreading to many cities of USA.

Green roofs are not only aesthetically pleasing but also helpful in many ways like reduction of stormwater runoff, filtering of pollutants and reduction in heating and cooling costs.

After reading the article, naturally I went to Wikipedia, the free encylopedia for more information. From Wikipedia, I went on to other sites and got plenty of lovable information which I would like to share with you.

Wikipedia article on: "GREEN ROOF":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_roofs

Article entitled, "May Your Roof Be Green" from Al-Ahram, Weekly Online, June 2-8, 2005:http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/745/en2.htm

Article entitled, "PLANT A GREEN ROOF" by Katherine Noyes, Senior Editor, "Animal Welfare" in Charity Guide:

http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/green-roof.htm

Grateful thanks to Terry Kinney, San Diego Union-Tribune, Amany Abdel-Moneim, Al-Ahram, Katherine Noyes, Charity Guide.org and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Open Access-4: Google Directory for Open Access Resources

It is heartening to note the growing support for the Open Access Movement and here is something for those who are interested in Open Access from Google Directory of Open Access Resources.

It has listed 5 categories and two related categories. Under the category, Free Access Scientific Archives Google Directory lists 52 references. Those who would like to look them up can click the URL below and see for themselves the 52 Open Access Resources under Science; 33 under Free Access Theory; 82 under Free Online Literature; 41 under Free Online Poetry; and 10 under Organizations.

Under related categories, 835 under Computers; and 82 under Computers-Open Source.

http://www.google.com/Top/Science/Publications/Archives/Free_Access_Online_Archives/

Grateful thanks to Google Directory.

Facts & Figures-34: "GMT"

Greenwich was established as universal time meridian of longitude on October 13, 1884 .

Wikipedia article on “GMT”: (In Britain, during winter only GMT is followed; during winter, it is “British Summer Time; and many more interesting facts):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMT

Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Websites to Watch-6: "Poetry 180"

I came across this interesting portal last week. It is hosted by the Library of Congress, USA. Though it says "a poem a day for American schools", anybody who loves poetry will find it interesting. To know more about it, I reproduce the Introduction given by Billy Collins, Former Poet Laureate of the United States:

"Welcome to Poetry 180. Poetry can and should be an important part of our daily lives. Poems can inspire and make us think about what it means to be a member of the human race. By just spending a few minutes reading a poem each day, new worlds can be revealed.

Poetry 180 is designed to make it easy for students to hear or read a poem on each of the 180 days of the school year. I have selected the poems you will find here with high school students in mind. They are intended to be listened to, and I suggest that all members of the school community be included as readers. A great time for the readings would be following the end of daily announcements over the public address system.

Listening to poetry can encourage students and other learners to become members of the circle of readers for whom poetry is a vital source of pleasure. I hope Poetry 180 becomes an important and enriching part of the school day".
------
Give it a try, you will like it; I liked it.

A Thought for Today-145:

Grateful thanks to Vinod for the photo - clicked by him with his Nokia N70M

When the young behave badly, it is because society has already behaved worse. We have the teenagers, like the politicians and the wars that we deserve - J.B.Priestly.

Eyecatchers-113: "Nobel Peace Prize for Martti Ahtisaari"

Finland's former President, Martti Ahtisaari, won the 2008 Noble Peace Prize for a long career of peacemaking around the world from Namibia to Kosovo.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.11, 2008.

Detailed Wikipedia article on "MARTTI AHTISAARI":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martti_Ahtisaari

Grateful thanks to The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

S&T Watch-31: "Hydrogen-powered Cars"

This interesting news is from 'NEW SCIENTIST'. I receive their e-newsletter, 'Science in the News' regularly. Excerpts from this news item:

"Hydrogen is in many ways the perfect fuel - it can be burnt in combustion engines and produces only water as a by-product. But, for the hydrogen-powered vehicles, the gas tank is a big limiting factor.

Weight for weight, hydrogen is three times as energy dense as petrol, but the gas is difficult to store....The latest prototype vehicles can travel only up to 450 kilometres or so on a full tank.

Being able to store more hydrogen, more easily, could advance the technology at a stroke. And a new generation of hydrogen fuel tanks that store gas inside solids or liquids are not starting to make that possible." (http://snipurl.com/43com).

For the full article, "High-tech sponge could take hydrogen cars further" by Colin Barras in NewScientist.com News Service, Oct.3, 2008:

http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn14867-hightech-sponge-could-take-hydrogen-cars-further.html

Grateful thanks to 'Science in the News" e-newsletter, Mr.Collin Barras and New Scientist.

Eyecatchers-112: "e-Cigarettes, Alternative to Smoking and Quit-Smoking"

I read this interesting piece of news in SiliconIndia. Now that the Govt of India has banned public smoking, e-cigarettes or just e-cig have come into the market. e-Cigarettes cost about Rs.1000/- and there are about 35 manufacturers of e-cigarettes. But let me make it clear. I am anti-cigarette and anti-tobacco and never shall I recommend cigarette or e-cig for that matter to anybody.

For the full article on e-Cigarette from SiliconIndia, just click:

http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/47284

Detailed Wikipedia article on "e-CIGARETTE":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-cigarette

Grateful thanks to SiliconIndia and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A Thought for Today-145:

Grateful thanks to Vinod for the photo - clicked by him on his Nokia N70M

The Secret of Inner Peace is a Healthy Life: Exercising Regularly, Eating Properly, Breathing Deeply. - J.Donald Waters

Facts & Figures-50: "Stalin Vs. Hitler"

In my limited knowledge of Russian history, I understand that Stalin was responsible for the death of around 15 million people during his 31-year dictatorship rule. Stalin easily surpassed Hitler in the scale of genocide. (Hitler's score was only a paltry 6 million). The Russian strongman also destroyed thousands of churches and sent tens of thousands of clerics to gulags and their death.

Excerpt from "Non-Sense File: Saint Joseph Stalin" by The Colonel in THE WEEK, August 24, 2008.

Grateful thanks to 'The Colonel' and 'The Week'.

In Lighter Vein-1:

The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the diseases.

Courtesy: The New India Express (Wisecracks - Other details not available).

Grateful thanks to The New Indian Express.

My Photo Album-24: "Dad being honoured"

Dad being honoured for meritorious service by the then Governor of Tamil Nadu, Hon'ble Sadiq Ali, during the Railway Week celebrations at Chennai. I don't remember the year. Sri Sadiq Ali was Governor of Tamil Nadu during 1980-82. So it is more than 25 years old.

Letters-43: "End the Violence"

1. The editorial "Stop the violence against Christians" (Oct.4) was strongly-worded and timely. We salute The Hindu for its non-partisan, positive outlook and its strong voice that is heard by all sections of people, including those who rule the nation.

The attacks on Christians in Orissa and the vandalism and violence caused by communal elements are against the principle of Sanatana Dharma. Such acts militate against the noble concept of ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti (Truth is one; sages call it by various names). - Ko.Shafee Ahmed, Chennai.

2. In 1947, there live a Hindu sage in the person of Mahatma Gandhi, who told his fellow countrymen not to kill one another in the name of religion. He was ready to starve himself to death to stop them from indulging in madness in the name of religion.

Are there no more sages left in India to tell the cowards in Orissa to stop raping nuns and burning to death helpless people because they belong to a different religion? - Kurian Alex, Kottayam.

3. The fact that in several instances the police watched the atrocities in silence and refused to register cases is shocking. The incidents in Orissa seem to be a replay of what happened in Gujarat in 2002. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to face an embarrassing situation abroad thanks to religious terrorism perpetrated against the minorities by a few unscrupulous elements belonging to the majority community. - M.Haneef, Kottayam.

4. The Prime Minister seems to have realised that something is terribly wrong in Orissa only after visiting France. Every secular citizen is not only embarrassed but also angry at what is going on in Orissa. The turmoil created by saffron forces in the State is a national shame.

It is time we realised that there is no place for fundamentalist organisations such as the VHP and the Bajrang Dal in a secular country. There is enough ground to ban these groups. - Dhananjay Tripathi, New Delhi.

5. Hinduism is known for tolerance. Its fair name is being tarnished by a few. I urge the leaders of the Christian and Hindu faiths to sit across the table and resolve the issues. - Subramanyam Sridharan, Chennai.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.6, 2008 ("Letters to the Editor").

Grateful thanks to The Hindu.

S&T Watch-30: "Gene Link found to Cleft Lip"

Scientists said on Sunday (Oct.5, 2008) that a single change in a sequence of a gene called interferon regulatory factor 6 or IRF6 is a major cause of cleft lip.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.6, 2008 ("Nescape").

Detailed Wikipedia article on "CLEFT LIP AND PALATE":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleft_lip

Grateful thanks to The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Eyecatchers-111: "Mittal suffers £16.6 billion loss"

NRI steel tycoon Lakhsmi Mittal has lost £16.6 billion in the global credit crunch owing to plummeting stock markets in the last four months, media reports said.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.6,2008 ("Snapshots")

Grateful thanks to The Hindu.