India / All Themes
Heirok villagers of Manipur join a Special Police Force to fight militancy
05.07.2008 04:31
b4uindia.com
Defying militant threats, villagers of Heirok in Manipur's Thoubal District, have decided to go ahead with Special Police Officers (SPO's) training. Around 200 people have joined the force that has been created to counter militancy in the area. "We have taken this up not to gun down militants, but to protect Heirok village, as we have been unhappy with the situation lately," said Kh. Ibomcha Singh, a selected SPO. Kh. Ibochouba Singh, a villager said, "The reason for demanding arms and going ahead for this is to protect our land. We want to protect ourselves, our women and children from the terrorist activities of militants groups. That is why, Heirok villagers are taking this training to protect the village." The demand for guns to protect themselves came following the killing of three villagers a month ago by militants. In response to the people's demand, the government came up with the idea of SPOs that would train the people to deal with underground groups. "From the beginning, they have been requesting for arms from the government so that they can protect themselves. The Government has agreed to it, and since they are willing, we have taken necessary action for that," said Clay Khongsai, the Superintendent of Police, Thoubal. (ANI)
India
Social Life
Mums vitamin D levels during pregnancy may affect baby's dental health
05.07.2008 04:31
b4uindia.com
A woman’s low vitamin D levels during pregnancy may affect her baby’s dental health, says a new research. According to the study, low maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy may affect primary tooth calcification, leading to enamel defects, which are a risk factor for early-childhood tooth decay. Two hundred six pregnant women in their second trimester participated in the study. Only 21 women were found to have adequate vitamin D levels. Vitamin D concentrations were related to the frequency of milk consumption and pre-natal vitamin use. The investigators examined 135 infants at 16.1 ± 7.4 months of age, and found that 21.6 percent of them had enamel defects, while 33.6 percent had early-childhood tooth decay. Mothers of children with enamel defects had lower, but not significantly different, mean vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy than those of children without defects. However, mothers of children with early-childhood tooth decay had significantly lower vitamin D levels than those whose children were cavity-free. Infants with enamel defects were significantly more likely to have early-childhood tooth decay. This is the first study to show that maternal vitamin D levels may have an influence on primary teeth and the development of early-childhood tooth decay. The study has been presented at the 86th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Poor sleep adversely affects kids learning ability at school
05.07.2008 04:31
b4uindia.com
Lack of sleep can adversely affect the ability of kids to learn and interact at school, according to new study. The new survey led by Melbourne researchers has revealed that nearly a quarter of children aged six and seven have poor sleeping habits, which has a strong effect on their health, behaviour and learning ability. "Children are able to make the transition well if they are able to interact with peers and teachers and concentrate in class and take on the workload," he said. "If you have enough sleep, you have enough concentration … the brain is still growing, they are still taking in a lot of information,” Sydney Morning Herald quoted Jon Quach, lead researcher, as saying. "Some might say it's an overwhelming amount of information so the brain needs to be optimal. If you don't get enough sleep, that's something you are really missing out on," he added. The team from the Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute studied almost 4500 children, whose sleep behaviour was recorded at the age four to five and again at six to seven. About one-third of children reported poor sleep habits. In another survey, about 23 per cent of the children were reported to have sleep problems. About 6 per cent were classified as moderate or severe. The problems included children who were unhappy to sleep alone, reluctance to go to bed, restless sleep and waking during the night. However, compared to the first survey about 10 per cent had resolved their problems, while about 3 per cent had continued to sleep badly and another 3 per cent developed new problems. "If the child has a persistent sleep problem then their outcomes will be worse," "And if they have a resolving sleep problem, and that's treated or just naturally goes away, then their outcomes will improve. "They won't be as good as if they had no sleep problems at all, but they did show a remarkable improvement," he added. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Eating mushrooms can help boost immunity, fight cancer
05.07.2008 04:31
b4uindia.com
Mushrooms are rich in antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins that may help fight cancer, say researchers. While addressing the health benefits of mushrooms in a session Monday at the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo in New Orleans, several scientists pointed out that this food item contains antioxidants, selenium, riboflavin, and other healthful substances that protect the immune system and fight cancer. Dr. Lana Zivanovic, a researcher in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Tennessee, said that mushrooms contained high amounts of beta-glucans, compounds that help keep immune cells in a state of vigilance and thereby guard against disease. Dr. Shiuan Chen, director of surgical research at the Beckman Research Institute in California, revealed that mushrooms were rich in cancer-fighting substances. He said that lab experiments had found mushrooms’ cells to contain mechanisms that suppress breast and prostate cancer cells. He even revealed that he was following up his study with clinical trials funded by the Mushroom Council, the results of which should be out in a year. The researcher said that, so far, his team had discovered that mushrooms contain an antioxidant called ergothioneine, which contributes to immune support and protection of the eyes, skin, liver, kidneys, and bone marrow. Dr. Joy Dubost, principal nutritionist at PepsiCo, said that her studies had shown that stressful growing conditions might help mushrooms produce more of the antioxidants. The scientists making presentations at the even also pointed out that mushrooms contained robust amounts of selenium, vitamin D and potassium. Dr. Robert Beelman from the Department of Food Science at Pennsylvania State University said that white button mushrooms had more protein, potassium, copper, and selenium than oyster or shitake mushrooms. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
Now, go on a holiday, in Tarzan-style
05.07.2008 03:28
b4uindia.com
Remember Tarzan, the fictional character in your childhood storybooks, who lived in a ‘treehouse’ and you had longed for such adventure. Part of it can be experienced, at least the treehouse part. A Jaipur-based investor has developed a farm where he has constructed what he calls 'Tree Cottages'. Tourists visiting Jaipur can now look forward to more than palatial hotels where erstwhile kings of the desert state lived and enjoy an exclusive kind of lodging, as they have the option of staying in well-designed cottages set up on the branches of selected trees and experience the joys of living in nature's lap. The promoters of 'Tree Cottages' have come up with the idea to offer the tourists an unusual experience of enjoying nature up in the air in the vicinity of birds. These 'Tree Cottages', in a way, provide a journey back in time when tribals lived in cottages built on branches of trees to escape wild animals. These cottages, although on trees, have all modern amenities. They are equipped with modern gadgets like telephone, satellite TV and Internet and laced with air conditioned comforts. To bird lovers these cottages offer an opportunity to enjoy the chirping of birds in nests located at arms length. The developer of the tree house has plans to build a resort in Jaipur complete with 23 treetop cottages. "I have always been inspired by nature. When I saw these trees, I thought that making a house under the tree is a common phenomenon. But to make a house with the birds in the trees is something unique. So that when people wake up and look out of the windows, they could be facing the birds. I have fixed glasses on rooftops so that people can see and live with nature," said Sunil Mehta, Developer of the Nature Farms. Once the construction of all 23 tree houses is complete, this destination would become one of the rare places in the world having the cluster of over a score of tree houses at a single place providing unique lodging facility to 50 guests at one time. As per the plans, this project is likely to be completed by the end of this year and will cost around ten million rupees. (ANI)
India
Social Life
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