AF Data Digital Pvt. Ltd.,: May 28, 2010

HEALTH ISSUE: SHORT CUTS

Friday, May 28, 2010

SHORT CUTS

Fewer sugary drinks may
lower blood pressure

Drinking fewer sugary drinks may help lower blood pressure, US researchers said on Monday in findings adding to a growing body of research supporting cutting back on sweetened beverages. They found overweight people with high blood pressure who drank one less sugar-laden beverage a day significantly lowered their blood pressure over 18 months. The study was headed by Dr Liwei Chen of Louisiana State University Health Science Center.

Health Issue: Rain Cloud is mostly made of bacteria

'Rain Cloud is mostly made

of bacteria'

Not Soot And Dust, But Bugs

Serve As Nuclei For Raindrops

Bozeman (Mountana): Walking across the campus of Montana State University here, David Sands, a plant pathologist, says the blanket of snow draped over the mountains around town contains a surprise. The cause of most of it, he said, is a living organism, a bacterium, called pseudomonas syringae.

In the last few years, Sands and other researchers have accumulated evidence that the well-known group of bacteria, long known to live on agricultural crops, are far more widespread and may be part of a little-studied weather ecosystem. The principle is well accepted, but how widespread the phenomenon is remains a matter of debate.

The accepted precipitation model is that shot, dust and other inert things form the nuclei for raindrops and snowflakes. Scientists have found these bacteria in abundance on the leaves of a wide range of wild and domestic plants, including Montana, Morocco, France, the Yukon and in long-buried ice of Antarctica. The bacteria have been found in clouds and in streams and irrigation ditches. In one study of several mountaintops here, 70% of the snow crystals examined had formed around a bacterial nucleus.

Some of the bacteria promote freezing as a means of attacking plants. They make proteins that will trigger freezing at higher temperatures than usual and the resulting water ice damages the plant, giving the bacteria access to the nutrients they need.

This ability to promote freezing of water at higher than normal freezing temperatures has led Sands and other scientists to believe the bacteria are part of an unstudied system. After the bacteria infect plants and multiply, he says, they may be swept as aerosols into the sky, where it seems they prompt the formation of ice crystals (which melt as they fall to earth, causing rain) at higher temperatures than do dust or mineral particles that also function as the nuclei of ice crystals.

If Sands is correct about the importance of bacteria, there would be implications for destruction of vegetation through overgrazing or logging, which might decrease the presence of bacteria leading to droughts. On the other hand, because the bacteria flourish on some plants and are sparse on others, planting the right vegetation could enhance rain. The research continues. In England, experts are flying into clouds to take samples of cloud water, and analyzing the DNA of microbes in it,

Health Issue: Which Side of the Your Brain You Think With...

Can't save" You aren't using brain's left side

London: Saving for a rainy day? Well, it all depends on which side of your brain you think with, says a new study.

Researchers have found those who use the right side of the brain - typically creative and impulsive types - have a carefree "live debts and no savings, the Daily Mail reported. But deeper thinkers, who use the left side of brain-careful and logical types-are more comfortable managing their finances, the study found.

Researchers at Hertfordshire University asked 500 adults a brain teaser They examined their answers and found that only one in three people got the answer right. Most of these were "reflectors"-who think with the left side of the brain. Many of the people got the question wrong were "intuitors" people who tend to use the right side of the brain.

When participants who gave the wrong answer were asked about their money, it was found they had fewer savings, credit card debt and a lax attitude to money management.

Lead researcher Karen Pine said: "Reactive people can't suppress the first answer that springs to mind. They're the kind of people who live for the moment and avoid putting effort into anything that doesn't bring short-term gain."

The report of the study also showed 43% of "intuitors" had been with the same bank since leaving school. For some, this was 30 years ago or longer. The study also revealed that almost one in four reflectors had changed where they bank at least twice, while 43% of intuitors than reflectors pay off only the minimum on their credit cards.

Gwyneth Paltrow - RAISE A TOAST

Gwyneth makes a mean martini

Gwyneth Paltrow started mixing cocktails when she was just six. The Iron Man 2 star learned about alcohol by making drinks for her father, film producer, Bruce Paltrow, when she was a child. She said, "I love a dirty martini. I used to make my dad his drinks when I was about six!"

Gwynethm, who runs her own lifestyle website, claims appearing on a cookery programme has been the highlight of her working life because she is such a fan of food. She said, "I really love eating. This is a highlight of my career." Although Gwyneth, whose favourite foods are muffins, grilled tuna, gorgonzola and pomegranates, admits her children are less-than impressed by her culinary creations. She added. "I love anything fried fish and chips, and I love Branston pickle."

Lily Allen - HOME & HEARTH

Home is where the heart is!

Lily Allen, the Fear hitmaker, won three prizes at the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards in London recently, but admitted she couldn't fully enjoy her success because she was too busy worrying about the home she is sharing with boyfriend Sam Cooper She said, "I haven't finished moving at all. I'm here, but I'm also thinking of all the boxes in my kitchen that I need to organise." The 24-year-old star, who recently denied speculation she is pregnant, also revealed she was planning a low key toast to her wins. She said, "I'm going to go to the pub and I'm going to have half-a-pint of cider. It's so hot, that's all I want, just half-a-pint of cider." Lily insisted her triumph won't tempt her out of retirement, but she is looking forward to penning songs for other people.

Katrina Kaif and Ranbir and MAnoj Bajpayee - LUCK FACTOR

Manoj is green with envy

Manoj Bajpayee, who is easily more talented than Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor is however jealous that he doesn't enjoy the popularity of these two young actors when it comes to the media. The talented Bajpayee was virtually ignored by a flaky media at recent press conferences where he has either had Kat or Rabir accompanying him. Of course this seems to bother him and he was reportedly in a blue funk. What Manoj should realise is that even Bollywood's best actors like Naseerddin Shah and Om Puri have often had totake second place to some Himbo or Bimbo on many occasions. But they have survived on sheer talent and he will do the same. Stardom in cinema is often proportionate to skin show, good looks, luck and lineage. And what you can't cure, you must endure!

Celina Jaitly - LOOKS DO MATTER

Beauty is not skin deep

Celina Jaitly, who has been associated with several good causes, knows and says that beauty is not skin deep. But, she is also happy that an international skin care brand has signed her to be their brand ambassador for India. In the US, this brand has had some popular Hollywood names like Katy Perry, Jessica Simpson and Vanessa Williams associated with it.

Ajay Devgn - NO POLITICS

Ajay bats for Rahul Gandhi

Ajay Devgn is taking his personal Raajneeti to the next level. He is batting for the young and dynamic Rahul Gandhi. Ajay was overheard telling his inner circle of friends that he finds Rahul Gandhi impressive both in looks and in his approach to politics. Ajay strongly feels that the nation is in feed of young politicians, who, with their new and innovative ideas, can bring about the change that is needed in this country. A source says that the actor, who is playing a politician in his next movie, is rooting for the next generation of politicians.

Sneha - RED HOT

MOM IS THE

WORD

Sneha will be in Hyderabad in June to shoot for her first film with Mohanlal, titled Shikar.

The film. directed by Padmakumar, will have Mohanlal playing a lorry driver and Sneha, his wife. Ananya, who wowed audiences with her performance in Nadodigal, will play Mohanlal's daughter. The film will also feature other Kollywood actors like Thalaivasal Vijay and Samuthirakani.

Interestingly, Lakshme Rai, who was originally signed up for this project, had to opt out because of date issues. And now, the mother's role has landed in Sneha's lap. Needless to say, Sneha has accepted the offer, Sneha, who has done Malayalam films with Mammootty earlier also, is awaiting the release of her upcoming billingual with him - Vandae Maatharam. And now, whe's equally excited about her first flick with Mohanlal, Looks like this year is a happening one for this actress.

Sohail Khan and Salman Khan - "AD" ONS

Brotherhood

Salman Khan and Sohail Khan, who have featured in half-a-dozen Bollywood films (most of them, bo0x office duds) and a mouth freshener commercial, have now been signed for an automobile campaign, Those who are behind the advertisement seem to think that Salman (the most-wanted actor).

And his brother Sohail will make a potent combination whenit comes to endorsing a rugged vehicle brand. Well, we guess that for this once, these two may actually complement each other.

Lady Gaga - CUPID STRIKES

Lady Gaga's

lady love

Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan may have denied an affair with the Indian born, New York-based photographer Indrani but singer Lady Gaga isn't hiding her love for a brunette with whom she was seen holidaying on a yacht, off the French coast, it wasn't long ago when Gaga admitted that she stays away from sex because it's good for her and also advised others to do so. But Cupid seems to have struck the Poker Face Singer's heart. "She was rolling all over this hot brunette. They were clearly seen having a good time. The couple appeared to be playing a love game," said an onlooker. Though the paparazzi was following them, Lady Gaga didn't seem to care and she continued romancing her companion."The fun-loving pair then took timeout to relax together and enjoy a well-carned cup of tea and a can of pop," added the onlooker.

Health Issue: Smallest Telemedicine

Smallest telemedicine microscope developed

Washington: The world's smallest and lightest telemedicine microscope, of the size of an egg, has been developed, which may help improve healthcare in developing countries.

"This is a very capable and yet cost-effective microscope, shrunk into a very small package and weighing only 46 grams," said inventor Aydogan Ozcan from the University of California. Los Angeles. "Our goal with this project was to develop a device that can be used to improve health outcomes in resource-limited settings. It can be used to image blood samples or other fluids, even in Third World countries,"Ozcan said.

The technology has the potential to help monitor diseases like malaria, HIV and TB in areas where there are great distances between people in need of health care and the facilities, he said, adding it can even be used to test water quality in the field following a disaster like a hurricane or earthquake.

Health Issue: Now, Better way for food allergy

Now, a better way to detect food allergy

Washington: Scientists in the US claim to have developed a better technology to detect food allergies in people.

A team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says that the technology can analyse individual immune cells taken from patients, allowing precise measurement of cells' response to allergens like milk and peanuts, the latest edition of the 'Lab on a Chip' journal reported.
Using this technology, doctors could one day diagnose food allergies with a simple blood test that would be faster and more reliable than current tests, according to Christopher Love, who led the team. "With a large number of diagnoses, it's ambiguous. A lot of times it's almost circumstantial whether you're allergic to one thing or another," he said.
The technology screens the patent's immune cells for small proteins known as cytokines. Immune cells such as T cells produce cytokines when an allergic response's initiated, attracting other cells to join in the response. To perform the test, blood must be drawn from the patient, and white blood cells (which include T cells) are isolated from the sample. The cells are exposed to a potential allergen and then placed into about 100,000 individual wells arranged in a lattice pattern on a soft rubber surface. Using a technique known as microengraving the scientists make 'prints' of the cytokines produced by each cell onto the surface of a glass slide.

Health Issue: Did Venter Create Life?

Did Venter create life

Not really, say experts

THESE CELLS AREN'T SYNTHETIC

Craig Venter's team created the genome of an M my coides bacteria in the lab and inserted it into another type of bacteria.
The recipient bacteria started behaving like an M mycoides. It's offspring too carried copies of the man-made gerfome
Venter says the cells are synthetic since they are controlled by genes made in lab
Other experts say that for any cell to be called synthetic, all its components should've been created artificially - perhaps possible in theory, but as yet technically impossible

New Delhi: Are the bacterial cells created in J Craig Venter's laboratories in the US actually synthetic life? After the hype and hoopla over the announcement of the world's first "manmade living cells" , scientists are getting down to answering that question. And this is what most of them have to say. Venter's team has achieved a stupendous technical feat, but the cells cannot be called synthetic.
          Using an analogy from everyday life, what the team did is akin to completely reprogramming a computer, but not building one from scratch. Here's why.
   As the first step in the decade long work, Venter and his researchers mapped the genome of a simple bacteria, Mycoplasma mydides, Genome is the 'brain' of any cell and contains sequences of DNA which carry all the genetic information needed for the cell - and by extension, the organism - to function.
   Like all living matter, the geneme is made of chemicals. What Venter's team did next is being called as a tour de force, It manufactured the M mycoides' step by step in the lab, using, in Venter's words. "four bottles of chemicals" This synthetic genome, identical in every way to the 'original' except for certain harmless 'signatures' the team put in to mark it as a built-in-the-lab version, was then inserted into another type of bacteria after the bacteria's own genome had been sucked out.
   Venter describes what happened next; "As soon as the genome goes into the cell, it starts making new proteins encoded in its DNA and converts it into a new synthetic species. It's a completely synthetic cell now, it has replicated over a billion times. The only DNA it has now is the synthetic one that we made."
        In other words, the once the synthetic M mycoides genome is introduced in the bacterial cell, it transforms into an M mycoides. When it replicantes, the off-springs too are M mycoides, carrying copies of the man-made genome. Venter believes, for all practical purposes, this is synthetic life. But other experts are saying that though the cell's control station is artificial, the cell itself isn't Neither is it a new form of life - the artificial genome is an exact replica of a M mycoides genome.
   DSays Delhi University Vice Chancellor Deepak Oental, himself a biotechnologist, "In this case, the bacterial cell is being seen as a shell, an envelope into which man-made genome is inserted. But the shell is much more than an envelope."
      Nobel-winning British biologist Paul Nurse elaborates the point. In an conversation with BBC, he says, "Venter's work is a major advance. But it's not a creation of synthetic life... Creation of synthetic life would be to make an entire bacterial cell through chemicals."
      Nurse, Venter's rivalin many ways, believes creating an entirely new cell from scratch, though theoretically possible, wouold require a level of technology likely to be reached "long after we are dead" He points out that in Venter's method, there's very little scope of deviating from nature's script. "In an earlier attempt, Venter's team got just one genetic 'letter' wrong out of a million - and this cell simply didn't function."he says.

Ashley Greene - READY TO SCARE

Ashley to lead in

Scream 4

Ashley Greene has been offered the lead role in the fourth installment of the horror franchise Scream 4 alongside fellow young stars Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin.

Veteran actors like Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courtney Cox Arquette, who've already been part of the previous parts, are said to be joining these newcomers as well. Ashley is in talks to play Courtney's cousin Jill, while Hayden will play Jill's best friend. Rory Culkin is also in talks to play Jill's love interest. However, the veteran trio will have much smaller roles than in the previous movies. Ashley is currently also working on a number of new movies, including horror thriller The Apparition with Tom Felton and comedy film Butter alongside Olivia Wilde and Hugh Jackman.

Gracy Singh - OUT OF SIGHT

Gracy Singh

resurfaces

That Gracy Singh had no mentor and belongs to no camps is very evident. And it should also explain why despite some super hits like Lagaan oppsite Aamir Khan, which was nominated for the Oscars and Munnabhai MBBS, opposite Sanjay Dutt, which was a blockbuster, the girl goes missing for long spells.

Here in Bollywood, if you're out of sight, you're out of mind. Anyway Gracy is back in B-town currently having shed some flab and being as fashionable as she perhaps can. And what's with this new avatar?

Well, naturally she is looking to be cast in something worthwhile. Let's hope the talented actress grabs some offers to perk up her career. After all, Gracy deserve it Good luck girl!

Sandhya - NO LUCK

Unlucky ?

Sandhya might be a talent powerhouse but Lady luck doesn't seem to be smiling on her at the moment. Sadly, filmmakers are avoiding this fine actress with a sound knowledge of the local language and instead opting for glam girls from Mumbai and neighbouring states.

Sandhya, who was singing praises about her performance, did not repeat her in the Telugu version of the film and instead opted for another actress for the same role.

Now, Sandhya has no films in hand and has hence gone back to Malayalam where she has started work on a new film titled College Days with Indrajith as hero. Let's hope that the lady has a change of luck this time around!

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