Informatics Exclusive: From Karachi Pakistan to the Hollywood California – Sharmeen Chinoy
03 Mar 2012 2 Comments
in Articles, Asian Development, Editorial Picks, FIlmography, From The News Paper, Interviews, Media, Science, Silver Screen, Women Development, Women Health Tags: Film, Health, Women, Women Health
I don’t know what Sharmeen obaid-chinoy wanted to be when she was a 10-year-old girl growing up in the Karachi, but she ended up as a journalist and bloody good she is at it too – Sam Wollaston, The Guardian, March 2009
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy was born in Karachi Pakistan to Urdu speaking parents, Sheikh Obaid and Saba Obaid, and attended the Karachi Grammar School. Sharmeen graduated from Smith Collegewith a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Government and from Stanford University with a master’s in International Policy Studies in 2003, and a master’s in Communication in 2004.
Epilogue: Her career in documentary film making began when she examined the plight of Afghan refugee children in Pakistan for an articles. Their situation was so dire, and their stories so compelling, that she decided to return to Pakistan and create a film about them. She petitioned Smith College and New York Times Television production division for the grants that would allow her to accomplish her goals. Intrigued by her story, both organizations gave her the funds as well as production equipment and training. More
Exclusive: How To Give Up Smoking?? – Study
02 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Brain Sciences, Cancer, Health, Smoking Tags: Brain, Brain Sciences, Psychology, Research, social psychology
“It’s easy to quit smoking; I’ve done it hundreds of times.” – Mark Twain
By Catharine Paddock
There are many different ways to quit smoking. Some experts advocate using pharmacological products to help wean you off nicotine, others say all you need is a good counselor and support group, or an organized program. To add to the confusion, you may find there is a study that says this way works better than that one, and then when you look again, you find there is another study that says, no, that one works better than this one.
But one thing most experts agree on is that a combination works best. For example, nicotine replacement therapy on its own, or counseling on its own is not as effective as a combination of the two.
In this article you can read about some of the more common elements of successful quit smoking programs. And at the end is a list of Top Tips to Quit Smoking.
- Elements of Successful Quit Programs If you are looking to put together or select a quit smoking program, I suggest you consider four elements in your “combination”:
- Appropriate use of pharmacological products. If you feel you are severely addicted to smoking, you may wish to consider nicotine replacement products so your body gradually gets used to living without nicotine: always talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or qualified quitting expert first before using these drugs.
- Advice and support. Advice and support can help you become more self-aware, identify your triggers and when moments of weakness may occur, develop strategies and contingencies, keep you realistically grounded and on track with your plan, and prevent relapse. Examples include one-to-one or in-person counselling, telephone counselling, internet programs, group support, mentoring, and coaching.
- Measuring and recording. To help you see in black and white how much you smoke, how much it costs you, how much you could save; also keeping a journal of your quitting journey.
- Improving your knowledge: Read the science, talk to experts, and learn for yourself how smoking damages your health and the health of those around you. Learn how others tackled the challenge.
If you have had a health problem, such as a heart attack or stroke, or if you are pregnant or planning to start a family, go and see your doctor and discuss your quit plan before you start. More
Why Online Dating Doesn’t Work??
02 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Psychology, Science Tags: Brain, Brain Sciences, Research, social cognition, Social Media, social psychology
On-line dating might give you something, but it’s probably not a soul mate
By Christie Nicholson
A team of psychologists reviewed online dating sites and their conclusions are not promising.
Most sites rely on what’s called an “exclusive process”—they use an algorithm to find romantic matches based variables, from interests to fetishes. But now a team of psychologists from five universities has performed a systematic review. And they say that most claims for the power of the “exclusive process” don’t pan out. Their report is in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest.
The existing “matching algorithms” miss key variables for long-term love. They necessarily make matches before the parties meet. But studies show that the strongest predictors of solid relationships are a couple’s live interaction style and ability to handle stress. Data about characteristics like personality and attitudes cannot accurately predict how that real life interaction will function. More
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How lefties, righties see the world differently
01 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Brain Sciences, Psychology, Science Tags: Brain, Human Behaviour, Mind Sciences, Psychology, Research
By Joan Raymond
Be careful next time you cast a vote. Your “handedness” might make you choose the wrong candidate, according to a research review published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
The research sheds light on the so-called “body-specificity hypothesis” which simply means that how we make decisions and how we communicate with each other is influenced not only by our minds, but by our physical bodies.
“Handedness is a good tool (to use) because it’s easily measurable, and our hands our important in how we interact with the physical world,” explains lead author Daniel Casasanto, Ph.D., a cognitive scientist and assistant professor at the New School for Social Research in New York.
Experiments show that right-handed people tend to view things situated on the right hand side of a page, for example, as being more positive. And if you’re a leftie, well, you favor those things on the left hand side. When participants were asked which of two products to buy, which of two job applicants to hire, or which of two alien creatures looked more trustworthy, right-handers routinely chose the product, person, or creature they saw on the right side of the page. Left-handers preferred the ones on left hand side of the page. More
Volunteers recognized at Leadership Awards gala
01 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Articles, Community Services
Several of the region’s most dedicated volunteers were honoured Tuesday night as the Victoria Leadership Awards were given out. The awards honour the accomplishments of “local heroes,” who give time, energy and expertise to help the community. The eighth annual VLA gala took place at the Fairmont Empress. The awards are a partnership between Leadership Victoria, the University of Victoria, the Rotary Clubs of Greater Victoria, the Victoria Foundation and the United Way of Greater Victoria.
Naz Rayani was given the leadership lifetime achievement award. The pharmacist and philanthropist started his career in Kenya in 1972 and now owns several pharmacies throughout the capital region. He has built up community events, including the World Partnership Walk, held in Victoria for 24 years. Money raised supports Third World economic development programs by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada. The University of Victoria community leadership award went to Mary Ellen Purkis and Andrew Weaver. More
Young Girl Gets New Lease on Life
29 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in AKU Pakistan Tags: Heart, Hospital
Doctors at AKUH conduct first ever ICD placement in a child
In a first of its kind procedure in Pakistan, doctors at Aga Khan University Hospital successfully placed a heart rhythm monitoring device – an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) – in a 14-year-old girl from Balochistan.
Naila Bugti was born with long QT syndrome, a hereditary condition which affects the heart’s electrical system and causes fast heartbeats. These fast heartbeats can lead to fainting, seizures or even a sudden cardiac arrest. For three of Naila’s older sisters, born with the same problem, this condition has proved fatal.
“Since Naila was a high risk patient, we decided to implant the smallest-size ICD possible. She recovered well after the procedure, and the ICD is functioning optimally,” said Dr Aamir Hameed Khan, lead cardiologist on the case. “Although ICD placement in adults is not new in Pakistan, this is the first time this device has been implanted in such a young patient,” he added. More
Umbilical Cord Antiseptic Care Can Save Newborn Lives
08 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in AKU Pakistan, EC Health, ECD, Health, Women Development, Women Health Tags: ch, Early Childhood Development, Umbilical Cord
Opportunity to reduce Pakistan’s high newborn death rate
Cleansing a newborn’s umbilical cord with an antiseptic can reduce the risk of infection and death said a study carried out by the Aga Khan University’s Division of Women and Child Health. The research, just published in the leading global medical journal The Lancet, was conducted in the Dadu district of Sindh in 1,300 villages.
With 53 deaths per 10,000 livebirths, Pakistan has one of the highest newborn mortality rates in the world and up to a third are because of infections. Infection risk is greatest in countries where most deliveries take place at home, often attended by unskilled traditional birth attendants (dais) with poor delivery practices. Unsafe conventions, such as cutting the birth cord with unsterilised instruments, and the application of substances such as ash, surma (lead-based concoctions), oil and even cow dung are practised in many rural areas of Pakistan, and often associated with an increased risk of cord infection and death. More
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Your Negative Status Updates On Facebook Rub People the Wrong Way – Study
07 Feb 2012 1 Comment
in Brain Sciences, Psychology, Science Tags: Facebook, Human Behaviour, Mind Sciences
By Graeme McMillan
Those who use social media as a way to get an ego boost from friends and family (you know who you are), be warned: a new study has found that those with low self-esteem can actually make themselves less likable to others based on what they post to Facebook.
The study co-written by University of Waterloo grad student Amanda Forest and her advisor Joanne Wood – is soon to be published in the Association for Psychological Science’s journal Psychological Science. The study monitored the Facebook status updates of those who admitted to having low self-esteem and who believed that the site was a safe space where they could connect with others and share information. More
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Malaria Kills 1.2 Million Annually, Double Previous Estimates
07 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Health, Malaria Tags: disease, Hospital, Mental Health, Research
Approximately 1.2 million humans die each year from malaria, a much higher figure than the previously estimated 600,000
By Christian Nordqvist
The number of people who died annually from malaria between 1980 and 2010 rose from 1 million to 1.8 million in 2004, the authors wrote. The increase was caused by two factors:
- A rise in malaria death rates in the early 1980s and early 1990s
- A rise in populations in high malaria-risk areas
The death figure dropped by 32% (from 2004) to 1.2 million by 2010. In 1980, approximately 377,000 children under 5 years of age in sub-Saharan Africa died of the disease – rising to over 1 million in 2004. In 2010 about 56% of all malaria deaths worldwide occurred in African children under 5; in that year 700,000 children in that age group in Africa died, a drop of about 350,000 compared to 2004. The researchers inform that in 2010, malaria death rates are highest in sub-Saharan Africa – especially central sub-Saharan Africa. Even though most deaths occur among young children and babies, the authors explain that the death toll among adults is still very high. More
Healthy Lifestyle Reduces Cancer Risk
04 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Cancer, Health Tags: Cancer, Health, Hospital
Cancer is responsible for approximately 70 per cent of the deaths in low and middle-income countries such as Pakistan. “Together it is possible,” this year’s theme for World Cancer Day, highlights the importance of raising awareness and education about the disease as well as implementing early treatment programmes to reduce cancer rates and improve the chances of survival. Aga Khan University will hold a day-long seminar on February 4, World Cancer Day, to create awareness about the prevalent types of cancers in Pakistan and the measures required to tackle this growing menace.
Extensive consumption of tobacco and betel nut is one of the reasons that residents of large cities – such as Karachi – who belong to the lower socioeconomic classes where literacy rates are low, are at the highest risk of acquiring the disease. Prevalent among these populations are head and neck cancers which affect the inside of the nose, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat or the voice box. According to Dr Shabbir Akhtar, Consultant ENT Surgeon, AKUH, early detection and surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for patients with advanced disease is the preferred treatment for patients with head and neck cancer. More
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Automated Laboratory Launched, First in Pakistan
20 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in AKU Pakistan Tags: AKU, Hospital, Laboratory
Pakistan’s first fully automated biochemistry laboratory was inaugurated at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi today by Mr Firoz Rasul, President of the University.
This state-of-the-art lab, capable of processing 8-10 million clinical chemistry tests annually, represents a milestone in diagnostic testing in Pakistan. For the patient it means even more accurate test results within a shorter period of time. For AKUH, it will increase the clinical laboratory’s workload capacity two- to three-fold.
“With over 700 test menus offered, the University Hospital’s laboratories perform over seven million tests every year, processing samples from Pakistan as well as Afghanistan, the UAE, East Africa and Central Asia,” said Dr Farooq Ghani, Director, Clinical Laboratories, AKUH. “The automated system has streamlined and improved the analysis of blood samples, increasing not only our capacity but our efficiency as we can provide improved quality, a reduction in lab errors and a shorter and more predictable turnaround time.” The system also requires less space and fewer staff helping meet cost improvement objectives. More
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13 Common (But Silly) Superstitions
15 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Brain Sciences, Psychology, Science Tags: Human Behaviour, Psychology
By Stephanie Pappas
If you are spooked by Friday the 13th, you’re in for a whammy of a year. This week’s unlucky day is the first of three for 2012. And it would come as no surprise if many among us hold at least some fear of freaky Friday, as we humans are a superstitious lot.
Many superstitions stem from the same human trait that causes us to believe in monsters and ghosts: When our brains can’t explain something, we make stuff up. In fact, a 2010 study found that superstitions can sometimes work, because believing in something can improve performance on a task.
Here, then, are 13 of the most common superstitions.
13. Beginner’s luck Usually grumbled by an expert who just lost a game to a novice, “beginner’s luck” is the idea that newbies are unusually likely to win when they try out a sport, game or activity for the first time.
Beginners might come out ahead in some cases because the novice is less stressed out about winning. Too much anxiety, after all, can hamper performance. Or it could just be a statistical fluke, especially in chance-based gambling games.
Or, like many superstitions, a belief in beginner’s luck might arise because of confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is a psychological phenomenon in which people are more likely to remember events that fit their worldview. If you believe you’re going to win because you’re a beginner, you’re more likely to remember all the times you were right and forget the times you ended up in last place. More
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What Your Eyes Say About Who You Are?
15 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Science, Technology Tags: Brain Sciences, Eyes, Physical Science, Research
Using eye-tracking technology, scientists are discovering clues to how we think and learn
By Annie Murphy Paul
As you read these words, try paying attention to something you usually never notice: the movements of your eyes. While you scan these lines of text, or glance at that ad over there or look up from the screen at the room beyond, your eyes are making tiny movements, called saccades, and brief pauses, called fixations. Scientists are discovering that eye movement patterns — where we look, and for how long — reveals important information about how we read, how we learn and even what kind of people we are.
Researchers are able to identify these patterns thanks to the development of eye-tracking technology: video cameras that record every minuscule movement of the eyes. Such equipment, originally developed to study the changes in vision experienced by astronauts in zero-gravity conditions, allows scientists to capture and analyze that always-elusive entity, attention. The way we move our eyes, it turns out, is a reliable indicator of what seizes our interest and of what distracts us. Scientists are now using eye-tracking technology to explore how we learn from text and images, including those viewed onscreen. More
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Aga Khan seeks a way to make unstable democracies work
14 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
Imam of world’s Shia Ismaili Muslims given honorary doctorate from U of O
- Chancellor Huguette Labelle of the University of Ottawa, left, His Highness, the Aga Khan and University of Ottawa president Allan Rock chat following the honours ceremony Friday.
The list of honours the Aga Khan has received during his illustrious lifetime consumes three pages in Wikipedia. In this country alone, he’s been named an honorary Companion of the Order of Canada and granted honorary Canadian citizenship – just the fifth person, and first Muslim, ever so honoured. He also has 19 honorary degrees from universities around the world, including five from Canadian institutions.The latest came Friday from the University of Ottawa, which awarded him an honorary doctorate for his service to humanity.
The 75-year-old hereditary Imam of the world’s Shia Ismaili Muslims, who assumed the position in 1957, has earned the recognition. An unstinting advocate of the virtues of pluralism, he’s the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, now one of the world’s largest private development networks. ”His work has bettered the lives of people in communities around the world,” said Huguette Labelle, who awarded the honorary degree Friday as her last official function as chancellor of the University of Ottawa. More
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International Financial Reporting Standards – Pocket Guide 2011
13 Jan 2012 1 Comment
The complete International Financial Reporting Standards – Pocket Guide 2011 is available for Download in Pdf Version.
The Book can be download from:
*Note: The Book is in Pdf format, first Install Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 or laterDrinking Coffee can reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes
13 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Diabetes, Health Tags: Coffee, huma, Human Behaviour, Human Health, Psychology
Why do heavy coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, a disease on the increase around the world that can lead to serious health problems? Scientists are offering a new solution to that long-standing mystery in a report in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry.
Ling Zheng, Kun Huang and colleagues explain that previous studies show that coffee drinkers are at a lower risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90-95 percent of diabetes cases in the world. Those studies show that people who drink four or more cups of coffee daily have a 50 percent lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. And every additional cup of coffee brings another decrease in risk of almost 7 percent. Scientists have implicated the misfolding of a substance called human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) in causing Type 2 diabetes, and some are seeking ways to block that process. Zheng and Huang decided to see if coffee’s beneficial effects might be due to substances that block hIAPP. More
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