Dr “Death” Patel was insecure about his own abilities

Brisbane, May 14 (ANI): Dr Jayant ‘Death’ Patel had expressed a lack of confidence in his ability to treat patients, questioning whether he should even do complex operations, it has emerged.

He made the remarks at the Bundaberg Base Hospiatal after failing to locate the cause of a patient’s post-operative bleeding.

Dr David Risson, who was a principal house officer at Bundaberg in 2004, said he was called into the operating theatre as an extra pair of hands for the second operation on Kemps, the Courier Mail reports.

“I recall Patel saying ””Maybe, I should start thinking about not doing these type of procedures anymore””,” Dr Risson said.

The incriminating facts put forth by the plaintiff include, Patel performing an oesophagectomy on Kemps and later reopening him in an attempt to find the source of the unexplained post-operative bleeding.

Later he had ordered for Kemps to be taken off the ventilator assuming he was brain-dead without following necessary protocol to arrive at such a conclusion.

The trial is still on. (ANI)

Pak Punjab Govt. providing VIP protocol to jailed ‘Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’ leaders

Lahore, Apr 26(ANI): The Pakistan Punjab Government is reportedly providing financial support and other amenities to jailed leaders of the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ), including top hitman Malik Ishaq.

According to reports, Ishaq, who has been acquitted in 44 different cases of 70 murders and is currently being held for involvement in last year’s attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, as well as other high profile terrorists are getting VIP protocol in prison.

Ishaq is currently detained in a jail in Punjab.

The leaders are also allowed to use cell phones, which they might use to plan attacks with their accomplices outside the prison, The Daily Times reports.

Sources also revealed that it is an old practice of the government as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Governments led by Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif had also extended financial support and VIP protocol to the late Maulana Azam Tariq, chief of the banned militant organisation Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, when he was in prison.

Tariq was even provided with a mobile squad and police security whenever he went out of the prison, they added. (ANI)

Pak Punjab Govt. providing VIP protocol to jailed ‘Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’ leaders

Lahore, Apr 26(ANI): The Pakistan Punjab Government is reportedly providing financial support and other amenities to jailed leaders of the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ), including top hitman Malik Ishaq.

According to reports, Ishaq, who has been acquitted in 44 different cases of 70 murders and is currently being held for involvement in last year’s attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, as well as other high profile terrorists are getting VIP protocol in prison.

Ishaq is currently detained in a jail in Punjab.

The leaders are also allowed to use cell phones, which they might use to plan attacks with their accomplices outside the prison, The Daily Times reports.

Sources also revealed that it is an old practice of the government as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Governments led by Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif had also extended financial support and VIP protocol to the late Maulana Azam Tariq, chief of the banned militant organisation Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, when he was in prison.

Tariq was even provided with a mobile squad and police security whenever he went out of the prison, they added. (ANI)

Sania, Shoaib invited to Gilgit-Baltistan for honeymoon

Islamabad, Apr.6 (ANI): Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza have been invited to Gilgit-Baltistan for their honeymoon by Pakistan occupied Kashmir’s (PoK) Chief Minister, Mehdi Shah.

Shah said both would be given official protocol in Gilgit if they decide to visit the region after their marriage, The Daily Times reports.

Clouds of uncertainty are hovering over the Shoaib-Sania wedding, since news about their marriage was flashed by the media.

A Hyderabad based girl, Ayesha Siddiqui, has lodged ‘fraud’ and ‘cheating’ complaint against Shoaib, claiming that she is already married to him.

On Monday, Hyderabad Police quizzed Shoaib for over two hours and have even seized his passport.

As of now, the star couple would tie the nuptial knot on April 15 in Hyderabad. (ANI)

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Submits Serdaxin® Phase II Protocol to FDA for Parkinson`s Disease

ROCKVILLE, Md.–(Business Wire)–
Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex: RNN), a clinical stage pharmaceutical
company commercializing potential best in class oncology and CNS therapeutics,
today announced that it has submitted a Phase II protocol to the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) for the clinical study of Serdaxin® for the treatment
of Parkinson`s disease (PD).

“Serdaxin has demonstrated an ability to prevent neuronal deaths in PD models,
and the drug`s positive Phase IIa results in depression further enhance its
promise as a treatment for PD,” said Rexahn Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Chang
Ahn. “Although there are currently various treatment options for PD, a
meaningful cure is overdue. Based on Serdaxin`s novel action as a dual serotonin
and dopamine enhancer, we believe it has the potential to be the first drug of
its kind to target both the classic symptoms of PD and treat the depression so
often associated with this disease.”

The Phase II study will assess Serdaxin`s efficacy as a treatment for
Parkinson`s disease in approximately 300 subjects. The planned double blind,
randomized, placebo-controlled trial will include the Unified Parkinson`s
Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and quality of life instruments as study endpoints
and will be conducted at multiple sites.

Rexahn also has formed a Parkinson`s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) composed of
leading medical researchers in the field of neurology who will advise on the
design and development of the Serdaxin clinical trials. Commenting on the
protocol submission, Dr. William Weiner, Chairman of the SAB, and head of the
Maryland Parkinson`s Disease and Movement Disorders Center, and Professor and
Chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of Maryland School of
Medicine, said, “We believe that Serdaxin’s properties in animal models open
exciting possibilities as a new treatment for patients with PD. All the members
of the SAB will be actively engaged in Serdaxin’s clinical development, which we
hope will further establish the drug’s efficacy in treating PD.”

About Serdaxin®

Serdaxin® is a potential market-leading CNS neuroprotective agent and
antidepressant. Rexahn is currently investigating Serdaxin as a treatment for
depression in Phase II clinical trials. Serdaxin may achieve greater and broader
therapeutic coverage and appears to have no serious side effects such as nausea,
vomiting, insomnia, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, cognitive deficit or motor
impairment that are linked to existing antidepressant drugs. Serdaxin has a
well-established, excellent human safety profile. In preclinical studies,
Serdaxin had onset of action in less than two days. Based on its novel mechanism
as a dual serotonin and dopamine enhancer, it is a potential treatment for
multiple CNS disorders where these neurotransmitters are depleted or implicated
in CNS-based illnesses, such as Parkinson`s disease (PD). Serdaxin has the
potential to address both non-motor and motor events of PD by serving as a
neuroprotective agent and addressing loss of dopaminergic neurons that lead to
loss of control of movements; and further, enhancing serotonin and dopamine
levels that are involved in depression and mood disorders. Rexahn has multiple
clinical programs planned for investigating Serdaxin in the treatment of anxiety
disorders, Parkinson`s disease, Alzheimer`s disease and neurodegenerative
illnesses, neuroprotection and biodefense uses.

About Parkinson`s Disease

Parkinson`s disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder, affecting more
than 5 million patients worldwide. Age is the most important risk factor for PD,
and the aging world population is expected to push the number of the afflicted
to over 10 million by 2030. In addition, its chronic and debilitating nature
warrants high socio-economic impacts. PD is characterized by the progressive
loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. The resulting dopamine depletion
leads to its cardinal motor symptoms, such as rigidity (muscle stiffness),
bradykinesia (slowing of movement), postural instability and resting tremor.
These impairments are accompanied by non-motor disabilities, including dementia,
depression, and sleep disturbance. The current standard treatment options target
the dopaminergic pathway, either by supplementing the molecule or stimulating
dopamine receptors (binding partners of dopamine). While these strategies
ameliorate symptoms in early stages, they become less effective over the course
of the disease. In addition, dopamine therapies fail to tackle the underlying
causes of the disease, and therefore, do not slow the progression of PD or
extend the life expectancy of patients. Serdaxin is a new class of CNS disorder
therapeutics that has prevented neuronal deaths in PD models. In contrast to
other PD drugs, Serdaxin directly targets the disease mechanism by slowing or
halting the progression of the disease, fulfilling unmet needs in Parkinson`s
disease treatment.

About Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to
commercializing first in class and market leading therapeutics for cancer, CNS
disorders, sexual dysfunction and other unmet medical needs. Rexahn currently
has three drug candidates in Phase II clinical trials, Archexin®, Serdaxin®, and
Zoraxel – all potential best in class therapeutics – and a robust pipeline of
preclinical compounds to treat multiple cancers and CNS disorders. Rexahn also
operates key R&D programs of nano-medicines, 3D-GOLD, and TIMES drug discovery
platforms. For more information, please visit www.rexahn.com.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Rexahn’s actual results
may differ materially from anticipated results, and expectations expressed in
these forward-looking statements, as a result of certain risks and
uncertainties, including Rexahn’s lack of profitability, and the need for
additional capital to operate its business to develop its product candidates;
the risk that Rexahn’s development efforts relating to its product candidates
may not be successful; the possibility of being unable to obtain regulatory
approval of Rexahn’s product candidates; the risk that the results of clinical
trials may not be completed on time or support Rexahn’s claims; demand for and
market acceptance of Rexahn’s drug candidates; Rexahn’s reliance on third party
researchers and manufacturers to develop its product candidates; Rexahn’s
ability to develop and obtain protection of its intellectual property; and other
risk factors set forth from time to time in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Rexahn assumes no obligation to update these
forward-looking statements.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Investor Relations
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
Stephanie Ascher, 212-362-1200
stephanie@sternir.com
or
Base Pair Communications
Constantine Theodoropulos, 617-401-3116
constantine@basepaircomm.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Researchers operate biomedical robots from different locations worldwide via Internet

Washington, September 18 (ANI): Experts from the University of Washington and SRI International have jointly developed a new software protocol, to standardize the way biomedical robots are managed over the Internet.

Nine research teams from universities and research institutes around the world recently made a successful demonstration of biomedical robots operated from different locations in the U.S., Europe, and Asia with the help of the ‘Interoperable Telesurgical Protocol’.

In a 24-hour period, each participating group connected over the Internet, and controlled robots at different locations.

The tests performed demonstrated how a wide variety of robot and controller designs can seamlessly interoperate, allowing researchers to work together easily and more efficiently.

The demonstration also evaluated the feasibility of robotic manipulation from multiple sites, and was conducted to measure time and performance for evaluating laparoscopic surgical skills.

“Although many telemanipulation systems have common features, there is currently no accepted protocol for connecting these systems. We hope this new protocol serves as a starting point for the discussion and development of a robust and practical Internet-type standard that supports the interoperability of future robotic systems,” said SRI’s Tom Low.

The protocol is expected to allow engineers and designers that usually develop technologies independently, to work collaboratively, determine which designs work best, encourage widespread adoption of the new communications protocol, and help robotics research to evolve more rapidly.

Its early adoption may encourage robotic systems to be developed with interoperability in mind, and avoid future incompatibilities.

“We’re very pleased with the success of the event in which almost all of the possible connections between operator stations and remote robots were successful. We were particularly excited that novel elements such as a simulated robot and an exoskeleton controller worked smoothly with the other remote manipulation systems,” said Professor Blake Hannaford of the University of Washington. (ANI)

Action plan to phase out consumption of HCFC is on track: Ramesh

New Delhi, Sep 16 (ANI): Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Wednesday that India has developed a comprehensive Road Map and Action Plan to phase-out of production and consumption of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in various sectors.

Addressing the gathering during the 15th International Ozone Day here Ramesh said: “The Government of India has taken a number of policy measures, fiscal and regulatory, to encourage the early adoption of alternative technologies in this area by existing and new enterprises.”

Ramesh hailed the Montreal Protocol as the most successful international treaty to ever achieve universal participation.

“At a time when the world is trying to solve the problem of climate change, the International Ozone Day provided a timely reminder of how international cooperation can help to solve major global environmental problems,” Ramesh added.

India is one of the first developing countries to join the Montreal Protocol and pledge its commitment to protect the Ozone Layer.

As a part of the accelerated phase-out of CFCs, India has completely phased out the production and consumption of CFCs as on 1 August 2008, 17 months prior to the agreed schedule.

Ramesh informed that over 97percent of controlled Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) have been phased out by the Montreal Protocol.

“The end of 2009 will mark another significant milestone in the history of its implementation, with the use of potent ODSs -CFCs, Carbon Tetra Chloride (CTC) and Halons, except pharmaceutical-grade CFCs used in the manufacture of Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) – being ceased completely,” he said

The CFCs required for manufacturing for MDIs used by Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients are still available in India, a national transition strategy to phase them out by 2013 is currently under implementation.

“The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank recently also launched the India: Chiller Energy Efficiency Project to accelerate the conversion of CFC-based chillers using new, more energy efficient technologies,” Ramesh said.

This year’s theme for the ozone day was ‘Universal participation – Ozone protection unifies the World.’ (ANI)

Olympians should face tests for hidden heart problems

London, Sep 14 (ANI): Athletes who participate in worldwide sports events like the Olympics should be screened for hidden heart problems – and potential disqualification if any are detected, claims a collection of studies, one of which was conducted by an Indian origin researcher.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ordered to conduct the studies into the practicality and effectiveness of such tests.

There have been a number of seemingly healthy athletes, who have dropped dead from “sudden cardiac death”, including the Spanish footballer Antonio Puerta two years ago and British rower Scott Rennie in March this year.

Many of the heart problems that trigger such deaths can be detected through physical examination, electrocardiograms and by taking a medical history, as laid out in the “Lausanne recommendations” created under the auspices of the European Society of Cardiology.

The new studies have indicated that implementing these recommendations can help save lives.

In one such study, researchers applied the protocol to 371 Dutch athletes aged 12 to 35 over two years.

Of the 55 who were referred for additional testing, 10 had an underlying cardiovascular problem, and three were restricted from further participation in sport

“Everybody who plays sports needs to be aware that there are certain conditions that may be silent, that could result in a fatality,” New Scientist quoted Sanjay Sharma, a cardiologist at King’s College Hospital in London, who led one of the studies, as saying.

The study has been published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. (ANI)

Danish Prime Minister meets Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, Sep. 11 (ANI): Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Friday.

The two leaders discussed bilateral, regional and international issues.

During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on co-operation between the governments of both the nations in the areas of environment.

Ole Lonsmann Poulsen, Denmark Ambassador to India and Vijay Sharma, Secretary to India’s federal Ministry of Forests and Environment signed the MoU in the presence of premiers of both the nations.

Danish Prime Minister’s two-day visit to New Delhi would also include meetings with the head of the UN climate panel Rajendra Pachauri.

Global talks for a new U.N. climate agreement have become mired in differences over how much money and technology rich nations will provide to poor countries to help seal a climate deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012.

India fears that emissions targets will stunt its economic growth and has said it will take its own unilateral action to cut pollution. (ANI)

Musharraf terms his meeting with Saudi King a success

Lahore, Sep 7 (ANI): Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that his recent meeting with Saudi King Abdullah was a success.

“I was accorded full protocol during my visit to Saudi Arabia to meet King Abdullah, I deem him as my elder brother and can contact him whenever I want,” a private TV channel quoted Musharraf, as saying.

He said during his visit, he discussed the recent political situation of Pakistan at length with the Saudi king, adding that the king had concerns about the situation in Pakistan.

Talking to the channel, Musharraf said the army operation against the Taliban in Malakand had proven successful.

“The operation was undoubtedly successful. The Pakistan Army has always rendered sacrifices and played a vital role to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country,” he said.

Earlier, the ‘royal’ treatment being given to Musharraf during his Saudi Arabia visit has his opponents worried.

The special treatment has sparked speculations that Riyadh is trying to use its influence to ask the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to shun its demand for Musharraf’s trial under the Article Six of the Constitution.

Sources said King Abdullah sent his special airplane to London to fetch Musharraf.

Reports regarding Saudi Arabia cracking its whip on the PML-N and other anti-Musharraf parties has probably forced PML-N to come out with clarifications. (ANI)

Zardari’s China connection sees him receiving ‘unprecedented’ protocol

Islamabad, Sep.5 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari seems to share a special relationship with China, as he receives an extra ordinary welcome in Beijing that no other leader of any state enjoys during his visit to the communist country.

During his recent China visit, Zardari received an unprecedented protocol and Beijing also acknowledged that no head of state is ever given such a protocol if he is on a working visit to cities other than Beijing.

“This is rare. When dignitaries from other countries are there in Chinese provinces, they are received by an official of the Chinese foreign ministry. No one outside Beijing gets protocol which President Zardari receives during his working visits,” Chinese ambassador to Islamabad Lou Zhaohui said.

Interacting with media person at the Chinese embassy here, Zhaohui said Zardari, during his first official visit to China last October, had committed to come there every three months and visit a new province each time.

He praised Zardari for keeping his promise for visiting China thrice in the recent past to take note of the Chinese model of development, which he (Zardari) wants to implement in Pakistan.

Zhaohui also informed that Chinese President Hu Jintao would meet his Pakistani counterpart in New York later this month on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.

He said the meeting will focus on strengthening bilateral ties of the two nations.

“The focus would be on a wide range of regional and international issues, but of course the emphasis would be on bilateral relations. The interaction will further deepen friendship with China,” Zhaohui said.

“It is important for the leaderships to establish personal friendship,” he added. (ANI)

Climate change mitigation strategies ignore carbon cycling processes of inland waters

Washington, Sept 2 (ANI): In a new report, scientists have determined that climate change mitigation strategies ignore carbon cycling processes of inland waters.

Scientists from the University of Vienna, Uppsala University in Sweden, University of Antwerp, and the US based Stroud Water Research Center, authored the report, which is published in the September issue of Nature Geoscience.

They argue that current international strategies to mitigate manmade carbon emissions and address climate change have overlooked a critical player – inland waters.

Streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands play an important role in the carbon cycle that is unaccounted for in conventional carbon cycling models.

According to Dr. Tom J. Battin of the department of Freshwater Ecology at the University of Vienna and lead author of the report, “While inland waters represent only 1 percent of the Earth’s surface, their contribution to the carbon cycle is disproportionately large, underestimated, and not recognized within the models on which the Kyoto protocol was based.”

The team of scientists points out that all current global carbon models consider inland waters static conduits that transfer carbon from the continents to the oceans.

In reality, inland waters are dynamic ecosystems with the potential to alter the fates of terrestrial carbon delivered to them including: burial in sediments leading to long-term storage or sequestration; and metabolism in rivers and subsequent outgassing of respired carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

“Twenty percent of the continental carbon sequestration actually occurs as burial in inland water sediments,” said Dr. Lars Tranvik, Professor of Limnology at Uppsala University in Sweden.

“River outgassing of respired carbon, contributes carbon to the atmosphere in an amount equivalent to 13 percent of annual fossil fuel burning,” said Dr. Anthony K. Aufdenkampe, a scientist at the Stroud Water Research Center.

Because the amount of atmospheric carbon is well known and conservation of matter requires a balanced global carbon budget, this previously unaccounted for source of carbon to the atmosphere implies the existence of an additional continental carbon sink such as higher rates of biomass accrual in forests.

“A larger accumulation of carbon in forest ecosystems that could offset the outgassing from rivers would be more consistent with current independently-derived estimates of carbon sequestration on the continents,” said Dr. Sebastian Luyssaert of the department of Biology at University of Antwerp in Belgium. (ANI)

Despite court orders ‘invisible’ security cover still exists around AQ Khan’s residence

Islamabad, Aug.31 (ANI): While the Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered removal of all security restrictions on disgraced nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, there still exists an ‘invisible’ security blanket around his residence.

According to The Daily Times, when a team of journalists visited Khan’s house on Sunday, security officials dressed in civil dress, suddenly appeared and started enquiring them about the reason behind their visit.

When the journalists asked security officials why they were camping outside the house even after court’s order, they said they were serving Khan.

“Everyone, including us, are Dr Khan’s servants and we are here to serve him,” they said.

When enquired, a police spokesman denied presence of any security guard near Khan’s residence.arlier, Khan had also objected to the presence of security officials, saying restrictions on him continued despite LHC’s verdict.

“Police are still standing outside my residence. They are still asking people questions. I am not aware of any softening in the security cover,” he said.

“I want to move freely, stop wherever I like and be able to travel to Karachi or Dubai of my own free will, and not at the directions of the security people,” he added.

The LHC had directed the district magistrate and DIG Islamabad to end Khan’s official protocol with immediate effect on Friday (August 28).

The court also summoned both officials to appear before it on September 4 and explain the reason to keep Khan in captivity under the pretext of protocol.

Khan had moved a petition in the Lahore Court challenging his official protocol, terming it a hindrance. (ANI)

Murray frustrated by “in your face” drug-tests, whereabouts clause

New York, Aug 29(ANI): British tennis player Andy Murray has expressed frustration over the ‘intrusive’ drug-testing protocol and said that the “in your face” way that these tests are done is annoying.

Murray further said that it has become even more annoying to let the World Anti-Doping Agency know where he will be for an hour of every day of the year.

“It was such a hassle. I don’t know what it’s like in other sports. I’m sure it’s tough for the athletics guys as well. I’d just like it to be a little bit more relaxed,” The Telegraph quoted Murray, as saying.

“I just think it’s a little bit in your face the whole thing. When you’ve finished your matches, a little bit more space would be nice,” he added.

The 22-year-old also said that the players are not provided space and their privacy is repeatedly invaded by the agency.

“After I lost at Wimbledon, I was obviously disappointed because it’s a grand slam, and within two minutes of getting off the court the guy was right there, standing next to me. And I just very politely said to him, “Can you give me a little bit of space please? I’d like to be on my own for five minutes’. And he’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, sure’, and takes one step back,” Murray said.

He said that the tests waste their precious time, as the agency asks them to go through urine, as well as blood tests.

“So when he did that, I said, ‘Right I’m going to go do my test right now’, and I went downstairs, did my urine sample, took five or 10 minutes, and then they said that I had to go and do a blood test as well,” Murray said.

“I was like, ‘Right, that’s fine, let’s do it’. And they said, ‘Sorry, you can’t do the blood test now, as you’ve got to wait until 45 minutes, an hour, after your match before you do it’. So there are so many rules and things so if you do everything right, they will still keep you waiting,” he added. (ANI)

Pakistan Presidency denies ‘special cell’ working to protect Musharraf

Islamabad, Aug.23 (ANI): The Presidency in Pakistan has rejected reports of protecting former President General Pervez Musharraf from being tried under the High Treason Act (Article 6) of the Constitution.

A Presidency statement described such reports as baseless and an attempt to malign the office.

It may be recalled that an article titled ‘Musharraf still has roots in Presidency’ in The News had created a furor in the country’s political establishment.

According to the report, a cell in the Presidency has been entrusted with the task of safeguarding Musharraf’s interests.ommenting on the report, President Zardari’s press secretary said it is ridiculous to even think about such an idea.

According to the article, the ‘special cell’ was inactive earlier, but ever since the Supreme Court gave its historic verdict declaring Musharraf’s November 3,2007 acts as illegal, it had become active.

Interestingly, the whole staff around the president is unchanged, including his security personnel and presidential protocol staff.

“It is a known fact that former president General Pervez Musharraf resigned from the office after striking a deal and it was part of the deal that his interests would be looked after he quit. He was assured that he would be provided all safeguards against any odds after leaving the Presidency,” the report said.

It also claimed that a report about the activities and statements of Musharraf has been put up to Zardari regularly.

“He studies the report and issues directions with regard to that from time to time after consulting his associates,” the report further said. (ANI)

China’s carbon emissions may peak around 2030

New Delhi, August 18 (ANI): A panel of experts have determined that China’s carbon emissions output could peak around 2030 if the government continues to be serious about “strengthened measures” to improve energy efficiency and if it accelerates exploration of renewable energy.

According to the panel from the National Development and Reform Commission and the Development Research Center of the State Council, with the right policies, emissions growth could slow after 2020, with a peak around 2030.

This is the first time a Chinese think-tank has officially announced when it thinks China’s carbon emissions will peak.

The international community has closely watched the country’s carbon emissions curve because China and the US are the top two carbon emissions countries in the world.

The panel has advised China to invest significantly in low-carbon technology research and development, saying the strategy of developing such technology is “a stone killing two birds”.

“Only by using advanced low-carbon technologies can China’s greenhouse gas emissions peak around 2030; otherwise, the peak will be delayed and we don’t want to see the latter scenario,” said Jiang Kejun, a leading economist of the panel.

If the peak happens around 2030, the huge investment in low-carbon technologies could keep China’s economy growing at a fast pace and make China a global leader in cutting-edge technologies.

“I think China will become a major supplier of nuclear, wind and hydropower technologies and electricity transmission by 2030,” said Jiang. “And that should be a strategic goal for the Chinese government to pursue,” he added.

If China can achieve these goals, by 2050, its carbon emissions from fossil fuel “could fall to the same emissions levels as in 2005 or even lower”, the report said.

Jiang said that the Chinese government has been “on the right track” in making policy decisions to develop low-carbon technologies as new economic growth engines while countries worldwide are working on a plan by October to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to expire in 2012. (ANI)

Can an individual’s bitter-taste sensitivity help determine diabetes risk?

Washington, July 11 (ANI): A research team at Kansas State University, including an Indian origin scientist, are studying whether an individual’s bitterness sensitivity can help predict his/her risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Lead researcher Kathy Nguyen, senior in public health nutrition along with colleagues Koushik Adhikari and Mark Haub, are studying the genotypes of diabetic and non-diabetic individuals to determine the possible link.

For the study, Nguyen is collecting cheek cell samples from about 60 men and women between the ages of 40 and 70. The sample includes people with and without type 2 diabetes.

The researchers will later genotype two variations within a DNA sequence to determine whether the individuals are supertasters, tasters or non-tasters of bitterness.

Supertasters are more sensitive to bitterness than tasters, and non-tasters are not sensitive.

The team hopes that by understanding whether bitterness sensitivity is linked to type 2 diabetes, there is a potential to screen individuals for bitterness sensitivity, and to use that information as a predictive marker for the disease and other chronic disease such as heart disease and obesity.

“This is a preliminary stage with a small sample size,” Adhikari said.

“The study has to be repeated with a larger population of different ethnicities to arrive at any meaningful conclusions. However, Kathy will establish the protocol for this project,” he added. (ANI)

India, Bhutan agree to fast-track implementation of hydropower projects

New Delhi, July 3 (ANI): India and Bhutan will hold a meeting of the Empowered Joint Group to fast-track implementation of hydropower projects next month.

The first meeting of this group was held in New Delhi in March 2009 after the signing of the Protocol to the 2006 Agreement on Cooperation in Hydropower.

During his recent visit to India, Bhutan Prime Minister Thinley held extensive talks with his Indian counterpart Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in this regard.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the hydropower sector and reiterated their commitment to achieve the target of 10,000 MW of hydroelectric generation in Bhutan by 2020.

They exchanged views on various facets of Indo-Bhutan relations and measures to further enhance the relationship.

Bhutan Prime Minister conveyed deep appreciation to Dr. Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders for their contribution to Indo-Bhutan relations.

Thinley, who was on an official visit to India from June 28 to July 3, expressed the gratitude of his Government and people of Bhutan for India’s unwavering assistance and cooperation in Bhutan’s development.

He also apprised Dr. Singh of Bhutan’s preparations for hosting the 16th SAARC Summit in Thimphu in April 2010. (ANI)

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Traces of microbes in shallow ice layers may help find life on icy worlds

Washington, June 26 (ANI): A new research has indicated that living microorganisms and the food that sustained them can be detected in shallow ice layers, which will help find life on icy worlds.

The research is a part of the Project SLIce, which means, Signatures of Life in Ice.

Dominique Tobler and Jennifer Eigenbrode of NASA Goddard Space Science Laboratory, and Liane Benning of the University of Leeds, UK, show that not only living micro-organisms, but also traces of long-dead ones, and the food that sustained them can be detected in shallow ice layers, using methods rigorously tested in one of our own planet’s most extreme environments.

“With SLIce, we wanted to figure out the nature of the organic matter in ice and how what we find on Earth can be the basis for comparisons with organic matter on Mars,” explained Benning.

“The organic matter we find could be alive or dead, representing extant or extinct life, or even the nutrients that made life possible, and we want to identify the biological signals that point towards ice-dwelling life,” she added.

The SLIce team went to a glacial region of Svalbard to try taking ice samples in exactly the way it would be done on Mars, using a sequence of procedures and tests that they had developed as part of the AMASE project, a long-running international research program that has established Svalbard as a test bed for planetary exploration.

“We’re using sample devices, primarily to be operated from a rover, but we’re also testing how we go about taking and testing samples and keeping them separate,” said Benning.

“For SLIce, we applied the protocol we had developed to take ice cores, process them and analyze them in the field just as would happen on a rover on Mars, and then of course we took them back to the lab and did a much wider range of tests, so we really knew what we had found,” she said.

“There could be microbes living in the ice, but there could also be the dead bodies of microbes that used to live there, and there could be biological molecules that blew in from dust and micrometeorites. We need to identify what we’ve got, so that we know what it’s telling us,” she added. (ANI)