Race to find Malaysia plane as 'pings' prove illusive

Sydney/Perth, Australia: The search for a missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner continued on Wednesday, as the U.S. Navy said it had been unable to relocate possible 'pings' from the black box recorders that had injected fresh urgency into the international effort.

A U.S. Navy 'towed pinger locator' (TPL) onboard Australia's Ocean Shield on the weekend picked up two signals consistent with black box locator beacons - the first for more than two hours and the second for about 13 minutes - at the weekend.

Angus Houston, head of the Australian agency coordinating the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, said that the signals represented the best lead yet in the month-long hunt in the Indian Ocean.

But Commander William J. Marks, public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, told Reuters on Wednesday that they had so far failed to replicate the findings, raising concerns as time ticks down on the devices' batteries.

'We have not been able to reacquire,' Marks said.

The black boxes record cockpit data and may provide answers about what happened to the plane, which was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew when it vanished on March 8 and flew thousands of kilometres off its Kuala Lumpur-to-Beijing route.

But the batteries in the beacons have already reached the end of their 30-day expected life, making efforts to swiftly locate them all the more critical.

Authorities say evidence suggests the plane was deliberately diverted by someone familiar with the aircraft, but have not ruled out mechanical problems.

Analysis of satellite data led investigators to conclude the Boeing 777 came down in a remote area of the Indian Ocean near Perth. The search is now centred on an area approximately 2,261 kilometres (1,405 miles) northwest of that city.

FRESH DOUBTS ABOUT VERACITY OF 'PINGS'

Up to 11 military aircraft, four civilian aircraft and 14 ships are planned to take part in the search on Wednesday, with scattered showers expected in the search area.

An autonomous underwater vehicle named Bluefin-21 is onboard the Ocean Shield and could be sent to look for wreckage on the sea floor once intelligence narrows the search area.
The potential search area is currently about 4.5 km (2.8 miles) deep, the outer reach of the Bluefin's range.

A U.S. Navy officer on board the Ocean Shield outlined for Reuters a number of scenarios that could account for the inability to reacquire the 'ping' signal.

Those include the possibility that the initial detection was false, that it was positive but the batteries have since run out or that it had caught a mere 'whiff' of the signal and had since moved too far from the correct location to reacquire it.

The decision to hold back the underwater vehicle reflects both a hope that the batteries are still alive and the belief that the search area remains too large.

'I can cover in one day with TPL (towed pinger locator) the amount of area it will take me to cover with Bluefin in six days,' the U.S. Navy officer said.

'So if I am deploying Bluefin now I am basically saying that I don't have confidence in the TPL that it will detect the signals anymore,' he said.
Reuters

Race to find Malaysia plane as 'pings' prove illusive

Sydney/Perth, Australia: The search for a missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner continued on Wednesday, as the U.S. Navy said it had been unable to relocate possible 'pings' from the black box recorders that had injected fresh urgency into the international effort.

A U.S. Navy 'towed pinger locator' (TPL) onboard Australia's Ocean Shield on the weekend picked up two signals consistent with black box locator beacons - the first for more than two hours and the second for about 13 minutes - at the weekend.

Angus Houston, head of the Australian agency coordinating the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, said that the signals represented the best lead yet in the month-long hunt in the Indian Ocean.

But Commander William J. Marks, public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, told Reuters on Wednesday that they had so far failed to replicate the findings, raising concerns as time ticks down on the devices' batteries.

'We have not been able to reacquire,' Marks said.

The black boxes record cockpit data and may provide answers about what happened to the plane, which was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew when it vanished on March 8 and flew thousands of kilometres off its Kuala Lumpur-to-Beijing route.

But the batteries in the beacons have already reached the end of their 30-day expected life, making efforts to swiftly locate them all the more critical.

Authorities say evidence suggests the plane was deliberately diverted by someone familiar with the aircraft, but have not ruled out mechanical problems.

Analysis of satellite data led investigators to conclude the Boeing 777 came down in a remote area of the Indian Ocean near Perth. The search is now centred on an area approximately 2,261 kilometres (1,405 miles) northwest of that city.

FRESH DOUBTS ABOUT VERACITY OF 'PINGS'

Up to 11 military aircraft, four civilian aircraft and 14 ships are planned to take part in the search on Wednesday, with scattered showers expected in the search area.

An autonomous underwater vehicle named Bluefin-21 is onboard the Ocean Shield and could be sent to look for wreckage on the sea floor once intelligence narrows the search area.
The potential search area is currently about 4.5 km (2.8 miles) deep, the outer reach of the Bluefin's range.

A U.S. Navy officer on board the Ocean Shield outlined for Reuters a number of scenarios that could account for the inability to reacquire the 'ping' signal.

Those include the possibility that the initial detection was false, that it was positive but the batteries have since run out or that it had caught a mere 'whiff' of the signal and had since moved too far from the correct location to reacquire it.

The decision to hold back the underwater vehicle reflects both a hope that the batteries are still alive and the belief that the search area remains too large.

'I can cover in one day with TPL (towed pinger locator) the amount of area it will take me to cover with Bluefin in six days,' the U.S. Navy officer said.

'So if I am deploying Bluefin now I am basically saying that I don't have confidence in the TPL that it will detect the signals anymore,' he said.
Reuters

Beware! Soap can fill your nose with harmful bacteria

New York: Your daily soap can be a harbinger of bacteria buildup in your nose!

You read it right.

An anti-microbial agent found in common household soaps, shampoos and toothpastes may be finding its way inside human noses, where it promotes the colonisation of staphylococcus aureus bacteria and could predispose some people to infection.

'Triclosan, a man-made compound used in a range of anti-bacterial personal care products such as soaps, toothpastes, kitchen surfaces, clothes and medical equipment, was found in nasal passages of 41 percent of adults sampled,' said Blaise Boles, an assistant professor at University of Michigan.

A higher proportion of subjects with triclosan also had S. aureus colonisation.

S aureus could promote infection in some populations such as people undergoing surgery.

Triclosan has been around for the past 40 years and has been incorporated into many anti-bacterial household products within the past decade.

Other studies have found traces of triclosan in human fluids including serum, urine and milk.

Some previous researches have found that high concentrations of triclosan can disrupt the endocrine system and decrease heart and skeletal muscle function.

It is really common in hand soaps, toothpastes and mouthwashes but there is no evidence it does a better job than regular soap.

'This agent may have unintended consequences in our bodies. It could promote S. aureus nasal colonisation, putting some people at increased risk for infection,' Boles cautioned.

'Our data suggests a re-evaluation of triclosan in consumer products is urgently needed,' the authors wrote in a study published in mBio, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

10 killed, 30 injured in Pakistan blast

Islamabad: At least 10 people were killed and 30 others injured today in a powerful blast in a busy fruit market on the outskirts of the Pakistani capital.

The explosion took place this morning in the market which is located on the border of the twin city Islamabad and
Rawalpindi.

According to initial reports, the bomb was planted in a fruit box and it went off when the market was crowded.

The injured were rushed to the PIMS hospital, police said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast, which comes a month after the terror attack on a court premises in
Islamabad.

The PML-N government and the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan are in talks to end the cycle of violence that has
gripped the country since the last one decade. PTI

10 killed, 30 injured in Pakistan blast

Islamabad: At least 10 people were killed and 30 others injured today in a powerful blast in a busy fruit market on the outskirts of the Pakistani capital.

The explosion took place this morning in the market which is located on the border of the twin city Islamabad and
Rawalpindi.

According to initial reports, the bomb was planted in a fruit box and it went off when the market was crowded.

The injured were rushed to the PIMS hospital, police said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast, which comes a month after the terror attack on a court premises in
Islamabad.

The PML-N government and the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan are in talks to end the cycle of violence that has
gripped the country since the last one decade. PTI

Beware! Soap can fill your nose with harmful bacteria

New York: Your daily soap can be a harbinger of bacteria buildup in your nose!

You read it right.

An anti-microbial agent found in common household soaps, shampoos and toothpastes may be finding its way inside human noses, where it promotes the colonisation of staphylococcus aureus bacteria and could predispose some people to infection.

'Triclosan, a man-made compound used in a range of anti-bacterial personal care products such as soaps, toothpastes, kitchen surfaces, clothes and medical equipment, was found in nasal passages of 41 percent of adults sampled,' said Blaise Boles, an assistant professor at University of Michigan.

A higher proportion of subjects with triclosan also had S. aureus colonisation.

S aureus could promote infection in some populations such as people undergoing surgery.

Triclosan has been around for the past 40 years and has been incorporated into many anti-bacterial household products within the past decade.

Other studies have found traces of triclosan in human fluids including serum, urine and milk.

Some previous researches have found that high concentrations of triclosan can disrupt the endocrine system and decrease heart and skeletal muscle function.

It is really common in hand soaps, toothpastes and mouthwashes but there is no evidence it does a better job than regular soap.

'This agent may have unintended consequences in our bodies. It could promote S. aureus nasal colonisation, putting some people at increased risk for infection,' Boles cautioned.

'Our data suggests a re-evaluation of triclosan in consumer products is urgently needed,' the authors wrote in a study published in mBio, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

Malayalee lady killed in Saudi road mishap

Jeddah: A Malayalee lady from Mallapuram was killed in a road mishap at Yabu Road in Jeddah on Tuesday noon. The deceased is Sheriffa (33) and her sister-in-law Suleika was grievously injured and rushed to the Mahjar King Abdul Aziz hospital in Jeddah. 

The Toyota Camy which met with the mishap was carrying 5 persons. Sheriffa'a husband Muhammed Kutty, children Sana, Ismail and Rohan were inside the car and Muhammed kutty was driving the vehicle. He and his wife are residing in Saudi for the past 7 years. Their eldest daughter Mubashira Sheriffa is studying at the Kozhikode medical College.

Though Sheriffa was rushed to the Rabagh General hospital by the Red Cross, her life could not be saved. Muhammed Kutty is a businessman in Yabu. The injured Suleika had reached Jeddah on a tourist visa and her husband Beeran Kutty also stays in Yabu.

Malayalee lady killed in Saudi road mishap

Jeddah: A Malayalee lady from Mallapuram was killed in a road mishap at Yabu Road in Jeddah on Tuesday noon. The deceased is Sheriffa (33) and her sister-in-law Suleika was grievously injured and rushed to the Mahjar King Abdul Aziz hospital in Jeddah. 

The Toyota Camy which met with the mishap was carrying 5 persons. Sheriffa'a husband Muhammed Kutty, children Sana, Ismail and Rohan were inside the car and Muhammed kutty was driving the vehicle. He and his wife are residing in Saudi for the past 7 years. Their eldest daughter Mubashira Sheriffa is studying at the Kozhikode medical College.

Though Sheriffa was rushed to the Rabagh General hospital by the Red Cross, her life could not be saved. Muhammed Kutty is a businessman in Yabu. The injured Suleika had reached Jeddah on a tourist visa and her husband Beeran Kutty also stays in Yabu.

CDS invites applications for M.Phil/Ph.D programmes in AE

• The Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram has invited applications for admission to its fulltime integrated M.Phil./ Ph.D. programmes in Applied Economics. Selection is on the basis of an entrance test to be held on May 25, followed by interview. Last date April 21. (http://cds.edu)

• The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has invited applications for admission to Diploma in Radiological Physics. Stipend Rs.9,300. Last date April 21. www.barc.gov.in

• The Delhi University has invited online applications up to April 18 for admission to various postgraduate programmes. www.du.a.cin.

• The Institute for Social and Economics Change, Bangalore, has invited applications for doctoral programmes. Last date May 16. www.isec.ac.in

• The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International School of Textiles & Management, Coimbatore, has invited applications for admission to its two-year regular PG Diploma in Management with specialisation in Textiles, Apparel and Retail. Graduates in any discipline with 50 per cent marks are eligible to apply. Last date April 25. www.svpistm.ac.in

• NMIMS University has invited online application for NMAT (UG) to be held on May 10 and 11 for admission to its B.Tech., 5-year MBA Pharma Tech, 5-year MBA (Tech), 3-year BBA & B.Com. (Hons), B.Sc. Economics/Finance programmes. Apply now. www.nmims.edu.

• Sri Ramachandra University has invited applications for entrance tests to be held on June 1 for admission to MBBS and BDS. Last date May 15. www.sriramachandra.edu.in

• Amrita School of Ayurveda has invited online applications for an entrance examination to be held on May 25 for admission to its BAMS and MD/MS in Ayurveda. Last date May 20. www.ayurveda.amrita.edu.

• Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, has invited applications for a test to be held on July 13 across the country for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Life Science/ Social Science streams. Last date April 30. www.pgimer.edu.in

• The Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, has invited applications for admission to the online courses in Intellectual Property Rights and Information Technology in the Internet age; Cyber Laws. Duration 3 months, commencing on May 1. Last date April 29. www.ili.ac.in

• Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, has invited applications for admission to M.Tech./M.Des. and Ph.D. programmes commencing in July. Apply online before April 14. www.iitk.ac.in/doaa/DOAA/admission.2014.html.

• IIT Roorkee has invited online application for admission to its M.Tech. /M.Arch. and Ph.D. programmes. Last date April 21. www.iitr.ac.in

• Department of Commerce and Management Studies of the University of Calicut has invited applications for admission to the MBA programme offered by the department and six self financing centres in Kozhikode, Palakkad, Vadakara, Thrissur, Kuttippuram and Tirur. Apply online through www.universityofcalicut.info. Last date April 25.

CDS invites applications for M.Phil/Ph.D programmes in AE

• The Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram has invited applications for admission to its fulltime integrated M.Phil./ Ph.D. programmes in Applied Economics. Selection is on the basis of an entrance test to be held on May 25, followed by interview. Last date April 21. (http://cds.edu)

• The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has invited applications for admission to Diploma in Radiological Physics. Stipend Rs.9,300. Last date April 21. www.barc.gov.in

• The Delhi University has invited online applications up to April 18 for admission to various postgraduate programmes. www.du.a.cin.

• The Institute for Social and Economics Change, Bangalore, has invited applications for doctoral programmes. Last date May 16. www.isec.ac.in

• The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International School of Textiles & Management, Coimbatore, has invited applications for admission to its two-year regular PG Diploma in Management with specialisation in Textiles, Apparel and Retail. Graduates in any discipline with 50 per cent marks are eligible to apply. Last date April 25. www.svpistm.ac.in

• NMIMS University has invited online application for NMAT (UG) to be held on May 10 and 11 for admission to its B.Tech., 5-year MBA Pharma Tech, 5-year MBA (Tech), 3-year BBA & B.Com. (Hons), B.Sc. Economics/Finance programmes. Apply now. www.nmims.edu.

• Sri Ramachandra University has invited applications for entrance tests to be held on June 1 for admission to MBBS and BDS. Last date May 15. www.sriramachandra.edu.in

• Amrita School of Ayurveda has invited online applications for an entrance examination to be held on May 25 for admission to its BAMS and MD/MS in Ayurveda. Last date May 20. www.ayurveda.amrita.edu.

• Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, has invited applications for a test to be held on July 13 across the country for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Life Science/ Social Science streams. Last date April 30. www.pgimer.edu.in

• The Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, has invited applications for admission to the online courses in Intellectual Property Rights and Information Technology in the Internet age; Cyber Laws. Duration 3 months, commencing on May 1. Last date April 29. www.ili.ac.in

• Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, has invited applications for admission to M.Tech./M.Des. and Ph.D. programmes commencing in July. Apply online before April 14. www.iitk.ac.in/doaa/DOAA/admission.2014.html.

• IIT Roorkee has invited online application for admission to its M.Tech. /M.Arch. and Ph.D. programmes. Last date April 21. www.iitr.ac.in

• Department of Commerce and Management Studies of the University of Calicut has invited applications for admission to the MBA programme offered by the department and six self financing centres in Kozhikode, Palakkad, Vadakara, Thrissur, Kuttippuram and Tirur. Apply online through www.universityofcalicut.info. Last date April 25.