Adieu to painful pricks: Nano chip for diabetes patients

Tags: diabetes,chip,prick
MUNICH: Researchers for a firm called Fraunhofer have designed a nano-sized bio-sensor chip which is located on the patient’s body and can measure glucose levels via fluids other than blood. Measuring just 0.5 x 2.0 millimeters, it can use tissue fluids other than blood, such as in sweat or tears and transmits the data via a wireless interface making it more discreet and comfortable for users. Researchers have also attached the entire diagnostic system to it. The circuitry also holds a battery which can last for months. The company hopes to get the prototypes into production in the near-future to banish the finger pricks forever.

Adieu to painful pricks: Nano chip for diabetes patients

Tags: diabetes,chip,prick
MUNICH: Researchers for a firm called Fraunhofer have designed a nano-sized bio-sensor chip which is located on the patient’s body and can measure glucose levels via fluids other than blood. Measuring just 0.5 x 2.0 millimeters, it can use tissue fluids other than blood, such as in sweat or tears and transmits the data via a wireless interface making it more discreet and comfortable for users. Researchers have also attached the entire diagnostic system to it. The circuitry also holds a battery which can last for months. The company hopes to get the prototypes into production in the near-future to banish the finger pricks forever.

Crime branch DySP Santhosh Kumar to head tanker explosion case

ags: DySP Santhosh Kumar, probe, tanker explosion
KANNUR: Crime Branch DySP Santhosh Kumar will head the team in the investigation of the tanker explosion in Chala, Kannur. This was informed by IG B Sandhya after visiting the accident site. Sandhya said only after scientific investigation it will be decided whether to include the name of Indian Oil Corporation as an accused in the case.

Crime branch DySP Santhosh Kumar to head tanker explosion case

ags: DySP Santhosh Kumar, probe, tanker explosion
KANNUR: Crime Branch DySP Santhosh Kumar will head the team in the investigation of the tanker explosion in Chala, Kannur. This was informed by IG B Sandhya after visiting the accident site. Sandhya said only after scientific investigation it will be decided whether to include the name of Indian Oil Corporation as an accused in the case.

Mothers can help where it hurts kids the most

London: Over a million children under five have at least two fillings because their mothers fail to make them brush their teeth, a British study has found.

Researchers found almost a quarter of parents saying their little ones only cleaned their teeth once a day, with half saying they found the whole experience too stressful, Daily Mail reported. 

As a result, one in six admitted their child had at least three fillings and almost half of children under 12 have been told they have tooth decay.

It was also found that visiting the dentist filling mums with as much dread as their kids - one in seven feel judged when the dentist has to give their child a filling and a quarter feel embarrassed about the state of their child's mouth.

Conducted by Aquafresh, the research also revealed one in 100 mothers having kids suffering from gum disease - traditionally an adult condition - and the same amount have at least five fillings.

According to leading dentist Tina Tanna, every mum knows how hard it is to get their kids to brush their teeth 'but these results show how important this really is'.

'Dental decay can lead to complications such as tooth loss so it's key that kids learn to brush properly when they are young to prevent further issues as their adult teeth begin to grow,' Tanna added. 

Mothers can help where it hurts kids the most

London: Over a million children under five have at least two fillings because their mothers fail to make them brush their teeth, a British study has found.

Researchers found almost a quarter of parents saying their little ones only cleaned their teeth once a day, with half saying they found the whole experience too stressful, Daily Mail reported. 

As a result, one in six admitted their child had at least three fillings and almost half of children under 12 have been told they have tooth decay.

It was also found that visiting the dentist filling mums with as much dread as their kids - one in seven feel judged when the dentist has to give their child a filling and a quarter feel embarrassed about the state of their child's mouth.

Conducted by Aquafresh, the research also revealed one in 100 mothers having kids suffering from gum disease - traditionally an adult condition - and the same amount have at least five fillings.

According to leading dentist Tina Tanna, every mum knows how hard it is to get their kids to brush their teeth 'but these results show how important this really is'.

'Dental decay can lead to complications such as tooth loss so it's key that kids learn to brush properly when they are young to prevent further issues as their adult teeth begin to grow,' Tanna added. 

west Nile virus kills 46 in US' Texas state  

      washington: At least 46 people have died from the mosquito-borne West Nile virus in Texas state in the US this year, Xinhua reported.

The latest reports came from Dallas county and El Paso county, with each county confirming one death due to the virus, according to local TV channel ABC13.

Amid a nationwide outbreak of the virus, Texas is the worst hit state with almost 45 percent of the nation's total, and about half of the deaths.

The number of virus cases reported in Texas this year totalled 1,013, among which are at least 523 cases of neuro-invasive West Nile, the most serious form of the illness as it affects the nervous system.

In 2003, Texas recorded 439 neuro-invasive cases, according to Xinhua.

The number of West Nile virus cases reported across the US till September is also the highest since the disease was discovered in the country in 1999, officials said.

Till Sep 4, 48 states reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds or mosquitoes. Over 70 percent of the cases have been reported from six states -- Texas, South Dakota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Michigan.

Health officials in Oklahoma also said the state had broken its record for West Nile virus cases in a single year.

First identified in Uganda in 1937, West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness that leads to serious neurological disease in some cases. Its symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, nausea, dizziness and muscle weakness.

west Nile virus kills 46 in US' Texas state  

      washington: At least 46 people have died from the mosquito-borne West Nile virus in Texas state in the US this year, Xinhua reported.

The latest reports came from Dallas county and El Paso county, with each county confirming one death due to the virus, according to local TV channel ABC13.

Amid a nationwide outbreak of the virus, Texas is the worst hit state with almost 45 percent of the nation's total, and about half of the deaths.

The number of virus cases reported in Texas this year totalled 1,013, among which are at least 523 cases of neuro-invasive West Nile, the most serious form of the illness as it affects the nervous system.

In 2003, Texas recorded 439 neuro-invasive cases, according to Xinhua.

The number of West Nile virus cases reported across the US till September is also the highest since the disease was discovered in the country in 1999, officials said.

Till Sep 4, 48 states reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds or mosquitoes. Over 70 percent of the cases have been reported from six states -- Texas, South Dakota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Michigan.

Health officials in Oklahoma also said the state had broken its record for West Nile virus cases in a single year.

First identified in Uganda in 1937, West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness that leads to serious neurological disease in some cases. Its symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, nausea, dizziness and muscle weakness.

Terror groups maintaining ability to use sea route: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today pitched for a comprehensive maritime domain awareness scheme as there were indications that terrorist groups are maintaining their ability to use the sea route. On the concluding day of a three-day long meeting of Directors and Inspectors General of Police here, Singh also said that there were increasing infiltration attempts in Jammu and Kashmir 'In Jammu and Kashmir, we are beginning to see increasing infiltration attempts, across the Line of Control and even the International Border. There are also indications about terrorist groups maintaining their ability to use the sea route.

'Vigilance, therefore, needs to be exercised not only on our land borders but along the coast line as well. The comprehensive scheme of Maritime Domain Awareness to be led by the Navy would help strengthen coastal vigilance, whereas deployment of more permanent border obstacles and better sensors could improve the situation along the land borders,' he said at the conference organised by Intelligence Bureau. Though the Prime Minister did not name any terror outfit, Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba terror outfit had used the sea route to infiltrate into Mumbai in November 2008 and went on a shooting spree killing over 160 people. The Prime Minister also said that terror threat in the hinterland continues to be a cause for worry.

'Although 19 interdictions have taken place, terrorists were able to strike in Mumbai and Delhi last year and in Pune this year. Investigations in these cases are yet to conclude,' Singh said. The Prime Minister said his government was working on a
robust cyber security structure that addresses threat management and mitigation, assurance and certification, specially building capacity and enhancing research. Calling upon private players to join in the plan of the government, Singh said, 'Our country's vulnerability to cyber crime is escalating as our economy and critical infrastructure become increasingly reliant on interdependent computer networks and the Internet. 

'Large-scale computer attacks on our critical infrastructure and economy can have potentially devastating results,' he said
He also called for devising a strategy to counter the propaganda carried out in social networking sites and said while working on a plan to counter it, a careful examination needs to be done that it does not infringe on the rights of freedom of expression of the people. 'The use of bulk SMSes and social media to aggravate the communal situation is a new challenge that the recent
disturbances have thrown before us. We need to fully understand how these new media are used by miscreants. 'We also need to devise strategies to counter the propaganda that is carried out by these new means. Any measure
to control the use of such media must be care fully weighed against the need for the freedom to express and communicate,'
he said.

He expressed hope that police forces would be able to work out effective strategies to deal with these tendencies and asked the top brass of the police to dedicate themselves to planned technological upgradation of their forces. There are many emerging areas where the police forces need to develop new expertise which include controlling use of new media by miscreants to spread rumours and falsehood.PTI

Terror groups maintaining ability to use sea route: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today pitched for a comprehensive maritime domain awareness scheme as there were indications that terrorist groups are maintaining their ability to use the sea route. On the concluding day of a three-day long meeting of Directors and Inspectors General of Police here, Singh also said that there were increasing infiltration attempts in Jammu and Kashmir 'In Jammu and Kashmir, we are beginning to see increasing infiltration attempts, across the Line of Control and even the International Border. There are also indications about terrorist groups maintaining their ability to use the sea route.

'Vigilance, therefore, needs to be exercised not only on our land borders but along the coast line as well. The comprehensive scheme of Maritime Domain Awareness to be led by the Navy would help strengthen coastal vigilance, whereas deployment of more permanent border obstacles and better sensors could improve the situation along the land borders,' he said at the conference organised by Intelligence Bureau. Though the Prime Minister did not name any terror outfit, Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba terror outfit had used the sea route to infiltrate into Mumbai in November 2008 and went on a shooting spree killing over 160 people. The Prime Minister also said that terror threat in the hinterland continues to be a cause for worry.

'Although 19 interdictions have taken place, terrorists were able to strike in Mumbai and Delhi last year and in Pune this year. Investigations in these cases are yet to conclude,' Singh said. The Prime Minister said his government was working on a
robust cyber security structure that addresses threat management and mitigation, assurance and certification, specially building capacity and enhancing research. Calling upon private players to join in the plan of the government, Singh said, 'Our country's vulnerability to cyber crime is escalating as our economy and critical infrastructure become increasingly reliant on interdependent computer networks and the Internet. 

'Large-scale computer attacks on our critical infrastructure and economy can have potentially devastating results,' he said
He also called for devising a strategy to counter the propaganda carried out in social networking sites and said while working on a plan to counter it, a careful examination needs to be done that it does not infringe on the rights of freedom of expression of the people. 'The use of bulk SMSes and social media to aggravate the communal situation is a new challenge that the recent
disturbances have thrown before us. We need to fully understand how these new media are used by miscreants. 'We also need to devise strategies to counter the propaganda that is carried out by these new means. Any measure
to control the use of such media must be care fully weighed against the need for the freedom to express and communicate,'
he said.

He expressed hope that police forces would be able to work out effective strategies to deal with these tendencies and asked the top brass of the police to dedicate themselves to planned technological upgradation of their forces. There are many emerging areas where the police forces need to develop new expertise which include controlling use of new media by miscreants to spread rumours and falsehood.PTI