Breast-feeding might reduce risk of autism

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The study concluded that breast-feeding is associated with an enhanced sensitivity to emotions in babies.

September 16, 2015

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Washington: Consuming mother's milk might reduce the risk of autism in babies with a genetic predisposition to the disorder, according to a study.

Researchers led by Kathleen Krol of the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, focused on the relationship between breast-feeding, genes and the ability to perceive emotions.

Krol and her team studied 98 infants, all of them seven months old and half of them with two copies of a "risk" variant of the gene CD38, to determine what effect breast-feeding has on babies' perception of emotions.

Recognising other people's emotions is a key social skill that depends a great deal on information obtained from the area around the eyes of the other individual.

Diminished attention to the other person's eyes is associated with autism-spectrum disorders.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that babies who were breast-fed longer spent more time looking at images of "happy" eyes and shied away from "angry" eyes.

Matching this data with the children's genotype, researchers found that the effect of breast-feeding on visual preferences was significant only in the babies who carried the risk gene variation.

The study concluded that breast-feeding is associated with an enhanced sensitivity to emotions in babies, but the authors and other experts stressed that there is no evidence yet that breast-feeding ultimately affects a child's odds of developing autism or that it lessens the severity of autism symptoms.

Scientists from the Singapore National University and the University of Virginia participated in the research.

Kerala to promote rural IT parks: P.K. Kunhalikutty

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Speaking to reporters, IT and Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty said the concept of rural IT parks conceived by the previous Left government need not be seen in poor ...

September 17, 2015

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Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Information Technology department has decided to promote the rural IT parks, that are at present hugely underutilised, at very attractive rates, said a minister on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters here, IT and Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty said the concept of rural IT parks conceived by the previous Left government need not be seen in poor light.

"The concept of rural IT parks was meant to spread the IT proliferation to other parts of the state and is definitely good. But for some reason it was only Technopark (in Thiruvananthapuram) and Infopark (in Kochi) that got promoted. Also don't forget when Technopark was first floated, it did not sell quickly, it was only after a while that it started to sell," said the minister.

It was the previous Left government that decided to go forward by promoting rural IT Parks in the 'hub and spoke' Kerala model with the aim of developing satellite centres in towns near to Technopark and Infopark.

A recent report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), however, said this model was a total flop.

"We are not going to lie low and we have already started a plan to see that these underutilised spaces in the rural IT parks are included in our road shows. We are confident that we will be able to sell it," said Kunhalikutty and said the facility at Kozhikode will be promoted as the start-up destination.

Kerala IT secretary P.H. Kurian said they are planning to rent out these spaces at half the rates as compared to Technopark and Infopark.

"We are planning a rate of Rs.18 per sq.ft at the facilities in these rural IT centres and if companies are willing to take bigger spaces, we will give it at Rs 15 per sq,ft," said Kurian.

The seven locations include Kundara (Kollam district), Ambalappuzha and Cherthala (both in Alappuzha district), Koratty (Ernakulam), Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod.

Move to obtain damages from accused in political violence cases

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 he police have come up with the move in the wake of widespread incidents in which houses and home appliances are destroyed.

# C K Vijayan, Mathrubhumi News, Kannur

 

Kannur: The police have initiated steps to obtain compensation from the accused in political violence cases in Kannur. The move is to obtain the damages through civil cases, as in cases of destruction of public property.

The police have come up with the move in the wake of widespread incidents in which houses and home appliances are destroyed as part of 'vendetta politics'.

In the limits of Kannur and Valapattanam police stations, as many as 30 houses were attacked recently causing losses worth crores of rupees. The police have caught the culprits and have enough evidence to prove their crimes. They demand that those who destroyed the properties should give compensation for the same. The victims of violence will be asked to file civil cases seeking damages. The police will offer them help.

The police expect that the new move would help in reducing the number of violent incidents in Kannur.

Nun found dead at convent in Pala, murder suspected

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The body of Sr Amala (69), of Lisieux Carmelite Convent, Pala, was found on her cot with injury on her forehead.

 

Pala: A nun was found dead at Lisieux Carmelite Convent, Pala, on Thursday morning. The body of Sr Amala (69) was found on her cot with injury to her forehead.

The body was found as convent inmates searched for Sr Amala after she failed to turn up for the morning mass. She never skipped the mass.
The doors of her room were not locked from inside and they found Amala, who had sustained a deep injury on her forehead, lying in a pool of blood, police said.

Convent authorities informed that she had been suffering from fever for the past two-three days.

The injury on the forehead is the cause of death, as per initial clues. The primary assumption of the police is that the nun was murdered.

Police said they have a launched a probe as it is a case of a suspected murder.

Nuns working at a nearby hospital are also residing at the convent. As they go to the convent and return in the night, the authorities are not sure whether any outsiders entered the convent at that time.

The sister, who was leading a retired life, was suffering from fever since the last couple of days. Kottayam District Police Chief Sateesh Bino and other officials visited the place and a team of dog squad and forensic experts were called to collect evidence.

Sr Amala is the daughter of the late V D Augusthi and Ely of Valummel, Ramapuram, Kottayam. Sr Lucy Maria of Carmelite convent, Sr Hilda of Assisi convent, and the late Cicily are her sisters.

Common antidepressant may help stroke victims recover

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New York: A commonly prescribed antidepressant may help stroke survivors improve movement and coordination even when rehabilitation after the stroke incidents gets a little delayed, new research has found.

An estimated 65 percent of stroke survivors experience some weakness or paralysis of their limbs, and difficulty in walking and moving due to the death of brain cells from lack of blood flow.

While it is know that earlier the rehabilitation starts for stroke victims, better is the recovery, this new study has showed that the drug fluoxetine, often sold under the trade name Prozac, prolongs the time after a stroke during which physical therapy remains effective for recovering lost motor function.

'For rehabilitation to be effective, it needs to start as soon after a stroke as possible,' said lead author of the study Steven Zeiler, assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland, US.

'But with this study, we have shown that in mice, we can extend the time period during which rehabilitative intervention has an effect on meaningful recovery,' Zeiler noted.

Protesting B.P.Ed students cane charged in Lucknow

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Lucknow: Violence erupted in front of the vidhan sabha in Lucknow on Tuesday when Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.Ed) students clashed with police.

Agitating over their demands, they began pelting stones at police when they were asked to disperse. Police then resorted to a baton charge and used water canon.

Police men baton charge B P Ed Sangharsh Morcha members after they set afire vehicles during their protest for jobs in front of Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow on Tuesday / PTI

While many women protesters suffered injuries in the melee that ensued after the baton charge, about one dozen policemen, including superintendent of police, East Lucknow, were also injured.

One of the protesters' main demands is to be appointed as teachers at par with individuals working as 'Shiksha Mitras'.

The students also set fire to a police vehicle and attacked policemen.

An official told IANS that B.P. Ed (Bachelor of Physical Education) degree holders had converged near the state assembly from across the state to press for their demands. The district administration declared their demonstration illegal and asked them to disperse.

The mob soon became unruly and started raising slogans and waving banners against the government.

The protesters told IANS that they were targeted by police on instructions of the Akhilesh Yadav government and added that they will now continue their protests with renewed vigour.

2 children hit by car in Malappuram, die

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Malappuram: In an unfortunate mishap on Tuesday early morning, two students lost their lives when a car hit them near Pattikaadu at Aakaparambil in Malappuram district. The car lost control and ran into the two children who were walking on the road. The children were on their way to a madarassa. Muhamme Dhaanish (12) from Puthanamcheri and Muhammed Shibini (11) are the deceased.

Tirur native arrested for IS links

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Kochi: The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has arrested a youth belonging to Tirur in Malappuram district for establishing links with the militant group Islamic State.

Sources said he was taken into custody at Karipur airport on Monday. However, the agency has not disclosed more details.

The intelligence agencies had carried out a search in his residence near Tirur town.

The youth, who went to Middle East a few years ago, later moved to Syria and started working for the IS. His arrest was made amidst enquires are being conducted to trace five Keralites serving for the militant outfit.

When contacted, a senior police official said they have not received any information regarding the arrest.

Kerala mulls setting up private universities

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Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Wednesday that the government will discuss whether it should set up private universities in Kerala.

'Kerala is the only state in the country that does not have a private university. In West Bengal, there are six and in Tripura there are two,' he said, referring to the other two states where Communists are strong.

'We will discuss this issue with all concerned at several levels before a decision is arrived at,' Chandy told reporters.

The Kerala State Higher Education Council wants private universities to come up in the state.

But Education Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb is opposed to private universities.

'This is my personal view and is not important because it is the state government which will take the final decision,' said Rabb.

Chandy will now place a report submitted by the Council before the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF)

All-India strike underway; throws normal life out of gear in Kerala

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Thiruvananthapuram: The all-India strike called by trade unions and government employees in protest against the alleged anti-labour policies of the Central Government has begun. The strike hit Kerala hard on Wednesday as public buses went off roads and shops and banks remained shut.

Employees of public sector banks, government-owned non-life insurance companies and BSNL are partaking in the strike that would continue till Wednesday midnight.

Hospitals, supply of milk and newspaper and Hajj-related activities have been exempted from the strike.

Meanwhile, the state government said dies non will be applicable to the government employees going on strike. Government staff, including teachers, will not be sanctioned leave but for special circumstances. Temporary staff, who keep away from duty sans prior permission, will be dismissed. Also, district collectors and department heads have been told to ensure safety of those reporting for duty.

The district police chiefs have been given instructions in this regard. Action will be taken against those found involved in forcible closure of shopsand blocking of traffic.

Highlighting a charter of demands, around 10 trade unions, except the BMS, are taking part in the protest.

All the operations at the Cochin Port were also hit.

Most of the IT firms in Technopark and Infopark reported very thin attendance.

All examinations that were to be held on Wednesday have been postponed by the various state universities.