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Take UID, get bank account

2010-02-05T22:28:00.000-08:00

A bank account free with unique identification number - is how the government plans to sell its plan for creating a database of all residents. To ensure that every Indian has a unique identification number (UID) within five years of the rollout - launch is expected in December - the government will open a savings account in a nationalised bank with a deposit of Rs 100.

The Unique Identification Authority of India has sought Rs 25,000 crore for the incentive. An announcement is likely in the Budget to be presented on February 26. "I cannot confirm or deny the proposal," director general of the authority R.S. Sharma told HT. "It is being felt that half of Indian population will not opt for the UID, if there is no financial incentive," said a senior government official, who didn't wish to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

A UID is not mandatory. "Through UID we aim to bring all residents into formal banking network. It'll eventually help in tracking black money in a better way," the official said. According to government estimates half of the country's population is unbanked.

There could be some grant for the incentive in the Budget, a Plan panel official said on condition of anonymity. "The finance ministry has to take the final call."

Stop Using Internet Explorer.

2010-01-17T23:07:00.001-08:00

Internet users have been warned off Internet Explorer by the German government to protect security.

The BBC reports the warning from Germany's Federal Office for Information Security, or BSI, comes after Microsoft admitted IE was the weak link in attacks on Google's systems.

Germans have been told to stop using all versions of IE.

Thomas Baumgaertner, a spokesman for Microsoft in Germany, told the BBC the attacks on Google were by "highly motivated people with a very specific agenda".

"These were not attacks against general users or consumers," Mr Baumgaertner said.

"There is no threat to the general user, consequently we do not support this warning."

Microsoft says the security hole can be shut by setting the browser's security zone to "high", although this limits functionality and blocks various websites.

German authorities say that even with this modification, IE would not be fully safe.

A spokesman for anti-virus firm Sophos told the BBC the warning released by BSI applies to versions 6, 7 and 8 of IE and that instructions on how to exploit the browser's weakness had been posted on the internet.

"This is a vulnerability that was announced in the last couple of days. Microsoft have no patch yet and the implication is that this is the same one that exploited on the attacks on Google earlier this week," he was quoted as saying.

"The way to exploit this flaw has now appeared on the internet, so it is quite possible that everyone is now going to have a go."

Hidden charges on credit card bills!

2010-01-10T00:49:00.000-08:00

WHEN dealing with money transactions, a sudden change can catch you unaware. Take for instance your credit card. You may suddenly find that the due date on your credit card has changed without any intimation and you are late in making your payment. Take the following case.

Rita's credit card statement is generated on the 15th of every month and the payment has to be made by the 6th of the next month. She made the payment in the same cycle but was shocked to find that in the next statement she was charged Rs 350 as late payment fee plus Rs 450 as interest. So, she called up the bank for clarification and reversal of charges.

What exactly happened with Rita?
To avoid late payment charges, you have to make the credit card payment on the date specified on the credit card statement. The time between the statement generated till the payment date is the time that is credit free. This means you can make purchases on your credit care without bearing any charges. Generally, the credit free days range between 15 or 20 days.

However, the bank holds the right to change the cycle of the payment anytime. That's exactly what happened with Rita. Her bank changed the repayment time for the credit card by seven days. This means that the 21-day period came down to 14 days, reducing the time available for making the payment.

Why the sudden change?
This usually happens when a bank wants to decrease or increase the credit period. In most cases, it is usually the former as the funds of the bank are utilised by its customers for less time period.

Should a bank intimate about the change?
A bank has to inform the credit card holder about any change in the payment date and billing cycle. The exact manner of the intimation will be specified in the code of conduct of the bank and every credit card holder has to check for the details. In some cases, even though there might not be a clear mention about the reduction in the time period, the change in the due date is intimated in some way or the other. In many cases, the bank changes the payment date after changing the conditions related to the credit card and you many not even know the connection between the two.

Rita's last card statement had the details about the conditions of the card where the change was made, i.e., her 21-day interest-free grace period was reduced to 14 days. But she ignored it and did not even look at the latest statement for the exact payment date.

Can the charges be avoided?
The bank's argument would be that the change in the date was informed through the changed conditions and again through the credit card statement. But if Rita wants, she can still complain to the bank and ask them for reversal of charges.

Depending on Rita's relationship with the bank, the charges could be rolled back. But if the bank insists that adequate procedure was followed to intimate the customer then the charges will have to be paid.

Who wants to be a millionaire?

2009-12-30T11:41:00.000-08:00

We have all heard the stories about one bright idea that made someone a millionaire but even if you are devoid of inspiration it is possible to have a seven-figure bank balance.

The key is the sooner you start the better.

Editor of Smart Investor magazine, Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon, said anyone earning an average wage can retire with a comfortable cushion of cash beyond their superannuation account.

"When you're young you have time on your side so you only have to put aside small amounts to amass a huge amount in retirement," she said.

"If you put away just $190 a month into an 8 per cent bank account you'll have $1 million by retirement."

If you leave it until your forties to think about saving for your retirement it is harder but still within your grasp.

Nicole said a property may cost $350,000 now but when you are 65 it is worth well over $1 million.

Jenni Eason retired at age 50 with $2 million in the bank. She had the advantage of a background in accounting but she did not start investing seriously until age 30.

"Anyone can do it, it's just a matter of setting down working out what you can and can't do and making sure that you get in to a habit of saving and the earlier you do that the better," she said.

"If you haven't got the money you don't miss it."

Jenni took full advantage of the tax breaks of super contributions and has always followed the mantra of spending less than she earns.

"I like the lifestyle I want and I'm happy with. There's nothing that I want to do that I can't do."

Even though Jenni managed to retire at 50 she could have started her serious savings then and still had a million by retirement.

So what is the most common mistake?

Last year Australians lost $1 billion to scams so make sure you are protected and do not be a sucker.

"My number one tip to earning $1 million is developing a healthy sense of scepticism," Nicole said.

Super Earth

2009-12-17T00:39:00.000-08:00

Scientists discover Earth-like, water-rich planet.

Astronomers have discovered a new Earth-like planet that is larger than our own and may be more than half covered with water, according to a study published Wednesday in the science journal Nature. Skip related content

The so-called "super Earth" is about 42 light years away in another solar system and has a radius nearly 2.7 times larger than that of our planet, according to the study by the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics.

The discovery of the planet, called GJ 1214b, represents a "major step forward" in the search for worlds similar to the Earth, added the University of California's Geoffrey Marcy in a commentary also in Nature.

The "newfound world" is too hot to sustain life as we know it, said the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics in a statement.

Its density suggests however it "is composed of about three-fourths water and other ices and one fourth-rock," it said. "There are also tantalising hints that the planet has a gaseous atmosphere."

Its temperature is estimated at between 280 and 120 degrees Celsius (536 and 248 degrees Fahrenheit) with its host star about one-fifth the size of the Sun, according to the scientists.

"Despite its hot temperature, this appears to be a waterworld," says Zachory Berta, a graduate student who first spotted hints of the planet's presence.

"It is much smaller, cooler and more Earthlike than any other known exoplanet," he said in the statement.

An exoplanet is one outside of our solar system.

Berta said some of the water would likely be in crystalline form that exists at pressures greater than 20,000 times Earth's sea-level atmosphere.

Its temperature is much lower than that on the only similar discovery, called CoRoT-7b, which revolves around a star that is much hotter, the scientists say.

The CoRoT-7b has a density close to that of the Earth (5.5 grammes per cubic centimetre) and seems to be rocky, while the new discovery appears to be much less dense (1.9 g/cm3).

"To keep the planet's density that low requires that it contains large amounts of water," said Marcy. "It must contain a huge amount of water, roughly 50 percent by mass."

The "wild card" is the make-up of the gases on the planet, he said.

The planet orbits every 38 hours around a small, faint star that was first spotted by eight ground-based telescopes no larger than those used by amateur astronomers, the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre said.

Its relative closeness makes its possible to study it to determine its atmosphere.

"That will make it the first super Earth with a confirmed atmosphere -- even though that atmosphere probably won't be hospitable to life as we know it," said David Charbonneau who heads the research team.

10 Ways to Prevent Cancer.

2009-11-15T01:02:00.000-08:00

Only a few everyday choices about diet, exercise and tobacco use can dramatically reduce a person's risk of cancer, according to a Special Report on Cancer Prevention.

The Special Report examines the science and latest findings on 10 approaches that can make a real difference in preventing cancer.

Here are some highlights from the list:

1. Don't smoke: Quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung and other cancers, regardless of the number of years of smoking.

2. Eat fruits and vegetables: The American Cancer Society recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily because they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other substances that lower the risk of cancer.

3. Limit fat in the diet: Current guidelines recommend keeping fat intake between 20 and 30 percent of total daily calories, with most fats coming from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, such as fish, nuts and vegetable oils.

4. Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer as well as cancers of the colon, endometrium, esophagus and kidney. There's evidence that obesity increases the risk of cancers of the prostate, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, ovary and cervix.

5. Be physically active: From 45 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day, on most days of the week, is considered optimal to reduce the risk of breast and colorectal cancers.

6. Curb alcohol consumption: Women should limit themselves to no more than one alcoholic beverage a day. Men should have no more than two.

7. Limit exposure to radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which comes from the sun, sunlamps or commercial tanning beds, is the primary cause of skin cancer, the most common of all cancers.

8. Protect against infection: Infections caused by viruses are recognized as risk factors for several types of cancer.

9. Consider chemoprevention: Chemoprevention is the use of natural or synthetic compounds to reduce the risk of cancer or its recurrence. Tamoxifen, prescribed to prevent breast cancer in high-risk women, is the best known chemoprevention agent.

10. Get recommended screening exams: Pap tests, mammograms, colonoscopies and other routine screenings cannot prevent cancer. But screenings can help find cancers early, when treatment is most likely to be successful.

The study has been published in the November issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. (ANI)

Banana = Beer

2009-05-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

The next time you feel a little low or jaded, don't hit a pub to drown your sorrows. Just visit a nearby grocer and buy some bananas or help yourself to a bar of dark chocolate.

The reason you are feeling low may be due to depleted levels of serotonin, the 'happiness hormone'. The intake of certain kinds of foods can help increase its levels.

"Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates many of our feelings, including pain, sleep, mood and hunger. In simple words, it helps different parts of your brain to talk to each other, and inadequate amount of serotonin can lead to mood swings, sleep disorder and depression," says Ishi Khosla, clinical nutritionist and director of Whole Foods.

The solution, she says, can be found in certain foods. "A number of food items act as mood boosters.

For example, honey coated nuts, oatmeal porridge, muesli or granola in milk, yogurt and fruit are handy things that can make you feel better," she says. Monika Sharma, an MSc.

student, says, "I don't know about other things that can lift one's mood, but yes, chocolate definitely works for me. Whenever I feel low, I munch on a bar of chocolate.

" Chocolate may lift your mood but not without leaving you feeling guilty about the extra calories. Deepika Malik, a wellness expert, says, "If you are worried about putting on weight, you can substitute strawberries for chocolates and nuts.

Cold milk with a hint of saffron in it also acts as a mood booster.".

Banks to reimpose annual fee on new credit cards

2009-05-14T23:16:00.000-07:00

Getting a new credit card now could become more expensive. Banks are looking to reimpose an annual fee on new credit cards.

The fee could be anywhere between Rs 250 to Rs 500 per card.

Bankers say that with mounting credit card defaults over the last one year, it has become necessary to consciously cut down on issuing new cards.

Also, with a large number of cards going out of circulation either due to defaults, or due to termination by customers, bankers say charging the fee will help protect their margins.

There is an annual fee on some cards already.

Currently, the platinum card customers are being levied an annual fee of around Rs 2,000-6,000.

With contracting volumes, bankers are increasingly finding the need to levy or re-impose the annual fee on new credit cards.

Credit Card = Money Trap

2009-05-14T23:14:00.000-07:00

A credit card is a way of payment by using the plastic cards which are issued to customers for their payment. Credit cards are different than the debit cards. It is because using the facility of credit finance it does not remove or decrease the balance of the amount of account holder from his account.

Creditcard works differently from the debit card. It is issued after a credit card application has been made to the issuer. The issuer then lends money to the credit card holder generally on different rates of interest. And if a consumer is using credit cards then it means he can reconcile his balance at the cost of charging interest and it would make his payment period longer than before. Most credit cards are having almost the same shape and size around the globe.

Credit cards work in a very simple way, a consumer is issued a credit card after his application for credit card has been approved by concerning authorities and a credit company shows its consent to issue the applicant a credit card. Now the customer who has purchased the credit card will be able to buy things on credit up to the limit of credit which was agreed upon by both parties in terms and conditions.

A consumer can also used credit card online facilities to get benefit from his credit card. This online credit card facility is easy to use and it is faster than the actual procedures of cash transactions.

A customer can apply credit card on different outlets and he can also make purchase online by using his credit card in a case he does not have liquid cash.

Every credit card is supported by a credit card companies. Some of credit cards companies are best and they offer very user-friendly credit cards. This kind of credit card is one of the best credit card and their characteristics have no comparison with any other type of credit cards. In these cards the widely known cards are Visa Credit Cards & Master Credit Cards they are used all over the world. You can apply for credit card in any credit card company, or in a bank or you can also apply online for getting a credit card.

Different credit card companies and credit banks also maintain a system of credit check to get their credit in times. So a consumer will not be able to deceive them by using their credit cards. This credit check is maintained regularly and if a credit card holder is not able to pay his payments in the assigned time of payment then he will be given a grace period and in a case he would not be able to pay his credit. His credit card would be blocked. And he will not be able to make any further purchases from his credit card.

The rewards and points which person gets from using a credit card can be emerged together and that would the credit card consolidation.

2009-05-14T23:10:00.000-07:00

According to The Wall Street Journal new laws regulating credit cards could soon change the way that America buys everything from clothes to groceries. In the process, it could also show customers the actual cost of the little plastic cards in their wallets.

Among other things, the new credit law currently being proposed in the Senate could introduce transparency into the world of credit cards. For example, most customers aren't aware that in return for the convenience of being allowed to take credit, stores generally give credit companies between 1.5 and 2 percent of the gross proceeds of their credit sales. By comparison, debit card sales cost the stores approximately one percent.

While the convenience of credit undoubtedly draws customers to stores that accept cards, it also means that these stores either have to realize smaller profits from their credit sales or charge all customers more to make up the difference. Retailers can theoretically offer cash customers a discount off the credit-card price, but credit contracts, as currently worded, make it difficult. Basically, to offer a reduced cash price, stores need to mark each item with both the credit and cash price. The credit price has to appear in a larger font and has to be more prominently positioned. Companies that fail to abide by these rules can face penalties from their credit providers.

Adding to the situation, many credit card companies offer customer discounts and other perks to encourage credit usage. That means many credit card customers effectively end up paying the reduced, or "cash," price, while cash payers get stuck bearing the burden of the tariff on credit card usage. Right, it's totally screwed up.

The new law would free retailers to do what they've long wanted -- either give cash-paying customers discounts off the marked price or charge credit-card users more, without all the complicated re-labeling and threat of penalties, etc. Attempting to block the proposed legislation, credit card companies have claimed that allowing stores to charge separate credit and cash prices could be a form of bait-and-switch for the credit customers. The companies further argue that the bill is an attempt to let retailers off the hook, ensuring that they don't have to pay "their share."

For quite some time, analysts have been warning that the current real estate crisis and Wall Street meltdowns are only a prelude to a credit crisis. As more and more customers get in over their heads with climbing interest rates and fees, it seems likely that they will begin to default on their cards. In that context, anything that tempers, or at least doesn't actively encourage, credit card usage could be a good thing. Allowing both cash and credit customers to pay their respective prices isn't only logical and fair then -- it might keep from throwing more gasoline on the fire.

Applying for a Credit Card

2009-03-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

Credit card providers will do everything in their power to hook You into getting a credit card. Many attach a free gift or special offer and while that t-shirt of frisbee might look nice now, it isn’t worth the headache that a credit card will ultimately bring you. The most important thing to consider when applying for a card is the terms and conditions, not the free stuff.

Know your credit limits.
Usually credit limits are low when you get you first card. This is a good thing. It keeps your debt manageable, and allows you to start to build your credit score at an early age. Whatever you do, don’t go over your limit or you will pay some hefty penalties. Keep track of your spending.

Remember, promotional rates are temporary.
Just about every credit card offers a promotional rate for a fixed period of time to attract new customers. Do your homework and find out exactly how long, and then make sure you know what the APR will be set at after the promotional rate has expired.

Watch out for penalties and unnecessary fees.
The biggest pitfall with a credit card other than spending too much, is to have unnecessary fees added onto to your balance. These fees are most commonly associated with late or missed payments. In most cases, any missed payment results in a penalty plus a resetting of the APR to the highest possible rate.

My last piece of advice is to keep one card only. The more you have, the more likely you are to use them and confuse them. Keep it simple and good luck.

Read this if you use credit cards

2009-03-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

As instances of credit and debit card thefts is on a rise, users need to be aware of the fact that if unreported, the liability on the amount of financial loss on their credit cards would rest on them. However, in the event of the death of the customer and any misuse of the card after that, like what happened in Delhi recently, where two women allegedly lost their lives at the hands of robbers, banks say that they would not go to the customer's family to recover the amount.

"As a gesture we won't go for recovery to the individuals family and I think that no bank will seek recovery in such case," said an official from a private bank on conditions of anonymity. However, banks set customers liable for any loss on card prior to discovery of card loss.

There are however means where the customer can transfer the risk of any financial loss on the credit card. There are insurance covers available with certain cards, which cover the pre discovery fraud loss on credit cards.

Citibank and HSBC offer the pre discovery fraud loss on their cards in partnership with CPP Assistance Services. It covers losses upto 24 hours prior to the notification of card loss.

These are available on select cards and also the cover is only upto several hours before the reporting of card loss," said Harsh Roongta, CEO, Apnaloan.com.

This means that if the cover is upto 12 hours prior to reporting of card loss then if the card is lost at 7 AM in the morning, and he reports the card loss at 9 PM the same day then any financial loss between 9 AM and 9 PM will be covered. Reserve Bank of India has been laying emphasis on banks to provide the pre-discovery fraud loss cover on their cards, said the bank official.

Also, RBI has asked the banks to put in place a system where the system will ask for one additional information that is not available on the card to validate the transaction. "This will make the online credit card transaction secure going forward," said Roongta.

Read this if you use credit cards

2009-03-28T15:59:00.001-07:00

Citibank and HSBC offer the pre discovery fraud loss on their cards in partnership with CPP Assistance Services. It covers losses upto 24 hours prior to the notification of card loss.

These are available on select cards and also the cover is only upto several hours before the reporting of card loss," said Harsh Roongta, CEO, Apnaloan.com.

Cheap Loans

2008-05-14T03:51:00.000-07:00

“Get cash at 0.99% per month interest for 12 months on your card no XXXX 1234. Call 1800 XXX YYY or call on (022) 1234 5678 or SMS CASH on XYZ. Conditions apply from: XYZ Bank.” I recieved this SMS a few minutes ago. Mr Mohan Kumar also received this message, but unlike me he bit the bait!

I must admit that the offer is quite enticing: money at 0.99% per month, that too, from a credit card company. Many of us fall for such utterly misleading advertising. In fact this is a cheap, disgusting way of marketing loans.

Unfortunately most banks believe that this is ethical and do it all the time. They think that consumers are stupid and don't understand the basic mathematics behind this game.

To our misfortune regulatory bodies like RBI, SEBI etc don't seem to have any problem with lenders who fool innocent consumers. In my opinion this is a heinous crime. Here's a dissection of the real cost of seemingly cheap deals.

Money @ 0.99% per month!
This figure amounts to 11.88% per annum and Mr Mohan thought to himself -- his bank was giving him a personal loan at 18%, so naturally this was a very good deal. Mr Mohan is told that this is a reducing balance loan. So, each month he will pay less interest.

This fact is correct but presented wrongly. If the part principal is being repaid each month why should anyone pay interest on the whole loan amount? It is a reducing balance loan and that is the way it should be.

So, so why use it like a punchline or a USP? Let's understand how this loan at 0.99% per month actually works by a layman's calculation.

* Say the loan is for Rs 5 lakh, for a 48-month period, the EMI being Rs 15,368.
* You will totally pay Rs 15,348 X 48 = Rs 737,664 against your loan of Rs 5 lakh.
* That is Rs 237,664 extra as interest over 48 months ie four years.
* That is Rs 237,664 divided by 4 = Rs 59,416 as interest per year.
* Thus Rs 59,416 divide by Rs 5 lakh = 11.88% and thus 0.99% per month.

Things could not be represented more wrongly!

The correct way to do this is to use a concept called Internal Rate of Return (IRR) as it is the IRR, which is the ‘real rate’ the bank is charging you.

Now, let's calulate cash flow for the bank as follows:

Time From the lenders perspective
Time = 0 (now) Rs 5 lakh outflow
Time = 1 Rs 15,368 as inflow
Time = 2 Rs 15,368 as inflow
Time = 3 Rs 15,368 as inflow

Till Time = 48 Rs 15,368 as inflow

In mathematical terms, the IRR of the series of cash flows shown above works out to 20.57%, that's almost 21% pa against the 0.99% per month claimed by the bank!

This is told to you only if you ask what is the IRR or the effective rate of interest.Generally you are never told this. The real cost of this 'cheap' loan is 20.57% pa!

Further more, Mohan was told that to avail this facility he will have to pay only 2% of the loan amount as processing fee and that will be charged in the first statement.

Now a 2% processing fee works out to Rs 10,000. If you account for this amount the bank’s IRR now moves up to 21.72%! So, you take the loan assuming interest rate at 0.99% per month, that is 11.88% per annum when the lender is actually earning 21.72%. But this is not it -- you still need to pay more!

The bank levies a service tax of 12.36% on processing the fee, which it needs to pay to the Government. This works out to Rs 1,236. Factoring this into your cost, increases the bank's IRR to 21.86%.

Further more, you need to pay service tax @ 12.36% on the interest component of your EMI, too. Many banks don't tell you this, and the extra charge turns up in your loan or credit card statement. Now, add this and your cost increases to an astounding 24.56%!

So, the next time you see a loan deal coming your way at say 12% per annum think again. The 'real cost' to you is easily double of that, to say the least. It's worse if you have taken it from a credit card company. The reason: if you forget or delay to make even one payment the bankers will rejoice -- you have a late fee plus about 3% more interest as penalty on the outstanding amount, plus service tax on the above.

No free lunches!
If we are told that the cost of this loan is 25% per annum and we agree to it, then it's fair. What really pinches when we are misguided and information is not correctly and openly given to us.

In this case the bank and its officers via their bonuses, commission and salary, are making money completely at your expense and many a time unethically by not guiding us correctly. To me, this is unfair. But this practice is rampant, and no one seems to have a problem with it. But remember: there's no such thing as a free lunch. And this is especially true in the case of money.

Now, I hope you wouldn't be as careless as Mr Mohan Kumar was.

US Navy missile hits satellite on first attempt

2008-02-20T23:14:00.000-08:00

A missile launched from a Navy ship successfully struck a dying US spy satellite passing 130 miles (210 kilometers) over the Pacific, a defense official said. Full details were not immediately available.

It happened just after 10:30 pm EST Wednesday (0330 GMT Thursday).

Two officials said the missile was launched successfully. One official, who is close to the process, said it hit the target. He said details on the results were not immediately known.

The goal in this first-of-its-kind mission for the Navy was not just to hit the satellite but to obliterate a tank aboard the spacecraft carrying 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms) of a toxic fuel called hydrazine.

US officials have said the fuel would pose a potential health hazard to humans if it landed in a populated area. Although the odds of that were small even if the Pentagon had chosen not to try to shoot down the satellite, it was determined that it was worth trying to eliminate even that small chance.

Officials said it might take a day or longer to know for sure if the toxic fuel was blown up.

US to shoot down rogue spy satellite next week

2008-02-16T01:48:00.000-08:00

Next week, the US will try to knockdown a malfunctioning spy satellite just before it crashes into earth. NASA will be putting its missile defenses to a real-life test to do this.

The US Navy Standard Missile fired from the Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie in the northern Pacific will—for the first time—attempt to hit a satellite the size of a bus that's tumbling towards earth laden with 1,000 pounds of toxic hydrazine.

The US spy satellite never used the fuel because it failed almost as soon at it was launched 15 months ago.

"We have had no way to communicate to invoke the safety measures that are already on the bird," US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen, James Cartwright, says.

With three quarters of the earth water, and with large parts of the land uninhabited, the chances are slim the satellite could kill anyone, yet possibilities of danger cannot be ruled out.

The problem is not so much the 5,000 lb satellite, but the 1,000 pounds of unused fuel that could cover 200 yards.

"It's hard to find areas that have any significant population to them where you could put a toxic substance down across a couple of football fields and not have somebody at risk," Administrator NASA, Michael Griffin says.

Some experts think the US may have another motive: keeping wreckage from one of its newest spy satellites out of enemy hands.

"This is the first of a new generation of radar-imaging intelligence satellites. It has advanced technology on it. They may just want to keep it off of eBay," John Pike from globalsecurity.org says.

Despite all the meticulous preparations, even if the missile misses there's no real downside.

"So there is almost nothing we can do here that makes it worse. Almost everything we can do technically makes it better, which was a very strong factor weighting the decision," Griffin says.

Microfiber fabric makes its own electricity?

2008-02-15T04:52:00.000-08:00

U.S. scientists have developed a microfiber fabric that generates its own electricity, making enough current to recharge a cell phone or ensure that a small MP3 music player never runs out of power.

If made into a shirt, the fabric could harness power from its wearer simply walking around or even from a slight breeze, they reported Wednesday in the journal Nature.

"The fiber-based nanogenerator would be a simple and economical way to harvest energy from the physical movement," Zhong Lin Wang of the Georgia Institute of Technology, who led the study, said in a statement.

The nanogenerator takes advantage of the semiconductive properties of zinc oxide nanowires -- tiny wires 1,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair -- embedded into the fabric. The wires are formed into pairs of microscopic brush-like structures, shaped like a baby-bottle brush.

One of the fibers in each pair is coated with gold and serves as an electrode. As the bristles brush together through a person's body movement, the wires convert the mechanical motion into electricity.

"When a nanowire bends it has an electric effect," Wang said in a telephone interview. "What the fabric does is it translates the mechanical movement of your body into electricity."

His team made the nanogenerator by first coating fibers with a polymer, and then a layer of zinc oxide. They dunked this into a warm bath of reactive solution for 12 hours. This encouraged the wires to multiply, coating the fibers.

"They automatically grow on the surface of the fiber," Wang said. "In principal, you could use any fiber that is conductive."

They added another layer of polymer to prevent the zinc oxide from being scrubbed off. And they added an ultra-thin layer of gold to some fibers, which works as a conductor.

To ensure all that friction was not just generating static electricity, the researchers conducted several tests. The fibers produced current only when both the gold and the zinc oxide bristles brushed together.

So far, Wang said the researchers had demonstrated the principle and developed a small prototype.

"Our estimates show we can have up to 80 milliwatts per square meter of this fabric. This is enough to power a little iPod or charge a cell phone battery," he said.

"What we've done is demonstrate the principle and the fundamental mechanism."

Wang said the material could be used by hikers and soldiers in the field and also to power tiny sensors used in biomedicine or environmental monitoring.

One major hurdle remains: zinc oxide degrades when wet. Wang's team is working on a process that would coat the fibers to protect the fabric in the laundry.

Computer product Service centre in mumbai

2008-02-14T23:10:00.000-08:00

Products	Contact Person	Contact Details	Toll Free No.	Postal Address
Asus Digicom Systems (Units of digicom complete solutions (P) Ltd.	Mr.Rajaram	56764313 56764188		5C-197, Mittal Industrial Estate Andheri Kurla Road , Andheri (E). Mumbai 4000 59

Asus Digicom Systems (Units of digicom complete solutions (P) Ltd.	Mr.Shrinivas	23822501 23852601		Sleater Road , Near Shamrao Vitthal Bank, Grant Road Mumbai 400004

Cyber Star Neat gear switch	Mr.Irfan Mr.Vinod	28386711 28386712		Fatima villa Behind sterling apts Of church road, Marol Andheri (E) Mumbai 400 059

Seagate Hard Disk Accel ICIM frontline ltd Accel ICIM frontlineltd (Tardeo branch)	Mr. Kiran Chaudhary	28311517 23574715 23521183 23521182 23512952	16001801104	A-2, jitendra estate, Opp sangam talkies, Andheri kurla road Andheri (E) Mumbai 400 059 D-16, 4th floor, Commerce Center, Near AC Market, Tardeo road, Mumbai Central (W) Mumbai - 400 034

TVS Keyboard	Mr.Manish	22000051		Om Technologies Office No 10, 1^st Floor 73/75, S.S.Gaikwad Marg Dhobighat Timothy Buld Mumbai

Mediatech (India) Liteon dvd	Mr. Parag	26361111		13/B, Laxmi Ind Estate, New link road Andheri (W) Mumbai 400 053

Maxtor service Center	Mr.Vikas Mr. Praful	28579800		Excel unit no 1/2/G/3, Grd floor D wing tax center, CTS no 14/A, near HDFC Bank, Chandivali farm road, Sakivihar road saki naka Andheri (E) Mumbai 72

Canon Printer		23811836		Hybrid Electronics Grant Road Mumbai 400007 A Wing 48/50, Proctor Road , 27/A Janardhan Bldg

Express Samsung Service Center Hard Disk		65063548	1800110011	Navyug Niwas, Shop no 6, Ground Floor, Grant Road (E) Near Minerva Cinema, 167, Lamington Road,

Sony Service Center	Ms. Urmila	23676257		Sony India Pvt Ltd. Mumbai 400007 Gamdevi Road, Sterling Tower

Dlink (India) Pvt Ltd		26542264 26542265 26542266		Service Center, Ground Floor Agarwal Estate, 168, CST Road, Kalina Santacruz (E) 98 Technimount Compound,

MSI Orbit Peripherals Pvt Ltd		23827872		No.18/20, Wim Brige House, Gr. Floor, Sleater Road, Near Shamrao Vitthal Bank Grant Road (W) Mumbai 400 007

UPS Logistics Pvt Ltd Hitachi Hdd	Mr. Vijay Sawant	25708500 Ex - 8551 40608500 Ex - 8551	1800220091	A4, Unit # 4567, Chamunda Commercial Complex, Kasheli Thane Bhiwandi Road, Thane 421 302

Ashtech Infotech Pvt. Ltd		39828888		G7, Woollen Mill Estate, Mumbai 400 011 Near. Mahalaxmi Station, Shakti Mills Lane,

HP India Sales Pvt LTd.(Service Center)		66771919 66771900 66771800 56771700	1800114772	Plot NO 166, Vidyanagari Marg, Mumbai Kalina Santacruz (East) Near Maha Auto Ground,

Maple Technologies (Apple Service Center)		65921248 26422106		Apple Authoriesd Reseller 871/C, Village Bandra Pali Road, Bandra (W) 203, Dhiraj Arcade, Above Punjab Sweets Mumbai 400 050

Western Digital			1800119393

APC UPS		56987075	18004254272

ViewSonic			1800119999

Linskys			18004255797

Intel			19014252105 Ex: 789789

LG Service Center		39889999

Kingston			18004254515

AOC (LCD)			18004254318

IBM		66962020	18004256666	Global Services IBM 4th Floor, A wing, IL & Fs, Financial Center, Bandra Kurla Complex, (E) Mumbai 400 059

Your Laptop's Worst Enemies!!

2008-02-08T22:52:00.000-08:00

Water, coffee, and soda are among your laptop's worst enemies. Just a little bit of such a liquid on your laptop keyboard can damage or destroy your machine or cause you to lose data.

Some laptops are more vulnerable to damage from a spill on the keyboard than others, and it doesn't always have anything to do with the price tag. Some keyboards have a thin rubber membrane beneath the keys with electrical contacts molded right into little domes under each letter; that design may feel squishy and cheap to some users, but it stands up better to a splash or a flood than a more traditional design with springs and exposed contacts. How do you know which type of design you have? Take a look for yourself by prying off a keytop; if you're shopping, you may be able to get the information from the manufacturer or a dealer.

The best way to prevent damage from a mix of liquid and electronics is to keep them as far apart as possible. Keep your laptop far away from cups of coffee, glasses of water, and cans of soda.

But in the real world, stuff happens. If you have a choice of poisons, take the water spill. A hot cup of coffee, a cold glass of soda, or a glass of wine are each bad news; all of them are slightly acidic. Acidic liquids are nastier than nearly neutral water because the acid can corrode metal contacts. And both coffee and soda can become gummy and sticky as they dry.

Here's the drill for an emergency recovery from a spill:

1. If you have your machine plugged into wall current, turn off the power at the circuit breaker in your home or office.

You don't want to touch a wet wire carrying 110 volts or so.

If you're running the machine on battery power, it's still operating, and you don't see sparks, hear odd noises, or smell burnt electrical components, shut your laptop down through the normal Windows process.

If something is obviously wrong with the machine, turn it off immediately by depressing the Off switch or by removing the battery.

2. Ground yourself by touching the center screw on the faceplate of a dry electrical outlet or by touching some other metal object that reaches to ground.

3. If you haven't done so in emergency mode, remove the AC adapter and the battery, and set them aside.

4. Disconnect any external devices (such as a mouse) attached to the USB, FireWire, serial, or other ports.

5. If you find any liquid on the battery or AC adapter, wipe them carefully and set them aside.

If your spill has thoroughly soaked the AC adapter or the battery, you probably need to consider it a loss. You can get replacement AC adapters and batteries from various sources, including the original equipment manufacturer, laptop accessory companies, and the used market.

6. Remove any cards installed in the PC Card slot.

If they're wet, carefully dry them off. If any water has gotten into the narrow slot, dry out the area with a cotton swab, taking care not to leave any threads of cotton in the internal connector.

7. Wipe off any liquid on the display.

Use a clean cloth dampened with water to remove any sticky residue.

8. Remove the hard drive and the CD/DVD drives if you have them installed in plug-in bays.

Dry them off if they're wet. Set them aside.

9. Open the memory module container; remove and dry the memory modules.

Make notes on the placement of the modules. Set them aside.

10. Hand-dry the keyboard surface with a lint-free cloth.

If you spill soda or coffee, consult the instruction manual for your computer and learn how to carefully remove each of the keycaps for the affected area. If the instruction manual includes a picture of the keyboard, make sure that you can see the names of all the keys and their locations; otherwise, make a drawing of the board, paying special attention to the location of some of the specialized keys, including cursor keys, Page Up, Page Down, Scroll Lock, and the like. Or you can use a digital camera to take a picture of the keyboard.

11. Clean the exposed membrane or switch cover and the keys themselves.

Leave the keys to dry before replacing them.

12. Leaving the display open, place the computer on a sturdy surface supported by two books or small boxes.

This setup lets air circulate all around the computer. Leave the computer and all of its separate parts to air dry for at least 24 hours. Don't use a fan or (horrors) a hair dryer to attempt to fast-forward the drying process.

13. Reassemble the pieces that you removed.

Do this step a day or more after doing Step 1 through Step 12, and make sure that everything is dry and that you don't have any dried puddles of sticky acid left anywhere on the machine. Remember to ground yourself before touching any circuitry or modules, and begin the power-up process with the battery first and the AC adapter second.

If in doubt about the safety of any part, you should go ahead and replace it instead of using it. Replacing a battery, an AC adapter, or even a hard disk drive always costs a lot less than replacing a motherboard.

BSNL is in the process of commissioning of a world class

2008-02-06T09:38:00.000-08:00

BSNL is in the process of commissioning of a world class, multi-gigabit, multi-protocol, convergent IP infrastructure through National Internet Backbone-II (NIB-II), that will provide convergent services through the same backbone and broadband access network. The Broadband service will be available on DSL technology (on the same copper cable that is used for connecting telephone), on a countrywide basis spanning 198 cities.

In terms of infrastructure for broadband services NIB-II would put India at par with more advanced nations. The services that would be supported includes always-on broadband access to the Internet for residential and business customers, Content based services, Video multicasting, Video-on-demand and Interactive gaming, Audio and Video conferencing, IP Telephony, Distance learning, Messaging: plain and feature rich, Multi-site MPLS VPNs with Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees. The subscribe will be able to access the above services through Subscriber Service Selection System (SSSS) portal.
Key Objectives

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To provide high speed Internet connectivity (upto 8 Mbps)
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To provide Virtual Private Network (VPN) service to the broadband customers
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To provide dial VPN service to MPLS VPN customers.
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To provide multicast video services, video-on-demand, etc. through the Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS).
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To provide a means to bill for the aforesaid services by either time-based or volume-based billing. It shall provide the customer with the option to select the services through web server
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To provide both pre-paid and post paid broadband services

Technical Capability of the Backbone

The Broadband Service will be given through the state of the art Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) based IP Infrastructure, which is designed to provide reliable routes to cover all possible destinations within and outside the country. Layer 1 of the network will consist of a high speed Backbone comprising of 24 powerful Core Routers connected with high speed 2.5 Gbps(STM-16) links. The routers are located on the national DWDM network interfacing at STM-16 optical level to provide for high transmission speeds.

What advantage does MPLS have over other Technologies?

MPLS VPN is a technology that allows a service provider like BSNL to have complete control over parameters that are critical to offering its customers service guarantees with regard to bandwidth throughputs, latencies and availability.

Services available through Broadband

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High speed Internet Access: This is the always-on Internet access service with speed ranging from 256 kbps to 8 Mbps.
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Bandwidth on Demand: This will facilitate customer to change bandwidth as per his / her requirement. For example a customer with 256 kbps can change to 1 Mbps during the video Conferencing session.
*

Multicasting: This is to provide video multicast services for application in distance education, telemedicine etc
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Dial VPN Service: This service allows remote users to access their private network securely over the NIB-II infrastructure.
*

Video and Audio Conferencing:
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Content based Services: Like Video on Demand, Interactive Gaming, Live and time shifted TV

What the customer needs in order to be able to use Broadband?

*

BSNL's Bfone (Basic phone) connection
*

Personel Computer with 10/100 Ethernet Port
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ADSL CPE (Customer Premise Equipment). This can be taken from BSNL at nominal rental per month.

When is the service being launched

The Broadband Service has been launched in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata from 14th January 2005. Soon, it will be extended to more than 200 cities.

Is Diet Soda Really Bad for You?

2008-02-05T00:10:00.000-08:00

Diet Coke--the best-selling sugar-free soft drink in the country--has spawned a cult-like following among Americans. Some even swear they’re addicted to the stuff. But rumors abound about the drink’s health effects, some blatantly false and some surprisingly true. Can you separate fact from urban legend?

1. People have grown deathly ill from drinking cans of Diet Coke with dirty tops.

Myth. Legend has it that the lethal hantavirus spreads to humans when they drink soda contaminated by the droppings of warehouse rats or mice. True, humans can catch hantavirus from rodent waste bur there are no known cases of a person getting it from unclean Diet Coke cans (or any food packaging). Still, it’s a good idea to wipe icky stuff off your top before popping it.

2. Diet Coke is 99% water.

Fact. One Diet Coke ad actually brags about this. The marketing strategy behind the ad hinges on the idea that anything that is mostly water can’t be bad for you. (Not true. Insecticides are often mostly water.) What’s important is what makes up that other 1%.

3. Diet Coke’s sweetener was developed as an ant poison and is therefore hazardous.

Myth. Aspartame, the artificial sweetener in Diet Coke, was created by a chemist working on an ulcer drug. The compound doesn’t kill ants or short-circuit their nervous systems, as legend has it. Even if those things were true, they wouldn’t prove that aspartame is dangerous to humans, since many products that aren’t toxic to us (like black pepper) repel ants.

4. Diet Coke exacerbates arthritis.

Myth. In fact, the aspartame in Diet Coke may actually ease arthritis! Studies of people with osteoarthritis or a mix of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis found that aspartame relieved their pain and helped their joints move more fluidly. (Note: The studies weren’t done specifically with Diet Coke.)

5. Drinking Diet Coke while eating Mentos candies can create a mildly explosive reaction in your body.

Fact! Luckily, you can’t consume enough to cause a major internal eruption. Yet some very sticky people have had a wild and crazy time creating geysers that shoot over 10 feet high, including a mini-version of the Las Vegas Bellagio fountains that involved hundreds of candies and 200 liters of Diet Coke (we’re not kidding). How does it work? Certain types of Mentos have a microscopically rough surface that, when combined with the carbon dioxide in Diet Coke (or any soda), seems to create an insane number of bubbles. Pressure builds FAST and boom! Watch it happen.

6. Drinking Diet Coke can cause or worsen multiple sclerosis symptoms.

Myth. The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation has debunked this falsehood, as have the FDA and other organizations. The notion that Diet Coke can cause neurological disorders may be based on an observation by the Centers for Disease Control years ago, that in some people, aspartame seemed linked to mild neurological problems, such as headaches and moodiness. However, the CDC found that these symptoms are mild and affect most people, not just diet soda drinkers.

7. Diet Coke isn’t 0 calorie.

Myth. Contrary to Web rumors, Diet Coke does not have 40 or more calories, and the company does not get to call its drink calorie-free in exchange for paying big ol’ fines to the FDA. Drinks can only be called “calorie-free” if they have fewer than 5; Diet Coke has less than 1.

8. Diet Coke may cause cancer.

A big maybe. Arguments about an aspartame-cancer connection have flared for years. Recently, Italian researchers concluded that aspartame does increase certain cancers in rats, including breast cancer. But the scientific truism applies: Rats aren't people. And more than 200 studies, including one on humans in 2006 by the National Cancer Institute, have found no evidence of this. Still, suspicious groups remain, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an ardent consumer advocacy group. What to do? Drink responsibly--and we don't mean downing the FDA's "acceptable" max of 21 cans of aspartame-sweetened soda a day for a 165-pound adult. Inside all the research there's an informal consensus that, for adults, a can a day is likely to do no harm.

Tons of cola drinkers have switched to diet formulas to slash their sugar intake. And avoiding foods with simple sugars as one of their first five ingredients can make your RealAge 3.6 years younger. Sweet!

2008-02-05T00:02:00.000-08:00

At some point or another, it happens to everyone: You can't sleep. When you finally drop off, the alarm buzzes a microsecond later. Then you can't get up. And then it gets worse: When you finally drag yourself out of bed, you look like youknowhat.

Can't imagine why the sleep gods had it in for you? Think about what you ate the night before, says Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of The Food & Mood Cookbook. Any of the following--much less a combo platter--can leave your body on uneasy street for hours.

1. Spicy Foods Garlic, chilies, cayenne, and other intense spices are yummy going down but can keep you up with heartburn or indigestion. Avoid MSG too, as it can trigger dreams that are a bit too vivid.

2. A Big Dinner An overtaxed digestive system takes hours to settle down and there's nothing restful about that. When sleep's critical, make lunch your largest meal and enjoy a light 500-calorie dinner early in the evening.

3. Raucous Veggies Eat those good-for-you-but-gassy foods--beans, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts--in the middle of the day. A tankful of gas can keep anyone up at night.

4. Speed Eating Relax and enjoy meals to avoid swallowing air, another common cause of midnight tummy trouble.

5. Nightcaps Alcohol may make you drowsy at first but later on it disturbs sleep patterns and leads to awakenings and restlessness. A 4-ounce glass of wine with dinner won't hurt, as long as it's not within two hours of bedtime.

6. Coffee after breakfast Caffeine can linger in your body for as long as 12 hours. So if you're often wide-eyed at bedtime, make sure you're caffeine-clean for at least 12 hours. (Skip tea, chocolate, cola, or other caffeine culprits too.) Still watching the clock at 2 a.m.? Wean yourself off even morning java, then stay caffeine-free for two weeks. If you definitely sleep better, you have your answer: Caffeine is not your friend. If the results are mixed, "Try adding back a cup or two of coffee or tea in the morning and watch what happens," says Somer. "But if sleeplessness comes back, cut it out."

Getting 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night doesn't just make your eyes bright, your skin happy, and your mind sharp, it can also make your RealAge as much as 3 years younger.

Surgical gown 'marked up for ops'

2008-02-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

A surgical gown has been developed to help medical students get a closer understanding of what it is like to go under the knife.

The gown is covered in nine zips showing where incisions are made for operations such as open heart surgery and removal of the appendix.

Its silk material is also more like human tissue than the plastic of traditional models.

It has been designed by teams at Durham and Ulster Universities.

We want to help students understand the significance of the body as well as its structure

Professor John McLachlan
Durham University

The creators hope the gown, which goes on international display in the US this week, will significantly improve understanding, not only of where operation incisions are made, but also what they mean to the patient.

The idea is that it should be worn by students in the classroom, and supplement traditional teaching aids in helping to explain surgical procedures.

Plastic models can be used to show areas of the body where incisions will roughly be made, say the creators, but give no sense of empathy for the patient.

Potentially, the gown could also help explain procedures to patients.

Professional distance

Developer Professor John McLachlan said: "Current anatomical teaching aids describe but they don't evoke.

"They take no account of emotional involvement or the feel of the body.

"The way medical students distance themselves emotionally from the patient's body has long been seen as a desirable outcome of current modes of medical training.

"But this 'desensitation' also brings with it the risk of objectifying the body. The patient becomes 'the liver in bed four' rather than Mrs Smith.

"We want to help students understand the significance of the body as well as its structure."

The developers hope the gown will be used in medical schools across the UK and beyond.

Providing infants with nutritious food is long-term economic investment

2008-02-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

Scientists for the first time have come out with direct evidence that providing infants and very young children with healthy, nutritious food is a long-term economic investment for developing countries both in terms of human resources and a healthy society.

The authors of the study said in a teleconferencing from Washington DC, last night, that the study in Guatemala is the first to show direct evidence of the effects of early childhood nutrition programs on adult economic productivity and incomes. snows

The results of the study 'The Impact of Nutrition during Early Childhood on Income, Hours Worked, and Wages of Guatemalan Adults' carried out by John Hoddinott, John A. Maluccio, Jere R. Behrman, Rafael Flores, and Reynaldo Martorell are to published in tomorrow's issue of medical journal 'Lancet'.

"Although substantial, but indirect, evidence from previous research suggests that providing infants and very young children with healthy, nutritious food is a long-term economic investment for developing countries, this is the first direct evidence based on a result-oriented study," according to the study

The researches were conducted on four rural communities from Guatemala villages and they were given vegetable protein mixture with micronutrients, the scientists said, adding the African countries can use the study in their health policies.

The research was conducted in Guatemala by Emory University, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlebury College.

Investments in early childhood nutrition can be long-term drivers of growth and a wise economic investment and the findings from the study show that improving nutrition in early childhood leads to significant increases in wage rates for men.

The authors said that the past research has demonstrated that the first two years of life are the "window of opportunity" when nutrition interventions have the greatest benefits for a child's health, growth, and development.

This study confirms that improving nutrition in early childhood also leads to healthier and more productive adults, bringing economic returns to both individuals and societies.

From 1969-1977, four rural communities in Guatemala participated in a food supplementation study, in which children received one of the two supplements fortified equally with micro nutrients. The first supplement was high in protein and energy; the second contained no protein and was low in energy, said the lead author Hoddinott.

The program enrolled all children and infants who were under seven years of age when the program was launched in 1969. Babies born during the study period were also included.

Children and infants continued to participate in the program until they were seven years old or until the study ended in 1977, whichever came first. Thus, the participating children were exposed to the supplement.

In 2002-2004, researchers returned to Guatemala to collect follow-up data and interview adults who had participated in the nutrition program as children.

Nearly 2,400 individuals were involved in the original study. At the time of follow-up, they were 25-42 years old. About 78 per cent of the individuals were alive and living in Guatemala; 11 percent had died; 7 per cent had left the country; and 4 per cent were untraceable, a IFPRI release said.

During the follow-up study, researchers collected economic data, including information about income-generating activities, from approximately 1,425 Guatemalans, or 60 per cent of the adults who were enrolled in the original program.

Researchers then calculated annual earned income, hours worked, and hourly wage rates for each adult. Respondents who were not engaged in economic activities or participating in the labour market were excluded from the analysis.

Boys who received the high-energy, high-protein supplement in the first two years of life earned on average 46 per cent higher wages as adults. Boys who received supplement in their first three years earned 37 percent higher wages on average.

However, those who first received the supplement after age three did not get any economic benefits as adults and consumption of supplement in childhood did not have an effect on women's income, probably because of gender differences in labour force participation and work activities.

In Guatemala, participation in the formal labour market is significantly lower for women than for men. However, first analysis suggests that schooling increased for women who had consumed supplement, and that reading comprehension increased significantly for both men and women.

Apples 'can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's'

2008-02-01T11:49:00.002-08:00

An apple a day can keep the Alzheimer's away. A new study has found that the popular fruit contains protective antioxidants which help in reducing the risk of dementia in people.

According to the study by researchers in the United States, not only apples, other fruits like oranges and bananas are important sources of vitamins, minerals and fibre which protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The researchers at the Cornell University came to the conclusion after investigating the effects of apple, banana, and orange extracts on neuron cells.

They found that the phenolic phytochemicals of the fruits prevented neurotoxicity on the cells. Among the three fruits, apples contained the highest content of protective antioxidants, followed by bananas then oranges. "Our study demonstrated that antioxidants in the major fresh fruits consumed in the United States and Korea protected neuronal cells from oxidative stress.

"Additional consumption of fresh fruits such as apple, banana, and orange may be beneficial to improve effects in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's," the researchers wrote in the 'Journal of Food Science'.

The study came just days after British scientists discovered the key to reversing the effects of dementia. The researchers at the University of Sunderland found that regular exposure to safe low-level, infra-red light could turn back the brain's biological clock and reverse the effects of memory loss.

In fact, their study showed that the treatment could improve learning performance and also kick-start the cognitive function of the brain, particularly in those suffering from gradual memory loss.