Lives of pregnant women and newborns at risk as funding cuts impact midwifery support

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Arun Kumar

But despite their critical role, UN support for midwifery is under serious threat due to severe funding cuts.

Each year, three-quarters of all maternal deaths occur in just 25 countries, the majority of them located in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, according to the UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA.

Midwives are often the first and only responders delivering life-saving care to pregnant women and their newborns in crisis settings, where the risk of dying during pregnancy or childbirth doubles.

Funding cuts are now forcing UNFPA to scale back its support for midwifery. In eight of the affected countries the agency will only be able to fund 47 per cent of the 3,521 midwives it had intended to support in 2025.

On the frontline

In times of crisis, women often lose critical access to vital maternity services. Coming to the rescue in the direst of circumstances and serving as a lifeline to pregnant women, “midwives save lives,” said Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA.

UN support for midwives in humanitarian settings includes training, providing supplies and equipment and in some cases transportation for mobile health clinics. All this is having to be cut back amid the funding cuts.

“When crises strike and systems break down, midwives step up,” said UNFPA, marking International Day of the Midwife.

Funding cuts

Amid a global shortage of nearly one million midwives, rising death rates among women and newborns in conflict zones and fragile contexts are now being reported following budget cuts.

“We’re lacking everything, from blood bags to medicines. With the support of UNFPA and other partners, we can still provide services – but for how long?” said Fabrice Bishenge, Director of Kyeshero General Hospital in eastern DR Congo.

Deaths during childbirth in fragile and conflict-affected settings now account for 60 per cent of all maternal deaths globally. Worldwide, deep funding cuts only exacerbate this trend. In Yemen, for instance, over 590,000 women of childbearing age are expected to lose access to a midwife.

The waiting room of a maternity hospital in Herat Province, Afghanistan.

New initiative

In light of the current funding crisis, UNFPA and partners recently launched the Global Midwifery Accelerator — a coordinated initiative to scale up midwife-led care in countries with the highest maternal mortality rates.

The initiative sets out a cost-effective roadmap focused on saving lives and strengthening national health systems, even in the most fragile contexts.

Making an urgent call for greater funding, training, and advocacy for midwifery, UNFPA stressed that universal midwife-led health coverage could avert two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths, reduce healthcare costs, and lead to more productive workforces.

After tariffs, what’s Trump’s next Move? Watch out US dollar weakening

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Naresh Kumar

As the dust begins to settle down on President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs, speculation is growing over his next move. With the dollar as the world’s reserve currency, Trump has powerful tools to pressure allies—credit access, dollar funding, and payment systems, which may be wielded as powerful weapons to subject compliance from foes and allies together.

Deploying these weapons would carry major risks for the U.S. economy and could backfire, but some experts warn they remain on the table if tariffs fail to cut the trade deficit. A weakening US dollar can have wide-ranging effects across global markets, businesses, and consumers. When the dollar loses value against other currencies, imported goods become more expensive for American consumers, increasing the cost of electronics, automobiles, and household products. Inflationary pressures may also rise as businesses pass on higher costs, eroding purchasing power.

On the other hand, a weaker dollar benefits US exporters by making American goods and services more affordable for foreign buyers. This can boost demand for US-made products, potentially leading to increased revenues for companies with international markets. Sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism often see gains as foreign customers find US goods and destinations more cost-effective.

“I could well imagine Trump getting frustrated and trying to implement wacky ideas, even if the logic isn’t there,” Barry Eichengreen, economics professor at UC Berkeley, told Reuters.

The administration’s apparent goal is to weaken the dollar to rebalance trade, potentially through a Mar-a-Lago Accord—a nod to the 1985 Plaza Accord and Trump’s Florida resort.

Stephen Miran, a Trump adviser, has suggested the U.S. could pressure foreign central banks to strengthen their currencies by leveraging tariffs and security commitments. But analysts say such a deal is unlikely, as higher interest rates would risk recession in Europe and Japan, and China needs a weaker yuan to revive growth.

If currency talks fail, Trump could take more extreme measures, such as restricting foreign access to dollar liquidity. Cutting off Federal Reserve swap lines—vital for global banks in times of crisis—could roil financial markets and hit European, Japanese, and British lenders hardest. Investors and financial markets also react to a weakening dollar in various ways.

US-based investors with holdings in foreign assets may see gains as those investments appreciate in dollar terms. Conversely, foreign investors holding US assets could experience lower returns if the dollar depreciates. The currency’s decline may also impact the bond market, as investors demand higher yields on US Treasury securities to compensate for currency risk.

Though the Fed controls these programs, Trump’s reshuffling of key financial regulators has raised concerns. “It’s no longer unthinkable that this could be used as a nuclear threat in negotiations,” said Spyros Andreopoulos of Thin Ice Macroeconomics.

But such a move could ultimately weaken the dollar’s status as the world’s dominant currency.

Commodity prices often respond significantly to dollar fluctuations. Since key commodities such as oil and gold are priced in US dollars, a weaker dollar generally pushes their prices higher. This can lead to increased costs for businesses that rely on raw materials, further fueling inflationary trends. On the flip side, commodity-producing countries may benefit from stronger revenues as the prices of their exports rise.

Another pressure point is the U.S. payments industry. Visa (V.N) and Mastercard (MA.N) process two-thirds of card transactions in the eurozone. While China and Japan have developed alternatives, Europe remains reliant on U.S. payment networks.

If the White House pressured these firms to cut off services—similar to actions taken against Russia—European consumers would be forced to rely on cash or slow bank transfers. “A hostile U.S. is a huge setback,” said Maria Demertzis of the Conference Board think tank. International trade dynamics can shift as countries reassess their economic strategies in response to currency fluctuations.

Ultimately, a weaker dollar carries both advantages and disadvantages depending on one’s perspective. While US manufacturers and exporters may enjoy competitive benefits, consumers and businesses reliant on imports could face higher costs. Investors must navigate currency risks carefully, and policymakers must balance economic growth with inflation control. The dollar’s movements influence economies worldwide, making its strength or weakness a critical factor in global financial stability.

Weakening Dollar

A weakening US dollar can have wide-ranging effects across global markets, businesses, and consumers. When the dollar loses value against other currencies, imported goods become more expensive for American consumers. Precisely because it takes more dollars to buy the same amount of foreign currency, raising the cost of imported electronics, automobiles, and everyday household products. Inflationary pressures may also increase as businesses pass higher costs on to consumers, reducing purchasing power.

Investors and financial markets also react to a weakening dollar in various ways. US-based investors with holdings in foreign assets may see gains as those investments appreciate in dollar terms. Conversely, foreign investors holding US assets could experience lower returns if the dollar depreciates. The currency’s decline may also impact the bond market, as investors demand higher yields on US Treasury securities to compensate for currency risk.

Government policies may force the Federal Reserve respond by adjusting interest rates to stabilize the currency and control inflation. Meanwhile, other central banks might intervene in currency markets to prevent excessive volatility. International trade dynamics can shift as countries reassess their economic strategies in response to currency fluctuations.

Gloom All Over Markets, Sensex Down 589 Points; Middle East Conflict Rattles Globe

Posted on October 3, 2024 by Sridhar P

The escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly between Iran and Israel, has sent shockwaves through global markets, with India feeling the tremors. The Nifty 50 index and the S&P BSE Sensex, key indicators of the Indian stock market, have both seen a decline of over 1%.

At 9.38 a.m., Sensex was down 589 points or 0.69 per cent at 83,686 and Nifty was down 174 points or 0.68 per cent at 25,622. In the early trading hour, broader market trends remained weak. On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 256 shares were in the green and 1,188 shares were in the red.

Twenty-eight out of 30 Sensex stocks were trading in the red as Wipro, Asian Paints, Tata Motors, M&M, Maruti Suzuki, Reliance, Nestle, ICICI Bank, Titan, TCS, L&T, HUL, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finserv, HUL, Axis Bank and Bajaj Finance were the top losers. Only JSW Steel and Tata Steel were in the green.

Among the sectoral indices, Auto, FMCG, realty, media, energy and pvt bank were major gainers. Only the metal index was in the green. This is in line with the performance of Asian peers, which are down by 1.5%. The geopolitical tensions have left investors on edge, as any escalation could have far-reaching implications for the global economy, particularly for countries like India that are heavily reliant on oil imports.

The Middle East is a significant player in the global oil market, and any disruption in the region can lead to a spike in oil prices. This is a major concern for India, which is a significant importer of oil. Raghvendra Nath, managing director at Ladderup Wealth Management, highlighted this concern, stating, “Investors are worried about the Middle East conflict right now as it will have a huge bearing on Indian markets since any rise in oil prices will have an adverse impact on the country, which is an importer of the commodity.”

The impact of the conflict is not limited to the oil sector. Twelve of the 13 major sectoral indexes in India logged losses, with realty and auto indexes set to be the top losers by percentage, dropping about 2.6% and 1.7%, respectively. Among individual stocks, consumer goods firm Dabur lost 5.5% after forecasting its first quarterly revenue decline since 2020. Most brokerage stocks, such as Motilal Oswal Financial Services and 5Paisa Capital, fell about 1.5% each, while SMC Global lost about 2.3%.

Geopolitical Tensions and Global Oil Prices

The geopolitical tensions have also had an impact on oil prices. Crude oil prices slumped to their lowest since December, extending a steep fall of more than 4% in the previous day, amid concerns over lower global demand growth. Brent crude futures for November fell 0.53% to $73.36, after the previous session’s fall of 4.9%. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures for October were down 0.63% at $69.90, after dropping 4.4% on Tuesday. Analysts believe that oil fundamentals are deteriorating sharply, even as the market obsesses about potential supply shocks.

The geopolitical tensions have also affected gold prices. Gold prices climbed one per cent as the dollar and Treasury yields retreated following Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell comments signalling an interest rate cut in September. This indicates that investors are seeking safe-haven assets amid the geopolitical uncertainty.

The geopolitical tensions have also had an impact on the economies of West Africa. The upward trend in the cost of goods and services is estimated to continue for the rest of the year. The government has a year-end inflation target of 21.4%. This is highly optimistic and may not be achieved, especially if policy implementation lags are considered. In addition, for a country that is highly import-dependent, the role of the exchange rate cannot be overemphasized.

Impact on Indian Economy and Policy Responses

The geopolitical tensions have also had an impact on the Indian budget. The government projected an expenditure of Rs 47.65 lakh crore for 2024-25, marking a 6 per cent increase over the revised estimate for 2023-24. Interest payments constituted a significant portion, with 25 per cent of the expenditure earmarked for interest payments, accounting for 40 per cent of revenue receipts. Revenue growth, excluding borrowings, were expected to rise by 12 per cent to Rs 30.80 lakh crore in 2024-25, driven largely by a 12 per cent increase in tax revenue.

The geopolitical tensions have also had an impact on the global banking sector. Following a record showing in 2022, the global banking sector continued to exceed expectations during 2023. Global return on tangible equity reached 13 percent in 2023, its highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. Meanwhile, the worldwide Tier 1 ratio hit a ten-year high of 13.4 percent, and net interest margins rose to 2.4 percent, snapping a decade-long contraction.

Long-term Impact and Market Outlook

The geopolitical tensions have also had an impact on South Asia. The Iranian retaliation to the attack by Israel on its embassy in Syria in the form of a barrage of missile attacks threatens a negative impact beyond the region, especially in nearby South Asia which has historical, cultural, religious and economic ties with the Middle-East.

Israel’s attack on the Iranian embassy was a clear violation of diplomatic norms. Yet, the attack elicited no condemnation from Israel’s Western allies, in line with similar silence on Israel’s genocidal six-month war in Gaza. Similarly, in the United Nations they condemned Iran’s attacks, on the premise of self-defense, as disproportionate.

Quick Analysis: What’s Middle East Conflict’s Potential Impact on Global Economy? 4 Possible Future Scenarios

Posted on October 2, 2024 by Bharath Panchajanya

Wall Street’s main indexes opened lower on Wednesday after escalation in geopolitical tensions in the Middle East though markets are likely not to come under sway. Here’s the impact visible so far and the possible future scenarios:

Israeli Retaliation: Iran’s missile strike on Israel, involving 180 ballistic missiles, significantly raises the chances of an Israeli counterattack. A likely target could be Iran’s Kharg Island facility, which handles 90% of the country’s oil exports.
Economic Risk: If Israel strikes and Iran responds by restricting access to the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20% of the world’s daily oil supply passes—crude oil prices could surge above $100 per barrel, similar to the 2022 spike following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Central Bankers on Edge: The U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank (ECB) are closely monitoring these developments. Energy price hikes from a prolonged conflict could derail plans to reduce interest rates, potentially reigniting inflation that central banks have worked hard to control.
Energy Supply Shock: Despite current stability—due to minimal casualties and Israel’s potential focus on Hezbollah in Lebanon rather than direct strikes on Iran—a severe disruption in oil exports would trigger energy supply shocks. Saudi Arabia’s ability to increase oil production could soften the blow, but sustained tensions could strain global supplies.
Inflation Dilemma: Central banks, especially in the U.S. and Europe, struggled to manage energy shocks during the 2022 power crisis, which led to inflation spiking to high-single-digit levels. A similar surge, along with other inflationary factors like the U.S. longshoremen strike, could force central bankers into a tough choice: either continue rate cuts and risk further inflation or pause/raise rates and push the economy toward recession.
Investor Sentiment: As of now, markets seem unaffected by these risks. In Europe, traders expect the ECB to cut rates again on October 17, while U.S. derivative prices suggest the Fed’s rates could fall to 3% by October 2025 from the current 4.9%.
Geopolitical Ripple Effect: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Iran would pay for the attack, while Tehran warned of “vast destruction” in case of retaliation, signaling the possibility of a wider regional conflict. Any involvement by Israel’s allies could lead to a broader confrontation, further unsettling global markets.
Immediate Market Impact: Oil prices have already risen by 5%, with Brent crude trading at $75.3 per barrel amid concerns about escalating tensions.

Possible Future Scenarios

Surge in Oil Prices: A direct strike on Iranian infrastructure, or a disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, could send oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel. This would have immediate inflationary consequences for the global economy, forcing central banks to reconsider planned interest rate cuts.
Inflationary Pressures: A prolonged Middle East conflict could trigger another energy crisis, worsening inflation in the U.S. and Europe. Central banks may be forced to halt or reverse rate-cutting plans, risking a global economic slowdown or recession.
Geopolitical Instability: Any military escalation between Israel and Iran could lead to broader regional conflict, drawing in global powers and further disrupting oil supplies. This could amplify investor fears and market volatility.
Delayed Monetary Easing: If inflation spikes due to rising energy costs, the U.S. Federal Reserve and ECB may delay or slow down their plans for monetary easing, prolonging high borrowing costs and hindering economic recovery efforts. Even RBI might delay its decision to ease interest rate cuts now.

Facebook, Instagram addiction in adolescents linked to inequality: Global study of 179,000 children suggests

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Pallavi Guha

Adolescents from deprived backgrounds are more likely to report an addiction to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and other social media, according to research published in the peer-reviewed journal Information, Communication and Society.

In the first study of its kind, the findings show a link between economic inequality and problematic use of social network platforms and instant messaging applications. The situation is worse in schools where wealth and social differences exist between classmates.

The authors say the results – based on more than 179,000 schoolchildren in 40 countries – suggest that new strategies are needed on social media use that reduce the impact of deprivation.

Action by policymakers could help limit young people’s dysfunctional or abnormal behaviour, add the authors. These negative patterns include being unable to reduce screen time or lying to friends and family about social media use.

facebook

“These findings indicate the potentially harmful influences of inequality at the individual, school and country level on adolescents’ problematic social media use,” says lead author Michela Lenzi from the University of Padua, Italy, an Associate Professor in psychology.

“Policymakers should develop actions to reduce inequalities to limit maladaptive patterns of social media use by adolescents.”

“As the digital divide continues to close in many countries, economic inequalities persist and remain a robust social determinant of adolescent health and well-being. Schools represent an ideal setting to foster safe and prosocial online behaviours.”

Many young people use social media every day and the benefits to well-being are well-documented, as are the risks.

Problematic social media use (PSMU) is not formally recognised as a behavioural addiction. However, it is regarded as a health issue affecting young people.

Social Media/Photo:indiainternationaltimes

This study aimed to investigate the links between socio-economic inequalities, measured at individual, school and country level, and adolescent PSMU.

In addition, the authors evaluated the role of peer and family support as moderators of these associations.

The findings were based on 179,049 children aged 11, 13 and 15 from 40 countries including most of Europe and Canada. Evidence came from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children, an international World Health Organization collaborative study carried out every four years.

The researchers asked children to complete questionnaires in order to identify addiction-like behaviour associated with social media. The forms were filled out anonymously while supervised in the classroom by a teacher or trained interviewer.

Any child who reported six or more items was identified as having PSMU. These items included feeling bad when not using social media, trying but failing to spend less time using it, and using social media to escape from negative feelings.

An index based on material assets in the home or family activities was used to calculate scales of deprivation. Items included number of bathrooms, and how many family vacations out of the country in the past year.

The authors measured country wealth, and family/peer social support e.g. degree of help provided from relatives and friends. They also took into account the proportion of the population who used the internet in each country.

Findings showed that adolescents who were relatively more deprived than their schoolmates and attended more economically unequal schools were more likely to report PSMU.

The association with a wealth divide among pupils in the same class was stronger in youths with lower peer support. But a link between country income inequality and PSMU was only found in adolescents reporting low levels of family support.

There may be many reasons for the link between economic deprivation and PSMU. One theory suggested by the authors is that sharing images or videos resonates especially with the more deprived adolescents because they associate them with power and status.

They suggest that school-based prevention efforts might target ‘objective and perceived’ social class differences among schoolmates.

Also key, is increasing peer support which the authors found was a protective factor in the relationship between relative deprivation and PSMU.

Covid vaccine may not protect blood cancer patients fully, studies suggest booster dose

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Arun Kumar

The first study reports that people with CLL had markedly lower immune response rates to the two-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine than healthy individuals of the same age. Because clinical trials of these vaccines did not include patients with blood cancers, who are at high risk of severe illness and complications from the virus, gauging the effectiveness of the vaccine in this population is critically important.

Vaccine-fda

In this study of 167 patients with CLL, only four out of 10 (39.5%) had a positive antibody-mediated response to the vaccine; all healthy adults (controls), by comparison, marshalled an immune response.

First Study

Interestingly, the research revealed wide variations in immune response among patients with CLL depending on where they were in their cancer treatment process. For example, patients undergoing active cancer treatment had significantly lower response rates to the vaccine when compared with people who had completed treatment and were in remission, 16% vs 79% respectively.

Treatment naïve patients (those whose disease is being watched but not yet treated) had a 55.5% response rate. As well, response to the vaccine was markedly higher in people who completed CLL treatment at least a year before vaccination compared with those who were still in treatment within the last year, 94% vs 50%, respectively.

“Overall, the response rate to the vaccine was significantly less than what we see in the general population, which is most likely attributed to the presence of cancer itself and certain CLL treatments,” said lead author of the study Yair Herishanu, associate professor in hematology and head of the CLL service at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel.

“It would seem that if you are untreated, in what we call ‘watch and wait’ or do not have active disease, you can gain more benefit from the vaccine. Patients who responded the best were in remission, which makes sense because their immune system had a chance to recover.”

Lower response to Vaccine

In addition to poorer qualitative antibody responses to the vaccine, patients with CLL also had lower antibody titers, which tells us that the intensity of the response was also lower.

For the study, researchers included 167 patients with CLL and 53 healthy controls from December 2020 through February 2021. All participants received two doses of BNT162b2 messenger RNA (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine 21 days apart; this was the only vaccine used in Israel at the time of the study.

Patients were 71 years old on average, and 67% were men. Fifty-eight patients (34.7%) were treatment naïve; 75 (44.9%) were on active therapy; 24 (14.4%) were previously treated and in complete or partial remission; and 10 (6%) were in relapse. Antibody titers were also measured two weeks after the second dose.

Patients were followed for a median of 75 days since receiving their first shot, and none had developed COVID-19 infection. There were no significant differences in reported side effects to the vaccine compared to the healthy population.

They found similarly low response rates among patients who were receiving common targeted therapies, including Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors (ibrutinib or acalabrutinib) or a combination of venetoclax with anti-CD20 antibodies such as rituximab.

Notably, none of the patients who received anti-CD20 antibodies within 12 months of COVID-19 vaccination responded. Because only five patients were on venetoclax monotherapy, Dr. Herishanu said they could not draw any conclusions about the impact on response.

People with CLL and other blood cancers remain at high risk for severe illness and complications with COVID-19 infection, and while response rates are lower than ideal, vaccination against COVID-19 is strongly recommended.

Booster dose

The authors suggest that an additional booster dose of the vaccine might be needed for patients with CLL who have completed therapy and previously failed to respond to COVID-19 vaccine, though this would need to be studied.

“Even though response rates were not optimal, patients with CLL should still get the vaccine and, if appropriate, it may be better to do so before CLL treatment starts although the disease itself may affect the response,” said Dr. Herishanu. “Equally important is continuing to take precautions – wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, keeping a social distance, and being sure close contacts get vaccinated against COVID-19.”

He and his team will continue to follow these patients for 12 months to see how many, if any, develop COVID-19 infection following vaccination. Since this study only assessed antibody response, they also plan to check the cellular immune response to gain a more complete picture of the extent to which patients are protected after vaccination.

The researchers note that the same trends would be expected with the other mRNA vaccine (Moderna).

Even one small drink of alcohol linked to risk of atrial fibrillation

Posted on January 16, 2021 by Arun Kumar

A study of nearly 108,000 people has found that people who regularly drink a modest amount of alcohol are at increased risk of atrial fibrillation, or a condition where the heart beats in an abnormal rhythm.The study, published in the European Heart Journal [1], found that, compared to drinking no alcohol at all, just one alcoholic drink a day was linked to a 16% increased risk of atrial fibrillation over an average (median) follow-up time of nearly 14 years.

This means that while four teetotallers in 100 might develop atrial fibrillation over the period of the study, five per 100 might develop the condition if they consumed alcohol starting with slightly more than an alcoholic drink a week and more than 75% of them consumed up to one drink a day [2]. The researchers categorised one alcoholic drink as containing 12 g of ethanol, which is the equivalent of a small (120 ml) glass of wine, a small beer (330 ml) or 40 ml of spirits.

**IMAGE:** GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT, CREDIT: EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL

It is well known that people who drink a lot of alcohol regularly are at increased risk of developing heart failure, and heart failure can increase the incidence of atrial fibrillation. Several studies have shown a slightly higher risk of heart problems for people who never drink alcohol; they often show that this risk reduces for people who drink a modest amount, and then rises sharply the more alcohol is consumed, creating a ‘J’ shape on graphs. Until now, it has not been clear whether this was also the case for atrial fibrillation.

However, in the current study led by Professor Renate Schnabel, a consultant cardiologist at the University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg-Eppendorf (Germany), researchers found that although low doses of alcohol were associated with a reduced risk of heart failure compared to teetotallers, a similar ‘J’ shape reduction in risk was not seen for atrial fibrillation. This suggests that the increased risk of atrial fibrillation among people drinking small amounts of alcohol was not triggered by heart failure.

Heart failure

The researchers analysed information on 107,845 people taking part in five community-based studies in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Italy. The participants underwent medical examinations at the time they joined the studies between 1982 and 2010 and provided information on their medical histories, lifestyles, employment and education levels. A total of 100,092 participants did not have atrial fibrillation when they enrolled and their median age was nearly 48 years (range 24-97 years).

During the median follow-up period of nearly 14 years, 5,854 people developed atrial fibrillation. The associations between alcohol consumption and the risk of atrial fibrillation were similar for all types of alcoholic drinks and for men and women.

In addition to the 16% increased risk of atrial fibrillation compared to teetotallers seen in people who consumed only one alcoholic drink a day, the researchers found that the risk increased with increasing alcohol intake; up to two drinks a day was associated with a 28% increased risk and this went up to 47% for those who consumed more than four.

The exact mechanisms by which modest amounts of alcohol could trigger atrial fibrillation are not known. Studies have shown that heavy drinking over a short period of time can trigger ‘holiday heart syndrome’ in some people, and in some atrial fibrillation patients, small amounts of alcohol can trigger arrhythmia episodes.

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Trump Down With Coronvirus: Surprising Similarities with Spanish Flu Startle Many

Posted on October 3, 2020 by Arun Kumar

US President Donald Trump is diagnosed with Coronavirus just a month before the US Presidential election denting his chances further to an easy win. Similar to the Spanish Flu that had wreaked havoc from 1918 to 1920 in the US, the startling political developments have raised many eye brows to the fact that history repeats itself.

What Happened 100 Years Ago

In 1919, then US President Woodrow Wilson was affected by the global pandemic Spanish flu and more than 675,000 Americans died from the contagious disease.

Even in 1918, Wilson’s personal secretary was affected by the influenza, along with his eldest daughter, while many Secret Service members also caught the virus, including sheep grazing on the White House lawn.

Woodrow Wilson was a victim of the Spanish fluin 1920 while Donald Trump is facing similar fate now in 2020

Woodrow Wilson was in France for the Paris Peace Conference negotiating with the French at the end of World War I and after flu, he reportedly “yielded to several French demands that he had previously said were nonnegotiable.”

Wilson fell ill on April 3, 1919 and according to A. Scott Berg’s 2013 biography, “Wilson,” the president excused himself from a meeting with the Council of Four and returned to his room. His doctor, Cary T. Grayson, found the president suffering from severe pains in his back and head, severe coughing spells and a temperature of 103 degrees, Berg wrote.

Wilson’s condition deteriorated so quickly that Grayson even thought the president had been poisoned. In his mail to President’s chief of staff in Washington, Grayson wrote:”I was able to control the spasms of coughing but his condition looked very serious.” However, he told reporters that the president was suffering from a cold caused by the “chilly and rainy weather” in Paris.

Though Wilson had a full recovery, he suffered a collapse on Sept. 25, 1919, in Pueblo, Colorado, while speaking on his idea of the United States joining the League of Nations. Wilson returned to the White House, where he suffered a severe stroke on Oct. 2, 1919. His wife Edith apparently steered the government until Warren G. Harding took over formally as President in 1921.

What’s Happening Now

Hundred Years after, in March 2020 When the novel coronavirus gripped the world, US President Donald Trump brushed it aside as another flu outbreak that would go away once the summer sets in. When it reached an uncontrollable pandemic proportion, his disdain for a mask prompted his staff in the White House refrain from wearing a mask despite pleas to contrary by the CDC.

As in the case of Wilson, Trump’s close aide Hope Hicks tested positive for the coronavirus after spending time in close proximity to the president in the entire week preceding the diagnosis. Soon, President Donald Trump tweeted confirming that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for Covid-19.

Unlike in 1920 when President Wilson was not in Presidential race due to his illness, Trump is very much in the hectic campaign finishing the first round of Presidential Debates just a week before the diagnosis on October 2, that may defer the second debate slated for October 15, 2020.

Return to Normalcy

Though many world leaders have successfully returned to duties after suffering from the bouts of Covid-19 infection, Trump’s age has pushed him into the most vulnerable age group at 74 years. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory issued on Sept. 11, 2020, “people in their 60s or 70s are, in general, at higher risk for severe illness than people in their 50s.”

In June 2020, Trump weighed 244 pounds. For his height at 6 feet 3 inches, with a body mass index of 30.5, he is technically obese and as per the CDC, obese individuals are three times more likely than others to suffer severe symptoms of Covid-19. However, Trump does not have prominently high blood pressure, nor any cancer, kidney disease, or diabetes.

If Trump returns to normal health and wins the election, he may have rewritten the history of pandemic deja vu in the history of US or else, it would be a lesson for all the future presidents to learn and make the nation prepared for any pandemic.

Cold War era nuclear tests by US and erstwhile Soviet Union changed rainfall pattern, says study

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Sridhar P

The Cold War era that had seen seen both super powers — the United States and the erstwhile Soviet Union — engaged in a nuclear weapons development under a mutual deterrence program, left behind immense impact in political and defense purview. A new study claims that it did leave its impact on how the test clouds changed the rain patterns on Earth.

One such leftover is traceable to radioactive period following nuclear bomb tests, which have changed rainfall patterns thousands of miles from the detonation sites. The study says that these nuclear bomb tests during the Cold War may have changed rainfall patterns thousands of miles from the detonation sites.

Scientists at the University of Reading have researched how the electric charge released by radiation from the test detonations, carried out predominantly by the US and Soviet Union in the 1950s and 1960s, affected rainclouds at the time.

The study, published in Physical Review Letters, examined historic records between 1962-64 from a research station in Scotland. Scientists compared days with high and low radioactively-generated charge, finding that clouds were visibly thicker, and there was 24% more rain on average on the days with more radioactivity.

Rain falling from a cloud. Photo taken in Gloucestershire CREDIT Prof Giles Harrison, University of Reading

Professor Giles Harrison, lead author and Professor of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Reading, said: “By studying the radioactivity released from Cold War weapons tests, scientists at the time learnt about atmospheric circulation patterns. We have now reused this data to examine the effect on rainfall.”

It has long been thought that electric charge modifies how water droplets in clouds collide and combine, potentially affecting the size of droplets and influencing rainfall, which is difficult to observe in the atmosphere. But combining the bomb test data with weather records, the scientists were able to retrospectively probe it.

The race to develop nuclear weapons was a key feature of the Cold War and detonations were carried out in remote Nevada Desert in the US, and on Pacific and Arctic islands, though radioactive pollution spread widely throughout the atmosphere. Radioactivity ionises the air, releasing electric charge. The researchers from the Universities of Reading, Bath and Bristol, studied records from Met Office research weather stations at Kew near London and Lerwick in the Shetland Isles.

The weather observatory in Lerwick, Shetland Isles, Scotland, where the historic rainfall records were taken / CREDIT: Dr Keri Nicoll, University of Reading and University of Bath

Located 300 miles north west of Scotland, the Shetland site was relatively unaffected by other sources of anthropogenic pollution, making it suitable for a test site to observe rainfall effects which, although likely to have occurred elsewhere too, would be much more difficult to detect.

Atmospheric electricity is most easily measured on fine days, so the Kew measurements helped to identify nearly 150 days where there was high or low charge generation over the UK while it was cloudy in Lerwick. The Shetland rainfall during the same period showed differences which vanished after the major radioactivity episode was over.

The findings, which will pioneer new research in cloud-related geoengineering and to explore how electric charge could influence rain, relieve droughts or prevent floods, without the use of chemicals.

Polluted air may pose great threat to your kidneys, says study

Posted on August 26, 2018 by Pallavi Guha

There is good evidence that polluted air increases the risk of respiratory problems such as asthma — as well as organ inflammation, worsening of diabetes and other life-threatening conditions. But new research suggests air pollution can also fuel something else: chronic kidney disease, or CKD, which occurs when a person’s kidneys become damaged or cannot filter blood properly.

Recently published in PLOS ONE, a University of Michigan study highlights the lesser-known connection.

“Similar to smoking, air pollution contains harmful toxins that can directly affect the kidneys,” says Jennifer Bragg-Gresham, M.S., Ph.D., a Michigan Medicine epidemiologist and the study’s lead author.

“Kidneys have a large volume of blood flowing through them, and if anything harms the circulatory system, the kidneys will be the first to sense those effects.”

People with diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure or heart disease are at increased risk of developing CKD. Which is why high-risk patients who live in heavily populated or polluted areas should recognize the danger and take precautions, Bragg-Gresham says.

Why air pollution is dangerous?

Air pollution contains fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which is a cocktail of microscopic particles.

Because these particles are virtually weightless, they can stay in the air longer, causing humans to unavoidably inhale them on a regular basis without knowing it. PM2.5 can lead to serious health effects when inhaled often.

By reviewing Medicare claims data and air-quality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the study’s authors found a positive association between CKD rates and PM2.5 concentration.

Says study co-author Rajiv Saran, M.D., a Michigan Medicine nephrologist and director of the United States Renal Data System Coordinating Center at U-M: “If you look at areas that are heavily polluted versus areas that are less polluted, you will find more chronic kidney disease.”

According to figures cited in the new research, chronic kidney disease afflicts more than 27 million Americans. People with CKD have an eightfold increased risk of cardiovascular mortality.

Unfortunately, PM2.5 is almost impossible to avoid.

We encounter air pollution from many simple everyday activities, such as cooking and driving. Other contributors are smoking, burning wood, packaged spray products, household appliances and, perhaps the most obvious, industry and vehicle emissions.

Air pollution also contains heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium — all of which are known to negatively affect the kidneys.

Problems and preventive measures

The U-M research examined several prior studies on the issue, including an effort conducted in select coal-mining areas of Appalachia that found a 19 percent higher risk of CKD among men and a 13 percent higher risk in women compared with those who lived in counties with no mining.

The good news: PM2.5 levels are much lower in the U.S. than in other industrialized countries such as China and India.

“What this means for the countries with higher PM2.5 is significantly higher odds of CKD,” says Bragg-Gresham, also an assistant research scientist at U-M. “Our research was only able to examine a small range of PM2.5 values present in America but was able to find a significant association.”

However, it’s still important to take precautions when exposed to air pollution, especially for people who have existing health conditions or who live in densely populated or polluted cities.

“In heavily polluted areas, consider wearing masks that cover your nose and mouth, limit hours outside and limit long hours commuting to work in high traffic as well,” Saran says, adding that the risk should be taken seriously.

“Many people don’t see the seriousness of air pollution because it isn’t something visible, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less important for your health.”

Australia Coral Reef Experiment Shows Acidification from CO2 stems growth

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Pallavi Guha

Ocean acidification will severely impair coral reef growth before the end of the century if carbon dioxide emissions continue unchecked, said new research on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef led by Carnegie’s Ken Caldeira and the California Academy of Sciences’ Rebecca Albright.

Their work, published in Nature, represents the first ocean acidification experiment in which seawater was made artificially acidic by the addition of carbon dioxide and then allowed to flow across a natural coral reef community. The acidity of the seawater was increased to reflect end-of-century projections if carbon dioxide from greenhouse gas emissions are not abated.

Two years ago, Caldeira and Albright, then at Carnegie, published a landmark study providing evidence that ocean acidification is already slowing coral reef growth.

In that work, they made a coral reef community’s seawater chemistry more alkaline–essentially giving the reef an antacid–and demonstrated that the coral’s ability to construct its architecture was improved under these conditions. It was the first time that seawater chemistry was experimentally manipulated in a natural coral reef environment.

They once again altered seawater chemistry of reef flats surrounding One Tree Island off the coast of Australia. But this time they gave the reef heartburn, increasing acidity by adding carbon dioxide to seawater flowing over a coral reef community.

“Last time, we made the seawater less acidic, like it was 100 years ago, and this time, we added carbon dioxide to the water to make it more acidic, like it could be 100 years from now,” Caldeira explained.

When coal, oil, or gas is burned, the resulting carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. It is well established that these emissions are the culprit of global climate change, the warming from which has a negative impact on coral reefs. But this atmospheric carbon is also absorbed into the ocean, where it remains for millennia.

A chemical reaction between the seawater and these soaked-up carbon emissions produces carbonic acid, which is corrosive to coral reefs, shellfish, and other marine life. Reefs are especially vulnerable to this ocean acidification, because their skeletons are constructed by accreting calcium carbonate, a process called calcification. As the surrounding water becomes more acidic, calcification becomes more difficult.

“Our findings provide strong evidence that ocean acidification caused by carbon dioxide emissions will severely slow coral reef growth in the future unless we make steep and rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” said first author Albright.

Furthermore, by working in controlled areas of a natural reef community, Caldeira, Albright, and their team were able to demonstrate how acidification affects coral reefs on the ecosystem scale, not just in terms of individual organisms or species, as other studies have done.

They say this approach is crucial to understanding the full scope and complexity of ocean acidification’s impact, as well as to predicting how acidification will affect the coastal communities that depend on these ecosystems.

“Coral reefs offer economic opportunities to their surrounding communities from fishing and tourism,” Caldeira said. “But for me the reef is a beautiful and diverse outpouring of life that we are harming with our carbon dioxide emissions. For the denizens of the reef, there’s not a moment to lose in building an energy system that doesn’t dump its waste into the sky or sea.”

Childhood trauma behind schizophrenia, hallucinations among elders, reveals study

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Pallavi Guha

Brain Image (NIH)

Researchers have shown that childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse are associated with severe hallucinations in schizophrenia.

The joint study by several research institutes found that hallucinations in schizophrenia were linked with childhood trauma, said Sarah Bendall, the lead author.

The study has analyzed 29 studies on childhood trauma and psychotic symptoms and found that childhood sexual abuse is often associated with delusions, seen among patients with schizophrenia.

“This means there’s something about childhood trauma that leads some people to develop hallucinations,” Bendall said. The symptoms include unrealistic attitude, unemotional attitude, hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking, and lack of motivation.

The study was jointly conducted by Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health; the University of Melbourne; Port Phillip Prison and University Hospital of Gran Canaria Dr Negrin, Spain.

Bendall said many patients fail to provide this evidence during the treatment, thus missing the key link. It was found that one in every 100 people will experience a psychotic disorder in their lives, majority of them facing it during 18-25 years.

“When young people come to youth mental health services, we should be assessing for trauma and for emerging psychotic symptoms, and treating them as soon as they emerge,” Dr Bendall said. “It’s a very empowering thing to be able to give people that information.”

The study was published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin.

9/11 ‘dust’ Leaves Many Children with Risk of Heart Disease

Posted on September 10, 2017 by Arun Kumar

After the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11 in 2001, the “cloud” of toxic debris across Lower Manhattan, left behind nearby children who breathed in the ash and fumes to suffer from heart disease 16 years after.

An analysis by NYU Langone Health researchers of blood tests of 308 children, 123 of whom may have come in direct contact with the dust on 9/11 showed that children with higher blood levels of the chemicals known to be in the dust had elevated levels of artery-hardening fats in their blood.

“Since 9/11, we have focused a lot of attention on the psychological and mental fallout from witnessing the tragedy, but only now are the potential physical consequences of being within the disaster zone itself becoming clear,” says lead author of the study Leonardo Trasande, associate professor at NYU School of Medicine.

Now adults, these children were enrollees in the World Trade Center Health Registry (WTCHR), which is helping to track the physical and mental health, through annual check-ups, of nearly 2,900 children who either lived or attended school in Lower Manhattan on 9/11.

The study is the first to suggest long-term cardiovascular health risks in children from toxic chemical exposure on 9/11.

Trasande says the long-term danger may stem from exposure to certain perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs — chemicals released into the air as electronics and furniture burned in the disaster. Its health effects include lower-than-normal birthweights and brain damage, and it was banned in the US since 2014.

The study showed that the 123 children in the WTCHR had significantly higher PFOA blood levels than 185 children who were not living or studying in the city on the day of the attack.

Roughly every threefold increase in blood PFOA levels was tied to an average 9 percent to 15 percent increase in blood fats, including LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, known risk factors for heart disease.

In another study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research in June, raised blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were found in people who were exposed to WTC dust on 9/11. Previous research has linked increases in CRP to inflammation and higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The analysis on children will be published in the journal Environment International.

Fossil Site Shows Impact of Early Jurassic Period’s Low Oxygen Oceans

Posted on July 15, 2017 by Arun Kumar

Using a combination of fossils and chemical markers, scientists have tracked low ocean-oxygen in early Jurassic marine ecosystem that could have led to survival of only a few species.

The research, led by Rowan Martindale of the University of Texas at Austin Jackson School of Geosciences, zeroes in on a recently discovered fossil site in Canada located at Ya Ha Tinda Ranch near Banff National Park in southwest Alberta. The site records fossils of organisms that lived about 183 million years ago during the Early Jurassic in a shallow sea that once covered the region.

The oxygen level of the surrounding environment during the Early Jurassic influences the type and amount of carbon preserved in rocks, making the geochemical record an important method for tracking an anoxic event.

“We have this beautiful geochemical record that gives us a backbone for the timing of the Oceanic Anoxic Event,” said Martindale. “So with that framework we can look at the benthic community, the organisms that are living on the bottom of the ocean, and ask ‘how did this community respond to the anoxic event?”

The fossils show that before the anoxic event, the Ya Ha Tinda marine community was diverse, and included fish, ichthyosaurs (extinct marine reptiles that looked like dolphins), sea lilies, lobsters, clams and oysters, ammonites, and coleoids (squid-like octopods). During the anoxic event the community collapsed, restructured, and the organisms living in it shrunk. The clams that were most abundant in the community before the anoxic event were completely wiped out and replaced by different species.

Crispin Little, a senior lecturer in paleontology at the University of Leeds who was not involved with the research, said that the similarity between the sites underscores the widespread nature of the anoxic event. “This confirms previous work suggesting that the T-OAE (anoxic event) was genuinely a global event,” Little said.

However, while other sites were recovering from the anoxic event, the environment at Ya Ha Tinda continued to face stress. Even for small, hardy bivalves, life was tough. “One of the interesting things about the recovery is that we actually see fewer individuals at a time when we’re supposed to be seeing community recovery,” Martindale said.

The paper was published in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoeconology. The co-authors include Martin Aberhan, a curator at the Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science at the Natural History Museum in Berlin, Germany.

Job Loss Bigger Blow Than Divorce: Study

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Arun Kumar

In a new research for Bloomberg, the University of East Anglia and the What Works Center for Wellbeing, an independent body set up by the U.K. government, have revealed that it is worse to loose a job than loosing a spouse in a divorce.

The shock from the fact of getting fired in a job is more painful and impacts on mental health, self-esteem and satisfaction with life, said the data. Unemployment hovers around for years to come and people continue to become increasingly unhappy over the next few years, it said.

“After someone loses a partner, take a big dip and then, on average, it’ll get back to previous levels. But with unemployment, we just don’t see that happening,” said Tricia Curmi of the What Works Center for Wellbeing.

While it took two years to get over loss of spouse, job loss could torment them for more than four years, and men are more vulnerable to mental depression than women from this shock, pointed out the study.

“To have meaning in your life in this society means to be working, contributing, and to have that status,” Curmi said. It is not merely the salary but also the social mixing at the workplace and support from co-workers which keeps men going at the workplace than at home or leading a solo lifestyle.

Extroverts may bounce back quickly but incase of introverts, the suffering will last longer even for years, said another report. Many people who seek divine inspiration get to overcome such problems, Curmi said. “People who regularly attended church had a buffering effect from the impact of unemployment,” she noted.

Trumpeting ‘America First’ Theory Far-Fetched But Feasible

Posted on January 21, 2017 by Arun Kumar

US President Donald Trump in his first Presidential address has put “America First”, setting the tone for an inward-looking diplomacy that might radically change the course of world events since the Pearl Harbor attack seven decades ago.

“We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power. From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first, America first,” he said in his first Presidential speech.

In domestic politics, what President Trump proclaimed was feasible but in international politics, diplomacy varies from capital to capital and region to region. Depending on where he stands, it changes.

To begin with, going westward, America of Trump may seek more from Japan where it has stationed its war fleet round the clock for a sum. Now this has to be a ransom to sustain what Trump wanted. Will Tokyo, stuck in a stagnated economy, tax its citizens more to pay Uncle Sam?

Australia and New Zealand, who fall in line every time an emergency struck the US in the past, may not benefit from America First policy directly but certainly they can look inward for a domestically centred economic push, instead of looking at Washington DC for succour.

Asia is as divided as ever. China may tremble under the pressure of a constant panic button by an erstwhile businessman who may want more concessions or threaten to replete the markets for ever. China may retaliate in many ways including selling its US dollar reserves which are in plenty. This may be an uphill task but once mooted, even the US economy will shake.

India, being a late entrant into the US-dominated international politics after the Cold War, will have to safeguard its Information Technology companies and contracts whether H1B visa is there or not. The time is for Indian honchos to give room to their US counterparts in office space to thwart any direct attack from Trump. It is going to be a roller-coaster ride for Indian IT companies for the next four years.

Pakistan, whose Prime Minister woke up to a sudden phone call from President-elect Trump, may cosy up to the fact that they have to rein in on Islamic leaders either willingly or unwillingly for the next four years. US troops in Afghan border will remain a direct answer to every word that Trump speaks from now onwards. How Taliban in Kabul outskirts reacts to Trump will shape the drone war in the vicinity of Hindukush mountains.

Middle East will remain the major beneficiary from the Trump Administration as long as the Arabs keep their oil wells in tact and hand over the IS agents in return for business considerations. One pointer is that oil prices will be given a push to touch $100 if diplomacy by business is what Trump means.

More of Israel than Iran in Middle East policy will gain currency again. To achieve this, United Kingdom will have to be roped in and NATO alliance has to remain in its place to keep Russia’s Putin in place. US future with Europe is so intertwined that no President can just distance the siblings here.

Africa in the backyard, as usual, with focus on warlords and military mafia who will resurrect terror and attract Trump’s attention eventually tasting his iron-handed approach. Unlike the previous Bush administration, Trump may be forced to involve more in African affairs, for a change now.

Back to borders with other American nations like Mexico, he may build a wall but how much of the cost will be footed by the Mexican drug mafia, if not the Mexican government, will be the major question. Other Latin Americans may wait in the wings for the next administration to take over in 2021.

All said and done, Trump’s slogan remains the same – “Yes, together, we will make America great again.”

Post-Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu Braces Cyclone Vardah, Schools Closed

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Pallavi Guha

In less than a week after the demise of J.Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu is bracing for the worst storm on Monday, Dec. 12, called Cyclone Vardah with heavy rains and strong winds lashing the coast, forcing shut down of schools and cancellation of flights.

In Andhra Pradesh, the storm is feared to damage the paddy crops and orchards in Ongole and Nellore districts. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation through teleconference on Sunday evening and advised the officials to keep food and other essential commodities ready.

The storm is likely to hit both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coasts with the Indian Navy and the National Disaster Response Force on standby. The expected winds are in the range of 80 to 100 km an hour.

The government has not begun evacuation as the storm is expected to weaken by Monday afternoon. "Arrangements to be made for evacuating people in low lying and vulnerable areas. Relief centres to be kept in readiness along with necessary food, water and other arrangements. Army, Navy, Air-force and Coast Guard have been alerted to be on standby for deployment as and when necessary," a statement from the CM office said.

The Met office said the storm has weakened from very Severe to Severe storm. Already transportation was badly hit and 15 flights have been cancelled and 25 have been diverted so far with 9 of them reporting delay. All schools have been closed in coastal Tamil Nadu cities of Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Villupuram. Private firms have been advised to give a holidya to the staff or allow them to work from home on Monday.

The fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea for the next 48 hours and people in low-lying areas have been advised to move to safer zones.

National Disaster Management Authority, in a tweet, asked people "to remain in safe places and cooperate with state government officials and disaster management agencies".

The Navy said it is ready with relief materials including additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material including food, tents, clothes, medicines and blankets to rescue more than 5,000 people.

BREXIT Fall Out: PM Cameron to Quit in October

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Arun Kumar

Now that the UK has done what was expected in the last one decade, exiting from the European Union, Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron has decided to quit from the office in October as the referendum went against his wish to continue in the Union.

In India, the government’s reaction is on expected lines that the economy has enough "firepower" to deal with the situation, and that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been "working" on possible eventualities and the Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das was upbeat on fundamentals. But let us face it — grim future ahead and perhaps another prolonged period of uncertainty and recession.

The BSE Sensex lost 1,050 points and investors have lost Rs.4 lakh crore in one day. The rupee touched the 68-mark, down by nealry one rupee in one day, indicating its weakness in a globally turbulent economy. "You know the pound sterling have been depreciating so all currencies have been depreciating," defended Das. With $360 billion in foreign exchange reserves with RBI, he said India’s position "is very sound and solid."

While the knee-jerk reaction is likely to cool in a coule of weeks, for Britain the changes will not be overwhelming as it had always played an outsider role within the European Union. Unlike other members, it had kept its currency, the pound sterling in tact and never joined the Schengen zone of passport-free travel in Europe. Its contribution to EU budget is also relatively less than others.

The pound sterling may see downward movement for sometime and so is India’s rupee but for the reality of entirely breaking away from the European Union may take about two years, if the current David cameroon’s government gives its consent and goes ahead with the referendum’s outcome to exit from EU. So, these two years will be sufficient for India to move closer to the UK both in terms of trade treaty and negotiate more opportunites.

While the immigration was a major cause of worry for Indians in Britain, they can breathe easy now with the exit plan putting a cap on 100,000 immigrants per annum taking concrete shape as no more EU immigrants can enter Britain so easily now. With the immigrants stopped from elsewhere, India may leverage the opportunity for a more favourable immigration policy with the UK.

Finally, the oil prices will fall following Brexit and it will squarely put in more reserves in RBI kitty. "So when oil prices decline, Indian economy benefits," said another Indian Finance Ministry official.

UK PM David Cameron to Resign in October.

Researchers Reveal Mechanism that Impairs Blood Flow with Aging

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Srinivas Chakravarty

The Physiological Society’s Journal of Physiology recently published a study led by Erika Boerman, identifying an age-related cause of arterial dysfunction.

With the world’s elderly population expected to double by 2050, understanding cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 cause of death worldwide, is often highlighted and now University of Missouri researchers have identified an age-related cause of arterial dysfunction, a finding that could lead to future treatments.

“Aging affects everyone and causes changes throughout our bodies,” said Erika Boerman, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology at the MU School of Medicine and lead author of the study. “We found that older arteries had a significantly lower number of sensory nerves in the tissues surrounding them and they were less sensitive to an important neurotransmitter responsible for dilation.”

Boerman’s study focused on mesenteric arteries ― a type of artery that supplies blood to the small intestines ― of mice that were 4 months and 24 months old. These ages correspond to humans in their early 20s and mid-60s, respectively. Without stimulation, the diameter of the blood vessels of both younger and older mice was approximately the same. However, when stimulated to induce dilation, differences between the age groups became apparent.

“The younger arteries dilated as expected,” Boerman said. “However, when we performed the same stimulation to the arteries of older mice, the vessels did not dilate. When we examined the presence of sensory nerves, we noted a 30 percent decrease in the amount surrounding the older arteries compared to the younger arteries.”

Additionally, the researchers found that even when purposefully exposing older mesenteric arteries to defined amounts of the neurotransmitter calcitonin gene-related peptide, or CGRP, the arteries’ ability to dilate was greatly reduced.

“Poor neurotransmitter function and a reduced presence of sensory nerves surrounding older vessels lead to age-related dysfunction of mesenteric arteries,” Boerman said. “The importance of this discovery is that if we can identify why this happens to mesenteric arteries, it may be possible to prevent the same thing from happening to other blood vessels throughout the body.”

More research is needed to understand why aging affects sensory nerve distribution and neurotransmitter performance. However, identifying this new mechanism of vascular dysfunction opens the door for future studies that could eventually lead to the treatment of health issues such as stroke and cardiovascular disease.

The study was published in The Physiological Society’s Journal of Physiology.

Why OROP Issue Was a Pre-poll Harakiri by BJP?

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Arun Kumar

Modi promised to implement OROP in his 2nd Independence Day speech but war veterans are not ready to quit hunger strike. (PIB)

The One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme that was hanging on the Finance Ministry for over five years, both the Congress-led UPA government and the BJP-led NDA government under Narendra Modi should own the responsibility for perpetuating it despite full knowledge that it was beyond mere political calculations involving a huge dent on the exchequer.

While the Congress relented just before the election year to benefit from the votes of these 30 lakh beneficiaries, BJP weaned them away promising its immediate implementation. Once in power, the staggering amount of Rs.8500 crore has forced Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to postpone the OROP beyond the second budget, forcing the ex-servicemen to hit the streets and now end up at the Jantar Mantar in hinger strikes.

For those new to the subject, implentation of OROP entails uniform pension benefits for the defence persons who retired in the same rank with the same service term, irrespective of their date of retirement. Current policy entails only those who retired after 1996 to draw more pension than those who retired before, though rank is the same.

With OROP, 22 lakh ex-servicemen and about 6 lakh war widows will get Rs.10,000 more on average. This has become imminent because the current policy entails those who retired after 1996 to draw more pension than those who retired before, though rank is the same.

“Modi has assured us that it will be implemented, but it has been one year,” said retired Colonel Anil Kaul, who is the media adviser to Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) that is sprearheading the protest in New Delhi at Jantar Mantar. “The Prime Minister’s voice still echoes in our minds when he roared at the ex-servicemen rally on September 15, 2013, in Rewari and demanded a white paper on OROP from the UPA Government,” said ISEM earlier.

Now that the relay hunger strike entered 65 days, many war veterans who were in the forefront to die for the country are openly preparing themselves to die for the OROP implementation. Strange but no country would have upset its ex-servicemen given a chance.

In case of the Modi’s government too the question is bigger than mere rhetorics. Pumping in Rs.8,500 crore even if it is in incremental way, would mean a huge burden diverting funds from the developmental plans. Secondly, OROP would also undercut the cost of military expenditure on armaments but shows bigger than any other nation in the short run.

Finally, the government has no choice but to implement it. The question is from where will the finance minister draw the funds?

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