Chandigarh (The Hawk): In a remarkable decision to bring far more efficiency and check the pilferage of state revenue, the Punjab Government has abolished the physical stamp papers.&nbsp;The stamp paper of any denomination can now be obtained via e-stamp i.e. computerized print-out from any stamp vendor or banks authorized by the State Government.&nbsp;After launching the facility, Punjab Revenue Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa said that earlier the e-stamping facility was applicable only to a value of above Rs.20,000.&nbsp;"We are extending this facility to stamp papers for all denominations starting from Rs 1," he said.He said that this decision taken by the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann will at least save Rs 35 crores annually, which incurred on printing of stamp papers, besides facilitating the common public to obtain stamp papers in a hassle-free manner.&nbsp;He said that most of the time the general public had to face difficulty in getting the stamp paper when it was not available from the stamp vendor or had to purchase at higher prices.&nbsp;He said that a notification no. e-office/188125-ST-2/7616 dated 27.05.2022 has been issued for the implementation of the e-stamp system.&nbsp;The Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government will pay a commission of 2% to the stamp vendors on e-stamps ranging from Rs.1 to Rs 19,999, while the general public would get stamp paper at actual rate, for instance, they will have to pay only Rs 100 for stamp paper of Rs 100 and no extra commission will be levied. This step will also help in curbing the stamp paper-linked frauds, he added.&nbsp;The department has also launched five more e-facilities including Loan/Hypothecation Agreement, Agreement of Pledge, Affidavit &amp; Declaration, Demand Promissory Note and Indemnity Bond. Now, these documents can also be issued through the computer directly.&nbsp;Secretary Revenue Department Manvesh Singh Sidhu said that this facility has been started with the help of National e-Governance Services Ltd. (NeSL), GoI. With the launch of the facility, the people will have no need to go anywhere and they can avail these facilities in banks.

 In a remarkable decision to bring far more efficiency and check the pilferage of state revenue, the Punjab Government has abolished the physical stamp papers. 

Punjab Govt launches E-Stamping facility, abolishes physical stamp papers of all denominations

Doha: Celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations, Indian Ambassador to UAE Sunjay Sudhir and CEO of Emirates Post, postal operator for the United Arab Emirates, launched a physical copy of India-UAE Joint Commemorative Stamp.Taking to Twitter, Indian Embassy in UAE wrote, "Amb @sunjaysudhir and @EmiratesPostUAECEO launched the physical copy of the India-UAE Joint Commemorative Stamp, celebrating 75 Years of India's independence, UAE Year of the 50th and 50 Years of India-UAE diplomatic relations."Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan earlier in February released the Joint Commemorative Stamp on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of India's independence and marking the 50th year of UAE's foundation.India and UAE issued a joint vision statement after a joint summit between the two leaders.The Prime Minister and the Crown Prince issued a Joint Vision Statement "Advancing the India and UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: New Frontiers, New Milestone". The Statement establishes a roadmap for a future-oriented partnership between India and UAE and identifies focus areas and outcomes. The shared objective is to promote new trade, investment and innovation dynamic in diverse sectors, including economy, energy, climate action, emerging technologies, skills and education, food security, healthcare and defence and security.A major highlight of the Virtual Summit was the signing and exchange of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Minister of Economy of UAE, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri in the virtual presence of the two Leaders.The Prime Minister thanked the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi for taking care of the Indian community during Covid-19 pandemic. He also invited him to pay an early visit to India.India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) established diplomatic relations in 1972. While the UAE opened its Embassy in India in 1972, Indian Embassy in UAE was opened in 1973. The traditionally strong bilateral relations enjoyed by India &amp; UAE have received impetus with regular exchange of high-level bilateral visits from time to time. India and UAE have shared trade links through the centuries. The trade, which was dominated by traditional items such as dates, pearl and fishes, underwent a sharp change after the discovery of oil in UAE (oil exports begun from Abu Dhabi in 1962). With the emergence of UAE as a unified entity in 1971, exports from India started growing gradually over the years. Growing India-UAE economic and commercial relations contribute to the stability and strength of a rapidly diversifying and deepening bilateral relationship between the two countries. Both sides are striving to further strengthen these ties for mutual benefits.&nbsp;—ANI

Celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations, Indian Ambassador to UAE Sunjay Sudhir and CEO of Emirates Post, postal operator for the United Arab Emirates, launched a physical copy of India-UAE Joint Commemorative Stamp.

50 Yrs Of Diplomatic Relations: Physical Copy Of India-UAE Joint Commemorative Stamp Launched

New Delhi: A 54-year-old physical education teacher died on Wednesday morning in a road accident in east Delhi's Shakarpur area, police said. Information about the accident involving a bus and a scooty was received around 8.30 am, a senior police officer said. On reaching the spot, police found the body of the victim and the damaged scooty. The deceased was identified as Devdutt Sharma of Ram Nagar Extension, Deputy Commissioner of Police (east) Priyanka Kashyap said. A crime team inspected the spot, and the body was shifted to a mortuary, the DCP said. Bus driver Vinod Kumar, a resident of Mamura village in Noida Sector-66, has been apprehended and appropriate legal action is being initiated, the police said. Sharma was a teacher at a private school in the New Friends Colony area, they added. —PTI

A 54-year-old physical education teacher died on Wednesday morning in a road accident in east Delhi's Shakarpur area, police said

Physical education teacher dead in road accident

London (United Kingdom): According to a study, daily physical activity has been associated with a decreased risk of COVID-19 infection and severity, including hospitalisation and death.
The study was published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
A weekly tally of 150 minutes of moderate intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity, physical activity seems to afford the best protection, the analysis suggests.
Previous research suggests that physical activity can lessen both the risk of infection and the severity of respiratory infections due, at least in part, to its ability to bolster the immune system.
The link between regular physical activity and COVID-19 severity is poorly understood, but probably involves both metabolic and environmental factors, say the researchers, who set out to try and quantify the threshold of physical activity that might be needed to lessen the risks of infection and associated hospital admission and death. They searched 3 major research databases for relevant studies published between November 2019 and March 2022, and from an initial haul of 291, pooled the results of 16. The studies included a total of 1,853,610 adults, just over half of whom (54%) were women. The average age of participants was 53. Most of the studies were observational and were carried out in South Korea, England, Iran, Canada, the UK, Spain, Brazil, Palestine, South Africa and Sweden.
The pooled data analysis showed that, overall, those who included regular physical activity in their weekly routine had an 11% lower risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. They also had a 36% lower risk of hospital admission, a 44% lower risk of severe COVID-19 illness, and a 43% lower risk of death from COVID-19 than their physically inactive peers.
The maximum protective effect occurred at around 500 Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) minutes a week, after which there were no further improvements.
METS express the amount of energy (calories) expended per minute of physical activity, and 500 of them are the equivalent of 150 minutes of moderate intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity, physical activity. The researchers caution that the analysis included observational studies, differing study designs, subjective assessments of physical activity levels, and concerned only the Beta and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2 rather than Omicron, all of which may weaken the findings.
But there are plausible biological explanations for what they found, they say. Regular moderate-intensity exercise may help to boost the body's anti-inflammatory responses, as well as cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, all of which may explain its beneficial effects on COVID-19 severity, they suggest.
They conclude: "Our findings highlight the protective effects of engaging in sufficient physical activity as a public health strategy, with potential benefits to reduce the risk of severe COVID-19.
"Given the heterogeneity and risk of publication bias, further studies with standardised methodology and outcome reporting are now needed." —ANI

According to a study, daily physical activity has been associated with a decreased risk of COVID-19 infection and severity, including hospitalisation and death.

Research: Daily Physical Activity Associated With Lower Risk Of Covid 19 Infection

Columbia: The study has discovered that short-term lifestyle changes can impair blood vessel sensitivity to insulin and also demonstrated how these alterations affect men and women differently.
The study was published in the journal, "Endocrinology."
Vascular insulin-resistance"&amp;gt;insulin-resistance"&gt;insulin resistance is a feature of obesity and type 2 diabetes that contributes to vascular disease. Researchers examined vascular insulin-resistance"&gt;insulin resistance"&amp;gt;insulin-resistance"&gt;insulin resistance in 36 young and healthy men and women by exposing them to 10 days of reduced physical activity, cutting their step count from 10,000 to 5,000 steps per day. The participants also increased their sugary beverage intake to six cans of soda per day.
"We know that incidence of insulin-resistance"&amp;gt;insulin-resistance"&gt;insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease is lower in premenopausal women compared to men, but we wanted to see how men and women reacted to reduced physical activity and increased sugar in their diet over a short period of time," said Camila Manrique-Acevedo, MD, associate professor of medicine.
The results showed that only in men did the sedentary lifestyle and high sugar intake cause decreased insulin-stimulated leg blood flow and a drop in a protein called adropin, which regulates insulin sensitivity and is an important biomarker for cardiovascular disease.
"These findings underscore a sex-related difference in the development of vascular insulin-resistance"&amp;gt;insulin-resistance"&gt;insulin resistance induced by adopting a lifestyle high in sugar and low on exercise," said Manrique-Acevedo. "To our knowledge, this is the first evidence in humans that vascular insulin-resistance"&amp;gt;insulin-resistance"&gt;insulin resistance can be provoked by short-term adverse lifestyle changes, and it's the first documentation of sex-related differences in the development of vascular insulin-resistance"&amp;gt;insulin-resistance"&gt;insulin resistance in association with changes in adropin levels."
Manrique-Acevedo said she would next like to examine how long it takes to reverse these vascular and metabolic changes and more fully assess the impact of the role of sex in the development of vascular insulin-resistance"&amp;gt;insulin-resistance"&gt;insulin resistance.
The entire MU research team consisted of Jaume Padilla, PhD, associate professor of nutrition and exercise physiology and co-corresponding author of this work; Luis Martinez-Lemus, DVM, PhD, professor of medical pharmacology and physiology, and R. Scott Rector, PhD, associate professor of nutrition. It also included postdoctoral fellows Rogerio Soares, PhD; and graduate students James A. Smith and Thomas Jurrissen.
Their study, "Young women are protected against vascular insulin-resistance"&amp;gt;insulin-resistance"&gt;insulin resistance induced by adoption of an obesogenic lifestyle." Part of the support for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Health and a VA Merit Grant. The content does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agency. The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest. —ANI

The study has discovered that short-term lifestyle changes can impair blood vessel sensitivity to insulin and also demonstrated how these alterations affect men and women differently.

Study: How Men, Women React To Reduced Physical Activity, Increased Sugar In Their Diet

Massachusetts: According to new research, specific physical characteristics of flowers impact the health of bumble bees by influencing the spread of a dangerous virus called Crithidia bombi. The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, shows that the length of a flower's corolla, or petals, affects how this pathogen is transferred between bees because shorter corollas mean that fewer bee faeces wind up inside the flower itself and in the path of bees looking for nectar.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Ecology.
Scientists have recently sounded the alarm over the "insect apocalypse," or massive die-off of the world's bugs. By some estimates, the past 50 years have seen a 75 per cent decline in the world's insect life. Among the many ecological implications of this apocalypse is the collapse of pollinator species, some of which scientists estimate have died back by 90 per cent in the US during the last twenty years. Though there are many reasons for the apocalypse, including habitat loss, pesticide use and more, one cause is the devastation wrought by pathogens. For bumble bees, a parasite called Crithidia bombi, often transmitted by bee poop, has been a widely prevalent scourge. One widespread and popular attempt to save the bees has been to plant pollinator gardens. "But what plants ought we to be planting?" asks Jenny Van Wyk, a postdoctoral researcher in biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the paper's lead author. "We are trying to gather information on how floral traits impact pollinator health, so that we can think beyond species-specific information. That way, we may be able to generalize across species that have similar traits and so help to guide planting decisions." In particular, flowers with shorter petals may transmit fewer pathogens than flowers of the same species with longer petals.
This is because, in their search for nectar, bees crawl deep into flowers. When the petals are long, a bee might wiggle its entire body inside. When that bee defecates, its feces remain inside the flower, and the next bee to come through in search of nectar and pollen will wind up smeared in another bee's poop. If that poop happened to contain C. bombi, then the second bee would be at high risk for infection.
But in shorter-petalled flowers, "bees' butts hang out," said Van Wyk, and their feces fall harmlessly to the ground.
To reach this conclusion, Van Wyk and her colleagues recruited an army of UMass Amherst undergrads and grad students to plant patches of native wildflowers, which were enclosed in tents. Bumble bees were turned loose in these tents. Half of the bees were healthy, and Van Wyk and her colleagues painted them blue, for easy identification. The other half were inoculated with C. bombi.
The team then altered the physical traits of the flowers in each tent to test which trait had the most impact upon bee health. To test corolla length, Van Wyk and her team used tiny scissors to trim over 105,000 flowers. To test whether or not the orientation of flowers on the plant had an effect, the researchers arranged some flowers in a cross-like pattern, and others in a more linear shape.
They also tested whether or not the amount and distribution of nectar played a role in bee health. The team did this by inserting a tiny nectar-filled pipette into more than 6,500 flowers, squirting more of the sweet substance, to see if the amount of nectar-per-flower played a role, and they spritzed entire groups of plants with sugar water to test whether the distribution of nectar affected bee health. Finally, the team tested tightly bunched plantings of flowering plants against those more spread out. To track which bees' poop landed where, Van Wyk and her colleagues fed the bees florescent paint. Using a black light, they located the glowing poop to understand where the pathogen was deposited. After all of this, the team found that pathogen transmission was reduced when the corolla lips were trimmed, when nectar was distributed evenly within a group of flowers or when the flowers were planted more widely apart. Flowers with trimmed corollas saw more larval production, as did plant patches where nectar was more evenly distributed.
"This work is really exciting and novel," says Lynn Adler, professor of biology at UMass Amherst and the paper's senior author, "because there's only a handful of studies that have compared how flowers from different species can transmit bee diseases--and only a single study, published more than 25 years ago, that manipulated a floral trait to establish its causal role in disease spread. Our work demonstrates that a wide range of traits may be important." "The number one question I get when I give public talks," says Van Wyk, "is 'what should I plant for bees?' Our research opens the door to further efforts to understand how specific physical flower characteristics support bee health, which can inform management practices." —ANI

According to new research, specific physical characteristics of flowers impact the health of bumble bees by influencing the spread of a dangerous virus called Crithidia bombi. 

Study Finds How Physical Traits Of Flowers Affect Health Of Bumble Bees

Mumbai (The Hawk): In anticipation of the premiere of his streaming series "Dharavi Bank," Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi has shared details about his physical change.
He discovered during his research that the cop he is portraying will have a drastically different physique from his own chiselled self. It was necessary to put on a brand-new appearance and bulk up.
With the right diet and exercise, the actor gained 10 kilogrammes and appropriately bulked up for the role.
He stated: "I got started early and stuck to a well-planned schedule. We used examples from actual police officers. Although there is turmoil on the show, we tried to make it appear and feel as authentic and convincing as we could. The first step was a nutritious dinner that my dietician had advised. It had a balanced ratio of protein and carbohydrates."
He gave it his best when it came to working out, mixing cardio and weight training equally.
"I had to seem huge but also have agility, which we successfully accomplished," he continued.
The Samit Kakkad-directed series will make its MX Player debut on November 19.
(Inputs from Agencies)

In anticipation of the premiere of his streaming series "Dharavi Bank," Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi has shared details about his physical change.

Vivek Oberoi gained 10 kg for the role in "Dharavi Bank"

Dibrugarh, Assam (The Hawk): At least 18 students were expelled from Assam's Dibrugarh University on Monday for their alleged involvement in ragging a student who ultimately leapt off a two-story structure of the varsity hostel "to spare himself from mental and physical harassment."
The incident took place on Saturday night. Anand Sharma, a first-semester M.Com student, was subjected to abuse up until early Sunday morning. On Sunday afternoon, Sharma was later given a hospital admission.
Additionally, the accused students were kicked out of the dorm at the institution.
Sharma was allegedly physically and mentally abused beginning at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday at the Padmanath Gohain Baruah dorm on campus, according to a FIR filed by the university's registrar. The attack persisted until the early hours of Sunday morning, until five.
Anand Sharma allegedly leaped off the B block of the dormitory at around 10.30 a.m. on Sunday on the guise of using the restroom in order to escape the "severe mental and physical torture." He suffered severe wounds.
He was taken in critical condition to a local hospital by a few hostel residents. Later, Sharma was sent to a different hospital for enhanced care by the university administration, the official continued.
Five people, including a former university student, have been identified as suspects by the university officials in the FIR about the alleged ragging incident.
Four suspects are being held by the police in this case. Rahul Chetri, an alumni, is still at large, nevertheless.
Sharma is a first-semester M.Com student. In the ICU of a private hospital in Dibrugarh, he is receiving medical care.
Sarita Sharma, the mother of the victim, claimed: "My son was subjected to physical and mental abuse and made to consume alcohol. He was forbidden from taking meals. He used to be asked by the elderly to bring them alcohol. He previously advised me to quit the hostel... We can't afford to rent a house, so I demanded he stay at the hostel. However, I had no idea about the kind of torment he was experiencing at the hostel. The elders also intimidated him into not raising any issues with the authorities.
She asserted that the family had previously complained to the university administration, but that no action was taken to put a halt to these actions.
Meanwhile, on Monday, university students protested and called for the accused students to face severe punishment.
(Inputs from Agencies)

At least 18 students were expelled from Assam's Dibrugarh University on Monday for their alleged involvement in ragging a student who ultimately leapt off a two-story structure of the varsity hostel "to spare himself from mental and physical harassment."

Dibrugarh University in Assam excommunicates 18 students for ragging

Barabanki (The Hawk): Following a physical altercation between two groups over an Instagram clip posted a year before, a 20-year-old college student was allegedly stabbed to death in broad daylight near Palhari Crossing in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki.
The victim, Shuganto Sharma, had already submitted a police report, following which he allegedly started receiving threat calls from the other gang members, who had allegedly beaten Sharma in a reel in December of last year.
While working toward his graduation from a nearby institution, Shuganto was employed in a telecom corporation.
Shuganto's family filed a complaint against three people with whom he had a year-old conflict, according to the police, who detained one of the case's primary suspects.
Shuganto's brother Saurabh reportedly told the police that the former was receiving life threats as a result of filing a police report against two individuals, Aman and Salim, according to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) (South), Akhilesh Narain Singh.
He said that a case had been opened against the accused, and that a charge sheet had been submitted in January of this year. On Instagram and other social media sites, the suspects, who were free on bond, continued to threaten Shuganto.
According to the police official, Shuganto received a second threat call with identical language, and he and two of his pals then engaged the other group members in a brawl at a tea shop. Shuganto was fatally wounded by a knife in the local hospital as a result of the conflict's escalation.
The incident caused alarm among the bystanders, so the attackers fled quickly. Farhan and Shadab, two of Shuganto's pals, were receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital for their wounds as well. After the event, a significant police presence was placed at the crossing, the official continued.
According to the ASP, a case was filed against Aman, Salim, and Raja as well as other unnamed individuals connected to the crime under the appropriate sections of the IPC for murder, attempted murder, use of a deadly weapon, and causing public fear.
(Inputs from Agencies)

Following a physical altercation between two groups over an Instagram clip posted a year before, a 20-year-old college student was allegedly stabbed to death in broad daylight near Palhari Crossing in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki.

UP youth fatally murdered over old Instagram video

Washington: Researchers have uncovered a previously hidden heating process that helps explain how the atmosphere that surrounds the Sun called the "solar corona" can be vastly hotter than the solar surface that emits it.
The discovery at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) could improve tackling a range of astrophysical puzzles such as star formation, the origin of large-scale magnetic fields in the universe, and the ability to predict eruptive space weather events that can disrupt cell phone service and black out power grids on Earth. Understanding the heating process also has implications for fusion research.
"Our direct numerical simulation is the first to provide clear identification of this heating mechanism in 3D space," said Chuanfei Dong, a physicist at PPPL and Princeton University who unmasked the process by conducting 200 million hours of computer time for the world's largest simulation of its kind."Current telescope and spacecraft instruments may not have high enough resolution to identify the process occurring at small scales," said Dong, who details the breakthrough in the journal Science Advances.
The hidden ingredient is a process called magnetic reconnection that separates and violently reconnects magnetic fields in plasma, the soup of electrons and atomic nuclei that forms the solar atmosphere. Dong's simulation revealed how rapid reconnection of the magnetic field lines turns the large-scale turbulent energy into small-sale internal energy. As a consequence the turbulent energy is efficiently converted to thermal energy at small scales, thus superheating the corona.
"Think of putting cream in coffee," Dong said. "The drops of cream soon become whorls and slender curls. Similarly, magnetic fields form thin sheets of electric current that break up due to magnetic reconnection. This process facilitates the energy cascade from large-scale to small-scale, making the process more efficient in the turbulent solar corona than previously thought."
When the reconnection process is slow while the turbulent cascade is fast, reconnection cannot affect the transfer of energy across scales, he said. But when the reconnection rate becomes fast enough to exceed the traditional cascade rate, reconnection can move the cascade toward small scales more efficiently.
It does this by breaking and rejoining the magnetic field lines to generate chains of small twisted lines called plasmoids. This changes the understanding of the turbulent energy cascade that has been widely accepted for more than half a century, the paper says. The new finding ties the energy transfer rate to how fast the plasmoids grow, enhancing the transfer of energy from large to small scales and strongly heating the corona at these scales.
The new discovery demonstrates a regime with an unprecedentedly large magnetic Reynolds number as in the solar corona. The large number characterizes the new high energy transfer rate of the turbulent cascade. "The higher the magnetic Reynolds number is, the more efficient the reconnection-driven energy transfer is," said Dong, who is moving to Boston University to take up a faculty position.
200 million hours
"Chuanfei has carried out the world's largest turbulence simulation of its kind that has taken over 200 million computer CPUs [central processing units] at the NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) facility," said PPPL physicist Amitava Bhattacharjee, a Princeton professor of astrophysical sciences who supervised the research. "This numerical experiment has produced undisputed evidence for the first time of a theoretically predicted mechanism for a previously undiscovered range of turbulent energy cascade controlled by the growth of the plasmoids.
"His paper in the high-impact journal Science Advances completes the computational program he began with his earlier 2D results published in Physical Review Letters. These papers form a coda to the impressive work that Chuanfei has done as a member of the Princeton Center for Heliophysics," a joint Princeton and PPPL facility. "We are grateful for a PPPL LDRD [Laboratory Directed Research &amp; Development] grant that facilitated this work, and to the NASA High-End Computing (HEC) program for its generous allocation of computer time."
The impact of this finding in astrophysical systems across a range of scales can be explored with current and future spacecraft and telescopes. Unpacking the energy transfer process across scales will be crucial to solving key cosmic mysteries, the paper said. —ANI

Researchers have uncovered a previously hidden heating process that helps explain how the atmosphere that surrounds the Sun called the "solar corona" can be vastly hotter than the solar surface that emits it.

World's Largest Turbulence Simulation Unmasks The Flow Of Energy In Astrophysical Plasmas

Chennai (The Hawk): Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Annual Cultural Festival Saarang will be conducted completely in physical mode this year with a slew of diverse events planned on campus. This year will be the 28th Edition of the Saarang, which is one of the largest student-run festivals.
Saarang 2023 will feature nearly 100 events between the 11th and 15th January 2023 and is expected to attract a footfall of over 80,000 from over 500 colleges across the country. Over 850 students of IIT Madras across various years and departments are working to make this edition a grand success.&nbsp;
The theme for Saarang 2023 is ‘Mystic Hues’ which celebrates how intertwined colours are with culture and traditions.
Appreciating the students on organizing this massive event, Prof. V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Very excited to host Saarang 2023 after two years of Covid. We are seeing a very large participation PAN-India and no doubt the week will be a very colorful and festive one and make for an enjoyable time. Wishing the best for all participants and thanking all the sponsors for their generous financial contributions.” For this year’s social cause, Saarang launched ‘Panacea’, a campaign surrounding health and hygiene awareness, aimed at encouraging healthy habits to thwart disease breakouts. The five buckets under the social campaign representing the most important facets of health and hygiene are personal well-being and fitness, environmental hygiene, public and general health awareness, sanitation and sexual health.
Many means of spreading the message of cleanliness and sanitation are underway. Ranging from informative presentations in middle and high schools to ‘fun yet educational’ text-based games, several initiatives were released in the weeks leading up to Saarang 2023. Speaking about Saarang, Prof. Nilesh J Vasa, Dean (Students), IIT Madras, said, “Saarang, the annual cultural festival of IIT Madras, is the largest student-run cultural event in India. Like every year, Saarang 2023 has taken up a social campaign and this time the focus is on health and hygiene.”
Giving participants a wide variety of choices to choose from more than 100-odd events, Saarang 2023 promises to be a hub of cultural talent and a beacon to cultural enthusiasts around the country. The five-day fest will feature the Institute’s many cultural clubs, ranging from oratory and comedy to fine arts and writing and the nascent culinary arts club. These events include competitions, workshops and talented performances from across the world. Highlighting the efforts that have gone into this event, Prof. Arshinder Kaur, Advisor (Cultural), IIT Madras, said, “Saarang 2023, is a student-driven festival where young minds working on social cause and sustainability at one end, and innovative creations on newer events like culinary arts and media confluence on the other end have exhibited their talent in bringing colorful global cultural experience.”
Speaking about the unique aspects of Saarang 2023, Mr. Sri Ram K., Cultural Affairs Secretary, Arts, IIT Madras, said, “Three new verticals are being introduced this year- Nova presents, Media Confluence, Comicals and The Korean Fest, celebrating the fields of Journalism, Comic books and characters and Korean culture, respectively. The fest is looking forward to hosting a Global Village on the KV Grounds bringing with it the WorldFest acts and many other international flavours. Alongside the Global Village, the Adventure Zone makes a comeback, bringing with it the popular Silent Disco, among other favourite rides.”
Further, Ms. Jai Santhoshi S, Cultural Affairs Secretary, Literary, IIT Madras, said, “Another event that definitely promises to be the highlight for many is the ‘Spotlight lectures’. The esteemed lecturers set to grace the event include actress Ms. Suma Kanakala, chef Mr. Sashi Cheliah, Group Art Director of Amar Chitra Katha Mr. Savio Mascarenhas, journalist Ms. Palki Sharma Upadhya, Actress Ms. Revathy. The Professional Shows too boast an impressive line-up of well-established and up and coming artists alike, whose performances are sure to have the crowd singing their hearts out.”
Day 0 on 11th January starts with Classical Night, opened by fusion band Indosoul and headlined by singer Sriranjani Santhanagopalan. Choreo Night on day 1 promises to be filled with stunning performances as the stage is rocked by dance troupes from around the country. EDM Night is opened by the Russian talent DJ Krispie and headlined by Swedish EDM sensation Kaaze. Day 3 ends with the Rock Night, to be graced by bands Girish and the Chronicles and Pineapple Express. The last Proshow Night is the Pop Show, headlined by none other than the playback singer Sunidhi.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Annual Cultural Festival Saarang will be conducted completely in physical mode this year with a slew of diverse events planned on campus. This year will be the 28th Edition of the Saarang, which is one of the largest student-run festivals.

IIT Madras’ Annual Cultural Fest Saarang Comes Back To Complete Physical Mode This Year

Dehradun: A team of experts from CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) will be leaving for Joshimath in Uttarakhand, which witnessed land subsidence recently, to conduct subsurface physical mapping of the affected town, a senior scientist has said. The 10-member team headed by NGRI's senior principal scientist Anand K Pandey is expected to reach the site on January 13 and start their work from the following day. The tests are expected to continue for two weeks, and the collated data would then be analysed to ascertain the reason for the sinking of the ground there.
Joshimath, the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and international skiing destination Auli, is facing a major challenge due to land subsidence.
"Our equipment is already on the way. On 13th January, the whole team will move to this site. And from 14th onwards, we will be there for at least two weeks to do the survey of that area. We are planning to do shallow subsurface physical mapping for water saturation and soil characteristics," Pandey told PTI. He further said NGRI has been conducting several research works in Uttarakhand for the past four years in the areas of earthquakes, floods and landslides.
Pandey said they are going to do an electrical survey which is very important at such seismic zones.
The senior scientist said they will be using multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) method, a non-destructive seismic method to evaluate material layer thickness and its shear wave velocity, to measure the thickness of the soil.
The team will also use ground penetration to find out minor cracks, water saturation of smaller size or fractures in the subsoil or cavities using ground penetrating radar.
"In addition to that, we are also using field mapping," he said.
NGRI is one of the largest scientific networks in Uttarakhand and in future, the institute will be able to provide early warnings about floods also, he said.
The number of subsidence-affected homes rose to 678 while 27 more families were evacuated to safety, a bulletin from the Disaster Management Authority in Chamoli said on January 9, adding that 82 families have been shifted to safe locations in the town so far. The Centre on Tuesday had announced that it will install micro-seismic observation systems in Joshimath. —ANI

A team of experts from CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) will be leaving for Joshimath in Uttarakhand, which witnessed land subsidence recently, to conduct subsurface physical mapping of the affected town, a senior scientist has said. 

Geophysical Scientists From Hyderabad To Study Land Subsidence Issue In Joshimath

Washington: Scientists have decoded the physical process that takes place in the mouth when a piece of chocolate is eaten, as it changes from a solid into a smooth emulsion that many people find totally irresistible.
By analysing each of the steps, the interdisciplinary research team at the University of Leeds hope it will lead to the development of a new generation of luxury chocolates that will have the same feel and texture but will be healthier to consume.
During the moments it is in the mouth, the chocolate sensation arises from the way the chocolate is lubricated, either from ingredients in the chocolate itself or from saliva or a combination of the two.
Fat plays a key function almost immediately when a piece of chocolate is in contact with the tongue. After that, solid cocoa particles are released and they become important in terms of the tactile sensation, so fat deeper inside the chocolate plays a rather limited role and could be reduced without having an impact on the feel or sensation of chocolate.
Anwesha Sarkar, Professor of Colloids and Surfaces in the School of Food Science and Nutrition at Leeds, said: "Lubrication science gives mechanistic insights into how food actually feels in the mouth. You can use that knowledge to design food with better taste, texture or health benefits.
"If a chocolate has 5% fat or 50% fat it will still form droplets in the mouth and that gives you the chocolate sensation. However, it is the location of the fat in the make-up of the chocolate which matters in each stage of lubrication, and that has been rarely researched.
"We are showing that the fat layer needs to be on the outer layer of the chocolate, this matters the most, followed by effective coating of the cocoa particles by fat, these help to make chocolate feel so good."
The study -- published in the scientific journal ACS Applied Materials and Interface -- did not investigate the question of how chocolate tastes. Instead, the investigation focused on its feel and texture.
Tests were conducted using a luxury brand of dark chocolate on an artificial 3D tongue-like surface that was designed at the University of Leeds. The researchers used analytical techniques from a field of engineering called tribology to conduct the study, which included in situ imaging.
Tribology is about how surfaces and fluids interact, the levels of friction between them and the role of lubrication: in this case, saliva or liquids from the chocolate. Those mechanisms are all happening in the mouth when chocolate is eaten.
When chocolate is in contact with the tongue, it releases a fatty film that coats the tongue and other surfaces in the mouth. It is this fatty film that makes the chocolate feel smooth throughout the entire time it is in the mouth.
Dr Siavash Soltanahmadi, from the School of Food Science and Nutrition at Leeds and the lead researcher in the study, said: "With the understanding of the physical mechanisms that happen as people eat chocolate, we believe that a next generation of chocolate can be developed that offers the feel and sensation of high-fat chocolate yet is a healthier choice.
"Our research opens the possibility that manufacturers can intelligently design dark chocolate to reduce the overall fat content. "We believe dark chocolate can be produced in a gradient-layered architecture with fat covering the surface of chocolates and particles to offer the sought after self-indulging experience without adding too much fat inside the body of the chocolate." —ANI

Scientists have decoded the physical process that takes place in the mouth when a piece of chocolate is eaten, as it changes from a solid into a smooth emulsion that many people find totally irresistible.

Scientists Decode Physical Process Behind Chocolate Melting In Mouth

Dehradun: The Disaster Management department is aiming towards conducting the geophysical survey at 10 spots throughout the Joshimath to get better survey results.
"The drainage department has opened tender for drainage plan, and we will take note of where the work has reached," Ranjit Kumar Sinha, Secretary of Disaster Management said while addressing a press conference on Saturday.
"In the cabinet, it was decided that we will work towards the Toe Erosion. We were directed to get a timeline from the officials, and then start work towards shifting the people," he added.
He said four companies have bid for the drainage contract, and the company with the required technical capabilities will be shortlisted.
"Cracks do occur on the houses in hill areas. But, if huge cracks are coming up, then proper action must be taken. We have also directed the same to the authorities," he said. Geologist Dr Sarkar also addressed the press conference and said that they want to carry out the geophysical survey in the whole of Joshimath.
"The geophysical survey has already started. The collected data will then go for interpretation. It will take some time, as soils have to dig and then sent to laboratories. We want this survey to take place at 10 spots in the whole of Joshimath so that we get better results," he added. Joshimath, also known as Jyotirmath, is a city and a municipal board in Chamoli District in Uttarakhand. Located at the height of 6150 feet (1875 m), it is a gateway to several Himalayan mountain climbing expeditions, trekking trails, and pilgrim centres like Badrinath.
Life in the hill town of Joshimath in Uttarakhand has been disrupted in the last few days as residents took to the streets to demand action for the cracks that have developed in their houses.
Earlier on Saturday, sources informed that several houses at Singhdhar in the Joshimath town of Uttarakhand collapsed in the midnight hours of January 2 and 3. However, no lives were lost in these incidents.
In view of the land subsidence incident in Joshimath, the state Cabinet on Friday approved an amount of Rs 45 crore as relief for the affected families. The Cabinet also cleared a proposal to waive the electricity bill of all those affected for six months starting from November 2022, besides approving a proposal for providing employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) to two members of each of the affected families. —ANI

The Disaster Management department is aiming towards conducting the geophysical survey at 10 spots throughout the Joshimath to get better survey results.

We Want To Conduct Geophysical Survey Of Joshimath: Disaster Management Department

Joshimath: In the wake of the land subsidence crisis in the Joshimath area of Uttarakhand's Chamoli, the dismantling of Hotel Malari Inn is underway on Sunday, as per official sources.
Several workers were deployed to dismantle the Inn. The road near hotel Malari Inn was blocked and police and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) officials were also deployed for the smooth functioning of the dismantling process.
Earlier, the CBRI chief scientist DP Kanungo said that prior training has been given to the people and the demolition work will be done as quickly as possible.
"We will do the work of dismantling the hotel as soon as possible. We have properly trained people and are using mechanical dismantling techniques here," Kanungo told ANI.
Prior to the preparation of the demolition of the Inn on Thursday, the road near hotel Malari Inn was blocked and police and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) officials were deployed.
Kanungo also denied the usage of any heavy vibrating machine for the dismantling procedure as they are planning to "save the land".
"Each thing will be taken apart. We will not be using any type of heavy vibrating machine here. We have to save the land. We will try to ensure that there is minimum or no vibration inside the ground," Kanungo added. Earlier on Wednesday, after receiving the information of the hotel's dismantling, the owner sat in protest with his family demanding compensation. "There's such pressure from the adjacent hotel building that my hotel is about to collapse. I am helpless, I can't say anything. Can anyone be happy if their hotel is being demolished?" Thakur Singh Rana, owner of Hotel Malari Inn told ANI. He also said that till now there have been no talks about compensation with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, adding, "I have no idea about compensation." The officials also halted the Ropeway service connecting Chamoli's Joshimath to Auli in Uttarakhand on Saturday. —ANI

 In the wake of the land subsidence crisis in the Joshimath area of Uttarakhand's Chamoli, the dismantling of Hotel Malari Inn is underway on Sunday, as per official sources.

Joshimath Land Subsidence: Demolition Of Damaged Hotel Malari Inn Underway

Washington: According to a new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, males who regularly carry heavy objects at work have greater sperm counts. The research, which was published in Human Reproduction, is part of the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) cohort, a clinical study that aims to investigate how environmental pollutants and lifestyle choices affect reproductive health.
"We already know that exercise is associated with multiple health benefits in humans, including those observed on reproductive health, but few studies have looked at how occupational factors can contribute to these benefits," said first author Lidia Minguez-Alarcon, a reproductive epidemiologist in Brigham's Channing Division of Network Medicine and co-investigator of the EARTH study. "What these new findings suggest is that physical activity during work may also be associated with significant improvement in men's reproductive potential."
Infertility is a growing problem, and it can be caused by a wide variety of complex factors. However, about 40% of infertility cases can be traced to male factors, such as sperm count, semen quality and sexual function. In particular, sperm count and semen quality are thought to be the major drivers of growing infertility rates among males -- a previous analysis led by the EARTH study team found that among men seeking fertility treatment, sperm count and quality declined by as much as 42% between 2000 and 2017.
"Further, there is increasing evidence that male infertility is associated with common chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and autoimmune disease, highlighting the broader importance of male reproductive health," said Minguez-Alarcon.
The EARTH study is a collaboration between the Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health and Mass General Brigham to evaluate the effect of environment and lifestyle factors on fertility. EARTH has collected samples and survey data from over 1,500 men and women, and the current study focused on a subset of these participants, including 377 male partners in couples seeking treatment at a fertility center.
The researchers found that men who reported often lifting or moving heavy objects at work had 46% higher sperm concentration and 44% higher total sperm count compared to those with less physical jobs. Men who reported more physical activity at work also had higher levels of the male sex hormone testosterone and, counterintuitively, the female hormone estrogen.
"Contrary to what some people remember from biology class, 'male' and 'female' hormones are found in both sexes, but in different amounts," said Minguez-Alarcon. "In this case, we hypothesize that excess testosterone is being converted into estrogen, which is a known way for the body to keep normal levels of both hormones."
While the current study found a relationship between physical activity and fertility in men seeking fertility treatment, it will take further research to confirm if these findings hold true for men from the general population. The researchers also hope that future studies will reveal the underlying biological mechanisms at play.
"Reproductive health is important in its own right, but more and more evidence suggests that male infertility can give us insight into broader public health issues, including the most common chronic diseases," said Minguez-Alarcon. "Uncovering actionable steps people can take to improve their fertility stands to benefit all of us, not just couples trying to conceive." —ANI

 According to a new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, males who regularly carry heavy objects at work have greater sperm counts. 

Physically Demanding Jobs Associated With Higher Male Fertility: Study

Education of physically or mentally handicapped children through modified and individually focused methods and techniques of teaching. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines Special Education as Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.
The second definition is more applicable in the U.S.A., the first one is a universal one because not everywhere facilities for special education are offered free of cost.
To elaborate and understand in detail: Special education is the education which meets the need of those children who are different from average children either mentally, physically and or socially. The children may suffer from emotional disturbance, mental retardation, deafness, dumbness, blindness and any other ailments which hamper the intellect growth of the individual. The teaching methods in special education schools also differ from standard schools and are more individual-oriented to adapt to the individual’s needs. Depending upon the condition of the individual, education policies and educational laws, the students may or may not be admitted to a standard academic school. There are separate schools or separate classrooms for students with special needs but some students with mild impairments are allowed in a regular school or classrooms for a limited or full period of time. As the students require more care and attention, special education is also referred to as ‘Special Needs Education’ or ‘Exceptional Children Education’. Just, like a standard school, special school teachers receive specialised education training from educational institutes skilled in this area. Special education schools have certain norms and infrastructure which facilitates the development of children with special needs. But all this wasn’t available earlier, there were very few schools and people were largely unaware of them. Nobody knew how to take care of them. That brings us to the origins of special education.
<h2></h2>
<h2>History of Special Education</h2>
Special education was not prevalent before mid-1500’s. People with disabilities were looked down upon. There was a certain amount of acceptance towards the physically handicapped but those with mental disabilities were largely avoided or considered unwanted. Between 27 BC-AD 476/1453, there were certain people who took care of handicapped and disabled people. Whether they were educated and returned to normalcy is unknown? During 5th and 15th Century (Middle Ages) the church provided care for the same but the modern methodology of special education was still amiss. The development of advanced special education is mentioned below:

<h3><ins>Chronology / </ins><ins>Major Developments</ins></h3>

Mid 1500’s
Pedro Ponce de León, a Spanish Benedictine Monk was able to teach deaf children to speak, read and write Spanish. He had opened a school at San Salvador Monastery in Madrid for such individuals.

<h3>In 1620</h3>

Juan Pablo Bonet, a Spanish Priest developed the use of sign language to teach speech to the deaf. His system of signs and manual alphabet were depicted in his book titled Reducción de las Letras y arte para enseñar a hablar a los mudos in Madrid. It means ‘Summary of the letters and the art of teaching speech to the mute’. It was published in 1620. Bonet's system influenced American Sign Language, French Sign Language, Spanish Sign Language and others.

<h3>During 1640 and 1653.</h3>

John Bulwer, an English physician and philosopher wrote five works exploring the Body and human communication, particularly by the gesture. In his book ‘Chirologia: or the natural language of the hand (1644)’, he depicts ‘Hand Gestures’ for communication. He also proposed the education of deaf people through an academy mentioned in his works ‘Philocophus’ and ‘The Dumbe mans academia.’

<h3>During 1760’s</h3>

Charles-Michel, abbé de l’Epée, a French Philanthropic Educator established ‘The Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles’ in Paris during the 1760’s. It was a free public school for the deaf. He also developed the natural sign language in French.

Thomas Braidwood, a Scottish Writing Instructor established 'Braidwood's Academy for the Deaf and Dumb' in 1760 at Edinburgh. It was the first school for the Deaf in Britain.

<h3>During 1770’s</h3>

Samuel Heinicke, a German Advocate and Teacher established the first German public school for the education of the deaf in 1778 at Leipzig. He promoted the oral method (phonetic method) of teaching and reading.

<h3>During 1780’s</h3>

Valentin Haüy, a French Professor founded the first school for the blind in 1784. It was named as ‘Royal Institution for the Young Blind’ in Paris (now the National Institute for the Young Blind, INJA -Institution Nationale des Jeunes Aveugles.

Roch-Ambroise Cucurron Sicard, a French Abbot and Instructor of the deaf, developed the manual system, or silent method, of teaching people with hearing impairments. His works include - Eléments de grammaire générale (1799), Cours d'instruction d'un sourd-muet de naissance (1800) and Traité des signes pour l'instruction des sourds-muets (1808).

<h3>During 1800’s</h3>

Jean Marc Gaspard Itard, a French Physician made first attempt towards the instruction of mentally retarded children on scientific basis. In his book – Reports on the Savage of Aveyron (Rapports sur le sauvage de l’Aveyron -1807), he explained these attempted methods to train and educate an unsocialized 11-year-old boy who had been found in a forest in Aveyron, south of Paris. His other work includes Treatise on the Maladies of the Ear and of Hearing (Traité des maladies de l’oreille et de l’audition) which advocated the combination of sign and oral communication in the education of persons with hearing impairments.

Friedrich Moritz Hill, a German Deaf and Dumb Teacher developed the German System of teaching deaf and dumb during the mid-1800’s. His work includes ‘Teaching guide for deaf and dumb children of clergymen and teachers’ (1840), ‘The clergy and teachers in the service of the deaf’(1882) and ‘Full instructions for teaching deaf-mute children’ (1840).

Édouard Séguin, a French Physician and Educationist established the first private school in Paris around 1840. It was meant for the education of the mentally handicapped. In 1846, he published The Moral Treatment, Hygiene, and Education of Idiots and Other Backward Children (Traitement Moral, Hygiène, et Education des Idiots). This work is considered to be the earliest systematic textbook dealing with the special needs of children with mental disabilities.

<h3>During 1900’s</h3>

Maria Montessori, an Italian Physician and Educator developed effective teaching methods. Her methodology was named the Montessori Method. She opened ‘Casa dei Bambini’ (Children's House) on January 6, 1907. She taught normal children here and the success of Casa soon spread. Montessori education became international spreading all over the globe.

In 1975, USA passes an act - The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA). It is also known as P.L. 94-142. In modern times this law is known as ‘Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)’.

In the UK, during 1978, The Warnock Report and subsequently, the 1981 Education Act, radically changed the conceptualisation of special educational needs. It introduced the idea of special educational needs (SEN), “statements” of SEN, and an “integrative” - which later became known as “inclusive” - approach, based on common educational goals for all children regardless of their abilities or disabilities: namely independence, enjoyment, and understanding.
By the end of 1900’s, developed nations had created facilities for special education.

<h2>In 2001</h2>
The USA passes an act ‘No Child Left Behind’ according to which all students, including students with disabilities, will have to be to be proficient in math and reading by the year 2014.

<h3>In 2004</h3>
IDEA was reauthorized. There were several changes like - call for more accountability at the state and local levels. School districts were told to provide adequate instruction and intervention for students.
Today, there are many special education institutes throughout the world. Some of the countries which have special education institutes are – Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and many more.

<h3>Philosophy of Special Education</h3>
Every educational institute has a philosophy towards achieving their objectives, so do the special education institutes. This philosophy forms the basis of course curriculum and requires the provision of providing a secure, caring and stimulating environment which stimulates emotional, intellectual, physical and social growth. Below are mentioned some of the essential philosophies that any special education institution should consider.

Each individual is unique, sociological and psychological techniques need to be varied to get the best out of them. At the same time, certain principles for instruction are important and universally applicable to most learning situations in the field of special education.
Varied individuals will have specific abilities and achievement levels. They will have individual goals apart from academic ones and teachers need to understand that the individual goals are also important. Teachers need to gauge both the goals and help in honing them and not ignore the individual ones.
The same opportunity for education, regardless of the state of disability.
Evaluate the student abilities and disabilities on a non-discriminate basis, keeping in mind the unique individual circumstance.
The needs of the special students can change overnight. It is important to understand and modify the education process in tandem with the possible fluctuating needs of each and every student. 
Encourage social interaction between all students and develop teaching methods suited to such an environment.
Techniques and strategies may not show instantaneous results. Some will require modifications and refinements over a period of time to show results.
To provide, not only provide formal education to the students but also develop their intellectual abilities by improving their social, emotional and behavioural skills.
To remain motivated and passionate towards the welfare of special students through education, a strong mind, body and any tool which enhances the abilities.
Be educated and informed to utilize all tools available to create the best possible learning environment for each child and be motivated and passionate so that the teaching is meaningful, flexible and in tune with the student's educational needs.
Share your evaluations, insights and observations with parents, educators, special education teachers and other professionals involved in the field to facilitate a cooperative and beneficial learning environment.
Protect the confidentiality rights of special education students. Be respectful of their emotional needs and of their privacy.
To encourage and foster parental involvement by communicating them of the student’s performance, achievements, illness and whenever a disability requires individualized education.
To ascertain the overall growth and enable each individual to make full use of their potential towards achievement, individuality, independence and living a fulfilling life as much as possible. 
—Vijay GarG / The Hawk

Special Education of physically or mentally handicapped children through modified and individually focused methods and techniques of teaching.

Special Education of physically or mentally handicapped children.

The health and wellness of students in schools have become increasingly important, especially in the post-covid era. The National Curriculum Framework for School Education emphasised that guidance and counselling can support the attainment of educational aims by contributing to creating an ethos of overall well-being and teaching individuals an ethic of care and mutual respect.

According to the NCF, physical health, and wellness are crucial needs for growing up and require careful addressing by schools. “Designing programs that contribute to good health and physical fitness for all students across the stages in their school life is a central goal.

Not just physical, there is a need to prioritise psychological health and wellness as well. With a primary focus on students, guidance and counselling work must teach strategies for emotional regulation and positive motivation. While mild to moderate challenges with mental health can receive counselling support within the school, it would be necessary to direct students and families to more qualified professionals outside the school system for clinical diagnosis and support,” the report stated.

Regarding the reasons for introducing health and wellness, the draft stated that the classroom and the school were sites for emotional learning, growth, and expression, which were probably the most occupying for teachers at this stage. “Students themselves go through unpredictable mood states and energy fluctuations, often grappling with a sense of unexplainable wellness or not-so-wellness. Middle Stage pedagogy must allow for some amount of engagement with emotional experiences through quiet discussion and reflection. Curricular areas can be used as contexts in which individual responses can be parsed. The teacher will have to find a balance in the approach to students’ emotions - an approach that is neither intrusive nor indulgent, but reasonably firm, rationally clear, and emotionally caring towards students of this stage,” the report said.

<h2>Importance of games</h2>
The NCF emphasises the importance of exercising the mind just as exercising the body is crucial to maintaining good health. Encouraging children to play games that involve strategy, logic, word puzzles, and recreational mathematics is an excellent way to spark their interest in mathematics and foster their logical thinking skills.

Spatial reasoning can be developed through activities such as solving jigsaw puzzles, playing with blocks, and solving mazes. Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills can be enhanced through playing games such as tic-tac-toe and chess.

Playing games such as Chaupad, Snakes and Ladders, and Ludo can be a fun way to teach counting, strategy, collaboration, healthy competition, and bonding with peers.&nbsp;
—Vijay GarG / The Hawk

The health and wellness of students in schools have become increasingly important, especially in the post-covid era

Health & Wellness Belong in Classrooms

Mumbai: A Mumbai Special CBI Court on Friday acquitted actor Sooraj Pancholi in the sensational Jiah Khan death case, in which he was charged with abetment to suicide.

The verdict came almost 10 years after Jiah, 25 was found dead in her Mumbai flat in Sagar Sangeet apartments, Juhu, around midnight on June 3, 2013.

Days later, Sooraj -- son of veteran actor couple Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab -- was arrested and charged with abetment to suicide.

An American citizen, Jiah was stated to be in a relationship with Sooraj who was then trying to make his mark in Bollywood.

She apparently left a note, which pointed the needle of suspicion towards Sooraj, who was later arrested in connection with her death.

In a major shocker for Bollywood, Sooraj was booked under IPC Section 306 for allegedly abetting Jiah's suicide, a week after Jiah ended her life.

Subsequently, the case was handed over to the CBI after repeated pleas by Jiah's mother Rabia Khan and directives of the Bombay High Court on 3 July, 2014.

In her note, Jiah had narrated her ordeal, intimate relationship, physical abuse, mental and physical torture she suffered allegedly at the hands of Sooraj.

The prosecution in the case had examined 22 witnesses, including Jiah's mother Rabia, while Advocate Prashant Patil appeared for Sooraj. IANS

Mumbai Special CBI Court acquitted actor Sooraj Pancholi of aiding Jiah Khan's suicide.

Actor Sooraj Pancholi acquitted in Jiah Khan suicide case

A Mumbai Special CBI Court on Friday acquitted actor Sooraj Pancholi in the sensational Jiah Khan death case, in which he was charged with abetment to suicide.

New Delhi: All the body functions slow down with age. One can follow the following five aspects to improve the metabolism:
<h2>Physical activity: </h2>
Include yoga, weight training, being active throughout the day, any form of sport, walking, jogging or swimming four-five days a week.

Eating at least 30 to 40 grams of dietary fibre, fermented-rich food (pro, prebiotics) every day.

Drinking two to three litres of water, and herbal tea (including herbs, and spices).

Ensure to have seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.

Expose oneself to the five elements of nature (sunlight, earth, water, space, air)


What are a few lifestyle changes a woman can implement to manage weight?

Being active in the form of any physical activity, can be a simple step too.

Intermittent fasting or fasting once a week with more rest periods

Eating a fibre-rich diet.

Practice mindful eating.

Set a regular sleep schedule, if the sleep cycle is varied, especially in women, it affects the hormonal regulation activity in the body which might increase body weight.

Drinking water. Try to do mouthful drinking, where you leave the water in your mouth for about 30 seconds.

Get into the habit of prioritising themselves.


As bone density in women starts to diminish after a certain age, how to cope with it and avoid the consequences

The main cause of reduced bone density is the lack of ca+2 and vitamin d in the body. As most women don't expose their bodies to direct sunlight the vitamin d in the body is reduced which in turn results in the loss of ca+2 too. The following will help.

Sun exposure for vitamin d with the intake of good fat (avocado, nuts, coconut butter, ghee), vitamin- c, vitamin k, and magnesium-rich food (A diet consisting of more vegetables, and fruits for its vitamins and minerals).

Adding calcium-rich food throughout the day (1000 to 1200 mg per day).

Physical activity which includes stretching and strengthening


As there is a rise in cardiac issues in women, what are a few recommendations to maintain a healthy heart according to naturopathy?

Enough sleep, in quality and quantity

Follow a regular pattern of sleep (7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep) daily.

There should be a gap of a minimum of two hours between dinner and bedtime.

Avoid blue and bright light exposure instead prefer low-lying dim lights of yellow, red and orange colours.

Avoid the usage of electronic gadgets, strong beverages, heavy physical activity and late-night binging before sleeping.

Don't engage in stressful thoughts or plan for the next day while going to sleep.

Try to recollect the happiest moment of the day

Have a warm water bath or a hot foot bath before bedtime.

"Early bird and late night owls"- ensure that 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. is the sleeping window.

Once you get up from the bed expose yourself to natural light.

A nap can be taken in the afternoon post-, for 15-20 minutes.

Manage weight and stress in the form of physical activity and healthy eating

Physical activity:

Being constantly active is more important than being intensively active.

Do what you love doing - select activities based on your personal needs and preferences, and don't follow the crowd.

Try to include different varieties of exercises like walking, swimming, climbing, cycling, sports activity etc.

<h2>Healthy eating:</h2>

Eat fresh rainbow-coloured raw food

Include seasonable fruits and vegetables

Include 50 per cent raw food daily

Once a week - Go completely raw, with thick smoothies, gazpacho, soups (thick and thin), juices, intermittent fasting and fasting.

<h2>What to avoid:</h2>

Processed - When ingredients such as oil, sugar, and salt, are added to food and packed (Eg. simple bread, cheese, tofu, canned tuna)

Refined - Food that has been processed in some way or changed (white bread, rice, noodles, cakes, flavoured yoghurt)

Grilled - A form of cooking that involves dry heat applied to the surface of food commonly above, below or at the sides.

Fried - Food cooked in a pan that contains hot fat or oil.

Food additives - Substances added to food to preserve or enhance taste, appearance or other sensory qualities.

Food preservatives - Prevent the growth of micro-organisms such as yeast, and slows the oxidation of fat that cause rancidity (packed refrigerated, frozen, canned, dried food).

Junk food - High in calories from sugar, fat, and sodium with little or no dietary fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals (cakes, biscuits, hot chips, burgers, pizzas, sugary drinks, sweetened caffeine drinks. alcoholic drinks, gluten-rich food etc.).

Refined oils - soya bean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, palm oil, rice bran oil

Salty, sugary food, dairy food products.

Intake of saturated fat and animal protein

(Dr Cijith Sreedhar, Chief Medical Officer, Prakrithi Shakti, Naturopathy). IANS

All the body functions slow down with age. How to boost metabolism in women after 40.

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