Snakebites highest in Asia, Africa

Sri Lanka has the second highest envenoming (33,000) or venom delivered through biting each year, researchers said. In an article published in US-based open access Public Library of Science Medicine, researchers said the burden from snakebites was highest in South and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.Researchers said more than 400,000 people are poisoned by snakebites worldwide each year and 20,000 of them die, with most cases occurring in the poorest countries.

Data on snakebites is far from comprehensive as most of them happen in places with poor healthcare systems and where record-keeping is generally poor or non-existent.

For this study, the researchers trawled through 3,256 published articles and extracted data on 68 countries. They said, according to a conservative estimate, there are 421,000 cases of envenoming each year, leading to at least 20,000 deaths.

But the actual figures could be several times higher. “These figures may be as high as 1,841,000 envenomings and 94,000 deaths. Based on the fact that envenoming occurs in about one in every four snakebites, between 1.2 million and 5.5 million snakebites could occur annually,” wrote the team led by Janaka de Silva at the University of Kelaniya.

India has the highest figures - with 81,000 envenomings and 11,000 deaths each year, followed by Sri Lanka with 33,000 envenomings, Vietnam (30,000), Brazil (30,000), Mexico (28,000) and Nepal (20,000). The researchers stressed that snakebite was a badly neglected problem in many countries as they often go unreported.

- Reuters Life
 

First true blue roses unveiled in Tokyo

The world's first true blue roses were unveiled at a Tokyo flower show after 20 years of research and a $30 million investment, flower show officials say. The blue flowers, which traditionally signify mystery or attaining the impossible, go on sale next fall, the company that developed them said.

The blooms are genetically modified and implanted with a gene that simulates the synthesis of blue pigment pansies, The Daily Telegraph reported. The creation of blue roses - long thought impossible - was masterminded by the Melbourne, Australia, Florigene biotechnology subsidiary of Suntory Ltd., a Japanese company. The company hopes to open up a global market for blue flowers worth more than $300 million, the Telegraph said.

Previous blue roses have been created by dyeing white roses, since roses lack a gene to produce delphinidin, the primary plant pigment that produces true blue flowers.

- UPI
 

Assistance for differently abled O/L candidates

Last week we informed you that the Examinations Department has made plans to design this year’s GCE Ordinary Level question papers to test the students’ intelligence. This wouldn’t be the only novel initiative at the O/L examination. The Examinations Department also plans to assist differently abled candidates at this year’s exam, to be held from December 8 to 20.

Many students suffering from various forms of physical or mental disabilities sit for local exams. They might lack some of the faculties that are available to normal students.

This is why they need to be assisted by examination staff. One such measure is to provide special seats to those who cannot sit on normal seats. Special instruments would be provided to those requiring them; they will also be given more time to answer the examination papers.

School candidates who need such special facilities have to get the recommendation of the principal and the doctor who treats him/her. Private candidates will be selected during an interview conducted by the Special Education Unit. Over 200 candidates have applied for the special facilities.

Meanwhile, the O/L exam is to be held in 5,300 examination centres and around 300,000 candidates are expected to sit for the exam under the new and old syllabuses. Paper marking would be carried out from December 28 to January 6.

Distribution of uniform material

The Government has spent Rs. 1,260 million to provide the school uniform material requirements for 2009. The material for the Jaffna district is expected to be shipped shortly.

The inaugural ceremony to mark the distribution of uniform material to Government schools was held at the Education Ministry, Battaramulla recently.

The first consignment of uniform material was distributed in the Moneragala, Hambantota and Polonnaruwa districts. Arrangements have been made to distribute uniform material among schools in the Kilinochchi and Mulativu districts shortly.

Uniform material, comprising 10.4 million metres for four million schoolchildren and 31,000 for Bhikkhu students, is to be distributed for the year 2009.

New reservoir to utilise Menik Ganga

The opening of the sluice gates of the Weheragala Reservoir Project, which is located in the Yala National Park on the Buttala-Kataragama Road, took place recently.

The reservoir, which had been built with a dam across the Menik Ganga, would provide water to cultivate 25,000 paddy acres for the benefit of farmers during both Yala and Maha seasons.

This makes use of the water of the Menik Ganga, which had till now being unutilised. The project had started in 2006 and had cost Rs. 1,722 million to date.

When construction work of the reservoir is complete, farmers at Weerawila, Debarawewa, Thanamalwila and Pannegamuwa would be able to carry out cultivation work during both seasons. The project is also expected to provide a solution to the acute shortage of drinking water during the Kataragama pilgrimage season.

Old bacteria relied on arsenic, not water

US scientists say they have discovered ancient bacteria that relied on arsenic, rather than water, to grow during photosynthesis. The discovery, which the scientists said likely dates to a few billion years ago, came in research funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Exobiology Programme and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The finding is said to add an important dimension to the arsenic cycle "and highlights a previously unsuspected process that may have been essential for establishing the arsenic cycle on the ancient Earth," the USGS said. The arsenic cycle occurs when enzymes trigger micro-organisms to convert inorganic arsenic to organic arsenicals.

The discovery came during a study of two small hot spring-fed ponds on the southeastern shore of Paoha Island in Mono Lake, California.

The research that included scientists from Duquesne University, the University of Georgia and Southern Illinois University appears in the journal Science.

 –UPI
 

Special days commemorated this week

*International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women

November 25 is International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women. Events connected with the day are organised by the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

The resolution declaring this day was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1999. The origin of this date goes back to 1960, when the three Mirabal sisters from the Dominican Republic were violently killed for their political activism. The sisters, known as the ‘Unforgettable Butterflies’, became a symbol of the crisis of violence against women in Latin America.

November 25 was chosen to commemorate their lives and promote global recognition of gender violence, and has been observed in Latin America since the 1980s.

* World Waterfalls Day

November 26 is observed as World Waterfalls Day to highlight the importance of these natural wonders to the balance of nature, as well as their uses such as in generating hydropower.

Little Dina’s adventures

The third book in the children’s books series ‘Exciting Adventures of Little Dina - Lanka’s Seven-year Old Wonder Girl’ has been released by Rodney Mervin Downall.

The new book presents two stories - ‘Little Dina visits Kandy’s friendship village’ and ‘A touch of Little Dina’s magic’. They are exciting adventure stories about the little girl Dina.