Magnetic discs to fight cancer

Tiny magnetic discs, just a millionth of a metre in diameter could be used to kill cancer cells, according to a study published on November 29.

Laboratory tests found the so-called “nanodiscs”, around 60 billionths of a metre thick, could be used to disrupt the membranes of cancer cells, causing them to self-destruct.

The discs are made from an iron-nickel alloy, which move when subjected to a magnetic field, damaging the cancer cells, the report published in Nature Materials said.

One of the study’s authors, Elena Rozhlova of Argonne National Laboratory in the United States, said subjecting the discs to a low magnetic field for around ten minutes was enough to destroy 90 per cent of cancer cells in tests.

In a commentary on the report, Jon Dobson of Keele University in Britain said antibodies could be used to direct the discs towards tumour cells.

“This provides an elegant and rapid technique for targeting tumour destruction without the side effects associated with systemic treatments such as chemotherapy,” Dobson wrote.

-AFP

A nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmation dog.

The children started discussing what the dog’s duties might be.

“They use him to keep crowds back,” said one youngster.

“No,” said another, “he’s just for good luck.”

A third child concluded. “No silly, they use the dogs to find the fire hydrant!”

*********

What do monkeys sing at Christmas?

Jungle bells,

Jungle bells..!

****

What did the bald man say when he got a comb for Christmas?

Thanks, I’ll never part with it!

****

What do you get if you cross an apple with a Christmas tree?

A pineapple!

****

What did the big candle say to the little candle?

I’m going out tonight!

*****

December 13

Dr Samuel Johnson, English writer and lexicographer died in 1784.

Ven.Kosgoda Sri Dhammawasa Maha Nayaka Thera was born in 1907.

Sumiththa Amarasinghe, Sinhala film cameraman died in 1995.

E.C.B.Wijesinghe, dramatist died in 1981.

December 14

George Washington, the first president of the United States died in 1799.

Nostradamus, world famous French astrologer was born in 1503.

Raj Kapoor, Hindi film actor and film maker (Sangam) was born in 1924.

C.de.S.Kulathilake, musician, was born in 1926.

King George VI of Great Britain was born in 1895.

December 15

Gajaman Nona (Dona Isabella Cornelia), Sinhala poetess died in 1814.

Walter Elias (Walt) Disney, American entertainer died in 1966.

Hema Basnayake, a former Chief Justice died in 1981.

Alexander Gustave , French engineer who built the Eiffel tower was born in 1832.

Ven.Kathaluwe Sri Gunarathana Thera passed away in 1833.

Nero, Roman Emperor (54-68 A.D.) was born in 37 A.D.

December 16

Dr Arthur C.Clarke, Science fiction author was born in 1917.

W.Somerset Maughan, English writer died in 1965.

Jane Austen, English novelist (Pride and Prejudice) was born in 1775.

Liv Ullman, Norwegian film actress was born in 1939.

Sir Noel Coward, English playwright was born in 1899.

December 17

Ludwig Von Beethoven, German composer was born in 1770.

Sir Oliver Goonetillake, a former Governor General of Ceylon died in 1978.

Ven.Battaramulle Sri Subhuthi Thera passed away in 1915.

December 18

Stanley Senanayake, a former IGP died in 1989.

Steven Spielberg, American film director was born in 1947.

December 19

Raphael Tennakoon, Sinhalese poet was born in 1900.

Emile Jane Bronte, English writer (Wuthering Heights) died in 1848.

Leonid Brezhnev,a former prime minister of the U.S.S.R. (1964-1982) was born in 1906.

December 13

De Zoysa, lying-in hospital for women opened in 1879.

Sir Francis Drake set sail on his voyage around the world from Plymouth, England in 1577.

December 14

Ceylon was admitted to United Nations in 1955.

Women voted in a British general election for the first time in 1918.

Dinamina Newspaper acquired by D.R.Wijewardene in 1914

December 15

First Sinhala novel "Meena" written by A. Simon De Silva was published in 1905.

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ceylon was established in 1959.

December 16

Central Bank of Ceylon was established in 1949.

National Apprenticeship Board established in 1971.

December 17

Bhutan National Day.

First recorded flight made by Wright Brothers in North Carolina, U.S.A. in 1903.

December 18

International Migrants Day declared by United Nation Organization in year 2000.

Nigeria National Day; gained independence from France in 1958.

December 19

Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya was founded in 1864.

Federal Party of Ceylon was founded in 1949.

Laxapana Hydro Electrical Scheme (Second stage) commenced in 1953.

Compiled by W.A. Rusiru JAYASURIYA

Underprivileged schools to be given laptops

Over 1,500 students in 13 schools will benefit:

by Ananda KANNANGARA

A record number of 1,500 school children in 13 underprivileged schools in the country will be given laptop computers under the 'One Laptop Per Child' (OLPC) programme, conducted by the Education Ministry in collaboration with the University of Colombo.

Speaking to Junior Observer, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that steps have already been taken to extend this 'One Laptop Per Child' programme even to other schools in the country within the next two years.

Minister Premajayantha said that giving computers to each student, especially who are studying in grade one to five classes is a costly programme, but their main objective is to improve the IT knowledge of the younger generation who are the leaders in the next century.

He also thanked several individuals, especially members of Past Pupil Associations of various schools for extending a helping hand to make this programme a success.

"Unlike in the past, children from their small ages now show a great interest to obtain a knowledge of Information Technology and English, considering that these two subjects are the key tools that will help to continue their higher studies and also to find employment in the future".

Speaking further, the Minister emphasised the importance of having a better knowledge of Information Technology and English by school children and said that under the `One Laptop Per Child' concept, the Government has decided to provide laptop computers to every student, so that each student could even save their important lessons in their own computers.

Minister Premajayantha also focused attention towards the children in remote schools, since majority of them do not have electricity to use their computers.

He assured that the Power and Energy Ministry has already taken steps to provide solar power electricity to a large number of areas within the next one year.

The Minister also said at present all Government schools in the country own about 4,000 computer centres and during the first ten months of this year his Ministry had provided 500 computer centres to schools.

"Our target is to establish another 1,000 computer centres before the end of 2010 to schools, including the Northern and Eastern provinces," he added.

Many school dropouts in Kurunegala, Puttalam

A recent survey carried out by the North Western Province Education Department has revealed, that there are 5,660 school dropouts in the Kurunegala and Puttalam Districts. The Provincial Education Ministry of PC has planned to re-direct these dropouts to the educational system by 2010 and arrangements have been made to direct the school dropouts for formal or non-formal education.

Details of these dropouts have been collected with the help of Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladharies. Parents of these children too will be educated on the benefits of sending their children to schools.

These children have not completed their education due to ignorance, addiction to liquor and also as a result of parents going abroad for jobs, leaving their children in the care of their grandparents.

Deputy Director of Education, Kurunegala R.M. Dharmadasa said the NWP-PC spends Rs. 4 million annually for the project.All principals have been educated and details of non-schooling children should be forwarded by principals to the Divisional Secretaries to take measures to provide educational opportunities to these children, he said.

Copenhagen

UN Climate Summit hotting up

The United Nations' summit on climate change which commenced on December 7 and will conclude on December 18 in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is being held on the heels of the Kyoto system which has failed to achieve its goal of curbing the level of greenhouse gas emissions.The 11-day summit, will be carbon neutral - no mean feat for a relatively long meeting of more than 12,000 delegates over 72 countriesfrom

The United Nations' climate summit of December 1997, in Kyoto, Japan, produced a multi-lateral agreement in which nations committed themselves to reducing the emissions of ozone depletion gases or the so-called greenhouse gases (GHGs) that cause global warming - including carbon dioxide (Co2) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Over 184 countries were signatories to the Kyoto Protocol, which is the cornerstone pact of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The protocol set legally binding emission reduction targets for about 37 industrialised or developed nations in 2012, while developing countries, by virtue of the agreement, are required to seek mitigation and adaptation supports (including technology transfers) and compensations from the developed world.Leading industrial countries like the United States (US), China, India and Brazil did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

The Copenhagen Summit, therefore, is expected to set agenda on issues that will shape a successor global treaty to the current Kyoto Protocol, which runs out in 2012.Carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent - Six greenhouse gases are limited by the Kyoto Protocol. Each gas has a different global warming potential.The overall warming effect of this cocktail of gases is often expressed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent - the amount of CO2 that would create the same amount of warming.CO2 equivalent is often measured in kilotonnes (Kt) or thousands of tonnes, and gigatonnes (Gt) or billions of tonnes.