Thursday 28 November 2013

Robotutor

Researchers at Stanford University in California have built an artificially intelligent tutor which can decode and assess submitted codes as a whole.'Codewebs', the software, can deliver fast and precise feedback to thousands of online students within a few moments. The capability of the 'roboteacher', as per the claim, is certainly extraordinary.


It is well known that online courses are growing day by day and a human teacher cannot guide and give feedback to thousands of students simultaneously. But, Codewebs can compare submissions from thousands in courses offered by Coursera with database and cluster them according to similarity with one another. The stunning feature of the software is that it can give solutions of submissions as a whole and not for each slice of code. The program can also be extended to quantitative subjects like Mathematics and thousands of students across the globe can learn simultaneously, one of the researchers has claimed.

The researchers will demonstrate Codewebs at the Neural Information Processing System Conference in Lake Tahoe, Nevada in December.





Monday 25 November 2013

Cholesterol - A Different Viewpoint

A Lipid Profile and consequent detection of cholesterol above safe range is often pressing the panic button for many  and the people start taking anti-cholesterol medicines to avoid heart related diseases. Now-a-days doctors are also prescribing statins (anti-cholesterol medicines) without fully and periodically checking liver and muscle problems of patients.

But experts in the field are suggesting heart-healthy diet, limiting alcohol intake, avoid smoking and regular body-sweating physical exercises instead of statins in cases of moderate increase of LDL (low density lipoprotein - a bad cholesterol ). A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that even in critical situations of heart disease, Omega-3 more increased the chances of being alive than statins.

Cholesterol and Medicine

Experts say that despite the effectiveness of statins to restrain the bad cholesterol, its' side effects including muscle ache, abdominal cramping, bloating, diarrhea, rash, constipation and, above all, kidney damage cannot be ignored. Recently, a trial over 1000 people in Canada has established  that kidneys are damaged when trying to eliminate large amount of muscle breakdown caused by prolong use of statins above 10 mg.

It is well known that 95% of cholesterol in human body is produced by the liver irrespective of what we consume. It is produced in the human body because cholesterol plays a vital role for development and functions of the brain along with preparing different important hormones,vitamin D etc. Again, paucity of cholesterol may lead to diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Osteoporosis,  liver and eye related diseases etc.

Since either very high or very low level of cholesterol  is not welcome for good health and  high level of bad cholesterol is a symptom and not a disease itself, it should be controlled by changing the life style and food habit, experts say. 

Saturday 23 November 2013

Legal letter from Wikipedia

Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopedia, has sent a Cease and Desist letter to a public relations firm in USA. Wikipedia, being a public edited knowledge hub, has long been subjected to vandalism. As it is an widely read portal, a lot of individuals and organisations try to use it for their vested interest. Generally the volunteer Wikipedia editors and administrators keep track on these editings according to given guidelines. But this firm, called Wiki-PR, claimed to be the largest Wikipedia consulting firm on their website, boasted of an Easy way to tell your story on Wikipedia. The Cease and Desist letter sent to the firm says...

We have come to the opinion that, based on the evidence we have to date, that agents of your company have engaged in sockpuppetry or meatpuppetry to, among other things, make it appear as if certain articles are written by unbiased sources when in fact those articles are authored by Wiki-PR for money.


The Wikimedia community of volunteer writers, editors, photographers, and other contributors has built Wikipedia into the world's most popular encyclopedia, with a reputation for transparency, objectivity, and lack of bias.

When outside publicity firms and their agents conceal or misrepresent their identity by creating or allowing false, unauthorized or misleading user accounts, Wikipedia's reputation is harmed.

The complete letter is given below...

Legal letter from Wikipedia

Cease and Desist letter from Wikipedia

Wikipedia letter to Wiki-PR


This news story if being covered in Wikipedia itself !!! For updates please follow Wikipedia. You may also follow Wikimedia's post.

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Re-creation of Extinct Animal

Re-creating a hairy mammoth or a long-tail passenger pegion is no longer fantasy tales or science fiction stories. The extinct species can re-born by dint of the "D-Extinction" technique already successfully used by scientists.

D-Extinction technique requires an effective cell or DNA of the extinct animal to be placed in the ovum of a organically similar existing living being for fertilization. By a complex process the technique enables conception of  sarogate mother. Thus, an existing elephant can be a mother of an extinct mammoth. Using the technique in the year 2003 Scientist Jose Falch re-created a bucardo ( pyrenean iben ) goat , an extinct animal, which was wandering long back in the hilly region between France and Spain.

Re-creation of Extinct Animal


But there is  a debate among scientists about the effectiveness of the complex D-Extinction technique to increase diversity of creatures. Because, it is already established that most of the creatures lost during evolution process are due to climate change and consequent changes in geological variety and food chain. So, re-creating a few extinct species is likely to be unnatural and unsustainable in present climatic scenario.

Sunday 17 November 2013

Right Diet and No Medicine

A recent World Health Organization report has concluded that by increasing people's consciousness up to 80% of diseases can be avoided and, US metabolic medicine expert and anti-ageing specialist Dr. Ron Rosedale  has indicated the way to bid adieu to diseases. 

According to Rosedale good health stretches both youth and longevity and, key to health is metabolism that turns food to essentials for life. He said that optimal intake of fat and protein could lead to good health and recommended diet regimen rich with fiber and animal proteins from non-grain eating animals. From a great variety of available food he suggested paneer, fish, chicken, soups, salads, mushroom, curd, nuts, black soybean, lemon, fresh coconut and raw guava. He also suggested to  restrict white potato, bread, cereals along with banana, grapes, honeydew, pineapple and pumpkin. The Rosedale diet is all about eating when we are hungry but avoid all starchy carbohydrates.

Right Diet and No Medicine

Dr. Rosedale has opined that some medicines that reduce chances of heart disease by 50% also accelerate the risk of cancer by more than 100%. He claimed that by manipulating the insulin genetic pathway, it was possible to prolong life vastly. Currently, the studies are going on at Harvard, Southern Illinois University, Edinburgh, Cambridge and host of other places.

Pointing to funded research by pharmaceutical corporations to promote medicines, Rosedale said the firms would welcome more diabetic and heart patients to make money and severely criticized US policy encouraging high-carb and low-fat diet.   

Thursday 14 November 2013

Tallest Statue Versus Tallest Temple

Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister aspirant, laid the foundation stone of the tallest statue of the world in the middle of the Narmada riverbed of Gujarat on 31st October, 2013. His competitor and Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar has unveiled the model of the tallest temple to be constructed at Janakinagar of West Champaran district on 13th November, 2013.

Tallest Statue - Sardar Ballav Bhai Patel


Tallest Temple - Virat Ramayan Mandir


However, in comparison to height and costs of the proposals, Modi is far ahead of Nitish Kumar. While the proposed "Statue of Unity" is 240 metre tall ( including 58 metre pedestal ) the "Virat Ramayana Temple" will be only 122 metre in height. Estimated temple construction cost, Rs.350 crore (USD 55555500 ), is also less than 1/7th of the entire project cost of the statue of the 'Iron Man of India,' Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

But, Nitish seems to be more clean in at least one count. His temple project, according to sources, will not displace anyone while the 'Statue Project' of Modi will require resettlement of 38,000 families, sources said. 

When the battle for the next Lok Sabha election is hotting up, it appears that, some national players are trying their best to draw attention of common people in the name of national unity and social harmony. Nationalistic feeling and religious beliefs of Indians are being exploited up to the hilt. Instead of announcing action plans against poverty, unemployment, price-rise and other pressing issues for national debate, politicians are busy playing with ethos of people for their own political gain.

Monday 11 November 2013

Rapid Climate Change Imminent

Scientists have claimed that the Earth's oceans have absorbed environmental heat  at a rate 15 times more in the last 60 years than the rate of heat absorption in the last 10,000 years, according to a report published in Science on 31st October, 2013.


The report has concluded that the oceans of our planet have reached the limits of heat absorption. Hence, in the absence of rapid slowdown of greenhouse gases, consequences of climate change will accelerate abnormally in near future. So, both marine and land life, existing at present, will severely suffer.

The researchers examined magnesium to calcium ratio in a species of protozoa that forms a shell. The warmer the water, the higher is the magnesium to calcium ratio in the shell.

The research, based on physical evidence, is claimed to be first to examine ocean temperature patterns of periods before 1950.

Friday 8 November 2013

Sachin Crazy Cricket Fans

After questionable first innings LBW out on the second day of Kolkata Test between India and West Indies, Sachin lovers were anxiously waiting for a mesmerizing second innings from the Master Blaster.



The television replays of the Shillington's straighter suggested that the up-climbing ball that hit Sachin on the back thigh pad, would perhaps gone over the stumps. Sachin also reportedly showed his displeasure in the players' dressing room for the decision of the umpire.

In this background, Sachin's fans were eagerly expecting an exciting second innings performance from the Little Master in his last but one Test Match in his career. But West Indies, all out for meager 168 in the second innings, is defeated by an innings and 51 runs on the third day of the match. It is a heart-breaking news for the Sachin lovers. The spectators coming out of the Eden Gardens of Kolkata are lamenting for the dismal performance of West Indies team which have not allowed them to see the Little Master batting again.


Thursday 7 November 2013

Assam Rape Festival - an Utter Nonsense


Men in India are already beginning to celebrate as the annual Assam Rape Festival is just days away. Every non-married girl age 7-16 will have the chance to flee to safety or get raped. - says National Report, an USA based website which claims to be America's #1 Independent News Team !!!

The report goes on - 24-year-old Harikrishna Majumdar told reporters that he has been training all year for this event. "I'm going to get the most rapes this year. I've been practicing all year. I rape my sister and her friends every day. I will be rape superstar number one! I will get the Baalkrishan prize this year for sure!"

Probably you are already disturbed and thinking what the hell you are reading !!! Thousands like you over the internet are, but the report went to more extent saying - 12-year-old Jaitashri Majumdar told reporters she almost made it through last year's festival without getting raped. "I came so close to not getting raped. I almost got to the 'rape-free-zone' at the edge of town, but at the last minute 9 men jumped on me and raped me. Luckily I am just recovering now so I can participate in this year’s events, otherwise I would be put to death by stoning."

Not only this, the report posted a picture taken from the following Kumbh Mela video and claimed that - Pictured here is the starting of last year’s Assam Rape Festival, which locals say was a big success.



The story was posted on November 2, 2013 10:25am and it went viral on various social media drawing hundreds of comments shaming India. Quickly leading Indian news publications FirstPost and Hindustan Times reported it as a fake news and quoted Devraj Upadhyay, the superintendent of police of Assam Police's CID, saying "We have taken up a suo moto case. It is a sensitive issue and we will take up the matter with the matter with the website". The probe will be handled by the CID's cyber crime cell.

Surprisingly, the website, which was registered on February 22, 2013, does not mention anywhere that it is a news faking website and through private registration they have hidden their true identity. Though a little digging gave us 2 clues to trace their identity...
1. Google Analytics ID: UA-38890568-1
2. Adsense ID (Google can always tell investigators where they send payment for these IDs) :-
i. ca-pub-3748662116234989
ii. ca-pub-7114992468679543
iii. ca-pub-5823001074348962
iv. ca-pub-9120926301593666

Moreover, in their Facebook page, to malign India as a nation, National Report warns - We would recommend foreign travelers avoid #India this week during the #AssamRapeFestival! Don't say we didn't warn you!





Update 1: Surprise does not end here. We have found that their sister site Super Official News published the same news saying it happened in Punjab !!!

Update 2: National Report fake editor Nigel Covington proudly shows off his criticism on his Facebook profile.

Update 3: In a Twitter conversation National Report has denied an apology for this derogative post.


Tuesday 5 November 2013

ISRO Mars Orbiter Mission of India

Mars Orbiter Mission satellite has been lifted from Sriharikota Space Center of India in Andhra Pradesh according to time Schedule on 5th November,2013. A PSLV C-25 rocket will take it to the red planet and the satellite will be operational after September,2014.

Mangalyaan - India's Mars Mission


Instead of 15 surveillance instruments as per original plan of the Mission Mars, the satellite is carrying 5 instruments for collection of data and survey of  specific areas of the planet.This change has been introduced by the Mission Authority to match convenient time and to avoid delay of the launch to 2016, a report says.

Two thousand scientists of ISRO from 27 centers are now busy to monitor the Mars Orbiter from different parts of the country. The satellite, when operational, will search for life/ possibility of earlier life in the dusty red planet.

Jet Propulsion Lab of NASA, European Space Agency and Japanese Aerospace Exploration are helping the Mars Orbiter Mission of India.

UPdate: Six days after successful launch of the Mars Orbiter, the rocket carrying the satellite has failed to position itself on the scheduled orbital path one lakh km. above earth surface on Sunday night.

Disturbance in the flow of liquid fuel to the engine has led to the failure to raise the apogee to one lakh km., sources said. However, ISRO scientists will carry out a supplementary orbit raising mechanism to lift the rocket from present 78,276km. to 100,000km. at 5am on Tuesday.

Update : Mars Orbiter Mission ( MOM) ) was  raised to 1 lakh km. apogee on 16th November,2013. It was final orbit-raising exercise of the MOM before its 300-day journey to the Red Planet starting on December 01, 2013.

During the next two weeks  the spacecraft will gain velocity to travel through gravitational fields of the Earth  (upto 1 million km. ) and the Sun ( up to 600 million km.), until it enters gravity fields of Mars on scheduled 24th September,2014, according to ISRO sources.

Sunday 3 November 2013

Night of Horror

Furious sound of crackers, hazardous gases and chemical particles of fireworks engulfed the night of the Kali Puja and Diwali in the City of Joy. Consciousness was defeated  yesterday by demonic joy of many oblivious of the effects of crackers and fireworks. Diwali night in Kolkata had been turned into a night of horror. Many householders shut windows and doors, streets were half-empty and even street dogs took shelters to avoid impact of fireworks and high decibel crackers.

Night of Horror


As per measurements of pollution experts in some parts of the city on 3rd November, the existing pollution has increased considerably during the Kali Puja night. Dust particles in air is measured 7 times above normal, lead 10 times, aluminium 5 times, cadmium 13 times and cobalt 65 times.

In the context of sound and air pollution South Kolkata was ahead of its' northern counterpart. However, the frenzied dance of sound was most in some areas of Salt Lake, Burrabazar and within the Government hospital compounds of Nil Ratan Sarkar, P.G and M.R.Bangur, a report says. Hospital staff living the compounds and enjoying the crackers did not care for hundreds of hospitalized patients.

According to doctors different dermatological problems, breathing and heart related problems, allergic reactions, hearing problems and host of other diseases are bound to be created or enhanced by the alarming increase in the tradition of high decibel crackers and chemical based fireworks.

Sustained campaign for pollution- free Diwali and strong measures of state Pollution Control Board against offenders are absent.

Update : Meanwhile on Saturday night a local gang, at Ashoknagar of North 24 Pargana district in Bengal, killed Pintoo Biswas who protested against bursting of crackers in the locality to ensure relief to an old  sick man. Another physically challenged youth was brutally beaten up and had to be hospitalized and his wheel chair was smashed near Charu Market Police Station in Kolkata for same reason on Saturday. Manhandling of protesters, including women, is continuing even in day-time in the last two days in Kolkata.

Friday 1 November 2013

Natural Resistance to AIDS

Scientists from EPFL and the Vaud university hospital center have created the first map of human  HIV resistance, according to a report published in eLife on 29.10.2013.


The research has revealed that despite natural human resistance, the virus survives but replicates more slowly. It also shows how the virus adapts itself to human defense mechanism. Human immune system, it is reported, constantly develops methods to fight HIV and the genome of the virus also mutates at a rate of millions a day.

It is claimed that the findings of the research will help determining new therapies according to individual human's natural defense. The map will also create opportunities for targeted treatments taking into account strengths and weaknesses of the HIV-infected patients.