Risks in using Ebola survivors’ blood as remedy |
- Risks in using Ebola survivors’ blood as remedy
- Singapore to raise toll charges following Malaysia’s hike
- Davis Cup: Federer and Wawrinka puts Swiss in control of semi
- Size does matter ― buyers dig larger-sized Apple iPhones
- Florida’s Epcot Disneyland to get ‘Frozen’ attraction
- Buying exam answers for 12-year-olds is cowardly and idiotic
| Risks in using Ebola survivors’ blood as remedy Posted: 12 Sep 2014 05:58 PM PDT
Ebola has killed more than 2,400 people, about half of those infected in the latest outbreak sweeping the West African nations of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria. There are no drugs on the market to cure or treat Ebola, no vaccines to prevent it. While trials are under way to accelerate therapies to people in need, medical experts have turned to the idea of using survivors' blood as a remedy. The idea behind the approach is that someone who fought off Ebola is stocked with antibodies against the virus, and these protective antibodies can be transferred from one person to another. The therapy was initially developed decades ago for the treatment of rabies, and can be delivered by the blood or blood products of humans or even animals. "In the very old days horse serum was used a source of antibodies to treat certain infections," said Jeffrey Klausner, professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. Doctors could either give a patient a blood transfusion, or use serum, a portion of the whole blood in which the cells and solid parts of the blood have been removed. Christian missionary doctor Rick Sacra, 51, has received two blood plasma transfusions from Kent Brantly, 33, another US doctor who made a full recovery from Ebola last month, the Nebraska Medical Centre said Thursday. Brantly, who was also working in Liberia for a Christian aid group, was given an experimental drug, ZMapp, as well as blood from a Liberian boy who beat Ebola. Sacra came down with Ebola while working as an obstetrician in Liberia. His health is improving, but doctors are not sure if the reason is Brantly's donation, or a different experimental drug that Sacra took, or simply modern hospital care. "We just administered everything we had access to, basically," said Phil Smith, director of the Nebraska Medical Centre biocontainment unit. That kind of kitchen-sink approach, while necessary in a crisis, makes scientific study of any individual therapy's effectiveness impossible. Some studies have suggested there may not be many neutralising antibodies in serum from humans who have survived Ebola, said Noel Tordo, senior virologist at France's Pasteur Institute. "In rabies, most of the antibodies in a human or an animal would be neutralising, they will neutralise the virus, but in Ebola it is still not sure. We don't know," he said. "That doesn't mean that there are none, but there is not that much," he said. Syphilis, HIV, hepatitis The notion of using blood transfusions from survivors may seem like a quick and low-cost option for the West Africa outbreak. Indeed, some 200 experts convened by the WHO earlier this month agreed that blood therapies and convalescent serums can be used to fight Ebola immediately. But in practice, there are risks, according to Francois Bricaire, former head of infectious and tropical diseases at the Pitie Salpetriere Hospital in Paris. "You have to make sure the serum is safe to use first, to avoid spreading HIV or hepatitis," he said. "It's a common technology in developed countries, but difficult to put in practice in Africa," he added. "In the midst of an epidemic, the major preoccupation is not to check everything." Klausner agreed, saying that without adequate measures, doctors could be putting patients at risk of diseases such as AIDS and syphilis, or bad reactions to the transfusion. "My concerns in any use of whole blood, serum or antibody therapy would be the safety of the product and the conditions of transfusion or injection," Klausner said. "Depending on the setting whole blood therapy could be fraught will all sorts of concerns and complications like transfusion reactions, transmission of other blood borne pathogens and would have to be conducted under rigorous medical supervision to be safe." — AFP  |
| Singapore to raise toll charges following Malaysia’s hike Posted: 12 Sep 2014 05:50 PM PDT
There will also be a new toll charge introduced for vehicles, except motorcycles, entering Singapore — matching the move by the Malaysian authorities in imposing a new exit toll at the Johor Baru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex. Malaysia's toll charges kicked in last month despite robust protests by transport companies and commuters who frequently use the Causeway, with new toll rates several times that of previous rates: The charges for a round-trip from the Malaysian side range from RM8.20 (S$3.25) for taxis to RM33.30 for heavy goods vehicles. Motorcycles are exempt from the toll. Singapore's new toll charges for a round-trip across the Causeway will be similar, ranging from S$3.30 for taxis to S$13 for heavy goods vehicles. For cars, the cost is S$6.50. Toll charges for the Second Link are unchanged and the LTA said it would follow suit, should Malaysia reduce or do away with its toll charges. Commuters and businesses on both sides of the Causeway said they expected LTA's announcement, given that it had been on the cards. Singaporeans who travel across the Causeway regularly said they could cut down their trips, while Malaysians who work here said they could only hope the tolls will not be raised further. Businesses lamented the higher costs, with the National Association of Travel Agents (NATAS) voicing concern about the impact on travel agencies. Anita Tan, NATAS chief operating officer, said the association will engage the authorities to highlight concerns. "The present situation has affected all commuters adversely and this may have an impact on tourism between both countries," she said. A Malaysian bus association told TODAY that the higher costs would probably have to be passed on to customers. Tan Peng Chai, president of the Johor Bahru Bus Association of Factory Bus Operators and Drivers, said the new toll rates would mean an extra S$500 to S$600 in operating costs per bus each month for his firm. Each bus makes two to three round-trips across the Causeway daily. Tan said he would be appealing to his clients, which number about 20 and are mostly firms in the electronics and manufacturing sector, to bear the increase in costs. The association has written to four Malaysian government agencies on the increases, but has not received promising responses so far, said Tan. Johor State Assembly Opposition leader Boo Cheng Hau of the Democratic Action Party said the increased tolls would hurt businesses in Johor Baru. He called on both governments to work together to abolish tolls and speed up the rapid transit system link between Singapore and Malaysia. Matching of toll charges "ensures a fair distribution of total revenues from the crossings", Senior Minister of State (Transport) Josephine Teo told Parliament this week. The moves by both countries, which some described as a tit-for-tat, began in July when the LTA announced increases in Vehicle Entry Permit fees and Goods Vehicle Permit fees from August for foreign-registered vehicles entering Singapore. The increases were to ensure that the cost of owning and using a foreign-registered vehicle in Singapore corresponded with that of owning and using a Singapore-registered one. Malaysia then said it would impose a vehicle-entry permit fee on foreign-registered vehicles entering via Johor Baru. When the hikes began on August 1, some bus drivers in Malaysia refused to pay the higher charges and stopped their vehicles at the Johor checkpoint, causing heavy traffic congestion for hours. Thousands of commuters had to walk across the Causeway. — TODAY |
| Davis Cup: Federer and Wawrinka puts Swiss in control of semi Posted: 12 Sep 2014 05:49 PM PDT
Federer, bidding to add to his substantial collection of honours by steering the Alpine nation to a first Davis Cup triumph, delighted a capacity crowd in the Palexpo Arenawith a 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4 victory. "Margins were small in the first set," Federer said. "In the second set I was finally able to get the break and that broke the deadlock for me a little bit. I was able to play with the lead which is always easier. "It was quite frustrating at times when the court is pretty quick. We didn't think it was going to be this fast but when you do serve well you really do feel the benefit." Seventy-sixth ranked Bolelli, who was surprisingly selected for singles duty ahead of Andreas Seppi by virtue of having fewer previous defeats against the 17-times grand slam champion, stuck to his task impressively on the blue indoor court. He saved two set points in the opening tiebreak but fired a backhand wide on Federer's third, to the relief of his 33-year-old opponent who was far from his fluent best. World number three Federer finally secured the first service break of the match in the seventh game of the second set and cruised on to the 36th singles victory of his Davis Cup career. DOMINANT WAWRINKA Australian Open champion Wawrinka made light work of world number 17 Fognini and despatched the Italian 6-2 6-3 6-2 in one hour 30 minutes. After struggling to rediscover the early-season form that won him the Australian Open title, Wawrinka has spoken of his desire to win the Davis Cup and he showed his intent by firing 16 aces and 37 winners past Fognini. The fiery Swiss snatched an early break in the opening set before racing into a 4-1 lead as Fognini had no answer to the world number four's clean hitting. More crisp and punchy strokes followed over the next two sets as Wawrinka ensured Switzerland took a 2-0 lead into today's doubles. Switzerland have reached the final once, losing to the U.S. in 1992, while Italy got there in 1998, going down to Sweden. — Reuters |
| Size does matter ― buyers dig larger-sized Apple iPhones Posted: 12 Sep 2014 05:45 PM PDT
Bigger did indeed seem to be better to the throngs who jockeyed in a virtual scrum to get access to the Apple website to order iPhone 6 and the larger-size iPhone 6 Plus models. Many people took to Twitter with terse tales of frustration and perseverance needed to get through and pre-order the new Apple smartphones set for release on September 19. The delivery date for iPhone 6 Plus steadily crept outward as the morning wore on and word by mid-day here was that pre-orders had sold out for what will be the biggest Apple smartphone. Apple was promising delivery of the biggest iPhone in three to four weeks. Those ordering iPhone 6 models or early to order its larger sibling iPhone Plus are still in line to receive them as originally scheduled next Friday. Technology news website Re/code quoted an Apple spokesperson as saying "response to iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has been incredible with a record number of preorders overnight." Apple on Tuesday unveiled its first smartwatch and two large-screen versions of the iPhone, in a move to recapture its role as a trend-setter. Apple added in a new mobile wallet that will allow consumers to simply tap their phones to pay retailers. New iPhone 6 models boost screen sizes in what some see as the company catching up to a "phablet" trend combining features of smartphones and tablets. The frenzy at Apple's website yesterday indicated that in the eyes of myriad iPhone lovers, bigger is indeed better. Apple's main rival Samsung has long had a range of larger handsets and has tried to market a smartwatch of its own. The iPhone 6 will have a screen of 4.7 inches and the 6-Plus will be 5.5 inches, allowing Apple to adapt to consumers' apparent preference for bigger displays. The new iPhone 6 starts at the same price of existing iPhones at $199 for US customers while the iPhone 6 Plus will be at US$299 (RM955) with a two-year contract. Unlocked or unsubsidized models will start around US$650. Apple's move, expanding the latest iPhone with a four-inch screen, comes as consumers are switching to handsets with bigger displays to watch videos and browse the Internet. ― AFP-Relaxnews |
| Florida’s Epcot Disneyland to get ‘Frozen’ attraction Posted: 12 Sep 2014 05:40 PM PDT
The attraction in the Norway Pavilion will bring to life the world of Arendelle, the Scandinavian setting for the icy kingdom inhabited by two princesses, Anna and Elsa. It will replace a boat ride called Maelstrom. The attraction "will take our guests to Arendelle and immerse them in many of their favorite moments and music from the film," Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said on Friday on the Disney Parks blog. He did not say when the attraction would open. The "Frozen" presence will grow elsewhere at Disney parks. At the Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, Cinderella's Castle will be transformed into an ice palace each night starting in early November, Staggs said. "Frozen" is the highest-grossing animated movie of all time with global ticket sales of US$1.3 billion (RM4.16b), according to Box Office Mojo. — Reuters |
| Buying exam answers for 12-year-olds is cowardly and idiotic Posted: 12 Sep 2014 05:35 PM PDT SEPTEMBER 13 — They are only 12-year-olds but are woken up to study at 5am, self-learn for three hours after school and attend tuition three times a week in the evenings. All these on top of their full-time education in Year Six. Parents, obsessed with success and wanting their offspring to conform to their image are resorting to such heartless preparation to get their children coveted places in secondary school. The soaring cost of extra-curricular coaching, in some cases up to RM100 per hour, is not an issue to them. Contemporary life? "Tuition, extra home study and taking a child to a higher level at an earlier age are vital. A teacher with a class of 30 cannot always give my 12-year-old girl the attention she needs," says Marian Shukry, 34, who believes she's taking the right approach to her daughter's education. When I told Marian that her way of micro-managing her daughter's primary education didn't put her child in a mix of outdoor, academic and community outreach, she replied: "What would you know about the stress of putting a child through school?" Wicked, Marian? Perhaps I wasn't the right person to have asked that question given that my only daughter is 28-years-old and I haven't experienced the current odd route of primary and secondary education being filled with parental tears, anxiety and tantrums. To many like Marian, they are just doing a parent's job and preparing their children for the big wide world, even if it means depriving them of their childhood and forgoing sporting activities. Clearly, children under pressure will struggle with pushy parenting. In such an environment, even the most laid-back of parents can find themselves forced to compete by being strict and regimental. By all means give them extra help, but don't let them forget what it is like to be a child. They need to have fun. So why would any parent put their child through such an ordeal? Perhaps it's the system that can't provide an acceptable level of education. Perhaps it's mum and dad's desire to boast that their child scored straight As in the UPSR. And what do the children learn from this? That academic success is all that matters? If only parents could see that it is character that is really important and teach their children the virtues of honesty, humility and compassion. Honesty was thrown out of the window when it emerged that the UPSR Science and English papers had been leaked on the Internet, implicating tuition centres, parents, teachers and education department staff. It's disturbing that an exam paper for primary school children was leaked. These young ones should pass because they are capable instead of being assisted criminally by irresponsible people who want glory without sweating it out. The leaks pollute not only education but also the younger generation. If someone wants to destroy a nation, one has to ruin the educational system, the backbone of any country. You wouldn't be surprised if an exam paper at secondary or university level had been leaked, but this was just Year Six — a new low for Malaysia. That should concern civil society because an enduring disease that had been operating with apparent impunity has just stung primary education. Cheating in examinations is a serious offence that brings with it a sense of conspiracy that falls under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). No one should come in the way of the culprits being subjected to the OSA because the sanctity of exams and the quality of education are in question. We want those who breached the confidentiality of the question papers, from control to examination halls, to face the full force of the law. Otherwise, there is a definite risk that this unwelcome episode will go unchecked. Panicky parents with skewered perspectives need to calm down. Your children need more than just a good education. Let them enjoy their childhood. Let them play with other children as they always have done. Parenting is increasingly competitive. Bringing up a child should be about realising and achieving their individual potential, not turning them out to be what you think they should be. If parents don't understand and demonstrate the difference between right and wrong, how do we expect the kids to? To the parents who want to buy exam answers for their innocent ones, what if they depend on cheating their entire lives? Do we want a culture of corruption rooted in the future of Malaysia? * This is the personal opinion of the columnist. |
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