Citation: NOAA study suggests aerosols might be inhibiting global warming (2011, July 22) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2011-07-noaa-aerosols-inhibiting-global.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. The mystery of particles (PhysOrg.com) — A new study led by the U.S, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that tiny particles that make their way all the way up into the stratosphere may be offsetting a global rise in temperatures due to carbon emissions. And while scientists cannot yet say with any certainty where exactly the particles are coming from, they are saying that they have confidence that such particles have likely muted global temperature gains by as much as a third of what they would have been. They team, led by John Daniel, a physicist at the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) in Boulder, CO, has published their results in Science. The surprising aspect of the study is the large amount of aerosols found during a period when there weren’t any giant volcanoes going off, which leads researches to wonder if the aerosols are from the combined effects of multiple small eruptions, or human activity, such as the particles emitted from coal fired power plants, particularly in Asia, where such plants have multiplied in recent years. One thing the research is not able to tell us is what impact aerosols will likely have in the future, because of the uncertainty of their origin, which means there is no way to tell at this point if there will be more, or less of them, which means scientists can only guess if the temperature muting will continue to offset global warming from current and future carbon emissions. Lidar instruments – pointing up from the ground or down from satellites – use reflected light to measure the amounts of particles and their locations, which can influence climate. (Credit: CIRES/NOAA) Sources of aerosols reach the stratosphere from above and below, as shown in the graph. Sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbonyl sulfide (OCS), and dimethyl sulfide(DMS) are the dominant surface emissions which contribute to aerosol formation. (Credit: NOAA) More information: The Persistently Variable “Background” Stratospheric Aerosol Layer and Global Climate Change, Science DOI:10.1126/science.1206027ABSTRACTRecent measurements demonstrate that the “background” stratospheric aerosol layer is persistently variable rather than constant, even in the absence of major volcanic eruptions. Several independent data sets show that stratospheric aerosols increased in abundance since 2000. Near-global satellite aerosol data imply a negative radiative forcing due to stratospheric aerosol changes over this period of about –0.1 W/m2, reducing the recent global warming that would otherwise have occurred. Observations from earlier periods are limited but suggest an additional negative radiative forcing of about –0.1 W/m2 from 1960 to 1990. Climate model projections neglecting these changes would continue to overestimate the radiative forcing and global warming in coming decades if these aerosols remain present at current values or increase. © 2010 PhysOrg.com Explore further The new research has focused on aerosols, the tiny solid or liquid particles that exist in the atmosphere that can affect global temperatures, such as when Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines, erupted in 1991 causing a worldwide average decrease in temperature of 1 degree Celsius for more than a year. The cooling is not the result of the ash, notes co-author Susan Soloman, but from the sulfur dioxide that is thrust all the way up into the stratosphere, where it oxidizes and adds to the sun reflecting properties of other already existing particles.The team focused on the most recent decade because of the relative absence of massive volcanic eruptions , giving them a more clear environmental view of how much impact minor volcanic eruptions and human activities have on the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere and thus global temperatures. To find out what was going on, they used both ground based data and information from satellites such as Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (Calipso), to measure the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere and at what altitudes.NOAA has released a statement outlining the results of the study, and in it Daniel, says, “stratospheric aerosol increased surprisingly rapidly in that time, almost doubling during the decade,” which forms the basis of the teams conclusions that such aerosols are responsible for the slowdown in increased temperatures that scientist around the world have been expecting due to greenhouse gas emissions.
Month: August 2019
China tests 500 kilometers per hour train
(PhysOrg.com) — China tested a 500 kilometers per hour (311 mph) train over the weekend. Government officials call the record-breaking speedster a “useful reference” for China’s current high speed railway operations. The test train’s speed, according to a Monday report in China Daily, exceeds the world speed record of 300 kilometers per hour held by the Beijing Shanghai High Speed Railway. China’s latest high-speed train has a maximum tractive power of 22,800 kilowatts, compared with the 9,600 kilowatts for China Railways High-Speed (CRH) trains in service on the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed line. China denies safety lax on high-speed rail link Explore further © 2011 PhysOrg.com The train tested over the weekend is made of plastic materials reinforced with carbon fiber.The design concept is inspired by China’s ancient swords. The train’s designer and manufacturer is Sifang Locomotive, a subsidiary of China’s largest rail-vehicle maker, CSR Corp Ltd., based in Qingdao in eastern Shandong province. Last year, Technology Review carried details of the WuGuang line trains, variants of Japan’s Shinkansen and Germany’s InterCity Express high-speed trains. That line clocked impressive speeds. A rail expert at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark at the time noted that high-speed rail technology implemented in China was not entirely different from the world’s TGV, ICE, and Shinkansen systems. What was notable about China’s high-speed lines was that the system was designed from the ground up for very high-speed operation over hundreds of kilometers. China has the largest network of bullet-train track in the world. The push for a massive buildout began in 2006 and continues, with the help of government stimulus funds. Miles of line are planned to the tune of billions to accommodate a future vision of over 16,000 kilometers of dedicated high-speed rail lines connecting all of China’s major cities by 2020. China’s engineering triumphs, however, have been hindered by troubles, highly publicized in the world press. The Chinese Railways Ministry Chief, Liu Zhijun, in charge of the construction of the high-speed railway massive network, was arrested for corruption. Then came reports that corruption had sacrificed safety concerns in a haste to roll out the high-speed rails. There were stories of substandard materials used to cut costs. The New York Times reported that the concrete bases for the tracks were made with insufficient hardening agents. The tracks could possibly warp, according to the report. Safety concerns, however, seem to be top of mind in the government after the July incident where 40 people died when two bullet trains crashed into each other in Zhejiang province.Officials felt it necessary to lower operating speeds on its bullet trains whereas trains with top speeds of 350 kh would be lowered to 300 kilometers peer hour, and trains designed for 250 would instead run at 200 kilometers per hour.Similarly, Chinese officials in the latest announcement are careful to point out that future Chinese trains will not necessarily run at such high speeds as that demonstrated in the newly tested superfast train. The CSR chair Zhao Xiaogang told the Beijing Morning News that “We aim to ensure the safety of train operations.” Citation: China tests 500 kilometers per hour train (2011, December 27) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2011-12-china-kilometers-hour.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
Early stress in starlings found to lead to faster aging
Citation: Early stress in starlings found to lead to faster aging (2014, December 3) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2014-12-early-stress-starlings-faster-aging.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. A starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Photo by Theo Webb Explore further Girls under stress age more rapidly, new study reveals © 2014 Phys.org
(Phys.org) —A combined team of researchers from Newcastle University and the University of Glasgow, both in the U.K. has found that stress in young starlings can lead to shortened telomeres—which prior research has suggested leads to faster aging and development and behavioral problems later on in life. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes how they stressed young starlings and then tested them to see what it might have done to them. More information: Developmental telomere attrition predicts impulsive decision making in adult starlings, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: rspb.royalsocietypublishing.or … .1098/rspb.2014.2140Press release Prior research has found that telomeres—the caps on the ends of chromosomes—become shorter each time cells divide. Scientists have also found that it’s this shortening that causes aging in humans and other animals—and aging related illnesses such as diabetes, artery disease, some cancers and premature death. Other research has shown that shortening of telomeres doesn’t happen at the same pace in every species or even in the same species, which explains why some animals seem to age faster or slower than others of their kind. In this new effort, the researchers found that the process can be speeded up by stress—at least in young starlings.The researchers removed starling chicks from their nests and placed them in other nests, some with more hatchlings, others with less. Living with more hatchlings has been found to be more stressful for chicks as they have to compete more hardily for scarce resources from the mother. In testing the chicks 14 months later, the researchers found that those that had been placed in the more stressful nests had shorter telomeres. They also tested them for impulsiveness using delayed feeding techniques. Those raised in the more stressful nest, turned out to be more impulsive—they tended to go for immediate small meal rewards rather than wait a little longer for a much bigger reward.The team suggests their findings may be transferable to humans, as telomere length in people has been linked to both aging and impulsiveness as well. They believe that it’s likely that stress while young (due to a harsh or unpredictable home environment) can lead to premature aging and impulsiveness as a young adult, and likely age related illnesses later on in life. Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B
A way to minimize unexpected base edits to cellular RNA
A team of researchers with the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT has found evidence showing that using base editors can lead to unexpected RNA cellular edits. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes their study of the CRISPR type of adenine base editor (ABE), and what they found. ABEs convert one DNA base pair into another, allowing for the repair of mutations in some cell types without generating undesired editing effects. It is believed that ABEs also have the potential to correct almost half of all known genetic abnormalities that lead to medical disorders. The science underlying ABEs has become increasingly important to the medical community. Unfortunately, some very recent studies have found indications that ABEs might also be engaging in unexpected editing. This past March, a team found that the cytosine base editor 3 induced single-nucleotide variants at a higher-than-normal rate. And last month, another team discovered that cytosine base editors and ABEs result in off-target editing in RNA. In this new effort, the researchers sought to further test for off-target edits when using ABEs and to find a solution if it was confirmed.In their work, the researchers analyzed the newest version ABE called ABEmax in a way that included all cellular RNA transcripts in a human cell line—and they did it with more sensitive tools than others had used. They report that they did find low levels of undesired edits in RNA samples. To get around the problem, the team developed new variant ABEs (based on inactivated wild-type Escherichia coli) that retained their ability to make the desired base edits but caused less RNA editing. They further report that the new variants were created in a way that decoupled the RNA and DNA editing process, which minimized off-target editing in both DNA and RNA. The researchers conclude by noting that because of low levels of RNA editing and the short half-life of RNA, the degree of interference in future endeavors will likely depend on the specific applications in which they are used. They recommend that researchers seeking to minimize RNA editing use the new variant they created—they have called it ABEmaxQW. © 2019 Science X Network Explore further CRISPR base editors can induce wide-ranging off-target RNA edits More information: Holly A. Rees et al. Analysis and minimization of cellular RNA editing by DNA adenine base editors, Science Advances (2019). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax5717
A hairpin loop from a pre-mRNA. Highlighted are the nucleobases (green) and the ribose-phosphate backbone (blue). Note that this is a single strand of RNA that folds back upon itself. Credit: Vossman/ Wikipedia Journal information: Science Advances Citation: A way to minimize unexpected base edits to cellular RNA (2019, May 9) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2019-05-minimize-unexpected-base-cellular-rna.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
Just sing me the Blues
Rudy Wallang, guitarist, and Tipriti Kharbangar (Tips), vocalist, form the band. While they flirted with Delhi for a concert, we got a chance to get candid with them. Read on.Tell us about yourselves. How did you guys come together/start off?Inspired by the roots and groove sounds of the Blues, Blues-rock, Soul, Rock n Roll, Funk and R and B, Soulmate was formed in Shillong, in October 2002 when we decided to form a band dedicated to playing the Blues and spreading awareness about this important genre of music. Also Read – ‘Playing Jojo was emotionally exhausting’What was the first big break for you guys?No big breaks really. We’ve been playing and singing our songs for a long time. Playing all the different venues India has to offer. Opening for Carlos Santana was a dream come true for us as was meeting Buddy Guy, sharing stages with John Mayall, Gary Clarke Jr, Robert Randolph and all the beautiful Blues musicians that we have met.How would you define your musical philosophy?We play what we feel and feel what we play. Also Read – Leslie doing new comedy special with NetflixIn our country, how easy (or difficult) is it to make a mark in the music scene? What do you think about the main issues are?It is never easy to be able to make a mark in the music scene in India. We have to keep things fresh because we have realized that people always expect something new and different every time. One has to be creative without giving in to pressures and by this we mean for a Blues band to survive in India for the last 11 years. We must be doing something right. Tell us a bit about your music, what do you think defines you guys?We play what we feel and feel what we play. That’s what we said. We are people who believe in the simple things in life. We live our songs and our songs define us.What/Who inspires you?Mother Nature, Love, Sadness, Life, Beauty, Anger. We are also inspired by the people we meet and listen to.Tell us about your best tracks.All our songs are special. Every song of ours pertains to a certain moment in our lives. Hard to say which is the best but we have a few favorites like The Price, Moving On, Love You, Cup Of Tea, Stay Away, St.Valentine’s Day Blues, Set Me Free, Im A Woman, Tell Me, to name a few.What songs top your playlist right now?Tips: Mine is on shuffle, so whatever happens to be in the moment Rudy: I don’t really listen to music. I’m either playing guitar or rehearsing or touring. So when I have time off, I listen to birds singing in the morning. What suggestions/advice would you have for newbies in music?Work hard, practice hard and play like its going to be your last gig ever. There are no shortcuts. Be humble,respectful and dedicated to your art.
State Heritage Commission approached to include Jalsaghar location
Kolkata: Academicians, historians and film lovers have approached the West Bengal Heritage Commission to include Nimtita Rajbari in Murshidabad where film Jalsaghar, one of Satyajit Roy’s award-winning iconic films was shot.A letter containing the signatures of more than 100 people has been submitted to the state Heritage Commission requesting it to enlist the building and save it from destruction.The Nimtita Rajbari was set up over 150 years ago and is situated on the banks of River Bhagirathi where massive erosion is taking place. Many structures situated close to the house have already been washed away. The locals said unless steps are not taken now, the building will have a similar fate. Also Read – Heavy rain hits traffic, flightsThe Rajbari, a classic example of British architecture, is in shambles. A major portion of the roof has collapsed and the dancing floor on the first floor is in real bad shape. Bushes and trees have grown all over the house. A senior architect who visited the house a few years ago said the building has tilted towards the river. To repair the roof, a lot of money will be required.But the state Heritage Commission does not have money to repair and restore the huge structure. “The building has enormous historical value and should be preserved,” said a member of the state Heritage Commission. Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Merc, 2 B’deshi bystanders killedLocals said throughout the year, students of film studies from all over the country and abroad come to the place to have a look at the house where scenes from the famous film were shot. “We take them around and they take photographs. Many foreigners, who are fans of Satyajit Ray come to see the building,” said Sudip Basu, a local resident.Satyajit Ray’s famous film Jalsaghar was shot in this building. Based on a story by Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay, the cast included Chabi Biswas, Padma Devi, Tulsi Lahiri, Gangapada Basu among others. The music was done by Ustad Vilayat Khan while two of India’s greatest vocalists — Ustad Waheed Khan and Begam Akhtar — lent their voices to two immortal songs in the film.
UKs RollsRoyce axes more jobs
British engine maker Rolls-Royce will axe another 400 jobs at its marine division, it said on Monday, as slumping oil prices weighs on demand for vessels. Rolls announced in a statement that it will reduce its number of employees by 400 by the end of next year, on top of 600 job cuts already unveiled in May.”After many years of strong performance through to 2013, led by good growth in the oil and gas sector, our order book and profitability have been adversely impacted by the sharp and subsequently prolonged drop in the price of oil,” said Mikael Makinen, President of Marine at Rolls-Royce. “Reducing our workforce is never an easy decision, but the continued weak oil price, and the need to become more competitive, means it is necessary, if we are to build a strong base from which we can successfully grow this business in the future.” Also Read – Punjab & Sind Bank cuts MCLR by up to 20 basis pointsThe latest cutbacks are forecast to generate full-year savings of $61 million. The group’s marine division, which employs about 5,800 people in 34 countries, supplies technology and services to customers operating 
After more than 2 yrs work for power grid to begin at
Kolkata: The work of the power sub-station at Bhangar will resume after two-and-a-half-years on Tuesday with the “final minutes” being signed on Saturday.The “final minutes” was signed by representatives of the Jomi, Jibika, Poribesh O Bastutantra Rakshya Committee, Power Grid Corporation of India, West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, the top brass of the district police and the District Magistrate. At the same time, a decision has also been taken to set up a standing sub-committee to ensure implementation of the work following the “final minutes”. Also Read – Rain batters Kolkata, cripples normal lifeIt may be mentioned that most of the issues were settled in the previous meetings. But the final decision on the compensation for setting up of the towers and stringing of overhead cables was taken in the meeting on Saturday that was attended by more than 70 persons including 50 representatives of the committee. It has been finalised that a package of Rs 12 crore will be allotted for the local area development and to carry out various skill development programmes for the residents of the area. Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Mercedes car in Kolkata, 2 pedestrians killedAt the same time, a compensation of Rs 2 to Rs 4 lakh will be given to the person on whose land a tower will be constructed. Moreover, Rs 2 per square feet will be given for the land above which the overhead wires will be passing. It may be mentioned that nine out of the 13 towers have already been set up. The representatives of the committee have also agreed to extend all support to carry out the work for completion of the power sub-station project. According to sources, the standing sub-committee will be headed by an Additional District Magistrate-rank officer. In case of any issues that may arise while carrying out the work for completion of the project, the matter will be discussed among members of the standing sub-committee to find out a solution. Representatives of the Jomi, Jibika, Poribesh O Bastutantra Rakshya Committee will also be there in the standing sub-committee. Steps would also be taken so that the project gets completed at the earliest. The ultimate meeting before the signing of the agreement was held on Tuesday in which there was a detailed discussion in this connection and the district administration had agreed upon to bring about certain changes in the design of the project. A decision was also taken to alter the height of the towers to lay overhead wires.
People will face no difficulty in reaching the pandals assures Kolkata Police
Kolkata: Rajeev Kumar, Commissioner of Kolkata Police, has assured that traffic flowduring Durga Puja this time will be as normal as previous years, despite the incident of Majerhat Bridge caving in. He sought cooperation of people in ensuring the same.Kumar was speaking at the coordination meeting organised ahead of the Durga Puja at Netaji Indoor Stadium.It may be mentioned that Kolkata Police had to bring in several diversions in movement of traffic in South Kolkata due to the Majerhat Bridge incident. At the same time, the state government along with the police is trying to find a way to ease the movement of traffic. Also Read – Rain batters Kolkata, cripples normal lifeWith only around a month left for Durga Puja, the police are also trying to ensure normal flow of traffic as early as possible.Kumar said: “Everyone has to work together. On behalf of Kolkata Police and Kolkata Traffic Police, I can assure you all that pandal hoppers will be able to reach their destinations without facing problems like all the previous years.”There are several famous Durga Pujas in South Kolkata and lakhs of people visit the pandals. Majerhat Bridge was an important connection between people of the city and the pandals of Behala. But pandal hoppers have heaved a sigh of relief with the assurance of the Commissioner of Police. Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Mercedes car in Kolkata, 2 pedestrians killedAt the same time, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), the Public Works Department (PWD) and Urban Development and Municipal Affairs department have taken up a series of initiatives to improve the condition of roads in the port area.The initiative has been taken up as most vehicles are now passing through those roads in the absence of Majerhat Bridge.Initiative has also been taken up to ensure a proper drainage system for Sonadighi. The Public Works Department (PWD) will also strengthen and widen Taratala Road and Hyde Road.Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) will be carrying out the temporary repairing of Transport Depot Road as and when required. At the same time, a portion of the road stretching from the railway tracks to Hyde Road will be widened and strengthened.
EXPLORING PUSHKAR THE TOWN OF FAIRS AND FESTIVITIES
The Pushkar Fair (Pushkar Camel Fair) or Pushkar Mela, as it is locally known as, is an annual five day camel and livestock fair held in the town of Pushkar between the months of October and November. It is one of the world’s largest camel fairs. Apart from the buying and selling of livestock, it has become an important tourist attraction. Competitions such as the matka phod, ‘longest moustache’ and ‘bridal competition’ are the main draws for this fair which attract thousands of tourists. In recent years, the fair has also included an exhibition cricket match between the local Pushkar Club and a team of foreign tourists. Also Read – Add new books to your shelfPushkar is one of the oldest cities in India. Located to the northwest of Ajmer, the tranquil city of Pushkar is a favoured destination for thousands of tourists and devotees flocking to Rajasthan. Situated at a height of 510 metres, Pushkar is surrounded by hillocks on three sides. The ‘Nag Pahar’, literally meaning Snake Mountain forms a natural border between Ajmer and Pushkar. Known as ‘the rose garden of Rajasthan’, the essence of the famous Pushkar rose is exported all over the world. Along with an interesting mythological history, a legacy of timeless architectural heritage makes Pushkar a fascinating city. Also Read – Over 2 hours screen time daily will make your kids impulsiveAccording to legends, Lord Brahma, believed to be the creator of the Universe dropped a lotus to the ground leading to the immediate creation of a lake. He then decided to name the place after the flower, and thus the name, Pushkar. The city of Pushkar is home to the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in the whole world. Hindus consider a journey to Pushkar to be the ultimate pilgrimage that must be undertaken to attain salvation.PUSHKAR LAKEAccording to Hindu scriptures, the sacred Pushkar Lake is described as ‘Tirtha Raj’, the king of all pilgrimage sites. No pilgrimage is considered to be complete without a dip in the holy Pushkar Lake. Semi-circular in shape and about 8-10 metres deep, Pushkar Lake is surrounded by 52 bathing ghats and over 400 temples and is truly a magnificent sight to behold. BRAHMA TEMPLENestled in the picturesque Pushkar valley beyond the Nangaparvat and Anasagar Lake, the Brahma temple holds a special place in the hearts of Indians. It is the only temple in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma. Built with marble and decorated with silver coins, this temple can be identified by its red spire and the image of a swan (considered sacred to Lord Brahma). The chaturmukhi (four faced) idol of Lord Brahma is housed in the inner sanctum. A marble statue of the sun god stands sentinel at the temple. Interestingly, while all the gods are shown bare footed, Surya is shown wearing ancient warrior’s boots.GURUDWARA SINGH SABHAGurudwara Singh Sabha, situated in the eastern part of Pushkar, was built in the beginning of the 19th century to commemorate the visits of the first and the tenth gurus- Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Govind Singhji.VARAHA TEMPLEVaraha temple is the largest and the most ancient temple of Pushkar. Constructed by the 12th century ruler, King Anaji Chauhan, this temple is dedicated to the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu as a wild boar. Legend has it that Varaha rescued the earth from depth of the primeval water, where it was dragged down by a demon (Hirnayaksh). It is one of the most visited temples in Pushkar.SAVITRI TEMPLEDedicated to Lord Brahma’s first wife, Goddess Savitri, this temple is situated on a hillock right behind the Brahma temple. While climbing the long series of steps leading to the temple, one can catch a panoramic view of the lake, surrounding temples and sand dunes. The presence of the only Brahma Temple in Pushkar is the outcome of Savitri’s curse to Brahma for marrying another Goddess, Gayatri, while starting his yagna in Pushkar.RANGJI TEMPLEThe gracious and conspicuous Rangji Temple is another popular shrine that witnesses thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year. The temple is dedicated to Lord Rangji, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The influence of South Indian style, Rajput style and Mughal style in the temple’s architecture is highly noticeable. The high-rising ‘Gopuram’, prevalent mainly in the temples present in South India is another feature of the temple that attracts visitors.PAP MOCHINI TEMPLEPresided by the deity Ekadashi Mata, the Pap Mochini temple is believed to provide respite to followers from their cardinal sins. Located in the northern section of Pushkar, the temple is like a pearl in the crown of Pushkar. Having a great spiritual importance as well as boasting a splendid architecture, the Pap Mochini temple is one of the most popular temples in Rajasthan.SRI PANCHKUND SHIVA TEMPLESri Panchkund Shiva Temple is said to have been built by the five Pandavas. Located on the eastern edge of the town, this temple is around 2-3 kilometres from the lake.ATMATESHWAR TEMPLEThis beautiful 12th century temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has an underground component. The intricate Hemadpanti architectural style carvings give this temple a magnificent appearance. Thousands of devotees flock here to pay their respects during the auspicious time of Shivaratri, when Lord Shiva is ritually respected.MAN MAHALThe Man Mahal is one of the greatest palaces of Pushkar. Built as a guest house of Raja Man Singh I, this palace is one of the most attractive spots to visit in Pushkar. It was built to serve as a royal guest house for Raja Man Singh I. The Rajasthani architecture from the royal era that adorns the palace makes it a visual treat. It has now been converted into a heritage hotel, called the RTDC Hotel Sarovar, and allows tourists to not only enjoy the beauty of the palace but also the breathtaking view of the lakes and temples around the lake.HOW TO REACH HERESanganer Airport in Jaipur is the nearest, at a distance of 146 kilometres.Pushkar is well connected to the national highways of Rajasthan. Regular buses ply from Pushkar to the major cities of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Ajmer from the Ajmer bus stand.Pushkar Terminus Railway station which is operational since 2012, is connected to Ajmer railway station located at a distance of 11 kilometres.
KVIC kicks off employment generation programme
A few months ago, none of the government or non-government organisations ever tried to take account of the innumerable Bag-Bidhoba (tiger-widows in local parlance) – whose lives were torn to rags in tiger-attacks (in the mangrove thickets of Bali hamlet of Sunderban).For the first time after the Independence, it was the novel mission of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) – who first studied the impact on the survivors in terms of health, both physical and psychosocial, disruption of livelihoods and food insecurity, and opportunity and transaction costs of conflict; and then provided a new lease of life in form of Gandhian charkhas and bee-boxes for many tiger widows, to eke out their livelihood, under its ambitious ‘Employment Generation Programme’. Also Read – Add new books to your shelfKVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena, who inaugurated the spinning work-shed and distributed charkhas and bee-boxes and live bee colonies recently, said that for the benefit of economically backward people of the rural India through Khadi and village industries activities, KVIC has now stepped in the island of Sundarban with rural development activities to provide sustainable earnings to the SC/ST/OBC/minority and other unemployed mass, besides the ‘Tiger victim widows’ who are fighting the aftermath of the fateful incident including bereavement and coping, the cultural stigma related to being killed by a tiger and the consequent discrimination, deprivation, and social rejection. Also Read – Over 2 hours screen time daily will make your kids impulsive”Many inhabitants of this area, who used to go into the deep forest either for the collection of ‘wild honey’ or for fishing in the nearby canals and rivers, were often killed by the tigers or other animals, subsequently making their families helpless.””Taking it as a prime task for KVIC’s rehabilitation principles, we had given 50 charkhas to them on July 21 this year. And, now, we are inaugurating our ‘Tiger Victim Khadi Katai Kendra’, by providing 50 high-yield eight-spindle new model charkhas (NMCs) and 500 bee-boxes,” he said, adding, “Khadi spinning training on NMCs to 75 women of the Bali village has already been imparted and bee-keeping training to 50 candidates of this village has also been given through our expert trainers. Through spinning activities, these women will start earning from Rs 150 to Rs 200 per day.” Saxena further said, “Our Khadi spinning, training cum production centre has been linked with the steady marketing of the products for the distressed families so that they can earn at least Rs 50000 per year initially,” he said, adding, “We want to bring down human deaths due to tiger attack to zero. Keeping this in mind, we will help villagers in taking up apiculture and weaving in all possible forms right in the villages so that they do not have to venture deep into the forests.”
Green crusaders fight to clean river save trees
BALURGHAT: Social welfare organisations held various events to mark the World Environment Day in South Dinajpur on Wednesday.A tree plantation programme was organised by an NGO on Atreyee river ghat and in adjacent areas of Balurghat Circuit House building. A special edition of Kishor Gyan Vigyan, a popular Bengali science fiction magazine, stressing on the importance and means to save Atreyee river from pollution, was published. The organizer in association with Tree Warrior and East Bengals Fans Club initiated an awareness campaign to eradicate pollutants from the river banks of Atreyee. Also Read – Rs 13,000 crore investment to provide 2 lakh jobs: Mamata”We conducted a tree plantation programme on the occasion of World Environment Day at Balurghat as we are under the threat of environmental pollution and trees are our best friends which can save us from the impending danger. Only tree plantation can save us,” said a member of the NGO. “We have taken up the mission to clean Atryee river but the task is not easy. The river that flows across Balurghat has been affected by many pollutants over the years due to the callousness of people. The river is now under the threat of becoming an ecological disaster,” the NGO member said. Also Read – Lightning kills 8, injures 16 in stateA tree-plantation programme and a cultural event were organised on World Environment Day in Teor Vivekananda Sishu Niketan by an NGO in association with the department of District Legal Services Authority (South Dinajpur). Schoolchildren took part in the event. They performed recitation, played music and sang songs. An awareness rally with the message of saving environment was also organised. “Saving environment means saving people. We have to protect our environment at any cost. We celebrated World Environment Day with grandeur. Schoolchildren, who are our future, took part in it,” said a member involved in organising the events.
Free Tools for Improving Online Security
Many small-business owners fall below what some people call the “security poverty line.” Bootstrapping entrepreneurs can be especially vulnerable to hackers because they don’t have the money or personnel to buy, install and maintain the fancy security products large companies take for granted.On the hunt for easy pickings, hackers are attacking these security-poor businesses, typically with indiscriminate, automated assaults that could be stopped by basic security tools and computer hygiene. Seven in 10 of the cyber break-ins analyzed in Verizon’s 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report occurred at organizations with 100 employees or less.The good news is that it can be surprisingly easy and inexpensive to mount a quality defense on a budget. We spoke with Grady Summers, a vice president at Mandiant Corp., an Alexandria, Va.-based information-security firm, and former chief information security officer at General Electric Co., to assemble a list of easy-to-use, free tools that any company — including those without a technology staff — can use to create a comprehensive security program to protect its network, computers and data.While no security program is perfect, applying these free tools can defend against the most common attacks. “A small business with a part-time IT person could probably do this in a day,” Summers says.Defend your network.Most of the threats to company networks come over the Web, Summers says. He recommends using filtering software to block dangerous websites, including “phishing” sites designed to trick unwitting employees into falling for a scam or infect their computers with malware.San Francisco-based OpenDNS offers a free, cloud-based Web filtering product that can protect a single PC or mobile device, or an entire network, from known phishing sites. OpenDNS’s paid services offer more security features and the ability to block porn and other sites companies may not want people to access while in the office.Related: How to Avoid One of the Biggest Email Hacking ThreatsTo find any weak spots on your network, run a scan. Lumension Security of Scottsdale, Ariz., offers a free vulnerability scanner for checking networks of 25 or fewer computers. It can identify software vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that could put you at risk.Also, scan your website for security vulnerabilities. Hackers often break into customer databases by striking company websites or hack sites to plant malware that will infect visitors. Qualys, a Redwood Shores, Calif., security company, offers FreeScan, a free tool for detecting security vulnerabilities in Web applications and finding malware infections and threats in websites. Users are limited to five free scans.If you have a capable in-house technology staff, you also may want to consider using Security Onion, a compilation of free tools for intrusion detection and network monitoring.Related: 7 Tips for Upgrading IT SecuritySecure your computers.Protecting computers on your network starts with firewalls and antivirus software. Free basic firewalls now come with Windows and Mac computers, so make sure they’re turned on. Antivirus protection will require a download.Among the most popular free antivirus programs is one from AVG. Another is Microsoft’s free basic security product Microsoft Security Essentials. It’s made for consumers and businesses with 10 PCs or fewer. And firewall giant Check Point Software of Redwood City, Calif., has a free security suite that includes antivirus and a ZoneAlarm firewall that monitors traffic leaving your computer, as well as standard inbound traffic. In addition, U.K.-based Sophos offers free antivirus software for Macs.Eliminate security vulnerabilities by applying the free fixes software makers regularly issue. To make that easy, use automatic update features for Microsoft, Apple, Adobe and other products you use. Windows users can make sure all their programs are current by using the free tool FileHippo.Related: Three Low-Cost Ways to Keep Data Safe When Traveling for BusinessProtect your data.Full disk encryption software can make company and customer data on your devices unreadable to unauthorized people. Free open-source software TrueCrypt is available for Windows, Mac and Linux machines and can be used to secure data on thumb drives and other storage devices. For Mac, Apple offers free full disk encryption dubbed FileVault2 to users with the Lion operating system.If you have particularly sensitive information, Summers recommends creating a special encrypted area for that data with its own password. You can create this sort of encrypted “volume” with TrueCrypt and a similar Apple feature.Also back up the data on your computers in case of loss, theft or damage. With Mozy, you can backup two gigs of data for free offsite and encrypted in Mozy’s data centers. Attend this free webinar and learn how you can maximize efficiency while getting the most critical things done right. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Free Webinar | Sept 5: Tips and Tools for Making Progress Toward Important Goals May 29, 2012 4 min read Register Now »
Crowdsourcing Gone Too Far Canadian Couple Lets the Internet Name Their Baby
April 21, 2014 How Success Happens Listen Now Well, they almost did, in a way, but McLaughlin and his wife, Alysha, who he said was “in disbelief” over his strange ask, spared their child the most-voted-on name. And thank “WackyTaco692” goodness they did.Instead the software developer and his wife were good parents and chickened out on Reddit’s number one baby name choice (out of 150,000 votes in all), which was “Cthulhu.” Right, Cthulhu, you know, that mythical evil winged beast that has an octopus for a face. Make that “Cthulhu all-spark,” actually, as “all-spark” was the most upvoted middle name choice.That doesn’t mean the babe’s parents won’t call her Cthulhu from time to time, probably when she’s not “behaving.” Her mom reportedly already did in her birth announcement status update on Facebook, commanding “All bow down to the great and powerful Cthulhu.”Related: Richard Branson on Business Lessons From Parenting“Kids’R’Gross,” “Not Zelda,” “LOL” and “13” are some of the other lovely front runner names the couple shafted in favor of a somewhat disappointingly normal name for their little bundle of joy. They picked a safe suggestion, the number two top-voted choice, one that won’t make their daughter hate them: Amelia Savannah Joy McLaughlin. She introduced herself to the world “happy and healthy” at 3:42 a.m. on April 7 after “five anxious days,” her dad wrote on his rose-colored website namemydaughter.com.Hi, My name is Stephen and much to the disbelief of my wife, I have decided to let the internet name* my daughter.Yeah that is an asterisk, Unfortunately internet I know better than to trust you. We will ultimately be making the final decision, Alas my daughter shall not be named WackyTaco692. Sorry guys the wife wouldn’t go for a free for all.Just in case you were wondering, and we can’t imagine why you would, Stephen says he’s not crazy. “As for the obvious question — No I am not crazy. I have been tested!” he declared on his original reddit IAmA subreddit post, in which redditors were ask to suggest and then vote on potential baby names.(Ok, good. Glad we got that whole not-crazy business cleared up, Stephen. If you weren’t already crazy, having a kid will drive you crazy several times day and when you attempt to sleep at night. I know. I have three.)Oh, and probably no big surprise here, McLaughlin’s apparently into Bitcoin, too. He posted his Bitcoin address for all to see on namemydaughter.com.Also, a redditor asked the proud new papa to create a Dogecoin tip web address to collect a few Shiba Inu-themed virtual coins for “entertaining us so.” To the moon, beautiful bouncing baby girl of the interwebs, to the moon!Related: A Lesson in Oversharing: Dad Loses $80,000 Because Daughter Blabbed on Facebook 4 min read Yana Don’t-Blink. Chalupa Batman. Megatron Salad. Streetlamp of-the-sea.Nope, those aren’t tonight’s freaky fusion sushi specials. They’re but a tame slice of the nuttier names you get when you ask the Internet to name your unborn child.Probably because live-tweeting your childbirth is so yesterday, Stephen McLaughlin, a software programmer in Kelowna, Canada, left it up to the geeky social media Pandora’s box that is Reddit to choose a first and middle name for his unborn baby girl.Related: How to Rock the Cradle at Home and Work? Realize a Perfect Work-Life Balance is Impossible. Yes, you read right. This guy asked everyone on Reddit — basically all 2.89 million redditors and everyone else on the Internet, too — to name his kid.Internet Help me http://t.co/P32JUzPeqk… You can vote once per name per day. Feel free to retweet!— Stephen McLaughlin (@digitalgecko) January 10, 2014 Hear from Polar Explorers, ultra marathoners, authors, artists and a range of other unique personalities to better understand the traits that make excellence possible.
Marissa Mayer Privacy Fanatics Will Have a Less Awesome Life Online
Free Webinar | Sept. 9: The Entrepreneur’s Playbook for Going Global 4 min read Growing a business sometimes requires thinking outside the box. October 3, 2014
As we live more of our lives on the Internet, more of our personal data is being stored there. Just who should have access to that data — and for what purpose — is one of the most important and controversial issues facing the modern consumer. Yesterday, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer managed to tread a diplomatic line through that minefield.Each individual is the owner of his or her personal information and ought to have the right to withhold it from companies, but if a person prefers to maintain the strictest standards of privacy on the Internet, then his or her experience online will be subpar, said Mayer, speaking at an Advertising Week event at the Times Center in New York City.“It is almost undeniable at this point that the Web is better today if you let some sites personalize it for you,” she said. “People should have choice there, but that said, you will undoubtedly have a better experience online today if you let sites [you trust] know a little bit about who you are so that they can show you get the best possible content, show you the best possible messages.”Related: Was Yahoo’s Tumblr Acquisition a Flop?Mayer telling Internet users that they will have a better experience online if they give over more data is akin to Huck Finn convincing Tom Sawyer that painting fences is fun. Conveniently, the more a site knows about its users, the more valuable it becomes to advertisers. Yahoo trolls your email correspondences, web activity and instant message conversations to find out what you like to do and how you spend your time. All of that information is pumped into computer-powered algorithms that personalize your online experience – and give them priceless insight.Despite this, Mayer says people should have control over their personal information. “In my view, you own your data. And so you should be able to, for example, withdraw it from a source. You should be able to say, I don’t want my data stored here.” She cited features such as Ad Choices, which allows people to understand and control how much data Yahoo collects on them.To some, keeping personal data is a blatant violation of privacy. Computer antivirus software maker John McAfee has gone so far as to say that these technological intrusions into our privacy degrade our humanity. “Google, or at least certain people within Google — I will not mention names, because I am not a rude gentleman — would like us to believe that if we have nothing to hide, we should not mind if everybody knows everything that we do,” McAfee said in August at the Def Con hacking conference in Las Vegas. “We cannot have intrusions into our lives and still have freedom.”Related: Will Katie Couric Provide More Firepower in Yahoo’s Fight for Ad Dollars?This battle over a person’s right to privacy in the digital age has landed a number of tech companies in some hot water recently. Back in May, the highest court in the European Union ruled that Google must delete “inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant” links in search results, effectively asking the search giant to “forget” certain events. In another incident that came to light this year, Facebook manipulated the information displayed in some 600,000 users’ feeds to determine whether there would be any effect on person’s psychological state. The big blue social media network didn’t seem all that contrite when word got out about its “experiment,” though it announced yesterday that it is changing the way it approaches future studies.Some say a lack of privacy comes with the territory. In a blog post published in August, OkCupid co-founder and president Christian Rudder said, all Web users ought to understand that their personal information might very well be co-opted. “Guess what, everybody: if you use the Internet, you’re the subject of hundreds of experiments at any given time, on every site. That’s how websites work.”Related: Should Marissa Mayer Have Posed in Vogue? Register Now »
HTC Founder Takes on CEO Role Amid Company Turnaround
This story originally appeared on Reuters 3 min read This hands-on workshop will give you the tools to authentically connect with an increasingly skeptical online audience. March 20, 2015 Enroll Now for Free Free Workshop | August 28: Get Better Engagement and Build Trust With Customers Now HTC Corp on Friday named Cher Wang as chief executive, giving its founder and chairwoman a bigger role in leading a potential turnaround of the Taiwanese smartphone maker.The return of Wang, a scion of one of Taiwan’s most prominent families, comes as HTC’s phones have often struggled to translate positive early reviews into strong sales, and the former contract manufacturer has found it tough to build a strong consumer brand in a competitive market.HTC said Wang has been increasingly involved in running various aspects of the business.She replaces Peter Chou, who will lead product development as head of the HTC Future Development Lab, an executive role focusing on identifying future growth opportunities.Chou is known to be more focused on research and development, so the change is positive in that respect, said Jimmy Chen, a technology analyst with Masterlink Securities Investment Advisory in Taipei.But Chou also built a reputation as an abrasive manager whose demanding style hit morale at the company, according to executives previously interviewed by Reuters.It remains unclear if HTC can overcome its challenges, Masterlink’s Chen said. “If you don’t bring in fresh blood then there’s probably less of a chance to improve the operations.”HTC recently named a new marketing chief, filling a post that had been vacant for four months.Revenue at HTC, which once had a 10 percent share of the global smartphone market, has largely flatlined after gradually sliding over the past two years.Net income has fared worse, with the company reporting either losses or a slim profit at best since hitting a peak in the third quarter of 2011.Like other, larger mobile phone makers such as Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics, HTC is trying to diversify into other ‘connected’ devices to find new growth outside an increasingly commoditized space.”We are seeing rapid changes in the industry, with the smartphone as our personal hub connecting us to a growing world of smart devices,” Wang said in a company statement announcing the management changes.But despite forging a partnership with Google Inc to develop a smartwatch based on its Android operating system over a year ago, HTC has yet to deliver one to the market.Wang’s father, the late Wang Yung-Ching, was chairman of Taiwanese conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group. Cher Wang was considered a pioneer in Taiwan’s male-dominated technology industry, founding HTC in 1997 and establishing it as a leader in a then fast-growing mobile segment.(Additional reporting by Michael Gold; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)
Need a Document Notarized Theres an App for That
3 min read February 4, 2016 “Virginia is for lovers. And it’s also for notary publics.”The above promotional line isn’t just clever — it’s what makes it possible for Notarize, a startup that lets you confirm documents on your iPhone, to exist. Thanks to a law enacted in Virginia in 2012, notaries in the state can verify documents via live video for individuals in any state. The smartphone app launched today in iTunes. Getting a document notarized is a way of verifying its legitimacy. A notary public is an individual who has been appointed by state government to witness a contract being signed in order to reduce fraud. Documents that frequently need to be notarized include contracts, power of attorney designations, various licenses and deed documents.Unfortunately, finding a notary public to verify a signature can be frustrating, particularly when you need to do so in a rush and it’s after business hours. Related: The Sharing Economy Is More than a Buzzword. It’s Changing How We Live.Notarizing legal documents may not be the kind of sexy industry that gets a lot of attention, but it’s the perfect target for a tech-inspired makeover. There are approximately 1 billion documents notarized each year in the U.S. and the process, until now, has been stuck in the predigital age.“We are bringing this business into the 21st century and solving a real need,” Pat Kinsel, the founder and CEO of Notarize, said in a statement.To use the app, customers first scan their government-issued photo ID, which is authenticated using computer imaging technology and a software-based forensic analysis. Next, they are connected with a notary public officer through a live video chat. The notary public digitally signs and stamps the document in question. Each notarization costs $25, and users can connect with notaries public through the app 24 hours a day.Related: This Startup That Fills Your Gas Tank on Demand Just Raised $9 MillionNotarize has raised $2.4 million in a seed round led by Polaris Partners, a venture capital firm. Prior to launching Notarize, Kinsel founded Spindle, a location-based search engine that sifts through social media posts near the user. Spindle was acquired by Twitter in 2013.For more on how the software works, watch the video below. It’s pretty clever and may even make you smile, which, let’s be honest, is impressive for a video about notarizing documents.Related: The Sharing Economy Is Taking Off: Get On the Rocket or Risk Being Left Behind How Success Happens
Hear from Polar Explorers, ultra marathoners, authors, artists and a range of other unique personalities to better understand the traits that make excellence possible. Listen Now
These New Smartphones Will Have Screens That Are Always On
Growing a business sometimes requires thinking outside the box. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Free Webinar | Sept. 9: The Entrepreneur’s Playbook for Going Global Register Now » Ever find yourself constantly turning on your phone’s screen to check the time or for missed calls, new texts or recent social-media interactions?This not only takes time, but also drains your battery. But two new devices coming to market soon look to address this issue.Smartphone maker LG’s soon-to-be-released G5 will introduce an “Always ON” display feature, in which the time, date and notifications will remain visible on a darkened screen, according to Android Authority. Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S7 will also include this feature, and the company has filed to trademark the phrase “Always on Display.”Related: Study: Time Spent on Mobile Devices Doubled in 2015While a constant use of an LCD display would drain a battery rather quickly, Geek.com says that the companies are rumored to be changing to AMOLED displays, which are better for battery life because the technology doesn’t rely on a backlight.Engadget points out that the G5 will supposedly be operating the always-on feature as a full-screen version of the LG V10’s smaller second screen, with icons arranged in a line at the top of the screen. It also suggests that Samsung is using more powerful batteries in the Galaxy S7 model to ensure that standby time won’t be too affected by the change.The G5 is expected to hit the market on Feb. 21, the same day Samsung will release more details about the Galaxy S7.Related: Your Future iPhone Might Know How You Are Feeling February 10, 2016 2 min read
This Crazy Material Becomes Stronger the More You Stretch It
Growing a business sometimes requires thinking outside the box. Sometimes science can be counterintuitive. But also completely useful. Let me explain.When you stretch something, it generally becomes thinner and weaker. As the material stretches, or deforms, its molecular structure becomes strained. The exact opposite is true with a new protein material developed by chemists at UC San Diego.In other words, a material that becomes stronger the more you strain it? Yes, it’s for real.Related: Swap Your Swiffer for This Dust-Zapping Tool Inspired by LizardsUC San Diego says the researchers have created an “adaptive protein crystal” that essentially thickens when stretched. Sounds cool, but what’s the real-world application for this crazy science stuff? Right now, the idea is that it could be applied to body armor — especially if the material strengthens when a bullet strikes.Or even running shoes. Imagine if shoe soles could thicken for improved shock absorption as the heel hits the pavement. Say goodbye to shin splints, baby (maybe)!As detailed in a recent online paper for Nature, the team explained that the square-shaped protein “adapts,” meaning it can expand or contract in the opposite direction of a force being applied to it. Related: This Device Diagnoses a Broken Machine by Sound. Really.“These materials are very easy to make, yet provide many new research directions both in terms of materials applications and understanding the fundamental principles of nanoscale self-assembly,” said UC San Diego professor of chemistry and biochemistry Akif Tezcan.“Easy” is relative, but it’s hard to argue about the prospect of stronger, more effective body armor. And, heck, sign me up for a pair of those sneakers. Free Webinar | Sept. 9: The Entrepreneur’s Playbook for Going Global May 10, 2016
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