Tuvalu, Scott 29, 1976, 28mm x 45mm

Here we have a map stamp which depicts almost pure ocean - only 300 square kilometers of the approximately 200000 shown here given over to solid ground, the rest of it being the South Pacific. Or, viewed another way, it depicts an actual map being torn in two, with the background the color of parchment rather than the usual ocean blue. The northern half of the map shows the mainly Micronesian Gilbert Islands, which is now part of Kiribati, the southern half shows the islands making up Tuvalu (formerly the Ellice Islands) with its Polynesian majority.

Why the split? To most people in the rest of the world, both Polynesians and Micronesians (and probably Melanesians too) would be lumped together in the category "people from the remote South Pacific" and that would suffice. Originally, the racial and classification was devised by the French ethnographer Jules-Sebastian-César Dumont d'Urville in the nineteenth century based on his observations. Recently, however, mitochondrial and Y chromosomal DNA analysis has been used to investigate how much of the similarities among these groups can be attributed to common ancestry and how much of the differences to isolation of populations.

At any rate, the process of separation between the two nations seems not to have been extremely acrimonious.

I’m going through one of those phases where I am endlessly fascinated by a particular topic.  This time it is cloning and embryonic stem cell research.  In particular, I’m interested in the creation of human/animal hybrid embryonic cells.   They have done so with a human and a cow.  This was done in the name of scientific research.  They hope to create viable embryonic stem cells that they can one day be used in the research and treatment of various diseases and catastrophic injuries.  Sounds like a plot out of your basic science fiction novel, but it’s real and what’s more, I’m in favor of the research.  What concerns me is that it won’t stop with the embryonic stage.  To convince ourselves that it will is naïve.  Science is driven by curiosity, and curiosity is born from that one archetypal question “What if?”  What if we can carry it past the fetus stage and create a living breathing creature? 

Before cloning, before the first heart transplant, before antibiotics were widely used, it is rumored that in the 1920s the Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Orange Park, Florida brought a human-chimp (humanzee) baby to full term.  It in fact lived for several days before they decided to destroy it.  An adult female chimp was artificially inseminated with human sperm.  This is all from an eyewitness account told to Gordon G. Gallup, Jr, PhD.

This was done almost 90 years ago.  Think of what science could do now.  There’s also evidence that both the Soviets and the Chinese dabbled in human/ape hybrid experiments.  To what end, no one really knows, but it seems clear they did conduct studies.

It’s almost certain that science will move beyond the embryonic stage with human/animal hybrids.  It’s quite possible they’ve all ready done so.  What we have to ask ourselves as a society is what rights will these scientific creations possess.  Will they be afforded human rights, or will they be afforded your basic animal rights where they are guaranteed nothing more than humane treatment?  Will they be used for medical research? 

On the face of it, these sound like ridiculous questions, but the day will come when humanity will have to consider these questions.  We should do all the future generations a favor and start the discussion now.   

I decided to get tested for CDH1 E-Cadherin mutation which is a dominant genetic trait which runs in my maternal family which causes about 70% of the people to get the notoriously hard to detect, diffused gastric cancer after 20+ (average age: mid 30s).

After submitting my blood to be tested, I kept of delaying my results as I was always busy with something. After about 6 months, and starting a new career as well as visiting India (being a Pakistani citizen, it was an interesting experience), I finally decided to get my results. To my amazement, it turns out I had the mutation.

The two options for me, at 26 were to either have total gastrectomy, or to have the inefficient, 6-monthly gastroscopies. God-willingly, in my first gastroscopy, it was found I had signet ring cells (Cancer stage 0 - which might not even develop).

But having signet ring cells, as well as my genetic tendency to have gastric cancer (which is a horrible way to succumb as near the end, the person cannot eat anything at all), I decided to have the operation done. Shortly after I turned 27, I had the operation, and with the support of Yahoo Group called HDGC, I am finally recovering. I haven't belched in a week, and plan to return to work in another week hopefully.

I read an article on National Geographic website featuring white lions today. Yes, white lions.The article can be found here.

Majestic,beautiful, and cute but no problem whatsoever when it comes to mauling a 150kg-250kg wildebeest in group . The notion of deadliness usually do not come across the mind of most people once they come across white animals which are not so usually. No thanks to images of adorable and cuddly snow white animals conjured in our minds which have been imprinted over the years misled by many causes. There is no denying that animals with snowy white fur like rabbits and hamsters are harmless. However, there are unexceptionally high exceptions in the animal kingdom in which it's opposite.

To be different than others of the same species in the animal kingdom means invoking dangers. Survival is at the top of list in the animal kingdom, predators and preys alike. For a prey to stand out among its species means an easy target for predators while a predator which can be easily detected is as good in hunting as polices announcing who they are going to arrest tomorrow in the news today. In fact, these black sheep are often than not isolated by their own groups. Isolation certainly shaves off survival chances of those in the animal kingdom, more so for animals who are live in groups.

So when I saw the article, the first thing that came up my mind is how are these cats going to survive in the wild. It turns out that they live in captivity. In fact, most of these cases happen in captivity. Reason? It's the same reason as mentioned above. They don't have much survival chance in the wild. In captivity, these animals are safe from so many wild elements. They don't even do much of what their species do in the wild: hunting, roaming and etc. I wonder if they still retain their animal instincts.

Further probing at Wikipedia for the reason for these abnormal occurences shows that genetic condition known as Leucism. Unlike mutation where genetic information is altered, leucism is a condition where recessive genes are present instead of dominant ones. A simple example is albinism. You would think that evolution would have eliminate these seemingly defective genes from the gene pool and survival of the fittest should have taken its course long ago. However, evolution is not as easy as that. If all but the fittest meet their ends, wouldn't the process of evolution cease? That's something to ponder upon.

Stay tuned. Adieu, graynut signing off.

Introduction to Genetic Algorithms
by S.N. Sivanandam, S. N. Deepa

Publisher: Springer
Number Of Pages: 442
Publication Date: 2007-12-12
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 354073189X
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9783540731894

Product Description:

The book contains basic concepts, several applications of Genetic Algorithms and solved Genetic Problems using MATLAB software and C/C++.

The salient features of the book include - detailed explanation of Genetic Algorithm concepts, - numerous Genetic Algorithm Optimization Problems, - study on various types of Genetic Algorithms, - implementation of Optimization problem using C and C++, - simulated solutions for Genetic Algorithm problems using MATLAB 7.0, - brief description on the basics of Genetic Programming, - application case studies on Genetic Algorithm on emerging fields.

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Someone : " So what do you think of the new teacher ?"

Me : "He's ok"

Someone : "He's definitely gay. He's got a gay voice."

Youtube comment : "Men and women cannot be equal because they are different physically. Give a boy some toys, he'll make them wage war while a girl will organize a tea party."

youtube comment : "...Feminist movements (Lesbian movements ?)"

Obviously, as you can anticipate, I find those kind of remarks appalling. But lets have a closer look at why people think they recognise gay people (and as a consequence may cause prejudice) through certain recurrent patterns or why men see such a biological divide between them and women. Now before you embark in the reading of my opinionated blog, take in account that I am heterosexual and I am a guy, so I am hardly defending my own interests here.

Let's start with homosexuality. Homosexuals like men (or in the case of lesbians, they like women). To me that pretty much sums up the difference a heterosexual and a homosexual. But a lot of people go much further than that. According to the stereotype, gay men have a peculiar voice and dress in unusual outfits and put make-up on. While this is a gross generalisation, it must be conceded that indeed there are gay people who fit that depiction. But, is it really because they are gay that they dress in that fashion ? Personally, I would be more inclined to see these characteristics as walking hand in hand rather than one being the result of the other. As I see it, a gay person, by his acceptance of his own different sexuality, already shows the courage of going against our society in which one is only really considered normal if he/she is a heterosexual (a feeling strengthened by opinion controllers such as politics and religion). I have to stress that I loath the word "normal" and that I'm a using it in a very sarcastic sense. It means nothing to me (especially in this context). Now, if this person has had the courage to drift away from society's 'superficial' ideal about sexuality, this person, with his new-found freedom might tune other aspects of his life accordingly. So he'll dress exactly the way he wants, talk the way he wants and really do his own thing. Of course, he may choose to dress like you would expect him too if that is what he enjoys. Conversely, people who have extravagant personalities are not all gay, they show enough awareness of society to take their distance from it, but naturally show an interest in the opposite sex. But because gay people have a tendency for being free thinkers, both concepts seemed to be mutually attractive, that is why sometimes both will emerge quite cohesively in one individual and why other more rigid individuals will start pointing fingers. And that much liberty should not be condemned but instead admired. They are truly being themselves.  And we should all truly be ourselves. I, for one, am very faithful to my ideals and needless to say that it has attracted me a bit of hostility from others who keep themselves on the path society has laid for them. Lets put it that way, if society put both sexual tendencies on the same equal grounds (especially in the Law), there would be nothing to differentiate homosexuals from heterosexuals because a homosexual's behaviour would not be surprisingly different from one of a heterosexual (except maybe when it would come to flirting). Another important point, homosexuality is by no means genetic like some people seem to think. Evolution-wise, homosexuality has no obvious advantage as it prevents genes being passed on to a next generation (obviously, a member of the opposite sex is needed for that). That sole sentence is enough to justify why homosexuality is not genetic. If there truly were genes for homosexuality, they would dissapear with their owner. It is often an easy way out for people to say that things are genetic. You can have enhancing factors in your genes but these can express themselves in many different ways. The interaction environment-genes is really the answer. I probably have genes that expose me to alcoholism as it runs in my family and yet I don't even drink (at all) (and my parents hardly drink). So one person can have genes that are favourable (or deterrent) to a certain way of being, but it really is up to the developing person to become what he wants to be. The title of one of the TED talks I recently watched was "Your genes are not your fate". I think this fits perfectly with what I'm saying here.

I run out of time each time (look at the time !)...I shall therefore post the end of this chain of though in the next article I write. So misogynists beware...because I'm extremely pro-Feminist !!!

http://uncnews.unc.edu/news/health-and-medicine/unc-caltech-research-finds-further-evidence-for-genetic-contribution-to-autism.html

I would have liked to see a larger sample size in the study as 42 isn't a very large number to go on. Now I'm going to have to watch myself to see where I'm getting my nonverbal clues from. 

I do like the reference that the 'genetic link was noted in the 1940s in the earliest descriptions of autism'.

A little over a month ago I got reconnected with a childhood friend of mine named Vincent Hunt.  I was quite the tomboy back then, always playing with the fellas.  Well one day we found some wood in my garage and Vincent came up with the idea to build a Teepee.  So I had the wood, Kenny (another childhood friend) got some string, Vincent got a plastic tarp, and Kela (Kenny's sister) got a blanket to lay inside the tent when we were finished.  We built the tent in my back yard.  After we finished, Vincent decided that we should be 'real' Indians so we got some sticks and strings and nails and tape to make bow and arrows.  When we finished we all tried to crawl inside, but only two could fit.  So Vincent yells "TRIBAL WAR!!!!!" and starts chasing me and Kela around the house and down the street.  I stopped to catch my breath and Vincent comes sneaking around the corner like crouching tiger or something and lets out this loud Indian yell.  He aimed his bow and arrow at me and shot.  The makeshift arrow sailed through the sky and landed in my arm.  I plucked it out and blood streamed from my arm like an elementary school water fountain.  I took off after him and he stuck out his tongue at me and said "meep meep" like the road runner and ran home.  He stayed in the house for a minute after that talking about he had to eat lunch.

I said all that to say Vincent's ideas are contagious.  He has this organic and systematic way of having an idea, getting others excited and involved, and making that idea come to fruition.

We talked and caught up on our kids and careers.  He told me about his SapienHarbor organization and how he specializes in Human Advancement - check him out at www.sapienharbor.com.  I told him about how I had been pregnant, homeless, and lived in my car with my three sons for two months and how I had gotten through that situation and wrote a novel titled 'MIRACLES OF MY MISTAKES' and had became a best selling author.  I just went on and on and I was feeling so proud of myself for reaching my goal despite my circumstances.  He stopped me and asked me the most profound question I had ever been asked.  He said, "So what are you going to do now?"  At that moment all my glory was forgotten.  My sense of accomplishment was replaced with hunger, ambition, and a burning desire to take my life to the next level.  He began to counsel me on the benefits of not being satisfied with my current state of being and how we as human not only have a mental, but also genetic desire to expand and challenge our minds.  We are programmed that way and I realized at that moment that that is the very reason why people get bored.  Webster's definition of boredom is:  the state of being weary and restless through lack of interest.  He told me that I wouldn't be bored if I was passionate about something and then he told me that is was nice hearing from me and that we would talk soon.

Even after he hung up I just sat there.  I was sitting still, but my mind was going a million miles a minute.  Vincent had done his job and that was to get me thinking about advancing my life.  Now my job was to fill a void in the Earth that would become a portal to get others thinking along the lines of Human Advancement.  The task bestowed upon me was overwhelming at first.  Then I remembered another thing Vincent told me 'GIANTS EAT GIANT FOOD!' and I got past that.  Then that 'I'm not worthy monkey tried to jump on my back, but I pulled one of those self defense moves I learned at the Y on him. 

I got to thinking about all the things I had overcome, accomplished, and achieved.  I analyzed my situation and reflected on my journey and said, "HEY!"  The cards had been stacked against me since birth.  I was conceived by a submissive act and my birth was a result of that.  I wasn't wanted when I arrived and my mother didn't even pretend to love me because she doesn't lie.  As a result of my unconventional upbringing and lack of guidance life had its knee between my shoulder blades and its foot on my neck until the summer of 2003. 

Since then I have achieved a lot.  I was blessed to be able to become a responsible adult, secure permanent housing, make my house a home, keep my children interested in school, raised them with respect, values, and self control.  I helped them become Honor students, I increased my income, I gained multiple streams of income, I became a productive member of society, I went back to school, I completed my novel, published my novel, and promoted my novel until I made a Best Seller's list and I have become an inspiration to others.

As an Achieveologist, I have mastered the art of conquering life's situations.  I specialize in setting, developing, and achieving goals.  My contribution to mankind is Achieveology.

Trizah Morris

www.myspace.com/miraclesofmymistakes

www.miraclesofmymistakes.com

www.miraclesofmymistakes.com/gems

www.beenthere2.wordpress.com

Hoje [16/07] um porta-voz da clínica de Lichtenberg, em Berlim, confirmou a notícia e disse que o pai de Leo e Ryan, como as crianças serão batizadas, é um alemão da localidade de Potsdam, vizinha a Berlim, enquanto a mãe é originária de Gana, na África Ocidental.

"Em casos contados, pode acontecer que gêmeos tenham diferentes cores de pele", disseram fontes da clínica de Lichtenberg, onde destacaram que é a primeira vez que isso ocorre em Berlim.

Destacaram que, se quando ocorrer a gravidez a mulher tiver apresentado uma dupla ovulação, pode ocorrer casos como esse.

Após explicar que foi comprovado através de exame que o pai é o progenitor das duas crianças, a porta-voz do hospital disse que o parto aconteceu em 11 de julho e que a mãe e os bebês passam bem.

___________________________________________________
A dupla dinâmica ! ! ! !

Parabéns pro casal :-D

We have clothes stitched to fit our figures, cuisines prepared to suit our taste buds, training schedules planned to match our physical needs and NOW diets tailored and designed as per our genetic code and DNA make up….

Welcome to the world of nutrigenomics!

Since our individual genes determine the nutrients each of us needs to stay fit and disease-free, it makes sense to customise diets according to a person's DNA, says researchers. This fast-growing (and controversial) field - called nutritional genomics, or nutrigenomics is attracting serious research funding, and nutrition counselors are already predicting a "revolution" in preventative health in near future.

Nutritional genomics, (also called nutrigenomics), is actually the study of how nutrients and genes interact and how genetic variations can cause people to respond differently to food nutrients. And a nutrigenomic diet programme is based on detailed analysis of DNA, the unique genetic code everyone is born with, to set out exactly what each person as an individual should and should not eat for the rest of their life.

According to scientists, the so-called "nutrigenomic diet" could greatly increase active life expectancy and, more importantly, eliminate genetically related killer diseases such as breast cancer and other common cancers and heart disease. Nutrigenomic or designer diets can be used for people as young as five and will help one to stay healthy and live longer.

Procedure involved-

Tests to determine genetic risk profiles are currently being offered by a small number of companies in Canada, United States and United Kingdom.

Clients are sent a pack with a swab to wipe with saliva from the inside of their cheek. The saliva is then analysed to compile a DNA profile, showing up individual genetic traits. This is combined with information on the person’s present diet to produce a detailed list of foods and supplements which are beneficial and those to be avoided.

Nutritional genetic testing will look at the DNA sequence of an individual for specific genes and then even on variations of those genes, and the results will be looking at epidemiological, genetic and biomedical information from each gene. This would be put into a report with general information about how your genes work together with the food you eat, and specific recommendations over what you should eat.

The genes are tested for the antioxidant activity, detoxification, factors affecting bone health, and aspects of cardiovascular diseases. If your genes show a raised risk of developing heart disease, say, you shall be recommended a specific nutritional programme. It has been seen that if you give individuals their genetic test results, even if it's for a couple of genes, it can motivate those people to change their lifestyle, which definitely is a benefit of the concept. However, critics are arguing about the expense associated with current nutritional genetic testing and how the high cost could ultimately increase health disparities. Also, the zeal of specific companies to market their so called designer diets is quite overwhelming!

Although the science behind these tests is valid and this might be the future of nutritional intervention for combating diseases, lets be patient and avoid being carried away too soon. What we need is extensive studies to analyze the role of genetics in the development of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart disease, birth defects and food allergies, about how chemicals in foods can affect genes, and how genes can predict whether particular foods are likely to cause health problems.

The world is still catching up with this nutritional breakthrough and as nutritional genomics research is still in its infancy, it will take sometime before we have companies offering dietary advice based on individual genetic profiles.

In the meantime, lets continue with symptomatic analysis of the client, (which reflects his/her body type, eating pattern, activity levels, lifestyle) and a pathological blood investigation to evaluate the physiological state.

And continue eating right and exercising well!

------------------

While browsing the “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibit at the MOMA a couple of months ago I was shocked by the number of genetics-related installations. At the time I was completing my master’s degree and felt so immersed in the microcosm of clinical genetics that I had temporarily forgotten about the mainstream fascination with the sexy and futuristic aspects of the subject.

The state of California’s recent cease-and-desist order directed at several direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies has served to highlight the tension between medical and recreational genetics. I have been surprised by the strong adverse reaction that has been generated. In a recent post, blogger Daniel McArthur makes a good case for recreational genetics, and calls out the medical community for representing the old-school camp of the current genetic testing regulation “turf war.” I also thought this article on Wired’s website provided a strong argument that I had not considered previously:

“The assumption that there must be a layer of "professional help" is exactly what the new age of medicine bodes -- the automation of expertise, the liberation of knowledge and the democratization of the tools to interpret and put to use fundamental information about who we are as people. Not as patients, but as individuals. This is not a dark art, province of the select few, as many physicians would have it. This is data. This is who I am. Frankly, it's insulting and a curtailment of my rights to put a gatekeeper between me and my DNA.”

Here are some of my thoughts on the issue:

1. A level of oversight and transparency regarding the laboratory aspects of the testing is essential. If I am going to spend $1000+ on this product I want to know that, at the very least, there is a process in place to avoid sample mix-ups and that the lab techniques being used are up-to-date and credible.

2. There should be a distinction between recreational and medical genetics. There is no harm in learning that you have a genotype that makes your pee smell after eating asparagus (a much cheaper option: eat some asparagus, wait a couple hours, and pee). And you certainly don’t need a physician to interpret that information for you.

On the other hand, learning that you are predisposed to certain diseases requires a little more foresight and follow-through. For example, if a test reveals that you have an increased risk for developing breast cancer, should you go for a mammogram earlier than you would if you were at the general population risk? If so, how much earlier? Would your family physician be liable should he/she fail to refer you for a mammogram and you develop breast cancer? There needs to be some consensus developed for these kinds of issues, and this requires oversight.

(A potential problem with this approach arises when, 5 years from now, researchers discover that that same genotype for asparagus-pee predisposes you to developing early onset Alzheimer’s disease.)

3. Genetics professionals who fail to recognize the fun, cool and recreational aspects of this field risk alienating themselves, and will miss out on the opportunity to increase their visibility and further their own profession.

The Melbourne five-year-old suffers from a condition so rare it is yet to be named - and now he is helping scientists save others from the same fate. Travis's case has baffled doctors, who initially were unable to explain his autistic-like symptoms. His mother, Michelle, said her son, who also cannot walk, talk or eat without assistance, "has had every test known to man". Experts now believe a single and unidentified gene - carried only by female family members and only affecting males - is responsible.

Geneticist Tiong Tan said the Holdsworths were the only known carriers of the gene in the world. "I have presented Travis's case nationally and internationally, and no other geneticist has said they've seen a family with this," he said.

Dr Tan and interstate colleagues are trying to isolate the mysterious gene causing Travis's condition. He said finding the gene, on the X chromosome, was like finding a single house on a map of the world. "We have narrowed it down to the suburb, but within that suburb there are lots of streets and lots of houses," said Dr Tan, of Murdoch Children's Research Institute. Travis and his relations will be crucial in solving the medical mystery. Two cousins, both male and from his mother's side of the family, died of the same condition at age 10. In an effort to prevent more children being born with Travis's condition, DNA from 12 family members has been collected and stored.

All samples will be tested when the defective gene is identified, revealing the carriers. "By looking at the family and who's affected and how they are connected, it's very likely that (Travis's condition) is being caused by just one gene on the X chromosome," Dr Tan said.

"Females carry the gene, but it's boys who are affected because they only have one X chromosome. Females have two, so they have a backup copy (cancelling out the faulty version)." Mrs Holdsworth said her family could make medical history. "We have been told the gene could be named after our family when they find it," she said.

"But I don't care about that -- the point is we may be able to help other people." But nothing has stopped Travis. "Despite what he has gone through, he is just such a happy and calm and brave boy. We all love him so much," Mrs Holdsworth said.

HeraldSun Australia

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23974248-2862,00.html

Seorang saintis dan juga profesor University of Southern California, Leonard Max Adleman, telah mencetuskan satu perkembangan menarik dalam dunia pengkomputeran. Beliau telah menjadi pencetus kepada kajian mendalam mengenai DNA komputer, atau pengkomputeran melalui DNA berbanding cara tradisional iaitu dengan litar elektronik yg membentuk litar kompleks sehingga menghasilkan suatu komputer yg dapat menyelesaikan pelbagai permasalahan.

Adleman telah berjaya membuat demonstrasikonsep pengkomputeran dari DNA, yg mana dapat menyelesaikan 7-titik masalah laluan Hamilthon. Kemudian, pada 2002, sekumpulan penyelidik Israel dari Weizmann Institute of Science telah menyambung penyelidikan DNA komputer dan memperkenalkan satu jenis komputer, yg boleh melakukan 330 trillion operasi per saat yg mana adalah 100 000 kali lebih laju daripada komputer peribadi yg terlaju. Ia juga boleh dikenal sebagai komputer biologikal. Penyelidikan pakar saintis ini juga melibatkan enzim selain DNA.

Secara teori, DNA boleh dianggap sebagai perisian dan enzim sebagai perkakasnya. Kedua-dua bahan ini dimasukkan dan diuji dalam tiub ujian. Segala proses yg berlaku iaitu sebarang tindak balas kimia menghasilkan sesuatu benda baru. Operasi itu mungkin menghasilkan jawapan kepada apa masalah yg ingin diselesaikan. DNA ini boleh diprogramkan, sama seperti mikropemproses yg diprogramkan untuk menjalankan arahan yg telah diberi. Cuma, kaedah DNA tidak universal, kerana masih banyak kelemahan yg boleh diperbaiki dan kelebihan yg boleh diterokai.

Pakar berkata, potensi untuk pengkomputeran molekular melalui DNA komputer ini mempunyai masa depan yg cerah dengan kemampuan yg tinggi kerana DNA mempunyai kemampuan menyimpan maklumat sangat besar, iaitu lebih besar berkali-kali ganda berbanding komputer biasa. Dari sudut kelajuan pun, DNA komputer melangkaui komputer konvensional. Ini menjadikan DNA komputer lebih efisien kerana kemampuannya itu.

Tiga tahun selepas eksperimen Adleman, get logik daripada DNA telah dibangunkan oleh penyelidik dari University of Rochester. Get-get logik ini menukarkan kod binari kepada suatu siri isyarat yg digunakan oleh komputer untuk melakukan operasi yg dikehendaki. Ketika ini, get logik menukar isyarat input dari transistor silikon, kepada isyarat output yg boleh melakukan operasi kompleks. Melihat kepada konsep pengkomputeran DNA, bebenang/lembaran DNA mampu melakukan operasi perkiraan yg amat pantas, di mana ia mampu menghasilakan berbilion jawapan yg berpotensi serentak. Ini menyebabkan DNA komputer amat sesuai untuk menyelesaikan masalah "logik fuzzi", yg menunjukkan pelbagai kemungkinan penyelesaian. Walaubagaimanapun, ia masih di tahap kajian, kerana ia tidak begitu praktikal untuk dibina kerana keadaan molekul itu sendiri seperti sesuatu bahan organik dan bendalir.

Namun, kebolehannya untuk menjadi suatu pelapis dunia pengkomputeran boleh lagi diakui. Ini kerana saintis atau penyelidik telah mencipta MAYA-I dan MAYA-II yg dibangunkan oleh Milan Stojanovic, dari Columbia University di New York, dan Darko Stefanovic, dari University of New Mexico di Albuquerque. Mungkin DNA komputer tidak berfungsi dengan kebolehan seperti penulisan pada perisian pemproses kata, pembuatan e-mel dan permainan komputer. Tetapi mungkin kemampuan pengiraan yg tinggi ini dapat digunakan  oleh kerajaan sesebuah negara untuk meretakkan/mecari kod rahsia atau sesbuah penerbangan yg mehu mencari laluan penerbangan yg paling efisien bg mereka. Penyelidikan DNA komputer ini memungkinkan kecendeungan untuk kita memahami lebih lanjut tentang komputer yg paling kompleks - Otak Manusia.

MAYA-II menjadikan usaha untuk menjadikan sistem komputer lebih pantas, efisien dan semakin kecil tidak terpadam. MAYA-II terdiri daripada 9 tabung uji (seperti perigi) sel kultur yg disusun dalam satu corak seperti grid dalam permainan tic-tac-toe. Setiap tabung mengandungi suatu sebatian material DNA yg dikodkan dengan dye fluoresen berwarna merah dan hijau .

Tetapi, jika DNA komputer tidak menjadi kenyataan, sekurang-kurangnya ia mempunyai tugas yg lebih besar iaitu sebagai komponen dalam bidang perubatan. Sebahagian saintis meramalkan, pada masa hadapan, mungkin akan dipantau oleh DNA komputer yg amat kecil dan halus, di mana ia memantau dan memasstikan kesihatan kita terjamin. DNA komputer juga bakal mampu melepaskan ubat atau bahan kimia yg sesuai untuk membaiki tisu yg rosak atau yg tidak sihat. Doktor akan datang juga mungkin hanya perlu menyuntik berjuta-juta peranti (DNA komputer) pada badan pesakit. Komputer ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti sebarang tanda-tanda kanser dengan memantau kepekatan sesuatu molekul dalam badan manusia. Bahan kimia dari DNA komputer juga sejenis bahan yg boleh bertindak sendiri(autonamous) tanpa memerlukan sebarang penyeliaan. Jadi dunia perubaan atau kesihatan akan lebih maju, dan lebih ramai akan mendapat manfaat dari perkembangan itu.

Jadi kesimpulannya, kita boleh merumuskan bahawa ada beberapa kelebihan DNA komputer berbanding silikon yg konvensional.

• Selagia ada organisma-organisme selular, bekalan DNA sentiasa ada.
• Bekalan DNA yg sangat banyak menyebabkan DNA sebagau menjimatkan sumber asli.
• DNA biochip dibuat dengan halal dan bersih.
• DNA komputer jauh lebih kecil berbanding silikon

Kredit sumber:

• BBC
• HowStuffWork
• NatGeo
• Wikipedia
• WhyFiles
• The Chronicles

]]> http://asherose.wordpress.com/?p=44 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:12:33 +0000 asherose http://asherose.wordpress.com/?p=44 Yep, that's right, I'm fearlessly tackling the big issues today. This is one of the biggest. Where does creativity itself come from? Does everyone have it but some don't develop it? Is it innate, a genetic ability that some are born with? The result of borderline insanity? Childhood trauma coming forth? All just imitation--there's nothing new under the sun? Is a creative writer working out problems in his own life through fiction, ie a type of therapy? Is there a link between creativity and intuition? Is it distilled randomness, and does that phrase actually mean anything? Does a creative writer take in everything he sees and churn it up, then regurgitate? (ew)

First, let's define our terms. What is creativity? Almost everyone I know or have heard about has something they claim for a creative outlet. Often it's of the 'tinkertoy' variety, like my jewelry crafting: putting together elements that already existed (beads in my case) to make a finished product (say, a necklace). Now there's some creativity to that, because if another person made the necklace it might come out quite differently. Nevertheless, for this post series I want to define creativity as making something out of nothing.

It could be argued that writing is also a tinkertoy process; after all, there are a finite number of words in the English language, and they are the building blocks. However, writing goes far beyond the necklace. Yes, the building blocks are words, which we all share. But the very least of what is created, in a story, are characters, settings, imagery and turns of phrase which did not exist before.

It could also be argued, ad nauseum, that these are also chopped up and reconnected bits of things that are found in other fiction: characters being amalgams of people you know, or versions of yourself, for example. But while it may be a gradation, not a line, I think somewhere along the way the process of writing stops being craft and becomes art. It's more than putting beads together to make a necklace. This is a necklace that sings and shows pictures and dances and grows warm and sinks into your soul to set up housekeeping. Pretty good necklace.

So is it innate? Is there a genetic predisposition to creativity? Some people do seem to do it a lot more than others. I think there is a genetic predisposition, given that humanity seems more creative than its nearest relative, the chimpanzee. It seems that every genetic line has the same amount of creativity. I don't seem to find a 'commonsense' belief that German stock is more creative than Arabic, or that Negroid stock tends more toward paintings and Chinese more toward singing. Every group, culture and race has its singers, its writers, its artists, its dancers. New art forms seem to have their proponents from every area as well. That doesn't let out the possibility of some individuals being predisposed more toward creative endeavors than others, just as some are more predisposed to being six foot three than others.

None of this, however, disproves a theory that everyone has the same amount of creative ability, a gift of our adaptations to language, intelligence and flexibility, perhaps. If that's true, then some of us might not develop it as much as others, by which I don't mean that they are somehow truncated, abused or disabled. There's a lot of room for personal preference, for the paths of individual lives to take different form.

What do you think? Is creativity innate? If so, is it everyone, or just a few? I'd love to hear from someone who considers himself completely increative, and whether he feels disabled in some way. Is there a sense that everyone else has an in-joke you don't understand? Or is it just that many people seem to waste their time on one frivolous pursuit or another?

Unfortunately, I'm not sure I will hear from someone who considers himself increative. (Uncreative?) This forum selects for the text-oriented, and mine is normally found on searches about writing. Still, it would be interesting!

and here a write up on it

interestingly the write up title is

Scientists Identify Genes that Could Turn Ordinary People into Supergeniuses (or Mindless Drones)

The phrase "obsessive-compulsive" has worked its way into the wider English lexicon, and is often used in an offhand manner to describe someone who is meticulous or absorbed in a cause.

People who suffer from the separate and unrelated condition obsessive compulsive personality disorder are not aware of anything abnormal with them; they will readily explain why their actions are rational, and it is usually impossible to convince them otherwise.

Although obsessive-compulsive disorder commonly occurs in many patients with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, little is known about the obsessions and compulsions of Tourette's syndrome and whether they differ from those seen in pure obsessive-compulsive disorder.

It is for this reason there is some overlap between this category and our Famous People with Tourettes Syndrome list.

The tic disorder Tourette's Syndrome (T S) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are genetic and/or autoimmune neurological syndromes1,2,3 which are comorbid (In medicine, comorbidity describes the effect of all other diseases an individual patient might have other than the primary disease of interest) in 40-75% of patients initially diagnosed with either disorder, with comorbidity (In medicine, comorbidity describes the effect of all other diseases an individual patient might have other than the primary disease of interest) likeliest to occur in their childhood-onset forms.

<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=LifeChums&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark and Share"><img border="0" width="125" alt="Bookmark and Share" src="http://s9.addthis.com/button1-addthis.gif" height="16"/></a>

Spend enough time anywhere and you'll eventually run into someone who's felt the generation gap quite keenly; someone on the vanpool related the story of how, after his parents divorced, he and his sister were sent to live with their grandparents.  His sister received corporal punishment for bringing home a book on how to love people -- not in the physical sense, but in a spiritual sense; this from a grandmother considered liberal in her time (she played sports!) who literally judged that book by its cover.

Me, there was a giant language barrier yawning between my grandparents and me; I never learned Mandarin well enough to do much more than exchange pleasantries about how the weather was and expressing gratitude for the good grub they managed to put on the table (we all lived as one big extended family for four or five years when I was six).  As I'm convinced that any gifts I have must be genetic, I'm curious to see what their perspective is on the historical events they lived through.  Life's already so busy that we barely have time to talk, let alone set aside the time to learn.

And now figgy will face the same issues; theVet's parents are not native English speakers, but there's a wealth of experiences shaped by growing up during a civil war in Korea.  What lessons can we learn?  How much harder is it, really, to extend the same courtesies and patience we do with bare strangers who call the house seeking our opinion on meaningless things?  To understand the person of now, it helps to know the child of the past.  Yesterday collides with tomorrow to shape all our todays.

Mike

La canción utilizada en este segundo trailer es buena y vale la pena, aunque me sigo quedando con la que interpreta Brightman en el primero. Más datos sobre la historia y presentación de algunos personajes, entre ellos Sarah Brightman y Paris Hilton en este nuevo trailer.

Click en la imagen. (en cualquiera no hay pedo es el mismo link para la pagina BD que luego los enlaza a la oficial de Repo!, y luego ahi hay q buscar el trailer, ¿por que no enlazo directo? es q estoy cansado y tengo hueva)

You can read more here.

Subscribe to the Family Anatomy podcast at http://feeds.feedburner.com/familyanatomy.

Harnessing the freeze-drying process for product delivery to reduce overheads and increase profits "The market for lyophilised biologicals is expected to reach 150 million units by 2010”

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Dear Colleague,

Over the last few years, lyophilisation has become a crucial enabling process technology for many important drugs. It has meant that material can be easily stored, shipped and later reconstituted to its original form for injection, and this has brought many new applications and the possibility for reducing costs. If you have not yet taken steps in this direction, or you’d like to know how to improve your portfolio, our lineup of expert speakers at the 2008 Lyophilisation conference will be on hand to share their knowledge and experience. This one-off event promises to bring together leaders in the field, so why not take the time to reserve your place? However, freeze-drying is also a complex, costly, and facility-intensive process that many companies do, but only a few do well. By attending this conference, you will fi nd out what steps need to be taken in order to stay competitive, and also to keep on the right side of the regulators. And with the fi eld of drug discovery now experiencing impressive advancements through maturing technologies, those at the forefront will lead the way in this profi table sector. Reserving a place at this conference will provide a practical approach to help you develop strategies for successful formulation, lyo cycle development and optimisation, validation, and scale-up.Visiongain’s hotly-anticipated event will enable you to examine the latest technological breakthroughs, discuss and debate scientifi c processes, share the expert’s opinions on all aspects of lyophilisation, and forge the right partnerships for the coming years. Places are limited, so I invite you to book now to avoid missing out on what promises to be a unique exchange of knowledge and ideas.

I hope to see you there.

Best regards,

Dr Richard Walledge

Senior Conference Producer

Who should attend?

• Head of Drug Development Strategy
• Director of Drug Safety/Risk Management
• Head of Project Packaging
• VP/Head of Research & Development and Product Safety/Stability Assessment
• VP/Head of Patient Safety and Outcomes Research and Data Analysis
• VP/Head of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance
• VP of Sales & Marketing

Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities:

This event offers a unique opportunity to meet and do business with some of the key players in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. If you have a service or product to promote, you can do so at this event by:

• Hosting a networking drinks reception
• Taking an exhibition space at the conference
• Advertising in the delegate documentation pack
• Providing branded bags, pens, gifts, etc.

If you would like more information on the range of sponsorship or exhibition possibilities for Lyophilisation for Pharmaceuticals 2008 Conference, please contact:

S. Raju
Tel: (00 91 22) 27578668 / 27579438
Email: raju@bharatbook.com

Troubleshooting the freeze-drying process

• Identifying defects in products
• How to improve reliability and reproducibility

Critical Assessment of Freeze Dried Materials

• Visually assess a series of lyophilised products whose different freeze-drying characteristics mean that they have dried to exhibit a range of structural patterns
• Evaluating the critical temperature
• Analysing the propensity of a formulation to form a surface skin on Scale-up of the freeze-drying process
• From small to large
• Pre-empting problems encountered

Multi-disciplinary Problem Solving Exercise

• Identifing the issues that are likely to contribute to product defects
• What steps might be taken to resolve the problem?
• How to produce a URS document

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Day 1: LYOPHILISATION FOR PHARMACEUTICALS 2008 | THURSDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 2008

09:00 Registration and refreshments
09:30 Chair’s opening remarks

Dr Narlin B Beaty
Managing Partner

Qualification Process Solutions

THE FREEZING PROCESS

09:40 State of the art structural analytics of proteins in freeze-dried matrices

• Structural characterisation of freeze-dried solids
• Understanding formulation development and critical factors in the stability
of freeze-dried solids
• Overcoming the challenges with drying of vaccines
• Analysing freeze drying of scaffolds for tissue engineering
• Freeze drying of lipoplexes and virus-like particles

Dr Irina A Antonijevic

Director, Translational Research

H. Lundbeck

10:20 Lyophilisate collapse and protein stability

• Understanding protein stability and process variations
• The chemistry of protein and peptide degradations in amorphous solids
• Structure and dynamics in the amorphous solid state
• Application of thermal analytical methods to accelerate lyophilisation
cycle development
• Case study: Freeze-drying cycle development for Kogenate-FS

Dr Lavinia Lewis
Research Scientist

Pfizer

11:10 Morning refreshments

11:30 Panel Discussion: Getting the best from

collaborative working

• Process development and scale-up
• Principles of lyophilisation cycle scale-up
• Optimisation and scale-up of a lyo cycle for a popular product
• CRO and enterprise requirements

Dr Michael J Akers

Senior Director, Pharmaceutical Research and Development Editor-in-Chief

Baxter

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DRYING PROCESS

12:00 New Technologies in Freeze Drying

Jürgen Grebe
Head of Marketing & Sales
Martin Christ GmbH

12:30 Process analytical technology for freeze-drying

• Advances in laser doppler shift spectroscopy to determine real-time in-process mass flow rate reactions
• Advanced uses of freeze-drying microscopy for product and lyo-cycle development
• Evaluation of manometric temperature measurement
• Moving beyond current limitations

Patrick Carl
Head of Capacity Management Technical Operations
Merck

13:10 Networking luncheon

14:20 Product stabilisation by control of molecular mobility: What kind of mobility is critical?

• What can be done and to what extent can it be successful?
• How to make sure you carry out the preparation process correctly?
• How to reduce the degradation process?
• Discussion of recent results

Andrew Brown

Department of Systems Research

GlaxoSmithKline

15:00 Freeze-dried plasma for field utilisation

• Avoiding activation of a plasma sample during the lyophilisation process
• Performance and interpretation of various neurologic examinations
• What is the impact on the future?

15:40 Afternoon refreshments

ROLE OF WATER AND PHASE CHANGES

16:00 Towards successful lyophilisation: The refinement of formulation against process cycle physical chemistry of the amorphous solid state
• Improving efficiency of cycle management and closure
• Introduction to spray freeze drying
• Spray-freeze-drying in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals
• Pair-wise distribution functions and structure in glasses

16:40 Influence of the physical state of an amorphous solid on its dynamics
• Predicting stability in freeze dried solids: Acidity in the solid state and other factors
• Do prospective studies always require prolonged periods of follow up?
• Exploiting conventional weaknesses

17:20 Chairperson closing remarks

17:30 Networking drinks Take your discussions further and build new relationships in a relaxed and informal setting.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 2: LYOPHILISATION FOR PHARMACEUTICALS 2008 | FRIDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 20088

09:00 Registration and refreshments

09:30 Chair’s opening remarks

Dr Narlin B Beaty
Managing Partner
Qualification Process Solutions

THERMAL ANALYSIS

09:40 Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA)

• Mixing properties of lyophilised protein systems, calorimetric and spectroscopic studies
• Monitoring the impact of action taken
• Best practices and lessons learned

Lydia Dolezel
Auditor - Computer Systems Quality

Eli Lilly

10:20 The influence of crucible material on the thermal properties of a collagen solution
• Increasing volumes, improving outcomes, and boosting revenue
• Overcoming increased competition and rapidly changing frameworks
• Comparison to freeze-drying microscopy results

11:00 Morning refreshments

11:20 Utilising near infrared spectroscopy in the formulation development
• Qualitative analysis of raw materials
• Investigation of special properties
• Moisture determination

Mikael Brülls

R&D Mölndal Development of Lyophilized Formulations

AstraZeneca

12:00 Practical considerations of scale-up and technology transfer of lyophilised products
• Equipment considerations
• Product characterization and scale-up concerns
• Process understanding and the impact of scale-up on the lyophilization cycle
• Technology transfer of lyophilized processes

Dr Stanley M Speaker III

Senior Scientist

Pfizer

12:40 Networking luncheon

PRODUCT PROPERTIES

13:50 Considerations for the selection of elastomeric closures for lyophilised products

• Selection criteria and technologies to meet the increasing requirements for lyophilisation stoppers
• Machinability, protection against volatiles and leachables from the closure
• Protecting the drug against moisture and oxygen permeation
• Summary of improvements made to rubber formulas and coating technologies
• Case studies: Evaluating residual moisture and permeation of moisture through the stopper and their effect on moisture content, as a function of rubber material, sterilisation cycle and drying procedure

Mike Schäfers

Director, Scientifi c & Technical Customer Services Europe/Asia Pacifi c

West Pharmaceutical Services

14:30 Panel Discussion: Improving process performance

by science: aspects in PAT and packaging

• PAT in the laboratory case studies: testing the smart freeze dryer
• A PAT approach to in-line control of the lyophilisation process
• 100% leak detection of lyophilisate vials by non-destructive laser absorption technology
• Applying PAT to the lyophilisation process: What must be done in order to achieve real time release?
• PAT implementation in lyophilisation and PAT-support for successful upscale

Ranjit Sarpal

Associate Director Manufacturing Technology

Bristol-Myers Squibb

15:10 Afternoon refreshments

PRINCIPLES OF VACUUM TECHNOLOGY, INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTAINER-CLOSURE SYSTEMS

15:30 Making better packaging and stoppers

• Complex products and technologies
• Root cause analysis and risk assessment for lyophilised Products
• Leak detection and head space gas analysis, inspection solutions for
lyophilised products
• Current case studies

16:10 Innovative software and devices to monitor the primary drying phase of freeze-drying processes
• How can enterprises integrate with business processes and applications?
• Pharmaceutical target validation
• Matrix validation approaches for lyophilised products
• Zero loss strategy - measures taken for freeze-dryers in biopharmaceutical products
• Microwave and continuous freeze dryers
The panel will be joined by key speakers from both days

17:00 Chairperson’s closing remarks and end of conference

For more information kindly visit: http://www.bharatbook.com/seminars/Lyophilisation_for_Pharmaceuticals_2008.asp

First off, if you have not seen the movie "The Happening" in theaters, I warn you not to read on much further because this post deals with the premise of the movie and will ruin it for you.  For the rest of you, I will explain the real world implications that are sort of addressed in this movie.

When I figured out exactly what was happening in the movie where the plants were releasing deadly neurotoxins killing off countless numbers of people, it made me think of genetically modified foods or also known as GM foods.  You might not know what they are, but I can easily bet you that you have eaten some.  Try looking at your produce sections at your local grocery store.  Have you ever remembered apples bigger than your fist?  Tomatoes the size of a softball and bright, bright red?  Those are a good example of these types of food.

What is a GM food?  Well, it a crop that is genetically spliced at the DNA level to increase crop yields, resist certain pests, and have a faster turnover to keep the soil rich and full of nutrients for the next crop.  This sounds all well and good, but what are the ramifications of such processes?  First, these companies purchase fields or rent them from farmers all over the country.  Some of the problems with this is when the plants are growing, they require pollen and this is accomplished with all the different insects such as butterflies, bees, etc.  Now it wouldn't be  problem if the insects could only pollenate the GM plants with only other GM plants, but that is not the case.  They are finding that these hybrid plants are starting to cross breed so to speak and distort the natural crops that we are used to eating for thousands of years.

Now this has only started to occur in the last 10 years or so, and there has not been a lot of press about this issue.  This being the said, there is no long term studies or effects are known at this time, but when we toy with nature, we usually pay the price.  Something to think about.
In Health,

Doctor Andy

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Still shots from visage .mov_modif

Digital photography

Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944)
Transverse Line, 1923
141 x 202 cm
Oil on canvas
Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf

 With fused senses Elisabeth Sulser has an amazing gift to see words and hear sounds with colors, shapes and tastes.  She is called a Synaesthete.  There are others, like her, which see colors and shapes, but not tastes when they hear music or words.  Elisabeth is unique among Synaesthetes. Scientists are working with Synaesthetes from around the world to isolate the gene that causes this rare and amazing fusion.

“Dr. Jäncke speculates that synaesthetes may have a superior ability to learn, as the basic principle of connecting or associating an item with several other items is strongly linked to memory and creativity.”
~Discovery Channel, 2008~

If scientists find the gene and can successfully genetically alter human life with this fusion, the world will have a new species.  As a result a wider genetic divide will occur.  Only the wealthy would be able to provide their offspring with this type of memory and creativity. 

Thinking out loud…

We already have a social-ecomonic gap in every urban and populated centre.  The wealthy have the power based on education, research, and election to envision, influence, and act on, credible information that drives our everyday systems, whether biological or mechanical, forward. The power of a Synaesthete may be a building block that opens an area of the brain to higher consciousness.  The ability to interpret environments on a completely different level may open channels to extrasensory and kinetic awareness and manipulation.  The ability to understand and harness this synaptic energy may be the birth of telepathic communication with multi-dimensional species.  Accordingly, the privilege of having this gift is similar to monarchs.  Synaesthetes would be entrusted and obliged to protect the non-synaesthetes peoples and the world that surrounds them.  The people of the earth evolve again.  A new world order.

http://www.discoverychannel.ca/shows/castdetails.aspx?cid=4609&sid=4399

Stef

See the latest posts at

Mind-Body-Spirit for Health

mindbodyspirit4health.com

Keywords: acupuncture, adhd, alzheimer's, antidepressant, anxiety, biofeedback, blood pressure, BODY, bone density, cancer, chi kung, chronic pain, consciousness, cortisol, depression, diabetes, dna, epigenetic, exercise, gene, genetic, guolin, headache, health, healing, hypertension, hypnosis, immune system, jill bolte taylor, mantra, massage, meditation, MIND, mindfulness, ms, multiple sclerosis, nocebo, opiate, pain, prayer, placebo, qigong, research, rna, SPIRIT, spirituality, stress, stroke, substance abuse, tai chi, tai chi and qigong, thought, yoga

Please see http://mindbodyspirit4health.com

Mind-Body-Spirit for Health

mindbodyspirit4health.com

Keywords: acupuncture, adhd, alzheimer's, antidepressant, anxiety, biofeedback, blood pressure, BODY, bone density, cancer, chi kung, chronic pain, consciousness, cortisol, depression, diabetes, dna, epigenetic, exercise, gene, genetic, guolin, headache, health, healing, hypertension, hypnosis, immune system, jill bolte taylor, mantra, massage, meditation, MIND, mindfulness, ms, multiple sclerosis, nocebo, opiate, pain, prayer, placebo, qigong, research, rna, SPIRIT, spirituality, stress, stroke, substance abuse, tai chi, tai chi and qigong, thought, yoga

Please see http://mindbodyspirit4health.com