Polyplastics (Tokyo), Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC), and Ticona say they will jointly invest [epsilon]150 million ($128 million) to build a 60,000-m.t./year polyacetal plant at Nantong, Jiangsu. They have signed a letter of intent with the local authorities to acquire land and have received project approval from the Jiangsu provincial government. Polyplastics, a joint venture of Daicel Chemical …
Hunting, fishing and trapping have long and honorable traditions in New York state.
New York was the first state, in 1949, to require mandatory hunter training for youths before they went afield. From those early beginnings our volunteer instructors have trained more than 2.6 million new hunters in the Empire State and achieved an enviable record of safety. This program proved so successful that today every state and Canadian province has some form of hunter training for its recreationist.
Fishing likewise has important historical roots in New York. This pioneering efforts of Seth Green more than a century ago created one of the first fish hatcheries in North …
Among them was sister Anna Nobili, 38, who became an overnight YouTube sensation after footage of the stripper-turned-nun preaching was posted on the Internet.
The Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life, which investigates allegations of misconduct in monasteries and convents, began their investigation after reports of the dancing nuns reached Pope Benedict.
The order of Cistercian monks is based in the monastery, which is in Rome's Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.
It is one of the Catholic Church's most popular shrines and contains relics from Christ's Crucifixion.
In recent years, it has become the focal point for the 'Friends of Santa Croce', an aristocratic group who have attracted criticism for their unorthodox interpretation of religion - including the dancing nuns - although they were not part of the order.
'The decision to investigate the monastery was launched after reports were received of what was going on there - we need to remember this is a holy shrine containing relics of Christ,' the Daily Mail quoted a Vatican source as saying.
'It was evident that the order had lapsed in its discipline and an Apostolic visitation was arranged, which resulted in the decision to close the monastery which was approved by Pope Benedict,' he added.
It is not the first time the monastery has been the subject of controversy.
Two years ago the abbot there, Fr Simone Fioraso, a flamboyant former designer, was removed following allegations of homosexuality.
The Basilica, one of the famous seven pilgrim churches of Rome and built in 325AD, contains relics thought to be from Christ's Crucifixion including soil from around the site where he died and fragments of the cross.
Three years ago, Madonna visited the basilica and spent more than an hour there on a guided tour of the relics after being secretly smuggled in through a side door.
The order has been at the basilica for more than 1500 years and the monks and nuns there have now been moved to other monasteries and convents across Italy.
Vatican spokesman Fr Ciro Benedetti confirmed that the monastery had closed.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Asian News International.
For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
What is it? Desmopressin (des-moe-PRESS-in), sold under thetrade name DDAVP and Stimate, is a hormone taken through the nose orby injection to prevent or control the frequent urination, increasedthirst and loss of water associated with diabetes insipidus or "waterdiabetes." It also is used to control the increased thirst andfrequent urination associated with brain injuries, brain surgery orbed-wetting. Desmopressin works by acting on the kidneys to reduceurine flow.
What are the side effects? Check with your doctor immediatelyif any of the following occur as they may be symptoms of an overdose:confusion, seizures, continuing headache, rapid weight gain anddifficulty urinating. Other side effects that may occur but usuallydo not require medical attention include: abdominal or stomachcramps, flushing or redness of the skin, headache, nausea and pain inthe vulva.
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you ever have had an unusualreaction to desmopressin or other substances, such as dyes,preservatives or foods.
Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in humans. However,research in rats and rabbits has shown no birth defects.
Breast-feeding - Desmopressin passes into breast milk, but ithas not been shown to harm nursing babies.
Children - Infants may be more sensitive to this medication.
Older Adults - Elderly people are more likely to experience sideeffects.
Other medical problems - The presence of other health problemscan affect the use of desmopressin. These include heart or bloodvessel disease, high blood pressure and stuffy nose caused by a coldor allergy.
Derived from The Complete Drug Reference, copyright 1992, theUnited States Pharmacopeial Convention Inc. Permission granted.(Published by Consumer Reports Books.)
DesmopressinWhat is it? Desmopressin (des-moe-PRESS-in), sold under thetrade name DDAVP and Stimate, is a hormone taken through the nose orby injection to prevent or control the frequent urination, increasedthirst and loss of water associated with diabetes insipidus or "waterdiabetes." It also is used to control the increased thirst andfrequent urination associated with brain injuries, brain surgery orbed-wetting. Desmopressin works by acting on the kidneys to reduceurine flow.
What are the side effects? Check with your doctor immediatelyif any of the following occur as they may be symptoms of an overdose:confusion, seizures, continuing headache, rapid weight gain …
Playing card games in China could be more than just a pastime. Youmay stumble on a small fortune if you keep your eyes open for thefaces on the cards and those around you.
A card game player hit the jackpot recently when crime busters inHenan Province went one better than the "Most Wanted Iraqi PlayingCards," fashioned by the US military in late 2003 to help soldiersidentify key members of Saddam Hussein's government.
Murder suspect Zhang Zhijun was apprehended on January 26, 71 daysafter 500,000 packs of playing cards bearing his and 14 other murdersuspects' names and pictures were given out to the public.
The 20,000-yuan (US$2,484) reward for information leading to hisarrest put Zhang, the king of hearts on the cards, behind bars.
"Had it not been for the playing cards, my days of freedom couldhave been longer," the haggard-looking fugitive was reportedly heardmumbling after his arrest.
Police authorities were also elated by an avalanche of leads onthe whereabouts of the other suspects.
But their joy was short-lived, for soon they were dragged into awhirlpool of debate over their choice of playing cards, instead ofconventional mediums such as posters, newspapers, TV and theInternet, to pursue criminal suspects on the run.
Opponents took recourse to a social problem, pointing at thepotential risk of reputation damage if police got the wrong person onthe list. They also expressed fear that the lasting effect of suchplaying cards may cast a long shadow on convicts' efforts to reformand resettle back into the community.
The debate still seems to be raging. But shouldn't we welcome theidea to rope in the public in the fight against crime in one of theworld's most lightly policed countries?
With a poorly budgeted police force of 1.7 million (only abouthalf of them on the streets), China has fewer police officers perthousand people than the world's average. Nonetheless, they handled4.6 million criminal cases last year in as big a precinct as 9.6million square kilometres.
We know that fugitives are prone to commit new crimes to financetheir flight from the law. And unless they are brought to justicepromptly, public safety could be compromised. Given this situation,can we rely solely on a force already stretched to the limits to dothe job?
Card games are a national pastime for the Chinese. Tens ofmillions while away their time at the table every day. So think ofhow great a help it can be if the "most-wanted" playing cards canhelp police involve even a tiny fraction of this population in thefight against crime.
Moreover, this novel medium is more cost-effective than thetraditional ones such as posters, newspaper and TV advertisements,for a pack of cards could cost as little as 1.62 yuan (20 US cents).
What about the Internet, then? Well, fugitives are liable tochoose hideouts where more often than not people are deprived of thismodern means of communication. But they play cards!
And why shouldn't police use cards to chase criminal suspects whenan increasing number of businesses are doing so to advertise theirproducts and services?
Accepted, police at times bungle with their fugitive list. Butsuch mistakes are the result of their sloppy work, which irrespectiveof the medium they choose will have the same repercussions.
So let's have a set of foolproof rules before finalizing thewanted list.
For a start, the list needs to be confined to perpetrators ofheinous crimes that carry a life or capital sentence. And the listmust be compiled based on hard evidence.
Playing cards are innocent. Go on enjoying the games and watch outfor the bounty that may come with it.
Email: zouhr@chinadaily.com.hk
The Department of Labor is seeking public comment on whether itshould expand rules on electronic distribution of employee benefitinformation such as the required disclosure of quarterly accountstatements under ERISA.
While disclosures through e-mail and the Internet could saveemployers and providers a lot of money, some workers and retireesmay not be computer literate enough, may not have reliable access tothe Internet or may simply prefer traditional paper disclosures,according to statements by Phyllis C. Borzi, Assistant Secretary ofLabor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the agencythat enforces ERISA.
The request for information was published in the Federal Registeron April 7 and can be viewed here.
Public comments may be submitted by e-mail to E-ORI@dol.gov orthrough the federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov.
Written comments may be addressed to the U.S. Department ofLabor, Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Employee BenefitsSecurity Administration, Room N-5655, 200 Constitution Ave. NW,Washington, D.C. 20210, Attn: Electronic Disclosure by EmployeeBenefit Plans RFI.
The National Science Foundation on Monday announced a $2.2 milliongrant to the University at Buffalo for fellowships in the boomingfield of geographic information sciences.
With the funding, UB will offer 18 doctoral fellowships worth$15,000 a year in seven departments.
David Mark, a geography professor at UB, said "there is anincreasing demand for researchers" in this field and growing demandfor faculty familiar with geographic information sciences.
A second foundation grant announced Monday -- for $350,000 -- willmake it possible for UB soon to be hooked into the Backbone NetworkService, a fiber-optic communication system that parallels theThruway.
The high-speed data network ties together the super-computingsites in the country, said Hinrich R. Martens, UB associate vicepresident for computing and information technology.
The connection is expected to be ready by next spring.
The two-year grant making this possible is UB's share of a $1.75million award to a consortium of research universities in the stateknown as NYSERNet.
A subgroup of NYSERNet, including UB, Columbia University,University of Rochester, New York University and the RochesterInstitute of Technology, received the $1.75 million award allowingthe institutions to hook into the service.
The high-speed network is a crucial component of PresidentClinton's Next Generation Internet, or Internet 2 -- a new networkbeing developed by a consortium of 134 universities to supportresearch and other activities, Martens noted.
The Backbone Network Service has been called the "fabric" thatweaves Internet 2 universities together, according to UB networkengineer Jerry Bucklaew, UB's representative to the state Educationand Research Network.
"The Internet today is slow," he said. "If you want to do inter
active things or live things, voice or video-conferencing in realtime, you need greater bandwidth and quality of service."
Internet 2 is a must for UB "to retain and maintain the viabilityof the university," Martens said.
"We believe we will have applications and research projects thatwe wouldn't be able to carry out without the capability of Internet2," he noted.
"We need it in order to maintain our competitive position toattract faculty, to attract research and to be a 'name' institutionthat will also be attractive to undergraduate students."
UB qualified as a top-level research institution in applying forthe Backbone connection by citing projects of such UB centers as theMultidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, theCenter for High Performance Computing and the Center of Excellencefor Document Analysis and Recognition.
UB officials said nearly every student with geographic informationservice skills, even at the undergraduate level, gets a job.
Already at UB, researchers are using geographic informationservices to develop suburban deer management and analyze patterns ofcrime and problems in caring for the elderly when family members livefar away.
The science foundation made awards to only 16 applicants out of630.
The university said the program starts with the fall term in 1999.
"In terms of the breadth of our offerings and the number offaculty involved in geographic information science," Mark said, "UBis easily among the top 10 universities in the U.S."
