Lions kill rare white tiger at Czech zoo - bbc online

Lions kill rare white tiger at Czech Republic zoo

White tigers are rare in the wild because they stand out in the jungle

Two lions at a zoo in the northern Czech Republic have killed a rare white tigress after entering her enclosure.

The incident happened at Liberec Zoo - the only one in the country which has white tigers.

Zoo workers were alerted by the cries of the tigress, but were unable to stop the killing.
White tigers - the result of a recessive gene - find it difficult to catch prey in the wild because their colouration stands out in the jungle.

The lions - Sultan, aged 14, and Elsa, 11 - managed to open a trap door leading to an open-air area occupied by the 17-year-old tigress, Isabella.

Surviving daughter

Lions and tigers in the zoo share the same pavilion overnight, which they leave for separate open-air enclosures during the day.

But the open-air enclosures are rotated, and zoo authorities believe the lions were trying to get into the area where they had spent the previous day.
"The current security system has been in place for 12 years and such an accident has never happened before," said zoo director David Nejedlo.
There are three surviving white tigers at the zoo, including Isabella's daughter.

The zoo is the oldest in the Czech Republic and was established in 1919.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

Our blog which was first established in October 2007 currently has more than 30,000 hits. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Petpositive.

You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my

MBPJ To Make Section 52 Dsabled-Friendly - the star

Tuesday November 17, 2009

Move to make Sec 52 a clean and healthy area

By FAZLEENA AZIZ

THE Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is gearing up to make Section 52 a clean and healthy area by June next year.

Among the plans are upgrading of the drainage system, recycling centres and placement of garbage bins as well as more parking lots.
According to MBPJ councillor Anthony Thanasayan, who is also the chairman for the clean zone committee, the area will also be disabled-friendly.
He said they would be installing blind tiles as well.

“Some of the upgrading work has begun. The work on the drainage system will start at the end of the month.

“There is no point in us upgrading the area and the facilities if the public do not play their part in keeping the place clean,” he said.
During a recent site visit, MBPJ health director Dr Sadiah Abdullah said they would be spending at least RM500,000 for the upgrading exercise.
Sadiah also said they would be checking the area for proper garbage disposable bins.

“Those who do not dispose of their garbage properly will be compounded.
“As for the parking lots, there will be space for the disabled,” she said.
She added that they were going to buy two food composting machines, which would be placed at the hawker centre as part of the waste management exercise.

Section 52 was identified as the area to be cleaned up in the statewide Clean Zone competition.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

Our blog which was first established in October 2007 currently has more than 30,000 hits. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Petpositive.

You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my

Noise Worse for Students with Dyslexia - bbc online

Noise 'worse for dyslexic pupils'

Simple steps can make a big difference for children with dyslexia, experts say

Children with dyslexia find it harder to hear in noisy classrooms than those without the condition, a US study says.

Pupils with poor reading skills were also more likely to struggle to retain information when there was background noise, researchers reported in Neuron.
They said the findings, based on tests on 30 children, might help to develop new ways to diagnose the condition.
The team from Northwestern University, in Chicago, said pupils with dyslexia might also need extra support in class.
Wireless technology
They said placing children with dyslexia in front of the teacher could make a big difference.
And they suggested other steps, such as providing such pupils with wireless technologies and noise-reducing headphones to pick up information better.
Dyslexia is a neurological disorder which affects reading and spelling skills in between 5% to 10% of children.

I think it shows that extra support is needed, especially one-to-one support Dr John Rack, of Dyslexia Action

Recent research has suggested that children with the condition may struggle to process voices when there is competing noise.
The researchers set about testing the theory by getting children to watch a video with background noise, the journal Neuron reported.
At the same time, they were asked to repeat sentences they heard.
Lead researcher Professor Nina Kraus said the study was important in understanding the difficulties children with dyslexia face.
"The ability to sharpen or fine-tune repeating elements is crucial to hearing speech in noise because it allows for superior tagging of the voice pitch," he said.
She said further research was now needed into the issue.
Dr John Rack, of Dyslexia Action, said the findings were "interesting".
"This builds on what we already know. I think it shows that extra support is needed, especially one-to-one support.
"Busy, vibrant classrooms are a good thing and I would not want to see children with dyslexia taken out of them though."

PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

Our blog which was first established in October 2007 currently has more than 30,000 hits. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Petpositive.

You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my

WEEKEND VIEW: PJ Right On Track With Handicapped Friendly Facilities

DATELINE PETALING JAYA: 

Lots of good things are poised to happen for people with disabilities soon, thanks to the initiative and intervention of Petpositive.

First of all, Petpositive, also known as the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly is expecting to meet Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil early next week to talk about disability issues.

When that meeting takes place we hope to update the Minister from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry about some of the pressing issues confronting the handicapped community in Malaysia today.

We also intend to highlight to her about the unique role of animal-assisted therapy in helping the disabled and the elderly achieve a higher quality of life for themselves through their special pet companions.

The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is also expected to deliberate the issue if dog licenses should be given free to the disabled and elderly communities in Petaling Jaya.

Petpositive has put a strong case to the local council as to why they should offer free dog licenses to these special groups.

In addition to recognising and supporting the role of animal-assisted therapy in the nation, giving dog licenses free to these marginalised groups would also help to legitimise the pet ownership of many disabled and residents who are presently keeping pets without licenses.

Finally, expect to see more street pavements in PJ being made more friendly to wheelchair users and the blind in the near future.

These features will be evident more to upgrading of pavements in PJ.

Residents in PJ within the next couple of months will also be able to witness an increase of disabled parking spots to more wheelchair friendly facilities in the PJ Civic Centre and the Library in Old Town.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

Our blog which was first established in October 2007 currently has more than 30,000 hits. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Petpositive.

You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my

Being Grumpy Is Good For You! - bbc online

Feeling grumpy 'is good for you'
Victor Meldrew sitcom character
An attack of the grumps can make you communicate better, it is suggested

In a bad mood? Don't worry - according to research, it's good for you.

An Australian psychology expert who has been studying emotions has found being grumpy makes us think more clearly.

In contrast to those annoying happy types, miserable people are better at decision-making and less gullible, his experiments showed.

While cheerfulness fosters creativity, gloominess breeds attentiveness and careful thinking, Professor Joe Forgas told Australian Science Magazine.

'Eeyore days'

The University of New South Wales researcher says a grumpy person can cope with more demanding situations than a happy one because of the way the brain "promotes information processing strategies".

Negative moods trigger more attentive, careful thinking, paying greater attention to the external world
Professor Joe Forgas

He asked volunteers to watch different films and dwell on positive or negative events in their life, designed to put them in either a good or bad mood.

Next he asked them to take part in a series of tasks, including judging the truth of urban myths and providing eyewitness accounts of events.

Those in a bad mood outperformed those who were jolly - they made fewer mistakes and were better communicators.

Professor Forgas said: "Whereas positive mood seems to promote creativity, flexibility, co-operation and reliance on mental shortcuts, negative moods trigger more attentive, careful thinking, paying greater attention to the external world."

The study also found that sad people were better at stating their case through written arguments, which Forgas said showed that a "mildly negative mood may actually promote a more concrete, accommodative and ultimately more successful communication style".

His earlier work shows the weather has a similar impact on us - wet, dreary days sharpened memory, while bright sunny spells make people forgetful.

We asked you for your views on this story. Please find a selection of your comments below.

Halleluiah! I intend to show this to everyone who's ever branded me with various epithets for being "negative".
Marcy Sheiner, USA

Being grumpy raises my blood pressure and I usually make wrong decisions when I am grumpy. I usually sleep on it, relax and then make a decision which is usually the correct decision. I don't like grumpy people and I usually avoid them.
Iftikharuddin Faruqui, Pakistan

Absolutely right. There is certainly no point that I can see in viewing the world through rose-coloured spectacles. Anybody who wanders through life in a continuous state of bonhomie either has no idea what's going on around them or simply doesn't care! All my close friends are similar in temperament. We would inevitably consider those who do not fit the criteria to be shallow and lacking in perception. And yes, I am still at peace within myself for all the reasons stated in the article.
Dave Gordon, Exeter, UK

I am generally a very grumpy person, but I have definitely noticed my decision making and general awareness is far higher than that of my friends who are normally much happier, jollier and generally carefree. I love being grumpy, it's clearly an advantage!
David James Keeves, Loughborough, UK

Ah! This study provides a plausible explanation of Schopenhauer's philosophical clarity and superb prose. And yet, paradoxically, the Great Grump has had a more profound influence beyond philosophy, in the realm of all those cheerful, creative artists.
Cheryl F, South Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA

I find I am happier when I am just a little grumpy. The grumpy feeling seems to aid me in concentrating on menial tasks. Maybe in this stressful modern era a touch of grumpy is all that's needed rather than anti-depressants and other drugs.
Derek Penn, Falmouth, Cornwall, UK

As a self-confessed misery, I work on the premise that "misery is the thinking man's happiness". With misery comes a distinctive humour and a more realistic outlook on life, that actually makes me a more rounded and "real" person than those around me with a painted smile on their faces. I enjoy being grumpy and wouldn't have it any other way.
Dave Woods, Coventry, UK

Could it not also be argued or proven, possibly, that making decisions while grumpy can lead one to make rash decisions? Or is that only when you're angry - since angry and grumpy are not the same thing?
Parker, Louisiana, USA

I'm often identified by friends as someone who can be pessimistic, sometimes without any real reason. I also tick the box of sceptic - which I guess goes under the category of being less gullible. I won't say any more about my intelligence for fear of immodesty!
Chris Baker, Southampton, UK

I work with the grumpiest man in the world and he doesn't seem to be any more clever than me!
Gary, Watford, UK

Being grumpy or depressed goes hand in hand with thinking. When you're continually happy you can just skim along on the surface of life and not examine anything too deeply. Which is cause and which is effect, I don't know.
Amanda, Ely, UK

PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

Our blog which was first established in October 2007 currently has more than 30,000 hits. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Petpositive.

You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my

Dementia and Alzheimer's - What Are They? From BBC Online

Alzheimer's and dementia

Aricept
Aricept is used to treat Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative and irreversible brain disorder that causes intellectual impairment, disorientation and eventually death and the most common cause of dementia.

There is no cure. It is estimated that 2-5% of people over 65 years of age and up to 20% of those over 85 years of age suffer from the disease.

What is dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term which describes a serious deterioration in mental functions, such as memory, language, orientation and judgement.

Alzheimer's disease is one cause of dementia, but several other diseases can cause it too, including vascular disease. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for around two thirds of cases in the elderly.

What causes Alzheimer's?

The causes of Alzheimer's disease are not yet fully understood.

There are some very rare inherited cases caused by genetic mutations, but these account for around 1% of people with Alzheimer's.

For most cases, there is a complex interaction of many genetic, environmental and life-style risk factors, with age and genetics playing the largest part.

Some factors, such as a well-balanced diet and regular physical and mental exercise can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's.

Protein deposits, known as amyloid plaques and tau tangles, appear and spread in the brain, particularly in the cortex and the hippocampus.

The levels of important chemical transmitters, such as acetylcholine, are reduced. Many of the blood vessels of the brain are also damaged.

These processes are made worse by chronic inflammation in the brain and by an excess of highly reactive molecules known as free radicals, which damage brain tissue.

Gradually the connections between brain cells are lost and eventually many of the cells themselves die.

It is particularly the loss of connections between brain cells that is thought to cause the devastating symptoms of the disease.

What are the symptoms?

Alzheimer's disease has a gradual onset. The early stages of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias can be difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms are initially subtle or common to other illnesses.

Well established features of the disease include:

* Problems with memory
* Poor or decreased judgement
* Difficulty in performing everyday tasks
* Problems with language
* Disorientation in time and place
* Problems with abstract thinking
* Change in mood and behaviour
* Change in personality
* Loss of initiative

The disease is often associated with depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance.

The rate of decline varies from patient to patient. The disease course runs anywhere from three to twenty years, with eight years being the average life span after diagnosis.

How is the disease diagnosed?

There is no single diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease. Experts are able to observe the pattern of symptoms and perform a few simple tests over a period of time to measure any change.

Although the tests currently performed are fairly accurate, a definitive diagnosis can still only be made after death by examining the brain tissue at post mortem.

Early diagnosis is important because it helps a doctor to rule out other illnesses with similar symptoms to dementia, such as depression. It also enables new drugs to be prescribed which can improve the quality of life for both patient and carer.

Many other disease processes can mimic Alzheimer's such as thyroid imbalances, vitamin B12 deficiency, brain injuries, tumours, and severe depression.

What are memory clinics?

Specialist memory clinics operate throughout the county and offer assessment, support, information and advice to those with memory problems and their carers.

The assessment includes formal neuropsychological testing in the form of structured questions and tasks. The experts may also carry out blood tests to look for medical causes.

The staff can offer counselling and support as well as treatment.

Are there other types of dementia?

Yes. These include Dementia with Lewy bodies, which gets its name from tiny structures that develop inside nerve cells, and which trigger the degeneration of brain tissue.

Other rarer causes of dementia include progressive supranuclear palsy, Korsakoff's syndrome, Binswanger's disease, HIV and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

People with multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease can also be at an increased risk.

What treatment is available?

Various types of therapy are used to try to stimulate Alzheimer's patients.

These include: psychological methods, art therapy, music therapy, playing with toys.

Some health professionals try to encourage patients to reminisce about past memories as a way to reduce depression without the use of drugs.

A variety of drug treatments have been shown to benefit patients. None are a cure, but they can temporarily relieve some of the symptoms in some patients:

* Cholinesterase inhibitors including donepezil (Aricept), galantamine (Reminyl) and rivastigmine (Exelon)
* NMDA receptor antagonist, namely memantine (Ebixa)
* Neuroleptics, also known as anti-psychotics or major tranquillisers - although these drugs are only used as a last resort when other methods have failed
* Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs

Is there controversy over availability of drugs?

Most certainly. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) says that donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine should only be used to treat Alzheimer's once it has progressed to its moderate stages. Memantine is not recommended as an option for people with moderately severe to severe Alzheimer's disease unless it is being used as part of a clinical trial.

Campaigners argue patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's should also have access to the drugs.

This page contains basic information. If you are concerned about your health, you should consult a doctor. The Alzheimer's Society runs a helpline on 0845 300 0336 and further information is also available free from the Alzheimer's Research Trust on 01223 843899.

PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

Our blog which was first established in October 2007 currently has more than 30,000 hits. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Petpositive.

You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my

PETPOSITIVE ON THE MOVE

DATELINE PETALING JAYA: 

Committee Members of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or PETPOSITIVE had their last meeting for the year on Sunday.

Issues from getting more volunteers into the Society to obtaining a van to carry out the duties of the nation's first and only animal-assisted therapy was discussed during the two and a half hour afternoon meeting that was held at the Petpositive Therapy Centre (PTS) in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 

In his Presidential address, Anthony SB Thanasayan thanked all the committee members for their dedication throughout 2009 but cautioned that there was much more work to be done in 2010. 

"These include building a strong force of volunteers of all ages in order to carry out our one-to-one activities and services for the disabled and handicapped community," he added.

Anthony went on to share his vision that Petpositive will engage in more volunteer-training activity as well as spearhead our counseling programmes geared towards newly disabled persons.

Anthony, who is also a councillor with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) said that Petpositive was currently working very hard to get MBPJ to offer free dog licenses for handicapped and senior citizens. 

"A decision by the Council can be expected by the end of November. If it is positive, it will make a wonderful present for International Disabled Day which falls on December 3," he remarked. 

A van to ferry members and animals was also badly needed by for the PTC. The Committee was already working towards this goal to get a generous donor organisation to come in with this need.

"Our goal is to go out to the disabled in every home and help them improve their quality of life through successful companionship with animals," said Anthony.


Petpositive also need paid staff to run the centre and assist the President to carry out with his duties for the Society.

"The main priority now is for Petpositive to look out for funds as our reserves are slowly depleting with the monthly rental and operational costs," pointed out Dr Vijay, the Treasurer of the Society.

Antony Leopold who is Chairman of Petpositive's Fundraising Activities suggested that Committee Members approach organisations and individuals for support during the coming Christmas and Year-end season.

If you can contribute in any way to Petpositive, we would be most grateful. Donations to us are available tax exempt and the number to call is 012 220 3146. 

Thank you for reading.



PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

Our blog which was first established in October 2007 currently has more than 30,000 hits. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Petpositive.

You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my

Obese Struggle To Earn A Living - bbc online

Obese 'struggle to earn living'
fat man measuring his belly.
One in three adults in the UK are expected to be obese by 2012

Obese people are struggling to earn above the national average income, according to a survey.

Just under half (46%) earn more than £20,000 a year, which is the national average, while the majority earn between £10,000 and £15,000.

The survey conducted by YouGov also indicates that only 5% of people feel their weight has held them back.

But one charity said there was no doubt obesity affected work, through prejudice and health problems.

One in three adults in the UK are expected to be obese by 2012.

Negative impact

The survey questioned a representative survey of 2,056 UK adults and was commissioned by a private health business, The Hospital Group.

More than half (53%) said they were overweight or obese compared with 45% who were normal or underweight.


There is good evidence that the less control you have over your work, the more stressed you feel, and the lower income you earn, the lower your life expectancy
Dr Ian Campbell, Weight Concern

The overweight or obese said their weight had a negative impact on their ability to take part in leisure activities - 23% mentioned cycling, swimming and running and 14% said it affected their sex lives.

They also described some of the ways their weight had held them back in their careers.

One person said they could not comply with the Marine and Coastguard Agency limits for a licence.

Another admitted they had taken too many days off because of illness.

And many of them said there was a perception at work that they were lazy but the level of their output did not support that.

However, nearly a third ( 31%) said they disagreed with the idea that their weight had held them back in their careers.

Social prejudice

Dr Ian Campbell, of the charity Weight Concern, said there was no doubt that being obese made it harder for an individual to find higher paid employment due to social prejudice and medical problems.

He said: "There is good evidence that the less control you have over your work, the more stressed you feel, and the lower income you earn, the lower your life expectancy.

"People living in lower socio-economic conditions have a greater risk of obesity through less control of their environment, poorer nutrition, and less opportunity for physical activity.

"Particularly in the current recession we are seeing more people turning away from healthy, more expensive fruit and vegetables, to cheaper processed fatty foods."

'Bankrupt'

The Liberal Democrat health spokesman, Norman Lamb said: "Obesity is a massive problem in the UK and the Government has failed to address it adequately.

"NHS finances are already overstretched and unless we get more people to lead healthier lifestyles then obesity could bankrupt the health service.

"This report makes for particularly disturbing reading as it highlights the worrying link between poverty and obesity.

"Until we stop trying to dictate policy nationally and give people the freedom to tackle public health problems locally, this cycle of poverty and ill health is likely to continue."
PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).

Our blog which was first established in October 2007 currently has more than 30,000 hits. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Petpositive.

You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my