Arab environment 'under threat'

[CAIRO] The fragility of the environment of the Arab region — which suffers from widespread desertification and water scarcity — will be exacerbated by climate change unless governments plan for sustainable development and invest in environmental scientific research, says a report.

The report, 'Arab Environment: Future Challenges', published by the regional nongovernmental organisation the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED), was launched last week (3 March) in Beirut, Lebanon. It assesses the current and future state of a range of environmental issues in the region, from water scarcity to urbanisation.

The region faces a temperature increase of 2–5.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, coupled with decreased precipitation of up to 20 per cent and sea level rise that could wipe out areas of agricultural land and displace millions.

The report calls for mitigation and adaptation strategies to be integrated into national and regional development strategies and for more funding and facilities for climate change research.

Most Arab countries will face severe water scarcity by 2025. In 2001, average available water supplies per person in the Arab region were 977 cubic metres —below the UN definition of water scarcity, according to the report. Projections put this figure lower still, at 460 cubic metres by 2023.

Improved management is essential to ensure better water use and improved allocation of resources between agriculture, industry and domestic use, the report says.

Land degradation has also destroyed 34 per cent of irrigated agricultural land in the region and the report says that the Arab region loses US$5 billion of agricultural revenue per year because of desertification.

Long-term environmental management strategies; powerful and effective environmental agencies; clear political and legislative mandates; and environmental research, education and media input are required, the report concludes.

"Exchange of experiences, success stories and dissemination of the best management practices are among the effective tools to handle this problem,"Radwan Al-Weshah, regional advisor for water science in Arab states at UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, Egypt, told SciDev.Net.

Wael Hmaidan, executive director of Lebanon-based environmental group IndyAct added that unless environmental issues are prioritised on all political levels, economic costs of environmental degradation will increase exponentially with climate change.

NAST nepal- publications

NAST has its credit over 200 different publications in the form of study reports, manuals, proceedings, research reports, occasional papers, popular science series, science feature for media. The Academy regularly publishes the newsletter NAST communicator to disseminate information to the national and international S&T institutions about its activities. Some of the publications are listed below.

- Weekly internal circular since 1985 - Vigyan Lekhmala (science features for mass media) since 1986 [Click here : Vigyan Lekhmala | Special Issue] - NAST Communicator - Nepal Journal of Science and Technology since 1999 - Proceedings of the SAARC Workshop on Biofertilizer Technology, 1989 - Proceedings of the Discussion Forum on Pollution Preventing Strategies for the Kathmandu Valley , 1995 - Citrus Greening Disease: A Compiled Study, 1990 - Proceedings of Workshop on Indigenous Technological Capabilities of Industry Level, 1993 - Proceedings of IInd National Conference on Science & Technology, 1994 - Endogenous Capacity Building in S & T Development in Nepal , Vol. II, 1996 - Proceedings of IIIrd National Conference on Science & Technology, 1999 - Ramaila Prayogharu (In Nepali), B.S. 2055 - Urja Ra Urjaka ka Shrotharu, (In Nepali) B.S. 2055 - Science and Technology in Nepal by Prof. Dr. Dayananda Bajracharaya, 2001 - Proceedings of International Seminar on Mountains, 2002 - Status Paper on Zoology, Statistics, Forestry, Plant Sciences - 4th National Conference on Science and Technology: Abstracts, 2004

Qatar puts its science articles online

Flickr/john_a_ward

Qatar is sharing its scientific research in an online database to promote international and regional scientific collaboration.

The Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) launched the open access database last month (5 February). It is a repository of 37 years — from 1970 to 2007 — of Qatari science and technology (S&T) research in a range of disciplines and also includes abstracts of Master's and PhD theses.

About 4,600 records of professional, academic, undergraduate and commercial research conducted partly or wholly in Qatar have been entered into the database. Each publication includes at least one author who is affiliated to a university or research organisation in Qatar.

The database was compiled by the QNRF in collaboration with the Planning Council and Qatar University through an online survey obtaining information about research papers and by direct contact with academic and government organisations, and research centres.

It will be updated by the QNRF in 2010 to include Qatari research output during 2008 and 2009.

Abdul Sattar Al-Taie, director of the QNRF and a member of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, told SciDev.Net that the database will promote awareness of Qatari research and be used by researchers for future scientific work.

Qatar was highlighted as an example of technology-driven excellence last year

"The impact of this valuable national S&T database must be increased by strengthening the poor Internet infrastructure within Arab universities," Magdi Tawfik Abdelhamid, a researcher at Cairo's National Research Centre, told SciDev.Net.

He adds that the database should be linked with other S&T databases and information centres to "lead to the establishment of an open access Arab S&T gateway that will be an excellent tool for facilitating knowledge transfer as well as promoting Arab scientific cooperation".

About ECO-Nepal

Nepal faces the overcoming problem of environmental deterioration as in many other parts of the world. The process of urbanization, industrialization and increasing needs of growing population with unplanned settlements in respect to every aspect of pollution has resulted in the degradation of environmental condition globally. The biodiversity around the world is facing so serious threat that the number of endangering species now is so much than ever before. It is assumed that the change in natural process has increased by 10,000 times due to human desired activities and this rate is even more in the third world countries like Nepal.

The healthy natural environment is commonly important for all living organism including human beings. Therefore, we must think about the environment where we live! By realizing these facts ECO-Nepal, a non-governmental organization has been established dedicated to preserve and conserve deteriorating environment, maintain natural ecology and to make aware the people to mitigate the loss caused by these disasters etc. and do further more. These problems are visibly related to environment and related to development process of the country.

Therefore, the sustainable urbanization must emphasize on environment friendly development process. In this light, ECO-Nepal is focusing importance of renewable energy in the remote villages for the development of backward country like ours. In long-term basis, our traditional tourism will not be beneficial and its distribution to the village will not be stable unless we better retain our tourism potential through eco-tourism. As children are the future of the world, we are concerned also to educate all these environmental aspects to children by enabling them access the rights to get good education and healthy environment. For this purpose, it is necessary to form volunteer group that work to manage disaster, create healthy environment in community, advocate for environment and disaster awareness with school-going children as well as college student.

Science and Technology in Nepal - Background

Nepal opened up to the outside world of modern science and technology only in the second half of the twentieth century. Its isolation from the outer world for more than a century deprived it from the advancement of science and technology (S&T), which had experienced accelerated developments after the industrial revolution. However, in pursuit of self-reliance the country had, from ancient times, developed technological capabilities in some specific areas such as intensive agriculture cultivation and practices, architectural designs and civil constructions, metal works and craftmanship, etc. These technological capabilities served as a base not only for the transfer of know-how to neighboring countries during the old days, but also as a major attraction for tourists now-a-days.

The first development plan of Nepal in 1956 triggered the initiation of new era of economic development along with S & activities. The need for an effective body on S&T led to the establishment of the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) and the Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST) in 1976. Eventually, in the sixth plan (1980-1985), S&T received due priority in the country's development plan for the first time with the establishment of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) [then Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST)],in 1982 as an autonomous organization to further and facilitate the development and promotion of science and technology.

Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) was established in 1982 by a Royal Ordinance as an autonomous apex body for the development and promotion of Science and Technology in the country. The autonomous status of NAST was reconfirmed in 1992 by an act of the parliament.

Wal-Mart Plans to Market Digital Health Records System

Wal-Mart’s move comes as the Obama administration is trying to jump-start the adoption of digital medical records with $19 billion of incentives in the economic package .

The company plans to team its Sam’s Club division with Dell for computers and eClinicalWorks, a fast-growing private company, for software. Wal-Mart says its package deal of hardware, software, installation, maintenance and training will make the technology more accessible and affordable, undercutting rival health information technology suppliers by as much as half.

“We’re a high-volume, low-cost company,” said Marcus Osborne, senior director for health care business development at Wal-Mart. “And I would argue that mentality is sorely lacking in the health care industry.”

The Sam’s Club offering, to be made available this spring, will be under $25,000 for the first physician in a practice, and about $10,000 for each additional doctor. After the installation and training, continuing annual costs for maintenance and support will be $4,000 to $6,500 a year, the company estimates.

Wal-Mart says it had explored the opportunity in health information technology long before the presidential election. About 200,000 health care providers, mostly doctors, are among Sam Club’s 47 million members. And the company’s research showed the technology was becoming less costly and interest was rising among small physician practices, according to Todd Matherly, vice president for health and wellness at Sam’s Club.

The financial incentives in the administration plan — more than $40,000 per physician over a few years, to install and use electronic health records — could accelerate adoption. When used properly, most health experts agree, digital records can curb costs and improve care.

But many, especially physicians in small offices, doubt the wisdom of switching to electronic health records, given their cost and complexity.

Only about 17 percent of the nation’s physicians are using computerized patient records, according to a government-sponsored survey published last year in 2009. The use of electronic health records is widespread in large physician groups, but three-fourths of the nation’s doctors work in small practices of 10 physicians or fewer.

Wal-Mart, however, has the potential to bring not only lower costs but also an efficient distribution channel to cater to small physician groups. Traditional health technology suppliers, experts say, have tended to shun the small physician offices because it has been costly to sell to them. Taken together, they make up a large market, but they are scattered.

“If Wal-Mart is successful, this could be a game-changer,” observed Dr. David J. Brailer, former national coordinator for health information technology in the Bush administration.

In the package, Dell is offering either a desktop or a tablet personal computer. Many physicians prefer tablet PCs because they more closely resemble their familiar paper notepads and make for easier communication with the patient, since the doctor is not behind a desktop screen.

EClinicalWorks, which is used by 25,000 physicians, mostly in small practices, will provide the electronic record and practice management software, for billing and patient registration, as a service over the Internet. This “software as a service” model can trim costs considerably and make technical support and maintenance less complicated, because less software resides on the personal computer in a doctor’s office.

Dell will be responsible for installation of the computers, while eClinicalWorks will handle software installation, training and maintenance. Wal-Mart is using its buying power for discounts on both the hardware and software.

Wal-Mart’s role, according to Mr. Osborne, is to put the bundle of technology into an affordable and accessible offering. “We’re the systems integrator, an aggregator,” he said.

The company’s test bed for the technology it will soon offer physicians has been its own health care clinics, staffed by third-party physicians and nurses. Started in September 2006, 30 such clinics are now in stores in eight states. The clinics use the technology Wal-Mart will offer to physicians.

silverflow

what is mercedes benz Concept in the next 50 years ? LA Auto Show Design Challenge gave you the answers. Still remember terminator 2 ? T-1000 another Skynet robot, made of liquid metal. That is the concept that brought by Mercedes Benz Silverflow. You can change the body of your car easily. This futuristic car with a super sleek designed inspired by Merc racers of yore.

Eddy : Suction Excavator by Maciej Puzon

They say good things come in small packages, for example the latest offering named as Eddy, which is nothing but suction excavator, which has a main body with a suction pump coming out from the rear. The device has a working range of 1000 mm semi circular radius and it comes out as a good handy tool as it can be used via remote control with the user at a different location. It also has the option wherein the main body can be connected to bigger storage vehicles thus increasing its capacity. Well must say, Eddy is a good working tool.

Cute Joebot Can Dance For You !

The next generation WowWee robots series from WowWee Robotics, takes robotics to the next generation. Set to be unveiled in the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas later this week, the two playful companions are something that you more than asked for. The first one is Joebot, which is a regular fully loaded interactive friendly neighborhood robot which also has sense of humor up its sleeve. It also responds to key phrases using the sound sensors, so much so that one can make it dance to the tune as it replicates the same without a hitch. While the other one named Roborover is softer and down to earth version as it gradually gets comfortable with continuous interaction. Quite innovative one must say!

The new conceptual torch

The new conceptual torch light designed by Slovenian designer Tilen Sepic, is something that has been picked straight out of the sci-fi movies. The whole idea of the concept as per the designer is to produce a working light without the hassle of shadows being reflected in the object. The device is supposed to be worn like a glove around the wrist and the light is emitted through the white LED which is a part of the device. The device also includes a battery pack with the light being transferred through the attached optical fibers to a specified location. Just point at the location and you will see light!


Designer : Tilen Sepic

The new conceptual torch

The new conceptual torch light designed by Slovenian designer Tilen Sepic, is something that has been picked straight out of the sci-fi movies. The whole idea of the concept as per the designer is to produce a working light without the hassle of shadows being reflected in the object. The device is supposed to be worn like a glove around the wrist and the light is emitted through the white LED which is a part of the device. The device also includes a battery pack with the light being transferred through the attached optical fibers to a specified location. Just point at the location and you will see light!


Designer : Tilen Sepic