| Wednesday, June 27, 2007 |
| WORST AIR POLLUTION |
According to the World Bank, these cities make up the top 10:
1. Cairo, Egypt
11.1 million
2. Delhi, India
15 million
3. Kolkata, India
14.3 million
4. Tianjin, China
7 million
5. Chongqing, China
6.4 million
6. Kanpur, India
3 million
7. Lucknow, India
2.6 million
8. Jakarta, Indonesia
13.2 million
9. Shenyang, China
4.7 million
10. Zhengzhou, China
2.6 million
Source: NEWSWEEK MAG Environment Section) |
| posted by infraternam meam @ 9:06 PM |
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| BOTTLES UP!!! |
Europeans lead the world in drinking bottled water, but they've got plenty of company. People are switching to water from other drinks, helping pump up global demand from 28 to 47 billion gallons between 2000 and 2006. But a lack of public recycling bins that many single-serve empties get trashed. By one estimate, U.S. drinkers toss 60 million plastic water bottles a day. If the environmental costs -- such as the greenhouse gasses released to make and ship so many bottles - don't change habits, think of the bottom line. Sixteen ounces of bottle water can cost more than a dollar; from the tap it's less than a penny.
WHO DRINKS THE MOST BOTTLED WATER
Top ten markets, by liters per person in 2006
203 Italy
197 United Arab Emirates
191 Mexico
149 France
145Belgium/Luxembourg
129 Germany
126 Spain
117 Lebanon
110 Switzerland
104 United States
(Source: NATGEO by: Alan Mairson) |
| posted by infraternam meam @ 1:15 PM |
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| Tuesday, June 26, 2007 |
| PROSTATE CANCER: SCREENING VALUE STILL BEING DEBATED |
A common screening test for Prostate Cancer for men after age 50 involves measuring prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood in conjunction with a digital rectal exam. It is important that an examination be done along with a PSA blood test since 25% of early prostate cancers are detected because of an abnormal examination in men with a normal PSA.
PSA levels may be elevated in the blood for reasons other than cancer including benign enlargement of the prostate and infection. Nevertheless, the combination of the PSA blood test and a prostate examination is currently the best way to detect early prostate cancer.
While it has not been proven conclusively that prostate cancer screening reduces mortality; the death rate from prostate cancer has decreased significantly in the past decade, and this is most likely due to earlier detection. Men age 50 and above are advised to discuss this screening test with their physicians. What is not open to debate is the fact that African Americans men and women with a family history of prostate cancer are at increased risk. The recommended age for initiating screening for this population is 40.
(Source: HEALTHY ATTITUDES Summer 2007 issue) |
| posted by infraternam meam @ 3:04 PM |
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| COLONOSCOPY: THE GOLD STANDARD FOR DETECTING COLON CANCER |
Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. It is an equal opportunity disease, affecting both men and women regardless of race or ethnicity.
The majority of colon cancers begin as a polyp, an abnormal growth found on the wall of the colon or large intestine. When polyps are detected, they can be removed at the pre-malignancy state, thereby preventing the development of a cancer. The good news is that 95 percent of colon cancer can be prevented thanks to the screening colonoscopy, a procedure which allows a physician to view the interior lining of the colon using a flexible videoscope. The test is done with mild sedation (the patient is able to maintain their oral airway and protective reflexes) and is low risk.
Beyond age, risk factors include a family history of colon polyps or colon cancer as well as a personal history of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
Although colon cancer is known as "silent" stalker, there are symptoms to watch for.These include rectal bleeding or blood in the stool; a change in regular bowel habits; unexplained anemia; weight loss, and onset of lower abdominal pain. You should discuss any of these signs with your physician without delay.
THE BASICS
A Colonoscopy is recommended for adults beginning age 50. Never had one? It's time to schedule an exam. If results are negative and there is no family history of polyps or colon cancer, a repeat colonoscopy is recommended at 10 years. For a positive result a colonoscopy should be repeated in one to five years depending on the physician's recommendation.
If there is a family history, screening should begin 10 years prior to the age when that family member was first diagnose. again, consult with your primary care physician.
(Source:HEALTHY ATTITUDES MAGAZINE Summer 2007 issue) |
| posted by infraternam meam @ 2:49 PM |
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| Tuesday, June 05, 2007 |
| QUALIFYING FOR AN H-3 TRAINING VISA |
Due to a high demand by U.S. employers, H-3 visas for fiscal year (FT) 2008 ran out in unprecedented time. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received over 123,000 petitions on the first two days (April 2 & 3, 2007) for the limited number of 65,000 FY 2008 H-1B visas. USCIS conducted a lottery to determine which of these petitions it would adjudicate, and returned applications received on or after April 4, 2007. Due to the foreclosure of obtaining a new H-1b visa for FY 2008, many people are inquiring about alternatives, like the H-3 training visa.
An H-3 trainees is an alien who has been invited by an individual or organization to come to the United States temporarily for a training program other than to graduate medical education or training H-3 visas are valid for up to two years. Unlike H-1Bs, H-3 applicants must prove that they intend to return to their home country and will pursue a career outside the United States that will benefit from the proposed training.
Most importantly, the employer is required to prove to the USCIS satisfaction that an actual training program exists that is purposeful and not just just incident to productive employment. The training program cannot be used for the purpose of recruiting and training aliens to displace U.S. workers. A company's well-established training program with a set itinerary and detailed illustration about its objectives, measures of evaluation, training staff and facility has a better chance of approval from a newly created program containing only cursory details.
Other than receiving classroom instruction, the trainee is not allowed to engage in productive employment that might displace U.S. workers, unless it is incident and necessary to the training. A practice teaching internship as an assistant teacher in a Montessori Teaching Training Program would be acceptable as it is an indispensable part of training to observe classes and obtaining hands-on understanding of Montessori teaching methods. On the other hand, training programs consisting of a high percentage of on-the-job training with very little academic training are unlikely to be approved.
In addition, the beneficiary cannot posses substantial training and expertise in the proposed field. The immigration stature involved contemplates the training of an individual so that he acquires additional skills in the occupation, not repetitious experience through day-to-day application of his skills.
Clear evidence of the unavailability of the proposed training in the alien's home country must also be submitted as the petitioner's mere assertion that training cannot be obtained outside the United States is not sufficient. For instance, a training program in the United states for Filipino caregivers would likely fail this requirement because caregiver trainings are readily available in the Philippines. It is commonly known that caregivers are in such high demand in this country that the beneficiary also faces an uphill fight to prove that the training will benefit his career as a caregiver in the Philippines and that he will return to his home country.
In light of the exhaustion of H-1B visas, the USCIS is likely to increase the level of scrutiny of H-3 petitions to prevent abuse of the program. Employers and alien workers seeking H-3 visas should consult a knowledgeable;le and experienced immigration law firm.
(Source: FILIPINAS MAG by: Attorneys Robert l. Reeves and May Zhang) |
| posted by infraternam meam @ 7:49 PM |
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| About Me |
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Name: infraternam meam
Home: Chicago, United States
About Me: I am now at the prime of my life
and have been married for the past 25 years.
Sickly at times, but wants to see the elixir vita,
so that I will be able to see my grandchildren from my two boys.
See my complete profile
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