Sex 'switch' to help in pest control

LONDON: Turning off a sex "switch" triggered when female insects mate may be a smart and green way of controlling pests in future.

Scientists said on Sunday that they had found a molecular receptor, or switch, common to all insects that sets off post-mating behavior like egg-laying.

Developing a chemical to artificially block its action could stop insect populations in their tracks and help fight the spread of many human and animal diseases.

"If you had an inhibitor of this receptor then you could interfere with its function and it would, in effect, be a birth control pill for insects," said Barry Dickson from the Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna, Austria.

Many female insects undergo profound changes in behavior after mating. Some species start laying multiple eggs. Female mosquitoes, for example, seek out a meal of blood — often spreading malaria in the process.

Scientists have known for some time that such behavior is triggered by a so-called sex peptide molecule in the male's seminal fluid, but it has been unclear how it exerts its impact on the female.

Now Dickson and his colleagues have identified the receptor for the molecule in fruit flies and shown it is key to post-mating behavior. Females lacking the receptor continue to behave as virgins, even after mating, they reported in the journal Nature.

Crucially, the same receptor has been found in all insects studied so far, suggesting it may be possible to develop a widely applicable chemical blocker that would be far more effective and environmentally friendly than insecticides.

Modern insecticides are good at killing bugs, but because insects breed so prolifically, those that die are quickly replaced.

By contrast, females dosed with a sex peptide receptor blocker would remain alive and continue to compete in the breeding pool, producing a bigger impact on the wider population.

Developing the concept will re-quire a lot more research but Dickson said it was possible such a blocker might be introduced into breeding ponds where larvae grow or else planted in pheromone traps designed to attract insects.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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German battery to ignite electric car

FRANKFURT: German cars are known for strength, speed and high fuel consumption, but a firm in eastern Saxony has designed a lithium-ion battery membrane that could finally make electric cars common.

For years, battery-powered cars have been hampered by technological hurdles, with researchers seeking to resolve problems of weight, autonomy and ways of recharging vehicles quickly and easily. Recent progress towards lighter and more powerful batteries has been made however, in particular by groups like the Japanese car maker Toyota with its hybrid vehicles, and high-tech firms in France.

Germans were said to be plodding along behind, but batteries made by the a firm called Li-Tec "take up 30% less volume than those from Toyota" and "allow you to go three times further for the same weight than French models", said Tim Schaefer, a director of the company.

"The foundations have now been laid" for the building of electric cars that also deliver performance, he added. A spokesman for the German tool and auto parts company Bosch said: "It's a step towards totally electric cars." Housed in a stylish rectangular silver pouch, the "Separion" consists of two lithium electrodes in an electrolyte, or liquid conductor. What differentiates it from similar batteries is that the electrodes are separated by a flexible ceramic membrane that provides greater thermal stability, according to the German group.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Ethnic problem stirs Malaysian lawyers

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar Council has urged the government to set up a panel of experts to study the grievances of all communities who feel they are marginalised.

Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan said the study should focus on identifying such groups and studying the issue of their access to resources with the aim of providing recommendations to improve the quality of their lives, The Star newspaper reported on Monday.

She made the call Sunday at a human rights rally, called Festival of Rights, which the police declared illegal and detained four lawyers and as many human rights activists.

She added that the council would write to the inspector general of police to complain about the arrests of several people.

The government ordered a crackdown on public protests during the last fortnight after one staged by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), a group claiming to speak for the two million-plus Tamil settlers from India, staged a rally that was declared illegal and dispersed.

Thirty-one people are being tried in that connection.

Malaysia, a nation of 27 million, takes pride in being multi-ethnic and multi-religious. Indians form eight per cent of the population.

Hindraf says that ethnic Indians are discriminated against in education and jobs. It has also alleged ethnic cleansing of the Hindu populace and demolition of Hindu temples.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Kat’s in luck!

Katrina Kaif has penchant for things exquisite and elegant. Among her many passions is her weakness for designer wear. And so, recently when she was window-shopping in a mall her eyes fell on a designer outfit and she wanted to buy it.

A close friend of the actress revealed, “Katrina was shopping at a mall in Worli when she stepped into a store that displayed only exclusive designer wear. While she was looking around, her eyes fell on a Gucci dress. She fell in love with it instantly and wanted to buy it then and there.” However, our khabroo told us that Katrina felt that the outfit was too expensive and so she didn't buy it. “The dress had a price tag of Rs. 2.5 lakh. Katrina felt that it would not be right to spend that kind of money over a dress. But later she changed her mind and called the store to have it delivered at her place. Unfortunately, the dress was sold by then,” our source added.

But there was a surprise in store for Katrina. Our source said, “Katrina was completely taken aback when the same dress was delivered to her at her doorstep - it was a gift by Gucci for her. After Katrina left the store, the store manager sent across an e-mail to Gucci in Italy writing about her accomplishments as an actress and a model, and how she fancied the dress. Next we knew is that the store manager couriered the dress to her, and, Gucci did not charge her a single penny for it!”

When contacted, Katrina laughed and said, “Being gifted with a Gucci dress that too from Italy, was like a dream come true for me. In fact, when Anees (Bazmee) saw it he insisted that I wear it for the title track of Welcome. And I promptly agreed.”

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Rock and role, soniye!

Prachi Desai aka Bani of Kasamh Se is making all the right moves as far as her career goes. The latest is that she has been signed opposite Farhan Akhtar in the film Rock On. Farhan, too, will make his acting debut in Rock On.

Rock On is being produced by Farhan and close aide, Ritesh Sidhwani. Sidhwani says, “Yes, it is true that Prachi will play the female lead opposite Farhan in Rock On. The film has a contemporary theme and its USP is its music. We intend to finish shooting for the film by March 2008.”

Needless to say, Prachi is excited about her big Bollywood break. The only words that she's able to mutter when asked about her film are 'great', 'fantastic', 'superb'. Finally, she says, “I am very happy to start my career in Bollywood with such a big film. I play the female lead. The offer was so good that I just had to say 'yes'. Farhan is fantastic filmmaker and it is a great opportunity to be able to work with him. I am lucky to be chosen for the film.”

Looking back, she says, “My performance in Kasamh Se has been widely appreciated. Then Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa came my way, which was also quite good. This is the best period in my life and I am enjoying the phase.”

The film will be directed by Abhishek Kapoor. It will be produced by Farhan and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment.

• I am happy to start my career in Bollywood with such a big film – Prachi Desai

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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Playing it again, Sam?

Remember Kitty, the not-so-bright secretary of the carrot-eating, eccentric detective Karamchand from the popular detective series? Well, Sameera Reddy is all set to play the role of Kitty in the film Race.

Sameera went through the episodes of Karamchand in order to get into the skin of the character, which was earlier played by Sushmita Mukherjee.

The feisty actress says that she found it really difficult to play a bimbette. Says Sameera, “People say that it is tough to do action scenes but I found it very tough to play a bimbette. I had to practice Kitty's manner of walking, talking and rolling my eyes the way she did. But, on the whole, it was fun.” Sameera admits that she had to research a lot for her role. She says, “Kitty's character is completely opposite to mine. She adds her own brand of humour to the film.”

She adds, “My character is quite smart; she simply plays dumb to get her way. The outfits that Kitty originally wore were very attractive. I have tried to get the look and accent right to make my role compelling. Anaita Shroff has done a great job as far as the styling of Kitty's character is concerned. She has used earrings like the ones Sridevi wore in 'Hawa hawai'.”

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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A Tabu subject?

The controversy surrounding Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has spelt big bucks for her publishers and booksellers; demand for her books - Lajja (Shame) and her autobiography, Dwikhandita (Split in Two)- has skyrocketed. Bollywood, too, is keen to make hay while the sun shines. The latest is that UTV is making a film on Nasreen.

Details have been finalised rather quickly. Tabu has already been roped in to play Nasreen. A source close to UTV says, “UTV thinks that Tabu will suit the role very well. The film will go on the floors next year. It will be a biopic.”

In full filmi style, a love angle will also be added to the film. “Yes, there will be a love angle to spice up things. We have done a lot of research on her life before taking the decision to make a film on her life,” our source reveals.

When contacted, Ram Mirchandani (Executive VP, UTV Motion Pictures) said, “Right now, I am not in a position to talk about it. But yes, Taslima Nasreen’s story has tremendous global appeal and needs to be told. “
To hash a loose chronology of events: Nasreen fled Bangladesh for the first time in ‘94 when a court said she had deliberately and maliciously hurt Muslims’ sentiments by her novel Lajja which is about Hindu-Muslim riots. At that time, thousands of radical Muslims protested against her, demanding that she be killed for blasphemy. Not so long ago, Nasreen was in Kolkata. Muslim clerics in Kolkata issued a death warrant against her, threatening to take her life if she did not leave the country. The threat came after a meeting of clerics from prominent mosques in Kolkata who said that Nasreen had invited their wrath through her repeated criticism of Islam in her books and speeches. Thereafter, Nasreen was shifted to Jaipur. She did not stay long in Jaipur because the media there hounded her. At present, she is in an undisclosed location in or around Delhi.

Tabu remained unavailable for comment.

Source: mumbaimirror.com

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