The Mysterious connection between Maths and Phys (some questions):

Why does mathematics seem so “unreasonably” effective in fundamental physics? (Or does it?)

Is there a “pre-established harmony” between them, because the world is fundamentally mathematical?

Are we pushed to call certain theories or disciplines more fundamental because they are in some sense more mathematical?

Or, are we just lacking the right mathematics to treat other fields with similar power and rigor as physics?

What would it mean for something in the physical world to be NOT describable or model-able in terms of mathematics?

Why does physical reality obey one particular set of mathematical laws and not others (Or does it?)

How deeply does mathematics inform physics?

How deeply does physics inform mathematics?

How does the structure and availability of existing mathematics shape the formulation of physical theories?

Why do we prefer mathematically simple theories to complex ones?

What even defines simplicity?

And is there an objective measure of complexity?

May we be missing interesting physical theories because we are committed to particular mathematical frameworks, or because suitable ones have not yet been developed?

To what extent can or should we extrapolate our mathematical equations of physics beyond the domains where we have tested them?

How much of mathematics has been constructed as if it had been due to physics motivations?

Should frameworks that are internally consistent and display mathematical elegance, but which lie beyond experimental reach, be regarded as physical theories or rather as branches of mathematics or philosophy?

Out of the countably infinitely many true statements that could be derived from a given set of sufficiently rich axioms, how have we arrived at what we know as mathematics?

How much is evolutionary history? Our mental makeup? Utility? Beauty? Something else?

What are the tensions between physics and mathematics?

Are there hidden subtleties or overt controversies in how or why mathematics is used in physics (or other sciences)?

What is randomness, and what is the nature of probability?

What is the fundamental origin of stochasticity, and does that affect how we think of probability?

Is it quantumness? Or indexical uncertainty of various types? Or lack of knowledge?

Is there true randomness, or is it only apparent?

Are there hidden patterns in things that seem random to us now?

Do incompleteness theorems such as Goedel's play a role in physical theory?

What do they allow, forbid, or elucidate?

How should we think of infinity? Is it a useful mathematical concept that does not really apply to physical reality? Or could real physical systems be infinite?

Are there mathematical contradictions or paradoxes that tell us something about physical reality?

Bamboo bike recharges mobile devices and external batteries by pedaling

Bambootec, a consortium from Yucatán, has designed a bamboo bicycle that transforms the kinetic energy generated by pedaling into a source of electricity that has the ability to simultaneously recharge mobile devices, external smartphone batteries and power a navigation dashboard located on the handlebars which measures the distance and time. It also has Bluetooth capability.
The energy transfer is possible thanks to a converter, which is composed of a circuit installed on the rim that captures the kinetic energy and converts it into electricity, passing it through the core of the system located under the seat, which regulates the voltage generated and prevents discharges, says Cristina Espinosa López, founder of Bambootec.

When pedaling, the cyclist produces energy that is transformed into electricity. However, if done irregularly, by either unexpected racing or braking, the load rises and falls; to solve this problem, a regulator was added to the converter to administer the charge evenly. In addition to the power converter system, the bicycle has a frame (vertices and edges) assembled with bamboo sticks connected by a special resin. The aim was to replace metal parts in order to provide the vehicle with greater resistance (supports 120 kilos), also making it lighter and less prone to heat, explains the founder of Bambootec.
Once the converter regulates the energy charge, it is transmitted through three channels of power, which are cables with USB outputs. One is connected to the navigation screen located on the handlebars of the bicycle, which
indicates the number of kilometers and time passed, and
provides the option to establish a connection via Bluetooth
to link to a smartphone.
The other terminal of the power converter recharges any
mobile device, while the third one is exclusive to recharge
external smartphone batteries. The energy generated by the
bicycle (over 10 volts) is enough to feed the three tracks
simultaneously, López Espinosa says.

Currently, bicycle testing has shown that the charge
capacity for the devices is of one percent per minute. It is
required to optimize the system in order to accelerate the
charging process.
The team has as a main goal to create the necessary
machinery to scale the product and mass produce it;
because of this, the company participated in the Cleantech
Challenge Mexico, a contest that promotes the development
of green enterprises.

Source: Pune Mirror.

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to identify, use, understand, and manage emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict. Emotional intelligence impacts many different aspects of your daily life, such as the way you behave and the way you interact with others.

If you have high emotional intelligence you are able to recognize your own emotional state and the emotional states of others, and engage with people in a way that draws them to you. You can use this understanding of emotions to relate better to other people, form healthier relationships, achieve greater success at work, and lead a more fulfilling life.

CHARACTERISTICS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist, developed a framework of five elements that define emotional intelligence:

SELF-AWARENESS – People with high EI are usually very self-aware. They understand their emotions, and because of this, they don't let their feelings rule them. They're confident – because they trust their intuition and don't let their emotions get out of control. They're also willing to take an honest look at themselves. They know their strengths and weaknesses, and they work on these areas so they can perform better. Many people believe that this self-awareness is the most important part of EI.

SELF-REGULATION – This is the ability to control emotions and impulses. People who self-regulate typically don't allow themselves to become too angry or jealous, and they don't make impulsive, careless decisions. They think before they act. Characteristics of self-regulation are thoughtfulness, comfort with change, integrity, and the ability to say no.

MOTIVATION – People with a high degree of EI are usually motivated. They're willing to defer immediate results for long-term success. They're highly productive, love a challenge, and are very effective in whatever they do.

EMPATHY – This is perhaps the second-most important element of EI. Empathy is the ability to identify with and understand the wants, needs, and viewpoints of those around you. People with empathy are good at recognizing the feelings of others, even when those feelings may not be obvious. As a result, empathetic people are usually excellent at managing relationships, listening, and relating to others. They avoid stereotyping and judging too quickly, and they live their lives in a very open, honest way.

SOCIAL SKILLS – It's usually easy to talk to and like people with good social skills, another sign of high EI. Those with strong social skills are typically team players. Rather than focus on their own success first, they help others develop and shine. They can manage disputes, are excellent communicators, and are masters at building and maintaining relationships.

As you've probably determined, EI can be a key to success in your life – especially in your career. The ability to manage people and relationships is very important in all leaders, so developing and using your EI can be a good way to show others the leader inside of you.

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?

The good news is that EI can be learned and developed. As well as working on your skills in the five areas above, use these strategies:

OBSERVE HOW YOU REACT TO PEOPLE. Do you rush to judgment before you know all of the facts? Do you stereotype? Look honestly at how you think and interact with other people. Try to put yourself in their place, and be more open and accepting of their perspectives and needs.

LOOK AT YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT. Do you seek attention for your accomplishments? Humility can be a wonderful quality, and it doesn't mean that you're shy or lack self-confidence. When you practice humility, you say that you know what you did, and you can be quietly confident about it. Give others a chance to shine – put the focus on them, and don't worry too much about getting praise for yourself.

DO A SELF-EVALUATION. What are your weaknesses? Are you willing to accept that you're not perfect and that you could work on some areas to make yourself a better person? Have the courage to look at yourself honestly – it can change your life.

EXAMINE HOW YOU REACT TO STRESSFUL SITUATIONS. Do you become upset every time there's a delay or something doesn't happen the way you want? Do you blame others or become angry with them, even when it's not their fault? The ability to stay calm and in control in difficult situations is highly valued – in the business world and outside it. Keep your emotions under control when things go wrong.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS. If you hurt someone's feelings, apologize directly – don't ignore what you did or avoid the person. People are usually more willing to forgive and forget if you make an honest attempt to make things right.

EXAMINE HOW YOUR ACTIONS WILL AFFECT OTHERS – before you take those actions. If your decision will impact others, put yourself in their place. How will they feel if you do this? Would you want that experience? If you must take the action, how can you help others deal with the effects?

I would request ALL of you to SHARE this on your Facebook wall so that others may read and benefit. We need to spread awareness urgently. Thank you.

Dr. Sanjay Chugh

Awareness and Self-consciousness

Because all consciousness is consciousness of something, it always requires an object (Sartre, 1956). However, although one is conscious of an object and has knowledge of it, consciousness, the object, and the knowledge of the object remain separate and distinct. This is because knowledge is an abstraction and serves to represent the object in a form necessitated by the nature of consciousness for understanding. Moreover, because conscious knowledge is a descriptive representation of something other than consciousness--at least in respect to the verbal aspects of consciousness-- knowledge cannot be identified with consciousness, even knowledge of consciousness.
Awareness, as opposed to consciousness, is non-verbal, bilateral, and pre-reflective and is not always subject to the more abstract forms of understanding that characterize conscious knowledge. Though we are aware of our awareness, once we consciously scrutinize this tacit dimension it becomes transformed and abstracted and all information gained is an indirect verbal representation of that which is without verbal representation. Since awareness is pre-language and pre-verbal thought, and may encompass emotions, sounds, spatial relations, or other variables that are non-verbal, it is thus difficult for the verbal aspects of consciousness to perceive the existence of this dimension without transforming it so that it may be understood consciously. Therefore, though consciousness can posit itself as an object in order to know itself, awareness is pre-objective and cannot be an object for consciousness except in the abstract.
Awareness, then, is distinct from consciousness. Awareness is a non-organization, existing prior to consciousness, thought, language, or other information processes that utilize organized temporal-sequential processes for expression and communication. Awareness as a mental process, is associated with the right hemisphere and limbic system.
Consciousness is defined as being dependent on language, and temporal sequential modes of organization and perception. The verbal aspects of consciousness are linked to the left hemisphere.
Consciousness cannot think about or organize that which is without organization, without organizing and transforming this information so that it may be understood by consciousness. However, once information is altered, it becomes an abstraction and thus becomes something else.
. Hence, awareness always remains non-explicit and cannot be made conscious, except as an abstraction. Hence, when consciousness thinks about itself, the “itself” of which it is conscious is its own organization, an abstraction.
Although such attempts at self-knowledge form the bases of self-consciousness, the “I” that is thought about can never be the “I” that is thinking.
However, consciousness and awareness cannot be posited as a duality. That is because consciousness is also an abstraction, the attempt to organize that which one is aware of, as well as the result of this attempt.
Consciousness is thus always a response, a result or rather the consequence of acting in the world, the developmental endpoint of awareness. Nevertheless, consciousness is distinct from awareness in that consciousness is descriptively representational, relating as either a passive force manipulating representations of the world through thought, or actively transforming reality through organized goal directed behavior. It can be stated that awareness is often represented by consciousness which acts to test and manipulate reality.
Hence, consciousness and awareness are processes of acting and being in the world; acting as an organization of thought and behavior, and being that which it is: aware. Consciousness, through organized actions, symbolically represents that which is without organization, or descriptive representation and therefore appears to be separate from that which has no appearance, i.e., awareness.
However, it seems we have nevertheless created a duality in our distinction between awareness and consciousness. It might be asked, if consciousness is distinct yet the same as awareness, what causes this appearance of separation?
We must place the blame on consciousness, which separates—when attempting to know and think about itself—into both observer and observed. Thus the distinguishing characteristic of consciousness is that it does not coincide with itself (Sartre, 1956). Consciousness points itself as a duality—a reflection which is its own reflecting.
Hence, we have the consciousness that we are, actively representing and reflecting upon the awareness that we are, thereby creating a separation of itself through itself by attempting to witness itself.
Self-consciousness, or consciousness of self, is thus a consciousness of awareness, for self-consciousness appears only when consciousness attempts to reflect upon the self-image. However, consciousness is no more separate from itself than a man is separate from the self he ponders in a mirror. The image is not the man, nor is the reflection of consciousness the consciousness. The “I” is neither image nor reflection, it simply is.
Because consciousness is always relational, it appears separate yet remains identical with itself in that the separation appears to occur when consciousness seeks to be conscious of itself as a consciousness. Nevertheless, consciousness cannot apprehend itself because it is already that which it attempts to apprehend.

How Does 3D Printing Work?

In the past few years we’ve heard much about “3D printing” and the many uses of this emerging technology. But how does 3D printing work? How is it different from other manufacturing processes? In this post, I'm trying to explain these things. Don't forget to add your points via comment section.

ADDITIVE vs SUBTRACTIVE MANUFACTURING:

Making things usually involves a subtractive process: you start with a block of material — aluminium for instance — which you then machine (that is, remove material) until you get the shape and size you’re after.

But 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, does the process in reverse. Instead of removing material, the “printer” dispenses it. The technology gradually deposits the material via a controlled nozzle, layer by layer, building up to a fully formed product. The material used can either be plastic (usually ABS ), or a metal. The process is typically based on a computer-designed model of the object or machine part in question, and can produce relatively complex shapes.

Steps of 3D printing are shown in the picture below.

Does the Human Mind Possess Any “Super Powers”?

You might have read lot about "Mind Power" - the miraculous and amazing power of your mind. There are lot of stories and incidents about the phenomena called - mind over matter. They say if you concentrate and focus your mind, you can perform many fantastic things - miracles.

Really? Do you want to live in fool’s paradise? If not, let's analyze the facts and truths.

Let's make it simple. You have a stand-alone personal computer, laptop, tablets or at least a mobile handset. Every device has two segments - hardware and software. The basic hardware consists of processor, hard-disk (storage), memory and wiring. The software has operating system and programs in it. The power of the device depends upon the speed of processor and size of the memory and storage. Of course, it needs energy (electricity) to operate.

Any stand-alone device has a limited power within this stipulated, predefined system. But when it gets connected to Internet (wired or wireless) - you can unleash unlimited powers. You can do zillions of things using the same device.

Our mind (aka brain) is similar to such a device. It is hardware plus software. Before going deep in to that, let's see the limitations of the mind

Limitations of the stand-alone Mind:-

The mind can NEVER live in the intense present. It thrives on past and future. The moment you come to HERE and NOW, the mind ceases to exist. The mind cannot comprehend the absolute or abstract truth. It needs fact, figures and images. Any belief is Okay with the mind, but NO truth please. Mind cannot KNOW anything beyond the five senses. Mind itself can be called sixth sense, but it cannot understand that.

The stand alone mind cannot experience the divine presence. The mind can understand the concepts, perception or belief about god. But it can never experience the GOD. (I have discussed these points in many articles (See http://udaypai.in/) - hence not repeating here.) So the mind has no powers of its own as fantasized by the fiction-writers.

The mind survives only with the ego. Ego means the feeling of "I” or the memory of "I". This ego makes the stand-alone mind insecure. So it always seeks psychological security. That’s why we clinch to so-many beliefs, faiths and superstitions.

The hardware part of mind:-

The hardware is the content of mind or the material that mind is made up of. "Mind is a material? It has physical form?" You might ask. Yes it has.
Our ancient scientists (ancestors, sages) say it is material. Incidentally, our ancestors used mantra sakthi (virtual, dhyana, enlightment etc) to discover many things in human and cosmos. The Western science use Yantra Sakthi (machines, equipments, computers etc).

In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, mind is looked upon as material. The Chhandogya Upanishad says" anna mayam hi somya mana “means “The mind is verily composed from food.” Food is churned inside by the energies of our body and takes three different forms: the heaviest becomes excrement, the medium quality becomes flesh, and the subtlest part becomes mind, just as the churning of curds gives the subtlest which is butter.

The Upanishad explains how they conducted the research that we can repeat in modern times too. It mentions an experiment in which a boy was asked to go on fast for 15 days. "Do not eat any food for fifteen days. Just drink water." On fifteenth day, the boy was asked to recite the Vedas that he memorized. "I cannot remember even one verse of the Vedas. Memory has gone. The mind is not functioning." The boy said.

Your mind has been inflamed into action by the food that you have taken. Your mind would perish if you had not eaten well. So the content of the mind is made up of food you eat. You cannot see, feel or taste your mind - it is subtle material and not gross like your body.

The software part of the mind:-

When we are born, our mind has a biological operating system (BIOS) which has some basic minimum commands - like crying, sucking mother's milk etc. Later, we add inputs to it - from parents, relatives, friends, teachers, community, religions, beliefs, reading, learning etc. Those inputs altogether form a huge operating system along with programs fed by your belief system.

That's how mind is been developed. No wonder learned people say God created everything, except your mind. Mind is your creation. And it is the limit of the mind.

A game developed for Windows operating system cannot run in Apple iMac. Similarly, things beyond your inputs have no compatibility to your mind. Your mind cannot understand anything that is not in the inputs.

The fully-loaded (pre-loaded software) mind is known as CONDITIONED MIND. If you have malicious infection (virus or malware) the mind will go wrong. That creates diseases like anger, stress, depression and schizophrenia.

When you realize these basic facts you will know that all those tall stories related to the power of the mind is cinematic or dramatic fiction.

Then, how did our ancestors used the Mantra Sakthi? Good question.

The connected mind is powerful and divine: -

Our ancestors were connected to the cosmic system. The cosmic wisdom stored in the universe (the collective consciousness) is the data center in the cloud computing. Dhyana (meditation is not the apt translation) provided the wireless connection to the servers in the data center.

How to make your mind powerful?

1. Check-up hardware part - Sattvik food will make your hardware strong and powerful.

Provide two plates of food to a modern teen-ager. In one plate keep typical traditional South Indian Idly Sambar and another plate keep a Chicken Burger. What would he/she prefer - irrespective of caste and religion? Of course, Burger!

In my childhood I remember old generation were reciting "Vishnusahasranamam" and "Lalitha Sahasranamam" by-heart. Most of them kept everything in their memory. In today's world, the memory is short term affair. Why? You may attribute this to hi-fi gadget. But truth is that, the older generations were having "sattvik" food and modern generation goes by fast food. The fact is "fast food = short term memory..."

So food is important for brain and mind. Based on this concepts our Ayruveda scholars developed some medicines (Grita - is ghee medicated with ayurvedic herbs and kashaya) that cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) that can change the mind-set. That’s how they rectified mental diseases in olden days.

2. Check-up software part - The only way to cross-over the limitations of mind is the de-condition it. Run an anti-virus program. It is freely available. It is known as Awareness. It can be achieved only through observing.

3. Get connected to the cosmic network - Use the "I" as a login password. Once you log-on to the Net, you don't even need the password. You are IN. The vastness of the cosmic is waiting for you. This connectedness will make you strong and powerful. You won't have any fear of the stand-alone mind. Because you are connected to the GOD. You become god.

They knew that standalone mind is dangerously weak. They knew that the separation causes ego and fear. Once you are connected, you become fearless. You become one with the vastness. It has programs to correct your system and any aberrations of the mind.

We are all human, we all share the same range of emotions we are capable of feeling. What makes us different is how we react to these emotions. Nobody can perform any power that you cannot.

Miracles of mind or amazing powers are just magic. It is not the true way. If you are attracted to the miracle of mind, you won't learn the true way. The biggest power or miracle is about becoming more fully human. It is the end of ignorance. That's why the greatest Zen master once said: "My miracle is that when I'm hungry, I eat, and when I am tired, I sleep." 

Differences Between Male and Female Depression

Both men and women get depression. But men experience depression very differently. The following grid outlines some of the differences!

Differences Between Male and Female Depression

Women with depression:

Blame themselves

Feel sad, apathetic and worthless

Feel anxious and scared

Avoid conflicts at all costs

Always try to be “nice”

Withdraw when feeling hurt

Have trouble with self-respect

Feel they were born to fail

Feel lethargic

Can be a chronic procrastinator

Sleep too much

Have trouble setting boundaries

Feel guilty for what they do

Feel uncomfortable receiving praise

Find it easy to talk about weaknesses and doubts

Have a strong fear of success

Need to "blend in" to feel safe

Use food, friends and "love" to self-medicate

Believe problems could be solved only if they could be a better spouse, co-worker, parent, friend

Constantly wondering, "Am I lovable enough?"

Men with depression:

Feel others are to blame

Feel angry, irritable and ego-inflated

Feel suspicious and guarded

Create conflicts

May act overtly or covertly hostile

Attack when feeling hurt

Demand respect from others

Feel the world set them up to fail

Feel restless and agitated

Can be a compulsive time-keeper

Sleep too little

Must be in control at all costs

Feel ashamed for who they are

Feel frustrated if not praised enough

Feel terrified to talk about weaknesses and doubts

Have a strong fear of failure

Need to be "top dog" to feel safe

Use alcohol, TV, sports and sex to self-medicate

Believe problems could be solved only if their spouse, co-worker, parent, a friend would treat them better

Constantly wondering, "Am I being loved enough?"

இன்று சங்கடஹர சதுர்த்தி

The River of 1000 Sivalinga in Kbal Speam, Cambodia- 1000 சிவ லிங்கங்கள் உள்ள ஆறு-

கம்போடியாவில் உள்ள கபல் ஸ்பீம் எனும் ஆற்றின் நடுவில் 1000 லிங்கங்கள் காணப்படுகின்றன.

இவை 900 வருடங்களுக்கு முன்பு சூரியவர்மன், உதயாதித்யவர்மன் எனும் பல்லவ மன்னர்களின் மந்திரிகளால் அமைக்கப்பட்ட சிவ லிங்கங்களாகும்.
ஆற்றின் கரைகளில் உள்ள பாறைகளில் சிவன், பார்வதி, நந்தி, விஷ்ணு, லக்ஷ்மி, பிரம்மா, இராமன், அனுமன் ஆகியோரின் சிற்பங்களும் செதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

The End of Psychology?

As Neuroscience dominates discussion of the mind, what does the future hold for Psychology? The end of it? Perhaps not quite yet, but there is a serious message coming from the American Psychology Association (APA). Over the past decades, psychology has been increasingly overtaken by neuroscience. Two multi-billion euro/dollar initiatives – one European, one American – were launched in 2012 with the avowed objectives of “solving the brain” and, in the EU’s case, incorporating the solution into novel “neuromorphic” computers.

Hard-line reductionists speak of “molecular and cellular cognition” and dismiss the mind as an epiphenomenal product of neural processes, a “user illusion,” or, as zoologist Thomas Huxley put it a century and a half ago, merely the whistle to the steam train. Most neuroscientists concur; as Francis Crick put it: “You are nothing but a bunch of neurons.” Neurophilosophers, a world away from Descartes famous Cogito ergo sum speak contemptuously of “folk psychology”, to be replaced as neuroscience progresses by an objective, rigorously defined brain language.

No more love and hate, but merely the firing of neurons in the amygdala. And/or possibly the fronto-orbital cortex. Pace Onion, even if minds cannot study themselves, they can apparently study brains. Under these circumstances, the options might indeed be either for the APA to dissolve itself, or to rebrand as Cognitive Neuroscience.

It is the other APA, however, the American Psychiatry Association, which is in more trouble, having tried, and conspicuously failed, to abolish – or at least shackle, the mind. Dominated by biological psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry for the past half-century, it now finds its diagnostic criteria for mental conditions in disrepute and the drug companies in retreat. The APA’s bible – the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), which provides a tick-box list of symptoms on the basis of which the psychiatrist can classify and prescribe for anything from Oppositional Defiance Disorder to Autism Spectrum Disorder – has undergone its fifth revision to widespread criticism, even from within the profession. Biological psychiatry’s premise, that for each condition specified in the DSM it will be possible to identify a specific brain disorder – some faulty molecule or wiring failure – has failed despite fifty years of research.

Today’s drugs for treating depression or schizophrenia work no better than those of the 1960s, and there is nothing on the horizon to replace them. The giant US funding agency, the National Institutes of Health, has decided that enough is enough and from now on it will only fund projects that have clear biological targets. Many drug companies have pulled out of central nervous system research in favour of easier targets like cancer. For its critics, the days of biological psychiatry are over, as its basic premise, that mental and psychic distress can be reduced to mere faulty brain processes, is plain wrong. For psychiatry, minds have no options but to study minds, and the bodily, social and cultural contexts in which they are embedded.

Excerpt 1) "...there is a serious message coming from the American Psychology Association (APA). Over the past decades, psychology has been increasingly overtaken by neuroscience."

Excerpt 2) "Biological psychiatry’s premise, that for each condition specified in the DSM it will be possible to identify a specific brain disorder – some faulty molecule or wiring failure – has failed despite fifty years of research."

Excerpt 3) "...the days of biological psychiatry are over, as its basic premise, that mental and psychic distress can be reduced to mere faulty brain processes, is plain wrong. For psychiatry, minds have no options but to study minds, and the bodily, social and cultural contexts in which they are embedded."

 What this means is an end to the pseudoscientific nonsense touted by evolutionary theorists who think that morphological diversity is the only aspect of biodiversity that need be examined to make foolish claims that behaviour also evolved via mutations. Links from ridiculous theories to behaviour have remained unsupported by any experimental of biologically-based cause and effect. At the same time, cause and effect have repeatedly been established in reports like this one that links ecological variation to ecological adaptations during life history transitions. Oppositional COMT Val158Met effects on resting-state functional connectivity in adolescents and adults

Drugs That Cause The Most Harm

Why fighting corruption is key to improving healthcare

In a sector that is scarce and expensive, to begin with, corruption can mean the difference between life and death.

I recently attended the World Bank Group’s second annual Youth Summit, developed in partnership with the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth. The event, hosted thanks to the leadership and initiative of young World Bank Group employees, focused on increasing youth engagement to end corruption and promote open and responsive governments. In the wake of the Ebola crisis, and amidst some very eager, idealist, and passionate conversations, I couldn’t help but think about the price of corruption in health.

Many have argued that decades of corruption and distrust of government left African nations prey to Ebola. Whether in Africa or any other continent, it should come as no surprise that complex, variable, and dangerously fragmented health systems can breed dishonest practices. The mysterious dance between regulators, insurers, health care providers, suppliers, and consumers obscures transparency and accountability-based imperatives. As the recent allegations about Ebola-stricken families paying bribes for falsified death certificates illustrate, when it comes to health, local corruption can have serious consequences internationally.

This is an eye-opening reality for anyone working in the health sector, where the stakes are high and the resources precious. Corruption starves valuable resources available to the health system, quietly reduces the effectiveness of health services and activities, and cripples civic trust in health institutions. In effect, corruption corrodes efforts to combat disease and improve population health status. On a very basic level, corruption in the health sector is about patient or “consumer” vulnerability: Most people can’t find a place where the appropriate care is offered at a reasonable price, let alone understand what is being done to them or evaluate whether the care they received was warranted and of quality. In the midst of such “information asymmetry,” both the “supply” and “demand” sides offer lucrative opportunities for abuse and illicit gain.

​Corruption is a worldwide problem, rife in high and low-income countries alike. The nature and impact of corrupt practices in the healthcare sector are equally widespread. According to Transparency International, a global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption, common corrupt practices in health include worker absenteeism; theft of medical supplies; bribery in medical service delivery; fraud and embezzlement of medicines, medical devices, and health care funds; improper marketing relations; weak regulatory procedures; opaque and improperly designed procurement procedures; and diversion of supplies in the distribution system for private gains. Relationships, responsibilities, and payment mechanisms vary from system to system, country to country, and there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution.

So, what are the impacts anti-corruption strategies can have on health outcomes? Which actors need to be involved in the process? Which conditions are most likely to achieve successes, and how can we encourage and sustain positive results?

A prominent theme at the Youth Summit was the role of data and technology in promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen collaboration. Although by no means a panacea or replacement for structural change, data-crunching technologies and online social networks can play a large part in combating corruption – the same way user-generated communities are personalising platforms for disease management and surveillance – by offering real-time user-generated feedback. Indeed, as I learned at the Youth Summit, a great deal can be done to reduce corruption – but it cannot be done alone. The health field would benefit from best practices and existing platforms for fighting corruption in other critical sectors, such as aid and development, infrastructure, elections monitoring, and finance. Doing so would not only ensure that civil society and citizens have access to critical information but also empower them to hold governments and health service providers accountable. Tackling corruption is essential for achieving better health outcomes globally.

Silence kills. And, corruption, like Ebola, is a deadly virus feeding on global inaction.

Published in collaboration with The World Bank

Author: Viva Dadwal is a Visiting Scholar at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she is investigating the transfer of health innovations from low to high-income countries.

All opinions expressed are those of the author. The World Economic Forum Blog is an independent and neutral platform dedicated to generating debate around the key topics that shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Thanks In a sector that is scarce and expensive to begin with, corruption can mean the difference between life and death.

I recently attended the World Bank Group’s second annual Youth Summit, developed in partnership with the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth. The event, hosted thanks to the leadership and initiative of young World Bank Group employees, focused on increasing youth engagement to end corruption and promote open and responsive governments. In the wake of the Ebola crisis, and amidst some very eager, idealist, and passionate conversations, I couldn’t help but think about the price of corruption in health.

Many have argued that decades of corruption and distrust of government left African nations prey to Ebola. Whether in Africa or any other continent, it should come as no surprise that complex, variable, and dangerously fragmented health systems can breed dishonest practices. The mysterious dance between regulators, insurers, health care providers, suppliers, and consumers obscures transparency and accountability-based imperatives. As the recent allegations about Ebola-stricken families paying bribes for falsified death certificates illustrate, when it comes to health, local corruption can have serious consequences internationally.

This is an eye-opening reality for anyone working in the health sector, where the stakes are high and the resources precious. Corruption starves valuable resources available to the health system, quietly reduces the effectiveness of health services and activities, and cripples civic trust in health institutions. In effect, corruption corrodes efforts to combat disease and improve population health status. On a very basic level, corruption in the health sector is about patient or “consumer” vulnerability: Most people can’t find a place where the appropriate care is offered at a reasonable price, let alone understand what is being done to them or evaluate whether the care they received was warranted and of quality. In the midst of such “information asymmetry,” both the “supply” and “demand” sides offer lucrative opportunities for abuse and illicit gain.

​Corruption is a worldwide problem, rife in high and low-income countries alike. The nature and impact of corrupt practices in the healthcare sector are equally widespread. According to Transparency International, a global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption, common corrupt practices in health include worker absenteeism; theft of medical supplies; bribery in medical service delivery; fraud and embezzlement of medicines, medical devices, and health care funds; improper marketing relations; weak regulatory procedures; opaque and improperly designed procurement procedures; and diversion of supplies in the distribution system for private gains. Relationships, responsibilities, and payment mechanisms vary from system to system, country to country, and there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution.

So, what are the impacts anti-corruption strategies can have on health outcomes? Which actors need to be involved in the process? Which conditions are most likely to achieve successes, and how can we encourage and sustain positive results?

A prominent theme at the Youth Summit was the role of data and technology in promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen collaboration. Although by no means a panacea or replacement for structural change, data-crunching technologies and online social networks can play a large part in combating corruption – the same way user-generated communities are personalising platforms for disease management and surveillance – by offering real-time user-generated feedback. Indeed, as I learned at the Youth Summit, a great deal can be done to reduce corruption – but it cannot be done alone. The health field would benefit from best practices and existing platforms for fighting corruption in other critical sectors, such as aid and development, infrastructure, elections monitoring, and finance. Doing so would not only ensure that civil society and citizens have access to critical information but also empower them to hold governments and health service providers accountable. Tackling corruption is essential for achieving better health outcomes globally.

Silence kills. And, corruption, like Ebola, is a deadly virus feeding on global inaction.

Published in collaboration with The World Bank

Author: Viva Dadwal is a Visiting Scholar at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she is investigating the transfer of health innovations from low to high-income countries.

Posted by Viva Dadwal - 10:56

All opinions expressed are those of the author. The World Economic Forum Blog is an independent and neutral platform dedicated to generating debate around the key topics that shape global, regional and industry agendas.

The Top Twenty Five Companies For Work-From-Home Jobs

Are you looking for a more flexible work schedule? Are you constantly distracted in the office? Do you despise your daily commute?

If so, it might be time to start working from home.

But while 50% of the workforce currently has jobs that can be done remotely, according to Global Workplace Analytics, not all employers are open to the idea.

"If your boss isn't willing to offer you a more flexible schedule, it may be time for you to find a new job at a more telecommute-friendly company," says Sara Sutton Fell, CEO of FlexJobs, an online service for professionals seeking telecommuting, flexible schedule, part-time, and freelance jobs.

FlexJobs has identified the 25 employers with the greatest number of work-from-home job opportunities right now. To compile the list, it looked at job listings between from over 25,000 companies between June 5 and July 5.

Major companies including IBM, Xerox, and Apple make the list, proving that working from home is no longer a fantasy but an increasing reality for many workers, says Sutton Fell. "But the really interesting thing is that there are so many small and mid-sized companies offering work-from-home jobs," she says. "Job seekers who need more work flexibility, or whose commutes are too long, or who want better work-life balance should see a list like this and think about their expanding possibilities."

Together, these 25 companies had an estimated 4,000 job listings between June 5 and July 5 that allow you to work from home all or some of the time:

1. Kaplan 
Open jobs include: student services coordinator, operations assistant, and SAT instructor

2. IBM Open jobs include: technical sales specialist, software developer, and solution representative

3. US-Reports Open jobs include: insurance loss control surveyor and insurance premium auditor 

4. First Data Open jobs include: sales director, business consultant, and account executive

5. About.com Open jobs include: financial planning guide, child care guide, and theater guide

6. Connections Academy Open jobs include: middle school art curriculum writer, manager of school leadership, and parent mentor

7. SAP Open jobs include: principal retail solution architect, account executive, and partner sales senior manager

8. Xerox Open jobs include: project manager, customer service representative, and transaction processor

9. Dell Open jobs include: project program management consultant, partner systems integration consultant, and storage services advisor

10. Apple Open jobs include: at-home team manager, quality program manager, and technical support advisor

11. PAREXEL Open jobs include: associate medical writer, patient education advocate, and senior medical writer

12. Forest Laboratories Open jobs include: pharmaceutical sales representative, regional account manager, and institutional sales representative

13. UnitedHealth Group Open jobs include: case advocate, registered nurse case manager, and revenue integrity director

14. VMware Open jobs include: associate systems engineer, solutions consultant, and business solution strategist

15. K12 Open jobs include: high school music teacher, high school science teacher, and high school culinary arts teacher

16. Aetna Open jobs include: senior director of pharmacy operations, business intelligence manager, and senior actuarial consultant

17. Overland Solutions, Inc. Open jobs include: insurance inspector, premium auditor, and high value insurance appraiser

18. Salesforce.com Open jobs include: program architect, platform solution engineer, and systems engineer

19. Infor Open jobs include: senior account executive, project manager, and solution consultant

20. ADP Open jobs include: HR subject matter expert, lead payroll specialist, and sales learning consultant

21. Red Hat   Open jobs include: technical writer, partner solutions architect, and software engineer

22. BroadSpire  Open jobs include: medical case manager and nurse case manager

23. U.S. Department of the Interior   Open jobs include: ecologist, civil engineer, and research geographer

24. Covance       
Open jobs include: project manager, medical writer, and start-up specialist

25. Aon Open jobs include: candidate solution associate, program test manager, and workday optimization consultant

"People want to work from home because it changes them from simply being busy into actually being productive," says Sutton Fell. "Fewer distractions and interruptions during the workday, more control over your work environment, zero time wasted commuting to and from work, fewer sick days taken, and more satisfaction with your job — that's why people want the option to work from home."

According to a new survey organized by London Business School and Deloitte, a global audience of executives, entrepreneurs and business academics believe that at least half the workforce will work remotely by 2020. 

"As more people work this way, even for part of their workweeks, more people are exposed to the idea that working from home is a possibility for all professionals, not just for the self-employed or the technology industry," Sutton Fell adds.

And employers are starting to recognize the benefits of working from home, including cost savings, reduced turnover, and increased productivity and employee satisfaction. "Instead of worrying that people who work from home will slack off, they're seeing other companies who have successful at-home teams and giving it a try in their own companies," she concludes. 

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/top-hiring-companies-work-from-home-jobs-2014-7#ixzz3O7Jxs09d

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