Tumour 'fingerprinting' may help treat bowel cancer

Scientists have found that it is possible to see how advanced a bowel cancer is by looking at its metabolic 'fingerprint'.

Bowel cancer is the third most common type of cancer globally, with over one million new cases diagnosed every year. Accurately determining the stage that a tumour has reached is crucial for deciding which treatments to offer. Metabolic fingerprinting looks at the levels of many different metabolites, which are the products of chemical reactions in the body's cells, in a sample of blood, urine or tissue. This mix of metabolites alters as cancer develops and grows.

The researchers behind the new study, from Imperial College London, suggest that doctors could use metabolic fingerprinting alongside existing imaging technology to give them the most accurate possible analysis of a tumour.

Doctors currently use a combination of CT, MRI and ultrasound scanning to evaluate how advanced a tumour is, but as these scans rely on visual estimations of a tumour's size and location, they are not always sufficiently sensitive or specific. Previous studies have shown that these techniques regularly suggest that a tumour is more advanced, or less advanced, than it really is.

"Working out the stage of a tumour is critical for planning a patient's treatment. Increasingly, before we surgically remove a tumour, we will give therapies to try and shrink it down, but the kinds of therapies we offer depend on our assessment of how advanced that tumour is," said Dr Reza Mirnezami, the lead author of the study from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at ICL. "The more accurate we can be, the better the patient's chances of survival. Our research suggests that using metabolic fingerprinting techniques in addition to scanning could give us the clearest possible picture of how the cancer is progressing," Mirnezami said.

For the new study, researchers analysed the metabolic fingerprint of 44 bowel tumour tissue samples, provided by patients at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, using high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HR-MAS NMR).

Most men want women to go dutch on a date

Almost 64 per cent men believe that women should pay their share on a date, even though majority of males feel guilty accepting money from a lady, a new study has found.

Most men feel strongly that women should split the bill on a date. Nearly half of men (44 per cent) said they would stop dating a woman who never shells out any money.

Over half (57 per cent) of women claim they offer to help pay, but many women (39 per cent) confessed they secretly hope men would reject their offers to pay.

Nearly 44 per cent of women were bothered when men expected women to help pay.

The study by Chapman University's David Frederick and colleagues from California State University and Wellesley College surveyed more than 17,000 participants.

Researchers found that consistent with conventional norms, most men (84 per cent) and women (58 per cent) reported that men pay for most expenses, even after dating for a while.

A large majority of men (76 per cent), reported feeling guilty accepting women's money.

In terms of behaviour, even if men are paying a larger proportion of expenses, 4 in 10 men and women agreed that dating expenses were at least partially shared within the first month.

Around three-fourths (74 per cent of men, 83 per cent of women) reported some sharing of expenses by six months.

The study was presented at the 108th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association in New York.

Australian scientists discover genes, mutation causing epilepsy

Using advanced gene technology, Australian scientists along with a US team have claimed to have found new genes and genetic mutation that causes severe childhood epilepsies.

Lead researcher Sam Berkovic, Director of the Epilepsy Research Centre at the University of Melbourne and Melbourne's Austin Hospital, said, as well as providing a pathway to treating epilepsy the research provides answers to patients and families who previously had little or no idea where epilepsy had come from, the AAP news agency reported.

"Parents often have a belief that they've done something wrong that caused this disease," Berkovic said.

"Not knowing why has been one of the most frustrating things. We've never really had the answer. Now we do. This also stops the need for further searching and refines the treatments," he said.

A key aspect of the research has been the ability to sequence the entire human genome, Berkovic said adding "Until now we've had these complex patients and we didn't know what was going on. Now all the genes are known and the jigsaw can be completed," he said.

By using the latest genetic techniques to sequence and analyse DNA of 4,000 epilepsy patients and their relatives, the study known called Epi4Ks shared DNA sequences and patient information among dozens of research institutions.

The researchers compared the exomes, or the complete sets of genes, of 264 children with the sequences of their parents who do not have epilepsy.

Differences in the sequences of parents and children were analysed to identify potential disease-causing mutations.

The study's other joint leader Dr David Goldstein, the Director of the Human Genome Variation Centre at Duke University Medical Centre in the US, said his team's work identified an unusually large number of disease-causing mutations and provided a wealth of new information.

"We are now headed toward a future where we can find out why people have this disease and tailor the treatment of it. It establishes a clear path to the genetic explanation of epilepsy," Dr Goldstein said.

Dinner, movies don't work on first dates

Three out of four Australians have claimed to be watching the clock during first dates, a new survey has revealed.

According to relationship councillor and author Elly Taylor, people are playing it too safe when planning the dates or not even planning them at all, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Taylor said that a dinner and a movie don't bring out the best in us, and wearing clothes that you wouldn't normally be dressed in and eating in front of someone new can bring anxiety.

Taylor told the publication that "test" dates were the best way to get to know another person as it goes for about an hour and will establish if there's any chemistry.

Raw garlic can halve lung cancer risk

Eating raw garlic twice a week can nearly halve the risk of developing lung cancer, even lowering the danger for smokers, a new study has claimed.

Chinese researchers found that those who consumed raw garlic as part of their diet were 44 per cent less likely to suffer the disease.

Even when they allowed for whether people smoked – the biggest single cause of lung cancer the scientists found garlic still seemed to reduce the dangers by around 30 per cent, the 'Telegraph' reported.

Previous research has suggested that the popular herb can ward off stomach cancer and colon cancer, and a study at the University of South Australia suggested that it could reduce the risk of bowel tumours by nearly a third.

Scientists at Jiangsu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention compared 1,424 lung cancer patients with 4,500 healthy adults.

They found that those who ate raw garlic at least twice a week were significantly less likely to get lung cancer, even if they smoked or were exposed to high-temperature cooking oil fumes, which is thought to be another trigger for the disease.

The key ingredient behind this effect seems to be a chemical called allicin, released when the clove is crushed or chopped, according to previous studies.

It is thought to dampen down inflammation in the body and act as an anti-oxidant, reducing damage from so-called free radicals to the body's cells.

However, it is not clear whether cooked garlic would have the same effect.

"Garlic may potentially serve as a preventive agent for lung cancer," researchers said.

The study was published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

Be a Head-Turner with Bold Printed Pants

Prints are everywhere this season and we’re loving it! We’ve already told you where to buy fun and trendy printed summer jackets, t-shirts and maxi dresses; and if like us, you too can’t get over prints, then it’s time you check these stunning printed trousers, palazzos and leggings.

This August, iDiva.com presents the Style Diaries. Take a peek into our diary this month for all the latest trends (on and off the ramp). Also, don't miss out on designer interviews, stylist opinions as well as exclusive coverage of all the ongoing fashion weeks. What's more, we are also throwing in a special Style File feature that brings you 31 different trends we love all this month. Get glamourous alre

ady! 

HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AT WORK

Having friends in the workplace is very important for careers today. In offices today you mostly have to work in groups or are assigned project work and then it is very essential to work as a team and here is when you have to learn to compromise and be patient so as to keep a better rapport and reputation. 

In order to make friend, one has to be open and adjustable. You should not always try to show that you are superior and should be understanding and co-operative.. Outstanding performance, reputation and openness will allow you to navigate successfully through this changing environment. Following are some points that will help you make allies at work. 

Never keep disputes pending. Always try to resolve disputes and differences as soon as they crop up.This is a very hard thing to do, but you have to do it. It requires us to confront issues without being argumentative and you should be ready to hear what the other person has to say. Never personalise conflict coz it will worsen the matter instead of clarifying it. Always talk it out when the environment has cooled down and people are ready to communicate. 

Understand the other person. Always try to understand why the other person is doing this. Never put the blame on him and try to create an impression that only you are right and everybody is wrong. Try to think from the other persons point of view and if you think that you are wrong then apologise and if you think that he is then tell him what you feel. He will surely understand his mistake and things will be ok. 

Put in your best. Part of making friend is earning a good reputation and that can be achieved only if you put in your best and work sincerely and also try to be helpful and co-operative. Your performance is measured by the way you approach your assignments whether you like it or not and never try to shift your burden on to someone else shoulders. This will always make other respect you. 

Be helpful to everyone. Taking on extra work, exceeding commitments and completing the assignment no one wants can help make friends at work. If you give a helping hand to others you will not lose anything but will surely benefit out of it and this will also help in making that bond and trust with your colleagues. 

Never indulge in gossiping. Gossiping is the worst evil and instead of making friends you will end up making foes in your office. Always avoid gossiping and even if you are caught in between one try changing the topic with something more interesting and captivating. 

Keep the lines of communication open. Interacting with co-workers and asking questions are extremely important in today's workplace. Not only does it build trust and allow co-workers to learn from each other but it also can enhance your career and progress. Always talk out your differences and problems. Sit down with your friends and colleagues during lunchtime or free time and discuss everything under the sun. This is very essential in knowing each other and being good buddies. After all your work place is your second family and you have to know each other well in order to work together.

Cruise control

We are educating girls, raising their aspirations, even giving them a taste of professional life, and then asking them to rein in their ambitions.

Mujhe lagta hai ki hamare andar itni shakti hai...jiska day to day life mein 10 per cent bhi use nahin hoti. " (I believe we have so much power hidden within ourselves. We don't use even 10 per cent of that power in day to day life. ) 

This is not a quote from a book by Paulo Coelho or Stephen Covey. These are the words of Premlata Agarwal, speaking to me at her modest home in Jamshedpur, as she poured me a cup of tea. Premlata Agarwal is a housewife, married into a Marwari business family. Premlata Agarwal is also a world-class mountaineer and the oldest Indian woman to scale Mount Everest, at the age of 48. She is an inspirational woman whose story I had the privilege to feature in my book Follow Every Rainbow. 

Feeling left out can lead to risky financial decisions

People who feel isolated are more likely to make risky financial decisions for bigger payoffs, according to a new research. Rod Duclos, assistant professor of marketing at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and his team conducted several experiments and a field survey and found the more often people felt excluded, the more they chose the longer odds for bigger lottery payoffs, took greater risks with their finances, bet on horse races and gambled in casinos.

"In the absence of social support, forlorn consumers apparently place more value on the power of money to secure what they want socially," he said. In one experiment, 59 students played an online ball-tossing game designed to make them feel socially included or excluded. In a separate setting, they chose between two hypothetical gambles with very different odds, Duclos said.

The socially excluded participants favoured the riskier option more strongly than their included counterparts. A second experiment used essay writing to make 168 students feel either excluded or included and found that the socially excluded participants were twice as likely to gamble as the students who felt included, he said.

Another experiment with 35 students ruled out lower self-esteem as a trigger for risk-taking, through essay writing and a choice of lotteries. In a fourth experiment with 128 students, researchers found those who felt isolated did not take more risks than others if they were told that having more money would no longer result in social benefits.

For a real-world demonstration, a team of trained research assistants interviewed individuals at malls, parks and subway stations, Duclos said. They asked participants to choose between two lotteries, one that offered an 80 per cent chance to win USD 200 and a 20 per cent chance to win nothing and another that offered a 20 per cent chance to win USD 800 and an 80 per cent chance to win nothing.

Simple Summer Entertaining: Tabletops and Picnic Baskets

The tastes and smells of summer keep me dreaming all winter long for the days I can go barefoot again; fresh produce from the farmer’s market, watermelon by the slice, skewers on the grill, and the chill of an ice cream cone on a hot day.

Whether you are heading to the beach or down the street to a neighborhood park, a simple picnic adds something special to the day. And as much as we love summer days, there is something about a cool evening breeze, crickets in the background and laughter across the table that makes summer evenings unforgettable. A successful picnics and dinner parties don’t require anything extravagant. All you need is a comfortable setting, good company and simply delicious food.

In an effort to make hosting a dinner party and picnic packing even easier, I sat down with a few experts on food and table settings, Chef Tina Marie Greene (owner of Kissing Rock Kitchens) and Amy Ruis (owner of Art of the Table) to get their best tips and secrets on summer menus and table settings.

Packing Your Picnic

“The bag is important! I always forget something,” says Amy, “Pick a picnic basket that suits your needs and put everything you need for a picnic in it. So when you pick it up, all of the essentials are already in it.” Amy recommends using an insulated bag, but you can also use a traditional picnic basket. Some baskets even come stocked with silverware, salt and pepper and glasses. “Don’t forget something to sit on,” she adds.

Sample Picnic Menu:

Peachy-Tomato Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

Muffuletta

Apple Lentil Salad

Stuffed Cucumbers and Shrimp

Citron Shortbread

Cucumber Mint Water

Drink Pairing

Big Little Wine Company’s “Tire Swing” or The Rio Madre

“What I would take on a picnic is one of two things (or maybe both!), a bubbly and a nice red. Big Little Wine Company’s “Tire Swing” has crispy, appley deliciousness and it is made up in Leelanau County, MI. The Rio Madre is 100% Graciano from Rioja, Spain and is a current fave. It is big bold fruit, but

soft enough without too much tannin. Spicy, blue

fruits abound!”

Setting Your Table

“The colors for the season are blues, especially turquoise and navy,” Amy shares, “The nautical look is coming back. I’m still seeing a lot of bright colors too, oranges and muted greens. These go really well with turquoise.”

Table decor doesn’t need to be extravagant; you can create a variety of settings with the basics. Gather a few tablecloths, napkins, summer dishes, and candles or lanterns for centerpieces. Amy recommends having a variety of basic tablecloths that you can change out based on your table decor. “I don’t like hugely busy tables. Having a basic tablecloth lets you do a lot with it. It’s fun to have different colors of napkins that go with a candle or lantern,” explains Amy. “Take a red lantern and put an orange candle [in it]. That kind of thing can quickly transform your table.”

While Amy prefers having a separate set of dishes for outside (hers are red and orange), you can easily use your regular dishes. Collect summer salad plates, or salad plates of a different color and use your regular dishes and silverware. The pop of color will totally transform your table.

“I like having lots of light on the table, it makes a cool centerpiece, Amy shares. “When you are talking until ten or eleven at night, it adds a great atmosphere.” She recommends using candles or lanterns to add light to your table are, and using torches or stringing lights to light up the surrounding area.

Amy’s best advice is to go simple, and not to be too fussy. What is the most important isn’t the decor, the drinks or even the menu you spent hours planning and making. It is the community at the table, the conversation, the laughter, and the memories you are creating.

From ‘Composition’ to Collaboration

A Natural Look Inspired by Jackson Pollock

Whether looking at fashion magazines, commercials, or blogs online, inspiration for everyday beauty can come from anywhere, including from a painting. Through my design studio, LKN Studio, I work as a wardrobe, set and prop stylist for photography and film productions. One of the most rewarding aspects about working within these industries is collaborating with the many accomplished creatives local to West Michigan. Today, I partnered with one of Grand Rapids’ top hair and makeup stylists, Rebecca Gohl, to create a natural beauty look inspired by the painting ‘Composition’ (ca.1946) by the American artist Jackson Pollock using eco-friendly cosmetics and hair products. It will give you a view into how we as production styling professionals work together to take inspiration and apply it to real life.

The Collaborator

Rebecca Gohl, a native to Grand Rapids, has been working in the production industry from age 15 where she started with her father, David Winick, building sets for film production. She has worked in various roles in the industry from production assistant, wardrobe and set stylist, but found her true passion as a hair and makeup stylist. “I’ve always loved fashion and people and have been drawn to period hair and makeup,” Gohl explains. “I set my hair in vintage sets regularly and spend most of my extra time researching different period hair and makeup to become an expert.” Even though her main draws are retro and historical fashion, Gohl loves to create styles from past to present. She works regularly on commercial and editorial fashion shoots for clients such as Hush Puppies, Merrell, and Amway to create fresh and contemporary looks that inspire the fashion forward beauty lovers. Her energy and creativity are inspiring to work with.

The Inspiration

Gohl and I met to discuss our inspiration, the painting ‘Composition’ (ca.1946) by Jackson Pollock. Pollack was a major figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement and is well known for his drip paintings. For the technique, Pollock would play music in the background as he worked, dip his paint brush into paint and start moving it to the music over the canvas without touching the canvas directly; allowing the paint to drip from the brush and create threadlike strokes that seem to shoot across the surface. While examining the painting, the dynamic expression of the motion of the strokes and the layering of neutral colors (black, white, tan and ivory) with accents of bright colors (aquamarine, cobalt blue, goldenrod yellow, blush pink and pure red) stood out to us both. We found our inspiration for the look.

The Collaboration

To create an eco-friendly look that would reflect Pollock’s work, Gohl utilized natural and organic products from the hair product company Onesta and the cosmetic company Ecco Bella. For the hair, she created a spiral texture throughout with a curling iron, which mimics the long strokes of Pollock’s paintbrush. Gohl used Onesta’s products to naturally protect the model’s hair from the heat and hold the style. As Pollock used layers of color in his painting, Gohl created a light neutral base on the face and cheeks and then layered bronze, deep blue and golden yellow tones from Ecco Bella’s product line to accent the eyes. To frame the eyes, she hand dipped the tips of faux eyelashes in mascara to imitate the dripped dot effect of Pollock’s technique and worked them in between the model’s lashes. A beautiful shade of rose was selected to top off the lips and reflect the pink accents seen in the work. Below is a list of the products used:

 Ecco Bella Cosmetics for the Face and Lips

Concealer: FlowerColor Coverup Beige

Base: FlowerColor Face Powder Fair

Cheeks: FlowerColor Bronzing Powders Hibiscus and Sunflower

Eyelids: FlowerColor Powdered Eyeliner Mystic, FlowerColor Powdered Eyeliner La Lune

Eyeliner: Soft Eyeliner Pencils Royal Blue and Bronze, FlowerColor Powdered Eyeliner La Lune

Mascara: Natural Black Mascara

Lips: FlowerColor Lipstick Claret Rose

Onesta Products for the Hair Styling

For Heat and Styling: Create Liquid Setting Mist

For Styling and Hold: Create Finish Spray Firm Hold

For the clothing, I kept the base palette dark and neutral with the black-fringed dress to mimic the darker tones of the painting. Yellow and gold tones were added through jewelry to imitate the bright splatter of goldenrod paint. The background is similar to the shade of aquamarine paint used by Pollack, which I decided to keep simple like an artist’s canvas so that the model’s look becomes the focus of the image.

When in motion, the combination of the free-flowing fringed dress, the hair, and jewelry streaming through the air along with the accents of color seen in the subject’s face creates an awe-inspiring effect that brings the strokes of Pollock’s painting to life.

Stuffed pamphlet

Did you know that the Germans dropped leaflets among the Indian soldiers in WWI to tell them they were fighting on the wrong side? An exhibition in London records this and other attempts at propaganda.

Anti and pro-British publicity used during the Indian Independence movement and the British Raj form part of a new exhibition in London that examines propaganda from across the world. 

Propaganda: Power and Persuasion is the first show to explore international state propaganda from the 20th and 21st centuries. Examples of rallying support for a war, creating a common enemy and fighting disease through different forms like pamphlets, leaflet drops tweets feature in the exhibition at the British Library. 

More than 200 exhibits from virtually every continent of the world are shown, including banknotes, posters, stamps, badges, cartoons, films, music and games.

Dharavi asia's largest puzzle

An eyesore of blue tarpaulin, or a complex warren teeming with promise and enterprise? Describe it how you will but there's no denying its endless fascination for poets and writers.

In Dharavi, there's always time. There's always space, " are Nisar Ahmed Khan's languid words to writer-poet Jerry Pinto. In an earlier chapter of Dharavi - The City Within, edited by American writer Joseph Campana - lies another gem, courtesy Ghulam Walis, proprietor and editor of Sapna Times. "Everything is made here...Legal, illegal, everything, " he tells Rachel Lopez. 

Walis and Khan capture the most overused of all clichês that describe Dharavi - that it is all kinds of worlds. Campana's able effort to probe those worlds is scarcely the first and will certainly not be the last. 

"For a long time, Dharavi stayed in the news as Asia's largest slum, " says Rashmi Bansal. "That's not true anymore, but it's still a popular subject. Almost every home will house a workshop within. It's like an incubator that takes in new people and trains unskilled labour. People also come to Dharavi to set up business. It's a very unique space. " Bansal, along with management consultant Deepak Gandhi has authored Poor Little Rich Slum - What We Saw in Dharavi and Why it Matters, yet another effort to document Dharavi's unique ecosystem. 

While the latter sweeps through the thriving industry within Dharavi and the entrepreneurial success stories of its residents with a soft-focus lens, Campana's effort is a more exhaustive chronicle of the people and problems in this 'city system', to use Jeb Brugmann's evocative coinage. The book also contains an extract from the Rediscovering Dharavi: Stories from Asia's Largest Slum, the acclaimed work on the area by Kalpana Sharma, published in 2000. 

"You immediately get a sense of vibrancy and selfsufficiency there, " is Campana's explanation for Dharavi's tireless documentation. "The problems have been well documented, but the real story is how stable and sturdy the community is. " Stories like Dharavi's Poster Boys by Suhani Singh, which detail the multireligious community's efforts to promote harmony in the aftermath of the 1992 riots, buttress that claim. We learn why Ramachandra 'Bhau' Korde and Waqar Khan's charming Hum Sab Ek Hain poster featuring kids from four communities will never lose context. 

Poor Little Rich Slum introduces you to the likes of tailoring centre owner Rani Nadar, who belies every stereotype you may have held about the lazy slum dweller. You also meet Fahim Vora and Tauseef Siddiqui, two Dharavi boys who give back to their community by running Be the Local - a travel agency that aims to dispel the negative image of the locality.

That's not to say Dharavi smells of roses. Its colourful tapestry is frayed with water woes, as Freny Manecksha's Water Wars illustrates;hard labour and hazardous working conditions lurk behind the ubiquitous pottery of Kumbharwada;and myopic redevelopment plans threaten the rhythm of its work life. 

"When I wrote the book in 1999, I was surprised that there hadn't been a similar effort, " says Kalpana Sharma. "Ever since, the Dharavi Redevelopment Plan has been the trigger for people's curiousity. Its real estate value has caught the attention of the media. " Dharavi is also unique for the way it came to be, she explains. "Many slums come up because people need a place to live. Tanneries sprung up because of its proximity to the Bandra abbatoir. Kolis made use of the swamp to start brew illicit liquor. The Kumbhars created their own settlement. Gradually, people reclaimed the swamp to extend their settlement. This gives Dharavi its variegated texture. " 

Naturally, Dharavi has seen many creative endeavours. Slumdog Millionaire aside, it has been the subject of documentaries by BBC and National Geographic, the site of public art installations like Artefacting Mumbai-a 2011 project helmed by urban planner Alex White Mazzarella and photographer Casey Nolan, and even produced Dharavi Rocks, a joint musical project between blueFROG and NGO Acorn Foundation. 

The frenzied attention has also lead to criticism of the endless romanticisation of Dharavi, something Campana was conscious of. "I tried to avoid fetishising Dharavi by making no essential claims. We came up with subjects that avoided making generalisations. No profile was meant to typify the place. Each person was just an individual, " he says. Journalist Sameera Khan, who in her chapter Schooling Dharavi touches upon the English-speaking dreams of its residents, adds, "While I think we still can do stories from Dharavi, we should not forget that there are other poorer areas in the city, and other areas of similar grit and initiative - we need to research/write/explore them as well. " 

It is the booming real-estate value of Dharavi, however, that continues to keep it in the news. Having first seen promise in the 1984 Prime Minister's Grant Project, under which the Rajiv Gandhi-led leadership granted Rs 100 crore for its redevelopment, Dharavi's residents have since seen multiple surveys, plans and committees in the name of 'upliftment'. Today, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, led by builder Mukesh Mehta, is held up by funds and bureaucracy. Sharma rues, "These delays have been the downfall of the slum. Even routine repairs and construction of drainage and toilets has stopped because everyone's waiting for redevelopment. " 

And yet, there is dynamism. "It struck me how despite differences, they still work together, " says Sharma. "I met a Muslim chikki maker and all his workers were Hindu, which hadn't even occurred to them. They get no help from the state, and wait for no handouts. I met people there who started out with nothing and have today, made a life for themselves. " 

Dharavi isn't just interesting to outsiders, it's also fiercely loved by its residents, who never stray very far. Pinky Santepola Ashappa, 15, who aims to be a chartered accountant, told Khan: "Dharavi has us. We are going to change its image. " Santosh Narayankar, the final year MBBS student and subject of Leo Mirani's study, A Pampered Slum, exemplifies this. Says Campana, "If you're from Dharavi you are always aware that others not from Dharavi have a sense of what it's like there. They have an opinion of it, probably a poor one. That doesn't square with your experience of your home, which is a complicated mix of good and bad. " 

As Narayankar says, contemplating whether to take a secure government job over the vagaries of a practice in Dharavi, "If I forget about Dharavi, I will never succeed in life. " Nor will Mumbai, if it attempts to chart a glittering development story while ignoring the needs of its most hard working and most fetishised residents.

Britain to bring curry festival to India

The 'Taste of Britain Curry Festival' is all set to travel to the home of curries, India, with leading British chefs aiming to recreate an exclusive selection of dishes that have become a hit in the European country.

Beginning on August 23 at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kolkata, the festival will see seven British chefs produce as many as 70 dishes including high street favourites like British Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb chops with plum and coriander sauce and Bengal Lancers shrimp curry.

"It might sound a little odd taking curry to its birthplace but the festival has had an enthusiastic reception in the past from countries such as far afield as America, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Spain, UAE and Eastern Europe," said Editor of Curry Life Magazine and Director of the Festival Syed Belal Ahmed at the press launch of the festival here.

British Prime Minister David Cameron in a message of support for the festival said: "Curry, which of course originated in the Indian subcontinent, is now one of the most popular foods in the UK and has become part of the British way of life. And, those involved in the industry our high streets, boost local economies and contribute to local communities."

"Our shared passion for curry, as with cricket and business, only goes to reinforce the close ties between our countries," he added. Labour party leader Ed Miliband too praised the role of curry is the British life both on the high street and in homes.

"Britain's curry sector has not just changed our taste buds, it has also enabled thousands to build businesses, learn new skills, train apprentices, create jobs, build community, and bring people from different cultures together," his statement said.

The festival is now in its tenth year. Among the acclaimed team of chefs heading to India will be Michelin star British chef Dominic Chapman who has worked with world renowned names in the industry like Heston Blumenthal.

Clean water and soap may boost growth in kids

Access to clean water and soap not only improves personal hygiene, it may also boost growth in young children, a review of studies conducted in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh has found.

The review found evidence of small but significant improvements in growth of children under the age of five who have access to clean water and soap.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and WaterAid identified 14 studies conducted in low and middle income countries (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chile, Guatemala, Pakistan, Nepal, South Africa, Kenya and Cambodia) that provided data on the effect of water, sanitation and hygiene programmes on the physical growth of 9,469 children.

The authors' analysis of the data suggested that interventions to improve the quality of the water in the household and provide soap resulted in an average 0.5cm increased height growth in children under the age of five.

"For the first time our analysis suggests that better access to these services may also have a small but important impact on the growth of young children," lead author Dr Alan Dangour, said.

"While there are some important shortcomings in the available evidence base, we estimate that clean drinking water and effective hand washing could reduce the prevalence of stunting in children under the age of five by up to 15 per cent.

"This is potentially an extremely important finding, that identifies that improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene could be a key part of the tool kit to tackle the global burden of under-nutrition," said Dangour.

Poor height growth, or stunting, affects 165 million children worldwide and results in long term impacts on physical and mental development, increasing the risk of mortality and reducing productivity in adulthood.

Researchers said under-nutrition is a cause of 3.1 million deaths annually nearly half (45 per cent) of all deaths in children under five.

Changing work habits push software makers to innovate

Every day, millions of office workers prepare memos and reports using scissors and paste, and store data on floppy disks, though they have plenty of digital memory in their computers and the cloud. Smartphone-toting executives have their mail dumped into in-boxes, one corporate message atop another.

They are not using these objects, of course, but clicking on the pictures of them in popular word-processing programs like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. The icons linger like vestigial organs of an old-style office, 31 years after IBM's personal computer brought work into the software age. They symbolise an old style of office software, built for the time when the desktop computer was new and unfamiliar.

But no longer are workers tethered to a desk, or even to an office; we are all toting around laptops, tablets and smartphones to make every place a workplace. And so office software is changing. These days, what is important is collaboration, small screens, fast turnarounds, social media and, most of all, mobility. "The way people use things is fundamentally changing," said Bret Taylor, chief executive of Quip, a start-up offering document-writing software that focuses more on mobile than desktop work.

Last month Box, an online service for storing documents, pictures and other data, bought Crocdoc, a company that makes it possible to view Microsoft Word documents and other popular file formats across a variety of devices at the right size for whatever screen is being used at the time. Evernote, another online storage outfit, allows people to write, edit and share notes together, instead of emailing multiple versions of a Word document to one another.

Both Microsoft and Google are scrambling to make their products reflect a work environment where PCs exist alongside other devices. There is a mobile version of Microsoft Office, which includes Microsoft Word, but it can only be used to edit certain kinds of documents and collaboration is limited. One reason for this, the company says, is that it does not want to force its user base to relearn too much, too quickly.