May 18,2013

Why women live longer___Women live longer than men partly because their immune systems age more slowly, a study suggests. As the body's defences weaken over time, men's increased susceptibility to disease shortens their lifespans, say Japanese scientists. Tests of immune function could give an indication of true biological age, they report in Immunity & Ageing journal. The immune system protects the body from infection and cancer, but causes disease when not properly regulated. The Japanese study set out to investigate the controversial question of whether age-related changes in the immune system could be responsible for the difference in average life expectancy between men and women. Prof Katsuiku Hirokawa of the Tokyo Medical and Dental University and colleagues analysed blood samples from 356 healthy men and women aged between 20 and 90. They measured levels of white blood cells and molecules called cytokines which interact with cells of the immune system to regulate the body's response to disease. In both sexes, the number of white blood cells per person declined with age as expected from previous studies. However, closer examination revealed differences between men and women in two key components of the immune system - T-cells, which protect the body from infection, and B-cells, which secrete antibodies.

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CCA clears setting up of 3,500 model schools at block level

New Delhi, October 11 (babushahi.com bureau): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to continue the sharing pattern of costs between the Central and State/UT Governments in the ratio of 75:25 during the year 2012-13 in respect of State sector component of the Scheme for setting up of 6,000 model schools at block level as benchmark of excellence. For the year 2012-13, an amount of Rs.1080.00 crore has been allocated for the Scheme. Any financial liability arising due to continuation of sharing pattern of 75:25 would be taken care of within the said allocation. This will ease the extra financial burden of the State/UT Governments \"resulting in effective and speedy implementation of the Scheme. As each school will have 560 students, total number of beneficiaries for 3,500 schools will be 19.60 lakh students. The programme is to be implemented through State Implementing Societies set up by State/UT Governments for this purpose. Till March, 2012, a total of 1,954 model schools have been approved in 22 States and financial sanctions amounting to Rs. 1790.76 crore has been issued for setting up of 1,587 model schools in 21 States. Out of these, 428 model schools have become functional till March, 2012 in 27 States and Central share amounting to Rs.29.46 crore towards recurring grants has been released since 2010-11. During 11th Five Year Plan, the sharing pattern of costs between the Central and State/UT Governments was 75:25, which was to change to 50:50 during 12th Five Year Plan (except for special category States and for upgraded Ashram schools in all States, for which the sharing pattern of 90:10 was approved for both the 11th and the 12th Five Year Plans. Since implementation of State sector component of the Scheme had started only from 2009-10 (third year of the 11th Plan) and out of 3,500 schools, only 1,954 schools have been approved till March, 2012 (with release of Central share only upto 50 percent in most of the cases), reduction in quantum of Central share at this stage of implementation of the Scheme by changing the sharing pattern of costs from 75:25 to 50:50 would result in unintended premature shifting of burden to the State/UT Governments and significant slowing down of progress under the Scheme.

(JL/JR)