P Venugopal and 5 AIIMS professors in plagiarism charge

From Hindustan Times

Six professors as well as the director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, P Venugopal, have been accused of fraudulently publishing the same research material in two different medical journals.

The article — Use of stem cells in congenital anomalies — appeared in the October-December issue of Indian Journal of Pediatric Surgeons and the January 2007 issue of International Journal Transplantation Proceedings.

The article was written by Dr D.K. Gupta, head of paediatric surgery in AIIMS. It was co-authored by Venugopal, Shilpa Sharma, Lalit Kumar, S. Dattagupta, N.K. Arora and Dr S. Mohanty. All are senior professors in the premier medical college and hospital.

Experts said this is a case of duplicate publication, considered an academic fraud. “My personal opinion is that they are based on the same data and come to very similar conclusions. Much of the text is repeated and neither paper cites the other,” said Harvey Marcovitch, chairman of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), an organisation for editors of peer-reviewed journals formed to tackle breach in research and publication ethics.

In his defence Dr Gupta, who wrote the article, said the research was sent to the International Journal Transplantation Proceedings without his knowledge. “This is an award winning paper and as per rules had to be published in the Indian Journal of Paediatric Surgeons. As far as Transplantation Proceedings is concerned, I did not submit the paper to that journal.”

“A controversy has been created because of infighting among doctors of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons.”

Gupta said he came to know about the publication only after it appeared. He added that neither article cited the other as these were probably submitted around the same time. But oddly, Gupta did not write to either journal to set the record straight.

The issue came to light after paediatric surgeons discussed the article on a blogspot and approached COPE.

Gupta has said that the he was being framed. “They are trying to damage my reputation because I am investigating some irregularities against the doctors. Appropriate action will be initiated against the doctor who were involved in the chat group,” he said.

இவங்களாம் "Merit" பத்தி பேசுராங்க !!!

Tamil Nadu removed from list of HIV high prevalence States

From http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/25/stories/2007102553970600.htm

The key findings

1. Number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births has dropped from 68 during the first NFHS to 31
2. 90 per cent of all deliveries in the State are conducted in institutions
3. According to NFHS-3, the overall coverage of children between 12 and 23 months (those who have received all recommended vaccines), has dropped from 89 per cent during NFHS-2 to 81 per cent. In urban areas, it has dropped from 97 per cent (NFHS-2) to 78 per cent (NFHS-3) and once again, the rural areas have performed better, dropping only one percentage point to stop at 84 per cent coverage.

The third point is interesting... It brings out the BIAS in the health system where Primary Health has been ignored in Urban Setup with Primary Health Centres being established in only villages....

Sachin back in form - reason attributed !!!!

In one of the comments in Rediff (http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2007/oct/15ranks.htm) a reader has said

Sachin among top 10
by ayesha desai on Oct 16, 2007 09:55 AM |

I notice remarkable improvement in Sachin's game specially batting since beginning of May 2007 . Since then in evry match he has been among the top three scorers. He has been concentrating more on how he can contribute to the team. Incidentally, Sachin visited Subrahmanya Devasthan in Kukke inthe first week of May 2007. I myself had accute pain in my back. After I visited Kukke Subrahmanyam temple there is marked improvement in my health.

Good Observation.. Also for the past 2 and half years, Saturn was at Cancer (கடகம்), which is the eighth house of Sagittarius (தனுசு)... Thus Sachin was running அஷ்டமசனி..... Once Saturn has moved to the ninth spot, Sachin has been the leading Run Scorer in all the tournaments (Future Cup, Natwest, and the present Australian Series).... In fact he was the leading run scorer among both teams in the Future Cup

Will this continue.... Doubtful as Jupiter is poised to move into Sagittarius next month, which is start the period of ஜன்ம்குரு..... Remember that Jupiter in the is usually an unfavourable position at the first house (the house in which moon was placed at birth time)

Why Blogspot Hosting is NOT permanent

Recently there was some discussion regarding the best option to host the blogs..... Some people preferred to host it in their own domains, while other preferred the blogspot....

One of the arguments put forward for hosting that on blogspot was eternity... (blog will live even if it is not renewed)... But it seems that the eternal blog is a myth and virtual reality !!\

As per the official web page

Dormant Account

A Gmail account that hasn't been logged in to for six months.

You can still receive mail if your account is dormant, but you need to log in to keep your account active.

If you don't log in to Gmail within three months of it being labeled dormant -- or for nine consecutive months -- Google may delete the account.

So what..... why should your worry if GMAIL Account is deleted

Now, as per the Blogger Beta, all the blogs associated with a Google Account will be deleted when the Google Account is deleted (to solve the problem of "orphan blogs")

So the question is

1. Will GMAIL Deactivation means deactivation of the Google Account (this implies that if you have not logged in to your GMAIL Account for 9 months), all your blogs are gone, forever !!!!

2. Is Google Account spared when GMAIL is deactivated

Questions Questions Every where

Want to tell anything about Sex ?? You are welcome !!!

As per Government of India (http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=31591), The Parliamentary Committee wants your opinion on sex

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE INVITES SUGGESTIONS ON INTRODUCTION OF SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS 17:5 IST Monday, October 01, 2007

The Parliamentary Committee on petitions has invited public suggestions on introduction of sex education in CBSE affiliated schools. These can be submitted through a written memoranda containing suggestions/ views/comments of individuals/institutions/organisations interested in the subject matter. The Committee on Petitions under the Chairmanship of Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, M.P, Rajya Sabha is examining the prayer of the petitioners and has decided to undertake wider consultations with all the stakeholders including eminent educationists, sociologists, psychologists, sexologists, spiritual leaders, teachers and parents for generating a national debate on the subject.

Those desirous of submitting memoranda to the Committee may send two copies (each in English and Hindi) thereof to Shri J. Sundrial, Joint Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi-110001 and E-Mail: sundrial@sansad.nic.in} within 30 days indicating whether they would also be interested in giving oral evidence before the Committee. The memorandum submitted to the Committee would form part of its records and would be treated as confidential and therefore should not be printed, circulated or publicised by anyone, as such an act would constitute a breach of privilege of the Committee.

There has been severe criticism from certain quarters on the recent move of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India to introduce sex-education in the form of Adolescence Education Programme (AEP) in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools all over the country. Two petitioners have prayed to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) that there should be a national debate on the subject and a consensus arrived before introducing sex-education in CBSE affiliated schools.

RS/AS

Common... Shoot your views.... let some one hear that !!!

Should Horoscopes need to be written again when GMT is changed

Answers to Questions asked by Babu Manohar with reference to my Answers to Frequently asked questions on Astrology

எனக்கு இன்னும் புரியவில்லை...Time of sun rise ஐ எப்ப‌டி க‌ணிக்கிறார்க‌ள்? GMT அல்ல‌து local standard time ஐ வைத்துதானே? குழந்தை பிறக்கும் நேரத்தையும் நாம் இந்த முறையில்தான் குறிக்கிறோம்.திடிரென்று இதில் அரைமணி,ஒருமணி மாற்றிவைத்தால்,பழைய சூரிய உதய நேரத்தின்படி ஏற்கனவே எழுதிவைக்கப்பட்ட ஜாதகங்கள் அனைத்தும் மறுபடியும் மாற்றி எழுதப்படுமா என்பதுதான் நான் அறிய விரும்புவது.

Day light saving time concept உள்ளது என்கிறார் டாக்டர்.புரூனோ.. எல்லாம் ஒரு மாதிரி adjusட் பண்ணி ஒரு குத்து மதிப்பாக ஒரு நேர அளவுகோலை ஏற்படுத்துவது...அப்படிதானே டாக்டர்?

Biscuit உதார‌ண‌ம் ஒரு பிஸ்கோத்து...வேறு எதாவ‌து சொல்லியிருக்க‌லாம்.

Explanation....

I am not able to comprehend what our friend is not able to understand. Whether he is not able to understand that simple fact that "if you eat a biscuit 30 minutes after a train starts, you eat the biscuit at 8:30 if the train starts at 8 PM and you eat the biscuit at 9:30 if the train starts at 9 PM" or whether he is not able to comprehend DST

Let me come to the train example again

Let us assume that the following at the time of departure of various trains from Egmore. The Trains go through Tambaram - Chengalpet - Villupuram - Trichy

Also assume that trains run on time (Please note the planets are more punctual and please don't try to distract the argument by telling that trains run late !!!)

• Kanyakumari Exp 17:15
• Pearl City Exp 18:30
• Ananthapuri Exp 19:30
• Nellai Exp 21:00
• Pandiyan Exp 21:30

For example imagine a child is born at Chengalpet at 10 PM

Now, you want to note the position of trains at THIS TIME

It can be

• KK Express Ariyalur (South x1 kilometers)
• Pearl City Express Vridhachallam (South x2 kilometres)
• Anathapuri Express at Dindivanam (South x3 kilometres)
• Nellai Express at Maraimalai Nagar (North x4 kilometres)
• Pandian Express at Tambaram (North x5 kilometres)

Now if the GMT is changed, the time of birth will change. There is no doubt regarding that.
But whether the GMT Is changed or not This position of the trains relative to the place of birth do not change.

Is this difficult to comprehend

Let me try to explain a bit more.

Fact 1 : The sun rises in east and sets in west. (The sun appears to rise in east and appears to set in west because the earth moves from west to east)

No. Imagine the Eastern Horizon to be Zero Degree and Western Horizon to be 180 Degree

Today when the sun rises at 6:13 IST, then at 8:13 IST the sun will be at 30 degrees

If the GMT is changed by say 5 minutes, then the run rise will be at 6:18 am and at 8:18 am the sun will be still at 30 degrees

So whether the GMT is changed or not or whatever be the case, the position of the planets with regard to a place and time is always constant

After few days when the sun rises at 6:05 IST, the sun will be at 30 degrees at 8:03 IST

(Please note that this degrees is only given for example and is not the degrees which is noted in the chart)

ஒரே வரியில் சொல்வதானால்.... GMT மாறும் போது சூரிய உதய நேரமும் தானே மாறும்.

Any doubt in this and I am ready to explain further

Note Please : My knowledge regarding astrology is very limited and if any of this examples are wrong, I may please be corrected

எல்லாம் ஒரு மாதிரி adjusட் பண்ணி ஒரு குத்து மதிப்பாக ஒரு நேர அளவுகோலை ஏற்படுத்துவது...அப்படிதானே டாக்டர்?

Not குத்து மதிப்பு.... but very accurate calculations

ஆனாலும் ஜோதிட நூல்களில் அப்ப்டி சூரிய உதய காலத்தில் இருந்து தான் கணிக்க வேண்டும் என்று போட்டு இருந்தாலும் நடைமுறையில் யாரும் அதன் அடிப்படையில் தங்கள் கடிகாரத்தில் நேரம் அமைப்பதில்லை என்பதை கவனத்தில் கொண்டால், நீங்கள் சொன்னது போல GMT நேரத்தின் குளறுபடிகளின் தாக்கம் தான் ஜாதகத்தில் இருக்கும்.

If the time is set for IST it is enough. You need not change your watch every day. The very reason why horoscope is casted as per the Sun Rise is to mitigate this practical problem. So there is no chance of any குளறுபடி.... If you can see my above example you can understand....

ஆனால் ராகு, கேது என்று எங்கே கிரகம் இருக்கிறது.

Please see my Answers to Frequently asked questions on Astrology

செவ்வாய் இரவு 12.30 க்கு ஒரு குழந்தை பிறந்தால் அக்குழந்தை எந்த தினத்தில் பிறந்ததாக கணக்கு வைப்பார்கள்!

காலண்டர், நேரம் அடிப்படையில் அது புதன் கிழமை ஆகிவிடும்.

For clarity sake, let us that this tuesday 2nd of October 2007.
As per Gregorian Calendar, the child is born at Wednesday 03-10-2007 00:30 am
As per the Astrology, the child is born on Vedic Weekday Tuesday at 46 நாழிகை.

The செவ்வாய் இரவு 12.30 is a term used only by lay people and not astrologers or astronomers. This term is wrong astrologically as well as astronomically.

Astronomers will say it as Wednesday 00:30 (not 12:30)
Astrologers will say it as 46 நாழிகை after sun rise on Tuesday

இங்கு தான் அந்த சூரிய உதய நேரம் என்ற கணக்கு செயல் படும். ஜோதிடவியல் படி சூரியன் உதிக்கும் வரைக்கும் அது செவ்வாய் தான் சூரியன் உதித்த பிறகே புதன் என்ற நாள் கணக்கில் வரும்.

Yes. Absolutely

இப்படி நாளைக்கணக்கில் எடுக்க சூரிய உதயமும் , நேரத்தை கணக்கில் எடுக்க கடிகாரத்தையும் பார்ப்பதால் எல்லா ஜாதகமும் தவறாக தான் இது வரை கணிக்கப்பட்டு இருக்கும். அது தான் உண்மை! இந்த உண்மை புரியாமல் பலரும் ஜாதகம் பார்த்து பலன் கிடைக்கும் என நம்புகிறார்கள்.

Never..... If you correctly tell any one method, either astrological method or even the correct astronomical method, the astrologer can correctly cast the horoscope

For example, if you say
Tuesday night, 12:30 Night 03-10-2007 or
03-10-2007, 00:30 AM,
then any sane astrologer will cast the horoscope
The problem will occur when the parent blindly says செவ்வாய் இரவு 2 மணி.... Even then the astrologer (if he is a genuine person) will ask questions to clarify whether it is "திங்கள்/செவ்வாய்" or "செவ்வாய்/புதன்"... If any astrologer does not ask for this clarification when you give this incomplete ambiguous date of செவ்வாய் இரவு 2 மணி, then the astrologer is a half baked person and it is better to move away to another properly educated astrologer

FAQ on Astrology

With reference to Chella's post, let me try to answer these questions

1. சிலர் ஜோதிடமும் அறிவியல் பூர்வமானது என்றெல்லாம் சொல்கிறார்களே.. வானவியலுக்கும் சோதிடத்திற்கும் எவ்வளவு பகை இருக்கின்றன என்று தாங்கள் சொல்ல இயலுமா? ( உதாரணம் புவியைச் சுற்றி சூரியன்)

A lot... For example,

1. Astronony is heliocentric Astrology is Geo Centric,
2. As per Astronomy, the shortest day is Dec 23. As per Astrology the shortest day is Jan 15
3. As per Astronomy, planets rotate as well as revolve. Astrology does not take into consideration the rotation of the planets
   

In the same way, there are even lot of நட்பு between Astrology and Astronomy... For example,

1. Inspite of the 23 degree difference, the time taken by the Astrological planets to go one full cycle is same as the time taken by the Astronomical planets. Of course in the case of earth, it is the time taken by earth to go round the sun in Astronony which is same as the time taken by the sun to go round the constellation.
2. The 23 degree (which is different) is nothing but the angle of tilt of the earth (which is responsible for seasons)
3. The most beautiful concept of Astrology is the concept of Rahu and Kethu. Earth goes round the sun along an axis in a ellipse (not a circle) and the moon goes round the earth in a ellipse (not a circle) in an axis. Rahu / Kethu is just the interpretation of this long, short axis and the effect they have on the shadows of earth and moon.
   
4. It is with concept that the Panchangams are able to predict solar and lunar eclipse with much accuracy (of course with the same 23 degree difference)
   

Now you have to understand that most of these have been discovered even before the advent of telescope... before the advent of computers or even calculators, with just TWO tools at their disposal

1. Observation
2. Additions / Deletion / Multiplication / Division

There lies the greatness of Astrology

2. ஒரு மனிதன் நிலவில் குழந்தைபெற்றால் எப்படி சாதகம்எழுதப் போகிறீர்கள்?! முடியுமா? சாத்தியமா? (அறிவியல் சாதிக்கும் காலம் தொலைவில் இல்லை!)

The horoscope can be written. There is no doubt about that. Horoscope is just a representation of the location of the planets, stars etc at the time of birth. There is nothing more than that. For example, it is like denoting the time and place when you ate a biscuit in a train like - when Platform was in the east and Cheran Express was in the left etc. In the same way, horoscope is nothing but a graphic / mathematical representation of the positions of the planets at the time of birth.

If a child is born in moon, or mars or even in a space shuttle (இது எப்படி இருக்கு), the horoscope will have the location of earth (in relation to the constellation) in it.

But there are few more questions

1. For a child born in moon (or a space craft), should we plot the location of earth
2. If so, what is the own house of earth
3. In what house is earth exalted
4. What are the friends and enemies of earth

3. ஆஸ்ட்ரோனமி என்னும் வானவியல் நாளொரு மேனியும் பொழுதொரு வண்ணமுமாக புதுப் புது கண்டுபிடிப்புகளால் செழுமையாக வளர்ந்துவருகிறது. அதுபோல சோதிடத்திலும் புது கிரகங்கள், நட்சத்திரங்கள் என்று ஏதாவது புதிதாகக் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதா?

No. For example, if you answer my above questions, that itself is a new invention / discovery.

Few more questions

ஜெயலலிதா பிறந்த அதே நொடியில் அமெரிக்காவில் ஒரு குழந்தை பிறந்திருக்கும்.அது ஏன் தமிழகம் வந்து முதல்வராகவில்லை,அதேபோல் இந்தம்மா ஏன் அமெரிக்கா சென்று அதிபர் ஆகவில்லை?

This is the easiest question to answer. Though there are about 2 crore children born in India, not all of them are born at equal time intervals. Each day does not witness exactly 54794 births. Some days it may be 2 lakhs, some days it may be even 2000.

Also this 2 lakhs or 2000 is not uniformly distributed across the day. Some time it may be more that is one hour may have 40000 children. The other hour may not have that much

So the common sense is that common people are born in common time and unique people are born in unique time

That is at the time Jayalalitha / Abdul Kalam / Sachin Tendulkar / Vishwanathan Anand / Hitler were born no other child was born within a time span of 13 minutes within the locality. If another child was born it also would have become equally famous with equal achivement.

However ordinary people like us are born in clusters.

Note 1 : 13 minutes is the time taken for the navamsa lagna to change. In some cases, that time can be even less if there is another transit in the same time)
Note 2 : I am ready to correct my self if this 13 minutes (which I think) is wrong

Other than that, the horoscope of a child born "now" in India and the child born "now" in America will be vastly different. Please note that Horoscope depends on both the time as well as the place

Greenwich Mean Time- பல முறை மாற்றி அமைக்கப்பட்டது.இலங்கையின் நேரம் கூட சிறிது நாட்களுக்கு முன் மாற்றி அமைக்கப்பட்டது.இது போன்ற சமயங்களில் எல்லா ஜாதகங்களும் மாற்றி எழுதப்படுமா?

Horoscope is written with reference to the Time of Sun Rise. So Change of GMT or the DST will not have any impact on the horoscope.

For example, if you are going in Pandian Express from Egmore to Madurai. If the train starts at 9 PM, and if you eat a biscuit after 30 mintues, then you have eaten the biscuit at 9:30

If the train starts at 8 PM and if you eat a biscuit after 30 minutes, then you have eaten the biscuit at 8:30


Now my questions :

1. Why is that there are more than 30 different times given as the time when saturn is going to transit from விருச்சிகம் to தனுசு
2. Which பஞ்சாங்கம் are you using for casting the horoscope - வாக்கியம் or திருக்கணிதம்
3. Is casting the horoscope with both give the same results
   
4. If not, is one wrong
   
5. Even within one (வாக்கியம் or திருக்கணிதம்) why there are hundred such tables
6. Which is wrong
7. What about the prediction for LSCS Children
   

The discussion continous at Should Horoscopes need to be written again when GMT is changed

Problems are

P urposeful R oadblocks Offering B eneficial L essons to E nhance M ental S trength