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Toddlers may have an easier time learning new words when they hear the words in the context of predictable events, a small experiment suggests. 

 “We know that young children in general are very good at forming expectations about what’s going to happen next, and they readily detect when something new or surprising happens,” said study co-author Viridiana Benitez, a psychology researcher at Arizona State University in Tempe. 

But we do not know whether forming these expectations has consequences for learning, Benitez said by e-mail. 

Benitez and colleagues tested what happened when 107 toddlers heard made-up words like “bosa”, “tulver”, “sarn”, and “pisk”. 

During the tests, toddlers sat on a parent’s lap in front of a large screen. The screen showed four closed boxes, one in each corner of the screen. Inside the boxes were pictures of unfamiliar shapes. 

In the first part of the experiment, the boxes opened one at a time, always in the same order. But while the sequence of box openings was predictable, the object inside the box was not. 

After the boxes had opened and closed in the same order five times, the researchers started assigning the made-up words like “sarn” and “bosa” to the weird objects inside the boxes. 

The children heard the name of the object after the box opened and their gaze was fixed on that box. 

In half of the trials when the children heard names for the objects, the boxes opened in the expected order. In the other half of the object-naming trials, a box would open out of order. 

The researchers tracked where the children were looking with a special camera mounted beneath the screen. They used the child’s gaze to test whether the child learned the novel words. For example, two objects were shown on the screen, and the children were asked questions like, “Where is the sarn?” Researchers used the eye-tracking camera to see if the children looked at the correct object. 

In this way, the researchers compared how well children learned the names of objects when the boxes opened in the expected order versus how well they learned when the boxes opened unpredictably. 

“The results of our research suggest that knowing what will happen next can help toddlers learn new words,” Benitez said by e-mail. “Predictability may be an important factor to consider for understanding language and cognitive development.” 

Parents may find that toddlers learn new words more easily when they have a set routine and are in familiar surroundings, Benitez added. 

“When babies are learning language, they often hear lots of words in the presence of lots of objects,” Benitez said. “Knowing when and where an object will be when it is named may allow children to attend to it at the right time and process and learn the name for that object.” 

There are several ways predictability might help with language learning, said Caroline Kistin, a paediatrics researcher at Boston Medical Centre and Boston University School of Medicine who was not involved in the study. 

“Making predictions about upcoming events may enhance memory and may allow for faster information processing,” Kistin said by e-mail. “Predictable events may also allow young children to pay attention longer, while unpredictable events may be distracting.” 

These findings, however, are at odds with some other research suggesting unpredictability might help children learn, said Natalie Brito of the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York University in New York City. 

“These results were surprising as they were not consistent with recent infant findings showing increases in novel learning from violations of expectations,” Brito, who was not involved in the study, said by email. 

“Violations of expectations may signal to the infant the need to further explore the situation, whereas when novel information is presented after a predictable event, learning may be increased due to heightened attention,” Brito added. “Overall, the current results suggest that predictability can influence learning.” 

“Mothers of daughters are daughters of mothers and have remained so, in circles joined to circles, since time began,” said Signe Hammer, an American writer, editor and professor. How true this observation is and one has to have mothered a daughter oneself to understand how precious the bond remains, even to this day. 

My mother had four brothers and I have two, but neither of us had any sisters. I do not recall exactly how my birth was celebrated; however, our daughter’s arrival was welcomed with open arms. When I held her for the first time I experienced a sudden surge of love and an ache in my heart, which was so fierce that I knew I would never recover from it, in this lifetime at least. 

I had a privileged childhood; even so there were times when my elderly relatives favoured my brothers over me. Where serving the best roast chicken pieces or the sweetest dessert was concerned, that is. It was not their fault actually, in a patriarchal society it was simply assumed that sons needed to be fed better than daughters. Nonetheless, these blunders were corrected as soon as I pointed them out, but the fact that I had to point them out, left me bruised.

I promised myself that our daughter would never have to go through this. I would make sure of it. I was going to nurture her to be a good human being who was well mannered, kind, confident and generous. Since she had arrived two weeks before her due date, the earliest flight my husband could take to reach us at my mother’s house was three days later. Therefore, for that span of time, when I had her totally to myself, more qualities were optimistically added to the list.

I raised her by the book, literally and figuratively. The book, in this case, was “Dr Spock’s Baby and Child Care for the Nineties” (5th edition) by Benjamin Spock and Michael Rothenberg. It was, and still is, the most authoritative guide for young parents. He updated his manual that was earlier published in 1946 to include the latest approaches and techniques of breast-feeding, treatments for many common health problems, recent scientific discoveries, and provided reassuring advice on age-old topics such as caring for a new baby as well as accidents, illness and injuries. In other words, for a nuclear family that comprised of one set of clueless parents and a helpless infant, this book was a gift from God.

Initially she refused to walk without holding my finger but one fine year I found that she had become taller than me. I introduced her to reading and writing though today she has read and written for more international journals than I have. 

This week she turned thirty and like all mothers, I wondered at how quickly her childhood had flown by. Missing her, I started playing the Meryl Streep movie “Mamma Mia” on DVD. Soon my favourite number, “slipping through my fingers” came on. “Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning, waving goodbye with an absentminded smile,” sang the mum to her little girl. I began to cry softly. 

“What you doing?” our daughter messaged me. 

“Watching Mamma Mia,” I typed back. 

“You crying over that song again?” she asked. 

I did not reply. 

“Hello Ma,” she called me immediately. 

“Slipping through my fingers,” she sang tunelessly.

“Happy birthday,” I said, smiling through my tears.

LOS ANGELES — HBO’s record-breaking fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” stormed back onto the Emmys stage on Monday, winning the coveted best drama series prize on a night full of surprises, including an on-air marriage proposal that stunned the audience.

The other big story of the Hollywood gala, television’s answer to the Oscars, was the huge success of “The Marvellous Mrs Maisel”, Amazon’s story of a 1950s housewife-turned-stand up comic, which took home eight Emmys overall, including the best comedy award.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” — last year’s best drama and an early favourite for more hardware in 2018 — went home empty-handed from the star-studded event at the Microsoft Theatre, after winning three minor awards handed out a week ago.

The ceremony hosted by “Saturday Night Live” regulars Colin Jost and Michael Che took on a decidedly political hue at the start, with a barrage of edgy jokes on hot-button issues from diversity in Hollywood to #MeToo and Donald Trump.

The gala also saw several sentimental favourites take home their first Emmys.

Matthew Rhys won for best drama actor for spy thriller “The Americans”, Claire Foy was named best drama actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in “The Crown” and Henry Winkler triumphed for supporting comedy acting on “Barry.”

But the coveted drama prize went to “Game of Thrones”, which was ineligible for last year’s Emmys, and series star Peter Dinklage took home the best supporting actor prize for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister.

“Writing for these actors behind us is the honour of a lifetime,” said the show’s co-creator David Benioff.

“But we didn’t invent these characters. That was George R.R. Martin. The show could not be without the mad genius of George.”

“GoT” won nine Emmys this year, meaning the blood-spattered cinematic tale of noble families vying for the Iron Throne — which returns in 2019 for an abbreviated eighth and final season — now has 47 awards overall.

That breaks the programme’s own record as the most decorated fictional show since the Television Academy first handed out prizes in 1949. 

‘Mrs Maisel’ 

breaks through

In the comedy categories, “Mrs Maisel” bested all comers in its first year of eligibility, sweeping the female acting prizes (star Rachel Brosnahan and co-star Alex Borstein) and best series honours.

Earlier this year, “Maisel” won two Golden Globes.

“One of the things I love the most about this show... it’s about a woman who is finding her voice anew,” Brosnahan said.

“It’s something that’s happening all over the country right now. One of the most important ways that we can find and use our voices is to vote. So if you haven’t already registered, do it on your cell phone right now.”

HBO dark comedy “Barry” notched two acting wins — for Winkler and series star Bill Hader.

Politics and #MeToo

The Emmys opened with a daring song-and-dance number poking fun at myriad controversies including the problem of ensuring diversity in Hollywood productions.

“We solved it!” crooned “SNL” nominees Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson, with back-up from pop stars John Legend and Ricky Martin — and even RuPaul.

They then yielded the stage to Jost and Che — who let the zingers fly.

“This year, the audience is allowed to drink in their seats. Hope you’re excited about that — because the one thing Hollywood needs right now is a bunch of people losing their inhibitions at a work function,” Jost said, in a reference to #MeToo.

Emmy-winning 

proposal

Looking to boost audience ratings, Emmys organisers said they were hoping to shake up the broadcast — and indeed they did, intentionally and unintentionally.

A surprise marriage proposal from Emmy-winning director Glenn Weiss won over the audience — and the Internet.

As Weiss accepted his award for directing the Oscars, he asked Jan Svendsen, who was sitting in the audience, to marry him.

“You wonder why I don’t like to call you my girlfriend? Because I want to call you my wife,” he added to cheers, applause and a few teary-eyed actors in the audience.

Svendsen then joined Weiss on stage as the director got on one knee and formally proposed.

The moment was especially poignant as Weiss revealed his mother had recently passed away — and offered Svendsen the ring his father had given his mom.

Drama showdown

Other big winners included FX’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace”, which won Emmys for best limited series and an acting prize for Darren Criss, who earned rave reviews for his dark turn as the designer’s killer Andrew Cunanan.

Thandie Newton won the best supporting actress in a drama statuette for her work on HBO’s futuristic western “Westworld”.

“I don’t even believe in God but I’m going to thank her tonight,” Newton quipped.

“Saturday Night Live” won the award for best variety sketch series.

In the emerging battle of traditional networks vs new platforms, streaming giant Netflix and HBO ended in a dead heat at the top — at 23 Emmys each.

Stay tuned for the next episode in that duel... at next year’s Emmys.

With the right name, right look and right driving characteristics, the Kia Stinger is, without qualification, the Korean brand’s best car to date, and the one that is sure to make the biggest impact as an aspirational halo model.

Delivering on the promise of a sporting premium four-door grand tourer that was the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show debuting GT Concept, the Stinger is the Kia that finally sets its sights on impressing drivers who are passionate about cars.

Launched as a 2018 model, the Stinger is ambitiously positioned to compete with coupe-like German saloons.

Slightly larger than the Audi A5 Sportback and more sporting in flavour than the Volkswagen CC, the Stinger is also a viable and affordable alternative to entry level and mid-range versions of the slightly larger Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe and Audi A7. Developed with European designers and engineers headhunted from premium sports manufacturers, the Stinger largely holds its own among lofty competition. And crucially, the Stinger name is a welcome departure for Kia, with a visceral, evocative and descriptive tone more similar to the Dodge Charger and Challenger.

Slinky silhouette

True to the striking original Kia GT Concept, the production Stinger may have ditched the pillar-less glasshouse, bonnet mounted rearview cameras and other motor show concept elements for practicality and engineering necessity, but nevertheless remains clearly recognisable.

It retains the same long and slinky silhouette, with short front overhang, distance between the front wheel and A-pillar, indulgently long bonnet and low roofline. The Stinger even keeps similar front and rear fascias, albeit with less pronounced side gills and less complex front headlights, but features almost the same exact slim wraparound rear light outline. 

Less minimalist in details and surfacing than the GT Concept, the Stinger sits with a more muscularly road-hugging emphasis on width. Eager and seemingly ready to pounce at standstill, its rearwards cabin contrasts with a pert rear that is reminiscent of the Maserati 3200GT.

Sporting details include wide honeycomb grille, low and sharp air splitter, bonnet and side extraction vents, muscular sills, strong shoulders, quad tailpipes and sticky low profile 225/40R19 front and 255/35R19 rear tyres. With a rakishly low roofline, the Stinger’s generous rear hatchback — rather than a narrow and compromised boot — provides excellent cargo access.

Mid-range muscle

Positioned far back under its lasciviously long bonnet for near ideal weight distribution and driving all four wheels with a balanced rear-drive derived four-wheel-drive system, the range-topping Stinger — as driven — is powered by a 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged direct injection V6 engine.

Producing 365BHP at 6,000rpm and 376lb/ft torque throughout a broad and accessible 1,300-4,500 band, the Stinger also delivers excellent off the line four-wheel-drive traction, which allows it to rocket through the 0-100km/h acceleration benchmark in 4.9-seconds and onto a 270km/h top speed.

With power accumulation underwritten by an effortlessly accessible and versatile torque band, the Stinger is also quick through 80-120km/h at 3.3-seconds.

Smooth in delivery, the Stinger’s engine is nevertheless responsive from low-end, with quick spooling turbos soon delivering a torrent of torque and urgent power build-up. Progressive in power delivery, the Stinger does its best work in its broad, muscular and versatile mid-range, where it pulls viciously hard. Shifting just as the rev needle hits the redline using its manual mode paddle shifters for best results, the Stinger’s 8-speed gearbox is otherwise smooth and quick shifting in auto modes, and is able to take successive commands, but can be a bit conservative when asked to downshift into very high revs. Meanwhile, large Brembo brakes proved tirelessly effective.

Adjustable abilities

Almost docile in character when driving with a light foot and in its Eco and Comfort driving modes, the Stinger adopts a more focused profile in Sport mode. More so, allows one to individually tailor engine and transmission, steering, suspension, four-wheel-drive and engine sound setting through the dash-mounted infotainment touch screen, with the latter setting yielding a more vocal churning roar and growl.

Meanwhile, the Stinger’s quoted combined 10.6l/100km fuel efficiency is moderate for a car of this performance level and 1,834kg weight, but rises somewhat when one begins to explore its generous mid-range grunt and top-end performance potential. 

A car that certainly “stings like a bee” in terms of performance, Kia’s four-door grand tourer may also have unexpected ride comfort levels, but it is far too focused, settled and taut through corners to “float like a butterfly”, as Muhammad Ali might have put it. Eager into corners, the Stinger does a terrific job of keeping understeer at bay, but at the same time also grips much harder at the rear than many modern sports saloons. Balanced through corners and with good body control, the Stinger delivers an intuitive feel for its rear grip limit and any potential drift.

Grip and agility

Easy to control through corners, the Stinger’s steering is precise, very quick and gives unexpected feel when loaded up. Rear drifts are easy to control, with electronic stability control and torque vectoring working to briefly cut power and apply brakes to tighten a cornering line. Meanwhile, one can alternately turn in tight and early to point the Stinger in the right direction before coming back on the throttle so that power is reallocated to the front to pull it out of a corner, while the rear squats down and digs deep for more traction. Additionally, the Stinger can be specified with a limited slip rear differential for better handling and agility.

Smooth, refined and planted at speed, the Stinger’s suspension is taut, but with enough suppleness to take the edge off of its firm low profile tyres. Adaptive suspension allows for more comfort or body control, while vertical control is settled. A slightly sportier and more up-market take on Kia interior design, the Stinger’s cabin used good materials and build and is ergonomic and user-friendly, if not particularly emotive. Front space is good with a supportive and sporty driving position and a 360 degrees parking monitor for easier manoeuvrability. At the rear it features wide door swing angles and good legroom, but the rakish roofline reduces headroom for tall rear passengers.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Engine: 3.3-litre, twin-turbo, in-line V6-cylinders
• Bore x stroke: 92 x 83.8mm
• Compression ratio: 10:1
• Valve-train: 24-valve, DOHC, direct injection
• Gearbox: 8-speed automatic, four-wheel-drive
• Ratios: 1st 3.665; 2nd 2.396; 3rd 1.61; 4th 1.19; 5th 1.0; 6th 0.826; 7th 0.643; 8th 0.556
• Reverse/final drive: 2.273/3.538
• Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 365 (370) [272] @6,000rpm
• Specific power: 109.2BHP/litre
• Power-to-weight: 199BHP/tonne
• Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 376 (510) @1,300-4,500rpm
• Specific torque: 152.6Nm/litre
• Torque-to-weight: 278Nm/tonne
• 0-100km/h: 4.9-seconds
• 80-120km/h: 3.3-seconds
• Top speed: 270km/h
• Fuel consumption, urban/extra-urban/combined:
• 14.2/8.5/10.6-litres/100km 
• CO2 emissions, combined: 244g/km
• Fuel capacity: 60-litres
• Length: 4,830mm
• Width: 1,870mm
• Height: 1,400mm
• Wheelbase: 2,905mm
• Overhangs, F/R: 830/1,095mm
• Legroom, F/R: 1,083/925mm
• Luggage volume, min/max: 406-/1,114-litres
• Kerb weight: 1,834kg
• Steering: Electric-assisted, variable ratio rack & pinion
• Lock-to-lock: 2.1-turns
• Turning Circle: 11.7-metres
• Suspension: MacPherson struts/double wishbones, adaptive dampers
• Brakes, F/R: Ventilated discs, 350mm/340mm
• Tyres, F/R: 225/40R19/255/35R19
• Price, on the road, no insurance: JD59,000 (as tested)

In healthy elderly people who never had a heart attack, the widespread practice of taking a baby aspirin every day may do more harm than good, according to a US-Australian study of more than 19,000 volunteers. 

The trial has “provided convincing evidence that aspirin is ineffective in preserving good health in elderly people without a medical [reason] to be using it”, chief author Dr John J. McNeil of Monash University in Melbourne told Reuters Health in an e-mail. 

The results — which show that risks of major bleeding in low-dose aspirin users overwhelm any heart benefits — were reported online in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented on Sunday at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Paris. 

The findings may upend a common practice. 

For people trying to prevent a second heart attack or stroke, evidence in support of baby aspirin therapy remains strong. But the new study, known as ASPREE, looked at the long-standing question of whether a first heart attack, stroke, or case of heart failure could be prevented with small amounts of the blood thinner in aspirin. 

Until now, the balance between risks and benefits in older individuals was unclear, said Dr McNeil. 

Most volunteers had to be at least 70 years old. Patients who were black or Hispanic and living in the US — two groups that face a higher risk of heart disease or dementia — could be age 65 or older. At the start of the study, all were expected to survive for at least five years. 

After about five years of treatment, the rate of heart disease was not significantly lower in the 9,525 volunteers taking 100mg of aspirin daily than in the 9,589 who took placebo tablets. 

But the odds of a major bleeding episode were 38 per cent higher with aspirin. Problems like stroke and intestinal bleeding occurred in 8.6 per cent of aspirin patients versus 6.2 per cent of placebo patients. 

“This should set the record straight,” said Dr Vincent Bufalino of the Advocate Heart Institute in Chicago, who was not involved in the study. “There’s a lot of folks on both sides of this but this study should end the question. There is no benefit for seniors who do not have vascular disease.” 

“I’ve spent the last five, six years trying to get all my seniors to stop taking aspirin” based on the clear risks and unproven benefit, he told Reuters Health by phone. “If you look at the new findings, at best it’s neutral and at worst it increases the bleeding risk.” 

And what about people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol who might be taking other medicines to mitigate a higher risk of heart attack or stroke? In the new study, most volunteers fell into that category and aspirin did not seem to help them. 

“Essentially, we could not identify any subgroup in whom aspirin was beneficial in preserving good health,” Dr McNeil said. 

The ASPREE study was stopped early as it became clear that the “wonder drug” wasn’t working wonders. 

While there were 21.5 cases of death, dementia or disability per 1,000 patients each year in the aspirin group, the rate was 21.2 with placebo. The difference was not statistically significant, meaning it could have been due to chance. 

But the rate of major bleeding with daily aspirin use was 3.8 per cent, versus 2.8 per cent with placebo. 

When the McNeil team looked at death from any cause, aspirin still made no difference statistically, with a rate of 12.7 per 1,000 patients each year with aspirin and 11.1 with placebo. 

Extra cases of cancer were the chief reason for the higher death rate, with 3.1 per cent of aspirin users dying of cancer versus 2.3 per cent in the control group. 

The higher pace of cancer deaths became apparent three and a half years after the study began, particularly death from stomach and intestinal tumours.

The cancer finding surprised researchers because in other studies, aspirin protected against death from cancer.

Thus, McNeil team said, the cancer results “should be interpreted with caution”.

The study was coordinated at 34 sites in the US and 16 in Australia.

LONDON — World happiness levels are at their lowest level in over a decade, with the number of people who say they feel stressed and worried rising, according to a survey published on Wednesday. 

Conflict-hit Central African Republic (CAR) was the world’s unhappiest place last year, with Iraq in second place, according to the ranking by pollsters Gallup. 

“Collectively, the world is more stressed, worried, sad and in pain today than we’ve ever seen it,” the group’s managing editor, Mohamed Younis, wrote in a foreword to the study. 

Gallup surveyed more than 154,000 people in 146 countries on whether they had felt pain, worry, stress, anger or sadness the previous day. It said the global mood was at its gloomiest since the first such survey in 2006. 

Sub-Saharan Africa led the way, with 24 of 35 countries surveyed reaching a 10-year happiness lows in 2017, often due to civic unrest crippling healthcare systems and causing people to go hungry. 

“In CAR and some of these other places, high per centages of the population are just struggling to afford the basics,” the study’s lead author, Julie Ray, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. 

CAR has been ravaged by violence, with most of the country now beyond the control of the government, and about three in four residents said they experienced pain and worry. 

Wealthier countries were not immune to the dip in mood. About half the Americans interviewed said they were stressed — roughly the same proportion of respondents as in the CAR. 

Economist Jan-Emmanuel De Neve said it was “disturbing” to see the global mood souring against a backdrop of rising wealth and material progress. 

“There is probably a more structural indicator around the increasing wealth not being inclusive enough,” said De Neve, an associate professor at the University of Oxford who has written about the link between income and happiness. 

Paraguay topped a second table of most positive countries. War-torn Yemen and Afghanistan came bottom. 

When We Were Orphans
Kazuo Ishiguro
US: Vintage International, 2001
Pp. 336

Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro’s “When We Were Orphans” unfolds in the years between the two world wars, and the tone of the novel follows this downward spiral. At first, there is optimism that “mankind had learnt from its mistakes” and the horrors of World War I would not be repeated. (p. 43)

Yet, as the story moves from London to Shanghai, the mood darkens: Nazism is advancing in Europe, and Japan’s invasion of China has already begun.

Parallel to proclamations about a better future, many of the English characters aspire to illustrious careers that will make the world a better place. Ironically, most of those in Shanghai are doing just the opposite, for they are part of the colonial enterprise which is severely damaging Chinese society by promoting the opium trade. As narrator Christopher Banks remarks on returning to Shanghai after an absence of over twenty years: “What has quietly shocked me, from the moment of my arrival, is the refusal of everyone here to acknowledge their drastic culpability… here they now were, the so-called elite of Shanghai, treating with such contempt the suffering of their Chinese neighbours across the canal.” (p. 173)

Hypocrisy and colonial exploitation are obvious themes, but Ishiguro, by making Banks the protagonist, introduces other, more subtle human themes, such as that of the outsider. Born of English parents in the International Settlement in Shanghai, Banks dreams of being a great detective who will rid the world of evil and criminality. Many of his childhood games echo this ambition as he plays with Akira, the Japanese boy who lives next door. But Banks’s parents disappear when he is ten years old, and he is sent to boarding school in England. Akira is sent to Japan because his parents feel he is losing his Japanese identity. 

Again, Ishiguro employs irony to show the fallacy of the adults’ decisions: It is assumed the boys are being sent home, but actually both feel like outsiders in their presumed home country. Thus, Ishiguro shows that hybrid personalities are not only a product of today’s globalisation, but have long existed in various forms. Perhaps he is especially qualified to write on this theme for his family moved from Japan to England when he was five years old, and it is the latter country which he considers home, and English is the language in which he writes. It is interesting that his father grew up in Shanghai, the setting for much of this novel.

Memory, and how it recalibrates actual experience, especially if trauma is involved, is also a theme as Banks relates the past in flashbacks. For many years he doesn’t speak of his childhood to anyone in England, yet he is constantly reworking it in his own mind. Reaching adulthood, he fears his memories are getting hazy, and he begins to supplement them with research at the British Museum on the history of the opium trade, the activities of his father’s company and the political situation in Shanghai at that time.

“I suppose it was, at least in part, my attempt as an adult to grasp the nature of those forces which as a child I could not have had the chance of comprehending. It was also my intention to prepare my ground for the day I began in earnest my investigations into the whole affair concerning my parents — which despite the continuing efforts of the Shanghai police had remained unresolved to this day.” (p. 119) 

Over time, he begins to make connections. 

One may wonder why Banks waits so long to investigate his parents’ disappearance and how he can believe that time has stood still and they are alive more than twenty years later. His self-justification of having had so many relentless demands on his time seems rather disingenuous. Perhaps his procrastination, like his general lack of self-assurance or initiative, is a result of the trauma he experienced when separated from his parents at a young age. Equally, his procrastination underlines another theme in the novel, again an irony, that in seeking grand dreams, people often neglect the chance to make life better for those close by.

When Banks finally returns to Shanghai, his world is turned upside down. Having as a child been forbidden to leave the confines of the International Settlement, the rest of Shanghai with its poverty and now open warfare come as a shock. Initially, his investigation of his parents’ fate proceeds slowly, but when he finally gets a promising lead, he unwittingly wades into a battlefield, whether to find his parents or himself, one is not sure. 

Crossing several genres — historical novel, detective story, psychological drama, war story, coming of age — Ishiguro’s masterful prose is equally adept at conveying the warmth of love and the horrors of war and betrayal. The fact that much of the story is related through the eyes of a child makes it all the more compelling. In a new, imaginative way, Ishiguro queries whether a new generation can repair the damage inflicted on the world by previous ones.

What is LASER?

LASER is an acronym that stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) – it is basically amplified light. LASER has many uses in the medical and cosmetic field; the most popular of which is hair removal. It is a very safe procedure provided you have done your homework and made sure you are in safe hands.

How does LASER work?

Melanin is the pigment that gives your hair and skin its colour. LASER machines work by targeting the melanin inside the hair follicle, which absorbs the LASER heat. This heat destructs the hair follicle and causes it to fall out and stop growing. Hair follicles go through a cycle of three phases: 

• Anagen (Growth phase)

• Catagen (Transitional phase) 

• Telogen (Resting phase)

Hairs in the Anagen phase contain the highest amount of melanin and therefore are the hairs mostly affected by LASER sessions.

Is it permanent?

LASER hair removal is semi-permanent. It destroys most hair follicles. Some hairs, however, will grow again and these need maintenance or retouch sessions every few months (on average every six months to one year). The areas showing best results are usually ones with dark thick hairs and light skin. Areas with thin light-coloured hairs or darker skin tend to respond less and therefore will need more maintenance sessions – like bikini line, the thighs and the upper arms.

Which LASER machines are best?

This depends on skin type. Where IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) machines do have an effect on hair growth; this effect tends to be temporary and not as good as LASER machines. Alexandrite LASERs are the best for targeting hair follicles overall. They are the preferred machines for people with fair skin. In people with darker skin tones, however, the safer option is Diode or Nd-Yag LASERs.

Do I have to wait until I’m done having kids to start LASER hair removal?

No. Pregnancy lengthens the growing phase of the hair cycle (that is why we notice that we have lush lustrous hair during pregnancy). Unfortunately, this also applies to body hair as well, so you may notice an increase in body hair during pregnancy. But the good news is that everything should go back to normal after you give birth. The increase in hair growth persists only in the case where there is a disruption in hormones. LASER hair removal is a safe procedure during breastfeeding and even during pregnancy although it is best to postpone your LASER sessions until after you give birth.

Response to LASER hair removal depends on:

• The type and efficacy of the machine

• The parameters used: inappropriately higher parameters can cause burns and insufficient parameters can delay response, therefore, increasing the number of sessions needed

• The person administering the session. LASER has to be done either by a doctor or by a licensed professional under direct medical supervision by a doctor. Your doctor will perform an assessment and examination before the first session. We need to make sure there are no medical causes that could lead to a lack of response to LASER and therefore a waste of money, such as Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome or insulin resistance. Sometimes we also do a patch test to make sure the readings will be safe for your skin tone before the sessions. We also need to observe the results of every session and tailor the parameters accordingly

Before your LASER sessions

• Avoid tanning for at least six weeks before you start your sessions and in between your sessions. Getting tanned darkens your skin tone, which means having to lower the LASER readings for your next session to avoid burns. Doing so can delay response to the LASER, therefore necessitating more sessions

• You need to stop waxing, sugaring, threading or plucking the hairs six weeks before your sessions

• You need to shave the hairs the day before your session with a razor

• Keep your skin hydrated in between sessions but avoid using any cream or moisturizer 48 hours before your session

• Inform your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken Roaccutane for acne, because you should not undergo LASER sessions during Roaccutane treatment and sometimes for a while after you finish taking it

• Avoid using chemical peeling agents or bleaching agents for at least a week before your session

After your LASER sessions

• Hair will continue to grow in length normally after your session. After 10 to 14 days, some hair will fall out randomly (a maximum of 15 to 20 per cent of the hair in a certain body area will fall out after your session). As you progress with your sessions, you will start noticing some empty areas of skin with no hairs. Sometimes we don’t see hair falling out; you will only notice that there is less and less hair growing back after your session

• You might have some skin redness in the treated areas, sometimes with small red spots surrounding hair follicles. You should not worry, but contact the clinic if the redness does not disappear the day after your session. You can use cold compresses to alleviate the pain and irritation afterwards if there was any

• Avoid saunas, hot showers or exercises that cause excessive sweating for 12 hours after your session (or until the skin redness settles down if there was any)

• Use the moisturiSer your doctor prescribes after your session and a sunscreen on the treated areas after every session as well as in between your sessions. Sometimes your doctor will prescribe special creams for treated areas as well

• Do not shave, wax, sugar or pluck the hairs in between sessions. You can shave instead. Shaving does not affect the result of LASER; so you can shave as frequently as you want in between sessions starting from the day after your session 

• To make sure you get the best results, schedule an appointment every four to six weeks and do not skip sessions

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine

People exposed to even low levels of air pollution are more likely to develop structural changes in the heart that can be a precursor to heart failure, a UK study suggests. 

While exposure to air pollution has long been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, less is known about how pollutants might alter the structure and function of the heart, the study team writes in Circulation. 

Researchers looked at data on exposure to traffic-related air pollution and results from heart MRIs for 3,920 adults who did not have cardiovascular disease. They found that previous exposure to tiny particles known as PM2.5, which include dust, dirt, soot and smoke and to nitrogen dioxide, a poisonous gas in car exhaust, were associated with enlargement on both sides of the heart. 

“Air pollution appears to be damaging for cardiovascular health even at a relatively low exposure level,” said lead study author Nay Aung of Queen Mary University of London. 

Individuals exposed to higher level of air pollutants were more likely to have larger cardiac ventricles (main pumping chambers) after accounting for potential factors that can independently influence the size of these chambers, Aung said by e-mail. 

 “This is important because these observed changes in the heart were similar to the patterns seen in heart failure development,” Aung said. 

To assess exposure to traffic fumes, researchers examined data on average annual air pollution levels at participants’ home addresses at the start of the study. 

Half of the participants were exposed to average annual concentrations of less than 9.9 microgrammes of PM2.5 particles per cubic metre of air (ug/m3) and 28.2 ug/m3 of nitrogen dioxide. 

For fine particulate matter, that is well within UK guidelines limiting average exposure to no more than 25 ug/m3 of PM2.5, although the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said there are no safe limits for PM2.5 exposure, Aung and colleagues note in Circulation. 

Researchers measured participants’ heart structure with MRIs a median of 5.2 years after assessing their air pollution exposure. 

For every extra 1 ug/m3 of PM2.5 and every additional 10 ug/m3 of nitrogen dioxide people were exposed to near their homes, their hearts were enlarged by approximately 1 per cent, the study found. 

The type of enlargement seen in the study is a “well-recognised... adaptation heralding heart failure development”, the authors note. 

Heart failure happens when the heart muscle is too weak to pump enough blood through the body. Symptoms can include fatigue, weight gain from fluid retention, shortness of breath and coughing or wheezing. Medications can help strengthen the heart and minimise fluid build up in the body.

The study was not a controlled experiment designed to prove whether or how air pollution might directly cause enlargement in the heart. 

It is possible that when people inhale polluted air it causes inflammation in the lungs and blood vessels and fine particulate matter enters the bloodstream, said Benjamin Horne, director of cardiovascular and genetic epidemiology at Intermountain Medical Centre Heart Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

This can overwork the heart, Horne, who was not involved in the study, said by e-mail.

“Even people who are free from cardiovascular disease may, over time, develop diseases due to chronic exposure to air pollution,” Horne said.

MONTREAL — Airline fuel efficiency on transatlantic flights has improved by 1 per cent a year since 2014 as carriers buy modern planes, but the industry still lags its own climate goals, a study released on Wednesday said. 

The industry’s average fuel efficiency improved to 34 passenger kilometres per litre of fuel from 33 between 2014 and 2017 as carriers opted for modern aircraft with lower fuel burn and operated fuller planes, the study from the US-based International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) said.

Airlines have been switching to more fuel-efficient aircraft in an attempt to mitigate the impact of high oil prices on their margins.

The aviation industry has also set a non-binding goal of capping emissions from international flights at 2020 levels, despite rising passenger traffic as global travel demand climbs.

In 2010, the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) set a goal of 2 per cent annual fuel efficiency improvement through 2050 for all international flights. 

Airline trade group International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects an average improvement in fuel efficiency of 1.5 per cent per year on all international flights from 2009 to 2020.

While the study only looked at transatlantic flights, the ICCT said airlines will have to become more efficient to meet industry goals.

“New policies to accelerate investments in more fuel-efficient aircraft and operations are critical if industry is to meet its long-term climate goals,” said Dan Rutherford, aviation programme director for the US-based independent non-profit research organisation.

The study compared the fuel efficiency of non-stop passenger flights between North America and Europe by 20 major airlines, following a similar study conducted in 2014. 

Starting January 1, 2019, most airlines flying international routes will begin monitoring their fuel and carbon emissions as part of a landmark agreement brokered two years ago by ICAO.

According to industry figures, air transport accounts for 2 per cent of global man-made carbon emissions. 

Budget carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, which operates new Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 737 MAX aircraft, was ranked first of the 20 transatlantic carriers for fuel efficiency, while British Airways, part of the International Airlines Group, came in last.

Of the US carriers, Delta Air Lines had the most fuel-efficient fleet, meeting the industry average, while United Airlines was ranked third from the bottom.