The A to Z of cancer-fighting food and drink

August 2018

Cancer-fighting foods

Worldwide, more than 10 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year. Until recently it was believed that cancer is largely caused by genetic mutations; however, new research from Stony Brook University in the US indicates that up to 90% of cancers could be avoided by living a healthier lifestyle. So drinking and eating more of these could help.

Apples

One apple a day really can keep the doctor away. According to the Prevent Cancer website, eating antioxidant-rich apples on a daily basis has been associated with a lower risk of lung and colon cancers, while the phytochemicals in apples (including quercetin) have been shown to quash cancerous breast tumors.

Beans

Beans, particularly pinto, kidney and red beans, are an exceptional source of antioxidants, they're full of fiber, and are a source of inositol hexaphosphate (also called IP6) which is being studied for its potential to combat cancer. Beans could reduce the likelihood of death from breast, colon, gastric and prostate cancer.

Berries

Berries, especially blueberries, are excellent sources of cancer-busting flavonoids and antioxidants, which mop up the free radicals in the body that damage cells. And there’s good news for breast cancer sufferers – blueberries are thought to enhance the positive effects of the drug tamoxifen.

Brussels Sprouts

Sprouts are considered to be cancer-curing as they are also part of the cruciferous vegetables group. They might not be your favorite, but it’s certainly worth keeping them on your plate. One cup contains just 56 calories and is packed with more than 240% of the recommended daily amount (RDA) of Vitamin K1 and more than 130% of the RDA for Vitamin C.

Carotenoids

Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments that give fruit and vegetables their color. Good sources include carrots, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens, tomatoes, mangoes, apricots and plums. All carotenoids are antioxidants, which protect cells against harm. Studies show that people with higher levels of carotenoids in their blood have a reduced risk of breast cancer. They may also help prevent skin and prostate cancer, as well as cancers of the mouth and larynx.

Cayenne pepper

Cayenne and other hot peppers contain an active compound called capsaicin, which gives these spices heat. Capsaicin is potently anti-carcinogenic; it encourages apoptosis of cancer cells, causing them to ‘commit suicide’. Various studies on capsaicin have shown it could be effective in battling bowel, colorectal, and prostate cancer.

Coffee

Research into coffee and cancer has had varying results. A 2015 study by Sweden’s Lund University showed that women who drank more than two cups of coffee a day had smaller breast tumors, and halved their risk of cancer returning if treated with tamoxifen. However, other reports indicate that coffee affects people – and their particular cancer – differently. Coffee consumption, weight and age play a part. The World Health Organization also says drinking very hot coffee is not a good idea.

Cruciferous vegetables

Cruciferous veg such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and kale contain anti-cancer substances known as glucosinolates, including the compounds indoles and isothiocyanates, which impede cancer growth. A study of 5,000 Chinese breast cancer survivors discovered that those who ate lots of cruciferous veg were more likely to live longer and have a decreased chance of the cancer returning.

Cumin

This bright yellow spice, which is synonymous with Middle Eastern and Asian cooking, is part of the parsley family (alongside coriander and dill). Abundant in phytochemicals – thought to protect against inflammation and cancer – it can be added to curries, chillies and stews, or taken as a supplement.

Fiber-rich foods

Eating at least 25g of fiber daily – found in beans, bran, wholewheat bread and cereal, prunes and other fruit, and vegetables – may help prevent cancer, especially colorectal cancer as it helps move carcinogens through the intestines faster. Bran fiber can lower estrogen levels in the blood in pre-menopausal females, and lower estrogen may reduce some women’s breast cancer risk.

Flaxseeds

Use flaxseed oil to cook with, drizzle onto salads, or sprinkle flaxseeds on cereal. They contain compounds called lignans, which slow cancer growth.

Garlic

Garlic is a powerful anti-cancer food. Population studies have shown an association between garlic intake and a reduced risk of certain cancers, especially those that affect the digestive system, such as the stomach and colon, and the breasts. Garlic can block cancer-causing substances, may stop cancer cells multiplying, and aid DNA repair.

Ginger

Ginger is a powerful antioxidant that reduces free radicals in the body and has anti-tumor properties. A recent study published on Plos One found that a component in ginger called 6-shogaol inhibits breast cancer cells (but not at a level that is toxic to non-cancer cells) when it’s dried or cooked, while ginger root extract has been shown to reduce prostate tumors in mice

Green tea

Although studies have been promising, there’s no firm evidence to support the theory that green tea can prevent cancer. However, cancer rates are much lower in Asia where consumption of green tea is highest. Green tea contains polyphenols – including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) – which are powerful antioxidants that suppress cancer.

Leafy greens

Spinach, kale, lettuce and collard greens are just some of the dark, leafy vegetables that contain a range of carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin, but also saponins and flavonoids, that mop up free radicals that do the body harm. Studies have revealed carotenoids in greens to inhibit the growth of cancers of the breast, lung, skin and stomach.

Monounsaturated & polyunsaturated fats

It’s advisable to swap animal fats found in meat and dairy produce, and trans-fats found in cakes and biscuits – both of which have been linked to a raised risk of cancer – for monounsaturated fats (found in olive oil, nut oils, avocados, nuts and seeds), and polyunsaturated fats (found in vegetable oils).

Onions

Onions contain flavonoids, which protect cells from damage and are increasingly thought to play a vital role in preventing cancer. One of the largest nutrient families known to man, flavonoids is an umbrella term for a group of plant metabolites with powerful antioxidant properties.

Oregan

This wonderfully fragrant green herb is laden with the phytochemical quercetin, which slows the growth of cancer and encourages apoptosis of cancer cells, a process by which certain cells are programmed to die.

Parsley

The parsley herb has many health benefits: it’s anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-spasmodic. It also contains apigenin, a flavonoid also found in celery, peppermint, thyme and chamomile tea, that could inhibit the growth – and shorten the lifespan of – specific cancer cells.

Pepper

Bell peppers score highly on the flavonoids and carotenoids rich list (known to protect against cancer). The antioxidant lycopene, which is found in tomatoes and is thought to prevent prostate cancer, is also present in red peppers.

Pomegranates

Pomegranate juice is known to be high in antioxidants and, according to an American study, this brightly-colored fruit also contains ellagitannins – natural compounds that seem to prevent estrogen-responsive cancer cells from multiplying.

Porridge

Due to the benefits of whole grains, research has found consuming a large bowl of porridge each day can also help to fight cancer. Scientists believe oats and whole grains help to lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar and keep people fuller for longer, preventing people from snacking on unhealthy foods and subsequently increasing their risk of illness.

Red grapes

Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes, as well as peanuts, pomegranates and raw cacao. It has anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits and looks potentially promising as an effective treatment against cancer. Of the grape varieties, muscadine grapes have the highest concentration of resveratrol.

Red wine

Although high alcohol consumption is linked to cancer, a moderate amount of red wine (two to three glasses a week) is thought to have positive effects because of its high quantity of antioxidant polyphenols, especially resveratrol, which is soluble in alcohol. Drinking red wine in moderation has also been linked to a lower rate of prostate cancer.

Salmon and other oily fish

Salmon, sardines, trout and mackerel are types of oily fish that can thwart cancer. These species are rich in omega-3 fats that reduce inflammation in the body. Good quality fish oil supplements are another option.

Soya

Soya products are associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. One joint study produced by Cancer Research UK found that women on a high soya diet had less dense breast tissue (dense breast tissue is linked to breast cancer). Soya also contains isoflavones, which reduce the effect of human estrogen – higher levels of which increase risk. Be careful as consuming too much may have the opposite effect.

Tomatoes

As they’re a fantastic source of the antioxidant lycopene, eating tomatoes has been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Unusually, some nutritionists recommend processed tomato-based foods such as ketchup and tomato sauce over fresh to reap the most benefits, as these have a higher concentration of lycopene.

Tree fruits

A diet rich in fruit has been found to lower the risk of cancer, probably because fruit is full of fiber and antioxidants – molecules that prevent oxidation that damages cells. In particular plums, but also apples and peaches, are full of flavonoids and antioxidants.

Turmeric

A vivid orange spice commonly used in Indian cuisine, turmeric is related to ginger and is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties. It contains a polyphenol called curcumin that works to destroy cancerous cells and may block a protein called NF-kappaB that is linked to gastrointestinal cancer. It may also trigger apoptosis (specific cell death).

Walnuts

An American study conducted on mice at the Marshall University School of Medicine in West Virginia found that eating walnuts impedes the growth of breast cancer. It’s thought that the anti-inflammatory properties of the omega-3 fats found in walnuts are responsible for slowing cancerous tumors.

Whole grains

According to the American Institute of Cancer Research, whole grains such as barley, brown rice, corn, oats, and wholemeal bread contain a number of cancer-busting elements. These include: fiber, which protects the body against colorectal cancer; protease inhibitors that may prevent cancer cells spreading; and saponins and phytic acid – both of which are increasingly thought to have anti-cancer properties.

Also Read : 8 Bipolar Symptoms You Might Be Ignoring

Source: msn.com

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What Is The Difference Between JEE B.Arch and NATA?

August 2018

A layman’s perspective to the structure of Architecture

In a ‘concrete jungle’ where the world is covered with ‘buildings’, it becomes important to acknowledge the need of ‘smart’ and creative architects, who not only build structures but rather would lay the foundation to future.

To cater to the need of providing more and more architects to the world, Architectural schools have been set up to guide and develop students in the field.

The two tests, JEE Mains paper2 or the JEE B.Arch paper and NATA are two tests taken by Indian students in order to apply for admissions at different architectural schools like NIT, IIT and other private institutes.

While both exams are more or less evaluating the same skill sets, there are a few points of difference based on:

Who takes the test?

The JEE B.Arch paper is conducted by CBSE while Council of Architecture conducts NATA. It is generally believed that JEE Mains is more difficult than NATA (but it still requires continuous efforts and hard work from students to crack either of the tests)

When it is taken?

Earlier, NATA was supposed to be taken on dates specified by the test taker, but since 2016, the test has been scheduled to be on a single day for everyone. Last year it was on 17th April, while this year it would be conducted on 29th of April.

The dates for JEE Mains paper2 remain the same as the dates for JEE Mains paper1, which is generally the first two weeks of April.

Who accepts the scores? Where can you apply with either scores?

The difference in application of scores is basically similar to the difference between the state held entrance examinations like KCET and national level entrance exams like the JEE.

However, NATA is also a national level entrance exam but admits students into colleges that are NOT centrally funded i.e. colleges like the NITs would not accept your application even if you get a good score in NATA.

Some self-funded universities and colleges may have their own entrance test too.
Bottom line being
JEE paper 2 scores = NITs, IITs
NATA scores= Rest of the Institutes

How the tests are structured?

The two tests are structured differently. While NATA is both online and offline based exam, JEE Mains Paper2 is an offline test.

The NATA is divided into two parts: Drawing and Aptitude Test. While the former is an offline test, the latter is an online one based on MCQs, with no negative marking. The two parts valued for 200 marks.

Unlike NATA, JEE Mains Paper 2 is a complete offline exam with the MCQs being negatively marked for each incorrect option.

While JEE has three sections including Math(like paper 1, same level of difficulty), Aptitude(logical reasoning) and Drawing, NATA has only two sections Maths and general aptitude and Drawing. The three sections make a total of 390 marks.

The division of questions goes like:

JOINT ENTRANCE EXAM - PART 2 (JEE-2) breakup:

1. Maths - 30 Question - 4 marks each (-1 for wrong answers) - 120 marks
2. Aptitude - 50 Question - 4 marks each (-1 for wrong answers) - 200 marks
3. Drawing - 3 Questions - 20+20+30 marks - 70 marks

NATIONAL APTITUDE TEST IN ARCHITECTURE (NATA) breakup:

1. Maths and Aptitude - 60 Question ( 20 maths + 40 Aptitude ) - no negative marking -120 marks | Difficulty Score - 5/10 (Maths), 7.5/10(Aptitude)
2. Drawing - 2 Question - 40 marks each - 80 marks | Difficulty Score - 8.5/10

The syllabi for the two tests are present on their websites.

People generally say that the level of Maths for NATA is generally low than for JEE but it isn’t true. Both the tests have the same syllabus for Maths section, while JEE paper may have more focus on maths as they have a separate section to it.

Thus the two National level 3 hours’ tests are quite different from each other in the way they are conducted, who conducts them to who accepts their scores.

They are like two faces to the same coin, each significant on its own yet can’t face each other.

Also read: Types of Scholarships for Higher Education you can get

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Source: edge.dqlabs.in

‘With 3,200 dams, Maharashtra at risk of Kerala-like floods’

Thane : The devastation caused by the floods in Kerala could be a preview to a similar disaster in-waiting in several cities and town of Maharashtra, where a combination of heavy rains, poor dam management and builder-driven encroachments in the flood control line could lead to a repeat of July 26. 2005, experts claimed. 

Maharashtra, with a total of 3.264 dams, could be highly vulnerable to devastating floods and cities like Mumbai, Thane and Nanded at risk due to the unchecked urbanisation and inept flood control measures.

"On the face of it, unstoppable rains is the primary cause for any floods. However, the underlying fact is it is a manmade disaster and a calamity of priorities?' said Dr Sudhir Bhongle, an expert on water and flood management. Referring to the 2005 floods, he said, "The city was submerged because of multiple factors like poor coordination with the meteorology department on rainfall status, choked drains, lack of open spaces, unchecked growth in the flood control line, high tide and to top it all the opening of the gates of the overflowing Bhatsa, Middle Vaitarna, Barvi among others in Thane district:'

He said the water resources department's tendency to keep storage levels high in case of poor rainfall contributes to the flooding in cities. "A study of the rain pattern reveals that in every 100 years there is 30 years of drought. In effect, in a fiveyear cycle we experience a twoyear dry spell. The water levels in dams should be stored after a thorough study of the rain pattern. However, in our case the dam reservoirs are in nearfull capacity in June-July and heavy rains fill it up fast. The dams are opened up when the neighbouring areas are brimming with rain water and it leads to a deluge?' he added.

A water resources department official said poor dam management and lack of carry over facility (separate storage facility in reservoirs to meet any eventuality) has led to the tendency to store water even after the onset of monsoon. "Barring the Koyna dam, which has acarry-over facility of 10 TMC, no other dam in Maharashtra has such provision:' he added.

Dr Bhongle said the government has been focusing on construction of large dams while ignoring the key aspect of dam management and taking up water-shed development programmes which will in the long run protect the cities from flooding and massive soil erosion. "The intensity and frequency of such floods could go up. The seawater levels are rising, the duration of hot climate is extended and the regulatory machinery is lax in checking the deforestation, killing of mangroves, encroaching on all open spaces. Nature has hit back from time to time but greed prevails:' Dr Bhongle added.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Motorists stuck in traffic may suffer from road rage depression doctors

Thane : The long wait in traffic and bad roads has lead to a rise in irritation and anger among motorists which could lead to road rage, anxiety and in some cases also depression, claim mental health experts.

Psychiatrists have said that the continuous traffic jams, late working hours leads to frustration and irritation. Anger keeps building up as the person feels helpless.

"People come to me complaining of anxiety and anger as they spend most of their time in manoeuvring their cars through the traffic and eventually get delayed to reach their destination. These people keep thinking about getting up early, worrying if they would reach on time to work; due to this, anxiety starts building up. Also, if the anxiety disorder continues then there is a possibility a person may suffer from depression," said Dr. Shailesh Umate, consultant psychiatrist and secretary of Thane psychiatric society.

The mental experts also claim that the built up anger could lead to road rage as there could be high possibilities of a person to get into quarrels on the street.

This can affect work and personal life and can also reduce productivity and hamper relationship due to outburst of anger.

"When a person's emotion levels go up, their attention decreases. This could lead to accidents as the person will not be attentive and won't have complete control of the vehicle while driving. Due to which his response will also not be quick. The built up frustration can lead to fatigue and tiredness, which can hamper their productivity. Also, there are high chances of venting out anger on their near and dear ones, which can affect relationships," said Dr. Anand Nadkarni, psychiatrist and founder of Institute of Psychological Health (IPH).

Docotors have advised citizens to exercise, meditate and keep control of their emotions so that they are not in a bad mood while at work or at home. Doctors have also asked people to give suggestions to friends and traffic authorities if they have anything in mind so that they can find some peace.

Sneha Raikar, a resident of Brahmand, has found her own way of staying calm in the congestion. "It takes me around two to three hours to reach Mira Road and there is no way out of the congestion. At this point, instead of spoiling my mood I switch on the music and groove to songs while I am on my seat. I literally dance all my way till work which helps me stay peaceful and cheerful," Raikar said.

People come to me complaining of anxiety and anger as they spend most of their time in manoeuvring their cars through traffic and eventually get delayed to reach their destination. If the anxiety disorder continues then there is a possibility a person may suffer from depression

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

AK Joshi students shine bright at international science contest bag bronze

Thane : Four students from Thane's AK Joshi School have made the city as well as the country proud by bagging the bronze medal at the recently held science exhibition in China. From among 40 budding science enthusiasts across the world, this team of young scientists won accolades in the international category of China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest (CASTIC). The 14-year-olds — Anurag Shetye, Siddharth Vernekar, Shriya Danekar and Divya Kadrekar spent a lot of effort and energy in completing their projects and presenting them to the final leg of the global event.

While the boys prepared a prototype robot to help locate human beings trapped under debris after natural calamities, the girls devised a vehicle pollution detection and control system similar to the already existing Pollution Under Control (PUC) model in India.

On asking what inspired the boys to take up a topic so unique they said, "During the massive earthquake that shattered Nepal to its very core in 2015, a person was trapped for almost 25 hours as the rescue officials weren't able to locate him. In such a crisis situation where it becomes tough to search for people, we thought of developing something called as a rescue robot i.e. R-robot in short. We have equipped the robot with cameras and infrared sensors which can pick up the rays released by humans. It will then give an alarm even at the slightest of body movement with the help of LED lights," said Shetye who aspires to become a software programming engineer.

Although currently fixated on a self-made moving car for facilitating a higher level detection and tracing of humans, the class IX students said they are planning to control the operation using a drone device.

After months of hard-work, research and analysis, the girls were instrumental in transforming their ideas and concepts into reality. Speaking about their project, Kadrekar said, "Our model is similar to PUC system. We have devised a model that comprises of sensors that will help detect pollutants emitted from vehicles which can be installed at petrol pumps. Through global system for mobile (GSM) technology the owner of the vehicle as well as the authorities will get an alert about their vehicular pollution levels. If the levels are more they could be fined but if it's less, incentives could also be given. The entire database can be later stored on a software for effective monitoring."

This is the 12th time that students from this school have been awarded for their innovation at CASTIC.

R-robot is equipped with cameras, infrared sensors which can pick up rays released by humans. During crisis, it will raise an alarm even at the slightest of body movement with the help of LED lights

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Thane commuters leave early to reach on time, over five hour spent travelling

Thane : In order to beat the peak hour rush and make sure that they reach offices in time, Thane city residents have turned their clocks almost an hour ahead and have scheduled their commute accordingly. 

The denizens who commute by their private vehicles or even the ones using public transport are now cutting down on their sleep as they have to wake up early in order to leave sooner. They claimed that the bad road condition, diversion due to repair work at Mumbra bypass has made their travel worse as there is always huge congestion.

Few have even got late marks so often that they have lost some part of their salary due as regular delay has led to them being marked absent at work. "Earlier when I used to travel towards Mumbai, I used to leave around 7:45am as it used to take only half an hour to cross the toll plaza. Since over a month I have been leaving home half-an-hour early in order to make sure that I reach in time, but sometimes when the congestion gets worse especially if a trailer breaks down then I get a little delayed," said Gaurav Bhatnagar, resident of Waghbil.

Many felt helpless that they have to take the Eastern Express Highway everyday as there is no other alternative, as reaching till Thane station and then boarding an overcrowded train is equally stressful.

The commuters even added as to how their life has become hectic as they are juggling between office and time spent in traffic snarls, due to which they are missing out on family time as they leave home early and reach late.

"I have to wake up at around 6 am so that I could do all the household chores and get ready and leave at sharp 8 am, as even a minute delay could be troublesome. It takes me over two hours to reach Andheri from Thane, while earlier in the month of March, I used to reach easily in less than an hour, but now that is not even possible on a Saturday. Daily almost five hours of my day goes into travelling, I cannot even commute by train as I have health issues and have been advised to travel by car. Also my children have been complaining that I haven't spent any time with them as I come home around 9:30pm, by that time they are almost heading to bed," said Sheetal Gaikwad.

The denizens stated that they have given hope from all the government bodies as they are facing the congestion problem since over a month now and nothing has been done for the relief of commuters. They added that the toll waiver is of no use as it had not helped decreasing the congestion.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Toll waiver relieving, traffic snarls at Mulund

Thane : Irrespective of the toll waiver being implemented in order to ease traffic congestion in the city, there was huge traffic jam during the morning peak hours on Tuesday due to breakdown of two vehicles and slow moving traffic because of the potholes.

Though the commuters were glad that they did not have to pay any toll for a month now, they were equally disappointed as they had to face traffic congestion, just like every day, due to the bad road condition. The residents had anticipated that there will be less congestion due to the toll waiver but they were displeased when the results were not as they were expecting.

"Since the onset of monsoon there have been potholes, due to which the traffic moves slowly, plus the lane to pay the toll is long which adds up to the congestion. When the waiver was announced we were hoping that the snarls will be less but the situation was like every day and it took me over an hour to reach Mulund from Thane. Till the time the road is not repaired the congestion will continue as the vehicles will be moving slowly," Atul Ghangurde, resident of Pokhran road 1.

The traffic department here stated that there was huge congestion from 8am to almost 9:30am during the office hours as there was a breakdown of two vehicles. While one tanker had broken down near the octroi naka, Anand Nagar, an ambulance was punctured and was stuck at the Teen hath Naka bridge.

"Both the ambulance and the oil tanker were blocking the lanes due to which the congestion went up till Cadbury bridge. Such breakdowns are quite common during the monsoon especially as many do not do the maintenance work of their tankers or trailers and even a 10 minute back-log leads to congestion of over half-an-hour. The toll waiver will have an impact of merely around 15 to 20 percent as the vehicles will continue to move slowly because of the potholes and the bottle neck at the Kopri Bridge: said Anil Mangale, traffic inspector at Thane traffic department.

The toll authorities were making sure not to collect toll from any private vehicle owners but small tempos were asked to pay money for entering or while exiting the city. It was even seen that the few commuters who were not aware of the waiver were trying to pay the toll but were asked to move ahead without paying the Rs 35, for entering into the city.

The commuters who had recently renewed their monthly pass were upset as for them the toll waiver would not be free.

The decision of the toll waiver was taken by Eknath Shinde, minister in charge of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation as there used to be huge traffic congestion due to the diversions of the Mumbra bypass. The heavy vehicles which used to take the Mumbra Bypass route since May 7 as the repair work of the 3km long road have since been taking the internal city roads at night and in the afternoon.

Till the time the road is not repaired the congestion will continue as the vehicles will be moving slowly. When the waiver was announced we were hoping that the snarls will be less but the situation was like every day and it took me over an hour to reach Mulund from Thane.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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5 Skill Programs You Should Focus On

August 2018

Image Source: pexels.com

India has always considered ‘Skill development’ a national priority. Youth is the driving force in any economy and if trained to its full capacity, can play a vital role in growth of the country. Development of skills at the school and graduation level is very essential to channelize the present generation and help in job opportunities. Considering the current scenario, India has an employability problem. While the industry continues to groans about the lack of skilled manpower, we need to assess the situation from ground level and evaluate the existing education and vocational training at an early age. ‘Skill India’ movement is coming up with several programmes to increase the youth employability, but there are also some other programmes which we should provide to young students that will help build their confidence and long lasting careers.

Here are five skill development programs that can help students develop the right skills and provide a better brighter future.

Soft Skills and Leadership Skills:

These programs need to be introduced to build their soft skills and leadership skills, equipping them to productively perform at their future jobs. They can be tailored accordingly to generate the best results. Soft skills must be introduced as a basic conclusive program to the students to dictate success in their career and build strong professional relationships. It should focus on the aspect of developing unique inter and intra personal skills, conversation skills and polishing behaviour traits. Leadership training programs specifically designed for new leaders and fresher employees to develop qualities and skills such as Stress and conflict Management, team efficiency, work-life balance, vision creation, creativity and Critical Thinking. To impart more value creation to the student the training is custom designed, interactive, skills based.

Entrepreneurship Skills:

With many start-up firms budding and flourishingly, today’s youth is ready to start their own businesses. These programs provide guidelines for gainful employment for those who wish to establish their business independently. These need holistic complex processes to build technical capabilities of potential entrepreneurs to reduce high dropout rate and increase the chances of start-up success.

Digital Skills:

The digital economy of India requires new talent introducing short term digital and IT workshops which enables students to use computers, software’s and related technology efficiently. The IT sector is accelerating at a fast pace, each new technology cycle has emerged new digital skill requirements, moving from basic functions to more advanced and powerful applications. Hence, the magnitude of training and re-skilling required is enormous. Youth need to refresh their skills more frequently if they wish to stay relevant in the rapidly changing business environment and be equipped and ready for the future digital India.

Problem solving and Analytical skills:

These skills can help the students to evaluate business problems such as; making timely accurate decisions, thinking outside-the-box and creating larger solution space in fields of IT, engineering, management, finance and more. A logical and methodical approach is rendered to the students to improve their ability to understand and solve complex challenges. Using their academic knowledge students can identify and implement appropriate problem solving solutions of technical or practical nature. This will help them to deal with different incurring crucial situations, hence giving them a powerful and competitive career advantage.

Creativity and Flexibility Skills:

There is a lack of creativity and innovation in our traditional education systems. We need to realize that these skills are essential for the Indian economy and our youth has innovative minds and creative spirits, their creativity and flexibility needs to be nourished for their personal development. These are skill-specific and require intentional instruction; creativity and flexibility need to be considered as a skill and to be included in the learning standards by the educators. These skills are important to help students create their own jobs and prepare themselves for specific careers.

Also read: Not Exams But Only Life Skills Can Help Children Become Independent!

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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Students go beyond traditional courses; opt for specialized ones

Thane : With the increasing popularity of specialized courses like Bachelor of accounts and finance, Bachelor of business administration, Bachelor of mass media and many more, city-based academicians said that there has been a significant drop in the number of students opting for traditional courses like commerce and science. This trend, which had started developing at a snail pace five years ago, seems to be the top most priority of many aspirants now with even the coveted 90-plus per cent category students preferring these career-oriented courses over the regular ones.

Sandhya Vaidya, head of junior section at Joshi-Bedekar College of Arts and Commerce, said, "Since the past five years, the trend is that students want to take up courses like BAF as these are offering a promising future. All private companies, banking institutes are now looking for people with such degrees, raising the demand in the market for such courses. Although most still do pursue a degree in Bachelor of commerce, they also take up extra courses like chartered accountancy or company secretary. Only those who want to do a PhD and enter the teaching field pursue Masters in commerce:'

Even the pure science courses like Bachelor in science in physics/chemistry/biology are on the decline with the high achievers going in for computer science, biotechnology and other of the like, said experts.

"Courses like BSc in information technology, computer science, specialized courses in botany, zoology are on the rise. While studying for these programmes, students learn coding, software and enrol for programs like SAP as they want to stand out from the others. Only those who are unable to cope up with the engineering syllabus leave the course mid-way and take up BSc as a backup option. So, there will always be takers for BSc, especially among the low scoring students," said Chandrashekhar Marathe, principal of Satish Pradhan Dynansadhana College.

On the other hand, be it pursuing a degree in Bachelor of arts in economics, psychology, anthropology, sociology, history or any foreign language, the humanities field seems to be booming as the diverse field is offering an array of options for youngsters to choose from.

Since the past five years, the trend is that students want to take up courses like BAF as these are offering a promising future. All private companies, banking institutes are now looking for people with such degrees, raising the demand in the market for such courses. Only those who want to do a PhD and enter the teaching field pursue Masters in commerce

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Thane : Mumbra bypass may be thrown open by September 10

Thane : Motorists may get some relief from the traffic congestion as the repair and renovation work of Mumbra bypass is expected to end by September 10. So far, 40% of the work is complete and the state authorities are hopeful that the eight-lane new road will soon be able to take the traffic load off the city streets.

The shut down of Mumbra bypass had led to traffic jams not only during peak hours but at other times as well as motorists were forced to use other alternatives.

"As many as 30,000 heavy vehicles, including trucks, trailers, chemical tankers and oil tankers using Thane city roads while driving down from JNPT and Gujarat or North India are forced to use alternative routes as the Mumbra bypass was shut for traffic by the public works department since mid-May. Because of this, roads like the Eastern Express, Nashik highway and the Thane-Belapur road started witnessing massive traffic jams as the slow-moving heavy vehicles often block up major parts of the road, resulting in delays.

Commuters have been complaining of slow moving traffic. "There is no regulation on movement of trucks that ply at any time. Because of this, they tend to eat up more road space. Further, most of them breakdown on flyovers which just adds to the problems. The authorities also seem to have cast a blind eye to encroachments by tempos on the service road," said Arvind Koushik, a resident of Ghodbunder Road.

"Earlier, we used to cross the city limits within 15-20 minutes; but now it takes over an hour to reach just the toll naka. There is a traffic mess on Ghodbunder Road every day as it takes 2 to 3 hours to cover just a 9-km journey. Heavy vehicles tend to ply on the street since 9am which just adds to the problem," said Abhishek Vasa, a commuter.

The increasing complaints from motorists had forced the district authorities and guardian minister Eknath Shinde to set up a joint committee, comprising of revenue and traffic department officials to monitor the situation till September 10. The PWD said that they are working on throwing open the road by the fresh deadline justifying how fresh incidents delayed the work.

"Nearly 40% of the work on repairing the railway bridge and the ramp is completed since mid-May when we started the job. We have been given a fresh deadline of September 10 for the work. Incessant rains and landslides at the spot delayed our work but we are working to open the lanes on time," said an official from the PWD department.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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TMC plans transparent glass walkway from MH School to Jambli to beautify Masunda

Thane : The Masunda lake precincts is set for a complete revamp with a transparent glass walkway to replace the age-old paver block path that circles around this 'Jewel of Thane'. The civic administration and the public space designers are believed to be working on a plan which will not give a 'modern look' to the city's landmark but will also widen the road and decongest the bustling street. 

The initial discussion on the renovation plans was aimed to upgrade the waterfront by demolishing a part of the existing 4.5m-wide walkway by 1.5m adjoining the lake for over 300 mts. 

"The new walkway will be 1.5 m wide over the Masunda lake bank and will have a 1m steel barricade alongside. The entire 300m stretch of the walkway from Ajramarji junction to Jambli naka will have a transparent floor made of toughened glass for pedestrians to get a feel of walking over water, informed officials," a senior civic bureaucrat told TOI. 

He added that the Masunda lake is one of the most vibrant public space here and in spite of the traffic chaos and the vehicular pollution, the citizens of all ages prefer to spend quality time with their friends and dear ones.

"It will be a totally modern pathway with a glass flooring and strategically placed LED lights to give it a very classy look," he said, adding that the adjoining motorway will be widened to create more space for easy movement of vehicles. 

The walkway would be illuminated with LED lights at night. The civic official said the project was approved by the general body of the municipal corporation in 2017 as part of lake beautification and the process of floating tenders will take off soon. 

He said the initial estimate is that the beautification project would cost around Rs 7 crores and the turnaround time will be around eight months. 

Meanwhile, environment experts have reacted sharply on this plans and claimed that this infringement could disturb the marine life. 

"Why is the administration bent on disturbing the sanctity of the lake premises in the city? The presence of pedestrians above the water surface will disturb the marine life inside the lake and illuminating it at night will further hamper their existence. The corporation should think of some other options than just adding on to the concrete jungle," said an environment activist. 

The civic officials, however, dismissed any damage to the ecosystem in the lake as the structure would be cantilever and no physical infringement with the lake will be allowed. "We are ensuring the lake premises will not be touched or the marine life inside will not be affected. We have floated tenders for the same. Trees on this stretch will not be affected," assured a civic official.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Minority quota seats opened for FYJC students after fourth list

Thane : With the special round for admissions to the First-Year-Junior College (FYJC) admission to begin from Saturday, academicians have advised applicants against cherry-picking and to quickly claim a seat in the allotted colleges. 

The special round was announced after four merit lists and to facilitate admission for those students who have not yet secured seats in any college. Dinesh Joshi, a member of the Centralized Admission Process Committee (CAP) from Thane said, "While there are lesser number of students here who are still awaiting a seat, there are equally lesser seats available in the coveted city colleges. Even the renowned junior colleges have hardly any vacancy because of the in-house and management quota. At this juncture, it is not advisable for a student to wait for a college of his/her choice as that may not be likely. If the applicant waits and loses out on a decent college, they might be allotted an even lesser known college in the upcoming lists or in the offline admission process.' 

Some academicians feel that the round would not affect them as hardly any seats are vacant at this point and as they have already started their academic year. 

"At present our commerce section has been entirely filled and even if we have a few cancellations it would be because the students wish to pursue the diploma courses. There are a couple of seats available in our arts stream but 75% of them have already been filled in the first four rounds," said Suchitra Naik, Principal of K.G Joshi Bedekar College. 

"I have been waiting till then end to see if I make it any of these colleges, however, I am not sure if will make it. But since the colleges are opening up minority quota for the applicants I am hopeful. Let me see if it works in my favor," said a student who still awaits admission in FYJC. 

A few academicians are hopeful that since minority quota seats have also opened up for the applicants in this round many students may get admission in the minority colleges.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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13 easy steps for a low maintenance kitchen

Image Source:Freepik.com

1.Counter-top, the work station

Now this is the one place which requires lots of scrubbing and cleaning after each cook. So don’t ever think of installing regular tiles here. Stainless steel, quartz, marble and glass are the good choice for counter-top because they have no or less joints in it. However, the all time favourite is granite mainly because convenience in its cleaning and maintenance. Though it requires occasional sealing, still it is better than many as far as ease in maintenance is considered. If you want to go for low-cost, low-maintenance then you may opt for large porcelain tiles. The large tiles on the counter-top of will minimum joints and will be easy to clean and scrub.

2.Splashing the backsplash

The backsplash will get splash and get dirty while cooking and washing. The low maintenance backsplash will be a boon in kitchen. Go for joint-free painted glass, quartz or any stone for it. To reduce the cost you can also opt for laminates. However, avoid mosaic tiles since it will consume lots of your cleaning time.

3.The sink on the counter

While installing the sink, make sure that it is integrated at the same level as the counter or to be under mounted. Wipe the counter and push the mess right into the sink. Cleaning the sink will be easier than cleaning the long counter. Also select the sink with drain board on the side. It strains out the water directly into the sink thus helping to keep the space dry.

​4.Division of labour

Two sink is a better option as far as cleaning the space is concerned. Keep one sink for prep and the other for cleaning. So when one is prepping and cooking, the other one is doing the cleanup thus dividing the work and making life easy and comfortable.

​5.Choosing the cook top

From stainless steel to glass-top cook top, lots of options available is market. However, if you want a low maintenance one then bring home one with glass-top. You will love the simplicity in cleaning it requires.

​6.The floor beneath

The flooring that requires just a damp wipe is best for kitchen. Though wood is a good option since it can be cleaned just by dry or damp wipe, but you have to be careful with it. Any spill has to be cleaned immediately. Choose vinyl, linoleum or marmoleum floor that is easy to clean and don’t have joints in it. You can also go for large tiles which will have minimum joints in it. Cleaning will be less difficult with it.

​7.Simplicity in design

Avoid ornate style elaborate design for the cabinets. Believe us; over the period of time it will become difficult to maintain and cleaning it will be a cumbersome task. Modern cabinets are usually handle-free and have clean and neat finish or have simple handles. Be trendy and install it. You will enjoy its low maintenance privilege.

​8. ​Customised storage

One of the simplest tricks to make an inaccessible corner in the kitchen more functional is to avoid installing a closed cupboard in the area. Open shelves are a more flexible alternative as one can place trays or baskets on them to arrange things. When one needs something from within, pull out the basket to retrieve it. It’s one of the most budget-friendly kitchen cupboard designs one can come across as a solution for a corner.

9.Gadget garage

Make space and keep the entire kitchen gadget together so that there is less of rushing and running around in the kitchen. Assign a day to clean the gadgets which can easily be done in one go. There is no harm in having a door and drawers to hide it behind.

10.Down under the sink

Keep the cleaning stuffs all organised under the sink. Keeping the things at a designated place will save on lots of time.

11.Drawers and cabinets

Design and make space for drawers and cabinets behind which you can hide the groceries, towels, jars and bottles so that you don’t have to stumble on them. Wipe the doors is easier than cleaning the drawers frequently.

​​12.Recycle cabinet and bin

Having a cupboard or cabinets where you can dump in the recyclable items or raddi and have the bin too handy will save lots of time and avoid trips to store or garage where we usually keep the recyclable items.

​​13.Making it look clean

Managing a kitchen is more about making it look clean and organized by hiding what you don’t want to show and also hiding so that you can do the deep cleaning as per your convenience. You can always clean up the mess and push it behind the closed doors to clean it whenever you have time. It’s your home and it’s your life; enjoy and live as you want.Have a look at these clean and organized kitchen before you design yours

Also read: What Decor Theme Works for You?

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Source: msn.com