Hong Kong braces for influx of "Dragon Babies"

Hong Kong braces for influx of "Dragon Babies" - As hundreds of millions of Chinese counted down to the Year of the Dragon, the clock was also ticking for thousands of mainland women scrambling to deliver "lucky" babies in Hong Kong, putting pressure on medical facilities and stoking protests in the city.

Lured by residency rights and in a bid to avoid China's one-child policy, Hong Kong has seen a surge in the number of mainland women coming to give birth, prompting authorities to cap the number of births permitted in the former British colony.

With the New Year being rung in on Monday, parents across China aspire to produce "Dragon Babies" in the hope that the symbol, long associated with emperors, power and intelligence, will bring wealth and luck. Doctors have warned some women may even turn to illegal means to dodge the cap.

Hong Kong agreed last June to cap at 34,000 the number of non-residents allowed to give birth in the city. That compares to 40,000 mainland women who gave birth in Hong Kong in 2010, when total births amounted to more than 88,000.

Performers dance during a night parade to celebrate Lunar New Year in Hong Kong January 23, 2012. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Newspapers have reported cases of mainland women illegally crossing the border and skirting the rules by going straight to emergency rooms in public hospitals to deliver their babies.

"At that point the hospital can't reject them," said Jianfa Shen, Geography and Resource Management professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

As a special administrative region within China, Hong Kong largely runs its own affairs under the "one country, two systems formula." Hong Kong also has its own currency and legal system -- the "one child" rule does not apply.

There were 1,656 cases of non-local mothers making emergency room deliveries last year, just over twice the 2010 figure, the Hospital Authority has said.

Dragon years have generated baby booms before, so hospitals are sure to feel the heat as forecasters predict a healthy birth rate for the rest of the year.

PREGNANT WOMAN, MOTHERS WITH STROLLERS PROTEST

Up to 1,000 demonstrators -- pregnant women, mothers pushing strollers and hospital workers -- have taken to the streets to protest against the squeeze on maternity wards.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, has raised the issue with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

"As long as the mainland has restrictions on multiple births, and as long as Hong Kong has a good reputation for maternity care, then I think there will still be an interest (in giving birth in Hong Kong)," said John Bacon-Shone, director of the University of Hong Kong Social Sciences Research Centre.

The number of maternity bookings at Prince of Wales, a public hospital, has climbed 15 percent for the first six months of this year compared to the same period in 2011, said T.H. Cheung, the hospital's head of obstetrics and gynecology.

Private and public hospitals are adding facilities and adjusting fees in the face of rising numbers, with some wards renovating to accommodate more patients in the coming year.

Some private hospitals have raised prices for mainland mothers to as high as HK$58,000 ($7,500) for a natural birth in a standard room of four to 14 beds, while Hong Kong charges non-residents HK$39,000 for a pre-booking at a public hospital. ( Reuters )

READ MORE - Hong Kong braces for influx of "Dragon Babies"

A baby at last for Carla! Quick, call the hairdresser

A baby at last for Carla! Quick, call the hairdresser - As Carla Bruni-Sarkozy toasts the health of her newborn daughter, Giulia, it is interesting to compare French and British attitudes to being a 'maman’.

Crack open the Pastis! Light up a post-natal Gauloises for the presidential Maman! The waiting is over and the First Lady can finally smoke and drink. Oh yes, and she’s had a baby, too. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, 43, who complained, with Gallic bluntness, that being pregnant was boringly abstinent, can celebrate the safe delivery of her little girl, Giulia, with a shrug and a Gitanes. And, of course, a leg wax.

Here, in Britain, the NHS tradition may be a lukewarm cup of tea and a nice cry, but in France the cutting of the umbilical chord is the signal for a woman to seize back control of her pelvic floor and squeeze back into a Chanel pencil skirt. Yes, that Caesarean wound may be puckering like a half-loop stitch on Chinese silk but, c’est pas grave, c’est la vie.

President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

The baby is Madame Bruni-Sarkozy’s second child, so the rather hardline emphasis on immediately reclaiming her feminity and renewing conjugal relations rather than eating mille-feuilles, with cabbage leaves stuffed in her bra, won’t be entirely new to her. Her 10-year-old son, Aurélien, is the product of a previous relationship with a philosopher, which is apparently considered to be a proper job on the Continent. For his part, President Sarkozy already has three sons from his previous two marriages.

And now we are told, he’s coq-a-hoop at having a daughter. She, in turn, has been trumpeted as the first baby to be born to an incumbent head of state in France since Empress Eugénie brought Louis Napoleon Bonaparte into the world 155 years ago.

This historical precedent might explain why the President left the hospital within hours of the birth for foreign parts. Ostensibly, he was attending an International Monetary Fund meeting in Frankfurt, but rumour has it he nipped over the border to Austria in his lunch hour to seal a dynastic marriage alliance with a spare Habsburg.

The First Lady, meanwhile, has, rather inconsiderately, sworn to preserve her daughter’s privacy from the predations of the media, despite inevitable national and international interest. Her stern announcement that there will be no pictures was greeted with dismay. Not only is it a shame for all of us, as we want to know if (heaven forfend) she looks like daddy, but it represents a tragedy for Sarkozy père, who was quite possibly counting on a baby bounce to boost his dismal popularity ratings.

In the UK, Prime Ministerial babies – with their manly connotations of youth, potency and vigour – are fast becoming the norm. Tony and Cherie Blair had their fourth child, Leo, while he was in office and David Cameron’s wife, Samantha, gave birth to their fourth child, Florence, four months after he came to power.

“There’s a suspicion that given Sarkozy’s highly competitive nature, he was determined to show that even at 56, he was virile enough to match Britain’s leaders,” opines one French media insider. “Because he’s short, he continually strives to prove his political stature and his masculinity. People are pleased for him, because he has a younger wife and a child makes that bond stronger. But I can’t see the birth of a baby having any significant effect on the electorate, who really don’t like his policies.”

In Britain, there is always a groundswell of goodwill at the sight of politicians kissing their own babies for a change. Florence Cameron, now aged one, was showered with an eclectic range of gifts, including a crocheted shawl from a grandmother in Sutton Coldfield that she famously wore for her first photocall. Mademoiselle Bruni-Sarkozy can count on a more stylishly upmarket drawerful of Dior babygros and tiny Agnès b. vests.

If the baby is glimpsed outside the hidden confines of the Elysée Palace, her wardrobe will come under enormous scrutiny, especially given her mother’s fondness for elegant simplicity that has drawn comparisons with Jackie Onassis. In the latter stages of pregnancy, she favoured much more casual clothes and exuded a visible air of weariness, opining, as a great many pregnant women do, that she was tired of being so cumbersome and feeling uncomfortable.

Now the baby has arrived, she will at least be spared the angst-ridden experience of motherhood in Britain, where women often find themselves polarised by the irreconcilable doctrines of pick-them-up versus let-them-cry parenting gurus. If we’re not agonising over which child-rearing style to slavishly adopt, we’re fretting about our work-life balance or theatrically beating ourselves up over breast feeding.

Across the Channel, the pressure is equal but opposite; Frenchwomen are expected to act as though nothing much has happened. Pregnancy is no excuse to let yourself go and, once the baby is delivered, your first visitor should really be your hairdresser. This no-fuss, no-nonsense, Sacré Bleu! No-you-may-not-leave-the-house-in-those-jogging-bottoms attitude is, in its way, every bit as prescriptive, but at least there is consensus.

In her blog, Frenchmamma.com, Carrieanne Le Bras, an American married to a Frenchman and living in Normandy, documents the contrasting styles of motherhood she encounters. “Parents are much more relaxed in France and do not pressure themselves with being the best,” she says.

“They know if they act on their instincts and are rational, their children will turn out fine. They do not worry about what others think of them or their parenting styles. They are not judged if they yell at a child in public or give them a little smack. French mothers are more strict, let the baby cry things out and do not hover over them.”

Her views are echoed in a book due to be published in the New Year, entitled French Children Don’t Throw Food, by Pamela Druckerman, who makes clear it’s not just 19 nautical miles of water that separate us. In recent years, the British have lurched from their traditional stuffed-shirt “seen not heard” position to an alarming “anything goes” extreme, where children are treated like mini-adults and afforded the sort of decision-making power that makes for domestic dictatorship.

The French, however, are focused on boundaries that are widely accepted, so adults don’t think twice about reprimanding a child who isn't their own and, as a consequence, youngsters learn to accept adult authority.

There is also another crucial difference; French parents are liberated by the absence of any compulsion to be regarded as a best friend by their children. “I find myself a bit shocked when I come back to the UK, because everyone is so weirdly in thrall to their children,” admits British-born Mandy Laurent, who lives in Burgundy and has three daughters aged 12, 10 and seven. “In France you say, 'Go to bed’ and your child goes, end of story.

I watch my brother’s children arguing, wheedling and whingeing and I can’t believe he lets them get away with it. I know my family in Britain think I’m too strict on my girls, but I think children need firm rules.”

But back at the Elysée Palace, such concerns are a world away, as the First Couple bond with their new baby. With the global economy in meltdown, there is agreement that Sarkozy was right to leave his wife’s bedside and fly off to see another woman, given the woman in question was German Chancellor Angela Merkel. To have done otherwise would have laid him open to accusations of weakness.

“The French public don’t particularly want their president to be human; they want him to be presidential,” observes author and expat Daily Telegraph columnist Michael Wright. “They remember the giants of old – De Gaulle, Pompidou, even Giscard d’Estaing – and it is no accident that Sarkozy’s fragile popularity began to collapse once the human-interest story of his romance and divorce began to hit the headlines.

“Mind you, people are already taking bets about how long Sarko will be able to stick to the promise that there will be no glossy pics of him holding the baby in soft focus. The widespread view, over dinner last night, was roughly seven days.” ( telegraph.co.uk )

READ MORE - A baby at last for Carla! Quick, call the hairdresser

Working mothers spend 81 minutes a day looking after their children

Working mothers spend 81 minutes a day looking after their children - Working mothers in Britain spend just 81 minutes each day looking after their children - including mealtimes - a report has found.

It is the dilemma facing every working mother - how to devote enough time to their children, while juggling career demands with household chores.

Now, a new study has disclosed that in Britain, those who work outside the home spend on average one hour 21 minutes a day looking after their families - including meal times.

Stay-at-home mothers managed almost twice as much time directly caring for their children, with 2 hours 35 minutes dedicated to activities like meals, bathtime and playing games, according to the research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The report, which compared surveys in 21 leading industrialised nations found the time UK working mothers spent caring for their children was almost half that in some other countries.

According to recent studies British working mothers spend on average one hour 21 minutes a day looking after their families, including meal times

Those in Ireland spent 150 minutes a day caring for their children, while those in Australia managed 137 minutes, with working mothers in the United States, Canada, Italy, Sweden and Spain all spending more time looking after their children than those in Britain.

Family campaign groups said the emotional development of children was being damaged, because too many women felt under pressure to work long hours, while others prioritised careers over time at home.

But psychologists said it was more important how the time caring for children was used, and that less time than 81 minutes could be enough if it included fun activities which were sufficiently bonding.

The report examined how much time parents spent involved in childcare as a "primary activity" - covering things like meals, dressing, playing, and reading bedtime stories to children, and excluding time when the parent's main focus was on another task.

Of all parents, fathers with jobs spent the least time on such care - just 43 minutes a day.

Even when they did not work, fathers spent less time than mothers looking after their offspring - on average just 63 minutes a day - 18 minutes less than a mother who goes out to work.

The statistics for Britain included time spent with children at weekend - meaning that on working days, the average amount of time parents spent caring for their children was even less.

Dr Sandra Wheatley, a family and child psychologist said: "I don't think parenting is a numbers game - the important thing is that children get opportunities to have fun with their parents.

"If a mother gets home from work and spends 45 minutes haring around the living room dressed up as a belly dancer, or making drums out of yoghurt pots, before a quick dinner and bed, that could easily be good enough.

"The important thing is that some of the time is spent on activities that are child-led."

She said it was "curious" that stay-at-home mothers did not spend more of their time directly caring for their children, suggesting the figures might offer some comfort to working women who felt guilty about the time they spent out of the home.

"I think a lot of working mothers might think it's quite surprising - and maybe reassuring - that others who spend their time at home only spend just over an extra hour a day looking after their children."

But Margaret Morrissey, from lobby group Parents Outloud said too many children of working mothers were being short-changed.

She said: "A lot of children growing up in Britain today have no concept of a traditional family life.

"For some children, nurseries and childminders can work very well, but when so many children are spending so little time with their parents, the risk is that their emotional development is damaged."

Across all 21 countries, the research showed distinct differences in the type of childcare that women and men provide.

Mothers spent 60 per cent of their time on physical care, such as dressing, feeding, changing nappies, providing medical care and supervision.

But fathers were much more likely to spend time on educational and recreational childcare - helping children with their homework, reading and playing games.

They spent 40 per cent of their childcare time on this compared with 27 per cent of women.

Earlier this month, BBC newsreader and mother of three Sophie Raworth, provoked debate after disclosing that she is following a US parenting scheme called FAST, which teaches time-starved to give each child 15 minutes of "undivided attention" each day.

She investigated the eight week programme for a BBC Two documentary, Parents Under Pressure, and is now following its guidelines to bring up her children Ella, six, Georgia, five, and three-year-old Oliver.

The number of mothers who stay at home to look after their children has dropped dramatically in the past two decades.

Of women of working age, just two million are at home caring for family members full-time, a figure which includes those looking after elderly relatives, compared to more than 13 million in work.

Justine Roberts, co-founder of parenting website Mumsnet, said Britain's long hours culture made it hard for working mothers to get away from the office.

She said: "There is a culture in this country which means that despite the talk of family-friendly policies, women fear that rushing off early at the end of the day to see their kids will damage their career prospects."

Most parents could simply not afford to manage on one income, or take a pay cut to shorten their hours, she said.

When working mothers did get home, most tried to spend as much time with their offspring as possible, though they often felt stressed and tired, she said.

"Women aren't superhuman - we all end up feeling guilty but sometimes after a long day at work it can be hard to face starting a jigsaw puzzle," she added. ( telegraph.co.uk )

READ MORE - Working mothers spend 81 minutes a day looking after their children

Ten biggest dating deal breakers

Ten biggest dating deal breakers - Prone to getting a bit too tipsy, or talking about your ex on dates? Unfortunately, your behaviour could unintentionally put off the partner of your dreams. To avoid the possibility of a dating disaster, we’ve outlined the biggest dating faux pas and how to avoid them.

1) Eyeing up other women/men

No matter how hot the waitress/bartender/guy or gal at the next table is, it’s rude to ogle when you’re supposed to be wooing the person sat right in front of you. Be respectful and give your date the undivided attention he/she deserves. Never let your eyes stray, no matter how tempting.

2) Getting too drunk

Being carried home having been sick on your shoes is unlikely to score you any points. Don’t let a few drinks to loosen you up turn into a full-blown bender. If you’re just meeting for drinks, then be sure to eat something first and don’t be shy about taking a few sips of water between alcoholic beverages to stop you from getting too squiffy.

3) Texting or answering your phone

The other person has given up their time to spend the evening with you. The least you can do is give them your full attention. The most polite thing to do is to switch your phone off when you’re on a date, but if you can’t quite manage that, pop it in a pocket and switch it to silent vibrate. If you need to check your messages you can do so during a discreet loo break.

4) Conversation interruptus

Constantly interjecting when your date is trying to tell you something or interrupting them mid-flow shows a short attention span and a lack of good manners. Listen and speak when there’s a gap in the conversation. You won’t learn anything about the other person unless you give them a chance to speak.

5) Oversharing

We’re glad you’re getting on well, but don’t mistake that good rapport for an excuse to recount every unsavoury anecdote from your past. There is such a thing as too much information. Take a few seconds to think about how the anecdote might reflect on you before you open your mouth and you could save yourself future embarrassment.

6) Forgetting their name

Forgetting your date’s name or worse calling them by the wrong name will be embarrassing and awkward for both of you. Your date might start to wonder just how many other people you’re seeing for their name to have fallen out of your brain so fast. A simple tip is to say your date’s name out loud five times before leaving the house. That way it should stick in your memory. And if you’re in any doubt, avoid using their name at all.

7) Ex-talk

Talking about your ex is a sure-fire signal that you’re not ready to be dating yet. Take it from us, your potential new love doesn’t want to be bored to tears with the story of how your last partner did you wrong/was the best you’d ever had. It’s best not to mention your previous relationships at all – unless it comes up in conversation – in which case you can just say something simple like “It didn’t work out.” or “We wanted different things.” before steering the conversation on to a different topic.

8) Ordering inappropriate food

Save being experimental with your menu choices for when you’re out with friends. Now isn’t the time to try the garlic fritters for the first time or to order the hottest curry on the menu. You really don’t want to be left looking red faced, sweaty and chugging down gallons of water to get rid of the tastes. Stick to simple dishes you know you can eat with dignity and decorum instead.

9) Overdoing the perfume/cologne

You’re out on a date so of course you want to look and smell your best, but too much scent is overpowering and a massive turn-off. Stick to the one spritz rule lest you want to be followed around by a swarm of bees. It’s also advisable to avoid any last-minute beauty treatments like a DIY self-tan unless you look particularly good in streaky orange.

10) Talking about how long it is since you last had sex

Making your date feel sorry for you by revealing how long you’ve gone without is a poorly thought out tactic that will only make you look sad and desperate. And that’s never an attractive trait. Always keep in mind that it’s inappropriate to bring up the topic of sex on a date, even if you’re using it in a self-deprecating way. Best steer clear of the subject altogether. ( yahoo.com )

READ MORE - Ten biggest dating deal breakers

Old wives' tales: the fertility myths

Old wives' tales: the fertility myths - Couples seeking fertility treatment can be bombarded with contradictory advice on how best to conceive, but half of the battle is separating science from old wives' tales.

As research reveals that women living near the Cerne Abbas Giant are more fertile than the national average, here are five other unlikely remedies to boost fertility.

Many fertility cures and and rituals are little more than old wives' tales

Boxers vs Briefs

One of the most commonly feted pearls of wisdom relating to fertility is that a man should wear boxer shorts rather than briefs to boost his sexual potency.

The circulation of air around the reproductive organs, it is suggested, boosts sperm production by preventing the area from overheating – an idea dismissed out of hand as a myth by fertility experts.


Herbs or hoaxes?

Natural remedy enthusiasts claim a whole host of herbs can enhance one's fertility, from the humble stinging nettle to the aptly-named Dong Quai, a Chinese plant that supposedly improves the chances of embryo implantation.

Other remedies suggested by advocates of alternative medicine, which many mothers swear by, include False Unicorn Root, which allegedly stimulates ovulation, and Raspberry Leaf, which is claimed to "tone" the uterus.


Grapefruit juice

Grapefruit juice is said to have a thinning effect on cervical mucus in the same way that cough syrup clears the throat, therefore clearing the sperm's passage to the egg.

Clinical evidence to support this notion may be somewhat lacking, but the juice is high in vitamins so it's a winner either way.


Raising the bottom

One tip offered to desperate would-be-mothers is that they should lie back and lift their bottom into the air following sex, to increase the chance of sperm fertilising the egg.

This myth comes unhinged due to the fact sperm cells are chemically programmed to travel in the right direction, and any that need a push in the right direction are unlikely to be of much use.


Wooden penis

A Japanese ritual carried out in the fertility festival of Hounen Matsuri sees townspeople parade through the streets carrying a gigantic wooden phallus.

Traditional wisdom said this would increase the residents' fertility as well as helping crops grow, and the appeal of running amok with a giant wooden penis has ensured that the ceremony is still performed today. ( telegraph.co.uk )

READ MORE - Old wives' tales: the fertility myths

Homegrown Tobacco Still Deadly

Homegrown Tobacco Still Deadly. Across the backyards and victory gardens of America this fall, many weekend gardeners for the first time are harvesting a touch of poison amongst the squash and potatoes.

The poison, albeit all-natural and organic, is tobacco, an otherwise lovely plant with its elephantine green leaves and broad, five-petal flowers of yellow, pink or white.

Ever ingenious American smokers have turned to growing their own tobacco as the average price for smokes has climbed to over $6 a pack, a price hike largely the result of the $1.01-per-pack tax that went into effect on April 1, conveniently around planting season. Seed sales reportedly were through the roof this year.

Whether homegrown tobacco is cheaper is debatable. Growing tobacco is difficult for even the experienced gardener, and curing the leaves can be an art form.

But the parallel reasoning for growing your own — that homegrown tobacco is healthier by virtue of having none of the additives found in commercial cigarettes, as purported on various Internet sites — unfortunately is not true. The stuff will still kill you.

Not even marginally less harmful

Terms such as “healthier” or “safer” — as in the elusive safer cigarette that the tobacco industry is trying to create — should tell you who is shaping this argument. The proper term is “less harmful,” and even this is highly suspect. You’re still breathing in myriad cancer-causing agents; one or two fewer carcinogens, like one or two fewer bullets from a machine gun, doesn’t matter.

Commercial tobacco does contain a lot of junk. The industry has hundreds of additives in its arsenal to make cigarette smoking a more pleasant and addictive experience. Some of these additives are carcinogenic. But good ol’ natural tobacco, particularly when burned, has upwards of 40 known or probable carcinogens that trump any harm done by additives.

Also, homegrown tobacco still has those same wonderful heart-stopping qualities causing higher blood pressure, higher cholesterol levels, and higher risk of artery clotting and stroke.

Part of the blame for the confusion goes to the anti-smoking movement. Its emphasis on tobacco additives has implied that natural tobacco is somehow healthier.
Maybe worse
While gardening is therapeutic, there’s irony in every puff of organic, homegrown tobacco, because the nicotine you’re absorbing is a deadly pesticide.

First, be careful handling fresh tobacco leaves. Touching wet leaves can cause green tobacco sickness, a type of nicotine poisoning. The sickness frequently affects tobacco harvesters, usually migrant workers lacking adequate protection.

Children exposed to high levels of nicotine from wet leaves often require hospitalization.

Next, should you succeed in growing your own, note that your exposure to the most deadly carcinogens — polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene — might be greater than that from a regular cigarette, depending on the type of tobacco, the nature of the rolling, and the probable lack of filter. Thousands of chemicals are created by lighting tobacco, and the quantity of poisons varies based on airflow, temperature and other factors.
Of alchemy and cigarettes

Creating a less harmful cigarette is theoretically possible. One problem is that this type of product could be used as an alternative to tobacco cessation. Another problem is that it might encourage others to smoke more.

The tobacco industry understands this, for it has been fudging or hiding data for years. Low-tar and light cigarettes indeed encouraged smokers to switch to these so-called safer products, which offered not even a marginal health benefit.

Nevertheless, Philip Morris USA and other cigarette makers are investing millions in the creation of the safer cigarette. One advance is a curing process that reduces the presence of nitrosamine, one of the more potent tobacco carcinogens.

Most public health experts have zero trust in the tobacco industry. In 2001, the Institute of Medicine issued a report faintly welcoming the creation of a safer cigarette as a feasible component of a harm-reduction strategy. The National Cancer Institute, however, remains adamantly against this.

Given the tobacco industry’s history of duplicity, Alan Bluma of University of Alabama Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society might have summed it up the best in his 2008 review in the Lancet, stating, “The search for a safer cigarette is akin to alchemists seeking to turn lead into gold.” [livescience.com ]

READ MORE - Homegrown Tobacco Still Deadly

Why Have Sex? To Fend Off Parasites

Why Have Sex? To Fend Off Parasites. Since Darwin’s time, biologists have tried to understand the advantages of sexual reproduction. This is not trivial because there are clear disadvantages to sex.

Unlike sexual organisms, asexuals do not need a partner to reproduce, can reproduce clonally, and can produce twice as many female offspring. If there were no advantages to sex, and both sexual and asexual individuals were competing for resources, the asexuals would take over in only a few generations.

Despite this, most eukaryotic organisms reproduce sexually, and the great mystery is that mixed sexual-asexual populations do occur in nature.

For over 20 years, this enigma has been explored by my advisor, Curtis Lively at Indiana University and his students and colleagues. Our lab has found support for a hypothesis that sex is beneficial in parasite-rich environments.

The Red Queen Hypothesis
The Red Queen Hypothesis proposes that virulent parasites adapt to infect genetically common hosts, preventing asexuals from becoming too abundant (common is bad). Sex produces genetically unique individuals that can avoid infection (rare is good), and are thus favored by natural selection.

The hypothesis is named after a passage in Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass”. The Red Queen and Alice run over hills and valleys, but always remain in the same place. Likewise, according to the hypothesis, genetic change in a population is necessary to maintain the status quo. Frequencies of asexual hosts increase (hills) and decrease (valleys) in response to parasite adaptation, while sexual hosts can avoid these coevolutionary ups and downs.

Ultimately, these dynamics over generations prevent an asexual take-over and maintain the coexistence of asexuals and sexuals.

Adaptation of local parasites
Potamopyrgus antipodarum is a New Zealand freshwater snail that reproduces either sexually or clonally, and does not switch modes during its lifetime. As a population, the snails can be asexual or mixtures of asexual and sexual individuals.

In 1987, while comparing mixed snail populations with entirely asexual populations, Lively found the former were more heavily infected by a sterilizing worm parasite. This was the first hint that a high rate of parasite infection in the snail population promotes coexistence of sexual and asexual populations.

Since then, several experiments have shown these parasites are better able to infect snails from the same lake than from different lakes. This suggests parasites are adapted to better infect snails only in the local mixed population, a prediction of the Red Queen Hypothesis.

The association between parasite adaptation and sexual reproduction in snails led me, Lively, and our collaborators Lynda Delph and Jukka Jokela to investigate such a pattern within Alexandrina and Kaniere lakes in New Zealand.

In each lake, sexual snails and parasites are common in shallow-water margins, and deep habitats (more than four meters depth) are dominated by uninfected asexuals. We hypothesized that sexuals had an advantage in the shallow due to coevolving parasites, but not in the deep where parasites are absent.

However, an alternative explanation is that the shallow-water snails are susceptible, in general. We had to determine whether shallow-water snails were susceptible specifically to local, same-lake parasites or to all parasites, regardless of location. The Red Queen would predict the former because the local parasites would have the best opportunity to coevolve with the snails.

Parasites are abundant in shallow water because of the foraging behavior of ducks, the final host in the parasite’s life cycle.

Parasite larvae must be ingested by ducks to complete their life-cycle (ducks accidentally eat the infected snails). Ducks do not forage in deep habitats, so parasites can only complete their life cycle in shallow habitats. It seems there is more selection on the snails and parasites in the shallow since in the deep, snails and parasites rarely encounter each other.

Our experimental design was simple: take shallow and deep-water snails and expose them to parasites collected from the same and different lakes. We found two interesting results.

First, shallow-water snails were more infected by same-lake parasites than were deep-water snails, suggesting parasites coevolve only with snails in the shallow habitats. Deep-water snails do not partake in the coevolutionary interactions just meters away.

Secondly, neither shallow nor deep-water snails were susceptible to different-lake parasites. Therefore, only local (i.e., coevolving) parasites, not parasites from just anywhere, can infect shallow snails.

Common is bad, rare is good
From our experiment, we found support for the Red Queen hypothesis and demonstrated its application to small spatial scales in nature. We showed that parasites are adapted to the snail populations where sexuals and asexuals coexist in shallow water.

In a related study, Lively and Jokela demonstrated that as parasites adapt to infect asexual snails in the shallow water, they indeed favor sex as predicted by the Red Queen Hypothesis. Snails that were genetically common and highly infected by parasites were rare. Snails that were genetically uncommon, and previously resistant to parasites, became common and infected. All the while, sexual snails persisted in the shallow water. This was the first time anyone demonstrated that Red Queen dynamics maintained sexual reproduction.

Despite the costs of sexual reproduction, it seems to have use against parasites. Sexual organisms are genetically rare, and consequently, parasites cannot adapt to them. Evidence from the New Zealand snails show that parasite adaptation to infect common asexual individuals prevents asexuals from eliminating sexuals from the population.

More research in other organisms with both reproductive modes would greatly benefit our understanding of the advantages to sex and the dynamics underlying asexual-sexual coexistence. [ livescience.com ]

READ MORE - Why Have Sex? To Fend Off Parasites

Protection For Your Brain

Protection For Your Brain. If you recently turned a landmark age and immediately forgot your PIN number, don’t panic—you can counteract age-related changes in the brain (which begin at about age 30) with a surprisingly simple regimen of activities guaranteed to nurture and fortify your mental muscle. Here are five easy ways to keep your brain quick and sharp, so you never draw a blank at the ATM again.

1. Exercise

Exercise is known to stave off or delay dementia, but it can actually reverse brain aging too. A team from the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois recently reviewed dozens of past studies and found that aerobic exercise boosts not only speed and sharpness of thought but also the volume of brain tissue. As little as 50 minutes of brisk walking 3 times a week was found to have this brain-expanding effect.

Tip:

For an added boost, walk in the park: University of Michigan researchers found that volunteers whose course took them through a tree-filled setting performed 20% better on memory and attention tests than those who walked downtown.

2. Brush and Floss

Oral health is clearly linked to brain health, according to a team of British psychiatrists and dentists. After studying thousands of subjects ages 20 to 59, they found that gingivitis and periodontal disease were associated with worse cognitive function throughout adult life—not just in later years.

Tip:

Follow your dentist's advice—floss daily and brush your teeth for 2 minutes at least once a day.


3. Eat Blueberries

New research shows that the dark-hued fruits may help sharpen your thought processes. After researchers from the National Institute on Aging and Tufts University injected male rats with kainic acid to simulate the oxidative stress that occurs with aging, rats that had been fed a diet containing 2% blueberry extract did better navigating a maze than rats that didn't get the compound. In another study, the same researchers found that rats that ate blueberries showed increased cell growth in the hippocampus region of the brain. The researchers theorize that anthocyanin—the dark blue pigment found in blueberries—is responsible for these cognitive changes; it contains chemicals that may cross the blood-brain barrier and lodge in regions that govern learning and memory.

Tip:

Stock up on blueberries when they're on sale, and sprinkle them over your cereal or yogurt or blend them into your smoothie. Off-season, buy them frozen; they're every bit as nutritious as fresh.


4. Do Puzzles

Amazingly, you'll knock a decade off your cognitive age. In a University of Alabama study of nearly 3,000 older men and women, those who participated in 10 60- to 75-minute sessions of brain-boosting exercise sharpened their mental abilities so much that their brains performed like those of people more than 10 years younger.

Tip:

Start small—whip out a booklet of basic puzzles when you're riding to work on the train or waiting in a long checkout line. As your skills improve, graduate to more challenging brainteasers.

5. Meditate

More than just a great stress reliever, meditation can also enhance your brain’s gray matter. Participants in a new study from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston appear to have experienced growth in the cortex, an area of the brain that controls memory, language, and sensory processing. In addition, meditators in a University of Kentucky study performed better than their nonmeditating counterparts on a series of mental acuity tests.

Tip:

Make the practice a regular habit—the participants in a recent study meditated an average of 40 minutes a day. But you can start with 15 on your lunch break or before you leave for work. Sit upright, close your eyes, and focus on whatever you're experiencing in the present moment, whether it's birds chirping in the distance or just the sound of your own breathing. [ prevention.com ]

READ MORE - Protection For Your Brain

Taking Your Toddler To Theme Park

Taking Your Toddler To Theme Park. Taking your toddler to her first theme park can be a wild ride: blissful moments of cotton candy and carousels followed by scream-inducing lines and cranky-kid meltdowns. But if you plan well, says Rhonda Clements, Ed.D., a professor at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY, you can make your child's theme-park debut fun and memorable — for everyone in the family. A good time to start is age 2, when kids get interested in the world around them. Clements offers these tips:

Start small:

If your toddler is surrounded by YOU MUST BE THIS TALL signs, she's going to be very disappointed. Clements suggests choosing a park that's designed for kids as young as age 2, with attractions like wading pools and climbing structures, in addition to gentle rides and kiddie shows (try Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA, or Legoland in Carlsbad, CA). And before you go, scout out the park together online, so your child can get excited about a few must-visit rides.

Strategize wait times:

Hit the popular rides as soon as the park opens, when the wait will be shortest; once lines start to grow, head for the playground or pool, where you can usually walk right in. Since you won't be able to avoid lines entirely, pack some books and toys to pass the time more pleasantly, Clements advises.

Satisfy all ages:

If you have an older child who insists his day won't be complete without a spin on the scariest big-kid ride, strategize so your little one doesn't get jealous. "One parent can bring the toddler for a special treat, like ice cream, while the other parent brings the older sibling to the ride," Clements suggests. If you're on your own with your kids, she adds, "Give the little one the important job of waving or taking a picture while his sibling screams on the roller coaster."

Avoid the buy-me's:

There will be toys for sale everywhere your child looks. To avoid tantrums, tell him he may choose one souvenir — at day's end. "Explain that it'll be too hard to go on rides if you have to hold a package," Clements says. [ redbookmag.com ]

READ MORE - Taking Your Toddler To Theme Park

Ways to Teach Your Kids How to Play Alone

Ways to Teach Your Kids How to Play Alone. The alone time you crave is good for your kid, too. Here's how to make it happen.. Admit it: Sometimes, you wish your kid would magically disappear. Not forever — just for half an hour so you can read the paper in peace or chat with a (grown-up) friend. But it's hard separating from your child, and not only because he clings to your leg whenever you try to leave the room: You don't want to miss a beat of his development, you might secretly relish being wanted so much, and, most of all, you probably feel at least a little guilty about "abandoning" him. "Many parents believe that they should constantly engage with their children, but that mentality leaves no time for relaxation — and creates stress that your kids pick up on," says psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D., coauthor of Einstein Never Used Flash Cards. In fact, training them to play on their own is one of the greatest gifts you can bestow. "It's the downtime for scribbling, making a car out of a cardboard box, or exploring the backyard that fosters the skills your child needs to be successful and fulfilled: creativity, critical thinking, and confidence," Hirsh-Pasek says.

Show Them How It's Done

The first step in teaching your child to be okay with being alone is showing him how fun it can be. This process begins even before he can crawl. "To a certain extent, being alone is a learned behavior, and if you never leave your baby, he won't learn to settle himself," says Cynthia Chandler, Ph.D., assistant professor of early childhood education at Black Hill State University in Spearfish, SD. "Putting your child in a playpen or crib with a few toys while you hang out nearby or even leave the room will plant the seeds of self-soothing and focus." Rattles, stacking rings, and other easy-to-grasp objects can keep a 6-month-old busy for up to 20 minutes — enough time for you to grab a cup of coffee.

Once your little one can scoot around, your alone time needs to happen in viewing (and pouncing) distance of him. Happily, toddlers find the world so fascinating, they'll play enthusiastically for 15 minutes or more with colorful scarves or wooden spoons. As they discover their joys and passions, share yours: Sometime around your kid's second birthday, start talking out loud about the things you love to do alone and why. "Our children gain so much from their parents' being people with interests," Hirsh-Pasek says. "When they see you dancing, they'll twirl and leap. When there are readers in the house, they'll appreciate books."

Some children take naturally to solo play; others require more guidance to get their imaginations rolling. "One of my twins gets lost in her dolls while her sister needs me to set her up with an art project or a book," says Victoria Loveland-Coen, 47, of Chapel Hill, NC. Gradually increase the amount of time that you leave your child alone. Try setting a timer and explain that she has to stay in her room until it dings. "Offer positive reinforcement, like, 'You did such a great job building towers on your own.' You want her to internalize your confidence that she can be self-sufficient," says Michele Borba, author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions.

Create Kid Space

"The best way to encourage your child to lose herself in independent activities is to create secure, baby-proofed play areas in your home and yard that encourage experimentation," says psychologist Margaret Paul, Ph.D., coauthor of Do I Have to Give Up Me to Be Loved by My Kids?

Michelle Workman, 39, a Los Angeles interior designer, created a wondrous playroom for her two sons, complete with oversize stuffed animals, a fake tree, and a built-in desk and toy boxes. "I covered the space in a thick, dark green shag rug with a pad underneath so heads and elbows are cushioned against falls," she says. "Saturday mornings, we put snacks in the room for them and buy ourselves some extra lounging time." You don't have to dedicate a whole room to your tots — even a low kitchen drawer full of Tupperware can be a treasure trove. "I keep a basket of toys and books in each room," says Evanston, IL, mom of four Liz Hletko, 39. "When I go into another room for mommy time, the kids have basket time." Rotating out the toys, books, and supplies in your bins about once a month will keep your child from getting overwhelmed and make the train set or dinosaurs you stashed away for four weeks exciting again. According to experts — and moms — kid-space essentials include building blocks; Duplos and Legos; costumes; and crayons, paper plates, and other art supplies. "Open-ended toys stretch your kid's creativity, so they'll keep your kid occupied much longer," Borba says.

Keep Them Engaged

Chandler recalls giving her elementary-school students a homework assignment to place a cookie six inches from an anthill and time how long it took for the critters to devour it. "The parents couldn't believe how long the kids sat there, watching," she recalls. You can often keep children busy with little projects like lying on a blanket doodling the shape of the clouds. In addition to science experiments (visit naturerocks.org for more), arts and crafts are ideal for keeping kids occupied. "When I need 45 minutes of uninterrupted meal-prep time, I set my kids up to make construction-paper place mats with crayons and stickers," says 42-year-old Suzy Martyn, a mom of four in Cypress, CA.

While experts say there's nothing wrong with occasionally plunking your kid in front of the TV for 30 minutes, your goal is helping your child discover pastimes that require his active participation. "Children who always depend on someone or something else, like television or video games, to stimulate them have a hard time taking responsibility for their own well-being as adults," Paul warns. "Encouraging your child to develop passions makes him better equipped to handle life's challenges."

Surrender to Sloppy

Most kids love little more than a big mess, and making one can occupy them for hours. "I dug a hole in the yard, gave my daughter the hose, and told her to make a mud puddle," says Bethel, CT, writer Jen Matlack, 39. "She squashed around for a whole afternoon while I gardened." Soil-encrusted clothes and tornado-like clutter may be rough on those of us with neatnik tendencies, but they're worth the cleanup. "Making a mess encourages kids to experiment and learn," Paul says.

From lining the playroom with an old shower curtain so your child can finger paint with abandon to letting him co-opt all the pillows in the house to build a killer fort, figure out ways to make your child's creative chaos tolerable for you. "We got rid of all the knickknacks so the kids can build castles in the dining room," says Julie Parrish, 35, a mother of three in West Linn, OR. "Yes, our house is messier than our friends' homes, but I was able to study for an MBA in the evenings, and my husband and I get to sit down after dinner for a game of Scrabble while the boys play." Carving out time for yourself isn't really about being organized; it's about relinquishing control now and then — and allowing your kid to do what he does best: play! [ msn.com ]

READ MORE - Ways to Teach Your Kids How to Play Alone

A Birthing Option That's Right for You

A Birthing Option That's Right for You. Having a baby presents the opportunity for parents-to-be to experience many diverse situations. From extremely personal conversations about your weight to your delivery expectations, your professional birthing partner will be with you, your co-parent and your baby throughout your journey.

Knowing what questions to ask and what level of care and comfort you should expect when you're expecting will help ease your worries and ensure everyone has a wonderfully memorable nine months.

Don't stop at just one

Interview several professionals to find one that best suits you and your partner. Scottsdale, Arizona expectant mom Elaine Dzik met with obstetricians, midwives, and even her family doctor prior to finding an obstetrician that she felt was right for her. "I wasn't sure if I wanted to choose a male or female doctor, have my baby at home, experience natural childbirth or opt for pain medicine, so I consulted several experts," says Dzik.

Giving birth outside the box

Today, many parents are opting to use midwifery as a labor and deliver option. Jackie Novak of Renville, Minnesota found this experience to be extremely personal and nurturing. "I wish we would have considered this as an option for our first child, but I was too scared to deviate from what my family and friends suggested," she says. According to Renville County Hospital in Olivia, Minnesota, modern midwifery involves the birthing process in the hospital, not in the expectant mother's bedroom.

Know who is treating you

Often patients find an informative consultation helpful to establish a relationship with their physician or midwife. "This can be especially helpful," says Denise Foster, RN, LPN of Milford, Connecticut. Foster explains that due to the nature of a patient/birthing professional relationship, developing a rapport is often easier "when you're not wearing a paper gown".

The ability to honestly express yourself and concerns to your professional is essential when you're pregnant. Make sure that you choose a doctor or midwife who you trust will respect your opinions and input and listen to your questions, concerns and ideas.

Check references

Although it may seem unbelievable, unfortunately there may be some individuals who are not as professional as you'd prefer. Learning there are any allegations or accusations of abuse or negligence against your obstetrician once you're already a patient can be quite unnerving. Consult friends, office and hospital staff, the American Medical Association at www.ama-assn.org of The American College of Nurse-Midwifes at www.acnm.org for information on your licensed obstetrician or certified midwife. Ask for the names of current patients who may be willing to provide a reference for the person you are considering selecting.

The right bedside manner for you

Just as no two pregnancies are the same, no two doctors treat their patients the same. If you respond best to soothing tones, a gentile demeanor and a compassionate nature, you may not do well to an outspoken individual who doesn't seem sensitive to your needs. Conversely, if you prefer a strong, take charge personality a soft spoken health care professional may not offer the right environment for your pregnancy.

Do you and your provider practice the same beliefs?

Some women strictly prefer the assistance of epidurals while others insist on a completely natural delivery. Others find it difficult to switch to an obstetrician after years of being treated by a General Practitioner. Knowing your doctor or midwife's practices and areas of specialty, threshold for your discomfort, testing regimens or schedules, and labor and delivery techniques means you'll find someone that best compliments your personality and child birth style.

Accessibility is important

There's nothing worse than not feeling well or suspecting something's not quite right, and not being able to reach your birthcare professional. "I'll always be grateful for my obstetrician's expeditious call back policy" sighs Jeana Grzelka of Crystal Lake, Illinois. When she began having pre-term labor contractions only twenty one weeks into her pregnancy, her emergency phone call was returned within less than five minutes. Crediting her doctor's proactive philosophy, Jeana explains "I don't think I would have my son if it wasn't for my doctor's accessibility."

Your birth partner, her colleagues and you

It can be disappointing or worrisome to become accustomed to seeing one person throughout your pregnancy, only to arrive at the hospital on the big day and be greeted by a stranger. Ask about the chances of one of your caregiver's colleagues attending at your delivery. If your doctor or midwife is one of many in a practice, ask to rotate or alternate appointments between your primary provider and his colleagues so you get to know the whole crew.

Location matters

Selecting a birth care professional means you're also choosing a where exactly you will be delivering. Ask which hospitals your physician or midwife has privileges. Some women prefer to have a particular doctor regardless of the distance they'll travel to a hospital, while others base their decision primarily on the hospital. (Even if it's not your birthplace of choice, you'll also want to know what hospital to contact in the event of any complications or when you go into labor.)

Also give consideration to a growing trend of giving birth at home. Cindy Jefferson of Crystal Lake, Illinois found this alternative to rising medical care costs, hospitalization and lack of personal attention a unique option. "Our third child was born at home, and was by far the most emotionally comfortable delivery I had," she raves.

Another option that is becoming wildly popular is waterbirth. Combining several air pillows, soothing music, a bathtub or birthing tank -- together with a trained birthcare professional familiar with waterbirthing procedures -- many find this a soothing option that optimizes the experience.

The incidentals

Hidden fees or charges not covered by insurance may be a factor for some patients when formulating a birthing plan. Is your doctor or midwife sympathetic and knowledgeable about pre-existing conditions? Make a list of questions or issues you want to address to bring with you to a consultation or check-up -- and don't be afraid to ask them!

Doing it your way

There is no right or wrong way to give birth -- the main goal is to customize the experience as much as possible for your needs right now. That means the way you did it before (or who was the caregiver you used before) need not dictate your course of action now. Similarly, listen to what friends and family suggest, but remember that the final decision needs to meet your needs, not theirs.

Above all: Don't rush yourself to find the right caregiver. This is a rare and momentous lifetime event, so you are wise to spend a little extra time and energy to make the best choice possible.

READ MORE - A Birthing Option That's Right for You