Neuroacanthocytosis information and research

How to recognise Neuroacanthocytosis 

The first signs of the diseases in the neuroacanthocytosis (NA) group are subtle and easily overlooked. Initial symptoms, which often occur in the person’s mid 20s, may include grunts or tic noises made unconsciously in the throat, progressing to drooling and problems in controlling the tongue from ejecting food. Involuntary biting of the tongue, lips and/or cheeks may follow. 

At the beginning there can be a general, slight physical awkwardness. Things on a shelf are knocked off for no apparent reason. Difficulty with walking and balance can also be early symptoms. Problems controlling trunk, leg and arm movements are often barely noticeable at the beginning, but become increasingly difficult as the disease progresses. Several patients find it difficult to sleep at night and others report fatigue and weakness. 

Personality change may also be an early indication. The carefree young adult becomes obsessive-compulsive and uncharacteristically forgetful or just loses confidence or drive. Fainting or epileptic seizures may also occur. Mood changes may happen and a person often becomes isolated, in part out of embarrassment. 

There are several reports of the problems beginning after a traumatic event including physical attack, unexpected failure of an exam and birth of a child.

New ecology of news

“Everything we thought we once knew about journalism needs to be rethought in the Digital Age”,professor of Sociology and Communication Michael Schudson points out. Today the work of journalism can be done from anywhere and done well. It requires no more than a reporter and a laptop. In that way, journalistic authority seems to have become more individual- and less institution-based. But does the individual reporter always have to be an actual journalist? Or can journalistic work be done from anywhere and by anyone? These are questions that refers to the core of journalistic practice and the definition of “news” itself. As Schudson has given emphasis to, the answer is not easily found; “the ground journalists walk upon is shaking, and the experience for both those who work in the field and those on the outside studying it is dizzying”.

Schudson has identified the following six specific areas where the ecology of news in his opinion has changed: 1. The line between the reader and writer has blurred 2. The distinction among tweet, blog post, newspaper story, magazine article, and book has blurred 3. The line between professionals and amateurs has blurred, and a variety of “pro-am” relationships has emerged 4. The boundaries delineating for-profit, public, and non-profit media have blurred, and the cooperation across these models of financing has developed 5. Within commercial news organizations, the line between the news room and the business office has blurred 6. The line between old media and new media has blurred, practically beyond recognition
These alterations inevitably has fundamental ramifications for the contemporary ecology of news.

 “The boundaries of journalism, which just a few years ago seemed relatively clear, and permanent, have become less distinct, and this blurring, while potentially the foundation of progress even as it is the source of risk, has given rise to a new set of journalistic principles and practices”, Schudson puts it. It is indeed complex, but it seems to be the future.

Sur Power Plant Agreement Is Signed

Muscat, July 13 Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) today signed agreements for establishing a power plant project in Sur with an investment consortium for establishing, possessing and operating Sur Power Plant worth RO. 700 million.

The agreement was signed by Eng. Ahmed bin Salih al Jahdami, OPWP Deputy Chairman and representatives of the project's executing companies.

Sur Power Project is one of the major power projects being implemented in the Sultanate. The project will supply 2000 megawatt (MW) of electricity after full operation by 2014. The project will meet the Sultanate's growing needs of electricity. The power plant will be built in Sur Industrial Estate. It will run by natural gas to be supplied by the Ministry of Oil and Gas via the Ministry's current facilities in the region.

As per the agreement, the project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will supply 433 MW by April 2013 and the rest of the capacity, which is 1567 MW will be supplied by the fixed date for commercial operations in April 2014.

The agreements of the project include power purchase agreement from Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), natural gas purchase agreement from the Ministry of Oil and Gas, in addition to the usufruct agreement with the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) and power supply agreement with Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) and founders' agreement with Electricity Holding Company (EHC).

It worth mentioning that, the consortium comprised of Marubeni Corporation, Chubu Electric, Qatar Electricity and Water and Multitech, which is a subsidiary of Bahwan Group.