Iran introduces $100K Avicenna award

Iran has introduced a $100,000 international award in commemoration of the celebrated Persian philosopher and scientist, Avicenna. The award will be given in five categories to researchers who have done scientific or cultural research on the polymath figure. The Avicenna award will be presented at the international conference on Avicenna's philosophy and Avicennian logic, which will be held in the city of Hamedan where the great philosopher has been laid to rest. “The conference aims to introduce Avicenna's philosophical theories as well as the historical and cultural aspects of Hamedan,” said Hamedan governor, Behrouz Moradi. Also known as Shaykh al-Ra'is (Master and Head), Avicenna wrote about 450 works, of which only 240 have survived. Some 150 of his books are on philosophy and 40 on medicine. Avicenna is regarded as the father of modern medicine and his magnum opus is the immense encyclopedic work of the Kitab al-Shifa (The Book of Healing). Many literary and scientific figures were influenced by Avicenna, including the renowned poet Omar Khayyam and the celebrated 13-century scientist Khwaja Nasir al-Din at-Tusi. The life of Avicenna has been documented in the "Life of Avicenna", written by his disciple Jorjani (Sorsanus).

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Tart cherries lower heart, diabetes risks

A study has revealed that tart cherries have significant health benefits in animal models when it comes to heart, diabetes and weight. According to a research team, the delicious bite-sized round fruit helps reduce belly fat and even lowers cardiovascular and diabetes risks. The discovery was made after researchers used rat models and fed them whole tart cherry powder in addition to a high-fat diet. The study group had "significantly" lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels in comparison with the group that received no cherry powder. The study also revealed that the cherry-fed rats were also less likely to develop belly fat which in humans is linked to high cardiovascular risk. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan and presented at the annual meeting of the American Dietetic Association. A pilot study is scheduled to be implemented by the University of Michigan using whole tart cherries in human models this spring. Cherries contain resin, tannin, gallic acid, lignin, calcium, potassium, iron, volatile oil and hydrocyanic acid and are considered to be one of the most powerful disease-fighting foods.

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Iran's first cloned goat born in Isfahan

The Middle East's first and the world's fifth cloned goat, 'Hanna', has been successfully born at Royan institute in Isfahan, Iran. The cloned goat was developed in the surrogate uterus of a black Bakhtiari goat for 147 days and was born, Wednesday, at 1.30 am through a cesarean section. She is reported to be in a good health. Hanna, also known as R-CAP-C1, is completely distinguished from other goats because of its white and henna-like color. Iran's first cloned lamb, Royana, was born on Sept. 30, 2006 in Royan institute and was able to survive the post-natal complications common in cloned animals. Iranian researchers are looking to use cloned goats to produce the genetically modified animals required for manufacturing new recombinant medications particularly tPA.

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World's 1st cloned camel born in Dubai

The first-ever camel cloned in the world, Injaz (Achievement), has been born at the Camel Reproduction Centre in Dubai, UAE. "We are all very excited at the birth of Injaz as she is the result of the great skill and teamwork of everyone at the Camel Reproduction Centre," scientific director of the Camel Reproduction Centre, Lulu Skidmore, said on Tuesday. "This significant breakthrough in our research program at the CRC gives a means of preserving the valuable genetics of our elite racing and milk producing camels in the future," the scientist added. According to the center, the female camel was born April 8 after an uncomplicated gestation of 378 days. "Injaz, who is 30 kilos (during birth), seems to be happy and is doing all the right things so far," Skidmore explained. The clone was produced using DNA which was extracted from cells from the ovaries of an animal that was slaughtered in 2005. Camels, a valuable commodity in Arab countries, are used for racing and transport. They are famous for healthy low-fat milk and can fetch owners millions of dollars at camel beauty contests. In 1996, the first cloned animal of the world, Dolly, was born in Edinburgh. The sheep, which died in 2003, was considered one of the world's most significant breakthroughs.

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Egypt car crash claims 11, injures 7

A head-on collision between a minibus and a lorry on a motorway has claimed the lives of eleven Egyptians and left seven others injured. According to a security official, the accident took place near Zaqaziq north east of the Egyptian capital Cairo on Saturday. The official further pointed out that the excessive speed of both vehicles was the cause of the crash. He also said that one of the victims was a three-year-old child, adding that two of the wounded people were in a serious condition. Egyptian roads are among the most chaotic and dangerous in the world as speeding, careless driving and poor road conditions lead to a high accident toll in Egypt. According to the Egyptian transport ministry, every year around 6,000 people lose their lives and 30,000 are injured in road accidents throughout the country. The transport ministry has also cited poorly maintained vehicles as another cause of crashes in Egypt. Egyptian traffic authorities have implemented tougher traffic rules and harsher punishments for traffic offenders. The new traffic regulations went into effect on August 1, 2008, in an attempt to reduce the number of road accidents in the country.

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