Mohammad, son of Rafeeq and Mariam from Kannur district in Kerala, has been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. A similar condition that his 15-year-old sister Afra is suffering. As a consequence of late diagnosis and treatment, she is paralyzed below the waist and can therefore move around only in a wheelchair.  

Spinal Muscular Atrophy(SMA)

It is a genetic disease that affects the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system and voluntary muscle movement. Nerve cells controlling the muscles are located in the spinal cord. But SMA affects the muscles which do not receive signals from nerve cells.

Atrophy refers to ‘getting smaller’ which usually occurs when the muscles are not stimulated by nerve cells.           

What Causes SMA?

Deficiency of a motor neuron protein called “survival of motor neuron” (SMN) in chromosome 5 results in SMA. The protein is necessary for normal motor neuron function. SMN plays a pivotal role in the expression of the genes of motor neurons.

Symptoms of SMA

1. Includes weakness of the voluntary muscles near the shoulders, hips, thighs, and upper back.

• Lower limbs are more affected compared to the upper limbs.

• Deep tendon reflexes are decreased.

• Chances of spinal curvature.

• If the muscles for swallowing and breathing are affected, chances of other complications.

Zolgensma

A single dose of the medicine to treat the disorder costs around 18 crores. One of the most expensive medicines in the world had to be imported from the US for treatment. According to the hospital, if he is administered and treated with the medicine before the age of two, he can be helped.        

Crowdfunding

A treatment committee led by MLA Vijin and a video posted by Afra seeking help from the public to raise the amount for the treatment proved to be successful. Contributions came in from all around the world and within the initial few days they were able to raise around Rs. 4 crores. And within the next few days the entire amount had reached their account.

People all over the world were like the Good Samaritan in Mohammad’s life.

America before Columbus: an analysis

The land of skyscrapers, the land that defined the American dream, was not always the happening place that it is now. 500 years ago it was a world of unbelievable natural wealth, two continents teeming with life, more than 600,000 miles of coastline, pristine waters and dense shoals, countless species, dense stretches of forest, it was a land of stark contrasts. With the lush green jungles in the south, glaciers in the north and the Great Plains of Midwest, there was always room for everyone, the caribou, antelopes, bison, and grizzly bear, there were even huge flocks of pigeons, ducks and geese.

There were flourishing vast civilizations throughout the continent. The Andes cradled a vast civilization ruled by powerful god-kings, there were Mesoamericans, the Atlantic coast filled with smaller villages and fields and the Mississippians, who were farmers, flourished where the Missouri, Illinois and the Mississippi rivers merged. Their staple food was corn, which was at then native to Americans and unknown to the rest of the world.  It was an outcome of their genetic engineering, the domestication of wild teosinte grass that later on became the fuel for their ever-growing population. It played a key role in the flourishing of cultures in America. The greatest empire of them all was the Inca Empire who settled themselves high in the Andes. They grew thousands of verities of tubers including the well-loved potatoes, that they domesticated from their ancestors, some were poisonous and some even carnivorous. The llamas and the turkeys being the most domesticated animals. The Native Americans defined a new agricultural system of burning grass as they believed crops grew faster in burnt grass.

 But in Europe, things are taking a different turn. It was a busy and crowding continent trying to feed a growing population of 100 million people. Natural resources are already exploited and the land is scarce and overworked. Most of the peasants are farmers working in the fields of the royalty or church. Here there is no space for an abundance of wildlife, agriculture and city life pushback the forest line. Christianity, the common religion all over Europe banned eating meat for more than 100 days a year. Leaving behind fish as the main food source. The demand for fish was huge but the supplies were dwindling fast enough. There is an immediate need to quench the thirst of millions of inhabitants.

 The nobles have grown wealthier by trading with the east. Spices, gold, gemstones and silk are the most lucrative goods. But as they lost their silk road to the Turks, foreign trade declined rapidly, the wealth of the royalty was in danger. Rivalries between the princes grew intense, religious fervour, greed and curiosity took widespread. European kings and queens started sending explorers to expand and enhance their powers. Some explorers went around Africa to find the route to India. And Isabella, queen of Spain grew desperate to find new ways to India. She finally agrees to support a seaman from Genova, Italy who envisions to sail west to reach the east. Cristopher Columbus a fervent amateur then had spent five years trying to get financial support from the royalty. The Spanish crown decides to finance three ships. Columbus gathers together a motley crew of 87 men, mostly illiterates, petty criminals, murderers and soldiers. They set sail from the port of Seville in the summer of 1492 promising the queen a world of treasures trade and land.

On October 12^th 1492 Columbus sights land, after three months of search, it is not India but an island in the Caribbean. The air is hot and the water warm, tropical seas to the arid desserts it was nothing that they expected. After seven months queen Isabella is delivered the news she was aching for, land to conquer, converts to Christianity and gold. The news spread like wildfire leaving several Europeans aching to visit the newfound land. In 1493 17 ships arrive in the new land carrying over 1200 Spanish conquistadors. With the horses, they have brought along the Spaniards spread all over the continent. They annihilate empires, the Incas fall to Pizarro and the Aztecs to Cortez within 40 years.

Hernando de Sotto travelled from Florida to Mississippi river. The Spaniards carry with them pigs which are a great source of food. But the wines become a threat for the Native Americans as unfenced fields undergo regular attack. In a Spanish missionaries records, there said to have an epidemic broken out, a sickness of pustules, large bumps spread on people. Smallpox was accidentally introduced to the Americas in the 6^th century. And so smallpox along with influenza and measles wipes out almost ninety percent of the Native American population. Through the trade between the native people, certain diseases like syphilis took a widespread in Europe.

It was the 17^th century that witnessed a new wave of people, the settlers. England had defeated the Spanish and became the new European superpower. In 1607 the British started a new colony in the east coast of North America now known as Virginia. They name it Jamestown after their king.  Many came here in search of religious freedom and a better lifestyle. For the first time women settlers came in bringing with them a whole new way of life. They introduced crops such as wheat. Meat became the cheapest food in the Americas and fur of the wild animals became the biggest export. Most trees were cut down and replaced with the trees they brought along and turned them into pastures and gardens were they grew all kinds of vegetables and fruits. They bring along with them peaches, pears, plums, figs, olives and bananas. The gardens slowly turn into plantations. Apples become a major industry in North America. Not only was it biological imperialism but also a Columbian exchange, European kitchens saw a huge American influence. The British settlers acquired a taste for sugar and tobacco. To satisfy such high demands, huge plantations started sprouting everywhere. Due to the shortage of manual labourers 10 million Africans were transported to America to work at the plantations. These slaves who were brought in were used to cultivate sugar in the Caribbean and Brazil, tobacco in Virginia, rice in South Carolina and cotton in North America.

By the 18^th century, the metamorphosis of America was complete. The creation of the new world almost killed ninety percent of the Native Americans. People from all over the world, from Europe, slaves from Africa took over the place. It is now a place of skyscrapers, chrome and steel cities and is now the melting pot of races. 

Tips of effective communication

we all have teacher who were considered “brilliant” but who, nevertheless, were a bore in class or who were unable to engage the students in the classroom. Sharpen your effective communications skills in the classroom and watch how your students become more engaged and your classroom a more fun place to learn. Techers professionally required to be communicative, should be aware of the importance of communication skills is teaching. They must also realize that all students have different strength and weakness. It is only through communication skills that a teacher can introduce creative and effective solutions to the problems of the students. Thus, a teacher can enhance the learning process.

Positive Motivation

This is one of the important things that a teacher must posses. In a class, students always have different kinds of taste and preferences over the subjects. So it is the job of the teacher to create enthusiasm and interest in the minds of a students towards the subjects. It is a teacher’s role to remove any fear and inhibitions that a student may have towards a particular subject.

Effective body language

This is a most powerful communication that a teacher must posses. good presentation skill include a powerful body language supported by verbal skills. This can create a long lasting impression in the minds of the students. Thus, teachers lectures will inevitably become more interactive and interesting for the students. Besides, a teacher should maintains the volume, tone and rhythm of their voice during a lecture.

Sense of humour

This has been often underestimated by the people. A good sense of humour keeps the students active and interested in the teachers class. A teacher who is dour and lacks humour doesn’t contribute to the overall well being of the students.

Understanding the students Psyche

Teachers should encourage students to communicate openly. There should be emphasis on cultivating a dialogue rather than a monologue. So while solving any kinds of problems in the classroom, it is always wise to hear the opinions of their students.

“Teachers have three love: love of learning, love of learners and the love of bringing the first two loves together”

SCOTT HAYDEN

Corona pandemic has affected each facet of human life as well as kids. Whether or not it’s the mental state, physical health or a mixture of each – the kids have had their own share of health issues throughout this pandemic section.
There’s a decent aspect to on-line categories and a nasty aspect too. Faculties that are able to offer participating on-line categories beside co-scholastic activities and regular peer-to-peer interaction have seen higher mental state among students. For others, it’s become monotonous, that has crystal rectifier to an increase in anxiety and disorder among kids.

“Many kids became uninterested in on-line categories. In sure faculties, on-line categories are terribly monotonous. Hence, what these students do is switch off the camera and do alternative activities. It’s sort of a time pass for them. Not solely mental state, however they are additionally facing some health issues like Increasing visual modality issues with frequent headaches are attributed to prolonged screen time. Additionally, increasing anxiety and depression thanks to home confinement beside sleep disorders also are on the increase. Besides, sports education and extracurricular categories have additionally stopped. As most of the fogeys are operating and also the kid is on their own within the house, there’s no means the kids will act with anyone,”

Loss of motivation and a way of self-discipline required to check on-line are a number of the main struggles that kids face. A college room provides a structure Associate in Nursing an atmosphere of effective learning that learning reception lacks. This ensures a cycle for college students troubled to complete their assignments, resulting in an absence of motivation and lower goals for themselves.
In addition thereto, a room and interaction with peers are important within the faculty years It provides students with a neutral atmosphere for social interactions that aids in developing skills like setting boundaries, learning cooperation, and sympathy. These skills are very vital for building social relationships as a baby however additionally as Associate in Nursing adult.

The impact of on-line categories is a reason for concern for several folks. However with the proper web, these students will simply overcome the challenges expose by on-line learning. Whereas the case is extremely worrying, it’s what the present state of affairs imply. Folks will support their kids by actively listening, making new routines that make a sense of sure thing in Associate in Nursing unsure world and nurturing shallowness and self-care by taking part in, talking and intake with them.

All of those lessons are leaned through peer interaction. Early poor social adjustment is shown to steer to tutorial struggles presently, a negative perception of the college atmosphere, and even ultimate tutorial failure .

This chance to develop social skills is even additional vital for college students with disabilities and activity difficulties, with positive interactions resulting in marked will increase in their motivation and performance. If students are collaborating in on-line learning, then, they’re going to expertise clearly less peer interaction, probably resulting in poorer tutorial and social skills.

Despite this dire image, however, studies additionally show that the academic-social interaction is reciprocal, with high tutorial performance resulting in additional positive social skills. Specifically, studies have shown that actively operating to extend the educational performance of kids early in their faculty careers, through interventions like mathematics and reading tutoring, will result in positive social development .This suggests that the shortage of peer interaction in on-line education might not be thus harmful finally. In fact, if these programs specialise in high accomplishment, social development could merely follow on.
In traditional circumstances, students of all ages are familiar with compounding and networking with their peers on a each day, making a broader social context to their studies that is way tougher to foster once everyone seems to be physically separated and needed to be told on-line.

Likewise, educators United Nations agency don’t have any selection however to deliver lessons remotely don’t have the chance to create the sorts of connections with their pupils, nor to bolster their learning within the means they might within the room.

If left ungoverned, a complete generation of tykes can be prevented from developing the social and emotional skills required to thrive later in life.
This is wherever a proactive approach to endeavour this drawback is smart. A growing range of establishments ar deploying social emotional learning programs as a part of a course of study that aims to nurture social skills like sympathy and emotional expression, and additionally facilitate with alternative areas, like goal-setting and leadership.