|
|
People
Places and Things
|
Bones
made from wool
WELLINGTON,
Jan. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- A medical breakthrough has been
made by New Zealand researchers who have created a material
based on keratin -- a protein extracted from wool -- that
looks set to revolutionize bone surgery, Sunday Star-Times
reported Sunday.
Bones damaged by trauma or tumors are currently repaired
using bone chips harvested from elsewhere in the body
-- a process that causes its own complications -- or using
synthetics such as titanium, which do not promote bone
recovery.
The new material is strong enough to form a structural
repair, but is gradually absorbed by the body and encourages
fresh bone togrow back.
According to Sunday Star-Times, New Zealand sheep farmers'
company Wool Equities subsidiary Keratec has acquired
the rights to the product from the Otago University's
corporate arm, Otago Innovation Ltd, and is working on
commercializing it to service a market estimated to be
worth at least 400 million US dollars by 2007.
The ground-breaking research was initiated by Dr George
Dias atOtago University's anatomy and structural biology
department. A former maxillo-facial surgeon, Dias was
driven to work on bone substitutes by the shortcomings
of existing technology.
"I thought it would be a huge boon to everyone if
there was a good artificial bone product that behaved
like someone's own bone," Dias was quoted as saying.
"One day I was looking at my fingernails, which are
made of keratin, and thought this would be an ideal material
to use as a bone substitute," he said.
Keratin is a core component of hair -- wool, for example,
is about 95 percent keratin protein -- and has useful
biological and physical properties that make it ideal
as a potential bone substitute. But there was a great
deal of work to be done to develop a viable product, according
to Dias.
Keratec Research Manager Dr Rob Kelly said "we understood
the potential of keratin as a material in those applications,
but it is important not to underestimate the technical
hurdles we had to overcome."
"We've been able to do something no one has been
able to do before," he said. Enditem
| January
2005 newsletter- Nairobi institute |
Message
from chairman |
 |
Dear Members and Friends
of the Nairobi Institute,
Happy
New Year!
On
behalf of the Centenary Management Committee,
I extend warm wishes to all of you and hope
that the year brings Good Health, Happiness,
and Peace to each and every one of you. |
|
With
just over four months to go before our Centenary
Party, the time has come to prepare in earnest
and to put the final touches into place for
this historic event. All the hard work of
the past two years will come to fruition with
the various functions planned by our Centenary
Celebrations Organising Committee, in May
and June and culminating with the GRAND ANNIVERSARY
BALL on the 11th of June 2005.
I
would like to urge as many of our past members
and friends from far and wide now settled
in Britain, Canada, the USA, Australia, India
and our East African neighbours to join us
for the milestone celebrations. Kenya has
been home not only to the present membership
of the Nairobi Institute (formerly the Goan
Institute) but also to the wider Goan Community
since the turn of the 20th Century. Taking
this opportunity to visit Kenya will surely
prove a very nostalgic experience.
While
preparations go ahead on the social front,
it would be pertinent to address the issue
of repairs and maintenance needed to be carried
out on our 50-year-old Clubhouse. Falling
revenues over the years, mainly due to the
declining numbers of paying membership, has
led to a serious lack of adequate finance
to carry out much needed maintenance works.
Funds are therefore required to put in hand
badly needed repairs, renovations and refurbishing
of the Clubhouse.
I
make a special appeal to all well wishers,
members and friends alike both in Nairobi
and especially past members from overseas
to assist generously with funds so as to complete
the necessary repairs in time for the celebrations.
In
conclusion, I once again appeal to all members
and their families to put their best foot
forward and become a part of a joint effort
to ensure the success of the forthcoming celebrations
of which we as a Community will be proud.
Best
wishes to all and God Bless,
VINCENT AZAVEDO
CHAIRMAN
|
|
| Sports
Calendar |
The
Management encourages all members to participate
in the Sports events organised in this our 100th
year. This year, the top Sportsman and Sportswoman
of the year will be awarded during the Centenary
celebrations. Members are reminded to be punctual
for the tournaments, pay the fees required before
participation, and compete in the NI spirit of friendship. |
| SPORT |
|
DRAW
DATE |
COMMENCEMENT |
| Snooker |
Handicap
Trophy |
Sat,
08/01/05 |
Tues,11/01/05 |
| |
Sadru
Rajan |
Sun,
06/02/05 |
Tues,
08/02/05 |
| |
George
Soares(1 Frame) |
Fri,
18/02/05 |
Tues,22/02/05 |
| |
Diego
Memorial (Doubles) |
Sat,
05/03/05 |
Tues,
08/03/05 |
| Darts |
Hillary
D’Souza(Men’s Singles) |
Sat,
22/01/05 |
Wed,
26/01/05
Thurs, 27/01/05
Fri, 28/01/05 |
| |
George
Pillay(Ladies Singles) |
| |
Fazal
(Handicap) |
| |
Olga
Memorial (Men) |
Sat,
12/02/05 |
Wed,
16/02/05Thurs, 17/02/05Fri, 18/02/05 |
| |
Olga
Memorial (Ladies) |
| Football |
Cricketers
Trophy |
Draws
willbe on Tournament Days |
Sun,
27/02/05 |
| Hockey |
The
Late Constance Fernandes Trophy |
Sun,
23/01/05 |
| Cricket |
Sadru
Rajan |
Sun,
06/02/05 |
| Tennis |
Men\s
Singles ( Level) |
Sun,
06/02/05 |
Starts
from February 2005 |
| |
Men’s
Singles ( Handicap) |
| |
Men’s
Doubles( Levels) |
| |
Men’s
Doubles (Handicap) |
| Cards |
NI
Trook |
Draws
will be on Tournament Days
|
Sat,
19/02/05
Sun, 20/02/05 |
| |
R.
Collaco/ L. Rattos (Rummy) |
Sun,
16/01/05 |
| Badminton |
Men’s
Singles |
Sat,11/12/04 |
Tues,
14/12/04 |
| |
Ladies
Singles |
Tournament
Day |
Tues,
18/01/05 |
| |
Men’s
Doubles |
Sat,
22/01/05 |
Tues,
25/01/05 |
| |
Mixed
Doubles |
Tournament
Day |
Sat,
26/02/05 |
| Table
Tennis |
GI
Trophy ( Men’s Singles) |
Draws
will be on Tournament Days |
Fri,
11/02/05
Sat,12/02/05 |
| |
Bertha
Zuzarte ( Ladies Singles) |
| |
NI
Trophy ( Men’s Doubles) |
| |
C.V.
Monteiro ( Jumbles) |
|
| Centenary
Events |
| Check
www.nicentenary.com
for more details |
| Date |
Time |
Events |
| Tuesday
31st May 2005 |
Evening |
Members
Only Function |
| Saturday
4th June |
Evening |
BBQ |
| Sunday
5th June |
Day |
Mia
Moja Madness |
| Monday
6th June |
Day |
Free |
| |
Evening |
Sporting
activities |
| Tuesday
7th June |
Day |
Free |
| |
Evening |
Sporting
activities |
| Wednesday
8th June |
Evening |
Welcome
to Africa Cocktail |
| Thursday
9th June |
Day |
Day
trips |
| |
Evening |
The
Variety Show |
| Friday
10th June |
Evening |
The
Good Old Sing-a-long |
| Saturday
11th June |
Afternoon |
Thanksgiving
Mass |
| |
Evening |
Centenary
Ball |
| Sunday
12th June |
Day |
The
Kwaheri Lunch |
|
| Recent
Event |
|
| The
Nairobi Institute held the annual Chairman’s
Christmas Tree Fund on 20th November 2004.
The fund was started several years back by then Chairman,
Mr Tony Fernandes. Money raised from the launch goes
towards the Children’s Christmas Tree Party.
This year the fund once again raised over Ksh 200,000.
Pledges were received from the young and young at
heart. The Nairobi Institute Management donated Ksh
100,000 in a gesture symbolic of our Centenary Year.
A big thank you to all the donors. On
Sunday 19th December 2004, the Children’s
Christmas Tree Party, organised by the Ladies
Committee, took place. Santa Claus, as is traditional
at the Nairobi Institute, never arrives in anything
other than style, and this time he rode in on a
horse! There was a magic show with a performance
from seasoned entertainer Johnny Rodrigues, as well
as games, food and gifts aplenty. The adults too
had a great time.
On
24th December 2004, the Nairobi Institute held Midnight
Mass in the hall. A large crowd enjoyed the
traditional carol singing and mass celebrated by
Fr. Wilfred D'Souza and Fr Tony Sequeira.
On
26th December 2004, the Nairobi Institute had a
Boxing Day luncheon
organised by our Catering Secretary Maria D'Souza.
Just the thing to soothe those tummies after all
the sorpotel and turkey from Christmas Day.
Later
in the day, DJ Babs kept all entertained with music
that began as a sundowner but continued well into
the next day.
The
New Year’s Eve Ball was a 5 Star affair
with catering by the Safari Park Hotel, a superbly
decorated dance hall and great music courtesy of
the renowned Pressman Band.
The
Chairman, Vincent Azavedo highlighted the Nairobi
Institute’s achievements over 2004 and the
challenges the club faced in the New Year –
its Centenary Year. The traditional singalong took
place close to midnight and the bringing in of the
New Year symbolized 2004 as a year of a baby boom
at the NI, and acknowledged Wangari Maathai our
Nobel Peace Prize winner. 2005 was welcomed with
song and dance and the beat of the African drum.
|
| Congratulations |
|
Henry and Annette Desouza on
the occasion of their son Kennedy's wedding in Goa
to Shanti on the 23rd of December 2004.
Savio
Da Costa on the occasion of his wedding in Goa to
Milena on the 26th of December 2004.
Ian
and Paloma Fernandes on the birth of their daughter
Kayleigh Anne on the 2nd of January 2005, and to
Georgia on the birth of her little sister and to
grand dad Jack.
Ian
Fernandes on his new appointment as Managing Director
of Nation Broadcasting Division.
Peter
and Sabina on the birth of their son Jerod on the
24th of January 2005, and to Cheyenne on the birth
of her little brother and to grandparent Mrs Lucy
Braganza.
|
| Condolences |
To
Lewis and Antoinette D'Souza on the death of Lewis's
mother Martha in India on 2nd December 2004. Formerly
of Kibwezi.
To
the family of one of our most senior members Mohammed
Shaffi Khan who passed away on the 21st of January
2005.
|
| Get
Well Soon |
We
wish a quick recovery to Gareth, son of John and
Gilletta Fernandes.
And speedy recovery to Alex Homem.
|
| News
Update |
|
Nairobi Institute- K.C.A.
Agreement
The
KCA sent a letter of termination of the long term
agreement on the 28th of December 2004. The basis
for this was that they KCA felt that the agreement
had lapsed since they were unable to fulfil part
of their obligation that required them to construct
Phase 1 before the expiry of the initial 30 months
of the agreement.
The
Management has responded in writing and is awaiting
their reply. A meeting has also been held between
the Management and the NI. Cricket Committee.
Any
member who requires further information on this
matter is welcome to contact the General Secretary,
Mr. Peter Braganza.
Renovations
The
refurbishments of the washrooms are due to start
and the members are kindly advised to bear with
any inconvenience this may cause. |
|
The
Nairobi Institute,
PO Box 40197 - 00100 Nairobi, Tel: 254 20 6761043,
Email: nbiins@wananchi.com
or ni@wananchi.com |
|
Goan
Voice designed and compiled by Goacom Insys Pvt. Ltd.,
Goa
Campal Trade Centre, Next to Military Hospital, Campal,
Panjim, Goa-403001
Tel: +91 832 2225207, 2424578 Email: jjds@primus.ca
|
|
