Autism, a little understood disorder, strikes a rising number of children every year in the United States. The increasing growth in autism cases has sounded alarm bells in the medical community even as the search for causes and effective treatments eludes researchers.
Evidence of the prevalence of the autism spectrum disorder was contained in a recently released report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The findings were based on a survey of 11 regions in the country by the centers' Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.
The report estimated that one in 68 children aged eight years suffers from Autism. The statistics suggest that rates have increased 10 to 17 percent annually in recent years. About 10 percent of the more than two million children with autism were also identified as having Down Syndrome.
In its research, the CDC confirmed that autism is almost five times more common among boys than girls. Non-Hispanic white children were 30 percent more likely to be identified with Autism than African-American kids and 50 percent more likely than Hispanic youths.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability. It is characterized by problems associated with communication, social interaction, motor coordination and repetitive behavioral patterns. One study found 46 percent of children with autism had average to above average intellectual ability.
Each individual with autism is unique, making it unfair to generalize about symptoms for children with the disorder. For example, many of those with autism have exceptional abilities in visual skills, music and academics.
Initial signs and symptoms typically are recognizable in the early developmental stage of a child.
However, the study unearthed data showing that the median age remains four years or older before the first autism diagnosis is made. The finding is troubling because studies show that parents usually notice developmental problems by the child's first birthday.
This is not only a U.S. issue. Worldwide, the rates of Autism are increasing twenty to thirty fold. The CDC report suggests the epidemic rise may be attributable to improved awareness and recognition of the disorder among doctors in other countries.
The estimated cost of caring for a child with autism is more than $17,000 per year, according to a study cited in the CDC report. However, severe cases of Autism are costlier to treat. In total, the expenses nationally for care of children with autism top $9 billion annually.
Even armed with this data, researchers remain baffled by the disorder. They know that those parents of autistic children more often have certain generic or chromosomal conditions. Children of older parents are at a higher risk for the disorder. But much is still unknown.
For example, the causes are as numerous as the types of autism. For years, some autism advocates were convinced that child vaccines for illnesses such as influenza were causing the increase in the disorder. The attention prompted a national study of children's vaccines.
The Institute of Medicine examined eight vaccines given to children and adults and found them to be generally safe with rare serious adverse health events. The CDC investigated the findings and supported the conclusion that there is no relationship between vaccines and autism rates.
The CDC has labeled autism an urgent health matter. But it admits that more research needs to be done to better understand the causes of autism. Early detection requires increased focus. Effective treatments present a constant challenge.
Everyone must become involved to solve the autism puzzle. That includes pediatric health care providers, school psychologists, educators, researchers and policymakers. Last but not least voters must hold elected officials accountable for funding additional autism research.
A country that cherishes its children above all else is a nation with its priorities in order.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Despicable Me: Harry The Hypocrite Reid
The biggest scoundrel in Nevada isn't rancher Ted Bundy, no matter what you read in the lemming-like media. Fellow Nevadian Harry Reid holds that distinction. The Senate Majority Leader has left a political trail of stench worse than those cow pies deposited by Bundy's cattle.
While Bundy was vilified in the media for his dispute with the bellicose Bureau of Land Management, the newsrooms were silent after social media reports began to circulate about the diminutive senator's unseemly involvement in a Chinese energy company's failed $5 billion solar project.
Bundy and the Chinese firm became linked when some accounts claimed the solar project would have been located next to the grazing land occupied by the rancher's cattle. For the record, the solar plant would have been constructed 180 miles away. But that has no bearing on the scandal.
There were ample reasons for the news media to scrutinize the sleazy senator's connections with the ENN Group, the largest energy company in China led by billionaire tycoon Wang Yusuo. The "clean energy" firm operates more than 100 subsidiaries around the world.
Working behind the scenes, the droll senator lured the foreign giant to build a solar plant in Nevada during a 2011 junket to China and then supplied the political muscle to get the project built. Within months of the trip, the senator's son Rory Reid landed a lucrative contract for his law firm to represent ENN Group.
According to a Reuters report on August 31, 2012, the alien energy company was able to purchase a 9,000-acre site near Laughlin "well below the appraised value from Clark County." Guess who was the former chairman of the county commission? That's right. Rory Reid.
Upon further inspection, the transaction could be called a steal for ENN. Reid's son cobbled together a deal to purchase the site for $4.5 million. That was a mere fraction of the acreage's appraised value that ranged from $29.6 million to $38.6 million on the county tax rolls.
The Chinese-backed company pulled the plug on the multi-billion dollar project in June of last year after it was unable to find customers for the solar power that was to be generated. When the project went up in smoke, the county was stuck with trying to unload the acreage.
This isn't dirty Harry Reid's first brush with shady land deals. In 2004, the mumble-mouthed Reid pocketed a cool $700,000 from a sale of land that he didn't technically own. A complex legal covenant with a holding company enabled Reid to get rich in the unorthodox purchase.
The Los Angeles Times reported in November of 2006 that the stilted Senate Majority Leader snuck $18 million in the federal budget for a bridge in Nevada. The project wasn't a priority of Nevada's transportation agency. But that didn't matter to Reid because he owned 160 acres nearby and stood to benefit financially.
Dubious land shams are only part of Reid's shenanigans. This month a Nevada power broker was convicted in U.S. District Court of illegally funneling $150,000 to the senator's re-election campaign in 2007. The campaign bigwig headed up a billion dollar real estate firm.
But Harry is nothing if not hypocritical. Using the cloak of Congressional immunity, Reid stood on the floor of the Senate and smeared businessmen Charles and David Koch as "un-American" for supporting Republicans and their causes. It wasn't long after the tirade that OpenSecrets.org revealed that the Koch brothers had lavishly donated to at least 36 Democrats in Congress.
Wonder why humbug Harry never complained that the brothers were trying to "buy" Democrats?
It should come as no surprise that Harry Reid recently landed on the Judicial Watch's list of "Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians." He wasn't number one. But he certainly has done everything in his power to earn that spot.
While Bundy was vilified in the media for his dispute with the bellicose Bureau of Land Management, the newsrooms were silent after social media reports began to circulate about the diminutive senator's unseemly involvement in a Chinese energy company's failed $5 billion solar project.
Bundy and the Chinese firm became linked when some accounts claimed the solar project would have been located next to the grazing land occupied by the rancher's cattle. For the record, the solar plant would have been constructed 180 miles away. But that has no bearing on the scandal.
There were ample reasons for the news media to scrutinize the sleazy senator's connections with the ENN Group, the largest energy company in China led by billionaire tycoon Wang Yusuo. The "clean energy" firm operates more than 100 subsidiaries around the world.
Working behind the scenes, the droll senator lured the foreign giant to build a solar plant in Nevada during a 2011 junket to China and then supplied the political muscle to get the project built. Within months of the trip, the senator's son Rory Reid landed a lucrative contract for his law firm to represent ENN Group.
According to a Reuters report on August 31, 2012, the alien energy company was able to purchase a 9,000-acre site near Laughlin "well below the appraised value from Clark County." Guess who was the former chairman of the county commission? That's right. Rory Reid.
Upon further inspection, the transaction could be called a steal for ENN. Reid's son cobbled together a deal to purchase the site for $4.5 million. That was a mere fraction of the acreage's appraised value that ranged from $29.6 million to $38.6 million on the county tax rolls.
The Chinese-backed company pulled the plug on the multi-billion dollar project in June of last year after it was unable to find customers for the solar power that was to be generated. When the project went up in smoke, the county was stuck with trying to unload the acreage.
This isn't dirty Harry Reid's first brush with shady land deals. In 2004, the mumble-mouthed Reid pocketed a cool $700,000 from a sale of land that he didn't technically own. A complex legal covenant with a holding company enabled Reid to get rich in the unorthodox purchase.
The Los Angeles Times reported in November of 2006 that the stilted Senate Majority Leader snuck $18 million in the federal budget for a bridge in Nevada. The project wasn't a priority of Nevada's transportation agency. But that didn't matter to Reid because he owned 160 acres nearby and stood to benefit financially.
Dubious land shams are only part of Reid's shenanigans. This month a Nevada power broker was convicted in U.S. District Court of illegally funneling $150,000 to the senator's re-election campaign in 2007. The campaign bigwig headed up a billion dollar real estate firm.
But Harry is nothing if not hypocritical. Using the cloak of Congressional immunity, Reid stood on the floor of the Senate and smeared businessmen Charles and David Koch as "un-American" for supporting Republicans and their causes. It wasn't long after the tirade that OpenSecrets.org revealed that the Koch brothers had lavishly donated to at least 36 Democrats in Congress.
Wonder why humbug Harry never complained that the brothers were trying to "buy" Democrats?
It should come as no surprise that Harry Reid recently landed on the Judicial Watch's list of "Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians." He wasn't number one. But he certainly has done everything in his power to earn that spot.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Apollo 13: America's Greatest Space Triumph
Fifty-four years ago this week Americans held their collective breaths as news spread about a catastrophe aboard the moon-bound Apollo 13 spacecraft. Over the next four days, a life-and-death drama would play out on the nation's television screens as the world prayed for the crew's safe return.
On the evening of April 13, 1970, three-American astronauts were speeding toward the moon when an explosion shuddered the entire spacecraft. From 200,000 miles above Earth, command module pilot Jim Swigert radioed Mission Control: "Houston, we've had a problem."
Alarm lights flashed in the Odyssey space module as oxygen pressure nosedived in the craft and the power fluttered. Instruments indicated that two of Apollo's 13's three fuel cells had been loss. Another blinking light showed that one oxygen tank was completely empty.
The second oxygen tank was gradually oozing air. With warning lights winking throughout the spacecraft, commander Jim Lovell glanced out the window and was aghast to see Apollo 13 was venting "something out into space."
It had been about 56 hours since Apollo 13 had roared off the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. On board with Swigert and Lovell, was Fred Haise, a last minute replacement for crew member Ken Mattingly, who was unwittingly exposed to measles.
Lovell was the world's most experienced astronaut at that time. He had logged three missions and spent 572 hours in space. He was crew a member on Apollo 8, the first U.S. mission to circle the moon, and had flown on two Gemini flights.
Up until the explosion, the mission was deemed "all systems go" for a lunar landing. When Mission Control scrutinized the craft's data, it quickly scrubbed the original objective and began a frantic around-the-clock marathon to determine how to return the three astronauts safely back to Earth.
Never before had NASA dealt with such formidable obstacles. The spacecraft was slowly leaking oxygen that would gradually bleed the supply until no air was left to breathe. With the loss of power cells, temperatures in Apollo 13 hovered near freezing. Most of the food on board was inedible.
When it seemed nothing else could go wrong, water became an issue because it was needed to cool the systems. The crew was ordered to conserve water, reducing their daily intake to six ounces per man per day. Slowly, they became dehydrated and weakened, losing a total of 31 pounds during the ordeal.
While Americans were glued to their televisions, Mission Control scrambled to find a way to use what little power was remaining to fly the astronauts home. With only 15 minutes of power to spare in the command module, Houston directed the crew to board lunar module Aquarius.
The lunar module had not been designed for a such a rigorous journey. It lacked a shield to survive the searing heat of reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. But it was their last best hope. Mission Control radioed new instructions to the crew for preserving power and burning the craft's engines.
As Aquarius hurtled toward Earth, the nation's news networks broadcast live accounts and pictures of Apollo 13's epic dash toward the Pacific Ocean. In the waning moments, Mission Control lost transmission with the spacecraft, adding to the gripping suspense.
After some anxious moments, the space capsule splashed down in the chilly waters of the Pacific Ocean on April 17. Americans everywhere cheered the safe return of the nation's newest heroes. The outpouring of joy and relief would last for days as the country feted Lovell, Haise and Swigert.
What at one time had seemed liked a certain disaster, turned into a shining moment for the American space program.
The improbable saga became one more reason for the nation's people to proudly call themselves Americans.
On the evening of April 13, 1970, three-American astronauts were speeding toward the moon when an explosion shuddered the entire spacecraft. From 200,000 miles above Earth, command module pilot Jim Swigert radioed Mission Control: "Houston, we've had a problem."
Alarm lights flashed in the Odyssey space module as oxygen pressure nosedived in the craft and the power fluttered. Instruments indicated that two of Apollo's 13's three fuel cells had been loss. Another blinking light showed that one oxygen tank was completely empty.
The second oxygen tank was gradually oozing air. With warning lights winking throughout the spacecraft, commander Jim Lovell glanced out the window and was aghast to see Apollo 13 was venting "something out into space."
It had been about 56 hours since Apollo 13 had roared off the launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. On board with Swigert and Lovell, was Fred Haise, a last minute replacement for crew member Ken Mattingly, who was unwittingly exposed to measles.
Lovell was the world's most experienced astronaut at that time. He had logged three missions and spent 572 hours in space. He was crew a member on Apollo 8, the first U.S. mission to circle the moon, and had flown on two Gemini flights.
Up until the explosion, the mission was deemed "all systems go" for a lunar landing. When Mission Control scrutinized the craft's data, it quickly scrubbed the original objective and began a frantic around-the-clock marathon to determine how to return the three astronauts safely back to Earth.
Never before had NASA dealt with such formidable obstacles. The spacecraft was slowly leaking oxygen that would gradually bleed the supply until no air was left to breathe. With the loss of power cells, temperatures in Apollo 13 hovered near freezing. Most of the food on board was inedible.
When it seemed nothing else could go wrong, water became an issue because it was needed to cool the systems. The crew was ordered to conserve water, reducing their daily intake to six ounces per man per day. Slowly, they became dehydrated and weakened, losing a total of 31 pounds during the ordeal.
While Americans were glued to their televisions, Mission Control scrambled to find a way to use what little power was remaining to fly the astronauts home. With only 15 minutes of power to spare in the command module, Houston directed the crew to board lunar module Aquarius.
The lunar module had not been designed for a such a rigorous journey. It lacked a shield to survive the searing heat of reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. But it was their last best hope. Mission Control radioed new instructions to the crew for preserving power and burning the craft's engines.
As Aquarius hurtled toward Earth, the nation's news networks broadcast live accounts and pictures of Apollo 13's epic dash toward the Pacific Ocean. In the waning moments, Mission Control lost transmission with the spacecraft, adding to the gripping suspense.
After some anxious moments, the space capsule splashed down in the chilly waters of the Pacific Ocean on April 17. Americans everywhere cheered the safe return of the nation's newest heroes. The outpouring of joy and relief would last for days as the country feted Lovell, Haise and Swigert.
What at one time had seemed liked a certain disaster, turned into a shining moment for the American space program.
The improbable saga became one more reason for the nation's people to proudly call themselves Americans.
Monday, April 7, 2014
What Statistics Tell Us About the World's Future
Population and demographic projections offer clues of a seismic shift ahead for the world. The numbers and the associated forecasts raise unsettling questions about economic, religious and geopolitical inflections for the future.
Studies conclude more people than ever will inhabit Earth. The world's population doubled in 40 years from 1959 to 1999 when the count reached 6 billion. By 2042, birth rate patterns suggest the population will increase by 50 percent to 9 billion. Twenty years after it will climb to 10 billion.
Those estimates from a World Population Prospects report published by the United Nations foreshadow slower growth than many had predicted only decades ago.
In most countries, birth rates have fallen despite previous dire predictions of a population explosion. The United States hit a record low in recent years. European birth dates have precipitously nosedived. Even in China and India, the fertility rates have slipped from stratospheric highs.
According to figures compiled by the United Nations, Africa is now the fastest growing continent. Population is expanding at a rate of 2.46 percent a year. There are 1.1 billion people today living in Africa. By 2050, estimates are 25 percent of the world's inhabitants will reside in Africa.
Asia will account for 54.1 percent of the population in 2050, despite lower growth rates. Today China and India make up nearly 37 percent of the planet's population. By comparison, the United States represents more than four percent of the world's population, but its share is shrinking.
To underscore the African boom, eight of the top ten fastest growing countries in the world are located on the continent, reports the U.S. Census Bureau. Africa is the second largest continent on the planet in both land area and population today.
What concerns demographers is that Africa has the highest rate of poverty in the world, according to the U.N. Human Development Report. Thirty-four of the 54 countries on the continent hold spots on the U.N.'s list of least developed nations. Sub-Sharan Africa has the world's worst HIV epidemic.
Africa also has the world's highest death rates and the lowest life expectancy, which underscores that soaring birth dates are driving the prolific population numbers. The boost in new inhabitants can mainly be attributed to the continent's thriving Muslin population.
Birth rates among Muslin women worldwide average 2.4 children. This is significantly above the population replacement level of 2.1 births. Nigeria, which ranks fifth worldwide in number of Muslin inhabitants, has the planet's highest fertility rate at 6.01 births. The U.S. average is 1.97 births.
Studies conducted in 2011 by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life confirmed Islam is the world's fastest growing religion. In 2010, there were 1.6 billion Muslims, representing one-fifth of the world's population. Pew estimates Muslims will comprise 26.4 percent in less than 20 years.
A total of 79 countries will have a million or more Muslin inhabitants by 2030, prophesies Pew. Indonesia has more than 205 million Muslims today, about 88 percent of the country's population. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Algeria and Morocco rank among the top ten in numbers of Muslims.
If current birth rates among Muslins follow trend projections, Islam "may remain the fastest growing religion in the world for the foreseeable future," predicts the Population Reference Bureau. Pew's findings echo that outlook.
In its 209-page report, Pew researchers wrote that the "Muslin population is forecast to grow about twice the rate of the non-Muslin population over the next two decades." During that period, Pakistan is expected to overtake Indonesia as the world's most populous Muslin nation.
In the United States, Pew forecasts the number of Muslims will more than double rising from 2.6 million to 6.2 million by the year 2030. If that happens, Muslims will be as roughly numerous as Jews or Episcopalians are today in the U.S.
Islam is the legally favored religion in nine countries today, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Malaysia, Pakistan, Morocco, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia and Jordan. However, only Saudi Arabia and Iran are ruled by Islamic law.
What do all those numbers and forecasts mean for the the United States and the rest of the world?
The honest answer is no one knows for certain. Trends can and do change. Witness the world's declining birth rate. However, if the projections materialize then the U.S. along with the rest of the world's nations better start preparing for a very different future.
Studies conclude more people than ever will inhabit Earth. The world's population doubled in 40 years from 1959 to 1999 when the count reached 6 billion. By 2042, birth rate patterns suggest the population will increase by 50 percent to 9 billion. Twenty years after it will climb to 10 billion.
Those estimates from a World Population Prospects report published by the United Nations foreshadow slower growth than many had predicted only decades ago.
In most countries, birth rates have fallen despite previous dire predictions of a population explosion. The United States hit a record low in recent years. European birth dates have precipitously nosedived. Even in China and India, the fertility rates have slipped from stratospheric highs.
According to figures compiled by the United Nations, Africa is now the fastest growing continent. Population is expanding at a rate of 2.46 percent a year. There are 1.1 billion people today living in Africa. By 2050, estimates are 25 percent of the world's inhabitants will reside in Africa.
Asia will account for 54.1 percent of the population in 2050, despite lower growth rates. Today China and India make up nearly 37 percent of the planet's population. By comparison, the United States represents more than four percent of the world's population, but its share is shrinking.
To underscore the African boom, eight of the top ten fastest growing countries in the world are located on the continent, reports the U.S. Census Bureau. Africa is the second largest continent on the planet in both land area and population today.
What concerns demographers is that Africa has the highest rate of poverty in the world, according to the U.N. Human Development Report. Thirty-four of the 54 countries on the continent hold spots on the U.N.'s list of least developed nations. Sub-Sharan Africa has the world's worst HIV epidemic.
Africa also has the world's highest death rates and the lowest life expectancy, which underscores that soaring birth dates are driving the prolific population numbers. The boost in new inhabitants can mainly be attributed to the continent's thriving Muslin population.
Birth rates among Muslin women worldwide average 2.4 children. This is significantly above the population replacement level of 2.1 births. Nigeria, which ranks fifth worldwide in number of Muslin inhabitants, has the planet's highest fertility rate at 6.01 births. The U.S. average is 1.97 births.
Studies conducted in 2011 by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life confirmed Islam is the world's fastest growing religion. In 2010, there were 1.6 billion Muslims, representing one-fifth of the world's population. Pew estimates Muslims will comprise 26.4 percent in less than 20 years.
A total of 79 countries will have a million or more Muslin inhabitants by 2030, prophesies Pew. Indonesia has more than 205 million Muslims today, about 88 percent of the country's population. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Algeria and Morocco rank among the top ten in numbers of Muslims.
If current birth rates among Muslins follow trend projections, Islam "may remain the fastest growing religion in the world for the foreseeable future," predicts the Population Reference Bureau. Pew's findings echo that outlook.
In its 209-page report, Pew researchers wrote that the "Muslin population is forecast to grow about twice the rate of the non-Muslin population over the next two decades." During that period, Pakistan is expected to overtake Indonesia as the world's most populous Muslin nation.
In the United States, Pew forecasts the number of Muslims will more than double rising from 2.6 million to 6.2 million by the year 2030. If that happens, Muslims will be as roughly numerous as Jews or Episcopalians are today in the U.S.
Islam is the legally favored religion in nine countries today, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Malaysia, Pakistan, Morocco, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia and Jordan. However, only Saudi Arabia and Iran are ruled by Islamic law.
What do all those numbers and forecasts mean for the the United States and the rest of the world?
The honest answer is no one knows for certain. Trends can and do change. Witness the world's declining birth rate. However, if the projections materialize then the U.S. along with the rest of the world's nations better start preparing for a very different future.
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