Black Berry in India

BlackBerry agrees to monitoring of services, govt grants 60-day relief

PTI, Aug 30, 2010

NEW DELHI: Faced with an August 31 government deadline, BlackBerry mobile phone maker Research In Motion (RIM) today gave in promising access to Indian security agencies to monitor all its services with immediate effect. 

The government, meanwhile, says it won't ban BlackBerry services for at least 60 days, easing up on the threat leveled over access to encrypted data. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs says it will "review the situation in 60 days,'' after telecom authorities examine Research In Motion's proposals to give security agencies greater access to corporate e-mail and instant messaging. 

RIM is facing widespread concern over its strong data encryption, which is beloved by corporate customers eager to guard secrets but troublesome for some governments in the Middle East and Asia, which worry it could be used by militants to avoid detection. 

Nearly two months after insisting that it does not have the provision to grant access for such monitoring, RIM made certain proposals for lawful access of BlackBerry Enterprise Services (BES) and BlackBerry Messenger Services (BBM) by the law enforcement agencies. 

RIM's response came after the Home Ministry made it clear that Blackberry has to shut down its operations in the country from September one if it failed to provide access to monitoring of its messenger services. 

"RIM has made certain proposals for lawful access by law enforcement agencies and this would be operationalised immediately. The feasibility of the solutions offered would be assessed thereafter," a Home Ministry statement said. 

The Ministry has made it clear that any communication through the telecom networks should be accessible to the law enforcement agencies and all telecom service providers including third-parties have to comply with this, it said.

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BlackBerry-agrees-to-monitoring-of-services-govt-grants-60-day-relief/articleshow/6462351.cms

Body Chemistry - Attraction

The Three Key Elements of Chemistry

A friend of mine recently met someone she described as a 'wonderful' man. 


But though he was clearly smitten with her and wanted to progress their meeting, she said she didn't 'feel' anything and wondered if any light could be thrown on her situation. If he liked her so much, why was there no feeling of 'chemistry' on her part, she asked?


Lots has been written about that elusive chemistry that makes the balloons pop, the hearts stop and the pulses race between two people, but the actual nature of it has been hard to explain. It has been a subject that has exercised our thoughts, and bodies, for ages, and yet it could be as simple as three little words: comfort, value and excitement.

COMFORT 


Often we meet people for the first time and feel really good with them. We have a great rapport in conversation, we are animated in their company, and we enjoy the encounter, but something still appears to be missing. That is because we are only at the first stage of real chemistry: COMFORT. We feel at ease with the other person, we might actually enjoy their attention, but won't necessarily have them even as a friend. That's where it would stop.

VALUE 


If, however, we feel really good about the person, we believe that we really like them, and we could even see ourself with them, however there is no spark of excitement, that is because there is great VALUE between both parties, which is often misinterpreted for love. Value takes the form of respect, admiration, lots of attention. It is likely too, in this scenario, that one person likes the other more than is reciprocated. In these cases, where the spark is absent but there is much value, one is likely to find relationships based on companionship and security. It is also likely that one person will feel highly disillusioned when that spark is not there further down the line, especially if they hoped it would develop over time. This kind of connection emphasises a mutual feeling of security between the couple rather than love; or, in other mutually agreeable relationships, it could even be for convenience or expediency, especially if the two people are happy sharing each other's space.

EXCITEMENT

However, true chemistry between two people occurs only when there is a feeling of EXCITEMENT; a definite electrical spark that one physically feels for the other person; the excitement and physical charge necessary to actually fall in love. This is the stage where hearts race faster, as one gentleman said recently, he felt his 'spin-dryer whirring around furiously'. We wish to be near that person as much as possible, to touch them, to be in their presence, to communicate non-stop and simply to bask in the attention and great feeling that envelopes us at these moments.

Incidentally, when there is only excitement without value that is simply lust going nowhere, except for the possible benefit of one person. 

And when there is excitement without comfort or value it means that one person is being used without any real commitment from the other, and mainly for their benefit.

The Spark of Romance


It seems that COMFORT, VALUE and EXCITEMENT lie at the heart of true chemistry; the secret of falling in love. Where a relationship isn't really going well it is because one or both parties are missing elements of that chemistry.


For example, the comfort and value might be in place (representing a warm feeling of security) but the real spark to get it off on a high level is absent or has eroded. Hence why one or both persons will continue to feel that something is missing in the relationship and to keep hoping for something better. Sadly, when that spark is non-existent, when the opportunity for experiencing it arises outside the home, few people are able to resist it, which leads to the inevitable affairs.


Chemistry is a very powerful force between two people, designed by Nature to bring them together to keep the species intact, but it has very little to do with lust, as some people believe. It's strength depends on whether MUTUAL comfort and value are also in place and, above all, whether that mutual spark is ready to ignite!


My friend who triggered my thoughts on the matter obviously felt much comfort in her admirer's presence, and much value for him too. However, they clearly differed in that, while he felt the spark of excitement (wanted to hold her, touch her and be with her at every opportunity), she hadn't felt that and had no inclination to touch him either. She valued him, yes; felt comfortable with him, yes, but she certainly didn't wish to progress it with him except on a platonic level, and he wasn't interested in just friendship. He couldn't understand how she didn't feel like he did. A clear mismatch of real chemistry.
But that's the mystery of chemistry. It cannot be manufactured. It is simply there or it isn't. Most important, those three elements have to be there before one truly feels it.


Source : http://www.elainesden.org/attraction.html#The%20Three%20Key%20Elements%20of%20Chemistry

Diabetes

Eye disorder common among diabetic adults

By Lynne Peeples

NEW YORK | Tue Aug 10, 2010

(Reuters Health) - Nearly 30 percent of U.S. diabetics over the age of 40 may have a diabetes-related eye disorder, with 4 percent of this population affected severely enough that their vision is threatened, suggests a new study.

The condition, known as diabetic retinopathy, involves damage to the eye's retina and is the leading cause of new cases of legal blindness among U.S. adults between 20 and 74 years old. It also costs the U.S. approximately $500 million every year.

"The number of people with diabetes is increasing in this country," lead researcher Dr. Xinzhi Zhang, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, told Reuters Health.

Yet, he added, estimates of how many Americans suffer from diabetic retinopathy remain more than a decade old. Is this condition on the rise too? Or is screening and treatment keeping it under control?

For some updated answers, Zhang and his colleagues looked to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a large national study conducted between 2005 and 2008. They identified about 1,000 older adults with diabetes who had undergone diagnostic eye imaging.

Of the patients studied, 29 percent were found to have diabetic retinopathy, and 4 percent had developed vision-threatening cases of the disorder.

The rates were about 40 percent and two and a half times higher, respectively, than estimates dating back to an earlier NHANES study from 1988 to 1994.

"But we don't know if the increase is due to an actual rise in prevalence or if it is due to using a more precise method of assessing damage to eyes in the most recent study," noted Zhang, pointing out that the new study included two digital images of each eye compared to the previous study's single image of one eye.

The researchers found that men had a significantly higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy compared to women. Other risk factors included a longer duration with diabetes, use of insulin, high systolic blood pressure (the top number in the reading) and high levels of a protein called hemoglobin A1c used to measure blood sugar.

Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic blacks also had significantly higher rates of the condition compared to non-Hispanic whites, report the researchers in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

As the U.S. population ages and the proportion of racial minorities grows, it is important for the health care system to be prepared for the increasing demand, said Zhang. "With early detection and timely treatment, people have a good chance of preventing or reducing vision loss."

As of 2007, 17.4 million Americans had diagnosed diabetes, with the highest percentage of cases found among people over 65, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Zhang added that it is also crucial for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure to help prevent complications such as diabetic retinopathy in the first place, and for those who don't already have diabetes, to stave off the condition by losing weight and exercising.

SOURCE: link.reuters.com/wat34n Journal of the American Medical Association, online August 11, 2010.

Cancer Signs

Eight cancer signs identified by scientists

 

Eight key signs of cancer which offer the clearest indication of the disease have been identified by scientists.

The symptoms predict the risk of cancer with such accuracy in certain age groups that patients should be referred to a specialist straight away unless there is a plausible explanation.

They are:

·        Bleeding from the rectum (indicative of colon cancer in older age groups)

·        Iron deficiency anaemia (indicative of colon cancer)

·        Breast lump (possible breast cancer)

·        A rectal examination which suggests cancer may be present (possible prostate cancer)

·        Blood in the urine (indicative of cancers related to urology)

·        Coughing up blood (potential lung cancer)

·        Post-menopausal bleeding (possible cancers related to gynaecology)

·        Difficulties with swallowing (indicative of oesophageal cancer)

The research, led by Mark Shapley and colleagues from Keele University, was published in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP).

Identifying these symptoms has the potential to improve the number of cancers diagnosed early, when people have the best chance of responding to treatment.

The team said GPs should be given better computer systems to arm them with the tools to identify cancers much earlier.

They should also look closely at the ages of patients and see if they fall into risk groups for specific male or female cancers.

Dr Shapley said the eight symptoms had been identified following careful analysis of 25 studies from the UK, US, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Denmark and Germany.

''We recommend research and development of general practice computer systems to produce effective warning flags when the symptoms, signs or test results with a risk of 5% or more... are entered for patients within the specified sex and age groups.

''GPs should audit their management and reflect upon these cases as part of their appraisal to improve quality of care.

''There should be more open public debate on the level of risk that triggers a recommendation for referral by a GP.''

In an accompanying editorial, Dr Kevin Barraclough, a GP from Stroud, said iron deficiency anaemia in a 21-year old female was extremely unlikely to be bowel cancer but more likely if the test results were for a 60-year-old man.

''More research in primary care is urgently needed to inform cancer referral guidelines,'' he said.

Professor Amanda Howe, honorary secretary of the Royal College of GPs, said: ''It's useful to see these well known 'red flag' symptoms and signs validated in primary care research, and reinforces the importance of encouraging patients to discuss worrying symptoms early with their GP.

''Access and thorough examinations will help early diagnosis while further research gives us more detailed epidemiological thresholds for referral.''

Jessica Harris, Cancer Research UK's health information officer, said: ''Studies like this help doctors understand how likely a symptom is to mean cancer, and may help them decide whether to refer their patients for further investigations or specialist advice.

''The particular symptoms this study has highlighted are already thought of as important potential signs of cancer.

''But there are more than 200 different types of cancer, which cause many different symptoms.

''So if you notice an unusual or persistent change in your body, it's important to get it checked out. When cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is often more likely to be successful.''

Source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7967090/Eight-cancer-signs-identified-by-scientists.html

Mum matters most in the eyes of their children

The special lifelong bond that children have with their mothers may have its roots in how our brains react when we see our mothers' faces, according to scientists.

By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent
Published: 7:30AM BST 29 Aug 2010

Mothers are said to hold a special lifelong place in their children's hearts, but it also appears they have a unique significance in their brains too.

Scientists have discovered that when adults look at their mothers' faces, it triggers a stronger response in the brain than when they look at pictures of strangers - or even of their fathers.

Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, the researchers measured the brain activity
of volunteers as they were shown photographs of their parents, strangers and celebrities. Photo: Alamy

Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, the researchers measured the brain activity of volunteers as they were shown photographs of their parents, strangers and celebrities.

When images of the participants' mothers were shown to them, the scientists found that it "lit up" key areas, associated with recognition and emotion.

The findings suggest that mothers produce a complex and lasting emotional and cognitive response in their children's brain, as a result of the bonding experience that takes place between them and their children, as babies.

Scientists believe the findings shed new light on the extent to which humans experience "imprinting" - a phenomenon observed in many birds and animals in which youngsters form very strong attachments to the first creature they see after being born.

As a result, the youngsters follow their mother around and can rapidly learn from her characteristics and behaviour, which are said to be "imprinted" on them.

Human babies do not undergo such rapid imprinting, but many scientists believe the bond between mother and child can have crucial implications in later life and even into adulthood.

The new study, which is reported in the scientific journal Brain and Cognition, involved 20 volunteers with an average age of 35.

Dr Marie Arsalidou, from the University of Toronto, in Canada, who carried out the research along with academics from the University of Winchester, in the UK, said: "Differential activity to mothers' faces may be attributable to greater exposure to one's mothers face during critical childhood years."

She added: "The fact that this activation is even seen in adults who have lived away from their parents for many years does suggest that it is certainly a very long-term effect."

Fathers faces produced a strong response in an area deep inside the brain known to contribute to feelings of affection but failed to produce anywhere near as much brain activity when compared to the volunteers' mothers.

Celebrities faces prompted far less brain activity than images of parents, but greater activity than in strangers faces, mainly due to the recognition and memories those faces induced.

Professor Ann Buchanan, director of the Oxford Centre for Research into Parenting and Children at Oxford University, said: "This brain research is giving a physical understand for things we know emotionally.

"It seems like the brain is born like a disk that has been formatted but nothing has been put into it.

"This crucial interaction between the primary carer, which is usually the mother, is crucial for brain development and later emotional development."

Source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/7969398/Mum-matters-most-in-the-eyes-of-their-children.html

Sleep - How Much?

How much sleep you need could be down to one gene, claim scientists

Margaret Thatcher, who famously got by with just four hours sleep a night as Prime Minister, may carry a special 'awake' gene as scientists find some people are genetically programmed to survive on less than six hours a night.

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent
Published: 7:00AM BST 14 Aug 2009

Researchers have identified a gene mutation that appears to be at least partly responsible for the fact that the people carrying it require a few hours less sleep than the usual eight.

Researchers have identified a gene mutation partly responsible for the fact that the 

people carrying it require a few hours less sleep than the usual eight Photo: Saalik Siddikki

However the mutation itself is believed to be quite rare.

Ying He and colleagues at the University of California studied an extended family in which a mother and daughter regularly sleep for an average of roughly six hours a night while the other members needed more than eight.

They found that a variant gene was shared by the mother and daughter but not their relatives.

The researchers next compared the sleep cycles and brain activity of mice modified to carry the gene and normal mice.

The genetically modified mice not only slept less, with more frequent periods of wakefulness, they also needed less time to recover from a period of sleep deprivation. Related mutations in fruit flies also led to shortened sleep phases. The authors, who published their findings in Science, said the genes could offer a useful new model for studying human sleep.

Source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/6022543/How-much-sleep-you-need-could-be-down-to-one-gene-claim-scientists.html

Fighting Stress with a Cup of Tea

A cup of tea really can help reduce stress at times of crisis, claim scientists

Putting the kettle on at times of crisis really can help claim scientists who found that tea-making reduces stress levels by up to a quarter.

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent
Published: 12:01AM BST 13 Aug 2009

The study, by psychologist Dr Malcolm Cross at City University London, confirms what millions of tea-lovers have long believed – that if you are upset or anxious, it pays to make a brew.

The findings reveal that even a single cup of tea can significantly reduce anxiety levels after suffering a stressful experience – and in some cases, make people calmer than they were before.

The experiment at the centre of the study, which placed volunteers in a stressful scenario, showed a 25 per cent increase in anxiety for those that did not receive tea immediately after the stress-inducing test. Conversely, those who were given tea actually demonstrated a four per cent reduction in stress.

As well as the soothing qualities of the tea itself, the psychologist found that the act of putting the kettle on also helped by tapping into a collective conscious and symbolism.

Further psychological tests and focus groups conducted after the experiment indicate that tea’s calming benefits aren’t just a question of biochemistry – but also a matter of its ‘Britishness’.

Psychologist Dr Malcolm Cross, of City University London, said: “The ritual of making and drinking tea - particularly during times of stress - is at the very core of British culture.

"This study shows that the social psychological aspects of tea enhance the effects of its chemical make-up on our bodies and brains. It’s possible that this culturally rooted, symbiotic function between mind and body explains why Britons instinctively turn to tea in times of need.

"Put simply, the findings illustrate what most mothers would tell us: if you’re stressed, anxious or just feeling blue, make yourself a nice calming brew."

This evidence of tea as a cultural crutch in times of need is supported by new anecdotal research, which reveals that nearly half (48 per cent) of tea-drinkers claim the reason they find calm at the bottom of a cuppa is because of the drink’s quintessential Britishness and association with cultural icons such as the Queen.

Past studies have pinpointed tea’s unique soothing properties, but this research, sponsored by Direct Line, claims that less than a fifth (19 per cent) of us are actually prompted to put on the kettle because of its special ingredients.

The promise of comfort and warmth (60 per cent) and the means of psychological escape (41 per cent) are instead the primary reasons we seek such solace in the calming cup of tea.

The researchers found that it was most appropriate when dealing with a stressful day at work, arguments with friends or colleagues or missing a train.

Source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/6015821/A-cup-of-tea-really-can-help-reduce-stress-at-times-of-crisis-claim-scientists.html

Khan's Academy and Bill Gates

Gates Applauds Khan Academy’s Ingenuity

Posted in:  News

MAI EL-SADANY | Aug 27, 2010 

the first free, world-class virtual school where anyone can learn anything

SALMAN KHAN, CREATOR OF KHAN ACADEMY, JOKINGLY ATTRIBUTES
HIS POPULARITY IN INDIA TO BEING A NAMESAKE OF THE FILM STAR

Weeks ago at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Bill Gates applauded the educational efforts of Salman Khan in front of a 2,000-man audience. Khan, the only teacher of the online Khan Academy, produces videos and tutorials that have made his website one of the most popular educational sites on the internet.

Khan’s ten to fifteen minute free tutorials, on subjects including math and science, are now viewed almost 70,000 times a day. Commenting on the tutorials, which both Gates and his 11-year old son Rory consume, the second richest man in the world says, “I’d say we moved about 160 IQ points from the hedge fund category to the teaching-many-people-in-a-leveraged way category. It was a good day his wife let him quit his job.”

Beginning in 2006, the Pakistani-American Muslim converted a walk-in-closet in his Silicon Valley home into a filming station, complete with hundreds of dollars worth of video equipment and bookshelves. He has received around 18 million page views since he started, mostly from the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and India.

Khan, with an MBA from Harvard, a BS in math, and a BS and masters’ in electrical engineering and computer science, focuses on getting to the bulk of the material in less than fifteen minutes, bringing a brevity that is rarely found in the classroom and has been refreshing for high school and college students alike.

What started as the former hedge fund analysts’ efforts to help his young cousin with 7th grade math using Yahoo Doodle software and a telephone expanded into demands for his tutorage among family and friends and then turned into a successful effort to simplify complicated topics for students all around the world.

Despite the success of the tutorials, many teachers stress that the videos are only supplements and cannot be replacements for full-time school attendance.
Ultimately speaking on the future of the Academy, Khan expresses his intent to produce “tens of thousands” of tutorials providing “the first free, world-class virtual school where anyone can learn anything.”
To start watching tutorials and to learn more about the Khan Academy, visit the website at: http://www.khanacademy.org

Source : http://www.illumemag.com/zine/articleDetail.php?Gates-Applauds-Khan-Academy-s-Ingenuity-13259

Diet Plans

August 23, 2010 

Once you have worked out a balanced diet for yourself you can then start to think of the things that are not too healthy for you but that you like to eat. For example, I love chocolate, so I make sure to eat a very healthy balanced vegetarian diet and then once a week or so I treat myself to chocolate. I don’t just eat a little bit of chocolate, I eat just how much I want and until I have my chocolate tooth satisfied.

The thing is, you can’t have too much of the junk foods, or candies or unhealthy foods. You can have some but you have to make sure you have a balanced diet filled with nutritious foods.

One other tip I have for staying healthy is, drinking lots and lots of water. Keep yourself thoroughly hydrated.

Once you have worked out a balanced diet for yourself you can then start to think of the things that are not too healthy for you but that you like to eat. For example, I love chocolate, so I make sure to eat a very healthy balanced vegetarian diet and then once a week or so I treat myself to chocolate. I don’t just eat a little bit of chocolate, I eat just how much I want and until I have my chocolate tooth satisfied.

The thing is, you can’t have too much of the junk foods, or candies or unhealthy foods. You can have some but you have to make sure you have a balanced diet filled with nutritious foods.

One other tip I have for staying healthy is, drinking lots and lots of water. Keep yourself thoroughly hydrated.

Once you have worked out a balanced diet for yourself you can then start to think of the things that are not too healthy for you but that you like to eat. For example, I love chocolate, so I make sure to eat a very healthy balanced vegetarian diet and then once a week or so I treat myself to chocolate. I don’t just eat a little bit of chocolate, I eat just how much I want and until I have my chocolate tooth satisfied.

The thing is, you can’t have too much of the junk foods, or candies or unhealthy foods. You can have some but you have to make sure you have a balanced diet filled with nutritious foods.

One other tip I have for staying healthy is, drinking lots and lots of water. Keep yourself thoroughly hydrated.

Source : http://www.damego.com/diet-plans/2

Weight Loss

Dieting Secret Proven by Scientists 

Drink Water to Loose Weight

August 25, 2010

You probably have heard about it and maybe even experienced with it: Drinking water in order to lose weight. Now it is scientifically proven, as reported by discovery.com.The study was actually done some time ago, but only now gained broader publicity.

Photo Credit : Mr. Addi - Water

The results of a recently done study showed, that participants who wanted to loose weight had to drink two cups of water before their meals. This resulted in an average increased weigh loss of about 5 pounds, compared to a group of study participants who just ate their diet meals without drinking additional water.

The two groups were also examined one year after the dietingstudy. The persons who drank additional water had kept more of their weight off. The study was done on adults, but scientist have reason to believe that similar results would be gotten if teenagers would drink more water in addition to their diet.

Why water helps to loose weight is still a matter of discussion. But probably it is just the fact that the body needs to heat up the additional water, combined with the full-feeling. If you drink two glasses of water you usually feel less hungry and as a result you would eat a little less. Also the additional water makes it possible for the digestive system to really digest the food that you eat, which results in less hunger signals after the meals. It takes longer until you feel hungry again.

Source : http://www.damego.com/dieting-secret-proven-by-scientists-drink-water-to-loose-weight/2

BED BUGS

4 Places Bedbugs Hide - and How to Avoid Them

By Jenny Everett, SELF magazine

Bedbugs are all over the news -- and apparently, they're all over these 15 cities. Number one on the list? New York City -- SELF's home base! They've been found in office buildings (thankfully not ours!), hospitals, hotels, theaters and even the Empire State Building. And the bloodsuckers hide in mattresses, furniture, clothing ... blech. Is anyone else suddenly itchy?
But it's not just NYC that's being bitten -- bedbugs are a growing problem nationwide. According to the National Pest Management Association, bedbug-related calls to exterminators have jumped by 81 percent in the last 10 years and 57 percent over the last five years.

The good news is that unless you have serious underlying health issues, the critters aren't likely to make you sick. Still, they gross us out. So we asked Missy Henriksen, Vice President of Public Affairs for the National Pest Management Association, where bedbugs hide and what we can do to steer clear. The top spots:

IN HOTEL ROOMS...

How to avoid the suckers: If you are traveling, thoroughly inspect the entire hotel room before unpacking, including pulling back the sheets, inspecting mattress seams, checking behind the headboard and examining sofas and chairs. If any pests -- or potential evidence of pests -- are spotted, change rooms or hotels, pronto. If you do change rooms, DO not move to an adjacent room or one directly above or below the infestation. Bedbugs are hitchhikers and can move via housekeeping carts, luggage carts, luggage and even through wall sockets.

IN DRESSING ROOMS...

How to avoid the suckers: Bedbugs have proven to have fabulous fashion sense -- recently, they've been found in several popular retail stores. When trying on potential new items, be sure to hang your clothing on hooks rather than lay them then across the cushioned seats in the dressing room or on the carpeted floors.

As much as you want to wear that adorable new top immediately, resist the urge and wash or dry clean it first (bedbugs can't withstand temperatures higher than 113 degrees). This minimizes the potential that you'll bring a bedbug home with you.

ON CRAIGSLIST...

How to avoid the suckers: Do not buy used furniture, especially bedding or upholstered items. If you absolutely MUST have a vintage something or other in your home, find a bug expert who can inspect it for bedbugs or eggs (shudder).

AT THE OFFICE...

How to avoid the suckers: Several prominent New York City offices have been shut down in recent weeks thanks to bedbug infestations. To keep your workspace pest-free, keep clutter to a minimum, vacuum frequently (keep a hand-vac in your cube, if possible) and inspect any packages or deliveries that come your way.

Source : http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/4-places-bedbugs-hide-and-how-to-avoid-them-2371120/print/;_ylt=AnCIksc1wmzun.uozUrcCXNrbqU5