Recent Posts

More
Tweet Share Share Share Share Share

March 03, 2015

Researchers have discovered the first confirmed case of someone contracting a deadly brain-eating amoeba known as Naegleria fowleri through tap water. Prior victims were infected after swimming in warm bodies of freshwater.
[ads-post]
A study published this month in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases reported that a 5-year-old Louisiana boy did, in fact, pick up the microorganism from tap water, possibly via a Slip n’ Slide. About two weeks later, he perished from an infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
[ads-post]
Naegleria fowleri is called the brain-eating amoeba because it can digest neural tissues. Upon entering the body via the nasal passages, N. fowleri penetrates bone between the sinuses and the brain to form an infection, breaking down nerve cells in the process. Ensuing swelling of the brain occurrs, ushering in PAM, which is usually fatal. PAM kills up to eight people per year in the US, usually males with a median age of 12.
The Louisiana boy was taken to a hospital in July 2013 after he acquired a 104-degree Fahrenheit (40° C) fever and complained of a devastating headache, in addition to bouts of vomiting. Doctors later recorded two short “staring episodes,” in which the boy would gaze straight ahead for a few seconds without responding.
The infection, though, could not be identified or halted after several tests and antibiotics. The boy eventually developed seizures, and was declared brain dead. His family took him off life support five days after he entered the New Orleans hospital, according to Newsweek.

His was the first confirmed case to have been triggered by tap or faucet water, and not freshwater immersion, according to study author Jennifer Cope, a medical epidemiologist for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).


Other cases have been the result of drinking water contaminated via a body of freshwater, such as other cases in Louisiana that have pointed to Hurricane Katrina’s effect on the water supply system. Neti pots, or nasal rinses, have been associated with the microorganism as well, such as one case in the US Virgin Islands.

Louisiana has recently increased efforts to test for the amoeba while advising higher levels chlorine in its water treatment operations. The CDC has an emergency drug called miltefosine to combat PAM cases, though it is not commercially available.

Other studies are probing how N. fowleri becomes infectious.
“This is a free-living amoeba that doesn't have to infect anybody, it's perfectly happy feeding on bacteria,” Francine Marciano-Cabral, a microbiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University who is studying the microorganism, said to Newsweek. “What we want to find out is why in some people is it so pathogenic and deadly and what makes it that way?”


Source: Ilknowledge.com 
Read more »
Tweet Share Share Share Share Share

September 08, 2014



Robert Samuel, New York-based founder of Same Ole Line Dudes (SOLD Inc.), will wait for you. Samuel is a “professional line sitter.” He waits for anything, from sample sales to Saturday Night Live tickets. Samuel charges $25 for the first hour and $10 for each additional half hour. In one week, he can make up to $1,000.

Samuel got into this business two years ago, when he lost his job as an AT&T sales representative and needed a new way to make extra cash. When the iPhone 5 came out, he put an advertisement on Craiglist offering to wait in line for it for $100.

 Hours before he purchased the iPhone, Samuel’s original customer cancelled on him, but decided to pay him anyway. Samuel was ready to leave the line, but decided to resell his spot. By 8 a.m. the next day, after 19 hours of waiting, Samuel had earned $325 from selling his spot, inviting his friends to come down and sell their spots, and selling milk crates for $5 a piece to people who were tired of standing.
  Samuel found this venture so profitable that he put a name to it and started SOLD Inc. in December 2012. It’s not his full time job — he also works as a concierge for a luxury building in Brooklyn — but it’s been a venture that he’s hoping to grow.

Samuel’s friends have even chipped in to help. “[They] have turned into my employees, and they pretty much do a great job,” says Samuel. When he gains a new customer, he now sends a mass text out to about a dozen friends to see who wants the job.

One dedicated friend-turned-employee waited in line for a whopping 43 hours for a Shark Tank audition in Denver, earning the company $800.

 More high-paying gigs like that began to roll in when the Cronut craze started last summer in New York City. For $60, Samuel and his line waiters offer to pick up two of the delicious pastries and deliver them straight to their clients. From this service alone, SOLD Inc. can make upwards of $240 per week.

Surprisingly, not all of Samuel’s clients are rich. “It’s all everyday people,” he says. “Sometimes I get a customer who can’t get out of work on time to wait for a movie premiere, or somebody on the Upper East Side who really wants a new Xbox but doesn’t want to stand in the cold for seven hours before it goes on sale. It’s a whole medley.”

Even if Samuel isn’t hired to wait in line for a big event, he will still go, just to hand out business cards. “I’m very grassroots,” he explains. “When there’s a line that goes around the block, I go and work the line.” When he approaches people, he asks them, “Are you hot, tired? Don’t want to do this again? I’ll do it for you.”

Samuel believes there’s no such thing as overpromotion. “You have to consider everybody as a potential customer,” he says. “Even if they don’t take the card, I’ll tell them our name. They can’t unhear it, so I’ll be as vocal as possible. That’s business for us in the long run.”

 Social media works wonders for him as well. “I always tell whoever is working an assignment to send us pictures of where you are,” says Samuel. “We post them to reinforce people’s trust in our company and brand, and we also send the photo to the customer to show what they avoided by hiring us.” In addition, he writes the name of his company in chalk on New York sidewalks, especially in SoHo near the Cronut bakery, sample sale locations, the Apple store, and subway entrances.

In the past, most line waiters were hired off Craigslist or Task Rabbit. Samuel’s company is different because he put a name to it. “It’s not like Joe Smith, some random person you found on Craiglist, is standing in line for you,” says Samuel. “We are the Same Ol Line Dudes — people hear and talk about us, and I’m grateful for that.
Read more »
Tweet Share Share Share Share Share

January 12, 2014
These stones can flash every color of the spectrum with a brilliance that can even surpass that of diamond. Precious opal ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these hues, the reds against black are the most rare, whereas white and greens are the most common.

Some rare specimens produce brilliant color flashes when turned in the light. For instance, a new Opal was discovered in the Welo district of Ethiopia recently, that took the gem world by storm. Found in the Welo Amhara Regional State Highland plateau 2.500 – 3.200 meters above sea level, this new gemstone looks like a miniature underwater scene from the ocean when held against the light. Opals such as the Welo Opal can can command prices per carat that rival the most expensive diamonds, rubies and emeralds.
beautiful of gemstones

beautiful of gemstones

beautiful of gemstones

beautiful of gemstones

beautiful of gemstones

beautiful of gemstones

beautiful of gemstones


Here is another brilliant Opal – the Fire Opal, also called Mexican fire opals because they are found in the state of Querétaro in Mexico. It looks like someone put a sunset inside the stone.
Fire Opal

The Lightning Ridge Black Opal is another stunning example
The Lightning Ridge Black Opal
Read more »
Tweet Share Share Share Share Share

January 10, 2014
When darkness falls on the African savanna, the animals come to life — they play, hunt, rest and mate. British nature photographer Martin Dohrn can capture nocturnal activities, thanks to cameras designed to film the animals without disturbing them. The recordings reveal that, in many cases, the animals’ behavior at night is very different from during the day.

African savanna
Wounded zebra is brought down by lions. The lions may have found the wounded animal by listening for its uneven hoof beats.
African savanna

Hunters in the dark

Spotted hyenas are able hunters and communal social animals. Clans are matriarchal: The alpha female and her cubs outrank all other members. Though hyenas are often viewed as scavengers, studies indicate that they actually kill some 95 percent of their food.


African savanna

Wounded zebra is brought down by lions The thermal camera reveals an inflamed and swollen area on the zebra’s right foreleg. It’s probably the same individual the photographer observed earlier, limping around with its herd. The lions may have found the wounded animal by listening for its uneven hoofbeats.

African savanna

Horned

A row of wildebeests, on the Masai Mara.


African savanna
Cheeky lions practice hippo surfing

A gang of young lions has developed a special sport, terrorizing the local hippos almost every night. The lions hook onto the backs of passersby with their iront claws and use their hind legs to jump along.The playful felines rarely hunt hippos and so do not pose any real danger to them, but the hippos still run panicked toward the river.
African savanna

Giraffes steal a break

During the day, girafies are almost always on foot, but one pitch-black night, a group of the large herbivores lie down to rest for a short while. They probably assume that with no moonlight, the lion threat is minimal.The lightest areas represent the highest temperatures, so the photo reveals that giraffes are very hotbeaded. '
Read more »
Tweet Share Share Share Share Share

January 06, 2014
Google Glass
Google Glass is Google’s attempt to bring Android to your face. Okay, it might not look  like your phone or your tablet, but inside there’s much of the same hardware. It runs on the Android OS, has an ARM CPU, 1GB RAM, 16GB ROM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a five-megapixel camera capable of recording 720p video, a screen (albeit 640x360)  and a micro USB socket for charging. So far, so familiar? What’s very different about Glass is that the screen gives you a viewing experience equivalent to a 25-inch screen from eight feet away and audio is delivered using bone conduction straight to your head. Glass uses a customised user interface optimised for use either by voice or using a touchpad built in to the right arm of the glasses.

Google Glass
There is also a sensor that is likely to be used to perform actions based on blinks and winks. So that’s the technology that’s inside, what is it like to use? The $1500 Google Glass arrives in a very smart box containing the Glass itself, a set of clear snap-on lenses, a set of polarised-tinted
‘sunglass’ lenses, a mono earpiece that plugs into the micro USB port (a stereo set is available for use with Google Music) and, of course, the micro USB charger. Setting up Glass is actually very easy either via the MyGlass app for Android or the Google Glass website. In the app or on the website you are prompted to sign in to your Google account and enter the Wi-Fi credentials for your location. A QR-code (2D barcode) is then displayed on screen. Simply turn on Glass by holding down the power button, put it on and when prompted on the display ‘look’ at the QR-code on your screen. Glass sees it, reads the information, connects to your Wi-Fi and sets itself up. If you are using the MyGlass app on the phone you can also pair via Bluetooth, enabling data connectivity on Glass when out and about (as well as using Glass as a Bluetooth headset). It’s all very easy to use.
As mentioned above, Glass is controlled either by voice or using the touchpad. Glass isn’t always awake and the display isn’t on all the time – either tapping a finger on the touchpad or tilting your head to a predefined angle wakes it. At this point saying ‘Okay Glass’ launches voice control where you can activate individual tasks on the device. Again, the same functionality can be achieved with finger swipes on the arm.


The ability to perform actions without using voice control is important in a noisy environment or where you just don’t want to be seen talking to your glasses. With that said, even without looking like you are talking to yourself, as a brand-new technology, Glass takes a certain level of confidence to wear it out in public. People will look at you strangely, stare, ask you questions, ask to try your glasses on and generally wonder at this technology upon your head. It’s very exciting stuff.

Read more »
Tweet Share Share Share Share Share

December 25, 2013
Usually, once fish eggs are fertilized, they’re on their own. Sea-horse males, however, care for their eggs until they hatch. Seahorses are the only animals in the entire animal kingdom in which the male, not the female gives birth and cares for their young!


After a courtship that unfolds over a period of several days, the female lays her eggs in a brood pouch located on the male’s stomach. The interior of this pouch is lined with soft tissue; once the male fertilises the eggs with his sperm, the pouch serves as an incubator. Gestation can take anywhere from 10 to 45 days, depénding on the species, and during this time the female may pay periodic visits to the male.



When the eggs are ready to hatch, the male goes through  several hours of labor in which forceful contractions expel the tiny babies through a hole in the
brood pouch.


Typically, around 100 to 300 miniature seahorses are released at birth, but among the smaller species, the number may be much lower—in the single digits, even—while in the larger species it can be as high as 1,500 or 2,000. Once the juveniles are in the water, the male’s fatherly instinct ends and they must fend for themselves.


Read more »
Tweet Share Share Share Share Share

December 25, 2013
animals can rain from sky
There are so many thing of nature that are unbelievable for us such as animal rain. It might be bizarre & unbelievable but it is true, since the phenomenon have been reported in many countries throughout history.
It is a rare meteorological phenomenon in which flightless animals "rain" from the sky. The hypothesis is that strong winds traveling over water sometimes pick up creatures such as fish or frogs, and carry them for up to several miles. However, this primary aspect of the phenomenon has never been witnessed or scientifically tested.
The animals most likely to drop from the sky in a rainfall are fish and frogs then birds.


More recently, a scientific explanation for the phenomenon has been developed that involves tornadic waterspouts. 

Waterspouts are capable of capturing objects and animals and lifting them into the air. Under this theory, waterspouts or tornados transport animals to relatively high altitudes, carrying them over large distances. The winds are capable of carrying the animals over a relatively wide area and allow them to fall in a concentrated fashion in a localized area.

This video explains the supernatural phenomenon


Read more »
Tweet Share Share Share Share Share

December 18, 2013

These cows don’t belong to any particular breed. They are show calves, a cross between two different high-quality breeds, bred for bovine show-business. That means that apart from their genetic characteristics, owners go out of their way to make sure the cows look their best. Special feeding, basic manners training and grooming are all part of the show calf world, and believe me when I tell you a lot of effort goes into styling cattle. Just think of them as girls, but with their very own conditioners, hair sprays and lotions. These animals are bred for sale (prices range from 5 up to several tens of thousand of dollars), and often win at various exhibitions).

Fluffy Cows – Bovine have Models too

Fluffy Cows – Bovine have Models too

Fluffy Cows – Bovine have Models too






Read more »
Tweet Share Share Share Share Share

December 18, 2013
Never, Ever Give Up. Arthur's Inspirational Transformation!
Arthur Boorman was a disabled veteran of the Gulf War for 15 years, and was told by his doctors that he would never be able to walk on his own, ever again.
He stumbled upon an article about Diamond Dallas Page doing Yoga and decided to give it a try -- he couldn't do traditional, higher impact exercise, so he tried DDP YOGA and sent an email to Dallas telling him his story.
Dallas was so moved by his story, he began emailing and speaking on the phone with Arthur throughout his journey - he encouraged Arthur to keep going and to believe that anything was possible. Even though doctors told him walking would never happen, Arthur was persistent. He fell many times, but kept going.
Arthur was getting stronger rapidly, and he was losing weight at an incredible rate! Because of DDP's specialized workout, he gained tremendous balance and flexibility -- which gave him hope that maybe someday he'd be able to walk again.
His story is proof, that we cannot place limits on what we are capable of doing, because we often do not know our own potential. Niether Arthur, nor Dallas knew what he would go on to accomplish, but this video speaks for itself. In less than a year, Arthur completely transformed his life. If only he had known what he was capable of 15 years earlier.
Do not waste any time thinking you are stuck - you can take control over your life and change it faster than you might think.
Hopefully this story can inspire you to follow your dreams - whatever they may be.

Anything is Possible! If this story can inspire someone you know, please share it with them!


Read more »
Tweet Share Share Share Share Share

December 16, 2013
math anxiety
UChicago researchers have found that the higher a person’s anxiety about math, the more anticipating math activated areas of the brain related to experiencing pain.
Using brain scans, scholars determined that the brain areas active when highly math-anxious people prepare to do math overlap with the same brain areas that register the threat of bodily harm -- and in some cases, physical pain.


"For someone who has math anxiety, the anticipation of doing math prompts a similar brain reaction as when they experience pain -- say, burning one's hand on a hot stove," said Sian Beilock, professor of psychology at the University of Chicago and a leading expert on math anxiety.


Surprisingly, the researchers found it was the anticipation of having to do math, and not actually doing math itself, that looked like pain in the brain. "The brain activation does not happen during math performance, suggesting that it is not the math itself that hurts; rather the anticipation of math is painful," added Ian Lyons, a 2012 PhD graduate in psychology from UChicago and a postdoctoral scholar at Western University in Ontario, Canada.


The two report their findings in a paper, "When Math Hurts: Math Anxiety Predicts Pain Network Activation in Anticipation of Doing Math," in the current issue of PLoS One.
For the study, the scholars worked with 14 adults who were shown to have math anxiety based on their responses to a series of questions about math. The questions gauged one's anxiety when receiving a math textbook, walking to math class or realizing math requirements for graduation. Additional tests showed that these individuals were not overly anxious in general; instead, their heightened sense of anxiety was specific to math-related situations.


The study volunteers were tested in an fMRI machine, which allowed researchers to examine brain activity as they did math. Volunteers were given mathematics equations to verify -- for example, the validity of the following equation: (12 x 4) -- 19 = 29. While in the fMRI scanner, subjects were also shown short word puzzles. For these puzzles, people saw a series of letters (for example: yrestym) and had to determine if reversing the order of the letters produced a correctly spelled English word.


The fMRI scans showed that the anticipation of math caused a response in the brain similar to physical pain. The higher a person's anxiety about math, the more anticipating math activated the posterior insula -- a fold of tissue located deep inside the brain just above the ear that is associated with registering direct threats to the body as well as the experience of pain. Interestingly, math anxiety levels were not associated with brain activity in the insula or in any other neural region when volunteers were doing math.
The work by Lyons and Beilock suggests that, for those with math anxiety, a painful sense of dread may begin long before a person sits down to take a math test. Previous research has shown that highly math anxious individuals tend to avoid math-related situations and even math-related career paths. The current work suggests that such avoidance stems in part from painful anxiety.


The current work is also consistent with other research from Beilock and Lyons, in which they showed that the mere anticipation of doing mathematics changes functioning in the brains of people with high levels of math anxiety. Beilock's work, supported by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Education, has also shown that mathematics anxiety can begin as early as first grade, and that female elementary school teachers often transmit their math anxiety to their female students.


This latest study points to the value of seeing math anxiety not just as a proxy for poor math ability, but as an indication there can be a real, negative psychological reaction to the prospect of doing math. This reaction needs to be addressed like any other phobia, the researchers said. Rather than simply piling on math homework for students who are anxious about math, students need active help to become more comfortable with the subject, Beilock said. Beilock's work has shown, for instance, that writing about math anxieties before a test can reduce one's worries and lead to better performance.

Beilock is the author of the best-selling book about stress and performance, "Choke: What The Secrets Of The Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To."

Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by University of Chicago. The original article was written by William Harms.


Read more »
Tweet Share Share Share Share Share

December 13, 2013
The jellyfish have a incredible power to glow in the dark, thanks to the phosphor proteins in their bodies - part of the defense mechanism that they use to frighten predators - jellyfish absorb light naturally, and emit it with an ethereal blueish glow when under darkened conditions. these amazing creatures are abundant in in our oceans, living a natural cycle of around six months. the jellyfish are most of the times killed by a form of bacteria attacking them after breeding.


the U.S. firm the Amazing Jellyfish find the ingenious way to use the naturally glowing- in- the dark power of the jellyfish to create the “Bio-luminescence jellyfish lamps”.


In fact, the U.S. firm take the  bioluminescent bodies of creatures that have died of natural causes and encase them in resin, preserving at the same time their bodies and their incredible glow-in-the-dark properties. By freezing the dead body of the jellyfish using the nitrogen liquid, which they then set in crystalline resin that can withstand working at ultra low temperatures - creating a cast of the body, which is set in an ovoid mould shaped like the resulting lamp.


No Extralight is needed, the totally preserved body of the jellyfish store up light during the day and glow softly at night, using the same proteins to glow when the jellyfish was alive .


The jellyfish used in the lamps are are breed in aquarium, which mean that they have a three times longer lifespan.



Read more »
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Powered by Blogger.