When words like 'complex machines' and 'ingenious engineers' are used to describe something, the last thing that comes to mind is the drab mushroom, the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus. But that is exactly what Emilie Dressaire, professor of experimental fluid mechanics from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, is calling them after discovering that these amazing toadstools possess the capability of creating their own microclimate.
Scientists had always believed that like some plants, mushrooms were passive in their reproduction and depended completely on external wind currents to distribute their spores. But given that they are normally found under forest logs or in small moist crevices - places that do not get much wind - there was always the question of how they somehow managed to proliferate so rapidly. Now thanks to the results of a study done on Oyster and Shitake mushrooms, two researchers have finally uncovered their secret.
According to UCLA's Marcus Roper and his colleague Emilie Dressaire, who presented their findings on November 25th at a conference in Pittsburgh, the mushroom takes control of its environment by first releasing water vapor through evaporation, thereby increasing the moisture in the surrounding air.
This has two consequences - Thanks to the energy used in releasing the heat, it helps keep the mushroom cool and moist. But even more importantly, it creates pockets of convection currents or a circular wind pattern around the toadstool. The ingenious fungus uses these self-created wind currents to distribute its spores to surrounding areas to germinate. And though the tests were conducted on only two species, the scientists believe that all fungus have this capability.
If that is not impressive enough, a separate study conducted by some medical University mycologist Ann Pringle, unveiled that some fungi actively shoot spores out at high speeds. This enables millions of the microscopic single-celled seeds to spread over large areas and proliferate.
While Dressaire and Roper's study involved some complex observation with lasers and high-speed filming, this amazing phenomenon can be easily seen in the woods at night, when spores released in great big clouds are visible to the naked eye, using just a flashlight.
Often referred to as the 'dark matter of biology,' because of how little is known about them, mushrooms or fungi are not plants. They have no chlorophyll and hence have no capability of making their own food. Instead, they absorb nutrients from their surrounding environment, which ranges from the bottom of the ocean to the middle of a desert! In fact they are so ubiquitous, that scientists don't even know how many species there are - estimates range anywhere from 600,000 to 6 million!
Source: DOGO
Hummingbirds have long been admired for their striking jewel-like plumage and minute size. With over 356 recognized species, these dainty creatures are found all the way from Alaska to the southernmost part of South America. And though they are the smallest members of the avian community, they have the largest brains (in proportion to their bodies) and are known to be quite smart! A hummingbird will remember every flower it has ever visited, and how long the plant will take to refill with nectar.
But hummingbirds aren't just beauty and brains - they have some impressive and unique physical traits as well. They boast the highest metabolic rate of all vertebrates, burning energy at about 10 times the rate of a star athlete at his/her peak, and 100 times that of an elephant! With a heart that pulses between 250 and 1,260 times per minute and wings that beat between 70 and 200 times per second, the hummingbird needs copious amounts of oxygen to support its cardiovascular system.
It is for this reason that scientists were surprised to discover over 100 species of the birds living in the Andean Highlands, a mountainous, oxygen-poor region in South America. What was even more astonishing is that some were found as high as 16,000 feet above sea level, an area that has almost no oxygen.
Puzzled as to how the birds are able to thrive in such a rarefied atmosphere, Christopher Witt an ornithologist at the University of New Mexico and Jay Storz, a geneticist at The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, decided to investigate.
They began by collecting blood and tissue samples of 10 species of hummingbirds from colonies that live at varying elevations. What they found was that in order to take maximum advantage of the thin Andean air, the hummingbirds had all adapted by increasing the oxygen trapping abilities of the hemoglobin in their red blood cells.
What was even more surprising was that when the scientists reconstructed the ancestral profile of each species, they found that each breed had colonized separately. This means that they had developed the nearly identical mutation independently and not by interbreeding. As Storz succinctly put it, "Natural selection has hit upon the same solutions time and time again."
The team then set out to compare the DNA of 63 hummingbird species to investigate how these adaptive oxygen-binding traits appeared at the molecular level. That is because very often adaptations that look similar in nature, prove very different at a genetic level. But such was not the case here. It seems that in the high-altitude hummingbirds, the mutation that altered their hemoglobin occurred in the same two amino-acid sites in their DNA sequence.
Source: DOGO
The Learning Process: From Theory into Practice
Since the above may sound like a bunch of malarkey for busy teachers in public schools, following are some takeaways for putting all this theory into practice.
1. Use Learning Taxonomies
Use learning taxonomies -- and not just one -- to illuminate understanding more clearly. Seek out multiple resources to guide your instructional design. This should include assessment. Move beyond "pass or fail," or even "A-F," to "can define and apply, but has trouble analyzing."
2. Use Concept Maps
Use concept maps, and use them a lot. Have students map, chart, diagram or otherwise visually represent their own learning pathways and changes in their own understanding. Find ways for them to express what they do and don't understand, where they started, where they are, and where they might be going.
3. Use a Variety of Assessment Forms
If this is the only way you personalize learning, give it a shot. Assess student performances, writing, concept maps, drawings, interviews, projects, or maybe quick Instagram videos followed by short written responses. You can even allow students to choose their own assessment as you challenge them to prove not just if they get it, but how.
4. Build Metacognition into Units
Prime the pump by assigning students quick writing prompts about their own thinking. Model what metacognition looks/sounds/feels like. Have students share their thinking. Allow them to express themselves and their thinking away from the pressure of the classroom and the expectations of verbal eloquence. Add it to rubrics.
5. Use Digital Portfolios
Not only should you set students up with these online repositories for digital artifacts, you should frequently review what goes into them. Analyze the changes you see in student work, including content knowledge.
6. Connect Students to Networks
As students connect to networks, the learning process will plug them in, not just to one teacher, or 25 classmates, or eight texts, but to something much larger -- and more able to interact with students organically. Direct them toward communities and resources that can help move them toward knowing and understanding.
Source: eduTopia
If you teach teenagers (or maybe you have/had one at home), you know that they can be…well, forgetful. When you ask if they need something, they adamantly say no, but suddenly they remember they need to be somewhere in five minutes/they have a paper due tomorrow morning/they need money for a school trip and it is due in an hour/they’re going to be out tomorrow. Sound familiar? Well, don’t worry – you’re not the only one noticing this!
As it turns out, this forgetfulness is not just because they want to drive you (and everyone else?) nuts – there are a lot of changes going on in teenaged brains that may be causing this – and it can last into the college years. Mia MacMeekin and David Wilcox have teamed up to create an awesome infographic that takes a look at why teens forget so much, a bit of the science behind it, and some ideas on how you can help. It’s a great little guide for bringing some order and organization into your classroom filled with teenagers, but also a great reminder that they aren’t just trying to drive you up a wall (for those times when you might want to strangle them!).
Why Are Teenagers So Forgetful?
The Science
- Changes occur in three areas of the brain during the teenage years – the cerebellum, the prefrontal cortex, and the limbic cortex
- These changes are referred to as ‘blossoming’ (age 11-14) and ‘pruning’ (age 14-25)
- The prefrontal cortex controls things like: alertness, attention, planning, working memory, and regulation of social behavior
- The cerebellum controls things like: balance, motor coordination, recognition of social cues
- The limbic cortex controls things like: emotion, attention, memory, and emotions
So What Happens?
- The teenage years are often known as the ‘use it or lose it’ years due to this synaptic pruning
- The changes in the brain impact memory and attention
- This brain ‘reorganization’ is complex, and adds extra strain on the teenager’s brain
- Teen brains are losing about 30,000 connections per second
- A teenager’s brain needs to reconnect with information it once found easy to locate
- The circadian shift impacts sleep and information retention
What Can You Do?
- Love, forgive, encourage
- Experiment – what works for one teen may not work for another, so try a number of avenues
- Let them take healthy risks
- Help create systems and routines
- Create order
- Be actively involved
- Teens need at least 9.5 hours of sleep per night
- Acknowledge wins, build on losses, allow natural consequences
- Minimise ‘business’
- Let them be emotional
Source: Edudemic
Sometimes, we go about our day in a haze of habits, whether we realize it or not. From the order in which we shower and get coffee in the morning to a before bed ‘ritual’, we tend to do many things more automatically than we realize. Sometimes a little reminder or a word of motivation can help us to take a step out off the train of automatic and bring something new, great, and exciting to the table.
That’s what I was thinking when I saw the handy infographic below. The 1-3 word letter associations are simple things. Some of them are specific activities that you can engage in – like ‘build a network’. Others are things you can try to commit to memory and think about throughout the day to change up the way you’re thinking, feeling, and working.
Even for the more specific activities, if you attempt to take that idea into account throughout your day, you’ll likely end up doing something a little bit different to get you to your end goal. Let’s say you’re working on building a network and you’re invited out to drinks with colleagues after work. Maybe your normal answer is an automatic ‘no, thanks’. But when you think about the importance of building a network, you’re reminded that a little colleague socialization can be a good thing!
Improve Your Learning From A to Z
- A – Be Accountable
- B – Believe in yourself
- C- Connect the dots
- D- Deconstruct new skills
- E- Engage with others
- F- Focused practice
- G- Get started
- H- Hypothesize, test, and adjust
- I- Use your Imagination
- J- Find Joy in learning
- K- Personal Knowledge Management
- L- Listen more
- M- Make space
- N- Build a network
- O- Observe
- P- Find a passion
- Q- Question assumptions
- R- Rest
- S- Use Spaced repetition
- T- Tinker with things
- U- Unlearn and relearn
- V- Be Vulnerable
- W- Be Willing to fail
- X- eXercise regularly
- Y- Yield
- Z- Zigzag
Source: Edudemic
There are 10,000 children under 14 living with cancer in the UK, say Macmillan Cancer Support and the National Cancer Intelligence Network, which looks at national cancer numbers.
Macmillan says this is the first time this group has been quantified.
The figures suggest more boys are affected than girls and the most commonly diagnosed children's cancer is leukaemia.
Children with cancer need more support after treatment ends, the charity says.
The figures were calculated using information collected by cancer registries and the National Cancer Data Repository from 1991-2010 for England, Scotland and Wales and 1993-2010 for Northern Ireland.
They show that around 1,000 under-14s are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK and with many of those surviving for five years or more, Macmillan and the NICN estimate that 9,936 are currently living with a cancer diagnosis.
Roughly 20% more boys than girls get cancer, which equates to 5,428 boys and 4,508 girls with cancer in the UK.
Although survival rates for childhood cancers have improved significantly in the past 40 years in line with improving treatments, children who survive can have an increased risk of other health issues, such as growth and development problems, and heart and lung conditions.
They can also sometimes be at risk of developing secondary cancers.
'Lost in system'
Macmillan says child cancer survivors can also find it difficult to fit in at school because of their experience.
A survey of more than 200 parents of children with cancer found that 18% said their child lost confidence or was anxious about returning to school after their cancer treatment.
Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said that the impact of cancer "does not stop when treatment ends".
"More must be done to support the thousands of children living with cancer in the UK. Far too often they end up lost in the healthcare system and are not receiving appropriate and timely follow-up care.
"Adult specialists and GPs need to know how to manage the side-effects and lifestyle changes that can affect those treated as children."
Dr Michael Peake, clinical lead for the National Cancer Intelligence Network, said: "To my knowledge this is the first time such data have been available in the world and it certainly quantifies the burden children with cancer and their families have to bear."
He added: "It will also help support the NHS to plan how it should deliver the optimum level of expert care for these children as they grow up."
Dr Sarah Hazell, Cancer Research UK's science communications officer, said almost three-quarters of children diagnosed with cancer were now cured, an increase from around a quarter in the late 1960s.
"But more needs to be done to ensure all children survive, and that we continue to work towards making treatments better and kinder.
"At Cancer Research UK we are currently supporting 23 different trials into children's cancer to make this happen. As more and more children survive, it is especially important that we improve their quality of life after cancer."
Source: BBC
Researchers at Swansea University say a fungus could be the key to controlling mosquitoes.
Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae lives in soil and kills a whole range of insects and researchers say it also affects mosquito larvae if added to the water where the insect breeds.
The insects carry diseases such as yellow fever and malaria.
According to the World Health Organisation malaria causes 800,000 deaths a year world-wide.
The team at Swansea University's department of bioscience said initial trials are very promising.
"The fungus occurs in soil and kills a whole range of insects but we've put it in the water where mosquito larvae breed and it is ingested by the insect and they die," team member Professor Tariq Butt told BBC Radio Wales.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
It's quite nice that we're killing three of the major species of mosquito transmitting a whole range of diseases”
Prof Tariq Butt Swansea University
"Normally what happens is the fungus attaches to its hosts, germinates and penetrates the body of the insect, colonises the insect and in the process the insect dies.
"But, in this case it doesn't germinate it just stays as spores packed in the body, in the gut, of the insect where it causes stress which activates a number of genes which trigger a whole range of responses leading to the death of the insect."
Malaria and yellow fever
Further research is now needed to see how the fungus can be introduced as initially it was hoped it would be passed from one insect to another, he added.
"In the past we were hoping the fungus was going to emerge from the body of the insect then the spores would be carried over to the healthy larvae and create an epidemic, but now what we're seeing is we'd have to apply the fungus frequently," he added.
The hope is the research will find a way to control the insect which spreads diseases such as malaria and yellow fever.
"It is reported that 300 children die each hour in Africa because of Malaria, but other diseases which are emerging such as dengue (fever) results in thousands of deaths reported across the world and also some of these diseases have been reported in Europe," said Prof Butt.
"We've done a number of trials and it looks very, very promising. Also, it's quite nice that we're killing three of the major species of mosquito transmitting a whole range of diseases."
Source: BBC
Agribusiness is in a mad rush to take over the earth, and seems willing to stop at nothing. Coming soon is cabbage with scorpion poison engineered in every cell. Of course, they claim it's safe and will result in less pesticide use, but history and logic say otherwise. Who will wake from the insane mating between Agribiz and GMOs?
Get ready for genetically engineered cabbages that come complete with their own scorpion poison, just for you to eat. It's touted as requiring less pesticide use and being, of course, completely safe. Close investigation, though, indicates that neither claim is likely true.
A pesticide made with scorpion poison genetically engineered into a virus was first tested back in 1994. Interestingly, the scientists who sprayed the test field wore full body suits to protect them from this "harmless" poison. One must wonder at just how safe it could be when the developers themselves don't trust it more than that! Of course, the head of the trial, Professor David Bishop, insisted that the trial was safe—though he himself opted to take a vacation, rather than be there for it.
In the newer incarnation of scorpion poison genetic engineering, genes from the scorpion, Androctonus australus hector, for production of poison are being genetically engineered into cabbages. The goal is to produce them for public consumption. With the FDA's history of rubberstamp approvals for genetically modified crops, it seems unlikely that anything will interfere with their production and entry into a supermarket near you.
Let's examine the justifications given for this never-to-be-found-in-nature cabbage-scorpion chimera:
1. It will result in the use of less pesticide.
At first blush, this seems to make sense. But it's specious reasoning. The reality is that, instead of spraying pesticides onto the plants, the plants will contain them in every single cell. The result is that the pesticide will end up in the bodies of people who eat the cabbage. Thus, human beings will become the unofficial pesticide sinks, instead of the environment. I suppose there's a plus in that, but I do not personally intend to be one of those pesticide sinks. Do you?
2. It's completely safe.
Where have we heard that before? In this instance it stems from two things:
- The scorpion venom has been modified so that it won't hurt humans: This isn't quite true. What they've done is select a section of the genome that codes for a toxin, called AAiT, which is known to be poisonous to insects.
- A study that purports to show that it does no harm to humans[2]: Well ... not exactly. The human testing was not performed on live people, nor was it performed on normal healthy cells. It was tested on MCF-7 breast cancer cells—not exactly normal human cells. Do you find that comforting? I certainly don't.
Source: GMI
The future of cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment will not be found in your medicine cabinet, rather in your kitchen cupboard or in your back yard growing on a tree.
Pomegranate Found To Prevent Coronary Artery Disease Progression
A new study published in the journal Atherosclerosis confirms that pomegranate extract may prevent and/or reverse the primary pathology associated with cardiac mortality: the progressive thickening of the coronary arteries caused by the accumulation of fatty materials known as atherosclerosis.
Mice with a genetic susceptibility towards spontaneous coronary artery blockages were given pomegranate extract via their drinking water for two weeks, beginning at three weeks of age. Despite the fact that pomegranate treatment actually increased cholesterol levels associated with very low density lipoprotein-sized particles, the treatment both reduced the size of the atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic sinus (the dilated opening above the aortic valve) and reduced the proportion of coronary arteries with occlusive atherosclerotic plaques.
Remarkably, the researchers also found that pomegranate extract treatment resulted in the following beneficial effects:
- Reduced levels of oxidative stress
- Reduced monocytie chemotactic protein-1, a chemical messenger (chemokine) associated with inflammatory processes within the arteries.
- Reduced lipid accumulation in the heart muscle
- Reduced macrophage infiltration in the heart muscle
- Reduced levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and fibrosis in the myocardium
- Reduced cardiac enlargement
- Reduced ECG abnormalities
How can something as benign and commonplace as a fruit extract reverse so many aspects of coronary artery disease, simultaneously, as evidenced by the study above? The answer may lie in the fact that our ancestors co-evolved with certain foods (fruits in particular) for so long that a lack of adequate quantities of these foods may directly result in deteriorating organ function. Indeed, two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling argued that vitamin C deficiency is a fundamental cause of cardiovascular disease, owing to the fact that our hominid primate ancestors once had year-round access to fruits, and as a result lost the ability to synthesize it.
Discussion
This study adds to the already extant body of clinical research indicating that pomegranate can help unclog your arteries. For instance, back in 2004, the journal Clinical Nutrition published the results of a three year clinical trial in an Israeli population, finding that the daily consumption of pomegranate juice reversed carotid artery stenosis by up to 29% within 1 year. Remarkably, the blockages in the control group increased 9%, indicating that pomegranate's artery unblocking effects were even greater than at first apparent.
Pomegranate's value in cardiovascular disease is quite broad, as evidenced by the following experimentally confirmed properties:
- Anti-inflammatory: Like many chronic degenerative diseases, inflammation plays a significant role in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis. There are five studies on GreenMedInfo.com indicating pomegranate's anti-inflammatory properties.[iii]
- Blood-Pressure Lowering: Pomegranate juice has natural angiotensin converting enzyme inhibiting properties, [iv] and is a nitric oxide enhancer, two well-known pathways for reducing blood pressure. [v] Finally, pomegranate extract rich in punicalagin has been found reduce the adverse effects of perturbed stress on arterial segments exposed to disturbed flow.[vi]
- Anti-Infective: Plaque buildup in the arteries often involves secondary viral and bacterial infection, including hepatitis C and Chlamydia pneumoniae.[vii] Pomegranate has a broad range of anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.
- Antioxidant: One of the ways in which blood lipids become heart disease-promoting (atherogenic) is through oxidation. LDL, for instance, may be technically 'elevated' but harmless as long as it does not readily oxidize. Pomegranate has been found to reduce the oxidative stress in the blood, as measured by serum paraoxonase levels. One study in mice found this decrease in oxidative stress was associated with 44% reduction in the size of atherosclerotic lesions.
Source: GMI
Americans are slowly waking up to the sad fact that much of the food sold in the US is far inferior to the same foods sold in other nations. In fact, many of the foods you eat are BANNED in other countries.
Here, I’ll review 5 American foods that are banned elsewhere.
Seeing how the overall health of Americans is so much lower than other industrialized countries, you can’t help but wonder whether toxic foods such as these might play a role in our skyrocketing disease rates.
BANNED FOODS
1: Milk and Dairy Products Laced with rBGH
Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is the largest selling dairy animal drug in America. RBGH is a synthetic version of natural bovine somatotropin (BST), a hormone produced in cows’ pituitary glands. Monsanto developed the recombinant version from genetically engineered E. coli bacteria and markets it under the brand name “Posilac.”
It’s injected into cows to increase milk production, but it is banned in at least 30 other nations because of its dangers to human health, which include an increased risk for colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer by promoting conversion of normal tissue cells into cancerous ones. Non-organic dairy farms frequently have rBGH-injected cows that suffer at least 16 different adverse health conditions, including very high rates of mastitis that contaminate milk with pus and antibiotics.
Where it’s banned: Australia, New Zealand, Israel, EU and Canada
2: Genetically Engineered Papaya
Most Hawaiian papaya is now genetically engineered to be resistant to ringspot virus. Mounting research now shows that animals fed genetically engineered foods, such as corn and soy, suffer a wide range of maladies, including intestinal damage, multiple-organ damage, massive tumors, birth defects, premature death, and near complete sterility by the third generation of offspring. Unfortunately, the gigantic human lab experiment is only about 10 years old, so we are likely decades away from tabulating the human casualties.
Where it’s banned: The European Union
3: Ractopamine-Tainted Meat
The beta agonist drug ractopamine (a repartitioning agent that increases protein synthesis) was recruited for livestock use when researchers found that the drug, used in asthma, made mice more muscular. This reduces the overall fat content of the meat. Ractopamine is currently used in about 45 percent of US pigs, 30 percent of ration-fed cattle, and an unknown percentage of turkeys are pumped full of this drug in the days leading up to slaughter. Up to 20 percent of ractopamine remains in the meat you buy from the supermarket, according to veterinarian Michael W. Fox.
Where it’s banned: 160 countries across Europe, Russia, mainland China and Republic of China (Taiwan)
4: Flame Retardant Drinks
If you live in the US and drink Mountain Dew and some other citrus-flavored sodas and sports drinks, then you are also getting a dose of a synthetic chemical called brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which was originally patented by chemical companies as a flame retardant.
BVO has been shown to bioaccumulate in human tissue and breast milk, and animal studies have found it causes reproductive and behavioral problems in large doses. Bromine is a central nervous system depressant, and a common endocrine disruptor. It’s part of the halide family, a group of elements that includes fluorine, chlorine and iodine. When ingested, bromine competes for the same receptors that are used to capture iodine. This can lead to iodine deficiency, which can have a very detrimental impact on your health. Bromine toxicity can manifest as skin rashes, acne, loss of appetite, fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Where it’s banned: Europe and Japan
5: Bread with Potassium Bromate
You might not be aware of this, but nearly every time you eat bread in a restaurant or consume a hamburger or hotdog bun you are consuming bromide, as it is commonly used in flours. The use of potassium bromate as an additive to commercial breads and baked goods has been a huge contributor to bromide overload in Western cultures.
Where it’s banned: Canada, China and the EU
Source: Eatlocalgrown
Want to apply to study for a university degree in the UK? Wherever you live in the world, places for international students are growing every year. Unlike home students, whose places are quite strictly capped, places for international students can be more plentiful, particularly at the more popular universities. And just because you aren’t resident in the UK, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can’t apply to uni through university clearing.
What is UCAS clearing?
This is a system operated by UCAS, the UK organisation that processes all applications for university places. It runs after the standard application cycle has closed, from June 30 each year, up to around the 20th September.
You can apply through clearing as an international student if you:
- Have not made an application through UCAS at all. Simply go onto the UCAS website and start the application process. This will be routed automatically through clearing.
- Have made an application through the standard application cycle but you do not hold any offer from a British university. It doesn’t matter whether your choices declined you or you rejected them. If you have no offer, you can make an application through clearing.
Using UCAS track for clearing
Once you are in the UCAS system you will have your log in details and you need to check the progress of your application in UCAS track. If you are already in the system, this will show whether you are eligible for clearing. If you are, follow the link to start your clearing application.
How to choose a course/university for clearing
It makes little difference when you start your application – whether it’s earlier in the year or after clearing has started, you still need to research your course and the place you wish to go to.
International students can access university websites and course information on UCAS from anywhere in the world and your own college or school should have tutors who can provide you with help and advice.
If you have any questions, email the university you are interested in and you will receive specific information within a few days.
Once clearing has started, the UCAS website has a list of course places still available but remember that the lists for home students and international students are different. During clearing 2012, many courses had only limited places available for UK students but there were still hundreds available for students coming into the UK from elsewhere in the world, particularly those outside Europe.
The process of clearing for international students
The rules of clearing are much the same for an international student as for a home student. You can make only one clearing application at once; you need to find out if you’ve been accepted or rejected before you can make a second application.
Once you have been offered a place, you can choose to accept or decline it.
How long does clearing operate?
Just the few weeks that cover July, August and the first three weeks in September. If you apply after the 20th September, your application will go into the cycle for entry into courses beginning in the autumn of the following year.
Source: Uniguru
Rice bran oil is the oil extracted from the oily layer in between the paddy husk and the white rice(polished rice). It is nutritionally superior edible oil providing immense benefits for the heart and general health which is one reason why the Japanese call it the 'heart oil', Diabetic Living India magazine reported.
According to human clinical studies conducted in the University of Lowell, the oil has significantly better cholesterol lowering properties compared to other popular oils. Scientists have attributed this to presence of Oryzanol in the oil.
Source: MedIndia
Researchers at University of Adelaide reveal that they have discovered the first evidence that the nerves in the stomach act as a circadian clock through which the stomach sends signals to the brain about when to eat food.
"What we've found is that the nerves in the gut are at their least sensitive at time periods associated with being awake. This means more food can be consumed before we feel full at times of high activity, when more energy is required. However, with a change in the day-night cycle to a period associated with sleeping, the nerves in the stomach become more sensitive to stretch, signaling fullness to the brain quicker and thus limiting food intake. This variation repeats every 24 hours in a circadian manner, with the nerves acting as a clock to coordinate food intake with energy requirements", lead researcher Dr Stephen Kentish said.
Source: MedIndia
As Nelson Mandela says, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Education is the key to eliminating gender inequality, to reducing poverty, to creating a sustainable planet, to preventing needless deaths and illness, and to fostering peace. And in a knowledge economy, education is the new currency by which nations maintain economic competitiveness and global prosperity.
Education is an investment, and one of the most critical investments we can make. This is true not only for the United States, but for countries around the world.
Today, around the globe, an estimated 61 million primary-aged children are out of school, almost half of them in conflict-affected poor countries. Too often, even those students who do go to school finish without basic literacy and numeracy skills: it is estimated that 250 million children cannot read, write or count well.
Finding the right accommodation is one of the major challenges that overseas students face. While there is a variety of options available, choosing the one that fits your requirements is not always easy. As an Medical students, it's important to plan for some form of temporary accommodation before you travel.
This will give you enough time to look at the various options available and look for a more permanent place to live. You’re learning institution might be able to assist or you can look up hostels and book online. Many institutions partner with other institutions to help students find accommodation and also inquire about the various options offered by your institution. Below are tips to help you find the right accommodation as an international student.
Cost
This is the major factor you should consider when looking for accommodation as an international student. Different services charge differently and it's up to you to find a service you can afford.
Location
Opt for places near your institution for easy access and reduction of transportation costs. Also, choose an accommodation that is easily accessible using both public and private means.
Security
This is an important factor when looking for a place to stay as an overseas student. Ensuring your security should be your number one priority as you look for a place to live. Do your homework and look for a secure place.
Contract
Many accommodation providers require tenants to sign a contract binding them to certain terms and conditions. Such contracts usually spell out the various rules to be observed whilst staying in the facility and there may also be a penalty for breaking such rules. Make sure you clearly understand all the terms specified and you are happy with them. A contract also specifies the length of period you are going to stay. Make sure the contract fits your study period as most times lengthening the stay period is impossible since other students may have booked to use the service.
Accessibility To Amenities
The right accommodation should be near basic social amenities such as restaurants, transport, hospitals, recreational facilities and other important amenities. As an international student, you need such amenities close by since you are new to the country and may have no idea where to find such services.
Mix Of Students And Adequacy Of Space In The Accommodation
You may need to share accommodation with other international or local students. The students may be undergraduates and postgraduates. Before arriving, check who you will be sharing the space with in order to help manage your expectations. Also, find out if the space is adequate for you and the other students.
Services Offered
Different accommodation facilities offer different services. To help you choose the right accommodation you should ask about which facilities are offered. Some offer catering, laundry and extra rooms among other services. Choose a facility with the services you need and at rates you can afford.
Source: Uniguru
A large number of international students, including Indian, choose to head for the USA education. Almost 4 % of the students going for higher education in USA are international ones. This has made USA the country with the largest population of international students. USA gives ample opportunity to Indian students to widen their knowledge, education and life experience.
If you are an Indian student planning for education in USA, you need to think over a lot of matters. The first step would certainly be the selection of a good and cost effective schools and colleges. The next big decision you need to make is to choose the city where you would reside. USA is an expensive country, particularly for the Indian students. The city, you would choose, should be cheap from all aspects like living costs, transportation costs, healthcare costs and the likes.
Low Living Costs are quite important for Indian Students in USA
Below appears the list of the 10 most cost effective cities for Indian students to reside in. Five of these are located in the states of Arkansas and Texas.
1. Idaho Falls, Idaho
Living costs: 12% below the average
The housing expenses of this city are below the average national expenses, by 29.2 %. The resident of Idaho Falls can afford to get big things at small budgets. The aspect of affordable housing results in low living costs in this small city. As a student, you would perhaps go for renting a house, and this is a city which offers you quite low rental prices, which is about only $655 per month, on average. The nation wide rental price is about $870. Even vegetables like potatoes are extremely cheap in this city, which is about 26% lesser than the national average price.
2. Conway, Ark.
Living costs: 12.1% below the average.
This city is located to the north of Little Rock by 30 miles. You will find this city a world away in terms of living costs. Each and every facility like utilities, healthcare and others are cheaper in this city as compared to the state capital. The doctor’s bill amount is lesser than the average by 17%, optical checkup by 19% and dental checkup, by 23%.
3. Springfield, Ill.
Living costs: 12.3% below the average
The median home value is about 39% below the median of US. In case, you wish to purchase a home, you can get one at a price that is half of that in Chicago. Utilities costs are quite low like phone service charges, electricity bills and the likes. They are about 15.2% lower than the national average.
4. Pueblo, Colo.
Living costs: 12.9% below the average
This is a small city located in southern Colorado, at a distanced of 100 miles from the city of Denver. The median value of home is half than the state’s average costs. The city’s median household income is about 34% lesser than that of the nation, and hence, it is the city with the lowest median household income in this list.
5. Wichita Falls, Texas
Living costs: 13.6% below the average
In this list, this city has the second-lowest values of home. The rental prices are also quite low. This city has relatively lower unemployment rates.
6. Fayetteville, Ark:
Living costs: 14% below the average:
This cost effective city is located in Arkansas, at its north western corner. This city comprises of the University of Arkansas, which serves as a major local employer. The people of this city do not have huge salaries, but the unemployment is certainly below average. Costs of housing, utility and transportation are quite low.
7. Memphis, Tenn
Living costs: 14% below the average
This is a big city, but it is not big in terms of prices. It is located near the Mississippi river; and hence, is a hub for transportation and shipping industries. This city consists of three companies of Fortune 500. It also includes numerous universities and colleges.
8. Norman, Okla.:
Living costs: 14.4% below the average
Norman is a city comprising of high incomes, low living costs and low unemployment. Healthcare and housing aspects are particularly affordable. Rental prices and doctor visit charges are also quite low.
9. McAllen, Texas
Living costs: 14.6% below the average
This city has high rates of unemployment, but has considerably low living costs, groceries costs and housing costs.
10. Harlingen, Texas
Living costs: 18.2% below the average
This city has ultra-low costs of living. Housing and groceries are remarkably cheap. You will find very few cities that have cheaper groceries than this city.
This list of the cost effective cities can help you decide the place to reside in, for your education in USA. The low living costs can make life a lot easy for you as a student at USA.
When Indian students plan to go to the USA for education, they need to carefully select a cost effective city, to live in the USA.
Source: Uniguru
If you are on the lookout for some excellent GMAT preparation materials, here are the present top ten guide books for the GMAT that you may want to invest in, for a promisingly high score.
1. The Official Guide for GMAT Review
This guidebook has been created by GMAT’s official creators and is considered an absolute must-have for GMAT prep. It comprises a general overview of the test, 907 real GMAT questions and a diagnostic review. The Integrated Reasoning Section of its test has an online component with 50 questions for additional practice. Of all the guide books available, this one is the only one that contains actual GMAT questions - making it one of the best possible sources of GMAT prep.
2. Manhattan GMAT Complete Strategy Guide Set
The guidebook, Manhattan GMAT Complete Strategy Guide Set, will provide you with a thorough and complete set of strategies for good GMAT preparation. The set includes 10 well written books, including GMAT Roadmap; Algebra; Fractions, Decimals, and Percents; Geometry; Critical Reasoning; Sentence Correction; Integrated Reasoning and Essay; Word Problems. The set also offers many online resources that is inclusive of 1,000 practice questions with answers. This is one of the best comprehensive GMAT preparation materials available in the market.
3. Complete GMAT Course Set – 12 Books (Veritas Prep GMAT Series)
This GMAT study guide is basically the Veritas prep course without the instructor. It comprises a set of 12 books that includes Arithmetic; Foundations of GMAT Logic; Critical Reasoning; Sentence Correction; Algebra; Data Sufficiency; Advanced Verbal Strategy; Advanced Word Problems; Analytical Writing Assessment and Integrated Reasoning; Statistics and Combinatorics.
4. Kaplan GMAT Premier 2014 with 6 Practice Tests
This guide book will provide you with a good introduction to the GMAT test and helps students familiarise themselves with the structure and the mechanisms of the test. The book offers thorough coverage of the test’s Verbal and Math sections and takes you in depth through Integrated Reasoning. It offers 6 GMAT tests, of which five are online and the other one in the book; video lessens; digital versions of the book to be viewed on iPads, smart phones, and computers.
5. The GMAT Roadmap: Expert Advice Through Test Day
This guidebook provides you with an introduction to the GMAT and will give you a thorough knowledge of all that is required for a top score. This is considered to be among the top guides when it comes to GMAT prep. Starting from study tips to timing to even the best kind of diet for GMAT preparation, this book truly gives you the complete preparation experience. It has six computer based tests and also provides advice on how to handle each and every kind of question you will find in the test.
6. The PowerScore GMAT Critical Reasoning Bible
As the name suggests, this guide book is for critical reasoning and is the best possible book for it. This book was written by an ex-LSAT instructor and the kind of explanations this book has are easy to follow. The author has broken down the different varieties of critical reasoning questions and given out specific techniques on how to master each one. It may not have a huge number of practice questions but it’s still is a fantastic buy for those looking to improve in critical reasoning.
7. Total GMAT Math
Total GMAT Math is the best comprehensive mathematical guide you could possible find in the market for the GMAT. It takes you in-depth into different sort of mathematical questions and covers various methods and ways of solving each one. This book has over 300 practice problems for you to work on and also more than 500 non-GMAT style exercises which are useful. It offers endless tips, detailed coverage, and numerous insightful strategies for different kinds of questions.
8. Advanced GMAT Quant
The Advanced GMAT Quant is an excellent condensed study material that gives you all you need to know to perform excellently in the quantitative section of the GMAT. This is mainly focused on bettering those who score over 70% on an average in this section. Its chapters cover numerous topics including Problem Solving Tactics & Strategies; Problem Solving Principles; Data Sufficiency Strategy & Tactics; Hybrid Problems; Pattern Questions. Its final chapter comprises 150 questions in its “workout sets.” Those looking to score high in quant should definitely get their hands on this book.
9. The PowerScore GMAT Verbal Bible
The PowerScore GMAT Verbal Bible is for those who would like to quickly master the verbal section of the GMAT. It offers detailed explanations and strategies for scoring well in the section and has 125 practice questions and 85 drills. These drills offered are aimed at helping students master various strategies required for the verbal section.
10. Kaplan GMAT Verbal Workbook
The Kaplan GMAT Verbal Workbook is considered an “all-in-one guide” of the GMAT’s verbal section. It gives out effective advice on how to master the GMAT’s verbal component and has a grammar guide and provides numerous practice questions.
Source: uniguru
A new study finds viewing other people exercise increases heart rate and other physiological measures as if you were working out yourself.
The study, published in the international journal Frontiers in Autonomic Neuroscience, showed that when watching a first person video of someone else running, heart rate, respiration, skin blood flow and sweat release all increased.
They returned to normal at the conclusion of the "jog".
Researchers said that importantly, for the first time, it was shown that muscle sympathetic nerve activity increased when people watched physical activity.
"Recording this nerve activity provides a very sensitive measure of the body's physiological responses to physical or mental stress," said one of the lead researchers Vaughan Macefield, from the School of Medicine at the University of Western Sydney.
"We know that the sympathetic nervous system -- which supplies the heart, sweat glands and blood vessels, as well as other tissues -- increases its activity during actual exercise.
"Now we have shown that it increases when you are watching a moving scene as if you were running yourself."
During the medical study, very fine needles were inserted into an outer nerve of nine volunteers to record the electrical signals of nerve fibres directed to blood vessels, providing a very sensitive measure of the body's physiological responses to physical or mental stress.
The participants were initially shown a static image on a computer screen while the researchers monitored their muscle sympathetic nerve activity and other physiological parameters.
These measurements remained constant while watching the non-moving landscape image, but that changed when shown a 22-minute video shot by a runner on a vigorous jog.
"Although these changes were small, they were all appropriate physiological responses to exercise," said Rachael Brown, who conducted the study with Macefield, considered a top world expert in recording human sympathetic neurones in health and disease.
"As the volunteers were sitting relaxed with no muscle activity it indicates that the responses were psychogenic -- that is they originated from the mind and not the body.
"This dovetails with our recent work on the emotions, where we found that viewing emotionally charged images, such as erotica, increases our sympathetic nerve activity and sweat release.?
While the study concluded that your body will get a small workout from simply watching others exercise, Macefield cautioned that nothing compared to real physical activity.
"While watching other people exercise may increase your heart rate and have other physiological effects, nothing can replace the health benefits of getting off the couch," he said.
Source: MeD India
Nothing stays hidden on the Web for long, so, here are five things you should avoid at all costs if you want to stay employed.
- Never save your online passwords on a work computer as the office can access your work computer. So while surfing the net, use your browser's privacy mode and avoid saving passwords of your personal accounts, Fox News reported.
- You should also refrain from circulating inappropriate emails and instant messages as anything in writing, stays in the record and can be traced back to you.
- Avoid taking selfies while at work and posting it online, as you might end up sharing more than you planned and in case of a mishap, you may be asked to pay a fine or be asked to serve jail time.
- Also, your identity can be revealed even if you post "anonymous" reviews or comments, so keep away from doing that, especially from your work computer.
- In the current day and age, it has become easier than ever for an employer to track down gaps and inconsistencies in your work history or medical education, so never lie on your resume.
Source: MeD India
Researchers are now aiming to build robots that can mimic human actions and perform tasks as humans do, in an effort to make robots function and collaborate with humans.
Charlie Kemp, an associate professor in biomedical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, said that this is the wave that's happening in robotics right now, the New York Times reported.
Kemp asserted that things are not the same when you're interacting with people and that's where robots come in.
Kemp insisted that there are huge opportunities for robots, and there are very distinct requirements from what led to the classic industrial robot.
Research at medical universities and industrial labs are being driven by the idea that robots will be partners of humans, rather than stand-ins or servants.
It is understood that robots will soon have the capability to perform like therapists, caregivers, guides and security guards among other jobs.
Source: MeD India
About depression
It is ok to be moody once in a while but if you feel moody for a longer period of time then it could be depression.
It is a medical condition that is treatable.
A depressed person feels intense sadness that could disrupt daily activities.
Primary symptoms
- Sadness/moodiness
- Lack of interest in life activities
- Loss of weight / gain in weight
- Loss of appetite /Comfort eating
- Sense of worthlessness / hopelessness
- Loss of sleep
- Suicidal thought
Affects Daily Life
- The physical and emotional problems in depressed people can upset their day-to - day activities, careers, interests and personal relationships.
- They are also highly prone to suicidal tendencies and often talk of death or taking their own lives.
Who is at risk?
- Depression is universal but in serious cases genetics and family history play a role.
- Medical Studies have shown that women are more prone to depression than men.
- Depression and suicidal tendencies is also known to occur in children
- People who have been through catastrophic events such as earthquakes or those who have experienced personal tragedies are prone to suffer from depression
Depression Causes
- Depression is believed to be caused by an alteration in the brain structure and an imbalance in the brain chemical called neurotransmitter
- Post partum depression "baby blues" are experienced by many women soon after delivery. In some the condition is serious and they tend to neglect the new born
- Seasonal changes lead to seasonal affective disorder(SAD) in some particulary in winter
- Substance abuse, increased alcohol intake and medications are also known to cause depression
Diagnosing depression
Diagnosing depression is usually done by discussing with the doctor the following -
- The medical history of the condition
- The severity of its symptoms
- Nature of daily activities , with the doctor
Vagus - Nerve Stimulation
- Pace maker for treatment - resistant depression.
- This device sends electrical impulses to the brain and stimulates the vagus nerve. This produces the feel-good chemical and eases the patient's depression
Other methods
- Exercising is a Time-tested method to beat stress. While exercising endorphins are produced which is a good antidote for depression. Exercising enhances self esteem. Even moderate activity is known to lower stress and produce sleep.
- Keeping pets are also a considered a good way to counter loneliness and depression.
Be Social
Depressed people are always not lonely but lonely people tend to be depressed. Make sure you network with medical people and stay in touch with friends and family. Join any class of your interest or join a support group
Source: MedIndia
New research conducted by scientists links probiotics (live bacteria that help maintain a healthy digestive system) to changes in mood and mental health. Probiotics when ingested in adequate amounts offer enormous potential for the treatment of depression and other stress-related disorders.
While many of the numerous health-improvement claims have yet to be supported scientifically, it has been claimed that micro-organisms do exert positive effects in intestinal tracts, particularly when used to counteract the effects of antibiotics, which kill both 'bad' and 'good' bacteria.
Over the past few years, studies have been undertaken to explore the possible impact of probiotics on behaviour. It is within this context that the concept of a psychobiotic has arisen.
Timothy Dinan and his colleagues from University College Cork in Ireland, define a psychobiotic as "a live organism that, when ingested in adequate amounts, produces a health benefit in patients suffering from psychiatric illness."
The gut microbiota, which contains approximately 1 kg of bacteria, can be modulated by diet and many other factors. It is not static and can change from day to day, starting at birth. Evidence has shown that even the form of delivery (vaginal versus cesarean) alters an individual's microbiota.
Dinan and his colleagues review one study that assessed the potential benefits of a specific probiotic, B. infantis, in rats displaying depressive behavioural science due to maternal separation. The probiotic treatment normalized both their behaviour and their previously-abnormal immune response.
This preclinical study and others like it strongly support the hypothesis that probiotics have the potential to exert behavioural and immunological effects.
The study is published in Biological Psychiatry.
Source: ANI
We all have our days of forgetfulness, but sometimes a bad memory can become frustrating, especially when key dates and important notices are forgotten.
Instead of just playing memory-promoting video games, there are also plenty of other everyday non-intrusive things that can be done to help improve that memory of yours.
Here are 12 simple ways to improve your memory:
1. Look At Nature
Whilst walking through nature may be more beneficial, there are also benefits to be had in just looking at images of nature. The process allows for your mind to de-clutter, which then helps with memory storage and processing, allowing for improved memory recall.
2. Exercise
Whilst we spend time focusing on our ab crunches, we rarely think about the benefits we are receiving on a cognitive level when it comes to exercise.
Studies have found that running increases levels of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports the health of current and existing neurons, whilst also helping with the creation of new cells.
3. Sleep
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) consists of four stages that help, in part, with the active state your body goes through during sleep:
- Stage 1 – Your eyes are closed but you can be easily awoken.
- Stage 2 – Light sleep that is accompanied by positive and negative waves, which represent muscle tone and muscle relaxation periods.
- Stage 3 and 4 – Deep sleep stages, also known as deep-wave, or delta sleep.
4. Chew Gum
Whilst chewing gum doesn’t directly improve your memory, it does help your ability to focus and ultimately retain extra information.
Chewing gum has been known to boost mental alertness by 10% within individuals, which could be incredibly beneficial during a study session or lecture.
5. Music
What exercise does to our body, music does to our brains. Music “tones” the brain for auditory fitness. Music training tends to give you the ability to assess the relevance and predictability of an auditory signal, and this also includes speech. Because of this musicians have the ability to remember more auditory content.
6. Visualize
This is actually one of the secret methods that many of the World Champions of Memory use when attempting to memorize a deck of shuffled cards.
By simply associating key information with a memorable feature, person, action or color, you can begin to use memory recall for the memorable item, which then leads to the visualization of what it is you’re trying to remember.
7. Doodle
This should be considered in much the same way as chewing gum: whilst it doesn’t directly influence memory or storage, it does help to make your mind stop wandering away from the primary task.
Even though an experiment that was conducted didn’t have any final, conclusive evidence, it did show that doodlers have 30% improved memory recall.
8. Drink Green Tea
Due to its key ingredient, an organic molecule called EGCG (an anti-oxidant that helps to combat age-related, degenerative illnesses), green tea has become a recommended beverage that people should consume multiple times a day.
For the full benefits of the anti-aging anti-oxidants, matcha tea, which is the full green tea leaf ground into a powder, contains 137 times more anti-oxidants than regular green tea and should also be considered as part of a daily diet.
9. Seek Help
The biggest strain on our cognitive functions are life stresses, including anxiety and anger. Both of these can cause the parts of your brain that are responsible for memory to degenerate. Another key problem that originates from these stresses is depression, which can sometimes be misdiagnosed since one of its symptoms is also an inability to concentrate.
10. Stand Up
Ensure that you’re getting up and moving around throughout the day, especially whilst at work. Our bodies need oxygen to circulate through them to deliver our energy; however, when you’re in a seated position your body goes into a resting period. Our brain will go into momentary lapses of concentration after prolonged periods of sitting down.
11. Study Sessions
Rather than going into a marathon library session, it has been shown that by regularly studying in small chunks that include rest, people were able to remember more and also had improved memory recall.
Because the sessions are short and regular you then have the time to store and process the information during break periods. Long sessions with no rest don’t allow for proper memory process.
12. Learn Before Bedtime
The day has its distractions, and it tends to make learning and concentration an incredibly difficult task. However, if you fit in a study session or learning session right before bedtime, you’re unlikely to become distracted by everyday occurrences.
Source: Lifehack
