segunda-feira, 26 de outubro de 2015

8 Foods That Prevent Cancer

 

Food & Drinks, Health, Medical

With today’s way of life, people are more likely to suffer from obesity, and exposed to various diseases or contract some forms of cancer. On the other hand, modern day medicine has evolved such that people can rely on the latest drugs or devices to treat cancer.

When it comes to treating cancer, prevention and detection is probably the best way to nipping it in its bud. Thus, we should always go for regular health screenings to detect cancer in its early stages and isolate it early. On the other hand, we also try to prevent or delay contracting cancer as far as possible by consuming healthy foods, which we have compiled a list of for you. (Do not replace this list with your regular health checkup.)

1.    Cauliflower

Image source: Prevention

Image source: Prevention

Cauliflower contains sulforaphane, a compound that has been shown to have anti-cancer effects. Sulforaphane are released when cauliflower is broken down, so focus on chewing it before swallowing. This compound seeks and destroys certain cancer cells without harming your healthy cells.

There are plenty of recipes available online on how you can add cauliflower to your meals. Cauliflower and broccoli have similar effects, so add broccoli to your list of foods too.

 

http://healthmindbodies.com/8-foods-that-prevent-cancer/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=businessinsider&utm_campaign=[Taboola_HMB_Desktop_8-foods-that-prevent-cancer]

 

Most healthy women would benefit from light meal during labor

 

 

Most healthy women can skip the fasting and, in fact, would benefit from eating a light meal during labor, suggests research being presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2015 annual meeting. Improvements in anesthesia care have made pain control during labor safer, reducing risks related to eating, researchers note.

Women traditionally have been told to avoid eating or drinking during labor due to concerns they may aspirate, or inhale liquid or food into their lungs, which can cause pneumonia. But advances in anesthesia care means most healthy women are highly unlikely to have this problem today and when researchers reviewed the literature of hundreds of studies on the topic, they determined that withholding food and liquids may be unnecessary for many women in labor.

"Our findings suggest a change in practice makes sense," said Christopher Harty, BN, co-author of the study and a medical student at Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. "Physician anesthesiologists and obstetricians should work together to assess each patient individually. Those they determine are at low risk for aspiration can likely eat a light meal during labor. This gives expectant mothers more choices in their birthing experience and prevents them from being calorie deficient, helping to provide energy during labor."

Researchers said aspiration today is almost nonexistent, especially in healthy patients. In the United States, there was only one case of aspiration associated with labor and delivery between 2005 and 2013, involving a complicated case of a woman who was obese and had pre-eclampsia (a precursor to eclampsia, or high blood pressure that can lead to seizures), according to the American Society of Anesthesiology's Closed Claims Project database. Researchers also noted that no cases of death due to aspiration were reported in the United Kingdom between 2000 and 2005, compared to 1.5 cases per 1,000 during the 1940s. They say this is likely due to advances in anesthesia care, including increased use of epidurals and spinal blocks in place of providing anesthesia through a mask over the nose and mouth. Before these improvements, women were more likely to need a tube placed in the windpipe for breathing, which potentially increased the risk of aspiration.

Researchers analyzed 385 studies published in 1990 or later that focused on women who gave birth in a hospital. The research suggests that the energy and caloric demands of laboring women are similar to those of marathon runners, Harty said. Without adequate nutrition, women's bodies will begin to use fat as an energy source, increasing acidity of the blood in the mother and infant, potentially reducing uterine contractions and leading to longer labor and lower health scores in newborns. Additionally, the studies suggest that fasting can cause emotional stress, potentially moving blood away from the uterus and placenta, lengthening labor and contributing to distress of the fetus.

"However, certain factors increase a laboring patient's risk of aspiration which outweigh the risks of withholding nutrition," said Erin Sprout, BN, co-author of the study and a medical student at Memorial University. These factors include eclampsia, pre-eclampsia, obesity and the use of opioids to manage labor pain, which delays stomach emptying, she said.

Healthy women who are not at risk for aspiration should ask their medical care providers (including their physician anesthesiologist and obstetrician) if eating a light meal during labor is safe for them. A light meal could include fruit, light soups, toast, light sandwiches (no large slices of meat), juice and water. Most women lose their appetites during very active labor, but can continue to drink fluids such as water and clear juices, researchers said.


Story Source:

The above post is reprinted from materials provided by American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151025010725.htm

 

The extreme urban fixie

 

Is it a bike? A motorcycle? Confused? That’s the idea behind the KTM ION. The core idea of the concept is to combine the powers of a traditional fixie bike and the innovative technology of an electric motorcycle. Built around KTM’s newly designed electric engine, it’s a modern and unique homage to traditional road bikes with their fixed frames without suspension. The design also represents KTM’s vision of purity, adventure, performance and the extreme. Its distinctive exo-structural frame design gives the bike its strength and precision and linkes it aesthetically to the road bike. Made for the city streets, ION creates an extreme driving experience in the urban environment!

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www.yankodesign.com

Largest astronomical image yet compiled shows Milky Way in 46 billion pixels

 

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Section of the image showing Eta Carinae (Credit: Lehrstuhl für Astrophysik, RUB)

A team of scientists from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum have compiled the largest astronomical image of all time. The stunning vista is comprised of an impressive 46 billion pixels, and is so large that the researchers have provided a special online tool in order to allow viewers to take in the cosmic scene.

The online tool allows viewers to observe and zoom in on stunning aspects of the Milky Way in incredible detail. Users can also search for objects such as stars and nebulae via the input box on the lower left of the screen, while being provided with a coordinates and mini map to keep them aware of exactly where they are in the huge image.

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Section of the mosaic displaying the M8 nebula

The constituent pieces of the image were captured over the course of a five-year imaging campaign carried out by the Ruhr-Universität Bochum researchers as they attempted to create a catalogue of celestial objects with variable brightness, such as a star when an exoplanets crosses its stellar disk.

By using telescopes based in Chile's Atacama desert to shoot the same patches of the southern sky repeatedly over several days, the team was able to capture and document 50,000 new variable objects. The astronomers took several weeks to calculate and combine 268 of the images in order to create the vast 194-gigabyte galactic mosaic.

You can take a look at the huge composite image via the online tool, courtesy of Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Source: Ruhr-Universität Bochum

 

http://www.gizmag.com/largest-astronomical-image-yet-compiled-shows-milky-way-in-46-billion-pixels/39996

Risks of high cholesterol: Why you need to control it

 

 

High blood cholesterol promotes the narrowing and hardening of your arteries — a condition called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis progresses slowly and often without early symptoms, but it can lead to a variety of complications, including heart attack and stroke.

Excess low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad," cholesterol can slowly build up in the walls of your arteries. It then combines with triglycerides — a form of fat in the blood — and other deposits such as calcium, cellular waste products and a fibrous, insoluble protein called fibrin to form plaques. These plaques can cause your arteries to narrow and harden.

Complications of atherosclerosis include:

  • Chest pain. Narrowed arteries make it more difficult for oxygen-rich blood to reach the heart muscle, which can cause chest pain.
  • Chronic kidney disease. If plaque builds up in the arteries in your kidneys, the organs can lose their ability to effectively remove waste and excess water from your body.
  • Peripheral arterial disease. Plaque buildup in major arteries that supply blood to the limbs — usually the legs — can cause cramping, numbness and weakness.
  • Heart attack. If plaques tear or rupture in a narrowed artery, a blood clot may form at that site, stopping blood flow to the heart. If the blockage occurs for long enough to damage the muscle, you'll have a heart attack.
  • Stroke. If a blood clot forms and blocks an artery inside or leading to the brain or if a clot travels from the heart to the brain, you can have a stroke.

The best way to manage your cholesterol and prevent atherosclerosis is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Avoid or limit risk factors by not smoking, eating a healthy diet and getting enough physical activity.

Also have your cholesterol checked regularly. Some people with atherosclerosis have no signs or symptoms, so their first indication is a heart attack or stroke.

If you already have high cholesterol or atherosclerosis or both, certain medications and medical procedures can treat these conditions. Talk with your doctor about possible risk factors and treatment options.

Sept. 03, 2015

References

See more In-depth

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/high-cholesterol-risks/art-20096046%20

domingo, 25 de outubro de 2015

A força do vento

 

Isso já faz alguns anos, eu me lembro que quando via imagens de turbinas eólicas, ao longe pareciam pequenas, não tinha a menor idéia do seu tamanho real, se bem que nos últimos tempos elas tem aumentado cada vez mais seus tamanhos. Mas é impressionante o gigantismo de tais geradores de energia. O que mais me surpreende é que considerando-se o comprimento e o peso das hélices, (hoje chegam a 80 metros de comprimento, o vento por mais forte que seja possa faze-las girar. A de maior e a mais potente hoje é a Vesta (não me lembro o número do modelo) produz 8 Megawatts.  E a mais alta, também de grande capacidade, tem 220 m de altura.  A tendência é que se tornem cada vez maiores e seja desenvolvido outros sistemas de acionamento dos alternadores. Abaixo, algumas imagens.

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Inflatable headphones

 

Somehow the small earphones haven’t really reached their full potential. I still think that around-ear headphones provide the best listening experience. There’s little to none sound leakage, which means most of the outer noise gets blocked. Except around-ears are really cumbersome and clunky. The Supersuit in-ear earbuds in that regard try to take on their elder brother, the around-ears.

What makes the Supersuit better than other earbuds? An expandable hoop around the earbud design that can expand to block out any air gaps in your ear canal. Just press the black switch on the back of the earphone and the hoop locks in your ear. This ensures two things that absolutely change the listening experience. Outside noise doesn’t go in and vice versa. Additionally, the earbuds actually hold their position, making them more secure and less prone to falling out. An added third advantage is that one size effectively fits all! Happy Listening!

Designers: Gong Jie, Li Bo, and Chen Meiqi

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www.yankodesign.com

JFK greeting the millionth visit to the White House

 

JFK gretting the millionth visit to the White House

4-D laser printing: holograms and beyond

 


Novel tech that manipulates light has applications beyond holograms, from studying alien worlds to making cellphones more energy efficient

polarization grating and light

Flat, semi-translucent plates give unprecedented control over the behavior of light.

October 21, 2015

In 2010, Michael Escuti received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study and make novel hologram technologies.

He created a tool that did much more.

The technology is a new way to manipulate light, with applications from studying alien worlds to making cellphones more energy efficient.

"Not long after we received the NSF funding, we were able to create something called the direct-write laser scanner (DWLS), which allows us to create nearly perfect geometric phase holograms," says Escuti, an engineer at North Carolina State University.

"They look like flat, semi-translucent plates, but they give us unprecedented control over the behavior of light. We can use them to make more efficient displays for mobile devices, sensors with greater resolution, and, frankly, we're still discovering all of the potential applications for this technology."

To make geometric phase holograms, the DWLS "prints" using an ultraviolet laser on a super-thin film--only about 50 nanometers thick. The film is made of a photoreactive polymer that responds to both the intensity and the polarization of the light. When the DWLS is done printing, a much thicker layer of liquid crystal is applied, amplifying the pattern on the underlying thin film.

To understand how the DWLS works, you have to understand that it doesn't have an inkjet--it prints light, and it prints in four dimensions.

The DWLS prints in horizontal and vertical dimensions, just like a regular printer. And it can also vary the intensity of the light. But, crucially, it is also capable of controlling the orientation angle of the linear polarization of the light.

Think of a beam of light as a wiggling wave, which vibrates in a perpendicular direction relative to the direction it is traveling. Control of the orientation angle of the linear polarization of light means control of the direction that the wave is wiggling. And this polarization angle can be manipulated without changing the angle the light is traveling.

In other words, a laser can be pointed directly at an object and, while the polarization angle may change, the direction of the laser beam relative to the object stays the same.

One reason the DWLS is unique is that it produces geometric phase holograms that are smoothly varying and create complex patterns seamlessly--there are no dividing lines or pixels--unless they are actually desired. This prevents light from "leaking" out of the pattern and corrupting the signal coming out of the hologram.

From the lab to the stars

After creating the DWLS, Escuti looked for potential applications. And that search brought him to a team of astronomers at Leiden University, including Frans Snik, Matthew Kenworthy, and Christoph Keller.

For years, astronomers have devised telescopes that, in theory, can use light to help them unravel the mysteries of the universe. But these theoretical designs were often hampered by the limits of technology.

"Light is everything in astronomy--it's the carrier of almost all information and knowledge we have of the universe," says Snik.

Now Escuti was being asked to help turn theory into reality.

"The astronomers I am working with at Leiden had ideas for novel components and instrument designs that could make better use of the light collected by telescopes," Escuti says. "They wanted to know if we could make holograms with specific characteristics that had previously been technologically impossible. And we could."

For example, he said, his team has provided the astronomers with geometric phase holograms that they have used build advanced coronagraphs--telescopes that can see things close to stars--to study exoplanets beyond our solar system.

"They wanted to redistribute the blazing light of the halo around a star, so that the faint light coming from a planet orbiting that star can be observed with better contrast--and then analyze the planet's light to learn about its composition and other characteristics," Escuti says. "They're now able to do that with better performance than ever before. We've been working with them for a few years now, and have helped create several new astronomical tools."

Snik added the new options offered by their technology provides significant new potential for astronomical research.

"With these components and techniques, we have for the first time in perhaps many decades fundamentally expanded the astronomer's toolkit for manipulating light from astronomical sources," he said.

Down to earth applications

In addition to astronomy, the DWLS has found use in creating geometric phase holograms for use in mobile displays, holographic imaging, and remote-sensing devices for everything from satellites to cameras. One high-profile application was the visually impressive "Rainbow Station," an art installation conceived by Daan Roosegaarde and designed in partnership with Snik for the International Year of Light.

Escuti is continuing to work on new applications with direct support from the National Science Foundation and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and in partnership with fellow NC State faculty member Michael Kudenov on projects supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. But he has also taken steps to commercialize the technology by integrating it into devices for specific market applications.

For example, Escuti's university startup company, ImagineOptix Corporation, has created technologies ranging from an ultra-efficient pocket projector the size of a few quarters to components for active photonic hardware supporting internet traffic.

"As an entrepreneur, I'm excited by the wide range of projects and markets where we can have an impact. That's important to me," Escuti says. "As a researcher, I'm deeply satisfied by the capability of the DWLS to help people solve longstanding research challenges. At least a dozen times in the last few years, my scientific and engineering peers have told me: ‘You've done something we didn't think was possible.' That's a tremendous feeling."

 
Matt Shipman, North Carolina State University

Investigators
Michael Escuti

Related Institutions/Organizations
North Carolina State University

Related Awards
#0955127 PECASE: Complex Polarization Gratings - Extreme Fresnel Zone Plates, Agile Vortex Beam Tools, and Enhanced Distributed-Feedback

Years Research Conducted
2010 - 2016

Total Grants
$406,000

Related Websites
International Year of Light: http://www.light2015.org/Home.html
Height of light: Progress in lasers and other light sources: NSF.gov/light

 

http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=136597&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click

sábado, 24 de outubro de 2015

Modular Floating Cabin

 

Modular Floating Cabin

Posted: 23 Oct 2015 02:00 PM PDT

Friday a développé une maison modulable et flottante sur l’eau. Conçue pour quelques jours agréables au milieu de la nature, cette cabane a été construite en suivant les dernières évolutions technologiques dans le domaine de l’équipement nautique. Floatwing mesure initialement 6 mètres de large mais elle peut être étendue pour contenir 3 chambres de plus.

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www.fubiz.net