Tuesday, June 23, 2015

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आला पाऊस जपा खाण्याची हौस!

आला पावसाळा तब्येत सांभाळा असं सर्रास म्हटलं जातं. पण तब्येत सांभाळा म्हणजे नेमकं काय? किंवा तब्येत सांभाळण्यासाठी आपण काय खावं आणि खाऊ नये हे लक्षात घेणं गरजेचं आहे. कारण त्यावरच आपल्या आरोग्याचं गणित अवलंबून असतं.

बाहेर मस्त पाऊस पडायला लागला की आपल्याला चमचमीत खाण्याचे वेध लागतात. मग घरात आईला किंवा बायकोला गरमागरम भजीची किंवा वडय़ांची, ब्रेड पॅटिस किंवा अन्य कोणत्या पदार्थाची फर्माईश केली जाते. ऑफिसमध्ये असू तर ऑफिसच्या बाहेर मिळणा-या वडे-भजींवर ताव मारला जातो.

मात्र अशा पदार्थामुळे वात निर्माण होण्याची शक्यता असते. घरात आपण आपल्या खाण्याची किंवा पिण्याच्या पाण्याची काळजी घेतोच. मात्र घराबाहेर पडलेल्या किंवा ऑफिसमध्ये जाणा-या मंडळींना ते शक्य होतंच असं नाही. मग बाहेरच्या पदार्थावर ताव मारला जातो आणि मग विविध आजारांना आमंत्रणच मिळतं. म्हणूनच घराबाहेर पडणा-या मंडळींनी नेमकी कशी काळजी घ्यावी हे जाणून घेऊ या.

काय टाळाल आणि काय खाल?

»  सगळ्यात महत्त्वाचं म्हणजे ऑफिसमध्ये घरातून जेवणाचा डबा घऊन जाणं आवश्यक आहे. बाहेर मिळणारे विविध चॅटचे प्रकार, फास्ट फूड, सँडविचेस, फ्रूट ज्युस आपल्याला भुरळ घालतात खरे, पण ते खाणं शक्यतो टाळावंच. तसंच रस्त्यावर मिळणारं ताक, लिंबूपाणी, गोळा, कुल्फी घेणं टाळावंच. कारण या गोष्टी आरोग्याच्या दृष्टीने तितक्याशा सुरक्षित नसतात. किंवा त्या करताना तितकीशी काळजी घेतली जात नाही.

»  या दिवसांत कच्चे पदार्थ टाळावेत. उदाहरणार्थ, भाज्यांचे सलाड. कच्च्या भाज्या खाण्यापेक्षा तेलावर फ्राय केलेल्या भाज्या खाव्यात.

»  सगळी फळं आणि भाज्या पाण्याने व्यवस्थित धुवाव्यात. विशेषत: पालेभाज्या आणि फ्लॉवर. या भाज्या चार ते पाच पाण्यात स्वच्छ धुवाव्यात. म्हणजे त्याला लागलेली माती निघून जाते. कारण या भाज्या आपण रस्त्यावरून आणतो.

»  गरज असेल तितकंच खा. कारण या दिवसांत पचनक्रिया मंदावते. म्हणूनच गरजेपेक्षा अधिक पदार्थ खाऊ नका.

»  शक्यतो गरम पदार्थच खावेत. तसंच पुदिना किंवा आल्याचं आहारात समावेश करावा. आल्याचा चहा या दिवसांत खूप चांगला असतो.

»  नैसर्गिक आंबट पदार्थाचा आहारात समावेश करावा. उदाहरणार्थ चिंच, लिंबू, पातळ ताक आणि कोकम यांचा सूप, सार, आमटी किंवा भाज्यांमध्ये याचा समावेश करावा.

»  मूगडाळ ही पचायला चांगली असते. म्हणूनच मुगाच्या डाळीची खिचडी किंवा वरण यांचा आहारात समावेश करा.

»  आलं, मिरी, लसूण, हिंग, सुंठ, हळद, कोथिंबीर, जिरं यांसारखे पदार्थ तुमची पचनशक्ती सुधारते.

»  भेंडी, दुधी, पडवळ, सुरण, भाजलेली वांगी किंवा कारली यांसारख्या भाज्यांचा आहारात समावेश करावा.

»  डाळिंब, चिकू, केळी आणि स्ट्रॉबेरी ही फळं पावसाळ्यात आवर्जून खावीत. तसंच दोन खारीका दररोज खाव्यात म्हणेज तुमच्या शरीराला आवश्यक असणारं लोह आणि ऊर्जा त्यातून मिळते.

»  मांसाहारी पदार्थ खाणा-यांनी करी किंवा रश्श्याचे पदार्थ खाण्यापेक्षा सूप्सला प्राधान्य द्यावं.

»  थोडक्यात तुरट, कडवट किंवा तिखट पदार्थ खाणं कधीही चांगलं असतं.

»  केवळ उकळलेलं आणि गाळलेलं पाणी प्यावं.

ऑफिसला येणा-यांसाठी खास डाएट

ऑफिसला जाणा-या मंडळींची घर आणि ऑफिस अशी नेहमीच तारेवरची कसरत असते. अशा वेळी डाएटकडे दुर्लक्ष केलं जातं. आपलं डाएट नियंत्रित ठेवणं हे ऑफिसला जाणा-यांसाठी तारेवरची कसरत असते. प्रत्येक वेळी त्यांना हेल्दी फूड घेणं जमेलच असं नाही. त्यामुळे पावसाळ्यात अधिकाधिक नोकरदार मंडळी आजारी पडताना दिसतात. कारण बाहेरचं वातावण बदललेलं असतं. त्यात ते योग्य आहार घेत नाहीत आणि कामाच्या नादात खाण्या-पिण्याकडे दुर्लक्ष होतं, परिणामी आजारी पडतात. म्हणूनच काही गोष्टींचं पालन केलं तर आपलं आरोग्य ते चांगलं राखण्यास मदत करू शकतात.

न्याहारीत काय घ्याल?

»  भरडलेल्या मिक्स धान्याची भाकरी किंवा पोळी, गव्हाचा ब्रेड, ओट्स, मोड आलेले मूग, उकडलेलं किंवा फ्राय केलेलं अंडं.

दुपारचं जेवण

»  चपाती, इडली किंवा सोयाबीन सूप

»  भाज्या, डोसा किंवा गव्हाचा ब्रेड

»  डाळ किंवा सांबार किंवा ग्रील्ड चिकन

»  परतवलेल्या हिरव्या फळभाज्या

संध्याकाळची न्याहारी

»  केळ / संत्र/ लिंबू/ बदाम किंवा भाजलेले चणे

रात्रीचं जेवण

»  पोळी आणि रस्सा भाजी किंवा चिकन रस्सा

»  गार्लिक ब्रेड किंवा भात

»  परतवलेल्या हिरव्या भाज्या

»  डाळ किंवा दही

सध्याच्या घडीला आपण आपल्या आहाराबाबत खूपच सतर्क झालो आहोत. आपण ज्या आजारांना तोंड देतो त्यातले कित्येक आजार हे आपण जे पदार्थ सेवन करतो त्यामुळेच होत असतात. म्हणूनच पावसाळ्यात आपण योग्य तो आहार घेतलाच पाहिजे. संतुलित आहार घ्यावा. तसंच आपल्यासोबत योग्य तो आहार बरोबर ठेवावा.

कुजलेले, वास येणारे किंवा किडे पडलेल्या पदार्थाची ताबडतोब विल्हेवाट लावावी. जेवण्यापूर्वी किंवा काहीही खाताना इतकंच नव्हे कोणत्याही पदार्थाला हात लावताना प्रथम हात धुवावेत. कारण पावसाळ्यात आरोग्याच्या दृष्टीने ठेवलेली स्वच्छता आजारांशी दोन हात करायला मदतच करते.

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प्राणायामचे प्रकार

मागच्या वेळी आपण प्राणायाम म्हणजे काय किंवा त्याचा अर्थ काय हे पाहिलं. तसंच त्याच्या काही प्रकारांविषयी सविस्तर जाणून घेतलं. आता प्राणायामच्या पुढील प्रकारांविषयी जाणून घेऊ या.

उज्जायी

उद् + जय यापासून 'उज्जायी' हा शब्द तयार झाला. उद् म्हणजे 'जोराने' व 'जय' म्हणजे यश. ही क्रिया करताना कंठातून शिट्टीसारखा आवाज निघतो. या प्राणायामच्या सरावाने शरीरात उष्णता निर्माण होते म्हणून हा आपण हिवाळ्यात करावा.

क्रिया

मांडी घालून अथवा पद्मासनात बसावं. तोंड बंद ठेवा. आता हनुवटी गळपट्टीच्या हाडामध्ये व उरोस्थीवरील खोबणीत टेकू द्या. मानेला जास्त ताण देऊ नये.

डोळे बंद करा आणि दोन्ही नाकातून हळुवारपणे दीर्घ श्वास घ्या. फुप्फुसे पूर्ण भरेपर्यंत श्वास घ्या. त्यावेळी 'सस्' असा आवाज होणे आवश्यक आहे. आता जीभ उलटी करून जिभेचा शेंडा तळ्याला आतल्या बाजूस लावून शक्य जितक्या वेळ रोखता येईल तेवढा वेळ रोखावे याला कुंभक म्हणतात. नंतर डोळे वर करा. व हळुवारपणे श्वास बाहेर सोडावे.

यावेळी उजव्या हाताने उजवे नाक बंद करून डाव्या नाकाद्वारे छाती फुगवत श्वास बाहेर सोडावा. श्वास बाहेर जाताना घर्षणयुक्त आवाज येतो. हा आवाज एकसारखा असला पाहिजे.

फायदे

या प्राणायामामुळे डोक्यातील उष्णता कमी होते तसेच दमा, क्षय व फुप्फुसाचे रोग बरे होतात. या प्राणायामाच्या नित्य सरावाने जठराग्नी प्रदीप्त होते. त्यामुळे पचनक्रिया श्वसनक्रिया आणि ज्ञानक्रिया कार्यक्षम बनतात.

सीत्कारी

या प्राणायाममुळे शरीरात थंडावा निर्माण होतो. याचा सराव उन्हाळ्यात केला तर तो अधिक परिणामकारक होतो. तहान लागली असताना हा प्राणायाम केल्यास तहान भागल्याचं समाधान मिळतं.

क्रिया

प्रथम पद्मासनात किंवा मांडी घालून बसावं. आता दात एकमेकांवर दाबून ठेवा, जीभ दातांना लावा. जिभेचं टोक टाळ्याला लावा. ओठ किंचित विलग ठेवा आणि 'सी.. सी..सी' असा आवाज करून तोंडाने पूरक करा म्हणजेच श्वास आत घ्या. श्वास आत घेऊन झाल्यावर तोंड बंद करा व शक्य होईल तितका वेळ कुंभक करा व त्यानंतर दोन्ही नाकाने रेचक करा म्हणजे श्वास बाहेर सोडा.

फायदे

या प्राणायामच्या सरावाने भूक, तहान, आळस, झोप दूर पळतात. डोळे व कान यांना थंडावा येतो, यकृत, प्लीहा कार्यान्वित झाल्याने पचनक्रिया सुधारते. शारीरिक शक्ती व मनोबल वाढते. छातीत जळजळ होणे व पित्तासारखे दोष नष्ट होतात.

शीतली

या प्राणायाममुळे देखील शरीरात थंडावा निर्माण होतो. हा प्राणायाम वसंत आणि ग्रीष्म ष्टद्धr(7०)तूत केल्यास जास्त फायदा होतो. पंधरा ते वीस मिनिटांपर्यंत या प्राणायामचा सराव करावा.

क्रिया

पद्मासन किंवा वज्रासन या आसनात बसून, तोंड उघडून जीभ बाहेर काढा आणि पक्षाच्या चोचीप्रमाणे जिभेची नळी करून 'सी..सी..सी' असा आवाज करीत तोंडाने जिभेवरून श्वास आत खेचा (पूरक करा). पूरक पूर्ण होताच तोंड बंद करा. थोडा श्वास रोखून ठेवा व दोन्ही नाकाद्वारे हळुवारपणे श्वास बाहेर सोडा. म्हणजेच रेचक करा.

फायदे

या प्राणायाममुळे रक्तात असणारे विषारी घटक बाहेर फेकले जातात, त्यामुळे रक्तशुद्धी होते. या प्राणायामच्या सरावाने प्लीहा, त्वचारोग, ताप, अजीर्ण होणे व बद्धकोष्ठता यांसारखे रोग बरे होतात. रागट व क्रोधी व्यक्तीसाठी हा प्राणायाम खूप लाभदायी आहे, कारण या प्राणायाममुळे डोके शांत राहते.

भस्त्रिका

या प्राणायामात लोहाराच्या भात्याप्रमाणे जोरात हवा आत घेतली जाते व बाहेर फेकली जाते म्हणून या प्राणायामास 'भस्त्रिका' असं म्हणतात. लोहार ज्याप्रमाणे त्याचा भाता जोरजोराने चालवतो त्याचप्रमाणे श्वास हा झपाटय़ाने घेतला जातो. कपालभाती व उज्जायी प्राणायामाचं मिश्रण यात दिसून येतं. कुंभकाच्या सर्व प्रकारांत भस्त्रिका अधिक लाभदायी आहे.

क्रिया

पद्मासनात अथवा मांडी घालून बसावं. पाठ, मान डोके ताठ ठेवावेत. हात गुडघ्यावर किंवा मांडीवर ठेवा. तोंड बंद ठेवा. लोहाराच्या भात्याप्रमाणे जलद व जोराने श्वास घ्या व तितक्याच जोराने श्वास सोडा. तसेच फुप्फुसाचे आकुंचन करा आणि नंतर फुलवा. हा प्राणायाम करताना मगरीच्या आवाजासारखा फस, फस.. फस.. असा आवाज येईल. श्वास घेताना झपाटय़ाने व जलद आत घ्यावा, व तसेच सोडावा म्हणजेच पूरक व रेचक याने भस्त्रिकाचे एक पूर्ण आवर्तन होईल.

हे आवर्तन पूर्ण होईल तेव्हा दीर्घ श्वास घ्यावा. जमेल तेवढय़ा वेळ श्वास रोखून ठेवावा. त्यानंतर संपूर्ण श्वास बाहेर सोडायचा. प्रत्येक आवर्तनानंतर थोडा वेळ आराम करावा व सामान्य श्वासोच्छ्वास करावा. यामुळे फुप्फुसांना थोडा आराम मिळतो. शक्यतो प्रथम एकच आवर्तन करावे.थंडीमध्ये हा प्राणायाम सकाळ-संध्याकाळ करावा. उन्हाळय़ात फक्त सकाळच्या थंड वेळीच हा प्राणायाम करावा.

फायदे

या प्राणायाममुळे गळय़ाची सूज कमी येते. कफ नाहीसा होतो. नाक व छातीत होणारा त्रास बरा होतो. तसेच दम व क्षय यासारखे आजार बरे होतात. या प्राणायामुळे कफ, पित्त व वायूने होणारा त्रास नाहीसा होतो.

शरीराला उष्णतेची आवश्यकता असल्यास हा प्राणायाम करावा. शरीरात त्वरित उष्णता निर्माण होते.
(पुढील भागात यापुढचे काही प्रकार जाणून घेऊ या.)

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रामफळ

सीताफळाच्या जातकुळीतलं म्हणजे काहीसं सीताफळाप्रमाणेच चव असणारं फळ म्हणजे रामफळ होय.

सीताफळाच्या जातकुळीतलं म्हणजे काहीसं सीताफळाप्रमाणेच चव असणारं फळ म्हणजे रामफळ होय. चवीला अतिशय गोड असून सीताफळाप्रमाणेच चव असते. शास्त्रीय नाव अनोना रेटिक्युलाटा असून, इंग्रजीत त्याला बुल्लक्स हार्ट किंवा कॉमन कस्टर्ड अ‍ॅपल असं म्हणतात. या झाडाची पानं पेरूच्या पानासारखी असतात.

झाड कमी प्रमाणात आढळत असून, ते उन्हाळ्यात येणारं फळ आहे. फळाचं आवरण तपकिरी किंवा केशरी रंगाचं असतं. फळ कच्च असताना तपकिरी असतं तर पिकल्यावर केशरी रंगाचं होतं.

खायला अतिशय चवदार आणि दिसायला आकर्षक असलेलं हे फळ रामनवमीच्या सुमारास पिकायला सुरुवात होते म्हणून याला रामफळ असं म्हणतात. भारताप्रमाणेच पाकिस्तान, बांगलादेश, तैवान, ऑस्ट्रेलिया, आफ्रिका आणि दक्षिण-पूर्व आशियात आढळते.

»  यात जीवनसत्त्व सीचं प्रमाण अधिक असतं. त्यामुळे याच्या सेवनाने पचनशक्ती सुधारते.

»  त्वचेचं आरोग्य सुधारतं. त्वचेवर काही जखमा किंवा कापलं असल्यास या फळाच्या सेवनाने आराम पडतो.

»  पोटॅशिअमचं प्रमाण अधिक असल्याने स्नायूंची वाढ होण्यास मदत होते.

»  या फळाची साल कीटकनाशक, रक्तस्तंभक म्हणून काम करते.

»  अतिसार होत असल्यास अर्ध कच्चं आणि अर्ध पिकलेलं फळ खावं आराम पडतो.

»  याचं पान अल्सरवरही फायदेशीर असते.

»  कॅन्सर प्रतिबंधक म्हणूनही काम करतं.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Statins show promise to reduce major complications following lung surgery

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:25 PM PDT

Statins have been shown to reduce complications from cardiovascular surgery. To determine whether statins might also help those undergoing major lung surgeries, a team of researchers conducted a well-designed study that randomized patients to receive either a statin or placebo before and after surgery. They found that patients undergoing major lung resection experienced fewer complications overall, however, the differences between groups for specific complications or changes in inflammatory markers failed to reach statistical significance.

How understanding GPS can help you hit a curveball

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:24 PM PDT

Our brains track moving objects by applying one of the algorithms your phone's GPS uses, according to researchers. This same algorithm also explains why we are fooled by several motion-related optical illusions, including the sudden 'break' of baseball's well known 'curveball illusion.'

Is salt the key to unlocking the interiors of Neptune and Uranus?

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:24 PM PDT

The interiors of several of our Solar System's planets and moons are icy, and ice has been found on distant extrasolar planets, as well. This ice must exist under extreme pressures and high-temperatures, and potentially contains salty impurities, too. New research focuses on the physics underlying the formation of the types of ice that are stable under these paradoxical-seeming conditions. It could challenge current ideas about the physical properties found inside icy planetary bodies.

Genetic study of 'co-evolution' could provide clues to better food production

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:20 PM PDT

In 1964, renowned biologists Peter Raven and Paul Erhlich published a landmark study that introduced the concept of co-evolution. Now, an international team of researchers has used genomics to analyze the co-evolution theory and identified the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon. Scientists believe that understanding how co-evolution works could help provide clues for producing heartier plants and food for a growing global population.

Planet Mars behaving like a rock star

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:20 PM PDT

If planets had personalities, Mars would be a rock star according to recent preliminary results from NASA's MAVEN spacecraft. Mars sports a 'Mohawk' of escaping atmospheric particles at its poles, 'wears' a layer of metal particles high in its atmosphere, and lights up with aurora after being smacked by solar storms. MAVEN is also mapping out the escaping atmospheric particles.

Fat, sugar cause bacterial changes that may relate to loss of cognitive function

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:20 PM PDT

A study indicates that both a high-fat and a high-sugar diet, compared to a normal diet, cause changes in gut bacteria that appear related to a significant loss of 'cognitive flexibility,' or the power to adapt and adjust to changing situations. This effect was most serious on the high-sugar diet, which also showed an impairment of early learning for both long-term and short-term memory.

In social networks, group boundaries promote the spread of ideas, study finds

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:20 PM PDT

Social networks affect every aspect of our lives, from the jobs we get and the technologies we adopt to the partners we choose and the healthiness of our lifestyles. But where do they come from? Research shows how social networks form and what that means for the ideas that will spread across them.

Independence at home program national demonstration saves more than $25 million

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:19 PM PDT

House calls, a long-running option dating back to the early days of medicine, can be used in a new way to improve geriatric care and lower costs, says a new report.

Island rodents take on nightmarish proportions

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:19 PM PDT

Researchers have analyzed size data for rodents worldwide to distinguish the truly massive mice and giant gerbils from the regular-sized rodents. They found that the furry animals with chisel-like teeth are 17 times more likely to evolve to nightmarish proportions on islands than elsewhere. The results are in keeping with an idea called the 'island rule,' which previous studies claimed didn't apply to rodents.

Conservatives demonstrate more self control than Liberals, studies suggest

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:18 PM PDT

Evidence from three studies uncovers a 'critical difference' in self-control as a function of political ideology.

Pregnancy safer for women with lupus than previously thought

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 03:18 PM PDT

Most women with lupus whose disease is not very active will have a safe pregnancy, new research concludes. The study also identified several risk factors that might put some women with systemic lupus erythematosus at higher risk for bad outcomes in pregnancy.

Mistletoe species lacks genes found in all other complex organisms

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:20 PM PDT

A discovery made during an analysis of a species of mistletoe whose apparent ability to survive without key genes involved in energy production could make it one of the most unusual plants on Earth.

Astronomers discover 854 ultra-dark galaxies in the famous Coma Cluster

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:20 PM PDT

Astronomers have discovered 854 "ultra-dark galaxies" in the Coma Cluster. The new discovery surpasses the 2014 discovery of 47 mysterious dark galaxies by more than 800 and suggests that galaxy clusters are the key environment for the evolution of these mysterious dark galaxies.

Cells too stiff to scavenge leads to lupus, an autoimmune disease

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:20 PM PDT

Macrophage cells require agility to scavenge and digest dead cells and prevent an immune response to self. In lupus, the macrophages lose that agility, scientists report.

Researchers find molecular mechanisms within fetal lungs that initiate labor

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:20 PM PDT

Researchers have identified two proteins in a fetus' lungs responsible for initiating the labor process, providing potential new targets for preventing preterm birth. They discovered that the proteins SRC-1 and SRC-2 activate genes inside the fetus' lungs near full term, leading to an inflammatory response in the mother's uterus that initiates labor.

Legacy of slavery still impacts education in the south

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:18 PM PDT

Slavery was abolished more than 150 years ago, but its effects are still felt today in K-12 education in the south, according to a new study. Using regression analysis to explain differences in the degree of attendance disparities across most counties in the south, researchers found a correlation between historical geographic slave concentration and modern day K-12 school segregation. An increase in slave concentration is related to greater underrepresentation of white students in public schools.

More accurate method for blood glucose testing

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:18 PM PDT

Researchers have found a way of obtaining more accurate measurements from glucometers: by using blood plasma or serum rather than whole blood.

Dual internal clocks keep plant defenses on schedule

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:18 PM PDT

Time management isn't just important for busy people -- it's critical for plants, too. A new study shows how two biological clocks work together to help plants deal with intermittent demands such as fungal infections, while maintaining an already-packed daily schedule of activities like growth. The researchers also identified a gene that senses disturbances in the 'tick-tock' of one clock, and causes the other clock to tighten its timetable.

Study looks at antibiotic choice for treating childhood pneumonia

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 01:18 PM PDT

Hospitals are doing a better job of using antibiotics less commonly associated with antibiotic resistance to treat children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), new research shows.

Weight-loss surgery may greatly improve incontinence

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:49 PM PDT

For severely obese people, bariatric surgery may have a benefit besides dramatic weight loss: it can also substantially reduce urinary incontinence. This study is the first to examine the longer-term effects of the surgical procedure on incontinence three years after bariatric surgery.

New formula expected to spur advances in clean energy generation

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT

Researchers have devised a new formula for calculating the maximum efficiency of thermoelectric materials, the first new formula in more than a half-century, designed to speed up the development of new materials suitable for practical use.

Scarlet macaw skeletons point to early emergence of Pueblo hierarchy

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT

New work on the skeletal remains of scarlet macaws found in an ancient Pueblo settlement indicates that social and political hierarchies may have emerged in the American Southwest earlier than previously thought. The findings suggest that the acquisition and control of macaws, along with other culturally significant items like chocolate and turquoise, may have facilitated the development of hierarchy in the society.

Smart insulin patch could replace painful injections for diabetes

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT

The first 'smart insulin patch' that can detect increases in blood sugar levels has been developed by researchers. The patch has the ability to secrete doses of insulin into the bloodstream whenever needed.

California's wildflowers losing diversity in face of warmer, drier winters

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT

Fifteen years of warmer, drier winters are affecting California's wildflower diversity, scientists report. Grasses and wildflowers may be able to withstand the current drying period through their extensive seed banks, which can lie dormant for decades waiting for the right conditions to germinate. However, California's drought is expected to intensify in the coming decades, so this rescue effect may end up being too late for some species, they add.

PrEP data links anti-HIV immune response to reduce chance of infection

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT

Some individuals exposed to HIV-1, but who remain uninfected, have a certain pattern of virus-specific immune responses that differentiated them from individuals who became infected.

Scientists create synthetic membranes that grow like living cells

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT

Chemists and biologists have succeeded in designing and synthesizing an artificial cell membrane capable of sustaining continual growth, just like a living cell.

Bass use body's swimming muscles to suck in food

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:45 PM PDT

Bass are strong swimmers but they can't capture prey without also exerting a powerful suction into their mouths. A new study shows that the power to form that vacuum comes from the very same muscles they use to swim.

Printing electronics with nanomaterials a cost-friendly, eco-friendly alternative

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:08 PM PDT

Researchers are focusing on printed electronics: using inkjet technology to print electronic nanomaterials onto flexible substrates. When compared to traditional methods used in microelectronics fabrication, the new technology conserves material and is more environmentally friendly.

For black rhino, zoo diet might be too much of a good thing

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:08 PM PDT

A new study shows that captive black rhinos -- but not their wild counterparts -- are at high risk for two common health problems suffered by millions of humans: inflammation and insulin resistance.

Neurobiology: X-raying ion channels shows they widen and narrow to adapt to what's passing

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:07 PM PDT

The Nobel Prize winner Roderick MacKinnon suggested that ion channels (the pores on the cell membrane that regulate the exchange of ions between the inside and outside of cells) were like rigid tubes through which molecules of varying size move. Now it seems that he was wrong: a team of scientists used the most robust technique in this field, x-ray crystallography, to watch ionic channels to change their diameter as they adjust to the size of the ions crossing them.

Manning up: Men may overcompensate when their masculinity is threatened

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:03 PM PDT

Societal norms dictating that men should be masculine are powerful. A new study finds that men who believe they fall short of those ideals might reassert their masculinity in small but significant ways.

Detecting exoplanets close to their host star

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:03 PM PDT

Astronomers have successfully commissioned a new type of optic that can reveal the image of an exoplanet next to its parent star. The 'vector Apodizing Phase Plate' (vector-APP) coronagraph was installed at the 6.5-m Magellan Clay telescope in Chile in May 2015, and the first observations demonstrated an unprecedented contrast performance very close to the star, where planets are more likely to reside.

Cardio-oncology services may improve patient care if more widely available

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:03 PM PDT

The impact of cancer treatments on cardiovascular health is an important consideration when treating cancer patients, but many hospital training programs have no formal training or services in cardio-oncology and a lack of national guidelines and funding are frequent barriers to establishing such programs, according to an American nationwide survey.

Elevated blood pressure in young adults associated with middle-age heart issues

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 12:03 PM PDT

Young adults who had blood pressure that was elevated but still within normal range for long periods of time were more likely to show signs of cardiac dysfunction in middle age, according to a study.

Gene that controls soybean seed permeability, calcium content, identified

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 11:11 AM PDT

Researchers have pinpointed the gene that controls whether soybean seed coats are hard or permeable, a finding that could be used to develop better varieties for southern and tropical regions, enrich the crop's genetic diversity and boost the nutritional value of soybeans.

The challenge of measuring a bird brain

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 11:11 AM PDT

To understand what's going on within a species, you have to know how to measure their brains. And if you want to study wild species without killing your subjects, you have to figure out a way to measure their brains without removing them from their respective skulls. The method commonly used to compare the size of an animal's skull and brain can be far from accurate, researchers say.

Structural origin of glass transition

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT

Scientists have demonstrated through computer simulations that the enhancement of fluctuations in a liquid's structure plays an important role as a liquid becomes a solid near the glass-transition point, a temperature below the melting point. This result increases our understanding of the origin of the glass transition and is expected to shed new light on the structure of liquids, thought until now to have been uniform and random.

Emergence of 'Devil's staircase'

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT

Researchers have revealed a novel magnetic structure named the "Devil's staircase" in cobalt oxides using soft X-rays. This is an important result since the researchers succeeded in determining the detailed magnetic structure of a very small single crystal invisible to the human eye.

Efficient conversion from spin currents to charge currents in a superconductor

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT

Scientists have successfully measured the spin Hall effect in a superconductor for the first time. The spin Hall effect is responsible for the conversion of magnetic flow to current flow and has not been thoroughly examined in superconductors.

Clients lost in system when safety-net agencies close

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 10:17 AM PDT

Safety-net agencies, such as food banks and nonprofits offering health care, serve vulnerable individuals who are uninsured or underinsured and help them connect with services, such as health care, legal aid and housing. An American researcher offers recommendations for agency leaders and policymakers to make sure safety-net agencies are sustainable and, if they do close, clients continue to receive the services they need.

Blue light sets the beat in biological pacemaker

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:52 AM PDT

Using optogenetics, researchers have established a new approach for pacing the heart and synchronizing its mechanical activity without a conventional electrical pacemaker. This finding could help avoid many drawbacks of electrical pacemakers.

Turning fake pills into real treatments

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:51 AM PDT

A series of fascinating studies showed that many people respond positively to placebo pills -- even when they are told that the pills don't have any active ingredients. Researchers are now testing these "open-label" placebos for the first time among cancer survivors.

Car of the future: Autonomous, or cooperative

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:48 AM PDT

The self-driving car has strong potential for improving traffic flow, road safety, and reducing the environmental impact of traffic. But only if it is designed to communicate with other cars and smart road systems. Not all self-driving cars fulfill this requirement. Scientists call for an integral innovation approach that requires European policy makers and companies to set up standards for the development and implementation of this new technology.

Two cultures, same risk for cognitive impairment

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:48 AM PDT

Diabetes is a known risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia, age-related conditions that affect memory and thinking skills. However, little is known about how the diabetes-cognitive decline link compares across cultures.

Better outcome prediction of postanoxic coma

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:48 AM PDT

EEG-measurements enable better prediction of the outcome of a coma that was caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. A new method helps to make reliable and correct estimates in about 50% of patients, instead of only 10% of patients with the methods currently used. This involves continuous EEG-measurements focussing on the speed with which the brain's activity recovers. It seems that recovery over time is a better indicator of the severity of brain damage than single brief measurements, which are currently done.

Reversing the deadly side effects of Tylenol overdose

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:47 AM PDT

New research could help reverse deadly side effects caused by excessive doses of the drug acetaminophen, the major ingredient in Tylenol and many other medicines. Researchers have developed a mathematical model of acetaminophen metabolism based on data from rats. The findings suggest that giving patients glutamine -- a common amino acid in the body -- alongside the standard antidote for acetaminophen overdose could prevent liver damage and boost the body's ability to recover.

Researchers successfully target 'Achilles' heel' of MERS virus

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:47 AM PDT

Researchers studying the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, have found molecules that shut down the activity of an essential enzyme in the virus and could lead the way to better treatments for those infected. The team identified molecules that inhibit an enzyme essential to MERS virus replication, and also discovered a characteristic of the enzyme that is very different from other coronaviruses.

From Darwin to moramora ('take it easy'): Ten new subsocial spider species from Madagascar

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT

A thorough research on nearly 400 Madagascan subsocial spider colonies adds to the unique biodiversity and endemism on the exotic island. Not only did the scientists find as many as ten new cobweb spider species, but they also gave them some very honorary and curious names.

Research team evolves CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases with novel properties

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT

A team of researchers has found a way to expand the use and precision of the powerful gene-editing tools called CRISPR-Cas9 RNA-guided nucleases. In their report, the investigators describe evolved versions of the DNA-cutting Cas9 enzyme that are able to recognize a different range of nucleic acid sequences than is possible with the naturally occurring form of Cas9 that has been used to date.

Taking a close look at formidable camel spider jaws

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT

For the first time, researchers have created a visual atlas and dictionary of terms for the many strange features on the fearsome-looking jaws of a little known group of arachnids. Called camel spiders, baardskeerders [beard-cutters], sun spiders, wind scorpions, and other colorful names, Solifugae are an order of arachnids that are neither spiders nor scorpions. In new research, scientists present the first comprehensive analysis of jaw morphology across Solifugae.

Cell that replenishes heart muscle found by researchers

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT

Regenerative medicine researchers have identified a cell that replenishes adult heart muscle by using a new cell lineage-tracing technique they devised. Adult heart muscle is comprised of cells called cardiomyocytes. Most cardiomyocytes don't replenish themselves after a heart attack or other significant heart muscle damage. The new cell-tracing technique allows them to detect cells that do replenish themselves after being damaged.

Destructive power of bubbles could lead to new industrial applications

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT

Cavitation bubbles can kill fish and damage boat propellers. Researcher say learning more about them could harness that power for industrial uses, like safer cleaning processes.

Unpacking the mysteries of bacterial cell cycle regulation

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT

As part of their long-term investigation of regulatory factors in the bacterial cell cycle, molecular biologists now report finding a surprising new role for one factor, CpdR, an adaptor that helps to regulate selective protein destruction, the main control mechanism of cell cycle progression in bacteria, at specific times.

Smoking allowed in growing number of restaurants, bars in Georgia

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT

Despite the passage of Georgia's Smokefree Air Act in 2005, the number of restaurants and bars that allow smoking has doubled in recent years, according to researchers.

The Southeast Pacific produces more nitrous oxide than previously thought

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT

In addition to carbon dioxide there are plenty of other greenhouse gases. Nitrous oxide is one of them. However, a global assessment of emissions from the oceans is difficult because the measurement methods used so far have only allowed rough estimates. Using a new technology for continuous measurements, researchers have now discovered that nitrous oxide emissions from the Southeast Pacific are much higher than previously thought.

The secrets of secretion

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT

Living tissues rely on their ability to package, transport and secrete liquid, where and when it's needed. Nature's secretion system is responsive, self-regulatory and intrinsically linked with its surroundings. Synthetic systems haven't been able to replicate that complexity -- until now. A new system spontaneously releases only enough fluid to replace what is lost on the surface.

New agent developed for prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:46 AM PDT

An agent called PSMA-617 is capable of attaching specifically to prostate cancer cells. This agent can be labeled with various radioactive substances. When chemically bound to a weakly radioactive diagnostic radionuclide, it can detect prostate tumors and their metastases in PET scans. If labeled with a strongly radioactive therapeutic radionuclide, PSMA-617 can specifically destroy cancer cells. A first clinical application of this radiopharmaceutica has now delivered promising results.

Legumes control infection of nodules by both symbiotic, endophytic bacteria

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:28 AM PDT

Legume plants selectively regulate access and accommodation of both symbiotic and endophytic bacteria inside root nodule, new research shows. This provides a solid basis and platform for identification and selection of beneficial endophytic bacteria and highly efficient nitrogen-fixing rhizobia to be used as biofertilisers in sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, these results contribute to the general understanding of the control mechanisms used by eukaryotic organisms to control microbial infection.

Best Practice Framework is good benchmarking tool for Fracture Liaison Services worldwide

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:28 AM PDT

The success of the Capture the Fracture Best Practice Framework has been confirmed as a single set of quality standards which can be used effectively to benchmark Fracture Liaison Services within a variety of health-care systems worldwide. Findings revealed that services for hip fracture patients had the highest proportion of gold grading while vertebral fracture the lowest.

The mite and the rose: Non-threatening new mite species found in Xinjiang, China

Posted: 22 Jun 2015 09:28 AM PDT

Three new eriophyoid mite species all coming from different genera were found in Xinjiang, China. One of the new species is the first representative of the genus Paracolomerus to be described from a plant of the rose family Rosaceae. Neither of the species is found to cause any apparent damage to their host plants.