Tuesday, October 27, 2015

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शरीराला आवश्यक खनिजं

आपल्या शरीराच्या भरणपोषणासाठी किंवा शरीर सुदृढ राहण्यासाठी शरीराला खनिजांची आवश्यकता असते असं म्हणतात. पण ही खनिजं कोणती आहेत आणि ती आपल्याला कोणत्या पदार्थामधून मिळू शकतात हे आपण जाणून घेऊ या. जेणेकरून आपला आहार संतुलित कसा असावा याची तुम्हाला कल्पना येईल.

आपल्या शरीरातल्या प्रत्येक भागाचं तसंच उपविभागाचं कार्य सुरळीत राहावं म्हणून त्यांना खनिजांची गरज असते. कारण शरीरातली प्रत्येक क्रिया मग ती रासायनिक असो किंवा हार्मोनल त्या प्रत्येक क्रियेत खनिजं महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका बजावतात. ही खनिजं कुठे मिळतील असा तुम्हाला प्रश्न पडेल.

पण तुम्हाला माहिती आहे का, आपण जे अन्न सेवन करतो त्यात ही खनिजं नैसर्गिकरीत्याच परिपूर्ण असतात. आणि जे पदार्थ किंवा खनिजं शरीराला अनावश्यक आहेत ती मल- मूत्र किंवा घामावाटे शरीराबाहेर टाकली जातात. ही सगळी खनिजं निसर्गत:च उपलब्ध असतात.

तुम्ही कृत्रिमरीत्या शरीराला त्या खनिजांचा साठा पुरवण्याचा प्रयत्न केलात तर शरीर त्या खनिजांचा स्वीकार कजरत नाही परिणामी आपल्याला विविध आजारांना तोंड द्यावं लागतं. खनिजं ही कार्बनविरहीत रासायनिक तत्त्व असतात जी पाण्यामध्ये अगदी सहज विरघळतात.

निसर्गात २४ प्रकारची खनिजं असून त्यातली सात खनिजं ही अनिवार्य असतात आणि ती फळं, भाजी, धान्य, दूध आणि पाणी या नैसर्गिक गोष्टींमधून मिळतात. आपल्या शरीराला आवश्यक असणारी खनिजं कोणती, त्यांचं काय कोणतं आणि ते कुठे मिळतात हे जाणूण घेऊ या.

कॅल्शिअम

कशात असतं?

शेंगदाणे, तीळ, दूध, खोबरं, मुळा, कोबी. ज्वारी, राजगिरा, खरबूज, खजूर

कमतरतेमुळे काय होतं?

हृदयरोग, ऑस्टियोपोरोसिस, दंतरोग, केस गळणे

कार्य काय असतं?

शरीरातील सर्वात मुख्य खनिजं असून ते हाडांची मजबुती आणि शरीराच्या निर्मितीसाठी आवश्यक असतं.

लोह

कशात असतं?

खजूर, अंजीर, मनुका, सफरचंद, डाळिंब, पालक, सीताफळ, उस, बोर, मध, पपई आणि मेथी

कमतरतेमुळे काय होतं?

शरीरात रक्ताची कमतरता भासते. अशक्तपणा, कावीळ किंवा पोटात मुरडा येतो.

कार्य काय असतं?

शरीराच्या वाढीसाठी अतिशय आवश्यक असतं.

सोडिअम

कशात असतं?

मीठ, पाणी, बटाटा, आलं, लसूण, कांदा, मिरची, पालक, सफरचंद, कारलं

कमतरतेमुळे काय होतं?

रक्तदाबाशी निगडित समस्या, निद्रानाश, अंगदुखी, अपचन, मूळव्याधीसारखे आजार, मोतीबिंदू, बहिरेपणा, हात अणि पाय कडक होणे.

कार्य काय असतं?

शरीराला आवश्यक असणारी पाचक रसायनाची निर्मिती करतात, त्याचप्रमाणे शरीरात होणारा गॅस नष्ट होतो.

आयोडिन

कशात असतं?

शिंघाडा, काकडी, कोबी, राजगिरा, शतावरी, मीठ आणि लसूण.

कमतरतेमुळे काय होतं?

थायरॉइडची समस्या, केस गळणे, डिप्रेशन किंवा बैचेनी येणे.

कार्य काय असतं?

शरीरात उत्पन्न होणाऱ्या विषारी पदार्थापासून मेंदूला बचावण्याचं काम करतो.

पोटॅशिअम

कशात असतं?

सर्व प्रकारची धान्य, डाळ, संत्र, अननस, केळं, बटाटा, लिंबू, बदाम.

कमतरतेमुळे काय होतं?

अ‍ॅसिडिटी, त्वचेवर सुरकुत्या किंवा मुरुमं येणं, त्वचा रोग, केस पिकणे.

कार्य काय असतं?

शरीरात तंतू आणि यकृत यांना सुरळत ठेवण्याचं कार्य करतं.

फॉस्फरस

कशात असतं?

दूध, पनीर, डाळी, कांदा, टोमॅटो, गाजर, जांभळं, पेरू, काजू, बदाम, बाजरी आणि चणे.

कमतरतेमुळे काय होतं?

ऑस्टिओपोरोसिस, गतिमंद होणे, मानसिक थकवा, दंत रोग.

कार्य काय असतं?

मेंदूला ताजंतवानं ठेवण्याचं काम हे खनिजं करतं.

सिलिकॉन

कशात असतं?

गहू, पालक, तांदूळ, कोबी, काकडी, मध,

कमतरतेमुळे काय होतं?

कॅन्सर, त्वचारोग, बहिरेपणा, केस गळणे.

कार्य काय असतं?

जननेंद्रियांची कार्यक्षमता वाढवून शरीरातील तंतूना मजबूत करतात.

मॅग्नेशिअम

कशात असतं?

बाजरी, बीट, खजूर, सोयाबीन, दूध, लीची, कारलं.

कमतरतेमुळे काय होतं?

उदास होणे, आळस येणे, तणाव असणे, झोप न लागणे, बैचेनी, सोरायसिस, फोडं, नपुंसकता किंवा वांझपणा.

कार्य काय असतं?

पेशीचं कार्य सुधारतं. रेचक म्हणून काम करतं.

सल्फर

कशात असतं?

दूध, पनीर, डाळ, टोमॅटो, बटाटा, आलं, मिरची, सफरचंद, अननस, सुरण.

कमतरतेमुळे काय होतं?

प्रतीकारशक्ती कमी होते, केस गळतात, वजन वाढतं, मधुमेहाला आमंत्रण मिळतं.

कार्य काय असतं?

इन्सुलिनचं रेचन म्हणून कार्य करतं.

क्लोरिन

कशात असतं?

पानी, बीट, कोबी, मीठ, दूध, लिंबू, आवळा, मध.

कमतरतेमुळे काय होतं?

अ‍ॅसिडिटी, अल्सर, कॅन्सर, आणि अ‍ॅलर्जी.

कार्य काय असतं?

सोडिअम आणि पोटॅशिअमला पाचक बनवण्यासाठी सहायता करतं, त्याचप्रमाणे शरीरातील आम्लक्षाराचं संतुलन राखलं जातं.

खाद्यपदार्थामधील खनिजं शरीराला मिळावीत म्हणून काय केलं पाहिजे.

»  फळं किंवा भाज्या कापल्यानंतर कधीच धुवू नयेत. असं केल्याने त्यातील खनिजं पाण्यावाटे नष्ट होतात.

»  डाळ, तांदूळ किंवा धान्यदेखील उकडण्यापूर्वीच स्वच्छ धुऊन घ्यावेत.

»  काही धान्य, फळं तसंच भाज्यांच्या सालींमध्ये खनिजांचा मोठा प्रमाणावर साठा असतो. त्यामुळे अशा सालींचा आहारात समावेश करावा.

»  दुधात खनिजांचा भरपूर स्रेत असतो म्हणूनच दूध जास्त प्रमाणात उकळू नये. दूध जास्त प्रमाणात उकळल्याने त्यातील खनिजं नष्ट होतात.

»  फळं कापून खाण्याऐवजी शक्यतो आहे तशीच खावीत. उदाहरणार्थ, चिकू किंवा सफरचंद ही फळं संपूर्ण खावीत.

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जानुशिरसासन

दिवसा उठल्यावर येणारा थकवा नाहीसा करण्यासाठी तसंच मूत्रविकार, पोटावरील चरबी नष्ट करणे आदी फायदे होतात. त्यामुळे पचनक्रियाही सुधारते. पश्चिमोत्तासनाप्रमाणेच हे आसन असल्यामुळे त्याचप्रमाणे याचे फायदेदेखील आहेत.

हे आसन पश्चिमोत्तासनासारखचं आहे. जानू म्हणजे गुडघा.

आसन

दोन्ही पाय लांब करून बसावं. आता डावा पाय दुमडावा. डाव्या पायाची टाच उजव्या पायाच्या इनर थाय अर्थात जांघेवर ठेवावी. डाव्या पायाचा गुडघा जमिनीला टेकलेला पाहिजे.

आता हळुवारपणे शरीराच्या वरील भागास वाकवून डोकं गुडघ्याला लावावं. हातांनी पायाचा अंगठा पकडावा. काही वेळ या स्थितीत राहावं. मग थोडा वेळ विश्रांती घेऊन उजव्या पायाने हे आसन करावं.

श्वास

»  पाय वाकवून श्वास घ्यावा
»  शरीराचा वरील भाग खाली घेताना श्वास सोडावा.
»  आसनस्थितीत असताना नियमित श्वासोच्छ्श्वास चालू ठेवावा.

वेळ

»  सुरुवातीला दहा सेकंद थांबावे.

»  हळूहळू सेकंद वाढवावेत.

»  हे आसन पाच वेळा करावं.

घ्यावयाची काळजी

पाय दुमडताना व्यवस्थित दुमडावा. दुमडलेला पाय या त्याच्या विरुद्ध बाजूच्या पायाच्या जांघांना लागला पाहिजे. शरीराचा वरील भाग खाली आणताना घाई करू नये. जर का तुमचे डोकं गुडघ्याला लागत नसेल तरी चालेल. सुरुवातीला जेवढे वाकता येईल तेवढे वाका.

पायांचा अंगठा पकडण्याचा प्रयत्न करावा. आपण पुढे वाकल्यानंतर मागच्या बाजूला वाकणंही गरजेचं आहे. या आसनानंतर शशांकासन करावं. आसन सोडताना घाई करू नये. डाव्या पायाने आसन झाल्यास दोन सेकंद होल्ड करावं. मग उजव्या पायाने हे आसन करावं.

विशेष टीप

सायटिका, हर्निया किंवा स्लिप डिस्क असलेल्यांनी व्यक्तींनी हे आसन करू नये.

फायदे

»  जानुशिरसासनामुळे मूत्रविकार दूर होतात.

»  पोटात येणारी कळ नाहीशी होते.

»  या आसनामुळे शरीरातील आळस नाहीसा होतो.

»  पोटावरील चरबी कमी होण्यास मदत होते.

»  जे फायदे पश्चिमोत्तासनामुळे मिळतात तेच फायदे या आसनामुळेही मिळतात.

»  या आसनामुळे पाचनक्रिया सुधारण्यास मदत होते.

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आरोग्यदायी गवार

गवार किंवा गोवार नावाने प्रचलित असलेली भाजी हे वेलवनस्पती आहे. पॅपिलिऑनसिया कुळातील या भाज्या आहेत.

गवार किंवा गोवार नावाने प्रचलित असलेली भाजी हे वेलवनस्पती आहे. पॅपिलिऑनसिया कुळातील या भाज्या आहेत. शेंगांच्या प्रकारात मोडत असून हे झाड साधारण एक मीटर उंच वाढतं. ही भाजी द्विदल पिकांच्या श्रेणीत मोडते.

उत्तर भारतात गवारीचे पीक अधिक घेतले जाते. कमी पावसाच्या प्रदेशात प्रामुख्याने हिची शेती केली जाते. हिचं शास्त्रीय नाव साया मोटिसस टेट्रागोनोलोबस असं आहे. यापासून गोंद केला जातो.  इंग्रजीत या भाजीचं नाव क्लस्टर बीन्स, तेलुगुमध्ये गोरुचिक्कुडु काया आणि कन्नडमध्ये गोरीकाई तसंच तामिळमध्ये कोठावरी असं म्हटलं जातं. यात भरपूर प्रमाणात औषधी गुण आहेत.

»  जेवणाची इच्छा न होणा-यांनी या भाजीचं आवर्जून सेवन करावं. कारण या भाजीच्या सेवनामुळे भूक वाढते.
मांसपेशी मजबूत होतात.

»  यात भरपूर प्रमाणात प्रथिनं असतात जी शरीराला आवश्यक असतात.

»  रक्तातील साखरेचं प्रमाण नियंत्रित ठेवत असल्यामुळे मधुमेहींनी आवर्जून खावी.

»  पित्तनाशक वनस्पती आहे.

»  नियमित भाजीचं सेवन केल्याने रांतआंधळेपणा नष्ट होतो.

»  गवारीची पूड पाण्यात घालून त्याचा लेप मुरगळलेल्या किंवा जखम झालेल्या भागावर लावल्यास लवकर आराम मिळतो.

»  रक्तातील कोलेस्टोरॉलची पातळी नियंत्रित राखण्यास मदत करते. म्हणून हृदय रोगींसाठी अतिशय उपयुक्त भाजी ठरते.

»  फॉस्फोरस आणि कॅल्शिअमचा भरपूर स्रेत असल्याने हाडांची मजबुती चांगली होते.

»  आयर्नचं प्रमाण अधिक असल्याने हिममोग्लोबीन वाढवण्यास मदत करते.

»  शरीरातील फॉलिक अ‍ॅसिड टिकवून ठेवायचं असल्यास गरोदर महिलांनी ही भाजी आवर्जून खावी.

»  लोह असल्यामुळे रक्ताभिसरण सुरळीत होते. नियमित सेवनाने कित्येक आजारांपासून लांब ठेवते.

»  या भाजीमुळे मेंदूवरील ताण कमी होण्यास मदत होते. तसंच मेंदूचे कार्य सुरळीत होते.

»  ही भाजी उत्तम विरेचक म्हणून काम करते, शरीराला नको असलेले घटक शरीराबाहेर फेकण्याचं काम करते. त्यामुळे पचनशक्ती सुधारते.

»  अल्सरसारख्या आतडय़ांच्या होणाऱ्या विकारांवरही ही भाजी नियंत्रण आणते.

»  ही भाजी वजन कमी करण्यासही मदत करते.

»  या भाजीतल्या बिया सुकवून त्याची पूड सॉस, आइस्क्रीमसारख्या अन्नपदार्थात घातल्याने ते अन्नपदार्थ घट्ट होण्यास मदत होते.

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ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Mycologist says our close relatives break the bounds of biology

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 03:17 PM PDT

The mushroom nicknamed "death cap" made headlines this summer when it poisoned Syrian refugees fleeing through Eastern Europe. But it was cooperation, not toxicity, that attracted one researcher to Amanita phalloides.

Targeting invasive cells not dividing cells to halt cancer, study suggests

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 03:16 PM PDT

Most cancer drugs are designed to target dividing cells, but a new study suggests that targeting invasive cells may be a new strategy to treat metastatic cancer.

Newly discovered tumor-suppressor gene affects melanoma survival

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 03:09 PM PDT

Scientists have found a tumor suppressor gene, RASA2, that drives a particularly deadly form of melanoma as well as regulates a key protein, RAS, that is a major oncogene. The discovery is "highly likely to have direct clinical relevance," say researchers.

Natural protein cage developed for improved cancer drug delivery

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:41 PM PDT

A unique, tiny protein cage has been created by scientists to deliver nasty chemotherapy chemicals directly to cancer cells. Direct delivery could improve treatment and lessen what can be horrendous side effects from toxic drugs.

Persian Gulf could experience deadly heat

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:41 PM PDT

Climate change could bring deadly heat waves to Persian Gulf, say researchers. Their detailed climate simulation shows a threshold of survivability could be crossed without mitigation measures.

High post-pregnancy BMI raises pelvic organ prolapse risk

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:25 PM PDT

Maintaining a normal body mass index (BMI) is important for good cardiovascular health and blood sugar control, but maintaining it after pregnancy can also be key to preventing pelvic organ prolapse, according to a new study.

Physicists uncover novel phase of matter

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:25 PM PDT

A team of physicists has discovered an unusual form of matter -- not a conventional metal, insulator, or magnet, for example, but something entirely different. This phase, characterized by an unusual ordering of electrons, could hold the solution to a long-standing mystery in condensed matter physics having to do with high-temperature superconductivity.

Researchers study differences in ischemic stroke in marijuana users

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:25 PM PDT

Strokes in young adults who use marijuana are more likely to be caused by stenosis, narrowing of the arteries, in the skull than strokes in non-users, new research shows. Previous studies found an association between marijuana use and stroke, but the new study is the first to explore differences in stroke in marijuana users and non-users, an approach that can help identify possible mechanisms for stroke in users.

Young women more likely to die in hospital after STEMI

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:25 PM PDT

Young women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were less likely to receive life-saving angioplasty and stenting to restore blood flow to blocked arteries than men and also had longer hospital stays and higher rates of in-hospital mortality, according to a study.

Climate change threatens survival of common lizards

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:21 PM PDT

While there is no doubt that climate change is affecting many organisms, some species might be more sensitive than others. Reptiles, whose body temperature depends directly on environmental temperature, may be particularly vulnerable. Scientists have now shown experimentally that lizards cope very poorly with the climate predicted for the year 2100.

Young women less likely to be informed of heart disease risk by providers

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:21 PM PDT

Even when young women had a similar or greater risk for heart disease than young men, they were 11 percent less likely to report that healthcare providers told them they were at-risk for heart disease prior to a heart attack, according to a new study.

Rare warrior tomb filled with Bronze Age wealth and weapons discovered

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:21 PM PDT

Archaeologists have discovered a Bronze Age warrior's tomb in southwestern Greece filled with more than 1,400 objects: jewels, weapons and armor, as well as bronze, silver and gold vessels.

Study of inner ear development hints at way to restore hearing and balance

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:20 PM PDT

These genes, or others in the same pathway, could be promising targets for efforts to treat hearing loss or balance problems by regenerating hair cells, the researchers suggest.

Declines in whales, fish, seabirds and large animals disrupt Earth's nutrient cycle

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:20 PM PDT

In the past, whales, giant land mammals, and other animals played a vital role in keeping the planet fertile by transporting nutrients via their feces. However, massive declines and extinctions of many of these animals has deeply damaged this planetary nutrient recycling system, threatening fisheries and ecosystems on land, a team of scientists reports.

Sheet music for creating the artificial sense of touch

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:18 PM PDT

A new study led by neuroscientists brings us one step closer to building prosthetic limbs for humans that re-create a sense of touch through a direct interface with the brain.

'Love hormone' helps produce 'bliss molecules' to boost pleasure of social interactions

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:18 PM PDT

The hormone oxytocin, which has been associated with interpersonal bonding, may enhance the pleasure of social interactions by stimulating production of marijuana-like neurotransmitters in the brain, according to a new study. The research provides the first link between oxytocin -- dubbed the 'love hormone' -- and anandamide, which has been called the 'bliss molecule' for its role in activating cannabinoid receptors in brain cells to heighten motivation and happiness.

Loss of large land mammals could change landscapes forever

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:17 PM PDT

Paleontologists have looked at the environmental changes that occurred in North and South America after large megafauna went extinct over the past 15,000 years, and found long-lasting impacts. Particularly in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, the loss of mammoths and mastodons affected forests and grasslands and changed the small mammal populations. Similar lasting changes could result from the extinction of large land animals today, in particular African elephants.

Elephants boost tree losses in South Africa's largest savanna reserve

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:17 PM PDT

Protected areas, such as nature reserves and national parks, play a crucial role in sheltering wildlife, such as African elephants, from hunting and habitat destruction. But it's important that conservation managers understand how the vegetation in these natural protected zones is affected by the population growth spurred by this animal safeguarding. New remote sensing research shows that elephants are one of the leading causes of fallen trees in South Africa's Kruger National Park.

Ancient babies boost Bering land bridge layover

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:17 PM PDT

Scientists deciphered maternal genetic material from two babies buried together in Alaska 11,500 years ago. They found the infants had different mothers and were the northernmost known kin to two lineages of Native Americans found farther south throughout North and South America. The study supports the theory that Native Americans descended from people who migrated from Asia to Bering land bridge, then spent up to 10,000 years there before moving into the Americas beginning at least 15,000 years ago.

Chemists find better way to pack natural gas into fuel tanks

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:14 PM PDT

Increasing numbers of natural gas-powered trucks and buses are hitting the road, but a major disadvantage is the bulky equipment needed to store compressed NG or to keep liquefied NG cold. Now chemists have developed an innovative new storage material for methane that could lessen the hassle of filling up with NG, and extend the range of such vehicles. The material is a flexible metal organic framework that expands when methane is pumped in.

Common chemical makeup at largest cosmic scales

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:14 PM PDT

A new survey of hot, X-ray-emitting gas in the Virgo galaxy cluster shows that the elements needed to make stars, planets and people were evenly distributed across millions of light-years early in cosmic history, more than 10 billion years ago.

Large, violent animal packs shaped the ecosystems of the Pleistocene epoch

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:14 PM PDT

Intense, violent attacks by large packs of some of the world's biggest carnivores -- including extinct lions much larger than those of today, and sabertooth cats -- limited the population sizes of mammoths, mastodons and other species, and prevented widespread habitat destruction in the Pleistocene Epoch.

Ancient permafrost quickly transforms to carbon dioxide upon thaw

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:14 PM PDT

Researchers have quantified how rapidly ancient permafrost decomposes upon thawing and how much carbon dioxide is produced in the process.

CRISPR brings precise control to gene expression

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:14 PM PDT

Previous studies have shown that the emerging gene-editing technology called CRISPR can have off-target effects. A new study shows that CRISPR can be used with a high degree of specificity to deliver proteins controlling DNA packaging, in effect exerting epigenetic controls that alter gene expression without changing the coding portions of DNA.

Extinction of Pleistocene herbivores induced major vegetation and landscape changes

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:13 PM PDT

The extinction of large herbivores such as mammoths could explain massive prehistoric changes in vegetation and landscape structure. But it has wider implications, explaining more frequent fires in modern-day ecosystems for instance.

Surgery proving option for more pancreatic cancer patients, expert says

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 11:03 AM PDT

Pancreatic cancer has long proved the least survivable of the most common forms of cancer, in part because it tends to spread before symptoms appear. Surgery has offered the longest remissions, but for many people with advanced cancer, an operation wasn't an option. Now, thanks to improvements in chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, even this most recalcitrant of cancers is starting to budge, says a gastrointestinal surgeon.

In the French suburbs, Big Brother is watching you

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 11:03 AM PDT

Video surveillance, police presence and walls that stop people from socializing in the streets. In France this is reality for the residents of suburbs that are upgraded. New research shows that the people who have been tasked to improve these suburbs see them through their own filter of suspicion.

Entanglement at heart of ‘two-for-one’ fission in next-generation solar cells

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 11:03 AM PDT

An international team of scientists have observed how a mysterious quantum phenomenon in organic molecules takes place in real time, which could aid in the development of highly efficient solar cells.

New genetic discovery advances understanding of prostate cancer

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:23 AM PDT

A new and important genetic discovery, which sheds light on how prostate cancers develop and spread, has been made by an international research team. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men.

Mechanism discovered that could lead to better ovarian cancer treatment

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:23 AM PDT

Resistance to chemotherapy is a major problem for those suffering from ovarian cancer -- a problem that prevents a cure from a disease dubbed the 'silent killer.' Now researchers are giving patients new hope with recent findings that help pinpoint the mechanisms causing chemoresistance.

Molecular motor grows cell's microtubules

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT

Motor proteins that pause at the ends of microtubules and produce pushing forces can also stimulate their growth, according to researchers. The proteins' function could be a critical component in understanding cell division and nerve branching and growth.

How ants and ketchup are alike: Both solid-like and liquid-like

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT

Collections of ants have a remarkable ability to change shapes and tasks based on the demands of their environment. When floodwaters hit, they self-assemble and form rafts to stay alive. They can also use their bodies to build bridges and span gaps. What are the properties of these ant aggregations that allow for this wide range of abilities? New research says it's because the insects are actually liquid-like and solid-like simultaneously.

Scientists uncover signal for when a pregnant woman is about to go into labor

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 10:21 AM PDT

A cellular signal in the amniotic fluid around the fetus has been found to build up when a pregnant woman is about to go into labor, say scientists. The researchers used amniotic fluid samples from 50 women in labor and 51 women at the end of their pregnancy but not in yet in labor. They also acquired demographic information from patient interviews and medical information from their medical records.

Insulin cells determine weight-loss surgery success rate

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:52 AM PDT

The ability to produce insulin is pivotal to the success of weight-loss surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes, scientists have found. Their study provides a better point of departure for advise and determining which patients will benefit from surgery.

Much needed update on magnetic tracking in cell therapy

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:52 AM PDT

The latest advances in magnetic particle tracking in cell therapy, a potentially groundbreaking strategy in disease treatment and regenerative medicine, are outlined in a new article.

Wanted: Fair players and a climate leader

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:52 AM PDT

An international team has devised a method allowing countries to choose their own method of 'fair' emissions cuts, effectively creating a roadmap out of the climate negotiation gridlock.

New microscope helps scientists see the big picture

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:52 AM PDT

A new microscope is giving scientists a clearer, more comprehensive view of biological processes as they unfold in living animals. The microscope produces images of entire organisms, such as a zebrafish or fruit fly embryo, with enough resolution in all three dimensions that each cell appears as a distinct structure.

Unraveling the complex, intertwined electron phases in a superconductor

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:51 AM PDT

A key arrangement of electrons that may impede superconductivity in cuprates has now been characterized by scientists. Understanding this 'electron density wave' may lead to ways to suppress or remove it to induce superconductivity, possibly even at room temperature.

Chemical probe to dissect role of potential cancer-causing proteins

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT

Scientists have created a highly specific and well-characterized chemical probe which can switch off two important proteins implicated in cancer -- shedding new light on the role these proteins play in driving cancer cell proliferation.

If a major economy takes the lead, warming could be limited to 2°C

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT

Though most countries around the globe agree that warming must be limited to 2 degrees Celsius to avoid the raft of climate risks, they clash about who should do what to reach this target. Hence the issue of allocating greenhouse-gas emissions reductions will be key for the outcome of the world climate summit COP21 in Paris. Scientists now found what amount of emissions reductions it takes for a major economy to lead out of the climate gridlock.

Capacity to regenerate body parts may be the primitive state for all four-legged vertebrates

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT

A team of paleontologists shows in a new study of fossil amphibians that the extraordinary regenerative capacities of modern salamanders are likely an ancient feature of four-legged vertebrates that was subsequently lost in the course of evolution.

Research explains limits of cancer immunotherapy drugs

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT

Molecular changes within a tumor have been revealed by a team of scientists that suggests that they are are preventing immunotherapy drugs from killing off the cancer.

New testosterone guideline to help Canadian physicians diagnose, treat patients

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 09:50 AM PDT

Controversy exists about how to manage patients with low testosterone, and many health care professionals are reluctant to treat testosterone deficiency, but a new guideline aims to provide a road map to help diagnose and treat this health condition. The guideline targets primary care physicians, general internists, endocrinologists, geriatricians and urologists as well as psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and pharmacists who deal with men at or beyond middle age.

Traces of enormous solar storms in the ice of Greenland and Antarctica

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:21 AM PDT

Solar storms and the particles they release result in spectacular phenomena such as auroras, but they can also pose a serious risk to our society. In extreme cases they have caused major power outages, and they could also lead to breakdowns of satellites and communication systems. According to a new study solar storms could be much more powerful than previously assumed. Researchers have now confirmed that Earth was hit by two extreme solar storms more than 1000 years ago.

Pupils learn poorly when using most computer programs

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:20 AM PDT

 "Most digital learning tools used in schools are unsatisfactory and only test the knowledge the pupils already have", says Björn Sjödén, who has reviewed a large number of computer programs in his doctoral thesis "What Makes Good Educational Software?"

Products expectant mothers should avoid during first trimester

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT

Expectant mothers in their first trimester should avoid certain cosmetics, cleaning agents and medicines, to protect the developing fetal brain from chemicals that can trigger autism, health researchers advise.

Researchers discover an epilepsy switch

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT

Scientists have decoded a central signal cascade associated with epileptic seizures. If the researchers blocked a central switch in epileptic mice, the frequency and severity of the seizures decreased. Using a novel technology, it was possible to observe the processes prior to the occurrence of epileptic seizures in living animals.

Snake venom helps hydrogels stop the bleeding

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT

A hydrogel infused with snake venom may be the best material to stop bleeding quickly, even in the presence of anti-coagulants, according to scientists.

Simpler method for measuring viral infections in bees

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:19 AM PDT

Scientists have made it easier for beekeepers to conclude how serious the pressure of viral infections in their bee colonies is. Based on observations in Danish bee colonies, the scientists have grouped the incidence of viral infections into four categories that can be used instead of a sliding scale to describe viral infection pressure.

What was killing the young right whales? New research finds a suspect

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:14 AM PDT

Scientists found a close relationship between a sudden surge in whale deaths at Peninsula Valdes, Argentina, and the toxic algae Pseudo-nitzschia. The finding demonstrates that some of the largest creatures in the ocean can be vulnerable to algal blooms projected to increase with climate change.

Response to environmental change depends on variation in corals, algae partnerships

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:14 AM PDT

Some corals are more protective than others of their partner algae in harsh environmental conditions, new research reveals. This individual variation among corals could reflect a greater capacity than currently is recognized to adapt to changing ocean conditions brought about by climate change.

Two mutations are better than one

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 08:14 AM PDT

Two wrongs don't make a right, but in the case of genetic mutations, having two mutations in the same gene could be better than having either one individually. Researchers found that two separate genetic modifications each greatly reduced the function of the myosin muscle protein in fruit flies, but flies with both mutations had nearly three-quarters of the function restored. The findings may help researchers better understand and treat heart muscle disease in humans.

Maintaining blood pressure levels measured before entering OR may improve outcomes

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT

When a patient arrives in the operating room (O.R.) for surgery, one of the first things a physician will do is take his or her blood pressure, a "baseline" measurement used throughout the procedure. However, a new study has found that blood pressure taken before the patient enters the O.R. may produce more accurate measurements and should be used to determine baseline blood pressure.

Lung cancer specialist brings new treatments, hope to new Mexicans

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT

This year, more than 158,000 Americans are expected to die from lung cancer. That's a staggering number: it's more than all the deaths expected from breast, prostate, colon, rectum, bladder and skin cancers combined. But this grim statistic only spurs one lung cancer doctor and scientist to work harder toward a cure.

Harbingers of Halloween spin smart system for scientists to mimic, create new products

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT

Researchers found that the webs of sun-soaked spiders were far more resistant to UVB rays than the webs of those that hunt in the dark or shade, perhaps indicating an important adaptive trait.

Three-minute test detects common form of dementia that's hard to diagnose

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT

Although Lewy Body disease (LBD) is the second-most-common degenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease (AD), it's not exactly a household name. A fast, new test can assess clinical signs and symptoms of this disease, and discriminate between AD and LBD with 96.8 percent accuracy.

Study reveals significant global variation in the definition of the term 'rare disease'

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:36 AM PDT

An expansive global review answers a basic scientific question, "How do you describe a 'rare disease?'" A broad international group of researchers examined the similarities and differences in rare disease definitions and prevalence thresholds -- across geography and stakeholders.

Cellular stress management in people and plants

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:32 AM PDT

Bioscientists have discovered the function of a fundamental biological mechanism. Their findings are significant for the stress biology of human cells as well as the development of agricultural crops that are highly resistant to their primary stressor, drought.

Siberian jays can recognize unfamiliar, distant relatives

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:32 AM PDT

Can animals recognize distantly related, unfamiliar individuals of the same species? Siberian jays possess this ability as evolutionary biologists recently could demonstrate for the first time. This bird species belongs to the crow family and is able to accurately assess the degree of kinship to unfamiliar individuals. This ability provides advantages when sharing food and other forms of cooperation.

Succesful eHealth depends on focus on user and context, says expert

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 06:30 AM PDT

Human-centered design can greatly stimulate the improvement of safe patient care through technology, concludes one expert. She researched the ways in which eHealth solutions can contribute to increasing the quality of the work of healthcare professionals such as nurses: more efficient and safer patient care.