Wednesday, January 20, 2016

FeedaMail: PRAHAAR | ONLINE MARATHI NEWS » मजेत मस्त तंदुरुस्त

feedamail.com PRAHAAR | ONLINE MARATHI NEWS » मजेत मस्त तंदुरुस्त

कोलेस्टेरॉलचं नो टेन्शन

आपल्यापैकी कित्येकांना कोलेस्टेरॉलला बळी पडण्याची भीती वाटत असते. कारण याच्या पातळीत वाढ झाली की अनेक आजारांना आमंत्रण मिळू शकतं. मात्र या आजाराचं मूळ कारण कोलेस्टेरॉल नसून ते ज्याद्वारे वहन केलं जातं, त्या डेन्सिटी लिपोप्रोटिन्समुळे होतं. म्हणूनच यावर नियंत्रण आणायचं असेल तर नेमकं काय केलं पाहिजे, हे जाणून घेऊ या.

स्वप्ना. मध्यम बांध्याची तरुणी, खूप स्थूल नाही आणि खूप बारीकही नाही. तरीही काही काही कारणामुळे तिच्या रक्तात कोलेस्टेरॉलची पातळी वाढली असल्याचं समोर आलं. हे प्रमाण अधिक झाल्यास मधुमेहासारख्या आजारांना सामोरं जावं लागेल अशी धोक्याची सूचना मिळाल्यामुळे ती घाबरली आणि माझ्याकडे योग्य डाएट प्लानसाठी आली. तिला तिची कोलेस्टेरॉलची पातळी कमी करायची होती.

कोलेस्टेरॉल या संज्ञेची अतिशय वाईट प्रसिद्धी आहे आणि आपल्यापैकी बहुतांश लोकांना आपण कोलेस्टेरॉलला बळी पडण्याची भीती असते. कारण याच्या पातळीत उच्च प्रमाणात वाढ झाली की अनेक आजारांना आमंत्रण मिळू शकतं, ज्यामध्ये हृदयविकार, रक्तदाब आणि मधुमेहाचा समावेश असतो, पण तुम्हाला हे माहीत आहे का याचं कारण कोलेस्टेरॉल नसतं. यकृतामार्फत तयार केलं जाणारं लिपीड हे शरीराच्या अनेक प्रक्रियांसाठी आवश्यक असतं.

उदा. मेंदूतील चेतापेशींसाठी इन्सुलेशन तयार करणं, पेशींची संरचना उपलब्ध करून देणं. हाय डेन्सिटी लिपोप्रोटिन्स(एच डी एल)ची कमी पातळी अनेक समस्यांना कारणीभूत ठरते. दुस-या बाजूला लो डेन्सिटी लिपोप्रोटिन्स धमन्यांच्या भित्तिकांवर थर साठतो, त्यामुळे रक्ताच्या प्रवाहात अडचण येते आणि त्यामुळे काíडयोवॅक्स्युलर आजार उद्भवतात. या गोष्टीची नोंद घेतली पाहिजे की हृदयाचा विकास करण्यासाठी ते वहन करीत असलेले कोलेस्टेरॉल नाही तर हे कोलेस्टेरॉल ज्या लिपोप्रोटिन्समुळे वहन होते, त्या लिपोप्रोटिन्सच्या उच्च (एचडीएल) आणि कमी (एलडीएल) पातळ्या हृदय विकास करण्याचं काम करतात.

जीवनशैलीमध्ये निरोगी बदल घडवून आणणे आणि हृदय विकाराची जोखीम वाढवणा-या अन्नपदार्थाचे सेवन कमी करणं आवश्यक आहे आणि हे कोणत्याही शरीरयष्टीच्या प्रत्येक व्यक्तीसाठी लागू होते. उच्च कोलेस्टेरॉल पातळ्यांमुळे कोणत्याही प्रकारची शरीरयष्टी अर्थात स्थूल किंवा बारीक असलेल्या व्यक्तिच्या हृदयात दोष निर्माण होतो. त्यामुळे तुमचं वजन, शारीरिक कृती आणि आहार यांना विचारात न घेता तुमच्या शरीरातील कोलेस्टेरॉलच्या पातळीची नियमित तपासणी होणे आवश्यक आहे.

तुमच्यातील घातक कोलेस्टेरॉलची पातळी कमी करण्यासाठी उच्च प्रमाणात सॅच्युरेटेड फॅट्स आणि ट्रान्स फॅट्स असलेले अन्नपदार्थ सेवन करण्यावर मर्यादा आणा. अनेक पॅक्ड अन्नपदार्थ उदा. बटाटय़ाचे वेफर्स आणि बेकरी उत्पादने ज्यामध्ये मैद्यासारख्या रिफाइन धान्यांचा वापर होतो, त्यात फायबर कमी प्रमाणात असतो आणि ट्रान्स फॅट्स अधिक प्रमाणात असतात. या व्यतिरिकक्त तेलाचा पुन:पुन्हा वापर केल्यामुळे ट्रान्स फॅट्सच्या पातळीत वाढ होते. पुन्हा रेड मीट बरेचदा खाण्याने, म्हशीच्या दुधाचे पदार्थ, तूप आणि नारळाच्या तेलामुळे एलडीएल पातळी वाढते. या एलडीएलच्या पातळीत मोठय़ा प्रमाणावर सॅच्युरेटेड फॅट्स असतात. म्हणूनच त्याच्या ग्रहणावर मर्यादा आणावी आणि त्यांच्याऐवजी कोणतेही प्रक्रिया न केलेले पदार्थ वापरावेत.

फायबरचे दोन प्रकार असतात, विद्राव्य आणि अविद्राव्य. विद्राव्य म्हणजे पटकन विरघळणारे आणि अविद्राव्य म्हणजे झटकन न विरघळणारे. म्हणूनच विद्राव्य फायबरचे ग्रहण वाढवावं. या दोन्ही प्रकारामध्ये हृदयाच्या आरोग्याचे फायदे असतात, पण विद्राव्य फायबर तुमच्या एलडीएल पातळीला कमी करण्यास मदत करतात. त्यामुळे ओट्स, ओट्स ब्रान, फळे, शेंगभाज्या, डाळी आणि भाज्यांचा तुमच्या आहारात नियमित समावेश केला पाहिजे.

आणखी एक महत्त्वाचा बदल तुम्ही करू शकता तो म्हणजे बटरसारख्या उच्च प्रमाणात सॅच्युरेटेड फॅट्स असलेल्या पदार्थाऐवजी लो फॅट टेबल स्प्रेडचा म्हणजे ज्यामध्ये कमी फॅट असतं अशा पदार्थाचा वापर करावा. लो फॅट टेबल स्प्रेड आरोग्यासाठी चांगले असले तरी टेबल स्प्रेड निवड करताना शून्य टक्के कोलेस्टेरॉल आणि शून्य ट्रान्स फॅट्स असलेल्या पदार्थाची निवड करावी. इथे सांगावीशी वाटणारी महत्त्वाची गोष्ट म्हणजे जरी लो फॅट विकल्प असले तरीसुद्धा ते कमीच वापरावेत, कारण अति नेहमीच वाईट असतं. त्याचा अतिरिक्त वापर तुमच्या आरोग्याला धोकाच पोहोचवेल.

म्हणजे नेमकं काय करायचं?

» आपण कित्येकदा पॅकेज ज्यूस आणि जेलींचं सेवन करतो. त्याऐवजी ताजी फळं सेवन केली पाहिजेत. कारण ती जास्त सकस असतात आणि तो तुमच्या आरोग्यासाठी अतिशय चांगला पर्याय असू शकतो.

» दररोज किमान ३० मिनिटं व्यायामदेखील पुरेसा आहे. त्यामुळे शक्य असल्यास दररोज चालावं.

» सायकल चालवा, पोहा किंवा तुमचा आवडता खेळ खेळा ते देखील फायदेशीर ठरते.

» एलिव्हेटर(लिफ्ट)च्या जागी पाय-यांचा वापर करावा.

» अधिक वेळ टीव्ही पाहायला एकाच जागी बसू नये. टीव्ही पाहताना काही सीटअप्स काढण्यामुळे देखील फरक पडू शकेल.

» लक्षात ठेवा की तुमचे आरोग्य ही तुमची जबाबदारी आहे. केवळ तुम्हीच त्याची उत्तम काळजी घेऊ शकता.

Read More »

लाल माठ

इतर पालेभाज्यांप्रमाणे हीदेखील एक पालेभाजी. नाव जरी माठ असलं तरी तिचे गुणधर्म हे बरेचसे चवळीप्रमाणेच आहेत. तिच्या लाल रंगामुळे हिला लाल माठ असं म्हणतात. 

इतर पालेभाज्यांप्रमाणे हीदेखील एक पालेभाजी. नाव जरी माठ असलं तरी तिचे गुणधर्म हे बरेचसे चवळीप्रमाणेच आहेत. तिच्या लाल रंगामुळे हिला लाल माठ असं म्हणतात. यातदेखील भरपूर फायबर आणि पोषकद्रव्यं असतात. हिंदीत 'बडी चौलाई', कन्नडमध्ये 'हरिवे', संस्कृतमध्ये 'मारिष' किंवा 'मार्ष' तर इंग्रजीत 'अमरँथस ट्रायकलर' अशी नावं आाहेत.

ही अ‍ॅमरॅटेसी कुळातीलच आहे. उष्ण कटिबंधात आशिया, आफ्रिका आणि अमेरिकेत आढळते. हिरवा आणि तांबडा असे दोन प्रकार यात पाहायला मिळतात. राजगिरा, पोकळा आणि तांदुळजा या भाज्यांशी अनेक बाबतीत साम्य दिसून येते. लोह आणि तंतुमय पदार्थाचा भरपूर साठा असलेल्या या भाजीत भरपूर गुणवैशिष्टय़ आहेत.

» पाचक असून किडनीचं आरोग्य सुधारतं.

»अँटिबॅक्टिरिअल म्हणून काम करते.

» श्वसनाच्या विकारावर अतिशय गुणकारी आहे.

» पोषणमूल्य असल्यामुळे मुलांच्या वाढीसाठी उत्तम आहे.

»शरीरातील कोलेस्टेरॉलवर नियंत्रण ठेवता येत असल्यामुळे मधुमेहींच्या रुग्णांसाठी अतिशय उपयुक्त आहे.

» यात लोहाचं प्रमाण अधिक असल्यामुळे अ‍ॅनिमिया परिस्थितीत असलेल्या रुग्णांनी या भाजीचं आवर्जून सेवन करावं.

» जीवनसत्त्व अ आणि बिटा केरोटिन असल्यामुळे डोळे, तोंड, नाक आणि पोटाचं आरोग्य सुधारतं.

» जीवनसत्त्व ब, लोह, मॅग्नेशिअम, मॅगेनीज, फॉस्फरस आणि झिंकचा भरपूर साठा असल्यामुळे शरीराला आवश्यक असणारी भरपूर ऊर्जा मिळते.

» सर्दी आणि संसर्गापासून बचाव होतो.

Read More »

नौका संचलानसना

नौका किंवा बोट वल्हवल्याप्रमाणे या आसनाची स्थिती असल्याने या आसनाला नौका संचलानसना असं म्हणतात. पोटाशी निगडित सर्व विकार दूर होण्यास मदत होते.

योगा मॅटवर बसावे. पाय सोडून सरळ आणि ताठ ठेवावे. दोन्ही पाय एकत्र आणावे. म्हणजेच एकत्र जोडलेले असावेत. दोन्ही हात शरीरालगत असावेत. हातांची मूठ कारावी. पाठ सरळ आणि ताठ ठेवा. आता हळुवारपणे शरीराचा वरचा भाग पुढील दिशेने झुकवावा.

जसे आपण नौका किंवा बोट चालवतो तसंच अगदी शरीराला पुढे झुकवावे. तसंच थोडं मागेही जावं. चित्रात दाखवल्याप्रमाणे पाय सरळ असावेत. पायांना वर उचलू नये. आसन करताना घाई करू नये. हळुवारपणे करावे.

श्वास

»  सुरुवातीला श्वास घ्यावा.
»  वाकताना श्वास सोडावा.

वेळ

सुरुवातीला ५-१० वेळा करावे. प्रथम घडय़ाळाप्रमाणे आणि नंतर घडय़ाळाच्या विरुद्ध दिशेने (अँटिक्लॉकवाइज) करावे. आसन करताना घ्यायची काळजी हे आसन करताना घाईत करू नये. शरीराचा वरील भाग वाकवताना जेवढे वाकवता येईल तेवढेच वाकवा. तसंच मानेला जास्त ताण येणार नाही याची काळजी घ्यावी. पाय सरळ आणि ताठ ठेवण्याचा प्रयत्न करावा. पायाला वरती उचलू नये. गुडघा वाकवू नये. तसंच पाठीलासुद्धा जास्त ताण देऊ नये. चित्रात दाखवल्याप्रमाणे आसन करावं.

फायदे

»  नौक संचलानसनामुळे पोट कमी होण्यास मदत होते.

»  या आसनाने बद्धकोष्ठतेचा त्रास कमी होतो.

»  गर्भाशयाशी संबंधित विकार कमी होतात. पोस्टनाटल रिकव्हरी होते.

Read More »
 
Delievered to you by Feedamail.
Unsubscribe

Latest Funny & Amazing Videos !

Latest Funny & Amazing Videos !


No one in this world is pure and perfect. If you avoid people for their mistakes, you will be alone in this world .So judge less and love more.

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 09:25 PM PST

No one in this world is pure and perfect. If you avoid people for their mistakes, you will be alone in this world .So judge less and love more.

No one in this world is pure and perfect. If you avoid people for their mistakes, you will be alone in this world .So judge less and love more.

The post No one in this world is pure and perfect. If you avoid people for their mistakes, you will be alone in this world .So judge less and love more. appeared first on .

If only our eyes saw souls instead of bodies, how different would our ideals of beauty be.

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 09:04 PM PST

If only our eyes saw souls instead of bodies, how different would our ideals of beauty be.

If only our eyes saw souls instead of bodies, how different would our ideals of beauty be.

The post If only our eyes saw souls instead of bodies, how different would our ideals of beauty be. appeared first on .

Before we can know God and understand his great plan it is first necessary for us to believe that he exists and that he rewards all who diligently seek him. ~ Joseph Franklin Rutherford

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 09:01 PM PST

Before we can know God and understand his great plan it is first necessary for us to believe that he exists and that he rewards all who diligently seek him. ~ Joseph Franklin Rutherford

Before we can know God and understand his great plan it is first necessary for us to believe that he exists and that he rewards all who diligently seek him. ~ Joseph Franklin Rutherford

The post Before we can know God and understand his great plan it is first necessary for us to believe that he exists and that he rewards all who diligently seek him. ~ Joseph Franklin Rutherford appeared first on .

When other people treat you poorly, walk away, smile and keep being YOU. Don’t ever let someone else’s bitterness change the person you are.

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 08:55 PM PST

When other people treat you poorly, walk away, smile and keep being YOU. Don't ever let someone else's bitterness change the person you are.

When other people treat you poorly, walk away, smile and keep being YOU. Don’t ever let someone else’s bitterness change the person you are.

The post When other people treat you poorly, walk away, smile and keep being YOU. Don’t ever let someone else’s bitterness change the person you are. appeared first on .

Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come.

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 08:47 PM PST

Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come.

Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come.

The post Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come. appeared first on .

When you start looking at people’s heart instead of their face, life becomes clear.

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 08:33 PM PST

When you start looking at people's heart instead of their face, life becomes clear.

When you start looking at people’s heart instead of their face, life becomes clear.

The post When you start looking at people’s heart instead of their face, life becomes clear. appeared first on .

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Tax evasion impacts country credit ratings and lending costs says new study

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:32 PM PST

High levels of tax evasion are linked to higher interest rates and can be a predictor of a country's credit risk, according to a new study.

Tropical forest protected areas can protect biodiversity

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 12:15 PM PST

In one of the first tests of its kind, researchers use networks of camera traps to chart wildlife population changes, and find species faring well.

Intimate partner violence shows bidirectional link with maternal perinatal depression

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 12:11 PM PST

Intimate partner violence severity has a statistically significant association with depression symptom severity among pregnant women and new mothers living in poor neighborhoods in Cape Town, South Africa, according to a cohort study.

How mold on space station flowers is helping get us to Mars

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:30 AM PST

What may seem like a failure in systems is actually an exceptional opportunity for scientists back on Earth to better understand how plants grow in microgravity.

Is level of education the key factor in finding a match through online dating?

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:27 AM PST

When assessing a future partner, do we rank education as important criteria for success of the match? Age, appearance, intelligence, social status and chemistry are fundamental. But, is education up there with them? Researchers used an online dating field experiment to look closer at the issue, with fascinating results.

It's a 3-D printer, but not as we know it

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:25 AM PST

3-D printing techniques have quickly become some of the most widely used tools to rapidly design and build new components. A team of engineers has developed a new type of 3-D printing that can print composite materials, which are used in many high performance products such as tennis rackets, golf clubs and airplanes. This technology will soon enable a much greater range of things to be 3-D printed at home and at low cost.

Watching electrons cool in 30 quadrillionths of a second

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:22 AM PST

Scientists have developed a new way of seeing electrons cool off in an extremely short time period.

College students whose friends text and drive more likely to do it too, study shows

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:22 AM PST

Texting while driving is a significant risk factor for automobile collisions, and cell phone use while driving is especially prevalent among young people. More than half (52 percent) of a sample of 861 college students in a recent survey reported that they had texted while driving at least once in the past month. The survey also found that texting drivers were more likely to engage in other risky driving behaviors.

Drivers for low-priced solar photovoltaic systems in the United States

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:21 AM PST

The price of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on homes and small businesses spans a wide range, and researchers have published a new study that reveals the key market and system drivers for low-priced PV systems.

Statement on the importance of insect collections released

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:21 AM PST

A statement about the value of entomological collections has been issued. It outlines the need to implement protections for these irreplaceable resources.

New framework sheds light on how, not if, climate change affects cold-blooded animals

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:21 AM PST

Cold-blooded animals like lizards, insects and fish have a preferred body temperature range at which they hunt, eat, move quickly and reproduce. Fear that a warming climate will constrict this temperature range underlies recent studies that warn of the detrimental effects of climate change on the activity and survival of cold-blooded animals. While not contradicting these warnings, a new paper offers a revised framework that may better answer how activity is affected by temperature.

Defects could improve solar cells, researchers theorize

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:21 AM PST

Scientists are studying what may seem paradoxical -- certain defects in silicon solar cells may actually improve their performance. The findings run counter to conventional wisdom, according to a new paper they have published on the topic.

Discoveries on women veterans' long-term health outcomes

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST

13 new articles by Veterans Affairs researchers and colleagues are looking at differences in aging and mortality between veteran and non-veteran women.

Infant-friendly flu vaccine developed with key protein

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST

Influenza causes serious illness among millions of people each year, resulting in 250,000 to 500,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. Those most at risk include infants younger than six months, because they cannot be vaccinated against the disease. Now, researchers have identified a naturally occurring protein that, when added to the flu vaccine, may offer protection to babies during their first months of life.

Researchers examine effect of return policies on consumer behavior

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST

In 2014, product returns totaled about $280 million across all U.S. retailers. New research has examined existing studies on return policies to quantify the policies' effect on consumers' purchase and return behavior.

Global analysis reveals why many bat populations are in decline

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST

Many of the 1,300 species of bat are considered to be threatened and declining. A new analysis reveals trends and causes of death in bats around the world, shedding new light on the possible factors underlying population declines.

Airlines aren't learning enough from near misses

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST

When it comes to flight safety, US airlines are pretty good at learning from accidents. But new research shows airlines should be learning more from accidents that never happen.

New research on inflammation and cancer

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST

An evolutionarily conserved molecular code, present on cell surface adhesion molecules, is a critical regulator of cell motility, recent research demonstrates. For decades scientists have known that human cells must recycle their adhesion receptors to enable cell motility. However, the basis for specifically regulating this in different environmental conditions in the body has not been known. The identified code sequence explains the specificity of receptor turnover.

Study provides insights on sources of environmental contamination following Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:19 AM PST

Four years after Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster that led to major releases of radioactivity to environment, questions still remain regarding the original sources of radioactive contamination.

Young people after Obamacare: Some ER visits down, others way up

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:18 AM PST

While emergency department visits for young adults ages 19 to 25 decreased slightly overall following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, visits for mental illnesses in this age group increased 'significantly,' as did diseases of the circulatory system, according to a study.

Early agriculture staved off global cooling, mounting evidence suggests

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:17 AM PST

Early human agriculture cancelled natural cooling of Earth's climate, new ice core data and other evidence confirm. Earth naturally cycles between cool glacial periods and warmer interglacial periods because of variations in its orbit around the sun. We currently are in an interglacial period, called the Holocene epoch, which began nearly 12,000 years ago.

Post-term delivery raises risk of complications and illness for newborns

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:17 AM PST

Post-term deliveries, even among low-risk pregnancies, are associated with increased short-term risks to newborns, including illnesses and infections. The study isolates the post-term due date as a single, influential risk factor for the first time.

Nearing the limits of life on Earth

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:17 AM PST

Scientists are looking for life in an area of Antarctica that is thought to be the place on Earth that most closely resembles the permafrost found in the northern polar region of Mars, at the Phoenix landing site. The scientists failed to find any active microbes, suggesting it will be unlikely and difficult to detect similar activity on Mars.

Synthetic biologists use bacterial superglue for faster vaccine development

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:14 AM PST

A new technique uses strong isopeptide bonds to link virus-like particles and antigens to create viral vectored vaccines with fewer errors, report scientists at the conclusion of their investigation.

Physical attraction linked to genes that control height

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:14 AM PST

Some may believe that chance brings you together with your loved one, but scientists have found a far less romantic reason. Mate choice is influenced by our genes, in part by those responsible for our height.

Reproductive, survival benefits of mothers, grandmothers in elephants

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:14 AM PST

Only a few mammals and some birds are as long-lived as humans, and many of these species share interesting characteristics in how they age. A new paper explores lifetime reproductive patterns in African elephants. The study analyzed data from 834 female elephants in Amboseli National Park, Kenya.

Physicists develop a cooling system for the processors of the future

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:00 AM PST

A solution has been found to the problem of overheating of active plasmonic components. These components will be essential for high-speed data transfer within the optoelectronic microprocessors of the future, say researchers in a new report.

30 percent of global fish catch is unreported, study finds

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:00 AM PST

Countries drastically underreport the number of fish caught worldwide, according to a new study, and the numbers obscure a significant decline in the total catch.

Researchers advocate improvements in end-of-life care

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:00 AM PST

The case is being made for policies and practices that give terminally ill patients more control over how and where they will die.

Slow heart rate does not increase risk of heart disease

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:00 AM PST

Bradycardia -- a slower than normal heartbeat -- does not increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a study. The heart usually beats between 60 and 100 times a minute in an adult at rest. But with bradycardia, the heart beats fewer than 50 times a minute. The condition can cause light-headedness, shortness of breath, fainting or chest pain due to the heart not pumping enough oxygen-rich blood through the body.

Using electrical signals to train the heart's muscle cells

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:00 AM PST

Electrical stimulation of human heart muscle cells engineered from human stem cells aids their development and function, researchers have demonstrated for the first time. They used electrical signals, designed to mimic those in a developing heart, to regulate and synchronize the beating properties of nascent cardiomyocytes, the cells that support the beating function of the heart.

The tip of an iceburg: Four new fungus gnat species from the Scandinavian north

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 08:11 AM PST

Although Finland and its climate may not look like a biodiversity hotspot, scientists have recently described as many as four new fungus gnat species there. Three of the species are so far known exclusively from Finnish Lapland, while one of the species has a wider northern range. The names of the new species commemorate a forest researcher, Finnish mythology, Arctic nature and Sami language.

Real acupuncture no better than sham acupuncture for treating hot flushes: Study

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST

Traditional Chinese acupuncture treatments are no better than fake acupuncture for treating menopause symptoms, new research reveals. However, in a surprise finding, both the real and sham treatments showed a 40 per cent improvement in the severity and frequency of hot flushes at the end of eight weeks of treatment. The benefits were sustained at six months after treatment.

Firefighter drone that flies, crawls up walls

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST

An unmanned aerial vehicle, named the Fireproof Aerial RObot System, has been developed which detects fires in skyscrapers, searches the inside of the building, and transfers data in real time from fire scenes to the ground station.

1,541 snout moth species and counting in the United States and Canada

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST

Two snout moth scientists have produced a list of 1,541 species for the United States and Canada. Research publications on these economically important moths over the last 30 years have resulted in changes to the classification, as well as additions such as species new to science, tropical species newly recorded from the United States, and others introduced from Europe and Asia.

Protein 'handbrake' halts leukemia in its tracks

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST

Melbourne researchers have showed that they can stop leukemia in its tracks by targeting a protein that puts the handbrake on cancer cell growth.The researchers discovered that targeting a protein called Hhex could cure acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in preclinical disease models, and could be a key target for new therapies for human leukemia.

Diamonds used to 'probe' ancient Earth

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST

By using an ion probe to analyze the carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of the Witwatersrand diamond, which have been pristinely preserved for more than three billion years, researchers found that plate tectonics was likely in operation on Earth as early as 3.5 billion years ago.

Scientists detect deep carbon emissions associated with continental rifting

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:33 AM PST

Scientists are studying carbon emissions through fault systems in the East African Rift (EAR) in an effort to understand carbon emissions from Earth's interior and how it affects the atmosphere.

Virtual bone biopsy helps identify why people with diabetes are at risk of bone fractures

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST

A study using high resolution imaging to create a "virtual bone biopsy" has shed new light on why people with type 2 diabetes are at risk of bone fractures. Researchers used high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT) to assess bone structure and strength at a microstructural level in living patients. The images showed that individuals with type 2 diabetes have structural defects within their bones, which could weaken them and go some way to explaining the greater rates of fracture found in older men and women with the disease.

New methods for more energy-efficient internet services

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST

Billions of people use the internet, which requires huge data centres and results in an enormous energy consumption. Researchers have now developed techniques and algorithms to manage and schedule the resources in these large data centers at a lower cost, greater efficiently, more reliability and with a lower environmental impact.

Psoriasis patients have reduced access to efficient treatment method with age

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST

Age plays a huge role when it comes to patients' access to psoriasis treatment, research shows. Researchers who have examined if patients of varying ages have the same access to the most efficient psoriasis treatment, found that an age increase of 30 years resulted in an average 65 per cent reduction in likelihood of obtaining treatment with biologics.

New method for converting solar energy into electrical power using photo-bioelectrochemical cells

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST

A new paradigm for the development of photo-bioelectrochemical cells has been developed.

Scientists 'artificially evolve' sleeping sickness bacterium

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST

Scientists are trying to artificially evolve a bacterium linked to the spread of deadly sleeping sickness, African Trypanosomiasis. They aim to better understand the genomics of Sodalis glossinidius, a bacteria which, when present in the gut, allows the Tsetse fly to become a carrier of the parasitic disease.

A sense for infrared light

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:33 AM PST

A measuring system for light waves in the near-infrared range has been developed by researchers. The new system can be used for the precise generation of attosecond-duration light bursts for the exploration of atomic systems, as well as for the controlled dynamics of electrons in crystals.

Graphene oxide 'paper' changes with strain

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:28 AM PST

The same slip-and-stick mechanism that leads to earthquakes is at work on the molecular level, where it determines the shear plasticity of nanoscale materials, report scientists. Plasticity is the ability of a material to permanently deform when strained. The researchers, thinking about future things like flexible electronics, decided to see how graphene oxide "paper" would handle shear strain, in which the sheets are pulled by the ends.

Young whites at elite colleges see Asian-Americans as more competent than other minorities

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 06:28 AM PST

Asian-Americans are stereotyped as 'cold but competent' -- and more competent than blacks and Hispanics -- by young white students at elite colleges, according to a recent study.

Immunity genes could protect some from E. coli while others fall ill

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:48 AM PST

When a child comes home from preschool with a stomach bug that threatens to sideline the whole family for days, why do some members of the family get sick while others are unscathed? According to a new study, a person's resistance to certain germs, specifically E. coli bacteria, could come down to their very DNA.

Most parents say they set limits on teen drivers, but teens don't always think so

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:48 AM PST

Parents may intend to set strong limits on their teen drivers but their kids may not always be getting the message, a new nationally-representative poll in the U.S.A suggests.

New robotic gripping surface for sensitive devices adds a new dimension to handling: A boost for industry 4.0

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:45 AM PST

Components with highly sensitive surfaces are used in automotive, semiconductor, display and optical technologies. The proprietary Gecomer® principle reduces the risk of surface contamination with residues, and of mechanical damage due to gripping.

Intensive exercise with intervals 'more effective'

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:45 AM PST

Short bursts of intensive exercise provide a more "time-efficient" and realistic way of preventing, delaying and managing Type 2 diabetes and also losing weight, a study has found. Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are linked, with over 80 per cent of people with the condition classed as overweight or obese -- diet and physical activity interventions are the cornerstones for management of both conditions.

One-step printing process provides cost-efficient transparent, conductive and patterned coatings for flexible touchscreens

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:45 AM PST

Mobile phones and smart phones still haven't been adapted to the carrying habits of their users. That much is clear to anyone who has tried sitting down with a mobile phone in their back pocket: the displays of the innumerable phones and pods are rigid and do not yield to the anatomical forms adopted by the people carrying them. By now it is no longer any secret that the big players in the industry are working on flexible displays.

New mechanism controlling plant root development uncovered

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:45 AM PST

A new cell division regulator that shapes plant root systems has been uncovered by researchers. These findings could lead to new techniques to improve root architecture in favor of higher crop yields.

How dogs see your emotions: Dogs view facial expressions differently

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:43 AM PST

A recent study shows that the social gazing behavior of domestic dogs resembles that of humans: dogs view facial expressions systematically, preferring eyes. In addition, the facial expression alters their viewing behavior, especially in the face of threat.

Swedish capercaillies are becoming real citizens in Brandenburg

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:43 AM PST

Using molecular genetic tools, scientists have demonstrated the existence of a grandchildren's generation of capercaillies in the south of Brandenburg in East Germany. A pilot conservation project reintroduced these endangered birds to two German nature reserves as recently as 2012. The founder population was wild caught in Sweden and then transferred to Brandenburg.

Depression, obesity common among bipolar patients with exhausted stress system

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:42 AM PST

Older bipolar patients often have decreased activity in the hormone system responsible for the secretion of the stress hormone cortisol. Low levels of cortisol in bipolar patients were also associated with depression, low quality of life, obesity, dyslipidaemia and metabolic syndrome. These discoveries could provide important clues as to how treatment strategies for depression and bipolar disorder can be improved, according to a dissertation.

Size matters: Small units on a big surface results in fewer calories

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:36 AM PST

How does the size of the table we eat at influence how much we eat? This is the question that researchers posed and answered in a new study. They found that table size does have a significant impact on how people perceive the food it holds and consequently how much people eat.

New tool puts accurate DNA analysis in fast lane

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:36 AM PST

Rice University scientists have developed a tool to analyze the thermal behavior of DNA and RNA strands. It could speed the design of molecular diagnostics that positively identify disease subtypes to inform optimal treatment.

A new method to improve the pre-operative diagnosis of ovarian cancer based on ultrasound

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:36 AM PST

In a landmark study, investigators from Europe propose a new and simple method to assess the risk of malignancy of women with an adnexal mass. The method identified between 89-99 percent of patients with ovarian cancer using the results of ultrasound examination, which can be obtained in referral and non-referral centers. The work is based on the 'Simple Rules' criteria developed by the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis group to improve accurate diagnosis of ovarian cancer before surgery.

First study of arthropods in US homes finds huge biodiversity

Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:36 AM PST

The first study to evaluate the biodiversity of arthropods in US homes finds that humans share their houses with any of more than 500 different kinds of arthropods -- at least on a short-term basis. Arthropods are invertebrate animals with exoskeletons, segmented bodies and jointed limbs, such as insects, spiders, mites and centipedes.

New gene fault behind ovarian cancer found by scientists

Posted: 18 Jan 2016 07:42 PM PST

Women who carry an inherited fault in the gene BRIP1 are over three times more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those without the fault, according to a new study. Around 18 women in every 1,000 develop ovarian cancer, but this risk increases to around 58 women in every 1,000 for women with a fault in the BRIP1 gene.