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Nurses: The real heroes

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Tue, 7 Jul 2020 11:12:00 -0700

https://educationallymind.blogspot.com/p/three-ways-to-navigate-job-seeking-in.html

Human brain- How the brain builds a way of self from the people around us- HUMAN BRAIN

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Sat, 4 Jul 2020 22:30:00 -0700

How the brain builds a way of self from the people around us- THE HUMAN BRAIN

human brain

We are sensitive to the people around us. As infants, we observe our parents and teachers, and from them, we find out how to steer, talk, read—and use smartphones. There seems to be no limit to the complexity of behavior we will acquire from observational learning.

But the social influence goes deeper than that. we do not just copy the behavior of individuals around us. We also copy their minds. As we get older, we learn what people think, feel, and want—and adapt thereto. Our brains are specialized at this—we copy computations inside the brains of others. But how does the brain distinguish between thoughts about your own mind and thoughts about the minds of others? Our new study, published in Nature Communications, brings us closer to a solution.

Our ability to repeat the minds of others is hugely important. When this process goes wrong, it can contribute to varied psychological state problems. you would possibly become unable to empathize with someone, or, at the opposite extreme, you would possibly be so vulnerable to other people's thoughts that your own sense of "self" is volatile and fragile.

The ability to believe another person's mind is one of the foremost sophisticated adaptations of the human brain. Experimental psychologists often assess this ability with a way called a "false belief task".

In the task, one individual, the "subject", gets to watch another individual, the "partner", hide a desirable object during a box. The partner then leaves, and therefore the subject sees the researcher remove the thing from the box and conceal it during a second location. When the partner returns, they're going to falsely believe the thing remains within the box, but the topic knows the reality.

This supposedly requires the topic to carry in mind the partner's fallacy additionally to their own true belief about reality. But how can we know whether the topic is basically brooding about the mind of the partner?

False beliefs

Over the last ten years, neuroscientists have explored a theory of mind-reading called simulation theory. the idea suggests that once I put myself in your shoes, my brain tries to repeat the computations inside your brain.

Neuroscientists have found compelling evidence that the brain does simulate the computations of a social partner. they need to show that if you observe another person receive a gift, like food or money, your brain activity is that the same as if you were the one receiving the reward.

There's a problem though. If my brain copies your computations, how does it distinguish between my very own mind and my simulation of your mind?

In our experiment, we recruited 40 participants and asked them to play a "probabilistic" version of the fallacy task. At an equivalent time, we scanned their brains using functional resonance imaging (fMRI), which measures brain activity indirectly by tracking changes in blood flow.

In this game, instead of having a belief that the thing is certainly within the box or not, both players believe there's a probability that the thing is here or there, without knowing surely (making it a Schrödinger's box). the thing is usually being moved, then the 2 players' beliefs are always changing. the topic is challenged with trying to stay track of not only the whereabouts of the thing but also the partner's belief.

This design allowed us to use a mathematical model to explain what was happening within the subject's mind, as they played the sport. It showed how participants changed their own beliefs whenever they got some information about where the thing was. It also described how they changed their simulation of the partner's belief, whenever the partner saw some information.

The model works by calculating "predictions" and "prediction errors". for instance, if a participant predicts that there's a 90% chance the thing is within the box on the other hand sees that it's nowhere near the box, they're going to be surprised. We can, therefore, say that the person experienced an outsized "prediction error". this is often then wont to improve the prediction for next time.

Many researchers believe that the prediction error may be a fundamental unit of computation within the brain. Each prediction error is linked to a specific pattern of activity within the brain. this suggests that we could compare the patterns of brain activity when a topic experiences prediction errors with the choice activity patterns that happen when the topic cares about the partner's prediction errors.

Our findings showed that the brain uses distinct patterns of activity for prediction errors and "simulated" prediction errors. this suggests that the brain activity contains information not only about what is going on out there within the world but also about who is brooding about the planet. the mixture results in a subjective sense of self.

Brain training

We also found, however, that we could train people to form those brain-activity patterns for self and others either more distinct or more overlapping. We did this by manipulating the task in order that the topic and partner saw a piece of equivalent information either rarely or frequently. If they became more distinct, subjects got better at distinguishing their own thoughts from the thoughts of the partner. If the patterns became more overlapping, they got worse at distinguishing their own thoughts from the thoughts of the partner.

This means that the boundary between the self and therefore the other within the brain isn't fixed, but flexible. The brain can learn to vary this boundary. This might explain the familiar experience of two people that spend tons of your time together and begin to desire one single person, sharing equivalent thoughts. On a societal level, it's going to explain why we discover it easier to empathize with those who've shared similar experiences to us, compared with people from different backgrounds.

The results might be useful. If self-other boundaries really are this malleable, then maybe we will harness this capacity, both to tackle bigotry and alleviate psychological state disorders.

How COVID-19 Virus Infect Human Brain Cells/ covid-19 / coronavirus

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Wed, 1 Jul 2020 07:00:00 -0700

How COVID-19 Virus Infect Human Brain Cells

Researchers have found that organoids (tiny tissue cultures made from human cells that simulate whole organs) known as “mini-brains” can be infected by the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The results, published in the ALTEX: Alternatives to Animal Experimentation, suggest that the virus can infect the human brain cells.

“This study is another important step in our understanding of how infection leads to symptoms, and where we might tackle the Covid-19 disease with drug treatment,” said study lead author William Bishai from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the US.

Early reports from Wuhan, China, the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, have suggested that 36 percent of patients with the disease show neurological symptoms, but it has been unclear whether or not the virus infects human brain cells.

In their study, the Johns Hopkins researchers demonstrated that certain human neurons express a receptor, ACE2, which is the same one that the novel coronavirus uses to enter the lungs.

Therefore, they surmised, ACE2 also might provide access to the brain.

When the researchers introduced coronavirus particles into a human mini-brain model, the team found evidence of infection by and replication of the pathogen.

Covid-19

According to the researchers, the human brain is well-shielded against many viruses, bacteria, and chemical agents by the blood-brain barrier, which in turn, often prevents infections of the brain.

“Whether or not the SARS-CoV-2 virus passes this barrier has yet to be shown. However, it is known that severe inflammations, such as those observed in Covid-19 patients, make the barrier disintegrate,” said study senior author Thomas Hartung from the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The impermeability of the blood-brain barrier also can present a problem for drug developers targeting the brain, the study said.

“The mini-brains — which model the growing human brain — contain the ACE2 receptor from their earliest stages of development,” the study authors wrote.

Therefore, the findings suggest that extra caution should be taken during pregnancy.

As of Wednesday morning, the overall number of global COVID-19 cases has increased to over 10.4 million, while the deaths have soared to more than 509,000.

The US accounted for the world’s highest number of infections and fatalities with 2,629,372 and 127,322, respectively, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Depression /How to overcome Depression/Symptoms of Depression/ depression

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 06:36:00 -0700

Depression

Hello friends I am Akanksha and I am here with all my personal experiences about the term Depression.

Depression

What does depression exactly mean??

or What is Depression?

What if I say depression means being happy all the time?

Yes, you hear me right. Depression doesn't mean you are crying the whole day, you are not eating, not talking to anyone you are not being social. Depression does not always look like you staying in bed all day. Depression can look like you doing everything you normally do carrying around a constant feeling of emptiness and the urge to escape from the world even just for a minute because it all feels too much.

Symptoms of Depression

If you are feeling low unhappy, stressed with or without any reason, even a small thing starts irritating you, if u whether argue too much or you didn't speak a word if you want to share soooo many things but you prefer silence, if you are working without any break, either you are sleeping too much or having difficulty in sleeping, even you can't tolerate a small joke, feeling guilty, helpless or worthless, if the idea of suicide crosses your mind then dear you must speak about it.

How to overcome Depression?

Talk to your family, friends, your close to heart person about your feelings, how and why you are depressed, share your problem with them. Let them know you need mental support. Not speaking about your problems won't fix anything.

Psychotherapy can be a good option.

Exercise may help relieve mild depression.

Apart from this, start Meditation, morning or evening walk, go outside meet new peoples talk to them, among all give yourself just YOU time, say to yourself that you are strong enough to handle this situation. YES, YOU ARE.

Everyone is fighting their own battle, some are dealing some are healing, the point is you have to be strong.

Mental Health has become a serious problem. Those who couldn't handle gave up on their live but this is not the solution you are a fighter and you will figure it out just have patience.

You know the worst part of being depressed is?

It is when you know you are not doing well you are depressed and you need someone to talk to but when you try to speak or you try to share what exactly you are feeling then other people ignore by saying ohh this is your part of being unhappy all the day without any reason or you are like dukhi aatma a sad spirit.

Guys mental health is real

Depression is real so never ignore someone's sadness by crushing jokes.

Dont mame fun of anyone just for sake of your 2 minutes enjoyment. Stop manipulating others. Stop being judgemental.

Share smiles even your smile can make someone's day. Stop spreading negativity.

And please look around who really needs your mental or moral support.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS

But still, if you don't find anyone with whom you can share your feelings, problems, thoughts, then never hesitate to contact me ;)

Yes if you are reading this and you are feeling low, depressed, and need a friend to share your matters with then I am here to talk. You can directly message me on Facebook [ @ruchirajput123 ] or email me I will directly contact you ;) I would love to listen.

Just remember SUICIDE IS NOT THE SOLUTION. This time will pass, after some year this problem won't even matter. So have patience and live for you for your family for your loved ones ;)

I keep hearing it’s crucial to be diversified.Why

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 09:59:00 -0700

I keep hearing it’s crucial to be diversified. Why?

It depends on what we are talking about. For a company or corporation it may mean to offer a variety of products or services. There I would argue that some companies are doing pretty well focusing on small range of products. Example is Intel compared to Motorola. In 1074 Motorola had much faster processor than Intel. Motorola were offering a wire range of products like 2 way radios and pocket TVs. Intel however wanted to take over the processor market, and they did. So in this case Motorola was diversified and Intel were not but it worked out better for Intel.

In the context of diversified work force this pertains to employees ethnicity, gender and age group. I cannot really argue against that idea however I don’t think it is crucial to have diversified workforce. But it is very advantageous. When you pair people with different ethnicity your company culture becomes richer. Richer culture develops richer ideas. Also when you pair younger employ with experienced employ the productivity increase but your cost does not double because the younger employee is usually paid less. As far as the gender diversity goes, biologically males and females excel at different areas.

If a person is diversified… I understand that as being a Jack of all trades and mater of none. Which is not necessary a bad think but also being a mater of one trade is not bad, as long as that trade is relevant to the current times and location.

It is not crucial to be diversified, it is crucial to be able to understand what is changing around you and what is reaming unchanged and to adopt accordingly.

How To Prevent A Coronavirus Depression Covid-19/ coronavirus/coronavirus prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 08:40:00 -0700

How To Prevent A Coronavirus Depression
Covid-19,
The foremost threatening pandemic of the past century, has precipitated both a health crisis and an depression . The strategies that governments have adopted to affect each crisis separately are contradictory and risk catastrophic, long-term failure.

Social distancing is an emergency measure which will save lives but brings economic activity to a near-halt. During the worst of the good Depression, 25 percent of the labor pool was out of labor . Several days ago, on St Patrick's Day , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned Congress that the percentage could soon reach 20 percent. The economic news since then has been ominous. A growing fraction of the population — about one in four Americans — is under orders to remain home.

Loan guarantees and direct cash transfers will debar bankruptcy and default debt, but these measures cannot restore the output that's lost when social distancing keeps people from producing goods and services.

To protect our way of life, we'd like to shift within a few of months to a targeted approach that limits the spread of the virus but still lets most of the people return to figure and resume their daily activities.

This approach uses two complementary strategies. the primary relies on tests to focus on social distancing more precisely. The second relies on protective equipment that forestalls the transmission of the virus. Adopting these strategies would require a huge increase in our capacity for coronavirus testing and a surge within the production of private protective equipment.

Resources, not scientific breakthroughs, are needed to expand our capacity for virus tests. If we plan to this sort of expansion, technological innovations will still lower the value and increase the speed of the prevailing tests. In many locations it's taken days to process SARS-Cov-2 tests. On Saturday, the Food and Drug Administration said it might allow a Silicon Valley company, Cepheid, to start out selling a test that gives leads to 45 minutes. Other firms and research groups (among them Sherlock Biosciences and therefore the German Center for Infection Research) are performing on scalable alternatives. Many hospitals are developing their own tests.

These newer tests might be such a lot less costly then far more convenient that it'll be possible to check and retest everyone, not just those with symptoms. Frequent virus tests will allow us to identify and isolate someone who is infectious days before symptoms develop.

We could start by screening the overall public on a weekly basis. it'd add up to check health care and emergency response workers daily. We don't have the capacity to try to to this now, but all it might fancy make this happen is for the federal to form coronavirus testing an urgent goal and to fund it accordingly.

Tests to detect antibodies to the novel coronavirus also are becoming available. If recovery confers immunity, as seems to be the case for SARS and MERS, these tests will identify individuals who would neither be harmed by exposure to the virus nor expose anyone else to the danger of infection. they might not need additional testing.

Both people with immunity and people who don't have the virus could return to figure and resume their daily activities while minimizing the danger to others.

We must also give protective equipment to anyone who doesn't have antibodies, because others will pose a risk to them. Few people are at greater risk than the doctors, nurses and first responders who look after infected patients. In Italy, 20 percent of health care workers are infected.

Widespread testing will help identify patients who are infected, and officials can encourage them to isolate themselves, but some won't obey. Others are going to be so sick that they have immediate care. Every doctor should have quick access to masks, gloves, gowns and face shields.

For decades, epidemiologists have warned us that we'd like to create an outsized national stockpile of such equipment to be ready when subsequent pandemic strikes. Because we did not prepare, it'll now take a huge surge in production to catch up.

There is a desperate need for full protective equipment, but existing ones are cumbersome — complicated to place on and take away safely. because it boosts production of traditional equipment, the govt should also fund a crash course to develop new and better sorts of protection.

When it becomes available, this protection should tend to essential workers: first those in health care, then pharmacists, cops , firefighters and people who maintain public utilities and therefore the supply of food. It should then be offered to everyone.

As long because the risk of infection remains high, we'd like protective equipment that anyone who works during a grocery , and anyone who shops there, are going to be comfortable wearing. Without expecting the expanded system of tests to return online, we should always set an ambitious goal — within two months, a return with protective equipment for 25 percent of all workers, and within four months, 75 percent of the manpower .

A conventional fiscal response on the size we'd like to avoid a depression would require trillions of dollars of state spending. Investment in protective equipment and tests would be a far less costly , better thanks to stimulate the economy than giveaways and transfers.

In a free enterprise , firms are good at meeting stable demand, but they are doing not stockpile in anticipation of a crisis. Now that we face a shortage, we might like firms to double or quadruple their daily output of protective equipment. But they might be reluctant to shop for machinery which will be idle when the shortage is eliminated and demand returns to normal. Philanthropy like that provided by the Gates Foundation can help, but only the federal can orchestrate and finance the dramatic industrial mobilization that we'd like within the face of this crisis.

prevent cancer and diabetes with only natural foods | CANCER/DIABETES

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 05:51:00 -0800

How to prevent cancer and diabetes with only natural foods?

cancer

Diabetes

Did you recognize that physical activity and eating the proper foods can help prevent risk factors for chronic diseases?

Researchers believe that 80% of disorder , 90% of type 2 diabetes and up to 50% of cancers are often prevented through lifestyle changes and a healthy diet. Experts recommend that specialize in proper nutrition supplements from foods to take care of an optimal health and stop disease.

Poor diet increases the danger of dangerous diseases
According to the Urban-Rural Epidmiological Study over time (also called PURE, USA), the leading explanation for death among middle-aged people in high-income countries is cancer.

And globally, the leading explanation for death remains disorder . Type 2 diabetes is additionally one among the leading groups of deaths.

Clinical and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the causes of the aforementioned diseases are a posh mixture of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.

How to prevent cancer and diabetes with only natural foods?

Natural foods

While genetic factors could also be immutable, environmental and lifestyle factors are completely adjustable.

In particular, the foremost easily adjusted lifestyle factor (proactively) is that the diet.

A diet without adequate intake of essential nutrients will create or increase risk factors - like undesirable vessel formation (cancer cell culture), endothelial dysfunction , chronic inflammation and obesity - can cause diseases like cancer, disorder and sort 2 diabetes. the great news is that some foods can limit these processes.

In the fight against cancer, disorder and sort 2 diabetes, there's an analogy but it's very true: a preventive "tinge" is worth a "sign" of cure. Because treatments for these diseases are expensive, sometimes they can't be completely cured.

Certain nutritious foods help prevent cancer
Whole plant foods contain thousands of present bioactive compounds - vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals (chemicals available in plants) - when consumed, catalyze a spread of changes within the body, interact with cells, enzymes, hormones and DNA and play an important role in controlling organic phenomenon and cell changes that cause chronic disease.

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, nuts and whole grains features a protective effect against chronic disease, including 5 particularly effective food groups, including: Berries (berries), cruciferous vegetables, oats, peanuts and tea.

Berries (berry) can protect the body more effectively than pharmaceuticals
Berries contain 'phytochemicals', which protect the body from heart condition , cancer, type 2 diabetes, and should even be simpler . with pharmaceuticals.

Nitric oxide is indispensable to human health because it maintains vessel health, lowers vital sign and protects against heart attacks and strokes. It also regulates intestinal motility, acts as a neurotransmitter within the brain and acts on the death process consistent with the cycle of cancer cells.

How to prevent cancer and diabetes with only natural foods?
However, as people age, the assembly of gas within the body decreases. Berries like strawberries, mulberries, red raspberries, blueberries, etc. stimulate an enzyme (nitric oxide synthase) in endothelial cells to supply gas , which stimulates the assembly of gas .

The above fruits contain polyphenol compounds that help dilate blood vessels, thereby lowering vital sign .

Strawberries, mulberries, red raspberries, blueberries, blackberries ... also contain anthocyanins, which are thought to inhibit cancer, obesity, disorder and diabetes due to their ability to stop inflammation. and unwanted vessel formation to nourish cancer cells.

In addition, foods that prevent vessel formation also can be effective against inflammation.

Besides berries, another purple foods also are rich in anthocyanins like purple sweet potato, black currant, purple broccoli, purple cabbage, eggplant, red onion ...

Research at Young University (BYU) shows that cocoa are often good for both sorts of diabetes because of the subsequent effects: protecting beta cells (cells that produce insulin within the body), Stimulates the body to supply more beta cells, makes beta cells work better and improves insulin sensitivity.

Oats - protect against cancer
Oats contain a mix of soluble fiber and phytochemicals that are shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol, blood glucose and weight , while protecting the body against disorder and carcinoma . These are beta-glucan and avenanthramide compounds.

Natural foods

How to prevent cancer and diabetes with only natural foods?
Beta-glucan is one among seven health-friendly fibers scientifically proven by the US Food and Drug Administration. The beta-glucan in oats reduces the absorption of cholesterol within the intestinal tract, thereby reducing blood cholesterol and lowering blood glucose .

Avenanthramide has antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties, two factors that affect cancer risk.

The compound is found only in oats and within the bran portion of the oat seed. Oats also are immune to vessel formation (cancer cell culture).

Green vegetables - the foremost powerful anti-disease food among vegetables and fruits
Named after the four-pointed flowers that form a cross, cruciferous vegetables include bok choy, broccoli, collards (Brussels sprouts), cabbage, cauliflower, cruciferous and collards , kale, greens , cabbage, arugula (mustard greens, rocket salad) and other vegetables.

Vegetables are rich in fiber and glucosinolate. The substance itself isn't considered to possess beneficial biological activity, but when vegetables are chopped or chewed, the enzymes within the transformation convert glucosinolate into two other substances, thought to inactivate carcinogens. , slow tumor growth and promote anti-inflammatory reactions.

In addition, vegetables also contain other beneficial substances like vitamin C , vitamin K and other nutrients. additionally to being high in phytochemicals and nutrients with high anti-cancer properties, vegetables also are immune to angiogenesis.

Therefore, eating more vegetables helps reduce the danger of breast, colon, stomach, lung, pancreatic and other cancers also as alleviate inflammation.

Tea is rich in antioxidants
All teas (excluding herbal teas) - including white, green, oolong and black teas - are made up of tea leaves, during which different processing techniques produce colors and kinds . different tea. Dried, less or less oxidized tea leaves produce white tea (not quite common in Vietnam) and green tea; Withered leaves, oxidized to supply tea and oolong tea. no matter type, tea is an antioxidant-rich beverage, containing more polyphenols than many fruits and vegetables.

The impressive chemical properties of tea - especially its high antioxidant content - are the rationale for the spike in studies of its health benefits.

Black tea consumption has been linked to reduced rates of attack , while tea consumption has been linked to a discount in bad cholesterol within the blood. Both black and green teas are thought to possess anti-inflammatory properties and are linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases generally .

Cocoa - the foremost powerful food against diabetes
Research at Young University (BYU) shows that cocoa are often good for both sorts of diabetes because of the subsequent effects: protecting beta cells (cells that produce insulin within the body), Stimulates the body to supply more beta cells, makes beta cells work better and improves insulin sensitivity.

One of the compounds liable for these effects in cocoa is epicatechin. Epicatechin is additionally found in apples, blackberries, grapes and other fruits, but cocoa has the very best epicatechin content. Therefore, cocoa could also be the strongest food against type 2 diabetes.

Exam Fear/How exam fear affect students

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Sat, 1 Feb 2020 07:01:00 -0800

Exam Fear? Assistance is Here
School qualifying examinations are hyped to such a degree that for a toddler , failure in it's the top of the planet . the strain is immense. But assistance is at hand.

Helpline services like the Direct Intervention System for Health Awareness (DISHA), launched by the district’s National Rural Health Mission, help students face exams better.

The service has been diversified since March 2013, when it had been launched primarily to counsel students. The past week (March 3 to 9) was dominated by calls from students — over 640. Even when DISHA touched the 30,000-mark in December last year, it had been examination-stress-related calls that accounted for over half this figure at 16,051.

All calls are attended by the 21 counsellors and that they forward cases that need more ‘effective management’ to a member of an empanelled team of doctors, says nodal officer of DISHA B. Unnikrishnan.

Symptoms

A doctor on call is P.S. Kiran, who is additionally the nodal officer. He was forwarded five calls over the past week from students.
The symptoms are nearly always similar. an honest night’s sleep is usually the primary casualty. Other issues are palpitations and breathing difficulty. Students get distracted and struggle to retain facts which only fuels their panic.

Counselling is completed in two parts.
The primary involves relaxing the kid by prompting him/her to try to to breathing exercises, hear music, or take a walk.
The second is more complicated especially since it done instantly and over the phone as doctors plan to change the attitude of the kid , Dr. Kiran says. “We tell them to shift their focus from the exam result to the trouble at hand. Students are often made to believe that it's a turning point which their life are going to be ruined if they are doing not had best ,” he added.

Since mid-January, the DMHP has organised awareness classes in around 15 schools within the district. Students don't articulate their concerns to oldsters , who they fear will only reprimand them. Teachers too add on the pressure to make sure that the varsity gets the 100 per cent pass label. So, the scholars haven't any one to speak to. During such camps, students are urged to open up to a minimum of a couple of of their close friends or to call the helpline number of DISHA, 1056.

Coronavirus/ coronavirus in India/Symptoms of Coronavirus

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 23:09:00 -0800

CORONAVIRUS:

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

These viruses were originally transmitted between animals and people.

The name coronavirus comes from the Latin word corona, meaning crown or halo. Under an electron microscope, the image of the virus is reminiscent of a solar corona.

Coronavirus

symptoms:

According to the NHS and the WHO, symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus usually include:

Feeling tired always

Difficulty in breathing

A high temperature

A cough and/or sore throat

These symptoms are similar to other respiratory diseases, including flu and the common cold. So if you have symptoms consider the following:

Have you travelled in the last two weeks to a high risk area?

Have you been in contact with someone who has?

When to seek medical help:

If you have travelled to Wuhan City in China (or another significantly affected area) in the last two weeks, or have been in contact with someone who has and feel unwell, call NHS 111 for advice now.

Do NOT go straight to a doctor's surgery or hospital as, if you have the virus, you risk spreading it to others.

Precautions:

Carry a hand sanitiser with you to make frequent cleaning of hands easy.

Always wash your hands before you eat.

Be especially careful in busy airports and other public transport systems about touching things and then touching your face.

Worry about your exams? Don't worry we are here to discuss.

Carry disposable tissues with you, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze and dispose of the tissue carefully (catch it, bin it, kill it).

Do not share snacks from packets or bowls that others are dipping their fingers into.

Avoid shaking hands or cheek kissing if you suspect viruses are circulating.

Regularly clean, not just your hands, but commonly used surfaces and devices you touch or handle.

Treatment:

There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for 2019-nCoV infection. People infected with 2019-nCoV should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions.

People who think they may have been exposed to 2019-nCoV should contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Over 300 Indians, mostly students, were brought back to Delhi from Wuhan on a special flight this morning. They will be kept in a quarantine facility for now.

How it spread from raw or cooked meat of an infected animal:

In areas affected by the virus, the WHO advises taking extra precautions in live animal markets like the one in Wuhan. Direct contact with live animals or surfaces they use, without having any protective equipment over your face and hands, is high-risk in an infected area.

As a meat consumer, medical experts recommend avoiding any raw or undercooked animal products, be extra careful when handling raw meat, milk or animal organs to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods.

Aayurveda : The power of Aayurveda/science/health/beauty/aayurveda background

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Fri, 4 Oct 2019 23:32:00 -0700

Aayurveda pranounced
(eye-your-vayda) is one of the oldest wellness systems in the world, dating back thousands of years. However, in recent years, as yoga has gone more mainstream, Ayurveda has experienced a peak in popularity. Its purpose is to mindfully maintain a healthy and strong body through diet, exercise and overall lifestyle practices — something we could all use a little help with, right? In case you are curious about the ancient practice and how it can be applied to your life, here’s what you need to know.

WHAT IS AYURVEDA?

The word Ayurveda is translated from Sanskrit as “the science of life.” It is the traditional natural medicine of India dating back over 5,000 years, making it the longest medical system in continual practice in the world. It is also the medical or healing branch of yoga, helping to prepare our bodies for long-term health. In addition to the physical body, Ayurveda refers to the subtle body, mind, soul and chakras.

“Yoga and Ayurveda are both Vedic sciences and were always practiced simultaneously,” Erin Casperson, Dean of the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, told me. “If yoga is the path of self and spiritual realization, Ayurveda is the path of physical and mental well-being.”

The traditional science of Ayurvedic medicine is designed to bring the body back into balance so it can heal itself. I also talked to Larry Mangel, certified Ayurvedic practitioner at Shanti Yoga and Ayurveda in Philadelphia, and he said, “When our bodies are in balance according to Ayurvedic methodologies, and they are kept detoxified through an Ayurvedic diet with herbs and spices, we will experience sound mental and good physical health.”

WHY IT IS BENEFICIAL?

Ayurveda is deeply rooted in diet. “When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use; when diet is correct, medicine is of no need,” reads one important Ayurvedic proverb. However, unlike other diets that simply restrict carbs, sugar or fat, Ayurveda is deeply rooted in wisdom, Casperson points out.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to diet from the Ayurvedic standpoint. To eat the Ayurvedic way, an individual must first take a deep look at themselves. “Ayurveda teaches that we are all a unique combination of five elements: air, space, fire, water and earth,” explains Mangel.”It is like our DNA and RNA.”

For simplification, Ayurveda breaks everyone down into three body types:

Vata dosha or winter: a combination of air and space. They are “what moves things in our body,” explains Mangel.

Pitta or summer: Fire and water make up this dosha, which is the energy of our metabolic functions and digestion.

Kapha or spring: Water and earth combine to “build things.”

According to Mangel, the idea is that Ayurveda heals our bodies by helping to keep the three doshas as close to where they were when we were born. Disease begins when the combination is disturbed by our lifestyle — say, when we don’t get enough sleep or are over-stressed — and diet. For example, each time we fly, it can increase Vata or the movement in our bodies. “Bringing our bodies back into balance will help us heal and be healthy,” he points out.

HOW TO GET STARTED WITH AYURVEDA

To determine your constitution, you must take an Ayurvedic dosha or constitution survey, which can be found online. However, the most effective method is visiting an Ayurvedic practitioner, whom you can find on the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) website.

Ultimately, Ayurveda is a practical and meaningful approach to living, explains Mangel. “We want a lifestyle, not just a diet, and Ayurveda delivers. It recognizes that we all have unique needs, and my experience with students and clients is a relief that their intuitive nature about what their bodies actually need is verified by Ayurveda.”

Adds Casperson, “What Ayurveda provides us is the opportunity to remember who we are as body, mind, senses and soul, and connecting with the natural world as we are meant to be.”

TIPS ON INCORPORATING AYURVEDA INTO YOUR LIFE

Even if you aren’t willing to fully commit to an Ayurvedic lifestyle, there are still elements you can incorporate into your life. Here’s what the experts suggest.

Follow an Ayurvedic routine: Sometimes referred to as Dinacharya in Ayurveda, this routine will help bring balance to the body. According to Mangel, one of the most important parts of the routine is a daily oil self-massage called Abhyanga. Vata and Kapha should use warming sesame oil and Pitta should use coconut oil.

Learn your body type and eat for that type: “Ayurveda says, ‘We like what we are, which can cause imbalances,'” explains Mangel. For example, Pitta constitutions usually love hot spicy foods that disturb their constitutions, while Vata constitutions love raw foods that are not helpful. Unfortunately, in this system, opposites heal. Vata, being a cold and dry constitution, is best served eating warm and moist foods. Pitta’s strong metabolic fire can eat some raw foods and is balanced when cooking with cooling spices like cilantro, cumin, fennel and turmeric. Kapha, which usually has more mucus, should watch the amount of dairy they eat and cook with ginger and black pepper to help speed up their slow digestive qualities.

Eat relaxed: Avoid eating when you are stressed so that the nervous system can properly digest our food. “Eating relaxed means away from technology, stressful conversations, work meetings and on the go while walking or driving,” advises Casperson.

Promote good digestion: Mangel suggests consuming your biggest meal around noon, eating only natural organic unprocessed plant-based foods, and avoiding overeating and eating between meals and before bed to ensure better digestion. Also, avoid cold or iced beverages.

Develop a meditation practice and find yoga poses that help balance your constitution: For example, standing poses and balance poses help ground the restlessness of Vata. Those with high Kapha should do a hard and fast sweaty practice.

Slow down and disconnect: Casperson suggests taking time to be mindful outside or on your yoga mat so you have the opportunity to integrate the complexities and messiness of having a human spiritual experience called life. “We are spending an average of 11 hours a day connected to screens and not to ourselves and each other,” she points out. “Take time every day away from your screens, or take a half or full day technology fast.”

Eat seasonal foods: “When we eat what is in season we can be assured that nature is giving us foods with qualities that are the antidote to the qualities of the season,” says Casperson. For example, when it’s hot in the summer season, eat cooling foods from the garden. When it is cold and dry in the winter, eat cooked root cellar foods. In the spring, when it is damp and cool, eat light invigorating green goods.

Night Blindness: Avoiding fruit & veg could cause blindness/a serious diseases

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Tue, 1 Oct 2019 02:13:00 -0700

Avoiding fruit & veg could cause blindness and dementia – the dangers of fussy eating

WORRYING about whether your child is getting enough food can be a natural concern for parents.

But it is totally normal for kids to be fussy and refuse to eat or try new foods.

Fussy eaters can be at risk of some worrying side-effects, health experts warnCredit: Getty - Contributor

Health experts say that as long as they are active, gaining weight and seem well, they they're probably getting enough to eat.

If they're not eating foods from any of the four main food groups - fruit and veg, starchy carbs, dairy and pulses - then that's when you need to be a bit more concerned.

The body needs lots of different vitamins and minerals, known as micronutrients, from our diet for development and to prevent disease.

Avoiding these causes nutritional deficiencies, which can lead to a variety of pretty unpleasant side-effects.

Here are just some of the health issues caused by poor nutrition and how to avoid them...

Blindness

Vitamin A is important for many bodily functions, including a strong immune system, reproduction and good skin health - but it's also vital for vision.

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children and can increase the risk of disease and even death, according to the World Health Organisation.

It comes after it was revealed two British teenagers had gone blind after years of only eating chips and crisps.

Some of the first signs can be dry eyes and night blindness, Healthline reports.

For newborn babies, the best source of vitamin A is breast milk, but for everyone else, it’s important to get it from food. These include:

milk

eggs

green vegetables, such as kale, broccoli, and spinach

orange vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes

reddish-yellow fruits, such as apricots, peaches, and tomatoes

Dementia

Another common nutritional deficiency is thiamine, also known as vitamin B-1.

It's an important part of the nervous system and helps turn carbohydrates into energy as part of your metabolism.

Thiamine is found in foods such as eggs, nuts, seeds, wheat germ and pork.

But a lack of it can cause problems like weight loss, fatigue, confusion and short-term memory loss.

A thiamine deficiency is also a common cause of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome - a form of dementia.

Low levels of niacin, also known as vitamin B-3, can cause dementia.

Anaemia

The most common nutritional deficiency is iron, which can lead to anaemia.

It's a blood disorder that causes fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath.

Iron is found in foods like dark leafy greens, red meat and egg yolks.

Birth defects

Vitamin B-9, also known as folate, helps the body create red blood cells and produce DNA.

It's especially important for fetal development and crucial in the formation of a developing child's brain and spinal cord.

Folate deficiency can lead to severe birth defects, growth problems and anaemia.

The best sources of folate come from:

beans and lentils

citrus fruits

leafy green vegetables

asparagus

meats, such as poultry and pork

shellfish

fortified grain products

whole grains

Ricket

Around one billion people in the world don't get enough vitamin D - yet it's vital for healthy bones.

It helps the body maintain the right levels of calcium in order to regulate the development of teeth and bones.

But a diet that lacks the nutrient can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults, according to the NHS.

Vitamin D is only found naturally in a few foods, including:

oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel

red meat

liver

egg yolks

fortified foods – such as most fat spreads and some breakfast cereals

The best source of vitamin D is sunlight.

From about late March/early April to the end of September, most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from sunlight.

But between October and early March we don't get enough vitamin D from sunlight.

Another source of vitamin D is dietary supplements.

Toilet paper are not hygenic/Toilet papers

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 08:12:00 -0700

Toilet paper not hygenic

Experts believe toilet paper is an ineffective tool for cleaning.

Some believe that wiping with loo roll alone could actually just spread faeces around instead of moving it, and excessive use could even lead to health issues such as anal fissures and urinary tract infections.

Rose George, author of The Big Necessity, said: ''I find it rather baffling that millions of people are walking around with dirty anuses while thinking they are clean.''

Bidets - which are common in mainland Europe and Asia - are recommended by experts because they are believed to be more environmentally friendly than loo roll.

Baby wipes are also preferred by top celebrities such as Will Smith and Will.i.am.

The 'Heartbreaker' rapper advised: ''Get some chocolate, wipe it on a wooden floor, and then try to get it up with some dry towels. You're going to get chocolate in the cracks.''

PUBG addiction claims another life

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 02:30:00 -0700

PUBG addiction claims another life

By Express News Service

BENGALURU: In yet another tragic case, a 13-year-old boy committed suicide by hanging after his mother took away his mobile phone while he was playing the popular shooting game PUBG at his house in Ittamadu in Banashankari 2nd stage.

https://akagyani.blogspot.com/2019/09/black-hole.html?m=1

On finding her son’s body, the mother also tried to kill herself by jumping from the third floor of a building, but survived the fall with a fractured leg. The incident took place on Tuesday evening and came to light on Saturday after the boy’s father gave a statement to the police. The deceased boy is Pawan, son of Narayana Gowda and Jayanthi. A senior police officer from the CK Achchukattu police station said that Pawan was busy playing the game on his mobile phone after returning from school. Seeing this, Jayanthi snatched it from him and locked it away. Pawan started shouting at her, but she left the house. Returning around 7.30 pm, a shocked Jayanthi saw her son hanging from the ceiling fan. The grief-stricken mother then jumped from the third floor of her house. Neighbours rushed her to a private hospital.

When police took her statement, Jayanthi said that she fainted after seeing her son dead and fell accidentally. Jayanthi said that her son was poor in studies and would always be busy playing games on his phone.

Neighbours told the media on Saturday that Pawan would not come out of his house when his friends would call him. Since he was the only child, his parents doted on him. (If you are having suicidal thoughts or are in emotional distress, help is always available. You can get in touch with the SAHAI helpline at 080-25497777 (open from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm) or 104 Arogya Sahayavani, which is available 24/7.)

PubG ban : PubG is dangerous for mental health

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 02:23:00 -0700

More dangerous than drugs’: Experts weigh in on PUBG ban

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission's (TRC) decision to ban the popular online PlayerUnknown's BattleGround (PUBG) game last week has generated a discussion on the decision’s effectiveness, its repercussions and the effects of gaming on young people.

Nour Khrais, founder and CEO of mobile game developer Maysalward, told The Jordan Times on Tuesday that the TRC ban did not completely stop people from playing the game, as they can easily download virtual private network (VPN) apps to regain access to the game.

Also read:
A 13 year old boy committed suicide because of the addiction of PUBG
https://sciencekemaje.blogspot.com/2019/09/pubg-addiction-claims-another-life-by.html

In remarks to The Jordan Times earlier this week, the TRC said that its decision was in line with the commission’s duty to protect users as well as with the Telecommunications Law, alleging that the game has been proven to “promote violence, isolation and self-centredness”.

However, Khrais pointed out that video games similar to PUBG have existed for a long time.

"Had it been said that the voice chat in the game cannot be supervised and thus people abuse it to commit illegal activities, then I would have supported it," Khrais said, adding that if the reason was economic or to impose a tax to play the game, "it would have been okay too, since other countries have done that already".

The issue is the game’s content rating on official app stores, which tell people what age segment a game is suitable for, Khrais said, adding that it is a parent’s responsibility to monitor their children’s access to a store when they give them a phone.

Therefore, if the justification for banning PUBG is true, then the TRC should have banned similar games as well, he said.

"The biggest issue really is that the decision was taken without consulting with game-making or tech companies, and what should have been done is sitting with parents, psychologists, sociologist and other experts who can actually study the game and its effects to come up with a clearer decision," he added.

On the game’s psychological effects, psychiatry and addiction specialist Maen Abki told The Jordan Times on Tuesday that certain video games in general can trigger addictive and violent tendencies.

PUBG allows people to play in groups using voice chat, which makes it more addictive than other games, especially since people nowadays cannot live without mobiles and computers.

Addiction means losing control and prioritising something over all else, Abki said, explaining that if someone is addicted to the game, they could uncontrollably spend an entire night gaming without caring for the job or class they have to wake up for next morning, "which is not a normal way of having fun".

"The American Academy of Paediatrics, for example, set certain hours for using technologies like iPads and mobile phones, and children under two years of age are not even allowed to use those," Abki said, noting that "this is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly" and parents need to be firm in dealing with it.

The fact that people can still play using VPNs is an indication of how addictive the game can be, the specialist said, adding that some people have required hospitalisation to be separated from technology and social media in general.

"Even if children throw a tantrum because the parents did not allow them to play, especially when they play too much, they should ignore those tantrums and reinforce only the behaviour that leads children to overcome their addiction," he said.

The specialist added that addictions to gaming can be more dangerous than drugs, citing easier access to the digital world than to actual drugs.

Not only do violent games in general trigger violent tendencies in children, the withdrawal symptoms could make them turn violent as well, Abki said, stressing how important it is for parents or guardians to be aware of the risks themselves.

Hussein Alkhozahe, a professor of sociology, told The Jordan Times on Tuesday that winning a match in PUBG makes players feel as if they have achieved something and glorifies violence and killing. "This is a waste of time, especially for young people who have lots of free time on their hands, like unemployed individuals."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned people of the dangers of violent games as well, according to Alkhozahe.

On the WHO's website, gaming disorder is defined as a pattern of behaviour involving “digital-gaming” or “video-gaming” characterised by impaired control over gaming, increased priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, as well as the continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.

It adds that for gaming disorders to be diagnosed, the behaviour pattern must be of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment of personal, familial, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of daily life and would normally have been evident for at least 12 months.

Universe: How big is the Universe

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 12:03:00 -0700

Universe is the name that we use to describe the collection of all the things that exist in space. It is made of many millions of millions of stars and planets and enormous clouds of gas separated by a gigantic empty space which is called the universe.

If you've ever dreamed of time traveling, just look out at the night sky; the glimmers you see are really snapshots of the distant past. That's because those stars, planets and galaxies are so far away that the light from even the closest ones can take tens of thousands of years to reach Earth.

The universe is undoubtedly a big place.

But just how big is it?

"That may be something that we actually never know," Sarah Gallagher, an astrophysicist at Western University in Ontario, Canada, told Live Science. The size of the universe is one of the fundamental questions of astrophysics. It also might be impossible to answer. But that doesn't stop scientists from trying.

The closer an object is in the universe, the easier its distance is to measure, Gallagher said. The sun? Piece of cake. The moon? Even easier. All scientists have to do is shine a beam of light upward and measure the amount of time it takes for that beam to bounce off the moon's surface and back down to Earth.

But the most distant objects in our galaxy are trickier, Gallagher said. After all, reaching them would take a very strong beam of light. And even if we had the technological capabilities to shine a light that far, who has thousands of years to wait around for the beam to bounce off the universe's distant exoplanets and return back to us?

Scientists have a few tricks up their sleeves for dealing with the farthest objects in the universe. Stars change color as they age, and based on that color, scientists can estimate how much energy, and light, those stars give off. Two stars that have the same energy and brightness aren't going to appear the same from Earth if one of those stars is much farther away. The farther one will naturally appear dimmer. Scientists can compare a star's actual brightness with what we see from Earth and use that difference to calculate how far away the star is, Gallagher said.

But what about the absolute edge of the universe? How do scientists calculate distances to objects that far away? That's where things get really tricky.

Remember: the farther an object is from Earth, the longer the light from that object takes to reach us. Imagine that some of those objects are so far away that their light has taken millions or even billions of years to reach us. Now, imagine that some objects' light takes so long to make that journey that in all the billions of years of the universe, it still hasn't reached Earth. That's exactly the problem that astronomers face, Will Kinney, a physicist at the State University of New York at Buffalo, told Live Science.

"We can only see a tiny, little bubble of [the universe]. And what's outside of that? We don't really know," Kinney said.

But by calculating the size of that little bubble, scientists can estimate what's outside of it.

Scientists know that the universe is 13.8 billion years old, give or take a few hundred million years. That means that an object whose light has taken 13.8 billion years to reach us should be the very farthest object we can see. You might be tempted to think that gives us an easy answer for the size of the universe: 13.8 billion light-years. But keep in mind that the universe is also continuously expanding at an increasing rate. In the amount of time that light has taken to reach us, the edge of the bubble has moved. Luckily, scientists know just how far it's moved: 46.5 billion light-years away, based on calculations of universe’s expansion since the big bang.

Some scientists have used that number to try and calculate what lies beyond the limit of what we can see. Based on the assumption that the universe has a curved shape, astronomers can look at the patterns we see in the observable universe and use models to estimate how much farther the rest of the universe extends. One study found that the actual universe could be at least 250 times the size of the 46.5 billion light-years we can actually see.

But Kinney has other ideas: "There's no evidence that the universe is finite," he said, "It might very well go on forever."

There's no saying for sure whether the universe is finite or infinite, but scientists agree that its "really freaking huge," Gallagher said. Unfortunately, the little part we can see now is the most we'll ever be able to observe. Because the universe is expanding at an increasing rate, the outer edges of our observable universe are actually moving outward faster than the speed of light. That means that our universe's edges are moving away from us faster than their light can reach us. Gradually, these edges (and any restaurants there, as British author Douglas Adams once wrote) are disappearing from view.

The universe's size, and the sheer amount of it that we can't see — that's humbling, Gallagher said. But that doesn't stop her and other scientists from continuing to probe for answers.

"Maybe we won't be able to figure it out. It could be seen as frustrating," Gallagher said. "But it also makes it really exciting."

Scientists estimate the age of the universe by using the movement of stars to measure how fast it is expanding. If the universe is expanding faster, that means it got to its current size more quickly, and therefore must be relatively younger.

BLACK HOLE

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 01:33:00 -0700

Black hole

A black hole is a region of spacetimeexhibiting gravitational acceleration so strong that nothing—no particles or even electromagnetic radiation such as light—can escape from it.In many ways, a black hole acts like an ideal black body, as it reflects no light.
The first modern solution of general relativity that would characterize a black hole was found by Karl Schwarzschild in 1916, although its interpretation as a region of space from which nothing can escape was first published by David Finkelstein in 1958. Black holes were long considered a mathematical curiosity; it was during the 1960s that theoretical work showed they were a generic prediction of general relativity. The discovery of neutron stars by Jocelyn Bell Burnell in 1967 sparked interest in gravitationally collapsed compact objects as a possible astrophysical reality.

On 11 February 2016, the LIGO collaboration announced the first direct detection of gravitational waves, which also represented the first observation of a black hole merger.On 10 April 2019, the first ever direct image of a black hole and its vicinity was published, following observations made by the Event Horizon Telescope in 2017 of the supermassive black hole in Messier 87's galactic centre.

The simplest static black holes have mass but neither electric charge nor angular momentum. These black holes are often referred to as Schwarzschild black holes after Karl Schwarzschild who discovered this solution in 1916.

The shape of the event horizon of a black hole is always approximately spherical.For non-rotating (static) black holes the geometry of the event horizon is precisely spherical, while for rotating black holes the event horizon is oblate.

NASA released a visualization of what a black hole might look like up close, and it’s mesmerizing to see.

The visualization simulates how a black hole’s dense gravity would distort our view, resulting in a warped image that resembles a reflection in a carnival mirror. In more scientific terms, NASA says it “simulates the appearance of a black hole where infalling matter has collected into a thin, hot structure called an accretion disk.”
A black hole forms when a star collapses at the end of its life. The gravitational pull that results from its collapse prevents anything — including light itself — from escaping.

Scientists are trying to learn more about the elusive and mysterious black holes that make up our universe.Black hole has a diameter of about 78 billion miles. For perspective, that's about 40% the size of our solar system, according to some estimates.
Closer to home is the black hole known as Sagittarius A*, which is in the center of our galaxy.

We also now have an idea of what a black hole might sound like, thanks to physicists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earlier this month, their findings published in Physical Review Letters reported that a “baby” black hole makes a sound like a chirp. Scientists described the sound as “a waveform that quickly crescendoed before fading away,” or, something resembling the sound of a “chirp.”

The nearest black hole to the Earth we know of is V616 Monocerotis, also known as V616 Mon. It's located about 3,000 light years away, and has between 9-13 times the mass of the Sun.
Black holes are freezing cold on the inside, but incredibly hot just outside. The internal temperature of a black hole with the mass of our Sun is around one-millionth of a degree above absolute zero.A black hole is anything but empty space. Rather, it is a great amount of matter packed into a very small area - think of a star ten times more massive than the Sun squeezed into a sphere approximately the diameter of New York City.

Tulsi or Basil's scientific benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 23:59:00 -0700

Tulsi is a sacred plant in Hindu belief. Hindus regard it as an earthly manifestation of the goddess Tulsi/Vrinda; she is regarded as a great worshipper of the god Vishnu. ... The plant is cultivated for religious purposes.

Holy basil, or tulsi, is part of the mint family of herbs. In Hinduism, holy basil is believed to promote long life and good health
Holy basil is said to balance the third eye chakra.
But apart from religious view benefits of Tulsi is quite amazing.Lets read how Tulsi or Basil is blessing for all.
Lets read the scientific uses of Tulsi

Tulsi Benefits
Blessing for Hair: These Easy Tricks For Smooth Hair

Hair is the main concern for a lot of people as it is known to be the beauty identity. With today's climate, pollution and chemical exposure dry and damaged hair are very common. High pollution in cities and several other factors combine to destroy our crowning glory and damage our hair to the very roots.

Keeping ourselves hydrated and having a balanced diet prevents most of the hair related problems. Depending on herbal and homemade remedies for hair problems are much better rather than using cosmetics, chemical based hair care products that do nothing but make the situation worse for us.

Download all basic and important notes of physics and chemistry in pdf

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12_RInTkiQfmDVJyO8PUZc_EImWjQkkmn/view?usp=drivesdk

Tulsi is an amazing herb that helps to achieve lustrous shiny and healthy hair. It has essential oils like eugenol, Citronellol, limonene and terpineol which contain effective antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

Treating Dandruff and Scalp dryness

Hair loss! The reason may be dandruff and dry scalp.

What to do?

Take a small portion of Tulsi oil to regular hair oil like coconut oil and massage thoroughly on your scalp.

Tulsi helps to regulate and improves blood circulation and keep the scalp cool.

It also reduces itchiness and dandruff and thus enhances hair growth.

Tulsi paste can also be applied which keeps the scalp and roots clean and keeps dandruff away.

For an Itch Free Scalp and Good Health of Scalp

Take tulsi, hibiscus and neem leaves

Make a paste out of them.

Apply it on the hair for 30 minutes

Wash it with normal water to keep the hair healthy and itch free.

Energizes Hair

Just doing workout to energize your body is enough?

Giving energy to hair too is important.

Massaging tulsi oil on your scalp energizes and rejuvenates you and your hair.

So, next time do not just go for facial and body massage but also give equal importance to hair massage.

Boosts Immunity

Tulsi having a complex constitution that contains immunity booster, adaptogens, and anti-oxidants.

Not only applying tulsi can help your hair grow but taking it in your diet will help even more.

Hence, tulsi juice if taken every week retain our scalp healthily and hydrated.

Also, it will help your body to be disease free.

Fighting Grey Hair

Take tulsi (basil) and amla( Indian Gooseberry)

Mix tulsi leaves powder, amla powder, and water into a paste.

Apply it directly to your scalp.

After 2-3 hours, wash it off with a mild shampoo.

Helps in Maintaining Tangle-Free Hairs

Do you also take so much time combing your hair?

Try tulsi oil or paste

You will get rid of your tangled hair adding smoothness in hair texture.

Next time try these amazing home remedies to treat your hair with love. Tulsi plant is found almost in every Indian household. It is being used for generation to treat various skin, hair and other body problems. It has a specific place in Ayurveda and has deep cleaning properties.

Ditch your heavy chemical solutions with these tulsi remedies!!!

Tulsi/Basil Queen of Herbs

It has been used for centuries to treat depression, stress, and anxiety. Holy basil is a calming herb that won’t make you sleepy. The benefits are the same regardless of your gender, race, or age.

Tulsi is different from the basil used in Italian foods, or the Thai herb used to flavour pho. Tulsi is native to Southeast Asia and is used for herbal medicine. If basil is the “King of Herbs,” tulsi is the “Queen of Herbs.” It is called this because throughout India tulsi is revered as a sacred herb given to humans by a goddess. The herb is also sacred to Vishnu and Krishna. Almost every Indian garden has a holy basil plant, and every part of the plant is considered sacred. In some parts of India, the seeds of holy basil are worn as charms to bring peace and balance.

Here are some more benefits plus how to best use holy basil to avoid depression:

Lowers stress

Holy basil fights depression by lowering the creation of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is a stress hormone. High levels of cortisol are bad for you. It causes depression, fatigue, weight gain, problems with sleep, sexual problems, and anxiety.

Holy basil lowers cortisol levels. This helps improve mental clarity and memory. The herb also acts on dopamine and serotonin, helping balance the two hormones to improve mood. With improved mood comes a calming effect on the mind and soul.

Dreaming

When it comes to sleep problems, holy basil has a calming effect on the mind. This lets a person sleep. The herb doesn’t have caffeine, but it does have a slight sedative property.

Holy basil also known to help with nightmares and night terrors. This makes sense because it’s been claimed that holy basil helps with lucid dreaming by allowing a person to be in control of what she/he dreams. If you are doing dream work, taking holy basil allows you to relax and enter into a restful state quicker while maintaining the lucidity of your dream.

Detoxing your body

Holy basil also detoxifies your body. Toxic compounds like heavy metal poisoning are often found in cities or industry. By supporting your immune system against toxic compounds, holy basil protects your nervous system and brain function.

Holy basil is a powerful anti-oxidant. It protects your body from free radicals destruction, which contribute to disease. The herb strengthens your immune system to fight infections. It can also be used as an expectorant to remove phlegm from the lungs and respiratory system. Tulsi also supports beneficial gut microbes.

How to use Tulsi

Taking Tulsi, by mouth in the morning and night is recommended to help decrease stress, anxiety, depression, and memory problems.

The leaves of tulsi are generally used in tea but the ground up leaves can also be taken in pill form. As a tea, the flavour is bitter and spicy. Tulsi is caffeine-free, so it’s often used ritualistically to calm the mind, relax the body, and give a sense of well-being. Tulsi won’t make you drowsy, but it will lower your blood pressure.

If holy basil is taken in pill form, the recommended dosage is 300 mg to 2,000 mg per day for general preventative purposes. When used as a treatment, the recommended dosage is 600 mg to 1,800 mg taken in multiple doses throughout the day. All parts of the plant might be used in supplements and topical ointment.

Tulsi has magical properties and is widely known for its medicinal usages. Consuming this herb on a daily basis is linked with providing an array of health benefits that most are unaware of. Keep reading to find out how to include this magical herb in your daily diet to get the maximum out of it. Tulsi chai One of the easiest and most common ways of adding tulsi to your everyday life is by mixing it in your tea. It is the tried and tested method which will show a satisfying result for sure. All you need to do is, prepare your regular morning tea with a dash of fresh tulsi leaves and enjoy your steaming and refreshing cuppa. It will prevent any congestion or blockage due to mucus and will also ensure that you don’t feel low on energy throughout the day.

In Juices
Tulsi is an aromatic herb which is calming and refreshing. It will make sure to tantalize your taste buds by its distinct flavour and at the same time provide all its unique health benefits which will not only boost your immunity but also heal any kind of ailment you might be experiencing. If you are someone who enjoys chilled drinks or juices then adding few basil leaves into your favorite drink will enhance the taste and benefits of the mix.

Tulsi in rice
Tulsi has a perfect amalgamation of various vital minerals which on a daily basis are required by our body for efficient functioning. Basil leaves have calcium, iron, magnesium and other essential minerals which are required by our body. Therefore, you can add a few leaves of tulsi while cooking your rice.This will also give your rice a unique aroma. In fruits and veggiesIt is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate which your body needs on a daily basis. Add a few leaves of tulsi to your regular salad to enjoy its maximum benefits. You can add some of the leaves to the fruits that you eat daily, as a refreshing topping or can mix the leaves of basil to your nutritious veggies. With honey and pepperTulsi is majorly known for its healing properties, so if you are someone who is constantly suffering from allergic cold or sinus then you can have tulsi leaves with honey and black pepper every morning on an empty stomach to prevent respiratory ailments. As mouth freshner Tulsi is known to provide overall wellness and calmness to your system. Having few leaves of tulsi as a daily-mouth freshener or even medicine will effectively combat stress and adaptogen present in tulsi will regulate cortisol levels in the body thus, will effectively reduce anxiety issues.

Why do we forget our dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 02:44:00 -0700

Why do we forget our dreams?

Baby son sleeping on father on living room sofa.

Almost all of us have woken up from a vivid dream that seemed so real it sparked emotions of joy, peace, fear or just straight up terror. Those feelings are hard to shake, but it seems like the moment we try to share what actually happened in the dream, the specifics just seem to disappear.

Our forgetfulness is generally attributed to neurochemical conditions in the brain that occur during REM sleep, a phase of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements and dreaming.

But that might not be the full story. According to a new study in mice, published in Science, the REM sleep stage also contains a period of "active forgetting.” This most likely occurs to avoid information overload, the study suggests.

Interestingly, the neurons responsible for this forgetting are also the neurons that help control appetite.

Previous studies conducted focused on a hormone involved in regulating sleep in narcolepsy, the condition that makes people fall asleep unexpectedly. For this study, the researchers examined a group of neighboring neurons in the hippocampus. These produce the hormone (MCH), a molecule that helps regulate both sleep and appetite.

Scientists found through electrical recordings of sleep activity in mice and experiments involving neuronal tracing that these neurons also send inhibitory messages to the hippocampus.

Ear Anatomy : Research First to Reconstruct Neanderthal Ear Anatomy

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 01:52:00 -0700

Research First to Reconstruct
Neanderthal Ear Anatomy:

Research first to reconstruct Neanderthal ear anatomy

Pagano

Anthony Pagano, assistant professor in the Department of Medical Sciences at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University and his colleagues Samuel Márquez from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and Jeffrey Laitman from the Icahn School of Medicine conducted the first-ever reconstruction of the Neanderthal Eustachian tube and published groundbreaking research that implicates Neanderthal ear anatomy and the resulting susceptibility to bacterial middle ear infections as a factor in their extinction.

Advanced technology and pioneering research

According to the medical school, using Neanderthal fossils and advanced 3-D digital technology called geometric morphometrics – commonly used by biologists, paleontologists, and anthropologists – Pagano and his colleagues were able to reconstruct the Neanderthal Eustachian tube — also called the auditory tube. It connects the middle ear to the upper airway and equalizes pressure within the ear.

Pagano compared the reconstructed Neanderthal Eustachian tube dimensions to those of contemporary humans spanning in age from birth to adulthood in his previous studies of normal Eustachian tube growth changes.

Neanderthal Eustachian tube. -HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH

His previous studies found the Eustachian tubes of human infants and young children are horizontally oriented, which makes them more likely to develop acute bacterial middle ear infections that are common in early childhood and are often treated with modern antibiotics. Pagano’s earlier research demonstrated the human Eustachian tube becomes more vertically oriented around age six, allowing for better ear drainage that corresponds with today’s clinically observed decline in the rate of acute bacterial middle ear infections in older children.

“Our research findings suggest that the extinction of the Neanderthal population could have been due, in part, to one of today’s most common childhood diseases,” said Pagano. “Additionally, our research represents the latest evidence that Neanderthals had anatomical features that point to species-level differences and distinguish them from modern humans,” said Pagano.

Setting the stage for extinction

In his most recent study, Pagano and his team found that the Neanderthal Eustachian tube remained horizontally oriented throughout life and did not undergo the vertical re-orientation that humans experience around age six.

As a result, Pagano’s research suggests Neanderthals were more susceptible to bacterial middle ear disease beyond childhood, which may have translated to higher mortality rates and lower reproductive rates in a pre-antibiotic world. These factors may have led to a gradual decline in the Neanderthal population over centuries that set the stage for eventual extinction.

Durga puja in science

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 01:07:00 -0700

Many significant aspects of Durga Puja

Durga puja covers a lot, including God-consciousness nurturing nature, being mindful of wealth, learning and fine arts, wisdom, military prowess and also the Absolute. It embodies mother worship, gender equity, victory of good over evil and cosmic spiritual power over temporary brute force. Ultimately, one overcomes the ego and the obsession with mundane and material needs, towards achieving unison with cosmic consciousness.

The Absolute, infinite spirit is manifested through Shakti, with divine properties. Power principles like existence and its essence are inseparable like fire, its energy and illumination. Ancient seers contemplated a comprehensive and convenient image of Shakti for invoking the Absolute as primordial energy – the cosmic principle of will-force, wisdom, and dynamism of doing. The concept of Devi Durga encompasses all these as manifestation of the supreme power of the Absolute.

The concept of Divine Mother as the focal point of human worship is found way back in the Harappan civilisation. Literary record of the same is traceable right from the Rig Veda where we find the wonderful hymn, Devishuktam. Here the goddess declares that she is the supreme power behind all creation. The Kenopanishad refers to her as Uma Haimavati. In Tantra cult the goddess acquires different dimension in the form of ten great wisdom forms, as Dasha Mahavidya. In Devi Mahatmyam, in Markandeya Purana, venerating the Mother Goddess acquired even more importance.

Devi Durga, literally meaning the deity protecting devotees as durga, fortress, is invoked as the creating, nurturing, protecting, loving and above all liberating deity of the devotees. Apart from looking after us during our earthly abode she ultimately delivers us from the darkness of delusion by cutting our sense bondage with ten weapons in her ten hands leading to final dissolution of the indomitable ego by making it realise the supremacy of the cosmic life force behind creation as all creatures owe their existence to her.

The image of Durga as Mahishasuramardini is comprehensive. We seek refuge in God predominantly for material prosperity, protection from enemies, intellectual and artistic excellence and finally for ultimate realisation overcoming human bondage. The four offspring of the goddess – Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganapati and Kartikeya – are the givers of all material gifts as the deities of wealth, learning, wisdom and overpowered by the goddess standing over a tame lion, the symbol of subdued animalism.

Apart from the spiritual undercurrent, a series of mythological legends cater to popular taste and poetic feelings. Devi Uma, along with her four offspring, is coming to her parents, Himalaya and Menaka, for a short period of three days. A typical Indian mother’s concern for her married daughter inspires a set of melodious Bengali songs called Agamoni. While the legend of Sati, the destroyer of Daksha’s sacrifice ceremony has a different appeal. Emergence of Chandi on the combined prayer of the gods for their protection by destruction of demons forms an important metaphorical myth for spiritual aspirants.

The grand celebration with multidimensional appeal involves everybody in the community socially, economically, ritually and above all, culturally. The innovative image of the goddess, pandal, release of special issues of literary magazines, musical albums, creatively, socially and culturally involve all concerned making it a celebration for creation, unison, elevation and above all awakening of higher consciousness.

Truth or Myth : Science

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 07:50:00 -0700

11 Things you thought were true, but have actually been debunked by science

Here are a few truth and myths that you may find interesting!

1) There are only three states of matter: solid, liquid and gas

Don't forget plasma. That makes four states. Plasma isn't some gel or goo, it's more like superheated ions and electrons. It's sometimes called “ionized gas.” When cooled, it becomes gas, but then it takes on different properties, too. So it's not quite right to think of it as a kind of “gas.” Plasma is more like a flame. Lightning, fire, the sun, and the tail of comets are all plasmas. Most any element or chemical compound can become plasma if heated high enough, but since plasma is just ions and electrons, the molecules have broken down. Water, for example, can be reduced to plasma, but it's no longer H2O; it's not even hydrogen or oxygen. And You definitely wouldn't want to drink it.

2. Lightning never strikes the same place twice

This myth is not only wrong, it's dangerously wrong. Lightning often strikes the same place twice, at least within a close vicinity. If you find yourself standing around outdoors during a lightning storm, there is no outdoorsman or forecaster who'd recommend you go stand where lightning has already struck as if you are somehow protected at that spot. Instead, you need to find shelter, stay away from windows and avoid touching anything metal or electrical. And it's always a good idea to suspend your golf game or kite-flying till the storm passes.

3. Bananas grow on Trees

Bananas grow on something the size of trees, but the Banana "tree" is not actually a tree. The banana plant, which can grow up to 25 feet, is actually the world's largest perennial herb. When you carefully inspect a banana plant, you'll notice that it doesn't have woody fibers. It has strong stalks and leaves, yet it lacks the trunk and branches that would qualify it as a tree. Another related fact is that bananas are berries, since they don't produce mature seeds. So does that mean a banana split is a “herb berry” Sundae?

4. The mustard seed is the smallest seed

Many seeds are smaller than the mustard seed including duckweed, watermeal, and poppy seeds. The smallest seed on record is the orchid seed. But even though the mustard seed isn't the smallest, it's still pretty small, especially when compared to other seeds sown by ancient and modern gardeners. This myth has biblical origins. In the biblical account, Jesus is reported as saying that faith is like the mustard seed, which is "the smallest seed on earth" yet it grows to be the largest garden plant giving shelter to birds of the air (Mark 4:30-32). The error may be in the mind of the reader, interpreting literally what was a generalization or hyperbole (exaggerated phrasing common in informal language). Moreover, the mustard seed was quite possibly the smallest seed that that audience would have known, and it could have produced the largest garden plant they would have had in their gardens in ancient Israel.

5. We have five senses

Besides the five empirical senses (sight/visual, sound/auditory, touch/tactile, taste/gustatory, and smell/olfactory), there are at least four other senses that are rarely cited: proprioception—sensing one's orientation in space; thermoception—sense of temperature; equilibrioception—sense of balance; and interoception—sense of one's physiological condition. The next time someone talks about their "5 senses," you can say that you have "9 senses" and then sit back and let them think you have superpowers.

6. Human beings evolved from apes

Even the most rabid critics and most rabid supporters of evolution can agree on this point. The standard evolutionary account is that human beings and the higher apes (gorillas, bonobos, orangutans, etc.) evolved from a common ancestor often referred to as the “missing link.” Humans did evolve from an ancestor that was far more ape-like than humans. But this is far from saying that humans evolved from apes. Humans did not evolve from chimps, rather they shared a common ancestor.

7. Bats are blind

Bats see in black and white. And at night they see better than we do. They lack color receptors; but in low light, we can't see colors either. Try it some time. On a dark night or in a pitch black room, turn on a flashlight and point it at something colorful; then slowly cover the light till that color fades into shades of black and white. Perhaps this myth about blind bats arose from the fact that bats don't see as well as we can in daylight, or because they have sonar and can navigate without sight. They see just fine for their environment. We could say that bats see better than most referees, but that's not saying much.

8. Goldfish have a 3-7 second memory

Of all the sea creatures, the octopus is probably the smartest, blue whales are the biggest, and goldfish are neither. But to be fair to the poor little guy, he's pretty adorable for his size, and he's not as dumb and forgetful as you might have heard. Goldfish can learn basic survival skills and remember them for up to three months. They can even tell time. In lab tests they could be conditioned to push a lever for food at roughly the same time each day. That 3-month memory is much longer than 7 seconds. They need a reasonably long-term memory in order to find and recall food sources and avoid the hideouts of their predators. While goldfish might remember past seven seconds, their attention span still grades pretty low, right around the level of teenagers.

9. A mother bird will reject its baby if it's been touched by a human

Most birds have a poor sense of smell and wouldn't know the difference. So they the mother bird wouldn't know if their baby was handled by a human anyway. If you find a baby bird on the ground, it is probably learning to fly and shouldn't be touched anyway. Perhaps this myth about baby birds arose when well-meaning kids tried to help fallen baby birds back into their nests, or tried to pet baby birds that aren't yet strong enough to handle their clumsy touch. It's also not wise to touch baby birds because an angry mama bird might fly in your face or peck at your head and call you nasty names in bird language. Overall, mother birds are much more loyal to their babies than this myth suggests.

10. Houseflies have a lifespan of 24 hours

Lifespans in the animal kingdom, even within a species, can vary widely. Our average lifespan currently ranges from about 49 years in Swaziland to about 82 years in Japan. The world average, in 2010 was 67.2 years (for details see the CIA World-Factbook). House pets usually have a shorter life span. The oldest dogs cracked 29 years, and the oldest cat broke 38 years. While our unwanted buzzing guests, the common houseflies, don't average nearly as long a lifespan as our's, they can live up to a month. This myth probably mistakes the housefly for the mayfly, which, depending on the species, may have a lifespan between 5 minutes and 24 hours. Time really does fly for mayflies!

11. An apple a day keep a doctor away

Apples are packed with vitamin C and fiber, both of which are important to long-term health, but they aren't all you need.

And if certain viruses or bacteria get into your system, an apple will unfortunately do nothing to protect you.

Go ahead and get that flu shot, even if you eat apples.

Experts say that instead, the carbs, alcohol, and general size of the turkey-day feast are the cause of those delicious holiday siestas.

Global warming

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 04:55:00 -0700

You can also download pdf file of this article click on the link mentioned below
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10AuQp6iAe7KJFNZKNPn2_KhZIjGXandK/view?usp=drivesdk

Global warming is the long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system. It is a major aspect of current climate change, and has been demonstrated by direct temperature measurements and by measurements of various effects of the warming.
There were prehistoric periods of global warming, but observed changes since the mid-20th century have been much greater than those seen in previous records covering decades to thousands of years.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report concluded, "It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century." The largest human influence has been the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Climate model projections summarized in the report indicated that during the 21st century the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 0.3 to 1.7 °C (0.5 to 3.1 °F) in a moderate scenario, or as much as 2.6 to 4.8 °C (4.7 to 8.6 °F) in an extreme scenario, depending on the rate of future greenhouse gas emissions and on climate feedback effects.These findings have been recognized by the national science academies of the major industrialized nations and are not disputed by any scientific body of national or international standing.

Effects:

The effects of global warming include rising sea levels, regional changes in precipitation, more frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves, and expansion of Surface temperature increases are greatest in the Arctic, which has contributed to the retreat of glaciers, permafrost, and sea ice. Overall, higher temperatures bring more rain and snowfall, but for some regions droughts and wildfires increase instead. Climate change threatens to diminish crop yields, harming food security, and rising sea levels may flood coastal infrastructure and force the abandonment of many coastal cities.Environmental impacts include the extinction or relocation of many species as their ecosystems change, most immediately the environments of coral reefs, mountains, and the Arctic. Because the climate system has a large "inertia" and greenhouse gases persist in the atmosphere, climatic changes and their effects will continue for many centuries even if greenhouse gas emissions are stopped.

Response:

Mitigation of and adaptation to climate change are two complementary responses to global warming. Successful adaptation is easier if there are substantial emission reductions. Many of the countries that have contributed least to global greenhouse gas emissions are among the most vulnerable to climate change, which raises questions about justice and fairness with regard to mitigation and adaptation.

Driver of greenhouse gas emission:

Over the last three decades of the twentieth century, gross domestic product per capita and population growth were the main drivers of increases in greenhouse gas emissions. CO2 emissions are continuing to rise due to the burning of fossil fuels and land-use change. Emissions can be attributed to different regions. The attribution of emissions from land-use change is subject to considerable uncertainty.

Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, sea level has risen, and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased

Global warming is defined in this report as an increase in combined surface air and sea surface temperatures averaged over the globe and over a 30-year period. Unless otherwise specified, warming is expressed relative to the period 1850–1900, used as an approximation of pre-industrial temperatures in AR5..

Climate Forcings

Figure 1 shows estimated climate forcings since 1850, measured in Watts per square meter (W/m2). We separate carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and ozone (O3) in Figure 1, because they are produced by different processes and have different growth rates. We associate with CH4 its indirect effects on tropospheric O3 and stratospheric H2 to make clear the importance of CH4 as a climate forcing.

Fig. 1: Estimated climate forcings between 1850 and 2000.

Climate forcing by CO2 is the largest forcing, but it does not dwarf the others. Forcing by CH4 (0.7 W/m2) is half as large as that of CO2 and the total forcing by non-CO2 GHGs (1.4 W/m2) equals that of CO2. Moreover, in comparing forcings due to different activities, note that the fossil fuels producing most of the CO2 are also the main source of atmospheric aerosols, especially sulfates, black carbon, and organic aerosols.

Aerosols cause a climate forcing directly by reflecting sunlight and indirectly by modifying cloud properties. Forcing by atmospheric aerosols is uncertain, but research of the past decade indicates that it is substantial (IPCC 1996). The aerosol forcing that we estimate has the same magnitude (1.4 W/m2) but opposite sign of the CO2 forcing. Fossil fuel use is the main source of both CO2 and aerosols, with land conversion and biomass burning also contributing to both forcings. Although fossil fuels contribute to growth of some of the other GHGs, it follows that the net global climate forcing due to processes that produced CO2 in the past century probably is much less than 1.4 W/m2.

A corollary following from Figure 1 is that climate forcing by non-CO2 GHGs (1.4 W/m2) is nearly equal to the net value of all known forcings for the period 1850-2000 (1.6 W/m2). Thus, assuming only that our estimates are approximately correct, we assert that the processes producing the non-CO2 GHGs have been the primary drive for climate change in the past century.

Observed heat storage in the ocean provides a fundamental consistency check on the estimated climate forcing. The ocean is the only place that the energy from a planetary radiation imbalance can accumulate, because of the low thermal conductivity of land and the limit on ice melting implicit in observed sea level rise. Global ocean data (Levitus et al. 2000) reveal that ocean heat content increased 2*1023 joules between the mid-1950s and the mid-1990s. The simplest interpretation is that the change of ocean heat content, and the implied planetary energy imbalance, are a reflection of the net global climate forcing. Observed heat storage (Levitus et al. 2000) is in good agreement with results in global climate models that use the forcings of Figure 1, thus providing empirical evidence for the sign and approximate magnitude of the net climate forcing of Figure 1.

Summary

Business-as-usual scenarios, which have an additional human-made forcing of about 3 W/m2 in the next 50 years, provide a useful warning about the potential for human-made climate change. Our analysis of climate forcings suggests, as a strategy to slow global warming, an alternative scenario focused on reducing non-CO2 GHGs and black carbon (soot) aerosols. Investments in technology to improve energy efficiency and develop non-fossil energy sources are also needed to slow the growth of CO2 emissions and expand future policy options. The increase of climate forcing would be less than or about 1 W/m2.

A key feature of this strategy is its focus on air pollution, especially aerosols and tropospheric ozone, which have human health and ecological impacts. If the World Bank were to support investments in modern technology and air quality control in India and China, e.g., the reductions in tropospheric ozone and black carbon would not only improve local health and agricultural productivity, but also benefit global climate and air quality.

Non-CO2 greenhouse gases are probably the main cause of observed global warming, with CH4 causing the largest net climate forcing. There are economic incentives to reduce or capture CH4 emissions, but global implementation of appropriate practices requires international cooperation. Definition of appropriate policies requires better understanding of the CH4 cycle, especially CH4 sources.

Climate forcing by CFCs is still growing today, but, if Montreal Protocol restrictions are adhered to, there should be no net growth of the CFC forcing over the next 50 years. A small decrease of the CFC forcing from today's level is possible.

Tropospheric O3 increases in business-as-usual scenarios, which assume that CH4 increases and that there is no global effort to control O3 precursors. The human health and ecological impacts of O3 are so great that it represents an opportunity for effective international cooperation. At least it should be possible to prevent O3 forcing in 2050 from exceeding that of today.

Carbon dioxide will become the dominant climate forcing if its emissions continue to increase and aerosol effects level off. Business-as-usual scenarios understate the potential for CO2 emission reductions from improved energy efficiency and decarbonization of fuels. Based on this potential and current CO2 growth trends, we argue that limiting the CO2 forcing increase to 1 W/m2 in the next 50 years is plausible.

Indeed, CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use declined slightly in 1998 and again in 1999, while the global economy grew. However, achieving the level of emissions needed to slow climate change significantly is likely to require policies that encourage technological developments to accelerate energy efficiency and decarbonization trends.

Climate forcing due to aerosol changes is a wild card. Current trends are uncertain even in the sign of the effect. Unless climate forcings by all aerosols are precisely monitored, it will be difficult to define optimum policies.

We argue that black carbon aerosols, via several effects, contribute significantly to global warming. This suggests one antidote to global warming, if its impacts begin to increase. As electricity plays an increasing role in future energy systems, it should be relatively easy to strip black carbon emissions at fossil fuel power plants. Stripping and disposing of CO2, though more challenging, provides an effective backup strategy.

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Chandrayan-2 : ISRO

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 05:09:00 -0700

Chandrayan-2 missionhas achieved 98% objectives: ISRO Cheif

Chandrayaan 2 is an Indian lunar mission that will boldly go where no country has ever gone before — the Moon's south polar region. Through this effort, the aim is to improve our understanding of the Moon — discoveries that will benefit India and humanity as a whole. These insights and experiences aim at a paradigm shift in how lunar expeditions are approached for years to come — propelling further voyages into the farthest frontiers.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan on September 21 said the Chandrayaan-2 mission has achieved 98 percent of its objectives, even as scientists are working hard to establish contact with lander 'Vikram'.

Sivan also said Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is doing well and performing scheduled science experiments.

"Why we are saying Chandrayaan-2 achieved 98 percent success is because of two objectives -- one is science and the other technology demonstration. In case of technology demonstration, the success percentage was almost full," he told reporters at the airport here, before heading to IIT- Bhubaneswar to attend its 8th convocation ceremony.

First Surgery In World ; Sushruta

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 23:50:00 -0700

First Surgery In World
The first surgery in world done by The Father of Indian Surgery and Ophthalmology Shree Sushruta

Abstract
Sushruta is the most celebrated physicial and surgeon in India. Sushruta who lived nearly 150 years before Hippocrates vividly described the basic principles of plastic surgery in his famous ancient treatise 'sushruta samhita' 1,2 in 600 B.C.

Sushruta

Father of Indian Surgery and Ophthalmology 600 B.C

Although many people consider Plastic Surgery as a relatively new specialty, the origin of the plastic surgery had his roots more than 4000 years old in India, back to the Indus River Civilization. The mythico-religious shlokas (hymns) associated with this civilization were compiled in Sanskrit language between 3000 and 1000 B.C. in the form of Vedas, the oldest sacred books of the Hindu religion. This era is referred to as the Vedic period (5000 years B.C) in Indian history during which the the four Vedas, namely the Rigveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda, and the Atharvaveda were compiled. All the four Vedas are in the form of shlokas (hymns), verses, incantations and rites in Sanskrit language.3 ‘Sushruta Samhita' is believed to be a part of Atharvaveda. 4

Fig: Surgical instruments as described by Sushruta

The ancient surgical science was known as Salya-tantra.Salya-tantra (surgical science) embraces all processes aiming at the removal of factors responsible for producing pain or misery to the body or mind. Salya(salya-surgical instrument) denotes broken parts of an arrow /other sharp weapons while tantra denotes maneuver. The broken parts of the arrows or similar pointed weapons were regarded as the commonest and most dangerous objects causing wounds and requiring surgical treatment. Shushruta has described surgery under eight heads Chedya (excision), Lekhya (scarification), Vedhya (puncturing), Esya (exploration), Ahrya (extraction), Vsraya (evacuation) and Sivya (Suturing).9,10

All the basic principles of plastic surgery like planning, precision, haemostasis and perfection find an important place in Sushruta's writings on this subject.Sushruta described various reconstructive methods or different types of defects like release of the skin for covering small defects, rotation of the flaps to make up for the partial loss and pedicle flaps for covering complete loss of skin from an area.

Sushruta took surgery in medieval India to admirable heights and that era was later regarded as The Golden Age of Surgery in ancient India .Because of his numerous seminal contributions to the science and art of surgery in India, he is regarded as the 'Father of Indian Surgery' and the 'Father of Indian Plastic Surgery'.

In “The source book of plastic surgery'‘, Frank McDowell aptly described Sushruta as follows19: “Through all of Sushruta's flowery language, incantations and irrelevancies, there shines the unmistakable picture of a great surgeon. Undaunted by his failures, unimpressed by his successes, he sought the truth unceasingly and passed it on to those who followed. He attacked disease and deformity definitively, with reasoned and logical methods. When the path did not exist, he made one.”

Science In Hinduism

noreply@blogger.com (Akanksha) — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 10:55:00 -0700

Bṛhat samhita- chapter 35 (6th century CE) describes formation of rainbow. This was later proposed by Sir Issac Newton nearly after 11 centuries. The verse is as follow.

सूर्यस्य विवधवर्णाः पवनेन
विघट्टिताः कराः साभ्रे ।
वियति धनुः संस्थानाः
ये दृश्यन्ते तदिन्द्रधनुः ।।
Meaning: The multi colored rays of the Sun, being dispersed in a cloudy sky, are seen in the form of a bow, which is called the rainbow.

Even in Vedas 7 colors of light is represented by 7 horses of God Sun which was shown much later. In fact, the same scripture describes formation of thunderbolt as well.

Traditions in Hinduism were considered mainly as superstitions, but with the advent of science, it is becoming evident that these traditions are based on some scientific knowledge and moved from generations to generations as traditions. Though the common people did not know science in it, they were following it very faithfully over the years. This article is an attempt to bring forward the science involved in these traditions and rituals. Ancient Rishis, which were scientists actually, did not tell the common people the science involved in these traditions but instead related them with the God and religion, so that the common people would benefit from them.

1. Concept of Gravity:

Vaishesika Sutras discuss about Gravity which I discuss in my answer here.Relevant quotes from that answer are:

आत्मकर्म हस्तसंयोगाश्च । संयोगभावे गुरुत्वात्पतनम।
नोदनाद्यभिषोः कर्म तत्कर्मकारिताच्च संस्कारादुत्तरं तथोत्तरमुत्तरं च । संस्काराभावे गुरुत्वात्पतनम।
अपां संयोगाभावे गुरुत्वात्पतनम। द्रवथ्वास्यन्दनम् ।
Action of body and it's members is also from conjunction with the hand.In the absence of conjunction falling results from Gravity. The first action of arrow is from impulse; the next is resultant energy produced by the first action, and similarly the next next. In the absence of resultant/propulsive energy generated by action, falling results from Gravity. The falling of water in absence of conjunction is due to Gravity. Flowing results from fludity.

2. Concept of Time Dilation:

We can find various stories about Time Dilation in Hindu scripture. The most famous is the story of Kakudami which Idiscuss here. They sit in BrahmaLoka for only about 20 minutes and millions if years passes in the Earth. Relevant verses from Srimad Bhagvatam 9.3 is as:

आवर्तमाने गान्धर्व स्थितो ’लब्ध-क्षणः क्षणम् ।
तद्-अन्त आद्यम् आनम्य स्वाभिप्रायं न्यवेदयत्।।
तच् छ्रुत्वा भगवान् ब्रह्मा प्रहस्य तम् उवाच ह।
अहो राजन् निरुद्धास् ते कालेन हृदि ये कृताः।।
तत् पुत्र-पौत्र-नप्तॄणां गोत्राणि च न शृण्महे।
कालो ’भियातस् त्रि-णव-चतुर्-युग-विकल्पितः।।

When Kakudmi arrived there, Lord Brahma was engaged in hearing musical performances by the Gandharvas and had not a moment to talk with him. Therefore Kakudmi waited, and at the end of the musical performances he offered his obeisances to Lord Brahma and thus submitted his long-standing desire. After hearing his words, Lord Brahma, who is most powerful, laughed loudly and said to Kakudmi: O King, all those whom you may have decided within the core of your heart to accept as your son-in-law have passed away in the course of time. Twenty-seven catur-yugas have already passed. Those upon whom you may have decided are now gone, and so are their sons, grandsons and other descendants. You cannot even hear about their names.

Concept of Multiverses:

The concept of Multiverse has not been practically proved by modern science. But still it is an interesting concept in Modern science also. Hindu scriptures talk about multiverses. For instance as I discuss in my answer here, Srimad Bhagvatam in10.14.11 talks of multiverses:

क्वाहं तमो-महद्-अहं-ख-चराग्नि-वार्-भू-
संवेष्टिताण्ड-घट-सप्त-वितस्ति-कायः ।
क्वेदृग्-विधाविगणिताण्ड-पराणु-चर्या-
वाताध्व-रोम-विवरस्य च ते महित्वम् ।।

What am I, a small creature measuring seven spans of my own hand? I am enclosed in a potlike universe composed of material nature, the total material energy, false ego, ether, air, water and earth. And what is Your glory? Unlimited universes pass through the pores of Your body just as particles of dust pass through the openings of a screened window.

Similarly as discussed in answer hereDevi Bhagvatam also states presence of other Brahma, Vishnu and Rudras in other universes:

Then the car, where we were situated, began to get up high in the sky, and in the twinkling of an eye, we reached Brahmâ loka, that is saluted by all the Devas. There S'ambhu and Kes'ava were greatly bewildered to see Brahmâ of that place. In the council hall of Brahmâ, the Vedas with their Angas, the serpents, hills, oceans and rivers were seen. Seeing all these, Visnu and Mahes'vara asked me :-- “O Four-faced one! Who is this eternal Brahmâ? I replied :-- I do not know who is this Brahmâ? Who am I? and who is He? why has this error come over me? You, too, also are gods so you can better ponder over it.”

Similarly as quoted in the same answer, chapter 10 'Shiva swallowing poison' of Skandha Purana also states:

He (Ganesha) saw crores of spherical Cosmic Eggs like so many atoms.They were getting merged and dissolved in Mahesha who was in linga form.

Similarly as I discuss in my answer hereRamcharitmanas also mentions Kakabhusundi visiting multiple universes and even visiting himself:

In all these universes I saw myself in every universe. Each universe had its own Ayodhya with its own Sarayµu and its own men and women. And listen, dear Garuda : Ramas parents Dasaratha and Kausalya as well as Ramas brothers, Bharata and others, were all different in each universe. In each such universe I witnessed the descent of Rama as well as the infinite variety of His childish sports.

Concept of Universe as being Projection in space-time:

As I discuss in my answer here Vedas state Universe as being appearance in space time.

पूर्ण कुम्भोदिः काल आहितस्तं वै पश्यामो बहुदा नु सन्तः । [AtharvaVeda 19.53.3]

A full pot has been placed in Time and it is that which we see manifoldly.

Also, in the Dakshinamurty stotram composed by Adi Shankara he states:

बीजस्याऽन्तरिवाङ्कुरो जगदिदं प्राङ्गनिर्विकल्पं पुनः
मायाकल्पितदेशकालकलना वैचित्र्यचित्रीकृतम् ।

This World is Like a Sprout of a Seed Within which transforms what is Changeless state Before, appear Again as Space and Time, and endless Varieties of Pictures over it; all due to the Creation of Maya.

6) Concept of Cyclic Nature of Time:

As I discuss in my answer here Rig Veda states about Cyclical Nature of Time and Creation:

सूरय्याचन्द्रमसौ धाता यथा पूर्वमकल्पयत् I
दिवं च पृथ्वीं च अंतरिक्षमथो स्वः II RigVeda 10.190.3 II

"The Ordainer created the sun and moon like those of previous cycles.He formed in order Heaven and Earth, the regions of the air, and light."

The above I have quoted are some verses/stories which can be related to modern scientific discoveries. There are still much more things which I have to write here I will try to continue updating the answer regularly.