Monday, April 4, 2011

What is,,,,Oxidation ?

A freshly-cut apple turns brown, a bicycle fender becomes rusty and a copper penny suddenly turns green. What do all of these events have in common? 

They are all examples of a process called oxidation. 

In technical terms oxidation can be simply defined as the process which involves loss of one or more electron, when various substances react or interact with each other. So according to new definition, involvement of oxygen is not a must for oxidation reaction. Exactly opposite to the reaction of oxidation one more process occurs, which is called reduction, in which addition of electron takes place.  

in most of cases oxidation is a harmful reaction for example- rusting and spoiling of the fruits.

When it involves oxygen, the process of oxidation depends on the amount of oxygen present in the air and the nature of the material it touches. True oxidation happens on a molecular level — we only see the large-scale effects as the oxygen causes free radicals on the surface to break away. In the case of fresh fruit, the skin usually provides a barrier against oxidation. This is why most fruits and vegetables arrive in good condition at the grocery store. Once the skin has been broken, however, the individual cells come in direct contact with air and the oxygen molecules start burning them. The result is a form of rust we see as brownish spots or blemishes.

Oxidation may also be linked with the effects of aging in humans, as well as with other conditions such as cancer, hardening of the arteries, and rheumatoid arthritis. It appears that oxygen molecules and other oxidizing agents, always hungry for electrons, extract these from the membranes in human cells. Over time, this can cause a gradual breakdown in the body's immune system.

To forestall the effects of oxidation, some doctors and scientists recommend antioxidants—natural reducing agents such as vitamin C and vitamin E. The vitamin C in lemon juice can be used to prevent oxidizing on the cut surface of an apple, to keep it from turning brown. Perhaps, some experts maintain, natural reducing agents can also slow the pace of oxidation in the human body.








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Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture) April 2008 interview

The  Last Lecture  by  Randy Pausch...  is a very inspiring book of knowledge...  just like  the lecture..


Randy Pausch is an amazing man  of  love,  hope  and determination who doesn't know defeat..

He  said..."  We beat the ripper by living well...."















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Randy Pausch ... The Last Lecture..

"  I  am dying  and I am having fun...."











Achieving your childhood  dream...

Doing what you want to do ...is most important in life..

This is what we call ....Living..!!!

While we are still blessed with life.. make the most of it..

I believe... a person must be in charged  of their own life and  destiny..

Be it in health ,  wealth  and  happiness...





My  tribute and farewell to Professor  Randy Pausch...




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Sunday, April 3, 2011

I Love Living LiFE ....I am HaPPY

Nick  Vujicic....


A man with... No Arm..No  Leg...No  worries....


I believe every single life is unique and special. Each has it’s own purpose and mission.

Nicholas James Vujicic       (born 4 December 1982) is a preacher and motivational speaker – born with Tetra-amelia, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs. The eldest child of a Serbian family, Vujicic (pronounced 'Vooy-cheech') was born in Brisbane, Australia .      

He struggled as a child, eventually came to terms with his disability and started his own non-profit organization Life Without Limbs – at age seventeen. He is widely known as a motivational speaker, giving talks wordwide on life with a disability, hope, and finding meaning in life.

In 2005 Vujicic was nominated for the "Young Australian of the Year" Award.
Vujicic currently lives in California.

Vujicic graduated from university at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning. Subsequently he became a motivational speaker, travelling internationally and focusing on teen issues. Having addressed over three million people in over 24 countries on five continents,   he  speaks to corporate audiences, congregations and schools.












Thank you for making me inspired  and  feeling stonger....   better and better.....



Saturday, April 2, 2011

Top 10 Foods Highest in Copper

Top 10 Foods Highest in Copper


Copper is an essential mineral required by the body for bone & connective tissue production, and for coding specific enzymes that range in function from eliminating free radicals to producing melanin. A deficiency in copper can lead to osteoporosis, joint pain, lowered immunity, and since copper is essential for the absorption of iron, anemia. Conversely, over-consumption of copper will lead to cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting in the short term, and can lead to depression, schizophrenia, hypertension, senility, and insomnia in the long term. The stomach needs to be acidic in order to absorb copper and thus antacids interfere with the absorption of copper, as do milk and egg proteins. The current RDA for copper is 2mg.


Below is a list of high copper foods.
#1: Liver (Pâté)
The liver of any animal is packed with vitamins and minerals, and is best prepared steamed or fried with onions and herbs. Veal liver provides the most copper with 15mg per 100g serving or 81% of the RDA. A typical 67 gram portion will provide 504% of the RDA for copper. A single tablespoon of pâté will provide 0.5mg of copper or 3% of the RDA.




#2: Oysters
Depending on type and variety oysters provide 1-8mg of copper per 100g serving, accounting for 37%-500% of the RDA. The oyster highest in copper is the steamed wild eastern oyster which provides 0.5mg(27% RDA) per oyster. In general, wild caught oysters provide more copper than farm raised.





#3: Sesame Seeds and Tahini(Sesame Butter)
Dried sesame seeds make a great topping and contain 7.75mg of copper per 100 gram serving or 204% of the RDA, that is 0.4mg (18%RDA) per table spoon. Tahini is commonly found in hummus, a ground chickpea spread and dip of the middle east, it will provide 0.24mg (12% RDA) of copper per tablespoon.




#4: Cocoa Powder and Chocolate
Unsweetened cocoa powder is a versatile ingredient that can be used in hot chocolate or chocolate banana pudding. 100 grams will provide 3.8mg of copper or 189% RDA. That is 3.3mg (163% RDA) of copper per cup, and 0.18mg (9% RDA) per tablespoon. A square of baking chocolate will provide 0.9mg of copper (47% RDA).




#5: Nuts
Nuts make a great snack, and are also a good source of copper. Cashew nuts provide the most copper with 2.2mg (111% RDA) per 100 gram serving, that is 3mg (152% RDA) per cup, and 0.2mg (10% RDA) per tablespoon. Other nuts high in copper include Hazelnuts (88% RDA), Brazil nuts (87% RDA), Walnuts (79% RDA), Pistachios (66% RDA), Pine Nuts (66% RDA), Peanuts (65% RDA), Pecans (60% RDA), and Almonds (59% RDA). Most mixed nuts combos contain 83% RDA per 100 gram serving (3/4 cup).



#6: Calamari and Lobster
Calamari (or squid) and lobster are both high in copper. 100 grams of calamari will provide 2.1mg of copper for 106% of the RDA. 100 grams of lobster will provide 1.9mg of copper or 97% RDA. That is about 2.8mg (140% RDA) per cup of lobster meat.




#7: Sunflower Seeds
A great snack on the go, or a great garnish on salads and soups, sunflower seeds provide 1.8mg (92% RDA) of copper per 100 gram serving. That is 2.5mg (123% RDA) per cup and 0.5mg (26% RDA) per ounce.




#8: Sun Dried Tomatoes
Sun Dried Tomatoes are delicious in a sandwich or as an ingredient in pasta sauce. 100 grams (about 2 cups) will provide 1.4mg of copper or 71% of the RDA. That is 0.8mg (38% RDA) per cup, and 0.03mg(1% RDA) per piece.




#9:Roasted Pumpkin and Squash Seeds
A popular food in the Middle East and East Asia pumpkin and squash seeds contain about 1.4mg of copper per 100g serving (70% RDA). That is 1.9mg (96% RDA) per cup, and 0.4mg (19% RDA) per tablespoon. If you can't find these in your local supermarket you will surely find them in Middle Eastern or East Asian specialty stores. Alternatively, you can also save any pumpkin and squash seeds you have and roast them in your oven. The seeds are typically consumed by cracking the outer shell and eating the seed inside.






#10: Dried Herbs
Long used for medicinal purposes, herbs are packed with nutrients and copper is no exception. Dried Basil provides the most copper with 1.4mg per 100 gram serving, or 68% of the RDA. That is 0.03mg (1% RDA) per tablespoon. Other herbs high in copper include Marjoram (57% RDA), Oregano (47% RDA), Thyme (43% RDA), Savory (42% RDA), and Parsley (32% RDA).





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Thursday, March 31, 2011

37 Common Characteristics of Dyslexia

Most dyslexics will exhibit about 10 of the following traits and behaviors. These characteristics can vary from day-to-day or minute-to-minute. The most consistent thing about dyslexics is their inconsistency.

General

  • Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level.
  • Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, "not trying hard enough," or "behavior problem."
  • Isn't "behind enough" or "bad enough" to be helped in the school setting.
  • High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written.
  • Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.
  • Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering.
  • Seems to "Zone out" or daydream often; gets lost easily or loses track of time.
  • Difficulty sustaining attention; seems "hyper" or "daydreamer."
  • Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids.

 

Vision, Reading, and Spelling

  • Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.
  • Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations.
  • Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words.
  • Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying.
  • Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't reveal a problem.
  • Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision.
  • Reads and rereads with little comprehension.
  • Spells phonetically and inconsistently.

 

Hearing and Speech

  • Has extended hearing; hears things not said or apparent to others; easily distracted by sounds.
  • Difficulty putting thoughts into words; speaks in halting phrases; leaves sentences incomplete; stutters under stress; mispronounces long words, or transposes phrases, words, and syllables when speaking.
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Writing and Motor Skills

  • Trouble with writing or copying; pencil grip is unusual; handwriting varies or is illegible.
  • Clumsy, uncoordinated, poor at ball or team sports; difficulties with fine and/or gross motor skills and tasks; prone to motion-sickness.
  • Can be ambidextrous, and often confuses left/right, over/under.

 

Math and Time Management

  • Has difficulty telling time, managing time, learning sequenced information or tasks, or being on time.
  • Computing math shows dependence on finger counting and other tricks; knows answers, but can't do it on paper.
  • Can count, but has difficulty counting objects and dealing with money.
  • Can do arithmetic, but fails word problems; cannot grasp algebra or higher math.

 

Memory and Cognition

  • Excellent long-term memory for experiences, locations, and faces.
  • Poor memory for sequences, facts and information that has not been experienced.
  • Thinks primarily with images and feeling, not sounds or words (little internal dialogue).

 

Behavior, Health, Development and Personality

  • Extremely disorderly or compulsively orderly.
  • Can be class clown, trouble-maker, or too quiet.
  • Had unusually early or late developmental stages (talking, crawling, walking, tying shoes).
  • Prone to ear infections; sensitive to foods, additives, and chemical products.
  • Can be an extra deep or light sleeper; bedwetting beyond appropriate age.
  • Unusually high or low tolerance for pain.
  • Strong sense of justice; emotionally sensitive; strives for perfection.
  • Mistakes and symptoms increase dramatically with confusion, time pressure, emotional stress, or poor health.

Dyslexia

Developmental reading disorder, also called dyslexia, is a reading disability that occurs when the brain does not properly recognize and process certain symbols.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Developmental reading disorder (DRD), or dyslexia, occurs when there is a problem in areas of the brain that help interpret language. It is not caused by vision problems. The disorder is a specific information processing problem that does not interfere with one's ability to think or to understand complex ideas. Most people with DRD have normal intelligence, and many have above-average intelligence.

DRD may appear in combination with developmental writing disorder and developmental arithmetic disorder. All of these involve using symbols to convey information. These conditions may appear alone or in any combination.
DRD often runs in families.

 

Symptoms

A person with DRD may have trouble rhyming and separating sounds that make up spoken words. These abilities appear to be critical in the process of learning to read. A child's initial reading skills are based on word recognition, which involves being able to separate out the sounds in words and match them with letters and groups of letters.

Because people with DRD have difficulty connecting the sounds of language to the letters of words, they may have difficulty understanding sentences.

True dyslexia is much broader than simply confusing or transposing letters, for example mistaking ”b” and “d.".

In general, symptoms of DRD may include:
  • Difficulty determining the meaning (idea content) of a simple sentence
  • Difficulty learning to recognize written words
  • Difficulty rhyming
DRD may occur in combination with writing or math learning problems.

 

Signs and tests

Other causes of learning disability and, in particular, reading disability, must be ruled out before a diagnosis of DRD can be made. Emotional disorders, mental retardation, diseases of the brain, and certain cultural and education factors can cause learning disabilities.

Before diagnosing DRD, the health care provider will:
  • Perform a complete medical exam, including a neurological exam
  • Ask questions about the person's developmental, social, and school performance
  • Ask if anyone else in the family has had dyslexia
Psychoeducational testing and psychological assessment may be done.

 

Treatment

Every person with DRD requires a different strategy. An individual education plan should be created for each child with the condition.

The following may be recommended:
  • Extra learning assistance, called remedial instruction
  • Private, individual tutoring
  • Special day classes
Positive reinforcement is important as many students with learning disabilities have poor self-esteem. Psychological counseling may be helpful.

 

Expectations (prognosis)

Specialized help (called remedial instruction) can lead to marked improvement in reading and understanding.
Reading difficulties may persist for life.

 

Complications

DRD may lead to:
  • Problems in school, including behavior problems
  • Loss of self-esteem
  • Reading problems that persist into adulthood, which may affect job performance, particularly if the problem was not addressed early in life

 

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if your child appears to be having trouble learning to read.

 

Prevention

Learning disorders, such as DRD, tend to run in families. Affected families should make every effort to recognize existing problems early.

Early intervention will provide the best possible outcome.


Review Date: 12/10/2010.
Reviewed by: John Goldenring, MD, MPH, JD, Pediatrics, Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, San Diego, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by  David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Article source  : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002379/...