skuttles

Bone fractures

2009-07-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

A broken bone or bone fracture occurs when a force exerted against a bone is stronger than it can structurally withstand.

Bones are a form of connective tissue, reinforced with calcium and bone cells. Bones have a softer centre, called marrow, where blood cells are made. The main functions of the skeleton include support, movement and protection of vulnerable internal organs.

Symptoms
The symptoms of a bone fracture depend on the particular bone and the severity of the injury, but may include:

Pain
Swelling
Bruising
Deformity
Inability to use the limb.

Different types of fracture
The different types of bone fracture include:

Greenstick fracture – the bone sustains a small, slender crack. This type of fracture is more common in children, due to the comparative flexibility of their bones.
Comminuted fracture – the bone is shattered into small pieces. This type of complicated fracture tends to heal at a slower rate.
Simple fracture – or ‘closed’ fracture. The broken bone hasn’t pierced the skin.
Compound fracture – or ‘open’ fracture. The broken bone juts through the skin, or a wound leads to the fracture site. The risk of infection is higher with this type of fracture.
Pathological fracture – bones weakened by various diseases (such as osteoporosis or cancer) tend to break with very little force.
Avulsion fracture – muscles are anchored to bone with tendons, a type of connective tissue. Powerful muscle contractions can wrench the tendon free and pull out pieces of bone. This type of fracture is more common in the knee and shoulder joints.
Compression fracture – occurs when two bones are forced against each other. The bones of the spine, called vertebrae, are prone to this type of fracture. Elderly people, particularly those with osteoporosis, are at increased risk.

Back pain - schoolbags

2009-07-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

Around 70 per cent of Australian schoolchildren may be damaging their spines by carrying schoolbags. For example, a heavy bag that’s slung over one shoulder can, over the 12 years of schooling, cause chronic back problems that linger into adulthood. Risks include muscle strain, distortion of the natural ‘S’ curve of the spine and rounding of the shoulders. Parents can reduce the risk in many ways, such as buying the child an appropriately sized backpack and making sure the load isn’t too heavy.

Schoolbag risk factors
Risk factors for spinal damage include:

A schoolbag that weighs more than 10 per cent of the child’s weight
Holding the bag in one hand by its straps
Carrying the bag over one shoulder
An incorrectly packed backpack
An incorrectly fitted backpack.

Australian study into backpacks
A recent study published in the Australian Spine journal investigated the link between backpacks and back pain in schoolchildren. Selected statistics include:

The weight of the average backpack is heavier, proportionally, than the legal load-bearing limit for adults.
79.1 per cent of children say their backpacks feel heavy.
65.7 per cent report feeling fatigued by the weight of their backpack.
46.1 per cent report back pain caused by their backpack.

Ways to reduce the risk
Risk reduction strategies include:

Buy the right kind of backpack.
Make sure it is packed correctly.
Show your child correct lifting and carrying techniques.

Buy the right kind of backpack
Your child should have a backpack, rather than a traditional schoolbag with handles. Suggestions include:

Look for a backpack endorsed by an Australian professional organisation, such as the Australian Physiotherapy Association or the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia.
Don’t try to save money by buying the biggest backpack you can find – make sure the backpack is appropriate to your child’s size.
Choose a backpack with a moulded frame and/or adjustable hip strap, so that the weight of the filled backpack will rest on your child’s pelvis instead of their shoulders and spine.
The shoulder straps should be adjustable, and the rear of the backpack padded for comfort.
To help with packing, the backpack should have a few separate compartments.
Canvas backpacks are lighter than leather varieties.
Consider buying a backpack with built-in wheels.
Children are fashion conscious and vulnerable to peer pressure, so make sure you take your child with you when buying their backpack. If the style you choose is ‘uncool’, your child may compensate by carrying the backpack in a ‘cool’ way, such as over one shoulder.

Common causes of back pain

2009-06-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

Most people with back pain do not have any significant damage to their spine. The pain comes from the muscles, ligaments and joints. Some common causes of back pain include:

Arthritis – osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are two forms of arthritis linked to back pain.
Muscle and ligament strains – weak muscles and ligaments are unprepared for sudden or heavy loads and are easily injured. Lifting a heavy load the wrong way, an unusual bout of exercise or even bad posture over a period of time can hurt soft tissue.
Osteoporosis – fracture of the vertebrae due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease characterised by thinning of the bones. The vertebrae can become so porous and brittle that they break easily. Pain is due to the fracture.
Sciatica – the nerve that runs from the lower back into the leg is compressed by a bulging intervertebral disc, causing pain.
Stress – one of the side effects of stress is increased muscle tension. This can lead to fatigue, stiffness and localised pain. Constantly tight muscles can create imbalances in a person’s posture that may cause misalignment of the spine.

More persistent back pain may be associated with arthritis of the facet joints and degeneration of the discs. However, people with this condition may not experience any pain.

Lifestyle factors contribute to back pain

Most cases of back pain are exacerbated by lifestyle factors, including:

Lack of exercise
Being overweight or obese
Leading a sedentary life
Poor posture
Stress
Bad work practices.

Preventing back pain

In most cases, back pain can be prevented by making a few lifestyle changes. Some suggestions include:

Exercise regularly – this is important to improve posture and increase muscle support of the spine. Try walking instead of using the car. Work towards doing 30 minutes of gentle exercise each day. This can be broken into shorter periods for equal benefit.
Lift and carry safely – if you are picking up a heavy load: squat down, hold the object as close to your body as practical and lift by using your legs, keeping your back straight. Get some help from another person or use equipment (such as a trolley) if the load is too heavy to manage comfortably on your own.
Maintain a healthy body weight – being overweight or obese puts extra strain on your back.
Be aware of your posture – consider your posture, particularly in seated positions such as when driving or sitting at a desk for long periods of time. Don’t slump, keep your back upright and use support where necessary (such as a lumbar support cushion or footstool).
Take regular breaks – when driving, standing or sitting for long periods of time, take a break at least every hour. This will help change the position of your joints and loosen your muscles. Include a short walk and a few stretches as part of your break.
Relax and manage your pain – learn some relaxation techniques to reduce stress levels and related muscle tension. Try massage, heat or cold packs and gentle exercise. Seek advice from a physiotherapist.
Change your mattress – surfaces that are too soft or too hard can aggravate a sore back. Avoid sleeping on your stomach.

Bairnsdale ulcer

2009-06-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

The Bairns dale ulcer is a skin disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans. The toxins made by the bacteria destroy skin cells, small blood vessels (capillaries) and subcutaneous fat, which leads to ulceration and skin loss. These bacteria are found naturally in the environment, but the mode of infection to humans is unknown. Native and domestic animals can also be at risk.

The Bairns dale ulcer is not thought to be contagious. It gets its name from the local area in which an outbreak among farmers was documented in 1948. Since this type of ulcer is found in other parts of Australia and around the world, it has many names including Daintree ulcer and Buruli ulcer. Its medical name is Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU) infection. MU is a rare infection, although the number of cases in Victoria varies widely from year to year.

Symptoms
The progression of symptoms can include:

A spot that looks like a mosquito bite forms on the skin.
The spot grows bigger over days or weeks.
The spot may form a crusty, non-healing scab.
The scab then disintegrates into an ulcer.
The ulcer continues to enlarge.
Unlike other ulcers, this ulcer is usually painless and there is generally no fever or other signs of infection.
The limbs are more commonly affected.
The infection may sometimes present as localised pain and swelling with fever but no ulceration.

The effect of toxins
Myobacterium ulcerans is related to the same family of bacteria responsible for leprosy and tuberculosis but, unlike them, is not contagious. The toxins made by the bacteria destroy the skin and the fat layer beneath it, and block the small blood vessels that service the infected areas.

These toxins are also thought to have a dampening effect on the person’s immune system, which means the body has less chance of fighting the infection. In severe cases, the infection can destroy bone and cause lifelong deformity and disability. In developing countries, common complications for people who are unable to get adequate medical care can include amputation and the loss of affected organs, such as the eyes.

Locations of recent outbreaks
Myobacterium ulcerans infection has been reported in at least 32 countries around the world. Affected areas include rural West Africa, Central Africa, New Guinea, Latin America and tropical regions of Asia.

In Australia, MU most commonly occurs in localised coastal areas of Victoria, where cases have been reported from East Gippsland, the Mornington Peninsula area, Western Port and Phillip Island, and the Bellarine Peninsula. Most recently there has been a large outbreak associated with the small township of Point Lonsdale. It also occurs less commonly in the Daintree region of Far North Queensland.

Diagnosis methods
Bairnsdale ulcer is diagnosed using a number of tests including:

Medical history – to identify a slowly enlarging, painless ulcer
Physical examination – the ulcer is not tender
Swabs taken from the ulcer, which are then tested in a laboratory
Biopsy of the ulcer.

Treatment options
Since the ulcer gets bigger with time, early diagnosis and prompt treatment can keep the amount of skin loss to a minimum. The first line of treatment is generally surgery to cut away the dead skin. A surrounding portion of healthy tissue is also cut out to make sure the infection is completely removed. Depending on the extent of surgery, skin grafts may be needed to close the wound.

Sometimes the ulceration can return after surgery, which means another operation is required. More recently there has been a trend to combine surgery with the use of oral and/or intravenous antibiotics. Heat therapy regularly applied to the graft area can help prevent relapses – it seems that, while the bacteria thrive at skin temperature, they can’t survive above 39 degrees Celsius.

Prevention strategies
The cause of infection in humans is not known. As the bacterium is environmental (requires particular conditions outside the body to exist), it makes sense to protect yourself from potential sources of infection such as soil and insect bites. A recent study on mosquitoes trapped in the Point Lonsdale area has shown them to be contaminated with the same bacteria that causes Bairnsdale ulcer.

It is important to remember that the risk of infection is very low, even in those areas where the ulcer is endemic (constantly present in the community). Suggestions to reduce the risk of infection while working outdoors or gardening include:

Protect cuts or abrasions with sticking plasters.
Promptly wash and cover any scratches or cuts you receive while working outdoors.
Wear gardening gloves, long-sleeved shirts and trousers.
Avoid insect bites by using suitable insect repellents.
See your doctor if you have a slow-healing skin lesion.

Types of bipolar disorder

2009-06-15T13:50:00.000-07:00

Bipolar disorder is divided into two main subtypes:

Bipolar I disorder. You've had at least one manic episode, with or without previous episodes of depression.

Bipolar II disorder. You've had at least one episode of depression and at least one hypomanic episode. A hypomanic episode is similar to a manic episode but much briefer, lasting only a few days, and not as severe. With hypomania, you may have an elevated mood, irritability and some changes in your functioning, but generally you can carry on with your normal daily routine and functioning, and you don't require hospitalization. In bipolar II disorder, the periods of depression are typically much longer than the periods of hypomania.

Cyclothymia. Cyclothymia is a mild form of bipolar disorder. Cyclothymia includes mood swings but the highs and lows are not as severe as those of full-blown bipolar disorder.

Other bipolar disorder symptoms

In addition, some people with bipolar disorder have rapid cycling bipolar disorder. This is the occurrence of four or more mood swings within 12 months. These moods shifts can occur rapidly, sometimes within just hours. In mixed state bipolar disorder, symptoms of both mania and depression occur at the same time.

Severe episodes of either mania or depression may result in psychosis, or a detachment from reality. Symptoms of psychosis may include hearing or seeing things that aren't there (hallucinations) and false but strongly held beliefs (delusions).

Bipolar disorder symptoms

2009-06-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

Bipolar disorder symptoms are characterized by an alternating pattern of emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression). The intensity of signs and symptoms can vary from mild to severe. There may even be periods when your life doesn't seem affected at all.

Manic phase of bipolar disorder
Signs and symptoms of the manic phase of bipolar disorder may include:

* Euphoria
* Extreme optimism
* Inflated self-esteem
* Poor judgment
* Rapid speech
* Racing thoughts
* Aggressive behavior
* Agitation
* Increased physical activity
* Risky behavior
* Spending sprees
* Increased drive to perform or achieve goals
* Increased sexual drive
* Decreased need for sleep
* Tendency to be easily distracted
* Inability to concentrate
* Drug abuse

Bipolar disorder

2009-06-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Definition

Since High to low. Mania to depression. From recklessness to listlessness. These are the edges associated with bipolar disorder, a mental illness characterized by mood instability that can be serious and disable. Bipolar disorder is also recognized as manic-depression or manic-depressive illness — manic activities are one extreme of this disorder, and depression is the other.

The deep mood swings of bipolar disorder may last for weeks or months, causing great disturbances in the lives of those affected, and those of family and friends, too. Today, a growing volume of research suggests that bipolar disorder occurs across a spectrum of symptoms, and that many people aren't correctly diagnosed. Left untreated, bipolar disorder generally worsens, and the suicide rate is high among those with bipolar disorder. But with effective treatment, you can live an enjoyable and productive life despite bipolar disorder.

Food facts

2009-05-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

A balanced diet provides the right quantities of food from the five main food groups:

* Carbohydrates (e.g. bread, rice, pasta, cereal)
* Dairy products (e.g. milk, cheese, yoghurt)
* Fruit and vegetables
* Protein (e.g. meat, fish, eggs, beans and nuts)
* Fats (e.g. animal products like meat and oily fish, and foods such as nuts and avocados)

You need more of some food groups than others and you should eat less salt, sugars and fats, although some fats are actually good for you! Your body also needs vitamins and minerals to function properly and a balanced diet should give you enough of these.

Shuffle board

2009-05-03T23:21:00.000-07:00

Shuffleboard more precisely deck shuffleboard, and also known as shuffle-board, shovelboard, shovel-board and shove-board archaic]is a sport in which players use broom-shaped paddles to push weighted pucks, sending them gliding down a narrow and elongated court, with the purpose of having them come to rest within a marked scoring area. As a more generic term, it refers to the family of shuffleboard-variant games as a whole.

The full history of shuffleboard is not known. Though we have some knowledge of its development, its actual origins, the place and date where it was first played, remain a mystery. Inevitably, this uncertainty gives rise to some debate, even disagreement, about which country can claim to have invented it. However there is no dispute concerning its age as a form of popular amusement, and in Europe has a history that goes back over 500 years.

The earliest known name given to it is the Middle English shovillaborde; it was played and gambled at by King Henry VIII, who prohibited commoners from playing, and who evidently did not always win because the record of royal expenses for 1632 show a payment from the Privy Purse of GB£9, 'Paied to my lord Wylliam for that he wanne of the kinges grace at shovillaborde' (Modern English: 'Paid to Lord William, for he won, by the king's grace, at shovelboard').

In its goals, form and equipment, shuffleboard shares various features with (and perhaps influences by or upon) many other games, including air hockey, bowls, bocce, curling, croquet, carrom and billiards. Historically, shovelboard appears to have diverged into modern shuffleboard and sjoelbak, and with the former leading to the development of both table shuffleboard and shove ha'penny.

Today, due to its popularity on cruise ships and in retirement homes because of its low physical fitness requirements, the deck game is often associated with the elderly, though its miniaturized tabletop variant is increasingly popular in bars and pubs among younger generations.

Food Contamination and Poisoning

2009-04-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

Each year, 76 million people in the U.S. get sick from contaminated food. Common culprits include bacteria, parasites and viruses. Symptoms range from mild to serious. They include

* Upset stomach
* Abdominal cramps
* Nausea and vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Fever
* Dehydration

Harmful bacteria are the most common cause of foodborne illness. Foods may have some bacteria on them when you buy them. Raw meat may become contaminated during slaughter. Fruits and vegetables may become contaminated when they are growing or when they are processed. But it can also happen in your kitchen if you leave food out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.

The treatment in most cases is increasing your fluid intake. For more serious illness, you may need treatment at a hospital.

Breathing Problems

2009-04-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

When you're short of breath, it's hard or uncomfortable for you to take in the oxygen your body needs. You may feel as if you're not getting enough air. Sometimes mild breathing problems are from a stuffy nose or hard exercise. But shortness of breath can also be a sign of a serious disease.

Many conditions can make you feel short of breath. Lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema or pneumonia cause breathing difficulties. Heart disease can make you feel breathless if your heart cannot pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body. Stress caused by anxiety can also make it hard for you to breathe. If you often have trouble breathing, it is important to find out the cause.

Kallmann syndrome

2009-04-10T08:06:00.001-07:00

Kallmann syndrome is an example of hypogonadism (decreased functioning of the sex hormone-producing glands) caused by a deficiency of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is created by the hypothalamus. Kallmann syndrome is also known as hypothalamic hypogonadism, familial hypogonadism with anosmia, or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, reflecting its disease mechanism.

Kallmann syndrome is a form of secondary hypogonadism reflecting the fact the primary cause of the defect in sex hormone production lies within the pituitary and hypothalamus rather than a physical defect of the testes or ovaries themselves.

Malaria

2009-04-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Each year, there are approximately 515 million cases of malaria, killing between one and three million people, the majority of whom are young children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ninety percent of malaria-related deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is commonly associated with poverty, but is also a cause of poverty and a major hindrance to economic development.

Malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases and an enormous public health problem. The disease is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Only four types of the plasmodium parasite can infect humans; the most serious forms of the disease are caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae causes milder disease in humans that is not generally fatal. This group of human-pathogenic Plasmodium species is usually referred to as malaria parasites.

Leukodystrophy

2009-03-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

Leukodystrophy refers to a group of disorders characterized by progressive degeneration of the white matter of the brain. The leukodystrophies are caused by imperfect growth or development of the myelin sheath, the fatty covering that acts as an insulator around nerve fibers. Myelin, which the white matter of the brain takes its colour from, is a complex substance made up of at least ten different chemicals. Each of the leukodystrophies is the result of a defect in the gene that controls the production or metabolism of one of the component molecules of myelin.

The word leukodystrophy comes from the Greek roots leuko, white, dys, lack of, and troph, growth. Thus leukodystrophy describes a set of diseases that affect the growth or maintenance of the white matter.

Wolff-Parkinson-White

2009-03-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) is a syndrome of pre-excitation of the ventricles of the heart due to an accessory pathway known as the bundle of Kent. This accessory pathway is an abnormal electrical communication from the atria to the ventricles.

The incidence of WPW syndrome is between 0.9 and 3% of the general population.

While the vast majority of individuals with a bundle of Kent remain asymptomatic throughout their entire lives, there is a risk of sudden death associated with the syndrome. Sudden death due to WPW syndrome is rare (incidence of less than 0.6%), and is due to the effect of the accessory pathway on tachyarrhythmias in these individuals.

Coping with Disasters

2009-03-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

After any type of disaster, people feel relieved to be alive. But then they often feel stress, fear and anger. Most people will also find that they can't stop thinking about what happened. These feelings and memories aren't a sign of personal weakness. Most trauma survivors have stress reactions for days or weeks. But some people have long-term problems, including

* Post-traumatic stress disorder
* Depression
* Self-blame
* Suicidal thoughts
* Alcohol or drug abuse

If you've survived a disaster, talk to your family and friends when you are ready. Most people recover from trauma naturally over time. If your emotional reactions are getting in the way of your relationships, work, or other important activities, you might want to talk to a counselor or your doctor. Treatments are available.

Influenza Diseases

2009-03-06T23:28:00.000-08:00

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year. Every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.

here are two main types of influenza virus: Types A and B. Influenza A and B viruses are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year. Influenza A viruses can be broken down into sub-types. Over the course of a flu season, different types (A & B) and subtypes of influenza A viruses can circulate and cause illness. In addition, influenza viruses are constantly changing through a process called "antigenic drift."

Malrotation and Volvulus

2009-02-27T08:35:00.000-08:00

Malrotation is usually identified in infants. About 60 percent of these cases are found in the first month of life. Malrotation affects both boys and girls, although boys are more often diagnosed in infancy.

Various imaging studies are used to diagnose malrotation:

* x rays to determine whether there is a blockage. In malrotation, abdominal x rays commonly show that air, which normally passes through the entire digestive tract, has become trapped. The trapped air creates an enlarged, air-filled stomach and upper small bowel, with little or no air in the rest of the small bowel or the colon.

* upper GI series to locate the point of intestinal obstruction. With this test, the patient swallows barium to coat the stomach and small bowel before x rays are taken. Barium makes the organs visible on x ray and indicates the point of the obstruction. This test cannot be done if the patient is vomiting.

* lower GI series to determine the position of the colon. For this test, a barium enema is given while x rays are taken. The barium makes the colon visible so the position of the cecum can be determined.

* computed tomography (CT) scan to help determine and locate the intestinal obstruction.

Eating Disorders

2009-02-20T13:54:00.000-08:00

Eating disorders are serious behavior problems. They include

* Anorexia nervosa, in which you become too thin, but you don't eat enough because you think you are fat

* Bulimia nervosa, involving periods of overeating followed by purging, sometimes through self-induced vomiting or using laxatives

* Binge-eating, which is out-of-control eating

Women are more likely than men to have eating disorders. They usually start in the teenage years and often occur along with depression, anxiety disorders and substance abuse.

Eating disorders can cause heart and kidney problems and even death. Getting help early is important. Treatment involves monitoring, mental health therapy, nutritional counseling and sometimes medicines.

Gallbladder Diseases

2009-02-13T12:03:00.000-08:00

Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ under your liver. It stores bile, a fluid made by your liver to digest fat. As your stomach and intestines digest food, your gallbladder releases bile through a tube called the common bile duct. The duct connects your gallbladder and liver to your small intestine.

Your gallbladder is most likely to give you trouble if something blocks the flow of bile through the bile ducts. That is usually a gallstone. Gallstone attacks usually happen after you eat. Signs of a gallstone attack may include nausea, vomiting, or pain in the abdomen, back, or just under the right arm.

Many gallbladder problems get better with removal of the gallbladder. Fortunately, the gallbladder is an organ that you can live without. Bile has other ways of reaching your small intestine.

Bile Duct Diseases

2009-02-06T11:40:00.000-08:00

Your liver makes a substance called bile that helps with digestion. Your gallbladder stores it until you need it to digest fat. Then your gallbladder pushes the bile into tubes called bile ducts. They carry the bile to your small intestine.

Different diseases can block the bile ducts and cause a problem with the flow of bile. Gallstones are one of the most common causes of blocked bile ducts. Blocked bile ducts may also result from infection, cancer or to internal scar tissue. Scarring can block the bile ducts, which can lead to liver failure.

A rare form of bile duct disease called biliary atresia occurs in infants. It is the most common reason for liver transplants in children in the United States.

Sports Safety

2009-01-30T09:23:00.000-08:00

Playing sports can be fun, but they can also be dangerous if you are not careful. You can help prevent injuries by

* Getting a physical to make sure you are healthy before you start playing your sport
* Wearing the right shoes, gear and equipment
* Drinking lots of water
* Warming up and stretching

If you have already hurt yourself playing a sport, make sure you recover completely before you start up again. If possible, protect the injured part of your body with padding, a brace or special equipment. When you do start playing again, start slowly.

Benign Tumors

2009-01-23T09:19:00.000-08:00

Tumors are abnormal growths in your body. They are made up of extra cells. Normally, old cells die, and new ones take their place. Sometimes, however, this process goes wrong. New cells form even when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. When these extra cells form a mass, it is called a tumor.

Tumors can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer. Malignant ones are. Benign tumors grow only in one place. They cannot spread or invade other parts of your body. Even so, they can be dangerous if they press on vital organs, such your brain. Most bone tumors are non cancerous (benign). Some are cancerous (malignant). Occasionally, infection, stress fractures, and other non-tumor conditions can closely resemble tumors.

Thyroid Diseases

2009-01-16T09:49:00.000-08:00

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, just above your collarbone. It is one of your endocrine glands, which make hormones. The thyroid helps set your metabolism - how your body gets energy from the foods you eat.

Millions of people in the U.S. have thyroid diseases. Most of them are women. If you have a thyroid disease, your body uses energy more slowly or quickly than it should. A thyroid gland that is not active enough, called hypothyroidism, is far more common. It can make you gain weight, feel fatigued and have difficulty dealing with cold temperatures. If your thyroid is too active, it makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs. That condition is hyperthyroidism. Too much thyroid hormone can make you lose weight, speed up your heart rate and make you very sensitive to heat.

There are many causes for both conditions. Treatment involves trying to reset your body's metabolism to a normal rate.

Toybot studios

2009-01-09T11:40:00.001-08:00

This Blog is all about Japanese toys and toy culture. I am first and foremost a collector of what I consider little pieces of art. Toy photography is my 2nd related passion as I believe the toy's real beauty can be surfaced in a different manner via this medium. Lastly, I love custom toys which allows an artist to add their own unique perspective to an existing toy transforming a boring colorway into something one of a kind. toybot studios strives to showcase and promote Japanese toy designers, producers, manufacturers, collectors and artists in a pictorial format that includes news, toy photography and customs. I hope you find this blog interesting and visually appealing.

Skin Cancer

2009-01-02T09:33:00.000-08:00

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but less common.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people who

* Spend a lot of time in the sun or have been sunburned
* Have light-colored skin, hair and eyes
* Have a family member with skin cancer
* Are over age 50

You should have your doctor check any suspicious skin markings and any changes in the way your skin looks. Treatment is more likely to work well when cancer is found early. If not treated, some types of skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs.

Bird Flu

2008-12-26T04:47:00.000-08:00

Birds, just like people, get the flu. Bird flu viruses infect birds, including chickens, other poultry and wild birds such as ducks. Most bird flu viruses can only infect other birds. However, bird flu can pose health risks to people. The first case of a bird flu virus infecting a person directly, H5N1, was in Hong Kong in 1997. Since then, the bird flu virus has spread to birds in countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.

Human infection is still very rare, but the virus that causes the infection in birds might change, or mutate, to more easily infect humans. This could lead to a pandemic, or a worldwide outbreak of the illness.

During an outbreak of bird flu, people who have contact with infected birds can become sick. It may also be possible to catch bird flu by eating poultry that is not well cooked or through contact with a person who has it. Bird flu can make people very sick or even cause death. There is currently no vaccine.

Behcet's Syndrome

2008-12-19T22:26:00.000-08:00

Behcet's syndrome is a disease that involves inflammation of the blood vessels. It causes problems in many parts of the body. The most common symptoms are

* Sores in the mouth
* Sores on the sex organs
* Other skin sores
* Swelling of parts of the eye
* Pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints

More serious problems can include meningitis, blood clots, inflammation of the digestive system and blindness.

Doctors aren't sure what causes Behcet's. It is rare in the United States, but is common in the Middle East and Asia. It mainly affects people in their 20s and 30s. Diagnosing Behcet's can take a long time, because symptoms may come and go, and it may take months or even years to have all of the symptoms. There is no cure. Treatment focuses on reducing pain and preventing serious problems.

Pressure Sores

2008-12-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

Pressure sores are areas of damaged skin caused by staying in one position for too long. They commonly form where your bones are close to your skin, such as your ankles, back, elbows, heels and hips. You are at risk if you are bedridden, use a wheelchair, or are unable to change your position. Pressure sores can cause serious infections, some of which are life-threatening. They can be a problem for people in nursing homes.

You can prevent the sores by

* Keeping skin clean and dry
* Changing position every two hours
* Using pillows and products that relieve pressure

Pressure sores have a variety of treatments. Advanced sores are slow to heal, so early treatment is best.

Panic Disorder

2008-11-21T13:34:00.000-08:00

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder. It causes panic attacks, which are sudden feelings of terror for no reason. You may also feel physical symptoms, such as

* Fast heartbeat
* Chest pain
* Breathing difficulty
* Dizziness

Panic attacks can happen anytime, anywhere and without warning. You may live in fear of another attack and may avoid places where you have had an attack. For some people, fear takes over their lives and they cannot leave their homes.

Panic disorder is more common in women than men. It usually starts when people are young adults. Sometimes it starts when a person is under a lot of stress. Most people get better with treatment. Therapy can show you how to recognize and change your thinking patterns before they lead to panic. Medicines can also help.

Weight Loss Surgery

2008-11-14T15:12:00.000-08:00

If you're very overweight and can't lose pounds with a healthy diet and exercise, surgery might be an option for you. The surgery is usually for men who are at least 100 pounds overweight and women who are at least 80 pounds overweight. If you are somewhat less overweight, surgery still might be an option if you also have diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea.

Weight loss surgery limits the amount of food you can take in. Some operations also restrict the amount of food you can digest. Many people who have the surgery lose weight quickly. If you follow diet and exercise recommendations, you can keep most of the weight off. The surgery has risks and complications, however, including infections, hernias and blood clots.

Dizziness and Vertigo

2008-11-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

When you're dizzy, you may feel lightheaded or lose your balance. If you feel that the room is spinning, you have vertigo.
A sudden drop in blood pressure or being dehydrated can make you dizzy. Many people feel lightheaded if they get up too quickly from sitting or lying down.
Dizziness usually gets better by itself or is easily treated. However, it can be a symptom of other disorders. Medicines may cause dizziness, or problems with your ear Motion sicknessblood pressure can also make you dizzy. There are many other causes.

Vaginal Diseases

2008-10-10T05:41:00.000-07:00

Symptoms such as vaginal itching, burning, pain and discharge are some of the most common reasons that women seek medical care. Often, the problem is vaginitis, an inflammation of the vagina. In women of childbearing age, the most common cause is a bacterial infection. The main symptom is a smelly vaginal discharge, but some women have no symptoms. The treatment is antibiotics.

Other infections that can cause vaginitis include trichomoniasis and yeast infections. Some other causes of vaginal symptoms include sexually transmitted diseases, vaginal cancer and vulvar cancer.

Bacterial Infections

2008-10-02T22:01:00.000-07:00

Bacteria are living things that have only one cell. Under a microscope, they look like balls, rods or spirals. They are so small that a line of 1,000 could fit across a pencil eraser. Most bacteria won't hurt you - less than 1 percent makes people sick. Many are helpful. Some bacteria help to digest food, destroy disease-causing cells and give the body needed vitamins. Bacteria are also used in making healthy foods like yogurt and cheese.

But infectious bacteria can make you ill. They reproduce quickly in your body. Many give off chemicals called toxins, which can damage tissue and make you sick. Examples of bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli.

Antibiotics are the usual treatment. When you take antibiotics, follow the directions carefully. Each time you take antibiotics, you increase the chances that bacteria in your body will learn to resist them. Later, you could get or spread an infection that those antibiotics cannot cure.

Sepsis

2008-09-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

Sepsis is a life-threatening sickness. Your body's reply to a bacterial disease usually causes it. Your immune system goes into overdrive, overwhelming normal process in your blood. The result is that small blood clots form, blocking blood flow to vital organs. This can lead to organ failure. Babies, old people and those with damaged immune systems are most likely to get sepsis. But even healthy public can turn into deathly ill from it. A quick diagnosis can be crucial, because one third of populace who get sepsis die from it.

Sepsis is usually treated in a hospital exhaustive care unit. IV antibiotics and fluids may be known to try to knock out the disease and to keep blood pressure from dropping too low. Patients may also need respirator to help them respire.

Back Pain

2008-09-19T00:40:00.000-07:00

If you've ever groan, "Oh, my aching back!", you are not alone. Back pain is one of the the majority common medical harms, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point through their lives. Back pain can range from a dull, stable ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Acute back pain comes on abruptly and typically lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called constant if it lasts for more than three months.

Most back pain goes absent on its own, though it may take awhile. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and latent can help. However, staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it inferior.

If your back pain is severe or doesn't get better after three days, you should call your fitness care provider. You should also get medical notice if you have back pain following an wound.

Back Injuries

2008-09-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

Your back is an intricate construction of bones, muscles, and other tissues extend from your neck to your pelvis. Back injuries can result from sports injury, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car disaster. The lower back is the most ordinary site of back injuries and back pain. Common back injuries comprise

* Sprains and strains

* Herniated disks

* Fractured vertebrae

These injuries can cause pain and limit your association. Treatments vary but might include medicine, icing, bed rest, physical therapy or surgery. You might be able to avoid some back injuries by maintain a healthy weight, lifting objects with your legs and by lower-back support when you sit.

Infant and Newborn Care

2008-08-28T22:54:00.000-07:00

Going home with a new baby is exciting, but it can be scary, too. Newborns have many needs, like frequent feedings and diaper changes. Babies can have health issues that are different from older children and adults, like diaper rash and cradle cap.

Your baby will go through many changes during the first year of life. You may feel uneasy at first. Ask your health care provider for help if you need it.

Postpartum Depression

2008-08-21T21:35:00.000-07:00

Many new moms feel content one minute and distressing the next. If you feel improved after a week or so, you most likely just had the "baby blues." If it takes you longer to feel improved, you may have postpartum sadness.

Postpartum despair can make you feel restive, anxious, fatigued and valueless. Some new moms worry they will hurt themselves or their babies. Unlike the "baby blues," postpartum depression does not go away rapidly. Very rarely, new moms develop something even graver. They may stop eating, have trouble latent and become worried or paranoid. Women with this condition typically need to be hospitalized.

Researchers think that change in your hormone levels during and after pregnancy may lead to postpartum despair. If you think you have it, tell your health care provider. Medicine and talk treatment can assist you get well.

Multimedia

2008-08-07T21:17:00.000-07:00

Multimedia is media that uses multiple forms of information content and information processing to inform or amuse the audience. Multimedia referd to the use of electronic media to store and experience multimedia content. Multimedia is similar to traditional mixed media in fine art, but with a broader scope. The term rich media is identical for interactive multimedia. Multimedia means that computer info can be represented through audio, graphics, image, video and animation in addition to traditional media (text and graphics). Hypermedia can be considered one particular multimedia application.

Multimedia may be generally divided into linear and non-linear categories. Linear dynamic content progresses without any navigation control for the observer such as a cinema presentation. Non-linear content offers user interactivity to control progress as used with a computer game or used in self-paced computer based training. Non-linear content is also known as hypermedia content.

Multimedia presentations can be exist or recorded. A recorded presentation may allocate interactivity via a navigation system. A live multimedia presentation may allow interactivity via interaction with the presenter or performer.

Routers

2008-05-16T02:38:00.002-07:00

A router translates information from one network to another; it is similar to a super intelligent bridge. Routers select the best path to route a message, based on the destination address and origin. The router can direct traffic to prevent head-on collisions, and is smart enough to know when to direct traffic along back roads and shortcuts.

While bridges know the addresses of all computers on each side of the network, routers know the addresses of computers, bridges, and other routers on the network. Routers can even "listen" to the entire network to determine which sections are busiest -- they can then redirect data around those sections until they clear up.

If you have a school LAN that you want to connect to the Internet, you will need to purchase a router. In this case, the router serves as the translator between the information on your LAN and the Internet. It also determines the best route to send the data over the Internet. Routers can:

* Direct signal traffic efficiently
* Route messages between any two protocols
* Route messages between linear bus, star, and star-wired ring topologies
* Route messages across fiber optic, coaxial, and twisted-pair cabling

Mobile phone security

2008-05-09T03:53:00.000-07:00

Make a note of:

* Your mobile's serial number (also known as the IMEI number)
* Your mobile phone number
* The number of your operator's customer services (including UK dialing code).

Keep them with you in a safe place, separate from your mobile.

If your phone is stolen you will be able to contact the network operator in the UK and request that they block your phone and/or SIM card. You may need to provide additional information in order to get the phone blocked, such as a password. Contact your operator for details of how they deal with stolen phones before you leave so you can be sure you have the right information abroad to block the phone if it is stolen.

Information - GPRS

2008-05-02T02:57:00.000-07:00

General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) enabled networks offer 'always-on' higher capacity, internet-based content and packet-based services. This enables services such as color internet browsing, e-mail on the move, powerful visual communications, multimedia messages and location-based services.

Kidney Diseases

2008-04-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

Also called: Renal disease

Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fists. They are located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage. Inside each kidney about a million tiny structures called nephrons filter blood. They remove waste products and extra water, which become urine. The urine flows through tubes called ureters to your bladder, which stores the urine until you go to the bathroom.

Damage to the nephrons results in kidney disease. This damage may leave kidneys unable to remove wastes. Usually the damage occurs slowly over years. There are no obvious symptoms, so you don't know it is happening.

Many things can cause kidney disease. You are at risk if you have

* Diabetes

* High blood pressure

* A close family member with kidney disease

Your doctor can run tests to find out if you have kidney disease. If your kidneys fail completely, a kidney transplant or dialysis can replace the work your kidneys normally do.

Samsung i900 cell phone

2008-04-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

The Samsung i900 is the top model in this line-up of new Samsung mobile phones. Even thought the Samsung i900 was spotted before on the Internet, it did notattract that much attention if any at all. The Samsung i900 has been equipped with a large touchscreen monitor with 262,000 colours and a resolution of 240x320. The device offers Quad-band, GPRS and UMTS connections.

In addition to the UMTS connection for Internet access, the Samsung i900 also features WLAN connection possibilities. These connectivity possibilities together with the VGA camera on the front, enable the user to make video-calls. The 5 Megapixel digital camera, will almost certainly feature face detection and electronic image stabilization and enables capturing precious moments. The Samsung i900's operating system is Windows Mobile 6.1 which allows adding of other favourite programs to this cell phone.

Location-based games

2008-03-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

Games played on a mobile piece of equipment using localization technology like GPS are called location-based games. In other words: while it does not matter for a normal mobile game where exactly you are (play them anywhere at anytime), the player's coordinate and movement are main elements in a Location-based game. The best-known example is the treasure hunt game Geocaching, which can be played on any mobile appliance with integrated or external GPS receiver. External GPS receivers are generally connected via Bluetooth. More and more mobile phones with integrated GPS are expected to come.

Besides Geocaching, there exist several other location-based games which are somewhat in the stage of research prototypes than a commercial success.

Mobile phone

2008-03-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

The mobile phone or mobile, also called a wireless, cellular phone, cell phone, cell or hand phone (HP), is a long-range, portable electronic device used for mobile communication that uses a network of specialized foundation stations known as cell sites.

In addition to the standard voice function of a telephone, current mobile phones may support many other services, and accessories, such as SMS for text messaging, email, packet switching for access to the Internet, and MMS for sending and receiving photos and video. Most current mobile phones attached to a cellular network of base stations (cell sites), which is in turn interconnected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) (the exception is satellite phones).

Software tools

2008-03-10T19:05:00.001-07:00

Software tools for distributed processing contain standard APIs such as MPI and PVM and open source-based software solutions such as Beowulf and openMosix which facilitate the creation of a sort of "virtual supercomputer" from a collection of ordinary workstations or servers. Technology like Rendezvous pave the way for the making of ad hoc computer clusters. An example of this is the distributed rendering function in Apple's Shake compositing function. Computers running the Shake software simply need to be in proximity to each other, in networking terms, to automatically discover and use each other's resources. While no one has yet built an ad hoc computer cluster that rivals even yesteryear's supercomputers, the line between desktop, or even laptop, and supercomputer is beginning to blur, and is probable to continue to blur as built-in support for parallelism and distributed processing increases in mainstream desktop operating systems. An easy programming language for supercomputers remains an open explore topic in Computer Science.

Chemistry in Natural Science

2008-03-04T18:59:00.000-08:00

Constituting the scientific learning of matter at the atomic and molecular scale, chemistry deals primarily with collections of atoms, such as gases, molecules, crystals, and metals. The composition, statistical properties, transformations and reply of these materials are studied. Chemistry also absorbs understanding the properties and interactions of individual atoms for use in larger-scale applications. Most chemical procedure can be studied directly in a laboratory, using a series of (often well-tested) techniques for manipulating materials, as well as an understanding of the underlying processes. Chemistry is often known as "the central science" because of its role in connecting the other natural sciences.

Early experiments in chemistry had their roots in the system of Alchemy, a set of values combining mysticism with physical experiments. The science of chemistry began to expand with the work of Robert Boyle, the discoverer of gas, and Antoine Lavoisier, who developed the theory of the Conservation of mass. The discovery of the chemical elements and the concept of Atomic Theory began to systematize this science, and researchers developed a basic understanding of states of matter, ions, chemical bonds and chemical reactions. The success of this science led to a complementary chemical industry that now acting a significant role in the world economy.

Photographic Paper

2008-02-25T17:50:00.000-08:00

Until the advent of digital photographic processes, the individual meaning of photographic.

Paper was paper covered with light-sensitive chemicals. So-called photo papers of today are frequently specially coated papers for use in inkjet or laser printers to make digital prints. This article center of attention on traditional photographic papers. Photographic paper may be showing to light in a controlled manner either by placing a negative in make contact with the paper directly (contact printing) or by using an enlarger (enlarging) in order to create a latent image. Photographic papers are subsequently developed using wet chemicals to generate a visible image.

Photographic Printing

2008-02-19T17:42:00.000-08:00

Photographic printing is the method of producing a final image for viewing, usually on sensitized paper from a previously prepared photographic negative.

The procedure consists of three major steps, performed in a photographic darkroom or within an automated photo printing machine:

1. Exposure of the picture onto the sensitized paper using a contact printer or enlarger.

2. Processing of the latent image through a more than one step chemical immersion process.

1. Development of the uncovered image.

2. Optionally Stopping improvement by neutralizing, diluting or removing developing agent.

3. Fixing the final print by dissolving remaining unexposed/undeveloped light-sensitive liquid.

4. Washing thoroughly to eliminate chemicals used in processing, protecting the finished print from fading and decay.

3. If finished on glossy paper, ferrotyping to enhance the reflective gloss.

4. Optional Toning of the print through extra chemical processes.

5. Texturing and drying of the finishing print.

Inkless Printers

2008-02-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

Inkless printers use paper with colorless dye crystals embedded connecting the two outer layers of the paper. When the printer is twisted on, heat from the drum causes the crystals to colorize at different rates and become visible. The technology was worked on by Zink Imaging and is now accessible (2007). Because of the way it prints, the printer can be as little as a business card, the images are waterproof, and in fact, one product slated for release by Zink Imaging is a digital camera with a printer built into it. Xerox is also working on an inkless printer which will use a extraordinary reusable paper coated with a few micrometres of UV light sensitive chemicals. The printer will use a particular UV light bar which will be able to write and erase the paper. As of early 2007 this technology is at a halt in development and the text on the printed pages can only last between 16-24 hours before fading.

Integrated circuit

2008-02-06T17:49:00.001-08:00

Integrated circuit viewing memory blocks, logic and input/output pads around the periphery Microchips with a transparent window, showing the integrated circuit inside. Note the fine silver-colored wires that attach the integrated circuit to the pins of the package. A monolithic integrated circuit (also known as IC, microcircuit, microchip, silicon chip, or chip) is a miniaturized electronic circuit (consisting mostly of semiconductor devices, as well as passive components) that has been contrived in the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material.

A hybrid integrated circuit is a miniaturized electronic circuit build of individual semiconductor devices, as well as passive components, bonded to a substrate or circuit board.

Minicomputer

2008-01-28T17:41:00.001-08:00

Minicomputer is a mostly outmoded term for a class of multi-user computers which generate the middle range of the computing spectrum, in between the largest multi-user systems (traditionally, mainframe computers) and the smallest single-user systems (microcomputers or personal computers). Formerly this class created a distinct group with its own hardware and operating systems notably having smaller address space (notice the cited numbers of bits in a data word, ranging from 8 to 24 bits commonly around 16-bits). While the distinction between mainframe computers and smaller computers residue fairly clear, contemporary middle-range computers are not well differentiated from personal computers, being typically just a more powerful but still compatible version of a personal computer. More modern conditions for such machines consist of midrange systems (common in IBM parlance), workstations (common in Sun Microsystems and general UNIX/Linux parlance), and servers.

Microcomputer

2008-01-20T17:54:00.001-08:00

A microcomputer is mostly often taken to mean a computer with a microprocessor (µP) as its CPU. Another common characteristic of these computers is that they take up physically small amounts of space. Desktop computers, video game consoles, laptop computers, tablet PCs, and a lot of handheld strategy may all be considered examples of microcomputers. Most microcomputers serve only a particular user at a time, but some, in the form of PCs and workstations running e.g. a UNIX(-like) operating system, may cater to a number of users concurrently. The µP does the greater part of the job of calculating on and manipulating data that all computers do.

Mainframes

2008-01-07T18:26:00.000-08:00

Mainframes (often colloquially referred to as big iron) are enormous and expensive computers used mostly by government institutions and large companies for mission critical applications, usually bulk data processing such as censuses, industry/consumer statistics, ERP, and financial transaction processing.

The term originated during the early 1970s with the introduction of lesser, fewer complex computers such as the DEC PDP-8 and PDP-11 series, which became known as minicomputers or in a minute minis. The industry/users then coined the term "mainframe" to describe bigger, earlier types (previously known simply as "computers").

The first bullets

2007-12-31T22:25:00.000-08:00

Advances in one either resulted beginning or precipitated advances in the other. Originally, bullets were surrounding metallic or stone balls placed in front of an explosive charge of gun powder at the end of a closed tube. As firearms became more scientifically advanced, from 1500 to 1800, bullets changed very little. They remained uncomplicated round lead balls, called rounds, differing only in their diameter.

The development of the hand culverin and matchlock arquebus brought regarding the use of cast lead balls as projectiles. "Bullet" is consequential from the French word "boulette" which roughly means "little ball". The original musket bullet was a spherical lead ball two sizes slighter than the bore, wrapped in a loosely-fitted paper patch which served to hold the bullet in the barrel firmly upon the powder. (Bullets that were not firmly upon the concentrate upon firing risked causing the barrel to explode, with the condition known as a "short start".) The loading of muskets was, therefore, easy with the old smooth-bore Brown Bess and comparable military muskets. The original muzzle-loading rifle, on the other hand, with a more intimately fitting ball to take the rifling grooves, was loaded with difficulty, particularly when the bore of the barrel was dirty from previous firings ("fouled"). For this reason, early rifles were not generally used for military purposes. Early rifle bullets necessary cloth patches to grip the rifling grooves, and to hold the bullet securely against the powder.

The first half of the nineteenth century saw a different change in the shape and function of the bullet. In 1826, Delirque, a French infantry officer, imaginary a breech with abrupt shoulders on which a spherical bullet was rammed down until it caught the rifling grooves..

Bullet

2007-12-25T17:49:00.001-08:00

A bullet is a rock-hard projectile propelled by a firearm or air gun and is normally made from metal (usually lead). A bullet (in contrast to a shell) does not contain explosives, and damages the intended target solely by imparting kinetic energy upon impact. Modern bullets for firearms are generally part of a cartridge, also known as a round. In contrast, bullets for air guns are not part of a cartridge. The word "bullet" is sometimes used to refer to the grouping of bullet, case, gunpowder and primer more properly known as a cartridge or round.; the Oxford English Dictionary definition of a bullet is "a projectile of lead ... for firing from a rifle, revolver etc."

JAR Files

2007-12-17T18:22:00.000-08:00

A JAR file has a manifest file situated in the path META-INF/MANIFEST.MF. The entries in the manifest file conclude how the JAR file will be used. JAR files which are intended to be executed as separate programs will have one of their classes specified as the "main" class. The obvious file would have an entry such as

Main-Class: myPrograms.MyClass

Such JAR files are characteristically started with a command similar to

java -jar foo.jar

These files can also include a Classpath entry, which identifies other JAR files to be overloaded with the JAR. This entry consists of a list of absolute or relation paths to other JAR files. Although intended to simplify JAR use, in practice, it turns out to be infamously brittle as it depends on all the relevant JARs being in the exact locations specified when the entry-point JAR was built. To change versions or locations of libraries, a new manifest is required.

JAR

2007-12-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

In computing, a JAR file (or Java ARchive) file used to deal out a set of Java classes. It is used to store compiled Java classes and connected metadata that can constitute a program.

* WAR (file format) (Web Application aRchive) files are also Java archives which store XML files, java classes, Java Server Pages and extra objects for Web Applications.

* EAR (file format) (Enterprise ARchive) files are also Java archives which store XML files, java classes and additional objects for Enterprise Applications.

* RAR (file format) (Resource Adapter aRchive) files are also Java archives which store XML files, java classes and added objects for J2EE Connector Architecture (JCA) applications.

JAR files can be created and extracted by the "jar" command that comes with the JDK. It can be done using zip tools, but as WinZip has a custom of renaming all-uppercase directories and files in lower case, this can raise support calls with whoever shaped the JAR or the tool authors themselves. WinRAR, on the additional hand, retains the original case of filenames.

Grape

2007-12-04T18:20:00.000-08:00

A grape is the non-climacteric fruit that grows on the permanent and deciduous woody vines of the folks Vitaceae. Grapes develop up in clusters of 6 to 300, and can be black, blue, golden, green, purple, red, pink, brown, peach or white. They can be eaten raw or used for producting jam, grape juice, jelly, wine and grape germ oil. Development of grapevines occurs in vineyards, and is called viticulture. One who studies and practises increasing grapes for wine is called a viticulturist. The leaves of the grape vine itself are painstaking safe to eat and are used in the production of dolmades.

Lighthouse of Alexandria

2007-11-26T17:14:00.000-08:00

The Pharos of Alexandria was a large tower built in the 3rd century BC (between 285 and 247 BC) on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt to give out as that port's landmark, and later, its lighthouse.

With a height variously expected at between 115 and 150 meters (383 - 450 ft) it was among the tallest man-made structures on Earth for many centuries, and was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World by Antipater of Sidon. It was the third big and tallest building after the two Great Pyramids (of Khufu and Khafra) for its whole life. Some scientists calculate approximately a much taller height exceeding 180 metres that would make the tower the tallest building up to the 14th century.

Traffic Claming

2007-11-19T17:37:00.000-08:00

Traffic calming is a set of strategies used by urban planners and traffic engineers which aims to slow down traffic and get better safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, although some of these features can also be hazardous to cyclists. It is now comparatively common in Europe, especially Northern Europe; less so in North America.Traffic calming has conventionally been justified on the grounds of pedestrian safety and reduction of noise and local air pollution which are side effects of the traffic. However, it has become more and more apparent that streets have many social and recreational functions which are severely impaired by fast car traffic. For much of the twentieth century, streets were designed by engineers who were charged only with ensuring traffic flow and not with development other functions of streets. The rationale for traffic reassuring is now broadening to include designing for these functions.

Bareboat charter

2007-11-12T17:31:00.001-08:00

A bareboat charter is an arrangement for the hiring of a boat, whereby no crew or provisions are contained as party of the agreement; instead, the people who rent the boat from the owner are responsible for taking care of such things.

There are legal differences between a bareboat charter and another types of charter arrangement, such as crewed or luxury yacht charter, commonly called time or voyage charters. In these charters the charterer can direct where the ship will go but the owner of the ship tells possession of the ship through its employment of the master and crew. In a bare-boat or demise charter, on the other hand, the owner gives possession of the ship to the charterer and the charterer retriew its own master and crew. The bare-boat charterer is sometimes known as a "disponent owner".

Banana boat

2007-11-05T18:16:00.000-08:00

A banana boat (or a boat made of bananas), often referred to simply as a banana, is an unpowered recreational boat designed to be pulled by a bigger boat. Riders sit astride a big tube which is supported by two smaller tubes which provide balance and footrests, permit them to experience some of the thrill of moving fast and close to the water much more easily and safely than by water-skiing or surfing and they are therefore a popular ride for children. Many large motor yachts or luxury yachts have a banana as one of their onboard "toys", but any powered boat can pull a banana, and they are sometimes available as a commercial ride at holiday resorts. Most models seat middle of three and ten people. Two models with two seating tubes side by side are available. Banana boats are often yellow and are sometimes actually builted into the shape of a banana.

Types of boats

2007-10-29T21:08:00.000-07:00

Airboat

Airboats are needlly flat-bottomed vessels propelled in a forward direction by an aircraft type propeller and powered by either an aircraft or automotive engine. The engine and propeller are covered in a protective metal cage that prevents objects, i.e., tree limbs, branches, clothing, beverage containers, wildlife from coming in contact with the whirling propeller, which could cause devastating falt to the vessel and traumatic injury to the operator and passengers.

The propeller gives a rearward column of air that propels the airboat forward. Steering is accomplished by forced air passing across vertical rudders. There must be a forceful airflow in order to the vessel to be steered. Airboats not have brakes and are incapable of traveling in reverse. Stopping and reversing direction are dependent upon operator/pilot/driver skill.

Parts of a boat

2007-10-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

The roughly horizontal, but cambered structures spanning the hull of the boats are reffer to as the "deck". In a ship there are often many, but a boat is unlikely to have more than one. The similar but generally lighter structure which spans a raised cabin is a coach-roof. The "floor" of a cabin is properly known as the sole but is more likely to be called the floor. (A floor is properly, a structural member which ties a frame to the keelson and keel.) The underside of a deck is called the deck head. The keel is a lengthwise structural member to which the frames are constant one (sometimes referred to as a backbone). The vertical surfaces splitting the internal space are known as bulkheads. The front of a boat is known as the bow or prow. The rear of the boat is known as the stern. The right side of the boat is called starboard and the left side of the boat is called port.

ship

2007-10-15T22:10:00.001-07:00

Usually a ship has enough size to carry its own boats, such as lifeboats, dinghies, or runabouts. A rule of thumb is "a boat can fit on a ship, but a ship can't fit on a boat". Consequently submarines are referred to as "boats", because early submarines were little enough to be carried aboard a ship in transit to distant waters. Other types of big vessels which are traditionally called boats are the Great Lakes freighter, the riverboat, and the ferryboat. Though big enough to carry their own boats and/or heavy cargoes, these examples are designed for operation on inland or protected coastal waters. Often local law and regulation will define the correct size (or the number of masts) which a boat requires to become a ship. Nautical meaning is related to sailors, particularly customs and practices at sea. Naval is the adjective pertaining to ships, step by step in common usage it has come to be more particularly associated with the noun "navy".

Boat

2007-10-08T21:04:00.000-07:00

A boat is a watercraft designed to plane on, and provide transport over, water. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In Naval terms, a boat is small enough to be carried aboard another vessel (a ship). Boats that are notable exceptions to this concept due to their large size are the riverboat, narrowboat and ferryboat. These examples do, however, generally operate on inland , protected coastal waters. Modern submarines may also be referred to as boats but this is possibly due to the fact that the first submarines could be carried by a ship and were certainly not capable of making offshore passages on their own. Boats are may have military, other government, research, or commercial usage.

Society

2007-09-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

A society is a grouping of individuals, which is characterized by common interests and may have characteristic culture and institutions. In a society, members can be from a different ethnic group. A "Society" may refer to a particular people, such as the Nuer, to a nation state, such as Switzerland, or to a broader cultural group, such as a Western society. Society can also refer to an prearranged group of people linked together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes.

The structure of pollen

2007-09-17T22:20:00.000-07:00

Each pollen grain contain vegetative cells only one in the greater part flowering plant but several in other seed plants and a generative cell contain a tube nucleus that produces the pollen tube and a generative nucleus that divide to form the two sperm cells. The group of cells is surrounded by a cellulose cell wall and a thick, rough outer wall made of sporopollenin.

Pollen is created in the microsporangium contained in the anther of an angiosperm flower, male cone of a coniferous plant, or male cone of other seed plants. Pollen grains come in a broad multiplicity of shapes, sizes, and surface markings characteristic of the species see photomicrograph at right. Most, but surely not all, are spherical, Pollen grains of pines, firs, and spruces are wing. The minimum pollen grain that of the Forget-me-not plant (Myosotis sp.), is approximately 6 µm (0.006 mm) in diameter.

Pollen grains may have furrows, the course of which classify the pollen as colpate or sulcate. The number of furrows or pores helps categorize the flowering plants, with eudicots having three colpi (tricolpate), and other groups having one sulcus.

Earth's atmosphere

2007-09-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

Earth's atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth and retain by the Earth's gravity. It contains roughly (by molar content/volume) 78% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide; trace amounts of other gases, and a changeable amount (average around 1%) of water vapor. This mixture of gases is usually known as air. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by captivating ultraviolet solar radiation and reducing temperature extremes between day and night.

There is no exact border between the atmosphere and outer space, it slowly becomes thinner and fades into liberty. Three quarters of the atmosphere's mass is within 11 km of the terrestrial surface. In the United States, people who travel above a height of 80.5 km (50 statute miles) are selected astronauts. An altitude of 120 km (400,000 ft) marks the boundary where atmospheric property becomes obvious during re-entry. The Kármán line, at 100 km (328,000 ft), is also often regarded as the boundary between atmosphere and outer space.

Dance

2007-09-04T22:56:00.001-07:00

Dance means in Old French dancier, perhaps from Frankish generally refers to human movement also used as a form of expression or presented in a social, spiritual or performance setting.

Dance also is used to explain methods of non-verbal communication (see body language) between humans or animals (bee dance, mating dance), motion in inanimate objects (the leaves danced in the wind), and certain musical forms or genres.

Choreography is the art of making dances, and the human being who does this is called a choreographer.

Definitions of what constitutes dance are dependent on social, cultural, visual, artistic and moral constraints and variety from functional movement (such as folk dance) to codified, virtuoso techniques such as ballet. Dance disciplines live in sports such as gymnastics, figure skating, and synchronized swimming and martial arts kata are often compare to dance.

Leaf vegetable

2007-08-27T21:41:00.000-07:00

Vegetable is a cookery term which usually refers to an edible part of a plant. The definition is traditional rather than scientific and is somewhat random and subjective. All parts of herbaceous plants eaten as food by humans, whole or in part, are in general considered vegetables. Mushrooms, though belong to the biological kingdom fungi, and are also commonly considered vegetables. In common, vegetables are consideration of as being savory, and not sweet, although there are many exceptions. Nuts, grains, herbs, spices and culinary fruits are usually not exact vegetables.

Harrington jacket

2007-08-19T21:34:00.001-07:00

A Harrington jacket is a type of tiny, lightweight jacket, made of cotton, polyester, wool or suede — generally with a tartan or check-patterned lining.

The initial Harrington-style jackets were made by British clothing company, Baracuta, in the 1930s; the company is still making the same model, the G9. This style of jacket got the nickname Harrington because it was worn by the personality Rodney Harrington (played by Ryan O'Neal) in the 1960s television program Peyton Place; John Simmons, who opened 'The Ivy Shop', Richmond, London, claims to have coined this explanation.

Electric

2007-08-12T23:34:00.001-07:00

The first electric cars were built in the early 1880s shortly before interior combustion powered cars appeared. For a period of time electrics were measured superior due to the silent nature of electric motors compare to the very loud noise of the gasoline engine. This supreme benefit was removed with Hiram Percy Maxim's invention of the muffler in 1897. Thereafter internal combustion powered cars had two critical advantages:
1) Long range and 2) high specific energy (far lower weight of petrol fuel against weight of batteries). The building of battery electric vehicles that could competitor internal combustion models had to wait for the introduction of modern semiconductor controls and enhanced batteries. Because they can deliver a high torque at low revolutions electric cars do not need such a complex drive train and transmission as internal combustion powered cars. Some post-2000 electric car designs are able to speed up from 0-60 mph (96 km/hour) in 4.0 seconds with a top speed around 130 mph (210 km/h). Others have a variety of 250 miles (400 km) on the EPA highway cycle requiring 3-1/2 hours to completely charge. Equivalent fuel efficiency to internal combustion is not well defined but some press reports give it at approximately 135 mpg.

Ganesha drinking milk again

2007-08-06T04:35:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: In a re-run of the September 1995 frenzy when Ganesha statues were said to be drinking milk offered to them, devotees apparently thronged temples on Sunday night, making alike claims. This time, nevertheless, all idols were reported to be drinking milk.

This followed some reports received from additional parts of the country, particularly UP, earlier in the day. Shiv Mandir in Uttam Nagar and Shri Ram temple on Aruna Asaf Ali Marg in New Delhi witnessed a huge rush.

Said a Ram temple priest, "People observed that Ganesha is drinking milk around 8 pm, after which the word spread and thousands thronged the temple to try it out. Lord Ganesha drank milk from all. The crowd remained till around 11 pm."

Rationalists have explained the scientific cause behind this phenomenon, including surface tension, but faith and superstition always hit back. Said a devotee, "It was amazing.”

Wireless Application Protocol

2007-07-29T22:19:00.000-07:00

WAP is an open global standard for application that uses wireless communication. Its main application is to allow access to the internet from a mobile phone or PDA.

A WAP browser is to grant all of the fundamental services of a computer based web browser but cut down to function within the limits of a mobile phone. WAP is now the protocol used for the mainstream of the world's mobile internet sites, known as WAP sites. Presently the Japanese i-mode system is the only other major competing wireless data protocol.

Mobile internet sites, or WAP sites, are websites written in, or vigorously transformed to, WML (Wireless Markup Language) and accessed via the WAP browser.

Before the introduction of WAP, service providers had enormously restricted opportunities to offer interactive data services.

Cell membrane

2007-07-22T23:06:00.000-07:00

The cell membrane is also called the plasma membrane, plasma lemma or "phospholipids bilayer" is a semipermeable lipid bilayer frequent to all living cells. It contains a variety of biological molecules, primarily proteins and lipids, which are concerned in a vast array of cellular processes, and also serves as the attachment point for both the intracellular cytoskeleton and, if present, the cell wall.Robert Hooke was the first to name the parts of cells, as well as the plasma membrane.

Petal

2007-07-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

A petal from Ancient Greek petalon leaf, thin plate, regarded as a highly customized leaf, is one member or part of the corolla of a flower. The corolla is the name for all of the petals of a flower; the internal perianth whorl, word used when this is not the same in appearance (color, shape) as the outermost whorl (the calyx) and is used to attract pollinators based on its bright color. It is the inner part of the perianth that comprises the germ-free parts of a flower and consists of inner and outer tepals. These tepals are frequently differentiated into petals and sepals. The term tepal is usually useful when the petals and sepals are alike in shape and color. In a typical flower the petals are showy and colored and enclose the reproductive parts. The number of petals in a flower (see merosity) is analytic of the plant's classification: eudicots (the largest group of dicots) having typically four or five petals and monocots and magnoliids having three, or some multiple of three, petals.

Software tools

2007-07-11T22:32:00.001-07:00

Software tools for distributed processing include standard APIs such as MPI and PVM, and open source-based software solutions such as Beowulf and openMosix which make easy the creation of a supercomputer from a collection of ordinary workstations or servers. Technology like ZeroConf (Rendezvous/Bonjour) can be used to make ad hoc computer clusters to for specialized software such as Apple's shake compositing application. An easy programming language for supercomputers leftovers an open research topic in computer science.

Bluetooth

2007-06-24T21:28:00.001-07:00

Bluetooth is an industrialized requirement for wireless personal area networks (PANs). Bluetooth provides a way to connect and swap information between devices such as mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers, digital cameras, and video game consoles over a secure, short-range radio frequency. The Bluetooth provisions are licensed and developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.

Bluetooth is a radio standard and communications protocol generally designed for low power consumption, with a short range based on low-cost transceiver microchips in each device. The device employs a radio communications system.

Punt

2007-06-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, planned for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt; the punter normally propels the punt by pushing beside the river bed with a pole.
Punts were initially built as cargo boats or platforms for fowling and angling but in modern times their use is almost wholly confined to pleasure trips on the rivers in the university towns of Oxford and Cambridge in England and races at a few summer regattas on the Thames.
A customary river punt differs from many other types of wooden boat in that it has no keel, stem or sternpost. In its place it is built rather like a ladder with the main structure being two side panels connected by a series of 4 in (10 cm) cross planks, known as "treads", spaced about 1 foot (30 cm) apart.
The first punts are traditionally linked with the River Thames in England and were built as small cargo boats or platforms for fishermen. Pleasure punts — particularly built for recreation — became popular on the Thames between 1840 and 1860. Some other boats have a similar shape to a traditional punt — for example the Optimist training dinghy or the air boats used in the Everglades — but they are normally built with a box construction instead of the open ladder-like design of a traditional Thames pleasure punt.

Pinnace

2007-06-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

A pinnace is a light boat, propelled by sails or oars, previously used as a "tender" for guiding merchant and war vessels. In modern parlance, pinnace has come to mean a boat linked with some kind of larger vessel, that doesn't fit under the launch or lifeboat definitions. In all-purpose, the pinnace had sails, and would be used to ferry messages between ships of the line, visit harbors ahead of the fleet with messages of state, pick up mail, etc.

Jet boat

2007-05-27T23:30:00.001-07:00

A jet boat is a boat propel by a jet of water twisted out from the back of the craft. Unlike a powerboat or motorboat that uses a propeller in the water behind the boat; a jet boat draws the water from under the boat into a pump-jet inside the boat, and then expels it through a needle at the stern.
Jet boats were originally designed by Sir William Hamilton (who invented the water jet in 1954) for operation in the fast-flowing and shallow rivers of New Zealand, especially to overcome the problem of propellers striking rocks in such waters, although Italian inventor Second Camping had demonstrated a similar vessel as early as 1931 in Venice.
The difference between Campini's and Hamilton's inventions is that Campini's water jet had a very short lifetime in operation due to some unsolved material problems. Hamilton, unlike Camping, filed for a patent. Jet boats are extremely maneuverable, and many can, from full speed, be upturned and brought to a stop within their own length, in a maneuver known as a Hamilton turn.