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biology 101 — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:38:28 +0000

Dandelion - Massachusetts, May 2013

From College Students to Senior Citizens: Who Is Learning Online?

biology 101 — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:49:59 +0000

Changes in the economy have made higher education more important than ever--and harder than ever to acquire in a traditional fashion. At the same time, changes in technology and society have made it easier than ever to get an education online, and at a reasonable rate.

The surveys are in, and the news is out: online education is seeing explosive growth, and not just among traditional students of college age. For instance, a 2012 study by the Babson Research Group tells us that more than 6.7 million students are now learning online. That's an increase of more than half a million over the previous year. Thirty-two percent of higher education students now take a course online.

Even as college-age students are opting more and more for online education, non-traditional students and senior citizens are seeing the wisdom (or occasionally simply the pleasure) of learning online. Not only does online learning give a career-minded adult a chance to acquire skills for promotion or advancement--or a path into a whole new profession--while holding a job or raising a family; it opens doors, affordably, for people who find themselves out of step in our ever-changing economy.

Senior citizens are getting in on the action, too--some to keep in step with the times, some to acquire new skills or information, and some to connect with other people in a community as big as the World Wide Web. Those over 50 can take whatever online classes appeal to them, of course, but there are also all sorts of online opportunities geared specifically to seniors. With AARP steering its members to websites and states and universities offering scholarships just for seniors, online learning is transforming the very concept of retirement, even as it expands the reach and meaning of higher education.

This post was provided by Beth Sager on behalf of Drexel University Online. Drexel University Online has been providing flexible, high quality degrees and courses online since 1996.

Life of a Crocodile

biology 101 — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:08:09 +0000

Crocodiles have definitely got to be one of the scariest looking animals on the planet. Yowzer, if you see one of those coming towards you, you'd be off in a hurry! But, as with all the planet's creatures, the crocodile has its own story and characteristics that mark it out as a truly amazing feat of Mother Nature’s doing. There's nothing quite like it on the earth (apart from an Alligator of course, but lets not split hair here!), and they are one of the closest descendants of dinosaurs that we have left on the planet. Here's a few amazing facts about the crocodile that you maybe didn't know, though I'm not expecting you to want to take one as a pet because of this information! Lay a Little Egg for Me The biggest crocodiles in the world can reach up to seven metres in length and up to one TONNE in weight, but did you know that a crocodile egg is no bigger than a goose egg. That's quite a transformation; somebody obviously eats their crusts! Unfortunately though, most crocodile babies are eaten by other animals due to their size, so not many survive. Crocodile Tears We've all heard of this saying right? Well, when a crocodile is feeding it does actually shed a few tears, though not through sorrow or remorse. Their eyes can bubble during feeding as air is pushed through their sinuses via their tear glands to make this happen. If you see a crocodile crying, please don't approach with a hanker chief. Quite the Sportsman Thanks to their powerful tail and shape, crocodiles can swim at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. They can also stay underwater for up to three hours at a time and have a great ability to jump into the water. However, on land they are quick over short bursts of up to eleven miles per hour, but tire very quickly. So if you see a crocodile coming towards you, be sure to run, keep on running and don't look back! Dinosaur Club They are the direct descents of a dinosaur called the Sarcosuchus, which lived 112 million years ago. They were the largest of any crocodile-like prehistoric reptile, and could weigh up 10 tonnes! Lurking down the sewers? A popular urban legend is that crocodiles can live in sewers; while it may be practically possible in hotter climates (crocodiles only thrive in tropical and sub-tropical climates) the reality is that even if they were down there, there would not be enough food for them to survive for any period of time. So there you have it, a few interesting facts about the crocodile which I hope gives you a better from on their history and behavioural patterns. Let’s embrace the fact that they are a distant relic from prehistoric times, that have managed to adapt remain one of the world’s most deadly animals. If you one, don’t even consider adopting one, or going to give it stroke, simply … RUN!! Christopher Seale is a freelance writer and journalist who writes mostly about nature. His hobbies include traveling to remote places and writing about his adventures and misadventures. Image Credit: Radek Vitoul

Weird and Wonderful Green Inventions

biology 101 — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:44:10 +0000

The Mother Nature Network has released its ‘15 bizarre green inventions’ list, but we know how busy you are so we've condensed it to a bite size chunk and picked our Top 5 to share with you.

#1 the Blood Lamp

The concept behind this weird and wonderful invention is simple; Mike Thompson (the inventor) wants us to think twice about our electricity consumption. The light bulb is filled with luminol, normally used by forensic scientists when checking for blood. To use the light bulb the top must be broken off and a drop of blood placed in to the liquid, the liquid will then glow, this is down to the reaction of the luminol and the iron in the blood. Having to use your own blood to light the room will have you thinking twice before you waste any energy.

#2 the White Goat

Is your office guilty of wasting too much paper, printing off unwanted items and left with reams of unusable stuff? I think this is something most offices are guilt off. To dissolve us (a little) of our guilt a Japanese company has come up with the ‘White Goat’. This zany little invention takes your unwanted paper, shreds it, dissolves it in water, thins it out and rolls it up in to toilet paper, all in 30 minutes. How amazing! Just think you’ll never have to buy toilet roll for the office again, although at $100,000 you might not be able to afford to.

#3 the Solar Bikini

Have you ever got to the beach ready to party, pulled your iPod out only to realise that you haven’t charged it. Party over, right? Wrong! Not with the solar powered bikini. This sexy little number chargers your ipod, using solar energy, whilst you wear it. You’ll never have to worry about the party ending early again. The inventor, Andrew Schneider, produced this as part of a student project for the Interactive Telecommunications Project at New York University.

#4 Lab Meat

Vladamir Mironov has been developing for a decade meat that you can grow in a laboratory. His school of thought is, if he can produce meat that you can grow in a lab, then he can solve the global food crisis. Vladamir believes that one day you will be able to purchase ‘lab meat’ from the supermarket along with the rest of your groceries. He even goes as far as to say we will have bioreactors that will allow us to select and design which type of meat we want, including its taste, texture and amount of fat.

#5 3D Food Printer If you thought the other four inventions were amazing, wait until you get your chops around this one, literally. Dr. Jeffery Ian Lipton has been heading up a team who have invented a 3D food printer, yes you heard right. The printer uses raw food flavours that can be syringed, these flavours are used as ‘ink’ and you are able to print recipes straight from the internet. The researchers have already had success with chocolate, cake and cookies. He even told the BBC, "FabApps would allow you to tweak your food's taste, texture and other properties. Maybe you really love biscuits, but want them extra flaky. You would change the slider and the recipe and the instructions would adjust accordingly." Who knows what implications this will have for food productions future?

Author Bio: Leah Jarratt is a regular guest writer for Earth Staff, specialist international recruitment company recruiting for oil & gas, minerals and wind power markets.

Picture credits: mnn.com

How tyres contribute to the eco-friendliness of your car

biology 101 — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:51:44 +0000

When you think “energy-efficient”, you usually think of it as a prefix to things like light bulbs, fuel, or batteries. But if you’re a motoring enthusiast and a proponent of green energy, the good news is that now your car tyres can be more environmentally friendly too.

Green tyres are gaining more and more attention in the public eye and in the news, and a growing number of manufacturers all over the world are looking into how they can improve various components of motor vehicles in a bid to make them more earth-friendly. Many are also changing their manufacturing processes to minimise the environmental impact of making car parts in the first place.

We’ve taken a look at car tyres, and how new ranges of eco-friendly versions are making a positive impact on the earth.

Fuel efficiency

When a tyre is labeled as ‘green’ or ‘environmentally friendly’, it most likely means that it’s been manufactured in a certain way to reduce fuel consumption by reducing what’s called its ‘rolling resistance’ – or, the amount of energy a tyre requires in order for it to start moving or slow down. So the less rolling resistance, the less energy the car requires to move, and in turn – the less fuel the car needs.

The main method that many tyre manufacturers have used to reduce their tyres’ rolling resistance is by introducing silica technology into the tyre compound. The silica allows the tyre to better grip to the road without compromising any braking power which may be caused by the tyres having less resistance. It’s also great news for cold weather driving. Silica retains its flexibility in the cold, meaning that the tyre performs better, even in sub-zero temperatures and snowy, icy conditions.

The good news for you

A great thing about green tyres is that they’re not just good for your conscience – they can save you money too. Environmentally friendly tyres can offer up to a 20% reduction in rolling resistance, which equates to around 5% saving in fuel. In some instances, the fuel savings you can achieve may cancel out the cost of the tyres entirely.

Brands to look out for

If you’re looking for an energy efficient tyre, the Bridgestone Ecopia, Michelin Green X and the Goodyear Fuel Max are all great options. Other manufacturers such as Yokohama use orange oil in place of some of the petroleum-based products in their tyres, reducing their use of non-renewable energy and materials. Then there are companies like Hankook, whose Green Tyre ranges have Kontrol Technology, which means they’re more durable and won’t need to be replaced and discared as often as other tyres.

Things you can do to increase the efficiency of your tyres

While we do recommend that at your next tyre change you ask your serviceman to fit your car with one of these energy-efficient models, the good news is that even if you don’t opt for one of these tyres yet, there are a number of things you can do to ensure your tyres are performing adequately and not increasing your fuel consumption unnecessarily.

Keep them fully inflated

Ensure you keep your car tyres adequately inflated by regularly visiting your tyre specialist. Under-inflated tyres have a reduced ability to grip the road and an increased roll resistance, which means your car will consume more petrol to start and stop moving.

Change tyres often according to manufacturers’ specifications

Similar to an under-inflated tyre, a balding tyre won’t grip the road efficiently when braking or turning, causing your car to consume more energy. Bald tyres are also a safety hazard, so again, be sure to visit your tyre specialist and have yours replaced regularly.

Which Traits Can You Attribute to DNA?

biology 101 — Fri, 03 May 2013 02:34:26 +0000

As a counselor I see people every day blaming their parents for everything. I’m not saying that these parents don’t deserve the brunt of it but some of these things just cannot be helped. Getting a mix of your parents DNA can result in red hair, brown eyes, light skin but these rarely complained about. While I was getting my masters degree in mental health counseling I studied what traits were hereditary and which were learned or random. Let’s take a look at the differences in these.

Just because something can be inherited doesn’t mean it was.
If you have family members with a history of depression, anxiety or alcoholism, like with cancer, you have an elevated risk of developing that disease as well. However, your parents could have fought depression but that doesn’t mean that you will or did inherit that trait from them even though you are depressed. The genetic contribution to depression or other diseases is dependent on environmental and lifestyle factors. Your depression could be the result of a trauma that they had no control over. It could also come from your relationship with them but that still doesn’t mean that it is genetic.

If you know that depression or addiction runs in your family you may want to take steps to make sure that you don’t follow in their footsteps. For example, if you have a parent that is an alcoholic or an addict you will want to avoid drugs and alcohol. If you don’t want to abstain, before you imbibe you will want to set limits for yourself. If you find that you are drinking more and more you’ll need to see a counselor just to make sure that you don’t take it to the next level and become dependent.
Just because something doesn’t run in your family doesn’t mean you can’t get it.
Again, I use cancer to illustrate this point. Just because cancer doesn’t run in your family doesn’t mean you won’t get it. Lifestyle choices and events can play a part in it as well as factors that have yet to be discovered. Just because your relatives don’t suffer from depression or alcoholism doesn’t mean that you can’t. We are learning more and more about these issues and what causes them but something not running in your family isn’t a reason to engage in risky behavior.

This article wasn’t to illustrate the point that no matter what you do, you will get depressed or become an alcoholic. What it is meant to say is that it’s all luck of the draw. Know your risk factors and act accordingly. If you are not aware of any risk factors but are seeing signs, don’t ignore them. You can get help before it becomes a major issue.

Life on a Grain of Sand

Anthony D'Onofrio, PhD — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:28:32 +0000

Do you know that each and every grain of sand has an entire world of tens of thousands of bacterial cells growing together as an intricate and complicated community? During my graduate school work I had the opportunity to be part of the creation of some absolutely stunning images of the bacterial life growing on a single grain of sand. I'd like to stress that this work didn't happen in a vacuum and was the result of many people collaborating on a project for years (the authors involved can be found in this paper which published some other images from the set). The research we did had a larger scope, but as somewhat of a side note we produced some cool, highly magnified SEM images of bacteria on a grain of sand. The images were produced with an expensive ($500,000) microscope called a Scanning Electron Microscope which produces images by beaming electrons at the object being visualized and detecting the scattering of electrons as they bounce off. In order for this to work, the sample (in this case a single grain of sand) needs to first be fixed with a chemical like formaldehyde and then sputter coated with an extremely thin layer of metal. Scanning Electron Microscopes are capable of producing images at high magnification with crisp resolution due to the short wavelength of electrons. The wavelength of light is much longer which puts a physical limit on how much you can magnify an image through a microscope without losing resolution (the ability to discriminate between two points spaced closely together). This is why you can see bacteria in these photos with great detail at high resolution compared to the tiny black dots you may have seen back in school when you try to view bacteria under a light microscope. In the following photo you can see what appear to be two long bacterial cells which are attached to the surface of the sand grain by appendages that they presumably produce. And another nice example here with a variety of cell morphologies: But my favorite of all these images were the one's that we couldn't quite seem to identify. We found a cell morphology that appeared to be a flat almost doughnut shape at a scale that seemed to be about the size of a cross section of an E. coli cell. Here's an image of one such cell: And we caught a zoomed out image of a small single layer colony of these bacteria (or presumably bacteria based on scale and morphology). So what's with the black and white? Why not spring for a color SEM? Well color as you might know is how our brains interpret different wavelengths of light. Since these images are produced with electrons as opposed to light there is really no way of discriminating color within the field being visualized. So, anytime you see these types of images in color they are simply false colored with Photoshop (or by hand back in the day). Here's one example of an SEM I colored in photoshop (an image of Vibrio tasmaniensis - a close relative of the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio cholerae): Besides making what I think are stunning images, the photos were quite revealing about the nature of bacteria in intertidal sediment. These sand grains were taken from the intertidal zone in Nahant, MA. It was well known that sand (as well as any soil) contains an extraordinary number of bacteria. There are billions if not trillions of bacteria in a small handful of sand. It wasn't obvious however if these bacteria were attached to the sand or simply loosely associated and floating around between the particles. From these photos it is obvious that the bacteria are producing appendages to attach themselves to the sand and are mixed together in a tight network of various species. Based on the density seen in the photos it can be estimated that there may be around a million bacterial cells attached to any given average sized grain of sand. An entire world of species co-existing and interacting through various chemical signals. Again these images were produced as part of my dissertation project but was the result of collaborations with several other scientists. Images courtesy of the Lewis Lab at Northeastern University. Image created by Anthony D'Onofrio, William H. Fowle, Eric J. Stewart and Kim Lewis. More photos from this series can be found on my Flickr page.
Anthony D'Onofrio, PhD
@AnthonyDOnofrio
Google (Google Plus)

Nursing in the 21st Century: Travel, Tech and Trauma

biology 101 — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 02:55:09 +0000

Nurses today are so much different than they were in the last century. As a matter of fact, in the last decade, there was a huge shortage of nurses, giving way to new faces in the industry. The problem at that time was that not a lot of people were interested in becoming nurses. As a result, only few students took up the said degree. However, when the 21st century approached, many changed their minds. With the new opportunity to grow the nursing field and integrating it with technology, several students are finally seeing how in demand this practice really is. If you would like to study more, there are online courses such as RN-BSN programs that enable registered nurses to further their knowledge and career. Nurses are given access to higher education. There are also many options available that will open new opportunities for registered nurses.

A New Approach in Nursing

Nursing Informatics, also known as Health Informatics or Health Information Systems, is a discipline that successfully mixes the nursing degree with information and knowledge. The main goal here is to manage communication and information technologies so as to promote the health of families, communities, and everyone in the world. Application of the said science and practice empowers healthcare practitioners to create patient-centric care and service.

Nursing Informatics programs produce “informaticists” who work as creators and developers of information technologies, research, and software engineering among others. It is your job to find ways that will improve the management and dissemination of information in nursing, which can eventually enhance the efficiency of the practice as well as reduce its costs and increase patient care quality. Nursing Informatics focuses on documentation. This is mainly due to the fact that quality care is dependent on the communication between healthcare providers. Without proper communication between nurses, doctors, physicians, and other professionals in the medical field, it is impossible to treat and care for patients effectively. Primarily, healthcare providers “talk” to one another through the use of the notes on the patient’s chart. In this case, the role of nurse informaticists is to find methods that will speed up the process of communication to achieve timeliness without neglecting information accuracy. The result of this is a much better decision-making procedure regarding the care and the health of the patients.

Travel Nursing

Nursing skills are needed the world over. Many medical facilities are looking for nurses for specific periods of time especially during a crisis or for specific skills. If you like to travel, you can travel all over the world using your skills.

Trauma Nurses

Trauma Nurses treat patients in a state of emergency, and handle urgent situations where the cause of injury or disease isn’t yet known. They can work in hospital emergency rooms and other chaotic environments, and often need to coordinate with doctors, family members and other nurses. As a Trauma Nurse, you’ll be saving people’s lives every day. The Society of Trauma Nurses is a place to learn more.

The Perks of Getting My PhD in Nursing

biology 101 — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 02:50:40 +0000

Nursing PhD programs train nurses to master health care policies, research techniques and leadership skills. The nursing PhD degree will also prepare you for a variety of administrative jobs at medical institutes.

Nurses who earn a PHD are often nicknamed as a “doctor nurse.” Many nurses who call themselves doctors receive challenges from some physicians and other medical practitioners. The story featured in the New York Times discusses the benefits, challenges and reasons for pursuing a doctorate in nursing. Pursuing a doctorate in nursing will open opportunities not available to regular nurses.

Benefits of a PHD in Nursing Graduate

A PHD in nursing will allow you to be a Nursing Manager and manage the nursing staff rather than patients. The position often includes hiring and training new employees, supervising and evaluating the staff. You may also be involved in analysis and budgeting involving hospital services.

A PHD in nursing may lead to more stimulating research posts. This is quite essential in the nursing field. Research and research projects can give a lot of benefits to the healthcare industry.

Since a PHD is an academic degree, it makes sense that those who finish this level can become a faculty member. Associate professors of nursing are involved in the normal academic work of teaching, advising, and preparing lectures but will likely include laboratory work as well. Colleges and universities today need quality teachers to advance the excellence of nursing practice. This is a great perk for those who would like to gain wider influence on the field where they belong. Only a nurse with doctorate degree can have the teaching post he or she prefers.

The advanced training provided in the doctoral program may allow you to become a chief nurse anesthetist who shares the same duties as other nurse anesthetists but also is responsible for other tasks such as supervising, scheduling and organizing the anesthesia team.

A major benefit of the doctoral program is the information explosion and the ever changing knowledge base. Pursing a doctorate may help you keep up with the ever changing nature of the profession.

Not all nurses are open to the idea of getting a PHD, though, as mentioned in this Wall Street Journal article. If you are one of those in doubt, you should definitely review the benefits of doctorate in nursing like the ones given above.

Healthy Adults Were Happy Children: A DNA Study Revealed

biology 101 — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 11:15:31 +0000

Have you ever wondered what children would become when they grow old considering their mental and emotional states during childhood? A recent study on the human DNA found out that children who were happy during their childhood tend to have a healthy adult life than children who did not enjoy being children. This study aimed at examining the DNA effects of childhood adversities.

The study led to the conclusion because of an observation that they saw in the DNA. The researchers found that the telomeres or the tiny protective caps of the chromosomes shorten faster in children who experience traumatic events in their childhood. Telomeres are found to have a direct association on the health and vitality of people. In fact, it was found that having long telomeres describes healthier and more vital living. On the other hand, shorter telomeres contribute to chronic sickness and it is usually found in unhealthy and even senior individuals.

How do Telomeres Describe Health?

Telomeres usually record the impact of various life factors on the health of a person. The exact mechanism of which is not yet clearly understood, but it was found that telomeres are in fact sensitive to oxidative stress. So when a person experiences emotional as well as psychological troubles early in life, he or she is exposed to free radicals early contributing to the possible development of diseases later in life. Those who were not “happy” during their childhood; thereby, have a greater chance of getting shorter telomeres and having debilitating and chronic diseases during their adult life.

The Effects of Telomeres during Pregnancy

The effects of telomeres are also seen in pregnant women. Studies confirm that a pregnant mother who had negative experiences during her pregnancy tend to have children with short telomeres than those who had a peaceful and calm pregnancy experience. In this phenomenon, the fetal DNA tend to record the physiological as well as the hormonal responses of their mothers and tend to experience more risk of illness during their adult life.

The effects of Telomeres in Psychiatric Illness

The effects of telomeres are not just confined to physical health, but to mental health as well. Children who were happy during their childhood also have a better mental state when

they reach adulthood making them healthier mentally as well. Children who experienced domestic violence and maltreatment tend to experience anxiety, depression, cognitive limitations and structural deformities in the brain leading them to potential psychiatric illnesses in the long run.

All these effects boil down to an important implication to parents. Safeguarding your children and ensuring that they experience a normal and happy childhood is essential to allow them to grow and become healthy until they reach their adulthood and further years in life.

Michael Richardson is a freelance writer and a nurse. He works as a research assistant in a large research institute. He spends his free time writing articles online and focuses on health outcome topics as well as research results to keep his readers informed on what’s new in the medical and health care world. Find out the best interest rates on CDs to maximize your opportunities.

About the Author: Paul is a freelance writer who often writes about personal finance, education, and sometime business. Paul's usual writing topics include ways to afford college for students, which majors allow kids the highest income right out of college or even how to find best interest rates on cds once you are out of school. Paul has been writing online for a few years now and loves tying his financial knowledge to other topics when he can!