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Cleaning Your Tongue to Prevent Bad Breath

If you have bad breath and have never thought of cleaning your tongue, consider the fact that scientific studies have shown the bacteria and fungi produce malodorous compounds that account for over 80% of cases of bad breath. The remaining cases are due to plaque and rotting food around and in between teeth, gum disease, tooth decay, or other problems such as infected throat or sinus.

There are up to 500 different types of bacteria in people's mouths and the amounts of each vary among individuals. Some of these bacteria, feeding on proteins from food residues, produce unpleasing smelling substances, often similar to sulphur or bad eggs. Many millions of these bacteria can live on the top and the back of the tongue and remain there quite undisturbed unless we make a conscious effort to remove them. The tongue is covered with papillae which tend to trap food particles, fungi (such as Candida), and dead cells from the surface of the tongue and the inside of the cheeks.

In the light of this information it becomes evident that tongue cleaning is an important addition to anyone's daily toilet activities, and all the more so for someone suffering from persistent bad breath problems.

Tongue cleaning can be transported out with the toothbrush but is probably much more efficiently done with a tongue scraper, a device made of metal or plastic, specifically designed for the job. When beginning a regime of tongue scraping you may find a tendency to gag as you get the brush or scraper at the back of the mouth. Do not give up though, as this can mostly be overcome with persistence and practice. You can practice with a simple plastic spoon on the tongue, gradually reaching further and further back.

If you are using your normal toothbrush it is a good idea to put a very small amount of toothpaste on it, as it makes it taste better and probably does a more thorough cleaning job. As the surface of the tongue is spongy you can do a better job with a tongue scraper. You can choose between a type that looks like a miniature rake and can be used with one hand, or one that that is arch-shaped and is used with both hands covering a wider area. The idea is to reach as far back as you can and then firmly scrape forward lifting and holding debris as you go. You may need to do this two or three times, rinsing off the scraper in between.

You may find tongue cleaning tricky at first but it is worth persevering with until it becomes second nature. Do it just once a day, after your normal tooth-brushing, either in the morning or evening, depending on when you have most time. The benefits of fresher breath should become noticeable within a couple of weeks.

There are other benefits to tongue cleaning apart from reducing halitosis. Scientific research has identified different bacteria often found in the mouth, with some serious systemic diseases such as heart attack, cerebral stroke, pneumonia, and others. By means of effective tongue cleaning you are drastically cutting the numbers of all sorts of bacteria in the mouth and hence the risk of developing these disorders.

Another benefit is the improvement in taste perception that you are likely to experience. A lot of taste buds are located on the back of the tongue and if they have been covered up or clogged up over a period of time your sense of taste may well have been gradually diminished. You may well be pleasantly surprised if you able to enjoy your food more as a result of a better taste perception.

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Colic in Babies – Telling the Difference Between Milk Allergy and Lactose Intolerance

Parents often point to their baby’s formula in an effort do diagnose colic in babies. While the type of formula may sometimes play a role in colicky symptoms, there is a big difference between a milk allergy and simple lactose intolerance. Understanding the difference between the two can help you when it comes to discussing your infant’s colic with the pediatrician.

Lactose intolerance refers to the inability to digest the sugar found in milk. Very few babies are actually lactose intolerant, and for those that are, treatment is often simply a matter of supplementing the naturally occurring enzymes which are used to break down the milk sugar. Colic in babies with lactose intolerance is typically due to the abdominal cramps and pain associated with the condition. Premature babies are more likely to have lactose intolerance related colic versus full-term babies.

Milk allergies, on the other hand, have nothing to do with the ability to digest milk sugar. Instead, the body has an allergic reaction to the protein in milk, which may be slow onset, or immediate onset, depending upon the severity of the allergy. Babies with milk allergies often have bloody stools, severe abdominal pain, and increased irritability. Other symptoms include hives, rashes, wheezing, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms can mimic many other conditions, and can prove difficult to diagnose in babies. Colic in babies with milk allergies can often be alleviated once the allergy is addressed and milk products are avoided.

Milk allergies are far more dangerous than lactose intolerance, overall. If you are concerned that your baby’s colic is being caused by either of these conditions, you should speak with your child’s pediatrician as soon as possible. A swift diagnosis may mean more peaceful nights for you and your baby.

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How to Control Anxiety Attack Breathing

Anxiety attack breathing is one of the most disturbing symptoms of anxiety attacks. As anyone who has experienced an anxiety attack or panic attack can tell you, in the throes on an attack their breathing is rapid, shallow and it feels like they can not get enough air.

People breathing this way lower the amount of carbon dioxide in their blood. This causes them to feel lightheaded and to have tingling in their hands and feet. These additional symptoms aggravate the anxiety attack and the sense of panic.

For reasons that are not strictly clear, people with anxiety attacks (also called panic attacks) have a physical response as if their very lives are in danger even though nothing really threaten them.

The best way to avoid anxiety attack breathing is to avoid the anxiety attack in the first place. As I'll mention later, that is possible. Right now, I'll talk about breathing techniques a person can use to take control of their breath and avoid some of the distress.

The main thing is to practice this breathing when you do not need it so it will be easier to do when an attack begins.

To begin, most people breath using their chests. This does not fill their lungs completely.

Instead, people should breath with their diaphragm.

This fills the lungs completely. Also, this is a type of breathing that the body associates with relaxation. If you breath like this as a panic attack begins you give the body a message that all is well. This conflicts with the message of the anxiety attack and may actually be able to head off the anxiety attack.

Some people have been chest breathing for so long that they have trouble relearning how to use their diaphragm. One way to practice is to lie down and put your hand on your stomach. Now breathe in in a way that forces your stomach to expand and your hand to rise.

To do that you will have to use your diaphragm.

Once you discover what feels like, practice it for some slow, deep breaths. Then practice it while you're sitting or standing. You want this to become second nature for you.

A good idea is to take ten deep diaphragmatic breaths multiple times every day. Not only is this good practice, it's good for your health in general.

Once you've developed this skill, you can use it to consciously control your breath at the earliest stages of an anxiety attack. This will help you avoid some of the most distressing symptoms.

Another advantage is that focusing on your breathing distracts you from focusing on your anxiety. This will also help blunt the attack.

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Sleep Apnea – Understanding Somnambulism Or Sleepwalking

Sleep walking or medically termed as somnambulism is common to children. It affects approximately 14 percent of children ranging from five years old to twelve years old. For children with somnambulism, almost 25 percent of them are experiencing various episodes during sleeping. Boys are more commonly affected with somnambulism than girls. When the child becomes an adolescent, somnambulism may subside because of the maturation of the nervous system.

Experts believe that somnambulism is caused by problems in the brain associated with the sleep cycle. Normally, the whole brain is awake at a certain period of time. However, for children with somnambulism, a certain part of the brain remains awake. The portion of the brain that is responsible for movements remains awake while cognition and awareness is asleep. This is the reason why even if the child is sound asleep, moving about can happen.

While the child is in deep sleep, walking can happen because the motor functions are active. Those who are sleepwalking would often stand up and leave their beds as if they’re truly awake. The eyes of people who are sleepwalking remain open but you would realize that they’re sleeping because of the blank expression that can be seen on their faces. They would also not respond if you call their names or if you ask them about something. Tripping over is also common to sleepwalkers because they are really unaware of what they are doing. These episodes of moving through will take one hour to two hours, and then the patient would return to bed. Normally, sleepwalking lasts for about fifteen minutes although some may take longer than one hour.

There is no specific treatment for sleepwalking and the occurrences will subside as the child grows up. If you have a child that sleepwalks, what you need to do is to let the child return to bed but not wake him up.

Although majority of children who sleepwalks would overcome it as they reach their adolescent stage, 1 percent of them may continue manifesting episodes of sleepwalking. Sometimes, adults who did not experience sleep walking in their childhood may develop it in their adulthood. The usual causes of sleep walking in adults would include anxiety, stress, sleep deprivation, and underlying medical conditions such as epilepsy.

For adults who are sleepwalking, the treatment can vary depending on the manifestations and the harm that can possibly happen. For adults that are going out during a sleep walking episode, more harm is possible compared to those who are just walking inside their houses. This is because a lot of things can happen outside aside from the fact that leaving the house at night is already dangerous. Treatments that are available for these adults are behavioral modifications, some medications, and hypnosis.

For the significant others of patients suffering from sleep walking disorder, it would be best to always prioritize their safety and security so that harm can be prevented. Necessary precautions should be done such as removing objects that can cause harm to the person who sleepwalks. Aside from that, doors should be properly locked so that people who are sleepwalking can’t open it to go outside. Bells and door alarms can also be used so that you would know if the person who sleepwalks attempts to open the door. For glass windows and doors, protection drapes should be in place because there are great possibilities that these people would pass through these glass doors.

Sleepwalking disorder is not harmful to one’s health; however, it is the environment that can cause threats to the person’s safety and security. Therefore, it is necessary that possible dangers should be eliminated or prevented.

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How to Keep Your Jewelery Looking New

When you first buy a piece of jewelery, whether it be a costume necklace or a precious gold ring, it's always bright with any stones untarnished and sparkling. But how do you keep it that way?

Well if you follow these top tips, your jewelery will stay beautiful:

Store your jewelery pieces apart so they do not get tangled- we love silk jewelery wraps for their functionality and touch of boudoir glamour.

Make sure your costume jewelery avoids contact with abrasive chemicals such as nail varnish, perfume and hairspray, as these can cause it to quickly tarnish or become discolored.

Keep any pieces with precious or semi-precious stones way from direct sunlight to avoid fading. Nothing ruins a piece of jewelry like faded stones that were once bright and beautiful.

To keep pearls scratch free make sure you wear them alone, as other materials such as silver or enamel can damage a pearls fine make up.

A nice tip for removing dust from pieces is to gently blow it away using a hairdryer on a cool setting, or a soft lint free cloth always brightens jewelery up.

Examine your jewelery pieces regularly to make sure settings are holding stones in place tightly and clasps are joining properly.

Never clean your silver jewelery with abrasive or harsh cleaners, simple water is enough to make it shine again, and does not damage your jewelery.

This probably all looks obvious, but were all guilty of sometimes neglecting our beautiful jewelery; I know my friends and I definitely are!

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Take a Bath in Noni: Kick Rashes, Bruising and Pain to the Curb

Noni is a plant with a long history of medicinal use. It is a natural pain-killer (analgesic) which is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Noni assists the cleansing of toxins from the body, helps the cells repair and regenerate and hydrates the skin.

What does all of that mean?

It means that noni is a potent, powerful and healthy healing agent which can help your body, whether you drink it or put it on your skin. While most people think of drinking noni juice to receive its healing benefits, taking a bath in noni might be just the boost your body needed!

Why Should I Take a Bath in Noni?

If your skin is itchy, or prone to rashes, eczema or acne, noni can help soothe inflammation, keep bacteria at bay and repair skin cells. Noni’s analgesic properties can help alleviate the pain from traumas such as sprains, deep bruising, stings, burns and rheumatism.

While taking noni is not the same as taking an aspirin, (although it has been dubbed the “Aspirin of the Ancients,”) using noni can represent a safe, chemical-free, natural alternative for several incidental maladies.

How to Take a Noni Bath

To take a bath in noni, you have two options. The first option is that you can rub the fresh fruit all over yourself and then rinse it off. Then again, if smashing a potent-smelling fruit all over your body isn’t exactly your cup of tea, you can also just mix some noni juice extract with the bathwater.

Speaking of tea, another option is to make a strong herbal tea from fresh or dried noni leaves and add the tea to your hot bath. You will be amazed how smooth and rejuvenated your skin and body will feel.

If you decide to go the extract route, you’ll need about 4 oz. of pure noni juice per bath. The best noni juice to use is the kind that is pure, raw, unpasteurized and organic. Soak for 15-30 minutes to get the best effect. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for an additionally blissful bonus.

Other External Applications for Noni

There are a variety of ways you can use noni externally, aside from bathing in it. Creative and time-tested ideas include:

· Make a noni juice poultice to apply to wounds, bruises, burns, boils, tender areas and skin inflammations.

· Use pure noni juice as a daily face wash to keep acne under control.

· Make your noni bath do double time by washing yourself with organic noni soap.

· Trade massages with your partner using noni lotion to ease muscles.

· Follow the lead of ancient Hawaiians, make an oil from the seeds and rub it in your hair as an insecticide (Or use the juice to relieve a variety of scalp problems. )

Given that the list of useful applications for noni goes on, you can see why keeping noni or noni juice around the house, as part of your everyday household remedy kit, makes a lot of sense.

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Erectile Dysfunction

Among the many diseases that strike men, one is very special because it strikes not only the body but the soul. Although there are many other much more dangerous diseases, some of them even lethal, erectile dysfunction is a delicate matter because it affects the intimate life of a man.

Erectile dysfunction includes multiple sexual disorders, but most often it is considered to be the persistent inability to have an erection or to maintain it for a sufficient amount of time. Erectile dysfunction is often called impotence though this is not precise, because impotence includes other symptoms, like the absence of sexual desire or ejaculation difficulties.

Erectile dysfunction may include a total and permanent lack of erection, or be a temporary state only. The reasons for erectile dysfunction are many, and therefore there is no universal treatment that helps in all cases. For instance, for older men erectile dysfunction can have physical origins (diseases, injury, etc.) in addition to psychological ones.

The good news is that at any age, erectile dysfunction is treatable, and very often it is possible to achieve complete recovery of one’s sexual powers. It is also encouraging that more men, who have had erectile dysfunction at some time in their lives, admit the presence of the problem and take a proactive approach to discovering the causes and treating them.

And it is also good news that there are many ways to treat erectile dysfunction, including psychotherapy, drugs, vacuum devices and surgery.

On the other hand, even the best treatment cannot substitute for prevention. There are known factors that increase the risk of erectile dysfunction — tobacco, alcohol, stress, lack of sleep and exercise, anxiety and depression, omission of periodic prophylactic checkups, etc. So even if you trust that modern medical science can help you with erectile dysfunction, do your best to prevent it now, rather than treat it later.

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Is Your Company Ready For Industry 4.0 Transformation?

What is Industry 4.0?

Industry 4.0 is the 4th industrial revolution. To give a little history, industries used steam to make the machine work which increased production and reduced cost in the industrial revolution. The next phase of the revolution was the mass production with implementing electricity and assembly lines. The third revolution introduced automation and computers. We are now here in the fourth revolution through digitizing and networking where we can connect the digital world with the physical world.

With hassle free wireless networking you educate the machine. Earlier the intelligence lied with the humans and machines just helped with the physical work, but now we can educate the machine and the products itself, also get a virtual image. Using Internet of Things (IOT) you can connect all the physical machines with software, networks and censors and they would exchange data with each other making human life and production much more simpler.

How many hours have you spent to hire a mechanic because your machine stopped working and the mechanic failed to understand what went wrong with the machine? With Industry 4.0, the machine will tell you what part has been failed and what has to be replaced. With artificial intelligence, it also tells you which spare parts need to be fixed.

Why Transform to Industry 4.0?

The Cyber Physical systems enable your product to communicate with your machine. Your product will instruct the machine as to the quantity and the type of product that needs to be produced, and the machine is then produces and labels the products. After detecting the product, you can never go wrong with packaging, also your quality check has been performed by the machine while packaging itself.

Industry 4.0 allows you to have a flexible manufacturing process that will better react to customer demands. This new manufacturing technology reduces your cost of production, cost of wastage, reduces errors, increases efficiency due to usage of robotics, yields higher revenue, improves customer service and increases innovation. It also allows you to create a virtual image of the real world using 3D printers and help you test your product and know your contingencies beforehand which would allow you to change the process in order to avoid the contingency before you even start your production.

You don’t need to manually check your stock. You can add a censor to your forklift and your products, and while stacking up your goods, you get the data of the quality, description, weights and dimension as well as the location of the product. This would immensely reduce errors and damages.

Feed your machines, knowledge of automated systems with this new manufacturing trend and let them communicate with each other while you see your profits rise up high and costs go low.

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A New View of Self-Development

I know that there are many people who are very cautious or are ‘sitting on the fence’ when it comes to topics like psychic development and metaphysics, and I think this is due to the fact that these fields have received bad press by using their own jargon such as ‘connecting’, ‘channeling’ and ‘5th dimensional portals’ which sound very mysterious and strange to those who are not part of such groups or circles. So what I really want to do is de-mystify some ideas on psychic development and metaphysics by linking them to the normal process of human self-development and the scientific and psychological research which underlies this development.

A simple definition of metaphysics would be the study and practice of principles relating to the mind and reality which extend beyond our everyday understanding. This means a more universal and expanded framework of thinking than is currently taught in learning institutions.

I have made the statement that psychic or ‘spiritual” growth could be seen as linked to a natural process of self-development, having a gradual learning curve and being part of a continuum of growth which involves mastering new skills relating to feelings, thinking and perception. If we accept that we all have a higher, more spiritual and moral side (sometimes called the higher or authentic self in psychology), this could be seen as similar to a process of self-actualisation, and both personal growth and metaphysics could be seen as having the aim of achieving this self-actualisation.

Of course, metaphysics does present teachings which contain a number of ‘different’ views or ideas on life, death and what supposedly happens after death, some of which may seem radical, and you may argue that these ideas are simply another set of dogmatic beliefs. However, there is an important difference, in that metaphysics encourages free thought and provides an open-ended exploration of self and reality directed at the development of consciousness, in which each person is urged to find his or her own path. Truth is discovered in the heart by those who are sincere in their search, and each is allowed to decide this for him or herself.

To substantiate my earlier statement that psychic development can be linked to self-development, it will be seen that in most metaphysical teachings, similar to courses or coaching in personal development, each person is encouraged to deal with important emotional and psychological obstacles to growth, including repressed emotions, self-defeating thoughts and beliefs and closed paradigms of thinking. I personally do not believe that it is possible to achieve self-actualisation when one is caught in a web of fear-based thoughts and habits based on unpleasant experiences and memories from the past.

Self-exploration (iq) (intelligence quotient)

Metaphysical practices are aimed at self-introspection, emotional and psychological change and the learning of new skills designed to unleash the true creative power of the mind, build new levels of confidence and self-understanding and develop the latent abilities which we all have.

It is a well-known fact that meditation improves mindfulness and increases creativity. At the beginning of the development curve or continuum, metaphysics introduces practices such as meditation and visualisation for the purpose of self-exploration and self-empowerment, radically increasing mindfulness, producing a greater depth of understanding, deeper self-knowledge and the improvement of one’s self-image and self-esteem through self-acceptance. In this way these practices fulfill the same role as coaching or counselling.

Emotional development (eq) (emotional quotient) (emotional intelligence)

The next part of the curve would involve achieving a degree of emotional wellness, or emotional intelligence, which means developing empathy for others, identifying and managing our own emotions, and attaining a degree of emotional resilience to day-to-day challenges which may be stressful. A period of emotional healing is also necessary, during which we let go of lingering emotions from the past such as anger and resentment, and learn to forgive others as well as ourselves for past mistakes. This would apply to normal human development as well as training in metaphysics.

When it comes to emotional wellness, meditation is a recognised practice in some forms of therapy. It has also been shown to be useful as a means of de-stressing, as well as increasing the sense of control and self-mastery, which is certainly related to self-development.

Heightened levels of empathy that accompany an improved emotional intelligence (EQ) would correspond to an increased moral sense, which could also be related to metaphysical practices, which emphasise the brotherhood of man and the aspect of service to mankind.

The development of the mind.

Metaphysical practices also demand a clear and open mind. This means having to deal with outdated ideas, self-limiting beliefs and unwanted emotional ‘debris’ from the past, and ‘shifting gears’ to more universal or holistic patterns of thinking. Both self-development and metaphysics encourage this clearing or healing process, as well as the adopting of a more flexible framework of ideas which allows us to process and assimilate new insights and experiences.

the development of spiritual development or spiritual intelligence (spiritual quotient)

However, by its very nature, metaphysics extends beyond normal day-to-day self-development to include building a relationship with our subconscious minds, which will provide the underlying power for advanced new skills such as heightened sense perception, intuition, psychic sight and realisation of the higher self or soul. This meeting/ merging with the true human identity could be viewed as self-actualisation, and be seen as the apex of the developmental curve, or end of the self-development continuum.

Conclusion

The process of psychic and spiritual development as introduced in metaphysics follows a path similar to normal human self-development, but extends this process to include the highest possible levels of self-realisation. In this way it could be seen to have a foundation in human psychology and developmental processes.

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The Physics Behind Egg Catching: An Application of Impulse and Momentum

Question: You and a friend are entering an egg toss contest. The goal of this contest is to toss an egg the greatest distance without it cracking or breaking open. Describe your strategy for catching eggs that have been thrown a long distance without them breaking in terms of physics. Use terms like impulse and momentum.

Student’s Response was:

When trying to catch an egg with the furthest distance, there are several things to keep in mind. Things such as the weight of the egg, the distance you are throwing it, and how you catch the egg can change the results greatly.

First off, when throwing something as small as an egg, one must keep in mind that the further the distance, the more force is exerted into throwing the egg. With more force exerted into the egg, the more momentum there will be. This is especially important when catching the egg, because catching it the wrong way can result in it breaking.

The catching of the egg can be particularly difficult, because the egg is very brittle and fragile. In order to reduce the momentum, you must grab the egg by its sides so it does not splatter on your hand. The egg’s impulse which is it’s average force over a period of time, must be reduced in order to ensure a safe landing for the egg. By grabbing the egg by the sides, you are reducing it’s momentum and impulse to later make the egg fall into your palm.

Tutor’s response was: To win the competition, we need to throw the egg as high as we can. So when it fall down, it will have a high velocity as well. Mass of the egg is fixed. So if we need to win this competition, we should be prepared to face a high momentum that we will receive when it come down. Lets say that we take time “t” to catch this egg. So the force while catching the egg will be “F” given by:

F*t=m(vf-vi)

So F= m(vf-vi)/t

And we have already seen that mass m is fixed.

Also Vf =0 because the egg finally comes to rest after catching.

Vi is the velocity which was there just before catching the egg and we have already seen that, it will be very high if we want to win the competition.

Now, in order to decrease the force, the only thing that we can do is to keep the time of contact with our hands “t” as high as possible.

If we do that we will be able to reduce the force F to such a limit that the egg even though quite brittle, wont break.

To increase the time of contact we need to catch the egg in sweeping action. We need to move our hands downwards so that the relative velocity between the hand and the egg becomes less. This will effectively increase the time “t” and hence the Force F will be reduced.

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Hard Drive History

The hard drive is an important part of modern day computing, because it allows for information to be stored and then accessed at a later point. However, the modern day drive has its roots in technology that was developed over 50 years ago. The first drive was developed in 1956 and resembled what would look like a modern day air conditioning unit. The units of yesterday had extremely small storage capacities yet took up 100 times as much room. As technology evolved, the capacities of hard drives increased while they took up less and less space.

The Early Days

The first idea of a unit to store and receive data was imagined in 1953 by engineers at IBM. They recognized the need of a piece of hardware that could have high capacity, rapid access to the data, and be cheap to construct. The first technologies considered were wire matrices, rod arrays and even drum arrays. However, the disk drive was finally settled on as the unit of choice because of its ease of construction and easy mechanics. The first drive was the IBM 305 RAMAC system which could store 4.4 megabytes at a cost of $160,000 in today’s money.

1950s-1970s

The IBM 350 disk file turned out to be a very big success for IBM and the age of the hard drive was officially born. However, the performance of this first device was laughable in comparison to what the cheapest units can achieve today. The IBM 350 disk file was capable of accessing the information in less than 1 second – in comparison almost all hard drives in existence today can access information in just a few milliseconds. However, access time soon decreased substantially and by 1961 the 4000 series disk drives were capable of an access time of just 50 ms. In 1973, IBM introduced the IBM 3340 disk drive. This was the first hard drive that made use of lubricated and low mass media to ensure smooth operation and less maintenance.

The Personal Computer Era

When the personal computer revolution began in the 1980s, the primary means of storing and retrieving data on a computer was via floppy disks. Thus, most personal computers lacked a hard drive because they were still too expensive to manufacture and they couldn’t compete with floppy disks in terms of pure storage capacity. However, by the late 1980s they were starting to replace floppy disks as the primary method of storage on personal computers. By the mid-1990s virtually all personal computers shipped with some type of internal drive because they were now much cheaper than floppy disks in terms of the amount of storage available.

Present

After the hard drive became a staple in the personal computer industry in the early 1990s, they have continued to become faster, smaller, and with higher capacities. Hard drives are currently extremely cheap and can store large amounts of information, some on the order of up to 5 terabytes of data. The future of the devices isn’t clear, but most experts agree that they will be phased out and replaced with the much more technologically advanced solid state drive. A solid state drive doesn’t have moving parts and therefore has a longer lifespan and is easier to maintain versus a normal hard drive.

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Chronic Kidney Failure Stages – Stages 1 to 5 Explained

Chronic kidney failure stages are ranked from stage 1 to stage 5. If you have chronic kidney failure, your kidneys are slowly losing their ability to remove wastes and excess water from your blood. The condition is progressive meaning it gets worse over time. However, you can live with the condition for years before symptoms are seen.

The condition is also referred to as chronic kidney disease or chronic renal failure and affects approximately 2 out of 1,000 people in the United States. It is typically the result of other diseases and disorders that damage the kidneys. Diabetes and high blood pressure are two conditions that can lead to this chronic kidney disease.

There is no cure for the disease, however, if diagnosed in one of the early stages, medications and diet and lifestyle changes can help slow the progression of the disease.

Chronic Kidney Failure Stages

The National Kidney Foundation set 5 chronic kidney failure stages to determine the severity of the disease. The chronic kidney failure stages are based on the GFR level (glomerular filtration rate), which is a measurement of how quickly your kidneys are able to clean your blood. If your kidneys are healthy and functioning normally, your GFR level will be 90 mL/min or greater.

Stages

Normal = Healthy Kidneys with a GFR level of 90 mL/min or greater

Stage 1 = Kidney damage but normal or high GFR of 90 mL/min or greater

Stage 2 = Mildly decreased GFR of 60 to 89 mL/min

Stage 3 = Moderately decreased GFR of 30 to 59 mL/min

Stage 4 = Severely decreased GFR of 15 to 29 mL/min

Stage 5 = Kidney failure or dialysis. GFR of Less than 15 mL/min

In stages 1 and 2, there may be no noticeable symptoms. In these chronic kidney failure stages, the disease is usually diagnosed through lab tests that detect associated conditions such as high blood pressure, higher than normal levels of creatinine or urea in the blood, blood or protein in the urine, or evidence of kidney damage (i.e. MRI, CT scan, Ultrasound, contrast X-ray).

In stage 3, you may develop anemia and/or signs of an early bone disorder.

In stage 4, your kidneys are losing the ability to properly remove waste products and excess water from your body and you will need to prepare for dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant.

Stage 5 is also called end stage kidney disease, or end stage renal disease (ESRD). In this stage there is a complete or near complete loss of kidney function. Your body accumulates wastes, water, and toxic substances because the kidneys are unable to clear them from the body. In this stage you will likely need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.

Chronic Kidney Failure Stages and Prognosis

Chronic kidney disease is progressive and there is no known cure for the disease. Most cases will progress to later stages and require dialysis or a transplant.

If you undergo dialysis, you have an overall five year survival rate of 32 percent. If you receive a kidney transplant, you have a two year survival rate of approximately 90 percent depending on your donor.

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Probiotics for Diabetics

The term probiotic refers to micro-organisms such as bacteria and yeast that, when ate, have beneficial effects on your health. Foods that contain beneficial bacteria, such as 'live' yoghurts, are called 'probiotic'.

Normally we take antibiotics to fight bacteria, so the idea that you should ingest live bacteria appears a bit weird. Our bodies, however, are teeming with bacteria, most of which are beneficial. Indeed, there are more than 500 types in our stomachs, assisting our digestion and keeping our intestines healthy.

What probiotics do

The problem, when you take antibiotics to treat an infection, is that the antibiotic kill the friendly bacteria (the ones that aid digestion) along with the bacteria that are causing the infection.

As a result, the balance of good bacteria in the stomach is disturbed. According to researchers, taking probiotics helps stimulate the friendly bacteria so that your intestinal functions are improved.

Probiotics also help to maintain the immune system.

In societies where hygiene practices are good, as in the more advanced countries, there has been a sharp increase in autoimmune diseases (in which the immune system reacts against the tissues of its own body) and allergic diseases (in which the body has an abnormal reaction to substances that are usually harmless).

The increase in these diseases may be due under very hygienic conditions the immune system is not challenged by pathogenic organisms. In the view of medical researchers, probiotics can prime and strengthen the immune system.

Safety and probiotics

The consensus among medical scientists is that taking probiotics is safe and gives rise to few side effects. The only exceptions are patents with seriously weakened immune systems and severe illnesses such as pancreatitis.

For thousands of years people all over the world have been eating cheese, yoghurt and other foods containing live cultures. Thus it is not surprising that probiotics are considered safe-to-eat.

Curative power of probiotics

Several studies show that probiotics can help alleviate certain specific aliments. In 2011, a panel of experts at Yale University reviewed the published research.

The panel concluded that probiotics are most effective in the treatment of diarrhoea in children, ulcerative colitis, necrotizing enterocolitis (an inflammation of the intestines mostly seen in infections), and eczema due to cow's milk.

The experts also found that probiotics are effective in priming the immune system, and in preventing diarrhoea due to antibiotics and infections.

In addition, they determined that probiotics are less effective but ineffective in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, vaginitis, and diarrhoea caused by C. difficile bacteria.

In addition to all this good news, it now seems that probiotics can help you to control your blood glucose levels.

Probiotics and diabetes

Researchers in Taiwan recently developed a new probiotic strain call call Lr263. They added it to a high-fructose diet which they fed to rats for 14 weeks. They discovered that the bacteria decreased insulin resistance and delayed the development of type 2 diabetes.

Although it has yet to be tried out on humans, Lr263 may be a promising therapeutic agent in treating type 2 diabetes.

In another randomized, double-blind, clinical trial published by the US National Library of Medicine, 64 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 30 to 60 years, were divided into two groups.

Over a six-week period, the patients in the first group consumed 300 gram a day (g / d) of probiotic yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12, while those in the control group consumed 300g / d of conventional yogurt.

The researchers found that probiotic yogurt significantly decreased fasting blood glucose and haemoglobin A1c compared with the control group, and that that probiotic yogurt is a promising agent for the management of diabetes.

While more clinical trials are obviously needed to support these results, it does seem that diabetics can gain some benefits from consuming probiotics.

The problem is that commercial yoghurts are usually based on animal milk, such as cows or goats milk, and can not be consumed if you are following a plant-focused diet that excludes dairy product (as I am).

So the big question is: does non-dairy yoghurt (such as soy yoghurt) have the same probiotic benefits?

The answer is a clear 'yes'.

Non-dairy yoghurt

Making yoghurt involves adding bacteria to milk which causes it to ferment. The bacteria feed on the natural sugars in the milk and produce lactic acid which causes the milk to curdle and thicken to produce yoghurt.

Yoghurt can be made from any type of milk, cow's milk, goat's milk, soy milk etc. The medium is not important because the benefits of probiotics are created during fermentation, ie non-dairy yoghurt is made using the same process as dairy-based products.

What is important is the level of live active cultures in the finish product, and how well it is stored so that the cultures are not destroyed before they land in your stomach.

The problem is that commercial yoghurts are usually pasteurised after they have been made. This kills the live cultures. To compensate, the producers add probiotic bacteria back into the yoghurt after pasteurisation.

These added probiotics may not be the same as the probiotics created in the original fermentation and may not deliver the same benefits to your digestive system. But you can not tell from the labels.

You should also bear in mind that some commercial yoghurts contain added sugar and fruit, so you need to read the labels carefully. Your best choice is plain yogurt or light yogurt made from soy milk without added sugar.

Making your own yoghurt

If you find it difficult to find commercial 'live' yoghurt you like and trust, you can easily make yoghurt at home from non-dairy milk.

All you need is some UHT non-dairy milk (or fresh non-dairy milk you have boiled to get rid of the bacteria and allowed to cool) and a dollop of live yoghurt as a starter. A shop-bought pot of live yoghurt will do nicely as the starter.

You mix the milk and the starter together and then incubate the liquid at around 38 to 44c (100 to 112f) for a minimum of five hours. This ferments the milk, so it becomes thick and creamy, with that distinctive, slightly tangy flavor beloved of yoghurtistas.

The longer the fermentation period, the stronger the flavor will be. A nine-hour over-night fermentation period is not uncommon.

You can ferment the milk in most kinds of vessels, as long as you are able to maintain a constant temperature of around 40 degrees C and ensure that the culture can grow without being fallen or disturbed.

One way to do this is to use a thermos flask which you have preheated by filling it with boiling water before you put in the non-dairy milk and culture. However, although I know several people who make yoghurt successfully this way, getting the temperature approximately right right can be a bit tricky.

The simplest way to make your own yoghurt is to buy a yoghurt-maker, a relatively inexpensive investment, and follow the instructions.

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Skin Care Do's and Don'ts for Perfect Skin

Before the age of 25, you have the skin your mother wave you. After age 25, you have the skin youave yourself. Evidence for the truth in this skin care mantra can be seen in the faces of women all around you. Up until their mid-twenties, most women enjoy naturally vibrant, glowing skin. As the thirties approach, however, the skin begins to lose its elasticity and suppleness.

Fortunately, there are certain preventive measures you can take to keep your skin looking its best. Furthermore, certain products (such as Clarisonic's deep pore cleansing system) can help you forget your most radiant skin. Make the skin care dos listed below a part of your daily skin care regiment in order to see radiant skin for decades to come. On the flip side, by avoiding certain harmful skin care no-nos, you can prevent your skin from looking wrinkled and tired as you age.

Skin Care Dos

Do wear sunscreen. Everyone loves to feel the warmth of the sun on their skin, but remember that UV rays can cause wrinkles, sunspots and even skin cancer. Take care of your skin by applying sunscreen whenever you anticipate being out in the sun, even if only for twenty minutes. As a bare minimum, apply sunscreen to the face, chest, neck and hands, as the skin on these areas is generally the most sensitive to UV rays. A product such as Uber Dry Sunscreen SPF30 by Peter Thomas Rothes.

Do eat healthy foods. Food writer Michael Pollan's book In Defense of Food advises readers to, "Eat Food. Not too much. Pollan's simple, liberating approach to diet is definitely healthy for your skin as well. Vegetables and fruits are chock full of antioxidants, or special chemical compounds that break down cancer-causing free radicals in the body. Free radicals also cause cell damage to the skin. For healthy skin from the inside out, include colorful vegetables and fruits with every meal, and specifically aim to ingest plenty of vitamins C, E, A and beta carotene.

Do drink plenty of water. Water flushes out toxins and improvements circulation. Drinking 64 ounces (eight glasses) of water every day will keep your skin looking soft and supple. Additionally, it's good to have a couple of versatile moisturizing products on hand for those days when you know your water levels are low. For instance, after a night of heavy drinking, you may notice your cuticles drying out, causing painful, unsightly hangnails. This is a sign that there may be other areas of dry skin that need a little TLC.

Rather than buying a whole shelf of separate moisturizers for occasions like this, it's best to have a few go-to products that will perk up your skin every time. A product like Smith's Original Rosebud Salve, for instance, can be applied to dry lips, minor burns and patches of rough skin, such as on the knees and elbows. And best of all, Rosebud Salve is easy to keep on hand for when a skin care emergency pops up, since it is packaged in a small, round tin.

Do apply eye cream. The skin around your eyes is some of the most sensitive, delicate skin on the entire body. Take care of it (and avoid those telltale crow's feet!) By applying a daily eye cream. In case you're looking for a recommendation, check out Peter Thomas Roth's Un-Wrinkle Eye, which consumer studies have shown reduced wrinkle size up to 72% in just 28 days.

Don'ts Skincare

Do not smoke. If you need motivation to quit, just take some time to examine the skin of long-term smokers. Yellow, papery skin with plenty of wrinkles around the lips – this is what smoking will earn you. Quit. Today. Your skin will thank you for years to come.

Do not skimp on moisturizer. Moisturized skin is happy skin. Indeed, you'll notice that just after applying moisturizer, your skin will naturally plump up – sometimes enough to fill in those pesky wrinkles. Apply moisturizer when your skin is still damp from your shower or bath – this will lock in moisture and keep your skin looking plump and healthy all day long. Body oil is an especially luxurious way to moisturize your skin. Like all oils, Patyka's Absolis Precious Woods body oil creates a barrier layer that moisture can not penetrate.

Do not be sporadic about your skincare. Cleanse and moisturize every day to offset the pollution and other toxins your skin is exposed to on a daily basis. Whatever skincare products you choose to apply, use them religiously. An investment of just five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the evening can make a huge difference for your skin over a lifetime.

One way to encourage yourself to complete your skin care regimen is to invest in enticing products that make you excited about taking care of yourself. For instance, it's hard to put off using a Clarisonic Mia skin care brush, when just one daily application of your Clarisonic brush leaves skin looking almost brand new. (The Clarisonic brush vibrates back and forth more than 300 times per second, which thoroughly cleans skin and leaves pores so open that they actually absorb other skin care products better.)

In the end, your daily skin care choices will determine how youthful (or aged) you appear as the decades march on. Nurture your skin by following the dos and avoiding the don'ts listed above, and you'll enjoy perfect, healthy skin well into your golden years.

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How to Get Super Hard and Rock Solid Erections Naturally

Living with erectile dysfunction is not easy for any man. ED can put you in a tight spot when you get intimate with your woman. It can leave her highly disappointed in you. Though ED is a widespread problem among men, it’s something that can be treated even if you do not opt for prescription drugs, that are now infamous for their negative side effects.

Here are some simple, easy and effective ways to help you get harder, stiffer and longer lasting erections:

1. Try Korean Ginseng

This is a herb that can do wonders for your sex life. What makes it so credible is that it is one of the few herbs that is backed with clinical studies to confirm its effectiveness in treating sexual dysfunction in men.

It is a powerful adaptogen. What it means is that it’s a herb that not only supports your endocrine system to overcome stress but also provides your body with an incredible burst of energy. This gives you more power to perform in bed. It’s important to keep in mind that a lot of men fail in bed because of stress, anxiety and other psychological issues.

By reducing stress, ginseng can help you get harder and stiffer erections, instantly on arousal.

2. Try to Increase Your Nitric Oxide Secretion

Nitric oxide is the sex chemical which your brain instructs your body to release when you get sexually aroused. It helps smooth penile muscles relax so that blood vessels can dilate and more blood can flow into the erectile tissue, making your penis hard, stiff and rigid.

Here are some simple ways to increase nitric oxide production in your body:

1. Try to increase your intake of Vitamin C – Vitamin C is not just great for your arterial health but also helps boost nitric oxide secretion. It’s a powerful antioxidant that prevents nitric oxide molecules from being destroyed by free radicals in your body.

2. Breathe with just one Norstil – This is a weird trick but it can be effective in increasing nitric oxide. Cover your mouth and one norstil with your hand and breathe with your other norstil for a few moments. Repeat the process with the other norstil. This is kind of a yoga asana that can help boost nitric oxide production in your body.

3. Consume Icariin – Icariin is a natural flavonoid that’s present in herbs like muira pauma and horny goat weed. What makes it effective for treating erectile dysfunction is that it is a powerful PDE5 inhibitor. The active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil citrate is also a PDE5 inhibitor. That’s why Icarrin is called “Natural Viagra”.

3. Exercise Regularly

If you want to enjoy better sex life, it’s important to take care of your overall fitness. By working out regularly, you lose excess body fat and increase blood circulation in your body. Exercise greatly helps in improving your cardiac health. A better working heart means a better working penis, since your erections clearly depend upon the volume of the blood that your heart can pump.

4. Try Natural Male Enhancement Pills

Natural male enhancement pills are one of the best and most effective ways to improve your erectile health. Such pills are a perfect blend of herbs, amino acids, vitamins and other nutrients that not only increase blood flow to the penis but also help boost nitric oxide and testosterone secretion in your body.

Top of the line pills ensure complete sexual enhancement for men. They not only help you get rock solid erections but also boost your ejaculatory control so that you can last longer in bed. In addition to this, they also help enhance your stamina so that you can recovery quickly after an ejaculation and enjoy sex multiple number of times in a single night.

In other words, such pills can help you perform like a stud in bed.

Top-notch pills contain ingredients like l-arginine, tribulus, horny goat weed, long jack, saw palmetto etc. They are backed with clinical approvals too.

So, if you want to get super hard and rock solid erections, check out the Best Penis Pills that have helped thousands of men like you over the past decade.