Sonya: This

Showing posts with label This. Show all posts

Sunday, November 27, 2016

This temporary tattoo monitors blood sugar

Tiny sensors embedded in the tattoo can detect glucose levels and may even be able to detect blood levels of other compounds, such as alcohol or illegal drugs. (Photo: UC San Diego News Center)

For patients with diabetes, measuring and monitoring blood sugar levels throughout the day is vital for keeping their condition in check. But the finger-prick method of testing blood sugar deters many patients who find the tests too difficult or unpleasant to perform. Now, diabetes patients may have a new noninvasive method for blood sugar monitoring that's as easy as applying a temporary tattoo.

Nanoengineers at the University of California, San Diego have designed a flexible sensor that can be printed on temporary tattoo paper and applied to the skin to test blood sugar levels. The sensor uses a mild electrical current to measure glucose levels in a person’s body. It's inexpensive, easy-to-use, and best of all, painless.

The tattoo is a series of carefully placed electrodes that measure glucose molecules in the fluid of the skin. It gives off a very mild electrical current that forces sodium ions in the fluid towards the tattoo's electrodes, carrying glucose molecules with them along the way. The sensor built into the tattoo uses this information to measure overall glucose levels.

To test the new device, the research team evaluated seven healthy, non-diabetic patients between the ages of 20 and 40. According to a UC San Diego news release, none of the participants reported feeling any irritation or discomfort from the tattoo, while a few felt some mild tingling within the first 10 seconds of wearing it. To test how well the tattoo was able to pick up changes in glucose levels, researchers asked volunteers to eat a carb-rich meal and drink a soda in the lab. The device performed just as well as the traditional finger prick in detecting the glucose spike from the meal.

With the current prototype, the tattoo must be removed so that glucose levels can be analyzed, but researchers are hoping that this early design will lead to a model that can display numeric glucose levels right on the tattoo. Researchers are also working on embedding Bluetooth capabilities into the tattoo, meaning blood sugar data could be sent directly to a patient's doctor or smartphone. They also envision other uses for the design, such as monitoring prescription drug levels, proteins, metabolites, or even illegal drugs or alcohol levels — all without the dreaded poke from a needle.

This research was published in the journal Analytical Chemistry (pdf).

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

This Too Shall Pass

According to Wikipedia, "This Too Shall Pass" is an expression taken from a Jewish folktale about King Solomon. To this guy, apparently, it means a lot, as he decided to tattoo the expression in Hebrew, on his ribs.

I find it a bit ironic that a permanent tattoo says "This Too Shall Pass". Had it been correct, I might have found it a bit clever too.

In any case, while the spelling on this Hebrew tattoo is fine, there is one big flaw - it lacks spacing between the words of the expression.

See, "This Too Shall Pass" reads in Hebrew as "Gam Zeh Ya'avor" - 3 words. There should be spaces between the three words. Like this:

Or like on this Hebrew T-Shirt:

Yes, boys and girls. It might come as a shock, but the Hebrew language utilizes the space. Just like English. Don't forget to use it!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

What This Girl Did To Protest ‘The Australian Shark Cull’ will blow your mind!

In a performance protest against the Australian shark cull and the global slaughter of sharks, a woman risks it all to dance on the seafloor with swarms of tiger sharks up to 17 feet long without any dive or protective gear.

And the message, “End the War on Sharks” resonates throughout this piece….

Australian Hannah Fraser, the world’s most celebrated mermaid/underwater model and a dedicated conservationist, decided to dive head-first into the battle and make a profound statement in opposition to her government’ shark cull philosophy. Teaming up with Emmy Award winning cinematographer and photographer Shawn Heinrichs, and the world’s leading authority on interactions with large “predatory” sharks, Jim Abernethy, the trio embarked on a dangerous mission, the likes of which has never before been attempted.

Their objective – to present these magnificent creatures in a true and positive light by capturing iconic imagery of Hannah face-to-face with a massive 15 foot tiger shark, her hand resting gently on it’s massive head. What made this shoot entirely unique was that Hannah was devoid of any scuba or free-dive gear, dressed only in a tiny costume and airbrush body paint to create the perfect artistic vision. Without mask, fins or any sort of protective gear, she had to rely solely on her skills, training and experience, along with the diligent support of her expert team, to ensure the shoot went off without a hitch. There was no room for error, as one mistake could have resulted in severe injury or worse. Despite the risks, the team was resolute in their mission to create the most groundbreaking imagery to oppose not only the Australia shark cull, but also the global slaughter of sharks

In a knee-jerk response to several shark attacks off the west coast of Australia, the West Australian (WA) government implemented a shark cull to make beaches “safe” again for bathers. Despite intense domestic and international opposition, and overwhelming scientific evidence disproving the effectiveness and justification for the cull, the WA government remained resolute in carrying out the cull. Among the species most effected are Tiger Sharks, and despite the critical ecological role this species plays, and the fact that their numbers have already been severely depleted throughout their range, and having just concluded the initial cull period, the government appears committed to reinstating the cull when they deem “appropriate. Premier Colin Barnett claimed the policy has been a success, stating ‘They were tiger sharks. They are proven around the world to be a dangerous shark.’

Imagery of this nature has never been seen before, and the team believes it will surely bring significant international attention to the global plight of sharks. This is just one exciting chapter in Hannah and Shawn’s journey to bring these stories of inspiration to the planet, with the goal of putting a stop to destruction of our oceans. Their journey together will be told in a new feature film “Tears of a Mermaid” to be released next year.

To discover how the team pull off this incredible shoot, go to:

www.tearsofamermaid.com

Shawn Heinrichs

Friday, November 18, 2016

This New Anti Anxiety Cannabis Milk is Coming to a Store Near You Soon

There is now a completely legal way to enjoy the benefits of CBD in a refreshing drink. Relax by Rawligion is made from 100% organic hemp milk that contains CBD oil.

It claims to help soothe anxiety, relieves pain, stress, and also helps as a sleep aid.

As well as CBD oil, Relax contains hemp seeds, cashews, dates, coconut oil, vanilla, and water.

The product is the brain child of Michael Isted, a psychotherapist and development consultant for Rawligion, who decided the world needed a drink that contains all the benefits of CBD.

CBD doesn't have any psychoactive properties, so it won't get you high, but it will supply you with all the goodness of it's source - hemp.

You don't need to get high from CBD oil to feel the benefits of it's properties. CBD oil reacts with the body’s endogenous cannabinoid system, which controls the body’s homeostasis, which has a positive effect on your mood, sleep, pain, immune response, and hormone regulation.

CBD is gaining a reputation not just as a cannabis extract, but as a new, innovative medicine. On November 1st, CBD will turn into a recognized medicine when a new legislation is passed.

Does is work?

Made with vanilla, coconut oil, and of CBD oil, Relax taste like almond milk with a cannabis aftertaste, but will it relax you like it says it will?

Rawligion’s founder John Taba says that it does. He says they have had reports from customers feeling calm and tranquil.

Taba has also commented on the carefulness you should adopt to get the full benefits of the drink:

"It’s subtle, but so far all who have consumed the drink mindfully have felt the desired effect. I don’t mean to use the word mindfully in a hipster way, just more a case of someone actually paying attention to how they feel before hand, during drinking and afterwards instead of having it as a drink to wash down a meal with!"

**This was originally featured on organicandhealthy.org