Porcupine Quills To Aid Medical Equipment Design

New research has implied that porcupine quills may hold the key to less painful hypodermic needles. The natural shape of the porcupine spines allows easy, smooth penetration. It also makes them difficult to remove.

Porcupines use their quills as protection; they can shed them before escaping a predator, often burying them in their assailants’ skin before running. These sharp barbs then lodge themselves tightly in the flesh.

A recent study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It discusses the unique build of the quills, revealing why they are such an effective weapon. The reasons are twofold; the quills have sharp, piercing cone-shaped tips as well as microscopic barbs that face the opposite direction. These barbs gather the force of the stab at the tip, providing cleaner, faster penetration as well as anchor the quill in the flesh. In other words, less pressure is needed in order to penetrate the resisting tissue.

Dr. Jeffrey Karp of Bringham and Women’s Hospital in Boston explained:

“We were most surprised to find that the barbs on quills serve a dual function. Namely, the barbs reduce the penetration force for easy insertion into tissue and maximize the holding force to make the quills incredibly difficult to remove.”

The findings should improve the design of needles and other medical equipment, according to the researchers.

Karp said:

“Towards medical applications we developed plastic replicas that remarkably mimicked the reduced penetration force and increased pullout. This should be useful to develop next generation medical adhesives and potentially design needles with reduced pain.”

Get the Most Out of Your Sleep

The use of phones and other mobile devices is becoming more and more common, and especially from bed. This habit may actually have a negative effect on sleep quality.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, “more than 90 percent of Americans regularly use a computer or electronic device of some kind in the hour before bed.” Researchers have found that the “exposure to light from computer tablets significantly lowered levels of the hormone melatonin, which regulates our internal clocks and plays a role in the sleep cycle.”

Those suffering from mild sleep disorders or disturbances may want to consider turning off all electronics prior to bed. Here are some other sleep-supporting habits to try, from Womansday.com:

  • Go to bed earlier. As simple as it seems, going to bed earlier can help you get the extra sleep your body craves. Even if you don’t feel tired, try lying down about an hour earlier until you get a full 7-8 hours each night.
  • Relieve stress. People with uncontrolled stress are more prone to insomnia. But exercise, meditation, yoga and other techniques can help you relax. Do something to relieve stress each day.
  • Let it out. Try to decrease your brain activity before bed by writing down your thoughts in a journal. It will help clear your mind so you can close the book on today and move forward.
  • Turn down the lights. It’s more difficult to fall and stay asleep in a room that is too bright. Wear a sleeping mask and close the blinds and curtains to diminish light and set the mood for sleep.
  • Relax a little. Schedule some downtime each day for meditative activities like stretching, reading or enjoying a hot bath. This can help you unwind after an intense, stressful day so you’ll sleep more soundly.
  • Eat at regular intervals. This keeps your energy and blood sugar levels stable all day long. With fewer highs and lows, you’ll be alert all day and ready to sleep at night.
  • Add white noise. Most people can’t fall asleep when it’s too loud. Wear ear plugs to drown out disturbing sounds and turn on “white noise,” like a fan or rain CD, so you can sleep more soundly.

4 Tips for Off-Road Bike Riding

bikeOff-road biking has become one of the hottest trends today. While it’s certainly a blast to ride on road with friends, it’s even more fun to feel the dirt under your tires and to be with nature when you ride. Before you jump on a fully-equipped bike, however, and get started, you really should have some tips under your belt. Here is a quick list of suggestions to keep in mind. Certainly, for even more information, you can subscribe to a magazine through the National Publishers Exchange like Bicycling. The National Publishers Exchange is featuring this one at the moment, and it would mean that you’d have constant advice and suggestions coming to your door each month.

1. Never bike alone. Even when you become a very experienced biker, you never know what will happen out there. It’s always recommended that you bike with a partner and you should, of course, have a cell phone on you in case of emergency.

2. Have the right equipment. If you get a flat near a gas station, you can get it fixed there. If you get a flat in the middle of the desert – you’re going to be stuck for a long time. Make sure, as you head out, that you’ve got all the tools you need including spare tires, biking tools, etc.

3. Start slowly. Off-road biking is hard work. Don’t assume that you can just jump on the bike and start moving. Speak to a biking specialist before you start to make sure you’ve got a comfortable seat, that you have the right front suspension and that you’ll be traveling with the right supplies. Then, start with a short trip and build up from there.

4. Keep yourself hydrated and fed. Make sure to bring enough water for the trip (and then some) and to have some granola bars or energy packs with you.

Get ready for a great adventure off-roading!

Instagram Launches New Year’s Eve Photo Stream

instagram_nye_large_largeInstagram’s New Year’s Eve photo stream is the first of its kind. Featuring photos of confetti throwing, countdowns, romantic dinners and exciting parties, the gallery collects and organizes all New Year’s photos documented by users across the globe.

Instagram’s blog explained:

“We love seeing photos shared from all different parts of the world. At instagran.com/nye, you can see photos from every part of the world as the clock strikes midnight in a given time zone.”

The navigation button at the bottom of the page allows users to jump between time zones. The stream is available in desktop and mobile settings, though the desktop browser version has many additional features.


Instagram has been working to expand their business by moving from a mobile-only app to a larger, broader platform. The desktop New Year’s Eve photo stream reveals a glimpse of what they have planned.

 

Hong Kong Skyscrapers Share Holiday Cheer

877448_160_160Neighborhood homes and local stores are not the only buildings adorned with flashy holiday lights this year- in fact, some of the most intricate and flashy designs can be found on skyscrapers in Hong Kong!

The light-images displayed are complex and enormous, displaying Santa Claus in various scenarios, frolicking reindeer, snowmen, Christmas trees, colorful gifts and so much more. Created mostly by Terence Wong, the images are an expression of the former electrician’s calling.

“It is my passion,” Wong explained. “I never want to stop.”

He added, “Every day I think about Christmas- all year!”


He explained that his enlightened career began over three decades ago, when a property developer wanted stars suspended from the tops of his buildings. Since then, Wong has developed new styles and techniques for building light displays. He began setting the lights up with the help of window-cleaning platforms, eventually perfecting his work to create intricate, moving images.

Wong added that his business is hardly affected by economic changes. In fact, businesses and property owners actually focus more on display when financial times are rough.

Wong’s craft actually follows an ancient tradition in Chinese culture. The people love light displays, and they have incorporated them in their art and celebrations for centuries. Traditional light displays use breathtaking lanterns and fireworks instead of electric lights.

Kate Middleton- Pregnant!

News of Kate Middleton’s pregnancy has swept the world like a storm. Excitement, curiosity and concern are only a few of the raging emotions in Britain and beyond.

Here, ABC News explains the situation, enlisting a doctor and another hyperemesis gravidarum sufferer to provide accurate information regarding Kate’s condition and hospitalization.

As laws are changing, Kate and William’s child will be third in line to the throne, bumping Prince Harry down to fourth.

ABC’s Lama Hasan reports: