Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
World first for strange molecule - Rydberg molecule
Laser experiment The researchers excite an atom to the "Rydberg state" using a laser
A molecule that until now existed only in theory has finally been made. Known as a Rydberg molecule, it is formed through an elusive and extremely weak chemical bond between two atoms. The new type of bonding, reported in Nature, occurs because one of the two atoms in the molecule has an electron very far from its nucleus or centre.
It reinforces fundamental quantum theories, developed by Nobel prize-winning physicist Enrico Fermi, about how electrons behave and interact.
The Rydberg molecules in question were formed from two atoms of rubidium - one a Rydberg atom, and one a "normal" atom.
The movement and position of electrons within an atom can be described as orbiting around a central nucleus - with each shell of orbiting electrons further from the centre.
A Rydberg atom is special because it has one electron alone in an outermost orbit - very far, in atomic terms, from its nucleus.
Back in 1934 Enrico Fermi predicted that if another atom were to "find" that lone, wandering electron, it might interact with it.
"But Fermi never imagined that molecules could be formed," explained Chris Greene, the theoretical physicist from the University of Colorado who first predicted that Rydberg molecules could exist.
"We recognised, in our work in the 1970s and 80s, the potential for a sort of forcefield between a Rydberg atom and a groundstate [or normal] atom.
"It's only now that you can get systems so cold, that you can actually make them."
Right place, right time
Unimaginably cold temperatures are needed to create the molecules, as Vera Bendkowsky from the University of Stuttgart who led the research explained.
"The nuclei of the atoms have to be at the correct distance from each other for the electron fields to find each other and interact," she said.
"We use an ultracold cloud of rubidium - as you cool it, the atoms in the gas move closer together."
At temperatures very close to absolute zero - minus 273C - this "critical distance" of about 100nm (nanometres - 1nm = one millionth of a millimetre) between the atoms is reached.
When one is a Rydberg atom, the two atoms form a Rydberg molecule. This 100nm gap is vast compared to ordinary molecules.
"The Rydberg electron resembles a sheepdog that keeps its flock together by roaming speedily to the outermost periphery of the flock, and nudging back towards the centre any member that might begin to drift away," said Professor Greene.
Pushing this electron out to its lonely periphery - and make a Rydberg atom - requires energy.
"We excite the atoms to the Rydberg stage with a laser," explained Dr Bendkowsky.
"If we have a gas at the critical density, with two atoms at the correct distance that are able to form the molecule, and we excite one to the Rydberg state, then we can form a molecule."
This ultracold experiment is also ultra-fast - the longest lived Rydberg molecule survives for just 18 microseconds.
But the fact that the molecules can be made and seen confirms long-held fundamental atomic theories.
"This is a very exciting set of experiments," added Helen Fielding, a physical chemist from University College London.
"It shows that this approach is feasible, and it will be interesting to see what other fundamental physics we'll be able to test with it."
Prize-winning ideas
Professor Greene's prediction that Rydberg molecules could exist was inspired by another Nobel prize-winning piece of physics research.
Albery Einstein
The Bose-Einstein condensation was a new way of thinking about matter
When, in 1924 the Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose sent some theoretical calculations about particles to Albert Einstein, Einstein made a prediction.
He said that if a gas was cooled to a very low temperature, the atoms would all suddenly collapse into their "lowest possible energy state", so they would be almost frozen and behave in an identical and predictable way.
In a sense this is analagous to when a gas suddenly condenses into drops of liquid.
When scientists reached the goal of Bose-Einstein condensation, by cooling and trapping alkali atoms, Professor Greene realised that ultracold physics could be used to form molecules that simply would not exist in any other conditions.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8013343.stm, 23 April 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Matthew Chapter 5 (CG Sharing-18 April 2009)
5章
3.「虚心」：Poor in Spiri直译是「灵里贫穷」，即自知灵性贫乏，在神面前无可恃赖。
4. 「哀恸」：指为己罪及为世界的不平与不幸而悲恸。这种伤感是与他身同感受，为世上的创伤和罪恶而难过。故此，哀恸不仅包括了为一己的罪而难过，也包括了为世界可怕的景况、人们拒绝救主，和那些拒绝神慈爱的人，将来命定的恶果而难过。这些哀恸的人必得安慰，那时「神要擦去他们一切的眼泪」(启二一4)。信徒今生要为这一切而哀恸；但不信的人今生所受的哀伤，只是将来永远哀伤的前奏。
5. 「温柔」：(圣灵果子之一)指对神柔顺、对人谦和。摩西为人极其谦和（可译：温柔），但并非胆小，而是勇敢。
6. 「慕义」：渴望个人在神面前被称为义、行事合神心意，并盼望世上公义得彰。人活着不是单靠食物，乃是靠神口里所出的一切话。
7. 「怜恤」：耶稣看见有需要人的时候也会有怜悯的心肠。神已经赦免我们千万两了，难道我们还要不能原谅弟兄的十两吗？
8. 「清心」：内心清洁无伪。
9. 「和睦」：和平制造者(Peacemaker)。
10-12. 「为义受逼迫」：即为了行公义，更因信从耶稣，听祂命令而受逼迫(见11)。7福之后，详细说明此第八的福，暗示忠心致死是累积德行，生灵果子的最高表现。世界固然弃绝了我们，但神的国却为我们开了。
13. 盐用来调味；能防止腐坏；能消毒；必须先融化才能发挥咸的功能。
这国所用的盐是一种化合物──若盐失去咸味，或失去独特的味道，就再没有什么用途了。可是，在东方的国家，他们所用的盐是不纯净的，混杂了疏菜和地上的物质；故此，那些盐可能会失去原先的咸味，有很大部分没有咸味的分量遗下(没有味道的盐)。这些盐没有什么用处，即或的确用上它，正如经上所说，把它放在路上或遭人践踏，就好象我们把碎石铺在路上一般。(注4)
14. 光能照亮；保持在正轨；发热；生命（生物失去阳光便会死掉）
15. 灯和灯台
Source: http://www.pcchong.com/Stones2/Stone2_7.htm
18. 一点(yod)是希伯来文中最小的字母；一画是一个小标记或突出的记号，用来分辨字母，就好象英文E字下的小画，用来分辨F一样。
21-26. 「拉加」：即「蠢材」；「魔利」：就是「笨蛋/呆子」
29-30. 对付罪必须要有决心
31-32. 恋爱的目的是结婚
33-37. 有必要 起誓吗？
39-41. 原则：不与恶人作对，好好对待恨你的人，以爱为出发点。约8：59 帖后3：10
3.「虚心」：Poor in Spiri直译是「灵里贫穷」，即自知灵性贫乏，在神面前无可恃赖。
4. 「哀恸」：指为己罪及为世界的不平与不幸而悲恸。这种伤感是与他身同感受，为世上的创伤和罪恶而难过。故此，哀恸不仅包括了为一己的罪而难过，也包括了为世界可怕的景况、人们拒绝救主，和那些拒绝神慈爱的人，将来命定的恶果而难过。这些哀恸的人必得安慰，那时「神要擦去他们一切的眼泪」(启二一4)。信徒今生要为这一切而哀恸；但不信的人今生所受的哀伤，只是将来永远哀伤的前奏。
5. 「温柔」：(圣灵果子之一)指对神柔顺、对人谦和。摩西为人极其谦和（可译：温柔），但并非胆小，而是勇敢。
6. 「慕义」：渴望个人在神面前被称为义、行事合神心意，并盼望世上公义得彰。人活着不是单靠食物，乃是靠神口里所出的一切话。
7. 「怜恤」：耶稣看见有需要人的时候也会有怜悯的心肠。神已经赦免我们千万两了，难道我们还要不能原谅弟兄的十两吗？
8. 「清心」：内心清洁无伪。
9. 「和睦」：和平制造者(Peacemaker)。
10-12. 「为义受逼迫」：即为了行公义，更因信从耶稣，听祂命令而受逼迫(见11)。7福之后，详细说明此第八的福，暗示忠心致死是累积德行，生灵果子的最高表现。世界固然弃绝了我们，但神的国却为我们开了。
13. 盐用来调味；能防止腐坏；能消毒；必须先融化才能发挥咸的功能。
这国所用的盐是一种化合物──若盐失去咸味，或失去独特的味道，就再没有什么用途了。可是，在东方的国家，他们所用的盐是不纯净的，混杂了疏菜和地上的物质；故此，那些盐可能会失去原先的咸味，有很大部分没有咸味的分量遗下(没有味道的盐)。这些盐没有什么用处，即或的确用上它，正如经上所说，把它放在路上或遭人践踏，就好象我们把碎石铺在路上一般。(注4)
14. 光能照亮；保持在正轨；发热；生命（生物失去阳光便会死掉）
15. 灯和灯台
(图一)灯在灯台上
(图二)灯在斗底下
巴勒斯坦的房屋十分黑暗，只有一个小小圆形的窗户，可能直径只有十八寸。灯是船形，好像一只酱油碟子那样，里面盛着油、浮着灯芯。在火柴尚未发明之前要重燃一盏灯并非易事。人们外出的时候，就把灯从灯台上拿下，放在斗底下(图二)，使点燃的灯不致在他们回来以前发生危险。Source: http://www.pcchong.com/Stones2/Stone2_7.htm
18. 一点(yod)是希伯来文中最小的字母；一画是一个小标记或突出的记号，用来分辨字母，就好象英文E字下的小画，用来分辨F一样。
21-26. 「拉加」：即「蠢材」；「魔利」：就是「笨蛋/呆子」
29-30. 对付罪必须要有决心
31-32. 恋爱的目的是结婚
33-37. 有必要 起誓吗？
39-41. 原则：不与恶人作对，好好对待恨你的人，以爱为出发点。约8：59 帖后3：10
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Does modern life cause allergies?
An allergy epidemic is sweeping parts of the world. Sue Emmett reports on a huge study in India which researchers hope will help them discover why.
Two Indian cities could help scientists uncover the secrets of allergies
It has long been suspected that the environment and the modern way of life are in some way responsible for the rise in allergies in the Western world.
In the Indian cities of Mysore and Bangalore the affluent middle classes are growing at a rapid pace and its members are pursuing increasingly Westernised lifestyles.
They live alongside poorer rural and urban communities which retain a more traditional way of life.
As the ranks of the middle class have expanded, doctors have observed that so has the incidence of allergic asthma.
Social groups
Project leader Dr Mahesh Rao says researchers have established that there has been a 50% rise in asthma in the area in past five years.
Yet the more traditional communities are the least affected.
This appears to follow a pattern that has been seen in other parts of the world where Westernisation has taken place, he says.
Advertisement
Dr Mahesh Rao explains how the Indian middle classes are more susceptible to allergies than those living in rural communities.
The speed and scale of development in these two south Indian cities plus the proximity of different social groups has made them ideal locations for the examination of the impact of modern lifestyle on allergy.
The study team will compare and contrast a number of factors including diet, exercise, hygiene and the keeping of animals, in 20,000 homes in southern India.
Dr Rao said: "The main hypothesis we are setting out to examine is that affluence and the modern lifestyle is related to the rise in allergic asthma.
"In the traditional communities, children are exposed to bacteria and animals at an early age.
"They are generally breastfed, eat healthy food and get plenty of exercise.
"They do not have access to junk foods, perfumes, soaps and chemicals which we suspect may be factors in the growth of allergic asthma."
Stark difference
Dr Rao is concerned that unless more is understood about the causes of allergic asthma, the number of cases will continue to rise.
This could present an alarming economic and social burden as India continues to become more westernised, he warns.
ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE?
An allergy is when the immune system reacts to a harmless substance such as a food or pollen, as if it isn't safe
A severe allergy can cause a potentially life threatening shock known as anaphylaxis
An intolerance does not affect the immune system
An intolerance is generally not life threatening and the symptoms less severe
An intolerance is being unable to digest certain foods such as lactose in milk
His team is also carrying out related studies into food allergy.
The research is part of a series of studies taking place in many countries - including the UK - with the aid of European funding.
Norwich-based Dr Clare Mills, co-ordinator of the EuroPrevall projects, said: "One of the things about India is that they have such a stark difference in lifestyles virtually within the same postal districts.
"We are hoping that this study into asthma along with a raft of other studies into food allergy will help unlock some of the mysteries of allergy."
Dr Mills, who is based at the UK's Institute of Food Research, said: "What is unique about these projects is the sheer size.
"Research has never been done on this scale before, across so many countries, using the same protocols.
"We will be able to establish a huge database of valuable information.
"For example we have eight studies, one of which is in the UK, looking at food allergy from infancy.
"We recruit mothers before they give birth, examine what they eat during pregnancy and monitor their babies afterwards. Ultimately we would like to follow them to adulthood.
"We are already finding big differences in the prevalence in food allergy across borders. Allergy is lower in Athens than it is in Amsterdam and we are hoping to find out why that is."
'Huge problem'
The project is also attempting to establish the cost to the Western world of the high incidence of allergy in a series of studies of several European countries.
It is thought that the cost may turn out to be much higher than at first feared.
It will look not just at the cost of providing health and support services but also at lost education and work days.
Allergy expert Dr Adrian Morris says that occupational asthma is a huge problem in the UK with 2,000 new cases being reported every year.
Dermatitis is another big problem, when workers come into contact with a substance to which they are allergic.
In recent years the UK health service has been hit by allergy among its staff to latex, particularly the gloves that are worn by doctors and nurses.
Tanya Dodd, from Scarborough in North Yorkshire, was a trainee nurse when she suffered from an anaphylactic shock in the middle of a hospital ward.
"I can't go to hospital because there is so much latex around. If I were ill I would have to be treated on the scene" - Tanya Dodd
It was only a few months before she was due to sit her qualifying exams but she realised her allergy to latex had become so serious that she could never set foot in a normal hospital ward again - even if she were ill herself.
"It has turned my life upside down. I had to give up a job that I loved. I am now so sensitive to latex that I can react to particles of it in the air," she said.
"I have to cook all my own food because a lot of prepared food will have come into contact with latex. Food handlers wear latex gloves in the factory."
"I am having to gut my house and adapt everything in it to make sure there is no latex present."
Dr Morris said the cost of occupational allergy can be high.
Bakers can become allergic to wheat flour; hairdressers to hair dye and florists to flowers. The symptoms may not occur until after repeated years of exposure.
He adds: "Any advances that lead to either the prevention of treatment of these conditions are welcome."
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7989873.stm, 16 April 2009
Two Indian cities could help scientists uncover the secrets of allergiesIt has long been suspected that the environment and the modern way of life are in some way responsible for the rise in allergies in the Western world.
In the Indian cities of Mysore and Bangalore the affluent middle classes are growing at a rapid pace and its members are pursuing increasingly Westernised lifestyles.
They live alongside poorer rural and urban communities which retain a more traditional way of life.
As the ranks of the middle class have expanded, doctors have observed that so has the incidence of allergic asthma.
Social groups
Project leader Dr Mahesh Rao says researchers have established that there has been a 50% rise in asthma in the area in past five years.
Yet the more traditional communities are the least affected.
This appears to follow a pattern that has been seen in other parts of the world where Westernisation has taken place, he says.
Advertisement
Dr Mahesh Rao explains how the Indian middle classes are more susceptible to allergies than those living in rural communities.
The speed and scale of development in these two south Indian cities plus the proximity of different social groups has made them ideal locations for the examination of the impact of modern lifestyle on allergy.
The study team will compare and contrast a number of factors including diet, exercise, hygiene and the keeping of animals, in 20,000 homes in southern India.
Dr Rao said: "The main hypothesis we are setting out to examine is that affluence and the modern lifestyle is related to the rise in allergic asthma.
"In the traditional communities, children are exposed to bacteria and animals at an early age.
"They are generally breastfed, eat healthy food and get plenty of exercise.
"They do not have access to junk foods, perfumes, soaps and chemicals which we suspect may be factors in the growth of allergic asthma."
Stark difference
Dr Rao is concerned that unless more is understood about the causes of allergic asthma, the number of cases will continue to rise.
This could present an alarming economic and social burden as India continues to become more westernised, he warns.
ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE?
An allergy is when the immune system reacts to a harmless substance such as a food or pollen, as if it isn't safe
A severe allergy can cause a potentially life threatening shock known as anaphylaxis
An intolerance does not affect the immune system
An intolerance is generally not life threatening and the symptoms less severe
An intolerance is being unable to digest certain foods such as lactose in milk
His team is also carrying out related studies into food allergy.
The research is part of a series of studies taking place in many countries - including the UK - with the aid of European funding.
Norwich-based Dr Clare Mills, co-ordinator of the EuroPrevall projects, said: "One of the things about India is that they have such a stark difference in lifestyles virtually within the same postal districts.
"We are hoping that this study into asthma along with a raft of other studies into food allergy will help unlock some of the mysteries of allergy."
Dr Mills, who is based at the UK's Institute of Food Research, said: "What is unique about these projects is the sheer size.
"Research has never been done on this scale before, across so many countries, using the same protocols.
"We will be able to establish a huge database of valuable information.
"For example we have eight studies, one of which is in the UK, looking at food allergy from infancy.
"We recruit mothers before they give birth, examine what they eat during pregnancy and monitor their babies afterwards. Ultimately we would like to follow them to adulthood.
"We are already finding big differences in the prevalence in food allergy across borders. Allergy is lower in Athens than it is in Amsterdam and we are hoping to find out why that is."
'Huge problem'
The project is also attempting to establish the cost to the Western world of the high incidence of allergy in a series of studies of several European countries.
It is thought that the cost may turn out to be much higher than at first feared.
It will look not just at the cost of providing health and support services but also at lost education and work days.
Allergy expert Dr Adrian Morris says that occupational asthma is a huge problem in the UK with 2,000 new cases being reported every year.
Dermatitis is another big problem, when workers come into contact with a substance to which they are allergic.
In recent years the UK health service has been hit by allergy among its staff to latex, particularly the gloves that are worn by doctors and nurses.
Tanya Dodd, from Scarborough in North Yorkshire, was a trainee nurse when she suffered from an anaphylactic shock in the middle of a hospital ward.
"I can't go to hospital because there is so much latex around. If I were ill I would have to be treated on the scene" - Tanya Dodd
It was only a few months before she was due to sit her qualifying exams but she realised her allergy to latex had become so serious that she could never set foot in a normal hospital ward again - even if she were ill herself.
"It has turned my life upside down. I had to give up a job that I loved. I am now so sensitive to latex that I can react to particles of it in the air," she said.
"I have to cook all my own food because a lot of prepared food will have come into contact with latex. Food handlers wear latex gloves in the factory."
"I am having to gut my house and adapt everything in it to make sure there is no latex present."
Dr Morris said the cost of occupational allergy can be high.
Bakers can become allergic to wheat flour; hairdressers to hair dye and florists to flowers. The symptoms may not occur until after repeated years of exposure.
He adds: "Any advances that lead to either the prevention of treatment of these conditions are welcome."
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7989873.stm, 16 April 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Use left ear while using cell phone
Please use left ear while using cell (mobile), because if you use the right one it will affect brain directly. This is a true fact from Apollo medical team. Please forward to all your well wishers
Friday, April 3, 2009
Chest Pain - 2
04 March 2009 (Friday) - My chest was aching again. It started at 11.10am to 1.10pm. The pain was just a bite left hand side from the middle point of my chest. For the first half an hour the pain was really intense until I felt like not to walk around but to sit down quietly at one place. I was having a class from 10pm to 12pm. It was a short break at 11.10pm. The pain started just after a few seconds I went out from the classroom. I can feel that the pain was happening at the same spot. So, what i can tell is one of the bubble has burst. The paining was on and off. After that first half an hour, the pain was getting lesser. So, i think the pain was not felt completely after 2 hours. Suppose it has recovered naturally.
On the same day, i felt the pain twice again on the afternoon around 4pm and on dinner time at 7.30pm. It was just sudden pain and recovered in a very short period of time (like less than half and hour).
04 April 2009 - At 12.00am I felt the pain again before i went to bed.
At 09.00am, I again felt the aching when i got up.
For the whole day the pain was on and off.
05 April 2009 - The pain was on and off as well. The pain was like yesterday's ones which were minor pain.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
這輩子都沒看過的雲
今天從 BoingBoing 看到這樣壯觀的Mammatus Clouds' （中文可譯作「乳狀積雲」），除了感嘆大自然的奧妙， 也對攝影師高明的構圖技巧十分佩服。
這一系列的 mammatusclouds 圖片是由 JornOlsen 所攝， 地點在美國的內布拉斯加州（ Nebraska ）。
資料來源說，下沈的氣流造成了這樣罕見的 mammatusclouds。 雖然從外型上看來，mammatusclouds 給人一種不祥的感覺， 但其實它們一點殺傷力也沒有，也不代表有龍捲風正在形成， 這是一種普遍的誤解。 事實上， mammatusclouds 出現的時間，往往是在劇烈的雷雨過去之後。
攝影師 JornOlsen 在自己的個人網站上面，完整地展示了這組照片。
這一系列的 mammatusclouds 圖片是由 JornOlsen 所攝， 地點在美國的內布拉斯加州（ Nebraska ）。
資料來源說，下沈的氣流造成了這樣罕見的 mammatusclouds。 雖然從外型上看來，mammatusclouds 給人一種不祥的感覺， 但其實它們一點殺傷力也沒有，也不代表有龍捲風正在形成， 這是一種普遍的誤解。 事實上， mammatusclouds 出現的時間，往往是在劇烈的雷雨過去之後。
攝影師 JornOlsen 在自己的個人網站上面，完整地展示了這組照片。
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