Quantum Psych

allie moss: No More Sandwiches?!

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:58:28 -0400

If you’ve followed my blog or career for any length of time, you may have picked up on the fact that I LOVE sandwiches … and how I hardly mention them anymore. This is because back in March of this year, I was told I had a gluten sensitivity. Since then I’ve cut gluten out of my diet and my health…

humansofnewyork: ‎”I’ve been a widow for five years now. And I...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:55:43 -0400

humansofnewyork:

‎”I’ve been a widow for five years now. And I guess I’m worried that men look at me, and how I dress, and just don’t ‘get it.’ My late husband ‘got it,’ of course. I’d love to meet someone, but I’m not going to change anything about myself to do it.”

ANCIENT LIFE-SIZE LION STATUES BAFFLE SCIENTISTS

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:55:41 -0400

ANCIENT LIFE-SIZE LION STATUES BAFFLE SCIENTISTS:

nypl:

Two sculptures of life-size lions, each weighing about 5 tons in antiquity, have been discovered in what is now Turkey, with archaeologists perplexed over what the granite cats were used for.

They were guarding an ancient library, clearly.

qbits: 5th grader Kameron Slade finally gets to deliver his...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:55:39 -0400

qbits:

5th grader Kameron Slade finally gets to deliver his speech on marriage equality before New York City Council.

Q.

humansofnewyork: Guy on the far right decided he’d try a pet...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:50:39 -0400

humansofnewyork:

Guy on the far right decided he’d try a pet first and see how that goes…

biomedicalephemera: “Ringworm” - Tinea faciei As most of you...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:50:37 -0400

biomedicalephemera:

“Ringworm” - Tinea faciei

As most of you know, ringworm isn’t really a “worm”, or even an animal parasite. The condition is caused by one of over forty species of fungi (called dermatophytes) that live on the skin surface, and feed on keratin. The spores thrive on warm, wet surfaces, but can entrench themselves almost anywhere on the body. The name of the condition is determined by the location of infection - tinea capitis is on the scalp, tinea pedis is on the foot (athlete’s foot), tinea cruris is in the groin (jock itch/”crotch rot”), etc.

As the fungi are extremely easily spread by person-to-person contact, kids and people in institutional settings tend to contract the condition much more often than independent adults.

The original treatments for ringworm included mercury (oral and topical), sulfur, and iodine. Treatment of the scalp (tinea capitis) was considered more difficult than on the body, and frequently, x-ray treatment was used to kill the fungus.

The routine and accepted use of ionizing radiation to cure tinea capitis led to a long-standing incident among the Ashkenazi communities in Europe and the Middle East, called the “Ringworm affair”. Starting in 1910, several hundred thousand people (mostly children) from close-knit Jewish communities were treated for the condition, in an attempt to eradicate it from a population known to routinely harbor or manifest the condition. However, the treatments were poorly-executed, the patients rarely had full information as to what was being done to them, and the excessive exposure to ionizing radiation is estimated to have killed at least 6,000 children shortly after receiving treatment (within 2 weeks). At least 100,000 other people have had long-term effects from the program, such as cancers, genetic anomalies in their children, and thyroid function problems.

The x-ray treatment program, which was for the most part well-intentioned but disastrously-executed, did not end until 1959, when the first effective and relatively safe antifungal compound, griseofulvin, was developed.

Illustrated Skin Diseases, An Atlas and Text-Book. William S. Gottheil, 1906.

mineralia: Topaz with Quartz from Pakistan by Dan Weinrich

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:50:36 -0400

mineralia:

Topaz with Quartz from Pakistan

by Dan Weinrich

Two More Patients HIV-Free After Bone Marrow Transplants

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:46:35 -0400

Two More Patients HIV-Free After Bone Marrow Transplants:

jade-claire:

“Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston have discovered that, following bone marrow transplants, two men no longer have detectable HIV in their blood cells.

The finding is significant because it suggests that by giving these patients transplants while they were on anti-retroviral therapy, they may have been cured of the AIDS-causing virus…”

"To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark."

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:46:34 -0400

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.”

- Victor Hugo (via nypl)

thisbelongsinamuseum: In honor of the London Olympic Games,...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:42:16 -0400

thisbelongsinamuseum:

In honor of the London Olympic Games, which starts today with its official opening ceremony, let me tell you about the World’s First Sand Sculpture Museum that has been built in Japan. What does 100,000 years of accumulation of rock and mineral particles over 323 acres, the largest such dune in Japan, have to do with merry old England? Well, let me tell you. The Tottori Sand Dunes, about 100 miles northwest of Osaka, have had several temporary sculpture exhibits over the years, but they finally decided to turn into a real, permanent museum. The first regular exhibit (open between now and next January) was created by fifteen sculptors from around the world and pays homage to Britain’s culture and history with depictions of famous figures like Queen Elizabeth I, Charles Darwin and William Shakespeare. Buildings like Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace have also been recreated as well as the famous rainy lifestyle (check out those umbrellas, mate). Don’t bring around a cloud to rain on my Olympic parade. Actually please do. I’ll laugh.

(Image Source)

Look at the detail on that! It feels as if I’m looking at a painting rather than a sculpture—made of sand, no less! Each and every window has its own pane, each tree its own unique branch. Bravo, Japan!

humansofnewyork: A couple weeks ago, I posted this photo with...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:38:43 -0400

humansofnewyork:

A couple weeks ago, I posted this photo with this caption: ”He barely spoke any English. But I did gather that he’d recently moved from Cuba, and had come to America for ‘La Libertad.’”

After seeing the post, the man sought the services of a translator in order to fully express his story. Here is the version that showed up my inbox today:

“This is my story and it’s real. I was born in the humble town of Central Guatemala on the Island of Cuba after Castro’s revolutionary triumph. I have been living in exile in the USA for the past 3 years. I come from a very beautiful and united family. I miss and love my family immensely. I never stop thinking about them, not even for an instant. Despite living here in America I still worry about their well-being and day-to-day necessities.

My mother, who is the most precious person in my world, is battling cancer. Not being able to see her face-to-face and tell her how much I love her deeply hurts me. Due to Castro’s cruel dictatorship, however, living in America means that my entry into Cuba is not permitted. As such, it’s not possible for me to see my mother, to hug her, and to tell her how much I miss her. I am afraid that I may never see my mother again.

Being a professional sportsman gave me the opportunity to represent Cuba in a workshop in Venezuela named ‘Barrio Adentro Deportivo’, which is one of the methods used by the Cuban regime to portray Castro’s dictatorship as benevolent. Many of us are ‘selected’ to go abroad using coercion, deceit and threats. If you refuse to go, the regime degrades your economic and social status. Some Cubans opt to follow this charade and use it as a means to improve their social and financial status. Others, like me, decide to use it as a gateway and potential escape to a better life.

Migrating to a new country has been a very difficult experience, as it has been for many other Cubans who, like me, made the decision to leave Cuba to be embraced by this and other nations. These adopting countries have given many of us their support and solidarity because they are aware of the suffering we have experienced in leaving behind our families, friends, culture and, often, our hearts. Many of us have risked our lives fleeing through the borders of several nations in search of liberty. It is shameful and painful, but nevertheless true, that many Cubans have to face such calamities in order to achieve a right that The Creator has given to all humanity: the right to freedom.”

humansofnewyork: I think that, between the three of them, all...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:38:38 -0400

humansofnewyork:

I think that, between the three of them, all of the colors in the crayon box have been covered.

Beautiful, unique women going for what they love. Amazing.

humansofnewyork: I stumbled upon a National Treasure...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:33:12 -0400

humansofnewyork:

I stumbled upon a National Treasure yesterday.

I was walking down 3rd Avenue when I noticed an old man in a wheelchair. He was being pushed by a caretaker. Despite his physical condition, he had dressed with extreme care. He wore an outlandish yellow outfit. Everything about him was yellow, from his shades to his socks. Intrigued by his appearance, I bent down and asked for a photograph. He silently nodded approval.

After I’d taken his photograph, his caretaker offered a formal introduction: “This is Banana George,” she said, “the world’s oldest barefoot waterskier. He’s 97 now. When he was 92, he set the world record for the oldest person to waterski barefoot.”

Banana George didn’t even begin waterskiing until he was 40. But it soon became his passion. So much so that he began doing shows at Cypress Gardens— hopping jumps and riding with women on his shoulders. In the course of his career, he’s broken his back 4 times. He’s also broken his ankle, knee, and eleven ribs. Banana George waterskied until the last possible moment. I’ve seen footage of a very old George being pulled through the water in a wheelchair-on-skis, smiling like a madman.

Here you can see a short video I found of Banana George skiing on his 90th birthday: http://bit.ly/ri0bD3

Banana George is a testament to loving life, and he deserves to be celebrated. I discovered that his family set up a fan page for him. It only has 835 people so far. Let’s show George how much we love his spirit, and join his fan group: http://on.fb.me/P0f087

let-no-one-bring-you-down: Back Story: With me being only 16,...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:33:10 -0400

let-no-one-bring-you-down:

Back Story: With me being only 16, my parents wanted me to make sure I knew how to get around NYC by myself. To help elevate their fears, my whole family and I, along with our god-parents, went to NYC for the day.

We got to the subway gates and my MTA card would only let in 4 people, this would exclude our god-parents. So the lady to the left actually let us use her MTA card for the both of them.

Even though it was only $5, it’s just small gestures like this that makes me feel good in a world full of hate and racism. Although I’m probably getting a bit sentimental.

If anyone know who she is, tell her thank you from me (Billy). We saw her on Sunday, July 22, 2012 on the ACE downtown platform at Penn Station around 9-10AM.

Why Some Diseases Wait in Your Body For Decades Before Striking

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:33:08 -0400

ziyadmd:

Almost any disease will spend some time in your body before making you ill, summoning its forces or just lying in wait. But some maladies are even more patient than that.

Some ailments can spend decades lurking in your body, dormant and unknown, until they suddenly spring to life. Let’s take a look at some of the most patient diseases that you could already have, without knowing.

The most famous, and the most dreaded, virus that stays dormant in the body for years is HIV — which introduced many people for the first time to the notion that you could look perfectly healthy but still have a communicable virus. But there have always been illnesses that had incubation periods of anywhere from years to decades. And these diseases have spurred many legends about how they were spread, and why they stayed hidden — but today we’ll look at the facts.

Read More

Are Olympic Sports Creating a Race of Mutants?

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:23:26 -0400

ziyadmd:

Athletes who perform at the elite level aren’t like the rest of us. Their feats of strength, accuracy, and endurance often appear superhuman — which probably explains why we enjoy watching them so much. And the suggestion that many of these athletes are somehow performing outside of “normal” human bounds is not an exaggeration. Professional sports, it would seem, are being increasingly dominated by the mutants among us.

Humanity is a pretty diverse bunch. We come in all shapes and sizes, and with varying gifts. And it just so happens that some of these variations can lend themselves to specific sports. Some people benefit from happy accidents — physical “mutations” that can help an athlete adapt to a particular sport. It’s Darwinian selection on the playing field, with athletes working to attain Dawkinsian fitness peaks (quite literally).

The result of this selectional process is that the last man and woman standing are often way outside the human norm.

Read More

biomedicalephemera: Tinea versicolor Top: Manifestation in...

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:05:26 -0400

biomedicalephemera:

Tinea versicolor

Top: Manifestation in 18-year-old male
Bottom: Causative yeast cells

Unlike the other skin mycoses (called tinea - from Latin, “meaning a gnawing moth, or bookworm”), tinea versicolor is not caused by the same dermatophytes of the genus Ascomycota that most “ringworm”-type afflictions belong to.

Tinea versicolor is a yeast, which is a fungus of the phylum Basidiomycota, and a fairly common condition. Between 2 and 8% of people in the United States express this condition, especially during the summer months, as tinea versicolor thrives in hot and humid conditions when there is excess skin oil and dead skin cells to consume. Among young adults and adolescents, this condition affects almost 10% of individuals.

These yeasts (Malassezia furfur and Malassezia globosa) are not considered harmful, and are generally asymptomatic aside from its dermatological manifestation. When the condition recurs during multiple summers, the source of the yeast is generally high environmental concentrations of the spores; unlike many vegetable or animal parasites, the yeasts that cause tinea versicolor are not known to lay dormant on humans for more than a few weeks.

The original cures for this condition included both oral and topical mercury treatments - needless to say, topical mercury did kill the fungus, but you can’t exactly justify the harm done, just to clear up a harmless condition that isn’t all that disfiguring to begin with. These days, tolnaftate (brand name Tinaderm) and selenium sulfide (like in Selsun Blue shampoo) are used to treat the condition, and can generally clear up the condition. However, when the source is due to high environment concentrations, it can often recur, especially while one is maturing, and skin oil/dead skin cells are more prevalent than usual.

Treatise on Diseases of the Skin, for the use of Advanced Students and Practitioners. Henry W. Stelwagon, 1914.

Team Teachers: ELL for non-ELL Teachers: Part 1

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 02:05:24 -0400

Team Teachers: ELL for non-ELL Teachers: Part 1:

allisonunsupervised:

As we approach the ready-or-not-here-it-comes part of the summer, I thought I’d offer some information and suggestions for content teachers looking to better meet the needs of English Language Learners.

While I am certified to teach K - 12, my experience is strictly…