Back to the Dark Ages: Cardboard Trebuchet

Trebuchet construction is an ancient engineering feat. The machine destroyed masonry walls and threw objects in a projectile path. I found instructions on how to make a cardboard trebuchet able to hurl baseballs from instructables...
How to Make a Medieval Trebuchet Out of Cardboard - More DIY How To Projects

Woodworking for engineer

I happened upon this site by Matthias Wandel called woodworking projects for engineers. It has machinery guides, home improvement tips, construction plans and tools.

This led me to look up some woodworking howto's on Youtube...

Daffodil Day

With your help, there is hope.

What you can do:

• Watch the commercial below to learn more about the cause
• Embed the the video clip to your website or blog during August
• Make a donation to the Cancer Society

Thank you for your time!

Cancer III

1. Journal of Hematology & Oncology at jhoonline.org
2. Molecular Cancer at molecular-cancer.com
• angiogenesis, metastases
• cancer antigens and immune response
• Epidemiology, genetic and molecular profiling
• cancer prevention, diagnosis and therapy
• vaccine and antibody therapies
• Martignoni, Kunze & Friess (2003) discussed cachexia. Cachexia syndrome is the general decline of patients suffering from end-stage diseases.
3. Radiation Oncology at ro-journal.com discusses molecular and cellular radiation, radiation physics and technology.
4. Stem Cell Research & Therapy at stemcellres.com will be launched soon. It will include results of:
• Animal, pre-clinical and clinical trials
• Cell type considered are adult, embryonic, and induced pluripotent stem cells.
• Drug development, engineering and biomaterials.
5. World Journal of Surgical Oncology at wjso.com includes topics such as:
• epidemiology, biomarkers and molecular biology;
• prevention and pathology;
• radiology, clinical trials and multimodality treatment.

Cancer Part II

1. Hereditary Cancer in Clinical Practice at hccpjournal.com, a cancer genetics forum for health care strategies to discuss
• Inherited predisposition to cancer,
• Molecular and cytogenetics analysis, and
• Genetic counselling.
2. Infectious Agents and Cancer at infectagentscancer.com. A journal on the pathogenic mechanism of chronic infections leading to cancer.
Helicobacter pylori has a proposed link to gastric cancer (Akhter, 2007). Marshall and Warren (1984) discovered H. pylori in stomach of ulcer and gastritis sufferers. The young are more susceptible to this pathogen and longterm lifestyle factors lead to gastric cancer pathology.
3. International Seminars in Surgical Oncology at issoonline.com
4. The Journal of Angiogenesis Research at jangiogenesis.com will be launched soon.
5. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research at jeccr.com. The "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute publishes articles on aspects such as immunology, epidemiology, pathology of cancer.
A provisional article is about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) potential to treat liver cancer (Wu et al, 2009). Commonly used products were ginseng, astragalus and mylabris. The scientists pointed out publication bias existed to favour positive results.

Cancer - Part 1

BioMed Central gives open access journals about cancer. The journals are:

1. BMC Cancer
• BioMedical Central includes cancer pathophysiology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
• Recent research by Korean cancer researchers found fatty fish and omega-3 fatty acid intake reduces breast cancer risk. [ Read the article abstract ]
2. Breast Cancer Research at breast-cancer-research.com covering topics:
• Normal mammary gland biology,
• Genetic, biochemical and molecular factors, and
• Phase I and II clinical studies.
3. Cancer Cell International at cancerci.com
• Readers can find and subscribe the latest articles in this feed.
• Sagar et al. reviewed the role of stem cells in cancer therapy and cancer stem cells. Stem cells repair blood and immune system during chemical and radiation therapy, whereas cancer stem cells lead to cancer development.
4. Cell Division at celldiv.com
• An biology community forum discussing eukaryotic cell cycle including process regulation, development and cancer formation. An example:
• Sa & Das (2008) tested curcumin, or diferuloylmethane, a phytochemical with the potential to regulate cancer cell signal pathways. Curcumin is a plant derived polyphenol that could stop cancer from spreading or cause the cells to die (apoptosis).
5. Head and Neck Oncology at headandneckoncology.org
• Includes aetiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, assessment, management, follow-up and prognosis for cancer in the head and neck
• The most accessed article for Head and Neck Oncology was about refeeding syndrome (Mehanna, 2009). The condition affects people who start eating after a long period of starvation, particularly head and neck cancer patients. Symptoms may be difficulty in swallowing, electrolyte imbalance and disturbed metabolism. Treatment involves diet planning with fluid, electrolyte and vitamin supplements.
  

Rat Heaven on Earth

Delux rat cage to contrast with rat-killers in recent articles. Features:

• Double decker hammock
• Tubes with vegetables
• Tunnels
• Wheel
• Absorbent bedding and liner

Carnivorous Plants

Pitchers Nepenthes shown in the photo above are carnivorous plants that catches prey and digests them in modified leaves. Their natural habitats are bogs and fens. Enthusiasts have to accept odours of such environment.The video clip below shows a poisonous pitcher plant capturing insects.

The traps work by:

• Pitfall Traps - folded leaves holding digestive enzyme.
• Flypaper - leaves covered in sticky stalks
• Snap Traps - hinges shut when triggered.
• Suction Traps - hinged, shaped like a bladder.
• Lobster Pot - twisted tubes with hair and glands.

Examples

Pitfall Traps

Nepenthes maxima from Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Flypaper

Sundews (Drosera rotundifolia) by Sandy Richard

Gnats stuck on butterworts

Suction Traps

Bladderwort or Utricularia nelumbifolia by Don Coyote.

Snap Traps

The first pitcher plant that I learned about was the Venus fly trap. (Photo by Simon Whitaker).

Source:

• Botanical Society of America: Carnivorous or Insectivorous Plants

Devil's Claw

Devil's Claw may sound ominous. The endangered African plant has been used to treat arthritis, fever, diarrhea and blood diseases. Georgiev et al. developed Biofactories to extract active ingredients iridoid glycosides 'harpagoside and harpagide'.
Original Article from EurekAlert: New 'biofactories' produce rare healing...

Trash to Ocean

Consider the Pacific ocean being gradually filled in with trash, because that's what's happening.

Rat Terminator

Rats are pests. They are hard to get rid of. Some methods have toxic side effects that makes pets sick or or dangerous to unsuspecting children. Scientists discovered a pitcher plant in the Philippines that trap animals as big as rats and dissolves the carcass with acidic enzymes. The plant was observed nearly a decade ago, with its existence confirmed by Steward McPherson and Alastair Robinson.Original Article by Chris Irvine at UK Telegraph:

Rat-eating plant discovered in Philippines

Microscope Close Up

Microscopes are a familiar sight in a biotechnology laboratory. This is a black and white close up for a Nikon C-W10xA/22. I always get that expectant feeling just before you take a look-see.

Rice from Tissue Culture

This is part of the collection provided from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). And here is the rest of it.

Bioreactor

Green algae growth require a photo-bioreactor.

What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology is technology based on biology. Some applications are

1. bioinformatics,
2. blue biotechnology or marine and quatic applications,
3. green biotechnology or agricultural applications,
4. red biotechnology or medicinal applications, and
5. white biotechnology or industrial applications.

More about Biotechnology

• Biotechnology journal on Nature
• New Zealand Biotechnology Learning Hub
• Biotechnology impact on industry in OECD countries.
• Techniques on BIOZONE.
• New Zealand's biotechnology sector.

Cadbury Creme Egg

Got some Cadbury creme eggs today in time for Easter. These were made as early as 1923 by brothers Richard and George Cadbury in Bournville, Birmingham, England. The chocolate shell covers the white and yellow fondant filling.

• Cadbury World is a museum
• The Wikipedia Entry on Cadbury Creme Eggs.
• Product information on global site provides a history and gallery
• Cadbury Confectionery New Zealand
made the one I bought. I'm looking forward to eat mine.

How do you eat yours?

Redhead Pains

Apparently redheads require more anesthesia during medical procedures. The gene MC₁R is responsible for hair colour and pain receptors. The mutation that results in pheomelanin production, rendering hair red, also increases sensitivity to pain. For complete article, see source:[via Tara Parker-Pope at the New York Times]

International Youth Day // Bloggers Unite

International Youth Day // Bloggers Unite

• The first observance of International Youth Day was in 2000
• This year's theme is Sustainability: Our Challenge. Our Future. For more information, see UN website.
• Activity: Shoot Nations Photo Competition. Enter the competition at shootnations.org.

Posted using ShareThis

Weather in Taiwan

Typhoon Morakot is causing chaos. Washington Post reports today that around 400 people have gone missing.

Satellite image uploaded by Yilaner.

End of July Update

This weekend has been a busy one.

Yesterday I made 60 invitations. Each piece is 1/3 of A4. The background is a burgundy card. The text were printed on cream paper.

Today I got onto starting a dress. It's going to be a balloon hem. The inner section will be A-line. The outer section 1-2 inches longer and gathered in order to get that upside-down tulip shape. The hem ends at the knee. I am not sure how to proceed but there's always a back up dress for the event.

I think I am making up for last week. Everyday I read books. There was Middlesex, Murder du Jour and a Rosalind Franklin biography. She's the "dark lady of science".

July 2009 Entrecard Top Droppers

Thank you for supporting my blog! This is the final post to list monthly top droppers. You now have a permanent space on my blog on the right column below.

Dropper	# of drops
Daisy the Curly Cat	4
The Dialogue	4
Did I miss something	4
Tycoon Blogger	3
Filipina Work At Home Amateur	3
Bible Examples	3
My Heart Voice	3
Seek No More	3
Toronto City Life	3
Mom Two Ways	3