Tips to help marathon runners complete race revealed
A dietitian has revealed some nutrition tips that could help marathon runners cross the finish line on the day of the race. Registered dietitian and board certified specialist in sports dietetics (CSSD), Brooke Schantz, said that long-distance runners should plan their fiber intake wisely, as foods such as high-fiber cereals, grains, granola bars, fruits and vegetables could lead to uncomfortable intestinal distress and cramping come race day. She said that runners should weigh themselves before and after long runs. For every pound they lose during the run, they will need to replace it with 16 ounces of water. Schantz asserted that they should prepare for various weather conditions, as heat will increase sweat rate and lead to a higher loss of salt. Sweat is the body’s way of eliminating generated heat. In colder temperatures, runners will require more calories to help maintain their core body temperature. Hydration needs also may increase in cold weather if inappropriate clothing is worn. She said that runners should monitor their urine, as its colour is a great indicator for assessing hydration status. The clearer the colour, the more hydrated a runner is. (ANI)
Now, 3D printed toothbrush tailor-made for your teeth
A new 3D printed toothbrush that is tailor-made to fit an individual’s mouth has been developed.
To brush teeth with ‘Blizzident’, all a person needs to do is bite down on it. While the user bites and grinds, a dense field of tailored bristles cleans all the teeth within 6 seconds, its makers claim. The bristles resemble normal toothbrush bristles but are much finer and tapered to reach under the gumline better. To tailor the toothbrush for each individual, a 3D model of the teeth is created from a dental scan. The dental scan is used to create a computer aided design (CAD) model of the brush, which is converted into a 3D object using stereolithography, a method in which liquid plastic is cured into a shape with an ultraviolet laser. The bristles are then attached to this object. The biting motion when using Blizzident, achieves the effect of the Modified Bass technique (in which the brush is positioned at a 45-degree angle to the teeth roots and brushed back and forth), and the Fones technique (in which the brush is held at right angles to the teeth and brushed in large circles), the Blizzident makers say. The tailor-made toothbrush costs USD 299. (PTI)
Now, robo choppers to ensure safe medical evacuations
Roboticists from Carnegie Mellon University teamed up with aerospace experts from Piasecki Aircraft and Boeing to give a big copter not only eyes and ears, but also perception, planning, and control. Their system uses light-based sensors to scan the terrain below, building up first a two-dimensional map and then a three-dimensional representation. That way, a planning module can work out a route to a landing spot near a medical case in need of evacuation, making sure that the helicopter never flies through a tree, a telephone wire, or any other impediment. Once a landing site is chosen, the system sends the copter back to the site for its landing run. The system continuously checks its plan against new data coming from the sensors and makes adjustments if necessary. Two roboticists from the team have now set up a spinoff company, Near Earth Autonomy, that is working on a Navy program to equip many kinds of full-size helicopters with robotic systems. The goal is to enable the machines to pick up and drop off cargo and medical casualties, even if the robotic system has not had the chance to fly over the site beforehand. (ANI)
Kids born to mums under 30 at higher risk of childhood death
A new research has found that children born to mothers under 30 are more likely to die than those born to older mums. While overall child mortality fell by 50 percent in the past 20 years, young maternal age was found to be a risk factor for death in early childhood, according to a report on child deaths in the UK. Support should be extended to mothers of all ages, not just first-time teenage mums, the report said. The research was led by the Institute of Child Health at UCL, the BBC reported. It looked at why children die in the UK using death registration data from January 1980 to December 2010. It focused on child injuries, birthweight and maternal age to assess the risk factors for child deaths. The research found that in England, Scotland and Wales, the difference in mortality between children of mothers under 30 and those born to mothers aged 30 to 34 accounted for 11percent of all deaths up to nine years old. This is equivalent to an average of 397 deaths in the UK each year, the report said. (ANI)
Office couples more likely to walk down the aisle
Relationships which begin in the workplace are more likely to last longer and lead to marriage, a new survey has claimed. While workplace romances may be frowned upon by companies and colleagues, couples who met in office are more likely to end up married than those who met through any other way. About 14 per cent of couples who meet in their job go on to marry while only about 11 per cent of those who meet through friends do the same. However, meetings in a pub or nightclub is 23 per cent likely to result in just a fling, much like 13 per cent of couples that meet on holiday. The study looked at the detailed love life of 2,000 adults, over half of which believed that the situation in which you meet your partner can have a huge impact on its success and duration, ‘metro.co.uk’ reported. As we spend so much of our time in the workplace it’s ‘inevitable’ that close ties will be formed, said a spokesperson for CBS network, which commissioned the study. “But being in a relationship where you work in the same place as your partner also means you have something in common before you even get to know each other, and being in the same career means you are both like-minded and have similar interests,” the spokesperson added. Besides couples who meet at workplace, those who meet through a friend or at university are also likely to enjoy a long-term relationship. Friends who start dating and online couples also have a greater chance of finding long-lasting love. (PTI)