Archive for August 2011
Despite its name, ringworm is caused by a fungal infection and commonly affects humans and domesticated animals. This condition was originally named ringworm because it causes raised red rings on the body, it is also commonly called tinea and has the official name dermatophytosis. There are many different species of fungi that cause ringworm and they also affect different areas of the body. The most well known conditions caused by ringworm are athlete’s foot and jock itch. Ringworm is best avoided through prevention, but it can be treated with antifungal creams and oral medication in severe cases. In the past ringworm was treated with mercury, sulfur, iodine, antiparasitic medication and x-rays in hairy areas. Continue reading to find out who discovered that fungi that causes ringworm.
Leather is a material that is renowned for its durability and flexibility. These features make it suitable for the manufacture of many different products. It is most commonly used in the manufacturing of shoes, bags, wallets, clothes and furniture. There are many different types of leather, but the production process remains fairly standard.
Portugal is the westernmost country in Europe which is bordered to the East by Spain. It is a member country of the European Union and the United Nations. Portugal has a long and rich history as a nation as was once a genuine Superpower of the world. The following are some fun facts about Portugal.
Lead is the 82nd element on the periodic table and is represented by the symbol Pb. It is a soft metal with a bright appearance that quickly turns a dull gray color when exposed to air. It is usually found with ores of zinc, silver and copper; and is mined and extracted at the same time as these metals. Lead is toxic to humans at certain levels and can damage the nervous system and cause brain damage. Lead accumulates in the body and it is common for damage to occur over many years of exposure. Despite this fact, lead has many uses in a wide variety of industries.
Almost everyone is familiar with the story of the RMS Titanic. A ship that was advertised as virtually unsinkable, that sunk on 15 April 1912 after colliding with an iceberg on its maiden voyage. Due to a variety of factors, including the fact that the ship did not contain enough lifeboats for all the passengers, 1,517 people died. It remains one of the worst maritime disasters to occur in peacetime. The ship went down in about 4km of water, which meant it couldn’t be located until searching techniques had sufficiently advanced. The wreck was discovered on September 1 1985. If you have ever wanted to know who built the Titanic, read on to find the answer.
Alcoholics Anonymous, best known as simply AA, is one of the most well known treatment and recovery programs for alcoholism. This helped countless numbers of people to beat their alcohol addiction and there are more than 100,000 registered groups and 2 million members worldwide. The program utilizes the, now famous, 12 step program to guide people through the recovery from alcoholism. These steps involve admitting the problem, asking for help from a higher power, apologizing for past mistakes, finding someone to and continuing to remain sober. Membership is anonymous and confidential, but members are not bound to follow these guidelines. As with all treatment and recovery programs, the effectiveness of AA is hard to accurately ascertain.
The Gleason scale is a guide for medical professionals to assess the outlook for those suffering from prostate cancer. It is an important method for predicting how aggressive the cancer is likely to be for the patient. Generally speaking, patients with a high Gleason score are likely to have an aggressive form of cancer and have a lower chance of survival. Knowing this score gives the medical professionals a guide for the type of treatment that should be undertaken.
From the time we get our first teeth we have all been taught that brushing our teeth is very important. Brushing our teeth not only keeps our mouth clean, but it also prevents the buildup of plaque and tartar. This can cause problems such as tooth cavities and gingivitis (gum disease). Although a manual toothbrush is very effective for cleaning your teeth when used correctly, there are certain situations where an electric toothbrush is highly beneficial. If you have ever wondered who invented this useful device, read on to find the answer.
Eva Mendes is a celebrity actress who began her career with many minor roles in film and television. She shot to prominence when with a role alongside Denzel Washington in the 2001 movie “Training Day.” Her career quickly took off and she became an actress in high demand. Although her career has probably not quite reached the heights expected of it, she still has plenty of time to leave her mark on Hollywood. The following is a list of movies that Eva Mendes has acted in during her career so far.
The human body is made up of over 200 bones by the time we reach adulthood. Our skeleton is essential for supporting organs, anchoring muscles and protecting our vital organs (heart, lungs and brain). It makes up about 30 or 40% of our total body weight. Most of us are born with over 300 bones which fuse together as we grow. Amazingly, more than half of our bones are in our hands and feet. We are well aware of most of the large bones and in our body, especially if we have broken one, but have you ever wondered which is the smallest bone?