Topics

61

Tennis / Only three players have a winning record against Rafael Nadal

« on: September 02, 2015, 10:26:41 AM »

Rafael Nadal has played almost 1,000 matches in his career against hundreds of opponents and, due to both his dominance on all three surfaces as well as her unprecedented dominance on clay, almost no one on earth can say they’ve got the better of Rafael Nadal — almost no one except his first-round opponent on Monday night at the U.S. Open, 18-year-old Borna Coric.

Last October, Coric, then 17, beat Nadal in straight sets in Basel when Rafa was battling an appendix injury that would later lead to surgery. That gave the young Croatian a 1-0 record against Nadal that he’ll bring into Monday’s late match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. How many others can boast having a winning record against Rafa? Not many.
That’s it. One, two, three. Of all active players with a current ATP ranking, it’s only Coric, Kyrgios and Brown who can boast a winning record against Rafa. Given the dip in the Spaniard’s recent play, it may not be that way for long, so revel in it while you can, gentleman (and Kyrgios). And if Borna Coric needs any inspiration for Monday’s match, look no further than Brown, who followed up a win in his first match against Nadal with a Grand Slam win in his second.

62

Science Discussion Forum / Canada officially in recession in first half of 2015

« on: September 01, 2015, 08:58:00 PM »

Canada officially in recession in first half of 2015

Ottawa (AFP) - Canada fell into recession in the first half of the year, posting its weakest results since the 2008 global financial crisis, government data confirmed Tuesday.

The figures add to escalating fears about the health of the global economy, with world stock markets plunging farther on Tuesday as more gloomy evidence emerged of China's economic slowdown -- China has been a major engine of global growth.

The grim numbers were also bad news for Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, just weeks before elections.

The Canadian economy contracted 0.5 percent in the second quarter after retreating 0.8 percent in the previous three months, according to Statistics Canada.

By comparison, the US economy grew 3.7 percent in the first quarter.

Canada, the world's fifth-largest oil producer, has been hit hard by the plunge in world oil prices from above $100 last year to about $52 now.
On the political campaign trail, where economic management has become a defining issue, the figures were expected to put Harper on the defensive, while bolstering opposition calls for a change of administration.

This is Canada's second recession in six years and it is the only G7 nation in economic retreat.

Harper has insisted that, oil aside, the rest of the economy is doing well, although the figures point to broad declines.

He will also be buoyed by recent figures that showed an uptick in the economy in June.

But opposition leaders say Harper's economic policies are a dismal failure and insist the country must change course.

According to Statistics Canada, lower business investment was the main contributor to the decline, with outlays falling in machinery and equipment, communications and audio and video equipment, furniture, fixtures and prefabricated structures, and intellectual property products.

The mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sector posted a "notable decrease," for a second consecutive quarter, said the government statistical agency.

New housing construction also fell, but this was mitigated by an increase in renovations and strong resale activity.

Household consumption also rose. Canadians bought more cars and trucks, insurance and financial services, as well as food, beverages and accommodation services.

Overall, exports edged up 0.1 percent after decreasing 0.3 percent in the first quarter. Imports declined 0.4 percent.

Thanks
Asit Ghosh
Senior Lecturer, TE

63

Tennis / Sharapova pulls out of US Open due to leg injury

« on: September 01, 2015, 10:35:26 AM »

By Larry Fine

Related Stories

Maria Sharapova pulls out of US Open for 2nd time in 3 years Associated Press
Sharapova withdraws from US Open with leg injury AFP
Tennis - Sharapova out of US Open with injury AFP
Bitter end to Sharapova's already tough summer ABC News
Latest on US Open: Chatty Vandeweghe beats Stephens Associated Press
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova, winner of five grand slam events, has pulled out of the U.S. Open tennis championships due to a leg injury, the Russian said on Sunday. Sharapova pulls out of US Open due to leg injury "Unfortunately, I will not be able to compete in this year's US Open," she tweeted.


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64

Football / LOOK: Lionel Messi accidentally photobombs Cristiano Ronaldo

« on: August 28, 2015, 01:16:37 PM »

LOOK: Lionel Messi accidentally photobombs Cristiano Ronaldo

The UEFA event in Monaco on Thursday gave us plenty. We had the Champions League group stage draw, Lionel Messi winning the Best Player in Europe award and Ronaldo getting accidentally photobombed by Messi. Check it out below.

Messi looks like that hungry person at a restaurant who sees the food finally arriving at the table. Ronaldo looks a little bothered.

But what a picture of two legends.
Find the picture below the link:
http://www.cbssports.com/general/eye-on-sports/25282492/look-lionel-messi-accidentally-photobombs-cristiano-ronaldo-


Thanks
Asit Ghosh
Senior Lecturer, TE

65

Tennis / Federer wins 7th Cincy title, Serena Williams gets her 2nd

« on: August 24, 2015, 09:21:30 AM »

MASON, Ohio (AP) -- Roger Federer jutted his right index finger toward the summer-blue sky to celebrate his latest Cincinnati title. He would have needed both hands to count all of them.

Might as well just rename it the Federer Open. Or maybe subtitle it the Djokovic Heartbreak.

Federer remained perfect in Cincinnati finals, winning an unprecedented seventh championship on Sunday while denying Novak Djokovic the one title that always eludes him. Federer never faced a break point during a 7-6 (1), 6-3 victory at the Western & Southern Open.

Serena Williams got her name on the Rookwood trophy for the second time on Sunday, beating third-seeded Simona Halep 6-3, 7-6 (5) for back-to-back Cincinnati titles. She heads off to the U.S. Open trying to become the first player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to pull off a calendar Grand Slam sweep.

''I'm ready,'' Williams said. ''I don't care if I win or lose or break even. I'm ready to start it, get it over with, and be done and go on to the next event. But I'm so ready for New York. Let's go, right?''

It took Williams six tries before she got her first Cincinnati title. Federer has never failed.

66

Athletics / Usain Bolt beats Justin Gatlin for gold in 100 at worlds

« on: August 23, 2015, 10:34:17 PM »

BEIJING (AP) -- After two years of uncertainty, Usain Bolt produced the biggest clutch performance of his career Sunday to beat Justin Gatlin with a lunge at the line in the 100-meter final at the world championships.

Bolt was trailing for almost the entire race in the biggest showdown in the sport in years. But with gritted teeth, the two-time Olympic champion clawed back into contention and made his giant stride count to win in 9.79 seconds - .01 seconds faster than the American veteran.

''A lot of people counted me out,'' Bolt said. ''So for me to come and win, this is a big deal.''

Rising to the occasion as he always does, Bolt put a shockingly bad semifinal heat behind him to recover with a good start in the final. Two lanes to his right, Gatlin was as good as perfect for most of the race, but for seven years now, there is no denying the greatest sprinter in history.

This victory, Bolt's tightest in a major championship after being accustomed to world-record times and winning gold medals by huge margins, was extra special.

''It's No. 1 when it comes to competition,'' Bolt said.


Thanks
Asit Ghosh
Senior Lecturer, TE

67

Business & Entrepreneurship / Apple got smoked again

« on: August 22, 2015, 10:01:46 PM »

Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers his keynote address at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California June 2, 2014.

Apple stock was down by more than 5% when the market closed on Friday, bringing share prices down to $106.05.
On Thursday, Apple stock closed at $112.65.

It's unclear why the stock is falling, but it continues a trend we've seen over the past few weeks. Last week, for example, Apple stock was down by as much as 5% on Tuesday.

There's no clear reason for the drop, but Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster had a theory for what could be causing the stock to fluctuate. Munster told Business Insider in an interview on August 12 that investors are likely worried about Apple's presence in China.

The People's Bank of China devalued its currency last week, and the yuan fell by 1.9% against the dollar. There's a lot of uncertainty around how this could affect Apple.

"I think it's a classic fear of the unknown," Munster told Business Insider last week. "In this case specifically it's the fear of what's happening in China. Investors appear to be concerned about what the impact is from China, and if that ends up translating to more broader concerns or a slowdown from consumers."

Here's a chart from Yahoo Finance that shows how Apple stock looked Friday:And here's another chart that shows how the stock has changed since July. Apple share prices started falling somewhat consistently since the end of last month.

For chart and videos, Pls try here: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-getting-smoked-again-173742496.html


Thanks
Asit Ghosh
Senior Lecturer, TE

68

Science and Information / The first video of flying over Pluto was just released and it's absolutely amazi

« on: August 22, 2015, 09:46:26 PM »

When NASA flew a spacecraft by Pluto for the first time in history last month on July 14, we were treated to beautiful photos of the dwarf planet's surface, but unfortunately, there was no video of the flyby — until now!

Check out this breathtaking video of the flyby that Bjorn Jonsson just released on Vimeo, and experience for yourself what it would have been like to ride on the unmanned spacecraft as it dipped to just 7,800 miles above Pluto's surface:

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/first-video-of-pluto-flyby-2015-8#ixzz3jYjS3vCq

Jonsson made this video by compiling the many photos that New Horizons took as it approached and eventually passed Pluto. NASA's spacecraft is the fastest ever made, so when it flew by Pluto it was traveling at speeds of over 20,000 miles per hour.

Jonsson's video compresses the 2 hours it took New Horizons to approach, fly over, and pass Pluto into just 16 seconds. Jonsson has some other amazing videos of Pluto on his Vimeo homepage that you should definitely check out.

New Horizons began preparing for its epic encounter back in January, but it was only until the day of the encounter that we got to see Pluto in stunning detail. One of the images Jonsson uses is this one below, which New Horizons took minutes before its closest approach from 476,000 miles away:

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/first-video-of-pluto-flyby-2015-8#ixzz3jYjYcrGz

Before NASA sent New Horizons to Pluto, there was very little we could say about the dwarf planet. Now, we know that Pluto harbors towering mountains, water ice, and an mysteriously active climate that is sweeping across the surface.
One of the most surprising finds was how thick its atmosphere was, which scientists learned only after the spacecraft passed Pluto. After flying over Pluto's surface, New Horizons turned around and pointed its camera at Pluto as the dwarf planet eclipsed the sun. What it saw — shown in the image below — was proof that the spacecraft completed its historical flyby, and evidence that a thick atmosphere surrounded Pluto.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/first-video-of-pluto-flyby-2015-8#ixzz3jYjifqvq
Scientists are still trying to understand where this atmosphere came from, what it's made of, and how it's affecting the surface on Pluto. New Horizons still has the majority of its data on board, but will be transmitting the information to Earth over the next 16 months, so stay tuned as we learn more and uncover new mysteries about Pluto.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/first-video-of-pluto-flyby-2015-8#ixzz3jYjmrTsn

For the entire article: http://www.businessinsider.com/first-video-of-pluto-flyby-2015-8

Thanks
Asit Ghosh
Senior Lecturer, TE

69

Allied Health Science / 5 Science-Backed Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

« on: August 22, 2015, 09:33:32 PM »

If it's not there already, apple cider vinegar deserves a home in your kitchen cupboard. It's rich in vitamins E, A, and P and magnesium, iron, calcium — the list goes on and on. If the vitamins and minerals alone are not enough reason to have you hooked, here are five reasons you should always have apple cider vinegar on hand.

Support weight loss: If you're looking to shed a few pounds, it's time to start using apple cider vinegar. Studies have shown that vinegar may help keep you from feeling hungry by slowing stomach emptying; it also lowers the glycemic index of high-carb foods like pasta, meaning it can help you feel fuller longer by slowing the release of glucose into your bloodstream.

Improve digestion: The pectin in apple cider vinegar has been known to move things along when bellies get backed up. Up your fiber intake with a green salad with plenty of roughage topped off with this honey apple cider vinaigrette to improve your digestion situation.

Zap warts: This may come as a surprise, but soaking a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and securing it on a pesky wart with medical tape can get rid of it quickly and naturally. Keep this in mind before you immediately call your dermatologist next time!

Add a pep to your step: Apple cider vinegar is also credited with improving energy levels. If you're cutting out caffeine at work, just a few tablespoons of ACV mixed with a full glass of water can keep you from feeling cloudy and get you back to work.

Boost immunity: When you're adding that many healthy vitamins and minerals to your system, it's going to help your immune system ward off illness. If you're already sick and in need of a little help, drink hot apple cider vinegar brew that combines cayenne, lemon, and honey, which will help open up your sinuses and replenish your body with the minerals it needs to recoup.

Thanks
Asit Ghosh
Senior Lecturer, TE

70

Athletics / Usain Bolt: The secret behind the world's fastest man

« on: August 21, 2015, 11:20:57 PM »

By Matt Majendie, CNN
Updated 1053 GMT (1753 HKT) August 21, 2015

(CNN)The United States' population might be 100 times the size of Jamaica's, but when it comes to the development of sprint talent the Caribbean island is in a league of its own.

Of the 12 sprint gold medals on offer at the last two Olympic Games -- in the 100 meters, 200m and 4x100m -- Jamaica's men and women won nine, plus five silvers, while they performed a clean sweep of titles at the last World Athletics Championships in Moscow two years ago.


It's an astonishing haul and, on the eve of the 2015 worlds in Beijing, which start Saturday, the question is: Who can stop Jamaica?

For Usain Bolt, a triple gold medalist at the past two Olympic Games and the 2013 world championships, the explanation for his nation's hegemony is simple.

"The level of the sport in this country is so high in track and field as we're pushing to be great," the world's fastest man told CNN Sport.

"To just make the trials in Jamaica you have to run 9.9 seconds at least. You push yourself so hard to be the best as the competition level is just so high."

However given Jamaica's population is three million compared to the 300 million of the U.S., Bolt's explanation doesn't quite tell the whole story.

Thanks
Asit Ghosh
Senior Lecturer, TE

71

Faculty Sections / Working longer hours increases stroke risk by up to 33%: study

« on: August 21, 2015, 11:15:50 PM »

Paris (AFP) - Working 55 hours or more per week is linked to a one third greater risk of stroke compared to a 35-40 hour work week, according to research published Thursday.

Based on a review of 17 studies covering 528,908 men and women followed for an average of 7.2 years, the increased stroke risk remained once smoking, alcohol consumption and level of physical activity were taken into account.

The study, published in The Lancet, found that compared with people who logged a standard week, those working between 41 and 48 hours had a 10 percent higher risk, while for those working 49 to 54 hours, the risk jumped by 27 percent.

Working 55 hours or more a week increased the risk of having a stroke by 33 percent, the study showed.

The long work week also increased the risk of developing coronary heart disease by 13 percent, even after taking into account risk factors including age, sex, and socioeconomic status, the study showed.

In looking at the link between long hours in the work place and heart disease, Mika Kivimaki, a professor of epidemiology at University College London, and colleagues analysed data from 25 studies involving 603,838 men and women from Europe, the United States, and Australia who were followed for an average of 8.5 years.

The underlying causes of stroke and heart disease are complex, involving a mix of genetic and environmental factors.

But the researchers suggest that physical inactivity, high alcohol consumption, and repetitive stress all enhance risk.

"The pooling of all available studies on this topic allowed us to investigate the association between working hours and cardiovascular disease risk with greater precision than has previously been possible," Kivimaki said in a statement.

"Health professionals should be aware that working long hours is associated with a significantly increased risk of stroke, and perhaps also coronary heart disease."

Experts not involved in the study said the findings are important, and pointed to differences across nations in the average length of the work week.

"Long working hours are not a negligible occurrence," Urban Janlert from Umea University in Sweden wrote in a commentary, also in The Lancet. "Although some countries have legislation for working hours, it is not always implemented."

Among developed countries, Janlert noted, Turkey has the highest proportion of individuals working more than 50 hours a week (43 percent), and the Netherlands the lowest (less than 1 percent).

"This study highlights to doctors that they need to pay particular attention to cardiovascular risk factors when they advise people who work long hours," commented Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation.


Thanks
Asit Ghosh
Senior Lecturer, TE

72

Science and Information / Earth-Like Alien World Could Have Vast Oceans

« on: August 17, 2015, 08:50:04 PM »

Earth-Like Alien World Could Have Vast Oceans
by Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com Contributor   |   August 17, 2015 07:20am ET

A small, rocky planet could host liquid water on its surface, if it also contains a carbon-dioxide atmosphere, researchers say.

The planet, which scientists have dubbed Kepler-62f, has a diameter 40 percent larger than that of Earth, and could contain oceans of water if its atmosphere keeps the planet warm.

"A high carbon-dioxide atmosphere is a reliable way to put liquid water on this planet," Aomawa Shields, a scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who was involved in the new research, said at the Astrobiology Science Conference in Chicago in June. [The 6 Most Earth-like Alien Planets]

Thanks
Asit Ghosh
Senior Lecturer, TE

73

Football / Man Of The Match: Mesut Özil

« on: August 17, 2015, 08:40:04 PM »

That was much more like it. Arsenal started at a million miles an hour - they didn't turn a few great early chances into goals, but it always seemed like a goal would come. And, as usual. one of the main orchestrators of all things good for Arsenal going forward was Mesut Özil, our unanimous choice for Man of the Match.

His influence was first felt in the 7th minute, with a slick little pass to Alexis that unfortunately Alexis couldn't turn into a goal, but that would be far from Özil's only contribution on the night. In the words of at least one TSF author, he was "sublime" - this team has been blessed with some amazing passers and movers in Arsene Wenger's tenure, from Bergkamp to Pires to Ljungberg and so many more. Özil absolutely belongs in the conversation headlined "Best Arsenal passer in recent memory", and if he keeps having games like he did yesterday, he'll be Bergkampian.

Seriously, just watch this and be in awe. But watch it with the sound off, because the music is horrible.

74

Allied Health Science / The Best Protein You Can Eat, According To Nutritionists

« on: August 17, 2015, 08:26:46 PM »

The Best Protein You Can Eat, According To Nutritionists
Don’t just settle for any old protein.

U.S. News & World ReportBy K. Aleisha Fetters

Protein is the key to keeping cravings at bay, building lean muscle and dropping those last few pounds. But according to a new review published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, it’s not just how much protein you eat that’s important: It's where you get your protein that also matters.

The reason is threefold. First of all, every source of protein -- from chicken to peanuts -- contains a different array of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Of the 20 various amino acids, nine are “essential,” meaning you can only get them from food. So it’s especially important you get enough of those guys.

Animal-based sources (meat, eggs, dairy) pack them all in one amount or another, but most plant-based sources only contain a fraction of the nine essential amino acids, meaning that if you get all your plant-based protein from peas, you could end up not getting enough of certain amino acids, explains study co-author Rajavel Elango, a nutrition and metabolism researcher with the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health. When getting protein from plant-based sources, it’s important to munch on various protein-rich plants at every meal to help guarantee you get all of the amino acids you need by day’s end.

FYI, that’s not an excuse to forgo your veggies and get your protein fix from T-bone steaks at breakfast, lunch and dinner. After all, (and this is our “second of all”) that would easily put you over the top in terms of your caloric, saturated fat and cholesterol intake. That protein plan would backfire big time.

Third of all -- and this might be the most important reason to choose your protein sources wisely -- every food packages protein alongside its own brand of vitamins and minerals, Elango says. Some sources are rich in B vitamins; others in iron, and some aren't rich in anything at all. Remember: Your body can't do much with protein if you're deficient in essential nutrients.

Want to make sure you’re getting your protein from all of the right places? Here are some of the healthiest protein-packed foods you can eat:

Eggs

They don’t just contain 6 grams of protein each. They contain 6 of the most valuable grams of protein around, says registered dietitian nutritionist Bonnie Taub-Dix, a U.S. News Eat + Run blogger, owner of the nutrition consultancy Better Than Dieting  and author of "Read It Before You Eat It." Eggs rate the highest in terms of their “biological value,” the proportion of protein that, when eaten, helps form proteins and tissues in your body. Plus, they're rich in choline as well as vitamins B-12 and D, all of which are critical to keeping your energy levels up and cells humming along as they should. And there might not be a heart-health downside to eating them, after all. According to research published in the British Journal of Medicine, you can eat an egg a day without increasing your heart disease or stroke risk.

Cottage Cheese

Perhaps the most underrated cheese known to man, cottage cheese contains 25 grams of protein and 18 percent of your daily calcium needs in a single cup, says registered dietitian Jim White, spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics and owner of Jim White Fitness training studios in Virginia. Also noteworthy: It’s rich in casein, the slowest-digesting protein you can eat, helping fend off hunger for hours.

Chicken

Poultry should be a staple of any omnivore’s protein plan. It contains far less saturated fat than many other cuts of meat, and still contains 30 grams of protein per breast. Opt for white meat whenever possible to keep your calorie count down, Elango says.

Whole Grains

These heart-healthy grains contain more protein than complex carbs (which are vital to your fiber intake, heart health and weight-loss success). Among the best sources are quinoa, bulgur and freekeh, White says. All contain 6 or more grams per cooked cup, and quinoa is actually one of the few “complete” plant-based proteins out there, meaning it contains all of the nine essential amino acids.

Fish

“Low in calories and high in value, fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids promoting heart health and stabilizing moods,” Taub-Dix says. Plus, they help keep your brain from shrinking as you age, per a 2014 American Journal of Preventive Medicine study. Among the healthiest sources: salmon and tuna. A 3-ounce serving of salmon will score you 17 grams of protein with 6.5 grams of unsaturated fatty acids. And tuna is a straight-up protein powerhouse, with 25 grams in just 3 ounces. Plus, if you’re trying to cut calories, it’s actually leaner than salmon, containing only 5 grams of total fat (both saturated and unsaturated). Study researchers recommend eating fish twice a week, baked or broiled.

Legumes

These guys are as rich in protein as they are in heart-healthy fiber. Plus, they're solid sources of B vitamins, according to Elango. Opt for beans, lentils, soybeans (edamame) and peas. Even peas contain 8 grams of protein per cup. Impressive, no?

Greek Yogurt

Perfect for breakfast, snacks or as an ingredient in just about anything, plain, nonfat Greek yogurtcontains 17 grams of protein per serving. In case you were wondering, going fat-free won’t cut down on how much protein your yogurt contains. “Plain is your best option as fruit flavors can pack in loads of sugar,” White says.

Nuts

They are known for being rich in healthy unsaturated fatty acids, but they’ve also got a lot of protein going on. Plus, people who eat a handful of nuts per day are 20 percent less likely to die from any cause compared to those who don’t eat nuts, according to a 2013 New England Journal of Medicine study.

Leafy Greens -- Calorie for calorie, kale, collard greens and other leafy greens are surprisingly rich in protein. For instance, a 70-calorie serving of spinach contains about 10 grams of protein. While greens don’t contain all of the amino acids you need, pairing them with beans and legumes can help make them “complete” with the nine essential amino acids.

The Best Protein You Can Eat originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report.

75

Faculty Sections / Samsung's New Phone Just Might Convince You to Ditch Your iPhone

« on: August 17, 2015, 08:20:26 PM »

At an event this week, Samsung announced the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, plus the newest addition to its flagship line of phablets (aka phone-tablet hybrids) — the Galaxy Note 5. Here's what's new:

5.7-inch display
Exynos 7420 processor (same one found in the Note 4)
5-megapixel front-facing camera instead of the 4's 3.7-megapixel front-facing camera
16-megapixel rear-facing camera that will let you stream live to YouTube
4GB of RAM instead of 3
No more microSD camera slot
Stylus with a clicking mechanism
The phone will also work with Samsung Pay, the company's new form of mobile payment processing that is set to open to all users in September or October. You won't have to wait too long to get your hands on the Galaxy Note 5 — it should be out Aug. 21 on all US carriers with a still undetermined cost.


Thanks
Asit Ghosh
Senior Lecturer, TE