INFO: Tahukah anda?

Belut elektrik mampu mengeluarkan arus elektrik yang mampu menyalakan 12 buah lampu dan mampu membunuh manusia! Elektrik yang terdapat di tubuh belut ini sebenarnya adalah bertujuan untuk membunuh mangsanya.Helang mempunyai jarak penglihatan yang terbaik di kalangan haiwan. Helang mampu melihat mangsanya pada jarak sejauh 3 km. Labah-labah betina akan membunuh dan seterusnya memakan pasangannya (labah-labah jantan) sebaik selesai mengawan. Burung terbang jauh bagi mengelakkan musim sejuk. Contohnya, burung-burung di kawasan kutub utara (Artik) boleh terbang sejauh lebih kurang 17 500 km menuju ke kutub selatan (Antartika) dan kemudian berpatah balik ke artik setiap kali perubahan musim berlaku . Apa yang menarik ialah mereka tidak pernah tersilap jalan – sesuatu yang masih menajdi fenomena (sesuatu yang mash belum terjawab) tetapi saintis percaya burung-burnug ini mungkin menjadikan medan magnnetik bumi sebagai 'penunjuk arah' mereka. Nyamuk mengepakkan sayapnya sebanyak 500 kali dalam tempoh satu saat. Pernahkah anda terfikir, mengapa ular suka 'menjelirkan' lidahnya keluar? Ular menjulur lidahnya keluar dan masuk kerana ingin mengetahui keadaan udara di sekelilingnya. Ular mempunyai sebuah organ di lelangitnya yang boleh menguji udara yang 'terlekat' pada lidahnya. Haiwan apakah yang paling besar di muka bumi ini? Jawapan dinosaur adalah salah, kerana Ikan Paus Biru yang masih wujud sehingga kini adalah lebih besar dari dinosaur yang paling besar. Paus biru mempunyai berat sebanyak 150 tan atau 150 000 kilogram atau seberat 30 ekor gajah. 'Ikan Paus' bukanlah ikan. Ia adalah mamalia kerana bernafas melalui peparu - sama seperti manusia dan bukan melalui insang seperti ikan-ikan lain. Paus biru ialah haiwan yang mampu mengeluarkan bunyi yang paling bising sekali. Ia mampu mengeluarkan bunyi yang mampu didengari oleh manusia yang berada sejauh 850 km darinya. Kura-kura merupakan haiwan yang boleh hidup paling lama - iaitu sekitar 150 tahun. 152 tahun adalah rekod paling lama pernah dicatatkan. Haiwan mana yang akan menang jika berlumba? Bukan arnab atau kura-kura, sebaliknya sejenis burung layang-layang. Dalam sejam ia mampu terbang sejauh 170 km (halaju 170 km/j). Harimau bintang pula menang dalam kategori haiwan darat terpantas iaitu dalam sejam ia mampu berlari sejauh 105 km. Jadi apabila berjumpa harimau, jangan lari. Jangan lari jika terserempak harimau kerana ia jauh lebih pantas dari manusia. Jadi apa harus buat? Jangan panjat pokok kerana harimau menyimpan bangkai haiwan buruannya di atas pokok! Tetapi didapati haiwan ini menghadapi kesukaran apabia ingin turun semula ke bawah selepas memanjat pokok. Sejenis ular 'Rattlesnake' boleh 'melihat' haba - sesuatu yang mustahil bagi manusia kerana kita merasa haba melalui kulit. Kebolehan ini digunakan reptilia ini untuk menangkap haiwan pada waktu malam.

10 adegan tak logik dalam drama tempatan.

Untuk renungan bersama...1. Seorang lelaki berjalan menuju ke pondok telefon dan memasukkan syiling. Kemudian dia mendail nombor yang hendah dihubungi. Setelah sahaja menekan nombor, tidak sampai dua saat dia sudah berkata... Hello. Satu adegan yang tidak logik sedangkan talian telefon memerlukan masa lebih kurang lima saat untuk disambung. Belum dicampur lagi masa yang diperlukan oleh si penjawab bangun, berjalan dan menjawab panggilan. Adegan tidak logik ini memang wujud dalam drama tempatan melayu sejak dahulu hingga kini. 2. Dalam drama bersiri Gerak Khas, sebelum babak perbualan di pejabat polis, kamera fokus diluar ibu pejabat polis dimana terdapat dua anggota polis wanita berjalan seiringan keluar dan masuk... Dua anggota polis berkenaan muncul hampir setiap siri drama tersebut dengan gaya seperti orang berkawat malas. 3. Kebanyakkan filem seram tempatan memaparkan banyak adegan menjerit. Pengarah filem tersebut lupa bahawa sebenarnya penontonlah yang perlu menjerit ketakutan, bukannya pelakon. 4. Jika anda orang utara, pastinya anda meluat dan menyampah bila melihat pelakon-pelakon yang cuba berlakon dan bercakap loghat utara. Ini kerana mereka fikir mereka boleh membawa watak orang utara. Pada hakikatnya tidak. 5. Dalam drama melayu, jika ada babak perbualan antara seorang wanita cina dengan ahli keluarganya, perbualan tersebut dalam bahasa melayu!!! Bukannya bahasa cina. Tetapi dalam drama cina pula, babak perbualan antara wanita melayu dengan ahli keluarganya adalah dalam bahasa melayu juga.... 6. Ayat yang sering digunakan dalam drama bersiri Gerak Khas.... "Tuan ada baca akhbar semalam?" . 7. Satu babak dalam drama bersiri slot Samarinda... Seorang lelaki bekerja di pejabatnya... Tiba-tiba handphonenya berbunyi.. Handphone yang digunakan adalah jenis Nokia yang mengunakan ringtone polifonik tetapi bunyi yang kita dengar adalah bunyi handphone biasa (monofonik). 8. Babak ini yang kelakar... Seorang pelakon memberitahu rakannya bahawa dia hendak menulis email kepada seseorang. Dia kemudiannya duduk di hadapan komputer dan mula menaip. Kamera yang ketika itu fokus pada monitor jelas menunjukkan pelakon berkenaan melulis email menggunakan Microsoft Word!!!. 9. Dalam satu adegan dalam sebuah filem, satu babak tembak-menembak telah berlaku diantara polis dengan penjahat. Pihak polis menggunakan sebuah kereta Mitsubishi Lancer (evo berapa tak ingat) sebagai perisai dan berlindung di balik kereta berkenaan. Polis secara berterusan dihujani berpuluh-puluh peluru dari penjahat... Tetapi kereta tersebut hanya kena satu das sahaja. 10. Semua filem seram karya penerbit tempatan akan berakhir dengan mimpi semata-mata. Anda tak perlu lagi ke panggung wayang... (Jika ada filem seram baru) kerana kesudahannya sudah anda ketahui, hanyalah mimpi.

Ini adalah garis panduan yang telah ditetapkan oleh Lembaga Penapisan Filem.... Jadi dengan sebegini punya garis panduan... PERLUKAH KITA MENYINTAI FILEM KITA? DRAMA KITA?? anda jawab sendiri....

Solat: tatacara ruku & sujud

Berikut saya kutipkan Beberapa Hadis mengenai tata cara ruku dan sujud seperti yang dicontohkan Nabi. Untuk lebih jelasnya, silakan tanyakan kepada yg ahlinya... :)

TATA CARA RUKU'

"Nabi saw meletakan kedua telapak tangannya pada kedua lututnya." (HR Bukhari dan Abu Dawud)

"Beliau menekan kedua tangan pada kedua lututnya (seolah-olah ia menggenggam kedua lututnya)". (idem)

"Beliau merenggangkan jari2nya". (Disebutkan dalam kitab shahih Abu Dawud Hadits No. 809)

Nabi saw bersabda: "Jika kamu ruku', letakanlah kedua tanganmu pada kedua lututmu, kemudian renggangkanlah jari2mu, kemudian tenanglah sampai ruas tulang belakangmu mantap di tempatnya."(HR ibnu Khuzaimah dan Ibnu Hibban dalam kitab Shahih mereka)

"Bila beliau ruku', beliau meluruskan dan meratakan punggungnya (HR Baihaqi dgn sanad Shahih dan Bukhari) sehingga bila air dituangkan diatas punggung beliau, air tersebut tidak akan bergerak."(HR Thabarani, 'Abdullah bin Ahmad, dan ibnu Majah)

"Nabi saw tdk mendongakkan kepalanya dan tdk pula menundukannya."(HR Abu dawud dan Bukhari) "Tapi tengah2 antara kedua keadaan tsb." (HR Muslim dan Abu 'Awamah)

 

TATA CARA SUJUD

"Beliau meletakan tangannya ke tanah sebelum meletakan kedua lututnya"(HR Ibnu Khuzaimah, Daraquthni, dan Hakim)

"Beliau meletakan tangannya sejajar dengan kedua bahunya".(HR Abu Dawud dan Tirmidzi)

"Terkadang beliau meletakan tangannya sejajar dgn kedua daun telinganya."(HR Abu Dawud dan Nasa'i)

"Beliau menekankan hidung dan dahinya ke tanah". (HR ABu Dawud dan Tirmidzi)

beliau bersabda: "Apabila kamu sujud, sujudlah dengan menekan" (HR Abu Dawud dan Ahmad)

Beliau juga bersabda: "Tidak sah shalat seseorang bila hidung dan dahinya tidak menekan ke tanah". (HR Daraquthni, Thabarani, dan Abu Nu'aim)

"Beliau juga menekan kedua lututnya dan bagian depan kedua telapak kaki ke tanah".(HR Baihaki dgn sanad Shahih)

"Merapatkan kedua tumitnya" (HR Thahawi, Ibnu Khuzaimah)

 

 

F1: Steering column

  For a sport in which hundredths of a second can mean the difference between pole position or a mid-field grid slot, a car's ability to handle well is paramount. As Phil Gallagher, Senior Design Engineer at McLaren Racing, points out, the steering system provides the driver with his first indication as to how well the car is handling. The steering column is an essential link in the chain of events that sees a twist of the steering wheel turn the car's wheels. The column is joined to the steering wheel at one end and the rack and pinion at the other. This means that the steering column stretches from the edge of the cockpit down to the front bulkhead.Quite simply, when the driver turns the steering wheel, the column rotates the pinion gear and the rack moves laterally. The track rods are put into action, shifting the wheels.Constructed primarily from carbon fibre, the steering column is made of two tubes. They are linked together by a constant velocity joint, which makes sure that the two parts move at the same speed. It also provides high stiffness and low friction. As the man responsible for designing the steering column, Gallagher says these are two of his main concerns. "If there is too much friction or not enough stiffness then it will adversely affect the way the driver can handle the car," he says.
Media_httpphotos1blog_hhfce
The column features an electrical plug which connects the steering wheel's electronics to the chassis control unit via a wiring harness. This end of the column also has quick disconnect, which means the driver can remove the steering wheel in a hurry. "There's an FIA rule which stipulates that the driver must be able to exit the car in five seconds, so the quick disconnect is very important," he says. At the steering rack end of the column, a splined joint is used to link the two together, this then connects to the power steering valve and then on to the pinion. Without the power steering, which uses a 200 bar hydraulics supply, the driver would have to work the steering twice as hard. Another of the requirements for the component laid down by the FIA is the aluminium crush tube. "We have to perform a test in which we drop a weight on the end of the steering column and measure the deceleration," he says. "The peak deceleration must be less than 80g in a crash."
Media_httpphotos1blog_eggiv
The steering column takes around ten hours to make, and the team takes three or four spares along to each race. They are inspected after completing 1,500kms and serviced after 3,000kms. A typical service would involve complete disassembly, followed by a crack check of the safety critical parts. It would then be re-assembled - with new parts where necessary - and finally tested on the test rig before being signed-off for use on the circuit. Having arrived at a design that is both light and stiff yet reliable, Gallagher says the steering column is not changed regularly. However, frequent design reviews are carried out and a new design will be put in place if the monocoque changes sufficiently. The current example has been in action for two years with limited change. Proving that, when it comes to steering, Team McLaren Mercedes is always moving in the right direction. Technical Specification Length: Approx. 950mm Diameter: Approx. 35mm Material: Carbon fibre, titanium, steel, aluminium Source: McLaren  

Determination

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built. Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome.With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge. The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move. "We told them so." "Crazy men and their crazy dreams." "It`s foolish to chase wild visions." Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment. It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife. He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again. For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do. Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal. Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are. Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence  

Sotong kurita?

Media_httpphotos1blog_dxdha
In this photo released by Tsunemi Kubodera, a researcher with Japan's National Science Museum, a giant squid attacking a bait squid is being pulled up by his research team off the Ogasawara Islands, south of Tokyo, on Dec. 4, 2006. The research team, led by Kubodera, has succeeded in filming the giant squid live, possibly for the first time, at the surface as they captured it off the remote island of Chichijima, which is about 960 kilometers (600 miles) southeast of Tokyo. About seven meters (24 feet) long squid died in the process of being caught. The photo was made out of the video they filmed. (AP Photo/Tsunemi Kubodera of the National Science Museum of Japan, HO)
   

New Anti-Psychotic Drugs No Better Than Older, Cheaper Ones

A study led by The University of Manchester's Division of Psychiatry has found that schizophrenia patients respond just as well - and perhaps even better - to older psychiatric drugs as newer, costlier alternatives.A study led by The University of Manchester's Division of Psychiatry has found that schizophrenia patients respond just as well - and perhaps even better - to older psychiatric drugs as newer, costlier alternatives. According to the study, funded by the NHS and published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, patients with schizophrenia whose medication is being changed gain little benefit from being put on the newer drugs - despite their much larger market share. This runs contrary to the widely-held view that second-generation anti-psychotics are safer and more effective than the less expensive first-generation. Antipsychotic medication is the main method of treating schizophrenia, with most UK patients currently receiving second-generation drugs through the NHS which cost at least 10 times more than their predecessors. Previous, industry-sponsored trials reported these newer drugs to be more effective and better tolerated, leading most experts to currently recommend using them first despite their additional cost. Study leader Professor Shôn Lewis said: "The development of second-generation anti-psychotics was thought to be a major advance, as the first trials seemed to show they reduced side effects. Claims that they were also more effective than first-generation drugs shifted treatment patterns away from these medications, even though previous research comparing the drug classes has had mixed results." The NHS commissioned the study " the first ever to compare treatment results in this area - to assess whether the additional costs of second-generation anti-psychotics were off-set by improvements in patients" quality of life or reductions in the use of health and social care services. "We undertook the study thinking that we would show the NHS that their misgivings about the previous data were unfounded," Professor Lewis said. The team, which includes colleagues at the University of Cambridge, Institute of Psychiatry and Imperial College London, studied 227 schizophrenia patients for whom a change in drug treatment was being considered (because of ineffectiveness or harmful side effects). The participants were randomly assigned to receive one class of drug or the other, with doctors determining which of the first- or second-generation medications would be best for each patient. They were assessed before and 12, 26 and 52 weeks after the change in treatment using a quality of life scale, and symptoms, side effects, treatment costs and satisfaction with the drug were also measured. The results failed to reveal the advantage in side effects or effectiveness predicted for the second generation drugs; instead there was a trend towards the older drugs working better. Professor Lewis said: "We estimated that the second-generation anti-psychotics would produce a five-point improvement in quality of life scores, compared with first-generation anti-psychotics. But after 12 weeks, the quality of life scores averaged 49.2 for the first-generation group and 46.6 for the second-generation group." After 26 weeks, the first-generation group score averaged 49.2, compared with and 50.4 for second-generation, but after a year it was 53.2 for first-generation users and 51.3 for second-generation. Participants in the first-generation group also showed a trend toward greater improvements in symptoms. "We were so certain we would find exactly the opposite that we went back and checked the data," Professor Lewis continued. "But it all suggested that careful prescribing of first-generation anti-psychotics, at least in the context of a trial, is not associated with poorer efficacy or a greater adverse effect. A parallel trial, also funded by the NHS, did confirm previous reports that the second generation drug clozapine stood out from the others in terms of effectiveness for people with severe schizophrenia. "This drug improved quality of life and symptoms better than the other newer drugs, and patients preferred it," Professor Lewis said. "However, our research suggests that, despite modern prescribing patterns, second-generation anti-psychotics are not the great breakthrough they were once thought to be - and certainly may not justify their ten-times higher price tag. Further trials to evaluate both the role of second-generation anti-psychotics in the management of schizophrenia and the usefulness of cheaper, older drugs could save the NHS millions of pounds."

Nobel Prize winning atom-splitting scientist honoured by University of Manchester

Media_httpphotos1blog_ahwgm

An historic University building that housed one of Manchester's most famous scientists was officially renamed in his honour on Monday 4 December 2006.

The Coupland Building just off Oxford Road was officially renamed and opened in honour of Nobel Prize winner Ernest Rutherford.

To mark the occasion, there was a special ceremony involving Rutherford's great-granddaughter Professor Mary Fowler.

Established in 1900, the Physical Laboratories at the University were, at the time, among the largest in the world. They soon became a centre for the study of atomic and nuclear physics.

New Zealander Rutherford led the laboratories between 1907 and 1919. During this time he made some of his most significant contributions to science, including the splitting of the atom.

The newly-named Rutherford Building houses the University's International Development, Student Recruitment, Admission and Widening Participation activities, and also a small exhibition celebrating Rutherford's work in Manchester.

Professor Alan Gilbert, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: "The renaming of this historic building is a fitting tribute to one of the University's best-known pioneers.

"It will ensure that the contribution made by Rutherford to the world of science is celebrated and remembered by staff, students and the wider public in years to come."

The University of Manchester's modern reputation as an outstanding academic institution is built on decades of innovation by great figures like Rutherford.

At the birth of the industrial revolution many leading scientists were drawn to Manchester. In 1824 they established the Manchester Mechanics' Institute, which later became part of The University of Manchester.

Rutherford is the latest pioneering scientist to have a University building named in his honour.

Just a stones throw from the new Rutherford Building is the Kilburn Building, named after Professor Tom Kilburn, who built and demonstrated 'The Baby' in 1947 the world first computer capable of storing a program.

Manchester was also home to John Dalton, who developed atomic theory and was considered to be one of the most influential thinkers of his time.

The Dalton Nuclear Institute was opened in July 2005 and is one the largest facilities of its kind in the UK, with research encompassing electricity generation, fuel cycles, waste treatment and disposal, decommissioning, policy and regulation.

 

 

Leading researchers in international development join Brooks World Poverty Institute

Two leading figures in international development are joining Nobel Prize winner Professor Joseph E Stiglitz at The University of Manchester's Brooks World Poverty Institute. Professors Tony Addison and Michael Woolcock will be Executive Director and Research Director respectively, joining Professor Stiglitz who is chair of BWPI's advisory board.

Tony Addison who is Professor of Development Studies at the University's Institute for Development Policy and Management came from the World Institute for Development Economics Research in Helsinki where he was Deputy Director.

He is also an Associate Director of the University's Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC) which coordinates a global network of poverty research institutes in the UK and the developing world.

Michael Woolcock will work as a Visiting Professor of Social Science and Development Policy at Manchester this academic year before joining BWPI full-time next September.

He is currently Senior Social Scientist in the World Bank's Development Research Group in Washington DC.

Based at the School of Environment and Development, BWPI was made possible by one of the largest known gifts of £1.3M over three years to fund poverty research in Europe from the Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Foundation.

Professor Stiglitz said: "We are delighted with these appointments and welcome both Tony and Michael to Manchester as they take up the vital work of the Brooks World Poverty Institute."

This is another step to building on Manchester's long legacy,beginning in the mid-nineteenth century with Frederick Engels of conducting interdisciplinary research on global poverty and identifying effective policy responses to it.

Professor Addison said: "BWPI represents a long-term commitment by the University to poverty, and will complement the excellent work undertaken by the members of the CPRC around the world."

-Poverty, whether in the UK or abroad, is not a problem that maps neatly onto a single discipline.

-Effective solutions are more likely when different forms of knowledge are effectively integrated, but unfortunately this sentiment is espoused more often than it is actually practiced.

-BWPI wants to take the interdisciplinary challenge seriously and to be an effective bridge between the worlds of scholarship and practice.

The institute will be staffed by leading researchers working on all aspects of poverty, in both the developed and developing worlds, and will interact closely with government policy makers as well as the business and voluntary sectors.

Professor Woolcock said: "There is broad agreement on the importance of interdisciplinary research, but most of us in social sciences are trained in and assessed by colleagues within traditional disciplines throughout our careers.

-We think receiving a rigorous discipline-based graduate education remains vitally important, but want to create an extended opportunity for those who wish to explore ideas in neighbouring disciplines.

-We will look at poverty both here in the UK and in low-income countries, and hope to attract a diverse range of talented scholars to study these issues.

-Twenty thousand people die every day from poverty-related causes. Fulfilling the goals of BWPI presents a big challenge, but also a big opportunity."