Genetic health tests are convenient, non-invasive and at the cutting edge of medical diagnostic technology. DNA testing is becoming popular among people who wish to analyze their risk for developing an inherited disease. A variety of companies today offer genetic health testing services, usually in the form of an online ordered spit or swab kit. Many believe that DNA testing will become a standard medical procedure in the coming years. Are you ready to join this revolution in personal health care management?

Understanding Your DNA

Almost every cell in your body contains the complete instruction set to build an entire you. These instructions come in the form of a ladder-shaped molecule known as DNA. This molecule is organized in structures called chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, with half of each pair inherited from either parent. Chromosomes are typically studied in shorter segments called genes. These noteworthy partitions determine many interesting traits – from eye color to the type of earwax a person has.

Observable traits are referred to as phenotypes. Most phenotypes result from the interaction between your genes and the environment. Because DNA health tests only examines genes (not the environment that you live in), the results from genetic testing cannot conclude whether or not specific traits will be expressed, but only the likelihood that a phenotype will develop. For many people, this information alone can be useful for determining one’s chance of developing an inherited disease.

How A DNA Health Test Works

To get your DNA health test, you must first order a kit from an online store. There are several reputable genetic testing services online – google around to get an idea of what’s offered. After a kit has been received, a sample of your DNA must be collected and sent back to the lab. Some kits contain a plastic container that you must spit directly into; others require a swabbed sample from the inside of your cheek. Once sent back to the lab, your DNA will be exposed to a special device called a DNA chip. This chip features a surface that is outfitted with thousands of probes to test for DNA sequences called SNP’s (snips). SNP’s are genes that are known to come in more than one variation. A SNP can therefore reveal if you have a predisposition for a certain trait, or not, based on the gene copy that you carry. Although this type of testing doesn’t analyze genetic code beyond known SNP’s , it can quickly and affordably test your DNA for many potential health risks.

Testing For Disease

DNA testing can reveal if you or your children are at risk for developing an inherited disease. Genetic health tests look for mutations in your DNA. These markers can determine your chances for developing a range of conditions including: Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Anemia, Tay-Sachs and diabetes. DNA testing for chronic and lifestyle diseases is a rapidly growing field. It is expected that hundreds and eventually thousands of diseases will be identifiable through DNA testing in the coming years.

Receiving and Interpreting Results

Many DNA testing services make their client’s results accessible online for convenient viewing. These services allow a client to browse their SNP variations and their corresponding risk level for developing certain health conditions. When new medical findings have been published, a client’s test results may be updated to reflect these insights.

Conclusion

Breakthroughs in technology have made DNA health testing affordable, easy to administer, and available to anyone willing to pay a few hundred dollars. Genetic testing is certain to become a standard medical practice in a few short years, but many are jumping on this bandwagon early to better manage their personal health.

Have your plans to get in shape ever started off by signing an expensive gym contract, or buying a pair of running shoes with the promise that you’ll get up each morning to jog? If you’ve tried exercising alone, like many of us have, there’s a good chance that you’ve experienced the most common outcome – loss of motivation and unmet fitness goals.

Trying to get in shape by yourself is hard for many people and, I’d argue, impossible for most. Without some kind of social support or group motivation, most people simply can’t push themselves hard enough or long enough to make a measureable impact on their health.

Group vs Solo Workouts

Having tried a large variety of fitness activities, including solitary pursuits like weight lifting and jogging, and group activities such as martial arts and rowing, I’ve become a firm believer that working out in groups produces the best results.

For me, the ideal fitness class has always involved martial arts or fighting sports. Such activities are practiced in groups, but are obviously not team sports; with this arrangement, the expectation for meeting one’s goals rests solely on the individual, and yet the motivation to reach these goals is often linked to the group. This interesting dynamic is what makes working out with others so much more effective than training alone.

Fear of Group Workouts

Despite the benefits of group training, many people feel intimidated by this activity. By far, the biggest excuse I hear for not joining a group class is that the person feels that they should be in decent shape before they begin training with others. Since it is unlikely that such a person will get in shape training alone, it’s even less likely that they will ever join a group class! Most people with this mindset have great difficulty initiating their first steps towards better fitness. If you are serious about getting in shape, you must be willing to try a new approach when past ones have failed.

Joining a Martial Arts or Fighting Club

Having been a member of a dozen or so martial arts and sports clubs over the years, I can testify that many obese and unfit students sign up all the time for such activities.

And why shouldn’t they?

A novice student doesn’t join a kickboxing gym because they’re already an expert striker or have amazing cardio – new students sign up because they seek self-improvement. Being clumsy and struggling to keep up with the rest of the class is standard fare for newcomers; such experiences are very common and expected. On some occasions, I’ve even trained with several morbidly obese individuals. Despite what you may think, they were not laughed at or ridiculed by other class members. In fact, these individuals were highly regarded for their efforts in the gym despite their obvious challenges.

Find a Group Activity and Get in Shape

So if you’re sitting at your desk, currently planning some solo training regime that never worked for you in the past, I implore you to find a group fitness activity that you can join soon. From cardio kickboxing to hardcore MMA, there are tons of options to help you get into shape.

Remember, sport clubs are businesses that want your membership. They accept all kinds of people, and you may be surprised at the variety of folks who participate at such places. Even the most ‘hardcore’ training centres I’ve visited had novice students who were clearly out of shape or too uncoordinated to perform even the basic techniques. So go ahead and just take the plunge –  few things in life are more important than managing your health!

Video capable DSLR cameras are becoming increasingly popular among videographers. Many buyers of VDSLR cameras are non-professionals who simply want an affordable way to shoot high quality video. VDSLR’s, when wielded correctly, can simulate a film-look that is akin to what much higher cost cameras produce for professionally made TV shows and movies. This filmic effect is highly regarded among buyers of VDSLR cameras, as they often want to escape the ‘home video’ look that most camcorders produce.

The Importance of Sensor Size

Perhaps the most important feature that separates VDSLR cameras from camcorders is their relatively large sensor size. The image sensor, which lies at the heart of every digital camera, can be thought of as the eye of the camera. Having a much larger sensor allows VDSLR’s to draw in more light for their recordings. This means that while shooting in low-light situations, which is practically any indoor location, the camera will record more detail, with less noise and with truer colors. In my experience, viewers simply describe VDSLR video as looking more beautiful, although they can’t always technically explain why that is.

It should be noted that sensor size is unrelated to a camera’s megapixel capacity, which is why a cell phone with a 12MP camera will still take very poor photos compared to a 12MP DSLR, especially in lowlight. If you are buying a VDSL from a reputable brand, you can largely ignore its megapixel rating.

High Quality Interchangeable Lenses

Another important feature that separates Video DSLR cameras from camcorders is their ability to change lenses. Most camcorders are fitted with a mediocre zoom lens. This is a convenient arrangement for shooting home videos, but doesn’t allow for a variety of looks that are only accessible by using an interchangeable lens camera. Whether you are seeking a prime, macro or telephoto look, VDSLR’s give the greatest amount of options to shoot a scene, that is, assuming you can afford all those lenses! Even if you can’t splurge on more lenses, most VDSLR’s ship with a decent kit lens.

Using Manual Controls

Getting a film-like look from a VDSLR requires setting the camera in manual mode and adjusting its settings.

Frames Per Second

Most camcorders shoot at 30 FPS. Similarly, the evening news, weather channel and daytime television is shot at a similar specification (often 60 interlaced fields per second, which are combined to form 30 FPS). This standard gives movement captured by the camera a smooth look, but isn’t how Hollywood movies and most TV series are shot. Higher end productions typically use film cameras, or very expensive digital cameras to capture video at 24 FPS. This frame rate produces a subtle choppiness or strobing effect. Although it might seem odd, this lower frame rate video is what most people associate with professionally produced footage.

Shutter Speed

The shutter speed controls the length of time that the image sensor is exposed to light. When shooting 24 FPS video, the shutter is opened 24 times a second; however, it can be set to stay open for the entire duration of the frame (1/24 Hz), or opened and closed for a shorter length of time ( e.g. 1/1000 Hz).

Using a slow shutter speed increases motion blur, but will allow the camera to capture video in darker scenes. In comparison, using a high shutter speed will make movement look choppy, but is an effect that’s often used in action scenes to produce a more chaotic look. Typically, movies are shot in 1/48hz, and it is important to use a similar value if you want your video to retain film-like motion blur.

Depth of Field

Using a shallow depth of field allows you to isolate a subject, thus drawing the viewer’s attention towards it. This is why a shallow depth of field is often used by filmmakers. Watch any TV series or movie: when the camera zooms in on an actor or object, more often than not, the background will be blurred out. Producing a shallow depth of field relies on several factors, including a camera with a large sensor size and a fast lens. This is why this effect is difficult or impossible to perform on a regular camcorder.

How to Shoot Hollywood Style Video

To shoot video with a VDSL and have it look more Hollywood, some common sense shooting habits must be observed:

Getting a Stable Shot

Firstly, professionals rarely shoot without having their camera attached to some kind of stabilizing device. Assuming you don’t own such gear, it is impotant to always hold the camera in a way that produces the least amount of shaking. Some users hold a weight in their hand (like a water bottle) while also gripping the camera. This decreases the amount of involuntary shaking by their hands, producing a more stable picture.

Lighting

Lighting is another important factor that separates the amateurs from the pro’s. Although you can’t always control the available lighting, it’s usually best to move indoor scenes to where there is a maximum amount of light. This means avoiding dark rooms and opening curtains for daylight when possible.

Regarding outside shots, it’s often important to watch the amount of dynamic range that a scene demands. For instance, if half your scene is filled with a dark tunnel that you’re trying to peer into, it’s likely that the rest of the shot will feature blown highlights. Watching the camera’s histogram and exposure meter can often tell if your camera and lens is capable of capturing a particular scene.

Panning

Control over the camera while panning is another important technique to master. Take a look at most Hollywood productions and you will notice that most camera movements are slow and deliberate. Fast panning of wide-angle shot will often exaggerate the strobing effect. This can be quite uncomfortable for viewers! Instead, try to pan slowly, or simply use the technique infrequently. Most high-end productions use an abundance of static shots, and this is what viewers expect from a quality produced film. In contrast, most non-professionals will pan around wildly while filming, trying to capture all the action at once. This often results in footage that can be nauseating to watch.

Conclusion

If you are considering buying a new video camera, and are interested in giving your shots a high quality look that will be appreciated by your viewers, then you should consider buying a VDSLR. Currently, most of the major camera manufacturers produce video capable DSLR cameras. Notably, Canon, Nikon and Panasonic have led the path in innovating this class of cameras. Try checking out Vimeo for sample footage taken from the cameras that you are interested in buying.

Learning a new language is one of the best ways to give your brain a workout and increase its mental capacity. Neuroscientists often describe the human brain in terms of plasticity and crystallization. Plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to rewire neural connections, which is necessary for learning new skills, whereas crystallization is the loss of this ability, often through old age and mental stagnation. By attempting to learn a new language, you can force many areas of your brain to change its neural wiring. Doing this promotes plasticity and can help keep your mind strong and sharp.

So why aren’t we all trying to boost our cognitive abilities by learning a new language? As anyone who has spent time trying to learn a new language knows – it’s damn hard! But if you’re up for the challenge, then you should at least be aware that some methods of learning are much better than others.

The Wrong Way to Learn a Language

Having tried to study a few languages during my high school and college years, I can attest to the ineffective method of ROTE learning. This learning method, used by most institutions to teach basically anything, depends heavily on blunt repetition. As you can imagine, learning a language by repeating new vocabulary over and over again will quickly become tiresome. When the passion to learn a new language is diminished, it’s almost impossible to continue on. Most people who try to learn a language this way never master more than a few words.

The Easy Way to Learn a Language

To determine the best method for learning a new language, one only needs to examine how they learned their first language – through mental associations. How does this work? Let me give you an example:

If I show you three different colored shoes, and say aloud, “blue shoes, red shoes, yellow shoes,” while pointing at each pair respectively, you will naturally learn the noun “shoes” because it is the only word that doesn’t change for each item. Similarly, I could teach the adjective “yellow” by showing you three different objects that are all painted yellow. Again, through logical reasoning you would determine that the word “yellow” must associate with the one variable that’s consistent with each object – its color.

This is how to naturally learn a language and requires no direct translation between the language you already know and the one you are trying to learn. Even if the new language possesses a different alphabet and a strange grammar structure, these elements can also be acquired through associations.

Although natural learning would seem to hold many benefits over traditional methods, this style of learning is harder to implement in a learning environment. Learning through associations requires testing for each association observed, because this process relies on trial-and-error feedback. As you can imagine, this method would be difficult to employ through a passive medium (such as studying from a textbook) or in a group setting where individual testing is not possible. Fortunately, a company has solved this problem by taking the high-tech route of replacing both the teacher and course work with interactive software!

Using Rosetta Stone to Learn a New Language

I can confidently state that using Rosetta Stone software is the best language learning method I have ever used. As you might of guessed, Rosetta Stone teaches languages by leveraging the brain’s innate ability to form associations. Nowhere in their learning program will you find direct translations or explanations of what is being taught. Instead, the program immerses you in whatever language you are learning and uses various media props, such as photos and voice recordings, to nudge your brain into forming new associations. The results produce faster learning with better retention.

Rosetta Stone’s interface is simple, yet effective. Each screen is typically divided into several photo frames. The student then matches each photo to its corresponding phrase to move onto the next screen. With this friendly setup, Rosetta Stone has effectively turned learning into a matching game that even children can enjoy. Furthermore, Rosetta Stone also teaches correct pronunciation through speech recognition software. With Rosetta Stone, you can cover all the major domains for learning a language: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Typically, Rosetta Stone offers languages packs that are separated by level of difficulty. Within each of these packs are lessons that are sorted into various categories. A lesson can last anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes and usually focuses on a single topic. Going through the course work, the software continually scores your performance and tracks your progress. After all the lessons have been completed, Rosetta Stone will recommend which lessons you should review, based on previous scores and the duration of time since you last took the lesson. When using Rosetta Stone, I felt as if the software was pulling me along, challenging me even when my motivation was low.

Although pricey, I believe Rosetta Stone is fully worth its cost – there is nothing quite like it on the market, and it is by far the best quality product in its class. Rosetta Stone can be bought from the company’s website, or accessed online through a subscription service.