Tuesday 31 December 2013

Why are venomous organisms like snakes unaffected by their own venom?


Usually venoms act by binding to the receptors present on the surface of the muscle cells on the victim thereby blocking the communication between the nerve cells and muscle cells in the victim.

When the toxin is already bound to the receptor, the natural neurotransmitter acetylcholine can no longer bind to the receptor as there were no free receptors left available by the toxins present in the venom. This blockage cause paralysis in the victim and in the worst case leads to death based on the nature of the venom. The receptors present on the mice and the humans are different from that of the venomous creatures like snakes. This difference prevents the venomous creatures’ venom binding to its receptors.

In snakes, sugar molecules cover the amino acid residues of the receptors thus protecting the binding of its own venom. However, the amino acid residues on the receptors are the same in the all the organisms only the clouding of the residues by sugar molecules make the venomous organisms resistant to their own venom.

Researchers have found that only two groups of animals, snakes and mongooses have sugar molecules on their receptors. The different types of venom attack different tissues in different ways, so a species of snake can ever become completely immune to the venoms of every other species of venomous snakes found in nature. Snakes are immune to the venom that most species of their own species. For example, in an attempt to stimulate or resist copulation, snake species bite one another during sexual combat. Snakes engage in sexual combat display immunity to the venom of their own species which is a must for their survival.

Other mechanisms that are protective for the snakes are as follows: Venom glands of the snakes make venom and specialized cells lining the venom gland protect the venom getting into their blood stream. As long as the venom does not get into the blood stream, it is safe for the animal.

Monday 30 December 2013

How to Kiss - ten tips

There are kisses for just about every emotion and occasion — the greeting kiss on the cheek, the maternal kiss on the forehead, an affectionate kiss on the lips, the kiss of death — but on those certain occasions when you want to communicate passion and maybe lust, not just any kiss will do. You need a fiercely passionate kiss. If done incorrectly, these kisses can turn out being gross or sloppy, but when performed with skill and feeling, there is no greater expression of love.

1.Make sure your breath is minty fresh and clean. Naturally you practice good oral hygiene, but if you have any doubts about your breath, take a breath mint shortly before the kiss. Make sure to finish the mint or gum before you lock lips.
  • Be careful, as some mints may leave a bad aftertaste and make your breath worse. Water is the best bet! Leaves you no aftertaste, and freshens your mouth and does not leave you thirsty.
2.Approach the kiss with confidence. Try to kiss their cheek so they turn their head your way. Once you've chosen the right moment to kiss someone, there's no turning back, especially if it's your first time kissing that particular person. Be decisive and confident. If the person doesn't want the kiss, he or she will let you know, but until then, act as though you're a pro.

3.Lean in and tilt your head slightly. Leaning in signals that you want to kiss the person, and tilting your head prevents crushing your nose against the other person's.

4.Don't try to thrust your tongue in your partner's mouth right away. Simply press your lips against theirs. Close your eyes as you do so to heighten the intimacy and to avoid looking at the pores on your partner's nose. Imagine your eyes are being controlled by a dimmer switch.

5.Open your lips slightly. Once the kiss is accepted, try opening your lips slightly. If the other person follows suit, try slightly varying the openness of your lips (both more and less open) throughout the kiss. You may wish to explore the person's lips and tongue a bit with the tip of your tongue. There are no rules; just try to make your motions smooth

6.Consider the French Kiss. As the kiss progresses, you may want to try French kissing, in which you insert your tongue lightly into your partner's mouth and let it dance with your partner's tongue.

7.Try some necking. If things are going well, consider spicing it up a bit by moving your head down to kiss and lightly nibble your partner's neck

8.Keep your arms busy. You seldom, maybe never, see a great kiss in which the participants just let their arms dangle at their sides. At the very least, embrace your partner and gently pull him or her to you.
  • You can also run your hands through your partner's hair; or caress his or her back, sides, or other parts of the body. Wrapping your arms around your partner can also be a big turn-on!
  • Where you put your hands should be determined by the status of your relationship, your desires, and your partner's signals, whether spoken or communicated non-verbally.
9.Try a ten-second kiss. Some find that a kiss of at least ten seconds in duration will passionately bond two people more than a shorter kiss. Just hold the kiss for longer, regulating your breathing and keeping your eyes closed.

10.try kissing in a comfortable position and romantic area. This will make the kiss last longer and even might start a French kiss which is a tongue to tongue kiss.



Saturday 14 December 2013

What is a cookie?

Cookies are usually small text files, given ID tags that are stored on your computer's browser directory or program data subfolders. Cookies are created when you use your browser to visit a website that uses cookies to keep track of your movements within the site, help you resume where you left off, remember your registered login, theme selection, preferences, and other customization functions.The website stores a corresponding file(with same ID tag)to the one they set in your browser and in this file they can track and keep information on your movements within the site and any information you may have voluntarily given while visiting the website, such as email address.
Cookies are often indispensable for websites that have huge databases, need logins, have customizable themes, other advanced features.
Cookies usually don't contain much information except for the url of the website that created the cookie, the duration of the cookie's abilities and effects, and a random number. Due to the little amount of information a cookie contains, it usually cannot be used to reveal your identity or personally identifying information.However, marketing is becoming increasingly sophisticated and cookies in some cases can be agressively used to create a profile of your surfing habits.
There are two types of cookies: session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are created temporarily in your browser's subfolder while you are visiting a website. Once you leave the site, the session cookie is deleted. On the other hand, persistent cookie files remain in your browser's subfolder and are activated again once you visit the website that created that particular cookie. A persistent cookie remains in the browser's subfolder for the duration period set within the cookie's file.

A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers downloaded on to your computer when you access certain websites. Like virtual door keys, cookies unlock a computer's memory and allow a website to recognise users when they return to a site by opening doors to different content or services. Like a key, a cookie itself does not contain information, but when it is read by a browser it can help a website improve the service delivered.
Cookie files are automatically lodged into the cookie file - the memory of your browser - and each one typically contains:
  • The name of the server the cookie was sent from
  • The lifetime of the cookie
  • A value - usually a randomly generated unique number
The website server which sent the cookie uses this number to recognise you when you return to a site or browse from page to page. Only the server that sent a cookie can read, and therefore use, that cookie.
A cookie is a text-only string of information that a website transfers to the cookie file of the browser on the hard disk of computers so that the website can remember who you are.
A cookie will typically contain the name of the domain from which the cookie has come, the "lifetime" of the cookie, and a value, usually a randomly generated unique number. Two common types of cookies are used on most websites-session cookies, which are temporary cookies that remain in the cookie file of your browser until you leave the site, and persistent cookies, which remain in the cookie file of your browser for much longer (though how long will depend on the lifetime of the specific cookie).