PreScouter

Have you ever wondered why two people can eat the same amount of food, but weigh differently? This may be due to the gut microbiome, the taxa of microorganisms residing in the gut and their genes. Many people have tried to find correlations (and remedies) to obesity, a health problem that affects 13 percent of the global population. Studies from chili peppers to the amount of sleep, to vitamin C, have all tried to find probable cause and prevention of obesity. But there is another factor. Research of microbiomes might reveal a new mechanism for weight gain, beyond diet, lifestyle and genetics.  How the Gut Microbiome Shapes Obesity The gut microbiome is the taxa of microorganisms residing in the gut (the microbiota) and their genes. The gut microbiota consists of trillions of microbes, including bacteria, archaea, viruses and single-celled eukaryotes. Current estimates reveal around 1,000 distinct bacterial species in the gut, with the most common phyla being Bacteroidetes an...

The spiral pump (also known as water wheel pump) is a hydraulic machine that pumps water without electricity. With the global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, the increased focus on renewable energy is making the spiral pump a viable option for pumping water, especially in rural areas and developing countries. Simple installation and low maintenance costs make the spiral pump a favorable, environmentally-friendly alternative.  What Is a Spiral Pump and How Does It Work? A spiral pump is constituted of a pipe wrapped around a horizontal axle, generating a spiral tube that is fastened to a water wheel. The water wheel is in flowing water, so that the water in the river provides the energy necessary for the rotation of the wheel. Hence, the spiral tube also rotates. When the inlet surface of the tube (the tube’s external extremity) passes into the river, water enters into the tube. This water volume moves toward the outlet of the tube (the internal extremity), at the center of...

The 3D printing industry has expanded rapidly over the last few years, with one of its most notable areas of application being the health and medical industry . Innovations include printing everything from medications to human organs , but perhaps the most commercially successful so far has been prosthetics. While 3D printing prosthetics allows amputees to get a hold of products for thousands of dollars less than traditional prosthetics, the methods and materials used are raising concerns. Successes of 3D Printed Prosthetics 3D printed prosthetics can greatly benefit children. The average lifespan of a prosthetic is five years, but in that time a child grows so rapidly that they will need a new prosthetic much more frequently. According to a statement made by the American Orthotics and Prosthetics Association, the average prosthetic costs between $1,500 to $8,000. This expense is often paid out of pocket rather than covered by insurance. By contrast, a 3D printed prosthetic cost...