Facts of Birth Control Pill

By: Akhter Uddin on 5:52 AM / comment : 0 Lifestyle

Effectiveness: ninety two to 99.7 percentage (effectiveness is close to a hundred percentage if the tablet is taken day by day as directed; due to the fact many girls do now no longer use as directed, the being pregnant price is 2-nine pregnancies in line with a hundred girls every year, and it could be barely much less powerful in case you`re overweight).

What is it? Most beginning manipulate capsules comprise artificial hormones just like estrogen and progesterone produced via way of means of your body. Pills containing each hormones are called aggregate capsules; a few capsules best comprise progestin and are called the mini-tablet (that alternative is defined separately). Birth manipulate capsules normally are available in packs with a month`s supply, and you're taking one tablet day by day at approximately the identical time of day. There are many sorts available, containing diverse sorts, quantities and combos of hormones. Birth manipulate capsules are regularly mentioned as “the tablet” or oral birth control.

How does it paintings? Birth manipulate capsules launch artificial estrogen and progestin. These hormones preserve you from liberating eggs so being pregnant can't occur. The hormones additionally thicken your cervical mucus, blocking off the sperm from attaining the egg, and have an effect on the liner of the uterus, each of which may also assist save you being pregnant

STD safety: No; you'll nonetheless want to apply condoms in case you are worried approximately STDs.

Benefits: It`s easy and handy and lets in girls to experience greater spontaneous approximately having sex. It may also make your duration regular, lighter and shorter. Like different hormonal kinds of beginning manipulate, the tablet may also provide a few safety towards acne; extreme menstrual cramps; bone thinning; ectopic being pregnant; endometrial and ovarian cancers; iron deficiency anemia; critical infections with inside the ovaries, Fallopian tubes and uterus; breast and ovarian cysts; pelvic inflammatory disease; and premenstrual symptoms. Your capacity to get pregnant returns speedy whilst you forestall the usage of the tablet.

Disadvantages: May motive nausea, breast tenderness, weight benefit or loss, water retention, accelerated blood strain, complications, adjustments in temper or sexual desire. The aggregate tablet isn't always endorsed in case you are pregnant or suppose you'll be pregnant; have had breast cancer; are over 35 and smoke; or have sure different fitness conditions (see Notes below). Certain drug treatments and dietary supplements may also make the tablet much less powerful, along with the antibiotic rifampin, sure oral drug treatments taken for yeast infections, a few HIV drug treatments, a few anti-seizure drug treatments and St. John's wort. Vomiting and diarrhea may additionally save you the tablet from working. Serious headaches are rare, however usually speak together along with your fitness care issuer approximately dangers and advantages.

Availability: Prescription required.

Cost: $15 to $50 for a 1-month supply.*

Notes: Combination capsules can be packaged to permit you to have a duration monthly, each three months or now no longer at all. Active capsules taken constantly save you you from getting your duration, however you could have recognizing or bleeding the primary 6 months, lessening or preventing over time. The tablet isn't always endorsed to be used for the duration of extended mattress relaxation or in case you are pregnant; have migraine complications with aura; have blood clots or vein problems; have (or have had) breast or liver cancer; have had a coronary heart attack, stroke or angina; have had critical coronary heart valve problems; have sure hereditary blood-clotting disorders; have critical diabetes or liver disease; are 35 or older and smoke; or have excessive blood strain and smoke. You must now no longer take sure kinds of aggregate capsules when you have ever had kidney, liver or adrenal gland disease. Women who use hormonal birth control are strongly recommended now no longer to smoke.

* The Affordable Care Act calls for coverage agencies to cowl without a co-pay any FDA-authorised contraceptive technique prescribed via way of means of your doctor, along with barrier methods, hormonal methods, implanted methods, emergency birth control, girl sterilization and affected person schooling and counseling. These anticipated fees follow to girls who do now no longer have coverage insurance or who paintings for a "non secular employer," who can be exempt from supplying contraceptive insurance. For information about what your coverage covers, touch your advantages coordinator or medical health insurance issuer.

Keeping Passion in Your Relationship

By: Akhter Uddin on 10:53 PM / comment : 0 Lifestyle

6 Food for Healthy Sleep

By: Akhter Uddin on 12:32 PM / comment : 1 Lifestyle

Health Tips for Heart, Mind and Body

By: Akhter Uddin on 12:28 PM / comment : 0 Lifestyle

Killer robots: Tech experts warn against AI arms race

By: Akhter Uddin on 12:33 AM / comment : 1 Info/Tech

In the latest outcry over "killer robots", the letter warns that "a military AI [artificial intelligence] arms race is a bad idea".
Among the signatories are scientist Stephen Hawking, entrepreneur Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
The letter will be presented at an international AI conference today.
"Killer robots" are currently the subject of much debate and have recently been discussed by committees at the United Nations, which is considering the potential for a ban on certain types of autonomous weapons.
Now, the experts have called for a specific ban on the use of artificial intelligence to manage weapons that would be "beyond meaningful human control".
"Just as most chemists and biologists have no interest in building chemical or biological weapons, most AI researchers have no interest in building AI weapons - and do not want others to tarnish their field by doing so," they add.
MIT professor Noam Chomsky, Google AI chief Demis Hassabis, and consciousness expert Daniel Dennett are among others to have endorsed the letter.
The text, which has been published online by the Future of Life Institute (FLI), will be presented to delegates of the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Buenos Aires.

AMA on AI

Prof Hawking, a signatory to the letter, is currently taking part in an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Reddit, in which he is collecting questions about "making the future of technology more human".
He will respond to selected questions throughout the week, but has not yet posted his first reply.
In December, in an exclusive interview with the BBC, the professor raised his concern that AI could spell the end of mankind.
"Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete [with artificial intelligence], and would be superseded," he said.
But Eric Horvitz - a Microsoft Research chief who signed the autonomous weapons letter - has also appeared in a video posted online by his firm's PR team in which he defends other AI research.
"You look at how much computation has done for our society, for socio-economics, in applications like healthcare - it's been incredible. AI will change so many things," he said.
"With that comes a lot of hope, a lot of possible benefits and also some concerns.
"Will the machines become so powerful and smart that they can't be turned off and they come to outwit man?
"I think there are very interesting questions that need to be solved along the way, but I expect largely positive beneficial results coming out of this research largely because we guide it."

In the loop

The UK's Ministry of Defence said in a statement that all UK forces currently operate, "in accordance with International Humanitarian Law."
"The UK's clearly defined Rules of Engagement are formulated on this basis.
"As such, there is always a 'man in the loop' controlling the system.
"UK military personnel are and will always be involved in the decision to employ and in the act of releasing weapons," it said.
A spokesman for BAE System, the UK's biggest defence contractor, added: "We are designing systems that will always be required to comply with the rules of engagement and legal and regulatory requirements. We support the UK MoD stance that there should be military personnel involved in the decision to employ weapons."
Watch Rory Cellan-Jones' interview with Prof Hawking from December

Source : bbc.com

Tech giants pledge $1bn for 'altruistic AI' venture, OpenAI

By: Akhter Uddin on 12:23 AM / comment : 0 Info/Tech

Prominent tech executives have pledged $1bn (£659m) for OpenAI, a non-profit venture that aims to develop artificial intelligence (AI) to benefit humanity.

The venture's backers include Tesla Motors and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel, Indian tech giant Infosys and Amazon Web Services.

Open AI says it expects its research - free from financial obligations - to focus on a "positive human impact".

Scientists have warned that advances in AI could ultimately threaten humanity.

Mr Musk recently told students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that AI was humanity's "biggest existential threat".

Last year, British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking told the BBC AI could potentially "re-design itself at an ever increasing rate", superseding humans by outpacing biological evolution.

However, other experts have argued that the risk of AI posing any threat to humans remains remote.
'Extension of human wills'

A statement on OpenAI's website said the venture aims "to advance digital intelligence in the way that is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole, unconstrained by a need to generate financial return".

"It's hard to fathom how much human-level AI could benefit society, and it's equally hard to imagine how much it could damage society if built or used incorrectly."

The statement said AI "should be an extension of individual human wills and, in the spirit of liberty, as broadly and evenly distributed as is possible safely".

It said only a tiny fraction of the $1bn pledged would be spent in the next few years.

Source : bbc.com

14 Amazing Herbals and Drinks For Kidney Cleansing

By: Akhter Uddin on 1:25 PM / comment : 0 Lifestyle

Sex Doesn't Have to End With Menopause

By: Akhter Uddin on 8:01 PM / comment : 0 Lifestyle

Stanford's Christian McCaffrey is Pac-Man against USC in Pac-12 championship

By: Akhter Uddin on 7:53 PM / comment : 0 Sports

USC's best shot, even with a new head coach and throwback physical philosophy, still wasn't good enough.Not against time-tested Stanford. And especially not against a Cardinal team featuring Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey, a sophomore who is almost certainly bound for New York this week as a Heisman Trophy finalist, was the spectacular difference in seventh-ranked Stanford's 41-22 victory over the Trojans in the Pac-12 Conference championship game on Saturday at Levi's Stadium.
The sophomore running back accounted for three touchdowns and amassed 461 all-purpose yards as the Cardinal earned a Rose Bowl berth for the third time in four years.
"He's a mismatch nightmare," USC Coach Clay Helton said.
USC was unable to match its own performance from the week before, when the Trojans ran the ball with authority from start to finish, pressured the quarterback and caused multiple turnovers in a victory over UCLA. It was a win that appeared to convince USC Athletic Director Pat Haden that Helton was the man to lead USC into the future — and to drop the interim tag before the Trojans faced the Cardinal.
On Saturday, the offense started slowly, the Trojans were victimized by a key turnover and the defense simply could not contain McCaffrey.
So Helton's — and the Trojans' — immediate future will include a berth in either the Holiday, Sun, Foster Farms or Las Vegas bowl. USC will learn its destination Sunday.
The Trojans, who persevered through the firing of Steve Sarkisian to make an improbable run to the South division title, had been aiming for their first Rose Bowl appearance in seven years.
Instead, they lost to Stanford for the second time this season.
Throughout the game, yelling and profanities emanating from the USC coaches' booth in the press box could be heard as McCaffrey stutter-stepped to mid-range gains, broke free for wide-open pass receptions and blazed his way toward the end zone.
"I was put in a bunch of different situations to be successful," McCaffrey said.
McCaffrey rushed for 207 yards and a touchdown, caught four passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, passed for an 11-yard touchdown and totaled 149 yards in kick-return yardage.
"What doesn't he do?" Trojans linebacker Su'a Cravens said.
Said USC receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who caught 11 passes: "If we were able to shut down McCaffrey it would be a different story. I pray he wins the Heisman.
Stanford Coach David Shaw said McCaffrey was the best player in the nation.
"It's not even a debate," Shaw said.
Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan also was quietly effective, passing for a touchdown, running for another and catching a touchdown pass from McCaffrey, who ran for 155 yards in the first half as the Cardinal held the ball for more than 21 minutes.
"We just didn't execute and made him look great," defensive lineman Antwaun Woods said.
Trojans running back Justin Davis, who rushed for 99 yards, said the Trojans might have been too keyed up.
"I hate to say it, but us being a second-half team is our weakness," he said. "We don't come out fast at the beginning of the game and then sometimes it's just too late."
USC still held the Cardinal to one touchdown and two field goals in the first half and trailed only 13-3.
"They knew all they had to do was do their job," Helton said of the Trojans' attitude coming out of halftime.
USC took 16-13 lead on freshman tailback Ronald Jones II's 27-yard third-quarter touchdown run and appeared poised to possibly deal Stanford its first loss in three conference title-game appearances.
But McCaffrey set up a touchdown with a long catch-and run and the Cardinal pushed the lead to 11 points when linebacker Blake Martinez hit Kessler from behind and knocked the ball loose. Lineman Solomon Thomas scooped up the ball and returned it for a touchdown.
"Defensively, we knew we were going to have to make a game-breaking play," Shaw said
Kessler answered by running for a touchdown that cut the deficit to five points before McCaffrey all but sealed the victory with another touchdown catch.
"You can see in the locker room," cornerback Adoree' Jackson said. "We are pretty disappointed in ourselves."

How Mark Zuckerberg’s Example Helps Fight Stigma of Family Leave

By: Akhter Uddin on 12:26 AM / comment : 0 Entertainment, Lifestyle, Top Stories

There’s growing political support for some sort of paid family leave, and it’s clear that many mothers use it when it’s offered. What has been less clear is whether it would make a difference for fathers. A new study shows how it would.

In California, one of three states that offer paid leave for both parents, new fathers have been 46 percent more likely to take leave since the law went into effect in 2004 — especially first-time fathers and those who work at jobs where it’s more common. Still, even in a state that pays for parents to take leave, the study showed that it is much less common among fathers than mothers.

Advocates of parental leave say they hope prominent examples like Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook co-founder and chief executive, who just started a two-month paternity leave after the birth of his daughter, Max, will change attitudes. “Studies show that when working parents take time to be with their newborns, outcomes are better for the children and families,” he wrote on Facebook last month.

The results of California’s program — the first to offer government-supported paternity leave in the United States — show how policies can help families adapt to the fact that most parents now work, and men report as much stress over work-family balance as women do.

Though men still face a strong stigma when they take leave, paid leave policies seem to help alleviate that. And when men spend time caring for children early on, they are more involved for years to come, studies show, while women are able to work more hours and earn higher wages.

“It wasn’t clear until now if this would have an effect on men, too, because of gender stereotypes and norms,” said Maya Rossin-Slater, an economist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an author of the study. “It’s important to know that fathers do have a demand for leave, and when it’s offered, they do respond.”

The researchers used state and federal data to study leave-taking among California fathers who live with their children. They found that paid leave had evened out the division of labor in California families: Solo leave-taking by fathers (when mothers are back at work) increased 50 percent. Leave-taking at the same time as mothers increased 28 percent.

Fathers of sons were twice as likely to take leave as fathers of daughters, though it is unclear why. There is other evidence that parents spend more time with children of their gender. California mothers were slightly more likely to take leave with daughters than with sons, and single mothers tend to invest more in daughters.

The economists also found that the increase in men’s leave-taking was almost entirely driven by first-time fathers. Mothers, meanwhile, were equally likely to take leave with additional children.

The researchers speculated that first-time fathers might be responding to the sharp learning curve with a first baby, or else they start families with lofty ideals for fatherhood but later revert to more traditional gender roles, perhaps because of employer pressure.

Men who worked in jobs with a large share of female workers were also more likely to take leave. There is most likely less stigma about men taking time off at jobs where many women have already done so.
 “These are places where norms are such that when a male or female worker has a child, they are more likely to take leave,” said Ms. Rossin-Slater, who wrote the paper with Jane Waldfogel and Ann Bartel of Columbia University, Christopher Ruhm of the University of Virginia and Jenna Stearns of the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Previous studies have shown that peer influence — as when co-workers, brothers or bosses take paternity leave — has a strong effect on men’s leave-taking. That is one reason Mr. Zuckerberg publicly announced his leave. He also promotes leave by explicitly saying in meetings that people are on parental leave instead of just out of the office. Facebook offers four months of paid parental leave, but while most women there take all the time, men take less.

Paternity leave seems to set lifelong patterns for families. In another study co-written by Ms. Waldfogel of 10,000 children in the United States, researchers found that fathers who took two or more weeks of leave were significantly more likely to do child-care tasks like diapering and feeding later on. Fathers who took less than two weeks were no more likely to be involved than those who took none at all.

Still, Mr. Zuckerberg is the exception. Although 89 percent of fathers took some time off after their baby’s birth, almost two-thirds took one week or less, according to research by Ms. Waldfogel.

In California, few fathers take the full six weeks. Again, stigma associated with leave plays a role. Social scientists have found that men pay a price in earnings and promotions when they do not seem wholly committed to work. There is also evidence that many people simply do not know the leave is available.

Even countries with generous paternity leaves have had trouble getting fathers to take them. In places like Sweden and Canada, policy makers have enforced so-called daddy quotas to encourage more men to take leave.
The Upshot provides news, analysis and graphics about politics, policy and everyday life.