5 simple ways to jump-start fitness goals

Fitness is central to your well-being and ability to enjoy life to the fullest, however it's easy to get stuck in a rut. How do you find new interest and motivation so you're ready to maximize the warm weather months?

Dan Gaz, physical activity and assessment program manager at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, says there are many things people can do to get a jump-start on their health and wellness.

"Fitness doesn't have to be complicated or boring," says Gaz. "There are many creative ways to implement fitness activities into your life that are both fun and invigorating."

Gaz suggests five simple ways to get a jump-start on summer fitness and energize your workout routine:


Try something new

Gaz says getting outside your comfort zone can be beneficial to your health. "Trying something new helps keep your fitness plan fresh. Plan a visit to the local farmers market to pick up produce. Sign up for a 5k run, or look at your local community education or rec center class catalog and sign up for activities. The social dynamics of these types of events benefit mental as well as physical health."


Get outside

"Getting outdoors is rejuvenating," Gaz says. "Taking a walk in nature is a nice change of pace that is good for the body and mind." You can go for a walk, run or take a stroll around a local park. "Just being outdoors shakes things up and you may find higher levels of energy as you breathe in the fresh air. Plus, getting a daily dose of vitamin D from the sun does the body good."


Bring friends

"It's no secret when you work out with other people they tend to hold you accountable, but there's also more benefit than just that," says Gaz. "When you take an exercise class, join a running club or biking group, you may end up pushing yourself harder. The people next to you become your exercise advocates and suddenly, you'll have the desire to keep up and do more. This can accelerate reaching your fitness goals."

Rethink commuting

"Anything you can do to break up the monotony of sitting is a good thing." Try being creative in commuting and how you travel throughout the day. "If possible, walk or bike to work or the grocery store. You can also take the bus, get off a couple blocks early and walk the rest of the way. A little planning ahead of time can help you accomplish multiple things at once: You're getting exercise, completing an errand and reducing your carbon footprint."


Be purposeful

"You may only have a few minutes a day to dedicate to exercise, but that doesn't mean you can't make a big impact," says Gaz. "Being purposeful with your choices is important. For example, use intervals in your workout routine to maximize outcomes. If you enjoy walking, do a brisk 30 or 60 seconds, then walk slower for the same period of time before pushing yourself again. This type of interval training is simple, yet highly effective. It works similarly for other activities like swimming, biking and running."

How to Protect Your Data in a Connected World

The phrase ‘six degrees of separation,’ suggests that only a minuscule measurement is what divides one person from another. Today, the Internet of Things (IoT) has decreased those degrees dramatically, connecting us not only to each other, but to everything from our fitness trackers to our coffee makers, says an article in NewsUSA.

Consider this: according to a recent report by the US Federal Trade Commission, the number of Internet-connected devices tops 25 billion worldwide. And that number is expected to double in the next five years, according to experts cited in the report.

In a world where everyone and everything is connected, digital security is a must-have, just as important as the lock on your front door or the keys to your house.

Technology is revolutionizing the way consumers use cars, homes, work spaces and everyday items. These devices raise both opportunities and questions about regulatory policy, spectrum space, privacy and more.

Underscoring concerns are high-profile hacks, including one that took remote control of a Jeep on a busy highway. Experts warn who consumers need to understand that, although convenient, the IoT is an interconnected system, and security is needed to prevent a weakness in one device (like a SmartWatch) from becoming an open door to attack in another device (such as a connected car).

The good news is that sensitive industries such as banking, government, and healthcare have worked with companies like Gemalto, a global leader in digital security, to solve difficult security challenges. While most may not recognize the name “Gemalto,” experts say that almost everyone uses at least one or two of the company’s solutions, which are embedded in a wide variety of connected devices, credit cards, passports, and ID badges.

So, to ensure that your data is protected from hackers, Gemalto recommends the following tips:

* Secure the device. Sensitive devices need an added layer of protection, such as a SIM card or a tamper-resistant Secure Element that stores data in a safe place.

* Control the access. Implement two-factor authentication to ensure that only authorized people are granted access to the data.

* Secure the data. Ensure that sensitive data is encrypted and that encryption keys are stored in a separate and safe place.

Make a mark with mechanical engineering

Mechanical Engineering is the discipline that applies engineering, physics, and materials science principles to design, analyze, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems. It is one of the oldest and broadest of the engineering disciplines.

The mechanical engineering field requires an understanding of core areas including mechanics, dynamics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis, and electricity. In addition to these core principles, mechanical engineers use tools such as computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and product life cycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, transport systems, aircraft, watercraft, robotics, medical devices, weapons, and others. It is the branch of engineering that involves the design, production, and operation of machinery.

The department of Mechanical Engineering at Crescent Institute was started in 1984 and is one of the oldest departments. Twenty seven batches of U.G. students have passed out, with many university ranks and gold medals. The programmes of the Department have been accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA).

A high degree of professionalism is inducted to the students through the student’s chapters of professional associations such as American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Indian Society for Heating Refrigeration and Air-conditioning (ISHRAE) and Society of Mechanical Engineers (SME). These bodies organize seminars for students on topics of current importance and global relevance to industry.

The department organizes programmes to provide the students with industrial and practical experience through training and project work in industries to meet the industrial requirements and face real life situations effectively and boldly.

Modern multimedia teaching technologies are used to supplement lectures and enhance the quality of teaching. Computer aided learning packages on different subjects are available for self-learning. Industrial visits are arranged for students to gain practical exposure. In addition, guest lectures and panel discussions are arranged by inviting eminent persons from reputed organizations.

Almost all the eligible students of final year mechanical engineering get placements during the campus recruitment. Some of the major recruiters include Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, Caterpillar, Larsen & Toubro, West Asia Ltd, Wipro, Infosys, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Hewlett-Packard and Tata Consultancy Services.

Mechanical engineering emerged as a field during the Industrial Revolution in Europe in the 18th century; however, its development can be traced back several thousand years around the world. In the 19th century, developments in physics led to the development of mechanical engineering science. The field has continually evolved to incorporate advancements; today mechanical engineers are pursuing developments in such areas as composites, mechatronics, and nanotechnology.

It also overlaps with aerospace engineering, metallurgical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and other engineering disciplines to varying amounts. Mechanical engineers may also work in the field of biomedical engineering, specifically with biomechanics, transport phenomena, biomechatronics, bionanotechnology, and modeling of biological systems.

Coursework

Standards set by each country's accreditation society are intended to provide uniformity in fundamental subject material, promote competence among graduating engineers, and to maintain confidence in the engineering profession as a whole.

The specific courses required to graduate, however, may differ from program to program. Universities and Institutes of technology will often combine multiple subjects into a single class or split a subject into multiple classes, depending on the faculty available and the university's major area(s) of research.

The fundamental subjects of mechanical engineering usually include:

Mathematics (in particular, calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra)

Basic physical sciences (including physics and chemistry)

Statics and dynamics

Strength of materials and solid mechanics

Materials Engineering, Composites

Thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy conversion, and HVAC

Fuels, combustion, Internal combustion engine

Fluid mechanics (including fluid statics and fluid dynamics)

Mechanism and Machine design (including kinematics and dynamics)

Instrumentation and measurement

Manufacturing engineering, technology, or processes

Vibration, control theory and control engineering

Hydraulics, and pneumatics

Mechatronics, and robotics

Engineering design and product design


Drafting, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)

Mechanical engineers are also expected to understand and be able to apply basic concepts from chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, civil engineering, and electrical engineering. All mechanical engineering programs include multiple semesters of mathematical classes including calculus, and advanced mathematical concepts including differential equations, partial differential equations, linear algebra, abstract algebra, and differential geometry, among others.


In addition to the core mechanical engineering curriculum, many mechanical engineering programs offer more specialized programs and classes, such as control systems, robotics, transport and logistics, cryogenics, fuel technology, automotive engineering, biomechanics, vibration, optics and others, if a separate department does not exist for these subjects.


Mechanical engineers typically do the following:

Analyze problems to see how mechanical and thermal devices might help solve the problem.

Design or redesign mechanical and thermal devices using analysis and computer-aided design.

Develop and test prototypes of devices they design.

Analyze the test results and change the design as needed.

Oversee the manufacturing process for the device.

Mechanical engineers design and oversee the manufacturing of many products ranging from medical devices to new batteries. They also design power-producing machines such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines as well as power-using machines, such as refrigeration and air-conditioning systems.

Revisiting Hawking's A Brief History of Time

A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes is arguably the most popular-science book on cosmology (the study of the universe) by the legendary British physicist Stephen Hawking who passed away recently.

It was first published in 1988. Hawking wrote the book for nonspecialist readers with no prior knowledge of scientific theories.

In A Brief History of Time, Hawking writes in non-technical terms about the structure, origin, development and eventual fate of the universe, which is the object of study of astronomy and modern physics. He talks about basic concepts like space and time, basic building blocks that make up the universe (such as quarks) and the fundamental forces that govern it (such as gravity). He writes about cosmological phenomena such as the Big Bang and black holes. He discusses two major theories, general relativity and quantum mechanics, that modern scientists use to describe the universe. Finally, he talks about the search for a unifying theory that describes everything in the universe in a coherent manner.

The book became a bestseller and sold more than 10 million copies in 20 years. It was also on the London Sunday Times bestseller list for more than five years and was translated into 35 languages.

In A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking attempts to explain a range of subjects in cosmology, including the Big Bang, black holes and light cones, to the nonspecialist reader. His main goal is to give an overview of the subject, but he also attempts to explain some complex mathematics. In the 1996 edition of the book and subsequent editions, Hawking discusses the possibility of time travel and wormholes and explores the possibility of having a universe without a quantum singularity at the beginning of time.

In the first chapter, Hawking discusses the history of astronomical studies, including the ideas of Aristotle and Ptolemy. Aristotle, unlike many other people of his time, thought that the Earth was round. He came to this conclusion by observing lunar eclipses, which he thought were caused by the earth's round shadow, and also by observing an increase in altitude of the North Star from the perspective of observers situated further to the north.

Aristotle also thought that the sun and stars went around the Earth in perfect circles, because of "mystical reasons". Second-century Greek astronomer Ptolemy also pondered the positions of the sun and stars in the universe and made a planetary model that described Aristotle's thinking in more detail.

How the universe started and how it might end is discussed in a chapter.

Most scientists agree that the universe started in an expansion called the Big Bang. The model for this is called the "hot big bang model". When the universe starts getting bigger, the things inside of it also begin to get cooler. When the universe was first beginning, it was infinitely hot. The temperature of the universe cooled and the things inside the universe began to clump together.

Hawking also discusses how the universe could have been. For example, if the universe formed and then collapsed quickly, there would not be enough time for life to form. Another example would be a universe that expanded too quickly. If a universe expanded too quickly, it would become almost empty. The idea of many universes is called the many-worlds interpretation..

Conclusion

Humans have always wanted to make sense of the universe and their place in it. At first, events were considered random and controlled by human-like emotional spirits. But in astronomy and in some other situations, regularities were observed. With the advancement of the human civilization in the modern age, more regularities and laws were discovered.

Laplace suggested at the beginning of the nineteenth century that the universe’s structure and evolution could eventually be precisely explained by a set of laws. However, the origin of these laws was left in God’s domain. In the twentieth century, quantum theory introduced the uncertainty principle, which set limits to the predictive accuracy of laws to be discovered.

The big bang implied by the general theory of relativity indicates that a creator of the universe or God has the freedom to choose the origin and the laws of the universe. When one combines theory of relativity with quantum mechanics, however, a unified and completely self-contained theory may emerge, in which God has little or no role to play. So the search of a unified theory may shed light on the nature of God. However, most scientists today are working on the theories themselves than asking such philosophical questions.

On the other hand, these physical theories are so mathematical and technical that philosophers are not discussing them like they used to do, let alone ordinary people. Hawking would like to see that eventually everybody would one day talk about these theories in order to understand the true origin and nature of the universe, accomplishing the ultimate triumph of human reasoning.