Thursday, May 26, 2011

self healing tech ?

'Self-healing' coating piques U.S interest

FRIBOURG, Switzerland (UPI) -- U.S. and Swiss scientists say they havedeveloped a polymer-based coating that can heal itself when placedunder ultraviolet light for less than a minute.

The "metallo-supramolecular" polymer coating has garnered interestfrom many parties, including the U.S military, Swissinfo.com reported.

"For the moment it's still at the basic research level," ChristophWeder, director of Fribourg University's Adolphe Merkle Institute,said. "We are not looking to develop products for the market butconcepts and tools that can then develop commercially viablematerials. That's the way our [nanoscience] institute functions."

He declined to comment on the U.S. military's particular interest inthe material.

"I don't want to speculate on their interest in supporting thisparticular project, but the people involved were really devoted tobasic research," said Weder, a Swiss professor of polymer chemistryand materials who has worked for many years in the United States.

The new material has many potential practical applications fromtactile computer screens to everyday consumer items like cars, floorsand furniture that get easily scratched.

"This is ingenious and transformative materials research," said AndrewLovinger, polymers program director at the National ScienceFoundation's Materials Research Division.

 

Copyright 2011 by United Press International

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Hollecrest & Associates Inc  -"Turnaround Consultants"  .

Sunridge Lodge   "Back to Eden"  Quality 24/7 care
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"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -
 
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promoting goodwill and timely cost effective creative solutions to enhance the competitive well being of Brant, Brantford and Six Nations 


Friday, May 20, 2011

Fwd: Smell -makes a difference



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sieg Holle <siegholle@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, May 20, 2011 at 7:59 AM
Subject: Smell -makes a difference
To:


Aromatherapy's Amazing Effects on Your Mind and Mood


Alan Hirsch, MD

 

Scents have subtle yet powerful effects on emotions -- boosting confidence, easing stress, triggering fond memories and more. Here's how to use your sense of smell to manage your moods... and other people's, too!
Increase mental sharpness with fresh flowers. When you need to focus -- for instance, to memorize a speech or balance a checkbook -- keep a vase of mixed fragrant flowers nearby. Take periodic breaks to consciously "stop and smell the roses." For kids: This helps when doing homework or studying for a test.

Promote positive family interaction with Garlic. Serve garlic bread at dinner. In studies, this scent reduced negative dinnertime remarks by 22.7% and increased pleasantries by 7.4%. You don't even have to eat the bread to reap the benefits.

Feel younger with pink grapefruit. To make others perceive you as youthful (so you feel that way, too), apply a grapefruit-scented or other citrusy body lotion or spray right after your shower. Avoid: Lavender, which makes you seem granny-ish.

Feel more secure with baby powder. Keep a small bottle or resealable plastic bag of baby powder in your purse or briefcase. Before heading into a challenging situation (a meeting with your ex, a job interview), open the container slightly and take a small whiff. Don't inhale too deeply -- you may sneeze or get powder all over your face.

Curb food cravings with banana or peppermint. You needn't eat a banana -- just smell it (peeled or unpeeled). Or, place two drops of peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball, stick it in a plastic bag and take a whiff -- or try sugar-free peppermint gum or hard candy.

Combat claustrophobia with evergreens. Keep a small vial of evergreen essential oil in your pocket or purse. When in a cramped space (an elevator, a crowd), hold the vial near your nose and inhale two or three times. Repeat every 10 minutes as needed.

Assuage anger with cucumber. Hold a sliced cucumber one-half inch from your face and level with your lips -- inhale deeply, continuing for several minutes. To reduce road rage, use a cucumber-melon air freshener in the car. Avoid: Barbecuing or roasting meat when you're angry -- the scent stirs up fiery feelings that heighten aggression.

Relax and wind down with lavender. Lie down and place a lavender-scented eye pillow over your eyes -- breathe slowly and deeply for several minutes. Avoid: Jasmine, which promotes alertness.

Rev up a man's libido with pumpkin pie or black licorice. Bake a pumpkin pie for maximum effect -- or use a reed diffuser (a stick that wicks the aroma from a bottle of scented oil). On a date: Nibble on black licorice. Noteworthy: Perfume is only 3% effective at arousing a man's romantic feelings -- versus 40% for pumpkin pie and 13% for licorice.

Bottom Line/Women's Health interviewed Alan Hirsch, MD, founder and neurological director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation and an assistant professor in the departments of neurology and psychiatry at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, both in Chicago. He has conducted more than 200 studies on smell and taste disorders and is the author of eight books, including Life's a Smelling Success (Authors of Unity) and Sensa Weight-Loss Program (Hilton). His Web site is www.smellandtaste.org.

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Hollecrest & Associates Inc  -"Turnaround Consultants"  .

Sunridge Lodge   "Back to Eden"  Quality 24/7 care
261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford  backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -
 
Brant Positive Action Group  "a positive community affirmative action group"

promoting goodwill and timely cost effective creative solutions to enhance the competitive well being of Brant, Brantford and Six Nations 





--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc  -"Turnaround Consultants"  .

Sunridge Lodge   "Back to Eden"  Quality 24/7 care
261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford  backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -
 
Brant Positive Action Group  "a positive community affirmative action group"
promoting goodwill and timely cost effective creative solutions to enhance the competitive well being of Brant, Brantford and Six Nations 


Monday, May 16, 2011

solar plane

Solar plane makes 13-hour flight

BRUSSELS (UPI) -- The completely solar-powered Solar Impulse planefinished its first international flight, from Switzerland to Belgium,in about 13 hours, officials said.

CNET.com reported Saturday the plane, its 200-foot wingspan covered bymore than 12,000 solar panels, flew the mission Friday without fueland without producing any pollution.

The plane, piloted by Andre Borschberg, took off from Payerne Airfieldin Switzerland shortly before 9 a.m. Friday and climbed to an altitudeof about 12,500 feet. It landed in Brussels about 9:40 p.m.

The plane relies on energy produced by the sun and stored in specialbatteries to keep it aloft.

The plane first flew in 2009. Its owners plan a cross-Atlantic tripthis year, to be followed by an around-the-world trip in 2013.

 

Copyright 2011 by United Press International

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Hollecrest & Associates Inc  -"Turnaround Consultants"  .

Sunridge Lodge   "Back to Eden"  Quality 24/7 care
261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford  backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -
 
Brant Positive Action Group  "a positive community affirmative action group"

promoting goodwill and timely cost effective creative solutions to enhance the competitive well being of Brant, Brantford and Six Nations 


Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Green roof-great idea

'Green' roofs seen as pollution help

NEW YORK (UPI) -- Green roofs, planted with vegetation, can be acost-effective way to keep water from running into sewer systems andcausing overflows, U.S. researchers say.

Scientists at Columbia University cite the Con Edison building in LongIsland City, Queens, whose green roof is home to 21,000 plants on aquarter acre that retain 30 percent of the rainwater that falls on theroof, a university release said last week.

The plants then release the water as vapor.

Scientists at Columbia's Center for Climate Systems Research estimateif New York City's 1 billion square feet of roofs were transformedinto green roofs, it would be possible to keep more than 10 billiongallons of water a year out of the city sewer system.

Like other older U.S. urban centers, New York has a combined sewersystem that carries both storm water and wastewater and often reachescapacity during rains and must discharge a mix of storm water andsewage into New York Harbor, the Hudson River, the East River andother waterways.

"The information we are collecting from Con Edison's roofs isinvaluable in helping us determine the costs and benefits of greeninfrastructure projects," Columbia research scientist Stuart Gaffinsaid.

 

Copyright 2011 by United Press International

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Hollecrest & Associates Inc  -"Turnaround Consultants"  .

Sunridge Lodge   "Back to Eden"  Quality 24/7 care
261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford  backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -
 
Brant Positive Action Group  "a positive community affirmative action group"

promoting goodwill and timely cost effective creative solutions to enhance the competitive well being of Brant, Brantford and Six Nations