Is Raw Milk Good for You?

 

By Katherine Brooking, MS, RD As a registered dietitian I hear a lot of inaccurate nutrition information from consumers. Often it’s a relatively harmless myth about the latest veggie that will “detoxify” your organs or the “must-have” new diet food. Occasionally though, I hear about a food fad that could have serious and lasting health implications. One of the fads that most concerns me is the push for raw, unpasteurized milk. I’m a fan of getting “back to nature” with less processed foods, but in the case of raw milk, going totally natural can be dangerous. While many people will strongly defend the consumption of raw milk – offering testimonials about how their grandparents drank it for decades or how it cured them of allergies – there’s no question on this one: raw milk can put your health at risk. There’s a good reason why pasteurization was invented. It kills bacteria that can make you sick! Raw, unpasteurized milk can carry harmful bacteria including salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, which can cause serious illness and, in some cases, can even be deadly. In fact, according to an analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 1993 and 2006 more than 1500 people in the United States fell ill from drinking raw milk or eating cheese made from raw milk. What’s more, CDC has found that unpasteurized milk is 150 times more likely to cause foodborne illness and results in 13 times more hospitalizations than illnesses involving pasteurized dairy products. It’s no wonder that in some states the sale of raw milk is illegal! Still on the fence about raw milk? Aside from the considerable health risks of unpasteurized milk, there are few benefits to going “raw”. For instance, studies show that pasteurization does not reduce milk’s nutritional value, so you get the same nutrients in pasteurized milk without the health risk. Some people believe that pasteurization causes lactose intolerance. But the truth is that lactose is found in both raw and pasteurized milk: if you are sensitive to milk protein you may have a problem with milk/milk products in any form. If you’re looking to eat fewer processed foods, go for it! It’s great to go with fresh veggies and home-cooked meals over highly processed fast food. But when it comes to milk, don’t go “raw”. Sometimes a little processing can be a good thing for your health. Important: The opinions expressed in WebMD Second Opinion are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. Second Opinion are... Expand

Relieving constipation

 

source : webmd.com

Lovely images

 

Tim Cook to College Grads: Don’t Spend Your Life on the Sidelines

 

William Atkins / The George Washington University Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered a challenge to the graduating class at George Washington University on Sunday: Someone has to change the world — it might as well be you. “The sidelines are not where you want to live your life,” Cook said during his commencement address to George Washington’s class of 2015. “The world needs you in the arena.” The CEO spoke for 20 minutes, incorporating a handful of personal memories into the speech, like his first trip to Washington as a high schooler (he met then-President Jimmy Carter) and his first meeting with Apple founder Steve Jobs (“It changed my life”). Cook talked lots about Apple — these are potential employees after all — but he also challenged the students to use their jobs to make a difference regardless of where they end up working. He mentioned his hero, Martin Luther King, Jr., multiple times as an example of how one person can make a lasting impact on the world. “There are problems that need to be solved, injustices that need to be ended,” he said. “People that are still being persecuted. Diseases still in need of cure. No matter what you do next, the world needs your energy, your passion, your impatience with progress. Don’t shrink from risk and tune out those critics and cynics. “History rarely yields to one person, but think and never forget what happens when it does. That can be you. That should be you. That must be you.” Cook also started things off with a little humor, breaking the ice with a “please silence your cellphones” announcement before getting into the speech. “For those of you with an iPhone, just place it in silent mode,” he said. “If you don’t have an iPhone, please pass it to the center aisle. Apple has a world-class recycling program.” It’s graduation season, so Cook isn’t the only CEO passing down advice to college grads. Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel gave the commencement address to USC’s Marshall School of Business on Friday. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff addressed UC Berkeley graduates on Saturday. source :www.recode.net

Performance-enhancing wearable hydration sensor provides immediate feedback

 

Wed, 05/20/2015 - 11:26am University of Strathclyde Dr. Stephen Milne demonstrates the device being used in a lab at the University of Strathclyde with Biomedical Engineering research associate Alejandra Aranceta Garza. Courtesy of Graeme FlemingA wearable device being developed by the University of Strathclyde will provide real-time data analysis of fluid loss during exercise to enhance the performance of fitness enthusiasts and elite athletes. The innovative transdermal sensor is a small device that attaches to the body to analyze electrolytes in sweat, with Bluetooth technology used to send the data back to a smartphone—allowing the user to rehydrate properly and maintain optimum performance. With heart monitors, pace-calculators and GPS-enabled watches used widely to support a healthy lifestyle, and in elite sporting disciplines, academics at the University believe that hydration monitoring could be the latest addition to the market. Dr. Stephen Milne, of Strathclyde’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, has been working on the technology and, following successful trials in Qatar and UK, is keen to explore the commercialization of the product. He said: “Whether you’re a serious athlete or someone who likes to keep fit, it’s important to make sure you get the right amount of fluid before, during and after exercising. The sensor we have developed analyses the sweat produced during activity and provides feedback immediately to a smartphone or computer. “On an individual level this would allow people to rehydrate during and after exercise. When it comes to team sports, fitness coaches would be able to monitor the data during matches and ensure athletes get what they need to maintain their performance. “The sensor is small and wearing it on the skin does not cause any discomfort. During exercise the user would barely be aware of it, allowing them to focus on the activity without distraction.” Demand for personalized information While there are guidelines in place that help people understand how much they should drink, there is a demand for personalized information that will enhance overall performance and tailored hydration programs. Water regulates body temperature, lubricates joints and helps transport nutrients for energy and health. Inadequate hydration causes the body to under-perform and can lead to fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness or more serious symptoms. The sensors have been developed in the Medical Diagnostics Research Group at the University led by Professor Patricia Connolly. She added: “Stephen has been able to take our work in medical sensors and transdermal sensing from the healthcare applications into the field of sport. The stringent application of medical device standards to our laboratory research means that these sensors will be qualified at the highest level for human use and translatable between sports science and medicine. “This is growing our portfolio of devices for use in home patient monitoring which can be coupled with telehealth systems and smartphones to deliver improved monitoring of patients. This system and our other diagnostics sensors are being supported for commercialization through a University spin out company, Ohmedics Ltd.” Providing new advantages The institute of sport is the high performance arm of sportscotland, where teams of experts in disciplines such as physiotherapy, performance nutrition, psychology, skill acquisition, exercise physiology and performance lifestyle work together, and with targeted help from external partners, provide high performance expertise to Scotland's top athletes. Sportscotland institute of sport's Innovation and Special Projects team and Strathclyde University are currently exploring how high performance sport applications of real time technologies can provide new advantages. Dr. Malcolm Fairweather, Head of Science and Innovation at sportscotland, said: “In high performance sport, the ability to understand and then optimize an athlete's performance can mean the difference between winning medals or, going home empty handed. Dr. Marek Anestik, Senior Exercise Physiologist, added: “The ability to add wearable technology to the sophisticated feedback systems that we currently use to monitor and tune the performance of the athletes, could give Scotland a further competitive advantage." SOURCE: University of Strathclyde

Toward 'green' paper-thin, flexible electronics

 

Wed, 05/20/2015 - 10:15am A new, environmentally-friendly paper that glows could lead to sustainable, roll-up electronics. Courtesy of American Chemical SocietyThe rapid evolution of gadgets has brought us an impressive array of "smart" products from phones to tablets, and now watches and glasses. But they still haven't broken free from their rigid form. Now, scientists are reporting in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces a new step toward bendable electronics. They have developed the first light-emitting, transparent and flexible paper out of environmentally friendly materials via a simple, suction-filtration method. Technology experts have long predicted the coming age of flexible electronics, and researchers have been working on multiple fronts to reach that goal. But many of the advances rely on petroleum-based plastics and toxic materials. Yu-Zhong Wang, Fei Song and colleagues wanted to seek a "greener" way forward. The researchers developed a thin, clear nanocellulose paper made out of wood flour and infused it with biocompatible quantum dots—tiny, semiconducting crystals—made out of zinc and selenium. The paper glowed at room temperature and could be rolled and unrolled without cracking. The authors acknowledge funding from the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. SOURCE: ACS

New printing process makes three-dimensional objects glow

 

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Bent and flexible surfaces of various materials, such as paper and plastic, can be provided with a coating to make them glow. Courtesy of S. Walter/Binder GroupConventional electroluminescent (EL) foils can be bent up to a certain degree only and can be applied easily onto flat surfaces. The new process developed by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in cooperation with the company of Franz Binder GmbH & Co. now allows for the direct printing of electroluminescent layers onto three-dimensional components. Such EL components might be used to enhance safety in buildings in case of power failures. Other potential applications are displays and watches or the creative design of rooms. The development project was funded with EUR 125,000 by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (German Foundation for the Environment). “By means of the innovative production process we developed together with our industry partner, any type of three-dimensional object can be provided with electroluminescent coatings at low costs,” Dr.-Ing. Rainer Kling of the Light Technology Institute of KIT says. Usually, the luminescent material is located between two plastic layers in EL carrier foils. By means of the new printing process, however, the electroluminescent layers are directly printed onto the object without any intermediate carrier. In this way, convex and concave surfaces of various materials, such as paper or plastic, can be made glow. The different components of the coating, including the electroluminescent and the electrically conductive materials, are applied by a novel pad printing process. The pad printing machine is equipped with an elastic rubber pad that is easily deformable and, hence, excellently suited for the coating of curved surfaces. “In this way, it is possible to provide surfaces and even spheres with homogeneous coatings at low costs,” says engineer Elodie Chardin, who works on this research project. “Homogeneity of the coating of about one tenth of a millimeter in thickness was one of the challenges of this project,” says the executive engineer of the industry partner, Elisabeth Warsitz. The process requires a few production steps only and, hence, is characterized by a low consumption of resources. By using various luminescent substances, various colors may be applied to the same surface. The research and development project of KIT in cooperation with the Binder Connector Group, headquartered in the German town of Neckarsulm, took about two years and was funded with EUR 125,000 by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (German Foundation for the Environment). The foundation funds projects for the protection of the environment, with one project partner being a small or medium-sized company. After the successful development of the prototype printing process for electroluminescent layers, the Light Technology Institute of the KIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology plans further research projects for the optimization of this innovative production process of electroluminescent coatings. Video on the production of glowing paper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8xQfvOWBuA SOURCE: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Hindu for Hipsters

 

 

Hindu for Hipsters

Posted: 21 May 2015 08:46 AM PDT

“Hindu Tales – Souvenirs of a Future” aims to question the interactions of spirituality and technology. It focuses on Hindu devotees and imagines how they could use new tech in their religious practices. Presented in a tryptic of three “fragments”, the projects consists of traditional props that have been updated with sensory receptors and visual notifications so information on an emotional level can be shared between loved ones in other places. Jump to the vid to see it in action!

Designer: Anne Couvert-Castéra

The bare chair

 

 

 

Posted: 21 May 2015 10:32 AM PDT

We zip-line through life stopping only to click pictures of nature’s abundant beauty for our Instagram. No one pauses to stare at the sunset anymore. Or sit amongst towering trees. The Leano chair is the perfect accessory for people who want to encourage the wanderlust within them. Just simply a wooden frame and fabric, it’s a lovely recliner stripped down to the bare essentials, finally occupying the same amount of space as a closed umbrella, when packed.

It’s so minimal, it puts the Air in Chair!

Designer: Nik Lorbeg

Using a new laser process to custom shape optical fibers

Tue, 05/19/2015 - 11:24am Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Thanks to a new laser process, optical fibers can now be inserted into even smaller vein branches. In this prototype, the tip is inside the fiber probe. © Fraunhofer IZMModern medicine relies on optical fibers to cauterize unhealthy veins in a minimally invasive way. Now, Fraunhofer researchers have developed a laser processing method that facilitates automated series manufacture of these fibers at a much finer quality than ever before. The scientists presented a fiber probe prototype manufactured using the new technique at the measurement fair SENSOR+TEST 2015 in Nuremberg. Venous disease is fairly widespread in Germany: According to the German Venous League, one in five women and one in six men suffer from varicose veins, thrombosis or other vein problems. Endovenous laser vein therapy is one remedy. For this procedure, a plastic-coated optical fiber 0.5 millimeters in diameter is inserted into the affected blood vessel. Laser light is conducted through the middle of the fiber to the fiber tip. At a temperature of several hundred degrees, the emitted light cauterizes the tissue and causes the veins to collapse. To ensure that the light strikes the side walls of the vein directly, the fiber tip is tapered with a cone-shaped indentation that forms a reflective surface for the laser light. A protective glass cap ensures that no blood deposits directly on the tip could change the optical characteristics of the laser light. The cap also protects the patient from any injury from the fiber tip. In the LaserDELight project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM have developed a new, laser-based process for precisely shaping this sort of optical fiber. They use the FiberTurningLaser, which is a laser for glass processing. “The method enables the first automated series production,” explains Dr. Henning Schröder from Fraunhofer IZM. Until now, producing the fibers required complicated mechanical and manual processes that not only took significantly longer, but cost more too. “What’s more, replicating a suitable product is extremely difficult,” adds Schröder. Automation ensures consistent high quality. The project is being funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF. Optical fiber tip inside the probe Using a laser beam, the researchers can shape the optical fiber tip. In a later production step, the protective cap is fused onto the fiber so that no additional fixture is needed. “The new process has demonstrated that it is more practical to fashion a cone-shaped indentation in the fiber than have a tapered shape like the tip of a pencil,” explains Schröder. This offers yet another advantage: the cap on the fiber end is smaller because the tip of the cone is eliminated, making the fiber probe head in general more compact and versatile. Now, it can be inserted into even smaller vein branches. With help from laser technology, the scientists are trying to achieve even finer dimensions, which can no longer be produced by hand: the goal is optical fibers with a diameter of only 100-200 micrometers. These could open up new applications in the area of optical sensors, for instance as micro optics for visible light communication (VLC) —a technology for optical data transmission. To put it simply, for VLC, the process is the reverse of the endovenous laser procedure. “The fiber tip collects data from the environment and sends it back through the fiber to a detector,” Schröder explains. This detector—a photodiode or CMOS chip—converts the optical information into electrical signals for evaluation. Schröder and his Fraunhofer IZM colleagues will present the fiber probe prototype May 19-21 at the measurement fair SENSOR+TEST in Nuremburg (Hall 12, Booth 537). SOURCE: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft