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Self-styled food guru Michael Pollan’s latest rant against modern farming, Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual, lists 64 rules for healthy eating. Pollan says they are meant to be taken as “Food Don’ts” — for the sake of our health and the environment. And as usual, America’s “foodies” are going ga-ga over someone whose claim to fame is repeatedly lecturing others to “Eat Food.” So let’s take a close look at what this journalism professor has to offer in his latest diatribe on what you eat.

Pollan admits he ignores nutrition science, which he derides as inexact. But perhaps the real reason he avoids citing actual research is because he knows it doesn’t support his pseudo-scientific beliefs.

Take Rule #22, “Eat mostly plants.” Pollan claims vegetarians are “notably healthier” and live longer than meat-eaters. Yet, a 2006 study by researchers at the University of Oxford found that vegetarians died of strokes and cancers of the colon, breast and prostate at the same rate as omnivores. The mortality rate, the Oxford team wrote, “appears to be similar in vegetarians and comparable non-vegetarians.” In other words, vegetarians don’t live longer than meat-eaters – though life may seem interminably long if you spend most of your time choking down Tofurky and soy-cheese lettuce wraps.

Pollan blows it again with Rule #27, which holds that meat from “wild” free-range animals eating grass is more nutritious than from grain-fed animals raised in feedlots. Before you drop half your paycheck on “artisanal” porkchops, know this: Free-range meat carries health risks that slow-food advocates like Pollan won’t tell you about.

A study published in the journal Foodborne Pathogens and Disease found significantly higher rates of salmonella in free-range pigs when compared with pigs raised on larger farms. Pigs raised in the roof-covered, environmentally-controlled surroundings of the much-maligned Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are actually less conducive to disease. And pigs that spend time outdoors are more likely to come into contact with disease-carrying animals.

And if you don’t eat for your health, how about the health of Planet Earth? Pollan’s advice may actually lead to greater environmental damage. The CAFOs that he demonizes use less land to raise more animals than the free-range method. Grass-fed cows, for instance, can require up to 10 acres of pasture per head. If today’s cattlemen exclusively used 1950s technology, they would need an additional 165 million acres of land – roughly the size of Texas — to produce the same amount of beef. And since niche-market cows don’t grow as big as their more conventional counterparts, a wholesale backpedal to old-school farming would increase levels of animal-waste pollution by nearly 30 percent.

Is this the environmental outcome Pollan seeks?

Maybe it’s not fair to criticize Pollan for his scientific illiteracy. After all, he gives himself an out in his final Rule #64, “Break the Rules Once in a While.” If there’s a sequel, we think it should begin with Rule #65: Break most of Pollan’s rules most of the time.

VEGA Grieshaber KG has introduced a new component for wireless communication: PLICSMOBILE.

The transmitting and receiving unit PLICSMOBILE is equipped with a standard SIM card and sends the measured values via GSM-GPRS service. With this module, remote diagnosis and teleservice can also be carried out worldwide over the public telephone network. PLICSMOBILE can be integrated into the double chamber housings of the plics®plus series or separately connected to any plics®plus or plics® sensor.

PLICSMOBILE has an integrated energy management system at its disposal and the module operates in an autonomous standby mode. Data transmission is time or event driven, depending on the settings.

The power supply for the connected sensor is provided via the PLICSMOBILE. The low operating voltage enables supply for both module and sensor via an integrated accumulator or a separate battery. In detached operation, the module can be independently powered by an external power supply.

The adjustment of PLICSMOBILE is carried out via the PC with PACTware and DTM. This allows comprehensive, remote access to sensors with HART, Profibus PA or Foundation Fieldbus interface.

Areas of use for PLICSMOBILE are applications in which one single measurement takes place at a remote location. Examples of this are mobile silos, deep wells, high containers, waste oil gathering points as well as river and sea levels.
The data can be passed on to the Internet portal WEB-VV or made available per e-mail or SMS.

PLICSMOBILE from VEGA stands for simplified installation and great flexibility in operation, parameter adjustment and diagnosis from a distance.

Eriez Magnetics Europe Ltd announces the launch of the new and high quality ProGradeTM range. The line includes Grate Magnets available in XtremeTM Rare Earth magnetic strength, ideal for application in all processing industries. All ProGrade products are available for immediate despatch to meet the ever increasing demands of customers.

The ProGrade Square, Rectangular and Round Permanent Magnetic Grates are designed to remove ferrous contamination in hoppers, chutes, floor openings and other areas where free flowing materials are present. They are of a sanitary construction which makes them ideal for the food industry and other processing applications.

The ProGrade Easy to Clean Grate in Housing is also available. Consisting of two rows of staggered magnets, it is designed to enable operators to quickly remove accumulated fine iron contamination and clean the magnets. All of the Grates in the ProGrade range are manufactured to the highest quality with a glass bead surface finish and stainless steel construction.

Another new ProGrade product is the Eriez Ceramic Permanent Magnetic Hoppagrid. The Hoppagrid Magnet is a simple yet effective low strength device for removing tramp iron from free-flowing granular or powdered materials. It is predominantly used in the plastics industry to stop damage to equipment resulting from ferrous metal contamination like nails, nuts, bolts and screws.

Paul Fears, Managing Director at Eriez Europe commented, “We [Eriez] always try to respond to the needs of our customers. The ProGrade range is our latest initiative to achieve this goal by supplying standard size products at very competitive prices and offering immediate despatch. We have also not only maintained, but improved the quality and finish. The benefits for our customers are clear for all to see.”

For more details on the ProGrade range please visit en-gb.eriez.com or alternatively email [email protected]

The parts to be cleaned are placed into a revolving basket Rapid cleaning is achieved by spraying hot detergent solution from three spray pipes located around the backet.

Applications:
– Cleaning of parts
– Cleaning of tools
– Surface treatment
– Cleaning of parts for reconditioning and renovation.
– Degreasing of heavily contaminated parts within a few minutes..

We have developed a new spring-applied / oil-released brake named ID800-N. It’s the spring applied version of our traditional brake ID800 and it can supply a braking force up to 13 kN in a compact size. Its modular design is an innovative solution in this range of clamping force. Ideal for applications such as handling and lifting of small and medium capacity.

ü Brake body made in steel and not cast iron: Improved mechanical strength and lower risk of oil leaking;
ü Pads guided by pins so the tangential braking load is transferred to the brake body and not to the piston; longer life of piston and seals, lower risk of oil leaking;
ü Pads fixed with a magnet for fast replacement and sure release;
ü Cup springs and seals are accessible from the top of the thruster for easy maintenance;
ü Polyuretahne seals for better performance at high pressure; suitable for vegetable oil too;
ü Steel body and steel parts treated with manganese phosphation for protection against corrosion;
ü Piston treated with Tenifer QPQ (Quench-Polish-Quench) for high resistance to corrosion, high surface hardness and surface lubrication;
ü Pads supplied with wear indicator as a standard;
ü On-off switch available as an option; explosion-proof version available upon request.

The Epson six-axis ProSix C3 robot combines the best qualities of Epson’s longstanding tradition of robot expertise.

The compact model embodies optimal functionality for assembly of electronic parts, as well as for the food, pharmaceutical, medical and the automotive industry.

As the robot can be controlled by the reliable
Epson RC180 robot controller or the PC-based RC620 controller, it eliminates the need for comprehensive courses and training when integrated into existing systems.

In addition to this, the Epson ProSix C3 provides outstanding value for money.

QUICK AND RELIABLE
Thanks to the innovative Epson Smart Motion Technology, the Epson ProSix C3 combines high-speed and high-precision. Average cycle time in the 0.37 seconds range (1 kg load) with repeatability of ± 0.02 mm can be achieved. This makes the ProSix C3 the best six-axis robot in its class.

Schmitt Europe Ltd are proud to announce the launch of its new Lasercheck® Surface Roughness Measurement Gauges. These products are designed to perform high speed, accurate, non-contact measurements of surface roughness on a large variety of manufactured, machined and engineered parts. Lasercheck® works on any material including metals, ceramics, glass and rubber and is suited to ground, sanded, polished, honed, super-finished, fine-turned or even shot blasted surface finishes.

These gauges are specifically designed for portable or on-line use in production and manufacturing environments. Patented light scatter detection technology provides superior durability, measurement speed (less than 1 second) and repeatability without high maintenance and re-calibration costs. Operators on the production floor can use Lasercheck® to easily and quickly monitor surface finish quality without concern for damaging other fragile measurement equipment or surfaces.

Measurements can be performed by manual pushbutton operation, or continuous high speed measurements controlled by Windows software, or fully automated high speed on-line measurements triggered by external signals and Windows software, displaying real time Ra values in graphical and numeric format with statistical parameters.

Lasercheck® has been designed for a nominal height standoff of ~ 2.5 mm from the measurement surface in which, any motion or vibration is continuously monitored and corrected for during every measurement cycle to ensure accurate results. The Lasercheck® “Micro 8826” Head measures ~2.5 x 1.9 x 5.1 cm with a surface roughness measurement range of 0.025 to 2.0 mm and the Lasercheck® “Mini 6212” Head measures ~7.5 x 3.5 x 4.4 cm with a surface roughness measurement range of 0.0125 to 2.0 mm. Three controllers are available. The Automated “A” Controller is a stand alone unit capable of 10 measurements per second, the Portable “B” Controller a hand held unit capable of storing up to 10,000 Ra values and an OEM Card “C” Controller for mounting in the customer’s own electronics panel. For more information please contact Schmitt Europe Ltd.

The concept of the CA series which comes with diameters of 8, 12, 16, 24, 35, 36, 50, 75 and 150mm has been proved to be successful: robust linear actuators with a round design that use moving coil technology. Available strokes – depending on the model – range from 10 to 50mm with encoder resolutions of 20, 5, 1, 0.5, 0.1 or 0.05 microns.

SMAC electric cylinders have a low moving mass and are equipped with a self-lubricating splined shaft linear guide which significantly decreases friction. This enables the unit to generate a low controlled contact force while using the SMAC patented Soft-Land function. This eliminates any damage to components during handling. Position, force and speed are individually, programmed through a standard PC interface. Thus, re-calibration for applications with different sized components can be carried out in a very short period of time.

As costs drop and capabilities increase SMAC moving coil electric cylinders are rapidly replacing older technologies such as pneumatics, moving magnet linear motors, ball screw and belt drive actuators. SMAC electric cylinders provide better force control for glass applications, and better force control and quality feedback for medical product manufacturing and assembly. SMAC electric cylinders are high speed, low cost and have the ability to measure what cameras and lasers cannot during part inspection. They also enable quick adjustment and provide longer life. SMAC electric cylinders are therefore rapidly replacing older linear actuator technology and camera and laser measuring systems.

Used for blending and finishing in one operation, CGW flap discs replace the traditional T-27 depressed centre discs and fibre discs.

Suitable for:

Grinding and finishing of welds Deburring, rust removal and snagging Excellent for surface finishing

Flap discs and wheels are suitable for:
Grinding and finishing of welds
Deburring, rust removal and snagging
Suitable for most ferrous & non-ferrous materials
Excellent for surface finishing

The article reviewed here is ‘Catatonia. Treatment and Recognition’ by  Cottencin and colleagues. This is a paper consisting of a case report with discussion. The authors describe the case of a 54-year old lady with a history of hypomania (later revised to Bipolar Disorder) who was initially admitted to hospital for an alcohol detoxification. After being noted to have depression with anxiety she was then discharged on an antidepressant as well as an antipsychotic with sedative properties – Cyamemazine which acts at D2 and serotonin 2c receptors.  She was readmitted 2 days later with a number of symptoms including mutism, disorientation, flight of ideas, wandering, rigidity and oppositionalism. The authors included Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome as a differential but there is no mention that I could find of the CK’s or autonomic features. The authors focus on their main differential that of catatonia. They found that she scored highly on the Catatonia Rating Scale (although commenting on the reliability and sensitivity of catatonia scales) and then proceeded to initiate a Zolpidem challenge. She responded well to this and there was a marked improvement on the Rating scale scores which peaked at 45 minutes before returning to (roughly) baseline levels after 3 hours. The authors conclude that a Zolpidem challenge is a useful confirmation test for catatonia before speculating that the withdrawal from a number of GABAergic medications prior to the episode may be related to the onset of the catatonia. The difficulty in interpreting a case-report is that it is difficult to control for a number of potentially important factors – medications, mood, alcohol withdrawal, abrupt withdrawal of multiple medications to name but a few. The opportunistic case-report also differs from the more ‘controlled’ settings of the clinical trial where subjects with certain characteristics are selected for inclusion. Nevertheless they offer initial evidence and the speculation here has led to a useful hypothesis which can be further assessed.  

References

Cottencin O, Danel T, Goudemand M, Thomas P and Consoli S. Catatonia recognition and treatment. Med Sci Monit. 15(8). CS 129-131.  2009. 

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Disclaimer

The comments made here represent the opinions of the author and do not represent the profession or any body/organisation. The comments made here are not meant as a source of medical advice and those seeking medical advice are advised to consult with their own doctor. The author is not responsible for the contents of any external sites that are linked to in this blog.

Chicken and dumplings is classic American comfort food. It’s one of those dishes that you just want to curl up with on a cold winter night since it’s hearty, flavorful and can be very easy to make. If you’ve never had it, chicken and dumplings is a lot like chicken soup (very heavy on the chicken) with steamed biscuits floating in it. The chicken and broth portion of the dish already has a comforting, homey flavor to it and adding steamed biscuit dough makes the dish filling and lends a nice buttery flavor to everything.

This version of chicken and dumplings – and you should know that there are as many ways to make this dish as there are ways to make a chocolate chip cookie – is a quick one-dish meal that you can make in less than an hour from start to finish. I start with a whole rotisserie chicken and shred the meat. I make a chicken soup base using onions, carrots, celery, garlic and chicken stock (storebought, but homemade is good if you have it) and add the shredded chicken into it. I make homemade biscuit dough, drop it in small chunks into the boiling soup, then put the lid on the pot and cook everything until the biscuits are soft and tender.

I think that the homemade biscuit dough is the key to this dish. The finished dumplings are so buttery and flavorful, and they even have a bit of a flaky texture to them that you’re not going to get from a can of biscuit dough dropped into the soup. It’s worth noting that you’re not going to get the same kind of rich, buttery flavor from canned dough, either, since most are made with shortening. The dumplings will be done when they are cooked through and fluffy, no raw dough in the center; you will probably have to cut one open to double check and can cook the whole dish a few minutes longer if you need to. It reheats well, but is best fresh!
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The Newton might be in the valley between an iPhone and Apple’s upcoming tablet, but it’s essentially Apple’s first stab at the form factor. And here’s how they promoted it.

Setting aside the ’90s taint on the ad, it’s strange to see how much Apple pumped the faxing angle on the Newton in its subsequent TV spots, which we’ll be revisiting soon.

In addition to producing high heating bills, the cold weather that has gripped much of the country poses health dangers related to hypothermia, especially in the elderly. However, there are ways to protect oneself from excessive loss of body heat both at home and outdoors.

Hypothermia occurs when body temperature falls to 96 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Its symptoms include slowed or slurred speech, sleepiness or confusion, shivering or stiffness in the arms and legs, poor control over body movements or slow reactions as well as a weak pulse.

According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), seniors are particularly vulnerable to hypothermia due to underlying medical conditions and because they tend to be less active than younger people and produce less body heat.

Consequently, NIA experts recommend keeping the temperature of the home at a minimum of 68 degrees. To stay warm inside it is a good idea to wear long underwear, socks and slippers. A blanket can be used to keep legs and shoulders comfortable, while a hat or cap can warm the head.

Venturing outdoors, it is important to wear a scarf and gloves or mittens to prevent loss of body heat through the hands and feet. A hat is particularly important because a significant portion of body heat loss occurs through the head.

In addition, wearing several layers of warm loose clothing can help keep warm air close to the body.

Finally, NIA advises seniors to check with their healthcare providers as some medicines may increase the risk of hypothermia.

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