| therapeutic dosages | therapeutic uses | safety issues | interactions you should know about policosanol is a mixture of waxy substances generally manufactured from sugarcane. it contains about 60 % octacosanol, along with many related chemicals. in some cases, the terms octacosanol and policosanol are used interchangeably. numerous studies have reported that sugarcane policosanol can substantially improve cholesterol profile, with an efficacy approximately equal to that of the most effective drugs used for this purpose. on this basis, policosanol has been approved as a treatment for high cholesterol in about two dozen countries, most of them in latin america. however, essentially all positive studies of policosanol were performed and reported by a single cuban research group — a group with a financial relationship to the product. independent verification of the product ’ s effectiveness was delayed for several years by various legal obstacles. during the years 2006 and 2007, however, several independent studies of sugarcane policosanol were at last reported. in none of these trials has policosanol proved more effective than placebo. the tested cuban policosanol product is manufactured from sugarcane. octacosanol and related substances are also found in wheat germ oil, vegetable oils,, and various animal products. due to political and patent issues, sugarcane policosanol has not been widely available in the us. products sold in the us market as " policosanol " are generally derived from beeswax or wheat germ. these products have a significantly different mixture of constituents and could have substantially different effects. typical dosages of policosanol in cuban studies have ranged from 5 mg to 10 mg twice daily. the cuban research group that holds the patent on sugarcane - derived policosanol has published approximately 80 double - blind studies on their product. if these reports are to be believed, a total of several thousand people with elevated cholesterol levels have been enrolled in clinical trials ranging in length from 6 weeks to 12 months, and in virtually every one of these trials policosanol proved both more effective than placebo and equally effective as statin drugs. however, in science, it is always necessary to have independent confirmation of results before a treatment can be considered proven to work. the first truly independent trials of policosanol as a treatment for high cholesterol began to appear in 2006. of the many studies published since then, enrolling over 500 people, not one found policosanol more effective than place


. the first truly independent trials of policosanol as a treatment for high cholesterol began to appear in 2006. of the many studies published since then, enrolling over 500 people, not one found policosanol more effective than placebo. these results have raised serious doubts about the effectiveness of sugarcane policosanol. in addition, questions are now being raised about other scientific claims made by the patent - holding cuban research group. wheat - germ policosanol, sold in the us as substitute for sugarcane policosanol, failed to prove more effective than placebo in the one published clinical trial of this product. there is no published evidence to indicate that beeswax - derived policosanol affects cholesterol profile. a study published in croatia reportedly found benefit with rice - source policosanol, but it suffered from significant problems in design and reporting. the bottom line : at present, considerable doubt exists regarding whether any form of policosanol offers cholesterol - related benefits. one study, again conducted by the patent - holding cuban research group, reported that policosanol is helpful for other potential uses of policosanol have been proposed by non - cuban researchers. a small double - blind trial found marginal evidence that policosanol might enhance sports performance marginal benefits were also seen in a very small, double - blind trial of individuals with ; however, this study also reported that policosanol can increase the side effects of the levodopa, the standard drug used for parkinson ’ s disease. finally, in a small double - blind trial, policosanol failed to produce any benefits in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis : virtually all statements regarding the safety of policosanol derive from studies reported by the patent - holding cuban research group. since the reliability of these researchers is now in question, all of the statements below are similarly open to question. given the above caveat, policosanol is said to be safe at the maximum recommended dose. in double - blind trials, only mild short - term side effects have been reported, such as nervousness, headache, diarrhea, and insomnia. a safety study of 27, 879 people followed for 2 to 4 years showed that use of policosanol produced adverse effects in only 0. 31 % of participants, primarily weight loss, excessive urination, and insomnia. in animal studies, no toxic signs were seen even at 620 times the maximum recommended dose. in


use of policosanol produced adverse effects in only 0. 31 % of participants, primarily weight loss, excessive urination, and insomnia. in animal studies, no toxic signs were seen even at 620 times the maximum recommended dose. in addition, policosanol does not adversely affect the liver. finally, policosanol does not interact with three types of medications used for high blood pressure : calcium - channel antagonists, diuretics, and beta - blockers. on the other hand, policosanol may be a " blood thinner, " and it appears to enhance the blood - thinning effects of aspirin, though at least one study failed to confirmed this adverse effect. still, to be on the safe side, policosanol should not be combined with aspirin or other blood - thinning drugs, such as ( trental ). there is also at least a remote chance that it might cause excessive bleeding if combined with natural supplements that thin the blood, such as, and high - dose. similarly, individuals with clotting problems should avoid policosanol, and the supplement should not be used during the period immediately prior to or following surgery or labor and delivery. one non - cuban report suggests that policosanol might increase the action of levodopa, a medication used for parkinson ' s disease, leading to increased side effects called dyskinesias. the maximum safe dosages for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or individuals with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established. interactions you should know about do not use policosanol except on medical advice if you are taking : blood - thinning medications, for example : natural supplements that thin the blood, for example : keep in mind that policosanol may increase both the effects and side effects of :


click on the image to see an enhanced diagram. heat is energy in transit from warmer systems to colder systems. heat is associated with the internal potential and kinetic energy ( an apparently disorganized molecular motion ) of a system. if heat is a form of energy associated to the particles ’ rotational, translational and vibratory movements, how does the heat move through the space between the sun and the earth, which density is extremely low? the answer is : heat could be transferred from warmed systems by radiation. the thermal radiation is electromagnetic radiation that consists of particles and waves, i. e. photons and waves, the same as visible light. thus, the radiative heat transfer can take place through vacuum. the energy always moves from a warmer system to a colder system. the energy which is moving from one system to another is known as heat. the transfer or dispersion of heat can occur by means of three main mechanisms, conduction, convection and radiation : conduction : it is the flow of heat through solids and liquids by vibration and collision of molecules and free electrons. the molecules of a given point of a system which are at higher temperature vibrate faster than the molecules of other points of the same system - or of other systems - which are at lower temperature. the molecules with a higher movement collide with the less energized molecules and transfer part of their energy to the less energized molecules of the colder regions of the structure. for example, the heat transfer by conduction through the bodywork of a car. metals are the best thermal conductors ; while non - metals are poor thermal conductors. for comparison, the thermal conductivity ( k ) of the copper is 401 w / m * k, while the thermal conductivity ( k ) of the air is 0. 0263 w / m * k. the thermal conductivity of the carbon dioxide ( co2 ) is 0. 01672 w / m * k, almost the thermal conductivity of an isolator. formula to calculate the conductivity gradient for a given system : q = - ka ( δ t / δ n ) where δ t / δ n is the temperature gradient in the direction of area a, and k is the thermal conductivity constant obtained by experimentation in w / m. k. convection : flow of heat through currents within a fluid ( liquid or gas ). convection is the displacement of volumes of a substance in a liquid or gaseous phase. when a mass of a fluid is heated up, for


w / m. k. convection : flow of heat through currents within a fluid ( liquid or gas ). convection is the displacement of volumes of a substance in a liquid or gaseous phase. when a mass of a fluid is heated up, for example when it is in contact with a warmer surface, its molecules are carried away and scattered causing that the mass of that fluid becomes less dense. for this reason, the warmed mass will be displaced vertically and / or horizontally, while the colder and denser mass of fluid goes down ( the low - kinetic - energy molecules displace the molecules in high - kinetic - energy states ). through this process, the molecules of the hot fluid transfer heat continuously toward the volumes of the colder fluid. for example, when heating up water on a stove, the volume of water at the bottom of the pot will be warmed up by conduction from the metallic bottom of the pot and its density decreases. given that it gets lesser dense, it shifts upwards up to the surface of the volume of water and displaces the upper - colder and denser - mass of water downwards, to the bottom of the pot. formula of convection : q = ha ( ts - t ∞ ) where h is for convective heat transfer coefficient, a is the area implied in the heat transfer process, ts is for the temperature of the system and t ∞ is a reference temperature. radiation : it is heat transfer by electromagnetic waves or photons. it does not need a propagating medium. the energy transferred by radiation moves at the speed of light. the heat radiated by the sun can be exchanged between the solar surface and the earth ' s surface without heating the transitional space. for example, if i place an object ( such as a coin, a car, or myself ) under the direct sunbeams, i will note in a little while that the object will be heated. the exchange of heat between the sun and the object occurs by radiation. the formula to know the amount of heat transferred by radiation is : q = e σ a [ ( δt ) ^ 4 ] where q is the heat transferred by radiation, e is the emissivity of the system, σ is the constant of stephan - boltzmann ( 5. 6697 x 10 ^ - 8 w / m ^ 2. k ^ 4 ), a is the area involved in the heat transfer by radiation, and ( δt ) ^ 4 is the difference of temperature between two systems to the fourth or higher power. a heat


^ - 8 w / m ^ 2. k ^ 4 ), a is the area involved in the heat transfer by radiation, and ( δt ) ^ 4 is the difference of temperature between two systems to the fourth or higher power. a heat sink is a system capable of absorbing heat from an object with which it is in thermal contact without a phase change or a significant variation in temperature. at earth ' s location, the outer space, the gravity field ( guth. 1999. pp. 29 - 31 ) and the false void are heat sinks. water has a specific heat of 4. 190 kj / kg. k, while air has a specific heat of 1. 0057 kj / kg. k, and soil have a specific heat of 0. 725 kj / kg. k. water has a specific heat higher than soil and air ; then, the thermal capacity of water is higher than the thermal capacity of the air and the soil. to a greater thermal capacity, a slower rate of dissipation of heat. the atmosphere and the soil don ' t maintain a load of heat for longer periods than water because they have a specific heat capacity lower than water, so water absorbs more heat for inreasing its temperature for a determined interval. for equal volumes ( 1kg, for example ), water absorbs more heat than air or soil. the absorbed heat will be transformed into kinetic and potential energy. a body with a high energy density will lose its inner energy slower than a body with a lower energy density. for example, if you have ten dollars and your friend has five dollars, and each one is obliged to spend one dollar per day, you will delay ten days to spend your money, while your friend will delay only five days to consume his money. in general, the soil and the air have independently 1 / 4 of the specific heat of water. for example, the specific heat of carbon dioxide is 850 j / kg °c ; to be precise, 4. 92 times less than the specific heat of water ; then, its thermal capacity will be less than the thermal capacity of water. for equal masses of the evaluated substances, at controlled temperatures and pressure, the carbon dioxide will release its internal heat five times faster than the water. if one kilogram of water at 30 °c is cooled by 10 °c in 10 minutes, one kilogram of carbon dioxide at 30 °c would be cooled by 10 °c in two minutes. the rule is : if you get it fast, you will lose it fast


kilogram of water at 30 °c is cooled by 10 °c in 10 minutes, one kilogram of carbon dioxide at 30 °c would be cooled by 10 °c in two minutes. the rule is : if you get it fast, you will lose it fast. as an interesting datum, the hydrogen has a specific heat of 14200 j / kg - °c ; while methane, another of the famous " greenhouse " gases, has 2200 j / kg °c. steam water has a specific heat of 2100 j / kg - °c ( data on specific heat of the substances obtained from monachos engineering and from wittemann ). water absorbs the incoming solar infrared radiation because the frequency of the internal vibration of the water molecules is the same frequency of the waves of the solar infrared radiation. this form of radiative heat transfer is known as resonance absorption. we humans feel the heat radiated by the sun and other systems with a higher temperature because our bodies contain 55 - 75 % of water. the radiative energy inciding on our skin is absorbed by the molecules of water in our bodies by resonance absorption. just then, the infrared radiation absorbed by our bodies leads to a more intense internal vibration of the water molecules in our bodies and our bodies get warmer. however, in general, living beings possess thermoregulatory systems that permit us to eliminate the excess of heat from our bodies, maintaining a quasi - stable internal temperature ( it is one of the homeostatic processes of biosystems ). if the earth did not have water, nights would be extremely cold. for example, if the atmospheres of mars and earth had the same density, mars would have an atmospheric co2 concentration of 11998. 5 ppmv. however, due to the lower density of mars ' atmosphere, the concentration of co2 in that planet ' s atmosphere is equivalent to 0. 95 % on earth ; nevertheless, mars is a frozen planet because mars has only vestiges of water ( 0. 03 % ) and it has not ponds, lakes and oceans, as earth has. have you read that “ the main explanation of the blazing venus surface and the frosty martian surface has been quite clear and straightforward : the " greenhouse effect ”? this assertion is ambiguous because the real cause is the distance of venus ( nearly ) and mars ( distant ) from the sun, and because mars and venus do not have water as earth has. if the greenhouse effect was the responsible, then mars, a planet with 95 % of carbon dioxide in its


the distance of venus ( nearly ) and mars ( distant ) from the sun, and because mars and venus do not have water as earth has. if the greenhouse effect was the responsible, then mars, a planet with 95 % of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere, would not be an iced, but a tepid planet. besides, mars only receives 589. 2 w / m + e2 of solar irradiance, while earth receives 1367. 6 w / m + e2 of solar irradiance ( 2. 32 times higher than mars ). mars ’ core has a temperature of 1727 °c ( fei and bertka, science ; 2005 ), while the temperature of the earth ' s core is 7, 200 °c, ¡ this is a core temperature four times higher than mars ' core temperature! despite the low density of the martian atmosphere, it has a concentration of carbon dioxide ( co2 ) of 0. 95 %, which is 29. 5 times higher than the concentration of co2 in earth ’ s atmosphere. if the global temperature was determined by co2, mars would be comfortably warm. on the other hand, nasa has reported a climate change on mars - i. e. a martian global warming due to the " shrunk " of frozen deposits of co2 on mars means that its atmosphere ' s temperature has increased far from normal. the report on the martian global warming from nasa says, “ new impact craters formed since the 1970s suggest changes to age - estimating models. and for three mars summers in a row, deposits of frozen carbon dioxide near mars ' south pole have shrunk from the previous year ' s size, suggesting a climate change in progress. ” ( cursives are mine ). scientists have also observed that venus, jupiter, saturn and its satellite titan are experiencing climate changes, which indicates that the climate change and the global warming are phenomena which are taking place in the whole solar system, which denotes a cosmic origin. many authors say that “ greenhouse ” gases act as a “ blanket ” which reflects the heat back to earth - i. e. “ some re - radiated heat reflected back to earth ” ( ultimate visual dictionary – the atmosphere. dk publishing, inc. p. 301. 1998 ) and “ the reason is that the atmosphere functions like the crystals of a glasshouse. this is, the properties of absorption and conduction of glass are similar to those of the atmospheric greenhouse gases … ” ( wilson, jerry d. college physics - 2nd edition ; p. 382. prentice


functions like the crystals of a glasshouse. this is, the properties of absorption and conduction of glass are similar to those of the atmospheric greenhouse gases … ” ( wilson, jerry d. college physics - 2nd edition ; p. 382. prentice hall inc. 1994 ). there are other authors who discuss thermal events similarly as the writers i have quoted in the previous paragraph ; i have found the same mistakes written on reports from nasa, noa, epa, etc. those unintentional faults have been inflated by some pseudo - environmentalists and politicians that enforce the erroneous concept of " greenhouse gases ", “ anthropogenic global warming ” and “ manmade climate change ”, closing their eyes to the laws of thermodynamics, heat transfer, thermal expansion, physics laws, etc. the atmosphere is not a “ glass ”, nor acts like a glass. it either is a blanket that “ reradiates ” heat to the surface, or that obstructs convection. far from impeding convective heat transfer, gases allow convection. co2 is able to absorb the energy emitted by the ground and the oceans and transforms it into kinetic and potential energy. by these transformations from one class of energy into another, the co2 emits radiant energy ( energy in transit or heat ), which is transferred by convection to the upper atmosphere layers. after it has been transferred to the upper layers of the atmosphere, the heat is released to the outer space ( heat sink ). however, we have understood that the current concentration of carbon dioxide cannot be a source of “ global warming ”. we would need about 560 ppmv for increasing the earth ’ s surface temperature up to 0. 7 °c. the terrestrial atmosphere is a stratum composed by a mixture of gases ( air ) that wraps the earth and is retained by earth ’ s gravity. the atmosphere stratifies according to differences of density and temperature. nitrogen and oxygen are the predominant constituents in all layers, but each layer is less dense than the previous layer, starting up from the troposphere which is the denser layer ( density = magnitude of mass per unit of volume ; for example, the density of liquid water is 1 kg per liter ). the quantity of mass of air per unit of volume decreases as height increases. at sea level and 288. 2 k ( 15. 2 °c or 59. 36 °f ), the density of air is 1. 225 kg / m + e3 and its thermal conductivity is 0.


unit of volume decreases as height increases. at sea level and 288. 2 k ( 15. 2 °c or 59. 36 °f ), the density of air is 1. 225 kg / m + e3 and its thermal conductivity is 0. 02596 w / m k. however, like all materials, when gases warm up their density decreases because their molecules vibrate faster and are scattered ( expansion ). thus, the volume of air is enlarged to a maximum value, but its density decreases because its molecules distribute in a greater volume. if the gas expansion were not feasible, then the pressure exerted by the gas would increase ; for example, inside a closed container or into the cylinders of a modern engine. at my childhood, i performed a very dangerous experiment with an empty glass container ( a flask of instantaneous coffee ) that i placed into an empty wood box ( after all, i took a few precautions ). i placed the box on a firewood stove and kept waiting. i do not remember how long it delayed, but the flask was cracked out and, after few minutes, it exploded ( do not try it at home! ). the expansion of the glass cracked the flask, and the expansion of the air trapped inside the flask blew it up. obviously, thermal energy was the driver. vertical convection does not occur in the stratosphere because in this layer of the atmosphere the gases move only horizontally ; consequently, the main modes of heat transfer in the stratosphere are radiation and conduction ; however there is horizontal convection in the stratosphere known like advection, which is a horizontal heat transfer due to the horizontal displacement of air masses. the advection in the stratosphere is chaotic ( cat ’ s eyes ). question from a student : if air has a density of 1. 29 kg / cubic meter and the water ' s density is 1. 00 kg / cubic meter, why the air does not submerge into liquid water? answer : first of all, you forgot to write " x 10 + e3 " after the density of liquid water. you should have written : " if air has a density of 1. 29 kg / cubic m and the water ' s density is 1. 00 x 10 + e3 kg / cubic m... " if we express the quantities without the notations based on 10, we will read the phrase as follows : " if air has a density of 1. 29 kg / cubic m and the water ' s density is


kg / cubic m... " if we express the quantities without the notations based on 10, we will read the phrase as follows : " if air has a density of 1. 29 kg / cubic m and the water ' s density is 1000 kg / cubic m... ", which clearly denotes that the air is less dense than the water. regarding your question, if placed in denser mediums, the less dense materials would tend to float. as the air is less dense than water, it will move to the surface of water. when we deal with ice ( water in solid phase ), given that the ice has a density of 920 kg / cubic m, which is less dense than the water in liquid phase ( 1000 kg / cubic m ), the ice will tend to float in the mass of liquid water ; however, only a portion will remain totally submerged in the water because the relation between the densities of ice and liquid water is 92 % ; this means that only the 8 % of the ice will float above the surface of the water in the liquid phase. for an iceberg, we would only see an 11 % of the complete block of ice above the level of water because seawater has a density of 1030 kg / cubic m ( 920 ÷ 1030 = 0. 89 ; 0. 89 is equal to 89 % ). algorithm and example from real life if soil absorbs heat and its temperature in 31 march 2007 at 13 : 15 hrs is 348. 15 k ( 75 °c ) and the temperature of air is 300. 15 k ( 27 °c ), what would be the tropospheric δt if we consider the absorptivity - emissivity of co2? to know the answer, we have to know first the heat transfer from the soil to the mixed air. primary, we have to obtain the grashof number and the convective heat transfer coefficient for those particular conditions : gr l = g β ( ts – t ∞ ) d ^ 3 / v ^ 2 g is the gravitational constant ( 9. 8 m / s ) β is the volumetric expansion coefficient t1 - t2 is the difference of temperature between two adjacent systems expressed in kelvin d is the distance between the two systems v is the velocity of heat transfer between two systems. gr l = ( 9. 8 m / s ^ 2 ) ( 2. 857 x 10 ^ - 3 k ^ - 1 ) ( 48 k ) ( 1 m ) ^ 3 /


v is the velocity of heat transfer between two systems. gr l = ( 9. 8 m / s ^ 2 ) ( 2. 857 x 10 ^ - 3 k ^ - 1 ) ( 48 k ) ( 1 m ) ^ 3 / ( 2. 076 x 10 ^ - 3 ) ^ 2 m ^ 4 / s ^ 2 = 0. 699965 m ^ 4 / s ^ 2 / ( 2. 076 x 10 ^ - 3 ) ^ 2 m ^ 4 / s ^ 2 = 3. 12 x 10 ^ 5 convective heat transfer coefficient : ћ = - - - - - - - ( c ) [ ( gr ) ( pr ) ] ^ 1 / 4 k is the thermal conductivity d is the distance between the two systems c is a correction factor for heterogeneous systems gr is the grashof number pr is the prandtl number a is the constant of proportionality for natural laminar systems. ћ = - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ( 0. 60 ) [ ( 3. 12 x 10 ^ 5 ) ( 0. 697 ) ] ^ 1 / 4 = 0. 389 w / m ^ 2 * k the heat transfer from soil to mixed air is : q = ћ a ( ts – t ∞ ) = 0. 389 w / m ^ 2 * k ( 1 m ) ^ 2 ( 48 k ) = 18. 7 w 18. 7 w = 4. 47 cal / s if m of mixed air = 1. 18 kg / m and the cp of mixed air at 300. 15 k = 1005. 7 j / kg * k ( 240. 37 cal ), then : δ t = q / m ( cp ) = 4. 47 cal / s / ( 1. 18 kg / m ^ 3 ) ( 240. 37 cal ) = 4. 47 cal / 283. 64 = = 0. 016 °c / s if 0. 016 °c is the δt caused by the thermal transfer by conduction - convection from the ground to the total mixture of air each second, then we must first warm up the soil and the oceans for the next reason : the energy absorbed by dry air from incoming solar radiation is 697. 04 w / m ^ 2 x 0. 14 ( absorptivity of dry air at t = 300. 15 k, and p = 1 atm )


the next reason : the energy absorbed by dry air from incoming solar radiation is 697. 04 w / m ^ 2 x 0. 14 ( absorptivity of dry air at t = 300. 15 k, and p = 1 atm ) = 18. 7 w / m ^ 2 = 4. 47 | cal / s | / m ^ 2. considering the same conditions but including water vapor ( relative humidity of 50 % ), the temperature caused by the heat absorbed by water vapor and carbon dioxide, taken independently, is : heat absorbed by water vapor : 278 w = 278 j / s ( absorptivity = 0. 75 ) heat absorbed by carbon dioxide : 0. 4 w = 0. 4 j / s ( absorptivity = 0. 001 at its current partial pressure ) change of temperature by the load of heat absorbed by water vapor : δt = 278 j / 0. 013 kg ( 1864 j / kg °c ) = 11. 5 °c change of temperature by the load of heat absorbed by carbon dioxide : δt = 0. 4 j / 0. 00067 kg ( 871 j / kg °c ) = 0. 7 °c applying the algorithm to know the load of heat absorbed by co2 : q stored = m ( cp ) ( δt ) / δt mass of atmospheric co2 = 0. 00067 kg cp co2 = 871 j / kg k δt = 48 k ( 348. 15 k - 300. 15 k ) δt = 60 s q stored = 0. 00067 kg ( 871 j / kg k ) ( 48 k / 60 s ) = 0. 47 j / s δ t = q / m ( cp ) = ( 0. 47 j / s ) / | 0. 00067 kg ( 871 j / kg * °c ) | = 0. 8 °c therefore, water vapor is the main driver of the warming effect of the atmosphere. on this case, water vapor absorbed the infrared radiation, emitted by the surface, 14 times more efficiently than co2. ( martin chaplin. 2009 ) the following diagrams illustrate the mechanisms of heat transfer between the surface and the atmosphere in earth, as well as how clouds and rain and hail are produced, and the effect of induced emission upon spontaneous emission.


tracy bale ' s research into the influences of the prenatal environment on the developing brain caught our attention. curious to know more, biotechniques contacted her to find out about the ambition, character, and motivation that led to her success. stressing the importance of development what interested you in looking at the effects of the prenatal environment? in most neuropsychiatric diseases, symptoms almost always present after a stressful life event, even in individuals who are well medicated or who never presented with an affective disorder before. for example, a child with autism might be doing well, but if that child is disrupted or stressed by a schedule change, his symptoms may be exacerbated. this started me thinking about what could cause such drastic disruptions to stress pathways. since it is unlikely that single genes cause the variance in stress response, i began looking at how they could develop. this led me to study the prenatal environment, specifically maternal stress and diet. we focus on how the prenatal environment and stress response during different periods of life can be a key predisposing factor toward disease. there are periods of vulnerability during prenatal development where changes in the mother ' s environment indirectly alter the programming of the fetal brain, and i have been working to define those specific time periods. what are you working on now? at the moment, we are trying to clarify the mechanisms by which most neuropsychiatric diseases have sex biases. there ' s a much higher presentation of autism and schizophrenia in males than in females, whereas depression and anxiety disorders occur more frequently in females. in addition, there are also sex differences in the effectiveness of treatment and the severity of symptoms. our goal is to find out why it is that when we expose a mother to a given stressor during pregnancy, in spite of the fact that the rodents we are testing have both male and female offspring in the same uterus, the effect is sex specific. we are also interested in the metabolic factors inf luencing obesity, another disorder with underlying stress components. we have ongoing studies looking at how maternal high - fat diets affect offspring, and have actually tracked an induced insensitivity to insulin, which is a precursor to diabetes, across multiple generations to see if the mom or dad can pass it on and if the male or female offspring inherit it. by looking across generations, we can begin to figure out how that programming occurs. how do you experimentally approach these complex questions? once we identify a


see if the mom or dad can pass it on and if the male or female offspring inherit it. by looking across generations, we can begin to figure out how that programming occurs. how do you experimentally approach these complex questions? once we identify a dam as pregnant, we assign her to either develop normally in her cage or to experience chronic stress during a very narrow time frame, the equivalent of the first trimester. we use one different mild stressor, which is psychological in nature, per day over the course of 7 days. so, she may have marbles put in her cage overnight that she will try to bury or avoid. or maybe her bedding will be wet one day and the next day we will change her cage multiple times. the next day might include a short period of restraint. in the end, there is nothing that is painful or that changes her gestational length, litter size, or actual behavior. it ' s just enough to be upsetting to the mouse. for our analysis, we look at different end points with a systems approach because behaviors are a culmination of many different factors. we use behavioral tests that have been validated with antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs to compare the control animals with the prenatally stressed animals. but behavioral testing can be confounded by many questions : are the animals more stress sensitive or responsive? are they differentially cognitive? do they have better motor skills? so, we also examine physiological measures of stress hormones comparing the basal state with acute stress to monitor the animals ’ responses. and we can look at other physiological changes, including developmental differences, changes in gene expression profiles within particular areas of the brain, and proteomics studies on amniotic fluid or protein array comparisons of the placenta. we work with mice, but obviously the goal is translational. so, studying placenta or amniotic fluid is advantageous since it is a lot easier to get those samples from humans than a part of the brain. much of our current work is focused on identifying biomarkers for disease or altered stress response, which will also be translational. what is the most important open question in your field? the programming effects we see are typically epigenetic, so i think the most important question at the moment is how dynamic epigenetic marks really are and when they are vulnerable to change. evidence suggests that for some genes methylation marks can be changed under stress or drug abuse. however, the problem is that we really don ' t have a way


life science student text ( 3rd ed. ) life science student text ( 3rd edition ) provides a thorough overview of the life sciences but now in two volumes with larger format and single - column text. activity pages with color illustrations and photographs are included in the back of the student text. objectives are listed at the beginning of each section, and self quizzes and regular review questions are at the end of each chapter. there is increased emphasis on bible integration as well as career features, increased compliance with national and state science standards, enhanced appendices on classification and biomes, and an expanded glossary and index. the following resources are available at bjupress. com : rated 4. 5 out of 5 by 2 reviewers. rated 5 out of 5 by hjghg hard cover would be better we plan to use another science curriculum next year because of the cost of this text. this is primarily because the text is soft cover and contains the students ' work pages. most publishers at this level have a hard text and a seperate workbook, which is much less expensive. we are having to find ways to cut our costs, and this is by far are most expensive curriculum item. june 12, 2013 rated 4 out of 5 by citrusteacher life science student text review use this text in a class of 14. the text is understandable by the students and what is not understood i am able to explain. labs at times, are difficult as resources are limited. labs that can make use of more ' household ' type items and equipment would be welcome. march 10, 2013 1 - 2 of 2


- rhys clement, specialist trainee year 4 in trauma and orthopaedics - 1royal infirmary of edinburgh, edinburgh eh16 4sa, uk - correspondence to : r g e clement hippocrates advised that doctors should “ be clean in person, well dressed, and anointed with sweet smelling unguents. ” 1 although this remains sound advice, the concept of acceptable attire for doctors is constantly evolving. two hundred years ago doctors wore formal attire for all clinical activity, including surgery, because they had no idea that their clothing could transmit infection. the demonstration of micro - organisms by pasteur revolutionised the way people thought about infection and paved the way for lister ’ s concept of antisepsis that has shaped our modern approach towards infection control. however, lister did not recognise clothing as a source of infection and continued to operate in formal attire. macewan, a student under lister who became professor of surgery in glasgow, is credited with introducing the sterile surgical gown. white coats made their appearance on wards and in clinics during the 20th century and are an iconic symbol of the medical profession. they were cited as a defining factor in the emerging role of hospital based care and the acceptance of the sick role outside of the home. 2 the white coat remained the status quo until 2007, when the department of health ( doh ) released dress code guidelines that forced doctors to remove their white coats, jackets, ties, and watches and roll up their sleeves. 3 these guidelines were based on the findings of two literature reviews known as tvu1 and tvu2, 4 5 which were commissioned and funded by the doh “ to inform policy development. ” critics argue that evidence to support the new dress code is lacking, and the conclusions of tvu1 and tvu2 suggest there may be some merit in their argument. 6 7 8 tvu1 stated that “ the hypothesis that uniforms / clothing could be …


for all great discoveries chemists are indebted to the “ balance ” — that incomparable instrument which gives permanence to every observation, dispels all ambiguity, establishes truth, detects error, and guides us in the true path of inductive science. the balance, once adopted as a means of investigating nature, put an end to the school of aristotle in physics. the explanation of natural phenomena by mere fanciful speculations, gave place to a true natural philosophy. fire, air, earth, and water, could no longer be regarded as elements. three of them could henceforth be considered only as significative of the forms in which all matter exists. everything with which we are conversant upon the surface of the earth is solid, liquid, or aeriform ; but the notion of the elementary nature of air, earth, and water, so universally held, was now discovered to belong to the errors of the past. fire was found to be but the visible and otherwise perceptible indication of changes proceeding within the, so called, elements. lavoisier investigated the composition of the atmosphere and of water, and studied the many wonderful offices performed by an element common to both in the scheme of nature, namely, oxygen : and he discovered many of the properties of this elementary gas. after his time, the principal problem of chemical philosophers was to determine the composition of the solid matters composing the earth. to the eighteen metals previously known were soon added twenty - four discovered to be constituents of minerals. the great mass of the earth was shown to be composed of metals in combination with oxygen, to which they are united in one, two, or more definite and unalterable proportions, forming compounds which are termed metallic oxides, and these, again, combined with oxides of other bodies, essentially different to metals, namely, carbon and silicium. if to these we add certain compounds of sulphur with metals, in which the sulphur takes the place of oxygen, and forms sulphurets, and one other body, — common salt, — ( which is a compound of sodium and chlorine ), we have every substance which exists in a solid form upon our globe in any very considerable mass. other compounds, innumerably various, are found only in small scattered quantities. the chemist, however, did not remain satisfied with the separation of minerals into their component elements, i. e. their analysis ; but he sought by synthesis, i. e. by combining


today ’ s youth are busier than ever before. think about your child, grandchild or other child you know and their activities over the last month – chances are they were involved in y ball, band, dance or a number of other activities. there ’ s no way around it, many kids today are involved in more clubs and activities outside of school than ever before. while these activities may provide benefits for youth, 4 - h is unique in that the entire family is involved in the process of youth development. 4 - h works to build character, confidence and skills not just for the youth, but for the entire family. 4 - h accomplishes these things in many ways. 4 - h youth improve their self - confidence, learn subject matter, and develop important skills including leadership, citizenship, communication and decision making – all of which they ’ ll need to compete today and in the future. families are encouraged to be involved in projects and instruction together, parents become the resource. this creates a framework for youth development within the home in other areas. so who can benefit from 4 - h? typically, people think 4 - h is for children who live in the country, which is not true. there are actually more than 28, 000 young people from all across missouri who participate in 4 - h. in fact, 20 % of missouri 4 - h members reside on farms ( 41 % come from towns of less than 10, 000 ). the program welcomes all youth ages 5 - 18, from both rural and urban settings. 4 - h encourages family involvement in many ways. parents and other interested adults are encouraged to get involved in 4 - h. adults and young teens can become a volunteer leader or assistant, share a skill or some knowledge with a group, supply refreshments for a meeting, or sign up to be a project leader. 4 - h has more than 150 fun projects to explore from photography to model rocketry to gardening and numerous animal projects. the most popular projects in this area include projects related to livestock, dog care, photography, and shooting sports. older teens are realizing the need for leadership skills and 4 - h lets them participate in programs providing leadership to younger members and volunteering in other 4 - h opportunities. they also have opportunities to travel on many leadership trips : teen conference, citizenship washington focus, national 4 - h conference, national 4 - h congress, and state 4 - h congress. our next regional event is a 4 - h lock - in to be held february 22nd at the chillicothe ymca for


teen conference, citizenship washington focus, national 4 - h conference, national 4 - h congress, and state 4 - h congress. our next regional event is a 4 - h lock - in to be held february 22nd at the chillicothe ymca for youth grades 6 and up. the 4 - h program is a volunteer - led organization that reaches youth through a variety of programs. it provides fun, educational opportunities at the local, state, national and international levels. missouri 4 - h has over 11, 000 dedicated volunteers who make 4 - h programs possible. we are currently in need of volunteers to help with various projects and our 4 - h life program ( 4 - h for children of offenders ). if you want to help, you can make a difference! parents are encouraged to contact their local university of missouri extension office for more information on how to enroll their children in 4 - h. youth have fun learning with new and old friends in clubs and classrooms, and at meetings, social activities, tours, trips, camps and fairs. they learn about themselves and experience new challenges. give them a chance to pick their own 4 - h adventure that will last a lifetime. the 4 - h year is underway, but members may join at any time. if you are interested in joining a club or volunteering as a project leader, contact shaun murphy, regional youth specialist, at 660 / 646 - 0811.


guide to asthma management in children full colour pdf of the pages as they appeared in ‘ best practice ’. printer friendly pdf. this guide is based on the paediatric society of new zealand guidelines for the management of asthma in children, 2005, 1 the british guideline on the management of asthma, 2008, 2 and the national asthma council of australia, asthma management handbook, 2006. 3 diagnosis of asthma in children the initial assessment in children who are suspected of having asthma should focus on the presence of key features and clinical findings from the history or examination, and careful consideration of alternative diagnoses. the key features of asthma are : - recurrent wheeze and breathlessness with or without cough - variation in the intensity and duration of symptoms - symptom free periods in very young children be especially aware of non - asthma causes of wheeze. the diagnosis of the cause of recurrent wheezing in infants is often difficult. for more information please refer to pattemore p. wheeze in infants and young children. diagnosis and management options. new zealand family physician 2008 ; august 35 ( 4 ) : 264 - 69. asthma should be suspected in any child with recurrent or persistent wheeze whether audible or detected on auscultation. however, alternative causes of wheeze should be considered especially in young children ( table 1 ). wheeze due to asthma is often accompanied by cough, shortness of breath or both. asthma can occur in infants aged less than one year, but it is more difficult to diagnose because of the number of different causes of wheeze at this age. instigation of inhaled corticosteroid treatment in infants should only be done with caution if the likelihood for asthma is high and preferably in consultation with a paediatrician. | table 1. some non - asthma causes of wheeze in young children | | associated signs / symptoms | | possible causes | | fever, cough | | respiratory tract infections, e. g. bronchiolitis | | persistent wet cough | | cystic fibrosis, recurrent aspiration, bronchiectasis | | excessive vomiting or spilling | | reflux ( with or without aspiration ) | | dysphagia | | swallowing problems ( with or without aspiration ) | | transient infant wheezing ( onset in infancy, no associated atopy ) | | maternal smoking or other irritants | | abnormal voice or cry | | laryngeal problems | |


swallowing problems ( with or without aspiration ) | | transient infant wheezing ( onset in infancy, no associated atopy ) | | maternal smoking or other irritants | | abnormal voice or cry | | laryngeal problems | | focal signs in the chest | | developmental delay, post - viral pneumonia, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis | | inspiratory stridor as well as wheeze | | central airway or laryngeal disorder inhaled foreign body | recurrent wheeze and failure to thrive | | cystic fibrosis, gastroesophageal reflux | | clubbing | | cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis | | ( adapted from 1, 3 ) | cough is a common symptom of asthma, it can be the main symptom in children but it is very rare for it to be the only symptom. cough due to asthma is usually associated with wheeze and episodes of breathlessness. a diagnosis of asthma is unlikely if cough is present without associated clinical findings consistent with asthma, especially wheeze. | when cough is the predominant symptom of suspected asthma, careful assessment is required to avoid making an incorrect diagnosis of asthma. 3 chronic or recurrent cough in the absence of wheeze is unlikely to be due to asthma. 9 | recurrent non - specific cough, without accompanying wheeze, is very common particularly in pre - school age children, and can lead to a misdiagnosis of asthma. it is not usually associated with atopy or a family history of asthma and often occurs after a respiratory tract infection. recurrent non - specific cough is typically dry, worse in the early morning and during exercise, and occurs in short paroxysms sometimes followed by vomiting. in between episodes the child is well with no wheeze. most children with acute cough are likely to have an uncomplicated viral acute respiratory tract infection, but the possibility of a more serious problem such as foreign body aspiration, should always be considered. clinical features in the diagnosis of asthma in addition to the key features of asthma, the presence or absence of other factors and clinical findings assist in determining the probability of a diagnosis of asthma. factors that increase the probability of asthma - more than one of the following symptoms – wheeze, cough, breathlessness, chest tightness – particularly if these are frequent and recurrent ; are worse at night and in the early morning ; occur in response to


increase the probability of asthma - more than one of the following symptoms – wheeze, cough, breathlessness, chest tightness – particularly if these are frequent and recurrent ; are worse at night and in the early morning ; occur in response to or worsen after exercise or other triggers, such as emotional upsets ; or occur apart from colds - audible wheeze or widespread wheeze heard on auscultation - clinical findings ; increased respiratory rate, prolonged expiratory phase, chest shape ( over - inflation, harrison ’ s sulcus ), use of accessory muscles - personal history of atopic disorder - family history of atopy or asthma, especially maternal - improvement in symptoms or lung function in response to reversibility testing or adequate treatment factors that lower the probability of asthma - isolated cough in absence of wheeze or difficulty breathing - history of moist cough - prominent dizziness, light - headedness, peripheral tingling - repeatedly normal physical examination of chest when symptomatic - normal peak expiratory flow ( per ) or spirometry when symptomatic - no response to a trial of asthma treatment - clinical features suggesting alternative diagnosis - asymmetrical findings on chest examination | the diagnosis of asthma is a clinical one. it is based on recognising a characteristic pattern of episodic symptoms in the absence of an alternative explanation. 2 | this can help with the diagnosis of asthma and can be viewed as a trial of treatment. if the child presents with a history of symptoms and has clinical findings at the time of examination, one suggested method is : - one puff of salbutamol mdi via a spacer, followed by six breaths through the spacer - repeat above - review and assess the response after 20 minutes - base confirmation of clinical asthma on easing of signs and symptoms following treatment - practices vary and some practitioners consider that up to six puffs ( given separately ) are required for reliable testing if the child presents with a history of symptoms but no clinical findings consistent with asthma at the time of examination, instruct caregiver to administer salbutamol as above recording response to treatment in an asthma symptoms diary. | page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | references | | page 1 |


ulsterarticle free pass ulster, ancient ulaid, one of the ancient provinces of ireland and subsequently the northernmost of ireland ’ s four traditional provinces ( the others being leinster, munster, and connaught [ connacht ] ). because of the ulster cycle of irish literature, which recounts the exploits of cu chulainn and many other ulster heroes, ulster has a place of great prominence in irish literature. the name ulster is now used by many to refer to northern ireland. ancient ulster extended from the northern and northeastern coasts of ireland south to what is now county louth and west to what is now county donegal. about the beginning of the common era, when the ancient provinces of ireland were first taking permanent shape, ulster had its capital at emain macha, near armagh. attacks from the midland kingdom of meath ( midhe, or mide ) led to ulster ’ s disintegration in the 4th and 5th centuries. the province subsequently split into three kingdoms : oriel, or airgialla ( in central ulster ), aileach ( in western ulster ), and the smaller kingdom of ulaid ( in eastern ulster ). during the anglo - norman invasion of ireland in the late 12th century, one of the baronial adventurers, john de courci, captured eastern ulster and ruled that small kingdom until dispossessed in 1205 by king john, who created hugh de lacy ( died 1242 ) earl of ulster. from 1263 to 1333 the earldom was held by the anglo - norman family of de burgh, passing then to an heiress who married lionel, duke of clarence, a son of king edward iii, and ultimately to the crown. in the 16th century ulster was administratively divided into nine shires ( counties ), of which those in the republic of ireland still exist. meanwhile, the o ’ neills ( of county tyrone ) and the o ’ donnells ( of county tyrconnell [ donegal ] ) had become virtually supreme in much of ulster. these two roman catholic clans were involved in a serious rebellion against queen elizabeth i from 1594 to 1601, caused in part by attempts to impose the english reformation on the irish. the failure of negotiations with james i led to the flight of the northern earls of tyrone, tyrconnell, and many others in 1607. soon afterward thousands of settlers, mainly lowland scots presbyterians, were introduced into ulster, and particularly into its eastern portions, which became predominantly protestant as a result. their descendants prospered, and their refusal


the tree of life is a richly evocative symbol seen in sacred art, architecture, houses of worship, and literature throughout the ages and around the world. with its roots reaching downward and its branches extending upward, this tree signifies a mystical, primordial linkage between heaven and earth that is the locus of manifold blessings reflective of a culture ' s deepest yearnings - - be it unity with the gods, wisdom, wholeness, renewal, peace, or everlasting life in god ' s presence. the tree ' s precious fruit carries similar connotations, such as the pure love of god, eternal joy, and triumphal entry into the eternal realms. perhaps no other religious motif is so rich in allegorical potential or so accommodating of spiritual meanings for so many religious traditions. no image of eternal life is more powerful or persistent than the tree of life. from the paradisiacal garden of eden to the apocalyptic new jerusalem, the tree of life dominates the landscape, being mentioned explicitly more than two dozen times in the latter - day saint scriptural canon and alluded to many other times therein. from the temple to the cross, the symbol of the tree of life invites all to come unto christ, to become planted by rivers of living water, and to bring forth and enjoy the fruits of god ' s love that are sweet about all else. this highly informative and beautifully illustrated book contains original essays by leading latter - day saint scholars and scholars of other faiths - - including donald w. parry, daniel c. peterson, andrew c. skinner, john w. welch, and margaret barker - - that focus on the tree of life symbol in the bible, early christianity, and the book of mormon, as well as in southeast asian, islamic, and maya temples, cultures, and art.


1 entry found. common name : maple, sugar maple botanical name : acer spp. ( most common one used is a. saccharum ) ( ay - ser ) decorative life : 10 plus days. post harvest care - remove bottom leaves if necessary, recut stems under water and place into water plus regular household bleach at 20 drops ( 1 / 4 teaspoon ) per quart. since air embolisms are common with this species, cutting under water might provide a key to reduced leaf abscission. - a member of the aceraceae ( maple ) family. - native to northern temperate regions. - a common relative of the many maples ( sugar, silver, red, etc. ) is box elder. - leaves are 5 - lobed, opposite on woody branches. - branches can be cut to almost any length. - plant is a deciduous tree, dicotyledon, leaves not parallel veined. - used for its colorful foliage. flower color : not applicable. - stems with leaves can be preserved with glycerin. - sugar maples are known for maple syrup although many so - called syrups of today contain very little if any maple extracts. - other common maples include norway, red, silver, sycamore and japanese. - the air pollutant sulfur dioxide can cause an increase in ethylene production with red maple foliage.


many people with cancer want to take an active part in making decisions about their medical care. it is natural to want to learn all you can about your disease and treatment choices. however, shock and stress after the diagnosis can make it hard to think of everything you want to ask the doctor. it often helps to make a list of questions before an appointment. to help remember what the doctor says, you may take notes or ask whether you may use a tape recorder. some people also want to have a family member or friend with them when they talk to the doctor - to take part in the discussion, to take notes, or just to listen. you do not need to ask all your questions at once. you will have other chances to ask the doctor or nurse to explain things that are not clear and to ask for more information. getting a second opinion before starting treatment, you may want a second opinion about your diagnosis and treatment plan. many insurance companies will cover a second opinion if your doctor requests it. it may take some time and effort to gather medical records and arrange to see another doctor. usually it is not a problem to take several weeks to get a second opinion. in most cases, the delay in starting treatment will not make treatment less effective. but some people with cancer need treatment right away. to make sure, you should discuss this delay with your doctor. there are a number of ways to find a doctor for a second opinion : - your doctor may refer you to one or more specialists. at cancer centers, several specialists often work together as a team. - nci ' s cancer information service, at 1 - 800 - 4 - cancer, can tell you about nearby treatment centers. information specialists also can provide online assistance through livehelp ( https : / / livehelp. cancer. gov ). - a local or state medical society, a nearby hospital, or a medical school can usually provide the names of specialists. - the nci provides a fact sheet called " how to find a doctor or treatment facility if you have cancer. " the treatment plan depends mainly on the type of cancer and the stage of the disease. doctors also consider the patient ' s age and general health. often, the goal of treatment is to cure the cancer. in other cases, the goal is to control the disease or to reduce symptoms for as long as possible. the treatment plan may change over time. most treatment plans include surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. some involve hormone therapy or biological therapy. in addition, stem cell transplantation may be


control the disease or to reduce symptoms for as long as possible. the treatment plan may change over time. most treatment plans include surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. some involve hormone therapy or biological therapy. in addition, stem cell transplantation may be used so that a patient can receive very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. some cancers respond best to a single type of treatment. others may respond best to a combination of treatments. - local therapy removes or destroys cancer in just one part of the body. surgery to remove a tumor is local therapy. radiation to shrink or destroy a tumor also is usually local therapy. - systemic therapy sends drugs or substances through the bloodstream to destroy cancer cells all over the body. it kills or slows the growth of cancer cells that may have spread beyond the original tumor. chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy are usually systemic therapy. your doctor can describe your treatment choices and the expected results. you and your doctor can work together to decide on a treatment plan that is best for you. because cancer treatments often damage healthy cells and tissues, side effects are common. side effects depend mainly on the type and extent of the treatment. side effects may not be the same for each person, and they may change from one treatment session to the next. before treatment starts, the health care team will explain possible side effects and suggest ways to help you manage them. this team may include nurses, a dietitian, a physical therapist, and others. the nci provides booklets about cancer treatments and coping with side effects. these include radiation therapy and you, chemotherapy and you, biological therapy, and eating hints. at any stage of cancer, supportive care is available to relieve the side effects of therapy, to control pain and other symptoms, and to ease emotional and practical problems. information about supportive care is available on nci ' s web site at http : / / www. cancer. gov / cancertopics / coping and from information specialists at 1 - 800 - 4 - cancer. you may want to talk to the doctor about taking part in a clinical trial ( a research study of new treatment methods ). the section on " the promise of cancer research " has more information about clinical trials. you may want to ask the doctor these questions before treatment begins : - what is my diagnosis? - has the cancer spread? if so, where? what is the stage of the disease? - what is the goal of treatment? what are my treatment choices? which do you recommend for me? why? - what are


what is my diagnosis? - has the cancer spread? if so, where? what is the stage of the disease? - what is the goal of treatment? what are my treatment choices? which do you recommend for me? why? - what are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment? - what are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment? how can side effects be managed? - will infertility be a side effect of my treatment? can anything be done about that? should i consider storing sperm or eggs? - what can i do to prepare for treatment? - how often will i have treatments? how long will my treatment last? - will i have to change my normal activities? if so, for how long? - what is the treatment likely to cost? will my insurance cover the costs? - what new treatments are under study? would a clinical trial be appropriate for me? in most cases, the surgeon removes the tumor and some tissue around it. removing nearby tissue may help prevent the tumor from growing back. the surgeon may also remove some nearby lymph nodes. the side effects of surgery depend mainly on the size and location of the tumor, and the type of operation. it takes time to heal after surgery. the time needed to recover is different for each type of surgery. it is also different for each person. it is common to feel tired or weak for a while. most people are uncomfortable for the first few days after surgery. however, medicine can help control the pain. before surgery, you should discuss the plan for pain relief with the doctor or nurse. the doctor can adjust the plan if you need more pain relief. some people worry that having surgery ( or even a biopsy ) for cancer will spread the disease. this seldom happens. surgeons use special methods and take many steps to prevent cancer cells from spreading. for example, if they must remove tissue from more than one area, they use different tools for each one. this approach helps reduce the chance that cancer cells will spread to healthy tissue. similarly, some people worry that exposing cancer to air during surgery will cause the disease to spread. this is not true. air does not make cancer spread. radiation therapy ( also called radiotherapy ) uses high - energy rays to kill cancer cells. doctors use several types of radiation therapy. some people receive a combination of treatments : - external radiation : the radiation comes from a large machine outside the body. most people go to a hospital or clinic for treatment 5 days a week for several weeks. - internal radiation


several types of radiation therapy. some people receive a combination of treatments : - external radiation : the radiation comes from a large machine outside the body. most people go to a hospital or clinic for treatment 5 days a week for several weeks. - internal radiation ( implant radiation or brachytherapy ) : the radiation comes from radioactive material placed in seeds, needles, or thin plastic tubes that are put in or near the tissue. the patient usually stays in the hospital. the implants generally remain in place for several days. - systemic radiation : the radiation comes from liquid or capsules containing radioactive material that travels throughout the body. the patient swallows the liquid or capsules or receives an injection. this type of radiation therapy can be used to treat cancer or control pain from cancer that has spread to the bone. only a few types of cancer are currently treated in this way. the side effects of radiation therapy depend mainly on the dose and type of radiation you receive and the part of your body that is treated. for example, radiation to your abdomen can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. your skin in the treated area may become red, dry, and tender. you also may lose your hair in the treated area. you may become very tired during radiation therapy, especially in the later weeks of treatment. resting is important, but doctors usually advise patients to try to stay as active as they can. fortunately, most side effects go away in time. in the meantime, there are ways to reduce discomfort. if you have a side effect that is especially severe, the doctor may suggest a break in your treatment. chemotherapy is the use of drugs that kill cancer cells. most patients receive chemotherapy by mouth or through a vein. either way, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can affect cancer cells all over the body. chemotherapy is usually given in cycles. people receive treatment for one or more days. then they have a recovery period of several days or weeks before the next treatment session. most people have their treatment in an outpatient part of the hospital, at the doctor ' s office, or at home. some may need to stay in the hospital during chemotherapy. side effects depend mainly on the specific drugs and the dose. the drugs affect cancer cells and other cells that divide rapidly : - blood cells : when drugs damage healthy blood cells, you are more likely to get infections, to bruise or bleed easily, and to feel very weak and tired. - cells in hair roots : chemotherapy can cause hair loss. your hair will grow back, but it may be somewhat


damage healthy blood cells, you are more likely to get infections, to bruise or bleed easily, and to feel very weak and tired. - cells in hair roots : chemotherapy can cause hair loss. your hair will grow back, but it may be somewhat different in color and texture. - cells that line the digestive tract : chemotherapy can cause poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or mouth and lip sores. some drugs can affect fertility. women may be unable to become pregnant, and men may not be able to father a child. although the side effects of chemotherapy can be distressing, most of them are temporary. your doctor can usually treat or control them. some cancers need hormones to grow. hormone therapy keeps cancer cells from getting or using the hormones they need. it is systemic therapy. hormone therapy uses drugs or surgery : - drugs : the doctor gives medicine that stops the production of certain hormones or prevents the hormones from working. - surgery : the surgeon removes organs ( such as the ovaries or testicles ) that make hormones. the side effects of hormone therapy depend on the type of therapy. they include weight gain, hot flashes, nausea, and changes in fertility. in women, hormone therapy may make menstrual periods stop or become irregular and may cause vaginal dryness. in men, hormone therapy may cause impotence, loss of sexual desire, and breast growth or tenderness. biological therapy is another type of systemic therapy. it helps the immune system ( the body ' s natural defense system ) fight cancer. for example, certain patients with bladder cancer receive bcg solution after surgery. the doctor uses a catheter to put the solution in the bladder. the solution contains live, weakened bacteria that stimulate the immune system to kill cancer cells. bcg can cause side effects. it can irritate the bladder. some people may have nausea, a low - grade fever, or chills. most other types of biological therapy are given through a vein. the biological therapy travels through the bloodstream. some people get a rash where the therapy is injected. some have flu - like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, weakness, and nausea. biological therapy also can cause more serious side effects, such as changes in blood pressure and breathing problems. biological therapy is usually given at the doctor ' s office, clinic, or hospital. stem cell transplantation transplantation of blood - forming stem cells enables patients to receive high doses of chemotherapy, radiation, or both.


in blood pressure and breathing problems. biological therapy is usually given at the doctor ' s office, clinic, or hospital. stem cell transplantation transplantation of blood - forming stem cells enables patients to receive high doses of chemotherapy, radiation, or both. the high doses destroy both cancer cells and normal blood cells in the bone marrow. after the treatment, the patient receives healthy, blood - forming stem cells through a flexible tube placed in a large vein. new blood cells develop from the transplanted stem cells. stem cells may be taken from the patient before the high - dose treatment, or they may come from another person. patients stay in the hospital for this treatment. the side effects of high - dose therapy and stem cell transplantation include infection and bleeding. in addition, graft - versus - host disease ( gvhd ) may occur in people who receive stem cells from a donor. in gvhd, the donated stem cells attack the patient ' s tissues. most often, gvhd affects the liver, skin, or digestive tract. gvhd can be severe or even fatal. it can occur any time after the transplant, even years later. drugs may help prevent, treat, or control gvhd. the nci offers a fact sheet called " bone marrow transplantation and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. "


what is a soap nut? soap nuts are known world - wide by many names such as soapnuts, soapberries, washing nuts, soap nut shells, wash shells, soapberry nut husks and many more. soap nuts are simply the dried shells ( or husks ) from the soapberry ( or soap berry nut ). these berries are the fruit from a unique tree species. the shells contain a substance called saponin that produces a soaping effect. saponin is a 100 % natural alternative to chemical laundry detergents and cleansers. it can replace many chemical detergents such as those containing sodium laureth sulphate ( sls ) that are becoming well known by consumers for being a skin irritant and health hazard. soap nuts have been used for centuries throughout the world as a laundry detergent, as soap for personal hygiene, and as a cleanser with many other uses. it is most commonly used in india, china, parts of europe and numerous countries in the eastern hemisphere. there is even a species, quillaja saponaria ( called a soap bark tree ) that grows in south america. only in recent years has the soap nut and its many benefits made its way to the united states. the trees and the soapberry nuts : sapindus ( the botanical name ) is a sustainable agriculture and forest product. in many ways it is similar to an olive tree. there are several common varieties of the soapberry tree. sapindus mukorossi and sapindus trifoliatus are the primary sources for the soapberry that has become know as the soap nut. they are both of the family sapindaceae, and the genus sapindus. the botanical name is derived from the latin words, sapo ( soap ) and indicus ( indian ). based upon it ' s high amount of ' soap ' content and consistency, the highest quality soap nut is sapindus mukorossi, which grows primarily in northern india and nepal. it grows uncultivated in poor quality ground and helps fights erosion, particularly in the himalayan foothills. it also provides needed income to the local population. it ' s a relatively hardy tree as it is resistant to diseas and insects. the trees grow 30 to 60 feet in height and begin flowering and bearing fruit after about 9 years. it blooms with small, white grouped flowers in spring and early summer and is harvested once a year during the fall season. the soapberry fruits ( the soap nut ) are round


60 feet in height and begin flowering and bearing fruit after about 9 years. it blooms with small, white grouped flowers in spring and early summer and is harvested once a year during the fall season. the soapberry fruits ( the soap nut ) are round, yellow berries that become gummy, reddish tan and wrinkled as they ripen. it ' s appearance is somewhat like that of a date. the tree synthesizes its own natural saponins, ( soap ) which coat the shell of the fruit. soap nut trees will produce fruit ( soap nuts ) for about 90 years. local farmers and families harvest the prized soapberry fruit after it falls from the trees. the seed is removed from the shell ( or husk ), and the shells are dried in the sun using absolutely no chemical processing. no commercial manufacturing processes are required in any way for the soap nut to become effective. the soap nut shell is not altered in any way. hence, soap nuts are absolutely 100 % natural, un - modified dried fruit shells. note : the actual nut ( or better yet, seed ) does not release saponin, so it has no cleaning properties. it is removed and used for planting new trees, and is sometimes used to make necklaces or other jewelry. how do soap nuts work? the name " soap nut " is misleading because it is actually the shell that works. the soap nut shell contains and releases the saponins ( soap ) when it comes in contact with warm or hot water. ( see directions for use in cold water. ) agitation further releases these saponins. the saponins then circulate as a natural surfactant ( surface active ingredient ). they break down the surface tension between water and oil in the wash water reducing the surface tension of the water aiding it in freeing dirt, grime and oils from clothes. this is essentially the exact same fundamental principle that applies to how most detergents and soaps work. it ' s simply not achieved by the use of synthetic chemicals. the name saponin is derived from the latin word ' sapo ' which means soap. there are many plants around the world that are saponaceous ( meaning that they contain saponins ) but only a few, are known to produce appreciable amounts. this is why soap nuts are so very special in their ability to be an effective cleanser - directly from the tree. sapindus mukorossi trees have been found to produce the highest and most consistent quality soap nuts. ready for


amounts. this is why soap nuts are so very special in their ability to be an effective cleanser - directly from the tree. sapindus mukorossi trees have been found to produce the highest and most consistent quality soap nuts. ready for use directly from harvest, extraction of the saponin from the soap nuts requires nothing more than putting them directly in the washing machine in warm water. drawstring bags are used to contain the soap nut shells, and the shells can be reused until their saponin content has been depleted. because that the saponins are naturally a low - sudsing detergent, they are ideal for high efficiency ( he ) washers and even carpet cleaners. not all soap nuts are alike : if you are like us... you are probably a little confused about what to expect from using soap nuts. discovery is part of the experience and the joy. finding your own personal ' best method ' is part of the journey into changing from chemical to natural products. when we first started looking into soap nuts we had lots of questions.... how many loads will five soap nuts yield? what color of soap nuts is best? is a large soap nut better than a small one? are whole nuts better than pieces? are sticky soap nuts better? how long will they last? how long do i boil them when making liquid? and on, and on, and on... not one of these questions has a single definitive answer. you may have an answer that is specific to the soap nuts you are using and your specific washing conditions, but your answer will be only that - your answer. even our answers are only guidelines and recommendations. they will not be the exact answer for everybody, but they will provide a place to start. we carry only high quality soap nuts of the mukorossi variety that grow primarily in the northern region of india and nepal. we do this for only one reason. the mukorossi tree tends to produce fruits of consistently high saponin content. that is what is most important. however, as with any crop of nature, growing seasons can vary each year based on climate and specific weather conditions. in addition, the fruit is harvested after falling from the tree. the seeds are removed by hand. they are sun dried in the open air. there will be various sizes, colors and conditions of the shells harvested from the exact same tree and harvest. just as not all apples, oranges, grapes, etc. from the same harvest have the exact same


are sun dried in the open air. there will be various sizes, colors and conditions of the shells harvested from the exact same tree and harvest. just as not all apples, oranges, grapes, etc. from the same harvest have the exact same color, size and taste, not all soap nuts from the same growing area will look and feel exactly the same. soap nuts are a 100 % natural resource and there are different species. not all apples are the same... soap nuts are no different. they are a fruit, hence there are many factors ( aside from species ) that affect its appearance, condition, effectiveness, and how it works for individual users. consumers also vary greatly in their washing conditions and habits. hard water, soft water, water temperature, large loads, small loads, amount of water used, efficiency, type and age of washer, packed loads, loose loads... the list goes on and all are user variables. we provide basic guidelines for use, but when used in their traditional and most common shell form, there will be an element of experimentation. we do greatly reduce the inherent variables of soap nuts via strict importation criteria, species selection, and hand sorting procedures so you are assured of consistency in quality. we are sure you will find that soap nuts work - and work very well. use our basic guidelines, have fun and enjoy the learning experience. you will quickly realize just how simple they are to use. you will also find what methods are best for you and your home. soap nuts make for another very simple transition to a healthier way of life. using soap nuts washing laundry with soap nuts : it doesn ' t get much more simple - doing laundry can even be fun! most laundry detergents on the shelves of our supermarkets contain numerous chemical substances, synthetic dyes, fragrances and fillers. these chemical substances are effective in deeply penetrating our clothes - cleaning, sanitizing and scenting them. however, these same chemicals build up in our clothes and linens and transfer to our skin, leading to short term and / or long term skin troubles for some individuals. they break down fabric fibers and fade colors and they are harmful to our environment. soap nuts are simply a natural solution. the following list is simply very basic directions. only your imagination will limit what soap nuts can be used for. it is note - worthy to mention that for centuries many eastern cultures have earned a reputation for producing some of the finest of fabrics and jewelry known to the world. saponins ( soap nuts


your imagination will limit what soap nuts can be used for. it is note - worthy to mention that for centuries many eastern cultures have earned a reputation for producing some of the finest of fabrics and jewelry known to the world. saponins ( soap nuts ) played a role in the care of these ultra - fine creations. we encourage you to write us with your own ' recipes ', and we will gladly share them. basic laundry directions : the most simple and common / traditional method of washing laundry with soap nuts is by using the raw nuts in a drawstring bag, and simply tossing the bag in with your laundry. the soap nuts can also be used to make a ' tea ', a fine soap nut powder or concentrated solution. all forms and methods work great. soap nut shells ( whole and pieces ) : warm or hot water wash : put 4 or 5 soap nut shells or equivalent pieces, about a half - ounce, in cotton or muslin drawstring bag and tie bag securely. ( we us a double knot ) toss in washing machine before you add your clothes. remove from washer at end of the wash to dry ( leave soap nuts in bag ). re - use 3 to 7 times. ( you will get more uses from warm - water wash, and less uses with hot - water wash, as soap nuts release more saponin the hotter the water that you use. ) the soap nuts are no longer effective when they become thin, mushy and very light tan or gray. if you are in doubt, simply run the bag under some warm / hot tap water to moisten the nuts. squeeze the bag with your hand several times, and you will see a light sudsing. cold water wash : simply make a cup of soap nut ' tea ' by soaking 4 or 5 bagged soap nuts in a cup of very hot water for approximately 3 minutes. pour both the soap nuts liquid and bag in wash. remove from washer at end of the wash to dry ( leave soap nuts in bag ). re - use 3 to 7 times. ( again, you will get more uses from warm - water wash, and less uses with hot - water wash, as soap nuts release more saponin the hotter the water that you use. ) again, the soap nuts are no longer effective when they become thin, turn soft, mushy and very light tan or gray. add about 2 tablespoons of soap nuts liquid ( below ) to wash water and stir, or make a tea with your soap


soap nuts are no longer effective when they become thin, turn soft, mushy and very light tan or gray. add about 2 tablespoons of soap nuts liquid ( below ) to wash water and stir, or make a tea with your soap nut muslin bag. hand wash as usual. powdered : put 2 - 3 tsp soap nuts powder in wash water. wash as usual. important points about soap nuts : - effectively clean laundry - leaving it softer and fresher that you may have ever experienced - anti - microbial properties. removes microbes from laundry - natural anti - fungal properties - hypoallergenic. most allergic reactions to detergents are due to the chemicals and fragrances in them. - soap nuts are great for removing odors! - mild and gentle on fabric structure and colors - low sudsing : good for all washers. excellent for high efficiency ( he ) washers - eliminates the need for fabric softeners - 100 % biodegradable - no animal testing - requires no manufacturing processes. no chemicals or fossil fuels needed to produce soap nuts - a primary product from a sustainable source - does not pollute our water systems - good for septic and grey water systems - environmentally safe - natural product with basically an endless shelf life - since soap nuts are primarily a resource from only emerging nations, increased demand will provide an additional needed economic stimulus, plus it will encourage increased planting, growth and farming. - virtually un - tapped potential for eliminating most harmful chemicals from the market and from our homes! making soap nuts into powder or liquid : not only are powdered and liquid forms nice for laundry, but the list of other chemical products that can be replaced by soap nuts is long and getting longer every day. powder : place soap nuts in a blender or coffee grinder. grind to a very fine powder for laundry. ( coffee grinders tend to grind the finest powder - this may require a couple grindings, removing the un - ground pieces and grinding again ) you may also want to make a courser, more abrasive grind for scouring and scrubbing needs. store in an airtight container. shelf life is indefinite as long as the soap nut powder is stored in a cool dry place. liquid : place 12 to 15 soapnuts ( about 1. 5 ounces ) in about 6 cups of water. for best results, bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour. you will know that you have fully extracted from the soap nuts when they turn very light


in a less than full load. ( though we tend to load our machine! ) - there will be very little suds. no suds actually means no commercial foaming agents or chemicals. - soap nuts are wonderful for washing cloth diapers. unlike chemical detergents, they will not clog the fabric causing the diaper to loose its absorbency and they will not cause diaper rash. in addition, soap nuts will clean and remove detergent residue from diapers. soap nuts chemical - free cleaning solutions rid your home and life of toxins! many common household cleaners can be replaced entirely with the use of soap nuts. saponin ' s inherent effective cleaning power, anti - microbial and anti - fungal properties, odor - reducing capability, and natural gentleness combine to provide an amazingly safe yet effective cleanser for a multitude of everyday uses. incredibly, the vast majority of highly toxic synthetic chemicals in our homes can be thrown away forever. certainly we ' ve all heard the alarms of ' bio - hazard ' in our head when we reached in to pull out our arsenal of cleaning solutions. interestingly, it is quite difficult to find an image of cleaning products without rubber gloves in the picture. that is certainly a good thing. if it were not for gloves our hands would be a scary site! household chemical cleaners can be both horribly damaging to our skin and highly toxic to our body. soap nuts offer a chemical free cleaning solution. the following is only a very short list of some alternate cleaning solutions that soap nuts will work great for. you will even notice hair care. if you can boil water, the basics of chemical free cleaning can be in your hands and at use in your home today! for household cleaning : pour soap nuts liquid ( above ) into a spray bottle. use full strength or dilute as desired. use for sinks, counters, floors, etc. for windows and glass : fill a spray bottle with about 8 oz of water. add a half - ounce of soap nuts liquid ( above ) and a half - ounce of vinegar. spray and then wipe clean with a dry cloth. fill the dishwasher soap dispenser with soap nuts liquid ( above ). wash as usual. tip : for extra sparkle, add a half - ounce of vinegar to the rinse dispenser or during the rinse cycle. for hand wash : add about 2 tbs of soap nuts liquid ( above ) to wash water and stir, or make a tea with your soap nuts muslin bag. simply


vinegar to the rinse dispenser or during the rinse cycle. for hand wash : add about 2 tbs of soap nuts liquid ( above ) to wash water and stir, or make a tea with your soap nuts muslin bag. simply hand wash as usual. for steam cleaning carpets : soap nuts work exceptionally well in carpet cleaners because they are so low sudsing and odor reducing. add about a quarter cup of soap nut liquid to hot water in the portable cleaner. great for urine stains! same as above. superb for pets! your little loved ones will never feel and smell this fresh again! they ' ll appreciate it, too! use soap nuts liquid to shampoo hair. leave in for about 5 minutes. rinse as usual with warm water. if you prefer more suds, add a little of your favorite shampoo. ( we know it ' s hard not to want more suds! isn ' t it interesting that the chemical industry has taught us if it doesn ' t make bubbles, it ' s not clean?! ) soap nuts faq ' show many loads of laundry can i do with 5 soap berries? ( soap nuts ) depending on the temperature of the water in which you wash your clothes, you can get anywhere from 3 - 7 loads out of 1 / 2 oz ( about 5 soap nuts / berries ). you will get more uses from cold or warm - water wash, and less uses with hot - water wash, as soap nuts release more saponin the hotter the water that you use. the soap nuts ( soap berries ) are no longer effective when they become thin, turn soft, mushy and very light tan or gray. how long do soap nuts last? the dried soap nuts wil last until you use them all. they have an indefinite shelf life since they are simply the dried shell of a fruit. the 18x concentrated formula has a 2 year shelf life. can soap nuts be used in my high efficiency ( he ) or front load washer? yes. because they are low sudsing they work very well in these washers. you may use 4 or 5 soap nuts in the wash bag or you can use 3 or 4 tablespoons of home - made soap nuts liquid in the detergent drawer. we also offer extreme 18x, which is a highly - concentrated soap nuts solution. you will only need 1 / 2 teaspoon of this concentrate per load of laundry. what happens if someone drinks the soapnut liquid or swallows a soap berry? don ' t worry


18x, which is a highly - concentrated soap nuts solution. you will only need 1 / 2 teaspoon of this concentrate per load of laundry. what happens if someone drinks the soapnut liquid or swallows a soap berry? don ' t worry. soap nuts are non - toxic unless you are a fish. saponin has been used in highly - concentrated doses to kill fish. the saponin flows through the gills of the fish and enter directly into the blood stream. the only problem you may encounter is a possible stomach ache - your insides will receive a slight cleansing! are soap nuts safe for those with sensitive skin? absolutely! soap nuts are highly recommended for those with allergies or sensitive skin. they are 100 % natural, free of synthetic chemicals and are hypoallergenic. soap nuts are wonderful for use by those who are sensitive to the dyes, perfumes and chemicals used in most commercial detergents and cleansers. most people who are irritated by such commercial products find soap nuts to be their ideal solution. what other uses are there for soap nuts? soap nuts are superb for not only laundry, but can replace many cleaning products in the average home. from dishes to fine silks, soap nuts provide a natural effective solution. saponin, the active ingredient in soap nuts, is a highly effective alternative to many common yet toxic cleaning chemicals. this includes cleansers for household and personal hygiene. the known cleaning properties are wide and diverse. being so gentle, saponins are even excellent for shampoos and many other personal care products. finally there is a good cleanser that will not leave your hands rough, dry and scaly! are soap nuts good for pets? yes! many people use soap nuts liquids for bathing their pets. the odor reducing properties of the soap nuts make for a remarkably effective pet shampoo. are soap nuts good for washing cloth diapers? absolutely! commercial detergents and soaps contain chemicals that build up in cloth diapers. not only do these chemicals break down the fibers of the material causing it to loose absorbency, but can also be irritating to your baby ' s skin. in addition, soap nuts are very effective at removing odors! i see very little suds when washing with soap nuts, are they cleaning my clothes? yes. suds should not be equated to cleaning power. we have been brainwashed to think this way through decades of marketing. the foaming you see with most detergents is because of the chemicals


, are they cleaning my clothes? yes. suds should not be equated to cleaning power. we have been brainwashed to think this way through decades of marketing. the foaming you see with most detergents is because of the chemicals and fillers used. soap nuts produce very little suds, but they are still working very effectively. your clothes will come out of the wash clean and fresh. does it matter that some of the soap nuts are pieces instead of whole? no. in order to properly inspect and sort to ensure the quality of your soap nuts, all very small pieces are removed. the select grade of soap nuts we offer is composed of whole nut shells and large pieces. since agitation is a catalyst in releasing the saponin, small pieces will work fine and possibly even release the saponin faster. do not hesitate to break up the soap nuts into smaller pieces if desired, or be concerned if they are broken up while handling. soap nuts can be even ground into fine powder. soap nuts have a vinegar - like scent. will my laundry have this scent? amazingly, the scent of the soap nuts does not transfer to your clothing! clothes come out of the wash smelling totally fresh and clean. there is not even a trace scent of the soap nut itself. a pure soap nuts liquid will also have an unpleasant scent but it will not transfer to your laundry either. nor will it leave a scent after other cleaning uses. if you prefer a scent, you can simply add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice to a damp wash cloth and drop it in the dryer. the scent of the oil will remain. i use bleach in my whites. are soap nuts a substitute for bleach? no. if you desire to bleach your whites, adding your bleach of choice will not affect the cleaning power of the soap nuts. if you are used to using bleach, you may want to try a load without it just to see if you will still need it. we sometimes use bleach, but many times we do not. if the soap nuts stay in the wash through the rinse cycle, don ' t they keep releasing soap? no, not as long as you are using cold water in the rinse cycle. soap nuts release very little saponin during the rinse cycle. this is why it is best to pre - soften soap nuts in warm water, use a cup of soap nuts liquid, or soap nuts powder if you want to wash


cycle. soap nuts release very little saponin during the rinse cycle. this is why it is best to pre - soften soap nuts in warm water, use a cup of soap nuts liquid, or soap nuts powder if you want to wash in cold water. can you dry the soap nuts with the clothes? yes you can. throwing in the wash bag with the soapberries in it will not harm the clothes at all. sometimes we can ' t find the bag in the clothes when we are putting them in the dryer so it will end up in with the clothes on accident. this does not hurt the soap nuts at all. do i use soap nuts in addition to my regular detergent? no, soap nuts do a great job of cleaning your laundry by themselves. they are a natural laundry detergent and alternative to detergents containing chemicals. use of them with a chemical detergent would be negating their primary purpose and benefit. should i use a fabric softener or dryer sheets anymore? normally there is no need, hence only if or when you feel the need. soap nuts naturally soften your laundry and reduce static. we highly recommend using no additives at all. due to certain combinations of fabrics and environmental conditions, sometimes additives may be desired, but the need will be dramatically reduced. i ' m allergic to nuts. can i use soap nuts? yes! soap nuts are actually a dried fruit ( not a nut ) related to the lychee. do not let nut allergies keep you from using soap nuts, soap nut powder, or soap nut liquid. is there anything that i should concern myself with in using soap nuts? as with a chemical cleanser, the only thing that we highly recommend is that soap nuts ( in all forms ) should be kept out of reach of children and pets. soap nuts are not consumable and can be harmful if ingested. given their date - like appearance in raw shell form, a bag of soap nuts could look like food to a child or pet. given their absolutely horrible taste, it is quite unlikely that any child or even a pet would not literally gag at the taste, but we simply recommend using good judgment and common sense in the storage of them.


measuring and reporting carbon the carbon disclosure project the carbon disclosure project is an independent, non - profit organization holding the largest database of primary corporate climate change information in the world. the global reporting initiative ( gri ) the global reporting initiative ( gri ) is a network - based organization that has pioneered the development of the world ’ s most widely used sustainability reporting framework. sustainability reports based on the gri framework can be used to benchmark organizational performance with respect to laws, norms, codes, performance standards and voluntary initiatives ; demonstrate organizational commitment to sustainable development ; and compare organizational performance over time. grenelle de l ’ environnement france ’ s grenelle de l ’ environnement, or environmental roundtable, is an open multi - party debate that reunites government and organizations ( industry, labor, professional associations, non - governmental organizations ) in order to define new actions for sustainable development, including the grenelle 2 eco - display bill that will roll out in 2012. as part of the grenelle 2 legislation, consumer goods companies will be displaying product - level environmental impacts. the carbon reduction commitment ( crc ) the carbon reduction commitment ( recently renamed the crc energy efficiency scheme ) is the uk ’ s first mandatory carbon trading scheme. the aim of the crc is to reduce the level of carbon emissions currently produced by the larger ‘ low energy - intensive ’ organizations by approximately 1. 2 million tones of co2 per year by 2020. the carbon reduction commitment covers both public and private sector organizations and is expected to affect approximately 5, 000 organizations in the uk. the scheme works in tandem with the existing european union emissions trading scheme and climate change agreements. the european ecolabel the european ecolabel is a voluntary scheme to encourage businesses to market products and services that are kinder to the environment. the eu ecolabel is part of a broader action plan on sustainable consumption and production and sustainable industrial policy adopted by the commission.


undoubtedly the most familiar carnivorous plant is the venus flytrap, dionaea muscipula. although the majority of its prey in the wilds of the south east usa are flies, it will consume anything that is alive and fits in the trap. drosera whittakeri is a sundew from australia that over - summers in an tuber underground. it can get quite slimy. drosera madagascariensis is a sundew found in africa. like most sundews it is a small plant and not one you can grow in your garden unless your garden is a sphagnum bog or fen. flowers or leaves? good question. these are the traps of sarracenia leucophylla. many a moth thought these were flowers too and ended up as dinner. all carnivorous plant traps are constructed from leaves. aldrovanda vesiculosa is an aquatic carnivore very closely related to the venus flytrap. the traps of this plant are full of planktonic crustaceans. the mexican pinguicula gigantea makes a great window sill plant. it is slimy to the touch but won ' t hurt you. gnats might think otherwise. cephalotus follicularis is a pitcher plant found on the south west coast of australia. it has no close relatives we know of. what is so special about carnivorous plants that a society with over a thousand members exists to share information about them? carnivorous plants are predatory flowering plants that kill animals in order to derive nutrition from their bodies. they share three attributes that operate together and separate them from other plants. - capture and kill prey - have a mechanism to facilitate digestion of the prey - derive a significant benefit from nutrients assimilated from the prey to put it in more human terms, carnivorous plants eat things like insects, spiders, crustaceans and other small soil and water - living invertebrates and protozoans, lizards, mice, rats, and other small vertebrates. carnivorous plants pull off this trick using specialized leaves that act as traps. many traps lure prey with bright colors, extra floral nectaries, guide hairs, and / or leaf extensions. once caught and killed, the prey is digested by the plant and / or partner organisms. the plant then absorbs the nutrients made available from the corpse. most carnivorous plants will grow without consuming prey but they grow much faster and reproduce much better with nutrients derived from their prey. we do not call these