Study finds marijuana use leads to brain development in rats

Saturday, October 15, 2005

In the November issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation,researchers announce that they have found that cannabinoids promoted a generation of new neurons in rats’ hippocampi. The study held true for both a plant-derived and a synthetic cannabinoid. The hippocampus is a part of the brain that contributes to learning and memory. In particular, it has been shown that the hippocampus is essential for the formation of new episodic memories.

“This is quite a surprise, chronic use of marijuana may actually improve learning memory when the new neurons in the hippocampus can mature in two or three months,” said Xia Zhang, with the Neuropsychiatry Research Unit of the University of Saskatchewan.

“Our results were obtained from rats, and there’s a big difference between rats and humans,” added Zhang, “So, I really don’t know yet if our findings apply to humans. But our results indicate that the clinical use of marijuana could make people feel better by helping control anxiety and depression.”

Zhang and his co-workers performed behavioral tests on two purified cannabinoids. The test results indicated that these two cannabinoids have anti-anxiety and antidepression-like effects in rats that may depend on the ability of cannabinoids to promote the production of new neurons in the hippocampus. Marijuana contains a complex mixture of chemicals including cannabinoids and may have somewhat different behavioral effects than the purified cannabinoids tested so far.

Previous studies examining the effects of cannabis have highlighted negative aspects of the drug’s use, such as short term memory difficulties, increased heart rate, nausea, and (in a very small percentage of people) hallucinations. Long term studies about cannabis use tend to be controversial as the data is seen to be biased or flawed. The most agreed upon effect of long term cannabis use is lung damage. However, proponents argue that the correlation between cannabis consumption and lung cancer is misleading suggesting that cannabis use may correlate with tobacco use or that the data is not being properly analyzed.

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Choice And Installation Of Air Conditioning

Choice and installation of Air Conditioning

by

Mihai Marian

Once the warm season will settle in, the temperatures during the day and the night will increase greatly, and together with the high humidity they will become unbearable. One of the solutions against these hot temperatures remains the air conditioning. Whether in traffic, at home ar at the office, the air conditioning has become needful.

To be able to correctly use the air conditioning there are some rules we need to follow.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7mEBFmNq0g[/youtube]

Even from the beginning it’s useful to know that a room with an air conditioning set is a lot better for your health than a high temperature room with high humidity.

One piece of advice would be that the intern unit of the set to be installed in your hallway, for instance, and when running, the doors should be open and the windows closed. Even so, you still have to ventilate the room 3-4 times a day.

You also need to know that the difference between the outside and inside temperature shouldn’t be very big. The optimum difference is recommended to be around 8-9 degrees lower than the outside temperature. Even if at the moment you won’t feel any difference, in time your body will adjust.

One last advice, but probably the best one, is to avoid going from high temperatures to low ones and the other way around. This can cause you a lot of health issues, so it must be avoided. It is recommended to start your air conditioning at a temperature that is close to the exterior one, and every few minutes to decrease that temperature, but not with more than 8-9 degrees.

If you follow the instructions written above, it is likely you won’t be having any problems while using your air conditioning. If you don’t own one, but you consider buying one soon, I recommend you the online store www.topaerconditionat.ro

www.wikipedia.ro

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

U.S. federal marshals seize killer beds

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

On behalf of the FDA, U.S. Federal marshals have begun seizing beds which have killed at least seven patients out of about 30 who had become trapped by the products. Three versions of the bed were found to be “dangerous to health” by the FDA, with the specific danger of, “placing patients at an increased risk of entrapment and asphyxiation.”

The model numbers of the faulty beds include the Vail 500, 1000, and 2000 Enclosed Bed Systems. The beds are made by Toledo, Ohio-based Vail Products, Inc.

In a government press release, the FDA pointed out that Vail had failed to heed two previous warnings issued by the agency, asking the company to comply with regulations regarding proper labeling and usage directions. The FDA also said that Vail had failed to supply required documentation to the agency to comply with the Medical Device Reporting and Reports of Corrections and Removals regulations.

At the time this story was filed, the Vail web site made no mention of today’s FDA announcement. Toledo’s WTOL News 11 reported that, “Company officials say their beds aren’t dangerous if used properly.” The Vail corporate web site claims that the beds allow, “the patient to move about freely within a safe, padded environment” and “control wandering.”

The FDA is the U.S. agency responsible for regulating food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics.

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Fuel leak prompts 17,000-vehicle recall by Toyota

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Toyota announced on Friday that it will recall around 17,000 Lexus vehicles in response to risks of the fuel tank in the cars leaking after a collision.

The Lexus HS 250h model was subjected to the recall following a US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation. Despite previously passing Toyota safety inspections, the conclusions of an NHTSA sub-contracted investigator were that; when the vehicles in question collided with an object at more than fifty-miles-per hour, more than 142 grams of fuel, the maximum allowed by US law, leaked from the crashed car.

According to Toyota, further tests did not show any additional failure of the fuel tank.

In response to the findings, Toyota issued a recall of all affected vehicles, since the company had no solution immediately available. The recall includes 13,000 cars already sold, as well as another 4,000 still at dealerships.

Toyota says it plans to conduct further tests to determine the cause of the leak. A Toyota spokesman, Brian Lyons, said that the company was “still working to determine what the root cause of the condition is.” It’s still unclear when exactly the recall will take place, or when dealerships will be allowed to sell this model again. Lyons said that Toyota is “working feverishly to get this resolved as soon as possible.”

Toyota isn’t aware of any accidents stemming from the leaking fuel tank in the affected vehicles, first introduced in the summer of 2009.

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African nations gather to support a ban on cluster bombs

Thursday, April 3, 2008

A 39-nation coalition in Africa passed a declaration on Tuesday to ban cluster bombs in a nearly unanimous vote. The gathering in Lukasa, Zambia was the first meeting of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) in Africa.

“Africa is ready for Dublin,” summarised Zambian delegate Robert Mtonga, referring to the upcoming May 19-30 meeting in Ireland to discuss a global ban on the weapons. “Too often Africa’s voice is pushed to the margins in international decision-making. But in banning cluster bombs worldwide, a common African voice will speak volumes and win the day”.

Too often Africa’s voice is pushed to the margins in international decision-making. But in banning cluster bombs worldwide, a common African voice will speak volumes and win the day.

Mtonga was critical of South Africa, the lone voice against Monday’s decision and the continent’s largest producer and stockpiler of cluster bombs, and called on the country to destroy its munitions and join the coalition to outlaw their use. Egypt, the only other African nation to produce the controversial weapons, voiced support for the ban.

“Strong political will” was credited with the resolution, by CMC co-ordinator Thomas Nash in recognising the drive “to stop the proliferation of this outdated weapon”.

In a released statement the CMC said that 19 African countries, including South Africa, have endorsed the Wellington Declaration. The Wellington Declaration is the basis for the upcoming negotiations at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference in Ireland in May.

While countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom have tabled the idea of a “transition period” during which time cluster bombs would remain a legitimate weapon of war, the African delegation was resolutely against the idea, calling for an immediate ban.

Cluster munitions are dropped from aircraft, opening in mid-air and releasing a large number of smaller explosives over a wide area. Writer Theodora Williams stated that their use usually results in “…the death and maiming of thousands of innocent civilians”.

There are currently 13 African nations that possess cluster bombs although Uganda has recently announced they are destroying their stockpiles. The weapons have been used in eight African conflicts in the past 35 years. In addition to Ethiopia, Morocco, Nigeria and the Sudan, other nations known to have used the weapons are the former Yugoslavia, Eritrea, France, Israel, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the United States, China, Russia, and Israel have resisted any ban on cluster bombs, arguing that they can be used in self-defense. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the United States has lobbied allies to create loopholes in the upcoming Oslo treaty, to allow for the use of cluster bombs. Reuters reported that a U.S. official had stated that cluster bombs should not be banned if they are used responsibly in state conflicts.

In October 2007, Uganda became the first African country to state it would destroy its cluster bomb stockpiles. Uganda has announced a pan-African meeting to take place after the Dublin meeting, which would seek to garner support for the signing of a treaty in Oslo set to take place in December 2008. The weapons have been used in eight African conflicts in the past 35 years.

The CMC is an international network composed of over 250 civil society organizations in 60 countries, with the stated aim of protecting civilians from cluster munitions. Members of the CMC have been working to complete an international treaty to ban cluster munitions by 2008.

At the February CMC committee meeting in New Zealand, only 82 of the 122 nations present endorsed a draft ban on the production, usage or storage of cluster bombs.

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Advantage Of The Halifax Equity Release Scheme?

Submitted by: Mable William

The Halifax equity release scheme or as it is officially called by the Halifax, Retirement Home Plan is an interest only mortgage that is available to retirement people. With an interest only mortgage the outstanding balance always remains the same throughout and you make monthly payments of interest to the lender.

With traditional roll-up equity release you do not make any repayments of interest but the interest is being rolled up, meaning the outstanding loan is growing all the time. Typically, with current interest rates the loan will double every 12 years or so, this means that if you borrowed ?10,000 in 12 year’s time you would owe ?20,000.

For those retirees that can afford the monthly repayments from their pensions or state benefits then the Halifax equity release plan makes perfect sense. Oddly, the plan is not available from the Halifax themselves; you have to seek advice from a specialist equity release broker. Getting advice is vital for this type of plan as the consequences of getting it wrong can be very costly and maybe cannot be put right during your lifetime.

Does Halifax equity release plan require a repayment vehicle?

The simple answer to this is NO it does not. As the Halifax equity release plan is an interest only mortgage for pensioners, no form of repayment is required. This is one of the unique features of the plan.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx9kmBGT2Fs[/youtube]

Your individual mortgage with the Halifax equity release scheme is allocated a term of 40 years, this should be ample to run for the rest of your life. In contrast to traditional interest only mortgages where the term allocated is generally a maximum of 25 years, the 40 years allocated should mean you will die prior to the term ending.

Can I pay off the Halifax equity release mortgage early?

Yes you can. You will, however, need to check that you do not have any early exit charges on the rate that you chose.

The Halifax equity release scheme or as it is officially called by the Halifax, Retirement Home Plan is an interest only mortgage that is available to retirement people. With an interest only mortgage the outstanding balance always remains the same throughout and you make monthly payments of interest to the lender.

With traditional roll-up equity release you do not make any repayments of interest but the interest is being rolled up, meaning the outstanding loan is growing all the time. Typically, with current interest rates the loan will double every 12 years or so, this means that if you borrowed ?10,000 in 12 year’s time you would owe ?20,000.

For those retirees that can afford the monthly repayments from their pensions or state benefits then the Halifax equity release plan makes perfect sense. Oddly, the plan is not available from the Halifax themselves; you have to seek advice from a specialist equity release broker. Getting advice is vital for this type of plan as the consequences of getting it wrong can be very costly and maybe cannot be put right during your lifetime.

Does Halifax equity release plan require a repayment vehicle?

The simple answer to this is NO it does not. As the Halifax equity release plan is an interest only mortgage for pensioners, no form of repayment is required. This is one of the unique features of the plan.

Your individual mortgage with the Halifax equity release scheme is allocated a term of 40 years, this should be ample to run for the rest of your life. In contrast to traditional interest only mortgages where the term allocated is generally a maximum of 25 years, the 40 years allocated should mean you will die prior to the term ending.

Can I pay off the Halifax equity release mortgage early?

Yes you can. You will, however, need to check that you do not have any early exit charges on the rate that you chose.

About the Author: Retirement Solutions is an indpendent financial adviser and specialist in equity release. We can also advise you on the Halifax equity release plan. Visit

retirementsolutions.co.uk/halifax-retirement-home-plan-mortgage

.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=662480&ca=Finances

U.S. Senator Obama announces presidential candidacy

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Junior Illinois Senator Barack Obama officially announced his presidential candidacy, today, in Springfield, Illinois. Obama’s speech was given from the same spot that Abraham Lincoln gave his “House divided” speech over 125 years ago and from the place where Obama began his elected career 10 years ago.

Obama is the second major Democrat to announce his candidacy, after New York Senator Hillary Clinton. If elected, Obama would be the first African American president of the United States.

It’s time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else’s civil war.

Obama placed topics such as healthcare reform, ending poverty, re-building labor unions, energy independence, repairing the US’s global image, and the Iraq War in the context of generational change. Obama spoke against keeping troops in Iraq, saying that “all of this cannot come to pass until we bring an end to this war in Iraq […] America, it’s time to start bringing our troops home. It’s time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else’s civil war.”

The announcement kicks off a weekend of rallies and events that will take Obama from Springfield to Iowa and then on to Chicago before he wraps up Monday in New Hampshire.

Obama broke onto the national scene with his popular speech at the Democratic National Convention. Born in Hawaii, Obama graduated from Columbia University before receiving his JD from Harvard Law School. In 1996, Obama was elected to the Illinois Senate, before rising to his current position in the US Senate in 2004.

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Category:July 3, 2005

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‘Top Model’ winner Jaslene Gonzalez on her career and being a Latina role model

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Jaslene Gonzalez is not your typical model. She rose to fame after winning Cycle 8 of America’s Next Top Model, and since then, has been aggressively tapping into the fashion industry. As a result of her Latin background, Gonzalez has been successful at marketing herself both in the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking worlds. However, Gonzalez is much much more – a fighter, a humanitarian, and a good Latin granddaughter.

Born in Chicago to a Latina mother, and a Puerto Rican-born father, Gonzalez had, in many ways, a typical U.S. Latino experience – her tight knit family, grandparents, and spirituality played an intrinsic part in her upbringing.

“I went to an all-girl Catholic school and grew up with tons of family…..My family was very close knit and supportive. They were involved in my life everyday. So there was so much joy in every little occasion…..Every Sunday we would go to my grandmother’s house where we [the family] would hang out together….We enjoyed being around each other and being together,” states Gonzalez.

Her grandfather was the director of a local dance group, Viva La Gente, which Gonzalez credits with impacting her life positively.

“I was a dancer for 12 years and life revolved around dancing. I was a very active girl, and was always involved with my grandfather’s dance studio. The whole family was. My aunts, my cousins – everyone took part in performances and were involved in the group…That’s how we spent our summers, and we looked forward to being outside, dancing salsa, hip hop, merengue,” states Gonzalez. Through her involvement in the dance studio, Gonzalez’s horizon was broadened significantly, and her humanitarian streak began to deepen.

“We were always constantly traveling. We traveled to Mexico to poor villages where we gave performances to give back to the community,” said Gonzalez.

Ironically, ANTM gave her the opportunity to overcome her own difficulties and to further help those in need. “I went in there, without knowing that I was in an abusive relationship. They were the ones that brought that up to me…they felt I was emotionally destroyed, they wanted me to get support,” commented Gonzalez. While the ANTM staff was supportive, she also credits her life long dream for helping her get out of the abusive relationship.

“Having a dream and having a goal in life, is the most important thing I did in my life. Because of that I maneuvered my way to that dream. I knew I was better than that, I wanted to be happier,” stated Gonzalez.

Soon after winning ANTM, Gonzalez became a spokesperson for Liz Claiborne and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and began traveling the country reaching out to women.

“We had several meetings, and they asked me to be a spokesperson. I was so happy and blessed to help women, to have that title. It’s something I want to do, besides modelling….I enjoy sharing my personal experiences because I can educate them, but I can also save someone’s life. It’s something precious, it’s a gift,” stated Gonzalez.

Abuse is not the only obstacle Jaslene has had to face. Growing up Latina had its own set of difficulties. “Being a minority is a challenge no matter what,” states Gonzalez.

However, Gonzalez also states that being a Latina has many positive aspects in regards to her profession. “As a Latina, you have the advantage of being a Latina. Not only do you have this corporate job, but you can relate to many groups as a person.”

When asked if the fashion industry forces Latina models to change certain aspects about themselves, she remarks that she focuses on always staying true to herself. “Modeling is a difficult job because of what you go through. 80% of the time it’s a no…When I go in, I go in like me, I don’t have to change anything. Any time I get a chance to show who I am, I do. I am a Spanish girl, trying to pursue my dreams. I try to be the best I can be,” remarked Gonzalez.

It is that same confidence and will to succeed that she seems to appreciate in other woman. “I find women beautiful. I find a girl with no makeup, not worrying about her style and appearance, I find that sexy. I find confidence beautiful…Its so simple. It’s being natural and confident,” said Gonzalez.

As a role model, she has two key pieces advice that she offers women: nurture your mind with positive thoughts, and identify and foster the principles in life you value.

It is not surprising to see why Gonzalez’s family is proud of her. “My family is so funny. They are so happy. I’ve never seen them so full of life. My mom acts like she won. My grandmother screams ‘mi flaca‘ every time she sees me. They are so proud. Especially my grandparents. I was practically raised by them. To see them see you so happy and successful, there couldn’t be a better feeling,” said Gonzalez.

She adds that her grandparents would be extremely happy if she appeared on Cristina, the Spanish-language talk show whose host is referred to as “the Spanish Oprah Winfrey.”

In the coming years, Gonzalez plans to continue on the path she is on. She wants to continue gracing magazine covers, as well as dedicating herself to helping young teens develop self growth and esteem. “Every time I wake up, God gives me the opportunity to be a better me…Life gets better as it goes by.”

This is the third in a series of articles with America’s Next Top Model contestants.

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Get A Hot Tub: Shopping Tips For Indoor And Outdoor Spas

byAlma Abell

Spas and hot tubs can most certainly be a benefit to the home. They can increase the property value, and also have many health benefits for users. However, before you Get a Hot Tub, it is important to know what to look for. While you might believe it’s as simple as choosing the one that looks the best, there are factors that must be considered including seating capacity, site preparation, and electrical hookups. As you begin shopping for the new hot tub or spa of your dreams, consider these important shopping tips below.

Location and Space

Whether you’re going to have your hot tub installed indoors or outdoors, you will need to have a good idea of where you’d like to have everything set up. You should start by designating either an area in your home or your yard. Next you will need to determine approximately how many people you will entertain in the hot tub at once so you can determine the size hot tub you will need. If you’re placing your hot tub outdoors, you can use a rope to mark off the area you think it would best fit.

Electrical Hookup

No matter what type of hot tub you get, it’s going to be operated with the use of electricity. While there are some models of hot tubs that operate on standard 120 volt electrical outlets, this is not always the case. There are some brands that require 240 volt circuits instead. It may be advisable to have a qualified electrician do a quick survey of your home’s electrical system. This will determine whether or not the hot tub you wish to purchase will be compatible with your home’s electrical source or if you will have to install additional circuits.

Once you’ve determined which hot tub you’d like to purchase, it is imperative to have it installed by professionals to ensure that you’re in compliance with all local codes. To learn more about how to Get a Hot Tub, contact experts at East Coast Leisure. They can help you with determining the best hot tub and spa to have installed either indoors or outdoors.

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