By Stefania Viscusi, TMCnet Assistant Editor

With allergy season in full bloom, many people are keeping a close eye on just how close they come to pollen, mold and other allergens.

This season however, new studies are suggesting that allergies are sprouting up beyond just flowers and plants to also include cell phones, iPods and other technology as a culprit.

Vitals.com, a doctor evaluation site notes that there is a new allergy phenomenon being brought on by the prevalent use of modern technology.

The claims are centered on the much heated debate of radiation and microwaves generated by heavy use of cell phones and other wireless technologies, and notes that the exposure to them, is causing people to become more sensitive and as a result develop skin rashes fatigue and headaches.

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Also, the claims note that those who already suffer from allergies are making them worse by using the cell phone too much and worsening allergic reactions like watery eyes or runny nose.

According to the claims, cell phones and iPods can cause rashes especially to those who are sensitive to various metals such as nickel, for example, used in call phone casings and batteries or other metals in iPods, can cause rashes and other skin bumps to occur if used for too long.

"In addition to the typical pollen-producing allergies that are rampant during the months of spring, technophiles should take caution that some of their favorite gadgets may be the culprit of certain allergy symptoms," said Dr. Todd Rosengart, Chief Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stony Brook University Medical Hospital and Chief Medical Advisor of MDX Medical, which created Vitals.

Source: www.rfsafe.com

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By Ronnie W Tanner

Chevy has unveiled its newest technology in the Chevy Volt engine. General Motors will produce the plug in series hybrid and production is expected to begin in 2010 and the model should be available to consumers in 2011.

The engine in the Chevy Volt accomplishes its propulsion in a different fashion than the currently available commercial hybrid vehicles. The propulsion for the Volt comes directly from the electric motor, as the internal combustion engine is not connected mechanically to the wheels. The initial power source for the vehicle will come directly from the lithium ion batteries. When fully charged the batteries are capable of a 40 mile range when the outside ambient temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This is distance satisfies the requirements for 75% of most commuters in the United States who tend to drive an average of 33 miles to work.

The ECU (electronic control module) works to distribute the power from the generator back to electric motor and the batteries and depending on the beginning charge has the ability to extend the range of a single tank of gas to 640 miles. The official definition for hybrid engines given by the Society of Automotive Engineers states that to qualify for a hybrid "the vehicle must utilize two or more sources of energy located on board the vehicle both of which either together or separately must provide propulsion for the vehicle".

Because of this, General Motors has dubbed its newest creation an EREV or Extended Range Electric Vehicle although most will know this particular combination of batteries and ICE as a series hybrid. As for the environmental impact of the Chevy Volt, the actual end carbon footprint left the vehicle remains to be seen. For the first 40 miles the Volt will have zero tailpipe emissions. Once the batteries have drained to a certain point, the 4 cylinder internal combustion engine will then take over propulsion completely.

When the 4 cylinder engine is engaged the tailpipe emission will be similar to that of other small 4 cylinder ICE's. Due to the feedback loop between the engine and the batteries, once these have been fully charged by the generator, the electric motor will resume the job of propelling the vehicle so tailpipe emissions will then fall back to zero. The on: off cycling between the electric motor and the internal combustion engine results in a lower net total for the tailpipe emission which is lower than any of the hybrids in production today. At this time, The Environmental Protection Agency has not decided how the volt should be tested to measure its official fuel economy rating. If the standard currently applied to hybrids is used, the Volt would be the first vehicle in mass production to achieve a fuel efficiency rating of over 100 MPG. As engine technology strives to move away from oil dependence, General Motors hopes to be on the cutting edge with the innovative strides made with the new Chevy Volt engine.

Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at http://www.swengines.com He writes about used Chevy engines and choosing this as an alternative to costly car purchases

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronnie_W_Tanner

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An orbiting telescope records the universe’s most powerful explosions

By Stephen Ornes

Web edition : Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

RECORD BURSTThe X-ray afterglow of the record-breaking gamma-ray burst recorded on September 15, 2008 appears orange and yellow in this composite image taken by NASA's Swift satellite.Stefan Immer, Swift/NASA

Space is full of fireworks: Galaxies smash into each other, dying stars explode and high-energy particles race toward us at the speed of light. The most powerful explosions in the universe are brilliant flashes of light called gamma-ray bursts. If you happened to fly through the neighborhood of a gamma-ray burst, you couldn’t miss the flare — it would be brighter than a million trillion suns.

On September 15, 2008, a gamma-ray burst in the constellation Carina (which is best seen from the Southern Hemisphere) was recorded. This February, after studying the data, astronomers announced the gamma-ray burst was the most energetic explosion ever seen.

What, you didn’t see it? That’s not surprising, since the explosion was more than 12 billion light-years away.

Gamma-ray bursts are nearly impossible to study from Earth because our atmosphere blocks the view. But scientists found a way around that problem. Last June, NASA launched a new telescope called the Fermi Gamma-ray telescope into orbit by strapping it on the back of a rocket. The instrument is helping scientists watch these deep-space fireworks displays. It’s named after Enrico Fermi, an Italian-American physicist who helped design the first atomic bomb and also studied gamma-ray bursts.

Since they were first observed more than 35 years ago by satellites, these bursts of energy have been one of the biggest mysteries of space. Where do they come from? Why do some bursts last only a fraction of a second while others last a few minutes?

The outburst that occurred in September was extraordinary. It lasted for more than 23 minutes — 700 times longer than the typical gamma-ray burst. Although scientists aren’t sure what caused it, they do have some theories.

If a star is big enough, it collapses into a black hole when it runs out of fuel. A black hole is a dense and dark object with gravity so strong that not even light can escape from it. Many astronomers believe that as the star fades away and becomes a black hole, it shoots gamma rays into space. In other words, if you had seen the gamma-ray burst last September, you might also have been watching the birth of a powerful black hole. Less powerful gamma-ray bursts may come from other kinds of stars as they run out of fuel — or collide.

The first observations from the Fermi telescope are helping scientists answer questions about gamma-ray bursts. But as the data comes in, and astronomers learn more about these deep-space fireworks, other questions will arise. That’s the nature of good science — the answer to a question leads to another question, and its answer leads to yet another question that needs to be answered.

Power words: (adapted from Yahoo! Kids Dictionary, which is also the The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

galaxy: A collection of stars, gas, and dust that constitute the universe, containing an average of 100 billion solar masses and ranging in diameter from 1,500 to 300,000 light-years.

gamma-ray burst: A short-lived and intense burst of gamma radiation, a form of energy, that originates outside the solar system from an unknown source.

black hole: An area in space with a gravitational field so intense that anything nearby gets absorbed — not even light can escape.

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org

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ScienceDaily (Feb. 16, 2009) — New research by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) with responses from 80 of CDP’s signatory investors across the globe revealed that three-quarters factor climate change information into their investment decisions and asset allocations.

Of these, more than 80% consider climate change to be important relative to other issues impacting their portfolio. Interestingly, some of the institutions surveyed revealed a willingness to go beyond requesting disclosure on climate change, such as asking companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The research results* were released today as CDP announced the issue of its 2009 annual information request for climate change data to 3700 listed companies. The CDP request is made on behalf of institutional investors (signatory investors) with a combined $55 trillion of assets under management. The number of investors that signed the annual information request rose by almost a quarter to a record 475, compared with 385 in 2008, reflecting the rising importance of climate change within investment institutions.

Mercer, a leading global provider of consulting and investment services, analysed the survey results and compiled the report which summarises the ways in which CDP data is being used by investors. It includes responses from asset managers, pension funds, insurers and socially responsible investment funds including Allianz, AXA Group, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Hermes Investment Management and Swiss Re.

Other findings from the research include:

• Four-fifths of respondents find CDP data useful and valuable
• Carbon risk and potential legislation are the primary motivators for utilising CDP data
• CDP is the leading source of climate change information among respondents
• Corporate engagement emerged as the principal area in which investors are currently using CDP data, both as a stand alone resource and to back up information from other sources, however a number of investors also commented that systematically incorporating CDP data into financial analysis is in progress and a key goal.

Marc Fox, Vice President of GS SUSTAIN Research at Goldman, Sachs & Co, comments on the use of CDP data: "Climate change strategy, energy efficiency and carbon emissions are increasingly important aspects of companies' ability to uphold competitive advantage across global industries. We incorporate company responses to the Carbon Disclosure Project within our GS SUSTAIN Research methodology."

CDP’s Chief Operating Officer, Paul Simpson, comments: “Following clear indications, from the new US administration and other governments, we can expect to see a marked increase in climate change regulation globally. This will increase the materiality of climate change for investors and drive up costs for companies unable to manage their greenhouse gas inventories and our research shows that investors are already including climate change related issues into their investment decisions. In addition, a near 25% increase in signatories is a clear signal that institutional investors require listed companies to report to CDP as climate change related information becomes increasingly important to investment decisions.”

A total of 90 new investors joined CDP this year, including BBVA, National Bank of Canada, Hyundai Marine and Fire, Impax Group plc and Nordea Investment Management.

CDP’s information request focuses on the following areas that may affect the value of a company:

• Comprehensive corporate greenhouse gas emissions data
• Emissions reduction targets and use of energy
• Risks and opportunities applicable to companies in relation to climate change
• Management strategies to address climate change – including emissions trading

Companies have been asked to respond to CDP’s information request within four months. Individual corporate responses, plus analysis of the data, will be announced in a global launch this September, followed by a series of regional launches through to December and made available free of charge on CDP’s website at http://www.cdproject.net.

Source: www.sciencedaily.com

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Model boleh jadul (jaman dulu) tapi kemampuan jangan ditanya. Sepatu sneakers bermerek Nike ini telah dilengkapi sebuah alat pendeteksi sinyal WiFi (Wireless Fidelity). Ide pembuatan sepatu ini tak lain untuk memberi kemudahan saat mencari hotspot WiFi. Maklum kadang banyak orang kerepotan untuk mencari lokasi hotspot.

Setelah hotspot didapat, kita juga belum tahu soal kualitas sinyalnya. Tentu sinyal WiFi bisa dipantau lewat layar ponsel, tapi cara itu bagi sebagian orang dinilai kurang praktis.

Lewat sepatu pendeteksi sinyal WiFi, jelas ada sensasi baru yang ditawarkan, sambil berjalan santai Anda bisa memantau keberadaan sinyal hotspot.

Jenis sepatu mengadopsi elemen sport, model yang terpilih untuk ujicoba adalah sepatu Nike Dunk. Penggagas ide unik ini ialah tim desainer asal Kanada yang berada dibawah naungan MSTRPLN bekerjasama dengan Ubiq, sebuah butik apparel—di Indonesia mirip seperti distro—untuk mendesain ulang sepatu Nike yang dipasangi pendeteksi WiFi.

Mereka hendak mengawinkan antara elemen teknologi dan fesyen (desain).

Identitas sepatu ini memiliki julukan ASRD (A Step In Right Direction), dirancang dengan bentuk dan perlengkapan yang minimalis. Hanya ada tiga komponen utama yang saling terkait dengan kabel, yakni satu unit pendeteksi wireless, tiga lampu LED sebagai pengindikasi sinyal WiFi, dan bagian dalam yang sensitif pada tekanan (lihat gambar ilustrasi).
Sumber tenaga berasal dari sistem kinetik pijakan kaki. Tidak ada alasan jelas mengapa ketiga komponen tersebut hanya dipasangkan pada sepatu sebelah kiri.

Pendeteksi wireless terletak di bawah lapisan atas penutup tali sepatu sehingga tak akan terlihat langsung. Tidak seperti lampu yang merefleksikan kekuatan sinyal yang tertangkap, ketiganya ada di bagian atas lapisan tadi.

Jika sinyal yang dideteksi lemah, maka lampu akan berkedip-kedip. Kebalikannya, lampu akan menyala sangat terang jika sinyal WiFi sangat kuat. Alat pendeteksi dan lampu akan mulai aktif bekerja jika sol bagian dalam tadi tertekan atau dengan kata lain, sepatu sudah dipakai.

Kemana kaki melangkah saat menggunakan sepatu, penggunanya dapat memantau keberadaan sinyal WiFi dibawah jangkauan 50 meter. Jadi, jika papan petunjuk WiFi tak terlihat jelas tengok saja ke arah bawah, apakah lampu menyala terang maksimal atau justru sangat redup.

Yah, walaupun wujudnya tak se-trendy sepatu yang Anda miliki sekarang, namun sepertinya para gadget freaks tak akan ketinggalan menilik fungsinya yang hitech. (selular)

Source: http://www.indofamilyteens.com

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Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan (SMK) Kanzen yang berlokasi di kawasan Tlogowaru Kecamatan Kedungkandang Kota Malang, Jawa Timur bakal melahirkan Mobil Nasional (Mobnas) dari tangan-tangan terampil siswa-siswinya.

Direktur Pembinaan SMK Depdiknas Dr. Joko Sutrisno, Senin, mengungkapkan, Mobnas yang bakal lahir dari Kota Malang ini berbeda dengan Mobnas Timor beberapa waktu lalu yang diprakarsai Tommy Soeharto.

"Mobnas yang diberi merek SMK S UVI itu sekarang masih dalam perakitan dan akan diproduksi massal jika sudah sempurna. Harganya juga tidak terlalu mahal yakni rata-rata Rp80 juta per unit on the road," katanya di sela-sela kunjungannya ke SMK 10 Malang bersama Mendiknas Prof. Bambang Sudibyo.

Untuk mempercepat realisasi lahirnya Mobnas tersebut, katanya, Depdiknas telah menandatangani naskah kerjasama (MoU) dengan Kanzen November 2008 lalu.

Selain memroduksi mobil dengan harga murah, kata Joko, SMK tersebut juga merakit sepeda motor sendiri bahkan yang sudah selesai dan siap pakai juga telah dipesan beberapa konsumen.

Sepeda motor yang diberi merek SMK Kanzen itu seharga Rp7 juta per unit."Dari SMK percontohan ini lahir berbagai produk, selain mobil dan sepeda motor, di sini juga diproduksi laptop murah serta animasi berkualitas," katanya.

Menurut dia, seluruh SMK di Indonesia nantinya wajib memiliki laptop dan langkah ini diawali dari Kota Malang sebagai produsen laptop murah seharga Rp5 juta per unit.

Menyinggung kompensasi bagi siswa yang terlibat dalam perakitan maupun produksi sepeda motor, mobil, laptop dan animasi tersebut, Joko mengatakan, semua fasilitas peralatan dipenuhi oleh pihak sekolah.

"Setiap siswa yang terlibat mendapat keuntungan tak langsung karena mereka hanya bisa praktek dan mengutak-atik berbagai desain. Secara materi mereka akan mendapatkan jaminan makan saja, karena keuntungan masuk ke sekolah," katanya menegaskan. (sumber:antara)

Source: http://www.indofamilyteens.com

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JAKARTA - Perusahaan manufaktur komputer lokal mengenalkan desain ganda Classmate PC berbasis Intel yang mengikuti desain yang sudah ada sebelumnya yaitu desain clamshell untuk memenuhi kebutuhan pelajar sekolah dasar di seluruh dunia.

Desain baru fleksibel yang berbasis pada teknologi Intel Corporation ini bisa berubah secara langsung dari bentuk clamshell ke tablet mode dengan layar sentuh untuk memberikan pengalaman yang lebih intuitif di dalam kelas. Berdasarkan penelitian yang melibatkan kalangan siswa dan guru, desain putar 180 derajat, dengan kamera putar, serta layar sentuh, bisa mendorong interaksi kelas yang fleksibel serta kerja sama antar murid yang lebih alami. Kedua desain ini, baik yang konvertibel dan clamshell classmate PC, didasarkan pada penelitian etnografis dan tanggapan dari program awal yang selama ini telah dijalankan baik di pasar yang sudah mapan maupun pasar yang sedang tumbuh.

Intel juga memperkenalkan Intel Learning Series, sebuah inisiatif yang mengintegrasikan perangkat keras, perangkat lunak dan layanan yang didesain khusus untuk dunia pendidikan. Intel Learning Series mendukung perusahaan teknologi untuk membuat produk dan pelayanan khusus di negara mereka masing-masing, yang berinovasi di dalam desain Classmate PC yang bertujuan meningkatkan pengalaman pelajar dengan teknologi.

Dalam kerja sama ini, ekosistem teknologi memberikan produk serta pelayanan yang sesuai dengan permintaan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan khusus dalam sistem pendidikan di seluruh dunia. Intel Learning Series menyediakan kerangka kerja umum bagi perusahaan untuk mengomunikasikan peran dan nilai unik mereka dalam mengantarkan solusi secara keseluruhan bagi sistem pendidikan. Perusahaan manufaktur PC akan menawarkan kedua desain classmate PC yaitu desain ganda classmate PC berbasis Intel dan desain clamshell yang sudah ada sebelumnya untuk pelajar dan guru. PC ini akan diisi dengan perangkat lunak yang mudah untuk digunakan bagi siswa dengan dukungan dari Intel Learning Series.

Hadirnya desain ganda PC ini akan melengkapi desain clamshell yang sudah sukses sebelumnya. PC ini telah digunakan sebagai proyek inisiatif oleh Magalhaes (Magellan) Initiative, Portugal - program yang dilakukan pemerintahan� Portugis yang menyediakan PC bagi seluruh siswa sekolah dasar melalui perusahaan manufaktur komputer lokal serta penyedia layanan telekomunikasi setempat. The Magalhaes Initiative adalah salah satu dari program teknologi pendidikan paling komprehensif di dunia dan negara-negara lainnya seperti Venezuela bekerja sama dengan Portugal untuk mengembangkan model ini di negaranya. Inisiatif ini melambangkan besarnya program yang ditargetkan oleh Intel Learning Series.

Intel juga mengumumkan kerja sama dengan JP Sa Couto, yang merupakan OEM lokal di Portugal, serta sebuah perusahaan desain lokal bernama CEIIA, untuk membangun desain baru dari PC Magalhaes, yang akan memiliki fitur-fitur di antaranya kemampuan membaca dan menulis secara unik, layar yang lebih lebar, serta memori lebih untuk konten lokal dan juga pilihan konektivitas seperti 3G dan WiMAX.

"Pendidikan adalah salah satu cara terbaik untuk membangun masa depan bagi individu, masyarakat, bahkan Negara," kata Lila Ibrahim, General Manager Intel Emerging Markets Platform Group, yang juga membangun desain referensi classmate PC yang berbasis pada penelitian etnografis, serta dukungan terhadap� Intel Learning Series.

"Di dunia ini terdapat 1,3 miliar anak sekolah, dan dari jumlah itu, hanya 5 persen yang dapat memiliki akses terhadap� PC atau Internet. Industri TI memiliki kesempatan sangat besar untuk berkontribusi terhadap bagaimana teknologi dapat meningkatkan sistem belajar serta kehidupan para siswa. Dengan apa yang kita sampaikan hari ini, Intel secara terus-menerus akan menjalankan komitmen selama ini untuk kemajuan sistem pendidikan melalui teknologi yang dapat� mengubah hidup manusia di seluruh dunia," tambahnya.

Dibangun dengan Arsitektur Intel dan didukung oleh prosesor Intel Atom, netbook dengan penggunaan khusus ini menyediakan PC yang terjangkau dan berfungsi untuk mendukung berbagai macam aplikasi dan aktivitas yang dapat digunakan di kelas. Didesain khusus untuk kebutuhan pelajar, classmate PC ini sangat kecil dan ringan untuk dibawa dengan mudah.� Dilengkapi dengan keyboard anti air, classmate PC ini juga mudah dikemas (backpack friendly) yaitu mampu menghadapi guncangan di dalam ransel serta tahan apabila dengan tidak sengaja terjatuh oleh siswanya. Dalam bentuk tablet, layar dari classmate PC konvertibel ini memiliki 'palm rejection', yaitu fitur yang didesain khusus yang memungkinkan murid menulis seperti biasa dengan menopangkan tangan mereka pada layar sentuh. PC ini juga dilengkapi oleh perangkat lunak yang berorientasi pada pendidikan serta aplikasi dari perangkat lunak dan konten dari vendor yang berada di dalam Intel Learning Series. (//srn)

Source: http://techno.okezone.com

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