A keto diet is based on meat. Scientists say the diet improves spatial memory and visual memory, lowers indices of brain inflammation, causes less neuronal death and slows down the rate of cellular ageing
Want some fat with your meat? Just the reverse of 80-s diets that eliminated cholesterol, the latest diet trend celebrates meat and butter. It is the keto diet and the way to start it is to avoid carbs. Turns out this new fad diet may also help repair the brain after injury. A new by Tel Aviv University finds that a keto or ketogenic diet may reduce the effects of brain damage after traumatic injury.
The study found that the diet improves spatial memory and visual memory, lowers brain inflammation, causes less neuronal death and slows down the rate of cellular aging.
The study was led by Prof. Chaim Pick and Ph.D. student Meirav Har-Even Kerzhner, a registered dietitian and brain researcher, both from the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University.
The findings were published in Scientific Reports, a syndicate journal from the publishers of Nature.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the developed world. It is estimated that every year over 10 million people worldwide suffer from traumatic brain injury as a result of head injuries caused by a hard object, a blow, an explosion, road accidents, sports injuries.
Such traumas can lead to physical, cognitive, behavioral and emotional damage and is also a risk factor for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
At this point, despite the high frequency of brain injuries, there is no proven effective treatment that can help those suffering from this injury. Har-Even Kerzhner explains that a ketogenic diet (here is our keto diet for beginners guide) which involves changes in the consumption of common foods is based on high-fat percentages and aims to mimic a state of fasting.
As part of the diet, the intake of foods that contain carbohydrates (bread, sugar, grains, legumes, snacks, pastries and even fruits) are significantly restricted and, at the expense of this restriction, high-fat products such as meat, fish, eggs, avocado, butter – are eaten. This is a diet that can be continued for extended periods of time.
The diet causes an increased production of ketone bodies in the liver that are used to generate energy. These ketone bodies are transferred via the bloodstream to the brain providing optimal nourishment.
The diet has been used as a treatment in Israel and around the world for almost 100 years, among children with epilepsy, while in recent years, the ketogenic diet has become popular among those who want to lose weight.
It is important to note that, due to the significant nutritional restrictions, it is necessary to consult with a professional such as a doctor or a registered dietitian.
In the study, conducted on model animals, the researchers identified that the ketogenic diet greatly improves the patient’s brain function. For this purpose, the researchers used advanced methods that included behavioral-cognitive tests, biochemical tests and immunohistochemical cell staining (a technique in biology for the detection and placement of proteins in a cross section of tissue).
The way the ketogenic diet heals brain damage has not yet been fully revealed, but studies show that it has an antioxidant and metabolic effect on mitochondria (essential organelles in the cell, the its primary function of which is energy production and respiration), lowers free radical production and raises ATP (a major molecule in cellular biochemical channels).
Australia is a land of beauty and adventure. Its rich culture, history, and heritage topped with scenic roads, long stretches of white sandy shorelines, sparse deserts, and diverse fauna and flora make it a place to visit at least once in your lifetime.
If you have plans to visit this beautiful country, naturally sustainable in all it has to offer, we have good news for you. Although Australia covers a vast expanse on the globe, it is easy to navigate. The picturesque driving routes, adventurous tracks, and guided tours offer you the real taste of this gorgeous country.
Here, we have shared the best five ways to explore Australia sustainably.
Take guided tours
Skateboarding in Australia.
Australia is a land of culture and history. Every hidden gem in Australia has a story to tell, and what could be a better way to unearth the history than taking guided tours?
A guided tour in Australia will introduce you to the real side of this country. The guides will take you to the places you never knew existed and share the most interesting and goosebump-inducing history about the Aboriginals.
Moreover, going for a guided tour will liberate you from the stress of planning the itinerary.
Walk trails
Australia is blessed with natural beauty. You will find breathtakingly beautiful views as far as your eyes can see. A great way to witness the true natural beauty of Australia is by taking your own trails.
Australia has hundreds of national parks with diverse sceneries. Plan a trail traversing the gorgeous coastlines, dense forests, and rugged landscapes of Australia.
Visit any national park and explore it on foot to witness the real beauty of Australia.
Romance the roads
The open roads of Australia can take your breath away. Right from the Great Ocean Road to Nullarbor Plain, Great Alpine Road to The Great Barrier Reef Drive, the country is blessed with some of the most scenic drives.
The long stretches of roads, both coastal and inland, deserve to be explored at a slow pace, and the best way to do that is by hopping in your car and taking a road trip.
While travelling from one destination to another, take the road to make your journey worth it. Do not worry about running out of gas or food in the middle of the road trip, as you will find many gas stations and towns to fill your tank and bellies.
Take a train journey
Several rail routes in the country traverse spectacular landscapes. Whether it’s The Ghan that passes through the Red Centre or the Indian Pacific that takes you through the Blue Mountains, you will get a chance to see diverse terrains. Plus, the comfortable cabins, good food and drinks, and a host of services will make your overall journey memorable.
Hop on e-scooters
If exploring the city life of Australia is on your mind, going around on an e-scooter is something you should consider.
The e-scooter culture in Australia is on the rise. As more and more start-ups are offering these rides across the country, you can easily find one anywhere. These rides are economical, quick, eco-friendly, and provide the best way to explore the modern cities of the country.
The bottom line
Australia has a lot to offer to tourists. Every nook and cranny of the country is adorned with stunning landscapes. So, if you wish to experience every ounce of pleasure Australia has to offer to your touristy soul, explore the country through any of these modes.
Australia Aboriginal dancers
We hope you have a great time in this beautiful country of Australia.
Want to travel and order online guilt free? A new kind of freight powered by the aims needs your funding support for eco travel and reducing carbon emissions
After a turbulent 2021, with increasing public attention towards the fragility of the global supply chain and shipping industry as a whole, companies are looking for a truly sustainable option to ship their products. Similarly, individuals are seeking environmentally-friendly travel experiences.
Both of which the Dutch-based EcoClipper can provide with sailing ships.
EcoClipper plans to launch retrofitted and purpose-built sailing vessels capable of carrying cargo and passengers on a variety of international routes.
The company has developed a series of shipping lines: Trans-Atlantic, Eastern, Trans-Pacific and Global. Recently, it was announced that EcoClipper will start operating on the North Sea – an attractive option which opens up sustainable shipping and travel from the UK to mainland Europe.
It takes substantial investments to build a global sustainable sailing ship fleet. However the strategy of EcoClipper is based on investing in one ship at a time.
As such, a series of investment tranches are offered through certificates in the EcoClipper Coöperatie U.A. The first tranche is aiming for €140,000, to purchase the first retrofit vessel. The second and third tranche will bring the financing to almost one million Euros.
Follow up rounds will become larger as the community of the company grows. Investments for the first tranche start at 50 certificates for a total price of €350. Investors in the early rounds purchase certificates for a discount, while also investing in the future growth of the company.
It takes a wild Dutchman: Jorne Langelaan
CEO and founder, Captain Jorne Langelaan says, “At the end of last year, during the climate talks in Glasgow, it became obvious again that if we want a livable future all our industries need an immediate and absolute transition to sustainability. With EcoClipper, words are put into practice and everyone is invited to join and invest in shipping propelled by the power of the wind.”
The project will contribute an estimated 3.7 percent of energy to Azerbaijan’s total national grid capacity, powering 300,000 households
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy and ACWA Power of Saudi Arabia held a groundbreaking ceremony for the 240 MW wind power plant that ACWA will build in the Asian country, with an investment value of $300 USD million.
ACWA builds, operates and invests in renewable energy plants and becomes the only renewables company listed in Saudi Arabia. It priced its IPO at the top of the range last year, successfully raising $1.2 billion USD from investors, the biggest since, but dwarfed by, Saudi Aramco’s $29.4 billion IPO.
Renewable energy sources are important for Azerbaijan. However, except for hydropower, few renewable energy sources are used. One of the best considered alternative sources for the small Asian country is wind energy.
The Saudi wind energy project represents the first and largest foreign investment made in Azerbaijan’s renewable energy sector to date and contributes to the country’s target to generate 30 percent of its energy through renewables.
By Q4 2023, and when it’s up and running, the project will contribute an estimated 3.7 percent of energy to Azerbaijan’s total national grid capacity, powering 300,000 households while offsetting 400,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
The ceremony was attended by Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Balababa Rzayev, President of “Azerishiq OJSC” and Mr. Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, along with senior executives, none who appear to be women in the image supplied, above.
One of ACWA’s main activities is investing in desalination technology. This approach to providing clean water is highly energy intensive, with brackish water runoff destroying marine life.
ACWA Power is an investor in other post-Soviet Muslim states such as Uzbekistan, where it is developing multi-billion-dollar power projects.
In December 2021, the Saudi company finalized an agreement to develop the 100-MW Nukus wind project. Located in the Karakalpakstan region, the $108 M USD Nukus wind farm is the first publicly tendered wind project in the country and was won by the ACWA Power through a competitive bidding process.
The scheme is only the fourth in the Central Asian state for the company, which is also developing the 1,500-MW combined cycle gas turbine Sirdarya project, which is expected to meet 15% of the country’s power requirements upon completion.
Exploding stars happen more often that you might think. Turns out you just need to know how to look for them. New research on “stars” gives us insight into looking for a new career, a romantic partner or friend, or even happiness in general. Read on.
In the not-so-distant past, the discovery of a supernova – an exploding star – was considered a rare occasion. When Avishay Gal-Yam was a doctoral student, for example, he located seven of them over the course of four years.
Today, advanced measuring instruments and analysis methods make it possible to detect fifty such explosions on a daily basis. On the one hand, the improved means used by present-day astrophysicists to spot supernovae may have made these celestial events less of an attraction over the years.
On the other hand, the greater number of observations of them has also increased the probability that researchers would be able to spot rarer types of explosions that have so far existed only as theoretical constructs.
Gal-Yam and colleagues recently discovered a rare-type supernova that has never been observed before. Their findings are published in Nature.
The core of every star is fueled by nuclear fusion, wherein the nuclei of lighter elements fuse together to form heavier elements. The fusion of four hydrogen nuclei results in the formation of a helium atom, while several helium nuclei combined result in the formation of carbon, oxygen, and so on.
A Wolf-Rayet star and the nebula surrounding it captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Gal-Yam and colleagues are the first to discover a rare-type supernova originating from this star // NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope
The last element that will naturally form through nuclear fusion is iron, which is the most stable atomic nucleus. In normal circumstances, the energy produced at the star’s core maintains extremely high temperatures that cause its gaseous matter to expand, thus preserving the fine balance with the force of gravity, drawing the star’s mass toward its center.
Once the star runs out of elements to fuse and stops producing energy, this balance is disrupted, leading either to a gaping black hole that tears open at the heart of the star, causing it to collapse in on itself, or to the star’s explosion, which releases the heavy elements, fused during its evolution, into the universe.
The entire process is naturally very lengthy. The life spans of massive stars – the kind that Gal-Yam, dean of the Weizmann Institute of Science’s Physics Faculty in Israel, studies – are considered relatively short, a few million years at most.
The Sun, in comparison, has a life expectancy of about 10 billion years. The subsequent processes of nuclear fusion at the core of massive stars lead to their stratification, in which the heavy elements are concentrated at the core, and gradually lighter elements compose the outer layers. Wolf-Rayet stars are particularly massive stars that are missing one or more of the external layers that are made up of lighter elements. In this way, instead of hydrogen – the lightest element – the star’s surface is characterized by the presence of helium, or even carbon and heavier elements.
One possible explanation for this phenomenon is that strong winds blowing due to high pressure at the star’s envelope, disperse its outermost layer, thus causing the star to lose one layer after the other over several hundred thousand years. When these stars are observed without the presence of the lighter elements in their envelope, it is akin to a still photograph capturing a moment in time during a long-winded process. Nonetheless, despite their relatively short life spans and their state of progressive disintegration, the supernova explosion of a Wolf-Rayet star has yet to have been definitely observed.
Analysis of the ever-growing number of supernova discoveries has led to the hypothesis that Wolf-Rayet stars simply don’t explode – they just quietly collapse into black holes – otherwise, we would have been able to observe one by now. This hypothesis, however, has just been shattered owing to the discovery, made by the Weizmann group and their international team of collaborators, of a supernova originating from this type of star. Spectroscopic analysis of the light emitted from the explosion – the electromagnetic wavelengths of light emitted from the blast – led to the discovery of spectral signatures that are associated with specific elements. In this way, the researchers were able to show that the explosion contained carbon, oxygen and neon atoms, the latter an element that has not yet been observed in this manner in any supernova to date.
Moreover, the researchers identified that the matter spouting cosmic radiation did not in itself participate in the blast but rather originated from the space surrounding the volatile star. This, in turn, strengthened their hypothesis in favor of strong winds that took part in stripping the star of its outer envelope.
Since this observation is the first of its kind, Gal-Yam states that it may be too early to unequivocally determine the fate of all such stars. “We can’t say at this stage whether all Wolf-Rayet stars end their lives with a bang or not. It might be that some of them do collapse quietly into a black hole,” he says. “We estimate that the mass that dispersed during the explosion is probably equal to that of the Sun or a slightly smaller star; the star that exploded was significantly heavier – having a mass at least ten times greater than that of the Sun.
“So where did the majority of mass end up?” Gal-Yam suggests a midway scenario, in which both possible fates are fulfilled at the same time: once nuclear fusion is exhausted at the star’s core, an explosion takes place that blasts some of the mass into space, while the remaining mass collapses in on itself, forming a black hole. “One thing’s certain,” says Gal-Yam, “This is not the ‘silent’ collapse often referred to in the past. It is worth mentioning that since this discovery was first made, another similar explosion of a Wolf-Rayet star has been observed, implying that this phenomenon is indeed not a single occurrence. It is possible that the better our detection and measurement instruments become, the more this type of explosion – today considered rare and exotic – will become a common sight.”
Supernovae may seem like colossal events happening far, far away that they have no direct impact on our lives. But, truth be told, they are at the heart of life itself. These cosmic explosions launch the elements that were forged at the star’s core to the far reaches of the galaxy, where they serve as the bedrock for the birth of new stars.
Planet Earth and all its various and diverse lifeforms (including us Homo sapiens) are the result of such an occurrence. “We study the origins of all matter, including that found on Earth, and search for explanations of many of the physical phenomena we tend to take for granted,” says Gal-Yam. “This is what I am personally interested in – where did all of this come from – and I want to be able to answer this question as best and as accurately as I can.”
Tesla’s might be more affordable than they ever were, but have you thought about what happens when the battery needs replaced? Consider budgeting that into your yearly plan.
After the 2021 COP26, the UK government had pledged to transition to 100 percent zero-emission sales of new cars and vans by 2040. With this in mind and also the impact of current petrol and diesel cars on the environment, should you be choosing an electric vehicle in 2022? There are a whole range of benefits to getting a car or van which is 100% all electric. UK Car Finance are a car finance provider in the UK who believe that 2022 should be the year that you invest in an electric car and do your bit to help the government’s pledge.
Reduce your carbon footprint
Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the environment as a result of your actions. There are a number of ways to reduce your carbon footprint and one of them is by opting for an emission free vehicle. Electric cars don’t produce harmful carbon dioxide emissions and instead use electric motors. Reduced emissions can help to improve air quality and also public health too!
More affordable to buy
A common misconception about electric vehicles is that they are too expensive to buy. However, you can get a new all-electric car such as the Fiat 500e for under £20,000 in the UK. The UK Government also runs an electric car grant scheme which can save you up to £1,500 on a brand-new plugin vehicle. If you’re not looking for brand new, there are many used electric car deals and also options for electric car finance in 2022. It is hoped that electric cars will become even more affordable in the coming years to help tackle the climate crisis.
Lower running costs
A massive benefit of owning an electric car is how cost effective they are to run! It costs considerably less to charge an electric car when compared to fuelling a petrol or diesel car. You can fully charge an electric vehicle at home for about £9.20 using a 7kW home charger. You can also take advantage of thousands of free electric charging points across the UK, which are often located in shopping centres, supermarkets, hotels and public car parks!
Reduced maintenance costs
Not only can you save money running your electric car but also when it needs repairing too. Electric cars benefit from fewer moving parts inside the electrical motor when compared to a complex petrol or diesel engines. An electric motor doesn’t have any spark plugs, oil filters or timing belts to change and electric batteries require very little maintenance. This can mean less repair costs and also (hopefully) fewer breakdowns too!
Less range anxiety
Some electric car owners suffer from range anxiety, which is the worry that your electric will run out of power before you get to your destination. Improvements in electric vehicle range in recent years have been developed to tackle range anxiety. In the UK, electric cars such as the Mercedes EQS have the highest batter range with a whopping 453 miles between charges. Or if you’re looking for something a little more affordable and family friendly, you could opt for the Hyundai Kona Electric which has a battery range of up to 301 miles on a single charge.
More charging opportunities in the UK
In the UK, there are now more than 42,000 charge point connectors across the UK, which is more public places to charge than petrol stations! You can also charge your electric vehicle at a wide range of places such as at home, some workplaces, public car parks, shopping centres and more. How long your car takes to charge depends on your car’s battery size and which type of charging point you use.
Types of chargers available:
Slow – Takes around 8-10 hours and usually uses 3KW to charge overnight at home or a workplace.
Fast – Takes around 3-4 hours, usually uses 7kw or 22kw and are popular in car parks, supermarkets and shopping centres.
Rapid – Takes around 30-60 mins and can be found at designated electric car stations, petrol stations and motorway services.
Microplastics aren’t just polluting the sea. They are polluting us.
Plastics from dollar store products, packaging for our every day lives and industry have been a problem for decades, and the more scientists learn about plastic pollution the more serious the problems are shown to be for the environment and the health of all living things.
Today there are about 380 million tons of plastic produced each year, a similar weight to all the people on earth. At the same time, it is estimated that only 60% of that production gets landfilled, burned, or recycled. The rest of the plastic production ends up somewhere in the environment. Like in our bodies.
Consider that one study found that bottled water contained an average of 10,000 microplastic particles per liter. The researchers concluded that the source for the microplastic particles was composed of PP and PET, which are major ingredients of bottle caps. The problem of microplastics in bottled waters is widespread geographically.
Bottled water contains microplastics with every sip
Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), a non-profit organization of physicians and public health professionals, is releasing its newly published research report on the dangers of plastics and microplastics to the environment and to health. Green Prophet offers you the link the report here. Links to PDF.
The report calls for sweeping policy initiatives that need to be enacted by international, federal, state, and city governments, as well as calling on corporations to institute new policies that will better protect the public from harmful plastic and microplastic exposures. Some consider the surge in Covid due to microplastic exposure.
Plastic formulations include numerous additives, often toxic substances, that are incorporated to give the plastic products their desired characteristics. In addition, plastics can absorb an endless number of chemicals and harbor microbes, both of which can be harmful to plants, wildlife, and humans. They are in cosmetics, shampoo and microplastics get ejected from our clothing in the washing machine.
Forget about BPA. That’s the smaller problem.
Large plastic items – like bottles, food packaging and bags – break down into microplastics, that are tiny bits of plastic smaller than a grain of rice, and sometimes even much smaller than that.
There is probably no other contaminant as abundant as microplastics or one so widely distributed in the global environment. Because of their small size they are found in fruits, vegetables, in water, in beer and even our salt. That’s why many people buy pink salt from the Himalayas to avoid ingesting more plastic.
What percentage of this woman is made from plastic?
How this affects health varies with the size. We know that fish eat microplastics and big fish and large birds eat large pieces of plastic. Whales have been found to die from eating too many plastic bags. Plastic fish netting entangles marine life, often killing turtles, seals, and other large marine animals.
Gaboury Benoit, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental Chemistry, Yale University, Member of EHHI, and author of the report, explained, “Almost 500 scientific studies were reviewed in the writing of this report, and they show that each of us ingests and inhales millions of microscopic plastic particles each year.
Microplastics carry chemical additives and coatings as well as potentially pathogenic microbes. Disturbingly, their impact on human health is not yet known.”
Plastics in your fetus
Hugh Taylor, M.D. Chair of Yale’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and member of EHHI said, “Exposures to microplastics is perhaps most concerning during pregnancy. Microplastics are found in the placenta and can cross the placenta. The developing fetus is particularly vulnerable to toxic exposures. Pregnant women should avoid plastics as much as possible and our legislators should prioritize protecting them.”
“Dr. Taylor’s observations concerning microplastics, made from the vantage point of the Chair of Yale’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, are extremely important, given the long term and multigenerational actions of some of these chemicals, and the fact that microplastics are extensively distributed through food and water which creates a threat to future generations,” said David Brown, Sc.D., toxicologist and member of EHHI.
In laboratories researchers working with microplastics have found that they cause irritation and inflammation of the digestive tract. Microplastics also trigger toxic responses in human cells and model organisms. The possibility that these findings translate into animal and human health effects are yet to be fully researched and determined.
People routinely ingest microplastics when eating food and drinking beverages. They inhale microplastics by breathing indoor and outdoor air.
Because almost all microplastics come from the breakdown of larger plastic items, it is impossible to control the amount of microplastics without reducing or stopping the production of plastic. A single plastic water bottle can break down into many trillions of microplastic particles.
“We need to stop plastic production at its source. This will take international agreements between nations, regulations in the United States at all levels of governments, and include the cooperation of industry and the efforts of individual citizens,” said Nancy Alderman, President of Environment and Human Health, Inc.
Teslas might be more affordable than they ever were, but have you thought about what happens when the battery needs replaced?
Long gone are the days when people used to rely on nothing but gasoline or diesel to power their vehicles. Consumers can now choose from a variety of alternative fuels. For instance, shoppers can get hybrid models with gas and electric motor combinations instead of choosing traditional engine setups. You can also opt for strictly battery-powered models.
Are you planning on getting your first electric vehicle (EV) soon? If that’s the case, you’re going to want to do some research before handing over your cash to a dealership. Doing so will allow you to see what others are saying about the car. Then, hopefully, you’ll be able to tell whether it’s a good fit for your lifestyle. While you’re at it, you can also read up on thebest extended car warranties just so you’re ready to buy these if needed.
Perhaps there has never been a better time to purchase an EV than now. So, if you haven’t hopped on the electric bandwagon just yet, consider the following reasons for becoming an EV owner. Sustainability tips for EVs are also included.
1. Electric Vehicles are More Energy-Efficient
As far as conventional gas-fueled motors go, they typically convert 17% to 21% of energy to power. That’s not bad, but electric vehicles tend to be more efficient. EnergySage.com reports that EVs convert 59 to 62 percent of electric energy into power.
2. Lower Lifecycle Emissions
Did you know that electric vehicles produce 50% fewer greenhouse gases than conventional cars? Plus, in places like Poland, EVs create a quarter fewer emissions than those fueled by diesel. Global warming has taken center stage over the last few years, and people everywhere are doing their parts to combat climate change. If you’re ready to do something to preserve the Earth, anelectric car could be the solution you seek.
3. Charging Stations Aplenty
Some people won’t commit to electric vehicles because they aren’t sure where to charge these cars. Some homeowners have the ability toplug in and charge the vehicles in their garages or driveways. However, not everyone is that lucky. For example, what about apartment residents that don’t have access to a plug? And what if you live in a rural community? In that case, the nearest charging station could be miles and miles away.
Everything could be transforming shortly because governments and people across the globe are pushing for change. For instance, in the United States, the Biden administration recently released a federal strategy to build 500,000 charging stations nationwide. So, don’t be concerned about a lack of charging stations in your area. That could change in the blink of an eye.
4. Electric Cars Are Cost-Effective Solutions
If you’re like most people today, there’s a good chance that your budget is stretched thin due to the pandemic. Although it may not seem like it at first glance because of the initial investment, an electric vehicle is a cost-effective alternative to a conventional car. To begin with, the running costs of an EV are lower than those associated with most cars. After all, with an electric car, there’s no need to fill up with gasoline every time you turn around.
In addition, an electric vehicle doesn’t have as many parts and systems as a traditional gas-fueled car. With that being the case, owners typically enjoy lower maintenance costs with EVs than other types of vehicles. Thus, if you’re looking for a cost-effective solution, take a peek at some electric cars. First, review their financial pros and cons. Then, choose the one that makes the most sense economically.
Did you know that some countries even offer citizens incentives to purchase electric vehicles? So, although the initial investment for an EV is a bit high, you might catch a break, depending on where you live. Some of the countries that offer electric vehicle incentives today include:
United States
South Korea
China
Germany
India
5. Reduce Noise Pollution
It can be challenging to find a place to get some peace and quiet these days. Regardless of where you go, it always seems like you can hear the sound of passing cars, trucks, and buses. And don’t forget about planes and trains. The point is that noise pollution comes in many forms, but your car doesn’t have to be one of them.
Electric vehicles are typically much quieter than conventional cars. If you don’t want to contribute to the noise pollution in your area, an EV is a good pick. Then, nobody, including yourself, will have to listen to a loud exhaust or engine.
Sustainability Tips to Get the Most Out Of Your EV
If you’ve taken the plunge into EV ownership, these tips can help you get the most out of your ride. By keeping your EV in good shape, you can make sure you’re investing in sustainability and doing your part for the environment.
Read the Owner’s Manual
First of all, and perhaps most importantly, you should take the time to read the owner’s manual. It will contain maintenance tips and suggested service intervals. The manual may even contain some simple DIY troubleshooting for common EV issues. To ensure your car is always in peak condition and performing its best, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance.
Check Your Car’s Fluids Regularly
Also, if your goal is to extend the life of your electric vehicle, it is a good idea to check the fluids regularly. If the transmission fluid, coolant, or windshield wiper fluid else is low, top it off with a product approved for your car. Additionally, there might be a minor or substantial leak on a hose, housing, or another part if you’re losing fluid. Therefore, it probably wouldn’t hurt to take a look under the hood of your EV just to check if everything is okay.
Check Your Driveway
Don’t forget to look under the car too. Depending on what’s leaking, it could be staining your driveway or parking spot at work. If you detect an issue and don’t want it to worsen, your car needs diagnosis and repair sooner rather than later. Take your EV into the shop as soon as you detect a leak. An extended car warranty might come in handy here, especially if the leak has affected other systems like the HVAC system.
Keep Tires Properly Inflated
Properly inflated tires will result in better overall performance from your EV. Not to mention, the correct air pressure can help you and your passengers stay safe. When tires get low, the outside tread edges usually wear first. Then, overheating occurs, and ultimately, blowouts. Even if flats don’t strike, keep on top of how much air is in your tires. When a tire goes low, your car could pull hard to one side, increasing the risk of a crash.
Moreover, under-inflated tires don’t always slow down as well as they should. Instead, they fail to grip the road correctly and make the vehicle slide or travel further than usual to stop. With that being said, it’s easy to see how a low tire could cause a rear-end collision to occur. So, keep a tire gauge in your glove box or trunk and use it to ensure your tires remain full.
The Last Word
You should now have an idea of how to keep your electric vehicle in good shape and make sure it’s an investment in sustainability. Now, the only question left is, “What are you waiting for?” Get an EV and discover all its benefits for yourself.
When thinking about Dubai, images of its looming skyscrapers and glitzy cars may be the first ones that come to mind, making it difficult to imagine the booming cityscape as anything other than a technological metropolis. However, you will be pleasantly surprised at how Dubai has a multitude of activities for avid nature enthusiasts to enjoy.
From its rolling desert dunes to its glistening Arabian shores, Dubai is brimming with relaxing nature-inspired activities to enjoy while staying at your Rove hotel of choice. We zoom in the lens on some of the ways you can soak up the natural beauty of Dubai below.
Embark On a Desert Safari Trip
Explore the terrain and wildlife of Dubai like never before on a desert safari trip. Sit atop a camel or hop into a 4×4 vehicle to immerse yourself in the natural desert beauty peppered with the occasional signs of life, such as birds or vegetation. Welcome dune bashing, quad biking, and scenic dinner and entertainment activities that draw you in to experience real Arabic heritage and Bedouin traditions set under the backdrop of the twinkling stars. Plus, it’s easy to find a suitable desert safari tour company in Dubai for this unforgettable and must-have experience.
Take a Dinner Cruise Along the Dubai Creek
Soak up the beauty of Dubai’s natural waterways amid an illustrious dinner dhow cruise along the historic Dubai Creek. Once a booming area that welcomed various trades spanning spices to coffee beans, a dinner cruise allows you to savour mouth-watering traditional Middle Eastern cuisine while taking in the rich cultural heritage and traditions that have shaped Dubai into the highly regarded city that it is today. You will also enjoy a live Tanoura dance performance while admiring the historic buildings of Dubai. While it may be a different experience, you could alternatively enjoy a cruise along the ever-popular Dubai Marina instead. This bustling arena is the ideal sightseeing experience for Rovers who enjoy being on the water and show an appreciation for Dubai’s trendiest restaurants and landmark buildings, lavish yachts and other notable attractions.
Hop Aboard a Yacht and Cruise Along the Arabic Shores
Dubai’s history is defined by the sea, with pearl diving once being a major source of income for the economy before Dubai became the modern city that it is today. Rove your way along the Arabian seas as you marvel at the various landmarks spanning artificial islands and breathtaking beaches. What’s more, a calming yacht trip experience is a welcome reprieve for Rovers who are looking to shy away from the busyness of the inner city. Yacht charters offer you the option to catch and cook fish onboard, or you can opt to enjoy a delectable meal as you cruise the shoreline.
Venture to the Big Red
A trip down the Dubai-Hatta highway will see you land in the Big Red sand dune, aptly named due to its red-stained landscape colour that almost resembles the surface of Mars. Rovers who enjoy a bit of thrill and nature combined can look forward to this 100-metre-high dune that invites you to enjoy sand boarding and other adventure-seeking activities. Be sure to get there early in the morning due to the nature of the heat during the daytime, and bring plenty of sunscreen and water to stay hydrated!
Spend the Day in Hatta
Sometimes Dubai’s heat can become a little overbearing, which is why many locals and tourists enjoy taking a trip out to Hatta. Located closer to the east, it offers milder weather conditions that come as a major relief from Dubai’s scorching heat. Behold the tranquillity of the majestic mountains upon approaching Hatta, and venture just a little further inward to discover Hatta Dam. Serene waters embrace the mountains here and make for the ideal spot to enjoy immersive experiences such as mountain biking, day camping and hiking. Kayaking along Hatta Lake is an additional option for Rovers who really enjoy water sports activities.
Discover The Green Planet
Rovers who opt to stay at Rove City Walk can enjoy its close proximity to The Green Planet, a tropical indoor rainforest encased by glass walls in the heart of the cityscape. With over 3,000 animal and plant species to admire, you’ll have plenty to see and do thanks to its exciting range of activities. Unique nature activities to enjoy here include experiencing a tropical “thunderstorm” in the bio-dome and snorkelling with piranhas.
Visit Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
With thousands of birds choosing Dubai as a go-to destination during migration, Ras Al Khor is a paradise for birders in the city. Just metres away from the pulsating heart of the city lies this wildlife haven and protected bird sanctuary. During the winter months, Rovers can witness the awe-inspiring flamingos who happily steal the show among the other species of bird, including reef herons, sandpipers, and other exotic and colourful species. Ras Al Khor translates to the “cape of the creek,” welcoming nature lovers to explore its surroundings at no charge as birds go about in their natural habitat. Expect to see fish, exotic plants and other mammals when you visit any time of year. You can also enjoy other notable attractions such as the beautiful mangroves, salt flats, lagoons where birds nest, mudflats and more. Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary boasts two “hides,” as it’s called, namely the Flamingo Hide and the Mangrove Hide. Be sure to visit both and observe nature in its element via the binoculars provided. Note that you can visit this wetland any time of day, as long as the tides remain low. Navigate to the Dubai Municipality’s website to plan your times for visiting.
With so many activities to welcome nature lovers from all walks of life, Dubai never ceases to amaze the budding traveller with its plethora of attractions.
You can be hurt saving the world. But it doesn’t mean you have to bear the costs if you get hurt along the way.
A personal injury is one that occurs to the body, mind, emotions, or reputation. When someone is injured because of negligence, they need to be prepared to take immediate action and seek legal help for their injuries and damages. Because of the statute of limitations, injured victims are limited in the amount of time they have to pursue a lawsuit. Promptly getting help from a lawyer is a wise choice for victims who want to pursue the fair compensation they are owed.
What Are the Rights of Personal Injury Victims?
Injured victims need to be aware of their rights in a personal injury scenario. In a personal injury case, the victim has the following rights that should be protected at all times.
The injured victim has the right to call the police in many types of personal injury cases.
Injured victims also need to be aware of their right to get a copy of the police report as soon as it becomes available.
A personal injury victim also has the right to approach eyewitnesses and get their contact information.
Personal injury victims should also be aware of their rights to pursue fair compensation for their measurable damages.
An injured victim needs to know they hold the right to hire a lawyer.
What Should Injured Victims Know About Hiring a Lawyer?
When someone is injured in a personal injury scenario, and is seeking head injury compensation, for instance. it is their right as a victim to hire a lawyer. Hiring a lawyer first begins with a consultation appointment. Many personal injury lawyers offer free consultation appointments for injured victims.
The injured victim will receive integral information about their case and the options for legal recourse. The goal of the lawyer will be to offer the information the victim needs so they can make wise decisions as they pursue fair compensation. The following are some of the top benefits individuals can experience when they seek help from a lawyer.
The lawyer offers professional and objective information.
Lawyers bring strong negotiation skills to negotiate a fair settlement for their clients.
Lawyers can help their injured clients receive the full medical care they need.
If the case goes to court, the lawyer will represent their client fully throughout the proceedings.
In some cases, lawyers can help their injured clients receive a fairer and more prompt settlement.
Hiring a lawyer offers an injured victim great peace of mind. Victims should never have to go through the stressful process of negotiating their settlement alone. Once a lawyer is hired, they take care of all the steps involved in the process, including filing the paperwork for their injured client.
There are Many Types of Personal Injury Cases
Personal injuries can arise unexpectedly. There are some types of personal injury claims that are more common than others. The following are some of the most common types of personal injury.
Car accidents
Dog bites
Medical negligence
Assault
No matter what type of personal injury a person has suffered, they need to seek legal help. Even if a person only seeks a consultation appointment with a lawyer, the information gleaned from this appointment will be highly beneficial in helping the victim make the right decisions.
Get Started Right Away
Those who are interested in pursuing a lawsuit need to be aware of their options. The statute of limitations varies in each state. This statute limits the amount of time a person has to file a lawsuit so it is important to act quickly.
Lebanon is a country naturally endowed with plenty of clean water.
But unregulated industry, farming, garbage disposal along other activity has rendered the water undrinkable and in some areas, dangerous to people’s health, making Lebanon among the most water vulnerable countries in the world. Years of corruption on all levels of government and mismanagement of civil services have bought Lebanon to this point of collapse.
This 15-minute, five-part series on Lebanon’s water crisis describes how a country rich in natural resources became one of the most water insecure countries in the world. Watch it to be up to date on what is driving problems in the Middle East to the brink.
Insulation can turn your home from an energy vampire to a more efficient homestead.
With the arrival of the amazing festive season, it is once again the time to make new additions to your place and enhance its overall property value. For this, one of the many things that you can get started with is getting phoenix insulation installation services.
Whenever you think about insulation, you might have an idea how this installation can actually help you to keep your place warm in winter and cold in summer. This means that if your house is freezing cold in the winter and boiling hot in summer, the solution to it probably can be getting home insulation.
Since your home is one of the biggest investments that you will ever make, getting home insulation installation services can help you to provide you with a number of different benefits, here is a list of some of these advantages.
Reduce Carbon Footprint
If you are one of those people who are worried about the increasing pollution on earth that is running our mother nature, getting the right insulation services can help you to achieve your objective and lead a green lifestyle to save our planet.
The reason behind this is that getting insulation allows you to use less energy by trapping the amount of heat or cold in the house for longer periods of time. This, in turn, helps you to produce fewer emissions that can be a great way to reduce carbon footprints.
With fewer emissions in the environment by carbon footprint, you can help to add a positive impact on nature. Furthermore, it can also help you to pick out the correct type of insulation installation services that will have a minimum effect on the environment.
Better Noise Control
One of the many benefits of getting your home insulated is that if you particularly tend to live in a noisy area or near to a busy roadside, it will help you to reduce the amount of noise entering your house or your place by making it much quieter.
This means that if you tend to have a raucous neighborhood or noisy surrounding, properly insulating your house will help you to make a lot of difference in reducing and controlling the noise to help you have peace of mind.
Since getting insulation installed helps you to control the amount of noise or air entering and leaving your house by adding an extra layer of protection, it can turn out to be quite beneficial for you when you have guests or people over.
Increase Property Value
One of the biggest investments that we make in our lifetime is real estate property, which is why whenever we do, we should look for ways to enhance its overall value in the market because the competition is quite high in the market these days.
This means that whenever a prospect is looking for houses, they tend to be more interested in a home that has a strong interior as well as exterior. This also includes the fact that getting proper insulation installation on your property can also be one of the factors that can help to increase its value.
The main reason behind this is that it will help them to keep their energy bills lower and give them a more comfortable environment to live in, which helps to ensure the buyers that they are opting for the right place like their living space.
Eco-Friendly Aspects
When it comes to the eco-friendly aspects of getting insulation installed at your place, there are plenty of solid facts that define how this can turn out to be beneficial for you. With insulation, you would require less non-renewable resources to keep your place warm or cold.
There are a number of different types of insulation that contain earth-friendly content so that it emits the least amount of danger or pollution in the air. Some specific types of insulation are also made of natural fibers like cotton and wool.
Similarly, the loose-fill cellulose insulation is made of materials like recycled newspapers that are treated with natural chemicals to make them fire-resistant. In addition to that, there are also some spray foam insulations that are made from natural soy.
Enhanced Comfort
Another one of the many benefits of getting proper home insulation in your entire place is that it can help you a lot to maintain the room temperature even after the HVAC or heating/cooling system of your house is turned off.
This turns out to be great when it is about your comfort as it will improve your coziness and keep the rooms warm in cold weather and vice versa without you having to get into much hassle or switching the furnace system every now and then.
Furthermore, it is also greatly moisture resistant, which can be quite impressive in keeping the environment of your home safe and healthy.
Outsourcing services can save your business time and money, making it more efficient. With extra income consider doing an environmental audit.
Today’s physicians are almost universally concerned about how little time they have to spend with their patients. While some people complain that they have only a few precious moments with their doctors, they don’t realize that most doctors are just as unhappy with the rushed consultations. A large part of the problem is the ever-increasing paperwork that doctors have to contend with. Many doctors spend hours every day with patients, then spend hours filling out paperwork, reviewing notes, and constructing detailed patient reports based on hastily scribbled notes taken while trying to focus on what their patients are saying. It’s a no-win situation.
What Is Medical Records Outsourcing?
There are different ways doctors, clinics, and hospitals can outsource certain medical records and accounts. Each one fulfills specific needs regarding required paperwork that can’t be ignored. What kind of outsourcing your medical office chooses hinges on what documents are interfering the most with each doctor’s ability to interact with patients.
Medical Transcription and Medical Scribing
These two categories are the most commonly outsourced. Medical transcriptionists take a doctor’s short notes or recorded dictation and transcribe them into complete medical reports or word-for-word records of what the doctor dictated. This saves a considerable amount of money because it costs far less to pay someone to type up the paperwork than it does for physicians to do this for themselves. It also means a doctor spends less time at a computer and more time interacting with patients.
Scribing is similar to transcription. A scribe also inputs information for medical records, but in a more immediate fashion. Most medical scribes work in a clinic, doctor’s office, or hospital setting. They may accompany a doctor on his rounds, inputting patient information directly into the records system while the doctor consults with each patient. This relieves the doctor of having to multitask and ensures complete, accurate records in real-time. Companies like Provider’s Choice Scribe Services rigorously train medical scribes in a wide range of specialties, including oncology and pediatrics.
Medical Billing
While a medical clinic or doctor’s office can handle billing in-house, more are outsourcing billing every year. There are several ways this saves money. First and foremost, medical billing can often be done by outsourcing companies with employees who work from home, saving the cost of an office. Medical billing specialists prepare and send out invoices. They also answer billing questions, so patients don’t tie up nurses’ or other medical office employees’ time with phone calls about bills. This is time better spent on running the office, scheduling appointments, and interacting with patients.
Medical Writing
Patients are often given detailed information about handling their illness or injury. It’s difficult for doctors and nurses in busy practices or hospitals to put together accurate, detailed instructions that are easy to understand. They may struggle with creating a document at the appropriate reading level, and many doctors aren’t good writers. By providing the essential information and an outline or specifications to a qualified medical writer, they can get a superior document that’s error-free, professional, and easy for patients to understand. Patients are happier with the information they’re given and appreciate their doctor for providing current, helpful information they can read after their appointment.
When doctors and hospitals can successfully outsource to reduce costs while improving their patient relationships, everyone wins.
Charlotte Figi was an American girl with Dravet syndrome who took cannabidiol oil to prevent seizures and inspired the name of the medical cannabis strain called Charlotte’s Web.
For some people cannabis is a drug for stoners. For a growing number of people it offers a lifeline of hope against pain or for treating chronic conditions. Israel has been on the leading edge of cannabis research since the 1960s when Raphael Mechoulam, a chemist, studied its molecular compounds and pointed to its potential for fighting epilepsy and other illnesses.
Since, the country’s scientists have been inspired and have plugged away at new channels of research, even being the first in the world to come up with a pain drug based on cannabis (the company was called Pharmos, but the drug never made it on the market). This month the prestigious science journal Nature reports on breaking news in one of its publications Translational Psychology: that cannabis might treat autism.
PhD student Shani Poleg with Prof. Daniel Offen have successfully treated autism in lab mice using medical cannabis oil. The researchers found that this treatment improves both behavioral and biochemical parameters of autism.
“The usual process for testing new medications involves research in petri dishes, followed by animal models and finally a clinical study in humans,” explains Prof. Offen:
“With medicinal cannabis the process has been reversed: treatments began in humans. Since cannabis is not defined as a medication, trials have already been conducted in children and adolescents with autism – without any preliminary studies addressing issues like the effect of cannabis on biochemical processes in the brain, spinal fluid or blood, and who can benefit from which type of cannabis oil.
“There is a great deal of misinformation on the subject of medicinal cannabis and autism, and Shani Peleg’s doctoral project represents pioneering basic research with regard to treating autism with cannabis oil.”
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disease, and its main symptoms are social deficiencies and compulsive behaviors. Cases range from mild to severe, and causes are both genetic and environmental. In about 1% of all autism cases, a mutation in a single gene, called Shank3, is associated.
In the current study researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel used animal models with a mutation in Shank3 to test the effectiveness of cannabis oil for alleviating symptoms of autism.
“We saw that cannabis oil has a favorable effect on compulsive and anxious behaviors in model animals,” says Poleg. “According to the prevailing theory, autism involves over-arousal of the brain which causes compulsive behavior.
“In the lab, in addition to the behavioral results, we saw a significant decrease in the concentration of the arousing neurotransmitter glutamate in the spinal fluid – which can explain the reduction in behavioral symptoms.”
Attempting to determine which components of cannabis oil alleviate symptoms of autism, the researchers found that THC, which is responsible for the euphoric sensation associated with the use of cannabis (and which was first isolated and identified by an Israeli researcher Mechoulam), is effective in treating autism, possibly even in small quantities.
“Clinical trials testing cannabis treatments for autism usually involve strains containing very large amounts of CBD or the cannabidiol molecule– due to this substance’s anti-inflammatory properties, and because it does not produce a sense of euphoria,” says Poleg.
“The strains used for treating autism usually contain very little THC, due to apprehension regarding both the euphoria and possible long-term effects. In the second stage of our study we inquired which active substance in cannabis causes the behavioral improvement, and were surprised to discover that treatment with cannabis oil that contains THC but does not contain CBD produces equal or even better effects – both behavioral and biochemical. Moreover, our results suggest that CBD alone has no impact on the behavior of model animals.”
“This is of course an initial study,” concludes Poleg. “But we hope that through our basic research we will be able to improve clinical treatments. Our study shows that when treating autism with medicinal cannabis oil there is no need for high contents of either CBD or THC.
“We observed significant improvement in behavioral tests following treatments with cannabis oil containing small amounts of THC and observed no long-term effects in cognitive or emotional tests conducted a month and a half after the treatment began.”
Lola Tillyaeva enjoys a diverse range of interests including entrepreneurship, philanthropy, film production and publishing. However, one of the causes closest to her heart is environmental activism. Lola is deeply concerned about the issue of water scarcity, and she has good reason to be. According to the United Nations, the water crisis not only impacts every continent on Earth but the situation is worsening rapidly.
Raising awareness about the water crisis is urgent, but the challenge for Lola Tillyaeva was how to get people to pay attention. Her solution was to harness the power of art that resulted in the art installation The Droplet. As she explained it:
The Droplet
“I believe that art has an incredible capacity to inspire, encourage and unite people around a cause, due to its ability to touch the human soul. That is why we harness the power of art as a means to raise public awareness of issues relating to global warming and climate change.”
The Droplet is a show-stopper. Constructed from polished aluminum tubing, the art installation is 12 meters in height and 6 meters at the base. Forming a stylized droplet of water, it is designed to shroud itself in a fine mist, creating “a unique multisensory art installation.”
Created by artist Marcos Lutyens and fabricator Scott Froschauer from the Institute for Art and Olfaction, The Droplet turns heads wherever it is displayed, with recent host cities including Paris and Barcelona. At every stop it inspires debate and encourages action. Lola’s intention with the creation of the installation was that “by engaging the participants through sound, smell and touch as well as visually, The Droplet would pave the way for discussions on water conservation and management.”
But Lola Tillyaeva’s commitment to sustainability runs deeper. Concern for the environment informs her business decisions at her perfume house, The Harmonist. She ensures that her products make use of recyclable materials. Refills are also available across the entire perfume range. Her team travels the globe to source the finest quality ingredients for the scents to guarantee they are ethically and sustainably produced. Actions like these help minimize the carbon footprint of The Harmonist. Lola said:
“For a small niche brand, this was a challenging task, and we are very pleased and proud that we were able to achieve these results. We hope that with the new collection The Harmonist will ascertain its position at the forefront of sustainability in the industry.”
The entire ethos of The Harmonist is underpinned by the philosophy of feng shui and its desire to achieve balance between the Earth’s five elements. For Lola Tillyaeva, water is a resource to be valued both for its practical applications and for what it symbolizes about our place in the biosphere.
