Tuesday, May 29, 2012

What to Consider When Hiring an Injury Law Firm in Bella Vista AR ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Certain personal injury claims involve such complex factual and legal issues that pursuing a claim on your own, without the assistance of an Injury Law Firm, is ill-advised. Some examples of claims that typically necessitate ...

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Friday, May 25, 2012

Encouraging independence means letting teens have a few secrets

One way to encourage independent teens: let go of the need to know everything that is going on in their lives. Our experts say that it is better for parents not to know about some of their teen's secrets.

By Jennifer Powell-Lunder and Barbara Greenberg,?Guest bloggers / May 23, 2012

Andrew Poticha, 17, right, and Erick Olsen, 17, both of Crystal Lake, Ill., back out of a parking space at Crystal Lake South High School on March 8, 2012. Parents need to let go of knowing everything about their teenagers if they want to encourage independence.

Daniel J. Murphy/Northwest Herald/AP

Enlarge

The truth is there are some things that as a parent of a teen, actually as a parent in general, you are better off not knowing. Stop a moment and think back to your own teen years. Think back to a specific time when you did something so risky, so dangerous, so stupid, or any combination of the three, that it is a miracle you are still around. Can you think back to a time when luck had to have been on your side because if it hadn?t been, you probably wouldn?t be reminiscing about this?? Now ask yourself, if by some chance your parents did not find out about this, did you tell them anyway? We are willing to bet that a large majority of you did not tell your parents.

Skip to next paragraph Jennifer Powell-Lunder and Barbara Greenberg

Talking Teenage

Jennifer Powell-Lunder (l.) and Barbara Greenberg (r.) are practicing psychologists specializing in adolescent issues. Both have been published widely and appear regularly in the print and broadcast media as teen experts. They blog together at Talking Teenage.

Recent posts

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While there were many reasons for not enlightening your parents, we would guarantee that besides wanting to avoid a consequence you also had their best interests in mind. We mean, why inform them after the fact when you were okay? Did they really need the anxiety, disappointment and even despair that could have easily ensued? So, where are we going with this? It is really quite simple: there are some things about your teens that you are probably better off not knowing.

There is much truth to the saying ?What doesn?t kill you makes you stronger.? As your teens work to establish their identities and assert their independence they are likely to make mistakes and missteps. Many of these you are probably better off not knowing about. You have raised them well, instilled in them the virtues and values that you felt were not only needed but necessary. It is during adolescence that parents need to allow their teens to try out their wings. If communication is strong and the bonds of trust and respect are mutual and firm, then you have done your job. If they need your assistance, advice or the wisdom of your experience they are likely to fly back to you.

You can't encourage independence and autonomy by preventing them from trying to fly. While the shelter and protection of the nest may ease your anxiety, how will it help them if a predator comes swooping down to grab them?

The next time you have that urge to read that journal or diary that you know is hidden away in the desk or under the mattress, don?t. Repress the urge to listen in on their conversations with their friends, or read the notes from friends or ?significant others? stuffed in their pockets. When you model respect and honesty, your teens are most likely to follow suit. Now we do want to be clear. If you have noticed major changes in your teen?s appearance and or behaviors that concern you, sit down and gently discuss this with them. If your concerns continue, seek out the help of a professional. We are not recommending that you write off these changes as typical teen behavior.

If you feel confident that your teen generally makes good decisions and if your teen is growing, maturing and thriving emotionally and socially, chances are strong that he is headed in the right direction. You are better off not knowing about the times when he may have veered slightly off the path to the left or the right. There is a reason whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and in Vegas it should remain.

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

So Chic! Carousel Designs? New Crib Bedding Collections

Now to add to their already amazing array of prints, the company is debuting 10 new four-piece collections that are sure to be a hit.

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Staging Your Listing to Be?Affordable? - Chicago Agent Magazine

Laura Stukel is a Realtor with L.W. Reedy Real Estate in Elmhurst.

One trend is coming across loud and clear for home sales this year ? demonstrate lower monthly bills and you will attract buyers! ?After all,?50?to?75?percent?of homebuyers compare utility bills when looking for their next home.

Chicago Magazine made this their leading advice for selling homes this season: staging for energy efficiency is a great way to make your home stand out to value-conscious buyers. ?The first bit of advice in the article, which was titled ?Boost Your Home?s Value ? If You Want to Sell This Summer,??was energy efficiency.

A sampling of other articles says the same:

So what are some steps you can take if you want to attract value-conscious buyers? ?Here are some great staging tips for your listing.

  • Install a programmable thermostat.?This is now a prerequisite?for ?well-maintained? homes. The good news is that a basic $50 programmable thermostat?can save over $100 per year?on heating and cooling!
  • Replace light bulbs in??five key areas.??Ditto above ? another prerequisite. Focus on the five most used lights first to see the savings start to add up on the next ComEd bill: ?the outdoors; the kitchen; the family/living room; the dining room/eating space; and the bedrooms.
  • Lighting Facts ??Get the perfect color light bulb!?You can get all sorts of ?normal? shaped bulbs now too. ?A?warm, yellowish light?is just like the incandescents buyers are used to. Look for bulbs that have a color temperature around 2700 degrees kelvin for the best ambiance. ?The?new light bulb label (left) make it easy to find a color temperature and pick a bulb that really gives off a cozy vibe.
  • Earn rebates on CFL bulbs.??Your clients can even use a ComEd retailer and earn a rebate on replacement bulbs!

If your client really wants to stand out, you can encourage them to participate in the?Illinois Home Performance?with Energy Star program. They will follow a home improvement process focused on cutting energy use by 15 percent.

The program follows a quality system that starts by qualifying contractors and ends by testing the results of improvements to make sure they actually worked. Once complete, homeowners will receive a?silver or gold certificate, depending on savings achieved. It?s a great document to share with prospective buyers to show that improvements meet the high standards of Energy Star. Plus, the certificate is even a?searchable field in MRED?s ConnectMLS (look for the ?green supporting documents field? in the Utilities/Green Tab). Also, qualified appraisers can look for third-party green documentation when assessing value.

Understanding local energy efficiency programs can help you become a real estate superstar once your listing is under contract. Many home inspection hot spots are really just energy efficiency improvements waiting to happen. For example, one of my clients is waiting to close on a short-sale condo.? She?s putting all her cash into a downpayment, but the heating and air conditioning is at the end of their useful lives, and the seller took the washer and dryer.

Enter?Energy Impact Illinois (EI2), a?program supported by a Department of Energy Grant.? EI2 makes it easier than ever to understand the best way to replace key systems in a home, and also identifies qualified rebates and loans to cover the work. Check out their ?Make Improvements? list to see if any of their tips and rebates relate to your home inspection issues. ?Who knows, by empowering your buyer with great resources, ?big problems? might become much less of a concern and actually improve the way your deal is coming together!

For my client, she learned she can qualify for a home equity loan after closing at an interest rate better than her credit card can offer.? She should earn up to $650 back on the furnace and AC from Nicor and ComEd and $75 off a new washer from ComEd.

Do I look like a genius or what?? My efficiency smarts directly resulted in a deal!

Whether your client can promote big efficiency improvements or just needs to demonstrate basic value ? now is the time to showcase how your listing is not just a great value to buy, but to operate too!? And there have never been better resources to help you serve clients in this space.

Laura Stukel is a Realtor with L.W. Reedy Real Estate in Elmhurst. She can be reached at:

L.W. Reedy Real Estate
101 North York Road
Elmhurst, IL 60126
Office: 630-833-1700
Mobile: 773-251-1631
Email:?l.reedystukel@lwreedy.com
Twitter: @notyetgreen

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Study finds low agreeableness linked to a preference for aggressive dogs

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

A study carried out at the University of Leicester's School of Psychology has found that younger people who are disagreeable are more likely to prefer aggressive dogs, confirming the conventional wisdom that dogs match the personality of their owners.

Researchers found that low Agreeableness was the best predictor of a preference for those dogs seen as more aggressive, such as bull terriers or boxers. Individuals low in Agreeableness are typically less concerned with others' well-being and may be suspicious, unfriendly and competitive.

However, the study found no link between liking an aggressive dog and delinquent behaviour, or the possibility that liking an aggressive dog is an act of 'status display' to show off or attract romantic partners.

Dr Vincent Egan, lead researcher on the study, said:

"This type of study is important, as it shows assumptions are not the whole picture. It is assumed owners of aggressive dogs (or dogs perceived as aggressive) are antisocial show-offs. But we did not find persons who expressed a preference for aggressive dogs had committed more delinquent acts, or reported showing off more.

"However, we did find a preference for a dog with an aggressive reputation was related to being younger and being lower in Agreeableness (i.e., being less concerned with the needs of others, and being quicker to become hostile)."

The study looked at the reasons why some people prefer aggressive dog breeds. Professor Egan explained:

"A lot of human behaviour involves status display and dominance, and evolutionarily this helps with finding mates. Basic personality also influences a lot of our behaviour. By measuring both at the same time, we could see whether they each had an influence on liking aggressive dogs, or whether one was due to another.

"We were surprised mating effort did not have an influence here, but think it might be because we looked at a wider age range. A preference for a non-aggressive dog may also make a statement about a person; liking a pedigree Labrador or a clipped Poodle may be as much a statement as having a pit-bull with a studded collar."

In the study, participants indicated their preference for different types of dogs, and filled in personality tests. The dogs were independently rated according to how aggressive people perceived them to be. Bull terriers were rated as most aggressive, followed by boxers; retrievers and cocker spaniels were seen as least aggressive.

Analysing the findings, the research team found that certain personality factors indicated a preference for dogs perceived to be more aggressive. Low agreeableness and higher conscientiousness were related to a preference for aggressive dog breeds. Younger people were also more likely to prefer the aggressive breeds.

Surprisingly, the results indicated a small effect suggesting that those who liked aggressive dogs showed signs of conscientiousness - being careful, reliable and thoughtful about their actions. This contradicts the perception that owners of aggressive dogs are always irresponsible.

Dr Egan said:

"These results with Conscientiousness were unexpected, but the effect is a small one, and needs to be repeated in a different group of people. Studies of this kind tend to only look at a restricted age ranges, which may exaggerate findings which do not occur across the entire lifespan, so we believe a stereotype is always true, whereas it may only be true under certain conditions. Our study employed a broader age range.

"We were surprised to find a small association between a preference for aggressive dogs and greater Conscientiousness (i.e., valuing and following rules). However, dogs also prefer rules and firm boundaries themselves. We speculate that cheap dog-training classes would be enjoyable and beneficial for both dog and owner."

###

University of Leicester: http://www.leicester.ac.uk

Thanks to University of Leicester for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 38 time(s).

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Mini Manual Air Max Pas Cher To Less hazardous Senior Health

No Discomfort. No Acquire ? is so not the rule for excellent senior well being and health and fitness!

For seniors who already have discomfort Air Max Pas Cher that they?re attempting to recover, the prospect of purposefully adding much more pain and distress makes taking bodily physical exercise seem just like a poor joke and completely unreasonable.

The concept that we should really really feel discomfort following we exercise may perhaps be good for military boot camps that desire to create troopers out of youthful guys, but as seniors, there needs to be a strategy to function about severe exercise and there is!

Right here is an useful mini guide describing Air Max approaches to safer, pain totally free senior health how you?ll be able to basically appreciate your each day bodily exercise

Swimming is well-known exercise that?s very advised for no discomfort, with obtain working out. Becoming within the drinking water relieves muscle stress, pain and inflammation from arthritis, and allows your physique execute resistance exercise with tiny tension on your joints.

It is actually nevertheless possible to overexert oneself and really feel sore the next day, but the h2o tends to make the probabilities of a thriving and painless exercise significantly Air Max Pas Cher a lot more doable.

Some hospitals have even constructed swimming pools or co-opted with gyms for pool use due to the fact swimming is such an effective way for seniors and people enterprise physical therapy to regain energy and health and fitness.

You?ll find several approaches to produce confident which you are within the appropriate atmosphere to have interaction in a no discomfort with obtain workout. Specialist gyms that utilize certified instructors are an awesome place to start and senior fitness classes at the moment are turning out to be pretty common.

Silver Sneakers give lessons made specifically for seniors at numerous levels of physical fitness and potential. A lot of instructors may also offer modifications for exercises. When the modification information and facts Nike Air Max isn?t conveniently out there, inquire the teacher or health manager for it.

So long as your physician has approved the action or class, the teacher really should be able to present ways to keep stress off the knees and wrists, or suggest alternate workout routines for those of you working with walkers or wheelchairs.

Wellness centers and excess weight rooms really should have private trainers on hand that may advise the appropriate excess weight for circuit training and lifting weights. If a fitness teacher doesn?t have this info, then take into account getting a distinctive course or going to yet another fitness center.

Luckily, a lot of medical doctors and fitness enthusiasts are starting to support seniors in the re-done no pain, no pain method. Yoga, for instance, purports that no one is meant to feel discomfort for the duration of any from the postures becoming applied.

In other words, a posture carried out inside a person?s personal abilities won?t be painful ? after all, yoga workouts are developed to strengthen the body to not trigger self-injury!

The positive aspects derived from the unique Nike Air Max forms of yoga are several: not merely does it assist you to strengthen your versatility, concentrate and stamina what?s more, it aids retain your overall common wellness.

Aside from getting locations which can present you the right modifications to their courses and equipment, from a mental wellness frame of mind, obtaining one thing satisfying which you like to do and which is physical may also diminish any discomfort philosophy.

For those who pick a physical action which you take into account enjoyable, you happen to be not likely to associate it using a should generate distress. For example, should you go dancing then it is best to finish the evening experience both rejuvenated and exhausted by the entertaining, not the pain, you?ve knowledgeable.

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As light and secure as the new workout routines for senior health and fitness are, a little soreness can nevertheless outcome from any physical exertion.

Counteracting soreness with some yoga or stretches will choose absent some of your knots and kinks. Drinking a lot of h2o just before, throughout and just after physical exercise also assists to help keep sore muscle tissue at bay.

The regular, attempted and examined remedy of the comforting heat bath is still a preferred solution to assist your body alleviate any soreness till it will get accustomed for your new pain-free senior health and fitness plan.

Get hold of shard Air Max Classic BW from certified Air Max Online Store immediately with Quickly Delivery, Safe and sound Payment & Fantastic Customer Service at www.officielle-airmax.com.

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Sunday, May 6, 2012

#SciAmBlogs Friday - cat contraception, cat geology, neuroscience coverage, cyber attacks, #openlab, diving bends and more.

Bora ZivkovicAbout the Author: Bora Zivkovic is the Blog Editor at Scientific American, chronobiologist, biology teacher, organizer of ScienceOnline conferences and editor of Open Laboratory anthologies of best science writing on the Web. Follow on Twitter @boraz.

The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

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Saturday, May 5, 2012

Leaders fall in Europe crisis: Sarkozy next?

France's President and conservative candidate for re-election in 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy, from his car to supporters as he leaves a campaign meeting in Sables d'Ollonne, western France, Friday, May 4, 2012. The final polls before France's presidential election Sunday show a shrinking gap between President Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist challenger Francois Hollande, but still predict a Hollande victory. (AP Photo/Eric Feferberg, Pool)

France's President and conservative candidate for re-election in 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy, from his car to supporters as he leaves a campaign meeting in Sables d'Ollonne, western France, Friday, May 4, 2012. The final polls before France's presidential election Sunday show a shrinking gap between President Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist challenger Francois Hollande, but still predict a Hollande victory. (AP Photo/Eric Feferberg, Pool)

FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 28, 2011 file photo Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi attends a meeting in downtown Milan, Italy. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is widely expected to be kicked out of office in elections Sunday. If he goes, he'll be in good company: Just about every European country that has been hit by the debt crisis, and held elections since it began, have thrown out their leaders. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

FILE - In this Wednesday March 10, 2010 file photo Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown gestures as he makes a major economical speech in London. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is widely expected to be kicked out of office in elections Sunday. If he goes, he'll be in good company: Just about every European country that has been hit by the debt crisis, and held elections since it began, have thrown out their leaders. (AP Photo/ Charlie Bibby, Pool)

FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011 file photo Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero listens to a question during a news conference in Ankara, Turkey, . French President Nicolas Sarkozy is widely expected to be kicked out of office in elections Sunday. If he goes, he'll be in good company: Just about every European country that has been hit by the debt crisis, and held elections since it began, have thrown out their leaders. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 file photo Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou addresses Socialist lawmakers members of parliament in Athens, in Athens. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is widely expected to be kicked out of office in elections Sunday. If he goes, he'll be in good company: Just about every European country that has been hit by the debt crisis, and held elections since it began, have thrown out their leaders. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is widely expected to be kicked out of office in elections Sunday. If he goes, he'll be in good company: Almost every crisis-hit European country that has held an election since disaster struck in 2009 has thrown out its leader.

Here's a look at countries where political cadavers litter the landscape.

? SPAIN: A burst real estate bubble also deflates faith in a Socialist government, which is nonetheless reluctant to admit Spain has problems. Blips of good economic news are seized upon as "green shoots" pointing to recovery. Wrong. Stimulus measures are enacted, then crushing austerity. Unemployment soars. The Socialists of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero are wiped off the map in November 2011 elections; Mariano Rajoy's conservatives take over.

? ITALY: Silvio Berlusconi, the long-serving Teflon leader accused of everything from bedding escorts to serial corruption, finally bites the dust in November 2011. He resigns to cheers and jeers as investors lose confidence in his ability to spur economic growth and rein in debt. It's the end of a political era. Mario Monti, a former European Commissioner, is named to replace him and lead a technical government until elections in 2013.

? BRITAIN: Gordon Brown leads the Labour Party to defeat in the May 2010 election; Conservative Party leader David Cameron becomes leader of a coalition government. Brown had been finance chief for a decade before succeeding Tony Blair in 2007. Brown had boasted endlessly of ending the cycle of boom and bust ? but as prime minister he presided mostly over bust.

? IRELAND: Brian Cowen, promoted to prime minister in 2008 after being finance minister, doesn't even get to run. He resigns as leader of the Fianna Fail Party weeks before the February, 2011 election. It doesn't help his party, which suffers its worst ever defeat. Cowen was finance minister during Ireland's banking crisis and the collapse of its housing bubble.

? GREECE: Greek Socialist leader George Papandreou swept to power in October 2009 over conservative opponents, pledging to spend his way out of a deteriorating economic situation. Two years later, at the height of Greece's worst financial crisis since World War II, Papandreou's own deputies force him out after he endangers a hard-won bailout by announcing he would put it to a referendum. He's replaced by caretaker Prime Minister Lucas Papademos.

? PORTUGAL: A month after Portugal requests a 78 billion-euro bailout, the center-left Socialist government of Jose Socrates is voted out of power in June, 2011. Portugal's woes stemmed from a decade of feeble growth as it failed to modernize amid increasing global competition and dug itself deeper into debt.

? DENMARK: A center-right government in Denmark loses power in September in part due to discontent over austerity measures introduced amid the debt crisis. It is replaced by a center-left coalition.

? FINLAND: Finland's government is reconfigured after June elections following a sharp surge in support for nationalists who oppose bailouts for debt-stricken eurozone countries. A conservative-led coalition spanning left and right is formed to keep the nationalist True Finns out of power.

Bucking the Trend:

? ROMANIA: Romanian President Traian Basescu wins re-election in 2009, the year Romania's economy shrinks by 7 percent and Romania takes a 20 billion-euro bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Union. Basescu, a former ship captain, prevails because he is seen as a strong leader in a time of crisis.

? POLAND: This has been a rare European success story: It's the only European Union country that did not to slip into recession during the global crisis of 2008-2009. Last fall the center-right party of Prime Minister Donald Tusk wins a second straight term in parliamentary elections, making history by becoming the first government since the fall of communism in Poland in 1989 to be re-elected.

? ALSO: Sweden's prime minister is re-elected in 2010 and the prime ministers of Latvia and Estonia are re-elected in 2011.

Associated Press

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Screening for Other Health Problems May Aid COPD Survival - iVillage

FRIDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- People with the often deadly lung condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, have an increased risk of death if they also have certain types of other health problems, according to new research.

COPD is a progressive disease involving bronchitis and emphysema, often tied to smoking, that makes it hard for patients to breathe.

The new study included more than 1,600 COPD patients in the United States and Spain who were followed-up for an average of 51 months. The findings were released online May 4 ahead of print publication in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

The researchers looked at 79 other health problems in the COPD patients and found that "12 were significantly and independently associated with an increased risk of death," lead study author Dr. Miguel Divo, a physician in the pulmonary and critical division at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, said in a news release from the American Thoracic Society.

These 12 conditions were: lung cancer; pancreatic cancer; esophageal cancer; breast cancer; pulmonary fibrosis; atrial fibrillation/flutter; congestive heart failure; coronary artery disease; gastric/duodenal ulcers; liver cirrhosis; diabetes with neuropathy; and anxiety.

Overall, the average number of other health conditions per patient was six. The average number of other health problems was 6.5 among patients who died and 5.8 among those who survived, the investigators found.

Screening people with COPD for these other conditions and treating them may help improve their survival, noted Divo, who is also an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School.

While the study uncovered an association between higher death rates and coexisting health problems in COPD patients, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

More information

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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Using nanoclays to build better asphalt pavement

Using nanoclays to build better asphalt pavement [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 4-May-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Zhanping You
zyou@mtu.edu
906-487-1059
Michigan Technological University

Tiny amounts of even tinier particles can stiffen the asphalt mixture, potentially preventing rutting

Long before freeways and parking lots, a naturally occurring asphalt first appeared on roads in about 600 B.C. You can still see patches of it in the ancient city of Babylon.

Under the onslaught of 21st century traffic, modern asphalt isn't likely to hold up for anywhere near 2,700 years. But at Michigan Technological University, Zhanping You is paving the way for brand-new asphalt blends to fight off cracks, rutting and potholes.

One of his papers on the subject made SciVerse ScienceDirect's Top 25 Hottest Articles of 2011 for the journal Construction and Building Materials.

"Nanoclay-Modified Asphalt Materials: Preparation and Characterization" reviews recent literature on asphalt that has been doctored with nanomaterials. It also presents new discoveries from You's team suggesting that adding nanoclays to asphalt materials could make for safer, longer-lasting roadways.

"Asphalt is now made from petroleum, so it's very expensive," said You, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering. "As a result, a lot of people are looking at ways to make it more durable."

Heat, cold and stress in the form of traffic take their toll on asphalt pavement, made from a mix of asphalt and aggregates like gravel. That leads to cracks, potholes and a process called rutting. Ruts are most likely to form on busy roads, sections with slow traffic, and areas with stop signs and stoplights, where the rubber hits the road hard thousands of times a day.

"Rutting can be very dangerous, especially in snow and ice," You said. "If we could use advanced materials to reduce rutting, that would be very beneficial to the public."

You's team tested two types of nanoclays, adding 2-4 percent by weight to the asphalt. That's a smidgeonless than half of a percent of the total weight of the asphalt pavement itself. But it made a big difference.

"It improved the viscosity significantly," You said. "That means it will provide better stiffness, which means that it won't deform as much in hot weather or under heavy traffic."

They don't yet know if nanoclay can help asphalt resist cracking in cold weather or under heavy loads, since their testing isn't completed. "But it is always our goal to develop new asphalt mixtures with those qualities," You said.

His lab is also testing how other nanomaterials, including nano-silica and nano-composites, will affect asphalt durability.

###

In addition to You, coauthors of "Nanoclay-Modified Asphalt Materials: Preparation and Characterization" are Assistant Professor Qingli Dai, PhD students Julian Mills-Beale and Shu Wei Goh and former undergraduate Justin Foley of Michigan Tech's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Samit Roy of the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; and Associate Professor Gregory Odegard of Michigan Tech's Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Using nanoclays to build better asphalt pavement [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 4-May-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Zhanping You
zyou@mtu.edu
906-487-1059
Michigan Technological University

Tiny amounts of even tinier particles can stiffen the asphalt mixture, potentially preventing rutting

Long before freeways and parking lots, a naturally occurring asphalt first appeared on roads in about 600 B.C. You can still see patches of it in the ancient city of Babylon.

Under the onslaught of 21st century traffic, modern asphalt isn't likely to hold up for anywhere near 2,700 years. But at Michigan Technological University, Zhanping You is paving the way for brand-new asphalt blends to fight off cracks, rutting and potholes.

One of his papers on the subject made SciVerse ScienceDirect's Top 25 Hottest Articles of 2011 for the journal Construction and Building Materials.

"Nanoclay-Modified Asphalt Materials: Preparation and Characterization" reviews recent literature on asphalt that has been doctored with nanomaterials. It also presents new discoveries from You's team suggesting that adding nanoclays to asphalt materials could make for safer, longer-lasting roadways.

"Asphalt is now made from petroleum, so it's very expensive," said You, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering. "As a result, a lot of people are looking at ways to make it more durable."

Heat, cold and stress in the form of traffic take their toll on asphalt pavement, made from a mix of asphalt and aggregates like gravel. That leads to cracks, potholes and a process called rutting. Ruts are most likely to form on busy roads, sections with slow traffic, and areas with stop signs and stoplights, where the rubber hits the road hard thousands of times a day.

"Rutting can be very dangerous, especially in snow and ice," You said. "If we could use advanced materials to reduce rutting, that would be very beneficial to the public."

You's team tested two types of nanoclays, adding 2-4 percent by weight to the asphalt. That's a smidgeonless than half of a percent of the total weight of the asphalt pavement itself. But it made a big difference.

"It improved the viscosity significantly," You said. "That means it will provide better stiffness, which means that it won't deform as much in hot weather or under heavy traffic."

They don't yet know if nanoclay can help asphalt resist cracking in cold weather or under heavy loads, since their testing isn't completed. "But it is always our goal to develop new asphalt mixtures with those qualities," You said.

His lab is also testing how other nanomaterials, including nano-silica and nano-composites, will affect asphalt durability.

###

In addition to You, coauthors of "Nanoclay-Modified Asphalt Materials: Preparation and Characterization" are Assistant Professor Qingli Dai, PhD students Julian Mills-Beale and Shu Wei Goh and former undergraduate Justin Foley of Michigan Tech's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Samit Roy of the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; and Associate Professor Gregory Odegard of Michigan Tech's Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics.


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Manhattan to Switzerland in One Minute for Just $2.25 | Adventure ...

New York, NY ? To mark the launch of their summer campaign, Switzerland Tourism is transforming a subway shuttle train into a veritable Swiss journey from mid April ? mid May. New York City?s S shuttle runs between Grand Central Station and Times Square. It is the shortest regular service in the system, traveling the 0.8 miles in one minute.

?With this action we want to promote summer travel to Switzerland and garner attention in an unusual and unexpected way,? said Alex Herrmann, director of Switzerland Tourism for the Americas. ?Switzerland has an outstanding transportation system and unique scenic trains, well loved by commuters and leisure travelers alike. Hopefully,? Alex Hermann added with a smile, ?passengers riding the ?Switzerland Shuttle? will get inspired by the beautiful Swiss scenery.?

During a four-week period the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will operate a train of the S shuttle line decorated in a distinctive Swiss look. Switzerland Tourism ? in collaboration with the four key partners for this project Swiss Travel System / Rail Europe, Engadin St. Moritz, Jungfrau Railways / Interlaken and Swiss International Air Lines ? has created a divers visual design that is printed on a huge wrap. The wrap will cover the entire exterior and interior of the car.

The promotion will be accompanied by an advertising and PR campaign including a series of contests where travelers? knowledge about Switzerland is tested. There will be weekly prize drawings that highlight the different aspects of Switzerland. The contest will be communicated in the shuttle as well as through email and social media. Street promoters will distribute postcards and Swiss products during select days at the two mentioned subway stations.

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The Best AirPlay Speakers [Battlemodo]

AirPlay is the way digital music should be. If you have WiFi, you have music. But you also have a tough choice. More and more speakers come equipped with AirPlay, ready out of the box to blast music wirelessly from your preferred Apple gizmo. In a test of four speakers, the one that sounded sweetest was also among the cheapest. More »


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Friday, May 4, 2012

'American Idol': Who Made the Top Four?

Find out who was eliminated this week and who still has a shot at winning it all!

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Samsung Galaxy S III HSPA+ arriving in May, 4G version hitting North America this summer

Okay, okay, it's here -- but when can you actually get your hands on Samsung's Galaxy S III? Well, if you're in Europe, you're looking at a May 29th release for the HSPA+ version. Those of us in North America, Japan and Korea will have to wait a bit longer for speed -- the LTE version of the handset will be hitting those areas in the summer. Specifically, it'll be arriving in the US in June. In all, the phone will be available on some 296 mobile operators in 145 countries, according to the company.

Samsung Galaxy S III HSPA+ arriving in May, 4G version hitting North America this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 14:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Angelina Hates The Ring!

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It?s only been a few weeks since Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt announced their engagement. But as she met with the foreign minister of Ecuador on April 22, the ring finger on her left hand was noticeably bare. While some claim she thought the $500,000 sparkler wasn?t appropriate for a serious meeting, everyone knows that engagement rings are meant to be worn always. So why did Angelina really ditch the ring that Brad, 48, helped design himself? ?She isn?t fond of it,? a friend confides to In Touch. ?Nothing against Brad?s design. She?s just never been enamored of white diamonds.?

Indeed, the friend says picky Angelina, 36, had been hoping for a less traditional stone. ?Emeralds are her favorite.? And she?s been complaining that Brad?s choice of the 10-carat diamond, rather than an emerald, ?shows how little he knows her.? Of course, her hissy fit over the ring shows a lot about her, as well. ?She?s so demanding,? an insider says. ?She?s acting like a bridezilla.?

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Justin Bieber Teases 'Boyfriend' Video: Watch It Here!

Bieber is bringing 'Boyfriend' video to MTV on Thursday at 7:50 p.m., followed by a live Q&A on MTV.com!
By Jocelyn Vena

<P>The countdown is on to the premiere of <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a>'s <a href="/news/articles/1684156/justin-bieber-boyfriend-music-video-premiere-thursday.jhtml">"Boyfriend" video</a>. It's set to debut on Thursday (May 3) during "MTV First," when the pop star sits down with MTV News to premiere the sexy clip and give all the inside dish on making it.</P><P>While there's still a day until the clip premieres, a tease of it certainly does set the scene for the Director X-directed video. The sunny party clip features shots of Bieber canoodling with a brunette (who looks a bit like his real-life girlfriend, Selena Gomez), driving fast muscle cars and chilling with his pals on a rooftop parking lot.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Exclusive Preview: Justin Bieber's 'Boyfriend'" id="vid:765191.id:1684316" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>The video was shot in Los Angeles last month. "Boyfriend" is the lead single off Bieber's June 19 album release, <a href="/news/articles/1684292/justin-bieber-boyfriend-mike-posner-sessions.jhtml"><i>Believe.</i></a></P><P>Want to see the video in all its glory? Well, the singer will sit down with MTV News' Sway Calloway on Thursday to premiere his "Boyfriend" music video during "MTV First: Justin Bieber" live at 7:50 p.m. ET on MTV. After the video premieres on air, Bieber will chat with Sway for 30 minutes on MTV.com, opening up about the clip, as well as <i>Believe.</i> But that's not all: If you have a burning question for Bieber, you can get in on the fun by commenting below or tweeting @MTVNews with the hashtag #MTVFirst or #AskBieber.</P><P>Immediately following the premiere, the "Boyfriend" video will be available on MTV.com, so Beliebers can watch it over and over and over again.</P><P><b>Don't miss the "Boyfriend" video premiere Thursday, May 3, at 7:50 p.m. ET/PT on MTV during "MTV First: Justin Bieber," followed by a live Q&A with Justin himself on MTV.com!</b></p>

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Kristin Cavallari's Baby's Gender Is Revealed! It's a...

One of Jay Cutler's teammates spilled the beans on the baby's sex! See more stars who are expecting</p>

 

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Obama in Love: The Story Behind 'The Story' (Atlantic Politics Channel)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

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Nokia 808 PureView available this month in Russia and India

Nokia 808 PureView available this month in Russia and India

Are you eagerly awaiting to get your hands on that 41 megapixel Symbian Belle flagship? We bet you are, and perhaps today is your lucky day -- if you live in Russia or India, that is. Nokia's just officially announced that the 808 PureView will be available this month "in select markets." Strangely, the company didn't give a specific date or list any countries beyond the aforementioned two. The handset, which was revealed at Mobile World Congress in February, is expected to retail for 450 Euros and "revolutionize the imaging experience" with its large sensor, Zeiss optics and pixel oversampling technology. Speaking of which -- Nokia's also just renewed its partnership with the German lens manufacturer. Coincidence? We think not. Check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Nokia 808 PureView available this month in Russia and India

Nokia 808 PureView available this month in Russia and India originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 04:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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