LAST September we brought you the story of a Forfar woman who has been living in a bubble for over a year because of her struggle with extreme asthma and multiple allergies.
Maggie Balfour must wear a highly specified Moldex 8000 series gas mask, goggles and gloves as without these ‘protections’ her life would be quickly put in jeopardy.
Maggie and her husband Jim have struggled for over a year with no additional financial support above the state benefits they receive.
Back in late September 2011 the couple faced the added “nightmare” of Maggie becoming allergic to most man-made fibres used in her existing clothing. With winter fast approaching the couple scoured the globe for the help Maggie needed. Finally, a family in Kansas and another in Wisconsin agreed to help.
Including outerwear and footwear the final bill topped 600. Jim says it was “A huge draw on our very tight finances and ‘assets’ had to be sold to help pay for this unwelcome surprise. The whole process from ordering to delivery took four weeks.”
Maggie is very ‘cold sensitive’ which means she struggles to stay warm. Proper outerwear was vital and Raymond from Greenvale Trading, in Forfar, stepped in to help by providing access to clothing at wholesale prices. Jim added: “I would also like to thank Barry Greenhill Construction for the kindness and support they have shown throughout Maggie’s illness and also my friends at the Forfar Resource Centre who gifted us a small air purifier.
“Many others including Jim and Geoff have unknowingly kept me going with their good humour and concern for Maggie.”
Jim added that he would also like to thank specifically a man who had given him two pounds in a charity shop so that he would be able to buy a bag for Maggie to carry her gas mask in.
Under the expert care received from the Academy Street Surgery and other healthcare professionals Maggie’s body stubbornly refused to respond well to conventional treatments and her immune response to all but a few medicines has resulted in the most extreme side-effects.
The last attempt to introduce an anti-histamine was abandoned on March 10. Jim explains: “This drug was causing Maggie’s body temperature to vary by up to 4C each day. She felt very unwell whilst she was taking it and the side effects far outweighed the benefits.
“With a referral by her sympathetic GP to the NHS Homeopathic Hospital in Glasgow, it was hoped that we could find alternative medical solutions which could be tailor made to fit Maggie’s very unique circumstances and physiology.
“Unfortunately, the waiting time for a first appointment to see the most Senior Homeopath was going to be 12 to 13 weeks.
“That is a very long time in ‘Maggie’s world’ more so because her illness is causing her to loose weight.
“I reasoned that time was critical. Maggie was currently stable but there was no guarantee that she would remain so. After considerable research and taking opinion from others one name kept coming up and we took that collective advice.
“This man is a homeopathic doctor of considerable years of experience; highly respected both here and internationally. He is a compassionate, thoughtful and creative practitioner who is absolutely committed to his chosen profession. We are very glad to have him on board.”
A number of other companies have helped the couple. Jim said: “Scottish and Southern Energy PLC; (Hydro Electric); Blueair AB of Stockholm, Sweden, Moldex and George Henderson Electrical, are by technology or direct intervention ensuring that Maggie’s ‘Bubble’ does not slip or fail. Their help and gifts are very, very, welcome!”
None of these companies know of anyone else with such complex problems although a search of the internet will reveal others with individual components of her complex condition.
Jim says he is quite good with money but has found the last 15 months a challenge.
Maggie’s needs are so specific and complex that every detail must be micro managed with considerable care.
One of the main worries facing Jim right now is finding food that Maggie is safe and able to eat. He said: “Our budget for food is less than 45 a week. Maggie cannot have anything that has been processed with man made chemicals and so all her food must be organic.” Jim spends over two hours each day working the supermarkets for reduced price safe and Organic foods. He said: “Keeping Maggie’s environment safe is essential and so is keeping her well enough physically to face future treatments whatever they may be. A safe and cost effective food supply is absolutely essential.
“We’ve come a long way on our own financially but both of us are very battle weary, especially Maggie. It’s been a very challenging and frightening time.
“Would there be someone skilled, trustworthy and energetic enough to oversee the setting up and management of this process?
2012年5月2日星期三
2012年3月1日星期四
Aunt invites guests at host’s expense
For our recent baby christening, we invited our closest relatives to a home reception after church. A stranger arrived, saying she was invited by my aunt, and stayed eating and drinking.
There wasn’t extra room at the table, so dinner had to become a buffet. My grandmother then spilled her dinner on her dress and our sofa. My aunt said: “You should’ve planned a sit-down dinner! Old people can’t cope with a buffet!” My brother later told me she’d brought three friends to his corn roast.
She has a beautiful house, but never has her friends there. With baby number two on the way, how do we avoid a repeat of this problem? Most of the family makes a joke of it.
Family humour can be more memorable than perfect dinner parties, but still, there has to be a limit put on Auntie Dearest who likes to “entertain” at others’ expense. And, perhaps, these special invitations keep her friends’ attached to her.
Allot her one guest and be clear that there’ll be no room for more at the sit-down dinner she herself recommends.
Entertainment tip: keep an inexpensive fold-up card table tucked in a closet, that can be pulled out for unexpected “overflow” to whom you don’t want to be rude.
I have allergies to fragrances. Most of my co-workers refrained from using scented products when asked, but one doesn’t seem to care.
When I approached her about it, she complained to the assistant manager, who spoke to the manager, who’s asked me not to talk to her about it anymore because she “got upset.”
The manager won’t implement a fragrance-free policy but asked me to alert him so he can smell for himself and then talk to her. The assistant manager will have told her this, so she’s not upset anymore.
Now, the days the manager is in the office, she’s fragrance-free. When he’s not there, she’s heavily scented.
She knows that the manager won’t talk to her about it because she’s unscented when he’s there.
Others in the office who dislike her strong fragrances are afraid to say anything because she has the assistant manager wrapped around her little finger. I’m the only one not afraid to say something.
I’ve thought about working from home, but that’s not ideal for my job. I’ve already switched desks to be as far away as I can get from the fragrances.
My doctor isn’t too keen on helping me because my symptoms aren’t bad enough yet. But it’s getting worse because of the constant exposure.
For some immediate relief, set up a small fan or air purifier on your desk to alleviate the smell. And consider working from home on the days when the manager is not there, if this is doable.
Then, whatever your symptoms, your doctor should be willing to write a note listing them, and the likelihood of heavier reaction with increased exposure.
You should also get informed about labour relations policies in your jurisdiction. You are certainly within your rights to take this to a human resources department if your company or parent company has one.
This is regarding the parents who are worried about their son, age 14, going out publicly dressed up in furry costumes, and isolating himself :
Reader: “I myself have been in the furry fandom for many years, most of my friends locally are furry in some sort of way, and I also make costumes for myself and other people. “I even met my partner of 10 years through the furry groups.
There wasn’t extra room at the table, so dinner had to become a buffet. My grandmother then spilled her dinner on her dress and our sofa. My aunt said: “You should’ve planned a sit-down dinner! Old people can’t cope with a buffet!” My brother later told me she’d brought three friends to his corn roast.
She has a beautiful house, but never has her friends there. With baby number two on the way, how do we avoid a repeat of this problem? Most of the family makes a joke of it.
Family humour can be more memorable than perfect dinner parties, but still, there has to be a limit put on Auntie Dearest who likes to “entertain” at others’ expense. And, perhaps, these special invitations keep her friends’ attached to her.
Allot her one guest and be clear that there’ll be no room for more at the sit-down dinner she herself recommends.
Entertainment tip: keep an inexpensive fold-up card table tucked in a closet, that can be pulled out for unexpected “overflow” to whom you don’t want to be rude.
I have allergies to fragrances. Most of my co-workers refrained from using scented products when asked, but one doesn’t seem to care.
When I approached her about it, she complained to the assistant manager, who spoke to the manager, who’s asked me not to talk to her about it anymore because she “got upset.”
The manager won’t implement a fragrance-free policy but asked me to alert him so he can smell for himself and then talk to her. The assistant manager will have told her this, so she’s not upset anymore.
Now, the days the manager is in the office, she’s fragrance-free. When he’s not there, she’s heavily scented.
She knows that the manager won’t talk to her about it because she’s unscented when he’s there.
Others in the office who dislike her strong fragrances are afraid to say anything because she has the assistant manager wrapped around her little finger. I’m the only one not afraid to say something.
I’ve thought about working from home, but that’s not ideal for my job. I’ve already switched desks to be as far away as I can get from the fragrances.
My doctor isn’t too keen on helping me because my symptoms aren’t bad enough yet. But it’s getting worse because of the constant exposure.
For some immediate relief, set up a small fan or air purifier on your desk to alleviate the smell. And consider working from home on the days when the manager is not there, if this is doable.
Then, whatever your symptoms, your doctor should be willing to write a note listing them, and the likelihood of heavier reaction with increased exposure.
You should also get informed about labour relations policies in your jurisdiction. You are certainly within your rights to take this to a human resources department if your company or parent company has one.
This is regarding the parents who are worried about their son, age 14, going out publicly dressed up in furry costumes, and isolating himself :
Reader: “I myself have been in the furry fandom for many years, most of my friends locally are furry in some sort of way, and I also make costumes for myself and other people. “I even met my partner of 10 years through the furry groups.
2012年2月20日星期一
User:Jimmie820122
The importance of efficient air purifiers is actually higher than it has ever been. Today more people than ever before suffer from asthma along with other allergy symptoms. Usually these problems are caused by toxins and contaminants in the air. The usage of an air cleaner can often assist in improving the standard of life of people who have allergies. They allow you to breathe in air flow than may be cleaned by using a number of strategies, dependant upon the atmosphere purification system that you employ.Discovering the air purifier reviews will be easy to do if you follow the helpful hints in this post.
Electronic home air cleaners work by filtering air in a space. Dust, mildew, bacteria, cigarette smoke and plant pollen are captured by the air purifier and allow that you breathe the actual fresh and filtered breathable air. Modern-day machines can be very efficient and a few can easily cleanse the environment by as much as 97 percent. This can be a significant decline in the amount of flying contaminants which could reach your current airway and also lungs.
A new HEPA air purifier is among the most popular kind of machine available. A Honeywell purifier can capture and filter even the most basic of contaminants. These home air cleaners have turned out to be very useful in lessening exposure to allergens and other modest airborne contaminants which can help with a variety of respiratory system disorders and also illnesses.
When scouting for an air air purifier there are a few items that you need to think about. The ability of an air cleaner is very important. Make sure that the machine you are looking for is capable of cleansing the volume of air with your room or building.
Make sure you get an air purifier which has a minimal power usage. As you should not increase your power bills. You should also take into account the cost of substitution filters when they are required. Occasionally the less expensive units will certainly prove to be more expensive in the long run. If you want to keep buying filters as well as parts then you can wish you had bought a different machine.
The majority of air purifiers make use of an electric fan in order to filter the air. The actual fan may produce noises which some people may well not like. It is really an important issue should you be looking for an air purifier for usage inside a bedroom. Normally, the more powerful machines create the most sound.
To summarize, if you're considering getting an air purifier for your house, then consider the above mentioned items into account before making a decision. No matter what air cleaner you decide on be certain that it happens to be from a well known company who'll supply you a warrantee. If you stick to the good advice in this post you should be capable to drastically lessen the effect which air-borne pollution have on your daily life and enjoy inhaling cleansed and moreover filtrated breathable air for many years into the future.
Electronic home air cleaners work by filtering air in a space. Dust, mildew, bacteria, cigarette smoke and plant pollen are captured by the air purifier and allow that you breathe the actual fresh and filtered breathable air. Modern-day machines can be very efficient and a few can easily cleanse the environment by as much as 97 percent. This can be a significant decline in the amount of flying contaminants which could reach your current airway and also lungs.
A new HEPA air purifier is among the most popular kind of machine available. A Honeywell purifier can capture and filter even the most basic of contaminants. These home air cleaners have turned out to be very useful in lessening exposure to allergens and other modest airborne contaminants which can help with a variety of respiratory system disorders and also illnesses.
When scouting for an air air purifier there are a few items that you need to think about. The ability of an air cleaner is very important. Make sure that the machine you are looking for is capable of cleansing the volume of air with your room or building.
Make sure you get an air purifier which has a minimal power usage. As you should not increase your power bills. You should also take into account the cost of substitution filters when they are required. Occasionally the less expensive units will certainly prove to be more expensive in the long run. If you want to keep buying filters as well as parts then you can wish you had bought a different machine.
The majority of air purifiers make use of an electric fan in order to filter the air. The actual fan may produce noises which some people may well not like. It is really an important issue should you be looking for an air purifier for usage inside a bedroom. Normally, the more powerful machines create the most sound.
To summarize, if you're considering getting an air purifier for your house, then consider the above mentioned items into account before making a decision. No matter what air cleaner you decide on be certain that it happens to be from a well known company who'll supply you a warrantee. If you stick to the good advice in this post you should be capable to drastically lessen the effect which air-borne pollution have on your daily life and enjoy inhaling cleansed and moreover filtrated breathable air for many years into the future.
2012年2月19日星期日
Hotel guests want Wi-Fi, not a phone by the toilet
Do you remember those days when you were happy simply if your hotel room had clean sheets, a telephone with an outside line and no stains on the walls or floors?
We've come a long way since the days of tiny soap and two plastic glasses wrapped in plastic. But, I have to tell you, since reading about how accommodations are accommodating the changing needs of the modern traveler, I've recently had spasms of nostalgia for those simple days.
Consider that a hotel in Charlotte, N.C., now calls its housekeepers "room stylists."
That's kind of extreme, but you see where things are headed. In the crowded and competitive lodging industry, hoteliers are listening to their guests, and doing their best to keep up.
TripAdvisor recently published results of a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. travelers as well as 600-plus hotel professionals, asking each group which amenities were most and least important to them.
Wi-Fi Internet access topped the "most" list of both groups, while turn-down service topped the "least" list.
Amenities are a big deal, of course, since it's easy to click around on your device to compare what's being offered for what price. While a chocolate on the pillow won't scare anyone off, 54 percent of travelers surveyed said they have canceled a lodging reservation because they found better amenities at a different property, TripAdvisor reported.
The survey also reported that 45 percent of respondents said their favorite new food and drink amenities are happy hours, wine tastings or any other time with free food and drinks, and 31 percent wished more rooms would include free bottled water.
On the "who cares?" side of the ledger, 44 percent of women and 30 percent of men opined that luxury amenities were "not worth the hype."
The bathroom phone is the least-used fancy amenity, with 37 percent of respondents saying they never touch it.
When asked if they could stay celebrity-style, the top option for both men and women, at 36 percent, was to have the kitchen pre-stocked with their favorite food and beverages. A close second was the ability to have a private pool and hot tub in the room. These options beat out such diva-style demands as an in-room arcade, specific types of fresh flowers everywhere, private staff — even a movie screening room.
A recent story on hotels catering to the evolving tastes of travelers — particularly business travelers — was cited in the daily industry news brief for the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The story and accompanying video from an NBC affiliate in North Carolina noted the various "pretty dramatic changes" the industry is going through.
Among them are changes you never even imagined, as well as ones you were probably wishing for:
A hotel corridor bereft of a housekeeping cart. These bastions of the hotel biz apparently are on their last rattling wheels, to be replaced by smaller, more maneuverable caddies rolled right into the room.
That change will also eliminate the propped-open room doors, which means no more fears about passersby peeking in on your style of "spreading out" or — worse — someone wandering in to steal something.
Speaking of theft, the new system will thwart those who like to snag a few towels, toiletries or souvenirs from the unattended carts. And you won't be stocking up on the room toiletries as often either, as more and more companies are replacing them with refillable dispensers.
Other ways hotels are changing to accommodate the travel habits of today's traveler:
Hotels are rethinking their lobbies and other public areas to be more appealing for socializing, working and just relaxing outside the guest room. That's because more than a third of the business travelers these days are between 18 and 44, a group that doesn't like sitting in hotel rooms, said Adam Weissenberg of Deloitte & Touche, who specializes in the lodging industry.
More convenient places to plug in: Outlets are everywhere people hang out — check around your bar, lobby or restaurant table. It may be wired and ready for your power cord.
Tubs are dead: In a faster world, it's all about a quick shower — that is, if you can extricate yourself from those massage-and-waterfall experiences you'll find in hotel bathrooms.
We've come a long way since the days of tiny soap and two plastic glasses wrapped in plastic. But, I have to tell you, since reading about how accommodations are accommodating the changing needs of the modern traveler, I've recently had spasms of nostalgia for those simple days.
Consider that a hotel in Charlotte, N.C., now calls its housekeepers "room stylists."
That's kind of extreme, but you see where things are headed. In the crowded and competitive lodging industry, hoteliers are listening to their guests, and doing their best to keep up.
TripAdvisor recently published results of a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. travelers as well as 600-plus hotel professionals, asking each group which amenities were most and least important to them.
Wi-Fi Internet access topped the "most" list of both groups, while turn-down service topped the "least" list.
Amenities are a big deal, of course, since it's easy to click around on your device to compare what's being offered for what price. While a chocolate on the pillow won't scare anyone off, 54 percent of travelers surveyed said they have canceled a lodging reservation because they found better amenities at a different property, TripAdvisor reported.
The survey also reported that 45 percent of respondents said their favorite new food and drink amenities are happy hours, wine tastings or any other time with free food and drinks, and 31 percent wished more rooms would include free bottled water.
On the "who cares?" side of the ledger, 44 percent of women and 30 percent of men opined that luxury amenities were "not worth the hype."
The bathroom phone is the least-used fancy amenity, with 37 percent of respondents saying they never touch it.
When asked if they could stay celebrity-style, the top option for both men and women, at 36 percent, was to have the kitchen pre-stocked with their favorite food and beverages. A close second was the ability to have a private pool and hot tub in the room. These options beat out such diva-style demands as an in-room arcade, specific types of fresh flowers everywhere, private staff — even a movie screening room.
A recent story on hotels catering to the evolving tastes of travelers — particularly business travelers — was cited in the daily industry news brief for the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The story and accompanying video from an NBC affiliate in North Carolina noted the various "pretty dramatic changes" the industry is going through.
Among them are changes you never even imagined, as well as ones you were probably wishing for:
A hotel corridor bereft of a housekeeping cart. These bastions of the hotel biz apparently are on their last rattling wheels, to be replaced by smaller, more maneuverable caddies rolled right into the room.
That change will also eliminate the propped-open room doors, which means no more fears about passersby peeking in on your style of "spreading out" or — worse — someone wandering in to steal something.
Speaking of theft, the new system will thwart those who like to snag a few towels, toiletries or souvenirs from the unattended carts. And you won't be stocking up on the room toiletries as often either, as more and more companies are replacing them with refillable dispensers.
Other ways hotels are changing to accommodate the travel habits of today's traveler:
Hotels are rethinking their lobbies and other public areas to be more appealing for socializing, working and just relaxing outside the guest room. That's because more than a third of the business travelers these days are between 18 and 44, a group that doesn't like sitting in hotel rooms, said Adam Weissenberg of Deloitte & Touche, who specializes in the lodging industry.
More convenient places to plug in: Outlets are everywhere people hang out — check around your bar, lobby or restaurant table. It may be wired and ready for your power cord.
Tubs are dead: In a faster world, it's all about a quick shower — that is, if you can extricate yourself from those massage-and-waterfall experiences you'll find in hotel bathrooms.
2012年2月16日星期四
Review finds air purifier does almost nothing
The video spot for LightAir air cleaners promises that they can protect you from dangerous pollutants. Consumer Reports tested the $300 LightAir Ion Flow 50-F Surface, along with more than two dozen other portable air cleaners.
To evaluate how well they remove dust and smoke, testers place them in a special sealed room. The chamber is filled with fine, powdered clay dust, as well as cigarette smoke.
Testers use a particle analyzer to measure how well the air cleaners remove the contaminants. Testers found the LightAir about as effective at removing dust and smoke as using no air cleaner at all.
An air cleaner from Brookstone, the PureIon Pro, did far better removing dust and smoke. But it produces a small amount of ozone, which can aggravate asthma. The Brookstone meets voluntary standards on ozone levels. But Consumer Reports does not recommend any product that produces ozone.
Consumer Reports says even if you do have asthma or allergies, you probably don't need any air cleaner. To improve air quality, put dust-mite covers on your mattress and pillows. Don’t use a fireplace or let pets in your bedroom.
If you’ve taken those steps and still think you need an air purifier, Consumer Reports found some that are good at dust and smoke removal. The Holmes HAP756-U air cleaner for $150 is a good choice.
Consumer Reports says there’s another inexpensive way to improve the air in your home. If you heat and cool with forced air, you can replace the filter with better one -- something you need to do every couple of months.
Consumer Reports tests found that the $25 the 3M Filtrete Elite Allergen 2200 MPR filter does an excellent job removing dust and pollen.
To evaluate how well they remove dust and smoke, testers place them in a special sealed room. The chamber is filled with fine, powdered clay dust, as well as cigarette smoke.
Testers use a particle analyzer to measure how well the air cleaners remove the contaminants. Testers found the LightAir about as effective at removing dust and smoke as using no air cleaner at all.
An air cleaner from Brookstone, the PureIon Pro, did far better removing dust and smoke. But it produces a small amount of ozone, which can aggravate asthma. The Brookstone meets voluntary standards on ozone levels. But Consumer Reports does not recommend any product that produces ozone.
Consumer Reports says even if you do have asthma or allergies, you probably don't need any air cleaner. To improve air quality, put dust-mite covers on your mattress and pillows. Don’t use a fireplace or let pets in your bedroom.
If you’ve taken those steps and still think you need an air purifier, Consumer Reports found some that are good at dust and smoke removal. The Holmes HAP756-U air cleaner for $150 is a good choice.
Consumer Reports says there’s another inexpensive way to improve the air in your home. If you heat and cool with forced air, you can replace the filter with better one -- something you need to do every couple of months.
Consumer Reports tests found that the $25 the 3M Filtrete Elite Allergen 2200 MPR filter does an excellent job removing dust and pollen.
2012年2月15日星期三
Nitride Solutions finalizes Series A funding round at $2.5m
Nitride Solutions Inc of Wichita, KS, USA, which is developing substrates for LEDs, lasers and power electronics, has closed its Series A financing round (which was oversubscribed) at $2.5m. After already participating in the round last June, Nebraska Angels and Aurora UV Inc of Santa Barbara, CA (which makes ultraviolet LEDs for applications including air and water purification) have again joined lead investor Midwest Venture Alliance (MVA) in completing the round.
Founded in 2009, Nitride Solutions’ leadership has 30-plus years of experience in advanced materials businesses (both start-ups and Fortune 500 companies) and a total of 25 years in nitride crystal development. The firm maintains strong ties to Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, with key employees and advisors hailing from the university, as well as University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB).
The firm is now finishing commercialization of a high-volume manufacturing technology that aims to deliver high-volume, low-cost aluminum nitride (AlN) substrates. With projected defect rates 10 times lower than substrates currently on the market, the substrates will improve the performance, efficiency and cost of existing LED, laser and electronic products, while also making deep ultraviolet (UV) devices, the firm reckons. The result should be improved white lighting for consumer and industrial uses, more efficient power systems in hybrid vehicles, sharper color on flat-screen TVs, and better air and water purifiers. The firm will use the Series A funding to perfect the technology and begin sampling in first-quarter 2012.
“We are excited about the potential for this technology, and the strong demand for the Series A financing is a demonstration of our confidence in the company’s ability to execute on its business plan and deliver this revolutionary technology to market,” says Nebraska Angels’ president Bart Dillashaw.
“Fund raising in this economy is difficult,” notes Trish Brasted, managing member, MVA Capital Group. “All of us at the Midwest Venture Alliance are very excited to see the support from the regional investment community, as demonstrated by the oversubscribed Series A offering.”
Founded in 2009, Nitride Solutions’ leadership has 30-plus years of experience in advanced materials businesses (both start-ups and Fortune 500 companies) and a total of 25 years in nitride crystal development. The firm maintains strong ties to Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, with key employees and advisors hailing from the university, as well as University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB).
The firm is now finishing commercialization of a high-volume manufacturing technology that aims to deliver high-volume, low-cost aluminum nitride (AlN) substrates. With projected defect rates 10 times lower than substrates currently on the market, the substrates will improve the performance, efficiency and cost of existing LED, laser and electronic products, while also making deep ultraviolet (UV) devices, the firm reckons. The result should be improved white lighting for consumer and industrial uses, more efficient power systems in hybrid vehicles, sharper color on flat-screen TVs, and better air and water purifiers. The firm will use the Series A funding to perfect the technology and begin sampling in first-quarter 2012.
“We are excited about the potential for this technology, and the strong demand for the Series A financing is a demonstration of our confidence in the company’s ability to execute on its business plan and deliver this revolutionary technology to market,” says Nebraska Angels’ president Bart Dillashaw.
“Fund raising in this economy is difficult,” notes Trish Brasted, managing member, MVA Capital Group. “All of us at the Midwest Venture Alliance are very excited to see the support from the regional investment community, as demonstrated by the oversubscribed Series A offering.”
2012年2月14日星期二
Our partners at Consumer Reports put air purifiers to the test
Americans spend more than $500 million on air cleaners each year. But do they really purify the air like they promise? The video spot for LightAir air cleaners promises that they can protect you from dangerous pollutants. Consumer Reports tested the $300 LightAir Ion Flow 50-F Surface, along with more than two dozen other portable air cleaners.
To evaluate how well they remove dust and smoke, testers place them in a special sealed room. The chamber is filled with fine, powdered clay dust, as well as cigarette smoke. Testers use a particle analyzer to measure how well the air cleaners remove the contaminants. Testers found the LightAir about as effective at removing dust and smoke as using no air cleaner at all.
An air cleaner from Brookstone, the PureIon Pro, did far better removing dust and smoke. But it produces a small amount of ozone, which can aggravate asthma. The Brookstone meets voluntary standards on ozone levels. But Consumer Reports does not recommend any product that produces ozone.
Consumer Reportssays even if you do have asthma or allergies, you probably don't need any air cleaner. To improve air quality, put dust-mite covers on your mattress and pillows. Don’t use a fireplace or let pets in your bedroom.
If you’ve taken those steps and still think you need an air purifier, Consumer Reports found some that are good at dust and smoke removal. The Holmes HAP756-U air cleaner for $150 is a good choice.
Consumer Reports says there’s another inexpensive way to improve the air in your home. If you heat and cool with forced air, you can replace the filter with better one— something you need to do every couple of months. Consumer Reports tests found that the $25 the 3M Filtrete Elite Allergen 2200 MPR filter does an excellent job removing dust and pollen.
To evaluate how well they remove dust and smoke, testers place them in a special sealed room. The chamber is filled with fine, powdered clay dust, as well as cigarette smoke. Testers use a particle analyzer to measure how well the air cleaners remove the contaminants. Testers found the LightAir about as effective at removing dust and smoke as using no air cleaner at all.
An air cleaner from Brookstone, the PureIon Pro, did far better removing dust and smoke. But it produces a small amount of ozone, which can aggravate asthma. The Brookstone meets voluntary standards on ozone levels. But Consumer Reports does not recommend any product that produces ozone.
Consumer Reportssays even if you do have asthma or allergies, you probably don't need any air cleaner. To improve air quality, put dust-mite covers on your mattress and pillows. Don’t use a fireplace or let pets in your bedroom.
If you’ve taken those steps and still think you need an air purifier, Consumer Reports found some that are good at dust and smoke removal. The Holmes HAP756-U air cleaner for $150 is a good choice.
Consumer Reports says there’s another inexpensive way to improve the air in your home. If you heat and cool with forced air, you can replace the filter with better one— something you need to do every couple of months. Consumer Reports tests found that the $25 the 3M Filtrete Elite Allergen 2200 MPR filter does an excellent job removing dust and pollen.
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