Plant-rich diets tied to lower breast cancer risk

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women with diets rich in vegetables, fruit and legumes may have a somewhat decreased risk of developing one type of breast cancer, a new study suggests.

The findings, from a large, long-running study of nurses, showed that women with diets high in plant foods -- but low in red meat, sodium and processed carbohydrates -- tended to have a lower risk of developing certain breast tumors.

Specifically, they were less likely than other women to develop breast tumors that lack receptors for the hormone estrogen. Those estrogen receptor-negative tumors account for about one-quarter of breast cancers.

Of more than 86,000 women the study followed for 26 years, slightly less than one percent developed ER-negative breast cancer.

The risk, researchers found, was lower among women whose diets most closely resembled the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet -- an eating plan experts recommended for lowering blood pressure. It emphasizes vegetables, fruit, fiber-rich grains, legumes and nuts, and low-fat dairy.

The women who, at the outset, had the highest DASH "score" were 20 percent less likely to develop ER-negative breast cancer than those with the lowest DASH scores.

When the researchers took a closer look, it seemed to be high vegetable and fruit intake that mainly accounted for the link.

The results, reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology, do not prove that a plant-rich diet, itself, cuts breast cancer risk.

And in general, studies have come to mixed conclusions on whether diet habits are connected to breast cancer.

But recent research has been suggesting that the risk of ER-negative breast tumors, in particular, may be related to diet, explained Teresa T. Fung, an associate professor of nutrition at Simmons College in Boston and the lead researcher on the new study.

Why that might be is unclear. But in an interview, Fung speculated that with ER-positive breast tumors -- whose growth is fueled by estrogen -- the hormone's influence may be so important that it "overwhelms" potential dietary benefits.

But for now, that's a theory.

The bottom line for women, Fung said, is that the type of eating habits that are generally healthy anyway may also be associated with a lower risk of certain breast cancers. And vegetables may be especially key, the current findings hint.

Along with the DASH findings, the study also showed that women with diets high in vegetable protein -- from foods like beans, soy and nuts -- but low in refined carbs (like white bread and other starchy foods) had a 19 percent lower risk of ER-negative cancer, versus women with the opposite diet pattern.

Of course, Fung pointed out, "healthy behaviors don't occur in isolation."

But when the researchers accounted for factors like weight, exercise habits and smoking, the link between plant-rich diets and lower breast cancer risk still held.

Again, that doesn't prove cause and effect, Fung acknowledged. And the researchers could only look at the risk across large groups of women.

Exactly how much any one woman might benefit from eating more vegetables -- at least as far as breast cancer risk -- is unclear, according to Fung. In general, the average U.S. woman has about a 12 percent chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime, with ER-positive tumors being most common.

Fung suggested that women who have less-than-ideal diets gradually introduce healthier fare to make the change seem less daunting. "Find one item you can work on," Fung said. "Maybe start by adding beans to your diet."

"Any improvement," she noted, "is better than no improvement."

The DASH diet recommends that the average woman should get four to five servings of vegetables and the same amount of fruit each day. It also recommends four to five servings of legumes, nuts and seeds per week.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/pASRK6 American Journal of Epidemiology, online August 10, 2011.

Sneijder says he never wanted to leave Inter

Wesley Sneijder has claimed he never wanted to leave Inter Milan despite reported interest from Manchester United.

Speaking to Dutch magazine Nusport, which has been picked up by press in Italy, the 27-year-old insisted he was happy in Italy.

"If Inter aren't the best club in the world then they're second," he said.

"I wasn't unhappy about (United's interest), I would be mad to say otherwise.

"For a moment I was closer to joining United (than staying) but in the end nothing happened.

"It was a very different situation to when I was at Real Madrid. They wanted to sell me but here they didn't.

"I'm happy in Milan and with the president (Massimo Moratti) who didn't want to sell me.

"Inter gave me a chance when I was going nowhere and I haven't forgotten that.
"I feel at home at Inter and I have never wanted to leave. I don't know why the transfer to United didn't materialise, maybe they didn't want me enough."
Sneijder is starting his third season with Inter having been bought from Real after they signed Cristian Ronaldo and Kaka.

Sneijder tried hard to stay in Madrid but eventually accepted a transfer to Inter when the Spaniards made it clear he wouldn't play if he stayed.

All summer he was linked with moves to Manchester United and Manchester City despite both clubs denying any interest in him.

NASA "Disadvantages Astronaut"

United States space agency, NASA, astronauts reported deficiencies to be assigned at the international space station. Number of NASA astronaut currently said to be very little space to perform tasks in the future.
This was revealed in the National Research Council report on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, consisting of 13 experts, including five former astronaut. Reporting from the BBC, NASA astronauts are suggested to increase the number to ensure the readiness of the agency conduct space missions.
One of NASA's ambitious mission in the future is a flight to an asteroid in 2025, and landing on Mars in 2030.
According to the report, currently there are only 61 people who worked on NASA astronauts. This figure is considered too small compared with the number of astronauts in 1999 reached 150 people. The decrease is caused by a number of astronauts who have been discharged tenure.
Although NASA's space shuttle program ended in July, after 30 years of flight, NASA would still put astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). To reach this station, NASA will use the shuttle's Russian spacecraft and another private.
To perform this mission, the astronauts currently said to be still lacking. Astronaut corps numbered 50-60 people are feared not able to meet the needs of the assignment if there are astronauts who are sick or injured.
"The number of the current astronaut corps has no flexibility to accommodate the flight tasks, exploration, and new missions, or other unexpected events," the report as thick as 93 pages.
Looking for new astronauts also not an easy matter. NASA conducted last recruit in 2009 with six new astronauts. The new astronaut candidates must also meet the requirements that are not easy.
Among these are, astronaut candidate must graduate from the faculty of biology, physics, or mathematics accredited university. One prospective astronauts are pilots with 1,000 hours of flying a jet. The astronauts also must pass a physical test of NASA in the form of military tests and test flying.

Apple Continues Smooth 'Attack' to Samsung

Jakarta - Apple more aggressively target the Samsung. This time the innovator companies launch 'offensive' in Japan. Tudingannya together, namely accusing Samsung has infringed its patent relating to the iPhone and iPad.

Reuters reported, and quoted on Thursday (08/09/2011), Apple claims to Samsung in Japan is Apple's latest maneuver in a series of related patent battle between the two companies.

Companies based in California, USA, submitted a claim to the Tokyo District Court to scuttle the sale of mobile phones and tablet Galaxy in Japan and asked for damages for infringement of patents valued at $ 1.3 million.

Patent dispute between Apple and Samsung increasingly fierce. Last month, Samsung was forced to postpone the launch of the new Galaxy tablets in Australia until the fall of a court ruling in late September. At about the same time, a German court granted the petition Apple to ban the sale of tablets Galaxy Galaxy S2 and 7.7 in several European countries.

The Plastic Injection Moulding Process

Preparing the Mould

Feeding the polymer resin (pellets) down to the auger (screw) is a large open-bottomed container. An electric (or hydraulic) motor is responsible for turning the auger inside a heated cylinder which feeds the pellets up through the grooves of the auger. A gate before the mould cavity restricts the flow of the melt into the mould and limits backflow. The pressure created by pushing the forward through the grooves up to the gate also produces heat on the inside of the cylinder which helps to melt the polymer and prepare it for injection into the mould.

Injection of Polymer Melt Into the Mould

As the auger moves forward it injects polymer melt into the mould at high pressure (typically 10,000 - 30,000 psi), holds it, and adds more melt to ensure the contraction due to cooling and solidification does not leave gaps in the final product. Eventually the gate solidifies and isolates the mould from the injection cylinder.

Cooling the Mould

Moulds are typically air or water cooled. Sometimes small holes are bored into the mould that allow a cooling liquid (such as water) to be circulated. Injection mould cooling consumes about 85% of the cycle time for the entire process.

Unloading / Demoulding

After solidification, the clamp holding the two halves of the mould together closed is opened allowing the part to be removed. The injection moulding process can then be repeated.

Injection Molding - How Plastic is Molded

Written by: Linda Moore

Plastic has, quite literally, become the cornerstone of our society. We make so many things from plastic that it is hard to imagine what our lives would be like if it was never invented. With so many of our everyday products being made of plastic, it is easy to understand why plastic injection molding is such a huge industry.

Approximately 30% of all plastic products are produced using an injection molding process. Of this 30%, a large amount of these products are produced by using custom injection molding technology. Six steps are involved in the injection molding process, after the prototype has been made and approved.

The first step to the injection molding process is the clamping of the mold. This clamping unit is one of three standard parts of the injection machine. They are the mold, the clamping unit and the injection unit. The clamp is what actually holds the mold while the melted plastic is being injected, the mold is held under pressure while the injected plastic is cooling.

Next is the actual injection of the melted plastic. The plastic usually begins this process as pellets that are put into a large hopper. The pellets are then fed to a cylinder; here they are heated until they become molten plastic that is easily forced into the mold. The plastic stays in the mold, where it is being clamped under pressure until it cools.

The next couple of steps consist of the dwelling phase, which is basically making sure that all of the cavities of the mold are filled with the melted plastic. After the dwelling phase, the cooling process begins and continues until the plastic becomes solid inside the form. Finally, the mold is opened and the newly formed plastic part is ejected from its mold. The part is cleaned of any extra plastic from the mold.

As with any process, there are advantages and disadvantages associated with plastic injection molding. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages for most companies; they include being able to keep up high levels of production, being able to replicate a high tolerance level in the products being produced, and lower costs for labor as the bulk of the work is done by machine. Plastic injection molding also has the added benefit of lower scrap costs because the mold is so precisely made.

However, the disadvantages can be a deal breaker for smaller companies that would like to utilize plastic injection molding as a way to produce parts. These disadvantages are, that they equipment needed is expensive, therefore, increasing operating costs.

Thankfully, for these smaller companies, there are businesses that specialize in custom plastic injection molding. They will make a mock up mold to the exact specifications, run it through the complete process and present the completed piece along with an estimate to complete the job to the customer.

Article Source: http://www.dailynewarticles.com

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Linda Moore writes on a variety of subjects including home ownership, travel, personal enrichment, plastic injection molding and replacement auto glass.