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Consumer Reports: Is Green Tea Safe for Weight Loss?

CONSUMER REPORTS -- You may have heard that green tea can be good for your heart. But dont confuse a cup of tea with green tea extract powder. Some supplements containing the ingredient are promising weight loss and a healthier metabolism but the experts at Consumer Reports have concerns, because higher concentrations of green tea extract can be really dangerous because it can potentially cause serious liver damage. Plus the herb itself has been found to alter the effectiveness of a long list of drugs including certain antidepressants and certain anticlotting medications. It can also elevate your heart rate and blood pressure. And researchers suggest that up to 10 percent of people who suffer acute liver failure from green tea extract may die as a result.

Consumer Reports put Green Tea Extract Powder on its list of 15 supplement ingredients to avoid. The manufacturers who make these supplements are not required to prove to federal regulators that their products are effective or even safe before theyre sold, so you really dont know what youre buying.

And studies have also found that even in high doses green tea probably wont help you lose weight. Its true that green tea can raise your metabolic rate, so you burn more calories, but thats probably just due to its caffeine and catechins - the antioxidants found in green tea. Consumer Reports says most people can reap the health benefits of green tea with a couple of cups a day.

Consumer Reports has long advocated for measures that would improve supplement safety and give the FDA greater authority to remove potentially harmful dietary supplements from the marketplace. For now, check out its list of 15 supplement ingredients to avoid which includes green tea extract powder, kava, caffeine powder and red yeast rice.

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Consumer Reports: Is green tea safe for weight loss? - KIMA CBS 29

While my preference is always to attempt weight loss in my patients through diet and exercise, medication can sometimes be a useful tool to help with weight management. I often get asked about a medication called phentermine, or Adipex, which can rev up your system and cause decreased appetite and accompanying weight loss.

Its important to note that not everybody is a good candidate for phentermine. For starters, I pay close attention to body mass index (BMI) in somebody interested in attempting this therapy. Patients with a high BMI might benefit from this medication. When your BMI is less than 27, the risk usually outweighs the benefits of the medicine. But determining whether a patient can take it safely doesnt end with BMI. I also pay close attention to whether they have medical conditions that make it more dangerous to take the medicine, especially because this medicine can stimulate your cardiovascular system. Anybody with a history of heart disease, including previous heart attack, congestive heart failure, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms (like atrial fibrillation) should avoid this medicine. If they have the condition of high blood pressure, the blood pressure must be under good control before this medicine can be started. Somebody who takes thyroid medicine for low thyroid function must also have well-controlled thyroid hormone levels before safely prescribing this medicine. These are just some of the things I pay attention to before giving the okay to begin phentermine.

Once the medication is started, there must also be close monitoring of the patient. First and foremost, we monitor to make sure that the patient is losing weight on the medicine. After all, there is no sense to take phentermine or any other weight loss medication if it is not helping one to shed pounds. Second, we pay close attention to how the medicine is affecting the blood pressure and heart rate. If either blood pressure or heart rate is high, this is grounds to either reduce the dosage or stop the medicine altogether. The medicine is also known to potentially cause certain side effects, so I ask the patient about this at every visit. Some of the most common side effects are jitteriness, insomnia, palpitations and headaches. As long as the medicine is contributing to adequate weight loss, the blood pressure and heart rate are under good control and there are no significant side effects, the medicine can usually be safely continued. One last point on phentermine is that its effects are typically temporary. In other words, the effectiveness of this medication subsides and eventually disappears after a few months. Therefore, this therapy is not one that is used long-term for weight loss. That is why its so important to make sure that there is a good foundation of proper dieting and exercise. If one relies only on the medicine to lose weight, they can expect to gain the weight back once the phentermine effects wear off.

If you are interested in starting on this or any other medication to assist in weight loss, it is extremely important to consult with your primary care provider to see if this is a safe option for you.

Dr. Roy Barco welcomes your questions concerning health and wellness. Please Facebook him at http://www.facebook.com/roy.barco.5 where you can submit questions for the column, or write to:

True Medical Group

Shoals Professional Building

203 Avalon Ave, Suite 120

Muscle Shoals, AL 35661

256-286-4026

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I'm Interested in Taking the Diet Pill Phentermine For Weight Loss - courierjournal

I'm used to the shaming look I get from my peers when I crack open a can of sugar-free Red Bull. The questions and judgement never end. "That stuff'll kill you," someone said to me the other day, shaking his head. "So many chemicals!" was what I heard last week.

Truth be told, Red Bull (at least the sugar-free kind) isn't all that terrible for you. Besides having only 10 calories and no sugar, it has only 80 milligrammes of caffeine, about a third of the amount in a tall Starbucks drip coffee. As far as its other ingredients namely B vitamins and taurine go, scientific studies have found both to be safe.

But my favourite source of caffeine isn't the only harmless food or drink that gets a bad rap. Here are some of the rest, along with the science behind their safety.

Gluten

The myth: As more and more of your friends go gluten-free, you may wonder: Is there something to this latest diet craze? Is gluten intolerance a thing? Is it getting more common?

Why it's bogus: Only about 1% of people worldwide have celiac disease, the rare genetic disorder that makes people intolerant to gluten, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation. For most of the rest of us, this doughy, chewy ingredient is simply how it tastes: delicious!

Eggs

The myth: The massive amounts of cholesterol in eggs will translate to a massive amount of cholesterol in your veins.

Why it's bogus: Even though eggs are high in cholesterol (a single egg packs roughly 185 mg), eating them likely won't translate into higher blood cholesterol for you. The first studies that suggested that were done with rabbits, as my colleague Kevin Loria reported. So go ahead, pop a perfectly poached egg on that avocado toast. You know you want to.

Caffeine

The myth: Caffeine stunts your growth and messes with your health.

Why it's bogus: According to the Mayo Clinic, the average adult can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine daily. Most standard cups of coffee contain between 90 and 120 mg. So if you're limiting yourself to under four cups of joe a day, you should be relatively in the clear. Still, some java packs more of a punch than others. A 12-ounce "tall" cup of Starbucks drip coffee, for example, has about 260 mg of caffeine putting you well over the daily dose after two cups.

Carbonated water

The myth: Fizzy water is all the rage these days, showing up in grocery-store aisles in flavours like coconut or watermelon. But many people worry the bubbles cause kidney stones, leach calcium from your bones, and even strip the enamel from your teeth.

Why it's bogus: The bubbly stuff is just as good for you as plain water, Jennifer McDaniel, a registered dietitian and certified specialist in sports dietetics, told my colleague Dina Spector.

"Carbonated or sparkling water is made by dissolving carbon dioxide in water, creating carbonic acid," Spector wrote. "This process just adds bubbles it does not add sugar, calories, or caffeine. Tonic water, club soda, and mineral water are all types of carbonated water, but these have added sodium, vitamins, or sweeteners, so it's important to read the label."

Fatty foods

The myth: Fatty foods like avocados and olive oil will make you fat.

Why it's bogus: Although it makes intuitive sense, this myth is not borne by scientific research. A recent look at the studies behind the dietary guidelines that suggested we cut back on fat found that there wasn't evidence to support those rules in the first place. In the book "Eat Fat, Get Thin," Mark Hyman, director of the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Functional Medicine, talks about how he incorporated healthy fats from foods like fish and nuts in his diet to lose weight.

Cheese

The myth: Some news outlets have reported that cheese "is like crack" because it's "as addictive as drugs."

Why it's bogus: We tracked down the study that appears to lie at the root of these claims, and it found no such thing. Several University of Michigan researchers asked people to report which foods on a list they had the hardest time cutting out or eating moderately. Cheese ranked toward the middle. Nevertheless, since pizza, a cheesy food, ranked high on both lists, people speculated that cheese was the culprit, going as far to suggest something about the way one of its proteins breaks down in the body is addictive. There's little to no evidence to back this up.

Artificial sweeteners

The myth: Artificial sweeteners like Splenda and Equal have been found to cause cancer.

Why it's bogus: The Food and Drug Administration has evaluated hundreds of studies on sucralose (Splenda), aspartame (Equal), saccharin (Sweet'N Low) and more. So far, it has deemed all of them safe.

That said, some preliminary research suggests artificial sweeteners may not satisfy your craving for sweets and therefore may not be effective at curbing your overall sugar intake.

GMOs

The myth: Genetically modified organisms cause cancer and wreak havoc on the environment.

Why it's bogus: GMO crops, which have been around since the 1980s, have been studied at length, and a recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that they aren't posing any greater risk to the environment than regular crops. It also found no evidence that they "are less safe to eat than conventional food," my colleague Lydia Ramsey reported.

Salt

The myth: Salt causes heart problems and weight gain.

Why it's bogus: The science about whether eating salt in moderation has a net negative or positive effect on our health is somewhat unclear. However, a 2011 meta-analysis of seven studies involving more than 6,000 people published in the American Journal of Hypertension found no strong evidence that reducing salt decreased people's risk of heart attack, stroke, or death even in those who had high blood pressure.

"If the US does conquer salt, what will we gain? Bland french fries, for sure. But a healthy nation? Not necessarily," Melinda Wenner Moyer wrote in Scientific American.

All carbs

The myth: Carbohydrates including rice, bread, cereal, and potatoes contribute to weight gain.

Why it's bogus: While it's a good idea to limit your intake of processed carbs like white bread, white rice, and white pasta, not all carbs are bad for you. Some are healthy and a great source of energy. Take potatoes, for example.

"White potatoes are actually very good for you," Christian Henderson, a registered dietitian, told Health. Potatoes pack potassium and vitamin C, and they have almost 4 grammes of fibre just cook them with the skins on.

Fish

The myth: Fish is high in mercury and will make you sick.

Why it's bogus: While mercury can build up in larger, older predator fish like marlin and shark, it's not generally a problem in smaller fish. The FDA maintains a helpful list of guidelines for mercury in seafood salmon, trout, oysters, herring, sardines, and Atlantic and Pacific mackerel are all considered "good" or "best" choices, according to the FDA.

21 psychological tricks that will help you ace a job interview Saudi Arabia's billionaire king is on a lavish Asian adventure here's what he's spending his money on If a nuclear bomb is dropped on your city, here's where you should run and hide

Read the original article on Business Insider UK. 2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.

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11 things people think are terrible for your diet that actually aren't - The Independent

By Eleanore OsborneCorrespondent

You have cancer."

Hearing those words once is devastating. Is there anything you can do to prevent hearing them a second or third time?

Many studies have focused on factors affecting cancer recurrence, and now a national clinical trial is underway to determine whether losing weight changes the risk of cancer recurrence in women who have been diagnosed with early breast cancer. Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center has opened a National Cancer Institute clinical trial to address this question.

The Breast Cancer Weight Loss study (BWEL) will enroll more than 3,000 patients with breast cancer in the United States and Canada, said Lindsay Cashio, the hospitals assistant director of communications. The results of this study will help researchers understand if losing weight after breast cancer diagnosis helps to decrease the risk of breast cancer recurrence. It is very exciting, as it is the first large, national, randomized trial examining this issue.

The trial has two parts. One for those on the trial itself, the other for those in a health education control group, about half in each. Admission to the clinic trial is limited to stage II and stage III breast cancer patients who are within one year of their initial diagnosis, older than 18, with a BMI of 27 or greater and other criteria.

For those women who are not eligible for the trial, a Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center Cancer Institute registered dietitian will run a six-week series of classes called Weight Loss for Breast Cancer Survivors.

Judy King, 75, Ormond Beach, is attending the classes, which she heard about while volunteering at the cancer center. In 2002, King had a mastectomy on one breast, and in 2011, a recurrence on the same side, affecting her lymph nodes.

After five years, you think you are home clear, she said, but studies show that recurrence can happen at any time. Kings recurrence was discovered by her masseuse, who told her: I dont like the feel of this. You need to have this checked.

Dr. Eric Harris said weight gain after breast cancer treatment is common. Harris, partnering with the hospital and the trial, is a hematologist/oncologist, said stress, anxiety and supportive care drugs, such as steroids and hormonal anti-estrogen treatments, can cause increased appetite and weight gain. Patients can feel pretty beat-up following treatment.

In secondary prevention, doctors address diet and exercise, estrogen, smoking and keys to a healthy lifestyle.

For the first time, with this trial, we can count the data, Harris said. This is an exciting opportunity for patients of stage 2 and 3. It adds more data to our collective resources, to see if weight changes outcomes basically, we are chiseling away at secondary prevention.

Weight and fat cells are integral to the study, since fat cells make estrogen and estrogen can make hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers develop and grow.

Nutrition classes

In 2002, patient Judy King had attended nutrition classes and decided to lose 20 pounds. After her 2011 treatment, she started taking Aromasin, a pill that blocks estrogen from getting into her cells, and complained to her doctor that she couldnt keep her weight off because of it. He called it the fat pill, but said it was helping to keep her alive. Thats when King learned about the nutrition classes. I knew a lot from before, but thought, maybe I could pick up some more hints on what to do from the dietician. She has been really helpful.

That would be Jennifer Robinson, registered dietitian, who is leading the six-week classes for those who arent eligible for the BWEL trial. The Weight Loss for Breast Cancer Survivors class series are free and open to all breast cancer survivors in the community. All classes are at 1 p.m. at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Centers Cancer Institute conference room. Classes so far have covered general nutrition, supermarket shopping, and dining out. Remaining classes this session are:

Classes will start over at a time to be announced, and will possibly include locations in West Volusia or Flagler County.

The classes offer motivation and camaraderie, said Robinson, an opportunity to be in a room with women who have been trying to practice healthful eating. The BWAL is amazing, but we dont want those women to feel let down. Okay, you didnt qualify for the study, but we are offing this as an option.

The sessions are free and open to all breast cancer survivors in the community, regardless of when their diagnosis was or whether they had treatment at Florida Hospital.

About Recurrence

Dr. Jennifer Ligibel, a breast oncologist in the Susan F. Smith Center for Womens Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, said this by phone: We are trying to study the effects of different strategies to lower the risk of breast cancer recurring, and a way for women to help themselves and hopefully have fewer problems from their breast cancer. Ligibel is the lead investigator of the BWEL trial.

This is even more important to those who have undergone breast cancer treatment because it is common for people to gain weight during and after breast cancer treatment, especially if theyre treated with chemotherapy, steroids, and/or hormonal therapy. If breast cancer treatment puts you into menopause, youre more likely to gain weight too.

Judy King has these tips: Eat a variety of vegetables. Watch out for trans-fats. Control portion size. Drink enough water. When you eat out, have a plan. King, a science teacher in New Hampshire before retirement, added: Walking is so important. Youve got to get up and move your body. The enemy is the front door.

On the brighter side: a recurrence of breast cancer is not hopeless. Many treatment options are available and new medicines are being tested every day.

Nutrition and physical activity, said Robinson, are definitely things women can do for themselves.

To learn more about the trial or classes, call Sandy Allten, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center Cancer Institute, clinical research nurse, at 386-231-4023.

Excerpt from:
Clinical trial: Florida Hospital explores weight gain and breast cancer recurrence - Daytona Beach News-Journal

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By Mayo Clinic News Network

You're doing your best to set aside time for physical activity, but finding time to exercise is a challenge. Why not work out while you work? Consider 10 ways to add exercise to your workday routine.

Walk or bike to work. If you ride the bus or the subway, get off a few blocks early or at an earlier stop than usual and walk the rest of the way. If you drive to work, park at the far end of the parking lot -- or park in the lot for a nearby building. In your building, take the stairs rather than the elevator.

Standing burns more calories than sitting does. Look for ways to get out of your chair. Stand while talking on the phone. Skip instant messaging and email, and instead walk to a colleague's desk for a face-to-face chat.

Rather than hanging out in the lounge with coffee or a snack, take a brisk walk or do some gentle stretching. For example, face straight ahead, then lower your chin to your chest. Or, while standing, grab one of your ankles -- or your pant leg -- and bring it up toward your buttock. Hold each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.

Consider trading your desk chair for a firmly inflated fitness or stability ball, as long as you're able to safely balance on the ball. You'll improve your balance and tone your core muscles while sitting at your desk. Use the fitness ball for wall squats or other exercises during the day.

Store resistance bands -- stretchy cords or tubes that offer weight-like resistance when you pull on them -- or small hand weights in a desk drawer or cabinet. Do arm curls between meetings or tasks.

Organize a lunchtime walking group. Enjoy the camaraderie of others who are ready to lace up their walking shoes. You can hold each other accountable for regular exercise -- and offer encouragement to one another when the going gets tough.

When it's practical, schedule walking meetings or walking brainstorming sessions. Do laps inside your building or, if the weather cooperates, take your walking meetings outdoors.

If your job involves walking, do it faster. The more you walk and the quicker your pace, the greater the benefits.

If you're stuck in an airport waiting for a plane, grab your bags and take a brisk walk. Choose a hotel that has fitness facilities -- such as treadmills, weight machines or a pool -- or bring your equipment with you. Jump-ropes and resistance bands are easy to sneak into a suitcase. Of course, you can do jumping jacks, crunches and other simple exercises without any equipment at all.

If you're ready to take workplace exercise to the next level, consider a more focused walk-and-work approach. If you can safely and comfortably position your work surface above a treadmill -- with a computer screen on a stand, a keyboard on a table or a specialized treadmill-ready vertical desk -- you might be able to walk while you work.

In fact, Mayo Clinic researchers estimate that overweight office workers who replace sitting computer time with walking computer time by two to three hours a day could lose 44 to 66 pounds (20 to 30 kilograms) in a year. The pace doesn't need to be brisk, nor do you need to break a sweat. The faster you walk, however, the more calories you'll burn.

Want more ideas for workplace exercises? Schedule a walking meeting to brainstorm ideas with your supervisors or co-workers. Remember, any physical activity counts.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/in-depth/office-exercise/art-20047394/

Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Office exercise: Add more activity to your work day - KSAT San Antonio

...these important features will encourage physicians and their patients alike to adopt HydroSlim as the new standard for a first-line therapeutic option in their battle of the bulge.

Clearwater Beach, FL (PRWEB) March 13, 2017

SWELL is a multi-patented, ingestible, superabsorbent hydrogel technology specifically designed for weight loss. The approval comes on the heels of the successful, SHORT-1 Pivotal Trial (Superabsorbent Hydrogel for Obesity Reduction & Treatment) - an 8-week, Pivotal, Phase III, randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that evaluated 126 overweight and obese, otherwise healthy volunteers (38 men and 88 women) between the ages of 18 and 70. The SHORT-1 Trial is the largest clinical trial of its kind; and was led by Dr. Rafael Guerrero, Professor of Clinical pharmacology, nutrition and dietetics, University of Extremadura; University Center of Mrida. SHORT-1 demonstrated highly statistically significant and clinically relevant improvement in all three of the studys primary endpoints: Total Body Weight, Body Mass Index, and Abdominal Girth; with a mean placebo-adjusted weight loss of 13 lbs. in 8 weeks (p<0.0001) without the addition of diet, exercise, or other behavioral modifications. Of Note: all 63 participants (100%) in the HydroSlim group lost weight during the study period. No significant side effects or adverse events were reported.

Lior Sher, JD, Wellosophys Founder, Chairman and CEO stated: HydroSlim is an unprecedented scientific achievement spanning eleven years of development with SHORT-1 being our eleventh clinical trial. No other hydrogel for weight loss has been studied as extensively. The CE Mark culminates five years of intense pre-clinical and clinical development - working with some of the most highly-respected physicians and scientists in Europe. HydroSlim has demonstrated superior safety and effectiveness as a simple, sustainable, non-pharmaceutical, non-invasive solution to promote early satiety - the essential missing piece in the weight loss puzzle for most people struggling to lose weight. We believe that these important features will encourage physicians and their patients alike to adopt HydroSlim as the new standard for a first-line therapeutic option in their battle of the bulge. SWELL is a category-creator. It is currently sold under private labels in both Russia and Chile as a Class IIa Medical Device, and as a dietary supplement in other jurisdictions. We are privileged to work with an outstanding partner like Eladiet to expand our marketing efforts throughout the European Union.

Eladiets CEO, Carla Gaya Boix, LLM, MBA, added: We are proud to partner with Wellosophy in this venture. We loved the SWELL technology from the moment we saw it; and are honored to be the exclusive European Manufacturer of such a great product. Its clinical performance has exceeded all of our expectations. There really is nothing like it in the world. At long last, there appears to be a simple, safe and effective means for people to safely lose weight without feeling hungry. HydroSlim provides an elegant solution for a critical unmet medical need. Patients now have a clear choice that bridges the gap between side-effect laden drugs and expensive invasive surgery.

Dr. Richard Davis, MD, Wellosophys President and Chief Science Officer explained: SWELL is an ingestible, ultrapure, bioinert, hydrogel material that has been specifically designed to rapidly absorb hundreds of times its weight in water in the stomach. When consumed with a sufficient amount of pure water, 30 to 60 minutes prior to meals, the thousands of microbeads of SWELL in each capsule expand in the stomach to form what looks like a slurry of tiny caviar particles which collectively occupy a volume about the size of a large apple. As the microbeads expand, they trigger gastric stretch receptors in the stomach lining to engage the Leptin and Ghrelin hormone cascade which causes the brain to signal gastric fullness thus providing a sense of early satiety at mealtime. Our multiple international studies have consistently shown that patients from all cultures and dietary traditions can comfortably and reliably reduce their meal portions by anywhere from 35% to 50% without feeling deprived. This allows people to eat less without feeling hungry, so they sustainably lose weight slowly, safely and naturally. SWELL is indigestible and non-absorbable; which eliminates the potential for any significant side effects or adverse events. The soft slippery microbeads pass gently and naturally with the meal through the GI tract just like lentils, corn or other common indigestible foods. We are delighted that the EU regulators have provided their citizens with a powerful new tool to combat the obesity epidemic.

Wellosophy (Clearwater Beach, Florida) is a privately-held, US-based biotechnology company developing novel therapies that safely promote weight loss in overweight and obese patients. For more information, visit http://www.Wellosophy.com

Eladiet (Barcelona, Spain) is a leading European cGMP and CE-certified maker of Nutraceuticals and Medical Devices. For more information, visit cm.Eladiet.com

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Wellosophy and Eladiet Announce Receipt of the CE Mark for SWELL:A Proprietary, First-to Market, Ingestible ... - PR Web (press release)

Adhesive bonds can be an effective alternative to traditional mechanical fastening. (Image courtesy Master Bond Inc.)

Mechanical fastening has long been the standard method of keeping manufacturing assemblies together, but adhesive bonding has seen a rise in popularity as an alternative technique.

Mechanical fastening with screws and rivets, welding or soldering and brazing are effective, yet insufficiently distribute load stress, which compromises structural strength. Additionally, they present a risk of galvanic corrosion and can add weight to a product.

Proponents of structural bonding with adhesives tout advantages in weight, greater structural strength and minimization of galvanic corrosion as primary benefits of using bonding agents such as epoxy resins versus traditional mechanical fastening.

Additional benefits of adhesive bonding include:

Despite these benefits, engineers need to carefully plan and execute the application of adhesive bonding its not like a piece of tape you can just tear off and reapply.

Its important to be mindful of joint designs, performance properties of the adhesive, surface preparation requirements, curing requirements and polymer chemistry options.

Whether you need an epoxy resin, hot melt, contact sprays or other chemistries will depend on your application. Its important to work closely with your adhesive supplier to clearly define how you can meet your application requirements.

Just as important as your choice of adhesive is how the adhesive is applied.

To achieve the strongest structural bonds, substrates must be properly prepared, cleaned and roughened to remove oils, greases, dirt, moisture and any forms of oxidation. To accomplish this, physical abrasive treatments and chemical cleaning are usually essential.

What solvents you use could depend upon your substrate, but acetone flashes off quickly, said Venkat Nandivada, manager of technical support at Master Bond Inc.

Its easier to remove any residuals using that, before it has to be dried before the adhesive is applied. Roughening is also important, especially with metals, as it helps to improve the bond. If mechanical roughening is not possible, there are chemical etching solutions and even plasma treatments.

Specially formulated primer coats can also be used to maximize the adhesives effectiveness.

Adhesive manufacturers have invested significant R&D into pre-treatments for metallic and non-metallic substrates, so it is important to follow their recommendations to ensure the best results.

Some adhesives can be safely "painted" onto a surface, with minimal protection. (Image courtesy Master Bond.)

Adhesive bonds can be applied in several different ways, to suit the products design. For example, adhesives could be applied by hand or with automated dispensing systems.

It depends on the geometry of the substrates and the amount of adhesive being applied, among other factors, said Nandivada.

For example, if youre covering a flat area, you could use a spatula or a brush to spread the adhesive. An automated dispensing system can apply beads and then clamp the product with enough force to squeeze out whatever excess is there and leave a thin, strong bond line.

Nandivada stresses to be mindful of just how much force is used to squeeze out excess adhesive, however, as squeezing out too much may compromise the strength of the bond. Excess adhesive can be removed later using solvents like acetone or isopropyl alcohol.

This type of application sounds simple, but different cases may require different styles of bonding, called joint styles.

Joint designs fit unique applications, to respond to stresses in different ways. The goal is to minimize stress concentration and maximize bond strength by distributing load over as wide an area as possible.

Joint styles and stresses. (Image courtesy Master Bond.)

Some popular joint designs include butt, scarf, lap and offset lap joints.

Butt joints are used when stress forces are concentrated along the bond line and force, perpendicular to the bond, is minimal.

Scarf joints maximize bond area, but parts joined this way require a closer fit.

Lap and offset lap joints are best for thin sections and rigid parts. When using lap joints, however, bonded parts are slightly offset, causing peel and cleavage forces to develop when the joints are under load. Offset lap joints can minimize these forces.

Additionally, thickness of the adhesive plays a significant role.

(Image courtesy Master Bond.)

For structural applications, we would recommend a few thousandths of an inch in bond thickness, said Rohit Ramnath, senior product development engineer, at Master Bond.

You can go thinner or thicker, but the optimal strength is achieved with somewhere around that point to seven thousandths. When you are filling a gap, you cannot have too much thickness. However, for thicker adhesive layers, you may see a drop in strength.

To ensure reliable results in the application of the adhesive, industrial automation solutions can be employed for maximum precision.

If you have a two-component epoxy, for example, you can use a meter mix dispenser to measure, mix and dispense exactly the amount of adhesive that is required, said Nandivada. If you have a one-part system, it becomes even easier.

Single part systems can be cured with latent heat curing, initiating at 180 to 250F (82 to 121C) or a dual-curing mechanism utilizing UV blasts, followed by heat.

In many cases, clamping or fixturing may be necessary to keep the part in place until the adhesive sets.

Pot Life, the amount of time an adhesive can remain viable after being mixed and set time, how much time the adhesive needs to form a good bond, will differ between adhesives due to their individual chemistry.

When choosing an adhesive, it is important to determine what types of stresses the product will experience and select an adhesive resistant to those stresses; for example, thermal expansion.

When testing to failure, the failure mode could either be cohesive or adhesive, Nandivada explained. If you have extremely rigid adhesives, there is a chance for the adhesive itself to crack, but this depends on the stresses and overall conditions.

There are toughening agents that can be added into a polymer matrix and you can make the adhesive really resistant, to handle thermal stress mismatches between metals across a wide temperature range, said Ramnath.

The application and curing of epoxy adhesives offers a safety advantage over solvent-based adhesives, Ramnath added.

You will of course require personal protective equipment while handling epoxy systems. For many adhesives though, you wont need to be concerned about respirators or anything like that if its used in a well-ventilated room.

Unlike mechanical fastening techniques such as welding, adhesive bonding is ideal for small parts. (Image courtesy Master Bond.)

When it comes to the price tag, its always application-determined whether the cost will beat out mechanical fastening. However, Nandivada explains there are real savings in larger volume orders with adhesives, as well as other long term benefits.

In larger quantities, adhesive bonding would be more cost effective compared to a mechanical fastening technique and it would make a difference labor-wise. You need to look not just at the adhesive cost, but the assembly cost overall, as well as processing, handling and so on.

Ultimately, adhesive bonding stands out for its unique strengths in reducing weight and eliminating significant stress-related weaknesses inherent to mechanical fastening.

Additionally, the technique provides opportunities for bonding small parts, where traditional fastening methods just cant work.

Today, adhesive bonding is used across the automotive, appliance, aerospace and defense industries as a reliable and cost-effective alternative to mechanical fastening.

You can learn more about adhesive bonding and Master Bond, by visiting their website. If you have a specific application to discuss, contact Master Bonds technical experts at http://www.masterbond.com/contact.

Master Bond has sponsored this article. All opinions are mine. --Kagan Pittman

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Cost-Effective Adhesive Bonding for High Strength Assemblies - ENGINEERING.com

Winter can be one of the most dangerous times to drive. Consider these tips so you know how to act in a winter-related emergency. Don't let this be you as you travel during the winter season.

Icy roads, cause your tires to lose traction. When approaching a stop, you should begin breaking from a distance and leave yourself three times the space between you and the car in front of you to avoid running into any vehicles. -National Safety Council

Break gradually, but if you notice your wheels locking up take your foot off the break. Never slam on your breaks.-National Safety Council

You should always drive with your lights on in light or heavy winter conditions. Before you leave your location, check your lights to make sure they are working correctly. -National Safety Council

Clean your windshield, wipers, and lights.-National Safety Council

Get a grip!

Low gears are the best way to gain traction, even on hills. -National Safety Council

Unfortunately, it's imperative that you be able to react to whatever condition the road is in. Cruise control is dangerous on icy roads so avoid using it at all costs. -National Safety Council

Areas that don't get a lot of traffic may freeze first, even when temperatures are above freezing. Be alert while crossing these bridges and roads. Be aware of the possible icy areas that aren't visible as well. -National Safety Council

Don't overtake a snow plow truck no matter how much of a hurry you are in. Allow them to do their job so you can get where you are going safely. -National Safety Council

Any car, four wheel or front wheel, can have difficulties in winter conditions. Keep that in mind.

What do you do if your rear wheels skid?

Ease off the gas.

Steer into the direction your rear tires are going. For example, if your car is skidding left, turn the car left while gently pumping the breaks, if they are standard breaks.

However, if your car has anti-lock brakes (ABS), push hard on them instead of pumping to regain control, while also steering in the direction you are skidding.

What about if your front wheels skid?

A front wheel skid occurs when the front wheels do not go in the direction of the steering wheel.

Your front wheels need traction. Gently release the gas pedal and press the break to add weight to the front of the car and thus regain traction. Don't slam the breaks because that could lock them, and make situations worse.

Getting in stuck in the snow is a scary thought, but can happen. Here's how you should handle this situation.

"Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper. Then, use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out."-National Safety Council

"Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way."- National Safety Council

"Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car."-National Safety Council

"Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction."- National Safety Council

Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. "- National Safety Council

Another way to avoid accidents is to prepare early by winterizing your car.

"Checking the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts."-National Safety Council

"Changing and adjusting the spark plugs.Checking the air, fuel and emission filters, and the PCV valve. Finally, inspecting the distributor. " National Safety Council

"Checking the battery."- National Safety Council

"Checking the tires for air, sidewall wear and tread depth. Checking antifreeze levels and the freeze line."-National Safety Council

"A complete emergency kit includes a properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and tripod-type jack, a shovel, jumper cables, tow and tire chains, bag of salt or cat litter, and tool kit."- National Safety Council

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Winter driving tips - KMBC Kansas City

Champ Robinson Published 9:06 p.m. PT March 14, 2017 | Updated 35 minutes ago

Notre Dame's Kylie Nguyen (left) celebrates with teammates at home plate Spencer Hyosaka (center), and Logan Riggenbach (right) during a non-conference softball game against the Salinas Cowboys.(Photo: Vernon McKnight)Buy Photo

Vanessa Gonzalez knew she didnt have her best stuff after jamming her finger in the first inning, but when the Notre Dame Spirits needed their starting pitcher the most, she delivered.

Gonzalez struck out Salinas Josephine Villarreal swinging with runners on second and third to secure a 5-4 Spirits win over the Cowboys at the Salinas Sports Complex.

Notre Dame head coach Tom Cardinale said the strikeout to end the game was when Gonzalez was at her finest in the circle.

Her and I had some exchanges about its time to compete here and thats when she opened up the outside part of the plate and it wasnt hittable, Cardinale said. Vanessa can do that when shes 100 percent where its really tough to hit that ball. You have to be a really good batter (to make contact there) and I think at the end of the game is where she really turned that on.

Notre Dame would score in the top of the first as Shantal Martinez would race home from third on a pass ball to give the Spirits a 1-0 lead.

Salinas wouldnt waste any time evening up the score as the Cowboys struck in the bottom half of the inning when Leslie Romero would single in Josselyn Barriga to tie the game at 1-1.

In the bottom of the third inning, Salinas would score another run.

After a leadoff triple from Neveah Pinon, Marrisa Bustamante would drive Pinion in with an RBI single to give the Cowboys a 2-1 lead.

The 2-1 lead would hold for the Cowboys until the Spirits answered in the top of the fifth with a two-run double from Alexia Torculas to give Notre Dame a 3-2 lead.

Cardinale said it was just a matter of time before the middle of his lineup got going against the Cowboys.

I have a group of girls that are all going to hit the ball hard, Cardinale said. Alexia was right there. Shes going to make good, hard contact somewhere. Logan before her, Lauren Pullara before her. We kind of stack them up that way and I knew somebody was going to connect and it was going to be time to score.

We had a lot of hard outs that were right at people. All of a sudden we had to make an adjustment and get a little bit more top part of the ball, get the ball to touch the grass and all of a sudden good things happen.

Torculas who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the game said she was excited to have that clutch hit when her team needed it.

Lately Ive been actually struggling at-bat, Torculas said. I was just trying to have a positive mentality, I was telling myself I was not going down without a fight.

I told myself any pitch that comes close to me, Im going to try and get a base hit and do the most for my team.

Salinas would get the two runs back in the bottom of the fifth as Villarreal would drive in Kayla Stone and Pinon with a double to left-center field and give Salinas a 4-3 lead.

Romero who struck out for the first out in the inning after Stone reached with a single said the hit by Villarreal put a charge in the Salinas dugout.

We were so hyped, Romero said. We knew we were in this (and that) we could win. We just knew it.

Staring at a deficit once more, Notre Dame would regain the lead one final time.

The Spirits would manufacture a run in the top of the sixth inning via an error, a walk, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly by Kaeli Bush which brought across Rachel Reimal to tie the game at 4-4.

Cardinale said before his team headed out to take its at-bats in the top of the sixth, he sensed a different kind of attitude from them.

We were probably at our best ready to compete mode at the top of the sixth, Cardinale said. Thats where our girls finally got their attention.

The game remained tied at 4-4 heading into the top of the seventh when leadoff hitter Logan Riggenbach stepped to the plate.

Riggenbach roped a low line drive to center field as Ashley Isla closed in an attempt to short hop the line drive.

The ball skipped under Islas glove and rolled toward deep center as Riggenbach turned it into overdrive and began to race around the bases.

I was just looking at my third base coach, Riggenbach said. He wasnt stopping me, so I knew I was going home.

As Riggenbach rounded third and made it home safely for the inside-the-park home run, Gonzalez summed up her feelings of the play.

I was relieved, Gonzalez said like the weight of the world was immediately lifted off her shoulders.

Torculas added some excitement to the game-changing moment.

I was up next to bat and I was screaming at home plate, trying to encourage her (to make it home), Torculas said.

Cardinale said he knew a big play was potentially coming once the ball left Riggenbachs bat.

I knew once she didnt land glove on it, it was (going to be trouble), Cardinale said. Logan hustles. I knew she going to round it (third base).

With a 5-4 lead and three outs remaining for the Cowboys, Salinas showed it was not going to back down without a fight.

The Cowboys sent the middle of their order to the plate in the bottom of the seventh and after Stone and Romero both reached via singles to set up a two on, no out situation, Salinas appeared to be setting up for a comeback of its own.

Salinas head coach Lauren Jimenez would then have Pinion sacrifice the runners to second and third with one out.

Gonzalez said she wasnt thinking of the situation and just worried about the batters coming up.

Ive been in worse positions so I knew I could get through it, Gonzalez said.

With the game-winning run on second base, Gonzalez got Bustamante to ground out to second base before striking out Villarreal to end the game.

Romero said Gonzalez pitched a good game, but the Cowboys bats need to make more solid contact at the plate.

She was going in and out on us, throwing her rise ball which got some of us, Romero said. Other than that, we were hitting the ball fine, we just need to get on it more.

We stayed in it with Notre Dame when people doubted us. We proved them wrong and we could do it.

Now 10-0 on the season, Cardinale said the Spirits cant get comfortable with their record.

We need to keep our energy up and we have to be very focused on doing all of the little things correctly, Cardinale said. If we do that, well be a hard team to beat, but anybody can lose on any give day. Our league is tough and we know that.

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Softball: Notre Dame squeaks by Salinas - The Salinas Californian

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