Microsoft develops smart bra able to detect excesses in feed

Microsoft, in partnership with engineers from the University of Rochester, and Southampton, is developing a smart bra that is able to detect the different moods of the user.

The prototype, already presented, contains removable sensors that monitor heart activity and skin and provides indication under stress levels to which the user is subject. The objective is to realize if the smart devices can help prevent dietary excesses related to excess stress.

The information about the State of humor is provided to the user through an application for smartphones that allows alert to the most turbulent emotional States and the moment that emotional power is more likely to occur.

The future of this bra, which also includes a gyroscope and an accelerometer, is still uncertain, in particular its marketing. One of the brakes to entry in the market is the low durability of the batteries, which require frequent shipments.

According to Asta Roseway, senior researcher at Microsoft, was "too boring for the participants to use the prototype detection system, since the plates had to be recharged every three or four hours," cites the BBC.

Women who participated in the tests came back to meet his emotions through the device for six hours a day for four days.

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Put batteries at a collection point for used batteries will help IPO of Lisbon (with INTERVIEW)

Since the beginning of the month that Ecopilhas has launched the 5th National Collection batteries, a project in favour of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology (IPO) and that, in parallel, alert to the danger of incorrect disposal of batteries â€" especially for the environment.

The result of this collection will enable the Ecopilhas donate to the IPO of Lisbon two portable video endoscopy apparatus, image recording and processing of data. These diagnostic equipment will be used in the queries of Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) and Urology, and may also be used in Surgery.

These facilities play an important role in assessing airway upper digestive tumors (DSB), in the evaluation of cervical carcinoma in patients irradiated and pathology of the bladder and prostate (Urology), becoming a kind of observation of the results of the treatments carried out.

In an interview with Green Savers, Eurico Lamb, managing director of Ecopilhas, explains that the participation in the initiative is simple: simply put in the Batteries the batteries used in flashlights, clocks, radios, toys and equipment commands or batteries of cameras, cell phones, laptop computers and power tools.

In previous editions of the National Collection of batteries, the Ecopilhas collected more than 14 million units of used batteries. Read the interview of Eurico Lamb.

The 5th National Collection of batteries runs until December 31. What is the expectation for this year?

The expectation for the 5th National Collection of batteries is to reach 4 million units collected in last year's Edition and, of course, help in the fight against cancer, at the same time that we contribute to a better environment. In order to achieve these two goals, it is sufficient that all comply with the simple gesture of putting the batteries used batteries at a collection point for used batteries.

The collection reverts, again, in favour of the IPO. This aspect of social responsibility is helping the Portuguese to retrained more batteries?

We believe so. Every year we receive numerous contacts from individuals and companies to know how they can participate in the National Collection of batteries for the IPO. This campaign is a way to sensitize the public to the need to put batteries at a collection point for used batteries, thus allowing the routing of this waste for recycling.

What are the major challenges of Ecopilhas for the year 2014?

In 2014, the Ecopilhas its main challenge continue his work specialized in separate collection of used batteries, complying with the goals set at European level. The stakes in the ongoing development of the collection, ever closer to the citizen, alongside a plan of initiatives to raise awareness of the separate collection of batteries, are the main strategic axes to develop next year.

In addition to the Collection, that other projects have developed to change the mentality of the Portuguese as regards the recycling of batteries?

Throughout our activity we have been developing and participating in various awareness-raising initiatives, of which the National Collection of batteries is part. We highlight the project "Ones go to school", held for the third consecutive year, and that has been an important contribution to the awareness of students, their families and the entire school community, to the need for selective collection of used batteries. The adhesion of the schools has been very positive, with over one thousand and six hundred schools enrolled in the project.

For those who still don't know what to do with the batteries in order to life, what advice and recommend what steps should follow for the Recycle?

The recommendation is to place their used batteries at a collection point for used batteries. This is the only way to ensure that the batteries are properly recycled, thus preventing the deposition of heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium or lead, in the environment.

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Uruguay about to legalize the production, sale and consumption of cannabis

The Uruguay is about to legalize the production, sale and consumption of cannabis and is expected to be the first South American country to do so. The project, which was presented in October, will be voted on this Tuesday in the Senate.

"Uruguay is doing something that's never been done in any other part of the world. For the first time, the whole production chain, from production to consumption of marijuana will be legal to a national level, "says Julio Rey, an illegal producer of cannabis to the Financial Times.

This Government measure aims to be a breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking. "The market is completely unregulated," said the Secretary General of the national drug Board of Uruguay, Julio Calzada. "The only way to catch this market is to remove the profit of the business of drug dealers and put it in the hands of the State", explains. The sale of cannabis in Uruguay amounts to € 22 to 29 million a year, or 22 million tons per year.

If the legislation is approved, the cannabis use in Uruguay will not be so penalized, but only for those who are registered as consumers in a database, which will not be public knowledge. Otherwise, the penalties will be high for those not registered. Registered users will be able to buy up to 40 grams per month in a number of pharmacies, which are prohibited from selling to minors of 18 years and to foreigners. Registered individuals will also be able to grow up to six plants, while smoke clubs will be able to cultivate up to 99 plants.

At the same time will create a government agency to regulate the market and control prices and production levels. Advertising for the cultivation and sale of cannabis will be prohibited.

If the new legislation is adopted, its implementation will bring various challenges. Sebastián Sabini, a legislator who heads the legalization process, indicates that the main challenge will be the definition of the price. The price of legalized marijuana should be a mirror of the price of that is sold on the black market, but your purchasing process will be safer and better quality.

However, there is also fear that the parallel market decrease prices to compete with the product, including without limitation this paragraph. On the other hand, if the legal price is charted far below there is a risk of encouraging consumption and dealers buy cannabis officer and re-sell on the black market.

Jorge Gandini, legislator opposed to legalization, claims that the measure will not end with the drug trafficking. "Let's not get rid of the drug dealers; If something happens will be providing more customers to the black market, "he says. Second Gandini, will continue to be a secondary market because it will continue to be demand, particularly underage consumers and possibly of tourists.

Although the States of Colorado and Washington, in the United States, and the Netherlands allow cannabis consumption, the Uruguay is the first country to legalize the whole production chain and could pave the way for legalization in other countries, particularly in South America.

Foto:  ValentinaM / Creative Commons

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Feed a tiger shark by hand

Vincent and Debra Canabal are divers and sometimes feed the sharks mouth. One of the last "meals" provided by Vincent and Debra to a tiger shark was photographed by Brazilian Daniel Barker, and the photos are awesome.

Barker photographed these pictures in the Bahamas, a resort where tourists and visitors can feed sharks by hand â€" all in support of their conservation. "The truth is 90% of the population of tiger shark disappeared because of the black market. Eco-tourism is the only industry that keeps the animals alive, "explained Barker to the press.

Despite the huge risk associated with this practice, the Brazilian photographer insists that this is one of the few ways to preserve the species for future generations. "They are scary when open their mouths, we need to give them some space and let them know that we're there," continued the fearless photographer.

With four meters, the photos depict the shark Emma. Tiger shark population fell 97% since 1972, due to poaching. Today there are about 20 species of sharks in the IUCN list for endangered species. Tiger sharks are known to eat all they appear ahead: fish, birds, smaller sharks or seals.

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AirBnB is inspired in residential buildings to new corporate headquarters

The renowned architectural Atelier Gensler spent four months to live with AirBnb workers â€" the houses sharing websites online, to try to figure out what the culture and ethics of the company. The aim was to gain inspiration for the project AriBnb new headquarters in San Francisco, in a former industrial building.

The conclusions of the study were recently announced: the new building won a central atrium with natural lighting and, above all, a new green wall of 380 square meters. The wall covers three floors of the building and gives you a look absolutely amazing.

The Gensler also exceeded in seeking to bring the company's culture to their offices. Thus, the building was inspired by the residential houses, even for individual offices â€" replicas of houses â€" which can be rented through the company's Web site.

Among the featured replicas for a Parisian apartment, a House of Bali and a quarter of Milan. The dining room looks like a kitchen and meeting rooms are authentic lounges, quite cozy. There's even an area for the employees of AriBnB get some rest.

Although employees have their desks, they can do it anywhere in the Office, at any time of the day. The informal meetings are encouraged and communication can be made at any point in the Home-Office.

See some of the divisions of the new headquarters of AirBnB.

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Rome: bus and metro tickets will be purchased by SMS

From next month, who visit Rome you can buy bus tickets, metro or tram easily, within the same means of transport. The Italian capital will put in metro carriages and inside the buses and trams, special phone numbers, to which passengers can send an SMS, by purchasing the ticket.

Immediately, the client receives a reply message with a code, which identifies the note that was just purchased. When the reviewer questioning the passenger on the ticket, he will only have to show the code on the display of the phone, explains the Less A Car.

The ticket can be purchased by those who have a more basic mobile phone or smartphone.

The system already exists in other Italian cities â€" such as Florence, Padua, Vicenza and Genoa â€" and his success led him to Rome and other Italian cities. In addition to easy and fast, the system helps to save on consumption of public transport tickets.

"From January you can buy bus tickets, metro and tram with the smartphone, cellphone or mobile phone who visit us", explained Ignazio Marino, mayor of Rome.

"It would be a great idea, maybe, for the cities more like tourist Lisbon Portuguese", concludes the aggregator Less A Car.

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Humans are becoming more carnivores, especially in emerging economies

The human being is eating more and more meat and switching to a diet increasingly "Carnivore" is being driven by emerging economies such as China or India.

The conclusion is of a group of French researchers, who studied the relationships between the development indicators from the World Bank and the food in different countries to complete the relationships between socio-economic conditions, environmental and health requirements and changes in the patterns of food. One of the main conclusions is that the human being is becoming more carnivorous. However, the study also concluded that we can no longer be considered top predators.

The study, which analyzes the feeding habits of different countries, is the first to calculate the trophic level of humans â€" an indicator, in the field of ecology, which determines the level of the human species in the food chain.

Algae and plants are in the first trophic level, since they create their own food, while herbivores are at level two and the animals that feed on herbivores on level three. The carnivores that feed on smaller carnivores are at level four and the carnivores with few predators, like lions or bears, are at level five.

Sylvain Bonhommeau, of the French Institute for Exploitation of teh Sea, who directed the study, concluded that the trophic level of the human race was 2.21 in 2009, which puts us closer to herbivores than carnivores. "We are closer to that of herbivores carnivores. It changes the perception of being a top predator, "says the researcher to Nature.

However, this situation may be changing. In the survey were analyzed data on 102 types of foods to calculate the trophic level of 176 countries between 1961 and 2009. In the course of these 50 years it was found that the consumption of meat and fat on the part of the world's population has increased, which made the human species move 3% into the food chain or 0.06 points.

Although it seems a little variation, experts believe that is a big change. Thomas Kastner, Alpen-Adria University in Vienna, indicates that the fact that the trophic level of an animal being calculated from the sum of the different animals that consume, which in turn may belong to different trophic levels, a variation of 0.1 means that a predator at the top of the food chain â€" which includes humans-is consume more meat.

However, this increase is not linear in all countries. Countries such as China or India, which traditionally have a rice-based diet, are consuming more and more meat, once through a business cycle of strong growth, allowing them to buy more expensive products, such as meat.

Foto:  mccun934 / Creative Commons

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