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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Review of Plantronics Voyager Legend UC Headset

?Can you hear me now??

You may remember that line from a wireless-phone company commercial. ?The reason that line is so successful is that we all say it. I?m willing to bet that many of you say that or some version of that question pretty often. We want to make sure we are heard.

This review of the Plantronics Voyager Legend headset is for the entrepreneur on the go, or the small business owner, manager or professional who needs a solid hands-free device with excellent reception and sound clarity. ?And one also looking for time savings and convenience.

Last year, I was part of a Plantronics contest and received a Voyager Legend headset. At the time, I rarely used my mobile phone for important business calls because I could not depend on the other mobile headsets I had tried in the past. That meant?I coordinated most of my meetings when I was absolutely certain I would be in a quiet place with the strongest wireless signal.

Since then, little by little, I started to use the headset. I?m pleased to report that I use a Voyager Legend headset nearly every day now. ?I live on an island and when I go out for the day for business meetings, I have to take a ferry and am often gone for the day. ?So I end up taking a lot of calls when mobile. ?And I worry less about where I?m going to be when it?s time to take an important call.

The Voyager Legend (pictured below)?comes in several flavors ? regular and what is known as ?UC? which stands for Unified Communications .

headset

UC is the platform on a user?s computer that allows them to integrate IM, phone calls, video conferencing and more. The Voyager Legend UC headset plugs into your computer with the included USB dongle, letting you take voice and video calls from your computer. The Voyager Legend UC also comes in two variants; one regular and one optimized for Microsoft. The UC version, either one, is $199. The regular Legend (non-UC version) is priced at $99 and this is the one I have.

Both versions of this headset are multi-point, allowing you to have two different mobile phones configured to connect to your headset. ?That means you don?t have to switch headsets to use a different device.

For team members who use multiple devices during the workday, you begin?to see the advantages.

What I really like:

The Mute button. On the headset, there is a simple button, but cooler is that the headset announces to you only that the ?mute is on.? Of course, it tells you it is off, too, when you press it again. You can press the mute button on your actual phone, but I like the headset one.
The sensor technology (I don?t know exactly how it works, but it is cool): If I put it on my ear as the phone is ringing it will still answer the call. No fumbling about to make the switch. ?If it?s already in my ear, I can use voice commands to answer it or ignore it.
On the UC front, not having to manually connect each device you want to switch to, is a time-saving option.

What I would like to see:

A universal charger ? the headset has its own proprietary connection. This is the only downside, in my view. To be fair, it is probably pretty hard to fit a micro-USB connection into that tiny space. The good news is that the other end is a standard USB connection so most chargers will accept the USB end, or your laptop can charge it for you.

Although this review is focused on the Voyager Legend, I have to throw in a few good words about another option ? the Calisto speakerphone, also by Plantronics. The Calisto is a portable speaker approximately four inches square by 1.5 inches tall. It can connect to your laptop with a small USB keyfob or via Bluetooth. ?It is powered by a?rechargeable lithium battery (connect it to a USB charger).

I am using the 620 model, optimized for Microsoft Lync and it is wonderful. Seriously. I have used it as a speaker in hotel rooms to play music on my Samsung S3. And I have used it as a speakerphone in my car when I?m not using a headset. It connects very quickly and for those who find that their cell phone speakers are just not enough, this little device is a lifesaver. It comes in its own little neoprene case for $149.95. It is also UC-capable.

Overall, if you find that you want a robust, sophisticated hands-free device, the Voyager Legend headset (UC or regular) is a serious contender.

If you just can?t put something in your ear, or need a speakerphone, look to the elegant little Calisto speakerphone.

Image credit: Plantronics

About TJ McCue

TJ is an entrepreneur who publishes Tech Biz Talk. TJ is a former Wall Street Journal columnist. He also writes for Forbes and American Express OPEN Forum. He loves learning about technology apps and software services - share yours with TJ.

Source: http://smallbiztrends.com/2013/04/plantronics-voyager-legend-headset.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=plantronics-voyager-legend-headset

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New studies explore mango's potential health-affirming properties

Public release date: 23-Apr-2013
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Contact: Allison Beadle
allison@saltand.co
512-963-6930
Salt & Co.

BOSTON, MA April 23, 2013 Two of the most serious health conditions facing Americans todayobesity and cancerare the subject of new mango nutrition research presented this week at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) in Boston. This preliminary research identifies important findings that merit further investigation to determine whether mangos can potentially have a positive effect on blood sugar in obese individuals and help to limit inflammation.

Preliminary research examines effects on blood sugar
A study led by Edralin Lucas, Ph.D., associate professor of nutritional sciences at Oklahoma State University, examined the effects of daily mango consumption on clinical parameters and body composition in obese subjects (body mass index, BMI ? 30kg/m2). Twenty adults (11 males and 9 females) participated in the study, which included daily dietary supplementation with 10 grams of freeze dried mango (equivalent to approximately 100 grams of fresh mango, according to Dr. Lucas) for 12 weeks.

Blood sugar levels at the conclusion of the study were significantly lower than the baseline in both male and female subjects. There were no significant changes in body composition for either gender, and BMI increased significantly in female subjects but not male subjects compared to baseline. These findings are the result of a single study and more research is needed on the effects of mango consumption on human health.

"The results of this study support what we learned in our recent animal model , , which found that mango improved blood glucose in mice fed a high fat diet," said Dr. Lucas. "Although the mechanism by which mango exerts its effects warrants further investigation, we do know that mangos contain a complex mixture of polyphenolic compounds. Research has shown that several other plants and their polyphenolic compounds, such as isoflavone from soy , epigallocatechin gallate from green tea , and proanthocyanidin from grape seed , have a positive effect on adipose tissue."

Exploring anti-inflammatory properties of mango polyphenols
Research led by Susanne Mertens-Talcott, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Director for Research, Institute for Obesity Research and Program Evaluation of Texas A&M University, examined the effects of polyphenols found in fresh mangos on cancerous and non-cancerous breast cells. This study suggests that mango polyphenols may limit inflammatory response in both cancerous and non-cancerous breast cells. Because this was an in vitro study, more research is needed to determine whether mango polyphenols can have the same effect in humans.
###

Lucas A, Li W, Brown A, Li W, Peterson SK, Wang Y, Perkins-Veazie P, Clarke SL, Smith BJ. Mango Modulates Blood Glucose Similar to Rosiglitazone without Compromising Bone Parameters in Mice Fed High Fat Diet. J Pharm Nutr Sci 2012; 2: 115-126.

Lucas A, Li W, Peterson SK, Brown A, Kuvibidila S, Perkins-Veazie P, Clarke SI, Smith BJ. Mango modulates body fat and plasma glucose and lipids in mice fed a high-fat diet. Brit J Nutr 2011; 106: 1495-1505.

Kim HK, Nelson-Dooley C, Della-Fera MA, Yang JY, Zhang W, Duan J, Hartzell DL, Hamrick MW, Baile CA. Genistein decreases food intake, body weight, and fat pad weight and causes adipose tissue apoptosis in ovariectomized female mice. J Nutr. 2006 Feb;136(2):409-14.

Hasegawa N, Yamda N, Mori M. Powdered green tea has antilipogenic effect on Zucker rats fed a high-fat diet. Phytother Res. 2003 May;17(5):477-80.

Tsuda T, Horio F, Uchida K, Aoki H, Osawa T. Dietary cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside-rich purple corn color prevents obesity and ameliorates hyperglycemia in mice. J Nutr. 2003 Jul;133(7):2125-30.

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

New studies explore mango's potential health-affirming properties Public release date: 23-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Allison Beadle
allison@saltand.co
512-963-6930
Salt & Co.

BOSTON, MA April 23, 2013 Two of the most serious health conditions facing Americans todayobesity and cancerare the subject of new mango nutrition research presented this week at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) in Boston. This preliminary research identifies important findings that merit further investigation to determine whether mangos can potentially have a positive effect on blood sugar in obese individuals and help to limit inflammation.

Preliminary research examines effects on blood sugar
A study led by Edralin Lucas, Ph.D., associate professor of nutritional sciences at Oklahoma State University, examined the effects of daily mango consumption on clinical parameters and body composition in obese subjects (body mass index, BMI ? 30kg/m2). Twenty adults (11 males and 9 females) participated in the study, which included daily dietary supplementation with 10 grams of freeze dried mango (equivalent to approximately 100 grams of fresh mango, according to Dr. Lucas) for 12 weeks.

Blood sugar levels at the conclusion of the study were significantly lower than the baseline in both male and female subjects. There were no significant changes in body composition for either gender, and BMI increased significantly in female subjects but not male subjects compared to baseline. These findings are the result of a single study and more research is needed on the effects of mango consumption on human health.

"The results of this study support what we learned in our recent animal model , , which found that mango improved blood glucose in mice fed a high fat diet," said Dr. Lucas. "Although the mechanism by which mango exerts its effects warrants further investigation, we do know that mangos contain a complex mixture of polyphenolic compounds. Research has shown that several other plants and their polyphenolic compounds, such as isoflavone from soy , epigallocatechin gallate from green tea , and proanthocyanidin from grape seed , have a positive effect on adipose tissue."

Exploring anti-inflammatory properties of mango polyphenols
Research led by Susanne Mertens-Talcott, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Director for Research, Institute for Obesity Research and Program Evaluation of Texas A&M University, examined the effects of polyphenols found in fresh mangos on cancerous and non-cancerous breast cells. This study suggests that mango polyphenols may limit inflammatory response in both cancerous and non-cancerous breast cells. Because this was an in vitro study, more research is needed to determine whether mango polyphenols can have the same effect in humans.
###

Lucas A, Li W, Brown A, Li W, Peterson SK, Wang Y, Perkins-Veazie P, Clarke SL, Smith BJ. Mango Modulates Blood Glucose Similar to Rosiglitazone without Compromising Bone Parameters in Mice Fed High Fat Diet. J Pharm Nutr Sci 2012; 2: 115-126.

Lucas A, Li W, Peterson SK, Brown A, Kuvibidila S, Perkins-Veazie P, Clarke SI, Smith BJ. Mango modulates body fat and plasma glucose and lipids in mice fed a high-fat diet. Brit J Nutr 2011; 106: 1495-1505.

Kim HK, Nelson-Dooley C, Della-Fera MA, Yang JY, Zhang W, Duan J, Hartzell DL, Hamrick MW, Baile CA. Genistein decreases food intake, body weight, and fat pad weight and causes adipose tissue apoptosis in ovariectomized female mice. J Nutr. 2006 Feb;136(2):409-14.

Hasegawa N, Yamda N, Mori M. Powdered green tea has antilipogenic effect on Zucker rats fed a high-fat diet. Phytother Res. 2003 May;17(5):477-80.

Tsuda T, Horio F, Uchida K, Aoki H, Osawa T. Dietary cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside-rich purple corn color prevents obesity and ameliorates hyperglycemia in mice. J Nutr. 2003 Jul;133(7):2125-30.

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?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/sc-nse042313.php
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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Resurgence of endangered deer in Patagonian 'Eden' highlights conservation success

Public release date: 16-Apr-2013
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Contact: Fred Lewsey
fred.lewsey@admin.cam.ac.uk
44-078-857-98680
University of Cambridge

The Huemul, a species of deer found only in the Latin American region of Patagonia, is bouncing back from the brink of possible extinction as a result of collaboration between conservationists and the Chilean government, says a new study.
By controlling cattle farming and policing to prevent poaching in the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park a vast "natural Eden" covering 3.5 million hectares conservation efforts have allowed the deer to return to areas of natural habitat from which it had completely disappeared.
Researchers are hailing the findings as an example of collaborations between local government and scientists leading to real conservation success, and a possible model for future efforts to maintain the extraordinary biodiversity found in this part of Chile.
The study by researchers from Cambridge, the Wildlife Conservation Society and CONAF, the Chilean national forestry commission, is released today in the journal Oryx, published by conservation charity Fauna and Flora International.
A national symbol that features on the Chilean coat-of-arms, Huemul deer are estimated to have suffered reductions of 99 per cent in size since the 19th century, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Researchers believe 50 per cent of this decline has come in recent years, with only 2,500 deer now left in the wild.
The Huemul is a naturally tame and approachable animal, which led to it becoming easy prey for hunters, particularly with the arrival of European colonists in the area who would hunt Huemul for meat to feed their dogs.
Recent increases by local farmers in the practice of releasing cattle indiscriminately into national parkland for retrieval later in the year has damaged the habitats of endemic wildlife such as the Huemul, and, coupled with continued hunting of the species, deer populations plummeted.
The joint efforts of conservationists and researchers with government and private initiatives created a small number of field stations in this remote natural paradise on the tip of South America one of the least populated areas of the world, requiring a boat trip of two days along the region's stunning fjords to reach.
This created a base for monitoring endangered species and natural habitats, as well as a team of park rangers enforcing conservation laws that although they had been in place since the late sixties had never been policed on the ground.
The impact was almost immediate, within five short years from 2004 to 2008 the Huemul population in the national park not only stabilised but also began to increase, with deer coming down from the hostile mountain areas it had sought refuge in and back to the sea-level valleys where it naturally thrives.
"National parks are at the heart of modern conservation, but there has to be an investment in management and protection on the ground. You can't just have a 'paper park', where an area is ring-fenced on a map but physically ignored," said Cristbal Briceo, a researcher from Cambridge's Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, who co-authored the study.
"Our results suggest that synergistic conservation actions, such as cattle removal and poaching control, brought about by increased infrastructure, can lead to the recovery of species such as the threated Huemul."
For Briceo, the "scattering" of endangered species as habitats are encroached on creates not only external threats - but also extremely limited mating diversity.
This leads to levels of inbreeding that can reach "a critical extent from which there's no return", causing susceptibility to disease and increased extinction risk, as with another Chilean mammal that Briceo is researching called Darwin's Fox named for the scientific genius that first discovered it with barely 500 now left in the world.
The Huemul's success offers encouragement for Briceo and others in the field: "I think it's beautiful that this has turned out to be an example of real hope for an endangered species, an example we would like to replicate."
###

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?

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

Resurgence of endangered deer in Patagonian 'Eden' highlights conservation success Public release date: 16-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Fred Lewsey
fred.lewsey@admin.cam.ac.uk
44-078-857-98680
University of Cambridge

The Huemul, a species of deer found only in the Latin American region of Patagonia, is bouncing back from the brink of possible extinction as a result of collaboration between conservationists and the Chilean government, says a new study.
By controlling cattle farming and policing to prevent poaching in the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park a vast "natural Eden" covering 3.5 million hectares conservation efforts have allowed the deer to return to areas of natural habitat from which it had completely disappeared.
Researchers are hailing the findings as an example of collaborations between local government and scientists leading to real conservation success, and a possible model for future efforts to maintain the extraordinary biodiversity found in this part of Chile.
The study by researchers from Cambridge, the Wildlife Conservation Society and CONAF, the Chilean national forestry commission, is released today in the journal Oryx, published by conservation charity Fauna and Flora International.
A national symbol that features on the Chilean coat-of-arms, Huemul deer are estimated to have suffered reductions of 99 per cent in size since the 19th century, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Researchers believe 50 per cent of this decline has come in recent years, with only 2,500 deer now left in the wild.
The Huemul is a naturally tame and approachable animal, which led to it becoming easy prey for hunters, particularly with the arrival of European colonists in the area who would hunt Huemul for meat to feed their dogs.
Recent increases by local farmers in the practice of releasing cattle indiscriminately into national parkland for retrieval later in the year has damaged the habitats of endemic wildlife such as the Huemul, and, coupled with continued hunting of the species, deer populations plummeted.
The joint efforts of conservationists and researchers with government and private initiatives created a small number of field stations in this remote natural paradise on the tip of South America one of the least populated areas of the world, requiring a boat trip of two days along the region's stunning fjords to reach.
This created a base for monitoring endangered species and natural habitats, as well as a team of park rangers enforcing conservation laws that although they had been in place since the late sixties had never been policed on the ground.
The impact was almost immediate, within five short years from 2004 to 2008 the Huemul population in the national park not only stabilised but also began to increase, with deer coming down from the hostile mountain areas it had sought refuge in and back to the sea-level valleys where it naturally thrives.
"National parks are at the heart of modern conservation, but there has to be an investment in management and protection on the ground. You can't just have a 'paper park', where an area is ring-fenced on a map but physically ignored," said Cristbal Briceo, a researcher from Cambridge's Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, who co-authored the study.
"Our results suggest that synergistic conservation actions, such as cattle removal and poaching control, brought about by increased infrastructure, can lead to the recovery of species such as the threated Huemul."
For Briceo, the "scattering" of endangered species as habitats are encroached on creates not only external threats - but also extremely limited mating diversity.
This leads to levels of inbreeding that can reach "a critical extent from which there's no return", causing susceptibility to disease and increased extinction risk, as with another Chilean mammal that Briceo is researching called Darwin's Fox named for the scientific genius that first discovered it with barely 500 now left in the world.
The Huemul's success offers encouragement for Briceo and others in the field: "I think it's beautiful that this has turned out to be an example of real hope for an endangered species, an example we would like to replicate."
###

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?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/uoc-roe041613.php
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A question about low muscle tone without flexing - Health, Fitness ...

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A question about low muscle tone without flexing

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Ascend
Emu Egg
Emu Egg

Joined: Apr 12, 2013
Posts: 3

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:37 pm?? ?Post subject: A question about low muscle tone without flexing

I have muscles and you can only see them when i flex them. Are there any supplements or medication that can let my muscles become like a black man, their muscles are big without flexing while mine just look like fat and skinny.

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VengerSeal
Phoenix

Joined: Apr 16, 2008
Posts: 2415

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 6:53 pm?? ?Post subject:

I think low body-fat% and dark skin are the main factors that contribute to good muscle tone/definition, so using a tanning bed would probably help along with doing some cardio after lifting weights. Steroids obviously build muscle while burning body-fat at the same time which is why they give such good muscle tone/definition although I don't recommend them.

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