PACOM Unison is a market-leading platform with the ability to link with ASSA Abloy Traka intelligent key management system and lockers solutions to manage and control access to a company’s most important assets. When a conventional key is stolen, mislaid, or accidentally taken home, security is compromised and the organization is suddenly vulnerable. Even if nothing is stolen, and no damage is done, the cost and inconvenience of fitting new locks and the impact on productivity can be significant.
Integrating Deister proxSafe with the PACOM Unison system allows Unison operators to respond to alarms, perform actions and monitor the status of the key management system as part of their standard Unison security management solution.Proper management of cryptographic keys in hardware security modules.

Proper key management is an essential process of data security within any organization handling sensitive information. To avoid risks and efficiently scale operations, an organization should centralize its large intelligent key management system. This will result in good key generation and ensure key integrity within the system.

How to implement proper centralized key management policies and procedures:

Develop secure data policies within your organization


Lite series key management system is typically developed with certain sectors/industries in mind, and therefore it is advisable to choose a centralized KMS that has a proven track record for supporting the security/regulatory standards of the particular sector that is relevant to the business.

A centralized KMS can help passing compliance audits by enforcing the security policies and automatic logging of all security sensitive operations. A unified overview and central control of all the essential logs makes demonstrating compliance much easier and quicker than auditing various disparate key management systems.
Compliance is non-negotiable. It is equally important for the system to support the complete life-cycle of cryptographic keys. Automating key management further reduces the need for time-consuming, manual key functions.

Standalone guard tour system provides a means to check and record the time that a guard executes his guard tour by scanning specific checkpoints assigned on the area he patrols. Checkpoints are placed in certain points either on buildings or on other locations of a site or remote area and help the managing staff to identify each different location and each portion of a specific territory. The on-site officers can scan checkpoints, send SOS alerts, track and record events and conduct and send reports to the managing staff or the clients, even in real-time.

Sport is an important part of many people’s lives—as both recreation and entertainment. It is also a sizeable industry with political and economic ramifications in today’s world. Within the last half-century or so, sports wear has become a driving force for new trends in fashion and for textile innovation. This special issue of Fashion Practice was inspired by the “Spandex to Sportstech—Fashion and Innovation in Sportswear” conference, organized in 2011 by guest editor Mette Bielefeldt Bruun at the Danish National Research Foundation’s Centre for Textile Research at the University of Copenhagen.
Before the advent of designer activewear, women's sports wear ranked low on the list of fashion priorities. But a new exhibition demonstrates that sporting attire has long been a valuable tool for self-expression and an important path towards greater liberation."Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960" includes about 65 ensembles from mainland Europe, the UK, and the US, ranging from Victorian hunting dresses and couture-level leisure wear to tailor-made team uniforms. Organized by the FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles and the American Federation of Arts, the show opens at the Frick Art Museum in Pittsburgh on July 3, before touring nationwide through 2024.
Design innovation

Garments from the early 1800s are tailored to strolling in parks, gardening, and ice skating -- easy, acceptable activities for women propelled outside by an interest in horticulture, health and fresh air.

The idea of a woman exerting herself was still taboo: In 1806, an article in the popular British magazine La Belle Assemblée, excerpted in the show's comprehensive catalog, warned that, "the constitution of women is adapted only to moderate exercise; their feeble arms cannot perform work too laborious and too long continued, and the graces cannot be reconciled with fatigue and sun-burning."

That's the outlook for men's sports wear as the fall wholesale buying season gets under way this week. And while merchants and manufacturers have been expressing their traditional optimism as the new lines open, the unknown factors resulting from President Nixon's economic stabilization program have brought a modicum of caution to the trade.

Consumer spending for men's and boys’ apparel amounted to approximately $16‐billion last year, with sportswear a major but undefinable percentage of the total. What is even more significant, however, is that while production of a number of other categories of men's wear, such as suits and dress shirts, declined during the year, sportswear manufacturing was greater in 1971 than ever before.
And while statistics on the sportswear category are not collected by any government agency or trade association, conversations with retailers last week indicated that 1971's volume advances would he continued at the same rapid pace in 1972.

Women's sports bra is made to reduce this movement. Breasts have no muscle, yet without proper support, the skin and Cooper's ligaments (ligaments near the breast which give them their size and shape) can break down and cause sagging. Once your Cooper's ligaments stretch out, they do not bounce back.



Like military uniform, that other stalwart of menswear, mens sportswear set has long been valued for the rugged characteristics it both possesses in itself and indicates in its wearer. And in sport, like war, competition results in game-changing technological breakthroughs. What we wear on the fields of battle and play has advanced more dramatically than what we wear elsewhere. If sportswear is at the cutting edge of fashion right now, that’s because – in technical terms – it always has been.

The major production of xylitol goes to the pharmaceutical and oral hygiene industries and to confectionary manufacturers. It has 30% less calories compared to table sugar (calorific value of xylitol is 2.4 kcal/g, while that of sugar is 4 kcal/g) and is used in different food products for children like chewing gum, candies, gelatin, and in lozenges, toothpaste, and mouth rinses.
Xylitol and Dental Caries
Clinical trials on xylitol show that it plays a major role in prevention of dental caries in babies and teenaged children and in the fetus through the mother. Use of xylitol chewing gum is directly related to reduction of dental caries. Moreover, xylitol also reduces the s. mutans transmission from mother to infant.
Another research on children has found that xylitol candy, pops, ice, gums, puddings, and cookie help in arresting dental caries. Follow-up studies five years later showed that xylitol gum resulted in reduction of caries by 59% against no gum use.



Health benefits and risks of chocolate
Chocolate is made from tropical Theobroma cacao tree seeds. Its earliest use dates back to the Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica.
After the European discovery of the Americas, chocolate became very popular in the wider world, and its demand exploded.
Chocolate has since become a popular food product that millions enjoy every day, thanks to its unique, rich, and sweet taste.

Sour candy has captured the attention and taste buds of consumers who look for confectionery experiences outside of the standard of sweet, says Steve Schuster, president of Wisconsin-based Schuster Products, which makes a line of sour products called Face Twisters.The Untold Truth Of Gummy Bears

There are the people who love to munch on chocolate bars, from Butterfingers to Snickers, indulging in the perfect combination of sweet and salty. And then there are the candy lovers who are obsessed with anything chewy, gooey, and gummy. Gummy candies only seem to be rising in popularity, and really, there's a gummy candy in pretty much every shape out there at this point.


The first incarnation of the lollipop candy was probably created by cave people thousands of years ago who collected honey from beehives with a stick. Not wanting to waste the sweet nectar, they most likely licked the stick, thus inventing the world’s first lollipop. Good for them (good for us). Archaeologists believe that ancient Chinese, Arabs, and Egyptians all produced fruit and nut confections that they "candied" in honey, which serves as a preservative, and inserted sticks into to make easier to eat.If the 17th Century English version doesn’t count as the first modern lollipop, you could look to the Civil War era for another early forerunner, when hard candy was put on the tips of pencils for children. The early 20th Century was the era of automation, which is when the birth of the lollipop as we now know it begins in earnest, but there are still discrepancies as to who is the true creator.Recipes can vary between brands, but all chewing gums have the following basic ingredients:

• Gum: The non-digestible, rubbery base used to give gum its chewy quality.
  candy, also called confectionery, sweet food product, the main constituent of which generally is sugar. The application of the terms candy and confectionery varies among English-speaking countries. In the United States candy refers to both chocolate products and sugar-based confections; elsewhere “chocolate confectionery” refers to chocolates, “sugar confectionery” to the various sugar-based products, and “flour confectionery” to products such as cakes and pastries. This article is primarily concerned with sugar confectionery. Other types of confections are discussed in the articles baking and cocoa.

If you thought stickers were the preserve of toddlers’ books and playgrounds, think again. Branded stickers are now among the fashion industry’s most sought-after items, something to slap on laptops and lunchboxes as a way of conveying an affinity with a label at a fraction of the cost of buying its goods.

Last week, skateboard brand Palace released its winter sticker pack and it sold out within an hour. With other rare versions, such as a single Supreme x Playboy sticker, reselling online for as much as £200, the big-name fashion brands are also jumping on the bandwagon.

Calvin Klein Jeans recently made stickers using a classic 1980s image by Richard Avedon of Brooke Shields, while the fashion brand Coach has produced leather stickers, and Berlin’s hip o32c magazine featured sticker sheets from Louis Vuitton’s creative director, Virgil Abloh. A partnership between the luggage manufacturer Rimowa and Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson yielded a limited edition of suitcase stickers that sold out immediately.

“It shows you’re part of a subculture,” said Dominik Pollin, of the Dover Street Market bookstore, Idea.

Michael Kopelman, managing director at Stüssy, said: “It’s fun. You can put them on your car or lunchbox. It’s like tagging. Most won’t notice it, but the people who are interested do spot it.”

Although councils in England and Wales restrict flyers and stickers in public places, they are increasingly appearing on lamp-posts and billboards across the country.

Alex Powis, co-founder of Stickerarchive, an online collection of popular graphics, said: “Slapping a sticker up … is instant, whereas graffiti takes time and guts. It’s like coded messaging.”

Traditionally not for sale by fashion labels, stickers have become an affordable way to tap into a brand. “There’s been a surge of interest in streetwear, lately and stickers are a core part of those cultures,” said Powis.

Sarah Andelman, founder of the French concept store Colette, is a collector herself. “I have about three boxes full of all kinds of stickers that I started keeping from the age of 15,” she said.

Instagram accounts such as Supstickers, dedicated to indexing and reselling stickers, have more than 50,000 followers. Edson Sabajo, CEO of Dutch streetwear brand Patta, said that sticker fans were taking part in the decades-old pastime of collecting.

“Ours reference the latest graphics and give you a memory about a certain timeframe. That’s why they’re always changing,” he said. “People collect them all.”

Others agree that the trend is a move away from the internet towards a more DIY approach. “In the last few months, I’ve been making more stickers,” said the electronic musician James Lavelle. “There’s something about having physical things that’s the opposite to a huge digital marketing campaign. There’s an authenticity about them.”

Why Paper Planners Are Better Than Digital Planners and Calendars

No matter if you’re a die-hard business person, freelance artist, stay-at-home parent or an office regular, you must have some sort of a system to plan, organize and prioritize your tasks and events. That system is crucial to getting things done – whether it stays on your Google calendar, all over your fridge on post-its, or on your paper planner.

The rise of digital devices has heavily diminished our habits of note taking, journaling and plan setting on paper. Do you even remember the last time you wrote down more than 2 sentences by hand? Whatever we do and wherever we go, we seem to never forget to take our phones with us. So, clearly, many are moving their organizational systems to the digital world. 

However, despite the trends, the industry of paper planners, agendas, and productivity journals seems to be well off. More and more people are interested in owning a paper agenda and using it daily. This time we wanted to take a deeper look at the matter – what really makes paper planners better than digital planners? What are the benefits?

We did some research and found 5 science-backed benefits you’d enjoy if you switched to paper planner. Also, gift boxes are better as paper, rather than digital ones.

Nuts and dried fruits have been in our diets for a long time and, in recent years their health benefits and the importance of adding them into our daily lives is getting more widely known. But even so, nuts and dried fruits have still been suffering some myths related with their health benefits or nutrient content - some of them true and some of them false. In this article we are going to uncover the truths and debunk the myths about nuts and dried fruits.

Myth 1: Nut Consumption Leads to Weight Gain
The belief that dried nuts are a fattening food has been commonly accepted for decades and therefore, it has long been assumed that nut intake leads to a weight gain. It is true that nuts are energy-dense foods and also high in fat, but they are especially high in unsaturated fats, also known as healthy fats. Research evidence showed us that when compared to a nut-free diet, the presence of nuts in a diet leads to a more moderate weight increase. The results revealed that those participants who had consumed more nuts (more than one serving per week), incorporated to a standard diet, did gain weight, but less than those who hadn’t. Another study concluded that incorporating nuts as part of a healthy dietary pattern by replacing less healthful foods may help mitigate the gradual weight gain common during adulthood, and beneficially contribute to the prevention of obesity.

Moreover, incorporating almonds into your diet, for example as a mid-morning snack may help reduce overall hunger, so they also may be effective for appetite control. And, a daily intake of 44 g of pistachios over 12 weeks may help improve nutrient intake without affecting body weight.

Myth 2: Walnuts May Help Improve Brain Health
The Greeks called the walnut “karyon” (head), because it looks like a myths about nutshuman brain. For this same reason, for centuries the Chinese have believed that walnut kernel are good for the brain. This fact is, is that this fact is not false at all. Recent research suggests that walnut consumption may help improve cognitive function (brain health) and may also reduce the risk of other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, depression and type 2 diabetes, which are risk factors for the development of dementia. Now there a reason to add walnuts to your diet.

Myth 3: The Sugar Content of Dried Fruits Promotes Dental Cavities?
Traditional dried fruit is simply fresh fruit with water removed. They contain naturally occurring sugars (not added sugars), with fructose and glucose being the most common. Due to their stickiness and natural sugar content, it has been thought that dried fruits could cause tooth decay. This is the case of an urban myth according to Jennette Higgs, Registered Public Health Nutritionist & Dietitian, and principal consultant for Food to Fit. Scientific evidence suggests the contrary. For example, bioactive compounds found in raisins appear to have antimicrobial properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.

Advice on dried fruit consumption should also take into account their nutritional benefits, being a source of fiber, low in fat and containing useful levels of micronutrients.

Myth 4: Soaked Import Nuts Better for You
soaking nuts mythRecommendations to soak nuts prior to consumption to reduce phytate concentrations and improve gastrointestinal tolerance have received much attention in the popular press. Phytates or phytic acid is a substance found in plants that when eaten by humans, can reduce absorption of nutrients (specially minerals) from the diet. For that reason, soaking nuts before eating them has been so popular in recent years. This is despite no supporting scientific evidence for the practice.

However, a 2018 study, primarily assessed the effects of soaking almonds on consumer acceptance and secondly assessed effects on gastrointestinal tolerance. Results observed that nuts were well tolerated gastrointestinally, but soaking does not improve gastrointestinal tolerance or acceptance as claimed in the lay literature. With regards their phytate content, soaking resulted in lower mineral concentrations, especially for chopped nuts. But this research does not support claims that 'activating' or soaking nuts results in greater nutrient bioavailability/absorption.

Myth 5: Raw vs. Roasted Nuts
Many people wonder whether raw nuts are healthier than roasted, like pumpkin kernel. It is a common myth that some people think that with the roasting process the nutritional properties in nuts, specially vitamins and minerals, could decrease. The fact is that nuts are generally roasted to improve their taste, aroma and crunchy texture.

To prove the point, Raw vs. Roasted Nutsscientific studies observed that nuts roasted at suitable temperature and time demonstrated excellent antioxidant activities therefore showing that, when done correctly, roasting does not affect nutritional properties in nuts.

Sunflower seeds: Nutritional and health benefits

Sunflower seeds kernel are popular health foods that people commonly consume in trail mix, breakfast cereals, or straight from the bag as a snack. They contain beneficial nutrients, including healthy fats, minerals, and antioxidant compounds.

Health benefits
Including sunflower seeds in the diet can offer health benefits. The following sections discuss these potential benefits in more detail.

Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial
ResearchTrusted Source suggests sunflower seeds are:

anti-inflammatory
antifungal
antibacterial
wound healing
The beneficial effects are due to compounds such as phenols, tannins, and saponins.

People with diabetes can produce advanced glycation end products that can cause damage to the body. Sunflower seeds contain compounds that can inhibit these substances.

Cynarin in sunflower seeds kernel can lower triglycerides and cholesterol, an effect that may potentially benefit people with hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia.

A small pilot studyTrusted Source of 50 adults with obesity found that sunflower seed extract reduced blood cholesterol and benefited body weight and fat mass.

However, as participants took a concentrated extract, this may not yield the same effects as consuming sunflower seeds. Additionally, researchers instructed participants to consume 500 fewer calories than their usual diet, which would also result in weight loss.

Healthy skin and bones
Sunflower seeds, with spices added, contain omega-6 fatty acids, which people require for healthy skin.

Research indicates that essential fatty acid deficiency significantly affects skin function and appearance. With this in mind, including sources of essential fatty acids in the diet may help prevent skin conditions, such as dermatitis, and reduce the effects of aging on the skin.

Sunflower seeds also contain zinc, an essentialTrusted Source mineral for skin health, and minerals, including magnesium, calcium, and phosphorous for healthy bones.

It's no secret that a comfortable, supportive pillow is an important ingredient in a good night's sleep. But what may come as a surprise is how often you're supposed to invest in a new one. According to the Sleep Foundation, you should replace your pillow every one to two years for optimal R&R.

Curious about the reasoning behind these guidelines? Us too — so we reached out to experts for some pillow talk. Here, we reveal what can go wrong if your pillow dates back to the Bush administration, plus signs it's time for a new pillow and tips to extend that two-year lifespan a little longer.

Your Sleep Could Suffer
A squashed-down pillow can cause tense, achy muscles.

Pillows lose their loft over time, especially if you don't wash them regularly, says Ann Romaker, MD, professor of medicine and director of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Sleep Medicine Center. As they flatten, they offer less neck support, which can lead to neck, shoulder and upper back pain.

If you're uncomfortable, you might toss and turn at night instead of falling into a deep, restorative sleep.

Sleeping on a pancake can also hinder breathing. According to Dr. Romaker, 85 percent of people are born with a deviated nasal septum, where the membrane dividing the nasal cavity is off-center to some degree. This can cause congestion, particularly when lying down.

For most people with a deviated septum, elevating your head helps with nasal drainage, she says. If your travel pillow is quite flat, your nose might clog up more.

Being stuffed up means you have to work harder to inhale and exhale. When you're congested and struggling to breathe, you wake up more frequently during the night, Dr. Romaker says. In the worst-case scenario, it can even cause snoring.

One trick that can help: Rotate which pillow you use, and flip it over so you're not sleeping on the same side every night, Dr. Romaker says. It will stay fluffier for longer and give you better support.

You Might Break Out
Think about it: Your skin and hair are constantly shedding and eliminating oils, and pillows are rubbing against your skin and hair all night long.

Pillows collect these dead skin cells and oils, along with all the products you typically add to your skin and hair, says board-certified dermatologist Cheri Frey, MD, spokesperson for the Skin of Color Society and assistant professor of dermatology at Howard University. Plus, if you drool or sweat when you sleep, that saliva and perspiration can also be absorbed by your pillow.

The upshot? You're pretty much snoozing in a cesspool of filth — and that can wreak havoc on your skin. The combination of oils, dead skin cells, saliva and sweat are a breeding ground for bacteria, Dr. Frey says. This can cause problems like clogged pores, whiteheads and even cysts.

One way to keep your skin happy while you sleep: Stick to natural, breathable airplane pillowcase fabrics such as cotton or linen. Dr. Frey says they're best for acne-prone or sensitive skin, because they reduce nighttime sweating.

And although washing your pillows in hot water will also minimize bacteria growth and help keep your skin clear, you still do need to swap them out entirely every now and then. Pillows will begin to break down after about two years, Dr. Frey says. After that, they're more difficult to keep clean and more likely to cause skin irritation.

You May Sneeze and Sniffle
Dust mites are a common allergen. These microscopic bugs live practically everywhere in your home, but they especially love to burrow into fabric-covered items, including mattresses, upholstered furniture and — you guessed it — pillows.

After two years, 10 percent of the weight of your pillow can be from dead dust mites and their droppings, says Melanie Carver, chief mission officer for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Yuck!

Old pillows can also harbor other things that make you achoo — like bacteria, fungi and mold.

4 Signs It’s Time for a New Pillow
If any of the following are true for you, a pillow upgrade is in order.

1. It's Lumpy and Bumpy
If it forms peaks and valleys, feels crumbly inside and doesn't maintain its shape, consider purchasing a new one, Dr. Romaker says.

2. You’re Doubling Up
If you find yourself reaching for a second hoodie pillow or sliding your hands underneath your pillow to prop yourself up, that's a sign it's time to recycle it, Dr. Romaker says.

3. The Cover Looks Filthy
I sometimes see people with yellow, stained casings on their pillow, Dr. Romaker says. They've probably been holding onto it for too long.

4. It Fails the Fold Test
Fold your pillow in half when it's freshly washed and dried. Does it stay that way, or does it spring back open again? If yours doesn't bounce back, ditch it, suggests the Sleep Foundation.

5 Ways to Make Your Pillow Last Longer
It's possible to stretch the life of your pillow beyond the two-year mark. Here's how:

1. Wash It
First things first: You gotta keep it clean. Clean pillows have more loft, Dr. Romaker says.

Carver recommends washing uncovered pillows in water that's at least 130°F on a monthly basis to control the buildup of oil, dead skin cells and allergens.

But because a hot-water wash also causes the material to degrade more quickly and become misshapen, try the following tips to stretch out the time between washes and coax more life out of your pillow.

2. Cover It Up
Using a zippered allergy-resistant or plastic neck pillowcase cover will decrease the need to wash the entire pillow, Carver says.

3. Change Your Case More Often Than You Think
I recommend washing [your pillowcase] twice a week at a minimum, Dr. Frey says. Using a fresh pillowcase will allow you to cut down the number of times you wash your actual bed pillow to every three to four months.

When you wash your pillow: Use a hypoallergenic detergent and avoid fabric softener and dryer sheets, which can be irritating for sensitive skin, Dr. Frey says.

4. Choose the Right Pillow
Some [types of pillows], like memory foam, retain their shape better than others, Dr. Romaker says. They can also be contoured so that they support more of the neck.

5. Scrub Up Before Bed
Dirt and oil make the filling of your pillow break down faster.

Wash your face and wrap your hair up away from your face, Dr. Frey says. This can keep your pillow dirt- and bacteria-free for longer.

One Thing You Should Never Do to Your Pillow
Sometimes people will fold or roll an old, flat pillow to give it more height. But that can backfire.

It can cause your chin to tilt down toward your throat, cutting off your air supply, Dr. Romaker says. It can also make your mouth drop open, which heightens your risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and gingivitis.

According to a January 2020 study in Bioinformation, mouth-breathing reduces saliva production — and because saliva neutralizes acid in the mouth and flushes away bacteria, having a Sahara-dry mouth makes you prone to cavities and periodontal disease.

But that's not all: You're also more likely to snore, which is a risk factor for stroke, Dr. Romaker says.

So, How Bad Is It Really to Use the Same Pillow Forever?
In the grand scheme of things, it's not that bad — as long as you aren't experiencing negative repercussions.

If you are young and comfy and getting a good night's sleep, then you are fine, Dr. Romaker says. If you wake up tired and sore, then you need to start with a new pillow or cushion, or a back cushion.

People with allergies or breakouts should also try to stick to the two-year guideline.

If you were to read a collection of tube bending articles written at various times over the last three decades, you might be surprised by how much bending technology has changed, especially within the last 20 years. Benders have advanced, new features have been developed, and bending knowledge has improved and spread.

To get a sense of how much the industry has advanced, consider two people doing two different things in the early 1990s. One is a tube bender technician working for an aircraft parts manufacturer. He’s well-versed in bending technology and bending machine and knows the combinations of tubing alloys, tooling sets, lubricants, and bender settings that result in tight-radius, repeatable bends. The other owns a pickup truck, and he’s changing the spark plugs. The truck is so big and has so much room to spare under the hood that he sits on the fender with his legs inside the engine compartment. He rests his feet on the wheel well as he works.

What do these two activities have to do with each other? Everything.

A Tale of 1D Bends in Two Industries
The aircraft industry has always been one of innovation. From the first flight in 1903, the technology it used to build aircraft was almost unrecognizable a mere 50 years later. Wooden frames covered in cloth and internal combustion engines had been replaced by aluminum airframes, aluminum skins, and jet-powered engines. The first flights were measured in seconds for time and feet for distance; five decades later, jets were flying for hours and hundreds of miles. Always space- and weight-conscious, aircraft companies led the way in reducing component size and weight. In tube bending or pipe bending machine, this means tighter bending radii and thinner walls. By the 1990s, it wasn’t uncommon for a tubular aircraft part to have a bending radius equal to the tube’s diameter, known as a 1D bend.

Back then, the automobile industry wasn’t as weight-conscious as it is now, and most vehicles were bigger than they really needed to be. The corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) legislation, which mandated the fuel efficiency for passenger cars and light trucks, didn’t change much in the1990s. After the initial target, 17.2 miles per gallon (MPG) for two-wheel-drive trucks and 15.8 MPG for four-wheel-drive trucks in 1979, they climbed to 20.7 and 19.1 by 1991. After that they rose slowly, just 1.4 MPG over the next 15 years. Gasoline was little more than $1 per gallon throughout much of the 1990s; consumers were hardly clamoring for fuel efficiency, so automobile manufactures didn’t have much incentive to reduce vehicle weight or size. In the early ‘90s most automotive applications used centerline radii larger than 1.5D and straight lengths between bends long enough for a standard 2D clamp and insert. Exhaust systems were big and cumbersome, so engine compartments were large to accommodate them.

The automotive industry at the time hadn’t started the big push to lighten cars and make them more fuel-efficient. Exhaust tubing was 0.060 to 0.080 inch thick, and in the ‘90s, some considered 0.060 in. to be thin wall.

Reducing Straight Lengths, Eliminating Welds. At that time, 1D bending was limited to elbows, or single bends, which were welded to straight sections to produce complete components—a time-consuming way to make a part.

In the early to mid-1990s the straights between bends shortened to less than 2D. Stack benders become the coveted machines of the time. The early stack machines were limited to either two or three tools: The so-called two-stack and three-stack machines with shearing machine. The latest generation of machines is more advanced still. They have a specific stack height but can accommodate as many tools as can fit onto the stack.

In that same time period a three-stack machine held a single straight clamp and two bend dies, so part designers still had limitations: either use the same straight clamp for every bend on a given part, or design the part so it used several straight clamps, which required additional tooling setups. The tradeoff was design creativity versus production efficiency.

The auto industry followed the aircraft industry by reducing the bend radii, which ultimately led to a new machine equipment feature: Boost. This process, a pushing force that advances the tube into the bend die, gave manufacturers the ability to make several 1D bends in succession with no straight length between the bends. In other words, make a 1D bend, rotate the tube a bit, and make another 1D bend right after the previous one. Voila! A compound 1D bend.

Bend and Cut. In the late 1990s another innovation came along to improve production efficiency and conserve material: Cutting the tube immediately after bending. Bender manufacturers developed various types of bender cutoffs, but combining bending and trimming on one machine wasn’t viable for every application. One disadvantage was that the time needed to trim the tube on the bender uses more bender time, so less tubing was being bent in a specified time. Fabricators soon learned that cutting and trimming in a second operation allowed the bender to bend more parts.

Tooling Evolves Too
Wiper dies also have changed. The wiper prevents the terminal hump or wrinkle on the inside radius of the bend. Many companies have switched to inserted wiper dies, which cost much less than conventional wipers and are considered disposable. The older style, which is a squareback, is more expensive but can be recut and reused several times

The squareback type is much more rigid than the disposable type and therefore works better for 1D applications. The key setting for wiper dies is the rake, which is the maximum angle relative to the tube’s centerline at which the wiper can be set before the terminal hump forms. More rather than less rake is normally desirable because increasing the rake angle increases wiper life.

As materials have gotten thinner and bending radii smaller, more pressure has been applied to make good bends without wrinkles, and the wiper tower needs to be rigid enough to maintain position when this additional force is applied. While machine builders, including slip roll machine, incorporated one innovation after another, the one area that seemed to be neglected was the wiper towers, the posts to which the wipers were mounted. Bends have increased in severity, but among many bending machine manufacturers, wiper die towers have stayed the same.

Any experienced bend technician knows that a wiper tower that deflects during bending creates several problems, especially wrinkles. The setup person has a difficult time setting the wiper because all of the rules he or she knows no longer apply and uncertainty sets in. How to set the wiper on a tower that moves during bending? It’s impossible to say. A wiper tower that moves introduces a variable that nobody wants to deal with.

Replacing the bender’s original wiper stack with a heavy-duty wiper tower might be the way to go. A heavy-duty, multistack wiper tower might seem expensive in the short term, but this investment has long-term benefits. The two offsets are less scrap (a waste of material and time) and less downtime needed to resolve setup problems. In shops that have a handful of troublesome applications, the cost can be justified without too much effort, and the return on investment comes quickly.

All lithium chemistries are not created equal. In fact, most American consumers – electronic enthusiasts aside – are only familiar with a limited range of lithium solutions. The most common versions are built from cobalt oxide, manganese oxide and nickel oxide formulations.

First, let’s take a step back in time. Lithium-ion batteries are a much newer innovation and have only been around for the last 25 years. Over this time, lithium technologies have increased in popularity as they have proven to be valuable in powering smaller electronics – like laptops and cell phones. But as you may recall from several news stories over recent years, lithium-ion batteries also gained a reputation for catching fire. Until recent years, this was one of the main reasons lithium wasn't commonly used to create large battery banks.

But then came along lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). This newer type of lithium solution was inherently non-combustible, while allowing for slightly lower energy density. LiFePO4 batteries were not only safer, they had many advantages over other lithium chemistries, particularly for high power applications.

Although lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries aren’t exactly new, they’re just now picking up traction in Global commercial markets. Here’s a quick breakdown on what distinguishes LiFePO4 from the other lithium battery solutions:

Safety And Stability
LiFePO4 batteries are best known for their strong safety profile, the result of extremely stable chemistry. Phosphate-based batteries offer superior thermal and chemical stability which provides an increase in safety over lithium-ion batteries made with other cathode materials. Lithium phosphate cells are incombustible, which is an important feature in the event of mishandling during charging or discharging. They can also withstand harsh conditions, be it freezing cold, scorching heat or rough terrain.

When subjected to hazardous events, such as collision or short-circuiting, they won’t explode or catch fire, significantly reducing any chance of harm. If you’re selecting a lithium battery and anticipate use in hazardous or unstable environments, LiFePO4 is likely your best choice.

Performance
Performance is a major factor in determining which type of battery to use in a given application. Long life, slow self-discharge rates and less weight make lithium iron batteries an appealing option as they are expected to have a longer shelf life than lithium-ion. Service life usually clocks in at five to ten years or longer, and runtime significantly exceeds lead-acid batteries and other lithium formulations. Battery charging time is also considerably reduced, another convenient performance perk. So, if you’re looking for a battery to stand the test of time and charge quickly, LiFePO4 is the answer.

Space Efficiency
Also worth mentioning is LiFePO4’s space-efficient characteristics. At one-third the weight of most lead-acid batteries and almost half the weight of the popular manganese oxide, LiFePO4 provides an effective way to make use of space and weight. Making your product more efficient overall.  

Environmental Impact
LiFePO4 batteries are non-toxic, non-contaminating and contain no rare earth metals, making them an environmentally conscious choice. Lead-acid and nickel oxide lithium high rate batteries carry significant environmental risk (especially lead acid, as internal chemicals degrade structure over team and eventually cause leakage). There is also VRLA battery.

Compared to lead-acid and other lithium batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries offer significant advantages, including improved discharge and charge efficiency, longer life span and the ability to deep cycle while maintaining performance. LiFePO4 batteries often come with a higher price tag, but a much better cost over life of the product, minimal maintenance and infrequent replacement makes them a worthwhile investment and a smart long-term solution.

A lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is an advanced battery technology that uses lithium ions as a key component of its electrochemistry. During a discharge cycle, lithium atoms in the anode are ionized and separated from their electrons. The lithium ions move from the anode and pass through the electrolyte until they reach the cathode, where they recombine with their electrons and electrically neutralize. The lithium ions are small enough to be able to move through a micro-permeable separator between the anode and cathode. In part because of lithium’s small size (third only to hydrogen and helium), Li-ion batteries are capable of having a very high voltage and charge storage per unit mass and unit volume.

Li-ion batteries can use a number of different materials as electrodes. The most common combination is that of lithium cobalt oxide (cathode) and graphite (anode), which is most commonly found in portable electronic devices such as cellphones and laptops. Other cathode materials include lithium manganese oxide (used in hybrid electric and electric automobiles) and lithium iron phosphate. Li-ion batteries typically use ether (a class of organic compounds) as an electrolyte.

What are some advantages of Li-ion batteries?
Compared to the other high-quality rechargeable battery technologies (nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal-hydride), Li-ion batteries have a number of advantages. They have one of the highest energy densities of any battery technology today (100-265 Wh/kg or 250-670 Wh/L). In addition, Li-ion battery cells, including a 3.2V Lithium Battery Cell, can deliver up to 3.6 Volts, 3 times higher than technologies such as Ni-Cd or Ni-MH. This means that they can deliver large amounts of current for high-power applications, which has Li-ion batteries are also comparatively low maintenance, and do not require scheduled cycling to maintain their battery life. Li-ion batteries have no memory effect, a detrimental process where repeated partial discharge/charge cycles can cause a battery to ‘remember’ a lower capacity. This is an advantage over both Ni-Cd and Ni-MH, which display this effect. Li-ion batteries also have low self-discharge rate of around 1.5-2% per month. They do not contain toxic cadmium, which makes them easier to dispose of than Ni-Cd batteries.

Due to these advantages, Li-ion deep cycle batteries have displaced Ni-Cd batteries as the market leader in portable electronic devices (such as smartphones and laptops). Li-ion batteries, like a 12V lithium battery, are also used to power electrical systems for some aerospace applications, notable in the new and more environmentally friendly Boeing 787, where weight is a significant cost factor. From a clean energy perspective, much of the promise of Li-ion technology comes from their potential applications in battery-powered cars. Currently, the bestselling electric cars, the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S, both use Li-ion batteries as their primary fuel source.

What are some disadvantages of Li-ion batteries?
Despite their technological promise, Li-ion batteries still have a number of shortcomings, particularly with regards to safety. Li-ion batteries have a tendency to overheat, and can be damaged at high voltages. In some cases this can lead to thermal runaway and combustion. This has caused significant problems, notably the grounding of the Boeing 787 fleet after onboard battery fires were reported. Because of the risks associated with these batteries, a number of shipping companies refuse to perform bulk shipments of batteries by plane. Li-ion batteries require safety mechanisms to limit voltage and internal pressures, which can increase weight and limit performance in some cases. Li-ion gel batteries are also subject to aging, meaning that they can lose capacity and frequently fail after a number of years. Another factor limiting their widespread adoption is their cost, which is around 40% higher than Ni-Cd. Addressing these issues is a key component for current research into the technology. Finally, despite the high energy density of Li-ion compared to other kinds of batteries, they are still around a hundred times less energy dense than gasoline (which contains 12,700 Wh/kg by mass or 8760 Wh/L by volume).

Having the right type of luggage, pack or bag for your travels can make packing up and hopping on a plane or hitting the road easier and less stressful. But with so many styles to choose from, deciding which one is right for you can be a challenge. This article breaks down the different types of luggage and offers advice on choosing the right size, weight and level of durability. It also goes over features like wheels, laptop compartments and carry-on compatibility.

Types of Luggage, Bags and Packs
There are three broad categories of luggage: wheeled luggage, travel packs and travel duffels. When deciding which one is right for you, it can be helpful to think about things like where you’re going, how you’re getting there and what you plan to do when you get there.

Wheeled Luggage
The obvious advantage of luggage, packs and bags with wheels is how easy they are to transport through the airport and down smooth streets and sidewalks. There are three types of wheeled luggage: rolling luggage, wheeled duffels and wheeled backpacks.

Rolling luggage: Designed for traditional travelers, rolling luggage is what you see most people pulling behind them at an airport. They come in a range of sizes and typically feature sturdy construction made to handle the rigors of luggage transport systems. They are generally best for business travel, family visits, road trips and travel to urban areas.

Wheeled duffels: Nothing swallows up gear like a duffel bag, and one with wheels is a good choice for multisport travelers. If your adventures frequently require gear of widely varying sizes and shapes, a rolling duffel is a smart way to corral it all. For light packers, a carry-on wheeled duffel offers less space but allows you to forgo the time and expense of checking a luggage bags and cases. Wheeled duffels are a good choice for adventure travel requiring bulky or odd-shaped gear, family trips and road trips. To learn more about duffel options, read about travel duffels below.

Wheeled backpacks: Popular with adventure travelers, these combine the convenience of wheeled luggage with the mobility of a backpack. You can transport lots of gear with a simple pull of the extendable handle. Facing heavy foot traffic or a long flight of stairs? Strap on the shoulder straps and hip belt for hands-free carrying convenience. Wheeled backpacks are typically best for adventure travel and road trips. To learn more about backpacks, see the travel packs section below.

Travel Duffels
These range from basic duffels that you throw over a shoulder to wheeled duffels with extendable handles (to learn about wheeled duffels, see the Wheeled Luggage section of this article.) The primary advantage of duffels over other options is their simple design. They’re easy to use and generally feature one large space for packing your gear and clothing. Of course, this could be a disadvantage if you’re the super-organized type who needs separate pockets and compartments to stay sane. (One way to stay organized in a duffel is to pack your things in travel cubes or stuff sacks.)

Duffel bags, or tote bags, are available in many sizes, from compact carry-on handbags that have a capacity of 20–30 liters and will hold a weekend's worth of clothes on up to massive duffels that hold 100 liters or more for adventures that require tons of gear.

Traditional duffel bags that don’t have wheels might seem old-fashioned given how easy wheels can make transport. But, for adventures to remote places with bumpy, unpaved streets, wheels will be more trouble than they are worth, and they will add several pounds to the overall weight of the bag. Not only are traditional duffels lighter, they are also more pliable than those that have wheels, making them easier to stuff in the backs of cars, load onto roof racks or strap to a pack animal. These duffels are also easier to store (no rigid parts, so they fold up smaller) and typically less expensive. They are a great option for climbers, adventure travelers and people on a budget who need to haul a lot of gear. Bags can also be used as cosmetic bags and cases, cooler bags, and shopping bags, etc.

Travel Packs
These travel-friendly backpacks excel where wheeled luggage cannot: on gravel, cobblestone streets, stairs and other uneven terrain. Travel packs are like other backpacks in terms of how you wear them and the support they provide, but they have travel-specific features, such as organization pockets, hideaway hipbelts and shoulder straps, and built-in security features, like lockable zippers. They are ideal for travelers who want to be very mobile and are okay with carrying everything on their backs.

How to Determine the Right Size Luggage, Pack or Bag

The right size luggage, bag or pack depends on things like trip length, type of trip and your packing habits. Buying a bag that’s larger than you need may seem like a good idea, but we recommend against this because you’ll be tempted to fill up any extra space you have.

Here are some things to consider when determining what size bag to get:

Consider the length and type of trip you’re taking. Are you going on a serious adventure that requires tents, sleeping bags, stoves, climbing gear and more? If so, you’re going to need a large bag (or several) to haul all that. But, if you’re going on a simple weekend getaway that requires a couple changes of clothes and toiletries, then a compact bagpack will work just fine.

Here are some approximate guidelines to give you a sense of luggage and duffel sizes (by volume in liters) and how much they can accommodate:

30-50 liters: In general, luggage that has a capacity of about 50 liters or less is sufficient for a weekend trip. There are lots of carry-on duffels, packs and bags in this size range to choose from.
50-75 liters: For a trip that lasts one to two weeks, many people jump up to a bag in this range.
75 liters-100+ liters: For big expeditions, travelers typically need several large bags that can hold 75 liters or more each. (Keep in mind, of course, that the larger the bag, the heavier it is to haul. Multiple smaller bags might be easier to transport.
Are you a minimalist packer or do you bring along lots of extras? Some people can get by with a compact carry-on bag for a trip that lasts weeks, while others need to check a bag for a weekend getaway. Packing light has its advantages, like making it easy to maneuver in crowded places and avoiding checked baggage fees; to learn how to pack light, see our article, Tips for Traveling Light.

Remember carry-on restrictions if you don’t plan to check your bags. Many airline travelers strive to pack everything into a single carry-on bag to avoid the expense and hassle of checking a bag. If this is your goal, then pay close attention to luggage dimensions. Most airlines allow carry-on bags no larger than 45 linear inches when adding the length, width and height. For instance, a bag that’s 22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches totals 45 inches. Rules can change, and sometimes vary by airline, so be sure to check with your airline about size limits (or other baggage regulations) before departure.

Dehydration is one of the oldest methods of preserving food. While our ancestors relied on the sun to dry food, today we have commercial equipment and home appliances that can remove bacteria-forming moisture. This process preserves food for much longer than its ordinary shelf life.

Dehydrated foods can be a healthier alternative to many snacks, and you can add them to salads, oatmeal, baked goods, and smoothies. Because they rehydrate in liquid, they’re also easy to use in recipes.

Dehydrated foods keep their nutritional value. As a lightweight, nutrient-dense option, dehydrated foods are a go-to for hikers and travelers looking to save space.

Almost anything can be dehydrated. Some common food items made with dehydration include:

Fruit leather made from apples, berries, dates, and other fruits
Soup mixes made of dehydrated o nions, carrots, mushrooms, and other vegetables
H erbs dehydrated for a longer shelf life
Homemade potato, kale, banana, beet s, and apple chips
Powdered lemon, lime, or orange peel used in teas, alcoholic beverages, and other recipes
You can dehydrate your own fruits, vegetables, herbs, and even meat in an oven or specialty food dehydrator or fruit dehydrator. Many dehydrated foods are available in stores as well, though watch out for added ingredients like sodium, sugar, or oils.

Nutrition Information
The dehydrating process retains a food’s original nutritional value. For example, apple chips will have the same calorie, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, and sugar content as the fresh fruit.

However, because dried food loses its water content, it’s usually smaller in size and has more calories by weight. Keep your portions of dehydrated foods smaller than what's recommended for the unprocessed food to avoid overeating.

Dehydrated food also retains:

Essential fatty a cids
Minerals
Enzymes
Most vitamins
Antioxidants
Dehydrated foods also maintain their nutrients for much longer than their fresh counterparts, even the dried meat processed by meat dryer. Research shows that fresh produce loses its vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant content within a few days of refrigeration — with reductions as high as 50% for some nutrients.

Potential Health Benefits of Dehydrated Food
Dehydrating food can save you money, reduce food waste, and speed up your cooking. You can also add seasoning or spices to food as you dry it, stocking your kitchen with healthy, easily portable snacks.

Research suggests that dehydrated foods may have other benefits, including:

Reduced Risk of Cancer

Dried fruits and vegetables could play a role in reducing the risk of some cancers, including pancreatic, stomach, bladder, and prostate. While research is ongoing, scientists think the drying process activates chemicals in foods that help prevent cell damage linked to cancer.

Improved Digestion

Studies show that dehydration increases the fiber content in fruits and vegetables. Dietary fiber is essential to maintaining your digestive system, and getting enough in your diet can prevent constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and potentially colorectal cancer.

Increased Energy

Because the dehydration process withStainless Steel Food Dehydrator concentrates calorie and sugar content, dried foods can offer a more effective energy boost than other snacks. Research shows that nutrients in dehydrated food are also more easily absorbed by our bodies, helping you feel more energized for longer.

Lower Risk of Food Poisoning

The mold, yeast, and bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses need water to form. Research shows that dehydrating food can reduce the risk from most common bacteria and possibly other disease-causing microorganisms. However, the way dehydrated food is stored may also affect its safety, and more research is needed to study the full range of foodborne contaminants.

Better Nutrition

When properly stored, most dehydrated foods have a shelf life of several years and take up little space. Because they rehydrate in liquid, they’re an easy way to add extra nutrients to meals like soups, casseroles, and stir-fries.

This preservation also gives you access to food even when it’s out of season. You can add a larger variety of nutritional foods to your diet year-round, which research says promotes better health and reduces the risk of diseases.

Potential Risks of Dehydrated Foods
Dehydrated foods can be a rich source of vitamins and minerals, but their calories and sugar are concentrated as well. Because the serving sizes are so much smaller after dehydration, it can be easy to overeat dehydrated food.

Moderate your portions when eating dehydrated food and consider the following possible disadvantages:

Unwanted Weight Gain

Dehydrated foods have a higher calorie content by weight and can be high in sodium and sugars, depending on the food. In excess, these nutrients can cause weight gain and increase your risk of obesity, heart problems, and diabetes.

Vitamin Deficiencies

While most nutrients remain unchanged after dehydration, vitamins A and C may be reduced or destroyed. Depending on the method used, dehydration can also reduce B vitamins and some minerals. Make sure to get these nutrients from other sources to avoid vitamin deficiencies.

Dehydration

According to research studies, we get about 20%-30% of our daily water intake from food. Staying hydrated aids in digestion, blood pressure management, joint health, and flushing bacteria from your body.

By dehydrating food, we remove its water content — and studies show most people already don’t drink enough water, so dehydration is a risk. And also, food slicer or meat slicer can made it more easy to buy and store in daily life.

Medication Interference

Dehydrated foods have concentrated amounts of many vitamins and minerals, but high levels of some nutrients can interact with certain medications.

For example, kale chips are packed with vitamin K, which promotes heart health but counteracts medications like blood thinners. Talk to your doctor about what nutrients you should manage in your diet before powering up your food dehydrator.