Fire Jumpers Use Portable Solar Power Systems in the Wilderness

While on the ground, they must remain as “light” as possible, carry only the most essential gear, yet remain mobile, functional, in communication, and have sources of artificial light when needed.
MW, one of a group of fire jumpers, was looking for a light weight and durable means to power the portable electronic devices that he must use during his frequent fire-fighting missions in remote regions of southeastern California. His electronic devices are powered by rechargeable AA, AAA, and CR123 batteries, and include a 5-watt xenon LED flashlight, sets of Midland 16 mile radios with NOAA alert, an iPod with speaker dock, a GPS, a laser rangefinder, and a digital camera. Historically, when the batteries in one device run out of power, batteries from one device are switched to another, and recharging must wait until he has returned to an automobile or an AC power outlet. During prolonged fire-fighting missions, the loss of power due to discharged batteries is inconvenient and potentially dangerous for the group. To avoid loss of power, many of the fire jumpers carry multiple sets of extra batteries, and that adds weight to their already heavy payload. The battery charger he uses at home base is a fast charger by Energizer that can recharge four batteries in 15 minutes, and is not available.

MW approached Powerenz to ask if we could design a custom portable solar power system that would allow him to recharge his AA, AAA, and CR123 batteries as needed in the field for prolonged periods of time. He needed a system that would:
a. utilize solar energy for fuel, including a portable solar panel,
b. be stored and carried in a durable bag that could be carried by a handle, shoulder strap, as a fanny pack, or attached to any MOLLE-compatible backpack or vest,
c. be light-weight for long hauls,
d. be charged by DC or AC power when available,
e. produce AC power for his fast AA/AAA battery charger, if desired,
f. produce DC power for a mobile DC-powered battery charger that would recharge his small batteries during fire-fighting missions,
g. produce solar USB power for USB-powered devices and asolar cell phone charger as needed,
h. provide durable, long-term independence from the power grid, and
i. be silent.

A portable solar panel-battery system was assembled that included the following components:
a. reliable, safe, 11.1-volt, 4.24 amp-hour, extremely lightweight lithium battery pack with lightweight enclosure/bag,
b. 5-10-20-watt extremely lightweight, folding, portable solar panel that remained outside the bag,
c. small lightweight solar charge controller,
d. 120-watt DC-AC power inverter for the AC-powered battery fast charger,
e. 12-volt female DC socket for a DC-powered device,
f. a USB adapter to function as a USB solar charger,
g. proper fusing and wiring, and
h. MOLLE-compatible deployment pack in user-selectable color/camouflage.

The power system could deliver a maximum of 88 watts of power to the DC port and inverter for short lengths of time, 20 watts for as long as 2 hours, and was wired, fused, and electronically protected accordingly. Depending on the exact components included, the entire system weighed between 3 and 4 pounds. In good sunlight, it would take 3-4 hours for the solar panel to recharge the battery from empty to full, depending on the power of the solar panel. Of course, the system may be used to recharge MW’s smaller batteries when the system battery is less than fully charged. There is a USB adapter that plugs directly into the cigarette lighter socket, and has two standard female Type A USB charge ports, one that provides 1 amp of current, and the other that provides 2.1 amps of current for MW’s power hungry iPhone, iPad, Tablet, or other USB-charged device. If MW required added protection against damage, dust, or water, this same system could be enclosed in a waterproof hard case.

The portable solar power system powers up the AA/AAA/CR123 battery charger silently and repeatedly while on the go. When not in use, the portable system is stored with the remainder of the fire-fighting gear, and trickle-charged using an AC-powered battery charger until it is needed again.

Tips to Improve Your Child’s Learning Skills

A lot of curious parents or parents with kids who face troubles in school often want to know- ‘Is there a way to make the kid learn faster?’ or ‘Is there something that we can do to boost their IQ?’

So,in today’s blog we will explain certain things that scientifically boost your child’s ability to learn. But before I go any further, understand that science still believes that there is not much that one can do to change the existing IQ or Intelligence Quotient in a person.

However, there are researches which suggest that some brain training activities, exercises can improve the grasping ability and thus enhance memory as well as learning skills. Thus, we will be talking of things to improve learning skills and not the IQ of a kid.

Exercise or physical activity:

It might take you by surprise, regular exercise stimulates brain growth to enhance your child’s ability to learn. Exercise also helps children in improving attention in school. Send your child out to play daily or have some form of physical activity for a minimum of one hour daily.

Play time:

Playful behaviour in kids has a positive effect on kids and their ability to learn. Free play or imaginative play improves the functioning of cerebral cortex- the part of your child’s brain that plays an important role in attention, perception, awareness, memory, consciousness and language skills.

There are toys or games that are made to enhance learning skills in children. For example, blocks or Lego helps in enhancing spatial learning, math and problem-solving skills as well as verbal skills.

Which is why the next time you go out to buy something for your child, instead of splurging on a video game or an electronic item, buy a puzzle or a game that will help them learn new skills.

Diet

What kids eat matters the most when it comes to brain growth.

Breast feeding your child exclusively for the first six months of life has shown incredible difference in the learning as well as memory of kids who have not been breast fed.

In kids who are older, adding healthy dietary fats enhances brain function- so add a lot of omega-3 fatty acids that are present in fish oils or sea food, nuts and seeds i.e. flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts etc., plant oils like soybean oil, flaxseed oil, canola oil etc.

Sleep

Believe it or not, sleep too has a very important effect on your child’s memory, intelligence and learning skills.

According to a research conducted in Canadian kids between the ages of 2.5-6 years, researchers concluded that children who had chronic sleep deprivation or in simple words did not get enough sleep according to their age had a poor performance in neurodevelopmental tests (tests that are done to assess the activity of mind)

Therefore, it is essential to ensure that your child is getting enough sleep in an age appropriate manner.

Here is how much sleep your child needs:

Newborn: 18 hours
1-2 years of age: 14 hours
3-5 years of age: 10-13 hours
6-12 years of age: 9-12 hours
Parental Sensitivity and attachment:

Last but not the least, you as a parent play a crucial role in determining your child’s learning and brain development.

Responsive parenting i.e. parents who have constant interactions with their children, who understand their emotional as well as physical needs and respond accordingly has a great impact on your child’s brain development.

Sensitive or responsive parents are in tune with their children and understand their needs better.

Thus, one needs to be prompt, contingent, display warm and accepting behaviours to your child.

Neglecting the child due to familial or financial responsibilities, constantly nagging the child to do better, or even a mindset for failure (believing that if your child failed once- will always do so/ or they cannot improve) leads to children with low emotional intelligence, difficulty in learning and even poor memory.

Sadly, there is no secret mantra or a magic wand that can be handed over to parents to improve their child’s memory and learning skills. It takes time and effort to develop- so as long as you are constantly trying and encouraging your child to do so too; you are in the right direction.

Also, if your child is suffering from a learning disability or medical condition- it is best to consult an expert in the field and adapt appropriate techniques to improve their skills.

Is Infertility A Women’s Problem?

Is Infertility A Women’s Problem? Infertility is generally defined as the inability to get pregnant or conceive after a year or longer of unprotected sex. Some providers evaluate and treat women aged 35 years or older after 6 months of unprotected sex because fertility in women is known to decline steadily with age.

Women with infertility should consider consulting a reproductive endocrinologist – a doctor who specializes in infertility management – in an infertility hospital in Coimbatore. They help women with recurrent pregnancy loss, which is having more than two spontaneous miscarriages. To get pregnant:

The female body should ideally release an egg from one of the ovaries.
The egg fertilizes with the man’s sperm along the way.
The fertilized egg goes to the uterus through the fallopian tube.
The embryo then attaches itself to the wall of the uterus.
Infertility is the result of an issue with one or several of these steps. A condition related to infertility that refers to women who have difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term or getting pregnant is called impaired fecundity.

Is infertility just a woman’s problem?
No, it is not always a woman’s problem as both women and men can contribute to infertility. Although often thought of as only a woman’s condition, many couples struggle with infertility and seek help to become pregnant. A malefactor is identified along with a female factor in about 35% of the cases of infertility. A malefactor is the only identifiable cause in about 8% of couples with infertility. In the United States, almost 9% of men aged 25 to 44 years reported that they/their partner saw a doctor for testing, advice, or treatment for infertility during their lifetime.

What causes infertility in men?
Infertility in men is typically evaluated by a semen analysis. The sperm concentration, sperm motility, and morphology are assessed by a specialist during semen analysis. A semen analysis helps determine if and how infertility is being caused by the malefactors.

Infertility in men happens due to-

Disruptive ejaculatory or testicular function
Hormonal disorders
Genetic disorders such as myotonic dystrophy, Klinefelter’s syndrome, and Y-chromosome microdeletion.
How do doctors treat infertility in both women and men?
Infertility can be treated with surgery, intrauterine insemination, medication, or assisted reproductive technology. And other specific treatments may be recommended on the basis of:

Female age
Infertility duration
Infertility factors
Couple’s treatment preference such as a test tube baby hospital, IVF, or medicinal treatments.
In-vitro Fertilization
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex set of procedures that are used to assist with pregnancy or to avoid genetic defects and to aid a child’s conception. Mature eggs are harvested (retrieved) from the ovaries during IVF and fertilized in a laboratory with sperm. The fertilized egg (embryo) is then transferred to the uterus. It takes about three weeks for one complete cycle of IVF. These steps are often divided into various sections, and the process may take longer.

The most popular method of assisted reproductive technology is IVF. Using your own eggs and the sperm of your partner, the operation can be performed. Or IVF can include a known or unknown donor’s eggs, sperm, or embryos. A gestational carrier, a woman who has an embryo implanted in her uterus, may be used in certain situations. Your chances of using IVF to have a healthy baby depend on several variables, such as your age and the cause of infertility.

IVF can, however, be time-consuming, costly, and intrusive. If more than one embryo is transferred to your uterus, IVF will lead to more than one fetus becoming pregnant (multiple pregnancies). Your doctor will help you understand how IVF works, the possible complications, and if this infertility treatment strategy is right for you.