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Peanut Kernel With all the attention on the green consumer market, a major sector seems to be relatively ignored. Local entrepreneur Marc Trudel is working to fill that void. Judging by the early reaction to the private firm he founded in November, BioCanadian Inc., there is a need for safe cleaning products in the industrial market. "Our mission is to supply tested alternatives for environmentally responsible companies who appreciate and understand the need to use non-toxic industrial chemical products," he said yesterday. His company provides products strictly derived from plant-based materials ranging from soy, corn and palm kernel to peanut, safflower and Canola. Hydro-Québec is one of nine companies nationwide that have signed on with him. BioCanadian helped replace 10 toxic products at the utility's Bécancour generating station with a trio of bio-based chemicals. Trudel is in discussions with other big businesses, such as Via Rail, Bombardier Inc., Air Canada and the Ontario Power Generation electric company. He said there has been a range of interest, from a smoked-salmon processing facility in Prince Edward Island to a pet store in Toronto to an auto shop in Vancouver. "I know there is a lot of green noise right now, but honestly, from what I see, the guys who work day in and day out with chemicals are not getting enough attention. From a company liability point of view, it is a great place to focus some green planning - good for the environment and good for business." BioCanadian is the exclusive Canadian distributor of GEMTEK Products LLC, the Arizona-based maker of bio-based chemicals. "Chemical safety is not just a concern for workers, but has become a major liability for companies who expose their workers to hazardous chemicals," GEMTEK president Kim Kristoff said in a recent statement from headquarters in Phoenix. "GEMTEK has the technology to replace many of these traditional toxic chemistries and will continue to develop and promote alternative non-toxic products that are safe for workers and the environment." BioCanadian also distributes the products of two Ontario manufacturers: CHEMCHAMP of Ottawa and Eco Mist Solutions of Woodbridge. Trudel - who was among the 275 Canadian trainees who this month completed the Climate Project program in Montreal led by Nobel laureate Al Gore to spread the message about the challenges of and solutions to the climate crisis - said BioCanadian offers the widest range of plant-based cleaning products over the largest number of applications. "We want to help solve problems of liability, worker safety, product effectiveness and air quality," he added. "The environmental burden that companies carry is reflected directly in their bottom line, and we are seeing more and more executives coming around to the concept of increasing profitability through broad analysis of that fact."

Epimedium Extract Last time I was at a local Walgreens I noticed that they carry hundreds of different herbs that claim to do amazing things. If I was to take all of them, not only would I be super smart, but I would also have sexy skin, a six pack stomach, great hair, be an amazing lover, and all of the women would want me just by smelling my “pheromones.” I doubt that I can have all of that just by taking some pills, but as amazing and unrealistic as the claims are, there are definite benefits to certain herbs. We all know that Ginkgo is for mental alertness and Echinacea is for immunity strength, but what herbs are best for male sexual performance? We will discuss the top ten male enhancement herbs here and finish with a few to avoid. 1. GINKGO BILOBA LEAF – I wanted to start with ginkgo because it is commonly thought of as an herb to help with memory and brain function. This is in fact correct, however only covers one scope of the herb's benefits. Ginkgo works by expanding the capacity of blood flow through your veins and arteries therefore that effect benefits many parts of the body from the increased oxygen supply to the brain, which allows better brain function, to fuller and harder erections as more blood is supplied to the penis. A few concerns with ginkgo are, because of the increased blood flow, those with bleeding disorders, especially those whose blood fails to coagulate on a wound, should take more precaution as more blood flow will slow the coagulation process. The second concern is for those who prefer ginkgo biloba seeds over the leaf. Uncooked ginkgo biloba seeds have shown some small levels of toxins, so if you prefer the seeds it is advised to cook them prior to ingestion. Finally, as with any new addition to your diet, some people have claimed a minor upset stomach and diarrhea. The recommended concentration is 24% flavones and 6% terpene lactones. The usual dosage is 120mg to 160mg per day. 2. EPIMEDIUM LEAF EXTRACT – The next herb is epimedium leaf or commonly known as horny goat weed. The origins of epimedium is from goat herders who noticed that when their flock ate the weed their sexual activity was noticeably increased, thus the name. Discovery Channel did a study on horny goat weed. They found that it is the number one most prescribed solution to sexual dysfunction by professional doctors in China. Although little is known about how horny goat weed actually works, it has shown significant increases in libido and vitality in both men and women, restore sexual function in men, and help with discomfort during menopause in women. To this day there have not been any known side effects with horny goat weed, other than the typical minor upset stomach and diarrhea when something new is added to your diet. It is recommended that your intake of horny goat weed is concentrated enough to have at least 10% icariin. Generally 1000MG to 2000MG is a sufficient daily dosage. 3. HAWTHORN BERRY – The hawthorn berry is another herb that is generally used to treat one concern, yet its benefits extend further. The hawthorn berry is primarily used to treat heart problems. It strengthens the heart allowing it to pump more blood. This, of course, translates into more blood flowing into your penis. Thus allowing for harder, fuller erections and increased pleasure from orgasm. A few concerns with the hawthorn berry are that studies show that it does lower blood pressure a little bit so if you have very low blood pressure you may need to consult with a physician. And as usual some have reported a minor upset stomach and diarrhea. The daily recommended dosage for the hawthorn berry is 160mg to 900mg concentrated to 2% to 3% flavonoids or 18% to 20% oligomeric procyanidins. 4. SAW PALMETTO BERRY – The saw palmetto berry is a berry that is commonly used for urological problems. The most common use for it is to bring an enlarged prostate back to regular size. However most studies indicate that long term use (12 months or more) of saw palmetto also eased urination and increased sexual function significantly. One of the few things about saw palmetto berries is that although there have been many studies done on saw palmetto, there have not been any reported side effects, none even complained about upset stomach or diarrhea. 320mg per day standardized to not less than 85% fatty acids is the recommended dosage for saw palmetto berries. 5. CATUABA BARK EXTRACT – The catuaba is a Brazilian, primarily in the Amazon rainforest, tree whose bark has been used for thousands of years as an all around nervous system revitalizer. It restores your nervous system function bringing about increased brain function, reduced nervousness, better sleep and improved sexual function. This is the herb that has helped the 60, 70, 80 even 90 year olds in Brazil have a healthy sex life naturally. There are no known side effects with catuaba except the occasional upset stomach and diarrhea when it is first introduced to the diet. The main concern is that you are actually purchasing real catuaba bark, as there are several exporters who export the bark as catuaba, but it is in fact from the wrong tree. There are 2 forms of catuaba tree that supplies the actual bark that is medicinally known for its benefits and the scientific names for these two is Erythroxylum catuaba and Trichilia catigua. The standard daily dose is 1000mg to 2000mg. There has not been any standardization of the extract’s concentration. 6. MUIRA PAUMA BARK EXTRACT – The muira pauma is another rainforest tree found in South America and Africa. This plant’s benefits also focus on the nervous system to treat various ailments such as paralysis, beri-beri, rheumatism, grippe, and cardiac and gastrointestinal weakness, baldness and sexual dysfunction, such as impotence, infertility and menstrual disturbances. There are no reported side effects from muira pauma except the occasional upset stomach and diarrhea when it is first introduced to the diet. It is also commonly exported as muira pauma bark extract from a similar tree whose bark does not have the same medical benefits, the scientific name for it is Liriosma ovate, so be sure that before you purchase muira pauma that it does not come from this tree. The recommended dosage is 1500mg daily and there are no concentration standards for the muira pauma bark extract. 7. CUSCUTA SEED EXTRACT – The cuscata is commonly known as dodder plant and it is commonly used to increase sperm production and its fertility. New research has shown that it helps with treating impotence. There are rumors that cuscuta seed extract, when ingested in high quantities, caused lack of sleep. There are no case studies showing this effect as the studies done use standard dosages when administering it. There have also never been any claims of upset stomach or diarrhea with cuscuta seed extract. The recommended dosage is 10g to 15g boiled in 3 cups of water for 20 minutes, some have said to increase that dosage up to 25 grams of cuscuta seed extract in 3 cups of water each day. It is standardized to 2.5% flavonoids. 8. ASIAN GINSENG – There are several kinds of ginseng available on the market today, but the one that shows the most sexual function benefit is the asian ginseng. It is commonly used to restore energy both physically and mentally and in sexual function it has a significant benefit in preventing premature ejaculation. Asian ginseng has similar side effects as other forms of ginseng which include difficulty falling asleep when taken in large quantities and an upset stomach when it is first introduced to the diet. A daily dosage is 200mg to 600mg, standardized to contain 4% to 5% ginsenosides. 9. TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS – The tribulus terrestris is a plant native to the warm climates of southern Europe and Asia, throughout Africa and in northern Australia, although it is found in North and South America as well now. Its primary use is for the purpose of increased sex drive by restoring hormone levels to normal range, primarily testosterone. There are no reported side effects from tribulus terrestris except the occasional upset stomach when it is first introduced to your diet. 750mg per day is the recommended dosage of tribulus terrestris, standardized for at least 30% to 45% steroidal saponins (furostanol).

Dehydrated Garlic Flake My memory is often addled, but I remember exactly what I ordered a year ago when I visited The Continental shortly after it opened in Fitchburg in the old home of La Paella. It was the Polenta con Funghi ($14), with tomato sauce, mushrooms, eggplant, garlic and mozzarella. The service had been a little slow, and my toddler was getting restless, so I got the rest of my meal boxed to go. I work in the evenings and left my food overnight in the office fridge. The refrigerator police hit the next day and tossed everything out, including my coveted polenta. I was miffed for days. On a recent visit, I was tempted to order my long-lost polenta. But the menu is so vast, I decided to branch out. The menu has more than a dozen appetizers, including a number of pizzas, along with soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, steak, fish, chicken and pork chops. Jim Schiavo, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Jenny, recently added old favorites from Antonio's, his family's Park Street restaurant. Antonio's closed in 1998, the same year his parents and brother opened Cafe Continental on King Street. From the new Antonio's menu I chose the original House Salad ($5), a simple salad with a nice mix of greens, slices of ripe Roma tomatoes and one of the best house dressings I've ever tasted: green pepper flake sweet-and-sour. Also from the Antonio's section, a friend selected the Eggplant Parmesan ($12), a huge and gorgeous plate of food. The eggplant was firmer than I like it, but the tomato sauce hit the right notes. It was topped with plenty of melted mozzarella and served over a heap of penne pasta. "I could do with a lot less cheese, but I'm not the typical American diner," my friend said. "I do like the basil. It's very fresh." The Ahi Tuna Sandwich ($11) features outstanding slices of rare tuna seasoned with a Tuscan rub and drizzled with wasabi mayonnaise. The tuna was too choice to eat in a roll, so I plucked it out (along with the tomato) and left the bread, lettuce and onion. Before the meal, The Continental serves wonderful Italian bread from the Gonnella bakery in Chicago, making any other bread redundant. The bread is served with olive oil that has a touch of balsamic vinegar, red pepper flakes and asiago cheese. Sandwiches are served with either a side of salad greens or red potatoes that are soft and wonderful. The Meatball Sandwich ($9) comes on absurdly long Italian bread that is very well grilled. "It's bigger than I bargained for," said a companion, noting that the crusty bread was hard to bite into even after he broke off a section of it. He also complained that the tomato sauce was bland and that the meatballs were full of bread crumbs. The Crab Cakes ($14), one of the house specialties, were also filled with bread crumbs, but that's not a criticism. The two reasonably sized patties were served with an excellent tartar sauce described on the menu as a mildly spicy jalapeno pimento sauce. They were served with three spears of grilled asparagus that were a bit al dente for my taste, and something called sweet potato moss, a difficult-to-eat tangle of crisp, fried sweet potato. My daughter was along on one visit and had the cheese pizza ($4.50) from the kids menu. She devoured it -- and for good reason. It was a wonderful pizza with a crisp crust, a tasty tomato sauce and a hint of oregano. The Continental offers a sophisticated decor. The floors are beautiful, beige granite with a blue pearl border, and the Schiavos put in a zinc bar, consistent with the one at their downtown location. Service was slow between courses on one recent weeknight when there were few other tables. If you have time for dessert, there are eight of them, including a dense chocolate truffle cake with raspberry Chambord sauce ($4.75). A thin slice goes a long way.

Dehydrated Garlic There are no smells of cooking. There is no sizzle from the kitchen. Grezzo, in the North End, is a raw food restaurant (and vegan, and mostly organic) - no ingredient here ever gets warmer than 112 degrees, the temperature at which enzymes are said to be destroyed. Seaweed salad, house salad, gnocchi carbonara, papaya pappardelle, rich brownie sundae.more stories like this The raw food diet is heavy on fruits, vegetables, nuts, sprouts, and seaweed - "living" foods - and adherents claim it brings substantial benefits for health and well-being. Where the diet may once have seemed solely for hippies and Californians, it has gained traction in the mainstream. A Whole Foods display recently showcased five books on the subject; the "Today" show, "The Tyra Banks Show," and "Celebrity Fit Club" have all featured raw food guru Alissa Cohen, the author of "Living on Live Food" and the woman who opened Grezzo in February. (She also has a Bravo cooking show, "Alissa Live," in the works.) The cozy-verging-on-cramped restaurant, with pumpkin-orange walls that feature giant paintings of vegetables, is located in the former Sage space. The restaurant's name is Italian - it means "raw" - and it does serve pasta of a sort: papaya pappardelle; gnocchi made from nuts and dressed with "creamy rawmesan," a faux cheese sauce made from more nuts. Still, when Grezzo opened, it seemed a stretch for the North End, an area that draws those in search of piping hot noodle dishes topped with grated realmesan. Parking here is notoriously scant, and raw food is destination dining. (There are also raw food restaurants in Beverly and Lowell, so maybe that's where the cars go.) Nonetheless, on each visit, Grezzo is busy. Perhaps the sushi craze has opened people's minds. Maguro: the gateway raw food. Indeed, many of the diners appear to be converts. There are the two young women deep in conversation about the raw lifestyle, health, weight, and life's challenges. "Don't hate that it's bad, think about it and send love to it," one says supportively to the other. "I love that!" her friend exclaims happily. There's the woman talking to a waitress at a corner table. "I'm not even supposed to be here," she says. "I should have died, but then I started eating raw." The waitress says, "I told Alissa in the kitchen, and she started crying." (Each time I ate at Grezzo, someone was talking passionately about the diet, and someone was talking about crying - the emotions here can be as raw as the food.) The servers, too, are drinking the Kool-Aid - or, more accurately, the delicious and refreshing non-alcoholic mojito: fresh lime juice, mint, and agave over kombucha and ice (there's uninteresting organic wine offered, one red and one white, but a full list is coming soon). The staff members are excellent advertisements for their product - they exude serenity, have glowing skin, and smile unflaggingly. "She's just so happy," a cynical diner marvels each time our waitress comes by.

Aluminum Curtain Wall Abu Dhabi, which is a conglomerate of more than 40 companies specializing in various industry sectors such as real estate, construction, media, landscaping, and information technology, announced the launch of their state-of-the-art factory and offices in Mussafah today (Wednesday, May 14th, 2008) Established in May 2006, today REA is one of the leading high tech, energy-efficient, custom designed aluminium curtain wall designers and builders in the Middle East. This purpose built factory and office in the shape of a wave has been constructed on multiple plots of land, encompassing an area in excess of 80,000 square metres. The factory is the largest in the United Arab Emirates and is conceived to provide custom made architectural cladding elements with a particular emphasis on the designing and manufacturing of unitized curtain wall panels. With the opening of this new factory, REA is to be the largest high tech, fa?ade designer and fabricator of architectural curtain walls and cladding in the UAE. The factory will be capable of producing 60,000 sq. meters of curtain wall panels monthly. Derek Bruce, General Manager of REA said "It is a great honour to be here today. In the brief time that we have been operating, we have become the leading producer of unitized curtain wall in the region. The establishment of this factory will strengthen our local supply chain specialist of curtain wall, a much needed resource especially considering the construction boom currently being experienced in Abu Dhabi and Dubai." He further added, "The factory, first of four planned, produces more than 400 unitised panels per shift daily. While many have said that this is inspiring, our plan is to produce even more on a daily basis in the near future to keep up with the significant demands for this product; as this is currently the largest factory of its kind in the Middle East, I know it is a very attainable goal." REA prides itself on its ability to provide design solutions from scratch, without using pre-designed proprietary systems: each project is designed as a tailor made solution without compromising the architects initial intent. All designs are created in house by lead designer and General Manager, Derek Bruce. Furthermore, the strongest asset of REA is its production capabilities. Using techniques from the motor industry, REA has the most efficient production plant in the Middle East. The production flow has no bottle necks and is in a continuous line following a unique streamline production method. Having a factory 220 meters long means that the flow of materials from machining to assembly to glazing all occur without any process taking directional changes. The 80 meter conveyor is the key to fast, high quality repeatable production. To add, the factory is equipped with the latest Logikal software allowing repeatable estimations, production plans, and interfaces for all commonly used data formats from production and subsequent processing. All components will be machined using the latest CNC machining centres from Germany. REA was formed to service the up and coming demand in architectural finishes and metal works in Abu Dhabi. Its team is made up of experts gathered from around the world, with having not less than 25 years experience in working with some of the largest curtain wall companies in Australia, Europe, South East Asia and the Middle East. Derek Bruce, the General Manager of the company, brings personal experience and a solid design background, mixed with his project management skills, to form a company with a strong project design based foundation. REA's current projects include: REEM ISLAND, a AED 300 million contract to provide customized unitized curtain walling, cladding and sliding doors for 14 towering structures on Reem Island, Abu Dhabi; and ETIHAD TOWERS, a project managed by the Jumeirah GroupJumeirah GroupLoading.... Covering approximately 500,000 square meters, Etihad Towers will feature five towers in excess of 300 meters high, ranging from 53 to 77 floors, and will include a 60 storey luxury hotel (Jumeirah's first hotel in the UAE Capital, Abu Dhabi) with 400 guest rooms, as well as 200 fully serviced apartments. The construction work started in July, 2006, and is scheduled to be completed by late 2010. Reem Emirates Aluminum has won the contract to supply the curtain walling for towers one (67 floors) two (77 floors) and three (58 floors) being used for both commercial and residential purposes. To compliment the aluminium factory and to ensure continuity of supply, Reem Emirates Aluminum will also build a 12,000 sq meter "state-of-the-art" glass processing factory, adjacent to the aluminium plant that will house the latest high tech glass equipment from Lisec, Tamglass, and Glaston Technologies.

agriculture tool Considering the food scarcity in the country and its future impact, the use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture would not only increase yield but also reduce the need for more farmland, irrigation facilities and pesticides. This was stated by Federal Environment Minister Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi while addressing the participants of a seminar on 'Genitacally Modified Organisms (GMOs) - Applications and Implications', organised by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) and the National Biosaftey Centre (NBC) here on Tuesday. Federal Environment Secretary Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi, Pak-EPA Director-General Asif Shuja, Pak-EPA Director Ziaul Islam, NBC Secretary-General Dr Kauser Abdullah Malik, National Commission on Biotechnology Chairman Dr Anwar Naseem, representatives of Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) and representatives of other departments concerned, students and lecturers attended the seminar. "Genetically Modified Organism has attained utmost importance owing to increasing demand for food world over. However, this phenomenon is new in this part of the world", said the minister. Afridi said that where these benefits could boost the economy and provide food security there are unknown fears like health and environmental implications, which become more significant particularly in case of developing countries like Pakistan. The minister commented that the release of GM crops without carrying out proper risk-assessment could create havoc and adversely affect non-GM crops by contaminating them with their modified genomes. "Before commercial release of the GM crop, I call upon scientists to fully understand the economic value of agriculture produce particularly our cotton which is a backbone of Pakistan's economy", he maintained. He called upon the scientists, representatives of the civil society and the regulators to take responsibility of safeguarding agricultural resources and human health while adopting new Genetically Modified Organisms. Afridi said that bio-technology, its dynamics and rapidly evolving scientific research, has created need for GM applications in agriculture, health, industry and environment. "Modern techniques of biotechnology are being utilised to stabilise and enhance crops yield, improve the living standard of poor population, provide nutrient enriched and better quality food and reduce negative environmental impacts", said Afridi. The minister observed that the institutions like the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (Nibge), the Centre for Excellence in Molecular Biology (Cemb), and the National Institute of Agriculture and Biology (Niab) could play a vital role in research and development of GM technology and promoting its use. Afridi called upon National Bio-Safety Centre of Pak-EPA to closely work with these institutions and particularly with Minfal to build their regulatory capacity for enforcing bio-safety regulations. Speaking on the occasion, Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi said the environment ministry has set up a National Bio-safety Centre at Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency to implement and execute the Pakistan Bio-safety Rules and National Bio-safety Guidelines. "More than 35 research and academic institutions are working on the field of biotechnology, which is a very encouraging sign. These institutes need to be strengthened for research and development of GM technology adopting adequate bio-safety regulations", he added. He said the world community is conscious of the risks of "Genetically, Modified Organisms" and their products. He said the United Nations had introduced Cartagena Protocol on the bio-safety under the umbrella of Convention on Bio-diversity, which is an effective tool to create a regime of bio-safety among countries willing to undertake "Genetically Modified Organisms" trading. He said Pakistan is a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on the bio-safety and is in the process of its ratification. "We need technically sound institutes to regulate GM products once the protocol is ratified", he added. Speaking on the occasion, various experts stressed the need for putting in place a monitoring system to detect the products produced locally through genetically modified organisms and the ones that are being imported. They said that the bio-accidents in the agricultural countries like Cotton Leaf Curl Virus in Pakistan threatened agriculture economy and vanished popular varieties of crops. Our consumers in most cases are not aware of the GM ingredients in seed and food for lack of knowledge. Under the international obligations, the consumer has the right to be informed of the GM products. Our Bio-safety Centre should address this aspect and a system of labelling of GM foods and fodder is put in place. They said that very few people know that almost 90 percent of Soyabean oil is being extracted from genetically modified seed. There are some well-equipped laboratories but unfortunately those are not being used the way they are supposed to be, they observed. The speakers also stressed the need for developing a system to detect if Bt-cotton is imported. They also said that the GMOs have heightened concerns that genetic engineering may in the long run be harmful to human health and the environment unless effective regulatory frameworks is put in place. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the public and private sectors must introduce the use of biotechnology to maximise benefits and minimise risks.