What Is Vegetable Glycerin

Vegetable glycerin is also known as vegetable glycerol. It is a carbohydrate that is usually derived from plant oils. It is used as a sweetener and as an ingredient in a number of cosmetic products. Vegetable glycerin is also used in place of alcohol to extract botanicals.

Glycerin is an organic compound composed of three carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, and three OH groups. These OH groups form hydrogen bonds with water, slowing down its movement and giving liquid glycerin the property of a syrup. It is also resistant to freezing, a property used in storing sensitive liquids, such as enzymes, in laboratory freezers.

Food-grade vegetable glycerin is 99.7% pure, with the remaining 0.3% being water. It has a sweet taste, but is metabolized differently than sugar and does not raise blood sugar levels. Glycerin is used in foods marketed as being low in carbohydrates to keep them sweet and moist. It also does not contribute to bacterial tooth decay.

Vegetable glycerin is also used as a substitute for alcohol, in making botanical extracts. The advantage of this is that people who do not want to be exposed to alcohol can still have access to the botanical products. The disadvantage is that the resulting products have a much shorter shelf life.

Its solubility in alcohol and water had led to great utility in the manufacturing of products. Glycerin is used in a large number of cosmetic and household products, such as toothpastes and shampoo. It is also a component of glycerin soap, which is often used by people with sensitive skin. This soap acts as moisturizer to prevent the skin from drying out. For this reason, glycerin lotion is also popular.

There are also medical uses for vegetable glycerin. Glycerin suppositories are used as laxatives. It can also be used as a topical remedy for a number of skin problems, including psoriasis, rashes, burns, bedsores, and cuts. Glycerin is also employed to treat gum disease, as it kills associated bacterial colonies.

While glycerin can be made as a by-product of soap that is made from animal fats, it can also be made from plants. The glycerol backbone is part of the basic structure of many lipids. Vegetable glycerin is made from the oils and fats of a plant-based ingredient, generally coconut or palm oil. The oil is heated to a high temperature under pressure with water. The glycerin backbone splits off from the fatty acids, and is absorbed by the water, from which it is then isolated and distilled.

How Much Is a Kilowatt Hour

A kilowatt hour a unit of energy, and the typical way that electricity is measured. A kilowatt (kW) is 1,000 watts (w), and a kilowatt hour refers to the use of a device or a set of devices that use 1,000 watts for one hour. Using a 100 watt light-bulb for 10 hours would equal 1 kilowatt hour (kWh), as would the use of a 10,000 watt machine for 6 minutes.

Kilowatts and Kilowatt Hours

A watt or kilowatt is a measure of power, or how much electricity is being used by a device at a particular moment. This is useful information, because it can be used to compare average energy consumption; an 11 watt compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb might produce the same amount of light as a 100 watt incandescent bulb, making it more efficient. Like knowing the average miles per gallon (or kilometers per liter) that a car gets, the devices can be compared without taking how long they are being used into account.

Energy is a measurement of power over some period of time. Power companies use the kilowatt hour because power use is cumulative; someone who uses an 11 watt CFL isn't paying for the 11 watts that the bulb uses in any given instant, but rather how much power is used by that bulb over a month. To determine this cost, how many kilowatts a device uses is multiplied by how many hours it is used to get kWh, which are then multiplied by the price of electricity per kWh.

watts ÷ 1,000 = kWh
kWh × hours of operation × rate = cost

Electricity Rates

Electricity prices are measured by the kilowatt hour, and the rate tends to fluctuate over time — both over the long-term, as in a week or month, but also over the course of a single day at the wholesale level. In some countries and regions, prices for electricity can vary based on the time of day in which the power is used; in many other places, however, prices are set by the government or based on the average cost over time. Smart meter technology and "time-of-use" pricing is expected to become more widespread over time, however.

Prices also vary dramatically by region, often based on how much it costs to generate and distribute power, as well as taxes and other charges. In the United States for example, the average residential cost of a kilowatt hour in Wyoming is 6.2 cents and goes all the way up to 25.12 cents in Hawaii.

Electricity Rates in the US

Here are the costs per kilowatt hour by region of the United States in 2010:

Region	Average Residential Cost of a Kilowatt Hour
U.S. average	9.83
Pacific Noncontiguous	19.94
New England	14.44
Middle Atlantic	13.80
South Atlantic	10.08
East North Central	9.12
Pacific Contiguous	9.07
East South Central	8.20
West South Central	8.00
Mountain	7.84
West North Central	7.80

Region Definitions:

1. Pacific Noncontiguous: Alaska, Hawaii
2. New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
3. Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania
4. South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
5. East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin
6. Pacific Contiguous: California, Oregon, Washington
7. East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee
8. West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
9. Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming
10. West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota

What is Amperage

Amperage, also called current, is the amount of electrical energy flowing through an appliance at any given time. This measurement is expressed in units called amperes, often shortened to amps. When electricians speak of the electricity flowing in and out of your home, they may be referring to voltage, amperage or wattage depending on the circumstances. Of the three, amperage is the one you may experience first when you plug in a faulty lamp or flip the wrong switch.

Understanding amperage may require a crash course in electrical engineering, wiseGEEK style. Electricity is to home electrical circuits as water is to home plumbing systems. Electricity is brought in to the home through power lines ultimately connected to a generator. In a standard US home system, this incoming electricity is limited to 110 volts. In other countries, it may be closer to 230 volts. Voltage is roughly the equivalent of how much water can fit in a pipe. Volts don't flow by themselves -- they are drawn from a high point (the line outside the house) to a low point (the toaster) once the circuit is completed by the toaster's switch. Voltage is mostly a measurement of 'potential' energy available, not necessarily how much is actually used.

This is where amperage comes in. The toaster, or any other electrical product, needs a certain amount of electrical energy to perform its job. It draws that amount of electricity from the 'river' of volts in the line. A small electrical appliance like a toaster usually needs less power than a larger appliance such as a refrigerator or power saw. In electrical terms, these appliances work at different amperage rates. A large electric motor may draw 100 amps, while a small heating element may draw only 10 amps. Both tap into the same 110 voltage line, but their amperage needs are noticeably different.

Amperage must be controlled in order to protect the electrical lines from overheating or short-circuiting. This is why electricians use fuses and breakers. A 30 amp fuse, for example, will allow smaller appliances to run on the line it protects, but if an electric clothes dryer pulls 60 amps, a metal filament in the fuse will melt and break the circuit immediately. Breaker switches also control amperage through circuit breaking. Larger electrical devices often have their own circuits with higher capacity fuses or breaker switches to avoid such overloads.

The general rule of thumb for homeowners is the higher the amperage, the more an appliance will cost to run. There is always a trade-off between power and economy when it comes to electrical devices. If economizing on the monthly utility is a priority, then select products with lower amperage. If power and speed are important, then look for products with higher amperage. The utility company bills customers based on total wattage used, which is calculated by multiplying amperage by voltage. Wattage is the basic measuring unit of electrical power, so customers are usually charged by the watt or kilowatt. This is why it is important to turn off electrical devices when they are not needed. Extra amperage means a higher amount of billable wattage hours.

What Is Static Friction

Static friction is a force which resists the lateral movement of two objects which are touching each other. A simple example of static friction might be a wooden block sitting on a ramp. Unless sufficient force is exerted, the block will not slide down the ramp, because static friction holds it place and resists sliding. When objects have a high coefficient of friction, it means that a lot of force will be required to break through the force of static friction and create movement, while a low coefficient means that less force will need to be exerted.

A number of things determine the strength of static friction. Some friction takes place on the electromagnetic level, in the form of charged particles which are attracted to or repelled by each other. The texture of the objects also plays a role. For example, a silk sheet has a very smooth texture which creates less resistance, while a dry asphalt road is coarse, generating more resistance.

Many people are familiar with static friction, since they interact with it on an almost daily basis. For example, when someone slides a book across a table, static friction is at work. Initially, a small level of force needs to be exerted to get the book to move. Once it is moving, however, kinetic friction comes into play, and less effort will be required to move the book. The amount of force required can vary. For example, if a book has a library cover on it and it got damp, the wet book will require more force to move, while a brand new paperback book might slide very easily across a dry wooden table with a varnished surface.

Sometimes, static friction may be such a negligible force that people don't even realize that it is present. In other cases, it can be quite significant. For example, a car has a tremendous amount of static friction which makes it very difficult to push a stopped car into motion. Some friction is actually specifically desired with cars, because it allows the driver more control; when a car loses friction, it can slide out of control, as seen on icy roads in the winter.

A number of formulas can be used to determine the coefficient of friction of various objects. Calculating friction can get complicated, because it is subject to many variables, including gravity, which can make it difficult to plug values into an equation and quickly generate a coefficient. Coefficients of static friction have been calculated for some well-known objects for convenience: for example, two pieces of Teflon®, a very slippery substance, have a coefficient of friction of .04.

What is Mitosis

Mitosis is the scientific term for nuclear cell division, where the nucleus of the cell divides, resulting in two sets of identical chromosomes. Mitosis is accompanied by cytokinesis in which the end result is two completely separate cells called daughter cells. There are four phases of mitosis: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.

The first phase of mitosis is prophase. In this phase the chromosomes which are normally spread throughout the nucleus begin to condense into a tight ball. The DNA molecules of the chromosomes begin to interact with enzymes and proteins that assist in the replication of the genes. The compact coiling of the chromosomes at this stage of mitosis is called mitotic chromosomes. Nearing the end of prophase, the material enclosing the nucleus and the cytoskeleton disappears. The cytoskeleton is transformed into what is called a spindle apparatus which works to pull the duplicated chromosomes apart during the anaphase.

The second phase of mitosis is metaphase. In this phase the chromosomes of the dividing cell begin to line up and are coordinated with the spindle apparatus. The soon to be divided chromosomes are symmetrically positioned on the metaphase plate typically at the equator of the parent cell.

Anaphase is the third step of mitosis. Abruptly the spindle apparatus pulls the two identical sets of chromosomes apart from one another. Each new set of chromosomes is moved to opposite spindle poles. These two sets of chromosomes will soon develop into the nuclei of two daughter cells perfectly identical to each other as well as identical to the parent cell.

The final stage of mitosis is telophase which means end. Telophase is best described as the opposite of prophase. As the chromosomes begin to move toward the spindle pole they start to uncoil and spread out. Then the spindle apparatus made of the former cytoskeleton is deconstructed. Finally the nuclear envelope or membrane is formed around the chromosomes. Although this is the last phase of mitosis, telophase will not be complete until cytokinesis has been carried out. Cytokinesis is similar to mitosis except it involves the cell’s cytoplasm and organelles where mitosis is the division of the nucleus or control center of the cell. Once mitosis and cytokinesis are properly completed there are two new functioning cells.

What is Taurine

Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid that is found in high levels in the skeletal and heart muscles of humans, as well as in white blood cells, and the central nervous system. It is also found in some plants, such as seaweed, fungi and bacteria. Taurine is a main ingredient in bile and aids in the digestion of fats and the absorption of vitamins that are fat soluble. It is a necessary acid that our body produces naturally.

Austrian scientists Friedrich Tiedermann and Leopold Gmelin first identified taurine in 1827 in the bile of an ox. This is where the name originates—taurine comes from the Latin word for bull, Taurus. While we know for sure that taurine aids in the breakdown of fats and absorption of vitamins, there are many other claims that have been made concerning its usefulness in the human body. In infants and some animals, specifically cats, taurine is a requirement for eye health and development. Premature infants who cannot naturally produce taurine must have formula with taurine added to ensure proper development.

Taurine has many known benefits, although some have not been definitively proven. It may reduce high blood pressure in adults and is being tested as a potential treatment for bipolar depression. Studies on mice have shown that taking taurine supplements while on a high fat diet kept them from gaining weight. In other studies, diabetic rats saw improvement in losing weight, and lower blood sugar levels.

Taurine is possibly best known as a health supplement, and is used in a variety of products. Bodybuilders take supplements of taurine coupled with creatine which may help in reducing muscle fatigue and soreness. Energy drinks, which are becoming hugely popular, especially among the teen and young adult set, often list taurine as one of its main supplemental ingredients. Drinks like Monster™ and Rockstar™ both contain up to 2000 mg of taurine, which is within daily suggested doses of 50 mg to 3 grams.

University of London researchers claim that taurine may counteract the effects of heavy drinking on the liver because it prevents fat from building up in the organ. Although this is not the intended or most responsible use of taurine, news of this have led many to believe that drinking an energy drink with high levels of taurine may be the perfect “morning after” treatment after a night of heavy drinking.

Technology And Gadgedts

How Can I Play the Music on my Computer Through my Stereo

What is a Hydrogen Bomb

What Is a Power Inverter

What Is CDMA

What is a DVD-ROM

What Are Transducers

What Is HDMI®

Do Batteries Really Last Longer if They Are Stored in the Refrigerator

What Should I Do if I Drop My Cell Phone in Water

What is a Potentiometer

What is a Multiplexer

What Are Omnidirectional Microphones

What Is the Difference Between Mbps and MBps

What is a Wireless TV Router

What are SDHC Cards

What Is a USB Dongle

What is Wiselink

What Is Cell Phone Etiquette

How Does a Television Work

Who Invented the Refrigerator

What Is the Difference Between a Line Conditioner and a Surge Protector

What is the Difference Between NTSC and PAL

How Does Infrared Work

What is a Thumb Drive

What is a Cell Phone App

What Should I Do If My Cell Phone is Stolen

What Is 4G

What is a Dry Cell Battery

What is the Difference Between 720p and 1080p HDTVs

What is Chemosynthesis

What is an MP3 Player

What are SDHC Cards

What Is a USB Dongle

What is Wiselink

What Is Cell Phone Etiquette

How Does a Television Work

Who Invented the Refrigerator

What Is the Difference Between a Line Conditioner and a Surge Protector

What is the Difference Between NTSC and PAL

How Does Infrared Work

What is a Thumb Drive

What is a Cell Phone App

What Should I Do If My Cell Phone is Stolen

What Is 4G

What is a Dry Cell Battery

What is the Difference Between 720p and 1080p HDTVs

What is Chemosynthesis

What is an MP3 Player

What is an iPod

What Is Anynet

What is an Unlocked Phone

What is an Unlocked Phone

What Are Polarized Lenses

What is a Ten Key

What Is BD Wise

What Is a 4G Network

What Are LED Christmas Lights

What Is Microfiche 

What Is 4G Mobile Technology

 

What is Technology

 

How can I Make a Room Soundproof

 

Why Can't You Use Your Cell Phone on an Airplane

 

What Are Unlocked Cell Phones

 

What is the Difference Between GSM and CDMA

 

What Is a Firewire® to USB Adapter

 

What are the Disadvantages of Solar Power

 

What are Some Common Abbreviations Used in Text Messaging

 

What Is a DECT Phone

 

What is HSDPA

 

What Is Airplane Mode on a Cell Phone

 

Is it Possible to Send a Text Message to a Landline Telephone

 

What Is an Elmo™ Projector

 

What are Lasers Used for

 

What Are the Different Types of Communication Systems

 

What Is a Sound Bar

 

What is an Analog Signal

 

Why Does an Entire String of Christmas Lights Fail When a Single Bulb Burns Out

 

Do Air Purifiers Really Work

 

What are Advantages and Disadvantages of Fluorescent Lighting

 

How do Networks Know How Many People are Watching a TV Program

 

What is Microfilm

 

What is Geofencing