Pulmonary Fibrosis is a chronic malady whose exact cause is unknown and therefore, it is termed idiopathic. In this progressively worsening condition, the lungs get scarred, and the healing process for unknown reasons repairs the damage with scar tissue, an inelastic fibrous connective tissue. These scar tissues cannot be replaced. Pulmonary fibrosis is not very uncommon. The individual types are rare and difficult to identify.

It is believed that various factors interact in the development of this disease, with heredity having an important role. Exposure to certain toxic chemicals, certain medications, and medical conditions, coal and silica dusts, asbestos fiber, heavy metal dust, radiation therapy, grain dust, and animal and bird dropping are all the major contributors. Long term smoking also seems to be a factor. With loss of elasticity the lungs cannot expand and contract restricting breathing. Loss of normal tissue affects the gas transfer resulting in shortage of oxygen in blood. As the disease progresses the lung becomes more and more scar tissue and restricts the blood flow leading to pulmonary hypertension which drags the heart into complications.

The disease normally starts with shortness of breath, inability to breathe deep, and reached a stage when breathing itself becomes painful. Constant tiredness, a dry hacking cough, weight loss which has no discernable cause, ache in muscles and joints and clubbing of fingers and toes are other symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis. The intensity of symptoms and the course of the disease vary widely among patients.

The progress of the disease can, in some cases, be slowed down by some modern drugs like pirfenidone and nintedanib the former produces rashes, nausea and diarrhea while the latter produces diarrhea and nausea. There are newer drugs for pulmonary fibrosis treatment which may have greater effects but have not got FDA approval yet. Some of the complications are pulmonary hypertension with later right ventricular failure –cor pulmonale and finally respiratory failure.Lung transplant in certain case can be an effective pulmonary fibrosis treatment.

It is fairly clear this is a disease with inferior prognosis and lots of suffering. Many studies are being conducted to find a cure to this illness and only time can tell how successful these would be.

Oil is among the most volatile commodities on earth. Oil prices have been in the news with price of a barrel going as low as $30 in the early 2016. The International Energy Agency predicts that the oversupply will end in late 2017. So, this is actually a lifeline of hope for consumers and it should boost the price of oil. Indeed, oil rose above $50 per barrel, in the early 2017.

The question is, will the oil prices rise, or will they fall despite positive predictions? The point is that these companies are dependent on the oil prices, which fluctuate a lot. The market moves up and down. But there are some companies which aren’t as dependent on the price of crude oil. Here are some companies, that show a good return of investment for consumers. These predictions are based on the quarterly income growth and revenue momentum.

EOG Resources Inc. (EOG): EOG is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has a market cap of nearly $56 billion. EOG has a focus on crude and, to a lesser extent, natural gas extraction. EOG has been working on its income losses for the past four quarters, and appears to be ready to profit. There is space for growth due to the fact that the company applies big data to drilling technology. Their strategy of learning from and disseminating real-time data to workers in the field provides them an unparalleled edge.

First Solar Inc.: It is a firm that specializes in solar energy which was found in 2012. Te company has worked through ups and downs and in the recent years, has shown the capacity of great growth. It has a market cap of $3.47 billion. There is a chance of volatility, but investors who see the larger picture can choose this as an option.

Covanta Holding Corp.: Covanta Holding Corp provides waste management services to the United States and Canada. They have plants that burn the waste and generate electricity. It burns approximately 20 million tons of waste and recycles 50,000 tons of metal. The company has a solid track record and is on the way of reaping profits this year. It also has been slowly increasing its portfolio with various new innovations, all of which should give a positive impact this year.

The main point of the energy sector is that investors can only reap rewards over time. They have to sit tight, and wait out all the ups and downs of this volatile market. It is also important to keep your portfolio as diversified as possible when it comes to investing in energy stocks. Predictions are positive for the oil sector this year, with many predicting a huge profit coming up.

Going to used car auctions and getting a good car deal for a reasonable price is pure luck for many as most of the times things do not favor you. Since most cars that are auctioned are ones that have hit the high mileage quota, getting a car without any catastrophic failure is a high risk. It is handy to keep a few tips in mind before going to used car auctions.

Face the reality
A buyer going to an auction sale is looking for a car deal that will be cost effective and thereby compromise slightly on quality. Most of the cars that come out to these auctions are because they are beyond certain miles for the dealer to sell, there are inherent conditions that are apparent, or the car has gone through some major damages. Having some fixing repair work on a car bought at auction is common to those who are good with an average deal. To beat all these odds and play smart, the buyer can choose between private dealer auctions where most cars would be better and public auctions where the car is bound to be the last place to sell if not the scrap yard.

Car history
Another major reason for cars at auction sales is because of multiple ownerships. The different owners would have handled the car differently and also maintained it their ways. Therefore, knowing how many hands the car has passed even if for short spans can help a buyer gauge how many turbulences the car has been through.

Look under the hood
Make sure to do a thorough inspection before just buying the best looking car at the auction lot. It helps to know what performance the car will yield and how much of monetary damages you have to undergo to get it working properly without glitches. Understanding the machine helps to get to the right choice.

A few decades ago, the computers we used had displays made from cathode ray tubes. This made the size of the computer considerably large, having three aspects to them. These were input devices like mouse and keyboard, monitor, and a computer case!

Over a period of time, newer and improved technology resulted in smaller monitors, creating the need to reduce the size of the display, as well as to make the computer case built into the monitor. This gave rise to all-in-one computers. Even though these resulted from reduced size of displays, the first model was considerably large and expensive to install.

The Apple iMac was one of these all-in-one computers that seemed to create all the buzz. Originally, it was made on what seemed to be one block. The cathode ray display had all the components sitting under it.

While many other personal computer manufacturers adopted this design, they weren’t quite able to catch the essence of the iMac. LCD technology has helped reduce the size of the displays, which has resulted in the decreased size of personal computers as well as smartphones. This is because the LCD panel or even the display base could easily have the components embedded in them.

Desktop PC vs. all-in-one PC

All-in-one computers have redefined the style factor of most personal computers. While they do not make much of a difference in terms of functionality and specifications, the number of PC components varies. Desktop PC’s consist of a separate monitor as well as the computer case. On the other hand, the all-in-one computers have a display like a single box. This adds to the advantages of the all-in-one over the desktop PC.

While the counter-argument may be brought up that there are a new set of desktop computers like the Apple Mac Mini seem to be better suited, there are other advantages associated with all-in-one computers. A lot of wiring that may seem to make the computer bulky, and this is reduced in the all-in-one PC due to the integrated components.

Having said this, the Desktop PC brings quite a few things to the table that make it compelling to consider them as well. Because of the reduced size of all-in-one PCs, the memory, processor, and other drivers all need to be made smaller and this can affect their performance considerably. This may seem fast enough for most people. However, that does not justify the better performance given by desktop PCs.

Another factor to consider is that all-in-one computers are not as easily upgradable as Desktop PCs. The smaller components in the all-in-one PC’s makes it difficult to open and upgrade as compared to desktop PCs that are better suited for upgradability. With the graphics and USB drives growing at a rapid pace in terms of technology, upgradability matters a lot.

All-in-one computers vs. laptops

The biggest advantage that the all-in-one computer has over the desktop is the size. However, it is not the case when a laptop is bought into the picture. Laptop technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the past few decades, so much so that one can compare the all-in-one computers with laptops.

Although the performance given by both these models are typically the same due to the similarity in size of the components, the laptop usually has a restricted size for display compared to the all-in-one computer. Laptops have the added advantage of being portable and more flexible, making it more convenient for users. The biggest advantage, however, comes from price as the laptops are considerably cheaper than the all-in-one PC.

In conclusion, the desktop has become less popular due to the advent of laptops in the market. Cost and portability have played a huge margin in this. However, performance and upgrades make the desktop PC a good option and are recommended to those looking for a good device for different purposes.

There is nothing more exciting than buying new living room furniture. However, before making any purchase, there are several things that need to be taken into consideration. To start with, you must have an idea of the kind of furniture you want. You need to keep in mind that whatever you buy must fit in the space you have in your living room. Whether you are looking for a particular style or happy to mix and match different varieties of new living room furniture as per availability is also an important aspect to consider. Your budget is another factor while buying living room furniture. Whether you want to buy expensive or inexpensive pieces is something you need to decide at the beginning itself. There are people who buy a combination of both costly and economical furniture.

Types of living room furniture
A sofa is the biggest piece of furniture that people put in their living room. If you have a big living room, you can opt for a sectional. However, if your drawing room is smaller in size, as they are in apartments or condominium then you only have room for a futon or loveseat.

Sofa
Sofas can accommodate two to four people as per its size. Sofas can range between 30 inches and 110 inches wide in size. The standard size of the sofa is between 50 and 80 inches wide. This piece of furniture is found to be upholstered in materials like faux leather, leather, microfiber, and linen mostly. You can buy a sofa sleeper as well if you have guests for sleepovers or just need an extra sleeping option.

Sectional
Sectionals are best for big living rooms. They can accommodate four, six or even more people. There are some that double as recliners as well on one or both ends. While most recliners are found to be of “L” shape, there are some with rounded backs that look like having a “C” shape. Sectionals come in different coverings like leather, linen, faux leather, microfiber or bonded leather. A sectional is at least 60 inches wide and can be more than 100 inches wide.

Futon
A futon is a smaller version of the sleeper sofa. They can serve as a bed or loveseat depending on your requirements. A futon can have a single or double twin-size mattress that gets into the bottom and back of if when rearranged.

Loveseat
If you have an extra big living room then you can have both sofa and loveseat in it. However, for the smaller living room, one can choose a loveseat as the primary piece of furniture. These use the same materials as that of sofas. A total of two average-size or three smaller people can sit on a loveseat. They are between 30 and 89 inches wide and are available in an array of colors.

Accent chairs and recliners
In addition to a sofa or loveseat, you may have a chair or two in the room. These can either be accent chairs or recliners.

i. Accent Chair: Accent chairs are available in an array of styles, including armless and armchairs. They can be mid-century, modern and contemporary as far as style goes. Chairs, including recliners, are categorized depending on their seating area. Living room chairs can be as small as 15 inches or less or as big as 36 inches or more.

ii. Recliners: These are deep, plush chairs with backs that recline and footrest that extend out. You can almost lay flat in a recliner. Some recliners come with massaging and heating options. There are others that have power lift technology, which help people who have difficulty in sitting down or getting up.

Accent Tables
Once you have set the furniture to sit on, you need to add a table or two as well. You can choose from coffee tables, end tables, and console tables as per the available space and your personal choice.

Other living room furniture
Once you have set up the main pieces in the living room, you can add more new furniture if you have an empty space. There is furniture like TV stands, bookcases, and ottomans to choose from.

Whether you want to buy a television for your living room, bedroom, or for your children’s room, your first choice will obviously be one that fits within your budget. There are several options for TVs that include IPS and HDR. 4K TVs are in vogue these days and provide exceptional picture quality. If you are looking to buy a 55-inch 4K, the following are five popular ones that are available at an affordable price tag.

Samsung UN55NU7100
This is a mid-size smart television and is also good for gaming. It features a mode that is specifically designed for gaming. Additionally, this model comes with high-definition resolution (HDR) that delivers an exceptional picture quality. More importantly, this TV from Samsung is priced at a very affordable at around $549.99.

Scepter U550CV-U
Until recently, you would never have thought that you would be able to buy a 55-inch 4K TV for less than $300 except on a Black Friday deal. The Scepter U550V-U is available for around $400. However, it does not provide HDR or other features that are available with a smart television. This is an excellent choice if you want to buy an affordable entry-level basic mid-size television for your home.

RCA RTU5540-C
This model from RCA is a basic television. It is a decent size TV providing big resolution display. You will not unnecessarily have to pay a higher price for features that you do not require. It is available for an inexpensive price of around $279.99 on certain online sites as part of a special offer and will not cause havoc on your budget.

Sharp LC-55Q7030U
The Sharp LC-55Q7030U is another affordable television that comes with several additional features. These include smart TV capabilities and HDR, without having to pay a very high amount. This TV is priced at around $319.99.

LG 55UK6300PUE
This model is a part of LG’s streamlined ThinQ line. It is an elegant and slim mid-size television offered at around $544.95. The model is also compatible with various home assistants, such as Alexa and Google Assistant.

Vizio E55-F1
The 2018 model from Vizio includes the company’s SmartCast operating system (OS). This allows you to utilize voice control features through Amazon Alexa devices and Google Assistant. Additionally, it has an inbuilt Chromecast, which allows you to access different smart TV applications.

Finding an affordable television is not difficult. You may search online to find the best deals on the aforementioned best televisions in this category. Check these out today and enhance your viewing experience with a 4K TV that offers several features and capabilities. You can check different online sites and compare the prices to get the best deals on 55-inch 4K TVs.