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Teachers and parents are always looking for the right scenarios to promote blended learning engagement. We see the potential in creating forums and using apps, websites and other virtual tools to promote creativity and higher-level learning. Implementing blended learning takes practice in order to engage students, and allow them to be creative. It requires specific supportive guidelines for the use of technology.Click to tweet The teacher always has a crucial role to play in blended learning situations. Teachers have the power to control the type and level of blended learning engagement. Here are some great ways to do just that. 5 Paths to Blended Learning Engagement Teachers can guide practice and create expectations in these 5 ways: 1. Create and nurture the need to know. With any effort towards developing interest for a topic, creating a need to know is an essential element in the process. Authentic projects where students find relevance to information and must use it to meet certain expectation or solve a problem builds on the natural curiosity and constructive impulses of a child. Using “need to know” motivations creates an intrinsic urge to understand the learning. 2. Combine collaborative work with virtual meetings. Conferences can be used to help children with problem-solving, working together on projects, or for guided practice. Class meetings are useful when learning is meaningful and applied in context. Children need to understand the connections. 3. Set goals and milestones. Provide a roadmap of where students are expected to go and the requirements of the final product. Set up moments online or offline to reflect on the current stage of progress and how it related to overall end goals. Have students reflect on their progress and problems and build constructive support systems for them to find their own answers. Goals should be quantifiable and be developed around the needs of students. We can work with abstract tools towards concrete goals. 4. Student assignments can be individualized online. Differentiating the expected learning is possible online. Higher-level engagement and products can be expected from those with a firm grasp of the concept. More remedial tasks and assignments to understand core concepts can help learners who are experiencing difficulty. Differentiated instruction in a blended learning environment allows all learners to learn at their speed and level and to complete meaningful tasks that apply to their needs and interests. 5. Allow students to use appropriate online tools to learn core concepts. There are so many educational apps, forums and social media platforms to help students understand and work with concepts. Here are just two excellent examples: - The Khan Academy app allows teachers to tap into the flipped classroom concept for more individualized digestion of materials. - TED-Ed, TED’s education initiative, offers educators presentations that work to provide information and development of core concepts. Classroom forums can be created and managed by teachers to provide a place for students to ask questions and help each other while working on projects outside of the classroom. 7 Core Principles to Guide Instruction Important elements to include in any instruction can be taken from the study Student Engagement in Blended Learning Environments with Lecture-Based and Problem-Based Instructional Approaches, published in the journal of Educational Technology and Society. Truly useful at any level of instruction, they cited a framework by Chickering and Gamson called “Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education.” These principles, easily adopted for any instruction, are: - Increase contact between student and faculty. - Provide opportunity for students to work cooperatively. - Encourage students to use active learning strategies. - Provide timely feedback on progress. - Allow sufficient time for students to spend on a task. - Establish high standards for acceptable work. - Address different learner needs within instruction. Teachers who follow these principles are creating an environment that supports a high level of learner engagement. Blended learning engagement is simply another form of instruction that helps students master concepts and work with the material at their level.	12,628
Once state-of-the-art mental healthcare facilities, Kirkbride buildings have long been relics of an obsolete therapeutic method known as Moral Treatment. In the latter half of the 19th century, these massive structures were conceived as ideal sanctuaries for the mentally ill and as an active participent in their recovery. Careful attention was given to every detail of their design to promote a healthy environment and convey a sense of respectable decorum. Placed in secluded areas within expansive grounds, many of these insane asylums seemed almost palace-like from the outside. But growing populations and insufficient funding led to unfortunate conditions, spoiling their idealistic promise. Within decades of their first conception, new treatment methods and hospital design concepts emerged and the Kirkbride plan was eventually discarded. Many existing Kirkbride buildings maintained a central place in the institutions which began within their walls, but by the end of the 20th century most had been completely abandoned or demolished. A few have managed to survive into the 21st century intact and still in use, but many that survive sit abandoned and decaying—their mysterious grandeur intensified by their derelict condition. More... Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride was a founding member of the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane (AMSAII)—forerunner of the American Psychiatric Association—serving first as secretary, then later as president. Through this association and in his writings, Kirkbride promoted a standardized method of asylum construction and mental health treatment, popularly known as the Kirkbride Plan, which significantly influenced the entire American asylum community during his lifetime. More... Latest Blog Entries 10 Mar 2013 -- Christian VanAntwerpen had an idea recently to photograph “every inch” of the Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Kirkbride for posterity, and is now working to make his idea a reality. Christian has gathered a group of about forty photographers and cinematographers who plan to photograph the entire building together this year... read more Abandoned Asylums of New England 28 Feb 2013 -- John Gray is publishing a new edition of his Abandoned Asylums of New England photography book. The original version was self-published and came out a little over ten years ago... read more Help Save the Athens Kirkbride 13 Feb 2013 -- Please help the Athens County Historical Society and Museum save the Athens Kirkbride by signing this online petition. Ohio University (current owner of the former Athens State Hospital site now known as The Ridges) is set to tear down an historic building at the site next month... read more Hudson River Cameo in New Soundgarden Video 21 Jan 2013 -- A friend of mine recently posted photos from a Soundgarden show on Instagram. She was excited to see photos of the Hudson River State Hospital Kirkbride appear on the screen behind the band while they played their new song Been Away Too Long... read more Colliers International’s Fergus Falls Website 02 Oct 2012 -- Colliers International has launched a website as part of their campaign to find a developer for the Fergus Falls Kirkbride: Historic Campus Opportunity. It’ll be interesting to see if Colliers is successful... read more The Danvers Room 17 Aug 2012 -- The New York Times published an article Tuesday about John Archer’s eclectic house in Danvers, Massachusetts: Scrap Mansion. For those who don’t know, John Archer probably did more than anyone to try keeping the Danvers State Hospital Kirkbride intact... read more Prints of Kirkbride buildings are now available. Added a Saint Elizabeths Hospital page. Added an Harrisburg State Hospital page. Added chapters 51-60 to Kirkbride's book. Added a Cherokee State Hospital page. Expanded the Weston State Hospital gallery. - Athens State Hospital Architect: Levi T. Scofield Location: Athens, Ohio - Buffalo State Hospital Architect: Henry Hobson Richardson Location: Buffalo, New York - Cherokee State Hospital Architect: Henry F. Liebbe Location: Cherokee, Iowa - Clarinda State Hospital Architect: Foster & Liebbe Location: Clarinda, Iowa - Danvers State Hospital Architect: Nathaniel J. Bradlee Location: Danvers, Massachusetts - Dixmont State Hospital Architect: J.R. Kerr Location: Dixmont Township, Pennsylvania - Fergus Falls State Hospital Architect: Warren Dunnell Location: Fergus Falls, Minnesota - Greystone Park State Hospital Architect: Samuel Sloan Location: Morristown, New Jersey - Hudson River State Hospital Architect: Frederick Clarke Withers Location: Poughkeepsie, New York - Independence State Hospital Architect: Stephen Vaughn Shipman Location: Independence, Iowa - Northampton State Hospital Architect: Jonathan Preston Location: Northampton, Massachusetts - Saint Elizabeths Hospital Architect: Thomas U. Walters Location: Washington, DC - Taunton State Hospital Architect: Elbridge Boyden Location: Taunton, Massachusetts - Traverse City State Hospital Architect: Gordon W. Lloyd Location: Traverse City, Michigan - Weston State Hospital Architect: R. Snowden Andrews Location: Weston, West Virginia - Worcester State Hospital Architect: George Dutton Rand Location: Worcester, Massachusetts - Photo Prints Prints of selected Kirkbride photographs on this site are available for purchase in 8x10 and 11x14 formats. Please note that in some instances these buildings are off-limits to the general public and permission must be obtained if you wish to access the property and/or take photographs.	37,730
AIDS Diagnoses in the US, by Transmission Method and Gender "From 2009 through 2013, the annual number of infections classified as stage 3 (AIDS) among adult and adolescent males with HIV infection attributed to male-to-male sexual contact, injection drug use, male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use, or heterosexual contact decreased. The number of infections classified as stage 3 (AIDS) among adult and adolescent females with HIV infection attributed to injection drug use or heterosexual contact decreased." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Surveillance Report, 2013; vol. 25. Published February 2015. Accessed October 29, 2015, pp. 6-7.	39,991
The influence of money in politics 76% of Americans think that the amount of money in elections gives rich people more influence than the rest of us. They're right. Princeton and Northwestern University recently released a released a study suggesting that our government outcomes function on behalf of a polarized special interest oligarchy not the majoritarian democracy. That's not the deal promised by the whole "We The People" thing. The Spoiler Effect and Lesser Evil Voting The spoiler effect is the effect of vote splitting between candidates or ballot questions with similar ideologies. One spoiler candidate's presence in the election draws votes from a major candidate with similar politics thereby causing a strong opponent of both or several to win. The minor candidate causing this effect is referred to as a spoiler. The lesser of two evils principle (or lesser evil principle) is the principle that when given two bad choices, the one which is not as bad as the other should be chosen over the one that is the greater threat. More on Ranking Systems Plurality voting - the choice of one favorite in a field of many candidates - is the simplest ranking system. Other methods like Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) allow you to rank multiple candidates 1,2,3, etc. in order of your preference. It turns out that for elections with more than two candidates, ALL ranked voting methods fail the test for voting system equality because there are rank orderings for which there are no counter-balancing orderings. Further, rank orderings can't account for disproportionate clusterings of candidates, so such systems are necessarily vulnerable to vote-splitting. Some super smart dude named Nobel Prize Winning Economist Dr. Kenneth Arrow actually proved that no rank order voting system with more than two distinct alternatives can produce a “fair” outcome. Other complaints regarding ranked systems include ballot complexity and winner computation complexity. Computing the shutout Currently only members of the Democratic and Republican parties can participate in meaningful primary elections. According to the November, 2016 voter registration statistics, 34% of voters don't affiliate with either, and are therefore excluded from the contests that select the two frontrunner candidates for the general election. Further, a strong majority of districts provide a single party enough of an advantage because of the imbalanced segregation of voters in the primary stage that its candidate always wins the general election. This silences another 17.1% of voters in the minority party in dominated districts. That's actually more than half of us. Without a voice of representation in a "representative democracy." Hmm... The spreadsheet that computes these results from Oregon's published voter registration data and the computer program that generates the nifty colored maps can be accessed at this GitHub repository. The California Top Two California adopted a top two general election system in 2010. While the California law bears similarity to the Oregon Open Primary, it differs significantly in its purpose, excerpted in part: “(a) Purpose. The Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act is hereby adopted by the People of California to protect and preserve the right of every Californian to vote for the candidate of his or her choice… (b) Top Two Candidate Open Primary. All registered voters otherwise qualified to vote shall be guaranteed the unrestricted right to vote for the candidate of their choice in all state and congressional elections… The top two candidates, as determined by the voters in an open primary, shall advance to a general election…” The California system has no requirement of equality within the primary election itself. Instead, its Purpose subtly reinforces the single choice limitation, and so because all the candidates are in a single, larger primary field, California has seen a magnification of the vote-splitting/spoiler effect inequality present in our election system today. A discussion of strategic voting in the equal vote with a top two "Bullet Voting" - FairVote, a national election reform advocacy organization, has criticized rating systems because "they create obvious, immediate and ongoing strategic dilemmas in every election. With approval voting, each equally weighted vote counts both for that candidate but effectively against the other candidates -- if you indeed have a preference between the two candidates, you need to weigh whether to 'bullet vote' for your favorite to avoid canceling out that vote by voting for someone else. You can be sure candidates will publicly call for voters to reach out to all candidates they might like with their votes, but privately to urge all backers to bullet vote for themselves." In a discussion of using a rating system for the primary election with a top two, Rob Richie, Executive Director of FairVote conceded that adding a second round mitigates the bullet voting concern. A voter's desire to see his or her favorite candidate win is balanced by the safety of having two acceptable candidates advance (including his or her favorite). "Voting or advocating for the weak opponent" - A number of folks have suggested that one way to "game" the equal top two is to cast dishonest votes in favor of a weak opponent candidate in order to squeeze out a more-feared strong opponent. This is not a safe voting strategy; in fact it is only viable if the voter has a very high degree of confidence that his or her favorite candidate will out-poll the strong opponent in the first round. Voting insincerely does not change at all the calculus between the voter's favorite and most feared opponent, but actually increases the likelihood that the voter's own favorite will get squeezed out. This weak opponent strategy is an effective technique in most other two stage election systems.	8,525
Scientists have found an association between fungicide use and retinal degeneration in the wives of farmers who are pesticide applicators. Researchers had already found an association with retinal degeneration among the farmers themselves in the Agricultural Health Study, a large study of farm families from Iowa and North Carolina. Researchers reviewed data from questionnaires given to 31,173 women from 1993 to 1997 to determine whether wives of these farmer pesticide applicators were at increased risk of retinal degeneration. This information was evaluation to determine associations of specific pesticides and groups of pesticides based on function (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and fumigants) or chemical structure (organophosphates, organochlorines, and carbamates) with eye disorders. Their findings suggest that exposure to some fungicides and other pesticides may increase the risk of retinal degeneration; specific fungicides that appeared to drive this association were maneb or mancozeb and ziram. Study authors noted that although these findings for retinal degeneration are based solely on self-reported disease, they are consistent with those reported for farmer pesticide applicators. SOURCE: Retinal Degeneration and Other Eye Disorders in Wives of Farmer Pesticide Applicators Enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study, Kirrane, et al, American Journal of Epidemiology 2005 161(11):1020-1029; doi:10.1093/aje/kwi140	8,279
Encouraging Kindness in Kids As parents of preschoolers, we're regularly reminding them to take turns, say "please" and "thank you," be good listeners, help each other, clean up their toys, don't bite … and so on. We're pretty relentless. Because it's all related to what we consider one of our most important jobs as parents: How do we raise kind kids? Considerate, generous people make the world better, of course. And studies show that people are happier and healthier when they're kind. Parents Magazine wrote that kids have an innate desire to help others – we just need to guide it, so that doing good becomes a lifelong habit. Here are a few things we're trying at our house. 1) Make a Kindness Box. Like anything, we figure kindness takes practice. We're wrapping up and decorating a box with our kids, cutting up some slips of paper, and writing an act of kindness on each one. Then we'll draw one out of the box each day this month, and do it together. Here are a few of them (big and small): - Go on a hike in the Presidio, and pick up any trash we see. - Donate books to the library. - Clean up the playroom. - Plant a garden. - Draw a picture for Mrs. Patel (our neighbor). - Volunteer at Glide (local nonprofit). - Make and bring treats to the fire station. - Hug your brother. - Write a thank you to our teachers. - Smile at everyone you see. - Walk Elvis (our dog). - Have a lemonade stand, and donate the $ to the Children's Hospital. Stories like Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree, The Please and Thank You Book, And Llama Llama Time To Share, help teach what it means to be thoughtful and kind. We created the Wee You-Things app to help encourage acceptance – and to celebrate differences – in a fun way. 3) Family dinner. During dinner, when you're asking your kids about school or the park – ask them how they helped spread kindness that day. Who did you help today? Who helped you? How were you a good friend? How were you a good brother? Hopefully it gives you more insight into their days – and frames it up in a way that shows what we value most. Download a free activity page from the Wee Workshop – featuring Wee Alpha Kind Koala Kate – to capture kids' ideas on paper. 4) Notice (and recognize) it. When we catch our kids (or they catch us) being kind, we're calling each other on it. When we remember to do it, positive reinforcement is more fun for all of us. How do you teach your kids kindness? Please share your ideas on our Facebook page.	51,012
Now, I’m using Microsoft word to write these articles. These word processor programs are very useful when you writing something down. Sometimes, we heard someone was very familiar with these programs, such as word, can remember many short-cuts. Though I use this program frequently, I can’t remember many short-cuts. I can remember some short-cuts, such as “Ctrl+Z”, which means UNDO. The UNDO command is widely use in today’s program. You can see it almost everywhere. Besides the word processor program, you can find it in photoshop, in flash, or even in games. Eh, in games, this command isn’t called UNDO, it use another name SAVE. I think you should be familiar with this command. But, have you ever implemented this command in your application? Maybe, your application doesn’t need this kind of command, but you won’t deny the importance of this command. So, it’s worth to consider how to implement this command. In the GoF book, there is a pattern, which has much to do with this command, called Memento. The intent is as follows. Without violating encapsulation, capture and externalize an object’s internal state so that the object can be restored to this state later. –By GOF BOOK In my opinion, without practice, the definition is nothing. So, let’s write some code to implement this pattern. This little program will mimic the game command SAVA. Generally, we need to store some basic information about the role, such as the blood, the experience and so on. Do it the easy way, we will only store the blood and the experience, nothing more. Our demo will be looks like follows. This is a little game with no rules, just fight And you can save the characters state, including blood and experience, with the save button. Of course, you can load the states you’ve just saved. One more thing, the experience here can’t help you level up; you can take a look at the source code for its effect. The class diagram is as follows. The SaveManager class is used for manage the save state, and all the state of Character will be put into the CharacterState. When we want to save the character’s state, we just need to call the SaveManager.save, and pass the character’s state into it. Then, when we want to load it, call the load method of SaveManager. This is a basic application of this pattern. If you want to implement the UNDO and REDO commands, you may need a memento stack. How to use the stack depends on you program.	14,871
Canberra’s Deep Space Tracking Station could be the first place on Earth to receive signals indicating life on other planets from NASA’s new space telescope. The US$10 billion James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will help astronomers unravel the secrets of the cosmos in unprecedented detail. The 10-year mission aims to observe the first galaxies that formed in the early universe and see planets taking shape. It’s carrying cutting-edge technology, including the largest mirror ever launched into space, capable of seeing a wide range of light frequencies. Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) spokesman Glen Nagle said the JWST will be able to detect signs of life on planets within our own galaxy, the Milky Way. “We could know for the first time whether there’s life out there and maybe clues to what it’s like. [If it’s] developing or even ahead of us,” he said. The astronomically sensitive equipment can measure if atmospheric gases on far distant planets show signs of extra-terrestrials. “To tell us if these are worlds that have the potential to support life or even could be supporting life,” he explained. “Even right down to the possibility of looking for a technologically based civilisation.” The JWST launched on Christmas Day 2021 on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in South America. On 9 January it fully deployed its 21-foot, gold-coated mirror and was ready to prepare for science operations. The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) played a vital role in seeing it off safely into space. Mr Nagle said it was a moment years in the making. “To get that signal in and be able to confirm the spacecraft was healthy back to mission control was a really good feeling,” he said. According to Mr Nagle, the JWST is a complete game-changer, allowing images and detail like nothing on Earth can, “in the same way that the Hubble space telescope revolutionised our view of the universe around us in the optical wavelength”. “Webb’s capability to actually see that infrared light and incredible detail, 100 times more powerful than Hubble could ever do in optical, will give us an unprecedented view of the early universe. “It will reveal how the first galaxies were born, how that web of the universe came together.” The JWST is designed to send 58 gigabytes of information back to Earth each day, more than any spacecraft has done before. NASA is planning something special when the JWST is ready to take its first astronomical images, in about five to six months’ time. “They plan a ‘wow’ image,” Mr Nagle said. “They’ve already got a target decided on, but they haven’t told anybody what it is yet. “They will take their highest resolution image and that will be the first really big one revealed to the world.” If the timing is right, it will be the CDSCC that receives the data from that stunning first image. “It will come down definitely through the deep space network, but it all depends on the alignment of the stars whether it’s us or not,” Mr Nagle said. “The signals we get from these spacecraft are just the digital ones and zeros. We’ll send that data off to the mission control team and they’ll be the ones to unpack it first. “They plan to release it virtually in real-time, I’m sure they’ll have a big press conference around it and they’ll get it out as soon as possible.” Mr Nagle said it’s all part of the dedicated CDSCC team’s work to make history every day. You can track the James Webb Space Telescope’s mission online. Original Article published by Damien Larkins on Riotact.	15,127
Click to view larger photo. The Pacific humpback whale's (Megaptera novaeangliae) habitat is the warm waters of Hawai'i and the cold waters of Alaska. The Pacific humpback whales are the state of Hawaii's official marine mammal and is an endangered species. Humpback whales migrate to Hawaii every year from their summer feeding grounds off Alaska. They can be seen in Hawai'i from late October to early June. Many tourists and students go whale watching during this time of the year. Hawai'i is the only place in the U.S. where humpbacks reproduce. Scientists estimate that two-thirds of the entire North Pacific humpback whale population (approximately 4000-5000 whales) migrates to Hawaiian waters to engage in breeding, calving and nursing activities. The young calves are often found near the mother. Humpback whales eat shrimp, small fish, and krill. They grow up to fifty feet in length and can weigh up to forty tons! The humpback whale's age is determined by the size of its earwax which can get up to 3 feet long. Humpbacks are so called because they have a fin on their back just behind the middle of the body which has a ridge or "hump." The humpbacks usually travel in large groups of three to ten called pods.They are known to jump out of the water and return with a giant splash. This process is called breaching. The Pacific humpback whales is protected by the Federal National Marine Sanctuary Program. Under this Federal Regulations it is unlawful to: (a) approach by any means, within 100 yards (90 m) of a humpback whale; or (b) cause a vessel or other object to approach within 100 yards (90 m) of a humpback whale; or (c) operate any aircraft within 1000 feet (300 m) of any humpback whale; or (d) disrupt the normal behavior or prior activity of a whale by any other act or omission	9,366
Diabetes-related foot disease remains a common problem. For wounds, classic teaching recommends the treatment of any infection, offloading the wound and ensuring a good blood supply, as well as ensuring that the other modifiable risk factors are addressed and optimized. There remain, however, several questions about these and other aspects of the care of diabetes-related foot disease. Some of these questions are addressed in the present report; in particular, the impact of newer technologies in the identification of any organisms present in a wound, as well as the use of novel approaches to treat infections. The use of new remote sensing technology to identify people at risk of developing foot ulceration is also considered, in an attempt to allow early intervention and prevention of foot ulcers. The psychological impact of foot disease is often overlooked, but with an increasing number of publications on the subject, the cause-and-effect role that psychology plays in foot disease, such as ulcers and Charcot neuroarthropathy, is considered. Finally, because of heterogeneity in diabetic foot studies, comparing results is difficult. A recently published document focusing on ensuring a standardized way of reporting foot disease trials is discussed.	33,322
The main themes in the graphic novel, Asterios Polyp, are those of separation and the search for completion. Much of the visual and narrative images have to do with either separation or the search for a missing element to form a complete unit. As such themes of symmetry, unity and geometry are explored. It is important to note that the story is narrated by Ignazio, Asterios' twin brother who was still-born. Elements of Greek tragedy play out in this book and there are many references to specific plays and works of art. As Mazzucchelli does a great job of explaining several points along the way, I am limiting my notes to places where he has not explained what is happening on the page. Page 3, Panel 1. Exterior of Asterios Polyp’s apartment. It is important to note the symmetry of both the apartment building and the lit windows. Page 3, Panel 2. Interior of the apartment of Asterios Polyp. This panel will be repeated often throughout the book. It is important to note how this apartment looks now to compare it to the view of the apartment later in the book. Page 6, Panel 1. This is Asterios Polyp. The name, Asterios, is probably derivative of the word “asterism.” An asterism is a pattern of stars seen in Earth's sky that is not a constellation (such as Ursa Major). Their mostly simple shapes and few stars make these patterns easy to identify (which Asterios Polyp likes), and thus particularly useful to those just learning to orient themselves when viewing the night sky. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterism_(astronomy)) Page 9, panels 2, 4, and 6. In the fire, he takes three things: A watch, a lighter, and a Swiss Army knife. When all his life is crashing down around him and he has to save the most important, those are what he chooses to save. The fact that he chooses three things to grab is a contradiction to his life. He says later he doesn't think in terms of three, when Hana specifically asks him if he could only grab three things in the event of a fire. Page 17, Panel 1. We can assume from the narration and the picture that Polyp was a tenured professor at Cornell University. Page 17, Panel 3. Asterios Polyp is left handed. Yes, this is important. I promise. Page 18. The seated figure of Polyp is reminiscent of classic Greek figures. But, with it raised above his head, it also invokes the divine. He is over-seeing a plane of classic Greek forms, figures and sculptures. The three columns form a sort of timeline of Greek architecture. From furthest to closest (oldest to most recent) there is The Doric column, the oldest and simplest Greek style. It is found on the Parthenon in Athens. This column features fluted sides, a smooth rounded top, and no separate base. Ionic columns have the scroll-shaped ornaments at the top, which resemble a ram’s horns. The Ionic column rests on a rounded base. Corinthian columns are the most recent of the three classic Greek styles. The tops are shaped like inverted bells. The Tops are also decorated with olive, laurel, or acanthus leaves. Corinthian columns rest on a base similar to that of the Ionic style. (http://www.realtor.org/archives/arch35) By his pose and demeanor, we are to assume that Polyp is sitting in judgment of all that is before him. Polyp spends his life judging everything and everyone by how he sees the world. That which does not fit his view of ideal is crap and worthless. Page 19, Pane 1. Asterios subscribes to the modernist architectural philosophy that form reflects function. Anything that does not serve a purpose is superfluous. Page 19, Panel 2. Apollonian and Dionysian refers to Apollo and Dionysus of Greek myth. Both are sons of Zeus. “Apollo is the god of the Sun, lightness, music, and poetry, while Dionysus is the god of wine, ecstasy, and intoxication. In the modern literary usage of the concept, the contrast between Apollo and Dionysus symbolizes principles of wholeness versus individualism, light versus darkness, or civilization versus primal nature. The ancient Greeks did not consider the two gods as opposites or rivals.” However, Asterios uses these two to represent opposites. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollonian_and_Dionysian) Page 20, Panel 1. An introduction to the ordered pairs in Aterios’s life. There are double helix patterns on his bed, two pictures on the wall (one of a set of twins), two pairs of books (two light blue, two darker). Page 20, panel 1. Asterios has a photographic memory. This too will be important later. Page 20, panel 2 narration. An introduction to the concept of a lost or missing half in Asterios’s life. His “real” last name was cut in half, leaving only the first five letters. Page 20, panel 2 narration. Aglia Olio is a play on “Aglio e Olio”, a traditional Italian pasta dish that is associated with home cooking and rustic or poor life. It is made with local, simple ingredients that can be easily found and adapted. This suggests that, while his father was well-educated (and Greek), his mother was perhaps not (and Italian). This serves as a further metaphor. The Greeks were the educated and philosophical of the two cultures, while the Italians (Romans at the time) were not as educated, but made the most of what they controlled. They adapted the Greek society to their own, incorporating many of the Greek traditions in to their Roman way of life. Both the Greeks and Romans served as a foundation for our modern, Democratic society, just as Asterios’s parents serve as a foundation for his life. Page 20, panel 2 narration. Continuing the theme of missing halves, Asterios was born on June 22, 1950, the first day of the second half of the century, thus missing out on the first half. Page 21, panels 1 - 3. We are introduced to several important pieces of information here. First being that the narration of this story is by Ignazio, Asterios’s dead twin brother. Ignazio, his brother, is probably based on Ignazio Danti, a figure in the renaissance. He was trained in Mathematics and science, but joined the priesthood. He studied cosmography and spent time mapping the heavens and the earth. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignazio_danti) More on him later. This is also the introduction of the yin and yang as a visual theme. Yin and Yang are often considered opposite forces, but together they keep each other in check and in balance. Without one there cannot be the other. The light fetus and the inverted, dark fetus fulfill the visual of the yin and yang (light and dark, opposite directions) while also filling the philosophical role as well (life and death seeming to be opposites, but actually being intertwined and giving rise to each other). We can look back to Page 19, Panel 2 for another example of this philosophical comparison. Page 24, Panel 5. The sign reads “Standpipe Siamese”. Siamese twins was a term used for conjoined twins (popularized by Sang and Eng Bunker in the early 1800’s). However, conjoined twins are often separated due to health issues. Asterios is walking without his twin. Page 25. More examples of pairs in Asterios’ life: two turnstiles, two rats, four sets of stairs (visible), two handrails (visible). Page 26. Another Yin-Yang reference. Asterios goes under the turnstile, his missing twin goes over. Page 27. “Splitting me in two with a smile so Euclidean” refers to Euclidean geometry. (For more information see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euclidean_geometry). One bird question mark, seems to be questioning the validity of one bird. One of something contradicts Asterios's world view. Page 28. We now see 4 birds in front of the train. Page 35. The lettering drives home the point that Asterios believes that function is all that is important. Asterios’ words are all lettered in “standard comic book” font. It is all capitals with little style. His is stripped bare. Pure function. Everyone else in the book has a unique and distinct look to their lettering. While both do the work (conveying the message and information) the decorative additions point out the individuality of each character. It is, as the book narrative pointed out, that the perceived reality (how we, the readers, see their spoken words) is merely an extension of the self. Page 36. Introduction of the archetype for Asterios. This is Asterios stripped to his barest. There are no extra lines or decorations. He is nothing but shapes and angles which, when placed together, form Asterios. Floating above Asterios are the Five Platonic Solids. Tetrahedron Cube Octahedron Dodecahedron and Icosahedron. “The faces of a Platonic solid are congruent regular polygons, with the same number of faces meeting at each vertex. They have the unique property that the faces, edges and angles of each solid are all congruent.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platonic_solids) They are the perfect marriage of form and function. The aesthetic beauty and symmetry of the Platonic solids have made them a favorite subject of geometers for thousands of years. They are named for the ancient Greek philosopher Plato who theorized that the classical elements were constructed from the regular solids. The shapes making up each student form an elegant way to show which students are following his instructions, and which are not. Page 37, Panel 2. “I’m thinking about adding fenestration to this planar surface…?” Translation: “I am thinking about putting a couple of windows in this wall.” Page 38. Here we see the lighter he grabbed during the fire. Page 39, Panel 4. Asterios is imagining himself as Odysseus lashed to the mast of his ship to avoid succumbing to the Siren’s call. This is a double entendre as siren also refers to an alluring female. Panel shape follows very rigid lines until he starts to slip into fantasy. Page 40. Cleverly clueing the reader into which panels are fantasy and which are reality with the panel shape. Page 41. Here we see the first use of Mazzucchelli's art showing the differences between Asterios and his future wife, Hana. Red detailed art depicting his wife, where the simple blue outline shows Asterios' perception. This page is also a good place to point out that Mazzucchelli uses different lettering and word balloon for each person talking. This will be pervasive throughout this book, and shows a deeper layer for both personality and how a person sounds. Page 43. The Parthenon in Greece. The Parthenon was a temple to the Greek goddess Athena (goddess of strategic warfare, wisdom, and heroic endeavor). Page 45. Here we see the man who later hits Asterios in the head with a bottle sitting next to him. Pages 49 – 50. The lighter represents his past. It is representative of his father (seen smoking on Page 49, panel 6) and it is the fact that his ex-wife made him give up smoking. But, this is the first thing he gives up. He gives up this token of his past relatively quickly, and to a complete stranger. Why? Because the piece no longer serves a function. He no longer smokes. It no longer contains lighter fluid, so it no longer works. There is no room for sentimentality in a world dictated by function. Page 50. Apogee is the point at which an object is at its farthest distance from the object around which it is orbiting. So, for Asterios to be in the town of Apogee it is both literally the furthest point away from his life (he asked how far away he could get in the Greyhound station on Page 31, panel 3). Page 52, panel 7. Stiff Major is an almost sexual innuendo. It is a clue that he almost gets things right. He has plenty of mis-sayings and almost clichés that, in the end, work out as well, if not better than what was supposed to be said. Page 53, panel 5. Here is that photographic memory coming in to play. Pages 58 – 61. Introduction of the visual theme for Hana. Hana’s life and influence will be represented in the book through the use of pink. This is also the first time we see the use of the spotlight as a metaphor for the attention of others. Hana is always standing just outside the spotlight, desperately wanting it to shine on her. However, she is always passed over for one of her four brothers. Page 63, panel 4 narration. A return to the spotlight metaphor. Page 63 – 64 note how the pink of Hana is filling the empty form of Asteros, and Asteros is lending form to Hana’s color. It is Yin and Yang. Each completes and supports the other. This also shows how each person's perception is representing a reality for the other person. They're combined perception of self has become reality for both. This is also a very clever technique to show two people clicking. Page 66, panel 3. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, the environment and Italy. This is ironic as Asterios has just swatted a mosquito. It is also a slight nod to his Mother’s Italian heritage. We later find out that this is from a conversation between Asterios and Hana. Page 73, Panel 6. Spotty Drizzle is probably referring to 1998 DK36. On February 14, 1998 this near earth object passed within 0.0006 astronomical units (AU) or roughly 56,000 miles of Earth. (http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/neo_ca?type=NEO;hmax=all;sort=date;sdir=ASC;tlim=past;dmax=0.05AU;max_rows=500;action=Display%20Table;show=1&from=1000) Page 79. The panels here represent a stylized yin and yang. It supports the narrative that people are searching for their missing half. Whereas these pieces do not fit together, the yin and yang mesh together perfectly. Page 79, panel 1. The woman is referring to Richard Nixon. Page 79, Panel 2. The song is Feelings by the band Gemini. Gemini, in astronomy, is referred to as “The Twins”, and is commonly associated with the myth of Castor and Pollux. Page 80, panel 1. Asterios is referring to Hana. This is a playful term, referring back to their initial meeting on page 57. Page 81, panel 6. Thus we see why Asterios asks this question on page 66. The difference is that Hana chooses not to swat the mosquito. Page 82, panel 3. Isamu Noguchi (November 17, 1904 - December 30, 1988) “was a prominent Japanese American artist and landscape architect whose artistic career spanned six decades, from the 1920s onward. Known for his sculpture and public works, Noguchi also designed stage sets for various Martha Graham productions.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isamu_Noguchi) Page 83, panel 5. Typo? Page 86, panel 1. The Uffizi is the oldest art museum in the western world. It is in Florence, Italy. This also highlights that one of the things that attracted Hana to Asterios, was his storytelling and bravado. Now it is appearing to be somewhat of an annoyance. Page 87. This is the first time we see Asterios’s apartment since page 3, panel 2. Compare. Great use of the windows' reflection to show the other side of the room. Page 88. We see that improvisation for Asterios is really more a matter of just choosing something different as opposed to creating something new. Also, his perfect memory comes into play again. Page 91, panel 4. We learn that the movie Asterios was watching at the start of the book was a recording of this night. Page 94. More twin imagery. In this case, Asterios and Ignazio are represented as Cheng and Eng. Page 96. Stiff is singing Rock You Like a Hurricane by the Scorpions. Page 97. Ursula Major is a play on Ursa Major. Ursa Major (the constellation) is useful to individuals in the northern hemisphere for helping travelers find the north star, and thus their direction. Page 98, panel 5. Cancer, almost a Gemini. Asterios’s last name is polyp. Polyps are growths that are often cancerous. Asterios was also almost a twin. . Gemini, in astronomy, is referred to as “The Twins”. Page 99. Here we see his two remaining possessions from his former life. Page 102, panel 1. Gerry is paraphrasing from “On Protracted War" (May 1938). Page 102, Panel 3. Gerry is paraphrasing from Introductory note to "A Serious Lesson" (1955) Page 102, panel 3. Asterios is paraphrasing Mao. “The outstanding thing about China's 600 million people is that they are "poor and blank." This may seem a bad thing, but in reality it is a good thing ... On a blank sheet of paper free from any mark, the freshest and most beautiful characters can be written, the freshest and most beautiful pictures can be painted.” — Mao Tse-tung, 1958 Page 104, panel 4 & page 105, panel 1. Ursula claims tobacco is sacred to her people. But then says that these people were from a past life. Ursula is, in fact, Jewish by birth. Page 105. Again, this panel is meant to contrast with Asterios’ previous living arrangements. Page 112 – 113. On this page are representations of the periodic table of elements, visual representations of Plato’s concept of the real vs the ideal, and the Fibonacci sequence. Page 115. In Plato’s Republic, Plato theorizes about a perfect world where everything exists in its ideal state. It is pure marriage of form and function. There is nothing extra. It is all perfect as is and needs nothing more. Asterios takes the philosophical idea to an extreme. If we swept away everything that is decoration we would have the true form of something, or as close as we could produce in our imperfect world. His example: The Essence of Shoeness. Note that he chooses not to wear the shoes first, but chooses them based on their appearance. Page 116, panel 2. Tearing lettuce causes less browning than cutting with a metal knife. Asterios is a know-it-all who doesn't respect others' opinions. This is in stark contrast to where we see him in conversations with Ursula, later. Page 118. All of the buildings have symmetry. They are from left to right, the pyramid at Giza, The Parthenon, Japanese Pagoda, Monticello, Notre Dame, the Taj Mahal. Page 118. Asterios’s designs demonstrate several of the themes of the story. His architectural designs not only offer symmetry, but offer it in the yin-yang motif of asymmetrical individual pieces joining to make a symmetrical whole. The fact that none of his buildings have been constructed is brilliant. Much like Plato’s Republic, the fact that the building exists in the world of Forms or Ideas is enough. Were it to be translated to the “real” world, it would get lost in translation and not live up to the truly ideal “form” building. Page 120. Mazzacchelli uses a brilliant method to show the linear thinking of Asterios. His thinking is cartesian, which aligns with his shadow and the shadow of the sphere which are 3 dimensional. But are in fact a 2 dimension representation on a page. Page 123-126. We again see Mazzacchelli using the perception of self to represent reality, where Asterios is in stark blue outline, and Hana is in detailed red shading. On the last page we see the separation of Hana fading as she comes to understand his explanation. Page 127, Panel 1. Egyptian Pharaos were often entombed with servants who would look after them and serve them in the afterlife. Page 127, panels 2 & 3. Emperor Shi Huang Di was the first emperor of China. He had a massive terracotta army constructed to watch over him in the afterlife. Page 127, panel 4. A return to the yin yang theme. Page 129. The Washington Monument in Washington, DC. It should be noted that, after the previous page’s discussion about monuments and people watching over others, Washington DC is full of monuments to the founding fathers who now watch over thr country. Page 130. This is a slightly fictionalized representation of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC. Page 143. St. Francis of Assisi. Page 147. Asterio’s father is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The fact that his father has no memory whatsoever must be terrifying for Asterios. since one theory about Alzheimer’s is that it has a genetic component. Asterios has photographic memory, and loves to be able to pull facts out of thin air about a wide variety of topics. Page 145. We see Hana's dream and it is in the detailed red shading that depicts her identity. Page 149. A return to the spotlight imagery from pages 58 – 61. This highlights how Asterios steals the "spotlight" from Hana's own creation. A very subtle way to show a relationship problem. Page 153, Panel 1. These are the same cups from page 49, panel 6. Page 156, panel 1. Again, compare to earlier visuals of the aprtment. Page 156, Panel 1. “Tansu has a long history dating back to the Edo period (1603 - 1867), when it was a luxury available only to the richest samurai and noblemen” (http://www.greenteadesign.com/tansu.html) The design is very symmetrical and serves a particular function. Page 156, panel 3. The curves of the table do not serve a function and are thus decoration. Asterios does not like it. Page 157, Panel 3. Hana challenges his thinking and introduces something new to his life. She forces him to think in terms of curved lines, colors, form instead of function. She is the one who asks: if you have to take only three objects, what would they be? For Asterios this is preposterous. He does not think in terms of three. He can’t. It is all about duality. Yin and Yang. Right and wrong. But, as we found earlier he would grab the lighter, watch, and the knife. Page 158. He drives a late seventies/early eightes saab. Page 169. Asterios gives away his second item that he saved from his old life. Page 171. “It’s a goy!” Historically and up to modern times goy is a synonym for Gentile or non-Jew. Page 172, panel 3. Asterios replies negatively to the question about siblings while a shadow/reflection mirrors him in the car window, showing his twin. Page 174 & 175 Barringer Meteor Crater – Arizona. Page 176-177. Asterios and Ursula discuss the duality of the world, and Asterios seems to agree that his view may have been short-sighted. Page 182, panel 1. Willy Ilium is a play on words. Willy is slang for penis, while the ilium is the largest bone in the pelvis. So, basically, this little man is a big dick. Add to that his constant sexual innuendo and the metaphor is complete. Page 183, panel 1. Asterios is taking credit for something Hana pointed out to him. Page 184, Panel 1. “Like Wright and Neutra…” Wright refers to Frank Lloyd Wright. (born Frank Lincoln Wright, June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 projects, which resulted in more than 500 completed works. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_lloyd_wright) Neutra refers to Richard Joseph Neutra (April 8, 1892 – April 16, 1970) who is considered one of modernism's most important architects. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Neutra) Page 185. Iridium is a metal from the Platinum family Page 185. Illuminato is a play on illuminati, or enlightened one. Page 185. The Hip has double meaning here. It is both a nod to his soon-to-be-new name, Iliuim, as well as a slang term for being current or “with it.” Page 185. Gilgamesh is a legendary King from the ancient civilization of Ur. Gilgamesh is described as two-thirds god and one-third human. In an ironic twist, Gilgamesh is also a character in a comic book (Marvel’s Avengers) who is referred to as “the forgotten one.” The ballet, produced by Willy Gilgamesh is titles “Forget About It.” No telling if Mazzucchelli inserted this as a comic book reference, but Willy Ilium seems to fit the bill. Page 185. George Balanchine, Jules-Joseph Perrot, Martha Graham, and Twyla Tharp (possible misspelling of her name) were all choreographers and pioneers of modern dance. Page 185. Chimera is an amalgam of different animals: The head of a lion, the body of a goat, and a tail that ends in the head of a snake. Sighting the Chimera was an omen of storms, shipwrecks, and natural disasters. In more recent times, the name Chimera is used to describe real life entities which were created as amalgams of separate entities in categories such as botany. The term chimera has also come to mean more generally, an impossible or foolish fantasy. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(mythology)) Page 185, Panel 3. Orpheus (underground) is a bit of a repetition as the majority of the story of Orpheus takes place under ground. Page 187, Panel 8 echoes what Asterios says to Ursula on page 179. Page 190. Panel 1. Notice that the furniture and plants which Hana has added to the apartment are colored in her shade of pink. Page 194, panel 3. Ilium is probably referring to Carl Jung’s Principle of Opposites. In short, the only way we can know anything is by contrast with an opposite. (http://psych.eiu.edu/spencer/Jung.html) Ilium’s point is that we may be assuming that two things are opposites when they are, in fact, not. Ursula Major made a similar statement on page 176. Ignazio also illustrates the point on page 120. Page 197, panels 1 – 3. An illustration of the difference between the realm of ideals and the real world. Page 197, panel 5. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15, 1844 – August 25, 1900). German philosopher who believed that his works were the “deepest ever.” (Nietzsche describing Thus Spoke Zarathustra.) Page 199. Walt Disney concert hall designed by Frank Ghery. Pages 200 – 201. On page 125, Polyp talks about how twins separated lead similar lives taking up similar professions and marrying at the same age. In his dreams, Polyp’s brother is an architect as well, but his architecture is based on Frank Ghery ( the design of the building where Polyp visits his brother is based on the Walt Disney concert hall designed by Ghery). The building is full of swoops and curved lines as opposed to polyp’s straight lines and sharp angels. So, while he thinks his brother would have been similar, he sees that his brother would have been more of an opposite or compliment than an exact copy. Page 202, Panels 2 & 3. Both Barcelona and Milan are famous for their influential works of architecture. Barcelona, most famously, has buildings by Gaudi. Milan was the center and foundation of the Renaissance. Earlier in the book, Polyp’s twin notes that Aterios thought that religion made some of the best paintings. The paintings that came out of the Renaissance were both religious and secular. But, some of the most famous, the Last Supper, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel were religious in nature. Milan also is home to both Renaissance architecture, as well as modern structures that would be more at home with what Asterios likes, such as Torre Velasca. Page 202. Ignazio is right handed to Asterios’ left handedness. Remember when I said we would revisit Ignazio Danti? Here we go. Due to his mathematical skills, the Pope appointed Ignazio pontifical mathematician and made him a member of the commission for the reform of the calendar (thus we see him writing on a day planner/calendar). Page 203. The Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded annually by the Hyatt Foundation to honor "a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture". The irony is, of course, that Ignazio is dead. Page 205, panel 2. Frank Lord Wright is, of course, Frank Lloyd Wright. However, he is held in such high regard that the title of Lord might not be all that far fetched. Page 205, Panel 3. Windows in this wall is a direct reference to page Page 37, Panel 2. “I’m thinking about adding fenestration to this planar surface…?” Pages 206 – 207 This is the first time that Polyp has been directly involved in any construction. However, he did not design the building, even though Stiff comes to him for help with the design. The building itself conforms to Wright’s philosophy of integrating the structure in to the surrounding environment. Page 213. Look at the space between the two tulips. Page 217. “Rothko from a Rockwell.” Mark Rothko, (September 25, 1903–February 25, 1970), was an abstract expressionist painter. Norman Rockwell (February 3, 1894 – November 8, 1978) was a 20th century American painter and illustrator of everyday life scenarios. Interestingly enough, there is a band named Rothko as well as a keyboardist/R&B singer named Rockwell. Page 218 Ctirad Kohoutek (born March 18, 1929 in Zábřeh) is a contemporary Czech composer, music theorist, and pedagogue. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctirad_Kohoutek) Given that Kalvin Kohoutek does not look terribly Czech, I believe that is what arouses Asterios’s curiosity. Page 219, panel 3. Modes are scales mapped to specific notes. Locrian starts on a vii, aeolian on an a Page 221, panels 3 – 6 are a visual representation of what Kohoutek is describing musically. Page 224, panel 1. A pith helmet is an old timey british exploration helmet, commonly used in WWI. Page 227, panel 2. On March 7, 1965, known as "Bloody Sunday", approximately 600 civil rights marchers departed Selma on U.S. Highway 80, heading east. They reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, only six blocks away, before being met by state troopers and local sheriff's deputies, who attacked them, using tear gas and billy clubs, and drove them back to Selma. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma,_Alabama#Civil_rights_movement) Page 232-243. Shows a montage of daily life with a coherent thread stringing through the middle about Hana losing the tip of a ear cleaner and Asterios using the tweezers from the utility knife to retrieve it. This thread culminates with Hana proclaiming she will never buy that pseudo-somebody brand, admitting to Asterios that he was right. Pages 245 - 265. This section recreates the story of Orpheus with Asterios in the role of Orpheus and Hana in the role of Eurydice. Ilium plays the role of Hades. The story goes like this: “While fleeing from Aristaeus (son of Apollo), Eurydice ran into a nest of snakes which bit her fatally on her heel. Distraught, Orpheus played such sad songs and sang so mournfully that all the nymphs and gods wept. On their advice, Orpheus traveled to the underworld and by his music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone (he was the only person ever to do so), who agreed to allow Eurydice to return with him to earth on one condition: he should walk in front of her and not look back until they both had reached the upper world. He set off with Eurydice following and in his anxiety as soon as he reached the upper world he turned to look at her, forgetting that both needed to be in the upper world, and she vanished for the second time, but now forever.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus). Note that Orpehus’s (Asterios’s) harp is created from a drafting square. Page 272: The drummer’s theory is roughly correct. The cells in a person’s body are in a state of constant rejuvenation. It takes between 7 – 10 years for various cells to rejuvenate and replace. This hearkens back to Asterios’s conversation about Ise shrine on page 210. Page 273: The three coasters hearken back to Asterios saying that he does not think in threes. The fact that Manana is the one who brings it up and then her moment is overrun by Gerry further reflects Asterios’ relationship with Hana. Page 274-275. A reappearance of the man with Asterios' lighter. Page 279: Christoph Willibald Gluck's opera Orfeo ed Euridice (1762) Page 285. Emperor Qin was Chinese and did not die by Seppuku. He wanted to live a long life, so he took pills containing high levels of Mercury. The mercury was supposed to extend his life, but it ended up killing him quicker. Page 288. Here is the recurring theme about every memory being a recreation, and therefore reality is through a personalized lens. Page 294. Aristopahnes purported theory is that men and women form two halves of a whole and that the tension between male and female is essential to human life (The Knights). It is often easier to see flaws in ones life from another perspective. Here Asterios sees a recap of his life as Ignozio tells his own life story. Asterios sees his flaws and understands them. Page 295. Pantheon - The generic term pantheon is now applied to a monument in which illustrious dead are buried. This is of note because Ignazio is speaking as if he is alive, yet the use of the word Pantheon gives a slight nod to the fact that he is aware he never lived. Pantheon is also the publisher of the graphic novel, Asterios Polyp. So, in truth, he has joined the Pantheon (publishing house). Page 295. “Sulivan, and Mies, Wright and Gropius-.” Louis Henri Sullivan (September 3, 1856 – April 14, 1924) was an American architect, and has been called the "father of modernism Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe 1886- 1969 one of the leading figures of modern architecture Frank Lloyd Wright (born Frank Lincoln Wright, June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 projects, which resulted in more than 500 completed works Walter Gropius - founded "The Architect's Collaborative", a design team that embodied his belief in the value of teamwork. Page 300. When Asterios says this is a “Creative Challenge,” he is quoting Hana from page 216. It is important to note that he is finally designing and building something. Page 302. Parallax = depth perception. It is caused by the eyes of a hman being in two different locations on the head, thus giving two views at once The brain interprets the information from both eyes and allows it to see depth. With only one eye providing the information, depth perception is lost. Page 304-305. He has shown a certain amount of apathy towards animals. This highlights him seeing things from Hana's perspective Page 322-323. Here we see that Hana has been playing with the five platonic solids in her art, showing that she sees things from his perspective. Page 324. We see that the only thing he has kept from the fire is the utility knife, which reminds him of Hana. In the end, the only thing of any real function or importance to Asterios is Hana. Page 327. They tell a story together and Asterios doesn't have to overpower the conversation. The effect of the conversation is masterfully shown by Mazzucchelli by playing with the word balloon tails. Page 332 – 333: Echoing the story of Orpheus, before our two lovers are reunited, they are lost forever.	53,390
Chandrayaan-1, Indian lunar space probe that found water on the Moon. Chandrayaan-1 (chandrayaan is Hindi for “moon craft”) was the first lunar space probe of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It mapped the Moon in infrared, visible, and X-ray light from lunar orbit and used reflected radiation to prospect for various elements, minerals, and ice. It operated in 2008–09. A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launched the 590-kg (1,300-pound) Chandrayaan-1 on October 22, 2008, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota Island, Andhra Pradesh state. The probe then was boosted into an elliptical polar orbit around the Moon, 504 km (312 miles) high at its closest to the lunar surface and 7,502 km (4,651 miles) at its farthest. After checkout, it descended to a 100-km (60-mile) orbit. On November 14, 2008, Chandrayaan-1 launched a small craft, the Moon Impact Probe (MIP), that was designed to test systems for future landings and study the thin lunar atmosphere before crashing on the Moon’s surface. MIP impacted near the south pole, but, before it crashed, it discovered small amounts of water in the Moon’s atmosphere. The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration contributed two instruments, the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) and the Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar (Mini-SAR), which sought ice at the poles. M3 studied the lunar surface in wavelengths from the visible to the infrared in order to isolate signatures of different minerals on the surface. It found small amounts of water and hydroxyl radicals on the Moon’s surface. M3 also discovered in a crater near the Moon’s equator evidence for water coming from beneath the surface. Mini-SAR broadcast polarized radio waves at the north and south polar regions. Changes in the polarization of the echo measured the dielectric constant and porosity, which are related to the presence of water ice. The European Space Agency (ESA) had two other experiments, an infrared spectrometer and a solar wind monitor. The Bulgarian Aerospace Agency provided a radiation monitor. The principal instruments from ISRO—the Terrain Mapping Camera, the HyperSpectral Imager, and the Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument—produced images of the lunar surface with high spectral and spatial resolution, including stereo images with a 5-metre (16-foot) resolution and global topographic maps with a resolution of 10 metres (33 feet). The Chandrayaan Imaging X-ray Spectrometer, developed by ISRO and ESA, was designed to detect magnesium, aluminum, silicon, calcium, titanium, and iron by the X-rays they emit when exposed to solar flares. This was done in part with the Solar X-Ray Monitor, which measured incoming solar radiation. Chandrayaan-1 operations were originally planned to last two years, but the mission ended on August 28, 2009, when radio contact was lost with the spacecraft. Chandrayaan-2 will have an orbiter, a lander, and a rover and is planned for launch by 2017.	21,819
American Wine History The history of wine in America has been an up and down affair. Attempts by the settlers to make wine from the native varieties came up short. And when they introduced the European grapes, they all seemed to die. The culprit was a tiny insect called phylloxera. Native varieties tolerated the pest, but the immigrant vines fell victim. Grafted and hybrid varieties began to appear and by 1830 the wine industry in America was finally born. But what nature couldn't undo the government almost succeeded in destroying. 1920 introduced Prohibition. In order to stay afloat, most vineyards plowed under their wine grapes and planted table grapes instead. So the fledgling American wine industry, which was indeed world class, came out of prohibition battered and bruised. To be completely honest, our wine industry is still in its infancy. In less than 100 years, America is once again producing world class wines.	5,026
Chapter 6. Programming Using the Message-Passing Paradigm Numerous programming languages and libraries have been developed for explicit parallel programming. These differ in their view of the address space that they make available to the programmer, the degree of synchronization imposed on concurrent activities, and the multiplicity of programs. The message-passing programming paradigm is one of the oldest and most widely used approaches for programming parallel computers. Its roots can be traced back in the early days of parallel processing and its wide-spread adoption can be attributed to the fact that it imposes minimal requirements on the underlying hardware. In this chapter, we first describe some of the basic concepts of the message-passing programming paradigm and then explore various message-passing programming techniques using the standard and widely-used Message Passing Interface.	23,428
Biochar and energy from pyrolysis can pave the way for carbon-neutral agriculture in China Agriculture accounts for a large share of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the path to carbon neutrality is not straightforward. Researchers from Land-CRAFT - Center for Landscape Research in Sustainable Agricultural Futures at Aarhus University and others have, through a comprehensive life cycle analysis of data from China, identified an integrated biomass pyrolysis and electricity generation system coupled with commonly applied methane and nitrogen mitigation measures that, together with the right management of agricultural land, can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Chinese staple crops. Since the Paris Agreement to combat global warming was reached in 2015, many countries have committed to becoming climate neutral, i.e., achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The world's largest agricultural country, China, is also committed to join the green transition. As the largest agricultural country, China is also the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, yet it has set itself a target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. According to Professor and Head of Land-CRAFT at Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, this places huge demands on agricultural systems: "Agriculture in China accounts for about 14% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions, and the production of staple foods such as rice, wheat and maize take up about 70% of the country's cultivated land. This is a very large area, and the cultivation of these staple crops account for large emissions of methane and nitrous oxide because they are grown with intensive use of fertilizers and irrigation. So, it has been difficult to see how China's production of staple crops could achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.” Management cannot do it alone According to the researchers, several management methods have already been tested, all of which help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from crop production in one way or another. Intermittent irrigation, for example, has been tested to reduce methane emissions from rice fields. In addition, the use of nitrogen fertilisers has been reduced, and attempts have been made to improve the ability of crops to use nitrogen more efficiently, so that they need less and thus reduce nitrous oxide emissions. In addition, the focus has been on increasing soil organic carbon content by increasing the amount of straw returned to the soil. "Although all these management methods work well, they are insufficient to achieve carbon neutrality," says Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, and points out that this is partly because the effect of one management method can be negated when they are used in combination. "When you reduce one greenhouse gas, it can lead to an increase in another. For example, intermittent irrigation effectively reduces methane emissions from rice fields, but at the same time increases nitrous oxide emissions from those same fields. The same trade-off is seen with several of the other management practices; the increased emissions of either methane or nitrous oxide can completely outweigh the benefits of the management practices," he says. Biochar is the new black So, management methods alone will not pave the way for climate-neutral food production. According to the researchers, more is needed, and pyrolysis of straw into biochar could prove to be part of the solution. It has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time increase the soil's organic carbon content. "We can see that using biochar in rice fields significantly reduces methane emissions. This happens because the organic carbon in biochar decomposes much more slowly than in straw. The slower decomposition also means that the carbon from the biochar is sequestered in the soil for a longer time, it is a more long-term solution than straw," says Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, who has been involved in a comprehensive life cycle analysis of, among other things, an integrated pyrolysis and energy system to find solutions that can help China towards climate-neutral agriculture. The study shows that in addition to carbon sequestration and reduced methane emissions, biochar can also help reduce nitrous oxide emissions. This happens through complex microbial processes in the soil that inhibit denitrification, where nitrate is converted into nitrous oxide and other gases. Integrated pyrolysis and energy production lay the foundations for a greener future "There is another advantage to pyrolysis. Pyrolysis of straw into biochar also produces biogas and bio-oil. These are by-products, but they can be used to generate electricity through an integrated pyrolysis and power generation system," says Klaus Butterbach-Bahl. The energy produced by such a system can replace fossil fuels, further reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "Our analysis shows that with this integrated pyrolysis and power generation system, combined with commonly used management methods to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions, we can achieve carbon-neutral production of staple crops in China," says Klaus Butterbach-Bahl. He stresses that when talking about carbon neutrality, the researchers are referring to a state where the sum of emissions of all greenhouse gases (CO2, methane and nitrous oxide) from crop production is offset by CO2 removal through carbon sequestration in the soil and CO2 compensation through lower fossil fuel consumption. The life cycle assessment included an analysis of the production of staple crops as it is today, as well as scenarios with different combinations of management methods, one scenario with biochar, and one with biochar and energy production from the integrated pyrolysis and energy system. "Our analysis shows that only the combination of the integrated pyrolysis and energy system and different management methods can ensure carbon-neutral production of staple crops in China. In addition, this method can help reduce nitrate leaching into the aquatic environment and reduce emissions of air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, that can cause acidic rain. And there is the added benefit of increasing yields too. Therefore, we conclude that this method can bring China, and perhaps other countries too, one step closer to the national goal of carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability in agriculture in 2060," says Klaus Butterbach-Bahl. \|ITEM\|\|CONTENT AND PURPOSE\| \|External collaborators\|\|Land-CRAFT - Center for Landscape Research in Sustainable Agricultural Futures at the Department of Agroecology Aarhus University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, The University of Queensland, Chongqing Univeristy, China Agricultural University, University of Aberdeen, University of Exeter, Cornell University, The Ohio State University and Tsinghua University\| \|External funding\|\|This study was financially supported by Helmholtz-OCPC (Office of China Postdoc Council) Postdoc Program and Humboldt Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants 42061124001, 72174197, 72025401, 71974108, 71690244 and 41961124004) and Tsinghua University-Inditex Sustainable Development Fund\| \|Conflict of interest\|\|None\| \|Link to the scientific article\|\|The paper "Integrated biochar solutions can achieve carbon-neutral staple crop production" is published in the journal Nature Food. It was written by Longlong Xia, Liang Cao, Yi Yang, Chaopu Ti, Yize Liu, Pete Smith, Kees Jan Van Groenigen, Johannes Lehmann, Rattan Lal, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Ralf Kiese, Minghoa Zhuan, Xi Lu and Xiaoyuan Yan\| \|Contact information\|\|Professor and Centre Director Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Land-CRAFT - Center for Landscape Research in Sustainable Agricultural Futures, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University. Tel: +45 93508238 or mail: firstname.lastname@example.org\|	45,297
The black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) is a tall long-necked wading bird in the stork family. It is a resident species across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia with a disjunct population in Australia. It lives in wetland habitats and near fields of certain crops such as rice and wheat where it forages for a wide range of animal prey. Adult birds of both sexes have a heavy bill and are patterned in white and irridescent blacks, but the sexes differ in the colour of the iris with females sporting yellow irises and males having dark-coloured irises. In Australia, it is sometimes called a jabiru although that name refers to a stork species found in the Americas. It is one of the few storks that are strongly territorial when feeding and breeding. Taxonomy and systematics First described by John Latham as Mycteria asiatica, this species was later placed in the genus Xenorhynchus based on morphology. Based on behavioural similarities, Kahl suggested the placement of the species in the genus Ephippiorhynchus, which then included a single species, the saddle-billed stork. This placement of both the black-necked stork and saddle-billed stork in the same genus was later supported by osteological and behavioural data, and DNA-DNA hybridisation and cytochrome–b data. The genera Xenorhynchus and Ephippiorhynchus were both erected at the same time, and as first revisor, Kahl selected the latter as the valid genus for the two species. This and the saddle-billed stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis are the only stork species that show marked sexual dimorphism in iris colour. Two subspecies are recognized E. a. asiaticus of the Oriental region and E. a. australis of south New Guinea and Australia. Charles Lucien Bonaparte erected the genus Xenorhynchus in 1855 and placed two species in it, X. indica and X. australis. This treatment was carried on into later works. James Lee Peters in his 1931 work treated them as subspecies. In 1989, McAllan and Bruce again suggested the elevation of the two subspecies into two species: E. asiaticus or the green-necked stork of the Oriental region, and E. australis or the black-necked stork of the Australian and New Guinean region. This recommendation was based on the disjunct distributions and differences in the iridescent colouration of the neck which the authors suggested might reflect different behavioural displays. This recommendation has not been followed and a subsequent study did not find consistent differences in the colours. Analysis of the cytochrome b mitochondrial sequences however showed significant genetic divergence. The genetic distance of a stork presumed to be Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus asiaticus from a confirmed individual of E. a. australis was 2.1%, much greater than the genetic distances between individual storks of the same species. The conservative treatment as two subspecies has been followed in the Australian faunal list by Christidis and Boles. The black-necked stork is a large bird, 129–150 cm (51–59 in) tall having a 230-centimetre (91 in) wingspan. The only published weight for this species was a single specimen at 4,100 g (9.0 lb), but this is nearly 35% less than the mean body mass of the closely related and similar sized saddle-billed stork. Therefore, this specimen of black-necked stork could have been at the low end of sizes attainable or perhaps somewhat malnourished. The plumage patterns are conspicuous with younger birds differing from adults. Adults have a glossy bluish-black iridescent head, neck, secondary flight feathers and tail; a coppery-brown crown; a bright white back and belly; bill black with a slightly concave upper edge; and bright red legs. The sexes are identical but the adult female has a yellow iris while the adult male has it brown. Juveniles younger than six months have a brownish iris; a distinctly smaller and straighter beak; a fluffy appearance; brown head, neck, upper back, wings and tail; a white belly; and dark legs. Juveniles older than six months have a mottled appearance especially on the head and neck where the iridescence is partly developed; dark-brown outer primaries; white inner primaries that forms a shoulder patch when the wings are closed; a heavy beak identical in size to adults but still straighter; and dark to pale-pink legs. Like most storks, the black-necked stork flies with the neck outstretched, not retracted like a heron. In flight it appears spindly and a black bar running through the white wings (the somewhat similar looking migratory black stork has an all black wing) with black neck and tail make it distinctive. Distribution and habitat In India, the species is widespread in the west, central highlands, and northern Gangetic plains extending east into the Assam valley, but rare in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. This distinctive stork is an occasional straggler in southern and eastern Pakistan, and is a confirmed breeding species in central lowland Nepal. It extends into Southeast Asia, through New Guinea and into the northern half of Australia. Compared to other large waterbirds like cranes, spoonbills and other species of storks, black-necked storks are least abundant in locations that have a high diversity of large waterbird species. The largest population of this species occurs in Australia, where it is found from the Ashburton River, near Onslow, Western Australia, across northern Australia to north-east New South Wales. It extends inland in the Kimberley area to south of Halls Creek; in the Northern Territory to Hooker Creek and Daly Waters; and in Queensland inland to the Boulia area and the New South Wales border, with some records as far south as the north-west plains of New South Wales, along the coast of Sydney and formerly bred near the Shoalhaven River. It is rare along the south-east extremity of its range, but common throughout the north. An estimated 1800 occur in the Alligator Rivers region of the Northern Territory, with overall numbers during surveys being low in all seasons. A combination of aerial surveys and ground counts in the middle Fly River floodplain, Papua New Guinea estimated 317 (December 1994) and 249 (April 1995) storks. The largest known breeding population occurs in the largely agricultural landscape of south-western Uttar Pradesh in India. Densities of about 0.099 birds per square kilometre have been estimated in this region made up of a mosaic of cultivated fields and wetlands. About six pairs were found to use the 29 square kilometres of the Keoladeo National Park. One breeding pair has been observed in Bhagalpur district, western Bihar. In Sri Lanka, the species is a rare breeding resident, with 4–8 breeding pairs in Ruhuna National Park. It is exceedingly rare, and possibly no longer breeding in Bangladesh and Thailand. Black-necked storks forage in a variety of natural and artificial wetland habitats. They frequently use freshwater, natural wetland habitats such as lakes, ponds, marshes, flooded grasslands, oxbow lakes, swamps, rivers and water meadows. Freshwater, artificial wetland habitats used by these storks include flooded fallow and paddy fields, wet wheat fields, irrigation storage ponds and canals, sewage ponds, and dry floodplains. Small numbers are also seen in Indian coastal wetland habitats, including in mangrove creeks and marshes. In cultivated areas, they prefer natural wetlands to forage in, though flooded rice paddies are preferentially used during the monsoon, likely due to excessive flooding of lakes and ponds. Nests are usually on trees located in secluded parts of large marshes or in cultivated fields as in India and lowland Nepal. Behaviour and ecology This large stork has a dance-like display. A pair stalk up to each other face to face, extending their wings and fluttering the wing tips rapidly and advancing their heads until they meet. They then clatter their bills and walk away. The display lasts for a minute and may be repeated several times. Nest building in India commences during the peak of the monsoon with most of the nests initiated during September – November, with few new nests built afterwards until January. They nest on large trees, sometimes isolated in large marshes, or in agricultural landscapes, on which they build a platform. On agricultural landscapes, human disturbance can cause nesting adults to abandon nests in some locations, but storks in other locations nest successfully. The nest is large, as much as 3 to 6 feet across and made up of sticks, branches and lined with rushes, water-plants and sometimes with a mud plaster on the edges. Nests may be reused year after year. The usual clutch is four eggs which are dull white in colour and broad oval in shape, but varies from one to five eggs. The exact incubation period is not known but is suspected to be about 30 days. The chicks hatch with white down which is replaced by a darker grey down on the neck within a week. The scapular feathers emerge first followed by the primaries. Fledged young birds make a chack sound followed by a repeated wee-wee-wee call that has a ventriloquistic quality. Adult birds take turns at the nest and when one returns to relieve the other, they perform a greeting display with open wings and an up and down movement of the head. Food is brought for the young chicks by the adults and regurgitated onto the nest platform. Adults stop feeding the young at the nest and begin to show aggression towards the chicks after they are about 3 or 4 months old. The young birds may stay on nearby for about a year but disperse soon. Typically one to three chicks fledge from successful nests, but up to five chicks fledge in years with high rainfall. The number of stork pairs that succeed in raising chicks, and the average size of fledged broods, are strongly related to monsoonal and post-monsoon rainfall, improving in years with more rainfall. At the nest trees, which are typically tall with large boles and a wide-canopy, the birds in Bharatpur competed with Indian white-backed vultures sometimes failing to nest due to the vultures. While many wetland birds are flushed by birds of prey, these storks are not usually intimidated and can be quite aggressive to other large water-birds such as herons and cranes. Adults aggressively defend small depressions of deep water against egrets and herons (at Malabanjbanjdju in Kakadu National Park, Australia), and drying wetland patches against waterbirds such as spoonbills and woolly-necked storks (at Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh, India). The black-necked stork is a carnivore and its diet includes water-birds such as coots, darters, little grebes, northern shoveller, pheasant-tailed jacana, and a range of aquatic vertebrates including fish, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates such as crabs and molluscs. They also prey on the eggs and hatchlings of turtles. In the Chambal River valley they were observed to locate nests of Kachuga dhongoka buried under sand (presumably by moistness of the freshly covered nest) and prey on the eggs of the turtle. In Australia, they also forage at night feeding on emerging nestlings of marine turtles. Stomach content analyses of nine storks in Australia showed their diet to contain crabs, molluscs, insects (grasshoppers and beetles), amphibians, reptiles and birds. The storks had also consumed a small piece of plastic, pebbles, cattle dung, and plant material. In well-protected wetlands, both in Australia and India, black-necked storks feed almost exclusively on fish but in the agriculture-dominated landscape of Uttar Pradesh in India they feed on a wider range of prey including fish, frogs and molluscs; storks obtained fish in wetlands, frogs from roadside ditches and molluscs from irrigation canals. Although predominantly diurnal, they may forage at night, and have been known to forage on moonlit nights on sea turtle hatchlings on Australian beaches. They sometimes soar in the heat of the day or rest on their hocks. When disturbed, they may stretch out their necks. Their drinking behaviour involves bending down with open bill and scooping up water with a forward motion followed by raising the bill to swallow water. They sometimes carry water in their bill to chicks at the nest or even during nest building or egg stages. Like other storks, they are quite mute except at nest where they make bill-clattering sounds. The sounds produced are of a low-pitch and resonant and ends with a short sigh. Juveniles fledged from the nests can occasionally call using a mildly-warbling, high-pitched series of whistles, accompanied with open, quivering wings. These calls and behaviour are directed at adult birds and are a display to solicit food, particularly in drought years when younger birds are apparently unable to find food on their own easily. Black-necked storks are largely non-social and are usually seen as single birds, pairs and family groups. Flocks of up to 15 storks have been observed in Australia and India, and these possibly form due to local habitat conditions such as drying out of wetlands. The black-necked stork is the type-host for a species of ectoparasitic Ischnoceran bird louse, Ardeicola asiaticus and a species of endoparasitic trematode Dissurus xenorhynchi. Status and conservation The black-necked stork is widely scattered and nowhere found in high densities, making it difficult for populations to be reliably estimated. The Sri Lankan population has been estimated to be about 50 birds while the species has become very rare in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. They may be extinct in the Sundaic region. The combined South and South-east Asian population is placed at less than 1000 birds. A 2011 study found the population in south-western Uttar Pradesh to be stable, although population growth rates may decline with an increase in the number of dry years or land use changes that permanently remove the number of breeding pairs. The Australian population has been suggested to have about 20,000 birds, but the lack of systematic estimates has meant a wide variation in the guesses ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 birds. They are threatened by habitat destruction, the draining of shallow wetlands, disturbance at nests, overfishing, pollution, collision with electricity wires and hunting. However, healthy breeding populations are found in unprotected and intensively cultivated agricultural landscapes (especially in south Asia) and cattle raising areas (as in north-east Australia). Suggestions abound in literature regarding Black-necked Storks requiring undisturbed wetlands, but these appear valid only in areas where hunting of wildlife is common (like in some countries in south-east Asia). Few breeding populations with high breeding success are known primarily due to lack of field work. It is evaluated as near threatened on the IUCN Red List. The Mir Shikars, traditional bird hunters of Bihar, India had a ritual practice that required a young man to capture a black-necked stork "Loha Sarang" alive before he could marry. A procession would locate a bird and the bridegroom-to-be would try to catch the bird with a limed stick. The cornered bird was a ferocious adversary. The ritual was stopped in the 1920s after a young man was killed in the process. Young birds have been known to be taken from the nest for meat in Assam. In Australia, an aboriginal creation myth describes the origin of the bill of the "jabiru" from a spear that went through the head of a bird. 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Soc. 102 (1): 99–101. - ^ a b Hume, A.O. (1890). The nests and eggs of Indian birds. Vol. 2 (2nd ed.). R H Porter, London. pp. 265–268. - ^ McCann, C. (1930). "Nidification of storks". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 34 (2): 579–581. - ^ a b Ali, S.; Ripley, S.D. (1978). Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 104–105. - ^ Sundar, K.S.G.; Deomurari, A.; Bhatia, Y.; Narayanan, S.P. (2007). "Records of Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus breeding pairs fledging four chicks" (PDF). Forktail. 23: 161–163. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2011. - ^ a b c Sundar, K.S.G. (2011). "Agricultural intensification, rainfall patterns, and large waterbird breeding success in the extensively cultivated landscape of Uttar Pradesh, India". Biological Conservation. 144 (12): 3055–3063. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2011.09.012. - ^ Baral,HS (1995). "Black-necked Stork endangered". Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 35 (4): 74–75. - ^ Banerjee,D.P.; Bavdekar,S.P.; Paralkar,V.K. (1990). "Aggressive behaviour of Blacknecked Storks towards Cranes". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 87 (1): 140. - ^ a b Dorfman, E.J.; Lamont, A.; Dickman, C.R. (2001). "Foraging behaviour and success of Black-necked Storks (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) in Australia: implications for management". Emu. 101 (2): 145–149. doi:10.1071/MU00008. S2CID 82498317. - ^ a b Maheshwaran, G.; Rahmani, A.R. (2001). "Effects of water level changes and wading bird abundance on the foraging behaviour of Black-necked storks Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus in Dudwa National Park, India" (PDF). J. Biosci. 26 (3): 373–382. doi:10.1007/BF02703747. PMID 11568483. S2CID 23647616. - ^ Panday, J.D. (1974). "Storks preying on live birds". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 71 (1): 141. - ^ Verma, A. (2003). "Feeding association of Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus and Black-necked Storks Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus in Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur, India)". Aquila. 109–110: 47–50., - ^ Kannan, R. 1986. Black-necked storks feeding on a darter, Blackbuck, 2(3): 33-34. - ^ Chauhan, R.; Andrews, H. (2006). "Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus and Sarus Crane Grus antigone depredating eggs of the three-striped roofed turtle Kachuga dhongoka" (PDF). Forktail. 22 (174–175). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2012. - ^ Whiting, S.D.; Guinea, M.L. (1999). "Nocturnal foraging by the Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus on sea turtle hatchlings". Emu. 99 (2): 145–147. doi:10.1071/MU99017B. - ^ Clancy, G.P. (2009). Ecology, conservation and management of Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. - ^ Sundar, K.S.G (2011). "Farmland foods: Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus prey items in an agricultural landscape". Forktail. 27: 98–100. - ^ Whiting, S.D.; Guinea, M.L. (1999). "Nocturnal Foraging by the Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus on Sea Turtle Hatchlings". Emu - Austral Ornithology. 99 (2): 145–147. doi:10.1071/MU99017B. ISSN 0158-4197. - ^ Comway, M. (1991). "Notes on the behaviour and food-begging calls of a juvenile Black-necked Stork Xenorhynchus asiaticus". Australian Bird Watcher. 14 (1): 29. - ^ Kumar P.; Tandan, B.K. (1971). "The species of Ardeicola (Phthiraptera-Ischnocera) parasitic on the Ciconiidae" (PDF). Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomol. 26 (2): 119–158. - ^ Wahid, S. (1962). "On a new trematode from a black-necked stork, Xenorhynchus asiaticus". J. Helminthol. 36 (1–2): 211–214. doi:10.1017/S0022149X00022495. PMID 14004399. S2CID 36845003. - ^ Clancy, G.P. (2010). "Causes of mortality in the Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus australis in New South Wales". Australian Field Ornithology. 27: 65–75. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. - ^ Grubh, B.R.; Shekar, P.B. (1968). "Blacknecked Stork (Xenorhynchus asiaticus) and the marriage of Mirshikars". Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 8 (3): 1–2. - ^ Barman, R.; Talukdar, B.K. (1996). "Nesting of Blacknecked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus in Panidihing, Assam". Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 36 (5): 95. - ^ "Emu and the Jabiru". Australian Museum. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010. - ^ Spencer, B.; Gillen, F.J. (1904). The northern tribes of central Australia. Macmillan and co, London. pp. 197, 614. - ^ Gurney, J.H. (1865). "A seventh additional list of birds from Natal". The Ibis. 7 (3): 263–276. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1865.tb05772.x. - ^ Darwin, C. (1871). The descent of man and selection in relation to sex. Vol. 2. John Murray, London. p. 129. - ^ Gould, J. (1865). Handbook to the birds of Australia. Vol. 2. Published by the author. p. 293. - Maheswaran, G. and Rahmani, A. R. (2002) Foraging behaviour and feeding success of the black-necked stork (Ephippiorhychus asiaticus) in Dudwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh, India. J. Zool. 258: 189–195. - Maheswaran, G. (1998) Ecology and behaviour of Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus Latham, 1790) in Dudwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh. PhD thesis, Centre of Wildlife and Ornithology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. - Farah Ishtiaq, Sálim Javed, Malcolm C. Coulter, Asad R. Rahmani 2010 Resource Partitioning in Three Sympatric Species of Storks in Keoladeo National Park, India. Waterbirds 33(1):41–49 - Maheshwaran G, Rahmani AR (2008). "Foraging technique and prey-handling time in black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)". Integrative Zoology. 3 (4): 274–279. doi:10.1111/j.1749-4877.2008.00101.x. PMID 21396077.	26,354
I listened to this book in September 2007 History: first published in 1826. Cooper named a principal character Uncas after a real person. Uncas was a Mohegan, not a Mohican, and Cooper's usage has helped to confuse the names of two tribes to the present day. Plot: The narrative is about Natty Bumppo, the “Hawk- eye”, the scout, the Kill-deer; and the culmination of his abundant love for Uncas – the last Mohican. It signifies, above all, the moral wisdom and 19th Century values of compassion and fellow feeling. The novel describes a journey of two groups of people. The first part of the journey begins with the description of the union of two parties in the journey, both separated racially and in their attitudes to life – a group of Whites, consisting of Hayward, Alice and Cora and a group of Indians, consisting of Chingachnook and Uncas and also Hawk-eye in Chapter III. David, the singer, provides gracious moments of joy through his song all along the journey, in particular after the massacre at Fort Williams. The two groups of characters drawn against the vast landscape try to know each other in suspicion, innocence, fear and wonder. Landscape shapes their moods and attitudes. Nature implicitly ‘instructs’ them. The journey of these two groups continues unmixed till the French camp, under the leadership of Moteclam, sieges Fort William in Chapter fourteen. In the second part, narrative action moves quickly, interspersed with acts of savagery and moments of insecurity till the climax occurs with the massacre at Fort Williams. This is followed by dramatic loss and recovery of Alice, the death of Cora – the mulatto girl, and the heroic death of Uncas in trying to save her. With the death of Uncas, the last Mohican, his race is decimated. Finally, with Magua’s (the Heron) death the narrative action ends. However, the grand union of minds across race and prejudices is an extraordinary and highly romanticized narrative moment. The complete reading of the novel leaves us not with visions of endemic savagery but with feelings of compassion, fraternity, and democracy of ideas. Finally, love triumphs over savagery. Review: the book is not without flaws. The momentum of the book lags for a brief stretch, and some of Cooper's characters (in particular, his women) at times sound a bit stereotypical. But the overall power and intelligence of Cooper's work is undeniable. Particularly impressive is his re-creation of a multilingual world of complex cultural and personal conflict. Also noteworthy is his evocation of the American landscape. A tale of death and survival, of betrayal and loyalty, and, above all, of the extraordinary bond between a white man and an Indian, "The Last of the Mohicans" is one classic that deserves to be read and reevaluated by each generation. Opening Line: “It was a feature peculiar to the colonial wars of North America, that the toils and dangers of the wilderness were to be encountered before the adverse hosts were to meet.” Closing Line: “In the morning I saw the sons of Unamis happy and strong; and yet, before the night is come, I have lived to see the last warrior of the wise race of the Mohicans.” Quotes: “When the white man dies, he thinks he is at peace; but the red-men know how to torture even the ghosts of their enemies.”	30,195
By Henry Gitner and Rick Miller The Islamic Republic of Mauritania lies in the Maghreb region of northwest Africa. The 11th largest country in Africa, with a population of roughly 3.5 million people, about 90 percent of its land area lies within the Sahara Desert. The base population is ethnically Berber, but Arab warriors conquered the land between the 11th and 17th centuries, and Arabs now form the top strata of society. Through a series of alliances with local tribal leaders and minor conquests of those who resisted, France asserted dominion over Mauritania by 1901. French colonial authorities issued the first stamps in 1906. Desultory fighting continued with various tribes until 1912. Connect with Linn's Stamp News: Mauritania declared independence from France on Nov. 28, 1958, although it was not formally recognized until 1960. Although French authorities had abolished slavery and suppressed the slave trade, it quickly re-emerged with the departure of the French. According to some estimates, about 600,000 people, roughly 20 percent of the population, are enslaved today. There are racial elements involved because most of the slaves are either black Africans or Berbers. As the country’s name informs, the population is uniformly Sunni Muslim. There is heavy pressure on the non-Arabic elements of the population to adopt Arab language and culture. Most collector interest in Mauritania is a holdover from its status as a former French colony. In 1993, Mauritania issued a two-stamp set to commemorate the first anniversary of the first multi-party presidential election. The 2016 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue lists the 60-ougulya stamp (Scott 706B). In a note after the listing, the Scott editors say that they would like to examine the other stamp in the set. The 60um stamp was issued for use as postage and was not advertised to dealers and collectors, who only became aware of it when used examples started showing up in kiloware. The Scott catalog values the stamp in mint never-hinged condition at $25 with the value in italics. It does not value the stamp in used condition. We can’t find this stamp on offer anywhere. If you see the stamp offered in mint never-hinged condition it should be worth at least Scott catalog value, if not more. Used examples are probably more readily available, but they are likely worth at least as much as the Scott catalog value for a mint stamp. Tip of the week Canal Zone — The Panama Canal Zone was an unorganized territory of the United States from 1903 to 1979. The territory was created by the Isthmian Canal Convention, by which the Republic of Panama granted a strip of land roughly 5 miles wide on either side of the Panama Canal to the United States in perpetuity. The Canal Zone was abolished Oct. 1, 1979, and the land returned to Panama. The American administration issued stamps for use on mail from the Canal Zone from 1904 until the territory was abolished. In 1941, the Canal Zone issued a set of seven airmail Official stamps (Scott CO1-CO7) by overprinting “Official Panama Canal” on the 1939 airmail set (Scott C15-C20). The airmail Official stamps were in use through Dec. 31, 1951. Mint stamps were not sold to the public until they were made available for three months beginning Jan. 2, 1952. Prior to that, stamps sold to the public were canceled with a parcel post rotary cancel with “Balboa Heights, Canal Zone” between two wavy lines. The 2015 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers values the set of seven airmail Official stamps in mint never-hinged condition at $94. A mint set without bad gum skips or creases is worth full catalog value. A canceled-to-order set, mint with never-hinged gum, is valued at $31.50. Postally used examples sell for more. For a real challenge, look for examples of these stamps used on cover. If you find one, it won’t be cheap. More from Linns.com:	47,038
Hands of a Disciple Hands of a Disciple The Xiangtangshan Caves located in the Fengfeng Mining District in Handan, Hebei Province, are clustered in two groups: Northern and Southern Xiangtangshan. They represent the finest of grotto art produced in the Northern Qi dynasty (550-577 CE). This pair of limestone hands originally belonged to the Middle Cave at Northern Xiangtangshan, constructed during the reign of Emperor Wenxuan (550-559) of the Northern Qi dynasty. The cave is a huge central-pillared cave with a corridor in front of a main chamber, the second largest of all caves at Xiangtangshan. Old pictures have shown that this fragmented piece originally belonged to the left acolyte disciple of a grouping featuring Śākyamuni Buddha flanked by two Bodhisattvas and two disciples in the large niche at the front of the central pillar. This disciple’s lean and rather aged face suggests that he is Mahākāśyapa, one of the ten principal disciples of Śākyamuni. He was deemed the foremost in ascetic dhūta practice. Before the Buddha passed away, he entrusted Mahākāśyapa with the task of imparting the Buddhist Dharma. After the Buddha entered parinirvāṇa, Mahākāśyapa became the head of the monastic community and convened the First Council at Rājagṛha for compiling Buddhist canon. Thereafter, he continued to lead the monastic community for more than two decades. Although fragmented, this work is amazingly realistic. The left hand with palm up is holding a reliquary, while the fingers of the right hand are pressing against the lid. Both hands are soft and fleshy, as if boneless. The fingers are nimble, and the curvature of each finger differs. It is worth noting that the carver did not illustrate the knuckles, but rather, greatly emphasising the softness and texture of the hands. The fingernails are also finely represented. The hands look fleshy but not chubby; the gesture natural and lively. Overall, the carver’s superb artistry is well demonstrated.	20,731
Statements: No beach is island. All islands are reefs. The question contains some statements followed by some conclusions. Decide which of the given conclusions logically follow from the given statements, disregarding commonly known facts. No beach is island. All islands are reefs. I. All beaches are reefs. II. No beach is a reef. III. Some reefs are islands. IV. All reefs are islands. A . Only I follows. B . Only II follows. C . Either I or II follows. D . Only III and IV follows. E. Neither I, II nor IV follows Answer : E. Neither I, II nor IV follows Only III follow Some reefs are islands.	34,047
The GED test is designed to measure critical thinking skills in five areas.Typically, the test is given over three nights or, if offered during the day, two days. The test covers: Language Arts Writing: Part I is multiple choice questions regarding grammar and writing. (50 questions 75 minutes) Part II is writing an essay on an assigned topic. (45 minutes) Social Studies: U.S. History, World History, Civics and Government, Economics, and Geography (50 questions 70 minutes) Science: Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Physical Science (50 questions 80 minutes) Language Arts Reading: Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (40 questions 65 minutes) Mathematics: Part I with calculator--Casio fx-260 only. (25 questions 45 minutes) Part II without calculator (25 questions 45 minutes) Topics include: Numbers and Operations, Measurement and Data Analysis, Geometry, and Algebra To pass the GED, you must score a total of 2,250 points with a minimum of 410 points in each of the five test categories or an average of 450 points out of the five tests. That means students must score at least 410 on each test and in addition, score an extra 200 points. These 200 points may be spread over all the tests ( average of 450 a test) or can be achieved collectively on one or more tests. The highest score possible on a single test is 800. Essays are graded on a 1-4 scale with 2 being a passing score. If you do not score a "2" on the essay, Part I of the Writing test will not be scored. If a score of 2250 is achieved, yet any ONE test is below 410 points, then you must test again until a score of 410 is achieved. You may test up to three times in one year. If you do not pass one subject, your other subject scores will be retained, and you need only make up that one subject test.	26,064
Wosk, Julie. Breaking Frame: Technology and the Visual Arts in the Nineteenth Century. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers UP, 1992. Breaking Frame focuses on the broad social anxiety and excitement attendant upon industrialization as these feelings were expressed in the visual arts. In the early 19th century painters began to include the railway in their landscapes, but generally in a distant and non-threatening fashion. Newspaper artists and engravers, by contrast, saw humor and horror in technology, and fore-fronted technophiles as pre-occupied fools, almost non-humans. Americans, Wosk notes, tended to be more enthusiastic and less satiric that the French or English in their public response to technology. Wosk uses both paintings and newspapers to explore the dwarfing of humans by machines (reminiscent of Chinese landscapes) so prevalent in mid-century illustrations. She also chronicles the dismay of artists and writers responding to the new decorative arts made possible by electroplating, cast-iron sand-casting, die cutting, and other means of mechanically copying artisans' work. Sheffield plate, ornamented stoves and artifacts ornamented with grape leaves, flowers, animals and classical figures were subjected to scorn by cultural critics. As it became possible for the average person to afford more luxuries, some writers (American Horace Greeley) celebrated the good influence to be had through public exposure to the arts, while others (British John Ruskin) feared the swallowing up of good taste in bad. To the contemporary eye the cast-iron artwork made by the Coalbrookdale Factory offers scope for both responses: some of the pieces included by Wosk are florid excrescences, but other items are lovely in their simplicity. Wosk describes how classical references in machine design gradually gave way to an emphasis on the marriage of form and function (Greek ideas, not Greek things). For instance, as the nineteenth century opened, steam engines were cast as a Greek columns to dignify and make "safe" their dangerous strength. As the century moved on, engineers saw less need for ornamented engines, preferring the spare, simple lines that demonstrated and depended upon the power of good design alone. Wosk closes with a review of a puckish post-modernist plaza, embodying the classical and modernist styles, and moving beyond them to a new integrative, playful style very different from the eclectic but fundamentally serious style of the Victorian era. Finally, Wosk suggests that Americans and English saw themselves as powerful countries, moving forward, using immense machines to do so, fearing and admiring themselves as they went.	42,469
The hills and farmlands gradually turned to inner suburbia and then to the harshness of urban streets, choked tightly with the crush, smells and sounds of the city. He also modifies the harshness of St Mark's style, and frequently recasts his language in reference to diseases. The National Gallery "Virgin of the Rocks" certainly, with help from Ambrogio de Predis; in this the Florentine character of the original is modified by an admixture of Milanese elements, the tendency to harshness and over-elaboration of detail softened, the strained action of the angel's pointing hand altogether dropped, while in many places pupils' work seems recognizable beside that of the master. Why did they not seem inflicted by the harshness his people knew? Throughout his historical career - at the Ecole Normale and the Sorbonne and in his lectures delivered to the empress Eugenie - his sole aim was to ascertain the truth, and in the defence of truth his polemics against what he imagined to be the blindness and insincerity of his critics sometimes assumed a character of harshness and injustice. His infidelity to his wife and his harshness towards his son Carlino are blemishes on a splendid career, but he more than expiated these faults by his tragic end. In the middle notes of the musical register the maximum harshness occurs when the beats are about 30. The harshness of deep notes on instruments rich in overtones may be explained as arising from beats between successive overtones. These seceders were at first treated with great harshness, but have won their way to toleration, and form the Lutheran Free churches of Germany. The general's object may probably have been to accentuate the harshness with which the fathers had been treated, and so to increase public sympathy, 1 but the actual result of his policy was blame for the cruelty with which he enhanced their misfortunes, for the poverty of Corsica made even a bare subsistence scarcely procurable for them there. Familiarity has mitigated the harshness of the revisers' renderings; scholarship, on the whole, has confirmed their readings. Her harshness to Paul was probably as much due to political distrust as to what she saw of his character. Under his authority the colony of Massachusetts Bay made rapid progress, and except in the matter of religious intolerance - he showed great bigotry and harshness, particularly towards the Quakers - his rule was just and praiseworthy. The fur is fairly serviceable for carriage rugs, the leather being stout, but its harshness of quality and nondescript colour does not contribute to make it a favourite. As crown lawyer his treatment of the accused was marked by more than the harshness and violence common in his time; and the fame of the victim has caused his behaviour in the trial of Raleigh to be lastingly remembered against him. The independence of his conduct as a judge, though not unmixed with the baser elements of prejudice and vulgar love of authority, has partly earned forgiveness for the harshness which was so prominent in his sturdy character. The centre of this elevated tract is the Rauhe Alb, so named on account of the harshness of the climate. He himself was moderate and enlightened in his views on this matter, and it was through his influence that the harshness of the anti-Catholic policy was relaxed in 1607. The king's harshness and the arrogance and cruelty of his son, found vent in a revolt led by Roberto Sanseverino and Francesco Coppola, which was crushed by means of craft and treachery. The governor appears to have given great offence by the harshness of his proceedings, and a Ghilzai chief named Mir Wai~, who had complained of his tyranny, was sent a prisoner to Isfahan. He had a voice both sweet and deep-toned, and its effect was not injured by his Northumbrian burr, which, though strong, was entirely free from harshness and vulgarity." Still examination must be had whether persons have been expelled from the congregation by any episcopal small-mindedness (µucpokxia), or contentious spirit, or such-like harshness (evibia). In the laws respecting slavery and war)' that subdues or even removes the harshness of earlier laws or usages. He received, however, the province of Languedoc. The peasant revolt of the Tuchins and Coquins, as the insurgents were called, was suppressed with great harshness, and the duke exacted from the states of Languedoc assembled at Lyons a fine of f i 5,000. Nehemiah was faced with old abuses, and vehemently contrasted the harshness of the nobles with the generosity of the exiles who would redeem their poor countrymen from slavery. The gloom and harshness of these Spanish mystics are absent from the tender, contemplative spirit of Francois de Sales (1567-1622); and in the quietism Fof Mme Guyon (1648-1717) and Miguel de Molinos (1627-1696) there is again a sufficient implication of mystical doctrine to rouse the suspicion of the ecclesiastical authorities. While yet an infant, his father was driven from his kingdom, either by a revolt of his subjects, caused by his own harshness (Lanzelet), or by the action of his enemy Claudas de la Deserte (Lancelot). Monster of iniquity; but, in spite of the harshness and occasional cruelty with which he treated his religious opponents, for which an excuse may be found in the obstinate fanaticism of the monks,. The only illogical point in his system is that the beauty of his dreamlike chords depends not only on his artful choice of a timbre that minimizes their harshness, but also on the fact that they enter the ear with the meaning they have acquired through centuries of harmonic evolution on classical lines. But, whilst condemning harshness towards them, he encourages the feeling of contempt for them as a class. And creeds were treated impartially; and, although the administration has been reproached alike for undue harshness and undue leniency, neither accusation can be sustained. The harshness of the treatment meted out by Maurice to his father's old friend, the faithful counsellor and protector of his own early years, leaves a stain upon the stadholder's memory which can never be washed away. Cursor treated his soldiers with such harshness that they allowed themselves to be defeated; but after he had regained their good-will by more lenient treatment and lavish promises of booty, they fought with enthusiasm and gained a complete victory. In reality, he was a prince of wide knowledge and culture, knowing several languages and austere in morals; and although he cannot be acquitted of occasional harshness, he had the secret of winning the hearts of his subjects, who never refused him their support in times of difficulty. The government was accused of illegal interference with the elections, with the use of the Hungarian arms and language in official documents, and with undue harshness in the censorship of the press. During this time his mother died, and his father's harshness became unbearable. It is their harshness and greed that drive the poor to join the Bagaudae and fly for shelter to the barbarian invaders (v. Her agents are said to have shown great harshness in collecting the feudal dues with which to supply her large household. Just four years later he wrote to her in terms of such calculated harshness and imposed such conditions as to make further intercourse virtually impossible. Apart from the rigorous restrictions imposed by his successors upon trade, the sympathies of the natives were estranged by the harshness and venality of Portuguese administration, by such barbarities as the wholesale mutilation of non-combatants in war-time, and by religious persecution. For three years the Spaniards maintained their hold on Chile, ruling the country with tyrannical harshness, but in the spring of 1817 a patriot force which had been organized at Mendoza in the Argentine by Jose de San Martin, an Argentine officer, and by O'Higgins, crossed the Andes and overwhelmed the royalists at the battle of Chacabuco. Urban was frugal and never practised simony, but harshness, lack of tact, and fondness for unworthy nephews disgraced his pontificate.	29,746
News from the CRG With age, our tissues lose their function and capacity to regenerate after being damaged. A study published today in Cell by scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) and the Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico of the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CNAG-CRG) explains how dermal fibroblasts age. The main conclusion drawn is that these fibroblasts lose their cell identity, as if they had “forgotten” what they are, and consequently their activity is altered, thus affecting tissue. The study reveals the cellular and molecular pathways affected by ageing and proposes that they could be manipulated to delay or even reverse the skin ageing process. Holger Heyn, team leader at the CNAG-CRG and co-leader of the study, explains that “cutting-edge technologies allow molecular analysis of individual cells. In this study, we have applied advanced techniques to obtain high resolution images of fibroblasts as they age”. Marion Salzer, et.al. Identity Noise and Adipogenic Traits Characterize Dermal Fibroblast Aging. Cell (2018)	14,522
Exercise Physiology \| Exercise Science \| Health and Physical Education \| Kinesiology \| Leisure Studies \| Other Rehabilitation and Therapy \| Outdoor Education \| Sports Management \| Sports Sciences \| Sports Studies \| Tourism and Travel This paper documents a demonstration project conducted by the authors under the auspices of the Irish Naval service. It explores and describes in detail the consequences that cold water immersion can have on the human body. Further, this study investigates post immersion treatment and survival challenges and proposes appropriate casualty care regimes with specific focus on ‘post rescue collapse’ and ‘afterdrop.’ Observations of individual differences in response are reported. Buck, Patrick J. Ph.D.; Roberts, Commander William; Minehane, Commander Ken; and Irish Naval Service "The Consequences of Cold Water Immersion: Impacts and Treatment," International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education: Vol. 11 , Article 2. Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare/vol11/iss4/2 Exercise Physiology Commons, Exercise Science Commons, Health and Physical Education Commons, Leisure Studies Commons, Other Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons, Outdoor Education Commons, Sports Management Commons, Sports Sciences Commons, Sports Studies Commons, Tourism and Travel Commons	31,572
A READING from: "In The Company of The Holy Mother" (available at all Vedanta Centres) Holy Mother allowed no compromise with the exalted ideals of chastity and renunciation. A monk, she said, should be a model of renunciation. She taught them that even if the wooden image of a woman lay prone in the street, a monk should not turm it over and look at it. She used to say, "How can I live without the company of men of renunciation? Can a householder, entangled in worldly desires, be the same as a monk who has renounced everything for God?" She encouraged the monastic members of the Ramakrishna Order to work ceaselessly, and often said, "Without work the mind becomes befouled. Can anyone spend twenty-four hours a day in meditation? It is much better to remain busy than to lead an idle life. The activities of both the Math and Mission must be carried on. Those who cannot adjust themsleves to work, shall have to leave." The householder devotees, like the monks, received full measure of Holy Mother's blessings. They formed the majority pf her disciples and visitors, and she encouraged them to perform their duties in a spirit of detachment, and to practice regular meditation and prayer. She became their sole refuge from the tribulations of the world. (to be continued....)	54,949
[dc]Y[dc]ou've all heard about anaerobic threshold, lactate threshold, threshold, red line, Zone 4, “the burn” and plenty of other terms that relate to the upper limits of your aerobic engine. But what a lot of people don't seem to understand is how to find that magical number, and what to do with it. In this article, we'll examine the physiology behind anaerobic threshold and then you'll learn how to figure out what it is. I'll also discuss (very briefly) how you can use it to train towards becoming a stronger cyclist. So without further ado…. What Is This Threshold Stuff and Why Do We Care? In short terms, lactate or anaerobic threshold (from here on out abbreviated as LT) is the point at which your body switches from primarily aerobic metabolism to primarily anaerobic metabolism. In reality, there's a LOT more going on than that. One of the keys to remember is that lactic acid is a by-product of anaerobic metabolism, and that is produced in all exercise intensities (even standing from a chair produces a small amount of lactic acid.) Under sub-threshold circumstances, this molecule is split into a lactate molecule and a free H+ ion, creating an acidic environment. Many believe this is the cause of muscle fatigue. But is it? Recent research has been shattering notions that lactic acid is the culprit of muscle fatigue, and for good reason. Research conducted in the last decade has shown that the breakdown of lactic acid into lactate actually consumes a pair of protons (those H+ that researches talked about for so long), and the even under the most intense exercise, muscular acidity never reaches a pH that (biochemically) causes contractile failure. Muscles always fatigue before they hit that catastrophic level of acidity, so really, what's the cause? (Warning: physiology and biochemistry ahead. If you don't care to read it, skip ahead to the next section where we talk about threshold testing.) What's that mean? Well, think of your muscles as an electrical system: contractions are stimulated by electric currents generated throughout the body by movement of sodium and potassium ions. Each muscle cell's contraction relies on a lightning quick exchange during which potassium ions inside the cell and sodium ions outside the cell switch places, and this process is facilitated by a high degree of polarization (difference in strength of electrical charge between the inside and outside of the cell.) To put it simply, at the beginning of high intensity exercise, the inside of the cell is much more positive than the outside of the cell, making ion flow very easy to facilitate. As intense exercise continues, potassium ions are released from the muscle cell faster than they can be channeled back in via special “potassium pumps” in the cell membrane, which results in a buildup of potassium ions outside the cell. This causes a progressive decrease in the difference in charge between the inside and outside of the cells (depolarization), leading to weaker and less efficient contraction. We call this “fatigue.” Lactate actually counteracts this. By a series of complex biochemical reactions, lactate produced by that same high intensity exercise helps to counteract depolarization, and thereby delaying fatigue. Unfortunately, nothing can stop depolarization completely, so continual high intensity exercise will eventually cause failure of the muscles to contract due to this biochemical fatigue. Oh, and one other thing. In addition to counteracting fatigue, it's been discovered that lactate is actually fuel for muscle cells, and is one of the most easily utilized in the body. Wow. So if lactate is so great, why does anyone care about threshold? That Magical Number The key to riding well is to limit the amount of time spent above LT. You want to limit biochemical fatigue (depolarization) and maximize our power below that magical level during which depolarization outstrips the body's ability to counteract it. As you continue to push harder, depolarization interferes with efficient and proper muscle contraction and as a result power output drops, suffering increases and you are forced to slow down. Fortunately, LT is one of the most trainable limiters in the body. This is truly why you should care about it so much From a practical standpoint, LT is the highest steady-state intensity that you can maintain for a prolonged period of time, which is generally described as an hour. This suggests that the best way to determine your LT is to perform a 60 minute time trial under race conditions. However, the chances that you have that data available to use as your LT are pretty slim. Thankfully, there are other reliable ways to find LT that don't involve race fees and a TT helmet. The simplest way to find your LT is to do the following test, which can be done on a trainer (very mentally tough) or outside on a predominantly flat series of roads (avoid continuous rollers or significant climbs): - Warm up for about 15 minutes by spinning a nice easy gear, throwing in two or three 15 second hard efforts to open up the legs and prime your engine. - Go out and ride a 30 minute TT at full gas, leaving nothing in the tank. Do not look at your heart rate. Do not look at your power. The only thing you'll ask yourself is “Am I going as hard as I can right now?” - Record your heart rate (and power if you have it) for the entire duration of the TT (30 minutes). - Warm down for 5-10 minutes by spinning easily. When you get home, you'll download and analyze your data. To find your LT heart rate (LTHR) you'll want to look at the final 20 minutes of your TT effort. The average HR during those last 20 minutes is a good approximation of you LTHR. If you are using a power meter, look at the average power for the last 20 minutes of the TT and subtract 5% to get a good approximation of your LT power (also called Functional Threshold Power or FTP.) Bear in mind that if done on a trainer and done outside, power and HR numbers may be different. Changes in wind speed and direction, temperature and road conditions may raise or lower average LTHR or FTP numbers. Outdoor testing is by far the best option as it will compare to the real riding you're going to do on the road. Final Thoughts On LTHR and FTP While both LTHR and FTP are acceptable measures by which to set your training zones, there is a distinct difference between them. HR is a measure of input: the amount of physiological work your body is doing. Power is a measure of output: the amount of work your body is putting to the pedals. Measuring only input (HR) is a difficult way to determine training improvements since it is easily influenced by hydration, sleep, heat, humidity, mental state and other external (and internal) stresses. Power (output) is brutally honest in that it is a direct measure of the work you're doing (although comparing the two is a great way to note fitness gains.) The bottom line is: use a power meter if you can. If you absolutely can't (or won't due to cost or any other factor) HR and LTHR will serve you fine, but you'll have to find some other ways to measure your changes in fitness. Questions, comments, snarky remarks? Post below and start the party!	19,368
U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011, Ethiopia The most significant human rights problems included the government’s arrest of more than 100 opposition political figures, activists, journalists, and bloggers. The government charged 14 of those arrested under the antiterrorism proclamation. In addition it charged another 17 persons outside the country in absentia under this proclamation. The government restricted freedom of the press, and fear of harassment and arrest led journalists to practice self-censorship. The Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSO law) continued to impose severe restrictions on civil society and nongovernmental organization (NGO) activities. Ethiopia is a federal republic led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). In national parliamentary elections in May 2010, the EPRDF and affiliated parties won 545 of 547 seats to remain in power for a fourth consecutive five-year term. The EPRDF is made up of four ethnically based political organizations: the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front, Amhara National Democratic Movement, Oromo People’s Democratic Organization, and Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement. Although the relatively few international officials allowed to observe the elections concluded that technical aspects of the vote were handled competently, some also noted that an environment conducive to free and fair elections was not in place prior to election day. Several laws, regulations, and procedures implemented since the 2005 national elections created a clear advantage for the EPRDF throughout the electoral process. Security forces generally reported to civilian authorities; however, there were instances in which special police and local militias acted independently of civilian control. The most significant human rights problems included the government’s arrest of more than 100 opposition political figures, activists, journalists, and bloggers. The government charged 14 of those arrested under the antiterrorism proclamation. In addition it charged another 17 persons outside the country in absentia under this proclamation. The government restricted freedom of the press, and fear of harassment and arrest led journalists to practice self-censorship. The Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSO law) continued to impose severe restrictions on civil society and nongovernmental organization (NGO) activities. Other human rights problems included torture, beating, abuse, and mistreatment of detainees by security forces; harsh and at times life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; detention without charge and lengthy pretrial detention; infringement on citizens’ privacy rights, including illegal searches; allegations of abuses in connection with the continued low-level conflict in parts of the Somali region; restrictions on freedom of assembly, association, and movement; police, administrative, and judicial corruption; violence and societal discrimination against women and abuse of children; female genital mutilation (FGM); exploitation of children for economic and sexual purposes; trafficking in persons; societal discrimination against persons with disabilities; clashes between ethnic minorities; discrimination against persons based on their sexual orientation and against persons with HIV/AIDS; limits on worker rights; forced labor; and child labor, including forced child labor. Impunity was a problem. The government did not take steps to prosecute or otherwise punish officials who committed abuses other than corruption. The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), an ethnically based, violent, and increasingly fragmented separatist group operating in the Somali region, was responsible for abuses. a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life There were no reports that the government or its agents committed politically motivated killings during the year. Human Rights Watch reported that it received reports of five to six persons dying due to security force beatings in connection with the government’s “villagization” program during the year (see section 1.f.). In May gunmen linked to the ONLF killed a humanitarian aid worker (see section 1.g.). Clashes between ethnic groups during the year resulted in dozens of deaths, as well as the displacement of persons (see sections 2.d. and 6, National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities). There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances; however, there were credible reports that security officials temporarily detained opposition activists and held them incommunicado. The ONLF held two humanitarian aid workers for more than six weeks (see section 1.g.). c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The constitution and law prohibit such practices; however, there were credible reports that security officials tortured and otherwise abused detainees. Authorities reportedly tortured Ethiopian National Unity Party president Zerihun Gebre-Egziabher and journalist Woubishet Taye, two of the nine persons arrested June 19-21and accused of terrorist activity and involvement with the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) (see section 1.e.). In November 2010 the UN Committee Against Torture reported that it was “deeply concerned” about “numerous, ongoing, and consistent allegations” concerning “the routine use of torture” by the police, prison officers, and other members of the security forces–including the military–against political dissidents and opposition party members, students, alleged terrorists, and alleged supporters of violent separatist groups like the ONLF and the OLF. The committee reported that such acts frequently occurred with the participation of, at the instigation of, or with the consent of commanding officers in police stations, detention centers, federal prisons, military bases, and unofficial or secret places of detention. Some reports of such abuses continued during the year. Numerous credible sources confirmed in 2009 that in Maekelawi, the central police investigation headquarters in Addis Ababa, police investigators often used physical abuse to extract confessions. Citizens widely believed that such treatment remained a common practice at Maekelawi. Authorities continued to restrict access by diplomats and NGOs to Maekelawi. Prison and pretrial detention center conditions remained harsh and in some cases life threatening. Severe overcrowding was common, especially in sleeping quarters. The government provided approximately eight birr ($0.46) per prisoner per day for food, water, and health care. Many prisoners supplemented this with daily food deliveries from family members or by purchasing food from local vendors. Medical care was unreliable in federal prisons and almost nonexistent in regional prisons. Water shortages caused unhygienic conditions, and most prisons lacked appropriate sanitary facilities. Many prisoners had serious health problems in detention but received little treatment. The country has three federal and 120 regional prisons. There also are many unofficial detention centers throughout the country, including in Dedessa, Bir Sheleko, Tolay, Hormat, Blate, Tatek, Jijiga, Holeta, and Senkele. Most are located at military camps. At the end of 2010 there were an estimated 86,000 persons in prison, of whom 2,474 were women and 546 children incarcerated with their mothers. Juveniles sometimes were incarcerated with adults who were awaiting execution. Male and female prisoners generally were separated. Authorities generally permitted visitors. In some cases family visits to prisoners were restricted to a few per year. Some of those charged with terrorist activity reported that their families were not allowed to visit them in prison. Prisoners generally were permitted religious observance, but this varied by prison, and even by section of prison, at the discretion of prison management. Prisoners may, during trial, make complaints about prison conditions or treatment to the presiding judge. During the year the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited regional prisons but, like all international organizations and NGOs, remained barred from visiting federal prisons, which held persons accused or convicted of crimes against national security, and all prisons in the Somali region. Regional authorities allowed NGO representatives to meet regularly with prisoners without third parties present. The government and prison authorities generally cooperated with efforts of the Ethiopian NGO Justice for All-Prison Fellowship Ethiopia (JFA-PFE) to improve prison conditions. JFA-PFE was granted access to various prison and detention facilities, including federal prisons. It ran “model” prisons in Adama and Mekele, with significantly better conditions than those found in other prisons. Because the government routinely failed to meet its accepted obligation to notify diplomatic missions of the arrest of foreign nationals, foreign representatives had only rare access to prisons and other detention facilities. d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention Although the constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, the government often ignored these provisions in practice. Role of the Police and Security Apparatus The Federal Police Commission reports to the Ministry of Federal Affairs, which is subject to parliamentary oversight; however, this oversight was loose in practice. Each of the country’s nine regions has a state or special police force that reports to the regional civilian authorities. Local militias operated across the country in loose coordination with regional and federal police and the military, with the degree of coordination varying by region. In many cases these militias functioned as appendages of local EPRDF political bosses. Security forces were effective, but impunity remained a serious problem. The mechanisms used to investigate abuses by the federal police were not known. Since 2010 regional police in the Somali region came under increasing control by the regional government and several members were subject to arrest for acts of indiscipline. The government rarely publicly disclosed the results of investigations into abuses by local security forces, such as arbitrary detention and beatings of civilians. In its November 2010 report, the UN Committee Against Torture noted that there were “numerous and consistent reports” about the government’s “persistent failure” to investigate allegations of torture and prosecute perpetrators, including Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) or police commanders. The committee further noted the absence of information on cases in which soldiers and police or prison officers were prosecuted, sentenced, or subjected to disciplinary sanctions for acts of torture or mistreatment. The government continued its efforts to provide human rights training for police and army recruits. During the year the government continued to accept assistance from the JFA-PFE and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to improve and professionalize its human rights training and curriculum, by including more material on the constitution and international human rights treaties and conventions. The JFA-PFE and the EHRC conducted human rights training for police commissioners, prosecutors, judges, prison administrators, and militia in Tigray; Amhara; Oromia; Afar; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region (SNNPR); Gambella; and Addis Ababa. Arrest Procedures and Treatment While in Detention Although the constitution and law require that detainees be brought to court and charged within 48 hours of arrest, sometimes this requirement was not respected in practice. With court approval, however, persons suspected of serious offenses can be detained for 14 days without being charged and for additional 14-day periods if an investigation continues. Under the antiterrorism law, police may request to hold persons without charge for 28-day periods, up to a maximum of four months. The law prohibits detention in any facility other than an official detention center; however local militias and other formal and informal law enforcement entities used dozens of unofficial local detention centers. A functioning bail system was in place. Bail was not available for murder, treason, and corruption. In most cases authorities set bail between 500 and 10,000 birr ($29 and $580), which was too costly for most citizens. Police officials did not always respect court orders to release suspects on bail. The government provided public defenders for detainees unable to afford private legal counsel, but only when their cases went to court. While detainees were in pretrial detention, authorities allowed them little or no contact with legal counsel. Arbitrary Arrest: Authorities regularly detained persons without warrants and denied access to counsel and in some cases to family members, particularly in outlying regions. The government arrested more than 100 opposition political figures, activists, journalists, and bloggers. In contrast with previous years, there were no reports that Ethiopian asylum seekers deported from Yemen were detained upon return to the country. Pretrial Detention: Some prisoners reported being detained for several years without being charged and without trial. Pretrial detention continued to decline during the year. Approximately 80 percent of those incarcerated during the year in Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Oromia, SNNPR, and Tigray had been sentenced. Trial delays were most often caused by lengthy legal procedures, the large numbers of detainees, judicial inefficiency, and staffing shortages. Amnesty: On June 1, after extensive lobbying by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and other religious institutions, and despite the protests of the family members of victims of the Red Terror, the government commuted the death sentences of 23 officials of the previous military regime, known as the Derg (1974-91). The officials, convicted of genocide, had their sentences reduced to life imprisonment; 16 of those officials were released from prison on October 4 for good behavior. On September 10, in keeping with a long-standing tradition of issuing pardons at the Ethiopian New Year, the government pardoned 2,620 prisoners. In addition the SNNPR government pardoned 5,671 prisoners. On September 27, officials commuted the life sentence of Ginbot 7 member Tsige Habtemariam and released him. Tsige was more than 80 years old at the time of his release. Tsige is the father of Andargachew Tsige, the secretary general of Ginbot 7, who received a death sentence in absentia in 2009. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The law provides for an independent judiciary. Although the civil courts operated with a large degree of independence, the criminal courts remained weak, overburdened, and subject to political influence. The upper house of parliament has sole responsibility for judging the constitutionality of proposed new laws, handling judicial appointments, and reviewing judicial conduct. Courts have the ability to convict defendants on charges not raised by the prosecution. Regional offices of the federal Ministry of Justice, known as bureaus of justice, monitored developments in local courts, but the federal judicial presence in the regions was otherwise limited. Some regional courts had jurisdiction over both local and federal matters, as the federal courts in those jurisdictions were not operational. Many citizens residing in rural areas generally had little access to formal judicial systems and relied on traditional mechanisms of resolving conflict. A severe lack of experienced staff in the judicial system sometimes made the application of the law unpredictable. The government continued to train lower court judges and prosecutors and made effective judicial administration the primary focus of this training. The seventh criminal branch of the Federal Court of First Instance, headed by three judges, handled cases involving juvenile offenses and cases of sexual abuse of women and children. There was a large backlog of juvenile cases, and accused children often remained in detention with adults until officials heard their cases. There were also credible reports that domestic violence and rape cases often were delayed significantly and given low priority. The law provides legal standing to some preexisting religious and traditional courts and allows federal and regional legislatures to recognize decisions of such courts. By law all parties to a dispute must agree to use a traditional or religious court before such a court may hear a case, and either party can appeal to a regular court at any time. Sharia (Islamic) courts may hear religious and family cases involving Muslims. In addition other traditional systems of justice, such as the Council of Elders, continued to function. These customary mechanisms resolved disputes for the majority of citizens who lived in rural areas. Some women complained of lack of access to free and fair hearings in the traditional justice system because they were excluded by custom from participation in the Council of Elders and because there was strong gender discrimination in rural areas. By law accused persons have the right to a fair public trial by a court of law within a “reasonable time,” a presumption of innocence, the right to be represented by legal counsel of their choice, and the right to appeal. The law gives defendants the right to present witnesses and evidence in their defense, cross-examine prosecution witnesses, and access government-held evidence. However, in practice the government did not always respect the right of access to evidence it held. In some sensitive cases deemed to involve matters of national security, notably the Ginbot 7 and OLF trials, detainees stated that authorities initially denied them the right to see attorneys. The court system does not use trial by juries. Unlike in previous years, there were no reports that persons charged with corruption were denied access to evidence against them prior to their trials. Judicial inefficiency and lack of qualified staff often resulted in serious delays in trial proceedings. The Public Defender’s Office provided legal counsel to indigent defendants, although its scope and quality of service remained limited due to the shortage of attorneys. During the year 31 persons were charged with terrorist activities under the antiterrorism proclamation, including 12 journalists, opposition political figures, and activists based in the country; two foreign journalists; and 17 Ethiopians living abroad who were charged in absentia. The first formal charges in such cases were filed on September 6. Several international human rights organizations raised concerns over the law’s broad definition of terrorism, as well as its severe penalties, its broad rules of evidence, and the discretionary powers afforded police and security forces. In at least one case defense attorneys were not given access to the prosecution’s evidence before the start of the trial. Political Prisoners and Detainees The government arrested more than 100 persons between March and September, including opposition political figures, activists, journalists, and bloggers. The government charged several of those arrested with terrorist or seditious activity, but observers found the evidence presented at trials to be either open to interpretation or indicative of acts of a political nature rather than linked to terrorism. Estimates on the number of political prisoners varied. Domestic and international NGOs estimated that there were 200 to 300 political prisoners and detainees at year’s end. The government did not permit access by international human rights organizations. From March 13 to 16, in the Oromia region the government arrested members of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) and the Oromo People’s Congress (OPC). The opposition parties stated that the government arrested 74 of their members and claimed that the arrests were politically motivated. The government stated that authorities arrested 120 persons, and that those arrested were affiliated with the OLF. A second wave of arrests between June and September included a number of prominent journalists, political opposition figures, and activists, many of whom the government alleged were involved with terrorism. For example, on September 14, authorities arrested Andualem Arage, the vice chairman of the opposition front Medrek and a Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) official; the well known blogger and journalist Eskinder Nega; and the UDJ official Natnael Mekonnen. Representatives of the opposition said that the arrests were politically motivated. The trial continued at year’s end. Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies The law provides citizens the right to appeal human rights violations in civil court; however, no such cases were filed during the year. The law requires authorities to obtain judicial warrants to search private property; however, in practice police often ignored the law, and there were no records of courts excluding evidence found without warrants. Opposition political party leaders reported suspicions of telephone tapping and other electronic eavesdropping. In 2009 a former employee of the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation (ETC), the state-run monopoly telecommunications and Internet provider, reported from self-imposed exile that the government had ordered ETC employees to record citizens’ private telephone conversations unlawfully. It was widely believed that this practice continued during the year. In at least one instance, a foreign diplomat received a communication from a service provider stating that the government had accessed the diplomat’s private e-mail account. The government reportedly used a widespread system of paid informants to report on the activities of particular individuals. During the year opposition members reported that ruling party operatives and militia members made intimidating and unwelcome visits to their homes, although the number of reports of such visits declined significantly compared with the previous year, when there was an election. Human Rights Watch and some opposition parties alleged that the government politicized foreign donor assistance and that humanitarian assistance was used as an incentive to secure support for the ruling coalition. In 2010 the donor community based in the country, collectively known as the Development Assistance Group, conducted an assessment of the four largest donor-supported development programs. The assessment concluded that all four programs had accountability systems in place that provided effective checks against distortion for political purposes in the distribution of assistance. Security forces continued to detain family members of persons sought for questioning by the government. There were credible reports that unemployed youths who were not affiliated with the ruling coalition sometimes had trouble receiving the “support letters” from their kebeles (neighborhoods or wards) necessary to get jobs. The national government and regional governments continued to put in place “villagization” plans in the Gambella, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Somali regions. These plans involved the resettlement of scattered rural populations from arid or semiarid lands vulnerable to recurring droughts into designated clusters by regional governments. The stated purposes of villagization were to improve the provision of government services (i.e., health care, education, and clean water), protect vulnerable communities from natural disasters and attacks, and change environmentally destructive patterns of shifting cultivation. However, some observers stated that the purpose was to enable the large-scale leasing of land for commercial agriculture, a claim the government denied. The plan involved the resettlement of 45,000 households in Gambella and Benishangul-Gumuz and 70,000 in the Somali region from 2008-11. The government described the villagization program as strictly voluntary, and assessments by international donors found no systematic evidence to the contrary. These assessments found that communities and individual families appeared to have agreed to move based on assurances from authorities of food aid, services, and land, although in some instances communities moved before adequate basic services and shelter were in place in the new locations. They also noted that community members who objected to moving were allowed to stay, with consultations continuing, and some persons later returned to their original homes without hindrance. A Human Rights Watch report characterized the process as “far from voluntary.” The report described a process in which security forces and local militia attended meetings with those communities that had initially indicated they did not want to move and later went with villagers to the new locations, where they oversaw the construction of tukuls (traditional huts) by the villagers. According to the report, security forces beat (sometimes leading to death), threatened, arrested without charge, and detained persons who were critical of planned villagization of their communities, and this caused persons to fear speaking out against the process. Since1994 the ONLF has engaged in armed conflict with the government. During the year scattered fighting continued between government forces, primarily regional government-backed militia, and residual elements of the ONLF. Allegations of human rights abuses committed by government forces (including regional police), government-aligned local militias, and ONLF forces continued. Often fighting was reported only well after the fact with the opposing sides alleging vastly differing and unverifiable accounts of events. In June parliament declared the ONLF and four other entities as terrorist organizations. Most allegations of human rights abuses involving government actors came from ONLF sources, typically conveyed via diaspora blogs, and could not be readily investigated. Some villagers continued to report that local authorities threatened to retaliate against anyone who reported abuses by security forces. The number of reports of such human rights abuses continued to decline. The “Admiral Osman faction” of the ONLF, consisting of hard-core fighters and supported by the Eritrean government, was believed to be responsible for an attack against aid workers on May 13 and attacks against the government. Deliveries of food and medicine were temporarily halted in the limited areas affected by fighting due to security concerns. The 2010 peace agreements that the government signed with the United Western Somali Liberation Front and the Salahdin Ma’ow faction of the ONLF held. On May 13, gunmen affiliated with the ONLF attacked a vehicle belonging to the UN World Food Program (WFP), killed its driver, Farhan Hamsa, and injured one other staff member. The persons responsible for the May 13 attack on the WFP vehicle also kidnapped two other WFP employees in the vehicle. The ONLF admitted that it had the two employees in its custody without taking responsibility for the attack. On June 30, the ONLF released the two WFP employees unharmed. There was no additional information regarding reports in past years that some local militias in the Somali region recruited child soldiers. Also see the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at www.state.gov/j/tip. Other Conflict-related Abuses Civilians, international NGOs, and other aid organizations operating in the Somali region reported that government security forces, local militias, and the ONLF committed abuses such as arbitrary arrest to intimidate the civilian population. In contrast with the previous year, there were no reports that special police and or militias forcibly relocated whole villages believed to be supportive of the ONLF. Restrictions that limited the access of NGOs and journalists to conflict regions continued, although these were relaxed significantly in comparison with previous years and large portions of the region were opened to diplomatic visitors. At year’s end no areas of the region were officially off-limits, and the government generally encouraged travel in the region as a means of spurring potential investment. The government continued strongly to advise caution in areas of recent fighting. Journalists must register before entering conflict regions. NGOs had to request permission to enter the Fik zone in the Somali region. There were isolated reports of regional police or local militias blocking NGO access to particular locations on particular days, citing security concerns as the reason for this. NGO workers generally turned back and did not press the point. Several foreign missions and other groups continued to exercise caution in traveling to the area. Authorities arrested and convicted two Swedish journalists who entered the Somali region after crossing the border from Somalia illegally; the journalists were in the company of ONLF fighters when they were arrested (see section 2.a.). The government continued to ban the ICRC from the region, having previously alleged that it cooperated with the ONLF. During the year some humanitarian groups reported roadblocks manned by insurgent groups that occasionally briefly detained them. These same humanitarian groups reportedly were interrogated by the ENDF on their encounters with insurgents at the roadblocks. a. Freedom of Speech and Press Status of Freedom of Speech and Press While the constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press, the government did not respect these rights in practice. Freedom of Speech: Authorities arrested and harassed persons for criticizing the government. Freedom of Press: Approximately 20 private Amharic- and English-language newspapers with political and business focuses were published, with a combined weekly circulation in Addis Ababa of more than 150,000. Most newspapers were printed on a weekly basis with the exception of the state-owned Amharic and English dailies. The government controlled the only nationally broadcast television station which, along with radio, was the primary source of news for much of the population. Apart from three private FM radio stations in the capital city and community radio stations in the regions, the government controlled all radio broadcasting. Government-controlled media mostly reflected the views of the government and the ruling EPRDF coalition. The government periodically jammed foreign broadcasts. For example, Voice of America’s Amharic-language programs experienced periodic jamming throughout the year. Deutsche Welle also reportedly experienced jamming in early April. The broadcasting law prohibits political and religious organizations or foreigners from owning broadcast stations. Violence and Harassment: The government continued to arrest, harass, and prosecute journalists, publishers, and editors. During the year the government arrested nine journalists, five of whom remained in custody at year’s end. Two journalists fled the country, citing fear of arrest; one of the two reported having his accreditation revoked prior to departure. On February 8, the Ministry of Justice filed approximately130 charges against Temesgen Dessalegn, editor in chief and owner of the private Amharic weekly newspaper Feteh. The charges included 35 criminal offenses and approximately 100 other allegations. Dessalegn was charged with inciting public violence and protests in order to boost sales. Reportedly, the charges cited articles in 13 issues of the newspaper published between September and December 2010 as “defaming the EPRDF and the government, inciting the public against the government and the constitution, and dishonoring the flag.” In November Dawit Kebede, editor in chief of the Awramba Times, reportedly fled the country due to harassment and intimidation by government officials. Following his departure the Awramba Times ceased publication. Its license was in Dawit’s name and was essentially nontransferable. Censorship or Content Restrictions: Government harassment of journalists caused them to fear reporting on sensitive topics. Many private newspapers reported informal editorial control by the government through article placement requests and calls from government officials concerning articles perceived as critical of the government. Private-sector and government journalists routinely practiced self-censorship. In contrast with previous years, there were no reports that the government used its licensing authority to censor the media indirectly. Libel Laws/National Security: The government used the antiterrorism law to suppress criticism. Journalists feared reporting on the five groups designated by parliament in June as terrorist organizations (Ginbot 7, the ONLF, the OLF, al-Qaida, and Al Shabaab), citing ambiguity on whether reporting on these groups might be punishable under the law. From June through September, the government arrested and charged five journalists under the antiterrorism proclamation. Several journalists, both local and foreign correspondents, reported an increase in self-censorship. On June 19 and 21, authorities arrested nine persons under the antiterrorism proclamation, including two journalists–Woubishet Taye, deputy editor of the Awramba Times, and Feteh columnist Reyot Alemu–as well as Zerihun Gebre-Egziabher, president of the Ethiopian National Unity Party. Reports indicated that Woubishet and Reyot were not allowed to receive visitors and did not have access to counsel while awaiting formal charges, although they had counsel once their trial began. The families of Zerihun and Woubishet stated that the two men had been tortured. On September 6, Woubishet, Reyot, and Zerihun were charged formally with terrorist activity. The trial continued at year’s end. Four others of those arrested were later released. On June 30, Swedish freelancers Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye, a photographer and a journalist, respectively, were arrested in the Somali region. Reports indicated that they were found with a group of ONLF rebels and that prior to their capture the rebels and government troops were in a firefight. The journalists admitted to embedding themselves with the ONLF and entering Ethiopia illegally but otherwise denied actual involvement with or support for the organization. On December 21, they were found guilty of rendering support to a terrorist organization and illegally entering the country. They each received sentences of 11 years in prison. The government did not use libel laws during the year to suppress criticism. Publishing Restrictions: The government owned the only high-quality newspaper printing press and regularly increased costs to publishers. Reports indicated that this practice influenced the circulation numbers of the private newspapers, forcing them to adjust their printing runs according to what they could afford. One private publisher claimed to have purchased and imported a news printing press but cited government-imposed obstacles that prevented delivery and installation. The government restricted access to the Internet and blocked several Web sites, including news sites, blogs, opposition Web sites, and Web sites of domestic groups designated as terrorist organizations by parliament (Ginbot 7, the OLF, and the ONLF). Several news blogs and Web sites run by opposition diaspora groups, such as Addis Neger, Nazret, Ethiopian Review, CyberEthiopia, Quatero Amharic Magazine, Tensae Ethiopia, and the Ethiopian Media Forum, were not accessible. In general blog sites were not accessible. The news Web site for VOA News was only available periodically, although users could generally access their proxy Web sites. On September 14, authorities arrested the journalist and blogger Eskinder Nega (see section 1.e., Political Prisoners and Detainees). Academic Freedom and Cultural Events The government restricted academic freedom, including the curriculum, teachers’ appointments, and student enrollment decisions. Speech, expression, and assembly frequently were restricted on university and high school campuses. Students in schools and universities were indoctrinated in the core precepts of the ruling EPDRF party’s concept of “revolutionary democracy.” According to credible sources, the ruling party “stacks” student enrollment at Addis Ababa University, which is the nation’s largest and most influential university, with students loyal to the party to ensure further adherence to the party’s principles and to forestall any student protest. The government also restricted academic freedom in other ways. Authorities did not permit teachers at any level to deviate from official lesson plans and actively prohibited partisan political activity and association of any kind on university campuses. Numerous anecdotal reports suggested that non-EPRDF members were more likely to be transferred to undesirable posts and bypassed for promotions. There was a lack of transparency in academic staffing decisions, with numerous complaints from individuals in the academic community of bias based on party membership, ethnicity, or religion. Some college students reportedly were pressured to pledge allegiance to the EPRDF in order to secure enrollment in universities or government jobs after graduation. According to multiple credible sources, teachers and high school students in grade 10 and above were required to attend training on the concepts of revolutionary democracy and EPRDF party ideology. Many students reportedly believed that they needed EPRDF membership to gain admission to a university and consequently became members. During the year the Ministry of Education relaxed some restrictions in its 2010 directive prohibiting private universities from offering degree programs in law and teacher education. The directive also requires private universities to align their curriculum offerings with the previously announced ministry’s policy of a 70-to-30 ratio between science and social science academic programs. Private university curricula had focused heavily on the social sciences. Ministry officials originally cited a need to maintain quality standards as the reason for the directive. Freedom of Assembly The constitution and law provide for freedom of assembly; however, the government restricted this right. On one occasion during the year, authorities injured and arrested protestors who were reportedly demonstrating without a permit. Organizers of large public meetings or demonstrations must notify the government 48 hours in advance and obtain a permit. Local government officials, almost all of whom were affiliated with the EPRDF, controlled access to municipal halls, and there were many complaints from opposition parties that local officials denied or otherwise obstructed the scheduling of opposition parties’ use of halls for lawful political rallies. Regional governments, including the Addis Ababa regional administration, were reluctant to grant permits or provide security for large meetings. In September the All Ethiopia Unity Party and Ethiopia Unity Democratic Organization stated that they were not granted permission by the Addis Ababa city administration to hold a peaceful demonstration. Freedom of Association Although the law provides for freedom of association and the right to engage in unrestricted peaceful political activity, the government limited this right in practice. In accordance with the CSO law, anonymous donations to NGOs are not permitted. All donors are therefore aware that their names will be public knowledge. The same is true of all donations made to political parties. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs screens registration applications from international NGOs and submits a recommendation on whether to approve or deny registration. See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at www.state.gov/j/drl/irf/rpt. Although the law provides for freedom of movement within the country, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, the government restricted some of these rights in practice. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees and returning citizens. In-country Movement: The government relaxed but did not completely remove restrictions on the movement of persons into and within the Ogaden area of the Somali region, continuing to argue that the ONLF posed a security threat (see section 1.g.). Exile: The law prohibits forced exile, and the government did not employ it. Several citizens sought political asylum in other countries or remained abroad in self-imposed exile, including prominent human rights advocates. For example, during the year Awramba Times editor Dawit Kebede fled the country after receiving information that he was going to be imprisoned (see section 2.a., Violence and Harassment). Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) The total number of IDPs in the country during the year was not known. Many persons who had been displaced due to conflict in Gambella, Oromia, SNNPR, and the Somali region remained displaced. Drought also caused displacements during the year. The government did not recognize IDPs as a distinct group, and there was no specialized office charged with managing matters such as IDP protection, return, resettlement, or durable solutions. The government did not maintain data on IDPs. The Federal Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector, under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is the main government agency responsible for emergencies, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Water and Energy. Government restrictions on the access of human rights organizations, the media, humanitarian agencies, and diplomatic missions to conflict-affected areas significantly decreased in comparison with previous years. There were isolated reports of regional police or local militias blocking NGO access to particular locations on particular days, citing security concerns as the reason for this. NGO workers generally turned back. Access to conflict-affected IDPs often was difficult and limited; hence assistance provided to them was often inadequate. During the year drought caused displacements in the Somali region, a situation exacerbated in some cases by the continuing conflict (see section 1.g.). The government limited humanitarian access to the Fik zone of the Somali region. In Oromia religious violence caused temporary displacement. In March between three thousand and four thousand evangelical Protestants were displaced temporarily when Muslims attacked and burned more than 60 homes and churches in Asendabo, a small town near Jimma, the principal city of western Oromia. The federal police quelled the violence. Virtually all of those who left had returned to their homes by year’s end. Protection of Refugees Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. According to the UNHCR, the country hosted 290,304 refugees at year’s end. The majority of refugees were from Somalia (185,473), with others coming from Sudan and South Sudan (46,129) and Eritrea (55,085). New arrivals from Somalia increased significantly during the year, most being women and children who were not in good health. Most Somali refugees went to camps in the Dollo Ado area. Deaths of Somali refugee children increased significantly compared with previous years, mainly due to severe malnutrition. Mortality rates peaked in July and August. In August the UNHCR reported that an average of 10 children under age five died every day in Kobe camp (located in the Dollo Ado area) since it opened in June. The UNHCR, the government, and humanitarian agencies activated contingency plans to care for Sudanese arrivals who fled from conflict in Sudan’s Blue Nile State. Eritrean asylum seekers continued to arrive at the rate of approximately 1,000 new arrivals per month, according to the UNHCR. Hundreds of Eritrean refugees reportedly departed monthly on secondary migration through Egypt and Sudan to go to Israel, Europe, and other final destinations. The UNHCR assisted in the reception and transportation back to My Ayni or Adi Harush camps of more than 723 Eritrean refugees who had been detained in Egypt and deported by the Egyptian authorities. The UNHCR reported that the population of unaccompanied minors who fled Eritrea was 1,197 at year’s end. Unaccompanied minors in the 15- to17-year-old age group represented more than 75 percent of the total population of such minors, who stated they fled Eritrea to avoid military conscription. Refugee Abuse: The out-of-camp policy for Eritrean refugees, which permits Eritrean refugees to live outside the camps, remained in place. Prior to this policy, such permission was given primarily to attend higher education institutions, undergo medical treatment, or avoid security threats at the camps. Officially, the out-of-camp policy is not extended to refugees from places other than Eritrea. However, in practice such persons were not prevented from moving in and out of camps. Employment: The government does not grant refugees work permits. Access to Basic Services: Refugees in camps were provided with schooling and health services. For those outside of camps, there were no reports of discrimination in access to public services. Durable Solutions: During the year, the International Organization for Migration processed 4,746 refugees who departed for resettlement and family reunification abroad. The constitution and law provide citizens the right to change their government peacefully. In practice the country has never had a peaceful change of government. Elections and Political Participation Recent Elections: In the May 2010 national parliamentary elections, the EPRDF and affiliated parties won 545 of 547 seats to remain in power for a fourth consecutive five-year term. In simultaneous elections for regional parliaments, the EPRDF and its affiliates won 1,903 of 1,904 seats. The EPRDF and its affiliates received approximately 79 percent of total votes cast but won more than 99 percent of all seats at all levels. Independent observation of the vote was severely limited due to government restrictions. Although the relatively few international officials allowed to observe the elections concluded that technical aspects of the vote were handled competently, some also noted that an environment conducive to free and fair elections was not in place prior to election day. Several laws, regulations, and procedures implemented since the 2005 national elections created a clear advantage for the EPRDF throughout the electoral process. There was ample evidence that unfair government tactics–including intimidation of opposition candidates and supporters–influenced the extent of the EPRDF victory. In addition voter education was limited in scope to information about technical voting procedures and done only by the National Electoral Board, and then only days before voting began. The African Union, whose observers arrived one week before the vote, pronounced the elections as free and fair. The European Union, some of whose observers arrived a few months before the vote, concluded that the elections fell short of international standards for transparency and failed to provide a level playing field for opposition parties. Overall the EU observed a “climate of apprehension and insecurity,” noting that the volume and consistency of complaints of harassment and intimidation by opposition parties was “a matter of concern” and had to be taken into consideration “in the overall assessment of the electoral process.” Political Parties: Political parties were predominantly ethnically based. Membership in the EPRDF conferred advantages upon its members; the party directly owned many businesses and was broadly perceived to award jobs and business contracts to loyal supporters. The opposition reported that in many instances local authorities told its members to renounce their party membership and join the EPRDF if they wanted access to subsidized seeds and fertilizer; food relief; civil service job assignment, promotion, or retention; student university assignment and postgraduate employment; and other benefits controlled by the government. During the year there were credible reports that teachers and other government workers had their employment terminated if they belonged to opposition political parties. According to opposition groups such as the OFDM and the OPC, the Oromia regional government continued to threaten to dismiss opposition party members–particularly teachers–from their jobs. At the university level, however, members of Medrek and its constituent parties were able to teach. Registered political parties must receive permission from regional governments to open and occupy local offices. In early 2010 a system of public campaign finance was announced. Under this system parties are to receive public funds based in part on the number of parliamentary seats they hold. Participation of Women and Minorities: No laws or cultural or traditional practices prevented women or minorities from voting or participating in political life on the same basis as men or nonminority citizens. The government policy of ethnic federalism led to the creation of individual constituencies to provide for representation of all major ethnic groups in the House of People’s Representatives. There were more than 80 ethnic groups, and small groups lacked representation in the legislature. There were 24 nationality groups in six regional states (Tigray, Amhara, Beneshangul-Gumuz, SNNPR, Gambella, and Harar) that did not have a sufficient population to qualify for constituency seats based on the 2007 census result; however, in the May 2010 elections, individuals from these nationality groups competed for 24 special seats in the House of People’s Representatives. Additionally these 24 nationality groups have one seat each in the unelected, largely ceremonial House of Federation. The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption; despite the government’s prosecution of numerous officials for corruption, some officials continued to engage in corrupt practices. Corruption, especially the solicitation of bribes, remained a problem among low-level bureaucrats. Police and judicial corruption also continued to be problems. Some government officials appeared to manipulate the privatization process, and state- and party-owned businesses received preferential access to land leases and credit. The Ministry of Justice has primary responsibility for combating corruption, largely through the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. A large number of arrests for corruption were made during the year, including of significant regional politicians and government officials. For example, in May authorities arrested the deputy head of the Bureau of Land Administration and Environmental Protection for the Oromia region, Mohammed Ebrahim Mussa, on corruption charges. The Oromia Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission arrested more than 60 government officials in the first half of the year. On August 16, eight team leaders and staff members of the Department of Trade, Industry, and Transport in two Oromia cities, Adama and Bishoftu, received fines and prison terms of up to five and a half years. They were convicted of misusing their offices for illicit gain in the importation of duty-free vehicles; the financial loss to the government was reportedly 1,755,585 birr ($101,950). In addition 26 other individuals convicted of benefiting from the scheme received similar sentences. The law requires that all government officials and employees officially register their wealth and personal property. The president, prime minister, and all cabinet-level ministers registered their assets by the end of 2010, and by the next September a total of 9,102 elected officials, political appointees, and public servants had registered their assets, according to the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. There was progress in the 2008 case of former ETC managing director Tesfaye Birru and 12 other senior management staff accused of approving an equipment and technology contract that violated government bid regulations and cost 1.52 billion birr ($88.3 million). On August 24, the federal high court convicted five of the 13 defendants and sentenced them to five to nine years in prison and fines of 7,000 to 40,000 birr ($406 to $2,323). The law provides for public access to government information, but access was largely restricted in practice. The law included freedom of information provisions. The government publishes its laws and regulations in the national gazette prior to their taking effect. The Government Communications Affairs Office managed contacts between the government, the press, and the public; however, the private press reported that the government rarely responded to its queries. Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights A few domestic human rights groups operated, but with significant government restriction. The government was generally distrustful and wary of domestic human rights groups and international observers. State-controlled media were critical of international human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch. The government strongly criticized Human Rights Watch on several occasions during the year for what it described as biased and inaccurate reporting. The CSO law prohibits charities, societies, and associations (NGOs or CSOs) that receive more than 10 percent of their funding from foreign sources from engaging in activities that advance human and democratic rights or promote equality of nations, nationalities, peoples, genders, and religions; the rights of children and persons with disabilities; conflict resolution or reconciliation; or the efficiency of justice and law enforcement services. There were 3,522 organizations registered before the CSO law was adopted, although not all were active, and as of June 2,059 CSOs–old and new–were registered under the law. Of these, 262 were foreign charities, 1,330 were “resident” charities, 371 were “local” charities, 62 were adoption agencies, and 34 were consortia. The government maintained that the majority of organizations that did not reregister were not functional organizations prior to the passage of the law. In December the government participated in the first session of a civil-society sector working group with donor countries and resident CSOs. Some human rights defender organizations adjusted by registering either as local charities, meaning that they could not raise more than 10 percent of their funds from foreign donors but could act in the enumerated areas, or as resident charities, which allowed foreign donations above 10 percent but prohibited activities in the enumerated areas. Two prominent human rights defender organizations–the Human Rights Council (HRCO) and the Ethiopian Women Lawyers’ Association (EWLA)–registered as local charities to preserve their mission and adjust to the law. However, due to the restrictions of the CSO law, both the HRCO and the EWLA cut most of their staff in 2010, drastically reducing the services they provided. In 2010 the Charities and Societies Association (CSA), set up by the government to oversee NGOs, froze the accounts of these two and four other organizations, claiming that funds raised in 2009 would have to be cross-checked against the annual work plan for the year. The funds remained frozen during the year. On October 25, the Federal High Court 11th Civil Bench upheld the CSA’s decision to block the funds. Both the EWLA and the HRCO signed agreements with the government-run EHRC that allowed them to gain access to some limited funding through the EHRC. The EWLA’s agreement with the EHRC allowed it to establish legal aid centers in tandem with the government-run agency, which effectively began to expand the organization again during the year. The government denied NGOs access to federal prisons, police stations, and political prisoners. Restrictions that limited access of NGOs and journalists to conflict regions continued, although these were relaxed significantly compared with previous years. Journalists must register before entering conflict regions. NGOs had to request permission to enter the Fik zone in the Somali region. There were isolated reports of regional police or local militias blocking NGOs’ access to particular locations on particular days, citing security concerns as the reason for this (see section 1.g.). There were credible reports that security officials continued to intimidate or detain local individuals to prevent them from meeting with NGOs and foreign government officials investigating allegations of abuse. On August 27, authorities jailed Bekele Gerba, an Addis Ababa University professor and deputy chairman of the opposition OFDM, as well as OPC member Olbana Lelisa. Representatives of Amnesty International had met with Bekele and Olbana several days prior to their arrest. Bekele and Olbana were accused of involvement with the OLF. At the same time, 20 Addis Ababa University students were arrested under similar allegations, and several remained incarcerated at year’s end. The government also expelled the Amnesty International staff from the country. Court proceedings against Bekele and Olbana were beginning at year’s end. UN and Other International Bodies: The government generally cooperated with international organizations such as the UN. Government Human Rights Bodies: The government-established EHRC, which is funded by the parliament and subject to parliamentary review, investigates human rights complaints and produces both annual and thematic reports, although it did not release any reports during the year. The commissioner reported that 11 investigative reports were issued. He also stated that the commission established 106 legal aid centers, 16 of which were affiliated with universities and 31 with the EWLA, pursuant to an agreement that enables the EWLA branches to access EHRC funds. The EHRC itself also reviewed more than 1,400 complaints submitted to it during the year, the vast majority of which were not directed against the government or government bodies. The EHRC, however, is not a body independent of government influence, as it is controlled by parliament. The Office of the Ombudsman has the authority to receive and investigate complaints with respect to administrative mismanagement by executive branch offices. The agency received hundreds of complaints during the year, mainly focused on delays or denials in services, improper institutional decisions, promotions or demotions, and pension matters. It was not known which complaints were investigated or acted upon. In September the government launched a steering committee for its National Action Plan on Human Rights; however, no action took place by year’s end. The constitution provides all persons equal protection without discrimination based on race, nation, nationality or other social origin, color, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, property, birth, or status. However, in practice the government did not fully promote and protect these rights. Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes rape and provides for penalties of five to 20 years’ imprisonment, depending on the severity of the case; however, the law does not expressly address spousal rape. The government did not fully enforce the law, partially due to widespread underreporting. Recent statistics on the number of abusers prosecuted, convicted, or punished were not available. Domestic violence, including spousal abuse, was a pervasive social problem. The government’s 2005 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) found that 81 percent of women believed a husband had a right to beat his wife. A 2005 World Health Organization study found that in two SNNPR rural districts, Meskan and Mareko, 71 percent of women were subject to physical or sexual violence, or both, by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Although women had recourse to the police and the courts, societal norms and limited infrastructure prevented many women from seeking legal redress, particularly in rural areas. The government prosecuted offenders on a limited scale. Domestic violence is illegal, but government enforcement of laws against rape and domestic violence was inconsistent. Depending on the severity of damage inflicted, legal penalties range from small fines to imprisonment for up to 10 to 15 years. Domestic violence and rape cases often were delayed significantly and given low priority (see section 1.e.). On December 17, Fisseha Tadesse was convicted of attempted murder after gouging out his ex-wife’s eyes. On December 30, he was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment. In the context of gender-based violence, significant gender gaps in the justice system remained, due to poor documentation and inadequate investigation. During the year the Ministry of Health began the expansion of the rape crisis center at Gandhi Hospital into a training center for health workers, law enforcement personnel, and others. Police officers were required to receive domestic violence training from domestic NGOs and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. There was a deputy commissioner of women’s and children’s rights in the EHRC. Women and girls experienced gender-based violence, but it was underreported due to cultural acceptance, shame, fear, or a victim’s ignorance of legal protections. The government established a National Commission for Children’s and Women’s Affairs in 2005, as part of the EHRC, to investigate alleged human rights violations against women and children. During the year the commission focused its efforts on workshops and seminars, and not on investigations. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): One of the most prevalent harmful traditional practices, FGM, is illegal, but the government did not enforce this prohibition or punish those who practiced it. The practice was still widespread but declining. The 2000 DHS found that 80 percent of all women surveyed had undergone FGM, while the total dropped to 74 percent of all women surveyed in 2005. In addition the number of younger women subjected to FGM was declining more rapidly; in 2005, 81 percent of women ages 35-39 had been subjected to FGM, compared with 62.1 percent of women ages 15-19. The same survey found that four in five women who had been subjected to FGM in the Somali region, and three in five in the Afar region, underwent infibulation, the most severe form of FGM (see Children, Harmful Traditional Practices). Other Harmful Traditional Practices: The most prevalent harmful traditional practices, besides FGM, were uvulectomy (cutting or removal the uvula, the piece of flesh that hangs down at the rear of the mouth), tonsillectomy (cutting or removal of the tonsils), and marriage by abduction. Marriage by abduction is illegal, although it continued in some regions, including Amhara, Oromia, and SNNPR, despite the government’s attempts to combat the practice. Forced sexual relationships accompanied most marriages by abduction, and women often experienced physical abuse during the abduction. Abductions led to conflicts among families, communities, and ethnic groups. In cases of marriage by abduction, the perpetrator did not face punishment if the victim agreed to marry the perpetrator. Ethiopia Goji Limadawi Dirgitoch Aswogaj Mahibar (EGLDAM), an NGO that combats harmful traditional practices, reported in June 2010 that there were significant decreases in this practice in all regions over the past decade. Overall, 25 percent of women ages 60 and above reported marriage by abduction, but only 8 percent of women under age 30 reported this practice. Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment was widespread. The penal code prescribes penalties of 18 to 24 months’ imprisonment; however, harassment-related laws generally were not enforced. Reproductive Rights: Neither law nor practice curtailed the right of individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing, and timing of children, and to have the information and means to do so free from discrimination, coercion, and violence. The 2011 DHS Preliminary Report indicated a contraceptive prevalence of 29 percent nationwide among married women, a twofold increase from five years ago. A 2009 modeling study by the World Health Organization indicated that the maternal mortality rate was 590 per 100,000 live births. The principal causes of maternal mortality were excessive bleeding, infection, hypertensive complications, and obstructed labor, and the underlying cause for these was the prevalence of home births. Only 9 percent of women reported delivering in a health facility or with a skilled birth attendant. Discrimination: Discrimination against women was most acute in rural areas, where an estimated 82 percent of the population lived. The law contains discriminatory regulations, such as the recognition of the husband as the legal head of the family and the sole guardian of children over five years old. Courts generally did not consider domestic violence a justification for granting a divorce. There was limited legal recognition of common-law marriage. Irrespective of the number of years the marriage existed, the number of children raised, and joint property, the law entitled women to only three months’ financial support if a relationship ended. A common-law husband had no obligation to provide financial assistance to his family, and as a result, women and children sometimes faced abandonment. Notwithstanding progressive provisions in the formal law, traditional courts continued to apply customary law in economic and social relationships. According to the constitution, all land belongs to the government. However, both men and women have land-use rights, which they can pass on as an inheritance. Land law varies among regions. All federal and regional land laws empower women to access government land. Inheritance laws also enable widowed women to inherit joint property they acquire during marriage. In urban areas women had fewer employment opportunities than men, and the jobs available did not provide equal pay for equal work. Women’s access to gainful employment, credit, and the opportunity to own or manage a business was further limited by their low level of education and training and by traditional attitudes. The Ministry of Education reported that female participation in undergraduate and postgraduate programs increased to 123,706 during the 2010-11 academic year, compared with 90,938 in 2008-09, continuing the trend of rising female participation in tertiary education. Birth registration: Citizenship is derived from one’s parents. The law requires that all children be registered at birth. In practice children born in hospitals were registered while most children born outside of hospitals were not. The overwhelming majority of children, particularly in rural areas, were born at home. Education: As a policy, primary education was universal and tuition-free; however, there were not enough schools to accommodate the country’s youth, particularly in rural areas. The cost of school supplies was prohibitive for many families, and there was no legislation to enforce compulsory primary education. The number of students enrolled in schools expanded faster than trained teachers could be deployed. Child Abuse: Child abuse was widespread. A 2009 study conducted by the African Child Policy Forum revealed that prosecuting offenders for sexual violence against children was difficult due to inconsistent interpretation of laws among legal bodies and the offender’s right to bail, which often resulted in the offender fleeing or coercing the victim or the victim’s family to drop the charges. Harmful Traditional Practices: Societal abuse of young girls continued to be a problem. Harmful practices included FGM, early marriage, marriage by abduction, and food and work prohibitions. A 2006 African Child Policy Forum retrospective survey indicated that 68.5 percent of girls surveyed had been abused sexually and 84 percent had been abused physically. The majority of girls in the country had undergone some form of FGM. FGM was much less common in urban areas, where only 15 percent of the population lived. Girls typically experienced clitoridectomies seven days after birth (consisting of an excision of the clitoris, often with partial labial excision) and faced infibulation (the most extreme and dangerous form of FGM) at the onset of puberty. A 2008 study funded by Save the Children Norway reported a 24 percent national reduction in FGM cases over the previous 10 years, due in part to a strong anti-FGM campaign. The campaign continued to have an effect in SNNPR and Afar during the year. The penal code criminalizes practitioners of clitoridectomy, with imprisonment of at least three months or a fine of at least 500 birr ($29). Infibulation of the genitals is punishable with imprisonment of five to 10 years. However, no criminal charges have ever been brought for FGM. The government discouraged the practice of FGM through education in public schools, the Health Extension Program, and broader mass media campaigns (see Women, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Child Marriage: The law sets the legal marriage age for girls and boys at 18; however, this law was not enforced uniformly. In several regions it was customary for older men to marry young girls, although this traditional practice continued to face greater scrutiny and criticism. Child marriage was a problem, particularly in Amhara and Tigray, where girls were married routinely as early as age seven, despite the legal minimum age of 18 for marriage. Regional governments in Amhara and Tigray ran programs to educate young women on issues associated with early marriage. There were some signs of growing public awareness in communities of the problem of abuse of women and girls, including early marriage. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The minimum age for consensual sex is 18 years, but this law was not strictly enforced. The law provides for three to 15 years in prison for sexual intercourse with a minor. The law provides for one year in prison and a fine of 10,000 birr ($580) for trafficking in indecent material displaying sexual intercourse by minors. The law prohibits profiting from the prostitution of minors and inducing minors to engage in prostitution; however, commercial sexual exploitation of children continued, particularly in urban areas. Girls as young as age 11 reportedly were recruited to work in brothels and often sought by customers who believed them to be free of sexually transmitted diseases. Young girls were trafficked from rural to urban areas. They also were exploited as prostitutes in hotels, bars, resort towns, and rural truck stops. Reports indicated that some young girls were forced into prostitution by their family members. Infanticide: Ritual and superstition-based infanticide continued in remote tribal areas, particularly the South Omo Valley. Local government worked to educate communities against the practice. Displaced Children: According to a 2010 report by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, approximately 150,000 children lived on the streets, and 60,000 of these children lived in the capital. The ministry’s report stated that families’ inability to support children due to parental illness and insufficient household income exacerbated the problem. These children begged, sometimes as part of a gang, or worked in the informal sector. Government and privately run orphanages were unable to handle the number of street children. Institutionalized Children: There were an estimated 5.4 million orphans in the country, according to a 2010 report by the Central Statistics Authority. The vast majority lived with extended family members. Government-run orphanages were overcrowded, and conditions were often unsanitary. Due to severe resource constraints, hospitals and orphanages often overlooked or neglected abandoned infants. Children did not receive adequate health care, and several infants died due to lack of adequate medical attention. There were multiple international press reports that parents received payment from some adoption agencies to relinquish their children for international adoption, and that some agencies concealed the age or health history of children from their adoptive parents and also misled birth parents about the conditions of adoption. The government had begun to investigate the allegations. International Child Abductions: The country is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The Jewish community numbered approximately 2,000; there were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Trafficking in Persons See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at www.state.gov/j/tip. Persons with Disabilities The constitution does not mandate equal rights for persons with disabilities. However, two laws prohibit discrimination against persons with physical and mental disabilities in employment and mandate access to buildings. It is illegal for deaf persons to drive. The Right to Employment of Persons with Disabilities Proclamation prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of disability. It also makes employers responsible for providing appropriate working or training conditions and materials to persons with disabilities. The law specifically recognizes the additional burden on women with disabilities. The government took limited measures to enforce the law, for example, by assigning interpreters for hearing-impaired civil service employees. The Ethiopian Building Proclamation mandates building accessibility and accessible toilet facilities for persons with physical disabilities, although specific regulations that define the accessibility standards have not been adopted. Buildings and toilet facilities were usually not accessible. Landlords are required to give persons with disabilities preference for ground-floor apartments, and this was respected in practice. Women with disabilities were more disadvantaged than men with disabilities in education and employment. An Addis Ababa University study from 2008 showed that female students with disabilities were subjected to a heavier burden of domestic work than their male peers. The enrollment rate for girls with disabilities was lower than for boys at the primary school level, and this gap increased at higher levels of education. Girls with disabilities also were much more likely to suffer physical and sexual abuse than girls without disabilities. There were approximately seven million persons with disabilities, according to the Ethiopian Federation of Persons with Disabilities. There were one mental hospital and an estimated 10 psychiatrists in the country. There were several schools for hearing and visually impaired persons and several training centers for children and young persons with intellectual disabilities. There was a network of prosthetic and orthopedic centers in five of the nine regional states. The CSO law prohibits organizations receiving more than 10 percent of their funding from foreign sources from promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. Several domestic associations, such as the Ethiopian National Association of the Blind, Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf, and Ethiopian National Association of the Physically Handicapped continued to be affected negatively by the legislation. The country has more than 80 ethnic groups, of which the Oromo, at 35 percent of the population, is the largest. The federal system drew boundaries roughly along major ethnic group lines, and regional states had much greater control over their affairs than previously. Most political parties remained primarily ethnically based. Clashes between ethnic groups during the year resulted in deaths. Water shortages contributed to interethnic conflict. On January 2, a territorial dispute in SNNPR between members of the Guji Oromo and the Sidama ethnic groups left five persons dead and 11 injured. On April 4, a dispute in SNNPR over land ownership between members of the Geweda and Kolme ethnic groups resulted in the death of three persons and the injury of seven others. The federal police and local administration intervened quickly to bring calm to the area. Societal Abuses, Discrimination, and Acts of Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Consensual same-sex sexual activity is illegal and punishable by imprisonment under the law. There were some reports of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals; however, reporting was limited due to fears of retribution, discrimination, or stigmatization. Persons did not identify themselves as LGBT persons due to severe societal stigma and the illegality of consensual same-sex sexual activity. In early December Christian and Muslim religious leaders attempted to derail a seminar on sexual health that was targeted at men who have sex with men. The government intervened, and the seminar went ahead, although at a different location. The AIDS Resource Center in Addis Ababa reported that the majority of self-identified gay and lesbian callers, the majority of whom were male, requested assistance in changing their behavior to avoid discrimination. Many gay men reported anxiety, confusion, identity crises, depression, self-ostracism, religious conflict, and suicide attempts. Other Societal Violence or Discrimination Societal stigma and discrimination against persons living with or affected by HIV/AIDS continued in the areas of education, employment, and community integration. Despite the abundance of anecdotal information, there were no statistics on the scale of this problem. a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining The law provides most workers with the right to form and join unions. However, the law specifically excludes managerial employees, teachers, and civil servants (including judges, prosecutors, and security service workers) from organizing unions. A minimum of 10 workers is required to form a union. While the law provides all unions with the right to register, the government may refuse to register trade unions that do not meet its registration requirements. The law stipulates that a trade union organization may not act in an overtly political manner. Seasonal and part-time agricultural workers cannot organize into labor unions. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination by employers and provides for reinstatement for workers fired for union activity. The law protects the right of collective bargaining for most workers. Although the constitution and law provide workers with the right to strike to protect their interests, it contains detailed provisions that make legal strike actions difficult to carry out, such as a minimum of 30 days’ advance notice before striking when the case is referred to a court or a labor relations board. The law requires aggrieved workers to attempt reconciliation with employers before striking and includes a lengthy dispute settlement process. These provisions applied equally to an employer’s right to lock workers out. Two-thirds of the workers involved must support a strike for it to occur. If a case has not already been referred to a court or labor relations board, workers retain the right to strike without resorting to either of these options, provided they give at least 10 days’ notice to the other party and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and make efforts at reconciliation. The law also prohibits strikes by workers who provide essential services, including air transport and urban bus service workers, electric power suppliers, gas station personnel, hospital and pharmacy personnel, firefighters, telecommunications personnel, and urban sanitary workers. The law prohibits retribution against strikers. The government permits unions in practice. Approximately two-thirds of union members belonged to organizations affiliated with the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions. There was no reported government interference in trade union activities during the year, although the major trade unions were government-established entities. There were no reports that the government used its authority to refuse to register trade unions during the year. Approximately 400,000 workers were union members. Based on a 2008 Council of Ministers’ regulation, the government sued the Workers’ Association of the National Bank of Ethiopia (central bank) in the federal High Court, claiming that the bank was a nonprofit government agency and that the labor union should be dissolved. In 2009 the High Court ruled that the association could not be dissolved by a regulation while the rights of workers of the bank were protected by law. The government appealed to the Supreme Court, and at year’s end the case was pending; however, the worker’s association was not functional. The government allowed citizens to exercise the right of collective bargaining freely. Labor experts estimated that collective bargaining agreements covered more than 90 percent of unionized workers. Representatives negotiated wages at the plant level. It was common for employers to refuse to bargain. Unions in the formal industrial sector made some efforts to enforce labor regulations. Despite the law prohibiting antiunion discrimination, unions reported that employers frequently fired union activists. Lawsuits alleging unlawful dismissal often take years to resolve because of case backlogs in the courts. Employers found guilty of antiunion discrimination were required to reinstate workers fired for union activities and generally did so in practice. While the law prohibits retribution against strikers, most workers were not convinced that the government would enforce this protection. Labor officials reported that, due to high unemployment and long delays in the hearing of labor cases, some workers were afraid to participate in strikes or other labor actions. b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor The law prohibits most forms of forced or compulsory labor, including by children; however, the law also permits courts to order forced labor as a punitive measure. The government did not effectively enforce the forced labor prohibition. Forced labor occurred in practice. Both adults and children were forced to engage in street vending, begging, traditional weaving, or agriculture work. Children also worked in forced domestic labor. Situations of debt bondage also occurred in traditional weaving, pottery, cattle herding, and other agricultural activities, mostly in rural areas. Also see the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at www.state.gov/j/tip. c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment By law the minimum age for wage or salary employment is 14 years. The minimum age provisions, however, do not apply to self-employed children. Special provisions cover children between the ages of 14 and 18, including the prohibition of hazardous or night work. By law children between the ages of 14 and 18 are not permitted to work more than seven hours per day or between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., on public holidays or rest days, or overtime. The law defines hazardous work as work in factories or involving machinery with moving parts or any work that could jeopardize a child’s health. Prohibited work sectors include passenger transport, electric generation plants, underground work, street cleaning, and many other sectors. The government did not effectively enforce these laws in practice. The resources for inspections and the implementation of penalties were extremely limited. Child labor issues are covered by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, with support from the Ministry of Women, Youth, and Children. Cooperation, information sharing, and coordination between and among the ministries improved during the year. Courts are responsible for enforcing children’s rights, and criminal and civil penalties may be levied in child rights violation cases. In the absence of a national strategy, investigation and disposition in cases of the violation of children’s rights was minimal. Child protection units, which the NGO Forum for Street Children (FSCE) had sponsored, ceased child protection activities at the end of 2010 due to restrictions in the CSO law and did not resume them during the year. The FSCE changed its name to Forum on Sustainable Child Empowerment and piloted a child-labor-free zone at the subcity level in Addis Ababa. In this zone the FSCE worked with child protection officers, labor inspectors, and police to reintegrate child laborers. During the year the government continued to invest in modernizing agricultural practices as well as in constructing schools to combat the problem of children in agricultural sectors Child labor remained a serious problem, both in urban and rural areas. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, many children worked for their families without pay. In both rural and urban areas, children often began working at young ages. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs reported that two of five working children were below the age of six. Child labor was particularly pervasive in subsistence agricultural production, traditional weaving, and small-scale gold mining. Children in rural areas, especially boys, also engaged in activities such as cattle herding, petty trading, plowing, harvesting, and weeding, while other children, mostly girls, collected firewood and fetched water. Children in urban areas, including orphans, also worked in domestic service, often working long hours, which prevented many from attending school regularly. Children in urban areas also worked in construction, manufacturing, shining shoes, making clothes, portering, directing customers to taxis, parking, public transport, petty trading, and occasionally herding animals. Child laborers often faced physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at the hands of their employers. Also see the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at www.dol.gov/ilab/programs/ocft/tda.htm. d. Acceptable Conditions of Work There is no national minimum wage. Some government institutions and public enterprises, however, set their own minimum wages. Public sector employees, the largest group of wage earners, earned a monthly minimum wage of approximately 420 birr ($24); employees in the banking and insurance sector had a minimum monthly wage of 336 birr ($20). Wages in the informal sector were generally below subsistence levels. Consequently, most families in the wage sector required at least two wage earners to survive, which forced many children to leave school early. Only a small percentage of the population was involved in wage-labor employment, which was concentrated in urban areas. The law provides for a 48-hour maximum legal workweek with a 24-hour rest period, premium pay for overtime, and prohibition of excessive compulsory overtime. The country has 13 paid public holidays per year. The law entitles employees in public enterprise and government financial institutions to overtime pay; civil servants receive compensatory time for overtime work. The government, industries, and unions negotiated occupational health and safety standards. Workers have the right to remove themselves from dangerous situations without jeopardizing their employment. However, due to lack of resources, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs inspection department did not effectively enforce occupational health and safety standards. Lack of detailed, sector-specific health and safety guidelines also precluded enforcement. The country had 130 labor inspectors. Penalties were not sufficient to deter violations. Compensation, benefits, and working conditions of seasonal agricultural workers were far below those of unionized permanent agricultural employees. Although the government did little to enforce the law, in practice most employees in the formal sector worked a 39-hour workweek. However, many foreign, migrant, and informal sector workers worked more than 48 hours per week. Despite the law providing for the right to remove themselves from dangerous situations without jeopardizing their employment, most workers feared losing their jobs if they were to do so. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs did not have an effective mechanism for receiving, investigating, and tracking allegations of violations. Hazardous working conditions existed in the agricultural sector, which was the most primary base of the country’s economy. There also were reports of hazardous and exploitative working conditions in the fledgling construction and industrial sectors. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs attempted to enforce occupational health and safety laws, but its investigative and administration capacity was severely limited.	3,803
A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT The 1985-1990 Plan In 1986, when general elections took place for the sixth time since independence, the 15-Year Plan for Educational Development 1968-1983 had completed its execution period. The Ministry of Education developed a new plan for 1985-90 that was based on the results of an assessment of the execution of the 15-Year Plan. This new plan was not to see the light of day, however, because the 1986 elections brought in a new government to run the affairs of the country. After a quarter of a century of PNM rule, the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) took over the reins of government in December 1986. Education, especially its expansion at the secondary level, had always been a major activity and vote catcher of the PNM government under Dr. Eric Williams, even after his death in 1981. One would have surmised that the execution of the 15-Year Plan, especially in the unprecedented provision of secondary school places, would have guaranteed a victory for the ruling government. History does not always follow logic, however, and in any case, people seemed bent on having a change. The PNM was defeated in the elections by the NAR, resulting in a change in government that had distinct implications for the development of education. The momentum in educational development that was initiated from the first term of office of PNM continued up to its final hour. After a short hiatus following the termination of the implementation period of the 15-Year Plan, a new plan was formulated for the period 1985-1990. As in the 15-Year Plan, the new plan focused on the secondary level of education. In its preface, the 1985-1990 Plan defined the major elements of the context in which the Plan was being formulated. It emphasized that the "favorable economic climate that supported the tremendous expansion in secondary school provision in the late 1970s and early 80s has come to an end."1 Although the economic climate had changed drastically from the oil boom days of the 1970s, the people's thirst for education, especially the secondary level, had not abated. This was duly recognized in the new Plan, and among other things it set out to "undertake the necessary secondary school building program to ensure that the whole 14+ age cohort of the Junior Secondary School is adequately accommodated at the upper level of the secondary school program."2 It was understood, however, that the provision of the two years in Senior Secondary education for all students completing Junior Secondary would not fully meet the popular demand for secondary education for all. The Plan resorted to post-primary centers to cater for the secondary educational needs of those primary school students who did not get a place in secondary schools on the basis of the results of the Common Entrance. The Plan proposed to establish "post-primary centers in a number of centrally located schools to cater more adequately for the needs of the 20 percent of the 11+ age group who are not at present being placed in the secondary school system."3 When this new Plan was being formulated, students who had entered the new Junior Secondary Schools and continued on to the Senior Secondary level would have been taking the external examinationsthe General Certificate of Education (GCE) and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). The results of these examinations were a cause for concern by the drafters of the Plan. It should be remembered that these students were the ones whose scores on the Common Entrance Examination were not high enough to secure them a place in the better government secondary schools or the prestige schools. Judging by their scores on the Common Entrance Exams, they should not have been expected to do well in the secondary school external examinations. Performance on the external examinations, therefore, became a major focus of this Plan. Accordingly, a proposal was made for a new National Certificate of Secondary Education. The proposal did not contain specifics about the examination, but merely gave some indication of its purpose and tried to dispel, in regrettably confusing language, the notion that examination results should not be the final judgement on students. "It is necessary to emphasize here that the external examination at the end of the five year of secondary education does not place an indelible stamp on the student."4 The other outstanding proposal in the Plan also pertained to examinations, and although it did not strictly fall within the secondary school system, it had direct implications. In dealing with the primary level of education, the Plan proposed to "institute a system of promotion based on attainment of minimum levels of achievements in all basic subjects to replace the present system of promotion by age."5 This system would include the setting of minimum attainment goals for all basic subjects at all levels of the primary school and the development of appropriate tests or exams. Examinations and certification seemed to be of concern to the drafters of this Plan. The preamble stressed the importance of meaningful certification and a system of evaluation. One could only speculate that the planners were inspired or seduced by the claims made by advocates of the "en vogue" competency-based curriculum theory of the time. It is ironical that the planners failed to realize that one of the persisting ailments of the total educational system was the emphasis on examinations. Rather than heighten the importance of passing examinations and tests, educational reform was urgently needed to prepare students for life and not for examinations. Even more ironical, however, was that in spite of its fascination with exams, the Plan failed to make any specific proposal about the Common Entrance Examination, which continued to be highly controversial among the populace. One would have thought that if the planners saw the need to develop and institute attainment tests at all levels of the primary school, they would have given consideration to using students' records of the scores on these attainment tests to replace or supplement their performance on the tests that make up the Common Entrance examination. The only relevant proposal made was the introduction in 1986 of an essay component into the Common Entrance Examinations. Other obvious faults in the Plan would lead one to speculate that the plan was hastily drawn up. Notable omissions were any proposals to address the problems of the double shift system and the various types of secondary schools that made up the system. No deficiency stands out more markedly than its treatment of the costs of the Plan. In spite of the recognition in the preface of the Plan that the "favorable economic climate" had come to an end, the section on financial implications is very sketchy with very crude figures and gives the impression that it was hurriedly put together as an afterthought.6 No attempt was made to alert the political decision makers as to the recurrent expenditure, not even a mere estimate of these costs made. Notably absent, too, were the schedules for the phased implementation of the Plan that were so meticulously outlined in the 15-Year Plan. The 1986 and 1991 Election Manifestoes of the PNM and NAR The 1985-1990 Plan essentially provided the technical framework for the development of education in the country by consolidating the achievements and pursuing the unmet goals of the 15-Year Education Development Plan. Its presentation to the Cabinet in May 1985 was bound to make it a major source of material for the 1986 election manifesto of the government in power. The December 1986 general elections manifesto of the PNM was the political expression of the 1985-1990 plan. As is expected in any election manifesto, the 1986 election manifesto of the PNM concentrated on presenting the achievements of the government during its term of office. While the PNM was in power from 1956, its manifesto highlighted the construction of the 80 new secondary schools that were built from 1956 to 1986. It is to be noted, however, that the first statement in the manifesto laid a claim to success by the PNM in providing equal opportunities in education. "The PNM's emphasis on providing equal educational opportunities for all is nowhere more evident than in the educational opportunities which have been provided in this country."7 This claim betrays the erroneous notion that merely increasing the number of school places available to students is tantamount to equalizing opportunities. No awareness is shown of the other crucial factors like socio-economic status, family background, the different types of secondary schools, and accessibility to the prestige schools, factors that must seriously be addressed to ensure equality of opportunity in education, especially at the secondary school level. High on the list of achievements presented in the manifesto is the preservation of the system of dual control. No issue in education received such extensive attention as the State-Church relationship in that manifesto. The Concordat that was signed between the government and the denominational bodies had been working so well that the government was convinced that highlighting this success would be a great attraction for voters. Notwithstanding its vote-catching capacity, it cannot be denied that the partnership between the State and the Church has been one of the outstanding characteristics of the educational system of Trinidad and Tobago. The government under the PNM had been constantly striving to improve that relationship and reached a high point in 1978 when 100 percent public financing was provided for all reconstruction work at schools offered by the Boards and accepted by the State. According to the manifesto, in addition to the construction of schools and the State-Church partnership, the other major "achievement" in the area of secondary education was the double shift system. The treatment of the shift system in the manifesto was not only brief but seemingly apologetic. "In keeping with PNM's commitment to deshift, all schools built during the last ten years are single shift five-year facilities."8 This was a tacit but honest recognition by government that the double shift system would not be immediately terminated. Among its pledges in the manifesto, the PNM promised "to continue to work towards the elimination of the shift system."9 As would be expected, the manifesto of the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), the other contestant in the 1986 general elections, contained more ideas for future development of education than that of the ruling government. Since the NAR was never in power, it had no achievements to put before the people. It could only criticize the performance of the PNM or present its own ideas for the development of education. To its credit, it adopted the latter approach and its manifesto is replete with sound proposals for improving education in the country. Recognizing that one of the persisting concerns of people was the shortage of secondary school places, the NAR gave high priority to the use of under-utilized space in school buildings. In view of the high cost of construction, especially of the new Junior and Senior Secondary schools, the greater utilization of existing secondary school places was a very enlightened and opportune proposal. The manifesto stressed that most of the buildings that house the Junior, Secondary, Comprehensive, Composite or traditional schools were not used in the evenings or during the long holidays.10 It was therefore proposed in the manifesto, although in a somewhat imprecise fashion, that every senior comprehensive school be used as a center for continuing education, and a special vice principal was to be appointed in each of these schools as its administrator. Following a well-established tradition, the NAR also proposed to set up a "committee" to address the major problems it identified in education. The three issues selected for attention by the Education Task Force proposed in the manifesto revealed a sound understanding of the outstanding problems in education in the country. The replacement of the Common Entrance Examination, the shift system in the Junior Secondary schools and the zoning of schools were matters that no responsible government could avoid. The NAR showed great awareness of the need to address matters like textbooks, counselling and guidance, and medical and dental care to ensure that all children made full use of the educational opportunities they received. It did not lose sight of the fact that there were many other factors to be considered beyond the mere provision of school places in the road towards equality of opportunity in the educational system. Like the PNM, the NAR did not fail to recognize the positive role played by the Church in the educational system. The NAR proposed several innovations, including the establishment of a children's television studio, a College of the Air, a Book Trust and an Educational Development and Learning Resource Center. What distinguished the NAR manifesto regarding secondary schools from that of the PNM's was the establishment of the Community College. This institution was to be called the Community College of the University of the West Indies, and would provide a range of educational offerings for both the conventional secondary school and university levels. Buildings of the Corinth and Valsayn Teachers Colleges that were supposed to be closed down by the government, were to be used. Victory at the polls in 1986 gave the NAR five years in which to attempt the implementation of these proposals. By 1991, the country's next general election, the Minister of Education was able to produce a document which recorded the fulfillment of the promises made by the NAR government in its 1986 manifesto. In this report, "Achievements of the Ministry of Education 1987-1991 in Relation to the NAR Manifesto,"11 the government in power was able to show how it endeavored to address all the issues listed in the 1986 manifesto. The report formed the basis for the education section of the 1991 manifesto of the NAR when it faced the PNM at the polls for a second time. A comparison of the 1986 and 1991 manifestoes of the NAR, however, would reveal that although some attempt had been made to solve the problems and fulfill promises made in 1986, much remained to be done. The 1991 NAR12 manifesto included reviews of the ever perplexing Common Entrance Examination and the shift system among the list of projects which the government initiated but which would have to be continued. During the 1986-1991 period, the first change of government since independence, some major problems remained unresolved at the secondary school level. Because of financial constraints, the steady increase in secondary school places that marked the PNM era almost came to a halt. The NAR government resorted to the use of under-utilized spaces to expand educational provisions at the secondary school level. It could be argued that by recognizing its inability to undertake major physical expansion of the secondary school system, the government directed its attention to qualitative improvements. However, even in this area not a great deal was accomplished during the five years. One activity that was initiated to improve the quality of secondary education was the establishment of the Educational Development and Learning Resource Center, which was designed to promote curriculum evaluation and renovation, train teachers and revise technical-vocational curricula in secondary schools. This Center was constructed with funds from a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank. This loan for US$60 million constituted the major source of external funding for education during the NAR reign. In addition to establishing the educational resource center, it included projects for curriculum revision and for school library improvement services to enhance the quality of education at the secondary level. The NAR government put great effort into laying the groundwork for the establishment of a Community College. Plans were finalized, legislation prepared and an implementation committee set up for the start of operation of the College. The PNM's manifesto was not substantially different from that of the NAR's 1981 manifesto. The PNM's manifesto promised to review the Common Entrance Examination, revise curricula and preserve State-Church partnership. Although no mention was made of creating a community collegeas proposed by the NARthe 1991 PNM manifesto promised to establish a "system of continuing education"13 which would be interpreted to have the same intentions as the Community College proposal. The similarities that existed in the 1991 manifestoes of both parties should not come as a surprise to anyone who understands education as a sector of the society. A comparison of the manifestoes of the two contending governments would reveal how inevitably slow and evolutionary the process of growth of an educational system is. Planners and politicians alike should not fail to realize that as an investment, education has a relatively long gestation period. The targeted results of benefits expected from reforms cannot be realized overnight. It is not easy to make drastic changes in this reform process once it has been initiated. The reconstruction of the educational system that started with the implementation of the 1968-1983 15-Year Education Plan was still running its course after the termination date of that plan. When the NAR came into power in 1986, it found itself locked into a path of growth of the educational system from which it could not easily deviate. It would have been grossly irresponsible and unbearably costly to arrest and reverse that process. In spite of declarations in its manifesto to undertake substantial reform,14 the NAR instituted very little real change in education during its five-year reign. This is the nature of the "matter" that is education and an illustration of the peculiar relationship between education and politics, particularly in developing countries as the political leaders strive to satisfy the yearnings of the people for education generated by their political achievements. Whether it cared to admit or not, the NAR government came to realize that it had no alternative but to build on the foundation and continue on the road of educational development that the PNM had marked out with its 15-Year Education Plan. The NAR promised the people a new educational plan for 1992-1995, but the people rejected that offer at the 1991 elections. There was another change of government. 1. Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Ministry of Education, Education Plan 1985-1990 (Draft for Cabinet) (Trinidad and Tobago: N.p., 1985) 7. 2. Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 12. 3. Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 12. 4. Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 150. 5. Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 25. 6. Indeed, an earlier edition of the plan did not contain any section on financial implications. The author brought this omission to the attention of the Minister of Education in his comments about the plan. 7. People's National Movement (PNM), General Election Manifesto 1986 (Trinidad and Tobago: Trinidad and Tobago Printing and Packaging Ltd) n.d.8. People's National Movement 14. 9. People's National Movement 159. 10. National Alliance for Reconstruction, Manifesto of the Natural Alliance for Reconstruction (Trinidad and Tobago: Trinidad Publishing Co. Ltd.) 1986. 11. The National Alliance for Reconstruction, "Together to a Brighter Tomorrow," General Election Manifesto. (Trinidad and Tobago: Scrip-J Printers) 1991. 12. Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Achievements of the Ministry of Education 1987-1991 in Relation to the 1986 NAR Manifesto, (Trinidad and Tobago: Printing Unit, Ministry of Education) 1991. 13. People's National Movement, "We Care about You," Manifesto (Trinidad and Tobago: Trinidad Publishing Co. Ltd.) 1991. 14. People's National Movement, "The Role, Content, Philosophy and Goals of our Educational System will be Thoroughly Examined and Overhauled by an NAR Government," (Trinidad and Tobago: Trinidad Publishing Co. Ltd.) 8.	53,325
Create health awareness among members of the community to improve health and prevent diseases is one of the priorities provided by the state to take care of the health of its citizens both in its sector and within the private one. The development of the healthcare sector is considered one of the important factors that contribute to reducing the need for treatment abroad and contributing in prosperity. Healthcare is also a right of every citizen to help him cope with changing life conditions, to the poor in particular. It is the responsibility of government organisations and institutions to create awareness initiatives among members of society in ways of preventing diseases, conduct periodic health checkups and follow sound healthy lifestyles. The state has to continue concentrating on taking advantage of the development of the health sector in developed countries and attract the attention of paramedical staffing on the digital transformation in the medical field, to take advantage of modern medical technologies and tools and raise operational efficiency to provide the best healthcare services to all segments of society in conjunction with cost reduction. Many training centres offer many courses to help the health manpower to grow, enhance skills, provide information and practical training on different healthcare types, including healthcare training courses in London by offering internationally accredited courses within an educational and distinctive environment contributes in developing the expertise of healthcare providers. All artificial intelligence systems are of great interest for they offer the best solutions in the development of the healthcare sector, from accelerating the diagnostics and increasing operational efficiency. This sector includes qualified semi-trained healthcare providers working in an electric-powered clinic and cooling capacity to an untrained individual in an environment without temperature or humidity control mechanisms. Moreover, healthcare training courses are offered in Dubai encouraging employers to get more education and training them to provide all kinds of healthcare that include emergency room, primary care, secondary care, third and fourth care, rehabilitation, preventive care and vaccines … and others. Likewise, many centres are interested in hosting healthcare courses in Malaysia to ensure high levels of quality of healthcare in the health sector from hospitals, clinics, dispensaries,.. etc., and train health cadres in the state-of-the-art medical technologies and procedures, and highlight the factors related to innovation in this sector and understanding its requirements that contribute to the development and improve the quality of an individual’s life. After all, healthcare is the right of every human being; it is ultimately an individual responsibility, and one’s should take care of his health starting with diet, personal hygiene and implementing preventive measures against diseases. The existence of a developed healthcare sector in any country is linked to the success of this country in developing and adopting of healthcare systems for the safety of all segments of society, it is one of the largest areas that is growing fast today, as the effective and reliable healthcare system is an influential factor in the development of a booming economy and is of great importance in achieving the goals of sustainable development.	14,300
Journal of Information Technology and Libraries URL with Digital Object Identifier Librarians have a professional responsibility to protect the right to access information free from surveillance. This right is at risk from a new and increasing threat: the collection and use of non-personally identifying information such as IP addresses through online behavioral tracking. This paper provides an overview of behavioral tracking, identifying the risks and benefits, describes the mechanisms used to track this information, and offers strategies that can be used to identify and limit behavioral tracking. We argue that this knowledge is critical for librarians in two interconnected ways. First, librarians should be evaluating recommended websites with respect to behavioral tracking practices to help protect patron privacy; second, they should be providing digital literacy education about behavioral tracking to empower patrons to protect their own privacy online. Citation of this paper: Fortier, A. and Burkell, J. (2015) Hidden online surveillance: What librarians should know to protect their privacy and that of their patrons. Information Technology and Libraries, 32(3), 59-72.	51,301
In the competitive automotive market, car makers have to squeeze every last ounce out of their car designs to make them as efficient as possible. As consumers, we don’t think about all of the design elements that have to go into making fuel-efficient cars. Following are the key elements that go into designing and building fuel-efficient cars and trucks. The most important factor in fuel efficient design is the Weight of the vehicle. This is because the amount of energy (i.e. fuel) needed to accelerate the vehicle is proportional to its mass or weight. This is a problem for designers who have to fit ever-increasing amount of heavy and dense computer machinery into a car that’s supposed to be getting lighter in order to become more fuel-efficient. On the bright side, if you can make a lighter car, you can replace heavy-duty components with lighter ones, like in the suspension and breaks, because those parts don’t have to work as hard to service the lighter machine. You can also use smaller tires which have less drag on the road and contribute to making the lighter vehicle more fuel-efficient. How efficient is the car mechanically? The answer to that question contributes to the fuel efficiency of the vehicle – how much of the car’s onboard energy propels the vehicle? Electric vehicles differ from conventional vehicles in this regard – electric vehicles are more efficient but need to have heavy batteries, which negates the effect. Conventional internal combustion (gasoline and diesel) vehicles don’t have this weight problem but are more mechanically inefficient (less than 40% of the chemical energy of the fuel gets turned into movement). How aerodynamic is the vehicle? All cars expend a portion of their fuel energy to overcome the drag of the air around them. The frontal area of the car contributes the most to this, as does the “drag coefficient” of the car, which involves how easily the shape of the car moves through the air around it. Engineers work hard to minimize both of these factors while keeping the vehicle stylish and appealing to consumers. Finally, there is “rolling resistance” – the drag which slows the car down from being in contact with the road. This is mainly from the tires – how big are the wheels? The more rubber on the road, the more friction and resistance, which means a less efficient vehicle. But engineers have to strike a balance between minimizing this (smaller tires?) while keeping the handling of the vehicle at its optimum. Check out our previous post on fuel savings: Bell Performance is different. It works! We are the original fuel additive manufacturer with road use and laboratory tests since 1909. Bell Performance fuel additives are proven to produce 10-15% in gas savings. Vehicles using Bell Performance fuel additives get a truckload (pun intended) of benefits: - Increased Mileage - Lubrication of Engine Parts - Removal of Carbon Deposits - Dissolution of Gums and Varnishes - Extended Sparkplug Life - Removal of Water - Improved Horsepower - Reduced Harmful Emissions - Prolonged Engine Life Listen to a few of our happy customers. This post was published on September 15, 2010 and was updated on February 11, 2015.	9,008
Confounded by Coffee \|Tweet\|Confounded by Coffee Here's something to ponder over your next cup of joe: the physics of a humble bag of coffee grounds still holds surprises for scientists. Remarkable, you might think to yourself, how hard and strong the brick is before the "ssss" sound of cutting it open, and how quickly it becomes soft and pliable afterward. It's as if the coffee grounds themselves have transformed-a solid one moment, a powder the next. Above: The morning coffee may be a simple pleasure, but it's also complex physics! Image copyright G. Brad Lewis. Coffee grains have jagged irregular shapes. (Look at some through a magnifying glass and you'll see.) In a vacuum-packed bag, the pressure exerted inward by the atmosphere squeezes the coffee grounds from all sides; their odd shapes interlock to help hold them in place. Because each particle fiercely resists motion, the brick of coffee as a whole will be rigid. When the bag is opened and the pressure relaxes, the coffee grounds can tumble and flow like a powder. Simple. Yet physicists cannot predict from theory exactly how hard a vacuum-packed bag of coffee should be or when it will change from a solid to a powder. There's no mystery to an individual coffee ground. We can readily determine its chemical composition, its jagged shape, its density, its crystal structure, and so on. Individual grains are not the problem. It's the millions of individual grains rubbing together that are so hard to predict. Coffee is an example of a granular material--substances that are as common as the sand beneath your feet, but which have no complete physical theory to describe their behavior. NASA is interested in granular materials for several reasons: "It's likely that large amounts of granular materials will have to be processed in order to provide oxygen and fuel for humans on Mars and the Moon," explains physics professor James Jenkins, a NASA-supported researcher at Cornell University. "Also granular flows are important in the formation of geological features such as dunes and avalanche deposits seen on distant planets and moons. A better understanding of grain flow could provide an indication of the conditions under which those features were formed." Planetary rings are granular, too, and astronomers would like to understand them better as well. Left: Mt. Everest avalanche. A royalty-free image from corbis.com. "Granular flows are ubiquitous on Earth," adds Jenkins. "Avalanches of rock and granular snow are two examples. Flows of granular materials that resemble avalanches are important in coal-fired power plants, in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, in the processing of aluminum, and in the production of plastics from pellets. It's hard to think of an industry that does not employ a granular flow during some processing operation." Unfortunately, the physics of granular materials doesn't boil down to simple equations as easily as some other phenomena. The helium in a balloon, for example, is also made of many millions--in fact, billions of trillions--of particles. Yet one simple equation governs all of its important traits: pressure, volume and temperature. (Remember "PV=nRT" from high school physics?) The difference is that the helium atoms are widely separated (on a molecular scale). One helium atom is mostly identical to any other. There are no irregular edges or complicated atom-to-atom interactions. It really is simple. In a bag of coffee, however, the grounds bump, rub, and press against each other. Each grain is unique and it interacts strongly with its neighbors. Because these interactions can't reasonably be ignored, the coffee must be considered as more than just the sum of its parts. Instead, it is the sum of its parts plus their interactions! Right: Electron micrographs of irregularly-shaped sand grains. Image courtesy NASA. Computers are ideal for solving such problems, but there's a snag: There are enough interactions in a single bag of coffee to overwhelm a supercomputer. When scientists and engineers need to deal with granular materials like soils and powders, they usually approach the problem empirically--that is, they measure how the material behaves in real life and make predictions accordingly. But the empirical approach is limited to things easily measured. Some things aren't. For example, what triggers avalanches on the Moon? How much soil can flow down a chute on Mars? Or, right here on Earth, what happens to damp sand underneath a building during an earthquake? To answer such questions we need a theory, a "PV=nRT" for granular flows, that can make predictions under a wide range of circumstances. NASA-supported researchers are working to develop such a theory through a combination of experimentation and mathematics. Jenkins, for example, is studying differential equations that describe molecular gases. It might be possible, he says, to adapt them for granular flows. He plans to test some of his ideas using a rotating chamber filled with beads; the device is slated for launch to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2007. "We do this on the ISS," he explains, "because granular flows are affected by both gravity and internal collisions. We need to get Earth's gravity out of the picture to create a simpler system." Left: A sand column is compressed during an MGM experiment onboard shuttle flight STS-79. The speed of the movie is misleading; the complete sequence takes about an hour. For the same reason, engineering professor Stein Sture of the University of Colorado is leading a series of experiments called "Mechanics of Granular Materials" (MGM) onboard the space shuttle. His device repeatedly squeezes a column of damp sand and records what happens. The goal, explains Sture, is to understand the liquid-like behavior of soil during some earthquakes. MGM has flown before on shuttle missions STS-79 and STS-89, and it's slated for another flight in 2003 onboard the shuttle Columbia (STS-107). Earthquakes, avalanches, planetary rings, coal mines ... even bags of coffee. From the alien to the ordinary, we'll understand them all a little better when this research is done. The Physics of Sandcastles -- (Science@NASA) An upcoming shuttle mission will carry small columns of sand into space -- and will return with valuable lessons for earthquake engineers, farmers and physicists. Flowing Sand in Space -- (Science@NASA) NASA scientists are sending sand into Earth orbit to learn more about how soil behaves during earthquakes. Their results will help engineers build safer structures on Earth and someday on other planets, too. Soil Mechanics Experiment Yields New Information -- Science@NASA article discussing results from the first two MGM experiments. Problems like the mechanics of ground coffee are dealt with by a branch of modern science called "complex systems theory." Research shows that the "emergent" properties of, say, a bag full of coffee--properties like hardness that only manifest in the bulk material--can't be predicted from knowledge of the individual grounds alone. Those billions of little interactions between the grounds have a collective influence that's difficult to predict. Join our growing list of subscribers - sign up for our express news deliveryand you will receive a mail message every time we post a new story!!!	47,521
115 communicate via port 113. In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the storage device 115 is an external storage device, which is connected to the host computer via a data bus. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various communication buses known in the art can be used to 5 transfer data between the drive and the host system. As shown in FIG. 1A, the system includes controller 101, which is coupled to fibre channel ports 102 and 103, buffer memory 114 and microprocessor 100. Interface 116 serves to couple microprocessor bus 107 to microprocessor 100. A 10 read only memory ("ROM") omitted from the drawing is used to store firmware code executed by microprocessor 100. Controller 101 can be an integrated circuit (IC) that comprises of various functional modules, which provide for 15 the writing and reading of data stored on storage device 115 or to other devices through fibre channel ports 102 and 103. Microprocessor 100 is coupled to controller 101 via interface 116 to facilitate transfer of data, address, timing and control information. Buffer memory 114 is coupled to 20 controller 101 via ports to facilitate transfer of data, timing and address information. Data flow controller 117 is connected to microprocessor bus 107 and to buffer controller 118. Disk formatter 110 formats data that is flowing through system 100A, either 25 from storage device 115 or from fibre channel ports 102/103. Fibre channel controllers ("A") 104 and ("B") 108 include programmable registers and state machine sequencers that interface with ports 102 and 103. The fibre channel controllers 104 and 108 provide fibre channel control for ports 102 30 and 103. Microcontrollers ("A") 105 and ("B") 106 allow customization of fibre channel sequences and control Fibre channel controllers 104 and 108 through a microcontroller interface module (not shown). ECC engine 111 provides error cor- 35 recti on for system 100 A. Various memory modules exists in controller 101, for example, memory 105A, 106A and 118A. TAP controller 119, described in more detail below, is used to control the BIST operation for various memory 40 modules. Information from TAP controller 119 maybe sent via TAP interface ("TAP I/F") 120 and accessed outside system 100A. As discussed above, in some systems TAP I/F 120 may not be available and hence it becomes difficult to perform the BIST tests. 45 The adaptive aspects of the present invention, allow storage controller 101 to perform the BIST in dual modes. In a first mode, as shown in FIG. IB, if the TAP I/F 120 is present and detected by controller 101, the BIST may be performed so that BIST results are accessible via TAP I/F 50 120. In another mode, as shown in FIG. 2, internal register bits are used to initiate the BIST operation and the results are accessible to processor 100 via register reads. The modes may be programmed by firmware using an internal configuration register 116A. 55 FIG. IB shows tap controller 119 coupled to a memory controller 105B that controls the BIST operation for memory 105A. Instructions 116G from TAP controller 119 are sent to memory BIST controller 105B and after the test is performed, the results 116H are sent to TAP controller 60 119. The results 116H may be accessed by a system external to storage controller 101 via TAP I/F 120. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram where the BIST operation is initiated by using internal register commands. Internal register 116B includes control bits that are used to trigger a 65 BIST operation. Processor 100 may set the control bits. Control bits 116F (also shown as 116D) are sent to BIST controller 105B via a multiplexer ("Mux") 116C. Mux 116C also receives instructions 116G from TAP controller 119. Instructions 116G may be selected to initiate a BIST operation (as shown in FIG. IB) based on firmware programming. Memory BIST controller 105B starts and controls the BIST operation for memory 105A. The results 116H are sent to register 116A with status bits 116E. The status bits 116E may be used to generate an interrupt for processor 100. This notifies processor 100 that BIST results are available. Results 116H may also be made available via TAP interface 120. It is noteworthy that although FIG. 2 shows two registers 116A and 116B, only a single register may be used to initiate the BIST operation described above with respect to FIG. 2 and below with respect to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a process flow diagram for conducting a BIST operation, according to one aspect of the present invention. Turning in detail to FIG. 3, in step S300, the BIST process is started. In step S302, the process determines whether to use the TAP controller 119 (as shown in FIG. IB) or an internal register value, as shown in FIG. 2, to initiate the BIST operation. If the TAP controller 119 is used, then in step S310, standard TAP controller 119 instructions (116G) are used to initiate the BIST operation. The test results may be accessed in step S312 using TAP interface 120. If register control bits are used (step S302), then in step S304, control bits are set in internal register 116B. In step S306, control bits 116F are used to activate memory BIST controller 105B (shown as 116D via Mux 116C). In step S308, after the test is completed status bits 116E are set in register 116A so that processor 100 may be notified of test completion and provide access to the test results. In one aspect of the present invention, a user can use the internal register technique to initiate a BIST operation and hence no TAP Interface 120 is required. In another aspect of the present invention, a user has the flexibility of initiating a BIST operation either by using TAP controller instructions or internal register control bits. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, these embodiments are illustrative only and not limiting. Many other applications and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent in light of this disclosure. What is claimed is: 1. A method for initiating a built in self test ("BIST") operation for memory modules, comprising of: determining whether a test access port ("TAP") controller instruction or an internal register control bit of an internal register is to be used for initiating the BIST operation; sending the internal register control bit to a memory BIST controller for initiating the BIST operation; and setting a status bit in the internal register after the BIST operation is complete. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending the TAP instruction to the memory BIST controller; and providing access to a BIST operation result via a TAP interface. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal register is also used to set a bit that selects between the TAP instruction and the internal register control bit for initiating the BIST operation. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein a processor is used to read the status bit from the internal register and access a BIST operation test result.	25,224
This report for the Czech Republic forms part of the OECD Review on Evaluation and Assessment Frameworks for Improving School Outcomes (see Annex A for further details). The purpose of the Review is to explore how systems of evaluation and assessment can be used to improve the quality, equity and efficiency of school education. The Review looks at the various components of assessment and evaluation frameworks that countries use with the objective of improving student outcomes. These include student assessment, teacher appraisal, school evaluation and system evaluation. Acronyms and abbreviations Student learning outcomes in the Czech Republic are around or slightly below the OECD average, depending on the skills assessed. However, there is some evidence from international student surveys of a significant decline in student learning outcomes in the last decade. There are also indications that both performance and choice of educational track are strongly influenced by family background. Another concern relates to the basis for attending a special school, sometimes as a result of learning difficulties and/or a social disadvantage and not following the identification of a learning disability. School education in the Czech Republic School governance in the Czech Republic is fairly decentralised and involves three levels of administration: the central government, regions and municipalities. This follows a major reform of public administration in 2002 which strengthened self-government. Each region is the organising body of secondary schools, while municipalities take responsibility for pre-primary and basic schools. The content of instruction in the Czech Republic is established at two levels as dictated by the 2005 Education Act, the main legislative document governing education. At the central level, the Ministry determines Framework Education Programmes (FEPs) for each educational area within pre-primary, basic and secondary education. In agreement with such framework, schools further develop School Education Programmes (SEPs), which consist of the operationalisation of FEPs to fit the context of individual schools. This reflects increased autonomy for schools from an education system which, prior to 1989, was characterised by a strong central direction and the standardisation of processes. Student learning outcomes in the Czech Republic are around or slightly below the OECD average but have shown a serious decline in recent years. There are also concerns about strong social selectivity and inequities in the education system, including misplacement of some students in special schools. The evaluation and assessment framework Evaluation and assessment in the Czech Republic operates at four key levels: (i) system (national and regional subsystems) – namely through education indicators and international student surveys; (ii) school – external inspection by the Czech School Inspectorate and school self-evaluation; (iii) teacher – through school-dictated approaches to performance management; and (iv) student – with instruments ranging from external national examinations to ongoing daily formative assessment in the classroom. The overall evaluation and assessment framework appears fragmented with individual components which developed independently of each other over time. Particularly positive characteristics of the framework include the existence of common references at the national level; good conditions for adapting learning to local needs; a good articulation of responsibilities; a range of initiatives to strengthen evaluation and assessment; the "open door" climate among teachers; and the growing understanding of the need to support policy work with specific expertise. However, considerable challenges exist in building an effective evaluation and assessment framework. These include the incipient development of some key components; missing links between different elements of the framework; insufficient attention to equity and inclusion; student learning objectives not perceived as specific enough to guide teaching and assessment; a narrow understanding of the purposes of evaluation and assessment; insufficient competencies for evaluation and assessment across the system; limited support from the centre; and inadequate articulation between levels of government. Student performance in the Czech Republic is assessed by a wide range of instruments, ranging from externally-based examinations to ongoing daily formative assessment in the classroom. All students are assessed in an ongoing manner throughout the school year in each curriculum area. Students are assessed both orally and through school-based tests/examinations. Marks used to report student achievement are on a scale of 1 to 5. Assessment criteria and methods are defined by each school. There are no externallybased national final examinations at the end of basic (and compulsory) education. By contrast, exit examinations are mandatory at the end of secondary education. These refer to the school-leaving examination and the final examination to obtain the apprenticeship certificate. As of 2011, the school-leaving examinations have a common national standardised part. Finally, full-cohort national standardised tests are currently being introduced in grades 5 and 9 of basic education in the Czech language, foreign language and mathematics. A major asset is that assessment is seen as part of the professional role of teachers in the Czech Republic. Other strengths include the introduction of an external dimension to assessment and the increased focus on student outcomes. However, considerable challenges exist in building effective student assessment approaches. These include the currently traditional approaches to learning and assessment; the incipient development of assessment for learning; concerns about current approaches to summative assessment; the limited consistency of student assessment across schools and classes; the potential risks of national standardised tests; the little interaction among teachers around student assessment; the insufficient attention to assessment skills in initial teacher education; and the narrow information reported to parents and legal guardians. In the Czech Republic, there are no national requirements for teacher appraisal and no formal procedures exist to periodically evaluate the performance of teachers. However, teacher appraisal is typically conducted by school principals in approaches defined locally by the schools. Teacher appraisal takes place (1) when teachers are hired as a way to assess their teaching capacities; and (2) as part of teachers’ regular work in the school through observations made by their school principals. There are no national performance criteria or reference teaching standards to guide the process. Appraisal criteria are decided by the schools and often by the school principal in processes which tend to include interviews and classroom observation. In the context of their autonomy, school principals generally use the results of teacher appraisal in defining professional development plans of individual teachers and in determining their career progression and pay levels. Particularly positive features of teacher appraisal include the wide acceptance of the principle that teachers should be evaluated; the focus on evaluating classroom teaching; the legal recognition of the importance of teacher professional development; the existing linkages with school evaluation; and the plans to develop teaching standards and a new career system for teachers. However, the development of teacher appraisal is faced with a number of challenges. These include the non-existence of a shared understanding of what constitutes high quality teaching; the non-systematic implementation of teacher appraisal; the little tradition of educational leadership in schools; the tensions between the accountability and improvement functions of teacher appraisal; the lack of transparency in linking teacher appraisal to salary rewards; and the poor links between teacher appraisal and professional development. There are two main forms of school evaluation in the Czech Republic: school selfevaluation and school external inspection. The latter is the responsibility of the Czech School Inspectorate. Mandatory external school evaluations are conducted in a 3-year cycle. These involve, for each school in the system, a sequence of activities comprising a preparatory phase for the school; a visit by a team of inspectors including the observation of teaching and learning in the classroom; the publication of the team’s report; and a follow-up phase to respond to the recommendations in the report which typically involves the organising bodies (regions and municipalities). The precise nature of school self-evaluation varies across schools as the legal requirement to undertake it does not come with a prescribed approach (but guidelines are available). Schools are required to reflect the results of self-evaluation in the school annual report. Organising bodies also inspect their respective schools but typically concentrate on compliance with financial regulations. Particularly positive features of school evaluation include the good establishment of external school evaluation; the features of best practice embodied in the external evaluation model; the follow-up support to the more challenged schools; the importance of classroom observation in school evaluation processes; and the new emphasis on schools’ self-evaluation. However, the development of school evaluation is faced with a number of challenges. These include the limited emphasis on school improvement of external school evaluation; the little emphasis on student results and progress; the incipient development of school self-evaluation; the limited use of data in school development; the limited scope and impact of the evaluation by organising bodies; and the limited recognition of the role of school leaders. Education system evaluation A range of tools are used to monitor performance of the education system. The monitoring system includes a range of statistics on education based on snap-shot data collected from schools on a standardised format. Also, international benchmarks of student performance provided by international student surveys such as PISA and TIMSS have been influential in driving policy development at the system level. At the moment, no national-level information on student learning outcomes which is comparable across schools and regions and over time is available but the Ministry is currently developing national standardised tests in grades 5 and 9 in Czech language, foreign language and mathematics to address this gap. In addition, there has been a growing interest in undertaking studies of the impact of policy initiatives and in preparing thematic reports which can inform policy development. Particularly positive features of system evaluation include the well-established education indicators framework; the concern to assess the progress of the education system towards pre-established objectives; the qualitative analysis undertaken in thematic reports; and the participation in international student surveys. However, system evaluation is faced with a number of challenges. These include the little emphasis on the evaluation of the education system; the absence of student performance data for system monitoring; the lack of measures on students’ socio-economic background; the little emphasis on investigating inequities in the system; the limited information on the teaching and learning environment; the challenges faced with monitoring at the region and municipality levels; and the room to better exploit system-level information. Conclusions and recommendations Student learning outcomes in the Czech Republic are around or slightly below the OECD average, depending on the skills assessed. In 2009, achievement levels of Czech students in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) were not statistically significantly different from the OECD average in mathematics and science and were just below the OECD average with statistical significance in reading literacy. However, trend analyses of PISA results have shown a serious decline in student learning outcomes, among the most serious in the OECD area – for instance, the Czech Republic is among the four OECD countries for which performance in reading literacy between 2000 and 2009 decreased significantly. The OECD Review on Evaluation and Assessment Frameworks for Improving School Outcomes The OECD Review on Evaluation and Assessment Frameworks for Improving School Outcomes is designed to respond to the strong interest in evaluation and assessment issues evident at national and international levels. It provides a description of design, implementation and use of assessment and evaluation procedures in countries; analyses strengths and weaknesses of different approaches; and provides recommendations for improvement. The Review looks at the various components of assessment and evaluation frameworks that countries use with the objective of improving student outcomes. These include student assessment, teacher appraisal, school evaluation and system evaluation. The Review focuses on primary and secondary education. Composition of the Review Team Comparative indicators on evaluation and assessment Add to Marked List	48,921
Your email address will be used for Wildy’s marketing materials only. We will never give your email address to any third party. Special Discounts for Pupils, Newly Called & Students Browse Secondhand Online Amnesty laws are political tools used since ancient times by states wishing to quell dissent, introduce reforms, or achieve peaceful relationships with their enemies. In recent years, they have become contentious due to a perception that they violate international law, particularly the rights of victims, and contribute to further violence. This view is disputed by political negotiators who often argue that amnesty is a necessary price to pay in order to achieve a stable, peaceful, and equitable system of government. This book aims to investigate whether an amnesty necessarily entails a violation of a state's international obligations, or whether an amnesty, accompanied by alternative justice mechanisms, can in fact contribute positively to both peace and justice. This study began by constructing an extensive Amnesty Law Database that contains information on 506 amnesty processes in 130 countries introduced since the Second World War. The database and chapter structure were designed to correspond with the key aspects of an amnesty: why it was introduced, who benefited from its protection, which crimes it covered, and whether it was conditional. In assessing conditional amnesties, related transitional justice processes such as selective prosecutions, truth commissions, community-based justice mechanisms, lustration, and reparations programmes were considered. Subsequently, the jurisprudence relating to amnesty from national courts, international tribunals, and courts in third states was addressed. The information gathered revealed considerable disparity in state practice relating to amnesties, with some aiming to provide victims with a remedy, and others seeking to create complete impunity for perpetrators. To date, few legal trends relating to amnesty laws are emerging, although it appears that amnesties offering blanket, unconditional immunity for state agents have declined. Overall, amnesties have increased in popularity since the 1990s and consequently, rather than trying to dissuade states from using this tool of transitional justice, this book argues that international actors should instead work to limit the more negative forms of amnesty by encouraging states to make them conditional and to introduce complementary programmes to repair the harm and prevent a repetition of the crimes.	37,978
The 23rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) underscored the importance of U.S. leadership to keep the HRC at the forefront of international efforts to promote and protect human rights. In this session, the United States ran an important consensus resolution on Freedom of Expression and the Empowerment of Women. As a member of the Council, the United States’ mission remains to highlight key human rights issues while vigorously opposing efforts to shield human rights violators. View Fact Sheet The United States remains deeply concerned about deplorable human rights situations, especially in Syria, Iran, the DPRK, and Sudan.We deplore these countries’ targeted attacks against civilians—including, in the case of Syria, the regime’s use of advanced weaponry against civilians. Also of concern are their restrictions on religious freedom, freedoms of expression and assembly, and persecution of human rights lawyers and activists and their families. We call on all countries to not forcibly return those seeking to escape human rights violations in DPRK. We also highlight these countries of concern: "The United States is gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Belarus, and the lack of progress made on many of the High Commissioner’s recommendations."	44,171
Japanese researchers claim they’ve made headway testing a new genetic-based treatment to suppress tumors in patients with mesothelioma. The study’s findings appeared in The Journal of Cancer Gene and Cellular Therapies (subscription required to read the full article). Mesothelioma is a rare but deadly cancer of the tissue lining the heart and lungs. It’s almost always caused by asbestos exposure, and can take decades to develop. Doctors typically treat it with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer and tends to resist these traditional treatments. Some researchers are turning to unconventional methods, such as gene-based therapies. Gene therapies involve introducing genetic material (DNA or RNA) into a person’s cells to fight disease, as the National Cancer Institute explains in a thorough background piece. According to this recent Journal piece, researchers found that treatments based on genetic manipulation, with the aid of modified viruses, produce anti-tumor results. If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and have developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related condition as a result, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact the experienced mesothelioma attorneys at Sokolove Law to get a free case evaluation today.	26,303
Have you heard of molecular gastronomy before? No? You’re not alone, molecular gastronomy is a modern style of cooking, and practiced by scientists and chefs who take advantage of many technical innovations from scientific disciplines. Put more simply, think of mixing up drinks like Nitrogen Cooled Lemon Drop Martinis. Or whipping up Crispy Chicken Tacos with Chili Relleno Space Foam. Dreamstaurant celebrity chef and judge, Ian Kleinman is a pioneering molecular gastronomist and owner of The Inventing Room, a unique catering and food entertainment company based in Denver, CO. His molecular gastronomy recipes include Super Cold & Creamy Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream, Floating Truffles, and Root Beer Floats with Liquid Nitrogen Whipped Ice Cream. Chef Kleinman believes food should be fun and every dining experience should have amazing food, drinks and service but also contain an entertainment quality that makes you think about your food and how it’s made instead of mindlessly eating it. Borrowing tools from the science lab and ingredients from the kitchen, molecular gastronomists concoct surprise after surprise for their diners. You may wonder ‘Can I really eat this?’ or ‘Is it safe?’ The truth is the chemicals used in molecular gastronomy are all of biological origin. Even though they have been purified and some of them processed, the raw material origin is usually marine, plant, animal or microbial. These additives are also used in very, very small amounts and have been approved by EU standards. Plus the science lab equipment used just helps modern gastronomy chefs to do simple things like maintaining the temperature of the cooking water constant (water bath), cooling food at extremely low temperatures fast (liquid nitrogen) or extract flavor from food (evaporator).	19,458
Maybe it’s just another date on the calendar. New Year’s Day. I don’t care how arbitrary, I love a specific point in time to look back in wonder and look forward with anticipation! Kids as young as preschoolers can learn to set goals and celebrate small wins with these New Year’s Printables! Perfect to do some goal setting for kids! New Year’s Goal Setting for Kids Printables Isn’t anticipation one of the best parts of any journey? I don’t think kids are ever too young to learn the simple pleasure of reflection and celebration that comes with the new year. The ability to reflect is, after all, a key to learning. I want our kids to learn to cherish the special moments and memories that are happening to them each year! And to anticipate with joy the year to come! Start small and celebrate the wins! The concept of New Year’s goals can be broken down to simple terms for small ones. I like to call it Stars and Wishes (a concept I used to use in my classroom for reflecting on final drafts – it’s an encouraging way to help young authors see what they did well, and look forward to improving their skills in the next draft! But that’s another story!). Tips for Looking Back We look back and recognize Star moments. The best and brightest! Those small and big wins for the year. Our highlight reel! Write down as many as you can remember! - Look through photos or videos that highlight the past year to bring back memories for your child. - Specifically name key events for your child: “Remember when you…” Or “You had so much fun at the…” - Talk about “firsts,” perhaps the first time they went to the zoo, learned to spell their name, or took swimming lessons. - Ask questions about the photos and videos, and you will be amazed at the small details that stuck in their minds! Our son vividly remembers the sharks at the Aquarium. - Jot down important facts perhaps only you remember such as their favorite song, book, person, or outfit. After refreshing their memories, ask about their favorite moment, place, event. Write these down as Stars! Tips for Looking Forward Then look forward and anticipate all you Wish the New Year to hold! The hopes and dreams! The goals, the ideas! Set goals or Wishes for the next year with your child. These will likely be spinoffs of the Stars. - Ask what they would like to do again, places to revisit, or people they want to spend time with. - Suggest ways they will excel in the New Year: “I bet next year you’ll be using the kick board at swim lessons all by yourself!” Or “You already can spell your name, and I bet this year you’ll learn to write the letters too!” - Make a keepsake booklet. Try folding a booklet with jumbo construction paper. Glue the Stars and Wishes Sheet inside and have kids draw a picture that represents their lists. For younger kids, perhaps glue in a photo from the past year. Now you have a small keepsake to look at when this next year comes to a close and you again find yourself reflecting… Of course, Stars and Wishes aren’t heavy-duty adult-sized resolutions, and they aren’t intended to be. They’re just capturing life’s moments on paper and planning for more fantastic adventures with your children! Free New Year’s Goal Setting for Kids Worksheets Originally this post contained only a Stars & Wishes printable, but I have expanded this set of printables to include four pages you can select from. Perhaps you can let your kids decide which ones work best for them! - Stars & Wishes – perfect for any age but a good start for preschoolers to celebrate the old year and look forward to the new - New Year’s Reflections – capture their favorites from the year - New Year’s Goals – minimal and open-ended with just blank checklist of items to attempt - Looking Ahead – four prompts to stir their thoughts toward the future Click this link OR the picture to get your free printable set! How do you celebrate the New Year with your children? Have your celebrations changed as your kids have grown?	5,369
By Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO History commonly and most often points to late August in the year 1619 when some “20 and odd Negroes” originating from Angola arrived in the British colony of Jamestown, Virginia as the first documented enslaved Africans to land in what is now the United States. This nation and its wealth was built through forced labor and the very existence of Black men and women. It’s truly ironic that as this country celebrates 400 years of democracy, the Black community is still fighting for equal rights, justice and freedom. The century that followed emancipation saw the creation of policies that discriminated against black people and largely excluded them from wealth building, creating an inherited disadvantage for future generations. This is why the idea of reparations, brought forth during the Civil War era, has continued to be a topic of grave concern for the NAACP. On a daily basis, we grapple with domestic terrorism and state sanctioned violence in the guise of white supremacy — all under the watch of one of the most racist administrations since the Jim Crow era. Along with his xenophobic policies, President Donald Trump is doing all he can to punish immigrants and alienate Black Americans, using hateful tweets and chants of “Send her back,” as a rallying cry for his base. At NAACP’s annual convention, our delegates voted unanimously to call on the House to begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump. We can’t and won’t whitewash or glorify this experience — but it has made us stronger and more resilient than ever. We know from the incredible Black voter turnout in the midterm elections that African-Americans are not only the most critical voting bloc, but the most powerful when we are encouraged to participate actively in our Democracy. Next week, the NAACP, will embark on a historic and spiritual journal to commemorate the 400-year anniversary of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. More than 200 African-Americans will pay homage to the strength, power and resilience of our people. In our journey from Jamestown, Virginia to Ghana, we will not only retrace the footsteps of our ancestors through the slave dungeons and along the shores where the enslaved had their last bath before their trek to the western world – we will also immerse ourselves in the vibrant culture and join leading government and business leaders to learn more about business, development and investment in Ghana. Through this experience, we hope to actualize the healing and collective unity so many generations have worked to achieve in ways which bring power to our communities in America, Africa and throughout our Diaspora.	50,291
In today’s Academic Minute, Dr. Einat Lev of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University describes her research into the properties of flowing lava. Einat Lev is a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. She works on the Lava Project in conjunction with Bob Wysocki and Jeff Karson at Syracuse University. She earned her Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Einat Lev – Understanding Lava Volcanic lava comes in many styles and flavors. Different kinds of flows cover the ocean floors, build giant mountains and form parts of continents. Their remains are common on the moon, Venus and Mars. Studying the dynamics of flows helps us devise defenses for communities near volcanoes. Hardened lavas also provide a lasting record of the frequency of eruptions, and the chemical and physical mechanisms that drive them. I am part of a project aimed at improving our understanding of lava flows. In short -- we make our own flows! We do this at a lab run by my colleagues at Syracuse University. Here, we melt basaltic rocks—that is, hardened chunks of lava-- by heating them back up to almost 2000 degrees Fahrenheit in a furnace. We then pour the lava out onto surfaces made of different materials and shapes. So far, we’ve poured lava on wet and dry sand; onto soil; into metal flumes of various shapes; on ice and on snow; and into a bathtub full of water. We collect data on the lava’s behavior using instruments such as infrared video cameras and high-temperature thermometers. The experiments have already yielded interesting results, including benchmarks we can use to predict the behavior of flows in natural conditions. For instance, in our experiments using ice and snow, our lavas have created shapes similar to those we see in Iceland, the U.S. northwest, and other volcanic regions where there are glaciers. Flows that we poured into channels containing obstacles have taught us how lava may interact with buildings, trees or cliffs. We have many plans for future experiments. We plan to re-create Martian flows by pouring lava onto the kind of dust-like material that covers that planet. We want to look at how water-vapor, oxygen and other gasses are transmitted between ground and lava. Our new ability to create carefully-controlled lava flows opens the door to new directions in the study of the earth, and beyond.	25,951
Food technology course aims at imparting knowledge on food processing, packaging and preserving in clean, healthy and tasty state. The course provides hands on experience in food chemistry and packaging. Theory subjects includes food microbiology, nutritional biochemistry, aromatic and medicinal plants. Focus is laid on biotechnological methods, fruits and vegetables, technology grain and baking technology. Curriculum includes theory practical, workshops, demonstrations, internships and visits to food industries. The program trains students in techniques and technologies involves in food industry to become efficient professionals to make a mark in their career. Students develop skills in handling various processes to transfer their knowledge in relevant areas. Eligibility for the Course Candidates should have completed degree in B.E/B.Tech/Food Tech/Dairy Technology/M.Sc Food Science. Selection is based on valid GATE score and personal interview. Students who possess a sense of responsibility and have high standards of cleanliness can opt for this course. Additional description of the Course The advanced program exposes students for challenges in food industry and equips them with strong knowledge about applied concepts for problems solving issues. Food processing industry is a major driving source for economy. The course delivers intensive knowledge on food processing industry, reducing wastage, improving rural incomes for farmers, ensuring value and quality of food. The program equips students with knowledge of crop diversification, helps them in developing innovative ways for employment opportunities and for exploring foods. Food processing industry is the largest industry in India. The food producing units includes products of various foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, grains, aerated water, soft drinks, fishery etc. The course is concerned with study of all aspects of food. The program is multidisciplinary and incorporated with concepts from varied fields. The course is a blend of different sciences chemical, biochemistry, nutrition, physics, biology marketing and other subjects. Training equips students with skills of plant designs product innovation and usage of food technologies in the relevant fields. The concepts on harvesting technology, seed technology. physical and biological properties of food products are imbibed by students during the course. The program creates an awareness of production of safe wholesome foods. Job opportunities for the food technologists There are ample job prospects in sectors of food industry, research industry, packaging sectors, educational institutions. Job profiles includes food- analyst, processing engineer, microbiologist,chemist sensory scientist, research scientist, food ingredient manager, product development specialist, quality control supervisor, nutrition specialist, entrepreneur. M.Tech Food Technology - Food Quality Management Admissions for 2020 - 2021 Academic Year Are you looking for admissions for M.Tech Food Technology - Food Quality Management for the academic year 2020 - 2021? We can connect you with the right colleges and universities offering M.Tech Food Technology - Food Quality Management courses in your preferred locations. Apply Now for M.Tech Food Technology - Food Quality Management	54,908
This resource tool shows all the letters that have more than one sound and all the spellings for each of the different sounds in the English language. This tool can be used with struggling readers trying to determine which sound to try when faced with a letter or group of letters. For example, there are nine different ways to spell the sound 'oo' like in spoon. This reference guide includes them all. There is overlap in our code, for example, the letter Y has four different sounds. All the letters with overlap are included as well as many combinations of letters with overlap ( OW can represent two different sounds=cow/shown). This 12 page pdf organizes all the sounds and their spellings in an easy to reference format. All of resources come with support so if you have any questions about the content of the guide, or how to use it effectively, simply shoot me an email or find Reading Success Academy on Facebook to post your question.	56,362
5 Great Nutrition and Gut Health Books for Kids of All Ages Since my nutrition practice is about 1/3-1/2 children at any given time, I’ve had to find books that would resonate enough with the kids to get the onboard with healthier eating. Below are my (and my son’s!) top picks: 1. Buddies in My Belly: A Story About Probiotics by Sarah Morgan & Henry Bell This story explores the microbiome and the importance of feeding it good foods. The book features cute characters, different probiotic strains personified, with rhymes about their favorite foods and how they promote health and wellbeing. The characters are relatable to kids, and it elicited giggles from my son every time we read it. It features a phytonutrient food behavioral chart for kids to try to eat the rainbow; a comparable one can be found here. This can help kids eat more fruits and vegetables and whole grains! Authors also released stuffies to go along with the book. 2. Eat Healthy, Feel Great! by William and Martha Sears This book teaches kids about “green,” “yellow,” and “red” light foods, how often to eat which, and what impact eating them can have on the body. It also delves into drinking enough water, consuming various vitamins and minerals, and how families can choose and prepare healthy foods together. Finally, it includes a fold out poster as well as a couple recipes. Illustrations are colorful. My son created a green-yellow-red food list game based on the book, categorizing as many as he can. In my opinion, the book offers great points and is very relatable and appropriate for the preschool and elementary school crowds (my son will just pick it up at random and start reading it), however, it goes on a few pages too long. 3. The Incredible Microbiome by Sean & Tori Davies This book is written for dual audiences, older and younger (early elementary, definitely not preschool), between rhymes for all and text boxes that provide a higher detail of science information for the more advanced set. It’s also neat in that it talks about the different functions the microbiome serves and the byproducts it produces, and how these benefit health. What other kids’ book do you know of that discusses metabolism, genetics, and the enteric nervous system? Finally, it concludes with a list of prebiotic foods and a couple of prebiotic-rich recipes, as well as a reference list. The science information in this book is terrific, however, I struggle with rhymes when they feel forced, and the text here did feel a bit contrived at times. 4. Meet Your Microbiome: Your Superheroes Within by Cheryl Coercion & Chrystal Cordero This fantasy story about “good” gut microbes protecting their human from invading “bad” microbes is sure to please younger kids. What kid doesn’t love a good battle featuring the superheroes that save the day?! The pictures are fun and colorful, and the teaching is done indirectly as details supporting the overall story. Great for elementary school kids, and even pre-K. 5. Inside Your Insides by Claire Eamer & Marie-Eve Tremblay A book for late-elementary and middle school kids, this book explores the concept of the microbiome, basic types of microbes, germ theory vs. terrain theory, dysbiosis, and a very basic explanation of immune system function. It extrapolates the concept of microbiome to beyond the gut, and across the entire body. It discusses the role of helpful and harmful bacteria, and the evolution of germs. (Side note: This book is pro-vaccine.) Finally, it shares how to care for the microbiome through diet. Definitely a science text, with fun drawings and colorful renderings based on microscope images, and ending with a glossary and reference list. 6. A Garden in Your Belly by Masha D’Tans This book is available only on preorder at this time, but looks very promising as another younger-kid option! What books about the microbiome and gut health do your children enjoy?	32,218
If you are new to swimming, workouts are written in yards or meters. Most pools in the United States are 25 yards in length, so a 100 is four lengths of the pool. If you are lucky enough to swim in an Olympic size pool, that would be 50 meters one way, so a 100 would be two lengths of the pool. Common Swimming Terms and Abbreviations B 3/4/5– this refers to breathing. So, you would breath every 3 strokes for one length, every 4 strokes for the second length, and every 5 strokes for the 3rd length, and then repeat. Build– means that you will get faster within a swim distance that is within a set. For example: 4x100s BUILD means you get faster with each 25 yards of each 100, and then you repeat that BUILD for your next 100. Catch up– hands are out in front of you for freestyle and you swim with one arm at a time while kicking. When one hand catches up to the other out in front, take a stroke with your other arm. Claw–short-arm freestyle drill DESC–means “descending”. This is when you get faster in a swim set. For example 4x100s DESC means that each 100 is FASTER than the one before. DPS- distance per stroke. Focus on decreasing the number of strokes it takes you to swim one length of the pool. DR- drill. You will be asked to do a drill for your stroke, like the fingertip drag, catch-up free, etc. E -even. For example for a set written as 8x75s O=stroke, E=Free, you would swim the odd numbers a stroke of your choice and the even numbers freestyle. FAP- fast as possible. You better sprint your butt off! Flip Turn–one way to turn off the wall. Count your strokes from the top of the “T”, tuck, dolphin kick your legs over in a half somersault, push off, turn over on your stomach, streamline, kick, break the surface, and swim. Free–swim freestyle or front crawl IM– Individual Medley. The order for the IM is butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. KOB or KOS–kick on back or kick on side, without the kick board Lap– two lengths of the pool. Length– one length of the pool Long Course Pool– 50 meters in length N/S– negative split. This is when the second half of a swim is faster than the first half. For example, in a 200 N/S the first 100 is slower than the second 100. O — odd. For example for a set written as 8x75s O=stroke, E=Free, you would swim the odd numbers a stroke of your choice and the even numbers freestyle. Open Turn–one way to turn on the wall, grab the wall, tuck yourself into a ball, throw one arm over your head, and push off. OWS– open water swim. Swimming that’s done in a natural body of water and not a pool. Perfect– concentrate on good form and not speed Pull– use a pull buoy, paddles are optional, but not necessary Repeat– repeat the preceding set as specified. No extra rest unless noted. RI– rest interval or the amount of time to rest. Sometimes this is written as :30 RI or 30s rest. RLR- red line run. Swimming drill where your run from the wall in the shallow end to the line that divides the shallow end from the deep end. Short Course Meters Pool (SCM)– 25 meters in length (slightly longer than a 25 yard pool) Short Course Yards Pool (SCY)– 25 yards in length SI– swim interval, usually a slow, recovery swim in between sets. SKIDS– stands for swim, kick, individual medley, drills, stroke. An example would be 300 SKIDS, so you would do a 300 of each: swim, kick, IM, drill, swim for a total of 1500 yards. SKIPS- stands for swim, kick, individual medley, pull, stroke Streamline– arms over your head, and you are as straight as an arrow leaving the wall. Stroke–any stroke such as butterfly, backstroke, or breaststroke, but NO Freestyle Times– written as :30 (30 seconds) or 1:30 (for 1 minute, 30 seconds). Some sets are written as 4x100s on 1:30. That means that you need to swim each 100 of the set FASTER than one minute thirty seconds if you want to get any rest. T-pace– this is the pace per 100 that you swam in your time trial. TT- time trial. This is when you swim for time. It’s like a test. W/D or sometimes C/D– warm down or sometimes cool down, depends on where you live. This is at the end of the workout to slow your heart rate down. W/U — warm up. Gets your heart rate up before the main set. U/W– underwater recovery. The recovery phase of your stroke is done underwater instead of bringing your arm out of the water. This helps with your arm turnover and speed. Fins–help develop your kick. I recommend short fins that will help you flex your ankles for more effective kicking. Kick board–use this floating board for kicking and other drills Paddles–help you catch the water, but are not necessary Pull Buoy– goes in between your legs so you can focus on your pull. They also make pull buoys that will lock your ankles in place so you don’t have to focus on squeezing your legs to hold the buoy. Snorkel–when you are concentrating on your stroke and head position while swimming. This way, you don’t have to turn your head to the side to breathe.	2,885
Although occasionally infuriating around roundabouts and new developments, we have placed an inordinate amount of faith in Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites as they exist for in-car and/or smartphone usage. So why would we need an open source alternative? Well the GPS system was created and is still predominantly run by the US Department of Defense (they mean Defence) with a history that dates back as far as the early 1970s. The US authorities have been accused of 'degrading' the system from time to time (presumably to suit their own needs) and alternatives have surfaced from the Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) to Russia's Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) system. But British design student Philipp Ronnenberg believes that now the time is right for an open source version on GPS based on seismic ground vibrations. Ronnenberg advocates his OpenPositioning System as an alternative to that fact that (as he puts it), "We are bound to the Americans' military GPS and network companies." According to the OpenPositioning System website, this new open non-corporate or governmental navigation system is open and its goal is to gather interested people to develop the necessary software, hardware and testing processes. The idea here is to use "seismic frequencies" i.e. the kind that are produced by the normal daily work generators in power plants. Similar seismic energy is also produced by machinery such as turbines in pumping stations or even large machines (of any kind from printing presses to coffee mills) running in factories. These generators, machines etc. are producing seismic activity, distributed over the ground and this will help form the triangulation element needed to produce GPS-type geographical awareness. Ronnenberg explains as follows, "The sensor prototype can detect seismic waves on the ground, walls or anything with enough contact to the ground. At the current stage of this project the sensor can detect and collect different frequencies." "To calculate the noise in a city out of the received signals from the ground, the sensor has to be tuned into a specific frequency. To get a specific frequency from one machine, turbine etc. the sensor has to be as close as possible to the seismic source to receive a clean and strong signal at least once. When at least three signals and their positions on a map are known, one can calculate the position within these three signals." It is also said that in this the project's formative early stage, there will still be a reliance upon GPS and maps.	36,559
Filing taxes is the most American pastime, even above the so lauded baseball. Even with the ubiquity of taxes many people do not know when to file taxes, or how to file to get the most of their return. In part this is due to the federal tax code being almost deliberately incomprehensible document with extremely formal and abstruse language. Even if an individual had the background and patience to get through the tax code the sheer length, 4,037 pages in total, will make even the most determined of neophyte balk. In a code of this length, there are obviously loopholes, for both the wealthy and the working class alike. (http://uscode.house.gov/) First things first, if you make below $5,000 a year you do not have to file taxes, and in fact you should try to avoid filing taxes if you know you do not have to, as it just causes more work on both your and the IRS’s end. However, if you have federal and state taxes pulled out of your check and you make below federal filing limits then you do want to file taxes to attempt to have a return of that money. ( https://www.irs.gov/uac/do-i-need-to-file-a-tax-return) When you are at the point of filing taxes there are some incentives for lower paid workers in the form of Saver’s Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. (https://smartasset.com/taxes/tax-loopholes) Roughly the Saver’s Tax allows workers to save money by deducing the amount of money put away in savings by up to 50%, however this does not allow for a refund. The Earned Income Tax Credit is meant to give refund to low income workers. (https://smartasset.com/taxes/understanding-savers-tax-credit) To quote Benjamin Franklin “[I]n this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”, so therefore as citizens we must do our best to not only obey by giving our taxes but also to make sure we give the correct amount. Tax by Katelyn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.	8,966
“One in four Diabetic Patients can have Retinopathy which can lead to irreversible Blindness, so it becomes mandatory to screen every Diabetic Patient for Retinopathy at least once a year” Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Advantages: - One in two Diabetic Patient has some form of Eye Disease - One in Four Diabetic Patients can have Retinopathy. - All newly Detected Diabetics should have their retinas checked during first visit. - All Regular Diabetic Patients should have their retinas Checked at least once or twice in a year - Retinopathy can lead to Irreversible Blindness. - No Diabetic Package is complete without a Retinopathy Evaluation Welcare Installs the Equipment in Diabetes Centers, Labs, General Hospitals etc and will also train staff to take the images, since its a simple easy to use devise, any staff with basic knowledge can take the images, and there is no need for dilatation of the Eyes, and there will be no change in the regular patient flow in the clinic. Images are uploaded via internet into our cloud based server and the back end team of Ophthalmologists will send the reports within half an hour.	46,574
The speech of Xi Jinping, the President of China, during the 40th anniversary of China-Taiwan relations was probably the first significant statement of the New Year. It includes two distinct tones such as accounting the peaceful unification of ‘two Chinas’ and an option of using force to gain the sovereignty of Taiwan. The separation of China and Taiwan is based on the early political struggle and competition between two ideologies in mainland China in the early decades of the 20th century. The communists were considered to be the winners of the competition, the losing side, say, the nationalists, known commonly as the Kuomintang (KMT). After turbulent decades following the separation in 1949, the U. S. government decided to have a close political relationship with China in 1974. During this period, while China gradually increased its political sovereignty rhetoric upon the Island, the 1992 consensus established the understanding of a One China policy. One China phenomenon During the course of this period, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) claim distinctively to be the rightful ruler and representative of China. Since the end of the Cold War era, the unification issue of the two separated Chinas has been one of the most crucial international issues in general. But the tension between both ‘countries’ has been increasing in the last couple of years due to the new dimensions emerging in the region. The strongest advantage of Taiwan is based on the fact that China is not the old China. It possesses a political ideology that provisions itself with a causal alienation in the eyes of the world community. The Taiwanese cannot be forced against their wish to be in line with the idea of unification This political phenomenon can be comprehended by taking into consideration two different perspectives. The first one is relevant to the PRC’s approach to proceed unification, either in a peaceful manner or by using military force, which is strongly emphasized as a possibility by Xi Jinping. The second one is the political stand of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), the current governing party in Taipei Island since 2016, known as being in favor of independence and general public opinion of the Taiwanese as to whether they should agree upon the issue of unification or maintain the status quo, say, the peaceful separation from mainland China. ‘New China’ needs Taiwan Though both sides feel to liberate the other on the course of time, there is a gross dispute as to how this will be realized. It can be argued that the Taiwan issue for the PRC’s elite is an indispensable part of founding a ‘New China.’ No doubt that China, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, yearns to fulfill political advancement in the form of unification as a complement to the PRC’s economic advancement in the last couple of decades. If this is not accomplished, then mainland China cannot get rid of the feeling of humiliation in face of the international community. No doubt that China, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, yearns to fulfill political advancement in the form of unification as a complement to the PRC’s economic advancement in the last couple of decades. If this is not accomplished, then mainland China cannot get rid of the feeling of humiliation in face of the international community. While Xi Jinping has inferred a military option as a direct threat, which seems to be strategically highlighted so as to force Taiwan to accept unification, it is observed that this approach is a partial reiteration of Mao Zedong’s perspective. In regards to this, Jinping asserts that the Taiwan issue is a national matter and that no third party is allowed to be involved. During Mao’s time, the political propaganda was oriented to the phenomenon to “liberate Taiwan.” Hence, in the current global era, it is not certain whether the same argument is still relevant or not. The current president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, has built her political discourse upon the idea of a “Taiwan Consensus.” By this concept, she explicitly emphasizes that the decision-making process of unification should be based on democratic principles, not ruled only by the leadership cadre of the CCP. This political approach definitely alternates the early agreement upon the status quo or 1992 Consensus. While Tsai’s approach appears to be exacerbating the Chinese government’s sensitivity on the issue, Xi Jinping has repeatedly sent threatening messages, including a strict reaction of even using military force. As concrete action, Jinping has initiated certain policies against Taiwan since the beginning of the DPP rule. Owing to this reason, there has been a tense discursive exchange of threats observed in recent years. In general, Jinping decidedly remolds his policy towards Taiwan in two distinct ways. For instance, Beijing is forcing some countries, in particular smaller nations, to cut their relations with Taiwan; discouraging mainland Chinese citizens from visiting the island; and decreasing its partial economic relationship by reducing orders for agricultural products and initiating military drills in the Strait of Taiwan. There’s no doubt that the final issue is the most significant for both the Taiwanese and the international community. Beijing is forcing smaller countries to cut their relations with Taiwan, discouraging Chinese people from visiting the island and decreasing its partial economic relationship by reducing orders for agricultural products and initiating military drills in the Strait of Taiwan. The anniversary speech of Jinping touched upon earlier came just after the local elections held on 24 November, 2018. If the Chinese ruler perceives the local election victory of the opposition, KMT, as a reaction of the Taiwanese electorate to the ruling DPP’s pro-independence tendency, this will cause unintended consequences for Beijing. The Taiwanese electorate turned to the opposition party due to internal and domestic politics. This result cannot easily be interpreted as a switch of Taiwanese society from democratic rule and freedom to mainland China policies. A smarter policy needed China does not want to leave its grip upon the Taipei Island. And it is not deniable that the Taiwan issue for China is an existential for the continuity of the national union. Hence, the Chinese president should adopt a smarter policy on the unification issue. Though China has been proving to be a global power in terms of economic modernization, say, liberal capitalism, the country is definitely facing an incoherent condition in terms of undemocratic values and human rights abuses, which do not go hand-in-hand with the fundamental aspects of the global economic system. The strongest advantage of Taiwan is based on the fact that China is not the old China. It possesses a political ideology that provisions itself with a causal alienation in the eyes of the world community. The Taiwanese cannot be forced against their wish to be in line with the idea of unification. As such, it can be argued that the Taiwanese are committed to the established democratic experience, a high degree of awareness of freedom, acquired material wealth and is open to the world society.	10,530
From the September 1964 issue of the Socialist Standard At midnight on August 4th, 1914, the British ultimatum to Germany expired and the First Great War began. In our Party there were no illusions about the nature of the war, in spite of the turmoil of the times and the perfidious attitude of other alleged working class parties. At our first Executive Committee meeting, following the outbreak of the war, arrangements were made to prepare a Manifesto setting forth our opposition and stating the Socialist attitude. At the next Executive Committee meeting a draft was presented and, after approval, sent to the printer to appear in the next, the September issue of the Socialist Standard. This was our War Manifesto. It was later reprinted and distributed in leaflet form. This manifesto briefly set forth the capitalist basis of society, pointing out that the war was a capitalist war which was no concern of the workers, and did not justify the shedding of working class blood in a conflict which only involved the interests of their masters. It concluded with the following paragraph: - Having no quarrel with the working class of any country, we extend to our fellow workers of all lands the expression of our goodwill and Socialist fraternity, the pledge ourselves to work for the overthrow of capitalism and the triumph of Socialism. The Party kept its pledge. Its attitude was maintained, from the beginning to the end of the war, without equivocation, in spite of antagonism, persecution and numerous other obstacles.	44,628
Beta-blocker treatments, used to treat high blood pressure, could potentially lengthen the lives of melanoma patients by reducing certain cancer growths. Researchers from Ohio State University’s Behavioural Medicine Research (IBMR) and the Comprehensive Cancer Centre in the United States compiled the results following a review of thousands of patients. This information was gathered using and in conjunction with the Danish Cancer Registry and focused on patients who had skin cancer but were also taking specific beta-blockers as well. They found that those who were using the additional medication had a much lower percentage of mortality than the patients who had not used the blood pressure treatment. While not yet a clinical trial, the gathered information could possibly point toward a further aid for patients facing the disease. “Among patients diagnosed with melanoma, those who were taking beta-blockers when their cancer was diagnosed experienced longer survival than those patients who weren’t taking the drug,” said Stanley Lemeshow, previous partner of the colleagues in Denmark as well as professor at the College of Public Health at Ohio University. “Their chance of surviving for a specified number of years improved by 13 percent.” In terms of other cancer patients, as in those not only afflicted with melanoma, the chances for increased lifespan increased by 19% overall. Ron Glasser, professor of virology, immunology and medical genetics as well as director for the IBMR, also stressed the importance of these findings and the positive step forward it potentially heralded for cancer patients. “This drug [beta-blockers] is relatively inexpensive. It isn’t chemotherapy so you don’t lose your hair or get sick. It doesn’t kill the cancer cells, but it may slow the disease,” he said “[and] this would be adjunct therapy that could be provided in addition to the normal chemotherapy patients receive.”	273
Brucellosis in Wyoming Brucellosis is a contagious disease that has been known to exist since the 19th Century. The disease affects humans, cattle, elk, and bison. Brucellosis has been eradicated from most of the United States but still exists in elk and wild bison in the Greater Yellowstone Area, which includes northwest Wyoming.When brucellosis infects domestic cattle, costly testing restrictions can be imposed on cattle producers throughout an entire state. For this and a variety of other reasons, Wyoming is working hard to manage brucellosis throughout the northwest corner of the state. Wyoming Brucellosis Coordination Team In 2004, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal created the Wyoming Brucellosis Coordination Team to chart a course for brucellosis management in the future. The team presented the governor with 28 recommendations for actions to help manage and control the disease in elk, wild bison, and cattle. Today, many of those actions are being implemented, and the combined efforts of agencies, landowners, and others are bringing measurable success in the battle against this stubborn disease. Website Design by Wyoming Network, Inc.	19,269
There are many definitions of poverty. Apart from the commonly-held view that it is material deprivation causing starvation and homelessness, another opinion sees 'poverty' as denoting a variety of forms of societal exclusion, whether economic, social, material or political. However, both definitions share the idea that 'poverty' is exclusion from what society deems a normal standard of living, and, at the same time, of powerlessness to change the situation. There is little doubt that in England a form of poverty not only exists, but is extremely commonplace. However, one cannot compare poverty in England to that of the 'Third World' or the 'South,' because the policies of British governments since the end of the Second World War have essentially ensured that material poverty on that scale does not really exist in this country any more. Therefore, in this article I am not trying to argue that poverty in England is as pressing an issue as it is in developing countries, since English poverty is of a different nature and extent, and born of different circumstances. Our type of poverty presents difficult problems to those trying to tackle it. This is highlighted by the fact that Britain was the first industrialised nation to be made the subject of an independent development report, which was called Poverty in Plenty: A Human Development Report for the UK, published in 2000 by the United Nations Environment and Development UK Committee (UNED-UK). It is still the most comprehensive report available on poverty, employment, housing and the environment in present-day Britain. At the time the report was written, the committee found that Britain ranked highly --tenth—in the Human Development Index (HDI), a system based on life expectancy, literacy, education and standard of living. By 2006, however, it had fallen to eighteenth place, despite having the fifth largest economy in the world, according to market exchange rates. This clearly indicates that, although England is generally perceived as a prosperous and wealthy country, significant class inequality still exists. The report also discovered that, despite its relatively high HDI score, Britain does not do as well in the Human Poverty Index for industrial countries (HPI-2). This index measures mortality rates (the number of people not expected to reach sixty), functional illiteracy, income (the number living on less than 50 % of the median disposable income) and long term unemployment ('long term' refers to periods of twelve months or more). It seeks to identify areas of social exclusion, rather than just material deprivation. Britain ranks fifteenth out of seventeen countries, only slightly better off than Ireland and the USA. This index proves that a country's economic wealth does not guarantee that wealth will be fairly distributed; on the contrary, countries with large economies and highly integrated markets often exhibit economic inequalities. The countries that score highest in the HPI-2 are Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark, all of which have strong, well-funded welfare systems. In Britain, the welfare state suffered a great blow during the eighties under the Thatcher-led Conservative government. Thatcher pledged to bolster the economy by lowering taxes for businesses and the rich, and this was essentially paid for by slashing budgets for state benefits, such as pensions and income support. The result of this was that between 1977 and 1992, the number of people in Britain living on less than half of the national average income rose from 10% to 25%. This number has stayed almost exactly the same ever since, because the Labour government has failed time and again to rectify the problem. Thus, even though the economy continues to perform well, almost a quarter of people in Britain live below the poverty line as established by the HPI-2. The UNED-UK report concludes that before the government can improve the situation, it must recognise that national economic prosperity does not ensure a good overall standard of living. Ann Pettifor, the director of Jubilee 2000, puts it thus in the report: "The economics that dominates Britain - loosely known as globalisation - is a kind of religion which dictates that the worship of money should take preference over common human values like the sharing of wealth and the right to a decent life." This is one side of the argument on poverty in England and Britain, focussing on the economic forces and ideologies that underpin social exclusion and material deprivation. People working in development assess poverty very objectively, seeing it as the product of societal forces and power structures. However, there is another school of thought, largely concentrated amongst conservative thinkers and politicians, that views poverty as a result of personal choices and therefore a matter of individual responsibility. One of the most qualified, and outspoken, writers on poverty in England is the retired doctor Theodore Dalrymple. He has written frequently in opposition to liberalism, arguing that many left-leaning thinkers blame social structures for the criminal and anti-social actions of individuals. In his book Life at the Bottom: The Worldview That Makes the Underclass, Dalrymple suggests that this liberal idea that criminals should not be blamed for their actions has gradually led to an undermining of the values that bind functional societies together. In a series of topical essays, he argues that poverty in England therefore cannot be blamed on social or economic structures, or on racism, sexism, or any other form of discrimination, but on the mindset of the underclass. He illustrates all his arguments with personal anecdotes about his experiences as a doctor in a poor London borough. In the following passage, he recounts the response of a medical student from Madras when he asked him whether he would describe a patient's problem as 'poverty': "He said it was not....her problem was that she accepted no limits to her behaviour, that she did not fear the possibility of hunger, the condemnation of her own parents or neighbours, or God. In other words, the squalor of England was not economic but spiritual, moral and cultural." Dalrymple goes on to argue that the poverty he witnessed when working in under-developed countries in Africa and south-east Asia is not of the same genesis as that in England. He claims that, even though the vast majority of people in England do not have to worry about their basic dietary or housing requirements, as is the case in the developing world, in no other place has he seen "the loss of dignity, the self-centredness, the spiritual and emotional vacuity, or the sheer ignorance of how to live that I see daily in England." For Dalrymple, this has led him to conclude that although England is a prosperous and industrialised nation, "the worst poverty is in England -and it is not material poverty but poverty of the soul." These are strong words, implying a completely different root cause of poverty to the one normally presented. The idea that poverty derives from a personal mindset, that it is the responsibility of the individual, will inevitably provoke condemnation from the left, but Dalrymple might have a point -to some extent. Although income is concentrated, there are opportunities to gain a solid education. In this context, Dalrymple highlights the disproportionately high number -around one quarter—of British medical students from an Asian background, to argue that despite growing up in what are often low-income families, people can succeed if they have sufficient discipline and will. From his perspective, a large number of people in England, mainly from white communities, almost choose to fail: many reject education early on because they do believe it will help them in real life. As a result, they do not gain the qualifications that would allow them to get long-term skilled employment. In addition to its high poverty rates, the UK also has some of the highest rates in Europe for teenage pregnancy, teenage drug and alcohol abuse, and divorce. Some critics see these trends as part of a general moral deterioration, perhaps deriving from the loss of religious principles and sense of community. A recent poll by the Guardian/ICM Research found that only a third of those questioned would describe themselves as religious, and 82% agreed that religion does more harm to societies than good. The poll suggests that England is becoming increasingly secular, perhaps in response to the more widespread tensions between different faith groups. However, it is hard to make the case that it is entirely secular; it is still living within the remnants of a Christian ideology and morality that have only recently begun to decline. Arguably, Christian ideas of right and wrong, of sin and virtue, are still prevalent in the England. Furthermore, secularism need not imply a loss of morality or personal responsibility, but means rather that the rules guiding society should not be based on religion or superstition; arguably, religious values could be superseded by something better and more humane. We should not lose sight of the fact that poverty has existed in England for as long as Christianity has, and, despite the greater strength of Christianity in the past, the various Poor Laws and the nineteenth-century workhouses did not do as much as the welfare state to reduce material deprivation. Perhaps the reason why the decline of religion seems to be linked to the increase in poverty in England is simply that religious belief has not been replaced by anything tangible, making us aware of the gap that it used to fill. Therefore there are two dominant arguments about poverty in England and the UK. Both conservatives and liberals recognise that there is a significant problem; however, liberals and those working in development tend to place the blame for poverty rates on economic factors, whereas conservatives often argue that they are the result of declining morality, and perhaps of a lack of religious faith. One side thus sees poverty as the responsibility of governments, and the other as the responsibility of individuals. Without a doubt, personal choices have an impact on poverty levels: the choice to spend Ł5 a day on cigarettes, drugs, or drink, the choice not to stay in education, or the choice not to look for work, all negatively affect a person's circumstances. But such people are not the whole underclass, by a long shot, and it stands to reason that most people would not live in poverty if they had the opportunity to escape it. Thus it seems that the most pressing challenge faced by those living in poverty in England is that of gaining recognition from the politicians responsible for implementing social and economic policies. This would require leaders to accept that a strong and stable economy does not guarantee the eradication of social exclusion, and that open markets and globalisation are often implemented at the expense of sustainability. Journalist Nick Davies is perhaps the most important writer campaigning for this recognition. I shall close with a quote from his book Dark Heart: The Shocking Truth About Hidden Britain: "There is no crusade against poverty in Britain. No leading politician demands full employment for the country's workforce. No prominent public figure insists that the wealth which was taken from the poor and given to the rich during the conservative years should now be returned. There is only the immense jabber of the powerful who are surrounded by the victims of their affluence and who yet continue to know nothing of the undiscovered country of the poor." --Alexander Flux	36,911
in West Africa (Photo taken by Paul Bravender-Coyle during Mission to Africa. Copyright P Bravender-Coyle). Society estimates that there are 8,000 girl-slaves — slaves in the fullest sense of the term — in West Africa today. These girls are hierodulic slaves, combining the roles of agricultural slave, domestic slave, temple slave and sex slave. offered as human sacrifice to ensure success in war, these girls are the helpless victims of a traditional form of slavery which has survived intact since the pre-colonial era. These slaves live in villages just a half-day’s journey inland from the very coast from which slaves were once shipped to the Americas. from their mothers from the age of four, these girls work from dawn to dusk in the fields. From the age of five they are beaten with canes or with specially-made wire whips. They are raped from as young as eight years old. Their masters, the voodoo priests, claim the traditional right of masters since the dawn of history to free sexual access to the slaves, and the girls are beaten into submission if they material in this report is based on a Mission to West Africa by the Society's Secretary-General. SOCIETY IN ACTION Since 1996, the Society, in discharging its historic role, has purchased the emancipation or manumission of over 500 of these slave girls, despite the efforts of the other masters waging a vigorous campaign against the emancipation of their slaves, either by refusing to permit their slaves to be purchased or demanding exorbitant prices for them. IS THE SOCIETY IN ACTION more information, read the Society’s publication entitled The Forgotten Slaves to pages dealing with slavery in West Africa: West African slave trade to other pages dealing hierodulic servitude: hierodulic servitude in South Asia to other pages dealing with slavery: slavery still exist? slavery in South Asia on the cocoa plantations in West Africa to pages dealing with other servile conditions falling short of slavery: not responsible for the content of external internet pages.	10,121
If you see any of your teeth turning black, or any black teeth in your mouth, it is a sure sign that something needs to be done immediately, and you absolutely must go to the dentist. It can be because of three things, tooth decay, a dead tooth or a very virulent sort of plaque, but both absolutely need immediate investigation. Here is a breakdown of what must be done to counteract the negative effects of black teeth. Certain kinds of plaque are black. If your teeth are “merely” colonised by black plaque and tartar, then you can consider yourself lucky, as this means that you got the better deal. This si still pretty awful, as this kind of plaque is very likely to cause demineralisation of your tooth enamel, and tooth decay pretty soon. It is also usually a result of tar, and is thus carcinogenic, causes periodontitis, and most of all, is very unsightly. Your teeth will appear black and festering, even if they are not, so we highly recommend getting the plaque and tartar removed, as otherwise you risk your social standing. Black teeth are traditionally associated with tooth decay, and this is an association that stands. Black teeth are usually the result of tooth decay, meaning that the enamel has been so damaged that the bacterial life living in it has turned the walls of the tooth black. This means the tooth is unstable, and most likely will need to be removed, if the teeth are black, although sometimes the roots may keep good for a surprisingly long amount of time. Black teeth after root canal treatment Sometimes a tooth that is not decaying can turn black. If a tooth dies and blood gets into the tooth chamber, the blood starts to decompose and colours the tooth black. This only happens to teeth that have no internal structures, so ones that have been root canaled already. These teeth frequently change from pink to black. Prevention is the best medicine You should not let your teeth turn black in your mouth. There are so many signs before things get this serious, that it is hard to believe that patients do not notice them beforehand. Don’t be one of those people who let their fear of the dentist control them and let their teeth rot out of their heads, and do not idle away and put it off: even if it does not hurt black teeth are a very serious problem and need attention immediately!	13,290
As Educators, every year we come across learners from different cultures. This becomes a challenge sometimes to reach each one of them as their learning patterns are also different from each other. At GGIS, we follow TLIM as a culture in school. Yes, you read it right TLIM as a culture. This is the culture at GGIS in which students follow 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Stephen Covey. As learners have different learning patterns and expectations, they have different leadership roles to exhibit their leadership qualities also. In this process imagine if they communicate in a common language, how effective would be to have a win-win understanding of the big rocks of life. Knowing all this as a passionate educator pulled me to become a part of GGIS. When l observed learners in this culture that eased my work to connect with them. When any discussions, inquiries, tasks, or explanations in the class are discussed with TLIM language, then all the learners are able to comprehend easily. This helps the learners to stay focused on their goals in common and in-person with clear expectations and thinking ahead cognitively. This is the ‘Sparkle of TLIM in subjects’. Considering all the big rocks and consequences, the TLIM program encourages learners to think ahead with a plan and prepare an effective pathway to achieve it. By Amee Bhayani Educator @ GGIS	57,606
You may not have to own your own roof to access solar energy. The White House announced a wide range of initiatives for sun-powered energy on Tuesday to increase lower and middle income families' access to renewable energy. The announcement is another Congress-free step in the Obama administration’s actions on climate change and green energy, relying instead on executive action by the Obama administration, collaboration between state and local governments, and private sector efforts. The White House will slash electric bills for low-income households and make affordable housing greener by committing 300 megawatts of solar power for subsidized housing by 2020. That would triple the current 100 MW solar commitment to federally subsidized housing, a goal set by in 2013 and already exceeded five years ahead of schedule. The new plan will expand solar community projects, make it easier for homeowners to borrow money for solar projects, and create a nationwide program to help renters gain access to solar energy, officials said Tuesday. States, localities, philanthropists, and private corporations have pledged $520 million for new investments in community solar, to be focused on low-income communities. Power companies, rural electric co-ops, and housing authorities are putting in place 260 projects to expand low-income solar access. In June 2013, President Obama laid out his climate action plan, detailed in his 2014 State of the Union. Since then, The Guardian reports, the administration has taken initial action on all 75 goals to cut carbon pollution, prepare the US for climate change, and help reach a global warming deal. The emphasis on solar energy comes at a time when the cost of solar panels is dropping significantly and Americans’ reliance on renewable energy is growing each year. Solar more than doubled, and wind energy grew by over 8 percent from 2013 to 2014, The Washington Post reported. Still, renewable and green energy make up less than a tenth of energy consumption in the US, though its growth rate is outpacing coal and gas, according to a report by Solar Energy Industries Association. Access to solar panels had largely been reserved for the wealthy, for those who owned roofs outright and could buy the pricey technology. But as solar has gotten cheaper, and state governments and the Department of Housing and and Urban Development (HUD) have rallied around renewable energy as a way of cutting costs for low-income communities, that could change. Currently, 49.1 million households earning less than $40,000 per year make up 40 percent of all US households, but account for less than five percent of solar installations, according to a report from George Washington University. Community solar projects, like those announced Tuesday, help renters and those in subsidized housing benefit from solar energy, noted the report. Community projects are typically larger and therefore more cost effective than individual rooftop systems, plus they allow for partial ownership of solar technology that may better match the need and ability of lower-income families to invest in solar. Perhaps most importantly for low-income families, access to renewable energy cuts monthly utility bills. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D) of Maryland said his office routinely receives calls from constituents who struggle to afford utilities. The programs announced Tuesday will not only help the planet but also save money for families who could not otherwise gain access to renewable energy, he told The New York Times. “The difference in a monthly bill of $10 or $15 means a lot to the people who live on my block,” Mr. Cummings said.	47,189
The solar industry has emerged as a major economic driver and is becoming a robust industry. Over 170,000 people are employed by the solar industry. Solar is providing increasingly cheaper and more reliable power, while allowing for domestic energy independence. In 2014, 32% of all new electric generation came from solar, largely because solar is economically viable. The abrupt end to this program will crush growth and set the industry back. What is needed is a clear ramp to allow a transition to new business models that allow for continued and possibly accelerated growth. You may have seen Schwarzenegger’s facebook post about climate change, but what you might not know is that he started the Million Solar Roofs initiative, which lead into the California Solar Initiative. Read on to find how why we should follow this model and extend the ITC.	29,209
What digital tools and resources do folk artists in England use? a) What are the most common uses of digital tools and resources? - Which publicly available digital tools and resources are used (e.g. The Full English, YouTube, blogging tools, podcasts, etc.)? - Which digital gadgets are used (e.g. recording technologies: solid-state field recorders; mobile phones; digital sound editing software, etc.)? - Are technologies used in combination, and if so how? - What particular functions do digital resources fulfil for the folk musician or dancer? b) What effect does culture have on the use of digital tools and resources? - Do folk artists that are involved in different traditions/cultures utilise digital tools and resources in the same ways, and for the same - To what extent, and in what ways, are patterns of digital activity dictated, limited or otherwise affected by musical or ergonomic features ofthe traditions studied? How do folk artists in England engage with digital tools and resources? a) Do folk artists consider the use of modern digital tools and resources in relation to the ‘folk’ nature of the music they perform? - Do folk musicians and dancers imagine their engagement with digital tools and resources to be significantly different from that of other kinds of musicians and dancers, and if so, how? - Does a concept of tradition inform or otherwise affect the ways in which digital resources are employed by musicians and dancers in these genres? - What are the boundaries of acceptable practice with relation to digital resources in folk cultures, and what are the consequences of their transgression? b) To what extent, if any, is the relationship between folk practitioners and digital materials different across different folk activities? - To what degree are the nature and extent of digital activity dictated by cultural facets such as group identity? - And to what degree are they affected by individual choice? What are the effects of digital tools and resources on the folk arts in England? a) What impact have digital tools and resources had on the popularity and profile of folk arts in England? - How has digital technology changed the popularity or profile of the folk arts in England, if at all? - Have digital tools and resources changed how and what is taught in the folk arts in England? b) What can we see has changed and what might change soon? - How can digital tools and resources be tailored to the needs and uses of artists? - Do folk artists want more or less digital tools and resources? - Is current use of digital tools or resources for the folk arts in England limited by format or content?	42,187
Posted by Jen on Saturday, November 18, 2006 at 8:56pm. Again from applications of derivatives.. what is the largest possible area for a right triangle whose hypotneus is 5cm long, and what are its dimensions. a^2 + b^2 = c^2 3^2 + 4^2 = 5^2 Area of a triangle 1/2 base times altitude base is 3 altitude is 4 The formula for the area is: A = 1/2 ab (1) where a and b are the two sides that meet at the right angle. The hypotenuse is sqrt[a^2 + b^2]. So, you must maximize A while keeping a^2 + b^2 fixed: a^2 + b^2 = 25cm^2 (2) There are three ways to solve such problems. The first way is what you learn in school and is straightforward but sometimes tedious method of eliminating variables from the constraints and finding the maximum for the remaining free variables. In this case you have two variables (a and b), and 1 constraint. You can use the constraint to eliminate, say, b: b = sqrt[25 cm^2 - a^2] You can plug this equation into the formula for A in Eq. (1) A = 1/2 ab = 1/2 asqrt[25 cm^2 - a^2] The next step is then to differentiate this w.r.t. a and set the derivative equal to zero. The second method is to find a clever parametrization that will automatically satisfy the constraint. In this case you can put: a = h cos(theta) b = h sin(theta) where h is the length of the hypotenuse and is equal to 5 cm. Then A becomes: 1/2 h^2 cos(theta)sin(theta)= 1/4 h^2 sin(2 theta). Finding the maximum of this function is much easier! A third method is to use the method of Lagrange multipliers. This is convenient when you can't solve the constraint equations or find suitable parametrizations that satisfy the contraints. According to this metod you must equate the derivatives of the function you wish to extremize to a linear combination of the derivatives of the constraint functions. In this case it works as follows. If you put g(a,b) = a^2 + b^2, then dA/da = lambda dg/da dA/db = lambda dg/db where the derivatives are so-called partial derivatives, you evaluate them by keeping the other variables constant and lambda is an undetermined constant that you can fix later using the constraint So, you get the equations: 1/2 b = lambda2a 1/2 a = lambda2b If you divide these two equations you find that b/a = a/b ---> a = b I followed the first method and set the derivative of A equal to 0. I got the following answers for a a = +5,-5, +5/sqrt(2), -5/sqrt(2) Am I right? What's next? I don't think the values of +/- 5 are correct. The other values do look ok. You need to take the positive value so, it's a = 5/sqrt(2). You then plug that into the equation for A. You could have saved some work by maximizing A^2 instead of A. Because if A is at it's maximum, so is A^2 and vice versa. The function A^2 is proportional to a^2[25 cm^2 - a^2] You can then put a^2 = x and consider this as a function of x: x[25 cm^2 -x] and maximize this as a function of x. You find x = 25 cm^2/2 and thus a = 5cm/sqrt(2) Thank you . I got it. Answer this Question math - find the largest possible value of s=2x+y if x and y are side lengths in ... Algebra - How do you find the area of a shaded area in a triangle and assume the... math - Suppose you have enough material for 60 feet of fencing. With this ... Math - The first question is this: Helen designs a rectangle with an area of 225... closing off first quadrant - You are planning to close off the corner of the ... 3rd grade math - Emma has 36 feet of fence. She wants to make the largest ... geometry - given constant perimeter (people),Irene made a rectangle with an area... Math - consider a triangle with vertices (a,b), (c,d), (e,f), with the area of ... algebra2 - A farmer has 600 yards of fence. He will use some of the fence to ... math (calculus) - you have 704m of fencing to enclose 3 adjacent plots(not the ... For Further Reading	25,386
I’m often asked how commodity futures trading got its start. For the U.S. futures markets, it all started in Chicago in 1849. At the time, Chicago was a major commercial center for agricultural products. Farmers (sellers) and agricultural dealers (buyers) began creating ‘contracts’ between each other to set prices for ‘future’ delivery. For example, a wheat farmer may enter into an agreement to sell 5,000 bushels of his wheat to a flourmill at a specified price in 3 months. By doing so, the farmer knew in advance what he will be paid for his wheat and the flourmill knew exactly what his cost will be in 3 months to purchase the wheat. Neither party had to wonder what wheat prices might be in the future. As this practice of creating these contracts for ‘future delivery’ developed between producer and user, these ‘futures contracts’ began to be bought and sold by third parties, either for there own use or for speculation. Another benefit that arose from the exchanging of futures contacts was the benefit of hedging to both the farmers and dealers. They both now had a way to ‘lock in’ or ‘hedge’ their price for a future delivery date. Let’s look at a specific example. Let’s say in July, a corn farmer wants to hedge his crop for delivery in November. With spot (cash) corn prices currently at $4.00 per bushel and the December corn futures price at $4.25, the farmer will attempt to lock this price in by selling December corn futures with his commodity futures broker. If he expects to bring 10,000 or more bushels to market in November, he would sell 2 December corn futures contracts (1 corn futures contract represents 5,000 bushels of corn) at a price of $4.25 per bushel. Come November, the price of corn has fallen to a current spot (cash) price of corn is $3.77 per bushel and the December futures price is at $3.95. The farmer would then sell his 10,000 bushels of corn for $3.77 per bushel and liquidate or buy back his 2 short corn futures contracts at $3.95 as well. Although corn is now trading at $0.23 less per bushel from back in July, he gained $0.30 per bushel with his futures contracts thus giving him a net selling price of $4.07 per bushel. As you can see, the farmer actually came out $0.07 per bushel better than he expected. For a dealer or purchaser of corn, a reverse hedge would be used. The dealer would have bought December corn futures contracts as opposed to selling them to hedge their future corn purchase price. I hope you’ve found this post interesting. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have on hedging with commodity futures. Insignia Futures & Options is currently accepting new futures trading accounts. If you don’t already have your own Insignia Futures & Options trading account, I invite you to open yours today… Principal Futures Broker Series 3 & Series 30 Registered Toll Free: 1-866-892-2030 Insignia Futures & Options, Inc.	17,005
Written by: Sara Sladoje Something that just came up in a GRASP moms’ group recently was the issue of separation anxiety with toddlers. It is important to always say goodbye when separating to connect words with actions and establish a pattern. This helps set your child’s expectations and provide a greater sense of security. Knowing what will happen next, even if it’s not something your child likes, maintains your little one's sense of trust and consistency. As we all know, our anxiety actually increases when there is no sense of what is coming. When you suddenly disappear, your toddler feels anxiety that will likely make him/her clingier when you are around, since there is no “word” or routine associated with your departure. So although it might seem easy at first to “sneak” out, in the long run it will create increased clinginess in your little one and difficulty when leaving or staying. - Use the word “goodbye.” - Keep it short. - Give a concrete cue/reminder that you will return—when the clock says 3:00 or after circle time at daycare. - Keep the routine the same. - Leave a reminder of you to help your child transition—a sticker on his/her shirt or your photo. - Play separation games like peek-a-boo and hide and seek to demonstrate leaving and returning. - Again, short but consistent!	10,981
As a PhD candidate, maybe you think you’re above Twitter. Maybe you’ve only seen it used for egotistical self promotion, or worse just to share with the world what someone ate for lunch. However, I’m here to say that Twitter is actually the best way to connect quickly with teachers of like-mindedness, as well as with teachers who will boggle your mind with what they do in their classroom. Twitter is a powerful learning tool for educators. While George Couros, author of Innovator’s Mindset, doesn’t say you HAVE to be on Twitter to be innovative, he has said, that many teachers who are innovative happen to be on Twitter. There’s just something about connecting with other educators around the world that helps us to have a more balanced and global approach to what we do in the classroom. To encourage you to consider Twitter as a viable professional development (PD) tool, I’ve started a tutorial series titled “Twitter for Innovative Thinkers.” Part 1 is called “Educator’s Guide to Twitter: The Profile Page.” In this first tutorial I explain how Twitter is used by innovative people (compared to popular culture) and I then go through the elements of a Twitter profile page to prepare YOU to set up our own account. In Part 2 titled “Hashtags and other Twitter Terms I Don’t Know” I will share the construction of a tweet along with the importance of a hashtag. Coming soon. I double-dog dare you to open a Twitter account today and begin experiencing learning (as a teacher) like never before! Have Fun! ~Dr. Darci Harland	47,313
Good Behavior Game Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a classroom-based behavior management strategy for elementary school that teachers use along with a school's standard instructional curricula. GBG uses a classroom-wide game format with teams and rewards to socialize children to the role of student and reduce aggressive, disruptive classroom behavior, which is a risk factor for adolescent and adult illicit drug abuse, alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking, antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and violent and criminal behavior. GBG is structured around four core elements: classroom rules, team membership, self- and team-behavior monitoring, and positive reinforcement of individual team members and the team as a whole. In each 1st-grade classroom, the teacher assigns all children to one of three teams with an equal number of girls and boys; aggressive, disruptive children; and shy, socially isolated children. The assignments are made on the basis of an initial 10-week observation period at the start of the school year. Basic classroom rules of student behavior are posted, and the whole team is rewarded if team members commit a total of four or fewer infractions of the classroom rules during game periods. For the first 3 weeks, GBG is played three times a week for 10 minutes each time during periods of the day when the classroom environment is less structured and the students are working independently of the teacher. Game periods are increased in length and frequency at regular intervals; by mid-year the game is played every day. Initially, the teacher announces the start of a game period and gives rewards at the conclusion of the game. Later, the teacher initiates game periods without announcement and defers rewards until the end of the school day or week. Over time, GBG is played at different times of the day and during different classroom tasks, so the game evolves from being highly predictable in timing and occurrence with immediate reinforcement to being unpredictable with delayed reinforcement. The children continue to participate in GBG through 2nd grade, where they are assigned to new classrooms and new teams. Training is required for the teachers who implement the intervention as well as for their coaches, who work with, support, and supervise them. Schools that implement the program may choose to extend GBG beyond 2nd grade. In the study reviewed for this summary, children received GBG over 2 years, in 1st and 2nd grade, and their class assignments in 1st grade remained the same in 2nd grade.	27,070
Maria came to Alma del Mar a few weeks in to her third grade year. She had an extensive IEP and struggled with the structure of the classroom, including raising her hand and staying in her seat. When she arrived for her first day as a third grader at Alma del Mar, Maria did not know her letter sounds and was unfamiliar with basic math concepts like addition. English language instruction was also a challenge since she only spoke Spanish at home. Learning was hard for Maria and, as a result, she didn’t want to go to school. The Alma del Mar team began providing Maria with extra supports, including daily one-on-one help in literacy and math. Alma teachers met Maria’s learning needs by creating pictorial booklets to help her remember reading and math strategies. Maria caught on quickly, coming in every day prepared to learn and utilize the strategies she had been taught. It wasn’t long before she was waking up her mother in the morning, wanting to be sure she’d be at school on time! Maria wanted to be pushed academically, striving to learn more and enjoying the challenge. For the first time, she had the tools to be academically successful. By the end of the school year, Maria was reading on grade level. She passed her math interim exam and scored an 80% on her literacy interim exam. She no longer struggles with the structure or expected behaviors of the classroom. This year, Maria is in the fourth grade at Alma del Mar. She is thriving academically, personally and socially. Jeremy had already been held back in first grade. With third grade just around the corner, Jeremy still couldn’t read. He struggled with anxiety and had very low self-esteem. He had been diagnosed with dyslexia, but he still wasn’t advancing academically. Jeremy joined Alma’s third grade this past August. He didn’t know his alphabet and was reading on a kindergarten level. At first, Jeremy was very nervous about going to Alma. School had always been hard and the lessons just didn’t make sense to him. He would say, “I’m just not smart.” It wasn’t long before he changed his mind. At Alma, Jeremy started receiving one-on-one tutoring from a dedicated volunteer, one-on-one conferencing four times per week with the literacy interventionist to focus on phonics and reading skills, one-on-one daily check-ins with his teachers, extra math support after school, typing lessons and special testing accommodations for his dyslexia, and occupational therapy. As of May, Jeremy has grown by eight reading levels (more than a full year’s worth of progress). He has also made huge progress in math thanks to Alma’s use of Singapore math with its focus on a strong conceptual understanding. “He really feels that his teachers are helping him. He doesn’t cry in the mornings anymore – he’s excited to go to school,” says Jeremy’s mother. Recently, Jeremy’s mother was washing the dishes in the kitchen while Jeremy and his sixth-grade cousin played in the other room. Even from the other room she could hear the pride in her son’s voice as he said, “Guess what? I went up 5 reading levels!” His mother couldn’t be more thrilled. “He’s proud of himself for the first time. My biggest goal for him this year was to increase his confidence, and that dream has already been fulfilled! Sometimes I think to myself, it’s only November and he’s already come so far!” Jeremy still has a long way to go to catch up to his peers, but for the first time, he is motivated and excited to learn.	6,685
From the publisher: A lavishly illustrated compendium of the art and history of animal anatomy from antiquity to today For more than two thousand years, comparative anatomy the study of anatomical variation among different animal species has been used to make arguments in natural philosophy, reinforce religious dogma, and remind us of our own mortality. This stunningly illustrated compendium traces the intertwined intellectual and artistic histories of comparative anatomy from antiquity to today. Stripped Bare brings together some of the most arresting images ever produced, from the earliest studies of animal form to the technicolor art of computer-generated anatomies. David Bainbridge draws on representative illustrations from different eras to discuss the philosophical, scientific, and artistic milieus from which they emerged. He vividly describes the unique aesthetics of each phase of anatomical endeavor, providing new insights into the exquisite anatomical drawings of Leonardo and Albrecht Dürer in the era before printing, Jean Héroard's cutting and cataloging of the horse during the age of Louis XIII, the exotic pictorial menageries of the Comte de Buffon in the eighteenth century, anatomical illustrations from Charles Darwin's voyages, the lavish symmetries of Ernst Haeckel's prints, and much, much more. Featuring a wealth of breathtaking color illustrations throughout, Stripped Bare is a panoramic tour of the intricacies of vertebrate life as well as an expansive history of the peculiar and beautiful ways humans have attempted to study and understand the natural world.	54,960
Whether you struggle with a mental health disorder, excessive stress or a substance abuse problem, evidence based therapy can help you find ways to better cope with negative thoughts and emotions. Mental health disorders and addiction are chronic, incurable conditions. Mental health conditions can cause disabling symptoms that prevent you from performing personal, employment or educational obligations. Finding an evidence based therapy program Utah residents trust can help you start healing and making positive progress. Addiction and substance abuse can cause physical and behavioral addictions. Since addiction causes changes to your brain and impacts your pleasure and reward center, evidence based therapy is a necessary component to successful treatment. When combined with the holistic addiction treatment Utah residents trust, addiction treatment can heal your mind, body, and spirit. Evidence based therapy strives to provide you with the tools and coping strategies you need to improve your conflict resolution and communication skills, as well as to manage symptoms. Learning how to identify, understand and cope with problematic symptoms can greatly improve your treatment outcomes. Evidence based therapy techniques are proven to work after extensive research and studies. As a result, they are deployed during mental health and substance abuse treatment. Overall, evidence based therapy helps each person learn new coping strategies and gain a better understanding of your thought process and emotions. What is Evidence Based Therapy? Evidence based therapy are treatment techniques that, after intensive research and studies, have been proven to help patients cope with or recover from mental health and substance abuse problems. An evidence based therapy program seeks to implement therapeutic approaches that help improve your mental health. Additionally, recognizing the cause of your emotional responses provides you with an understanding of how to adapt to and manage your symptoms. Evidence based therapy is based on communicating with and sharing your thoughts and feelings with a mental health professional. Psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and counselors provide individual counseling and group therapy sessions. What Treatments Are Available? Examples of evidence based therapy can include: - Exposure therapy, which is especially helpful in treating trauma-based disorders - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - Movement and Dance Therapy - Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy - Individual, group and family counseling Evidence based treatment can also include things like medication management and anger therapy. Group and individual therapy provide different benefits. Group therapy allows you to identify with others who share your struggles. This provides a mechanism for group accountability, which helps you remain honest about your recovery. Likewise, individual counseling focuses on your personal thoughts and feelings, how to cope with negative emotions and how to identify your personal triggers. Triggers are people, places or things that cause your symptoms to appear or worsen. Learning how to identify them is the first step in understanding how to cope with them. In essence, family and marital counseling help you and your loved ones improve your communication skills and remain on the same page during treatment. Evidence based treatments, as part of comprehensive addiction therapy services, offer uses different approaches that seek to unify your mind, body, and spirit. While holistic treatments have the ability to improve your overall health, there is less evidence available about their effectiveness. The Benefits of the Evidence Based Therapy Program Utah Trusts Evidence based therapy can help you address your mental health or substance abuse disorder symptoms and gain better insight about your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Improving self-awareness provides a powerful tool during recovery. Additionally, learning how to cope with triggers helps you find ways to manage your symptoms in a healthy manner. Sharing your feelings with a therapist can help you address repressed issues or find a supportive outlet for negative experiences. Finding Help Today In summary, when you or a loved one is battling a mental health or substance abuse disorder, you can sometimes feel overwhelmed or frustrated. Evidence based therapy and holistic treatments can help you find the strength to overcome mental health and substance abuse problems. Acqua Recovery is here to help you find recovery, understanding, and compassion. Call us today at 866.830.4628 to learn how our programs can help you.	58,125
A Good Start: Suggestions for Visual Conversations with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Babies and Toddlers Section IV: Gradually Modify Your Communication to Make Your Baby's Transition to Language Easier It has been known for many years that hearing parents of hearing babies use short and simple sentences with their babies between about 9 and 15 months of age (Bremner, 1988). This is when babies start to show that they understand language, and most babies themselves begin to produce language. Without really thinking about it, their parents give them a "model" of language that is easy to understand and easy to learn. Then, when the babies begin to talk more, parents gradually move onto more complicated language. The same general pattern has been noticed among deaf parents. When their deaf babies begin to understand signed language, deaf mothers start producing very short, simple, signed phrases and sentences. Research at Gallaudet University (and in Australia and the United Kingdom) shows that many deaf mothers produce mostly one- and two-sign phrases when their babies are about 12 months old (Mohay, 2000; Spencer & Lederberg, 1997; Harris, Clibbens, Chasin, & Tibbitts, 1989; Kantor, 1982; Kyle, Ackerman, & Woll, 1987). As children begin to use language themselves, parents don't need to produce many long sentences. It seems more important for the parents' language to follow the child's interest and that the language be produced where the child can see it. Of course, deaf mothers begin to use more and longer signed sentences after their children show that they understand more — and when the children themselves begin to produce more than one word or sign in a single phrase. However, in the early stages of a child's understanding and expression of language, hearing parents should feel comfortable signing short (even one-sign) sentences to the children. Like hearing parents with hearing babies, deaf mothers repeat signs and short sentences again and again. This gives the babies several chances to notice them and recognize the language patterns. Babies seem to find repeated language interesting. Deaf mothers also tap on objects, point, use interesting facial expressions, and use other strategies (discussed throughout this document) to help their babies see and pay attention to language. Hearing parents can use fingerspelling occasionally with young deaf and hard of hearing children. Although at first glance it seems fingerspelling would be difficult for children, researchers report that deaf parents use it — even with babies (Erting, Thumann-Prezioso, & Benedict, 2000). Researchers even think that occasional short fingerspelled words might give a child a first step toward learning about letters — and this can help later in learning to read. One hearing father who participated in my research told me a story about the way his deaf daughter showed her parents that it was all right to fingerspell to her. This child had a deaf teacher, who must have fingerspelled to her in her intervention program. But the parents had not seen this; they both thought it foolish to fingerspell to a young child. Surely it would be too hard to understand. One day, when their daughter was less than 3 years old, they noticed her standing in back of their car. She was looking carefully at the metal letters that spelled out its name. Then they saw her little fingers move: V-O-L-V-O, she spelled slowly and carefully. Once they got over their initial shock, they decided that fingerspelling wasn't too hard for her after all! One strategy deaf mothers use often — waiting for a child to look up before signing to them — means that deaf mothers tend to send fewer language messages to their babies than hearing mothers do in the same amount of time. Still, the signed language skills of deaf babies with deaf signing parents develop as quickly as the spoken language of hearing children (Spencer & Lederberg, 1997).	40,700
With an empire stretching across central Mexico, unmatched in military and cultural might, the Aztecs seemed poised on the brink of a golden age in the early sixteenth century. But the arrival of the Spanish changed everything. Imperialism and the Origins of Mexican Culture chronicles this violent clash of two empires and shows how modern Mestizo culture evolved over the centuries as a synthesis of Old and New World civilizations. Colin MacLachlan begins by tracing Spain and Mesoamerica’s parallel trajectories from tribal enclaves to complex feudal societies. When the Spanish laid siege to Tenochtitlán and destroyed it in 1521, the Aztecs could only interpret this catastrophe in cosmic terms. With their gods discredited and their population ravaged by epidemics, they succumbed quickly to Spanish control—which meant submitting to Christianity. Spain had just emerged from its centuries-long struggle against the Moors, and zealous Christianity was central to its imperial vision. But Spain’s conquistadores far outnumbered its missionaries, and the Church’s decision to exclude Indian converts from priesthood proved shortsighted. Native religious practices persisted, and a richly blended culture—part Indian, part Christian—began to emerge. The religious void left in the wake of Spain’s conquests had enduring consequences. MacLachlan’s careful analysis explains why Mexico is culturally a Mestizo country while ethnically Indian, and why modern Mexicans remain largely orphaned from their indigenous heritage—the adopted children of European history.	13,902
Table of Contents Is privet a native plant? Ligustrum Vulgare (Native Privet)- This bushy shrub is commonly found growing amongst hawthorn and blackthorn hedges as well as edging woodlands. Native privet is a semi-evergreen, baring dark green leaves with white flowers in the summer which are followed by black fruits in the autumn. Is privet native to the UK? Grows wild across England, Wales and southern Scotland; planted in Northern Ireland. How was privet introduced? Introduction. All nine species of privet currently in the southeast U.S. are invasive. The first species of privet was introduced into the United States in the 1700s as an ornamental plant used as a hedge or foliage for gardens. Why are privet trees bad? If you live in the north-east, then European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) also called common privet, is the main bad-guy. This is a plant that will grow rapidly and crowd out your garden, as well as producing some dull flowers that never the less seed profusely, and have already spread into many north-eastern forests. What is wrong with privet? Privets are susceptible to anthracnose, sometimes called twig blight. The disease attacks new shoots causing dieback and leaves, first appearing in brownish spots and eventually spreading across entire leaves. In privets, the disease is most often caused by the fungus Glomerella cingulata. Why is Chinese privet bad for the environment? “Chinese privet is the primary cause of the decline in the abundance and diversity of native herbaceous plants and tree seedlings in the areas along streams and rivers it infests.” Is privet poisonous to humans? Privet rapidly invades bush margins and waste areas, and may add to respiratory problems such as asthma and hayfever. The leaves and berries are poisonous to animals and humans. Is a privet hedge good for wildlife? One of the best pollution tolerant hedging plants, Privet will thrive in even in built up, urban areas. Wild Privet is a great wildlife friendly hedge as the foliage is a favourite choice for nesting birds and the pretty, white flowers are popular with both butterflies and bees. Why is the Chinese privet bad for the environment? Chinese privet tends to dominate the shrub layer of any habitat that it invades. It changes the natural species composition of the ecosystem by choking out native plant species. Privet shades out all herbaceous plants. Should I remove Chinese privet? They work best for single-stemmed plants but can also be used for some multistemmed clumps. Because privet has a shallow fibrous root system, pulling may severely disturb the soil and is not recommended along stream banks or steeply sloped areas where erosion may be of concern. How long do privet bushes live? Under the right conditions, this privet will live up to 30 years. The shrub will do its best in partial shade to full sun. It can adapt to both moist and dry conditions. For most homeowners, there will be no issues with these shrubs. Why is my privet bush dying? Based on the symptoms, the reason for your privet hedge to be dying is: A common privet killer – Honey Fungus (Armillaria) – a fungal disease that spreads through the soil. The fungi themselves tend to target weak or old plants. The older the plant is, the longer it takes to kill it. What kind of plant is a privet tree? Wild privet is a shrub of hedgerows, woodlands and scrub, but is also a popular garden-hedge plant. It has white flowers in summer and matt-black berries in winter that are very poisonous. Common. Wild privet is a common, semi-evergreen shrub of hedgerows, woodland edges and grassland scrub on well-drained calcareous soils. When was the privet introduced to the United States? Thus, privet is believed to be phylogenetically distinct compared to its native cousins. All nine species of privet currently in the southeast U.S. are invasive. The first species of privet was introduced into the United States in the 1700s as an ornamental plant used as a hedge or foliage for gardens. How many species of privet are there in the world? A privet is a flowering plant in the genus Ligustrum.The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and naturalised in Australasia, where only one species extends as a native into Queensland. What happens when privet is introduced to a forest? However, data suggest that forests containing large amounts of privet tend to have fewer trees, less shrub diversity, and decreased density of herbaceous plants. When introduced to an ecosystem, privet grows quickly and, given time, will produce a thick layer under the forest canopy preventing sunlight from reaching the native plants below.	31,539
8th February 2012 Parents urged to get their children vaccinated with MMR The Public Health Directorate has been notified of several cases of Mumps, Measles and a small number of cases of Rubella in the last few weeks. The Department of Health (DH) would urge all parents to get their children vaccinated against these diseases with MMR. Dr Parameswaran Kishore, Director of Public Health said “These diseases are not mild, they can cause serious complications; it is important to protect all children using MMR, which has a proven track record of safety and effectiveness.” Advice to parents: 1. If your child has not had full cover of MMR (2 doses), please make an appointment at you doctors surgery. 2. Please do not resort to the use of single vaccines for the three diseases. None of the single vaccines have been licensed by the Medicine and Health Regulatory Agency (MHRA) either because the manufacturers did not submit any evidence of safety or MHRA was not satisfied with the evidence. In other words the single vaccine is not as safe as MMR. 3. There have been several adverse effects with single vaccines. An alert notice was issued previously in connection with one of the single vaccines called Pavivac which was manufactured in Czech Republic. There have also been serious concerns regarding some of the clinics offering single vaccines. 4. There is evidence that the risk of anaphylaxis, which can be fatal, is 10 – 15 times greater with single vaccines than with MMR. Pam Kermode, Health Protection Nurse concluded “My message is simple – give MMR, do not give single vaccines.” Dr Kishore added “It is a great shame that even in this day and age; there is so much misinformation on health matters. Unfortunately such misinformation can cost lives. Do not take any risks with your child’s life – give MMR”	49,716
The following care group modules were developed by Food for the Hungry for care groups of 10-12 women. The materials are designed to teach household- level behaviors to prevent maternal and child malnutrition and death. The materials are used to teach mothers in small groups once every two weeks for up to two years. Games, activities and discussions noted in the flip chart are described in detail in the corresponding lesson plan. Note: All flip charts contain culturally appropriate illustrations for the specific country. ለእናቶችና አዲስ ለተወለዱ ጨቅላ ህፃናት የሚደረግ አስፈላጊ እንክብካቤ:እርግዝናና ድኅረ ወሊድ	49,519
Liam learned about the natural world by being right in it. In nature, he truly lights up. As a young person who struggled with conventional learning in a classroom setting, Liam wasn’t thriving at reading, writing and math. But then he found rare. At rare, a very young Liam found his first salamander – an often out-of-sight species that many don’t even know to look for. It was love at first sight when he made that discovery. Since then, Liam has been returning to rare every chance he gets. Liam attends ECO Camp, hikes on the weekends, and now volunteers his time. Every summer, he frequently spots species that can elude skilled naturalists, such as the smooth green snake and praying mantis. “It is when I spend time in nature and have the opportunity to learn about our natural environment that I am the most happy. The rare Charitable Research Reserve is important to me because it is protecting all the things I love most in this world.” Help us continue to connect scientists, naturalists and Indigenous knowledge keepers with youth in the community. Help us to continue to combine knowledges and inquiry in sciences and arts as we build more inclusive and creative educational models. Help us to continue to protect the land that is home to Liam’s favourite species. On Giving Tuesday, this December 3, your gift will ensure that rare is able to give more children the chance to benefit from all that nature has to offer. The best part about donating to rare’s Every Child Outdoors programming today is that all donations are being matched, up to a maximum of $5,000, by a generous donor. Every dollar given today has double the impact for our youth and our future. Give now for Liam and all children who need nature in their lives. By: Laura Klein, rare Gosling Engagement Coordinator	51,923
To use all functions of this page, please activate cookies in your browser. With an accout for my.bionity.com you can always see everything at a glance – and you can configure your own website and individual newsletter. - My watch list - My saved searches - My saved topics - My newsletter Virology, often considered a part of microbiology or of pathology, is the study of biological viruses and virus-like agents: their structure and classification, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their potential uses in research and therapy. Additional recommended knowledge Virus structure and classification A major branch of virology is virus classification. Viruses can be classified according to the host cell they infect: animal viruses, plant viruses, fungal viruses, and bacteriophages (viruses infecting bacteria, which include the most complex viruses). Another classification uses the geometrical shape of their capsid (often a helix or an icosahedron) or the virus's structure (e.g. presence or absence a lipid envelope). Viruses range in size from about 30 nm to about 450 nm, which means that most of them cannot be seen with light microscopes. The shape and structure of viruses can be studied with electron microscopy, with NMR spectroscopy, and most importantly with X-ray crystallography. The most useful and most widely used classification system distinguishes viruses according to the type of nucleic acid they use as genetic material and the viral replication method they employ to coax host cells into producing more viruses: In addition virologists also study subviral particles, infectious entities even smaller than viruses: viroids (naked circular RNA molecules infecting plants), satellites (nucleic acid molecules with or without a capsid that require a helper virus for infection and reproduction), and prions (proteins that can exist in a conformation which induces other protein molecules to assume that same conformation). The latest report by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2005) lists 5450 viruses, organized in over 2,000 species, 287 genera, 73 families and 3 orders. The taxa in virology are not necessarily monophyletic. In fact, the evolutionary relationships of the various virus groups remain unclear, and three hypotheses regarding their origin exist: It is of course possible that different alternatives apply to different virus groups. Of particular interest here is mimivirus, a giant virus that infects amoebae and carries much of the molecular machinery traditionally associated with bacteria. Is it a simplified version of a parasitic prokaryote, or did it originate as a simpler virus that acquired genes from its host? While viruses reproduce and evolve, they don't engage in metabolism and depend on a host cell for reproduction. The often-debated question of whether they are alive or not is a matter of definition that does not affect the biological reality of viruses. Viral diseases and host defenses One main motivation for the study of viruses is the fact that they cause many important infectious diseases, among them the common cold, influenza, rabies, measles, many forms of diarrhea, hepatitis, yellow fever, polio, smallpox and AIDS. Some viruses, known as oncoviruses, contribute to certain forms of cancer; the best studied example is the association between Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer. Some subviral particles also cause disease: Kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are caused by prions, and hepatitis D is due to a satellite virus. When the immune system of a vertebrate encounters a virus, it produces specific antibodies which bind to the virus and mark it for destruction. The presence of these antibodies is often used to determine whether a person has been exposed to a given virus in the past, with tests such as ELISA. Vaccinations protect against viral diseases, in part, by eliciting the production of antibodies. Specifically constructed monoclonal antibodies can also be used to detect the presence of viruses, with a technique called fluorescence microscopy. A second defense of vertebrates against viruses, cell-mediated immunity, involves immune cells known as T cells: the body's cells constantly display short fragments of their proteins on the cell's surface, and if a T cell recognizes a suspicious viral fragment there, the host cell is destroyed and the virus-specific T-cells proliferate. This mechanism is jump-started by certain vaccinations. RNA interference, an important cellular mechanism found in plants, animals and many other eukaryotes, most likely evolved as a defense against viruses. An elaborate machinery of interacting enzymes detects double-stranded RNA molecules (which occur as part of the life cycle of many viruses) and then proceeds to destroy all single-stranded versions of those detected RNA molecules. Every lethal viral disease presents a paradox: killing its host is obviously of no benefit to the virus, so how and why did it evolve? Today it is believed that most viruses are relatively benign in their natural host; the lethal viral diseases are explained as resulting from an "accidental" jump of the virus from a species in which it is benign to a new one that is not accustomed to it (see zoonosis). For example, serious influenza viruses probably have pigs or birds as their natural host, and HIV is thought to derive from the benign monkey virus SIV. While it has been possible to prevent (certain) viral diseases by vaccination for a long time, the development of antiviral drugs to treat viral diseases is a comparatively recent development. The first such drug was interferon, a substance that is naturally produced by certain immune cells when an infection is detected, thus stimulating other parts of the immune system. Molecular biology research and viral therapy Bacteriophages, the viruses which infect bacteria, can be relatively easily grown as viral plaques on bacterial cultures. Bacteriophages occasionally move genetic material from one bacterial cell to another in a process known as transduction, and this horizontal gene transfer is one reason why they served as a major research tool in the early development of molecular biology. The genetic code, the function of ribozymes, the first recombinant DNA and early genetic libraries were all arrived at using bacteriophages. Certain genetic elements derived from viruses, such as highly effective promoters, are commonly used in molecular biology research today. Growing animal viruses outside of the living host animal is more difficult. Classically, fertilized chicken eggs have often been used, but cell cultures are increasingly employed for this purpose today. Since viruses that infect eukaryotes need to transport their genetic material into the host cell's nucleus, they are attractive tools for introducing new genes into the host (known as transformation or transfection). Modified retroviruses are often used for this purpose, as they integrate their genes into the host's chromosomes. This approach of using viruses as gene vectors is being pursued in the gene therapy of genetic diseases. An obvious problem to be overcome in viral gene therapy is the rejection of the transforming virus by the immune system. Oncolytic viruses are viruses that preferably infect cancer cells. While early efforts to employ these viruses in the therapy of cancer failed, there have been reports in 2005 and 2006 of encouraging preliminary results. Other uses of viruses A new application of genetically engineered viruses in nanotechnology was recently described; seeVirus#Materials science and nanotechnology. A very early form of vaccination known as variolation was developed several thousand years ago in China. It involved the application of materials from smallpox sufferers in order to immunize others. In 1717 Lady Mary Wortley Montagu observed the practice in Istanbul and attempted to popularize it in Britain, but encountered considerable resistance. In 1796 Edward Jenner developed a much safer method, using cowpox to successfully immunize a young boy against smallpox, and this practice was widely adopted. Vaccinations against other viral diseases followed, including the successful rabies vaccination by Louis Pasteur in 1886. The nature of viruses however was not clear to these researchers. In 1892 Dimitri Ivanovski showed that a disease of tobacco plants, tobacco mosaic disease, could be transmitted by extracts that were passed through filters fine enough to exclude even the smallest known bacteria. In 1898 Martinus Beijerinck, also working on tobacco plants, found that this "filterable agent" grew in the host and was thus not a mere toxin. The question of whether the agent was a "living fluid" or a particle was however still open. In 1903 it was suggested for the first time that transduction by viruses might cause cancer. Such an oncovirus in chickens was described by Francis Peyton Rous in 1911; it was later called Rous sarcoma virus 1 and understood to be a retrovirus. Several other cancer-causing retroviruses have since been described. The existence of viruses that infect bacteria was first recognized by Frederick Twort in 1911, and, independently, by Felix d'Herelle in 1917. Since bacteria could be grown easily in culture, this led to an explosion of virology research. An important investigator in this area, Max Delbrück, described the basic life cycle of a virus in 1937: rather than "growing", a virus particle is assembled from its constituent pieces in one step; eventually it leaves the host cell to infect other cells. The Hershey-Chase experiment in 1952 showed that only DNA and not protein enters a bacterial cell upon infection with bacteriophage T2. Transduction of bacteria by bacteriophages was first described in the same year. While plant viruses and bacteriophages can be grown comparatively easily, animal viruses normally require a living host animal, which complicates their study immensely. In 1931 it was shown that influenza virus could be grown in fertilized chicken eggs, a method that is still used today to produce vaccines. In 1937, Max Theiler managed to grow the yellow fever virus in chicken eggs and produced a vaccine from an attenuated virus strain; this vaccine saved millions of lives and is still being used today. In 1949 John F. Enders, Thomas Weller and Frederick Robbins reported that they had been able to grow poliovirus in cultured human embryonal cells, the first significant example of an animal virus grown outside of animals and chicken eggs. This work aided Jonas Salk in deriving a polio vaccine from killed polio viruses; this vaccine was shown to be effective in 1955. The first virus which could be crystalized and whose structure could therefore be elucidated in detail was tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), the virus that had been studied earlier by Ivanovski and Beijerink. In 1935, Wendell Stanley achieved its crystallization for electron microscopy and showed that it remains active even after crystallization. Clear X-ray diffraction pictures of the crystallized virus were obtained by Bernal and Fankuchen in 1941. Based on such pictures, Rosalind Franklin proposed the full structure of the tobacco mosaic virus in 1955. Also in 1955, Heinz Fraenkel-Conrat and Robley Williams showed that purified TMV RNA and its capsid (coat) protein can assemble by themselves to form functional viruses, suggesting that this simple mechanism is likely the natural assembly mechanism within the host cell. In 1963, the Hepatitis B virus was discovered by Baruch Blumberg who went on to construct a vaccine against Hepatitis B. In 1965, Howard Temin described the first retrovirus: a RNA-virus that was able to insert its genome in the form of DNA into the host's genome. Reverse transcriptase, the key enzyme that retroviruses use to translate their RNA into DNA, was first described in 1970, independently by Howard Temin and David Baltimore. The first retrovirus infecting humans was identified by Robert Gallo in 1974. Later it was found that reverse transcriptase is not specific to retroviruses; retrotransposons which code for reverse transcriptase are abundant in the genomes of all eukaryotes. About 10-40% of the human genome derives from such retrotransposons. In 1975 the functioning of oncoviruses was clarified considerably. Until that time, it was thought that these viruses carried certain genes called oncogenes which, when inserted into the host's genome, would cause cancer. Michael Bishop and Harold Varmus showed that the oncogene of Rous sarcoma virus is in fact not specific to the virus but is contained in healthy animals of many species. The oncovirus can switch this pre-existing benign proto-oncogene on, turning it into a true oncogene. 1976 saw the first recorded outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever, a highly lethal virally transmitted disease. In 1977, Frederick Sanger achieved the first complete sequencing of the genome of any organism, the bacteriophage Phi X 174. In the same year, Richard Roberts and Phillip Sharp independently showed that the genes of adenovirus contain introns and therefore require gene splicing. It was later realized that almost all genes of eukaryotes have introns as well. A world-wide vaccination campaign lead by the UN World Health Organization lead to the eradication of smallpox in 1979. The first cases of AIDS were reported in 1981, and HIV, the retrovirus causing it, was identified in 1983 by Robert Gallo and Luc Montagnier. Tests detecting HIV infection by detecting the presence of HIV antibody were developed. Subsequent tremendous research efforts turned HIV into the best studied virus. Human Herpes Virus 8, the cause of Kaposi's sarcoma which is often seen in AIDS patients, was identified in 1994. Several anti-retroviral drugs were developed in the late 1990s, decreasing AIDS mortality dramatically in developed countries. The first attempts at gene therapy involving viral vectors began in the early 1980s, when retroviruses were developed that could insert a foreign gene into the host's genome. They contained the foreign gene but did not contain the viral genome and therefore could not reproduce. Tests in mice were followed by tests in humans, beginning in 1989. The first human studies attempted to correct the genetic disease severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), but clinical success was limited. In the period from 1990 to 1995, gene therapy was tried on several other diseases and with different viral vectors, but it became clear that the initially high expectations were overstated. In 1999 a further setback occurred when 18-year-old Jesse Gelsinger died in a gene therapy trial. He suffered a severe immune response after having received an adenovirus vector. Success in the gene therapy of two cases of X-linked SCID was reported in 2000. In 2002 it was reported that poliovirus had been synthetically assembled in the laboratory, the first synthetic organism. Assembling the 7741-base genome from scratch, starting with the virus's published RNA sequence, took about two years. In 2003 a faster method was shown to assemble the 5386-base genome of the bacteriophage Phi X 174 in 2 weeks. Two vaccines protecting against several cervical cancer-causing strands of human papillomavirus (HPV) were released in 2006. In 2006 and 2007 it was reported that introducing a small number of specific transcription factor genes into normal skin cells of mice or humans can turn these cells into pluripotent stem cells, known as Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. The technique uses modified retroviruses to transform the cells; this is a potential problem for human therapy since these viruses integrate their genes at a random location in the host's genome, which can interrupt other genes and potentially causes cancer. External links and sources \|This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Virology". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.\|	3,502
Hundreds of millions of people will become displaced from their homes because of climate change, while the populations of one-third of common land animals will severely decline, experts have said. Economist Lord Stern, who seven years ago led the writing of a government-commissioned review of climate change, has warned that communities are likely to be significantly impacted as a result of increased temperatures. His warning follows news that concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere surpassed levels of 400 parts per million (ppm) on Friday – the first time in three million years. “When temperatures rise [5C], we will have disrupted weather patterns and spreading deserts”, Lord Stern, head of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change, said in the Guardian. “Hundreds of millions of people will be forced to leave their homelands because their crops and animals will have died. “The trouble will come when they try to migrate into new lands, however. That will bring them into armed conflict with people already living there. Nor will it be an occasional occurrence. “It could become a permanent feature of life on Earth.” With carbon dioxide levels rising by 2-2.5ppm every year over the last 50 years, it looks unlikely that levels will remain below 450ppm – the maximum concentration that scientists say we must not exceed, in order to prevent the most dangerous consequences of climate change. Climate scientists have warned that this increase in both temperatures and carbon dioxide levels could lead to the spread of deserts, create agricultural failures and leave hundreds of millions homeless – all factors that could trigger widespread conflict. Meanwhile, other researchers predict that climate change could result in one-third of common land animals experiencing dramatic declines. The findings, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, are based on climate change simulations on a database of 48,786 animal and plant species. They predict that more than 50% of plants would be hit hard, leaving many habitats too hostile for species to depend upon. The collapse of these vital ecosystems would also negatively affect our access to clean drinking water, agriculture, air quality and tourism, the scientists say. “Our research predicts that climate change will greatly reduce the diversity of even very common species found in most parts of the world”, said Dr Rachel Warren, lead scientist of the report. “This loss of global-scale biodiversity would significantly impoverish the biosphere and the ecosystem services it provide.” Global carbon dioxide levels hit highest levels for three million years Loss of $200bn pollinating services will be harmful, scientists warn Tourism in Nepal threatened by flooding Climate change is responsible for extreme weather International Arctic forum launched to help alleviate region’s threats Like our Facebook Page The Lifecycle of Eco-Friendly Hydroponic Gardens Michael Stortini Shares Insights on Eco-Friendly Building Designs Remote Work Changes Human Resources for Green Businesses 7 Tips to Minimize the Negative Impact Businesses Have on the Environment You Need These Eco-Friendly Home Improvements Before the Coming Recession The Pros and Cons of Fixed Prices for Sustainable Energy How to Plan an Unforgettable Eco-Friendly Trip to Europe Is Decarbonizing The Shipping Industry an Achievable Goal? Designing Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits: Strategies for Reducing Environmental Impact Green Living, Education and Awareness Are Keys to Preventing Mesothelioma 6 Home Improvements You Can Make to Help the Environment Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Eco-Friendly Party Favors Made for the Garden Humane Pigeons Pest Control Tips Environmentalists Can Follow Environmental Impact of Artificial Grass for Your Lawn Choosing The Best Eco-Friendly Furniture Set for your Living Room How to Travel More Sustainably While Saving Money The Truth About The Environmental Impact of Dogs 6 Major Luxury Residential Projects Responding to Climate Change Planning an Eco-Friendly Bus Trip to Singapore with Friends Essential Findings to Include in Your Research Paper on Air Pollution - Energy11 months ago How To Choose the Right Solar Inverter for Your Home? - Energy11 months ago How to Choose the Best Solar Panel for Your Home - Environment11 months ago Reduce Industry Footprints with Sustainable Material Swaps - Environment10 months ago Is Smart Building Technology the Future of Sustainability?	39,336
The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building in Rome, initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building, located in the rione of Borgo, spent over a thousand years as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum.The tomb of the Roman emperor Hadrian was erected on the right bank of the Tiber, between 135 and 139. Originally the mausoleum was a decorated cylinder, with a garden top and golden quadriga. Hadrian's ashes were placed here a year after his death in Baiae in 138, together with those of his wife Sabina, and his first adopted son, Lucius Aelius, who also died in 138. Following this, the remains of succeeding emperors were also placed here, the last recorded deposition being Caracalla in 217. The urns containing these ashes were probably placed in what is now known as the Treasury room deep within the building. Hadrian also built the Ponte Sant'Angelo facing straight onto the mausoleum it still provides a scenic approach from the center of Rome and the right bank of the Tiber, and is renowned for the Baroque additions of statuary of angels holding aloft elements of the Passion of Christ. Much of the tomb contents and decoration has been lost since the building's conversion into a military fortress in 401 and inclusion by Flavius Augustus Honorius in the Aurelian Walls.	2,218
Center for Remote Sensing Earth & Marine Science Bldg. Santa Cruz, CA 95064 Maps & Directions Other UCSC Links: ©2005 UC Santa Cruz. Last reviewed by the CRS webmaster. FOCUS ON RESEARCH Remote sensing of the Earth and other Planetary surfaces is a rapidly growing science that cuts across a wide range of disciplines, including volcanic, tectonic, biologic, oceanographic and environmental studies of the Earth’s surface, as well as the search for past and present life on other planetary surfaces. It involves multispectral, hyperspectral and thermal imaging, RADAR and LiDAR imaging, and the engineering development of new remote sensing tools. The close interaction between scientists and engineers at UCSC distinguishes this program from many others and leads to exciting interdisciplinary ventures not possible without such interactions. Above Image: 3D visualization and temperature measurement within the crater of Mt. St. Helens, Washington. Topography from LiDAR and temperature values from MASTER thermal observations. Flown by the Airborne Sensor Facility on October 14, 2004. Image processed by JPL. UCSC takes over operation of NASA Ames Airborne Sensor Facility The University of California, Santa Cruz, has taken over the operation of NASA's Airborne Sensor Facility, a major program for observation and monitoring of Earth's environment based at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field. [More] UC Santa Cruz engineering students develop a coral reef monitoring system Five senior engineering students at the University of California, Santa Cruz, are trying to push the limits of low-power wireless transmission to facilitate the monitoring of remote natural environments. [More] UCSC to lead ambitious multidisciplinary research project on wireless communication networks Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, are leading a major collaborative effort to develop the technology for complex wireless communication networks that can be set up in rapidly changing environments such as battlefields and emergency situations. [More]	18,505
I’ve enjoyed building things with electronics from an early age. In elementary school, I enjoyed “snap together” circuits and creating simple circuits on breadboards that lit up LEDs or spun a motor. It was so fun to combine electronic parts and watch the circuit come to life. But the real game changer for me was being introduced to microcontrollers in high school. It allowed me to create more sophisticated gadgets by adding intelligent control to my electronics projects. A microcontroller is a single chip that contains all the components of a computer, including a processor, memory, and input/output peripherals. It’s designed to be embedded within a larger system and programmed to perform specific tasks. I was first introduced to microcontrollers at a weekend robotics program at a community college. We each got a small three-wheeled robot and programmed its microcontroller. We programmed it to zip around on the floor and avoid obstacles with sensors. I loved it! I started a robotics club at my high school and entered the Botball Robotics Competition. The task was to have a small robot pick up foam blocks and deposit them on designated areas of a board on a table. The robot’s microcontroller was programmed in the C programming language, which I didn’t have experience with at the time. There was a learning curve, but it was really fun! I got a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree with a specialization in digital and computer engineering. I worked as an electrical engineer before founding Sundae Electronics LLC with the mission of creating innovative and useful consumer electronics products for everyday life. I’m passionate about inventing. I want to encourage kids and students of all ages to learn C programming so they can create their own useful electronics devices and robots! The C language is the most popular programming language in embedded systems! The Arduino is a microcontroller development platform that is popular with beginners and programmed with C syntax and constructs. Since textbooks with traditional code examples can be boring, I wanted to create a book that would have fun C programming examples and be as visually appealing as a nicely illustrated picture book. I decided to create a unique picture book called A Day in Code - the story is written in code! The code in the book consists of simple C programs that represent situations in a continuous story about a fun-filled day. The full-page illustrations next to the code show the situations. In this way, the book provides code examples that are fun and relatable. It teaches fundamental programming concepts and C syntax. The programs in the book can be run on your computer using a C compiler (there are many free C compilers available online). The book can be found on Amazon and is available for pre-order.	10,689
People of a certain age will remember a time when taking a child to a dentist was not a priority. Most of us used to think that it wasn’t that important to care for their baby teeth because they were just going to fall out to make way for their adult teeth. Well, many parents of that generation were wrong about neglecting their children’s dental health. Studies have shown that children who are not encouraged to take proper care of their teeth will maintain poor oral hygiene habits into adulthood and experience many different types of oral maladies. It’s best to start as early as possible, along with encouraging children to view proper oral hygiene as fun, rather than to be afraid of it. The key to getting your kids to actively participate in taking care of their teeth is to find a children’s dentist in your area that will teach your little ones that oral hygiene can be fun. Most of us will no longer go to just “any” doctor; we look to our friends, family members, and the Internet for information on which physicians we can rely on to take good care of us. The same holds true for finding a pediatric dentist who will instill in your children how important it is to care for their teeth no matter how young they are. A pediatric dentist will make sure that your child’s teeth are healthy and maturing properly. He or she will check gum health and make any recommendations about foods to encourage your child to eat or avoid in order to ensure they keep their teeth and gums healthy. A gentle cleaning will be part of every visit, allowing your child to get used to the experience so he or she will not be afraid of it as they get older. A child who fears the dentist will grow into an adult who is reluctant to take care of this or her teeth. When you find a pediatric dentist in your area, don’t be shy about asking questions about how often your child should visit, and which routines should be established in the home in order to promote healthy habits. Ask about toothbrushes and toothpastes that are geared specifically for children, and how you can take a more active role in helping your kids understand how important it is for them to take care of their teeth. The payoff will be fewer cavities and less stress and aggravation when it comes time for that regular checkup! Sean Shen is a pediatric dentist who specializes in oral hygiene education for parents of babies and toddlers.	21,377
NOTE TO TEACHERS Teachers: If you'd like a printable version of this guide, click on the PDF link at the bottom of this page. About the BookIt is the now-classic story of two fathers and two sons and the pressures on all of them to pursue the religion they share in the way that is best suited to each. And as the boys grow into young men, they discover in the other a lost spiritual brother, and a link to an unexplored world that neither had ever considered before. In effect, they exchange places, and find the peace that neither will ever retreat from again.... In The Chosen, Danny Saunders, a young Hasidic Jew, struggles to free himself from his inherited position as eventual leader of a religious sect whose views and customs he cannot uphold. Because Hasidic traditions carry great spiritual, moral, and intellectual force for Danny, and because he deeply loves and admires his father, Reb Saunders, who has dedicated his life to teaching him to carry on these traditions, Danny's struggle to free himself is a soul-wrenching one. Because his father's beliefs seem inapplicable to the America of the 1940s in which Danny is coming into manhood, the struggle is also a cultural one--a matter of replacing the responses his ancestors developed to defend themselves against centuries of European persecution with ones suited to a tolerant society rich with possibilities; to America, the "open world." The action of The Chosen unfolds in the immigrant community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, against the backdrop of World War II. It is seen through the eyes of Reuven Malter, a boy who would appear to have much in common with Danny, for they are both brilliant, Jewish, closely tied to their fathers, and near-neighbors who live only five blocks apart. Still, they attend separate yeshivas (parochial schools) and inhabit very different worlds. Reuven's yeshiva, where his father teachers, prides itself on being "emancipated from the fenced-off ghetto mentality typical of other parochial schools." Danny's, on the other hand, was established by his father, a rabbi and leader of a small sect which follows strict Hasidic traditions. Isolated and suspicious of outsiders including members of neighboring rival sects, the Hasids of Williamsburg "derive from southern Poland yet they walk the Brooklyn streets like specters with their black hats, long black coats, black beards, and earlocks." The Hasids are also contemptuous of Jews who ignore the traditions of dress and study which they scrupulously adhere to, and have a special name which brands these Jews as second-rate, the apikorsim. Because World War II is raging in Europe, some of the teachers who are in charge of the English subjects at the Williamsburg yeshivas have drawn up a plan to demonstrate to the gentile (non-Jewish) world that the yeshiva students are as physically fit, despite their long hours of study, as the American students. A baseball league is begun. When Danny Saunders' school plays Reuven Malter's, the Hasids are determined to show the apikorsim a thing or two and the competition is fierce. Danny's murderous pitching is particularly intimidating, but when Reuven comes to bat he does not back away. A hard ball shatters his glasses and smashes into his eye, sending him to the hospital for a week. At his father's insistence, Reuven permits the repentant Danny to visit him, and they become friends. Danny dazzles Reuven with demonstrations of his photographic mind, with the quantity of scholarly work he bears each day, and with the intellectual prowess of his English and Hebrew studies--qualities greatly revered in traditional Jewish culture. Danny's revelations startle Reuven; he confesses he would rather be a psychologist than accept his inherited role as spiritual leader of his father's sect. Reuven's confessions surprise Danny; he reveals his desire to become a rabbi, though his scholar-father would prefer him to follow his talent and become a mathematician. Danny cannot understand how anyone would choose the very position he secretly wishes to reject. At a time when conflicts are churning within him, Danny finds a needed confidante in Reuven, an empathetic listener who is highly intelligent yet safe--not a Hasid, but a Jew who follows orthodox religious traditions without rejecting the secular possibilities in the world around them. As the boys become friends, Reuven begins to learn about Hasidism. Though he scoffs at its narrowness, his father tells him he must understand its origins if his is to appreciate the turmoil his new friend is experiencing. For it is in the Slavic countries of Eastern Europe, Mr. Malter explains to Reuven, that his friend's "soul" had been born. First there were centuries of persecution--Jews fleeing from Germany to Poland in the thirteenth century, academies set up, an economy built--until in the seventeenth century the Jewish community in Poland began to flourish. But one hundred years later it was nearly destroyed at the hands of the Polish Cossacks, and it was at this point that Hasidism began. The Hasidim lived shout off from the rest of the world; whatever was not Jewish and Hasidic was forbidden. Many separate sects emerged, each with its own spiritual leaders whose every word was considered to be holy. These leaders, or tzaddiks, were believed to be superhuman links between the people and God. In some sects it was believed that a leader should take upon himself the sufferings of the Jewish people, for their sufferings were so great they would be unendurable if their leaders did not somehow absorb these into themselves. Such a leader is Reb Saunders. His ways and his teachings are the ways of seventeenth century Hasids and it is this role that Danny is expected to fill when he becomes the tzaddik. In the long and uncomfortable initial visits that Reuven pays to Reb Saunder's congregation to be approved as fit company for Danny, Reuven observes the way Hasidic philosophy permeates his friend's life: "'The world kills us!'" Reb Saunders instructs his congregation, "'The world laughs at Torah! And if it does not kill us, it tempts us! It misleads us! It contaminates us! It asks us to join in its ugliness, its impurities, its abominations! It is not the world that is commanded to study Torah, but the people of Israel! We are only half alive in this world! Half alive!'" As Reuven listens to this outpouring he thinks, "I didn't agree at all with his notions of the world as being contaminated. Albert Einstein is part of the world...President Roosevelt is part of the world. The millions of soldiers fighting Hitler are part of the world." But this view is the one that Danny, with all his brilliance and all his intellectual curiosity, is going to have to promulgate when he becomes leader of a congregation. Reuven's father finds this world view equally appalling. Weeks before the accident which brings the two boys together, Mr. Malter meets Danny in the public library and begins to guide him in his search for knowledge of the world through the "forbidden books" prescribed by his father. Mr. Malter tells Reuven of Danny's brilliant mind, his insatiable appetite for learning, the amazing speed with which he digests information. "'It is a shame that a mind such as Danny's will be shut off from the world,'" he laments, and justifies giving Danny books to read "behind his father's back" by explaining, "'Danny would have continued to read anyway on his own. At least this way he has some direction from an adult.'' Mr. Malter and Reb Saunders are, in some ways, antithetical characters. Passionately involved in the world the Hasid defines as "the world that kills," Mr. Malter's widely published articles, his commitment to teaching, his political activism on behalf of the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, and his continual discussions with his son are in direct opposition to Reb Saunders' sanction against writing (publishing is forbidden to a Hasid, only discussion of the Talmud is permitted); his opposition to the state of Israel, a state that does not follow God or Torah, and therefore a desecration; and his method of raising his son "in silence," speaking only when they are studying Talmud. When the Germans surrender and the existence of the concentration camps becomes known for the first time, the two men's reactions are characteristic. For Mr. Malter, overwhelming grief is followed by a determination to counter the senseless suffering of the millions who died with something meaningful: the creation of the state of Israel. "'There is so much pain in the world. What does it mean to suffer so much if our lives are nothing more than the blink of an eye? A man must fill his life with meaning; meaning is not automatically given to life.'' His life comes to revolve around two ideas: educating American Jews and helping to make a Jewish state a reality. "'We have a terrible responsibility,'" Mr. Malter tells Reuven, "'We must replace the treasures we have lost...Six million of our people have been slaughtered. It will have meaning only if we give it meaning.'' "'Ah, how the world kills us!'" Reb Saunders exclaims when he learns of the concentration camps,"'How the world drinks our blood. It is the will of God. We must accept the will of God!'" Anguish and suffering are his response to the holocaust. Acceptance of God's will is the only action he knows how to take. While Reb Saunders suffers, Danny struggles to educate himself in the ideas of Freud and in the problems of contemporary Judaism. He combines the double load of schoolwork and the rigorous study of Talmud which forms the basis of his relation to his father, with his own attempts to educate himself in his quest for identity. Reuven, too, is seen to spend many hours of his day in study. There is a passion for learning in these two characters, one that is shaped by the religion itself. To study Talmud is to engage in scholarly work, the novel shows. There are lines of religious text and there are commentaries written by the various rabbis whose opinions are included in Talmud. Often these opinions contradict one another; it is not a question of finding a "right answer," but of asking the right questions. Each father tests his son's acumen by a series of questions which demand careful responses and a great deal of preparation. Each father, Hasidic rabbi or free-thinking scholar, finds joy in the knowledge that his son will surpass him in scholarly achievements. It is his passion to know, to know the world and to know himself that ultimately leads Danny to reject Hasidism. He comes to see that the world of his father is too restricted; he begins to feel trapped. At the same time, the respect and love he feels make it terribly difficult for Danny to disregard the ties that bind him to his father's way of life. "'I don't know what he's trying to do to me with this weird silence that he's established between us, but I admire him. I think he's a great man. I respect him and trust him completely, which is why I think I can live with his silence. And I pity him, too. Intellectually, he's trapped. He was born trapped. I don't ever want to be trapped the way he's trapped...It's the most hellish, choking, constricting feeling in the world. I scream with every bone in my body to get out of it. My mind cries to get out of it.'" The novel begins with Danny and Reuven as high school boys and concludes with their graduation from college. Danny has decided to get out of the life that imprisons him; he will take off the clothing and shun the trappings of the Hasid, go on to graduate school, and become a psychologist. When he has resolved to do this, Mr. Malter tells him he must prepare the things he will say to his father very carefully for Danny's decision has deep repercussions: An arranged marriage will have to be broken, the inheritance of spiritual leadership will go to Danny's sickly younger brother, the tradition of six generations will have been broken, and Reb Saunders will have lost to the world he hates and fears the son he most treasures. Before Danny can confront his father, however, his father confronts him. Using Reuven as a foil through whom to speak to his son, Reb Saunders reveals that he knows his son will not become a rabbi. "'I know...I have known it for a long time.'" "'This is America,'" Reb Saunders explains, "'Not Europe but an open world. Here there are libraries and books and schools. Here there are great universities that do not concern themselves with how many Jewish students they have. I knew already that I could not prevent [Danny's] mind from going into the world for knowledge. I knew in my heart that it might prevent him from taking my place. I had to make certain his would be the soul of a tzaddik no matter what he did with his life.'" And so Reb Saunders reveals his plan was not merely to train Danny to take his inherited position, but rather to pass along the tradition of the tzaddik so that if Danny chose to reject the old world, he would be prepared to enter the new one with a compassionate soul, not merely with a brilliant uncaring intellect. "'One learns the pain of others by suffering one's own pain,'" Reb Saunders explains, "'By turning oneself inside out...by finding one's own soul. And it is important to know of pain...It destroys our self pride, our arrogance, our indifference towards others. And of all people a tzaddik especially must know of pain. A tzaddik must know how to suffer for his people. He must take the pain from them and carry it on his own shoulders.'" It is for this end that Danny has been raised "in silence". And although Danny has decided to reject many aspects of his upbringing, he tells the Malters that he is prepared to raise his own son in silence,"'If I cannot find another way.'" Reb Saunders' pain is made evident at the novel's conclusion. He has recognized his own limitations as Danny's teacher and has seen the Malters, both father and son, as a blessing: worthy guides for Danny in his period of crisis, able to integrate Danny into the America he himself is cut off from, and compassionate individuals in their own right, an essential feature in a teacher. He can accept his son's decision, having seen the agony Danny has experienced in his choice. "'I do not see his books? I did not see the letters from the universities? I do not see his eyes? I do not hear his soul crying? Let my Daniel become a psychologist. I have no fear now. All his life will be a tzaddik. He will be a tzaddik for the world. And the world needs a tzaddik.' In The Chosen younger readers will naturally identify with Danny's struggle; they will celebrate his "festival of freedom" with all its attendant pain. With the narrator, Reuven Malter, they will find it difficult if not impossible to understand Reb Saunders' methods or his objectives, but it is interesting and very moving to read the last chapter in which so much of Reb Saunders' conflict and pain is given voice. In a sense we come to see how much the two fathers of this novel share; how they value similar qualities in their sons: intelligence, intellectual achievement, compassion. And although for Reb Saunders compassion is viewed as the ability to suffer, to internalize the pain which has always surrounded Jews in the world, for Mr. Malters it is not enough to suffer; suffering must be wedded to work, to action which will redeem the meaningless of the evil that is always in the world. It is this work which Danny comes to seek, which he chooses, not freely, but with great anguish as he breaks the tradition that demands he become a tzaddik for a small community of Jews and establishes a new role for himself as tzaddik for the world. DISCUSSION AND WRITING Comprehension & Discussion Questions 1. Identify the time and place in which the action of the novel is set, and the circumstances that cause Reuven and Danny to meet. 2. Why does Danny consider Reuven and his classmates "apikorsim"? 1. What are some of the things Reuven learns about Danny during the hospital visit? What aspects of Danny's personality does Reuven find surprising? 2. Why is it that Danny's father does not write or speak much, apart from his discussions of Talmud? 1. What does the reader learn about Mr. Malter's previous relationship with Danny? How does this clarify his reasons for wanting Reuven to become friends with Danny? 2. What does Danny reveal to Reuven that he has never told to anyone before? Why do you think he feels able to do so? 3. What accounts for Reuven's reaction to this revelation? 1. What does Reuven learn from his father about the following aspects of Jewish history: how the Jews came to function as buffers in seventeenth century Poland the Cossack uprising in 1648 and its affect on the Jewish community Israel and his teachings the Hasidm and their belief in a "superman" 2. Why do certain Hasids believe their leaders must take the sufferings of the Jewish people upon themselves? 3. Why does Mr. Malter believe it is natural for Danny to break his father's rules and read forbidden books? 4. What does Mr. Malter tell Reuven about Danny's need for a friend? 1. How does the author demonstrate the way in which the Hasidic community reveres Danny? 2. What are Reb Saunders' views on: A) the world and what it does to Jews, B) life on earth, and C) the study of the Torah? 3. Explain Reb Saunders' assertion that "we are only half alive in this world." 4. How does Reb Saunders determine whether Reuven is fit to be his son's friend? 1. How does Mr. Malter justify providing books for Danny which his father and Hasidim forbid him to read? 2. Under what circumstances do Danny and his father communicate? How is the explanation for this aspect of their relationship given? 3. How is the study of the Talmud shown to be a central activity in the lives of both Reuven and Danny? 1. What is the subject of Danny's "forbidden" interest? What is it he is trying to learn about in this study? 1. How does the author convey the information that Americans did not know about the German concentration camps until after Germany had surrendered? 2. What is Reb Saunders' reaction to this terrible revelation? Compare it to Mr. Malter's. How does the author convey Danny's increasing sense of being trapped by his father's way of life? 1. Discuss the reactions of Mr. Malter and Reb Saunders to the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Tell what each does and says with his grief. 2. Discuss Mr. Malter's assertion, "A man must fill his life with meaning. Meaning is not automatically given to life." 3. What causes Reuven and his father to be "excommunicated" from the Saunders family? How does Danny react? 1. What does Reuven understand about his teacher, Rev Gershenson, when he is unable to find his name listed in either the Hebrew or English catalogues of his college library? 2. Why do Reuven and his father "weep with joy" when the United Nations votes to accept the Partition Plan? What does this mean for Mr. Malter in particular? 3. Describe the method Reuven uses to study the nine lines of text he is certain Rev Gershenson will question him on. 4. What does Rev Gershenson addmit about the passage of Talmud he has asked Reuven to explain and about the way Reuben has attempted to explain it? 1. Why does Danny now resume his friendship with Reuven? What does this show about his ties with his father? 2. What advice does Mr. Malter give Danny about telling his father he has decided to become a psychologist? Why is this such a significant decision? What are its possible consequences? 1. What do you learn about Reb Saunders' own childhood and of his objective in raising Danny? 2. Why does Reb Saunders accept his son's decision "without fear"? 3. What does it mean that all his life Danny will be "a tzaddik...a tzaddik for the world"? 4. For what and of whom does Reb Saunders ask forgiveness? In what ways does Reb Saunder's reaction surprise you? How had you expected him to react? 5. What does it reveal about Danny that he has decided he will raise his own son "in silence"? 6. What is it that Reb Saunders says he has understood all along about Danny? How is this related to his gratefulness to Reuven and his father? 1. Compare and contrast the characters of Reb Saunders and Mr. Malter: and in terms of: ·their world views ·their views of Judaism ·their views of Zionism Use significant quotes from the book to support your judgments. 2. . Keep a record of all the historically significant events which unfold during the action of the novel. 3. Discuss the significance of the book's title. "Brainstorm" to discover how many ways the title can be applied to characters and situations in Potok's novel. 4. Analyze the Hasidic practice of bring up a child "in silence." What is the purpose and the effect of this practice? Discuss its effect on Danny and divide the class into two groups: one who role is to defend Danny's upbringing; the other whose role is to criticize it. Debate the issue as Reb Saunders and Mr. Malter might have, had they come face to face. Use the text as a reference. 5. Discuss the role of female characters in The Chosen. What accounts for their discernible lack of influence in the book? Was this deliberate on Potok's part? Use evidence from the novel to support your view of this question. 6. Although they are both practicing Jews, there is much in Danny's upbringing Reuven does not understand or approve of. Pair the class into sets of "Reuvens" and "Dannys". Have each Reuven draw up all his questions about and objections to the way his friend is being raised. Have each Danny draw up a response to this. Then arrange a whole class forum where both the objections and responses can be aired. 7. Talk about the process of identification which occurs between the reader and character. Have the class talk about ways in which they were able to identify with the characters in The Chosen. Discuss the universal nature of the conflict between parent and child and its role in literature. Ask for books your students have read in which this conflict is apparent. 8. What do you believe to be the three most important ideas contained in The Chosen? In an essay, discuss each one referring directly to instances in the book to support your beliefs. After doing so, rank each idea in order of importance. 9. Identify the speakers of the following quotations. Then explain their significance to the novel, referring to characters and incidents throughout your discussion: --"A father can bring up a child any way he wishes..." --"What a price to pay for a soul!" 10. In essay form, discuss five significant historical events which occur during the action of The Chosen, and show their effect upon the Malter and Saunders families. 11. Write a character study of Reb Saunders using evidence from the book to discuss his childhood; his adulthood; his identity as a rabbi; a "tzaddik", a father. 12. How did reading The Chosen add to your knowledge of Judaism, its history, religious beliefs and practices, its cultural values? Write quickly, listing everything you can recall. Then discuss in detail how the book clarified or corrected your previous beliefs about Judaism and include any surprised you derived. 13. Assume you are Danny Sanders keeping a private diary. Select four key moments of crisis that span the time frame of the novel, and write an entry for each of those dates. Use your own experience of how it feels to be in conflict with yourself, with your parents or with your society to fuel your memory, but keep to Danny's beliefs and values while writing. 14. In an essay, discuss the values and beliefs of Reb Saunders and Mr. Malter, and show how the novel dramatizes the affect these had on the development of Danny and Reuven. Then analyze your own parents' values and beliefs, exploring the way they have shaped, and are continuing to shape, your identity. 15. Reuven's father tells him, "The Talmud says that a person should do two things for himself. One is to acquire a teacher." Danny remembers that the other is to choose a friend. In what ways have both Danny and Reuven done these things for themselves? What has each boy derived from the teacher? >From the friend? Define and discuss the following terms: Hasid: Member of a Jewish sect who follows the religious and social precepts set down in the 17th century. Yiddish: A language spoken by Jews since the Middle Ages. Its components are Hebrew, German, and Slavic. assimilationist: One who adopts the practice of a prevailing culture. fanatic: Rigorous believer. Talmud: In Hebrew, the word for "teachings." Applied to the collection of academic discussion and judicial administration of Jewish law written by generations of scholars over hundreds of years. apikorsim: An unbeliever or skeptic. One who does not adhere to Jewish religious belief or practice. rabbi: Religious leader and head of a congregation. Cossacks: Polish soldiers who, under the leadership of Chmielnicki, annihilated hundreds of Jewish communities in 1648, killing hundreds of thousands of people. tallit: Hebrew prayer shawl worn by adult males. tefillin: Two small black boxes fastened to leather straps, containing parts of the Torah and worn during morning prayer. shofar: Ram's horn blown at various religious services. the Kaballah: Books of Jewish mysticism. tzaddik: According to Hasidism, a pious leader who is the intermediary between God and man, the "soul of the world." Torah: The written law given to Moses at Mount Sinai, including the Talmud and related commentaries. gematriya: A method of interpreting a biblical word based on the numerical value of its letters in the Hebrew alphabet. misnaged: Opponents of the Hasidic movement who criticize belief in the tzaddik. Teresienstadt: The name of a German concentration camp. goyim: The Hebrew word for non-Jews. Zionism: The movement to secure the return of the Jewish people to Palestine. bar mitzvah: The ceremony marking the initiation of a 13-year-old boy into adulthood and the Jewish religious community. ABOUT THIS GUIDE Teacher's Guide by Rosalyn McPherson Andrews. Ms. Andrews is founder of McPherson Andrews Marketing, an educational marketing consultant firm. In addition to researching and developing school materials, she has taught at the junior high and college levels.	1,866
The snowdrop is a woodland bulb, and is happiest in moist, lightly shaded situations. The bulbs grow in tight masses, and, where happy, will naturalize and spread over large areas, covering considerable ground. Several small colonies have been established under the quince trees in Bonnefont Cloister and will be left to spread undisturbed. The thick, tough tips of the leaves help the snowdrop to push up through the soil and snow, while protecting the flower heads. Maude Grieve compares the leaf tip to “a delicate nail on a green finger.” The buds are held erect when the perce-neige emerges from the ground, but the open flowers will hang their heads downward.	20,192
Frankenstein Chapter 10 While on a day trip to the top of a mountain, the monster approached Frankenstein. Ready to fight to the death, Frankenstein cursed the monster, but the monster asked Frankenstein to hear him out. He claimed to be a virtuous creature until the scorn of humans made him miserable and lonely. The monster said: "'All men hate the wretched; how then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us.'" Chapter 10, pg. 83 Frankenstein still refused to listen, and the monster told him that as his creator, Frankenstein owed it to him to hear his story and meet his demands. If Frankenstein would meet the demands, the monster vowed to withdraw from humanity and leave Frankenstein in peace. If he refused the monster's offer, however, the monster vowed to destroy Frankenstein's family. Out of a small sense of compassion and even greater curiosity, Frankenstein agreed to listen and accompanied the monster to his ice cave in the mountains.	28,870
Cambrian predator had killer eyes View to a kill A fearsome predator that swam in the Cambrian oceans was in fact a metre-long arthropod with killer vision, say researchers. Palaeontologist Dr John Paterson, from the University of New England, and colleagues, have discovered the fossilised remains of compound eyes from a creature called anomalocaris. "The fact that each eye in anomalocaris would have had over 16,000 lenses, means it would have very, very good resolution," says Paterson, whose work is published today in the journal Nature. "When you consider that a modern housefly, for example, has about 3000 lenses, it's pretty impressive that an animal half a billion years old already has remarkable vision like this." Around 500 million years ago, during the Cambrian, large alien-like creatures began to resemble modern animals, says Paterson. "But you still had the odd freak swimming around," he says, referring to the metre-long free-swimming anomalocaris. "It's an animal that's on its way to becoming an arthropod from an evolutionary point of view," says Paterson. The creature would have propelled itself through the water by moving flaps down the length of its body in a wave-like pattern, he says. It had a soft shrimp-like exoskeleton and fierce grasping claws and would have dined on soft-bodied organisms such as worms. But anomalocaris has presented a bit of puzzle to scientists because while it looked like it might be an arthropod, it was missing certain attributes. Arthropods include animals with jointed legs such as insects, spiders, crustaceans and millipedes. "But when you look at anomalocaris, it doesn't actually have any jointed legs," says Paterson. Now, the discovery of fossilised compound eyes belonging to the animal has confirmed it is indeed an arthropod. "Compound eyes are actually a definitive arthropod characteristic or trait," says Paterson. The fossilised eyes were discovered alongside remains of the grasping claws and the body flaps in shale at Emu Bay on the northern coast of Kangaroo Island, off South Australia. The soft tissue of the compound eyes were slowly replaced by a mineral called pyrite in a low oxygen sediment, says Paterson. The discovery supports the idea that compound eyes evolved very early on in arthropod evolution, before the evolution of jointed legs or hardened exoskeletons. The surprisingly sophisticated eyes of anomalocaris are rivalled only by modern dragonflies, which can have up to about 28,000 lenses in each eye, says Patterson. "Dragonflies are known for their exceptional vision," he says. Lenses in a compound eye can be likened to pixels on a computer screen and the more lenses you have the better the resolution. The small size of the lenses in the anomalocaris eyes suggests the animal would have lived in well-lit waters and had a major advantage over its prey. "The little that we do know about the contemporaries of anomalocaris, they either had fairly poor eyesight or they were completely blind," says Paterson. He says the presence of anomalocaris would have driven the development of protective adaptations in prey animals, and in turn, counter adaptations in predators. Such an escalatory 'arms race' would have seen, for example, the evolution of such adaptations in prey as shells, camouflage and burrowing into sediments. Paterson now hopes to find the remains of even more Cambrian creatures in the Emu Bay Shale. "It would be great to find a hybrid that looked like anomalocaris but it had walking legs. That would be a beautiful missing link," he says.	52,203
Kick Butts Day Kick Butts Day is a day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up, and take back control from Big Tobacco. To find out more about Kick Butts Day, visit: www.kickbuttsday.org. If you want to take on a Kick Butts Day activity, let us know at HS@gallatin.mt.gov. Kick Butts Day, 2017 There is no activism like SNO-activism! As part of Kick Butts Day, the Leadership students at Monforton School (Bozeman) hosted an All Rural School dance. This year, students used the dance to raise awareness of tobacco issues and garner support for Tobacco Free Parks. To get the buzz started, they created a “Snow Activism” message before the dance. It was a perfect awareness activity, getting students in the school talking about it and asking, “Why does it say that?” What a great way to get students interested! During the dance, students were asked to complete the statement, “I am not a replacement, I am____,” featuring their personal interests and aspirations. Students also signed a pledge to keep Bozeman breathing easy by raising awareness about the harmful effects tobacco has on both health and the environment. Find out more about Montana’s teen-led movement against Big Tobacco at www.reactmt.com. #reACT #NotAReplacement Kick Butts Day, 2016 Check out a past example of Kick Butts Day activities where 7th graders from Monforton School spent part of an afternoon picking up cigarette butts from Kirk Park in Bozeman. Click here to learn more… Want to join the fun? Red Ribbon Week Door Decorating Contest YOLO. Be Drug Free “You Only Live Once. Be Drug Free.” was the theme of this year’s Red Ribbon Week, October 23-31, 2016. Red Ribbon Week encourages communities to educate youth and participate in drug prevention activities. Students at Monforton School took the challenge and held a door decorating contest outside of their classrooms. First place winners were Miss Martin’s class: 7th grade participants came in second: Third place went to 6th graders in Mrs. Schreuder’s class: Red Ribbon Campaign™ is sponsored by the National Family Partnership, a national leader in drug prevention and education advocacy. For more information, go to http://redribbon.org/. Each year in October, Gallatin County youth are invited to compete in a door decorating contest for Red Ribbon Week. Please see contest details here. Check out past examples of winning entries. Local Teens Advocate for Tobacco-Free Parks Monforton Middle School’s Leadership Class understands the environmental, social, and health complications caused by tobacco use, and want to create a healthier community by advocating for a tobacco-free parks policy. Not only would tobacco-free parks protect the environment, they would encourage healthy choices among youth, and support those who have made the difficult decision to quit. “We will change the parks so our friends aren’t influenced to start” says Marley Davis, a 7th grader at Monforton School. In Montana, over 1,600 residents (the population of Three Forks) die each year due to their own smoking. If tobacco use continues at the current rate, over 19,000 Montana kids, who are now under age 18, will ultimately die prematurely from smoking. Please support their initiative by completing their short survey and signing the petition for tobacco-free parks. Check out their presentation they shared with Bozeman Parks and Recreation Staff Celebration on the Hill Celebration on the Hill is an opportunity for Montana teens to educate legislators in the state of Montana about the deadly consequences of tobacco use and Corporate Tobacco’s practices targeting youth. Teens travel to the Montana Legislature in Helena, MT to learn more about the problems related to tobacco in our state, and the legislative process for tackling these issues. Students learn how to speak with legislators, and then later have the opportunity to sit down with their local legislators and educate/influence their decision making. This is a fantastic opportunity for students interested in leadership development, or youth with a passion for making significant change in the health of their community. #reACT is Montana’s teen-led movement to protect our generation’s health and freedom from tobacco. “Students are tremendously loyal. If you catch them, they’ll stick with you like glue.” -Memo from Phillip Morris Tobacco Corporate tobacco spends millions of $$$ in Montana to target teens. They advertise where teens shop most; convenience stores. Below are images of industry advertising in Gallatin County retail stores. To learn more about Corporate Tobacco’s advertising strategies and solutions check out the Montana Tobacco Retail Mapper.(http://dphhs.mt.gov/Portals/85/Documents/MTUPPapp/index.html). Don’t vape, wear a cape! Students at Sacajawea Middle School created a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of vaping. Belgrade High School Students Speak Out Against Tobacco Use	3,867
Last year, a group of amateur stargazers noticed something a little strange about a distant star, and before long, a full study was launched, with multiple telescopes, including the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) peering at AR Scorpii. What they found was a fascinating binary system, exhibiting never-before-seen behavior. New observations of the star system have revealed it to be far more dramatic than was thought when the object was first studied more than 40 years ago. Rather than a single star, the researchers found that the system, which is located 380 light-years from Earth, is actually binary, playing host to a pair of stars orbiting one another. NEW ATLAS NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT Upgrade to a Plus subscription today, and read the site without ads. It's just US$19 a year.UPGRADE NOW The two stars are vastly different, with one being a red dwarf just one third the mass of the Sun, and the other a white dwarf roughly the size of Earth, but containing some 200,000 times more mass. The observations also revealed that AR Scorpii is no ordinary binary system, but one that's exhibiting some fascinating and quite brutal behavior. The white dwarf is thought to be spinning at an extremely high speed, a process that's accelerating electrons close to the speed of light. The researchers describe the release of radiation from the accelerated high-energy particles as being akin to a cosmic lighthouse, with the beam lashing across the surface of the companion red dwarf. Those intense pulses, which include radiation at radio frequencies – something that's never been observed with a white dwarf – cause a dramatic brightening and fading of the system every 1.97 minutes. While the rapid spinning of the object explains the broad range of radiation frequencies – its exactly what you'd expect to see with electrons being accelerated in magnetic fields – the actual source of the electrons is something of a mystery. As of yet, astronomers haven't been able to work out whether the electrons are originating in the white dwarf, or the much cooler red dwarf companion star. AR Scorpii was first studied in the early 1970s. At that stage, astronomers looked up at the distant body, and watching its fluctuations in brightness, concluded that it must be a single star with internal properties that cause it to brighten and dim regularly. In May 2015, a group of amateur astronomers from the UK, Germany and Belgium took another look at the system, and noticed its unusual behavior. Follow-up studies by researchers at the University of Warwick in the UK then characterized the distant star system, making use of multiple telescopes, including the VLT, and NASA's Swift and Hubble Space Telescope installations. Full details of the international study that lead to the characterization of AR Scorpii are due to be published on July 28 in the journal Nature. "It's very exciting that we have discovered such a system, and it has been a fantastic example of amateur astronomers and academics working together" said study co-authoer Boris Gänsicke. Source: ESOView gallery - 2 images	3,222
A.) What is perceived to be the main role of the UN today? b.) According to its 1945 Charter, what is supposed to be the main role of the UN? c.) What would be the effects of eliminating or restructuring the UN? A) The main role of the UN today seems to be perceived as one of conflict resolution at the Security Council level. Matters are referred to the UN SC that can result in sanctions against countries that are in violation of international law, or even endorsement of military actions against such countries. The UN also does a large amount of work in terms of aiding in elections (monitoring, advising, etc.)and humanitarian outreach (aid to refugees, etc.). Via the General Assembly, the UN provides an open forum for any country to promote its views, agenda, complaints, etc. B) According to the UN Charter's preamble, it's main functions were intended to be: 1. to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and 2. to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and ... The solutions provides insight on the United States - its hierarchy, political system, organizational mechanics, structure and history to aid the student in tackling the questions presented in the original post (see problem).	21,785
Major depression may influence the course of gray matter development in children from preschool age through early adolescence, according to research in JAMA Psychiatry. In a longitudinal study, Joan L. Luby, MD, and her colleagues at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis identified “marked bilateral decreases in thickness of cortical gray matter and in volume of the right hemisphere (with marginal significance on the left hemisphere)” in children with depression. The researchers tracked 193 children, including 90 with major depressive disorder, for 11 years starting in 2003. The children, ages 3 to 6 at baseline, underwent IQ testing, two psychiatric interviews (with parent report) and at least one of three waves of neuroimaging; 116 children completed all three. Structural MRI measured the volume, thickness and surface area of cortical gray matter in each child.	20,984
Thalassemia is a group of genetically inherited blood diseases that affect the body's ability to produce hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. This condition is most common in people of Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Southern Asian and African ancestry. It is passed to children by parents who each carry the mutated thalassemia gene. The National Human Genome Research Institute has more on its "Learning About Thalassemia" page. There are two types of thalassemia, alpha and beta. The difference is in which part of the oxygen carrying protein in red blood cells is missing. Most individuals with alpha-thalassemia have a mild form of the disease, with varying degrees of anemia. In its most severe form, alpha-thalassemia, results in fetal or newborn death. Beta-thalassemia is generally mild. At its most severe, beta-thalassemia is called Cooley's anemia and requires frequent transfusions and close medical monitoring. Mild thalassemia, which appears to be the condition that affects your daughter, can cause mild anemia and often has few or no symptoms, although it certainly can make you feel tired. Blood tests can distinguish between iron deficiency and thalassemia as the cause of anemia. When thalassemia is the cause, taking iron supplements or eating iron-rich foods won't help. Probably, no treatment is needed in your daughter's case. Andrew Weil, M.D.	48,539
In March 2010, following years of Congressional standoff, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection Affordability and Care Act (PPACA). The PPACA was written to roll out in phases over four years and more, and it sought to reduce costs of health insurance, overhaul Medicare and Medicaid, insure more Americans, and reduce the costs of healthcare. There is, of course, a lot more to the story. Nonpartisan budget analyses expect the program to cost billions in the short-term, because of the expanded entitlements and costs on the exchanges. Those same estimates also foresee substantial increased costs in the long-term. The Affordable Care Act has also faced legal challenges, including to its employer mandate (National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius) and its mandates regarding employers to cover specific items or services (Burwell v. Hobby Lobby). In addition to upfront costs, there are various concerns related to hidden costs, such as the potential for a government “bailout” in the risk corridors portion of the law, the high price tag for the broken Healthcare.gov website, the unilateral 1-year delay of the individual mandate, the rising and inconsistent price of premiums, individuals losing healthcare plans despite promises otherwise, and issues implementing the marketplaces in individual states. Various reform proposals have been introduced in the years since the Act’s passage, while efforts to repeal the law entirely continue. Read below to see Institute analyses of some key proposals. American Healthcare Reform Act	40,694
Responding to Haiti tragedy, UN peacekeepers exemplified dedication and professionalism More than 124,000 peacekeepers are now deployed in 15 operations worldwide, clear evidence of global respect for, dependence on and confidence in United Nations peacekeeping operations. The international community counts on its Blue Helmets to protect the vulnerable in some of the world's most dangerous places, but their service comes at a high cost--throughout UN peacekeeping’s more than 60-year history, violence, accidents and disease have cost the lives of more than 2,700 individuals working in hot spots around the world, from the Middle East to the Balkans, Africa and beyond. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) was working with the Haitian authorities to support political stability, promote human rights and bolster security when a massive earthquake struck the country on 12 January. More than 230,000 Haitians lost their lives in one of that nation's darkest days. Additionally, 101 UN personnel, including 96 peacekeepers, were killed. It was the deadliest natural disaster to ever strike Haiti and the biggest single loss of life in the history of UN peacekeeping. For the peacekeepers, the tragedy was colossal. The collapse of MINUSTAH’s Headquarters took the lives of the mission’s chief, Hédi Annabi and his deputy, Luiz Carlos da Costa, as well as its police commissioner Douglas Coates, who were attending a meeting with a visiting Chinese delegation. Nearly one hundred more UN military, police and civilian personnel from around the world and Haiti itself also perished at the Headquarters and other UN facilities in the capital. A total of 29 UN Member States lost uniformed or civilian personnel in the disaster. Brazil, which has played a strong leading role in the peacekeeping mission since its inception in 2004, lost 20 of its nationals, more than any other troop or police contributing country. Despite these tremendous losses, the UN peacekeepers knew that their vital work to restore stability was even more urgent amid the chaos. The mission adjusted and recalibrated. The peacekeepers immediately started the somber work of looking for survivors and recovering the remains of those who perished, while at the same time reconstructing the mission and planning and implementing a strategic response to the disaster. Since the quake, MINUSTAH has continued to work hard to help stabilize Haiti and the professionalism, dedication and courage shown by the ‘blue helmets’ in Haiti since then is just one of many examples of UN peacekeeping helping countries overcome conflict and tragedy. The peacekeepers in Haiti, and their colleagues serving worldwide, are the personification of one of the most important functions of the United Nations – maintaining international peace and security. On a more human level, their works gives people from conflict-torn countries hope for a better, safer and more secure future. For this, they rightly deserve the recognition they receive today -- the eighth annual International Day of UN Peacekeepers.	8,440
Învățarea explicită bazată pe metode didactice interactive utilizate pentru înțelegerea lecturi Explicit learning based on interactive pedagogical methods used for reading comprehension When choosing the pedagogical strategies meant to foster the formation and the development of reading comprehension skills it is essential to detect the roots and the specifics of dysfunctions in the cognitive processes and competences that might affect reading comprehension. The personalized and systematic use of interactive pedagogical methods has a positive impact on: enriching the pupils’ vocabulary with novel words and expressions; understanding the anaphoric reference items that feature in clauses and sentences; making lexical, causal and pragmatic inferences so as to understand clauses and sentences; acknowledging discourse markers; building a global representation of the text; employing meta-cognition while monitoring textual comprehension; accessing the significance of the text; understanding and using the text’s structure in order to critically interpret and assess the information read. Keywords: language, linguistic abilities, early interventions, language stimulations, speech-therapy methods, cognitive education, personalized programs Published on line: 30/10/2020 Alvarez-Canizo, M., Suarez-Coala, P., Cuestos, F. (2015). The role of reading fluency in children’s text comprehension. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1-8 doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01810 (accesat în 14.11.2019) Bianco, M. (2015 a). Du language oral à la comprehension de l’écrit. Grenoble: P.U.G. Bianco, M. (2015 b). Pratiques pédagogiques et performances des élèves:language et apprentissage de la langue écrite. Rapport pour Conseil national devaluation du systeme scolaire (CNESCO). http://www.cnesco.fr. (accesat în 23.11.2019) Cain, K., Oakhill, J., Barnes, M. Bryant, P. (2001). Comprehension skill, inference-making ability and their relation to knowledge. Memory and Cognition, 29(6), p. 850-859. Cain, K. (2012). Abilitatea de a citi. Dezvoltare și dificultăți. Cluj-Napoca: Editura ASCR. Henderson, L., Snowling, M., Clarke, P. (2013). Accesing, integrating, and inhibiting word meaning in poor comprehenders. Scientific Studies of Reading, 17(3), 177-198. doi:10,1080/10888438.2011.652721 (accesat în 25.10.2019). Luke, S.G., Henderson, J.M., Ferreira, F. (2015). Children’s eye-movements during reading reflect the quality of lexical representations: an individual differences approach. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. 41(6), 1675-1683.doi:10.1037/xlm000.133. (accesat în 28.11.2019). Nation, K., Snowling, M.J. (1998). Semantic Processing and the Development of Word-Recognition Skils: Evidence from Children with Reading Comprehension Difficulties. Journal of Memory and Language, 39(1): 85-101. Perfetti, C.A (2007). Reading ability: lexical quality to comprehension. Scientific Studies of reading. 11 (4): 357-383. Perfetti, C.A., Stafura, J. (2014). Word knowledge in a theory of reading. Scientific Studies of reading, 18(1), 22-37.doi:10.1080/10888438.2013.827687 (accesat în 20.11.2019).	9,951
Virtually every year, we face a new flu season with a new strain of the virus, and a new controversy. Just a few years ago, the dreaded H1N1 strain of the virus had many people, and many experts, fearing the worst, and this year brings us more disturbing news from the experts. However, the disturbing news this time around involves a disagreement between the experts: First B.C. Chief Medical Officer Perry Kendall stated in The Vancouver Sun that a Cochrane review of medical studies found that vaccinating health care workers helps protect patients from serious illness and even death. That provoked one of the authors of the review, respiratory infections expert Tom Jefferson, to write in the Sun that the review found no such thing. And that has led the B.C. Nurses’ Union to fight mandatory vaccination of health care workers. However this dispute plays out, it will be unfortunate if it distracts people from protecting themselves from the flu, including by receiving a flu shot. For while the jury may be out on the efficacy of vaccinating health care workers, many organizations, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, continue to stress the value of the shot. Certainly, there are a few groups of people that should avoid the shots, including children under six months, those who have had previous negative reactions to the shots and those with allergies to eggs. For almost everyone else, about the worst they can expect to experience is some soreness around the site of the injection. Flu shots are especially important for children between the ages of six and 23 months, seniors over 65, people who live in residential care and those with chronic heart or lung diseases, respiratory diseases such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, kidney disease, diabetes and compromised immune systems. But while important, flu shots are not the only means of preventing infection or transmission of the virus. And we should also not allow controversy over the shots to distract us from other effective means of flu prevention. One of the most effective measures is also the simplest and the oldest: Much misery can be prevented simply by engaging in regular and vigorous hand washing. Other tried and true methods include keeping common areas of your home and workplace disinfected, and keeping your hands away from your face. And if you are unlucky enough to become infected, there are several things you can do to lessen the agony as well as the chances that you will spread the virus. Chief among these involves staying at home: We’ve recently heard much about the phenomenon known as “presenteeism” — the opposite of absenteeism whereby workers who feel ill nevertheless attend work, thereby risking exacerbating their illness and spreading it to others. The best advice for those who do get the flu is to avoid presenteeism; instead, stay at home, in bed, and drink a lot of fluids. And call your doctor, of course, if you suspect the problem may be serious. That way, you should be on the road to recovery without bringing down the rest of your workplace. And both individuals and businesses can remain healthy.	1,334
Given that this is the first U.S. presidential election since apps have made their way onto most electronic devices, you might think there would be dozens of worthwhile products available on the topic designed for students. Think again. Sure, there are plenty of apps devoted to November’s election, there just aren’t that many that explain the process to those too young to cast a ballot. Those listed here should get the conversation rolling about how we elect a President and the men who have held that the office. For older students look for apps produced by mainstream media outlets with a focus on election coverage. Start with the major newspapers. In addition to hourly news updates, The Washington Post’s W P Politics includes “campaign files,” an interactive polling map, and a fact checker that “accesses the veracity of candidates’ statements,” awarding “one to four Pinocchios” when deemed necessary. Viewers can also watch videos of candidate’s ads—these alone will generate some lively classroom conversations. It doesn’t get much better than this one, and it’s available for free. The NY Times Election 2012 (The New York Times) app promises all readers access to a half dozen “top” news stories. However, only subscribers can view candidate pages and videos and photos from the campaign trail, read the latest polling news, and receive live election results. High school students who love politics are probably already following Mike Allen’s Politico Playbook (Politico) on their iPhones or iPads. Right now the daily news from this Washington insider is full of election-related coverage, and it’s all for free. To drive home discussions about the Electoral College consider downloading the Electoral-Vote.com (Dubbele.com; Gr 9 Up; Free) app, which will bring users to the website. The site, which has been tracking elections for a number of years, includes detailed maps and commentary (sometimes snarky) on the presidential and senate races. It includes current poll results, graphs, and news features, and links to articles from a range of periodicals and blogs. The 2012 Map: The Presidential Election App is a better choice for younger students (Cory Renzella; Gr 5-9; $1.99), and it’s available in 12 languages. The projected electoral map is easy-to-read and there are daily updates and brief notes on where current presidential polls are in place. Users can create maps with their own Electoral College projections and share them with friends via Facebook, Twitter, and email. As they scroll through the archive of electoral maps from 1789 through 2008 they’ll see the borders of the country change, watch as third parties pop up, discover the shrunken map of 1864, and read the embedded notes on each election. For a simple Electoral College map that can be manipulated for classroom use Election Map 2012 (Teq; Gr 4 Up; $1.99) will also work. A look at the last four election maps is included. Most of the apps for younger students feature lists of the men who have held the office of Chief Executive and provide a few facts about each of them. U.S. Presidents (Encyclopaedia Britannica/MEDL Mobile; Gr 3-6; $1.99) opens with a rendition of “Hail to the Chief” and a photo of President Barack Obama. Beyond this screen viewers can access a page of images of the presidents in chronological order. A tap to any portrait brings up information on the subject along with additional tabs leading to facts about that president’s vice president, First Lady, and birth date, and a bit of trivia. Information on national landmarks, and the lyrics of “Hail to the Chief” are also provided. After exploring the app viewers can take a quiz to test their knowledge of presidential facts answering such questions as “Who was the first U.S. president to be elected with no prior political experience?” and “Who was the only president to serve two terms that weren’t back to back?” The “clear interface” of The American Presidents and First Ladies (Multieducator, Inc.; Gr 4-8; $.99) allows users to sort the lists of leaders and their spouses either alphabetically or chronologically. Each entry includes personal facts, along with a page of information on the president’s early years, family, election, “presidential promises.” The full text of each man’s inaugural text is also included. Information on the First Ladies includes the years before and after each woman’s spouse was in office. Highlights of the app are the embedded videos, which include photos and audio clips. Unfortunately, some out-of-date information and typos mar the overall presentation. What Does the President Look Like? (Kane Miller; Gr 4-8; $2.99 ), based on the book by Jane Hampton Cook and illustrated by Adam Ziskie, takes a different approach to presidential history. It offers a visual survey of the men who have held that office, along the way providing “succinct history of visual media, from portrait making through digital imaging.” Here’s what our reviewer, Erin Sehorn, had to say about the app’s options: “The “timeline” chronicles major events in presidential history, as well as the technological evolution of photographs, movies, television, and the Internet. On each page, glowing stars allow users to learn more about the technological advances of presidential image making through pop-up pictures, early political cartoons, and newsreel footage. “Resources” links to the websites used as source material. There are a few glitches—for example, in the “Gallery” portraits appear only briefly, making it difficult to study an image. Overall, though, kids will enjoy this production.” Our youngest students may not know the ins and outs of how someone makes it into the White House, but they do know that a visit to that famous abode is cause for excitement. While conversation of the election swirls around them, share Marc Brown’s Arthur Meets the President (ScrollMotion, Inc.; $2.99), based on the author’s picture book. In this story, the aardvark’s essay on “How I Can Help Make America Great” wins him and his classmates a trip to the White House to meet the president. En route the characters (and viewers) see and learn about a few other famous Washington, DC landmarks, and perhaps, take a moment to ponder what their contribution to our country might be. Eds. note: After a brief hiatus during the transition to our new website, our app reviews are back. —moving from School Library Journal’s blog roll into a column, and pushing out in our Extra Helping enewsletter. Archived reviews can be found on the SLJ website under “Blogs and Columns.” However, to ensure you receive all of our postings, be sure to add “Touch and Go” to your RSS feed. This article was featured in School Library Journal's Extra Helping enewsletter. Subscribe today to have more articles like this delivered to your inbox for free.	32,572
EarlyCDT-Lung is a simple blood test to aid in the risk assessment and early detection of lung cancer. Early in the development of a solid tumour cancer, the body mounts an immune response to certain by-products, or proteins called tumour antigens from cancer cells, by producing autoantibodies. These autoantibodies can rise in the earliest stages of cancer and can be measured in an individuals blood. EarlyCDT-Lung has been developed to measure a panel of 7 autoantibodies associated specifically with lung cancer. The test has been developed so that individuals, at high risk of developing lung cancer, can benefit from an increasing chance that lung cancer can be detected at the earliest possible stages, when treatment can be most successful. It can also be used along with imaging such as chest X-rays and CT scans to further assess the risk of lung cancer being present.	28,344
Use Every Available Tool By Tommy Horton, Editor It is hard to describe the behavior of the dreaded stink bug, which has wreaked havoc on cotton fields in the Southeast – and especially Georgia – for nearly two decades. The bad news is that this pest is here to stay. The good news is that farmers have tools and technology that are helping control the state’s No. 1 cotton insect pest. In addition to new strategies, researchers now seem to understand the pest’s behavior as compared to pre-Bt cotton days before 1996. Extension entomologist Phil Roberts, based in Tifton, Ga., says it’s also easier to explain other scientific facts about this pest. “I have had a lot of farmers ask why we can’t eradicate the stink bug – especially after we eradicated the boll weevil,” he says. The only way you can eradicate any pest is if there is a weak link in its biology.” For example, Roberts points out that the boll weevil reproduced on a single plant species – cotton. So, by treating every field of cotton where the weevils were detected, the pest was eliminated. Other factors obviously entered into the equation such as an effective insecticide and the use of pheromone traps. In many cases, some cultural practices were implemented to remove reproductive hosts – all because of the aforementioned weak link in the weevil’s biology. Then along comes the stink bug. It has no such weak link in its biology, according to Roberts. It feeds on any plant that nature provides and has a wide range of hosts. So, eradication doesn’t appear to be an option. Technology That Works Against Stink Bugs And how does technology help in controlling stink bugs? Roberts says the Georgia Cotton Insect Advisor app (UGAcotton.com) is an effective system for determining when to make insecticide treatments for management of cotton insect pests. The Stink Bug Decision Aid app will display the most appropriate insecticide or tankmix after the user provides information on the week of bloom, predominant stink bug species, percent of internal boll injury and other pest species present. Does that sound complicated? It shouldn’t. Roberts says it is user-friendly and can keep the farmer one step ahead in his spraying strategy for insects. For example, another advantage for cotton producers is learning that the presence of other pests can influence how and when to spray for stink bugs. A decision made on stink bugs could encourage or increase the risk of one of those other troublesome pests becoming an economic problem. “When a farmer uses the app, he might notice that corn earworms also are present,” says Roberts. “He puts that information into the app and learns that he can mitigate the flaring of the corn earworm by using a tankmix of an organophosphate plus a pyrethroid. He gains control of both pests.” A Formidable Cotton Pest Can the stink bug create confusion for the farmer as he tries to identify and treat for this problem? In Georgia, most producers understand the difference between the southern green stink bug, green stink bug and brown stink bug. Those are the three species that infest Georgia cotton fields and other parts of the Southeast. Pyrethroids do well against southern green and green stink bugs but are only fair against brown stink bugs. Organophosphates provide good control of all three species. Average sprays for stink bugs are about two per acre with a range of zero to four applications per field, depending on infestations. So, how far have Georgia cotton producers come in the battle against their No.1 insect pest? Compared to earlier days, Roberts says awareness is significantly higher. Producers are following the recommendations of Extension and doing better in scouting and using thresholds. They are also looking at the big picture in how decisions are made. “I don’t think our producers are being complacent,” he says. “Can we minimize negative influences in the field? I think so. Sometimes we treat for the stink bug more than we should. But with better scouting, maybe we can actually eliminate one of those spray applications.” One fact is obvious. In looking at the latest Cotton Insect Losses report from Mississippi State University entomologist Mike Williams, stink bug damage in Georgia in 2014 was significant. But the numbers also reflect progress. More than 1.2 million acres in Georgia were infested by stink bugs last year, resulting in a cost of $12 per acre and a loss of 48,164 bales. As entomologists and farmers learn more about the stink bug’s behavior, the better the control of this pest. For example, most significant crop loss from stink bugs occurs when boll rot is connected to the pest’s feeding. When these bugs injure a cotton boll and introduce a pathogen, they can also affect fiber development, which results in serious yield loss. United Industry Efforts Pay Off Whether it’s a farmer, Extension entomologist or consultant, everyone connected to Georgia cotton production knows the importance of stink bug control. Veteran Georgia cotton consultant Jack Royal of Leary has spent more than 30 years giving advice to his producercustomers. He knows that being proactive is the only way to win the war against stink bugs. In sports terminology, it’s better to be playing offense rather than defense against this pest. He also points to weather and host crops as being two contributing factors that affect stink bug populations. Specifically, he says it’s important to start looking at small bolls during that first week of bloom. “We understand this pest so much better, and that is one of the reasons why Georgia farmers have had such good cotton yields in recent years,” he says. “If you have a zero tolerance for this pest, you won’t get burned.” Contact Tommy Horton at email@example.com or (901) 767-4020.	46,503
Meridians and clock systems Biopulsar : Our body is a system of organs that in harmonious interaction perform all the functions necessary to sustain life. Through the circulatory system the organs are provided with nutrients, electrolytes, hormones and oxygen releasing the products of metabolism. Another life-supporting system of our body are the so called meridians invisible to a human eye and providing vital force or energy. This force affects not only the physical function, but also on the mental, emotional qualities that are also have an impact on human organs. For example, depressions affect a certain organ that resonates with them. Melancholy blocks the flowing of life force (energy), the organ feels energy hunger and cannot satisfactorily perform its core functions any more. Most often, the measurement of energy fields is reflected in the form of low energy levels. Meridians and clock systems Biopulsar: In our body we not only have blood and lymph vessels, but also a network of vessels that lie in the invisible spectrum. These are the so-called meridians, which play a big part in Chinese and Indian medicine. In the blood vessels the blood flows and the organs are supplied with nutrients. Similarly, the so-called Chi-energy flows vitality into the fine matter vessels. This Chienergy can be influenced through the power of thoughts and feelings. Negative thoughts can weaken the Chi’s flow into the meridians and therefore cannot supply the organs sufficiently with life energy. A shortage of life energy leads finally to sickness. The meridian energy is reflected in the various reflex-zones on the skin surface. If the energy of an organ has been low for a long time it can cause physical diseases. Best known are 12 meridians of organs and 8 special meridians. 12 meridians of organs are activated alternately, which means that the energy flows from one meridian to another. Within 24 hours each meridian has time to go to different states of the energy charge. Every day one meridian is for two hours in a state of activity with maximum energy and after 12 hours it is in a state of minimum energy. Activity time is represented in the measurement of the energy fields as a clock. Meridians and the Influence on the Aura The meridians contain the five cosmic elements of which the physical and psychical body of the person is built. Liver and Gallbladder Meridians are responsible for the building of sinew and muscles in the body. They open over the eyes. The emotions rage, anger and annoyance reduce the Chi-flow in this meridian system. Chi disturbances in the liver and gallbladder meridian produce sinew, muscle and eye problems. Heart and Small Intestine Meridians are responsible for the building of vessels and blood vessels. They open over the sense organ of the tongue and steer the taste. Desire and pleasure activate the Chi-flow in this meridian system. Chi disturbances in the heart and small intestines meridian produce heart, blood, small intestine and also taste disturbances. Spleen and Stomach Meridian are responsible for the building of the flesh and they steer the elements that determine the body form. They open over the mouth’s sense organ. Too much thinking and anxiety reduce the Chi-energy in this meridian system. Lung and Colon Meridian are responsible for the building of the skin and body hair. They open over the sense organ of the nose. Sorrow and sadness reduce the Chienergy in this meridian system. Lung, colon, skin, hair and nose problems, and also depression, sorrow and sadness, point to disturbances in the area of lung and colon. Kidney and Bladder Meridian steer the water element, which is also responsible for the emotional body. They are responsible for the building of bones, bone marrow and open over the ears. Fear and anxiety weakens this meridian system. Meridians and clock systems Biopulsar, example: Meridian of the liver and the gallbladder is responsible for the structure of tendons and muscles of the body. Violations of this meridian can lead to diseases of tendons, muscles and eyes. Meridian of the heart and small intestine is responsible for the structure of blood vessels. Violation of can lead to diseases of the heart, the cardiovascular system, the small intestine, as well as to violations of taste. Meridians and clock systems Biopulsar of the lungs and the large intestine is responsible for the structure of the skin and hair. Violations can lead to diseases of the lung, large intestine, skin problems, hair and nasopharynx. Precondition of violations in meridian of the lungs and the large intestine may be depressions. These simple knowledge directly affect the interpretation of measurements of the energy.	34,482
Last Updated: June 15, 2012 If personal finance education was mandatory in our schools, would the nation face the perilous economic problems it faces today? It’s a good question, but largely moot. Many elementary and secondary school systems offer some money education, but not as a K-12 discipline.Which means that money training needs to begin at home. Most experts agree that the younger those kids get that money training, all the better. If you’re already planning your family’s financial future with an expert such as a financial planning professional, such an expert might advise you on ways to teach your kids about money as well. Here are some initial steps: Determine the right allowance. As early as kindergarten or first grade, your kid is going to have to start paying for things. Try to match the allowance closely to the expenses the child is expected to cover – that way, they learn that their spending is not unlimited. Decide whether they need to earn an amount for extras – toys and candy, for instance – then stress why working for treats is important. When kids are younger, you should keep a frequent watch over how they're handling their cash – checking in every day or so – and then spread out that oversight as they age. Consider your own behavior. Do you drive a more expensive car than you can afford? Every time you go to the store, do you pull out a credit card to pay? Do you and your spouse or partner fight openly about money at home? Your child hears all of this. Children learn all-important lessons by example. While you don't have to be perfect, think about the money behaviors you're demonstrating in front of the kids, and try to make them positive. Buy a piggy bank. Young children need this tried-and-true symbol of saving. They need to know there's a place to put pocket change they don't spend, and they are free to tap it only to accomplish a goal that the both of you discuss. This isn't about buying stuff. It's about setting goals. Don't miss an opportunity for a lesson. Watch your child's behavior – see what they want to buy. Ask them how they plans to pay for things. This is your window on whether your money messages are getting through. "I want" and "I need" are always opportunities for you to teach. Some pretty serious money issues can come out of the mouths of babes. Listen for them. Also, teach your kids to make spending "wish lists" throughout the year – these are not only lessons in delayed gratification but prioritizing needs and wants. Have them open a savings account. If small-balance passbook accounts still exist at your bank, do the old-fashioned thing and go with your child to open one. Make sure they keep their bankbook or monthly statements in a safe place, and make sure they deposit funds at least once a month to get in the habit. You might also consider mutual funds geared toward children – the best ones have great educational value. Handle money mistakes carefully. A child will make mistakes with money – they'll lose it, spend it on the wrong things or possibly give it away to others at the wrong times. It's generally a good idea to ask the child whether that was a right use for the funds and what they might do the next time. Discuss charity. This may be a cultural issue within families, but increasingly, kids are involved in charitable and community activities as part of their educational process – it even figures into college applications. Teaching your children to set aside a little for those who have less than they do might be a good first lesson in what should be a lifetime of sharing with others. Adjust the conversation as they age. As children become teens, they want more autonomy with their spending. You need to match that trust with accountability. If you deposit money in an account for them to spend on essentials and treats, talk about what you are willing to pay for and make those agreements ironclad. Kids will always come to you with their hand out, but they need to know when you'll say "no." Be open about your investments. Kids are sponges. They know if their parents have investments just by watching what's in the mail. Start talking about why you buy stocks, bonds or mutual funds to help pay for their education. If your child asks you to buy a book or subscribe to a magazine or newspaper so they can learn more, don't think twice – just do it. Talk about college early. Even if you plan to pay your children's entire tuition, you need to talk about the financial investment college represents long before they go. You can also talk about whether your child will have to pay any expenses on their own and how they will earn the money. The massive investment college represents presents a great opportunity to discuss what the most important things in life really cost.	36,271
This ecoregion includes lowland areas of New York and Vermont surrounding the Adirondacks, portions of Quebec along the St. Lawrence River, and much of southern Ontario between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron/Georgian Bay. Suburban development and pollution of the St. Lawrence have severely harmed natural areas here, and less than 5 percent of the ecoregion remains as intact habitat. This ecoregion is characterized by warm summers and cold, snowy winters that are milder to the south. In the Canadian portion of the ecoregion, the climate ranges from humid mid cool temperate in the south to humid high cool temperate in the northeast. The mean annual temperature ranges from 4.5°C to 6°C, mean summer temperature is approximately 16°C, and the mean winter temperature ranges from -4.5°C to -7°C. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 700-1000 mm. Areas to the lee of the Great Lakes, both in the United States and Canada, lie in major snowbelt areas (ESWG 1995). The Eastern Great Lakes forests lie between the boreal forests and the broadleaf deciduous zones and are therefore transitional. Part of these forests consist of a few coniferous species (mainly eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and pine (Pinus spp.) and a few deciduous species, mainly yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), red maple (Acer rubrum), red oak (Quercus rubra), eastern hemlock, and American beech (Fagus grandifolia); the rest is a mosaic of pure deciduous stands in favorable habitats with good soils, and pure coniferous forests in less favorable habitats with poorer soils. In the northeast, beech is restricted to warmer sites. Drier sites contain red oak and red (Pinus resinosa) and white pine (P. strobus), as well as eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis). Moist sites are dominated by red maple, elms (Ulmus spp.) eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), and ashes (Fraxinus spp.). Eastern white cedar occurs in wet depressions and near streams. Early successional species include white pine, quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and paper birch (B. papyrifera). Pine trees are often the pioneer woody species that flourish in burned-over areas or on abandoned arable land. Fires started by lightning are common in this ecoregion, particularly where soils are sandy and there is a layer of dry litter in summer (Flader 1983). The St. Lawrence Lowlands are underlain by carbonate-rich Palaeozoic bedrock. The landscape is a mix of bedrock outcrops and deeper marine and lacustrine clay deposits. The southern region is divided by the Niagara Escarpment, which extends northeast to Manitoulin Island. The area to the west of the escarpment slopes to the southwest in rolling topography, and the area to the east of the escarpment rises from Lake Ontario north to Georgian Bay. Consequently, most of this ecoregion has low relief. Lakes, poorly drained depressions, morainic hills, drumlins, eskers, outwash plains, and other glacial features are typical of the area, which was entirely covered by glaciers during parts of the Pleistocene. The greatly varying soils include peat, muck, marl, clay, silt, sand, and gravel (ESWG 1995). This ecoregion contains numerous rare ecological or evolutionary phenomena. Pronounced is the mosaic of freshwater marshes and dunes, bogs and fens, hardwood and conifer swamps as well as the rare and unique alvar communities (also called pavement barrens) restricted primarily to this ecoregion in North America. These alvar communities support a suite of prairie species that reach the eastern edge of their range here. These alvar communities are the most extensive in the world, and represent a habitat type that is globally endangered. Elsewhere in the world, such communities are known to occur only on islands in the Baltic Sea of Sweden and in Estonia (Couchiching Conservancy 1996). Other rare phenomena include ancient eastern white cedar trees growing on the exposed limestone cliffs of the Niagara escarpment. Some trees have been aged at 700 to 800 years, making them among some of the oldest in eastern North America. The St. Lawrence lowlands of Quebec are the most northeastern distribution of many plant species, and the fresh tidal wetlands along the St. Lawrence are high in species endemism. The Eastern Great Lakes Lowland forests are a moderately rich example of temperate broadleaf and mixed forests. The mosaic of forest types and habitats supports 225 bird species, making these forests the second-richest ecoregion within this major habitat type, and among the 20 richest ecoregions in the continental United States and Canada. Many large mammals, such as black bear (Ursus americanus), moose (Alces alces), and wolf (Canis lupus) have been extirpated from much of this region. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), coyote (Canis latrans), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), chipmunk (Tamias striatus), red (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) represent a few of the more common species. Some characteristic breeding birds include northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), green-backed heron (Butorides virescens), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), eastern screech owl (Otus asio), wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), wood (Aix sponsa) and American black duck (Anas rubripes) (ESWG 1995). Over 95 percent of the habitat in this ecoregion has been lost to suburban development and pollution of the St. Lawrence. Much of the remaining habitat consists of wetlands or abandoned farmlands undergoing reforestation. In some locations, recovery of abandoned agricultural land is beginning to occur, but these lands remain unprotected. Other areas continue to be converted to agriculture or are succumbing to widespread urban sprawl throughout this ecoregion. Remaining Blocks of Intact Habitat This ecoregion contains no blocks of intact habitat more than 250 km2 in area. Important blocks include: •Bald Mountain - Vermont - 4 km2 •The Diameter - South Basin - New York •Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge - Vermont •Split Rock - New York •Chaumont Barrens; 6.5 km2 (1600 acres) of alvar in Northern New York •Bruce Peninsula - south-central Ontario, between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron •Alfred Bog - eastern Ontario •Luther Marsh - south-central Ontario •Ganaraska Forest - south-central Ontario •Carden Plain - south-central Ontario - 200 km2 •Mont St, Hilaire - southern Quebec - 11 km2 •Lac St. Francois National Wildlife Area - southern Quebec - 13.47 km2 •Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area - eastern Quebec - 24 km2 Degree of Fragmentation The Eastern Great Lakes Lowland Forests are highly fragmented, with effectively no connectivity in most areas and little core habitat due to edge effects. The individual fragments and clusters that remain are highly isolated, and the intervening urban and suburban landscape precludes dispersal for most taxa. Degree of Protection None of the protected areas in this ecoregion exceed 250 km2. Important areas include: •Split Rock (New York State) and Coon Mountain (Adirondack Land Trust) •Eastern Lake Ontario. A network of reserves here protect dunes, marshes and fens •Rome Sand Plains, 12 km2 (3000 acres) of upland and wetland pitch pine communities •Albany Pine Barrens, a good example of pitch pine, scrub oak woodland containing occurrences of Karner Blue butterfly. •Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge - Vermont. This site protects ecologically important marshland, floodplain forests, and a large pitch pine bog - 22 km2 •Bald Mountain, Vermont/South Bay - NY. The upland dry forests of this reserve are regionally important for their unusual plant communities. •Bruce Peninsula National Park - south central Ontario: 266.3 km2 •Cabot Head Provincial Nature Park - Ontario: 45.14 km2 •Awenda Provincial Natural Environment Park: 29.17 km2 •Oka Provincial Park - southern Quebec: 23.7 km2 •Rouge Valley Provincial Park Reserve - southern Ontario: 22 km2 •Wasaga Beach Provincial Recreation Park - Ontario: 15.29 km2 •Sandbanks Provincial Natural Environment Park - Ontario: 15.09 km2 •Carillon Provincial Recreation Park - Ontario: 14.65 km2 •Murphy’s Point Provincial Natural Environment Park - Ontario: 12.4 km2 •MacGregor Point Provincial Natural Environment Park - Ontario: 12.04 km2 •Mont St. Hilaire Nature Reserve - McGill University - southern Quebec: 11 km2 •Indian Point Provincial Natural Environment Park - Ontario: 9.47 km2 •Presqu’ile Provincial Park - southeastern Ontario: 9.37 km2 •Charleston Lake Provincial Natural Environment Park - Ontario: 9.02 km2 •Iles de Boucherville Provincial Park - southern Quebec: 8.20 km2 •St. Lawrene Islands National Park - eastern Ontario: 5.90 km2 •Mont-St-Bruno Provincial Park - Quebec - 5.90 km2 Types and Severity of Threats Development, particularly construction of summer homes and suburbanization, pose the greatest conversion threat to the Eastern Great Lakes Lowland forests. Montreal (population greater than 2 million), Ottawa (population greater than 700,000) and Quebec City (population greater than 700,000) are some of the larger urban centres. Suburbs of other urban centres such as Toronto, Ontario, Syracuse, and Albany, N.Y. spill out into this region as well, despite their city centres being in adjacent ecoregions. Widespread farming occurs on much of the rest of the landscape (along with smaller manufacturing centres). Principal crops are corn, grains, soybeans and apple orchards. Degradation due to pollution, however, is a more serious concern. The St. Lawrence is one of the most polluted waterways in North America, with high levels of mirex, PCBs, DDT and its derivatives (Colborn et al. 1990). In spite of this, the area still supports a diversity of faunal populations including breeding populations of common and black terns, caspian terns, and least and American bittern. The shoreline of Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence is important migratory bird habitat including land birds, shore birds and waterfowl. Suite of Priority Activities to Enhance Biodiversity Conservation •Connect Split Rock in New York and Coon Mountain (Adirondack Land Trust), both of which were recently acquired. •Protect South Bay area in New York •Acquire North and South Bouquet Mountains in Essex Country, New York, which contain valuable wildlife habitats with wetlands, more than 200 species of nesting birds, diverse plant communities, and black bear habitat on the west side of Lake Champlain in Adirondack State Park. •Complete acquisition of Alfred Bog in Ontario, to ensure protection of the area’s moose population. •Protect alvar sites in New York and Ontario. •Protect the Albany Pine Barrens through land conservation and improved land management. •Ensure representation of viable examples of all landscapes, natural community types, and native species in conservation areas throughout the ecoregion •Restoration and conservation of woodlots - ecoregion wide •Protect Mont Rigaud - Quebec •Protect Minising Swamp & Grenoch Swamp - Ontario •Greater protection and enforcement of the entire Niagara Escarpment - Ontario •Increase protection for the Oak Ridges Moraine - Ontario •Wetlands - no further net loss - several important sites exist between Drummondville and Quebec City. •Protect the Carden Plain - Ontario •Association pour la Protection de l'Environnement de Rigaud (APER) •Bereton Field Naturalists’ Club •Bouquet River Association •Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ottawa Valley Chapter •Durham Region Field Naturalists •Federation of Ontario Naturalists •Federation of Ontario Naturalists •Great Lakes Program, The Nature Conservancy •Le Centre de Donnees sur le Patrimoine •McIlwraith Field Naturalists of London •Ministere de l’Environnement •Natural Heritage Information Centre •The Nature Conservancy of Canada •The Nature Conservancy of New York, Central and Western NY Chapter •The Nature Conservancy of New York, Eastern New York Chapter •The Nature Conservancy of Vermont •The Nature Conservancy, Adirondacks •The Nature Conservancy, QuebecNaturel du Quebec •New York Natural Heritage Program •Orillia Naturalists’ Club •Quinte Field Naturalists •Regroupement National des Conseils Régionaux de l'Environnement du Québec (RNCREQ) •Residents Committee to Protect the Adirondacks •Rideau Valley Field Naturalists •Sierra Club, Northeast Regional Office •Thousand Islands Land Trust •UQCN - Union Québecoise pour la Conservation de la Nature •Vermont Nongame & Natural Heritage Program •The Wildlands League •World Wildlife Fund Canada, Quebec Region Relationship to other classification schemes The Eastern Great Lakes Forests ecoregion represents a subdivision of Bailey’s Laurentian Mixed Forest Province. This ecoregion extends Omernik’s Erie/Ontario Lake Plain to the north and west of Lake Ontario. The forests north of the lake are distinct from those along the lake’s southern edge so we chose to classify all forests south of Lake Ontario as part of a single ecoregion, the Southern Great Lakes Forests [NA0414]. In Canada, the Eastern Great Lakes Lowland Forests are distributed through east-central Ontario and southern Quebec. This region encompasses the St. Lawrence Lowlands, the Frontenac Axis, and the Manitoulin-Lake Simcoe area (TEC 132, 133, and 134) (ESWG 1995). This ecoregion includes a part of the Niagara section of the Deciduous forest region 1, and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence regions 1-3 and 4c: Huron-Ontario, Upper St. Lawrence, Middle St. Lawrence, and Middle Ottawa (Rowe 1972). Prepared by: Kevin Kavanagh, Marni Sims, Tim Gray, Nathalie Zinger, Louise Gratton.	36,874
Lesson: Circuits with Inductors and Capacitors in SeriesPhysics In this lesson, we will learn how to calculate the properties of circuits that contain inductors and capacitors in series. Sample Question Videos Worksheet: 8 Questions • 1 Video An circuit in an AM tuner (in a car stereo) uses a coil with an inductance of 2.5 mH and a variable capacitor. If the natural frequency of the circuit is to be adjustable over the range 540 to 1,600 kHz (the AM broadcast band), what range of capacitance is required? The self-inductance of an circuit is 0.20 mH. The circuit’s capacitance is 5.0 pF. What is the angular frequency of the current in the circuit? In an oscillating circuit, the maximum charge on the capacitor is C and the maximum current through the inductor is 8.0 mA. What is the period of the oscillations? How much time elapses between an instant when the capacitor is uncharged and the next instant when it is fully charged?	11,512

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