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S. Austin Allibone, comp. Prose Quotations from Socrates to Macaulay. 1880.
A friend exaggerates a mans virtues, an enemy inflames his crimes. A wise man should give a just attention to both of them, so far as they may tend to the improvement of the one and diminution of the other. Plutarch has written an essay on the benefits which a man may receive from his enemies, and, among the good fruits of enmity, mentions this in particular, that by the reproaches which it casts upon us we see the worst side of ourselves, and open our eyes to several blemishes and defects in our lives and conversations, which we should not have observed without the help of such ill-natured monitors.
A man should not allow himself to hate even his enemies; because if you indulge this passion on some occasions, it will rise of itself in others; if you hate your enemies, you will contract such a vicious habit of mind as by degrees will break out upon those who are your friends, or those who are indifferent to you.
Speak not ill of a great enemy, but rather give him good words, that he may use you the better if you chance to fall into his hands. The Spaniard did this when he was dying: his confessor told him, to work him to repentance, how the devil tormented the wicked that went to hell; the Spaniard, replying, called the devil My lord: I hope my lord the devil is not so cruel. His confessor reproved him. Excuse me, said the Don, for calling him so: I know not into what hands I may fall; and if I happen into his, I hope he will use me the better for giving him good words.
There is no small degree of malicious craft in fixing upon a season to give a mark of enmity and ill will; a word, a look, which at one time would make no impression, at another time wounds the heart, and, like a shaft flying with the wind, pierces deep, which, with its own natural force, would scarce have reached the object aimed at.
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Frank Leslie, who was born in England in 1821, came to the United States at age twenty-seven. After working for Gleason’s Pictorial and Illustrated News, in 1854 he launched Frank Leslie’s Ladies’ Gazette of Paris, London, and New York Fashions. One year later he began putting out his own illustrated weekly newspaper, only moderately successful at first. But circulation increased dramatically when it began giving the North a battle-by-battle view of the Civil War.
Made bold by success, “the man who took the war into drawing rooms of the Union” launched numerous new publications. Soon his list included Boys and Girls Weekly Sunday Magazine, Jolly Joker, Comic Almanac, Chatterbox, Ladies Magazine, and Ladies Journal. Perhaps overextended, he was forced into bankruptcy and died as a debtor.
Today each of the more than two hundred 1861-1865 issues of the illustrated newspaper is a collector’s item, and since that time, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly has been a major source of Civil War art.
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What is a phobia?
A phobia is a feeling of fear that arises when you believe you do not have the ability to cope with something.
There are times when our fear is grounded in reality, such as when running away from an attacking dog,but there also exist a type of irrational emotion such as fear of a harmless insect.
A phobia is the irrational fear that is driven by our emotions. It is hard to overcome as even willpower, proven facts and reassurances tend to have very little impact.
The person experiencing the phobic feeling is usually aware that their fear is irrational but they are unable to overcome it.
Any person can have a phobia – it is not a reflection on one’s strength or character, intelligence or will-power.
Types of Phobia :
Fears of traveling by planes ,cars
Fear from closed or crowded places - Claustrophobia
Wasps & Insects
Interviews, tests, exams
NLP coaching will help you understand how your phobia has developed and how you are able to control your fears so that you are able to overcome it and lessen the impact it has on your life
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Hi Tiger, welcome to the forums.
If you need an introduction to variables, try here
Basically, 'solve for
' means 'rearrange the equation so that
ends up on its own on the left hand side (LHS) of the equals sign and everything else is on the right hand side (RHS)'.
The rule is that whatever operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc.) you perform on one side of the equation, you must also perform on the other. By doing so, the equation remains balanced, that is, the LHS remains equal to the RHS.
So, since we need to get
on the LHS, we need to see what we have to 'undo' on the RHS to make it disappear from there. And because whatever we do on one side, we must also do on the other, the
will appear on the LHS once we've done it.
Looking at the RHS, we see that
is being divided
, so to 'undo' the division, we must multiply
. This is because if you divide by a number and then multiply by the same number (or multiply by a number and then divide by the same number), you end up where you started, as if the multiplication and division hadn't been performed at all.
So, we multiply both
On the RHS, we can now cancel the
Which, when cleaned up, leaves us with:
Now we have
on the LHS, but
is there, too.
What operation would we need to perform to allow us to cancel out the
on the LHS? Well, if
in the first place, it must be divided
to undo that multiplication.
So, remembering that whatever we do on one side of the equation we must also do on the other to keep it balanced, we divide both sides by
We can now cancel the
s on the LHS:
Which leaves us with:
We have now isolated
on the LHS (we have 'solved for
'), so we're done.
As for lining up equations, on the web, two or more spaces together will normally be replaced with a single space. To avoid this happening on this forum, however, you can place your equation between 'preformatted' tags ('pre' for short), like this (note the square brackets [ ], and the forward slash, /, in the closing tag):
- Code: Select all
I = 100m
The 'pre' tags won't get printed, but whatever is between them will. You may not get it lined up correctly first time, so just preview and re-edit as many times as you need to before you submit your post.
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Despite a huge amount of information about the H1N1 virus, Canadians still have questions about diagnosis, treatment and how to best respond.
Join André Picard, The Globe and Mail's public health reporter, as he answers questions from readers about the pandemic.
L eave your questions here using the Globe's comment function.
Wednesday, Nov. 25
Q - I saw a story that said the H1N1 was mutating. Does that mean that drugs and the vaccine won't work any more and the flu will be more deadly?
A: There are a couple of issues here.
First, there have been a number of stories about H1N1 developing resistance to Tamiflu, an antiviral drug. This resistance can occur when the drug is misused - when patients don't take the full course of treatment (with Tamiflu that is twice daily for five days.) These resistant strains can spread, making influenza more difficult to treat, but the vaccine still works to protect you against infection.
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health announced last week that it has identified a "potentially significant mutation" in three patients, and that generated a lot of media attention. According to the World Health Organization, the same mutation has been found in China, Japan, Brazil, Ukraine, Mexico and the U.S.
Influenza viruses mutate frequently. That's why you need a flu shot every year - to protect against new strains. During flu season, sporadic cases are expected and not worrisome unless the mutated virus starts spreading person-to-person. So far, there is no evidence that has occurred. So there is no concern about the vaccine not working, at least in the immediate future.
Mutated flu viruses are not necessarily more deadly. In fact, they are often variations (or cousins if you will) of earlier flu viruses so many people can have partial immunity. We have seen this phenomenon with H1N1: Even though it is a novel strain - and thus was believed to have the potential to infect everyone - most people born prior to 1957 have partial immunity. Why? Because, between 1918 and 1957 many strains of H1N1 flu viruses circulated so people developed immunity.
While there is no doubt that H1N1 will mutate, the concern of public health officials is when and how. A major mutation that created a new strain of influenza that spread person-to-person would render the vaccine ineffective but that doesn't seem too likely as H1N1 activity peaks.
The nightmare scenario would be H1N1 (swine flu) hooking up with H5N1, a bird flu that sparked pandemic fears a few years back and which continues to be quite deadly. If those two flu viruses were to swap genetic codes it could create a superbug. Earlier today, a researcher told Reuters news agency that is a distinct possibility because, in China, both viruses are circulating.
"China, as you know, is different from other countries. Inside China, H5N1 has been existing for some time, so if there is really a re-assortment between H1N1 and H5N1, it will be a disaster," said Dr. Zhong Nanshan, director of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases in China's southern Guangdong province.
Friday, Nov. 20
Q: Months ago there were stories about the global pandemic of swine flu. Now all we read about is the flu in Canada. What's going on in the rest of the world?
A: According to the World Health Organization, H1N1 influenza has been reported in 206 countries and overseas territories. There have been 6,770 laboratory-confirmed deaths. The WHO has recorded more than 525,000 cases of H1N1 worldwide but notes that many countries have stopped counting individual cases. (In Canada alone, for example, an estimated 3.5 million people have been infected with the flu.)
In North America, there is active and geographically widespread disease. The flu continues to spread in Northern and Eastern Europe, particularly in parts of the former Soviet Union. Influenza seems to have peaked in Western Europe, such as in the United Kingdom. In Central and Western Asia, flu activity is waning but there are still sporadic outbreaks, such as in Afghanistan and Israel. In East Asia, H1N1 activity continues but is not particularly intense, with the exception of Mongolia. In China and South East Asia there are only small numbers of H1N1 cases and seasonal influenza (H3N2 in particular) is spreading. In the southern hemisphere, where it is no longer flu season, the spread of H1N1 has slowed considerably, with the exception of Peru and Colombia. Transmission of H1N1 has declined sharply all over southeast Asia, with the exception of Sri Lanka. In Africa, there is little flu activity; there have been twice as many H1N1 deaths in Canada is in all of Africa.
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These characteristics breathe throughout his poetry. The struggle for human weal; the resolution firm to martyrdom; the impetuous pursuit, the glad triumph in good; the determination not to despair; —such were the features that marked those of his works which he regarded with most complacency, as sustained by a lofty subject and useful aim.
In addition to these, his poems may be divided into two classes,—the purely imaginative, and those which sprang from the emotions of his heart. Among the former may be classed the “Witch of Atlas”, “Adonais”, and his latest composition, left imperfect, the “Triumph of Life”. In the first of these particularly he gave the reins to his fancy, and luxuriated in every idea as it rose; in all there is that sense of mystery which formed an essential portion of his perception of life—a clinging to the subtler inner spirit, rather than to the outward form—a curious and metaphysical anatomy of human passion and perception.
The second class is, of course, the more popular, as appealing at once to emotions common to us all; some of these rest on the passion of love; others on grief and despondency; others on the sentiments inspired by natural objects. Shelley’s conception of love was exalted, absorbing, allied to all that is purest and noblest in our nature, and warmed by earnest passion; such it appears when he gave it a voice in verse. Yet he was usually averse to expressing these feelings, except when highly idealized; and many of his more beautiful effusions he had cast aside unfinished, and they were never seen by me till after I had lost him. Others, as for instance “Rosalind and Helen” and “Lines written among the Euganean Hills”, I found among his papers by chance; and with some difficulty urged him to complete them. There are others, such as the “Ode to the Skylark and The Cloud”, which, in the opinion of many critics, bear a purer poetical stamp than any other of his productions. They were written as his mind prompted: listening to the carolling of the bird, aloft in the azure sky of Italy; or marking the cloud as it sped across the heavens, while he floated in his boat on the Thames.
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NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, May 2002
ISBN 0 731 36457 0
4. Management Issues
Apart from the apparent disappearance of this species from Kurnell Peninsula, there is no evidence of a substantial decline in its currently known area of occupancy. It must be noted, however, that most of the known sites were only discovered in 1999 and it is difficult to determine how many sites around Tallong were lost to farming, road construction and urban development prior to the surveys. It is possible that there are other small populations of this species in the Tallong and Wingello areas which have not yet been located.
Sensitive design of any building development on the residential blocks in Tallong is required to protect the population on these sites. Careful management of a housing development located up-slope of the population located on Council land in the township of Tallong is required to minimise potential indirect impact (such as nutrient run-on or habitat trampling through increased pedestrian usage of the area) to that population. Appropriate protection of the roadside populations is also required by MSC during any road maintenance or road construction works.
The largest populations are those located on Tallong Park Housing Estate, the Tallong Recreation Reserve and on SRA land. These appear to be secure providing the habitat there is retained as open space and the current low levels of recreational use are maintained.
- A Recovery Team was established by the NPWS and met for the first time on 28 November 1998.
- Initial surveys for the species were conducted in late March/April 1999. These surveys increased the number of known sites, but confirmed the distribution to be extremely restricted and apparently confined to within three kilometres of Tallong.
- In 1999 the Tallong Park Association withdrew a proposed site for the construction of a golf course at Tallong Park Estate from consideration. This action was taken once it became known that the Tallong Midge Orchid occurred adjacent to the site and that its habitat could have been adversely affected by indirect impacts from such a development. An alternative site has since been developed.
- In 1999 a short article was published in the MSC Newsletter describing the predicament of this species and inviting landholders to contact NPWS if they believed they had this species or suitable habitat on their properties.
- In March 2001, a detailed population count was conducted at all known sites of the Tallong Midge Orchid. Three permanent monitoring plots were established, two in Tallong Park and one in the Wingello Recreation Reserve. One new site supporting the Tallong Midge Orchid was also discovered by NPWS staff approximately 8.5 km south-east of the town of Wingello. Surveys for the Tallong Midge Orchid were also conducted in several other sites of potential habitat, but no other occurrences were found.
- Three permanent monitoring plots were established in 2001. These were selected as representative samples of the core populations at Tallong. The plots range from eight to ten square metres in area and included a minimum of 30 flowering individuals in each plot at the time of establishment. All plants in these plots have been marked and will be monitored for at least five consecutive years. The second year of monitoring was conducted by NPWS in March and April 2002.
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What Do Butterflies Eat
If you are interested in attracting butterflies to your yard, you may wonder, "What do butterflies eat?" The answer can vary depending on the species, but, with a few exceptions, butterflies eat (or rather, drink) whatever can dissolve in water. This allows them to draw nutrients up their long, straw-like proboscis.
Though most butterflies love flower nectar, they aren't always picky. Many butterflies eat tree sap, as well as dung, rotting fruit, and even sweat! (They like the salt.) Some butterflies will only eat certain kinds of nectar, but the really picky eaters are caterpillars. While most caterpillars eat plants and leaves, many will only eat specific types of plants. Monarch caterpillars, for example, eat only milkweed. This specialization not only holds down competition for food, but, in the case of the bitter milkweed eaters, makes them taste pretty bad to predators.
There are some butterflies that are even more specialized. Zebra butterflies, for example, can collect pollen on their proboscis, and break it down for food over a longer period of time. This allows them to survive, mate, and lay eggs for longer periods of time than some butterflies.
There is at least one type of predatory butterfly as well. The favorite food of the Harvester butterfly's caterpillars are wooly aphids. They also enjoy scale insects and tree hoppers. The adults are fond of wooly aphids too. With their short proboscis they can pierce their bodies and drink their fluids. Yummy!
Whether you are a budding lepidopterist, or just want to add some living color to your yard, it's nice to know what butterflies eat.There's more to their diet than you might have imagined. With the right knowledge you can even watch their entire life cycle unfold in your own back yard!
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What is creeping eruption?
Creeping eruption (also called cutaneous larva migrans or sand-worm disease) is a skin infection caused by hookworms, which are normally found in dogs and cats. The parasite spreads to humans through skin contact with the eggs found in dog and cat feces on the ground. It commonly occurs after exposure to moist, sandy areas that are contaminated. Characterized by severe itching with a red progressive, winding rash (advancing up to 1 to 2 cm per day), it is sometimes accompanied by small blisters. The infection usually appears on areas of the body that have been directly exposed to the contaminated ground, such as the feet, legs, buttocks, or back.
What are the symptoms of creeping eruption?
The following are the most common symptoms of creeping eruption. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
The symptoms of creeping eruption may resemble other skin conditions. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.
Treatment for creeping eruptions
Creeping eruption may be treated with antiparasitic drugs, such as albendazole.
In the United States, deworming of cats and dogs and effective public sanitation have decreased the frequency of hookworms. Infection is more likely in tropical and semitropical countries. According to the CDC, most cases are reported in travelers to the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and South America. Since the hookworm larvae enter the human body through bare feet, wearing shoes will help prevent infections.
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April 6, 2009
Miss Deaf America Pageant
The Miss Deaf America Pageant (MDAP) was started about 45 years ago and
“closely follows the structure of the Miss America Pageant. Young women
between the ages of 18 and 28 and with deafness or significant hearing loss
must compete at local and state levels first” (Drummond, 2008). “The pageant
was started as a vision of the late Douglas J. Burke” (UAD). The contestants
have the opportunity to develop their stage presence, poise, ability to
handle pressure, self confidence, as well as to display their talents,
express their opinions and share their ambitions at the state and local
pageants before going on to national competition.
“The first Miss Deaf America Pageant was held during the National
Association of the Deaf (NAD) convention in Miami Beach, Florida. It became
even more popular when the pageant was held at the same time as the NAD
conference” (NAD). Initially, the MDAP only have five contestants, but has
grown tremendously over the years to between 25 and 39 participants in the
final national competition, after local and statewide eliminations.
Nowadays, the Miss Deaf America Pageant is the most popular event at the NAD
“The National Association of the Deaf guards the civil rights of 28 million
deaf and hard of hearing Americans” (UAD). The NAD is a dynamic federation
whose area of focus encompasses on a wide range of functions including youth
leadership development. “A private, non-profit organization, the NAD has
four youth related programs, the NAD Youth Leadership Camp, the Junior NAD,
the Collegiate NAD, and the Miss Deaf America Pageant (MDAP)” (UAD).
Each contest is judged in five categories: private interview, platform
presentation, talent performance, evening gown and bathing suit, and the
onstage interview. “The Pageant goal is to provide a fine, dignified and
beautiful way to encourage young deaf and hard of hearing women to become
the leaders of tomorrow” (NAD). Throughout the years, the pageant has helped
many young women with self-esteem, public speaking, and many other life
skills. The crowned Miss Deaf America gets the title for 2 years and becomes
the ambassador for the NAD. The bonds of friendship developed between the
young women during the course of the competition will last a lifetime.
“In September of 1994, 21-year-old Heather Whitestone, who had just 5%
hearing her left ear, was crowned the first deaf Miss America. She chose not
to compete in the Miss Deaf America Pageant, and overcame her challenge of
deafness, courageously competing for the title of Miss America. Heather won
the same way that other contestants win—by verbally conveying the messages
of her platform, answering questions, looking stunning in a bathing suit and
formal gown and performing a talent. The talent was a classical ballet dance
set to music that she could not hear, and she successfully completed the
dance by feeling the vibrations of the music in her body” (Drummond, 2008).
The example of how Heather could compete and win the title of first deaf
Miss America shows that anything is possible if you believe in yourself.
Time after time, history has shown that people who must overcome a challenge
usually develop strengths in other areas.
Drummond, Megan. (2008, January 23). Retrieved April 2, 2009, from Miss Deaf
America: A platform to promote the images and talents of deaf women:
(History of NAD Miss Deaf America "N.D."). Retrieved April 2, 2009, from
History of NAD Miss Deaf America: www.nad.org/mdahistory
(Miss Deaf America Pageant History "N.D."). Retrieved April 2, 2009, from
Miss Deaf America Pageant History: www.uad.org/mdup/mdap_history.htm
Dr. Bill's new iPhone "Fingerspelling Practice" app is available now for just 99
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| 0.92522
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| 2.890625
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Meet the Bombyx Mori in its caterpillar, larva or “worm” state — silkworm to be specific (though it’s not a worm at all).
There’s an entire series of videos online showing the Bombyx Mori’s life cycle from egg to larva (small and larger) to pupa to its emergence as an adult moth. But the thing that makes this insect stand out is the silkworm’s creation of a unique cocoon made from its saliva: a one mile long single strand of silk.
After they have molted four times (i.e., in the fifth instar phase), their bodies become slightly yellow and the skin become tighter. The larvae will then enter the pupa phase of their life cycle and enclose themselves in a cocoon made up of raw silk produced by the salivary glands. The cocoon provides a vital layer of protection during the vulnerable, almost motionless pupal state.
The moth that emerges from the cocoon is furry, white, doesn’t fly, but of course, starts the cycle all over again.
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| 0.941265
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Navigating the Mississippi River
The amazing river of Mark Twain and Huck FinnHistory
Next to the Missouri, the Mississippi is the longest river in the United States. As settlers started their westward migration, navigating the Mississippi became an integral part of American history. Originally under the control of both the Spanish and French, the river was part of the vast Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
The river was an important aspect of Native American life and culture, and its name is believed to have come from words meaning “great river” or “great water.” French fur traders plied the river with keelboats and rafts, which were followed by the advent of steamboats in 1811. The first bridge across the Mississippi was constructed in 1855 in Minneapolis. While much of the traffic ceased during the Civil War, the river was an important invasion route and strategic objective for the Union army.
While railroads captured much of the cargo transport in the late 1800s, there has been a resurgence of freight traffic in the last half-century. Food, grains, chemicals gravel, and petroleum products are all shipped on the Mississippi.
The river originates in many small streams that feed Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota. From there it flows in a generally southern direction, and the middle of the riverbed defines parts of the borders of ten states. Combined with its largest tributary, the Mississippi and Missouri river system is the third longest in the world at over 3,700 miles.
The flow of the river is now controlled by 43 dams that contribute to power generation and recreational reservoirs. The flowing river exceeds a mile in width in several locations, and many of the lakes formed by the dams are even wider. The dams south of Minneapolis contain locks to facilitate towboat and barge traffic along the route navigating the Mississippi to New Orleans. In addition, the flow is further moderated by wing dikes that help prevent erosion and preserve the main commercial channel.
The ecology and geography are further shaped by levees that line the river. As a result of years of sediment deposit and buildup of the natural levees, in some areas the surface of the river is above the surrounding river plain. Levee breaches often flood portions of the surrounding low-lying areas.
The Mississippi River is navigable all the way from Minneapolis to the Gulf of Mexico. There are man-made canals that circumvent major rapids in Illinois and Iowa to facilitate navigating the Mississippi. During the summer months, the drop in water level requires all vessels to navigate marked channels. From the Gulf to Baton Rouge, the 45-foot channel is adequate for many oceangoing ships. North of Baton Rouge, the 9 to 12-foot channel can accommodate most towboats and barges.
During the winter months, the upper Mississippi is prone to ice, and heavy fog often blankets areas of unfrozen water when the air temperature warms. Most of the dams and falls are in the upper portion of the river since more than half of the 1,475 foot vertical drop occurs in Minnesota.
The Missouri River joins the Mississippi just north of St. Louis, and the Ohio River joins at Cairo, Illinois. South of Cairo, navigating the Mississippi is a calmer experience, as the river meanders through an extensive, low valley that has been built up by sediment over thousands of years. It enters the Gulf of Mexico about 100 miles south of New Orleans through an ever-expanding delta. The river is connected to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and to the Illinois Waterway in the north. The latter provides access to the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
St. Louis was the gateway for many pioneers that were headed west to start new lives and seek their fortunes. It was no accident that St. Louis and many other cities sprung up along this great waterway. In addition to being a major trade route, it provides a never-ending supply of water for farm irrigation. Other major cities along the Mississippi River include Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Dubuque, Memphis, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans.
42explore2.com: the Mississippi River
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Comparison Contrast Essay
A comparison contrast essay is an assignment that requires students to evaluate many different sides to one situation or story. Students will not only need to be able to draw similarities between two competing events, but students will also need to show why two different events are dissimilar. Therefore, learners will have to perform a large amount of research in order to create effective comparison contrast essays.
The first step that students should take in order to create comparison contrast essays is to evaluate the project requirements. Professors will have a list of particular project requirements that will need to be met. For example, professors may require learners to compare and contrast two specific things, or they may require a comparison and contrast of more.
Students may then select their project topic. In most cases, learners can select their comparison contrast essay topics. However, professors may sometimes assign topics. Students need to make sure that they understand the topic before they begin the document.
The nest step after receiving or deciding on a comparison contrast essay topic is for students to begin their research. Students may want to investigate primary and secondary research representing multiple sides or points of view on the same topic. From in depth comparison contrast essay research, learners should be able to develop a clear picture of the similarities and differences between a particular topic or set of topics.
Students should keep journals during their research, especially for comparison contrast essays because they will need to frequently refer back to different similarities and differences. Once the student is satisfied that he or she has performed a suitable amount of research, the student should outline the comparison contrast essay in depth.
The comparison contrast essay outline will serve as a roadmap for the document itself and provide format and direction that the learner will be able to easily follow as he or she drafts the report itself. The student should plan to create several drafts of the comparison contrast essay before completing the final document version. Therefore, the student should allow plenty of time for revisions.
There is a difference between a comparison contrast essay and other report forms. In general, comparison contrast essays require learners to interact with two different subjects in equal manner. Therefore, they must be familiar with two subjects. However, many essays only require learners to be familiar with one subject in depth. Therefore, they may require less research and knowledge to create.
Premium Essays Involving "Comparison Contrast Essay"
Helpful Videos on Essay Writing
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When it comes to nutrition, sometimes it's hard to tell the fact from the fiction. Certain foods get a reputation as "bad for you," whereas others get promoted as "natural" or "good for you" when they are really not.
Sometimes myths about foods are based on urban legends that just get perpetuated for years until we actually believe they are research-based. Other myths are based on old research that was not done in a scientific manner. Whatever the reason, here are some claims around a few popular foods that need to be debunked.
1. Cheese is bad for you
I hear this one every day of the week. The answer lies in the type of cheese you eat. There is packaged, processed cheese and then there is artisan/European and grass-fed cheese. The European/grass-fed cheese is higher in omega-3 fats (anti-inflammatory) fats that are good for you. Cheese is also a good source of protein and calcium. Eating cheese from cows that have been fed growth hormones and antibiotics, and that contains multiple ingredients, fits the myth and should be avoided. You can find imported European cheese in the deli section of your grocery store.
2. Eggs make your cholesterol go up
It's beyond interesting to me that many people will avoid an egg yolk but will eat several packaged cookies during the day! Long-term studies found no relationship between egg consumption and heart disease. Studies do consistently link heart disease with a higher intake of trans fat, which is used in packaged foods to increase shelf life. However, the fat in eggs is mostly polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, and the yolk is an excellent source of the antioxidant lutein, which can lower certain inflammatory responses in the body. Eggs easily fit into a healthy lifestyle, so enjoy an omelet for breakfast and see how satisfied you are the rest of the day.
3. Drinking juice is healthy and a good way to get your fruit
Many people love their morning juice! But experts say drinking juice is equal to the same amount of sugar as drinking a glass of soda. Dr. Charles Billington, a researcher on obesity at the University of Minnesota, states that juice is "pretty much the same as sugar water." Think of all the oranges or apples you would have to squeeze to obtain a cup of juice. You are drinking all the sugar from the juice, minus the fiber that helps stabilize your blood sugar when eating the fruit. Skip the juice and eat a few pieces of fruit per day to improve your health.
4. Avoid avocados since they have too much fat
Avocados do contain fat, but it is the healthy monounsaturated kind, which does amazing things in your body. This is a food you want to include as part of your daily diet. Eating avocados can help with increasing the HDL (the happy kind of cholesterol), which you want higher since it helps with lowering heart disease by getting rid of bad cholesterol. Also, having healthy fats in your diet assists your health in multiple ways, including helping your skin and hair stay healthy and vibrant, providing adequate lubrication for the gut to help with normal digestion and absorption, and assisting with making hormones essential to the manufacture of sex hormones.
5. Agave is a natural sweetener
Agave, which comes from the cactus and has been used to make tequila, hit the market a few years ago. You can find agave as a sweetener in most products found in health food stores... but is it really a health product?
Using high-fructose corn syrup is a cheap way to sweeten foods. It was developed to help food companies cut costs. Whereas real sugar is 50 percent glucose and 50 percent fructose, high-fructose corn syrup is approximately 45 percent glucose and 55 fructose, and not the natural kind like in fruit. With agave, the percentages are altered more significantly -- the syrup is 85-90 percent fructose and 10-15 percent glucose. When you consume a large percentage of this type of fructose, it gets processed directly by your liver, which not only increases your triglyceride levels, but causes fatty liver, increased hunger levels and a plethora of other health issues you would rather avoid. The agave plant goes through heavy processing in order to concentrate it into a sweet syrup. Rather than being natural, as we've been led to believe, it is actually a processed food, often with few quality controls.
As with everything diet-related, moderation is key, but don't be afraid to add European-style cheese, eggs and avocado to your shopping list. Drop the juice, add some fruit instead, and use honey instead of agave to sweeten your morning beverage. The result? A delicious, satisfying breakfast and a healthier you!
Susan is the author of "A Recipe for Life by the Doctor's Dietitian." Her new book "Healthy You, Healthy Baby: A mother's guide to gestational diabetes" will be out in June 2012. For more information, visit susandopart.com.
For more by Susan B. Dopart, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., click here.
For more by Susan B. Dopart, M.S., R.D., C.D.E. on HuffPost, click here.
For more on diet and nutrition, click here.
Flickr photo by Ella es Tanya
Follow Susan B. Dopart, M.S., R.D., C.D.E. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/smnutritionist
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How To Talk To Your Kids About CT School Shooting [AUDIO]
The Newtown, Connecticut school shootings that left twenty-six dead, many of them young children, has left many parents nationwide struggling to figure out what to tell their children.
Pediatric Trauma & Anxiety Specialist, Rhonda Martin says it’s important to reassure children that they are safe when they go to school and to consider the age of the child when discussing details.
“If they are children ages 3-10 you want to be very concrete with it, explain to them how rare it is, tell them that they should not feel worried or scared going back to school.”
“You can encourage younger children to draw a picture or paint to express their feelings as well,” she added.
Martin says a general rule of thumb is if the child is old enough to ask the question, they deserve an age-appropriate answer.
“If they are older children, adolescents, you can answer their questions, but feel comfortable enough to say ‘I don’t know’ if they ask why the shooter did this or why all the kids had to die.”
But parents also need to stay calm when talking to children about the situation.
“Kids react to adults and how they are feeling, so if your child sees you upset they will be upset.”
She also advises parents to limit children’s exposure to television and social media in the aftermath of such events.
“While it is sometimes unavoidable to completely turn off the tv, parents should turn it off as much as possible, especially when young children are around because it may heighten a child’s fear or anxiety,” said Martin.
For kids who are concerned about school safety, have them review safety procedures.
“Tell them to go over what they have been taught in school, where do they go in an emergency, etc. If they can review the plans with you, they are likely to feel more at ease about going to school.”
Martin says the main thing is to give your children extra time and attention and help them return to a normal routine.
“In some kids these events will take time to recover, other kids will be back to normal the next day. Parents should talk to their kids, listen and act based on age.”
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March is Women’s History Month. Take a look back through time at the contributions women have made throughout history.
1775 - 1783
Women commonly served traditional roles within the U.S. Army such as cooks, laundresses, nurses and seamstresses. Many military garrisons counted on these roles to make servicemembers’ lives tolerable. However, even during the American Revolution, some women chose to forego traditional roles by serving in combat alongside their husbands or disguised as men, while other courageous women took on roles as spies.
Mary Marshall and Mary Allen serve as nurses aboard Commodore Stephen Decatur’s ship, the United States.
1861 - 1865
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker volunteers to care for wounded servicemembers in the Union Army and is later appointed the first female surgeon. In 1865, she received the Medal of Honor for her work and was the first woman to receive the award.
Congress officially establishes the Army Nurse Corps on February 2, 1901, under the Army Reorganization Act.
The Navy Nurse Corps was established by Congress in 1908, but at that time no provision was made for rank or rating comparable to the Navy’s male personnel. While they have never held actual rank, the Navy nurses have since been accorded privileges similar to those of officers. Under a congressional enactment approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 3, 1942, members of the Navy Nurse Corps were granted relative rank.
The Navy allows women to enlist and serve stateside during World War I. Most of the 11,000 female yeoman who enlisted worked in Washington, D.C., as draftsmen, interpreters, couriers and translators. Later in World War I, the Navy enlisted 24 African-American women who worked in the Navy Department building.
Opha Mae Johnson becomes the first woman accepted for duty when she enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in Washington, D.C.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorizes the creation of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard women’s auxiliary/reserves. The Army’s female auxiliary members become known as the WAACs; their Navy counterparts become known as the WAVEs.
The WAACs transition into the Women’s Army Corps, giving the more than 76,000 women who had enlisted as WAACs full military status. WAACs director, Col. Oveta Culp Hobby, continued in her post as the WAACs transitioned to WACs. The U.S. Marine Corps creates a Women’s Reserve.
The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act grants women permanent regular and reserve status in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and the newly created Air Force. In addition, Executive Order 9981 ends racial segregation in the armed services.
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Barbara Olive Barnwell becomes the first female Marine to be awarded the Navy and Marine Corps medal for heroism for saving a fellow Marine from drowning in the Atlantic Ocean in 1952.
Marine Corps Master Sgt. Barbara Jean Dulinsky becomes the first female Marine to serve in a combat zone in Vietnam. She was assigned to U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam combat operations center in Saigon.
Navy Lt. j.g. Barbara Ann (Allen) Rainey earns her wings as the first female Naval aviator.
President Gerald R. Ford signs Public Law 94-106 on Oct. 7, 1975, permitting women to enroll in U.S. military academies beginning in the fall of 1976.
Women enter U.S. military academies as students for the first time; 119 women entered West Point, 81 entered the Naval Academy, and 157 enrolled at the Air Force Academy. Women also enrolled in the Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy.
The U.S. Coast Guard assigns its first co-gender crews when 24 women are assigned to serve aboard CGC Gallatin and CGC Morgenthau. Each ship receives 12 women — two officers and 10 enlisted personnel — as members of the crew.
Marine Corps Col. Margaret A. Brewer becomes a brigadier general — the first female general in the Corps’ history. Navy nurse Joan C. Bynum becomes the first African-American woman to be promoted to the rank of captain.
The first coed classes graduate from the U.S. service academies.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Darlene Iskra becomes the first woman to command a commissioned naval ship when she assumes command of the USS Opportune in Naples, Italy.
Defense Secretary Les Aspin announces the new policy regarding women in combat that rescinds the 1988 “risk rule” and replaces it with a less restrictive ground combat policy. As a result of this policy, 80% of all military positions can now be filled by either men or women.
Gilda Jackson becomes the first African-American woman to achieve the rank of colonel within the Marine Corps and the first woman to command the Naval Aviation Depot at Cherry Point, N.C.
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Carol Mutter becomes the first female three-star officer in the U.S. Armed Forces when she assumes the position of deputy chief of staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C.
Marine Corps Capt. Vernice Armour becomes the first female African-American pilot in the Marine Corps, and later becomes the first woman in Defense Department history to fly combat missions in Iraq.
Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Jeanine McIntish-Menze becomes the first female African-American U.S. Coast Guard pilot. Air Force Maj. Nicole Malachowski becomes the first female pilot to join the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron.
After enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1974, Angela Salinas works her way through the ranks to make history by becoming the first female Hispanic brigadier general in the corps.
The first all-female U.S. Marine Corps team conducts its first mission in Southern Afghanistan. Lt. Felicia Thomas becomes the first female African-Amercian commander of a U.S. Coast Guard cutter when she assumes command of the CGC Pea Island.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announces that for the first time, women can be assigned to submarines. Lt. j.g. La’Shonda Holmes becomes the first female African-American helicopter pilot in the Coast Guard. Navy Rear Adm. Nora Tyson becomes the first female commander of a carrier strike group.
U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Sandra Stosz assumes command of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as the school’s first female superintendant. As she assumes her new role, Stosz becomes the first woman to lead any U.S. military academy.
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European courts may be asked to decide whether Britain acted illegally by proposing not to clean up air pollution in British cities for over a decade after an appeal was dismissed.
In the appeal, by environmental charity Client Earth, three high court judges accepted that the UK government has been in breach of its legal duties to ensure nitrogen dioxide air pollution met legal standards, but agreed with a high court decision in December 2011 that it was up to the European commission and not Britain to decide whether the government's intention to delay compliance was admissable.
The government argued successfully that the European air pollution directive only required them to comply "in the shortest time possible", which they claim could not be achieved before 2020, or 2025 in the case of London.
European environment commissioner Janez Potočnik now has around one month to decide whether to refer Britain to the European court of justice, where it could be fined hundreds of millions of pounds for flouting EU laws. "The ball is now firmly with Europe. The commissison cannot ignore this. They have no option but to act", said Client Earth lawyer Alan Andrews.
The judgment has been received bitterly by environment organisations battling to improve air pollution largely caused by traffic in London and other cities. Nitrogen dioxide pollution is linked to the early deaths each year of 29,000 people in the UK, along with respiratory and heart diseases.
Activist group Climate Rush, which cleaned a section of pavement outside the high court to emphasise the need for clean air, said in a statement: "This is a public health epidemic and our government should be doing all they can to improve air quality by improving public transport services, investing in cycling safety and banning the most polluted cars from the most polluted places."
"It is a national scandal that this killer pollution is causing thousands of Londoners to die prematurely every year. It's time to tackle the root of the problem – too much dirty traffic – by investing in cleaner alternatives like cycling and public transport", said Friends of the Earth's London campaigner Jenny Bates.
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In Motion: The African-American Migration Experience presents more than 16,500 pages of texts, 8,300 illustrations, and more than 60 maps.
The Web site is organized around thirteen defining migrations that have formed and transformed African America and the nation. Each migration is presented through five units:
- A narrative
- About 100 illustrations, each with caption, and bibliographical, indexing, and ordering information
- From twenty to forty research resources consisting of essays, books, book chapters, articles, and manuscripts
- Lesson plans for teachers
In addition, each migration has a bibliography (references) and a gateway of related Web sites.
Migrations can be reached through "Browse by" Migrations, Geography or Timeline. Once a migration has been selected, users can either read the narrative and look at the images, or focus on images only by clicking on "View Image Gallery." From the drop-down menu, they can elect to see all the images, or only those associated with a particular part of the narrative.
In the narrative, highlighted words take users to a glossary definition. The glossary can also be accessed through the Glossary box on the lower bar of each page.
A "Search" function is accessible from all pages. It enables users to search through texts, illustrations, maps, lesson plans, and glossary for a particular keyword, or sentence. All books, book chapters, essays, articles, and manuscript are presented in their original form as well as in a searchable version.
All texts and images can be printed. Printer-friendly versions of the texts are available.
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Heat Wave Prompts Safe Kids Allen County to Remind Caregivers of the Dangers to Children Left Alone in Cars
2 Deaths in Indiana and Unrelenting Heat Call For Extra Care
Fort Wayne, Indiana – At the mid-point of summer with hot temperatures throughout the country and more than 20 child deaths so far from hyperthermia, Safe Kids Allen County reminds caregivers to never leave children alone in vehicles.
According to a national survey done by the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, 45 percent of parents think it is “very unlikely” a child in their neighborhood could “die from the heat after being left alone in the car.” But on average, this occurs 38 times a year. It has already happened twice in Indiana during 2011. With the support of the GM Foundation, Safe Kids Allen County and a network of 600 coalitions and chapters across the nation are helping to educate parents and caregivers by providing prevention information. Parents need to understand how quickly a car can heat up, how susceptible children are to heat, and what they need to do to help prevent these tragic deaths.
Since March, 21 children have tragically died from being trapped in a sweltering car or truck – with nearly one-fourth of the deaths occurring in Texas alone. It can happen at temperatures as low as the mid-50s.
"As these tragedies continue to occur, Safe Kids Allen County has redoubled its efforts to get the message out that the inside of a vehicle is an extremely dangerous place for a child to be alone," said Carmen DeBruce, coordinator, Safe Kids Allen County. “The inside of a car acts like a greenhouse, a place no child should be alone. Because children’s bodies heat up by as much as five times faster than adults, this makes them much more susceptible to heat stroke.”
Although most would assume this would never happen to them, there is no common description of the caregiver that has experienced this tragedy. It has happened to the rich and poor, educated and less educated, women and men, city dwellers and suburbanites, and in every state but Wyoming.
“Reaching parents and caregivers with these safety messages will no doubt help keep kids safe. These heartbreaking incidents can happen to anyone and public education is vital to combating these preventable occurrences,” said DeBruce.
“Good communication between parents and teachers can be a key to child safety and prevention of the devastating effects of hyperthermia,” said Kristie Reeves, a mother who lost her child to hyperthermia this year. “One phone call with a child care center or school can save a child's life."
Record temperatures mean that cars heat up very quickly. On an 80 degree day, the temperature inside of a car can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes. In the same survey done by ACTS, 9 of 10 parents report that they never leave their child alone in a car but for the one parent that does, things can end tragically. The bottom line is that there are ways to prevent these deaths. Actively look in cars and trucks in parking lots and call 911 immediately if you see a child unattended in a vehicle.
Here’s what parents and caregivers need to know and why.
• Lock cars and trucks. Thirty percent of the recorded heat stroke deaths in the U.S. occur because a child was playing in an unattended vehicle. These deaths can be prevented by simply locking the vehicle doors and putting keys out of reach to help assure that kids don’t enter the vehicles and become trapped.
• Create reminders. Many child heat stroke deaths occur because parents and caregivers become distracted and exit their vehicle without their child. To help prevent these tragedies parents can:
• Place a cell phone, PDA, purse, briefcase, gym bag or something that is needed at your next stop on the floor in front of a child in a backseat. This will help you see your child when you open the rear door and reach for your belongings.
• Set the alarm on your cell phone/Smartphone as a reminder to you to drop your child off at day care.
• Set your computer calendar program to ask, “Did you drop off at child care today?” Establish a plan with your child care provider that if your child fails to arrive within an agreed upon time that you will be called within a few minutes. Be especially mindful of your child if you change your routine for child care.
• Dial 911 immediately if you see an unattended child in a car. EMS professionals are trained to determine if a child is in trouble. The body temperature of children rises 3 - 5 times faster than adults, and as a result, children are much more vulnerable to heat stroke. Check vehicles and trunks FIRST if a child is missing.
For more information on preventing child heat stroke deaths, please visit www.ggweather.com/heat and www.safekids.org/nlyca .
Safe Kids Allen County is a coalition of local organizations dedicated to preventing accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under. The lead organization for Safe Kids Allen County is Lutheran Children’s Hospital. Safe Kids Allen County is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids Allen County was founded in 1999.
Safe Kids USA is part of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability to children ages 1 to 14. More than 600 coalitions and chapters across the U.S. and 19 member countries across the globe bring together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments and volunteers to educate and protect families. For more information visit www.safekids.org .
The Safe Kids Allen County coalition includes these member organizations:
Allen County Sheriff’s Department
American Red Cross
Community Action of Northeast Indiana (CANI)
Early Childhood Alliance
Family & Children’s Services
Fort Wayne Fire Department
Fort Wayne Police Department
Governor’s Council on Impaired Driving
Indiana State Police
Lutheran Children’s Hospital (lead organization)
New Haven Police Department
New York Life
Safe Kids Volunteer Corps
St. Joseph Regional Burn Center
Stop Child Abuse & Neglect (SCAN)
Three Rivers Ambulance Authority (TRAA)
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Barcelona Cathedral (La Seu)
Barcelona Cathedral (also known as La Seu) is a celebrated example of Catalan Gothic architecture dating from the 14th century. Its graceful spires can be seen from throughout the Barri Gòtic (Gothic quarter) of Barcelona.
The elevated site occupied by the cathedral has always been the spiritual center of Barcelona. First there was a Roman temple here, then a mosque, and then a church. Construction on the present cathedral began in 1298 under King Jaume II and was completed in 1448. The west facade dates from the 19th century.
What to See
Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia may be Barcelona's most famous landmark (and rightly so), but La Seu still holds it own as one of the most impressive cathedrals in Spain.
A blending of medieval and Renaissance styles, Barcelona's cathedral features large bell towers covered in Gothic pinnacles, high Gothic arches, a handsomely sculptured choir and many side chapels with rich altarpieces. The interior was recently cleaned. Especially notable is the Cappella de Sant Benet behind the altar, with a magnificent 15th-century interpretation of the crucifixion by Bernat Matorell.
The crypt beneath the high altar contains the impressive alabaster sarcophagus of Santa Eulalia, patroness of the cathedral and co-patroness of the city. The virgin daughter of an upper-class Barcelona family, Eulalia was burned at the stake for her beliefs under the Romans (traditionally dated to February 12, 304). Drop some coins in a slot to light up the crypt.
Probably the best part of the cathedral is the 14th-century cloister, which the historian Cirici called "the loveliest oasis in Barcelona." Its vaulted galleries overlook a lush garden filled with orange, medlar and palm trees and a mossy central pond. Underneath the well-worn slabs of its stone floor are th tombs of key members of the Barri Gòtic's ancient guilds.
Unusually, the cloister is home to a gaggle of white geese whose ancestors have lived here for five centuries. How they originally came to be here remains a mystery and they are certainly an unusual feature for a cathedral. Various legends have it that they represent the virginity of St. Eulalia or the former splendor of Rome.
On the northern side is the chapter house, which contains a small museum of religious artifacts. The highlight is the 15th-century La Pietat of Bartolomé Bermejo.
An elevator ride to the roof provides a fine view of Gothic Barcelona.
Quick Facts on Barcelona Cathedral (La Seu)
|Names:||Barcelona Cathedral (La Seu); Catedral de Barcelona; La Seu|
|Visitor and Contact Information|
|Address:||Plaça de la Seu s/n, Barcelona, Spain|
|Coordinates:||41.383949° N, 2.176698° E (view on Google Maps)|
|Opening Hours:||Cathedral: daily 9am-1pm and 5-7pm; |
Cloister Museum: daily 10am-1pm and 4-6:30pm
Roof: Mon-Sat -10:30am-1:30pm and 5-6pm
|Cost:||Free admission to cathedral. |
Ticket for 1-4:30pm guided visit to museum, choir, rooftop terraces, and towers €4
|Transport:||Metro: Jaume I or Liceu|
|Lodging:||View hotels near this location|
Map of Barcelona Cathedral (La Seu)
Below is a location map and aerial view of Barcelona Cathedral (La Seu). Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.
- The Rough Guide to Spain 11 (April 2004).
- Frommer's Barcelona, 2nd ed. (May 2007).
- St. Lulalia of Barcelona - Catholic Encyclopedia (1909)
- Barcelona Cathedral (La Seu) - Go Historic
- Photos of Barcelona Cathedral (La Seu) - here on Sacred Destinations
|Title:||Barcelona Cathedral (La Seu)|
|Link code:||<a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/spain/barcelona-cathedral-la-seu">Barcelona Cathedral (La Seu)</a>|
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Normal men do not know that everything is possible.
Introduction and definitions
"It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens." - Baha'u'llah
It is easy to state that totalitarianism has never existed when one considers it to be a de facto form of government rather than a state of mind. The Oxford Wordfinder defines totalitarianism thusly -
"of or relating to a centralized dictatorial form of government requiring complete subservience to the State"
The two movements most pertinent to this description were Stalinism in the Soviet Union and Nazism in Germany - they may not have achieved the absolute surveillence (and hence power) of George Orwell's 'Big Brother', but their ambitions were no less. Totalitarianism can be seen as the link between these two otherwise seemingly fairly different régimes (it would be a mistake, for instance, to presume that because Nazism borrowed stylistic conventions from Fascism, it is closer to Il Duce's Italy than Stalin's Russia)1. The term was first coined by Hannah Arendt in her seminal three-volume work on the subject, The Origins of Totalitarianism, in which she makes the case for considering totalitarianism as a historical phenonoma of its own, regarding comparisons to other movements as of secondary importance2. A comparison to fascism, for instance, falls down when it is realised that fascists are primarily nationalists, but neither Hitler nor Stalin held the glory of their nation to be their goal. Totalitarian movements are global in scope - Hitler sought to create a world-wide Aryan state and the goal of the Bolshevik Party had always been the world revolution. Any comparison to fascism, then, involves redefining the state in racial terms or class terms, at which point it becomes more palatable - Hitler, who Himmler always said "thinks in Germanic terms" rather than German, once declared himself to be "a magnet . . . extracting the steel from [the German people]". Anyone who was not eventually in his camp was "worthless", which everyone knew would mean their liquidation3. Similarly, the Russian Revolution of February need certainly not have led to totalitarianism, nor even October - it was the liquidation of all of the Bolsheviks' peer parties, even fellow-travellers such as the Left Social Revolutionaries, that started Russia down this road.
It is also interesting to note the similarities between the Communists and the Nazis in Germany before 1933 (which saw the liquidation of the former). Although Nazism and Communism (and Fascism and Communism) declare themselves to be mutually antagonistic, Nazism and Communism at least have in common that they wish to destroy the very state itself. Both therefore existed outside the normal Party system, which they sought to destroy. They also recruited their followers not from stratified classes4, but from the vast mass of people in Western democracies who do not belong to a political organisation, or don't even have an alignment. These are the people that parties commonly rely on on election day, but do not expect to be ideologically motivated enough to become members or activists.
Intellectual roots of Nazism and Bolshevism
I. Hegelianism, Marxism & Bolshevism
"Socialism is Bolshevism with a shave." - Detroit Journal
The nineteenth century is remarkble for the plurality of ideologies and "isms" it produced - Communism, conservatism, liberalism, Marxism, Darwinism, Hegelianism, socialism, Romanticism, &c. The first attempt at grandiose system building in the nineteenth century was undoubtedly that undertaken by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770 - 1831). Writing in the tumultuous period of the French Revolution, the liquidation of the Holy Roman Empire and then the Congress of Vienna, Hegel's philosophy seemed to be a reaction to the uncertainty and what was contemporaneously called the "nihilism" of those times. Hegel was not solely or even primarily a philosopher of history, but it is in this role he interests us here - for Hegel claimed to discover a general "key to history", and to his followers it was no longer jumbled or meaningless.
The German historical traditional of the ninteenth century clearly contains the influence of Hegel's thought - it no longer became the science of telling a story truthfully, but the art of interpreting historical meaning. Hegel taught that history was the unfolding of the very meaning of the Universe that would leave no question unanswered. This system lent such a wonderful unity to the World - something German philosophers had been searching for for decades - because within it nothing was "wrong", but all competing ideas were just functions of the historical dialectic, an expression of the Zeitgeist ("spirit of the times"). Hegel's philosophy of history helped two particularly influential people model their own systems - Karl Marx and Count Arthur de Gobineau.
Marx's theory of revolution is sufficiently well understood due to the huge impact it has had on the last century. A particularly concise declaration is to be found in A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy -
At a certain stage of their development, the material productive forces of society come in conflict with the existing relations of production, or -- what is but a legal expression for the same thing -- with the property relations within which they have been at work hitherto.
Marx basically saw it as inexorable part of Man's history that at one point one particular class - the bourgeois - would dominate and exploit another - the proletariat - in this case due to its monopoly on the means of production. Just as inexorable was the eventual death of the bourgeois as a class after their lengthy period of digging their own grave - Das Kapital was an attempt to educate the proletariat about the historical "laws" of their own development and eventual victory, with the aim of speeding this victory5. Das Kapital was published in Czarist Russia in 1872, deemed too impenetrable and dense to be revolutionary by the censors. But against their expectations it spread quickly just as previous intellectual fashions had done among the Russian intelligentsia. In 1898 the first Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party convened (it was attended by nine socialists who passed a resolution of standard Marxist goals and then were arrested almost to a man by the police) and in 1903 the Party split into two factions, the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks.
The defining piece of literature on international Leninism was his What Is To Be Done? (1903), which quite clearly spells out the Bolshevik goal of militarization of the Party and the importance of loyalty to leadership and "progress". They took the Marxist dialectic to be irrefutable proof of the fact they had to march forward without dissent (anyone dissenting such a truth clearly had counter-revolutionary goals) and the Bolsheviks - who wore black leather and lived ascetic lifestyles - were the élite formation that would bring about the revolution. And Russia was only the start of the revolution - for Leninism was always global in scope.
II. Count Arthur de Gobineau and racialism
"If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world. If, however, my theory is proven false, France will call me a German, and Germany will call me a Jew." - Albert Einstein
Between 1853 and 1855, Count de Gobineau published his Essai sur l'Ingégalité des Races Humaines (Essay on the Inequality of Human Races). This four volume work stressed the primacy of the Aryan race above all others, and discussed how racial impurity would eventually lead to the fall of civilization. Although seemingly not concerned with the rise of civilization, but only its fall, Gobineau claimed to have "elevated" history to the status of a natural science and discovered the laws of its development. It is particularly remarkable that he did this without the influence of Charles Darwin's theories, which would in the future be combined with his own in vulgar form to propose the idea of the survival of the fittest races.
Gobineau discovered racism almost by accident - as a French nobleman, he was concerned with the survival of his caste amidst the egalitarian trends of the day. His choice of the Aryans as the supreme race was due to him accepting the old theories that the nobility of France were Germanic in origin, and the bourgeois descendents of Gallic-Roman slaves. Gobineau claimed to be a direct descendent of the God Odin, and it perhaps says something about the bizzareness of the age that serious intellectuals could accept this claim. Gobineau, however, went largely unread for over fifty years, and only really found a mass audience during the fatalism of World War I. The pessimism that underpins his work had alienated it from most among the optimism of the mid nineteenth century, but fatalistic racial explanations of events came into vogue in World War I. Racialism as a tool of explaining events wasn't anything new by this time, but Gobineau's urging that the "master race" needed preserving didn't find a mass audience until then.
Modern Teutonist chauvinism was helped especially by the cult of Richard Wagner, which helped to Germanize Gobineau's theory and turn it into a mass movement. The Englishman Houston Stewart Chamberlain published, in German, his Foundations of the Nineteenth Century in 1899, a text Hitler would later describe as 'the gospel of the Volk movement'. Combined with vulgar Social Darwinism and intellectualized anti-semitism, a powerful movement for mobilizing the masses was developing.
III. Anti-semitism and imperialism: the birth of Weltpolitik
"World politics is to a nation what magalomania is to an individual." - Eugen Richter
The figure of Jew as enemy was very malleable in Europe (including Russia). He could be easily cast as the reactionary opponent of socialism or liberalism or the insidious revolutionary anarchist seeking to destroy all civilization. Medieval political anti-semitism had fallen out of vogue in the Early Modern Period when the aristocracy had found the international infrastructure of European Jewry especially useful as a net for acquiring capital through loans as well as for communication. Thus political anti-semitism had never been expedient throughout Europe, although there had always been strong currents of social anti-semitism. The rise of anti-semitism as a political issue in Austria, France and Germany in the last twenty years of the nineteenth century could be directly traced to imperialism and the financial scandals that were a part of it.
Modern French anti-semitism can probably be said to have come of age with the Dreyfus Affair, which began in 18946. The case involved a Jewish French artillery officer, Alfred Dreyfus, who was accused of spying for the Germans. Although it is almost certain today that Dreyfus was innocent, the Affaire caused great commotion at the time and since - indeed, the Vichy government of France was largely composed of anti-Dreyfusards or their descendents. The Affaire was particularly notable having followed the Panama Scandal, during which it emerged that many Jews with middlemen between a corrupt Parliament and imperialists. The Panama Scandal in France and the Gründungsschwindel in Germany and Austria resulted in massive losses for their respective middle classes. Although not a single Jewish house emerged with a profit, the reputation of them all were stained.
The publication of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion by the Okhrana (Czarist secret police) was to be the text of greatest influence on European anti-semitism in the post-World War I period. It was estimated that its circulation was second only to the Bible, and it can be broadly described as the start of anti-semitism's transformation from an élite fashion into the defining political issue of a movement. Just as the European tribal nationalists had seen the Jew as an enemy because of their interational, "racially pure" complexion as a people, it is arguable that the totalitarian movement in Germany fashioned itself on the model of the "Jewish world government" in the Protocols. As a propaganda device, the Nazis would say that if the Judeo-Bolshevik conspiracy was destroyed, the Aryan race could take its place.
The very concept of Weltpolitik ("world politics") came into being with the advent of the imperialist era - after the scramble for Africa (which saw Africa carved into European colonies within a generation) and the land grab in Asia, a conception of "world politics" was easier. The situation also obviously provided a fertile ground for the growth of race theories, as well as brutal practices against the "inferior" races. The Belgian genocide in the Congo is an extreme example7.
The totalitarian movement
I. The social and political context of Europe after World War I
"A jolly little war." - Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia at the outbreak of WW1
The misleading calm before the storm that pervaded Europe in the decade before World War I was exploded quickly and brutally when hostilities began. People cheered when it began, but they cheered even harder when it was over - at least eight million soldiers died in battle, with millions more civilians also killed. The "front generation" came back with a peculiar, brutal outlook on life having seen mankind at his worse - those who had started with a Romantic warrior myth soon found it destroyed8. And the society they came back to was one that was increasingly atomised and seeing the dissolution of what had henceforth being the only social division in Europe, the strata of classes. World War I was the first "mass war", involving mass propaganda, mass conscription and very mass combat. The political situation after the war saw the truth birth of mass politics, and people who had worried about how the masses might be manipulated seemed to be increasingly vindicated.
World War I, which so shook people's belief in rational progress, was followed a decade later by the Wall Street crash and the Depression. Although Russia's isolation meant it was not quite so badly effected as elsewhere, most of Europe saw a huge slump in demand and mass unemployment. The great wealth of the few was contrasted sharply with the misery of the many. The "front generation" had come back with a peculiar nihilism, a nihilism that wanted to destroy the decadence of high society. No society where such misery exists can afford to be permeated with the values of the bourgeois for long, and Hitler knew very well how to play on this resentment. This mass of disaffected, lonely individuals, who blamed themselves for their own misfortune, was easy to dominate.
In Russia, the New Economic Policy (NEP) of Lenin (which had been a strategic retreat into a "bourgeois democratic" stage of revolution) had helped create a rudimentary class system. Russia had always comprised of a large homogenous mass of people who were not organised in any fashion whatsoever - not by the old feudal aristocracy and not by the provisional capitalism. The only new class to emerge directly from the Revolution were the Bolshevik Commissars, but the NEP in the 1920s allowed a class of landowners to develop. Stalin's liquidation of the kulaks ("capitalist peasants") in the early 1930s was the start of the breakdown of this class system, and had being made possible by his dissolution of the Soviet apparatus in the late 1920s. Once no democratic institutions of power remained and the peasantry had been broken, the urban middle class and the proletariat shared a similar fate.
After this stage was completed, the bureaucracy that had carried the purges out shared a similar fate. Between 1936 and 1938 the entire apparatus of government was liquidated and new officials brought in. From then on purges in the Party apparatus became a Stalinist institution.
II. Prepower totalitarianism
"I do not want to be an I, I want to be a We." - Michael Bakunin
Totalitarianism, then, recruited men from the vast mass of people who had no political organisation, yet a strong desire to belong. Their appetite for the sort of vulgar organisation provided by the pre-power totalitarian movements proved vast. When Corporal Hitler was sent to investigate the German Workers' Party in 1919, he didn't agree with its platform, he just needed a Party. After trying to propel himself to power in the Beer Hall Putsch, Hitler wrote Meine Kampf in jail. This was the Bible of National Socialism, which laid down many of the goals of the movement for the future. It remained impenetrable to many Germans but it laid down the program of the movement quite fully.
Contrary to their actions when they're in power, totalitarian movements are very open about their goals in the prepower stage. Their very power rests in their ability to shock. It has been posited that it is their ability to shock which attracted the élite who had recoiled from the values of bourgeois society. It certainly appealed to many young men who were attracted by ideology. If it is true that the atomisation of society led to deep personal loneliness and a lack of purpose, then totalitarian ideology certainly was able to help cure this. The fundamental precepts of the two truly totalitarian systems of our time were based on what was taken to be "scientific" proofs, but afterwards all reference to reality stopped. Totalitarian ideology was worked out a priori from this first fundamental precept (be it the law of History, ie. class warfare, or Nature, ie. the supremacy of the Aryan race).
To someone inside the movement, at the core, this is fully understood and clear. Totalitarian ideology is beyond question at the core of the movement, which has begun to construct its own reality. Here we have people to whom their fundamental ideology is beyond question, who fashion the world in the image of this ideology as much as it is in their power to do so (as they will continue to do when their power is total). Who questions the ideology of race when admission to the inner core of the movement is based on this ideology? But the totalitarian core can not yet fashion the entire World in their image, nor even the reality inside the territorial boundaries of their current nation-state. They must convince the outside World of their validity, and mobilise the population of their current nation as sympathisers. In the prepower stage, the movement can be pictured as concentric rings around the élite at the center. These rings, increasingly more élite as they approach the center, serve a dual purpose: they shelter the outside World from the fanatiscism of their leaders, and they shelter their leaders from the normalcy of the outside World.
In the prepower stage the totalitarian movement has an active need of approval - when it has power, its entire being is thrown into crushing the possibility of approval in favour of mindless obedience. The élite formations in the prepower stage of course look down on the less élite ones, but they are perfectly capable of losing their position - the Sturmabteilung dramatically fell from influence after Hitler was in power after the Night of the Long Knives, although he continued to speak silken words to them. They were marginalised not only due to Röhm's inappropriate sympathies, but because it was time for the SS's rise to ascendency.
The point of the totalitarian movement, then, is to function as if its fictitious World were reality. So Stalin didn't just declare that the kulaks were a dying class and that History would remove them - he massacred them and liquidated their wealth himself. The Nazi structure, along with its paramilitary organisations (useless as actual soldiers, an extremely good organisation for propaganda and intimidation), constructed a World fashioned on its own ideology. The Nazi movement quickly developed an organisation to replace all of the State's - including all the seemingly mundane things like teachers' associations - which not only meant that when it came to power it could substitute these organisations for the Weimar ones, but that people would see these organisations acting as if Nazi fiction were true. This helped legitimise the propaganda of the movement, something Hitler noted in saying that "Organisation is the most effective means of propaganda".
No-one inside the movement believes what the Leader tells the outside World. No senior Bolshevik expected Stalin to adhere to any of the principles of the Soviet Constitution, but they admired him for deceiving sympathisers. Because the guiding star for the élite is the ideology, not the Leader, they understand that the Leader embodies this ideology. In the prepower stage this means that each concentric ring of the organisation tends to despise the gullibility of the rings outside it, and look down on them. But all apart from the Leader know that ultimately they are at the mercy of the movement and that none are above it: it is only the Leader's claim to be the embodiment of the laws of History or Nature that places him above them.
Totalitarianism in power
"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace in a continual state of alarm by menacing them with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." - H. L. Menchken
The totalitarian state is based on constant dynamism. When it comes to power in a nation-state it first sets about the destruction of organised resistance to its rule, after which it can begin its total domination of the entire population (secret police activity in both Russia and Nazi Germany reached its zenith and remained there only after organised resistance was destroyed). The totalitarian state then sets about the achievement of its goals - it no longer needs to spread propaganda about these, because it has the power to effect them. Given the ability to to liquidate the kulaks, it is no longer neccesary to preach that the kulaks are a dying class.
Despite Stalin's direct propaganda to the nontotalitarian World stating the opposite (which was really no more believable to the Party élite than Hitler's statement that "National Socialism is not an export commodity"), totalitarianism amounts to a "permanent revolution"9. The ideology of Nature or History must be constantly applied, and because both ideologies demand change - be it the death of classes or Aryan World domination - change can never be stopped. The constant changes in the Party line in Stalinist Russia - as the ideology was logically applied to the circumstances of the day - led to absurd changes that marginalised and led to the liquidation of groups of people who had yesterday being faithful servants. In Nazi Germany the process was even more complex: all commentators on the Nazi "state" note its Byzantine "shapelessness", and this came from the constant promotion and demotion of entire institutions. What was more amazing about the Nazi "state" was that it never liquidated redundant political machinery, but merely let it continue in its work whilst another organisation held its actual power.
Constant ideological movement required constant fresh victims for the altar of ideology, and fresh goals for the masses. Stalin was aware that rudimentary classes would always form when the bureaucracy was left unshaken for a few years, and it was for this reason that purges became a permanent institution. Lack of faction and atomisation of individuals was a prerequisite for totalitarian domination. As for the Nazis, they had plans for all the "disabled" portions of the German population following the extermination of the Jews, as well as plans for the extermination of the Poles. As for the war, the Nazi leadership was at least content that whatever its outcome, it would be a disaster for European Jewry. Because the movements thought in terms of millenia ("the Thousand Year Reich"), they were much more concerned with their ideology than utilitarianism. This is why, during the worst phase of the war against Russia, Nazi Germany had the most manpower and resources invested in the death factories of Poland. The fact that while undertaking the most audacious invasion in history they were pursuing their brutal ideological goals with more zeal than ever hilights perhaps more than anything the anti-utilitarian nature of the Nazi movement.
The constant motion of state machinery in both Stalinist Russia and Nazi Germany precludes any sort of stability - the constant liquidation or devaluation of institutions already mentioned was carried out apparently arbitrarily to the people on the sharp end. This means that the most fundamental quality totalitarianism demands in its adherents is obedience to the Party line, without question. Intellectual acceptance or endorsement implies the possibility of rejection later on, and in the fast-moving World of the movement this is not at all acceptable. The élite formations of the Party understand this better than anyone. When NKVD agents or Chekists were arrested during Stalin's Great Terror, or at any other point when he was following his usual tactic of pinning his faults onto others, they would usually provide confessions without being intimidated. If the Party demands it of them, then this demand comes straight from the laws of History and Nature, and hence it is their duty to surrender to it.
"Respect for the truth comes close to being the basis for all morality." - Frank Herbert
The true executive power of the totalitarian state rests in the secret police. It is they who have the ultimate task of transforming the nontotalitarian World into their own image, and it is they who are the most élite of the larger Party organisations. Their loyalty and ability should be beyond question (which is why you usually couldn't choose "secret policeman" as a career), which has the added bonus that they would always admit culpability in crimes if the regime found it expedient to use them as a scapegoat. For the secret policemen the ideological assumptions of the movement are accepted facts (there is no room for mere sympathisers).
This was especially clear in the case of Soviet police units who served as occupation forces in the West after World War II. So fundamental was their belief in Bolshevik ideology that, unlike Red Army units (who were often sent to a Gulag upon their return), they usually maintained their fidelity to the ideology in the face of its blatant lies being exposed as they travelled further West. Typical is the propaganda statement that the only subway in the World existed under Moscow - someone not indoctrinated might have their faith shaken by discovering the existence of the Paris subway. But the true Bolshevik understood that this meant that the Paris subway must be destroyed, hence remaking the World in the image of an ideology taken to its logical conclusions and having long lost all reference to reality.
Totalitarian police terror rests on the politicization of every sphere of life and the constant affirmation of the atomization and impotence of the individual (as mass rallies showed graphically). The old liberal concept of the "private" and "public" spheres dissapears along with the former, something differing totalitarianism from traditional authoritarian conservatism. By mapping the relationships of every citizen with all others and turning, by their attitude, the whole of the citizenry into potential informants, the totalitarian regimes came closer than any other in making "thoughtcrime" a reality. Freedom of conscience was not recognised - so a Jehovah's Witness who said "Heil" rather than "Heil Hitler" (as he would say such deference is only due to God) could be fired. People who didn't make "voluntary" donations to the causes relevant to the current Party line could likewise be prosecuted.
All real power in the totalitarian state rests with the secret police - unlike traditional authoritarian conservative regimes, the totalitarian state generally neglects the armed forces. The armed forces, whose members are drafted from the common people of the nation, and not necessarily composed of "mob" elements, often have trouble persecuting their own people: the defining characteristic of the secret police is that they have no such scruples. Totalitarian jurisprudence, which essentially boils down to the "will of the Leader", uses the secret police as a prime executive power and so long as the police put into action the "will of the Leader" they can do no wrong. One of the most important concepts for the police is the category of "objective enemy" - people who are enemies of the state independent of their actions, and who hence by the impeccable logic of totalitarian ideology must be eliminated (they lie outside the nation). These people might be Jews, kulaks or the loosely-defined "burzhui".
The objective enemies are important for fostering movement and struggle, which is why new ones must be found: where it merely the fact that the bourgeois are a dying class who must be liquidated, the regime could return to normal life after the slaughter. This is not the case - the objective enemy is clearly important for the very character of the regime. The fact secret police activity reaches its peak after all true resistance is gone (usually along with exagerated proclamations of the internal danger) shows that the police serve a deeper purpose than merely indoctrinating and eliminating subversive elements.
"They will even take away our name: and if we want to keep it, we will have to find in ourselves the strength to do so, to manage somehow so that behind the name something of us, of us as we were, still remains." - Primo Levi
The defining institution of Nazi Germany is the concentration camp - less so the Soviet gulag system, although its population was perhaps 12 million in the war years. The concentration camp and the oblivion therein finds historical comparison only in the reality outside in the totalitarian "utopia" being constructed. And they are an integral part of this reality, necessary for totalitarianism to prove one of its fundamental claims: that it can accomplish anything. Any attempt to understand the camps from a modern perspective flounder for much the same reason that the Nazis knew that if the Allies found out about the Final Solution, they wouldn't believe it anyway. To an outside observer the Nazi concentration camps and the Soviet prison camps seem anti-rational, anti-utilitarian and incomprehensible. They need to be seen in the context of the people who erected them.
Inside the camp man is transformed into beast - reduced to a bundle of reactions to particular circumstances, just like Pavlov's dog. Here is the true Homo Soveticus, even if he lacks the supposed dignity of this "higher form of man". Many of the writers who have given us accounts of their time in the camps talk about how their primary battle was the battle to keep some vestige of their old personality alive. For the camp seeks to destroy any sense of power left in the individual - to bring about his atomisation and isolation completely. In this state he can be dominated totally because he knows his superfluity. Imagine for instance the emotions felt by newcomers at Auschwitz I when they heard this speech from the Commandant -
I tell you it is not a sanatorium you have come to but a German concentration camp from which the only exit is up the chimney. If there are any Jews in the convoy they are not entitled to live more than two weeks; priests have one month of life and the remainder three months.
The irrational violence within the camps against the "enemies behind the wire" as the prisoners were called is again a microcosm of the arbitrary violence against "objective enemies" by the totalitarian regime. Once in a camp, there was no escape - even a forced labour camp (most Soviet camps were called this, but their goal was certainly not productive output) has a rational purpose. But inside a place built merely to exhaust and kill thousands - where death might come from the unwelcome attentions of a guard, through systemised torture, or merely be inflicted because more prisoners are arriving and room is needed - the individual was impotent and their moral character was destroyed. The camp wasn't just an unrelated by-product of totalitarianism: it was its pinnacle, necessary for its existence.
This Hell on Earth breaks down the moral character of a man because he will do anything just for a few more days of life. In a place where everyone is doomed it might not seem to matter much at the time to take advantage of a situation for your own good. It has been suggested that this is what has led to the lack of monologues on the camp experience - when in the camp, you are a different person. This person expires when freedom is again granted.
1. Such comparisons are largely misleading anyway. Mussolini certainly used the language of totalitarianism, but he never approached the issue with the same zeal as his peers and never tried to establish a fully-fledged totalitarian state. Scholars almost universally agree that Nazi Germany was totalitarian, but Mussolini's Italy, Francisco Franco's Spain, and António de Oliveira Salazar's Portugal are more commonly classed as authoritarian. Authoritarian states, as with totalitarian ones, brook no dissent - but they do not aim to control every aspect of every citizen's life to prevent such dissent. In Italy, the figures of sentences meted out to political offenders are illuminating. In one of the busiest periods, 1926 - 1932, there were only 7 death sentences, and 12,000 people were concluded to be innocent. As we shall see, to Nazi and Bolshevik terror, "innocence" was a quite irrelevent idea!
2. This train of thought was not original, but largely overlooked in many respects before the publication of her book. One example of an acknowledgement of the novelty of the so-called totalitarian state is this quote from The Nazi State by William Ebenstein (New York, 1943): "the endless discussion . . . as to the socialist or capitalist nature of the German economy under the Nazi regime is largely artificial . . . [because it] tends to overlook the vital fact that capitalism and socialism are categories which relate to Western welfare economics." We may admire his insight in this respect, if not his understanding of capitalism (totalitarianism is necessarily statist, and therefore the antithesis of free market capitalism).
It has likewise been argued that totalitarianism is a form of "scientism", that is the application of positivism at its logical extreme to politics. But positivism in the social sense, as the Western intellectual scene received it from Auguste Comte, was concerned with human welfare, something alien to totalitarianism. Totalitarianism's link with Comte's law of three stages is rather that they both claim to have the key to the laws of history and both aspire to take mankind down this inexorable path - the path, however, is wholly different.
3. The early propaganda of the Nazi movement, which was remarkable in its veracity as to their goals, misled the people on this fundamental point at least. One of their earliest concepts was Volksgemeinschaft, which declared every German to be equal to one another but superior to non-Germans. This was ingenious, mirroring as it did the Bolshevik promise of a classless society, and setting the German people against the rest of the World. Says Arendt: "the classless society had the obvious connotation that everybody would be leveled to the status of a factory worker, while the Volksgemeinschaft, with its connotation of conspiracy for World conquest, held out a reasonable hope that every German would become a factory owner."
During World War II Hitler initiated Operation Hay, which was the abduction and re-parenting of Aryan children in the territories he occupied. This, coupled with the obvious contempt shown by the Nazi leadership for the German people after their rise to power, shows that their movement was, in reality, international in scope.
4. Paradoxically, Communism won very little support from the proletariat. In Russia the working class despised the machinations of the Bolsheviks as they had despised the machinations of the Czar, the former being the more insulting because the Bolsheviks were supposed to be 'their' Party. During the period of War Communism the Bolsheviks rode roughshod over trade unions and the democratic Soviets. Gradually all these organisations were 'Bolshevised' and the libertarian ideals of the Revolution died a death. On the relationship between the Bolsheviks and the Russian proletariat see A People's Tragedy by Orlando Figes, Parts three and four, passim.
5. This is notably different from utopian socialism, which is more taken with moralizing - scientific socialism was a dispassionate ideology. The lack of pontificating by its formulators is comparable to the reason Newton didn't lecture on the "morality" of his laws of motion - they were taken to be scientific, superlative truths.
6. For a particularly comprehensive internet source on the Dreyfus Affair, see Wikipedia: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreyfus_affair
7. This article - http://www.guardian.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4460659,00.html claims that ten million Congolese died as a result of Leopald's policies in the Congo. Joseph Conrad immortalized his experiences in Heart of Darkness, which was later adapted into the film Apocalypse Now.
8. Only three types of warfare in the modern age seem to contain the pleasure of the skillful combat narrative for soldiers - bayonet fighting, sniping, and aerial combat. Grinding artillery duels with an enemy one cannot even see produces the opposite effect - the effect of being a tiny cog in a large machine. The sort of men who subsume themselves in this anonymous affair with pleasure have perhaps their intellectual forefather in British secret agent T. E. Lawrence, and their child in the men of the totalitarian movements. See An Intimate History of Killing by Joanna Bourke (Granta, 2000), ch. 2, passim.
9. "Permanent revolution" was the guiding principle of the followers of Leon Trotsky, which Stalin countered with the propaganda statement "Socialism in One Country", implying he was only interested in Soviet Russia. It is one of the particularly ironic pieces of twisting in totalitarian propaganda that Stalin would take up the ostensible horns of exactly what he opposed, and anyway he would only really be believed by the same sort of person who believed him when he "dissolved" the Comintern. It provided ample capital against the Trotskyites, however (at this point he was dealing with real organised resistance, and hence needed to make a seemingly real case), and Trotsky himself was eventually assassinated on Stalin's orders by an icepick to the head whilst he was in Mexico.
Sources other than those cited & internet resources of interest:
The Age of Ideologies: General Introduction (http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture23a.html)
The Age of Ideologies: Reflections on Karl Marx (http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture24a.html)
History of European Thought vol. 6: The Age of the Masses by M. Biddiss (Penguin, 1977)
A genealogy of anti-Americanism @ http://www.thepublicinterest.com
Reading the Holocaust by Inga Clendinnen (Cambridge, 1999)
Wikipedia articles on the following: Fascism, History of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, Leon Trotsky, National Socialism, Nazi Germany, Stalinism, Totalitarianism, World War I, World War II
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The Abbey Theatre, also known as the National Theatre of Ireland, is located in Dublin, in Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December, 1904 and, despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has continued to stage performances more or less continuously to the present day. The Abbey was the first state-subsidised theatre in the English-speaking world; from 1925 onwards it received an annual subsidy from the Irish Free State.
In its early years, the theatre was closely associated with the writers of the Celtic revival, many of whom were involved in its foundation and most of whom had plays staged there. The Abbey served as a nursery for many of the leading Irish playwrights and actors of the 20th century. In addition, through its extensive programme of touring abroad and its high visibility to foreign, particularly North American, audiences, it has become an important part of the Irish tourist industry.
Before the Abbey
The founding of the Abbey was the result of the coming together of three distinct forces. The first of these was the failed Irish Literary Theatre. Founded by Lady Gregory, Edward Martyn and W.B.Yeats in 1899 - with assistance by George Moore - this theatre had presented a number of plays in the Antient Concert Rooms and the Gaiety Theatre, to little public praise.
The second thread was the work of two Irish brothers, William and Frank Fay. William worked for a time in the 1890s with a touring company in Ireland, Scotland and Wales while Frank was heavily involved in amateur dramatics in Dublin. After William returned, the brothers began to stage productions in halls around the city. Finally, they formed W. G. Fay's Irish National Dramatic Company, focused on the development of Irish acting talent. In April, 1902, the Fays gave three performances of Æ's play Deirdre and Yeats' Cathleen Ní Houlihan in a hall in St Theresa's Hall, Clarendon Street in Dublin. The performances played to a mainly working-class audience, rather than the usual middle-class Dublin theatre-goers. The run was a great success, thanks in part to the fact that Maud Gonne played the lead in Yeats' play.
The third and final element was the presence in Dublin of Annie Elizabeth Fredericka Horniman. Horniman was a middle-class Englishwoman with some previous experience of theatre production, having been involved in the presentation of George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man in London in 1894. She came to Dublin in 1903 as Yeats' unpaid secretary and to make costumes for a production of his play The King's Threshold. It was her money that was to make the Abbey Theatre a viable reality.
Foundation of the Abbey
In the light of the success of the St Theresa's Hall venture, the Irish National Theatre Society was formed in 1903 by Yeats as president, Lady Gregory, Æ, Martyn, and John Millington Synge. Funding was provided by Annie Horniman. At first, performances were staged in the Molesworth Hall. When the Hibernian Theatre of Varieties in Lower Abbey Street and an adjacent building in Marlborough Street became available after the local fire safety authorities closed the Hibernia on fire safety grounds, Horniman and William Fay agreed their purchase and refitting to meet the needs of the society. On 11 May, 1904 the society formally accepted Horniman's offer of the use of the building. As Horniman was not normally resident in Ireland, the Royal Letters Patent required were paid for by her but granted in the name of Lady Gregory. William Fay was appointed theatre manager and took on responsibility for training the actors in the newly-established repertory company. Yeats' brother Jack Yeats was commissioned to paint portraits of all the leading figures in the society for the foyer and Sarah Purser designed some stained glass for the same space.
On 27 December, the curtains went up on the opening night. The bill consisted of three one-act plays, On Baile's Strand and Cathleen Ní Houlihan by Yeats, and Spreading the News by Lady Gregory. On the second night, In the Shadow of the Glen by Synge replaced the second Yeats play and these two bills alternated over a five-night run. Frank Fay, playing Cúchulainn in On Baile's Strand, was the first actor on the Abbey stage. Although Horniman had designed costumes, neither she nor Lady Gregory was present. Horniman had, in fact, returned to England and her main role with the Abbey over the coming years, in addition to providing funding, was to organise publicity and bookings for touring Abbey productions in London and provincial English venues. In 1905, Yeats, Lady Gregory and Synge decided to turn the theatre into a Limited Liability Company without properly consulting Horniman. Annoyed by this treatment, she hired Ben Iden Payne, a former Abbey employee, to help run her new repertory company in Manchester.
The early years
The new theatre found itself a great popular success, with large crowds turning out for most productions. It was also fortunate in having, in Synge, one of the foremost English-language dramatists of the day as a key member. The theatre also staged plays by eminent or soon to be eminent authors including Yeats, Lady Gregory, Moore, Martyn, Padraic Colum, Oliver St John Gogarty, F. R. Higgins, Thomas MacDonagh, (one of the leaders of the Easter Rebellion in 1916), T. C. Murray and Lennox Robinson. Many of these authors also served on the board, with the result that the Abbey gained an enduring reputation as a writers' theatre
However, things were to take a turn for the worst in January 1907 with the opening of his The Playboy of the Western World. Egged on by nationalists who believed that the theatre was not sufficiently political and with the pretext of a perceived slight on the virtue of Irish womanhood in the use of the word 'shift', a significant portion of the crowd rioted, causing the remainder of the play to be acted out in dumbshow. Nationalist ire was further provoked by the decision to call in the police. Although press opinion soon turned against the rioters and the protests (now known as the Playboy riots) petered out, the Abbey was shaken and Synge's next (and last completed) play The Tinker's Wedding (1908) was not staged for fear of further disturbances.
That same year, the Fay brothers' association with the theatre ended when they emigrated to the United States and the day-to-day management of the theatre became the responsibility of Lennox Robinson. On 7 May, 1910, when all the other theatres in the city closed as a mark of respect on the death of King Edward VII, Robinson kept the Abbey open. The relationship with Annie Horniman was already strained, and when she found out about Robinson's decision, she decided to finally sever her connection with the Abbey. By her own estimate, she had spent £10,350 of her own money on the project, a considerable sum for the time.
With the loss of Horniman, Synge and the Fays, the Abbey under Robinson tended somewhat to drift along and suffered from falling public interest and box office returns. This trend was halted for a time by the emergence of Sean O'Casey as an heir to Synge. O'Casey's career as a dramatist began with The Shadow of a Gunman, staged by the Abbey in 1923. This was followed by Juno and the Paycock (1924) and The Plough and the Stars (1926). This last play resulted in riots reminiscent of those that had greeted the Playboy nine years earlier. Once again, scared off by the public reaction, the Abbey rejected O'Casey's next play and he emigrated shortly thereafter.
The Abbey after Yeats
Ninette de Valois at age 16. She ran the Abbey School of Dance and provided choreography for a number of Yeats' plays.
In 1924, Yeats and Lady Gregory offered the Abbey to the government of the Free State as a gift to the Irish people. Despite some reluctance on the part of the Department of Finance , the offer was accepted, partly at least because of the theatre's commitment to producing works in Irish. As a consequence, in 1925 the Abbey became the first theatre company in the English-speaking world to be state-maintained. The following year, the Abbey School of Acting and the Abbey School of Ballet were set up. The latter, which closed in 1933, was run by Ninette de Valois, who also provided choreography for a number of Yeats' plays.
Around this time, some additional space was acquired and a small experimental theatre, the Peacock, was started downstairs from the main theatre. In 1928 Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammoir set up the Gate Theatre, initially using the Peacock to stage important works by European and American dramatists. The Gate sought work by new Irish playwrights and the story of how one such play came into their hands illustrated the fact that the Abbey had now entered a period of artistic decline. When Denis Johnston submitted his first play Shadowdance to the Abbey, it was rejected by Lady Gregory and returned to the author with “The Old Lady says No” written on the title page. Johnson decided to rename the play, and The Old Lady Says 'No' was staged by the Gate in the Peacock in 1928.
The tradition of the Abbey as a writer's theatre survived Yeats' withdrawal from day-to-day involvement. For example, Frank O'Connor sat on the board from 1935 to 1939, serving as Managing Director from 1937, and had two plays staged during this period. Unfortunately, he was forced to resign after Yeats died. During the 1940s and 1950s, the staple fare of the Abbey stage was comic farce set in an idealised peasant world, which, if it ever had existed, no longer had much relevance for the lives of the majority of Irish citizens. As a result, the decline in audience numbers continued. This decline might well have been more dramatic but for a number of popular actors, including F. J. McCormick, and dramatists, including George Shiels, who could still draw a crowd. Another Abbey tenant was Austin Clarke's Dublin Verse Speaking Society, later the Lyric Theatre, which operated out of the Peacock from 1941 to 1944 and the Abbey from 1944 to 1951.
On 18 July, 1951, the building was destroyed by fire, with only the Peacock surviving. The company took a lease on the old Queen's Theatre in September and continued in residence in this temporary home until 1966. The Queen's had been home to the Happy Gang, a team of comedians who staged skits, farces and pantomimes to huge audiences. In some respect, with its continued diet of peasant comedies, the new tenants were not far removed from the old. It is indicative of the state of the Abbey's ambitions at the time that neither of the two most interesting Irish dramatists to emerge in the 1950s, Brendan Behan and Samuel Beckett, featured there. In February 1961 the ruins of the Abbey were finally demolished and plans for rebuilding, with a design by Irish architect Michael Scott, began. On 3 September, 1963, the President of Ireland, Eamon de Valera, laid the foundation stone for the new theatre. The Abbey reopened on 18 July, 1966.
The Abbey since 1966
The conjunction of a new building, a new generation of dramatists that included such figures as Hugh Leonard, Brian Friel and Tom Murphy, and the growth in Irish tourism with the National Theatre as a key cultural attraction helped to bring about a revival in the theatre's fortunes. This was further assisted by the theatre's continuing involvement in the Dublin Theatre Festival , which began in 1957.
Plays such as Friel's Philadelphia Here I Come (1964), The Faith Healer (1979) and Dancing at Lughnasa (1990), Murphy's Whistle in the Dark (1961) and The Gigli Concert (1983) and Leonard's Da (1973) and A Life (1980) helped raise the Abbey's international profile through their successful runs in London and on Broadway. However, despite these and other successes, the Abbey has continued to play to less-than-full houses, averaging less than half capacity in the centenary year, 2004.
The conjunction of projected debts at the end of 2004 of €2.5 million together with reduced state funding, a recovery plan involving the loss of one third of the jobs at the theatre, and some bad feeling from the earlier winding down of the repertory company led to calls for the dismissal of artistic director Ben Barnes . On 6 September, Mr Barnes survived a vote of the board but his survival plan was shelved. The controversy rumbled on with the publication a few days later of the text of an e-mail he sent to some international colleagues in which he was highly critical of his employers. He later apologised to the board. On 14 September, the Arts Council of Ireland announced the setting up of an independent review into ways in which it could support the theatre through this crisis. A further complication facing the Abbey in its centenary year is the fact that, with the current theatre flagged as a potential safety hazard, a long-running search for a site for a new building continues with no immediate end in sight. In December 2004, the theatre celebrated its centenary with a range of events, including performances of the original programme by amateur dramatic groups from around the country.
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Water polution couse many illnes like malaria
Chapter one Quiz 3 to the heart tenth. cone S. Find the surface i 12 Chapter 12 Quiz 4
$500 was deposited into an account at the first of the year. Interest earned was 5%. An additional $15 was deposited each week. How much was in the account at the end of the year?
$500 was deposited in January @ 5% interest. $15 per week deposited all year long. How much money was in the account at the end of the year?
Give a possible formula for the illustrated function using a vertical shift of an exponential function. The two points marked on the graph are A=(−172) and B=(10). The red horizontal line is given by y=−3, and is a horizontal asymptote of the function y=?
A weak acid HA (pKa = 5.00) was titrated with 1.00 M KOH. The acid solution had a volume of 100.0 mL and a molarity of 0.100 M. Find the pH at the following volumes of base added and make a graph of pH versus Vb: Vb = 0, 1, 5, 9, 9.9, 10, 10.1, and 12 mL.
A puck on a horizontal, frictionless surface is attached to a string that wraps around a pole of finite radius, as shown in the figure . As the puck moves along the spiral path, does its speed increase, decrease, or stay the same?
are my feet are killing me is a alliteration, personification , or hyperbole?
A 19.2-kg box rests on a frictionless ramp with a 16.1° slope. The mover pulls on a rope attached to the box to pull it up the incline. If the rope makes an angle of 43.6° with the horizontal, what is the smallest force F the mover will have to exert to move the box up...
For Further Reading
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Our Warfarin Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Warfarin
Definition of Warfarin
Warfarin: An anticoagulant drug (brand names: Coumarin, Panwarfin, Sofarin) taken to prevent the blood from clotting and to treat blood clots and overly thick blood. Warfarin is also used to reduce the risk of clots causing strokes or heart attacks.
Warfarin works by suppressing the production of some clotting factors (interfering with prothrombin activation) and thereby inhibiting the clotting of blood.
Warfarin interacts with many other drugs, including some vitamins. These interactions can be dangerous, even life-threatening. If you are taking Warfarin, talk to your doctor before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications.
University of Wisconsin biochemistry professor Karl Paul Link and his co-workers first isolated dicoumarin, a molecule in spoiled sweet clover that causes cattle to hemorrhage and die. The discovery led to the synthesis of Dicumarol, the first anticoagulant drug that could be taken orally. The successor to Dicumarol was Warfarin.
Warfarin is named after WARF, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, to which Professor Link assigned the patent. Warfarin was originally marketed as a rodenticide (the rats bleed to death). Its effectiveness in controlling pestilent rats and mice led to great commercial success. Warfarin has, in addition, become the most widely prescribed anticoagulant drug for people and saved countless lives.
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM
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The set (§26.13) can be identified with the set of matrices of 0’s and 1’s with exactly one 1 in each row and column. The permutation corresponds to the matrix in which there is a 1 at the intersection of row with column , and 0’s in all other positions. The permutation 35247816 corresponds to the matrix
The sign of the permutation is the sign of the determinant of its matrix representation. The inversion number of is a sum of products of pairs of entries in the matrix representation of :
where the sum is over and .
The matrix represents the placement of nonattacking rooks on an chessboard, that is, rooks that share neither a row nor a column with any other rook. A permutation with restricted position specifies a subset . If , then . The number of derangements of is the number of permutations with forbidden positions .
Let be the number of ways of placing nonattacking rooks on the squares of . Define . For the problem of derangements, . The rook polynomial is the generating function for :
If , where no element of is in the same row or column as any element of , then
For , denotes after removal of all elements of the form or , . denotes with the element removed.
is the number of permutations in for which exactly of the pairs are elements of . is the generating function:
The number of permutations that avoid is
The problème des ménages asks for the number of ways of seating married couples around a circular table with labeled seats so that no men are adjacent, no women are adjacent, and no husband and wife are adjacent. There are ways to place the wives. Let . Then
The solution is
The Ferrers board of shape , , is the set . For this set,
If is the Ferrers board of shape , then
and therefore by (26.8.10),
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The relationship of Germany and the United Nations first began with World War II, with United Nations then being synonymous with the Allies of World War II, and Germany then being the Greater German Reich, a member of the Axis powers. With the war ending in the defeat of Germany, the country's territory was divided amongst the victors, and what was to remain Germany was under Allied administration. In 1949, two new countries were created in these occupied territories: the Federal Republic of Germany in May, and the German Democratic Republic in October.
Both Germanies were admitted as full members of the United Nations (UN) on 18 September 1973. The two countries eventually merged on 3 October 1990, signifying an end of the Cold war era. Today, Germany is the third largest contributor to the UN budget, after the United States and Japan, with 190 million US dollars, or roughly 8% of the UN budget for the 2010-11 biennial budget.
Hoisting of the two German flags outside the UN building in New York on 18 September 1973
Flag of East Germany at the United Nations in 1973
The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was admitted to the UN as an observer in 1955. The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was admitted as an observer in 1972. On 18 September 1973 both were admitted as full members by United Nations Security Council Resolution 335. Through the accession of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany, effective from 3 October 1990, the territory of the German Democratic Republic became part of the Federal Republic of Germany, today simply known as Germany. Consequently, the Federal Republic of Germany continued being a member of the UN while the German Democratic Republic ceased to exist.
2011-2012 UNSC seat
For the years of 2011 to 2012 Germany has been elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). However Germany received criticism for abstaining on the Libyan no-fly zone resolution when its European (and US) colleagues were voting for; effectively splitting European foreign policy. Former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer argued that "Germany has lost its credibility in the United Nations and in the Middle East, German hopes for a permanent seat on the Security Council have been permanently dashed and one is now fearful of Europe's future."
Permanent UNSC seat
France has explicitly called for a permanent seat in the UN for its close EU partner: "Germany's engagement, its ranking as a great power, its international influence—France would like to see them recognised with a permanent seat on the Security Council", French president Jacques Chirac said in a speech in Berlin in 2000. The former German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, also identified Russia, among other countries, as a country that backed Germany's bid. Italy and Netherlands on the contrary, suggest a common European Union (EU) seat in the Council instead of Germany becoming the third European member next to France and the UK. The former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said that Germany would also accept a common European seat, but as long as there is little sign that France and the UK will give up their own seats, Germany should also have a seat. Thus, the German campaign for a permanent seat was intensified in 2004. Schröder made himself perfectly clear in August 2004: "Germany has the right to a seat." Its bid is supported by Japan, India, Brazil, France, the United Kingdom and Russia, among other countries. Current German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had initially been quiet on the issue, re-stated Germany's bid in her address to the UN General Assembly in September 2007. In July 2011, Merkel's trip to Kenya, Angola, and Nigeria was thought to be motivated, in part, by the goal of seeking support from African countries for Germany's bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council.
See also
External links
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Addiction was a term used to describe a devotion, attachment, dedication, inclination, etc. Nowadays, however, the term addiction is used to describe a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state or social life. The term is often reserved for drug addictions but it is sometimes applied to other compulsions, such as problem gambling, and compulsive overeating. Factors that have been suggested as causes of addiction include genetic, biological/pharmacological and social factors.
Find a list of alcohol and drug addiction treatment facilities that offer recovery programs for substance abusers.
Decades ago addiction was a pharmacological term that clearly referred to the use of a tolerance-inducing drug in sufficient quantity as to cause tolerance (the requirement that greater dosages of a given drug be used to produce an identical effect as time passes). With that definition, humans (and indeed all mammals) can become addicted to various drugs quickly. Almost at the same time, a lay definition of addiction developed. This definition referred to individuals who continued to use a given drug despite their own best interest. This latter definition is now thought of as a disease state by the medical community.
Physical dependence, abuse of, and withdrawal from drugs and other miscellaneous substances is outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR). Terminology has become quite complicated in the field. To wit, pharmacologists continue to speak of addiction from a physiologic standpoint (some call this a physical dependence); psychiatrists refer to the disease state as dependence; most other physicians refer to the disease as addiction. The field of psychiatry is now considering, as they move from DSM-IV to DSM-V, transitioning from "dependence" to "addiction" as terminology for the disease state.
The medical community now makes a careful theoretical distinction between physical dependence (characterized by symptoms of withdrawal) and psychological dependence (or simply addiction). Addiction is now narrowly defined as "uncontrolled, compulsive use"; if there is no harm being suffered by, or damage done to, the patient or another party, then clinically it may be considered compulsive, but to the definition of some it is not categorized as "addiction". In practice, the two kinds of addiction are not always easy to distinguish. Addictions often have both physical and psychological components.
There is also a lesser known situation called pseudo-addiction. (Weissman and Haddox, 1989) A patient will exhibit drug-seeking behavior reminiscent of psychological addiction, but they tend to have genuine pain or other symptoms that have been undertreated. Unlike true psychological addiction, these behaviors tend to stop when the pain is adequately treated.
The obsolete term physical addiction is deprecated, because of its connotations. In modern pain management with opioids physical dependence is nearly universal. While opiates are essential in the treatment of acute pain, the benefit of this class of medication in chronic pain is not well proven. Clearly, there are those who would not function well without opiate treatment; on the other hand, many states are noting significant increases in non-intentional deaths related to opiate use. High-quality, long-term studies are needed to better delineate the risks and benefits of chronic opiate use.
Not all doctors agree on what addiction or dependency is. Traditionally, addiction has been defined as being possible only to a psychoactive substance (for example alcohol, tobacco and other drugs) which ingested cross the blood-brain barrier, altering the natural chemical behavior of the brain temporarily. However, "Studies on phenomenology, family history, and response to treatment suggest that intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania, pathological gambling, pyromania, and trichotillomania may be related to mood disorders, alcohol and psychoactive substance abuse, and anxiety disorders (especially obsessive-compulsive disorder).
It is generally accepted that addiction is a disease, a state of physiological or psychological dependence or devotion to something manifesting as a condition in which medically significant symptoms liable to have a damaging effect are present.
Click on the related topics on the left.
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Researchers Validate Simplified Lateral Force Calibration Technique for Atomic Force Microscopy
March 28, 2012
Contact: Rachel Cannara
Researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the NIST Material Measurement Laboratory have demonstrated that a simpler technique for calibrating lateral sensitivity in an atomic force microscope (AFM) agrees with an earlier method developed at NIST to within 5 %. The equivalence of these two independent methods represents an important step towards traceable accuracy in lateral force microscopy and will allow scientists to better understand the atomic-scale origins of friction across a wide range of materials. The NIST “HammerHead” (HH) method relies on precise positioning of the arms of a specially-fabricated, tee-shaped cantilever over well-defined alignment marks in a surface; a torque is applied at different locations on the cantilever arm by pressing it against a small sphere attached to the edge of the surface. The ratio of the change in the normal (vertical) signal to the lateral signal can be used to calibrate sensitivity and extract friction forces corresponding to the lateral signals measured during an experiment. The new “Diamagnetic Lateral Force Calibrator” (D-LFC) method, developed at Brown University, requires fewer independent measurements. The AFM cantilever presses against the surface of a piece of graphite that levitates in a magnetic field. When the magnetic field is moved horizontally in the AFM, the levitating graphite behaves like a mass on a very weak spring. A lateral force is applied by the graphite to the tip of the AFM cantilever, causing the cantilever to twist. This twist leads to a change in the lateral signal in the AFM that can be used to calibrate friction directly, without the need for an independent measurement of the normal signal. While the D-LFC method is preferable for most circumstances, because it uses fewer parameters and therefore has greater precision, the HH method can be advantageous if contact between the probe tip and the calibration surface must be avoided. The researchers believe that the overall accuracy and comparability of these two methods establishes the importance of the D-LFC method as a valuable tool for unifying quantitative measurements of friction at the nanoscale, and establishes a potential path towards the development of lateral force standards.*Quantitative comparison of two independent lateral force calibration techniques for the atomic force microscope, S. S. Barkley, Z. Deng, R. S. Gates, M. G. Reitsma, and R. J. Cannara, Review of Scientific Instruments 83, 023707 (2012).
NIST Publication Database Journal Web Site
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Water Cost as of March 1, 2009
- An average person can go nearly two months without eating. Less than a week without water could kill you.
- 80 percent of the world is covered by water or ice. Only about 20 percent is dry land.
- 97 percent of the water on earth is salty ocean, and 2 percent is frozen. The remaining 1 percent is available to meet human needs.
- If you are an adult, your body contains about 40 quarts, or 10 gallons of water. A man's body is 60 to 65 percent water. A woman's body is 50 to 60 percent water. The human brain is about 75 percent water.
- A human loses 2 1/2 to 3 quarts of water per day through normal elimination, sweating and breathing. If you exercise or live in a humid climate, you may lose another quart.
- Water has zero calories and zero sugar, but a good drink of water can reduce hunger. Water also helps your body metabolize stored fats, helps maintain proper muscle tone and helps rid the body of waste.
- Typically, less than 1 percent of the treated drinking water produced by utilities is actually consumed by people. Most goes for lawns, showers and tubs, toilets, etc.
- Each person uses about 100 gallons of water a day at home.
- $2.55 per 1,000 gallons (0 to 6000 gallons of use)
- $4.60 per 1,000 gallons (above 6000 to 10,000 gallons of use)
- $4.94 per 1,000 gallons (above 10,000 gallons of use)
* Does not include the cost of wastewater or state tax.
||One Dollar Buys *|
|Cost per ton
||2,000 pounds divided by 8.34 pounds per gallon
||$0.532 per ton
||30 gallons per wash
||$0.067 per wash
||30 gallons per bath
||$0.067 per wash
||15.02 tub baths|
|Shower (5 min)
||15 gallons per shower
||$0.033 per shower
||12 gallons per load
||$0.027 per load
||5 gallons per flush
||$0.011 per flush
Last updated: 1/7/2013 12:02:59 PM
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System F, also known as the (Girard–Reynolds) polymorphic lambda calculus or the second-order lambda calculus, is a typed lambda calculus that differs from the simply typed lambda calculus by the introduction of a mechanism of universal quantification over types. System F thus formalizes the notion of parametric polymorphism in programming languages, and forms a theoretical basis for languages such as Haskell and ML. System F was discovered independently by logician Jean-Yves Girard (1972) and computer scientist John C. Reynolds (1974).
Whereas simply typed lambda calculus has variables ranging over functions, and binders for them, System F additionally has variables ranging over types, and binders for them. As an example, the fact that the identity function can have any type of the form A→ A would be formalized in System F as the judgment
where is a type variable. The upper-case is traditionally used to denote type-level functions, as opposed to the lower-case which is used for value-level functions. (The superscripted means that the bound x is of type ; the expression after the colon is the type of the lambda expression preceding it.)
As a term rewriting system, System F is strongly normalizing. Type inference in System F (without explicit type annotations) is undecidable however. Under the Curry–Howard isomorphism, System F corresponds to the fragment of second-order intuitionistic logic that uses only universal quantification. System F can be seen as part of the lambda cube, together with even more expressive typed lambda calculi, including those with dependent types.
Logic and predicates
The type is defined as: , where is a type variable. This means: is the type of all functions which take as input a type α and two expressions of type α, and produce as output an expressions of type α (note that we consider to be right-associative.)
The following two definitions for the boolean values and are used, extending the definition of Church booleans:
(Note that the above two functions require three — not two — parameters. The latter two should be lambda expressions, but the first one should be a type. This fact is reflected in the fact that the type of these expressions is ; the universal quantifier binding the α corresponds to the Λ binding the alpha in the lambda expression itself. Also, note that is a convenient shorthand for , but it is not a symbol of System F itself, but rather a "meta-symbol". Likewise, and are also "meta-symbols", convenient shorthands, of System F "assemblies" (in the Bourbaki sense); otherwise, if such functions could be named (within System F), then there would be no need for the lambda-expressive apparatus capable of defining functions anonymously.)
Then, with these two -terms, we can define some logic operators (which are of type ):
As in Church encodings, there is no need for an IFTHENELSE function as one can just use raw -typed terms as decision functions. However, if one is requested:
will do. A predicate is a function which returns a -typed value. The most fundamental predicate is ISZERO which returns if and only if its argument is the Church numeral 0:
System F Structures
System F allows recursive constructions to be embedded in a natural manner, related to that in Martin-Löf's type theory. Abstract structures (S) are created using constructors. These are functions typed as:
Recursivity is manifested when itself appears within one of the types . If you have of these constructors, you can define the type of as:
For instance, the natural numbers can be defined as an inductive datatype with constructors
The System F type corresponding to this structure is . The terms of this type comprise a typed version of the Church numerals, the first few of which are:
- 0 :=
- 1 :=
- 2 :=
- 3 :=
If we reverse the order of the curried arguments (i.e., ), then the Church numeral for is a function that takes a function f as argument and returns the th power of f. That is to say, a Church numeral is a higher-order function – it takes a single-argument function f, and returns another single-argument function.
Use in programming languages
The version of System F used in this article is as an explicitly typed, or Church-style, calculus. The typing information contained in λ-terms makes type-checking straightforward. Joe Wells (1994) settled an "embarrassing open problem" by proving that type checking is undecidable for a Curry-style variant of System F, that is, one that lacks explicit typing annotations.
Wells' result implies that type inference for System F is impossible. A restriction of System F known as "Hindley–Milner", or simply "HM", does have an easy type inference algorithm and is used for many statically typed functional programming languages such as Haskell 98 and ML. Over time, as the restrictions of HM-style type systems have become apparent, languages have steadily moved to more expressive logics for their type systems. As of 2008, GHC, a Haskell compiler, goes beyond HM, and now uses System F extended with non-syntactic type equality, for example.
System Fω
Although System F corresponds to the first axis of the Barendregt's lambda cube, system Fω combines the first axis (polymorphism) with type operators (the second axis); it is a different, more complex system.
System Fω can be defined inductively on a family of systems, where induction is based on the kinds permitted in each system:
- permits kinds:
- (the kind of types) and
- where and (the kind of functions from types to types, where the argument type is of a lower order)
In the limit, we can define system to be
That is, Fω is the system which allows functions from types to types where the argument (and result) may be of any order.
Note that although Fω places no restrictions on the order of the arguments in these mappings, it does restrict the universe of the arguments for these mappings: they must be types rather than values. System Fω does not permit mappings from values to types (Dependent types), though it does permit mappings from values to values ( abstraction), mappings from types to values ( abstraction, sometimes written ) and mappings from types to types ( abstraction at the level of types)
See also
- Existential types are the existentially quantified counterparts of universal types.
- System F<: extends system F with subtyping, bringing it a lot closer to actual programming languages from the ML family.
- Girard, Jean-Yves (1971). "Une Extension de l'Interpretation de Gödel à l'Analyse, et son Application à l'Élimination des Coupures dans l'Analyse et la Théorie des Types". Proceedings of the Second Scandinavian Logic Symposium. Amsterdam. pp. 63–92. doi:10.1016/S0049-237X(08)70843-7.
- Girard, Jean-Yves (1972), Interprétation fonctionnelle et élimination des coupures de l’arithmétique d’ordre supérieur (Ph.D. thesis) (in French), Université Paris 7.
- Reynolds, John (1974). "Towards a Theory of Type Structure". Colloque sur la Programmation. Paris, France. pp. 408–425. Retrieved 6 Apr 2010.
- Girard, Lafont and Taylor, Proofs and Types. Cambridge University Press, 1989, ISBN 0-521-37181-3.
- J. B. Wells. "Typability and type checking in the second-order lambda-calculus are equivalent and undecidable." In Proceedings of the 9th Annual IEEE Symposium on Logic in Computer Science (LICS), pages 176–185, 1994.
Further reading
|Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Haskell|
- Pierce, Benjamin (2002). Types and Programming Languages. MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-16209-1., Chapter 23: Universal Types, and Chapter 25: An ML Implementation of System F
- Summary of System F by Franck Binard.
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Center for Biological Diversity
Protecting endangered species and wild
places of western North America
For Immediate Release:
May 1, 2001
ENDANGERED ARROYO TOADS CONFIRMED ON NEWHALL HOLDINGS
GROUPS SUE TO HALT DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT ALONG SANTA CLARA RIVER.
Los Angeles-The Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Santa Clara River filed a lawsuit yesterday in Federal District Court in Los Angeles against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) and the Newhall Land and Farming Company (Newhall).
The suit was filed under the National Environmental Policy Act and seeks to have the Court order the Army Corps to suspend its approval of a 1998 Environmental Impact Statement authorizing several large-scale Newhall development projects along the Santa Clara River until a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement is prepared which addresses and mitigates impacts to the endangered toad.
In 1998, the Army Corps of Engineers granted a permit under the Clean Water Act to Newhall to fill in wetlands in order to facilitate a series of massive developments along the Santa Clara River in Los Angeles County. The permit was granted after the environmental review showed no impacts to endangered arroyo toads.
Conservation organizations, long suspicious of repeated assertions by Newhall and Army Corps that the toad did not occur inside their lands hired their own certified biologist, who recently confirmed the existence arroyo toads in the Santa Clara River on Newhall lands.
"While we're glad that this endangered species was found we are terribly disappointed that throughout the Santa Clara River area destruction of very rare and viable toad habitat was allowed to occur." Teresa Savaike of Friends of the Santa Clara River.
Peter Galvin, spokesman for the Center for Biological Diversity stated "The Santa Clara River is one of the few places left with habitat for the arroyo toad and one of the last living rivers in the Los Angeles area; yet the Army Corps continues to be a rubber-stamp for Newhall and other developers, promoting destructive urban sprawl while ignoring environmental laws."
The Center for Biological Diversity is a science-based environmental advocacy organization. The Center was founded in 1989, and has more than 6,000 members. In California, the Center has offices in Berkeley and San Diego. The Center works to protect endangered species and wild places throughout western North America and the Pacific through science, policy, education and environmental law.
The case has been assigned to Federal Judge Lourdes G. Baird and is numbered (01-03922)
The plaintiffs in the suit are represented by Iryna Kwasny, Philip Shakhnis and James Wheaton of the Environmental Law Foundation (Oakland).
To view photos or for general ecological information regarding the arroyo toad.
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Finally. How plants climb.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012 | Categories: Features |
Clematis - clever climber.
Clever climbing plants could influence building technology.
It confounded the great Charles Darwin, but it need confound you no longer.
Perhaps you've never given it much thought, but it turns out, it's a pretty sophisticated procedure: science has deduced how climbing plants climb.
Sharon Gerbode is the lead author of the study, which is published in the journal, Science. We reached her, via Skype, in Claremont, California.
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By The Sword is exactly what the title claims: a history of swords and swordsmanship. Author Richard A. Cohenís narrative spans centuries with this extremely well-researched and entertaining read, a fact that will certainly delight readers of ancient and modern warfare. Cohen has researched the history of duels and combat by sword, from the gladiators of ancient Rome to the fencing masters of today Ė and everything in between.
Part One explores the use of blades from the ancient Egyptians to the use of swords in the Battle of Waterloo. It covers the history of gladiatorial combat, the weapons used, and the rewards of survival and brutality. Part Two offers a lesson in finesse, and covers the history of the art of swordsmanship, from the greatest sword makers to how to maintain and manage the "perfect thrust." Part Three is incredibly entertaining, as it covers duels and the gentlemanly pursuit of honor Ė the rules of dueling from the fields of Europe to America.
Competitive fencing is explored and thoroughly researched as the book moves forward to post-World War Two, into fencing competitions, and finally as it is covered as an Olympic sport. While readers may find some chapters much more entertaining than others, the entire book as a whole is one giant history lesson, full of odd tidbits of knowledge and interesting facts. For example, how many readers know that in 1942, the United States War Department expected soldiers to come into contact with an enemy adept at wielding swords and even printed a field manual for how to deal with such a situation?
Heavily illustrated with drawings and photographs that break up large blocks of narrative to provide a bit of relief from the amount of information delivered with the pages of this text. These etchings, drawings and sketches offer vivid proof that "those who live by the sword invariably die by the sword," in a way that brings history to life.
Cohenís book is more than a history specifically about swords and swordplay Ė itís a history of how people advanced from the brutal barbarism of the Coliseum to a specific code of conduct that must be followed to the letter in order to settle differences and arguments all over the world. Duels were, after all, a matter of honor, and the rules had to be followed to a tee if one was to retain his dignity.
Cohen is not only a fine author; he is a five-time United Kingdom National Saber champion whose expertise in this field shines through in his book illustrating the history of this type of combat. This book is a must for blade collectors as well as weapons enthusiasts and history buffs. Its pages are highly entertaining, extremely illuminating, and exceptionally well-researched.
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Making Breastfeeding Normal
Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, La Leche League Leader,
Ithaca, New York, USA
From: Leaven, Vol. 45 No. 4, 2009, pp. 4-8
Formula is not as good. There's no doubt about it. The list of proven risks grows longer every year. Artificially-fed babies are not only more susceptible to a huge range of infections; they also suffer lifelong deficits, from lower intelligence to a higher risk of obesity and diabetes.
That statement never appeared in print. It would be a more accurate opening to the 2008 New Scientist magazine article on "improved" formulas: "Breast is best. There's no doubt about it. The list of proven benefits grows longer every year. Breastfed babies are not only protected against a huge range of infections, they also enjoy lifelong benefits, from higher intelligence to a lower risk of obesity and diabetes" (Whelan J, 2008).
Why is the first version more accurate?
Let's look at some basic science:
- Studies involve a control group that is not exposed to the experimental treatment or condition, and an experimental group to which something experimental happens. The spotlight is on the experimental group. Breastfeeding is not an experiment.
- Health studies link the problem outcome to the problem behavior. U.S. cigarette packages do not say, "Surgeon General's Encouragement: Clean air may result in bigger, healthier babies, born closer to due date." That would leave the reader without a clear understanding that smoking by pregnant women may result in fetal injury, premature birth, and low birth weight.
- Biology-based studies do not rely on a cultural norm. Sears et al. ran into trouble with their 2002 study on allergic responses in breastfed and non-breastfed children because many of their breastfed cohort* received formula in the early days when their mothers slept (Sears M.R. et al. 2002). Their decades-long study went awry from the start in 1972 because of a cultural belief in the safety of formula. (*A cohort is a group of persons who have shared a particular experience during a particular time span.)
- Percentages cited in a study are affected by the perspective chosen. Did the study find, as an unpublished recent study did, that the breastfed children were 37 percent less likely to have a medically diagnosed behavioral or conduct problem (Gordon S. 2008)? Then it actually found that experimentally fed children (non-breastfed children) were 59 percent more likely to have a medically diagnosed behavioral or conduct problem!
Retailers use the same math when they mark a coat down 20 percent, from 100 money units to 80 units. After the sale, the coat is marked up 20 units to get back to 100, but those 20 units now represent one quarter of the 80 unit price. So it has to be marked up 25 percent (20/80) to get back to the original 100, even though it was marked down only 20 percent (20/100) in the first place. If it's marked down 50 percent at the start (50/100), to 50 units, and at the end of the sale it will be marked up 100 percent (50/50). Mark it down 37 percent (37/100), and at the end of the sale, it's marked up 59 percent (37/63) to get back to 100.
Surely this is information to which parents are entitled. If children who ever breastfeed are about 20% less likely to die between one and 12 months of age, then the reality is that children who never breastfeed are about 25% more likely to die between one and 12 months of age (Chen and Rogan, 2004). When we hide information by choosing the wrong norm, parents cannot see the risks. What they see, instead, is that breastfeeding is just an ideal -- a goal to miss and not a normalcy to expect.
Who, after all, is a "perfect parent"? Perfect, ideal, optimal -- every time we use those words to describe breastfeeding, we reassure the public that formula feeding is normal. Normal is everyone. Normal is safe. The perfection of breastfeeding is much easier to talk about than its normalcy, because perfection allows everyone to fall short without consequences.
La Leche League hasn't always talked that way. The very first edition of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding stated, "Statistics have been compiled and studies are still being made which reveal that allergies, notably eczema, are as much as seven to ten times more common in the artificially fed baby than in the breast fed baby" (The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, 1958). Why did we feel the need to change our approach? Who first cautioned that "we don't want to make the mother feel guilty"? Could it have been the formula industry itself? How can a well-designed, well-executed, control-based health study create so much guilt that its conclusions must be hidden from the public?
Now imagine a world in which the spotlight shifts to the experiment of artificial feeding. Suddenly the media alert us to each newly discovered risk of the experimental fluid, rather than heralding each "new advantage" of the original. Everyone sees the articles. Widespread discussions, denials, debates follow...and a scandal-craving general public wants to hear more. Bottles begin to seem too controversial for new-baby cards. Doll manufacturers begin to worry that including a bottle may hurt sales. "You can feed our brand with confidence" on the formula can begins to look silly. Babies with bottles no longer add visual appeal to articles and ads. Mothers breastfeeding in public meet less resistance. And one by one, the little cultural brush fires that breastfeeding supporters have fought for years begin to sputter out all by themselves.
What is La Leche League International's role in this reversal of approach? It needn't be noticeable in order to be effective. The World Health Organization encourages us to Protect, Promote and Support breastfeeding. But suppose individual breastfeeding helpers leave the promotion to the researchers and the media? Imagine the little girl who goes to the doctor's office for a health-promoting immunization. Shots hurt, and the little girl clings to her mother for protection and support, never considering that it is her mother who made the appointment with the doctor in the first place!
The media and the researchers, like the doctor bearing the injection, deliver an uncomfortable, even painful, form of health promotion. We breastfeeding helpers, like the mother above, work to encourage promotion behind the scenes, through our contacts with journals, researchers, health agencies, the media. Our public image focuses on protection and support. And new mothers know where to turn.
We can avoid glorifying breastfeeding by discussing "the importance of breastfeeding" instead of "the advantages of breastfeeding."
We can walk mothers through the change that we ourselves have undergone: "After a generation of artificial feeding we now understand that constipation, allergy, and a marked increase in ear infections, digestive problems, and many other types of illnesses -- both during infancy and later in life -- are side effects of these human milk substitutes rather than the norm" (Mohrbacher N. 2003). We can focus on the process of breastfeeding, rather than on the product called breast milk. Long-term bottle-feeding is not fun, and the formula industry knows it. They acknowledge that breast milk is "superior" (not, of course, that formula is inferior). But they avoid comparing bottle-feeding with breastfeeding, beyond sustaining the bottle-feeding norm by glorifying breastfeeding's "special" bond. All the more reason for us to let mothers know how pleasurable breastfeeding is, once they learn the basics!
We can use humor. The formula industry does not, perhaps because they cannot be playful with the hospitals and clinics that create their customers.
But humor is a fundamental marketing tool. All normal relationships and processes are sources of humor; that's one way we judge normal. Is there a cartoon about it? Then it must be a common experience. Let's rediscover all those great old breastfeeding cartoons and find new ones. The dominant side of any argument can afford to laugh -- and asserts its dominance when it does.
These are simple, easily learned, easily implemented, even fun techniques that allow mothers gentle access to difficult truths or that avoid the difficult truths altogether. We simply stop normalizing the experiment. And then we leave the researchers and the media -- those who speak to the wider public -- to do the heavy lifting, with our behind-the-scenes encouragement, calling for nothing more complicated than an adherence to the basic tenets of science. The media will take it from there. And the public will learn.
The change in focus is inevitable. More and more journal articles are connecting the problem with the problem outcome: "Lack of breastfeeding and higher use and cost of health care are significantly associated" (Cattaneo A. et al. 2007). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) wrote, in its 2005 breastfeeding policy statement, "Exclusive breastfeeding is the reference or normative model against which all alternatives must be measured with regard to growth, health, development, and all other short- and longterm outcomes" (AAP Work Group on Breastfeeding 2005). Although the AAP failed to follow through in the rest of its paper, the American Academy of Family Physicians wrote, in its 2007 policy statement on breastfeeding, "Because breastfeeding is the physiologic norm, we will refer to the risks of not breastfeeding for infants, children, and mothers" (AAFP 2007). Then it did so, through all the rest of its powerful statement. The change in focus must happen, is happening, and we can help. Quietly. Simply. And with humor.
1. Whelan J. Winning Formula? New Scientist 2008; 14 July: 38-42.
2. Sears MR et al. Long-term relations between breastfeeding and development of atopy and asthma in children and young adults: a longitudinal study. Lancet 2002; 360:901-907.
3. Gordon S. Breast-fed baby may mean better behaved child. HealthDay News (Internet) October 29, 2008.
4. Chen A, Rogan WJ. Breastfeeding and the risk of postneonatal death in the United States. Pediatr 2004; 113(5): e435-439.
5. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. Franklin Park, IL: La Leche League International, 1958; page#3.
6. Mohrbacher N. When You Breastfeed Your Baby: Getting Started. La Leche League International, 2003.
7. Cattaneo A, Ronfani L, Burmaz T, Quintero-Romero S, Macaluso A, Di Mario S. Infant feeding and cost of health care: a cohort study. Acta Pediatrica 2006; 95: 540-546.
8. American Academy of Pediatrics Work Group on Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatr 2005; 115(2): 496-506.
9. American Academy of Family Physicians. Breastfeeding, family physicians supporting (position paper). 2007. http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/policy/policies/b/breastfeedingpositionpaper.html
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<urn:uuid:562f1461-5166-49fa-80ac-c20a6407cdeb>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/lv/lviss4-2009p4.html
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.935264
| 2,353
| 3.046875
| 3
|
Richard Titmuss's classic study of social policy during the Second World War, Problems of Social Policy, published in 1950, has exercised an enormous influence on historical accounts of the period. However, recently his interpretation has fallen out of favour with revisionist historians who have argued that he exaggerated the extent to which the artifical conditions of war provided a permanent basis for the creation of the welfare state in the postwar period, and the degree to which evacuation changed official attitudes to poverty. This article examines to what extent the evacuation of September 1939 led to a reassessment of the earlier achievements of the School Medical Service, and how far it illustrated opinion on the reform of welfare services. After briefly tracing planning and the arrival of the evacuees in the reception areas, it considers what the evacuation revealed about the School Medical service and the wider problems of child health in four areas head lice and skin disease, footwear and clothing, nutrition, and child psychology. It concludes that while there was not unanimity on the need for reform, the evacuation did lead to a major reassessment of the effectiveness of health services for schoolchildren and to significant policy changes.
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<urn:uuid:3fbc0d6f-0113-469e-b515-b09603e8fcab>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.research.lancs.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/evacuation-and-social-policy-during-the-second-world-war-myth-and-reality(e4386b12-f4cc-44f8-b9ee-cdbb018b05d9).html
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.96097
| 228
| 2.8125
| 3
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The Moon alphabet was invented by Dr. William Moon (1818-1894). Dr Moon lost his sight completely at the age of 21 after being partially sighted throughout his childhood. He learnt all the embossed reading systems available at the time but found them unsatisfactory so invented his own system. He brought out his first booklet in the new alphabet, 'The Last Days of Polycarp', in 1847.
News of Dr Moon's new alphabet spread quickly and he was soon swamped with requests for parts of Bible. At first Dr Moon printed all the documents at his home in Queens Road, Brighton, UK. In 1856 however, he managed to obtain funding from the blind philanthropist Sir Charles Lowther to set up a printing press and workshop nearby. The Moon Printing Works operated on the same premises until 1960, producing books and magazines in 471 different languages.
Dr Moon also travelled to many parts of the British Isles and other parts of the world setting up printing presses, libraries and home teaching socities. After his death in 1894, his daughter Adelaide continued his work.
Today Moon's alphabet is little used or known outside the UK. Since the 1990s though there has been a revival of interest in it.
Further information about William Moon and the Moon alphabet
An introduction to the Moon alphabet
Hosted by Kualo
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<urn:uuid:40e72e53-af46-473a-bd16-b7f2ebe534c3>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://omniglot.com/writing/moon.htm
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.966164
| 275
| 3.296875
| 3
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Catch and Release
CATCH AND RELEASE
WHY RELEASE A FISH?
A fish is too valuable a resource to be caught only once. A personal commitment to conservation adds fun to fishing. Size, season, and bag regulations make release mandatory. Stressed fish populations need your help to recover. The future of sportfishing is in your hands. Pass it on!
HOW TO BEGIN
Decide to release a fish as soon as it is hooked.
Land your quarry quickly; don't play it to exhaustion.
Set the hook immediately. Try to prevent a fish from swallowing the bait
Work a fish out of deep water slowly, so it can adjust to the pressure change.
Use hooks that are barbless and made from metals that rust quickly.
Always keep release tools handy
HANDLING YOUR CATCH
Leave the fish in the water (if possible) and don't handle it. Use a tool to remove the hook or cut leader (use extreme care with a large, dangerous fish).
Keep the fish from thrashing.
Net your catch only if you cannot control it any other way.
When you must handle a fish:
Use a wet glove or rag to hold the fish.
Turn a fish on its back or cover its eyes with a wet towel to calm it.
Don't put your fingers in the eyes or gills of your catch. Larger fish can be kept in the water by holding the leader with a glove or by slipping a release gaff through the lower jaw.Avoid removing mucous or scales.Get the fish back in the water as quickly as possible.
Protect against personal injury by handling each species carefully and correctly.
REMOVING THE HOOK
Cut the leader close to the mouth if a fish has been hooked deeply or if the hook can't be removed quickly.
Back the hook out the opposite way it went in.
Use needle-nose pliers, hemostats, or a hookout to work the hook and protect your hands.
For a larger fish in the water, slip a gaff around the leader and slide it down to the hook. Lift the gaff upward as the angler pulls downward on the leader.
Do not jerk or pop a leader to break it. This damages vital organs and kills the fish.
THE FINAL MOMENTS
Place the fish in the water gently, supporting its mid-section and tail until it swims away.
Resuscitate an exhausted fish by moving it back and forth or tow it alongside the boat to force water through its gills.
Use a large hypodermic needle (or similar tool) to vent the expanded swim bladder on a fish taken from deep water (see graphics below).
Watch your quarry to make sure it swims away. If it doesn't, recover the fish and try again.
Venting trapped gases in a fish caught from great depth
Use the largest hypodermic needle you can find (#10 or larger) and remove the plunger. Insert hypodermic needle at a 45 angle, under a scale, near the tip of the pectoral fin and squeeze gently. You will hear the trapped gases release. Also, make a needle clearing tool from a piece of stainless leader wire to clear any tissue, etc. from needle. Leave this tool in needle between uses. Sterilize the needle with iodine or alcohol between uses.
REMEMBER, A RELEASED FISH HAS AN EXCELLENT CHANCE OF SURVIVAL WHEN HANDLED CAREFULLY AND CORRECTLY.
Thanks for helping preserve our priceless marine resources!
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<urn:uuid:88ffd6eb-2394-4b38-8601-359d0ee57165>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://outdooralabama.com/fishing/saltwater/regulations/limits/Catch-and-Release.cfm
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.925949
| 748
| 3.578125
| 4
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Whenever you introduce nontext elements to your Web design you reduce the accessibility of your pages. For the purposes of universal access, text is the ultimate content type: it can be most widely adapted for use with different devices and assistive technologies. But the Web is a visual medium, and access to images and other nontext materials is one of the reasons why people turn to the Web over other information sources. As a Web page designer, you should keep this restriction in mind and take measures to ensure that your design decisions do not exclude disabled users from your Web page content.
Your site navigation can be supplied using graphics such as buttons, imagemaps, or animations, but it is critical that you design your navigation system for all users. If your site's navigation interface uses graphic menus, always provide an alternate navigation route using basic text links. Users without graphics capabilities, such as those using text-only browsers or visually impaired users, will not be able to use your site if you provide only graphic menus.
HTML has several built-in fallbacks designed to allow your content to degrade gracefully under different viewing conditions. One of these is
ALT, an attribute of the
IMG tag. The
ALT attribute allows you to supply an alternate text description with any images you place on your page. Users who cannot see your images for whatever reason will see or hear the text you supply using the
<IMG SRC="banner.gif" HEIGHT="30" WIDTH="535" ALT="Web Style Guide">
In the above example, users accessing the Web Style Guide page with graphic loading turned off will see the alternate text "Web Style Guide" in place of the banner graphic. Visually impaired users using assistive technology to access Web pages will hear the text "Web Style Guide" read aloud. This way you can use a graphic banner to establish site identity, but users who do not see images will still know what site they are visiting.
Writing good ALT-text is an epigrammatic art, challenging your ability to describe the content and function of an image in just a few words. Browsers do not currently wrap ALT-text, so users reading ALT-text from the screen will normally see only a few words, though users who are read ALT-text by software will hear the entire description. Think not only about what the image is but also how it functions on the page. What does the image say? What is its purpose? Is it there to identify your organization? If so, write ALT-text that identifies your organization. Does it provide navigation options? Write ALT-text that describes where the user will go after clicking on the image. Think about the primary purpose of the graphic and attempt to convey it in ten words or fewer.
<IMG SRC="up.gif" HEIGHT="10" WIDTH="10" ALT="Go to top of page">
Also include ALT-text describing link destinations for imagemap menus so that users who cannot see the graphic menu will know where they will go if they select an imagemap link.
At times ALT-text is not useful for example, for interface images like custom bullets or for invisible spacer graphics and in those cases you should include an empty
ALT attribute (
ALT="") in your
IMG tag. An empty
ALT attribute hides the graphic from text-only browsers and assistive technologies like screen readers. If you leave out the ALT-text, users could hear the words "image, image, image, image" because most software is designed to let the user know when there is an undescribed image on the page. If instead you include an empty
ALT attribute, the software knows to skip the image.
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<urn:uuid:3b1c8a30-049e-4d2f-95fe-7bdc052fe9cc>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://webstyleguide.com/wsg2/graphics/access.html
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.85266
| 775
| 2.953125
| 3
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Evaluation of market systems
Market-based economic systems have many advantages in comparison with command-based ones. These include:
Resources are allocated towards the satisfaction of the consumer, who is 'king' (sovereign) - firms can only survive if they consistently satisfy consumer demand. The more they satisfy the consumer, the greater their profits.
Firms may compete with each by offering different products, providing consumers with a wide choice.
Price and non-price competition
Competition keeps prices down and drives up the quality of goods and services.
The price mechanism works automatically, as prices convey information about relative scarcity without the need for a government.
Prices fulfil a vital role in terms of rationing scarce resources - the greater the scarcity, the higher the price, and the more it is conserved.
Utility and profit
The price mechanism allocates resources towards products that provide the highest utility and the greatest profit, hence benefiting consumers and producers.
All participants have incentives to be at their most efficient. The production of goods is efficient because firms need to keep costs as low as possible.
There is a considerable incentive for the owners of factors of production to be as efficient as they can be so that they can command the highest incomes.
Firms usually need to innovate to retain consumer loyalty and win new customers from rivals.
The disadvantages of market-based systems
However, market systems have disadvantages, including:
Under-valuing non-traded services
Some goods and services cannot easily be traded in markets, such as healthcare, education, and defence. With these goods, the value attached by market forces is unlikely to be the 'real' value of the service.
There is the problem of missing markets, which arises when consumers have a need or a want but where no firms are able to enter the market to supply, and markets do not form, as in the case of public goods.
There is also the problem of incomplete markets, which arises when firms only supply a part of the whole market demand, such as the case of merit goods.
Some goods and services generate costs and benefits that are not taken account by consumers and producers. These costs and benefits are called externalities.
Lack of purchasing power
Some consumers have no purchasing power, such as the disabled, because they are not able to work in the labour market. Without work, they cannot derive an income, and are unable to purchase goods and services.
The case for mixed economies
Mixed economies combine aspects of market systems and central planning. It is accepted that mixed economies provide a more optimal allocation of scarce resources because:
Markets can be used to allocate resources to producing goods and services in which they excel, such as private consumer goods like cars, computers and holidays.
Planning can be used to allocate resources to those goods and services that markets fail to produce sufficiently, such as education and policing – and solve the problem of missing and incomplete markets.
Governments can regulate markets to ensure that they work effectively in the interests of consumers.
Governments can allocate resources towards the unemployed, and provide a basic purchasing power, via a benefits system, to the disabled and others who cannot sell their labour.
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<urn:uuid:c8546372-962e-4737-95b8-d8d3eb93d091>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.economicsonline.co.uk/Competitive_markets/Evaluation_of_%20market_%20systems.html
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.956735
| 655
| 3.671875
| 4
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Photo #: NH 105079
Battleships of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet
Steaming in column formation, circa 1914.
Photographed by Enrique Muller, New York.
The leading ship is either USS Wyoming (BB-32) or USS Arkansas (BB-33).
Note the dense smoke produced by these coal-burning ships.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image size: 124KB; 900 x 675 pixels
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than this digital image, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."
Image posted 12 October 2007
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<urn:uuid:6e5180d2-4553-4a2e-9104-8861a2991838>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/i05000/i05079c.htm
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.835398
| 143
| 2.671875
| 3
|
|An aspect of fiscal policy|
A beard tax is one of several taxes introduced throughout history on men who wear beards.
In 1535, King Henry VIII of England, who wore a beard himself, introduced a tax on beards. The tax was a graduated tax, varying with the wearer's social position. His daughter, Elizabeth I of England, reintroduced the beard tax, taxing every beard of more than two weeks' growth.
In 1705, Emperor Peter I of Russia instituted a beard tax to modernize the society of Russia following European models. Those who paid the tax were required to carry a "beard token". This was a copper or silver token with a Russian Eagle on one side and on the other, the lower part of a face with nose, mouth, whiskers, and beard. It was inscribed with two phrases: "the beard tax has been taken" and "the beard is a superfluous burden".
See also
- Sharpe, M. E. (1967), Challenge, Vol 2, New York University Institute of Economic Affairs, p. 14
- "Smithsonian Rare Russian Coin Collection Seeks Exhibition Sponsor". America.gov. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
- Florenskiĭ, Pavel Aleksandrovich (1997), The Pillar and the Ground of Truth, Princeton University Press, p. 535, ISBN 978-0-691-03243-6
|This tax-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.|
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<urn:uuid:cddd9f6f-21e2-41e8-957d-2fd1ba150bca>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beard_tax
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.91337
| 311
| 3.21875
| 3
|
Lesson 2: Servers
PHP is a server-side technology. Therefore, you need to have a server to run PHP. But it doesn't need to cost you anything to make this upgrade and there are several options for doing so.
Since you ultimately only need to choose one option, this lesson is divided into three parts. First comes a little introduction on the different options (just choose the one that suits you best). When your server is up and running, we'll pick up with Lesson 3 to make your first PHP page.
Option 1: Website on a hosted server
You can choose to have a website on a host that supports PHP.
- Test whether your host supports PHP
- If you don't already have a website on hosted server you can create a free account on 000webhost.com which supports PHP.
Option 2: Install PHP on your computer
It's no walk in the park to install PHP on your computer. This option is only recommend for experienced computer users, but it can obviously be done. Here are links to downloads and installtion guides:
Option 3: XAMPP
XAMPP is a program that makes it easy and possible for us ordinary folks to run the PHP directly on our computer without having to install PHP on our own.
|Related topics in the PHP Forum||Replies||Views|
|About IIS Server||1||69|
|problem with xampp and php codes||3||598|
|Xampp "hello world!" not working.||6||2909|
|problem with Xampp 1.8.1||7||1898|
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<urn:uuid:42d8c109-1885-4faa-ab8f-3f650b6e05c4>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://html.net/tutorials/php/lesson2.php
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.899214
| 341
| 2.890625
| 3
|
Submitted to: WATT Poultry USA
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 15, 2003
Publication Date: N/A
Interpretive Summary: One of the obstacles facing the poultry industry in the near future is the insistence by regulatory agencies and consumer groups to reduce the use of antibiotics in poultry feed. Anticipating these new regulations, the poultry industry is examining alternatives to drugs, such as ionophores, for controlling avian coccidiosis. One alternative that has gained limited popularity is the use of live oocyst vaccines whereby chickens are inoculated at hatch with low doses of virulent or attenuated Eimeria oocysts. The difficulty with this approach is that one species of Eimeria, namely E. maxima, shows appreciable immunovariability such that one strain of E. maxima will not protect against another strain. In an effort to determine the mechanism driving this immunovariability, experiments were conducted where chickens were immunized by oral inoculation with one strain of E. maxima oocysts and then challenged with the same or a different strain. These experiments showed that two parameters of coccidiosis, weight gain and production of oocysts, were useful in identifying cross-protective strains, while another parameter, lesion scoring, was not useful. These results indicate that poultry producers and vaccine manufacturers should be mindful of immunovariability and which parameter is used to determine whether one strain will protect against another.
The purpose of this study was to compare three different strains of Eimeria maxima to determine if immunization with one strain conferred protection against the others. Chickens (7-day-old, 10 per group) were immunized by oral 'trickle' infection with one of three strains of E. maxima oocysts (designated strains A, B, or C) and then challenged with either a homologous or heterologous strains at 4 weeks of age. The experiment was terminated 1 week after challenge infection and intestinal lesion scores, weight gain, and oocyst output was measured. As indicated by weight gain and oocyst production, chickens immunized with strain A or B oocysts were protected against strain A and B challenge, but not against strain C challenge infection. In contrast, chickens were completely protected against intestinal lesions after challenge with any of the 3 E. maxima strains. Also, immunization with strain C oocysts protected against strain A, B, or C challenge as measured by weight gain, lesion scores, or oocyst output. These results indicate that cross-protection between strains depends on the primary immunization. Also, weight gain and oocyst output appear to be sensitive parameters for cross-protection, while lesion scores are insensitive measures.
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<urn:uuid:ed9ee779-52ff-4ade-bb14-55eb9d626b55>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?SEQ_NO_115=154332
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.947758
| 576
| 2.578125
| 3
|
Until the late 1800s, medical scientists could only record heart activity by directly examining the heart. It was not possible on a living patient. In 1887, British physiologist Augustus Waller discovered it was possible to record heart activity from the skin’s surface. He used an instrument called a capillary electrometer to trace heart signals onto photographic plates.
Dutch physiologist Willem Einthoven was inspired by Waller’s experiments. In 1902 he developed an instrument to record traces of the heart’s activity. His string galvanometer was critical to the manufacture of early electrocardiograph machines in 1908.
Early ECG machines were cumbersome and hard to use. Einthoven’s first machine required five people to operate. The person monitored had to place each limb in a bucket of salt water, so it was impractical for patient use. Improvements such as electrodes attached to the skin’s surface meant machines became smaller, portable and more reliable.
R Bud and D J Warner, (eds.), Instruments of Science, An Historical Encyclopaedia (London: Science Museum, 1998)
S Barron, The development of the electrocardiograph: with some biographical notes on Professor W. Einthoven (London: Cambridge Instrument Co, 1952)
J Burnett, ‘The origins of the electrocardiograph as a clinical instrument’, Medical history supplement, 5 (1985), pp 53-76 A D Waller, The electrical action of the human heart (London: University of London Press, 1922)
Z Cope, ‘Augustus Desiré Waller (1856-1922)’ Medical history 17 (1973), pp 380-385
The graphic method [article]: [a history of the electrocardiograph and its predecessors]
Kuhfield, Albert W. Rittenhouse. - Vol.9, no.3. - p.89-96. 1995
T Lewis, The soldier's heart and the effort syndrome ( London: Shaw, 1918)
T Lewis, ‘Electro-cardiography and its importance in the clinical examination of heart affections’ Reprinted from the British Medical Journal, January 22nd, 1912, p.1421-1423, June 29th, 1912, p.1479-1482, July 13th, 1912, p.65-67"
S Serge Barold, ‘Willem Einthoven and the Birth of Clinical Electrocardiography a Hundred Years Ago’, Cardiac Electrophysiology Review, 7 (2003), pp 99-104
A conductor which enables a current to go in or out of a particular object, substance or region.
The science of the functioning of living organisms and their component parts.
An instrument used to measure very small amounts of voltage.
An instrument for detecting and measuring small electric currents.
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<urn:uuid:e5a84e0b-b226-44ce-a6ee-261ae6b61669>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/themes/~/link.aspx?_id=0FFD77157F5F4217A98530B888DE8672&_z=z
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.871484
| 595
| 3.671875
| 4
|
Study of 800-year-old tree rings backs global warming
The decline in recent decades of the mountain snows that feed the West's major rivers is virtually unprecedented for most of the past millennium, according to new research published today.
Seattle Times environment reporter
Surging Columbia River: Don't let this year fool you
This year, the Columbia River is swollen with massive runoff from mountain snowpacks, making for wild and sometimes perilous conditions for barge traffic. But new research shows that the long-term trend in the Columbia Basin and throughout the West is just the opposite: Snowpacks in most years are far below historic highs, thanks in part to climate change.
They looked at the rings of thousands of ancient trees in the mountains above the most important rivers in the West.
What they found may influence how water gets used from Arizona to Canada — and particularly in the Columbia River basin.
Despite odd years like this one, researchers have long reported declines in the mountain snows that power Western rivers. But on Thursday a group of scientists said they now also know this: Those declines are virtually unprecedented throughout most of the last millennium.
Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Washington measured tree-ring growth from forests that included 800-year-old trees. They learned that snowpack reductions in the late 20th and early 21st centuries were unlike any other period dating to at least the year 1200, according to new research published in the journal Science.
The precise amount of those declines, particularly in the Cascades, has been the subject of fierce debate even within UW climate circles. But no more than half of the declines can be explained by natural shifts, the study shows.
"I think the findings are pretty significant," said lead author Greg Pederson, with the USGS. "It means trees are telling the same stories as computer models and instrument records — that human greenhouse-gas emissions are contributing to the loss of snowpack."
Pederson said the research suggests the runoff that fuels the Columbia, Missouri and Colorado River systems will continue to decline as global temperatures rise — even if precipitation increases. Those rivers supply water to 70 million people, and 60 percent to 80 percent originates as snowpack.
The hardest hit will likely be the Columbia River system, where balmier mountain winters mean very small temperature increases can cause massive melting. That makes the snow that fuels the Northwest's signature river more susceptible to warming than the high, cold snows of the Colorado basin.
The findings also highlight a fundamental flaw in how the U.S. views Western rivers, researchers said. Assumptions about how to allocate water have largely been based on early 20th century hydrology and flow patterns that may not be sustainable.
"Nature allowed us to expect things that we probably shouldn't expect in the long term," said study co-author Jeremy Littell, a professor with the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group. "We made a lot of investments and built up infrastructure based on expectations that don't appear tenable."
Given all the variables that influence the pace of climate change, it's difficult to project how and when snowpack reductions may translate into significant declines in river systems. Along the Colorado, for example, the Bureau of Reclamation and the seven states that rely on its water are in the middle of a multiyear study to answer that very question.
In fact, the nine authors of Thursday's paper were motivated in part by the need for research that could help water managers plan better.
Samples tell story
Every April since the Dust Bowl days in the 1930s, federal officials have taken snow-moisture samples in the mountains. Since some trees grow less and others grow more in high snow years, the researchers knew that by looking at tree-growth rings they could reconstruct past snowpack levels. So they sampled thousands of trees at 66 sites in key runoff areas of the West. Some were dead, and some were live. From the live trees they withdrew harmless pencil-thin core samples. They compared historic snowpack levels to temperature histories and charted the results.
"For us, it had this 'Oh my God' moment,' " said co-author Lisa Graumlich, dean of UW's College of the Environment. "We hadn't appreciated — until the day Greg [Pederson] made those maps — that the last few decades were truly unusual compared to the last 800 years."
Here's why: Throughout most of that time, much like this year, wet northern winters in the West typically came amid dry Southern ones, and vice versa. This year, for example, while snowpack in parts of the north are double or more above normal, the Southwest is scratch-dry and seeing record spring wildfires.
Throughout history, as seen through tree-ring data, even as weather fluctuated year to year — sometimes following decades-long El Niño and La Niña patterns — this climatic seesaw almost always held.
Only in the 1350s and 1400s, during two unusually warm periods, did snowpack decline throughout the West — until the late 20th century. And "the decline now is bigger, longer and more widespread," said Littell.
That suggested to the researchers that temperature, far more than precipitation, is now influencing snowpack levels. Temperatures, on average, have increased throughout the West. And mountain snowpack across the landscape since at least the early 1980s — perhaps since the 1950s — has been in a declining trend, too.
Even years like this one are not inconsistent with that trend, the scientists said, since weather can vary dramatically year to year.
For snowpack, "This year is basically just a blip on what otherwise has been a pretty consistent long-term downward trend," Pederson said.
Craig Welch: 206-464-2093 or email@example.com
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| 3.59375
| 4
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Global warming, climate change, social degradation and economic crisis are posing serious threats for the organizations to survive. Day by day organizations are striving to be transparent and accountable to various stakeholders of the organization to preserve their reputation and brand image. To curtail this problem Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) took initiative towards a better tomorrow. Global Reporting Initiative is a non-profit organization that works towards a sustainable global economy by providing sustainability reporting guidance. Global Reporting Initiative Guidelines defines Sustainability Reporting as “the practice of measuring, disclosing and being accountable to internal and external stakeholders for organizational performance towards the goal of sustainable development”. The first environmental reports were published in 1980s by companies in chemical industry which had serious image problems. Sustainability Reporting is a recent trend forming part of the annual reports of many companies. These reports are intended to improve internal processes, engage stakeholders and influence investors
Role of CA in Sustainability Reporting:
A Sustainability Report is an organizational report that gives information about economic, environmental, social and governance performance. Sustainability Reporting is a vital element in Integrated Reporting that has evolved in the recent years portraying both financial and non-financial performance of the organization. GRI Focal Points are national offices that drive GRI activity in particular countries and regions. GRI currently has Focal Points in a number of strategic countries; Australia, Brazil, China, India and the USA. ​As we are aware about the supremacy of Institute of chartered Accountants of India in the Accounting and Assurance practices, to extend its wings ICAI joined GRI Focal point of India in 2011. Henceforth CA’s will venture in the administration of sustainability reporting practices of companies along with financial audit and assurance. According to a recent survey more than 50% of the sustainability reports in India are externally assured. So CA’s have a major role to play, not only to audit financials but to assure and monitor the sustainability reports of companies and save the bio-diversity of our nation.
Benefits of Sustainability Reporting:
According to Global Reporting Initiative, Sustainability Reporting benefits organizations in following ways:
· Increased understanding of risks and opportunities.
· Emphasizing the link between financial and non-financial performance.
· Influencing long term management strategy and business plans.
· Benchmarking and assessing sustainability performance with respect to laws, norms, codes and voluntary disclosures.
· Comparing performance internally and between organizations and sectors.
· Mitigating or reversing negative environmental and social impacts.
· Improves reputation and brand loyalty.
· Enabling stakeholders to understand company’s true value.
The GRI Five Phase Process: Following are the five phases in the development of Sustainability Reports:
Phase 1: Prepare
· Defining the report scope, boundary and time period which will be company specific.
· Getting started: Linking business goals and sustainability impacts.
Phase 2: Connect
· Understanding the importance of stakeholder engagement in the reporting process.
· Stakeholder identification and prioritization.
· Effective stakeholder communication.
Phase 3: Define
· Identifying relevant sustainability issues for action and reporting.
· Evaluating existing monitoring systems.
· Setting goals and performance targets.
Phase 4: Monitor
· Adhering to GRI indicators and protocols.
· Checking processes and monitoring activities.
· Ensuring quality of information.
Phase 5: Communicate
· Maximizing internal and external report value.
· Incorporating sustainability reporting into traditional annual report.
· Designing report for clarity and readability
Conclusion: Sustainability Reporting according to me is just not compliance or a mandatory requirement by SEBI for all the top 100 listed companies, but an opportunity for a CA to show his responsibility towards the nation. So being CA,s let’s join hands and give our share in protecting the ecological balance.
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| 0.928805
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| 2.671875
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SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 5, 2010 Unlike Hawaii and other island groups, no native bird has gone extinct in the Galapagos Islands, although some are in danger. But University of Utah biologists found that finches the birds Darwin studied develop antibodies against two parasites that moved to the Galapagos, suggesting the birds can fight the alien invaders.
With the discovery that the medium ground finches produce antibodies aimed specifically at the parasites a pox virus and a nest fly "the next step is to determine if this immune response is helping the birds or hurting the birds," says University of Utah biology Professor Dale Clayton, who led the new study.
One cannot assume the immune response will help because antibodies also can be involved in autoimmune diseases and allergy symptoms.
Nevertheless the new study is significant because "these finches are icons of evolution, and the icons are in danger of extinction," Clayton says. "Are they sitting ducks? Are they sitting finches? To answer that, the first question is, does the immune system recognize the parasites? And this study shows, yes it does."
The study will be published online Wednesday, Jan 6. in PLoS ONE, a journal of the Public Library of Science.
Clayton says a key finding is that "wild species can respond to invasive parasites with which they have no history of association. The immune system has been activated."
Development of antibodies "shows the birds may have the ability to fight back," says Jen Koop, a University of Utah doctoral candidate and study coauthor.
Koop and Clayton say that, to their knowledge, the study is the first to show a wild bird species produces antibodies aimed specifically at different classes of parasites.
Earlier studies found immune responses by birds injected with a foreign substance, but those responses are general, not specific to a real parasite, Clayton adds.
Clayton and Koop conducted the study with first author Sarah Huber, a former University of Utah postdoctoral researcher and now an assistant professor at Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. Other coauthors were entomologist Jeb Owen and zoologist Marisa King of Washington State University; and Princeton University evolutionary biologists and 2009 Kyoto Prize winners Peter and Rosemary Grant, who have studied Galapagos finches for decades.
The new study was funded primarily by the National Science Foundation.
A Tale of Two Parasites
The study involved two parasites that invaded the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador. One is the pox virus, Poxvirus avium. Koop says it "creates lesions on non-feathered parts of a bird around the bill, eyes, legs and feet. Toes and feet can fall off."
The study's main focus was the other parasite, the nest fly, Philornis downsi, which was introduced to the Galapagos as early as 1964. The fly larvae infest finch nests and attack featherless skin, impairing the growth of nestling birds and even killing them.
"The flies can create open sores on nestlings, and decrease survival," Koop says.
There are 15 species of finches in the Galapagos. All evolved from a common ancestor. Darwin observed changes in their beaks and other features over time, so "they figured prominently in his thinking about how new species evolve," Clayton says.
The Galapagos is "the most famous group of islands that hasn't had any native birds go extinct yet," Clayton says. "Many of the native species in Hawaii, for example, have gone extinct because of humans," who introduced mosquitoes with malaria as well as predators such as cats and rats, destroyed habitat and hunted birds for feathers.
No native birds have yet gone extinct in the Galapagos because "there were few people living there until the mid-1800s," he adds. That may change with the introduction of nest flies from elsewhere in South America and of mosquitoes that carry the pox virus.
The new study and ongoing work aim to determine whether "the birds are able to fight back, do they have defenses, or have they just been blindsided because they have no evolutionary history with these parasites," Clayton says.
The Study and Its Findings
The researchers collected ground finches in 2008 at two Galapagos islands about 5 miles apart: Isla Daphne Major and at El Garrapatero on Isla Santa Cruz. Nest flies were found on both islands, but pox virus was found only on Daphne Major.
The birds were captured using nets and baited live-animal traps. Before release, each bird was fitted with leg bands for future identification.
On Daphne Major, the Grants, Huber and Koop captured 30 finches and noted whether the birds had pox sores or signs of prior pox infection, like scarring or lost toes.
On Santa Cruz, they examined finches before and during nesting, which is when the birds are exposed to fly larvae that infest their nests. They captured 37 birds exposed to nest fly larvae, and 76 that were not. They found 96 percent of nests were infested.
On both islands, the researchers collected a small blood sample from a wing vein in each bird. They used what are known as ELISA tests to check the finches' blood for antibodies to both the pox virus and nest flies. Study coauthors King and Owen developed a way to use the method to test for finch antibodies to both parasites.
"This study develops a tool that can be used to survey the rest of the Galapagos to determine which populations of birds have been exposed to the parasites and which have not been exposed," says Clayton. "The tool could be used to see if birds on some islands are better than birds on others at fending off the parasites."
The new study found:
Host vs. Parasite: An Evolutionary Arms Race
When parasites invade a "naοve" population, "the question is can the host evolve defenses fast enough," Clayton says. "It's what we call in evolutionary biology an arms race between the host and the parasite."
It is unlikely the finches already evolved defenses to the pox virus and nest fly, but for yet-unknown reasons, they "have genetic diversity that lets them mount immune responses to parasites, including ones they haven't seen before," he adds.
Koop now is studying whether the finches' immune response helps them or makes them feel ill and less likely to mate, feed chicks, watch for predators and defend territory.
Clayton says such research is urgently needed "because in theory these flies could lead to rapid extinction of bird species" and not just finches in the Galapagos.
"Species have long histories of evolving together," says Clayton. "This can lead to a balance. The parasites use hosts but don't drive them extinct because the hosts fight back. But if you pick up a parasite from one spot on Earth and drop it on another spot something people are doing frequently then the host animal may not have a chance. There are lots of invasive parasites. This is a big problem worldwide."
Additional images are available here:
University of Utah Public Relations
201 Presidents Circle, Room 308
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-9017
(801) 581-6773 fax: (801) 585-3350
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
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Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s decision to stop the building of new nuclear power plants and explore solar and wind energy signals a drastic turn in Japan’s energy policy that has brought a sigh of relief to wary scientists, anti-nuclear groups and an increasingly anxious public.
Kan also announced Tuesday the shutting down of the reactors at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant in Shizuoka prefecture 200 kilometres north of the capital Tokyo, which scientists predict to be due for a massive earthquake. Reactors 1 and 2 have already been closed for repairs.
'The burning issue in Japan is how to deal with nuclear energy, which is now a major source and therefore pits economic interests over safety,' said Hiroaki Koide, a professor at the Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute. 'The decision by Kan to suspend Hamaoka sends a critical message towards change.'
Koide has long lobbied against nuclear power, arguing that the technology that depends on nuclear fusion is too dangerous for Japan.
The argument against nuclear power was bolstered on Mar. 11 when a massive earthquake and tsunami hit north-eastern Japan and damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant. A 30-kilometre radius around the area had to be cleared and communities displaced, to avoid the risk of radioactive contamination.
Japan currently has 54 nuclear reactors, heavily subsidised by public funds. The Hamaoka plant, which contains six reactors, started operations in 1976 and continued to expand till 1987. Chubu Electric Company, the second largest utility in Japan, operates the Hamaoka plant.
On the heels of Kan’s decision is a bill establishing a Feed-in Tariff policy now pending in the Japanese Diet. When enacted, the new regulation will, for the first time, pave the way for new companies to enter the energy business not only through state subsidies but also by selling power to big companies that had hitherto controlled the energy sector.
Hisayo Takada, energy expert at Greenpeace Japan, explained the new policy will revitalise the current power business, which is controlled by a select group of eight big companies.
'The bill should be passed in the Diet in June. Up to now financial subsidies were only extended for construction of new power plants. But by allowing newcomers to also enter the lucrative energy business, there will be renewed interest to invest in alternative renewable sources,' she said.
Opponents of nuclear power have long pointed to Japan’s vulnerability to earthquakes—20 percent of the world’s total occurs here—and density of the population near coastal areas that is flat, arable land comprising just one-tenth of the mountainous country.
Still, conservative politicians, bureaucrats and business sectors have pursued the technology based on the assumption that nuclear energy is efficient and viable in resource-poor Japan that has no other alternatives. Nuclear power, now providing 30 percent of electricity, is also touted as the best way to reduce greenhouses gases.
But the country’s energy policy is headed for a new direction, following the Mar. 11 disaster. Led by Kan, Japan will embark on a complete overhaul of the national target, a landmark change against a policy that aimed to increase nuclear power supply to 50 percent of overall consumption.
Instead, Kan issued sobering statements to the press. He pledged his cabinet will spearhead a campaign to expand alternate energies such as solar and wind power to 20 percent, up from the current one percent, of the country’s energy needs.
The decision comes against a new report by the United Nations panel on climate change issued on Monday that projected 80 percent of the world’s nuclear energy supply could be met by renewable energy.
Local activists in Hamaoka are delighted. Yukie Tokura, who started Stop Hamaoka Nuclear Plant only last month after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, said Kan has taken a huge step in the right direction.
'I was so happy today that I promptly called Chubu Electric Company and thanked them for suspending Hamaoka operations,' she told IPS. Tokura lives 20 kilometers away from the plant in Shizuoka prefecture.
'For decades I had lived close to the nuclear plant and was not worried too much. But Fukushima was a wake-up call which is what I stared my protest organisation,' she explained.
In a sign of the growing anxiety in the country, Tokura’s site has now more than 6,400 petitions, which she has presented to Chubu Electric Company.
Despite what activists applaud as a key direction in Japan, moving away from nuclear power is expected to be no easy feat.
For example, Chubu Electric Company employs at least one third of the local population living close to Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant. Shutting down the reactors will mean a loss of personal income and will also affect the local factories that are bracing for power cuts.
Bu Takada points out that the Fukushima accident has illustrated the enormous costs, in terms of financial and human loss, so that the argument nuclear power is good for the economy is fast losing steam.
'Our research has shown that Japan with its green technology innovation can do well without nuclear power. The only thing that was needed was strong leadership. Maybe Kan means what he says,' she said.
© Inter Press Service (2011) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
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http://www.globalissues.org/news/2011/05/11/9600
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en
| 0.9384
| 1,289
| 2.828125
| 3
|
|Amphibians and Reptiles
A survey recorded a total of 23 species of Amphibians (4 species) and Reptiles (19). Of those species:
- 1 is a globally threatened species (Chamaeleo chamaeleon)
- 19 species are Regional or local species which are threatened in Lebanon.
Some old monographs of herpetofauna are known for the region (Lebanon and
Syria) from the works of Angel (1936), Boulanger (1923), Lortet (1883) Muller
and Wettstein (1933), Werner (1939) and Wettstein (1928).
Other recent works on the Lebanese herpetofauna have been published by Bosch
(1998) and Bosch et al (1998). The first prioritized list of Horsh Ehden
herpetofauna species was part of the survey and inventory work conducted by the
National Council for Scientific Research (NCSR) on behalf of the Protected Areas
Project (Hraoui-Bloquet in Tohmé et al., 1999). In 2002, Hraoui-Bloquet et al.
published a comprehensive paper on the distribution of the herpetofauna species
over the Lebanese territories (including Ehden).
The list of herpetofauna species comprises 28 species distributed over 13
Only the Chamaeleo chamaeleon is globally threatened whilst the regionally
threatened Salamandra infraimmaculata infraimmaculata, Bufo viridis, Rana
levantina, Hyla savignyi, Testudo graeca terrestris, Hemidactylus turcicus,
Cyrtopodion kotschyi orientalis, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, Lacerta laevis laevis,
Platiceps najadum dahlii, Malpolon monspessulanus insignatus, Hierophis
jugularis, Natrix tessellata tessellate, Vipera bornmuelleri, Vipera palestinea
and Macrovipera lebetina are limited to 16 species (57% of the Hoersh Ehden
Two reptiles Vipera bornmuelleri and Lacerta media wolterstorffi are endemic but
the second is also regionally threatened.
The uncertain status of 4 species Cyrtopodion amictopholis, Vipera palestinea,
Elaphe sauromates and Macrovipera lebetina indicates that further field
verification is needed to fill the gaps found in the acquired knowledge
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| 0.664149
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| 3
|
Access to Affordable Birth Control
Birth control is immensely popular, with more than 99 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44 who are sexually active having utilized it at some point in their lives. Support for birth control cuts across gender and race and economic lines. Women and men from all different background realize the importance of being able to choose when and whether to have a family. Perhaps this is why support among young African-American women for covering prescription birth control as preventive care was an astounding 92 percent.
Early Detection: The Importance of Breast Cancer Screenings
Breast exams, along with mammograms, can improve the chance of detecting breast cancer early. And the earlier breast cancer is detected and treated, the better for your health.
These exams are especially important for African-American women for whom the disease presents a particular challenge. Among women diagnosed with breast cancer, African-American women are most likely to die from the disease — they are 40 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. Regular breast exams help greatly reduce those numbers.
Actress Gabrielle Union knows the importance of early testing and the importance of being proactive with your health care. Watch her explain why this issue is so important to her in the video below:
Access to Safe and Legal Abortion
African Americans have a higher rate of unintended pregnancy and a higher rate of abortion than non-Hispanic whites. It is important however to look at the underlying issues behind high abortion rates. High rates of abortion are related to poverty and lack of access to prevention services. Planned Parenthood health centers have provided health care in the United States for almost 100 years and know that a disproportionate number of African-American women face multiple barriers to accessing quality, affordable health care, which leads to higher rates of both unintended pregnancy and abortion. For nearly a century, Planned Parenthood has worked to address racial and economic bias in access to health care. More than anyone else, we work to prevent abortions by providing women with important information about sexual health, including helping them select the appropriate form of contraception, if that is a choice they would like to make. Improved access to reproductive health services as well as addressing overall economic challenges, go a long way to combating disparities in the African American community.
HIV/AIDS and African Americans
Raising awareness for HIV/AIDS in the African-American community is a critical priority. With approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in this country, including more than 500,000 African Americans, African Americans account for almost half of all HIV infections in the United States.
There are a number of reasons why HIV remains such a problem for African Americans, including lack of insurance and access to health care. But, there is good news. Under the Affordable Care Act, millions more people will be eligible for health insurance and preventive care like HIV testing, with no additional co-pay. As the nation's leading provider of HIV screenings, Planned Parenthood health centers conducted 680,000 HIV tests in 2011 alone. In fact, one in three women who receives an HIV test is tested at a women's health center like Planned Parenthood. With increased access under the new health care law, Planned Parenthood health centers across the country stand ready to help even more African Americans access this critical preventive care in our nation's fight against HIV/AIDS.
Actor/activist Alex Newell, ("Unique" on FOX's Glee) speaks about the importance of HIV/AIDS testing in the video below. Check it out:
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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| 0.95593
| 705
| 2.984375
| 3
|
Oakland school closes achievement gap
| Jan 25, 2011
"In public education, closing the 'achievement gap' between students who are poor and middle class, black and white, English learners and native speakers has become a common goal--and a ubiquitous buzzword," writes Katy Murphy on The Oakland Tribune website.
"But Oakland's Manzanita SEED Elementary School is doing it," Murphy adds. "And it's doing it more swiftly than almost every other school in the state, by the federal government's calculations." To learn more about the school’s achievement, read the full article.
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http://www.reading.org/general/Publications/blog/BlogSinglePost/11-01-25/Oakland_school_closes_achievement_gap.aspx
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| 0.959932
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|
This episode explain how a flash synchronizes with your camera in high speed sync mode. It would be a good idea to watch TPB #2 along with this episode to understand how shutter lag works.
When not using high speed sync the maximum shutter speed you can use is limited by the time it takes your camera to open your shutter. I measured this to be 4 ms on a Canon 30d. This corresponds perfectly with the minimum shutter duration allowed on that camera when using the flash in normal sync mode of 1/250th of a second.
One DSLR shutters there are two curtains. Whenever your shutter speed is faster than 1/250th of a second on the Canon 30d these curtains work together to only expose a slice of the scene. The faster the shutter speed the narrower that slice. This doesn’t work with traditional flashes because a flash has traditionally lit the scene for a single moment in time. So if only a narrow slice of the shutter was open when the flash triggered only that slice would be lit and the rest of scene would be black. However, modern flashes like Canon’s TTL flashes get around this by quickly strobing the flash on and off thousands of times per second. This allows each of the slices when the shutter isn’t totally open to be correctly exposed.
This article explains this camera/shutter syncing in more detail.
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http://www.techphotoblog.com/tpb-5-high-speed-flash-sync/
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Alcohol consumption declined and leveled off over time but did not decrease to the average general U.S. population level. Several indicators of ongoing problems with drinking are associated with high levels of drinking over time: having a heavy-drinking network, receiving suggestions to do something about one's drinking, and going to treatment.
Factors associated with less drinking include having contact with community agencies and going to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Results suggest that problem and dependent drinkers continue to drink at an elevated level over the course of years. Gatekeepers, family members, and policymakers should encourage and facilitate contact with social service agencies and with AA for problem drinkers.
Suggestions from others to do something about one's drinking and seeking specialty care occur more often in those with more severe problems and do not appear to be linked to less drinking over time.
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<urn:uuid:7675c01a-91ab-491a-b1b9-5bf6bdb5f678>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://www.alcoholreports.blogspot.com/2010_10_24_archive.html
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|
en
| 0.965292
| 169
| 2.625
| 3
|
Last week, the United States added another address to the growing archipelago of global bases used by unmanned aerial vehicles [UAVs], or drones. Actually, the base - located at an airfield in Saudi Arabia and secretly operated by the Central Intelligence Agency - was activated two years ago, but US media conspired with the Obama Administration to hide its existence due to fears exposure would harm the campaign against al-Qaeda.
Even as Washington defends its terrorist kill-list policy against claims of illegality and human rights abuse, the US has been quietly expanding a network of bases across the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
"Beyond their use across the battlefields of Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq, US drones have been used to target suspected militants and terrorists in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, as well as to conduct surveillance missions over Colombia, Haiti, Iran, Mexico, North Korea, the Philippines, Turkey, and beyond," a Foreign Policy report revealed last year. The authors, Micah Zenko and Emma Welch of the Council on Foreign Relations, said US drone use "has expanded exponentially in scope, location and frequency" during the past decade. And all signs suggest the pace is picking up.
Drones operate from at least 13 military airfields, including Incirlik in Turkey, Jalalabad and Khost in Afghanistan, Al-Udeid in Qatar, Zamboanga in the Philippines, Al-Dhafra in the UAE, Al-Anad in Yemen, Arba Minch in Ethiopia, Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, and Mahe in the Seychelles.
Other bases remain secret. Besides Saudi Arabia, another exists in Oman, possibly on Masirah island, while the US plans to expand its North Africa reach with a base in Niger or Burkina Faso.
Drones can be launched from US Navy vessels or military bases.
As with nuclear bombs in 1945 the US dominates UAV technology. They are relatively cheap, unmanned, and able to stay aloft for long periods and pinpoint targets (although, controversially, not without civilian casualties).
While much attention is paid to US drone strikes in the Middle East and North Africa, less is paid to drones operated by other states - and what might happen if their use conflicts with US interests.
Take the Asia-Pacific region, where the US has been redeploying military assets since the Bush Administration, shifting more nuclear ballistic submarines and carrier fleets from the Atlantic as part of a military, political and economic "pivot" announced in President Barack Obama's first term.
According to Peter Singer, director of the Brookings Institution's 21st Century Defence Initiative, 76 nations are "now building, buying or using drones, including all the key powers in Asia. China and Japan, for example, both have programmes to use UAVs for surveillance and patrols over disputed islands".
Certainly, China is building its UAV fleet as the US beds in its Asia-Pacific pivot. Last August, Chinese defence experts reportedly visited Iran to inspect a captured RQ-170 Sentinel, a US stealth drone allegedly shot down in 2011. The US currently flies Global Hawk spy drones from Guam and plans to deploy a fleet of MQ-4C Triton drones, able to provide continuous "broad area" maritime surveillance, in 2013.
Meanwhile, rising Sino-Japanese tensions over the Senkaku Islands (known as the Diaoyu in China) in the East China Sea - along with disputes between Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines over ownership of other small island groups above oil resources in the South China Sea - have seen growing UAV deployment.
Last August, then US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, in a Pentagon meeting with Japanese Defence Minister Satoshi Morimoto, said US drones would survey the Senkakus. Japan, more bearish on defence since conservatives took office in December, is buying Global Hawks.
China unveiled eight new drone models in November (many resemble US aircraft, like the Global Hawk and the armed Predator and Reaper), sparking fears of an arms race where Beijing can outspend Washington. Despite fears spending on drones may give China the edge in future regional disputes, the US still leads in technological sophistication.
However, any race underlines the need for a legal framework when using military UAVs; how would the US react if China - or India or Russia - had a "kill list" of enemies?
The US commitment to Japan is underwritten by a defence treaty. It is a scenario, the first time rival drones are known to have been used in a regional dispute [excepting Israel and Hizbollah over Gaza], which heightens the potential for incidents.
"Yes. That's indisputable, I think," says Ron Huisken, an East Asia security expert with the Australian National University.
"But as long as everyone is gathering intelligence then probably the net effect is a good one. It gives decision makers on the mainland almost as good a picture of what's happening around the Senkakus as navy captains. Who may be a bit hot-headed. So, it's not an unmitigated disaster."
While a clash between naval vessels or military planes might spiral out of control, sabre-rattling with drones sends a message without immediately threatening life.
Given China's fears the pivot is really Cold war-style containment this is just as well, even as US drones signal Washington has a stake in the region. "America never left," says Huisken. "But the perception grew [among allies and rivals] that the region was nowhere near the top of anyone's in-tray in Washington for a long time."
The Senkaku dispute with a key American ally suggests China may have underestimated US commitment, assuming Washington had been laid low by 9/11, the Iraq war and the global economic slowdown, suggests Huisken. But the US can still project daunting firepower - far more than Beijing despite efforts to build up its military.
As the Sino-Japanese dispute deepens and tensions soar in the Korean Peninsula, following Pyongyang's third nuclear bomb test and the launch of a ballistic rocket last December, the appearance of US drones above the Senkakus is a clear indication the US intends to remain a player in a region it regards as strategically important.By Peter Huck
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The Process (As Promised)
The Artist, Globalisation, and the Cultural Creatives
The ABC of Watercolor Brushes
The Sun, Part 3
The Sun, Part 3Myths and Symbols
by Marina Bonomi
In Greece and in Rome, like Japan (but, as we saw in the last issue, not in China), the sun was a deity in its own right.
Son of Zeus and a mortal woman, Leto, the radiant god Apollo was the twin brother of Diana, goddess of the moon and of the hunt (1).
Mentions of the god, as early as the fist book of Homer's Iliad, link him clearly to lunar imagery: He is the god of the silver bow, the shining one who appears in the night. This very complex figure, mixing northern, Asian and Aegean influences, absorbed portfolios and characters of quite a few minor gods, thus metamorphosing into a solar deity while still maintaining a darker, nocturnal side.
He was seen as a defender of the fields and of the cattle against rats and wolves. Oxen were sacred to him. It was said that during his time of exile from Olympus, in the land of the Hyperboreans (2) he worked as a cowherd, caring for twelve white oxen (a rather transparent symbol for the twelve months of the solar year), entertaining himself on the pastures by playing his golden lyre.
Although not per se a hunting god, the weapon more strongly associated with Apollo was his silver bow, the arrows of which brought the plague to man and beast alike. He was a patron of the arts, protector of the Muses. His temple in Delphi was the seat of the most renowned oracle of the classic world and he was also a god of medicine (as we saw, a plague bearer, but being on his good side was a sure way to be kept safe). Asclepius, the greatest god of medicine, was Apollo's son, but another of the god's sons by mortal women was the cause of great tragedy; his name was Phaeton, and Ovid narrates his story in the second book of the Metamorphoses.
Phaeton's mother told him his father was the sun-god, but the youth wanted to have proof of this and travelled to Apollo's palace where the god recognized him as his son and, somewhat unwisely, swore to grant whatever thing Phaeton would ask for. The youth asked to be allowed to drive the sun-chariot for one day. Apollo found no way to change the boy's mind, and, having sworn, could not back off. The following day, with many words of counsel on the right way to drive the chariot and an already heavy heart, the god let his mortal son drive his four-horse chariot.
At the beginning, Phaeton minded his father's words and the horses kept their course, but after a while the youth, both exhilarated and dismayed by a task not set for mortals, began to waver, and the horses, realizing he wasn't their master, would not obey him. The legend details the ruin sown by Phaeton's mad race: in Africa whole countries once fertile turned into desert, whole rivers boiled, disappearing for ever, countless lives were lost that day, until, not far from the gates of the sun, in the country the Greeks called Hesperia, (3) Zeus, king of the gods, hit Phaeton and the chariot with one of his lighting bolts, lest more ruin befell the world. The boy fell into the river Eridanus (nowadays the river Po) and there drowned.
Phaeton' sisters, mad from grief, would not leave the river where their brother died and, changed into poplar trees, are still there, weeping their loss with amber tears. (Amber itself is a strong solar and celestial symbol.) (4)
Much later, the Scandinavian people also saw Sun and Moon as a pair of siblings. According to their legend, Sun is a woman, driver of the sun-chariot, and Moon is her brother and precedes her across the sky driving the moon-chariot. They were chosen for the task as a punishment for their father, who dared to name his children after the gods' own handwork, the luminaries of the sky. Servants of the gods, but not gods themselves (a rare occurrence, at least in European traditions), at the end of the world they'll be devoured by the two wolves who are constantly chasing them across the sky.
Although the different pre-Christian religions either divinized the sun or at the very least gave it an important place in their myths, the advent of Christianity did not result, as it might have been expected, in disappearance of the ancient symbols; on the contrary, many of those were willingly absorbed and adapted to the new religion. The sun itself became one of the symbols more strongly associated with the Christ. Not by chance, Christmas is celebrated on December the 25th, near the winter solstice, in place of the ancient Roman feast of Sol invictus (unvanquished sun).
A similar fate was in store for many of the symbols we shall encounter later on: the moon, the stars, the mountain and the tree and so on. It is yet more proof (if any was needed) of both the strength and vitality of symbols and humanity's inherent need for them.
(1) Diana was the name given in Rome to the Greek goddess Artemis. A well known male fantasy character by R.A.Salvatore notwithstanding ‘Artemis' is classically a feminine name. Apollo himself is the only foreign god who entered the Roman pantheon without being given a Latin name
(2) A mythical land the Greek located in the far North.
(3) Land of sunset, one of the Greek names for today's Italy.
(4) For the first ever English translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses go to this site.
Bonomi-sunillo5 : Apollo Sauroctono (hitting the lizard), Roman copy of an original by Praxiteles showing the adolescent god in an unguarded moment.
From: Storia dell'Arte Vol.2 Istituto Geografico De Agostini Novara 1982, pag. 123
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Humankind’s common ancestor with other mammals may have been a roughly rat-sized animal that weighed no more than a half a pound, had a long furry tail and lived on insects.
In a comprehensive six-year study of the mammalian family tree, scientists have identified and reconstructed what they say is the most likely common ancestor of the many species on the most abundant and diverse branch of that tree — the branch of creatures that nourish their young in utero through a placenta.
The work appears to support the view that in the global extinctions some 66 million years ago, all non-avian dinosaurs had to die for mammals to flourish.
Scientists had been searching for just such a common genealogical link and have found it in a lowly occupant of the fossil record — Protungulatum donnae, which until now has been so obscure that it lacks a colloquial nickname.
But as researchers reported Thursday in the journal Science, the animal had several anatomical characteristics for live births that anticipated all placental mammals and led to some 5,400 living species, from shrews to elephants, bats to whales, cats to dogs and, not least, humans.
A team of researchers described the discovery as an important insight into the pattern and timing of early mammal life and a demonstration of the capabilities of a new system for handling copious amounts of fossil and genetic data in the service of evolutionary biology.
The formidable new technology is expected to be widely applied in years ahead to similar investigations of plants, insects, fish and fowl.
Given some belated stature by an artist’s brush, the animal hardly looks the part of a progenitor of so many mammals (which does not include marsupials, like kangaroos and opossums, or monotremes, egg-laying mammals like the duck-billed platypus).
Maureen O’Leary of Stony Brook University on New York’s Long Island, a leader of the project and the principal author of the journal report, wrote that a combination of genetic and anatomical data established that the ancestor emerged within 200,000 to 400,000 years after the great dying at the end of the Cretaceous period. At the time, the meek were rapidly inheriting the Earth from hulking predators like T. rex.
Within another 2 million to 3 million years, O’Leary said, the first members of modern placental orders appeared in such profusion that researchers have started to refer to the explosive model of mammalian evolution. The common ancestor itself appeared more than 36 million years later than had been estimated based on genetic data alone.
Although some small primitive mammals had lived in the shadow of the great Cretaceous reptiles, the scientists could not find evidence supporting an earlier hypothesis that up to 39 mammalian lineages survived to enter the post-extinction world. Only the stem lineage to Placentalia, they said, appeared to hang on through the catastrophe, generally associated with climate change after an asteroid crashed into Earth.
The research team drew on combined fossil evidence and genetic data encoded in DNA in evaluating the ancestor’s standing as an early placental mammal.
Among characteristics associated with full-term live births, the Protungulatum species was found to have a two-horned uterus and a placenta in which the maternal blood came in close contact with the membranes surrounding the fetus, as in humans.
The ancestor’s younger age, the scientists said, ruled out the breakup of the supercontinent of Gondwana around 120 million years ago as a direct factor in the diversification of mammals, as has sometimes been speculated.
Evidence of the common ancestor was found in North America, but the animal may have existed on other continents as well.
After a six-year study, scientists have identified and reconstructed what they say is the most likely common ancestor of humankind and other mammals — a half-pound, rodent-like creature that had a long, furry tail and subsisted on insects.
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(Last Updated on : 01/11/2010)
There was a well-planned system of education in later Vedic period
. The student was initiated by the ceremony of Upanayana
. Student enters a new life which is described as a second birth. In the life of a Brahmachari the student leads a life of simple living and high thinking. Life is regulated. The aims of learning are faith, retention of knowledge, progeny, wealth, longevity and immortality.
The essence of the Education system was that the student had to take up residence in the home of his teacher. The student wore the skin of antelope, the girdle of Kusa grass and collected fuel for worshipping Lord Agni
. His main duties were to beg for his teacher, to look after the sacrificial fires and tend the house and his cattle. Day time sleeping was forbidden. The teacher then initiates him into the various aspects of knowledge. The student as a rule studied with his preceptor for twelve years.
There were also associations for advanced study and research. One such association was Panchala-parisad. Kings also organized conferences where philosophers participated in discussions. King Janaka of Videha organized one such Conference that was presided over by sage Yajnavalkya. The ultimate aim of education in later Vedic period was the attainment of highest knowledge, the knowledge of Brahman
or Atman as the supreme reality. Other than the domestic schools, there were specialized agencies to impart fruitful education. There were the wandering scholars, charakas who spread education in the country. Women participated in these conferences. Women even addressed a congress of philosophers. In the Rig Veda
women have also composed hymns. The Kshatriya caste had encouraged learning.
Education in the later Vedic period was strategically limited to the main three upper castes. The guru shishya tradition as one of the most sacred traditions of India was accepted in the sphere of education in later Vedic period. The subjects of study during that time included the four Vedas, Grammar, Mathematics, Mineralogy, Logic, Ethics, Brahma-Vidya, Biology, Military Science, Astronomy, and Medicine. Dhanur Vidya or war tactics was also a part of education in later Vedic period. Education was aimed at the knowledge of the Atman (soul) or the absolute or self-realization. The story of Nachiketas in the Katha Upanishad can be sited as an example.
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Dec. 1, 1997 Halt to Gulf Stream and Other Currents Could Freeze Europe; Dublin Would Share Spitsbergen's Icy Climate
On the eve of the international meeting on global warming that opens Dec. 1 in Kyoto, Japan, one of the world's leading climate experts warned of an underestimated threat posed by the buildup of greenhouse gases ' an abrupt collapse of the ocean's prevailing circulation system that could send temperatures across Europe plummeting in a span of 10 years.
If that system shut down today, winter temperatures in the North Atlantic region would fall by 20 or more degrees Fahrenheit within 10 years. Dublin would acquire the climate of Spitsbergen, 600 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
"The consequences could be devastating," said Wallace S. Broecker, Newberry Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and author of the new research, which appears in the Nov. 28 issue of the magazine Science.
A complex of globally interconnected ocean currents, collectively known as the Conveyor, governs our climate by transporting heat and moisture around the planet. But the Conveyor is delicately balanced and vulnerable, and it has shut down or changed direction many times in Earth's history, Professor Broecker reports. Each time the Conveyor has shifted gears, it has caused significant global temperature changes within decades, as well as large-scale wind shifts, dramatic fluctuations in atmospheric dust levels, glacial advances or retreats and other drastic changes over many regions of the Earth, he said.
The Conveyor "is the Achilles heel of the climate system," Professor Broecker wrote in Science. "The record . . . indicates that this current has not run steadily, but jumped from one mode of operation to another. The changes in climate associated with these jumps have now been shown to be large, abrupt and global."
The ongoing accumulation of heat-trapping industrial gases blanketing the Earth threatens to raise global temperatures, he said, but such a rise would occur gradually. Far more worrisome is the buildup's potential to stress the climate system past a crucial threshold that would disrupt the Conveyor and set off a rapid reconfiguration of Earth's climate, predicted by existing computer models.
Professor Broecker also offered a new theory: Scientists generally agree that periodic changes in Earth's orbit and the amount of solar radiation it receives have paced fundamental climate changes on the planet over millions of years. But the global climatic flip-flops may have been set in motion by sudden switches in the operation of the Conveyor, he said.
Today, the driving force of the Conveyor is the cold, salty water of the North Atlantic Ocean. Such water is more dense than warm, fresh water and hence sinks to the ocean bottom, pushing water through the world's oceans like a great plunger. The volume of this deep undersea current is 16 times greater than the flow of all the world's rivers combined, Professor Broecker said, and it runs southward all the way to the southern tip of Africa, where it joins a watery raceway that circles Antarctica. Here the Conveyor is recharged by cold, salty water created by the formation of sea ice, which leaves salt behind when it freezes. This renewed sinking shoves water back northward, where it gradually warms again and rises to the surface in the Pacific and Indian oceans.
In the equatorial Indian Ocean, surface waters are too warm to sink. Northern Pacific waters are cold, but not salty enough to sink into the deep. This is primarily because prevailing winds that whip around the planet hit the great mountains of the western United States and Canada and drop their moisture. The resulting snow and rain runs into the Pacific, adding a dose of fresh water that dilutes the Pacific's saltiness, said Professor Broecker, a geochemist at Lamont-Doherty, Columbia's earth science research institute in Palisades, N.Y.
Northern Atlantic surface waters have only about 7 percent more salt than their counterparts in the northern Pacific, but that is just enough to reach the threshold that allows them to sink. But if the North Atlantic waters warmed by only a few degrees, or if they were diluted by just a bit more fresh water from melting glaciers and sea ice or more rainfall, for example, the threshold would not be achieved, and the waters would not sink. Computer models that simulate the Earth's climate system show that the ocean's so-called thermohaline circulation (from the Latin for 'heat' and 'salt') is sensitive to such small changes, Professor Broecker said. The entire Conveyor might shut down or rearrange in a different pattern, with serious effects on global climate, he said.
Today, the Conveyor comes full circle, eventually propelling warm surface waters, including the Gulf Stream, back into the North Atlantic. In winter months, this warm water transfers its heat to the frigid overlying air masses that come off ice-covered Canada, Greenland and Iceland. Thus tempered, the eastward-moving air masses make northern Europe noticeably warmer in winter than comparable latitudes in North America. Without the Gulf Stream, nothing would temper the Arctic air, and Europe would enter a deep freeze.
In recent years, evidence has mounted that the Earth frequently has experienced rapid, large-scale climate changes. Greenland ice cores have shown that during the last ice age Earth's climate switched back and forth every few thousand years between periods of intense and moderate cold, with the transitions occurring on a timescale of a few decades to as little as a few years. Each interval of intense cold was matched by the launching of great armadas of icebergs in the North Atlantic, seen in ocean sediment cores, and a great influx of dust into Earth's atmosphere, indicating a pronounced change in wind and storm patterns. Wetlands in tropical areas and mountain glaciers in Chile and New Zealand expanded and shrank in synchrony with the North Atlantic changes.
There is also strong evidence, from tropical latitude glaciers, that the water vapor content of Earth's atmosphere can shift, too. Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere and a marked reduction would lower air and ocean temperatures significantly.
"Although the exact linkages that promote such climate changes have yet to be discovered, a case can be made that their roots must lie in the ocean's large- scale thermohaline circulation," Professor Broecker said. The most telling clue is that the boundaries that mark climate changes in continuous sediment or ice core records are sharp, not gradual. That is true even in climate change records spanning millions of years, whose rhythms are governed by Earth's orbit. Professor Broecker suggests that sudden switches in thermohaline circulation may act as a trigger that sets off ice ages and other large-scale climate cycles. Professor Broecker noted that abrupt climate changes have occurred not only during ice ages but during warmer eras such as today's. The Eemian Period - the last major warm period before the last ice age began about 115,000 years ago - ended with a brief but intense cold period. A brief, intense cold spell also occurred about 8,000 years ago -- about 2,500 years after the last ice age ended -- when conditions were similar or warmer than they are now.
"Through the record kept in Greenland ice, a disturbing characteristic of the Earth's climate system has been revealed, that is, its capability to undergo abrupt switches to very different states of operation. I say 'disturbing' because there is surely a possibility that the ongoing buildup of greenhouse gases might trigger yet another of those ocean reorganizations and thereby the associated large atmospheric changes," Professor Broecker said. "Were this to happen a century from now, at a time when we struggle to produce enough food to nourish the projected population of 12 to 18 billion, the consequences could be devastating."
Professor Broecker is one of the world's leading authorities on global climate change. He has won nearly every major geological award, including the Vetlesen Prize, considered by many to be the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in earth sciences. Last year he was awarded the National Medal of Science and the Blue Planet Prize, for achievements in global environmental research.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is part of the Columbia Earth Institute, a new enterprise at Columbia University dedicated to creating innovations for wise stewardship of our planet.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Columbia University.
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Date of this Version
The northeastern aquaculture industry, centered in Pennsylvania and New York, consists primarily of trout production, but local facilities also produce a number of warm-water species, including bait fish, catfish, and goldfish. There are several different culturing methods for producing these fish. Although trout culturing occurs primarily in concrete and earthen raceways, it also occurs in ponds that are sometimes used for pay-to-fish sites. Narrow concrete raceways are usually set in rows over a small rectangular area, whereas earthen raceways are more linear and resemble a series of interconnected ponds that can meander over a large geographic area. Warm-water fish species are almost always produced in ponds. Aquaculture facilities vary in size from farms with a single 0.1-acre pond to several acres of concrete or earthen raceways to more than 100 acres of ponds. The diversity of northeastern aquaculture and the adaptability of bird species to exploit this resource has led to correspondingly diverse bird-predation problems. Several integrated approaches are needed to alleviate these problems. The following information will help producers identify and assess predation losses caused by primary bird predators as well as suggest species-specific control measures that are also cost effective for reducing these losses.
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(From a classic Popular Science Article)
Getting to Antarctica requires an eight-hour flight to McMurdo Research Station from Christchurch, New Zealand, in the equivalent of a B-52 on skis. You wear full polar gear, including a pair of massive rubber moon boots, two sets of long underwear, polyester overalls, and a fur-trimmed parka. Passengers strap in, shoulder-to-shoulder, on benches made from cloth webbing.
After landing at McMurdo, I took a second flight to Shackleton Camp, where the dynamists’ team had been working for the past two months. Stiff from the long, cold ride, I stood up, stretched, and looked through the window for any sign of life in this foreboding, desolate land. I saw six Quonset huts, a handful of tents, and two outhouses perched on a slab of ice in the middle of a mountain valley. Once outside, my parka rippling against the freezing wind, I tried to imagine a land that the dynamists say once looked like the green fjords of Chile. I quickly gave up, and walked as fast as I could toward food and shelter. On the way to the hut, I ran into David Harwood of the University of Nebraska, who was returning to McMurdo to pack off his samples. There on the airstrip, he laid out the details of his story. By the end of the tale, the idea of water in valleys like this one seemed almost plausible.
It all began in 1983 when Peter Webb, a geologist at Ohio State University, and Harwood, then a graduate student, performed a laboratory analysis of glacial sediment from the Transantarctic Mountains. What they discovered was astonishing: The sediment, known as the Sirius Group, contained diatoms, or marine microfossils, that were only three million years old. This suggested that the climate during the Pliocene may have been warm enough to melt the ice cap and allow the ocean that surrounds Antarctica to flood its subglacial basins. Later that year, Harwood left for the frozen continent, where he dug up additional sediment samples from the Reedy Glacier area. They too contained diatoms of three-million-year-old vintage.
At first the findings were dismissed. The few scientists who gave them any thought said that the diatoms must have somehow blown into the sediment from the sea floor. It was a fluke, they said.
Back in 1983, it was generally agreed that after Antarctica splintered from the southern supercontinent Gondwana over 100 million years ago, it slid into a deep freeze, accumulating an ice cap that has remained about the same size for the past 15 million years. There was no reason to doubt this picture. It was supported by geological studies of Antarctica, as well as deep-sea oxygen isotope measurements that reflect ice volume and temperature changes.
But in 1985, Webb and Harwood visited Beardmore Glacier, where they found bits of wood later identified as southern beech. This made them think that perhaps small trees once grew there. They confirmed this hypothesis in 1990 by unearthing beech tree leaves and roots. The survival of these plants, they say, indicates a prolonged warm period.
Three years later, beetle remains turned up in the rubble. With this find, Harwood and Webb’s notion of a dynamic ice sheet and climatic shifts finally grabbed the interest of a cadre of experts. “The survival of a beetle during the Pliocene in Antarctica implies that temperatures were significantly warmer than present,” says micropaleontologist Allan Ashworth of North Dakota State University in Fargo.
In the field season that ended in 1996, Harwood and Webb took further steps to investigate their theory. First, they revisited the Dominion Range to collect more fossils. Then, they scoured a new site called Bennett Platform, and studied its geology. Finally, they collected samples from 15 other Sirius sediment sites throughout the Transantarctic Mountains to sift for diatoms. “If they blew in, then there should be a uniform distribution of them,” Harwood says. They should also vary in age.
It will take several years to analyze the diatom populations. In the meantime, Harwood and his team are puzzling over a mosslike plant colony found at Bennett Platform. Harwood says it probably grew in wetlands that were eventually covered by silt from a nearby river or stream during a glacial advance. The geology of the area, which is part of the Sirius Group, suggests that a lot of water was present when the rock face formed.
Ashworth also made a fascinating discovery: He found seeds and sea shells in the box of rocks he brought back from the field last year. “They’re interesting in their own right,” he says, because neither fossil group had previously been found on Antarctica. But their true value may be in their ability to date the sediment in which they were found.
Meanwhile, a variety of other research has begun to yield supportive evidence. One study suggests that warm-blooded sea creatures, including dolphins, may have migrated closer to Antarctica during the Pliocene, which would have meant warmer water. Other studies have found evidence that, about three million years ago, sea levels were between 25 and 30 meters higher than they are now, perhaps due to ice cap melt.
“The evidence is quite compelling,” says paleontologist Brian Huber of the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History. But not to the stablists. A period of climatic warming at a time when other evidence suggests Antarctica was completely covered by ice remains unacceptable to many scientists. To hear the stablists’ side of the story, I flew to Antarctica’s Dry Valleys to meet with George Denton of the University of Maine, and David Marchant of Boston University.
As I flew by helicopter over McMurdo Sound toward the Dry Valleys, I soon realized that this place was like no other I had seen in Antarctica. There is no ice or snow in the Dry Valleys. Mummified seals lie in heaps. Wind-sculpted rocks decorate the hillsides. This area, which is about 1,260 square miles, has rifts and valleys no less impressive than the Grand Canyon, plus ephemeral streams, levees, and sand beaches.
Denton has worked here for more than 20 years, and knows more about this landscape than anyone else in the world. Now, to learn more about the climate during the Pliocene, Denton and Marchant are combining their study of the landscape (geomorphology) with that of ash that blows into the area from offshore volcanoes.
I land in Bull Pass, a desert pavement 20 miles from Mt. Fleming. It is so flat and so barren that it has been likened to Mars before the big freeze. Indeed, there is no visible sign of life except for a tiny camp consisting of two tents and a portable stove. As we hike over what look like the rounded backs of dinosaurs, Denton tells me that he believes Antarctica’s massive ice sheet has remained fairly stable for 10 million to 15 million years.
Marchant then strolls over to a sandy mound where he has been digging for ash with a trowel. He says that he reads the history of climate by examining how rocks weather, and where they are found. Then, for a chronological framework, he looks for nearby volcanic ash. Ash, like rocks, can reveal environmental clues through its content and current condition. And because it is the last thing to land on the surface of a formation, it can pinpoint a minimum age for the rocks.
Marchant and Denton have collected rock samples from Mt. Fleming and Table Mountain, nearby peaks with the same Sirius Group glacial sediments as the area around Shackleton Camp. The two scientists say these rocks have been preserved in dry and cold conditions, and show no sign of erosion. This suggests that the Dry Valleys have remained a cold desert for much longer than three million years.
The team has also mapped 75 ash deposits, and obtained dates for 50 of them. The samples show that the ash formed in a cold, dry environment, and remained undisturbed. It was found on rocks that are unmarked by any massive ice-sheet movement.
In addition, geologist David Sugden of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland has found an eight-million-year-old ice slice in the Dry Valleys that he says could not have survived a warming period. And cores extracted from the ocean floor around Antarctica show no curtailment of sediment from melting icebergs, as would be expected if the continent was partly ice free during the Pliocene.
Taken together, these results speak volumes in favor of a dry, cold, steady state. They indicate that the Pliocene temperatures were only three to eight degrees Celsius above today’s temperatures, and that the ice sheet covering the Transantarctic Mountains overrode the area more than 10 million years ago.
“We do not deny that Harwood is finding the fossils,” says Merchant. In fact, he says, “we’d expect it.” Before Antarctica split from Gondwana, it supported many of the same plants and insects that are now found in South America and New Zealand. So these fossils may represent the last vestige of these life forms. “What we disagree with is the timing of it all,” Merchant says.
While Harwood and Webb contend that their miniature forest withered three million years ago, Denton and Merchant argue for at least 23 million years ago, when Antarctica was clenched firmly by the icy grip that still holds it today. “Their entire argument relies on the diatoms, which we think may have blown in,” Merchant says. Meanwhile, Harwood questions the validity of the Dry Valleys results, saying “that area is anomalous now, maybe it was then too.”
For now, the argument remains unsettled. Though Harwood says that both camps may eventually prove to be correct – that there was a long period of cold punctuated by relatively short bursts of heat – Merchant disagrees, saying “these are mutually exclusive positions and there is no evidence for an intermediate theory.”
About the only thing both camps agree on is that the key to solving this mystery is to establish, once and for all, the age of the Sirius sediment fossils. Although this will be difficult, because there is no definitive technology on which to rely, an attempt will be made this year. An independent group of researchers will drill a core from the Sirius Group rocks to determine whether diatoms exist below the surface (and therefore are unlikely to have been windblown), or only near cracks or at the top.
Both groups recognize the urgency of coming to a firm conclusion. The Antarctic ice sheet affects not only global sea level, but also world climate. So agreement on a clear picture of the past could help to cast a more accurate vision of Earth’s future. If the stablists are correct, and the eastern ice sheet remained frozen during the Pliocene, then there is little reason to worry about the fate of our coastal cities. A major temperature increase would be required to have any effect. But if the dynamists are right, and the ice sheet did melt down, then a moderate rise in the mercury could one day bring on the floods. For now, however, the answer lies hidden in Antarctica’s frozen landscape.
While the fate of Antarctica’s eastern ice sheet is uncertain, scientists have plenty of reasons to believe that the smaller western sheet could eventually slip into the ocean. It is the world’s only remaining marine ice sheet. The others, which existed in the Northern Hemisphere, disintegrated and melted away during the Pliocene period.
There are signs that the west Antarctic ice sheet is already breaking up. A huge iceberg broke free of the Larsen ice shelf in 1995. Shortly thereafter, a 40-mile-long crack opened in the adjoining shelf area. Now, ice streams that flow through the sheet are behaving erratically.
Last year, Stanley Jacobs of Columbia University’s Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory made the first oceanographic measurements across a deep channel beneath the leading edge of Pine Island Glacier. His findings show that the west Antarctic ice sheet is losing mass to the oceans. But whether this instability is symptomatic of an impending collapse remains unknown.
To further study the current state of the west Antarctic ice sheet, and to predict its future, the National Science Foundation is sponsoring a variety of Antarctica-based research projects. For example, Cal Tech scientists at Upstream Bravo Camp are sinking ice strings and digging ice cores to study the movement of fast-flowing ice streams. They’re also burying seismic monitors in snow fields to listen for “ice quakes” set off by colliding ice sheets. The study is using a variety of RAID 10 servers to store the data, a great improvement from the original data storage solution they looked at, which in the end required RAID 5 recovery, a common data recovery service offered by clean-room enabled hard drive recovery companies like Irvine’s HDRA.
How Antarctic Ice Affects World Climate
Think of the Antarctic ice sheet as Earth’s refrigeration unit: It exerts a major two-way control over today’s global environment.
First, the ice sheet (along with a raft of ice that surrounds it in the southern ocean) reflects back into space about 80 to 85 percent of the sun that hits it. So icy Antarctica, which records the coldest temperatures on Earth, helps to reduce the world’s overall heat budget.
Second, the near-freezing meltwater that runs off the ice cap, along with the water from melting icebergs, falls to the ocean floor and surges northward. This surge affects deep-sea circulation, which in turn influences climate. So, a major meltdown would not only raise sea level worldwide, but could also modify weather patterns.
For a better fix on the details, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is monitoring weather, ozone depletion, and long-term climate trends at the South Pole. In addition, scientists are refining their models of the oceans and the atmosphere by studying bottom water in Antarctica’s Weddell Sea, and satellite images of sea ice.
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ascidian: see Chordata; tunicate.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
More on ascidian from Fact Monster:
- Chordata - Chordata Chordata , phylum of animals having a notochord, or dorsal stiffening rod, as the chief ...
- tunicate - tunicate tunicate , marine animal of the phylum Chordata, which also includes the vertebrates. The ...
- Encyclopedia: Vertebrate Zoology - Encyclopeadia articles concerning Vertebrate Zoology.
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I think when most people think about going to college, the image they get is of sitting around a library, reading boring textbooks, and writing long papers. My experiences at Rowan, however, has been far more interesting and technologically advanced. One great example of that is a class I took called Writing, Research, and Technology, taught by Professor Bill Wolff.
One of the focuses of this class was exploring the idea that “writing” isn’t simply limited to typing words on a page. We analyzed semiotic rules and visual rhetoric, learning different ideas about how to send a message and compose in the digital age. As part of this, students were given an assignment to create our own YouTube video mashups.
Yes, in college we learned how to make our own homemade YouTube videos.
Working on this assignment was a fascinating and fun experience. We learned not only how to edit the videos and create montages of clips, but also how to use those clips in the most effective way. We spent a lot of time learning how to choose the most effective video clips, the most effective way to choose what order to play them in, and how to make the biggest and most interesting impact on our audience. Anyone can make a sloppy recording on their webcam and throw it online, but the techniques we learned in this class taught us how to make professional, exciting, and stimulating videos that are far better than anything someone would make at home.
I asked a few of my friends and classmates, and they told me they were happy to let me share the results of some of their work in the Writing, Research, and Technology class. Here are a few of their awesome videos, to give you an idea of the sort of projects you can work on in Rowan classes:
Maria G. made an entertaining video about file sharing and copyright laws, which she titled “File Sharing and Internet Piracy.”
Cassie S. made an upbeat political commentary about former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, called “Mitt Romney: The Business Man.”
Devon W. made a moving political video that touches on a variety of issues, titled “The Political Machine.”
I had a great time in this class, and this is just one of the wonderful projects we worked on. Everything in the class was modern and geared towards the digital age. We even incorporated blogging and tweeting projects into the class, creating a mixture of in-person and online learning.
Education today is a constantly changing and evolving process. Rowan does a great job keeping up with the times, updating their programs to meet the needs of the 21st century. Going to Rowan today is a far different experience than it would have been 10 or 20 years ago. I’m glad for a chance to embrace these new ideas and benefit from them as I get ready for my future career.
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Disease theory of alcoholism
|Classification and external resources|
The modern disease theory of alcoholism states that problem drinking is sometimes caused by a disease of the brain, characterized by altered brain structure and function. The American Medical Association (AMA) had declared that alcoholism was an illness in 1956. In 1991, The AMA further endorsed the dual classification of alcoholism by the International Classification of Diseases under both psychiatric and medical sections.
Alcoholism is a chronic problem. However, if managed properly, damage to the brain can be stopped and to some extent reversed. In addition to problem drinking, the disease is characterized by symptoms including an impaired control over alcohol, compulsive thoughts about alcohol, and distorted thinking. Alcoholism can also lead indirectly, through excess consumption, to physical dependence on alcohol, and diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver.
The risk of developing alcoholism depends on many factors, such as environment. Those with a family history of alcoholism are more likely to develop it themselves; however, many individuals have developed alcoholism without a family history of the disease. Since the consumption of alcohol is necessary to develop alcoholism, the availability of and attitudes towards alcohol in an individual's environment affect their likelihood of developing the disease. Current evidence indicates that in both men and women, alcoholism is 50–60% genetically determined, leaving 40-50% for environmental influences.
In a review in 2001, McLellan et al. compared the diagnoses, heritability, etiology (genetic and environmental factors), pathophysiology, and response to treatments (adherence and relapse) of drug dependence vs type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and asthma. They found that genetic heritability, personal choice, and environmental factors are comparably involved in the etiology and course of all of these disorders, providing evidence that drug (including alcohol) dependence is a chronic medical illness.
Genetics and Environment
According to the theory, genes play a strong role in the development of alcoholism.
Twin studies, adoption studies, and artificial selection studies have shown that a person's genes can predispose them to developing alcoholism. Evidence from twin studies show that concordance rates for alcoholism are higher for monozygotic twins than dizygotic twins-- 76% for monozygotic twins and 61% for dizygotic twins. However, female twin studies demonstrate that females have much lower concordance rates than males. Reasons for gender differences may be due to environmental factors, such as negative public attitudes towards female drinkers. Twin studies suggest that males are more likely to have a genetic predisposition for alcoholism. However, this does not suggest that a male who does have a genetic predisposition will become an alcoholic. Sometimes the individual may never encounter an environmental trigger that leads to alcoholism.
Adoption studies also suggest a strong genetic tendency towards alcoholism. Studies on children separated from their biological parents demonstrates that sons of alcoholic biological fathers were more likely to become alcoholic, even though they have been separated and raised by non alcoholic parents. Female show similar results, but to a lesser degree.
In artificial selection studies, specific strains of rats were bred to prefer alcohol. These rats preferred drinking alcohol over other liquids, resulting in a tolerance for alcohol and exhibited a physical dependency on alcohol. Rats that were not bred for this preference did not have these traits (Lumeng, Murphy, McBride, & Li, 1995). Upon analyzing the brains of these two strains of rats, it was discovered that there were differences in chemical composition of certain areas of the brain. This study suggests that certain brain mechanisms are more genetically prone to alcoholism.
The convergent evidence from these studies present a strong case for the genetic basis of alcoholism.
Historians debate who has primacy in arguing that habitual drinking carried the characteristics of a disease. Some note that Scottish physician Thomas Trotter was the first to characterize excessive drinking as a disease, or medical condition.
Others point to American physician Benjamin Rush (1745–1813), a signatory to the United States Declaration of Independence — who understood drunkenness to be what we would now call a "loss of control" — as possibly the first to use the term "addiction" in this sort of meaning.
My observations authorize me to say, that persons who have been addicted to them, should abstain from them suddenly and entirely. 'Taste not, handle not, touch not' should be inscribed upon every vessel that contains spirits in the house of a man, who wishes to be cured of habits of intemperance.
Then there is Swedish physician Magus Huss who coined the term "alcoholism" in his book Alcoholismus chronicus. Some argue that he was the first to systematically describe the physical characteristics of habitual drinking and claim that it was a disease. However, this came decades after Rush and Trotter wrote their works, and some historians argue that the idea that habitual drinking was a diseased state emerged earlier.
Given all this controversy, the best one can say is that the idea that habitual alcohol drinking was a disease had become more acceptable by the middle of the nineteenth century, although many writers still argued it was a vice, a sin, and not the purview of medicine but of religion.
Between 1980 and 1991, medical organizations, including the AMA, worked together to establish policies regarding their positions on the disease theory. These policies were developed in 1987 in part because third-party reimbursement for treatment was difficult or impossible unless alcoholism were categorized as a disease. The policies of the AMA, formed through consensus of the federation of state and specialty medical societies within their House of Delegates, state, in part:
"The AMA endorses the proposition that drug dependencies, including alcoholism, are diseases and that their treatment is a legitimate part of medical practice."
In 1991, the AMA further endorsed the dual classification of alcoholism by the International Classification of Diseases under both psychiatric and medical sections.
Controlled drinking
The disease theory is often interpreted as implying that problem drinkers are incapable of returning to controlled drinking, and therefore that treatment should focus on total abstinence. Some critics have used evidence of problem drinkers' returning to controlled drinking to dispute the disease theory.
The first major empirical challenge to this interpretation of the disease theory followed a 1962 study by Dr. D. L. Davies. Davies' follow-up of 93 problem drinkers found that 7 of them were able to return to "controlled drinking" (less than 7 drinks per day for at least 7 years). Davies concluded that "the accepted view that no alcohol addict can ever again drink normally should be modified, although all patients should be advised to aim at total abstinence"; After the Davies study, several other researchers reported cases of problem drinkers returning to controlled drinking.
In 1976, a major study commonly referred to as the RAND report, published evidence of problem drinkers learning to consume alcohol in moderation. The publication of the study renewed controversy over how people suffering a disease which reputedly leads to uncontrollable drinking could manage to drink controllably. Subsequent studies also reported evidence of return to controlled drinking. Similarly, according to a 2002 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) study, about one of every six (17.7%) of alcohol dependent adults in the U.S. whose dependence began over one year previously had become "low-risk drinkers" (less than 14 drinks per week and 5 drinks per day for men, or less than 7 per week and 4 per day for women).
However, many researchers have debated the results of the above studies. A 1994 followup of the original 7 cases studied by Davies suggested that he "had been substantially misled, and the paradox exists that a widely influential paper which did much to stimulate new thinking was based on faulty data." The most recent study, a long-term (60 year) follow-up of two groups of alcoholic men by George Vaillant at Harvard Medical School concluded that "return to controlled drinking rarely persisted for much more than a decade without relapse or evolution into abstinence." Vaillant also noted that "return-to-controlled drinking, as reported in short-term studies, is often a mirage."
The second RAND study, in 1980, found that alcohol dependence represents a factor of central importance in the process of relapse. Among people with low dependence levels at admission, the risk of relapse appears relatively low for those who later drank without problems. But the greater the initial level of dependence, the higher the likelihood of relapse for nonproblem drinkers. (Table 7.8 pg. 152) The second RAND study findings have been strengthened by subsequent research by Dawson et al 2005 which found that severity was associated positively with the likelihood of abstinent recovery and associated negatively with the likelihood of non-abstinent recovery or controlled drinking.
Legal considerations
In 1988, the US Supreme Court upheld a regulation whereby the Veterans' Administration was able to avoid paying benefits by presuming that primary alcoholism is always the result of the veteran's "own willful misconduct." The majority opinion written by Justice Byron R. White echoed the District of Columbia Circuit's finding that there exists "a substantial body of medical literature that even contests the proposition that alcoholism is a disease, much less that it is a disease for which the victim bears no responsibility". He also wrote: "Indeed, even among many who consider alcoholism a "disease" to which its victims are genetically predisposed, the consumption of alcohol is not regarded as wholly involuntary." However, the majority opinion stated in conclusion that "this litigation does not require the Court to decide whether alcoholism is a disease whose course its victims cannot control. It is not our role to resolve this medical issue on which the authorities remain sharply divided." The dissenting opinion noted that "despite much comment in the popular press, these cases are not concerned with whether alcoholism, simplistically, is or is not a "disease.""
Current acceptance
In 2004, the World Health Organisation published a detailed report on alcohol and other psychoactive substances entitled "Neuroscience of psychoactive substance use and dependence". It stated that this was the "first attempt by WHO to provide a comprehensive overview of the biological factors related to substance use and dependence by summarizing the vast amount of knowledge gained in the last 20-30 years. The report highlights the current state of knowledge of the mechanisms of action of different types of psychoactive substances, and explains how the use of these substances can lead to the development of dependence syndrome." The report states that "dependence has not previously been recognized as a disorder of the brain, in the same way that psychiatric and mental illnesses were not previously viewed as being a result of a disorder of the brain. However, with recent advances in neuroscience, it is clear that dependence is as much a disorder of the brain as any other neurological or psychiatric illness."
The American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Medical Association both maintain extensive policy regarding alcoholism. The American Psychiatric Association recognizes the existence of "alcoholism" as the equivalent of alcohol dependence. The American Hospital Association, the American Public Health Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the American College of Physicians classify "alcoholism" as a disease.
In the US, the National Institutes of Health has a specific institute, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), concerned with the support and conduct of biomedical and behavioral research on the causes, consequences, treatment, and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. It funds approximately 90 percent of all such research in the United States. The official NIAAA position is that "alcoholism is a disease. The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems. Like many other diseases, alcoholism is chronic, meaning that it lasts a person's lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced both by a person's genes and by his or her lifestyle."
Some critics of the disease model argue alcoholism is a choice, not a disease, and stripping alcohol abusers of their choice, by applying the disease concept, is a threat to the health of the individual; the disease concept gives the substance abuser an excuse. A disease cannot be cured by force of will; therefore, adding the medical label transfers the responsibility from the abuser to caregivers. Inevitably the abusers become unwilling victims, and just as inevitably they take on that role. They argue that the disease theory of alcoholism exists only to benefit the professionals' and governmental agencies responsible for providing recovery services, and the disease model has not offered a solution for those attempting to stop abusive alcohol and drug use.
These critics hold that by removing some of the stigma and personal responsibility the disease concept actually increases alcoholism and drug abuse and thus the need for treatment. This is somewhat supported by a study which found that a greater belief in the disease theory of alcoholism and higher commitment to total abstinence to be factors correlated with increased likelihood that an alcoholic would have a full-blown relapse (substantial continued use) following an initial lapse (single use). However, the authors noted that "the direction of causality cannot be determined from these data. It is possible that belief in alcoholism as a loss-of-control disease predisposes clients to relapse, or that repeated relapses reinforce clients' beliefs in the disease model."
Many physicians reject the disease theory of alcoholism. One study found that only 20 percent of physicians believe that substance addiction is a disease. In addition, 55 percent believe that there is "no effective treatment" for it.(T. McLellan. R-Considering Addiction Treatment: How Can Treatment Be More Accountable And Effective? A Continuing Medical Education (CME)Course. Cranston, Rhode Island, Association for Medical Education and Research on Substance Abuse, 2006.)
Another study found that only 25 percent of physicians believed that alcoholism is a disease. The majority believed alcoholism to be a social or psychological problem instead of a disease. (S.I. Mignon. Physicians' Perceptions of Alcoholics: The Disease Concept Reconsidered. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 1996, v. 14, no. 4, pp. 33–45)
A survey of physicians at an annual conference of the International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous reported that 80 percent believe that alcoholism is merely bad behavior instead of a disease. (Barrier to Treatment. Alcoholmd - Information About Alcohol and Medicine)
Dr. Thomas R. Hobbs says that "Based on my experiences working in the addiction field for the past 10 years, I believe many, if not most, health care professionals still view alcohol addiction as a willpower or conduct problem and are resistant to look at it as a disease." (T.R. Hobbs. Managing Alcoholism as a Disease. Physician's News Digest, 1998.)
Alcoholics Anonymous says that "Some professionals will tell you that alcoholism is a disease while others contend that it is a choice" and "some doctors will tell you that it is in fact a disease." (Alcoholics Anonymous. What Is Alcoholism? www.alcoholics-anonymous.com/what-is-alcoholism.htm)
Dr. Lynn Appleton says that "Despite all public pronouncements about alcoholism as a disease, medical practice rejects treating it as such. Not only does alcoholism not follow the model of a 'disease,' it is not amenable to standard medical treatment." She says that "Medical doctors' rejection of the disease theory of alcoholism has a strong basis in the biomedical model underpinning most of their training" and that "medical research on alcoholism does not support the disease model." (Lynn M. Appleton. Rethinking medicalization. Alcoholism and anomalies. Chapter in editor Joel Best's Images of Issues. Typifying Contemporary Social Problems. NY: Aldine De Gruyter, 1995, page 65 and page 69. 2nd edition
"Many doctors have been loath to prescribe drugs to treat alcoholism, sometimes because of the belief that alcoholism is a moral disorder rather than a disease," according to Dr. Bankole Johnson, Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia. Dr Johnson's own pioneering work has made important contributions to the understanding of alcoholism as a disease.
Certain medications including opioid antagonists such as naltrexone have been shown to be effective in the treatment of alcoholism, although research has not yet demonstrated long-term efficacy.
Frequency and quantity of alcohol use are not related to the presence of the condition that is, people can drink a great deal without necessarily being alcoholic and alcoholics may drink minimally or infrequently.
See also
- Bartsch, Andreas J.;Homola, Gyorgy; Biller, Armin; Smith, Stephen M.; Weijers, Heinz-Gerd; Wiesbeck, Gerhard A.; Jenkinson, Mark; De Stefano, Nicola; Solymosi, Laszlo; and Bendszus, Martin, Manifestations of early brain recovery associated with abstinence from alcoholism, Brain 130(1) (2007) pp36-47.
- Morse, RM; Flavin, DK (August 26, 1992). "The definition of alcoholism, The Joint Committee of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism". The Journal of the American Medical Association 268 (8): 1012–4. doi:10.1001/jama.1992.03490080086030. PMID 1501306.
- Dick, DM; Bierut, LJ (2006). "The Genetics of Alcohol Dependency". Current Psychiatric Reports 8 (2): 151–7. doi:10.1007/s11920-006-0015-1. PMID 16539893.
- McLellan, AT; Lewis, DC; O'Brien, CP; Kleber, HD (2000). "Drug dependence, a chronic medical illness: implications for treatment, insurance, and outcomes evaluation". JAMA: the Journal of the American Medical Association 284 (13): 1689–95. doi:10.1001/jama.284.13.1689. PMID 11015800.
- Carlson [et al.], Neil R. (2005). Psychology: The Science of Behaviour 3rd Canadian Edition. Pearson. pp. 75–76. ISBN 0-205-45769-X.
- "Differences in drinking among male and female students: Dr. Engs". Indiana.edu. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
- Trotter, T. (Porter, R., ed.), An Essay, Medical, Philosophical, and Chemical, on Drunkenness and Its Effects on the Human Body, Routledge, (London), 1988. (This a facsimile of the first (1804) London edition. The book itself was based on the thesis "De ebrietate, ejusque effectibus in corpus humanum" that Trotter had presented to Edinburgh University in 1788.)
- Levine, H.G., "The Discovery of Addiction: Changing Conceptions of Habitual Drunkenness in America", Journal of Studies on Alcohol, Vol.39, No.1, (January 1978), pp.143-174. (Reprint: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Vol.2, No.1, (1985), pp.43-57.) Available at
- Valverde (1998, p.2). Rush expounded his views in a book published in 1808.<re>Rush, B., An Inquiry into the Effects of Ardent Spirits upon the Human Body and Mind: With an Account of the Means of Preventing, and of the Remedies for Curing Them, Thomas Dobson, (Philadelphia), 1808.
- Valverde, M., Diseases of the Will: Alcohol and the Dilemmas of Freedom, Cambridge University Press, (Cambridge), 1998.
- Hasso Spode has championed Huss's work to be seen as having primacy. See the good discussion in the ADHS Forum in the Social History of Alcohol and Drugs: An Interdisciplinary Journal 20 (2005): 105-40 where several noted addiction historians discuss the changing attitudes of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and the origins of their ideas
- Along with Levine, see Roy Porter ("Drinking Man's Disease: the 'Pre-History' of Alcoholism in Georgian Britain," British Journal of Addiction 80 (1985): 385-96) who places the idea to emerge with Trotter, Jessica Warner ["'Resolved to Drink No More':Addiction as a preindustrial construct" Journal of Studies on Alcohol 55 (1994): 685-91] who uses a narrow reading of seventeenth century sermons to place it in the 1600s, Peter Ferentzy ["From Sin to Disease: Differences and similarities between past and current conceptions on 'chronic drunkenness'" Contemporary Drug Problems 28 (2001): 362-90]who successfully challenges Warner's argument by showing that the term "disease" was applied to many conditions that had little to do with physical debility, and James Nicholls ["Vinum Britannicum: The 'Drink Question' in Early Modern England" Social History of Alcohol and Drugs: An interdisciplinary Journal 22 (2008): 6-25] who pulls it all together and argues that the idea emerged at different times in different places.
- See, for example, books with such telling titles as John Edwards Todd, Drunkenness, a Vice--not a Disease (1882).
- Davies, D.L. (1962). "Normal drinking in recovered alcohol addicts". Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol 23: 94–104. PMID 13883819.
- Caddy, G. R.; Lovibond, S. H. (1976). "Self-regulation and discriminated aversive conditioning in the modification of alcoholics' drinking behavior". Behavior Therapy 7 (2): 223–230. doi:10.1016/S0005-7894(76)80279-1.
- Goodwin, D. W., Crane, J. B., & Guze, S. B. (1971). Felons who drink: An 8-year follow-up. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 32, 136-147
- Miller, W. R.; Caddy, G. R. (1977). "Abstinence and controlled drinking in the treatment of problem drinkers". Journal of Studies on Alcohol 38 (5): 986–1003. PMID 329004.
- Pattison, E. M.; Sobell, M. B.; Sobell, L. C. (1977). "Emerging concepts of alcohol dependence. New York: Springer; Schaefer, H. H. (1971). A cultural delusion of alcoholics". Psychological Reports 29 (2): 587–589. PMID 5126763.
- Schuckit, M. A.; Winokur, G. A. (1972). "A short-term followup of women alcoholics". Diseases of the Nervous System 33 (10): 672–678. PMID 4648267.
- Sobell, M. B.; Sobell, L. C. (1973). "Alcoholics treated by individualized behavior therapy: One year treatment outcomes". Behaviour Research and Therapy 11 (4): 599–618. doi:10.1016/0005-7967(73)90118-6. PMID 4777652.
- Sobell, M. B.; Sobell, L. C. (1976). "Second year treatment outcome of alcoholics treated by individualized behavior therapy: Results". Behaviour Research and Therapy 14 (3): 195–215. doi:10.1016/0005-7967(76)90013-9. PMID 962778.
- Vogler, R. E.; Compton, J. V.; Weissbach, J. A. (1975). "Integrated behavior change techniques for alcoholism". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 43 (2): 233–243. doi:10.1037/h0076533. PMID 1120834.
- Armor, D. J., Polich, J. M., & Stambul, H. B. (1976). Alcoholism and treatment. Rand Corporation
- Polich, J. M.; Armor, D. J.; Braiker, H. B. (1981). "The course of alcoholism: Four years after treatment. New York: Wiley; Heather, N., & Robertson, I. (1981). Controlled drinking. London: Methuen; Robertson, I. H., & Heather, N. (1982). A survey of controlled drinking treatment in Britain. British Journal on Alcohol and Alcoholism, 17, 102- 105; J.H. Mendelson and N.K. Mello (Eds.), The Diagnosis and Treatment of Alcoholism (Second Edition), McGraw-Hill, New York, 1985; G. Nordström and M. Berglund (1987), A prospective study of successful long-term adjustment in alcohol dependence: Social drinking versus abstinence". Journal of Studies on Alcohol 48 (2): 95–103. PMID 3560955.
- NIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 2001-2002 Survey Finds That Many Recover From Alcoholism: Researchers Identify Factors Associated with Abstinent and Non-Abstinent Recovery. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism press release, January 19, 2005; Dawson, DA; Grant, BF; Stinson, FS; Chou, PS; Huang, B; Ruan, WJ. (2005). "Recovery from DSM-IV alcohol dependence: United States, 2001-2002". Addiction 100 (3): 281–92. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00964.x. PMID 15733237.
- Edwards, G (1994). "D.L. Davies and 'Normal drinking in recovered alcohol addicts': the genesis of a paper". Drug and alcohol dependence 35 (3): 249–59. doi:10.1016/0376-8716(94)90082-5. PMID 7956756.
- Vaillant GE (August 2003). "A 60-year follow-up of alcoholic men". Addiction 98 (8): 1043–51. doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.2003.00422.x. PMID 12873238.
- TRAYNOR v. TURNAGE, 485 U.S. 535 (1988)
- "Alcoholics lose some VA benefits - Veterans Administration". Science News. 1988.
- Ruth Engs (ed.): Chpt.6 Controversies book-disease concept of alcoholism should be rejected
- FAQs for the General Public
- Heavy Drinking, Fingarette, Herbert, University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California, 1998 ISBN 0-520-06754-1
- Robin Room - Papers by Robin Room
- Peele, S. (1989, 1995), Diseasing of America: How we allowed recovery zealots and the treatment industry to convince us we are out of control. Lexington, MA/San Francisco: Lexington Books/Jossey-Bass.
- International Handbook of Alcohol Dependence and Problems, Nich Heataher, Editor, Timothy J. Peters, Editor, Tim Stockwell, Editor, Wiley, 2001, ISBN 978-0-471-98375-0
- White, W. (2000). "The Rebirth of the Disease Concept of Alcoholism in the 20th Century". Counselor 1 (2): 62–66.
- Vaillant, George Eman (March 1990). "We should retain the disease concept of alcoholism". Harvard Medical School Mentul Health Letter 6: 4–6.
- "Alcoholism: A disease of speculation". Baldwinresearch.com. 2002-04-14. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
- Miller, William R; Westerberg, Verner S; Harris, Richard J; Tonigan, J Scott (1996). "What predicts relapse? Prospective testing of antecedent models". Addiction 91 (Supplement): S151–S171. doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.91.12s1.7.x. PMID 8997790.
- "Alcholics Anonymous. What Is Alcoholism?". Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- Hathaway, William Headache pill eases alcohol cravings Hartford Courant, October 10, 2007
- Hazelden - Bankole Johnson, Ph.D., 2001 winner
- Opioid Antagonists for Alcohol Dependence, Srisurapanont M and Jarusuraisin N, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Online) 2005 Jan 25;(1):CD001867
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Theory of justification
Theory of justification is a part of epistemology that attempts to understand the justification of propositions and beliefs. Epistemologists are concerned with various epistemic features of belief, which include the ideas of justification, warrant, rationality, and probability. Of these four terms, the term that has been most widely used and discussed by the early 21st century is "warrant". Loosely speaking, justification is the reason that someone (properly) holds a belief.
If A makes a claim, and B then casts doubt on it, A's next move would normally be to provide justification. Empiricism (the evidence of the senses), authoritative testimony (the appeal to criteria and authority), and logical deduction are often involved in justification.
Justification-based theories of knowledge can be divided into:
- irrationalism, which appeals to irrational criteria and authorities (such as feelings) and
- panrationalism, which appeals to rational criteria and authorities (such as observation or reasoning).
Subjects of justification
Many things can be justified: beliefs, actions, emotions, claims, laws, theories and so on. Epistemology focuses on beliefs. This is in part because of the influence of the definition of knowledge as "justified true belief" often associated with a theory discussed near the end of the Socratic dialogue Theaetetus. More generally, theories of justification focus on the justification of statements or propositions.
Justifications and explanations
Justification is the reason why someone properly holds a belief, the explanation as to why the belief is a true one, or an account of how one knows what one knows. In much the same way arguments and explanations may be confused with each other, as may explanations and justifications. Statements which are justifications of some action take the form of arguments. For example attempts to justify a theft usually explain the motives (e.g., to feed a starving family).
It is important to be aware when an explanation is not a justification. A criminal profiler may offer an explanation of a suspect's behavior (e.g.; the person lost his or her job, the person got evicted, etc.), and such statements may help us understand why the person committed the crime. An uncritical listener may believe the speaker is trying to gain sympathy for the person and his or her actions, but it does not follow that a person proposing an explanation has any sympathy for the views or actions being explained. This is an important distinction because we need to be able to understand and explain terrible events and behavior in attempting to discourage it.
Justification is a normative activity
One way of explaining the theory of justification is to say that a justified belief is one that we are "within our rights" in holding. The rights in question are neither political nor moral, however, but intellectual.
In some way, each of us is responsible for what we believe. Beliefs are not typically formed completely at random, and thus we have an intellectual responsibility, or obligation, to try to believe what is true and to avoid believing what is false. An intellectually responsible act is within one's intellectual rights in believing something; performing it, one is justified in one's belief.
Thus, justification is a normative notion. The standard definition is that a concept is normative if it is a concept regarding or depending on the norms, or obligations and permissions (very broadly construed), involved in human conduct. It is generally accepted that the concept of justification is normative, because it is defined as a concept regarding the norms of belief.
Theories of justification
There are several different views as to what entails justification, mostly focusing on the question "How sure do we need to be that our beliefs correspond to the actual world?" Different theories of justification require different amounts and types of evidence before a belief can be considered justified. Interestingly, theories of justification generally include other aspects of epistemology, such as knowledge.
The main theories of justification include:
- Coherentism - Beliefs are justified if they cohere with other beliefs a person holds, each belief is justified if it coheres with the overall system of beliefs.
- Externalism - Outside sources of knowledge can be used to justify a belief.
- Foundationalism - Self-evident basic beliefs justify other non-basic beliefs.
- Foundherentism - A combination of foundationalism and coherentism, proposed by Susan Haack.
- Infinitism - Beliefs are justified by infinite chains of reasons.
- Internalism - The believer must be able to justify a belief through internal knowledge.
Minority viewpoints include:
- Reformed epistemology - Beliefs are warranted by proper cognitive function, proposed by Alvin Plantinga.
- Skepticism - A variety of viewpoints questioning the possibility of knowledge.
- truth skepticism - Questions the possibility of true knowledge, but not of justified knowledge
- epistemological skepticism - Questions the possibility of justified knowledge, but not true knowledge
- Evidentialism - Beliefs depend solely on the evidence for them
If a belief is justified, there is something that justifies it. The thing that justifies a belief can be called its "justifier". If a belief is justified, then it has at least one justifier. An example of a justifier would be an item of evidence. For example, if a woman is aware of the fact that her husband returned from a business trip smelling like perfume, and that his shirt has smudged lipstick on its collar, the perfume and the lipstick can be evidence for her belief that her husband is having an affair. In that case, the justifiers are the woman's awareness of the perfume and the lipstick, and the belief that is justified is her belief that her husband is having an affair.
Not all justifiers have to be what can properly be called "evidence"; there may be some substantially different kinds of justifiers available to us. Regardless, to be justified, a belief has to have a justifier.
But this raises an important question: what sort of thing can be a justifier?
Three things that have been suggested are:
- Beliefs only.
- Beliefs together with other conscious mental states.
- Beliefs, conscious mental states, and other facts about us and our environment (which we may or may not have access to).
At least sometimes, the justifier of a belief is another belief. When, to return to the earlier example, the woman believes that her husband is having an affair, she bases that belief on other beliefs—namely, beliefs about the lipstick and perfume. Strictly speaking, her belief isn't based on the evidence itself—after all, what if she did not believe it? What if she thought that all of that evidence were just a hoax? What if her husband commonly wears perfume and lipstick on business trips? For that matter, what if the evidence existed, but she did not know about it? Then, of course, her belief that her husband is having an affair wouldn't be based on that evidence, because she did not know it was there at all; or, if she thought that the evidence were a hoax, then surely her belief couldn't be based on that evidence.
Consider a belief P. Either P is justified or P is not justified. If P is justified, then another belief Q may be justified by P. If P is not justified, then P cannot be a justifier for any other belief: neither for Q, nor for Q's negation.
For example, suppose someone might believe that there is intelligent life on Mars, and base this belief on a further belief, that there is a feature on the surface of Mars that looks like a face, and that this face could only have been made by intelligent life. So the justifying belief is: that face-like feature on Mars could only have been made by intelligent life. And the justified belief is: there is intelligent life on Mars.
But suppose further that the justifying belief is itself unjustified. It would in no way be one's intellectual right to suppose that this face-like feature on Mars could have only been made by intelligent life; that view would be irresponsible, intellectually speaking. Such a belief would be unjustified. It has a justifier, but the justifier is itself not justified. In fact, more recent observations have shown that the "helmeted face" does not look the same up close, nor when viewed from the side.
Commonly used justifiers
- Abductive reasoning
- Occam's Razor
- Probability theory
- Scientific method
- Logical positivism
The major opposition against the theory of justification (also called ‘justificationism’ in this context) is nonjustificational criticism (a synthesis of skepticism and absolutism) which is most notably held by some of the proponents of critical rationalism: W. W. Bartley, David Miller and Karl Popper. (But not all proponents of critical rationalism oppose justificationism; it is supported most prominently by John W. N. Watkins.)
In justificationism, criticism consists of trying to show that a claim cannot be reduced to the authority or criteria that it appeals to. That is, it regards the justification of a claim as primary, while the claim itself is secondary. By contrast, nonjustificational criticism works towards attacking claims themselves.
Bartley also refers to a third position, which he calls critical rationalism in a more specific sense, claimed to have been Popper's view in his Open Society. It has given up justification, but not yet adopted nonjustificational criticism. Instead of appealing to criteria and authorities, it attempts to describe and explicate them.
Fogelin claims to detect a suspicious resemblance between the Theories of Justification and Agrippa's five modes leading to the suspension of belief. He concludes that the modern proponents have made no significant progress in responding to the ancient modes of pyrrhonic skepticism.
- Critical Thinking, Parker and Moore
- Robert J. Fogelin, Pyrrhonian Reflections on Knowledge and Justification, Oxford University Press, 1994, ISBN 978-0-19-508987-5
||This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. (December 2007)|
- David Stove. Popper and After: Four Modern Irrationalists. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1982.
- Richard Swinburne: Epistemic justification (2001)
- William W. Bartley: Rationality versus the theory of rationality. In Mario Bunge (Ed.): The Critical Approach to Science and Philosophy (The Free Press of Glencoe, 1964)
- David Miller: A critique of good reasons. Critical rationalism (1994)
- David Miller: Sokal and Bricmont: Back to the Frying Pan. Pli 9 (2000), 156–73.
- David Miller: Overcoming the Justificationist Addiction. (2007)
- Karl Popper: On the sources of knowledge and ignorance. Conjectures and Refutations (1963).
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Foundationalist Theories of Epistemic Justification
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Epistemology, 2. What is Justification?
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Public Justification
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Internalist vs. Externalist Conceptions of Epistemic Justification
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Coherentist Theories of Epistemic Justification
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The main objective of the BAH (Biologische Anstalt Helgoland) was to gain control over the induction of sporogenesis in Laminaria digitata and to reduce the time it takes individual algae to start reproduction. Compared to the occurrence of double prime sorus double prime (sporogenous tissue) on L. digitata in the field, the experiments showed the acceleration of sporogenesis by 5 months under certain conditions in the laboratory. Pieces of young tissue developed sorus under various light regimes and a range of temperatures. In contrast to L. digitata, L. saccharina tissue required short-day conditions for sorus formation that was obtained at least two months ahead of natural occurrence. The minimum plant age of L. digitata facilitating sporogenesis was found to be 7.5 months at the start of the experiment, with the first sorus showing after 5 weeks. This corresponds to our findings in mass cultures of local L. digitata which have been undertaken close to the island of Helgoland. They rendered early formation of sorus on 8.6 months old sporophytes as calculated from the zoospore stage, contrasting to 18 months in natural populations and reconfirming findings in mass cultures at CEVA, Pleubian. The youngest tissue forming sorus in the experiment was collected from a second year plant and was only 14 to 28 days old. Older pieces of the thallus preceeded younger pieces in sorus formation. Nutrient enriched seawater accelerated sporogenesis compared to pure seawater, but had the disadvantage of facilitating luxuriant growth of epiphytes. The viability of the laboratory raised spores was tested and a completely normal developement of young sporophytes obtained. 340 m of culture string were densely seeded with L. digitata spores from 12 disks with an original diameter of 23 mm. double prime Phycotrons double prime , designed by IFREMER, Nantes, and employed at Helgoland showed that in parallel experiments isolated disks of thallus preceded whole algae in the formation of spores by far. The same was found in a different experimental setup. To investigate the reasons for the different behaviour of isolated pieces versus whole thallus in terms of sporogenesis, experiments were conducted at CNRS-CEOBM, Roscoff, and at the BAH on Helgoland. An oxidative stress following the punching out of thallus disks was tested, but could not be proven. Addition of various oligosaccharides to disks resulted in burst-like releases of H sub(2)0 sub(2) by disks.
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Review: Mastering the Techniques of Teaching
Lowman. San Francisco: JosseyBass, 1995.
by Jill Lasser, Graduate Student Associate, TRC and Department of Slavic
Languages and Literatures
faculty evaluations reflect instructor competence or popularity? Can
graduate instructors and junior faculty be taught to teach well? How
can cooperative learning enhance student progress? What has psychological
research demonstrated about human learning and how can this information
be used to help instructors best organize their lectures? In Mastering
the Techniques of Teaching, Professor Joseph Lowman tackles these
and other controversial issues in teaching with an approach that is
both engaging and innovative.
point of departure for Lowman's discussion is his "twodimensional
model of teaching effectiveness," inspired by his observations
of exemplary faculty in New England and North Carolina. According to
this model, teaching effectiveness is a product of two distinct dimensions.
The first is the instructor's ability to stimulate intellectual excitement
in the classroom. Fundamental to this ability is the clarity of lectures
and their emotional impact on students, as well as the instructor's
knowledge, organization and flexibility. The second dimension is grounded
in the psychology of the classroom. An effective instructor is one who
promotes positive student emotions by fostering critical thinking and
creativity, showing sensitivity to students' feelings about the course
material, and promoting an atmosphere of respect.
used this model to define teaching effectiveness, Lowman guides the
reader through a discussion of the various factors and issues connected
with good teaching. His discussion may be considered in terms of three
main areas of concern:
Social psychological: sources of instructor and student satisfaction;
predictable changes in class rapport; attitudes that influence classroom
Pragmatic: developing interpersonal skills and teaching style;
obtaining feedback; analyzing and improving classroom performance; the
use of the video camera in teaching assessment; discussion leading;
integrating student learning in and out of the classroom; evaluating
Course preparation: defining course objectives; selecting and
organizing classroom materials; creating exams; designing the course.
providing both a critical review of the literature on teaching effectiveness,
as well as a plethora of teaching strategies applicable to any discipline,
Lowman appears to practice the good teaching he espouses. As he tackles
the issues and areas of concern that perplex many instructors, Lowman
writes with an inspirational clarity and enthusiasm. Seasoned faculty
and junior faculty alike should find here ample food for thought, and
also some good ideas to improve their teaching.
Lowman is a professor of psychology and assistant dean of arts and sciences
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has won numerous
awards for his outstanding teaching and serves on the editorial boards
of several publications on pedagogy.
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WAREHOUSE WORKERS store and transport goods in a warehouse. They load and unload trucks, and move goods and materials to and from storage areas and loading docks. Warehouse workers handle shipments when they arrive or are dispatched from the warehouse. They check orders and sign delivery notes. Warehouse workers move goods either manually or they operate forklifts, dollies, hand-trucks, or carts. After reading shipping orders, warehouse workers decide which items to move. Warehouse workers also make sure orders are delivered with the correct items.
Salary, Size & Growth
- $28,500 average per year ($13.75 per hour)
- A large occupation (394,300 workers in 2010)
- Expected to not change (0.0% per year)
WAREHOUSE WORKERS should have a high school diploma as well as reading and some mathematical skills. They learn their work on the job from more experienced workers or supervisors. Workers who use industrial trucks (forklifts), other dangerous equipment, or handle toxic chemicals must receive specialized training in safety awareness and procedures. Many of the training requirements are standardized through the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This training is usually provided by the employer.
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Semi-Automatic (or Autoloading) Action
As each shot is fired manually, the case of the cartridge or shotshell is ejected automatically and the chamber is reloaded automatically.
- To open the action, you must pull back the bolt’s operating handle (on a rifle or shotgun) or the slide (on a pistol). Most semi-automatics, when the bolt or slide is pulled back, will lock in the open position if the magazine is empty. If the firearm does not lock open, it means that a cartridge or shotshell from the magazine has gone into the chamber, making the firearm ready to fire. A few semi-automatics do not lock open and must be held open to check the chamber.
- To unload, first remove the magazine and lock the action open. Then make sure it’s unloaded—visually check the chamber for an additional cartridge or shell.
- When closing the action for loading, pull back to unlock the bolt or slide and then let go, allowing it to travel forward on its own. Do not guide it forward with your hand because it may not seat properly.
- On a semi-automatic, the trigger must be pulled each time a shot is fired. This makes the semi-automatic different from the fully-automatic firearm, which fires continuously as long as the trigger is held down. The fully-automatic firearm may not be used for hunting or sport shooting.
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Study Looks at Sex Outside the City
Researchers debunk idea of HIV as urban-only issue
BY DEIRDRE HEALEY
Contrary to common perceptions, rural singles are just as likely to get involved in risky sexual behaviour that can lead to STD or HIV infections as their urban counterparts are, new research reveals.
Co-authored by Prof. Robin Milhausen, Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, the study has found there's little difference between rural and urban singles when it comes to the number of sexual partners, frequency of unprotected sex and testing for STDs or HIV.
This finding debunks the perception that HIV and STDs are just an urban issue, says Milhausen, who worked on the study with Bin Huang and Richard Crosby of the University of Kentucky and Bill Yarber of Indiana University.
The study, to be published this winter in Health Education Monograph, is based on U.S. data but has important implications for Canadians, she says. About 95 per cent of Canada is considered rural, and 30 per cent of Canadians live in remote areas.
“The study suggests there are actually few differences between rural and non-rural individuals in terms of their risk behaviour, so we should not neglect rural areas in Canada when it comes to prevention and education efforts,” says Milhausen.
The fact that rural people are at the same risk of getting STDs and HIV is especially worrisome because these communities aren't as well equipped as urban areas to deal with and contain an outbreak, she adds.
“It's often more difficult to access testing and treatment in rural areas, and there appears to be more of a stigma associated with accessing these resources in small communities.”
The study analyzed data from men and women aged 18 to 29 and found little difference between rural and non-rural singles in the number of sexual partners they've had. Rural men reported having about seven partners; non-rural men reported about eight. Rural women said they'd had five sexual partners, and non-rural women reported six.
When it came to having unprotected sex, about 46 per cent of both rural and non-rural men said they didn't use a condom the last time they had sex. For women, the findings showed a slight difference, with 47 per cent of rural and 51 per cent of non-rural reporting not using a condom.
Asked whether they'd had an HIV test, 44 per cent of the men in both groups said they had. Among women, there was a marked difference. Fifty per cent of rural women had taken the test, compared with 59 per cent of non-rural women.
Although the study recommends AIDS prevention work be intensified in rural areas to help keep the incidence of HIV from escalating, Milhausen warns that rural residents may be hesitant to respond to a health issue that has yet to hit home.
“People living in rural communities often feel as though they're not vulnerable to HIV or other STDs because these are ‘big city' problems. The first task for health educators in rural areas is to get the message out that these infections don't discriminate based on geography. Sex without a condom is risky sex no matter where you live.”
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During the 1932 campaign, Franklin Roosevelt had a reputation as a mealy-mouth politician who made many promises but held his real plans close to his chest. The following cartoons capture that well:
Of course, we now know that with his First Inaugural address (listen here), FDR took on the role of economic savior, with biblical language implicitly drawing a comparison to Jesus chasing lenders from the Temple (although Roosevelt carefully used the passive tense):
“The money changers have fled their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths.”
During his first 100 days, a supine Congress passed 15 major laws and effectively rubber-stamped whatever the White House sent to Capitol Hill. Subsequent presidents lived in the shadow of those “Hundred Days” as a test of a president’s ability to “get things done”–whether or not those things did any good.
On April 5th, one month into his presidency and in the midst of bank closures nationwide, Roosevelt ordered all Americans to stop “hoarding” (holding) any “gold coin, gold bullion or gold certificates.” Such “hoarding” did not “promote the public interest.” FDR achieved this feat by issuing Executive Order 6102 (“Requiring Gold Coin . . . to be Delivered to the Government”). Criminal penalty for violating the law: up to 10 years in prison! Note that an Executive Order doesn’t require any act of Congress. The president signs and orders something to be done, in this case the nationalization of all gold in the USA. Clinton aide Paul Begala captured the power of the executive order with the phrase:
“Stroke of the pen. Law of the land. Kind of cool.”
With Executive Order 6260 (“On Hoarding and Exporting Gold”), FDR drew upon the authority of the Trading with the Enemy Act (1917) as amended (1933). By declaring a “national emergency” equivalent to war, he became “dictator of currency” according to this cartoon:
How did the nation respond to nationalization of gold and the inflation of the money supply by nearly half? Scientific opinion polls did not exist but the media responded positively by showing FDR taking action, cutting the gold value of the dollar in half, thus lessening the farmers debt burden (the argument went) and kicking big bankers in the groin. Those themes are clear in these cartoons:
In January 1934, FDR took the final step by ordering all Federal Reserve Banks to hand over their gold. Actually, this time he asked Congress for the legislation to act. According to Roosevelt, complete nationalization of gold, coupled with a 41% devaluation of the dollar, meant a “fairer price level.” “Free circulation of gold coins is unnecessary,” FDR told Congress, and only necessary (and legal) for the “settlement of international balances” or between the “Nations of the world” (read: their governments). Adolf Hitler now had more right, under U.S. law, to obtain gold from the U.S. government than did the citizens of the United States! There was a fiscal point: to enhance “debt paying power” by paying back national (and private) debt with cheaper dollars. A power play: to declare it “the inherent right of Government to issue currency and to be the sole custodian and owners of [precious metals] underlying that currency.”
In short, a gold transaction between citizens or businesses was “not only unnecessary , but is in every way undesirable”! Besides, the private ownership of gold got in the way of devaluing the currency. No gold, no problem. Your debt is now cut by 41%. The media response to this final act was to link FDR with saving farmers from their debt:
It all sounded so easy. Too easy. Privately, one of FDR’s adviser’s, Bernard Baruch, warned that “Business moves on faith in promises, and money itself is a promise.” Publicly, John Maynard Keynes lambasted this “gold standard on the booze.” The Baltimore Sun noted the business uncertainty caused by this fiscal revolution (and who was to say there wouldn’t be more devaluation?):
“How much healthy, permanent business will be done if a man must plant his own or borrowed dollars today in the full knowledge that. . . Mr. Roosevelt, by a stroke of his pen, can cut in half the value of the dollars that he will collect three months hence or six months hence?”
Robert Higgs has shown how this “regime uncertainty” prolonged the Great Depression by undermining business confidence and dampening private investment. But what was bad for the economy was good for FDR; he simply substituted public spending for private investment, even though many economists (including Keynes) warned him that only the private sector could create a lasting recovery. Voters rewarded FDR at the polls, never seeing “what is not seen”: breaking windows (or money) is no way to “stimulate” the economy.
Further reading: Many business contracts contained “gold clauses” specifying payment in dollars worth a certain amount of gold. Most of those contracts were between companies but some were between contractors and the U.S. government. Could the government cut its real offering price in half after a company performed its end of the bargain? In the “Gold Clause Cases,” the Supreme Court ruled “yes.”
Amity Shlaes, The Forgotten Man (2008): Shlaes reports how FDR was planning to devalue the dollar even before taking office:
“One morning, FDR told his group [of advisers] he was thinking of raising the gold price by twenty-one cents. Why that figure? his entourage asked. ‘It’s a lucky number,’ Roosevelt said, ‘because it’s three times seven.’” As [Treasury Secretary] Morgenthau later wrote, ‘If anybody knew how we really set the gold price through a combination of lucky numbers, etc. I think they would be frightened.’”
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How do you detect different sound frequencies and cut off parts in an audio file? Among instruments, how do you pick up the human voice?
A lot depends on your specific data. But if the noise is far from voice in frequency domain there is a simple brute-force trick of cutting off/out "bad" frequencies using wavelets. Let's import some sample recording:
Voice is more rich and irregular in structure, noise is more monotonic and repetitive. So now based on the visual we can formulate a logical condition to cut out the noisy octaves (numbers on vertical axes):
This is pretty brutal, like a surgery that cuts out good stuff too, because in this cases some voice frequencies blend with noise and we lost them. But it roughly works - signal is cleaner. You can hear how many background noises were suppressed (a few still stay though) - use headphones or good speakers. If in your cases noise is even further from voice in frequency domain - it will work much better.
What you need is
to filter it to between 60-180 Hz.
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<urn:uuid:198b2c28-6228-410d-a592-df969a3fab29>
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CC-MAIN-2013-20
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http://mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/15264/how-do-you-remove-noise-to-detect-just-the-human-voice
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On the voyage, Charles had been vigorous and brave. He withstood horrible seasickness, weathered harsh conditions, witnessed a battle in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, and experienced an earthquake in Valvivia, Chile. … But now, back in London in 1838, he truly was scared. the thought of marriage and of Emma terrified him and gave him serious headaches. He knew she was religious, and he was consumed by the fear that his secret idea would go against her beliefs (p 47).
Charles and Emma is a lovely narrative examining the famous English Naturalist, Charles Darwin, against the backdrop of his relationship with his wife and cousin (it was common practice to marry first cousins at the time), Emma Darwin. Very readable, flowing text really introduced me to Darwin, the person. Reference to Jane Austin and Dickens helped me picture the place and time.
Charles and Emma was a 2010 National Book Award Finalist and a Printz Honor Award winner.
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http://nicolepoliti.wordpress.com/2010/04/08/charles-and-emma-the-darwins-leap-of-faith-by-deborah-heiligman/
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Edwards, R.J., Brooks, A.J., The Island of Ireland: Drowning the Myth of an Irish Land-Bridge?, Mind the Gap: Postglacial Colonisation of Ireland. Special Supplement to The Irish Naturalists' Journal., 2008, 19 - 34
Mind the Gap: Postglacial Colonisation of Ireland. Special Supplement to The Irish Naturalists' Journal.;
At the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) c. 26 000 calendar years ago, global sea levels were around 120 m lower than present due to the storage of water on land in the form of large, high-latitude ice sheets. This lowering of sea level exposed portions of the modern seafloor surrounding north-west Europe, forming ‘land-bridges that joined Britain and Ireland to the rest of the continent. Sometime later, these land-bridges were drowned by rising sea levels as the ice sheets melted in response to a warming climate. Precisely when these land connections were severed has been a subject of debate for several decades, driven in part by the desire to understand the postglacial recolonisation of Ireland by plants and animals.
The level of the sea relative to the land surface (relative sea-level) results from the interplay between vertical changes in both land and sea level. These processes can be simulated by computer models that describe the response of the solid Earth to the loading and unloading of glacial ice (glacial rebound models). In addition to simulating relative sea-levels, the output from these models can, when combined with bathymetric and topographic data, be used to produce first-order palaeogeographic reconstructions. This paper uses palaeogeographic reconstructions of this kind to investigate the location and duration of possible land-bridges joining Ireland to Britain. These reconstructions are derived from a recently developed glacial rebound model for Ireland that incorporates an updated British-Irish Ice Sheet component and is trained by geological sea-level indicators from around the Irish coast. The resulting reconstructions suggest that Ireland was separated from Britain by c. 16 000 calendar years ago, at which time climate was still cold and local ice caps persisted in parts of the country. No support is found for the idea that a Holocene land-bridge was instrumental in the migration of temperate flora and fauna into Ireland.
Please note: There is a known bug in some browsers that causes an
error when a user tries to view large pdf file within the browser window.
If you receive the message "The file is damaged and could not be
repaired", please try one of the solutions linked below based on the
browser you are using.
Items in TARA are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
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CREDITS: 1.00 LUCourse Description
This course examines a visitor center within a historic complex, in which spatial organization had to take into account functional requirements while respecting the overall context. It demonstrates how a project that needs to sit alongside major pre-existing structures can, partly through the use of natural materials, still be modern and functional. The course comprises images, technical and construction detail drawings with legends, and an introductory text. On completing the course, students will be able to discuss the context-driven use of traditional materials, particularly the modern use of timber.
Learning Objectives – after reading the article and studying the drawings, you will be able to:
- Understand the design decisions taken in terms of the particular location of the project and the functions of the building.
- Identify the technological features of the project, with particular attention to respecting and enhancing the existing structures.
- Analyze the design decisions in relation to the use of materials.
- Explain the approach taken to produce a visually pleasing result relative to the architecture of the complex as a whole.
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http://www.theplan.it/J/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1800%3Anorwich-cathedral-visitors-centre&Itemid=93&lang=en
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Internet and Media
- The posts on physics lists from around the world are popping with this! The Earth actually wobbled on its axis and the axis tilt "may"
have altered! These are mainstream geophysics lists. The Canadian and European lists are the most open about this.
- Quake rattled Earth Orbit, Changed map of Asia: US geophysicist An earthquake that unleashed deadly tidal waves on Asia was so
powerful it made the Earth wobble on its axis and permanently altered the regional map, US geophysicists said. In addition, the energy
released as the two sides of the undersea fault slipped against each other made the Earth wobble on its axis.
- Dec 28, 2004
- Speaking on SKY TG24 TV, Enzo Boschi, the head of Italys National Geophysics Institute said the quake even disturbed the Earths
- Russian Scientist: a change in Earth spin rate could be a possible cause of recent EQ. Quick translating from Italian news: A change in
the spin speed of the Earth could be the origin of the tsunami that has destroyed countries on the Indian Ocean side. This is what a
Russian scientist, Aleksandr Ponomariov, assistant manager of the Institute of Land Physics to Moscow, says. We think that the change
of that speed is a possible cause of the most recent earth cataclysms, Ponomariov has declared.
- Dec 28, 2004
- The earth has entered a seismically active period when weakness in earths crusts start breaking apart, volcanoes erupt, plate collisions
cause major earthquakes, mud volcanoes erupt and geysers come out in different parts of the world with much higher frequency. This
results in volcanic eruption, mudslides, Tsunamis, mega earthquakes and more. According to the Russian scientists, the number of
earthquakes in the earth has increased exponentially over the past few years, a phenomenon not seen in modern human history.
According to some Russian scientists, another major earthquake in the same vicinity and a series of the same near the equator is evident
in near future. The resultant Tsunamis will be three to five time as severe as this one.
- http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/01-01-05.asp, Jan 1, 2005
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Working with Alias Data Types
Alias types are based on the system data types in SQL Server. Alias types can be used when several tables must store the same type of data in a column and you have to make sure that these columns have identical data type, length, and nullability. For example, an alias type called postal_code could be created based on the char data type. Alias types without rules or an attached default definition are supported in table variables since SQL Server 2005. Alias types in table variables are not supported in SQL Server before SQL Server 2005.
When an alias data type is created, you must supply the following parameters:
System data type upon which the new data type is based
Nullability (whether the data type allows null values)
When nullability is not explicitly defined, it will be assigned based on the ANSI null default setting for the database or connection.
If an alias type is created in the model database, it exists in all new user-defined databases. However, if the data type is created in a user-defined database, the data type exists only in that user-defined database.
When alias data types are dropped, they can still be referenced by table variables later in the batch in which they were dropped.
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http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189283.aspx
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Lesson 5 OK05
The OK05 lesson builds on OK04 using it to flash the SOS morse code pattern (...---...). It is assumed you have the code for the Lesson 4: OK04 operating system as a basis.
So far, all we've had to do with our operating system is provide instructions to be followed. Sometimes however, instructions are only half the story. Our operating systems may need data.
Some early Operating Systems did only allow certain types of data in certain files, but this was generally found to be too restrictive. The modern way does make programs a lot more complicated however.
In general data is just values that are important. You are probably trained to think of data as being of a specific type, e.g. a text file contains text, an image file contains an image, etc. This is, in truth, just an idea. All data on a computer is just binary numbers, how we choose to interpret them is what counts. In this example we're going to store a light flashing sequence as data.
At the end of 'main.s' copy the following code:
.align num ensures the address of the next line is a multiple of 2num.
.int val outputs the number val.
To differentiate between data and code, we put all the data in the .data. I've included this on the operating system memory layout diagram here. I've just chosen to put the data after the end of the code. The reason for keeping our data and instructions separate is so that if we eventually implement some security on our operating system, we need to know what parts of the code can be executed, and what parts can't.
I've used two new commands here. .align and .int. .align ensures alignment of the following data to a specified power of 2. In this case I've used .align 2 which means that this data will definitely be placed at an address which is a multiple of 22 = 4. It is really important to do this, because the ldr instruction we used to read memory only works at addresses that are multiples of 4.
The .int command copies the constant after it into the output directly. That means that 111111111010101000100010001010102 will be placed into the output, and so the label pattern actually labels this piece of data as pattern.
One challenge with data is finding an efficient and useful representation. This method of storing the sequence as on and off units of time is easy to run, but would be difficult to edit, as the concept of a morse - or . is lost.
As I mentioned, data can mean whatever you want. In this case I've encoded the morse code SOS sequence, which is ...---... for those unfamiliar. I've used a 0 to represent a unit of time with the LED off, and a 1 to represent a unit of time with the LED on. That way, we can write some code which just displays a sequence in data like this one, and then all we have to do to make it display a different sequence is change the data. This is a very simple example of what operating systems must do all the time; interpret and display data.
Copy the following lines before the loop$ label in 'main.s'.
ptrn .req r4
seq .req r5
This code loads the pattern into r4, and loads 0 into r5. r5 will be our sequence position, so we can keep track of how much of the pattern we have displayed.
The following code puts a non-zero into r1 if and only if there is a 1 in the current part of the pattern.
This code is useful for your calls to SetGpio, which must have a non-zero value to turn the LED off, and a value of zero to turn the LED on.
Now modify all of your code in 'main.s' so that each loop the code sets the LED based on the current sequence number, waits for 250000 micro seconds (or any other appropriate delay), and then increments the sequence number. When the sequence number reaches 32, it needs to go back to 0. See if you can implement this, and for an extra challenge, try to do it using only 1 instruction (solution in the download).
2 Time Flies When You're Having Fun...
You're now ready to test this on the Rapsberry Pi. It should flash out a sequence of 3 short pulses, 3 long pulses and then 3 more short pulses. After a delay, the pattern should repeat. If it doesn't work please see our troubleshooting page.
Once it works, congratulations you have reached the end of the OK series of tutorials.
In this series we've learnt about assembly code, the GPIO controller and the System Timer. We've learnt about functions and the ABI, as well as several basic Operating System concepts, and also about data.
You're now ready to move onto one of the more advanced series.
- The Screen series is next and teaches you how to use the screen with assembly code.
- The Input series teaches you how to use the keyboard and mouse.
By now you already have enough information to make Operating Systems that interact with the GPIO in other ways. If you have any robot kits, you may want to try writing a robot operating system controlled with the GPIO pins!
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<urn:uuid:0ec27ce3-1518-48d1-8991-2c19681e874a>
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http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/projects/raspberrypi/tutorials/os/ok05.html
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Definitions for crackleˈkræk əl
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
crack•leˈkræk əl(v.; n.)-led, -ling
(v.i.)to make slight, sudden, sharp noises, rapidly repeated.
(of ceramic glaze) to craze.
to exhibit liveliness, vibrancy, or the like; sparkle:
The play crackled with wit.
(v.t.)to break with a crackling noise.
to craze (ceramic glaze).
(n.)the act or sound of crackling.
a network of fine cracks, as in some glazes.
Origin of crackle:
crackle, crackling, crepitation(noun)
the sharp sound of snapping noises
crackle, crackleware, crackle china(adj)
glazed china with a network of fine cracks on the surface
having the surface decorated with a network of fine cracks, as in crackleware
"a crackle glaze"
make a crackling sound
"My Rice Krispies crackled in the bowl"
crunch, scranch, scraunch, crackle(verb)
make a crushing noise
"his shoes were crunching on the gravel"
to become, or to cause to become, covered with a network of small cracks
"The blazing sun crackled the desert sand"
Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary
to make many short dry sounds like a fire
crackling flames; the crackle of the old radio
A fizzing, popping sound.
A style of glaze used in pottery giving the impression of many small cracks.
The fifth derivative of the position vector with respect to time (after velocity, acceleration, jerk, and jounce), i.e. the rate of change of jounce.
To make a fizzing, popping sound.
to make slight cracks; to make small, sharp, sudden noises, rapidly or frequently repeated; to crepitate; as, burning thorns crackle
the noise of slight and frequent cracks or reports; a crackling
a kind of crackling sound or r/le, heard in some abnormal states of the lungs; as, dry crackle; moist crackle
a condition produced in certain porcelain, fine earthenware, or glass, in which the glaze or enamel appears to be cracked in all directions, making a sort of reticulated surface; as, Chinese crackle; Bohemian crackle
Translations for crackle
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary
to make a continuous cracking noise
The dry branches crackled under my feet as I stepped on them.; the crackle of burning wood.
- صَوْت احْتِراقِ الأغْصانArabic
- estalidoPortuguese (BR)
- das KnisternGerman
- crepitación, chisporroteoSpanish
- ترق تروقFarsi
- जलती लकड़ी की चटचट की आवाजHindi
- snark, skrjáf, brakIcelandic
- 탁탁 소리Korean
- sprakšķēšana; sprakšķisLatvian
- bunyi gemersikMalay
- knitring, sprakingNorwegian
- ترق تروقPersian
- پرله پسی ټکیارPashto
- çatırtı, çıtırtıTurkish
- 劈啪聲Chinese (Trad.)
- потріскування; хрустUkrainian
- tiếng nổ lách táchVietnamese
- 劈啪声Chinese (Simp.)
Get even more translations for crackle »
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http://www.definitions.net/definition/crackle
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TOKYO -- Japan is preparing to expand the evacuation zone around a crippled nuclear power plant to address concerns over long-term exposure to radiation, the government announced Monday.
Also, Japan's nuclear safety agency has raised the severity rating of the crisis at its nuclear plant to the highest level, on par with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
An official with the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan, speaking on TV, said the rating was raised from 5 to 7.
The unnamed official said the amount of radiation leaking from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant was about 10 percent of that in the Chernobyl accident.
Monday, thousands of people bowed their heads in silence at 2:46 p.m., marking exactly one month since a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami brought destruction to Japan's northeastern Pacific coast.
People across Japan at evacuation centers, at work, and on the street observed a moment of silence.
The overall death toll from the disaster has surpassed 13,000, with more than 14,000 people still missing, according to Japan's National Police Agency. The figures include the casualties from the March 11 quake and tsunami, plus the aftershocks that since have jolted the northeast.
Officials have said that many people may never be accounted for, because they were washed out to sea or buried under mountains of rubble. More than 150,000 people remain housed in emergency shelters, NHK said.
Another strong aftershock off Japan's Pacific coast briefly set off a tsunami warning amid the mourning.
The magnitude-6.3 quake killed at least one person and knocked out cooling at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant for almost an hour, underscoring the plant's reactors' vulnerability to seismic activity.
Workers at the stricken nuclear power complex found a small fire near a reactor building Tuesday, but it was extinguished quickly, the plant's operator said. It was unclear whether the fire was related to the aftershock.
Japanese authorities have ordered people within a 12-mile radius of the plant to evacuate, and recommended that people avoid the area within a wider radius of 18 miles. The new measures were in response to high readings of radiation in certain hot spots beyond those areas, underscoring the difficulty of predicting the ways radiation has spread from the plant.
Instead of spreading in even circles, the radiation has been directed to some areas and not others by weather patterns and the terrain. Iitate, one of the communities told Monday to prepare for evacuation, lies well beyond the 18-mile radius, but the winds have blown northwest from the Fukushima plant toward Iitate, which may explain why high readings were detected there.
Yukio Edano, the government's chief Cabinet secretary, said the government would order Iitate and four other towns and villages to prepare to evacuate.
The fear is that these areas are being exposed to radiation equivalent to at least 20 millisieverts a year, he said, which could be harmful to health over the long term. Evacuation orders will come within a month for Katsurao, Namie, Iitate, and parts of Minamisoma and Kawamata, he said.
People in five other areas may be told to evacuate if the crisis worsens at the Fukushima Daiichi station, he said.
''This measure is not an order for you to evacuate or take actions immediately," he said. "We arrived at this decision by taking into account the risks of remaining in the area in the long term," Mr. Edanio added, appealing for calm.
He said that the chance of a large-scale radiation leak from the Fukushima Daiichi plant had, in fact, decreased.
Mr. Edano also said that pregnant women, children, and hospital patients should stay out of the 18-mile radius, and that schools in that zone would stay closed.
The Japanese government before had refused to widen the zone, despite urging from the International Atomic Energy Agency. Countries such as the United States and Australia have advised their citizens to stay 50 miles away.
But Norio Kanno, Iitate's mayor, expressed dismay. "A full evacuation, a hollowing out of the village, is something I would have liked to avoid," he told public broadcaster, NHK.
Monday's aftershock came on the heels of Mr. Edano's announcement. The tsunami warning was lifted after 45 minutes. Still, the temblor touched off a landslide that killed a 16-year-old girl.
The quake also caused a spate of other injuries and left 220,000 homes in three prefectures without power, including those who have experienced blackouts after the quake last month, the public broadcaster, NHK said.
The blackouts' extent after the March 11 quake and its aftershocks highlight the vulnerability of Japan's power grid to seismic shocks. Monday's aftershock again knocked out the external power supply to the Fukushima Daiichi plant, temporarily stopping pumps there from sending cooling water into the facility's three most damaged reactors, Japan's nuclear regulator said. The tsunami warning forced plant workers to evacuate temporarily.
Using emergency pumps to cool the nuclear fuel rods within the reactors and in spent-fuel pools above the reactors has been a top priority for the operator of the plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co., since the March 11 quake and tsunami damaged the reactors' circulation systems. But Monday's aftershock seemed to have exposed a vulnerability to that approach.
The backup power and pumping systems that have been brought to the plant, including emergency diesel generators, fire trucks on standby, and other generator trucks -- all require workers to operate them manually, according to the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. That makes them useless when workers must evacuate.
Hidehiko Nishiyama, deputy director-general of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, Japan's nuclear watchdog, acknowledged the problem but offered no solutions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Western Reserve Heritage Feasibility Study
The purpose of the Western Reserve Heritage Feasibility Study is to determine the feasibility of designating the historic Western Reserve of Ohio as a National Heritage Area(NHA).
A National Heritage Area is a locally managed place designated by Congress where natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography. NHAs are built on community partnerships and are planned around a region's shared heritage.
The feasibility study was authorized by Congress under 120 STAT. 1846 PUBLIC LAW 109–338, TITLE III—NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA – STUDIES, Subtitle A—Western Reserve Heritage Area Study on OCT. 12, 2006.
Study Team Leader
Midwest Regional Office
Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program
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Rough-and-tumble play is when children wrestle, roll, hit, and run after each other (Berk, 2010). It helps to self-regulate aggressive behavior with young children. Boys like to wrestle and hit while girls tend to chase with little physical contact. According to Berk (2010), “dominance hierarchy—a stable ordering of group members that predicts who will win when conflict arises.” There is a hierarchy that is decided by the child assessing their opponent before challenging. Rough play declines when the child gets older and there is less aggression due to self-regulation and dominance hierarchy.
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Researchers Closer to Cure for Multiple Sclerosis and Other Myelin-related Diseases
Medical News Keywords
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, MYELIN, NERVOUS SYSTEM, SPINAL CORD, MS
Available for logged-in reporters only
A breakthrough finding on the mechanism of myelin formation by Jonah Chan, assistant professor of cell and neurobiology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, could have a major impact on the treatment of diseases such as multiple sclerosis and demyelination as a result of spinal cord injuries.
Newswise — A breakthrough finding on the mechanism of myelin formation by Jonah Chan, assistant professor of cell and neurobiology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, could have a major impact on the treatment of diseases such as multiple sclerosis and demyelination as a result of spinal cord injuries.
Myelin, the white matter that coats all nerves, allows long-distance communication in the nervous system. "It plays a vital role in the overall health and function of the nervous system, and its degeneration plays a role in a number of diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathies, and even in spinal cord injury," Chan explained.
The study, "The Polarity Protein Par-3 Directly Interacts with p75NTR to Regulate Myelination", appears in the Nov. 3 issue of Science. Chan, who works at the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, collaborated on the study with Michel Cayouette and researchers at the Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montreal in Canada.
At a basic level, the nervous system functions like a collection of wires that transmit electrical signals encoding our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Just as an electrical wire needs insulation, myelin is wrapped around axons - the wire-like extensions of neurons that make up nerve fibers. The sheath helps to propagate the electrical signal and maximize the efficiency and velocity of these signals in our brain and body.
Diseases and injuries that compromise the integrity of myelin, such as multiple sclerosis or peripheral neuropathies, have dramatic consequences like paralysis, uncoordinated movements, and neuropathic pain.
Chan's study sheds light on the mechanisms that control how myelin is formed during development of the nerves. The article constitutes an important step forward in understanding the process of myelination and opens the way to new research in this field.
Chan showed that a protein, Par-3, is at the base of the myelination process. This protein becomes localized to one side of the myelin-forming cells, known as Schwann cells, upon contact with the axon that is to be myelinated. Par-3 acts almost as a molecular scaffold to set-up an "organizing centre", which brings together key proteins essential for myelination, in particular a receptor for a molecule secreted by the neurons.
The researchers found that when they disrupted this organizing centre, cells could not form myelin normally. Importantly, their discovery demonstrates that Schwann cells need to become polarized so that they know which side is in contact with the axon to initiate wrapping and to bring essential molecules to this critical interface.
These studies open the way to new research, said Chan, which should help to identify other components that are recruited at the organizing center set-up by Par-3. In multiple sclerosis, or after injury, Schwann cells can re-myelinate axons of the central nervous system to some degree. Therefore, these experiments bring about the possibility that manipulating the Par-3 pathway might allow for more efficient re-myelination of damaged or diseased nerves.
This work was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Career Transition Award and the Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Foundation Award to Jonah Chan, and the Canadian Institute of Health Research to Michel Cayouette.
Chan, J. R., Jolicoeur, C., Yamauchi, J, Elliott, J, Fawcett, J. P., Ng, B. K., and Cayouette, M. ,"The Polarity Protein Par-3 Directly Interacts with p75NTR to Regulate Myelination," Science, Nov. 3, 2006.
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Leading-Edge Research and Development > Research Profiles > Profiles Archive > CNSE professor leads groundbreaking emission reduction project
CNSE professor leads groundbreaking emission reduction project
A research project led by CNSE Assistant Professor of Nanoengineering Dr. Michael Carpenter will make strides toward a cleaner environment by addressing concerns related to global warming.
|Dr. Michael Carpenter stands in his |
lab where he works toward enabling
technologies for near-zero emission
Dr. Carpenter has been awarded a $300,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to continue his work toward enabling new technologies for near-zero emission power plants. He and his team of students are working to develop nanotechnology-enabled controls and sensors that will detect, and aid in reducing, emission levels from fossil fuel-burning power plants.
Dr. Carpenter was selected as part of a highly competitive process to receive a grant that is awarded through DOE's University Coal Research Program -- its longest-running student-teacher research grant initiative - designed to advance new ideas to support near-zero emission power plants, and to train a new generation of scientists and engineers in the investigation of long-term solutions for clean and efficient use of the nation's abundant coal resources.
The DOE's investment in Dr. Carpenter's program speaks to the importance of developing new technologies to reduce emissions. "With this new technology, we are specifically looking at the optical properties of nanocomposite materials and how these properties change as a function of the environment," says Dr. Carpenter. "When monitoring and controlling the emissions, it is essential that we create sensors that are extremely sensitive, but also harsh-environment compatible."
|A dual target physical vapor deposition |
tool in Dr. Carpenter's lab.
Dr. Carpenter's program is plasmonics-based. Plasmonics is the science and application of plasmons, which carry light energy as a packet of free electron oscillations. The properties of plasmons are being developed for a range of technology areas, including communications, sensors and cloaking. In this work, the plasmonic properties of gold nanoparticles are being probed remotely for the development of a harsh environment compatible sensor and can be considered a form of wireless technology.
"This is a very exciting technology," says Dr. Carpenter. "We are essentially learning a new science that has a direct application, which is to aid in the reduction of emissions from fossil fuels. Furthermore, this has great potential to be applied to other technology areas and other combustion sources."
CNSE was one of just six universities selected nationwide to receive grants under DOE's University Coal Research Program.
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Headache pain can start in different structures in the head. The brain itself doesn't hurt, but other parts of the head do. Headache is a common symptom of illness, such as a cold or the flu. At other times, headaches occur without seeming to be connected to any illness. Very rarely are headaches a sign of a serious medical problem.
Referred pain has its source in one place but is felt in another. For example, pain behind the eyes may actually be caused by tense muscles in the neck and shoulders. This means that the place that hurts may not be the part of the head that needs treatment.
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The Hebron Years
King David rose to political power in Israel gradually, over a number of years. He was chosen by God to replace King Saul while Saul still reigned (1 Samuel 16:1), but even after Saul died, David reigned only "over the house of Judah" for the next seven years. David's throne during The Civil War years was in Hebron (a civil war in which the South defeated the North).
"seven years reigned he in Hebron"
After years spent on the run from Saul (see David's Haunting), upon Saul's death in battle against the Philistines David asked The Lord if he could become more settled. The Lord answered that he could, and that Hebron was where he was to go. While there, men of Judah came and declared him to be their king. The civil war between Judah and the rest of the tribes of Israel, who made Saul's son Ish-bosheth their king, then began.
"And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of The Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?"
"And The Lord said unto him, Go up."
"And David said, Whither shall I go up?"
"And he said, Unto Hebron."
"So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite. And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah" (2 Samuel 2:1-4 KJV)
With David's victory came political unification of all of the tribes of Israel. They became one nation under God again, a unity that lasted until the time of David's grandson Rehoboam when they split into two kingdoms, north and south, Israel and Judah, a division that again awaits healing (see the Fact Finder question below).
"Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and The Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel."
"So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before The Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel."
"David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah."
"And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion [see Who, What or Where Is Zion?]: the same is the City Of David."
"And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward" (2 Samuel 5:1-9 KJV)
David was succeeded by his son Solomon.
"So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem."
"Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly [see Solomon's Kingdom]." (1 Kings 2:10-12 KJV)
Fact Finder: (a) How did Israel become "Israel" and "Judah" - two independent kingdoms? (b) At what future time will Israel and Judah again be united?
(a) See When Israel Became "Israel" and "Judah"
(b) See The Gathering of Israel and Judah, also Spiritual and Physical Gatherings
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Tips and Tricks for Managing Students Outdoors
1. Establish Ground Rules and Outdoor Routines
- Make sure to prep students days before to be dressed for staying outside
- Have a routine for gathering equipment, line up, exit and return
- Go out a different door than you use for recess
- Establish outdoor boundaries, remind students in first circle
- Circle up with class at beginning and end of time outside
- Identify an outdoor gathering cue (whistle, countdown to circle up) & spot
- Save the time for a closing circle before heading back inside.
2. Plan a “sacrificial” lesson
- Just like starting the school year indoors, spend the time to practicing how to work outdoors as a class.
- At first this can seem a bit out of control, but trust that they will become focused and productive with time.
- Be prepared to take the privilege of learning away from the class if they misbehave. (They won't next time.)
- For younger students, be prepared to sacrifice the first lesson and take the class back inside if you have behavior problems.
- For older students, plan an option (asst principal is best) so you can send poorly behaved students back inside or an alternative for them the next time you go outside.
- You will find that it takes very little example for even your most challenging students (indoors) to become angels outside.
3. Get to know your schoolyard
- Take several sessions outside to explore your site before diving into an activity.
- Let younger students poke around, have unstructured exploration time, “play” with the outdoor materials before focused study.
Note: Mapping a Study Site is a great activity for middle school students, and needs scaffolding for younger children.
4. Be clear about the purpose of going outside
- Clear expectations and conveying your intent of the activity is powerful when teaching science anywhere.
- It is particularly important to determine which experiences:
- enhance learning occurring in the classroom.
- stimulate a child’s personal connection to nature.
- allow children to reflect and be inspired by their connection.
- Give students concrete tasks to help focus their observations and thinking. With older students you can allow these tasks to become more open and abstract over time.
Make sure you make time for all of these opportunities!
5. Every student should have something to carry.
- A notebook or tool in-hand helps students remember why they’re outside. Clipboards, measuring instruments, journals can be crucial in keeping younger students on-task.
- Always bring extra pencils and writing materials. Even older students can be forgetful or careless (sometimes conveniently if they are less inclined to write!)
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Those who have any familiarity with Islamic art will know they don't have a tradition allowing figurative representation. Instead, the majority was decorative with designs made up of beautifully executed geometric patterns. In The Conference Of The Birds Sis' artwork pays homage to that style without either simply imitating or claiming it as his own. Instead he has incorporated it into his illustrations — clouds made out of the countless bodies of birds float across the page and the shape of a labyrinth shows up on page after page. Not only does the latter echo the motif of repeated geometric shapes common to Islamic art of the twelfth century, as a symbol long used to represent an inner journey or the path of a person's life, it emphasizes the overall theme of self-discovery so important to the story.
Like the Sufi mystics of old, Peter Sis's reinterpretation of Farid ud-Din Attar's twelfth century epic poem The Conference Of The Birds works on many levels. Children and adults will delight in its glorious illustrations. The story of a poet turning into a bird and then leading all the birds of the world on a great adventure to find their king is sure to be one that will appeal to young people, while adults can ponder the messages of the story and perhaps even find ways of conveying them to younger readers. There are many different paths leading to self-awareness, and Sis and Attar prove they don't have to be devoid of beauty, and you can enjoy yourself along the way.
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The White-tailed Spider is a dark, elongated spider, 1 to 2.5 cm long. The abdomen is shaped like a lemon pip and has a dull cream spot on the tip. Male spiders and juveniles often have striped legs and two or four spots at the top of the abdomen, as well as one at the tip of the tail.
A White-tailed Spider
Illustrator: Graham Milledge. Source: Museum Victoria
The White-tailed Spider is a hunting spider, and does not make a web to catch its prey.
Habitat and biology
This is a common spider that usually lives in the garden under rocks, leaf litter and bark of trees. It does not make a permanent home, but roams at night hunting for food – mainly small insects and other spiders. This wandering habit is the reason why it is commonly found inside houses in bedrooms, in bed clothes, clothes left on the floor, wardrobes, curtains, bathrooms, laundries, and running across the floor or wall in other rooms. Spiders are most active from spring through to late autumn.
A White-tailed Spider outside
Photograph: Alan Henderson. Source: Museum Victoria
White-tailed Spiders are not aggressive spiders; they tend to bite only if they are provoked, threatened or startled in some way. Usually they prefer to run away. The bite can cause local burning pain followed by a variable illness. Symptoms may include an itchy lump, swelling, discolouration, blistering, ulceration, nausea or vomiting.
The best way to deal with these spiders inside the house is to use some common sense. Be aware of places they like to hide, do not leave clothes on the floor (but if you do, then shake them before putting them on), and check bedclothes before going to bed. The spiders are active at night, so they are more likely to be seen then. Either catch the spider and put it outside, or kill it by squashing or spraying with a household insecticide. You should not need to employ a pest exterminator to spray or fumigate your house solely for the control of White-tailed Spiders.
A White-tailed Spider inside
Source: Museum Victoria
To treat a spider bite, the wound should be washed with soap and water, dabbed with an antiseptic solution and, if painful, a water–ice pack or anaesthetic cream or lotion applied. Try to locate the spider responsible, and keep it so it can be identified correctly if necessary. Keep the person bitten under observation for 1–3 hours, and if their condition deteriorates seek medical attention.
This spider is suspected of causing a necrotic reaction resulting in severe skin damage in some 12 cases in the last 10 years. Unfortunately, none of the people affected could positively identify what bit them, so the White-tailed Spider remains only one suspect.
Brunnet, B. 1994. The Silken Web – A Natural History of Australian Spiders. Reed Books: Melbourne.
Lindsey, T. 1998. Spiders of Australia. New Holland Publishers: Sydney.
Walker, K. L., Yen, A. L. and Milledge, G. A. 2003. Spiders and Scorpions commonly found in Victoria. Royal Society of Victoria: Melbourne.
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This unique ecosystem is more than just something you pass on your way to the beach. Coastal wetlands are vital resources that help to sustain Florida's environment and wildlife.
Coastal wetlands in Florida include salt marshes and mangrove swamps. These habitats are generally very productive, and both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems rely on coastal wetland habitat.
Coastal wetlands serve several important functions:
- Act as nursery, feeding, and refuge areas for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.
- Improve water quality by removing excess nutrients and pollutants.
- Provide habitat for fish, birds, and invertebrates such as crabs and shrimp.
- Protect coasts from erosion.
Depending on where you are in Florida, look for the following plants in coastal wetlands:
- Black rush (Juncus roemerianus)
- Glasswort (Salicornia sp.)
- Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)
- Saltwort (Batis maritima)
Mangroves are tropical trees that grow in coastal areas. Mangroves have adaptations that help them grow in coastal areas, including specialized roots that can "breathe," the ability to filter out salt, and and seeds that germinate while they're still on the parent plant.
There are three species of true mangrove found in Florida: the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), and white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa).
Red mangroves have the characteristic prop roots that many people associate with mangroves. They are found along the shore. Black and white mangroves grow in more upland areas of coastal wetlands.
Wetlands attract both aquatic and terrestrial animals, including many threatened and endangered species. These endangered species include the following:
- American alligator
- American crocodile
- Atlantic salt marsh snake
- Bald eagle
- Brown pelican
- Eastern indigo snake
- Hawksbill, ridley, loggerhead, and green sea turtles
- Florida manatee
- Florida panther
- Key deer
- Peregrine falcon
Threats to Wetlands
Human activity has a large impact on coastal wetlands. Conversion to agricultural or urban spaces, impounding for mosquito control, and clearing for fish or shellfish aquaculture all contribute to the depletion of wetland areas.
Damage to and loss of coastal wetlands can also be caused by pollution--including oil spills, pesticide and herbicide runoff, industrial chemicals, and human waste.
Natural events such as hurricanes impact coastal wetlands by causing over flooding and burying plants in sand and silt.
Consider visiting your local coast to get a firsthand view of these important environments. Contact your local Extension office or Florida state park for information on plant and wildlife identification and coastal wetlands in general.
Adapted and excerpted from:
J. Rey and C. Rutledge, Coastal Wetlands of the Indian River Lagoon (ENY653), Entomology and Nematology Department (rev. 12/2011).
J. Rey and C. Rutledge, Mangroves (ENY660), Entomology and Nematology Department (rev. 01/2009).
Related Sites & Articles
- UF/IFAS Sites
- Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
- Coastal Wetlands: Salt Marshes and Mangrove Forests
- Other Sites & Publications
- Coastal Watersheds--South Florida Water Management District
- Everglades National Park
- Gulf Coast Wetlands--EPA
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One cartoonist who reveled in language but has been largely neglected in my postings on linguistics in the comics is Walt Kelly, the creator of Pogo. The problem is that good examples of Pogo material are hard to find on the net. But here are a few high points: the quote “We have met the enemy and he is us”; notes on the Okefenokee swamp dialect in Pogo; and the inspired nonsense of Kelly’s song parodies.
1. We have met the enemy. From the I Go Pogo site:
Walt Kelly first used the quote “We Have Met The Enemy and He Is Us” on a poster for Earth Day in 1970. The poster is shown above. In 1971, he did a two panel version with Pogo and Porky in a trash filled swamp.
This is the only example I know of with a balloon, indicating Pogo responding to Porky with “YEP, SON, WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US.” In 1972, it was the title of a book, Pogo: We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us.
Mark Liberman looked at the background of this material on Language Log in 2009.
On the pronouns in this quote: there are three choices involved, how to manage reference back to the enemy, how to distribute reference to the enemy and us between the subject and predicative, and what pronoun form to use in the predicative. On the first choice: either repeat the enemy or use a pronoun — singular he or it or formally plural they. Liberman:
Linguistically speaking, this all started in 1813, when Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry famously wrote to General William Henry Harrison reporting a victory in the Battle of Lake Erie:
We have met the enemy and they are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop.
The quotation is often amended to “… and he is ours”, perhaps due to prescriptive nervousness about “singular they”.
Kelly echoed Perry in the he version, though all four choices would have been possible:
and the enemy is us / and he is us / and it is us / and they are us
(The choice of they here would not necessarily be “singular they“, since enemy can be used as an intrinsically plural noun — The enemy are at the gate — as well as as a singular — The enemy is at the gate. There’s similar variation in a number of other nouns, for instance staff. In any case, that means that and the enemy are us is yet another possibility, though not an especially good one.)
So far we (and Kelly) are echoing Perry in having the subject in the second coordinate clause refer to the enemy. But the predicative is another possibility:
and we are the enemy / and we are him / and we are it / and we are them
Many speakers strongly disprefer accented it, so that’s the least satisfactory choice. But all these choices treat us as the topic of the discourse, whereas the discourse is about the enemy, so none of them are really satisfying.
Finally, going back to enemy-referring subjects, there’s the issue of case choice for the predicative. Here Kelly opts for an accusative, rather than a nominative, as in:
and the enemy is/are we / and he is we / and it is we / and they are we
Good for him; nominative predicative 1pl is strikingly bizarre, even for people who insist on things like It is I. In general, accusative predicative pronouns are standard, with small islands of nominative use by people who have been taught that these usages are “correct”. (A topic for another posting, but this is the broad generalization.)
The upshot is that Kelly’s choice, and he is us, is an excellent one for the second conjunct, with only and they are us as a serious competitor.
2. Pogolect. From Wikipedia:
The strip was notable for its distinctive and whimsical use of language. Kelly, a native northeasterner, had a sharply perceptive ear for language and used it to great humorous effect. The predominant vernacular in Pogo, sometimes referred to as “swamp-speak,” is essentially a rural southern U.S. dialect laced with nonstop malapropisms, fractured grammar, “creative” spelling and mangled polysyllables such as “incredibobble” and “hysteriwockle,” plus invented words such as the exasperated exclamations “Bazz Fazz!,” “Rowrbazzle!” and “Moomph!” The resulting dialect is difficult to characterize, but the following fragment of dialogue (excerpted from a 1949 strip reproduced in the collection Pogo, published by Post-Hall Syndicate in 1951) may convey the general flavor:
Pogo has been engaged in his favorite pastime, fishing in the swamp from a flat-bottomed boat, and has hooked a small catfish. “Ha!” he exclaims, “A small fry!” At this point Hoss-Head the Champeen Catfish, bigger than Pogo himself, rears out of the swamp and the following dialogue ensues:
Hoss-Head [with fins on hips and an angry scowl]: Chonk back that catfish chile, Pogo, afore I whops you!
Pogo: Yassuree, Champeen Hoss-Head, yassuh yassuh yassuh yassuh yassuh… [tosses baby fish back in water]
Pogo [walks away, muttering discontentedly]: Things gettin’ so humane ’round this swamp, us folks will have to take up eatin’ MUD TURKLES!
Churchy (a turtle) [eavesdropping from behind a tree with Howland Owl]: Horroars! A cannibobble! [passes out]
Howland [holding the unconscious Churchy]: You say you gone eat mud turkles! Ol’ Churchy is done overcame!
Pogo: It was a finger of speech—I apologize! Why, I LOVES yo’, Churchy LaFemme!
Churchy [suddenly recovered from his swoon]: With pot licker an’ black-eye peas, you loves me, sir—HA! Us is through, Pogo!
3. Inspired nonsense. Again from the Wikipedia entry:
Kelly was an accomplished poet, and frequently added pages of original comic verse to his Pogo reprint books, complete with charming cartoon illustrations. The odd song parody or nonsense poem would also appear in the newspaper strip on occasion. In 1956, Kelly published Songs of the Pogo, an illustrated collection of his original songs, with lyrics by Kelly and music by Kelly and Norman Monath. The tunes were also issued on a vinyl LP, with Kelly himself contributing to the vocals. [The album is available as a CD or mp3 download.]
Traditional Christmas carols were a regular feature of Kelly’s holiday strips as well—particularly Deck the Halls. They are enthusiastically performed by the swamp’s rotating “Okefenokee Glee and Perloo Union” Choir, (perloo is a pilaf-based Cajun stew, similar to jambalaya), although in their childish innocence the chorus typically mangles the lyrics. (Churchy once sang a version of Good King Wenceslas that went: “Good King Sauerkraut look out / On his feets uneven / Beware the snoo lay ’round about / All kerchoo achievin’…”)
The version of “Deck Us All” from Songs of the Pogo:
Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo!
Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!
Don’t we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don’t love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!
(Kelly wrote several more versions, but this is the one I can’t get out of my head. A reference to it on this blog, here.)
There’s much, much more.
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Gilbert Keith Chesterton (May 29, 1874–June 14, 1936) was an influential English writer of the early 20th century. His prolific and diverse output included journalism, poetry, biography and Christian apologetics, but today he is probably best remembered for his Father Brown short stories.
Chesterton has been called the "prince of paradox." He wrote in an off-hand, whimsical prose studded with startling formulations. For example: "Thieves respect property. They merely wish the property to become their property that they may more perfectly respect it." He is one of the few Christian thinkers who is admired and quoted equally by liberal and conservative Christians. Chesterton's own theological and political views were far too nuanced to fit comfortably under the "liberal" or "conservative" banner.
Read G.K.Chesterton's book, The Wisdom of Father Brown, one of 29 of his works available free from Project Gutenberg..
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Diff mode is a major mode used for the output of M-x diff and other similar commands. This kind of output is called a patch, because it can be passed to the patch command to automatically apply the specified changes. To select Diff mode manually, type M-x diff-mode.
The changes specified in a patch are grouped into hunks, which are contiguous chunks of text that contain one or more changed lines. Hunks can also include unchanged lines to provide context for the changes. Each hunk is preceded by a hunk header, which specifies the old and new line numbers at which the hunk occurs. Diff mode highlights each hunk header, to distinguish it from the actual contents of the hunk.
You can edit a Diff mode buffer like any other buffer. (If it is
read-only, you need to make it writable first. See Misc Buffer.)
Whenever you change a hunk, Diff mode attempts to automatically
correct the line numbers in the hunk headers, to ensure that the patch
remains “correct”. To disable automatic line number correction,
change the variable
Diff mode treats each hunk as an “error message”, similar to Compilation mode. Thus, you can use commands such as C-x ' to visit the corresponding source locations. See Compilation Mode.
In addition, Diff mode provides the following commands to navigate, manipulate and apply parts of patches:
This command has a side effect: it refines the hunk you move to, highlighting its changes with better granularity. To disable this feature, type M-x diff-auto-refine-mode to toggle off the minor mode Diff Auto-Refine mode. To disable Diff Auto Refine mode by default, add this to your init file (see Hooks):
(add-hook 'diff-mode-hook (lambda () (diff-auto-refine-mode -1)))
diff-hunk-prev). Like M-n, this has the side-effect of refining the hunk you move to, unless you disable Diff Auto-Refine mode.
diff-apply-hunk). With a prefix argument of C-u, revert this hunk.
diff-refine-hunk). This allows you to see exactly which parts of each changed line were actually changed.
diff-ediff-patch). See Ediff.
diff-restrict-view). See Narrowing. With a prefix argument of C-u, restrict the view to the current file of a multiple-file patch. To widen again, use C-x n w (
diff-split-hunk). This is for manually editing patches, and only works with the unified diff format produced by the -u or --unified options to the diff program. If you need to split a hunk in the context diff format produced by the -c or --context options to diff, first convert the buffer to the unified diff format with C-c C-u.
diff-unified->context). With a prefix argument, convert only the text within the region.
diff-context->unified). With a prefix argument, convert unified format to context format. When the mark is active, convert only the text within the region.
diff-add-change-log-entries-other-window). This creates a skeleton of the log of changes that you can later fill with the actual descriptions of the changes. C-x 4 a itself in Diff mode operates on behalf of the current hunk's file, but gets the function name from the patch itself. This is useful for making log entries for functions that are deleted by the patch.
Patches sometimes include trailing whitespace on modified lines, as an unintentional and undesired change. There are two ways to deal with this problem. Firstly, if you enable Whitespace mode in a Diff buffer (see Useless Whitespace), it automatically highlights trailing whitespace in modified lines. Secondly, you can use the command M-x diff-delete-trailing-whitespace, which searches for trailing whitespace in the lines modified by the patch, and removes that whitespace in both the patch and the patched source file(s). This command does not save the modifications that it makes, so you can decide whether to save the changes (the list of modified files is displayed in the echo area). With a prefix argument, it tries to modify the original source files rather than the patched source files.
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What was the North Norfolk Pathfinder?
In 2009 the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs (Defra) invited local authorities to apply to an £11 million funded Coastal Change Pathfinder Programme. The Programme is a ‘road test’ for local authorities to explore ways of helping coastal communities plan and adapt to coastal change.
NNDC were successful in securing the largest amount of funding (£3 million) to trial its projects. The projects began in January 2010 and ran until completed in 2012.
The North Norfolk Pathfinder trialed a range of initiatives and evaluated their effectiveness, the issues faced and lessons learnt and then to reported these back to Defra. This information is now avaliable to inform future government coastal policies.
Whilst implementing the Pathfinder projects some issues which affect individuals and communities were tackled, unfortunately the projects were not created to enable everyone’s needs to be met.
Coastal Pathfinder Evaluation
Defra's evaluations of all the Pathfinders completed by Local Authorities are available to download.
North Norfolk District Coucnil also completed its own internal evaluation and this has been incorporated into this website.
The north Norfolk evaluation compares what we set out to do, the achievements and the lessons learnt. A print version of the north Norfolk evaluation is also available.
A quick overview presentation of the north Norfolk programme outlining the outcomes and lessons learnt is available.
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Tips And Hints For Growing Easy-Care Warm-Season Crops
Planting months: April,May,June Spacing: 18-24 inches, rows 2 to 21/2 feet SpecialTips: Needs heat, Cut fruit, don’t pull off stem, stake plants with green bamboo to hold them up, especially Oriental varieties. Harvesting : Fruit should be glossy, filled out, and big enough to eat. Flesh should spring back when you press with thumb. If seeds are brown it’s overripe. Pick often. Recommended Varieties: Asian hybrid Ichiban, Black Beauty, Burpee Hybrid, Rosa Bianca (my favorite), Dusky, Cloud Nine.
NOTE: If you are growing vegetables year-round there will be some carry over of cool-season crops into warm weather, for example artichokes, which can be put in from transplants in March and harvested in June, or globe onions, which are planted from seeds in November and harvested in late May or June, and strawberries which are also planted in November and harvested throughout spring into early summer.
No related articles.
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The Worldwide Voluntary Observing Ship Scheme
The United States VOS Project Mission
Port Meteorological Officers
VOS Ship Resource Page
Mariners Weather Log
Observing Handbook No. 1
Weather and Marine Related Links
The WMO Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS) Scheme
The international scheme by which ships plying the various oceans and seas of the world are recruited by National Meteorological Services (NMSs) for taking and transmitting meteorological observations is called the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Voluntary Observing Ships' (VOS) scheme. The forerunner of the scheme dates back as far as 1853, the year in which delegates of ten maritime countries came together at a conference in Brussels, on the initiative of Matthew F. Maury, then director of the United States Navy Hydrographic Office, to discuss his proposal for the establishment of a uniform system for the collection of meteorological and oceanographical data from the oceans and the use of these data for the benefit of shipping in return.
The conference accepted his proposal and adopted a standard form of ship's log and a set of standard instructions for the necessary observations.
From the very beginning, ships' meteorological observations were recognized as being essential for the provision of safety related meteorological services for ships at sea, as well as for climatological purposes.
The Situation Today:
At the present time, the contribution which VOS meteorological reports make to operational meteorology, to marine meteorological services and to global climate studies is unique and irreplaceable. During the past few decades, the increasing recognition of the role of the oceans in the global climate system has placed even greater emphasis on the importance of marine meteorological and oceanographical observing systems.
One of the major continuing problems facing meteorology is the scarcity of data from vast areas of the world's oceans (the so-called 'data sparse areas') in support of basic weather forecasting, the provision of marine meteorological and oceanographic services, and climate analysis and research.
While the new generation of meteorological satellites help to overcome these problems, data from more conventional platforms, in particular the voluntary observing ships, remain essential. These ship observations provide ground truth for the satellite observations, important information which the satellites cannot observe, essential contributions to the data input for the numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, and to provide realtime reports which can be used immediately in services for the mariner. In addition to their use in NWP, reports from ships at sea are also used operationally, even more directly, in the preparation of forecasts and warnings, including those for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), and issued specifically for the mariner.
Thus, without VOS observations, reliable and timely services for mariners cannot be provided.
The VOS Fleet Size:
A peak in total VOS was reached in 1984/85 when about 7700 ships worldwide were on the WMO VOS Fleet List. Since then there has been an irregular but marked decline and in June 1994, the Fleet strength had dropped to about 7200 ships. These numbers have continued to decline and are currently estimated at only about 4000 ships worldwide. As might be expected, realtime reports from the VOS are heavily concentrated along the major shipping routes, primarily in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. The chart below shows the data sparse areas in all the southern hemisphere oceans. While this situation certainly reflects the relatively small numbers of ships sailing in these waters, it also makes it more essential that ships sailing in these areas should be part of the VOS and thus contribute to the global observing program and consequent enhancement of the forecast and warning services to the mariner. Of course, as VOS reports are part of a global data capture program, their reports are of value from all the oceans and seas of the world, and even the well frequented North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans require more observational data.
Participation:What are the charges to be part of the VOS scheme?
THERE ARE NO CHARGES TO THE SHIP OR TO THE OPERATOR. The tested marine meteorological instruments necessary to undertake weather observing at sea are usually supplied free of charge to the ship, installed by a professional from the NMS, usually a trained Port Meteorological Officer (PMO), who will provide advice on the technique of observing at sea, explain the use of the WMO SHIP code and offer guidance on the transmission of the observations from the ship to shore, using the ship's own satcom or terrestrial communications equipment.
THERE ARE NO CHARGES TO THE SHIP FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF VOS WEATHER REPORTS. After recruitment into the VOS program, the meteorological instruments will be regularly serviced, without charge to the ship or ship owner, by an official of either the 'recruiting NMS' or from the worldwide network of WMO Members who operate the international VOS program.
How can you become involved?If a Shipping Administrator:
REMEMBER: HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF FORECASTS AND WARNINGS, CONTRIBUTE TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF SAFETY AT SEA.
Only YOU know the weather at your position. Report it!
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The British codebreakers at Bletchley Park are now believed to have shortened the duration of the Second World War by up to two years. During the dark days of 1941, as Britain stood almost alone against the the Nazis, this remarkable achievement seemed impossible. This extraordinary book, originally published as Action This Day, includes descriptions by some of Britain s foremost historians of the work of Bletchley Park, from the breaking ofEnigma and other wartime codes to the invention of modern computing, and its influence on Cold War codebreaking. Crucially, it features personal reminiscences and very human stories of wartime codebreaking from former Bletchley Park codebreakers themselves. This edition includes new material from one of those who was there, making The Bletchley Park Codebreakers compulsive reading.
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Conservation Ark is involved in a range of projects to ensure the long-term survival of species in the wild. These projects are working to protect animals where they remain in the wild, or to bring them back to parts of their range from which they have been lost.
In addition to being involved in direct conservation projects, Conservation Ark also supports the survival of a number of species through the maintenance of captive insurance populations or financial support to partner organisation. Find out more about these projects here.
|Program||IUCN Status||Geographical Region|
|Black-flanked rock-wallaby (Warru)||Near threatened||Australia|
|Eastern Barred Bandicoot||Vulnerable||Australia|
|Mainland Tammar Wallaby||Extinct in the Wild||Australia|
|Monarto Restoration Project||South Australia|
|Orange-bellied Parrot||Critically Endangered||Australia|
|Red-tailed black-cockatoo||Least Concern||Australia|
|Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat||Lower Risk||Australia|
|Tree Kangaroos||Critically Endangered (Tenkile)||Australasia|
|Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby||Vulnerable||Australia|
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You don’t realize it yet, but in the 2 next minutes you’re going to find out that Chinese medicine has been treating diabetes for thousands of years. Called Xiao-Ke, or “wasting and thirsting,” it was first described in one of the oldest books about Chinese medical theory, Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic). Written around 100 B.C. this ancient text says the syndrome arises from consuming too much fatty, sweet, or rich foods. It is states that diabetes typically occurs among wealthy people: “you ask them to refrain from a rich diet, which they may resist.” This description fits Type 2 diabetes.
China has a long history of dealing with this disease without modern drug therapy. This indicates that great effort has gone into alleviating the various symptoms of diabetes by natural methods. In the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic (written around 100 B.C.), the condition known as xiao ke is mentioned, and is translated today as diabetes or diabetic exhaustion (translation is emaciation-thirst).
Diabetes is a common metabolic disturbance of the endocrine system resulting from absolute or relative insulin deficiency. In the US, 17 million people suffer from diabetes.* Of these, 5.9 million people go undiagnosed. All causes of diabetes ultimately lead to hyperglycemia. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, blurred vision, itchy skin, frequent or reoccurring infections, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal and tingling &/or numbness of hands or feet.
Approximately 10% of people with diabetes have Type 1 and 90% have Type 2. Type 2 is more common in overweight people over 40 years old. With this type the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or there is insulin resistance. Milder conditions can be controlled with diet and exercise. A great exercise program for Type 2 diabetes is to swim, walk, or do yoga 4 times a week.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are effective for treating Type 2 diabetes. In the 1994 the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine there was a report about “Clinical and Experimental Studies in Treating Diabetes Mellitus by Acupuncture.” It explains one of many such clinical trials that have been based on traditional methods of treatment that had been expounded in the past. The researchers recruited 60 patients with diabetes and divided them randomly into two groups: the acupuncture group (38 patients) and the control group (22 patients); the two groups were found to be well matched for symptoms and laboratory results (blood and urine tests). Both groups followed a regulated diet during the study, but one group received acupuncture at three points (on both sides of the body, thus six acupuncture needles): one of the forearm (inner elbow) and two on the lower leg with needles retained in place for approximately half an hour. One other point was treated on the back with only brief retention. Additionally, patients would receive acupuncture at one adjunct point (it could be on both sides), depending on the traditional Chinese diagnosis of the patient based on the ancient yin/yang concept. Electrical stimulation of the needles was used. The treatment was administered once a day for 30 days. For the control group, a well-known herbal pill, Xiao Ke Wan or Diabetes Pill, was administered. This pill had been the subject of earlier study and its level of effectiveness was already established. The patients were not using diabetes drugs during the trial except for 8 patients who required insulin injections.
Among the 22 participants who took the diabetes pill, there were 12 cases rated as effectively treated and 8 cases as markedly effective. The definitions of these improvements are as follows: the patients who experienced markedly effective results had their initial symptoms essentially disappear by the end of the one month treatment and their fasting blood-sugar levels had dropped below 130 (or the blood sugar two hours after a meal would be below 150). Urine-sugar content was reduced by 30% or more at the end of treatment compared to beginning of treatment. These patients were not “cured” of diabetes (if they had been, the fasting blood-sugar would usually be below 100), but they showed very evident improvements. For those deemed effectively treated (not markedly effective), symptoms were improved but not gone, and fasting blood-sugar levels dropped to below 150 (or two hours after meals below 180), and the 24-hour, urinary-sugar excretion declined by at least 10% from initial values (but not up to 30%). If these standards could not be met, then the treatment was deemed ineffective.
The diabetes pill for the control group was quite effective, which confirmed what had been established in earlier studies. All but two of the patients showed declines in blood sugar and urinary sugar excretion and improvements in symptoms. More than one-third of the patients had marked improvement.
For the 38 participants in the acupuncture group, there were 10 cases rated effective and 25 more cases rated markedly effective by the definitions used above. In other words, nearly 2/3 of the patients treated showed the marked improvement and only three patients failed to respond. The average duration of diabetic affliction among this group was 4.2 years (maximum 15 years). In general, better results are obtained with acupuncture and with herbal therapy when it is started earlier in the chronic disease process rather than later, when many complications may have developed. Thus, persons who have been diagnosed with diabetes for ten years or more may not experience such dramatic results as the group involved in this study.
The research report showed that the patients receiving acupuncture experienced a small but statistically significant decline in cholesterol, triglycerides, and beta-lipoproteins. The drop in triglycerides was most substantial, with a decline from an average value of 151 at the start to 117 one month later (a decline of more than 20%). There was significant improvement in “nail-fold microcirculation,” which is a measurement of blood circulation through capillary beds (poor circulation through these beds is one reason persons with diabetes suffer from skin ulceration). Both these results indicate improvement in the cardiovascular system. Further, among those who were using insulin, the amount needed after the 30 days of acupuncture declined in six of the eight individuals; in two of those cases, the insulin could be stopped altogether.
The authors of the study concluded: “the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on diabetes are similar to those of the diabetes pills, however, acupuncture EXCELS in the prevention of complications, especially cardiovascular diseases.”
Treating Diabetes in the US
In the U.S., people usually do not receive acupuncture every day, as was done in the previously described study. Instead, you may choose a course of acupuncture once or twice per week. However, through the combination of the less frequent acupuncture and the daily ingestion of herbs, one can expect to accomplish similar results to those reported above, at least for persons who have had diabetes for only a few years.
Acupuncturists in the US are in a position to provide expert treatment because the points to be needled are also used (in various other combinations) for treating other disorders. For example, the acupuncture point zusanli (called Stomach 36; located on the lower leg) is one of the most commonly used points for chronic diseases and is used especially when the disease is obviously affected by dietary factors. Acupuncturists can also determine from their training and experience with treating other disorders whether or not it might be better to select alternative acupuncture points for a person’s unique situation in place of the ones mentioned in the research paper.
The typical course of acupuncture therapy for diabetes is a minimum of twelve treatments (two treatments per week to start; but may be continued afterwards at the rate of one treatment per week, or as needed).
If you suffer from diabetes call our Minneapolis Acupuncture Clinic at 612-866-4000 for relief from your symptoms and to improve the quality of your life. Or visit us at www.orientalmedcare.com
* NIH Publication May 2003
The article describing diabetes acupuncture research is from:
Chen DC, Gong, DQ, and Zhai Y, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1994; 14(3): 163-166.
The acupuncture points mentioned in the journal are quchi (LI-11), sanyinjiao (SP-6), zusanli (ST-36), and yishu (special diabetes point located at 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 8th thoracic vertebra). Supplemental points include yuji (LU-10), guanyuan (CV-4), and baihui (GV-20).
The article describing herb research is from Lin L, et al., Journal of Tradition Chinese Medicine
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This genius health care invention aims to help patients through projection.
Often, when a doctor consults a patient on how to care and cure an injured body part, patients have difficulty visualizing what's actually happened inside their body. The Microsoft Research 'AnatOnMe' hopes to abolish this difficulty by catering to visual learners through on-patient projection.
Tech researchers in the Microsoft Research team deserve a "bone-us" for creating this brilliant invention. The technology is actually quite simple; during a consultation, the therapist examines the injury and takes photos of the patient using the webcam-wielding handheld device. Then, they are able to construct accurate images of the patient's injury using stock images and project them onto the skin of the patient. This helps the patient visually see his injury, and understand how to cure it.
The Microsoft Research 'AnatOnMe' device will improve patient-practioner communication.
2,555 clicks in 104 w
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A study by researchers at Stanford University which appeared in Monday’s issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine hit on one of the biggest hot-button issues in nutrition today: organic foods, and their merits. Much of the media coverage has centered on what this large study says about the relative benefits of organic vs. conventionally grown foods in human health.
But that’s not what this study is really about. In fact, only 17 of the 240 studies examined by the researchers involved humans at all (the rest examined the nutrient profiles and pesticide levels of various foods). And of those 17, only 3 involved human health outcomes (eczema, wheezing and atopy, or “hyperallergenic” reactions). And any conclusions about the nutrient profiles of various foods will always be hampered by the fact that, as this NPR piece points out, the profiles of any two tomatoes sitting in the same pile in your grocery’s produce aisle will vary widely, for a host of reasons, regardless of whether they’re organic or conventional.
So it’s not quite the slam-dunk “Organics Are Not Healthier For You!” study some in the media are portraying it to be. It’s simply a serious analysis of the available literature, and it should be welcomed.
After the jump, some key findings of Monday’s study — and a call for cooler heads.
1. There is not sufficient evidence to support a claim that organic food is higher in vitamins, minerals or other nutrients than non-organically grown food.
2. The authors did report finding more phenols in organic produce. These are plant chemicals that are widely studied for cancer-protective and other health benefits.
3. The few studies on omega-3 fatty acid content showed higher levels in organic milk and chicken.
4. Conventional vegetables and fruit had higher risk for pesticide contamination than organic, but even the conventional levels fell below limits set by the US government.
5. There was no difference with respect to risk for bacterial contamination between organic and conventionally grown foods.
6. Organic chicken and pork has less contamination from bacteria that resists antibiotics than conventional products.
What About Organics and Cancer Protection?
Keep in mind that it’s only relatively recently that scientists who design the studies that track the human diet and disease risk started to distinguish between organic and conventional foods. And because cancer, for example, can take decades to form, it will be years before those studies start yielding data strong enough to identify the effect of organic vs. conventional foods on cancer risk.
So to organic advocates looking for conclusive proof that organics are more cancer-protective — and to pesticide manufacturers eager to dismiss the health benefits of organics — we can only say: The science simply isn’t there yet. Don’t take media coverage of one study as proof of the presence or absence of a connection. Wait and see.
But there are things we do know for certain, today, about diet and cancer, thanks to decades of research that has already come in:
1. Diets high in plant foods (vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans) can and do lower cancer risk, specifically cancers of the colorectum, stomach, esophagus, prostate, mouth/pharynx and larynx, and lung.
2. Farm workers who spend their days exposed to high levels of pesticides have a higher risk of cancer than the rest of the population.
So … Does It Matter?
Overlooked in much of the media coverage is the fact that most people who choose organic foods do so because of what’s NOT in them, not what IS. Many of these people are aware that the US government regulates the amount of pesticides used in conventional growing practices, but personally believe government allowances are too high, and choose to spend more money if it allows them to expose themselves and their family to as little pesticide residue as possible.
People choose organics for a host of other reasons as well, including issues related to land use, sustainability, workers’ safety, and a desire to buy locally-grown foods. These are reasons that have nothing to do with whether or not a given organic sweet potato contains more beta-carotene than one that has been conventionally grown.
The ongoing fight over the relative nutritional merits of organic vs. conventional foods isn’t going away. And it will take years for conclusive findings on such a complex and emotionally charged issue to come to light. In the meantime, perhaps it’s time to cool the rhetoric on both sides and embrace what we know:
Plant foods are good. We should eat more of them than we do now. So get them however you wish – fresh, frozen, canned, organic or conventional – but get them.
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