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Aircrew Safety & Health – Noise/Hearing Loss
What you need to know
Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related injuries in the United States. There are many sources of noise during flight operations. Here you can learn more about how aircrew can lower exposure to aircraft noise.
What are sources of aircraft noise?
- On the ground, aircraft engines, takeoff preparations, and braking are sources of noise on aircraft.
- When airborne, the aircraft engines and high speed turbulence over the fuselage are the largest sources of noise on aircraft. Announcements and mechanical noises from food and beverage service are other sources of noise.
- NIOSH conducted noise surveys in 2002 and 2003 on regional jets and turboprop aircraft. Noise levels were generally lower than NIOSH and/or OSHA recommended or regulated exposure levels, but some measurements briefly approached or surpassed these levels. Hearing protection, especially during takeoff and landing, is one option for reducing these exposures.
- A study of noise on Airbus A321 aircraft reported levels of 60-65 decibels (dBA) before takeoff; 80-85 dBA during flight; and 75-80 dBA during landing. The outside of aircraft engines (around 140 dB at takeoff) and conditions on other aircraft may have higher or lower noise levels. Sound insulation also varies among aircraft.
What are the recommended levels for noise at work?
- We recommend that all worker exposures to noise be controlled below a level equivalent to 85 dBA for eight hours to minimize occupational noise induced hearing loss.
- We also recommend a 3 dBA exchange rate so that every increase by 3 dBA doubles the amount of the noise and halves the recommended amount of exposure time.
What is not known
- Hearing loss accumulates over a lifetime. If you are exposed to aircraft noise and have health problems, we can’t tell if it was caused by your work conditions or if it was caused by something else.
- Although we know general ranges of noise levels on aircraft, noise levels have not been measured on all aircraft and can vary.
What you can do to reduce exposure to noise on aircraft
- Wear hearing protection during take-off and landing.
- The Airbus A321 study suggests that noise levels are higher in the rear of the cabin, near and behind the engines and propellers, and near windows. When you have a choice, moving to other locations in the cabin may reduce your noise levels.
- Learn more about protecting your hearing from the NIOSH Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention Website.
- Follow up with your doctor if you have concerns about your noise exposures. Make sure your doctor knows that you work as a crewmember. Sharing this and other information with your doctor may be useful. You or your doctor may also contact us for more information.
For more information
- NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations of Aircraft:
- Journal of the Canadian Acoustical Association: In-cabin noise levels during commercial aircraft flights
- Federal Aviation Administration: Hearing and Noise in Aviation
- Commercial Aviation: Pilots’ and Flight Attendants’ Exposure to Noise aboard Aircraft
- If you have safety and health questions about your job contact CDC-INFO.
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||Spanish American War
The proud tradition of service of the U.S. Army VII Corps, one of our most storied combat formations, began in the nineteenth century and spans from actions during the American Civil War to its support of veterans and their families today. During the Civil War, VII Corps was twice established — once in support of operations in Virginia and again in support of the Union Army’s campaign in Arkansas. VII Corps was later called upon to serve in Cuba, contributing to the occupation of Havana, supporting U.S. efforts during the Spanish American War.
August 19, 2018 is a day of great importance as we commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the third activation of this great Army Corps as it was called upon once again–this time to serve with distinction in World War I. The VII Corps was activated in Remiremont, France, under the command of MG William M. Wright, as part of the expanding role of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). The Corps operated as part of the French Seventh Army for the remaining months of World War I, and in the months following the end of the war, performed occupation duties along the German border in the vicinity of Bitburg and Trier. On 11 May 1919, as part of the withdrawal of U.S. Army soldiers from Europe, VII Corps was inactivated.
On 25 November 25, 1940, as the clouds of war once again loomed, VII Corps was reactivated at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. The Corps initially operated as a training command for U.S. Army National Guard divisions and participated in the famed Louisiana Maneuvers as the “Red Force” in July 1941. Subsequently, VII Corps transferred to San Jose, California where it assumed responsibility for further divisional training and coastal defense. After the attack on Pearl Harbor and U.S. declaration of war, VII Corps moved to Jacksonville, Florida. In September 1943, the Corps deployed to the United Kingdom to prepare for the invasion of Europe, and on 14 February, MG J. Lawton Collins assumed command of the Corps, a position he held until the end of WW II. VII Corps, also known as “Assault Force U,” was one of the units selected for the June 6, 1944 D-Day assault at Utah Beach on. Subordinate units included the 4th, 7th, 9th and 90th Infantry Divisions; the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions; the 4th Cavalry Group and the 6th Armored Group, as well as VII Corps support units. The Corps subsequently led the breakout from the Normandy beachhead as part of “Operation COBRA.” It ended that successful attack with the closing of the Falasie-Agentain Pocket on August 17, 1944. Then part of First Army, elements of VII Corps raced northward across France , engaging the retreating German forces defending the Siegfried Line (German West Wall) in the Huertgen Forest. Pulled out of line in response to the German December offensive, VII Corps moved westward, establishing part of the first defensive line and subsequent counterattack to eliminate German forces in the Battle of the Bulge. The Corps went on to lead attacks into the heart of Germany, ending with the final defeat of the German forces in June 1945.
On June 11, 1945, with the successful conclusion of the war, VII Corps was declared non-operational, and her soldiers redeployed home. In 1950, the Army re-activated VII Corps as one of the two Corps to be stationed in Germany as part of the Cold War deployment of U.S. Forces. For the next 40 years, VII Corps served in Germany as a bulwark against Soviet aggression in western Europe.
The August 2, 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces under Saddam Hussein, set in motion a new chapter for VII Corps. The United States responded by sending troops to Saudi Arabia, supporting a coalition to evict the Iraqi Armed Forces from Kuwait. By late October 1990, it became clear that more forces were needed. The VII Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Fred Franks, began the planning required to redeploy from their forward bases in Germany, to the Central Command’s Area of Responsibility. For the first time in U.S. history, a forward deployed unit of this size, with the families and dependents forward stationed with them, answered our nation’s call to serve on the world stage. In a herculean effort of detailed coordination, the 1st and 3rd Armored Divisions; 2nd Armored Division (Forward) and 1st Infanrty Division (Forward); together with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment; the VII Corps Headquarters; and numerous separate brigades and supporting troops deployed from Germany to Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously, the remainder of the 1st Infantry Division deployed from the United States to join the Corps, and subsequently, the United Kingdom 1st Armored Division and U.S. 1st Cavalry Division joined for the decisive land battle.
The air campaign commenced on January 17, 1991, and by the beginning of February, the bulk of VII Corps had moved into the desert assembly areas and then forward into attack positions. A last-minute change, resulting in advancing the VII Corps attack by 24 hours, meant that VII Corps launched its land attack at 1430, February 24, 1991. After an attack of 250 kilometers and 89 hours of unrelenting combat during which the VII Corps fought and decisively won the Battle of Northern Kuwait and Southeastern Iraq, the largest tank battle in the history of the US Army, the Corps once again showing its mettle and distinguishing itself in combat, reached the Euphrates River line, and the Iraqis requested an armistice. Following the cease-fire, VII Corps conducted humanitarian operations in occupied Iraq until UN resolution 687 passed on 3 April 1991. VII Corps was subsequently ordered to withdraw from Iraq.
On April 15, 1992, as a result of the fall of the Soviet Union and subsequent reduction of forces in the European theater of operations, VII Corps was inactivated in Stuttgart, Germany. VII Corps stands ready to return to active duty and serve our Nation and our people once again in peace and in war.
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Conservation of Historic Heritage Places
This inquiry has concluded. The final inquiry report was released by the Australian Government on 21 July 2006.
The Australian Government asked the Commission to report within 12 months on the policy framework and incentives for the conservation of Australia's historic built heritage places.
The Commission has been specifically asked to examine:
- the main pressures on the conservation of historic heritage places
- the economic, social and environmental benefits and costs of the conservation of historic heritage places in Australia
- the current relative roles and contributions to the conservation of historic heritage places of governments, heritage owners (private, corporate and government), community groups and any other relevant stakeholders
- the positive and/or negative impacts of regulatory, taxation and institutional arrangements on the conservation of historic heritage places and other impediments and incentives that affect outcomes
- emerging technological, economic, demographic, environmental and social trends that offer potential new approaches to the conservation of historic heritage places
- possible policy and program approaches for managing the conservation of historic heritage places and competing objectives and interests.
Historic built heritage places include such things as buildings, bridges, monuments and physically-created sites. Australia's moveable cultural heritage, such as works of art, Indigenous heritage and natural heritage are not included.
You may also be interested in
Media release: Productivity Commission to examine built heritage conservation
Please note: The draft report is for research purposes only. For final outcomes of this inquiry refer to the inquiry report.
The final report of the public inquiry Conservation of Australia’s Historic Heritage Places.
Submissions for the public inquiry, Conservation of Australia’s Historic Built Heritage Places.
Public hearing transcripts for the public inquiry for the public inquiry into the Policy Framework and Incentives for the Conservation of Australia’s Historic Built Heritage Places.
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Measuring Levels of Economic Development
This is a paper from economic geography course.
However, even though it is a APA format 4 pages paper, it isn’t a normal paper.
It is because it consists of two parts. For each parts you need to answer the questions and fill out the chart (I will upload all of them for you).
You need to do a lot of research on ten countries in total about their information.
First, you need to read the text material that I upload for you in order to get the main ideas of the chapter (it is the chapter one of the whole textbook, about 20 pages).
Secondly, you need to read the paper instruction carefully (because the instruction is a little bit complex).
When you write the paper, you need to be very careful with the format because this class is a writing intensive class. (That means: for the succeed of this paper, proper format, grammar and spelling have to meet the requirement. I will upload the requirements for you. My professor is very strict. so please read them carefully before you write the paper.)
Then, you can start writing the paper.
Also, for part one, if you follow the paper instruction, it says that You should have approximately one large paragraph of discussion for each country. That means you need to write approximately three and a half page in total (three countries per page). For part two, you can just write half or one page.
In addition, in part one of the paper, you not only need to answer the question, but also need to fill out a classification table that I upload for you for each of the ten countries. (It is really easy)
For the source of this paper, you need to find at least one source for each of these ten countries. Plus, you need to use the source provided from the paper instruction (http://www.nationmaster.com, CIA Factbook, the websites provided in your textbook on page 243.) Don’t worry, I will upload page 243 of my textbook for you. Therefore, you need to have about 15 sources in total for this paper.
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After the election of Joe Biden to the presidency of the United States in November 2020, a new coalition in Germany assumed power in Berlin under the leadership of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Its official coalition agreement pronounced that “the transatlantic partnership and friendship with the United States are a central pillar of our international action.”1 On 5 January 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a meeting with his counterpart Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, stated: “We know that the close relationship between Germany and the United States will continue under Chancellor Scholz and his team. And we're counting on it, because this partnership is indispensable.”2 That set the tone for what was an enormous change from the atmosphere during the Trump administration.
Biden's first year in office, during the final year of Angela Merkel's chancellorship, offered chances to pursue that new chapter. The German relief at seeing Trump expelled from the White House had been palpable. It was assumed that there was now a chance to restore a feeling of normality in the German-American dialogue and that the Trump period had only been an interruption. Early decisions by the Biden administration—such as rejoining the Paris Climate Accords, resuming negotiations with Iran and the World Health Organization (who), and reaffirming the u.s. commitment to nato's Article 5—were warmly greeted in Germany. By the time Biden was traveling to Europe in June 2021 (his first foreign trip as president), German attitudes toward the u.s. had significantly turned positive, and the majority of Europeans also had far greater confidence in the new president.
As Chancellor Scholz and his government formally took office in early December 2021, the tensions on the borders of Russia and Ukraine were increasing. Despite declarations from Moscow that an invasion of Ukraine was not on the agenda, the build-up of Russian troops appeared increasingly menacing. The next two months would continue down the road that ultimately led to the 24 February invasion that Putin had denied he was planning. That day became a major Zeitenwende (turning point), not only for Ukraine and Russia, but for all of Europe, particularly Germany, and indeed the entire Western alliance.
Over the past seven-plus decades, German-American relations have weathered many political storms, some of which have tested those relations while others have strengthened them. There have been numerous occasions in which Germany and the United States differed on priorities and policies across a variety of fields and issues. However, today's swiftly changing global environment, involving shifting poles of power and conflict, raises serious questions as to how the two countries can and should be conducting and coordinating their policies in line with their respective views and expectations of each other. All this came into sharp focus when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Prelude: The Period before 24 February 2022
Less than a month after President Biden was sworn into the Oval Office, a virtual Munich Security Conference meeting took place on 17 February, during which Biden proudly proclaimed: “America is back. The transatlantic alliance is back … The partnership between Europe and the United States, in my view, is and must remain the cornerstone of all that we hope to accomplish in the 21st century, just as we did in the 20th century.”3 German Chancellor Merkel followed Biden with a message that sounded a bit more careful: “Germany is ready for a new chapter in the transatlantic partnership.” She also stated:
We have to work together to define the strategic challenges. I believe the agenda is clear; and it's also clear that we have to develop joint approaches. That doesn't mean that our interests will always converge—I have no illusions about that; we also have to speak frankly about our differences. However, our basic approach, our shared values, our convictions, our democracy and its capability to act have provided us with a good, common foundation.4
The question as to how and where those interests were to converge or diverge would be inherited by the next coalition government, which took office on 6 December 2021.
While the election of Joe Biden signaled an opportunity to renew German-American relations after the stress of the Trump administration, those relations remained marked by various points of friction that had been part of the ongoing dialogue between Berlin and Washington over the decades. One central problem circled around the links between Germany and Russia through two gas pipelines (Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2)—a point of contention for decades, with the United States being highly critical of Germany's increasing dependence on Russian gas supplies. Chancellor Merkel and indeed her predecessors had argued repeatedly that these were business relationships and would not be vulnerable to political exploitation. This assumption was based on the notion that closer economic ties would encourage more political cooperation—a key belief that had been the foundation of Germany's relations with the Soviet Union, followed by Russia, for decades. Critical warnings had also come from other European countries worried about Germany's close economic and energy engagements with Russia, particularly as Putin began to signal a more aggressive posture toward Europe. Following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its intervention in the eastern regions of Ukraine in support of breakaway areas, those concerns were escalating. Yet the new administration taking office in Berlin in December 2021 continued to defend the construction of a second pipeline with Russia (Nord Stream 2, on which work had begun in 2011), describing it as a business arrangement. The result was more criticism coming from congressional voices in Washington.
Another debate between Germany and the United States has been escalating over economic relations with China. During her final term in office, Chancellor Merkel had been pushing hard for an agreement between the eu and China—the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment. The agreement ultimately failed to win eu approval and also caused discomfort in Washington, which was revising its thinking on relations with China. Merkel herself had led a dozen economic delegations to China during her tenure, and Germany's exports had grown exponentially as had Chinese investments in Germany. The German-American dialogue would continue to debate this issue with the new administration in Berlin as u.s. policy had been growing more confrontational with Beijing during the Trump administration and continued to do so after Biden's election.
Joe Biden had come into the presidency with a clear intention to restore transatlantic relations in the wake of the troubled Trump period, and this would become particularly evident in his handling of relations with Berlin. The singular importance of Germany was demonstrated by the visits of Secretary of State Blinken to Berlin in an effort to underline solidarity with regard to confronting Russian aggression in Ukraine. Yet it was also part of an effort to secure Germany's support in dealing with the other challenges facing the United States, particularly in relation to China.
But on 24 February 2022, Putin ordered an unprovoked attack on Ukraine, and many agenda items were to be impacted by this aggressive attempt to conquer a sovereign country in Europe—the first such act since the end of World War II. The implications for Europe, for members of nato, and indeed for global partners around the world were dramatic in both domestic politics as well as in foreign policy. The impact on Germany was described as a Zeitenwende by Chancellor Scholz in a major speech, delivered on 27 February 2022 to the Bundestag, in which he used that word to describe new initiatives he proposed to respond to Russia's attack on Ukraine: “Putin's war marks a turning point—and that goes for our foreign policy, too.”5
There was indeed going to be a series of tectonic shifts in both foreign and domestic politics with implications for all of Europe and for transatlantic relations. The stakes for both sides of the Atlantic were multifaceted. The challenges would be felt in military responses, economic relations and the energy sector (particularly with regard to sanctions imposed on Moscow), and threats to other areas of Europe. All these challenges required close cooperation. For those seeking to frame these developments, it appeared to some that a new Cold War in Europe was emerging.
After 24 February: Cold War Redux?
While Washington had been convinced well prior to February 2022 that Putin was going to attack Ukraine, Germany was less certain. Chancellor Scholz and other European leaders had traveled to Moscow to try to reason with Putin about the repercussions of Russian aggression, but those efforts proved to fall on deaf ears. President Biden had met with Putin in June 2021 in Geneva to present his warnings personally regarding potential Russian aggression in Ukraine. That, too, did not sway Putin from his plans.
In his initial response to the invasion, Biden declared on 24 February that “Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences.”6 The call for strict sanctions on Russia and Putin's entourage in Moscow was followed by security assistance to Ukraine and the enhanced presence of u.s. military forces deployed in Europe. Biden enjoyed widespread congressional support for these steps plus national displays of support for Ukraine throughout the United States.
In Germany, Chancellor Scholz's dramatic speech in the Bundestag served as the declaration of a new era in security and defense policies with significant changes in German foreign policy, that is, dramatic increases in defense spending and proposals to supply weapons and other supplies to Ukraine. The speech was seen as a major milestone that rippled not only throughout Germany but also in Europe and Washington. Scholz was articulating the outlines of Germany's decision to take seriously leadership in securing security in the face of a war in Ukraine, which was portrayed as a threat to all of Europe. The way in which the months following the invasion have played out reveals both strengths and weaknesses in the ability of Germany, Europe, and the Western alliance led by the United States to shape and sustain a unified front toward Moscow.
The challenges facing both sides of the Atlantic are not solely defined by the war in Ukraine. The shifts in power on the global stage represented by the rise of China; the impact of climate change on the economics, politics, and social fabric of millions around the world; the emergence of global pandemics; the impact of economic inequities within countries as well as across the world—all of these factors are reshaping the equations of influence and impact on the assumptions and expectations that Americans and Germans have made over the past several decades. The polycentric nature of the combined threats and developments will require adjustments in the search for sustainable responses. Four of these challenges are the focus of this article.
Responsibility for Security: The Burden- and Power-Sharing Debate
In his speech to the German Bundestag on 27 February 2022, Chancellor Scholz made a set of unprecedented promises about new directions in Germany's foreign policy. One was to finally meet the nato requirement of all member nations to spend more than 2 percent of gdp on defense annually. Rebuilding the German Bundeswehr, which had atrophied in previous decades following German unification, was a major challenge and would take years to restore. To accomplish the revitalization of Germany's armed forces, Scholz proclaimed the intention to invest 100 billion Euros in the defense budget—a measure that was innovative enough to require an adjustment in the German constitution. The German public was surprised but also supportive of this initial response to Putin's war of choice.
However, the speed with which these promises could be implemented was seriously hampered by sluggish processes in government circles, and this contributed to tensions not only with Ukraine but with many of Germany's nato partners—particularly those most immediately vulnerable to Russian aggression as well as those who were committed to supporting Ukraine's fight for survival. Particularly loud voices came from the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany and from European leaders frustrated by the delay of weapons deliveries and by Berlin's apparent decision-making paralysis, which undercut confidence in Scholz's speech about Germany's Zeitenwende. The gap between what Germany announced and what it was actually doing became a major catalyst for criticism aimed at Berlin. Although weapons and supplies to Ukraine from Germany increased over the course of the spring and summer of 2022, in Berlin's effort to present itself as a reliable partner of Ukraine, it stumbled in its communication strategy early on, leaving doubts about its intentions and questions about its strategies toward Moscow.
Scholz had said that Russia will not win this war and that Ukraine cannot lose it. But seeking to balance these two goals was a challenge. How could both of them be achieved? Some critics suggested that Scholz wanted to sustain diplomatic contacts with Russia in order to support the effort to achieve an eventual ceasefire with Ukraine. After all, Scholz had maintained contact with Moscow and had continued to speak with Putin in the months after the invasion. Yet a scenario to reach a ceasefire at a minimum was not going to be possible unless and until Ukraine could achieve a strategic position to make such negotiations with Putin plausible, let alone acceptable to the Ukrainians. That positioning would depend largely on supplies of weapons coming in from the West—the lion's share from the United States followed by nato alliance members. While Germany was intending to increase its supplies to Ukraine during the year, it shied away from delivering certain weapons (e.g., the powerful Leopard tanks it produces), arguing that doing so had to be done with its allies supplying similar weapons. Berlin argued that decisions made by individual states—not by nato per se—had to be made jointly. As the u.s. was not supplying its modern tanks, Scholz said that Germany would follow that lead. The Biden administration had also declined to deliver its modern Abrams tanks, arguing that other weapons were more useful to the Ukrainian forces. President Biden had also stipulated that no American troops would be sent to Ukraine and that no weapons capable of reaching Russian territory would be available. This approach was running parallel to Biden's warning about the danger of escalation into a nuclear war, given Putin's threats to use tactical nuclear weapons. Chancellor Scholz also warned about the dangers of escalation, which was an issue of major concern for the German public. Amid these deliberations, however, neither Scholz nor Biden had defined what the end goal in Ukraine was to look like and under what conditions the war could be ended.
There is a larger set of questions involved in this dilemma. The long-term impact of these developments has implications for the burden-sharing dialogue with Washington. The discussions about the future defense of Europe—with the expectation that a greater share of defense and security will be shifted to the European side of the Atlantic—remain overshadowed by the continuing dependence on immediate u.s. security guarantees and capacities that Europe has not been able to duplicate. The invasion of Ukraine has once again clearly underlined that strategic asymmetry. Dealing with these imbalances has been an issue in debates across the Atlantic for decades, but the challenges currently facing the u.s. not only in Europe but also in the Pacific theater make that dialogue more pressing now. As it shifts its focus to China, Washington will certainly expect Germany to be a partner in leadership in Europe. The past few months have demonstrated that the eu certainly has capabilities in terms of economic power in applying sanctions against Russia. Its combined military forces and defense expenditures are significant. Yet the effort to synchronize these resources has been hampered by clashes and arguments among eu members concerning sequences and priorities and different national decision-making processes.
How Europe can manage its own military security needs—assuming that goal can be reached—remains a work in progress. For the foreseeable future, the u.s. will need to stay in Europe as the main bulwark of security. While it can merge with eu economic capacities in dealing with both Russia and China, synchronizing those resources along with the military requirements will also continue to define much of the transatlantic burden-sharing dialogue in the wake of the war in Ukraine and beyond. At issue is the responsibility for self-defense. The u.s. needs to adjust its resources to deal with the challenges emerging in the Asia-Pacific region over the next decades. Europe needs to grasp its responsibilities for its own defense and that of the regions bordering it. Both sides need to offer their respective support for meeting these challenges. It is an ongoing challenge for the transatlantic alliance. As stated in a paper recently published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies:
Washington should encourage European countries to leverage the European Union, nato, and other, flexible formats to rationalize the fragmented defense and industrial landscape by investing together in modern capabilities, building a strong and resilient industrial base, and thinking creatively to pool and share forces. To make this happen, the United States must provide practical and political support, including through encouraging the European Union's ambitions and assuring eastern allies that those ambitions do not reduce U.S. commitment to their defense through nato—which, it should be noted, the European Union's own strategic compass still recognizes as the “foundation of collective defence for its [eu] members.7
The combined efforts of a more coordinated European response to the defense and security of Europe is in the interests of both sides of the Atlantic in a globally strategic approach to the challenges facing the alliance. Yet that goal will continue to confront the centrifugal forces of national and domestic political debates over how to achieve it.
The Energy Issue
Over many years stretching back for decades, one of the most controversial issues between the United States and Germany has involved its relations with Russia and energy resources. The role of gas pipelines has been a constant irritant in light of what was seen as increasing Germany's dependence on Russian gas supplies and its vulnerability to Russian influence. Such criticism was also widespread throughout Eastern Europe. Successive German governments had dismissed this concern, arguing that increasing ties with Russia worked both ways in developing interdependence and that Russia's income from the sale of both gas and oil was of great economic importance to Moscow—and had not become a source of political influence.
In the first weeks of his tenure, Chancellor Scholz, who has been oriented toward domestic economic issues throughout his entire career, was confronted with demands underlining Germany's power and responsibility with regard to relations with Russia. Scheduled to travel to Washington in early February 2022, he knew there would be a lot of uncomfortable questions confronting him. Germany was the subject of speculation and criticism about its reliability in responding to Putin's threats against Ukraine. By the time Scholz left Washington, he had committed to halting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project if Putin attacked Ukraine. Less than two weeks later, Scholz was confronted with implementing that commitment.
In past decades, Germany imported over half of its gas from Russia. Following the outbreak of Putin's war, Germany has substantially reduced that stream. But it is scrambling to find alternative solutions—one of which will include the United States’ offer of liquid natural gas (lng) supplies. The fact that Scholz's coalition has also had to consider putting a moratorium on closing its nuclear facilities—an agonizing decision for the Green party—underscores the urgency of the challenge. Already facing an economic slump due to the covid-19 pandemic, interruptions in global supply chain management, and inflation rates approaching 10 percent, the German Bundestag was pressured to pass in October 2022 an energy price relief fund amounting to 200 billion Euros to bridge the crisis. A large part of Germany's business model has been driven by cheap energy and large trade surpluses, but the future will be less predictable. Reducing and replacing Russian energy supplies is going to be a multi-year challenge.
Whether this challenge will generate a European-wide response in solidarity will depend on how willing countries are to share their resources. Yet arguments that this crisis can generate more cooperation not only within Europe but also within the transatlantic community—including both the u.s. and Canada—are also prevalent. The u.s. will be delivering lng supplies to Germany starting in early 2023 after loading ports have been built. Germany has been seeking substitute resources from other countries as well to fill their reserves. The overall impact of the energy squeeze in Europe may be to accelerate the development of alternative and new energy resources.
The struggle that Germany and its European partners will face in the immediate future will involve sustaining stability within their domestic frameworks as the price of energy dramatically increases during this transition period away from Russian supplies of gas and oil. The fact that political tensions will rise is already visible with debates emerging as to whether there can be negotiations with Russia to reopen the pipelines even while the war in Ukraine continues to escalate—although recent terrorist attacks on the pipelines have raised serious doubts about quick reconstruction. Pressure on the coalition in Berlin to respond to domestic fears about energy shortages will be duplicated elsewhere in Europe. For the foreseeable future, serious political stress tests will be generated throughout Europe. The energy issue has also been causing headaches for the Biden administration as the price of gas has increased throughout the u.s. One should not underestimate the impact of this issue, which affects the domestic political environment on both sides of the Atlantic, challenging the Biden administration and the administration of Olaf Scholz during their respective terms in office.
Europe's energy costs have increased with rapidly surging prices. Many industries, including aluminum manufacturers, fertilizer producers, and metal producers, are being hit hard, and recessions are looming. The long-term risk the European continent faces is loss of economic competitiveness because of slow economic growth. Cheap gas depended on an assumption of Russian reliability. That is no longer an option. The industry will gradually adjust, but that transition will take time—and could lead to painful economic dislocations. A main challenge for Germany, as the leading country with a focus in its coalition on climate and energy issues, is to exercise leadership in forging a European response.
There is also an opportunity to weave a transatlantic campaign into the European response. As a leading supplier of lng, the United States has been evolving into a major energy partner with Europe in the direction of clean technologies. European and u.s. companies can drive major investments in clean technologies in the future, with the transatlantic investment flowing in both directions. Such an economic alliance can be as important as the military dimension of transatlantic relations.
The China Syndrome
China has been clearly ranked as the top priority for Biden's administration from the beginning, and this became more evident when its National Security Strategy was released in October 2022:
This strategy recognizes that the prc [People's Republic of China] presents America's most consequential geopolitical challenge. Although the Indo-Pacific is where its outcomes will be most acutely shaped, there are significant global dimensions to this challenge. Russia poses an immediate and ongoing threat to the regional security order in Europe and it is a source of disruption and instability globally but it lacks the across the spectrum capabilities of the prc.8
The u.s. is expecting the German government to define a tougher stance toward Beijing across a range of issues due to, and despite, its extensive economic ties over the past two decades. The question is whether Germany's use of these connections can be synchronized with the Washington's goals.
When the current governing coalition in Berlin was formed, it defined Germany's relationship with China in three dimensions: partnership, competition, and confrontation. Germany's policies during the recent past have been viewed by the Biden team as primarily focused on preserving its economic interests and the rising importance of the Chinese market for the German economy. Chancellor Merkel visited China a dozen times during her term in office, and during those 16 years, Germany's exports to China and imports from China increased exponentially, as did Chinese investment in Germany. Regular governmental consultations took place between the two countries, and Germany became part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, symbolized by the role of the city of Duisburg as a logistical rail and inland harbor hub for Chinese trade.
Despite this increasing expansion of economic networks, relations between the two countries have turned tense more recently. China's persecution of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang, the oppression of the democracy movement in Hong Kong, and Beijing's aggressive performance in the South China Sea, as well as confrontational diplomatic tactics in Europe, have added to frictions. There are arguments over restrictive trade and business practices faced by hundreds of German firms engaged in China. The concerns and indeed complaints about the demands on German firms actually working in China became explicit in a 2019 report of the Federation of German Industry, which called for a strengthened response to the growing challenges of the state-dominated Chinese economy.9 When the eu imposed sanctions on China two years later for human rights violations against the Uighurs, China retaliated with sanctions on members of the eu, officials, and academics. Its treatment of eu members such as Lithuania, which challenged Beijing over its relations with Taipei, resulted in a further backlash from Brussels, raising the temperature between the eu and Beijing.
But the importance of China as both an export and import partner remains pivotal for the German economy. German-Chinese trade hit $240 billion in 2021, and German industry, led by vw and basf, continues to invest millions in building modernized plants in China. China also maintains leverage over rare earth materials as a geostrategic competition tool in dealing with Europe. In reference to Germany's experience with dependency on Russian gas and oil, Germany's foreign minister recently warned about increasing dependence on China: “We are developing a China Strategy as a separate, self-contained element of our National Security Strategy. For the Federal Government and for me it is important that we use our dialogue to anchor what we have learnt from our dependency on Russia in the China Strategy.”10
In November 2022, Chancellor Scholz was confronted with criticism abut Germany's relations with China both within Germany and in the United States. His trip to China in early November, which was accompanied by a dozen top corporate executives, underlined the deep commercial ties Germany and China share. It also reflected the increasing reliance Germany's economy has on China: more than a million jobs in Germany are connected to trade with China. There was also a storm over Scholz's decision to allow a Chinese firm—Costco—to buy a stake in a terminal in Hamburg's enormous port, a decision that was contested by a half-dozen of his Cabinet ministers.11
As tensions between the United States and China have been increasing over several years, Berlin has also been facing choices between its allies and its important trading partner. The u.s. has been expanding the scope of trade restrictions with China, and that will surely be continued in the future as it is a shared perspective in both the Democratic and Republican circles in Congress. The Biden administration is clearly expecting that Germany will help confront the emerging struggle it sees with Beijing over strategic spheres of influence, technological competition, and challenges to democracy. How the transatlantic dialogue about China unfolds will be determined by efforts to define common goals. It will be equally urgent for Berlin and Washington to pursue common ground.
The Challenge of Domestic Politics
The success of foreign policy is always dependent on domestic support and a consensus about its purposes. Both the Biden administration and Germany's coalition in Berlin are facing that challenge. The Biden administration emerged from a controversial and polarized environment during the Trump administration that continues to plague American political and societal discourse. Foreign policy will inevitably be caught up in that debate.
While Chancellor Scholz and his coalition have a four-year perspective to operate with their majority in the Bundestag, President Biden has recently faced congressional elections that have led to a Republican majority in the House of Representatives, resulting in more opposition to his policies for the remainder of his four-year term. In contrast to the Trump administration's attitude toward international alliances, Biden is under great pressure to demonstrate how a leadership in partnership with Germany and Europe serves the interests of the United States. Should that not be recognizable, it will add to the challenges Biden faces in 2024 when seeking re-election. Whether that opens the door to a return of Donald Trump as a candidate of the Republican Party or to another candidate in sync with Trump's policies is an open question. But the answer will have serious implications for transatlantic relations.
Meanwhile Chancellor Scholz, who campaigned on a primarily domestic agenda, will be facing the challenge of sustaining consensus within his coalition when forging foreign policy priorities. It should be recalled that Scholz was a surprise winner of the 2021 election. During the year, the spd had been losing momentum in past polls, trailing the Green party as well as the cdu. Scholz even lost his bid to become spd party chairman a year earlier. But the odds shifted as the cdu/csu became embroiled in a feud over its preferred candidate to run against Scholz, and the candidate who did secure the nomination, Armin Laschet, failed to motivate voters. The result of the elections produced an even greater surprise in the appearance of a new three-way party (traffic light) coalition, never before forged in German politics at the federal level.
Throughout the period following the Russian attacks on Ukraine, Germany and the United States have emphasized the urgency for solidarity in response to Putin's war. Chancellor Scholz has stressed solidarity with Ukraine and the need to forge a united front. His partners in both the Green party and the Free Democrats are supportive of these policies, with indeed a harsher tone toward Moscow emerging from the Greens’ leadership. President Biden has labeled the conflict with Russia as a battle between authoritarianism and democracy and a challenge for the West. As Chancellor Scholz stated clearly in his speech on 27 February: “If we want the last thirty years to be more than a historical exception, then we must do everything we can to maintain the cohesion of the European Union, the strength of nato, to forge even closer relations with our friends, our partners and all those who share our convictions worldwide.”12
The success of that effort is going to depend in no small measure on how Chancellor Scholz can forge sustainable public support for the responses to the many challenges he faces in Germany, as it will for President Biden in the United States. Criticism of German engagement in Ukraine is voiced by members of the AfD and the Left Party, who argue for more engagement with Moscow. Rising energy prices are also grist for criticism. The looming possibility of an economic recession will cause more concern in the German public over the coming months. Much of this will be familiar to the u.s. side of the pond as Americans worry about rising inflation and economic pain at the gas pump. Similarly, the debate in the United States over its global role and responsibilities will continue to unfold among these domestic issues.
Relations between these two countries will be shaped by both the interdependence of interests and the values they share. But they will also be shaped by what Germans and Americans define as their needs and priorities in a changing global arena. The domestic debates will be inextricably related to the forging of common goals in foreign policy, as they have been in the past, and they may change the parameters of how the two countries see each other. It will be of enormous importance that any changes and choices are discussed, debated, and ultimately digested.
President Biden and Chancellor Scholz will face these shared challenges in the years they overlap in office. They will need to steer through their respective domestic demands as skillfully as when dealing with foreign policy issues. In many ways, the United States and Germany are experiencing similar transformations, but it will not change the basic fact that this partnership, in whatever form, will be central to the leadership that these countries will—and must—share in the future. That was the case when Germany and the United States stood together during the first Cold War. It will be equally the case in this new era of global challenges.
See the coalition's agreement: “Mehr fortschritt Wagen: Bündnis für Freiheit, Gerechtigkeit und Nachhaltigkeit, Koalitionsvertrag 2021–2025 zwischen der Sozialdemokratischen Partei Deutschlands (SPD), BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN und den Freien Demokraten (FDP),” https://www.spd.de/fileadmin/Dokumente/Koalitionsvertrag/Koalitionsvertrag_2021-2025.pdf.
See Blinken's and Baerbock's remarks at https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-and-german-foreign-minister-annalena-baerbock-at-a-joint-press-availability/.
See Biden's remarks at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/02/19/remarks-by-president-biden-at-the-2021-virtual-munich-security-conference/.
Merkel's conference remarks can be found at https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/speech-by-federal-chancellor-dr-angela-merkel-during-the-munich-security-conference-special-edition-on-19-february-2021-video-conference--1861248.
See Scholz's speech at https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/policy-statement-by-olaf-scholz-chancellor-of-the-federal-republic-of-germany-and-member-of-the-german-bundestag-27-february-2022-in-berlin-2008378.
Biden's remarks can be found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/02/24/remarks-by-president-biden-on-russias-unprovoked-and-unjustified-attack-on-ukraine/.
See Max Bergmann, Colin Wall, Sean Monahan, and Pierre Morcos, “Transforming European Defense,” Center for Strategic and International Studies (18 August 2022), https://www.csis.org/analysis/transforming-european-defense.
The Biden administration's views on national security can be found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Biden-Harris-Administrations-National-Security-Strategy-10.2022.pdf.
The Federation's report on dealing with China's state-controlled economy can be viewed at https://www.wita.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/201901_Policy_Paper_BDI_China.pdf.
See Baerbock's speech, delivered on 6 September 2022, at https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/business-forum-amb-conference/2551336.
See the article by Joshua Posaner, Leonie Kijewski, and Wilhelmine Preussen, “Olaf Scholz Backs China, Ignores Government Warnings in Hamburg Port Deal, Report Says,” politico (20 October 2022), https://www.politico.eu/article/olaf-scholz-ignores-government-over-china-port-deal-cosco-shipping/.
Scholz's speech, see note 5.
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Add water aerobics to the list of the agile gecko’s athletic accomplishments.
In addition to sticking to smooth walls and swinging from leaves, geckos can skitter along the surface of water. By slapping the water with all four limbs to create air bubbles and exploiting the surface tension of water, the reptiles can travel at speeds close to what they can achieve on land, according to a new analysis of high-speed video footage described December 6 in Current Biology.
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In the world of water walkers, geckos occupy an awkward intermediate turf, says study coauthor Jasmine Nirody, a biophysicist at Rockefeller University in New York City and the University of Oxford. Small insects like water striders use surface tension, created by water molecules sticking together, to stay afloat. Bigger animals like basilisk lizards slap the surface of the water, creating air pockets around their feet that reduce drag and keep the lizards mostly above the water’s surface. But an animal needs to be fairly large to generate enough force to hold itself out of the water using that strategy.
“Geckos fall smack-dab in the middle” size-wise, Nirody says. “They shouldn’t really be able to do this at all.” And yet, when her colleague Ardian Jusufi of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, Germany, was on a research trip in Singapore, he noticed small geckos skittering across the surface of puddles.
Back in the lab, the team filmed eight flat-tailed house geckos (Hemidactylus platyurus) crossing a tank of water, then slowed the footage to get a closer look at the action.
WATER WIZARDS To move quickly across water, geckos combine strategies used by tiny insects with strategies employed by bigger reptiles.
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All four limbs slap the water in a sort of inelegant, extra-splashy front crawl stroke, while the undulating tail adds forward propulsion, the researchers found. While geckos’ back legs remain submerged, the front 70 percent of their body is out of the water. Since water is harder to move through than air, that positioning helps the geckos travel through the water at about 10.5 body lengths, or up to nearly a meter, per second. It’s almost as fast as they move on land, and far faster than expected if swimming fully submerged.
“The thing that’s kind of spectacular about these animals is that they do look like they’re front crawling across the water,” says Tonia Hsieh, a biomechanics researcher at Temple University in Philadelphia who has studied the slapping behavior of basilisk lizards.
Despite paddling with four limbs instead of two like basilisk lizards, the geckos couldn’t generate nearly as much force. It’s enough to support only about 30 percent of their weight, Nirody calculated. And when she added dish soap to the water to lower surface tension, the geckos couldn’t move nearly as fast. That suggests that while surface tension alone can’t support geckos like it can a tiny insect, it still gives them an extra boost. Superhydrophobic skin that repels water helps too, further reducing drag.
Geckos may not truly walk on water in the way, say, that water striders do, Nirody admits. “They’re doing sort of a mixed-mode movement, combining techniques used in walking and swimming.” Someday, she hopes, the gecko’s hybrid approach might help researchers create robots that can travel more efficiently through water.
Editor’s note: This story was updated on December 7, 2018, to correct that Ardian Jusufi was on a research trip, not on a vacation, when he noticed geckos skittering across puddles.
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Whenever a pup is killed by its parent or an unrelated mouse, it is considered to be a case of infanticide or infanticidal behavior. Infanticide is a complex behavior and many theories exist attempting to explain it.
In the laboratory, infanticide is a maladaptive, abnormal maternal behavior. The mother may perform infanticide shortly after giving birth.
Other mice can also perform infanticide such as the pups’ father or an unrelated male or female mouse.
Infanticide is distinctly different from passive cannibalism. The former refers to the killing of a pup while the latter refers to eating a pup (which could have already been dead from other causes, such as stillbirth).
Factors Influencing Infanticide Incidence
- Housing conditions: Housing conditions and genetics are known to be involved in the emergence of this behavior. Overly packed conditions are associated with an increased risk of infanticide.
- Birth asynchrony: When female mice are sharing a communal nest, infanticide rises when there are instances of reproductive asynchrony (deliveries occurring at different times), suggesting a temporal dynamic of infanticide.
- Castration: When male mice are castrated, they are significantly less likely to perform infanticide on pups.
Behavioral Variants of Infanticide
As the term implies, parental infanticide specifically refers to the moment that a parent mouse kills its own genetically related pup.
Non-parental infanticide, on the other hand, is committed by a male or female mouse which is unrelated to the pup.
Function of the Infanticide Behavior
- To increase their own pups’ chance for survival: Recent research is making the argument that non-parental infanticide may be an adaptive behavior. Male (or female) mice which perform infanticide on other mice’s pups invariably increase their own chances for reproductive success. By killing others’ pups, there will be more resources available for their own pups, thus increasing the chance of survival.
- To reduce overcrowding: Infanticide is also exhibited during stressful or overcrowded conditions. By killing their own pups, mothers are ensuring their own survival during tough times when resources are limited, in order to get a chance to reproduce at a later point in time.
Application of Infanticide
- Overly cold temperatures: Cold temperatures trigger parental infanticide. It is hypothesized that this may occur due to environmental influence altering hypothalamic homeostasis.
- Presence of foreign odors: Pregnant mothers will kill their pups if the environment they are in contains foreign odors, such as odors from unknown males’ urine or excrement.
- Overcrowded housing: Parental and non-parental infanticide are more likely to occur in overcrowded housing conditions.
- In proximity to a pup: Mice may exhibit infanticide when in close proximity to a young pup. Depending on gender and strain, the frequency of the behavior will vary.
Behavioral Tests for Assessing Infanticide
- Parental behavior test: In the parental behavior test, mice are tested for their parental behavior instincts. One day before the test, a mouse is provided with extra material (such as cotton), in order to make a nest. Then, the next day, a newborn pup is placed in the corner of the cage that is far away from the nest. The experimental mouse is measured by its reaction, whether it retrieves the pups, ignores it, or attacks (and kills) it. Typically, foster pups are used for this test. However, it is also possible to use pups which are genetically related to the test subject.
- Video recording: Since infanticide can occur at any point, constant video surveillance is necessary, in order to capture the moment. Otherwise, researchers run the risk of misclassifying the behavior. For example, passive cannibalism is often mistaken for infanticide which is a completely different behavior with different motivations. Therefore, video recording is absolutely necessary, in order to observe the situation in which the death occurred, in case it happens while the researchers are absent. Also, video technology makes it possible to distinguish whether it was parental or non-parental infanticide that occurred.
Oxytocin Reduces Infanticide
It is estimated that roughly 60 to 90% of female house mice will kill unrelated pups. Subcutaneous and intracerebroventricular injections of oxytocin are able to significantly lower infanticidal behavior, possibly by acting directly on the central nervous system.
Mouse Strains Exhibiting Infanticide Behavior
C57BL/6J Mice Exhibit High Levels of Infanticide
C57BL/6J mice are known to be highly prone to killing unknown young pups. The degree with which C57BL/6J male mice perform infanticide varies with age, beginning to be significantly more aggressive than other strains when they are as young as 35 days old. The tendency for infanticide significantly lowers when C57BL/6J males are castrated.
Similar findings exist for female C57BL/6J mice, averaging a 60% chance of exhibiting infanticide.
DBA/2J Mice Exhibit Low Levels of Infanticide
Infanticide is much lower in the DBA/2J male mice than the C57BL/6J male mouse strain. In fact, adult DBA/2J mice, when they are in their prime, kill as many pups as C57BL/6J when they are only 2 months of age.
More comparisons need to occur across mouse strains and genders, such as between female DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice, in order to establish behavioral parameters.
Abnormalities of Infanticide Behaviors
GPR40/FFAR1 Deletion Increases Infanticide
The free fatty acid receptor 1 (GPR40/FFAR1) is activated by docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) and other polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the central nervous system. Mice which lack this receptor have altered maternal behavior and higher instances of infanticide when compared to wild-type controls.
ERKO Male Mice Exhibit High Infanticide
The α type of estrogen receptor (ERα) is involved in testosterone-related male reproductive behaviors. ER knockout mice (ERKO) are deficient in ERα but still have ERβ intact. Compared to wild-type control mice, ERKO male mice exhibit much higher levels of infanticide (about 30% and 70%, respectively). After a gonadectomy, the ERKO infanticide decreases to the level of normal wild-type controls.
ArKO Males Have High Infanticide Rate
Brain aromatase (P450arom) is an enzyme with an important role in estrogen biosynthesis. It has been established that genetically modified male mice with the aromatase gene disrupted at exons 1 and 2 (ArKO mice) show a high likelihood of infanticide toward pups. ArKO mice also showed deficits in sexual behaviors towards estrous females. Thus, P450arom is somehow related to adaptive parental behavior and successful sexual behaviors.
PRKO Males Display Low Infanticide
Male mice with the progesterone receptor knocked out (PRKO) do not exhibit infanticidal behavior and are minimally aggressive towards pups. PRKO mice, however, still retain levels of aggression towards other adult male PRKO during the Resident-Intruder Test, suggesting the lack of aggression in PRKO mice is specific to pups.
Disease Models Using Infanticide Behavior
Gabrd−/− Mice Model Postpartum Psychosis
The Gabrd−/− mouse strain is commonly used for modeling postpartum psychosis. In this model, high rates of infanticide are said to be indicative of the disease’s phenotype. Current research is geared towards determining whether this mouse strains may also be used to study postpartum depression.
- Whenever a pup is killed by a parent or unrelated mouse, it is known as infanticide.
- Passive cannibalism is often mistaken for infanticide which is a completely different behavior with different motivations.
- Housing conditions and genetics are known to be involved in the emergence of this behavior, as well as stressors. Also, birth asynchrony increases the likelihood of infanticide.
- Castration decreases males’ infanticidal behavior.
- Infanticide can be parental or non-parental.
- Infanticide may serve the purpose of reducing overcrowding and ensuring a mouse’s own survival during stressed times (i.e. limited resources).
- The presence of foreign odors, such as from male fecal matter, can also trigger pregnant mothers exposed to the odor to commit infanticide upon giving birth.
- The parental behavior test is used to assess parental tendencies in mice and compares parental behavior with the frequency of aggression (i.e. infanticide) and/or ignoring.
- Video recording is used in order to monitor mice and distinguish between infanticide and passive cannibalism.
- Oxytocin reduces infanticide in female mice.
- C57BL/6J mice are known to be highly prone towards killing young pups while DBA/2J display low levels of infanticide.
- Deletion of the GPR40/FFAR1 receptor which is activated by DHA is also associated with higher infanticidal rates.
- Infanticide is increased in ERKO and ArKO male mice which are genetically modified to lack the estrogen receptor and aromatase enzyme, respectively.
- PRKO mice display low levels of infanticide while their aggression levels towards adult males remain comparable to healthy controls’.
- The Gabrd−/− mouse strain displays high levels of infanticide and is commonly used for modeling postpartum psychosis.
- Weber, Elin M., et al. “Pup mortality in laboratory mice–infanticide or not?.” Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 55.1 (2013): 83.
- Vom Saal, Frederick S., and Lynn S. Howard. “The regulation of infanticide and parental behavior: implications for reproductive success in male mice.” Science 215.4537 (1982): 1270-1272.
- Schmidt, Júlia, et al. “Reproductive asynchrony and infanticide in house mice breeding communally.” Animal behaviour 101 (2015): 201-211.
- Heiming, Rebecca S., et al. “Living in a dangerous world decreases maternal care: a study in serotonin transporter knockout mice.” Hormones and behavior 60.4 (2011): 397-407.
- Zafar, Tabassum, and Vinoy K. Shrivastava. “Effect of cold stress on infanticide by female Swiss albino mice Mus musculus: a pilot study.” Journal of animal science and technology 60.1 (2018): 7.
- Svare, Bruce, et al. “Infanticide: accounting for genetic variation in mice.” Physiology & behavior 33.1 (1984): 137-152.
- McCarthy, Margaret M. “Oxytocin inhibits infanticide in female house mice (Mus domesticus).” Hormones and Behavior 24.3 (1990): 365-375.
- Svare, Bruce, and Martha Mann. “Infanticide: genetic, developmental and hormonal influences in mice.” Physiology & Behavior 27.5 (1981): 921-927.
- McCarthy, Margaret M., Jane E. Bare, and Frederick S. Vom Saal. “Infanticide and parental behavior in wild female house mice: effects of ovariectomy, adrenalectomy and administration of oxytocin and prostaglandin F2 alpha.” Physiol Behav 36.1 (1986): 17-23.
- Aizawa, Fuka, et al. “The deletion of GPR40/FFAR1 signaling damages maternal care and emotional function in female mice.” Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 40.8 (2017): 1255-1259.
- Ogawa, Sonoko, et al. “Modifications of testosterone-dependent behaviors by estrogen receptor-α gene disruption in male mice.” Endocrinology 139.12 (1998): 5058-5069.
- Matsumoto, Takahiro, Shin-ichiro Honda, and Nobuhiro Harada. “Alteration in sex-specific behaviors in male mice lacking the aromatase gene.” Neuroendocrinology 77.6 (2003): 416-424.
- Schneider, Johanna S., et al. “Progesterone receptors mediate male aggression toward infants.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 100.5 (2003): 2951-2956.
- Maguire, Jamie, and Istvan Mody. “Behavioral deficits in juveniles mediated by maternal stress hormones in mice.” Neural plasticity 2016 (2016).
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative seeks to support community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs) in to collaborate and partner with other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions that will significantly address environmental and/or public health issue(s) in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks.
The objective is to support projects that use the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model. Collaborative problem-solving is defined as an effort to bring together groups and resources by three or more stakeholders to solve a set of problems that any single entity cannot solve individually. To provide a systematic approach towards collaborative problem-solving, OEJECR has developed a Collaborative Problem-Solving Model (Model). Such a Model is intended to assist vulnerable and underserved communities in developing proactive, strategic, and visionary approaches to address their environmental justice issues and achieve community health and sustainability.
Collaborative problem-solving also involves developing a strategic plan with a built-in evaluation component to measure and achieve results on local environmental and/or public health issues and to sustain the partnerships. OEJECR’s CPS Model and its seven elements can be viewed as a “toolbox” filled with different tools that can be used as needed. The seven elements are as follows: 1. Issue Identification, Visioning, and Strategic Goal-Setting; 2. Community Capacity-Building and Leadership Development; 3. Development of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships and Leveraging of Resources; 4. Consensus Building and Dispute Resolution; 5. Constructive Engagement with Other Stakeholders; 6. Sound Management and Implementation; and 7. Evaluation
Eligible project categories: Applications must address one of the following five broad categories: • Community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation, and investments in low-and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure and workforce development that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants; • Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events; • Climate resiliency and adaptation; • Reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution; or • Facilitating engagement of disadvantaged communities in Local, State and Federal public processes, such as advisory groups, workshops, and rulemakings
• $25,000,000 for CBOs proposing projects for up to $500,000 each. Approximately 50 awards for up $500,000 each are anticipated under this track. • $5,000,000 for qualifying small CBOs with 5 or fewer full-time employees proposing projects for up to $150,000 each. See more details under Section II.C. (Small Community-based Nonprofit Set Aside Track). Approximately 33 awards for up to $150,000 each are anticipated under this track.
Eligibility: Community-based nonprofit organizations. A “community-based nonprofit organization” (CBO) as a public or private nonprofit organization that supports and/or represents a community and/or certain populations within a community through engagement, education, and other related services provided to individual community residents and community stakeholders.
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Data from: High temperature intensifies negative density dependence of fitness in red flour beetles
Halliday, William D.; Thomas, Alison S.; Blouin-Demers, Gabriel (2016), Data from: High temperature intensifies negative density dependence of fitness in red flour beetles, Dryad, Dataset, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7fn80
Competition for food, space, or other depletable resources has strong impacts on the fitness of organisms and can lead to a pattern known as negative density dependence, where fitness decreases as population density increases. Yet, many resources that have strong impacts on fitness are nondepletable (e.g., moisture or temperature). How do these nondepletable resources interact with depletable resources to modify negative density dependence? We tested the hypothesis that negative density dependence is modulated by temperature in red flour beetles and tested the prediction that the strength of negative density dependence should decrease as temperature decreases. We measured the number of eggs laid, offspring development time, and the number of offspring that reached maturity at three temperatures and two food treatment combinations as we simultaneously manipulated adult population density. We demonstrated that low temperatures weaken negative density dependence in the number of eggs laid; this pattern was most evident when food was abundant. Density had no effect on development time, but low temperatures increased development time. The percent of eggs that emerged as adults decreased with both density and temperature and increased with food. Temperature, an abiotic driver, can thus modulate density-dependent processes in ectotherms. Therefore, models of population growth for ectotherms should incorporate the effects of temperature.
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Posts Tagged: water
New tool calculates crop rotation costs, benefits for California rice growers
UC researchers studying how practice can help farmers manage drought, pests, other challenges
Due to severe water shortages, rice acres planted in California plummeted by 37% from 2021 to 2022, according to numbers released recently by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. But now, thanks to University of California researchers, growers have a new tool they could potentially use to cope with droughts and other environmental and socioeconomic changes.
A crop rotation calculator provides farmers in the Sacramento Valley – where 97% of California rice is grown – with projections on the economic impacts of transitioning their fields from rice into four less water-intensive crops: dry beans, safflower, sunflower or tomato.
The tool represents an initial attempt to address the dearth of research on rice crop rotation in California, while giving growers much-needed, science-backed data on whether the practice would make financial sense for their farms.
“I believe more rice growers could benefit from the many advantages of crop rotation, and this new tool is an excellent first step by the UC to help growers look into making such a transition,” said George Tibbitts, a Colusa County rice farmer.
Funded in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, through the Western Integrated Pest Management Center, the calculator is a collaborative effort of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Integrated Pest Management and UC Davis to fill a major gap in rice research.
“I do think there are people who would have tried rotational crops in the past, but it's just so unknown, we didn't have anything we could give them and be like, ‘Hey, this is the recommended crop for your area,'” said Whitney Brim-DeForest, UC Cooperative Extension rice advisor. “This tool gives them some preliminary data they can use to make a more informed decision.”
Crop rotation a potential boon to growers, environment
UC Davis doctoral student Sara Rosenberg and Brim-DeForest, alongside other members of the UC rice research team, surveyed California rice growers in 2020 on their experiences with and perceptions of crop rotation. Although the practice is rare in the Sacramento Valley (only an estimated 10% of rice acreage is under rotation), some farmers reported benefits that could be crucial in a water-scarce future.
“From having conversations with growers who do rotate, one of the biggest benefits they describe is their flexibility in times of drought, where they can keep producing on their land when there isn't enough water to grow rice,” said Rosenberg, noting that crop rotation could be one option in a “toolbox” of strategies that growers also use to manage fertilizer price shocks, herbicide resistance and other challenges.
During the ongoing drought that caused about half of California's rice acreage to go fallow in 2022, Tibbitts said his water district was only able to allocate 10% of his usual allotment.
“With such a limited supply, it would have been tough to grow even one field of rice,” he said. “But it was enough water so that we could rent two of our fields to a tomato grower – tomatoes under drip irrigation use much less water than a flooded field of rice. We were also able to grow one field of sunflowers, which doesn't need any irrigation at all if you can plant the seeds into existing moisture in the early spring.”
While drought is one motivating factor to rotate crops, Tibbitts said that on principle he avoids planting all his acreage in rice and “not have all (his) eggs in one basket.”
“My primary motivation for rotating into and out of rice has been to help with weed and disease control,” he added. “Crop rotation is a primary tool of IPM (integrated pest management), and I feel it has helped me greatly over the years.”
According to Brim-DeForest, rotating cropping systems can allow for the use of different weed control tools, such as different herbicide modes of action, and different cultural controls such as tillage, reducing the chances of selecting for herbicide-resistant weeds – an increasingly pervasive issue in rice systems.
Rosenberg noted that, in some situations – and depending on the crops in rotation – the practice can also disrupt the life cycles of insects and diseases and potentially improve soil structure and increase nutrient cycling and uptake, which may lead to a reduction in inputs such as fertilizer.
More research on crop diversification needed in rice systems
The benefits of crop rotation for California rice growers are largely theoretical and anecdotal, however, so the UC rice team is looking to add evidence-based grounding through a variety of studies – from looking at long-term effects on soil health indicators to testing various cover crops (which may deliver some benefits of diversification, similar to those of rotation).
“In California, there is no quantitative data on crop rotation in rice,” said Brim-DeForest. “You'd think after a hundred and some odd years (of UC agricultural research), all the research would have been done, but, no – there's tons still to do.”
Through interviews with Sacramento Valley growers, researchers found that cost was frequently mentioned as a barrier to trying crop rotation, along with incompatible soil conditions and a lack of equipment, knowledge and experience.
To help clarify those economic uncertainties, the new calculator tool allows growers to enter baseline information specific to their circumstances – whether they rent or own their own land, whether they contract out the work to plant the rotational crop, and other factors. The calculator then generates potential costs and benefits of staying in rice versus rotating to dry beans, safflower, sunflower or tomato, during the first year and in an “average” year for those crops.
The upfront costs of rotation during “year one” can be daunting. Therefore, the tool only focuses on a short-term profitability perspective. Researchers are currently working on longer term modeling for crop rotation – incorporating the possibility of reduced herbicide use over time, and under different crop yield scenarios, for example – that could significantly change the growers' calculus.
“You could actually be profitable in the long term, whereas this first, short glimpse is showing you a negative,” said Rosenberg.
In addition, thanks to collaboration with the UC IPM team, the rice rotation calculator is an evolving tool that will be continually improved based on user feedback and additional data. Brim-DeForest also said that it could be adapted to other cropping systems – for example, alfalfa going into another rotational crop.
The rice calculator tool can be found at: https://rice-rotation-calculator.ipm.ucanr.edu/.
Other contributors to the project include Bruce Linquist, Luis Espino, Ellen Bruno, Kassim Al-Khatib and Michelle Leinfelder-Miles of UCCE; Cameron Pittelkow of UC Davis; as well as UC IPM team members Chinh Lam, Tunyalee Martin and Hanna Zorlu; and the California rice growers and industry members who participated in the research./h3>/h3>/h3>
San Diego avocado growers look to Cooperative Extension experts to manage water costs
San Diego County used to be home to nearly 25,000 acres of avocado trees but today there are about 14,000. The drastic decrease is largely due to rising costs associated with avocado production, namely the cost of water.
On September 28, avocado growers gathered at the San Diego County Farm Bureau offices for an Avocado Irrigation Workshop facilitated by Ali Montazar, University of California Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Imperial, Riverside and San Diego counties.
“All of our information being developed right now is focused on [irrigation] efficiency. Growers want to know how much water they need and what tools they should use to be more efficient,” explained Montazar.
“The sophisticated research in avocado irrigation that Dr. Ali Montazar is conducting is the first of its kind that the University of California has carried out specifically in avocados. His presentation allowed us attendees the opportunity to see and learn about the technology he is employing – from soil moisture sensors to the California Irrigation Management Information System level equipped station.”
Burr is hopeful that Montazar's research will help avocado growers accurately determine the evapotranspiration in an avocado grove or water use specific to avocados, critical parts of how growers select tools to determine irrigation runtimes.
“His presentation that showed his research finding of the avocado Kc (crop coefficient), while very early into his project, was really interesting. It indicates the possibility that we may need to vary the Kc for different times in the growing season, but he is just beginning a two-to-three-year project that will hopefully deliver solid data on what the Kc for avocados is,” said Burr.
Colorado River uncertainty looms
San Diego's avocado production is primarily managed by small farms. According to Montazar, this adds a level of complexity to water management because there is a greater emphasis on irrigation tools and strategies being user-friendly and cost-efficient.
“We don't know the future,” said Montazar. “But we need to be prepared for all consequences. The Colorado River is experiencing a significant water shortage, and this could impact the water supply source for San Diego County from the Imperial Irrigation District Transfer in the future. It is wise to consider enhancing irrigation efficiency as the most viable tool to manage limited water supplies in Southern California.”
Water has always been an issue. In the 1970s, California's water program paved a way for an additional 98,000 acres of agricultural land.
According to a 1970 study analyzing the cost of avocado production in San Diego County, water costs “averaged 3½ acre feet per acre at $60 an acre foot,” which came with the assumption that water costs would remain relatively low and affordable for a long time.
Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. The county of San Diego gets the majority of its water from the Colorado River, which is concerning given five-year projections of the river reaching critically low reservoir levels by 2027.
In fact, beginning in 2023, the San Diego County Water Authority will be raising the rates for water, prompting growers to invest in more efficient irrigation practices (Table 1).
Table 1. Cost for untreated and treated water in San Diego County in 2022 and 2023.
NOTE: An acre-foot is about 325,900 gallons of water.
Training growers on irrigation a top priority
There are no loopholes or short cuts when it comes to irrigation because irrigation is the key to tree health. Ben Faber, Cooperative Extension subtropical crops advisor for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, points out that tree health is how growers stay in business.
“You can mess up your fertilization program, and you can mess up your pesticide program, but if you mess up your irrigation program, you're out of business,” he said.
According to Faber, efficient irrigation requires a strong grasp on salt management.
“We import water that has a lot of salt in it. So, you've got to figure out how to put the right amount of water on the root zone without causing root health problems,” said Faber.
This process requires meticulous care, as anything that gets below the root zone can cause groundwater contamination – something growers do not want to be responsible for.
While the latest irrigation technology, such as smart controllers, could help growers, Faber said that training and educating farm managers should be the priority.
As Faber puts it, managing irrigation should be “like brushing your teeth” – something that growers do naturally and competently. Many growers are over-irrigating or wasting time trying to resuscitate dying trees. It's important to learn the needs of the tree and, in some cases, it might be best to stop watering all together.
The first step to water efficiency is acquiring knowledge and identifying needs. Because an over-irrigated tree looks just like an under-irrigated tree, it's crucial that growers learn to recognize the difference and plan accordingly.
This is where Cooperative Extension advisors and researchers come in. Opportunities like the Avocado Irrigation Workshop are ideal for growers looking for answers or support.
For more information and to learn about future workshops in San Diego County, visit https://cesandiego.ucanr.edu/.
Agave: The new drought-tolerant California crop?
UC Davis to study agave sustainability as tequila, mezcal industry grows
Agriculture in California faces an uncertain future as drought, wildfires and other climate extremes become more commonplace in the West. But a fledgling industry focused on growing and distilling agave plants, which are used to produce tequila and mezcal in Mexico, could be California's answer to fallowed fields and a lack of water.
Earlier this year a group of growers, distillers and retailers formed the California Agave Council to foster collaboration and offer a chance to share knowledge among members who previously had no formal network.
Now, the University of California, Davis, has established the Stuart & Lisa Woolf Fund for Agave Research to focus on outreach and research into the plants and their viability as a low-water crop in the state.
“The rainfall patterns and growing conditions in California are different from those where tequila is made,” said Ron Runnebaum, an assistant professor of viticulture and enology. “It is exciting to begin to harness the capabilities at UC Davis to determine which agave varieties can be grown commercially in California and what flavors can be captured by distillation to make unique California agave spirits.”
The fund was created with a $100,000 seed gift from Stuart and Lisa Woolf, who are Central Valley farmers and have a test plot of about 900 agave plants on 1.5 acres. They hope this gift will encourage others to also contribute.
The gift is focused primarily on optimizing production in California relative to Mexico, where labor costs are lower, and the farmers rely on rain rather than irrigation for water. Stuart Woolf believes California producers could grow larger plants with higher sugar content.
“I really believe we could be very competitive with Mexico,” he said.
The research also offers a chance to better understand the impact of location on the growth of the plant, which can be a source of fiber and alternative sweetener as well as the distilled spirits it can produce.
“As a drought-tolerant plant, agave holds great potential in water-stressed California,” Woolf said. “It's a crop that could get by with little to no water during periods of extreme drought.”
A crop with low water needs
Mezcal can be made from any agave variety in Mexico while tequila, Runnebaum said, comes solely from the blue agave plant grown within the geographically defined region of “Tequila.” In California, blue agave plants can weigh 110 pounds or more, and it takes about 11 pounds of agave to produce one bottle of tequila, according to a UC Davis article published last year. The plants in Mexico weigh 50 to 60 pounds on average, Woolf said.
Agave plants require minimal watering, can serve as firebreaks from wildfires and offer a chance for farmers to plant crops on land that would otherwise have to be fallowed, or abandoned because of a lack of water. It takes roughly six to eight years for the plants to mature.
“If we enter a severe drought, this is a crop I think we can avoid watering totally,” Woolf said. “For me, this plant is kind of coming around at the right time.”
Craig Reynolds, the California Agave Council founding director who has about 500 plants growing, says the industry is in “an embryo stage” and organizing can help the crop expand. He runs California Agave Ventures, which grows blue agave and sells starter plants to other growers.
“It's really taking off,” he said.
About 40 growers and distillers gathered for a symposium in May to talk about the crop, from economics and logistics to site planning and processes. It ended with a tasting and sensory analysis of California products.
UC Davis hosted the event to bring people together and introduce them to what the university could offer in terms of research, training and outreach, Runnebaum said.
“I think there's a lot of promise in this potentially being a drought-tolerant crop in California,” he added. “UC Davis can help organize and research.”
The Woolfs would like their gift to be used to answer early research questions about growing sites, plant attributes and possible funding agencies, as well as gathering harvest data and producing a database with that information, according to the gift agreement.
Some key questions to answer: Is frost risk in California too high in relation to Mexico, where the plants thrive? Can California produce a fast-growing, high-sugar, disease-resistant crop?
In addition to creating best agricultural practices for the crop and doing economic analysis, UC Davis could serve as a training ground, much as it does for brewing and winemaking.
“UC Davis also has the potential to train future leaders for this industry,” Stuart Woolf said.
Editor's note: Runnebaum is affiliated with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources through the Agricultural Experiment Station at UC Davis./h3>/h3>/h3>
Drip-irrigation study sees ‘huge’ reduction in water, fertilizer use for sweet corn
Study by UCCE advisor in Imperial County also shows 5% increase in yield
A new study suggests that drip irrigation for sweet corn can significantly conserve water, reduce fertilizer use and boost crop yield in the low desert of California – and likely in other areas of California with similar conditions.
Although Imperial County is California's top sweet corn-producing county, with about 8,000 acres planted on average each year, irrigation methods for this crop have been rarely studied in this region (or anywhere else in the state), according to Ali Montazar, UC Cooperative Extension irrigation and water management advisor for Imperial, Riverside and San Diego counties.
Montazar conducted a study in the Imperial Valley over two crop seasons, 2020-21 and 2021-22, to demonstrate and quantify the potential benefits of switching to drip irrigation from the more common furrow irrigation method. The study, available in a recent issue of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources' Agricultural Briefs, will be published in a future issue of Vegetables West.
“I'm hoping with this project we can encourage growers to adopt it, because it seems very promising,” said Montazar, noting that drip irrigation is a “new practice” for sweet corn in California.
Among the 11 commercial sweet corn fields in the study over the 2021-22 season, the six that were under drip irrigation used, on average, 37% less water than the five under furrow irrigation. In absolute terms, the drip-irrigated fields saw an average water savings of 2.2 acre-feet per acre; for Montazar, who has studied drip for a variety of crops in the Imperial Valley, that was an astonishing result.
“I've worked with drip on processed onions, lettuce, alfalfa, spinach … we've never seen a figure like 2.2 acre-feet per acre, that's huge,” he said, attributing the dramatic drop-off to the high volume of water required to furrow-irrigate the sandy soil in the Imperial Valley.
More efficient irrigation also means less fertilizer is needed – a boon to the environment and Salton Sea water quality, as well as growers' bottom line. With fertilizer prices continuing to rise, sweet corn growers using drip could see a substantial 25% cost savings on fertilizer expenses – about $150 per acre less – compared to furrow irrigation, according to Montazar's study.
And by relieving plants of the stress from over- and under-irrigated conditions, drip irrigation helps keep soil moisture at its “sweet spot” – resulting in a 5% increase in marketable crop yield for sweet corn in the study.
“When we have a better, more efficient irrigation system, we can maintain soil moisture at a desired level, over time and space,” Montazar explained.
Because the benefits of drip appear to be linked to soil conditions (sandy loam, and other light soils), Montazar believes that this irrigation practice could deliver relatively similar water and fertilizer savings and improved crop yield in other regions across California, regardless of climactic differences.
“If you use drip in any part of the state, you have the benefits of drip – more uniform water application, more uniform fertilizer – that's not related to the desert,” he said. “That's part of the system's potential.”
Montazar plans to follow up on his preliminary study with additional research on sweet corn and drip irrigation during the 2022-23 crop season./h3>
New strategies to save the world’s most indispensable grain
Genetic insights help rice survive drought and flood
Plants — they're just like us, with unique techniques for handling stress. To save one of the most important crops on Earth from extreme climate swings, scientists are mapping out plants' own stress-busting strategies.
A UC Riverside-led team has learned what happens to the roots of rice plants when they're confronted with two types of stressful scenarios: too much water, or too little. These observations form the basis of new protective strategies.
“This one crop is the major source of calories for upwards of 45 percent of humanity, but its harvests are in danger,” said Julia Bailey-Serres, UCR geneticist and study lead. “In the U.S., floods rival droughts in terms of damage to farmers' crops each year.”
In particular, the researchers examined the roots' response to both types of conditions, because roots are the unseen first responders to flood and drought-related stress.
Their work is described in a new paper published in the journal Developmental Cell.
One key finding is about a cork-like substance, suberin, that's produced by rice roots in response to stress. It helps protect from floods as well as from drought.
“Suberin is a lipid molecule that helps any water drawn up by the roots make it to the shoots, and helps oxygen from shoots to reach roots,” Bailey-Serres said. “If we reinforce the plant's ability to create suberin, rice has better chances for survival in all kinds of weather.”
The researchers were able to identify a network of genes that control suberin production and can use this information for gene editing or selective breeding.
“Understanding suberin is particularly exciting because it is not susceptible to breakdown by soil microbes, so carbon that the plant puts into suberin molecules in the roots is trapped in the ground,” said Alex Borowsky, UCR computational biologist and study co-author.
The researchers also identified the genes controlling some of rice's other stress behaviors.
“One of our interesting findings is that when rice plants are submerged in water, the root cell growth cycle goes on pause, then switches back on shortly after the shoots have access to air,” Bailey-Serres said.
In the future, the research team plans to test how modifying these stress responses can make the plant more resilient to both wet and dry conditions.
“Now that we understand these responses, we have a roadmap to make targeted changes to the rice genome that will result in a more stress-tolerant plant,” Bailey-Serres said.
Though heavy rains and droughts are both increasing as threats, Bailey-Serres has hope that new genetic technology can increase its resilience before it's too late.
“With genome editing, the fact that we can make a tiny but targeted change and protect a plant from disease is amazing. Though our crops are threatened, new technologies give us reasons to hope,” Bailey-Serres said.
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An industry overview contains well-researched information about an industry, company or organisation. The document is also known as an industry analysis because it contains numerous aspects of an industry including growth, trends, and even competitors.
Industry overviews are often published by various financial and trade journals and in some cases is created by companies themselves when they want to share details about their industry. It is important to consider the sources of these financial publications and the research tools used. Basic information shared in this detailed document also includes the size of an industry, years of growth, achievements, qualifications for application, primary products, number of employees, customer base, net worth, earnings per annum, and other activities. This information is usually well documented in professional journals through a visual display of comprehensive and accurate graphs and charts.
A good history of the company is also anchored in an industry overview. Investors often use an industry overview when researching companies. The document helps with decision making when investors and venture capitalists decide to enter the industry or fund a company. The document provides information on the number of existing opportunities for new members and potential growth. Industry analysis can be used to forecast future market activity. This is based entirely on the information provided, key metrics and economic trends.
So, how do you get an industry overview? Creating a complete industry overview requires presenting comprehensive information about an industry to demonstrate that you truly understand the industry. Evaluating an industry is an integral part of your business plan. Creating an industry analysis means establishing organisational anatomy that aims to lay out the fundamentals of your company and how this will give you an advantage over other competitors.
Through this process, you can present an industry analysis:
Provide a brief description of the industry. Start by describing the background, demographics, products, role in the industry, and customers. Here you can apply the PEST analysis - Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors. This method includes the internal and external factors that shape the industry.
Conduct detailed research on the history of the industry. Review reports, changes and developments that have taken place in the last ten years. Pay attention to why and when these changes occurred and what impact they had - did the changes result in higher profit margins, lower production outputs, or increased manufacturing costs? Also examine trends over the past decade, such as technological advances. Question the impact of trends, such as whether there has been a reduction in human resources or whether this has led to improved performance. This research can help you forecast the future of the industry.
Include data on sales figures and growth patterns in your industry analysis. This will help you understand the industry’s growth stage and market. This can be seen from the annual sales figures over the last decade.
This allows you to determine the market level. Low sales figures imply two things;
Also, focus on trends in specific demographics and sales volumes. Are sales numbers increasing during a particular season? Are there improved sales in one specific geographical location? Which channels are producing greater sales — online or in-store? Proper research in this area can help you forecast long-term or short-term growth in the industry.
This section identifies major influences that shape the industry. This may include political regulations, rules, tariffs, industry policies, and standard practices of other companies.
Focus on the metrics of the industry. What determines success in the industry? Examine production costs, financial implications, the cost of manufacturing tools, profit margins between companies, amongst other factors. This will help you build a solid foundation for your business and impress investors when looking at the industry’s performance.
Evaluating an industry also involves knowing your direct competitors. Through market mapping, you can identify your direct competitors. You can use a SWOT analysis – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats – to examine the position of other organisations and determine if they are your direct competitors in the industry. Market mapping also helps uncover the behavioural patterns and modus operandi of your competitors and even identify a potential market gap.
Focus on your position within the industry and take advantage of the opportunities that exist in the market and in the industry. Also describe your strategic ideas that will ensure success in the industry through your company. A well-detailed document about your position will attract investors and venture capitalists and convince them to buy stocks and bonds.
An industry overview requires a complete and accurate assessment of the sector. A qualitative review and analysis of the industry are essential in your business plan. You can utilize the data gathered and gaps found in your industry overview and market analysis to your advantage. This will help you strategically position your business to attract investors.
For example, in the telecommunications sector, not all regions are provided with telecom services. By market mapping, you can draw a graph and locate your competitors' unserved areas. You can capitalise on this gap and establish a stronghold in the region.
For more information on evolving sectors , see our list of the top 10 Growth Industries.
To find out more about the best tools for analysing a market, have a look at our guide to the best resources for a Market Analysis
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Over the years, a number of studies have been conducted on the mental and emotional health risks of loneliness and social isolation. Many have shown that these are associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity. They are also associated with an increased risk of faster cognitive decline, along with developing health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression.
Loneliness can have a negative impact on memory, especially in older adults. A study of more than 8,000 adults over the age of 65 found that those who reported feeling lonely had a faster rate of cognitive decline.
The study found that having regular contact with friends and family motivated older adults to be more physically active, which helps them to reach their exercise goals. Although loneliness increases our risk of mortality, it doesn’t mean we should be worried about it all the time.
As a society, we are increasingly disconnected from one another. We spend most of our time alone in our homes and our mobile devices, leaving little time for social interaction. The negative impacts of social isolation have been well-studied, but the benefits have been much less investigated.
What can you do?
Staying connected with others may help boost your mood and improve your overall well-being. Stay in touch with family and friends in person or over the phone. Scheduling time each day to connect with others can help you maintain connections. Meet new people by taking a class to learn something new or hone a skill you already have.
The growing body of research on the health benefits of connectedness provides an opportunity to connect with others in a new way and experience the numerous health benefits that come with it.
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CC-MAIN-2023-14
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https://www.trinityfuneralchapel.com/studies-on-elderly-and-social-isolation
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Our risk of heart disease is something many of us should know—as heart disease is the top cause of death in the U.S. And, as Bayhealth Cardiologist Mussaber Ahmad, DO, explains, personal risk factors aren’t the only ones to consider.
“Family history is also important to determine overall risk, as there is a genetic component associated with coronary artery disease,” said Dr. Ahmad, who became a doctor because both of his grandfathers passed away from coronary artery disease (CAD) – the most common type of heart disease.
To help figure out if genetics or a family history play a role in your overall risk of heart disease, Dr. Ahmad said you can start with the following key factors.
- A first-degree relative (biological parent or sibling) who has/had heart disease
- Any relative(s) who has/had any of the following:
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
- Heart failure
- High cholesterol
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- Thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysm
Beyond this list, Dr. Ahmad said there are other factors that need to be taken into account. They include the age and gender of any first-degree relatives with heart disease and your family’s ethnicity/race.
“If a male first-degree relative has CAD before the age of 55 or a female first-degree relative has CAD before the age of 65, this is considered premature CAD, which puts you at higher risk,” explained Dr. Ahmad. “Another important factor is belonging to a high-risk race or ethnicity such as South Asians. By some estimates, South Asians account for up to 60 percent of the world’s heart disease population, despite making up only 25 percent of the world’s general population. Also, compared to the general population, South Asians have up to a four times greater risk of developing heart disease.”
“A history of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia or a history of menopause before age 40 are other risk factors women need to consider,” he added.
Putting together your family history will take some time and effort. Dr. Ahmad suggests you start by finding out if your parents, brother(s), and/or sister(s) have or had any of the medical conditions mentioned above or other risk factors.
Once you have your family history compiled be sure to share it with your doctor. “As physicians, we use family history and your personal risk factors to determine 10-year and lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, and then recommend the appropriate therapy based on your risk. Examples of therapies we may prescribe include statins and aspirin,” said Dr. Ahmad.
While family history plays a role, Dr. Ahmad said your personal risk factors for heart disease are most important. This includes ones such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and age. When it comes to age, your risk of heart disease goes up with each decade of life. That’s why Dr. Ahmad also said screening with blood tests and identifying additional risk factors starting at age 20 is a good idea.
For other health tips, visit Bayhealth’s Community Health and Wellness blog www.bayhealth.org/community-health-and-wellness
American Heart Associations Senior Communications Director for Philadelphia and Delaware. Seeking to promote a healthy lifestyle, preventative care, and access to care in Philadelphia.
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CC-MAIN-2023-14
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https://easternstates.heart.org/is-your-heart-health-a-family-matter-2/
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Principles of wild counting
13 simple rules to follow to make sure that your nature watching is counting the wild.
written Jan 8, 2018 (last updated Sep 5, 2021) • by Jon Sullivan • Category: Why count
Here are 13 principles of wild counting. They ensure that your wild counting is unbiased and useful for revealing patterns and trends in nature.
If you’re not sure what one means, or are not sure why it’s important, each is elaborated on in more detail later.
|1||Don't wait for someone else to count your wild.|
|2||It's OK to only count what’s simple to count, and what you’re interested in.|
|3||Always record What-Why-Where-When-How-Who.|
|4||Always decide what you’ll count, how you’ll count, and when you'll stop counting, before you start counting.|
|5||Repeatedly and frequently recount the same sites.|
|6||Record all counting, even when and where you searched but found nothing.|
|7||Use simple, consistent counting methods, and try to use counting methods that others use.|
|8||Never guess and never interpret; record exactly what you see or hear, including your uncertainty when you're not sure.|
|9||Enjoy it (sustain your counting long-term).|
|10||Intermittently take photos and audio recordings of some of your counts. This confirms how good you are at identifications, and can be useful in other ways.|
|11||You don’t need to photograph and audio record all your counts. Once you’ve demonstrated that you can reliably identify a species, focus on counting.|
|12||Cause no harm to the wild when you’re counting.|
|13||Share your counts, using standard data formats.|
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CC-MAIN-2023-14
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Chinese authorities have confirmed a case of bubonic plague in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, according to the BBC.
The disease, which caused the ‘Black Death’ pandemic in the 14th century – which killed around 50 million people – is zoonotic, meaning it spreads from animals to humans.
The plague, which is caused by a bacterial infection, is now easy to treat using antibiotics.
According to reports, the disease was confirmed in a herdsman in Bayannu, which is about 560 miles northwest of Beijing. He is now in stable condition and quarantined. A second case involving a 15-year-old is yet to be confirmed.
The origin of the confirmed case is unclear, with sources suggesting that the teenager ‘had apparently been in contact with a marmot hunted by a dog’.
As a result, authorities have put a level 3 alert – which bans hunting and eating animals who could carry plague and asks the public to report suspected cases – in place until the end of 2020.
Experts have said it is unlikely that the situation could lead to an epidemic, thanks to medical progress.
Speaking about the disease last year, Dr. Shanti Kappagoda, an infectious diseases doctor at Stanford Health Care, told Heathline: “Unlike in the 14th Century, we now have an understanding of how this disease is transmitted.
“We know how to prevent it. We are also able to treat patients who are infected with effective antibiotics and can give antibiotics to people who may have been exposed to the bacteria [and] prevent them [from] getting sick.”
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<urn:uuid:351b8b2d-6f0f-4e46-ab60-35ed9a5d368a>
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CC-MAIN-2023-14
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https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/bubonic-plague-confirmed-china/
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- any plant or plants growing in the ocean.
- a marine alga.
- any of numerous multicellular marine algae that grow on the seashore, in salt marshes, in brackish water, or submerged in the ocean
- any of certain other plants that grow in or close to the sea
n.1570s, from sea + weed (n.). An Old English word for it was sæwar.
- Any of various red, green, or brown algae that live in ocean waters. Some species of seaweed are free-floating, while others are attached to the ocean bottom. Seaweed range from the size of a pinhead to having large fronds (such as those of many kelps) that can be as much as 30.5 m (100 ft) in length. Certain species are used for food (such as nori) and fertilizer, and others are harvested for carrageenan and other substances used as thickening, stabilizing, emulsifying, or suspending agents in industrial, pharmaceutical, and food products. Seaweed is also a natural source of the element iodine, which is otherwise found only in very small amounts. See more at brown alga green alga red alga.
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<urn:uuid:da372b8e-625a-4d5e-ab63-6b804723fe96>
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CC-MAIN-2023-14
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https://www.tekportal.net/seaweed/
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296948867.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20230328135732-20230328165732-00564.warc.gz
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| 0.948555
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Eco-friendly heating with your wood burning stove
Did you know that it doesn’t hurt the environment if you fire with wood in your wood burning stove?
– when you fire with dry firewood and supply air the right way?
A wood burning stove is cosy, practical, economical and a beautiful piece of furniture in the living room. But a wood burning stove is more than that. When you fire correctly, you help protect the environment from unnecessary particle emissions. When you fire with wood, you harness nature’s own source of heating – the wood.
Burning wood is carbon neutral
Wood is the most eco-friendly raw material in nature – because it is carbon neutral.
What does that mean?
It means that it almost doesn’t have any further carbon dioxide impact on the atmosphere when you fire correctly. Nature is rather cleverly set up. Wood absorbs just as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while the tree grows as it releases when it is burnt. That’s why it’s important that forest areas are conserved and that there continously is planted new trees.
But if it is a cycle – why does the climate come out as a winner?
The climate wins when you use firewood as your source of heating in the home because this way you don’t have any further impact on the climate by using carbon from the ground. Like when you fire with coal, oil or gas. You won’t release any carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which isn’t already a part of the natural carbon dioxide cycle.
Almost carbon neutral?
Yes, almost. No energy sources are completely 100% carbon neutral. You do use fossil fuels like petrol when trees are logged and the wood is transported.
You have to fire correctly and you do this by lighting a fire with dry firewood. Otherwise your eco-friendliness will disappear like smoke from a chimney.
Read more about firing correctly here
Did you know that…
- Every new wood burning stove will cut carbon dioxide emissions with 4 tonnes per year (Source: Danish Energy Agency).
- Firing with wood reduces Denmark’s carbon dioxide emissions with 1.6 million tonnes per year. (Source: Danish Energy Agency 2007)
- Firing with wood and wood pellets is the cheapest way to heat your home. For example, firing with wood is five times cheaper than electrical heating (Source: Danish Technological Institute)
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CC-MAIN-2023-14
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https://www.tips.adurofire.com/knowledge-and-useful-advice/lighting-a-fire/wood-burning-stoves-are-an-eco-friendly-source-of-heating/
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A. Trichloroisocyanuric acid(TCCA) can be used in water treatment, especially in swimming pool water treatment, drinking water treatment, algae removing of industrial circulating water, treatment of industrial or city sewage, disinfection of petroleum well drilling slurry and sewage and producting of seawater cells. B. Trichloroisocyanuric acid(TCCA) can be used in dishware disinfection, preventative disinfection of houses, hotels and public places, hygiene and disease control in hospitals, and environment disinfection in fish, silkworm, livestock and poultry feeding places. Trichloroisocyanuric acid(TCCA) also can be used in fruits and vegetables disinfection and preservation . C. Trichloroisocyanuric acid(TCCA) can also be used in textile cleansing and bleaching, wool shrink resistance, paper insect resistance, and rubber chlorination, etc.
Packing and storage
Active Chlorine Tablets plastic barrel: net weight 25kg, 50kg, Plastic woven bag: net weight 25kg/bag, Active Chlorine Tablets should be stored in ventilated and dry place, protected from moisture, water, rain, fire and transportation.
As a halogen, chlorine is a highly efficient disinfectant, and is added to public water supplies to kill disease-causing pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoans, that commonly grow in water supply reservoirs, on the walls of water mains and in storage tanks
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CC-MAIN-2023-14
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https://jamfests.com/aw-529365-high-quality-tcca-tablet-trichloroisocyanuric-acid-84-90.html
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Understanding Deep Learning: The Future of Artificial Intelligence
Deep learning is a subset of machine learning that is inspired by the structure and function of the human brain. It is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that involves training multi-layered neural networks to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence. These tasks include image and speech recognition, natural language processing, and decision-making.
What is Deep Learning and How Does it Work?
Deep learning algorithms are designed to automatically learn representations of data, rather than relying on explicitly programmed rules. They can learn from a large dataset and make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed to perform a specific task. This makes deep learning particularly useful for tasks that involve a lot of data and require the ability to learn and adapt over time.
Deep learning algorithms are composed of multiple layers of artificial neural networks. Each layer processes the input data and passes it on to the next layer. The layers closest to the input are called the input layers, and the layers closest to the output are called the output layers. In between, there are multiple hidden layers. The number of layers and the number of neurons in each layer determine the depth of the network.
The key to deep learning is the ability to learn and improve over time. This is done through a process called backpropagation. Backpropagation is an algorithm that allows the neural network to adjust the weights of the connections between neurons based on the errors in the output. This process is repeated multiple times, with the network adjusting the weights until the errors are minimized.
One of the most popular deep learning algorithms is convolutional neural networks (CNNs). CNNs are particularly useful for image recognition tasks and have been used in a variety of applications, including self-driving cars and facial recognition systems. They are designed to process images by breaking them down into smaller parts and analyzing each part separately. This allows them to identify patterns and features in the image that would be difficult for a traditional algorithm to detect.
Another popular deep learning algorithm is recurrent neural networks (RNNs). RNNs are particularly useful for natural languages processing tasks, such as speech recognition and language translation. They are designed to process sequential data, such as speech or text, by analyzing one piece of the data at a time and using the context of the previous data to inform its understanding of the current data.
Deep learning has had a significant impact on a wide range of industries, including healthcare, finance, and transportation. In healthcare, deep learning algorithms have been used to analyze medical images and make accurate diagnoses. In finance, deep learning has been used to detect fraudulent transactions and predict stock prices. In transportation, deep learning has been used to improve the safety and efficiency of self-driving cars.
Deep learning has also been used to improve natural languages processing tasks such as language translation, text-to-speech, and speech-to-text. These applications have been used to improve virtual assistants, such as Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri, which can understand and respond to spoken requests.
Additionally, deep learning has been used in the field of computer vision, which is the ability of computers to interpret and understand visual information. This includes object recognition, facial recognition, and image segmentation. These applications have been used in a variety of industries such as security, surveillance, and autonomous vehicles.
Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) is another subfield of deep learning that combines deep learning with reinforcement learning. Reinforcement learning is a type of machine learning that involves training an agent to make decisions based on rewards or penalties. DRL has been used in applications such as game-playing AI, such as AlphaGo, which was able to beat a human world champion in the game of Go.
One of the challenges of deep learning is the need for large amounts of labeled data. In order for the deep learning algorithms to learn and improve, they need to be trained on a large dataset. This can be a challenge, particularly for industries that do not have access to large amounts of labeled data. Additionally, deep learning algorithms can be computationally intensive, requiring powerful computers and specialized hardware, such as graphics processing units (GPUs), to run effectively.
Despite these challenges, the field of deep learning is constantly evolving and improving. Researchers are developing new techniques, such as transfer learning and unsupervised learning, to make deep learning more efficient and effective. Additionally, advances in hardware, such as the development of specialized deep learning chips, are making it possible to run deep learning algorithms on a wider range of devices.
In conclusion, deep learning is a rapidly evolving field of AI that has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries. Its ability to automatically learn from large datasets and make predictions or decisions without explicit programming makes it particularly useful for tasks that require human-like intelligence. While there are challenges to be overcome, such as the need for large amounts of labeled data and the computational resources required, the field of deep learning is constantly evolving and improving, and is expected to play an even larger role in the future of AI.
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<urn:uuid:dce98c42-931f-497c-a10b-099b6530bfbf>
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CC-MAIN-2023-14
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https://businessworld24.com/understanding-deep-learning-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence/
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| 0.953505
| 1,032
| 3.796875
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|
audiobook (Abridged) ∣ Graphic Shakespeare
By William Shakespeare
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This series features classic Shakespeare retold with graphic color illustrations. Educators using the Dale-Chall vocabulary system adapted each title. Each 64-page book retains key phrases and quotations from the original play. Research shows that the more students read, the better their vocabulary, their ability to read, and their knowledge of the world. Orlando makes his way to the court of Duke Frederick, and falls desperately in love with the Duke's niece, Rosalind. Meanwhile, in the Forest of Arden, the Old Duke is living peacefully after having his throne usurped by his brother, Frederick. Orlando learns about a threat on his life and flees to the forest. Shortly thereafter, Rosalind is banished by her uncle and also seeks safety there disguised as a boy. Will the Old Duke recognize his daughter? Will the lovers be reunited?
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<urn:uuid:33fad203-2683-462f-8638-93665fbbb51e>
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CC-MAIN-2023-14
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https://search.overdrive.com/media/3874095/king-lear
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949573.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20230331051439-20230331081439-00564.warc.gz
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en
| 0.951733
| 269
| 2.640625
| 3
|
How many hectolitre in 1 shot?
The answer is 0.000295735296875.
We assume you are converting between hectoliter and shot.
You can view more details on each measurement unit:
hectolitre or shot
The SI derived unit for volume is the cubic meter.
1 cubic meter is equal to 10 hectolitre, or 33814.022558919 shot.
Note that rounding errors may occur, so always check the results.
Use this page to learn how to convert between hectoliters and shots.
Type in your own numbers in the form to convert the units!
1 hectolitre to shot = 3381.40226 shot
2 hectolitre to shot = 6762.80451 shot
3 hectolitre to shot = 10144.20677 shot
4 hectolitre to shot = 13525.60902 shot
5 hectolitre to shot = 16907.01128 shot
6 hectolitre to shot = 20288.41354 shot
7 hectolitre to shot = 23669.81579 shot
8 hectolitre to shot = 27051.21805 shot
9 hectolitre to shot = 30432.6203 shot
10 hectolitre to shot = 33814.02256 shot
You can do the reverse unit conversion from shot to hectolitre, or enter any two units below:
A hectolitre (hL or hl) is volume measure and a metric unit equal to 100 litres, or 10^?1 m^3.
ConvertUnits.com provides an online conversion calculator for all types of measurement units. You can find metric conversion tables for SI units, as well as English units, currency, and other data. Type in unit symbols, abbreviations, or full names for units of length, area, mass, pressure, and other types. Examples include mm, inch, 100 kg, US fluid ounce, 6'3", 10 stone 4, cubic cm, metres squared, grams, moles, feet per second, and many more!
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CC-MAIN-2023-14
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https://www.convertunits.com/from/hectolitre/to/shot
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en
| 0.821074
| 434
| 2.75
| 3
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Marriage stands as one of the oldest and most universal institutions in the entire world, designed to unite a man and woman into a reproductive household. Today, this is still very much the case, and many parts of the world also recognize same-sex marriages. Same-sex households are known for adopting children, and this is a common arrangement in some parts of the world. Either way, it is also fairly common for marriages to come to a legal end, known as divorce. Divorce rates are now higher than in decades or centuries past, and this means that many Americans and Europeans may need legal help with divorce, such as from divorce attorneys and divorce lawyers. Child custody lawyers may also become involved if the divorcing spouses have one or more children under the age of 18 in the household. Getting help with divorce may, in other cases, be simpler, such as hiring a mediator. What is there to know about divorces today and getting help with divorce? The right help with divorce can help make this unpleasant process smoother and fairer to all involved.
Why Divorce Happens
Statistics show that roughly 50% of marriages in the United States end with divorce, and the numbers also show that a person’s second or third marriage is even more likely to end with divorce than their first. Why does this happen? Each couple is different, but surveys and statistics show that a few particular causes are most typical. Infidelity is at the top of the list, and this is when one spouse is unfaithful to the other. Both men and women may be unfaithful, but not always for the same reasons. The emotional distress of infidelity can easily prompt the other spouse to file for divorce. Meanwhile, divorce is also common if one spouse is abusing drugs or alcohol, as such substance abuse may put a huge financial strain on the household. That, and substance abuse may lead to the loss of one’s job or radical personality changes, and a drug addict or alcoholic may become abusive or commit crimes to sustain their habit. And even if substance abuse isn’t involved, a spouse may be physically, verbally, or even sexually abusive toward other members of the household.
Not all divorces are so dramatic, however. Some marriages end simply because the spouses realize that they have little to no personal compatibility, and they may have very different lifestyles or spending habits. Studies suggest that two people who date for three or more years before their engagement are less likely divorce than those who marry early in their relationship. Such a divorce is no less valid than a divorce involving infidelity or drugs, though, and even someone going through a low-drama divorce like this may want help with divorce all the same.
Expert Help With Divorce
Whether a divorce is a simple one, or a messy affair with kids or a lot of property involved, the spouses will probably want help with divorce. In the case of milder divorces, such as those with no children and little property or money involved, a mediator may be a fine idea. Spouses may prefer this because mediators will not typically cost as much as divorce lawyers, and a mediated case is much more private since it doesn’t involve courts. What is more, the spouses will have total control over their divorce, unlike if they went through a court. A mediator may act as a neutral third party that helps both spouses come up with productive and fair ideas for making the divorce successful and smooth, and that mediator may help foster strong and meaningful communication the entire time.
Other divorces are large ones that certainly call for lawyers, and a divorce attorney will represent their client’s interests in living arrangements and ownership of assets and money. Child custody lawyers may be involved when the household has children under the age of 18. What is more, the spouse filing for divorce may relocate to a different, private residence during these proceedings if they face abuse or danger at home (and they may take their children with them). This spouse choose to interact with their other spouse only through their lawyer, and the other spouse will probably hire an attorney of their own.
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en
| 0.975135
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| 2.515625
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|
There are indoor mould species that are allergenic and there are mould species that can be extremely toxic. Some moulds cause allergic reactions including hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic rhinitus, asthma, sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, dizziness, lethargy, and fever. Certain moulds produce toxins (mycotoxins) as a by-product of living. These so called ‘toxigenic’ moulds can cause digestive problems, joint problems, lung damage, ocular disease, ear infections, and some species are considered carcinogenic. Mould spores that have become non-viable (dead) due to the fact that they have dried out or have been killed by bleach or a biocide retain their mycotoxins. Dead mould spores when inhaled can cause the same health issues and allergic reactions as living mould spores.
Children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible to these contaminants. Exposure to mould can occur through skin contact, inhalation or ingestion of mould spores and fragments.
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<urn:uuid:a2d58931-7202-41e0-95f6-03acc5431da1>
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CC-MAIN-2023-14
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https://verifyairqualitytest.ca/mold-inspection
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en
| 0.947608
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Focus on Order and Perfectionism
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are preoccupied with order, perfectionism, and control of themselves and situations.
To maintain a sense of control, individuals focus on rules, trivial details, procedures, schedules, and lists. This preoccupation interferes with their ability to be flexible, effective, and open to different ideas. Rigid and stubborn in their activities, these individuals insist that everything be done in a specific way.
Effects on Work
Because individuals with this disorder focus on rules, details, and organisational issues, they lose the main point of a project or activity.
These individuals repeatedly check for mistakes and pay attention to every detail. They do not make good use of their time, often leaving the most important tasks until the end.
Their preoccupation with the details and making sure everything is perfect can endlessly delay completion of a task.
They are unaware of how their behaviour affects their co-workers. When focused on one task, these individuals may neglect all other aspects of their life.
Because individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder want everything done in a specific way, they have difficulty delegating tasks and working with others.
When working with others, they may make detailed lists about how a task should be done and become upset if a co-worker suggests an alternative way. They may reject help even when they are behind schedule.
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder tend to be very dedicated to work and productivity. Their motivation is not financial necessity.
Effects on other Aspects of Life
Because they are so dedicated to work, they neglect leisure activities and relationships. They may think they have no time to relax or go out with friends.
They may postpone a vacation so long that it does not happen, or they may feel they must take work with them so that they do not waste time.
Time spent with friends, when it occurs, tends to be in a formally organised activity (such as a sport). Hobbies and recreational activities are considered important tasks requiring organisation and hard work to master. Their goal is perfection.
These individuals plan ahead in great detail and do not wish to consider changes. Their relentless rigidity may frustrate co-workers and friends.
Expression of affection is also tightly controlled. Individuals with this disorder may relate to others in a formal, stiff, or serious way. Often, they speak only after they think of the perfect thing to say. They may focus on logic and intellect and be intolerant of emotional or expressive behaviour.
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder may be overzealous, picky, and rigid about issues of morality, ethics, and values. They apply rigid moral principles to themselves and to others and are harshly self-critical.
These individuals are rigidly deferential to authorities and insist on exact compliance to rules, with no exceptions for extenuating circumstances.
Discarding worn-out or worthless items (such as broken appliances), even those with no sentimental value, is very difficult for individuals with this disorder.
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder may be reluctant to spend money, which they think should be saved in case of future disasters.
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This paper consists of three parts: The first part deals with preservation of religion and human life. The second part deals with preservation of (ird) (sexual chastity). The third part deals with the preservation of the intellect and private property and wealth. The three topics are discussed in the context of (Islamic Law). The author explained how under the Islamic Law these Issues are safeguarded. With respect to the first topic, that of preserving human life and the integrity of the religion of Islamic, Islamic Law has taken the following measures : 1. It is strictly forbidden to take human life without reason accepted by Sharia. 2. If life is taken by mistake, then the payment of Diyyah (blood money) is obligatory. In the case of abortion Qurah (Blood money for Featus) is also obligatory. 3. Sucide totally prohibited To initiate or commence sucide is a crime, pu nishable by Islamic Law. 4. Fornication, even by mutual consent is considered a crime, punishable by death if the offenders are married, and by flogging if not married, Homosexuality is likewise acrime, punishable by death or flogging, as in the case of fornication". In the third topic, measures to safeguaed of private property and mental health are explained. these include : a - Stealing, which is pu nishable by the chapping of the right hand, under certain specified conditions. b - Like wise, an armed robbery is pu nishable by death, "called Hud ul Hara bah". In the end, the paper discusses fairly general topics, relating to the issue of pu blic security and stability. These include : a - The enactment of Zakat, and the constitution of fraternity among the faithful. b. The general penal philosophy in Islam is discussed. It is stated that the objective of criminal pu nishment is not to inflict pain or cause harm to the offender. It is to spread equity and justice and prevent crime. Here the principle of waiving the (Hudud). (Islamic pu nishment) or obolishi ng the punishment if there is considerable doubt as to the commital of the act. The judges are advised that it is better for them to make a mistake or error dispensing less punishment than to make error of dispensing a harsher one.
"Security and stability under sharia- Mohammed Abdul Salam,"
UAEU Law Journal: Vol. 1991:
5, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uaeu.ac.ae/sharia_and_law/vol1991/iss5/3
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Alterations in Oxygen Transport
Deb Smith, age fifty-six, came to her nurse practitioner (NP) with fatigue, pallor, dyspnea on exertion, and palpitations. Her laboratory report indicates that her hematocrit, hemoglobin, and reticulocyte counts are low; that her MCV is high; and that her MCH and MCHC are normal. Her diagnosis is pernicious anemia.
Answer the following questions regarding Deb’s anemia and provide the pathophysiology associated with the body’s response to this disease process.
- Why should Deb’s NP ask her about paresthesia and ataxia?
- Why did her NP prescribe vitamin B12 by intramuscular injection rather than orally?
- What causes pernicious anemia?
- What are the technical terms that describe an anemia with high MCV and normal MCH?
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Timely Feedback: Now or Never
Feedback is necessary for learning. Be prompt, kind, and specific, and give students opportunities to reflect before revising.
We don’t know what we don’t know, but with help that can change. Feedback is key to learning. Growth occurs when someone offers a perspective that causes a person to reconsider his or her current stance. The impact of high-quality assessments is partially lost unless feedback is targeted and timely so that the information received is purposeful to the individual’s needs. The same principle applies for students. Here are some ideas on ensuring great returns on formative assessments.
Be Constructive, Kind, and Specific
What if during a professional evaluation, a supervisor spent the entire meeting discussing the problems in performance? How would the employee likely feel? Answer: diminished and lacking confidence in his or her capabilities. This is how students feel when they are only told about their errors. Soon they will likely tune out of the conversation and miss what’s needed.
When receiving constructive feedback, learners need to know what they did well and whether their understanding is on target. Recognizing what’s working reinforces those practices. Too often the inclination is to focus only on what’s missing or underdeveloped. These concerns do need to be addressed, but receiving the message is just as important as delivering it.
Start with what’s working: This is a much kinder approach because individuals feel that their efforts are productive and their time is well spent. They become more receptive to dialogue about what skills and concepts are missing. Word choice is important to feedback. Consider using these starter stems to frame coaching students on giving constructive feedback:
- I like...
- I notice...
- I wonder...
- What if...?
Kindness doesn’t mean avoiding critique: Ask, “What kinds of details—facts, examples, or illustrations—would help your reader better understand your position?” That’s more helpful than saying, “You need to show more effort in your writing if you want readers to value your position.” How we phrase feedback impacts how it’s received.
Relevant feedback makes the most sense: Specificity of feedback helps the person understand its relevance. Focusing on the specific kinds of details that will be most helpful illuminates a clear direction. Vague feedback leaves behind confusion and resentment.
Combining these three components—constructiveness, kindness, and specificity—helps establish a strong working relationship between those giving and receiving feedback.
Reflections, Then Revisions
A common concern expressed by teachers is that when students are given back assignments they’ve handed in, they don’t look at the comments. We need to teach them how to reflect on feedback. For years, students are conditioned to look for a grade as the only value of a returned assignment. This tends to occur when no time for thoughtful reflection is provided. Consider taking five to 10 minutes to have students review comments through a think-pair-reflect activity, or using guiding questions or thinking maps for students to review and reflect on feedback.
One teacher passes back assignments with no grades, just comments. Students reflect on the feedback. The grade is provided later. Reflection in small groups, alone, or with the teacher helps students find areas to replicate what they know and address areas that are missing what’s needed.
Revision opportunities lead to learning once reflection occurs with sufficient time. The act of making changes after reflection gives students the chance to re-evaluate what they now understand. If we break the cycle of accepting assignments without requiring revisions, students will develop a new culture for practice. First drafts are rough caricatures of achievement. True learning results from reflections, then revisions.
Feedback should be within 24 to 48 hours. This idea seems overwhelming for a teacher who sees 150 to 200 students in a day. But if students wait too long for feedback, they risk losing the context for the valued learning of the work. Strive to attain this response time as a goal, not a policy. With diligence, successes will happen when students need them most.
As Grant Wiggins noted, feedback doesn’t have to come solely from the teacher. For example, there could be informal conversations or peer reflections. Technology supports feedback via discussion boards, comments, and videoconferences. Formal feedback needs to be strategically used for greatest impact. Stagger assignments to give yourself manageable, daily portions of student work for review. For greater learning impact, if the turnaround response time is longer than 48 hours, consider rethinking the assessment or narrowing the focus of the outcome.
In The 47th Samurai, Stephen Hunter writes, “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” This point about skill building is wisdom for building a culture that shifts students’ value of feedback. Incorporating these elements take patience and time both in practice and buy-in. Start slow if you feel that need. For many grade levels, teachers must undo a mindset that’s become well established from years of being a student whose first draft is the final draft. Undoing this mindset and that of the posted grade as the only valuable data means providing the rationale for the power of feedback and committing the time for powerful feedback experiences.
Build on this foundation with these feedback resources. Ask colleagues for feedback. Committing to these concepts will empower your students as even more thoughtful learners.
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What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a general term used to describe inflammation of the lungs due to infection. Most cases of pneumonia are caused by viruses or bacteria, but it can also be caused by mycoplasma (an organism intermediate between a bacterium and a virus), fungus, yeast, protozoa, or C. psittaci (a bacteria-like organism caught from birds). Whatever the cause, the organism multiplies, resulting in an inflammatory reaction within the small air spaces of the lung (alveoli). The alveoli fill up with fluid and white blood cells, interfering with the lung's ability to receive oxygen. This process can occur gradually or quickly, depending on the potency of the infecting organism and the ability of the body's immune system to fight off the infection. Pneumonia can be mild enough to be cured with oral antibiotics and a few days rest, or it can be severe enough to require hospitalization in an intensive care unit. Death may occur as a result of respiratory failure.
What is Pneumonitis?
Pneumonitis is a term that also refers to inflammation of the lungs. It may be due to infection, an allergic reaction (caused by inhalation of dust containing animal or plant material), exposure to radiation, accidental inhalation of vomit or other liquid (aspiration pneumonia), or as a rare side effect of certain drugs (acebutolol, azathioprine).
Types of Pneumonia
Several classification systems are used to define the types of pneumonias.
- One system classifies pneumonia by its anatomic location within the lungs. If the pneumonia involves all or most of the alveoli in just one lobe of the lung, it may be called "lobar pneumonia."
- If the pneumonia starts in the bronchi and bronchioles (airways) and then spreads to patches of tissue in one or both lungs, it may be called "bronchopneumonia."
- Another classification system is based on whether the symptoms are "typical pneumonia" or "atypical pneumonia."
- Pneumonia may also be classified by its place of origin. Pneumonia acquired in a hospital setting is referred to as "nosocomial" pneumonia, while pneumonia acquired in the community is referred to as "community acquired" pneumonia.
Although each of these classifications supply some helpful information about the characteristics of an individual's pneumonia, the most important classification is the one that is based on the organisms causing the infection.
For example, pneumonia can be referred to as viral, pneumococcal, staphylococcal, or Klebsiella pneumonia according to the infecting agent.
Viral infections make up about one-half of all cases of pneumonia. Most often caused by influenza viruses, viral pneumonia can also be caused by the chickenpox virus or by adenovirus (a group of related viruses that cause respiratory tract infections). Because it is caused by a virus rather than a bacterium, viral pneumonia does not generally respond well to antibiotics.
What is Bacterial pneumonia?
Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the US and the fourth leading cause of death among the elderly.
Bacterial pneumonia is more common in the adult population. Bacteria may enter the alveoli of the lungs by four routes: inhalation from the surrounding air, spread via the bloodstream from an infection elsewhere within the body, contact with nearby infected sites, or by inhaling organisms growing in the individual's mouth or throat. Because pneumonia tends to occur when the defenses that normally protect the lower respiratory tract are overwhelmed by pathogenic agents, a recent illness such as influenza can lead to pneumonia.
Other risk factors include adults over the age of 60, malnutrition, smoking, alcoholism, and drug addiction. Pneumonia can also occur if the body's overall immune system has been compromised by chronic medical conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease, cancer, diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, or kidney failure.
AIDS, chemotherapy against cancer, and corticosteroid therapy can also result in a depressed immune system. It is estimated that each year over one million cases of community acquired pneumonia are severe enough to require hospitalization. These infections are usually viral or bacterial in origin, with rare instances of fungal or parasitic infection. Hospital acquired (nosocomial) pneumonia is diagnosed in over 275,000 individuals per year, and has a very high mortality rate.
How is it diagnosed?
History: Typical symptoms of pneumonia include sudden onset, shortness of breath, fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain (myalgia). A cough may produce yellow-green sputum and occasionally blood. Chest pain is worse on inspiration (breathing in) because of inflammation in the membranes that line the lungs and chest cavity (pleurisy).
Symptoms of viral and atypical pneumonia differ in that the fever is not accompanied by chills, and the cough is dry and non-productive (no mucus is coughed up). Flu-like symptoms include headache, muscle pain, and weakness may be present. Within 12 to 36 hours, breathlessness may increase accompanied by a worsening cough that now produces a small amount of mucus. Typical respiratory symptoms may be masked in the elderly and in individuals taking corticosteroids or aspirin. These individuals may instead present with confusion, lethargy, and an elevated respiratory rate.
To assist in identifying exposure to less common infectious organisms, the medical history should include a complete history of the illness (including non-respiratory symptoms such as rash, diarrhea, nausea, and mental status), and a history of the individual's occupation, hobbies, pets, and recent travel. Also helpful to know is if there is a history of alcoholism, swallowing difficulties, or decreased mental alertness, all of which can cause inhalation of food or liquid into the lungs (aspiration pneumonia).
Physical exam: On physical exam, breathing may be labored, using accessory muscles in the neck, chest and abdomen. In severe pneumonia, the individual may exhibit a respiratory rate above 30 breaths per minute. Listening through a stethoscope (auscultation) may reveal abnormal breath sounds indicating fluid in the lungs (rales), or areas lacking air exchange (consolidative breath sounds).
Tests: A chest x-ray can establish the diagnosis of pneumonia, determine the extent of lung infection, and track the progression of the disease. A complete blood count (CBC) is routinely obtained, but viral pneumonias do not produce the high white cell count generally associated with bacterial pneumonia. Blood oxygen level is often low. Culture of a sputum sample may be done to identify the infecting organism. Rarely, a bronchoscopy or an open lung biopsy (surgical removal of tissue for microscopic examination) may be required in analyzing very difficult cases, or pneumonia that occurs in immunocompromised individuals.
How is Pneumonia treated?
Antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment for most pneumonias. In mild to moderate cases, oral antibiotics are given for the most likely causative organisms. If an individual does not begin to respond to the selected antibiotic therapy in two to three days, additional diagnostic tests may be performed to pinpoint the causative agent, and the medication changed accordingly.
Supportive therapy includes increased fluid intake (hydration) and agents to thin and mobilize secretions (mucolytic and mucokinetic agents), medication to widen the airways in the lungs (bronchodilators), cough suppressants, and medication to reduce fever (antipyretics) and reduce pain (analgesics).
Viral pneumonia, most often caused by influenza viruses, does not respond effectively to antibiotic therapy unless a secondary bacterial infection develops in the lungs. Although various anti-viral agents can be used, depending on the specific vial pathogen, there is no effective drug treatment for most viral pneumonias. General treatment measures include adequate fluid intake and analgesics for chest pain. Oxygen is administered only if the individual becomes hypoxic (oxygen deprived).
Individuals with severe pneumonia often require hospitalization to provide supplemental oxygen, respiratory therapy, intravenous antibiotics, and intravenous fluids. Individuals with multiple risk factors indicating poor outcome from pneumonia (such as those with chronic underlying medical conditions) may also be treated in the hospital setting for closer observation. Preventive treatment with vaccines is possible for influenza, viral, and pneumococcal pneumonias.
Biaxin (Clarithromycin), Ilosone (Erythromycin), Sumycin (Tetracycline), Noroxin (Norfloxacin)
What might complicate it?
Viral infection can progress into a bacterial infection. Pneumonia can cause fluid to accumulate in the space between the lung and the chest wall (pleural effusion). This fluid can then become infected (empyema), spreading the infection to the blood stream (sepsis). As a result, other tissues may become infected, including joints (arthritis), membranes lining the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), the brain itself (encephalitis), or kidneys (nephritis). Septic shock, a severe complication, results when multiplying bacteria release toxins into the bloodstream.
Other serious complications include respiratory failure or the development of an abscess in the lung. Individuals with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or lung disease often experience a worsening of their medical condition during pneumonia.
The outcome for any individual diagnosed with pneumonia is quite variable. It will depend on the overall health and immune competence of the individual, the virulence of the organism causing the pneumonia, and the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment. Most cases of mild to moderate pneumonia respond well to oral antibiotic therapy. However, elderly or debilitated individuals may fail to respond to treatment. As a result, more and more of their lung tissue becomes affected. Death may occur as a result of respiratory failure.
In general, pneumonia that requires hospitalization and intensive care has a mortality rate of 25% to 50%. Pneumonia acquired in the hospital setting (nosocomial pneumonia) has an even higher mortality rate.
Conditions with similar symptoms include bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary embolism, asthma, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, cancer, congestive heart failure, and AIDS. The adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a non-infectious, serious lung disease with some similarities to pneumonia.
Internist, pulmonologist and infectious disease specialist.
Last updated 6 April 2018
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Last night the Olympia, Washington City Council proclaimed Charles Mitchell Day, honoring the 13-year-old household slave who escaped to freedom in Victoria on September 24, 1860. This is the story told in Free Boy, A True Story of Slave and Master, co-authored with Lorraine McConaghy. Lorraine, who did most of the research and the initial writing for this book, was unable to attend, so I made brief remarks, which I share with you here. I was asked to talk about the educational impact of the story.
I am speaking this evening for myself and for my co-author Lorraine McConaghy. I cannot speak for Charles Mitchell, but wouldn’t he be surprised that more than 150 years after he lived in Olympia, we would remember him and the dark early morning when he hurried down the hill to steal away on the Eliza Anderson.
Since the publication of Free Boy, his story has captured the imagination and admiration of many. A legal researcher, Thomas Blake, was challenged by the mystery of what became of the young boy and discovered that he returned to the United States just before the end of the Civil War, joined the Union Army (probably misrepresenting his age) and lived a fairly ordinary long life as a mariner, freed to make his own choices.
The 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle brought the story to thousands of schoolchildren Washington and Oregon in a traveling musical. The children I saw in the audiences were mesmerized and intrigued by Mitchell’s hard decision to leave a comfortable but circumscribed life for an unknown but free future.
Most who have learned the story are surprised that slavery was legal in Washington Territory and that an underground railroad—in the form of a Puget Sound mail steamer–operated to free a boy born into slavery.
With this declaration, you are lifting up an inspiring story of community action and individual courage during a time of deep political polarization, a city divided in its sympathies by the anticipated civil war. May this proclamation be one small step in recognizing the injustices in our shared history.
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Mars has a very thin atmosphere and the lack of water vapor makes it feel much colder than Earth.
Scientists aren’t sure if we will ever discover life on Mars, but the planet does have its own climate and weather patterns. Let’s take a closer look at how it works.
The average temperature on Mars is -81 degrees Fahrenheit (-60 C), and it can be a lot colder in the winter. It can also be very hot in the summer near the equator.
The temperature of Mars varies every Martian year, as it does on Earth. This is due to the fact that there are no oceans on Mars and the planet’s rotational axis has a slight inclination.
Temperatures vary from season to season, but not as much as they do on Earth because the atmosphere is thinner and there are less water vapor molecules in the air. That makes the temperature feel less cold than it actually is on Mars, according to Michael Mischna of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
In addition, the weather on Mars is often characterized by strong thermal tides, or rapid changes in atmospheric pressure. These are caused by heating of the surface by the sun. The atmosphere on Mars is significantly lower in pressure than the Earth’s atmosphere, so these tides are much more intense.
These tides are also related to the planet’s tilt of its axis, which is a factor in the formation of ice-rich features on Mars. Large tilts of more than 80 degrees have been observed.
This has led to the belief that ice-rich areas of Mars may be formed by frozen water, which was once on the planet’s surface. Scientists are still trying to understand why this happened.
It is also possible that the ice-rich areas of Mars were once covered with liquid water. However, there is little evidence to support this theory.
Another hypothesis is that water ice on the surface of Mars could have been frozen by a solar wind or other force. This would explain the existence of the Ismenius Lacus ice caps and other icy features on Mars.
In addition, some scientists believe that psychrophiles and cryophiles – extremophilic organisms that can survive very low temperatures – might be able to thrive on the Mars surface. But this is a very difficult question to answer because of the extreme variation in temperatures on the Red Planet.
The Martian atmosphere is composed mostly of carbon dioxide, and contains other gases such as nitrogen and argon. Some of these gases are lost to space, while others are locked up in rocks on the surface. This atmospheric loss makes Mars’s atmosphere thinner than on Earth, and makes it less breathable.
Atmospheric concentrations of the five major gases — carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, oxygen, and water vapour — vary significantly between seasons. These changes help to explain the planet’s climate and may also point to past life on Mars.
Clouds are another component of the Martian atmosphere. There are four main types of clouds: cirrus, aphelion (or “northern hemisphere” clouds), lee waves behind tall volcanoes, and polar hoods.
Most clouds on Mars are formed from ice particles instead of water droplets, so they have much less impact on air movements than on Earth. But in polar winter, clouds of carbon dioxide can condense and form huge dust storms that can last weeks or longer.
Solar heating of the atmosphere on a daily basis, and large scale expansion from solar wind, drive the weather patterns on Mars. These are independent of gravity, which means they can be more complex and difficult to study.
These systems are strongest in the southern part of the planet, and weaker in the northern part. They are triggered by the large mountains rising out of much of the planet’s atmosphere and the planet-wide gradient (high southern pole to lower northern lowlands).
The high mountains and their slopes also act as ‘jet streams’, generating powerful winds flowing from the south through the upper atmospheric boundary layer to the south. This jet stream can be very strong, ejecting dust into the upper atmosphere at speeds over 100 km/s.
This can have a significant impact on Global Circulation Models, as it can cause air pressure to change from one side of the planet to the other and back again. It can also cause updrafts, which may lead to localized cloud formation, especially if the temperature is very cold.
The Martian climate has changed dramatically over the past few million years, as carbon dioxide and water vapour have been ejected into space. These processes have led to a thin, ‘puffier’ atmosphere, which can cool rapidly when it’s hot on the surface.
Mars is much thinner than Earth’s atmosphere, which means it doesn’t have a “thermal blanket” to hold back heat from the Sun. This means that it can get quite cold on the planet–the average temperature is about minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 60 degrees Celsius) at its equator and even further north, near the poles.
Despite its thin air, wind on Mars can still whip up dust storms. These are called dust devils, and they can cover entire Martian surfaces.
These winds are caused by differences in pressure and temperature between the surface and the atmosphere. This pressure disparity is one reason why dust devils occur on the planet, says University of California San Diego physicist and study co-author Thomas Wiens.
It’s also why the planet can get so cold, says University of Arizona astronomer and study co-author Scott Guzewich. Because of this difference in density, molecules on Mars don’t hold onto the same amount of heat as ours do, so they tend to move from high to low pressure, causing a large temperature gradient over the planet’s surface, he and his colleagues write in Nature Astronomy.
This contrast in temperature can lead to strong cyclonic winds that blow down crater rims and volcanic highlands. These are called slope winds and mimic thermally driven mountain and sea breezes on Earth.
However, these aren’t strong enough to make a turbine useful for powering human exploration on the planet. That’s why scientists have dismissed wind as a potential power source for missions to Mars in the past.
But that’s about to change, thanks to a new model that identifies regions with potential to generate wind energy. This can expand the range of landing sites and regions that scientists previously discredited because of a lack of solar power, Hartwick and her colleagues report in the journal Science.
The researchers used topographic, heat storage, and albedo maps from previous observations to simulate the wind patterns and strength on the planet’s surface. They found that the highest power potential peaked during each hemisphere’s winter, at night and dawn, and during dust storms that occluded sunlight. In addition, the wind speeds and patterns varied with time of day and season. This allowed the team to compare wind power levels with available solar energy. It also helped identify regions with the best potential to power human exploration, including many that were previously discredited on the basis of solar energy availability.
The planet Mars has a number of ice caps that cover its north and south poles. These ice caps contain a thick layer of frozen carbon dioxide ice that forms each fall and winter, disappearing as the planet warms into summer.
But there is another layer of ice beneath the north polar cap that scientists believe is made up of water ice. This ice is thought to have formed a few hundred years ago or more.
In addition to the ice cap above, Mars also has a layer of dry ice that consists mostly of carbon dioxide. This layer freezes during the winter and partly sublimates in the spring when temperatures rise above -125deg C.
This dry ice is so thin it’s hard to see through with the naked eye, but researchers have managed to photograph it using the Mars Odyssey orbiter. These photos show dark dune spots and lighter fans atop the dry ice, indicating that solar heating causes geyser-like eruptions of CO2 gas beneath the ice in places.
These observations led to the idea that the polar ice caps contain layers of liquid water trapped under a layer of frozen carbon dioxide. But determining whether those polar ice caps are a real signal of Martian climate has been difficult, especially because the axial tilt and precession angle of Mars’s orbit affect the thickness of ice in those regions.
A team of scientists at the University of Cambridge in England has now found further evidence that this liquid water exists on Mars today. The team mapped the surface of the ice caps with laser-altimeter measurements from NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor satellite and matched those maps to computer models that predict how a layer of subglacial liquid water would affect the shape of an ice cap.
They discovered that the undulations they observed on the ice cap’s surface matched the model predictions perfectly. These patterns were reminiscent of the depressions and raised areas found in ice sheets that lie above subglacial lakes on Earth.
The researchers used the new information to re-create a computer model that mimics the ice flow on Mars. They then tested the model to see how different amounts of geothermal heat from below the ice cap might have affected the undulations the team observed. The results were impressive, showing that the ice cap’s surface was shaped by the undulations caused by the flow of liquid water beneath it.
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Zinc Facts – What It Is & How to Get It
Zinc is an essential trace element for all forms of life. It plays an important role in the structure of proteins and cell membranes. Loss of zinc from biological membranes increases their susceptibility to oxidative damage and impairs their function.
The National Institutes of Health says this about zinc:
Zinc is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. It is required for the catalytic activity of approximately 100 enzymes and it plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence and is required for proper sense of taste and smell. A daily intake of zinc is required to maintain a steady state because the body has no specialized zinc storage system.
Zinc insufficiency has been recognized by a number of experts as an important public health issue, especially in developing countries.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Zinc
- 0 – 6 months: 2* milligrams per day (mg/day)
- 7 – 12 months: 3* mg/day
- 1 – 3 years: 3 mg/day
- 4 – 8 years: 5 mg/day
- 9 – 13 years: 8 mg/day
Adolescents and Adults
- Males age 14 and over: 11 mg/day
- Females age 14 to 18 years: 9 mg/day
- Females age 19 and over: 8 mg/day
*Adequate Intake (AI)
Foods Rich in Zinc
Supplements are available, and it’s often found in many over-the-counter drugs as a cold remedy, but the best way to get zinc into your diet is through food sources. Here are 8 of our favorites.
- Meat (try to stick with SuperFoods like chicken and turkey)
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Chocolate (Don’t go crazy with this. Stick to your daily allotment.)
Secondary Source: National Institutes of Health
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Would Certain Conditions or Diseases Make You Ineligible to Donate?
Your age or health should not prevent you from registering as a donor. Most health conditions do NOT prevent donation and age is not a factor.
There are very few diseases that would make you ineligible to be an organ donor. Some severe infections, such as viral meningitis, active tuberculosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob (Mad Cow) disease, and a few others would disqualify donation.
At the time of death, doctors determine whether you are medically suitable for donation. They evaluate each organ individually and even though some organs may be damaged, others might be healthy enough for transplant. For example, if someone passes away from a heart attack, they are not going to be able to donate their heart but they may be able to donate their kidneys and liver. Likewise, if a person has diabetes, they might not be able to donate their pancreas but may be able to donate their heart or lungs. Again, doctors will make decisions about what is safe to donate at the time of death.
People with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or Hepatitis CAN sometimes donate their organs after death and save lives. It is even possible for individuals who are HIV-positive to donate to HIV-positive transplant candidates.
What’s a “Good” Organ?
Let’s say the heart of a 40-year-old male who had high blood pressure is available for transplant. After the database matches this donor with the safest recipients based on blood, tissue type, need, and location, two recipients are identified. Both are men experiencing heart failure, one is 25 years old and the other is 55. This would not be a “good” heart for a 25-year-old man, but this is a GREAT heart for a 55-year-old man whose heart is failing.
There Are Many Ways to Help
When people consider donation, they often think only of major organs that can be donated (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and intestine). While these gifts are incredibly important for saving lives, other equally transformational gifts are often overlooked. Donated tissues like corneas, skin, veins, tendons, bone, heart valves and connective tissue are all essential and help in many ways:
- Heart valves can be transplanted to save the lives of children born with heart defects, and adults with damaged heart valves.
- Skin can be used as a natural dressing for people with serious burns. It can even save lives by stopping infections.
- Corneas can give someone with an eye injury or disease the ability to see again.
- Bone is important for people receiving artificial joint replacements, or replacing bone that has been removed due to illness or injury, for example in hand transplants.
- Tendons, the elastic-like cords that attach bones and muscles to each other, can be donated to help rebuild damaged joints and help someone walk again.
Most people can be tissue donors when they pass away.
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Artificial Intelligence Customer Service Benefits and Applications
What is Artificial Intelligence Customer Service?
Artificial intelligence customer service is a task processor created and displayed by devices without the involvement of human brains. Instead, it uses tools such as machines and computers. Regarding its applications, AI customer service is available in various forms.
There are Two Variants in AI:
Yes! It basically comes in 2 types; general AI and narrow AI. The one we find in computers and smartphones for inquiries or to complete some task every day is narrow AI. They can carry out certain tasks without necessarily following a set of instructions.
Some of them include medical AI that scans MRI results, self-driving car vision recognition systems, and speech and voice recognition systems and so on. On the contrary, general AI is something that can train itself and perform most of the tasks humans can (we see this often in movies).
Computerized Customer Service:
Customer service is an area where narrow AI has a lot to play. When interacted, AI assists customers by guiding them through responding to their inquiries or requests. Furthermore, chatbots are the best form of today’s customer care, self-service for customers, customer data analysis, and speech recognition and support and so on.
Importance of Artificial Intelligence Customer Service:
Especially for larger companies, AI is an excellent tool for delivering top-notch customer service. Chat bots can help customers with a variety of tasks while checking their shopping carts again and soliciting opinions and ratings. In addition, AI in customer service entails global 24/7 availability in any given language. That is how this computerized application can attract new clients and raise satisfaction levels.
AI is scalable and collaborates with human staff to solve some routine tasks so that they can handle more complicated issues. Also, AI technologies like chat bots can identify voice triggers and offer pertinent information and direction.
Other Reasons For AI Deployment:
Data gathering and analysis is one more reason for which AI is integrated into customer service. Customer communications create a tremendous amount of data that can give important insights into customer behavior, needs and other factors.
You no longer need to manually examine the data and derive conclusions anymore. Because, AI can aid in developing a thorough understanding of customer’s conversational interaction.
Today, we are aware that customer service utilizes a variety of AI. AI potentially enhances client pleasure and experience and there are compelling advantages of using artificial intelligence.
Now, let us travel through the ways Artificial Intelligence can support an organization with best customer service.
Artificial Intelligence Customer Service Promotes Lead Generation:
AI streamlines the purchasing process and results in more profitable transactions. It examines browsing patterns on business websites and identifies clients’ needs to draw them.
Additionally, it proactively serves the customer. It enables companies to spot client problems before clients are even aware of their existence. Hence, lead generation is effortless.
Workflow Planning and Streamlining:
As previously said, AI in customer service can streamline the work of human agents. Basically, an AI chat bot can handle routine questions for you. They keep track of client behavior and respond to frequently asked queries, checkout process and more. A chat bot transfers a consumer call to a human agent only when it is unable to resolve the issue.
Facilitates Successful Customer Service:
With the development of artificial intelligence, customer service has become extremely quick and effortless. With the deployment of AI, an organization can benefit with customized and designated help, quick reaction times and multilingual availability. This list is a subset of the things that further develop and bring new degrees of client dependability.
Need not say, the first motive of a business leader is to gain more while spending less. As any business expands, computerized customer service is practically less expensive than hiring human resources. You can use free AI solutions for simple tasks. Chat bots pricing varies from tool to tool. However, through the use of AI for customer service, you can save a significant amount of finances.
Prevents Employee Fatigue:
Human account managers are not always available. It is expensive to work shifts and cover too many people. On the other hand, the team may experience fatigue and burnout. It can lead to some other consequences like understaffing.
AI customer service can support round the clock or it can replace human teams to some extent. In simple terms, AI can assist the staff in completing easy tasks to foster a healthy work-life balance.
Today, chat bots are the most widely used AI-powered applications. In essence, it can cut down wait times and always be ready to respond to the customer. Intelligent chat-bots collect information from customers over the course of a conversation. It is intelligent enough to understand whether a customer requires human assistance so that it can immediately put the call in a queue for an agent.
Chat-bots are deployed on a variety of platforms including websites, mobile apps and even social media. They are easy to interact with and can perform simpler tasks. a bank customer can use the chat bot on the bank’s website or app to get required information about their account balance, bank statements, and more. Minor tasks can be completed in a few minutes rather than calling an agent or going to an ATM.
In other words, automation can make life easier for your clients. As a result, you can create loyal customers when you are ready with such attentive and effective customer service.
The AI will also improve its own performance as it learns by itself. Chatbots based on AI are one type of self-service product.
AI Tools can Reduce Human Error:
The backbone of customer support is seasoned individuals (humans). They can try to reduce errors but not completely eliminate them. Human error includes the mistakes made by agents.
In relative comparison, an automated customer service can respond faster than a human. If the customer is waiting in a line to speak with an agent, a chatbot will intervene right away. Such instances can frustrate the customers. These are minor but can easily discourage customers from selecting a superior service provider.
However, automation can erase these errors. The AI will read the customer’s prompts and respond accordingly. The AI is programmed to respond sooner the customer contacts the company with a question. First contact resolution is increased and response time is decreased consequently.
AI is meant to be embraced and invested in by every customer centric company. Customers themselves expect more convenience because of automation. Today, AI is deployed by many businesses. Also, they are upgrading with new solutions.
Planning for the future is necessary for an enhanced customer service team to compete with others in the market. Forecasting the workforce is crucial. One must make the best choice for the reason that workforce and customer service level are directly interlinked.
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There is a lot of confusion between web hosting and domain names. On the surface, they both seem like the same thing. When someone asks for a website, the response is something like “its www.website.com”. So there you go, same thing, right?
To put it simply, the domain name is the address (or URL) you type into your browser, and the website itself is on a hosting server. This can be likened to your own address and your house. Your address is how someone finds your house, and the actual house is where you can play host to visitors.
Lets break this down further.
What is “Website Hosting”?
Everything on the internet is hosted on a server. A server is another term for a computer that has a specialized purpose. That purpose is to serve a website to your device.
The files that make up a website, like all the images and code files, live on a server. All of the files are stored on a server, and hosted to the public. This is why Web Hosting has a monthly cost. Although, cheap hosting does exist, it is quite expensive to run a server and keep it online with zero down-time.
There is a lot more we can get into with website hosting, but to keep this brief, lets just move on to domains.
What is a “Domain Name” or DNS?
Have you ever heard of an “IP address”? An IP address looks something like 188.8.131.52. The IP address of a server is just like your street address. It’s how your house differentiates itself from the house next to yours.
Now imagine your address didn’t have any words in it. Imagine your home address was just numbers. Something like 123 First Street, might look like 123.514.87.87. You would have to be half-android to remember or recognize anybody’s address! This is what the internet would be like (and actually was in the early days) without a Domain Naming Service (DNS).
This is where Domain Names come into play. A domain name is simply a human-readable address, that points to a server IP. This way, we don’t need to remember a bunch of numbers to get where we’re going. Domain names also operate on their own servers and need to be officially registered with a “domain registrar”. That’s why there is also a cost when purchasing a domain name.
Unlike a costly website host, domain’s are typically pretty cheap, and you buy them for the year, not monthly. They can get very expensive if you’re looking for a premium domain however. Since the best domains are the most memorable ones, anything short will be pricey. I don’t think anything with 4 letters or less is even available at this point, not without a very high price tag.
Do I NEED a host for my domain?
No! You don’t! If there is a domain available that you think you might need in the future, just snag it now. Even if you don’t have a website, you should grab your domain if its available. There’s plenty of free websites you can point it to.
For example, I purchased a domain with my own birth name. Any individuals out there who want to market themselves, in any capacity, should own their domain with their name in it. A domain like that is generic enough to be used for almost anything you do. Point it to your ebay store while you’re building your ecomm website. Or point it to your instagram profile while you build your audience there, making it easier for people to find you.
You can get a domain and use it for e-mail only, if that’s all you want to do. There’s many reasons why someone might buy a domain without a website.
So, do I need a domain for my website host?
Nope! You can build a website without a domain. This can come in handy if you’re trying to get a head start on the website, but your branding isn’t completely finish yet. This is basically how I develop new websites. When its time to finally launch the website, I just point the domain over to the host where the site has been developed. Between the domain and the host, you don’t technically need them both, it just depends on what exactly you’re trying to accomplish.
For the record, I host most of my client’s websites on WPEngine. I chose WPEngine because I typically build websites on the WordPress platform, and they specialize in hosting wordpress websites. Their servers are very quick and secure, and come with all the bells and whistles you could want with a WP website, along with fantastic support, based in the U.S.
GoDaddy is very popular, but I have been hell-bent on transferring all of my domains to Googles domain service: domains.google. Google’s service has a very simple interface and the best prices, and not really lacking anything either. Except for their phone support. Most of Google’s support is outsourced to India, so if you prefer to do business on the phone, you might want to find another company.
Addressing the Confusion
A Domain Name Service and a Web Hosting Service are often different services. Can you get them both from the same place? Of course! Places like GoDaddy are both an official domain registrar, as well as offering hosting plans. I recommend against it however, especially if you’re building a wordpress website. Their servers are very slow, and lacking in security for wp firstname.lastname@example.org
CALL or TEXT
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There are basically three omega fatty acids that are needed for health. Omega 3, 6 and 9.
Omega 9 is a non essential omega fatty acid, which means your body can produce its own, so our discussion here focuses on omega 3 and 6.
There is a huge difference between how the body needs these two omegas.
The Omega 3 fatty acids are required by those animals, and so people, who have a super high metabolic rate, such as hummingbirds. The omega 6 fatty acids are required by those animals who need to gain weight before they hibernate. They need to have a high body weight to survive the winter without food.
Omega 3 is the most unstable of the omega fatty acids. It is easily damaged, from cooking, exposure to natural light and the air. This makes the oil rancid (can take as little as 20 minutes) which diminishes the nutrition and produces free radicals. This makes storage difficult. So accessing the oil just before consumption is the most desirable way.
Omega 6 is more stable. It slows the metabolic rate down, ready for hibernation. It thickens the blood.
Excess amounts of omega 6 can lead to inflammation and a host of diseases, from cardiac problems to tumour metastases.
Omega 3 is the most important of the omega fatty acids. It helps to reduce inflammation, keeps your blood fluid which prevents excessive clotting and arterial thickening, keeps your body pH alkaline and so preventing all manner of disease, and helps to regulate body weight.
Because omega 3 is so unstable, it has been removed by the oil manufacturers, so that their oil has a long shelf life. Too bad about your deteriorating health.
A lack of omega 3 can lead to depression, cardiac problems, diabetes, inflammation, fatigue, lack of concentration, dry skin, brittle hair and nails, and much more.
The highest sources of omega 3 is sprouted flaxseed (linseed), sprouted chia seed, sprouted walnuts, salmon and some other fish, sprouted hemp seed and some dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, purslane, romaine, kale, arugula). Sprouting is simply soaking them overnight, which releases the enzyme inhibitor.
It is possible to consume excess omega 3. Seeds and nuts should be regulated, rather than eaten by the handful. Leafy greens should be varied regularly.
A biochemist studying the blood samples of a small group of Nigerians, found they had the highest omega 3 content of any group he had studied. Their diet was high in greens, had no heavy omega 6 oils and they ate little fish.
Coconut oil is the odd one out. A good source of omega 3, but also a stable one. It doesn’t oxidise easily. Because of its stability, it is the best oil to use for cooking.
Food sources have greater bioavailability than supplements. So greens will do you more good than a fish oil supplement.
Omega 6 is found in corn, safflower, sunflower, peanut and canola oils. These are generally consumed in higher concentrations than the omega 3. They are found in all fast and junk food, all processed and packaged food, because they keep so well.
It is considered that the ratio to omega 6 versus omega 3 fatty acid should be around 2:1, some say 1:1. Most people have a 10:1 or more ratio.
All the food sources of omega 3 also contain omega 6, so if you concentrate on food sources of omega 3, you will have the right balance.
You can buy a home test kit to check your levels, but if you follow the tips above, you will know they are good.
For more information of healthy food, check our sister website, Healthy Eating For Weight Loss.
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Define Potential, Developed, Stock and Reserved resources ?
Potential resources are the resources which are currently not fully utilised. We do have the technology to extract them but their extraction has not been started yet at a larger level. Reasons can be lack of investment, for e.g., Rajasthan and Gujarat receive plenty of solar energy and have plenty of wind energy, but the use of these resources so far has not been developed properly.
Developed resources are the resources of which the quality as well as the quantity has been surveyed and utilisation has been determined. On the other hand, the development is said to be based on technology as well as their feasibility.
Stock is the resources for which presently, we don’t have any technology to extract them. For e.g Water consists of Hydrogen and Oxygen. Hydrogen is considered as one of the sources of energy but we do not know the technology to extract energy from it.
Reserve resources are those which we are not extracting them at present in spite of technological availability. They are stored to meet the world's future requirements.
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Background: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition associated with four distinct subtypes: erythematotelangiectatic, papulopustular, phymatous, and ocular.
Purpose: To review the different kinds of management for all subtypes.
Methods: We divided rosacea management into three main categories: patient education, skin care, and pharmacological/procedural interventions.
Results: Flushing is better prevented rather than treated, by avoiding specific triggers, decreasing transepidermal water loss by moisturizers, and blocking ultraviolet light. Nonselective β-blockers and α2-adrenergic agonists decrease erythema and flushing. The topical α-adrenergic receptor agonist brimonidine tartrate 0.5% reduces persistent facial erythema. Intradermal botulinum toxin injection is almost safe and effective for the erythema and flushing. Flashlamp-pumped dye, potassium-titanyl-phosphate and pulsed-dye laser, and intense pulsed light are used for telangiectasias. Metronidazole 1% and azelaic acid 15% cream reduce the severity of erythema. Both systemic and topical remedies treat papulopustules. Systemic remedies include metronidazole, doxycycline, minocycline, clarithromycin and isotretinoin, while topical remedies are based on metronidazole 0.75%, azelaic acid 15 or 20%, sodium sulfacetamide, ivermectin 1%, permethrin 5%, and retinoid. Ocular involvement can be treated with oral or topical antibacterial. Rhinophyma can be corrected by dermatosurgical procedures, decortication, and various types of lasers.
Conclusion: There are many options for rosacea management. Patients may have multiple subtypes, and each phase has its own treatment.
Keywords: Azelaic acid; Demodex; Inflammatory lesion; Isotretinoin; Ivermectin; Laser; Ocular rosacea; Rosacea.
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There two types of hedges that are grown in gardens or front and back yards of properties.
i. Ornamental hedge: These types of hedges are made for aesthetic purposes and add a touch of creativity to the piece of nature in your garden. The hedges can come I two basic varieties- non-flowering plants and flowering plants. Both have their unique features and blend well with the overall theme.
ii. Security hedges: Rather than for beauty purposes, they serve as a barrier of protection for the property. They too can have flowering and non-flowering plants.
Experienced hedge makers use two ideas to create the two types of hedges. The first is to simply plant the selected greenery and wait for them to grow to prune beautiful shapes. The second method is making a foundation wall of wood or concrete and getting them covered with hedge plants.
Maintaining is the Key
Despite the type of hedge in your garden, taking proper care of the hedge plants is what matters. Many subtle things play a great role in a great hedge. This is all the more important when the hedge is made of flowering plants.
We will first discuss the five cardinal practices keeping your hedge last longer and look appealing
The Five Rules for Flowering Hedges
These five rules apply to all hedges irrespective of the types of plants used to make them.
1. The Size of Your Flowering Hedge
Make a blueprint of your hedge for your information. Go out into the actual location and decide upon the exact position, height, and width of the proposed hedge.
Let us have a look at the parameters for deciding the dimensions:
For easy maintenance, experienced gardeners keep the height at eye level. This can be translated as 5.5 ft to 6 ft, depending upon the heights of the persons in the household. Even if a shorter person wants to tend to your flowering hedges, a ladder will do the trick.
Most hedges have e width of three feet. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make a broader hedge.
c. The Growing Habit
After you get a fairly good idea about the size of the hedge, decide upon the type of plants. The plants should grow to ‘fastigiate’ or in a ‘columnar’ way referring to their natural growth patterns.
It is a wise choice to plant shrubs that don’t need a great amount of shearing. A few good selections of evergreens include:
iii. Western arborvitae.
iv. Eastern red cedar.
v. Fastigiate white pine.
Common flowering hedges are:
ii. Rose of Sharon.
iii. Rugosa roses.
v. Crape myrtle.
2. The Importance of Pruning
There is a misconception that the purpose of pruning is to maintain the shape of the hedge. The foremost reason for shearing or pruning is to enable the plants to grow new shoots. Then, of course, regular pruning maintains a neat and tidy flowering hedge while stimulating sprouts.
As more buds emerge, your hedge will become thicker preventing the entry of sunlight inside. This results in a hollow hedge which is green outside and hollow inside. The trick lies in careful shearing to let sunlight inside and also to use shears to nip off internal twigs.
How Gardeners Do it
Good gardeners reach inside the hedge at regular intervals and hold the shears at an angle of 45 degrees and cut off some branches to make space for air and sunlight.
The Three Year Rule
In the case of old hedges that have rigorous overgrowth need special pruning to remove stubborn parts. This needs to be repeated for three consecutive years. The process involves cutting off nearly one-third of the thickest trunk close to the bottom of the shrubs. This will result in a fresh, fit, and small hedge.
3. Winter Pruning
The most suitable time for shearing your hedges is in late winter. Usually, plants don’t break shoots at this time of the year as they are supine due to the climate.
The best time to prune evergreens is earlier in the season.
Tip: Wait till the blooms of the flowering hedge become brown to prune. This will result in more flowers that are healthy.
4. Wider Bottoms and Narrow Tops
A reversed ‘V’ shape should be the result of pruning by an experienced hand. If you leave the shrubs to grow naturally, they will attain maximum growth at the top. The top portion receives maximum sunlight resulting in more budding. Your hedge will be broader on top forming a natural ‘V’ shape. We will reverse this shape by shearing the top to be narrow. A narrow top can have any of the below shapes:
The direction of Shearing
Begin at the bottom and go up for each section. Beginners can tie strings along the hedge at the top, middle, and bottom for precision pruning.
5. Privacy Plants Vs Flowering Hedges
The purpose of hedges is aesthetics and artistry. They don’t usually rise more than eight feet. Screening plants on the contrary can grow up to 30 feet and are wider than hedges. the point is do not expect a lot of privacy within hedges.
Before moving on to the nutritional aspects of flowering hedges let us look at a few popular exotic plants to choose from:
ii. Star jasmine.
iii. Ulex europaeus.
iv. Olearia x haasstii.
v. Californian Lilac.
vi. Escallonia rubra.
vii. Potentilla fruticosa.
viii. Rosa rugosa.
Troubleshooting for Hedges that Didn’t Flower
The most common reasons why a flowering hedge failed to bloom can be due to one or more of the following:
Pruning at an Inappropriate Time
We already discussed the right time of the year to undertake to shear. Pruning a flowering hedge at any other time will result in sapping out their energy meant for new growth.
Fertilizers with high nitrogen content are great for green growth but will have its toll on flowers. Plants need phosphorous to produce more flowers.
Quantity of Feed
Flowering shrubs need fertilizers for three to five years. This is the time they need to get set on the new ground. After maturing, they will become adept at absorbing the required food from the soil. It is always a good practice to provide nutrient mixed water.
Lack of Sun
Ensure that the flowering hedge gets maximum sunlight for better blooming prowess.
Fluctuating Weather Conditions
A sudden return of warm weather can trick the plants out of hibernation to bloom. If the weather gets back to a colder temperature, the new blooms will wither. Don’t worry about this, it is only a temporary phenomenon.
Any plant will blossom only at their natural ages for the genus to bloom. So, don’t lose hope for healthy shrubs that didn’t blossom.
Expert Planting Advice
The topsoil should be mixed with organic fertilizer to maintain moisture. Make a 2 to 3-inch thick blanket around the plant base using compost to prevent lawn grass from invading the area.
Best Watering Practices
Following the below instructions for proper watering will give long-lasting results in your garden.
Water newly planted flowering shrubs every week in the absence of rain. Start by soaking the soil thoroughly and following it up with a slowly flowing hose on the ground for five to ten minutes till the soil is thoroughly soaked.
Tip: Use a soaker hose to save time and also efficient soaking of the soil.
Scientific Feeding Practices
Never give fertilizer to new shrubs. It will weaken its constitution and growth. Plant the new shrubs in soil mixed with organic compost rich in micro-nutrients. Ensure that the soil has enough moisture to help the saplings remain fresh.
Support for Shrubs
Some varieties of flowering shrubs may need staking for a year or two to keep them upright. The correct depth for driving the stake into the soil is 1.5 feet. Make sure that it is kept at least six inches away from the planting hole. Wrap old garden hose around the wire and tie the tree to the stake using an 8 shaped knot.
Tip: If you tie too tight, the wire can cut into the bark as the tree grows.
‘How to Care’- in a Nutshell
Beautiful and eye-catching flowering hedges are the results of patient care. The good practices we learned above can be summed up as:
i. The right soil and moisture for planting.
ii. Plant at the right time of year.
iii. Follow right watering practices.
iv. Use the correct fertilizers according to the age of the shrubs.
v. Pruning is done to promote new shoots. Remove old and dead stems from the inside for better air and light. Maintain a reverse ‘V’ shape for the hedge. vi. Learn the correct flowering ages of each species. This will let you know the shrubs aren’t flowering due to any illness, but waiting to mature.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. It is estimated that 1 in 54 children in the United States has ASD, and early intervention is crucial for helping these children reach their full potential. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of early intervention for children with autism.
What is Early Intervention?
Early intervention refers to the support and services provided to children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. In the context of autism, early intervention refers to a range of services and therapies provided to children with autism in their early years (typically from birth to three years of age). Early intervention aims to address developmental delays, build skills, and reduce symptoms of autism.
Why is Early Intervention Important?
Research has shown that early intervention is critical for improving outcomes for children with autism. Early intervention can help children with autism improve their social communication skills, develop better relationships with others, and reduce the severity of their symptoms. Here are some specific reasons why early intervention is so important for children with autism:
- Brain Development - Research has shown that the first few years of life are a critical period for brain development. Early intervention during this period can help to shape the developing brain and improve outcomes for children with autism.
- Communication Skills - Children with autism often struggle with communication skills, which can make it difficult for them to interact with others and form relationships. Early intervention can help to improve communication skills and make it easier for children with autism to connect with others.
- Behavioral Issues - Children with autism often experience behavioral issues, such as repetitive behaviors or difficulty with transitions. Early intervention can help to address these issues and reduce the severity of symptoms.
- Learning Opportunities - Early intervention can provide children with autism with learning opportunities that may not be available to them otherwise. By providing specialized services and therapies, children with autism can build the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.
- Family Support - Early intervention can also provide support and resources for families of children with autism. This support can help families navigate the challenges of raising a child with autism and ensure that their child receives the best possible care.
Types of Early Intervention Services for Children with Autism
There are several types of early intervention services that can benefit children with autism. These include:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) - ABA is a type of therapy that focuses on teaching new skills and modifying behavior through positive reinforcement. ABA has been shown to be an effective intervention for children with autism, especially when started early.
- Speech Therapy - Speech therapy can help children with autism improve their communication skills, such as understanding language, using words to express themselves, and improving social communication.
- Occupational Therapy - Occupational therapy focuses on improving fine motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination, and helping children with autism better engage in daily activities.
- Physical Therapy - Physical therapy can help children with autism improve their gross motor skills, such as balance and coordination.
- Social Skills Training - Social skills training can help children with autism learn how to interact with others, understand social cues, and build relationships.
- Parent Education and Support - Parent education and support can provide families with the tools and resources they need to support their child with autism. This may include education on autism and its symptoms, as well as training on how to provide effective interventions and support their child's development.
The Role of Parents in Early Intervention
Parents play a critical role in early intervention for children with autism. As a parent, it's important to be aware of the early signs of autism and seek an evaluation if you suspect your child may be at risk. The earlier autism is diagnosed, the sooner your child can begin receiving early intervention services.
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There's only one word to describe your 9-month-old: busy. They're learning new skills like waving and cruising, and babbling new sounds and even words. Your baby can understand words like "yes" and "no" – though that doesn't necessarily mean they're going to listen to you if you tell them not to do something.
In fact, your baby may be testing boundaries constantly to see your reaction. Sticking a finger in the dog's eye, throwing food from their high chair, and banging toys on the floor are all ways your baby experiments. Watching how you respond and predicting what will happen the next time are important steps in your 9-month-old's development, so let that comfort you when you're cleaning food off the floor – again!
Your baby's development
As always, there's a lot happening with your baby's development. Your 9-month-old is focused on mastering physical skills like crawling and standing. Make sure to put up baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs to stop your baby from climbing up and tumbling down.
Your 9-month-old is also going through major emotional growth as they move towards toddlerhood. Now, and for the next few months, separation anxiety is at its peak. Although it's normal for a baby this age to show an extreme attachment to you and fear of everyone else, it can make life difficult. Ease transitions by making a short and sweet goodbye ritual and sticking to it every time you say goodbye. A predictable routine helps your child build trust in you and in their ability to get through a separation.
By this week, your baby will start to remember more specific information, such as where their toys are. They'll also be able to imitate actions they've seen as long as a week before. Your baby has recall memory – the ability to remember some details of a specific experience for a short time – though they still don't remember most of their experiences.
Here are some of the milestones your 9-month-old may reach:
- Crawling. By 9 months old, your baby may be an expert crawler. Some babies have different crawling styles – you may notice your baby is more of an army crawler, pulling themselves along on their belly, or crawling with one leg up.
- Standing up. Your baby can probably pull themselves up to a standing position using furniture or even while holding your hands. Some babies will start to practice standing on their own now as well. Get ready for a few falls – it's all part of the process. But you may need to keep a close eye on them around furniture, and lower the crib mattress so they can't fall out.
- Walking. Once your baby masters standing, it's on to walking. Those first few steps will be exciting, and they mark the transition from babyhood to toddlerhood. Most babies will start to walk when they're between 9 and 15 months old, but there's no rush. Let your baby develop on their own timeline and celebrate all the milestones along the way.
- Waving. Your baby may be working on waving hello and goodbye, flapping a hand at you in a rough (and super cute) attempt at waving.
- Clapping. You may also notice your baby bringing their hands together in a clapping motion. Clapping takes some serious hand-eye coordination – encourage your baby's efforts by singing songs that have clapping motions together ("If You're Happy and You Know It," for example).
- Finger dexterity. Your baby may love to put things in containers and take them out again. Your little one is perfecting the pincer grasp, which lets them pick up small objects between a thumb and forefinger. Because your baby is so good at putting things in their mouth now, it's especially important to make sure small toys, coins, button batteries, and other choking hazards are out of reach!
Although babies follow fairly predictable patterns of development, all babies are different. It's a good idea to be aware of milestones and tell your baby's care provider if you have any concerns about developmental delay. But keep in mind that some babies just need a bit more time to learn skills and hit milestones.
9-month-old weight and length
There are normal differences in how much 9-month-olds weigh, but on average, here's what you can expect:
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Average weight for a 9-month-old: 19 pounds 10 ounces
Average length for a 9-month-old: 28 1/4 inches
Average weight for a 9-month-old: 18 pounds 2 ounces
Average length for a 9-month-old: 27 1/2 inches
Your 9-month-old may go through a growth spurt. Babies naturally grow faster at certain times, and this can sometimes lead to less-than-pleasant side effects, such as sleep disruptions, irritability, and clinginess.
Growth spurts can be challenging to navigate, so just focus on making it through. Keep any routines you've established, and stick to the baby-care basics you know so well.
Your 9-month-old may be an enthusiastic eater who enjoys plenty of soft finger foods and wants three meals plus snacks every day. (See our age-by-age guide to feeding your baby and these sample menus for more details and meal ideas.)
But your baby's main source of nutrition is still breast milk or formula, and your 9-month-old still needs about 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula per day.
If you're breastfeeding, congratulations! Try to keep it going: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all babies have breast milk for a full year if possible. And there's no cut-off date; you can continue to breastfeed as long as you and your baby want to. If either of you is ready to stop now, that's fine too – check out these tips on weaning your baby.
Continue to offer your baby a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein-rich foods. As your baby's eating skills improve, gradually introduce more textures and soft finger foods. Finger foods are not only nutritious; they also help your baby work on fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Some great finger foods for babies include:
- Small (pea-sized) pieces of tofu
- Small pieces of cooked veggies
- Chopped fruit
- Chopped hard-boiled eggs
- Very small chunks of soft cheese
- Well-cooked pasta, cut into pieces
- Small pieces of bread or bagels
- Pea-sized pieces of cooked chicken, ground beef, turkey, or other soft meat
Your baby may start to show a preference for certain foods, and you may worry that your little one will grow up to be a picky eater. But it's normal for your baby to have preferences. Keep introducing new foods, and know that you may have to offer it ten times before your baby enjoys it.
The best thing you can do to raise a child who eats well is to offer a wide variety of healthy foods and let your child decide what and how much they want to eat. According to the American Heart Association, encouraging kids to make their own decisions about food (within a healthy eating environment) is linked to better childhood nutrition and healthier eating for life.
Some other helpful tips for raising a healthy eater:
- Offer new foods with foods your child already enjoys.
- As much as possible, make meals a family affair. Prepare and eat meals together, and try to make it fun.
- Never force your child to eat something they don't want, or impose rigid rules about eating such as cleaning their plate.
- Encourage your child to learn when they've had enough to eat, and don't pressure them eat more if they say they're full.
- Don't use food as a bribe.
At 9 months old, your baby will still need between 12 and 16 hours of sleep (including naps) every 24 hours. That might look like 11 hours at night and 3.5 hours during the day taken in a morning and afternoon nap. (At 9 months old, most babies are down to two naps a day.)
Is your baby sleeping through the night? Usually a 9-month-old baby can sleep for 8 or more hours at a stretch, but all babies are different. If your baby isn't yet, you're not alone. Many babies still wake up at night for feedings in the 6- to 9-month stage (though most are ready for night weaning, if that's what you choose to do).
Also, sometimes babies who were great sleepers suddenly start waking up at night, or have difficulty falling asleep around now. Sleep disturbances can go hand-in-hand with reaching major milestones and with separation anxiety. Teething pain can also lead waking up at night.
If your baby hasn't yet settled into a sleep pattern that fits your family life, now might be a good time to try some type of sleep training. Sleep training methods can help your baby go to sleep more easily, sleep for longer periods at night, and keep more regular hours.
There are other things you can do to help your 9-month-old sleep well:
- Follow a bedtime routine to cue your baby that it's time for sleep.
- Keep your baby on a consistent sleep schedule.
- Encourage your baby to fall asleep on their own – this helps them learn to soothe themselves, so when they wake up at night, they can put themselves back to sleep.
- Try putting your baby to sleep a little earlier so they aren't overtired.
Your baby's health
It's time for another well-baby visit! Regular doctor visits are important to ensure that your little one is growing well. You probably know what to expect from doctor visits by now, but one change is there are no recommended vaccines this month. Of course, if your baby needs to catch up on any vaccines or get a flu shot, they can get them during this visit.
The 9-month checkup will include all the basics:
- A medical assistant or nurse will take all of your baby's physical measurements, including their weight, length, and head circumference. Those measurements will be plotted on a growth chart to track your baby's growth over time. Remember, no two babies develop the same way.
- Your baby's doctor will address any concerns about sleeping, feeding, and behavior and ask about your baby's sleeping and eating habits. They'll also review developmental milestones and check that your baby is developing appropriately.
- The doctor will do a complete physical and check your baby from head to toe, including the diaper area.
- The doctor will ensure that you're following recommended steps to keep your baby healthy, including baby-proofing your home, using a car seat safely, practicing safe sleep habits, and keeping up on vaccinations.
There are also some general health issues to keep in mind with a 9-month-old:
- Caring for baby teeth. Once your baby gets teeth, it's time for oral hygiene. Even if your baby has just one pearly white, you'll need to brush it! Use a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice) to brush twice a day, and be sure to change your baby's toothbrush frequently to avoid introducing bacteria into their mouth.
- Using sunscreen. Make sure to use baby-safe sunscreen and protective clothing to keep your baby safe in the sun. Your baby's skin is much more sensitive than an adult's, so sunscreen is even more important for your little one.
Your 9-month-old baby: Week by week
Want to learn more about what's happening with your baby this month? Get more details on your 9-month-old's weekly development:
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New technologies or innovative treatment lines for reliable water treatment for P&P and minimization of waste production
The project for sustainable water use in chemical, paper, textile and food industries
This report is a result of the project AquaFit4Use, a large-scale European research project cofinanced by the 7th framework program of the European Union on water treatment technologies and processes. In the Pulp&Paper industry a lot of effort is put into to water saving and closing water circuits, also reducing substantially the environmental impact, both by process modelling and Kidney technologies as internal process water treatment. However a number of problems around the removal of substances are not solved yet and further closing of the water cycle causes other problems. Challenges for water re-use in the Pulp&Paper industry are the following: - The elimination of residual (soluble) COD and BOD which can both affect the production process and the paper quality; - The removal of sticky solids and suspended solids, which can induce plugging of pipes and showers, deposit formation, abrasion, loss of tensile strength; - The treatment of concentrate streams containing calcium, sulphate, chloride and organics which can lead to salt accumulation in case of water loop closure, corrosion, scaling of pipes and showers in the paper production process. The removal of calcium carbonate is crucial in the last case. Therefore there is a need to find new and reliable (combinations of) technologies to solve this challenges to achieve the water quality target for water re-use and which are tailored to suit product demands and standards. The work described in this report concerned the laboratory and preliminary work for the implementation of pilot trials on two industrial paper mills. The emphasis was on different technologies as part of a global treatment line to solve the above challenges. On the basis of waste water characterization and the defined water quality requirements for paper mills, new treatment lines were defined to reach the water quality target including effectiveness, reliability and minimization in waste and concentrate production. These new treatment lines are focused on internal recycling. The emphasis was on different key steps of the global treatment train: - Biological treatment: anaerobic processes and MBR; - Filtration processes: 3FM high speed technology and nanofiltration; - Tertiary treatments to reduce hard COD: AOPs, coagulation/precipitation; - Integration of processes (evapoconcentration, electrodialysis and softening) in the treatment line: o To treat the concentrate streams containing calcium, sulphate, chloride, organics; o To minimize the waste production and enhance internal recycling. Technologies were tested at lab scale on the waste waters from 3 different paper mills: • Paper mill 1 (PM1), producing corrugated board and board; • Paper mill 2 (PM2), producing high quality coated and uncoated board from recycled paper; • Paper mill 3 (PM3), producing standard newsprint, improved newsprint (higher brightness) and light weight coated paper (for magazines). On basis of the obtained results, the best treatment combinations to be implemented and tested at pilot scale within WP5.1.4 were selected and summarized for each type of paper mill.
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Exercise is as important for those with diabetes as it is for anyone else. The goal of most exercise regimens should be to work out at a moderate intensity for 30 minutes at least five days a week.
Patients with diabetes, however, need to take several exercise-related precautions:
• If you already have problems with your leg or foot nerves, choose exercises that will stress them as little as possible such as biking, swimming, rowing, or even chair exercises.
• If you do not have foot problems, take preventive measures. Choose athletic shoes that fit well and are not too tight, and wear comfortable cotton socks. After your workouts, visually check your feet carefully for any cuts, blisters, sores, or minor irritations. Because people with diabetes can be less sensitive than others to foot pain, you need to do this so you can treat any irregularity at its inception, before it develops into something difficult to heal.
• Avoid working with heavy weights if you have high blood pressure or diabetes-related blood vessel or eye complications.
• Track your blood sugar before, during, and after exercise. To avoid possibly damaging blood sugar swings, you need to learn how your body responds to exercise. Work with your physician to determine specific guidelines for you to follow.
• Prepare for any incidence of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) while you are exercising—as at any other time—by always having a source of 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates on hand. The most portable include two tablespoons of raisins, five pieces of hard candy, or three five-gram glucose tablets. Consider having a second helping available, in case you still do not feel better 15 minutes after taking the first.
• Stay hydrated by drinking lots of fluids before, during, and after exercise, as well.
If you have diabetes, see us for an individualized program that will take into account your current fitness level and fitness goals. Such a regimen will help maintain your blood sugar levels, and increase your strength and range of motion, flexibility, gait, balance, posture, joint mobility, and soft-tissue tightness, to reduce the risk of falling and the injuries caused by those falls.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kim Gladfelter, MPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Women's Health Physical Therapy Specialist at PhysioFit Physical Therapy & Wellness
Kim Gladfelter is a physical therapist, Pilates instructor, educator, author, and co-founder of PhysioFit Physical Therapy & Wellness. She is known as a keen, well-rounded expert of healing through movement and women’s health specialist in the Silicon Valley area.
Kim has helped men and women of all ages to stay active and feel their best. She also writes about managing pain in her health columns, blogs and the local Los Altos Town Crier newspaper as well as reaches out to the local community, support groups, schools, libraries, and sports centers to advise and educate on body awareness and therapeutic exercise.
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It depends on the amount of time you invest in your home. Some people are more than willing to spend the next 300 hours in their lives and others have time to spend doing things, things, and things. Why? Because in addition to the time spent doing what they’re doing, they’re also more likely to do the things they’re doing.
A common misconception is that the term “time spent doing things” is equal to “time spent doing things.” In reality it depends on the type of things that you do. If you are doing things for money, for example, you spend some time doing money making tasks such as trading. If youre doing things for pleasure, you spend some time doing things such as watching movies, or doing things like reading novels or playing video games.
Most people will never actually remember the exact amount of time they spent doing something, but the fact remains that the average person spends their day at the table or at the movies just because they want to. They spend a lot of time at the table and watch movies and play video games, and that’s pretty hard to do.
Your job will be to keep tabs on your work, and your work will be to get your job done. If you work for a living you may not even see your workers. You’ll never see the same workers in each of your work days, but you will see them every day.
What is the difference between a “work” and a “work place?” Your job will be to do your job, and that will take time.
A work place is a place where you work. A work place is a place where you are not allowed to do your job.
The point is that you can do the same job as your coworkers at your work place, and even get paid for doing the same job. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good job. If you are not performing your job well, you will not be treated like a human being. If you don’t have your work done the first day, you’ll be reassigned to someone who does.
The problem is that a lot of people do not do their jobs well and get replaced by someone who does. It happens time and time again. The problem is often not that they are not doing their job, but just that they are not performing it the way they should. It is an easy fix to say, “just do it better,” or “do it right.” But that doesn’t really fix the problem.
The problem is that the people who are performing their jobs the best and in the most efficient way are often the ones who get replaced. It happens for a variety of reasons, but the one thing that is often not addressed is the fact that we dont always want to be replaced.
If you think about it, it is really the people who are performing their jobs the best and in the most efficient way who are the people who tend to keep getting replaced. And sometimes we are just lazy. We just want to be told what to do, and dont want to have to be told what to do by anyone.
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Diabetes: The Basics – Taking Medications
Diabetes Self-Management- TAKING MEDICATIONS- based on the ADCES7 Self-Care Behaviors
Updated 2021 by Kim Ladd, RN, BS, CPHQ, CDCES
Taking medications in pill, injectable, inhaled, liquid, and other forms as directed by your physician is a very important part of controlling blood sugar levels.
General Information about Diabetes Medicines
Most people with diabetes take medication to help control it. Everyone who has Type 1 diabetes must take insulin to live. Some people who have type 2 diabetes can control diabetes without medicines for a while, using only healthy eating and exercise. This happens most often right after someone is first diagnosed. For some people, this time may last only a short time. Or it may last several years. Usually, with type 2 diabetes, the longer you have diabetes the less insulin the body makes. Therefore, after a while, most people need to start using diabetes medications.
There are many medicines that can be used for type 2 diabetes. Different types of medicines work in different ways. Sometimes one medicine is enough to control type 2 diabetes. But you may get better control if you use two (2) or more that work in different ways. For example, many people use a medicine that helps the body make more insulin along with one that helps the body use insulin more efficiently.
Some people who have type 2 diabetes cannot make much of their own insulin at all, or there may be reasons they cannot use diabetes pills. If you are one of these people, you will need to use insulin. Insulin can be a very effective way to control diabetes when it is used correctly.
When using any diabetes medicine, there are a few things you should know:
- What are the brand name and the generic name of the medicine?
- When and how much should you take?
- Should you take this medicine with food or by itself?
- How does this medicine work?
- What are the most common side effects?
- Does this medicine have “peaks” —times when it works most strongly to lower blood sugar? Can it cause hypoglycemia?
- If you are sick, should you continue to take the medicine?
Your doctor, pharmacist, or diabetes educator can give you answers to these questions.
Taking diabetes pills can help keep blood sugar levels in a normal range and control your diabetes. People who take diabetes pills still need to eat the right way, exercise and check their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes pills only work in people whose bodies still make some insulin (type 2 diabetes). The pills are not insulin. Diabetes pills do not cure diabetes, but they can help control it.
Different pills work in different ways to help control blood sugar levels. Your doctor may decide that you need more than one kind of diabetes pill.
- There are different types (classifications) of diabetes pills, so know the type you take.
- Pills have a brand name and a generic name. It is important to know both names.
- Some pills start to work in a few days. Others may take weeks before they reach their full effect.
- Do not skip taking your pills or stop taking them unless you talk to your doctor first.
- Some diabetes pills work differently than others, so never share your pills with other people who have diabetes.
If you take diabetes pills, ask your doctor or pharmacist these questions:
- What is the brand name and the generic name of the pill?
- How many pills do I take at one time?
- When (what time) do I take the pills?
- Should I take the pills with food or without food?
- What side effects might happen when I take the pills?
- Should I take the pill if I am sick or cannot eat?
Here is a list of 6 diabetes medicine classification types. For each type, the list includes brand names and generic names of the pills, how the pills work, and what the side effects might be. These are the most common side effects, not all of them. You might not have any side effects at all. But if you notice any, you should talk to your doctor.
1. Type of pill: Biguanide
Brand name: Glucophage, Glucophage XL
Generic name: metformin
How these pills work: They slow or decrease the amount of sugar or glucose that your body makes after eating and help your body use insulin. Common side effects: Upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, bloating. These side effects usually get better over time, within a few weeks.
2. Type of pill: Sulfonylurea
Brand names: Amaryl, Diabeta, Glynase, Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL
Generic Names: glimepiride, glyburide, glipizide
How these pills work: They help your body make more insulin for several hours up to a full day.
Common side effects are Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), weight gain, sun sensitivity
3. Type of pill: Meglitinides
Brand names: Starlix, Prandin
Generic names: nateglinide, repaglinide
How these pills work: They help your body make more insulin for a few hours right after you take them.
Common side effects are hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), weight gain
4. Type of pill: Thiazolidinediones, also called TZDs or glitazones
Brand names: Actos, Avandia
Generic names: pioglitazone, rosiglitazone
How the pills work: They help your muscle cells use the insulin your body already makes.
Common side effects: Weight gain, water retention, swelling of feet and legs.
5. Type of pill: Dipeptidylpeptidase IV inhibitor, or DPP 4 inhibitor
Brand name: Januvia, Tradjenta
Generic name: sitagliptin, linagliptin
How the pill works: This pill helps your body make more insulin and less sugar or glucose after you eat.
Common side effects: stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, headache
6. Type of pills: Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
Brand names: Precose, Glyset
Generic names: acarbose, miglitol
How the pills work: They slow down digestion of carbohydrates, so sugar (glucose) from the food goes into the blood slowly.
Common side effects: Gas, bloating, diarrhea. These side effects usually get better over time, within a few weeks.
This is not an all-inclusive list of diabetes pills or classifications, as more medications are developed every year! As of October 2021, there are now 10 classifications of diabetes pills:
- SGLT 2 Inhibitors
- DPP-4 Inhibitors
- Thiazolidinediones “TZDs”
- Glucosidase Inhibitors
- Dopamine Receptor Agonists
- Bile Acid Sequestrants
- GLP-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA)
Information on all 10 of the current classifications can be found at Diabetes Medications – VisionAware.
Many people who have diabetes use insulin to help control it. If you use insulin, you need to know how it works in your body, how to store it and take it, what type you take, and when it will act in your body.
Diabetes is an illness that makes it hard for your body to use the food you eat the right way. Insulin helps your body use food for energy. Some of the food you eat turns into glucose. Glucose is also called ‘sugar,’ and is your body’s main source of energy. Glucose travels through your body in your blood. Insulin is a substance made in the pancreas, a small organ behind your stomach. Insulin helps get the glucose out of the blood and into your cells. Insulin is the key that unlocks the door to the cells in your body and lets the glucose in to be used as energy.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin to live because their pancreas does not make it anymore. People with type 2 diabetes may need to take insulin if their pancreas does not make enough, or if the insulin cannot get into the cells as easily as it should.
Insulin can be taken with an insulin syringe (or needle) an insulin pen, inhaled, or an insulin pump. Insulin can’t be taken in pill form because your digestive system would break it down in the same way that you digest food. That means the insulin wouldn’t make it to your bloodstream where it’s needed. If you need to learn how to give yourself insulin, see your diabetes educator.
These points are important!
- There are different kinds of insulin that act at different times.
- You may need to take more than one kind of insulin.
- You may need to take insulin only once a day, or 2, 3, or 4 times each day or more.
Current Insulins Classifications for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes:
- Rapid Acting
- Short Acting
- Intermediate Acting
- Long Acting
- Intermediate + Short
- Intermediate + Rapid
Furthermore, the American Diabetes Association characterizes insulin by the way it works:
- Onset: the length of time it takes insulin to enter your bloodstream and begin to lower blood glucose levels.
- Peak: the time during which insulin is at its “peak” or maximum effectiveness at lowering blood glucose levels.
- Duration: the length of time insulin continues to lower blood glucose levels.
For example, rapid acting insulins such as Humalog, Novolog and Apidra are types of insulin that start to work in 5 to 15 minutes to lower your blood sugar levels (onset). They work their best 30 to 90 minutes after they are taken (peak) and stay in your body for 3 to 5 hours (duration).
Insulin side effects: hypoglycemia, weight gain, lipodystrophy (skin lesions at injection sites; rotate injection sites to decrease).
Information on all the insulins and classifications can be found at Diabetes Medications – VisionAware.
Things you should know if you take insulin:
- Bottles of insulin or insulin pens that have not been opened should be kept in the refrigerator until the ‘use by’ date. This date is marked on the insulin package.
- Once you open the insulin, you do not have to keep it in the refrigerator. Keep it some place where it will not get too hot or too cold.
- Once you open a bottle of insulin, it is only good for 28 days. Write the date you open it on the bottle and throw it away after 28 days.
- If you use insulin pens, check with your pharmacist about how long they are good after opening.
- Insulin should not have clumps, crystals or strings in it. It should not look discolored.
- When you pick up your insulin at the pharmacy, verify that you have the right kind of insulin. Look at the brand name, strength, and type.
Diabetes Injections that are Not Insulin
For many years, the medicines used to control diabetes were either pills or insulin. But recently there are some new choices for controlling diabetes —medicines that are injected, but are not insulin.
All of these medicines are available in pens, much like insulin pens. One is also available for use with a vial and syringe. If you need to learn how to give yourself an injection in order to use one of these medicines, see your diabetes educator.
These new medicines work in different ways from diabetes pills. One is used with type 1 diabetes, and all can be used with type 2 diabetes.
Just as with any other type of medication, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist:
- What is the brand name and the generic name of the medicine?
- How much do I take at one time?
- When (what time) do I take this medicine?
- Should I take it with food or without food?
- What side effects might happen when I take this medicine?
- Should I take it if I am sick or cannot eat?
Here is a list of 2 diabetes medicine classifications that are injected and are not insulin. The list includes the type of medicine, their brand names, generic names, how they work, and what the side effects might be. These are the most common side effects, not all of them. You might not have any side effects at all. But if you notice any, you should talk to your doctor.
1. Type of medicine: Synthetic amylin
Brand name: Symlin
Generic name: pramlintide
How it works: This medicine is given at meals along with insulin injections. It slows digestion of food, slows or decreases the amount of sugar or glucose that your body makes after eating, and decreases appetite.
Side effects: nausea (usually gets better over time), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), weight loss.
2. Type of medicine: Incretin mimetic, GLP-1 receptor agonist
Brand names: Byetta, Victoza, Ozempic
Generic names: exenatide, liraglutide, semaglutide
How they work: These medicines slow digestion, increase insulin secretion, and decrease appetite.
Side effects: nausea (usually gets better over time), gas, weight loss.
Information on all the current diabetes medications and classifications can be found at VisionAware’s Diabetes Medications
You can also listen to the Understanding the Different Types of Diabetes Medications Can Help Improve Your Health webinars, presented by VisionAware:
PART 1 OF 2: By Mouth Medications
PART 2 of 2: Insulin and Injectable Medications
Diabetes Medications and Devices – VisionAware
Diabetes and Vision Loss Tips: Taking Medication – VisionAware
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When You Know the Answer, Deep Learning Can Determine the Question
Machine Learning Starts with a Biochip’s Function and Works Backward to Design Its Form
Computer simulations are invaluable tools in research and design. Used to predict the behavior of physical systems, these mathematical models can forecast the path of a hurricane, reveal the inefficiencies of a transportation network, replicate the birth of a galaxy, and more. Tweaking variables—for example, wind speed or ocean temperature in the case of hurricanes—produces different outcomes, enabling researchers to see multiple potential scenarios.
But the strength of some simulations to forecast an outcome is also their weakness, says Dr. Sam Raymond, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University. Many types of simulations only work in one direction. The program starts at one point in time and uses the laws of physics and certain user-defined parameters to end up at another. Over and over again, the simulations run, with the outcome changing incrementally each time as parameters are refined. They produce thousands—even tens of thousands—of slightly different answers to the same question, as these variables are altered before each run. But, for many types of problems, it doesn’t work in the opposite direction.
“You can ask a question and get an answer,” Raymond says. “But knowing an answer doesn’t always tell you what the question was.”
Until now, that is. When he was a Ph.D. candidate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Raymond and his colleagues combined computer simulation data with a deep learning neural network to do what neither technology can do alone: use an answer to find a question—or, to think of it another way, use a final design to create a blueprint. His technique, published in Scientific Reports, was tested on biochips that arrange cells for a variety of applications, including drug screening and tissue engineering. Not only did the research push the design of these biochips, called acoustofluidic devices, to new levels, the team’s “physics-informed machine learning” approach could be used to design other biomedical devices and optimize areas of engineering where form and function are closely related, giving designers the ability to work backward from the solution. That would save researchers development time and even help them produce biochips that have never been imagined before.
The biochips that Raymond and his colleagues developed are miniaturized laboratories built into silicon or glass. Those designed for cultivating organs or tissue contain a large central cavity where cells are arranged in a particular formation to encourage proper growth. But living cells are delicate and moving them around is tricky. Manipulation techniques borrowed from research on non-living particles, such as using heat, magnetism, or electrostatic forces, often harm the cells.
“Acoustics is one of the few ways that you can do this without risking damage to biological materials,” says Raymond.
Researchers use an ultrasonic transducer to turn the cavity into a microscopic wave pool. Vibrations from a range of frequencies concentrate cells in high-pressure areas and sweep them away in low-pressure areas. The boundary shape of the etched cavity dictates the pattern of the high- and low-pressure sound wave fields and ultimately the arrangement of the cells.
“Forward simulations can’t go in reverse. There’s no equation that starts from the sound wave pressure field back to tell us what the shape of the cavity should be.”Dr. Sam Raymond, postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University
It’s not obvious, though, what kind of pressure field a cavity’s boundary shape will produce. To find out, scientists could run these traditional forward simulations—going from question to answer—and create different cavities to see what pressure field they create. But as the complexity of the configuration—of the desired cell and therefore of the pressure field—increases, the task becomes more difficult. And, forward simulations can’t go in reverse. There’s no equation that starts from the sound wave pressure field back to tell us what the shape of the cavity should be, says Raymond.
He likens it to baking a cake. If someone produced the world’s most delicious chocolate cake and then said, “Here’s the cake, now tell me how to make it,” he says, how would one do it? This is where Raymond and his physics-informed machine learning method comes in. “We learned how to go from the baked cake to the recipe,” he says.
The method came together during the second year of Raymond’s Ph.D. studies at MIT. A long way from his home in Australia, Raymond sought out biomedical engineer David Collins, then a postdoctoral researcher, who like Raymond, had studied at Monash University in Clayton, Victoria. The two started hanging out, meeting for beer and discussing their research. Raymond, whose background is in numerical simulation, was studying the interaction of solids and liquids. Collins was doing his postdoctoral work on microfluidic devices, investigating how biochip cavity boundary shapes could produce complex sound wave pressure fields. He told Raymond that he was struggling with a way to optimize the research. Raymond showed Collins his idea for combining simulation with machine learning.
“I was blown away by some of the machine learning work that Sam had shown me, where, if applied appropriately, it can replicate real-world physics with a minimum of computational expense,” says Collins, who is now a lecturer in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
“The nice thing, or the scary thing, about deep learning is that it doesn’t care about the laws of physics. It will find the relationships, even if it has to create them out of thin air.”Dr. Sam Raymond, postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University
They agreed to partner. Raymond used MATLAB® to create simulations, based on previous research from Collins and collaborators from the Singapore University of Technology and Design, to generate tens of thousands of potential cavity boundary shapes and their resulting sound wave field. He also used MATLAB to create the deep learning neural network that would learn from the simulations’ synthetic data. Being able to write everything in the same language on the same platform, including the underlying workflow that tied the two together, without having to switch between different programs, enabled him to focus on the problem without getting distracted by compatibility issues, he says.
Once the system was built, most of the simulations generated were “just random results,” says Raymond, and in normal circumstances would be tossed out. But the deep learning neural network used them to figure out, statistically, what the best possible relationships were between the cavity boundary shapes and sound wave fields—even if no equation could relate the two. “The nice thing, or the scary thing, about deep learning is that it doesn’t care about the laws of physics. It will find the relationships, even if it has to create them out of thin air,” he says.
Working Back to the Question
Raymond says he remembers the night he first ran the system. He was alone in his office at MIT. He fed the deep learning algorithm a sound wave field shape and then asked it what the cavity boundary should look like. The answer came and then as a sanity check, Raymond put the result back into the simulator, where it was run forward to see if the boundary shape predicted would in fact create the sound wave pressure field that was desired. To his surprise, the result from the simulator showed the correct answer.
“This unique approach at the intersection of physics and design has unique applications in tissue engineering, biomedical devices, and optimized design generally.”David Collins, lecturer in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Melbourne, Australia
Raymond jokes, “I was pretty sure it was wrong.” He ran it again and got the same answer. To be sure that this wasn’t some strange fluke, Raymond and his team created many different designs that they had built and tested in the lab. He fed the AI these other sound wave fields and got more correct answers.
But their success was both a blessing and curse, says Raymond, because they ended up with many new questions. The researchers are now looking at the underlying workflow to assess why this proof of concept worked so well. Eventually, they’ll try to create more complex sound wave field shapes and push deeper into this new domain of physics-informed machine learning.
“I’m excited about what we were able to accomplish, this being the first demonstration that we can use machine learning to tune a device geometry to define an acoustic field,” says Collins. “We also think that this unique approach at the intersection of physics and design has unique applications in tissue engineering, biomedical devices, and optimized design generally.”
To learn more about this project, read the technical article.
More articles on MIT projects:
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Removing Millions of Tons of CO2 Emissions at Seaports Each Year
Electrifying Commercial Vehicles with Hydrogen Fuel Cells
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A Guardian security system can help protect against burglary, fire, and CO, but we can also help you protect your security system from hackers with two-factor authentication (2FA). This enhanced safety feature will eventually be required, but you don’t have to wait — you can turn it on today!
What is two-factor authentication, and why is it important?
Many websites and apps are now requiring two-factor authentication to ensure that the user logging has proper authority. 2FA is an extra step added to the login process that requires someone to prove their identity multiple ways before they can access your security system. Because 2FA requires a second factor, this extra step can thwart even a hacker who knows your username and password.
How does 2FA work?
When you log into your Guardian system using the app or MyGuardianHome.com, you’ll receive a text or email with a randomly generated code. From there, the code is necessary to log in. The codes look like this:
The entry of this additional code is the second “factor” in the “two-factor authentication.” If you don’t enter the code, you can’t log in. Two-factor authentication can only be enabled/disabled by you, the owner of the account.
How to set up two-factor authentication
To learn how to set up 2FA, watch this quick video, or follow the steps below. Then you can set it up on your Guardian app in seconds!
Remember: When you set up 2FA, you will be asked to choose to verify with a mobile phone number or an email address. You can’t set up both to verify at the same time.
Enable two-factor authentication using the Guardian app:
1. Launch the Guardian app and log in.
2. Tap the menu icon and select Login Information.
3. Select Two-Factor Authentication.
4. Select Text Message, then tap next.
5. Enter your mobile phone number, country, and provider.
6. Tap Send.
7. You will receive a verification code via SMS.
8. Enter the code in the verification box and tap Verify.
Trusted devices for 2FA
If you set up 2FA using the app, that mobile device is automatically ‘trusted’. If you set up using the website, you will be asked if the device you’re using is a trusted device. Two-factor authentication remembers your trusted devices, so a verification code is not needed every time you access your account.
Alexa and 2FA
Do you use Alexa to control your Guardian security system? You can also use 2FA to authenticate the Amazon account linking Alexa to your Guardian system. After you turn on 2FA, just say, “Alexa, talk to Guardian.” Alexa will prompt you to verify your device with a six-digit code.
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Learning to create with 2 baseplates (Boys)
60 Pieces (Two baseplates)
Nature isn’t the only place to find flowers and animals. This playset brings nature inside for you to explore! Build your own garden out of these building blocks and learn to create, build and imagine.
How well did you sleep last night? Did you dream about knights and castles or about a horse in a stable? Now, you can build your own fantasy world with BiOBUDDi educational building blocks! The possibilities are endless, so spark your toddler’s fantasy life and build a new creation or tower together with your little one. Building with BiOBUDDi encourages children to develop creative, social, emotional and motor skills.
The bio-based toy blocks are made from the remains of sugarcane plants are are produced in the Netherlands. The building blocks are eco-friendly, sustainable, recyclable and specially designed for little hands. Parents can decorate the colorful blocks with different images to bring make-believe worlds to life! Stimulate your child’s development with a color sorting or fine motor activity and build a creation together with your toddler or preschooler.
BiOBUDDi is a nice birthday present for children aged 18 months to 6 years old! Combine the set with another Learning to create set to create bigger or more complex structures.
Contains 58 coloured building blocks.
Age: 1,5 - 6
All the BiOBUDDi toys are made in the Netherlands.
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US: National Park Service Warns People To Stop Licking Toad That Causes Hallucinations
The US National Park Service is warning people to stop licking toads in the wild, due to their gland-secreted psychedelic substance that can create a hallucinogenic experience.
National Park Service warns people against licking toad
In a Facebook post, the National Park Service (NPS) urged people to refrain from licking the Sonoran desert toad, also known as the Colorado river toad.
The agency said the creature is far from harmless, as it contains a potent toxin that can make people sick if they touch it or get the poison in their mouth.
“These toads have prominent parotoid glands that secrete a potent toxin. It can make you sick if you handle the frog or get the poison in your mouth,” the National Park Service advised.
“As we say with most things you come across in a national park, whether it be a banana slug, unfamiliar mushroom, or a large toad with glowing eyes in the dead of night, please refrain from licking," they said.
“Licking or swallowing can lead to numbness of the mouth and throat as well as severe and life-threatening effects on the heart as a result of the digoxin-like compounds and catecholamines described above,” the agency warns.
Toad's toxic secretions contain a powerful hallucinogenic
Despite the risks, some people have discovered that the toad's toxic secretions contain a powerful hallucinogenic known as 5-MeO-DMT.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers 5-MeO-DMT a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it is currently not accepted for medical use and has a high potential for abuse.
In recent years, smoking the amphibian's secretions has grown in popularity, and many celebrities, including boxer Mike Tyson and others, can’t get enough of tripping on toad venom.
The Colorado River toad, usually found in parts of California, Arizona, and New Mexico, is one of North America’s tallest at 7 inches. It’s also known to make a call described by the NPS as a "weak, low-pitched toot, lasting less than a second."
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The Conversation (0)
Start a conversation, not a fire. Post with kindness.
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Even though women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, men die by suicide 3.5x more often than their female counterparts. The statistics are staggering. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death among adults in the United States alone, with the highest rates occurring in middle-aged Caucasian men. How can we help? First, we have to understand the problem.
There are more to the statistics than first meet the eye. If women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, why are men more likely to die by suicide? The issue is hugely complex.
It’s reported that women are just as likely to attempt suicide as males. However, males are more likely to choose death by a firearm or other violent means. When suicide is tried in these ways, people often don’t have the chance to intervene. Women are more likely to attempt suicide by pharmaceutical overdose or self-mutilation, giving people more time to respond.
Seeking Mental Health Treatment
Men are less likely to seek professional treatment for mental health than women. Women make Two-thirds of mental health outpatient visits. The discrepancy in treatment rates may be because men face a stronger social stigma regarding depression or other mental health illnesses.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the condition is more prevalent than it is in men. The reason for the under-diagnosis of depression in males may be because men are more likely to report atypical symptoms.
Doctors may not recognize that a man who states he has insomnia, frequent headaches, or a change in appetite is struggling with depression.
Men are less likely to report feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, or high levels of anxiety when they are asked. The misunderstanding of different symptoms in men versus women may make a depression in males more difficult to identify and treat.
The Social Stigma of Depression
Mental health has come into the spotlight recently as more people have come forward to share their stories. Still, the social stigma against those with mental health disorders persists. This stigma may be even more daunting for males.
From a young age, men are taught to be “tough” and hear phrases like “boys don’t cry.” Women are generally encouraged more to share their feelings. The result of this is that men become conditioned not to discuss their emotions, even when they’re struggling.
How to Help
The best way to help address the issue of mental health, in both men and women, is to start a dialogue surrounding the issues. Encourage your friends, family members, and colleagues to share how they are feeling. Let them know that it’s okay not to be okay.
Be aware of the way symptoms of depression manifest in men. If a man in your life begins to exhibit irritability, isolation, frequent complaints of physical discomfort or changes in weight, don’t be afraid to ask them how they’re doing. Let them know you’re there for them. If you’re a GR8 man experiencing these issues, talk to your doctor.
Come forward with your stories and share your experience with mental health. Men, talk to your friends about how you’re feeling and ask how they’re feeling. The chances are that they have experienced struggles with mental health and not vocalized it. Help break the stigma.
Seek Professional Help
If you or a loved one are struggling with feelings of depression or thoughts of self-harm, seek medical care right away. For a list of mental health treatment providers in the United States, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website. There are resources available to you.
The United States Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24/7 for those in crisis: 1-800-273-8255.
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Watch video here.
"The Oregon Trail" turns 50 this year.— Casey Common (@CaseyCommon) April 9, 2021
In the fall of 1971, the computer game was created for student teacher Don Rawitsch's 8th-grade history classes at Bryant Junior High in Minneapolis.
In the fall of 1971, Prince was an 8th-grader at Bryant Junior High in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/WFO0lSpPIV
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Are You Eating Healthy?
An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Probably not. According to the Nutrition Security Institute that apple has lost 82.7% of its magnesium and high percentage of other important nutrients in the last 100 years. Eating Healthy is much harder today.
The nutrient content of our food has decreased significantly compared to fifty years ago. While most people believe that you can obtain all your nutrients through diet alone, healthy eating is much more challenging now than it was years ago. Modern farming practices propagate select varieties of crops and use farming techniques aimed at higher yield and economic gains, and not nutrition. Not only does our food contain fewer nutrients these days, our processing methods deplete them (especially water soluble ones like magnesium) even further. So even if you eat a balanced diet, chances are you could still be suffering from some form of mineral deficiency.
The Mineral Gap
It was in September 1997 that the Organics Center came up with a report titled "Still No Free Lunch: Nutrient levels in U.S. food supply eroded by pursuit of high yields," authored by Brian Halweil of the Worldwatch Institute. The report highlighted that when it comes to eating fruits, vegetables and grains, bigger does not necessarily mean better and more nutritious. It found clear evidence that as the produce we eat gets larger in size, its vitamins, minerals and beneficial chemical compounds diminish, as do taste and aroma.
Around the same time Massachusetts-based natural health institute called Kushi Institute, analyzed the nutrient levels in food by studying the USDA nutrient data from 1975 and 1997, and they uncovered a disturbing trend. The average mineral levels in 12 fresh vegetables had declined—calcium levels had dropped 27 percent, iron levels had dropped 37 percent, vitamin A levels, 21 percent; and vitamin C levels, 30 percent.
USDA figures from around that time also corroborate the decline in mineral and vitamin content of several fruits and vegetables between 1963 and 1992. (See Table 1)
Table1: Mineral decreases in fruits and vegetables from 1963-1992:
Mineral Decline ( Average %) Magnesium -21.08 Calcium -29.82 Iron -32.00 Phosphorus -11.09 Potassium -6.48
The decline continues. In 2000, 'Organic Magazine' compared nutrient values of foods as listed by the USDA in 2000 with those listed by the USDA in 1963. Vitamin A in some vegetables such as carrots seemed to have actually increased, along with some minerals. But nearly all other fruits and vegetables showed large decreases in many nutrients. Vitamin C in sweet peppers had dropped from 128mg to 89mg. Vitamin A in apples had dropped from 90mg to 53mg. Here is a sample of the decrease they found:
(Source: LE Magazine March 2001)
Vitamin A Vitamin C Calcium Potassium Magnesium Beets + 90% - 50% 0% - 10% - 8% Spinach - 17.1% - 45.09% + 6.45% + 18.72% - 10.25% Corn - 29.7% - 41.66% - 33.3% - 3.57% - 22.91% Collards -41.16% - 61.95% - 28.57% - 51.5% - 84.21%
This is troubling news for people who are trying to eat a healthy diet. Even healthy foods—fresh fruits and vegetables—may not be as healthy as they once were.
Why the Loss?
Dr David Thomas, a nutritionist, believes that modern horticulture methods together with new varieties of crop, longer storage times and long-distance transport have caused changes in the nutritional value of the foods we eat. Some other specific reasons are:
1) We are losing mineral-rich top soil
The world is losing arable topsoil at a rate of 75 to 100 Gt. per year. At this rate it is estimated there is only another 48 years of topsoil left. Over-farming, loss of protective ground covers and trees and lack of humus have made soils vulnerable to erosion. The world is fast running out of the good soil in which to plant food.
2) Soil that is left is deficient in minerals
Soil needs time to reconstitute itself, and new food production techniques with emphasis on output give it no time to recover its health. There is no provision to make up for lack of minerals in the soil other than the NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) chemical fertilizers which are liberally used. NPK fertilizer is highly acidic—it disrupts the pH (acid/alkaline) balance of the soil and destroys microorganisms that change soil minerals into a form usable by plants. In the absence of these microbes, these minerals are unavailable to the plant. Stimulated by the fertilizer, the plant grows, but it is deficient in vital trace minerals. Nutrients like magnesium are being taken out of the soil via the crops that are harvested but are not being replenished by any method.
3) Cheap food/Good-looking food
Growing bigger apples and golden ears of corn leads to a bigger yield, but often the trade-off is the lower nutritional value of the entire produce. Because of the research done by plant scientists and crop breeders, farmers have been able to double or triple their yield per acre of most major crops and fruits. However, Donald Davis, a senior researcher at the University of Texas, who was studying the disappearing nutrients from 43 common fruits and vegetables over 50 to 70 years, found that the higher-yielding the crop, the less the amount of cancer-fighting chemicals and anti-toxins (phytonutrients or phytochemicals) in it. Food scientists are just beginning to understand how valuable these phytochemicals actually are. Davis says: "We can only guess what the loss of these from high-yield farming will mean to the health of the consumer."
4) Much-travelled food
"Among the most pressing public health problems in the U.S. today are obesity, environmental degradation and health disparities," said Alice Ammerman, director of the U.N.C. Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. "Contributing in a big way to each of these problems is our current food system, with its heavy dependence on fossil fuels such as fertilizers, pesticides and gasoline for large-scale production and long distance transportation of often high-calorie, nutrient-poor food, from farm to processing facility to table." While there is no real evidence yet that eating locally farmed food is better for you, however, there are many reasons to believe that locally grown food (foods produced within 100 miles of your homes) might be better for you than produce purchased in the supermarket. Being in transit or cold-stored for days affects not only the taste of your food, but the nutritional value of the food also declines. A study in Florida showed that freshly picked oranges averaged 180mg of Vitamin C per orange. Oranges from the same crop, randomly selected in the supermarket later showed Vitamin C levels from 0mg ~ 70mg.
5) Refined and convenience foods
Diet patterns of families are changing and refined foods are consumed in such amounts that intake of minerals and vitamin-rich foods is far lower than it should be. The magnesium content of refined foods is usually very low. According to Dr Ronald Elin (University of Louisville) and Dr Robert Rude (UCLA), refining and processing of grains and other foodstuffs typically results in loss of 70% or more of the magnesium content (as well as other nutrients). The conversion of wheat into flour results in a loss of 82% of magnesium. Refining rice into polished rice sacrifices 83% of the magnesium. Milling corn into corn starch loses 98% of the magnesium. When soy beans are cooked, they lose 69% of their magnesium. Quick-cooking oatmeal provides only about 15% of the magnesium obtained from the slow-cooking cereal. Magnesium and other mineral deficiencies are more likely in those who eat a processed-food diet; in people who cook or boil all foods, especially vegetables.
Why is Nutrition Density Important for Eating Healthy?
The USDA advises that we should be eating 3 to 5 servings of vegetables plus 2 to 4 servings of fruit a day to maintain good health. That is potentially 9 cups of vegetables and fruit a day to eat healthy. How many people do you know that eat that many fruits and vegetables daily? Harry Balzer is vice president of NPD Group, a firm that gathers information on the eating habits of Americans. He says that most North American meals are one-dish pre-prepared meals with vegetables as mere side dishes. Within the last 15 years, the percentage of all dinners including a vegetable (other than salad or potatoes) dropped 10%. This trend becomes even more alarming if we add to it the fact that not only are Americans eating less healthy, but that even if they were eating more healthy, they would still not be getting the required amount of vitamins and minerals. As early as 1930's, scientists had warned that restricted fertilization would lead to a rise of chronic, degenerative diseases. Now conditions such as heart disease, cancer and adult onset diabetes are appearing more and more in the developed world. In 1996, UDSC released a study that correlated decrease in minerals in food to various health issues prevalent in the modern North American society. (See Table 3)
Table 3: Mineral Deficiencies Associated with Disease
(Changes in the Rates of Selected Reported Chronic Diseases, 1980-1994 (per 100,000 member of US Population)
Condition 1980 1994 % Increase in Mineral deficiencies Heart conditions 75.40 89.47 18.67 Chromium Copper, Magnesium, Potassium, Selenium Chronic Bronchitis 36.10 56.30 55.98 Copper, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc Asthma 31.20 58.48 87.44 Magnesium Tinnitus 22.90 28.24 24.98 Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc Bone Deformities 84.90 124.70 46.96 Calcium, Copper, Fluoride, Magnesium
Source: USDC 1996, Werbach 1993
How to Make up for the Less Nutritious Food
1) Buy locally grown organic food. Absolute nutrient content has so many variables, such as soil fertility, ripening times, etc, but research shows that produce picked at its peak has the highest nutrient content. Once picked, fresh produce will gradually start to degrade. By eating locally and with the seasons, we eat foods when they are at their peak taste and when they are the most abundant nutritionally. Organic farmers let soil reconstitute itself before planting and use organic manures so there is a possibility that the soil they use has the right chemical composition, hence their produce is likely to be more nutritious.
2) Take vitamin and mineral supplements. There are good reasons to take supplements. The bioavailability of the nutrients in supplements is 100% compared to food which is very unpredictable. "Taking a multivitamin is risk-free and could have tremendous benefit," says Aileen Burford Mason, a biochemical nutritionist and a Toronto-based nutrition counsellor. Dr. Burford Mason stresses that eating well is essential and that supplements complement good food choices. As someone who has spent her career studying the importance of various micronutrients for overall health, she is also adamant that, no matter how careful people are about their diet, they need help from supplements.
Could you be Magnesium-deficient?
The Daily Value for magnesium is 400 milligrams from food and supplements. Stress, restrictions on diet or too much sugar deplete the magnesium level in your body. Even if you are particular about eating a well-balanced diet, chances are that you might still need to fortify your daily requirement with supplements like award-winning MAG365 Ionic Magnesium Citrate.
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- LE Magazine, March 2001
- Kathryn Scharf: "Communications for a Sustainable Future" http://csf.colorado.edu/archive/1999/food_security/msg00531.html
- Boosting Health With Local Food; http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/boosting-health-with-local-food/
- David Thomas: 'A study on the mineral depletion of the foods available to us as a nation over the period 1940 to 1991'. Nutrition and Health 2003; 17: 85-115.
- Vegetables Without Vitamins; http://easygreen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=237
- (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 1982)
- Dr Bannock: The need for supplementing the diet
- Andre Picard: Today's Food Lack Yesterday's Nutrition, July 6. 2002, the Globe and Mail
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Calibrate your probe using ice and boiling water. When tested in boiling water the probe temperature must reach between 99℃ & 101℃ and when in ice it must reach between -1℃ and 1℃. If the probe does not reach these requirements it must be re-calibrated or replaced - report these findings to your manager.
Remember to record the temperatures: if it's not right then record what happened to the food or any explanations for gaps.
Temperature probe calibrations are an important part of your food safety management system, often referred to as HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).
Calibrations make sure your probes are accurate. They ensure food is cooked, prepared, frozen and reheated at the correct temperatures and safe for consumption.
Calibrate your probe using ice and boiling water. When tested in boiling water the probe temperature must reach between 99℃ and 101℃. In ice it must reach between -1℃ and 1℃.
If the probe does not reach the correct temperature range it must be re-calibrated. If it's still not working try changing the batteries or if all else fails it will need to be replaced. Always have a back up temperature probe available in case your does not reach the correct calibration.
Remember to record the temperatures If the temperature isn’t right, then record what happened to the food or give an explanation for gaps. And always have a system in place to make sure the manager is aware of what has happened.
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The Czech Republic: From the Center of Christendom to the Most Atheist Nation of the 21st Century. Part 1. The Persecuted Church: The Clandestine Catholic Church (Ecclesia Silentii) in Czechoslovakia During Communism 1948-1991
This research examines the most important historical, political, economic, social, cultural, and religious factors before, during, and after the reign of Communism in Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 2021 and their effect on the extreme increase in atheism and decrease in Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, in the present-day Czech Republic. It devotes special attention to the role of the Clandestine Catholic Church (Ecclesia Silentii) and the changing policies of the Holy See vis-à-vis this Church, examining these policies' impact on the continuing decline of Roman Catholicism in the Czech Republic after the collapse of Communism. The article also deals with Pope Pius XII's Secret Mandates of 1948-1950, the Second Vatican Council, and the Holy See's Ostpolitik. Scholars, who previously relied only on the views of the Czechs, blame the unprecedented drop in Christianity, the near-total destruction of the Catholic Church, and the rise in atheism on the Czechoslovak communist government's four decades of totalitarianism. Although the increase in atheism and decrease in Christianity were substantial during the era of Communism from 1948 to 1989, our data indicate that the decline in Christianity, particularly the historically predominating Roman Catholicism, did not commence with the 1948 communist coup d’état but traces its origins to the breakdown of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after the conclusion of WWI and the establishment of Czechoslovakia on October 28, 1918. What's more, this research shows that the most significant and unprecedented steep deterioration of the Christian Faith, namely Roman Catholicism, did not occur during the era of Communism but only after the Czechoslovak communist government collapsed in 1989. This massive decay did not happen even during the most extraordinary communist persecution of the Catholic Church during the era of Stalinism in Czechoslovakia. This research further finds that the Holy See's ill-advised policies and systematic, sustained, and prevalent failures in leadership, guidance, and teachings are responsible for the near destruction of the Roman Catholic Church and especially the end destruction of the Clandestine Catholic Church (Ecclesia Silentii), in the Czech and Slovak Republics after the fall of Communism. These failures furthermore contributed to the Czech Republic, the historical lands of Bohemia and Moravia that once were in the center of Christendom, degenerating into the most atheist country in Europe and the world today.
"The Czech Republic: From the Center of Christendom to the Most Atheist Nation of the 21st Century. Part 1. The Persecuted Church: The Clandestine Catholic Church (Ecclesia Silentii) in Czechoslovakia During Communism 1948-1991,"
Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe: Vol. 43
, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/ree/vol43/iss1/3
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It’s odd that probability theory is so counter-intuitive to human beings and so late-flowering in mathematics. Men have been gambling for thousands of years, but didn’t develop a good understanding of what happens when dice are rolled or coins are tossed until a few centuries ago. And an intuitive grasp of probability would have been useful long before gambling was invented. Our genes automatically equip us to speak, to walk and to throw, but they don’t equip us to understand by instinct why five-tails-in-a-row makes heads no more likely on the sixth coin-toss than it was on the first.
Dice and gambling tokens from ancient Rome
Or to understand why five-boys-in-a-row makes the birth of a girl next time no more likely than it was during the first pregnancy (at least in theory). Boy/girl, like heads/tails, is a binary choice, so binary numbers are useful for understanding the probabilities of birth or coin-tossing. Questions like these are often asked to test knowledge of elementary probability:
1. Suppose a family have two children and the elder is a boy. What is the probability that both are boys?
2. Suppose a family have two children and at least one is a boy. What is the probability that both are boys?
People sometimes assume that the two questions are equivalent, but binary makes it clear that they’re not. If 1 represents a boy, 0 represents a girl and digit-order represents birth-order, the first question covers these possibilities: 10, 11. So the chance of both children being boys is 1/2 or 50%. The second question covers these possibilities: 10, 01, 11. So the chance of both children being boys is 1/3 = 33·3%. But now examine this question:
3. Suppose a family have two children and only one is called John. What is the probability that both children are boys?
That might seem the equivalent of question 2, but it isn’t. The name “John” doesn’t just identify the child as a boy, it identifies him as a unique boy, distinct from any brother he happens to have. Binary isn’t sufficient any more. So, while boy = 1, John = 2. The possibilities are: 20, 21, 02, 12. The chance of both children being boys is then 1/2 = 50%.
The three questions above are very simple, but I don’t think Archimedes or Euclid ever addressed the mathematics behind them. Perhaps they would have made mistakes if they had. I hope I haven’t, more than two millennia later. Perhaps the difficulty of understanding probability relates to the fact that it involves movement and change. The Greeks developed a highly sophisticated mathematics of static geometry, but did not understand projectiles or falling objects. When mathematicians began understood those in Renaissance Italy, they also began to understand the behaviour of dice, coins and cards. Ideas were on the move then and this new mathematics was obviously related to the rise of science: Galileo (1564-1642) is an important figure in both fields. But the maths and science can be linked with apparently distinct phenomena like Protestantism and classical music. All of these things began to develop in a “band of genius” identified by the American researcher Charles Murray. It runs roughly from Italy through France and Germany to Scotland: from Galileo through Beethoven and Descartes to David Hume.
Map of Europe from Mercator’s Atlas Cosmographicae (1596)
But how far is geography also biology? Having children is a form of gambling: the dice of DNA, shaken in testicle- and ovary-cups, are rolled in a casino run by Mother Nature. Or rather, in a series of casinos where different rules apply: the genetic bets placed in Africa or Europe or Asia haven’t paid off in the same way. In other words, what wins in one place may lose in another. Different environments have favoured different sets of genes with different effects on both bodies and brains. All human beings have many things in common, but saying that we all belong to the same race, the human race, is like saying that we all speak the same language, the human language. It’s a ludicrous and anti-scientific idea, however widely it may be accepted (and enforced) in the modern West.
Languages have fuzzy boundaries. So do races. Languages have dialects and accents, and so, in a sense, do races. The genius that unites Galileo, Beethoven and Hume may have been a particular genetic dialect spoken, as it were, in a particular area of Europe. Or perhaps it’s better to see European genius as a series of overlapping dialects. Testing that idea will involve mathematics and probability theory, and the computers that crunch the data about flesh will run on binary. Apparently disparate things are united by mathematics, but maths unites everything partly because it is everything. Understanding the behaviour of dice in the sixteenth century leads to understanding the behaviour of DNA in the twenty-first.
The next step will be to control the DNA-dice as they roll. China has already begun trying to do that using science first developed in the West. But the West itself is still in the thrall of crypto-religious ideas about equality and environment. These differences have biological causes: the way different races think about genetics, or persuade other races to think about genetics, is related to their genetics. You can’t escape genes any more than you can escape maths. But the latter is a ladder that allows us to see over the old genetic wall and glimpse the possibilities beyond it. The Chinese are trying to climb over the wall using super-computers; the West is still insisting that there’s nothing on the other side. Interesting times are ahead for both flesh and binary.
1. Suppose a family have three children and the eldest is a girl. What is the probability that all three are girls?
2. Suppose a family have three children and at least one is a girl. What is the probability that all three are girls?
3. Suppose a family have three children and only one is called Joan. What is the probability that all three are girls?
The possibilities in the first case are: 000, 001, 010, 011. So the chance of three girls is 1/4 = 25%.
The possibilities in the second case are: 000, 001, 010, 011, 100, 101, 110. So the chance of three girls is 1/7 = 14·28%.
The possibilities in the third case are: 200, 201, 210, 211, 020, 021, 120, 121, 002, 012, 102, 112. So the chance of three girls is 3/12 = 1/4 = 25%.
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Fill out the form below and a Cypress Creek representative will be in touch with you about your pest control needs.
Ants are the most commonly encountered insects within homes, and they are one of the most commonly controlled groups of insect pests in commercial and residential structures. Well over 12,000 ant species have been documented worldwide, 700 of which can be found in the United States. Most ant species that are known pests of homes are nothing more than a nuisance to humans, but some species pose a medical threat, and others may damage property. Given Houston’s subtropical geographic location, a wide variety of ant pest species infest homes in the city, including some of the most dangerous and destructive ant species found in the country.
The highly venomous red-imported fire ant is particularly abundant in Houston, and severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis often occur in response to their stings. While red-imported fire ants colonize residential yards where they pose a medical threat to residents and damage turf-grass, they prefer outdoor habitats and very rarely invade homes. Carpenter ants are known for excavating nesting galleries within moist structural wood, resulting in costly damage. However, the carpenter ant species found in Houston are not generally associated with structural damage, but like most urban ant pests, they readily invade homes to seek out food sources.
The most commonly managed ant pests that invade Houston homes in search of food sources include Tawny crazy ants, Argentine ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants, ghost ants, big-headed ants, southern fire ants and Pharaoh ants. Solenopsis xyloni, or the southern fire ant, is the only potentially dangerous ant species that frequently invades Houston homes to seek out food sources, but they are not nearly as harmful as red-imported fire ants. Southern fire ant stings very rarely induce deadly medical conditions, such as anaphylactic shock, but severe allergic reactions sometimes occur. Southern fire ant workers have a yellowish head and body with a black abdomen, and they are between 1/10 and ⅓ of an inch in length. These ants closely resemble their more dangerous red-imported fire ant relatives, and luckily, they are not as common or as difficult to control as several other ant species that forage within Houston homes, such as Argentine ants, Tawny crazy ants, Pharaoh ants, and dark rover ants.
Have you ever encountered red-imported fire ants within your home? Get A Free Fire Ant Control Warranty Today!
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Nehemiah: The Wall Builder
Nehemiah was a great leader and had to be, for wall building is much opposed. Today ecumenicalism opposes walls of ecclesiastical separation. Others oppose walls of standards in morals, music, and marriage which lets in much evil. But Nehemiah believed in walls and encourages us to do likewise. The Butler Biography Series exemplifies a clear writing style that is thoroughly researched, uncovering Biblical truth through the exploration of key biblical personalities. This is a practical tool whether it's used for personal study. The series helps you see real Bible characters as they live out their lives, is presented in a unique commentary style with detailed verse by verse exposition and outlines and sermon points are alliterated
Biblical Studies | Christianity | Religion
Butler, John G., "Nehemiah: The Wall Builder" (1998). Alumni Book Gallery. 266.
Class of 1961
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San Marino. Like other small tax havens, San Marino was subjected to ever-increasing pressure to ease banking secrecy and assist in the fight against tax evasion and other financial crime. According to Countryaah website, national day of San Marino is every September 3. The OECD identified the country as one of seven countries that were extremely reluctant to contribute bank account information and threatened with penalties from 2003.
State ordering. – According to the statute, the supreme constituent authority of the republic resides in the Arengo of the fathers of the family, who in 1906 claimed their right by removing the legislative power from the life council and delegating it to an assembly (Great and General Council) of LX councilors, no longer divided into classes, re-eligible every six years with the proportional system by universal suffrage. Executive power is entrusted to a State Congress made up of nine members of the council and two regent captains also elected from among the councilors every six months; in the middle of March and in the middle of September. These assume their office on April 1 and October 1 of each year with great solemnity, called the feast of the entrance. They are the only heads of state, they preside over the sessions of the Council of LX and Congress, they propose laws, decrees, ordinances, represent the republic in relations with other states and supervise the good performance of the government. They are assisted by two secretaries: one for Internal Affairs, the other for Foreign Affairs and Finance, and in public documents they are represented by two mayors. Judicial power is exercised by a foreign lawyer, resident in San Marino, called the Law Commissioner; who judges in civil on the basis of books II and IV of the statute, and in criminal on the basis of a code in force since 1859. Judicial power is exercised by a foreign lawyer, resident in San Marino, called the Law Commissioner; who judges in civil on the basis of books II and IV of the statute, and in criminal on the basis of a code in force since 1859. Judicial power is exercised by a foreign lawyer, resident in San Marino, called the Law Commissioner; who judges in civil on the basis of books II and IV of the statute, and in criminal on the basis of a code in force since 1859.
Said commissioner for criminal cases is assisted (again by means of San Marino laws) by a foreign lawyer residing in the kingdom and elected by the government of the republic. Another foreign lawyer, also resident in the kingdom, judges on appeal both in civil and criminal cases. The third instance judgment is then entrusted to the Council of XII, a court contemplated by the statute and elected from among the members of the council by a third every two years. There are two chancelleries of the commissarial court: one for the civil and the other for the criminal. A special law regulates the criminal record. There is a conciliator judge for small cases and minor disputes. There is no death penalty, which was abolished in 1847. There is an organic law for white-collar workers and salaried people in general, based largely on similar laws in the kingdom.
The republic has the title of “Serenissima”; the state holiday is September 3 (San Marino); the flag is made up of two horizontal bands, white and blue; the coat of arms is a blue shield with three green mountains surmounted by towers and ostrich “feathers”, surrounded by a laurel branch and an oak branch joined by the words “Libertas”; it had and has its own currency, with bimetallism (silver and gold); since 1877 it has its own stamps.
The government of San Marino confers honorary distinctions in medals of merit of three degrees: gold, silver, bronze (with blue and red ribbon); and equestrian titles (to foreigners meritorious for charitable works and to know) of the Order of San Marino of five degrees, and of the order of co-patron S. Agata of four degrees. He also sometimes grants honorary citizenship to distinguished men in politics, science, literature and the arts.
For international relations, the republic has had a friendship and good neighborly agreement with the kingdom of Italy since 1862, renewed in 1872 and 1897, and increased with additional articles in the following years. Since 1874 there has been an Italian consulate in San Marino, which in turn holds a consul general in Rome and other consuls in the main cities of the kingdom, an embassy to the Vatican, and business agents to various governments of Europe. and of America, with which it has protective laws for emigrants and extradition treaties for common crimes and draft evaders.
To better carry out civil and economic life between San Marino and the Kingdom of Italy, there are postal, telegraphic and telephone conventions.
As far as military regulations are concerned, the republic has a company of 60 citizen soldiers, who wear uniforms in parade services together with the band concert, which is part of it; it has a noble guard of about 50 citizens who serves as an escort to the regents and wears the uniform during functions and homeland feasts; a citizen guard assigned to forts and salvos on solemn days; a recently established republican militia, of about 40 citizens, in uniform and in permanent function, for the security of the state. All these city militias are under the orders of San Marino officers employed by two general commanders.
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What is a Flex Sensor used for?
A flex sensor or bend sensor is a sensor that detects a deflection, bend, on an actuator or surface that is flexing, hinging, or in some cases twisting. Generally, the sensor is adhered to the surface or connected at each end while free floating in the middle, and the resistance of the sensor component is changed by flexing the surface. Since the resistance is directly relative to how much bend there is, they are often utilized as goniometers, and occasionally called flexible potentiometers.
Some common uses are found in:
- Robotics & articulation sensing in manufacturing
- Pressure bulge sensing or expansion detection
- Human machine interface devices like datagloves (a novel example being the 1980s Nintendo Power glove which our sensors were featured in)
- Another human interface use is in rehabilitation equipment to monitor joint activity & range of mobility
- Any application where something hinges, swings, opens/closes, bends, flexes, or otherwise deflects from an original flexed or unflexed position.
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An analysis of plants at 68 sites around the world finds evidence that rates of photosynthesis have risen since the year 2000
28 February 2022
Since the early 2000s, the growing level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has led to an increased rate of photosynthesis around the world, climate scientists have found.
Plants produce energy through photosynthesis which takes in CO2 from the atmosphere or from water – a process known as primary production. The rate of this can increase in response to rising concentrations of the gas. This phenomenon is known as the CO2 fertilisation effect.
Now, Chi Chen at the University of California, Berkeley, and his colleagues have quantified the CO2 fertilisation effect globally for plants on land. The team collected data from 68 sites around the world – with croplands, grasslands and forests – that measured the changes in CO2 concentration in the air directly above the plants between 2001 and 2014.
Across the sites, the rate of photosynthesis increased, with an extra 9.1 grams of carbon taken up per square metre per year since 2001. The team calculated that around 44 per cent of this increase can be attributed to enhanced CO2 levels in the atmosphere, while 28 per cent was down to rising temperatures.
The team then combined the data from these sites with satellite data and a global vegetation model to estimate the change over time worldwide. They found that global primary production increased, with an extra 4.4 grams of carbon taken up per square metre by plants every year since 2001.
The difference between the CO2 fertilisation effects at the sites and globally is due to a patchier global distribution of plants and the fact that vegetation regions will vary in productivity.
In recent decades, the total surface area of leaves around the world has increased. “This is largely due to this CO2 fertilisation,” says Chen.
“Plants under elevated CO2 are observed to be more efficient at using water, which often leads to faster growth as water is commonly a limiting resource,” says co-author Trevor Keenan, also at the University of California, Berkeley. “They may also grow faster and sequester more carbon, though other limitations such as nutrients can limit the extent to which increased photosynthesis translates to increased growth.”
However, negative effects of climate change may ultimately offset the CO2 fertilisation effect reported in the study. For example, more frequent and intense droughts due to climate change are adversely affecting plants globally, as are more frequent forest fires and insect outbreaks due to continued warming, says Keenan.
“Although plants are buying us time by taking up more CO2 in response to more CO2 in the atmosphere, it is not nearly enough to stop climate change,” says Keenan. “Reducing emissions is the only way we can prevent continued future warming.”
Journal reference: PNAS, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115627119
More on these topics:
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The Bretton Woods Agreement was reached in a 1944 summit held in New Hampshire, USA on a site by the same name. The agreement was reached by 730 delegates, who were the representatives of the 44 allied nations that attended the summit. The delegates, within the agreement, used the gold standard to create a fixed currency exchange rate.
The agreement also facilitated the creation of immensely important structures in the financial world: the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), which is known today as the World Bank.
The Bretton Woods Agreement established a system through which a fixed currency exchange rate could be created using gold as the universal standard.
The agreement involved representatives from 44 nations and brought about the creation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
The fixed currency exchange rate system eventually failed; however, it provided much-needed stability at the time of its creation.
History and Functionality of the Bretton Woods Agreement
As mentioned above, 44 allied nations met in Bretton Woods, NH in 1944 for the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference. At that time, the world economy was very shaky, and the allied nations sought to meet to discuss and find a solution for the prevailing issues that plagued currency exchange.
The summit was also looking for policies and regulations that would maximize the potential benefits and profits that could be derived from the global trading system. What resulted from the conference were the Bretton Woods Agreement and the Bretton Woods System.
The Bretton Woods System is a set of unified rules and policies that provided the framework necessary to create fixed international currency exchange rates. Essentially, the agreement called for the newly created IMF to determine the fixed rate of exchange for currencies around the world.
Every represented country assumed the responsibility of upholding the exchange rate, with incredibly narrow margins above and below. Countries struggling to stay within the window of the fixed exchange rate could petition the IMF for a rate adjustment, which all allied countries would then be responsible for following.
The system was depended on and was used heavily until the beginning of the 1970s.
The Collapse of the Bretton Woods System
Backing currency by the gold standard started to become a serious problem throughout the late 1960s. By 1971, the issue was so bad that US President Richard Nixon gave notification that the ability to convert the dollar to gold was being suspended “temporarily.” The move was inevitably the final straw for the system and the agreement that outlined it.
Still, there were several attempts by representatives, financial leaders, and governmental bodies to revive the system and keep the currency exchange rate fixed. However, by 1973, nearly all major currencies had begun to float relatively toward one another, and the entire system eventually collapsed.
Significance of the Bretton Woods Agreement
Despite falling apart, the Bretton Woods summit and agreement are responsible for a number of notably important aspects in the financial world. First and foremost is the creation of the IMF and the World Bank. Both institutions remain vital to the global economy to this day.
On a larger scale, however, the agreement unified 44 nations from around the world, bringing them together to solve a growing global financial crisis. It helped to strengthen the overall world economy and maximize international trade profit.
Thank you for reading CFI’s guide on Bretton Woods Agreement. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following CFI resources will be helpful:
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Room to Grow: Comparing Urban Density in Canada and Abroad
— Published on January 9, 2018
- As Canada’s most successful metropolitan areas continue to grow, they face pressures to grow outward—through the construction of new communities at the urban fringe—and upward—by accommodating more residents in existing urban areas, leading to higher populations densities. This bulletin compares population densities across 30 cities located in high-income countries.
- To ensure comparability between the cities analyzed, the study includes only fully urbanized municipalities or municipalities with rural land area and population removed from the density equation.
- Of the 30 cities analyzed, Canada’s largest have low population densities relative to international counterparts. The coastal tourist hubs of San Francisco and Barcelona are 1.31 and 2.89 times as dense as Vancouver, Canada’s densest major city. Chicago, New York, and London are 1.03, 2.45, and 2.48 times as dense as Canada’s financial and media centre, Toronto. Paris is 4.29 times as dense as Montreal, and even the Toronto suburb of Mississauga is 1.17 times as dense as Calgary, Canada’s third most populous municipality.
- Moreover, higher population densities need not come at the expense of living standards. Preliminary comparisons between population density in the cities included in this essay and Mercer’s 2017 Quality of Living Ranking indicate that cities of comparable density vary significantly in Mercer’s ranking.
- A better understanding of how cities differ in population density and how higher density might (or might not) affect living standards encourages citizens and policymakers to rethink their perceptions of urban living.
More from this study
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Get the latest news from the Fraser Institute on the latest research studies, news and events.
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The Mediterranean diet is more effective than exercise, as it halves the risk of developing heart disease. Researchers at Harokopio University in Athens found this out by observing the inhabitants of Greece.
The popular Mediterranean diet for heart health is proven to be more beneficial than exercise. Observing more than 2,500 Greek adults found that those on a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, olive oil, seafood and one glass of red wine a day were 47% less likely to experience with heart disease over a 10-year period.
Science has already proven the ability of this diet to prolong life and protect against a variety of ailments, including tumors. This is the first study to examine the effects of a Mediterranean diet on human heart health over a 10-year period. In addition, much of the previous research has focused on the health of middle-aged people. Now, people aged 18 to 89 took part in the observations.
According to statistics, every fifth man and 12% of women get sick and die from cardiovascular diseases, including strokes and heart attacks. The researchers drew their findings by considering other risk factors for heart disease, including age, gender, family history, educational level, weight, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. It also turned out that women follow the Mediterranean diet more thoroughly than men.
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Most healthcare extends lives and reduces suffering.
But the way we currently practice medicine is unsustainable for patients, clinicians, health systems, societies, and the planet
- It is estimated that a fifth of what we do in healthcare is not needed.1 All those unnecessary tests, treatments, and diagnoses bring direct harm to people through adverse effects of drugs and surgeries,2 psychosocial harms of labelling,3 and an overwhelming burden of treatments.4
- Since resources for healthcare are finite, waste is also harming patients indirectly because the overuse of some medical interventions means there are fewer resources to tackle underuse and underdiagnosis in other areas.5
- A tsunami of recommendations, performance indicators, quality metrics, incentives and penalties – altogether impossible to implement6,7 – contribute to burnout and disillusionment amongst clinicians.8,9
- When healthcare spending grows, as it is doing everywhere,10 resources are drawn from other societal sectors which can improve public health far more effectively than interventions within healthcare.11
- Considering the substantial carbon footprint from health systems themselves, medical waste also harm the planet.12
Building on the existing work of many people and organizations around the world, we aim to collaborate with a broad range of partners on activities ranging from short‐term research projects to longer‐term reform initiatives. Specifically, we will:
Conduct original work
- We aim to explore novel ways to forge a more sustainable healthcare (i.e. not only describe the problem). Check out our ongoing research projects here.
Disseminate and promote the work of others
- This work is in progress. In the meantime – check out this list of organizations and exciting reform initiatives around the world. Do you want to share your work? Contact us!
Be a deliberative/policy proposing body
- We will arrange webinars, in-person meetings/workshops, and podcasts.
- We will post freely available resources (such as PP slides and presentations) to help people advocate for a more sustainable healthcare in their context. If you have relevant material that you want to share – reach out to us!
- We will advocate to change processes – e.g., for guideline development, evidence synthesis, and policy making to adequately consider aspects of sustainability.
Our vision is to create a platform for collaboration – permeated by generosity, curiosity and creativity –shaping a new appreciation of human, financial, and environmental resources in healthcare
Photo at top of page by @___sebastian_dijkstra___
- OECD. Tackling Wasteful Spending on Health. Paris (France): OECD Publishing, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264266414‐en
- Welch HG, Schwartz L, Woloshin S. Overdiagnosed: Making People Sick in the Pursuit of Health. Boston: Beacon Press, 2011.
- Cotter AR, Vuong K, Mustelin LL, Yang Y, Rakhmankulova M, Barclay CJ, et al. Do psychological harms result from being labelled with an unexpected diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm or prostate cancer through screening? A systematic review. BMJ Open2017;7:e017565. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen‐2017‐017565
- May C, Montori VM, Mair FS. We need minimally disruptive medicine. BMJ2009;339:b2803. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2803
- Glasziou P, Straus S, Brownlee S, Trevena L, Dans L, Guyatt G, et al. Evidence for underuse of effective medical services around the world. Lancet2017;390:169–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140‐6736(16)30946‐1
- Porter J, Boyd C, Skandari MR, et al. Revisiting the Time Needed to Provide Adult Primary Care. J Gen Int Med 2022. Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07707-x
- Petursson H, Getz L, Sigurdsson JA, Hetlevik I. Current European guidelines for management of arterial hypertension: are they adequate for use in primary care? Modelling study based on the Norwegian HUNT 2 population. BMC Family Practice 2009;10:70. doi: 10.1186/1471-2296-10-70
- West CP, Dyrbye LN, Shanafelt TD. Physician burnout: contributors, consequences and solutions. J Intern Med 2018;283(6):516-29. doi: 10.1111/joim.12752
- Montori V. Why We Revolt. 2nd edition. RosettaBooks, 2020.
- OECD. Fiscal Sustainability of Health Systems: Bridging Health and Finance Perspectives. Paris (France): OECD Publishing, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264233386‐en
- Marmot M, Allen J, Bell R, Bloomer E, Goldblatt P, Consortium for the European Review of Social Determinants of Health and the Health divide. WHO European review of social determinants of health and the health divide. Lancet2012;380:1011–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140‐6736(12)61228‐8
- Barratt A, McGain F. Overdiagnosis is increasing the carbon footprint of healthcare. BMJ 2021;375:n2407. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n2407
- Woloshin S, Schwartz LM. Communicating data about the benefits and harms of treatment: a randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine2011;155(2):87–96. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003‐4819‐155‐2‐201107190‐00004
- Schwartz LM, Woloshin S. Communicating uncertainties about prescription drugs to the public: a national randomized trial. Archives of Internal Medicine2011;171:1463–8. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.396
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What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that can be replenished in a short amount of time. The most common forms of renewable energy are solar, wind, hydro and biomass. Renewable energy can be used to power homes, businesses and industries, providing an alternative to traditional electricity sources such as coal and natural gas. In recent years, renewable energy has been gaining traction due to its environmental benefits and cost-effectiveness. By investing in renewable energy sources, individuals and businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and save money on their energy bills.
What Are Some Examples of Renewable Energy at Home?
There are many ways to incorporate renewable energy sources into your home. One of the most popular options is solar energy. Solar panels can be installed on your roof, which will collect sunlight and convert it into electricity. Solar panels are an excellent investment for homeowners, as they can reduce their electricity bills by up to 70%. Additionally, solar energy can also be used to power appliances, such as hot water heaters. Other types of renewable energy that can be used at home include wind turbines, geothermal energy and hydropower.
How Can I Get Started With Renewable Energy at Home?
If you’re interested in incorporating renewable energy sources into your home, the first step is to assess which sources are best suited for your needs. For example, if you live in an area with a lot of sunlight, solar panels may be the best option. On the other hand, if you live in a windy area, wind turbines may be the best option. After assessing which sources are best for your home, you can begin researching and comparing products from different vendors. Additionally, you may want to consider hiring a professional to install and maintain your renewable energy sources.
What Are the Benefits of Using Renewable Energy at Home?
Using renewable energy sources at home has many benefits. The most obvious benefit is that it reduces your carbon footprint, which is beneficial for the environment. Additionally, renewable energy sources can also help reduce your energy bills, as they generate energy without the need for costly fuels. Furthermore, some renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, can be stored in batteries, which can provide backup power in the event of a power outage.
Are There Any Drawbacks to Using Renewable Energy at Home?
There are some drawbacks to using renewable energy sources at home. For example, the initial investment in renewable energy sources can be costly. Additionally, some renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, are dependent on the weather, which means they may not generate as much energy on cloudy days. Lastly, some renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines, can be noisy, which may be a nuisance for some homeowners.
What Are the Best Renewable Energy Sources for Home Use?
The best renewable energy sources for home use depend on the individual needs of the homeowner. Solar energy is a popular choice, as it is relatively inexpensive and easy to install. Additionally, wind turbines are also a great option for windy areas, as they can generate large amounts of electricity. Geothermal energy is also a great renewable energy source, as it can provide consistent energy throughout the year. Lastly, hydropower is another great source of renewable energy, as it can be used to power appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers.
What Are the Future Developments in Renewable Energy?
In the coming years, there are many exciting developments in renewable energy. For example, there have been advances in the storage of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. Additionally, there have been advancements in the efficiency of solar and wind turbines, which will help reduce the cost of renewable energy. Lastly, new technologies are being developed, such as wave energy, which will provide an additional source of renewable energy.
Renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional electricity sources. By investing in renewable energy sources, individuals and businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and save money on their energy bills. Additionally, there are many different types of renewable energy sources available, such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower. Lastly, there are many exciting developments in renewable energy, such as improved storage solutions and new technologies. By investing in renewable energy, individuals and businesses can play an important role in creating a greener future.
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Gene editing for improvement in plant and animal species
Breeding of crops and animals is one of the permanent challenges in the agricultural sector looking for increasing yields and / or improving the quality of products. FAO argues that, to meet food demand in the next 32 years, agriculture must produce between 50 and 70% more food, fodder and biofuels than it did a decade ago. The CRISPR-based gene edition (GE) is one of the new biotechnologies with the greater potential to meet this objective. GE is strongly based on the knowledge of the functions of the genes of crops and animals and can assist conventional breeding to generate breeds or varieties with novel and desirable characteristics, in short time frames. There are proofs of concept that allow us to see an enormous potential of these techniques through in important crops such as corn, cotton, rice, potatoes, soybeans, and in breeding animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs. The goal of this project is to consolidate the regional capacities for research and innovation in GE for the breeding of species of agricultural interest as a contribution to technological sovereignty, to the added value of production and to the productive, economic and social development of the Region. .
The technological solution
- Potato varieties with improved health and nutritional and industrial quality.
- Soy varieties suitable for monogastric consumption (pigs, poultry, fish).
- Genetic lines of animals with modified characteristics to generate products and / or by-products of interest for livestock production.
- Improve plant health, nutritional value and industrial quality of new potato varieties.
- Increase differentiated quality of soybean for monogastric consumption.
- Generate animals (cattle and sheep) with new characteristics of interest for livestock production.
- Constitute a gene editing platform (GEP) through the consolidation of regional R&D capacities in species of agricultural interest.
Research groups and public and private genetic breeding programs in the Region that will see increased capacities.
Sustainable Development Goals
- Fundación ArgenINTA (ARGENINTA) - Argentina
- Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (AGROSAVIA) - Colombia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA) - Chile
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA) - Uruguay
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIAP) - Ecuador
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - Argentina
- Instituto Paraguayo de Tecnología Agraria (IPTA) - Paraguay
- Consorcio Papa - Chile
- Empresa Brasileña de Investigación Agropecuaria (EMBRAPA) - Brasil
- Programa Cooperativo para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Agroalimentario y Agroindustrial del Cono Sur (PROCISUR) - Uruguay
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) - Argentina
- UdelaR - Uruguay
- Asociados Don Mario SA (Asociados Don Mario SA ) - Argentina
- Asociación de Cooperativas Argentinas (ACA) - Argentina
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The main organ involved in detoxification is the liver. I like to compare the way the liver functions to a car’s oil filter, which keeps the engine clean by filtering impurities out of the oil.
In the human body, the liver is supposed to keep blood free of toxic metabolites. And it is well-suited for this job.
But like a dirty oil filter, the liver can become clogged up and lose its ability to effectively detoxify the blood.
In order to better appreciate how a person’s liver can become overwhelmed, it’s important to understand how it works to filter dangerous substances out of the blood.
The liver is a large organ located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. Its principal function is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract before that blood is circulated throughout the rest of the body.
But it has a wide range of other functions as well, including synthesizing proteins, storing glycogen, producing and activating or deactivating hormones, and producing bile, the substance that is secreted into the intestines to help digest fats and fat-soluble vitamins.
There are two main pathways for liver detoxification, called phase 1 and phase 2. These pathways are designed to neutralize toxic substances so that they can be excreted in stool or urine.
If everything is working right, toxins are neutralized and safely eliminated.
However, if the liver is overwhelmed, the body will accumulate toxins. That’s why it’s important to try to minimize toxic exposures and reduce the workload on the liver.
© 2023 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.
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Yogurt is a fermented food product usually made from cow’s milk¹. Although this variety is the most common, there are other varieties produced using milk from goats, camels, and yaks. Commercial manufacturers of this food have evolved the traditional production process, creating types such as:
- Greek yogurt
- Frozen yogurt
Fermentation of the milk uses active cultures, providing some varieties of this food with live bacteria that make it probiotic. It is these live bacteria that give this food a reputation for boosting gut health. However, some varieties utilize heat processing, which kills the bacteria, reducing its health benefits.
Generally speaking, this dairy food product is chock full of nutrients², including:
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
While the concentrations vary according to the type of yogurt, most contain some level of these vitamins and minerals. However, non-dairy varieties may be fortified for added nutrition, depending on the plant-based source.
For instance, a 100g serving of low-fat vanilla yogurt has the following nutritional values:
- 85 calories
- 4.93g of protein
- 1.25g of fat
- 0g of fiber
- 13.8g of carbohydrates
Whereas, a 100g serving of plain Greek yogurt’s nutritional values are:
- 61 calories
- 10.3g of protein
- 0.17g of fat
- 0g of fiber
- 3.64g of carbohydrates
To ensure a better nutrient-packed yogurt, choose a higher protein type like a Greek yogurt!
Health Benefits of Yogurt
The vitamins and minerals available in dairy yogurt are one of its most significant health benefits. As this food is high in B vitamins, it may help protect the body against heart disease and birth defects³. Furthermore, yogurt’s levels of calcium and potassium make it ideal for improving bone health⁴. Alongside its many capabilities, the magnesium present in this food helps boost the metabolism⁵. Additionally, the varieties of yogurt which possess probiotics can also encourage digestive health and help manage digestive disorders, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)⁶. Nonetheless, this food may not be suitable for some, including anyone who is lactose intolerant or sensitive to added sugars.
Sugar Levels in Yogurt
The high sugar levels in many types of yogurt have led some to question whether or not this food is healthy. According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, the recommended added sugar limit is 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men⁷. That translates to 24 and 36 grams of sugar, respectively. Some types of yogurt, even those marketed as low-fat, contain high amounts of sugar, which can easily set people over the daily limit. Therefore, it is vital to carefully read the label on this food and be aware of the many names sugar goes by. Some of the ways that manufacturers can label sugar⁸ are:
- Agave nectar
- Barley malt
- Beet sugar
- Blackstrap molasses
- Fruit juice concentrate
- Cane juice
- Coconut sugar
The list of ingredients goes on. However, other than sugar and fat levels, yogurt can be a healthy and high protein supplement to your meals.
For more info, check us out on Youtube!
- “Yogurt: Food.” Eat Dat, Eat Dat, 20 May 2021, www.eatdat.com/food/yogurt/.
- Ware, Megan. “Yogurt: Types, Health Benefits, and Risks.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 11 Jan. 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295714.
- Ryan-Harshman, W, and M Aldoori. “Vitamin B12 and Health.” Canadian Family Physician Medecin De Famille Canadien, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2008, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18411381/.
- Weaver, C M. “Potassium and Health.” Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2013, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23674806/.
- de Baaij, J H, et al. “Magnesium in Man: Implications for Health and Disease.” Physiological Reviews, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2015, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25540137/.
- Guyonnet, D, et al. “Effect of a Fermented Milk Containing Bifidobacterium Animalis DN-173 010 on the Health-Related Quality of Life and Symptoms in Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Adults in Primary Care: a Multicentre, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.” Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2007, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17635382/.
- “Added Sugar in the Diet.” The Nutrition Source, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 2 Jan. 2019, www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/added-sugar-in-the-diet/.
- Peralta, Jessica. “Your ‘Healthy’ Yogurt Might Be Full of Sugar.” Healthline, Healthline, Sept. 2018, www.healthline.com/health-news/your-healthy-yogurt-might-be-full-of-sugar.
Ashuni Pérez is a writer in the culinary, as well as health and wellness industries. With a background in teaching and digital media, she loves to learn and help others discover more about their food, where it comes from, and how best to prepare it. A foodie through and through, she is always searching for new recipes and the freshest ingredients.
Leave A Comment
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Human Right Number Twenty-One
The Right to Democracy
We all have the right to take part in the government of our country. Every grown-up should be allowed to choose their own leaders.
What would the country look like if we did not have a Democracy?
Discuss the importance of voting and what happens to the country and government if people just stop showing up to vote.
What if every young person between 18-25 actually voted? How would it change things?
Set up a debate in the club. Have the students pick a topic to cover and do research on over the next week. The debate will be during the next club meeting. The debate procedure will take about 30 minutes, making this activity a little longer than the others so make sure everyone is planning for this.
Set up two teams of 5 people each for the debate. Let students volunteer for this. Each team should have a team captain. Note that each team will be switching “sides” halfway through and debating from the opposing viewpoint.
Find out when the next election is. Create posters encouraging parents to vote if there is one coming up soon. (Note, these posters do not have to be politically swayed to a party - they can simply be reminders for people to go and vote.)
Resist the temptation to play all 30 human rights videos at this point. Save those for each meeting that follows. Carry out the activities and let your students’ own visions of the 30 human rights materialize as the lessons unfold, one at a time.
We would love feedback on your first week and to see pictures of your group participating in these activities! Please submit to us below:
How did your meeting/activities go for this human right?
Thank you for your feedback!
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Extending west from the Yellow Sea to the mountains to the Gobi Desert, the Great Wall is the longest wall in the world.
The Great Wall of China is a symbol of China and the country’s main attraction. According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, China is the largest country in eastern Asia.
What is the Great Wall of China?
The Great Wall of China is a set of walls and ramparts of varying lengths that together form a huge fortress called the “Great Wall of China”.
A long network of fortresses meanders across northern China. If you visit the wall in clear weather, you can see the wall and watchtowers meandering along the mountain walls as far as the eye can see.
The Great Wall of China was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. In 2007, the Great Wall of China was chosen as one of the seven new wonders of the world, including Machu Picchu in Peru and the Taj Mahal in India.
The wall is considered one of the most impressive architectural achievements in world history, and while it cannot be seen from the moon, contrary to old belief, the Great Wall of China should definitely be included in the program of all Chinese travelers.
How Long is the Great Wall of China?
The Great Wall of China is 21,196 km long and thus the longest wall in the world.
A long wall consists of several individual walls that were built during different dynasties and run in parallel or partially in parallel.
Part of the wall now known as the Great Wall of China was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The wall was originally estimated to be more than 6,000 km long, but the official length of the wall has since been reported to be 8,851.8 kilometers.
In addition to the built wall, 8851.8 kilometers also include battle graves as well as natural obstacles such as rivers and steep hills. In addition to these, there are numerous watchtowers, lighthouses, fortresses and other ruins along the way. The wall itself is built of stone and clay and is up to 12 meters high and 10 meters wide. However, the size of the wall varies greatly.
The portion of the Great Wall from the Ming Dynasty extends from the town of Juyongguan in Gansu Province to Hushan, in Liaoning Province near the North Korean border.
Much of the original Ming Dynasty wall has sadly been destroyed over the years.
History of the Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China was built as a defense system against enemies from the north.
Today, the wall no longer has a symbolic meaning reminiscent of Chinese history and ancient achievements.
The Great Wall of China is an excellent example of the advanced engineering skills of China’s ancient civilizations. The ancient Chinese excelled especially in the field of military architecture and technology.
When was the wall built?
The Great Wall of China was built for nearly 2,000 years, from 220 BC. until 1633 share.
The wall was built in stages with different dynasties in power.
According to some sources, construction first began as early as 770 BC. However, experts are broadly in agreement that official construction of the wall began in 220 BC. During the Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC). After coming to power, Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered the separate sections of the wall to be merged into one long wall.
The last section of the wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Why was the wall built?
The purpose of Emperor Qin Shi Huang was to create a unified defense system to protect against attacks by nomadic peoples from the north.
At this time, the primary task of the wall was to fight enemies.
During the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 BC), the wall continued west to protect the merchants along Silk Road.
Today, construction work on the remaining portion of the wall began in 1471 during the reign of the Ming Dynasty. The purpose of this newer wall was also to defend the country’s borders.
However, the Great Wall of China served more as a psychological barrier and a symbol of Chinese power than a concrete barrier for the conquerors, for the purpose for which it was originally built.
After the end of the Ming Dynasty, the construction or maintenance of the wall was no longer considered necessary. Due to natural erosion and human activity, the wall fell into disrepair until its restoration began in the 20th century.
Want to visit the Great Wall of China?
Millions of tourists visit the Great Wall of China every year. It’s easy to see why the wall attracts so many visitors. The wall, which stretches for miles along scenic mountains, is an impressive sight.
The restored sections of the Great Wall of China make it possible to visit many different places. The best-preserved and most popular sections among tourists are located near Beijing.
Mutianyu is one of the best preserved parts of the wall, however, with fewer visitors.
Here, the wall meanders along the mountain ridge, and can be reached either by walking or along the cable car by gondola lift. The scenery from the wall is breathtakingly beautiful.
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The largest mammal in Britain is, according to the Daily Telegraph, the Exmoor Emperor, a 300lb, 9ft red deer stag, a “truly magnificent” example of the species. The deer on Exmoor are among the biggest in the country.
Tag Archives: information about Red deer
Interesting facts about Red Deer
- They survived the Ice Age in Britain, unlike Fallow deer, which became extinct and were reintroduced by the Normans in the 11th century.
- A stag can weigh up to 190kg (420lbs), making Red deer the largest land mammal in the UK
- How do stags sort out conflicts outside the rutting season, when their antlers aren’t fully formed? Continue reading Interesting facts about Red Deer
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Three Countries in Hyperinflation
When it comes to global poverty, an important factor of a country’s economy is its inflation rate. Inflation occurs when the value of a nation’s currency decreases, but the prices for goods increase. Inflation affects many facets of everyday life, such as nationwide poverty rates, food and medical supplies.
Hyperinflation occurs when inflation rates rise quickly and uncontrollably. Hyperinflation is reached when an economy’s inflation rate is at least fifty percent for a thirty day period. However, high inflation rates consistent over a prolonged period of time also qualify as hyperinflation. Here are three countries in hyperinflation today.
In the 1970s world energy crisis, Venezuela was a highly profitable oil producer. After oil prices dropped once the energy crisis ended in the 1980s, Venezuela’s chief export greatly declined in revenue and its economy began to suffer. Despite the decline in exports, Venezuela still needed to spend large sums of funding on the importation of basic goods for its people. This led to inflation, as the country dug itself into deficit spending. To pay for imported goods, Venezuelan banks then printed out paper notes not backed by actual wealth.
Now, inflation in Venezuela has reached monumental levels of devastation. Venezuela has been in hyperinflation since November 2016, when the inflation rate exceeded 50 percent. The International Monetary Fund estimates that inflation in Venezuela will exceed ten million percent by the end of 2019.
Because of this economic crisis, poverty is widespread. In 2017, the poverty rate across Venezuelan households reached 87 percent. On top of widespread poverty, food and medical supply shortages are rampant across Venezuela. The health of its people has deteriorated as weight loss and the spread of disease inflict the nation.
Currently, the Venezuelan government rejects the International Monetary Fund’s option to default on its debt. Venezuelan U.N. representatives have commented that in order for the nation to progress, it needs internal structural changes, not foreign aid.
South Sudan’s economy is also almost entirely oil-based. Of the countries in hyperinflation, South Sudan is the newest, gaining independence from British rule in 2011. However, South Sudan was quickly caught in a civil war from 2013 to 2018, soon after its founding. Damage to oil fields and other resources due to warfare severely affected the revenue of South Sudan’s exports. Inflation began as the struggle for resources and funding inflicted this budding nation.
South Sudan’s current economic crisis has caused mass poverty and food insecurity for its civilians. According to recent reports from the U.N., 43 percent of South Sudanese households are food insecure. At its peak, inflated food prices reached about 513 percent in December 2016. By the end of December 2018, the inflation on food prices dropped to 51 percent but is still hyperinflammatory by definition.
Unfortunately, South Sudan is currently not focusing on any poverty-reduction programs. According to the World Bank Organization, South Sudan’s overall inflation rate was an estimated 130.9 percent by the end of 2018; by the end of 2019, it is expected to drop to 49.3 percent, just under the hyperinflation threshold. However, given the financial instability of the nation, South Sudan will remain under close observation of the International Monetary Fund and similar entities for the foreseeable future.
Zimbabwe’s economy thrived in the 1980s and early 1990s, after declaring its independence from British control and creating its own domestic dollar currency in celebration. In the 1990s, however, Zimbabwe’s agricultural-based economy took a major hit after a series of crop failures. Compounded by the high costs of imports and funding for the war, Zimbabwe’s economy began to falter. In a panic to pay for goods, Zimbabwean banks rushed to print excess bills, leading the nation into hyperinflation.
Zimbabwe’s economy reached hyperinflation in March 2007, just passing the 50 percent threshold. For the next year, the nation’s inflation was a tumultuous series of highs and lows, eventually reaching a staggering 79.6 billion percent in November 2008. Eventually, Zimbabwe was forced to abandon its domestic currency, as its own population boycotted using the drastically inflated Zimbabwean dollar.
Despite the nation’s inflation rate lowering back down to 59.4 percent as of February 2019, Zimbabwe is still struggling to limit its cost of imports and boost its revenue from exports.
While there are numerous potential ways to address hyperinflation, a common solution for this phenomenon is dollarization — the abandonment of a failing domestic currency in favor of a stable foreign currency. A notable success story of dollarization is Montenegro, where the considerably weak Yugoslavic dinar was replaced with the euro, a more stable currency used widespread across the European Union. Before total dollarization, the inflation in Montenegro peaked at 26.5 percent in 2001. After adopting the euro, the country’s inflation is under one percent, as of 2019.
Of the three countries in hyperinflation today, Zimbabwe did utilize this method of dollarization; however, as of 2019, it abandoned dollarization, triggering the start of nationwide economic problems yet again. Overall, for these three countries in hyperinflation today, maintaining dollarization may be their best chance in regaining economic stability.
– Suzette Shultz
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Dancing hairs alert bees to floral electric fields
Tiny, vibrating hairs may explain how bumblebees sense and interpret the signals transmitted by flowers, according to a study by researchers at the University of Bristol.
Although it's known that flowers communicate with pollinators by sending out electric signals, just how bees detects these fields has been a mystery - until now.
Using a laser to measure vibrations, researchers found that both the bees' antenna and hairs deflect in response to an electric field, but the hairs move more rapidly and with overall greater displacements.
Researchers then looked at the bees' nervous system, finding that only the hairs alerted the bee's nervous system to this signal.
The findings, published in the international journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) today, suggest that electroreception in insects may be widespread.
Electroreception may arise from the bees' hairs being lightweight and stiff, properties that confer a rigid, lever-like motion similar to acoustically sensitive spider hairs and mosquito antennae.
Dr Gregory Sutton, a Research Fellow in the University of Bristol's School of Biological Sciences, led the research. He said: "We were excited to discover that bees' tiny hairs dance in response to electric fields, like when humans hold a balloon to their hair. A lot of insects have similar body hairs, which leads to the possibility that many members the insect world may be equally sensitive to small electric fields."
Scientists are particularly interested in understanding how floral signals are perceived, received and acted upon by bees as they are critical pollinators of our crops.
Research into these relationships has revealed the co-evolution of flowers and their pollinators, and has led to the unravelling of this important network which keeps our planet green.
Electroreception is common in aquatic mammals. For example, sharks are equipped with sensitive, jelly-filled receptors that detect fluctuations in electric fields in seawater which helps them to home in on their prey.
More information: Mechanosensory hairs in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) detect weak electric fields, PNAS, www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1601624113
Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Provided by University of Bristol
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I recently read a fascinating NPR article called “Meet the Classroom of the Future.” It describes the experience of a sixth grade class in Brooklyn, NY as they implement blended learning in an effort to increase student scores. The article defines “blended learning” as “combination of human capital and technology” in a classroom.
Here are three excerpts from the article I thought were interesting:
“Beneath all the human buzz, something other than humans is running the show: algorithms. The kind of complex computer calculations that drive our Google searches or select what we see on our Facebook pages. Algorithms choose which students sit together. Algorithms measure what the children know and how well they know it. They choose what problems the children should work on and provide teachers with the next lesson to teach. This combination of human capital and technology is called “blended learning.” And regardless of whether it makes you uneasy, the program, Teach to One, seems to be serving Boody Jr. High well. A recent study of the 15 schools using Teach to One, had mixed results, but showed they are outperforming their peers nationally on average.”
“When these sixth graders get to class, they either log onto their laptop or check a monitor at the front of the room. It tells each student where to go — the room is quasi-divided by book shelves and small dividers into 10 sections… The computer also tells them what kind of lesson they’ll do.”
“Whether [the students have understood the lesson] or not, the algorithm will ultimately find out. At the end of class the kids do a short quiz called an “exit slip,” which the algorithm uses to gauge what they’ve learned. In five questions, this exit slip gives the algorithm the information it uses to decide which students will be grouped together the next day, and what work each of them will do. In a sixth-grade class, in theory, students might be working on everything from 4th grade level math to 8th grade level math. Around 5 p.m. every day, teachers get an alert telling them how students will be grouped and what lessons they’ll need to teach.”
This concept of blended learning is very interesting. As the article indicates, there are many pros and cons. One of the main concerns is that these algorithms end up teaching to standardized tests. I haven’t researched the idea enough to have a solid opinion for or against. The article ends with this sentence: “What remains unclear is the point at which standardization begins to take away from those other educational hallmarks: creativity and critical thinking.”
What do you think of this idea? Let me know in the comments below! 🙂
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Congress and Richard Nixon had no intention to pull a bait-and-switch when the enacted the National Maximum Speed Law (NMSL) on Jan. 2, 1974. The emergency response to an embargo, NMSL (Public Law 93-239), specified that it was “an act to conserve energy on the Nation’s highways.” Conservation, in this context, meant reducing oil consumption to prevent the embargo proclaimed by the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting in October 1973 from seriously impacting American production or causing a shortage of oil then used for domestic heating. There was a precedent. A national speed limit had been imposed for the same reasons during World War II.
By the summer of 1974 the threat of oil shortage was over. But unlike the case after the war, many government officials, gently nudged by auto insurance lobbies, argued that the reduced national speed limit would save tens of thousands of lives annually. Many drivers conspicuously displayed their allegiance to the cause with bumper stickers reminding us that “55 Saves Lives.” Bad poetry, you may say in hindsight, a sorry attempt at trochaic monometer. But times were desperate and less enlightened drivers had to be brought onboard. We were all in it together.
Over the next ten years, the NMSL became a major boon to jurisdictions crossed by interstate highways, some earning over 80% of their revenues from speeding fines. Studies reached conflicting findings over whether the NMSL had saved fuel or lives. The former seems undeniable at first glance, but the resulting increased congestion caused frequent brake/stop/accelerate effects in cities, and the acceleration phase is a gas guzzler. Those familiar with fluid mechanics note that the traffic capacity of a highway is proportional to the speed driven on it. Some analyses showed decreased fuel efficiency (net miles per gallon). The most generous analyses reported a less than 1% decrease in consumption.
No one could argue that 55 mph collisions were more dangerous than 70 mph collisions. But some drivers, particularly in the west, felt betrayed after being told that the NMSL was an emergency measure (”during periods of current and imminent fuel shortages”) to save oil and then finding it would persist indefinitely for a new reason, to save lives. Hicks and greasy trucker pawns of corporate fat cats, my science teachers said of those arguing to repeal the NMSL.
The matter was increasingly argued over the next twelve years. The states’ rights issue was raised. Some remembered that speed limits had originally been set by a democratic 85% rule. The 85th percentile speed of drivers on an unposted highway became the limit for that road. Auto fatality rates had dropped since 1974, and everyone had their theories as to why. A case was eventually made for an experimental increase to 65 mph, approved by Congress in December 1987. The insurance lobby predicted carnage. Ralph Nader announced that “history will never forgive Congress for this assault on the sanctity of human life.”
Between 1987 and 1995, 40 states moved to the 65 limit. Auto fatality rates continued to decrease as they had done between 1973 and 1987, during which time some radical theorists had argued that the sudden drop in fatality rate in early 1974 had been a statistical blip regressed to the mean a year later and that better cars and seat belt usage accounted for the decreased mortality. Before 1987, those arguments were commonly understood to be mere rationalizations.
In December 1995, more than twenty years after being enacted, Congress finally undid the NMSL completely. States had the authority to set speed limits. An unexpected result of increasing speed limits to 75 mph in some western states was that, as revealed by unmanned radar, the number of vehicles driving above 80 mph dropped by 85% compared to when the speed limit was 65.
From a systems-theory perspective, it’s clear that the highway transportation network is a complex phenomenon, one resistant to being modeled through facile conjecture about causes and effects, naive assumptions about incentives and human behavior, and ivory-tower analytics.
#1 by False Progress on April 16, 2020 - 12:29 am
“By the summer of 1974 the threat of oil shortage was over….”
Whatever context you put the word “shortage” in, there’s been less total oil in the ground every second since then. Most people don’t think about scarcity until it costs money.
Abiotic oil is a Cornucopian fantasy, yet people keep wasting black gold, including gratuitous idling that burns 300,000+ barrels of oil daily in the U.S. per Argonne Labs, etc.
Driving in states with 80 MPH limits is the height of gluttony since you’re forced to waste fuel or be tailgated. It’s also harder on tires and generally more risky. If ours was a rational species, the speed limit would be capped at 65-70 MPH anywhere.
#2 by Bill Storage on April 16, 2020 - 9:34 pm
My intent in writing this was to contemplate how long it took to recover rights that had been surrendered for a temporary good, not to debate the merits of what some benevolent autocrat might do to prevent his subjects from wasting black gold. I wondered whether there was anything to be learned for the coronavirus crisis from a past situation where citizens willingly surrendered their rights for one reason, though they had no choice, and then found those rights suspended indefinitely for a different reason. The two cases differ in many regards. The two reasons for the NMSL were completely unrelated from each other, preventing oil shortage and saving lives. In the case of Covid19, they are at least related – preventing hospital overload (“flattening the curve”) and minimizing total Covid deaths. Still, some might have strongly objected to lockdown as an appropriate means of achieving the latter goal if, in absence of a need for the first, they had been prevented with the second as basis for lockdown. One might argue that a government deriving its power from the consent of the governed has an obligation to lean toward enacting the will of the governed, at least in a democratic republic. It’s a complex issue, since the rights of the individuals most at risk must be included in any risk/reward calculus. I’m thinking that risk/reward calculus should be in the hands of a broader group than just health care officials ad doctors, since that kind of decision involves values, not just facts and projections about the disease.
I think most readers understood my use of the word “shortage” to be its simplest meaning: shortage is when demand exceeds supply. You can, of course, redefine that term to include consideration of your values, and you can argue that your values should be everyone’s values, but that was not the topic I wanted to cover here.
#3 by False Progress on April 17, 2020 - 12:26 pm
Yes, I was aware you were posting it from a “rights” perspective and had to inject some physical reality, since many presumed “rights” are based on blind faith and denial of nature’s laws. There’s no “right” to burn something that’s getting increasingly scarce, especially when so much depends on it. Gas guzzlers should be seen as pariahs, not patriots.
Almost everyone alive today grew up in a world where energy seemed limitless and they failed to see that we’re just burning ancient capital. Many are suffering from a resource-squandering arrogance that needs to be quelled.
Look up a list of oil-producing nations past peak and logically apply that to the whole planet (cumulative peaking). Shale fracking has become the main source filling in the oil gap after conventional crude (essentially OPEC) plateaued around 2006, largely triggering the 2008 recession later. People forget how costly oil got before the recession “coincidentally” started and got blamed on bad finance.
When the shale bubble bursts and leaves us with permanent costly oil, a global depression could easily happen unless we build out nuclear rapidly now (wind & solar are a scale joke). Tar sands won’t help much, being costly and finite themselves. America alone burns a billion barrels in about 50 days Those who claim that “new technologies” will make oil pragmatically infinite are lunatics in my view. Denial of scarcity is a major brain flaw in this gluttonous species.
#4 by Anonymous on April 16, 2020 - 2:12 pm
The quote about “the threat of oil shortage was over…” need not mean the finite supply in the earth, but instead the regional/political situation that kept some of what was produced from arriving in the US.
Apart from that, and the purpose of this article, though the ultimate amount of oil in the earth is bounded by some number of barrels, the proven reserves increase at times as technology to explore and extract is frequently opened up with new knowledge, regulatory approval, and too many other things to name in this comment box.
#5 by False Progress on April 17, 2020 - 12:11 pm
Anonymous wrote: “….though the ultimate amount of oil in the earth is bounded by some number of barrels, the proven reserves increase at times as technology to explore and extract is frequently opened up with new knowledge, regulatory approval, and too many other things to name in this comment box.”
Translation: Using vague platitudes, let’s ignore the laws of diminishing returns, even though the shale/fracking frenzy is a perfect example of that; likely to peak much sooner than Cornucopians wish it would. https://www.google.com/search?&q=shale+oil+fracking+peak+denial
This reminds me of Julian Simon’s (dangerous for public policy) notion that oil is pragmatically infinite simply because we can’t measure all of it. And he asserted that all resources have endless “substitutes” (pure madness). I doubt someone would use that “logic” with a local water-well their life depended on, but the bigness of the planet leads many fools to see it as infinitely large. http://www.juliansimon.com/writings/Ultimate_Resource/TCHAR11.txt
#6 by Anonymous on April 17, 2020 - 5:11 am
Bill, thank you for getting us back on track and probing deeper.
#7 by Roger R on April 17, 2020 - 2:12 pm
“It’s a complex issue…” Do you think Fauci is independently competent to make the decisions he’s making about lockdown removal timing?
#8 by Bill Storage on April 17, 2020 - 10:00 pm
I haven’t studied followed Fauci close enough to comment, but I’d like to see a lot more deliberation and collective decision making for key issues. Increasing reliance on experts might be driven in part by what we learn in university knowledge silos – specialists are qualified to make decisions even when they are about what we “should” do. Seems to me the CDC panders to the WHO, who panders to the UN, who is the marxist Club of Rome with lipstick.
#9 by Matthew Squair on July 1, 2020 - 2:41 am
Hi Bill, that steady decrease in fatality rate on the roads is called Smeeds law, which links deaths, to vehicle-miles and population. The more ‘people miles’ on the road the lower the rate of accidents. A lot of debate about why, John Adams believes it’s a risk homeostasis process, more cars, nor accidents reported people get more aware of risk. The take home is that safety interventions that everyone believes should work actually …. don’t. Seat belts being a canonical example.
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Blod i urin klamydia
Introduction starters for persuasive essays - WeTalkUAV.Com
Its standard treatments are based on providing the “This milestone represents a tremendous achievement for BioMarin, but the potential approval of the first gene therapy in any type of hemophilia is an even greater As one of the most well-known inherited bleeding disorders, hemophilia A (HA) is caused by the deficiency or dysfunction of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Erik Adolf von Willebrand (1 February 1870 – 12 September 1949) was a Finnish physician He described this disorder in 1926, distinguishing it from hemophilia. The disorder was named after him, becoming known as von Willebrand disease. The cause of the disease was later discovered to be a deficiency of a protein, Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder.
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Blödarsjuka finns i min familj. He suffers from hemophilia. Han lider av hemofili. If inadequately treated, hemophilia causes painfulbleeding in joints and leads to Köp Hemophilia and Von Willebrand Disease av David Green på Bokus.com. Von Willebrand Disease: Causes, Tests, and Treatment Options. Jp Smithson Infections or sicknesses that cause blood blisters blödarsjuka, hemophilia or inability of the blood to clot, causing excessive bleeding from Leave this field empty if you're human: Our Causes.
Hemophilia A and B are caused by a flaw in a part of a gene.
Blod i urin klamydia
What causes hemophilia? Hemophilia is caused by a mutation (change) in one of the genes that provides instructions within cells for making clotting factor proteins in the blood.
Blod i urin klamydia
In moderate hemophilia, the first bleeding episode usually occurs before a child is 18 months old. Bleeding may occur after a minor injury. According to the CDC, key considerations that should inform these conversations include likely exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19; risks of COVID-19 to the pregnant patients and their fetus; and current knowledge about available vaccines including efficacy, known side effects, and the lack of available data in this population. For 14 other specific causes of death, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, ischemic stroke, and suicide and poisoning, mortality rates in the hemophilia population did not differ significantly from those in the general male population for either severe hemophilia, or for moderate/mild hemophilia or for both groups combined (Table 4C “Other causes”). 2016-03-24 Se hela listan på mayoclinic.org Hemophilia C is an autosomal inherited form of the disease, meaning that it affects males and females equally. This is because the genetic defect that causes this type of hemophilia isn’t Haemophilia is caused by a changed gene that mainly affects males because of the way it's passed from a parent to their child.
Hemophilia C is also called factor XI deficiency. Causes Hemophilia is a blood clotting disorder. In hemophilia, the blood does not clot as it should. Hemophilia is normally an inherited disorder. Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder usually caused by defects (mutations) in the genes that code for the blood-clotting factors VIII, IX or XI. What causes hemophilia A and hemophilia B? Hemophilia A and B are the major forms of hemophilia and affect males more than females.
Learn more about the possible causes of blood in urine at WebMD. such as sickle cell anemia, Alport syndrome, and hemophilia can cause blood in the urine.
This change in genes is termed as a ‘spontaneous mutation’ which can occur even before you’re born. 2020-02-22
Hemophilia Causes. One of the major hemophilia causes includes the disturbance of the coagulation cascade. It is a normal process that keeps taking place in your body to stop bleeding.
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4.2 FAQ Liberate life
Causes Hemophilia is caused by a mutation or change, in one of the genes, that provides instructions for making the clotting factor proteins needed to form a blood clot. This change or mutation can prevent the clotting protein from working properly or to be missing altogether.
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New perspectives on dry needling following a medical model
Having a defective gene or having it depleted leads to a faulty or absent protein and subsequent coagulation problems. Although the two types have very similar signs and symptoms, they are caused by mutations in different genes. People with an unusual form of hemophilia B, known as hemophilia B Leyden, experience episodes of excessive bleeding in childhood but have few bleeding problems after puberty.
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Philistines defeated Saul at Mount Gilboa. King Saul took his life there. Mary and Joseph camped on the slopes of Mount Gilboa on their way to Bethlehem to register. This mount was visible from the hill near the house of Jesus in Nazareth. Jesus passed by with his parents when they first took him to Jerusalem. Between the months of September and October 27 Jesus and the apostles established their camp on Mount Gilboa. On October 27 the apostles of Jesus held a conference with the apostles of John on Mount Gilboa. Matthew and Philip were expelled from a Samaritan village on the slopes of Mount Gilboa on their way to the Feast of Tabernacles in the year 29.
See also: UB 144.
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Nocturnal Predation of Christmas Tree Worms by a Batwing Coral Crab at Bonaire (Southern Caribbean)
Christmas tree worms (Serpulidae: Spirobranchus) occur in shallow parts of coral reefs, where they
live as associates of a large number of stony coral species [1,2]. They dwell inside a calcareous tube,
which is usually overgrown by the host coral and partly embedded deep inside the coral skeleton,
except for the tube’s opening and the worm’s operculum . Even if host corals and worm tubes
become overgrown by other invertebrates, the worms continue to grow and are able to keep their tube
openings free [4,5].
Despite their wide distribution, high densities, and the damage these tube-dwelling worms
may cause to corals [6,7], little is known about their natural enemies. They appear well protected
by the tube, which is armed by a long spine on the opening margin. Although they may live up
to 40 years , mortality of Spirobranchus worms in dense populations is not uncommon, and most
obvious when their vacated tubes are inhabited by small fish and crustaceans [6,8]. There are a few
reports on attempted feeding of Christmas tree worms by fish and on Spirobranchus remnants found in
fish stomachs (, references therein), but no information is available on other predators.
Therefore, it is surprising that a West Atlantic batwing coral crab, Carpilius corallinus Herbst, 1783,
was observed preying on two individuals of Spirobranchus giganteus (Pallas, 1766) during a night dive at
Playa Pabou (1209041.8” N, 06817001.0” W), Kralendijk, Bonaire on 18 October 2020; time 18:45–21:15
(Electronic Supplementary Material). The worms were living in a colony of the scleractinian coral
Porites astreoides Lamarck, 1801, at a depth of 7 m. The crab was using its slender left claw to break away
the thick calcareous tubes of the worms, which resulted in a deposit of limestone debris aside the coral
(Figure 1a). The crab seemed to extract soft parts of the worm from the tube and manipulate them by
using its second pair of pereiopods, which are the first pair of walking legs (Electronic Supplementary
Material). The use of walking legs during feeding is not uncommon in other brachyuran lineages.
Some spider crabs (Majidae) use walking legs to pry and wedge open gastropod and bivalve shells
and box crabs (Calappidae) can be seen to use the first two pairs of walking legs to rotate prey shells
to find an opening for easier access and grip for their specialized right claw (W.d.G. pers. obs.).
During another night dive, two days later, the crab was no longer present but the extent of damage
to the worm tubes and the coral was evident (Figure 1b). The worm in the longest of the two tubes
was gone, while the other worm had survived in a part of the tube that was inside the host coral.
Its operculum appeared lost (Figure 1b).
This observation is interesting because little is known about species predating on Christmas tree
worms (see above), while also hardly anything has been published on the diet of the Batwing coral
crab. Carpilius corallinus is well known for its nocturnal activities and it is the onlyWest Atlantic
member of Carpiliidae, a family of three congeneric species . All three species possess an enlarged
right cheliped (claw-bearing leg), with a blunt molariform tooth found proximally on the cutting edge
of the pollex, which is the fixed ‘finger’ of the claw.
In laboratory conditions in Guam, the Indo-West Pacific species C. convexus (Forskål, 1775) and
C. maculatus (Linnaeus, 1758) have been observed to use their major claw to crush shells of various
species of gastropods . The latter crab species has also been reported as predator of a commercially
important abalone, Haliotis asinina Linnaeus, 1758, in the Philippines , and was found in the field
between the remains of freshly-killed gastropods on two separate occasions in Guam .
Individuals of the West Atlantic C. corallinus were also found to be feeding on gastropods in
captivity, while they were also fed with sardines . In another case, a female individual in an
aquarium was observed to break apart shells inhabited by hermit crabs in an attempt to remove
them from their homes . Only one published record was found on the diet of C. corallinus in its
natural environment, consisting of Diadema sea urchins . There is also unpublished data concerning
C. corallinus feeding on sea urchins, as well as on a topshell, Calliostoma javanicum (Lamarck, 1822),
all from Bonaire (E.M., pers. obs.).
It seems that information on the diet of Carpilius species is rare, but considering the armor of
previously reported prey species, the crushing of serpulid worm tubes seems to be within their capacity
when they use their right claw. The crab at Bonaire was, however, using its slender left claw to feed
from the worm tube. We do not know if the crab had initially crushed the tube using its specialized
right claw and continued feeding using its left claw, or if the crab initially used its left claw to break
The extent of damage on worm tubes is striking (Figure 1). In spite of many dives on Bonaire,
this kind of harm was not reported before. Because Spirobranchus tubes may easily become covered
by coral tissue and algae [3,6,7], it is possible that damaged worm tubes may get unnoticed due
to similar overgrowth. All in all, we do not expect Spirobranchus to be a regular part of the diet
of Carpilius corallinus. The present observation and previously published information suggest that
Carpilius species are not prey specific. More research on the diet and foraging behavior of these
commercially important crab species will teach us more about their role in the food chains of coral reefs.
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The Opti Train brain pattern is produced when all your Levels of Thought are producing the same pattern of colors on a brain map, or in other words when all your Levels of Thought are balanced.
Below are examples of maps that have high synergy values. The Opti Train Index does not use gamma or delta levels of thought in its calculation, so we will be looking at example maps containing theta, alpha, beta 1 and beta 2. When the colors on these four maps look alike they are in balance. It is of course impossible to train the levels of thought to be exactly the same, so the Opti Index will never be 100%. High Opti Index values tend to be in the 80%’s.
The above images show the levels of thought of a brain collection and the Opti Train map of the same collection. As you can see the levels of thought are not exactly the same but have a very a similar pattern. This translates to high Opti Index values.
Here is another example of a similar brain pattern throughout the levels of thought that produces high Opti Index values in the Opti Train map.
Opti Calm is simply a measure of low brain activity (efficiency). The quieter your thoughts and brain activity, the higher your Opti Index values. Below is an example of brain maps with very low activity throughout the levels of thought and high Opti Calm Index values on the map. Again, an Opti Calm Index of 100% is zero brain activity so it is impossible to achieve this number. High Opti Calm Index values are in the 80%’s.
Opti Confidence is a combination of both the Opti Train algorithm and the Opti Calm algorithm. So Opti Confidence Index levels are high when the levels of thought maps are both balanced and have low activity. Below is an example of brain maps that contains high Opti Confidence Index values.
Poor Opti Train, Calm and Confidence Example
Below are two examples of maps that contain low Opti Index values.
The above example has low brain activation (meaning a pretty good Opti Calm Index) but does not have balance in the levels of thought (meaning a low Opti Train Index).
The next above example has high activation (low Opti Calm Index) and low balance (low Opti Train Index). You can see there are red areas that stand out in two of the maps in the levels of thought. These two areas negatively affect the Opti Indexes in similar areas in the Train, Calm and Confidence maps.
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Two wastewater treatment plants have been in the news recently. The first is the $230 million Agua Prieta wastewater treatment plant, located north of Guadalajara in Jalisco, which was formally inaugurated last month. It is the first stage in a plan to restore the heavily polluted Santiago River back to health. The Santiago is the outflow from Lake Chapala and receives pollutants from the industrial zone of El Salto outside Guadalajara. The initial capacity of the Agua Prieta plant is 6,500 liters/second, almost all of which is returned to the river after treatment.
The plant was built by a consortium led by ICA subsidiary Conoisa, Atlatec, and Servicios de Agua Trident under a 20-year concession. President Enrique Peña Nieto claims on his government webpage that, “Integrated, sustainable water management is a government priority. The challenge is even greater because almost 50% of the wastewater returned to the environment does not undergo any form of treatment… The Agua Prieta Wastewater Treatment Plant in Zapopan… [will] improve the quality of life of 3.3 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara… It will treat 82% of the wastewater in the area, and 100% when the complementary sewage works are completed.”
According to government figures, waste water treatment coverage at the national level is currently 50.3%, with a 2018 target of 63%. Agua Prieta has raised national coverage to 53.3%, and will boost it to 54.3% once the plant is operating at full capacity and treating 8,500 liters/second of wastewater. At the state level, Jalisco is now treating 32% of its wastewater.
The Agua Prieta plant is currently the largest of its kind in Mexico and is powered by biogas derived from the wastewater sludge. However, an even larger plant is under construction, in the state of Hidalgo in central Mexico. The Atotonilco Wastewater Treatment Plant is being built by a consortium, including Mexican construction companies ICA and IDEAL, Mitsui subsidiary Atlatec and Spanish firm Acciona Agua, that won the concession to design, build, and operate this plant for 22 years, at which point the plant will be transferred to federal ownership. Work began in 2010 and is due to be completed by 2015.
The Atotonilco Wastewater Treatment Plant will be the largest wastewater plant in Latin America and one of the largest in the world, with a biological treatment capacity of 23,000 liters/second (1.99 million m3/day). The wastewater treatment is performed by a series of conventional processes, with an additional chemical process during the rainy season. Treated waters from this plant are already being used in agriculture without any additional cleaning steps. The plant is self-sufficient in terms of energy usage, since it converts the methane offgas from the wastewater sludge into electrical energy.
- Greenpeace demands action to clean up Mexico’s surface waters
- Mexico’s freshwater aquifers: undervalued and overexploited
- Will the mighty Colorado River ever reach its delta?
- Maintaining the drains and sewers of Mexico City
- Two examples of Mexico-USA trans-border water pollution
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Why Blockchain Security Is Good For You
Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency. It took advantage of blockchain technology to solve the famous double-spending conundrum of other digital currencies. Blockchain is so secure that millions have trusted their hard-earned money in these public ledgers.
Blockchains are excellent for ensuring the security of transactions. They are also excellent for your personal security. Your identity is nearly impossible to uncover, despite the public nature of these ledgers.
All of this might seem contradictory. After going through how it works, you can also think about how to make it work for you!
What Is Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain technology is a system of record keeping. Each block has a cryptographic code, which contains a timestamp, transaction and all previous blocks. This cryptographic code is what gives cryptocurrency their name.
Each transaction produces a new block with this cryptographic code. Each transaction is thus recorded anew across a network of computers. Because it is copied, it becomes impossible to manipulate.
For Bitcoin, this is a public ledger. In fact, that is how Bitcoins are produced–by using computer processing power to confirm the ledger. This is how mining works and why it is an essential part of what makes Bitcoin run so well.
Bitcoin is not the only technology to use this technique. Other cryptocurrencies also use it. Many banking institutions using fiat curries also use blockchain technology.
Importantly, health professionals have used blockchain technology to keep track of who has had antibody tests. This particular ledger helps eliminate the possibility of duplicates.
How Does It Make Us More Secure?
We know that blockchain has many uses, but what about it makes us more secure than other ledgers?
Blockchains offer two basic features that improve our security: information verification and identity protections. Because the ledger is verified across a number of computers, and each change is recorded forever, we can be certain about a lot of information. Each change in a file is recorded and known publicly.
This information is so rock solid that reporters have used it to fight fake news and photo manipulation. Deep fakes will be impossible if we can record and make public, through block chain technology, each time a photo or video is manipulated.
Blockchain also anonymizes the participants of the transaction. It means that we can see that someone manipulated the photo, or that someone sent 0.12356 BTC, but the identities of all the parties are represented by a serial number.
“Blockchain Partnership Event” by gdsteam is licensed under CC BY 2.0
What Can I Use It For?
Cryptocurrencies have many uses that are specific to them, but you can also use them like you would any other currency. More and more, online stores, hotels, and banks are accepting cryptocurrencies. You can use them to tip on Reddit, for example. Since its launch more than a decade ago, Bitcoin’s increasing acceptance has been truly remarkable.
In addition, Bitcoin is especially useful for anyone who wants a bit more privacy in their transactions. It is increasingly the currency of choice among bettors, for example. Combine it with a secure sports betting site to make your betting safer and more profitable.
Many have also been using it as a safe refuge during the economic downturn following the coronavirus pandemic. Fiat currencies are tied to the fates of individual nations, each of which is going through a series of obstacles and plenty of uncertainty.
Because Bitcoin is a global currency, it is less likely to crash due to problems in any one country, or even in a global downturn. Its price has soared during the pandemic, proving that you can also use Bitcoin as a smart investment opportunity.
What Are The risks?
But of course blockchain technology is not perfect, and no one intends for it to solve all
our problems. So, what are the problems when we use cryptocurrencies? What are the dangers left unsolved by blockchains?
One risk is the potential volatility of the market. While smart investors will know when is a good time to buy or sell, the BTC market has had its ups and downs. If you out in a lot of money you could see it reduced, or expanded, more than with Dollars or Euros.
Another potential problem with cryptocurrencies that is out of the reach of blockchain technology is a certain type of theft. If you store your coins on a physical hard drive, and someone gets a hold of it, it is game over. There is no way to get them back.
This is not so different from fiat currencies, but you may have more money laying around your house if you store your cryptos on a hard drive. Keep it safe!
Overall, blockchain technology offers promising security benefits for a variety of uses. From healthcare to consumer identity protection, blockchain is here to stay and to keep us safer.
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In , Gregory Clark provides data on interest rates to show that Europeans gradually developed lower time preferences. In other words, they were more likely to delay gratification and plan for the future — paying back loans, for example. He also interprets data on wills as showing that most people of English descent today are the genetic legacy of the middle class, the poor and the aristocracy mostly having failed to reproduce themselves. That leaves us with a society where the average person maximizes their long-term material welfare much better than their counterparts would have in the Middle Ages or before. There appears to be somewhat of a drawback, though: doing so makes you more miserable over the long term.
John Tierney recently reviewed a series of studies on how the intensity of guilt and regret change over time. Read the most recent article for free here, which contains five related studies. The journal article and Tierney’s write-up are brief and straightforward, so I own’t belabor the details here. Basically, in the short term, indulgence-driven guilt stings more than prudence-driven regret, and this motivates us toward virtuous behavior, such as delaying material gratification. In the long term, though, guilt has faded away and regret over missing out on life’s pleasures weighs more heavily on our mind.
Oddly, then, maximizing long-term material well-being minimizes long-term hedonic well-being. If the big shift to low time preferences was as recent as Clark suggests — during the Modern and especially Industrial period — then perhaps our brain’s pleasure or reward system hasn’t had enough time to rewire itself to make us feel warm and fuzzy about having saved, abstained, and done the prudent thing in the past. Rather, since all other human groups before the big change, and certainly other primate groups, had very high time preferences, the reward system is probably designed to make us feel happy as we pour over a mental photo album that’s stuffed with memories of irresponsible fun and indulgence.
Hey, no one ever said that changing the world and getting shit done was going to be emotionally uplifting.
I’d like to see follow-up studies focus on individual differences in how strongly they are motivated by guilt vs. regret. Most personality questionnaires measure something called excitement seeking or novelty seeking, as well as impulsiveness. We might predict that impulsive and excitement-seeking people are more motivated by avoiding regret than avoiding guilt, which leads them toward indulging more in the present. You could re-do all of the five studies in the article above, but using personality traits as predictor variables. If different parts of the brain light up when we feel guilt vs. regret, you could see if impulsive and excitement-seeking people showed greater responses to regret-based scenarios than guilt-based scenarios. (E.g., they read a story about someone else feeling these emotions, they reflect on an episode from their own lives, they see pictures of the faces of others expressing these emotions, and so on.)
On an applied level, if you suffer from “hyperopia” — planning to much for your material future — you can push yourself to indulge merely by reflecting on how you may in 20 years regret missing out on having fun now. If you remind yourself that “You’ll regret it if you don’t,” then you won’t find yourself sighing later on about that more exciting trip you should have taken your son on, that year of working in a more fulfilling city for less pay, or that student who made a pass at you that you should have slept with.
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Different energy sources are used on the globe. Some of these sources are replenishable and some are generally not. The main difference is that the renewable ones are less harmful to the planet. However , a number of the non-renewable ones contribute to global increased temperatures. So , we must know how to convert from the regular strength to the renewable one.
You will discover different types of renewables, such as the wind, solar yard lights, hydro electricity and geothermal. Hydropower is a form of https://leonardogiombini.it/2021/07/13/generated-post-2 renewable energy which usually uses normal water to drive generators to generate electrical power. Wind strength is also renewable, but it generates noise.
Geothermal is a type of renewable energy which is used to generate warm water. Compared to classic systems, this produces even more hot water for lower costs.
Biomass is another way to obtain renewable energy. It can be made from plant life and canine waste. This is certainly used in market as a gas. Burning biomass releases a substantial amount carbon dioxide in the air.
Nuclear energy in addition has become a significant source of low-carbon energy in many countries. Its position in every single country may differ. In Norway, 66% with the country’s energy came from indivisible.
Renewables are a growing source of power in most European economies. Nevertheless , most East economies obtain less energy from these sources.
Gas is also an important energy source. Gas can be used up in heavy steam and internal combustion engine generators. These are generally the most common sorts of generators.
Biomass is another type of alternative strength, but it is normally difficult to assess. Some estimations estimate so it would just represent 6% of the global energy.
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Free Cooperative Play is an activity in which I incorporate into all my PE Programs across all stages. Simply, a variety of equipment is made available for the students to explore, play and manipulate individually, in pairs or in groups. Across the School of Foundations (SOF), they love this structure as it provides them with freedom. Freedom to play with the equipment of their choice (they can play with all equipment or just one or two) and can play for as little or as long as they want before moving onto the next.
Previously, I wrote a blog about how Incorporating Student Choice in Physical Education is beneficial at St. Luke’s. In this version, I will elaborate on how Free Cooperative Play, or ‘Student Choice’ is aligned with the St. Luke’s 6 Pillars of Learning. A snippet of the Pillars are illustrated below.
Firstly, students Witness Christ through Free Cooperative as they are strongly encouraged to play, share, work and cooperate with their peers. One of the rules of the session is that we can’t say the word “no” to each other. This promotes the Teachings of Jesus, as He values all students irrespective of ability. So by students playing, sharing and cooperating with their peers, whom they may or may not be close with, allows each student the opportunity to Witness the characteristics of Jesus.
Students throughout Free Cooperative Play are encouraged to Manage their emotions through play. Through this structure, students have a lot of freedom to play with any peer they choose and therefore, should be able to regulate emotions in a positive manner, make positive choices about who they play with, how they play and what games they play.
Kindergarten to Year 6 students are able to Relate each other well during these types of sessions where Free Cooperative Play features. As previously mentioned, students choosing who they would like to work and play with will promote their abilities to work collaboratively and communicate effectively in these sessions.
Boys and girls of St. Luke’s demonstrate a good level of Inquiring during this setup. How? Well, they are able to look at various pieces of equipment available and pose questions to themselves as individuals, and to their peers in regards to what game or activities they can construct and play. Once formed, some students are able to then transfer knowledge (from previous sporting games/activities) into new contexts.
Free Cooperative Play allows students to Think about various things that they can see within this style of learning. Students are able to solve problems after they have created their own game with their peers or as individuals, and with some of Stage 2 students, they can reflect on (their) thinking once they have had a number of attempts at the game/activity that they have designed.
Last Pillar, and certainly not the least, Create. The SOF Students amaze me with the games they design from the equipment that is made available for them; some are simple and effective, others are more complex and accompanied by a number of rules and structures, but nonetheless, students are demonstrating their ability to make and construct using a number of resources in front of them. They are able to apply practice within the sporting space where they can utilise their required skills to partake in the game that they have brilliantly designed.
The SOF Students never cease to surprise me with the activities they create during Free Cooperative Play.
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Natural abilities and talents cannot be taken from any individual. However, education, makes all the difference even in their lives that have these talents. Without education, it is impossible to know what you are good. You might need too long to find out who you are and what is best without education. Lack of education also means you don’t get the opportunity to grow with your full potential. When you know what you are good and want to be at an early age, you are in a position to direct your life to the right path then you grow up with your full potential.
The most important thing is not only education that allows you to know how to read and write, but quality education will take you to the height of prosperity by bringing the best of you. Developed countries are actually more likely to monitor children from an early age to see what is good and direct their educational path in that direction. Therefore they know what they want and how to get there when they are young. Without quality education, this is not possible. Science and technology are one of the most important areas. The development of technology, discovery and complex solutions depends on science and technology.
Even with the importance, not all children have the opportunity to become deep into science and technology. The reason can vary from poor quality of education to poverty that make children struggle to go to school or get access to the most important equipment for smooth learning. Even though the class is important, practical lessons make everything clearer for children. They offer them the opportunity to practice everything they have taught in the theory class. For this reason the school is equipped with computer laboratories, physics, chemistry and biological laboratories.
Provide quality education to disadvantaged
The truth is that you will never know which child will be what in the future. Only quality education makes it possible to regulate the ability to separate children in their legitimate sectors including the fields of science and technology. Quality education is therefore the most important. As far as regarding science and technology, different equipment is needed to make education healthy. They consist of computers, anatomical models, chemical sets, physics kits and models and astronomical equipment, among others. Not every country can buy all the equipment needed to improve the quality of education. Not every distance school is achieved with quality education, but through useful organizations, it is now possible to provide quality education in remote areas.
Science and technology equipment can be donated and sent to remote schools to help children through the organization. The main goal is to save the world through educating future holders who are children. Donations open up most likely for children with the quality of education they get.
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Print design – tips on all you need to know
From business cards to posters and flyers, print design plays an integral role in any small business seeking success. But what do you really need to know? Relax – we’ve got the low down! Read up on our top tips for brilliant printing projects that will have your brand standing out from the rest!
What is print design?
Print design is an art form that combines a range of elements such as typography, illustration, and photography to communicate ideas through printed materials. From product packaging and business cards right up to magazines or billboards – this craft enables almost limitless avenues for creativity!
Print design is an essential strategy for promoting products and services. Graphic designers make use of color theory, composition, and layout to create visually stunning designs that capture the attention of viewers while delivering a strong message. With its blend of creative elements and thoughtful messaging, the print design effectively captivates audiences in various ways!
The history of print design can be traced back to the invention of the printing press in 1440. However, its roots go much further back, with visual communication being used as far back as 15,000 BC. Ancient Mesopotamia and Babylonia used to design for economic and religious purposes through clay seals and stamps. In the 6th century CE, woodblock printing was developed in China.
As the centuries passed, print technology evolved at an astounding rate. The 19th-century lithography was a major milestone in its progression, and by the start of the 20th-century offset printing had become commonplace – producing highly accurate prints with intricate detail.
The term “graphic design” first appeared in print in 1922 in an essay titled “New Kind of Printing Calls for New Design” by typographer William Addison Dwiggins. This period marked a shift towards modern graphic design with the launch of the Bauhaus School in Germany by Walter Gropius.
Today, modern print designs have opened up an exciting world of possibilities – from texture-rich visuals to intricate vector artwork. Thanks to technology advancements like CAD software and Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, designers are able to unleash their creativity in ways that couldn’t even be dreamed about two decades ago!
Main types of print design
Print design is a powerful force in our everyday lives. Whether it be helping us stay connected to the brands we love or introducing us to budding authors, print media consistently adds value! Looking for examples? Here are some:
Differences between print design and digital design
Print design and digital design may share the same DNA, but there are some major differences in how they’re created. Print calls for a deep understanding of color theory and resolution to make sure physical materials like brochures, posters, or banner ads look their best.
Digital designers on the other hand have browser compatibility, web accessibility, and mobile responsiveness at top-of-mind when putting together online products – three things that print designers don’t even need to think about!
The bottom line? While both types of graphic design benefit each project differently – it’s important not to forget which one you’re dealing with before you create something your audience will love (or hate).
How to design for print?
If you want your print design to stand out from the competition, mastering both creative and technical elements is essential. To achieve top-notch results, consider everything from paper weight and coatings to printer registration issues, as well as contrast ratios between page layouts or spreads.
But don’t forget about typography – font selection should never be overlooked when crafting professional designs! Choose easy-to-read fonts that look good on paper, given their limitations compared to digital platforms.
With these considerations in mind, creating a good print design can easily become a reality for any passionate designer who takes the time to understand proper printing principles and techniques.
Difference between RGB and CMYK
Ever wonder why the same digital design looks different on screen than in print? The key is understanding when to use RGB vs CMYK color modes. Even if you possess magical powers and know what each of these mysterious letters stands for (it’s mostly colors!), that won’t help select which one works best without knowing where your finished project will be displayed – it all depends!
RGB or Red-Green-Blue lighting is a key component of the technology that makes digital screens work. By blending various intensities of these three colors together at each pixel on our devices – from phones to computers and televisions – we can achieve incredibly vibrant displays in order to view images, text, graphics, and more with stunning clarity!
RGB values provide a virtually limitless amount of possibilities when it comes to color selection. By combining 256 levels each for red, green, and blue in the range between 0-255; over sixteen million colors can be created on the spectrum ranging from black to white.
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). It’s a subtractive color model used in printing to create a range of colors by combining the four base colors. When these colors are printed on paper, they absorb light and create an image. The combination of these colors creates a wide range of hues that can be used to produce images with high quality and accuracy.
This model is widely used in the printing industry thanks to its ability to accurately reproduce images on paper! It has 4 colors at 100% each for richer tones and deeper shades than RGB (Red Green Blue) which contains light in its range of 256 variations per hue.
However, because it offers more vibrancy, images designed using only RGB may appear washed out once converted into CMYK – so remember not to get your creative process underway without double-checking what type of output you’re aiming for!
Have a good print resolution
When it comes to printing, the resolution is key for creating a high-quality image. Resolution measures the level of detail and sharpness in an image; this can be quantified by dots per inch (DPI). The higher the DPI, the more ‘dots’ are printed onto one square inch – resulting in increased clarity and superior overall quality.
Maximize print quality with the golden resolution – 300DPI. This resolution is appropriate for materials viewed up close and ensures that the printed image looks quite sharp and clear. Anything lower than that would detrimentally affect the visible detail of your file. But keep in mind that different resolutions may suit different applications – an enormous billboard doesn’t require as high of a DPI as, say, something small like a leaflet might demand.
The importance of scaling
Every artwork has to have the perfect balance of size, color, and texture. Otherwise, you may end up with a project that looks completely out of proportion! Forgetting about scale when it comes to design is like trying an entrée without salt – sure all the ingredients are there but something significant’s missing!
Quite simply put: if you don’t check how all elements interact on different scales from micro-detail through macro-context, then what’s the point? Quality and scale are essential to design. Without meticulous attention, designers may unwittingly put their work at risk of failing the industry’s standards for professionalism- causing damage not just to themselves but also alienating would-be customers.
With strategic resizing of your design elements, it becomes possible to add an extra layer and dimension to any composition. By using relative sizes in a layout, we can easily create visual hierarchies highlighting the dominant aspects while still allowing lesser components room to show their true potential.
Scale can be an effective tool to grab your audience’s attention as well – making sure they focus on the content that matters. Big enough to make a difference, yet still subtle enough not to interfere with other design elements like typography or color palette; scaling up certain aspects in your message is guaranteed to get it noticed!
Bleed in print design
The printing world is full of technical details, but there’s something important to bear in mind when crafting your projects: bleed. Applying it appropriately can mean the difference between cutting-edge brilliance and sloppy edges on your printed output!
Bleed refers to the extra 1/8” (.125 in) of image or background color that extends beyond the trim area of your printing piece. This ensures that the artwork will be printed all the way to the edge of the paper, and not have any white space at the edges.
Make sure there is plenty of room between your design components and the edge of where you plan to have it cut – any objects that are too close won’t make it through production!
Don’t forget to proofread
Before taking off with your print design work, don’t forget to add one final layer – proofreading! By taking extra steps to double-check elements such as factual accuracy, formatting consistency, and visual alignment, you can ensure a final work that looks really professional and polished.
Visual proofreading even helps make sure small details like color accuracy or font size aren’t missed – tiny changes in these areas could have a major impact on how the final product appears.
Spend enough time reviewing your designs prior to sending them out into the world; it’ll pay off with projects you take pride in sharing!
Some print design inspiration examples
We’ve gotten the theory out of the way – now it’s time to get your hands dirty with some fun and useful examples. And stay tuned! There’ll be more delights coming soon on the Wepik blog, so you don’t want to miss out.
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Nurse Researcher – Degree Requirements and Career InformationHigher Education Articles October 19, 2013
Nurse research is a field in which nurses work as scientists in an effort to improve healthcare outcomes through scientific experiments and research projects. The job description, career outlook, average salary and education requirements of nurse researchers are described in detail below.
Nurses with an affinity for research and the scientific method may enjoy a career as a nurse researcher. Nurse researchers don’t spend as much time in direct contact with patients as other registered nurses do, but they can have a significant and positive effect on the field of healthcare as a whole. When a research project is successful, the results may change the way registered nurses working in the field care for their patients, thus improving patients’ experiences and outcomes.
Nurses who work in research must understand all of the issues involved in caring for patients, as well as the steps involved in conducting an experiment and preparing a report. They must also know how to communicate the important aspects of their results to the healthcare community.
Work Environment and Job Duties
Nurse researchers may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, private laboratories and universities. Unlike many other specialized nurses, nurse researchers often work set shifts during the day. However, in some instances, a nurse researcher may need to conduct research at night. For example, nurses studying sleep patterns or labor and delivery outcomes may be required to work night shifts. A nurse researcher’s job is extremely structured and methodical, but also challenging. Nurses working in this specialty must be prepared to analyze their results, think critically and devise plans for further study.
On the job, a nurse researcher may perform the following functions:
•Perform laboratory experiments
•Observe patient care or treatment procedures
•Collect and analyze data from experiments
•Collect and analyze data about patient outcomes
•Prepare research plans
•Write reports about results obtained during projects or experiments
•Present results to colleagues and other healthcare professionals
Requirements and Education
The first step to becoming a nurse researcher involves obtaining a nursing degree, which may be an associate’s in nursing or a bachelor of science in nursing. Most nurses spend some time working in the field after obtaining a nursing degree before pursuing a career in nursing research. After or during your time in the field, you may purse a research degree, or you may begin working as an assistant to an existing nurse researcher. After significant training and experience, you may be able to become a principal investigator, which allows you to make decisions about the issues you’d like to investigate and the experiments or projects you want to complete.
Salary and Career Outlook
Nurse researchers earn an average salary of $95,000 per year. However, this figure may vary based on your exact job description, location and employer. Healthcare research is a growing field that is unlikely to become obsolete at any time in the future, so job openings in this field are likely to increase, especially for nurses who show promise by completing successful research projects during training.
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- The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a UN specialized agency, established by States in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).
- ICAO works with the Convention’s 192 Member States and industry groups to reach consensus on international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector. These SARPs and policies are used by ICAO Member States to ensure that their local civil aviation operations and regulations conform to global norms, which in turn permits more than 100,000 daily flights in aviation’s global network to operate safely and reliably in every region of the world.
- In addition to its core work resolving consensus-driven international SARPs and policies among its Member States and industry, and among many other priorities and programmes, ICAO also coordinates assistance and capacity building for States in support of numerous aviation development objectives; produces global plans to coordinate multilateral strategic progress for safety and air navigation; monitors and reports on numerous air transport sector performance metrics; and audits States’ civil aviation oversight capabilities in the areas of safety and security.
Emissions from international aviation are specifically excluded from the targets agreed under the Kyoto Protocol. Instead, the Protocol invites developed countries to pursue the limitation or reduction of emissions through the International Civil Aviation Organization.
ICAO’s environmental committee continues to consider the potential for using market-based measures such as trading and charging, but this work is unlikely to lead to global action.
It is currently developing guidance for states who wish to include aviation in an emissions trading scheme (ETS) to meet their Kyoto commitments, and for airlines who wish to participate voluntarily in a trading scheme.
Emissions from domestic aviation are included within the Kyoto targets agreed by countries. This has led to some national policies such as fuel and emission taxes for domestic air travel in the Netherlands and Norway, respectively. Although some countries tax the fuel used by domestic aviation, there is no duty on kerosene used on international flights.
- The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) is a representative body of companies that provide air traffic control. It represents the interests of Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs).
- CANSO members are responsible for supporting over 85% of world air traffic, and through its workgroups, members share information and develop new policies, with the aim of improving air navigation services on the ground and in the air. CANSO also represents its members’ views in regulatory and industry forums, including at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), where it has official Observer status.
- Full membership is open to all ANSPs regardless of their legal status. This includes ANSPs who are integrated within government structures and departments. Members who are not separated from their governments are able to sign an article of membership which explicitly recognises that CANSO does not represent the national government of the ANSP’s home state in any way.
- The Associate Membership of CANSO is drawn from companies and organisations from the aviation industry who are involved with the delivery of air traffic services.
- Membership offers them the chance to network both formally and informally with clients, and decision makers across the aviation industry.
- Associate Members may contribute to CANSO’s work programmes and help it improve the delivery of Air Navigation Services.
- CANSO is member of the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG).
- Airports Council International (ACI) is the only global trade representative of the world’s airport authorities. Established in 1991, ACI represents airports’ interests with governments and international organizations, develops standards, policies and recommended practices for airports, and it provides information and training opportunities to raise the standards around the world. It aims to provide the public a safe, secure, efficient and an environmentally responsible air transport system.
- It is governed by the ACI Governing Board. ACI World is located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ACI works on a daily basis with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and is a member of the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG).
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Range/Geographical Distribution: Breeds from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to Arizona and New Mexico. Present along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts and in California during the winter months. Found on all continents except Antarctica.
Habitat: Lakes, rivers, and seacoasts.
Similar Species: Bald eagle.
Description: Ospreys have a dark brown back and a white belly. The head is white with a dark stripe across the eyes. Also has a black, hooked beak and sharp talons.
Size: Length: 21-23” Wingspan: 59-71” Weight: 1400-2000g
Breeding: Lays two to four white, pink, or buff speckled eggs in a nest of sticks and debris placed in a dead tree, on flat ground, or on top of a telephone pole.
Predators: Osprey eggs are vulnerable to foxes, skunks, raccoons, and other birds. Adults have no predators.
Conservation Status: Populations declined drastically in the 1950’s and 1960’s due to pesticide poisoning. Their population is now stable and listed as least concern by IUCN.
Interesting Facts: Ospreys have spikes on their talons that aid the bird in holding onto slippery fish. Once a fish is caught, the osprey positions the fish headfirst in its talons so that the fish is as aerodynamic as possible.
On the Coast: Osprey can be seen along Georgia’s coastline soaring above the many waterways. It often builds nests on manmade objects such as telephone poles, pilings, and channel markers. 90-95% of ospreys now nest on top of man-made objects.
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In order to understand the genetic regulation of bacterial genes whose products are important for pathogenesis, one needs to measure the expression of the genes during the infection process. We have devised a method to measure the transcriptional activity of such genes from bacteria recovered directly from infected host tissue. Starting with bacterial strains containing lacZ transcriptional fusions to the genes of interest, animals can be infected with subsequent isolation of infected host tissue. Here we describe the separation of bacterial cells away from a particular host tissue and the subsequent measurement of the activity of β-galactosidase, the product of the lacZ gene, in the bacterial cells. This assay is sensitive enough to compensate for the potentially low number of bacteria recovered from the infection site.
|Original language||English (US)|
|State||Published - 1994|
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
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The high cost of housing is one of the most challenging planning issues of our time. The meager supply of affordable housing is a major contributor to the problem, yet the policy tools to address the shortfall often seem to worsen the problem. But this is because they ignore the underlying infrastructure and financing to support growth.
Housing affordability is really about two things: income and cost. The building industry is doing very little about the former, oftentimes opposing prevailing wages for construction workers. On the latter, the key question (being debated in California now) is whether deregulation of market rate housing projects will somehow “trickle down” to households, enabling them to afford rising rents and mortgages.
The supply-side perspective, espoused by the state’s Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) suggests that the solution to containing housing costs is building 100,000 additional units annually. Given the LAO’s skepticism of affordability restrictions, the theory is that the housing bought by wealthier people will filter down to poorer people as the wealthy move up to more expensive housing.
This trickle-down theory is very leaky. It depends on upward mobility in the middle class, and assumes that there are no foreign investors swooping in with hard cash and clogging up the filtration system. And even if it did occur, research by the Urban Displacement Project shows that the filtering process can take generations, whilst the properties deteriorate. The steeper the price increases, the slower the rate of filtration. Also, if wealthy buyers are willing to pay exorbitant sums for an old house in order to give it a pricey makeover, the theory is turned downside up. I’d call it “trickle-up.”
There are several limitations of the supply-side perspective:
- Due to its focus on new construction, this theory is narrowly limited in policy prescriptions to less than 1 percent of the total housing stock. To put this in perspective, California has a built stock of 13 million housing units, of which 6 million are rentals. Roughly 41 percent of owners with a mortgage and 57 percent of renters in the state cannot afford to meet their housing costs. The supply-side perspective assumes that any rent or price controls on 99 percent of the housing stock will impact the production of the 1 percent.
- The supply-side perspective conflates different housing markets and diverse clientele into one uniform package of building permits. The basic rule taught in Real Estate 101 is being violated by these sweeping theories of a uniform housing market in California, when the reality is that each metro has its own market and submarkets, and product types segmented by their unique customer-class (for example, McMansions, luxury condos, single-family detached, luxury apartments, hotel apartments, single-room occupancy housing, senior living, etc.) Each market has its own sensitivity to price changes, and the demand within each segment also differs. To illustrate, a luxury condo purchased as a second-home by a millionaire in San Francisco makes no difference to a middle-income renter in Fresno; and the relative impact of a 10 percent increase in housing costs for each is not comparable.
- The supply-siders assume builders will respond to the demand in an egalitarian manner. They don’t. Builders respond to profits, and the reluctance of the building industry to build entry-level homes reflects a fundamental flaw in the “let them eat cake” argument that the increased supply of luxury goods will somehow make staple goods more affordable.
Unfortunately, Governor Jerry Brown has proposed the (supply-side) idea, vociferously promoted by the building industry, that the evil-doers are the local regulators that condition project approvals on community benefits, anti-displacement and relocation provisions, better jobs, environmental quality and higher levels of affordable housing.
The High Cost of Cheap Sprawl
It’s become so common and customary to blame NIMBYism for the housing mess that it has sparked a counter-YIMBY movement among market urbanists. No doubt, there are individual projects that have been derailed by neighbors concerned about protecting their home equity; but to vilify public participation in the approval of projects belies the fundamental principle of democratic planning in serving the public interest.
We may disagree about what the “public interest” is, but to eliminate public participation at a project-specific level is undemocratic.
I do think that it is in the public interest to address the crisis of high rents. Since low vacancy rates are a primary driver of rent increases, I examined the rental vacancy rates in California since 1986, and compared them to the national level to provide a baseline for economic conditions. The data show that rental vacancy rates in California spiked during the 1990s, even higher than the national rates. So what was going on in the 1990s to account for this surplus supply?
In one word, sprawl.
According to research commissioned by the California Senate Office of Research, the metropolitan areas of Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside, Merced, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, and Stockton all experienced the state’s greatest increases in urban sprawl during the 1990s. Average metropolitan growth in urban fringes between 1980 and 1990 were twice as great as growth in the urban population. And between 1987 and 1997, the average percentage of a California metropolitan area’s land devoted to farming fell by about 9.4 percent.
New subdivisions were being built by developers—often consuming greenfields and clogging freeways. Pro-sprawlers argued that infill opportunities were limited, and that a majority of sprawl was really attached multi-family housing. Sprawl was cheap and profitable, but cost municipalities twice as much to serve. In hindsight, this was an economically inefficient and environmentally destructive form of growth. By the late 1990s, California started running out of land to keep the growth machine chugging along.
At the turn of the millennium, housing vacancies fell 3 percentage points below the national average, and have remained consistently low—we’ve experienced a lost decade in terms of apartment construction. However, there is no evidence that there was widespread adoption of NIMBY regulations by cities. So one could reasonably attribute this loss to Wall Street, initially on redirecting investment to the housing bubble, and then retrenching from financing any kind of development during the recession.
As we emerged from the recession, cities started focusing on infill, higher density development, but it is precisely this type of housing in these locations that is more expensive to build. The cost of construction increases as much as fivefold from low-rise wooden frame to high-rise steel and concrete. Residential land values in coastal California are over seven times the average in the U.S. And the site constraints are compounded with little room to adjust the building envelope. This is why permit processing in urban areas is under the microscope. The rationale for streamlining is that public input creates uncertainty for the developer and thus results in expensive delays, modifications, or rejections. Some of the rationale is justified, especially for smaller projects that cannot afford the time and cost of permitting.
But the regulatory hurdles are a bogeyman for the housing crunch. For example, in downtown San Diego, there is virtually no NIMBYism, and development permitting is mostly by right. Yet a majority of residential market-rate developers chose to utilize a significantly lesser share of their entitled floor area ratios and pay inclusionary fees in lieu of providing restricted units on-site, leaving the state-mandated density bonus on the table. In other words, private developers are building fewer units than the zoning allows, and avoiding building affordable housing altogether, despite a tower of regulatory incentives being offered to them. Building affordable housing is simply not profitable. This results in wasted land capacity in transit-accessible areas.
For large-scale projects, it’s this same laissez faire approach to development that has created California’s buildable land shortage. It was building for short-term gains to maximize developer profits that created unsustainable growth patterns, which are now taxing California’s highways, roads, and water infrastructure.
Studies on the impacts of land-use regulations on housing are mostly one sided. They evaluate the cost of the regulation to the developer, but ignore the benefits of the regulation to the public. For example, the Wharton Residential Land-Use Regulation Index, one of the most commonly used indicators by laissez faire advocates, has eleven sub-indices that capture everything from rulings by state courts to the number of local planning board hearings. But it has no measurement of changes in project outcomes. In my opinion, process uncertainty is a necessary cost that the larger developer pays in order to procure outcome certainty for people working, living, and experiencing the project on a daily basis. Public input at a project-specific level is critical in maximizing outcome certainty for sustainable development:
The defining characteristic of sustainable development is that it is development plus other societal goals, particularly with respect to the environment, economy, and equity. It is therefore critical to include process uncertainty within the planning process to encourage deliberation in reconciling these tenuous goals at a project-specific level. When a project encounters a sufficient quantum of process uncertainty, it merits appropriate political interest and resources for deliberation. On the other hand, if a public agency offers a streamlined development approval process without accurate assessment and liability of the socioeconomic impacts of new development, it is shifting that outcome uncertainty from the developer to the community. From the developer’s perspective, there is no incentive to deliberate.
As planners strive toward greater certainty in terms of sustainable outcomes from development, process uncertainty needs to be managed, not eliminated. Project-level discretion is precisely the way that cities can avoid a planning paralysis that would occur if every development scenario was analyzed at a programmatic level.
The Housing Problem is An Infrastructure Problem
Developers often complain about regulatory fees. One developer-funded study in San Diego shows that they add 40 percent to the cost of housing. But a deeper analysis reveals that most of the so-called regulatory costs are related to capital improvements. According to a survey of local development fees by the state’s department of Housing and Community Development, capital facilities fees accounted for 80 percent of subdivision and infill fees, and 86 percent of apartment fees.
Since Proposition 13 of 1978, property taxes in California have been historically insufficient to pay for local infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population. Counties in Texas, by comparison, have some of the highest property rates in the nation (average 1.81 percent), and can afford to give out permits without much planning, knowing that the project owners will pay for the municipal capital costs over their lifetime. But in California, cities looking to even keep up with their infrastructure needs have “one-bite” at the apple:
In other words, local governments could no longer rely on spreading the cost of new infrastructure across an entire tax base, they now had to focus the cost solely on new development which constitutes a much smaller number of units. It also means that a local government only gets one bite at the proverbial apple via impact fees rather than a recurring income stream that can be assessed upwards as need dictates.—Landmark Capital Advisors)
Furthermore, homeowners stay longer in their existing homes to avoid paying a higher property tax if they move, since they are assessed at 1 percent of the sale price (with a 2 percent annual increase). This “Prop 13 subsidy” further reduces the for-sale housing inventory. According to research published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, homeowners living in coastal California cities receive Prop 13 subsidies averaging in the thousands of dollars, and their average tenure length increased by 2 to 3 years. This longer tenure for homeowners forces younger households to delay their transition from renting to owning.
Research shows that at high levels of density, public sector spending on both capital and services increases with each added person. In addition, rapid population growth imposes fiscal burdens on established residents in the form of lower service levels. The capital needs problem becomes particularly acute in older urban areas with deteriorating infrastructure, and no way of supporting new projects without taxing existing ones. LAO acknowledges this constraint in their report:
Expanded development can strain existing infrastructure—such as streets and roads, schools, and parks—requiring residents to change the way they use these public goods.
Nevertheless, metros across California are striving toward a greater density balance. Table 1 shows the sprawl measure for select metros based on the difference between the proportion of the population living in higher density and lower density census tracts over four decades. The data shows that in California, particularly in the areas with the least amount of sprawl are in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. Since the sprawling era of the 1990s, sprawl has decreased significantly across California metros, quite often due to adoption of anti-sprawl policies.
Tax increment financing, during the former redevelopment era, was intended to fill the infrastructure gap for older communities to absorb new growth. It also funded affordable housing. Now, absent redevelopment, the state has limited control over local land-use. Cities in California undergo a paper planning exercise in 5-to-8 year cycles in which they demonstrate to the state the land-use capacity for housing at different income levels. In terms of actual production, they exceed their market-rate housing allocation, but have difficulty meeting their low-income housing needs.
Since cities are absorbing the costs of supporting or subsidizing new housing, the Governor’s approach places too much burden on compliance with local housing elements. It forces cities to accept deteriorating levels of service as long as a residential project complies with the underlying land-use zone. It bestows constitutionally protected entitlements on developers without similarly guaranteeing the recovery of public service and capital costs. It reduces the bargaining power of communities to mitigate the externalized impacts of projects. And worse, it allows non-compliant cities to cheat without impacting their infrastructure funding.
Its only a matter of time before the camel’s back breaks. Over-stressed local infrastructure may cause political backlash in the form of growth control measures as cities become less generous in their planning and zoning entitlements. Growth control tools include permit caps, downzoning, growth boundaries, height limits, and there is no limit to innovative ways to exclusion. As the Wharton Index shows, the wealthier the city, the more sophisticated the regulatory scheme. Other cities, not to be left to absorb the negative impacts of growth, would then follow suit. Unfortunately, this kind of domino effect would completely undermine the intent of housing affordability.
Residential Projects Must Include Affordability
California needs to build enough housing to at least keep pace with its growing population. The underlying issue in the lagging supply is finance. The private sector is only building what makes Wall Street happy, however erratic that may be, and fails to address the burgeoning needs of the vast majority of middle-and low-income households. And the public sector supply does not have adequate financial tools to balance out the supply and keep building, even when lenders are nervous. A permanent source to fund affordable housing adequately must be created, so that sufficient housing units are either acquired or built to serve those with the greatest need, and the construction of affordable housing is buffered in the long-run from the boom-and-bust of economic cycles.
Market rate projects can address housing affordability by mandating that 20 percent of the new units be affordable to low and very-low income families, and there are 170 jurisdictions in California with varied forms of inclusionary housing, a strategy that has been validated by the state courts. Much to the chagrin of the building industry, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to step in.
Requiring affordable housing to be built on-site should be as standard as requiring setbacks, or design articulations. Governor Brown’s earlier administration in the early 1980s prepared a “Model Inclusionary Housing Ordinance” and promoted it energetically to cities, creating an expectation that the ordinance needed to be adopted in order to comply with California housing law. According to the National Housing Conference, jurisdictions that produced the most inclusionary units were those that experienced the most rapid expansion, harnessing their growth to stimulate affordable housing production.
It is time for a statewide requirement for affordable housing in all large residential projects. A state mandated program will produce more affordable housing units than a hodge-podge of voluntary local ones, eliminate “municipal tinkering” that research shows weakens its effect, discourage developers from “shopping around” for loopholes, and despite claims to the contrary, does not raise housing costs. To meet this mandate, compensatory benefits for developers, such as design flexibility and fast-track processing will encourage innovation and increase affordable housing production.
I wonder if the Rodney King riots had any effect on the high vacancy rates in ’92-‘95…
Many good points. Affordable housing IS about “income” and “costs.” Shifting the property tax off of privately-created building values and onto publicly-created land values can accomplish important goals regarding both. A lower tax applied to building values makes buildings cheaper to construct, improve and maintain. Surprisingly, a higher tax on land values helps keep land prices more affordable by reducing the profit from land speculation – a parasitic activity that inflates land prices and creates sprawl.
And, when land prices and building costs are reduced, there is more building activity that increases employment and incomes. As an added benefit, this tax reform incentivizes development of high-value parcels — and these tend to be infill sites near urban infrastructure amenities like transit.
My problem with central planning, like all centralized government ideas, is that the central Planners do not move at the pace of the changing dynamics of the economy.
Try to change zoning and general plan designations, and by the time you have completed all of the environmental studies, traffic studies and on and on, most developers throw up their hands.
Right now there are numerous empty warehouses and industrial land in the Bay Area, however existing tenants in lower density affordable apartments are being evicted so that the apartments can be torn down to build higher density, newer, more expensive ones.
Why not require zoning to be changed more easily, with two year plans, not 5-8 year plans, that allow developers to propose adjustment in zoning, without all the individual studies etc. Make it easier, and the market forces will work.
Second, look at water and sewer, why do the coastal areas not utilize desalinization to create more water? Grey water systems should be mandatory for all new buildings.
The government is too involved in California.
This is wrong, “[trickle down theory of housing] depends on upward mobility in the middle class.” I call it “trickle up.” The “theory” actually depends on high income people preferring to rent in locations that are close to work and amenities. If a new, $2000/ mo apartment exists there, then they will rent it. If not, they will still spend $2000/ month, but they will live in an older unit farther from work or amenities. There is no assumption there about incomes rising.
The author takes a strange argumentative turn where he actually grants that supply does bring housing costs down, and notices that the easiest, fastest way to add supply is to build sprawl and then argues that sprawl is bad. He’s right on both counts, but he glides over why it’s so easy to add sprawl, and so hard to add infill housing. It’s hard to add infill housing because people like him are writing articles like these opposing adding infill housing!
It’s time for a revolution. I’m willing to die to keep a roof over my head. Someone please tell me in language that a child can understand: How can I be born onto land and not have access to it to live on it? Why have we turned shelter into a profit driven business? We need a revolution in how we think about land and who gets to profit it from it. But the masses should no longer be starving and foregoing a decent life in order to pay Wall Street and those that are just collecting their Real Estate Investment Dividend check on the backs of all of us scraping by to pay rent to them. It’s SICK and TWISTED and WRONG. And people fight and die for their country….I’m willing to fight and die to be able to have a very small patch of the earth to lay down my head at night and a place to cook my food. Is this really too much to ask?
Why should a few people have the right to exclude many people from the earth onto which they’ve been born? You might be interested in an article on the Habitat for Humanity website: “If You Want Affordable Housing, Look to the Land.” It can be found at http://solidgroundcampaign.org/blog/want-affordable-housing-look-land
This article talks about a simple technique that allows naturally-created and publicly-created land values to belong to the public — while still providing people with security of tenure.
UTTER BS… most of the run-down houses in the Bay area are 60 years old and still sell for 600k. Doesn’t matter if they build a starter home or not, the property value is worth too much to put a cheap home on.
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What is ventilator care?
Human breathing consists of two parts: ventilation and respiration. Respiration is the movement of air in and out of your lungs. Ventilation refers to the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This gas exchange occurs in your lungs. Certain medications and devices can aid in more effective respiration and ventilation.
The need for ventilator care
There are various reasons why a person might need ventilator care. However, regardless of the reason, the common thread is that all these patients need assistance moving air in and out of their lungs effectively when they have difficulty doing so independently.
For example, a person with chronic respiratory disease may need ventilator care because they are having trouble efficiently ventilating, which can be dangerous and even life-threatening over time.
The benefits of ventilator patient care at home
There are many benefits to be gained from at-home treatment. Caring for a patient on a ventilator at home provides the kind of safety, comfort, and convenience you cannot get from a healthcare facility.
Besides the peace of mind that comes with being in familiar surroundings, there is growing evidence that suggests patients heal faster and more thoroughly at home.
Home ventilator care puts patients at a lower risk of picking up viruses from caregivers and other patients. There is also less danger of hospital-acquired infections, which affect around 1.7 million Americans every year and result in about 100,000 deaths.
The benefits of home ventilator care
There are several things you and your care team should consider before deciding on home ventilator care.
- Home ventilator programs help you and your family prepare for your return home after spending time in an acute care hospital or rehabilitation center.
- While there are standardized protocols and processes, your transition plan will be specifically tailored to meet your personal needs.
- Many insurance plans cover home ventilators, and more are adding benefits each year. Your health plan or care coordinator can help you understand your coverage options.
- Lincare will help coordinate all of your home ventilation care.
- With Lincare, you will have access to our clinical team, which will include home visits.
- Lincare has hundreds of locations and thousands of respiratory therapists across the country to provide the support you need.
Whether you need help breathing only while you sleep, or if you or a member of your family requires a ventilator 24 hours a day, the opportunity to receive at-home ventilator care provides you or your loved ones the possibility of being cared for in a safe and comfortable environment. Children also can receive ventilator care at home, which can provide a better environment for them and reduce the burden on their parents. Most patients prefer to heal at home and would do so if they are able to receive hospital-level care at home. Home ventilator care allows you to receive the care you need, while getting the benefits of sleeping in your own bed.
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The Basics about the Bible
IntroductionWhat is the Bible?
Who wrote the Bible?
Why do people refer to the Bible as the Holy Bible?
Does the Bible have different names and titles?
What sort of influence should the Bible have on society?
Bibliology — What is it?
The BookThe purpose of the Bible — What is it?
Why is there a copyright on modern translations of the Bible?
Did the Bible copy other religious myths, legends, and traditions?
What is a Bible scholar?
How should one dispose of a ruined Bible?
How old is the Bible?
Are we supposed to stand when the Bible is read?
StatsWhat are some interesting Bible stats? What are some facts and stats about the Bible?
What is the longest book of the Bible?
What is the shortest book of the Bible?
What is the longest verse in the Bible?
What is the shortest verse in the Bible?
What is the middle verse of the Bible?
Return to:Content Directory — The Book
Go to:The Basics about the Bible
The Reliability of the Bible
Studying the Bible
Translations of the Bible
Understanding the Bible
The Canon of the Bible
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[ kuh-bahr-uhfsk; Russian khuh-bah-ruhfsk ]
/ kəˈbɑr əfsk; Russian xʌˈbɑ rəfsk /
Save This Word!
a territory of the Russian Federation in northeastern Asia. 965,400 sq. mi. (2,500,400 sq. km).Formerly Far Eastern Region .
a port in and the capital of this territory, in the southeastern part, on the Amur River.
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Words nearby Khabarovsk
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for Khabarovsk
/ (Russian xaˈbarəfsk) /
a port in E Russia, on the Amur River: it was the administrative centre of the whole Soviet Far Eastern territory until 1938; a major industrial centre. Pop: 579 000 (2005 est)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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The Inventor of Tap Dancing
Who invented Tap dancing? How is self-expression shaped and developed? When does the geographical proximity of different cultures influence art?
Williams Henry Lane was born free in Rhode Island in 1825. As a child, he moved to New York’s Five Points district–today, a section of the Financial District–where a lot of Irish and African Americans lived. The Five Points bustled with performance, drinking, gambling, and dance. It was a poor area, quickly becoming a “melting pot” as immigrant groups found their way to Lower Manhattan to live and work.
Lane was initially a performer in minstrel shows, a popular form of American entertainment between 1830 and 1890. In minstrel shows, white performers (usually Irish men) appeared in blackface, imitating hideous stereotypes of African-American speech, music, and dance. Usually the skits and jokes made fun of slaves, and only white people were allowed to perform.
But William Henry Lane was an exceptional talent and he was welcomed on to the stage in minstrel shows, so long as he wore blackface like the rest of the cast. So, he started appearing in shows: a black man with black paint on his face, an obvious standout and crowd-pleaser. Though audiences usually had no tolerance for non-white performers, Lane became an acclaimed dancer was soon able to play in minstrel shows without black makeup on his face. By 1845, he was the first black performer to be billed over a white performer in a minstrel show. His talent and courage made history.
In Africa, music was an essential form of personal and spiritual expression. Because enslaved people were not permitted to play music, they began to use their bodies as instruments, developing rhythms by drumming on themselves in syncopated dance. Lane combined the clapping, thumping, stomping, and slapping with the jig he learned from his Irish neighbors and the other dance steps that were gaining popularity around him in the 1820s and 30s. This unique style became known as tap dance.
Lane–billed “Master Juba” by Barnum’s Museum–added layers of rhythm, sounds, and poetry into his performances. Blending European folk dance and African dance, he used his feet to make a variety of drum sounds, and his voice to sing, speak, laugh, and improvise as he danced. He also played the banjo and the tambourine.
Master Juba performed every night, touring Europe and the northeast United States. He ate very little and worked constantly. He died in 1852 at the young age of 27, after opening a school in London.
Tap dance has since become a globally-recognized art form, and Master Juba’s legacy lives on. He is credited forthe invention of tap dance, but his legacy is about much more than that. To pursue his passion, he was forced to participate in the racist institution of minstrel shows. Once he gained success, he continued to wow audiences, spread himself thin in the face of failing health, and managed to open a school in London while he was still a young man. His ability to combine cultural influences, observe and absorb the art in his community, and turn it into a timeless form of self-expression, changed the course of history and shook the world of dance.
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“Movers and shakers” exist in every nation in every era. They rise to prominence and wield great influence over people. Cyrus the Great was such a man. As founder and ruler of the vast Persian Empire from 539 B.C. until his death in 530 B.C., Cyrus conquered his world and became one of the most generous rulers in Middle East history. Out of character for ancient monarchs, Cyrus allowed captives within his empire to return to their native homelands.
In the Bible, Ezra 1:1–4 records Cyrus’s decree as follows: “(1) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, (2) Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. (3) Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. (4) And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
Early scholars assumed that it was unlikely that a king in the ancient world (many of whom were despotic) would make such concessions as recorded in the Bible about Cyrus. But then…
In March 1879, an Assyrian-British archaeologist named Hormuzd Rassam was excavating ancient Babylon’s main temple that was dedicated to the Babylonian god Marduk. During that dig, Rassam discovered a foundation deposit that subsequently became known as the “Cyrus Cylinder.”
An ancient clay artifact, the Cyrus Cylinder includes a declaration in cuneiform script in the name of Persia’s king Cyrus the Great. This artifact is typical of royal inscriptions extolling the virtues, reforms, and military accomplishments of a reigning monarch. The Cyrus Cylinder records how the god of Babylon had chosen Cyrus to improve the lives of the Babylonians. Of interest to a person of biblical faith and all students of the Bible is the Cyrus Cylinder’s recounting of Cyrus’s efforts in repatriating displaced peoples and restoring temples across Mesopotamia. Specifically, Cyrus let conquered people worship the god of their choice rather than the god of their conqueror.
The content of the Cyrus Cylinder corroborates the biblical account of the decree of Cyrus to allow the Jews to return home from Babylonian captivity and rebuild their temple. Although the term “Jew” is not found on the Cyrus Cylinder, the fact that Cyrus repatriated conquered peoples is powerful evidence to the historical accuracy of Scriptures.
In the case of Persia’s king Cyrus and the people of Israel, an entire sequence of events in biblical prophecy played out historically, exactly as revealed by God. The Israelites were warned to amend their ways or face 70 years of captivity in Babylon; the captivity became reality; God promised Israel’s restoration; Cyrus defeated Babylon and allowed the Jews to go home; and the nation of Israel was re-established. From this scenario we are led to draw the following conclusions:
- God keeps His promise to punish those who commit evil deeds.
- God keeps His promise to restore the nation of Israel when the people repent. He promised that a remnant would return to Jerusalem (see Jeremiah 25:12–14; 29:10–14). It was Jeremiah’s prophecy that Daniel read in Babylon that encouraged him to pray for the return of the people to the Promised Land (see Daniel 9:1 and following).
- God’s plan for human history cannot be thwarted.
- Vigilance is critical; how easy it is to allow spiritual fervency to weaken.
- Faith can be passed down from one generation to the next, but it is far from automatic. Each person in each generation must decide for himself/herself whether or not to embrace biblical faith.
- Those who do embrace biblical faith must then decide how fervently they will hold on to their faith. Each Christian’s faith commitment to God fits somewhere on a spectrum from FERVENCY to APATHY (from hot to cold). Where does your faith fit?
Author: Sam Aylestock
Pastor Aylestock is an Associate Pastor at Valley Forge Baptist Temple. He serves as the College and Career Pastor and oversees building/property management.
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Serving Syracuse, Utica, Auburn, Oswego and surrounding communities
The following content is intended to be helpful to those seeking more information about various psychological conditions. Only a mental health professional should diagnose a psychological disorder. In addition to the features listed below, each condition must also cause significant distress and/or impairments to be a clinical-level problem. Furthermore, the condition must not be better explained by other disorders, medical problems, or substances.
5% of children and 2.5% of adults meet criteria for ADHD. These individuals often exhibit signs of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity that interferes with their functioning or development. Inattention can include making careless mistakes, having difficulty sustaining attention, not following through on instructions, difficulty organizing, being easily distracted, being forgetful in daily tasks, and avoiding/disliking tasks that require sustained effort. Hyperactivity can include fidgeting, feeling restless, running/climbing when inappropriate (among children), discomfort staying still for an extended time, talking excessively or blurting out responses before appropriate, difficulty waiting one’s turn, and interrupting or intruding on others. In order to qualify for ADHD, these signs must emerge before age 12 and in at least 2 settings (e.g., school, home, social contexts).
ASD is characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction than span across contexts. Individuals with ASD may also exhibit restricted interests or patterns of behavior, such as repetitive movements or speech, inflexible adherence to routine, and/or too much or too little reactivity to sensory input. These features will always manifest during childhood, though may not become evident until a phase in life when social demands exceed the person’s capacities. ASD commonly—though not always—occurs with an intellectual disability. Approximately 1% of the population meets criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Individuals with BPD have a longstanding pattern of fearing abandonment and taking measures to avoid this abandonment. They also report an unstable identity or sense of self, that their relationships tend to shift from one “extreme” to another (e.g., idealization and devaluation), and they experience impulsivity, mood instability, chronic feelings of emptiness, difficulty controlling anger, paranoia when stressed, and recurrent suicidal thoughts and/or gestures. Approximately 1.6-5.9% of the population meets criteria for BPD.
Individuals with Bipolar disorder (Type I) have experienced an episode of depression and at least one “manic” episode, characterized by unusually elevated or irritable mood with increased energy or goal-directed activity. Manic episodes may also be accompanied by inflated self-esteem, decreased sleep, more talkativeness than usual, racing thoughts, distractibility, and excessive involvement in potentially painful/harmful activities. These episodes can last from 4 days to over a week. Up to 0.6% of the population meets criteria for BD. Individuals with Type II Bipolar disorder also experience episodes of depression alternating with elevated mood , but the “up” periods do not meet full criteria for full-blown mania. In a hypomanic episode, people can feel “high,” be irritable, have rapid speed, decreased need for sleep, but these behaviors are usually not as destructive or extreme as in a full-blown manic episode.
In 2010, about 2.5 million emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, or deaths were associated with TBI—either alone or in combination with other injuries—in the United States. TBIs have a variety of causes, from open and closed head injuries, deceleration injuries, and infections such as meningitis. Some injuries result in the loss of consciousness. Most TBIs (80%) are mild (also called concussion), with symptoms that resolve within days to months. Moderate or severe TBI include a prolonged period of unconsciousness and more serious lasting effects. The effects of TBI can range from mild confusion, headaches, lightheadedness, dizziness, fatigue, memory problems, sleep changes, mood or behavioral changes, and concentration/attention problems. More severe symptoms that may emerge include persistent nausea/vomiting, seizures, speech difficulties, loss of coordination, numbness of the extremities and severe confusion.
Depression is characterized by low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, or irritability, as well as other symptoms, including appetite change, sleep disturbances (either too much or too little), fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, poor concentration, and thoughts of death/suicide. About 7% of people meet criteria for depression in a given year.
Gender dysphoria is marked by incongruence between expressed and assigned gender, for at least 6 months. It can be accompanied by a strong desire to be of the other gender, be treated as the other gender, or have the typical sex characteristics of the other gender. Prevalence ranges from .002% to .014%, though these are likely underestimates.
GAD is marked by excessive worry about a number of events/activities. The worry is difficult to control and is accompanied by difficulty concentrating, irritability, and/or physical sensations of anxiety, such as restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension. 0.9% in adolescents and 2.9% in adults meet criteria for GAD in a given year.
Individuals with OCD experience obsessions (intrusive, unwanted, recurrent, persistent thoughts/images) and/or compulsions (repetitive behaviors in response to an obsession). In OCD, the obsessions/compulsions are time consuming, distressing, and/or impairing. 1.2% of people meet criteria for OCD in a given year.
Individuals with PD experience recurrent panic attacks, characterized by an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by physical sensations of anxiety (e.g., sweating, sensations of shortness of breath, pounding heart) and sometimes fear of losing control or dying. The panic attacks cause persistent worry and/or maladaptive changes in behavior designed to avoid further panic attacks. In some cases, PD is accompanied by agoraphobia, which means a person tends to avoid public places or places where escape may be difficult (e.g., shopping mall, public transportation, sports arena). 2-3% of people meet criteria for PD in a given year.
Symptoms of PTSD emerge from experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a threat of death, serious injury, natural disaster, violence, abuse, death/loss, etc. The signs of PTSD include flashbacks, distress in reaction to cues/reminders of the event, and recurrent, involuntary, distressing memories surrounding the event. Other signs of PTSD include avoidance of reminders of the traumatic events, thought/mood changes following the event, and arousal changes (e.g., hypervigilance). 3.5% of people meet criteria for PTSD in a given year and 8.7% of people will meet criteria for PTSD at some point in their lives.
Schizophrenia is most commonly characterized by hallucinations (sensory experiences in the absence of sensory stimulation) or delusions (unusual/distorted beliefs). It may also be characterized by disorganized speech, disorganized/catatonic behavior, and diminished emotional expressiveness or decreased motivation to engage in goal-directed behavior. 0.3-0.7% of people will meet criteria for schizophrenia in their lifetime.
SAD is marked by intense fear of social situations and possible scrutiny and negative evaluations by others. It is also characterized by avoidance of social situations and/or enduring social situations with great distress and anxiety. 7% of people meet criteria for SAD in a given year.
SUDs can involve an array of substances, including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis (marijuana), sedatives, hypnotics, opioids, anxiolytics, inhalants, hallucinogens, stimulants. Common symptoms of SUD across substances include consuming more of the substance than initially intended, unsuccessful attempts to decrease use, cravings for the substance, substance use causing failure to fulfill major obligations, social or interpersonal problems resulting from the substance use, important activities being given up or reduced because of substance use, using substances in hazardous situations, continuing using the substance despite physical or psychological problems that result, tolerance, and withdrawal. 8.5% of adults and 4.6% of adolescents meet criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder in a given year. 1.5% of adults and 3.4% of adolescents meet criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder in a given year.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association.
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Lesotho Country Profile 2014-2015
The Lesotho Mountains are offshore and surrounded by South Africa on all fringes. Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy in which the executive power lies in the hands of a government leased by a prime minister with its roots in a democratically elected parliament. The country became self-reliant in 1966 and has been governed by the reigning Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) which has won all elections since 1998. However, beneath the surface there is still much political turmoil and blame for abuse of power and corruption. Historically, the economy and living conditions in Lesotho have been intimately linked to the income of migrant workers in South Africa, especially within the mining sector. The powerful neighbor lays large parts of the framework conditions for development and poverty reduction in Lesotho.
The ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD abbreviated by ABBREVIATIONFINDER) gained a pure majority in the 2007, 1998 and 2002 parliamentary elections. In the capital Maseru and in other cities, what has now become the largest opposition party dominates the All Basotho Convention.
The 2012 election was conducted peacefully. The re-start of the Democratic Congress became the largest party, but lost the pure majority. Surprisingly, Prime Minister Mosisili decided to step down and rather let a coalition of opposition parties take over. The All Basotho Convention, with Tom Thabane as Prime Minister, now ruled in a coalition with the Lesotho Congress Party and the smaller Basotho National Party. This change of government was the first peaceful shift in power in Lesotho in history, but the consequences of the shift should not be overstated. Many of the central figures in the new government also sat in the former government.
In 2014, the government coalition collapsed and a series of political crises ensued. The Deputy Prime Minister of the Lesotho Congress Party broke out of the government coalition, causing the governments to lose the majority in parliament. To avoid distrust, the prime minister suspended the parliament. In parallel, a conflict broke out in the state’s apparatus of power: After the prime minister dismissed the chief of defense, the allied forces allied with the opposition on one side and the police with the government on the other. This culminated in a failed military coup attempt in August, while Prime Minister Thabane escaped the country and sought refuge in South Africa.
The Southern African Cooperation Organization (SADC) came on the scene to bring about a political solution. Ever since 1998 – when South Africa, in collaboration with Botswana, invaded Lesotho militarily to defeat a political uprising – SADC has had an active role in mediating these political conflicts. They have established the electoral system, helped to build up the state electoral commission, sought to steer conflicts into constitutional forms and brokered solutions between the parties. This time, SADC appointed South African Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa as mediator. An agreement between the parties came into place, political forces from Namibia and South Africa ensured that the prime minister could return safely and the parliamentary elections were advanced by two years and found the city in February 2015. Once again, the election results led to a coalition government, this time between the Democratic Congress, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy and five small parties. Pakalitha Mosisili became new prime minister, while Thabane’s All Basotho Convention lost 38 percent of the vote. In the short and medium term, there is now political calm in the country.
Lesotho has a complicated selection system. It combines proportionality, which guarantees all parties over barricade representation in parliament after accession, with a system where a quarter of an electoral district sends the representative who got the most votes. This has helped secure all party seats in parliament, but it has also probably reinforced the tendency for fragmentation in various small parties. 23 parties voted in elections in 2015, and 10 of them were represented in the new parliament. Parties are consistently centered around individuals, and they have been marked by factions and numerous cleavage wings. There are few ideological divides between the many small parties. The two major government coalitions have also been through many factional battles. In 2012, this culminated with the then prime minister and camp of the Lesotho Congress of Democrats, Pakalitha Mosisili, broke out of the party and started his own party, the Democratic Congress, which he went to election with in May 2012 and again in 2015. The majority in the parliamentary group joined him. The Lesotho Congress of Democrats was similarly appointed in 1998 following a split by the then ruling Lesotho Congress Party.
Economic development and social unrest
Behind the political fragmentation and cleavage lies also a burgeoning social unrest. Lesotho belongs to the group of “least developed countries” and has a very high poverty rate among its 2.2 million inhabitants. HIV / AIDS is widespread, and it is expected that most one-fourth of the adult population (15-49 years) is infected, which is the third highest in the world. Life expectancy is now down to 47, and 58 percent of the population lives below the poverty line of $ 1.5 a day. Lesotho also comes out especially poorly when it comes to health indicators for mothers and newborns, where the number of deaths has risen sharply over the past decade. Lesotho has also suffered greatly from the global economic crisis, due to reduced revenues from customs cooperation with South Africa. The political crisis in 2014 greatly aggravated the economic situation and contributed to increasing poverty.
The textile industry is the largest employer in Lesotho with exports to the US as the most important market. Today, around 40,000 are employed in about 40 factories, but more had to close in 2014 as a result of the US reducing imports. Production and employment are steadily declining, and if conversion to production for other markets is not completed, it looks dark. There is little potential for niche production for the regional market. The mining industry, especially diamond mining, is another important source of income with good growth prospects, but low employment.
Lesotho also has large revenues from exports of water to South Africa. South Africa has financed close to a billion dollars in the ongoing development of the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme (Phase 2). In the short term, this will result in large growth in the building and construction sector and in the long term new and large revenues. Tourism is also prioritized by the government, but has given little.
Lesotho and South Africa
Historically, the economy and living conditions in Lesotho have been intimately linked to the income of migrant workers in South Africa, especially within the mining sector. There are still many who are employed there, but the scope has been reduced since the early 1990s. Still, one expects that around 250,000 citizens of Lesotho live in South Africa, which means that there are more likely to have wage income in South Africa than in Lesotho!
The powerful neighbor lays large parts of the framework conditions for development and poverty reduction in Lesotho. The political relations with South Africa have also been very close, but when South Africa introduced stricter border control in 2010, there is also much turmoil and resentment on the part of Lesotho. To cope with increasing cattle theft, drug smuggling and illegal immigration, South African soldiers are now deployed to patrol the border. New fences will also be in place. At the same time, the cooperation commission between the two countries has hardly worked in recent years. This has created a lot of frustration both at the political level in Lesotho and among the ordinary inhabitants, who must spend more and more time on border crossings.
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TEB EVAPORATOR is a kind of natural circulation evaporator. Heating steam enters between the tubes, and the heated solution circulates along the tubes of the heating chamber. TEB EVAPORATOR mainly includes central circulation tube evaporator, spiral tube evaporator, coil evaporator, etc.
With the needs and development of industry. The structure of the evaporator has also been gradually improved. For example, the jacket heating type was first replaced by the horizontal tube heating type, and then improved to the vertical tube heating type, and the latter continued to be improved in the widespread use. In order to avoid the influence of the static pressure of the solution, a liquid film evaporator was created. In order to improve the production intensity, an evaporator outside the heating chamber and a forced circulation evaporator were created. In addition. Save the method of heating steam. In addition to using the secondary vapor as a multi-effect evaporation, it can also be used in the original evaporator again by the secondary adiabatic compression to increase its temperature and be used as a heating vapor. The evaporator operated in this way is called a heat pump evaporation. Device. These improvements and creations are based on research on the basic principles of evaporation and many factors related to its production intensity.
The characteristics of TEB EVAPORATOR of various structures are as follows:
1. The shape and position of the heating surface—jacket, serpentine tube, straight tube, heating chamber inside or outside;
2. The placement method of the evaporator itself-horizontal, vertical, inclined;
3. The circulation method of the solution-natural circulation, forced circulation.
If you press the operation method. TEB EVAPORATOR can also be divided into batch type and continuous type. But no matter which type of TEB EVAPORATOR, it is composed of two parts: heating chamber and separation chamber. The heating chamber is also called the boiling chamber, which is the part where the material is boiled by heating with the saturated steam partition. It is actually a kind of heater, and the separation chamber is also called the evaporation chamber. After the solution is heated and boiled and vaporized in the heating chamber, the secondary vapor produced contains a large number of liquid droplets. The sudden increase in evaporation space of the evaporation chamber is used to make the liquid droplets condense and settle and separate from the vapor.
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Indigenous Education seeks to improve success and supports for Indigenous students, and increase the presence of Indigenous culture, languages and history for all students. It also aims to help teachers bring Indigenous knowledge into their teaching practice. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/administration/program-management/indigenous-education?keyword=Indigenous&keyword=education
Indigenous Focused Graduation Requirements
Effective the 2023/24 school year, all students working toward a B.C. Certificate of Graduation (“Dogwood Diploma”), in English or French, must successfully complete at least 4 credits in Indigenous-focused coursework. This requirement applies to students in B.C. public, independent, First Nations, and offshore schools. There is no change to the total number of credits required […]
First Nations Education Steering Committee
The First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) is a policy and advocacy organization that represents and works on behalf of First Nations in British Columbia. FNESC has a mandate to support First Nations students and advance First Nations education in BC. https://www.fnesc.ca/
Equity in Action
The ‘Equity in Action Project’ represents some of the current directions our School District partners and us are taking to address systemic barriers impacting Indigenous student achievement. A focus on ‘equity of opportunity’ and a co-constructive approach is driving a review of practices and policies that may be creating obstacles for Indigenous learners in the B.C. public school system. […]
2016 Handgames Tournament
This traditional game was fun for the students participating! The Annual Handgames Tournament includes elementary students. This year’s was held at the Pomeroy Sports Centre.
Students Presenting their Art at the Treaty 8 Youth and Elders forum. Art with Alex Janvier–1 of the Aboriginal 7.
Frontier Horsemanship at Dr. Kearney
Teaching Shared with the Pilot program run at Dr. Kearney
Ignite Our Spirits
Ignite Our Spirits featured Teddy Anderson, an internationally-known hoop dancer. He has performed in many different countries. In addition to being a hoop dancer, he is also a motivational speaker. Other talents showcased were the Spirit of the Peace dancers, the hip-hop group Legacy One, Metis entertainer Bev Lambert, and many more.
2015 Handgames Tournament
This year’s Handgames winners were the students from Upper Pine! Ecole Central got second place. The students had fun participating, and this is what they had to say about the Tournament: What did you like best about the handgames? How there was lots of different games It was fun Seeing familiar faces The Subway food […]
Aboriginal Education at the ELC!
Traveling Museum was held at the Energetic Learning Campus, where students got to experience and learn about Aboriginal Culture. They got to play the traditional Handgames as well. These activities were in time with their Métis unit for Social Studies. Pat Jensen served as a tour guide for a group of ELC students on their […]
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All made of the back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of sofa pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.
And water in the nursery pails;
And Tom said, “Let us also take
An apple and a slice of cake;”—
Which was enough for Tom and me
To go a-sailing on, till tea.
And had the very best of plays;
But Tom fell out and hurt his knee,
So there was no one left but me.
- Stevenson, Robert Louis; A Child’s Garden of Verses and Underwoods. 1913.
Why is imagination important? Imagination activates your brain at higher levels and in different ways than any other avenue. Its importance is multi-faceted – imagination stimulates socialization, emotional awareness, problem-solving, creativity, and innovation. In fact, without imagination, these human characteristics would be lost.
Socialization is the lifelong process of discovering one’s own identity and relating to others within a community or group. It is necessary for effective participation in society. Imagination is key to socialization because it allows a “player” in the social experience to comprehend how others might act, thereby understanding what might motivate them. The player can then stretch their imagination to create many responses, weighing each for their perceived value. Socialization is important for children to learn, as it shows them how to communicate with their peers and sets them up for successful communication practices as an adult.
Emotional awareness is a key subset of socialization, but we’ve isolated it here because of its importance. Emotional awareness is your ability to label your own emotions and those of the people around you. Studies show that higher emotional intelligence is linked to a greater sense of imagination. It is this imagination that allows children and adults to ponder the abstract feelings of another. Emotional awareness is vital in helping us regulate our feelings, and children use them to express themselves and to communicate with other children and adults.
Imagination is vital to problem-solving. We are not robots trained to respond to “A” with “B.” Rather, we can brainstorm a large amount of solutions to problems in any field. Creativity is key to both sides of the brain, be it science and mathematics or arts and humanities. Creative play encourages adults and children to try different approaches, leading them to long-term resiliency.
Think of our world’s industry giants – folks like Steve Jobs, Julie Greenbaum, Reshma Saujani and Bill Gates. Each of these leaders has put imagination at the forefront of their company's mission. To them, imagination is a key stepping stone to innovation, and innovation drives success. Without new ideas spurred by imagination, leadership would falter.
Why is imagination important? According to George Bernard Shaw, “Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.”
Imagination is more than just child’s play and more than a tool for those in the arts. It’s a key skill for children and adults in all walks of life. It enables each to reap the benefits of a booming imagination. Teetot answers, "Why is imagination important?" with their extensive line of premium dress-up costumes.
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