text stringlengths 160 608k | id stringlengths 47 47 | dump stringclasses 2
values | url stringlengths 13 2.97k | file_path stringlengths 125 140 | language stringclasses 1
value | language_score float64 0.65 1 | token_count int64 48 145k | score float64 1.5 5 | int_score int64 2 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blog | December 2, 2021
President, Pacific Institute, & Head, CEO Water Mandate
The 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow marked a welcome change in the way water is included in global climate dialogue. Now in the rearview mirror, it’s clear the water agenda received significantly more attention than during previous COPs, and that resilience and adaptation are gaining powerful traction alongside climate mitigation.
In line with the Pacific Institute’s 2030 goal to catalyze the transformation to water resilience, the Institute was a major player at COP26, convening several sessions at the first-ever Water for Climate Pavilion. In advance of the conference, the Pacific Institute also published a Water Resilience Issue Brief to extrapolate on the critical need for building water resilience in the face of climate change. This brief has received significant interest, including this front-page piece in the Los Angeles Times and this “Resilience is More than a Buzzword” interview.
During the COP26 conference itself, on Energy Day, the Pacific Institute co-convened the session “Water Pathways to Reduce Energy Use and GHG Emissions,” highlighting new research on the water-energy-climate nexus. Director of Research Heather Cooley outlined how climate change places pressure on water resources and how water decisions impact energy usage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Watch the session here.
Corporate water stewardship’s role
The corporate sector’s role in building water resilience was also front and center at COP26. The Pacific Institute advanced this work at the conference through its role as the Co-Secretariat of the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate. The CEO Water Mandate was a Core Partner of the Water for Climate Pavilion and an active participant during a range of COP26 sessions, highlighting corporate action and innovative thinking on water resilience with new climate-focused audiences.
- During Finance Day, the most watched of the Water for Climate Pavilion, the CEO Water Mandate, in collaboration with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), launched the Water Stewardship Acceleration (WaSA) Forum. The WaSA Forum aims to foster policy, finance, and corporate dialogue towards water stewardship acceleration. Watch the session here.
- During Nature Day, along with partners, the CEO Water Mandate presented work on nature-based solutions (NBS). This presentation specifically focused on best practices to quantify NBS co-benefits, strengthening the investment case to put real funding for nature on the table. Watch the session here.
- Later, on Climate-Resilient WASH Day, the CEO Water Mandate hosted a session with partner WaterAid focused on the Mandate’s WASH4Work consortium. This session highlighted how companies are increasingly recognizing how their actions on water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) need to be future proofed in the context of climate change. Watch the session here.
- Finally, on Resilience and Adaptation Day, the CEO Water Mandate highlighted the Water Resilience Assessment Framework, a tool that helps stakeholders jointly understand the climate resilience of the water systems where they operate. Watch the session here.
Corporate sector leadership from the Water Resilience Coalition
The CEO Water Mandate’s collective action initiative, the Water Resilience Coalition (WRC), was also a visible presence at the climate conference. Since its 2020 launch, the WRC has gained notable traction, increasing membership from 11 to 27 companies. Since its inception, the WRC has also introduced the Net Positive Water Impact (NPWI) framework, a new standardized approach to quantify water positivity consistently across companies at global scale. WRC member companies commit to achieving NPWI based on three specific dimensions—water availability, quality, and access—in water-stressed basins where they operate by 2050 through a combination of investments in their own operations and through collective action.
During COP26, the WRC welcomed two new companies—LG and Braskem—to its membership, while also formalizing partnerships with UNICEF and the European Space Agency (ESA). CEOs of WRC leadership companies also united for the Coalition’s second CEO Circle meeting. During this high-level, direction-setting gathering, CEOs agreed on the WRC’s 2030 Roadmap for Collective Action, including specific 2030 goals:
- Increase WRC corporate membership to 150 companies, representing one-third of global corporate water usage.
- Expand co-funded collective action projects from 11 basins today to at least 100 water-stressed basins around the world. Collective action projects unite business, NGOs, and the public sector to build water resilience through nature-based solutions, regenerative agriculture, wastewater recycling, water reuse, and other climate-positive approaches.
- Achieve NPWI in at least 100 basins that support water security for 3 billion people.
- Provide resilient water and sanitation (WASH) to at least 100 million people.
The post-COP26 way forward
COP26 marked an important milestone in advancing the call for water resilience as part of climate adaptation. However, COP26 is not the finish line. It is, rather, an inflection point.
With each passing month, intensifying floods and droughts tangibly illustrate how climate change manifests itself most directly through the water cycle, with damaging impacts to people and nature. Significant and swift action is required to ensure water resilience is fully integrated into the highest levels of climate policy discourse—and ultimately achieved.
During the year ahead looking toward 2022’s COP27 in Egypt, the Pacific Institute will continue to advance the transformation to water resilience—through both public policy advocacy and its leadership role in corporate water stewardship. | <urn:uuid:ac4bbaae-6d70-4595-ad88-30f1f0bb734b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://pacinst.org/cop26-a-bold-step-forward-for-the-water-resilience-agenda/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.926665 | 1,198 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Last year I was involved in helping a family that had lost their daughter at the hands of her husband to get some justice. It is believed that the husband beat her to death. A few months ago, news came from Nigeria that a gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, died allegedly due to physical abuse from her husband. One common denominator in both of these deaths was that both husbands professed faith in Christ. There were also active members in their respective churches. The question that I have heard in general and one that has been put to me in particular is: how should the church handle cases of physical abuse that are persistent and life threatening? Does the Bible have anything to say on this issue?
First things first. The Bible is very clear that marriage was designed by God to glorify him and for the good and enjoyment of husband and wife (Genesis 2:18-25). Further marriage life is supposed to be lived in love and submission. The husband should love his wife sacrificially and wife should submit to her own husband in everything (Ephesians 5:22-33). So, the Bible does not condone any form of violence or physical abuse in marriage. In fact, any form of abuse should be alien to a Christian marriage. However, because of sin marriages experience evils like physical abuse.
Furthermore, God’s plan for marriage is that it should last one’s life time. It’s never pleasing to God to see any marriage lasting shorter than that. But because of man’s hardness of heart or sin, God’s word allows divorce on two grounds: adultery and willful desertion. Adultery is when the husband or the wife has sexual intercourse with someone else other than his or her spouse. If the wronged party opts for divorce because the marriage bed has been defiled, the Bible allows him or her to legally divorce the other party (Matthew 19:3-9).
Willful desertion is mainly in a context of a couple who got married while both of them were unconverted. If along the way one of them becomes a Christian, the converted person should not seek to leave the marriage. However, if the unconverted one wants to leave the marriage he or she should be allowed to do so (1 Corinthinas 7:12-16). In the case of those who got married while professing faith in Christ, this ground is applied when one of them willfully abandons his or her spouse and despite the church’s intervention and continued call to him or her to repent and return to his or her marriage he or she refuses. In this case then divorce is allowable if the deserted person desires it because the deserter has proved that he or she is not a believer as initially professed.
On the face of it, the Bible seems not to regard persistent and unrepented physical abuse that is also life threatening (by the way most physical abuse if not checked quickly escalates to life-threating) as a valid ground for divorce. However, I believe physical abuse falls under the ground of willful desertion. Allow me to explain. The abusive spouse creates an environment in which his or her partner is not safe to live in, and if this persist the abused person should leave the marriage, with guidance and counsel from the church, to protect their own life as we are all commanded in the sixth commandment (Exodus 20:13). The abusive partner should be reputed as the deserter even though it is actually the abused that has left the marriage.
I should be quick to qualify that the decision to leave a persistent abusive partner should not be arrived at haphazardly and lightly. It should always be done with the guidance of one’s church. When church leaders establish that physical abuse is recurring in a marriage, they should recommend a temporary separation for the safety of the victim. Physical abuse in most circumstances being a crime under state laws should also be reported to the relevant authorities by the abused. On their part, the church leaders should further bring under discipline the abusing partner and counsel him or her with the hope of bringing him or her into repentance and eventually restoration. If there is no repentance then the church should proceed with excommunication. Only after a suitable length of time and a sufficient process of church discipline should a divorce be recommended on the basis of willful desertion by the abusive partner. I believe that no single elder or pastor would arrive at this decision painlessly. Divorce is one of the most serious affronts to the dignity of marriage; however, in a situation that an abusive partner is unrepentant, the pastor and elders should not hesitate to recommended divorce with tears and sorrow. | <urn:uuid:29fa58a4-a7b5-40d2-b8e6-286009351895> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://conmakhalira.wordpress.com/2022/05/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.979401 | 960 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Unfortunately, vitamin D is a vitamin that is harder to come by naturally. It occurs in small amounts in fish, beef liver and egg yolks, and higher amounts in fortified milk products. Doctors recommend getting our daily dose with sun exposure, however, the risk of skin cancer had made parents wary of sun exposure.
If you think about supplements for your child, here are some considerations you could check here that can help you decide.
Image Source Google
If the sun-time is a limited or too high risk
In the cold, northern regions, and the time of year when the sunlight levels vary, your child may not be exposed to enough sunlight to produce enough levels. Even in climates where sunlight is inconsistent, some are sensitive to sunlight or room to spend a lot of their time.
If your child has a sensitivity or allergy milk
Milk allergy is one of the most common allergies, affecting 1% of pre-school age and 0.1% of children of school age. Fortified milk is the best food source, followed by meat, fish, and egg yolks, but in much smaller quantities.
If your son or daughter can not drink milk, eat cheese or yogurt to include in her diet, deficiency possible. Since calcium is also very important for healthy bone and tooth development, check with your pediatrician for a multivitamin that will address both requirements.
For 50% of children, Vitamin D deficiency is a reality
It is estimated that nearly half of children do not get enough vitamin D. In extreme cases in which children can develop their deficiency rickets, a bone disease that leads to bone softening. unhealthy bone development in childhood can also lead to osteoporosis in adulthood, and doctors recommend that adults take 600 international units a day. | <urn:uuid:fe5b37ae-79f6-45cd-87ae-1836b13f80ea> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.lamtreatmentalliance.org/for-most-children-vitamin-d-should-be-supplemented/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.966081 | 362 | 3.4375 | 3 |
That were there different good friends and dissimilar educational passions. However fundamental their particular romance is definitely a “shared experience with going to a college or university that no person else understands into the outdoors industry,” Jenny claims. “That provides plenty of discussed appeal and opinions. We’ve Been nerds with a weird love of life.”
Indeed, a number of lovers told me that a wacko, distinctively Carletonish spontaneity retains all of them with each other. Robin Jaeckle Grawe ’69 and Paul Grawe ’66 (mother of Nathan Grawe, relate dean and relate mentor of business economics at Carleton), that actually research wit along as authors and independent students, define Carleton wit as “humor based around incongruity and ‘gotcha,’ ” says Paul. They provides that the interest in wit they and Robin display “mystifies men and women given that they can’t realize the opting to get the job done that intently along with husband or wife.”
Grant and wedding may work alike. I recently found another couples whose common wit increases the strength of these nuptials. Once Katie Courtice Basquin ’64 found that the girl first-year roomie probably would not participate in a play with her, someone advised that this broad ask Peter Basquin ’64. “we find out the guy makes really love in French,” the friend claimed, “and I want to determine if it is real.”
“We experienced a very good time,” Katie recalls. “We are necking on your way back home and I reduced an earring.” They truly became employed as college students and hitched soon after university. “We really assumed we had been suitable for 1,” states sugar daddy sites Peter, a concert pianist. “At this period, there had been a lot of pressure to marry—it was unusual to cohabit.”
Weren’t they simply too young to produce this sort of a significant decision? “We both spent my youth very early,” Katie says. “I had been the earliest within my household and my father got commonly on the go. At the age of 8, i used to be making foods and my personal steps. Peter were performing since years 13 as a pianist and organist. I Used To Be equipped to get a grown-up.”
The two nowadays split their own time passed between Brooklyn and Maine and feeling strongly linked with Carleton. “Having a community of Carleton friends is a big help to you. Our personal contributed reports from university facilitate sustain us, way too,” states Katie, an independent writer. “It’s all a component of the structure in our social being.”
After that i ran across a couple of Carleton intramarrieds whoever primary relationship predated his or her freshman seasons. In springtime of 1972, highschool seniors Hazel Roberts Donald ’76 of Boston and Arnold Donald ’76 of New Orleans were both on a campus concert tour for potential youngsters. Hazel recall considering Arnold over the space at a party. Arnold to begin with was familiar with Hazel the very next day in a professor’s workplace.
“I simply experience the back of Hazel’s head and I also reckoned, ‘That’s destined to be my wife.’ It has been a premonition,” states Arnold. “I’m the latest Orleans guy, so I have got premonitions.” The two spoke for a few minutes later but wouldn’t dialogue once again up until the fall phase of their freshman spring, once Hazel appeared with close friends in the home of Arnold’s Musser room. “A 14 days later, we had been strolling out and yes it established pouring i procured this model hands. All of us halted and exchanged a kiss,” Arnold states.
They wedded at the end of their own sophomore season and these days stay in St. Louis. Arnold, a Carleton trustee, happens to be chairman and CEO of the manager Leadership Council in Alexandria, Virginia, and Hazel is definitely a neighborhood volunteer.
The Donalds built their own connection at this sort of an early age by making use of the cultural stability these people at Carleton during the very early to mid 70s, once it wasn’t possible for children to go away Northfield. Arnold recalls its being an issue to attend a concert at Mankato condition. “It is all about the degree of conversation and just how a lot of time there is to gather collectively and connect,” he states. The limited capability to travelling manufactured people feel turn off. “We asked folks, as an example the director and dean associated with the College, to the diamond, and quite a few men and women came.”
Carleton’s African US community, which in turn numbered around 150 kids, likewise aided the Donalds. The considerable many black pupils is a way to obtain assistance and safeguards. “We are sufficient to possess assortment and generally be a real social society,” Arnold recalls. | <urn:uuid:ee59d0c0-1d26-4a49-a11d-dd8b5a7f9ef6> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://kidswithtalent.co.za/peter-and-jenny-reached-carleton-from-various-3/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.969087 | 1,094 | 1.523438 | 2 |
BIRDS, REPTILES, EXOTIC ANIMALS & CONSERVATION PROJECTS
We have all sorts of animals at paphos zoo ranging in size from our tiny Guinea Pigs up to our Tall Giraffes & elephants.
Monday – Sunday
09:00 – 18:00
Spend a perfect day surrounded by magical sounds and the colours of nature. Enrich your senses in this beautiful environment of lakes, ponds, and gardens.
Big collection of birds, reptiles, exotic animals & conservation projects in lush settings. A great wildlife experience set in a lush and unspoiled natural environment of more than 100.000 sq.m. A great day out!
It’s all about the animals. We have a whopping 1,200 at the zoo, from over 300 different species. With a lot of those species being on the threatened list. We’re devoted to caring for our own animals, and are always looking for ways to make their lives even better. | <urn:uuid:9e32dfb5-946c-413e-adaf-8767106c83e0> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://luxurylatchivillas.com/paphos-zoo/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.898922 | 209 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Kristina Richardson, an associate professor of history at Queens College and the CUNY Graduate Center, is one of nine outstanding early- and mid-career scholars awarded the Dan David Prize, a major international award that recognizes and supports outstanding contributions to the study of history and other disciplines that shed light on the human past.
The world’s largest history prize, the Dan David is sometimes described as the Nobel Prize for history. A committee of eminent scholars in the historical fields assessed hundreds of nominations from around the world as part of a rigorous process to select the winners, who will each receive $300,000 to recognize their achievements to date and support their future work.
“It is deeply gratifying to see Professor Kristina Richardson’s work recognized with the top academic history prize,” said Queens College President Frank Wu. “It is external validation of what we have long known at Queens College —that our students are learning from world-class faculty.”
Richardson studies the medieval Islamic world and the Roma. Her investigation of Arabic manuscripts highlights the importance of understanding the lives of non-elites and marginalized groups when seeking to gain a complete view of a society as a whole.
“I feel exceptionally lucky to have top historians recognize my work in this way,” Richardson said. “And I am grateful for the support of CUNY along the way, as I’ve built my career.”
Richardson’s research is based on the writings and material production of non-elites in the medieval Middle East. She has analyzed the intellectual networks of medieval disabled writers, explored the degraded position of blue- and green-eyed people in early Islamic societies, identified the only known pre-modern Arabic sign alphabet and co-published a study and edition of the earliest known notebook of an artisan or merchant written in Arabic.
She has focused her study on the disabled and the Roma and is currently writing a book about free and unfree African and Asian manual laborers in early Islamic Basra, Iraq.
Her findings force a radically new understanding of European modernity and the place of linguistic and ethnic minorities in its formation. Her research into Romani contributions to late medieval and early modern European society provide much needed context for modern appreciation of the long history of Roma in Europe.
Richardson is the author of “Difference and Disability in the Medieval Islamic World” (2012), “Roma in the Medieval Islamic World: Literacy, Culture, and Migration” (2022) and co-author with Boris Liebrenz of “The Notebook of Kemāl al-Dīn the Weaver” (2021). She is also the co-editor of the journal “Der Islam.”
Richardson earned a BA in history and certificate in Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University and later received a master’s degree and a Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. Her work has been supported by the National Endowment of the Humanities, European Research Council, Marie Curie Foundation, Mellon Foundation, ArtSTOR and the City University of New York. | <urn:uuid:11010b48-db30-4806-8f97-de509fc6805a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://qns.com/2022/03/queens-college-associate-professor-awarded-prestigious-dan-david-prize/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.938633 | 649 | 2.53125 | 3 |
This is my first time doing 🎉Tidy Tuesday🎉 ! The data for this week came from a FiveThirtyEight blogpost, which breaks down post-college salaries by discipline. The documentation and data for this week can be found in this GitHub repo.
One thing I found really interesting in the data was the variable
College_jobs, which counted the number of people per major with jobs that required a college degree. I wanted to use this information to look at each major’s median income by percent of recent grads employed in positions requiring/not requiring college degrees.
For my Tidy Tuesday submission, I will be using the following packages:
statsfor data loading and manipulation
scalesfor data visualization
First, I use
RCurl to download the data from GitHub:
data_url <- "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rfordatascience/tidytuesday/master/data/2018/2018-10-16/recent-grads.csv" data <- read.csv(text = getURL(data_url), stringsAsFactors = FALSE)
Then, I use
dplyr to create a variable called
pct_college, or the percent of recent grads within a major in jobs requiring college degrees.
data <- data %>% mutate(pct_college = College_jobs/(Non_college_jobs + College_jobs)*100) %>% filter(!is.na(pct_college),!Major_category == "Interdisciplinary")
For my first visualization, I wanted to look at the distribution of
pct_college by field of study (indicated in the
Major_category variable). Each data point is a different major. Here’s the code and the generated plot:
data %>% ggplot() + geom_boxplot(aes(x = reorder(Major_category,pct_college,FUN=median), y = pct_college, fill=reorder(Major_category,pct_college,FUN=median))) + coord_flip() + scale_fill_viridis_d()+ guides(fill=FALSE) + labs(x = "Field of Study",y = "% of Major's Grads Employed in Jobs Requiring College Degree") + ggtitle("Percent with Jobs Requiring College Degrees by Field of Study") + theme_minimal()
Note that the fields of study with lighter colors depict categories of majors where more students find jobs that require college degrees. Fields of study with darker colors depict the categories of majors where more college grads go on to find jobs that don’t require college degrees.
Next, I wanted to look at the relationship between median income and percent with jobs requiring college degrees for each major. I used the same colors in the plot above to group the majors by field of study:
data %>% ggplot(aes(x = pct_college, y = Median)) + geom_point(aes(color = reorder(Major_category,pct_college,FUN=median)),size = 3) + geom_smooth(method = 'loess', color = 'dark grey') + scale_x_continuous(expand = c(0,0)) + scale_y_continuous(labels = dollar) + scale_color_viridis_d()+ guides(color = FALSE) + labs(x = "% of Major's Grads Employed in Jobs Requiring College Degree",y = "Median Income") + ggtitle("Median Income by Percent with Jobs Requiring College Degree") + theme_minimal()
From looking at this plot, there appears to be a relationship between the two - majors with more students finding jobs requiring college degrees tended to also be the majors with the higher median incomes, whereas majors with fewer students entering jobs requiring college degrees had lower median incomes. Also, among majors with the same rate of jobs requiring college degrees, there seemed to be a nearly 20,000-30,000 dollar median income gap between the Education-related majors (in yellow) and the Engineering/STEM majors (in light green). A more rigorous analysis would be needed to assess these differences, but definitely something interesting to notice!
I hope you enjoyed my submission! Feel free to reach out with any questions/comments/suggestions. 🤗 | <urn:uuid:b15f8efe-ef19-4e19-b3df-852ed03a36ee> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.benjaminackerman.com/post/2018-10-16-tidytuesday/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.850101 | 944 | 2.0625 | 2 |
Full Moon Climb planned for August
The August Full Moon Climb at the Cape St. George Lighthouse on St. George Island will be held on Thursday, August 18, 2016. The Sunset/Full Moon Climb will take place from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and will include light hors d'oeuvres and a sparkling cider toast to the full moon. Cost is $15.00 for the general public and $10 for members of the St. George Lighthouse Association.
The sun will set at 8:17 p.m. and the “Sturgeon” moon will rise at 8:35 p.m. on August 18. The August full moon is called the Sturgeon moon because sturgeon, large fish common to the Great Lakes and other large bodies of water, are most readily caught in August. Full Moon names are attributable to native American tribes, most notably the Algonquin, who named the moons to mark the changing seasons.
After sunset, people are invited to climb to the top of the lighthouse for a breathtaking view of the full moon, as space and time permit. Cost is $10 for the general public and $5 for SGLA members.
The Cape St. George Light is located in St. George Lighthouse Park at the center of St. George Island, where Island Drive (the road off the bridge) ends at Gulf Beach Drive. Parking is available in lots at either side of the park.
Because space is limited, reservations are recommended. For reservations or more information, please contact the Lighthouse Gift Shop at 927-7745. | <urn:uuid:7dacca23-40b2-40f1-a5f4-5fe62a15ec35> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/chronicle/2016/08/07/full-moon-climb-planned-august/88370536/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.942062 | 334 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Fallopian tubes are female reproductive organs that connect the ovaries and the uterus. Every month during ovulation, which occurs roughly in the middle of a menstrual cycle, the fallopian tubes carry an egg from an ovary to the uterus.
A blocked fallopian tube is a condition where the tubes connecting the ovaries to the uterus are blocked, caused by factors such as scar tissues, pelvic infections, etc. One blocked fallopian tube can lead to pregnancy. The symptoms or signs of this condition often go unnoticed but can be diagnosed by tests such as HSG and treatments can be performed through various surgeries.
The fallopian tubes are two tube-like reproductive organs of a female located in the womb region that links the ovaries to the uterus.
The fallopian tubes aid ovulation and conception. The eggs at ovulation are carried from the ovaries through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. During conception, the sperm gets to meet and fertilize the egg in the fallopian before the egg gets into the uterus and implants, and a baby is conceived.
WHAT IS BLOCKED FALLOPIAN TUBE?
A blocked fallopian tube is a condition where the passageway between the ovaries and uterus is blocked. This obstruction prevents the passing of eggs down the tube or tubes.
A blocked fallopian tube can also be referred to as the “tubal factor infertility” because it contributes to 30 to 40% of infertility causes in women. This is because both fallopian tubes are blocked, the released eggs cannot get into the uterus, and the sperm may not be able to get to the egg in the fallopian tube and get it fertilized, and this, in turn, will prevent pregnancy.
However, a fallopian tube can be blocked or partially blocked. If the tube is partially blocked, the sperm get to the egg and fertilize it. But this increases the risk of ectopic and tubal pregnancies because the fertilized egg may not be able to pass into the uterus and implant.
CAUSES OF BLOCKED FALLOPIAN TUBE
The following conditions can lead to blocked fallopian tubes and they include:
TYPES OF BLOCKED FALLOPIAN TUBE
The different types of blocked fallopian tubes depend on the location of the blockage. They include:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and adhesions.
- Uterine infections.
- Sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, etc.
- Scar tissues and adhesions in the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes, could be a result of miscarriages, abortion, or surgery such as dilation and curettage (D&C).
- Endometriosis can lead to blockage.
- Cancerous or benign tumors in the uterus or ovaries.
- Ruptured appendix.
This happens when the blockage of the fallopian tubes occurs at the end of the tube close to the ovaries. This type is usually caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), tumors, polyps, or adhesions in the ovaries, surgery is done in the ovaries, etc.
- Distal Tubal Occlusion (Blockage)
This occurs when the end of the fallopian tube that connects to the uterus is blocked. This is often caused by pelvic infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and adhesions, uterine surgery and infections, Asherman’s syndrome from dilation and curettage (D&C), scar tissues, or infections from abortions, miscarriages, etc.
- Proximal Tubal Occlusion (Blockage)
This is a rare type and occurs when the middle section of the fallopian tube is blocked. It can be caused by polyps or tumors in the tube, scar tissues (adhesions) that form in the tubes, tubal ligation, etc.
This is also a type of distal tubal occlusion because mostly happens at the end of the tube connected to the uterus. However, this occurs when fluid builds up, dilates, and enlarges the fallopian tube. In very rare and severe cases, blockages can happen in the entire fallopian tube.
SYMPTOMS OF BLOCKED FALLOPIAN TUBE
The signs of blocked fallopian tubes are hardly noticeable, so a female can go years with the condition without figuring it out until she tries to get pregnant.
The major symptom of the blocked fallopian tubes is infertility or pregnancy complications such as ectopic pregnancy. However, this may not be a problem for a lady who has one blocked fallopian tube because ovulated and fertilized eggs can pass through the open fallopian tube into the uterus.
In rare cases, women with this condition have regular pains in their abdomen which often occurs in females suffering from hydrosalpinx.
Other symptoms can be detected from the causes of blocked fallopian tubes. For instance, endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) brings about severe pains during menstrual cycles, chronic pelvic pains, pains during sexual intercourse, etc. Infections can lead to smelly discharges, abdominal and pelvic pains, fever, etc.
DIAGNOSIS OF BLOCKED FALLOPIAN TUBE
To confirm a blocked fallopian tube, the following tests are performed:
- Midsegment Occlusion (Blockage)
BLOCKED FALLOPIAN TUBE TREATMENT
The treatment of blocked fallopian tubes depends on the cause, the location of the blockage, and how severe it is. Treatments may include the following:
Antibiotics can fight infections and bacteria that have contributes to the blockages in the fallopian tube. However, this does not remove the blockages but reduces the risk of more occlusions.
- Hysterosalpingogram (HSG); an X-ray used to check for any problems in the fallopian tube.
- Sonohysterography; used to detect problems in the fallopian tubes and pelvis.
- Laparoscopy; the use of a laparoscope inserted through the cervix to inspect the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus for any blockages. It can also be used to remove the blockages, if possible.
- Hysteroscopy; used to detect abnormalities in the uterus through the use of a hysteroscope.
- Blood Tests; done to test for the presence of a bacteria or infection that can result in the condition.
In a case where tumors, polyps, fibroids, etc, are the causes of blockages, these treatments can be used to reduce and eradicate them.
- Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy
These are minimally invasive methods of removing scar tissues, adhesions, polyps, fibrosis, and any abnormal tissue causing a blockage. Through a small incision, a hysteroscope or laparoscope along with other small surgical probes are used to view the obstruction and dislodge it. But this is done when the abnormal tissues can be easily removed without serious complications.
- Laparoscopy or Hysteroscopy
This is a nonsurgical treatment done when there is a tubal blockage next to a uterus. It involves your doctor using a hysteroscope or fluoroscope to insert a cannula through your cervix into your fallopian tube. This creates a passageway for the eggs.
The surgical procedures to treat the condition include:
This is used to repair a damaged part of the tube by cutting off the blocked part and joining back the healthy parts. Often used to treat tubal ligation, hydrosalpinx, and midsegment occlusion.
This procedure is carried out to create a new opening at the end of the fallopian tube close to the ovaries. The procedure is done when the tube is blocked by fluid buildup. However, it can cause a formation of scar tissues that can re-block the tube.
This procedure is done to remove a part of the fallopian tube that has been blocked.
This procedure is done to rebuild the damaged end of the fallopian tube connected to the ovaries, which is partially or blocked by scar tissues.
When there are too many adhesions or scar tissues that have blocked the fallopian tubes, surgical methods and even minimally invasive procedures are highly risky. With such a risk, it is better to consider the next treatment option.
- Selective Tubal Cannulation
This procedure is the best way to solve infertility issues arising from blocked fallopian tubes. It involves taking your ovulated egg from your ovaries, fertilizing it (in-vitro), and placing it back in your uterus to implant and you can go through a smooth process of pregnancy.
Pelvic infections especially pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and other infections such as STIs have been said to be the main cause of blocked fallopian tubes. Therefore, to prevent it, always be cautious and test for such infections. Take antibiotics to treat them. For other causes such as scar tissues, fibroids, tumors, ruptured appendix, etc, make sure to treat and remove them once noticed.
- In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Blocked fallopian tubes don’t often cause symptoms. Many women don’t know they have blocked tubes until they try to get pregnant and have trouble.
In some cases, blocked fallopian tubes can lead to mild, regular pain on one side of the abdomen. This usually happens in a type of blockage called a hydrosalpinx. This is when fluid fills and enlarges a blocked fallopian tube.
Conditions that can lead to a blocked fallopian tube can cause their own symptoms. For example, endometriosis often causes very painful and heavy periods and pelvic pain. It can increase your risk for blocked fallopian tubes.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease – This disease can cause scarring or hydrosalpinx.
• Endometriosis – Endometrial tissue can build up in the fallopian tubes and cause a blockage. Endometrial tissue on the outside of other organs can also cause adhesions that block the fallopian tubes.
• Certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) – Chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause scarring and lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Past ectopic pregnancy – This can scar the fallopian tubes.
• Fibroids – These growths can block the fallopian tube, particularly where they attach to the uterus.
• Past abdominal surgery – Past surgery, especially on the fallopian tubes themselves, can lead to pelvic adhesions that block the tubes.
Can I get pregnant with one blocked fallopian tube?
Yes, you can. You have two fallopian tubes and when one is blocked and the other is open, during ovulation, the released eggs can pass through the open tube, get fertilized by sperm during intercourse, and implant in your uterus.
Is it possible to be pregnant when fallopian tubes are partially blocked?
Yes, it is. If the ovulated eggs are released and sperm during intercourse can pass the partially closed tubes to fertilize the eggs, the eggs can begin to form. However, this can lead to tubal or ectopic pregnancy when the fertilized egg cannot pass through the tubes to get implanted in the uterus.
Can a lady with a blocked fallopian tube menstruate?
Yes, she can, but it is often accompanied by severe cramps and pains during the cycle.
How will I realize that my fallopian tubes are blocked?
The symptoms of blocked fallopian tubes are hardly noticeable especially when it is partial. However, you may notice symptoms like:
- Painful menstruation,
- Pains during sex,
- Abdominal pains, etc.
What is the best treatment option for blocked fallopian tubes?
A tubal resection is okay when a part of the tube is blocked and can be cut away and the healthy ends reattached with little complications. However, when adhesions are too much and clogged in such a way that surgery poses a high risk, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure to get pregnant is the best option. | <urn:uuid:a31ada56-b50a-46af-b34b-9678dc283fa5> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.anavara.com/treatment/blocked-fallopian-tube-treatment/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.934959 | 2,572 | 3.71875 | 4 |
I am slowly becoming an agriculture expert!
Expert might be an exaggeration… but I am certainly learning! For someone who grew up in the city and been in the countryside for holidays only, it’s been quite challenging! Living most of the week in the Ugandan village as well as working very closely with communities on agricultural micro-enterprises has shone some light for me on the certain issues. How much does a threshing maize machine cost? How does a cassava plant look like? How do you dig your field to prepare for planting? Why is maize proving difficult to be profitable?
Let me start with saying that I am positively surprised how much I am enjoying learning agriculture. I never thought I would, having spent my whole life living in one of the biggest cities in the world – London. Apart of being able to distinguish now matoke plantation with maize plantation and how does a moving tractor threshing maize looks like, I have observed the following:
The main cash crops in Uganda include cotton, tea and coffee beans while main food crops are cassava, millet, beans, corn, g-nuts, soy beans and variety of fruit. Large numbers of cattle, poultry and goats are raised here too.
Uganda in general has favourable soil conditions and receives plenty of rain throughout the year (hence the luscious green colours at least in the East).
Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy employing around 80% of the country’s workforce. Environmental sustainability is a growing concern – with such a high number of people employed in this sector, the natural ecosystem is undergoing degradation: erosion of soil, falling quality of water, deforestation (wood used for fire) just to name a few.
The roads in the country makes it very hard for farmers to market and transport their goods. Even within a small district the conditions of the roads (or rather their inexistence) are preventing people from earning a profit.
Villagers lack adequate knowledge and skills to make the most out of the soil they have. I would like to see Government initiatives bringing agricultural specialists to conduct a survey of the land in order to maximize farmers’ profits.
Let’s take maize as an example (we’re working on an income generating activity involving maize) – one of the most important and widely grown and consumed cereal crop in Uganda. However, despite of its importance from food-security and income generation, farms face very high production and distribution costs. They operate in a very thin market susceptible to price and climate swings. Many bottlenecks exist in the supply chain: inadequate storage, low quality of maize itself, transport problems and so on. There is a lot of scope for improvement: strengthening forward (market) and backward (suppliers) linkages, improving the farming techniques and introducing industry standards.
Irrigation problems – Uganda primarily depends on rainfall which makes the crops heavily dependable on (changeable) weather conditions.
I was surprised how many complaints I’ve heard about the weather changes in recent years. Seasons aren’t as they used to be. Dry becomes semi-wet, wet becomes semi-dry.
In Uganda, climate change and increased weather variability has been observed and is manifested in the increase in frequency and intensity of weather extremes, including high temperatures leading to prolonged drought and erratic rainfall patterns.
These are just some of the observations I have made in the past 2 months. I am hoping to learn as much as I can so that I can apply this knowledge in my future projects. | <urn:uuid:37bc9713-6315-4347-8932-5513fe4151b9> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://communitiesfordevelopment.org/i-am-slowly-becoming-an-agriculture-expert/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.959586 | 728 | 2.1875 | 2 |
Fusion, Bournemouth University
Iconic, zinc-clad university building, with BIM used for design and construction
"The Fusion Building is now a landmark in Bournemouth. Not only will it attract new students to the area but it will facilitate more collaboration with local businesses, which will continue to deliver benefit to the local economy."
Suzanne Moroney, Director of ICE South East England.
Fusion is Bournemouth University’s new flagship academic building and focal point - a glass-fronted inspirational building that's the new centrepiece for the campus.
Staff and students had their first glimpse inside on 6 June 2016, where they could see the 27 new seminar rooms, three lecture theatres, research space and a 24 station PC laboratory. Another striking feature is a roof-top glass dome roof!
Fusion was constructed around a central atrium to provide flexible seminar/lecture rooms that are also open to local residents and businesses.
Opening formally in September, Fusion demonstrates BU’s commitment to enhancing the estate and creating a modern facility to benefit BU’s community. Following the Student Centre, it demonstrates how the university's evolving into a modern, greener and more user-friendly campus, underling its ambition to become a UK leader.
The university appointed Willmott Dixon for the following reasons:
- extensive university track-record
- know-how for live environment working
- social investment programme for community
- local team with impeccable construction credentials
The four storey Fusion brings to nearly £40m the investment in the campus. Like the Student Centre, it was procured via Scape and local spend was key with 62% of the budget spent on firms within a 40-mile radius of the campus.
Talking about the university's future now Fusion was complete, Vice-Chancellor Professor John Vinney:
“After two years of building work – and many more years’ worth of planning – I’m absolutely delighted that the Fusion Building is open. The building is right at the heart of our vision and will be a live, shared space used by everybody in very creative and innovative ways.
It’s another significant milestone in the major improvements we’re making to our campuses in Poole and Bournemouth. It will provide state of the art academic space and along with other facilities, such as our new Student Centre, is part of an investment programme that is transforming the student learning experience at Bournemouth University.”
To create Fusion, £22 million was invested and it was partially funded through a £5 million Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) STEM Award.
Fusion allows BU to continue its vision to create a modern, state-of-the-art university with world class academic buildings and outstanding facilities for staff and students and follows the success of the Student Centre which opened last spring to much acclaim.
This was BREEAM excellent, with a number of green credentials enabling the building to achieve this.
SUBU President Chloe Schendel-Wilson:
“I think the Fusion Building will be incredible for Bournemouth University, its staff and students. The whole campus is starting to transform and the improved facilities will be brilliant for the student experience.”
Use of BIM
To ensure a successful completionm we used BIM (Level 2) to design, plan and manage the project. This includes:
- Clash detection
- 3D model design up to level of detail 400
- 4D simulation developed pre contract
- Information exchanges, with COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange) data format (using 4BIM application from 4Projects)
- Task management (using Priority 1 mobile application)
- Soft landings
- Bournemouth University’s new flagship building
- Second major project for Bournemouth, following Student Centre
- Glass-fronted centerpiece will house research and education facilities
- Use of BIM Level 2 to design, plan and manage the project
- Iconic design with zinc cladding
- BREEAM Excellent
Eden House, 82 Macrae Road, Eden Office Park, Pill, Bristol
Tel: 01179 349 214
Fax: 01179 277 565 | <urn:uuid:8a66fa5d-fecb-40bd-b1c9-ff5bf0b126ce> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://willmottdixon.co.uk/projects/fusion-bournemouth-university | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.919834 | 910 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Foreign Currency Fixed Deposit (FCFD) is a fixed investment instrument in which a specific sum. can deposit USD into a US dollar-denominated FCFD paying a higher interest rate than a local Canadian.
Fixed Home Loans Interest Rates – Westpac – Below are the fixed rate investment property Loan interest rates with principal and interest repayments, interest only repayments and also the lower interest rates you’ll pay if you package your new loan under our optional home loan package, Premier Advantage Package.An annual package fee of.
Current Mortgage Rate 30 Yr Fixed Current Mortgage Rates 30-Year Fixed With the nation’s mortgage rates at near all-time lows, the time is now to buy the home you’ve had your heart set on. The current 30-year fixed-rate mortgage national average is at 3.65% , continuing its sub-4% streak since November 2014.
Post Office Senior Citizen Savings Scheme Vs SBI Fixed Deposit: Returns Compared Here – While, the interest on SBI senior citizen fixed deposit rate for various tenors is 0.50 per cent higher. and maximum interest to senior citizens of 7.35 per cent is offered on investment for a.
The risk with bonds – also known as fixed-income investments – is that when interest rates rise from their historic lows, bond prices can fall. Remember that bond prices move in the opposite.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 4.20%, down 7 basis points from 4.27% a week ago. 15-year fixed mortgage rates fell 5 basis points to 3.55% from 3.60% a week ago.
Tax saving FD: 5 years SBI, HDFC, ICICI fixed deposit; Is post office NSC an alternative? – However, once invested in either of these two tax savers, the rate remains fixed for the entire tenure. Although there is tax benefit on the investment made in both of these tax savers, the interest.
Investment Property Guide – Interest Rates Comparison. – Fixed vs variable rates: what is the difference? investment property buyers have a choice between fixed or variable interest rates. Which pathway they choose depends on a variety of factors, including personal risk tolerance and whether the official cash rate is rising or falling.
Savings and Investment Accounts | Standard Bank – Savings and investment accounts Thinking ahead, or planning to pay for something big? Earn competitive interest on a single lump sum or regular payments, with a savings account or an investment account that suits your pocket and life goals.
What Is The Prime Rate Now Today’s Mortgage Rates Who Determines Interest Rates? Interest rates are typically determined by a central bank in most countries. In the United States, a forum is held once per month for eight months out of the year to determine interest rates.Daily Mortgage Rates News The Daily Shot: Are Home Buyers Rushing to Get Ahead of. – News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services.. Are Home Buyers Rushing to Get Ahead of Rising Mortgage Rates? By.Best 15 Year Rates Interest Rates And Real Estate 3/1 Arm Rates Skeletal Muscle Mass as a Mortality Predictor among Nonagenarians and Centenarians: A Prospective Cohort Study – In the summer of 2005, a total of 1115 residents aged 90 years in Dujiangyan were screened, and researchers surveyed 870 residents of the population, with a remarkable “capture rate” (78%. were.Capital economics: interest rates expected to climb much. – Investments lending real estate homeowners capital Economics: Interest rates expected to climb much higher in 2019 Fed expected to hike rates two more times in 2018 and two more in 2019Top 5 Lowest 15-Year Mortgage Rates – TheStreet – One drawback of a 15-year mortgage is that consumers will be locked into higher monthly compared to a traditional 30-year mortgage or a 5-year or 7-year adjustable rate mortgage, "which could put.
In A Surprise Move, Treasury Holds I Bond’s Fixed Rate At 0.5% – The bonds will continue to earn interest at their original fixed rate for an additional 10 years unless new. If you hold them 19 years, 11 months, you will earn 0.1%. At 20 years, your investment.
Interest Rates – Nepal Investment Bank – *Interest rate on direct deprived sector lending shall be as per existing agreement. Rate on Consortium financing shall be decided by consortium meetings. Risk premium upto 2% may be levied for loan seeking additional provisioning/Above rate may not be applicable for NPA. Penal Interest of 2% will be applied on the expired/overdue loan. | <urn:uuid:b2e46f67-1642-41a8-9796-990b11e41f7d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.rosamondtowncouncil.org/investment-fixed-interest-rates/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.927902 | 961 | 1.640625 | 2 |
The new exclusivity
Streetwear is one of the most striking retail and fashion trends to have emerged in recent years, involving the production, promotion, sale and resale of casual fashion in ways that bypass traditional retail channels.
Customers are often rallied via social media to be the first to buy products that are only available directly from the brand, either in-store or online. The anticipation of a time-limited chance to buy helps create a tight-knit and almost cult-like relationship between streetwear brands and their consumers.
This has helped propel streetwear from being an eye-catching fashion phenomenon that drew its inspiration from the counter-cultures of the 1980s and 1990s into a multi-billion dollar retail market. We estimate the size of the global streetwear market at $185 billion by sales*, making it by some estimates about 10% of the entire global apparel and footwear market.
Streetwear’s impact – both on retail culture and the numbers involved – has caught the attention of some of the most iconic, established brands in the retail and luxury goods sectors and fashion industry generally. Streetwear players come from various parts of the fashion industry. There are pure streetwear brands, while sportswear names are developing their traditional portfolio of sports equipment into a growing streetwear portfolio with the concept of cool, hip sneakers and hoodies. In addition, luxury brands are also working to gain a significant stake in the streetwear market.
That is in large part because it is opening up a whole new target market of younger consumers. Streetwear’s audience is very young: mostly under 25.
A second reason for the interest from established brands is that Streetwear has subverted the way fashion trends have taken off. The fashion industry has typically operated a top-down model, with insiders acting as gatekeepers to the newest styles and trends. Streetwear has turned this on its head. Customers have the power to determine what is cool as much as industry insiders. Exclusivity and desirability are conferred by scarcity and insider knowledge rather than high prices. In short, streetwear has redefined how “cool” is made profitable.
Third, streetwear fans’ democratic approach to buying clothes are increasingly shared by all consumers, for whom the opinion of peers is an ever-more influential part of decision-making: 32% of respondents to PwC’s recent Global Consumer Insights Survey (GCIS) said positive reviews on social media influence what products they buy.
Small wonder, therefore, that fashion brands have been buying into the streetwear trend in recent years. Among the highest profile examples are Louis Vuitton’s collaboration with leading streetwear brand Supreme, and the luxury giant’s decision to hire Virgil Abloh, founder of streetwear brand Off-White, as artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear last year.
Strategy& and Hypebeast, a leading online media platform for men’s contemporary fashion and streetwear, recently conducted two surveys to show how fashion brands can best succeed in selling streetwear: one covering more than 40,000 consumers worldwide, and another involving around 700 people working in the industry. The results showed that:
The evidence shows that growth expectations for streetwear are robust, even as there are some clouds gathering over the retail industry amid a global economic slowdown. As many as 76% of industry respondents in our survey expected the market to continue to grow significantly over the next five years.
With this landscape in mind, we have explored how brands can play – and win – in the streetwear market. Five factors should be borne in mind for success: authenticity; scarcity; democracy; affordability; and seamlessly linked online and offline activity. | <urn:uuid:6a18e154-85e7-456d-a5a8-023856ffd1be> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.strategyand.pwc.com/de/de/studie/2019/streetwear.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.967583 | 762 | 1.609375 | 2 |
The story of Easter brings many messages and applications when you dive deep into the actual events of the days leading up to Christianity’s main event. One such message hit me last night on Good Friday. I was watching the Good Friday live stream of Mosaic from the comfort of my living room and a line jumped out at me: “Jesus was still the victor while He was suffering”.
In our society to suffer is often times looked at as a punishment or as an attribute to the life of one ill equipped or in other words… a loser. If you are winning at life then you are happy, have everything you want and are in optimal health, right? Those of us that have been around a bit know that suffering is a natural part of life. At some point, we are going to go through a season that we don’t want to be in whether it is a job where we are belittled everyday, a family member that tries to constantly sabotage our efforts or a health condition that changes our daily living habits. Maybe you’re the only single person in your circle or maybe you just can’t find a circle and you feel lost and alone.
I, for one, am dealing with aloneness and worth issues stemming from a set of current circumstances in my life. Are these circumstances permanent? Most likely the answer is no, but being able to navigate the unfun seasons without letting it rip you of your worth can be difficult. This is just one of the life applications we can glean from Easter.
Jesus also had a horrible set of circumstances He had to walk through while He was still the Victor. He was betrayed by a close friend and handed over to Roman soldiers who stripped Him of His clothes, repeatedly beat Him, hurled insults at Him and taunted Him as the King of the Jews. These Roman soldiers could easily be present day bullies who live to demean, insult and ridicule others. These soldiers even went as far as to crown Jesus with thorns and nail Him to a cross for His unbelievably slow and painful death with a sign adorned to His cross stating He was the King of the Jews. The mockery continued until He breathed His last breath. And it wasn’t just the soldiers who ridiculed Him the entire time it took Him to die… The onlookers and another criminal hanging beside Him joined in spitting, taunting and laughing at Him until He breathed His last breath.
But what did Jesus do during this time of extreme hate and ridicule? He simply uttered the words “Forgive them for they know not what they do”. Jesus knew that He was the victor despite His circumstances. He knew His worth was not tied to what was happening that day. He knew that He was just walking through a moment and that another moment was coming – a moment that would change everything. His ridiculers might have had fun for a while, but a day would come when His ridiculers would see Him in a new light.
The same is true for each of us. We may have to walk through some unpleasant seasons in our lives where someone treats us harshly, doesn’t appreciate our talent or good nature or is just hell bent on ruining our day, but we can still be the victor in these moments. Our self-worth is not determined by who other people think we are; our self worth is determined by who God thinks we are …co-heirs to His throne to be exact.
A couple of excerpts from “So Will I” by Hillsong say it perfectly:
“And as You speak, A hundred billion failures disappear, Where You lost Your life so I could find it here, If You left the grave behind You so will I…...
I can see Your heart, Eight billion different ways, Every precious one, A child You died to save…”
That’s who you and I are. Really. That’s who everyone is, really. A precious one, a child Jesus died to save…
Carrying this knowledge deep in your soul is what allows you to walk through the grey seasons without loosing your worth. It does not mean you walk through muddy waters thinking you are better than everyone else or deserve better and mount up resentments. What it does mean is that you simply go through the muddy waters with the knowledge that you are fiercely loved and cared for and you continue to learn and grow and do your best, trusting God to carry you through the rough parts and asking for guidance along the way.
One morning in meditation I focused on the phrase “I am capable”. I began to hear the lyrics to a Crowder song float through my head… “Oh, the cross meant to kill is my victory…” My mind began to combine the two into one phrase or one thought: I am capable because the cross meant to kill is my victory… This led to a final impression during the meditation: That which is meant to destroy me, can also be used to propel me forward.
I think anyone reading this blog knows that I have really been going through it since my return to Memphis. I have known some others who like myself left, got sober and later returned to only find themselves back in treatment. I even had people warn me to stay away, but my path took me here. At the time, I just thought they were weak or not working their program, but Memphis is proving to be the biggest test of my sober life. I love that my family is here, but I don’t really love anything else about this town, or the south for that matter. It’s not like I live against the grain here or anything… I just find that I do better or feel more comfortable in very open and creative environments. It’s like my introverted soul needs that accepting energy in order to breathe.
After the meditation, I decided to jot down the things that I perceive to be crippling my life:
My job – the happy hours, the coworkers, the work itself or lack thereof.
My severe social anxiety
My indecision paralysis
My health issues
My depression/Fear of my future
My question to myself has been how in the world do each of the above items propel me forward? How can each of them be used to propel me forward?
In typical Jesus fashion my answer came in the form of a parable regarding life on the trail. I feel most free when I am exploring a new trail and it occurred to me that I never remember the end of a trail… I never remember the moment I finished. I only remember the sights, sounds and discoveries made while exploring. I recall the pressure moments when I had to find a way around, over, under or through something in order to continue on the trail. I recall a creek discovered, the baby deer we got footage of, the large snapping turtle that walked across our path or the moment we decided to veer off the main path which led us to a private waterfall. I never recall the beginning or the end… only all the stuff in the middle, the experiences, the moments of awe and the moments of sheer terror and it is these moments that form and mold me into the person I am today. It’s not a defining moment, but rather a slow progression that happens without my even being aware of it so long as I continue navigating to the best of my ability and trusting that my savior and friend will help me if I get stuck.
I guess that’s the answer to my question. How does each of my life crippling factors propel me forward? They just do so long as I stay committed to putting one foot in front of the other and doing the next right thing over and over again while staying committed to doing life with my savior and friend, Jesus.
I mean I have seen it happen in my own life. My first year of sobriety in Los Angeles was insane. I couldn’t even take myself to the grocery store I was so freaked out…. But somehow I finally managed to go grocery shopping, attend all my meetings, get a good job, make friends, find a church home, start adventuring, take commitments at meetings, take commitments at church, learned to rock climb, learned to paint, learned to SUP, learned the neurology of addiction and most importantly I have learned what it means to do life with Jesus because when you can’t even go to the grocery store because you are paralyzed with fear… you really learn what it means to lean in, trust and walk hand in hand with the Creator of the universe. (P.S. it was my sobriety that led me to several new loves in my life including hiking/adventuring, photography, live show production and public speaking! Not bad for someone that was so scared and timid she couldn’t even go to the grocery store!)
Walking hand in hand with my higher power is what I am doing right now. I am being tested beyond belief, maybe slightly loosing my mind some days, but I am staying sober and not taking on any new addictions – thank you! Slowly, but surely I am getting back on track with my creative pursuits. I feel uncomfortable, I feel unstable… I feel like nothing in my life is making sense right now, in fact, I feel like I am walking on a dead end road and maybe I am for that matter…. but I know that all of this stuff that is meant to destroy me… meant to be my downfall… is actually going to be what propels me forward into a new existence, a new reality or perhaps onto a new path. It’s not about the beginning or the end; it’s about where the journey takes you and who you become as a result of saying yes to the adventure.
As I type this post, I am nearing the end of my stint in retail. I never knew how important keeping a schedule was to my sobriety until I entered the world of retail at Christmastime! I have worked nights, days and weekends with minimal days off and it has wreaked havoc on my soul. I have always known that I was a lower energy individual and that my time to myself is important to my mental and emotional balance, but this time in retail proved just how important it is! I have talked previously about how my ability to cope with any sort of perceived stress is at an absolute zero in my sober life. During my stint in retail I had zero time for things I enjoy, zero time to veg out and zero time to well, breathe. As a consequence I spent most of the holidays in a sustained craving for a release and the most desired form was the insane desire to cut. I haven’t had this particular desire since I was a teenager. It was like my mind just skipped over the whole alcohol and drug thing, knowing it was a road to nowhere fast, and opted for cutting to release the insane amount of pressure and anxiety building up inside me. I cannot even explain this pressure, just that it was almost too much to bear and that I routinely daydreamed about jumping off a bridge into water and quickly drowning or I dreamed of cutting… the cutting dreams were actually bringing me some relief… they lessened the pressure a little bit. I started to crave cigarettes again too, which is something I haven’t craved since I quit drinking back in 2012. So how am I still here you ask? Well I prayed, begged and pleaded with God to somehow help me AND I took myself to any meeting my schedule would allow AND I found some ladies I could confide in and I told them what was going on inside me. I used the program of AA like I am supposed to when my world gets turned on its side leaving me wanting any escape possible. I also ate a lot of sugar… I believe I was eating a large Caramello a day just to keep myself alive plus a lot of other sugar. I learned early in sobriety that there will be days that I will have to substitute sugar (alcohol) for sugar ( candy, chocolate, etc) and I did what I had to do to keep myself sober. I kept putting one foot in front of the other by going to work, going to meetings and letting people in the program be my support system and I made it through… still sober today. An extra tidbit for those who experience this same type of internal pressure/anxiety… I also started doing alternate nostril breathing multiple times a day. It’s kind of a reset for your nervous system and it helps quiet the chatter. I know of the practice from yoga, but I have not used it for anxiety/stress/anger until now and it does produce relief!
On a brighter note, I have finally landed a new job that will take me back into a balanced lifestyle. And I have a generous amount of vacation to start with right off the bat! I am not even sure I can use all of the vacation the first year! I want a family trip, a ladies excursion and then maybe a fun trip somewhere to just visit life elsewhere. We will see, I guess. It was this job that saved me, really. As soon as I knew I had it, I could see light at the end of my craving tunnel. At least I am hoping that it is the crazy schedule and not Memphis that has produced this prolonged and deep rooted desire for escape! I guess we’ll see on that note soon since my new job has me staying in Memphis!
And so it begins… New year, New Job, New Life… Back where it all started. I want to complete my new years resolutions this year. I have been working with my higher power (Jesus) to formulate a plan to make things better for myself and I have quite a list to charge my way through. Some of the things on the list aren’t even fully conceptualized, but I trust that things will become clear as I approach and/or begin each task. I don’t even fully understand each task, but I feel that the key to making my life and me better rests on the completion of these tasks and so I will complete every last one. Understanding or not, makes sense or not… I just know I need to complete the list. As of right now, I only have the first half of 2018 to complete, which means I need to get going, because there is a second half that will begin to fill up as I complete what is on the first half. I kind of feel like I am at the starting point of what is to become the rest of my life and I have no idea what that looks like, but I am ready to try. And so it begins… my next chapter…. How will you write yours?
Resolutions for 2018
Greetings from the Mid-South!
As I write this post, I am reminded of a Propel Women study I took part in at a previous church. I believe the topic was time or timing or how to manage your time wisely… well, it was something along those lines. The main thought I remember centered on the fact that you can have it all, just not all at the same time! The conversation continued along the lines of seasons in life correlating to the accomplishments in one’s life. Many people want to accomplish so many things like parenthood, career, service works, entrepreneurial endeavors, creative projects, ministry involvement and personal bucket list items. The truth is that we can accomplish everything our hearts desire, however, the likelihood of accomplishing all of it at the same time is very slim. For one thing, our lives would be an absolute mess, as would any of our relationships and friendships. We are not meant to do everything at the same time... But we are each meant to accomplish many great things.
I don’t know what it is about Memphis, but whenever I find myself here I find a current of creative energy. I have only been here a couple of months and I already have several creative projects percolating. I also have this sense of urgency to get things going, to start creating, to make something happen before it is too late; however, when I consult my God about my plans – He pulls back the reigns as if to say ‘slow up woman… It’s not time for that yet’.
Knowing what season you are in makes all the difference in the world when it comes to being successful. We all know that timing is everything and so it makes sense that knowing the calling on your life in this particular moment or season will make all the difference in your success right now and your success in any future endeavors.
As much as I want to plow ahead with some of the ideas I have percolating, I know that my current season is a time of preparation. I am noting all that comes to mind for each project, but I am not working on those projects right now. I have no doubt that I will begin work on some of these projects in the new year, but for right now I am in an active preparation mode that includes writing exercises, scripture classes, small group leadership preparation and some research regarding how to move forward with projects that are yet to be named.
I feel an amazing momentum in my life even though the reality speaks volumes in the opposite direction… But like Martin Luther King Jr. said, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, you just have to take the first step” and the rest of the steps will magically appear as you and God walk hand in hand to accomplish great things together.
Knowledge is everything. If you know what your objective is in this moment, this season; then you can navigate your way to the next moment, the next season, the next project, the next accomplishment.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
As September rolls in here in the mid-south, I am reminded of some wisdom I once heard: "The best way to find God’s will is to get moving. If you try to plant yourself where He doesn’t want you – He will move you.” I am taking this wisdom to heart. I find it easy to become so overwhelmed with choice that I become paralyzed. The fact that many of us have so many choices in life can create a temporary paralyses on our part in that we don’t know which way to go so we just decide not to decide and we stay stuck in our mess. We do this with the small things and the big things in our life from what diet to follow to what career field to enter. At least, I know I can have this problem. I have a lot of different interests and talents and I sometimes find it hard to choose or when I do make a choice I find brick walls everywhere I turn. Does this mean to turn back or plow through? All I know is that I cannot continue to sit still. I have to make a move and trust that if I make the wrong one – God will let me know or better yet, move me.
I have experienced this with churches I have tried to become a part of and cities I have tried to make a home base. In both cases, I never quite fit. In one of the churches for instance, I could not find a community. I searched high and low and was involved in multiple groups, teams and service opportunities. I was putting out all of this effort to belong and I was getting nothing in return. I eventually realized I didn’t belong there and I moved on to a different church where my effort was minimal and the return was substantial. I found my church and community and I did little to make it happen. The same can be said with a recent city I inhabited. It was on the coast and absolutely beautiful. Prices were cheaper so I could actually afford a place with some sort of water view and the weather was around 80 degrees most of the year. Problem was I could not find a life sustaining career or a good group of friends. I tried very hard and became involved in countless groups, Meetups and churches only to have an almost zero return on my investment. Nothing seemed to work in this beautiful place – It just wasn’t meant to be.
These last couple of months in Memphis have had me thinking that I should take that advice I heard all those years ago and just start making a home and see what God does in return. I have become involved in a church, some Meetup groups and am job hunting like crazy inside and outside of Memphis. I have a budget worked out and I know what I can accept to move and what I have to reject no matter how cool the job may be. I am not wasting time. I am enjoying where I am regardless of how long I might be here. Besides, if I get moved I will have had some enjoyable experiences to carry me to the next place I land and if I get planted then I already have a head start on finding and making a home base here in Memphis.
“When God is in it… it flows. When the flesh is in it… it’s forced. If He is in it, it’s remarkable how approval will be granted, how a growing interest will percolate, and how the timing will fall right into place. It will come together almost in spite of you.” – Charles R. Swindoll
At the end of this month I will somehow have five years of sobriety! What a whirlwind it has been! I feel like I have been and still am on a tour through all of the things Jessica needs to improve about herself. What can I say? When you spend the most important years of your life in a bottle you just don’t learn to do life, much less respond to it.
At this stage of the game, I know I have to find some financial security for myself. I am making financial security priority number one. I have been focusing my job search on higher education in Memphis and in the not too far away cities though there is a part of me that would like to be back on a coast. I know that staying in Memphis would be the best decision financially, but I also know one should never put all of their eggs in one basket. I am also looking at a few other career options outside of higher education…both in Memphis and outside of Memphis.
I guess it is just time to do some adulting. I have five years of sobriety, but I still have trouble handling stress and it has changed the type of jobs I go after. I often find myself comparing myself to a hurricane…. I definitely feel as though I am one. I roar into the office in the morning, wreak havoc all day, then roar out in the evening to the gym. To be frank, I pretty much do this everywhere I go. I expend a lot of energy that could be used elsewhere. Someone said I should try flipping my schedule – working out in the morning and doing yoga in the evening. I don’t know… I have very unstable blood sugar so I am not sure how that would affect things, but I might try it once I land a new job.
One of the bigger elephants in the room is the fact that I cannot seem to find a way to be happy. Every city I have lived in had something I hated about it. Every church I have attended had something I hated about it. Every job I have held had something I hated about it. One could argue and possibly win the notion that everything I have ever been a part of had something wrong with it. It has always been after I have left a place or an institution that I could really appreciate it for what it was and continues to be. And so after five years of sobriety, I have to ask the question, is it me? The answer is most likely yes. So then what? I guess I must get to the adulting. Find a career I don’t mind doing that will pay me a living wage and afford me the time off I need to do the traveling I want to do and start enjoying life for what it is instead of what it could be.
For some strange reason “Happy” always seems to be in the future with me, but the problem is if “Happy” is always in the future, then it is never in my present and I cannot experience it. That whole life on life’s terms thing in AA is my lesson right now. I have to do life on life’s terms, be grateful for what I do have and find a way to enjoy the blessings I have been given. How this works out in my day-to-day hurricane lifestyle… I do not know, but this is to be my lesson for year five of sobriety! I guess, in part, I just realize my age and realize that I am far more emotionally stable than I have ever been (I know it doesn’t sound like it) and I want to capitalize on the gratitude I do have and enjoy every experience I can. To do this, I have to find a way to calm down and stop complaining!
I don’t know if I will be staying in Memphis or moving somewhere else, but I do know that I have my work cut out for me in the year ahead. I am looking forward to getting back on my feet financially and I am looking forward to enjoying all of the new experiences this year will bring.
"If you want to find happiness, find gratitude." - Steve Maraboli
It’s been a year since I penned Corralling Part 1 and I never wrote a part two, but then again, this special one is still in her holding pen. I was driving the other day and reflecting on life in Florida and life in Los Angeles and the vast difference between those two lives. I was also reflecting on my financial situation, which as we all know was just re-torn to smithereens. I was thinking, ‘how can I be in this situation again! How is it that I keep winding up here. Why can’t I get anything going for myself!’ And just before I would come to a place of movement, I would think I guess I am just in a burning season. I have thought this many times before, but this time God had something to say about it. Abruptly and with force He interjected the following: You are not in a burning season. You chose this. And you keep choosing it.
I knew exactly what He meant. You see, I have a history of talking myself out of amazing opportunities and shrinking back into my little shell. I also have a great talent when it comes to pulling out all the stops for a job that I won’t like and won’t pay me near what I am worth or need.
I have been going through a CR Step Study so that in the future, I can lead a CR Step Study and we just had our burning party. In this particular CR, after Step 4 and 5 are complete, we burn our inventories. Since my focus for this step study was to rip out all of the lies I have believed about myself, I wrote all of those lies down on a couple sheets of paper and threw them into the fire and watched them turn into ashes. It was only a few days after this that God told me that my so called burning season is due to my own choices and those choices have been rooted in fear due to the lies I have believed about myself for so long that I don’t even know where I first heard them. Or perhaps I do know where they come from – experiences and events that scarred me and made me think less of myself.
This brings me back to that sermon from Erwin McManus that I seem to recount over and over again on this blog and in my life. That sermon where he asked, “whose voice are you listening to?” Whose voice is getting the last word in your life? Is it God’s voice or someone else’s?
Well, if you want to know if you are listening to God’s voice then you have to know what God says about you. While I am not the best at knowing scripture, I do know that according to scripture God delights in me. He knit me together and considers me a masterpiece. He loves me more than I will ever understand and while He is not always proud of my actions, He is always proud of the lady I am becoming while I venture through life with Him. I also know that the Bible says we can do anything He has called us to do. Maybe that is my hiccup. Maybe I don’t know what I have been called to do. I do know that we all have a calling to love God and to love others, but I believe we each have personal callings that match a passion burning within us. And I am a lady of a million passions so maybe as Kim McManus said the other day, I am overwhelmed by choice so I keep not choosing. I fear I don’t know how to choose correctly, or I fear I am biting off more than I can chew or maybe my fear in choosing allows the voices that aren’t God’s to flood me with lies and so I choose wrong again.
My life is about to get turned upside down all over again. My roommate situation is ending at the end of March and I am desperately trying to get out of my latest job choice mistake by the end of May. I am unsure if I will be renting another room in Florida for a few more months or if I will go back to Memphis, but I do know one thing – If a good opportunity that excites me ever crosses my path again, especially in the next few weeks, I am going for it. 100%. Let the Lion Roar. I am done with talking myself out of amazing opportunities. I am done believing the lies. I know the difference between my gut telling me something’s not right and plain old fear so from now on, - I am going with my gut. It’s what brought me to Los Angeles and it is what brought me to Florida and one of these days my gut will lead me out of this holding pen. After all, my life verse is Joel 2:25 and I do believe that God will restore the years the lies ate away.
Outside your comfort zone is where the magic happens.
They say if March comes in like a lion that it will go out like a lamb. Is the same true for years? Let’s just say 2017 roared in and all but brought me to a complete standstill. For starters I had to say goodbye to the sweetest and fiercest cuddlebug I’ve ever known. Rosie, the toy stealing Boston, became very ill very quickly and had to be put down given her age. She needed a very invasive surgery that brought no guarantees so my roommate did the right thing by escorting her to the big park in the sky. The day she left us I contracted what I am calling a stress response. I have a neck and back trauma from flying off an overpass about a decade ago. I believe my stress reactivated this whiplash so to speak and I found myself in constant pulsating sharp pain in the lower back part of my neck on the left side of my body. I also had limited mobility and I stayed this way for about a week to ten days. As soon as I was back to normal physically and mentally, my car overheated while I was driving home from seeing a friend. The red light started flashing and an alarm started going off which I am told was meant to make me pull over, which I did not. I saw no steam so I figured I would continue driving. It turns out my radiator was blown and I had to spend a pretty chunk of money on a new one, however, my coolant light was still flashing. Going on my neighbor and roommates advice I put coolant in with the motor running and found that the small leak I was eventually going to get fixed had turned into a shower under my car. No Wonder. I had put about three bottles of coolant in the radiator and people kept asking me if there was a spot under my car and there wasn’t and there never would have been since it only showered coolant while the engine was running. And back to the mechanic I went only to find out that I had two leaks and needed to replace the rest of the components of my coolant system. My main hope now is that the transmission will last long enough for me to get my debt paid off so I can buy a new car and I know what I want when that time comes… if that time comes, God willing.
So as I said in my previous post, my two main resolutions were financial based and fitness based. Both have been blown out of the water. I had one credit card paid off and was making head way on the other, but those are both back up at the top of their limits thanks to Christmas and my lovely car. Then there’s the fact that I have restarted workouts, but am having issues with my upper body. I am finding it very easy to reactivate my injury and weights are just not in the cards right now. Though, I am finding it possible to slowly ramp up yoga practice. So you know there’s some light.
This past week I became very angry regarding a co-worker who is now my boss. I don’t have any hate for this individual and I do wish her the best in life – I just wish her life didn’t have to intersect with mine. We share an office and she literally goes out of her way every day to remind me that she loves everyone in the office except me. I have no idea what I did to her but she has been hateful toward me from day one. This hate drama and the fact that I really need to get out of this job and the fact that I am very unhappy doing this job are starting to take a toll on me. I just can’t seem to shrug it off and enjoy my day to the best of my ability anymore. I am beginning to get stuck in an I hate my life mode at work. It seems that this holding pen I am in just keeps getting smaller. Every time I think I understand the act of corralling I somehow find myself in a smaller space with even less to breathe. Being someone who has been touched my cancer and being someone who has stiff armed cancer for going on ten years now, I know that we are not guaranteed tomorrow and that we should each make the most of the time we have on Earth. And I actually think that it is this “life is too short to not enjoy it” mentality that is getting the best of me right now. I haven’t been happy in Florida. I don’t have a community here. My job doesn’t provide what I need on a social, mental, emotional or financial level. Yes, there are some good things to point out like my living situation, my involvement in Celebrate Recovery and getting to love on Rosie and now Lilly. But, I am at a boiling point. I say all of this to share that this past week in a moment of extreme anger (sitting at my desk and going off on everyone inside my head) my entire upper back and left side of my neck re-clinched and back to pain and immobility I went. This would be the moment that I realized that my neck and upper back pain and stiffness are in fact a response to stress.
I have shared previously that I am trying to follow the adrenal body type plan in an effort to curb the effect of stress on my mind, body and soul. It speaks volumes that I can now literally stress myself into immobility and pain. I have to find a way to deal with the daily stress of life before I literally stop my own heart. Yes, I am a yogi. Yes, I know I should know how to calm and center myself. Yes, I am a Christian and I should have the peace of Jesus. But I was also an alcoholic for like 16 years so I never really learned how to deal with life, in fact, my way of dealing with life whether good or bad was to drink. It’s like putting a band-aid on a wound that requires stitches. Yes, you are covering it up, but it is never going to heal properly. That’s what my drinking did for me. Yes, I could get through some really traumatic events like losing my dad and facing my own cancer, but I never learned how to handle life on life’s terms and so while I appear to function appropriately and wisely, I am for all intensive purposes, a raging toddler on the inside.
So maybe my new New Year’s Resolution for 2017 should be to learn how to ride the wave of life without letting it steal my inner joy. Well, you know how it goes… We tell God our plans and He smiles and nods and then He finds a way to tell us His plans… His plans tend to prevail. I know that much.
In Memory of Rosie, the toy stealing Boston who was as fierce as she was sweet. Her humans miss her very much.
I thought I came to Jacksonville to get my feet wet in ministry. I thought I came to Jacksonville to learn how to be a nicer, kinder and gentler me. I thought I came to Jacksonville to root out some evidences of past abuse. It turns out I came to Jacksonville to stop believing a lie that I can’t even tell you how I ever came to believe.
God: Jacksonville is preparation and nothing more.
Some time later….
Me: I can’t find a community to belong to here.
God: Why are you trying to make a home here? This isn’t your home.
Me: Do you understand that You are killing me! I can’t take the loneliness anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God: I’m in charge of when you breathe and when you don’t. I am not killing you.
Me: What is it that You are trying to teach me? I can’t figure it out! You’ve taken away all of my distractions and I still can’t figure it out! I will never get out of this desert!
God: Yes, you will.
Some time Later….
Me: I don’t know if this is it, but I think maybe perhaps You want me to silence the undercurrent that says I am not good enough and never will be for anyone or anything. I don’t even know where it comes from, but every sermon, song, lesson, talk, etc – whenever something relating to Your truth about me versus my truth about me comes up – I start crying.
God: And you thought you’d never get out of the desert!
Me: How do I silence this undercurrent? I mean really silence it? I mean I don’t even know its there half the time, where it came from or what to do about it – so how do I silence it?
God: You listen to me. You listen to what I say about you. You accept it as truth just like you accepted the 12 steps as a way to stop drinking. You didn’t fully understand the steps or believe in them – you just accepted them. You need to accept my words about you as truth. You can ask me to silence it too, but I’d rather you proclaim it is silenced in my name. You say you don’t know where it comes from, but you do. He’s been lying to women since the first one I made. Perhaps this will make it easier for you – You can choose to listen to my voice or you can choose to listen to his. Listening to both hasn’t been working, wouldn’t you agree?
Ugh. I am definitely one of those people who are way more afraid to succeed than to fail. I have previously recounted a sermon I heard from Erwin McManus on the topic of the two voices in the Garden. In this talk, Erwin makes it clear that while God’s voice may convict us, His voice never condemns and only calls us to be more, to do more. God’s voice always call us up and calls us to want better and to do better. The other voice in the Garden not only condemns us, but oppresses us too. The other voice wants us to feel bad and it wants us to hide or escape into whatever horrible situations we can create in our lives. Two voices that want very different things for us and Erwin asked us this question: Who’s voice are you listening to?
Obviously, somewhere deep down in my being, I am listening to the wrong voice. Another wise pastor from my past, Craig Strickland, once said “You cannot feel your way into an action, but you can act your way into a feeling.” I know that for me to move forward I have to start taking God at His word, especially when it comes to me. And since I am taking it as truth, I also need to start acting on it as truth. This is the key for me to get myself out of the situation I am in and the key to opening that big scary door I am for some reason afraid to walk through.
“The Cave You Fear To Enter, Holds The Treasure That You Seek” -- Joseph Campbell
Well, California, if it makes you feel any better, I too am in what feels like a burn season. I lost the job I have been trying to get rid of, had a biopsy done, got rear-ended by a dude in surgery scrubs who wasn’t paying attention and may now loose my car to the wonderful state of Florida who has all the laws it doesn’t need and none of the laws it does need. As we all know you can kill people and get away with it here in Florida, but to make it easier for killers, crazies and terrorists, the great state of Florida allows anyone to buy a gun with no wait and no background check. Anywho, that’s a soapbox for another day. Life can just sweep you off your feet in the worst way possible and that is what it is doing to me right now.
I was able to get another job within two weeks, but the job is still low pay. I believe it is going to average out to about $20 more a pay check so I guess I can say that I did move up, albeit a very tiny step in the right direction. The good news is that I have good benefits and much more time off. My work days are shorter, I get more holidays and I have a shut down at Thanksgiving and Christmas which means I will be able to go home and see my family. For those of you who haven’t caught on yet, I am now in the field of higher education. This is a career field I have been thinking about because it is historically good for women, has longevity, great benefits and depending on the university and department within the university – there is ample time off that you don’t get unless you are in education or entertainment production. All of which are pluses in my book. So while I may still be in a monetary pinch, I am seeing this as a launching pad sort of opportunity. I will be learning the ins and outs of a controller’s office and in a few years I can either jump to an internal opening or jump to another university and they have those everywhere! So it is not all doom and gloom for this gypsy heart lady.
The ministry side of life is going strong. I am taking on some more responsibility in my Celebrate Recovery home group. Aside from leading the ladies share group, I will be doing more talking in large group, co-leading a fall step-study and getting my teaching feet wet by providing the training portion of the CR leadership meetings. I love my Friday nights with my ladies and am excited to learn and grow as a Celebrate Recovery ministry leader.
Now that I know I will be remaining in Jacksonville for a while, I need to pick a church home. I feel like I am repeating my Los Angeles days all over again. I started out at a church where I felt something was off, but I ignored the feeling and tried everything I could to find a place to belong. After a year long battle, I stepped away from church #1 and started visiting a couple other churches and one of them became home, my tribe and my life for the remainder of my time in Los Angeles. I seem to be doing the exact same thing on the other side of the country. I picked a church and made it home even though I felt something was off, tried everything I could to find a place t belong, but in the end I find myself stepping away. I guess I am hoping that what happened in Los Angeles will happen here in Jacksonville, that I will find my Mosaic here on the east coast.
While I don’t know what is going to happen with my car at this moment, I do have peace about the situation. The insurance company is doing everything they can to help me, but in the end, if the bumper comes off and the body shop reports frame damage, I will loose my car. I have fought and fought to keep my car, but it hit me the other night, that this might be one of those saving grace moments. If my transmission or some other major repair was suddenly needed, I might not be able to afford to fix the car and I cannot finance a car right now so I would be in serious trouble. Perhaps, I am losing my car and getting a little cash to buy another one (emphasis on little cash which is the issue) because something is about to go wrong with the car I am fighting so hard to keep. I can’t see what lies ahead, but Jesus can and He might have orchestrated the whole rear-ending event to save me from something I cannot see. In sobriety they tell you that you that your life is like an onion. Our lives, our emotions, our attitudes, our opinions, our perceptions and our actions form the layers around the core of the onion and it is in recovery that we begin the process of peeling back those layers to get to the core of who we really are. I feel that I have been peeling back the layers of surrender these past few weeks. The idea of surrender is a huge component of the 12 steps, but the day-to-day surrender takes on new meaning when you begin to realize that you really don’t have much control when it comes to anything except your response to every day life. If you are like me and like to have everything done a certain way and in a certain time frame then you have even more of a struggle with the daily letting go and truly letting God.
Everything good is grace and everything bad is the stuff Jesus holds your hand through until we get to abide in His arms. It is hard to take a step back and surrender to a life event, but it is what is required. We like to think that we have all the answers, but many times it is our decisions and our will that gets us into the tight spots in life. We thought we were right, we thought we had the plan, but then something happens to shake everything up and we get rerouted and more often than not, we look back and say thank you Jesus for rerouting me out of that disaster! In order to get rerouted we had to come to a moment of surrender that we did not like and move in a direction we did not want or anticipate, but that decision to let go and move in the direction God was apparently moving, is what rescued us. | <urn:uuid:5405e03a-2129-45d9-a41b-4e4d77cd10ac> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.jessicalynnlee.com/blog-archives/category/perspective | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.97744 | 9,938 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Stanley Kubrick: Auteur
Run by School of Arts, Culture and Language
20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits
Organiser: Prof Nathan Abrams
Overall aims and purpose
The enigmatic Stanley Kubrick was one of the most well-known filmmakers of the twentieth century. Although not prolific, his work was widely admired both by critics and mass audiences. Kubrick’s films also provide a prism through which we can view the major events of the twentieth century including World War One, the Holocaust, the Cold War and the Vietnam War. In doing so, his films offer the opportunity to explore the key themes of science, technology, history, race, violence, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and war.
Topics that will be covered in this module include all of Kubrick’s films, as well as how these intersect with events such as World War One, the Holocaust, the Cold War and the Vietnam War and such issues as science, technology, history, race, violence, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and war.
A- to A* Submitted work is of an outstanding quality and excellent in one or more of the following ways: 1. Has originality of exposition with the student’s own thinking being readily apparent. 2. Provides clear evidence of extensive and relevant independent study. 3. Arguments are laid down with clarity and provide the reader with successive stages of consideration to reach conclusions.
C- to B+ Submitted work is competent throughout and may be distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It: 1. Demonstrates good or very good structure and logically developed arguments. 2. Draws at least in parts on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student. 3. Assertions are backed by evidence and sound reasoning. 4. Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.
D- to D+ Submitted work is adequate and shows an acceptable level of competence as follows: 1. Generally accurate but with omissions and errors. 2. Assertions are made without clear supporting evidence or reasoning. 3. Has structure but is lacking in clarity and therefore relies on the reader to make links and assumptions. 4. Draws on a relatively narrow range of material.
Digest, select and organise material and produce a consistent and coherent argument presented in both oral and essay form/practical equivalent to a deadline.
Read a film text, deploying the appropriate critical language;
Comment appropriately on the relationship between film and other issues (science, technology, history, violence, race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and war) in the work of Stanley Kubrick;
The ability to relate filmic texts to a historical context;
Discuss, in detail, the treatment of these issues in Kubrick’s films;
Identify the key issues and conflicts with which Stanley Kubrick was concerned;
Teaching and Learning Strategy
- Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
- Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
- Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
- Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
- Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
- Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
- Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
- Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
- Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
- Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others | <urn:uuid:b3e36734-0e2f-45a8-b4c9-95220fce6aeb> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.bangor.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate-modules/UXS-2025 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.918617 | 995 | 3.5 | 4 |
Several events happen as we age and some of them can affect our ability to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Many seniors particularly find it difficult to keep their fitness levels up as they experience mobility issues. As a leading provider of non-medical home care services, we will share the best exercises for seniors:
- Weight training
Exercising with weights is an excellent way to slow down bone loss associated with conditions like osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises increase hormone levels and also enhance insulin sensitivity even with people that have diabetes.
- Chair exercises
There are several chair exercises that seniors can do to strengthen their core muscles. Seated exercises like overhead arm raise and knee lifts help build endurance and strengthen their immune system. Appointed caregivers in Illinois can support physical activity to ensure safety.
- Low-impact exercises
Low-impact exercises like yoga, walking, swimming, and cycling are excellent ways for seniors to stay fit. These types of exercises are gentle on the back and joints and are great for overall body conditioning. Water aerobics and cycling in particular are easy on the knees and are great for seniors with arthritis.
With exercising comes the risk of slips and falls that can lead to injury. Through a reputable home care provider in Harwood Heights, Illinois like Angel Caregivers, Inc., seniors can get enough exercise with supervision to ensure their safety. For more information, feel free to get in touch with us. | <urn:uuid:b2f7fc10-2ab0-4509-ab3c-ccd6f3d79615> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://angelcaregiversinc.com/staying-physically-fit-the-best-exercises-for-seniors/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.958783 | 291 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Database of the Medicinal plants
A-Z list of herbal plants used in Ayurveda medicines with details...
The Process of Medicinal plants to prepare medicines
The different process of herbs to prepare Ayurveda medicines...
Categories of Ayurveda Medicines
Different categories of Ayurvedic medicines used in the Ayurveda treatments...
Different types of Ayurveda Treatments
Different types of Ayurvedic treatment for different types of illness like...
Ayurveda colleges & Research Centers
List of Indian Ayurveda college and University Research centers ...
Indian Ayurveda Resorts & Treatments
List of Indian Ayurveda Resorts and Treatment centers in India....
Important Ayurveda Books
List of important Ayurvedic books and its authors name, to get vast knowledge ...
Scientific name of Hog plum: Spondias pinnata (Linn.f.)
Name of Hogplum in different languages:
Hindi: Jangli aam, Amra
English: Hogplum, Wild Mango, Andaman mombin, Indian hog plum, Indian mombin, Spanish plums
Malayalam: Ampazham- അമ്പഴം, Ambalam, Mambuli
Hog plum or Wild Mango is a deciduous or semi-evergreen trees growing up to 25 m tall. The leaves are pale green and arranged spirally, the fruits are small and like mangoes and size is 4–10 cm long, ripening yellow or orange with single-seeded fruits which is edible and used to make pickles.
Useful plant parts:
Leaf, Bark, Fruit, Gum.
Medicinal uses of
To treat ear diseases, Anti toxic, Gonorrhea
How to prepare medicines:
The Roots, Bark, Leaves and Fruits is used for cholera, diarrhoea, earache, night fever, ringworm and stomach-ache | <urn:uuid:ce8bb14f-603e-4d44-b896-44c5a41b7e94> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://www.medicinalplantsindia.com/hogplum.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.769719 | 473 | 2.859375 | 3 |
- finding a lost shuttlecock – IN SPACE!
- returning an overdue library books – 100 YEARS AGO!
- or making cakes – IN THE BATH!
- You know, completely boring things.
Gustav and Henri: Space Time Cake!
Opposites attract in this humorous graphic novel series about best friends, Gustav and Henri (short for Henrietta!).
Meet Gustav and Henri. This is their book.
It's a bit about friendship and a lot about snacks (especially Nachos!).
They love doing normal things together, like:
Join them for 100% of your recommended daily intake of adventure, escapades, and capers–all in one book!
With the visual appeal of Narwhal and Jelly, the irresistible humor of Dog Man and the value of Real Pigeons (with three stories in each volume), this is the perfect series for kids who enjoy comics, funny stories, and cartoons such as Phineas and Ferb.
Each book contains 3 stories in 1, for maximum value, and maximum snacks! | <urn:uuid:068d12ca-b103-40f6-874c-15733ee0d0c2> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.yabookscentral.com/gustav-and-henri-space-time-cake/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571056.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809155137-20220809185137-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.908051 | 221 | 1.664063 | 2 |
A Graphical Multistage Calculus
Ellner, Stephan; Taha, Walid
DateJuly 22, 2005
While visual programming languages continue to gain popularity in domains ranging from scientific computing to real-time systems, the wealth of abstraction mechanisms, reasoning principles, and type systems developed over the last thirty years is currently available mainly for textual languages. With the goal of understanding how results in the textual languages can be mapped to the graphical setting, we develop the visual calculus PreVIEW. While this calculus visualizes computations in dataflow-style similar to languages like LabVIEW and Simulink, its formal model is based on Ariola and Blom's work on cyclic lambda calculi. We extend this model with staging constructs, establish a precise connection between textual and graphical program representations, and show how a reduction semantics for a multi-stage language can be lifted from the textual to the graphical setting. | <urn:uuid:8f2639d4-59b9-41c4-95b9-f901280dc860> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://scholarship.rice.edu/handle/1911/96340 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.885491 | 196 | 1.578125 | 2 |
TASK | The last few weeks of this course are devoted to social media techniques. Using the course and other appropriate material, develop a paper to be delivered to the client:
Analyze Planned Parenthoods current social media (SM) use;
then select two other nonprofits from Organizations for Analysis of Strategic Publics list provided in Week 1, and one commercial company or corporation comparing their SM use to that used by our client.
For example, consider what SM software platforms and techniques each use, whether this area of communication is effective, and what and how they could improve the SM as part of their outreach with appropriate stakeholders, such as blogging, and the pros and cons of each SM platform or technique.
Finally, think beyond what each currently uses to include what other platforms might give them more bang for the buck, so to speakand why. (This may require you to research the broad spectrum of social media platforms available!) Caution: Dont be limited to just the most obvious.
PART 1 | Your analysis paper of NO MORE than 10 pages discussing your findings. You may use graphics (such as the Print-Screen feature, on your computer), charts, as you desire to make your paper meaningful and effective. Also, consider using Google Trends or SnagIt, which has a free 30-day trial. See the following for more information on using Google Trends or Snagit or other similar web analytics tools.
Two Nonprofit companies are: Smithsonian Institution & The American Red Cross
Commercial Company is Johnson & Johnson
Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.[order_calculator] | <urn:uuid:257111ce-d662-4d32-80f5-6e09c3934c16> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.primeessayhelp.com/social-media-analysis/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.910143 | 337 | 1.953125 | 2 |
Measure H is the landmark ¼-cent sales tax approved by 69.34% of Los Angeles County voters in March 2017, the first revenue stream dedicated to preventing and addressing homelessness countywide.
It is projected to raise $355 million annually for 10 years, or a total of $3.5 billion, to implement the County’s Homeless Initiative strategies. It is set expire in 2027, unless renewed by voters.
A Citizen’s Oversight Advisory Board reviews Measure H spending. Independent audits and performance evaluations also help ensure transparency and accountability.
BY THE NUMBERS
Projected Annual Revenue
Special Sales Tax
2017 – 2027
FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS PROCESS
The Homeless Initiative conducts an inclusive and transparent annual funding recommendations process involving County departments and agencies, cities, nonprofit service providers, community partners, and people who have experienced homelessness. Members of the public have multiple opportunities to provide feedback before the Board of Supervisors approves the final budget. | <urn:uuid:3438e580-e5cb-48dc-a6fc-066cde6d0d97> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://homeless.lacounty.gov/measure-h/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.912684 | 226 | 1.75 | 2 |
Starting this weekend, more than 350 high school students from around the state will demonstrate their courtroom prowess during the 2018 Indiana Mock Trial competition.
Fifty teams from 21 schools will compete in three regional competitions held Feb. 10 in South Bend and Feb. 17 in Hammond and Indianapolis. The top 24 teams will compete in the state finals the weekend of March 3 in Indianapolis.
As part of mock trial, student engaged in a simulated civil or criminal trial, filling the roles of the attorneys, witnesses and defendants. Volunteers, often attorneys, preside over the fictitious trial and serve on the panel of judges who crown the winning teams.
The Indiana Bar Foundation manages the Mock Trial program as one of its four civic education programs for Indiana students.
The participating high schools and their hometowns are:
- Goshen: Goshen High School;
- South Bend: Clay High School, John Adams High School, Saint Joseph High School, and Trinity School at Greenlawn;
- Mishawaka: Marian High School and Mishawaka High School;
- Carmel: Carmel High School;
- Clayton: Cascade High School;
- Fishers: Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern High Schools;
- Indianapolis: Arsenal Technical High School, Heritage Christian School, Roncalli High School, and Shortridge High School;
- Noblesville: Saint Theodore Guerin High School;
- Lafayette: Central Catholic Jr./Sr. High School;
- Merrillville: Merrillville High School;
- Hammond: Morton High School, and
- Valparaiso: Valparaiso High School and Washington Township Middle/High School. | <urn:uuid:7f333fb9-eddc-402d-a444-7c1b01cde015> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/46119-mock-trial-regionals-begin-saturday | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.919875 | 345 | 1.648438 | 2 |
31 May The Law of Giving and Receiving
Thy infinite gifts come to me only on those very
small hands of mine. Ages pass, and still thou
pourest, and still there is room to fill.
— Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali
The second spiritual law of success, the Law of Giving and Receiving, is based on the fact that everything in the universe operates through dynamic exchange. Every relationship is one of give and take because giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. If we stop the flow of energy, we interfere with nature’s intelligence. We must give and receive in order to keep money, or anything we want, circulating in our lives.
Currency, our word for money, derives from a Latin word meaning “to run or flow.” Money is a symbol of the life energy we give and the life energy we receive as a result of the service we provide to others. Like a river, money must keep flowing; otherwise it begins to clog and stagnate. Circulation keeps it alive and vital. If we stop the circulation of life energy, if our intention is to hold on to our money and hoard it, we stop its circulation back into our lives.
The intention behind our giving and receiving is the most important thing. When the act of giving is joyful, when it is unconditional and from the heart, then the energy behind the giving increases many times over. But if we give grudgingly, there is no energy behind that giving. If we feel we have lost something through the act of giving, then the gift is not truly given and will not cause increase.
The Law of Giving and Receiving is simple: If you want love, learn to give love; if you want attention and appreciation, learn to give attention and appreciation; if you want material affluence, help others to become materially affluent. If you want to be blessed with all the good things in life, learn to silently bless everyone with all the good things in life. The more you give, the more you will receive. In your willingness to give that which you seek, you will keep the abundance of the universe circulating in your life.
Abundance has material expression, but what is really circulating is consciousness. Even the thought of giving, the thought of blessing, or a simple prayer has the power to affect others. We are bundles of thought in a thinking universe, and thought has the power to transform.
The best way to experience the Law of Giving and Receiving is to give a gift to everyone you come into contact with. This doesn’t have to be in the form of material things. The gifts of caring, affection, appreciation, and love are some of the most precious gifts you can give, and they don’t cost you anything.
One of the things I was taught as a child is never to go to anyone’s house without bringing a gift. You may say, “How can I give to others when I don’t have enough myself?” You can bring a note that says something about your feelings for the person you’re visiting. You can bring a flower, a compliment, or a prayer.
Whenever you meet someone, silently send that person a blessing. This kind of silent giving is very powerful. Give wherever you go, and as you give, you will receive. As you receive, the more your ability to give will increase, and the more you’ll gain confidence in the miraculous effects of this law.
There is nothing you lack, because your essential nature is one of pure potentiality and infinite possibilities. You are inherently affluent no matter how much or how little money you have, because the source of all wealth is the field of pure potentiality that knows how to fill every need.
Giving and receiving are nothing other than the flow of life — the harmonious inter-action of all the elements and forces that structure the field of existence. The exchange of energy is a process that has its own timing, organization, and beauty. Your life unfolds in the same way. Everything that comes to you isn’t something you earn, but a gift freely given by the universe, which means it comes from a deep awareness of what you need.
Think of all the things that have been freely given to you without your having to ask for them. Just experiencing gratitude allows you to participate in the Law of Giving and Receiving. Nature supports your every need and desire, including your need for joy, love, laughter, harmony, and knowledge. Seek these things first — not only for yourself, but for others — and all else will spontaneously come to you.
To Experience the Law of Giving and Receiving:
• Give a gift to everyone you encounter, be it a compliment, a flower, or a prayer. This will begin the process of circulating joy and affluence in your life and in the lives of others.
• Gratefully receive every gift that life offers you. Be open to receiving, whether it be a material gift from others, a compliment, or a prayer.
• Silently wish everyone you encounter happiness, joy, and laughter. By giving and receiving the gifts of caring, affection, appreciation, and love, you will keep wealth circulating in your life. | <urn:uuid:f9e48a7e-6d2b-4a6e-b2a9-c37d9428da32> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.amberallen.com/uncategorized/the-law-of-giving-and-receiving/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.95468 | 1,100 | 2.0625 | 2 |
What is Accessibility and 508 Compliance?
Section 508 compliance means your document meets the accessibility standard that allows most individuals to access this material without specific accommodation. This also allows computers to more accurately determine the material’s content, which means it will be seen as a more authoritative resource by search engines. State and Federal law require this level of accessibility for any documents created or used by all public entities. Failure to meet these standards can be considered discrimination and can lead to legal recourse including the loss of federal funding.
The following section of this guide is by no means an exhaustive resource on creating Section 508 compliant documents. Instead we will offer some best practices and useful tips that will help you create fully compliant documents with the least amount of effort.
For more information on Section 508 of the American Disabilities Act and creating accessible documents, visit https://www.section508.gov/content/build/create-accessible-documents.
What Types of Documents Can Be Posted to the PCC Website?
The following documents types are permitted to be posted to the PCC website once they are fully 508 compliant:
- PDFs are the most common document type
- Word and Excel documents are permitted
- PowerPoint files are strongly discouraged as they will require the most effort and expertise to make compliant - upload at your own risk and responsibility
Does it really need to be a PDF?
Before diving in to what it takes to make a PDF accessible, ask yourself the following question: Does this content really need to be in PDF format?
If you created the same content using OU Campus, this website's content management system, it will simply be accessible. It may seem convenient to create your content in Word, save as a PDF and call it a day — but you're nowhere near done in terms of accessibility as you'll see in the following section. Consider the amount of effort you're going to put into making a document accessible versus simply using our web content management system.
With OU Campus, you simply:
- Log in directly from the page you want to edit
- Click a button to start editing in a familiar rich-text-editor-like environment
- Type or Paste in your content
- Save and submit to be published
Making that into a PDF that's accessible, on the other hand, is an entirely different story...
If It Really Needs to Be a PDF
There are times when distributing content in PDF format is necessary. The most common reasons are when the content:
- requires specific formatting for printing
- requires a hand-written signature
- should be easily distributable and viewable offline
The following page will provide you with some useful tips for creating accessible documents. | <urn:uuid:e1aba7c0-3711-4a0e-9a6d-beb1a53dbdbf> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.pasadena.edu/strategic-communications-and-marketing/guides-and-reference/accessibility/index.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882570793.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20220808092125-20220808122125-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.911054 | 552 | 2.1875 | 2 |
Does your LMS have social learning?
Learning has gone social, and I’m not just talking about being holed up in a room full of other learners staring into space and tuning out the words of the instructor talking animatedly, some metres away. My fondest memories of learning involved engaging with my peers, discovering things and working on projects together – group work is an absolute fave about learning, even as an adult.
Since an increasing number of learners are turning online for the acquisition of skills and knowledge, so have lots of organisations too. And just the same way getting social has now become all about using social media platforms, e-learning has turned social too – social learning. If you are behind the curve, you need to catch on fast and make learning less of a chore for your employees and colleagues. So what does that really mean?
How does social learning work?
By capitalising on existing knowledge and experience within your workforce, you facilitate knowledge sharing, identify expertise and overall drive the development of your workforce. With social learning, observation, modelling and imitation are used to absorb, adapt and adopt learners’ behaviours, attitudes and abilities. Social learning influences learning abilities and behaviour by initiating and integrating interaction between cognitive and environmental factors. Fused with an LMS, social learning complements formal training as it invigorates the learning environment, making participants enthused about learning and accommodating their learning curve. In an LMS system, it includes question and answer tools, knowledgebase wikis and online forums that facilitate discussions between learners. On such forums, participants rub minds, unconsciously picking up useful information on the job by sharing and reading posts and threads.
Why is social learning important?
To go further than just buttering up the concept, here are several reasons why social learning is one of the best things to happen in learning environments and should be a crucial feature in your learning management system.
- Group assignments
- Content sharing
- Training feedback
- User profiles
- Friending and following
- RSS/ Newsfeeds
- Live chats
- User-generated content
Learning groups formed via social learning give room for online communication on topics, themes, and tasks and for collaboration on projects. It also supports remote or flexible interactions amongst teams. This way, employees across geographical locations or departments studying the same course can keep discussions going outside the classroom or online training sessions, supporting and reinforcing their understanding. This enriches the learning experience.
Practice reinforces learning the same way as group tasks help build insight and enhance skillsets. Social learning facilitates this by providing tools to smoothen the group’s operation. Learners can even keep track of missed conversations because the chats and other tools may provide facilities to preserve information during or even after participation in the session.
Social learning tools not only enable communication within groups but also serve as records of the ideas and suggestions that arise in discussions. Video streaming of study sessions or other out-of-class activities ease learning and improves the experience. It also allows for various content types to be exchanged and shared, such as images, infographics and audio-visual recordings.
Feedback on the training content, instructors and other aspects of the learning process can be easily shared on LMS, which adopts social learning features. This, in turn, facilitates ranking, measurement and other reviews related to the management of LMS.
Just like social media, participants can create profiles based on social learning, where their pictures, learning records, accomplishments, e-learning groups and affiliations and other information relating to their use of the LMS can be stored. This can prove useful in multiple ways, such as recommending other courses to do, as a part of employee appraisal or even as a form of peer assessment and guide for others to use in charting their career or learning trajectories.
Friending and following
Another social media-like attribute of social learning is the feature that allows participants to follow, like or (be) friends with each other. This is especially so when teams interrelate across departments and geographical locations. Relationships and conversations forged via LMS can spur more tangible ones outside the workplace, such as mentoring or being mentored by colleagues that one may not have met without the social learning feature.
Relevant news and updates can be shared in real-time via learning management systems by providing data which learners will find useful. These can be implemented by installing built-in features or integrating the LMS with social networks such as LinkedIn.
No more forgetting to finish that course you started last week or to join the group meeting scheduled at noon. Social learning has got you by prompting you with notifications and reminders. Learning online or via a blended platform that embraces blended learning is suitable for keeping track of your overall learning experience.
With the live chat feature, participants can not only chat with each other but also provide feedback and engage in conversations in real-time when learning sessions are ongoing. Questions, comments and other kinds of feedback that ensure engagement and participation are supported by the live chat function of learning management systems.
After learners have completed courses, modules or programmes, they feel a sense of pride and satisfaction and, as with other achievements that people make, they like to tell others about it. Social learning helps learners tell others about their learning and experiences by sharing milestones, awards, completion and other indicators of progress or success with their bosses, colleagues and people outside their organisations like family and friends. No more do learners go off for an intensive two-week training away from the office and settle right back with nothing particular to show, save for a record in HR. Now they get to share their learning and feel a stronger sense of achievement, boosting motivation, productivity and sometimes, team spirit.
In some learning sessions, instances may arise where the instructors want to survey a topic, question or issue, and polls are simply the most efficient way of doing so. Within the social learning context, learning management systems have the facility to provide real-time polls while learning is ongoing or at other times.
Earning badges or points individually or as a team can build an additional motivation for learners to aspire not just to do the course or participate in the learning process; instead, they want to excel, break a record or achieve an objective, oftentimes, within a set time or other frames.
There is something for everyone when social learning is integrated with a learning management system, so don’t just go for something basic. Inspire your employees and colleagues by providing them with an LMS that integrates social learning and gives them a wholesome learning experience. This way, they can be self-motivated to use the system to plan and pursue courses that will boost their job performance and their profiles on paper.
Book a demo today to find out how My Learning Hub can be a suitable LMS solution for your organisation. | <urn:uuid:3e0c88c2-74bd-4e5e-8efe-f4dae2f62696> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://mylearninghub.com/blog/post/social-learning-lms | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.941657 | 1,445 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Americans are digging deeper into their pockets to fill their tanks, as gas prices continue to rise. So what are people doing to cope?
FOX News Radio’s Chris Hoenig reports:
$3.65 a gallon: that’s what AAA says the average American is paying for regular, a record for this time of year, though you can save if you shop around.
(Driver) “We live in Pennsylvania, and we’ll travel over into Jersey to try and get a better price on gas.”
Keeping close to home might help, too.
(Driver) “Trying to adjust my travels to the minimum. And, hopefully, things are gonna get better.”
But if you can’t beat ’em…
(Driver) “Money used for gas, we need it, so I have no problem with spending a little bit more.”
Tensions with Iran are helping oil prices spike. Gas, costing $.40 a gallon more than this time last year.
Chris Hoenig, FOX News Radio.
WATCH more on what everyday Americans are doing to cope with high gas prices HERE: | <urn:uuid:93e67628-cfcf-4f03-a317-3bb8b5757a4a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://radio.foxnews.com/2012/02/21/pain-at-the-pump-coping-with-high-gas-prices-video/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.916329 | 245 | 1.71875 | 2 |
What a great find !This website has daily ideas blogged on the front page - I love finger twister! Clearly organised into sections. To find activities select 'Skill' and this …
Here are a good selection of warm up activities - ideal to use before you start fine motor and Healthy / Happy Hands activities. This link gives clear information and photos …
What a great idea - I think children would love their own jelly fish in a bottle.
I like the ideas found on this site - The Autism Helper is an excellent site and this link provides activities that can be age appropriate for older students.
In this short video Richard Hirstwood reviews the following apps: Weather HD Google Earth i make sounds Balloonymoulds The cat in a hat Ocean blue Uzu Boom
Newbridge Outreach uses pegs in a variety of activities to help develop pincer grip/ hand strength. Here is a colour matching activity using pegs. Thanks to Childcare.com.
Here is a lovely idea from Childcare.com - the balls in the box is a great way of containing them and help the students track the different colours.
A list of everyday actvities that be completed to support a variety of needs.
http://www.YourTherapySource.com This activity encourages gross motor skills, motor planning and muscle strengthening in the hands.
What a great idea ! Swimming noodles can be found in poundshops and this would be quick to make. Thanks to Childcare.com | <urn:uuid:6a571316-ba11-4b07-9195-9403f21be024> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://redbridgeserc.org/resources/category/using-two-hands | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.889212 | 308 | 2.3125 | 2 |
Parents have organized petitions, imploring the government not to separate children infected with the coronavirus from their families. Patients have demanded to speak with higher-ups about shoddy conditions at isolation facilities. Residents have confronted officials over containment policies that they see as unfair or inhumane, then shared recordings of those arguments online.
As the coronavirus races through Shanghai, in the city’s worst outbreak since the pandemic began, the authorities have deployed their usual hard-nosed playbook to try and stamp out transmission, no matter the cost. What has been different is the response: an outpouring of public dissatisfaction rarely seen in China since the chaotic early days of the pandemic, in Wuhan.
The crisis in Shanghai is shaping up to be more than just a public health challenge. It is also a political test of the zero tolerance approach at large, on which the Communist Party has staked its legitimacy.
For much of the past two years, the Chinese government has stifled most domestic criticism of its zero tolerance Covid strategy, through a mixture of censorship, arrests and success at keeping caseloads low. But in Shanghai, which has recorded more than 70,000 cases since March 1, that is proving more difficult.
China has deployed its usual Covid playbook in Shanghai, chasing elimination at any cost. But Shanghai — the country’s most populous city, with a thriving middle class — has proved unusually resistant. https://t.co/2zSsKa6KIc
— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) April 7, 2022 | <urn:uuid:7fd44334-e35e-4edb-87f5-1ec10acf73f5> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://kendallharmon.net/?p=111167 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.962233 | 323 | 2.125 | 2 |
My Feet Just Don't Feel Right
While the root cause and origin of Peripheral Neuropathy are not completely understood, there are several underlying conditions that can lead to such a diagnosis, the most noteworthy being Diabetes, Chemotherapy, Vitamin Deficiency, Malnutrition, Prescription Drug Side Effects, and Alcohol Abuse. With these conditions in mind, what is the common denominator between them? The answer, each and every one of them has a demonstrably negative impact on the Capillaries (the smallest blood vessels), diminishing how efficiently they transfer vital Oxygen and Nutrients to the nerves and tissues. This condition, known as Hypoxia, is the reason for neuropathy patients losing sensation, with the skin eventually becoming necrotic and ultimately requiring the surgical removal of the affected tissue.
While neuropathy can affect any tissue, including organs, the feet and toes are the most common and first to come to mind. However, neuropathy is actually the leading cause of falls among seniors in the US. According to the CDC, every year over 300,000 seniors are hospitalized for hip fractures and 95% of those were the result of falls. Even more alarming, the 1-year mortality rate for a broken hip is 1 in 3.
#1 cause of falls = Neuropathy
#1 cause of broken hip= Falls
Chances of dying from a broken hip within 1 year= 1 out of 3
Do your feet feel tingling or asleep? Do they feel like you are walking on marshmallows or like your sock is bunched up under the ball of your foot? Do you experience excruciating pain or burning when you stand? Have already been diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy or you would like to determine if you are in the early stages of it? We are here to help and our track record speaks for itself. | <urn:uuid:5cd3b240-7432-41d9-8356-af036cb282b1> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.cenkihsc.com/blog-chiropractic-painrelief/521811-my-feet-just-dont-feel-right/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.958661 | 373 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Online Prescription Tool
Get To Know Your Skin
Discover the right skin care routine for you with our skincare prescription tool. In a few simple steps you’ll have a personalised routine and be on your way to enjoying flawless skin.
Lavender Essential Oil Benefits. Many people usually associate lavender with two specific traits. It’s fragrance and its colour. However, you may not know that the lavender flower and the oil derived from it have long histories in herbal medicine.
Its name derives from the Latin root “lavare,” which literally means “to wash.” The earliest recorded use of lavender dates back to ancient Egypt. There, lavender oil played a role in the mummification process. The reason for this was to ensure that the person would be welcomed into the afterlife. However, the embalmers included the oil in the process as much for their antibacterial properties as for their scented appeal.
During later times, lavender became a bath additive in several regions, including Persia, ancient Greece, and Rome. These cultures believed that lavender helped purify the body and mind.
Since ancient times, lavender has been used to treat many different ailments, including:
Lavender is a multipurpose plant. People use lavender in many ways to promote good health and well-being. Introducing essential oils can be life changing. For example, such as Lavender oil, this can result in a healthier calmer way of life.
Lavender is most commonly used in aromatherapy. The fragrance from the oils of the lavender plant. It is believed to help promote calmness and wellness. Not only that it can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and possibly even mild pain.
There are some studies available that have found that topically applying lavender, plus sage and rose, could reduce the severity of menstrual cramps.
According to some studies aromatherapy can help patients manage the side effects of cancer treatment. Smell receptors send messages to the brain. These can affect your mood. Aromatherapy may also help adults who suffer from dementia.
While many people swear by its aromatic healing powers. The scientific community is not so sure. Many of the tests conducted around lavender have had conflicting results.
Once upon a time, lavender was recommended for people suffering from insomnia or other sleep disorders. People stuffed their pillows with lavender flowers to help them fall asleep and get a better night’s rest.
Today, aromatherapists use lavender to treat headaches and nervousness or restlessness. Massage therapists sometimes apply lavender oil to the skin, which might function both as a calming agent and a sleep aid. In Germany, lavender tea has been approved as a supplement to treat sleep disruptions, restlessness, and stomach irritation.
Topical use of lavender oil might help to treat a disease called alopecia aerate, which causes a person’s hair to fall out in patches.
In one study, published people rubbed the essential oils of lavender, thyme, rosemary, and cedarwood on the areas where hair had fallen out. Some people experienced hair regrowth over the course of seven months.
However, there was no way for the researchers to determine which of the oils was responsible.
When applied to the skin, lavender oils have shown positive results. It can help with eczema, acne, sunburns, and nappy rash.
I am always happy to answer questions. I will be sharing more tips and DIY recipes for aromatherapy.
Of course, I am still very much skincare, but don’t forget skincare, for me, is about treating it as a whole. Not just surface…
Until next time, | <urn:uuid:3d7e1588-a9e1-40ed-93f8-260ec6783213> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://laskincare.co.uk/top-tips/lavender-essential-oil-benefits/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.960719 | 789 | 2.21875 | 2 |
Annual U.S. Solar Market Trends ReportWhile relatively young, the solar market is an increasingly important and vital part of the American economy.
What are the trends in this booming market, and what forces are at work? Which sectors of the market are strongest, and why? What are the prospects for solar energy in the near future? The list isn’t long and all had a considerable impact on solar in 2013: falling photovoltaic (PV) prices, strong consumer demand, available financing, renewable portfolio standards (RPSs), and financial incentives from the federal government, states and utilities. Published July 2014 | <urn:uuid:330d5267-87f7-45f8-b3ab-ab420bd1a2cc> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://irecusa.org/resources/annual-u-s-solar-market-trends-report/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.936369 | 128 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Repeating what has been a rallying cry of gay activism for years, the cover of the December 16, 2008 issue of The Advocate announced, “Gay is the New Black: The Last Great Civil Rights Struggle.” Last week, on May 19th, headlines across the nation announced, “NAACP endorses gay marriage as ‘civil right.’” So, is gay the new black?
There are prominent black leaders who say yes, including Congressman John Lewis, who was active in the early Civil Rights movement. There are other prominent black leaders who say no, like Timothy F. Johnson, founder and president of the Frederick Douglass Foundation.
For a number of reasons, I concur with Johnson and others who say that gay is not the new black.
1. There is no true comparison between skin color and behavior. Although gays and lesbians emphasize identity rather than behavior, homosexuality is ultimately defined by romantic attraction and sexual behavior. How can this be equated with the color of someone’s skin?
Skin color has no intrinsic moral quality, and there is no moral difference between being black or white (or yellow or red). In contrast, romantic attractions and sexual behaviors often have moral (or immoral) qualities, and there is no constitutional “right” to fulfill one’s sexual and romantic desires.
Also, skin color cannot be hidden, whereas a person’s sexual orientation is, generally speaking, not outwardly recognizable (unless it is willfully displayed). Put another way, blacks do not have to “come out,” since their identity is self-evident, whereas gays and lesbians have to come out (or act out) for their identity to be clearly known.
2. The very real hardships endured by many gays and lesbians cannot fairly be compared with the monstrous suffering endured by African Americans. Conservative gay journalist Charles Winecoff wrote, “Newsflash: blacks in America didn’t start out as hip-hop fashion designers; they were slaves. There’s a big difference between being able to enjoy a civil union with the same sex partner of your choice – and not being able to drink out of a water fountain, eat at a lunch counter, or use a rest room because you don’t have the right skin color.”
Today, we have openly gay members of Congress, openly gay celebrities, openly gay CEO’s, openly gay financial gurus, openly gay sports stars, openly gay Hollywood moguls, and openly gay college professors, bestselling authors, scientists, and on and on. In the days of segregation in America, there were few, if any, blacks in such prominent positions, not to mention the fact that in many cities in America, even the lynching of blacks was accepted. Where in America are gays and lesbians being lynched today with societal approval? And what is the LGBT equivalent to the American slave trade?
3. Skin color is innate and immutable; sexual orientation is not. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no reputable scientific evidence that people are born gay or lesbian. Even the unabashedly pro-gay American Psychiatric Association stated that, “to date there are no replicated scientific studies supporting any specific biological etiology for homosexuality.” As expressed bluntly by lesbian author Camille Paglia, “No one is born gay. The idea is ridiculous.”
John D’Emilio, a gay activist and a professor of history and of gender and women’s studies at the University of Illinois, wrote, “What’s most amazing to me about the ‘born gay’ phenomenon is that the scientific evidence for it is thin as a reed, yet it doesn’t matter. It’s an idea with such social utility that one doesn’t need much evidence in order to make it attractive and credible.”
Also contrary to popular opinion, there are former homosexuals; there are no former blacks (despite the best efforts of the late Michael Jackson). This also underscores the fact that skin color cannot be compared to behavior, since even someone who remains same-sex attracted can modify his or her sexual behavior. A black person cannot modify his or her blackness.
Stated another way, genetics determine skin color, not behavior. Otherwise, if genetics unalterably predetermined behavior, then someone with a so-called violent gene could tell the judge, “My genes made me do it!” (For more on this important subject, see the chapter “Is Gay the New Black” in my book A Queer Thing Happened to America.)
4. Removing the unjust laws against miscegenation (interracial marriage) did not require a fundamental redefinition of marriage and family; legalizing same-sex “marriage” does. Marriage between a black person and a white person always included the two essential elements of marriage, namely a man and a woman (as opposed to just two people), and as a general rule, interracial marriage could naturally produce children and then provide those children with a mother and father. In contrast, same-sex “marriage” cannot produce children naturally and can never provide children with both a mother and father. (Another newsflash: Two dads or two moms do not equal a mom and a dad.)
Removing the laws of miscegenation simply required the removal of anti-black bigotry (since a white man could marry a Native American woman but not a black woman), whereas legalizing same-sex “marriage” requires the redefinition of marriage (opening the door to polyamorists, polygamists, and advocates of incestuous “marriages,” who are already mounting their legal and social arguments) and the normalizing of homosexuality (beginning with elementary school education), among other things.
That’s why many black Americans are rightly upset with the hijacking of the Civil Rights movement by gay activists. | <urn:uuid:75e48325-6321-4387-b412-a3830ac2d768> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2012/05/22/why-gay-is-not-the-new-black-n1068673 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.953729 | 1,224 | 2.875 | 3 |
Indoor localization for IoT applications using fingerprinting
- Publication Type:
- Conference Proceeding
- IEEE World Forum on Internet of Things, WF-IoT 2018 - Proceedings, 2018, 2018-January pp. 736 - 741
- Issue Date:
© 2018 IEEE. Fingerprinting method is one of the preferred method used for indoor localization using Wi-Fi signals because of its low complexity and its cost effectiveness. This paper proposes an indoor localization algorithm using fingerprinting method that is suitable for an indoor IoT application. The proposed algorithm combines the location estimates from two different approaches, deterministic and probabilistic, to estimate the target location. The proposed algorithm was tested for different conditions: Stationary and moving IoT targets, line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight indoor environments. The results showed the proposed combined algorithm performed better in terms of localization accuracy, precision and robustness than deterministic and probabilistic methods individually and similar past research.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: | <urn:uuid:382f09e1-2864-4249-875e-1b2d3a79309d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/handle/10453/127213 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.879933 | 227 | 2.0625 | 2 |
Mortgage & Loan Calculators
Crunch the numbers for a variety of scenarios to help make smart financial decisions.
General Purchase - Explore different mortgage amounts, rates and terms to estimate your monthly payment.
Mortgage Qualifier - See how much you can afford to borrow based on your annual income and purchase price.
Mortgage APR - Calculate the Annual Percentage Rate for your mortgage.
Mortgage Points - Determine how much you could save by buying points when you close your mortgage.
Rent versus Buy - Compare your options and see how long it would take you to break even on buying.
Mortgage Tax Savings - See how much you could save in your annual income taxes.
Adjustable Rate Mortgage Payments - Calculate your monthly payments with anticipated rate changes.
ARM versus Fixed Rate Mortgage - Compare potential monthly payments for different options.
Refinance Breakeven - See if refinancing is the best move based on rates, closing costs and other factors.
Refinance Interest Savings - Calculate how much you'll save in interest if you refinance.
Home Loan Application
Easily apply online for a preapproval, a home loan, or a home loan refinance.
General Vehicles - Find out what your monthly car payment would be based on price or vice versa.
Vehicle versus Home Equity Loan - Should you get an auto loan or use your home equity to buy your car?
Lease versus Buy - Explore the cost of buying a vehicle versus leasing.
Vehicle Rebate versus Low Interest Financing - Decide whether you should go with a low rate or a rebate.
Vehicle Loan Application
Easily apply online for a vehicle loan, or a vehicle loan refinance.
Loan & Debt Calculators
Credit Card Payoff - See how long it will take you to pay off your credit card balance.
Debt Consolidator - Calculate your monthly payment if you were to consolidate your debt.
Home Equity Credit Line Qualifier - Estimate how much credit you may qualify to receive.
Credit Line Payment - Determine your monthly payments and how much interest you'll pay.
Loan or Line Payment - Explore potential payments based on loan amount, term and interest rate. | <urn:uuid:f0226ad6-129a-47be-82d7-459b098707e1> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.uwcu.org/calculators/mortgage-loan-calculators/?ad=home | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.919682 | 472 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Economic instability, racial strife, international turmoil, strident critics, and advisors jockeying for position provide the grist for current political analysis. Surprisingly, these issues are also central to Noble Cunningham’s Presidency of James Monroe, which examines the challenges confronting Monroe during the years 1817-1825. Monroe’s responses to the Missouri Compromise, the economic panic of 1819, and European expansionism show the development of a distinctive leadership style—careful deliberation, study of all viewpoints, and consensus-building among advisors. Within this primarily political narrative, Monroe’s humanity also emerges as he chats with his wife and a visitor about paintings, dashes off notes to Cabinet members, and wrestles with the political and moral implications of slavery. Despite an occasional minor historical error (Monroe had one daughter, not two, when he sailed for France in 1794), Cunningham has provided a vivid, complex depiction of early 19th-century America and of its leader.
Drew Faust has long been known as a leading student of Southern politicians and intellectuals; now she will also be known as one of the best historians of Southern women. Her new book, eagerly awaited, does not disappoint. It explores the letters, diaries, and memoirs of elite Confederate women to see how they wrestled with the dilemmas and dramas presented by the Civil War. Faust refuses to romanticize these women, to dwell entirely on what they lost: their husbands and sons, their slaves and plantations. She does not portray them as steadfast supporters of the Confederacy that claimed to fight for their benefit, nor as incipient feminists who used the war to escape from their constricted roles. Rather, Faust forces us to recognize these women as self-interested individuals, eager to keep what they deemed theirs. The resulting portrayal is not always attractive, but it makes these women, for the first time, flesh and blood.
There is a spendid symmetry to studying libraries to gain insight into the sociology, culture, and politics of learning. Ms. Van Slyck examines the Carnegie library movement through a sophisticated interdisciplinary prism. In particular, her reading of the cultural coding implicit in the architectural design of the library makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the limitations of the doctrine “free to all.”
This important book is a wonderful brew of social history—the well-told stories of individuals plumbed for larger meanings—and intellectual history—the exploration of one paradigm and the slow awakening of another. As the framework of her analysis, Norton explores the Filmerian worldview of Puritan New England, named after Sir Robert Filmer, the English theorist of paternal power, in which all secular systems of authority rested on the father’s governance of his subordinates. By mining the court records, and by contrasting the Chesapeake area, which developed a kind of Lockean society before John Locke, with New England, Norton is able to recreate social and power relationships within the family, the community, and the state. Best of all, the court records yield delightful stories that with Norton’s help open a window on a past long shuttered from view.
How did pioneer communities make the transition from self-sufficiency to market production? Indeed, was such a transition a fundamental element in American economic history? Ms. Dunaway provides a stimulating discourse on this issue by exploring one of the most peripheral and isolated of all American regions— Southern Appalachia. She discovers more market penetration in the 18th century than previously thought, noting however that the region never made the full transition to capitalism, atrophying instead under the marginalizing pressure of the global marketplace.
Historians trained in elite Soviet schools in the late Brezhnev era, as the authors of this work were, are slowly emerging into the sunlight. In the present case the authors delight in exploding the myths of their youth and in getting to the bottom, as they now see it, of the Cold War. Stalin emerges here as less calculating, Khrushchev as even more erratic (if that is possible), Beria still more sinister, and a couple of other Kremlin players as mentally unbalanced. Based on Western published works and some Soviet-era archives.
As a professional historian, Prestwich is, rightly, more interested in what contemporary writers and records have to say about military recruitment and supply, strategy and tactics, and sieges and battles, than in trying to explain the past by applying modern standards and distinctions. The result is less a survey of warfare in the Middle Ages, than a well-organized collection of examples, drawn from the sources, which illustrate different aspects of armies in England. This is a common-sense approach which allows the reader to understand, for instance, the importance (generally underrated) of medieval strategic thinking, the difficulties (generally unappreciated) of command, the limitations (generally ignored) of the mounted knight, and the elusive nature and influence of chivalry. Moreover, by showing that there were many fundamental changes in warfare between 1050 and 1450, the author reduces the historical significance of the so-called “military revolution” of the 17th century to a ripple on the surface of what logically is a far more extensive and complex medieval period.
This collection of 15 essays, all but one of which has been previously published, considers several topics: the origins of the Civil War, its relation to American society, whether Northern victory in the war was inevitable, Lincoln’s role in the war, and, finally, why the gulf between professional and popular history keeps growing. McPherson is the most popular historian writing today for two reasons: he writes about the Civil War, still an American obsession, and he has a deeply moral view of the events he writes about. He believes strongly that slavery was wrong, that Lincoln was a great leader who wanted to end slavery, and that the North in the end did fight for a just cause. This morality is evident in all of these essays. McPherson also knows an almost inconceivable amount about the Civil War, and he produces a very nuanced view of his subjects, as evidenced in his essays on why the Confederacy lost the war. The combination of morality and intellectual honesty manifested in these essays makes McPherson a very unusual historian and one worth reading and rereading.
It took a while for community studies, a mainstay of social science and New England history since the 1960’s, to come to the South. But those studies are now proliferating, bringing the same strengths and weaknesses they brought to other fields of study. Jonathan Bryant’s book is in many ways a model history of a Southern place. It is carefully researched, thoughtfully considered, and written with sensitivity. The story it tells is that of a once-wealthy county in relentless decline after the Civil War. The tragedy of Greene County is that the same war that ended slavery unleashed a series of changes that produced a different kind of poverty. Bryant weaves together the linked stories of black and white, measuring what was won and lost with emancipation. As with community studies in general, the answer is not surprising but it does possess the weight and scale of a particular place and time. Bryant’s book makes a familiar history more human—and all the more bittersweet as a result.
There’s a word which, like “liberal” and “conservative,” assumes whatever meaning the speaker intends, but when you hear “fascist” you’re almost never in range of a compliment. Images of jackboots, black or brown shirts, hair-cuts only slightly longer than Benito Mussolini’s, pistols, whips, and unspeakable horrors spring to mind. Those images bear considerable resemblance to the reality not only of fascism but also of its kissing cousin, communism. Professor Payne discusses the various varieties of fascism in this comprehensive survey, which incorporates the latest scholarly research.
Professor Thurston, who teaches Russian history at Miami University in Ohio, concludes this book with the note that “Twice in that period [1933—1941] amelioration in political life and use of the law, with the promise of even better to come, dominated the scene. But twice this direction was broken by unplanned events. Of course Stalin contributed much to the maliciousness of the period, but he did not need to rule by terror.” Basing his account on the Russian archives and a fresh reading of the secondary literature, Thurston is nothing if not provocative. A dust jacket blurb observes that this book is “sure to reanimate a debate.”
This fascinating new exploration into the myths of the Incas from the perspective of modern astronomy reveals why the Incas were willing to risk their entire civilization in a desperate gamble to halt the apocalyptic changes that they expected to occur on earth, changes caused, they believed, by the great transitions taking place in the heavens. The Incas’ interpretation of the astronomical events that they encoded in their myths reveals that their priests expected a great cataclysm to destroy their world at about the time that the Conquistadors happened to arrive in the New World, and thus the myths explain why the Incas so readily allied with the Spanish.
Southerners wince to see their rankings at the very bottom of every scale when it comes to education. As hard as it may be to believe, there was a time when it was even worse. In the late 19th century, in the wake of war and emancipation, illiteracy ravaged Southern states. And among the most backward states was North Carolina, now known for its relatively enlighted support for education. James Leloudis’ book tells the story of the beginning of this transformation, when a number of reformers remade education there. Like the story of all reform, this one is decidedly mixed, with tangled motives, unintended outcomes, blind spots, and active prejudices. Yet Leloudis’s solid account reminds us just what these reformers were up against and how difficult even the slightest reform could be.
Writing for the laity, Chadwick unleashes the formidable talents long exhibited in the scholarly world as the reigning dean of Christian historians. Chadwick enlivens the Christian experience while detailing the Christian faith’s spread throughout the world. He thankfully avoids theological jargon as he guides the reader through the thicket of assorted theologies birthed in churches these last two millennia. Both doctrinal and cultural developments unique to the various confessions receive fair and substantive treatment. Extensively and beautifully illustrated, this volume contains an array of full-color art works that could by themselves justify its purchase.
Tyler traces upper- and middle-class white women’s political activism, broadly defined, after women won the vote, attempting to determine whether women were able to integrate into traditional politics at large, or whether they maintained their clout through women’s organizations. She contends that these activists balanced their traditional role as Southern women while establishing a public female identity; by doing so, they quietly eroded male dominance without appearing to question the patriarchal ethos. Women’s “golden age” of activism began in the 1930’s with opposition to the policies of Huey Long, and extended into the sixties, when racial issues complicated traditional divisions. Women participated along traditional lines in a variety of ways, though they did not often hold office. Nevertheless, they refused to allow their organizations to become mere adjuncts of men’s organizations.
Charles Wright is one of the most important poets writing in America today. He is revered by other poets for his pitch-perfect ear and verbal brilliance. He continually surprises and delights with the structural inventiveness of his poems and books. And, of course, his vision identifies him as one who has something worthwhile to say. In The Point Where All Things Meet, Tom Andrews culls the best of the criticism written about Wright and presents it in an excellent volume that gives both an overview of Wright’s career and focuses attention to specific volumes, themes, and obsessions. Both critics (including Helen Vendler, Calvin Bedient, and David Kalstone) and poets (including David St. John, Edward Hirsch, and Michael Chitwood) are included, and this diversity offers a rich perspective of readings. From interpretations of Wright’s use of the simile to examinations of the metaphysical elements in his work, these essays illuminate and compliment Wright’s poems. The Point Where All Things Meet is an excellent critical collection.
We normally think of bibliography as a scholarly activity necessary only in the case of authors from the distant past. In Shakespeare’s case, for example, sorting out the good from the bad quartos among early editions may be essential just to establishing accurate texts of his plays. But as William Schaberg shows, even with a relatively recent author such as Nietzsche, careful bibliographical study may illuminate our reading of his works. Because Nietzsche was in effect forced to pay for the printing of many of his works himself, the publication history of his books is especially important, and Schaberg ends up telling a fascinating tale of the German publishing scene in the second half of the 19th century. This book is probably not for the general reader, but Nietzsche scholars will find it very useful, especially for all the facsimiles of title pages from Nietzsche’s publications it reproduces, and the detailed descriptive bibliography of all his writings it includes.
All but four of the 20 essays in this powerful collection originally appeared in a special issue of Modern Language Quarterly. Each author teaches in an academic department of literature and language, but we are given a variety of critical views and methodologies. The topics addressed range from promising trends in medieval studies (Howard Bloch) to a new conception of American literary history (Jonathan Arac) to a defense of free speech in response to the views of Stanley Fish (Annabel Patterson). For good or for ill, these essays demonstrate that contemporary literary critics are as much concerned with the social and political as with the aesthetic.
This is a fascinating history of British philosophical aesthetics in the 18th century, which situates the rise of interest in theories of beauty and sensation, so characteristic of this age, not simply in the early stirrings of empiricist phenomenology, but in forms of religious speculation that had begun to displace the Biblical image of God and creation as early as the Renaissance. Against the Platonist heterodoxies of Lord Shaftesbury, Paulson poses the more somatocentric aesthetics of Hogarth. In reaction to Shaftesbury’s remote and dilettantish God, Paulson opines, Hogarth forged his aesthetics from the economies of flesh—the human form, particularly the female, occupying a position for him between beauty and sublimity, in the realm of novelty and strangeness. Paulson also treats literary figures, such as Fielding and Sterne, as in some sense practitioners of the aesthetics of Hogarth, accomplishing in prose narratives innovations comparable to Hogarth’s upon canvas. This is a book, in short, that adds something new to its field, and one whose execution is admirable in every part.
This is the latest volume in Oxford’s series Women Writers in English 1350—1850, which has rescued a number of worthy texts from obscurity. Lady Eleanor embarked upon her career as a mystic early in the reign of Charles I, and over the course of 27 years produced more than 60 tracts of apocalyptic prophecy. Elliptical, obscure, often fustian, these texts are still the products of a keen and fertile mind, and one deeply imbued with learning. The style mimics the Christian Apocalypse, but abounds in literary turns—many of them felicitous—that are quite original with her; she even occasionally wrote in verse. In short, this is a delightful and unexpected find, a volume that calls attention to a strange and gifted writer whose works merit preservation, and even occasionally praise.
The groundswell behind The Ecocriticism Reader has been building for 25 years, as literary scholars have gradually become more and more interested in exploring literary representations from an ecological perspective. Now Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm have gathered 25 essays—both classic texts and original writing—from the leading practitioners of “literary ecology” and framed them with a helpful introduction and a list of recommended books, periodicals, and professional organizations. The introduction defines ecocritical discourse, traces its evolution from the 1970’s to the present, and organizes its contributions into three categories: “Ecotheory: Reflections on Nature and Culture,” “Ecocritical Considerations of Fiction and Drama,” and “Critical Studies of Environmental Literature.” The contributions are diverse in both content and approach, treating such topics as nature writing, deep ecology and post-structuralism, the picturesque aesthetic and the national park system, the pathetic fallacy, nature and silence, and Native American modes of perception. Contributors include Paula Gunn Allen, Neil Evernden, William Howarth, Annette Kolodny, Ursula K. Le Guin, Scott Russell Sanders, Leslie Marmon Silko, Frederick Turner, and Lynn White, Jr.
If the madness of the poet is a deep theme of 20th-century poetry, it is a subject, as this book makes clear, with an extensive history, which carries us back to the Renaissance, to Torquato Tasso. Focusing on Goethe’s response to Tasso and on Blake, Byron, Shelley, and Hazlitt, among others, the author illuminates the visionary history of literature, penetrating the “dark labyrinth of irrationality.”
Although Shinder’s fifth theme-oriented anthology lacks the emotional bite of his previous collections which dealt with parent/child relationships, the volume does demonstrate the firm hold that film has always had on the American imagination. These American writers are arranged chronologically from Robert Frost (b. 1874) to Tom Andrews (b. 1961) and ideologically from Vachel Lindsay on Mae Marsh to Thylias Moss on Hattie McDaniel. Adventures, Westerns, romances, and mysteries, John Wayne, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Marlene Dietrich are all subject matter for the muses of the 117 poets and three songwriters. A delightful collection of literary insights into America’s second most favorite thing to do in the dark.
A fine poet with a distinguished record as an editor of, and commentator on, recent American verse, Lieberman here comes to grips with master texts by James Dickey, Robert Penn Warren, Stephen Berg, and, above all, Robert Lowell, whose last phase Lieberman seeks to rehabilitate. Highly eclectic, the essays combine formal, biographical, and cultural analysis on an “as-needed” basis and achieve their delicate coherence as the reflex of one man’s deeply sensitive and informed reading. Nothing could be less academic or more provocative.
This fine collection of essays represents a true contribution to the fields of film, media, and Latino/Chicano studies. The book is broken down into two sections, the first section setting forth the theoretical apparatus and providing the historical context within which the texts will be examined, and the second section consisting of close readings of the various films, videos, and performance art pieces. Thus the essays which make up the section entitled “Critical Mappings” deal with the history of Chicano cinema in general, then the specificities of the Puerto Rican, the Cuban and Cuban exile, and the Latino lesbian and gay cinemas. The essays which make up the section entitled “Close Readings,” then, treat a wide variety of films, videos, and performance art pieces, from the mainstream and widely publicized (such as Stand and Deliver and El Mariachi) to the marginal and less well-known (such as One Moment in Timeand Welcome to America’s Finest Tourist Plantation). Indeed, this collection of essays is impressive in not only the quality of scholarship that the various authors demonstrate, which is consistently high, but also in the scope of material treated.
A fascinating anthology that begins with the journals and letters of women in “The Antebellum South” and finishes with essays and short stories of “The Contemporary South.” Each section is prefaced by an excellent longer essay and each writer by a brief but thoughtful introduction. Most interesting are the first three sections of the book, which include writings from 1861—1918. Filled with the probing, often heroic work of our earliest known Southern women writers, including Anne Newport Royall, the first American newspaperwoman, and Harriet Jacobs, writer of the first complete slave narrative by a woman and one of the most gifted writers in the collection, these testimonies both enthrall and disturb. Many of the early pieces are so riveting, and their writers so brilliantly detail the peculiarities of their era, that one is oddly disappointed when, in the last half of the collection, one turns to favorite but familiar fiction writers like Carson McCullers and Zora Neale Hurston.
Napoleon, it has been said, was the single greatest heroic figure of the 19th century (if for some he was Satanic). Even so, there has been no sustained, in-depth analysis of Napoleon’s image during the period. This book is thus an important and welcome chapter in the story of Napoleon’s historical image, offering thoughtful close examinations of how Napoleon was treated in the work of Wordsworth, Byron, Hazlitt, among others.
This book has been a long time in the making. It is clearly the culmination of years of reading, teaching, and directing Chekhov. Gilman, a professor of playwriting and dramatic literature at the Yale Drama School, has given us a personal and accessible work of criticism. Gilman relates Chekhov’s major plays to the context of Russian and European drama, and the larger culture of the period. All this is done elegantly enough. But the most valuable thing about this work, beyond its admirable familiarity with its subject, is Gilman’s portrayal of Chekhov as our contemporary.
Whereas Jeffrey Meyers’s last two biographies of Edgar Allan Poe and F. Scott Fitzgerald placed a premium on revealing the weaknesses of their subjects, Meyers’s new biography of Robert Frost provides a much more balanced portrait, acknowledging Frost’s faults as a person but not letting these drive an interpretation of the poetry. Much of the strength of Meyers’s text comes in reaction to Lawrance Thompson’s highly critical three-volume treatment of Frost, researched with Frost’s cooperation over a 25-year period. Thompson, Meyers claims, “knew too much and understood too little.” The tone of Meyers’s preface, in which he expresses his admiration for Frost’s personal characteristics, moral courage, and poetic achievement, suggests his approach throughout the text.”The Frost that emerges from this biography,” says Meyers, “is neither the hayseed sage that he cultivated in his public persona nor the ‘monster in human form’ portrayed by Thompson. He is, instead, a subtle and engaging, passionate and tragic figure.” Indeed, passion and tragedy are the special contributions of this new biography, which explores in detail Frost’s relationship with Kay Morrison, his secretary, following the death of his wife Elinor in 1938, and looks closely at the death of Frost’s children as important sources for his art. All told, Robert Frost may be Meyers’s best, most humane biography to date.
Orphaned in infancy, Mr. Duchin was semi-adopted by the late, great American statesman Averell Harriman and spent his childhood and adolescence in a secure, loving environment. After sowing some stray notes in Paris, where he knew the old Paris Review crowd, he returned to the United States and, like his father before him, became high society’s favorite bandleader. His stories of the rich and famous, some of whom treated him like the hired help he in fact was, make for delightful reading for everyone except, no doubt, Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman, our woman in Paris now, and whatever did the French do to deserve her?
Bram Stoker may seem like the ultimate one-trick pony—known today solely for having written Dracula—but actually he lived a very interesting existence, which brought him into contact with many of the most famous figures of Victorian England, such as Oscar Wilde, Arthur Conan Doyle, and, above all, the great actor Henry Irving, to the managing of whose career Stoker devoted much of his life. With all the recent interest among literary critics in Dracula,the time was ripe for a new biography of its author, and Barbara Belford has produced one that is thoroughgoing and readable. She is able to take advantage of much new information about Stoker that has surfaced since the last biography of him was written, and she also has done archival research that goes well beyond anything undertaken by her predecessors. As a result, her book sheds new light on many facets of Stoker’s career, not least on the composition of Dracula itself and the way it reflects Stoker’s complex relationship with Irving. Some may find Belford’s reading of Dracula reductively biographical, but some of the connections she draws between the novel’s plot and Irving’s virtually hypnotic domination over Stoker are fascinating and undeniable.
Edited by Laurence Sutin, son of the principals, this memoir opens to the easy-lived reader of these days the searing reality of human beings in the midst of their own self-inflicted destructive worst, namely, war. And, of course, at the same time can be seen the apogee of the power of human intelligence in the face of incredibly horrible challenges to survival. In their own separate word groupings, these two Polish Jewish refugees recount details of their lives in their home area of Eastern Poland during the years of World War II. The result is that the reader is slammed between feelings of admiration for the intelligence and spirit of self-preservation exhibited by the survivors, and loathing for the depths to which human beings are capable of descending.
Anthony Fleming (Sayers’ illegitimate son) planned an eight-volume edition of his mother’s letters. Clearly this was a women besotted with the sight of her own words (the speed of her novel writing in the 1930’s confirms this). Fortunately, however, Ms. Reynolds has limited herself to two volumes (the jejeune posturings of the early letters and the domestic detail of the later make me wonder how trivial the omitted letters must have been!). Sayers comes across as self-absorbed and at times over-bearing, intelligent without being intellectual, but a lively correspondent all the same. The sub-title misleads; only the final third has any links to the Wimsey novels, although the correspondence with Eustace Barton, her technical adviser on means of murder, is fascinating.
The fame of Ida Lupino has not worn well, despite her evident talents. Her acting career was mostly limited to now-forgotten films, and her directing to ephemeral TV movies. Donati makes no compelling case for a rediscovery, and his unmemorable book will do little to rescue Ms. Lupino from oblivion.
When Carlos Baker began work on Emerson Among the Eccentrics in the early 1970’s, he prepared a sketch of his plan for the book: “To write what will amount to a new biography of Emerson, developed by reference to some of his leading friendships, chiefly but not exclusively literary. These will include Alcott, Edward Thompson Taylor, Jones Very, Margaret Fuller, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Theodore Parker, Walt Whitman, Mary Moody Emerson, Charles Newcomb and Ellery Channing.” Baker died in 1987, having completed all but the final revisions to his manuscript, which has now been published with a brief introduction and an epilogue by James R. Mellow. Until now Baker has been best known as the author of Ernest Hemingway: A Life Story(1969), but that may change with Emerson Among the Eccentrics, a richly detailed study of Emerson’s social and intellectual circle and a valuable contribution to our understanding of 19th-century American life. Baker’s “group portrait” begins in the 1830’s, when Emerson is 27 and about to enter fully into public life, and ends in 1882, with Emerson’s death in his hometown of Concord. By drawing heavily on Emerson’s letters and journals, as well as on the writings of his contemporaries, Baker is able to show that Emerson “both half-created the climate of opinion by which he has nurtured, while partly adapting his opinions to the ideological environment which local and national events thrust upon him.”
Harold Ickes, FDR’s Interior Secretary and head of the PWA (Public Works Administration), has gone in recent years from obscurity to posthumous fame with Linda Lear’s study of his pre-New Deal career, T.H. Watkins’ massive comprehensive biography, and a rather odd psychobiography appearing in the past 15 years. Ickes remains endlessly fascinating, but even the most devoted admirers of his Autobiography of a Curmudgeon or his three volumes of Secret Diaries may wonder what more can be added to the Ickes material already available. Remarkably, Clarke does contribute new information and provides a detailed and readable account of Ickes’ New Deal years which supplements, but does not replace, that in Watkins’ Righteous Pilgrim. Like Watkins, Clarke had the full cooperation of the Ickes family, but, curiously, she makes no use of Watkins’ work. Pursuing research independently is one thing; ignoring a prize-winning biography is quite another. Still, Roosevelt’s Warrior is essential reading for students of the New Deal and for admirers of “Honest Harold” Ickes.
This comprises the second volume of the three-volume collection of the Freud-Ferenczi correspondence, and should be of great interest to those wishing to chart the road of this rocky friendship. Brilliant moments of self-analysis and analysis are contained here, analyses that clash, fall apart, and reconstruct before the reader’s eyes. The volume offers crucial insights into the psychoanalytic method and into the thin line between friendship and the analyst/analysand relationship.
Told to take all the food she would need for a year, an indomitable 45-year-old teacher from Pennsylvania set out in 1904 for a teaching post in the Alaska wilderness. Hannah Breece would spend the next 14 years doing the “beneficent work that only the government can provide” to bring the English language and American civilization to the Aleuts, Kenais, and Eskimos. As her great-niece and editor Jane Jacobs observes, Hannah Breece succeeded where others failed by her efforts to nurture her charges rather than control them. She fed their empty stomachs during famine years and taught them how to bake bread as well as the three R’s. Her first post was Afognak a settlement which once housed Russian convicts next to Kodiak Island on the Aleutian peninsula—several years and various villages later she arrives at Fort Yukon on the Arctic Circle having traveled by dogsled, river-boat, and foot trails and having survived encounters with bears, falls through the ice, and sub-zero cold and frozen bread and cabbages so hard only the blow of an ax could break them in two. This is a fascinating first person account supplemented by Jane Jacobs’ informative notes.
This is a fascinating gathering of essays on one of the great and influential figures in the history of American thought. Included here are tributes and reflections by Josiah Royce, George Santayana, Arthur Lovejoy, Walter Lippman and many others. In some cases, we are also given glimpses into the life of the extraordinary philosopher and psychologist, which reflect on his “genius for friendship.”
The author of the “Devil’s Dictionary” may have died in Texas, or New Mexico, or some-place, in 1914, or he may be alive today in some cave in Sonora; with Ambrose Bierce, one never knows. An authentic Civil War hero, the lead he carried in his body further poisoned his fragile tolerance of his fellow citizens. Wielding his pen with misanthropic dexterity, he skewered the pompous, the hypocritical, and the blissfully mediocre luminaries among us. They denied him their honors, on which he spat while reading— maybe still reading—their obituaries. We will never read his, but we can savor this good new biography.
In Sugar and Slavery, Family and Race, the world of the French Caribbean during the late slave era and emancipation is evoked through the letters and diary of Martinican planter Pierre Dessales. The private journal reflects an intractable and often brutal personality, while the letters provide a marked contrast, containing a much more restrained and judicious self-presentation. The editing of the volume is authoritative, cutting down what was once a four-volume work in French to manageable length while retaining details of interest for the historian or general reader. Additionally, two essential tools for the researcher are provided—a masterful introduction to the historical context of the diary, and a comprehensive index. While these permit the easy location of passages of particular interest, the book reads almost like a novel and can be read and enjoyed as a whole.
The last two volumes of Kelvin’s impressive undertaking cover the last years of Morris’ life, 1889—96, during most of which period Morris’ main concern was the Kelmscott Press. There are innumerable short notes on business matters, and it takes a patient reader to extract the true interest of the work: Morris’s developing thought on socialism, art and the aesthetic movement. The task is made pleasant by the attractive warmth of Morris’ character.
Bucking the Sun opens with a murder and ends with its solution, but this novel is anything but a fast-paced thriller. Doig follows the experiences of the extended Duff family as their lives intersect and overlap while they work on the New Deal financed Fort Peck (Montana) Dam project. Doig’s concentration on detail and historical accuracy, as well as his large cast of characters, demands the slow delivery. But what the novel lacks in pulse-pounding plot twists it gains in rich prose, human insight, and character development. Doig excels at creating the world in which his characters live and making the reader feel that he, too, inhabits that world. His storytelling is nuanced and always rings true. Bucking the Sun is an extremely satisfying book.
Winner of the Virginia Quarterly Review’sBalch Prize, Starling Lawrence is a literary inventor of the highest order. This long-anticipated collection of short stories is a quietly provocative examination of the vicissitudes of love, manifested in all its multiple guises. The bird-watching protagonist of “Desire Lines,” for example, cherishes her hobby to such a degree that, almost in spite of herself, she kills a rival. In “The Crown of Light,” a story which first appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review, an estranged farmer, longing for the fraternal warmth of his past, leaves his wife in the middle of the night and never returns. All of these heroes seem conflicted and ordinary and delicate, haunted by ghosts present or past, and all evoke an uncomfortable mix of sympathy and dread. Because Lawrence’s plots are simple and straightforward, devoid of distracting spins or complicated nuances, the reader is left with the shock of the obvious; love drives us all mad. This is the perfect collection to launch a storied career.
The author is an experienced sailor who has served as third officer on H.M.S. Rose, a modern replica of a British frigate of the period of the American Revolution. His first-hand knowledge of what sailors on merchant and naval vessels of that period endured and enjoyed is apparent in this, the first novel of a trilogy, Revolution at Sea,centered on the American Revolution. This is a novel of action and adventure which does not have the character development that distinguishes the nautical novels of C.S. Forster and Patrick O’Brian. It should be enjoyed as a bit of lively escapism that presents a vivid picture of the ordinary seaman’s life and work in the late 18th century.
Sky Over El Nido, winner of the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction, is a breath-taking first collection. Mayo’s characters are by turns wise-ass and wistful, romantic and stringently realistic. They are each infused with the contradiction that is modern day Mexico, the setting for most of these stories, the contradiction between a lush and mysterious past and a present in which, as in the title story, prison inmates imagine that their guard “has a closet full of women’s shoes, all stolen. He subscribes to a foot-fetishist magazine which arrives more or less every other month in a plain brown wrapper.” Or a young boy wearing a T-shirt from Sea World that reads “I heard Baby Shamu,” appears in a woman’s hallucination in “The Third Day.” In “The Wedding,” a mother plans her daughter’s nuptials in accordance with “the Martha Stewart coffee table book,” and a grandmother worries about “the high polyester content” of the dress she intends to wear. An art history student on a pilgrimage to a Mayan pyramid in “O” describes the Mexico of C.M. Mayo’s stories as “Neptune, with televisions.” These stories are vibrant, strange, loaded with offbeat humor, exquisite detail, and delivered with near perfect pitch. Sky Over El Nidoshimmers with life.
In her second novel, Livesey maps the nature of desire from its most innocuous to its most manipulative. The story begins when Ewan Munro, a successful London banker, finds a baby in the men’s room of a Perth bus station. He is on his way to visit his sister Mollie, and a moment’s indecision finds him back on the bus with the baby. Mollie, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, finds herself attaching to the baby she initially intended to give to the authorities. Meanwhile, the real father, a simple-minded, low-class thug from Perth, who left the baby and witnessed Ewan’s inadvertent kidnapping, begins to develop blackmail plans of his own. This is only the beginning of a novel that moves comfortably from the world of high-stakes London banking to working-class Perth, to the remote landscape of northern Scotland. In Criminals, Livesey, a native of Scotland, reveals how narrow the line is between wanting and taking, good intentions and criminal ones, absentmindedness and evil. This is a compelling novel that disappoints, however, in the final chapters, when threads of the story are resolved too quickly or not at all.
Sybylla Muldoon, public defender, has an ACLU card in her wallet, a job that keeps her on the edge of burn-out, a Supreme Court nominee for a father, and no social life. When she is called upon to defend a homeless man accused of stabbing a young girl, all these facts become relevant to the deepening mystery. Are her client’s ravings evidence of his psychosis, or of something more troubling? Muldoon is more congenial than the mystery itself, which is a bit of a no-brainer. And there are details which nag at the reader: would an experienced attorney be so careless about documenting the provenance of her evidence? Korelitz’s first novel is not the searing indictment of American justice promised by the dust jacket. It is a competently written mystery that occasionally gives one pause. Save this one for the beach.
This first novel is both creative and thought-provoking. The book is written as a first-person narrative from the perspective of Chai, a Chinese man who fled to Hong Kong as an adolescent and now works in New York as a financial analyst at an investment bank. The narrator takes an interest in Calvin Coolidge, the United States president whom most historians think is boring but who, Chai learns, was a deeply practical and ethical man. The author contrasts Coolidge and the American values he stands for with the violence of China under Mao and the free-wheeling capitalism of Hong Kong, where Chai had an affair 20 years ago with Selina, a woman he meets again in the course of the book. Torn between Selina and his wife and young child, Chai receives direction from Coolidge in a dream. This is an excellent novel; we can only look forward to seeing what Derbyshire produces next.
This fourth mystery in a series featuring art dealer Jonathan Argyle begins in a chatty, almost flippant style. Without giving it much thought, Argyle agrees to deliver a painting to Rome. That decision triggers a series of misadventures in which the painting is nearly stolen, the buyer is murdered, and Argyle chased all over Europe by a man “with a scar.” In the interim, a frothy entertainment becomes a complicated story of much deeper moral force whose roots are buried in the tumultuous events of World War II. And as the sleuthing comes to an end, the reader is treated to a surprisingly good, yet unsettling, conclusion.
In his new collection, the author of The Man Who Loved Levittown has deepened and broadened his range. Wetherell’s craft in these nine stories, his use of landscape and character, is more refined and ambitious, his vision emboldened by a deeper sense of history. In the title piece, an old man who once tried to bribe the customs house of Melville reflects on the power of stories.”In a Maritime Province” follows a photographer who must look to his daughter for guidance in grieving for his dead wife. And in a minor masterpiece simply entitled “The Snow,” a young boy trapped in his family’s cabin learns, through gestures both subtle and wrenching, about extremities of love, madness, courage, betrayal, and death. In the hands of a lesser stylist, these tales might turn melodramatic, but Wetherell’s steady hand delivers the simple pleasures of plot and human revelation. Old-fashioned virtues, these, and if Wetherell plays a flat note here, it is only when he tackles subjects that call for spare, ironic treatment, such as the media and politics. When he stays in the mode of modern fable, he is as good as any story writer working.
Award-winning mystery writer Wright begins a new series featuring retired Toronto policeman Mel Pickett. In a small town in northern Ontario, Pickett is building a log home and settling into the rhythms of country life when his peace is broken by the murder of Larch River’s biggest bully. There is no end of suspects; the victim was disliked by everyone in town but his sister. Pickett stays on the periphery of the investigation until the police grab a suspect, whose mother pleads with him to help free her innocent son. Even then, this 60-year-old man goes about his inquiries in a plodding, if thorough, way. The pace is also methodical—the writer more interested in the quirks of human nature than in criminal procedure. But that is all to the good, for added to a satisfying mystery, Wright limns a number of finely drawn characters who make this a book worth perusing.
More a series of well-crafted though loosely connected literary portraits than a novel in the traditional sense of the word, Neihart’s depiction of teen culture, boredom, and self-absorption tinged with sexual yearning ultimately fails to deliver more than a superficial snapshot of a rather colorless character superimposed upon a busy and loud New Orleans backdrop. The protagonist, Joe, drifts through his day alternately turning off, through drug and alcohol use, and turning on, particularly when confronted with other young men. However, there is nothing ultimately endearing or even interesting (being gay has long ceased to automatically make a character exotic or remarkable) about any of the central characters to stimulate emotional involvement or demand our attention here. This is essentially an expanded version of Neihart’s writing for The New Yorker.
What won’t a down-sized middle manager do to put bread on the table. Buoyed by his first success, John Tracer decides to become a private investigator. Called in to find the sister of his delusional neighbor, Tracer tracks her from Oregon to Los Angeles, stumbling casually upon the kinds of horrors that would give you or me the whimwhams. Billed as a “Tracer Family Mystery,” the book is by turns funny, whimsical, lurid, frightening, and definitely offbeat
Now available in the U.S., this haunting early novel by the Booker Prize-winning author is sure to roil the passions of its new readers. Simon Thebus, an elderly retiree, lives on his sister Audrey’s estate where Marion, a distant young relative also stays. Audrey hires a 20-year-old gardener, Josh, to restore the patrician grounds to its former glory. But Simon, resentful of Audrey’s dominance, has already begun to dig a secret tunnel. Josh threatens his longed-for autonomy. This and other misalliances trigger an eerie series of devastating blows into all their lives—until finally the suspense cracks the dangerous surface of the chapters which shift between the voices of Simon and Josh. Curiosity and voyeurism plummet into sexual depravity and forbidding cruelty. Frightening and extraordinary.
Jack Mauser lives in a Dantean world of fire and ice. He cannot escape the frigid image of his first wife’s death, walking away from him during a blizzard, into a snowbank where she sits down to die. For abandoning her only hours after their impetuous barroom wedding, Mauser is relegated in his own mind to the frozen confinement of traitors at the lowest level of Inferno. His memory is haunted with images of fire as well. A passionate midnight tryst in a convent garden with his second wife Eleanor provides an unintended view of the death-by-lightening incineration of an ancient and saintly nun. The fire motif announced in the title of the novel is also interwoven into the narratives that fill its pages. Most prominent of the “tales of burning love” are those told in the midst of another snowstorm. Thinking that Jack has died in a fire at his home, his surviving four wives gather to mourn his passing. Together they are stranded in a car and survive the night keeping each other awake with tales of their times with Jack. This is among the best of Erdrich’s novels, and she mines the riches of small-town connectedness, creating characters and coincidences of Dickensian dimension.
It is a shame this courtroom novel is being hyped as the next Presumed Innocent, for it is not remotely in that league. A plodding litigator with one of Boston’s white shoe law firms loses his job and risks his legal career to defend a friend charged with first degree murder. Forming the backdrop to the story is a legal mistake so massive that it will cost the firm millions. Throw in some clichéd characters—the patrician Yankee, the volatile Westerner, a drop-dead gorgeous high-powered lawyer, a fiesty and loyal female sidekick—and you can imagine the rest. The novel is deftly plotted, but Willett’s execution of it is as methodical and uninspired as his protagonist. He gets the job done, but the reader can claim little joy of it.
Ever since the publication some years ago of his beguiling and original Flaubert’s Parrot,Julian Barnes has staked his claim to the literary heritage of Nabokov. This smart collection of short stories only adds to his patrimony. Barnes’s prose is always a delight to read, not only for the imagination and simplicity of the tale, but for the sheer lyricism and intelligence of the page. This writer, clearly, is a master. Though Barnes’s new stories are amazingly diverse, each takes up an aspect of the British experience of France: royal mercenaries attack a Protestant village in the south of France; two frumpy spinsters bring their English anxieties to a run-down vineyard near Bordeaux; an oldish writer journeys to Paris in the year 2015. Fresh and enjoyable and aesthetically just, this collection begs to be read and savored and read again by anyone with a fondness for France or fine literary craftsmanship. | <urn:uuid:23131457-c0a1-4aba-a44c-49154acabe00> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.vqronline.org/recent-books/notes-current-books-autumn-1996 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573744.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20220819161440-20220819191440-00472.warc.gz | en | 0.958623 | 10,234 | 2.703125 | 3 |
For many children, summer camp can be one of the more rewarding and unforgettable experiences of a child’s life. In addition to creating great friendship, enduring memories and personal development, camp helps children gain an appreciation for life. As the school year begins to wind down and the days begin to warm, appreciate the many gifts of summer. For children, the break from the academic structure is a carefree time to bask in the many joys of childhood. Here, in the Mystic area, parents are incredibly fortunate to have so many wonderful camp opportunities available, offering a wide range of styles and themes.
The Mystic Museum of Art invites kids of all ages and artistic abilities to experience our fun and enriching art camps. We offer young artists the tools to explore art through a new lens in a positive and nurturing environment. They will learn firsthand that there are no limits when it comes to imagination. Our campers will not only pride themselves in their creations but they will also learn many important life skills. Our caring, adult mentors will guide and encourage your child to be the best that they can be!
Here at MMoA, campers will learn:
- Creative, social, emotional, intellectual, and moral growth
- To try new things and break out of their comfort zones by taking creative risks
- Communication skills
- Character Development by gaining confidence and seeing the value of hard work
- Benefit of both independent and team work
- Gain confidence and become better problem solvers
Select from our wide range of themed Specialty camps- from cartooning to 3D sculpture, fashion design, graffiti and more, or choose a Jr. Studio camp where artists are exposed to a little bit of everything. Register for multiple weeks for a fully immersive art experience. Our goal this summer is to give our campers the time of their lives. | <urn:uuid:ec0a9983-2ef7-4308-8d4b-836a97a0efcb> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.mysticmuseumofart.org/2018-summer-camp-season-is-upon-us/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.94931 | 372 | 2.03125 | 2 |
I'm not sure when it was made, But I would estimate about 1910+-? The only mark on the bottom can be seen in photo 9. There isn't a decorators mark because the Grandmother who painted it didn't sign it. She ordered the china blanks for her entire set from France and then artfully hand painted every piece with the same elements used on the tureen.There were very few pieces of the set remaining because her Grandmother had used the set over the years. The tureen measures about 10 1/2 in diameter. It's about 7 tall (from bottom to the top of the final on the cover). I imagine the tureen didn't get used that much and that's why it's in such great condition. I found the piece in Eau Claire, Wisconsin many years ago. Note: Back at the turn of the century, hand painting your own set of quality china was quite common, but most of it that I've seen was poorly done - Grandma must have been very talented, because when I first saw this piece I immediately looked for the factory decorators mark. That was when her Daughter came over and we started talking about it and was given the information. YOU JUST DON'T FIND OLD SOUP TUREENS OF THIS QUALITY ANYMORE! Was Unit 78, now in unit20. The item "ANTIQUE HAND PAINTED LIMOGES FRANCE SOUP TUREEN IN EXCELLENT CONDITION" is in sale since Sunday, September 2, 2012. This item is in the category "Pottery & Glass\Pottery & China\China & Dinnerware\Limoges". The seller is "manofglass1" and is located in Strum, Wisconsin. This item can be shipped to United States. | <urn:uuid:dac43f78-a8c5-486d-bd8f-37cdeb45be67> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://limogeshandpainted.com/en/antique_hand_painted_limoges_france_soup_tureen_in_excellent_condition.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.977103 | 372 | 1.710938 | 2 |
CHRISTIANSTED — Regardless of whether the Atlantic Basin’s next tropical depression forms in the coming days, downpours will stream across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico still enduring the long road to recovery after hurricanes Irma and Maria.
A tropical system tracking from north of two territories to south of Bermuda has a small window to develop into a tropical depression.
“Showers and thunderstorms are expected across portions of southeastern and northern Puerto Rico as well as across the U.S. Virgin Islands and local waters,” the National Weather Service said. “Hazardous marine conditions are expected with seas up to eight feet and winds up to 20 knots. As a result, small craft advisories are in effect.”
The system is currently battling strong wind shear, but that shear may lessen enough Monday into Tuesday for development to take place.
Wind shear is the changing of speed and direction of winds at different layers of the atmosphere. Strong wind shear can prevent tropical development or shred apart mature tropical storms or hurricanes.
“The system will not threaten the United States as a cold front moving off the Eastern Seaboard will eventually steer it to the northeast into the open waters of the Atlantic by midweek,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
“Instead, it will get steered close enough to Bermuda to deliver some wind and heavy downpours from Monday into Tuesday night regardless of development.”
Pydynowski gives the system a medium chance to develop into a depression or storm.
If the system becomes a tropical depression, it may become a tropical storm and acquire the name Philippe.
However, the system is likely to not significantly strengthen further. | <urn:uuid:e7b77eeb-3f0f-4cba-a59a-c2681731d48f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://vifreepress.com/2017/10/virgin-islands-puerto-rico-face-brief-torrential-rain-showers-invest-92l-tries-develop-north/amp/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.92615 | 368 | 2.21875 | 2 |
Richard Linklater, who has always been a pioneer in experimental filmmaking and is the first to make a movie in which actually shows the real growing up and changing of its characters. Linklater knew that he wanted to make a movie about childhood, but instead of using the typical techniques, he insisted on filming the same cast members over a period of years to fully capture the experience of ‘growing up’ through the eyes of a young boy.
Filmed over short periods from 2002 to 2013, the result is Boyhood; a revolutionary movie covering a whopping 12 years in the life of a young boy, Mason, and his family. Mason, along with his sister Samantha is shown on an emotional journey from childhood to adulthood as they literally grow up on screen before our very eyes
IFC films have released a new featurette where Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, discuss the unique process of making this movie. Even if the story doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, the unique filmmaking processes should be creating enough curiosity to get you into cinemas on July 11th. But I for one couldn’t be more excited to see something new and different on the big screens this Summer!
| || | | <urn:uuid:0bf75796-8db7-4682-b1dd-8a9f80c757fd> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://imwithgeekarchive.weebly.com/film/trailer-park-boyhood1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572063.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814173832-20220814203832-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.957514 | 252 | 1.570313 | 2 |
AACtual Therapy-AAC Intervention for Beginning Communicators: Presume Competence and Be the Fun
Today we learn from a veteran AAC SLP, Lindsey Paden Cargill, who has been working in the field of SLP for 12 years and is passionate about service provision and research in the area of AAC for individuals with developmental disabilities. In addition to her caseload, she is also the Therapy Manager at a private therapy and education center in Columbus, Ohio called Bridgeway Academy. Lindsey is currently collaborating with The Ohio State University on several AAC-related research studies including an immersive AAC classroom and a parent-training course.
AAC Intervention Strategies for Beginning Communicators: Presume Competence and Be the Fun
In the last ten years providing energetic, creative and data-driven AAC language therapy has become my passion… or maybe obsession. My mission statement is for anyone interacting with a new AAC user to “presume competence and be the fun.” To accomplish my goals I have to prioritize several things: providing a robust, well-organized AAC system, setting the right language-based goals, thinking outside the box when providing direct service and lots and lots of training the other team members. For this post, I will focus on goals and intervention strategies.
Goal Setting: AAC therapy is language therapy
AAC often seems to be this “other” area of the speech therapy field and many clinicians (even school-based SLPs) are reluctant to implement it because of its foreignness. In reality, the hurdle is a small one: AAC therapy *is* language therapy! We do not have to throw out the rules for language development that we know and follow for our verbal clients; we can simply target the same goals using a different modality. When we consider that most beginning AAC users are in Brown’s Stage I, this further simplifies the job: develop a 75-100-word vocabulary, generalize those words across contexts and use them for a variety of communication functions. So a goal for this may look like:
Sam will increase her vocabulary to 100 words including but not limited to at least 20 verbs, 15 adjectives, 4 pronouns, 5 prepositions, 50 nouns, 5 names and one determiner and demonstrate use of those words in at least 3 different contexts with at least 80% accuracy.
This may seem intimidating at first but a spreadsheet (click here) can simplify this process significantly. The words and activities on the list are only suggestions based on typical language development; feel free to edit and use this form if you find it helpful.
To increase communication functions at the single word level, I tend to write goals like:
- Abby will communicate for the function of greeting at least 5x/day with 80% independent accuracy.
- Rachel will communicate for the function of requesting a). objects, b.) recurrence, c.) cessation, d.) actions at least 5x/day with 80% independent accuracy.
- Mark will spontaneously and independently comment using single words at least 20x/day.
- When writing goals for requesting, I find it particularly important to clarify that requesting isn’t just for objects. Too often does AAC intervention seem to become “I want cookie/ball/car” therapy rather than language therapy.
Our device selection and goal writing directly reflect what we believe the child will be able to do. Presuming competence is absolutely vital in these stages. Let’s not set ourselves up for a self-fulfilling prophecy by assuming a child will be unable to develop a large vocabulary and therefore establishing them with an AAC system and goals that prevent them from doing so.
Intervention Strategies: Be the Fun
The primary reason we communicate is to connect with other people, not just gain access to our favorite stuff. When AAC intervention is narrowed down to “I want” phrases we are leaving huge gaps in the spectrum of language use. Sure, I want to be able to order my burrito bowl at Chipotle: “I want a veggie bowl with black beans, brown rice, fajita vegetables, fresh salsa, cheese and guacamole” but once I sit down with my meal, I’m done requesting. Now it’s time to talk to my friends- we’ll tell stories, make each other laugh, make plans, etc. Communication in the early stages is also about fun and human connections.
My favorite therapy sessions are in empty rooms with no materials. I love for language to be centered around social interaction and being silly together. Tickles, playing chase, singing (even if you’re not great at it) and making funny faces are classic intervention strategies for beginning communicators. Many children I’ve worked with take great pleasure in directing my behavior; they can tell me to “cry” and I turn on the waterworks or tell me to be “sick” and fake a hacking cough.
This year I invested in some colored hair spray and a rainbow of lipsticks to use in therapy sessions. It turned out to be a huge hit. The kids have loved telling me what color to put on my hair and face. If this is a bit too extreme for your tastes I’ve also had fun sticking feathers in my hair and stickers on my face.
When I look for materials to use in therapy for beginning communicators I prioritize finding items that can be made more fun by me pairing myself with them, for example Mardi Gras beads are fun, but can be even more fun if the student can ask me to pick them “up” and then rain them “down.” Poptubes are more fun when you can make them go “fast” or “slow.” I call these toys “shared manipulatives” and one of my favorites this year is called a Galactic Globe (available on amazon.com). It looks like a busted slinky but is a great toy to share with your client as it can roll off your arm and onto your student’s arm, building momentum and giving quite a tickly sensation.
AAC intervention for beginning communicators can look just like any other language therapy. It is vital to remember to set language-based goals and to not get bogged down in simple object requesting by pairing yourself with the motivating stimuli.
Presume competence and be the fun!
This post was written by Carole Zangari | <urn:uuid:d9f2c858-e92a-4a62-ab08-22f2242aa811> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://praacticalaac.org/praactical/aactual-therapy-aac-intervention-for-beginning-communicators-presume-competence-and-be-the-fun/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.936691 | 1,362 | 2.453125 | 2 |
Browsing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects by Subject "Nurse-Patient Relations"
Now showing items 1-2 of 2
Daily Charge Nurse Leader Rounds on a Cardiac Surgery Progressive Care UnitProblem: Patient satisfaction is the measure of the success of a healthcare system in today’s competitive markets. However, achieving patient satisfaction relies on multiple internal and external factors. The Cardiac Surgery Progressive Care Unit (CSPCU) at an urban medical center in the mid-Atlantic United States was seeking to improve their patient satisfaction scores on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCHAPS) data. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project (QI) was to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of daily charge nurse leader rounds on patients admitted to a CSPCU. It is anticipated that there will be an increase in the total number of times a nurse leader rounds on a patient that subsequently will result in in an increase in patient satisfaction as measured by HCAHPS nurse communication scores. Methods: The QI project was implemented over a 14- week period in a CSPCU at an urban Maryland academic Medical Center. Charge nurses were educated on the process change and then completed ‘charge nurse leader’ rounds. The project leader checked the rounding rates bi-weekly. Nurse communication scores were collected preand- post implementation using the scores from the HCAHPS surveys. Results: The number of patients rounded on daily over the course of the project was 64.7% and during the implementation period a total of 1140 rounds were completed. The HCAHPS scores increased in the category of ‘RN explanation’ and slightly decreased in the categories of ‘RN listening’ and “RN courtesy”. Patients’ perception of the nurse leader rounding increased from 79.64% to 87.23%. Conclusions: Charge nurses can be utilized as informal leaders to complete nurse leader rounds. Leader rounds are able to be incorporated into the daily routine of the charge nurse. Patient satisfaction scores are impacted by many different factors. The increase seen in one domain of HCAHPS indicates that further studies should be completed to better understand how nurse leader rounds impact patient satisfaction.
Implementation of De-Escalation Training to Medical-Surgical NursesProblem: The American Nurses Association reports only 20% of nurses’ feel safe in their area of practice with patient violence towards nurses happening more frequently on medical-surgical units (Cahill, 2008; OSHA, 2004). Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of de-escalation training on medical-surgical nurses’ confidence levels in handling agitated patients. Methods: This quality improvement project employs a non-experimental, single group, pre- and post-test design. Thackrey’s (1987) Confidence in Coping with Patient Aggression Instrument (CCPAI), a 10-item questionnaire, evaluates nursing confidence levels in dealing with agitated patients before and after implementing Richmond’s et al. (2012) Ten Domains of De-escalation. Outcomes: A one-sample t test comparing the pre- and post-test confidence scores showed the mean as significantly different from 55, a hypothetically neutral score. The post-test mean significantly increased (68.82, 95% CI [6.84 to 20.81]) from the pre-test, t(33) = 4.03, p = <.001 and showed a moderate to large effect size d = .72 (Pilot, 2010). A paired-sample two-tailed t test significantly increased from Time 1 pre-test (M = 49.82, SD = 10.11) to Time 2 post-test (M = 72.82, SD = 14.41), t(10) = 4.46, p < .001. The mean increase was 23.00 [95% CI, 11.51 – 34.49]; d = 1.84 indicating a large effect size (Pilot, 2010). A sensitivity analysis (Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test) showed a median difference amongst the matched pairs with a significant increase in confidence levels post-training, z =-2.847, p < .004. The median score increased from the pre-test (Md =51) to the post-test scores (Md = 71) (Pallant, 2013). Implications: This pilot project demonstrates improved medical-surgical nursing confidence in dealing with agitated patients. Further research using a larger sample size in several nursing units would add validity to the results. | <urn:uuid:ec3f2708-0eb3-4d6f-a3cd-1c0eb79236c6> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://archive.hshsl.umaryland.edu/handle/10713/938/browse?type=subject&value=Nurse-Patient+Relations | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.92759 | 944 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Name: Scottish lords and ladies.
Age: Hundreds of years old.
Appearance: A loudmouth foreigner in a Hawaiian shirt, demanding an upgrade.
How dare you talk about me like that. Are you a Scottish lord?
I am, although I prefer the term “laird”. Then I apologise. What’s your full title?
I am Laird of Glencairn. You can check my credit card if you don’t believe me. Did you inherit this title?
No. I purchased it. Online? For £30?
Yes. From a company that promised you the title in return for buying 8 sq in of a Highland estate?
Yes. Then be careful. The Court of the Lord Lyon, the official heraldic authority for Scotland, has just reaffirmed that titles bought online have no legal status.
But I was just about to apply for a coat of arms. You definitely shouldn’t do that. The Court of the Lord Lyon would be furious. Its website has just been updated specifically to warn off people like you.
What does it say? “In general, the governing factor in the case of an original Grant of Arms is the domicile of the petitioner rather than the ownership of property in Scotland.” Basically, you don’t get a coat of arms unless you actually live in Scotland. Do you live in Scotland?
No. It also states the requirement that “the petitioner should be, in terms of the Lyon King of Arms Act 1672, a ‘virtuous and well-deserving person’”. Are you a virtuous and well-deserving person?
Well, I call myself Laird on my credit cards in the hope that I will get a better table at a restaurant, so I suppose not. Just to make it completely clear, then, the Court of the Lord Lyon says: “The ownership of ‘souvenir’ plots of land of a few square feet or thereby, such as are marketed from time to time, is insufficient to bring anyone within the jurisdiction of the Lord Lyon King of Arms.”
What does that mean? It means you are a weird fraud with ideas far above your station.
It does get me good seats in restaurants, though. It does? Where can I buy one of these titles?
Do say: “I am Laird of Glencairn.”
Don’t say: “And so am I. And so is he. And everyone over there. And so is that guy’s dog.” | <urn:uuid:2f0d5dd7-375f-47cc-89ec-08dfa57d9cc9> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/shortcuts/2016/aug/07/you-might-be-a-scottish-lord-on-paper-but-you-wont-get-a-coat-of-arms?CMP=share_btn_tw | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.952127 | 544 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Viktor Orban is teaching the world an important lesson.
He’s done a lot for the Jewish community in the past. His government has officially recognized Hungarian Jewry as part of the Hungarian national identity. He built a Holocaust museum. He imposed a zero-tolerance policy on antisemitism. He even borrows on the backs of unborn Hungarians in order to pay reparations to Holocaust survivors.
Despite all of this, he still gets called antisemitic for pointing out that Hungarians don’t want to be involuntarily miscegenated with Africans.
The expectation is that Hungarians surrender their own sense of ethnocentrism so that outgroups can have ethnocentric enclaves within Hungary.
I’ve got the latest!
This is EPISODE 908 of So to Speak w/ Jared Howe! | <urn:uuid:43e52059-3530-43db-ad24-75fb98a62c37> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://jaredhowe.net/s-o-t-o-s-p-e-a-k-ep-908-philosemitic-antisemitism/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.934393 | 176 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Empirical Facts about the Spiritual Student-Teacher Relationship
To avoid confusion in the spiritual student-teacher relationship, we need to acknowledge certain empirical facts:
- Almost all spiritual seekers progress through stages along the spiritual path.
- Most practitioners study with several teachers during their lifetimes and build up different relationships with each.
- Not every spiritual teacher has reached the same level of accomplishment.
- The type of relationship appropriate between a specific seeker and a specific teacher depends upon the spiritual level of each.
- People usually relate to their teachers in progressively deeper manners as they advance along the spiritual path.
- Because the same teacher may play different roles in the spiritual life of each seeker, the most appropriate relationship each seeker has with that teacher may be different.
Levels of Spiritual Teachers and of Spiritual Seekers
Thus, there are many levels of spiritual teachers and of spiritual seekers. There are:
- Buddhism professors to give information like at a university
- Dharma instructors to show how to apply Dharma to life
- Meditation trainers to teach methods similar to teaching tai-ch’i or yoga
- Spiritual mentors differentiated as to the level of vows they give the student: lay or monk vows, bodhisattva vows, or tantric vows.
Correspondingly, there are:
- Students of Buddhism wishing to gain information
- Pupils of Dharma wishing to learn how to apply Dharma to life
- Meditation trainees wishing to learn methods for relaxing or training the mind
- Disciples wishing to improve future lives, gain liberation, or gain enlightenment, and are ready to take some level of vows to help reach these goals. Even if disciples wish to improve this lifetime, they see this as a stepping stone on the way to liberation and enlightenment.
Each level has its qualifications and, as a spiritual seeker, we need to take into consideration our own and the teacher’s background – Asian or Western, monk, nun or lay, level of education, emotional and ethical level of maturity, level of commitment, and so on. Therefore, it is important to proceed slowly and carefully.
Qualifications of a Potential Disciple and of a Potential Spiritual Teacher
As a potential disciple, we need to check our own level of development, so that we do not commit ourselves to a relationship for which we are not ready. The main qualities a disciple needs are:
- Open-mindedness without being attached to his or her own preconceptions and opinions
- Common sense to differentiate between what is proper and what is not
- Strong interest in the Dharma and in finding a properly qualified teacher
- Appreciation and respect for the Dharma and for well-qualified teachers
- An attentive mind
- A basic level of emotional maturity and stability
- A basic sense of ethical responsibility.
Depending on the level of teacher, he or she needs increasingly more qualifications. In general, the main ones are:
- A healthy relationship with his or her own spiritual teachers
- More knowledge of the Dharma than the student
- Experience and some level of success in applying its methods in meditation and in everyday life
- The ability to set an inspiring example of the beneficial results of applying the Dharma to life. This means having:
- Ethical self-discipline
- Emotional maturity and stability, based on freedom from gross emotional problems
- Sincere concern to benefit students as the primary motivation for teaching
- Patience in teaching
- Lack of pretense (not pretending to have qualities that he or she lacks) and lack of hypocrisy (not hiding faults that he or she has, such as lack of knowledge and experience).
We need to suit things to the reality of the situation – what level of qualification do the teachers available in our city have, how much time and commitment do we have, what are our spiritual aims (realistically, not just ideally “to benefit all sentient beings”), and so on. If we check the qualifications of a potential teacher before committing ourselves to a spiritual relationship, we may avoid the extremes of making the teacher into a god or a devil. When we make the spiritual teacher into a god, our naivety opens us to possible abuse. If we make him or her into a devil, our paranoia prevents us from benefiting.
The Differences between Becoming a Disciple of a Spiritual Mentor and Becoming a Client of a Therapist
One of the major sources of confusion in the spiritual student-teacher relationship is the wish for the spiritual mentor to be like a therapist. Consider, for example, someone wishing to gain emotional happiness and good relationships for the rest of his or her life. Becoming a disciple of a spiritual mentor to achieve this goal in many ways resembles becoming a client of a therapist for the same purpose.
Both Buddhism and therapy:
- Arise from recognizing and acknowledging suffering in our lives and wishing to alleviate it
- Entail working with someone to recognize and understand our problems and their causes. Many forms of therapy, in fact, agree with Buddhism that understanding serves as the key for self-transformation.
- Embrace schools of thought that emphasize deeply understanding the causes of our problems, traditions that stress working on pragmatic methods to overcome these factors, and systems that recommend a balanced combination of the two approaches
- Advocate establishing a healthy emotional relationship with the mentor or therapist as an important part of the process of self-development
- Although most classical forms of therapy shy away from using ethical guidelines for modifying clients’ behavior and ways of thinking, a few post-classical schools advocate ethical principles similar to those in Buddhism. Such principles include being equally fair to all members of a dysfunctional family and refraining from acting out destructive impulses, such as those of anger.
Despite similarities, at least five significant differences exist between becoming a disciple of a Buddhist mentor and becoming a client of a therapist:
(1) The emotional stage at which one establishes the relationship. Potential clients generally approach a therapist while being emotionally disturbed. They may even be psychotic and require medication as part of the treatment. Potential disciples, in contrast, do not establish a relationship with a mentor as the first step on their spiritual paths. Before this, they have studied Buddha’s teachings and begun to work on themselves. Consequently, they have reached a sufficient level of emotional maturity and stability so that the disciple-mentor relationship they establish is constructive in the Buddhist sense of the term. In other words, Buddhist disciples need already to be relatively free of neurotic attitudes and behavior.
(2) The interaction one expects in the relationship. Potential clients are mostly interested in having someone listen to them. Therefore, they expect the therapist to devote concentrated attention to them and to their personal problems, even if within the context of group therapy. Disciples, on the other hand, normally do not share personal problems with their mentors and do not expect or demand individual attention. Even if they consult the mentor for personal advice, they do not go regularly. The focus in the relationship is on listening to teachings. Buddhist disciples primarily learn methods from their mentors for overcoming general problems that everyone faces. They then assume personal responsibility to apply the methods to their specific situations.
(3) The results expected from the working relationship. Therapy aims for learning to accept and to live with the problems in our lives, or to minimize them so that they become bearable. If we were to approach a Buddhist spiritual mentor with the aim of emotional well-being for this lifetime, we might also expect to minimize our problems. Despite life’s being difficult – the first fact of life (noble truth) that Buddha taught – we could make it less difficult.
Making our lives emotionally less difficult, however, is only a preliminary step for approaching the classical Buddhist path. Disciples of spiritual mentors would at least be orientated toward the greater aims of favorable rebirths, liberation, and enlightenment. Moreover, Buddhist disciples would have an intellectual understanding of rebirth as explained in Buddhism and at least tentative acceptance of its existence. Therapy clients have no need for thinking about rebirth or about aims beyond improving their immediate situations.
(4) The level of commitment to self-transformation. Clients of therapists pay an hourly fee, but do not commit themselves to a lifelong change of attitude and behavior. Buddhist disciples, on the other hand, may or may not pay for teachings; nevertheless, they formally change their direction in life. In taking safe direction (refuge), disciples commit themselves to the course of self-development that the Buddhas have fully traversed and then taught, and that the highly realized spiritual community strives to follow.
Moreover, Buddhist disciples commit themselves to an ethical, constructive course of acting, speaking, and thinking in life. They try, as much as is possible, to avoid destructive patterns and to engage in constructive ones instead. When disciples sincerely wish liberation from the recurring problems of uncontrollable rebirth, they make an even stronger commitment by formally taking lay or monastic vows. Disciples at this stage of self-development vow for life to restrain at all times from specific modes of conduct that are either naturally destructive or which Buddha recommended that certain people avoid for specific purposes. An example of the latter is monastics abandoning lay dress and wearing robes instead, to reduce attachment. Even before developing the wish for full liberation, disciples often take lay or monastic vows.
Clients of therapists, on the other hand, agree to follow certain rules of procedure as part of the therapeutic contract, such as keeping to a schedule of fifty-minute appointments. These rules, however, pertain only during treatment. They do not apply outside the therapeutic setting, do not entail refraining from naturally destructive behavior, and are not for life.
(5) The attitude toward the teacher or therapist. Disciples look to their spiritual mentors as living examples of what they strive to attain. They regard them in this way based on correct recognition of the mentors’ good qualities and they maintain and strengthen this view throughout their graded path to enlightenment. Clients, in contrast, may conceive of their therapists as models for emotional health, but they do not require correct awareness of the therapists’ good qualities. Becoming like the therapist is not the aim of the relationship. During the course of treatment, therapists lead their clients beyond projections of ideals.
Inappropriate Usage of the Term “Disciple”
Sometimes, people call themselves disciples of spiritual mentors despite the fact that they, the teacher, or both fall short of fulfilling the proper meaning of the terms. Their naivety often leads them to unrealistic expectations, misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and even abuse. Becoming an object of abuse, in this context, means being exploited sexually, emotionally, or financially, or being manipulated by someone in a show of power. Let us examine three common types of pseudo-disciples found in the West, who are especially susceptible to problems with spiritual teachers.
(1) Some people come to Dharma centers looking for fulfillment of their fantasies. They have read or heard something about the “mysterious East” or about superstar gurus, and wish to transcend their seemingly unexciting lives by having an exotic or mystical experience. They meet spiritual teachers and instantly declare themselves to be disciples, especially if the teachers are Asian, wear robes, or both. They are prone to similar behavior with Western teachers who have Asian titles or names, whether or not the persons wear robes.
The quest for the occult often destabilizes the relationships such seekers establish with spiritual teachers. Even if they declare themselves disciples of properly qualified mentors, they often leave these teachers when they realize that nothing supernatural is happening, except perhaps in their imaginations. Moreover, the unrealistic attitudes and high expectations of “instant disciples” often cloud their critical faculties. Such persons are particularly open to deception by spiritual charlatans clever in putting on a good act.
(2) Others may come to centers desperate for help to overcome emotional or physical pain. They may have tried various forms of therapy, but to no avail. Now, they seek a miracle cure from a magician/healer. They declare themselves disciples of anyone who might give them a blessing pill, tell them the special prayer or mantra to repeat, or give them the potent practice to do – like making a hundred thousand prostrations – that will automatically fix their problems. They especially turn to the same types of teachers that fascinate people who are in quest of the occult. The “fix-it” mentality of miracle-seekers often leads to disappointment and despair, when following the advice of even qualified mentors does not result in miraculous cures. A “fix-it” mentality also attracts abuse from spiritual quacks.
(3) Still others, especially disenchanted, unemployed youths, come to Dharma centers of cultish sects in the hope of gaining existential empowerment. Charismatic megalomaniacs draw them in by using “spiritual fascist” means. They promise their so-called disciples strength in numbers if they give total allegiance to their sects. They further allure disciples with dramatic descriptions of fierce protectors who will smash their enemies, especially the followers of inferior, impure Buddhist traditions. With grandiose stories of the superhuman powers of the founding fathers of their movements, they try to fulfill the disciples’ dreams of a mighty leader who will lift them to positions of spiritual entitlement. Responding to these promises, such people quickly declare themselves disciples and blindly follow whatever instructions or orders authoritarian teachers give them. The results are usually disastrous.
In short, just as not everyone who teaches at a Buddhist center is an authentic spiritual mentor, similarly not everyone who studies at a center is an authentic spiritual disciple. We need precise usage of both the terms mentor and disciple. This requires spiritual honesty and lack of pretense. | <urn:uuid:7a5bf4c3-d833-44be-8dbe-8b249a876e51> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://studybuddhism.com/en/tibetan-buddhism/about-buddhism/misconceptions-about-buddhism/studying-with-a-spiritual-teacher | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.95056 | 2,815 | 2.3125 | 2 |
Ernie Jackson ’87 can tell you exactly when he first became interested in the music of Justin Holland, the 19th century Black American classical guitar composer and arranger.
It was Jackson’s freshman year, 1983, and the centennial year of Wagner College. To mark the occasion, classical guitar instructor Ed Brown had organized a concert, “Popular Song Hits of Wagner College’s First Year, 1883.”
“During [that concert], I heard ‘Rochester Schottische’ played by fellow classmate John Salvaggio,” Jackson told Jayson Dobney of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “The piece’s importance lays in the fact that it was arranged by Justin Holland, the first Black classical guitarist to emerge during the 19th century. Being that I was the only Black guitarist to ever be in Wagner College’s guitar program, I immediately felt a connection with Justin Holland’s story and life.”
After Jackson graduated from Wagner in 1987, he began his career as a musician, producer, teacher and scholar, eventually becoming co-director of music production at Queensborough Community College.
In 1995, he published “The Music of Justin Holland” with Cherry Lane Music, which launched the music publisher’s American guitar series. The book contained transcriptions of 10 pieces either composed or arranged by Holland, a biography, and Jackson’s CD recording of all 10 compositions.
In 2013, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art decided to make a video series of musicians playing period pieces on its collection of historic guitars, Jackson was asked to play something on the Met’s post-Civil War Martin guitar.
That Justin Holland arrangement from the Wagner College centenary concert, “Rochester Schottische.”
As the years went by, the reputation of Ernie Jackson’s scholarship on Justin Holland continued to grow. When the latest edition of “The Classical Guitar Book” included an entry on Justin Holland, with an engraving of Holland’s portrait, it also included a photo of the cover of Jackson’s book, tying the two inextricably together.
In 2021, when Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media decided to produce an episode of their program, “Your Classical,” featuring the music of Justin Holland, it was only natural that they turned to Ernie Jackson, who would be interviewed throughout the hour-long broadcast.
There were only two problems: Who would play the music? And where to record it?
Early on, Ernie got Covid, which affected the use of his right hand — and the recording schedule. They decided that Ernie would play one piece himself, and they would recruit four other guitarists to play the remaining 25 Holland pieces to be recorded. (Only half of the recorded material is featured in the broadcast.)
The other problem — where to record it — was solved on a location-scouting expedition to the Wagner College campus. They needed an especially quiet location in which to record Justin Holland’s classical guitar compositions and arrangements.
“Ernie said, ‘There’s this black-box theater up at Wagner, I’d like to give it a look. What do you think?,’ ” said recording engineer and QCC professor Robert Anderson, Ernie’s longtime colleague and friend, on the MPR broadcast.
“He also mentioned in passing a chapel, which sounded more interesting than a black-box theater,” Anderson said. “It ended up being, really, a large parlor in a building that’s not too far removed, timewise, from the period of time when this music would have been performed.”
And so, over the first weekend of June 2021, the Knubel Chapel in Kairos House and the gazebo between Cunard and Parker halls were turned into recording studios.
“The only noise issues we had were some loud turkeys and the occasional plane flying overhead,” Anderson said.
Jackson said he was pleased with the outcome of the project, especially because “it will show other young Black guitar players that this is something for them, so we won’t be such a novelty. I was somewhat of a novelty, and I think there are so many people out there who have the same aptitude as me who would never approach it because they don’t see enough people who look like them.” | <urn:uuid:eec3a9ea-0610-4054-a111-63c24153d607> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://wagner.edu/newsroom/live-kairos-house/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.973826 | 943 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Physiotherapy Brisbane Northside
Elevate Training Center’s physiotherapy services exist to provide our clients with access to the highest quality patient care and physiotherapy on the northside of Brisbane. No matter your age or activity level, our Brisbane physiotherapists can help you through your whole journey from diagnosis to treatment, recovery, and maintenance.
Our physiotherapists practice a multidisciplinary approach and offer individualised treatments for patients from every walk of life. We are committed to providing high-quality physiotherapy services that fit our clients’ needs and lifestyles.
What physiotherapy services does Elevate offer?
Our physiotherapists use manual therapies such as massage therapy, trigger point techniques, joint mobilisation, dry needling, and exercise rehabilitation. We also offer pelvic health physiotherapy and taping – whether that be for stability, functionality, or both.
What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy can help you to retain and improve mobility, reduce pain or problems with movement, and overall, assist in making you more comfortable and potentially speed up the healing process.
Physiotherapy helps patients through the use of injury prevention and physical rehabilitation and is utilised for the purposes of increasing mobility, reducing pain, and improving, maintaining, or restoring healthy physical function.
Physiotherapists assist people with recovering from or reducing the severity of injuries, disabilities or illness and do so through the use of education, advice, manual therapy, movement, and exercise.
How can physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapy sessions can assist in the recovery and treatment of a wide range of issues, including:
- Recovery from broken bones
- Back/knee and joint pain
- Sports-related injuries
- Rehabilitation after surgery
- Occupational health
- Developmental delays in kids
- Managing after a stroke
- Sprains/aches and old injuries
- Chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, obesity, and diabetes
- Neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease
When should you see a physiotherapist?
Consulting a physiotherapist is one of the best ways to diagnose, treat, or prevent musculoskeletal injury.
Like doctors, physiotherapists can be “primary contact” practitioners that will examine, diagnose and treat injuries or help to prevent injuries from occurring in areas of weakness. Injuries that have resulted in a broken bone, however, will require you to visit your doctor first. You can then obtain a referral from your doctor or book directly with your physiotherapy provider.
In some cases, the longer you wait to start treatment, the longer it can take to recover. For example, If you’ve sustained a lower leg injury, you can often determine the urgency of seeking help by whether you can put weight on and take a few steps on the injured leg. If this can’t be done, seek a medical professional’s help immediately.
If putting weight on or pressure on the injured area is sore, but not unbearable, apply rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Followed by: no heat, alcohol, running/exercise, or massage and book a visit to see your physio in up to 3 days’ time if the pain does not improve.
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy:
Through the use of education, lifestyle changes, and our hands-on therapies available, Pelvic Health Physiotherapy can help to improve your pelvic floor function and health. We focus on assessing and treating groups of muscles that are involved in sexual, bowel, and urinary functions.
Our Pelvic Health Physiotherapy services are target at (yet not limited to) pre and post-natal clients for pelvic floor assessments, incontinence management, constipation, prolapse, mastitis, and urinary frequency.
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy may also help with:
- Treating existing bladder or bowel leakage
- Reducing aches and pains associated with issues such as endometriosis
- Managing symptoms of prolapse
- Pelvic floor dysfunction rehabilitation
- Alleviating a wide range of pregnancy and musculoskeletal related problems
Massage therapy utilises the manipulation of soft tissue (muscles, ligaments, tendons) and is generally performed as part of an integrative approach to the treatment of injuries, aches, and pain.
Studies of the benefits of massage have found that massage can:
- Reduce stress
- Improve immune function
- Increase relaxation
- Lessen pain and muscle tension
In joint mobilisation, physiotherapists will carefully and slowly move a joint within it’s normal range of motion, with the purpose of restoring the joint’s ability to move and function at its most optimal.
- Improved range of motion and mobility
- Reduced pain
- Improved mechanics of the joint
The purpose of dry needling is to treat muscle tissue, reducing pain by inactivating trigger points, thereby restoring optimal function. Dry needling is often performed as part of a broader physical therapy treatment plan and is rarely used as a stand-alone treatment.
- Pain relief
- Reduction of stiffness and muscle pain
- May increase flexibility
- Increase of range of motion
Taping (kinesiology taping) acts to dynamically assist your muscle function and is used to help stabilise and control activity or motion in localised areas of your body. Taping works by placing the tape on the skin and when the region is activated, the stimulation of the tape alerts the brain of movement in the region and encourages greater stability of movement.
Benefits of taping:
- Pain relief
- Improved joint stability
- Reduction in number or severity of injuries
- Injury prevention
- Correct faulty biomechanics
- Improved muscle action
Want to learn more about how Elevate can take your physical fitness to the next level? | <urn:uuid:5413d57e-157e-4b8b-b948-841d7edd836f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://elevatetrainingcentre.com.au/services/physiotherapy-stafford/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.920439 | 1,267 | 1.6875 | 2 |
About Senator Frank Church
Church, Frank Forrester, 1924–1984
Senate Years of Service: 1956–1981
Frank Church was born in Boise, Ada County, Idaho, July 25, 1924. He graduated from Stanford (Calif.) University in 1947 and from Stanford Law School in 1950. During the Second World War he served in the United States Army and was assigned to Military Intelligence in India, Burma, and China in 1942-1946. He was admitted to the bar in 1950 and commenced the practice of law in Boise, Idaho.
He was later elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1956 then reelected in 1962, 1968, and again in 1974 and served from January 3, 1957, to January 3, 1981. He was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection in 1980.
In the Senate, he served as chairman of The Special Committee on Aging, The Special Committee on Termination of National Emergencies, The Select Committee on Government Intelligence Activities, and the Committee on Foreign Relations. He also served on the Committee on the Interior.
He was chosen as the United States delegate to the twenty-first General Assembly of the United Nations. He resumed the practice of law in Washington D.C. until his death on April 7, 1984. He is buried in Morris Hill Cemetery, Boise, Idaho.
Ashby, LeRoy, and Rod Gramer. Fighting the Odds: The Life of Senator Frank Church. Pullman: Washington State University Press, 1994; Church, F. Forrester. Father and Son: A Personal Biography of Senator Frank Church of Idaho. New York: Harper Row, 1985. | <urn:uuid:2e7bfec0-44b6-4c56-818c-36839a79e43d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-frankchurchinstitute/about-us/senator-frank-church/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.963379 | 340 | 1.828125 | 2 |
We will all agree that trying to get respectful behaviour out of our three or four year olds is like trying to get blood from the proverbial stone. That's due, in part, to the fact that their language skills are still developing. So, when we tell them its bedtime, they're unlikely to say, "I'm really having fun in the bath. I wonder if I could have five more minutes of playtime?" They're more likely to splash and yell, "No!" with gleeful rebellion glittering in their eyes.
Youngsters this age are also starting to wonder what kind of power they wield within the family. They start testing a little bit. It's perfectly normal behaviour for our preschoolers to do this, and it's just another part of their development. Despite the need for three and four year olds to test their boundaries, we can – and should – start teaching good manners now. We shouldn't wait to begin teaching our little ones the importance of respect and it should be done the right way.
Demonstrating respectful behaviour is really very important. We don't generally give our children the kind of respect that we demand from them. It can be hard to wait patiently for our kids to have their say, but it's worth it. Getting down on their level, looking them in the eye, and letting them know we're interested in what they're telling us works wonders. It's the best way to teach them to listen to us just as carefully.
Teaching polite responses goes a long way in teaching our little ones to be respectful. Our children can show caring and respect for others through good manners. As soon as they can communicate verbally, they can learn to say "please" and "thank you." We need to explain that we'd rather help them when they're polite to us, and that we don't like it when they order us around. Again, being respectful ourselves works better than lecturing. Say "please" and "thank you" regularly to our children (and others), and they'll learn that these words are part of normal communication, both within our family and in public.
It helps if we don't overreact. If our preschoolers call us something nasty like a "poo head" we should try not to get upset, or at least try not to show how upset we are. Children who want to provoke a reaction will endure almost any unpleasantness just to get a reaction out of us. Instead, get face to face and say quietly but firmly, "We don't call each other names in our family." Then show how to get what they want by being respectful: "When you want me to play with you, just ask me nicely. Say, 'Mummy, please can you come and have a tea party now.'"
Expecting disagreements helps us handle the situation better. It would be much easier if our children always happily complied with our requests, but that's not human nature. We have to try to remember that when our youngster won't do as we ask, they aren't trying to be disrespectful — they just have a different opinion. It helps if we teach them that they'll fare better if they can learn to stop expressing herself disrespectfully ("You never take me to the park, you bad Mummy!") and instead learns to put a positive spin on requests ("Can we please go to the park after shopping?").
Setting limits is very important and one of the best ways to demonstrate respect is to be both kind and firm in our discipline. Being kind shows respect for your children, and being firm shows respect for what needs to be done. So if our three or four year olds throw a fit in the supermarket, and none of our coping tactics work, what do we do? Kindly but firmly take them out to the car, and sit and read a magazine until they're done. Then we can say calmly, "Now you're ready to try again," and return to the shop. Gradually they'll learn that a temper tantrum doesn't alter the fact that the food shopping has to be done.
Talking it over later is of great help. Sometimes the best way to handle disrespectful behaviour is to discuss it with our preschooler later, when we've both had a chance to calm down. We can validate their feelings and make our point by saying, "I could tell you were very upset. What do you think caused that? What would be a more respectful way to tell me how you're feeling?" If our children know we're really curious about their thinking, they'll probably come to the same conclusion we would.
Praising respectful behaviour brings us many bonus points. We need to reinforce their impromptu displays of politeness as much as possible but be specific. The praise should describe the behaviour in detail. We tend to say, "good girl," "good boy," "well done." Instead, say, "Thank you for saying please when you asked for some juice," or "Thank you for waiting for your turn while the other children got their ice cream". Be explicit, and our children will quickly learn that their efforts are worthwhile and appreciated. | <urn:uuid:b0b5d659-7d2a-4238-b4b7-d8ecf8b4ba04> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.sentinelassam.com/melange/the-power-of-respectful-behaviour/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.980104 | 1,043 | 3.25 | 3 |
As demand for clean energy continues to grow, the solar industry forecasts millions of photovoltaic systems will dot the landscape by the end of the decade. However, a severe shortage of the silicon used in the systems threatens to dampen solar's growth.
According to a recent solar-energy report from the nonprofit Energy Foundation, the U.S. solar industry could grow by more than $6 billion per year if the technology becomes cost-competitive with electricity from fossil-fuel sources.
Technology improvements are expected to reduce some of the cost difference over the next five years, but the federal government also needs to increase tax incentives for producing and purchasing solar energy, according to Energy Foundation Vice President David Wooley.
"They took it from a pathetic level to laughable and ridiculous," said Wooley, referring to the current federal funding level for solar energy.
Wooley recommends a federal incentive plan similar to Germany's, which gives a rebate to customers for each hour of electricity produced by solar energy. The production of solar energy grew by 152 percent in Germany last year, compared with 27 percent growth in the United States, according to a report issued earlier this month by consulting firm Solarbuzz.
Solarbuzz reports that new solar capacity increased in 2004 by 62 percent over the previous year to 927 megawatts, but the industry could have difficulties finding the raw materials needed to match that growth in 2005.
"There is a definite shortage of silicon out there right now," said Gary Homan, vice president of Hemlock Semiconductor, which manufactures polycrystalline silicon that is used in semiconductors and photovoltaic cells.
Homan said that from 2000 to 2004, silicon manufacturers could not justify capital investments because the price for their products in the solar industry had dropped to less than $30 per kilogram, or below many companies' costs. Demand for silicon from semiconductor manufacturers and the solar industry has increased sharply since then, and the price has nearly doubled, Homan said.
Companies in the spot silicon market (covering the purchase of smaller amounts for short-term needs) are now willing to pay up to $80 per kilogram of silicon -- if they can find anyone to sell it to them, Homan said.
Hemlock Semiconductors is incrementally increasing production by 30 percent in 2005, but silicon producers such as Hemlock cannot catch up with demand without building new facilities.
"It takes three years to build a new polysilicon plant," Homan said, so the shortage of silicon could last until 2008.
Semiconductor manufacturers are able to outbid solar companies for the available silicon because the material makes up a much smaller portion of their production costs, Homan said. "We are getting into a pricing war" between industries, Homan said.
Competition will likely increase, as the semiconductor industry is expected to grow by 10 percent in 2007 and 15 percent in 2008, according to analyst firm Gartner.
"The solar industry has been living off the scraps of the computer industry. This is not a recipe for success," said Ron Pernick, founder of alternative-energy consultancy Clean Edge.
Increasing silicon production to meet the expected growth in solar cells would take hundreds of millions of dollars in investment, according to Pernick. He said silicon manufacturers would be more inclined to make large-scale investments if the federal and state governments established subsidies for solar energy.
Pernick's Clean Edge collaborated with the Solar Catalyst Group, an industry advocacy consortium, on a report outlining a 10-year plan for public and private investment to make solar energy cost-competitive.
If enough silicon is available, a $5 billion federal investment over 10 years could help grow the solar industry to produce 9 percent of the total U.S. electricity needs, according to the report.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has plans to shore up the electricity capacity of his power-hungry state by providing funding for solar energy. He has asked state legislators to approve funding that would encourage the installation of solar panels on 1 million rooftops by 2018.
Reuters contributed to this report. | <urn:uuid:0238c929-d9da-4153-b4e0-0aa5f98d9b31> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.wired.com/2005/03/silicon-shortage-stalls-solar/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.954722 | 842 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on any question to see the corresponding explanation.
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary research area that consists in the application of computer science and information technology to the management and analysis of biological data. This scientific discipline encompasses all aspects of the acquisition, processing, distribution, statistical analysis, interpretation and integration of biological information.
Bioinformatics is crucial to transform the flood of raw data into knowledge.
Bioinformatics is today one of the most dynamic fields of science and with the highest professional projection, since it is an essential activity in the biomedical and biotechnological areas. The great challenge of this century for every bio-scientist is to be able of managing with expertise the huge volume of data generated every day.
- Omics sciences (genomics as well as others, such as transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, interactomics,...) and their integration in systems biology (read more)
- Structural biology and drug design
- High-Performance Computing
Bioinformatics is a transversal activity, applicable to all sub-sectors of the life sciences. In any Omics research is essential to handle and interpret large-scale data. The bioinformatics talent is essential for the development of molecular biology, biotechnology and biomedicine.
Bioinformatics plays a major role in advancing personalized medicine and in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases.
In drug discovery, bioinformatics is rapidly replacing conventional methodologies both in the areas of development and dispensing of drugs.
Furthermore, sequencing the genomes of microorganisms, plants and animals opens the door to new applications and benefits for the agricultural industry and environment.
Genomics is one of the areas where larger bioinformatics capacity is required. The spectacular cheapening of genome sequencing allows foreseeing that in just a few years we to have the complete genome sequence of each of us, as well as any organism or species of interest. Comparative and functional genomics provide fundamental information on the evolution and functional significance of the genome. Genome- phenotype association studies open the door to personalized medicine. Bioinformatics is the shortcut to reduce the path between the DNA and medical diagnostics.
Bioinformatics techniques used in genomics research allow: i) viewing and navigating along the genomes of species that have been sequenced; ii) identifying mutations that may lead to various genetic diseases, iii) detecting genetic variants associated with a disease; iv) comparing the genomes of different organisms to make inferences about the origin and fate of the differences between them, among other questions.
The number of three-dimensional structures of proteins deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) has grown exponentially in recent years due to improved techniques of X-ray and NMR. Computational techniques are used to analyze, characterize and visualize protein structures and their interactions with other proteins, peptides or ligands.
In recent years computer-aided molecular design (CADD, computer assisted drug design) has contributed significantly to the identification of new hits in drug development. For this proposal, molecular design techniques based solely on the structure of the ligands (pharmacophore modeling) and design techniques based on simulation of the receptor ligand binding (docking) are generally used.
The function of a protein (or drug target) depends on its sequence, three-dimensional structure and its dynamic behavior. Molecular modeling techniques, in particular molecular dynamics are used to study protein folding, formation of ligand-receptor complexes and the structural effects on the protein caused by mutations in the amino acid sequence.
High Performance Computing (HPC) is an essential tool in developing computer simulations to solve complex problems and massive data analysis, as in the case of genomics and systems biology. To achieve this objective, the high performance computing environments is based on parallel computing: Cluster, Grid and Cloud (cloud computing).
Choosing a formation in bioinformatics is a decided bet to professional success. Bioinformaticians have in front of them a vast range of research opportunities and challenges that result from the horizontal nature of this science. Bioinformaticians are ambidextrous in two ways:
(1) the types of knowledge they must possess, bio-and info-, and
(2) their competences, including equally knowledge (science) and skills and technical expertise (programming, database management, automation of analysis, high performance computing,... in information technology).
This close relationship of science and technology gives the bioinformatician a number of additional benefits, because the desire for innovation, technology and easy adaptation to rapid changes are a constituent part of their training. These qualities, flexibility and continuous curiosity, are differential traits for success and employability in the modern scientific and technological societies undergoing permanent renewal.
The Master of Bioinformatics is an ambitious project where a professional team has put together all their capacity, enthusiasm and effort. The aim was to create a distinctive master, setting very high quality standards, able to compete with the master programs of the best international universities. Therefore, it will require students to a high degree of motivation, dedication and commitment.
The master's curriculum is intense and compact, so that dedication to the master, at least during the first half of the course, must be complete. In addition to the classroom teaching, the master includes a large percentage of independent activities (practices, jobs delivery, solving exercises, etc...). So that outside the classroom, the student must devote hours to the learning and performance of the activities. The Master promotes the initiative and autonomy.
Students in this degree should be proactive with a problem-solving mentality. They should be creative, innovative and entrepreneurial. The bioinformatics are suppliers of sophisticated solutions to research, so they must be people with inventiveness and able to propose innovative and effective solutions alike.
Besides the academic record and the documentation, during the admission process The Commission of Coordination of the Master interviews all candidates to assess their motivation and interest as well as the adequacy of its profile to the objectives and contents of the master.
It is also appreciated the candidate's professional record, his/her collaboration on research projects, publishing articles or participation in academic competitions and/or scientists.
Consult the selection criteria of the master and its weighting
The MSc in Bioinformatics is an intensive program along one academic year, so it requires a high degree of dedication. During the first half, covering all classes of theory and practice in the laboratory of bioinformatics, the master requires full-time dedication. However, in the second half, the practicum is conducted and the Master Thesis is prepared, and it can be compatible with a part-time job.
Optional Modules allow you to specialize in the Bioinformatics field that you would like to work in.
If you love genomes, knowing the changes that have made us humans, discovering genes associated with diseases, and you are willing for the advent of personalized medicine, the Genomics module should be your selection. Is this module you can browse through the genomes and dive into them to discover all its secrets.
If your favorite subjects in your degree were Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Proteins Engineering and Pharmacology, the “Structure and Function of Proteins and Drug Design” module will be the most suitable for you. In this module you can display 3D molecular structures; predict relationships between sequence, structure and function; design new drugs and test its effectiveness simulating its receptor binding, etc.
If you have always been interested in informatics, you have good management of computers and love challenges of parallel computing and cloud computing, the High Performance Computing module is the best specialization for you. You will become an expert in the bioinformatics tools and methodologies for analyzing and interpreting the amount of data produced by high-throughput technologies.
Yes. For those people who do not have prior training in the field of life sciences, the master's program incorporates a complementary module (6 ECTS) which serves to level the skills of all students at the beginning of the master. This module synthesizes varied knowledge in biology and in turn provides an overview of the various areas of biosciences: molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, laboratory techniques, etc.
The enrolling for the course 2020-21 is 46.11 €/credit (ETC) for EU students or residents. For foreign students non EU residents the price is 75€/ credit.
Master de Global Excellence
In Spain there is still no degree of bioinformatics and only there exists an official master with 20 new places annually, which is clearly an insufficient number for the existing demand. In other European countries, many universities offer training and postgraduate level in bioinformatics and related disciplines.
Every university that is at the forefront of biomedical research, biotechnology or genomics must train bioinformaticians, so is why the UAB, which conducts cutting-edge research in bioinformatics, biotechnology and biomedicine, has decided to promote this master. The Faculty of biosciences at UAB offers the widest range of training in biosciences degrees of Spain, and has an expert team of professors and researchers for the teaching of the Master. In turn, the creation of bioinformatic talent is strategic for any country that wants to promote research and technological developments which depend on bioinformatics.
The MSc in Bioinformatics is seen as a strategic action of the Campus of International Excellence project awarded to the UAB: "Promoting Knowledge and innovation." With this project, the UAB wants to rank among the best universities in Europe, relying on global excellence in teaching and research in emerging areas such as bioinformatics. In line with the objectives of the CEI, the master drives bioinformatics specialization, internationalization, attracting talent, knowledge transfer and innovation potential, helping to ensure the qualities of prestige and excellence of our university.
With the creation of this and other strategic masters, the UAB wants to become a higher training center for attraction of national and international talent and establish a reference model in the implementation of its future masters.
Video of the UABCEI Project
Main features of the master
To design this master it has been carried out a comprehensive benchmarking study of the best international master programs in bioinformatics. This consultation allows us to detect the strength points of each program, and then selecting and incorporating them into our master model.
To promote the plurality and multidisciplinary of our students, the master welcomes students from many different areas of knowledge (biology, biomedicine, engineering, chemistry, etc..). In addition, all classes are taught in English to attract international students.
Unlike of the only existing official master in the country so far, the master of the UAB bioinformatics is done in one academic year, concentrating the lectures in the first half and leaving the rest of the course for the completion of the professional internship. This is positive in several respects: i) students get a solid bioinformatics that allow them to be ready to carry out their practices, ii) promotes concentration in class and then complete dedication at work and iii) allows greater flexibility for people who are already working and wish to take the master.
The master also has a number of distinctive features that make this a particularly attractive and high level master.
The MSc in Bioinformatics combines the features of the best international masters.
The master is performed in English, thus promoting its visibility and the international projection of our students. There are also established three areas of specialization in Bioinformatics: genomics, protein structure and drug design, and high performance computing in bioinformatics, key areas of bioinformatics where the UAB has demonstrated solid experience and leadership. In addition, to this degree we sought out the best academics, researchers and professionals to form an expert and specialized faculty in each of the contents of the master.
As a distinctive feature, the master includes a continuous tutoring system that advises closely and consistently to students. We also help our students in their integration into the labor market, and for this we have created a network of collaboration with research centers and companies offering training and work opportunities for those students finishing the master.
- Intensive training in one academic year
- Two accessing background of students: Bioscience vs Non-Bioscience degree
- Career, research and academic counseling
- Teaching in English
- International and selected students
- Highly qualified teaching staff with research and professional experience
- Learning curriculum consistent, modular and progressive
- Specialization profiles well defined: i) Genomics ii) Structure and function of proteins and drug design; iii) High performance computing in bioinformatics
- Tutoring system and personalized guidance of students
- Permanent resources (interactive teaching resources, technology platforms, web portal ...)
- Mobility and exchange of students
- Arrangements of scholarships and grants to finance the master
- Quantity and quality of recipient groups of trainees
- Bioinformatics jobs
- Tracking the post-master success of our students
The master of bioinformatics aims to develop the skills and transferable capacities of their students. For this reason, what is taught is not only data sets, concepts, theories and procedures, but also attitudes, values and leadership to successfully face the professional challenges that are expected of them. Students who finish the master will have acquired a broad and unifying perspective of bioinformatics and be able to address complex problems and adapt to the changes imposed by the dynamics of science and technology.
The master is set entirely in English by its international character, which allows access to students from all over the world. In turn, this immersion provides greater proficiency in the language of science, facilitating the mobility of students all around the world.
The Master has three specialized elective modules:
ii) Structure and Function of Proteins and Drug Design
iii) High Performance Computing in Bioinformatics
In the following link you will find the complete program of the Master
In the Professional Practice module the student should choose a group, research institute or company where to make their practices based on their skills and areas he/she would like trade.
At the beginning of the course, the practical module coordinator meets with the student to know their immediate interests, provide the list of companies and collaborating centers where they can carry out the master practices and advise on their choice, if necessary.
During the Practicum period, the coordinator carries out mentoring meeting to ensure the smooth functioning of the practices and determine the degree of student satisfaction. Also, the student may appeal to the coordinator for any questions related to the management and operation practices.
In parallel, the group or company receiving the student has a Practicum tutor that monitors and evaluates the student's daily work in the laboratory. Here, however, one can distinguish the following situations:
i) Student carries out the Practicum in a center, public or private, with bioinformatics expertise. In which case the tasks to be performed by the student are directed, supervised and evaluated by the most direct responsible on the institution, the Practicum tutor.
ii) Student carries out the Practicum in a laboratory belonging to a group, institute or department of UAB, in which case you have a Practicum academic tutor.
iii) The chosen center, public or private, is interested in incorporating bioinformatics capabilities in their activities, but has not done so yet due to lack of staff with the appropriate bioinformatics training. In this case the student has a Practicum academic tutor for interfacing and is responsible for maintaining contact with the company or institute, meet their needs and, therefore, introduce the bioinformatics actions, and monitor the trainee tasks. In this sense, the master has a role not only academic but also reinforces bioinformatics and promotes technology transfer.
The tutoring system and the tutor role are considered central in the educational project of this master. When the course starts, the Coordination Committee of the Master assigns a tutor to each student. This tutor will guide the student along the master: advising about subjects to be taken, providing any relevant information and resources she/he need, helping students to contact with the collaborator entities to carry out the internships, etc.
On the other hand, the practicum module counts with three tutors, one for each speciality of the master, suporting students about their practicum, tutoring their progress, watch over student satisfaction during their internship, among other functions. In addition to the assigned tutor, student in the internship will have a internship tutor, who supervises and asses the daily task within the research group or company where the student is carrying the work.
Finally, an academic tutor is assigned for the elaboration and public defense of the final master dissertation. In the case that the student does his/her internship in one of the centers or labs of the UAB sphere, the the academic tutor and the internship tutor will be the same person.
Next diagram show how the mentoring system of the master works (Click on the image to enlarge it).
The boom of bioinformatics has not had a correlated academic response. Bioinformaticians are not growing at the pace of their demand, so many research centers and companies in the field of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and biomedical do not yet have their own training area of bioinformatics.
Being aware of this circumstance, the MSc in Bioinformatics promotes the transfer of knowledge and human resources between universities and research centers and companies that search for collaboration. The master provides to biotech companies and research groups a team of Masters Students who, as part of their practical projects, help to the bioinformatic analysis of their research under the advice and supervision of an expert tutor.
All classes of the master are given in english.
The MSc in Bioinformatics is specially designed to provide the complete toolkit needed to carry out any bioinformatic task in different areas of research and biomedical and biotechnological industry.
The contents of the master include: computing platforms, Clusters management, data mining, programming languages, data formats and databases, sequencing, assembly and annotation of genomes, computational chemistry, structural bioinformatics, drug modeling, phylogeny and evolution, among others.
Enquiry the program and contents of the master
In any learning process is so important to know as the know-how. A good bioinformatics must know the theoretical concepts of biology and computer science and, in turn, use them _ to do Bioinformatics (develop skills, competencies, design and implement projects, etc..). Therefore, the MSc in Bioinformatics combines lectures with laboratory practices and problem solving learning. The teaching methodology varies with each module, the objectives and specific competences that must be developed.
The master has a large component of autonomous learning. Outside lecture hours, students are required to read papers, develop individual and group work, solving real bioinformatic problems, discuss case studies with colleagues, etc.. During the first half students have a Bioinformatics lab to do the programmed activities.
By tutoring system, the master provides personalized assistance to its students. Moreover, being a master with a great technological component, the master makes available to its students a large number of ICT resources (technology platforms, online teaching resources, specialized software, etc..).
The master grading assesses both theoretical and practical knowledge. An additional element to evaluate is the student portfolio. Each master module is independently evaluated as follows:
Module 1. Programming in Bioinformatics
Practical Exercises Delivery (30%), Oral Presentations (40%), Theoretical-practical tests (30%)
Module 2. Core Bioinformatics
Class Works and Report deliveries (50%), Theoretical-practical tests (50%)
Module 3. Genomics / Module 4: Structure and Function of Proteins and Drug Design / Module 5: High Performance Computing in Bioinformatics
Exercises Delivery and Oral Presentations (60%), Synthesis Exam (40%)
Module 6. Professional Practice
Practicum Supervisor Report (25%), Module Coordinator Report (25%), Student Report (50%)
Module 7. Master Thesis
Master Thesis Report (50%), Master Thesis Dissertation Public Defense (50%)
The quality of teaching of a master is measured in large part by the quality of its teachers. Therefore, the master has selected doctor lecturers with extensive academic experience and/or research group leaders of research at UAB. In addition, prestigious scientists from biomedical research centers and hospitals, and professionals who are in direct contact with the bioinformatics companies are also participating in the master.
This team of experts joins a teaching methodology that combines: theory and practice, a system of continuous tutoring and mentoring of our students, fostering independent learning, creativity, initiative and leadership, and the use of tools and ICT resources, among other methods.
The master of bioinformatics has a faculty staff with both a long experience in teaching and research careers widely recognized. To implement this master, expert researchers have been selected in each of the subjects taught. As an example, more than 20 participating researchers from up to 6 different departments at UAB, : i) Computer Architecture and Operating Systems; ii) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; iii) Genetics and Microbiology, iv) Mathematics, v) Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Preventive Medicine, and vi) Chemistry. The profile of these researchers is also diverse: professors, associate professors, postdocs, researchers ICREA, Ramón y Cajal researchers, among others.
Besides UAB professors, researchers of CRAG (Genomics Research Center) and other research centers and hospital institutes (IibSant Pau. IrsiCaixa, VHIR). Throughout the master also will have the visit of prestigious national and international researchers and entrepreneurs in the world of bioinformatics and genomics, who will share their experiences to our students.
Theoretical teaching classrooms are equipped with new high-performance computers, data projectors, wireless internet, wifi, slate with lighting and projection screen. The classrooms have electrical connections to the students' own use (charging laptops, tablets, etc.)
The bioinformatics lab can accommodate 24 students and has interactive whiteboard. Each workstation is equipped with computer, electrical connections, internet connections and local area Ethernet cable connection. This laboratory will be used for practical classes and also be available exclusively to Master Students during non-school hours so they can continue their work independently.
The master has a proprietary technological platform, consisting of a cluster of computers, different servers, Cloud and Grid services and specific software licenses.
The formation of Bioinformaticians is not keeping pace with their growing demands, so experts with the knowledge and skills required for bioinformatics are missing. This lack of training is a critical factor limiting the advancement of research. Many of the newly formed bioinformatics have been absorbed by the main Worldwide sequencing Centers so that small laboratories and research goups struggle to attract the scarce bioinformatics talent that is available.
Moreover, many people today carrying out bioinformatics related tasks have not the adequate formation. This often results in limitations in the ability to provide optimal bioinformatics solutions and an extra effort to fill the gap resulting from the lack of a standardized formation has to be done.
Very probably! Bioinformaticians are highly sought professionals with extensive job offers in biotechnology companies, start-up companies, pharmaceutical, chemical or biocomputing, as well as research departments of hospitals, the food industry and, especially, in the analysis of genetic data.
This high demand is because bioinformatics is an inherently transversal activity, is applicable to all areas of the life sciences and has a profound impact on fields as diverse as human health, industry, agriculture, the environment, the energy or biotechnology, as well as the world of computing. A new generation of resources, goods and services will result from the application of this new knowledge and technologies.
- Functional Genomics
- Evolutionary Genomics
- Genome Wide Association analysis (GWA)
- Omics Sciences
- System Biology
- High Performance Computing
- Drug Discovery
- Personalized Medicine
- Preventive Medicine
- Gene Therapy
- Waste cleanup
- Climate change
- Alternative energy sources
- Antibiotic resistance
- Epidemiological studies
- Crop improvement
- Insect resistance
- Nutrational quality improvement
La Universitat Autònoma of Barcelona
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona is considered one of the top three universities in Spain. The international rankings place it among the top 100 universities in Europe and among the top 200 universities in the world. (Check the rankings of the best universities).
La Autònoma is a campus university. We are nestled in a beautiful natural landscape offering services for reconciling all your academic needs (libraries, computer network, language learning), entertainment (sports and cultural facilities) and everyday life (shopping and health center).
We are committed to continuous learning and quality teaching. We provide a innovative teaching, characterized by a large practical component, and contribute to the creation of new professional profiles. In the Autònoma we promote the internationalization of our university, encouraging the participation of our students in programs leading mobility and exchange in Europe, America and Asia. La UAB do cutting-edge research. The results of our research are internationally recognized. The fact that the research centers are located in the campus ensures interaction, knowledge transfer and always updated teaching.
In the UAB campus is located La Vila Universitària, a residential complex of 812 apartments for over 2000 people. The apartments are in a privileged spot at the boundary between the campus and the forests of the Vallès, enjoying beautiful views. La Vila is well connected by train and bus, just 25 minutes from downtown Barcelona.
Visit the website of Vila Universitària
Other nearby options are:
- the Student Residential Point Green District at Bellaterra. Visit the website of Green District
- Be&Home accomodation at the campus. Visit the Be&Home website
Home | Program | Strong points | Faculty | Practicum | Collaborating Network | Admission | Grants and Funding | FAQs | Course Board | Alumni | Documents | Links | Contact |
MSc in Bioinformatics
Master in Bioinformatics
Faculty Biosciences, University Autonoma Barcelona (UAB)
If your question is not in the list, complet this form and we will answer you soon.
Enjoy the Power of Bioinformatics Thinking! | <urn:uuid:7106f123-aad7-41da-ae0e-ca067162d2a3> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://mscbioinformatics.uab.cat/base/base3.asp?sitio=msbioinformaticsen&anar=faqs | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572063.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814173832-20220814203832-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.918036 | 5,645 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Developed in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, the program is free for anyone who wants to help their community build trust, develop leadership, and work collaboratively to shape a neighborhood.
Seven years ago, while trying to recover from the death of her daughter, Brenda Mosley was introduced to the concept of trauma-informed care. “I was in a state of grief, darkness and despair,” she says. Then she started a three-year trauma-informed program offered by an organization in her neighborhood of Kensington, Philadelphia, on New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC).
“It was 10 women and we were introduced to all the trauma-informed models of care,” Mosley recalls. “I was in an environment where I could find safety, overcome my emotions, accept my loss and look to the future.”
After the program, Mosley joined a team of Kensington community members put together by NKCDC and another local organization, Impact, to co-design a trauma-informed community engagement program for their wider community, which has suffered from poverty, government neglect, crime and violence. The result is Connected Community: A Trauma-Informed Community Engagement Program, a free resource made public in March.
It is designed to be a flexible resource for communities like Kensington; the “train-the-trainer model” aims both to teach participants about trauma and to gain the skills to lead their own workshops. It is also a resource for community projects, showing participants how to build trust, develop leadership and build healthy communication to work collaboratively to decide the direction of their block or neighborhood.
Mosley, who has incorporated this work into his own life and community activism, believes that “as essential as food and water are to the body, so is this community toolkit.”
Trauma-informed care, according to the Resource Center on Implementing Trauma-Informed Care, “shifts the focus from ‘what’s wrong with you?’ to ‘what happened to you?’ “. It asks health care organizations and other care providers to have a complete picture of a person’s life situation in order to provide effective services with a healing orientation.
In 2016, Impact’s chief executive, Casey O’Donnell, began developing a community-centered version of trauma-informed care. “Casey wanted to know how to make this very clinical approach work at the neighborhood level, in a non-clinical setting,” says Zoë Van Orsdol, co-director of community development for Impact. At the same time, the NKCDC was developing a community engagement program that supported community leaders and projects block by block in Kensington.
The two organizations received support from Philadelphia LISC’s Sustainable Communities Initiative and additional funding from the Scattergood Foundation, NeighborWorks America, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, to collaborate on what would become the Trauma Informed Community Engagement Curriculum.
Mike O’Bryan, director of learning at the Arts and Humanities Village and founder of the consulting firm Humannature, helped guide the intensive year-and-a-half engagement. “I did early education sessions on trauma theory, human development 101, stress and the mechanism of stress, understanding the difference between stress and trauma,” he notes.
O’Bryan advocated for participating residents to co-design the program, instead of just informing it. “When you’re doing something trauma-informed and not questioning what it means to actively and habitually share power, you’re probably not trauma-informed,” he says. “From the beginning, I said that whatever form it takes, co-design must be a principle and a value. We can go there with content expertise, but we don’t have situational, lived expertise.
A community group of about 20 people dwindled to seven regular attendees, including Mosley. “We came together to gather our minds, our thoughts and our experiences on what it should look like and be like,” she says.
During trauma-informed workshops, residents participated in the development of the program as they learned. All of this had an impact on the final product. The group responded positively to sessions around the concept of SELF (Safety, Emotion, Loss and Future), for example; these topics are highlighted several times in the program.
As they learned and participated, participants sought feedback from their wider community in Kensington. “We talked to them individually about what might work for them and how safe they felt,” says Mosley. Trauma-informed strategies shared and tested within the group – such as check-ins that asked people to share their feelings beyond a simple response – were adopted by participants when talking with family and friends .
This practice was also a way to center the participants as leaders of this program within their community. “We wanted to make sure that the people who participate can also be the ones who tell their neighbors about it or even who lead the workshops. [of the toolkit] on their own,” says Van Orsdol.
Dealing with trauma in groups while refining the toolkit to help others was a powerful experience for participants and staff. “There have been tears, there has been treatment, but it’s people doing the work,” O’Bryan says of the attendees. “It was a fluid space for that purpose.” He says the process reflected a principle invented by the lawyer brown mare adrienne: “Move at the speed of trust.”
The engagement ended before COVID-19. Impact and NKCDC spent the last year compiling everything into the resulting 125-page program.
The program offers an introduction to the philosophies behind trauma-informed care, strategies such as recording, questioning and small group work, and outlines five different trauma-informed modules that include various workshops. For example, a module called “Introduction to Stress” introduces stress concepts and stress management tools, then helps participants transition into conversations about trauma.
While the program was informed by the Kensington community, “we really designed it as an elastic, responsive thing that could respond to what’s important to people,” says Van Orsdol. The team points out that many communities across the United States have similar struggles and traumas to Kensington, which means the need for this resource goes beyond their community. “We made it free because we really hope other communities and groups can take this work and figure out what makes sense to them,” says Van Orsdol.
The Kensington team has already made good use of the resource, distributing it to community members and neighborhood groups and sharing it with community organizations outside of Philly. Mosley will use the program to inform his community health nonprofit, By Faith Health and Healing.
It has also been applied internally to the NKCDC and Impact. According to Katsi Miranda-Lozada, the organization’s director of community engagement, trauma-informed “tapes” now take place at all NKCDC events. “If it hadn’t been for the work we do around equity and addressing trauma [care]”, she said, “I don’t think we would have survived the pandemic and still be able to operate as we have and continue to support the neighborhood in the best way possible. ”
As COVID-19 and the social justice movement have caused many to question concepts of community health and safety, the team believes this can be an important resource. Given the past year, they also plan to expand the program to focus more on race, class, and identity. O’Bryan describes the existing program as “an open source tool, if you will, that’s available to help people get started and start putting corners to the puzzle – but it’s not the complete puzzle.”
He stressed that the co-design process the group has established needs to be maintained as the program grows. “None of us are perfect, and that should never stop us from getting the job done,” he says. “On the other hand, the work doesn’t really get done if the most excluded voices aren’t in the room, and the sharing of design and [creation] of everything we do.
Editor’s note: We corrected the name of the consultancy firm founded by O’Bryan. | <urn:uuid:4cc7afb2-fd0f-409d-9c32-46825f46262d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://patent-dfmm.org/new-toolkit-helps-communities-deal-with-trauma-to-shape-their-own-neighborhoods/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.967959 | 1,774 | 2.3125 | 2 |
The Amazon parrot (genus Amazona) are small to medium-sized parrots native to the New World which belong to the genus Amazona. Their range extends from Mexico, Central America to South America and the Caribbean Islands.
Currently, there are about 36 species of Amazon Parrots recognized by scientists (see the list of species below). The many species of Amazon parrots comprise birds of several sizes from the smaller White-Fronted Amazon to the bigger mealy Amazons or the Yellow-Headed Amazon.
Amazon parrots have a predominantly green coloration, with accenting colors on their heads and wings in all the colors of the rainbow depending on the species. In the wild, these sociable parrots are very often seen in flocks or family groups.
They can grow up to up to 18 inches in length from the beak to the tail feathers, being one of the larger birds commonly kept as pets. In captivity, these parrots can live for 50 years or sometimes even more, and well-trained parrots become quite loyal companions.
But sometimes even the most well-trained amazons can become aggressive, particularly during the mating season. To maintain a happy and healthy amazon parrot will require much training, much more than other domesticated animals like cats or dogs.
These parrots require understanding, toys, and rewards for their good behavior, or they might develop some aggressive behaviors. With an innate need to chew, they require pet safe, destructible toys.
In the wild, these parrots fall prey to various predators, such as jaguars, ocelots, hawks or monkeys while snakes may steal eggs or hatchlings.
Like the African grey parrot or macaws, the Amazon parrot is known for its exceptional vocal capabilities, being able to mimic the human voice and other sounds. Their most common species kept as pets are the Yellow-Naped Amazon, Turquoise-Fronted Amazon, Orange-Winged Amazon, and the Yellow-Headed Amazon.
Subspecies / Taxonomy / Etymology
Their genus, Amazona was established in 1830 by René Lesson a French surgeon, herpetologist, naturalist, and ornithologist.
This is a Latinized version of the name Amazone, which was given to these parrots by the Comte de Buffon because he believed they were native from the Amazonian jungle.
Black-billed amazon (Amazona agilis)
Blue-cheeked amazon (Amazona dufresniana)
Blue-winged amazon (Amazona gomezgarzai)
Cuban amazon (Amazona leucocephala)
Diademed amazon (Amazona diadema)
Ecuador Amazon (Amazona autumnalis lilacina)
Festive amazon (Amazona festiva)
Hispaniolan amazon (Amazona ventralis)
Imperial amazon (Amazona imperialis)
Kawall's amazon (Amazona kawalli)
Lilac-crowned amazon (Amazona finschi)
Northern mealy amazon (Amazona guatemalae)
Orange-winged amazon (Amazona amazonica)
Panama amazon (Amazona ochrocephala panamensis)
Puerto Rican amazon (Amazona vittata)
Red-browed amazon (Amazona rhodocorytha)
Red-crowned amazon (Amazona viridigenalis)
Red-lored amazon (Amazona autumnalis)
Red-necked amazon (Amazona arausiaca)
Red-spectacled amazon (Amazona pretrei)
Red-tailed amazon (Amazona brasiliensis)
Saint Lucia amazon (Amazona versicolor)
Saint Vincent amazon (Amazona guildingii)
Scaly-naped amazon (Amazona mercenarius)
Southern mealy amazon (Amazona farinosa)
Tres Marías amazon (Amazona tresmariae)
Tucumán amazon (Amazona tucumana)
Turquoise-fronted amazon (Amazona aestiva)
Vinaceous-breasted amazon (Amazona vinacea)
White-fronted amazon (Amazona albifrons)
Yellow-billed amazon (Amazona collaria)
Yellow-crowned amazon (Amazona ochrocephala)
Yellow-headed amazon (Amazona oratrix)
Yellow-naped amazon (Amazona auropalliata)
Yellow-shouldered amazon (Amazona barbadensis)
Yucatan amazon (Amazona xantholora)
Diet / Feeding
Amazon parrots feed primarily on seeds, berries, nuts, and fruits sometimes supplemented with the leafy matter. During the breeding season, they are more prone to eat some insects or small animals.
In captivity, they are fed commercial seeds or pellet mixture usually supplement with fruits and vegetables.
The many Amazon parrot species usually mate for life, they only change mates if one of them perishes or abandons the nest. The breeding season usually occurs in the spring.
Normally they will build their nests in tree cavities either naturally occurring or excavated by other species. The pairs engage in mating dances characterized by extension of the wings and tail and coordinated bows.
The incubation period and the number of eggs in a clutch also vary among species, but usually, three or four eggs are laid, which are incubated for 25 to 30 days. Normally only one clutch per year is laid.
After hatching the chicks will leave the nest at about 2 months of age. The Amazon parrots reach sexual maturity at about 3 to 4 years.
Conservation status and major threats
With their remarkable ability to mimic human speech or other sounds (they have become quite popular as pets. To meet the demand an entire industry has developed with the captive breeding of these parrots.
However, this popularity wasn't without consequences with many specimens being collected from the wild which threatened the survival of some species of Amazon parrots. The main threats to them are the loss of habitat through agriculture and poaching.
Today the capture of wild parrots for the pet trade is considered illegal since they are now listed in CITES Appendix II (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
One of its species the Ecuador Amazon parrot (Amazona autumnalis lilacina) is among the rarest birds in the world. There probably as few as 600 of these parrots left in the wild.
Did You Know?
The Nile monitor is largest African lizard and a voracious predator. | <urn:uuid:f000f208-2ffe-4fc5-8ce1-898129ab56f4> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://wildlife-facts.weebly.com/amazon-parrot.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.888637 | 1,555 | 3.484375 | 3 |
10/07/2020 | The show
How do the game changers in the process industries affect your business? Discover answers at the ACHEMA Congress.
What are true game changers for the process industries? It’s certainly hard to judge in advance. Many trends are not only caused by technological developments, but also by factors such as economic conditions – oil prices, shifts in global economic power, a virus that freezes whole economies – or cultural changes – the consumer’s craving for SUVs or “fast fashion”. But there are some scientific and technological developments that have the potential to significantly change the way the process industry works.
The ACHEMA Congress sets the spot-light on four of these trends in its Highlight Sessions. This brand-new format is designed to not only provide participants with food for thought, but encourage discussions even more than “conventional” presentations:
Outstanding international speakers and seasoned practitioners present their opposing poles of visions. The potential, but also the barriers and downsides, of novel technologies are exposed and stimulate discussion between speakers and the audience. The highly interactive and compact format ensures that a multitude of aspects can be discussed. Every ACHEMA participant should mark these sessions in their calendar!
Recruiting cells for chemical production: Novel biological production systems
Companies like Genomatica are revolutionizing the way chemicals are produced. Supported by advanced analytics and high-throughput research and development processes, they are true biological mega-factories, creating a steady stream of novel biological production systems. With an increasing knowledge about the workings of metabolism and enzymes, there seems to be no limit to what can achieved – or is there?
Closing the loop with chemical recycling: Potentials and challenges
Running around in circles may not be the best way to move forward, but it is highly desirable when dealing with plastics, i.e. carbon-based polymers. Closing the loop solves two problems at once: The dependency on fossil resources is reduced, and plastic waste no longer litters the environment, but is treated as a valuable raw material. So far, however, plastics recycling has been limited by purity and quality specifications that in turn have required sophisticated collection and sorting systems. Chemical recycling seems to offer a way out, especially for plastics that cannot be directly recycled due to their purity: instead of burning the plastics and thus using the energy they contain, the material is broken down radically into its most basic components, monomers, or even further into synthesisgas. These can again be the building blocks for new high-quality products. Is this the “missing link” to close the cycle?
Hydrogen as a game changer within process industries
Gold rush, oil rush, hydrogen rush? After the enthusiasm of the the ’80s, the hydrogen buzz seemed to have died down – only to experience a stunning revival in recent years. With the increasing supply of renewable energy and the urgent need to bring down CO2 emissions, hydrogen presents itself as the natural link for sector coupling and the ideal reagent for chemical production. In principle, we are set for a green and clean future – if we solve a couple of challenges such as the scale-up of electrolysers or the logistics needed for a “hydrogen economy”.
Artificial intelligence – Data utilization for advanced processes and product development
There is no shortage of data in the process industries, but how can this treasure grove be exploited? Artificial intelligence is able to process tremendous amounts of data and draw conclusions much faster than any engineer could do. Recognising patterns, drawing deductions, making predictions – can AI replace the human brain? Or is intelligence more than a machine can ever learn?
ACHEMA innovation challenge
Digitisation offers new perspectives and approaches to mastering the challenges in process engineering. Experience at ACHEMA how ideas become innovations. In an innovative competition, we want to find solutions for current and future problems. Be inspired by creative and new solutions for the process industry that emerge from the field of digitisation.
Battle of the best
What are the best concepts and solutions for specific industry challenges? In this new competition, solution providers have the opportunity to pitch their best solutions and products for a selected challenge. Be part of the jury at ACHEMA and vote live to decide who will be awarded in this competition.
60486 Frankfurt am Main
Tel.: +49 69 7564-100 | <urn:uuid:1a4b3e92-1f51-4943-9a20-2b38eda1961a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.achema.de/en/magazine/article/spotlight-on | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.933229 | 925 | 1.851563 | 2 |
The online analyser “Wilhelm Kienzl” from Seibold’s Composer analyser family continuously determines the arsenic concentration. Arsenic has a number of industrial applications. However, if certain geological conditions are met, arsenic from natural sources can be found in ground water as well. The robust, proven and tested measurement technology determines arsenic with high precision and sensitivity while keeping instrument complexity low. The result is a cost-efficient measurement. Easy and safe handling thanks to non-toxic reagents.
Category: G- Liquid Monitoring Online | <urn:uuid:7324a2f8-aacb-4865-86b3-128376b9a212> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://maseir.com/index.php/project/arsenic-measurement/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572063.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814173832-20220814203832-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.87547 | 118 | 1.859375 | 2 |
Ecological ‘holocaust’: Women saving India’s Western Ghats forest
A group of 27 women act as guardians of the rare ferns, tree-hugging mosses and thousands of other plants that may otherwise be lost forever
Silent Valley: A controversy that focused global attention on a rainforest 40 years ago
The confrontation between development and environment; a people’s movement that got support from across the country
School in the Forest : Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, Kerala
The Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary is dedicated to the plants of the Western Ghats, a mountain range running down the western coastline of peninsular India. Founded in 1981 by Wolfgang Theuerkauf, the Sanctuary is a garden of wild plant species grown at the edge of a rainforest reserve. The intention is to rehabilitate endangered species and restore habitats in a highly fragmented landscape, in which only a fraction of original forest remains and a high percentage of species are rare, vulnerable or threatened by imminent extinction. The Sanctuary is run by a small group of resident gardeners, naturalists and educators, and supported by a wide circle of well-wishers. Together it offers an approach that is connected to the climate, land, habitats, plants, animals and people of the Western Ghats. | <urn:uuid:988c8efc-9ff8-4e20-87df-3be4abce154c> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://vikalpsangam.org/tag/rainforest/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.914046 | 269 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Our beliefs are simple and biblical:
1. We believe in the triune God: there are three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) yet still only one God. Just think of an egg, which is composed of the shell, yoke, and egg white. All three substances are separate and distinct, yet together they make the egg.
2. The Virgin Birth: Jesus was conceived by His mother, Mary, by the Holy Spirit. The seed came from God and not Joseph, His natural father.
3. The Crucifixion: Jesus died on a cross at the hands of angry sinners, like you and me. His purpose was to accomplish His Father’s will of reconciling all mankind to Himself.
4. The Resurrection: Jesus rose from the dead. His resurrected life is in us because we have called on His name and been raised with Him for all eternity.
5. The Holy Spirit: God works in His people today through the Holy Spirit. Just as in the days of Acts, God continues His work in us and assures our future by giving us the transforming and life changing power of His Holy Spirit.
6. Marriage and family are institutions ordained by the Lord God Himself from the very beginning of human history and these are sacred institutions. Marriage is between one man and one woman. Any other definition of marriage is contrary to the clear teachings of the Holy Bible and hence against the expressed will of God. | <urn:uuid:448cc782-78e7-42fc-9a1e-b6e5e71ce1ed> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://wlacc.org/?page_id=147 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.971584 | 299 | 1.625 | 2 |
Tauktae Cyclone Relief Package : Cyclonic storm Tauktae has intensified into a “very severe” cyclonic storm, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday morning. Cyclone Tauktae is likely to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) around early morning on May 18.
Get a powerful & easy-to-use weather radar station right on your smartphone! Whether you need radar maps, weather alerts, storm tracker, or just to check the weather forecast. Weather Radar App is your go-to free weather app!
High-def weather radar
The map radar is based on your location and gives you great zooming and control options.
Set weather notifications & emergency alerts and get informed with our live weather radar app. Helpful to use as your storm tracker, rain radar, wind forecast, or tornado tracker.
Insightful & accurate
Our weather radar app gives you accurate info about the current weather and features hourly, daily, and weekly forecasts.
• View real-time animated weather radar images on a radar map with severe weather warnings
• View local weather forecasts and temperature for your current location
• See what weather conditions to expect on a daily basis, and view the forecast for the rest of the week
• The weather app offers home screen and notification panel widgets to help you quickly find what you need
The storm lay centered about 150 km southwest of Panjim-Goa, 490 km south of Mumbai, and 730 km south-southwest of Veraval (Gujarat). Stay tuned for LIVE updates on Cyclone Tauktae. | <urn:uuid:92ea945d-45c7-4a3f-aefc-62ca50933a2f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://ojasjobs.in/tauktae-cyclone-relief-package/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572833.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20220817032054-20220817062054-00472.warc.gz | en | 0.904515 | 345 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Pope Francis has chosen as his theme for this Day ‘Come and See’: Communicating by encountering people as they are. He gives us a prayer: Lord, teach us to move beyond ourselves, and to set out in search of truth. Teach us to go out and see, teach us to listen, not to entertain prejudices or draw hasty conclusions. Teach us to go where no one else will go, to take the time needed to understand, to pay attention to the essentials, not to be distracted by the superfluous, to distinguish deceptive appearances from the truth. Grant us the grace to recognise your dwelling places in our world and the honesty needed to tell others what we have seen.
- Our Parish | <urn:uuid:2e5bf384-9bdc-4653-96b7-99b3ff3eba70> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://thomastownparish.ie/2021-world-communications-day/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.95448 | 174 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Over its 55-year history, Medicaid has evolved substantially and is a critical component of the U.S. health care system, now providing health coverage to more than 74 million Americans. In the last year, Medicaid has been essential to the COVID-19 response efforts and is core to strategies for advancing health equity.
In 2020-21, CHCS is celebrating two significant milestones — its 25-year anniversary and one decade of the Medicaid Leadership Institute. For the last quarter century, CHCS has worked with Medicaid stakeholders in every state to develop and implement strategies to improve the quality and efficiency of health care delivery, particularly for people with the most complex medical, behavioral health, and social needs. Since 2009, 59 Medicaid directors in 40 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have participated in the Medicaid Leadership Institute to hone their leadership skills and maximize opportunities to improve Medicaid services. Looking back at the last 25 years, we recently spoke with Medicaid Leadership Institute alumni — including current and former Medicaid directors — about what’s on the horizon for Medicaid’s next decade.
Q: In recent decades, Medicaid programs have led significant initiatives to advance innovations in payment and care delivery models. What do you envision the future holding for these efforts?
The changes happened quickly to address COVID, but many have long-term benefits for Medicaid beneficiaries. We must evaluate these changes and continue to refine and innovate in the years to come.
A: Gary Smith (Medicaid Director, U.S. Virgin Islands): The USVI is experiencing an aging population as many younger islanders have moved to the mainland for economic opportunities since the 2017 hurricanes. The twin storms have also increased lingering issues with stress and mental health for those residents who remain. A community-based approach to both long term services and supports (LTSS) and behavioral health will be the most cost-effective solution. In response, we are building a home- and community-based system of LTSS for our aged, blind, and disabled population. We are committed to a community-based approach to rebuild and restructure the long -term care delivery system, which will provide greater opportunities for social and economic mobility, as well as better health outcomes for people served by Medicaid.
Dave Richard (Medicaid Director, North Carolina): As state budget pressures mount, Medicaid programs will continue to require changes that improve quality while controlling cost. In North Carolina, like other Medicaid programs across the country, we rapidly changed our policy to modernize telehealth, updated policies around long-term care, and focused payments to encourage better practices related to COVID. The changes happened quickly to address COVID, but many have long-term benefits for Medicaid beneficiaries. We must evaluate these changes and continue to refine and innovate in the years to come.
Becky Pasternik-Ikard (Former Medicaid Director, Oklahoma): I expect enhancements in care delivery to continue, especially incorporating care management, particularly at the local level. It’s proven to control costs and maintain or improve chronic conditions. I also anticipate the continued prioritization of telehealth as an alternative to in-person visits and the movement away from institutional to community- or home-based settings to continue.
Q: The pressure on Medicaid to both control costs and increase quality are longstanding. How do we measure the success of these efforts?
A: D. Richard: States must incorporate real evaluation standards within our programs that truly measure outcomes for our beneficiaries. This will require us to improve our partnerships with academic institutions for the independent evaluation of program impact and effectiveness. Too often we evaluate on the short term when we need to evaluate the long term. We must make the case to legislative bodies to avoid annual reactive approaches for Medicaid programs.
B. Pasternik-Ikard: Success can be measured by: (1) gains in access to care and timeliness of care; (2) gains in primary and preventive care services; (3) improvement in certain prioritized national and state identified health outcomes, especially for targeted conditions and populations; (4) improvements in provider and member/family experience; and (5) stability in both the primary care and specialty networks.
Q: How can Medicaid leaders communicate the value of Medicaid?
Talk about Medicaid in terms of its impact on real people’s lives, not as a payment or delivery system. Tell a diversity of stories. Demonstrate in relatable terms the breadth of the program’s reach, from temporary help for pregnant women, children, or adults in the workforce to long-term supports for the elderly and disabled.
A: D. Richard: To understand how to best communicate the value of Medicaid, we need to spend time with our beneficiaries and providers to see the impact on the ground. Too often we speak in a Medicaid language that emphasizes budgets, medical terms, and bureaucratic language that does not translate to the general public. We must begin to talk about how our programs impact communities in ways that are understandable to the public. Rather than leading with the size of our budgets, we should lead with the human impact of the program. We need to talk about what Medicaid means to a family with a child with a disability, the impact of preventive care for a child, and the importance of prenatal care for a mother.
Jen Steele (Former Medicaid Director, Louisiana): Talk about Medicaid in terms of its impact on real people’s lives, not as a payment or delivery system. Tell a diversity of stories. Demonstrate in relatable terms the breadth of the program’s reach, from temporary help for pregnant women, children, or adults in the workforce to long-term supports for the elderly and disabled. Paint a picture that is as inclusive as possible, making it a program for “us” and not “them.”
G. Smith: While Medicaid enrollment has increased in the last decade, studies indicate that potentially an additional 20,000 islanders may be eligible for the program. Outreach through trusted community forums, like churches and nonprofit organizations, may be the best strategy to communicate the importance of establishing and maintaining Medicaid eligibility. To the extent that we can succeed in this effort, we can relieve a tremendous burden on the locally financed public health delivery system that provides many services without the benefit of a federal Medicaid match.
Q: Reducing disparities and advancing health equity is a central focus for many health policy stakeholders. What opportunities does Medicaid have to impact health equity?
A: D. Richard: Our programs directly impact the communities that have the most health disparities, and we have significant tools to address health disparities in both fee-for-service and managed care. We need to focus on how social determinants impact health disparities. In particular, we should focus on what the Medicaid program can do in conjunction with other governmental and private sector initiatives. Too often we silo our efforts and do not seek coordination with other partners, including other governmental agencies. Our efforts also need to target regions of our states by coordinating with local officials. It is critical that we invest in long-term success and not just short-term process outcomes.
We have also learned through COVID-19 that long-standing health inequities that we knew existed were even more harmful than we realized. This requires us to view all our policies and payment structures through an equity lens as we move forward.
Q: COVID-19 has shaken the foundation of the U.S. health care system in many ways. What are key lessons for Medicaid from the last year’s experiences?
Medicaid has the leadership capacity and should always be included in any state-level strategic planning for solutions.
A: B. Pasternik–Ikard: Medicaid has the leadership capacity and should always be included in any state-level strategic planning for solutions. State Medicaid agencies have learned what additional Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ authorities are available during this time. We also learned Medicaid’s capacity for speed, flexibility, adaptability, and the depth of abilities within our agency staff to offer innovative solutions.
J. Steele: I think the biggest lesson for Medicaid from 2020 is the necessity of being nimble and adaptable. Medicaid is a complex program that historically has been slow to change. The COVID-19 public health emergency demands unprecedented flexibility and a brisk pace — and states and the federal government have risen to the occasion. The trick now is reshaping our institutions to work this way over the long term as such demands may well be our “new normal.” | <urn:uuid:b0e82b4e-11cf-483b-adf9-84fee35eaff4> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.chcs.org/medicaid-in-the-2020s-whats-on-the-horizon/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.942797 | 1,743 | 1.601563 | 2 |
|국가/구분||United States(US) Patent 등록|
|미국특허분류(USC)||60/229 ; 60/254|
|발명자 / 주소|
|출원인 / 주소|
|대리인 / 주소||
|인용정보||피인용 횟수 : 9 인용 특허 : 0|
The control system comprises a plurality of nozzles pointing in different directions, a plurality of gas generators, and pipework connecting the gas generators to the nozzles via gates for allowing or preventing gas being ejected therethrough. Each gas generator is fitted with a shutter disposed in an outlet passage connecting the generator to the pipework, the shutter having a closed position in which it closes the outlet passage by bearing against a seat formed in the passage and against which it is pressed when the generator is not ignited so as to is...
[ We claim:] [1.] A control system operating by gating gas, the system comprising a plurality of nozzles pointing in different directions, a plurality of gas generators, each having a combustion chamber with a gas outlet, a pipework, and a plurality of nozzle gates each connecting the pipework to a respective nozzle, wherein each gas generator is provided with a respective individual shutter located in an outlet passage connecting the gas outlet of the gas generator to the pipework, the shutter having a closed position in which it closes the outlet passa... | <urn:uuid:11b5b499-c95c-4b95-9543-25f042cc022b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://scienceon.kisti.re.kr/srch/selectPORSrchPatent.do?cn=USP1998065765367&dbt=USPA | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.899612 | 476 | 1.84375 | 2 |
The Great Migration was the movement of 6 million African-Americans out of the rural Southern United States to the urban Northeast, Midwest, and West that occurred between 1916 and 1970.
What was the great migration and what caused it quizlet?
Definition- When African americans looked to the north for Jobs they did this with hope of finding the freedom and economic opportunities unavailable to them in the South. Two Causes- came about from Great Migration and lack of jobs after war-African Americans and soldiers returning from war.
What was known as the Great Migration?
The Great Migration was the relocation of more than 6 million African Americans from the rural South to the cities of the North, Midwest and West from about 1916 to 1970.
What was known as the Great Migration quizlet?
Terms in this set (25) “The Great Migration” refers to: were deeply divided. In order to pursue his goal of using American influence overseas only when it was a moral imperative, Wilson put which man in the position of Secretary of State?
What was the main reason for the Great Migration?
It was caused primarily by the poor economic conditions as well as the prevalent racial segregation and discrimination in the Southern states where Jim Crow laws were upheld.
What was the great migration and why did it happen?
Between 1940 and 1960 over 3,348,000 blacks left the south for northern and western cities. The economic motivations for migration were a combination of the desire to escape oppressive economic conditions in the south and the promise of greater prosperity in the north.
What were the two reasons for the Great Migration?
What are the push-and-pull factors that caused the Great Migration? Economic exploitation, social terror and political disenfranchisement were the push factors. The political push factors being Jim Crow, and in particular, disenfranchisement. Black people lost the ability to vote.
What happened in the Great Migration?
The Great Migration was one of the largest movements of people in United States history. Approximately six million Black people moved from the American South to Northern, Midwestern, and Western states roughly from the 1910s until the 1970s.
What is the great migration and when did it occur?
The Great Migration refers to the movement in large numbers of African Americans during and after World War I from the rural South to industrial cities of the Northeast and Midwest. One million people left the fields and small towns of the South for the urban North during this period (1916-1930).
What was the great migration to the North quizlet?
The Great Migration was the relocation of more than 6 million African Americans from the rural South to the cities of the North, Midwest and West from about 1916 to 1970. Laws implemented after the U.S. Civil War to legally enforce segregation, particularly in the South, after the end of slavery.
What was one effect of the Great Migration quizlet?
Great Migration – What was the impacts of the great migration? Racism in the North; Blacks were not allowed to join or create labor unions; neighborhoods became segregated; Red Summer (1919) Riots, mob violence and murder.
What was the great migration caused by what were the effects of the Great Migration?
Jim Crow laws kept them in an inferior position relative to white people, and they were denied political rights. There were more jobs available in the North, and, though racism was rampant, racial segregation was not mandated there. They embarked on the Great Migration seeking economic and social opportunity.
What was the Great Migration in Colonial America?
The term Great Migration usually refers to the migration in the period of English Puritans to Massachusetts and the Caribbean, especially Barbados. They came in family groups rather than as isolated individuals and were mainly motivated for freedom to practice their beliefs.
Which of the following was a result of the Great Migration?
What was known as the Great Migration? … Which of the following was a result of the Great Migration? African Americans who had participated in the migration still experienced discrimination but fewer injustices than before.
Why does the great migration in Africa occur?
The Rut. By June the rains stop and the drought of Tanzania’s dry season drives the herds further north. At this time, individual groups gather into larger herds and the migrating wildebeest enter their mating season, also called the rut. | <urn:uuid:9931653e-abe1-4aaf-8903-ef96137e2591> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://usfiancevisalawyer.com/visa-regulations/what-was-the-great-migration-quizlet.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.977467 | 885 | 3.84375 | 4 |
You may think you don’t have what it takes to be courageous... but what if courage looks different than you think?
Students may struggle to see themselves as courageous because often when we picture courage, we picture the heroic, the epic, and the noteworthy. But what if everyday courage is different? The goal isn’t to remove fear completely but to face your battles while you’re still afraid—knowing that God will never fail you or leave you.
Find mesage videos, activity guides, and more below. | <urn:uuid:b92ebd30-5ba9-496e-bfb7-a406dbd6f736> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://open.life.church/resources/3973-outside-the-zone-loop-show | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.936052 | 110 | 2.328125 | 2 |
New data released by Biogen this week show that long-term treatment with aducanumab (Aduhelm) continues to reduce the underlying pathologies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) after more than 2 years of treatment.
Patients receiving aducanumab in the long-term extension phase of two phase 3 trials (ENGAGE and EMERGE) continued to experience significant reductions in amyloid beta plaque (P < .001) levels out to week 132 (2½ years) and plasma p-tau181 levels (P < .001) out to 128 weeks, the company said.
Patients with more effective amyloid beta clearance (standardized uptake value ratio [SUVR] <1.1 by 78 weeks) also showed greater declines in p-tau181 at week 128.
“These findings point to the potential of continued benefit of treatment in the longer term with continued reduction of amyloid beta plaques,” Biogen said in a news release.
In addition, in both studies, at 78 weeks, patients with a reduction in plasma p-tau181, an exploratory endpoint, had less clinical progression across all four clinical endpoints measuring cognition and function than peers whose plasma p-tau181 levels were not reduced.
As reported by Medscape Medical News, earlier data from EMERGE and ENGAGE also linked p-tau reduction with less cognitive decline.
No Clinical Benefit?
The new biomarker data were presented March 16 at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases (AD/PD 2022) in Barcelona, Spain.
“These are meaningful findings, which further our understanding of amyloid and downstream biomarkers, such as p-tau181, in Alzheimer’s disease and can help inform how long patients may benefit from treatment to reduce amyloid beta plaque,” study investigator Samantha Budd Haeberlein, PhD, SVP, head of neurodegeneration development at Biogen, said in the news release.
However, the surrogate endpoint of amyloid clearance used in the trials has been challenged by multiple experts, including three members of a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee who resigned following the drug’s approval, saying there was insufficient evidence that amyloid-beta clearance results in clinical benefit.
Concerns about potential side effects of aducanumab also linger — in particular, amyloid-related imaging abnormalities related to edema (ARIA-E).
Haeberlein reported that integrated safety data from the two trials suggest ARIA-E is most commonly mild (68%) or moderate (28%) in radiographic severity and mostly asymptomatic. Most ARIA-E events (98.2%) resolved on study, with the majority resolving within 12-16 weeks.
“We will continue to provide physicians with efficacy and safety data to help them make the best treatment decisions for patients as we learn from our ongoing trials and real-world evidence,” Haeberlein said.
Only One Piece of the Puzzle
A spokesperson for Biogen told Medscape Medical News the company is “advancing the development of the postmarketing requirement study that was part of the [FDA’s] accelerated approval process.”
On that front, the company has announced that they will start screening patients in May for the phase 4 confirmatory study known as ENVISION, with primary readout of data 4 years after that.
Long-term outcomes of aducanumab treatment are currently being investigated in the phase 3b EMBARK study.
Another study called ICARE AD-US is collecting longitudinal clinical, imaging, and pharmacoeconomic data to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of aducanumab in real-world clinical practice.
Howard Fillit, MD, co-founder and chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), looks forward to additional data on aducanumab, particularly in terms of clinical benefit.
The long-term phase 3 data “continues to show a robust effect of Aduhelm on amyloid and tau proteins, two important Alzheimer’s biomarkers, but we need more clinical data to know whether and to what extent Aduhelm actually benefits patients,” Fillit said in a statement sent to Medscape Medical News.
“Anti-amyloid drugs like Aduhelm are just one piece of the puzzle,” contends Fillit. “Today’s diverse research pipeline — powered by the biology of aging approach, the understanding that many biological processes contribute to Alzheimer’s disease as we age — is focused primarily on developing therapies that target the many other underlying causes of this disease, like inflammation and vascular dysfunction. Only by attacking Alzheimer’s on multiple fronts will we be able to effectively conquer this disease.”
The EMERGE and ENGAGE studies were sponsored by Biogen. Biogen played a role in the design and conduct of the study as well as the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Haeberlein is an employee of Biogen. Fillit has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases (AD/PD 2022). Presented March 16, 2022.
For more Medscape Neurology news, join us on Facebook and Twitter
Source: Read Full Article | <urn:uuid:cc4ddff2-eff7-4e12-814d-dac4ba218c61> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://fitness-gear-pro.com/health-news/new-aducanumab-biomarker-data-released/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.938051 | 1,134 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Advice from Atisha’s Heart
When Venerable Atisha http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atisha came to Tibet he first went to Ngari, where he remained for two years giving many teachings to the disciples of Jangchub Ö.
After two years had passed he decided to return to India, and Jangchub Ö requested him to give one last teaching before he left.
Atisha replied that he had already given them all the advice they needed, but Jangchub Ö persisted in his request and so Atisha accepted and gave the following advice.
Friends, since you already have great knowledge and clear understanding, whereas I am of no importance and have little wisdom, it is not suitable for you to request advice from me. However because you dear friends, whom I cherish from my heart, have requested me, I shall give you this essential advice from my inferior and childish mind.
Friends, until you attain enlightenment the Spiritual Teacher is indispensable, therefore rely upon the holy Spiritual Guide.
Until you realize ultimate truth, listening is indispensable, therefore listen to the instructions of the Spiritual Guide.
Since you cannot become a Buddha merely by understanding Dharma, practise earnestly with understanding.
Avoid places that disturb your mind, and always remain where your virtues increase.
Until you attain stable realizations, worldly amusements are harmful, therefore abide in a place where there are no such distractions.
Avoid friends who cause you to increase delusions, and rely upon those who increase your virtue. This you should take to heart.
Since there is never a time when worldly activities come to an end, limit your activities.
Dedicate your virtues throughout the day and the night, and always watch your mind.
Because you have received advice, whenever you are not meditating always practise in accordance with what your Spiritual Guide says.
If you practise with great devotion, results will arise immediately, without your having to wait for a long time.
If from your heart you practise in accordance with Dharma, both food and resources will come naturally to hand.
Friends, the things you desire give no more satisfaction than drinking sea water, therefore practise contentment.
Avoid all haughty, conceited, proud, and arrogant minds, and remain peaceful and subdued.
Avoid activities that are said to be meritorious, but which in fact are obstacles to Dharma.
Profit and respect are nooses of the maras, so brush them aside like stones on the path.
Words of praise and fame serve only to beguile us, therefore blow them away as you would blow your nose.
Since the happiness, pleasure, and friends you gather in this life last only for a moment, put them all behind you.
Since future lives last for a very long time, gather up riches to provide for the future.
You will have to depart leaving everything behind, so do not be attached to anything.
Generate compassion for lowly beings, and especially avoid despising or humiliating them.
Have no hatred for enemies, and no attachment for friends.
Do not be jealous of others’ good qualities, but out of admiration adopt them yourself.
Do not look for faults in others, but look for faults in yourself, and purge them like bad blood.
Do not contemplate your own good qualities, but contemplate the good qualities of others, and respect everyone as a servant would.
See all living beings as your father or mother, and love them as if you were their child.
Always keep a smiling face and a loving mind, and speak truthfully without malice.
If you talk too much with little meaning you will make mistakes, therefore speak in moderation, only when necessary.
If you engage in many meaningless activities your virtuous activities will degenerate, therefore stop activities that are not spiritual.
It is completely meaningless to put effort into activities that have no essence.
If the things you desire do not come it is due to karma created long ago, therefore keep a happy and relaxed mind.
Beware, offending a holy being is worse than dying, therefore be honest and straightforward.
Since all the happiness and suffering of this life arise from previous actions, do not blame others.
All happiness comes from the blessings of your Spiritual Guide, therefore always repay his kindness.
Since you cannot tame the minds of others until you have tamed your own, begin by taming your own mind.
Since you will definitely have to depart without the wealth you have accumulated, do not accumulate negativity for the sake of wealth.
Distracting enjoyments have no essence, therefore sincerely practise giving.
Always keep pure moral discipline for it leads to beauty in this life and happiness hereafter.
Since hatred is rife in these impure times, don the armour of patience, free from anger.
You remain in samsara through the power of laziness, therefore ignite the fire of the effort of application.
Since this human life is wasted by indulging in distractions, now is the time to practise concentration.
Being under the influence of wrong views you do not realize the ultimate nature of things, therefore investigate correct meanings.
Friends, there is no happiness in this swamp of samsara, so move to the firm ground of liberation.
Meditate according to the advice of your Spiritual Guide and dry up the river of samsaric suffering.
You should consider this well because it is not just words from the mouth, but sincere advice from the heart.
If you practise like this you will delight me, and you will bring happiness to yourself and others.
I who am ignorant request you to take this advice to heart.
This is the advice that the holy being Venerable Atisha gave to Venerable Jang Chub Ö. | <urn:uuid:94c65d9f-a2b3-436b-9b6c-049e09654e5a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.sangye.it/altro/?p=586 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.947714 | 1,189 | 1.867188 | 2 |
Italy Welcomes Morocco's Serious, Credible Efforts On Moroccan Sahara
ROME || Italy on Wednesday reiterated its earlier stated stance, welcoming the serious and credible efforts made by Morocco to resolve the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
"Italy reiterates its position as expressed in the Declaration of the multidimensional strategic partnership signed in Rabat on November 1, 2019," stated a joint press release issued at the end of an official visit to Rome of Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, at the invitation of his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio.
In the Declaration of multidimensional strategic partnership, Italy welcomed "the serious and credible efforts led by Morocco" for the resolution of the regional conflict over the Moroccan Sahara. In the document, Italy also took note of the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco on April 11, 2007.
Under this declaration, Italy reaffirmed its support "for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to continue the political process to achieve a just, realistic, pragmatic, sustainable and mutually acceptable political, solution" to the question of the Moroccan Sahara, which is based on "compromise, in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council, including resolution 2494 of October 30, 2019." | <urn:uuid:88e215d5-2578-43a7-81f3-7f22a64ade56> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.thenewsagency.in/world/italy-welcomes-moroccos-serious-credible-efforts-on-moroccan-sahara | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.95926 | 257 | 1.585938 | 2 |
A Liberal government would not appeal a recent court decision ending a ban on face veils at citizenship ceremonies and would end other "unreasonable" cases launched by the Conservative government, Justin Trudeau said Friday.
The Liberal leader made the comments after the Conservatives announced Friday they will seek a stay on a recent Federal Court of Appeal decision allowing the veil during the oath-taking ceremony. The Conservatives said they will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Current laws ban wearing face veils during citizenship ceremonies but a three-judge appeal panel upheld a lower court ruling this week saying the current legislation is unlawful.
A government led by Trudeau "will no longer be appealing the decision," he said at a campaign rally in Montreal. "We will be looking at ensuring that Canadians' rights are respected right across the country."
The NDP has also said it would not appeal the ruling.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said the majority of Canadians agree people should reveal their face when seeking to "join the Canadian family."
The Tories' policy on face veils is popular in Quebec, in particular, as all three major provincial parties agree that people receiving or giving government services must do so with their faces uncovered.
The Bloc Quebecois jumped into the niqab debate Friday by releasing a 20-second video accusing the NDP of "going too far" with its acceptance of niqabs worn by people swearing citizenship oaths.
For Trudeau, however, the right to cover one's face for religious reasons is a fundamental right protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
When asked if he thought the majority of Canadians were on his side or with the Conservatives, Trudeau replied that the Charter "defends Canadians from a state that might wish to go too far. And I know that Canadians understand we are a country that defends rights and freedoms and it's how we define ourselves and that's the side I am on."
Trudeau said his government would also end other court cases involving the Conservative government, such as the one where he said the Tories are fighting to deprive veterans of their benefits.
"There are a lot of court cases across this country that this government has taken on to deprive veterans of their benefits, to go after individuals for unreasonable reasons ... we would actually cease (them) if this government changes on Oct. 19."
There is a current class action lawsuit by ex-soldiers against the government for increased benefits, but that has been put on hold until May 2016.
Trudeau did not elaborate on the other "unreasonable" lawsuits his government would end if elected. | <urn:uuid:85ccdc66-491c-4d47-bde2-eafb26652e7b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/trudeau-says-if-elected-he-would-not-seek-appeal-to-supreme-court-over-niqab/article26432350/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.977946 | 524 | 1.671875 | 2 |
• 'Hope In Vulnerability' garden name reflects Sentebale's work providing healthcare and education to Lesotho's victims of HIV
• 2014 People's Choice Award winner Matt Keightley reveals further detail on the garden design
Sentebale, the charity founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, has today confirmed its RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden will be named 'Hope In Vulnerability'.
Sponsored by the David Brownlow Charitable Foundation and designed by Matt Keightley of Rosebank Landscaping, the 'Hope In Vulnerability' garden has been created to raise awareness of Sentebale's work providing healthcare and education to Lesotho's most vulnerable children, many of whom are victims of extreme poverty and Lesotho's HIV/AIDs epidemic and will be showcased on the Main Avenue at the world-famous show in May.
Lesotho has the world's second highest HIV infection rate. One in three children are orphans and there are over 40,000 adolescents living with HIV. Stigma and discrimination remains the biggest barrier to children and young people accessing care and medication.
Cathy Ferrier, Chief Executive of Sentebale, said: "We are delighted to confirm Sentebale's 'Hope In Vulnerability' garden for the 2015 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
"The garden design has been inspired by the Mamohato Children's Centre, due to open later this year in Lesotho, which will enable Sentebale to support many more vulnerable children, and will house residential week-long camps providing much needed emotional and psychological support to children coming to terms with living with HIV."
The Prince's Foundation for Building Community assisted in the design of the Mamohato Children's Centre by working with a local architect to create a sustainable, beautiful and locally-inspired centre that will support to some of Lesotho's most vulnerable children.
The Prince's Foundation utilised their expertise in sustainable development to ensure the design of the centre met the needs of the young residents, whilst creating a pleasant environment that celebrates the country's rich culture and natural surroundings.
The centre's layout reflects that of a village, and facilities will include accommodation cabins, activity rooms, various camp facilities and sporting pitches.
The Sentebale 'Hope in Vulnerability' garden at Chelsea 2015 will represent the experience children living with HIV will go through when they attend Sentebale's camp at the new Mamohato centre providing a safe place for them to access psychosocial support needed to lead healthy lives.
Matt Keightley, head designer of Maidenhead landscaping firm Rosebank and winner of the 2014 People's Choice Award with his 'Hope on the Horizon' garden, has today revealed further detail on the build of the Sentebale garden.
Matt will use traditional and sustainable construction techniques on the garden which are evident in Lesotho, adding to the authenticity of the Southern African styled space. Coppiced, peeled sweet chestnut will form beautiful hurdle fencing nestled in amongst the planting.
A complex yet balanced planting scheme will celebrate the vibrant colour combinations and fascinating textures found in Lesotho. Ribbons of colour will dance through the beds linking hard and soft landscaping elements. Matt is also attempting to germinate a native Lesotho Poppy, 'Papaver Aculeatum', to display at Chelsea for the first time.
30-year-old Keightley said, "We had a hugely inspiring trip to Lesotho last year which further informed me about the fantastic fundraising and charity work Sentebale does and it has directly influenced my approach to the design of the garden.
"Lesotho, known as the forgotten kingdom, will be brought to life through the 'Hope In Vulnerability' garden with a design that evokes the native landscape and celebrates the work of Sentebale.
"The Mamohato Children's Centre will make an incredible difference, giving Sentebale the capacity to care for four times as many vulnerable children as they currently do. I hope to give the visitors at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show a taste of the amazing atmosphere I witnessed at some of the existing centres in Lesotho."
For more information on The Prince's Foundation for the Building Community please visit: www.princes-foundation.org | <urn:uuid:d9778c7f-21c2-4241-9b36-64c962003baa> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.pitchcare.com/news-media/prince-harry-s-charity-sentebale-confirms-hope-in-vulnerability-garden-for-2015-rhs-chelsea-flower-show.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.929112 | 874 | 1.640625 | 2 |
The shreds and trimmings from the slightly fatter parts of the veal are used in minced veal. Because pure veal mince is a bit drier, it is often mixed with a bit more fatty pork mince. The combination of veal with minced pork is a staple at many restaurants. Minced veal is less fat and has a milder taste than minced beef.
Packed per kilo. price is per kilo. | <urn:uuid:65f710b8-f091-4167-971e-39e86c7c135d> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://aalvink.nl/product/minced-veal/?lang=en | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.959349 | 94 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Richard Rudman and members of the Broadcast Warning Working Group have suggested a direction to go in now that the FCC has eliminated the so-called “governor must carry” provision in its Fifth Report and Order on EAS. The proposal is called “Two Steps Forward.”
Rudman is a broadcast engineer and an influential voice in the broadcast emergency alerting community. In the Broadcast Warning Working Group, he’s joined by other EAS experts Ann Arnold, Clay Freinwald, Adrienne Abbott, Suzanne Goucher, David Ostmo and Barry Mishkind.
The notion is timely given that EAS participants must have CAP-compliant devices installed and operational by June 30.
According to Rudman and the group, the “governor must carry” provision was put into the notice of inquiry early on because of broadcaster complaints — for instance, that governors were not using EAS to tell traffic fleeing from a hurricane that all highways had been converted to head north.
“The problem is that governors do not really tell people what to do when their lives and property are threatened,” he writes on the EAS Forum. “That’s a job for the professionals at the National Weather Service and at local and state emergency management agencies. By the time a governor has enough information to be able to issue a personal message, harm may have already come to people at risk.”
He refers to governor’s must carry as the FCC’s way to get around the commission’s inability to mandate carriage of local operational area and state EAS events beyond the EAN code — which means in essence that EAS remains a voluntary program, according to Rudman.
As a “carrot” to entice more EAS participation, by broadcasters as well as message originators, the BWWG has two components to its proposal.
The group proposes steps to foster agreement among state and local EAS originators, to create a short list of safety, weather and civil warning codes based on local assessment of disasters and emergencies.
The second step would for broadcasters and cable companies to agree to carry those EAS warning codes.
The message from the BWWG to EAS originators and entry-point stakeholders: “Please think about doing your part to take Two Steps Forward,” writes Rudman. | <urn:uuid:67918c31-8f95-4cdb-ad7b-9b34e922e239> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/eas-experts-suggest-steps-to-entice-participation | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571056.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809155137-20220809185137-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.960256 | 489 | 1.570313 | 2 |
The MCA is dedicated to connecting communities to contemporary art and artists and this is equally important during challenging times. Your MCA offers free, online creative learning programs for a broad range of audiences to inspire and spark people’s own creativity.
The program includes kids and families art activities for the April school holidays, inspired by the 22nd Biennale of Sydney NIRIN exhibition; a youth-led online GENEXT for teens aged 12 to 18 years; conversations between MCA curators and leading Australian and international artists on what it means to be an artist working today; and online learning programs for parents and teachers to help children while home from school.
MCA Australia Director, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE said that these new digital resources will help people reflect, find solace and see the world in new ways. The MCA may be closed but we continue to provide people across Australia with meaningful ways to engage with contemporary art and help us see a positive future beyond these difficult times,” she said.
“We’re working hard to offer many of our onsite programs at the Museum online and we hope that these resources will provide much-needed respite for our communities,” added Macgregor.
Your MCA online activities are now live from the MCA website with more digital experiences being added over the coming weeks. For more information, visit: www.mca.com.au for details.
Image: GENEXT – photo by Jacquie Manning | <urn:uuid:2f7896cc-bf93-4b4a-8cfb-3f760b3d4101> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://artsreview.com.au/mca-australia-launches-online-program-your-mca/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.95304 | 305 | 2.109375 | 2 |
About 65,000 providers have recently lost eligibility for Medicaid reimbursement, many for failure to comply with an ACA provision requiring certain providers to submit revalidation notices last year, an analysis conducted by Modern Healthcare shows.
The report raises concern over access to care for Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly in states like Texas, which lost more than 10,000, or almost 10%, of its 298,000 Medicaid providers.
- While some providers lost eligibility due to the ACA rule, it seems some states are still evaluating revalidation notices and that some providers left the program voluntarily.
The Modern Healthcare analysis drew from 15 state agencies to reach its conclusions. Medicaid is often criticized for the low rates it pays providers and there is constant debate over the access to services that it affords, although some data suggest Medicaid offers similar access to private insurance.
According to the the 2014 Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey, Medicaid beneficiaries were just as likely as patients with private insurance to have a regular source of care. In a review of research on Medicaid expansion, the Kaiser Family Foundation determined that evidence suggests expansion improved across multiple measures. While some research suggests provider shortages in some areas, providers have been able to accommodate increased patient volume in most instances.
Medicaid rates can discourage provider participation, paying as low as 60% of Medicare rates for certain services. Only 68.9% of office-based physicians were accepting new Medicaid patients, according to 2013 data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Meanwhile, 83.7% were accepting new Medicaid patients and 84,7% were accepting new patients with private insurance. | <urn:uuid:b66d1487-a95a-4c65-993f-c6b2fdd2fab2> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/65000-providers-lose-medicaid-eligibility/436732/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.957979 | 334 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Tonight on 360°, what's being down to try to find the nearly 5,000 missing Americans in Haiti. Plus, Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on the damage to one of Haiti's medical schools and how it could impact the country's health crisis. We also continue our special report "The Stimulus Project". See how your tax dollars are being spent in hopes of boosting the economy.
Want to know what else we're covering? <strong><a href="http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/category/the-buzz/" target="_blank">Read EVENING BUZZ</a></strong>
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with | <urn:uuid:6f5071c4-62a2-4723-acf6-3b302508b6ca> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/26/live-blog-from-the-anchor-desk-012610/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.908044 | 365 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Michelle A. O’Malley earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware in 2009, where she worked with Prof. Anne Robinson to engineer overproduction of membrane proteins in yeast. O’Malley was a USDA-NIFA postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biology at MIT, where she developed new strategies for cellulosic biofuel production. She joined the Chemical Engineering faculty at UC-Santa Barbara in 2012, and her research group engineers protein synthesis within anaerobes and consortia for sustainable chemical production, bioremediation, and natural product discovery. O’Malley was named one of the 35 Top Innovators Under 35 by MIT Technology Review in 2015, and is the recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), a DOE Early Career Award, an NSF CAREER award, the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, an ACS PMSE Young Investigator Award, an ACS WCC “Rising Star” Award, and a Hellman Faculty Fellowship.
The O'Malley Lab works at the interface of engineering and biology to engineer microbes and consortia with novel functions. We are especially interested in deciphering how “unwieldy” microbes in the environment perform extraordinary tasks - many of these microbes have no available genomic sequence and are exceptionally difficult to manipulate. We seek a better understanding of how proteins are synthesized by cells, and how their three-dimensional structure informs their function would enhance our ability to engineer proteins (and cellular expression platforms) for diverse biomedical and biotechnology applications. To address these issues, our approach combines classical cell biology tools with cutting-edge technologies (genome sequencing, RNAseq, cellular reprogramming) that are rooted in the core biological sciences to interrogate and engineer molecular mechanisms that underlie protein production in eukaryotic cells. In addition, we rely on biophysical methods to elucidate protein-protein contacts, with the aim of controlling these interactions both in vivo and in vitro. Systems of interest to us have broad applicability to bioenergy and sustainability, as well as to drug development and detection.
For more information please visit http://www.omalleylab.com/ | <urn:uuid:9d2f4d25-b91b-41dd-8b12-b4f7433c5621> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.aiche.org/community/bio/michelle-omalley | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.938664 | 474 | 1.65625 | 2 |
The 13-year study to widen I-70 between I-25 and Chambers Road has been delayed about six months. Start of construction has been pushed back from the end of 2017 to the first half of 2018.
The $1.2 billion Central 70 project would entail full reconstruction of the highway from Colorado Blvd. to Sand Creek (just east of Quebec) and widening of the highway from Sand Creek to Chambers Road. On completion, each direction will have one “managed” lane (Express Lane). Another key project feature is removal of the existing viaduct and lowering the highway between Brighton Blvd. and Colorado Blvd. A four-acre cover over the interstate between Clayton and Columbine streets would relink neighborhoods that have been separated by the elevated viaduct since it was built in 1964.
Following public comment on the draft final environmental impact statement, the Federal Highway Administration (FHA)was expected to issue a “record of decision” that would enable the project to move forward. However, that decision was delayed by two factors: the volume of comments and the opportunity to extend air quality modeling out to the year 2040 instead of 2035. Ironically, the prolonged environmental review period created the opportunity for the additional modeling.*
CDOT’s project spokeswoman, Rebecca White, does not anticipate further delays in the environmental review nor in the start of construction. However, project critics are fighting the project on at least two fronts: a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency challenging recently changed federal air quality standards that allow for the I-70 project; and a lawsuit against Denver challenging its ability to make certain storm drainage improvements in City Park in partial support of the highway-widening project. Denver’s website counters that “integrating stormwater detention in golf courses is a very common practice” with the designated drainage area remaining a dry, fully functioning golf course “outside of major storms.” Although redesign of the course has not been finalized, the city says the City Park Golf Course will always be an 18-hole golf course. It will remain open through the 2017 season, close during construction and reopen in 2019.
Central 70 is a Design/Finance/Build/Operate/Maintain project. The successful bidding team will receive periodic payments for meeting milestones during construction and annual “availability payments” during the life of the contract (payments made based on the team’s ability to meet performance standards for keeping the roadway open and well maintained). A developer will be selected next summer from among four short-listed teams. Until that selection is made, critical details such as construction phasing are unknown. Reconstruction of the Quebec interchange will occur at some as-yet undetermined time within the overall, four- to five-year project schedule.
In the meantime, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has received a $400,000 federal grant to prepare a workforce development and on-the-job training plan for the Central 70 project. CDOT has also received “special permission” from the FHA to develop a program to hire locally, i.e., within the geographic boundaries of the communities impacted by the highway-widening project. The ability to meet or exceed CDOT’s local hiring goals will be one factor in developer selection.
*The air quality modeling is based on land and transportation plans prepared by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). | <urn:uuid:7f18b010-0109-4f60-8dfd-7f282bff1094> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://frontporchne.com/article/wider-70-inches-along/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.95712 | 698 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Updated at 6:45 a.m., March 2, 2015
As a new cold low pressure system headed for Southern California, flooding developed on an L.A. area freeway early Monday and the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Orange County.
During the night, the California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert for the northbound Harbor (110) Freeway from Redondo Beach Boulevard to the Glen Anderson (105) Freeway and for the southbound Harbor Freeway from the Glen Anderson Freeway to Redondo Beach Boulevard in Gardena due to flooding over all lanes except the express lanes. Some lanes were later re-opened.
Additionally, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning effective until 7:30 a.m. for the Silverado burn area in Orange County, saying heavy rainfall and isolated thunderstorms were moving into the area.
“Rainfall exceeding a half-inch or more in one hour could cause flash flooding and mud and debris flows,” an NWS statement said, adding that the flooding was mainly expected over mostly rural areas of east central Orange County.
Also expected, as a result of the new cold low-pressure system sliding into Southern California, are more snow showers in the mountains of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, though not the Santa Monica range. The snow showers in the San Gabriel Mountains are expected through Monday evening.
A winter weather advisory denoting hazardous travel conditions was scheduled to be in effect in the San Gabriels until 6 p.m. Monday.
Three to six inches of snow are expected above 5,000 feet, and one to three inches are forecast between 4,000 and 5,000 feet, NWS forecasters said.
Snow “showers will become widespread around noon, then continue through this evening,” according to an NWS statement, which said the snow likely would affect travel on the Angeles Crest Highway, portions of Interstate 5 near The Grapevine, and state Route 33 in Ventura County. Chains may be necessary on those roads.
Temperatures Monday will be in the high 50s and low 60s. Showers are forecast in non-mountain communities today, giving way to partly cloudy skies Tuesday and sunshine for several days beginning Wednesday.
—City News Service | <urn:uuid:a7b995ea-0d07-46d2-bc65-fb71ee97fab9> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://mynewsla.com/weather/2015/03/02/messy-winter-weather-continues-throughout-southland/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.949895 | 465 | 1.710938 | 2 |
What to pack to trek and climb mount rwenzori comprises of very many essential items. Some of these items that cannot easily be carried all along while getting to rwenzori can be hired from rwenzori mountaineering services of rwenzori trekking services the two organizations responsible for climbing the high rwenzori, however there are some essential items to bring right from your home when going to trek
Here are some of the items that a hiker is supposed to carry when going for a trek on the rwenzori ranges:
- Clothing: the weather condition at the rwenzori changes per the altitude so one has to bring both light and layer clothes since at the low attitude of rwenzori there is a tropical weather which requires for light clothes and at the top it snows requiring for layer clothes. In addition to the main clothes a hiker is supposed to carry head gears to cover the head in any weather condition that may require covering the head. Gears such as the hut, headlamps and beanies should be carried. Furthermore a hiker should also carry gloves for both hiking and cold weather condition and also the trekking poles should not be forgotten. .
- Footwear: the climbing boots are very essential and these should have enough grips on them note that your feet are what make you reach the top height
- Sleeping bag and trek bag: the hiker should bring a weather guarded sleeping bag that can be used for a night stay in the huts on the rwenzori and also a warmer blanket should be brought along. The hiker should also get a trekker bag that can accommodate all his/her necessities for trekking.
- Other Accessories: the hiker should have some other items like adequate drinking water, energy drinks and quick edibles/snacks like biscuits and other confectioneries or dry foods. The hiker should not forget a camera, torch, insect repellents and also a music walkman.
Is it safe to climb the rwenzori?
It is safe to climb the rwenzori as there have been no serious problems of the past people who have hiked the high ranges. Over the past years services facilities have been improved to make the trekker’s safety more profound.
The trails and routes leading to the high peaks and mountains have been set up well in that the passage of the hikers has been made so easy.
Furthermore the accommodation facilities that is to say the huts and the rock shelter have been well constructed with reliable supply of water from the natural streams at the ranges to make the hikers overnight stay and short day rest very possible.
Guides have been well trained thus gaining vast knowledge and experience of climbing the rwenzori ranges and these personnel have led the hikers to their final destinations in safe and sound circumstances.
Precautions of the high attitude sickness are also in place and also the hikers are alerted beforehand about the sickness and other dangers during the briefings made at the head quarters.
Rwenzori is much safe when one climbs it in the dry season as the trails are passable and also one should have a trekking insurance as mountain climbs comes with lot of risks.
Checklist for Essential Things to Carry
1 day bag (for Small bag but enough to carry your packed lunch Rain gear drinking water and a camera)
1 sleeping bag
A pair of mountain boots US $25
1 jogging suit
Pairs of woolen socks
Pairs of trekking trousers, cotton shirts warm
Woolen cap, gloves
A torch, headlamp including. Batteries
1 trekking bag
1 pair. of jogging shoes
1 sun hat
Pairs of socks
1 pair. Snow glasses US $ 5
Leggings up to the knee (Gaiters)
Rain proof and warm gear
Rubber boots US $7
1 elastic bandage, Elastoplasts
Water purification tablets
Vitamin C tablets
For summit climbers:
1 ice axe US $25
1 Harnesses US $25
1 pair of crampons US $25
1 climbing rope US $25
Hot Travel Deals:
Great discounts on mountain gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo – Africa. Rwanda is a small land locked country and famously known to be a home to mountain gorillas, found in Volcanoes National park. Many tourists visit Rwanda for mountain gorilla safaris, cultural trips and Chimpanzee tracking etc. Rwanda safaris can be also be combined with Uganda gorilla safaris in Bwindi forest, other wildlife safaris, primates and bird watching. Combined gorilla safaris are becoming so popular in Uganda and Rwanda where tourists trek gorillas twice in Uganda and Rwanda, then add on other wildlife, culture and birding. | <urn:uuid:47536ccd-d091-4169-9261-9311ad6b2c81> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.climbingrwenzoris.com/trekking-planner/packing-lists.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.93566 | 1,030 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Another option for chronic, debilitating pain that has not responded to standard medication and therapy is radiofrequency lesioning. It is particularly helpful for trigeminal neuralgia, brachial plexus avulsions where nerves in the upper body are injured sending severe pain into the arms, post-herpetic neuralgia, pain syndromes resulting from spinal cord injury, and intractable cancer pain.
To perform this procedure, we use radiofrequency energy to heat an electrode. Once the electrode becomes hot enough, we position it on the spot that is causing the problem. We hold it in place until it creates a lesion, which stops the nerve from carrying pain signals. Sometimes we need to repeat this procedure.
We can safely use this procedure in both the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nerves that serve your limbs and internal organs. It is typically an outpatient procedure done under local anesthesia. | <urn:uuid:001b6577-f0da-42ae-b071-e10cf77b97e1> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/center-neuromodulation/what-is/radiofrequency-lesioning | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882573744.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20220819161440-20220819191440-00472.warc.gz | en | 0.91103 | 198 | 2.328125 | 2 |
More than 5,000 business leaders tell Washington to end religious discrimination
WASHINGTON, D.C. — With a Supreme Court decision on the “Muslim Ban” expected in this month, business leaders from across the country want Washington to know that intolerance is bad for business. In a joint statement organized by Business Forward, 5,000 business leaders said:
“Intolerance isn’t just wrong — it’s bad for business. Yet Washington continues to push rhetoric and policies that target immigrants and Muslims. This bigotry is turning off our foreign customers, potentially costing the U.S. economy billions. Our best companies don’t discriminate based on how you pray. So why should our government?”
The Trump Administration’s rhetoric about immigrants and Muslims is costing American businesses billions in lost exports, tourist dollars, and foreign investment. As part of this effort, Business Forward is releasing a report, The “Trump Slump” in Tourism, America’s $236 billion export (and source of 2.5 million U.S. jobs).
“Foreigners spend nearly five times more visiting the U.S. than they spend buying our movies, software, video games, music, and other IP,” explained Jim Doyle, president of Business Forward. “But, eighty percent of those international visits are for pleasure, not work – and that means it’s easy for visitors to switch to other countries.”
While 10 of the 12 major tourism markets were up substantially last year, the U.S. was down, hosting 3 million fewer visits (at a cost of $5 billion in sales and 40,000 jobs). In surveys, foreign travelers have indicated they feel less safe and welcome here. Travel industry CEOs, acknowledging the problem, have funded a global ad campaign to win foreign tourists back.
“When a President has argued that ‘Islam hates us,’ it’s up to his Commerce Secretary to remind him that one in four of global customers is Muslim,” said Doyle. “When he calls Mexicans rapists, he needs to know that a lot of wealthy Mexicans, Brits, and Brazilians will be switching their ski vacations from Vail to Vancouver.”
ABOUT BUSINESS FORWARD
Business Forward is making it easier for more than 100,000 business leaders from across America to advise Washington on how to create jobs and accelerate our economy. Business Forward is active in over 125 cities and works with more than 600 mayors, governors, members of Congress, and senior Administration officials.
Business leaders who have participated in our briefings have seen their suggestions implemented in the Affordable Care Act, the JOBS Act, the Clean Power Plan, the Toxic Substances Control Act, three trade agreements, and the President’s budgets. Many have also shared their recommendations with their representatives in Congress and through phone calls, op-eds, and interviews with local media. Ninety-eight out of 100 business leaders who have participated in a Business Forward briefing would be interested in participating in another one.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Kerr | <urn:uuid:c40a6db8-e0fd-43e8-a9dc-830f5b571bdc> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.businessfwd.org/press/business-leaders-tell-washington-intolerance-is-bad-for-business-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572043.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814143522-20220814173522-00472.warc.gz | en | 0.948956 | 654 | 1.734375 | 2 |
In celebration of their 30th anniversary, Monash Gallery of Art (MGA) has commissioned four leading Australian artists to explore the City of Monash by responding to key issues facing the community – a reflection of the city as a microcosm of the nation in Portrait of Monash: the ties that bind.
Peta Clancy, Lee Grant, Ponch Hawkes and David Rosetzky will shine their own inimitable lens on their chosen topic of interest – local indigenous sites of significance, the migrant experience, homelessness, and the LGBTQI+ community. The commission provides a powerful platform for people to share their stories, which builds awareness of the individual’s experience as they present their truth and the challenges they face.
In doing so MGA becomes a safe place for respectful discourse which leads to greater understanding, profile and advocacy. This is the transformative power of the arts at its most potent. Accompanying the exhibition will be education and public engagement programs to encourage an inclusive and celebrated community.
“Reaching such a milestone called for a commission that paid homage to MGA’s origins and our standing as the Australian home of photography. Each artist has a sustained history with MGA with their own distinctive approach to image making,” said Anouska Phizacklea, MGA Gallery Director.
“Ponch, Lee, Peta and David have created bodies of work that uniquely responds to MGA, the photographic medium and our community. Importantly, these new bodies of work adds our local community’s lived experiences to the cultural record with work that resonates with, reflects and speaks to our locality and heritage.”
Peta Clancy (1970 – ) is a Melbourne-based artist who is a descendant of the Bangerang people from the Murray Goulburn area of south-eastern Australia. Clancy holds a Master of Arts (Media Arts), RMIT University and completed a practice based PhD at the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Monash University Faculty (2009) where she is currently a Senior Lecturer. Clancy’s practice incorporates a number of media including photography which remains her primary medium. She has exhibited widely since the early 1990s, and has a strong history of residencies.
“The starting point for this project began with a map in The Land of the Kulin by Gary Presland (1985) illuminating the cultural and environmental significance of the area prior to settlement.” – Peta Clancy.
Lee Grant (1973 – ) is a photographer and researcher with a background in social anthropology based on the South Coast of NSW. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology) and a Master of Philosophy (Visual Arts) from the Australian National University. Grant works on commissions and long-term independent and collaborative projects dealing with themes of community, identity and belonging and how landscape (both natural and inhabited) relates to these concepts. As a multi-disciplinary documentarian her practice combines photography, video, sound and text to approach these subjects in projects that are often underpinned with research of institutional and found archives.
“The love and affection that all the sitters had for their respective suburbs in Monash was a wonderful reminder of what Australia does have to offer people when they seek a new life here, for whatever reason.” – Lee Grant
Ponch Hawkes (1946 – ) is a Melbourne based photographic artist. She has recorded and commented on Australian society and cultural life since the seventies. Her work explores themes of the body, movement, the environment, community and relationships with a feminist perspective. Currently she is working on a large scale project photographing 500 women over 50, naked, for the upcoming exhibition, Flesh after fifty.
“There are more and more homeless women and children in our community. These people are sleeping in our spare rooms, in cars, on couches, caravans and in boarding houses.” – Ponch Hawkes
David Rosetzky (1970 – ) has been working in portraiture since the early 1990s to explore ideas relating to the self and identity and has a sustained interest in experimental photographic processes. Rosetzky commented that ‘the technique of double-exposure photography is particularly interesting to me – working with portraiture and ideas relating to the self and identity – as it helps me to create images that seem ambiguous, fragmented and in a state of transition, rather than fixed or essential.’ (Rosetzky – Composite images, 20 April – 19 May 2018, Sutton Gallery).
“I think of the double exposure technique as an in-camera collage effect which I use to create multiple perspectives within the one image. This is a method of presenting the subject in a nuanced and layered way, that speaks of the complexity, shadows?and contradictions within individual human experience and identity.” – David Rosetzky
Portrait of Monash: the ties that bind
Monash Gallery of Art, 860 Ferntree Gully Road, Wheelers Hill
Exhibition continues to 12 April 2020
For more information, visit: www.mga.org.au for details.
Image: Ponch Hawkes, Untitled VIII, 2020 (detail) from the series Lay down your head, chromogenic print 120.0 x 120.0 cm – courtesy of the artist | <urn:uuid:09b076a3-628e-44bb-a760-f6a50dd66991> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://australianpridenetwork.com.au/portrait-of-monash-the-ties-that-bind/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.951773 | 1,099 | 1.960938 | 2 |
There are a lot of conflicting opinions out there about whether or not a bed frame is necessary. Some people say that bed frames are essential in order to provide support for your mattress and keep it from sagging over time. Others argue that bed frames are nothing more than unnecessary pieces of furniture that take up space and add to the cost of your bed.
So, what’s the truth? Is a bed frame necessary? The answer, unfortunately, is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.
It depends on a number of factors, including the type of mattress you have, the type of bed frame you want, and your personal preferences. With that said, let’s take a closer look at each of these factors to help you decide if a bed frame is right for you.
If you’ve ever shopped for a bed, you’ve probably noticed that there are two main types of beds on the market: those with a bed frame and those without. So, which is better? Is a bed frame necessary, or can you get away with just a mattress?
The answer, ultimately, comes down to personal preference. There are benefits and drawbacks to both bed frames and mattresses, so it’s important to weigh your options before making a decision. Benefits of a bed frame:
-A bed frame can help to protect your mattress from wear and tear. -A bed frame can also help to keep your mattress in place, preventing it from sliding around or becoming lumpy. -If you want to add a headboard or footboard to your bed, you’ll need a bed frame.
Drawbacks of a bed frame: -Bed frames can be expensive. -They can also be difficult to move, so if you plan on frequently changing locations, a bed frame may not be the best option.
Benefits of a mattress: -Mattresses are typically less expensive than bed frames.
Is it OK to sleep without a bed frame?
Yes, it is perfectly fine to sleep without a bed frame! In fact, many people find it more comfortable and relaxing to sleep on the floor without a bed frame. There are a few benefits to sleeping without a bed frame, including:
1. improved circulation: When you sleep on the floor without a bed frame, your body is able to circulate blood more easily. This can help to reduce pain and stiffness in your muscles and joints. 2. better alignment: Sleeping on the floor without a bed frame can help to keep your spine in alignment.
This can reduce pain and prevent injuries. 3. increased relaxation: When you sleep on the floor without a bed frame, you may find that you are able to relax more easily. This can lead to a better night’s sleep.
If you are considering sleeping without a bed frame, be sure to use a firm mattress and a comfortable sleeping surface. You may also want to consider placing a pillow under your head and knees to support your back and joints.
What is the point of a bed frame?
A bed frame is the structure that a mattress sits on. It is typically composed of a headboard, footboard, and side rails. Bed frames come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles.
They are typically made out of wood, metal, or a combination of both. Some bed frames also come with storage options, such as drawers or shelves. The purpose of a bed frame is to provide support for a mattress and to keep it from sagging or collapsing.
The frame also elevates the mattress off the ground, which can provide additional storage space underneath. In addition, a bed frame can add to the aesthetic of a bedroom.
It is also important to make sure that the frame is compatible with the type of mattress you have.
Is it OK to put bed on floor?
If you’re wondering whether it’s okay to put your bed on the floor, the answer is yes! There are a few reasons why floor beds can be a great option, especially if you’re short on space.
For one, floor beds can make a small room feel more open and airy.
And if you don’t have a headboard, putting your bed on the floor can give the illusion of a larger bed. Plus, it can be a great way to show off a beautiful rug or flooring. Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind if you’re going to put your bed on the floor.
Make sure the floor is clean and free of dust, dirt, and other allergens. And if you have hardwood floors, be sure to put a rug or mat underneath your bed to protect the floors from scratches.
Confused, do I need a bed frame or box spring, both? Help!
Is a bed frame necessary reddit
If you’re wondering whether a bed frame is necessary, the answer is yes and no. It really depends on your personal preference and the type of mattress you have. If you have a traditional innerspring mattress, then a bed frame is necessary to provide support and keep the mattress from sagging.
However, if you have a memory foam mattress, you may not need a bed frame since memory foam mattresses are designed to contour to your body and don’t require additional support. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether a bed frame is necessary for your bedroom.
Do i need a bed frame if i have a box spring
If you have a box spring, you may not need a bed frame. A box spring is a platform that provides support for a mattress. It is typically made of wood and covered with fabric.
A bed frame is a frame that supports a bed. It is typically made of wood or metal.
Is a bed necessary
There are a lot of different opinions out there on whether or not a bed is necessary. Some people say that you can get by just fine without one, while others insist that a bed is an essential part of a good night’s sleep. So, what’s the verdict?
Is a bed necessary? The answer may depend on what you’re looking for in a sleeping situation. If you’re simply looking for a place to crash for the night, then a bed may not be necessary.
A couch, futon, or even the floor can provide a comfortable place to sleep. However, if you’re looking for the best possible sleep, then a bed is probably your best bet. There are a few reasons why a bed is ideal for sleeping.
First, beds are designed to be comfortable. They’re usually made with soft materials like mattresses and pillows, which can help you relax and get a good night’s sleep. Second, beds are usually large enough to allow you to stretch out and move around, which can also help you sleep better.
Why do beds need to be off the ground
Beds need to be off the ground for a variety of reasons. For one, it can help keep dust and other allergens from building up in the bed. Additionally, it can help prevent pests from getting into the bed and nesting.
Finally, it can also help ventilation and keep the bed cooler in warm weather.
No, a bed frame is not necessary. A bed frame is not necessary if you have a box spring. A box spring is a foundation for a mattress that provides support and height, and it typically has a wooden frame.
If you have a box spring, you do not need a bed frame. | <urn:uuid:8c65ae4a-9c5f-41c6-94ef-4021dca4aa8a> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://livingscented.com/is-a-bed-frame-necessary/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.942663 | 1,577 | 1.695313 | 2 |
How Grammar Checkers Work
What is Grammar Checker?
A grammar checker or grammar checking software is a computer program or part of a computer program that tries to confirm the grammatical correctness of sentences in a document. In most cases, Grammar Checkers are part of a more massive computer program or websites with other more extensive features in more situations, word processors.
Grammar Checking technology searches the internet and analyzes the text of millions of internet pages to develop logical linguistically correct patterns. They are then utilized to understand the most statically proper arrangement for a written sentence.
It’s like this; When you write a sentence, the grammar checking engine compares your sentence, structure, purpose, and intent to billions of similar sentences from its database or the internet to find matches and suggest logically correct sentence structures.
The earliest writing style programs checked for wordy, trite, clichéd, or misused phrases in a text. This process was based on simple pattern matching. The heart of the program was a list of many hundreds or thousands of phrases that are considered poor writing by many experts. The list of questionable phrases included alternative wording for each phrase. The checking program would simply break text into sentences, check for any matches in the phrase dictionary, flag suspect phrases, and show an alternative. These programs could also perform some mechanical checks. For example, they would typically flag doubled words, doubled punctuation, some capitalization errors, and other simple mechanical mistakes.
Correct grammar checking engines are more complicated. While a computer programming language has a precise composition and grammar, this is not so for natural languages. One can write a somewhat complete formal syntax for a native language, but there are usually so many exceptions in real usage that formal grammar is of minimal help in writing a grammar checker. One of the most essential parts of a natural language grammar checker is a dictionary of all the words in the language, along with the role of speech of each word.
The fact that an original word may be used as anyone of several different parts of speech (such as “free” is used as an adjective, adverb, noun, or verb) dramatically increases the complexity of any grammar checker.
A Grammar checking tool will find every sentence in a document, research up each word in the dictionary, and then attempt to parse the sentence into a form that matches a grammar. Using various rules, the program can then detect multiple errors, such as agreement in tense, number, word order, and so on. It is also possible to identify some stylistic problems with the text. For example, some popular style guides such as The Elements of Style deprecate excessive use of the passive voice. Grammar checkers may attempt to identify passive sentences and suggest an active-voice alternative.
The software elements required for grammar checking are closely related to some of the development issues that need to be addressed for voice recognition software. In voice recognition, parsing can be used to help predict which word is most likely intended, based on the part of speech and position in the sentence. In grammar checking, the parsing is used to detect words that fail to follow accepted grammar usage.
Recently, research has focused on developing algorithms which can recognize grammar errors based on the context of the surrounding words.
Grammar checkers are considered as a type of foreign language writing aid which non-native speakers can use to proofread their writings as such programs endeavor to identify syntactical errors. However, as with other computerized writing aids such as spell checkers, popular grammar checkers are often criticized when they fail to spot the mistakes and incorrectly flag correct text as erroneous. The linguist Geoffrey K. Pullum argued in 2007 that they were generally so inaccurate as to do more harm than good: “for the most part, accepting the advice of a computer grammar checker on your prose will make it much worse, occasionally riotously disjointed.”
Why are Spell checkers better than Grammar Checkers?
Spelling is a fixed task with distinct right or wrong answers. Full sentences, on the other hand, contains a near-infinite amount of options, and whether something is grammatically correct or incorrect can mainly depend on elusive clues like context and inference.
That’s why individual English sentences are such a pain in the neck for automated grammar checkers.
On my Word processor, when I type this sentence into Word, the program dutifully underlines it in green and suggests: “John parked the car.” That would be fine if John had parked the car, but what if I meant that the car was physically parked near John?
A modest error, you might say, but look what happens when I change the sentence to “The car was parked by the curb.” Word underlines it and suggests: “The curb parked the car.”
That’s downright goofy, even for a computer.
“So much of English grammar involves inference and something called mutual contextual beliefs,” says Perelman. “When I make a statement, I believe that you know what I know about this. Machines aren’t that smart. You can train the machine for a specific situation, but when you talk about transactions in human language, there’s actually a huge number of inferences like that going on all the time.”
Perelman has beef with grammar checkers, which he claims simply do not work. Citing previous research, he found that grammar checkers only correctly identified errors in student papers 50 percent of the time. And even worse, they often flagged perfectly good prose as a mistake, known as a false positive.
In one exercise, Perelman plugged 5,000 words of a famous Noam Chomsky essay into the e-rater scoring engine by ETS, the company that produces (and grades) the GRE and TOEFL exams. The grammar checker found 62 errors — including 14 instances of a sentence starting with a coordinating conjunction (“and,” “but,” “our”) and nine missing commas — all but one of which Perelman classified as “perfectly grammatical prose.”
For better or worse, I would advise you to use a grammar checking tool, it helps you notice some not-so-obvious, apparent errors. Whether it’s for your final year research paper or a casual blog post. Grammar checkers are your friends. | <urn:uuid:73206888-fbc9-49dc-8ff6-d888d7879f04> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://paraphrase.projecttopics.com/blog/technology/how-do-grammar-checkers-work/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.942237 | 1,341 | 3.5 | 4 |
Venezuela is a rich country: the largest known world oil reserves sit under its soil, vast quantities of gold and gas wait to be extracted and sold. Yet 87% of its population languishes in poverty. The country is facing huge instability brought about by a crumbling economy, and the instauration of a semi-dictatorial regime by Hugo Chavez´s heir Nicolas Maduro. We are witnessing this paradox with amazement and rage, as the country is now a virtually lawless land being pulled apart and influenced by internal and external players.
It is important to understand that I consider the current situation in the country as a disgrace both locally and internationally. The lives of millions of Venezuelans are being gambled with by high flying bureaucrats in Washington, Beijing, Moscow, Habana and the military barracks inside the country. Let us state clearly that all talk of humanitarian aid, concern over political freedoms and human rights coming out from international players is completely void and their interests are almost exclusively focused on tangible interests or as my German friends call it: realpolitik.
Venezuela is at the moment a sample case of a global power grab between the US and China that is, I believe, developing into a new world rivalry. Currently both Mr. Maduro and the leader of the opposition Mr. Guaido are claiming the right to the country´s presidency after the international community didn't recognize the last presidential elections due to huge fraud allegations. In the midst of this crisis, the US has been a staunch supporter of Mr. Guaido, while the Maduro regime is being propped up by China (assisted by Russia and Cuba), and its new determined yet quiet campaign to open a strong area of influence right in America’s doorstep.
I consider that two main elements are driving the current instability and veiled confrontation between the US and China and its allies in Venezuela. Firstly, control of exploitation and use of the countries immense oil reserves are of key importance in a scenario of more direct economic competition between Washington and Beijing. Secondly, the unipolar world order of american hegemony that has existed since the end of the Cold War is being further challenged. The possibility of further control and interference in the region by another power comes as a huge blow to the US. Over the past 20 years American trade with the region fell from a 53% in the year 2000 to less than 39% today.China and its ally Russia stepped into the region, and especially into Venezuela in the early 2000s as American foreign policy began to be more exclusively focused on the Middle East and terrorism. The US had been losing interest in the region since at least the end of the Cold War, and the possibility of communist proliferation there ending, so a power vacuum formed. As Americans died in endless campaigns in the Middle East, the Asian giant poured over the course of the following decade over 62 billion dollars in loans and investments into Venezuela according to the CSIS (Center for Strategic & International Studies), securing a vast stake over the world´s largest oil reserves. To date, China is Venezuela's largest creditor and this came with a few strings, as Chinese influence became evident. At the same time, the Russians signed huge oil and gold contracts with the regime at a bargain price due to the precarious economic situation of the country.
The country is a sample case of what could happen if we see a more direct presence of Russian and Chinese influence in the region, as for the first time in over 200 years the apparent next world superpower is neither democratic nor does it have any regard for human rights. There is a vast threat to democracy and the Western way of life that many of us are used to across the world. The Chinese strategy of debt dependency and advancing itself as the regions first trading partner comes with huge strings attached as we can see in Venezuela and its Beijing supported crackdown on democracy and basic rights, the silencing of the press, jailing of political opponents and control of the judiciary are all now commonplace. This could be a mirror lens into the future as to what could happen if Russian and Chinese influence are not countered by the West.
Venezuela is in itself a paradox, as its leader Mr. Maduro has long followed the political line of standing against “The American Empire” set by Hugo Chavez and other Latin American populist leftists. This rhetoric dug its heels on national sovereignty and strong opposition and disdain for American capitalism and free market economy. Yet Venezuela traded their once American “masters” for the influence and interference of US opposed nations: China, Russia and Cuba. This influence came in many forms.
As the dictatorship begun to take shape, Habana´s assistance in training intelligence services to suppress opposition dissent and to maintain a functioning health system became vital. As early as 2001 both nations signed broad and ambiguous bilateral cooperation agreements that allowed the island to operate at various levels of the Venezuelan government. This cooperation saw tens of thousands of Cubans positioned at key posts in the country, including intelligence and military circles. The price for the “advice” provided by the Cubans on the instauration of a totalitarian regime and control of the opposition, was selling Cuba over 100.000 barrels of subsidized oil a day that is then refined and resold by the island accounting to more than 20% of its GDP.
As American foreign policy was occupied elsewhere, the Chinese foreign policy idea of reintroducing a multipolar world scenario begun to be implemented with Russian and Cuban cooperation. This ideological premise was followed by a more tangible and ever-present need to secure the countries growing energy needs to feed its economy. In this sense, the country soon became a victim of a similar Chinese tactic in the region. This consists in the purchase and further demand of huge quantities of natural resources and food products that serve as a huge incentive to maintain the region´s dependence on the export of primary products, leaving their economies more vulnerable to fluctuations of international commodity prices, in this case, oil. Venezuela's oil addiction became such a grievance that to date 98% of foreign export earnings come from it, and over 50% of its GDP, so oil deals with China and Russia became ever more important for the regime.
Venezuela is now another area of hostility against the monopolar world of American dominance that begun to set in as the Cold War ended. By supporting the first democratic and then increasingly authoritarian “Bolivarian” government, China, Russia and Cuba not only gained access to huge oil reserves but also created another outspoken critic of the US, with Hugo Chavez notably comparing former president Bush to “the devil”. I believe that this scenario could have been avoided if the US had had a more tangible and realistic policy for Latin America that realized the risks of an ever-growing Chinese economy.
The country and the region is now again a source of interest for American foreign policy, yet this rash and ill-timed stance responds to, I believe, failing American campaigns in the world (Afghanistan comes to mind), and the need to get a quick win in the eyes of American voters and the world. American foreign policy foolishly let slip a dictatorship in the making in the early 2000s that was being supported by anti-democratic and repressive states in an otherwise region of democracy. At the same time, control of Venezuela's oil could now lay in the hands of a new American adversary, which aims to position itself as a potential rival superpower: China, and as the 2018 “US National Defense Strategy” states countering the Asian nation and Russia are now its key priorities.In the middle of this power play, a terrible precedent could be set in the continent. The Trump administration has openly recognized the possibility of a military intervention in the country. The idea of an open international interference in the affairs of a sovereign nation being floated around in a region that has been largely free of interventions and power grabs for more than 30 years is a horrendous and wrong idea that could cost Venezuelans dearly.
The current crisis in the country can be explained by both internal and external factors, but it is important to understand that the South American nation now lies at the heart of an international geopolitical confrontation that could allow us some insight into the future. I believe that Chinese foreign policy interests aided by other partners such as Russia and locally Cuba are a terrible sight and precedent for democracy and the rule of law.
Venezuela is a sample case of, what I believe, is a myopic American foreign policy driven by the ghostly enemy of terror that let the advocates of authoritarian and realpolitik sweep into various areas of the world including Latin America. Even though any solution to the gross humanitarian crisis in Venezuela needs to stay clear of a military intervention, there is, I believe, a great need to counter Chinese-style policy for the good of our way of life. The crackdown on democracy, jailing of opposition members, silencing of the press, and nationwide domestic surveillance are all textbook Chinese and Russian policies that are being applied in Venezuela. If we do not wish these policies to take root, then a comprehensive approach needs to be taken, firstly in Venezuela and then in the region to solidify democracy and the rule of law that has existed here for more than 30 years. | <urn:uuid:70916d71-23ca-4be6-ada2-3acbe14e22bc> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://themetric.org/articles/venezuela-up-for-grabs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.96144 | 1,862 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Managing risk is a vital part of developing medical devices.
We focus on technical risk – reducing the chance of the device not working properly, to avoid harming the patient. It’s also important to manage project risk – things that could go wrong and cost you money or delay your product getting to market. It’s not going to kill anyone, but it could have a big business impact. With good project risk management, you can significantly improve your chances of success. There a lot of similarities between managing the two types of risk, and at eg technology, our product development and project management processes enable us to manage risk effectively.
Here are a few key pointers for effective project management:
We know it’s important to manage technical risks early. As we progress through product development, the options available to solve challenges decrease and the cost of change increases. The same is true of project risks. Successful projects start risk management early and continue to revisit throughout the project.
Early this year, working on a challenging technical problem, we quickly identified a preferred concept. However, this concept required specialist manufacturing, with lead-times likely to be longer than the project timescales. To mitigate this, we engaged with several suppliers, and continued to develop other concepts. We chose to order parts in parallel for more than one concept. The preferred concept was not available in time, and the 2nd concept didn’t work as expected; but we finished the phase with successful prototypes of a 3rd concept. This gave us confidence that our preferred concept will work. The risk also became an opportunity as we have identified a choice of suppliers in manufacturing.
Talk about it
Trust your gut feeling – if you’re worried about something, then talk about it. Many heads are better than one to think of solutions to reduce or mitigate the risk. Sharing project risks with all stakeholders also prevents unpleasant surprises if there are any risks you can’t avoid. Make sure that conversations about risk are part of your regular meetings. This is something we regularly do at eg technology.
On a recent project – where the key milestone was an investor presentation to demonstrate the prototype, we were reliant on one key supplier with a long-lead time. We needed this supplier’s part, so we chose to accept and monitor the risk, keeping a close eye on the schedule as it developed. The supplier was late in their delivery, but we were able to schedule presentation accordingly – avoiding a last-minute change, which would have damaged investor confidence.
Where to start
Just as there are processes and checklists to help identify and manage technical risks, there are many useful tools to identify project risks. We can also learn from each other’s experiences – people who’ve done similar things before will have a good idea of what might go wrong. Identifying risks is just the start though, the real value is in working out what you can do to reduce the likelihood of the risk occurring, or the severity of the impact – and then in doing those things. Tracking the actions, and re-assessing the risks to see the benefit of the actions is all part of the project management.
eg technology have a team of qualified and experienced project managers, who have a proven track record of delivering complex programmes within stringent frameworks. Our approach has been developed and refined to ensure the viability and success of projects, based on our extensive experience. | <urn:uuid:06a708ca-1649-4063-91fc-084001a5f9df> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.egtechnology.co.uk/product-development-a-risky-business/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.962328 | 699 | 1.734375 | 2 |
What You Need to Know When Buying Sunscreen
- Posted on: Sep 21 2015
Sunscreen may seem like a simple purchase, but choosing the right product can make a world of difference when it comes to protecting your skin. When deciding on what sunscreen to purchase, remember these steps:
Look for both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) protection, referred to as “broad spectrum” sunscreen. While both types of rays can cause sunburn and premature aging, there are some differences. UVB rays are the burning rays that can cause non-melanoma skin cancer. However, UVA rays penetrate deeper in the skin and are responsible for subsequent photoaging – course wrinkling and brown spots and overall sun damage. A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that wearing sunscreen daily can reduce photoaging by 24%. More importantly, studies show that the UVA wavelength is associated with the development of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Tanning booths are comprised primarily of the UVA wavelength which is why it is so important to stay out of them. Getting in a tanning booth is like getting in a microwave oven. There is no greater way to cook your skin!
There are two types of sunscreens – physical blocks and chemical sunscreens. Physical sunscreens that contain titanium or zinc oxide provide a physical block of the rays and are not absorbed by the skin. They work immediately after application. Chemical sunscreens must be applied 15-20 min prior to going outdoors. Chemical sunscreens have the potential for absorption. People with sensitive skin and/or who say that they are “allergic” to sunscreen often cannot tolerate chemical sunscreens, and I would recommend a pure physical block for them.
I always recommended SPF 30 or higher for daily wear to protect against incidental sun exposure. The studies show that over the course of a year, just day-to-day, incidental sun exposure adds up to a one week vacation at the beach. Despite popular belief, SPF 30 is not twice as good as SPF 15 and the number is not the amount of minutes you can spend in the sun. The SPF number refers to the ability of sunscreen to block out UVB rays. It does not give any indication of UVA protection. For outdoor sports or activity, I recommend 50 or greater. There is an incremental increase difference in SPF protection the higher you go.
SPF 15- filters 93% of UVB rays
SPF 30- filters 97% of UVB rays
SPF 50 – filters 98% of UVB rays
The FDA released new regulations in June 2012 on sunscreen guidelines. Because there is no such thing as a truly ‘waterproof” sunscreen, sunscreen manufacturers must comply with the following guidelines:
Water resistance claims on the product’s front label must tell how much time a user can expect to get the declared SPF level of protection while swimming or sweating, based on standard testing. Only two times will be permitted on labels: 40 minutes or 80 minutes.
Manufacturers cannot make claims that sunscreens are “waterproof” or “sweatproof” or identify their products as “sunblocks.” Also, sunscreens cannot claim protection immediately on application (for example, “instant protection”) or protection for more than two hours without reapplication, unless they submit data and get approval from FDA.
Pay attention to the consistency of sunscreen that you choose: foam, lotion, or aerosol. I recommend an aerosol spray to maximize surface area coverage for the body. Be sure to have an even and consistent application. Regardless of what SPF you choose or what consistency, make sure you reapply every two hours for outdoor activity.
The most important step (and most common mistake) is to make sure you apply enough product for adequate coverage. The general rule of thumb is that it takes about a shot glass full to cover the entire body. If you use half the required amount, then the effective protection will be about half the labeled SPF.
What brand? This is up to you! You don’t have to spend a lot of money to find a good sunscreen. It’s a matter of personal preference and also usually depends on the body location. Your dermatologist can suggest a brand that it right for you.
Mary Hurley, MD
Posted in: Uncategorized | <urn:uuid:c3dbf3f9-f0db-407a-b00f-5af987556ab0> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://northdallasderm.com/2015/09/21/what-you-need-to-know-when-buying-sunscreen/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.932085 | 920 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Methods in Ruby implicitly returns their last line unless it’s preceeded by an explicit
def random_method(str) str = 'new value' end new_str = random_method('first value') puts '---------' puts new_str
On the example above,
str = 'new value' is implicitly returned.
This method would actually anger Rubocop because we are assigning a string to a variable which will be returned anyway. We could (and should) directly return the string.
2:3: W: Lint/UselessAssignment: Useless assignment to variable - str. (https://github.com/bbatsov/ruby-style-guide#underscore-unused-vars) str = 'new value' ^^^
The implicit return value is important because if not well understood it can be the cause of a lot of problems down the road. Let’s say for example we want to output our new value:
def random_method(str) str = 'new value' puts str end new_str = random_method('first value') puts '---------' puts new_str
One would think the code above outputs
new_value two times. But it doesn’t because the method
random_method’s last line is
puts str. The method
#puts always returns
nil, which is what
random_ method returns as well.
It is possible to explicitly return a value using the
def random_method(str) return 'new value' str = 'newiest value' end new_str = random_method('first value') puts '---------' puts new_str
'new value' is returned and the code after is not executed. It’s aid to b unreachable.
This is most well illustrated by the `#select` method:
(1..10).to_a.select do |num| num.odd? end # => [1, 3, 5, 7, 9] (1..10).to_a.select do |num| puts num.odd? end # =>
Blocks also implicitely return the last statement (and the only one here).
#select check the return result of each block and add it to a new array if the result evaluates to
true. For the second range, the
#puts method always return
nil which evaluates to
false, which is why the new array is empty. | <urn:uuid:ba601cf2-b21d-44ea-8a3d-4151b2e22537> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://zettel.cyberflamingo.net/computing/software/ruby/implicit-return-value | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.680618 | 528 | 3.46875 | 3 |
Gallium nitride and its alloys continue to play an important role worldwide in the optoelectronics industry and in particular in the production of light emitting diodes (LEDs). In the drive for higher efficiencies and novel device design there is increasing interest in the growth of GaN thin films with exotic orientations. High-resolution XRD analyses are employed extensively in the fabrication of GaN layer structures for devices. Typically peak FWHM (full width half maximum) of MQW (multiple quantum well) Bragg peaks are measured for quality control of wafers.
A challenge for diffractionists working with exotic orientations is to find appropriate hkil reflections for the measurement of Bragg peak widths and positions. Figure 1 illustrates the most common crystallographic layer orientations with reference to the hexagonal GaN unit cell. The first GaN devices were fabricated with (0001) oriented ’polar‘ layers. Subsequently ‘non-polar’ layers have been employed. These typically have orientations (2110) or (1100). ‘Semi- polar’ layers have orientations intermediate between those of polar and non-polar layers. The most common semi-polar layers are (2112), (2021) and (3031) [For further information about the hkil notation see references 1 and 2
The polar structure of GaN gives rise to strong piezoelectric and spontaneous polarization fields in the direction. Research has shown that the efficiency of GaN-based optoelectronic devices can be improved by growing layers with non-polar or semi-polar orientations. The orientations that are most favorable depend upon a collection of factors such as growth method, substrate types and device structure. The design and growth of non-polar and semi-polar devices is an active research area in today’s GaN industries.
This application note provides tables of suitable hkil reflections for the measurement of GaN wafers with the most common semi-polar and non-polar orientations. For completion the 0001 polar orientation is also included.
Figure 1. Schematic illustration of the GaN unit cell showing the six most common layer orientations used in GaN technologies
Available hkil reflections
When considering which Bragg hkil reflections are suitable for analysis using high-resolution XRD, we must consider the crystal structure, wafer orientation and the geometric limitations of the measurement. The crystal structure determines which hkil reflections exist and their relative intensities. The wafer orientation determines the necessary angle of incidence, omega (ω), for the reflection. The X-ray wavelength, λ, and the hkil plane spacing dhkil dictate the 2theta (2θ) angle, given by λ = 2dsinθ. The instrument and the measurement method determine the geometrical limits. Typically the maximum 2θ measurement is around 160°. For coplanar reflection omega is constrained by the condition 2θ > ω > 0. The principal components to consider for each of the coplanar and in-plane geometries are shown in Figures 2 and 3 respectively. Each reflection from a single set of planes with index hkil can be represented by a single hkil reciprocal lattice spot. The diagrams show how the spots relate to the incident beam angle, ω, the diffracted beam angle, 2θ and the azimuth .
All of the available reflections for a particular wafer orientation and geometry, can be described by a diagram such as Figure 4 showing all of the hkil spots corresponding to the available reflections for an 0001 oriented GaN layer. The reflections that share orthogonal azimuths are highlighted in yellow and blue. The symmetric reflections are shown here in green. The sample wafer is indicated by the large gray disc. The x,y,z axes are linked to key directions in the wafer. The azimuth angle, , refers to the clockwise angular in-plane rotation from the x axis to the azimuth containing the hkil reciprocal lattice spot (see Figure 3).
Figure 2. A schematic illustration showing coplanar scattering geometry for a set of hkil planes. The incident beam is shown by the red arrow, the diffracted beam by the orange arrow. For the scattering condition, these two arrows are represented by vectors with lengths 1/λ, the scattering vector Q has length = 1/dhkil and is normal to the corresponding hkil planes. The plane containing the incident and diffracted beams is called the diffraction plane. In coplanar geometry the surface normal is coincident with the diffraction plane [see reference 2 for a more detailed description].
Figure 3. A schematic illustration showing
in-plane scattering geometry for a set of hkil planes. The incident beam is shown by the red arrow, the diffracted beam by the orange arrow. For the scattering condition, these two arrows are represented by vectors with lengths 1/λ, the scattering vector Q has length = 1/dhkil and is normal to the corresponding hkil planes. The plane containing the incident and diffracted beams is called the diffraction plane. For in-plane geometry the surface normal is orthogonal to the diffraction plane .
Figure 4. Schematic illustration showing all of the available GaN hkil reflections for the 0001 polar orientation
How to read the tables
Note that h, k, i and l are positive or negative integers. The format for describing a negative integer can vary between publications, for example minus one can appear as 1, 1 or -1. Every hkil spot can be represented by its 2θ and ω values and the azimuth, , in which it can be found. These values are presented together with estimated relative intensities on pages 4-7, for six of the most common GaN wafer orientations. In order to identify more clearly the useful reflections they are separated into coplanar reflections (on pages 4 and 5) and in-plane reflections (on pages 6 and 7). Only the reflections that show any scattering intensity are considered, with the exception of the 3031 reflection, which has zero intensity but is shown only for illustrative purposes. Note, there is no useful symmetric reflection for the 3031 orientation. For the coplanar reflections only those reflections that appear in a set of orthogonal azimuths (x and y) are presented in the tables. For the in-plane reflections all of the available reflections are shown together with an in-plane sample rotation Φ, required to bring them into position. The sets that are to be found in orthogonal azimuths are highlighted in yellow and blue.
Consider the 0001 table on page 4 and the entry for the 0115 reflection. Figure 5 shows how the reflection is found. The incident beam is in the y azimuth pointing in the negative direction (-y). The angles for ω = 73.10° and 2θ = 105.04° are shown. When one reflection has been found the relevant x, -x, y, or -y azimuth can be identified on the sample and the other orthogonal azimuths can be found at positions with Φ = +90°, +180° and -90°.
Figure 5. Diagram illustrating the angles required for the 0115 reflection for the 0001 polar orientation in coplanar geometry
Consider the 1100 table on page 7 and the entry for the 1124 reflection. Figures 6 and 7 show how the reflection is found. Figure 6 shows the positions that the incident beam and the detector must take in order to measure the in-plane 1124 reflection.
For the in-plane configuration on the MRD (XL), a known Φ position on the sample needs to be calibrated. Figure 7 shows the total sample rotation (Φ = 169.12°) that would be required to measure the 1124 reflection assuming that the incident beam direction is fixed and initially parallel to +x. Note that to use the sample rotation value, Φ (= -90-ω-) in the in-plane tables, it is necessary to calibrate the sample Φ position by finding a reflectionand setting the Φ position to the corresponding tabulated Φ value in Data Collector: sample offsets .
Figure 6. Diagram illustrating the angles required for the 1124 in-plane reflection for the 1100 non-polar orientation
Figure 7. illustrating the sample rotation required for the 1124 in-plane reflection for the 1100 non-polar orientation
Tables of coplanar angles
The data shown here have been obtained on an X’Pert PRO MRD using a mirror, monochromator and triple bounce analyzer. The sample was a MQW on a 2112 oriented GaN buffer layer . The upper right hand image shows a high- resolution reciprocal space map (RSM) measured around the 2112 symmetric peak. The lower right hand image shows a similar RSM measured around the 2114 asymmetric peak. In both cases satellites from the MQW are clearly revealed (indicated by the crosses). Vertical scans extracted from the maps to include the crossed positions are shown above. The blue data are obtained from the 2112 symmetric peak and the red data from the 2114 asymmetric peak. Data such as this allows for more detailed analysis of MQW layer thicknesses and crystallographic quality . | <urn:uuid:4ee086a7-45f1-4834-b037-e23f626fd81b> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.malvernpanalytical.com.cn/learn/knowledge-center/application-notes/AN20140620AvailableReflectionsCoplanarXRDOfGaN | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.887843 | 1,986 | 2.28125 | 2 |
Understanding the complex myth behind Trump’s “radical Islamic terrorist” rhetoric
While on the campaign trail, Donald Trump repeatedly lambasted President Barack Obama for refusing to use the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism” and promised that, if elected, he would insist upon the term. Starting in his inaugural address, Trump vowed to “unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.”
He has simultaneously developed policy to match this single-minded focus ever since. His administration has proposed renaming the federal government’s existing Countering Violent Extremism program—which works with local communities to prevent people from being recruited by extremist groups—to “Countering Islamic Extremism” or “Countering Radical Islamic Extremism.” If these changes are realized, the program would no longer pursue non-Muslim violent groups, such as neo-Nazi and white supremacist hate groups.
Both the insistence on rhetoric and policy proposals have been met with criticism. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Obama rebuked Trump’s emphasis on changing the wording, saying, “There is no magic to the phrase ‘radical Islam,’” and labeling Trump’s mindset as “dangerous.” For Obama, the phrase unfairly incriminates an entire religion for the actions of a violent minority. By insisting that America’s fight is with Islam rather than with specific violent organizations, the then-president argued Trump was, in fact, helping groups such as ISIS and al-Qaeda, who seek a civilizational war. “If we fall into the trap of painting all Muslims with a broad brush, and imply that we are at war with an entire religion,” Obama said, “then we are doing the terrorists’ work for them.”
Some critics point out that the narrowed focus would be misguided, since the majority of domestic terrorism is actually carried out by right-wing extremists, such as white supremacists and antigovernment militias. According to research by the Anti-Defamation League, 74 percent of murders by U.S. extremists between 2007 and 2016 were committed by right-wing radicals. For example, the perpetrators of the 2015 Charleston church shooting, the 2015 Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting, and the 2012 Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting were all white males who held extreme right-wing beliefs.
Other critics argue that the policy, by zeroing in on American Muslims, is unconstitutional. Still others note that the change is bound to fail on its own terms, as Muslim-American organizations that have previously worked with the government to identify potentially violent community members would likely be unwilling to cooperate further. Already, three community organizations have declined federal grants and have withdrawn from the CVE government program in response to Trump’s proposal. (It is important to note that prior to Trump, the program’s effectiveness was already questionable and targeted Muslims almost exclusively. Still, the rebranding is significant because, as expert J.M. Berger from the International Centre for Counter-terrorism wrote in The Washington Post, it “shout[s] to the world that America’s political leadership will not oppose white nationalism—even in the flimsiest and most ephemeral way imaginable.”)
Trump and other Republicans continue to insist that the language of “radical Islam” is simply correctly diagnosing the problem faced by the United States. But in fact, this verbiage is deeply rooted in the way Americans and others in the Western world think about religion and its relationship to violence. The central issue is what theology scholar William Cavanaugh calls “the myth of religious violence” in his 2009 book of the same name.
This myth, he writes, “is the idea that religion is a transhistorical and transcultural feature of human life, essentially distinct from ‘secular’ features, such as politics and economics, which has a peculiarly dangerous inclination to promote violence.” Dissecting this theory, Cavanaugh identified two problems with the way Western societies approach religious violence.
First, “religion” is not a category that is universally applicable. “What counts as religious or secular in any given context is a function of different configurations of power,” he says. Religion is not like, say, water, which has a specific molecular makeup that can be identified in any culture and at any time. In fact, water would exist whether or not humans gave it a name and distinguished it from sand. Contrast this with religion, which is a product of human societies. Religion is not found in nature. It only comes into being when given a label and contrasted with other aspects of society. This does not deny that there are systems of beliefs and practices that are held dear by communities around world, but, rather, disputes that they can all be grouped together and classified as “religion.” As Cavanaugh writes, “the category of religion does not simply describe a new social reality, but helps bring it into being and enforce it.” Religion as a universal category—as a genus that includes species such as Islam and Roman Catholicism—is therefore created through the process of describing it.
[quote position="full" is_quote="false"]Western societies have assumed the realm of religion to be especially disposed to violence, understanding it to be fundamentally uncompromising, divisive, and fanatical.[/quote]
Additionally, Western societies have assumed the realm of religion to be especially disposed to violence, understanding it to be fundamentally uncompromising, divisive, and fanatical. Yet, these are also characteristics of secular ideologies, such as nationalism, communism, and capitalism. Why then do we insist that religion is a unique problem? We are so invested in the idea, Cavanaugh argues, because it is “one of the foundational legitimating myths of the liberal nation-state.” In other words, the idea that religion is inherently violent justifies our modern social and political structures, where reason, not faith, ostensibly reigns supreme. Embedded in the myth is a value judgment: Our “secular” systems are deemed good while other societies’ “religious” systems are bad. It is not a neutral proposition, but a dangerous one. “The myth of religious violence helps to construct and marginalize a religious Other, prone to fanaticism, to contrast with the rational, peace-making, secular subject,” Cavanaugh said. For Trump, this contrast is crystal clear: American violence creates freedom and security. “Our freedom is won by (U.S. soldiers’) sacrifice and our security has been earned with their sweat and blood and tears,” the president said at the National Prayer Breakfast in early February. (As the Roman poet Horace wrote: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori, “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country”—what another poet, Englishman Wilfred Owen, who wrote extensively during World War I, famously called “The old Lie.”) Minutes later, he steered his speech to the “unimaginable violence carried out in the name of religion,” going on to pinpoint “acts of wanton abuse of minorities, horrors on a scale that defy description. … They (ISIS) cut off the heads, they drown people in steel cages.”
This construction has serious consequences. Since religion—today epitomized by Islam—is inherently violent, we must deploy violence to stop it. “All nations have a duty to work together to confront it and to confront it viciously if we have to,” Trump opined in the same speech. “It may not be pretty for a little while,” he acknowledged, but, “It must be stopped.”
“In foreign policy,” Cavanaugh argues, “the myth of religious violence serves to cast nonsecular social orders, especially Muslim societies, in the role of villain. … They have not yet learned to remove the dangerous influence of religion from political life. Their violence is therefore irrational and fanatical. Our violence, being secular, is rational, peace making, and sometimes regrettably necessary to contain their violence.” Trump exemplified this logic—without any evident sense of regret—when he announced to a cheering campaign rally in 2015 that he “would bomb the shit out of” ISIS. “I would just bomb those suckers,” he continued, to cheers and applause from his grinning audience.
This is not to argue that groups like ISIS are not extraordinarily brutal, or that they do not justify their violence with Islam—they are and they do. They are a threat to the United States and its allies. But what the current administration’s rhetoric does is promote the notion that violent actors who happen to be Muslim are fundamentally different than violent actors who happen to not be Muslim, because they are motivated by religion and are, therefore, exceptionally absolutist and irrational.
[quote position="full" is_quote="true"]What the current administration’s rhetoric does is promote the notion that violent actors who happen to be Muslim are fundamentally different than violent actors who happen to not be Muslim.[/quote]
Of course, Trump did not create this impulse to distinguish Muslim and non-Muslim violence. It is ingrained in Western thought. We can see this clearly in the media’s treatment of violence. When Elliot Rodgers went on a shooting spree and murdered six people in Isla Vista, California, in 2014, to take just one example, reports focused on his mental health, not his adherence to an ideology of extreme misogyny. Rodgers’ commitment to misogynistic beliefs were clearly divisive, dangerous, and supported by online resources and ideologues, but most wrote it off as an isolated act of a troubled boy—the classic “lone wolf.” Contrast that with coverage of Nidal Hasan, who murdered 13 people in 2009 at Fort Hood in Texas. Hasan also struggled with mental illness, but the media directed the public’s attention to his religion, Islam. Violence by non-Muslims—particularly by white males—is often explained as a solitary incident resulting from mental illness or a host of other “excusable” reasons. Yet violence by Muslims is almost always attributed to a religious ideology that implicates all people who share their faith.
Promoting a focus on “radical Islam” further divides the world into “us” and “them.” It excuses and even necessitates our violence (and other extraordinary measures, such as the travel ban) against them. It serves as further justification for this administration to change federal programs that counter violent extremism by excluding right-wing extremists—who are considered to be the most severe threat by law enforcement agencies. And, as Obama warned, it plays right into the hands of terrorist organizations, legitimizing their strategy and potentially aiding with recruitment. Identifying our conflicts with ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other Islamic terrorists as a clash of civilizations becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It encourages a cycle of violent action and reaction that can quickly spiral into war. By naming one and only one threat as uniquely unified, fanatical, and violent, the Trump administration is promoting a pernicious and perilous myth—one that overplays some dangers, while trivializing others; one that obliges bloodshed abroad, while sanctifying American deaths; and one that, very likely, places us even more in harm’s way. | <urn:uuid:972df55b-c5bc-46c3-babb-80015dae8a95> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.good.is/features/religious-violence-myth-trump-radical-islamic-terrorism | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.957549 | 2,386 | 1.929688 | 2 |
NEARLY every trip back to the city after visiting my maternal grandparents in rural Arkansas included a stop at a roadside farmstand where we would buy seasonal vegetables like string beans, peas or deep-green, leafy collard greens. Preparing the vegetables for cooking was one of my first lessons in plant anatomy, as my mom and grandma taught me to meticulously remove the tough petiole from the green leaves.
We bought the juiciest fruits: huge strawberries and fist-sized peaches and plums. My mom was sure these fruits and vegetables, fresh from the field and ripened on the plant, had more vitamins …
Offer ends 07/09/2022. *Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.
Existing subscribers, please log in with your email address to link your account access.
Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT) | <urn:uuid:111cb602-bca4-45c5-ad63-849a2111591f> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25533930-100-we-should-celebrate-the-diversity-and-knowledge-of-farmers-markets/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.946534 | 185 | 1.960938 | 2 |
Free - Customized Pyramid PPT Templates Slide Design-Five Node
The 5 Stages Pyramid PowerPoint Template is a diagram presentation of an individual triangular style. It is a high-resolution business PowerPoint diagram. The charts of Pyramid shapes distributed into divisions of different expanses. This shows the level of hierarchy between every level. For example, the enormous triangle may present a primary topic. Whereas, the following smaller shapes narrows down the choice to more particular terms within the central subject. However, it is not essential to represent this structure based on quantity.
The pyramid diagram gives an easily recognizable visual presentation of data. It is the widely known administration of a pyramid chart. It helps in knowing the human motivation, personal development. Hence, the performance of alike and classified relationships is understandable at every level. Typically, this diagram has one triangle with lines separating it into segments. Each segment has a term/topic relevant to the main subject. To identify the status of every stage is another attribute of Pyramid diagrams. Arrange the categories from most to least significant to most significant to smallest or vice versa. | <urn:uuid:761c9123-32b3-41ad-912e-c2cdbf46cacf> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.slideegg.com/pyramid-ppt-template-3513 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571222.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20220810222056-20220811012056-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.891009 | 232 | 2.40625 | 2 |
Singapore's quandry: Use the Internet,
but only use it 'responsibly'
October 9, 1996
Web posted at: 7:00 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT)
SINGAPORE (CNN) -- A new entry into Singapore's nightlife scene is in keeping with the government's scheme to get citizens hooked on today's stimulant of choice: the Internet.
Right now, only four percent of Singapore's 3 million citizens are online. Authorities say
they hope to hook each and every citizen to the Internet. Cybercafes give the
curious a chance to try it out.
At the Cybercafe, people can relax, grab something to eat, listen to jazz and hook up to the
Internet. In the past year, many places like the Cybercafe have opened their doors in
Singapore, but this restaurant, many say, is the most popular spot.
It's located right on Singapore's Boat Quay with a row of other popular restaurants and
clubs, right in the middle of Singapore's financial district.
Although Singapore authorities say they want to harness the power of the Internet, they
also want to control it. Home to three major ethnic groups -- Chinese, Malay and Indian --
Singapore's public policy is still colored by memories of race riots in the 1960s.
So, in addition to strict anti-pornography rules and the death penalty for drug dealers, it has
put a number of Internet sites on a government blacklist. All three of Singapore's Internet
service providers are required to deny their users access to sites on that blacklist.
The government won't say what sites are on the blacklist, or even how many. It only says
it is targeting content which, according to authorities, may undermine the public morals,
political stability and religious harmony of the country.
"Those who want to use the Net in a responsible way, in a positive way, they have nothing
to fear," said Goh Liang Kwang of the Singapore Broadcasting Authority. "However, we
still have to guard against that irresponsible user who intends to use the 'net such that it
may lead to social or religious discord or public disorder."
Kwang says in a multiracial, multireligious society like Singapore, the government has to
guard against public decay. While maintaining print and television standards has been
relatively straightforward for the country, the Internet poses new problems. It is nearly
impossible to regulate it.
"I think the occasional person looking to see someone in a bathing suit on the Net will not
be terribly disappointed," said Cybercafe manager George Cardona. "I think we all know
the Internet is very hard to regulate. If that is really your fetish, if that is really what you
need, you are going to find ways to do it."
From Correspondent Maria Ressa
© 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. | <urn:uuid:878bd146-763f-4ff6-ad6f-0335acfd5c45> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9610/09/singapore.internet/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572063.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814173832-20220814203832-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.954438 | 619 | 2.203125 | 2 |
06-20-14 Physician Heal Thyself – How We Can Help Medicine Get Over Its Own Illness: A Conversation With Rachel Remen, MD
Today’s conversation features best-selling author, physician, and thought leader Rachel Remen M.D., whose work is changing doctors and medical schools throughout the world.
“I first met Rachel in the early 1970s, when she visited Esalen Institute to experience the work we were doing to create a new kind of medicine–one that was holistic and that focused on self-healing and human potential,” reminisces Dr. Miller.
In this conversation, you will hear how her “mind was blown,” and about her transformation from a typically rigid, emotionally closed, chief of a department at Stanford University Hospital to founder of “The Healer’s Art Curriculum.” This is a course that has enabled many thousands of physicians and other health professionals to transform their lives and deepen their sense of calling and service. It has been featured in US News & World Report in 2002 and 2005 and is presently taught in 60 medical schools here and 9 medical schools abroad.
You will find out why Dr. Remen says that “the footprints of the future are in the present,” and about how there is a hidden curriculum in modern medical education–one which gradually disconnects young doctors from their life purpose. You will hear how this leads to emotional repression, isolation, and burnout, on the part of the health professional, and ultimately, substandard care of patients and clients.
Listen, and discover more about the importance of being able to meet loss with presence, create real relationship between human beings (because, as Dr. Remen says, “medicine is an act of love”), and move beyond the “isolation of rank” to discover the “unity of service.” You will hear touching stories about physicians as they awakened from their slumber to discover the truth about healing and human relationship. | <urn:uuid:39942c01-fbce-4ec0-b92b-048018b0c559> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://dreamvisions7radio.com/physician-heal-thyself/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.969522 | 418 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Designing your new home is the first step in creating your living environment. You also need to design the area around your home as well. With a little planning, you can create a unique area that compliments the exterior look of your home, increases curb appeal and serves a variety of functions. The easiest way to make your home your own is to design your yard in ways that make it feel comfortable and inviting. Think of your yard as a blank canvas. You have a variety of tools you can use to create a lawn that is just as unique and functional as you are.
Type of Plants
When deciding on the type of plants you want to include in your lawn or landscaped areas, you need to consider how much maintenance you are willing to invest in them. Artificial turf is becoming extremely popular in areas where drought conditions are common. One of the main benefits of artificial turf is that there is relatively no maintenance. Natural grass lawns not only require a regular watering schedule, but you must also mow, trim and remove yard waste at least twice a month.
If you want to include decorative plants, there are several types of grasses that grow extremely tall and make an excellent backdrop when planted near fences. You can also add bushes or flowering plants that provide color and fragrance.
By landscaping certain areas of the lawn you can create focal points that add visual appeal. Landscaping can include decorative plants, flowering bushes, small statues, lighting, fountains and either organic or inorganic mulch. No matter what materials you choose to use, you can create almost any type of mood. With subtle background lighting, you can put spotlights on specific plants or items located in the area or you set the lights to music for subtle changes.
If you are a sports enthusiast, you can include a variety of different recreational areas in your yard. Tennis courts, putting greens, bocce ball courts, swimming pool, hot tub or patio areas can be included when you are laying out the yard's design. By making preparations ahead of time, building them will be easy and you will already have everything measured and ready for them to be installed.
Cement patios and large wooden decks can be created that lead to a swimming pool or outdoor barbecue/fire pit area. You can build your patio to include anything that you would possibly need for a gathering, such as a picnic table, lawn furniture and a permanent grilling station and fire pit. You can even purchase an weather proof entertainment center that allows you to watch television and listen to music outside.
When you design your yard, one of the most important things to take into consideration is the climate. Climate conditions will dictate what types of plants will thrive in your region as well as what will produce the best blooms or fruits. If you live in an area that is prone to extreme drought conditions, the plants and decorations you choose will have to be able to survive in hot, dry weather. Extremely high temperatures can damage lawn furniture and burn both plants and grass, stunting their growth and turning them brown.
If your area is prone to sudden downpours and massive amounts of precipitation, you will need to find plants that can handle excessive amounts of moisture without getting root rot. If you do not know what type of climate conditions are prevalent for your region, you should talk to a local landscape professional before you invest large sums of money in any foliage or decorative plants. | <urn:uuid:c570faa7-e7ef-4f44-bb50-be2bdcb9cbef> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.heavenlygreens.com/blog/what-to-consider-when-planning-a-yard-for-your-new-california-home | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.956438 | 706 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Introduction to COPE Short Guide for New Editors
The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) provides the backbone for ethical and practical implementation of publication guidelines which enlighten and offer support to the members. This non-statutory advisory membership body also lends a professional voice to contemporary discourse.
COPE is committed to educate and support editors, publishers and the relevant team with the aim to transform and integrate the ethical practices to become a part of the publishing culture. Our approach is consistent with COPE efforts to promote ethical practices in publishing through education, training, and following best international practices.
Bentham Science recommends all new editors to carefully follow the guide to ethical editing for new editors and sharing information among EiCs by COPE. This is a brief document which is readily accessible to assist new editors on ethical practices. It contains general guidelines on the quality checks and audits for new edtiors while joining any journal and to establish and maintain business relationship with other editors/editorial board members. The guide also informs new editors about their role and organized approach towards journal management.
COPE also provides acomprehensive guidelines on publication ethics through its popular resources, i.e., core practices, flowcharts, eLearning courses and flowcharts, cases (available at COPE’s website). Bentham Science expects its editorial staff and editors to strictly adhere to and follow the guidelines in order to comply with the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. | <urn:uuid:8c98a141-8d52-485e-8f94-3f92b1831424> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.eurekaselect.com/pages/short-guide | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.911847 | 299 | 1.984375 | 2 |
An awning is essentially an awning that comprises of canvas, made to protect individuals or different things from the sun or downpour. Ordinarily, one will utilize the word awning to allude to a rooftop like covering that stretches out over the front of a window that will offer insurance from the sun or downpour. Awnings would not just shield you from the sun’s unsafe beams, they will likewise help with keeping your important things and decorations from blurring with the sun, and will help keep up the temperature inside your home.
The various assortments of awnings that you can discover available today incorporates awnings that are developed to cover over a whole porch, or additionally the standard assortments that you can use to shield the sun from coming in your windows. Awnings come in all shapes and sizes. A normal style of awning is the one you can have situated between a divider or fence, and your nursery. This kind of awning will normally build your home to incorporate your nursery, and with essential lighting, it guarantees an incredible region for amusement during the night, and shade during a hot bright day. Joining your awning with warmth light, you will have the option to sit outside around evening time in the colder climate. In the event that you then again are arranged in a warm atmosphere, your awning may give great security from the sun.
The costs can go from 250 to 4000 and up. The most coherent activity in the event that you are a very value sagacious shopper with regards to buying your tende da sole brescia is to make a rundown of wholesalers in your neighborhood. Commonly you will find that there are a lot a larger number of dealers than you would at first accept. Normally, particular awning-stores will stock all that you can envision. Frequently nearby craftsmen have an arrangement with a producer, or you can stop by your neighborhood home improvement shop to find support there. It will frequently be helpful to look on the Internet for electronic awning retailers, which there will be an enormous number of.
In the assessment of the costs gathered you will frequently additionally need to know whether the awning will be introduced, included with the price tag, or if that is an additional charge. Introducing awnings can frequently be dreary on the off chance that you are not competent at such things. It is likewise essential to recall that awning businesses will consistently trade at the cost of them. A decent dependable guideline here is to offer to address their cost, however just in the event that they are happy to introduce it for nothing. This typically would not occur, yet will give you an incredible spot to begin in showing signs of improvement cost. | <urn:uuid:72e8c81a-4dd3-4880-928e-04b603043f50> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://cedj.org/general/the-tips-to-remember-with-purchasing-retractable-awnings/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882572063.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20220814173832-20220814203832-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.963691 | 570 | 1.757813 | 2 |
There are numerous sorts of realty, varying from resale residences to commercial buildings. Residential realty consists of single-family residences, condominiums, townhouses, and triple-deckers. Industrial real estate consists of business facilities such as resorts, office buildings, and also parking area. Industrial property is land utilized for commercial procedures. Industrial property includes factories, stockrooms, and delivery facilities. Industrial realty is a popular kind of financial investment, with residential property costs increasing year-over-year.
Personal property contains whatever that is movable, such as furnishings, apparel, as well as vehicles. On the other hand, real estate is immovable, such as land. It can be altered in topography, but it will always remain the exact same size. It is also a repaired supply of materials and as a result has a higher price. The distinctions in between individual as well as industrial property are immense. As an example, if you want to acquire a large factory, you should buy commercial building.
An additional means to make money in realty is to buy a single-family house and lease it out. There are many tax breaks associated with this kind of real estate, so there are many factors to purchase it. Yet remember to do your homework and you’ll have a greater possibility of success. As well as, just like any type of financial investment, research study will make the distinction in between a lucrative and also a sub-par residential or commercial property. A building with a high risk/reward proportion is not a great financial investment.
The market has various branches. A real estate agent will represent a customer in a sale or acquisition of residential property. The job description is differed, and also consists of meetings and also accompanied check outs to the website of the home. During this procedure, a realty representative will prepare the realty agreement between the purchaser and seller. A real estate representative can make a permanent earnings with an effective sales record. Along with buying and selling residential property, property agents can likewise discuss with buyers and also sellers.
An additional element of real estate is the kind of building. It is necessary to note that a residential or commercial property is thought about real estate if it consists of land, structures, and synthetic attachments. Personal property does not consist of irreversible accessories to land. It consists of anything from cars and boats to jewelry as well as the moving supply of a farm. However, it is not unusual for a building to be offered with no ownership. This is due to the fact that it enables the customer to offer the residential or commercial property to someone else who may desire it.
Commercial building is income-producing home that is usually utilized as workplace, retailers, as well as gas stations. Additionally, industrial property likewise consists of retail facilities, shopping centers, as well as resorts. Along with these, commercial home includes land and parking area. Additionally, there are several sorts of contracts for property, such as home mortgages and escrow arrangements. If you’re aiming to offer a property, you can join pressures with other realty brokers as well as collaborate to sell it.
Industrial realty is in need and is coming to be much more popular as consumers end up being much more accustomed to on-line purchasing. People expect their purchases to show up faster than ever before, so industrial building has a great possibility of valuing in worth. Mortgage rates are still low, so it is very important to act now if you wish to get the best offer possible. The bright side is that you might still find home mortgage prices at historically low degrees till 2022! The best time to invest in industrial real estate is currently!
The worth of commercial property depends on its location. Some types of real estate are a lot more attractive to the general public than others, depending on your spending plan and also area. Commercial buildings, such as mall, ought to be located in a great area. If your business lies near a major freeway or train terminal, you ought to have very easy access to a public transit stop. Then, you can use the area’s facilities, such as dining establishments, bars, and fitness centers.
Advertising your service is a vital part of a successful realty service. Your web site should be the very first point of contact with consumers. Make certain you know who your target customers are as well as just how to reach them. Making use of social media as well as information collection devices can assist you discover more about these potential customers. Last but not least, take into consideration the legal as well as logistical service considerations. The more you learn about your prospective customers, the most likely they’ll refer you to their friends and family.
In the real estate industry, it is essential to establish a solid on the internet existence to draw in even more customers and also advertise your solutions. Create a web site with your bio, contact information, as well as information about the residences you are offering or buying. Likewise, start a blog so that prospective customers can see your knowledge. The property industry is infamously strange, and also it is important to play up to your strengths. For that reason, keep up with adjustments in the sector by frequently updating your internet site.
There are numerous types of real estate, consisting of residential, commercial, and also industrial. Residential properties include single-family houses, condos, condominiums, as well as triple-decker structures. Other sorts of property are multi-family residences, high-value houses, as well as holiday residences. Industrial realty, on the other hand, refers to commercial, business, and institutional residential or commercial properties, which include resorts, shopping centers, and also various other business. Meanwhile, commercial realty includes land and also buildings made use of for production or fabrication. Click here!
The sorts of realty rely on their uses. For instance, houses are made use of for personal domestic living, while commercial homes are made use of to create capital. Instances of industrial property are office buildings, strip malls, shopping mall, gas stations, as well as storehouses. Relying on your needs as well as choices, you can select between household and commercial buildings. Once you have decided which type of residential property you are looking for, think about the following:
Capitalists who are aiming to get a single-family residence should research the real estate market in the area. Along with researching residence values, a potential financier should examine traffic patterns as well as job prices in the area. This will certainly give them a much better suggestion of just how the local economic situation is creating. Purchasing a single-family home can be an excellent way to purchase the realty market. In industrial realty, you ought to discover more about rental fees, vacancies, as well as various other aspects of the neighborhood market. | <urn:uuid:a0dfe660-79f3-470f-8ff5-c757041ba246> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | http://www.freemayweathervsmcgregorlive.com/2022/07/11/essential-realities-that-you-need-to-learn-about-real-estate/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571584.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20220812045352-20220812075352-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.976027 | 1,391 | 1.984375 | 2 |
Broker-Dealers vs. RIAs : An overview
You ‘re an investor who wants to avoid the wirehouses. You are in the market for an independent fiscal planner or financial advisor who does not work for a big firm such as Wells Fargo or Morgan Stanley. That covers a set of territory, but ultimately all such planners and advisors who manage assets ( other than annuities or life insurance ) fall into one of two categories : They can either be registered investment advisors ( RIAs ) or registered representatives that work for an freelancer broker-dealer. Aside from falling under different regulative horizon, there are several different ways these professionals can provide and charge for their services .
- Investors seeking an independent financial professional to help with advice and investments can choose between independent broker-dealers and registered investment advisors (RIAs).
- Independent broker-dealers function as full-service brokerage firms but remain free from the constraints and demands of a large Wall Street company.
- RIAs are independent fiduciaries who may associate with several broker-dealers, selling a range of products and services.
Bạn đang đọc: Broker-Dealers vs RIAs: What’s the Difference?
Kinds of Investment Advisors
Registered representatives who work for major wirehouses are frequently told what products to sell, what stocks to recommend, and how they can conduct their business. Reps who work for Independent broker-dealers do not have these restrictions, and they normally have a much wider survival of products and services for their clientele than wirehouse brokers .
autonomous broker-dealers are equipped to offer a broad range of investment offerings that can go far beyond mainstream vehicles such as reciprocal funds and annuities. Many of them provide alternative investments such as hedge funds, tax credits, non-qualified plans, and IPOs, sometimes marketed in advanced investment or retirement programs that are tailored to specific groups or professions such as doctors or dentists. Planners who work as reps for this type of company will charge a commission to purchase an investment, but they may have some leeway in how much they charge for a given type of transaction .
The biggest advantage of an independent broker-dealer is that there is no unnecessary bureaucracy ; agents have the freedom to do things their own manner .
The RIA Side
Regulated directly by the Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ), RIAs are considered to be acting in a fiduciary capacity, and so held to a higher standard of conduct than registered representatives. This fiduciary standard mandates that an RIA must constantly unconditionally put the customer ’ randomness best interests ahead of their own, careless of all other circumstances .
RIAs are besides required to disclose any possible conflicts of interest to their clients and act in an ethical manner in all of their business dealings. Some RIAs charge clients a percentage of their assets under management while others charge either an hourly or a flat fee to dispense advice. Advisors who choose this model for their practices must obtain a series 65 license .
When it comes to choosing a planner, it may seem like an RIA would be the obvious choice. But the fact is that many planners who work on commissions besides act identical ethically and put their clients ’ best interests ahead of their own. Being an RIA besides doesn ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate guarantee a certain floor of competence, as the Series 65 examination deals chiefly with federal securities laws and regulations .
And to further complicate the topic, many mugwump brokers besides carry the Series 65 license so they can offer turnkey managed money programs that provide active professional management. Some RIAs are similarly affiliated with a broker-dealer so they can offer products such as variable annuities, which do not lend themselves to a pure RIA platform .
The Bottom Line
RIAs and independent brokers both have considerable freedom in how they operate their businesses. RIAs are bound by a fiduciary oath, while independent brokers may have access to specific products or services that are hard to find elsewhere. The correct choice for you is most likely going to depend more on the person preferably than the clientele model. When you find an adviser you feel rightfully comfortable with, the business exemplar they use will probably be of secondary importance . | <urn:uuid:21cfcaca-3365-46db-8c2d-b22e2aae4ecf> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://livingcorner.com.au/what-is-the-difference-between-an-ria-and-a-financial-advisor-1637203567/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571056.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809155137-20220809185137-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.957068 | 903 | 1.984375 | 2 |
Bond, Brexit Bond
I’ve been re-reading a couple of the James Bond books. Most of them were written during the 1950s, and they’re fascinating period pieces. But most of all, they’re interesting because they show what hasn’t changed. They explain a great deal of what we’ve been seeing in Britain in 2016.
The first, Casino Royale, was published in Coronation year. The country had recently won a war. England was great. The Empire was great – just about. (India had gone, but there was still plenty of pink on the globe and Suez was a couple of years in the future.)
All foreigners were untrustworthy – that is to say, anyone not English. (And I mean “English”, not “British”. Scots, Welsh and Irish were not as dodgy as the rest of the world, but still not quite the real thing, if you know what I mean, old boy – though some of them have done extremely well considering their disadvantages.) Others – people from other countries – often betrayed the wiliness of their race, or displayed the typical spongey handshake of the Eastern race, or some such phrase. Antisemitism was so normal as to be literally unnoticed. But we mustn’t take it personally. Absolutely everybody else who wasn’t English was patronised, mistrusted or dismissed in some way or other.
The world was run by people who had been to the right (private) school, most probably become members of the officer class, and above all, had the right breeding. They knew how to appreciate the good things in life – Bentleys, Bollinger, or Beluga. They knew how to treat their servants. And by God they knew how to treat women. A woman was for wooing softly or taking with violence. And a woman who might seem too much of a person, like Vesper Lynd, who maybe held back a little piece of herself, would give the sweetness of rape to the transaction. An (English) God was in his heaven and all was right with the world. Bond himself wasn’t quite one of them, but he learnt fast and was a useful hands-on thug to implement his masters’ hands-off thuggery.
The thing is, while this seems foreign and out of date to me, this is bang up to date for the leaders of the Brexit campaign. This is the world that Farage and Boris and the others want to return to. Actually, not return to, because for them it still hasn’t quite slipped away and they want to hang on to the last remnants of it. Certainly, they were followed in their Brexit campaigning by disaffected, disillusioned people for all sorts of reasons – but if you want to understand the establishment leaders of the British anti-establishment movement, turn to the pages of James Bond. | <urn:uuid:18594b48-1613-4d76-993a-0c67a0b76ded> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.storymachine.co.uk/blog/10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.984811 | 604 | 1.703125 | 2 |
A multi-centre prospective trial for lung cancer screening
Funded by an NHS development contract, Owlstone Medical is conducting research into the diagnosis of lung cancer by measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in patients' exhaled breath. Phase I of the project is complete and Phase II is underway.
We established that Owlstone Medical’s FAIMS technology can detect biomarkers with a promising sensitivity: detecting at threshold concentrations ten times lower than previously reported. An initial analysis identified that successful introduction of a lung cancer screening programme using ReCIVA and FAIMS could could save approximately 3,200 lives per year and £82M in treatment costs in the UK alone.
The second phase of the study is funded by a £1.1m SBRI grant from the UK National Health Service and aims to validate detection of lung cancer biomarker by FAIMS in clinical practice. The final phase of the study will be a population based screening trial. You can read the LuCID infographic here.
Lonestar enables FAIMS-driven detection of disease biomarkers in clinical sampleslearn more about Lonestar
Taking part in the clinical trial
To be able to take part in this study the patient must be under clinical suspicion of having lung cancer, be aged 18 or older and agree to provide written consent to taking part in the clinical trial. Patients who attend a clinic that is registered for the trial may be invited to take part; it is not possible to volunteer for this study.
2015.00Start of the LuCID clinical trial
1760.00Total numbers of participants to date
26.00Total number of clinical sites the clinical trial is taking place in
4000.00Patients taking part
A nurse will explain the study to you and answer any of your questions. If you are happy to proceed, the nurse will fill in a questionnaire with information about you and your health and take a sample of breath using Owlstone Medical’s ReCIVA breath sampler. This sample will be analysed by Owlstone Medical in its Cambridge Breath Biopsy Laboratory. These results, along with other information that we get from your doctor such as whether the tumour is cancer, will be used to develop a new test to screen for lung cancer.
An international multi-centre prospective study designed to evaluate breath analysis in a clinical setting
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of a breath test for lung cancer
Patients, aged 18 or older, in secondary care with a clinical suspicion of lung cancer
What to expect
After a briefing and agreeing to take part a nurse will take a sample of breath using ReCIVA
Analysed using Owlstone Medical's propriety Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry technology
The test uses patient information and breath biomarkers to predict whether a patient has lung cancer
Led by Dr Robert Rintoul at Papworth Hospital near Cambridge UK, the study investigators are recognised experts in lung cancer at some of Europe’s leading hospitals and clinics. Clinical sites across 5 different countries are participating in the clinical trial. | <urn:uuid:702c62ee-20f3-4e1f-958a-8bcc2def091e> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.owlstonemedical.com/clinical-pipeline/lucid/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571056.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20220809155137-20220809185137-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.912536 | 681 | 1.882813 | 2 |
- 1 Do what you love most quotes?
- 2 Do what you love love what you do quote?
- 3 When you love what you are doing quote?
- 4 Do want you like quotes?
- 5 How do I do what I love?
- 6 What’s a positive quote?
- 7 What are the benefits of doing what you love?
- 8 Why should you do what you love?
- 9 Do what you love Instagram captions?
- 10 Do what you love to be happy?
- 11 What does work love mean?
- 12 Why do I love my job reasons?
- 13 What is the most romantic quote ever?
- 14 What are the best inspirational quotes?
- 15 How do you enjoy life quotes?
Do what you love most quotes?
If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. If you do what you love, it is the best way to relax.
Do what you love love what you do quote?
Don’t listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life.”
When you love what you are doing quote?
“I think the foremost quality—there’s no success without it—is really loving what you do. If you love it, you do it well, and there’s no success if you don’t do well what you’re working at.” – Malcolm Forbes.
Do want you like quotes?
101 Do What You Love Quotes
- If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. —
- When asked, “Mr.
- What’s money?
- Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else. —
- I’d rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate. –
- Forget about the fast lane.
How do I do what I love?
Follow these 13 tips to do what you love for a living.
- Make excuses to follow your dream.
- Make time to make it happen.
- Discover how to profit from your passion.
- Be realistic.
- Surround yourself with supportive people.
- Find mentors.
- Focus on yourself.
- Don’t wait around.
What’s a positive quote?
“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” “ Let your unique awesomeness and positive energy inspire confidence in others.” “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” “If you want light to come into your life, you need to stand where it is shining.”
What are the benefits of doing what you love?
Making time to do what you love can help you ease your stress, lift your mood, and expand your social circle. It can help you manage chronic pain. It may even improve your heart health and add quality years to your life.
Why should you do what you love?
If you are doing what you love, it most often won’t even feel like ‘work’. You will be more focused and capable of living in the present moment, because your mind won’t be wandering off dreaming of something ‘better’. Your smile and conversation will be more genuine and in-turn you will attract other happy people.
10 Lines on Instagram Love Captions
- A day without you is ugly, a day with you is beautiful.
- I love you so so so so much!
- I want the part of you that you refuse to give to anyone.
- Let no one think I gave in.
- My heart understands you.
- No measure of time with you will be enough.
Do what you love to be happy?
Loving the things you do is what makes for happiness. Your health, relationships or career may be tossed around by outside factors, but doing what you love is largely a choice. This doesn’t mean you can avoid the things you have to do. The things you have to do will take up a lot of your time, sometimes even all of it.
What does work love mean?
Loving your work means there is at least one part of the job you do—you know, the actual work part—that makes you happy. For some, it’s a momentary thrill that motivates you to keep going, to wake up in the morning and get your butt in gear. For others, it’s a soul connection that feeds you on a deeper level.
Why do I love my job reasons?
Reasons Why People Love Their Job
- Alignment between personal and company values.
- Feeling a sense of belonging and liking the people you work with.
- Company culture.
- Personal development and growth.
- Challenge and professional development.
- Contributing to a larger purpose.
- Having a good boss.
- Being well paid.
What is the most romantic quote ever?
Romantic movie quotes that originated from literature
- “You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.”
- “When you fall in love, it is a temporary madness.
- “I wish I knew how to quit you.”
- “I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I’ve led a common life.
- “In vain I have struggled.
What are the best inspirational quotes?
Best motivational quotes to start your day
- “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” —
- “Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.” —
- “Don’t settle for average.
- “Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too.” —
- “Don’t bunt.
How do you enjoy life quotes?
Enjoy Life Quotes
- Life is like a roller coaster, live it, be happy, enjoy life.
- Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more, laugh more, and don’t get so worked up about things.
- Simply enjoy life and the great pleasures that come with it.
- Slow down and enjoy life.
- Enjoy life that’s what we’re here for. | <urn:uuid:c3fa0b02-16cb-4893-8c56-cf92a62be040> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://mostbeautifulquotes.com/quotes/faq-doing-what-you-love-quotes.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.920179 | 1,427 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Theranostics 2018; 8(11):3111-3125. doi:10.7150/thno.24613 This issue
1. School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
2. School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
3. College of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
4. Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
5. Tianjin International Joint Academy of Biotechnology and Medicine, Tianjin 300457, China.
* These authors contributed equally to this work.
Low water solubility and poor selectivity are two fundamental limitations that compromise applications of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes.
Methods: Here, a simple strategy that can resolve these problems simultaneously was developed by using a novel hybrid protein named RGD-HFBI that is produced by fusion of hydrophobin HFBI and arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide. This unique hybrid protein inherits self-assembly and targeting functions from HFBI and RGD peptide respectively.
Results: Boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) used as a model NIR dye can be efficiently dispersed in the RGD-HFBI solution by simple mixing and sonication for 30 min. The data shows that self-assembled RGD-HFBI forms a protein nanocage by using the BODIPY as the assembly template. Cell uptake assay proves that RGD-HFBI/BODIPY can efficiently stain αvβ3 integrin-positive cancer cells. Finally, in vivo affinity tests fully demonstrate that the soluble RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex selectively targets and labels tumor sites of tumor-bearing mice due to the high selectivity of the RGD peptide.
Conclusion: Our one-step strategy using dual-functional RGD-HFBI opens a novel route to generate soluble and targeted NIR fluorescent dyes in a very simple and efficient way and may be developed as a general strategy to broaden their applications.
Keywords: NIR fluorescent probes, RGD peptide, self-assembly, protein nanocage
Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes have become powerful tools for non-invasive monitoring of various biologically important processes in vivo [1-7]. NIR probes have the advantages of deep tissue penetration, minimum photodamage and minimum interference from auto-fluorescence by biomolecules present in living systems [8, 9]. Accordingly, there is considerable interest in developing novel NIR fluorescent probes to satisfy the increasing demands of their applications including diagnostics and therapeutics [10-12]. However, NIR fluorescent probes do suffer from several major limitations including low water solubility and poor selectivity, which dramatically compromise their applications in diagnostics and therapeutics [6, 13, 14].
Up to now, tremendous efforts have been made to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above of NIR fluorescent probes, but in two separate steps [15-18]. In the first step, numerous polar groups like sulfonate, glycol, and carboxylate are linked to the core structures of NIR dyes to gain solubility in aqueous solutions [19, 20]. Alternatively, a hydrophilic shell such as a phospholipid monolayer could be assembled onto the surface of NIR probes to increase their water solubility [21, 22]. After solving the solubility problem, the next step is to improve the selectivity of NIR fluorescent probes. The current predominant strategy is through conjugation of specific ligands to the NIR probes, such as proteins, peptides and small molecules [23-27]. These ligands have enough binding affinity to recognize and bind the target molecules resulting in high selectivity of the conjugated NIR probes. After these two-step modifications, NIR fluorescent probes do obtain high water solubility and selectivity. However, we have to admit that this two-step strategy is not only somewhat complicated and time-consuming, but also requires careful selection of conjugation or labeling techniques to prevent any disruption of the intrinsic structure of the NIR fluorescent probes [28, 29], thereby compromising their exciting properties. Therefore, a one-step strategy that can render NIR fluorescent probes soluble and selective is highly desired to facilitate their applications.
To meet the requirement of a one-step strategy, one has to find a material that can render NIR fluorescent probes soluble and selective simultaneously. Hydrophobins are small-secreted proteins produced by filamentous fungi [30-32]. Strikingly, they expose most of their hydrophobic amino acids on the protein surface, forming a “hydrophobic patch” [33, 34], rather than burying their hydrophobic amino acids into their inner structures like normal proteins. This novel property makes hydrophobins natural amphiphilic molecules that can self-assemble at various hydrophobic/hydrophilic interfaces producing, a stable and well-ordered protein film 10 nm in thickness and reversing the features of the interface coated by them [35-40]. Moreover, hydrophobins with new properties and functionalities can be produced in a controlled manner by protein engineering [41, 42]. Therefore, we can easily produce an engineered hydrophobin with target selectivity by adding a specific ligand through recombinant DNA techniques. We intentionally chose the RGD tripeptide as the ligand in our study. We believe the hybrid hydrophobin-RGD fusion protein preserving dual abilities can render NIR fluorescent probes soluble and selective simultaneously.
To test our hypothesis, we firstly produced and purified hybrid RGD-HFBI fusion protein in Pichia pastoris (P. pastori). Then we systemically investigated the solubility and targeting abilities of RGD-HFBI fusion protein by studying its interaction with a synthesized NIR BODIPY derivative in different environments, including cell culture and animal models. Our results show that self-assembled RGD-HFBI fusion protein can readily modify NIR fluorescent probes with high solubility and selectivity in one step by simple mixing and sonication. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of modification of NIR fluorescent dyes by biomolecules with dual functions. Furthermore, our one-step strategy using a self-assembled hydrophobin hybrid opens a novel route to generate solubilized and targeted NIR fluorescent dyes in a very simple and efficient way and may be developed as a general strategy for broadening their applications.
RGD-HFBI protein was constructed by fusion of RGD peptide and hydrophobin HFBI with a flexible linker (GGGGSGGGGS). The plasmid pPIC9-rgd-hfbI was transformed into P. pastoris GS115 His- cells (Invitrogen, Beijing, China) by electroporation. To obtain positive clones with high-level protein expression, selected P. pastoris positive clones were cultured in 25 mL of buffered minimal glycerol at 300 rpm at 30 °C until the OD600 reached 6.0. Then, the medium was exchanged with 100 mL buffered minimal methanol, and protein expression was induced by 0.5% (v/v) methanol at 28 °C for 96 h at 250 rpm. The supernatant was collected immediately after 96 h induction. Finally, 16% Tricine-SDS-PAGE was employed to analyze the protein content in the supernatant.
Large-scale cultivation (1 L) was performed after the clone with the highest level of RGD-HFBI expression was selected. When the cultivation was over, the culture was centrifuged at 7500 × g to get the supernatant. The resulting supernatant was concentrated by ultrafiltration with a 3 kDa molecular weight cut-off (Millipore, China). After ultrafiltration, the supernatant was lyophilized for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) purification. A Vydac C4 reversed-phase column (4.6 × 250 mm, GRACE, China) was used for purification of RGD-HFBI. Lyophilized protein powder was dissolved in 40% acetonitrile containing 0.1% TFA. Then, the supernatant was loaded and eluted with a 20-70% (v/v) acetonitrile gradient containing 0.1% TFA with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The elution was monitored by UV absorption at 215 nm. All the fractions from RP-HPLC were collected. The purified RGD-HFBI was identified by 16% Tricine-SDS-PAGE.
The self-assembly ability of RGD-HFBI was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and water contact angle (WCA) measurements. For the TEM, 3 μL of RGD-HFBI (or native HFBI) solution in water (200 μg/mL) was placed onto the surface of a carbon-coated formvar film on a copper grid (Zhongjingkeyi Technology, Beijing, China) and left to dry overnight at room temperature. Then, the grid was examined by field emission TEM at 200 kV (JEM-2100F, JEOL, Japan).
WCA measurements of purified RGD-HFBI (or native HFBI) on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces were performed using pieces of polystyrene and mica sheets, respectively. Both surfaces were coated with 20 μL (0.02 mg/mL) RGD-HFBI solution and incubated at room temperature for 30 min. After removing the solution gently, all the sheets were dried in a nitrogen stream and kept at room temperature overnight. WCA was measured with a 5 μL water droplet on the modified surfaces at room temperature. At least three water droplet readings were analyzed on different areas of the sample surfaces. The surface rinsed with water was also under the evaluation of WCA measurements.
All solvents and starting materials were commercially available and were used without further purification (unless specially mentioned). Silica gel for column chromatography (CC) was 300-400 mesh. 13C and 1H NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker AV400 MHz spectrometer in CDCl3 or with tetramethylsilane as a reference. Electrospray ionization-MS spectra were determined with a Shimadzu LCMS-2020 instrument. The UV-Vis spectra of dyes in DMSO solution were measured using Shimadzu UV-1800 in a 10 mm quartz cell spectrometer.
Methyl 4-formylbenzoate (0.864 g, 5.27 mmol) and 32 mL CH2Cl2 were added to a 100 mL round-bottom flask, and 1 mL (10.0 mmol) 2, 4-Dimethylpyrrole was added. The mixture was stirred in the dark for 3 h at room temperature. Nitrogen gas was introduced for 30 min to remove dissolved oxygen in the flask. Then, 0.08 mL CF3COOH was added with a syringe slowly under the nitrogen atmosphere. Samples were taken every 30 min during the reaction process for thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. The nitrogen atmosphere was removed when the raw material 2, 4-dimethylpyrrole disappeared (about 4 h). DDQ (2, 3-dichloro-5, 6-dicyano-1, 4-benzoquinone) (1.2 g, 5.28 mmol) was dissolved in 5 mL CH2Cl2 and 5 mL THF. The resultant mixture was added to the reaction flask with constant-voltage funnels and was stirred in the dark for 1 h at room temperature. Then, 8.6 mL triethylamine was added by dropping, and the reaction was kept for 5 min under the condition of the ice bath. Next, 8.6 mL boron trifluoride etherate was added by dropping, and the reaction liquid was stirred in the dark for 3 h without the ice bath. After that, the mixture was washed with water and extracted with dichloromethane. The product was isolated by column chromatography using CH2Cl2/hexane = 1/2 as eluent. The second orange-yellow band was taken to recrystallize with CH2Cl2 and C6H12. Finally, BOD (210 mg) was obtained in the above reaction. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.18 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.41 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 5.99 (s, 2H), 3.97 (s, 3H), 2.56 (s, 6H), 1.36 (s, 6H). MS (ESI): [M]+ calcd for C21H21BF2N2O2, 382.1660, found [M + H] = 383.1, [M + Na] = 405.1, [M + K] = 421.1. 13C NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 166.44, 155.96, 142.86, 139.80, 130.76, 130.35, 128.34, 121.48, 52.39, 14.60, 14.50.
BOD (20 mg, 0.0524 mmol) and N-ethyl-3-formyl-dibenzyl (42.7 mg, 0.17 mmol) were dissolved in benzene. 0.1 mL catalyst piperidine and 0.1 mL acetic acid were injected with a syringe at the same time. The mixture was heated to 90 °C and stirred for 12 h. The product was isolated by column chromatography using CH2Cl2/hexane = 2/1 as the eluent. The blue band was taken to recrystallize with CH2Cl2 and C6H12. Finally, the dark green solid (18.7 mg) was in the above reaction. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.18 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.57-7.60 (m, 2H), 7.36-7.44 (m, 6H), 7.14-7.19 (m, 6H), 7.07-7.10 (m, 4H), 6.96-6.97 (m, 2H), 6.60 (s, 2H), 3.97 (s, 3H), 3.82-3.87 (q, J = 6.8 Hz, 4H), 3.20 (s, 8H), 1.40 (s, 6H), 1.18 (t, J = 6.8 Hz, 6H). MS (ESI): [M]+ calcd for C55H51BF2N4O2 848.4230, found 848.0673. 13C NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 166.56, 153.04, 148.78, 136.43, 135.50, 133.03, 130.21, 129.89, 129.59, 129.25, 129.02, 126.45, 126.09, 122.98, 120.90, 119.88, 116.97, 52.39, 45.63, 33.02, 31.77, 14.77, 13.95.
Four concentrations of RGD-HFBI solution (50, 100, 150 and 200 μg/mL) were prepared by using phosphate buffers (pH 7.4). Then, 1 mg of BODIPY was dissolved in four concentrations of RGD-HFBI solutions respectively. The resultant mixtures were dispersed by ultrasonic agitation (120 W) for 30 min in iced water, and then nitrogen gas was introduced into the dispersion for 5 min to remove the free HFBI-RGD. Finally, the resultant dispersion was subjected to ultra-centrifugation at 9000 × g for 30 min at 4 °C, and 80% of the supernatant was collected and lyophilized for further analysis.
Dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements were carried out using a Zetasizer Nano ZS (Malvern Instrument, Malvern, Worcestershire, UK). TEM images were obtained by field emission TEM at 200 kV (JEM-2100F, JEOL, Japan). The chemical compositions of BODIPY and HFBI/BODIPY were analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) Apparatus (PHI-5300). The experiment conditions were as follows: the energy of excitation source monochromatic Mg-Kα radiation was 1253.6 eV, and the survey scan range was 0-1100 eV. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were obtained on a BRUKER IFS 55 FTIR system using the KBr disk method. The transmittance spectra were recorded at a resolution of 2 cm-1 between 4000 and 400 cm-1.
Cell viability measurements were performed by MTT analysis. MCF-7 (8 × 103 cells per well) and HeLa (7 × 103 cells per well) cells were cultured in DMEM medium with 10% fetal bovine serum. U-87MG (8 × 103 cells per well) cell was cultured in RPMI 1640 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells were seeded in 96-well flat-bottomed plates and incubated for 24 h at 37 °C under 5% CO2. After 24 h of cell attachment, the plates were washed with 100 µL of PBS per well. The cells were then cultured in a medium with ten different concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 µM) of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY, HFBI/BODIPY and BODIPY for 48 h. Cells in a culture medium without fluorescent dyes were used as the control. MTT (10 µL, 5 mg/mL) in PBS was subsequently added to each well. The plates were then incubated at 37 °C for 4 h in a 5% CO2 humidified incubator. The medium was carefully removed, and the products were lysed in 200 µL of DMSO. The plate was shaken for 10 min, and the absorbance was measured at 490 nm and 570 nm using a microplate reader (EnSpire Multilabel Reader, PerkinElmer).
The cell binding and internalization were analyzed by flow cytometry. U-87MG, MCF-7 and Hela cells were grown separately in 6-well plates with a seeding concentration of 3 × 105 cells per well for 24 h. After that, cells were incubated with RGD-HFBI/BODIPY, HFBI/BODIPY and BODIPY for 4 h. The concentration of all the probes was 10 μM. Afterwards, the plates were washed with 1 mL of PBS (pH 7.4) per well three times to remove probes that were still in the medium, and then the cells underwent digestion with trypsin. Next, the cells were collected by centrifugation and resuspended in 1 mL of PBS, which was repeated 3 times. Finally, 2 mL of PBS was used to resuspend the cells. The cellular uptake of the fluorescence was measured on a BD FACSCanto II flow cytometer (BD Biosciences, USA). Approximately 10,000 events were counted for each sample.
The MCF-7 (αvβ3 integrin negative), U-87MG (high αvβ3 integrin expression) and HeLa (low αvβ3 integrin expression) cells were grown separately on glass coverslips in 48-well plates with a seeding concentration of 1 × 103 cells per well for 24 h. After that, cells were incubated with RGD-HFBI/BODIPY, HFBI/BODIPY and BODIPY at a concentration 10 μM, and then cultured for 4 h. Afterwards, the plates were washed with 100 μL of PBS per well three times to remove probes that were still in the medium. Before confocal microscopy (UltraVIEW VoX, PerkinElmer) imaging, all the samples were stained with DAPI for 5 min and washed with 100 μL of PBS per well three times. The excitation wavelengths for RGD-HFBI/BODIPY, HFBI/BODIPY and BODIPY were 405 nm and 633 nm.
For the in vivo assay, blood samples from rats were directly drawn by venipuncture at different time points (2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h) after administration of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex. Then, the amounts of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex and free RGD-HFBI in serum were measured by RP-HPLC. The ratio between the amount of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex and free RGD-HFBI was considered an indicator of the serum stability of the complex. For the in vitro assay, the RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex was added to rat serum directly. The remaining protocol was the same as the in vivo assay.
Female nude mice (4-6 weeks) were obtained from the Institute of Radiation Medicine Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The U-87MG tumor and HeLa tumor models were generated via subcutaneous injection of 5.0 × 106 tumor cells in the left forelimb of the mice. Caliper measurements of the perpendicular axes of the tumor were performed to monitor the tumor growth. The mouse weights were also measured. The treatment was initiated when the tumor reached a diameter of approximately 8.0 mm (3-4 weeks after inoculation). The HFBI-RGD/BODIPY and HFBI/BODIPY fluorescent probes (17.7 nM, 200 μL) were injected via the tail vein. The mice were anesthetized with oxygen/air mixture containing 2% isoflurane and the in vivo images were captured at different points of time (2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h). All images were collected with a Cri Maestro In vivo imaging system (Cri, Woburn, MA), with an excitation wavelength of 605 nm and emission wavelengths from 615 nm to 800 nm. To eliminate interference from the background, ex vivo imaging procedures were carried out. Thereafter, tumor-bearing mice were sacrificed, and then tumor and main organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidneys) were harvested for isolated organ imaging that was performed with the same instrument under the same conditions as the in vivo imaging. All experimental procedures were reviewed and approved by the Animal Use and Care Committee for Research and Education of the Institute of Radiation Medicine Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (Tianjin, China) due to the lack of animal facility in Tianjin University, and were in accordance with the guidelines provided by the National Institute of Health.
The assays were performed at least in triplicate on separate occasions. The data collected in this study are expressed as the mean value ± standard deviation. In all cases, p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Figure 1A shows the amphiphilic structure of native hydrophobin HFBI. The sun-yellow part represents the “hydrophobic patch” composed of about 80% of the hydrophobic residues of this protein [33, 43]. This hydrophobic patch is the basis for binding of HFBI to various hydrophobic surfaces by strong hydrophobic interactions . In Figure 1B, a RGD motif is linked with the N terminus of HFBI protein via a flexible linker, and the resultant hybrid protein was named RGD-HFBI. Accordingly, we proposed that RGD-HFBI containing two distinct biological domains owns dual functions based on its structural properties. The first function derived from the HFBI part was the ability to self-assemble on different hydrophobic surfaces to make them hydrophilic. Another one inherited from the RGD motif was to facilitate recognition and binding to the target αvβ3 integrin protein on the surface of tumor angiogenic endothelial cells [45, 46]. Based on those two functions, we proposed that RGD-HFBI has the abilities to impart hydrophobic materials with solubility and targeting behaviors. To test our hypothesis, we firstly produced the RGD-HFBI protein in P. pastoris system. After several rounds of selection, a clone with the highest amount of protein production was picked to produce RGD-HFBI at large scale (Figure S1). Figure 1C shows the purification results of RGD-HFBI and native HFBI with RP-HPLC system. The retention volume of RGD-HFBI was quite close to that of native HFBI, indicating the similar polarities of those two proteins. Fractions corresponding to the predominant peak were lyophilized and analyzed by Tricine-SDS-PAGE. A single predominant band suggested the high purity of RGD-HFBI after RP-HPLC purification (Figure 1D).
After the production and purification process, the self-assembly ability of RGD-HFBI was characterized by TEM and WCA measurements [47, 48]. Figure 1E shows a self-assembled RGD-HFBI film on a TEM copper grid. Like the native HFBI film, the RGD-HFBI film could form wrinkles or folds, implying the flexibility or elasticity of this film [49-51]. In our study, a surface is considered to be hydrophobic if its WCA is more than 60° while hydrophilic if it is lower. The WCA of bare and modified polystyrene and mica are shown in Figure 1F. The WCA of the bare polystyrene was about 87°, suggesting its natural hydrophobic property. However, the WCA of the polystyrene sharply decreased to 11° after modification with RGD-HFBI. The reversal of the surface property of polystyrene from hydrophobic to hydrophilic confirmed the self-assembly of RGD-HFBI onto the polystyrene surface. Several studies have proposed that when amphiphilic hydrophobin self-assembles on a hydrophobic surface, the “hydrophobic patch” exposed on its surface adheres onto the hydrophobic surface via strong hydrophobic interactions [52, 53]. Therefore, the hydrophilic part of hydrophobin is displayed to the outside, converting the hydrophobic surface into a hydrophilic one . When RGD-HFBI covered the mica surface, the WCA increased from 4° to 17°. The hydrophobicity of mica surface was slightly improved. These results were very similar with those obtained from the native HFBI. Furthermore, we found that the WCAs on the polystyrene and mice surfaces little changed after extensive washing by pure water, indicating the stability of the assembled RGD-HFBI films (Figure S2). In summary, we concluded that RGD-HFBI fusion protein has a self-assembly ability like native HFBI and, therefore, can potentially modify hydrophobic materials.
(A) X-ray crystal structure of the amphiphilic hydrophobin HFBI [PDB ID 2FZ6]. The sun-yellow part in the surface of HFBI represents the hydrophobic patch that is the basis for binding to various hydrophobic surfaces by strong hydrophobic interactions. (B) A RGD motif is linked with the N terminus of HFBI protein via a flexible linker and the resultant hybrid protein was named RGD-HFBI, which owns dual functions based on its structural properties. The first function derived from the HFBI part is the ability to self-assemble and bind onto different hydrophobic surfaces. The second function inherited from the RGD motif is to facilitate recognition and binging to the target αvβ3 integrin protein on the surface of tumor angiogenic endothelial cells. (C) Purification results of RGD-HFBI and native HFBI with an RP-HPLC system. (D) Tricine-SDS-PAGE results of the purified RGD-HFBI and native HFBI. (E) Self-assembled RGD-HFBI film and native HFBI film on TEM copper grids. (F) WCA measurements of polystyrene and mica before and after modification with RGD-HFBI and native HFBI.
After the production of RGD-HFBI, we then designed and synthesized a new long-wavelength BODIPY dye that would be used as the model fluorescent dye in our following studies to test if RGD-HFBI could impart solubility and targeting abilities to hydrophobic NIR fluorescent probes. The design and synthesis of the BODIPY derivative are shown in Figure 2A. Briefly, the benzyl derivative was introduced to the 3- and 5-methyl sites through the Knoevenagel reaction. Then, an ethyl group was incorporated into BODIPY through the benzyl to enhance the solubility of the dye in non-polar solvents to facilitate preparation and characterization of this derivative. With a few steps, the BODIPY dye was obtained with a reasonable yield that was about 50% and was characterized by 13C NMR (Figure S3), 1H NMR (Figure S4) and MS (ESI) (Figure S5). We then dissolved this BODIPY derivative in DMSO at different concentrations to investigate its absorption and emission spectra. As shown in Figure 2B, the absorption spectrum of this dye contains a narrow spectral band with a major peak in the visible region at 671 nm. This BODIPY derivative in DMSO shows an emission spectrum (Figure 2C) with a maximum at 732 nm (excitation wavelength), with what could be Rayleigh and Tyndall scattering in the emission spectrum. The photophysical data of this BODIPY dye are summarized in Figure 2D.
Considering that RGD-HFBI protein owns a self-assembly ability, we proposed that RGD-HFBI could modify hydrophobic BODIPY dye to gain solubility. To test this idea, we tried to disperse BODIPY using RGD-HFBI solutions at different concentrations. Figure 3A-B show results of absorption and emission spectra of the BODIPY in RGD-HFBI solutions at different concentrations. BODIPY gave the highest intensity both in the absorption and emission spectra when the protein concentration was at 0.15 mg/mL. The photophysical data of RGD-HFBI-treated BODIPY dye are summarized in Table 1. Both the fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime were increased to the maximum when BODIPY was dispersed in 0.15 mg/mL RGD-HFBI solution. Although we could not understand the detailed mechanism by which RGD-HFBI acted at this stage, these results give us clues that protein concentration might have a crucial impact on the dispersion of BODIPY. Therefore, the long-term stability of each sample was examined over 20 days. Figure S6 shows that the protein concentration had an obvious influence on the stability of the dispersed solutions. We quantified the stability of each sample by measuring its absorption at 699 nm. As shown in Figure 3C, there was almost no change in absorbance of the 0.15 mg/mL RGD-HFBI-treated sample within 20 days, indicating that a stable dispersion was formed immediately after sonication. For other samples, we found that the normalized absorptions kept on decreasing and finally stabilized after two weeks. The zeta potential of 0.15 mg/mL RGD-HFBI-treated BODIPY was around 40 mV indicating its relatively high stability (Table 2). Regarding the other groups, the low zeta potential values suggested the instability of those solutions. Finally, the size of each sample was measured. As shown in Figure 3D, the smallest size of BODIPY was about 100 nm when BODIPY was dispersed in 0.15 mg/mL RGD-HFBI solution. The size of nanoparticles has a great effect on their behaviors like cell uptake and tumor-targeting ability. Normally, smaller sizes obtain better biodistribution and targeting results in vivo [56, 57]. Taking all the results together, we demonstrated that 0.15 mg/mL HFBI-RGD could disperse BODIPY effectively. When the protein concentration was less than 0.15 mg/mL, we believed that there was not enough hydrophobin to disperse the excessive BODIPY. However, when protein concentrations were above 0.15 mg/mL, the extra RGD-HFBI protein might compromise the stability of the resultant dispersions . Therefore, we chose 0.15 mg/mL-treated BODIPY in the following studies. In addition, the best dispersion result of BODIPY was obtained by using 0.1 mg/mL native HFBI in the control group. This result strengthened the fact that hydrophobin concentration was a key factor influencing the outcome of the dispersion result as well.
Photophysical properties of RGD-HFBI- and native HFBI-treated BODIPY dye
|Dye||Dispersant||λabs (nm)||ε (M-1cm-1)||λem (nm)||Фf||τ (ns)|
|BODIPY||0.05 mg/mL HFBI||699||75385||753||0.32||1.04|
|BODIPY||0.10 mg/mL HFBI||699||77796||753||0.39||1.36|
|BODIPY||0.15 mg/mL HFBI||699||78793||753||0.37||1.34|
|BODIPY||0.20 mg/mL HFBI||699||77302||753||0.33||1.28|
|BODIPY||0.05 mg/mL RGD-HFBI||699||76842||753||0.34||1.07|
|BODIPY||0.10 mg/mL RGD-HFBI||699||79861||753||0.38||1.33|
|BODIPY||0.15 mg/mL RGD-HFBI||699||78181||753||0.41||1.38|
|BODIPY||0.20 mg/mL RGD-HFBI||699||76762||753||0.32||1.31|
Zeta potential of RGD-HFBI- and native HFBI-treated BODIPY dye
|RGD-HFBI/BODIPY||0.05||18.7 ± 1.51|
|0.10||28.4 ± 2.13|
|0.15||39.9 ± 2.42|
|0.20||22.5 ± 1.12|
|HFBI/BODIPY||0.05||17.8 ± 1.25|
|0.10||32.3 ± 3.15|
|0.15||26.9 ± 2.08|
|0.20||8.93 ± 0.23|
(A) Synthetic procedure for the synthesis of the BODIPY derivative. (B-C) Absorption and fluorescence spectra of the BODIPY dye at different concentrations (10, 20, 30 and 40 μM) in DMSO. (D) Photophysical properties of the BODIPY dye.
(A-B) Absorption and fluorescence spectra of the BODIPY dye solubilized in RGD-HFBI and native HFBI solution at different concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 mg/mL). (C) Stability of RGD-HFBI- and native HFBI-dispersed BODIPY solution over 20 days. (D) Particles size of RGD-HFBI- and native HFBI-treated BODIPY dye.
After solubilizing the BODIPY in RGD-HFBI solution, we used TEM to see if there were morphological changes of BODIPY. As shown in Figure 4A, we saw an irregular aggregate of BODIPY in pure water with a dimension of about 5 μm, which illustrated its intrinsic hydrophobic property. When BODIPY was dissolved in DMSO, the shape sharply changed to round, and the size was dramatically decreased to 600 nm (Figure S7). However, we found that BODIPY formed well-dispersed particles with a round shape and uniform size of about 108 nm (Figure S7) when solubilized in RGD-HFBI solution. This result was very similar to that obtained from the dynamic light scattering experiment. Furthermore, the size of RGD-HFBI-treated BODIPY was reduced by 50 times when compared with the huge aggregate in water. These results showed clearly that RGD-HFBI could disperse BODIPY efficiently. Moreover, we found that RGD-HFBI/BODIPY formed a core-shell heterostructure with BODIPY dye in the core area and the RGD-HFBI layer taking the shape of the BODIPY template. As shown in Figure 4A, a clear interface could be observed between the BODIPY core and the RGD-HFBI shell or film. The average thickness of the RGD-HFBI film was about 10 nm, which was similar to that of HFBI film formed on the BODIPY core, suggesting that RGD motif did not disturb the assembly of HFBI protein . In addition, we found that there were plenty of small holes in the RGD-HFBI shell. Those holes obviously made the RGD-HFBI shell like an empty hollow “protein nanocage” with an embedded BODIPY core. Unlike the classic protein nanocages composed of multiple protein subunits that self-assemble with excellent precision forming a hollow caged structure of nanometer size, RGD-HFBI itself could self-assemble into a protein nanocage by using the BODIPY as the assembly template [60, 61]. So far, protein-based nanocages have been functionalized and applied into many applications including drug delivery, imaging and theranostics in cancer [62-64]. RGD-HFBI protein presents numerous reactive groups such as hydroxyls, amines, thiols, carboxylic acids and others. Therefore, it could provide active sites for easy further surface modification for different purposes. Figure 4B shows the RGD-HFBI film self-assembled on the mica surface that was observed with atomic force microscopy. We could see clearly small holes in the RGD-HFBI film, indicating that the self-assembly of RGD-HFBI protein was independent of the BODIPY dye. Therefore, RGD-HFBI has the potential to form protein nanocages by using other hydrophobic cores as the self-assembly template.
(A) TEM images of BODIPY dissolved in different solvents (H2O, DMSO, HFBI and RGD-HFBI). The red dashed line represents the RGD-HFBI shell or film. (B) Atomic force microscopy images of self-assembled RGD-HFBI (native HFBI) film on a mica surface. (C) Wide XPS spectra of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY, HFBI/BODIPY and BODIPY, and high-resolution spectra of F1s, B1s and O1s. (D) FTIR spectra of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY, HFBI/BODIPY and BODIPY.
To further confirm the self-assembly of RGD-HFBI onto the BODIPY, chemical compositions of BODIPY before and after RGD-HFBI modification were analyzed by XPS. The full XPS spectra (Figure 4C) showed an overall change in the F1s, O1s, N1s, C1s and B1s of the BODIPY, HFBI-modified BODIPY and RGD-HFBI-modified BODIPY. The F1s (685 eV) peak was characteristic for BODIPY dye according to its chemical composition. The intensity of this elemental peak was remarkably decreased in the narrow spectrum of RGD-HFBI-modified BODIPY, suggesting that RGD-HFBI protein self-assembled and covered the surface of BODIPY. Furthermore, increased content of oxygen (Figure 4C) also confirmed the self-assembly of RGD-HFBI protein onto the surface of BODIPY. Next, FTIR (Figure 4D) was used to characterize the RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex as the shape and frequency of the amide I band was modulated by the secondary structure of a protein . The FTIR spectrum of RGD-HFBI protein showed a sharp peak at 1637 cm-1 involved in the vibration bands of amide I, which was caused by C=O stretching vibrations of peptide linkages. This result indicated RGD-HFBI contained mainly beta-sheet (1637 cm-1) structure. Hakanpaa et al. reported that native HFBI protein contains four beta-sheets based on its three-dimensional crystal structure . The coherence between the secondary structures of RGD-HFBI and native HFBI illustrated that the RGD motif did not affect the correct protein folding of HFBI. For the BODIPY dye, strong peaks at 2848 and 2919 cm-1 were attributed to the C-H vibrations of the benzene bonds, and a peak at 1728 cm-1 resulted from C=O vibration. Moreover, sharp peaks at 1486, 1538 and 1594 cm-1 corresponded to v (C=C) stretching vibrations in benzene. Regarding the RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex, the FTIR spectrum consisted of both characteristic peaks of HFBI/BODIPY and BODIPY without detectable chemical bond formation. This result suggested that RGD-HFBI adsorbed onto the surface of BODIPY dye non-covalently without protein structure changes. Furthermore, This finding was quite consistent with the previous reports that there was no secondary structure change during the binding process when class II hydrophobin assembled physically onto hydrophobic surfaces . The FTIR results also strengthened the idea that physical hydrophobic force was the major driving force for the interaction between the hydrophobic part of HFBI and BODIPY dye, resulting in the formation of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex.
After we obtained the RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex, we were eager to know whether this complex could be used in biolabeling or bioimaging from the safety point of view. Therefore, biological compatibility of this complex was an important issue we should consider in the next step. The biocompatibility of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY was evaluated by classical MTT assay. Three different cancer cell lines were used in our assays, including U-87MG (high αvβ3 integrin expression), HeLa (low αvβ3 integrin expression) and MCF-7 cells (without αvβ3 integrin expression) [67, 68]. As shown in Figure 5A, the viabilities of the three cell lines were not affected by the exposure of different concentrations of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex for 48 h, indicating its high biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity.
HFBI/BODIPY showed low cytotoxicity towards all the tested cell lines as well. However, DMSO-dissolved BODIPY showed slight cytotoxicity at high concentrations (250 and 500 μM), indicating BODIPY itself had detectable cytotoxicity at high concentrations. From the above results, we saw clearly that hydrophobin modification could increase the biocompatibility of BODIPY dye. Aimanianda et al. reported that surface hydrophobin prevented immune recognition of airborne fungal spores in the human body . Their results implied that people could generate hydrophobin-based nanoparticles containing embedded diagnostic and therapeutic molecules that have to be transported to a specific body location without being recognized by the host immune system. Therefore, we considered that RGD-HFBI might mask most of the immunogenicity of BODIPY, resulting in its low cytotoxicity. This consideration will be addressed in future studies using immunocompetent animals. Nevertheless, we proved that the RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex has the potential to be applied in the living cell system for bioimaging due its good biocompatibility.
Next, flow cytometry analysis (Figure 5B) was performed to quantify the cell binding and cellular uptake. The uptakes of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex were investigated by using the same three cell lines used in the MTT assays. As expected, the cell-associated fluorescence was highest in U-87MG cells. The fluorescence in HeLa cells was decreased about one-fold compared with the U-87MG cells. Regarding the negative control MCF-7 cells, we observed the lowest fluorescence that might come from nonspecific cellular uptake of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex. The relatively small size (about 100 nm) of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex might contribute to this phenomenon [70, 71]. These results demonstrated that integrin expression did have an obvious effect on the cellular uptake of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex and also suggested the biological activity of the RGD motif in the hybrid RGD-HFBI was preserved very well. In our flow cytometry analysis, HFBI-modified BODIPY and DMSO-dissolved BODIPY were used as controls. All three types of cells treated by those two BODIPYs with different solvents showed much lower cell-associated fluorescence than that obtained from RGD-HFBI/BODIPY. These results indicated the functionality of RGD motif of RGD-HFBI protein was a key factor in regulating the specific cell binding and cellular uptake of BODIPY as well. In order to further evaluate the cellular uptake of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex, we used confocal microscopy analysis to directly observe the interactions between RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex and target cells. As shown in Figure 5C, we got very similar results as that obtained from flow cytometry analysis. U-87MG cells and HeLa cells with αvβ3 integrin expression showed higher fluorescence than that from the MCF-7 cells that did not have any αvβ3 integrin expression on their cell surfaces. All cells treated with HFBI-modified BODIPY and DMSO-dissolved BODIPY showed low fluorescence at the same level due to the lack of RGD. Moreover, the overall fluorescence was obviously decreased by adding the synthetic RGD peptide both in the U-87MG and HeLa cells. These results obviously demonstrated that the RGD motif remarkably improved the specific cell binding and cellular uptake of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex.
(A) MTT assay results of three different cancer cell lines including U-87MG (high αvβ3 integrin expression), HeLa (low αvβ3 integrin expression) and MCF-7 cells (without αvβ3 integrin expression). Those three cell lines were treated with different concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 µM) of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY, HFBI/BODIPY and BODIPY for 48 h. (B) Flow cytometry analysis of U-87MG, Hela and MCF-7 cells incubated with RGD-HFBI/BODIPY, HFBI/BODIPY and BODIPY for 4 h. The concentration of all probes was 10 μM and cells without treatments were used as the blank controls (red lines). (C) Confocal microscopy images of U-87MG, Hela and MCF-7 cells treated with RGD-HFBI/BODIPY, HFBI/BODIPY, BODIPY and synthetic RGD peptide.
Before we did in vivo imaging using tumor models, we evaluated the stability of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex in vitro and in vivo. The stability of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex was determined by whether the RGD-HFBI on the shell of the complex could resist protease degradation in serum both in vivo and in vitro. Figure S8 shows that the RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex was relatively stable both in vivo and in vitro. For example, only about 11% of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY was degraded after 72 h in vivo. This result was consistent with the previous reports that self-assembled hydrophobin could resist protease degradation both in vitro and in vivo [72-75]. After the stability of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY complex was confirmed, we did in vivo imaging using different tumor models. Figure 6A shows typical NIR fluorescence images of athymic nude mice bearing subcutaneous U-87MG glioblastoma tumor after intravenous injection of 17.7 nmol of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY. The subcutaneous U-87MG tumor could be clearly delineated from the surrounding background tissue at all the time points. We saw limited but distinguishable fluorescence at 2 h, indicating that RGD-HFBI/BODIPY reached the tumor site at this time point. Accumulation of fluorescence was observed with time, increasing until the maximum fluorescence occurred at 24 h. After that, the fluorescence in the tumor site went down, suggesting the washing-out of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY, but still remained distinguishable at 72 h. For the control HFBI/BODIPY group, we did not observe any fluorescence with high intensity in the tumor sites at all the time points (Figure 6C). The weak fluorescence in this group could be attributed to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. However, we believed that effective accumulation of fluorescence in the RGD-HFBI/BODIPY group not only depended on the EPR effect, but also relied on the active targeting effect of the RGD motif of the RGD-HFBI protein.
Therefore, the above results did reveal the specific affinity between the RGD-HFBI/BODIPY and the U-87MG glioblastoma tumor. To further verify the accumulation of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY, the mice were sacrificed at three time points (24, 48 and 72 h), and dominant organs were selected for in vitro imaging (Figure 6B). For the RGD-HFBI/BODIPY-treated mice, the tumor tissue showed distinct fluorescence at all three time points, suggesting BODIPY accumulation in the tumor due to specific targeting of the RGD-HFBI/BODIPY (Figure 6D). Regarding the control group, limited fluorescence was observed in the tumor tissue, and strong fluorescence signals were detected only in the liver due to nonspecific uptake and retention of HFBI/BODIPY.
We also did NIR fluorescence analysis of athymic nude mice bearing subcutaneous HeLa tumors. As shown in Figure 6E-H, the results were quite similar with those obtained from the U-87MG tumor cell. The only difference was the fluorescence obtained from HeLa cells was relatively weaker than that obtained from the U-87MG tumor cell at all the time points. This result is quite consistent with the results obtained from in vitro cell culture assay. Taken together, the in vivo affinity tests fully demonstrated the high specificity of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY due to the high selectivity and strong affinity of the RGD molecules.
In this paper, we showed a simple and reliable one-step strategy to produce water-soluble and targeted BODIPY dye by designing a novel hybrid protein named RGD-HFBI. This novel protein has dual biological functions according to our design. The first function of this protein is to self-assemble on hydrophobic surfaces including the hydrophobic BODIPY we used in this work. The outcome of the self-assembly of RGD-HFBI on different hydrophobic surfaces is a change in surface properties. In our study, RGD-HFBI could readily self-assemble on the BODIPY dye by simple mixing and sonication for 30 min, resulting in the efficient solubilization of this hydrophobic dye. It was notable that a protein nanocage was formed during the self-assembly process, which means the performance of this protein could be improved by further reasonable modifications. We also found that physical hydrophobic interaction could be the major driven force for the interaction of RGD-HFBI and BODIPY. The second function of this protein is to target specific cell lines by using the classic RGD motif in the protein. In our study, we proved that RGD-HFBI could efficiently guide the BODIPY dye to specifically label the U-87MG cancer cell in cell culture and in animal experiments. Furthermore, the good biocompatibility and prolonged circulation time of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY might facilitate future application of this dye. In our study, we only used a synthesized BODIPY dye to prove the dual functions of RGD-HFBI. We believed that RGD-HFBI could be applied to other hydrophobic fluorescent probes or even other hydrophobic materials that suffer from solubility and targeting problems. Therefore, our one-step strategy may be developed as a general strategy for biolabeling and bioimaging to broaden their applications.
(A) NIR fluorescence images of nude mice bearing U-87MG tumor after intravenous injection of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY and HFBI/BODIPY. (B) The ex vivo optical images of organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney) and tumors of the U-87MG tumor-bearing mice sacrificed at three time points (24, 48 and 72 h) after administration. (C) Quantitation of in vivo fluorescence intensity of U-87MG tumor after administration of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY and HFBI/BODIPY in the tumor-bearing mice at different time points (2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h). (D) Quantitation of ex vivo fluorescence intensity of harvested tumors of the U-87MG tumor-bearing mice sacrificed at three time points (24, 48 and 72 h) after administration. (E) NIR fluorescence images of nude mice bearing HeLa tumor after intravenous injection of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY and HFBI/BODIPY. (F) The ex vivo optical images of organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney) and tumors of the HeLa tumor-bearing mice sacrificed at three time points (24, 48 and 72 h) after administration. (G) Quantitation of in vivo fluorescence intensity of HeLa tumor after administration of RGD-HFBI/BODIPY and HFBI/BODIPY in the tumor-bearing mice at different time points (2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h). (H) Quantitation of in vitro fluorescence intensity of harvested tumors of the HeLa tumor-bearing mice sacrificed at three time points (24, 48 and 72 h) after administration.
BODIPY: Boron-dipyrromethene; CC: column chromatography; DDQ: 2, 3-Dichloro-5, 6-dicyano-1, 4-benzoquinone; EPR: enhanced permeation and retention; FTIR: Fourier-transform infrared; NIR: near-infrared; RGD: arginine-glycine-aspartic acid; RP-HPLC: reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; TLC: thin-layer chromatography; WCA: water contact angle; XPS: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Zefang Wang acknowledges the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81601593). Shuxian Meng acknowledges the support of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21676187). Yanyan Wang acknowledges the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 61501320). Yunjie Xiao, Qian Zhang and Yanyan Wang contributed equally to this work.
Supplementary figures and tables.
The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.
1. Guo Z, Park S, Yoon J, Shin I. Recent progress in the development of near-infrared fluorescent probes for bioimaging applications. Chem Soc Rev. 2014;43:16-29
2. Sato R, Kozuka J, Ueda M, Mishima R, Kumagai Y, Yoshimura A. et al. Intracellular protein-labeling probes for multicolor single-molecule imaging of immune receptor-adaptor molecular dynamics. J Am Chem Soc. 2017;139:17397-404
3. Zhong Y, Ma Z, Zhu S, Yue J, Zhang M, Antaris AL. et al. Boosting the down-shifting luminescence of rare-earth nanocrystals for biological imaging beyond 1500 nm. Nat Commun. 2017;8:737
4. Evans CL. New near-infrared dyes light up deep tissue imaging. Sci Transl Med. 2017;9:eaam6065
5. Frangioni JV. In vivo near-infrared fluorescence imaging. Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2003;7:626-34
6. Lou Z, Li P, Han K. Redox-responsive fluorescent probes with different design strategies. Acc Chem Res. 2015;48:1358-68
7. Yu F, Li P, Wang B, Han K. Reversible near-infrared fluorescent probe introducing tellurium to mimetic glutathione peroxidase for monitoring the redox cycles between peroxynitrite and glutathione in vivo. J Am Chem Soc. 2013;135:7674-80
8. Yuan L, Lin W, Zheng K, He L, Huang W. Far-red to near infrared analyte-responsive fluorescent probes based on organic fluorophore platforms for fluorescence imaging. Chem Soc Rev. 2013;42:622-61
9. Luo S, Zhang E, Su Y, Cheng T, Shi C. A review of NIR dyes in cancer targeting and imaging. Biomaterials. 2011;32:7127-38
10. Li Y, Xu D, Ho SL, Li H, Yang R, Wong M. A theranostic agent for in vivo near-infrared imaging of beta-amyloid species and inhibition of beta-amyloid aggregation. Biomaterials. 2016;94:84-92
11. Hyun H, Owens EA, Wada H, Levitz A, Park G, Park MH. et al. Cartilage-specific near-infrared fluorophores for biomedical imaging. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2015;54:8648-52
12. Hyun H, Park MH, Owens EA, Wada H, Henary M, Handgraaf HJ. et al. Structure-inherent targeting of near-infrared fluorophores for parathyroid and thyroid gland imaging. Nat Med. 2015;21:192-7
13. Amiot CL, Xu S, Liang S, Pan L, Zhao J. Near-infrared fluorescent materials for sensing of biological targets. Sensors (Basel). 2008;8:3082-105
14. Yuan L, Lin W, Zhao S, Gao W, Chen B, He L. et al. A unique approach to development of near-infrared fluorescent sensors for in vivo imaging. J Am Chem Soc. 2012;134:13510-23
15. Verwilst P, Kim HR, Seo J, Sohn NW, Cha SY, Kim Y. et al. Rational design of in vivo tau tangle-selective near-infrared fluorophores: expanding the BODIPY universe. J Am Chem Soc. 2017;139:13393-403
16. Han C, Yang H, Chen M, Su Q, Feng W, Li F. Mitochondria-targeted near-infrared fluorescent off-on probe for selective detection of cysteine in living cells and in vivo. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2015;7:27968-75
17. Zhang J, Yang M, Li C, Dorh N, Xie F, Luo F. et al. Near-infrared fluorescent probes based on piperazine-functionalized BODIPY dyes for sensitive detection of lysosomal pH. J Mater Chem B. 2015;3:2173-84
18. Wang D, Fan J, Gao X, Wang B, Sun S, Peng X. Carboxyl BODIPY dyes from bicarboxylic anhydrides: one-pot preparation, spectral properties, photostability, and biolabeling. J Org Chem. 2009;74:7675-83
19. Kim J, Kim Y. A water-soluble sulfonate-BODIPY based fluorescent probe for selective detection of HOCl/OCl- in aqueous media. Analyst. 2014;139:2986-9
20. Zhu S, Zhang J, Vegesna G, Luo F, Green SA, Liu H. Highly water-soluble neutral BODIPY dyes with controllable fluorescence quantum yields. Org Lett. 2011;13:438-41
21. Hu R, Law WC, Lin G, Ye L, Liu J, Liu J. et al. PEGylated phospholipid micelle-encapsulated near-infrared PbS quantum dots for in vitro and in vivo bioimaging. Theranostics. 2012;2:723-33
22. Liu F, Deng D, Chen X, Qian Z, Achilefu S, Gu Y. Folate-polyethylene glycol conjugated near-infrared fluorescence probe with high targeting affinity and sensitivity for in vivo early tumor diagnosis. Mol Imaging Biol. 2010;12:595-607
23. Ha Y, Choi HK. Recent conjugation strategies of small organic fluorophores and ligands for cancer-specific bioimaging. Chem Biol Interact. 2016;248:36-51
24. Patalag LJ, Jones PG, Werz DB. BOIMPYs: rapid access to a family of red-emissive fluorophores and NIR dyes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2016;55:13340-4
25. Becker A, Hessenius C, Licha K, Ebert B, Sukowski U, Semmler W. et al. Receptor-targeted optical imaging of tumors with near-infrared fluorescent ligands. Nat Biotechnol. 2001;19:327-31
26. Kanduluru AK, Srinivasarao M, Low PS. Design, synthesis, and evaluation of a neurokinin-1 receptor-targeted near-IR dye for fluorescence-guided surgery of reuroendocrine cancers. Bioconjug Chem. 2016;27:2157-65
27. Haque A, Faizi MS, Rather JA, Khan MS. Next generation NIR fluorophores for tumor imaging and fluorescence-guided surgery: a review. Bioorg Med Chem. 2017;25:2017-34
28. Achilefu S. The insatiable quest for near-infrared fluorescent probes for molecular imaging. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2010;49:9816-8
29. Zhong Y, Ma Z, Zhu S, Yue J, Zhang M, Antaris AL. et al. Boosting the down-shifting luminescence of rare-earth nanocrystals for biological imaging beyond 1500 nm. Nat Commun. 2017;8:737
30. Bayry J, Aimanianda V, Guijarro JI, Sunde M, Latge JP. Hydrophobins-unique fungal proteins. PLoS Pathog. 2012;8:e1002700
31. Wosten HA. Hydrophobins: multipurpose proteins. Annu Rev Microbiol. 2001;55:625-46
32. Linder MB, Szilvay GR, Nakari-Setala T, Penttila ME. Hydrophobins: the protein-amphiphiles of filamentous fungi. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2005;29:877-96
33. Hakanpaa J, Szilvay GR, Kaljunen H, Maksimainen M, Linder M, Rouvinen J. Two crystal structures of Trichoderma reesei hydrophobin HFBI-the structure of a protein amphiphile with and without detergent interaction. Protein Sci. 2006;15:2129-40
34. Sunde M, Kwan AH, Templeton MD, Beever RE, Mackay JP. Structural analysis of hydrophobins. Micron. 2008;39:773-84
35. Laaksonen P, Kainlauri M, Laaksonen T, Shchepetov A, Jiang H, Ahopelto J. et al. Interfacial engineering by proteins: exfoliation and functionalization of graphene by hydrophobins. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2010;49:4946-9
36. Qin M, Wang L, Feng X, Yang Y, Wang R, Wang C. et al. Bioactive surface modification of mica and poly (dimethylsiloxane) with hydrophobins for protein immobilization. Langmuir. 2007;23:4465-71
37. Valo HK, Laaksonen PH, Peltonen LJ, Linder MB, Hirvonen JT, Laaksonen TJ. Multifunctional hydrophobin: toward functional coatings for drug nanoparticles. ACS Nano. 2010;4:1750-8
38. Pigliacelli C, Maiolo D, Nonappa N, Haataja JS, Amenitsch H, Michelet C. et al. Efficient encapsulation of fluorinated drugs in the confined space of water-dispersible fluorous supraparticles. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2017;56:16186-90
39. Hahl H, Vargas JN, Griffo A, Laaksonen P, Szilvay G, Lienemann M. et al. Pure protein bilayers and vesicles from native fungal hydrophobins. Adv Mater. 2017;29:1602888
40. Gravagnuolo AM, Morales-Narváez E, Matos CRS, Longobardi S, Giardina P, Merkoçi A. On-the-spot immobilization of quantum dots, graphene oxide, and proteins via hydrophobins. Adv Funct Mater. 2015;25:6084-92
41. Malho JM, Arola S, Laaksonen P, Szilvay GR, Ikkala O, Linder MB. Modular architecture of protein binding units for designing properties of cellulose nanomaterials. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2015;54:12025-8
42. Janssen MI, van Leeuwen MB, Scholtmeijer K, van Kooten TG, Dijkhuizen L, Wosten HA. Coating with genetic engineered hydrophobin promotes growth of fibroblasts on a hydrophobic solid. Biomaterials. 2002;23:4847-54
43. Kallio JM, Linder MB, Rouvinen J. Crystal structures of hydrophobin HFBII in the presence of detergent implicate the formation of fibrils and monolayer films. J Biol Chem. 2007;282:28733-9
44. Goldian I, Jahn S, Laaksonen P, Linder M, Kampf N, Klein J. Modification of interfacial forces by hydrophobin HFBI. Soft Matter. 2013;9:10627-39
45. Mas-Moruno C, Fraioli R, Rechenmacher F, Neubauer S, Kapp TG, Kessler H. αvβ3- or α5β1-integrin-selective peptidomimetics for surface coating. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2016;55:7048-67
46. Avraamides CJ, Garmy-Susini B, Varner JA. Integrins in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Nat Rev Cancer. 2008;8:604-17
47. Grunér MS, Szilvay GR, Berglin M, Lienemann M, Laaksonen P, Linder MB. Self-assembly of class II hydrophobins on polar surfaces. Langmuir. 2012;28:4293-300
48. Macindoe I, Kwan AH, Ren Q, Morris VK, Yang W, Mackay JP. et al. Self-assembly of functional, amphipathic amyloid monolayers by the fungal hydrophobin EAS. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012;109:E804-11
49. Stanimirova RD, Gurkov TD, Kralchevsky PA, Balashev KT, Stoyanov SD, Pelan EG. Surface pressure and elasticity of hydrophobin HFBII layers on the air-water interface: rheology versus structure detected by AFM imaging. Langmuir. 2013;29:6053-67
50. Pham CLL, Rey A, Lo V, Soulès M, Ren Q, Meisl G. et al. Self-assembly of MPG1, a hydrophobin protein from the rice blast fungus that forms functional amyloid coatings, occurs by a surface-driven mechanism. Sci Rep. 2016;6:25288
51. Magarkar A, Mele N, Abdel-Rahman N, Butcher S, Torkkeli M, Serimaa R. et al. Hydrophobin film structure for HFBI and HFBII and mechanism for accelerated film formation. PLoS Comput Biol. 2014;10:e1003745
52. Moldovan C, Thompson D. Molecular dynamics of the "hydrophobic patch" that immobilizes hydrophobin protein HFBII on silicon. J Mol Model. 2011;17:2227-35
53. Peng C, Liu J, Zhao D, Zhou J. Adsorption of hydrophobin on different self-assembled monolayers: the role of the hydrophobic dipole and the electric dipole. Langmuir. 2014;30:11401-11
54. Lumsdon SO, Green J, Stieglitz B. Adsorption of hydrophobin proteins at hydrophobic and hydrophilic interfaces. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2005;44:172-8
55. Ostolska I, Wisniewska M. Application of the zeta potential measurements to explanation of colloidal Cr2O3 stability mechanism in the presence of the ionic polyamino acids. Colloid Polym Sci. 2014;292:2453-64
56. Hao Y, Huang Y, He Y, Peng J, Chen L, Hu X. et al. The evaluation of cellular uptake efficiency and tumor-targeting ability of MPEG-PDLLA micelles: effect of particle size. RSC Adv. 2016;6:13698-709
57. He C, Hu Y, Yin L, Tang C, Yin C. Effects of particle size and surface charge on cellular uptake and biodistribution of polymeric nanoparticles. Biomaterials. 2010;31:3657-66
58. Wang Z, Wang Y, Huang Y, Li S, Feng S, Xu H. et al. Characterization and application of hydrophobin-dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Carbon. 2010;48:2890-8
59. Hakanpaa J, Paananen A, Askolin S, Nakari-Setala T, Parkkinen T, Penttila M. et al. Atomic resolution structure of the HFBII hydrophobin, a self-assembling amphiphile. J Biol Chem. 2004;279:534-9
60. Bhaskar S, Lim S. Engineering protein nanocages as carriers for biomedical applications. NPG Asia Mater. 2017;9:e371
61. Votteler J, Ogohara C, Yi S, Hsia Y, Nattermann U, Belnap DM. et al. Designed proteins induce the formation of nanocage-containing extracellular vesicles. Nature. 2016;540:292-5
62. Schoonen L, van Hest JC. Functionalization of protein-based nanocages for drug delivery applications. Nanoscale. 2014;6:7124-41
63. Lin X, Xie J, Niu G, Zhang F, Gao H, Yang M. et al. Chimeric ferritin nanocages for multiple function loading and multimodal imaging. Nano Lett. 2011;11:814-9
64. Truffi M, Fiandra L, Sorrentino L, Monieri M, Corsi F, Mazzucchelli S. Ferritin nanocages: a biological platform for drug delivery, imaging and theranostics in cancer. Pharmacol Res. 2016;107:57-65
65. Kong J, Yu S. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis of protein secondary structures. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 2007;39:549-59
66. Meister K, Bäumer A, Szilvay GR, Paananen A, Bakker HJ. Self-assembly and conformational changes of hydrophobin classes at the air-water interface. J Phys Chem Lett. 2016;7:4067-71
67. Ye Y, Chen X. Integrin targeting for tumor optical imaging. Theranostics. 2011;1:102-26
68. Taherian A, Li X, Liu Y, Haas TA. Differences in integrin expression and signaling within human breast cancer cells. BMC Cancer. 2011;11:293
69. Aimanianda V, Bayry J, Bozza S, Kniemeyer O, Perruccio K, Elluru SR. et al. Surface hydrophobin prevents immune recognition of airborne fungal spores. Nature. 2009;460:1117-21
70. Win KY, Feng S. Effects of particle size and surface coating on cellular uptake of polymeric nanoparticles for oral delivery of anticancer drugs. Biomaterials. 2005;26:2713-22
71. Shang L, Nienhaus K, Nienhaus GU. Engineered nanoparticles interacting with cells: size matters. J Nanobiotechnology. 2014;12:5
72. Zhao L, Xu H, Li Y, Song D, Wang X, Qiao M. et al. Novel application of hydrophobin in medical science: a drug carrier for improving serum stability. Sci Rep. 2016;6:26461
73. Askolin S, Nakari-Setälä T, Tenkanen M. Overproduction, purification, and characterization of the Trichoderma reesei hydrophobin HFBI. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2001;57:124-30
74. Wang X, Permentier HP, Rink R, Kruijtzer JA, Liskamp RM, Wösten HA. et al. Probing the self-assembly and the accompanying structural changes of hydrophobin SC3 on a hydrophobic surface by mass spectrometry. Biophys J. 2004;87:1919-28
75. Wang X, Graveland-Bikker JF, de Kruif CG, Robillard GT. Oligomerization of hydrophobin SC3 in solution: from soluble state to self-assembly. Protein Sci. 2004;13:810-21
Corresponding authors: Prof. Zefang Wang; School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Tel: +86-22-27403096; E-mail: zefangwangedu.cn; Prof. Shuxian Meng, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Tel: +86-1303433353; E-mail: msxmailedu.cn. | <urn:uuid:58e038d0-de20-4c40-93cc-7dce1c5cbd82> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://www.thno.org/v08p3111.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571950.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220813111851-20220813141851-00672.warc.gz | en | 0.905358 | 16,700 | 2.125 | 2 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.