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Those 'basic building blocks' are the same ones that created earth
What Mars really needs is a thicker atmosphere, which it used to have..
Mars' atmosphere is believed to have changed over the course of the planet's lifetime, with evidence suggesting the possibility that Mars had large oceans a few billion years ago. As stated in the Mars Ocean Hypothesis, atmospheric pressure on the present day Martian surface only exceeds that of the triple point of water (6.11 hectopascals (0.0886 psi)) in the lowest elevations; at higher elevations water can exist only in solid or vapor form. Annual mean temperatures at the surface are currently less than 210 K (−63 °C; −82 °F), significantly lower than what is needed to sustain liquid water. However, early in its history Mars may have had conditions more conducive to retaining liquid water at the surface.
Possible causes for the depletion of a previously thicker Martian atmosphere include:
Catastrophic collision by a body large enough to blow away a significant percentage of the atmosphere;
Gradual erosion of the atmosphere by solar wind; and
On-going removal of atmosphere due to electromagnetic field and solar wind interaction.
Mars low gravity allowed the atmosphere to "blow off" into space by gas-kinetic escape. | <urn:uuid:5bdd5d5f-6786-4063-a4aa-f228cfc768a4> | CC-MAIN-2015-11 | http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1228&pid=6841 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-11/segments/1424936464840.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20150226074104-00245-ip-10-28-5-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942321 | 263 | 4.15625 | 4 |
The analysis of the relations between the “world of the living” and the “afterworld” in this region and period is extremely interesting, as it shows a series of original features: a) there are funerary vestiges only between 170/150 – 50 BC; after that period, they are lacking until the Roman conquest (106 AD), b) taking into consideration the funerary inventory, we could assign these vestiges to warriors, especially horsemen, as long as we have only a few pieces of information about the after-death treatment of the rest of population; c) the settlements and the fortresses continue their existence all along this period, which is after the graves become “invisible”. d) although funerary vestiges and settlements are known in the entire region, only in exceptional cases could the two be linked to one another.
That’s why we are going to speak first about the funerary discoveries and the settlements and, in the end, we’ll try to give an explanation. Our analyses will take into account only those elements of the vestiges useful to the topic of this colloquium.
The geographical area we are referring to includes the regions of Banat, Oltenia, West Walachia and southeastern Transylvania (Fig. 1); however, we’ll take into account the discoveries of other areas as well, namely southern and northern Danube, in order to make some analogies and comparisons.
The period under analyses is about three centuries (200 BC – 106 AD) long, when deep changes took place in the beliefs and the funerary practices of the Geto-Dacians (Sîrbu 1985, p. 89-126; 1993; 2002, p. 374-393; Babeş 1988, p. 3-32)
The analysis of the funerary vestiges from this time and place has generated different, sometimes even contradictory opinions, on their cultural or ethnic origin. They were attributed to the Celts ( Nicolăescu-Plopşor 1945-1947, p.17-33, Popescu 1963), Thracians (Nikolov 1990, p. 14-26) or to mixed communities of Dacians and Celts (Zirra 1971, p.234;1976, p. 181; Sîrbu 1993, p. 25) . The documentary background available at one point in time or the meddling of political and ideological factors in the interpretation of history for half a century account for some of this confusion.
The items found in Gruia allowed V. Pârvan (1924, p. 35-50) to analyze the pieces of information available from ancient historians on the developments in the Lower and Middle Danube area over the last three centuries before the pre-Christian area. V. Pârvan said in the published work on the vestiges identified at Gruia that the Celts were already present in the Middle Danube region, namely the area between Belgrade and Vidin, around the middle of the fourth century BC, which pushed the Thracians and Illyrians farther east ( Pârvan 1924, p. 43-46). V. Pârvan dated the tombs in Gruia to the middle of the 3rd century BC and believed he was dealing with Celts that Brennus left behind in Moesia to fight the Gets and Triballi, on the occasion of the Balkan expedition (278-277 BC). One should note that urn cremation tombs from the 4 th-5 th centuries BC were found in Gruia (Crăciunescu 1999, p.46).
The study by C.S. Nicolăescu-Plopşor, the one that brought to the archaeologists’ attention the vestiges from Oltenia, marked a fresh beginning in the investigations on the correct identification of items belonging to the collections of local museums (Nicolăescu-Plopşor 1945-1947, p.17-33) . He emphasized how the warrior tombs represented north-Danubian group that included Celtic-type items but also noted the presence of Thracian artifacts (curved daggers, bridle bits and hand-made vessels) (Fig. 2-4).
Vlad Zirra made an essential contribution to the research on Celtic vestiges, as his study continues to be a basis for the typological-chronological analysis of La Tène items found in the Carpathian-Danubian space ( Zirra 1971, p. 171-238) .
Given the presence of many well-structured and dated settlements and necropolises present inside the Carpathian arc ( Zirra 1971, p. 171-238) , an increasingly interesting issue is the emergence of Celtic archaeological vestiges, but at a later date and south of the Carpathians, visibly concentrated in southwestern Romania.
The two categories of vestiges are not only in different areas and date back to different time periods, but also have different histories.
The presence of bracelets with Steckverschluss closing systems (Fântânele, Murgeni) or simple with bolded ends (Copşa Mică, Şeica, Archiud, Fântânele), of early Dux fibulae (Fântânele, Murgeni) stand proof of the presence of Celts here from as early as Lt. B1 – Lt. B2, namely from the last third of the 4 th century – beginning of 3 rd century BC (Zirra 1991, p. 177-184; Rustoiu 2005, p. 45-64).
The Celtic vestiges are concentrated in the Transylvanian plateau and plain, plus the upper Someş basin, whereas the surrounding valleys (Haţeg, Hunedoara, Făgăraş, Bârsa, Sf. Gheorghe and Ciuc) do not have any necropolises or settlements but only tombs or isolated items (Sîrbu 2006, fig. 1-2); on the other hand, these valleys, and then Banat and Maramureş, have included Dacian findings – true, just a few so far (Sîrbu 2006).
This suggest that the Celts occupied the territory between Mureş and Someş, west of the Apuseni Mountains, and the plains and plateau in the intra-Carpathian space, plus the valley in the upper basin of Someş (Zirra 1974, p. 138-164; Vaida 2004, p. 375-392; Voinescu 2001).
There are no findings of Celtic vestiges of this type in Transylvania after the 2 nd century BC (the lack of oppida centers is revealing to that end), but the causes of their disappearance are not yet clear. On the other hand, the Dacian findings in this area increase in number starting with the middle of the 2 nd century BC.
It is difficult to admit that the Dacians assimilated the Celts, since the Celtic vestiges preserve their characteristics until the end, and the inventory of the Dacian settlements and fortresses from the 2 nd – 1 st centuries BC shows decreasing Celtic influences. Perhaps, the Celts’ migration to the west followed both internal causes and the growing power of the Dacians. The advancement of the Dacian warrior from the southwestern Carpathians may have played a part here (Rustoiu 2002, p. 25-40), an issue that will be dealt with towards the end. It may also be that the Bastarns’ settling in north-central Moldova around 200 BC (Babeş 2001, p. 522-529) pushed the Dacians there towards Transylvania.
The documentation available at present allows one to date the Celtic findings to 330/220 – 170/160 BC, but the Celts may have stayed west of the Apuseni Mountains until the second half of the 2 nd century BC.
The specialized literature, from Zenon Woźniak’s work, still uses the concept of the “Padea –Panagjurski Kolonii group” to designate, from a cultural-archaeological point of view, the vestiges in Bulgaria (in particular the northwestern region), northwestern Serbia and southwestern Romania (Woźniak 1974). Some of the first discoveries of this type, found in the two eponymous localities - Panagjurište and Padea (V. Zirra 1971, p. 234, reference 303 and fig. 23/16, 18, 20, 22, 26, 29), point here to a cultural aspect of the second iron age in the region in question. Still, these are not among the most spectacular findings, such as the one in Panagjurište (Najdenova 1967, p. 70-74); Dimitrova, Gizdova 1974, p. 321-331; 1975, p. 39-87).
Flat tombs. We are dealing with 40 discoveries with more than 90 confirmed tombs, most of them fortuitous, including a necropolis – Spahii, small groups of graves, such as Cetate (Nicolăescu-Plopşor 1945-1947 p. 19-20) or Cepari, Corlate (Nicolăescu-Plopşor 1945-1947, p. 22-23), Gruia (Pârvan 1924, p. 35-50; Nicolăescu-Plopşor 1945-1947, p. 26), Padea (Zirra 1971, p. 234, footnote 303), Chirnogi (Şerbănescu 2000, p. 34-35) isolated tombs or only isolated objects, mainly weapons (Nicolăescu-Plopşor 1945-1947, p. 17-33; Zirra 1971, p.222-228, Abb. 23; Sîrbu, Rustoiu 1999, p. 77-91).
Sometimes, even systematic excavations (Rast) did not find any cremated bones but only inventory items (Tudor 1968, p. 517-526), meaning we could be dealing here with either cenotaphs or votive deposits.
A real necropolis was identified at Turburea-Spahii and Remetea Mare.
Salvage excavations in Turburea-Spahii (Gorj county) revealed some 30 flat cremation tombs, almost all of them in-pit cremation. Only one tomb is a case of urn cremation (M10) but there may have been others among those destroyed. Several item and glass items were published, which might be the inventory of 9 tombs: weaponry and harness gear (at least one LtD1 iron sword, spearheads, the blade of a curved knife, a LtD1 spur, a bridle bit, the fragments of a shield umbo (?), all of them iron, then some clothing accessories and jewelry (the extremities of a torques made of silver sheet, the fragment of a bronze fibulae, a white-yellowish glass pearl, a fragment from blue glass bracelet with a white zig-zag decoration and a fragment from a situla vessel. The area of the necropolis yielded several ceramic vessel fragments, most of them hand made (including the mug-urn), but also fragments of wheel-made pottery. The vestiges of the settlement were observed nearby, one contemporaneous with the necropolis, also destroyed by farming works. Some of the items from the inventory of the complexes were saved (Gherghe 1978, p. 15-31)
Salvage excavations in Chirnogi (Călăraşi county) found 6 flat in-pit cremation tombs, which stand proof of the existence of such vestiges significantly farther down the Danube. Two of the tombs, probably warrior tombs, were the sites of harness gear, pieces of a bronze helmet and an iron bracelet with three oves, while the other four tombs had only a wheel-made Dacian little mug, all of the same type, deposited on top of the bones (Şerbănescu 2000, p. 34-35)
In Remetea Mare (Timiş county), Florin Medeleţ researched a necropolis with 17 tombs (16 cremation, one inhumation) plus 3-4 destroyed tombs. Three or four were tombs of cremation in urns with lids, which were hand-made vessels that can be attributed to the Dacians, plus an inhumation tomb with an assortment of Illyric female items. We might be dealing with a community having a majority of Scordiscians, arrived here after the Balkan expedition but that did not last here long, because the inventory is from a narrow timeframe (about 270 – 240 BC) (as noted by the late colleague Florin Medeleţ and by Aurel Rustoiu).
Although this necropolis is from the same period as the Celtic vestiges from Transylvania and the western Apuseni Mountains, namely before the discoveries from the “Padea-Panaghiurski Kolonii” group in southwestern Romania, its presence in Banat and apparently belonging to the Scordiscians led us to believe it should be taken into account. Obviously, it is only after the findings here are published that we can compare them thoroughly with the vestiges in Transylvania and Oltenia.
Another representative item is the flat cremation tomb in Corcova (Mehedinţi county), the site of a gray wheel-made mug-urn and of a funerary inventory consisting of folded and burnt weapons (a long sword in its scabbard, a curved dagger in a decorated scabbard, a spearhead – all of them iron), a porringer and two La Tène C iron fibulae, highly deformed (Stîngă 1992, p. 154; Sîrbu, Rustoiu, Crăciunescu 1999, p. 217-229) (Fig. 6).
We will shortly introduce some of the characteristics of these findings.
Exterior shape – only flat graves.
Funerary rite - cremation exclusively.
Rituals. 80% of the discoveries revealed the in-pit cremation, while in a small number of cases they used urns (Padea, Corcova, Gruia, Spahii, Slatina); usually, a few cremated bones were deposited. The cremation of the dead took place elsewhere; only at Spahii we might have identified the pyre (Gherghe 1978, p.16-17), but it might also be the cremation of the offering since no human bones were found in the area .
Sometimes the pits, usually circular, were burnt, and the objects were passed through fire and folded, especially the weapons.
The recuperated funerary inventory consists mainly of weaponry, harness gear, then clothing accessories and jewelry, very seldom, pottery vessels (Nicolăescu-Plopşor 1945-1947, p. 17-33; Zirra 1971, p. 134-137; Sîrbu, Rustoiu 1999, p. 77-91; Sîrbu, Rustoiu, Crăciunescu 1999, p. 217-229)(Fig. 2-4).
One often finds that the weapons, the large ones in particular (the sword, spearhead and shield), have been folded and placed on the pyre together with the dead. It remains to be seen the extent to which this part of the ritual can differentiate the Thracians from the Celts, given that this practice is also documented in late Halstatt necropolises (Vulpe 1967 pl. 20/4, 22/11, 16, 20/9).
The offensive weapons are the long swords (about 27 items in 21 localities), knives, spears (about 50 items in 27 localities) and curved daggers (about 22 items in 18 localities), while the shields make up the defensive ones (Sîrbu, Rustoiu 1999, p. 80-81) (Fig. 2/1-12; 3/1-3, 5-8; 4/1, 3, 5).
As a rule, the harness gear consists of Thracian-type bridles, but there are other types too (Zirra 1981, p. 124-128; Werner 1988, p. 81-101) (Fig. 2/13; 3/4).
The jewelry and the clothing accessories, especially the fibulae, which are not that numerous or varied, are, for a change, important chronological guides because they date from the Lt. C2 – Lt. D (Popović 1991, p. 319-324; Sîrbu, Rustoiu 1999, p. 82-84) (Fig. 4/4, 6-7).
The belts found at Corlatele (Fig. 4/11), the bronze and iron buckles (Babeş1983, p. 196-221), the beads and the glass bracelets form another category of objects.
There are not that many pottery vessels and they are all of Dacian origin, which could be explained either by their not being recuperated during the fortuitous discoveries, although their presence has been mentioned, or their looking less spectacular than the weapon gear. While one found in Oltenia either hand-made jars and typical Dacian jugs, or jugs and plates found also in Scordiscian territory (Sîrbu, Rustoiu 1999, p. 84), all the Transylvanian vessels are hand-made and are characteristic of the Dacians, be they jars and jugs (Ciugudean 1980, p. 425-432; Moga 1982 p. 87-91).
Chronology. The analysis of the funerary inventory of all these discoveries shows their dating in the Lt. C2-D1, namely between 170/160 – 50 BC.
As in more than 70% of the discoveries, weaponry, military equipment and harness gear were found, we might assume they were warriors, mainly horsemen ( Nicolăescu-Plopşor 1945-1947, p.17-33 ; Sîrbu, Rustoiu 1999, p. 88); unfortunately, a small number of cremated bones were recuperated and we have so far only three anthropological analyses, made by Alexandra Comşa, two from Blandiana and one from Tărtăria, consequently all we could do is to issue general considerations.
Tumular tombs. In the same region as the flat tombs, tumular graves have been unveiled - all of them cremation and belonging to adult males - in Oltenia, Poiana (Berciu 1934, p. 25; Vulpe 1976, p. 208), western Wallachia - Lăceni and Orbeasca de Sus (Moscalu 1977, p. 329-340) and southwestern Transylvania as well, Cugir (Crişan 1980, p. 81-87) (Fig. 6) and Călan (Rustoiu, Sîrbu, Ferencz 2001-2002, p. 111-127). The objects found inside the tumular tombs, similar to those of the flat ones, plus, sometimes, helmets and mail shirts, allow us to assume that they belonged to aristocrat horsemen (Vulpe 1976, p. 193-215; Babeş 1988, p.5-8; Sîrbu 1994, p. 83-121; Rustoiu 1994, p. 33-37). The pottery vessels are Dacian, but sometimes we found Hellenistic imports. Such tombs have also been unveiled in the rest of Wallachia and Moldavia and they date from the 1 st century BC in the south of the Carpathians and southwestern Transylvania and from the 1 st century AD in Moldavia (Vulpe 1976, p. 193-215; Babeş 1988, p.7; Sîrbu 1994, p.135). After assessing the situation of these tombs near the residential Dacian centers, the Dacian or Hellenistic origin of the pottery vessels and the majority of the metallic objects, we may conclude they buried there Dacian warrior aristocrats.
A large number of tumular tombs are concentrated south of the Danube in the same period. Often, they make up actual necropolises, such as in Altimir, Gorna Malina, Tărnava (Theodossiev, Torbov 1995, p. 11-58) or the ones around the city of Vraca (Theodossiev 2000)
The tradition of building tumuli is already recorded in the late bronze age and early iron age in the Thracian and Autariat inhabitation area (Theodossiev 2000, p. 26), but this type of funerary monument is no longer present in the Oriental Celtic world of the 3 rd-1 st centuries BC (Todorović 1968, p. 16-18), which suggests either that the tumuli may belong to the local populations – Thracian and Dacian, or that they adopted the practice from them.
“Non cremated human bones in non funerary contexts”.
Another interesting thing is the presence of “non cremated human bones in non funerary contexts” all over the excavated area. We are talking here about entire skeletons, parts of skeletons and isolated bones - of the skull or any other part of the body (Fig. 7). They have been unveiled in the settlements of Divici, Ostrovul Şimian, Celei, Ocnitsa; and we’ll add to all these the Orlea “field of pits” containing 23 individuals (Comşa 1972, p. 65-78). Similar findings are known all over the Geto-Dacians’ inhabitation area, being a characteristic of the “graveless period”, a situation that can be met in other cultural regions too.
They don’t belong to the category of common graves, as long as their features are obviously different: they are not found in necropolises, but inside the settlements, in isolated pits or cult places; there are no rules in the deposing and orientation, skeleton parts or isolated bones make up a large percentage of it, several entire skeletons are in abnormal positions or bearing traces of violence, there are a lot of children but no old people, and there are no traditional inventories (Sîrbu 1986, p. 91-108; 1993, p. 31-36, 86-100; 1997, p. 193-221; Babeş 1988, p. 13-16).
The recent discoveries in Hunedoara – Castle’s Garden show some unusual characteristics. We are dealing with only 24 inhumed deceased, comprising almost 36 individuals, with a number of unusual features: no graves were dug for the dead, instead the cavities present in stone were used, the dead are all children, there is no consistent manner of depositing or orienting the dead, most of them were deposed in one piece, but there are also skeletons that are missing parts or some are just skull or postcranial bones, the inventory consists mostly of clothing items and weapons and there is no pottery. Only three cremated deceased were found, all of them young, between 16 and 22 years old, one of them being a warrior; the findings date back to 40/50 – 106 BC. (Sîrbu, Luca, Roman, Purece 2005, p.18-19; more on this in the present volume).
The settlements and the fortresses
Countless settlements, fortified or not, and fortresses, dating from the 4 th –3 rd centuries BC and the 2 nd century BC – 1 st century AD are present south of the Carpathians and north of the Iron Gates.
As we are referring now only to the 2 nd century BC – 1 st century AD, allow us to recall some of them: Socol (excavations Caius Săcărin), Stenca Liubcovei, Divici (Gumă, Rustoiu, Săcărin 1997, p. 401-427)(Fig. 8), and Schela Cladovei (Boroneanţ, Davidescu 1968, p. 253-259), on the left bank of the Danube, north of the Iron Gates, Celei, Gropşani (Popilian, Nica 1998, p. 43-95), Sprâncenata (Preda 1986), Bâzdâna (Tătulea 1984, p. 92-110), Spahii (Gherghe 1978, p. 15-31) and Ocniţa (Berciu 1981) in Oltenia, Cugir (Crişan 1980, p. 8), Costeşti, Piatra Roşie (Daicoviciu 1954), Şeuşa (Ferencz, Ciută 2000, p. 22-29) and Lancrăm (Popa, Simina 2004)(Fig. 11), in southeastern Transylvania.
The inventory of these settlements is almost entirely Dacian, and the Celtic objects represent less than 0.5% (graphite vessels, jewelry, clothing accessories, especially fibulae). Certainly, Hellenistic and Roman imports have also been found in the sites, but they are not representative for our analysis, their importance is only chronological. Two exceptional objects, maybe of Celtic or Gallo-Roman origin are the mask of Ocniţa (Berciu 1981, p. 100-101) and the bust of Piatra Roşie (Daicoviciu 1954, p. 117-118, fig. 37-38).
Among these sites, we intend to introduce Ocniţa, with two cultural complexes: the underground chamber no. 2, which contains a rich and varied inventory - weaponry, harness gear, jewelry and clothing accessories, anthropomorphic figurines and pottery vessels, many of them painted (Berciu 1981, p. 80-96)(Fig. 10) and pit nr. 125, with 28 entire objects (rushlight cups, jars, shield umbo, dagger scabbard, fibula etc.) (Berciu, Iosifaru, Diaconescu 1993, p. 149-156)(Fig. 9). As one can see, only certain objects are similar to those discovered in graves (spear and arrow heads, bridle, shield umbo, fibula).
Special attention should be paid to the fortified settlements around the Scordiscian inhabitation area, such as the sites in Židovar and Mihailovac, fortified with a ditch and defense vallum. The archaeological inventory here, dating back to the 2 nd-1 st centuries BC (and, perhaps, 1 st century AD) is made up mostly of pottery, clothing accessories and jewelry (in particular fibulae), knives and harness gear, which have their counterparts in the region of the La Tène civilization. However, some of the items could be classified as being made in the La Tène fashion, but not characteristic to the Celtic civilization. Namely, the curved knives or LtD spurs are part of the items that the Celts borrowed from the inhabitation areas in the northern and northwestern Balkan Peninsula (Božič 1984, fig. 3)
It also worth noticing that the fortified settlements in Židovar and Mihailovac include quite a few Dacian vessels (about 10% of all the items in Židovar), probably because of the tight trade relations between the two peoples, as well as of a Dacian ethnic presence in the Scordiscian environment. The kinds of vessels characteristic of the Dacians and Scordiscians (Popović 2000, p.83-111) are different enough to be able to tell them apart in the sites in this region, meaning one could compile rather reliable statistics of their presence in the various types of discoveries. Southern Banat, right next to the Danube (Popović 1989-1990, p. 165-176), is an area rather consistent in cultural-archaeological terms, meaning Danube, around the Iron Gates, does not seem to have constituted a political border.
It is obvious that the fortified settlements in southern Romania are Dacian. Based on the documentation available, no positive cultural, archaeological or ethnic classification is possible for the fortified centers in northwestern Bulgaria. For the time being, no fortresses with the stone wall characteristic of the northern Dacian world have been called attention to, such as those in the Carpathian mountains (Glodariu 1983, p. 75-130; Antonescu 1984, p. 99-174), although some scholars do mention the presence of fortifications on mountaintops in northwestern Bulgaria (Theodossiev 2000). What the occurrence of objects also present in the Scordiscian La Tène area in this region points to is the existence of an active trading life in the Balkans, beyond the sometimes unstable borders of a number of political entities of late antiquity.
The studies made so far call for a analysis of the vestiges in two distinct parts: a) 170/160 – 50 BC, a period that includes many fortresses and settlements, as well as necropolises; b) 50 BC – 106 AD, with countless fortresses and necropolises, but none of the common funerary vestiges.
For the first period, the archaeological excavations attest one remarkable reality: the graves from a large area - northwestern Bulgaria, northeastern Serbia and southeastern Romania - show rather similar funerary inventories: long swords, battle knives, Celtic type belt chains, Dacian type daggers and bridles, plus spearheads and shields, in the so-called Padea – Panaghiurski Kolonii group.
Nevertheless, certain differences of zone exist. South of Danube, namely in northeastern Serbia, jewels and Scordiscian-type vessels are dominant, and in northwestern Bulgaria, the findings are either Thracian, Illyrian or Dacian. However, when it comes north of the river, most of the objects, pottery vessels in particular, are of Dacian origin.
However, the rites and the rituals are different. While in the south of Danube there are not that many tumular and flat inhumation graves altogether, there are only cremation flat graves associated with inventories of this type north of the river.
These findings show standardization of weapons (spear-sword-shield and, pretty often, knives, then bridles), in particular for the cavalry, which might indicate a collaboration between the Dacian, Scordiscian and Illyrian aristocracies of the region during their plundering expeditions to the South or fight against the Roman offensive in northern Balkans.
The archaeologists considered these graves belonged to mercenaries because such objects have also been found in areas farther away (the northern and western coasts of the Black Sea).
In order to establish the ethnical and cultural origins of the funerary vestiges, we have to take into consideration the settlements, fortresses and cult places of the region. On the northern bank of the Danube, mainly near the Iron gates, a series of cities and fortified settlements have been discovered (Socol, Divici, Stenca Liubcovei), which “fortified” the big river, and this means the masters of the place lived here.
A number of Dacian vessels have been found in Scordiscian fortified settlements (Mihailovic and Zidovar), sometimes in significant amounts (10% at Zidovar) (Gavela 1952). How can we explain their presence? Either through the commercial relations between the two peoples, or an effective Dacian presence in Scordiscian territory, in southern Banat, nears the Danube. In the Iron Gates zone, both banks of the Danube are similar as far as the archaeological remains are concerned, which might suggest the Danube was neither ethnically, nor politically, a frontier. It is obvious that the fortified settlements of the northwestern Bulgaria or southern Romania are not linked to the Scordiscian population. The presence of Scordiscian-type objects found also in La Tène area indicates nothing else but intense commercial exchanges in the Balkans, beyond the frontiers, unstable often, of certain political entities of the late Antiquity.
We must recall that the Scordiscian materials, Celtic, in general, are very rare in the northern Danube settlements, less than 0.5%
The presence of some tumular tombs, with a similar inventory as in the whole northern-Danube area, near the Dacian residential centers, demonstrates the existence of a local military aristocracy.
If we take into consideration the archaeological realities of the northern Danube, we could conclude that the remains should be attributed to the Dacians. There is no archaeological evidence to attest the existence of Scordiscian settlements and necropolises at north of Danube but, certainly, there might be some isolated Scordiscian tombs.
Illuminating to that end is the discovery in Veliki Vetren, on the Juhor Mountain in Serbia, were one found a chest containing some 14 sets of weapons, harness gear, jewelry and clothing accessories characteristic of knights, items of types usually found in the tombs of that period (Stojić 1999, p. 105-107). This discovery stands proof of the fact that such classes of items circulated wide areas and various peoples, and they cannot be used as final arguments in attributing vestiges from this area to certain ethnic or cultural groups.
Still, other historical realities are important in this respect: the Scordiscian power was destroyed by the Roman expansion by the end of the 2 nd – beginning of the 1 st century BC, while Dacian power increases significantly starting from the beginning of the 1 st century BC. Thus, it is difficult to accept the Scordiscian domination north of Danube, which is proved neither by written sources, nor by the archaeological vestiges. Moreover, there is archaeological evidence for the existence of powerful Dacian communities south of Danube, one of them in the region between Lom and Iskăr.
For example, an important cult place was revealed at Bagačina, consisting of several pits (the so-called “field of pits”), with abundant and varied votive deposits. The countless vases (jars, jugs, cups, kantharoi, in relief decorated bowls) are typical to the Dacian pottery of the 2 nd – 1 st century BC (Bonev, Alexandrov 1996, p. 39-41, fig. 8) (Fig.12).
The findings, some of them from earlier periods, attest the existence of powerful Dacian communities nearby. Unfortunately, very few settlements from the region have been excavated, which is why most of the vestiges are the result of fortuitous funerary discoveries.
The “fields of pits” containing deposits such as the one at Bagacina are attested in almost all the Geto-Dacians’ inhabitation area for this period (Sîrbu 1993, p. 96-100; 1997, p. 193-221).
Also important are the discoveries consisting of typical Dacian silverwork items, sometimes even in treasures, such as those in Galice (Fettich 1953, fig. 5-12) or Jakimovo (Milčev 1973, p. 1-14). We are dealing with stemmed cups, mastos vessels, figurative phalerae, fibulae with bulges or multi-spiral bracelets made of plates with zoomorphic extremities, all of them made of silver, sometimes gilded. Such items are characteristic of the north-Danubian Dacian elite, in particular the Transylvanian one.
All these types of sites (settlements, cult sites, some tombs, possible mountaintop fortifications) and artifacts (pottery, clothing accessories, several categories of weapons and harness gear, silverwork items) suggest that the 2 nd-1 st centuries northern Bulgaria could be classified as part of the “classic Geto-Dacian culture”.
The findings in the Iron Gates region stand proof of the existence, by 200 BC, of a warrior aristocracy, cavalry in particular, with standardized weaponry and equipment. By the middle of the 2 nd century BC, such findings appear in Oltenia and western Wallachia, and by the end of the same century, in southwestern Transylvania.
The tumular tombs in southwestern Romania, as well as in the rest of Wallachia date from the end of the 2 nd – beginning of the 1 st century BC. The inventory of the settlements and the funerary objects, in all these categories of graves, the pottery vessels in particular, indicate we are dealing with Dacians. Perhaps it is not fortuitous at all that most of the tombs with weapons are dated in the first half of the 1 st century BC, a period of Dacian expansion, mainly under Burebista’s reign (Crişan 1975).
The migration of these “southern warriors” to southeastern Transylvania could have caused the departure of the Celts. It is not by chance that the Geto-Dacians established in the region their political, military and religious center – at Grădiştea de Munte (Sarmizegetusa Regia) and built the most impressive fortification system in the autochthonous society (Glodariu et al. 1996).
The vestiges found in the settlements and the necropolises of this place and period are not relevant when we have to assess the relations between the “world of the living” and the “afterworld” or the “world of the dead”.
We have also have settlements and necropolises for the first period, 170/160 – 50 BC, but a number of other issues arise. Based on their content, we could say the warriors, horsemen in particular, were buried in these tombs, but what we don’t know is how they treated the other kinds of dead (common people, women, children, old people). Certain findings, such as those including buckles, are part of typically feminine objects. Only at Spahii could we state the association of the settlement with its own necropolis; as for the rest, we should be glad to note the existence, for the same place and time, of funerary vestiges together with settlements and fortresses. Due to the fact that warriors were buried in those graves, it is difficult to compare their inventory with the settlements’ because the outcome would be irrelevant: in the first case, it is an inventory that belonged to a single category (warriors), while in the second, it is an inventory necessary to all the community members.
Thus, we have the following evidence and reasons for assigning the flat funerary remains to the Dacians and not to the Scordiscians: all the cities, settlements and tumular graves in the northern Danube are Dacian, some of their objects, especially the vessels, are typically Dacian, while a series of offensive and defensive weaponry represent standardized battle sets, common on a geographical area much larger and including different populations.
b) The situation becomes more serious in the last century and a half previous to the Roman conquest, a period with lots of fortresses and settlements, but no funerary vestiges. The lack of tombs is a common phenomenon all over the Geto-Dacian inhabitation area (as in certain zones of the Celts), and it could not be explained either by the lack of researches or by Herodotus’ (IV, 94) statement about Thracians knowing how to become immortal!
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ActaArchHung = Acta Archaeologica Hungarica, Budapest
ActaMN = Acta Musei Napocensis, Muzeul Naţional de Istorie al Transilvaniei, Cluj-Napoca.
Apulum = Apulum. Acta Musei Apulensis, Alba-Iulia.
ArheologijaSofia = Arheologija na muzeite i institut arheologij, Sofia
Arhiva Someşană = Arhiva Someşană, Muzeul Grăniceresc Năsăudean, Năsăud.
BAR = British Archaeological Reports, Oxford
CAANT = Cercetări arheologice în aria nord-tracă, Bucureşti
Dacia, (N.S). = Dacia. (Nouvelle Série). Revue d'archéologie et d'histoire ancienne, Bucarest.
File de istorie = File de istorie, Muzeul judeţean Bistriţa, Bistriţa-Năsăud
Istros = Istros. Muzeul Brăilei, Brăila.
Litua = Litua, Muzeul Judeţean Gorj, Târgu-Jiu
PBF = Prähistorische Bronzefunde, München
Sargetia = Sargetia. Acta Musei Devensis, Deva.
SCIV(A) = Studii şi Cercetări de Istorie Veche (şi Arheologie). Institutul de Arheologie "V. Pârvan", Bucureşti.
Starinar = Starinar. Institut Archéologique. Beograd
SympThrac = Symposia Thracologica. Institutul Român de Tracologie, Bucureşti
Thracia = Thracia, Institute of Thracology, Sofia
Thraco-Dacica = Thraco-Dacica. Institutul Român de Tracologie, Bucureşti
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Thrombocythemia (THROM-bo-si-THE-me-ah) and thrombocytosis (THROM-bo-si-TO-sis) are conditions in which your blood has a higher than normal number of platelets (PLATE-lets).
Platelets are blood cell fragments. They're made in your bone marrow along with other kinds of blood cells.
Platelets travel through your blood vessels and stick together (clot). Clotting helps stop any bleeding that may occur if a blood vessel is damaged. Platelets also are called thrombocytes (THROM-bo-sites) because a blood clot also is called a thrombus.
A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood.
The term "thrombocythemia" is preferred when the cause of a high platelet count isn't known. The condition sometimes is called primary or essential thrombocythemia.
This condition occurs if faulty cells in the bone marrow make too many platelets. Bone marrow is the sponge-like tissue inside the bones. It contains stem cells that develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. What causes the bone marrow to make too many platelets often isn't known.
With primary thrombocythemia, a high platelet count may occur alone or with other blood cell disorders. This condition isn't common.
When another disease or condition causes a high platelet count, the term "thrombocytosis" is preferred. This condition often is called secondary or reactive thrombocytosis. Secondary thrombocytosis is more common than primary thrombocythemia.
Often, a high platelet count doesn't cause signs or symptoms. Rarely, serious or life-threatening symptoms can develop, such as blood clots and bleeding. These symptoms are more likely to occur in people who have primary thrombocythemia.
People who have primary thrombocythemia with no signs or symptoms don't need treatment, as long as the condition remains stable.
Other people who have this condition may need medicines or procedures to treat it. Most people who have primary thrombocythemia will live a normal lifespan.
Treatment and outlook for secondary thrombocytosis depend on its underlying cause.
Primary thrombocythemia also is called:
Thrombocytosis also is known as:
In this condition, faulty stem cells in the bone marrow make too many platelets. What causes this to happen usually isn't known. When this process occurs without other blood cell disorders, it's called essential thrombocythemia.
A rare form of thrombocythemia is inherited. ("Inherited" means the condition is passed from parents to children through the genes.) In some cases, a genetic mutation may cause the condition.
In addition to the bone marrow making too many platelets, the platelets also are abnormal in primary thrombocythemia. They may form blood clots or, surprisingly, cause bleeding when they don't work well.
Bleeding also can occur because of a condition that develops called von Willebrand disease. This condition affects the blood clotting process.
After many years, scarring of the bone marrow can occur.
This condition occurs if another disease, condition, or outside factor causes the platelet count to rise. For example, 35 percent of people who have high platelet counts also have cancer—mostly lung, gastrointestinal, breast, ovarian, and lymphoma. Sometimes a high platelet count is the first sign of cancer.
Other conditions or factors that can cause a high platelet count are:
Some conditions can lead to a high platelet count that lasts for only a short time. Examples of such conditions include:
Although the platelet count is high in secondary thrombocytosis, the platelets are normal (unlike in primary thrombocythemia). Thus, people who have secondary thrombocytosis have a lower risk of blood clots and bleeding.
Thrombocythemia isn't common. The exact number of people who have the condition isn't known. Some estimates suggest that 24 out of every 100,000 people have primary thrombocythemia.
Primary thrombocythemia is more common in people aged 50 to 70, but it can occur at any age. For unknown reasons, more women around the age of 30 have primary thrombocythemia than men of the same age.
You might be at risk for secondary thrombocytosis if you have a disease, condition, or factor that can cause it. (For more information, go to "What Causes Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis?")
Secondary thrombocytosis is more common than primary thrombocythemia. Studies have shown that most people who have platelet counts over 500,000 have secondary thrombocytosis.
People who have thrombocythemia or thrombocytosis may not have signs or symptoms. These conditions might be discovered only after routine blood tests.
However, people who have primary thrombocythemia are more likely than those who have secondary thrombocytosis to have serious signs and symptoms.
The signs and symptoms of a high platelet count are linked to blood clots and bleeding. They include weakness, bleeding, headache, dizziness, chest pain, and tingling in the hands and feet.
In primary thrombocythemia, blood clots most often develop in the brain, hands, and feet. But they can develop anywhere in the body, including in the heart and intestines.
Blood clots in the brain may cause symptoms such as chronic (ongoing) headache and dizziness. In extreme cases, stroke may occur.
Blood clots in the tiny blood vessels of the hands and feet leave them numb and red. This may lead to an intense burning and throbbing pain felt mainly on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
Other signs and symptoms of blood clots may include:
In pregnant women, blood clots in the placenta can cause miscarriage or problems with fetal growth and development.
Women who have primary thrombocythemia or secondary thrombocytosis and take birth control pills are at increased risk for blood clots.
If bleeding occurs, it most often affects people who have platelet counts higher than 1 million platelets per microliter of blood. Signs of bleeding include nosebleeds, bruising, bleeding from the mouth or gums, or blood in the stools.
Although bleeding usually is associated with a low platelet count, it also can occur in people who have high platelet counts. Blood clots that develop in thrombocythemia or thrombocytosis may use up your body's platelets. This means that not enough platelets are left in your bloodstream to seal off cuts or breaks on the blood vessel walls.
Another cause of bleeding in people who have very high platelets counts is a condition called von Willebrand Disease. This condition affects the blood clotting process.
In rare cases of primary thrombocythemia, the faulty bone marrow cells will cause a form of leukemia (lu-KE-me-ah). Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells.
Your doctor will diagnose thrombocythemia or thrombocytosis based on your medical history, a physical exam, and test results. A hematologist also may be involved in your care. This is a doctor who specializes in blood diseases and conditions.
Your doctor may ask you about factors that can affect your platelets, such as:
Your doctor will do a physical exam to look for signs and symptoms of blood clots and bleeding. He or she also will check for signs of conditions that can cause secondary thrombocytosis, such as an infection.
Primary thrombocythemia is diagnosed only after all possible causes of a high platelet count are ruled out. For example, your doctor may recommend tests to check for early, undiagnosed cancer. If another disease, condition, or factor is causing a high platelet count, the diagnosis is secondary thrombocytosis.
Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests to help diagnose a high platelet count.
A complete blood count (CBC) measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in your blood. For this test, a small amount of blood is drawn from a blood vessel, usually in your arm.
If you have thrombocythemia or thrombocytosis, the CBC results will show that your platelet count is high.
A blood smear is used to check the condition of your platelets. For this test, a small amount of blood is drawn from a blood vessel, usually in your arm. Some of your blood is put on a glass slide. A microscope is then used to look at your platelets.
Bone marrow tests check whether your bone marrow is healthy. Blood cells, including platelets, are made in the bone marrow. The two bone marrow tests are aspiration (as-pih-RA-shun) and biopsy.
Bone marrow aspiration might be done to find out whether your bone marrow is making too many platelets. For this test, your doctor removes a sample of fluid bone marrow through a needle. He or she examines the sample under a microscope to check for faulty cells.
A bone marrow biopsy often is done right after an aspiration. For this test, your doctor removes a small amount of bone marrow tissue through a needle. He or she examines the tissue to check the number and types of cells in the bone marrow.
With thrombocythemia and thrombocytosis, the bone marrow has a higher than normal number of the very large cells that make platelets.
Your doctor may recommend other blood tests to look for genetic factors that can cause a high platelet count.
This condition is considered less harmful today than in the past, and its outlook often is good. People who have no signs or symptoms don't need treatment, as long as the condition remains stable.
Taking aspirin may help people who are at risk for blood clots (aspirin thins the blood). However, talk with your doctor about using aspirin because it can cause bleeding.
Doctors prescribe aspirin to most pregnant women who have primary thrombocythemia. This is because it doesn't have a high risk of side effects for the fetus.
Some people who have primary thrombocythemia may need medicines or medical procedures to lower their platelet counts.
You may need medicines to lower your platelet count if you:
You'll need to take these medicines throughout your life.
Hydroxyurea. This platelet-lowering medicine is used to treat cancers and other life-threatening diseases. Hydroxyurea most often is given under the care of doctors who specialize in cancer or blood diseases. Patients on hydroxyurea are closely monitored.
Currently, hydroxyurea plus aspirin is the standard treatment for people who have primary thrombocythemia and are at high risk for blood clots.
Anagrelide. This medicine also has been used to lower platelet counts in people who have thrombocythemia. However, research shows that when compared with hydroxyurea, anagrelide has worse outcomes. Anagrelide also has side effects, such as fluid retention, palpitations (pal-pih-TA-shuns), arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs), heart failure, and headaches.
Interferon alfa. This medicine lowers platelet counts, but 20 percent of patients can't handle its side effects. Side effects include a flu-like feeling, decreased appetite, nausea (feeling sick to the stomach), diarrhea, seizures, irritability, and sleepiness.
Doctors may prescribe this medicine to pregnant women who have primary thrombocythemia because it's safer for a fetus than hydroxyurea and anagrelide.
Plateletpheresis (PLATE-let-fe-REH-sis) is a procedure used to rapidly lower your platelet count. This procedure is used only for emergencies. For example, if you're having a stroke due to primary thrombocythemia, you may need plateletpheresis.
An intravenous (IV) needle that's connected to a tube is placed in one of your blood vessels to remove blood. The blood goes through a machine that removes platelets from the blood. The remaining blood is then put back into you through an IV line in one of your blood vessels.
One or two procedures might be enough to reduce your platelet count to a safe level.
Secondary thrombocytosis is treated by addressing the condition that's causing it.
People who have secondary thrombocytosis usually don't need platelet-lowering medicines or procedures. This is because their platelets usually are normal (unlike in primary thrombocythemia).
Also, secondary thrombocytosis is less likely than primary thrombocythemia to cause serious problems related to blood clots and bleeding.
You can't prevent primary thrombocythemia. However, you can take steps to reduce your risk for complications. For example, you can control many of the risk factors for blood clots, such as high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking.
To reduce your risk, quit smoking, adopt healthy lifestyle habits, and work with your doctor to manage your risk factors.
It's not always possible to prevent conditions that lead to secondary thrombocytosis. But, if you have routine medical care, your doctor may detect these conditions before you develop a high platelet count.
If you have thrombocythemia or thrombocytosis:
If you're taking medicines to lower your platelet count, tell your doctor or dentist about them before any surgical or dental procedures. These medicines thin your blood and may increase bleeding during these procedures.
Medicines that thin the blood also may cause internal bleeding. Signs of internal bleeding include bruises, bloody or tarry-looking stools, pink or bloody urine, increased menstrual bleeding, bleeding gums, and nosebleeds. Contact your doctor right away if you have any of these signs.
Avoid over-the-counter pain medicines such as ibuprofen (except Tylenol®). These medicines may raise your risk of bleeding in the stomach or intestines and may limit the effect of aspirin. Be aware that cold and pain medicines and other over-the-counter products may contain ibuprofen.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is strongly committed to supporting research aimed at preventing and treating heart, lung, and blood diseases and conditions and sleep disorders.
NHLBI-supported research has led to many advances in medical knowledge and care. Often, these advances depend on the willingness of volunteers to take part in clinical trials.
Clinical trials test new ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat various diseases and conditions. For example, new treatments for a disease or condition (such as medicines, medical devices, surgeries, or procedures) are tested in volunteers who have the illness. Testing shows whether a treatment is safe and effective in humans before it is made available for widespread use.
By taking part in a clinical trial, you can gain access to new treatments before they're widely available. You also will have the support of a team of health care providers, who will likely monitor your health closely. Even if you don't directly benefit from the results of a clinical trial, the information gathered can help others and add to scientific knowledge.
If you volunteer for a clinical trial, the research will be explained to you in detail. You'll learn about treatments and tests you may receive, and the benefits and risks they may pose. You'll also be given a chance to ask questions about the research. This process is called informed consent.
If you agree to take part in the trial, you'll be asked to sign an informed consent form. This form is not a contract. You have the right to withdraw from a study at any time, for any reason. Also, you have the right to learn about new risks or findings that emerge during the trial.
For more information about clinical trials related to thrombocythemia or thrombocytosis, talk with your doctor. You also can visit the following Web sites to learn more about clinical research and to search for clinical trials:
For more information about clinical trials for children, visit the NHLBI's Children and Clinical Studies Web page.
The NHLBI updates Health Topics articles on a biennial cycle based on a thorough review of research findings and new literature. The articles also are updated as needed if important new research is published. The date on each Health Topics article reflects when the content was originally posted or last revised. | <urn:uuid:c5bfbf6f-96a1-4520-b410-7c66cb4df4ef> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/thrm/printall-index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1398223203422.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20140423032003-00597-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941171 | 3,600 | 4.03125 | 4 |
The long-term goal of this laboratory is to understand how biomechanics, anatomy, and physiology enable hearing of high sensitivity and directional acuity. This proposal focuses on microscale ears because physical constraints make sound localization and high sensitivity extraordinarily challenging with ears of microscale dimension. Mosquitoes are among the smallest animals that hear. They possess antennae attached to Johnston's hearing organs (JOs) as external appendages on their heads. JOs are functionally analogous to the mammalian cochlea, but far more accessible. This work will use Doppler laser vibrometry to measure mechanical responses and physiological recordings to test the sensitivity of the two antennae. Preliminary data show that these ears are sensitive to sound over a large bandwidth and have modes of vibration substantially different from those published before. These data will lead to a mathematical model of antennal vibration. Preliminary calculations already indicate that antennae may have noise characteristics superior to those of tympana. The Aedes mosquito is not the smallest insect that hears. Interestingly, the antennae of even tinier midges and of even larger mosquito species are all about the same size. This suggests that they are all near the lower size limit for acoustic function. Comparing ears in these three species may reveal the limits of auditory function. The over 30,000 sensory cells of the JO have a unique and highly-ordered architecture that suggest tonotopic organization and modality fractionation enabling performance equal to macroscopic ears. Mosquito antennae respond to gravity and wind as well as to sound. The basic structure and function of antennae will be probed with molecular markers to determine functional subdivisions among its mechanosensory neurons. This research is relevant to public health and the mission of NIDCD. Far-field particle velocity and antennal ears are a relatively unexplored realm of auditory acoustics at small size. A goal of this work is to reveal the basic principles behind auditory function at all size scales. Miniaturization is coveted goal in practical engineering. The design features of these miniature ears could motivate mechanical engineers to biomimic and "translate" them into novel nano-to-microscale directional microphones. These findings potentially extend well beyond mere entomological curiosity.
This project investigates hearing in the smallest known ears, with the ultimate goal of providing information that engineers might use to develop small directional microphones for improved hearing aids.
|Menda, Gil; Uhr, Joshua H; Wyttenbach, Robert A et al. (2013) Associative learning in the dengue vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti: avoidance of a previously attractive odor or surface color that is paired with an aversive stimulus. J Exp Biol 216:218-23|
|Ratcliffe, John M; Fullard, James H; Arthur, Benjamin J et al. (2011) Adaptive auditory risk assessment in the dogbane tiger moth when pursued by bats. Proc Biol Sci 278:364-70|
|Krans, Jacob L; Parfitt, Karen D; Gawera, Kristin D et al. (2010) The resting membrane potential of Drosophila melanogaster larval muscle depends strongly on external calcium concentration. J Insect Physiol 56:304-13|
|Arthur, Ben J; Wyttenbach, Robert A; Harrington, Laura C et al. (2010) Neural responses to one- and two-tone stimuli in the hearing organ of the dengue vector mosquito. J Exp Biol 213:1376-85|
|Rubinstein, C Dustin; Rivlin, Patricia K; Hoy, Ron R (2010) Genetic feminization of the thoracic nervous system disrupts courtship song in male Drosophila melanogaster. J Neurogenet 24:234-45|
|Cator, Lauren J; Arthur, Ben J; Harrington, Laura C et al. (2009) Harmonic convergence in the love songs of the dengue vector mosquito. Science 323:1077-9|
|Rosen, M J; Levin, E C; Hoy, R R (2009) The cost of assuming the life history of a host: acoustic startle in the parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea. J Exp Biol 212:4056-64|
|Farris, H E; Oshinsky, M L; Forrest, T G et al. (2008) Auditory sensitivity of an acoustic parasitoid (Emblemasoma sp., Sarcophagidae, Diptera) and the calling behavior of potential hosts. Brain Behav Evol 72:16-26|
|Mason, Andrew C; Lee, Norman; Oshinsky, Michael L (2005) The start of phonotactic walking in the fly Ormia ochracea: a kinematic study. J Exp Biol 208:4699-708|
|Farris, Hamilton E; Mason, Andrew C; Hoy, Ronald R (2004) Identified auditory neurons in the cricket Gryllus rubens: temporal processing in calling song sensitive units. Hear Res 193:121-33|
Showing the most recent 10 out of 28 publications | <urn:uuid:8c4fde54-c1d1-4ab5-b13d-592a6835a188> | CC-MAIN-2016-50 | http://grantome.com/grant/NIH/R01-DC000103-39 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-50/segments/1480698542712.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20161202170902-00257-ip-10-31-129-80.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.849392 | 1,061 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Home > General Development > Optimizing Code for SpeedOptimizing Code for Speed Submitted by ShlomiFish 2009-02-13 General Development 11 CommentsThere’s a new essay called “Optimizing Code for Speed” available on Shlomi Fish’s site. It covers the motivation, methods and terminology of optimizing code, and provides many links and examples to illustrate this important subject.About The Author Thom HolwerdaFollow me on Twitter @thomholwerda 11 Comments 2009-02-13 5:58 pm AbuHassanThanks Shlomi! 2009-02-13 6:55 pm johkraSeconded. Well worth a read and I’ve learned some new things, too. 2009-02-14 9:05 pm Doc PainLet me join here. It was an interesting article, worth reading, and worth thinking about it (as the following comments show). I never thought that I would read something about optimization for speed – today, when computers have more and more power and nobody really seems to care for any kind of optimization, when “bloatware” is everywhere, making the most modern computer react as it was already 10 years old. Optimization is considered to be “outdated” by many “modern” programmers, I sometimes think. But it’s basics. You should know about complexity classes, iterations (if you have to do them), memory consumption and COW. Thanks for putting such an article on OSNews. 2009-02-13 7:30 pm voidlogicAll of the techniques in the article are valid for the objective of decreasing execution time, and in fact I would expect anyone with a BS in Computer Science to understand and be familiar with the techniques. I believe there should be a greater emphasis on the order of optimization. Time and time again I have seen novices worrying about porting their C# or Java application to C/C++ only to find they have not done other optimization. When a novice was skeptical that anything could beat the “almighty” C, I told him to proceed with his port. His original Java program to about a minute, his new C program took about 35 seconds. He felt this has been a success until he was given my Java implementation which ran in 0.6 seconds.My point is basics first. I tend to follow this order:1. Have a well structured design.2. Optimize IO (File or database)3. Minimize in memory usage and copying4. Replace your algorithms with ones with better runtime characteristics.5. Replace the 10% most executed portion of your program with assembly (ie. java native method, C/C++ inline)Note: the application should be profiled between every step.Just my 2 cents.P.S. The article didn’t mention that in some cases reusable modular functions are faster, despite the call overhead, if the result is that most functions used remain in cache during execution. 2009-02-14 9:14 am HypnosWonderful tips — thank you. 2009-02-13 7:35 pm leosGood article, but overall I don’t think they emphasized the point enough that you shouldn’t start optimizing if you can help it. While the author does touch on that, they don’t emphasize it enough. After all:“The First Rule of Program Optimization: Don’t do it. The Second Rule of Program Optimization (for experts only!): Don’t do it yet.†– Michael A. Jackson For example, quotes from the article such as this worry me:As a result, eliminating a dependency on GLib’s data structures may improve the performance of the program. If your program is built on glib, USE GLIB FUNCTIONS. If you’re using Qt, USE QT FUNCTIONS. If that’s not fast enough (and it is for 99% of cases) then investigate a more specialized library, but avoid at all costs writing your own data structures (unless you have a very unusual requirement and have gotten at least 2 other expert opinions on the matter). I understand the lure of optimization. It’s tons of fun to profile something and save some cycles here and there, and I always scroll right to the optimization section of the KDE commit digest, but I also understand that it is often just that, “fun”. I’m not against making stuff faster, but you really have to get your facts straight first.I think the take home message is “think before you optimize”. I recall a post to a message board complaining that painting an image in Qt was taking half a second. At least 3 different people immediately replied that the original poster should just use OpenGL and it would be faster, without even considering that there must be something weird going on for painting to be that slow. Well I asked for his code, and it turned out he was reading each pixel from the image and painting it to the screen (so there were hundreds of thousands of function calls for every paint event). Of course a change to paintImage() solved everything.Edited 2009-02-13 19:39 UTC 2009-02-13 10:53 pm renhoekthe number one priority when optimizing is finding the bottleneck. optimizing for memory useage makes no sense when the program is slow because it waits for io, and vice versa.anybody out there, benchmarking is the ONLY way to make your program faster. i’ve seen people “optimize” code which didn’t need optimizations and ended up with a piece of unmaintainable crap.please, benchmark, benchmark and benchmark again. just because you think something is slow does not make it slow. i’ve tried that in the beginning and i’ve been proven wrong too many times.bottleneck is the what and benchmarking is the how when optimizing.and just a general tip, don’t be too smart. other software writers optimize for the most common case. 2009-02-14 9:47 am renoxOn this article, especially since it’s not easy to do: you have to measure CPU cycle, memory usage, cache usage, IO usage, etc.Changing the algorithm or the implementation is the easiest part once you understand where and why it’s slow. 2009-02-14 10:39 pm werfuBefore I took the Algorithmic course in my Computer Science BSc, I never had an idea why some algos where faster than other. Once you get to understand what is O(n log n) and why it is faster than O(n³), it change a lot the way you code. Doing something right is not because it works ok, but because you’re efficient doing it. People may say that today we have plenty of Ghz to spare, but in this age of processing power efficiency, optimized code is important. The problems however is not about doing algos, there is course for this. Most algos are well documented and have been know for a while. Nowadays, most compiler have builtin optimizer that can recognize patterns. Optimization is now more of: how can I get my code to stay longer in the processor cache, how I can make better us of disk IO, how can I parallize my application? 2009-02-16 9:49 am wkleunenCopy-on-write is not always a good optimization. In case of multithreaded programs the locking kills your performance.Think about your optimizations, and don’t assume that a optimization will work in all cases. And second, time your optimization to see that it is really an improvement.Even complexity optimizations don’t always work out the way you think. Maybe for N=1000 a N Log N sort is faster than a N^2 sort, but for N=5, maybe the N^2 sort if both smaller and faster.Have a look at this article as well:http://www.gotw.ca/publications/optimizations.htmEdited 2009-02-16 09:57 UTC 2009-02-16 3:21 pm m3metixEven complexity optimizations don’t always work out the way you think. Maybe for N=1000 a N Log N sort is faster than a N^2 sort, but for N=5, maybe the N^2 sort if both smaller and faster.This is true. I have used bubble sort, which is O(N^2), in a case where N was guaranteed to always be 5 (a hand of 5 cards), since it is a simple algorithm to write and understand and the speed was more than adequate. | <urn:uuid:33d88073-133a-4270-8992-2ae9b148a8f7> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://www.osnews.com/story/20973/optimizing-code-for-speed/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875144637.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20200220035657-20200220065657-00329.warc.gz | en | 0.943528 | 1,816 | 2.609375 | 3 |
The wild ramp, AKA wild leek, botanical name Allium tricoccum, is a flowering perennial plant that grows in clusters. It is a member of the Allium family along with onions and leeks
The Calamondin lime is a cross between a sour, loose skinned mandarin and a kumquat, therefore technically making it an orangequat.
Salanova® lettuce is a full-sized variety developed for the baby lettuce market. Botanically these varieties are scientifically known as Lactuca sativa.
Inventory, lb : 0
Morada potatoes are generally small in size and are knobby, oblong, and slender in shape with curved or straight ends. The semi-rough skin is tan to brown and is covered in medium-set eyes, creating a bumpy exterior. Underneath the thin skin, the dense flesh is firm, dry, and cream-colored with a vivid marbling of purple and violet hues. Morada potatoes are starchy, and when cooked, they develop a soft, somewhat mealy texture with a nutty, earthy flavor.
Morada potatoes are available year-round.
Morada potatoes, botanically classified as Solanum tuberosum, are edible, underground tubers that are members of the Solanaceae or nightshade family along with eggplant and tomatoes. Native to Peru, Morada in Spanish means “purple” and the name “purple potatoes” is used to describe many different varieties of indigenous Peruvian tubers that contain purple hues. In Peru, purple potato varieties widely range from having a solid, dark blue-purple flesh and skin tone, to lighter colored skin with marbled flesh, to a combination of the two as many native varieties have been hybridized and blended in cultivation over hundreds of years. Morada potatoes are favored for their unique coloring and nutty flavor, commonly used as a table potato in everyday cooking in Peru.
Morada potatoes are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. They also contain some magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and zinc.
Morada potatoes are utilized in a wide variety of culinary applications and can be roasted, fried, boiled, and baked. The tuber’s semi-starchy texture allows them to hold their shape when boiled and can be cubed and tossed into potato salads, cooked in soups or stews, or boiled and mashed as a colorful side dish. They can also be made into gnocchi or baked and served whole. Morada potatoes will retain some color when cooked, but depending on the tonality of the marbling, each tuber will vary. The thin skin is also edible, containing many nutrients, and can be left on in the cooking process. In Peru, Morada potatoes are incorporated into causa morada, which is a layered dish made out of boiled, mashed potatoes and a filling such as chicken or tuna salad. This dish can be served as an accompaniment to main dishes or served as an appetizer. Morada potatoes are also commonly stuffed with fillings, sliced into French fries, or boiled, sliced, and topped with sauces. Morada potatoes pair well with poultry, beef, pork, fish, beans, corn, cilantro, garlic, rice, and quinoa. The tubers will keep 3-5 weeks when stored in a cool, dry, and day place.
In Peru, potatoes are considered to be one of the most important crops as a source of revenue, and many of the tubers are grown by small family farms. Potatoes are also deeply rooted in Peruvian culture and tradition, but with globalization expanding many lower-cost foods to the country, many of the native varieties are being lost in cultivation. To protect and promote the unique tubers, Peru has created the National Potato Day, which is celebrated annually on May 30th. During the celebration, many of the native varieties such as the Morada are highlighted to bring awareness to the nutritious tubers and to spark a sense of pride over the historical significance of cultivating potatoes. National Potato Day is celebrated throughout the country and restaurants also highlight the native potatoes by creating popular traditional Peruvian dishes such as pachamanca, lomo saltado, papas a la huanciana, and causa.
Morada potatoes are native to Peru and potatoes, in general, have been cultivated in regions across the country for over eight thousand years. Since ancient times, many of these native tubers were cross-bred to create new and improved varieties, leading Peru to have over three-thousand different kinds of potatoes today. Morada potatoes can be found in select regions of Peru, cultivated on a small scale and sold at fresh local markets. | <urn:uuid:8cd666c5-27ef-4c42-8b5f-2fd9d4ddb421> | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/potatoes/morada_17673.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323585671.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20211023095849-20211023125849-00342.warc.gz | en | 0.944853 | 978 | 2.859375 | 3 |
A common problem faced by engineers when designing structures is identifying relevant information from standards and applying them to their projects. Each design standard contains a vast amount of information; therefore, time and resources may be wasted in searching and selecting bits that are useful for design. This article aims to aid engineers in such a situation by providing a guideline on the design procedure of timber structures according to the Australian Standards, namely AS1648, and AS1720. Fundamental equations, calculation methods for different timber materials, and important design parameters are explained in the following sections. Ultimate strength and serviceability limit state designs are extensively discussed, and any shortfalls in the standards that need improvement are pointed out.
Australian Standards also present guidelines to be followed during the manufacture of timber materials. These documents set standardized testing and grading methods and outline minimum requirements for material properties (such as moisture content, modulus of elasticity, etc.). All timber materials manufactured in Australia must satisfy conditions outlined in the standards and be appropriately graded before they apply to the actual design of timber structures:
- AS 2082/2858 - Visually graded sawn timber
- AS/NZS 1748 - Mechanically graded timber
- AS 3519 - Proof-graded timber
- AS/NZS 2269 - Structural plywood
- AS/NZS 4357 - Structural laminated veneer lumber
- AS/NZS 1328.1 - Glued laminated timber
- AS 3818.3/3818.11 - Round timber
Ultimate Strength Limit State (ULS)
AS 1684 and AS 1720 provide detailed, comprehensive guidelines for ULS design. The calculation methods for design bending moment, shear, and bearing capacities of structural timber members, joints, and fasteners are robust enough to account for different scenarios and environmental factors. According to AS1720 Clause 2.1.2 and 2.1.3, the design capacities of members and joints must satisfy the following limit:
Design Capacity Rd and Design Action R*
Rd is the design capacity of the timber member/joint, or the maximum amount of load that a particular element can take before failure. Rd must be larger than R*, the design action, or the maximum load that the element is expected to experience during its usage. The design action R* is calculated following load combinations outlined in AS1170, which accounts for different types of loads acting on the structure, such as wind, snow, live and dead loads.
Capacity Factor ϕ
Capacity factors are used to upscale or downscale the design capacity of structural elements. In AS1684 and AS1720, the ϕ values for timber members/joints are selected based on their application. Higher values are used for structural elements deemed to cause less danger upon failure.
Modification Factor Kmod
the mod is the product of a combination of modification factors (k1 x k2 x … kn) that affect the capacity of the member/joint. These various factors depend on the placement and orientation of the element, loading conditions, and material properties. The engineer should select and change k values as necessary for their design.
Modification factors in AS1684 and AS1720 account for a large range of variables and scenarios, which allows flexible adaptation of parameters.
Characteristic Capacity f’oX
f’oX is the characteristic capacity for the relevant design action in question (bending, tension, compression, shear, etc.). For example, when designing for bending moment capacity, f’o = f’b (characteristic value in bending for the section size) and X = Z (section modulus of the beam about the bending axis).
Characteristic material strength is defined as the strength below which no more than 5% of the results are expected to fall, as assessed by a standardized test. When timber is manufactured, it undergoes tests, and grades are allocated according to the results. In Australian standards, timber is graded by its strength in shear, bending and tension, and compression parallel to the grain.
A unique property of timber is that strength varies depending on the direction of the applied load. Due to the cellular structure of wood, engineered wood products are stronger when loaded parallel to the grain compared to perpendicular. AS1720 Section 3 accounts for this phenomenon through the provision of design tension, compression, and torsion capacity formulae in both directions.
Serviceability Limit State (SLS)
The major shortfall in AS1684 and AS1720 is the lack of comprehensive consideration for deflection and vibration control. Timber is lighter and proportionally less stiff compared to reinforced concrete and steel; hence, it is extremely prone to deflections and vibrations when subject to similar load patterns. Timber’s lighter weight leads to oscillations that can cause discomfort to occupants, and lower stiffness leads to larger deflections. Additionally, timber is an environment-sensitive material that is heavily influenced by temperature and moisture content in the atmosphere. Therefore, timber structures must be constructed to ensure satisfactory performance and safety throughout their service life, accounting for variance in material properties over time. In fact, serviceability is often the governing limit state for timber elements rather than ultimate strength.
For the calculation of deflections, AS1720 suggests the use of upper-bound estimates obtained through elastic analysis methods. The upper-bound deflection limit is found using the lower 5th percentile estimate elasticity of modulus, E0.05 (generally, a range of E values are attained whilst grading through tensile tests). In cases where this information may be unavailable, the standard recommends calculating it as a proportion of the average value of the modulus of elasticity:
While these estimates may be useful for smaller projects like residential complexes, they are not appropriate for large-mass timber structures. Upper-bound estimates tend to greatly under-estimate the limits, and engineers may design conservatively, leading to unnecessarily thicker and stronger elements. This can result in dramatically increased cost and time demands on a project.…even more than usual!
In contrast, AS1684 provides tables with “structural models” that are used to determine span-relative deflection limits. The structural models are categorized according to the load type (e.g. distributed or concentrated, live or permanent, etc.), and then modification factors and deflection limits are selected based on the load category. Section 2 of AS1684.1 covers deflection limits for the design of timber roof members in residential buildings, which includes roof battens, rafters, underpurlins, strutting beams, ceiling battens, and joints, as well as hanging, counter, and verandah beams. An example of structural models and load categories for serviceability design from AS1684 Clause 188.8.131.52 is shown below:
Vibration control measures are covered briefly in AS1684 and AS1720. Vibrations induced by machinery and human activities (walking, running, dancing, etc.) cause the structure to sway and oscillate, which may be fatal if the frequency of this oscillation matches the natural frequency of the structure. The standards state that ‘the dynamic response of floor systems, including frequency of vibration, should be considered…’ but no equations or guidelines are provided. | <urn:uuid:94769140-f735-44c0-9e79-84743c62d0b6> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://app.calctree.com/public/Timber-Design-Standards-AS1720-and-AS1684--nUdDsdU4Ks77b8FT3p4Rrk | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506045.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20230921210007-20230922000007-00665.warc.gz | en | 0.907775 | 1,495 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Perseverance - Resources
Perseverance is the ability to stay on the path to one's goals despite obstacles, the discouragement of failure, and the distracting effect of temptations. It is crucial for the achievement of long-term goals, the pursuit of which presents so many opportunities to veer off-course or abandon one’s aims. The persevering person does not lose sight of her purpose even when it takes a considerable amount of time to reach it, and she does not give up easily.
- Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M.D., & Kelly, D.R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 92(6), 1087-1101.
- Poropat, A. E. (2009). A meta-analysis of the fivefactor model of personality and academic performance. Psychological Bulletin 135(2), 322-338.
- Duckworth, A. L., Grant, H., Loew, B., Oettinggen, G. & Gollwitzer, P.M. (2011). Self-regulation strategies improve self-discipline in adolescents: Benefits of mental contrasting and implementation intentions. Educational Psychology: An International Journal of Experimental Educational Psychology 31 (1), 17-26.
- Winne, Philip H., Hadwin, Allyson F. (1998). Studying as self-regulated learning. In D. J. Hacker, J. Dunlosky & A. C. Graesser (Eds.), Metacognition in educational theory and practice. The educational psychology series., (pp. 277-304). Mahwah, NJ, US: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
- Tough, P. (2012). How children succeed: Grit, curiosity, and the hidden power of character. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. | <urn:uuid:eac77ce9-ed30-4e92-bf77-ee22d3d6d1cd> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://www.ou.edu/flourish/resources/virtue-resources/perseverance | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320303512.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20220121162107-20220121192107-00606.warc.gz | en | 0.808221 | 407 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Do you wish to broaden your horizons? Take your notepad out of your pocket. According to the current study, individuals acquire particular abilities substantially faster & quicker if they write them down by paper regardless of how convenient it is to type memos or watch movies on a laptop.
Videos To Help People Learn Handwriting
In this era when people have got a habit of typing everything on a laptop, tablet or smartphone, the skills of handwriting is at its worst and hence many people have seen their handwriting getting poorer. This situation has made experts worried and they have got research as per which one who has lost his skills of writing manually can check a few videos to regain the same and improve also.
However, experts say that it is nothing but the practice that one may have lost due to typing on digital devices and these videos can help them practice in a better way.
“The dilemma to families & teachers is also why our children must invest any effort practicing calligraphy,” stated Brenda Rapp, a behavioral faculty member at Johns Hopkins University.
“Clearly, when you practice, you’ll be a stronger side she stated in a university press statement. “However, because fewer individuals were writing, what appears to care? Is really any other advantage to calligraphy that has nothing to do with reading, writing, or comprehension? It most certainly exists, according to our findings.”
42 individuals were taught the Arabic script by the scientists in a study. The students are divided into 3 organizations: authors, clerks, and film viewers.
Everybody learned the alphabet individually while seeing films of them getting formed and learning their meanings and tones. After that, the film team is shown an on-screen flashing of a word & asked to indicate whether or not it is a certain word they previously saw. The letters were located on the keypad by such writing. The message was written with paper and a pen by the authors.
Both parties were able to detect the characters following four to 6 periods and produced few errors whenever evaluated. This writer’s team on either hand progressed to this degree of competence quicker than the previous categories. Following only 2 days, many people are ready to replicate the ability.
“The major takeaway is that, while they are all proficient at recognizing characters, the handwriting instruction is superior in every way. They also took less effort to get somewhere “Study leader Robert Wiley is an associate lecturer at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a previous Johns Hopkins University Ph.D. student.
Writing, according to scientists, enhances multisensory learning. Handwriting offers a sensory encounter that unites everything that is learned about characters, combining their forms, pronunciation, and movement patterns.
“By scribbling, you are building a better mental picture which allows you to go scaffold towards such various activates which do not need penmanship,” Wiley noted in the press statement. The report’s subjects are all adolescents. However, certain outcomes are expected in youngsters, according to scientists.
“At present, I had 3 nieces as well as a nephew, so my brothers are asking if we can gift kid’s pencils & markers. Yeah, I suggest, and then allow kids to experiment with the alphabet and actually begin writing these the all while “Wiley stated his opinion”. For Xmas, I purchased kids all fingers paints and encouraged them, ‘Let’s just do the alphabet.'”
The results, according to the scientists, offer ramifications for classes that have shifted to desktops and phones, and also individuals who study English via applications or cassettes. According to the experts, the former must augment this knowledge by scribbling on papers.
Read More: Alpha Xtra Boost Reviews | <urn:uuid:797e0026-c931-4762-9eec-94ada8af1e09> | CC-MAIN-2022-33 | https://washingtonsources.org/videos-help-people-learn-handwriting/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-33/segments/1659882571232.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20220811012302-20220811042302-00753.warc.gz | en | 0.9701 | 776 | 2.796875 | 3 |
About Great Himalayan National Park
Gardens And Parks, Urban Environment, Cultural, Interesting Places, Natural, Nature Reserves, National Parks
The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), is one of India's national parks, is located in Kullu region in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The park was established in 1984 and is spread over an area of 1,171 km2 at an altitude of between 1500 and 6000 m. The Great Himalayan National Park is a habitat to numerous flora and more than 375 fauna species, including approximately 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects. They are protected under the strict guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972; hence any sort of hunting is not permitted. | <urn:uuid:7a6481c2-9d19-4f32-8a6d-f8b320800ccb> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://www.tourmini.com/attractions/en-great-himalayan-national-park/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764500158.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20230205000727-20230205030727-00742.warc.gz | en | 0.920372 | 165 | 3.484375 | 3 |
About the Hudson River Benthic Data
Using Benthic Mapper
Benthic Mapper Data
On the Hudson River Estuary Benthic Mapper, researchers and users of the Hudson River can view benthic (river bottom) data on maps, and can combine map views to "overlay" maps of different data sets. (Also available on Benthic Mapper are interpretive maps showing features of the river bottom revealed by expert analysis of the benthic data.)
This page discusses the techniques used to gather the Hudson River benthic data. Details links give specifics about the data sets.
Survey Area - The Hudson River Estuary is being surveyed from the Federal Dam in Troy, New York, to Verrazano Narrows Bridge in New York Harbor. Benthic Mapper presents the data from the first third of the estuary to be surveyed - the map shows the areas for which data is currently available. Additional data will become available in the future.
(right) The red boxes indicate areas of the Hudson River Estuary currently available on Benthic Mapper
Data - Benthic Mapper presents nine data sets:
- Bathymetric Contours
- North/South Ship Tracks
- East/West Ship Tracks
- Core Samples
- Grab Samples
- Sediment Profile Imagery (SPI)
- Color Bathymetry
- North/South Side Scan Imagery
- East/West Side Scan Imagery
To view one of these data sets in Benthic Mapper, locate it in the Layers menu at the lower right in the blue frame and place a check in the box.
Note: Certain browsers may cause performance conflicts with the Benthic Mapper application.
Benthic Mapper works with Netscape versions 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7 higher or Internet Explorer versions 4, 5 and 6. It does not work with Netscape 6.0 and higher.
Positional Data Gathering
The ship tracks shown in Benthic Mapper are the actual paths, up/down and across the river, of vessels that collected the sidescan sonar and subbottom profile data. These tracks are created by Benthic Mapping Project survey vessels' real time differential global positioning systems (GPS), which continuously record the ships' locations. When measurements or samples are taken, the precise time, horizontal position (latitude and longitude) and the vertical position (relative to sea level) of the data sensor relative to the ship GPS antenna are recorded. The positional or spatial data must be accurate to better than 10 centimeters, to make it possible to correlate the data with the locations where samples and measurements were taken.
Acoustic Data Gathering
Two systems are used in the benthic mapping project to produce these two-dimensional map images of the floor of the estuary: sidescan sonar and multibeam swath sonar. These ship-mounted systems take acoustic measurements as the ship passes over the bottom.
Sidescan sonar sends out a beam of sound on either side of the ship and measures the amplitude of sound reflected from different parts of the river bottom in a 200-meter wide swath on either side of the ship. These reflectivity measurements reveal detailed structure and relative hardness of the river bottom.
Multibeam swath sonar measures water depth as well as reflectivity. The depth measurement is accomplished by measuring the time required for sound to travel from the surface ship to the water bottom and then back to the ship. At the same time the survey vessel measures the speed of sound in the water column. With the speed of sound and the travel time, one can calculate the water depth (depth = velocity x time). Bathymetric data are rendered on Benthic Mapper in two types of "aerial" displays: as a bathymetric contour map of the estuary floor (contour lines) and color-coded bathymetry (color bathymetry).
Both sidescan and multibeam swath systems make individual measurements for each square meter of water bottom ensonified by the acoustic beam. The multibeam's beam width is proportional to water depth. For most water depths that occur in the Hudson River Estuary the multibeam system has a much narrower beam width than the sidescan system; for this reason, the utility of the multibeam scanner is limited in depths of less than about 5 meters.
Acoustic Data Gathering, Radar Data Gathering
(measurements taken, but not currently included in Benthic Mapper)
The Benthic Mapping project has employed sonar imaging techniques and radar imaging techniques to generate subbottom profiles. Subbottom profiles are two-dimensional, vertical cross sections of the estuary floor. Unlike "aerial" maps of the estuary floor, subbottom profiles reveal the sediment structure beneath the estuary floor. This is accomplished by using wave energy to probe the layers of sand and mud that lie beneath the water bottom using acoustic reflection (sonar) profiling - uses sound to image through water to the river bottom and ground-penetrating radar profiling - uses electromagnetic radar waves to image the subsurface. These "vertical slices" of the river bottom, yielded through the combination of these two techniques, is similar to the cross-sections of the human body displayed by CAT scans. They are very useful in locating areas of sediment erosion and deposition.
Why use multiple techniques?
These two techniques (sonar and radar) have been used to produce subbottom profiles because of their different, but complementary, strengths and weaknesses.
Acoustic methods (sonar) cannot image past hard bottoms or in areas where decomposing organic materials create gas pockets in the near surface sediments. Radar, on the other hand, can image through both of these conditions, however, it is limited by water depth: passing through water weakens, or attenuates, the signal. Water depths of more than 20 feet result in strongly attenuated data; depths of more than 30 feet result in very weak signals, which often show little or no detail.
The radar data were acquired with a Mala Geoscience system using 200 MHz unshielded antennas. The subbottom profiling sonar data were acquired by the X-Star topside data acquisition unit and for most operations, the SB 4_24 tow fish, both manufactured by Edge Tech.
Optical Data Gathering
Sediment Profile Imagery
Sediment Profile Imagery (SPI) is a computer based examination of photographic images of the river bottom.
SPI technology quantifies more than 20 physical, chemical and biological parameters including: sediment grain size; prism penetration depth (into the sediment); surface pelletal layer; sediment surface relief; mud clasts; redox area; redox contrast; current apparent redox boundary; relict redox boundaries; methane gas vesicles; apparent faunal dominants; voids; burrows; surface features (e.g., worm tubes, epifauna, shell); dredged material; microbial aggregations, and successional stage.
Physical Data Gathering - Sediment Sampling
Grab Samples, Core Samples
Grab samplers are easy to use and obtain relatively large volumes of sediment at a time. The large samples produced are especially useful for identifying recent inputs of pollutants.
Grab samplers commonly use a set of jaws that shut when lowered to the sediment. The Ekman and Ponar grabs have vented or hinged tops that allow water to flow freely through the device during descent, reducing sediment disturbance from a shock wave in front of the sampler. However, upon retrieval, fine surface particulates can be carried away by out-flowing water.
Core samplers provide a cross-sectional slice of sediment, showing layers and providing information about sediment deposition. Core samples are well suited for assessing long-term (historical) inputs to the sediment.
Core samplers penetrate the sediment more deeply than grab samplers. They commonly consist of a tube with a valve at the top, which is closed by messenger to create a vacuum, preventing the sediments from washing out. The sampler is allowed to free fall from a sufficient height (usually 3-5 meters) to penetrate firm sediments, while in soft organic sediments, the weight of the core sampler is sufficient to drive the tube down without having to let it to free fall. | <urn:uuid:5b1ebb00-bfc2-4576-9c41-e7fe43147f0f> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.dec.ny.gov/imsmaps/benthic/webpages/benthicdata.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394010128060/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305090208-00002-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.89905 | 1,736 | 2.859375 | 3 |
When you turn to the book of Proverbs and read the opening line, “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel” (1:1), you expect to start reading proverbs—short, clever sayings that pack a punch and offer you some kind of wisdom on the good life. But, that’s not what you get. Instead, you get ten long, cohesive speeches from a father to a son interwoven with four poems from “Lady Wisdom” to humanity. It’s not until chapter 10, when the heading is repeated, that you begin reading the proverbs themselves.
This structure feels a little odd. Why does the collection of “the proverbs of Solomon” begin with an elaborate introduction (nine chapters!) that is fundamentally different from the rest of the book? What’s going on here?
Religious Authority in Wisdom Literature
To understand Proverbs 1-9 and how it sets you up for reading the rest of the book, we need to first consider the basis of religious authority in wisdom literature. It’s intriguingly different from other parts of the Bible. Proverbs exist in almost all human cultures, and they are typically passed down to us from previous generations. By definition, proverbs come from wise, thoughtful people who have condensed their observations on life into short, clever sayings that ring true to our own life experience. Many people have paid attention to how life works and the patterns of cause and effect that flow from our daily decisions. In this sense, proverbs come from our elders, from previous generations who are passing on their wisdom. So, simply put, proverbs have a generational authority of human wisdom based on human observations. And, a whole book of the Bible is made up of this kind of wisdom.
This feels different from the Torah or the books of the prophets. The law, given by Moses on Mount Sinai, is God’s revealed will for Israel. This is where you get the “thou shalt” and “thou shalt not” commandments, that come directly from God. It’s a divine, covenantal authority. The prophets also speak with this kind of authority. But, rather than giving commandments written by God’s hand, they communicate the words, thoughts, and purposes of God in a “thus says the Lord” manner, a common phrase in prophetic literature. The point is, it’s clear that both the law and the prophets derive their religious authority from God.
In comparison, the basis of authority in the wisdom literature is markedly different. Instead of God addressing Israel, you get a dad talking to his son: “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching” (Prov 1:8). Basically, listen to your mom and dad. Before, God was saying “thou shalt” and “thou shalt not” on Mount Sinai, and “thus says the Lord” through Jeremiah or Isaiah. Now, all of the sudden, we have “listen to your parents” through a series of speeches between a father and son. It seems so… human! And, it is! That’s the nature of authority in the Proverbs. It’s human wisdom, observations about life from people who are older and wiser shared with the younger generation.
So, if that’s the basis for its religious authority, does that mean it’s only human wisdom?
Human Wisdom Elevated to a Divine Status
No, the book of Proverbs isn’t merely human wisdom. It’s divine wisdom. Or, to be more precise, through human wisdom God’s own wisdom is revealed. This is where that lengthy nine-chapter introduction comes into play. The claim of Proverbs 1-9 is that the wisdom you will read in Proverbs 10-31 isn’t merely human wisdom, it’s divine. The purpose of these introductory chapters is to help you see that God’s words to his people have come through the human words of the elders.
Consider the interweaving of the ten father-son speeches and the four "Lady Wisdom" poems in Proverbs 1-9. First, let’s think about the ten speeches from father to son. You can find these in Proverbs 1:8-19, 2:1-22, 3:1-12, 3:21-35, 4:1-9, 4:10-19, 4:20-27, 5:1-23, 6:20-35 and 7:1-27. The ten speeches from father to son all follow the same pattern: (1) exhortation, (2) lesson, and (3) conclusion. The dad exhorts his son to listen to him, to write his commands on his heart, and to do everything in his power not to forsake them. Then, the dad offers a lesson about virtue or wisdom or integrity that he wants his son to know. Finally, there’s always a concluding line about how wisdom will keep you safe and give you abundant life. There are ten of these speeches explicitly from the father (sometimes representing both mom and dad), which offer human wisdom.
But, interwoven into the ten speeches of human wisdom from father to son are four poems from “Lady Wisdom,” who symbolizes the perfect and transcendent universal wisdom (see Prov 1:20-33, 3:13-20, 8:1-36 and 9:1-18). Wisdom, personified as a lady, calls out to all humanity on behalf of God himself, beckoning them to live by and listen to her.
In Proverbs 8, she claims that she is like an eternal principle of the universe because she was the principle by which God wove the moral universe into existence; God used wisdom to architect the physical and moral fabric of creation. Therefore, anytime humans access this wisdom and live by it, they are living by a divine principle or a divine word. Thus, the "Lady Wisdom" poems elevate the human wisdom of the elders to a status of heavenly wisdom, offering you a filter through which to read the rest of the book. It’s as if the four "Lady Wisdom" poems are commenting on the father-son speeches saying, “Dear reader, do you realize that when you listen to the wisdom of your elders, you are hearing a transcendent, divine wisdom about how to live in God’s good world?”
The book of Proverbs isn’t merely human wisdom. It’s divine wisdom.
The Fusion of Two Voices
When you appreciate the interweaving of these two voices (the human voice of the father and the transcendent voice of "Lady Wisdom"), you are primed and ready to read the wisdom of the elders in chapters 10-29 as Scripture. In his book “Proverbs 1-9,” Michael Fox rightly states:
We carry this image of Lady Wisdom with us as we enter the proverb collections that hold the wisdom of Solomon and other ancient sages. The image informs us that the sundry, often homely, proverbs of the father-teacher, of Israel’s anonymous sages, and even of Solomon himself, speak with a single voice, and this is Wisdom’s own (p. 359).
So Proverbs 1-9 really serves as a prelude to the proverb literature, preparing you to hear the wisdom of the elders as the divine Word. It’s important to appreciate this as you read the book, so you know that human wisdom isn’t pitted against divine wisdom. Rather, the human word or human wisdom is the vehicle for the divine Word. The two voices we hear in Proverbs 1-9 have been fused together to help us understand that in the observations and sayings of Israel’s human elders, we will hear echoes of the divine, transcendental wisdom.
Whitney Woollard is a writer, speaker, and Bible teacher in Portland, OR. She holds her M.A. in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary and loves sharing her passion for the Bible with others. You can check out her work at her website, whitneywoollard.com | <urn:uuid:9b2193e9-ee8e-43b5-8335-020c91e17b2a> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | https://thebibleproject.com/blog/proverbs-human-wisdom-becomes-divine/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514576355.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20190923105314-20190923131314-00002.warc.gz | en | 0.944102 | 1,740 | 3.015625 | 3 |
There are two videos in this section to watch. The first one is about adding integers, the second one is about subtracting integers. Once you have watched both of them and taken notes try the three quiz questions. The learning targets for these videos are can you:
Add and subtract integers?
Name the rules for adding and subtracting integers? | <urn:uuid:e2022e4c-f055-4566-bca4-bf3ecf29a422> | CC-MAIN-2017-51 | https://www.sophia.org/tutorials/adding-subtracting-integers | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-51/segments/1512948596115.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20171217152217-20171217174217-00224.warc.gz | en | 0.957049 | 70 | 2.75 | 3 |
The matching is always a big problem for renal failure patients who want to do the kidney transplant, even though some patients can find the donor, maybe they can not use it as well because of the mismatching. Now let analyze the matching of kidney transplantation and we’d like to let patients know much about The Common Sense of Kidney Transplantation Matching.
The matching of kidney transplantation matching can be divided in to four
aspects, the first one is the blood type matching, this is the most easy one,
for example, O-blood type patients could only receive the kidneys donated by
O-blood type donors; AB-blood type patients could receive the kidneys donated by
A,B or AB-blood type donors.
The second one is matching of Panel Reactive Antibody (PRA), PRA should be
negative, if the level of Panel Reactive Antibody is over 90%, it means that the
possibility of rejection will be 90%. So PRA can not be neglected.
The third one is lymphocytotoxicity test, the normal level should lower than
10%, this is the most important matching test before kidney transplantation,
generally speaking, the higher level means high possibility of rejection.
The fourth one is matching of HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen), HLA is important
for allograft transplantation. Human Leukocyte Antigen is to test HLA antigen
and gene of donor and receiver.
Generally, if kidney patients are in the stage of renal failure, do not have
urine any more or kidneys sizes have obvious atrophy, the kidney transplantation
will be the final treatment for them. As for the patients with significant urine
output, the Micro-Chinese Medicine and Immunotherapy can function effectively,
because both of these two therapies are aimed at repairing damaged kidney cells
instead of controlling symptoms.
If you are interested in our treatment, you can consult us online, or you can
email me by email@example.com. It is our pleasure to help you! | <urn:uuid:5f67824f-bde0-4854-af0c-a97eccdd0d96> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://kidneytreatmentcn.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-common-sense-of-kidney.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886104565.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818043915-20170818063915-00410.warc.gz | en | 0.906552 | 433 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Do Bike Lanes Save the Planet?
Cannon St. Bike Lanes Analysis
To examine whether the theory that reducing the efficiency of traffic flow can be reasonably expected to have an impact upon the Earth's changing climate.
These are estimates derived from quick Google searches. They are designed to generate some ball-park numbers to determine whether the vehicle exclusion lanes along Cannon St. E., from Sherman Ave to Hess St., are actually saving the planet, (Assuming the AGW hypothesis is not a hoax.)
Traffic volume on Cannon St. East: minimum 9,000 vehicles per day
Excessive vehicular idling as a result of bike lanes: 1 minute per vehicle per trip (derived from experience)
Amount of CO2 emitted during politically induced idling: 69 g/min
Length of bike lanes (Sherman to Hess): 3 Km
Number of crack-head bicycle trips per day: 550
Total number of bicycle trips per day: 600
Average CO2 emitted by cyclist: 21 g/Km
Average CO2 emitted by moving vehicle: 185 g/Km
For the purposes of this discussion, it will be assumed that the vehicles and the crack-heads cover the entire 3 Km distance of the route.
The 600 daily crack-head bicycle trips along Cannon St. generate about 600 trips X 3 Km/trip X 21 g CO2/Km = 37,800 g CO2.
If these trips had been by automobile, the total amount of CO2 emitted would be about 600 X 3 Km/trip X 185g CO2/Km = 333,000 g CO2.
CO2 reduction as a result of cycling instead of driving: 333,000 g CO2 - 37,000 g CO2 = 295,000 g CO2.
The bicycle lanes thus reduce carbon emissions along Cannon St. E. by an impressive 295 kilograms per day.
On the other hand, the unnecessary idling caused by the vehicle exclusion lanes result in a total of 9,000 trips X 1 minute idling per trip X 69 g/min idling = 621,000 g of CO2. (621 Kg.)
Therefore, the politically sexy, but environmentally indefensible, congestion caused by bike lanes along Cannon St. E. results in an increase of 621 Kg - 295 Kg = 326 Kg. of CO2.
The bicycle lanes along Cannon St. from Sherman Ave. to Hess St. result in increased CO2 emissions of about 326 Kg per day. Multiplied by 365 days, that yields an additional 118,990 Kg of totally unnecessary carbon "pollution" per year.
It appears that the claim by politicians, that they have the power to influence the Earth's climate, by screwing up traffic flow, is no more credible than their demonstrated expertise when it comes to road maintenance, or taxicab regulation, even if we assume that the AGM hoax is actually correct.
Were you expecting something different?
Video: Driving West on Cannon St. Pre-Vehicle Exclusion Lanes (A.K.A. - Bike Lanes.)
Note: Zero idling. Zero politically induced CO2 generation. | <urn:uuid:f19c72c7-bf09-4649-98cc-65720875992c> | CC-MAIN-2018-51 | http://www.myassbook.ca/2017/07/cannon-st.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-51/segments/1544376823674.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20181211172919-20181211194419-00158.warc.gz | en | 0.904688 | 660 | 2.6875 | 3 |
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Learners use a Styrofoam ball, sunlight, and the motions of their bodies to model the Moon's phases outdoors. An extension is to have children predict future Moon phases. This activity is part of Explore! Marvel Moon.
This is an activity about the way the moon interacts with sunlight. Learners consider a ball, wrapped in aluminum foil, and experiment with a flashlight to make it appear bright. The children compare the foil-wrapped ball to a Moon globe and... (View More) discover that the Moon reflects very little of the light the falls on it, but still appears bright. The children construct their own globe of the Moon to take home with them by gluing a map template onto a tennis-ball. This activity is most effective when conducted in a dark area, such as outdoors at night or in a darkened room. This activity is part of Explore! Marvel Moon. (View Less)
Learners will construct a valid scientific question that can be answered by data and/or modeling and choose an appropriate mission for their rover that will answer their scientific question. The lesson uses the 5E instructional model and includes:... (View More) TEKS Details (Texas Standards alignment), Essential Question, Science Notebook, Vocabulary Definitions for Students, Vocabulary Definitions for Teachers, four Vocabulary Cards, and supplements on writing a scientific question and possible Mission Choices. This is lesson 5 of the Mars Rover Celebration Unit, a six week long curriculum. (View Less)
In this short demo/activity, a balloon with baking soda in it is stretched over the mouth of a flask or bottle containing vinegar. The balloon is tipped so that the baking soda falls into the vinegar, and the reaction creates carbon dioxide, which... (View More) inflates the balloon. The activity is part of the children's book, The Air We Breathe. (View Less) | <urn:uuid:9048a331-57ac-4c9b-ad27-0a68dd930dab> | CC-MAIN-2014-52 | http://nasawavelength.org/resource-search?facetSort=1&educationalLevel=Informal+education&resourceType%5B%5D=Instructional+materials%3AActivity&resourceType%5B%5D=Instructional+materials%3ADemonstration&materialsCost=1+cent+-+%241 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-52/segments/1418802764809.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20141217075244-00043-ip-10-231-17-201.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.914857 | 396 | 4.125 | 4 |
A strange star system in our own galaxy is producing some of the most powerful gamma rays ever seen. Messengers from this microquasar may offer a glimpse into bizarre objects at the centers of distant galaxies.
One of the weirdest objects in the Milky Way just got weirder. Scientists have discovered a new source of the highest-energy photons in the cosmos: a strange system known as a microquasar, located in our neck of the galaxy a neighborly 15,000 light years from Earth. The discovery could shed light on some of the biggest, baddest phenomena in the known universe.
Their findings appear in the Oct. 4, 2018, issue of Nature (DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0565-5). Among the coauthors are Petra Huentemeyer, a professor of physics; Henrike Fleischhack, a postdoctoral research associate; and PhD candidates Chad Brisbois and Binita Hona, all of Michigan Technological University.
Maxi-photons from a Mini-source
The gamma rays beaming from this microquasar, known as SS 433, are among the brawniest photons ever observed—about 25 trillion times more energetic than visible light—and were detected at the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma-Ray (HAWC) Observatory in Mexico. Such photons are born only in the most extreme environments, including quasars, the massive black holes at the centers of galaxies billions of light years away. But if you wanted to find a gamma-ray birthplace closer to home, microquasars might be one of the first places you’d look.
Microquasars behave like quasars, but in miniature. Quasars suck up dust and gas, while astronomers believe that SS 433 contains a black hole that sucks up stuff from a nearby companion star. They both blast out powerful jets of material in opposite directions. SS 433’s jets extend over 130 light years into space. To put that into perspective, our entire solar system is not quite two light years across.
Honing in on SS 433
Scientists have been studying SS 433 since the 1980s and have already detected electromagnetic radiation in the form of X-rays and radio waves coming from the ends of its jets. But they had not found any high-energy gamma rays until now and HAWC’s technology made it possible.
“The HAWC Observatory is the most sensitive instrument for photons at these very high energies, and it did not begin collecting data until 2015,” Huentemeyer says, the HAWC science coordinator.
The new evidence strongly suggests that the powerful gamma rays were produced at the ends of the jets and not another source nearby.
“SS 433 is located in the same region of the sky as other bright sources that also emit gamma rays,” Hao Zhou says, galactic science coordinator of HAWC and a lead author on the Nature paper. “With its wide field of view, HAWC is uniquely capable of separating the gamma-ray emission due to SS 433 from other background photons.” Zhou is a former doctoral student of Huentemeyer and a 2015 Michigan Tech PhD graduate now at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
So Much Energy, Such a Tiny Subatomic Particle
In addition, the data show that the high-energy gamma rays were generated by electrons colliding with background microwave radiation left over from the Big Bang. That means that electrons in the SS 433 jets attain energies that are about 1,000 times higher than those achieved by the most powerful earthbound particle accelerators, such as the city-sized Large Hadron Collider, in Switzerland. This is a new mechanism for generating high-energy gamma rays in this type of system and is different than what scientists have previously observed.
The finding is also somewhat mysterious. “These electrons are some of the highest-energy particles in our galaxy, and it’s hard to explain how something that small got so much energy,” Huentemeyer says. “However, the electromagnetic radiation emitted by SS 433 over a broad energy range is consistent with a single population of electrons.”
A Peek into the Ancient Universe
Scientists hope that studying messengers from this microquasar may offer a glimpse into the secrets of their larger cousins. Quasars are millions of times bigger than the sun and the brightest known objects in the universe. Most have been found billions of light years away, and because it takes light time to travel, studying them is like going back in a time machine; we see the object as it was billions of years ago.
Because they are so far away, most of the quasars detected by telescopes have their jets aimed at Earth, so observing them is like looking directly into a flashlight. In contrast, SS 433’s jets are oriented sideways, pointing away from Earth, which makes them easier to study.
“The new findings improve our understanding of particle acceleration in the jets of microquasars,” Zhou says. “They may also shed light on the physics underlying the much larger and more powerful extragalactic jets in quasars.”
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure. | <urn:uuid:91a5cd32-da95-44c7-bd83-68e42d75f08f> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://www.mtu.edu/news/2018/10/scientists-discover-new-nursery-for-superpowered-photons.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224649348.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20230603233121-20230604023121-00504.warc.gz | en | 0.940192 | 1,202 | 3.515625 | 4 |
The exhaust system prevents exposure to harmful gases by venting fumes away from the interior of the vehicle. It is a crucial element in any vehicle as it helps to maintain the fuel efficiency of your vehicle.
The catalytic converter reduces harmful pollution from the gases emitted by the exhaust system.
It is recommended that an exhaust inspection is carried out every 6000 miles or once a year. A regularly serviced exhaust and catalytic converter ensures the highest fuel efficiency and reduces noise when driving. | <urn:uuid:8b3f9fb4-d6c5-4cc2-9b5a-9a0be798fd8f> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.bridgemot.co.uk/services-2/exhausts/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474594.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20240225071740-20240225101740-00437.warc.gz | en | 0.924196 | 96 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Although the international community has focused on how to fix fragile states, none of its standard remedies has addressed the fundamental problems. Fractured societies require a new approach, one that is more firmly rooted in indigenous capacities and institutions.
Many countries struggle with weak governance, sectarian conflict and poor economic prospects, unable either to develop or democratize successfully. Although in recent years the international community has focused on how to fix these fragile states, none of its standard remedies – more aid, economic reform and larger peacekeeping forces – has really addressed the fundamental problems troubling these places. Indeed, such strategies can weaken the already feeble ties between the formal state and its surrounding society, exacerbating the difficulties that plague such countries.
The political illegitimacy and poor governance that debilitate countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan, Bolivia, Somalia and Iraq can be traced to many factors – colonialism, for instance – that have combined to detach states from their environments, governments from their societies and elites from their citizens. Whereas a successful state uses local identities, local capacities and local institutions to promote its development, a dysfunctional state’s governing structures undermine these indigenous assets. As a consequence, the state cannot leverage its people’s history and customs to construct effective formal institutions with wide legitimacy; nor can it draw on the social capital embedded in cohesive groups to facilitate economic, political and social intercourse; and nor is it able to employ the traditional governing capacities of citizens to run the affairs of state.
Fifteen years running businesses in developing countries has taught me that international efforts to help these countries will start proving effective only when they address these issues head on. As I write in my book, Fixing Fragile States: A New Paradigm for Development, fractured societies call out for a new approach, one that is more firmly rooted in indigenous capacities and institutions and more likely to foster sustainable state models built on legitimacy and social cohesion.
The nature of development
Development is not, as the policies of Western development agencies imply, a technocratic exercise in which poor countries import an inflexible formula devised in distant capitals. On the contrary, development is an organic process that slowly transforms how the members of a society work together. Although improvements in areas such as education and healthcare can better prepare individuals to participate in development, a country’s ability to advance is crucially tied to its citizens’ ability to cooperate – both among themselves and in partnership with the state – in increasingly sophisticated ways. Development therefore needs to be firmly rooted in communities that possess strong social networks, durable shared loyalties, widely accepted institutions and deep reservoirs of social capital.
The non-Western countries that have developed most successfully – China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan – have all been able to make use of millennia of common social, economic and political evolution, and all have strong identities that are underpinned by some of the world’s most sophisticated institutions. These cohesive groups of people all have high levels of social capital, well established informal mechanisms for working together, and deep reserves of group affinity that could be funnelled towards national modernization missions.
Outside northeast Asia, the countries that have achieved the most progress in terms of development have likewise been able to depend on the social cohesion and social capital of people with common backgrounds. The most successful countries in Africa and the Middle East – Botswana, Somaliland, Turkey and Kuwait – are all built upon traditional identities and institutions accepted by the great majority of their citizens. In contrast, countries whose governments are the least dependent on indigenous social structures – such as Nigeria, the DRC and Syria – are much more likely to have corrupt officials, illegitimate leaders and ineffective systems of governance.
India is one of the very few exceptions to this general pattern. At independence in 1947 it had an elite that was quite cohesive because it had acclimated itself to the relatively robust national identity and state structures that the colonizers had nurtured. It was also one of the few colonies with both the administrative and military capacity and the transportation and communication infrastructure to govern its territory.
Fragile states were born with none of these assets. To the contrary, their colonial legacy is one of weak, inappropriate institutions and a profoundly fragmented political identity. Together, these two structural problems preclude the formation of a cohesive population and prevent the incorporation of indigenous institutions and capacities into formal state structures. These countries were obliged to use alien state systems that could work only if every member of their heterogeneous societies learned and embraced the same, alien culture – complete with its foreign language, laws and ways of working together. Yet, the formal mechanisms of those state systems were – and remain – far too weak to compel such cultural reorientation or even to win gradual and grudging acceptance over time by demonstrating their potency and impartiality.
Insofar as they do exhibit potency, it is the power to exclude rather than include. Many Latin American countries, for instance, have for centuries distributed resources and services inequitably while suppressing indigenous languages, religions, judicial systems, land management schemes and symbols of identity. The instability that has racked Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Venezuela in recent years is in large part blowback from hundreds of years of institutional alienation.
The combination of fractured societies and weak government warps incentives, encouraging short-term opportunism at the expense of long-term investments that could advance development. Society becomes obsessed by the conflict between identity groups, not with generating wealth or boosting national prestige. Meanwhile, formal governing bodies and regulations, disconnected from the informal institutional frameworks that guide people’s behaviour, command only superficial allegiance and compliance. Real life goes on outside them. State laws go unheeded because no one acknowledges them as legitimate. In such an environment, corrupt governments, crooked systems of justice and weak property rights are inevitable.
Somalia and the secessionist territory of Somaliland offer one of the best contrasts between state building using imported institutional pillars, and state building using indigenous ones. The international community has tried no fewer than 15 times since the dissolution of the Somali state in 1991 to rebuild it in a top-down fashion – and 15 times it has failed. Isolated from political realities within the country, aid agencies, embassies and multilateral organizations have repeatedly misread the country’s political dynamics and forced upon it what political scientist Ken Menkhaus describes as ‘unimaginative, non-strategic, template-driven policy responses with little relevance to the Somali context and little input from Somali voices’. As a result, ‘Somalis seeking to extricate their country from this deadly and protracted crisis have to do so in spite of, not because of, involvement by the international community’.
In contrast, Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has built its state institutions by adopting a bottom-up approach that takes advantage of long-standing and widely accepted clan structures. Offered little external help, it has been forced to depend on its own resources, capacities and institutions. Today, it is the most democratic state in the region and has established enough stability and prosperity to attract migrants from around the Horn of Africa. Yet the international community refuses to recognize Somaliland and persists in its Sisyphean efforts to forge a centralized Somali state.
What Menkhaus has said about Somalia applies to many other failed and fragile states: ‘These extensive and intensive [informal] mechanisms [of self-government] . . . are virtually invisible to external observers, whose sole preoccupation is often with the one structure that actually provides the least amount of rule of law to Somalis – the central state’.
The problem with international policies
Most Western policy makers and practitioners today pay lip service to the idea that states will not prosper unless they are built by local people using local resources, but the great majority of development projects continue to be designed around a generic model of state building and to be implemented with inadequate attention to the local social, cultural and institutional context.
Many fragile states have political geographies, infrastructures and governance capacities that make the standard Western model of state building (with its top-down state structures and strong emphasis on formal institutions and methods of holding officials accountable) highly problematic. Sprawling countries with diverse populations, such as the DRC and Sudan, are unlikely ever to produce stable regimes unless they decentralize far more authority to their regions and find a way to take advantage of local populations’ indigenous capacity for institution building. National leaders have little incentive to serve distant areas populated by disparate groups because they are viewed more as competitors for state power than as compatriots. The inability of governments of large centralized states to project authority much beyond their capital cities – due to thin road networks, limited administrative resources and weak nationwide societal bonds undercut the capacity of governments to project authority and serve their populations. In defiance of these realities, the recent UN-coordinated programme to stabilize the DRC concentrated first on national elections – at a cost of over US$500 million. Unsurprisingly, stability continues to elude the DRC.
But even in more compact countries there is a need to find ways to take advantage of indigenous capacities – and narrow the gap between informal and formal institutions. Most developing countries transact business, determine ownership, adjudicate disputes and generally regulate their affairs using informal mechanisms (this was true, too, of many of today’s rich states during their formative periods). As the UK’s Institute of Development Studies (IDS) has noted, ‘the astonishing economic growth of countries in East Asia’ was achieved ‘despite a lack of formal institutions generally thought essential to good governance. Research in China shows how informal relations effectively substituted for more formal property rights in the early stages of market-led growth’.
One of the reasons fragile states have such difficulty in constructing effective systems of governance is that their foreign-imposed formal institutions are weak, and they conflict and compete with – and lose to – the informal institutions that drive much behaviour. ‘Informal institutions structure incentives in ways that are incompatible with the formal rules: to follow one rule, actors must violate another’, political scientists Gretchen Helmke and Steven Levitsky believe. ‘Putting in place the formal institutions that have undergirded the spectacular growth of the developed world does not produce the desired results’, explains Nobel Prize winner Douglass North. ‘That is because the formal rules must be complemented by informal norms of behaviour (and enforcement characteristics) to get the desired results’.
The pattern established when the colonial powers arrived and built their administrations on top of, and disconnected from, local societies was essentially continued in most of today’s fragile states at independence: governments are largely divorced from and autonomous of the societies that they are supposed to serve. In those cases, notes researcher Virginia Luling, ‘The state [is] an essentially artificial one, ‘suspended above’ a society which would never have produced it and did not demand it. This ‘mis-match’ between state and society is the essence of the problem’. In such environments, an enormous gap separates a small cadre that manipulates or controls the state, and the general population, who are highly ambivalent at best towards their own government.
Western policy has if anything only reinforced these trends. As a USAID report by Carolyn Logan concluded, the ‘political disconnection [that existed at independence between state and society] was exacerbated by the economic disconnection that arose from the growing availability of external financial support. As the state became increasingly dependent on these foreign resources for its survival, it also grew increasingly autonomous of its own society and local resources and so lost interest in that resource base as anything other than a source of plunder’. The IDS report similarly pointed to ‘the complicity of rich, highly developed countries in the governance problems of poor countries and to the need for external actors to take much more care about the impact of their actions on internal incentives and relationships in poor countries’. Abundant natural resources, such as oil, when controlled by a narrow ruling elite, can yield a similar result or exacerbate a society’s dysfunctionality.
A new approach to state building
States deeply enmeshed with their surrounding society – financially dependent, geographically appropriate, institutionally synchronized and socio-culturally representative – are far more likely to be well governed than those detached from their citizens. The peoples of Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Central Asia have enormous political, socio-economic and cultural resources, built up over centuries, that can serve as the foundation for political, economic and social development. What they most need in terms of outside assistance are innovative forms of state building that take advantage of those resources. This does not mean that conventional, Western political models have no relevance to non-Western societies, but it does mean that those models need to be adapted to accommodate indigenous governance models, patterns of behaviour, needs, realities and capacities.
International actors must place far more emphasis on seeking locally appropriate solutions for problems of governance, land and resource management and knowledge transfer if their assistance is ever going to translate into locally propelled – and thus sustainable – development. The goal should not be centralized states with Western-style laws and a democracy defined solely in terms of regular elections. Instead, aid agencies should strive to promote capable, inclusive, participatory, responsive and accountable governments, no matter what form they take.
One way to accomplish this is to channel foreign aid away from corrupt and centralized governments and towards locally accountable entities, both governmental and non-governmental. Dambisa Moyo’s recent book Dead Aid surely throws the baby out with the bathwater in recommending massive cuts in Western assistance, which she describes as ‘an unmitigated disaster’ for the developing world. But she is surely also right to condemn capital transfers that do nothing except sustain African despots and stifle entrepreneurship. Foreign cash has its place in kick-starting development, but only if it is used in politically astute ways that reinforce the natural accountability mechanisms of society and that do not prop up shell-like government organs unresponsive to the needs of their own citizens. The debate sparked by Dead Aid has also called attention to the fact that foreign assistance comes in many forms other than financial. As development practitioner Carol Peasley points out, ‘Good aid involves more than money. It responds to locally driven needs and includes technical assistance, institution building with governments and civil society and the training of individuals’.
Another change that Western agencies need to embrace is attitudinal. If foreign assistance is to become a catalyst for state building, Westerners must adopt a far more humble and longer-term perspective. Teams of country specialists should spend substantial periods of time in the field and should live and work among ‘ordinary’ people rather than alongside the elites and Westernized parts of civil society. Doing so will give them the opportunity to discover exactly how best to target aid to enhance a broad range of governing capacities, both formal and informal, modern and traditional.
From the Persian Gulf to Latin America, countries have sought to bolster their legitimacy and effectiveness by integrating various aspects of indigenous institutions – such as land tenure arrangements, customary law and traditional symbols – into formal mechanisms of governance. The international community must encourage similar steps if its aid programmes are to empower local people.
Literacy and training programmes – a major component of some international aid programmes – would be far more effective if they focused on improving people’s fluency, not in one or another European language, but in indigenous tongues such as Arabic, Hausa and Punjabi. Forcing indigenous peoples in Latin America to learn Spanish, say, or obliging non-Arabs in African countries to use Arabic often disadvantages – and even disenfranchises – large segments of the population.
In many cases, the best chance for leveraging local capacities and institutions and improving governance will be to focus on building up local governments and tying them as closely as possible to their local communities. In some cases (especially in rural areas and small cities) this may mean trying to integrate governing structures and laws with traditional identities and social codes, and including chiefs and village elders where they retain strong legitimacy. But in many large cities whose populations are diverse and increasingly divorced from their traditional roots, the best way to introduce accountability into state organs is to structure them around greatly empowered urban administrations.
One should not idealize local governments. As James Manor of the World Bank says, they are often ‘afflicted by parochialism, factionalism, the danger of elite capture, inequity and injustice’ and require ‘resources, support and constructive initiatives from agencies (governmental and non-governmental) at higher levels’. Even so, devolving government functions to villages, towns and city districts will bring citizens and government officials into face-to-face contact, which in turn will ‘allow greater scope for establishing trust, accommodation and a sense of mutuality than do the more anonymous relationships that exist at higher levels. The surviving human resources and bonds at the local level provide a platform on which to mount efforts at reconstruction’. For example, after decades of war and predatory regimes, Uganda has sought to rebuild itself from the bottom up by empowering local councils.
Giving local – and provincial – governments greater authority to raise revenue and helping them build up their capacity to generate and collect taxes should make them more dependent on local companies and other taxpayers. Establishing various forms of iterative accountability loops and decentralized democratic bodies – such as oversight committees, deliberative forms of public participation and traditional forms of consultation – can institutionalize processes that tie the state more closely to society, thereby making it more legitimate, more accountable, more reflective of people’s needs, and more effective in the delivery of public services. Over time, accountable local governments in one region can be linked horizontally to those in other regions and vertically to higher-level governing bodies, integrating the more effective elements of a state and slowly changing the dynamics of a whole country.
States cannot be made to work from the outside, but outside assistance – of the right sort – is essential. International action should focus on facilitating local processes, leveraging local capacities and complementing local actions, so that local citizens can create governance systems appropriate to their surroundings. Helping underdeveloped countries should not be about propping up the state, but rather about connecting it – and making it accountable where possible – to its surrounding society. A country that cannot produce an institutional structure that its people regard as legitimate – because it represents their histories, desires and realities – is unlikely to foster the conditions necessary for development. This basic concept needs to frame all state-building programmes.
Helmke, G. and Levitsky, S. (2004) Informal institutions and comparative politics: A research agenda. Perspectives on Politics 2(4): 729.
Herbst, J. (2000) State and Power in Africa: Comparative Lessons in Authority and Control. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
IDS (2005) Signposts to More Effective States: Responding to Governance Challenges in Developing Countries. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies.
Jütting, J. (2003) Institutions and Development: A Critical Review. Working Paper 210. Paris: OECD Development Centre.
Kaplan, S. (2008) Fixing Fragile States: A New Paradigm for Development. Westport, CT: Praeger Security International.
Lewis, B. (2005) Freedom and justice in the modern Middle East. Foreign Affairs 84(3).
Logan, C. (2000) Overcoming the State–Society Disconnect in the Former Somalia: Putting Somali Political and Economic Resources at the Root of Reconstruction. United States Agency for International Development, Regional Economic Development Services Office for East and Southern Africa.
Luling, V. (1997) Come back Somalia? Questioning a collapsed state. Third World Quarterly 18(2).
Manor, J. (2007) Introduction: Synthesizing case study findings. In James Manor (ed.), Aid that Works: Successful Development in Fragile States, Washington, DC: World Bank.
Menkhaus, K. (2006/07) Governance without government in Somalia, International Security 31(3).
Menkhaus, K. (2008) Somalia: A Country in Peril, a Policy Nightmare. Enough Strategy Paper. Washington, DC: Enough Project.
Moss, T., Pettersson, G. and van de Walle, N. (2006) An Aid-Institutions Paradox? A Review Essay on Aid Dependency and State Building in Sub-Saharan Africa. Working Paper no. 74. Washington, DC: Center for Global Development.
Moyo, D. (2009) Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa. New York: Farrar, Strauss, Giroux.
North, D. (2000) Foreword, in J.-P. Platteau (ed) Institutions, Social Norms and Economic Development. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers.
Patrick, S. (2006) The World Bank Report on Fragile States: 5 Takeaways. Global Development: Views from the Center (an internet blog run by the Center for Global Development), http://blogs.cgdev.org
Prah, K.K. (2004) African Wars and Ethnic Conflicts: Rebuilding Failed States. Background Paper for Human Development Report 2004. New York: UNDP.
UNDP (2002) Arab Human Development Report: Creating Opportunities for Future Generations. New York: UN Development Programme.
USIP (2009) Rapporteur Summary Report, Economic Development and State Building. Session in Passing the Baton 2009 conference, United States Institute of Peace, Washington, DC: www.usip.org/baton2009
van de Walle, N. (2001) African Economies and the Politics of Permanent Crisis, 1979–1999. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wolfensohn, J. (2004) Millennium Challenges for Faith and Development: New Partnerships to Reduce Poverty and Strengthen Conservation. Speech to the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, Washington, DC.
World Bank Independent Evaluation Group (2006) Engaging with Fragile States: An IEG Review of World Bank Support to Low-Income Countries under Stress. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Photo credit main picture: Hollandse Hoogte / Jehad Nga
Seth Kaplan (2008) Fixing Fragile States: A New Paradigm for Development. Westport, CT: Praeger Security International.
The sentence beginning ‘Somalis seeking to extricate ….’ is in italics in the original paper. Ken Menkhaus, K. (2008) Somalia: A Country in Peril, a Policy Nightmare, Enough Strategy Paper, Washington, DC: Enough Project, p.9. www.enoughproject.org/publications
Menkhaus, K. (2006/7) Governance without government in Somalia: Spoilers, state building and the politics of coping, International Security 31(3): 87.
Some of the ideas in this paragraph are borrowed from Jeffrey Herbst (2000) State and Power in Africa: Comparative Lessons in Authority and Control. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
IDS (2005) Signposts to More Effective States: Responding to Governance Challenges in Developing Countries. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies (IDS), p.44. View PDF
Gretchen Helmke and Steven Levitsky (2004) Informal institutions and comparative politics: A research agenda, Perspectives on Politics 2(4): 729.
Douglass North (2000) Foreword, in Jean-Philippe Platteau (ed) Institutions, Social Norms and Economic Development. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers, pp.xi–xii.
Carolyn Logan (2000) Overcoming the State–Society Disconnect in the Former Somalia: Putting Somali Political and Economic Resources at the Root of Reconstruction, US Agency for International Development, Regional Economic Development Services Office for East and Southern Africa, p.7.
This was originally said regarding a single state, but applies equally to the great majority of fragile states. Virginia Luling (1997) Come back Somalia? Questioning a collapsed state, Third World Quarterly 18(2): 288–289.
‘External public funding has resulted in a growing role for the donor agencies in day-to-day decision-making and the increasing marginalization of central state decision-making bodies to the benefit of ad hoc, donor-funded, parallel institutions.’ Nicolas van de Walle (2001) African Economies and the Politics of Permanent Crisis, 1979–1999. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp.59, 61.
Logan (2000) Overcoming the State-Society Disconnect in the Former Somalia, p.8.
IDS (2004) Signposts to More Effective States, p.45.
Dambisa Moyo (2009) Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa. New York: Farrar, Strauss, Giroux.
Carol Peasley (2009) Is aid really dead? Huffington Post, April 21. www.huffingtonpost.com/carol-peasley
James Manor (2007) Introduction: Synthesizing case study findings, in J. Manor (ed) Aid that Works: Successful Development in Fragile States. Washington, DC: World Bank, pp.12–13. | <urn:uuid:f1134361-e090-43d9-b7d1-7a8cf72b7425> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://www.thebrokeronline.eu/Articles/Rethinking-state-building | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323908.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629103036-20170629123036-00718.warc.gz | en | 0.925257 | 5,259 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Coronavirus symptoms have been shown to affect people in different ways. The virus can vary from being mild to severe, and other symptoms outside of the ones listed by the NHS, such as tiredness, aches and pains, diarrhoea and conjunctivitis have come to light.
- Coronavirus warning – CDC warns about disease linked to COVID-19
But in some cases, individuals with coronavirus show no symptoms at all.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now estimates 35 percent of all people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic – meaning they show no symptoms.
It also notes those individuals are 100 percent as infectious as those with symptoms.
The CDC also states 40 percent of the virus’ transmission happens before people feel sick, highlighting the need for social distancing and the use of face masks.
The mean time between exposure and feeling symptoms is estimated at six days.
There has been more focus on human-to-human transmission of coronavirus, but the CDC has now offered more clarity on how else the virus may be spread.
The CDC states: “It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes
“This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about this virus.”
How to prevent coronavirus
Scientists are still working towards a vaccine and treatment for coronavirus, but the World Health Organization (WHO) offers list of ways to prevent infection and to sow transmission of COVID-19.
It advises to do the following:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or clean them with alcohol-based hand rub.
- Maintain at least one metre distance between you and people coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- Stay home if you feel unwell.
- Refrain from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs.
- Practice physical distancing by avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from large groups of people.
- Coronavirus: High death rates found among those with liver disease
The symptoms for coronavirus listed by WHO differ slightly from those listed by the NHS.
WHO says the most common symptoms are:
- A fever
- A dry cough
It also lists less common symptoms:
- Aches and pains
- Sore throat
- Loss of taste or smell
- A rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes
More serious symptoms which require immediate medical attention are listed as:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
- Chest pain or pressure.
- Loss of speech or movement.
If you experience any of the symptoms of coronavirus, the NHS advises to use the 111 online coronavirus service.
If your symptoms are mild, NHS 111 will usually advise you and anyone you live with not to leave your home. This is called self-isolation.
The NHS advises: “Anyone with symptoms should self-isolate for 7 days from when their symptoms started.
“Anyone who does not have symptoms should self-isolate for 14 days from when the first person in your home started having symptoms.”
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TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Council of Agriculture (COA) on Friday (April 26) revoked the status of the Taiwan cow-tail fir as a tangible cultural heritage stipulated by Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, which cleared the way for the plant to be used for horticultural or academic purposes in the future.
According to the Forestry Bureau, the decision to remove the Taiwan cow-tail fir from the national heritage preservation list does not suggest it no longer requires protection, but rather serves as evidence that Taiwan has made significant progress in the protection of the tree variety.
The Taiwan cow-tail fir was designated as a rare species requiring preservation in August of 1988. Plucking and logging of the tree was prohibited while specimen collection and exchange of the twigs, leaves, flowers, and fruits were also strictly controlled, said Forestry Bureau.
The Taiwan cow-tail fir has been widely used in landscaping for its beautiful shapes and high adaptability to the environment since the Japanese colonial period. With the restrictions lifted, the plant can serve to provide more research value in expanded scope of uses, UDN reported.
However, the Forestry Bureau pointed out, the evergreen trees cultivated in specific preservation areas remain off limits and should be carefully preserved. | <urn:uuid:a9dfa739-9a84-481d-833a-ceabecc5e60d> | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3688904 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323584567.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20211016105157-20211016135157-00369.warc.gz | en | 0.952846 | 255 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Digital Technologies For Teaching And Learning
With an increasing emphasis on personalized learning and mobility it only makes sense to have mobile technology in the classroom. As a Kindergarten teacher in a high poverty school, technology is detrimental to my students’ learning. While her presentation focused on students, Evans noted that 46 percent of teachers are using video in in the classroom. For this construct, we added two questions for each one of three community aspects (Q11 and 12, and Q16-19): the perceived community size, the presence of lead-users (experts), and the distribution of comments. Students, as well as education institutions, are beginning to discover the many benefits of using mobile technology in the classroom. Other teachers say the technology is the only way to make this generation learn. I encourage you to think about more ways of how technology has improved education and how it can positively impact it in the near future.
This area of specialization features newly designed courses that take a broad view of teaching and learning in the context of virtual learning—learning in which the world is the classroom—beyond the traditional training of education technology programs.
Venkatesh and Davis extended the original TAM model to explain perceived usefulness and usage intentions in terms of social influence (subjective norms, voluntariness, image) and cognitive instrumental processes (job relevance, output quality, result demonstrability, perceived ease of use).
The proposed model is partially supported by the empirical results in which we find that there is a link from community characteristics to perceived usefulness as well as to purchasing intention. Digital instructional content is the largest slice of the (non-hardware) K-12 educational technology market, with annual sales of more then $3 billion. Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application (JITTA), 6(3), Article 9.
Yes, Pixar founder Steve Jobs made the comment on the launch of Toy Story in 1995. In this study, we carried out an empirical investigation to examine the effects of perceived community within the Technology Acceptance Model on the intention to purchase from an e-vendor. In V. Mahajan & Y. Wind (Eds.), Innovation Diffusion Models of New Product Acceptance. Making is compatible with habits of mind” described in Science for All Americans (AAAS, 1990).
Network effects can be assumed to generally be stronger for auctioning sites or job portals than online retailers, and can have a major impact ( Song et al. 2009 ). The effect on trust might also be different for some areas, for example in cases where community size increases probability of malicious behaviour such as security attacks ( Bagchi and Tang 2004 ) or fraud.
If so, you may be interested in Rasmussen College’s Technology degrees or you may be inspired to pursue your degree in computer science Whatever you choose, we hope you were inspired by these technology quotes and fun facts about the authors. Costs that are excluded above may be included if they are an integral part of a computer applications or would be difficult to break out because the costs are included with other information technology costs. We have worked with innovations which have challenged us and think in new and different modes of nursing practice and science. Subscribe Today to get the latest ExtremeTech news delivered right to your inbox.
Applicants should have a minimum of a second-class UK Bachelor’s degree or overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject (related to education and/or technology), and relevant experience in teaching, education and/or a technology related field.
Deloitte’s seventh annual Tech Trends report identifies eight trends that are likely to disrupt businesses in the next 18-24 months – from blockchain to augmented reality, the Internet of Things, socially responsible applications of technology and more.
No, though it is very dependent on its technology — and please don’t call it a boat company, either, said Douglas Gray, one of the company’s founders and its chief marketing officer. It may not be a label that Facebook aspires to, but based on the moves the company is making, it’s one that may apply. Then complete the student sheet, Technology and Health The questions on the student sheet can be used as a reference to present the pros and cons of your technology to the class at a later date.
Analysts at New Media Consortium (NMC) predict it will be widespread in classrooms in about four years, but there are already examples of the technology making waves in education. Please send me information on new Springer publications in Computers and Education. One company has developed sensor technology so small it can be swallowed and combined with drugs in pill form. These direct effects are, however, not included in our proposed research model.
A review by the Education Department in 2009 of research on online courses — which more than one million K-12 students are taking — found that few rigorous studies had been done and that policy makers lack scientific evidence” of their effectiveness.. A division of the Education Department that rates classroom curriculums has found that much educational software is not an improvement over textbooks. | <urn:uuid:a2c71305-020e-415f-b092-e9524c596396> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://fsyghj.com/education-and-information-technologies/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187824824.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20171021171712-20171021191712-00415.warc.gz | en | 0.94984 | 1,031 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Like surveyors charting out a parcel of land by measuring angles, distances and elevations, astronomers have long mapped the positions of celestial objects in the sky.
Those celestial maps are about to see some major revisions. New and upcoming campaigns using ground-based telescopes or spacecraft promise to fill in many new details. Together these projects will catalogue positional information on several billion stars and galaxies, near and far.
By scanning the skies for six years, a next-generation space telescope called Euclid ought to map up to two billion galaxies in three dimensions. The mission, which the European Space Agency (ESA) approved this past June for a 2020 launch, will scan about one third of the sky to measure the positions and distances of galaxies across the universe. The hope is that the distribution of cosmic structure will reveal some hidden clue to the nature of dark energy, the unknown entity driving the accelerating expansion of the universe.
A dramatic upgrade to local celestial cartography should come even sooner from ESA's Gaia spacecraft, which is scheduled to launch next year. After arriving in deep space, well beyond the orbit of the moon, Gaia will map the positions and distances of roughly one billion stars. “The main science goal is to address the issues of our Milky Way—the structure and the dynamics,” says Timo Prusti, project scientist for Gaia at ESA.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, many new surveys are now coming online in the Southern Hemisphere, where celestial cartographers can expect to make the greatest impact. In the North, the granddaddy of all astronomical surveys—the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in New Mexico—has already carefully mapped more than one million galaxies in three dimensions, in addition to many other accomplishments.
The telescope most likely to rewrite the books on the southern sky is the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, or LSST, in Chile. When it comes online around 2022, the LSST—as currently envisioned—will feature an 8.4-meter primary mirror (compared with the Sloan survey's 2.5-meter telescope) and a 3.2-gigapixel digital camera. The mammoth telescope will image the heavens every week to capture transient phenomena such as supernovae and close passages of potentially dangerous asteroids. In the process, it will also mark the three-dimensional location of some four billion galaxies. | <urn:uuid:2f6762a0-7028-48eb-a5b0-73ab5a3168bd> | CC-MAIN-2019-04 | https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/astronomical-surveys-pinpoint-our-place-cosmos/?error=cookies_not_supported&code=d756b7bb-02a1-4221-8d30-50b9bf54ba19 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547583857993.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20190122161345-20190122183345-00325.warc.gz | en | 0.917002 | 474 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Washington, April 29 (ANI): A new American research has made an advance in scientists' understanding of how cystic fibrosis (CF) causes lung disease in people with the condition.
The study by a University of Iowa research team and colleagues at University of Missouri has appeared in the journal Science Translational Medicine.ead author David Stoltz, UI assistant professor of internal medicine, said: "Using our model we are beginning to answer that question, and it looks like infection does precede inflammation.
"The importance of that finding is that it could dictate what types of therapy we might use. Knowing that infection is first suggests that if we can prevent or fight infection, then that might delay or prevent the lung disease in people with CF."
For example, the finding would seem to support early and aggressive treatment of lung infections in children with CF, added Stoltz, who also is assistant director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center at UI Hospitals and Clinics.
The new experimental model that Stoltz and his colleagues used were pigs with a CF-causing gene mutation.
The team generated the pig model in the hope that it would more closely mimic the human disease than mouse models do.
By studying the CF pigs through their first six months of life, the team has shown that these animals do develop lung disease typical of what is seen in humans, including infection in the lungs, inflammation, and accumulation of mucus in the airways, which is a significant problem for patients with CF.
Randall Prather, distinguished professor of reproductive biotechnology at the University of Missouri, said: "This is a really great example where the pig serves as a model for what happens in the human, and the pig reacts to this disease in nearly the same way.
"In contrast, when you use mice, they don't get the lung disease that is common in patients with cystic fibrosis."
The team also found that the lungs of newborn CF pigs tended to be infected with more bacteria than lungs of control pigs.
Furthermore, within a few hours of birth, the CF pigs showed signs that their lungs are less able to get rid of bacteria from their lungs.
This problem might represent an initial step in the disease process that results in chronic lung infection in CF.
Stoltz said: "Our new model will help us understand the mechanisms of lung disease in humans with CF.
"It also provides a unique opportunity to test different therapies starting at a very early stage of the disease -- much earlier than we can in humans with CF-and maybe to target preventive therapies that might help delay or even prevent the type of lung disease that affects people with CF." (ANI) | <urn:uuid:7c337aae-9680-4be6-a8bb-ad20650881e3> | CC-MAIN-2017-22 | http://www.oneindia.com/2010/04/29/boffinscome-closer-to-understanding-how-cystic-fibrosisca.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463607649.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20170523183134-20170523203134-00259.warc.gz | en | 0.968586 | 549 | 3.140625 | 3 |
How did such a wonderful plant as clover come to be considered a weed? Photo: life.shared.com
Here’s a quick overview of the incredible story of a simple little plant, white clover (Trifolium repens), and how it went from being the best friend a lawn ever had to being considered a noxious and despised weed to once again getting into the home gardener’s good graces. How is that even possible? Read on and you’ll understand!
500 Years of Popularity
Since the advent of lawns during the Renaissance, white clover has always been, along with turf grasses, the one of its main components. Until the 1950s, it was considered normal for any lawn to have a good share of clover and when the first commercial grass seed was offered back in 1780, it was actually a mix of grass and clover seed.
Gardeners had long observed that lawns containing clover were greener and healthier than those where clover was lacking. During the first centuries of lawn use, of course, no one knew why grasses always grew better in the company of clover plants, although the difference was well known. A lawn with a decent share of clover was greener, suffered less from drought and insect damage, and had fewer undesirable plants such as thistles.
Today we understand a little more why turf grasses do better when accompanied by clover.
Among other things, we know a lot more about fertilization today and clover is almost a classic example of a plant that enriches the soil. Clover is a legume—a member of the Fabaceae family—and lives in symbiosis with bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen and make it available not only to the clover itself, but also to neighboring plants. That makes turf grow greener, even in the absence of fertilizer. And the extra nitrogen also helps explain the lessened weed infestations noted in clover-rich lawns. The abundance of nitrogen results in denser turf and that leaves less room for unwanted weeds.
Another detail: thanks to its deep roots, clover is more tolerant of drought than most grasses and remains green even when drought is severe. As functional lawn irrigation systems didn’t exist until the 20th century and therefore lawns were rarely watered, this was an important factor. Plus clover is very resistant to other weather-based problems, resisting damage from snow, ice, rain and even flooding. As a result, it will grow in most climates other than the very driest ones and in hardiness zones 3 through 10.
Another advantage of clover is that it’s a naturally low-growing plant needing less mowing than lawn grasses, so its presence doesn’t increase the frequency of mowing.
In addition, most serious lawn pests have a “thing” for grasses, not clover. Pests like white grubs, chinch bugs, leatherjackets and sod webworms find clover of little interest and rarely settle in great numbers in a clover-rich lawn. They prefer turf grass monocultures.
And the gardeners of ages past appreciated the presence of the magnificent little white clover flowers that decorated the vast green carpet that could otherwise be a bit monotonous.
So, for the first 500 years of the lawn’s history, no one would have thought of trying to remove clover from the lawn: it was a considered essential for healthy turf.
Trouble with Leatherjackets in your Lawn?
You can treat these annoying insects with nematodes for leather jackets: https://www.greensleeves-uk.com/leatherjackets-insects.
Turning a Friend into an Enemy
Then came the 1950s. A multinational chemical company, Dow Chemical, had successfully developed a new product, 2,4-D. It was a “selective herbicide”, meaning it could control lawn weeds without harming grasses. There was just one problem. It left grasses, with their thin leaves, relatively intact, but killed broadleaf plants indiscriminately. There was the potential to make billions of dollars in profit if this product (and other similar herbicides) could be successfully sold to lawn owners. But 2,4-D also killed the clover people loved. What to do?
The secret was to turn clover from a friend into an enemy. Pesticide companies decided to launch an intensive advertising campaign to convince homeowners that white clover was a weed that needed to be destroyed. They spent literally millions on advertising to persuade unconvinced gardeners.
It wasn’t easy at first to convince experienced gardeners to give up clover. This what Dr. R. Milton Carleton, one of the discovers of 2,4-D, wrote about it:
“The thought of White Dutch Clover as a lawn weed will come as a distinct shock to old-time gardeners. I can remember the day when lawn mixtures were judged for quality by the percentage of clover seed they contained. The higher this figure, the better the mixture… I can remember the loving care which old-time gardeners gave their clover lawns. The smug look on the face of the proud homeowner whose stand was the best in the neighborhood was really something to behold.” (From New Way to Kill Weeds In Your Lawn And Garden by R. Milton Carleton, 1957. Arco Publishing Co., N.Y.)
Imagine this from the mouth of the father of 2,4-D! He concluded, however, that the situation had changed and that the time had come to abandon the use of clover as part of a quality lawn. He strongly believed that herbicides were the way of the future.
After 50 Years of Negative Press
But times have changed … yet again. After more than 50 years of use, Dr. Carleton’s miraculous herbicides have been shown to be silent killers, disrupting soil microbes, birds and animals, poisoning adults, children and pets, damaging shrubs, trees and vegetable beds, and have caused enormous harm to our environment, so much so that they are now banned in several countries. So, it would appear that the time has come to put aside herbicides toxic to the environment and look back at clover as a useful, and perhaps essential, part of any beautiful lawn.
That said, it’s hard to erase 50 years of condemnation. Today’s multinational lawn treatment companies continue to promote lawn herbicides as friendly and harmless, despite abundant proof to the contrary. They have been so successful in their propaganda that most gardeners today still believe that clover is a weed when it grows in a lawn. Look it up on the Internet and you’ll see. About half the articles about clover in lawn are still about how to remove it, not how to encourage it. It’s going to be difficult to convince a lot of lawn owners otherwise.
Still, the idea of reintroducing clover to lawns is catching on and more and more homeowners are once again proud of their clover-enriched lawns. And herbicide-using lawn owners are starting become a bit frustrated with the poor results they’re getting. Insect problems, diseases, weeds, lawn dieback: it adds up to a lot of moolah for very ordinary results.
Where I live in eastern Canada, last summer was disastrous for turf lawns. A combination of drought, extreme heat and insect infestations literally wiped out lawns everywhere. Yet, some lawns remained green and healthy with little to no care: mostly those with a lot of white clover. It was enough to make some neighbors jealous. Now, if only they could make the link between tougher, greener lawns and the presence of clover in those lawns, the battle would be largely won.
Even lawns that are entirely composed of clover are increasingly seen, especially micro-clover lawns. Micro-clover (Trifolium repens ‘Pipolina’) is a selection of white clover with smaller and denser leaves that requires even less mowing than a regular white clover lawn. The clover lawn phenomenon is popping up all over in our cities and suburbs. Probably one of your neighbors has one if you don’t already.
Don’t Let Lawn Care Companies Ruin Your Clover Lawn
If you hire a lawn care company and you’re a person who considers the presence of clover in a lawn important, it’s vital to tell them that. They still routinely use herbicides that kill clover and won’t hesitate to apply them unless you insist. They’ve even found inventive ways around laws passed to ban the use of “cosmetic pesticides” on lawns. It would be sad to see your little clover colony poisoned.
Long live clover in lawns. And long may it reign! | <urn:uuid:c137d6e1-6407-4515-ad4e-023de6ba2738> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://laidbackgardener.blog/2020/11/04/clover-in-the-lawn-from-friend-to-weed-to-friend-again/?doing_wp_cron=1695601168.3265719413757324218750 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506669.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20230924223409-20230925013409-00583.warc.gz | en | 0.968815 | 1,868 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Tim Flannery warns that, thanks to climate change and human meddling, jellyfish are taking over the oceans:
From the Arctic to the equator and on to the Antarctic, jellyfish plagues (or blooms, as they’re technically known) are on the increase. Even sober scientists are now talking of the jellification of the oceans. And the term is more than a mere turn of phrase. Off southern Africa, jellyfish have become so abundant that they have formed a sort of curtain of death, “a stingy-slimy killing field,” as [Stung! On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of the Ocean author Lisa-ann] Gershwin puts it, that covers over 30,000 square miles. The curtain is formed of jelly extruded by the creatures, and it includes stinging cells. The region once supported a fabulously rich fishery yielding a million tons annually of fish, mainly anchovies. In 2006 the total fish biomass was estimated at just 3.9 million tons, while the jellyfish biomass was 13 million tons. So great is their density that jellyfish are now blocking vacuum pumps used by local diamond miners to suck up sediments from the sea floor.
(Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) | <urn:uuid:967b0b85-c265-4324-b21b-764ca9c53d3e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2013/09/13/the-jellyfish-menace/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395679.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00065-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95263 | 267 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Your three-year-old will spend most of her waking hours questioning everything that happens around her. She loves to ask “Why do I have to . . . ?” and she’ll pay close attention to your answers as long as they’re simple and to the point. Don’t feel that you have to explain your rules fully; she can’t yet understand such reasoning and isn’t interested in it anyway. If you try to have this kind of “serious” conversation, you’ll see her stare into space or turn her attention to more entertaining matters, such as a toy across the room or a truck passing outside the window. Instead, telling her to do something “because it’s good for you” or “so you don’t get hurt” will make more sense to her than a detailed explanation.
Your child’s more abstract “why” questions may be more difficult, partly because there may be hundreds of them each day and also because some of them have no answers—or none that you know. If the question is “Why does the sun shine?” or “Why can’t the dog talk to me?” you can answer that you don’t know, or invite her to look into the question further by finding a book about the sun or about dogs. Be sure to take these questions seriously. As you do, you help broaden your child’s knowledge, feed her curiosity, and teach her to think more clearly.
When your three-year-old is faced with specific learning challenges, you’ll find her reasoning still rather one-sided. She can’t yet see an issue from two angles, nor can she solve problems that require her to look at more than one factor at the same time. For example, if you take two equal cups of water and pour one into a short, fat container and the other into a tall, skinny one, she’ll probably say the tall container holds more water than the short. Even if she sees the two equal cups to start with and watches you pour, she’ll come up with the same answer. By her logic, the taller container is “bigger” and therefore must hold more. At around age seven, children finally understand that they have to look at multiple aspects of a problem before arriving at an answer.
At about three years of age, your child’s sense of time will become much clearer. Now she’ll know her own daily routine and will try hard to figure out the routines of others. For example, she may eagerly watch for the mail carrier who arrives every day, but be perplexed that trash is picked up only one day out of seven. She’ll understand that certain special events, such as holidays and birthdays, occur every once in a while, but even if she can tell you how old she is, she’ll have no real sense of the length of a year.
But if you have any questions or concerns about your three-year-old’s development, you should discuss it with your pediatrician. If he agrees that there is reason for concern, he will refer your child for further testing.
By age four, your child is beginning to explore many basic concepts that will be taught in greater detail in school. For example, he now understands that the day is divided into morning, afternoon, and night, and that there are different seasons. By the time he’s five and entering kindergarten, he may know some days of the week and that each day is measured in hours and minutes. He also may comprehend the essential ideas of counting, the alphabet, size relationships (big versus small), and the names of geometric shapes.
There are many good children’s books that illustrate these concepts, but don’t feel compelled to rush things. There’s no advantage to him learning them this early, and if he feels pressured to perform now, he actually may resist learning when he gets to school.
The best approach is to offer your child a wide range of learning opportunities. For instance, this is the perfect age to introduce him to zoos and museums, if you haven’t done so already. Many museums have special sections designed for children, where he can actively experience the learning process. At the same time, you should respect his special interests and talents. If your child seems very artistic, take him to art museums and galleries, or let him try a preschool art class. Also, if you know an artist, take him for a visit so he can see what a studio is like. If he’s most interested in machines and dinosaurs, take him to the natural history museum, help him learn to build models, and provide him with construction kits that allow him to create his own machines. Whatever his interests, you can use books to help answer his questions and open his horizons even further. At this age, then, your child should be discovering the joy of learning so that he will be self- motivated when his formal education begins.
You’ll also find that, in addition to exploring practical ideas, your four-year-old probably will ask many “universal” questions about subjects such as the origin of the world, death and dying, and the composition of the sun and the sky. Now, for example, is when you’ll hear the classic question “Why is the sky blue?” Like so many other parents, you may have trouble answering these questions, particularly in simple language your child will understand. As you grapple with these issues, don’t make up answers; rely instead on children’s books that deal with them. Your local library should be able to recommend age-appropriate books to help you. | <urn:uuid:e3b0d19a-aa15-40d3-83e0-ed42ca20e600> | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/preschool/pages/Cognitive-Development-In-Preschool-Children.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3A%2BNo%2Blocal%2Btoken | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323584554.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20211016074500-20211016104500-00220.warc.gz | en | 0.969202 | 1,208 | 3.40625 | 3 |
|Electricity · Magnetism|
Coulomb's law is a function developed in the 1780s by physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb. It explains how strong the force will be between two electrostatic charges. Electrostatic means electric charges without any motion.
Direction[change | change source]
Let's think of two electric charges existing in an empty space. If the two charges are opposite, (+) and (-) charges for example, they will attract each other. And if two charges are both the same, both (+) or both (-) for example, they will push each other. This is similar to how magnets act, as N and S attract each other, and as N and N, S and S push each other.
This is because electric charges make an electric field. If two fields exist in the same space at the same time, then the two fields exert (~ put) force on each other. The force they make on each other is called 'Coulomb's force' or the electrostatic force. Coulomb's law explains how big the force will be.
Scale[change | change source]
Coulomb's law explains the scale between two electric charges. The scale of electrostatic force follows the function below.
Coulomb's law explains that the force scale F is relative to ratio of ,.
and are the scales of each electric charge. is the distance between the two electric charges. And has a certain value. It does not change relative to , or . While remains constant, when multiples of and become bigger, the electrostatic force will also get bigger. When the distance becomes bigger, the electrostatic force will become smaller by the ratio of .
The exact size of is N m2 C−2 (or m F−1). This constant is called Coulomb's force constant or the electrostatic force constant.
Inverse-square law[change | change source]
The relation between the force of pushing or pulling (F) and the distance between the particles () follows the Inverse-square Law. Inverse-square law means that when the distance grows bigger, the force gets weaker by the ratio . Gravitation, Electromagnetic radiation, and sound loudness also follow this law.
Related pages[change | change source]
- Coulomb, the SI unit of electric charge named after Charles-Augustin de Coulomb
- Inverse-square law, the physical law that shows the relation between distance and Intensity. | <urn:uuid:09301db5-9fd1-4b94-855c-092c4383b97f> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulomb%27s_law | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655887046.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20200705055259-20200705085259-00492.warc.gz | en | 0.901037 | 513 | 3.96875 | 4 |
With all the concern about today's education largely generated by the new Common Core Curriculum Standards, what seems to be overshadowed is perhaps the most important part of the education equation, namely, the teachers.
Having outstanding teachers is the key to the success for American education. The national discussion now focuses on how we can best train future teachers, and then assess their competence. These questions are highly relevant and the same time very challenging. The new Education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA), with all its good intentions, sadly contains too many flaws.
These flaws significantly damage the reliability and validity of this assessment, but also could have deleterious effects on candidates and, consequently, our future teaching force. This assessment is scheduled to become a mandated New York state assessment as of May 1.
Too many flaws
What could be bad about an assessment that observes a teacher in the classroom and evaluates a teacher's reasoning and comments about significant aspects of the teaching performance? In theory, this would produce a fine teacher assessment. Unfortunately, there are too many flaws in the current edTPA. Consider the following aspects of this assessment process:
• The candidate must submit a video recording of his or her teaching performance and can submit one of his or her choosing with no proctoring of this process. Moreover, there is no way to ensure that the person filmed is the candidate of record.
• A candidate, feeling pressured, may have another person write the required commentary on the video recording — again, no proctoring.
• The assessment may not have a clear account for validity or reliability — especially when determining the passing score. That is, how do we know that the test can predict future teaching effectiveness, as different student populations may require varying skill sets?
• The assessment may not take into account optimal teaching arrangements for varying subject areas. Furthermore, who determines what constitutes optimal teaching?
• The assessment leaves too much to chance and, by its very importance for the candidate's future, may overwhelm the student-teaching experience.
We already know from decades of research that student teaching (i.e., an internship) is the single most important part of teacher preparation, where everything learned in courses must be put into action coherently with real students, colleagues and parents. Adding the pressure of an additional high-stakes performance assessment (to the other numerous standardized tests that our teacher candidates must take) in the student-teaching semester means that all the important learning is overshadowed by the burdens of the test, from practical logistics to theoretical understandings.
Test offers little insight
This assessment doesn't provide any more information about a candidate than faculty already has, and that can be gleaned from program assessments and from ongoing observations of student teaching. Evaluations based on one lesson provide no more transparency about performance and classroom readiness, and perhaps far fewer insights.
The argument from the developers of the assessment that the edTPA is designed to take context into account still does not mean that there won't be a chance of considerable bias in the scoring process. There are already discussions about changing the scoring so that scorers become specialized in one task, which could mean the entire process loses its integrity. How can one person score task one, another task two and a third task three without considering how the pieces fit together? Variation of instructional style in one lesson is often a consideration for effective instruction. Such piecework evaluation is not only ineffectual, but could also present an entirely incorrect picture of the teacher candidate being assessed.
Curiously, teacher candidates are instructed not to copy any of their privately prepared electronic submission — this includes the video and the verbal commentary. However, there is nothing to prevent this copying and it being passed on to other candidates as a second submission by another person. As unethical as this would be, the very importance (and high cost — $300) of the test may encourage such action.
This is the dilemma that faces future teacher preparation using this newly developed edTPA. In addition to providing a proper time frame for teacher candidates to understand this entirely new evaluation system, I would hope that as we move forward to build truly strong teachers we would "clean up" these flaws before they damage the teacher candidates' future, and possibly our education system through a possibly inaccurate assessment instrument.
The writer is dean of Dobbs Ferry-based Mercy College's School of Education. | <urn:uuid:59fdc0eb-0f4e-43ad-b2aa-b60e8b33ad4c> | CC-MAIN-2015-40 | http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/contributors/2014/03/29/new-york-wrong-implement-flawed-edtpa-teacher-exam/7034779/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin= | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-40/segments/1443737937342.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20151001221857-00203-ip-10-137-6-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964378 | 886 | 2.734375 | 3 |
This text is intended for low-level adult students of English as a second language. By "low-level students," we mean those who already have had some exposure to basic grammatical structures but have had limited opportunities to practice those structures orally. These students will enjoy the added challenge of learning vocabulary and practicing their discussion skills as they review and learn grammar. English Alive is intended to help them attain oral and written mastery of key structures, build their vocabulary, and, at the same time, develop their ability to discuss a wide range of topics. The book provides a full range of classroom activities, from listening comprehension exercises and controlled fill-ins for testing and drilling to freer activities, such as role playing and student presentations. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, the content focus of most of the grammar chapters can be used as a springboard for discussion of such diverse topics as folk remedies for common ailments, street crime, and the existence of ghosts. Even students with limited fluency and vocabulary want and need to have a chance to discuss challenging and possibly controversial subjects. True, the students will make errors, grope for words, and become frustrated at times by their inability to express ideas with ease, but all of this is a very natural part of the language-learning process. Another unique feature of the text is that, in addition to the grammarfocused chapters, there are chapters on language functions, such as making suggestions or accepting and refusing requests. Moreover, there are chapters on the specific language needed for certain settings, such as a restaurant or a store. These chapters indirectly review and reinforce the grammatical structures that students have learned in previous chapters. Grammar, function, and setting—the three major elements needed to communicate in a language—are thus provided in this text. This book can be assigned to the student for independent study and review at home or for work in the classroom. The chapters are arranged according to the complexity of the structure, but, for the most part, they can be used in whatever sequence meets the needs of a particular group of students. If you feel that the vocabulary or subject matter of a chapter is too challenging, the grammatical structure can be introduced in a simpler context, and the chapter can be used as a review rather than an introduction. | <urn:uuid:797ad5d7-34dc-436b-a1b3-7e017a431494> | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | http://englishtips.org/1150790547-english_alive_grammar_function_and_setti.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917118743.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031158-00187-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965235 | 457 | 3 | 3 |
- print information about a device
#include <sys/bus.h> int
BUS_PRINT_CHILD (device_t dev device_t child);
is called from system code which prints out a description of a
It should describe the attachment that the child has with
For instance the TurboLaser bus prints which node the
device is attached to.
for more information regarding the proper formatting of the messages | <urn:uuid:89763263-20c8-43f7-be04-05670bc74c0e> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | http://opennet.ru/cgi-bin/opennet/man.cgi?topic=BUS_PRINT_CHILD | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030338073.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20221007112411-20221007142411-00419.warc.gz | en | 0.684044 | 159 | 2.515625 | 3 |
What is Comparative and World Literature?
Comparative and World Literature (CWL) is a broad and rich literary discipline that tackles literature across national borders, time periods, languages and genres and crosses boundaries between literature and the other arts. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this field, comparatists acquire solid knowledge in several disciplines of the humanities as well as critical abilities. Defining CWL can be a complex task due to the diversity of interests of the people engaged in this discipline. Here is a definition of Comparative Literature given by Roland Greene:
"Comparative Literature is the laboratory or workshop of all literary studies, and through them, of the humanities. Comparative literature compares literature, not only as an accumulation of primary works but, as the languages, cultures, histories, traditions, theories, and practices with which those works come." ("Their Generation", Comparative Literature in the Age of Multiculturalism, 1995).
Why Choose Comparative and World Literature?
Since CWL is a broad discipline, students are able to follow a program that can be shaped by their own interests. Indeed, students enjoy a great advantage in being able to choose courses in all the national literature fields, Western as well as non-Western. They are thus able to acquire a broad perspective upon the fields they are interested in and gain a unique knowledge of the world. This cross-disciplinary knowledge is a great asset in today's complex and multicultural society. CWL enables students to develop their own perspective because of the richness of the program.
The Department of Comparative and World Literature featured in the LCA Next Stop video
About the Department
For the latest updates on the Department of Comparative & World Literature, our faculty, students, alumnae/i and community, please check out the first issue of our Departmental newsletter, Comparatively Speaking. | <urn:uuid:6e0d3352-abaa-46ad-9d23-675474ba30b3> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://complit.sfsu.edu/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320539.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625152316-20170625172316-00203.warc.gz | en | 0.93705 | 374 | 2.53125 | 3 |
This is a quick room search or hallway search to introduce the information of the steps of the Scientific Method. Hang the posters in your room or hallway and have the students find the correct order and fill in the blanks. This take 10 min-30 depending on your discussion afterwords. The room search is based on a free download of scientific method posters from Scholastic (link found below) or download the preview for the posters PDF.
I used this in the beginning of the school year to have the steps big and simple in the front of their science interactive notebooks. They stay there all year and can be used later for memorization or reminders.
- Purchase of the product is for single classroom use by the purchaser only. It is a violation for individuals, schools, and districts to redistribute, edit, sell, or post this item on the Internet or to other individuals. Disregarding the copyright is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and subject to legal action. | <urn:uuid:bf5e20ea-eb3f-4a20-bfa7-5d52592e8c59> | CC-MAIN-2016-50 | https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Scientific-Method-Room-Search-with-free-Scholastic-Poster-Printables-1758187 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-50/segments/1480698541066.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20161202170901-00304-ip-10-31-129-80.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.898721 | 198 | 3.15625 | 3 |
The call of the frontier proved inescapable to men and women throughout history. The wealth of land and opportunity in America provided a perfect outlet for this wanderlust. The history of the Southwest is one of expansion into rough territory and life in a rural, uniquely American landscape. The main characters in the story are passed down to us through the words and images of the Southwestern humorists. These humorists were most often professionals-- doctors, lawyers, editors --who were writing as amateurs, often anonymously. Utilizing their experience, imagination and wit, these men created a legacy of characters which amused their contemporaries while helping to shape the enduring myth of the frontier in America.
The heyday of Southwestern humor culminated in the period between the 1830's and the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. The Southwest to which these humorists refer is present day Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri. The genre that developed originates from the politics and oral histories of a burgeoning region-- full of fire and out to prove itself to the world. This enthusiasm manifested itself in bawdy, violent, and predominately masculine portrayals of the world of the Southwest. Yet beneath the savagery -- often exaggerated for effect-- of the stories, there is an effort at realism and regional descriptions that had not been attempted previously.
The forerunners of Mark Twain-- humorists such as Augustus Baldwin Longstreet, Johnson Jones Hooper, Thomas Bangs Thorpe and George Washington Harris (among others) created a place in literature for American vernacular and regional stereotypes. Among the most memorable in the cast of characters are the ring-tailed roarer, confidence man, mighty hunter and durn'd fool. Each characterization serves to create a distinct stereotype of the frontiersman and yeoman westerner. | <urn:uuid:6a5226e2-b811-40e8-ae16-e565997532b9> | CC-MAIN-2015-40 | http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Swhumor/essay.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-40/segments/1443737935954.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20151001221855-00219-ip-10-137-6-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945182 | 368 | 3.40625 | 3 |
“There is a transformation in peoples’ mindsets that changes the way they operate,” said Adam Cannon, Senior Lecturer in Machine Learning at Columbia, at a recent Collaboratory debrief.
Cannon was referring to the impact of innovative curricula that weaves data and computational science into courses taught in all disciplines across Columbia.
The Collaboratory, jointly founded by Columbia Entrepreneurship and the Data Science Institute, now has 14 new courses that teach data and computational science in the context of disciplines ranging from urban planning and advertising to humanities and storytelling.
The Collabatory was founded to prepare tomorrow’s leaders for a data-rich world and for data-driven careers. Students can no longer be considered literate in their respective areas of study unless they are also digitally literate and armed with an understanding of how data science has impacted their domains.
Now they are learning how to use powerful analytical and computational tools in the context of the courses they are already taking in their majors.
All benefit from this transformational mindset that opens them up an interdisciplinary and data-literate understanding the world around them.
Take, for example Data: Past, Present, and Future, which is offered to undergraduates.
The science requirement of the Columbia Core, like its humanistic components, proposes to enable students “to understand the civilization of their own day and to participate effectively in it.” The civilization of our day is one saturated, improved, manipulated, and transformed through the accumulation and analysis of data. Data: Past, Present, and Future gives students the background and skills to understand our civilization of data and to be critical and effective participants in it.
The diversity of classes that the Collaboratory has facilitate reflects the fact that the knowledge needed to enable tomorrow’s graduates to meaningfully engage in today’s data-rich world varies by academic background and discipline. In What is a Book for the 21st Century, a class co-taught by historian Pamela Smith, computer scientist Steven Feiner, and librarian and scholar of the digital humanities Terence Catapano, challenged students to use technology to make the modern equivalent of a 16th century manuscript through the use of 3D interaction, augmented reality, and simulations. Programming, Technology and Analytics for Columbia’s Business School was oversubscribed by business students interested in careers that require digital literacy, either in startups, consulting firms, financial services firms, or “traditional” corporations that strive to make use of data and analytics to innovate their business practices.
The coming year promises to bring an even greater variety of interdisciplinary courses, as well as refined versions of the innovative classes brought about in the 2016-2017 academic year. | <urn:uuid:dbf9b4a4-6fbf-486c-8706-ac7fefe967d8> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | http://entrepreneurship.columbia.edu/2017/06/02/embedding-data-science-traditional-domains-collaboratory-creates-platform-pedagogical-innovation-across-columbia/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084886964.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20180117193009-20180117213009-00010.warc.gz | en | 0.939382 | 555 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Although many readers in Greenville may assume that nearly all medical malpractice cases involve a doctor’s failure to take necessary action, a battery of recent reports have revealed the dangers of doctors providing too much treatment. Researchers from the American College of Physicians suggest that a common test for acid reflux is overused and may have unintended side effects.
When patients visit their doctor with symptoms of acid reflux — a condition about 40 percent American adults have — they may receive an upper endoscopy to look for signs of long-term damage. Although using scopes in this situation can be effective in catching esophageal cancer, physicians warn that it shouldn’t be performed unless absolutely necessary.
The recently released study shows that using scopes in the esophagus can cause “bleeding, tissue infection, and tears in the gastrointestinal tract.” Because of this determination, the study suggests that only in cases where patients are exhibiting bleeding, difficulty swallowing or anemia due to acid reflux.
Currently, a majority of those who receive this test do not need it. Furthermore, the study also indicated that medical providers should be especially cautious about performing upper endoscopies on patients under the age of 50. Because the risk of esophageal cancer is relatively low among younger people, the risk of unintended consequences may outweigh the benefit of conducting the test.
Since acid reflux is a very common condition, it is likely to affect thousands of people in North Carolina. As these individuals seek care, it is important for their doctors to pursue testing and treatment thoughtfully and judiciously.
Source: CBS News, “Most heartburn patients can skip upper endoscopy, guidelines say,” Ryan Janslow, Dec. 4, 2012
- Determining whether doctor or hospital errors led to a medical condition can be a confusing and scary process. To learn more, please see our Raleigh medical malpractice page. | <urn:uuid:bb53570d-58e9-4ea7-b9ca-a40c23f8a219> | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | https://www.melvinfirm.com/blog/2012/12/complications-of-unnecessary-medical-tests-may-be-hard-to-swallow/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323585203.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20211018124412-20211018154412-00234.warc.gz | en | 0.937741 | 395 | 2.625 | 3 |
The season of anticipation is over! All our Advent activities are complete and Christmas Day has come and gone. What now? Do we take down all the decorations and move on to New Year’s?
In our family, we choose to observe the twelve days of Christmas…the days between Christmas Day and Epiphany on January 6th. This marks the beginning of the season of manifestation or recognition. The event recognized most commonly at Epiphany is the Magi’s visit, although both Jesus’ baptism and His first miracle at Cana are also associated with the day. This season and day are generally overlooked in our culture, but giving Epiphany it’s due helps all of us to better understand Jesus, His mission in the world, and our own response to the gift of God’s grace.
We begin on the 26th with the Feast of St. Stephen or “Boxing Day“. Some simple suggestions:
- Read the story of Stephen in Acts 6-8.
- Read about Wenceslaus, Duke of Bohemia and sing his carol.
- The RCA website has more good ideas.
Each of the twelve days, we also do a small activity or reading to lead up to Epiphany.
According to legend, each day in the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” has a Christian meaning behind it:
- My True Love = God
- Partridge in a pear tree = Jesus
- Two turtle doves = Old and New Testaments
- Three french hens = Faith, hope, and charity
- Four calling birds = Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
- Five golden rings = Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy
- Six geese a-laying = Six days of creation
- Seven swans a-swimming = Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Eight maids a-milking = Eight Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 3-10)
- Nine ladies dancing = Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23)
- Ten lords a-leaping = Ten Commandments
- Eleven pipers piping = Eleven faithful apostles
- Twelve drummers drumming = Twelve points of the Apostle’s Creed
Whether or not the legend behind the carol is true, we enjoy reading Helen Haidle’s book, The 12 Days of Christmas: The Story Behind a Favorite Christmas Song and coloring pages from The Christian Origin of the Twelve Days of Christmas: A Children’s Activity Book each day.
We also enjoy learning about traditions around the world and reading books like The Legend of Old Befana and The Story of the Three Wise Kings by Tomie dePaola. I’ve mentioned the book Celebrating the Christian Year before, it has some wonderful ideas for this day also. On Twelfth Night or Epiphany, we have a small celebration with a King’s Cake and sometimes a small family gift (a DVD to watch together, a new board or card game, or something along those lines). I’ll share more about what we’re doing over the next week or two, and these links have some great information too:
- Twelve Ideas for Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas
- The Real Twelve Days of Christmas
- Keeping Christmas: All Twelve Days
- Family Ideas for Epiphany
- Reclaiming Epiphany
Also be sure to follow my daily series for each of the twelve days, “The REAL Twelve Days of Christmas”:
- The Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany: Celebrating “God With Us”
- Day One: A Partridge in a Pear Tree
- Day Two: Two Turtle Doves
- Day Three: Three French Hens
- Day Four: Four Calling Birds
- Day Five: Five Golden Rings
- Day Six: Six Geese A-Laying
- Day Seven: Seven Swans A-Swimming
- Day Eight: Eight Maids A-Milking
- Day Nine: Nine Ladies Dancing
- Day Ten: Ten Lords A-Leaping
- Day Eleven: Eleven Pipers Piping
- Day Twelve: Twelve Drummers Drumming
- Epiphany is Here!
We’ve found that spreading our celebration throughout the Advent and Epiphany season by observing Advent, St. Nicholas Day, the twelve days of Christmas, and Epiphany really helps our family focus on the spirit of generosity and giving and what Christ’s birth actually means for us rather than being distracted by all the commercialization and greediness that seems to characterize so much of the season. | <urn:uuid:bb97e3e4-823f-458f-a137-f017bee1ecb6> | CC-MAIN-2015-48 | http://homewithpurpose.net/2010/12/the-twelve-days-of-christmas-and-epiphany-focusing-on-god-with-us.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-48/segments/1448398460263.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20151124205420-00326-ip-10-71-132-137.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.88835 | 995 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Jeudi 23 février à 17h : Charles West (Sheffield), ‘The Lost Kingdom: a British perspective on the collapse of Lotharingia’
The Treaty of Verdun had seen the division of the Carolingian world between Charlemagne’s three surviving grandsons, Lothair I (who inherited the imperial title), Louis the German and Charles the Bald. Then appeared the Francia media, a wide territory between Italy and the North Sea, and which returned to Lothair I who could thus take possession of the former unitary capital, Aachen. Lothair I, however, died in 855, forcing a new division. His son Lothair II then took possession of a realm between Meuse and Rhine that now bore his name, Lotharingia. Rich, willingly rebellious but divided into rival families, the regional nobility led for more than a century a delicate policy of switching between West Francia and Germania. Memories of this period were often reactivated by European historiography: first by the Bourbons, to justify the rights of the Crown of France over Lorraine, then by the nascent Germany, to negotiate its western borders. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the memory of the lost Francia media was also an element of identity for the young Luxemburg. Now torn between five European countries, this phantom kingdom of the tenth century remains an object of fantasy: the dream of a lost unity that probably never existed. The purpose of this conference is to show the profound renewal that historiography has undergone through the hitherto marginal point of view of British historians.
Charles West is professor in Medieval History at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on Europe in the ninth and tenth centuries. His publications include The Divorce of King Lothar and Queen Theutberga: Hincmar of Rheims’s De divortio (Manchester University Press, 2016). | <urn:uuid:f6bb3b82-5b78-4838-a6ef-1cc8422ab0cb> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://sfbh.hypotheses.org/1581 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224644867.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20230529141542-20230529171542-00689.warc.gz | en | 0.932227 | 399 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Doctors and others warn against the dangers of an unhealthy diet and promote those good-for-you foods such as fish, vegetables, and fruits as the go-to diet for good health and weight management. But,if you’re stressed, those good foods that you’re eating may actually be going to waste! Can this really happen?
- A new study from the journal Molecular Psychiatry found evidence that daily stress can negate the effects of healthy eating. Does that mean that a frustrating morning commute or a difficult day at work really tricks the body into thinking that kale Caesar salad is a cheesesteak?
- The experiment looked at two types of fat: saturated fats, like the ones found in meat and dairy, which can be pro-inflammatory and lead to tissue damage in vital organs; and oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat, found in vegetable oils and in poultry fat, which has the opposite effect.
- The results of the blood tests showed that the bodies of the unstressed women reacted differently to both meals, but the blood tests of the “stressed” women showed that their bodies reacted similarly to both meals
“To determine whether stress made the body react to monounsaturated fat as if it were saturated fat, the experiment required that each woman eat two almost identical meals of eggs, turkey sausage, and biscuits and gravy, on two separate occasions, over the span of one to four weeks.” | <urn:uuid:991f7de7-e295-4e98-b1fd-0f28737b1629> | CC-MAIN-2021-17 | https://www.massage-chair-relief.com/blog/can-stress-counteract-the-good-effects-of-healthy-eating-the-daily-meal/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618038084765.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20210415095505-20210415125505-00366.warc.gz | en | 0.966367 | 297 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Offsets
One of the leading international carbon offsetting standards
The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) is one of the leading standards for voluntary carbon offsetting.
It provides a credible but simple set of criteria that will provide integrity to the voluntary carbon market. The VCS will ensure that all project-based voluntary emission reductions that are independently verified to meet its criteria – defined as Voluntary Carbon Units (VCUs) - represent real, quantifiable, additional and permanent project-based emission reductions.
The VCS has created registries which are used to register, transfer and retire VCU’s from the market and therefore prevent double counting.
There are 10 minimum threshold criteria which the emission reduction project must satisfy in order for its reductions to meet the Verified Carbon Standard and be verified and registered.
1) The offset project must be one of the endorsed project categories
2) The emission reduction must involve any of the 6 GHG’s currently included within the Kyoto Protocol
3) The project start date or emission reduction must be on or after January 1st 2000
4) The crediting period should be a single crediting period of 10 years commencing from the project’s start date
5) The project boundary shall encompass all anthropogenic emissions by sources of GHG’s. Incorporating all primary effects (intended changes in emissions caused by the project) and significant secondary effects (unintended emissions caused by the project). The project will only use one project boundary to avoid double counting.
6) Secondary effects are to be incorporated into the calculation methodology
7) The calculation methodology is to use CDM Executive board approved calculations for determining the emission reduction where possible. Combinations of approved methodologies can be used. The proponent may use a performance standard or best practice approach when a CDM methodology is not available either in its entirety or as a combination.
8) The project activity must be additional i.e. the emission reduction must be below what would have occurred in the absence of the project.
9) The project must not have any negative impact on the sustainable development in the local community.
10) The project must use the most recent emission reduction monitoring protocol that has been approved by the CDM executive board or the JI supervisory committee. | <urn:uuid:49b0f539-fc53-4f4e-b52d-e5b6ae47d001> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | https://www.carbonfootprint.com/vcs.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818687333.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20170920161029-20170920181029-00180.warc.gz | en | 0.91393 | 477 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Jackson-Weiss Syndrome (JWS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by foot and skull abnormalities. It involves premature fusions of the skull and foot bones. It can also cause symptoms such as developmental delay and seizures.
Causes of Jackson-Weiss Syndrome
The causes of Jackson-Weiss Syndrome are mostly genetics although it doesn't always occur every generation. The gene responsible for bone growth has a defect and over produces bone tissue. This is what leads to the abnormal bone growth.
Most children with Jackson-Weiss Syndrome will have foot abnormalities. The great toes are short and wide and they bend away from other toes. Some bones within the toes may be abnormally fused together or misshapen.
How to Treat Children's Feet with Jackson-Weiss Syndrome
Most often treatment involves surgery on the feet and the skull. If you think your child has Jackson-Weiss Syndrome, talk to you doctor. | <urn:uuid:cd44e18b-d791-4780-9a63-50c2ec150fd0> | CC-MAIN-2018-43 | https://www.stopfootpainfast.com/library/jackson-weiss-syndrome.cfm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-43/segments/1539583513804.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20181021073314-20181021094814-00320.warc.gz | en | 0.932743 | 182 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Today, September 17, was our first ladder game. All students were required to take notation. I asked those who had taken notation before to challenge those who are new to notation. That way, the experienced chess players were able to help their opponents keep up their score sheets. The player who won in the least amount of moves got first place on the ladder, the second fastest winner (in terms of moves played) earned the second spot on the ladder, and so forth. Now that the ladder is established, the next time we have a ladder game it will proceed as documented in Read, Write, Checkmate: 32 Chess Activities for Inquiry and Problem Solving. | <urn:uuid:c3c7de20-c75a-4b6c-a0ee-d4ec005bc2e5> | CC-MAIN-2019-18 | https://www.monroi.com/chess-blog/chess-experts/dr-alexey-root/high-school-chess-meeting-three.html?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578582736.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20190422215211-20190423000254-00014.warc.gz | en | 0.990467 | 133 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Coolant is one of the essential fluids that keeps your car running at peak performance, but it’s also one that most owners tend to overlook until it’s too late.
The best way to prevent getting stranded on the shoulder of a highway with a smoking engine starts with paying attention to your car’s coolant level.
In the following post, Automotive Training Center got to the bottom of some common coolant misconceptions and explored how today’s coolant is changing.
What Is Coolant and What Does It Do?
Coolant is a liquid mixture made from a 50/50 ratio of ethylene glycol and water.
Coolant’s main responsibility is to keep your car’s engine at its desired temperature for optimal performance. While this is often thought of as cooling the engine down (hence being called “coolant”), in the winter months, coolant protects the inner engine from freezing, which is why it’s also referred to as “antifreeze.”
Why’s It So Important?
Most people understand the value coolant provides in preventing your vehicle from going from one temperature extreme to the other. But, think about how important the temperature of the engine is to your car’s overall performance, specifically how it affects the thickness and effectiveness of engine oil.
Coolant then becomes more than just another car care fluid; it’s one that can dictate your car’s health on a grand scale.
Old Coolant vs New Coolant
Today’s car radiator systems are vastly different from the ones that were found in new models produced even a few years ago. New cars can’t withstand old, silicate-based coolant for much more than 15,000 miles.
To progress, the latest, quality coolant formulas have been engineered to last longer while protecting both new and old systems. In comparison, present-day formulas only need to be flushed out and replaced every five years or 150,000 miles of driving (in accordance with your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations).
Best Practices for Taking Care of Coolant
Five years is ample time to lose touch with your car’s coolant level, and doing so can lead your vehicle down the fast track to overheating. Here’s how to make sure your car’s coolant level stays full and continues to protect and optimize your engine’s environment:
- Stick to your vehicle’s recommended routine service schedule.
- Check coolant once a month and refill as needed.
Your service technician should check all fluid levels and top off where appropriate when you bring your car in for routine maintenance, but many times coolant level requires extra care on the part of the vehicle owner.
If you continually need to keep topping off coolant, this could indicate a leak and should be brought up to your technician.
Get More Tips from the Shop
As cars advance, so do the practices and procedures automotive technicians need to perform to help customers get the most out of their investments.
If you’re interested in reading about other crucial services that help maximize a car’s safety, longevity, and overall performance, download Automotive Training Center’s free eBook, How Automotive Technicians Handle Scheduled Vehicle Service, today. | <urn:uuid:f430dedb-66f8-42ce-8739-1ba4f8474cb4> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | https://www.autotraining.edu/blog/how-to-address-engine-coolant-before-things-go-wrong/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232254882.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20190519121502-20190519143502-00251.warc.gz | en | 0.94286 | 690 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Producertech releases Producer’s Guide to Music Theory with Maschine
Producertech has launched Producer’s Guide to Music Theory with Maschine, a video tutorial course by Rob Jones.
If you own Maschine and feel you could do with a bit more knowledge on the theoretical side of music, to help you understand how to create basslines, chord sequences and other musical parts in a particular key, then this course is for you.
Created by accomplished music producer and classically trained musician, Rob Jones, the course begins by explaining the principles of the key of a song and what major and minor scales are, before showing how that knowledge can be used to make melodies or riffs using various intervals and chords, in order to produce basslines, a main hook, lead or pad sound, to create the main groove or form the breakdown of a track.
As well as showing many examples of all of the techniques taught, which are outlined in the written notes and saved into the Maschine project files that come with the course, there are also exercise projects, for practicing identifying keys and making basslines or chord sequences, to put your newly acquired skills to the test. Check out the free lesson excerpt below before signing up, for an example of the course content and delivery…
The course is available for purchase for £19.95 GBP. | <urn:uuid:95d2f50a-ded6-4fe6-a841-fd0da8c015e3> | CC-MAIN-2015-06 | http://rekkerd.org/producertech-producers-guide-music-theory-maschine/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-06/segments/1422122080417.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20150124175440-00127-ip-10-180-212-252.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940646 | 280 | 2.515625 | 3 |
There is a big difference between a normal writer and a good writer in terms of what they produce in writings. Good writers write perfectly hence produce better content than average or poor ones. It doesn’t require magic to transform a person into a good writer, as the skills can be attained through knowledge and practice. However, becoming good at writing isn’t as easy as it seems, and there are no shortcuts to being a good writer. A way to develop from a poor or an average writer into a better one is by following tips and practicing regularity.
There are times when you will have to learn from your mistakes on your journey into a good writer. Other times may not offer you room for error as any mistake will have severe consequences on you. Therefore, you need to learn how to become a good writer before it’s too late. The process is long and hard before a person can qualify as a good writer. Sometimes, a writer may not have enough time to sharpen skills through experience as needed to produce good writings early. They will need to advance fast into good writers, and here is where techniques with steps come in.
Becoming a good writer is hard but not impossible, so it’s necessary to apply principles to improve yourself. These principles will help a writer speed up the process while avoiding errors in writing. Remember, a good writer is the one who constructs their writings in a way that they communicate efficiently to the reader. To achieve this, the first principle is to practice writing every day. You don’t have to write much but make sure to communicate efficiently through writings to a reader. It can be a paragraph or a sentence where you will have to ensure there are minimal grammatical or punctuation errors. When practicing every day, make sure to go for quality, not quantity, to sharpen your skills.
Another way to become a good writer is by writing first, then later editing, and not doing both at once. Getting ideas from your head into constructive sentences is hard enough to exhaust your brain. Editing your work while doing this will overwork your brain, making you less productive. A less productive writer isn’t a good one, so it’s better first to write, then later edit what you have written. A writer can write, then edit the content later when the mind has had time to rest.
When you are about to have a big writing project, always sleep with a notebook. You might wake up in the middle of a night with ideas in your mind. If you don’t write them on time, they might disappear the next morning. Writers who do this won’t have to hold on to the idea when sleeping. Developing a consistent working routine is also a way to become a good writer. Make sure to always write at the same time each day to develop a habit. This will make it easier and comfortable for you to work next time.Tags: How to reviews a good writer, How writer works, Type of writers | <urn:uuid:5b1aa1dd-5316-44d2-ba82-57e496609770> | CC-MAIN-2021-21 | https://writersinterviews.com/feature/becoming-a-good-writer/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-21/segments/1620243991258.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20210517150020-20210517180020-00430.warc.gz | en | 0.971641 | 615 | 3 | 3 |
The Grand Terminus Hotel was designed by H. French and the construction supervised by J. French. During the final stages of construction on Saturday August 3, 1889 the Bairnsdale Advertiser wrote “the building is fit for any city in the world” and that “the quality features are beyond words”.
The very elegant and much admiredBairnsdale Advertiser – August 3, 1889
mantle pieces manufactured by Mr R,
Kroekel, of the Bairnsdale Steam Saw
and Moulding Mills, speaks well for the
high class work
The final stone was laid on 1 August 1889.
The reverse side of the final stone has an engraving of the Hotel with the words Grand Terminus Hotel. The location of the stone remains a mystery.
Macleod street on which the hotel is built is named after Archibald MacLeod, in circa 1845 Archibald was the first settler to take up land in the area. He called his run “Bernisdale” after his birthplace on the Isle of Skye.
The area of Bairnsdale was originally occupied by the Kurnai Aborigines, it was surveyed in 1840 by Angus McMillan. Angus is famed for naming the Mitchell River where Bairnsdale is built.
In 1842 Frederick Jones was the first European settler in the now Bairnsdale area. He settled at what is now know as Lucknow and used his land to breed horses for the Indian market.
The railway arrived in 1888 and hence the building name Grand Terminus. | <urn:uuid:88265a74-2017-4886-806d-3f26cef86b81> | CC-MAIN-2019-26 | http://www.grandterminus.com.au/hotel-history/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-26/segments/1560627999041.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20190619204313-20190619230313-00519.warc.gz | en | 0.979973 | 334 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Assistant Professor at
b Graduate Student at
A Graph that Visualizes Social Science Sequence Data
Two sequences (e.g., aabcb and abcaa) may be compared using a distance measure. The optimal matching algorithm computes the total number of substitutions and insertions (or deletions) required to transform one sequence to another (Abbott and Hrycak 1990). The optimal matching algorithm may be used to compute the adjacency matrix of any collection of sequences. In this diagram, two sequences are adjacent if their optimal matching distance is equal to one. Other distances may be used in different applications. Therefore, one may visualize the entire space of sequences of length T that employ N symbols using a graph based on the optimal matching algorithm. In creating a two dimensional representation of the graph, sequences that use only the Kth symbol are placed at the coordinates (sin (K2π/N), cos(K2π/N)). Thus, the “pure” sequences (e.g., aaaaa) are at the corners of a “star” with N corners. Other sequences are placed according to their most common symbol (e.g., a is the most common symbol of aaabb). If f is the frequency of the most common symbol in a sequence, the coordinates are f/T x (sin (K2π/N), cos(K2π/N)). The coordinates are randomly perturbed to prevent excessive node overlap. Informally, the homogeneous (“pure”) sequences are placed at the end points of a star with N points, others are placed on the interior, but close to the “pure” sequence with whom they share the most common symbol (e.g., aaabb and aaaaa are close to each other).
Graph visualization may guide
analysis of observed sequences. Contrasting the sub-graph of observed sequences
and the graph of all possible sequences can provide additional insight into the
types of trajectories that may occur within the sample. We illustrate this idea
with data from the
Abbott, Andrew and Alexandra Hrycak. 1990. "Measuring Resemblance in Sequence Data: An
Optimal Matching Analysis of Musicians' Careers." American Journal of Sociology 96:144-185.
PEER REVIEW COMMENT No. 1
This visualization explores the distribution of State Higher Education grades by comparing all possible grading sequences to the observed sequences. The contrast between the constructed sequences in red and the observed sequences in blue illustrate the restricted range in which grades are actually given out. Moreover, the observed sequences show strong regional clustering in grades ( perhaps mapping onto geographical variation on educational funding or institutional strength?). This sequence graph clearly shows the state space for the outcomes of interest; it isn’t as “clean” as one might like, since many of the sequences run over each other (and the resolution seems low), making it somewhat difficult to read.
PEER REVIEW COMMENT No. 2
This visualization lays out the full range of possible combinations of grades on a state report card of key performance indicators and shows that of the many possible sequences, the empirical distribution tends to be very concentrated. The use of color contrast nicely highlights the state trajectories that have been mapped in blue against a backdrop of the red solution space with the A/B trajectories predominately representing Northern states and the C/D trajectories predominately representing Southern States. Although the non-random nature of the empirical distribution is clearly represented by this visualization, it is hard to find an overall pattern, and one wonders if there might be a way to somehow sharpen this display to layer more information?
PEER REVIEW COMMENT No. 3
This network diagram makes great use transforming distance. It also arrays the actual data in a permutation space, giving us a great sense of how this data falls within the space of all possibilities. I wonder how this visual might look if the y-axis was sensitive to trajectory – what would it tell us we could distinguish states with consistently improving grades from those without? | <urn:uuid:4a16ef61-b379-45c6-b523-db3de69940ef> | CC-MAIN-2014-41 | http://www.cmu.edu/joss/content/articles/volume11/4_Rojas_Foston.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-41/segments/1410657127285.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20140914011207-00251-ip-10-196-40-205.us-west-1.compute.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917585 | 839 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Understanding Your Child’s Hearing Aids
“Everyday use of properly working hearing aids will help your child hear speech better.”
This brochure is ideal to give to parents or caregivers whose child has just been fitted with hearing aids. It explains the importance of hearing on speech development and how hearing aids work. It gives advice on looking after hearing aids at home, and ways to help the child get used to wearing them and keeping them on.
Space to personalize with your contact information.
Format: Fold-out brochure
Trim Size: 9 inches x 4 inches
Pages: 8 panels | <urn:uuid:1513d897-3b90-436d-8bbb-f9351584c5b5> | CC-MAIN-2016-36 | http://www.asha.org/eWeb/OLSDynamicPage.aspx?Webcode=olsdetails&title=Understanding+Your+Child%E2%80%99s+Hearing+Aids | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471982298977.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823195818-00289-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.909754 | 127 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Endangered Species Act protections won't be extended to the tiny pika, wildlife officials announce
Climate change might be hurting some populations of the American pika, a relative of the rabbit, but not enough to warrant endangered species protection for the tiny mountain-dwelling animal, according to a decision released Thursday.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service posted a copy of its decision on a federal website stating that while some pika populations in the West are declining, others are not, so it would not extend Endangered Species Act protections.
If they had been allowed, the pika would have been the first animal in the continental United States listed because of the effects of global warming.
Although potentially vulnerable to climate change in some parts of its range, pikas will have enough high-elevation habitat to survive, the agency said.
"We acknowledge there is going to be some decline at some locations, but the pika is widespread enough, across a range of habitat, that it appears it would not threaten the long-term survival and existence of the species," Larry Crist, supervisor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Utah, said Thursday afternoon.
Greg Loarie, an Earthjustice attorney who worked on lawsuits pressing for protections for the pika, said science clearly points toward dramatic reductions in pika populations in the coming decades because of warming temperatures.
"To conclude this species is not threatened by climate change strikes me as an impossible gamble," Loarie said.
The pika lives mostly in high, rocky mountain slopes in 10 Western states.
The animals are well-suited for alpine conditions, but as temperatures warm they're forced to move up-slope. In some places, scientists said the pika has run out of room to run and populations have disappeared. Even brief exposure to temperatures of 78 degrees or warmer can cause death.
A study in 2003 found six of 25 previously known pika populations in the Great Basin -- which stretches across Nevada and into surrounding states -- had disappeared, primarily because of the effects of warming temperatures. Since then, pikas have probably disappeared from more places in the basin, scientists said.
"This is a species which is a poster child of species that are targeted by global warming," said Stuart Pimm, a professor of conservation ecology at Duke University.
The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the government in 2007 to protect the pika.
Since then, the case has been closely watched by legal experts, not only for its near-term effects on the pika but also for long-term implications for other species.
"Climate change is changing everything. It's changing the law, it's pushing the courts to confront a problem that the legislative branch has yet to address," said Pat Parenteau, a professor at Vermont Law School who specializes in endangered species and climate change.
"But right now, in the absence of any meaningful controls on these sources of carbon dioxide, the Endangered Species Act is a potential tool."
The Bush administration listed the polar bear as a threatened species in 2008 because of the threats of global warming. Officials quickly completed regulations, though, to ensure the listing couldn't be used to block projects that contribute to global warming. The Obama administration's Interior secretary, Ken Salazar, has refused to rescind that rule, which is being challenged in court.
The pika lives in parts of California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
-- Associated Press
Photo: J. MacKenzie / Pikaworks | <urn:uuid:272df70d-670c-4ccf-9508-80b15f173865> | CC-MAIN-2014-52 | http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/02/endangered-species-act-protections-wont-be-extended-to-the-tiny-pika-wildlife-officials-announce.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-52/segments/1418802775225.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20141217075255-00092-ip-10-231-17-201.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953407 | 733 | 3.25 | 3 |
What are preventative approaches in the area of classroom/group behavioral management?
Preventative approaches include anything a teacher implements to prevent undesirable behaviors. Instead of waiting for problem behaviors to occur, proactive techniques implemented successfully decrease the likelihood of problem behaviors and promote positive behavioral choices in the classroom. Many teachers are not proactive or prevention oriented, which logically results in an increase in behavior problems in their classrooms.
Why is it important to use preventative behavior management in the classroom?
Traditional approaches to managing problem behaviors have not been responsive to the behavioral and learning characteristics of students (Colvin, Kameenui, & Sugai, 1993). School settings have typically relied upon reactive behavior management techniques to attempt to decrease inappropriate and increase appropriate school behavior. Typical reactive techniques used in schools include teacher reprimands, office referrals, loss of privileges, detentions, suspensions, and expulsions. Use of these reactive techniques are imbedded in schools even though research does not support the use of such interventions and has even suggested that the use of these reactive techniques has a detrimental effect on student behavior.
On the other hand, preventative supports in the classroom has a growing body of research that support their use. They include a variety of proactive techniques and approaches that involve structuring the classroom environment to promote desirable behaviors, engagement in learning, and a positive classroom climate in which students understand expectations and can be successful both behaviorally and academically. By implementing these supports, teachers are more likely to be successful in increasing appropriate and decreasing inappropriate classroom behavior than exclusively relying on traditional reactive approaches.
What characteristics does an effective preventative approach include?
The literature discusses many different preventative and proactive techniques. Much of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports literature (PBIS) outlines countless ways to structure the learning environment to prevent problem behaviors. Effective proactive behavior management programs are responsive to individual and group behaviors for school interactions and participation (Carpenter, McKee-Higgins, 1996).
Table 1: Characteristics of Effective, Proactive Behavior Management Systems
Source: (Carpenter, McKee-Higgins, 1996)
Use instructional techniques to develop desired behaviors
Approaches acquisition of behavioral skills similar to the way academic skills are taught. Provides students structured opportunities for students to learn and practice desirable behaviors.
Promote a positive climate to motivate students
Targets both teacher and student behaviors for intervention. Teacher structures classroom environment to facilitate productive work habits and positive interpersonal interactions.
Are dynamic and responsive to students’ changing behavioral skills
Teachers adjust interventions in response to students’ changing behaviors. Teachers respond to misbehaviors using a continuum of behavior management techniques that correspond to severity and importance of the problem.
Use collegial interactions to support teachers’ use of effective procedures
Teachers utilize colleagues or consultants to assist them in developing an effective proactive plan. Outside observers tend to see the classroom through an objective eye which can be crucial in developing a system for improving behavior.
What are some different types of preventative supports?
A consistent classroom schedule is an important component of classroom structure. Predictability in the day allows students to establish a routine in which expectations for the day are clearly defined. Within the established schedule, it is important for teachers to be prepared and for all staff involved in instruction to have their roles and duties clearly defined. The schedule should involve high rates of academic engagement. Consistency and routine allow little opportunity for down-time for students to engage in problem behaviors.
Classroom Rules and Expectations
It is very important to have an established set of rules and expectations for the students in your classroom. Students can be an integral part of determining class rules that are essential to providing a calm and respectful learning environment. The teacher must be consistent in following rules and routines established in the classroom. Focusing on desired behaviors and their consequences are more likely to bring about positive results.
Example of positive rules:
(Carpenter, McKee-Higgins, 1996)
- Feet Flat
- Hands on Lap
- Eyes on Teacher
- Mouth Closed
- Ears Listening
Direct Instruction of Expectations and Routines
Teachers often make the mistake of assuming students know how to line up, listen in groups, walk in the hall, hand in papers, etc. Unfortunately, this mindset that students should “just know” what is expected of them has not served teachers or students well. Teachers must look at student acquisition of desired behaviors just as they approach the learning of academic behaviors. Only through direct instruction can educators be certain that students will learn and master desired behaviors and expectations in the classroom. Teachers need to provide direct instruction of desired behaviors and classroom routines, provide opportunities to practice desired behaviors, and deliver reinforcement for correct behavioral responses in the classroom (Carpenter, McKee-Higgins, 1996).
Teacher may choose to “precorrect” for desired behaviors. Precorrections function as reminders by providing students with opportunities to practice or be prompted concerning expected behavior before they enter situations in which displays of problem behaviors are likely (Colvin, Sugai, Patching, 1993). For example, if a class typically has difficulty in line, students could be asked to recall the four expectations for acceptable behavior in line before lining up. (e.g. walking feet, resting mouth, hands and feet to self, behind the person in front of you).
Most school districts have a set curriculum that is to be delivered to students to ensure mastery of essential learner outcomes. It is the teacher’s responsibility, however, to ensure that they are using effective instructional strategies and modifications to meet all students’ needs. Through differentiating instruction to meet student needs, students are most likely to remain engaged in learning. Teachers not only need to maintain appropriate instructional techniques, but need to make sure they have an appropriate schedule of reinforcement for task engagement.
Holding regular class meetings has been an effective way to involve students in setting expectations in the classroom and following through with them in a democratic setting. Students and teachers are given a forum to discuss issues, set goals, and participate in peaceful conflict resolution. Students of all ages can participate in class meetings. Primary students would benefit from a structured meeting where specific expectations are discussed through the use of puppets and/or role playing.
Recommended Structure for Class Meetings
(McEwan-Landau & Gathercoal, 2000)
- Determine who can call a class meeting and when it should be held. (Some teachers say anyone, anytime, anyplace. Others determine specific times, and places for meetings).
- Meet in a circle where everyone can see faces of all participants.
- Establish expectation that names will never be used in a class meeting so as not to put people on the defensive or cause ill feelings.
- Establish expectation that all meetings stay on topic.
- Never coerce a student into participating. Students should be able to pass if they feel the need to do so.
- Maintain class meeting journals (both teachers and students).
- Carpenter, S.L. & McKee-Higgins, E. (1996). Behavior management in inclusive
- classrooms. Remedial and Special Education, 17, 195-203.
- Colvin, G., Kameenui, E.J., & Sugai, G. (1993). Reconceptualizing behavior
management and school-wide discipline in general education. Education and
Treatment of Children, 16, 361-381.
- Colvin, G., Sugai, G., & Patching, B., (1993). Precorrection: An instructional approach
- for managing predictable problem behaviors. Intervention in School and Clinic, 28(3), 143-150.
- McEwan-Landau, B., Gathercoal, P. (2000). Creating peaceful classrooms: Judicious
- discipline and class meetings. Phi Delta Kappan, 81 (6), 450-452, 454. | <urn:uuid:520816a1-e48b-4341-9324-25b2e03e77e3> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.specialconnections.ku.edu/?q=behavior_plans/classroom_and_group_support/teacher_tools/preventative_approaches | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999640501/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060720-00041-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922033 | 1,633 | 3.625 | 4 |
Leading UK biomass technology provider Myriad Heat and Power has released an ingenious Herz biomass boiler, which can be sustained entirely by poultry litter. Officially launched at this year s British Pig & Poultry Fair at the NAEC Stoneleigh, the brand-new Herz 995kW Industrial boiler has been created particularly for the poultry industry. Find more info on accessories
Available to purchase now, the Herz poultry litter boiler is completely compliant with the stringent Animal Plant & Health Agency requirements and features hard using Hardox and stainless-steel components to cope with the corrosive and abrasive nature of the fuel, along with a combustion chamber electronic camera that supplies live imaging inside the boiler
Virginia Tech converting boilers at steam plant from coal to gas
Virginia Tech is making its power plant cleaner for the environment. The work began in summer 2015 when the university installed a 4 mile-long, 8 inch in size pipeline across school. Now rather of running the boilers on coal, the school will use gas which will minimize carbon emissions. Virginia Tech's boiler conversion task is part of the school's Climate Action Commitment that was established in 2009. With this modification, the school's power plant will cut its carbon emissions in half by 2020.
Chief of Staff in the school's Facilities Operations John Beach discussed, "It's in line with the university's Climate Action Commitment to be environmentally accountable and to lower greenhouse gas emissions in operations."
Don't Run Your Boiler without This One Secret Element
The average house owner hardly ever offers the boiler a reservation up until there’s an issue. As the engine that drives a steam or hot-water heating system, boilers typically deliver safe, trustworthy performance. They’re not problem-free. On the contrary, boilers are susceptible to a range of concerns. The most serious boiler failure likewise occurs to be the most common, according to the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors. It’s a condition known as dry shooting, and its consequences can be not just destructive however hazardous. Dry firing can turn your boiler into a ticking time bomb, says Daniel O Brian, a technical specialist with SupplyHouse.com.Of course, steam and hot-water heating unit are intricate in design, but dry firing usually stems from a basic cause a burst pipe, for example, or a loose fitting. | <urn:uuid:10e0a3e5-8df2-4c9d-a3ca-ba3f50952631> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://www.kinsennoodles.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320666.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626013946-20170626033946-00412.warc.gz | en | 0.937401 | 477 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Treatment of damaged bones with pulsed magnetic therapy dates back to the mid-20th century, but the specific therapeutic effects have not been fully explained. The research team (Yang Wei et al., 2008) therefore focused on mechanisms of cells (MC3T3–E1) which affect the formation and development of bone (osteogenesis).
This research came with important revelation about osteoblasts – cells that work in groups to form bone.
The results showed that the maturity of the cells plays important role in the effectiveness of pulsed magnetic therapy. Simply put, low-frequency pulsed magnetic field initially accelerates reproduction of primary osteoblasts (proliferation). Only after their maturation it further promotes cell differentiation into bone cells.
In other words, low-frequency pulsed magnetic therapy not only helps to heal bones, but it also promotes the entire process of ossification.
Reference: Yang Wei et al. (2008) Effects of Extremely Low-Frequency-Pulsed Electromagnetic Field on Different-Derived Osteoblast-Like Cells. Electromagnetic Biology & Medicine. 27 (3), 298–311.
Effects of extremely low-frequency-pulsed electromagnetic field on different-derived osteoblast-like cells
You can contact us using the form below and check Biomag’s patented 3D pulsed magnetic therapy for yourself.
Our consultants will contact you as soon as possible and suggest the ideal solution for you.
Related diagnosis: Osteoporosis, osteochondritis
Find out more about PEMF: Principle of Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) | <urn:uuid:bf3e08d8-599e-4bc4-9f20-4bef5b84f51e> | CC-MAIN-2019-51 | https://www.biomag-medical.com/treatment-of-damaged-bones/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-51/segments/1575540501887.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20191207183439-20191207211439-00387.warc.gz | en | 0.878933 | 340 | 2.671875 | 3 |
(Photo: Cesar Bojorquez: Flickr.com )
Playas de Rosarito, 12 miles south of the U.S. border in the Mexican state of Baja California, is more than just a popular beach resort. Throughout its long history, it has also been an active missionary site and a major Hollywood filming location.
The area now known as Playas de Rosarito was originally inhabited by the semi-nomadic Kumiai Indians, who subsisted on hunting and fishing in the area they called Wa-cuatay.
Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was the first European to visit the Rosarito area, in the 16th century, according to the city’s website. He was followed a century later by Jesuit priests, who built a mission in an effort to convert the locals. By the 18th century, Franciscan and Dominican missionaries had taken over for the Jesuits, who had been expelled from Spain and its colonies by the Spanish monarchy.
In 1773, Father Francisco Palou established the first boundary between mainland California and Baja California when he planted a crucifix atop a pile of stones in the Rosarito valley. Shortly thereafter, the settlement that the missionaries had named Mision de San Arcangel de la Frontera became known as El Rosario. It later became Playas de Rosarito after the Mexican government granted a concession for the area to Joaquin Machado on May 14, 1885, the date now considered to mark the founding of modern Rosarito.
In the early 19th century, pioneering families from mainland California began to settle in the Rosarito valley. Their primary activity was ranching, which was the area's main economy for the next century. Beginning in the 1920s, the tourism industry began to take off after Rene’s Hotel and the Hotel Rosarito Beach opened along the town’s long, broad beach.
The 1950s marked the start of a period of modern urban planning and development, which saw the widespread construction of new streets, hospitality infrastructure and a large thermoelectric plant. In 1996, Fox Studios built a facility at Playas de Rosarito, where such films as “Titanic,” “Pearl Harbor” and “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” were shot. A year earlier, the Baja California state government granted Playas de Rosarito status as a “municipio,” a Mexican political designation roughly equivalent to a U.S. county.
Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY. | <urn:uuid:27e13fb7-b4dd-4098-9a78-6d90b951dd17> | CC-MAIN-2019-04 | https://traveltips.usatoday.com/history-rosarito-mexico-21334.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547584334618.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20190123151455-20190123173455-00631.warc.gz | en | 0.962588 | 556 | 2.625 | 3 |
"The length and width of the roll depended on the taste or convenience of the writer. The contents were written in columns, the lines of which ran parallel to the long dimension, and the reader, holding the roll in both hands, rolled up the part he had finished with his left hand, and unrolled the unread portion with his right. This way of dealing with the roll is well shewn in the accompanying illustration (fig. 9) reduced from a fresco at Pompeii. In most examples the two halves of the roll are turned inwards, as for instance in the well-known statue of Demosthenes in the Vatican. The end of the roll was fastened to a stick (usually referred to as umbilicus or umbilici). . . .
"These sticks were sometimes painted or gilt, and furnished with projecting knobs (cornua) similarly decorated, intended to serve both as an ornament, and as a contrivance to keep the ends of the roll even, while it was being rolled up. The sides of the long dimension of the roll (frontes) were carefully cut, so as to be perfectly symmetical, and afterwards smoothed with pumice-stone and coloured. A ticket (index or titulus, in Greek ... [sillubos or sittubos]), made of a piece of papyrus or parchment, was fastened to the edge of the roll in such a way that it hung out over one or the of the ends. . . .
"The roll was kept closed by strings or straps (lora), usually of some bright colour; and if it was specially precious, an envelope, which the Greeks called a jacket (. . . [dipthera]), made of parchment or some other substance, was provided. . . .
"When the number of rolls had to be carried from one place to another, they were put into a box (scrinium or capsa). This receptacle was cylindrical in shape, not unlike a modern hat-box. It was usually carried by a flexible handle, attached to a ring on each side; and the lid was held down by what looks very like a modern lock. The eighteen rolls, found in a bundle at Herculaneum, had doubtless been kept in a similar receptacle..
"My illustration (fig. 10) is from a fresco at Herculaneum. It will be noticed that each roll is furnished with a ticket (index or titulus). At the feet of the statue of Demosthenes already referred to, and that of Sophocles in the Lateran, are capsae, both shewing the flexible handles" (Clark, The Care of Books 331-32). | <urn:uuid:08ba5b3d-1e75-4e23-8aed-fb4672b1bdda> | CC-MAIN-2016-40 | http://www.historyofinformation.com/expanded.php?id=3088 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-40/segments/1474738661289.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20160924173741-00270-ip-10-143-35-109.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97841 | 563 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Of late I’ve been taken by this whole evolutionary biology thing. The way organisms gradually develop into other organisms better suited to their environment is incredible and astounding and all sorts of other adjectives I would use to cushion my word count were I writing this for an assignment. I’ve been particularly excited about computer simulations of evolution (like this one which simulates the hypothetical evolution of a clock) and the evolutionary ancestry of the human race. Even more specifically, Neanderthals.
There is debate withinthe scientific community whether the Neanderthals were a separate species withing the Homo genus (homo neandertalus) or a subspecies of homo sapiens, as we are (homo sapiens neandertalus). The difference being that if they were a subspecies, they would be able to mate with modern humans and produce viable offspring. Otherwise, they would not be able to produce offspring with anatomically modern humans, or those offspring would be infertile. I believe the common prevaling hypothesis is that they were a subspecies, thanks to elements of the human genome that are shown to be shared with neanderthals which were not present when the two species split, which would suggest interbreeding.
The question is related to the question of how the neanderthals went extinct. There are two prevalent hypotheses here as well, each corresponding to whether neanderthals could interbreed with anatomically modern humans. If they could (that is, were they a subspecies), they likely went extinct through assimilation with the human population. That is, through extensive interbreeding, the two populations merged into one, which is indeed what is expected to occur when external barriers to breeding are removed between two subspecies. However, if they were a separate species, then it is believed that they would have been driven to extinction by direct competition with modern humans. Either way, the neanderthal is an extinct species.
But for a period of time (a very long period of time by standards of modern civilization), there were two or more species of intelligent, sapient beings on Earth, living in communities very near one another. My hypothetical yet certainly not rhetorical question is this: how would society have evolved differently provided that (a) modern man and neanderthals were separate species, and not genetically compatible, and (b) rather than competing in prehistory, the two species comingled and formed mixed-race societies.
I do not have satisfying answers to this question, I’m afraid. I do know how improbably such a scenario really is, but it is still an interesting thought experiment to try to imagine a modern society in which two separate races physically cannot reproduce. Would inter-species marriages be allowed? Would racism be softened by the years of literal inter-racial communities or would it be heightened? Would such a society even be stable, considering there would undoubtedly be communities consisting entirely of one race or the other at least in the early history of humanity? If the two species could produce offspring, but those offspring would be infertile, where would these children’s place be in society?
I want thoughtful answers, and I know that my adoring fans have been holding out on me as far as comments are concerned. So come on, what would this society look like? I really want to know! In return, boobies: | <urn:uuid:b73d3dc1-9e04-47eb-a3ce-abd3fe0c3791> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | https://duckduckdie.wordpress.com/2010/07/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934805881.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20171119234824-20171120014824-00617.warc.gz | en | 0.97183 | 692 | 3.0625 | 3 |
The benefits and harms Brazil nut
As often happens, the hero of our today’s conversation is called a nut not because it is in a biological sense, but because in appearance, taste, texture and smell it is more like a walnut. Actually the grain or seed from the fruit of the tree bertholletia. Brazilian walnut is not divided into halves, as his true brethren. And if you saw the fruit bertholletia live, then, most likely, would have thought that coconut in front of you. But it’s worth it to split, and instead of the white pulp you will see large elongated grains that are covered by peel. Why not come up with mother nature!
By the title you might guess that Brazil nuts originating from the same country. Although it grows throughout the valley of the Amazon river, in the territory of Guiana, Venezuela, Bolivia and part of Peru. This product is known since the times of the Indians; he was always appreciated for the excellent taste and high nutritional value. Folk medicine of the Aztecs used the fruit bertholletia. They now play an important role in local cooking and healing.
Once on the European continent, Brazilian walnut aroused great interest and universal love. This is an incredibly tasty treat, and modern scientists were able to establish that it is also useful productpicture. To all who are watching their health, wants to have a slim figure and beautiful skin, will be interested in our today’s detailed story about Brazil nuts.
Description Brazil nut
Tree bertholletia (in some sources – bertholletia) is named in honor of the great French chemist Claude Bertolli. Looks like this tree is truly monumental: to 50-60 meters tall, absolutely straight and smooth, up to three feet in circumference, and the leaves of the fruit are almost at the very top. Bertholletia grows about five hundred years, and to bring the harvest begins only in the twelfth year of life. Collect the nuts with this giant, you know, extremely difficult, and it is not necessary: the ripened fruits drop on the ground. That’s why the Spanish colonists, for the first time tasted the sweet, nutritious Brazil nuts, called them “the gift of the Lord from heaven.”
Shell bertoletova fruit although thin, but very durable. If the fall didn’t crack it, you have to try to retrieve the treat. This very successful monkeys – one of the main connoisseurs of Brazilian walnut. They raskladyvayut the fruit on the sharp rocks. By the way, that a rich fauna of Amazonia contributes to the natural spread of bertholletia. For example, a charming agouti animals (like Guinea pigs) Brazilian hoard nuts for a rainy day, burying them in the ground. And then forget where you hid the treasure. The seeds successfully germinate, giving life to new trees. How is this similar to the story with our squirrels and acorns, is it not?
To plant Brazil nut artificially – employment is difficult, and so pointless. In the jungle with one bertholletia for the year you can withdraw up to two hundred pounds of flavored nuts! And in “captivity” these trees don’t want to bear fruit or after twelve or fifteen years after planting. Another mystery of nature! Today the main supplier of Brazil nuts to the global market is Bolivia, but the name they retained unchanged.
Benefits of Brazil nut
What is so special about this big (5-6 cm in length) buttery nut taste like cedar?
Its amazing vitamin and mineral content. It contains:
Vitamins E, C and almost all of the group B; | <urn:uuid:bde76190-9b29-4d0d-89bd-1bbe32284e73> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | http://ezgo888.info/post192 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084886830.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20180117063030-20180117083030-00653.warc.gz | en | 0.946546 | 779 | 2.75 | 3 |
Toronto homeowners suffer from flooded basements every year. If the basement of your residence is below the main water supply line of the city, then this phenomenon is common during rains. The basements are usually a dark, less-ventilated place where you can do nothing about rising water levels. This stagnant water then transforms into the breeding spot for rodents and bacteria.
To help the residents of Toronto fight their flooding basements, Santos Plumbing Services bring you one of the most efficient solutions – a sump pump.
What Is a Sump Pump?
Basically, a sump pump is a pump that is placed inside a sump pit. It can be submersed beneath the water and performs the all-important drainage function. It is actually the soul of the sump system for drainage during rain emergency. The sump pump system comprises of three major components – a sump pump, a sump pit and the discharge pipe.
How Does It Work?
Once the water level starts rising, it will first fill the sump pit. This pit is connected with a ‘weeping tile’ system that runs around the whole house and this is the reason why it fills first. Soon the groundwater level of water will start rising, and sump pit will be loaded with water. Once this happens, the automatic sump pump will activate and begin pumping the water out. The water that is pumped by the pump is taken out of your property with the help of a discharge pipe. As soon as the water level recedes, the sump pump deactivates on its own.
Installation of a Sump Pump
The installation of a sump pump is carried out in the following steps:
- First our reliable plumbers will dig a hole for the sump pit. The sump pit is the primary step in the installation of a sump pump.
- This hole for the sump pit is dig at the lowest spot of the basement floor or wherever the water accumulates the most. Once the digging process is complete, we then install the sump pit (also known as the sump basin) in it. It is nothing but a plastic bin that carries water and also the sump pump.
- After placing the sump basin, we then install the sump pump inside it and make way for the discharge pipe.
Can a Sump Pump Work in the Absence of Power?
Thunderstorm is one situation where the need of a sump pump is felt the most. Often, there is a risk of power outrage during thunderstorms. To keep the pump working even in the absence of power, we make sure that there is a dedicated battery backup for the pump. With the help of a battery, a sump pump will be able to work normally even when there is no electrical power.
Maintenance of a Sump Pump
A sump pump plays a fundamental role in your abode’s drainage system. Any kind of breakdown can occur in case the pump is not maintained efficiently. Some common types of maintenance checks a person can carry out to maintain the sump pump are:
- Test the working of your pump every time, before the rainy season begins.
- Disconnect the plug and thoroughly clean your pump every year. For cleaning the pump, first make use of rubber gloves in order to collect all the debris inside.
- Check the pipes to find out any leaks. If there are leaks, then you can fix them either with some water resistant adhesives or get the faulty pipe replaced.
- Also, have a close look on the electrical connections. Loose or unprotected wires can pose a great electrocution threat. Always remember to switch the plug off, before you make any electrical inspections.
Need of a Sewage Ejector Pump
A sewage ejector pump builds an easy path of drainage for both – solids and liquids. Sometimes, one cannot install proper drainage facility just because the main drain is at a height. Since, gravity won’t work in our favour here; therefore a pump will come in handy. It pushes the water to the appropriate drain; thus ensuring the proper functioning of the installed fixtures.
People get confused regarding which pump they should install. According to us, your ideal sewage pump should depend on how much sewage you are going to pump. Generally, the sewage pumps we install have the horsepower in the range of 0.5 and 1.
Common Issues with Sump Pumps
Sump pumps don’t need regular maintenance. According to our experienced plumbers, the following issues can crop up in a sum pump:
- Weird Noises: The pump can make some weird noises if the vent or the pump is damaged due to excessive backflow of sever water.
- Always Running: If the pump doesn’t stop working ever then either of the two reasons may be the culprit. Either the pump is trying to pump out excessive water, or the pump has suffered a break down.
- Failure during Thunderstorms: Sum pumps can fail during thunderstorms, but that mostly happens when the pump is under a lot of stress. This is the reason why plumbers advice to install a backwater valve.
We, at Santos Plumbing Services, provide the best solutions regarding day-to-day drainage and plumbing problems. Our plumbers are well trained and experienced professionals who are accustomed to all kinds of problems that plague residential and commercial plumbing systems. | <urn:uuid:fcb7d4dd-0999-4ca6-ad52-71558adc8a83> | CC-MAIN-2019-04 | https://www.santoswater.com/sump-pump-services/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547583716358.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20190120123138-20190120145138-00176.warc.gz | en | 0.928394 | 1,109 | 2.65625 | 3 |
This article has been previously published as a part of book Around Ephesus and Kusadasi: TAN Travel Guide by Izabela Miszczak
Situated in the Aegean region of Turkey, Ephesus is probably the best preserved ancient city in the Mediterranean. In ancient times, Ephesus was a bustling trading city and a center of worship of Cybele - the goddess of fertility. Archaeological excavations and maintenance works provide new information about the ancient city every year. Therefore, this is a place worth coming back again and again.
Ephesus is also an important place for Christians. Here was one of the first Christian communities in Asia Minor, and Saint John held the position of Bishop of Ephesus. He mentioned Ephesus in the Book of Revelation, where the city was listed as one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor.
In order to imagine what life was like in the ancient city of Roman Empire, walk the streets of Ephesus, look at public toilets and residential houses, then sit back in the theater or visit the library. Ephesus offers all these things, and indeed no one will not be disappointed after the visit.
The history of archaeological research in Ephesus dates back to 1863 when British engineer John Turtle Wood began searching for the remains of the Temple of Artemis. Six years later, he succeeded in identifying its location and then dedicated five years to the excavations in this area.
The next round of archaeological work in Ephesus took place from 1895 to 1913 and was conducted by German and Austrian archaeologists under the direction of Otto Benndorf and Carl Humann. In 1898, Benndorf founded Austrian Archaeological Institute, which has been conducting archaeological studies in Ephesus ever since.
The finds from the area of Ephesus are scattered in many museums around the world. The most impressive collections of objects found in Ephesus are in Ephesus Museum in Selçuk, Ephesus Museum in Vienna and the British Museum in London.
Vedius Gymnasium is one of the best-preserved buildings that can be seen in Ephesus. It was built about 150 AD, commissioned by a wealthy Ephesian named Publius Vedius Antoninus. He dedicated the gymnasium to goddess Aphrodite, and his friend and protector - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius.
The building served a dual function: of a gymnasium and baths, as is often the case in the architecture of Roman times. To the east of this complex was located a palestra with the propylaea (monumental gate) was situated on its southern side. The palestra was surrounded by covered arcades of the courtyard, where various sports disciplines were practised, especially wrestling. The porticoes served as auxiliary facilities: locker rooms, warehouses, changing rooms. The propylaea were once adorned with statues, and its western side housed a toilet.
On the western part of the colonnade that surrounds the palestra, there is a large room that opened onto the inner courtyard, which was used for ceremonial purposes and reserved for the emperor during his visits. It housed the now-lost statue of Antoninus Pius. In the area of the palestra, the statue depicting the sophist was found, dating back to the turn of the 2nd century AD.
The largest room in the gymnasium extended to the entire width of the building on the eastern side. It was used for physical exercises. The room located in the centre of the building served as the frigidarium that is a part of the baths designed for swimming in cold water. Right next to it, on the eastern side, there was a swimming pool, and on the western side - the tepidarium or a room with hot water.
In the basement there were furnaces, where a fire was burning all the time, heating the air that circulated channels under the floor and inside hollow bricks in a room called caldarium or hot room. These furnaces also heated the water supplied to the tanks in this room.
The stadium is located south of the Vedius Gymnasium. This was the place where celebrations of all kinds were held, including sports events, chariot races and gladiatorial combat. Seats for spectators on the southern side were built into the slope of Pion Hill (now Panayırdağ). On the northern side, the seats were erected over the vaulted basement.
Currently, little is preserved from the stadium, because the stone seats were dismantled and used to build ramparts on Ayasoluk Hill in early Christian times. Only the western part of the stadium has been excavated by archaeologists so far. The discovered inscriptions testify to the fact that the stadium was built during the reign of Emperor Nero (54-68 AD). During the excavations, marble vases were also found that served as sports trophies, as well as plates decorated with designs depicting olive branches and rabbits, dating back to the 3rd and the 4th centuries AD.
Richly decorated with apses building of Byzantine Baths was built, most probably, in the 6th century AD. It is situated on the south-west of the stadium, next to the main processional road leading to the city of Ephesus.
Church of the Virgin Mary
The Church of the Virgin Mary is the most significant building from Christian times in Ephesus. This temple was located in an earlier building, erected in the middle of the 2nd century AD. It was 30 meters wide and up to 260 meters long. Architecturally, the building can be described as a basilica with a nave and two aisles. The aisles were divided into shorter parts, which could serve as shops.
Because Ephesus was in the 2nd century AD a major trading city for the whole region, described as "the bank of Asia province', it is believed that this massive building was initially a commodity and monetary exchange center. This hypothesis is reinforced by the position of the building - very close to the ancient harbor. The second, competitive theory, states that this building was called "the Court of the Muses' and was used as an educational and cultural center.
In the 3rd century AD, the times of economic crisis began in Ephesus. During this period, the local Christian community built its first church, located inside the former stock exchange, on its western side. An atrium on the square plan and a narthex paved with mosaics led into the church. In later times two more churches were built inside the ancient building, arranged one behind the other. The eastern part of the building was the seat of the bishop.
Today the best-preserved part of the building is a cylindrical baptistery, located in the northern part of the atrium. In the central part of the baptistery, there was a pool, where baptized people could be fully immersed in water.
It was in the Church of the Virgin Mary were the third ecumenical council, also known as the Council of Ephesus, was held in 431 AD. The purpose of this council was to settle the dispute, caused by Nestorius - the Patriarch of Constantinople, on the understanding of the person of Jesus and the title of Mary of Nazareth.
The Theatre Gymnasium was probably built in the 2nd century AD. So far only the palestra has been completely excavated while the other parts of the building are only partially exposed. From the visible row of seats, stretching on the entire northern side of the palestra, with the dimension of 30 to 70 meters, it can be concluded that this area was also used as a small stadium.
Harbour Gymnasium and Baths
Only a small part of the complex of the Harbour Gymnasium and Baths has been excavated so far. Still, the visible remains of the largest architectural complex in the city of Ephesus make a big impression on the visitors. The complex consisted of two palestrae, and the total length of the complex was 360 meters.
The construction of the gymnasium began during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD). During the reign of Emperor Hadrian the chief priest of the province of Asia - Claude Verulanus - ordered paving and tiling of the greater of the palestrae with marble slabs in 13 different shades. These panels have not been preserved to our times, but their existence is evidenced by holes in the walls, where the panels were attached.
The hall in the northern part of the smaller palestra was dedicated to the imperial cult while in the southern part lectures and meetings were held. In this place a Roman copy of a Greek bronze statue of an athlete was found, which is now in Vienna. The remains of the baths are now completely ruined.
The Arcadian Street is a colonnaded road, named after Emperor Arcadius, who reigned between 395 and 408 AD. This name is actually misleading, because there is substantial evidence for the existence of this street much earlier, in the Hellenistic period. This theory is supported by exposed fragments and foundations of the Harbour Gate, located on the axis of the road at its western end.
The Arcadian Street is well preserved and extends for a distance of 600 meters, keeping the width of 11 meters. It starts at the theater and ends near the ancient harbor. Two walkways for pedestrians, located on both sides of the road have a width of 5 meters each. In the past, they were completely paved with mosaics. Along the road, there were numerous shops, so walkers could make purchases, while strolling along the shaded and sheltered sidewalks, at the same time enjoying the breeze blowing from the sea. From the excavated inscriptions it is known that road also had street lighting.
In the middle of the road, there are four columns in the Corinthian order, which once held the statues of four of the apostles. They were erected during the reign of Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD.
This fountain is located in the northwestern corner of the terrace wall of the theater. The fountain, placed between two columns in Ionic order, faces the courtyard in front of the theater. The elegant proportions and the style of stone ornaments suggest the structure dates back to the Hellenistic times, that is to the 3rd or the 2nd century BC.
The great theater of Ephesus is a splendidly preserved and very impressive building. This structure, built of marble, has a width of 145 meters, and its audience once reached up to 30 meters. In its heyday, it could accommodate up to 24,000 spectators. Read more...
The Marble Road served the role of a processional street in the ancient city of Ephesus. It ran next to the Vedius Gymnasium, the stadium, and the theater, at the Library of Celsus turned to the east and continued to the Upper Agora. There it changed its course to the north and led up to the Temple of Artemis.
In addition to its representative function, the Marble Road was also the primary thoroughfare of the city. It was therefore subjected to frequent renovations. For example, the stretch of road leading from the theater along the Commercial Agora was, in the 5th century AD, paved with marble by a man named Eutropios.
A late-Roman colonnade on the east side of the street has survived to our times. On the west side, a 1.70-meter-high pedestal can be seen, that belonged to the Doric stoa of the Commercial Agora.
This trade area was established in Ephesus in Hellenistic times, as evidenced by the western gate fragments in Ionic order. Ahe agora was surrounded by stoas (colonnades), significantly enhanced during the Roman times.
At the center of the agora stood so-called horologion, which was a combination of solar and water clock. All colonnades were decorated with hundreds of statues of orators, philosophers, athletes and officials. To our times only their foundations have been preserved on which you can see the inscriptions containing valuable information about the social life in Ephesus.
Gate of Mazeus and Mythridates
This gate with three arches, standing next to the Library of Celsus, was built by two former slaves - Mazeus and Mithridates - in honor of the emperor Octavian Augustus, who had freed them.
Three openings of the gate are arched. The vault from the side of the Library of Celsus is lined with black marble, in contrast to the vault on the opposite side, lined with the marble white.
The still visible inscription, located in the upper part of the gate, dedicates the building to Octavian Augustus. In ancient times, this inscription was lined with bronze letters.
Library of Celsus
The Library of Celsus is probably the most distinctive building commonly associated with Ephesus. The library has a two-storey façade, and its interior is one large room with dimensions of 10.90 to 16.70 meters. This library room was located above the vaulted substructure. The building was surrounded by an additional wall, offering adequate protection from moisture. Read more...
Hadrian's Gate is located at the intersection of the Marble Road and the Curetes Street. Once it had three storeys, of which only the lowest has been preserved. Three openings led through theHadrian's Gate and the middle one was the widest, with an arched vault. Side openings are still topped by architraves.
To the south-east of the Library of Celsus stand the remains of a building that shape reminds a pool. These are the ruins of so-called Heroon or a sanctuary dedicated to a hero. Heroon of Ephesus was built in the time of Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) and later served as a fountain. The building was decorated with a frieze depicting the history of the founding of Ephesus, and precisely the scene of Androklos killing a wild boar. It is believed that Heroon was dedicated to Androklos.
The octagonal tomb located next to the heroon is dated to the first century BC, but the inscriptions adorning it were made much later, in the 4th century AD. The skeleton found in the tomb belonged to a teenage girl buried in a marble sarcophagus. One interpretation is that the Octagon was the resting place of Arsinoe, the youngest sister of Queen Cleopatra.
In 48 BC, Arsinoe IV became the Queen of Egypt at the will of the Egyptian army. Julius Caesar removed her from power and allowed her to travel to Asia Minor, where she took refuge at Ephesus. There she was murdered in 41 BC, probably by Mark Antony acting on the orders of Cleopatra VII.
Temple of Serapis
This temple of Egyptian deity is one of the most fascinating buildings in Ephesus. It was built probably by the Egyptian colonists. Stairs led to the temple in the south-west corner of the Commercial Agora.
The cella i.e. the inner chamber of the temple was surrounded on three sides by colonnades. Its walls were very thick to support the weight of a barrel vault with a width of 29 meters. The columns were monoliths, which means that they were made from a single block of stone, and their height was 14 meters.
Judging by massive dimensions of the building, it was concluded that it was dedicated to Serapis. This theory has been confirmed by the fragments of the statue made of Egyptian granite, an inscription describing the Egyptian rites and other inscription dedicated to the followers of Serapis. In its heyday, the building had a size comparable only with so-called Red Basilica in Pergamon.
In Christian times, the temple of Serapis was converted into a church, and the remains of the baptistery in the eastern corner of the building has been preserved to our times.
Temple of Hadrian
The Temple of Hadrian, despite its small dimensions, is a very attractive part of the visit in Ephesus. It was built in Corinthian order and dedicated to Emperor Hadrian by a man named P. Quintilius. In its cella once stood a statue of emperor Hadrian, who was worshiped as a deity. The construction of temples dedicated to the Roman emperors was a widespread custom in Anatolia. The purpose was to ensure that local municipalities gained the favor of Rome. In Ephesus, there are two buildings of this type - the other one is the Temple of Domitian.
The building consists of a cella and a roofed portico. An architrave and a frieze are straight on the sides and form an arch over the central atrium. This arch is adorned with a bust of a woman surrounded by acanthus leaves. In front of the temple, the bases of four statues depicting Roman emperors Galerius, Maximian, Diocletian and Constantius Chlorus have been preserved.
A large bath building was constructed in the late first or the second century AD. It owes its name to a Christian woman named Scholastica, who carried out its renovation about 400 AD. The famous part of the baths, known as a brothel, belonged to the first period of existence of the building. The main part of the brothel's dining room was lined with mosaics. In the corners of the room the mosaic depicted the personifications of the four seasons. Two of these that have been preserved in good shape show Winter and Autumn.
The Terrace Houses complex in Ephesus consists of luxurious residential villas, located on the northern slope of Bülbüldağı Hill, next to Curetes Street and opposite the Temple of Hadrian. So far, two housing complexes - Eastern and Western - have been excavated. They were built according to the Hippodamian plan where the roads transect each other at right angles. The excavation work of the Terrace Houses started in 1960. The restoration of the houses is an ongoing process and every year there is something new to admire there. Read more...
This fountain of impressive dimensions is situated on the Curetes Street. It has a shape of a pool surrounded on three sides by a two-storey structure. Once it was decorated with the colossal statue of Emperor Trajan, standing in the center of the building, from which flowed the water filling the pool. To our times the base of the statue and imperial feet have been preserved. Many statues that used to adorn the fountain are now on display in the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk.
Curetes Street is one of three main thoroughfares of Ephesus. It leads from the Library of Celsus to the Hercules Gate. Its name comes from the priests called Curetes, whose names were written down in Prytaneion. Along Curetes Street there were once fountains, statues, and shops, of which those located on the southern side had two storeys. Because Ephesus was frequently plagued by earthquakes, the buildings along Curetes Street were damaged, and then underwent refurbishment. After the earthquake in the 4th century AD, the collapsed columns were replaced by others, collected from the various areas of the city. The resulting confusion of architectural styles can be seen to this day.
This gate, located near the Trajan's Fountain, was built in the 4th or the 5th century AD. Preserved fragments of the reliefs depict Hercules and decorated column bases.
Not much has been preserved from this monument erected in the first century AD. According to the discovered fragment of an inscription, on the base built of stone blocks once stood the statue of Lucius Cornelius Sulla, the Roman commander and dictator. The monument was founded by his grandson Memmius as a token of gratitude of the inhabitants of Ephesus to Sulla for defeating Mithridates VI of Pontus.
Temple of Domitian
It was the first temple in Ephesus built in honor of the Roman emperor. Domitian, who called himself "the ruler and the god", was condemned since the ancient times as a tyrannical and incompetent emperor. His temple in Ephesus was located at the best, centrally located place of the city, opposite the Upper Agora.
The temple building stood on the slopes of Bülbüldağı Hill, on the terrace whose base was 50 to 100 meters. The temple was typical Roman prostyle-type structure, which means that four columns stood in front of the vestibule. The main chamber of the temple was small (9 to 17 meters), while the statue of Emperor Domitian measured up to 5 meters if seated or 7 meters if standing. It is unknown what was the posture of the emperor depicted on this statue as only his head and one shoulder have remained. These monumental pieces of the statue can now be seen in the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk.
In the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk, there is also the reconstructed altar from the Temple of Domitian, decorated with reliefs showing different weapons. However, in Ephesus, in a place where once stood a temple, there is virtually nothing interesting to see.
Upper Agora and Temple of Isis
This Ephesian agora is also sometimes called the State Agora, to distinguish it from the Commercial Agora, situated in the north-western part of the city. Upper Agora served as a place for official and public meetings.
On its area stood the temple of the Egyptian goddess Isis. The capitals of the columns in the Ionic order were additionally decorated with the sculptured heads of bulls. The façade of the temple was adorned with a group of statues depicting the meeting of Odysseus with Polyphemus, one of the Cyclopes. The Temple of Isis was demolished during the reign of Emperor Augustus. He strongly disliked Egyptian deities because they reminded him of his former opponents - Mark Antony and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra.
The Upper Agora was founded in the first century AD, in the area of a necropolis. This fact has been confirmed by archeological excavations carried out in its north-eastern corner. Numerous graves from the 7th and the 6th centuries BC were found there, as well as an archaic sarcophagus of terracotta and a stone-lined path.
The Upper Agora has dimensions of 160 by 73 meters, and it was once surrounded on three sides by a colonnade. In the area of the agora, the statues of Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia were found. They can be seen in the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk. In the same venue, there is a reconstructed the scene of Odysseus and Polyphemus from the Temple of Isis.
Prytaneion was the seat of the rulers of the autonomous city of Ephesus and the place where official celebrations, receptions, and banquets were held. Next to it stood the temple of Hestia, where an eternal flame burned. The preserved fragments of prytaneion are dated to the reign of Emperor Augustus. However, it is believed that there was an official building in the same location since the Hellenistic period, because moving the altar of the eternal flame would be a very difficult task.
The courtyard of prytaneion was decorated with a mosaic. The presence of columns in composite order, combining the elements of Ionic and Corinthian orders, indicates the reconstruction of the building in the 3rd century AD. The building was demolished at the time when Scholastica Baths were repaired i.e. around 400 AD. The most interesting objects from Ephesian prytaneion are two statues of Artemis of Ephesus that once adorned it. They are currently exhibited in the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk.
Although the building looks like a small theater, due to its the proximity to the prytaneion and the Upper Agora it can be concluded that this was rather a bouleuterion or a meeting place of the city council. Possibly it was simultaneously used as a place of artistic performances. The odeon was built around 150 AD by Publius Vedius Antoninus. In the orchestra, there are canals, that provided water drainage, and the entire structure was most likely covered.
Baths of Varius
It was a small building of private baths, built by the famous Ephesian sophist Flavius Damianus in the 2nd century AD. The mosaics, adorning a 40-meter-long corridor, are much newer, in fact, they originate from the 5th century AD. The Baths of Varius were built with the blocks of marble. They consist of three sections: a frigidarium (with cold water), atepidarium (with warm water) and a caldarium (with hot water).
The gymnasium, located on the eastern outskirts of Ephesus, has been preserved in fairly good condition. The building, erected in the 2nd century AD, combined the functions of the gymnasium and baths, and also had an auditorium. In the central part of the building were bathrooms, surrounded on three sides by vaulted halls designed for physical exercises. When archaeological works were carried out in the gymnasium, the statues of the god of health Asclepius, Hygeia, Pan, and Dionysus were found. They are now in the Archaeological Museum in Izmir.
Ephesus is open to visitors daily, in summer season (April - October) from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, and in winter (November - March) from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Terrace Houses close half an hour earlier. The entrance ticket to Ephesus costs 40 TL and the ticket to the Terrace Houses - additional 20 TL.
The are to entrances to Ephesus and most of the organised groups start sightseeing from the southern one, near the odeon. If you also choose to start from there, you will be able to walk downhill most of the time. However, we recommend beginning the tour from the northern entrance, near the theatre. Moreover, it is a good idea to start as early as possible, to avoid the crowd. The minimal time you need to spend on the site is 3 hours, but to fully appreciate this site and see all the sights plan half a day for it.
Before setting out on the tour remember to take bottled water and appropriate protection from the sun as it is difficult to find shaded areas on the site. Smoking is strictly forbidden. Because of ongoing archaeological work some buildings may be temporarily unavailable for tourists.
Are you going to visit Ephesus soon? There is an excellent e-book devoted to this ancient city and to other archaeological sites of the region - Around Ephesus and Kusadasi: TAN Travel Guide.
By plane: the nearest airport is in Izmir.
By public transport: regular buses go from Izmir to Selçuk and Kuşadası. These two towns are a natural choice as the bases for sightseeing Ephesus. There are some minibuses to Ephesus from Selçuk and, in the summer season, from Kuşadası.
By car: take D515 road from Kuşadası (18 km) to Selçuk (3 km).
By taxi: a taxi ride from the centre of Selçuk to Ephesus should cost around 25 TL.
On foot: you can walk or cycle from the bus station in Selçuk to Ephesus. The distance is 3 km and on your way you will be able to visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis.
The nearest accommodation options are available in Selçuk. It has a well-developed tourist base, serving the visitors coming here to see the ruins of Ephesus. The choice B&Bs is impressive, and the prices - affordable. However, travelers seeking luxury options should stay in nearby Kuşadası.
The most frequently recommended B&Bs in Selçuk are:
- Jimmy's Place (tel. 0 90 232 892 1982) - in the neighborhood of Atatürk Mahellesi, on 1016 Street No: 19. The pension is animal-friendly with no additional charges for dogs and cats. The price of a double room with breakfast in high season is 30 euros.
- Akay Hotel (tel. 0 90 232 892 3172) - also in Atatürk Mahellesi, on 1054 Street (near İsa Bey Mosque). Prices of double rooms start from 20 euros.
- Homeros Pension & Guesthouse (tel. 0 90 232 892 3995) - in the same neighborhood, on 1048 Street No: 3. The guesthouse has an observation terrace, a restaurant that prepares home-cooked meals, and a bar. The owners also run bicycle rental. Double rooms with breakfast cost 45 euros.
- Atilla's Getaway (tel. 0 90 232 892 3847) - about 3 km to the south of the town center, near Acarlar Koyu village, on D550 road. This guest house also has a swimming pool, and the owner can arrange a variety of entertainment options, including horseback riding and skydiving. The guest house offers dorms beds for 20 euros, double rooms with shared bathrooms for a similar price, double rooms with private bathrooms for 25 euros and a campsite for 12 euros. In all cases, the prices include breakfast and dinner.
- Bella (tel. 0 90 232 892 3944) - on Saint Jean Street No: 7. The rooms are furnished in Ottoman style, and there is a rooftop terrace with a restaurant. Double rooms with breakfast cost from 40 euros.
Slightly higher prices should be expected in the case of hotels that operate in Selçuk. These are the venues highly rated by the visitors:
- Amazon Petite Palace (tel. 0 90 232 892 3231) - in the neighborhood of Atatürk Mahellesi, on 1054 Street No: 33. Double rooms with breakfast cost, depending on their standard, from 45 to 80 euros.
- Ephesus Suites Hotel (tel. 0 90 232 892 6312) - in İsabey District, on Anton Kallinger Street, just 250 meters from the ruins of Artemision. Double rooms with breakfast cost 80 euros and a spacious apartment - 90 euros.
Most hotels and B&Bs in Selçuk offer meals for an additional fee and laundry services, as well as transportation to the most interesting tourist attractions.
Additionally, there is a campsite in Selçuk. Garden Camping (tel. 0 90 232 892 6165) is situated just off the town center, in İsabey District, on 2040 Street. It has its own restaurant and a swimming pool. Nearby Selçuk, on Pamucak Beach, there is the second campsite, known as Dereli Camping. | <urn:uuid:ac583dfc-1378-4d60-a807-0d77196503c7> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | https://turkisharchaeonews.net/site/ephesus | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232256778.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20190522083227-20190522105227-00285.warc.gz | en | 0.974738 | 6,491 | 2.75 | 3 |
The act of swearing or cursing seems to hold a lot of mysteries. Firstly, it is hypothesized that our human brain is actually hard-wired to do it (Pinker, 2007). Woah! Pinker further says that cursing is akin to the startled meow of cats whenever you step on their tails. What’s even more amazing is that there have been seen benefits of cursing, ranging from individual ones such as relieving emotional and physical pain (Stephens, Atkin, & Kingston, 2009) and large-scale benefits such as increased speaker persuasiveness and intensity (Scherer & Sagarin, 2006), among others. Such benefit has been exploited by advertisers and below are some cool examples of how cursing was used to drive up sales in a creative way:
Isn’t that amazing? Who would have known there would be many benefits to saying foul words?
Now researcher students from the University of the Philippines- Diliman Acoba, Lastimoza, Sayo and Velasco (2012) turned their attention on this strange phenomenon of cursing = increased persuasion. Since it was for a Perception class, they were especially curious on the effect of loud volume of cursing and its effect on persuasiveness. You see, it was found that increased volume of a message could translate to effectivity in persuading someone to agree with you (Packwood, 1974; Hall, Coats & LeBeau 2005; Van Iersel 2012). The researchers hypothesized that if we combine both qualities of a communicator (cursing and increased volume), it would also equate to increased persuasiveness. Pretty interesting, huh?! But how did the study turn out? We’ll find out soon.
Their study had 3 conditions: (1) control condition, where participants did not hear any curse word; (2) normal condition, where the volume of the curse word was the same as the volume of the rest of the words in the argument and (3) loud condition, where the volume of the curse word was significantly louder than the rest of the words in the argument. There were 98 participants randomly distributed among the 3 conditions. They then made them listen to a certain speech reflecting the 3 conditions as stated above, with the curse word inserted near the end of the whole speech. After that, they were asked to answer a 10 item Likert type scale measuring induced persuasiveness on behavioral, cognitive and affective dimensions. Using a one-way ANOVA, the results proved to be insignificant, with an F of 1.391. The researchers had to reject their hypothesis that the condition with loud cursing would induce a much higher persuasive effect than the other conditions.
The research was very interesting and it poses many implications in the applied setting. For one, we now know that a loud curse might not be as effective as we think it is, so we should avoid doing that, be it on a personal (like on speeches, pitches, etc) or large-scale (advertising, campaigns, etc) level. In fact, it might also be detrimental to a person or institution’s credibility, as hypothesized by the researchers (Acoba, et al, 2012).
This research teaches us that we should be careful next time we spout a curse word (a loud one at that!) as it might hurt both others’ personal perception of you and the idea or product you are selling. Moreover we could learnt that two things which elicit similar effects, if combined, might not be as effective as we would think it would be. How about that for a take-home point?
Acoba, J. B., Lastimoza, R., Sayo, L. E., Velasco, E. M., (2012). Effects of Cursing Volume in Persuasion. Unpublished manuscript.
Hall, J., Coats, E., & LeBeau, L. (2005). Nonverbal behavior and the vertical dimension of social relations: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 131(6), 898-924.
Packwood, W. (1974). Loudness as a variable in persuasion. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 21(1),1-2.
Pinker, S. (2007). The stuff of thought: language as a window into human nature. New York: Viking.
Scherer, C., & Sagarin, B. (2006). Indecent influence: The positive effects of obscenity on persuasion. Social Influence, 1(2), 138-146.
Stephens, R., Atkins, J. & Kingston, A. (2009). Swearing as a response to pain. NeuroReport, 20, 1056-1060.
Van Iersel, B., (2012). Powerful agents: enhancing an artificial social agent’s persuasiveness by increasing its perceived social power. Eindhoven University of Technology, 1, 1-12. | <urn:uuid:3e8d60e4-d046-4e33-92a4-98148d141524> | CC-MAIN-2016-50 | https://persepsyon.wordpress.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-50/segments/1480698544679.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20161202170904-00219-ip-10-31-129-80.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953744 | 1,008 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Recently, several people that I’ve met asked for advice about getting started in instructional design. This has had me thinking about the skills and knowledge that I’ve developed over the past six years. I hope this might serve as a useful guide to help direct the learning of those thinking of becoming an Instructional Designer (ID).
This article isn’t about designing effective learning. Rather it sets out some of the skills and knowledge required to create successful learning experiences. I will be basing this list off of three things:
- A combination of common contemporary computing skills
- Personal experience from six years in the industry
- Stories and feedback from my colleagues and peers
A full-stack ID can work on all aspects of a learning solution. Learning solutions mix different media to communicate information and assess learning. Some examples of media used could be e-learning, text-books, or simulations. Being a full-stack ID doesn’t mean that you have mastered everything. It means that you are able to work on all aspects in some capacity and understand how it fits together.
If you’d like to work towards becoming a full-stack ID, below is my reference guide. I hope you find it useful.
Bloom’s taxonomy is a well-established model consisting of three hierarchies. You use it to classify learning objectives into levels of complexity and specificity. It consists of the cognitive, affective and sensory domains.
Though it is unlikely that you will spend your time considering them all, it’s worth looking at. Though I won’t go into detail for brevity’s sake, here are the three domains:
- The Cognitive Domain (knowledge-based):
- The Affective Domain (emotion-based):
- The Psychomotor Domain (action-based):
– Guided Response
– Complex Overt Response
For many IDs, you may not venture beyond the Cognitive Domain. Your task as an ID is to take information, digest it and turn it into a form that helps the education of your audience. You will be, for the most part, conveying semantic information; that of facts, theory, and rules. You will be encouraging your audience to learn so they are successful in their later assessments.
The Affective Domain and the Psychomotor Domain are more appropriate for instructor-led classes. That is not to say that you shouldn’t review these domains and use where appropriate.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
You can use Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in many different disciplines such as education, sociology, and economics. It was first proposed by Abraham Maslow as “A Theory of Human Motivation”. It serves as an excellent metric by which to assess the change you are creating in your audience:
Becoming the person you want to be: finding a partner, having children, using your skills and talents, achieving goals, and happiness.
A sense of ego or confidence in oneself: self-esteem, self-respect, mastery, status, and independence.
Relationships with others: friendships, intimacy, and family
- A sense of security:
personal, emotional, financial, health and wellbeing.
Physiological: The basics: food, water, sleep, shelter, stability, and sex.
ADDIE is the most used instructional design project model. It works very well with both the Waterfall and Agile project management methodologies. Its principles are easy to grasp, but you must practise to master them, much like anything else. When you’re first starting out, review it often to ensure that you have a firm grip of the process from start to finish.
You discuss with your client the learning needs of the audience. Discover what knowledge or skills are lacking. Determine what they need to learn to fill the skills/knowledge gap.
When you know what needs teaching, you must now decide the means of development and delivery. You must agree on graphic, artistic and writing styles. Scope out the technology required to deliver the learning. Be prepared to push back on the customer’s ideas. Grand designs need grand solutions. Keep in mind finance and time budgets.
Partnering with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and media developers, you make the content teachable. You create content to the styles agreed in the design stage. When working in an Agile environment, expect many revisions as requirements change. In Waterfall or Prince2 changes will occur, but should be less radical. You must check for quality: spelling, grammar, punctuation, styles, and functionality. You should resolve all known issues before implementation.
Time for testing. Functionality testing should first take place on the LMS. The customer and/or audience access the content via the LMS. The customer and/or audience must report meaningful feedback. Analysis of assessment data should take place if possible.
Once implemented, the reports that follow should highlight successes and failures. Where did they occur? What changes must you make? What new problems have arisen? Are they wants or needs? The evaluative conclusions become the foundations of the next Analysis stage.
User Interface Design (UI) and User eXperience Design (UX)
User interfaces allow humans and computers can interact with each other. You should develop an understanding of what makes, innovative, intuitive and effective UI. These days it is easy to see great examples of this in our day to day lives. There are examples on every piece of smart technology that you use. Check out the apps on your phone.
Ensure that access to navigable areas is easy. It should take as few steps as possible. Avoid creating confusing situations. Use appropriate, unambiguous symbology. Show it to your peers and ask for feedback.
UX focuses on developing an experience. This could be through the use of and tone of language, style guidelines, media, or themes. Make sure that the experience matches the expectations of the audience. The experience that you would create for a child audience will differ to the one you would make for an adult.
When considering UX you must have the mindset that you are creating a journey for the person viewing your content. If the journey takes the person down a potholed dirt track with multiple dead ends and signposts that are illegible or pointing in the wrong direction, the person isn’t going to enjoy it. If the journey takes them down a freshly laid, super-smooth highway, at 100 mph with no traffic jams on clearly signposted roads and beautiful scenic views, the person on the journey is likely to enjoy it so much more.
It’s important to have an understanding of UX. Modern technology allows us more sophisticated means of creating learning experiences. Computer, mobile, and tablet currently dominate learning tech. In the future, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR) will come the fore. Conversational User Interfaces (CUIs) such as Alexa are also growing in popularity.
Experience design is among the most creative aspects of instructional design.
Psychology, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science
Think of instructional design as communicating information to a naive or ignorant audience. They may or may not be willing participants. For this reason, you must consider how you engage with them.
Understanding the mind helps us to understand the best means to communicate. Research how humans respond to different stimuli and learn from them. Knowing quirks of the mind can help to emphasise key bits of information. Use of memes or mnemonics can help reinforce information and aid recall.
SCORM is a protocol which allows a Shareable Content Object (SCO), to report to the Learning Management System (LMS).
SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model. For the foreseeable future, it is what you’re most likely to encounter as a lesson tracking protocol.
Shareable Content Objects (SCOs) are reusable, self-contained packages. They can be lessons, modules, or courses. They are compatible with any LMS using the same version of SCORM. Ideally, these should be individual lessons, i.e. the lowest tier on the nav tree in the LMS.
It’s worth checking out the website to get a better understanding of how it all works.
SCORM is not the only protocol that you will encounter in e-learning though, there are others such as AICC and xAPI, but they are not as well supported. It is worth pointing out that xAPI is considered to be the spiritual successor to SCORM. xAPI is much more versatile in its means of tracking learning content, but its adoption has been slow.
Agile is one of the project management models that you are likely to encounter when working as an instructional designer. Agile works on the principle of rapid delivery of increasingly better software. Development takes place over a series of “sprints” which can last around two weeks.
At the start of a sprint, you are provided with a “story” from the customer. This acts as a brief for the next version. Once the new version satisfies the request, it is redelivered, implemented and reassessed. The results of the assessment provide the basis for the next story.
This continues usually for a pre-agreed number of cycles. Large projects can have many cycles, sometimes continuing into sustainment contracts.
Waterfall is another typical software project management model. It is a more natural fit for the ADDIE life cycle and in fact, mirrors it in many ways. They can generally be summed up by these five steps:
- Analysis of requirements
- Testing & evaluation
As you can see the parallels to ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Develop, Implementation and Evaluation) is pretty clear.
Get to grips with the following:
Authoring tools are the workhorse of the instructional designer. Developing skills in the following programs would be time well spent:
You will likely be spending a lot of time creating content in one of these authoring tools. There are plenty of tutorials out there explaining how they all work.
Not necessary, but useful. HTML5 is the current standard for web content. Understanding of web technologies can provide insight into technical possibilities and impossibilities. Greater proficiency can provide greater autonomy in your content design and creation.
If you think you know enough, teach yourself more! Office is a powerful suite which is seldom used to its full capacity. Become familiar with the use of Styles, References and Review features. Experiment with the Developer features. Learn how to create content controlled templates. If you’re feeling particularly daring, try learning some VBA. You’d be surprised by what you can do.
The Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe leads the industry in terms of creative software. You can get a subscription to the whole suite for around £49 p/m ($50 p/m) which will give you:
- Photoshop: Photo editing, art-working, digital art
- Illustrator: Graphics, illustration, vectors
- InDesign: Digital and print publishing, layouts, typography
- Animate: Web animation and interaction design and development
- Audition: Audio editing
- Premiere Pro: Video editing
- After Effects: Video post-production, SFX
- Media Encoder: Renders and converts media, usually from Premiere Pro or After Effects to a user-defined format (mp4, mov, avi, etc.).
These are a must if you’re creating rich content.
Learning Management Systems
There are many Learning Management Systems (LMS). Possibly the most well-known is Moodle. Moodle is an open source LMS, has lots of support, is well documented, and generally regarded as one of best LMSs.
Installing a local sandbox is easy. Doing so will help you get to grips with LMS design and management. It can also be used to experiment with and test SCOs outside of your live LMS.
Project Management Tools
Atlassian creates a multitude of browser-based project tools. They are designed to improve efficiency and maintain clear communication. They allow for easy project tracking, documenting and configuration control. They help to raise and fix problems, monitor progress and risks, and manage workloads and resources.
Some tools that you are likely to encounter are:
- Jira: Design workflows, assign work, analyse project metrics, raise issues, create dashboards. Jira has plugins available, allowing you to customise your interface, e.g. Kanban boards.
- Confluence: Acts as a wiki site for your project. All project documentation and decision points can reside here for easy reference.
- Git: Both Github and Bitbucket use Git which allows for the easy version control of a project.
- Trello: Trello is effectively a Kanban board and allows teams to create and move cards between different stacks in order to update task statuses. It can work in conjunction with Jira for metrics and analysis and Slack for team communication.
- Slack: Slack is a team communication tool. It allows you to create multiple channels in which the team can chat in real-time, pin important messages and attach relevant resources.
Monitor the Following:
Learning Technology and Research
Keep an eye on websites such as eLearning Industry, Learning News, Learning Light and the Association for Learning Technology to see what other people are currently doing. Try to keep aware of new and emerging technologies and imagine what learning value they might have in the future.
Contemporary Graphic Design, Illustration and Typography
Make your work stand out. Make it look current, in terms of both interface and the journey. Be aware of what constitutes both good and bad design. Check out sites like Behance, Dribbble, Abduzeedo, and Colossal to find out what’s going on in the design world.
Ultimately this is just a brief outline of knowledge, skills, and tools that I’ve found to be extremely useful in the 6 years that I’ve been working in the e-learning industry. No one will expect you to exhibit everything listed here all the time, however, being aware of their existence is the first step towards being able to feel confident in taking advantage of them as a solution.
Take advantage of the many free trials that are on offer for different bits of software. Form small breakout groups with your colleagues to play around with new tools to see if they can add value to your processes, workflows and end product.
Don’t be afraid if things don’t work out. You’ll have a better idea of what to do next time. You may well find that a failed solution for one problem, might be the ideal solution for another. | <urn:uuid:6e558c57-8ce8-42fc-bea4-c7b0bdaacdd0> | CC-MAIN-2019-47 | https://nucleus.ac/the-full-stack-instructional-designer/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-47/segments/1573496667262.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20191113140725-20191113164725-00523.warc.gz | en | 0.924044 | 3,052 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
- (of a fire) to extinguish, to put out
- (of light) to switch off
- (of thirst) to quench
- (of milk) to curdle
- to slake (lime, compound of calcium)
- (slang) to criticize, to flame (for fun, maybe only on the speaker's side, maybe both)
- (put out): elolt, kiolt
- (switch off lights): elolt, leolt, lekapcsol, lecsuk
- (milk, lime): beolt
- (criticize): leolt, oltogat
From the archaic avik (“to intrude”).
Middle Low German
- old (less common spelling marking the morphology)
- Alternative form of (old). | <urn:uuid:937288f9-d2d0-4858-be63-4e3a3b541810> | CC-MAIN-2014-52 | http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/olt | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-52/segments/1418802776556.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20141217075256-00130-ip-10-231-17-201.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.697191 | 186 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Table of Contents:
Background: Hypomagnesemia is often caused by renal magnesium wasting. Intracellular magnesium is the main component of magnesium in blood. In clinical observations you get the impression that serum magnesium values do not always correlate with the symptoms of hypomagnesemia. However, usually serum level only and not intracellular magnesium is checked during the treatment of patients.
Questions: Is there a direct correlation between intracellular and serum magnesium? Is there any correlation between magnesium values (intracellular and serum) and the symptoms of hypomagnesemia? Are there any differences in the intraerythrocytic magnesium concentration between patients with hereditary renal magnesium wasting and patients with Cyclosporin A associated magnesium wasting?
Design: Healthy probands without any problems in magnesium homeostasis (n = 26), patients with hereditary salt losing disorders with renal magnesium wasting (n = 7 GS/cBS), patients with hereditary salt losing disorders without renal magnesium wasting (n = 12, 6 x ROMK, 6 x NKCC2) and patients with Cyclosporin A associated magnesium wasting (n = 18) take part in the study. The values for intraerythrocytic and serum magnesium were measured from each participant taking part in the study. Additionally they were asked for the symptoms of hypomagnesemia by a questionnaire.
Results: In healthy probands there is a correlation between the values of serum magnesium and intraerythrocytic magnesium (r = 0,5). Nevertheless it remains unproven, if the correlation has the form of saturation or has a linear outline. The study shows that the saturation and the linear correlation are very similar to each other. Patients with GS/cBS have lower intraerythrocytic and serum magnesium values than patients of any other group (p < 0,05). Cyclosporin A associated magnesium wasting leads to lower serum magnesium, but there is no influence on the intraerythrocytic values. Healthy probands and patients with aBS have no abnormalities in magnesium homeostasis. The worst clinical symptoms of hypomagnesemia have patients with GS/cBS. Both patients with aBS and Cyclosporin A associated magnesium wasting have symptoms of hypomagnesemia, but not as much as patients with GS/cBS.
Conclusion: Intraerythrocytic magnesium values correlate with extracellular magnesium concentration. The form of the correlation could not be defined. Hereditary renal magnesium wasting leads to lower intraerythrocytic and serum magnesium values. Cyclosporin A associated magnesium wasting does not lead to an intracellular magnesium deficiency, but to lower values in serum. Patients with intracellular and serum magnesium deficiency have the worst and most frequently symptoms of hypomagnesemia. | <urn:uuid:5bc47889-37d8-4e3b-8565-2e5767a1476b> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/ubfind/Record/urn:nbn:de:hebis:04-z2015-0275/TOC | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662556725.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20220523071517-20220523101517-00432.warc.gz | en | 0.888857 | 567 | 2.5625 | 3 |
(NEXSTAR) – Headache, chills, fever — these are just a few of the side effects some have reported after getting the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines.
Why do some people experience more side effects from the vaccine than others?
We don’t quite know, says Stanford University infectious disease physician Anne Liu.
What we do know are trends, and typically, women and younger people tend to report a greater intensity of side effects than older and male individuals.
“That’s not to say they have more symptoms, however,” Liu said. It’s possible that younger folks and women just report their symptoms with more frequency.
“I’m going to make a big generalization here, but our culture typically discourages men from bringing their symptoms to attention,” Liu said.
As for why younger people experience more symptoms, that could be a result of them having stronger immune systems.
“Older people’s immune systems tend to get weaker over time,” Liu explained, meaning their reaction to the vaccine will be less intense.
“If you have no side effects, you may have a weaker response,” Liu said.
That’s not to say the vaccine isn’t working. The immune system is complex and multi-pronged, and side effects aren’t the only sign the vaccine is efficacious.
“Overall, the vaccines are very effective in all groups studied,” Liu said.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are about 95-percent effective at preventing COVID-19 infection, the drug makers have said.
The matter of vaccine side effects prompts a second question: Why does the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine appear to have more symptoms than the first dose?
According to Dr. William B. Greenough III, a professor emeritus at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who’s known for his work on cholera, says there’s a simple explanation for the increase in side effects.
With the first dose, your body begins building its initial immune response, including producing antibodies.
But with the second shot — a.k.a. the second exposure to the virus — “the big guns” of your immune system react.
“Once your immune system recognizes the virus [after the second dose], it’s going to have a greater reaction to it,” Greenough said.
This is a sign the vaccine is working and that your immune system “recognizes the vaccine in your body.”
With the second dose, your body not only creates antibodies, but spurs your lymph nodes and other parts of the body to react to the vaccine at the tissue level, hence additional side effects. | <urn:uuid:8cf7c533-1525-4268-a86b-f70cea89ab71> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://www.kxan.com/news/these-two-groups-tend-to-report-more-covid-vaccine-side-effects-this-is-why/?ipid=related-recirc&utm_campaign=custom%20navigation&utm_source=promo%20link%20chartbeat&utm_medium=desktop | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764500044.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20230203055519-20230203085519-00509.warc.gz | en | 0.946249 | 586 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Preserving Vessels In A Diverse Local History MuseumAndy King
Curator of Industrial & Maritime History
Bristol Industrial Museum, U.K.
Bristol Industrial Museum is one of six museums run by the city's local government. Its role is to preserve material relating to Bristol's long and varied industrial history, a theme taken to include most aspects of maritime and transport matters
Bristol is well-known as an important maritime centre, a notoriety which it is hoped will be vastly enhanced when the conjectural reconstruction of the Matthew arrives in Canada in June 1997, re-enacting the European discovery 500 years ago of the American mainland by the Venetian navigator and honorary Bristolian, John Cabot.
Like many places with a proud heritage, the tradition in Bristol is rather greater than the sum of its parts. It is true that Cabot sailed from there and that in medieval times Bristol was the second port to London (although ten times smaller); that in the 17th and 18th centuries the city grew rich on the triangular trade to Africa and the West Indies, a trade partly based on slaves; and that Brunel built both the p.s. Great Western and the s.s. Great Britainin the port. Set this against the city's stubborn refusal to improve her port facilities until too late and a cautious approach to shipbuilding entirely at odds with Brunel's risk taking, however.
Like many ports, Bristol developed a bewildering range of industries at first based on the commodities traded by the ships. Perhaps unlike other ports, these industries, and others independent of the sea, came to represent at least an equally important aspect of Bristol's wealth, and, from the beginning of the 19th century, a far more significant contribution. Bristol had the unique second string in the UK of locally-available coal, which allowed the growth of engineering, in particular, earlier than other towns; Brunel's decision to build the s.s. Great Britainin Bristol was influenced by the availability of men with the skills needed to work in iron.
Thus, from serving the port with trade goods, industry came to be served by the port, together with the waterways, roads and railways on which Bristol is a cross-roads. One of the difficulties, therefore, of our relatively small and under-resourced Industrial Museum is to strike a balance between these influences upon the city's history. This need has influenced the selection of ships to preserve; in each case, the vessels have to demonstrate not only an importance in their own right as ships but act as examples of the city's shipbuilding industry and illustrations of aspects of day-to-day life in the port.
I mentioned the word selection; in fact, the vessels we have managed to preserve are simply the best of the half-dozen or so that have become available during the last twenty years. Efforts to preserve ships before that came to nothing, but those that we failed to get would, arguably, have been better, sounder examples, although quite big. Fortunately, the vessels available have tended to be small and manageable - on average 55 to 75 feet long and 12 to17 feet beam.
What made ship preservation more than a vague possibility was the establishment of a dockside Industrial Museum in 1978. Our collection of ships started in 1981 with the acquisition of the 1861 steam tug Mayflower. She is without doubt an exceptionally important vessel, being the last of a common type in the locality, where screw was always preferred to paddle for towing. Her long working life on the Gloucester and Sharpness Ship Canal and upper River Severn meant that many changes had been wrought to suit her better to changing tows - at first ketches, trows (West Country sailing barges) and small schooners, then steamships, later still predominately dumb barges and finally mud barges and the ship canal dredger - but her basic form had survived all this. Having fallen into disuse in 1964, she was sold to a succession of well-meaning enthusiasts who failed to achieve anything much, except allowing her to sink at one stage. When we finally managed to get her, she had reached the stage of requiring very major overhaul to engine and boiler, and serious repair to parts of her wrought-iron hull and steel superstructure and deck. This sort of thing has set a trend - the vessels which have followed have been through a similar period of dilapidation before coming to us, and, ironically, their purchase price only drops low enough once this sort of condition is reached!
None of you will need telling that a boat is a hole in the water into which one pours money. Where that money comes from is in the lap of the gods, and with each of our boats, the restoration costs were met by a combination of grant aid from the national Science Museum PRISM Fund, assistance from the Museum's Friends organisation, shop profits, sponsorship, public donations .... in fact anywhere except a formal Museum budget. Each restoration project has ended in the red and efforts to repay this from operational profits have not met with resounding success. Winning a couple of awards for Mayflowerwas a very useful boost, but our diesel tug John King, a 1935 product of a local yard, locally-owned and -operated throughout her working life has proved very hard to finance and quite expensive to deal with. She lacks the sex appeal of the s.s. Great Britainor, more recently, the conjectural reconstruction (I still can't bring myself to call her a replica) of the Matthew, whose construction has been contemporaneous with John King's restoration and has been seen as a much more attractive sponsorship proposition. Nevertheless, I am proud that we have spent little more than 35,000 pounds restoring each ship.
None of the projects would have been achieved without volunteers. The staff at the Museum has basically remained the same for sixteen years, with one curator and one conservator available to do everything. The development of a team of enthusiastic, skilled and thoughtful volunteers, (at first principally around Mayflowerbut later prepared to work with almost any of our range of exhibits) has made it feasible, if not advisable, to try to maintain a small fleet. Like all Museums, however, we find it difficult to attract and retain younger volunteers - the average age must be around 60, often people retiring early from engineering. Because we are known as an Industrial Museum, we seem to attract the engineers rather than the nautical enthusiasts.
The volunteers would not be as many, nor would they be as committed if we had static machinery. Our policy has always been to bring things back to life, sometimes taking steps which might be frowned upon by some of you. I believe that our vessels are better maintained by working them, that an equivalent of a ship's crew builds esprit de corps that you don't get with a stationary lump, and that gradual decay gets noticed and remedied more easily and quickly by people who are frequently aboard and familiar with the vessel. Moreover, there is no way that we would be able to allow the public aboard under normal circumstances, as we have insufficient staff to ward the vessels. Far better that the public should see the vessel as a living entity when they go aboard, and better still that they should actually go somewhere.
Here again we are lucky with Bristol's superb Floating Harbour, a non-tidal stretch of water just large enough to make a reasonable half-hour trip. This is our only way of funding the ongoing care and maintenance of the vessels. We do trips on Mayflowerfor up to 12 people at a time, and they can visit the engine and boiler room and the cabins, seeing everything at close quarters. There are obvious attractions to a steam ship. We were less confident of a market for Pyronaut, the 1934 fire boat which provided cover for the City Docks in Bristol for 40 years, including during the Blitz. We need not have worried - it seems that a diesel boat can be just as popular, particularly if you spray water everywhere while the punters are aboard. We also do this for a fee at major events and at private functions. This year we are investigating running longer, chartered trips on both craft into the tidal Avon and under Brunel's famous suspension bridge, and looking into the market for 'steam experience' days, already popular on our steam railway. We have yet to complete John King, whose operation will be a further source of income, we hope.
As I mentioned at the beginning, the Museum's role is to cover a range of very disparate subjects, and the vessels are simply three of the exhibits which we are forced to keep outside, along with four electric quayside cranes, a 35-tons steam crane and about a dozen railway wagons. In trying to achieve their preservation, we have developed a broad knowledge base that applies similar techniques to all these things, some of which might not be common in dedicated maritime Museums. It is hard to think of a specific example, but we favour paints and coatings developed for exposed sites on land over marine paints. We always seek the best available materials for each job, preferring to use long-life, low-maintenance modern products and selecting those which could be used and applied by the least skilled of our volunteers.
On the down side, the need to spread so widely means that the specialist maritime knowledge that many of you take for granted is more difficult for me to acquire. I love the variety - one day skippering a steam tug, the next operating a Linotype machine, then answering enquires about the local brass industry or telling yet another family history enthusiast that we have very few records of 17th century emigration ships and even fewer photographs of them! It does mean that I cannot devote the time that I need to sourcing materials for the ships. Our vessels fall between the very large Great Britains and Cutty Sarks and the small craft which proliferate amongst private collectors and are so often wooden. Finding parts, in particular, for mid-sized iron and steel ships has proved difficult over the years. Conferences like these are very useful!
My Museum will not be able to preserve another vessel - we are at full stretch with those we have. In addition, because the city government needs to reduce its commitments, it is likely that the present Industrial Museum will further widen its brief and become a general social history Museum of Bristol. This trend has my support, but it means a further reduction in our ability to specialise in ships. However, the arrival in Bristol of part of the former Exeter Maritime Museum collection has presented an enticing opportunity in the shape of the drag-boat Bertha. Built in Bristol in the 1840s at the recommendation of Isambard Brunel (another honorary Bristolian), this ungainly craft - effectively a steam winch on a pontoon - kept Bridgwater Docks clear of mud for 130 years. She worked at Exeter Maritime Museum initially, too, but has not moved under her own power for about 12 years. We are looking at selling our restoration abilities to the new owner as a way of helping to generate funds for the ongoing restoration and maintenance of our outside exhibits. If we can reach an agreement that allows us to meet our commitments to our own craft, this could open the way to a more entrepreneurial approach to the whole business. I can only say "Watch This Space".
Return to the Preservation Conference Schedule page. | <urn:uuid:3698391c-1469-4e60-bcb4-99945259f939> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | https://maritime.org/conf/conf-king.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084891539.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20180122193259-20180122213259-00025.warc.gz | en | 0.972452 | 2,327 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Quadrocopter, they’re drones, is rapidly gaining popularity not only among geeks and lovers of powered flight, but also the broad masses. German designer Eric Hizman suggested that such a promising niche market may be interested in the apple company.
A drone is a small flying vehicle, usually equipped with four engines and their propellers to keep in flight with sufficient stability to allow air to do things like record videos without any vibration. In the market there are many of these vehicles, many brands, and today are used in all types of video productions as well as an individual, for fun.
iDrone today flying for 4 screws drones used in industry, military affairs and entertainment. The majority of such devices are equipped with powerful cameras and used to review inaccessible areas or create aerial photographs of large objects.
Many of them can be controlled from an iPhone, but this is not the subject of this article; what we show in these pictures is the aspect that would have one of these machines if Apple had designed. It is the first design concept of a hypothetical Apple drone. | <urn:uuid:6380b22b-a1e8-4373-b4cd-b809c870f11e> | CC-MAIN-2021-49 | https://www.ihelplounge.com/idrone-uav-concept-from-apple/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-49/segments/1637964363418.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20211207201422-20211207231422-00497.warc.gz | en | 0.962188 | 220 | 2.515625 | 3 |
National Secular Society members and Humanists protesting on Easter Monday in Hyde Park, c.1970.
The National Secular Society was established by the political activist and atheist Charles Bradlaugh in 1886. The Society aimed to promote secularism and argued for a division between church and state.
Conway Hall Ethical Society has a long history of running public lectures, discussions and a library service. This advert from their former home at South Place, (c.1910) highlights a continuity at the heart of the Society.
Conway Hall Ethical Society (formerly South Place Ethical Society) has a long history of promoting liberty, ethics and justice, as well as supporting social, political and secular campaigners. In 1909 the Society publicly demonstrated its support for Senor Francisco Ferrer, a Spanish anarchist who used his fortune to promote secular education and campaign for political freedom.
From even a quick browse of the archive, it is clear that Conway Hall Ethical Society has a long tradition of forging connections with kindred organisations. Included in this illuminating collection is a snapshot about Gora and the Atheist Centre in Vijayawada, India.
Nineteenth-century marriages at Conway Hall Ethical Society. | <urn:uuid:94e9b1e0-4383-4c11-a08a-5f1821720466> | CC-MAIN-2021-04 | https://conwayhall.org.uk/tag/religion/page/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-04/segments/1610704792131.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20210125220722-20210126010722-00203.warc.gz | en | 0.941152 | 242 | 2.640625 | 3 |
PFE to Real, Second-Order Sections
When all coefficients of and are real (implying that is the transfer function of a real filter), it will always happen that the complex one-pole filters will occur in complex conjugate pairs. Let denote any one-pole section in the PFE of Eq.(6.7). Then if is complex and describes a real filter, we will also find somewhere among the terms in the one-pole expansion. These two terms can be paired to form a real second-order section as follows:
Expressing the pole in polar form as , and the residue as , the last expression above can be rewritten as
Expanding a transfer function into a sum of second-order terms with real coefficients gives us the filter coefficients for a parallel bank of real second-order filter sections. (Of course, each real pole can be implemented in its own real one-pole section in parallel with the other sections.) In view of the foregoing, we may conclude that every real filter with can be implemented as a parallel bank of biquads.7.6 However, the full generality of a biquad section (two poles and two zeros) is not needed because the PFE requires only one zero per second-order term.
To see why we must stipulate in Eq.(6.7), consider the sum of two first-order terms by direct calculation:
Notice that the numerator order, viewed as a polynomial in , is one less than the denominator order. In the same way, it is easily shown by mathematical induction that the sum of one-pole terms can produce a numerator order of at most (while the denominator order is if there are no pole-zero cancellations). Following terminology used for analog filters, we call the case a strictly proper transfer function.7.7 Thus, every strictly proper transfer function (with distinct poles) can be implemented using a parallel bank of two-pole, one-zero filter sections.
Inverting the Z Transform | <urn:uuid:aef27782-aa04-4c09-8c24-1a2363e4289c> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://www.dsprelated.com/freebooks/filters/PFE_Real_Second_Order_Sections.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030335504.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220930212504-20221001002504-00592.warc.gz | en | 0.902434 | 435 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Solar backpack helps Kenyan children get rid of dangerous kerosene lamps
A solar backpack and light improving childrens lives in Kenya – image courtesy CBC
Salima Visram the 23 year old entrepreneur behind Soular Backpack was born on the outskirts of Mombasa, Kenya and is no stranger to poverty. The image of thousands of young children studying at night using toxic kerosene lamps stayed with her. After moving to Montreal to study at McGill University she decided to do something about it.
She launched Soular, a solar backpack company that made special backpacks equipped with solar panels and a portable lamp inside the backpack which is charged during the daytime and can be used at night. Visram was inspired those children in Kenya who were unable to study every day to get into secondary school, thus perpetuating the vicious cycle of poverty. Now her innovative solution allows families to move away from the toxic and carcinogenic effects of kerosene lamps and helps children have 4 to 5 hours of steady light for study every day.
Help from Disney and Lupita Nyong’o
Visaram had help from Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o and Disney to publicize the Solar Backpack. In the Disney move Queen of Katwe, the main protagonist a young Ugandan girl playing competitive chess had only kerosene lamps at her home. Lupita Nyong’o coined the slogan on the Solar Backpacks : “The power is in your step.”
One plus one program gets a solar backpack’s to kids in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
Visram is now making her solar backpack in Kenya, and her program gives a free backpack to a child Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania for every Solar Backpack purchased on her website. Each backpack bears Nyong’o quote the backpack itself: “The power is in your step.” | <urn:uuid:fead979d-983d-40d0-b0a7-01ff3cf58f60> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | https://mysolarhome.us/solar_backpack_soular/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084887849.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20180119085553-20180119105553-00241.warc.gz | en | 0.948997 | 383 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Pandas are notoriously shy when it comes to the act of procreation. But it turns out, all they require is a pandemic and a mass global shutdown to get in the mood away from prying eyes.
Ying Ying and Le Le, two giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) at Ocean Park in Hong Kong, have finally mated successfully for the first time after spending almost 10 years together at the park. According to an announcement by the zoo, the pair was caught in the act at 9 am local time on Monday, April 6, after showing signs that they had entered their hormonal oestrus cycle, or mating cycle, in late March.
The two sweethearts were first introduced at the zoo in 2011. While there were some initial attempts to mate, their efforts were met with a miscarriage and misfortune. However, following the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, Ocean Park has not had any visitors since January 26, and it seems this peace and quiet might have been the missing ingredient.
The gestation period for giant pandas ranges between 72 and 324 days, so with a little bit of luck, the zoo could be announcing some very good news later on in the coming year. The zoo hopes to confirm the pregnancy with an ultrasound scan nearer to the time of birth.
“Male and female giant pandas are sexually mature starting at ages of seven and five respectively. Since Ying Ying and Le Le’s arrival in Hong Kong in 2007 and attempts at natural mating since 2010, they, unfortunately, have yet to succeed until this year upon years of trial and learning," Michael Boos, Executive Director in Zoological Operations and Conservation at Ocean Park, said in a statement. "The successful natural mating process today is extremely exciting for all of us, as the chance of pregnancy via natural mating is higher than by artificial insemination.”
“If successful, signs of pregnancy, including hormonal level fluctuations and behavioral changes may be observed as early as late June, though there is always a chance that Ying Ying could experience a pseudo-pregnancy,” he added. “We hope to bear wonderful pregnancy news to Hong Kongers this year and make further contributions to the conservation of this vulnerable species.”
Native to a few small slivers of south-central China, pandas are well-known to have difficulty breeding in captivity, which isn’t good news considering the IUCN Red List lists them as vulnerable to extinction. There are a few reasons why the captive breeding of pandas is so tough, but it’s generally explained by the fact pairs have to be compatible and rely on a subtle range of communication that can be easily disturbed. It also doesn’t help that female pandas ovulate just once a year and can sometimes experience pseudo-pregnancies.
Of course, in these dark times, the joyful news has quickly spread on social media with equal measures sincerity and hilarity and, let's face it, just a tiny amount of jealousy. | <urn:uuid:9bb10f94-b13a-4b84-847e-fdd1da88c15e> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/after-10-years-pandas-finally-get-it-on-while-zoo-is-empty-due-to-covid19-lockdown/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662580803.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20220525054507-20220525084507-00637.warc.gz | en | 0.97083 | 619 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Other Names for this Disease
- MULIBREY dwarfism
- Muscle-liver-brain-eye nanism
- Perheentupa syndrome
- Pericardial constriction - growth failure
- Pericardial constriction and growth failure
dwarfism. Signs and symptoms of the disorder may include constrictive pericarditis; low birth weight; short stature; severe progressive growth delays; hypotonia; hepatomegaly; and yellow discoloration of the eyes in infancy. It is caused by mutations in the TRIM37 gene and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Treatment may include surgery for constrictive pericarditis, medications for progressive heart failure and hormone replacement therapy.Mulibrey nanism is a rare genetic disorder characterized by profound growth delays and distinctive abnormalities of the muscles, liver, brain, and eyes. The acronym MULIBREY stands for (MU)scle, (LI)ver, (BR)ain, and (EY)e; nanism is another word for
Last updated: 6/2/2011
- Mulibrey Nanism. NORD. April 12, 2008; http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/1040/viewAbstract. Accessed 6/2/2011.
- The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
- Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Mulibrey Nanism. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic. | <urn:uuid:8f4730c6-2eea-485a-8dfc-8a1e266aa183> | CC-MAIN-2015-06 | http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/95/mulibrey-nanism/resources/1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-06/segments/1422122189854.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20150124175629-00027-ip-10-180-212-252.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.856391 | 448 | 2.609375 | 3 |
One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
Any of a group of DNA viruses first discovered in adenoid tissue, most of which cause respiratory diseases.
- ‘Symptoms of influenza-like illness can be caused by multiple respiratory viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, and coronavirus.’
- ‘Retroviruses, adenoviruses, and lentiviruses have all been used as vehicles for RNA interference constructs.’
- ‘Among the viruses that are put under the microscope are the adenoviruses, bunyaviruses, retroviruses and the coronaviruses (the genus behind SARS outbreak).’
- ‘These are usually self-limited syndromes caused by a variety of viruses: rhinovirus, adenovirus, echovirus, coxsackievirus, influenza, and parainfluenza viruses.’
- ‘Some viruses that cause pneumonia are adenoviruses, rhinovirus, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza virus (the virus that causes croup).’
Top tips for CV writingRead more
In this article we explore how to impress employers with a spot-on CV. | <urn:uuid:80304b5c-ff88-430d-8f1d-f4be35d35d1b> | CC-MAIN-2018-17 | https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/adenovirus | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125947803.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20180425115743-20180425135743-00487.warc.gz | en | 0.893978 | 287 | 3.1875 | 3 |
The stomach is a muscular organ located on the left side of the upper abdomen. The stomach receives food from the esophagus. As food reaches the end of the esophagus, it enters the stomach through a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter.
The stomach secretes acid and enzymes that digest food. Ridges of muscle tissue called rugae line the stomach. The stomach muscles contract periodically, churning food to enhance digestion. The pyloric sphincter is a muscular valve that opens to allow food to pass from the stomach to the small intestine.
- Gastroesophageal reflux: Stomach contents, including acid, can travel backward up the esophagus. There may be no symptoms, or reflux may cause heartburn or coughing.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): When symptoms of reflux become bothersome or occur frequently, they’re called GERD. Infrequently, GERD can cause serious problems of the esophagus.
- Dyspepsia: Another name for stomach upset or indigestion. Dyspepsia may be caused by almost any benign or serious condition that affects the stomach.
- Gastric ulcer (stomach ulcer): An erosion in the lining of the stomach, often causing pain and/or bleeding. Gastric ulcers are most often caused by NSAIDs or H. pylori infection.
- Peptic ulcer disease: Doctors consider ulcers in either the stomach or the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) peptic ulcer disease.
- Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach, often causing nausea and/or pain. Gastritis can be caused by alcohol, certain medications, H. pylori infection, or other factors.
- Stomach cancer: Gastric cancer is an uncommon form of cancer in the U.S. Adenocarcinoma and lymphoma make up most of the cases of stomach cancer.
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES): One or more tumors that secrete hormones that lead to increased acid production. Severe GERD and peptic ulcer disease result from this rare disorder.
- Gastric varices: In people with severe liver disease, veins in the stomach may swell and bulge under increased pressure. Called varices, these veins are at high risk for bleeding, although less so than esophageal varices are.
- Stomach bleeding: Gastritis, ulcers, or gastric cancers may bleed. Seeing blood or black material in vomit or stool is usually a medical emergency.
- Gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying): Nerve damage from diabetes or other conditions may impair the stomach’s muscle contractions. Nausea and vomiting are the usual symptoms.
- Upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD): A flexible tube with a camera on its end (endoscope) is inserted through the mouth. The endoscope allows examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).
- Computed tomography (CT scan): A CT scanner uses X-rays and a computer to create images of the stomach and abdomen.
- Magnetic resonance imaging: Using a magnetic field, a scanner creates high-resolution images of the stomach and abdomen.
- pH testing: Using a tube through the nose into the esophagus, acid levels in the esophagus can be monitored. This can help diagnose or change treatment for GERD.
- Barium swallow: After swallowing barium, X-ray films of the esophagus and stomach are taken. This can sometimes diagnose ulcers or other problems.
- Upper GI series: X-rays are taken of the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine.
- Gastric emptying study: A test of how rapidly food passes through the stomach. The food is labeled with a chemical and viewed on a scanner.
- Stomach biopsy: During an endoscopy, a doctor can take a small piece of stomach tissue for tests. This can diagnose H. pylori infection, cancer, or other problems.
- H. pylori test : While most people with H. pylori infection don't develop ulcers, simple blood or stool tests can be done to check for infection in people with ulcers or to verify that the infection is wiped out after treatment..
- Histamine (H2) blockers: Histamine increases stomach acid secretion; blocking histamine can reduce acid production and GERD symptoms.
- Proton pump inhibitors: These medicines directly inhibit the acid pumps in the stomach. They must be taken daily to be effective.
- Antacids: These medicines can help against the effects of acid but don't kill bacteria or stop acid production.
- Endoscopy: During an upper endoscopy, tools on the endoscope can sometimes stop stomach bleeding, if present.
- Motility agents: Medicines can increase contraction of the stomach, improving symptoms of gastroparesis.
- Stomach surgery: Cases of severe stomach bleeding, ruptured ulcers, or cancer require surgery to be cured.
- Antibiotics: H. pylori infection can be cured with antibiotics, which are taken with other medicines to heal the stomach. | <urn:uuid:0b65d754-0411-49a5-b2dd-9c6dfb007074> | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/picture-of-the-stomach | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267863411.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20180620031000-20180620051000-00561.warc.gz | en | 0.856987 | 1,121 | 3.9375 | 4 |
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Methanol is useful in the synthesis of nucleic acids and peptides. It is used as an antifreeze, solvent, fuel, and as a denaturant for ethanol. It is also used for producing biodiesel. It is used for the synthesis of formaldehyde and acetic acid. It is also useful to make chemicals, to remove water from automotive and aviation fuels, as a solvent for paints and plastics, and as an ingredient in a wide variety of products. It plays an important role in the measurement of methyl ester content of pectin. Further, it is widely used as a solvent in synthetic organic chemistry.
Klhar, B.; Gimenez, S.; Zandi, O.; Santiago, F. F.; Hamann, T. Competitive Photoelectrochemical Methanol and Water Oxidation with Hematite Electrodes. Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2015, 7 (14), 7653-7660.
Icardi, U. A.; Specchia, S.; Fontana, G. J. R.; Saracco, G.; Specchia, V. Compact direct methanol fuel cells for portable application. J. Power Sources 2008, 176 (2), 460-467.
Hazard Statements: H225-H301-H311-H331-H370
Highly flammable liquid and vapour. Toxic if swallowed. Toxic in contact with skin. Toxic if inhaled. Causes damage to organs.
Precautionary Statements: P210-P260-P301+P310a-P303+P361+P353-P405-P501a
Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. - No smoking. Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray. IF SWALLOWED: Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove/Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water/shower. Store locked up. Dispose of contents/container in accordance with local/regional/national/international regulations. | <urn:uuid:9db8d613-93d3-4610-b77f-0edaa2447a47> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | https://www.alfa.com/en/catalog/L13255/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818687740.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20170921101029-20170921121029-00510.warc.gz | en | 0.852686 | 508 | 2.515625 | 3 |
A Common Disease
Colorectal cancer is a very serious disease affecting every 1 in 19 females and 1 in 20 males, and is the third leading cause of cancer deaths. But it is almost entirely preventable through screenings.
Indiana University Health is home to some of the top colorectal cancer experts in the world. Our physicians have developed the field's defining standards of care and are experts in special cases such as removing polyps that are large, flat or hard to access.
Colonoscopies: Powerful & Effective
Colonoscopies are a powerful and effective test used to screen for precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer in patients without any symptoms. If proper screenings take place, physicians can gather the necessary information to prevent 80 percent of colorectal cancer. | <urn:uuid:319c42a6-0790-4a03-87f6-7faadb8c1ab3> | CC-MAIN-2017-51 | http://iuhealth.org/cancer/colorectal-cancer/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-51/segments/1512948581033.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20171216010725-20171216032725-00367.warc.gz | en | 0.935677 | 165 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Nigeria - History
The history of Nigeria prior to the beginnings of British administration is sparsely documented, but archaeological evidence indicates that an Iron Age culture was present sometime between 500 BC and AD 200, and agriculture and livestock raising long before then. About the 11th century AD , Yoruba city-states developed in western Nigeria, and some, such as Benin, became powerful kingdoms in later centuries. During medieval times, northern Nigeria had contact with the large kingdoms of the western Sudan (Ghana, Mali, and Songhai) and with countries of the Mediterranean across the Sahara. Islamic influence was firmly established by the end of the 15th century, and Kano was famous not only as a center of Islamic studies but also as a great commercial entrepôt of the western Sudan. Until the arrival of the British, northern Nigeria was economically oriented toward the north and east, and woven cloth and leatherwork were exported as far as the North African ports of the Mediterranean. At the beginning of the 19th century, a jihad, or holy war, led by a Fulani sheikh, Uthman dan Fodio, established Fulani rule over the surviving Hausa kingdoms, until the British conquest at the end of the century.
In the south, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish close relations with the coastal people. In the late 15th century, they established a depot to handle trade goods and slaves from Benin. The Portuguese monopoly was broken after a century, and other European nations participated in the burgeoning slave trade. The British abolished slave trading in 1807, and thereafter-British policy was directed at enforcing that ban on other nations. Interest in legitimate commerce developed slowly, but the discovery of the mouth of the Niger in 1830 provided an important impetus. The extension of British influence over Nigeria was gradual and, initially at least, unplanned. In 1861, the British annexed the island of Lagos, an important center of palm oil trade, and thereafter, they gradually extended their influence over the adjacent mainland of Yorubaland.
In 1887, British influence over the eastern coast, which had been promoted since 1849 by consular agents, was regularized by the establishment of the Oil Rivers Protectorate. This too was gradually extended inland and became the Niger Coast Protectorate in 1894. The acquisition of the interior of Nigeria, however, was accomplished largely by Sir George Goldie, founder of the Royal Niger Company, who by 1885 had eliminated commercial competition on the Niger and, by claiming treaties with responsible African authorities, had secured recognition of British influence over the Niger Basin by the European powers at the Berlin Conference. This influence was more fancied than real, but it provided the basis for British rule over northern Nigeria, which was consolidated by a series of punitive expeditions culminating in the establishment of the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria in 1900.
The separate administrative units were finally amalgamated in 1914 into the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, with Sir Frederick Lugard as governor-general. Despite the ostensible unification, the administrative individuality of the three separate regions—North, East, and West—was maintained. The chief characteristic of British rule in Nigeria was its system of local administration, known as indirect rule. The success of the system depended on fairly centralized hierarchical political units. It functioned well in the North, with variable success in the West, and poorly in the East.
After World War II, increasing pressures for self-government resulted in a succession of short-lived constitutions. The constitution of 1954 established a federal form of government, greatly extending the functions of the regional governments. A constitutional conference of May and June 1957 decided upon immediate self-government for the Eastern and Western regions, the Northern to follow in 1959. The step from self-government to independence was quickly taken. On 1 October 1960, Nigeria became a fully independent member of the British Commonwealth, and on 1 October 1963 it became a republic. Nnamdi Azikiwe was elected the first president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Internal disorders, which began in 1962 and were caused mainly by regional resentment over the domination of the federal government by Northern elements, culminated in a military coup on 15 January 1966. Organized by a group of Eastern junior army officers, the coup led to the deaths of the federal prime minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; the prime minister of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello; and the prime minister of the Western Region, Chief S. L. Akintola. By 17 January, Maj. Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, commander-in-chief of the army, had suppressed the revolt and assumed supreme power. He suspended the constitution and dissolved the legislature, established a military government, and appointed military governors to replace the popularly elected civilian governors in the regions. On 29 July 1966, mutinous elements in the army, largely Northern army officers, staged a countercoup, killed Gen. Ironsi, and replaced him with Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon as head of the military government. The July coup led to the massacre of thousands of Easterners residing in the Northern Region and to the exodus of more than 1 million persons (mostly Ibos) to the Eastern Region.
On 28 May 1967, Col. Gowon assumed emergency powers as head of the Federal Military Government and announced the division of the country into 12 states; 6 states were formed from the Northern Region; 3 states from the Eastern Region; and the Mid-West, Western, and Lagos areas became separate states. Rejecting the realignment, Eastern Region leaders announced on 30 May the independent Republic of Biafra, with Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu as head of state. On 6 July, the federal government declared war on the fledgling republic. By the time the war ended, on 12 January 1970, Biafra had been reduced to about one-tenth of its original 78,000-sq-km (30,000-sq-mi) area, and a million or more persons had perished, many of disease and starvation. Following the surrender, many Ibos returned to their former positions in Lagos, and Gen. Gowon's military regime sought to rehabilitate the three Eastern states as quickly as possible.
In October 1970, with the civil war behind him, Gen. Gowon set 1976 as the target date for Nigeria's return to civilian rule. Political change came slowly, however, and in October 1974, Gowon announced an indefinite postponement in plans for the transfer of power. The regime's recalcitrance in this and other areas, including its failure to check the power of the state governors and to reduce the general level of corruption, led to Gowon's overthrow on 29 July 1975. His successor, Brig. Murtala Ramat Muhammad, moved vigorously in dismissing inefficient and corrupt officials and in establishing an ombudsman commission. One of his plans was to establish a new capital territory in the center of the country, at Abuja. On 13 February 1976, Muhammad was assassinated in the course of an abortive insurgency. He was replaced as head of the government by the former chief of staff of the armed forces, Lt. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who pledged to carry on his predecessor's program. In March 1976, a decree established a 19-state federation. Political party activity was again permitted in late 1978, and a new constitution took effect on 1 October 1979, the day Alhaji Shehu Shagari took office as president. Leader of the conservative National Party of Nigeria, he also had the support of the Nigerian People's Party (NPP), led by former president Azikiwe. The NPP withdrew its support in 1981, leaving Shagari at the head of a minority government. In August 1983, Shagari won reelection to a second term as president; in late December, however, he was ousted in a military coup.
The new military regime, led by Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, provoked growing public dissatisfaction because of its increasingly authoritarian character, and a military coup on 27 August 1985 brought Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to power. Assuming the title of president, Babangida banned Second Republic (1979–83) officials from participation in politics for 10 years. A return to full civilian rule was pledged by 1992, with local elections on a nonparty basis, the creation of a constituent assembly, the establishment of no more than two political parties, state elections, a national census, and finally presidential elections. The first step in the process—local elections on 12 December 1987—were marred by irregularities. To deal with Nigeria's economic troubles, stemming from the fall of world oil prices in the 1980s, Babangida inaugurated a "homegrown" Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) prompted by the IMF but not directed by them. It involved cuts in public spending, decreased state control over the economy, stimulation of exports, devaluation of the currency, and rescheduling of debt. Yet, government's own budgetary excesses undermined the SAP.
A mostly elected Constituent Assembly met in 1988 and approved modifications in the 1979 constitution. The process of party formation proved awkward in a society as heterogeneous as Nigeria's. None of the 13 potential parties gained Babangida's approval. Instead, he decided to create two new parties, one "a little to the right" of center, another "a little to the left." Neither challenged government effectively.
Babangida's guided transitional program from military to a democratic civilian Third Republic was scheduled to be completed in 1992. But, despite growing prodemocracy demands, it was marked by crisis after crisis. Clashes between Muslims and Christians in 1991 and 1992 spread through northern cities. Hundreds were killed in the rioting itself and then by the army seeking to contain the riots.
In elections for state governors and assemblies, the National Republican Convention (NRC) won 13 of 30 assemblies and 16 governorships. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) carried 17 and 14, respectively. But voter indifference and fear of intimidation was high. When state governments took office, intraparty wrangling and political violence marred their performance.
Nonetheless, by January 1992, Nigerians geared up for the national presidential and legislative elections scheduled for later in the year. Nigeria's first successful census since independence (results announced in March 1992) indicated a population of 88.5 million, some 20 million fewer than estimated. The election register had to be revised downward, from 70 million to 39 million voters. On 20 May 1992, the government banned all political, religious, and ethnic organizations other than the two approved political parties.
Legislative elections were conducted on 4 July and the SDP won 47 of the 91 Senate seats and 310 of the 593 seats in the House of Representatives. The NRC won 37 and 267 seats, respectively. The ruling military council pushed back the transition date until January 1993 and postponed the inauguration of the National Assembly to coincide with the establishment of the Third Republic.
In August and September, the country began the process of narrowing the field of presidential candidates from 20 to 2 in preparation for the December elections. But on 17 November 1992, Babangida announced a third delay in the transfer of power from 2 January until 27 August 1993. Political violence and charges of electoral fraud disrupted the first round of presidential primaries. The second round in September was flawed, too. Faced with a virtual breakdown of the electoral machinery, the military council suspended the primary results in October. All 23 of the presidential aspirants were banned from future political competition. These disruptions were compounded by high levels of student and labor unrest, detentions of dissidents, and ethnic and religious fighting. Nonetheless, the military council had promised civilian government in 1993.
A new round of presidential nominations took place in March 1993. Chief M.K.O. Abiola (SDP) and Alhaji Bashir Tofay (NRC), both Muslim businessmen with ties to Babangida, won nomination. The presidential election of 12 June took place amid a flurry of legal efforts to halt it and great voter confusion. Abiola apparently defeated Tofa handily, 58.4% to 41.6% according to unofficial results.
But the National Electoral Commission set aside the results on 16 June and Babangida annulled the election a week later citing irregularities, poor turnout, and legal complications. Abiola, backed largely by the Yoruba people, demanded to be certified as president-elect. Civil unrest, especially in Lagos, followed.
After weeks of uncertainty and tension, Babangida resigned the presidency and his military commission on 26 August 1993. He handpicked a transitional council headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. By mid-November, Gen. Sani Abacha forced Shonekan to resign and he installed himself as head of state. On 18 November 1993, he abolished all state and local governments and the national legislature. He replaced many civilian officials with military commanders. He banned political parties and all political activity and ordered strikers to return to work. The following week, he named an 11-member Provisional Ruling Council composed mainly of generals and police officials. He also created a 32-member Federal Executive Council to head government ministries. It included prominent civilians and some prodemocracy and human rights activists.
On 11 June 1994, Abiola proclaimed himself president and then went into hiding. He was arrested later that month, an action that portended much that was to come for Nigeria. Massive protests followed Abiola's arrest, but Abacha's military repressed the demonstrators violently. On 6 July Abiola pleaded not guilty to three counts of treason; the following day laborers went on strike to protest the Abacha regime. In the following months millions of Nigerian workers reportedly walked out in support of Abiola and refused to attend scheduled government talks. Abiola remained in prison through June 1996, when his outspoken wife Kudirat Abiola was assassinated. Strikes and protests continued on Abiola's behalf.
In August, the General fired his army and navy commanders. Two weeks later he banned several newspapers, declaring that his government had absolute power and would not give in to prodemocracy demonstrators. Late in September, claiming that it was part of his plan to "rejuvenate the machinery of government," Abacha removed all civilians from his ruling council. Three months later he suspended habeas corpus and continued to round up and jail opponents. At the same time he rejected a court order demanding the release of Abiola from prison for medical treatment. In March 1995 Abacha ordered the arrest of former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo on suspicion of treason. Later in the month he dissolved labor unions and jailed their leaders. On 25 April Abacha canceled a 1 January 1996 deadline for the return of civilian rule and refused to discuss the matter. Though he lifted a ban on political parties in June 1995, Abacha placed tight restrictions on their operations. The July convictions in secret trials of 40 suspected traitors brought international condemnation and demands of leniency from critics of the Nigerian government. Ultimately Abacha relented on 1 October, commuting the death sentences of his convicted opponents and declaring that he would relinquish power to an elected government in 1998.
Despite these promises, many outside observers remained skeptical, largely due to fallout from the case of Ken Saro-Wiwa, leader of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People. Sentenced to death in October 1995 for a quadruple murder, many believed that Saro-Wiwa had been convicted on trumpedup charges stemming from his opposition to a proposed drilling agreement in Nigeria's main oil-producing region. The executions in early November of Saro-Wiwa and eight others brought a torrent of criticism from the international community and resulted in Nigeria's suspension from the British Commonwealth and an embargo from the European Union on arms and aid to Nigeria. Bowing to this pressure, the Abacha government amended in May 1996 the law under which Saro-Wiwa and the others had been convicted and offered to hold talks on the matter with the UK.
Abacha announced efforts in November 1996 to spur economic change and raise living standards in the country, a pronouncement met with skepticism by an increasingly angry opposition. By December, opponents of the government detonated two bombs aimed at Col. Mohammed Marwa, head of the Nigerian military. Col. Marwa escaped both attacks.
In April 1998 four of Nigeria's five major political parties nominated Abacha as their presidential candidate. Amid opposition accusations that the transition plan was designed to prolong Abacha's rule, legislative elections held on 25 April were heavily boycotted. Nigeria's political fortunes changed suddenly on 8 June when Abacha died of an apparent heart attack. General Abdoulsalami Abubakar took charge and promised to continue Abacha's transition. On 7 July Abiola died of heart failure while still in custody.
On 20 July General Abubakar announced a new plan for return to civilian rule culminating in a transfer of power in May 1999. On 5 December local council elections took place with three parties qualifying to move on to state and national elections by winning 5% of the vote in 24 of 36 states. On 11 January 1999 elections for state governorships and legislatures were held.
Elections for president and the national legislature were held on 27 February 1999. Obasanjo (PDP) won the presidential elections with 62% of the vote, Olu Falae received 38%, and the All Peoples Party (APP) was unable to settle on a presidential candidate. Despite Falae's charges of election rigging, international observers from the Carter Center and the National Democratic Institute reported no evidence that electoral abuses changed the overall results. In April Olu Falae closed his case against Obasanjo after a federal appeals court in Abuja rejected two pleas. Power was handed over officially to the new government in May. Twenty heads of state attended Obasanjo's inauguration on 4 June.
Obasanjo's agenda includes restoration of law and order, fighting corruption, and unifying Nigeria's ethnically and religiously diverse peoples. The Federal Government increased the oil-producing states' share of revenue from 3% to 13%. However, these states were demanding a 50% share, and the increase may not resolve disputes over local ownership, control of resources, and embezzlement. In 1999, Nigeria was second on Transparency International's list of most corrupt countries (Cameroon was first). Some $700 million assets of Abacha and his associates had been frozen in Swiss bank accounts.
In 1999 fighting in the Delta region killed several hundred people while outbreaks of fighting between Yorubas and Hausa in the area of Lagos resulted in hundreds more deaths. The Igbo have demanded reparations of $87 billion for the 1967–70 civil war. In February 2000, days of violent clashes between Muslims and Christians killed as many as 750 persons (mostly Igbo Christians, other south easterners and some Yorubas) in Kaduna, and destroyed several churches and mosques following announcements that a fuller or full application of Islamic law, Shari'ah, would be introduced in Zamfara and at least five other northern states. The code includes punishments such as flogging and amputation, and in principle only affects Muslims, but has caused great consternation among non-Muslims.
In June and July 2001, between 100 and 200 people were killed in Nasarawa state in fighting between the Tiv and other ethnic groups. In October, more than 200 villagers were killed by the army in the east-central state of Benue in retaliation for the murder of 19 soldiers amid fighting between the Tiv and Junkun. From 7–13 September 2001 in the central city of Jos, a total of 915 lives were lost in inter-communal violence between Muslims and Christians, although the nongovernmental organization Human Rights Watch described the conflict as more political and economic than religious.
On 27 January 2002, more than 1,000 people died as a result of a series of explosions at an army munitions dump in Lagos. Many of the victims fell into a canal and drowned as they tried to leave the northern neighborhood of Ikeja. In February, some 100 people were killed in Lagos in ethnic clashes between Yorubas and Hausa. Thousands fled their homes. In November, more than 200 people were killed in riots between Muslims and Christians in Kaduna, following the publication of a newspaper article suggesting that the prophet Mohammed would have wished to marry one of the Miss World contestants competing in that beauty pageant to be held in Abuja on 7 December. The pageant was subsequently moved to London. Also in November, the Nigerian government stated that it would intervene to save the life of Amina Lawal, a 30-year old woman sentenced to death by stoning after she was found guilty in a Shari'ah court of having had extra-marital sex. Her case provoked large-scale protests from the international community.
In October 2002, the International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Cameroon in its territorial dispute with Nigeria over the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula. Fighting between the two countries over the region broke out in 1994, at which point Cameroon requested a world court ruling on the border dispute. The decision cannot be appealed.
Nigerians, once dominated by the military, have become disappointed in the civilian rule initiated in 1999, due to the increasing poverty, ethnic strife, religious intolerance, declining standards in health and education, and a stagnant economy. From 1999 until the end of 2002, approximately 10,000 Nigerians were killed in political and sectarian violence. Presidential elections due on 19 April 2003 are seen to be critical in moving the country forward. It was hoped that the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power since independence was achieved in 1960 would be successful. | <urn:uuid:ce785388-0141-4917-9288-94fc8d365c1c> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Nigeria-HISTORY.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1398223206147.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20140423032006-00494-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975871 | 4,477 | 3.59375 | 4 |
US Museum Clarifies Definition of Holocaust After Trump’s Remarks
The museum's words ring painfully true today.
The US Holocaust Museum, located in Washington, D.C., has issued a statement yesterday clearly defining the Holocaust so as to curtail any further confusion following President Trump’s vague remarks—which did not mention Jews or Nazi anti-semitism—on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
“The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators … Nazi ideology cast the world as a racial struggle, and the singular focus on the total destruction of every Jewish person was at its racist core,” the statement reads.
“Millions of other innocent civilians were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis, but the elimination of Jews was central to Nazi policy. As Elie Wiesel said, ‘Not all victims were Jews, but all Jews were victims.'”
Trump’s statement was met with much controversy after it failed to recognize the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, instead intentionally remaining broad to include other non-Jewish victims.
However, the backlash has been swift and heated. Senator Tim Kaine called it “Holocaust denial” on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. The rabbi who offered prayer at the inauguration described the statement as “dangerous,” according to CNN, and elaborated, “Of course there were many victims who were non-Jews. But the principal objective of Adolf Hitler was to do away with Europe’s Jews.”
The museum’s statement also comes at a particularly charged time, amid protests regarding Trump’s executive order to ban immigration from seven Muslim majority countries. Thus, while the statement did not explicitly reference Trump, the words still ring painfully true and relevant.
“The Holocaust teaches us profound truths about human societies and our capacity for evil. An accurate understanding of this history is critical if we are to learn its lessons and honor its victims.”
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Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward. | <urn:uuid:c57b8b75-70ab-40df-97ea-3f1d374ab2fd> | CC-MAIN-2018-51 | https://news.artnet.com/art-world/holocaust-museum-statement-trumps-remarks-839534 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-51/segments/1544376826354.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20181214210553-20181214232553-00586.warc.gz | en | 0.960665 | 460 | 3.03125 | 3 |
As urban populations have grown dramatically and towns and cities have expanded into new areas, Governments – national and local – have sought to direct and control what gets built.
Because of this, a different type of map has been produced with increasing frequency. New buildings, new roads, whole new neighbourhoods conceived and planned in advance of a single brick being laid.
Such plans are maps of the future. What should be, what might be, as opposed to what is. And they are records of a process – from theory and concept, through outline to detailed proposals and on to the final version which the builder actually builds.
The basic shape of Wester Hailes envisaged by its initial plan was like a giant letter “C” – from Hailes Quarry in the north, heading down along the west edge of Kingsknowe golf course, south across the railway line and then bending back east below the golf course.
Through the middle of this, running like a spine from top to bottom under the railway and over and under roads, was to be an unbroken pedestrian walkway. This, as the first planning study described it, would be “the central stem curving through the site from which all the rest of the plan would grow and develop”.
Which, in reality, was very much what got built. The “C” did indeed describe the main area of the estate and the Greenway pedestrianised route is still a main feature of Wester Hailes today, running from Dumbryden to Clovenstone exactly as intended in that first plan.
The greatest deviation between original drawings and the “as built” reality was the location and type of some of the housing. Twenty one huge multi-storey blocks were constructed which greatly increased the density of development. These were either not directly linked to the pedestrian route or angled off and away from it, defeating one of the main purposes of the original concept.
The separate contracts are shown below. | <urn:uuid:1dce92bc-9d4c-4824-a146-0a626a70112f> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://hailesmatters.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/mapping-history-3-planning-for-the-future/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1405997869884.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20140722025749-00049-ip-10-33-131-23.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976549 | 401 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Venezuela - Judicial system
In August 1999, the National Constitutional Assembly (ANC) declared a judicial emergency to reform the highly discredited judiciary. The ANC immediately dismissed 16 judges. By the end of the year, 200 judges had been fired, mostly for corruption.
While the judicial system was independent, it was corrupt and inefficient. Most crimes in Venezuela went unpunished and citizens often have taken the law into their own hands. In the prisons, more than 70% of inmates have never been formally charged with a crime and they languish behind bars for years before their cases are heard. Prisons have been criticized for inhumane conditions.
The ANC approved the new Organic Code of Criminal Procedures in 1999, replacing the inquisitorial system with an open court system. For the first time, trials were open to the public, with oral proceedings and verdicts by juries or panels of judges. The new system introduced presumption of innocence and prevented police from arbitrarily detaining persons for up to eight days without charges. Judges no longer act as investigators. Now they are arbiters of law, presiding court sessions where prosecutors and defense attorneys argue cases in open court. Police investigators now work under the supervision of prosecutors. While judicial reforms were applauded by human rights organizations, it was uncertain how they would affect the judicial system in the long run. Intensive training will be required for judges, attorneys and police.
The Supreme Court of Justice remains the nation's highest tribunal and court of final appeal. The prosecutor general provides opinions to the courts, and investigates the violations of constitutional rights of prisoners and the criminal conduct of public employees. The Ministry of Justice oversees the lower court system, selects and trains judges. The lower courts are made up of district and municipal courts, and trial and appeal courts that hear civil and criminal cases. | <urn:uuid:b0144e1a-e91e-4165-9f10-75af3aa8e3f9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Venezuela-JUDICIAL-SYSTEM.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706470784/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121430-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963218 | 365 | 3.609375 | 4 |
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nears its 7th week, Western governments and independent observers continue to warn that Russia’s military could escalate from indiscriminately bombing cities to using non-conventional warfare, in particular chemical weapons.
The Kremlin has denied any intention to use chemical weapons. But the Russian government has been linked over the past two decades with this type of attack. And concern over President Vladimir Putin’s intentions spiked on 28 March, when The Wall Street Journal reported that envoys and mediators in Russia–Ukraine peace talks earlier in the month had been poisoned — although at least one Ukrainian government source has reportedly denied the story.
Nature spoke to several analysts to explore the chances of chemical weapons being deployed in the war.
Even though the world has outlawed the use of chemical weapons, the Russian government has been linked to them on several occasions, some recent.
In 2018, the UK government accused Russia of using a Novichok chemical — a nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union decades ago — to poison Sergei Skripal, a Russian former double agent living in the United Kingdom. In another high-profile incident, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a different type of Novichok agent in 2020. The Kremlin denied involvement in either event.
“These two incidents raise question marks on whether elements of the former Soviet programme have not been eliminated,” says Ralf Trapp, a disarmament consultant based in Chessenaz, France.
Furthermore, Russian troops have fought alongside the regular Syrian army during that country’s civil war, which began in 2011. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), based in The Hague, the Netherlands, confirmed that the Syrian army deployed chemical weapons against its own people. The Russian government denied involvement in any of these attacks.
When it comes to Ukraine, the Russian government has accused the country of preparing to use chemical weapons. But Western governments say this could be a ‘false flag’ tactic, which the Kremlin has used in the past. “Russia has a long track record of accusing others of what they are either already doing or about to do,” said US President Joe Biden on 22 March, according to news outlet CNBC.
Trapp, who is a former OPCW officer and was involved in verifying adherence to the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in several countries, including Ukraine, says there is no evidence that Ukraine has chemical weapons. “It doesn’t make any sense for the Ukrainians to think of using them,” he adds.
READ FULLY @ NATURE | <urn:uuid:38bb4e4e-bcf4-4485-ac66-583242e4121b> | CC-MAIN-2022-49 | https://covid19on.com/20536/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446710974.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20221204140455-20221204170455-00229.warc.gz | en | 0.961915 | 537 | 2.546875 | 3 |
DSM study points to importance of adequate intake of vitamin E when dietary PUFA is increased
Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) is recognized as a key essential lipophilic antioxidant in humans, and plays a key role in protecting lipoproteins and cellular and intracellular membranes from damage. The paper highlights that the presence of vitamin E is of key importance in cellular membranes rich in highly unsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA). It has been shown that when vitamin E accumulates in DHA-rich, rather unstructured domains, it stabilizes the membrane and protects DHA from oxidative damage2.
Current daily vitamin E intakes are below recommended levels in more than 90% of North Americans as well as in some European countries3. To quantify the vitamin E need, a basal vitamin E level plus an additional vitamin E requirement for dietary PUFAs is often considered. PUFAs are involved in a wide range of processes that are related to physical and mental health in humans, including brain and visual functioning throughout the life course.
“The ratio of vitamin E to PUFA in the human diet is critical and requires deeper examination,” says Dr Daniel Raederstorff, principal scientist, DSM Nutritional Products, Human Nutrition & Health. “However, so far, there has been no consensus on the exact vitamin E to PUFA ratio to determine the vitamin requirement, as it might not be applicable to all types of diet and health status.”
The published human data for a diet with an average content of PUFAs indicates that the additional vitamin E requirement ranges from 0.4 to 0.6 mg RRR-α-tocopherol/g of PUFA in the diet. Using the proposed average of 0.5 mg, the estimated requirement for vitamin E varied from 12 to 20 mg/day for a typical range of dietary PUFA intake.
“Even if more research is needed to precisely define the vitamin E requirement in humans, it is important in view of the critical interactions between vitamin E and PUFAs to ensure adequate intake,” adds Professor Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice President, Nutrition, Science & Advocacy at DSM and Professor for Healthy Ageing at Groningen University.
DSM has partnered with a number of leading scientific experts to launch a series of webinars on the latest science on vitamin E and benefits to human health, such as combating non-alcoholic fatty liver. To access the presentations, please visit www.brighttalk.com/channel/12499.
Vitamins in Motion
Vitamins play an essential role for health, wellness and disease prevention throughout the lifecycle. They are key to solving our global nutritional challenges. DSM, a global leader in health and nutrition science, is leading an initiative - Vitamins in Motion - to highlight the important role of vitamins. The campaign advocates for increased access, through innovative solutions, to the essential vitamins all people need to be healthy and well-nourished. To learn more, visit www.vitaminsinmotion.com.
2 Atkinson J, Harroun T, Wassall SR, Stillwell W, Katsaras J. The location and behavior of alpha-tocopherol in membranes. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2010;54(5):641-51. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200900439.
3 Troesch B, Hoeft B, McBurney M, Eggersdorfer M, Weber P. Dietary surveys indicate vitamin intakes below recommendations are common in representative Western countries. Br. J. Nutr. 2012;108(4):692-8. doi: 10.1017/s0007114512001808. | <urn:uuid:a7420393-b03e-406c-994a-dc1c99dfb348> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | https://www.dsm.com/products/qualityforlife/en_US/informationcenter-news/2015/08/2015-08-24-dsm-study-points-to-importance-of-adequate-intake-of-vitamin-e-when-dietary-pufa-is-increased.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514576345.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20190923084859-20190923110859-00397.warc.gz | en | 0.887919 | 787 | 3 | 3 |
NASA Needs You… to Take Photos of Clouds
Your hopes of becoming an astronaut may be slim to none, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work for NASA in some capacity. And all you need in this instance is a decent camera, the right app, and the ability to “just go outside” on occasion.
NASA needs your help to validate the data it’s collecting about clouds. Because it turns out that no matter how expensive and efficient its instruments are, nothing beats having people on the ground. Non-scientific people like you and me.
Clouds Are More Important Than You Think
NASA scientists are currently studying clouds and cloud formations to help understand the role they play in climate change. They do this using instruments known as the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES).
However, researchers cannot always differentiate clouds from other natural phenomena. So, as part of the GLOBE program (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment), NASA is asking what it calls “citizen scientists” to help validate its data.
NASA scientists are using cloud data to improve weather forecasts — everything from daily forecasts to keeping aircraft clear of dangerous conditions. https://t.co/3AI4fVUxui pic.twitter.com/bcX0Xb3S3l
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) March 9, 2018
All you need to do is take photos of clouds and cloud formations and submit them via the GLOBE Observer app. Participants can submit up to 10 observations per day, and it’s best to make the observations when NASA’s satellites are overhead.
Marilé Colón Robles, lead for the GLOBE Clouds team at Langley, said, “Looking at what an observer recorded as clouds and looking at their surface observations really helps us better understand the images that were matched from the satellite.”
Earn Bragging Rights for Helping NASA
There is a prize of sorts too, with the people who submit the most observations will be “congratulated by a NASA scientist in a video posted on the GLOBE Program’s website and on social media”. Which means bragging rights for a good few years.
If you’re a fan of NASA you should explore these sites dedicated the Earth, space, and science. Or, if you prefer to learn by watching, you should check out these documentaries about the universe. Just don’t get so distracted you forget to take photos of clouds.
Image Credit: Iain Merchant/Flickr | <urn:uuid:fe664648-3bd0-466a-b830-43804c02ff3c> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://nato-metaalrecycling.nl/nasa-needs-you-to-take-photos-of-clouds/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224649439.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20230604025306-20230604055306-00765.warc.gz | en | 0.920887 | 537 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Automobiles that burn diesel outsold gasoline-powered engines in Europe during the decade ending in 2012. Americans are also purchasing diesel automobiles in greater numbers, with sales increasing 35 percent during the first quarter of 2012. More diesel cars on the road means that more mechanics will be needed to service these higher compression engines. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs for diesel mechanics overall should increase 15 percent by 2020, which compares to the expected 14 percent average growth for all U.S. jobs in the same period.
Auto Diesel Mechanics Provide Various Services
Auto diesel mechanics typically work on all vehicle components, including the electrical system, transmission and brake system. They perform routine maintenance and effect repairs, so auto diesel mechanics may be responsible for oil changes, tire rotations or battery checks. When repairs are needed, mechanics rebuild or replace the defective part.
Auto Diesel Mechanics Need Technical Knowledge
Technology has been integrated into most auto repair shops. Auto diesel mechanics typically need to know how to connect a vehicle to a diagnostic machine and interpret the results. Regulations in many states require vehicle owners to secure inspection stickers verifying that the car meets the standards for air pollution, among other things, and mechanics must know how to operate the testing machines. Automobiles themselves have become more complex, incorporating computers in many of their systems, and mechanics must have the knowledge needed to service them.
Auto Diesel Mechanics Are Becoming Better Educated
Once, most mechanics learned their trade through on-the-job experience. Although this is still possible, employers prefer to hire applicants who have completed a formal program. According to O*Net Online, a service of the U.S. Department of Labor, more than half of all diesel mechanics had some level of postsecondary education, 40 percent are high school graduates and only 8 percent did not earn a high school diploma. Many trade schools and community colleges have programs to train auto diesel mechanics.
Auto Diesel Mechanics Need Various Skills
Although mechanical aptitude ranks high on the list of desirable skills for auto diesel mechanics, other abilities can be critical, as well. Many mechanics must explain problems to vehicle owners, and this sometimes involves explaining why a part that has not stopped functioning altogether still needs to be replaced. This means that mechanics need good interpersonal skills and excellent oral communication skills. Auto diesel mechanics need manual dexterity, including the ability to grasp and manipulate small objects, make precise adjustments and keep their hands steady even when stretching or working in an uncomfortable position.
Salaries for Auto Diesel Mechanics Vary
Overall, diesel mechanics earned a median wage of $40,850 in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 10 percent earned at least $60,830. However, this data included diesel mechanics who also worked on buses and trucks. Diesel mechanics who worked for wholesalers of vehicles and parts had a median annual wage of $41,070, while those employed by auto repair shops earned a median wage of $38,320 annually. The BLS also notes that salary data might include overtime pay or commissions.
- Scientific American: Diesel Cars Make a Comeback in the U.S.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: What Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics Do
- O*Net Online: Summary Report for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
- CareerInfoNet.org: Occupation Profile — Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: How to Become a Diesel Service Technician or Mechanic
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics — Job Outlook
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics — Pay
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images | <urn:uuid:d5539bc2-2b60-43cf-a911-44110d3e21e6> | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | https://work.chron.com/auto-diesel-mechanics-18917.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027317274.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20190822151657-20190822173657-00401.warc.gz | en | 0.936416 | 744 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Helsinki and the Cold War – fact and fiction
Situated between the East and the West, Helsinki was a good training ground for spies of the Cold War era.
Hollywood films made during the Cold War often used Helsinki as a stand-in for Moscow or Leningrad, present-day Saint Petersburg. Western film crews had no access to the Soviet Union, so the Finnish capital would have to do as the next best thing.
All you had to do was stick a red star on top of the tower and voilà, the National Museum was instantly transformed into the Kremlin, the bastion of Cold War politics. During the dark winter season, Helsinki could easily provide authentic Soviet-type gloom without any staging required.
However, the truth was even stranger than fiction. “Helsinki was in fact a place of great significance in the Cold War,” says historian Sari Autio-Sarasmo from the Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki.
Its geographic location, straddling east and west, made Helsinki a good training ground for spies in particular. Spies arrived in Helsinki both from the Eastern and Western blocs. “Helsinki was nonetheless part of the West, but close enough to the East. This is why Helsinki was one of the hubs of espionage in the Cold War,” Autio–Sarasmo says.
The Soviet embassy was located in one of the prime locations of Helsinki, in a leafy district in Tehtaankatu, a street name that many Finns still associate with Cold War politics. Tehtaankatu was the nerve centre through which Soviet intelligence was orchestrated. The embassy building still bears witness to external memories of cold war: it is imposingly massive in the best Soviet tradition, and as the cherry on the cake the emblem on the facade still has a shining hammer and sickle.
The embassy also facilitated the relations between Finnish and Soviet politicians throughout the Cold War. Finnish politicians would have clandestine close links with the Soviet Embassy, a practice that was not talked about, but about which everyone knew. “All leading Finnish politicians had a contact at the embassy. These contacts helped them to anticipate what to expect in terms of relations between the two countries. These contacts were a public secret,” Autio-Sarasmo says.
Neutral Finland had signed a treaty called the Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union and had close relations with the East. In spite of the FCMA treaty, however, Finland also had strong trade links with the West. While Finnish politicians were busy entertaining Soviet leaders, the business sector built ties with the West.
“Finland, who wanted to emphasise her neutrality, managed at times to manoeuvre quite superbly between the two superpowers,” says Autio-Sarasmo. “Finland has traditionally been thought to have kowtowed in front of the Soviet Union – hence the concept Finlandisation – but recent research has shown that, in fact, Finland was quite the tactical player in the Cold War.”
For example, the flagship brand of Finland today, the mobile phone giant Nokia, exported technologies to the Soviet Union during the high-tech embargo – with the blessing of the United States. Nokia told the US what it was exporting to the Soviet Union and in exchange Nokia obtained the components it needed from the US. In this way, the US remained in the know as to what kind of instruments the Soviet Union had at its disposal.
Trade with the Eastern bloc was decisive from the perspective of Finland’s development. “Without the trade with the Soviet Union, Finland would not have developed its industry and economy at the rate she did. It is quite likely, according to some analyses, that Nokia would have gone under in the 1980s were it not for the Soviet trade,” says Autio-Sarasmo, who specialises in the economic history of the Soviet Union.
In exchange for exporting innovation technologies, Finland acquired raw-materials and energy from the Soviet Union – and strangely enough, zinc buckets. Money, however, never exchanged hands, as Soviet trade was based on a clearing arrangement.
Personal relations were key in the trade, and many deals were closed in the private hospitality facilities of Helsinki-based businesses. Urho Kekkonen, who served as the President of Finland from 1956 until 1982, often met Soviet leaders in the log-built seaside sauna of his official residence in Helsinki.
According to Autio-Sarasmo, the culmination of the Cold War years both for Helsinki and President Kekkonen was the signing of the final act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe in 1975. Finland Hall in Helsinki hosted a conference attended by heads of state both from the East and the West, including Leonid Brezhnev (already seriously ill) and President Gerald Ford from the United States.
The CSCE Final Act signatories numbered 35 countries, which was a staggering achievement in a world divided into blocs. The impact of CSCE was dubbed as “Helsinki spirit”, and it accelerated the process that eventually led to the end of the Cold War.
The Soviet Union stressed the importance of economic co-operation and as a compromise, accepted the articles on human rights, which she did not consider central to herself. “After CSCE, however, people in the Socialist bloc started to call for the respect of human rights, such as freedom of speech. This gradually eroded the system from within,” Autio-Sarasmo says.
Sari Autio-Sarasmo’s tips on the Helsinki of the Cold War era:
1. “The Russian Embassy – the nerve centre of Cold War in Helsinki – is a prime example of Stalinist classicism. Finland built the embassy building as part of the war reparations in 1952.” Russian Embassy » »
2 “Torni hotel, absolutely! This is where the Allied Control Commission resided after World War II, from 1944 until 1947. Most of the 160 members of the Commission were Soviet, but there were representatives from other victorious powers as well. The Commission was directed by the notorious Andre Zhdanov, who was feared by Finns and was known for his role in the occupation of Baltic countries. In addition, the view from the ladies toilet of the Ateljee Bar on top of the tower is worth seeing.” Ateljee Bar » »
3 “The National Museum of Finland has often played a Soviet edifice in American films, such as The Kremlin Letter (1977), Telefon (1977) and Gorky Park (1983). For Gorky Park, a red star was put up on top of the museum. The makers of Telefon also wanted to erect a plastic Lenin statue in front of the National Museum, but this is where Finns drew the line and refused.” National Museum of Finland » »
4. “Finlandia Hall is the most important Cold War site in Helsinki. Designed by Alvar Aalto, the conference building was the venue for the signing of the Final Acts of CSCE in 1975. According to an anecdote, the Soviet leader Leonid Breznev was so ill at the time of the CSCE that a fully-equipped hospital room was built especially for him in the building. A resuscitation team was on stand-by because Breznev had in fact collapsed before the conference. Finlandia Hall » »
5. “The Olympic Stadium is important because of the 1952 Olympics. They were the first Olympic games that the Soviet Union participated in, having joined the IOC a year earlier. The Soviet political elite had by then realised the potential of sports as a propaganda tool. Soviet athletes stayed in separate accommodation to other nationalities because, in Stalin’s era, all contact with foreigners was treated as being highly suspicious. Helsinki also had its first taste of a certain Western delicacy: Coca-Cola was first introduced to Finland at the Olympics.” The history of the Olympic Stadium » »
6. The “World Peace” statue in Hakaniemi is also an important sight for anyone interested in Soviet history. Moscow gave the statue as a gift to the City of Helsinki as late as 1990, and Finns didn’t really know how to say no. There were attempts to camouflage the statue by planting trees around it – although the symbolic statue is still a much better alternative than the Lenin statue that was originally planned in its place. Finnish university students covered the statue in tar and feathers in 1991 as a protest against the statue.”World Peace" Statue in Hakaniemi
Text: Suvi Turtiainen
Photo: Veikko Somerpuro | <urn:uuid:c4745dba-5412-41fc-9de9-17b5731f957e> | CC-MAIN-2015-27 | http://www.helsinki.fi/intstaff/helsinkiatease/cold_war.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-27/segments/1435375095270.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20150627031815-00252-ip-10-179-60-89.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979032 | 1,819 | 3.078125 | 3 |
The work our scientists undertake is governed and regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). ASPA regulates procedures that are carried out on ‘protected animals’ for scientific purposes that may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm. ‘Protected animals’ are defined as all living vertebrates, other than a human, including certain immature forms and any living cephalopod.
The Act regulates the breeding and supply of certain species of ‘protected animals’ for use in regulated procedures or for the scientific use of their organs or tissues. The Act also regulates the methods used to humanely cull these animals.
- The Pirbright Institute holds an Establishment Licence, along with a number of Project Licences and Personal Licences.
- The site has been assigned a Home Office Inspector to monitor standards, practices and compliance with ASPA and the conditions of all Home Office Licences. The Inspector visits our facilities periodically and often comes unannounced.
European Directive 2010/63 and the amended ASPA require extensive project evaluation, taking into consideration ethical implications associated with the use of animals in scientific research. This is pivotal to project authorisation, and requires the implementation of the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement (the 3Rs) in those projects.
Project Licences are reviewed by The Pirbright Institute’s Animal Welfare & Ethical Review Board (AWERB). The Board provides constructive feedback and any recommendations they feel appropriate for the programme of work. These comments and/or recommendations must be addressed to the satisfaction of the AWERB before the Project Licence application or amendment is submitted to the Home Office for approval.
The process enables the Establishment Holder to meet in full the Standard Conditions for holding the Establishment Licences at both sites and to provide assurance that all aspects of the 3R’s have been fully considered in new applications and throughout the life of projects.
All research using animals at The Pirbright Institute is considered at the Animal Welfare Ethical Review Board (AWERB). The AWERB has a remit to consider and review ethical issues regarding the operation of Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA).
However before any projects reach consideration by the AWERB, The Pirbright Institute has a prescribed process in place for all Project Licence holders – this is a rigorous process which should culminate in the submission of an application to the AWERB. The key steps are as follows:
- A potential Project Licence holder nomination is considered by the Institute’s Science Committee;
- With the Science Committee’s approval, nominee will be required to pass accredited Home Office modular training;
- Nominee attends an AWERB meeting to ensure awareness of the AWERB’s objectives;
- Sub-committee meeting is held to consider the draft application. This meeting consists of the applicant, Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS), Named Animal Care and Welfare Officers (NACWO’s), a Project Licence holder, Home Office Liaison Contact and Chair of AWERB;
- Actions arising from the sub-committee are completed by the applicant;
- Nominee presents application at AWERB;
- Any actions are completed by the applicant with the approval of the AWERB prior to submission to the Home Office.
Once a project reaches the AWERB, the Committee has to be able to balance the possible pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm that will be incurred by an animal under a procedure with the objectives of the project. Each procedure is discussed to ensure where possible, further reduction, replacement or refinement can be included.
Formal statistical review is part of the ethical review process to ensure that all studies are designed appropriately and have sufficient statistical power to detect effects that are biologically meaningful.
The core tasks of the AWERB are to:
- Advise staff dealing with animals at The Pirbright Institute on matters related to the welfare of animals including their acquisition, accommodation, care and use;
- Advise on the application of reduction, refinement, replacement (3Rs) and all relevant technical and scientific developments;
- Establish and review management and operational processes for monitoring, reporting and follow-up in relation to the welfare of animals housed or used in The Pirbright Institute;
- Follow the development and outcome (retrospective review) of projects carried out, taking into account the effect on the animals used and to identify and advise on elements that could further contribute to the 3Rs;
- Promote a ‘culture of care’ within The Pirbright Institute and in the wider community.
The AWERB is made up of representatives of the Chair, Project and Personal Licence holders, Named Animal Care and Welfare Officers (NACWO’s), the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS), local management, lay members and independent members. The Pirbright Institute also opens up the meeting to its Animal Technicians to attend. | <urn:uuid:d76e8408-39fe-47eb-a5ff-3d8532dcad2e> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/animals-research/legislation-and-licencing | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514573176.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20190918024332-20190918050332-00365.warc.gz | en | 0.930333 | 1,021 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Become a living donor
Living donation: information you need to know
Living donor transplants are a viable alternative for patients in need of new organs. Many different types of organs can be supplied by living donors, including:
This is the most frequent type of living organ donation. All living kidney donors experience a decrease in their kidney function, which varies depending on the donor’s age and medical history. Learn how your kidneys work and about kidney disease.
Individuals can donate a segment of the liver, which has the ability to regenerate and regain full function. Learn how your liver works.
Although lung lobes do not regenerate, in rare cases individuals can donate a lobe of one lung. Learn how your lungs work.
Although very rare, it is possible to donate a portion of your intestine. Learn how your intestines work.
In extremely rare circumstances, individuals can donate a portion of the pancreas. Learn how your pancreas works.
A domino transplant makes some heart-lung recipients living heart donors. When a patient receives a heart-lung “bloc” from a deceased donor, his or her healthy heart may be given to an individual waiting for a heart transplant. Extremely rare, this procedure is used when physicians determine that the deceased donor lungs will function best if they are used in conjunction with the deceased donor heart. Learn how your heart works.
A few living donor uterus transplants have been performed as part of clinical trials.
Reference and Publication Information
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is committed to providing accurate and reliable information for transplant patients. The content on this page was originally created on February 25, 2005 by UNOS and last modified on April 7, 2009.
This website is intended solely for the purpose of electronically providing the public with general health-related information and convenient access to the data resources. UNOS is not affiliated with any one product nor does UNOS assume responsibility for any error, omissions or other discrepancies.
National Donor Memorial Award for Excellence
UNOS has awarded Jon Lee the 2021 National Donor Memorial Award for Excellence in recognition of his advocacy for living kidney donation.
Learn about who can become a living donor, the risks, and how you can start the process in this brochure. If you are considering living donation, it’s important to know the facts. There are many different types of living donation, and resources to help.
For more information about living donation, speak with your transplant team to see if it is an option for you, and read the brochure, which is an Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF) file. | <urn:uuid:e085be99-2f50-49b0-9d43-8e6c5bce40c2> | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | https://transplantliving.org/living-donation/being-a-living-donor/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780057039.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20210920131052-20210920161052-00477.warc.gz | en | 0.918508 | 540 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Most people don’t realize that overall health is linked to oral health. Seniors become more vulnerable to oral disease as they age. Here are some of the most common issues seniors experience that can lead to dental problems, including the causes and symptoms.
Dental Issue #1: Gum Disease
What causes gum disease? Gum disease is the number one dental condition in seniors that lead to a multitude of serious health problems. Periodontal disease is the inflammation of gums from the build up bacteria between gums and teeth which leads to the breakdown of gums and bone. Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease.
- Halitosis. This foul breath is so strong, even the strongest mouthwash can’t cover it up!
- Discoloration of gums (bright red or purple)
- Swelling of gums causing tenderness and pain
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
- Soft gums. If your gums move when you brush or you notice that your gum line is receding or pulling away from your teeth causing gaps; food and bacteria can get caught in these gaps, leading to infection.
Why is gum disease so bad? The Surgeon General’s 2000 report, “Oral Health in America” calls out the connection between oral health and overall health. Gum disease is the “Silent X-factor” that promotes the onset of deadly health conditions like lung disease, stroke, heart attack, and oral cancer.
How do you get rid of it? Gingivitis is the easiest to prevent and treat by simply brushing more often and using mouthwash regularly. Periodontal disease, or periodontitis, is a serious condition that affects not just gums but the bones that support teeth. A few trips to the dentist is necessary for perio-scaling and an Rx for medicated mouthwash.
Dental Issue #2. Multiple Medical Conditions
- Arthritis can make it painful to hold a toothbrush and to floss.
- Dementia patients often forget to brush their teeth.
- Diabetes According to the ADA, poor blood sugar control increases the risk of gum problems. One-third of the elderly population has diabetes and three-quarters of the elderly population have pre-diabetes. Conditions associated with diabetes include impaired or delayed mouth sore healing, increased incidence/severity of infections, salivary gland enlargement, and mouth pain (related to neuropathy).
Dental Issue #3. Dry mouth
Why is dry mouth so common in seniors? Medications that treat ailments commonly experienced by seniors can cause dry mouth. Dry mouth is a typical side-effect of medications for blood pressure, allergies, depression & anxiety, high cholesterol, pain, and asthma.
Why is this a problem? Aside from being uncomfortable and stinky, dry mouth can cause swollen tongue which can make it difficult to swallow, speak, and eat. Dry mouth increases the risk of cavities. It can also lead to the build-up of acid in the mouth which can corrode enamel (the protective outer tooth layer) causing tooth decay.
How do you get rid of it? Water! Drink plenty of water daily. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty. Also, chewing gum or sucking on lozenges can stimulate saliva production. A room humidifier can also help.
Seniors experience many issues that can lead to dental problems. At Murfreesboro Family Dentistry, we have the knowledge and understanding required to help seniors handle common dental issues. Click here to contact us today! | <urn:uuid:40f47f60-916f-4a94-8aba-f10f6584a26d> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://murfreesborofamilydentistry.com/3-most-common-senior-dental-issues/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296948632.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20230327123514-20230327153514-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.933975 | 745 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Stahel, Rainer, born 15-01-1892 in Bielefeld, joined the German Army during World War I. Initially a lieutenant in the 27th Rifle Battalion of the 130th Infantry Regiment, by the end of the war he had moved to Finland and joined the Finnish Army participating in the Finnish Civil War. By 1933 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and served as a commander of the garrison of the city of Turku. The same year he retired from the Finnish Army and returned to Nazi Germany, where his military grade reverted to captain. Initially an officer at the Ministry of Aviation, Stahel became responsible for the development of German anti-air artillery. He became the commanding officer of the 71st Reserve Anti-air Artillery Battalion in 1938 and the commander of the anti-air defence of the city of Augsburg in June 1940. Soon afterwards he was dispatched to Vichy France as a military advisor and then in March of the following year he was made the commanding officer of the 9th Anti-Air Regiment. With that unit he served in southern Russia. For the defensive actions on the eastern front on 18-01-1942, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross . On March 1 of that year he was promoted to the rank of colonel and by the end of that year he became the commanding officer of a Luftwaffe task force defending the German south-eastern front. On January 4 he was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Iron Cross. Three weeks later he was promoted to the rank of Major General and in July of that year he was transferred to Italy, where he assumed command of the 2nd Anti-Air Artillery Brigade , with which he secured the Messina road. Following the German retreat from Sicily and Italy’s surrender, Stahel was made the military commander of the city of Rome in October 1943. In July 1944 he was transferred to Vilna in German-occupied Poland, where he became the military commander of the city’s garrison. Initially commanding roughly 500 men, soon he received reinforcements and was able to postpone the seizure of that city by Polish partisans and the Red Army. For his efforts, on 28-07-1944, he was awarded the Swords to the Knight’s Cross and promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. Stahel was transferred to Warsaw, where he was to defend the city against the advancing Red Army. However, the Soviet offensive was halted and instead on August 1 the Warsaw Uprising was started by the Polish Home Army. On the first day of the uprising Stahel was surrounded in his headquarters in the Saxon Palace, and he lost control of the situation. On August 4 the command over Nazi forces in Warsaw was given to SS Obergruppenführer, , Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski died in Munich, age 73, on 08-03-1972 and Stahel’s pocket was subordinated to the new commander. Although by August 7 the troops of SS Oberführer, Oskar Dirlewanger, he was killed age 49, on 05-06-1945, managed to reach Stahel’s positions in the city centre, he did not resume his command over the city’s garrison. Instead, on August 24 he was dispatched to Bucharest, where similar urban fighting was anticipated by the German headquarters. However, Romania switched sides and the Red Army entered the city almost unopposed. On 20-09-1944, Stahel was arrested by the NKVD together with Field Marshal, Ion Antonescu.
He was executed, age 63, on 01-06-1946. Interrogated on his part in the Warsaw Uprising,
Death and burial ground of Stahel, Rainer.
Stahel was imprisoned in the Soviet Gulag system. The exact date of his death is a subject of controversy. According to Soviet sources Stahel died on 30-11-1952, in Vladimir central transfer prison. However, other sources mention that Stahel
died in 1955 in Voikovo of a heart attack when he was informed of his possible transfer to Germany. Stahel is buried on the Genererals cemetery of Cherntsy. A few of his neighbors are, General der Infanterie, Kommandeur 145th Infanterie Regiment, Karl Specht, Generalmajor der Wehrmacht, Grenadier Regiment 70 , Louis Tronnier, Generalmajor, Commander 290th Infantery Division, Hans-Joachim Baurmeister, General der Artillerie, Kommandeur IV Heeresgruppe, Max Pfeffer, Generalleutnant and Commander of the 431st Landesschützen Division, Heinrich “Heinz” Thoma, Generalmajor der Infanterie, Kommandeur der XVIII Gebirgstruppe, Friedrich Hochbaum, General der Infanterie, Commander 32nd Infantry Division and L Army Corps, Hans Boeckh-Behrens, Generalleutnant der Infanterie, Commander of the 44th Infanterie Division, Heinrich Deboi, Generalmajor and commander of the 570th Infantry Regiment. Erwin Hans Barends and Generalmajor der Wehrmacht, Pioneer Commander, Wilhelm Runge, Generalleutnant der Infanterie, Commander of a Field Training Division, Friedrich Bayer. | <urn:uuid:e2776f36-800f-45bf-b713-3278d9ee7459> | CC-MAIN-2017-09 | http://ww2gravestone.com/people/stahel-rainer/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-09/segments/1487501170700.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20170219104610-00473-ip-10-171-10-108.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972974 | 1,130 | 2.828125 | 3 |
How do you think the brain and body work together? A lot of people reckon we figure out what we want to do first, then our brain moves into a kind of second phase and make the body do what we’ve decided we want to do. Seems logical, huh?
Well, it turns out it’s not like that. Here’s an interesting study which shows that the brain and the body work at the same time, not brain first, body later! A group of psychology researchers asked people (yes, college students again….you have to watch out for those psychology studies, they mostly use college students as their guinea pigs, and do you think college students are typical?), sorry, lost the thread a bit there, they asked people questions and observed what movements their arms made on the way to either the “no” or the “yes” buttons on the computer. They found that in response to the more ambiguous questions the students’ arms moved more between the buttons, than they did on straight forward questions. What that means is that they could be seen to dither a bit before answering the ambiguous questions. Their arms and brains were working together – simultaneously. It gets more interesting……..they dithered more towards “yes” when answering a “no” question than towards “no” when answering a “yes” question, suggesting that people have a general bias towards assuming a statement being true.
These dynamic data showed that participant arm movements had lower velocity and curved more toward the alternative response box during ‘no’ responses than during ‘yes’ responses—suggesting that we experience a general bias toward assuming statements are true,” the authors explained.
The authors conclude that this shows we lean towards “truthiness”.
You know, I’d never seen that word before, but when you go searching on the net about it you can find LOADS. Start here at wikipedia. The word seems to have been made up by, or at least given a specific, new definition by comedian Stephen Colbert. Here’s his explanation -
Truthiness is tearing apart our country, and I don’t mean the argument over who came up with the word…It used to be, everyone was entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. But that’s not the case anymore. Facts matter not at all. Perception is everything. It’s certainty. People love the President because he’s certain of his choices as a leader, even if the facts that back him up don’t seem to exist. It’s the fact that he’s certain that is very appealing to a certain section of the country. I really feel a dichotomy in the American populace. What is important? What you want to be true, or what is true?…
Truthiness is ‘What I say is right, and [nothing] anyone else says could possibly be true.’ It’s not only that I feel it to be true, but that I feel it to be true. There’s not only an emotional quality, but there’s a selfish quality. | <urn:uuid:ab52c6df-0410-42d0-86e0-0c215c8cc9cd> | CC-MAIN-2014-42 | http://heroesnotzombies.com/2008/01/26/think-before-we-act-turns-out-we-dontand-thats-the-truthiness/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-42/segments/1413558067609.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20141017150107-00222-ip-10-16-133-185.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969547 | 666 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Alconbury Middle-High School (HE1621)
|Year||Grade||Number of Students||Reading||Language Arts||Math||Science||Social Studies|
|2000||7||44||84 %ile||76 %ile||73 %ile||78 %ile||77 %ile|
|2000||8||33||73 %ile||84 %ile||83 %ile||83 %ile||78 %ile|
|2000||9||36||66 %ile||74 %ile||71 %ile||60 %ile||70 %ile|
|2000||10||34||74 %ile||80 %ile||72 %ile||56 %ile||75 %ile|
|2000||11||16||78 %ile||75 %ile||81 %ile||71 %ile||78 %ile|
TerraNova is a standardized test published by the CTB Corporation. It is administered annually to DoDEA students in grades 3-11.
All TerraNova scores are reported in percentiles - not percentages. A percentile is a measure of comparison that ranks one score against the scores of all other test takers. For example, a 75 percentile score means that 75 percent of all other test takers nationally scored below and 25 percent scored above that score. The national average is always the 50%ile.
Note: Comparison of district data from year to year may not be valid due to redistricting of schools. | <urn:uuid:5774800e-0cd6-4493-be9a-5e3f97003f8a> | CC-MAIN-2014-49 | http://www.dodea.edu/datacenter/tdSchools_results.cfm?dodaac=HE1621&year=2000&id=tn&stype=hs | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-49/segments/1416400380355.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20141119123300-00010-ip-10-235-23-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.655567 | 301 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Wild Turkeys Among Us
Once nearly extinct, the elusive birds have made a comeback.
A century ago, the wild turkey nearly went extinct as a result of overhunting and destruction of its habitat. Today, the big, brown birds number close to 7 million nationwide, and there’s a healthy population right here in Arlington. “It’s been a remarkable comeback,” says Alonso Abugattas, the county’s natural resources manager, noting that the elusive birds in recent years have been spotted with some regularity—perched on top of a truck in Shirlington, for example, and pecking at a construction site near the Rosslyn Metro. Wild turkeys remain active in colder months, gathering in flocks to look for food. Abugattas says the best place for a turkey sighting is near the Potomac after a rain or snowfall, where they are often found gobbling and foraging for acorns along the riverbank. Turkeys are great listeners, he says, but their hearing is impaired when the ground is wet. If you spot some, keep a distance and be quiet so as not to startle them. | <urn:uuid:3de288db-b930-4870-869f-d9ef2b6564ca> | CC-MAIN-2019-26 | https://d37vsje0vj4t27.cloudfront.net/wild-turkeys-among-us/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-26/segments/1560627998473.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20190617103006-20190617125006-00124.warc.gz | en | 0.947312 | 241 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Waterfall Flow in Yosemite
Updated: Nov 5, 2019
It’s June and you’re sitting at home watching the latest meme on Instagram while trying trying to decide if you’ll drive to Yosemite #yosemite tomorrow to take pictures along the Mist Trail.You know that all Yosemite waterfalls #yosemitewaterfalls are theoretically at their peak of run- off now. But you want to know how much water is actually flowing today.
Check out this website for a description of each waterfall in the Park.
In science-speak the discharge level of water is measured as “cfs” (cubic feet per second). If you go to the the Internet, read the weather for Yosemite,and then consult the current csf reading you might find enough information to help you decide whether or not to go.
For instance, the latest reading for water discharge at Vernal Falls is 2700 cfs. The Yosemite Park Service website further informs you,
“If the Merced River’s flowing at 5 cfs (cubic feet per second), which is not at all uncommon in the autumn, the views may underwhelm you. At 3,000 cfs, sections of the overlook above Vernal Falls will be flooded and the mist will be so thick below the fall that if you can’t see without glasses, you’ll be more or less blind. But there’s a wide range of good conditions, and the waterfalls will be memorable at flow levels down to a hundred cfs, at least, which can last well beyond the April – June peak runoff.”
Sounds hopeful. Pack your bags or backpack and head on down the road!
Buy my new eBook, " A Visitor's Guide to Photographing Yosemite", a stepping stone to help you strike out on the path less trampled and to observe more fully as you photograph in Yosemite. Check out the video ! | <urn:uuid:8d621139-7078-4da4-b4e7-8b4c7f70e782> | CC-MAIN-2020-45 | https://www.yosemitephotoguides.com/post/lost-in-the-library-what-to-read-next | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-45/segments/1603107911027.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20201030153002-20201030183002-00164.warc.gz | en | 0.92495 | 404 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Taking excellent care of your vision and eye health is undeniably important to your overall wellbeing. One of the best places to start is being informed. That being said, here’s the scoop on astigmatism--a refractive error that’s quite common--and its potential impacts on your eyesight…
Let’s define it
A common misconception is that astigmatism is a disease of the eye. This is incorrect. Astigmatism is a painless condition that results from an inconsistency in the physical shape of the eye, specifically the curvature of the cornea (the transparent lens through which light passes into the eye). The incidence of astigmatism is actually fairly high--some estimates place it as occurring in 1 out of every 3 persons in the US population. Moreover, it can onset at any age from early childhood through later in life. The good news is, it’s perfectly correctible with the proper pair of prescription lenses; those seeking a more permanent solution may undergo laser surgery.
How you’ll see (differently)
The impact that astigmatism has on eyesight is directly related to the non-uniformity in the physical shape of the cornea that characterizes the condition. The cornea acts as a lens which refracts light into the eye; any irregularity in curvature will alter the angle at which the light is bent and focused onto the retina. As a result, the image that hits the retina becomes distorted. Note that astigmatism can occur by itself or concurrently with one of the other refractive errors: myopia (nearsightedness), or hyperopia (farsightedness).
How to manage it
While astigmatism is not an eye disease, taking an active role to manage it will determine how it impacts your vision over time. Most of us have heard that our eyesight changes as we age, and astigmatism is a case-and-point example of a condition that can develop or worsen over the years. Much of what you do for optimal overall health will also benefit your eyes in the long run. Most importantly, your best bet is to work with a specialist--visit your optometrist for regular eye exams and any changes in your vision. | <urn:uuid:98a7ac2f-2069-4f6c-a00d-2d919e55bdd1> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.danielwalters.com/blog/astigmatism-what-you-need-to-know/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370494064.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329074745-20200329104745-00459.warc.gz | en | 0.944183 | 463 | 3.234375 | 3 |
Car pool lanes have been around for a few decades, and are increasingly growing in popularity. There are now thousands of miles of car pool lanes across the country, and they greatly aid an enormous number of commuters on a daily basis. In car pool (or HOV, for High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes, only vehicles that are carrying the minimum number of occupants required are permitted. In most car pool lanes, you need to have two occupants to qualify for the lane, though that number is three in some areas, and even four on a select few freeways. Motorcycles are also allowed to drive in car pool lanes (even with one occupant), and in many states alternative fuel vehicles (plug-in electric cars, and sometimes gas-electric hybrids) are also allowed.
Car pool lanes generally operate at a high freeway speed, even during peak rush hours. This encourages people to carpool, whether they’re coworkers heading to their job, or simply friends or family members that need to be in similar places at similar times. By incentivizing carpooling, cars are removed from the road, which decreases traffic for everyone, cuts down on harmful carbon emissions, and lessens the damage to freeways (which in turn lowers the road repair costs for taxpayers). In short, by using car pool lanes, carpoolers save time and money, while also positively impacting a host of other things and people.
In states that have car pool lanes, the laws and regulations for them are some of the most important rules of the road. Carpoolers can dramatically benefit from car pool lanes, but if they break the rules they’ll be hit with a pretty hefty fine, so, as with all traffic laws it’s important to familiarize yourself with the rules so that you can obey them at all times.
Are there car pool lanes in Michigan?
Despite the fact that Michigan is the hub of North American automotive manufacturing, there currently are no car pool lanes on any of the state’s freeways. Detroit is a very large metropolis, and many people commute into and out of the city on a daily basis, so there’s no denying that the state could benefit from some car pool lanes on their freeways. However, the state’s major freeways were built before car pool lanes were popular, and public officials have decided that converting an all-access lane to a car pool lane would cause more damage than good. In order for Michigan to implement car pool lanes on their freeways, they will first have to add additional lanes to the roads.
There is one short car pool lane in Michigan that is not on a freeway. There is a highway car pool lane on Michigan Avenue, which is open on weekdays, from 6:00-9:00 AM, and 3:00-6:00 PM, for vehicles with at least two occupants (including the driver). This is a temporary lane that was created to help commuters who are funneled off the freeway while construction is performed on I-75.
Will there be car pool lanes in Michigan anytime soon?
While Michigan has no car pool lanes on their freeways, there are currently plans to change that. An enormous rebuild of I-75 is scheduled to begin sometime by early 2017 at the latest, and the plan is to add car pool lanes to most of the freeway, while also fixing some of the interstate’s other issues and wear and tear.
While the advent of car pool lanes in the future is exciting for Michigan drivers, the caveat is that the projected is planned for 14 years, and will cost $1 billion, so unrestricted use of car pool lanes is still far down the road for Michigan’s commuters. However, the freeway project will be done in steps, so presumably portions of the car pool lane will open up sporadically, allowing drivers to at least get partial carpooling benefits.
Some people are critical of Michigan adding car pool lanes to I-75, but since they already need to redo the freeway, it only makes sense that they would increase efficiency for commuters while they’re at it. It may take a while, but eventually Michigan drivers will get to reap all the rewards of a car pool lane.
While Michigan residents wait for the new car pool lane on I-75 to arrive, they should familiarize themselves with all of their states general driving rules and regulations, so that they can be the best and safest drivers possible when the car pool lanes open up.
This article originally appeared on YourMechanic.com as What are the Car Pool Rules in Michigan and was authored by Brady Klopfer. | <urn:uuid:3c95910a-8b8d-42a9-af69-668b89804ed1> | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | https://www.autoblog.com/2016/06/02/what-are-the-car-pool-rules-in-michigan/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267867493.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20180625053151-20180625073151-00375.warc.gz | en | 0.971742 | 947 | 2.546875 | 3 |
The End of Millennium Development Goals and Beyond
MDGs stands for Millennium Development Goals and it is the world’s promise to achieve the goals such as to reduce by half the world’s poverty by 2015.
In September, 2000 the Millennium Declaration was unanimously adopted by 189 UN member states. In the declaration the international society announced to work on the challenges together to build the prosperous and fair world with peace and to end the poverty.
There are eight numerical targets to be achieved by 2015.
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development
Each of the goals has specific stated targets and dates for achieving those targets.
Progress towards reaching the goals has been uneven. Some countries, such as Brazil, have achieved many of the goals, while others, such as Benin, are not on track to realize any. The major countries that have been achieving their goals include China and India due to clear internal and external factors of population and economic development.
Despite enduring political and economic challenges, 20 fragile and conflict-affected states have recently met one or more targets under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and an additional six countries are on track to meet individual targets ahead of the 2015 deadline, according to a new analysis by the World Bank Group released.
The analysis finds eight fragile and conflict affected states – including Guinea, Nepal, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Timor-Leste – have already met the goal to halve extreme poverty – the number of people living on less than $1.25 a day.
Among fragile and conflict-affected states, the greatest progress has been on gender parity in education – the ratio of girls’ to boys’ enrollment in school. Countries including Kiribati, Micronesia, Myanmar, and Tuvalu have met the target, and those on track include Burundi, Chad, Republic of Congo, Timor-Leste, Nepal and Yemen
Nepal stands out as the only fragile and conflict-affected state to have already reached the target on reducing maternal mortality. For women in Nepal, the chances of dying in childbirth have been cut in half since 1996. Other fragile and conflict affected states such as Afghanistan, Angola, Eritrea, Timor-Leste and the Republic of Yemen are on track to meet the MDG on maternal health, provided their current rate of progress continues.
Nepal and MDGs:
Is the country well on its way to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the target year of 2015? Again, how relevant are the MDG’s in so far as Nepal’s real development goals are concerned?
According to National Planning Commission, the poverty rate of Nepal stands at 25.16 per cent. While the poverty rate in the eastern region is 21 per cent, in the far western region (with the lowest development index) it is 42 per cent. In the rural hills of the mid- and far-western regions, 39 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line. In the urban Tarai and Kathmandu, poverty stands at 22 and 11 per cent respectively.
With regard to education: According to the Economic Report 2012, literacy rate of the population over 15 years of age is 56.5 per cent. Though reports show that 94.5 per cent girls and 95.6 per cent boys are enrolled at the primary level, the high dropout and repetition rates ensure that the maximum number of children do not enter the secondary level. Among grade one students in 2011-2012, 21.3 per cent repeated the same grade and 7.9 per cent dropped out from the school education system.
These figures not only show the daunting task that lies ahead, but are also stark reminders of the huge development gap arising from regional imbalance in planning. The same comment may be made of the urban bias that informs the minds of planners. It is not the aim of the MDGs to correct this state of affairs and as long as the mindset of planners is informed with favored preferences for cities and particular regions, the MDGs will continue to remain at best peripheral in so far as the country’s development paradigm is concerned. Although a few of these goals seem attainable, some other goals appear to be overly ambitious.
The Millennium Development Goals have been the focus of global and national efforts on poverty reduction since 2000. Until the target date of 2015, attention will quite rightly focus on how to make the most progress possible before the deadline.
But then what? The MDGs were the product of at least ten years of discussion and deliberation. The international community needs to start thinking now about what happens on 1 January 2016, if the momentum and global focus on poverty that the MDGs have encouraged are to be maintained.
“Working together, governments, the United Nations family, the private sector and civil society can succeed in tackling the greatest challenges.As the 2015 deadline is fast approaching, we must be united and steadfast in our resolve to accelerate progress and achieve the MDGs.”- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Posted on July 1, 2013, in Blogging competition and tagged Ban Ki-moon, beyond 2015, End of MDGs, Millennium Development Goal, nepal, United Nations, World Bank Group. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment. | <urn:uuid:ce0ae94e-27ab-425c-bf52-adb614e6d9e6> | CC-MAIN-2018-17 | https://rcacharya.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/the-end-of-millennium-development-goals-and-beyond/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125937440.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20180420100911-20180420120911-00540.warc.gz | en | 0.930566 | 1,144 | 3.875 | 4 |
A bill which would require South Carolina's school districts to teach students how to write in cursive by fifth grade advanced to the House last week.
One of the bill's main sponsors argues cursive writing leads students to write faster than print, but not everyone agrees.
In Horry County, students are already taught cursive by second grade.
"We teach them a letter or two a day and move on. They pick it up really quickly," explained Jenn Crawford, a 2nd grade teacher at Burgess Elementary School.
Crawford added that cursive lets students write faster but also helps those struggling with print. "I also notice some of my kids that have a hard time with print handwriting, they excel at cursive because they can slant it and it just lends itself nicely to the next letter."
Cursive is something students will need in their careers for anything from writing their name to signing a check, Crawford explained.
But is teaching cursive time well spent? Charles Ard, a parent, doesn't think so.
"I think that there's many other things that they should devote time and energy to rather than cursive writing," Ard explained.
Ard added that he'd rather see his kids mastering other skills, like computers. "I would think that it would be more important to teach more into the technology side then it would waste time on an old style of writing that I specifically don't even use myself."
Both Georgetown and Darlington counties already teach students cursive by second grade. Students in Florence District 1 are taught cursive by third grade.
State standards haven't required cursive writing in the classroom since 2008. | <urn:uuid:d65abc75-44c3-4632-92bd-bed34051b5df> | CC-MAIN-2015-40 | http://wpde.com/news/local/bill-could-require-students-in-sc-to-learn-cursive-by-fifth-grade?id=1022770 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-40/segments/1443737922497.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20151001221842-00113-ip-10-137-6-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980646 | 337 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Excess weight most obviously leads to obesity, but too much body fat can also cause a series of related diseases. Obesity’s “comobirdities” are diseases that develop due to obesity as a primary condition. Being overweight affects the body and organ systems — an increasing problem, since about 69% of the American population is currently overweight or obese. Among the numerous comorbidities associated with obesity, diabetes is among the most common and serious.
Development of Diabetes by Obese Patients
Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes, and patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) higher than 30 are 80 times more likely to develop the disease than patients at a healthy weight. The reasons for this are not yet completely understood, but researchers believe that it is related to inflammatory chemicals released by abdominal fat. The accumulation of fat in the abdominal area provokes the production of hormones, while the system of cellular membranes called the endoplasmic reticulum becomes stressed.
These factors lead to a disruption of the normal function of insulin responsive cells, which leads to insulin resistance, a trigger for type 2 diabetes. For patients who already suffer from diabetes, developing insulin resistance means that larger amounts of insulin are needed to get sugar into the cells. Both obesity and diabetes are related to other risk factors, such as race, age and family history, so these variables also influence the correlation between the two diseases.
Obesity-Related Diabetes Prevention
Researchers and physicians generally agree that decreasing eating a healthy diet and increasing physical activity is the best way to minimize the probability of developing diabetes related to obesity. Even modest weight loss may decrease the risk of diabetes, given the importance of diet and exercise. According to The Obesity Society, even a 5 to 10 percent weight loss can prevent diabetes or increase the time until the development of the disease. Diabetes vitamins that are specially formulated for patients who suffer from diabetes may also help prevent the disease.
Diabetes Treatment for Obese Patients
Obese patients with diabetes can improve the severity of the disease through a healthier diet and exercise, since it will result in a decrease of the level of stress to the body. Medications to lower levels of glucose in the blood are also available for obese patients. While patients who suffer from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin exogenously to maintain healthy levels of blood glucose, patients with type 2 diabetes may take either insulin or drugs that are able to sensitize the body to insulin. Obese patients need to be particularly aware that this type of medication may increase weight. However, patients taking insulin often need smaller amounts of food, since the body is already receiving the substance.
Note: Obesity News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. | <urn:uuid:7be989d2-5c15-4fa6-b455-38e1e9120688> | CC-MAIN-2021-31 | https://obesitynewstoday.com/diabetes-and-obesity/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046154321.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20210802141221-20210802171221-00679.warc.gz | en | 0.943051 | 631 | 3.65625 | 4 |
John Roberts on Civil Rights
Supreme Court Justice (nominated by Pres. George W. Bush 2005)
Constitution says nothing about marriage OR gay marriage
In dissent [in the Supreme Court ruling which legalizes gay marriage nationwide], Chief Justice John Roberts said the Constitution had nothing to say on the subject of same-sex marriage. "If you are among the many Americans--of whatever sexual
orientation--who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today's decision," Chief Justice Roberts wrote. "Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner.
Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it."
Roberts said the majority opinion was "an act of will, not legal judgment" in his dissent. "The court invalidates the marriage laws of
more than half the states and orders the transformation of a social institution that has formed the basis of human society for millennia, for the Kalahari Bushmen & the Han Chinese, the Carthaginians & the Aztecs," he wrote. "Just who do we think we are?
Source: N.Y. Times on 2015 SCOTUS decision on Obergefell v. Hodges
, Jun 27, 2015
1995: Pro bono work for gay rights activists
Supreme Court nominee John Roberts donated his time to work behind the scenes for gay rights activists--and helped win a decision that's been hailed as the "single most important positive ruling" for the gay rights movement.
Roberts agreed to help represent the gay rights activists as part of his law firm's pro bono work. The case before the Supreme Court, Romer vs. Evans, dealt with a voter-approved 1992
Colorado initiative that would have allowed employers and landlords to exclude gays from jobs and housing. A 6-3 ruling striking down the initiative was handed down in May 1996.
One gay activist called the Supreme Court ruling the "single most
important positive ruling in the history of the gay rights movement." Antonin Scalia--who was joined in his dissent by Clarence Thomas and William H. Rehnquist--said: "Coloradans are entitled to be hostile toward homosexual conduct."
Source: NewsMax.com. "Roberts helped Gay Rights"
, Aug 4, 2005
No paper trail as a judge on gay rights issues
Gay rights advocates like the Human Rights Campaign say that Roberts has no paper trail on the issue as a judge.
But they fear that his conservative Republican record, including his criticism of the right to privacy authorized by Roe, bodes badly for them.
, Jul 19, 2005
Ok for religious groups to meet at schools
Roberts has argued on behalf of his clients for the expansion of religion in public schools. In a coauthored brief to the Supreme Court in Lee v. Weisman, he argued that religious ceremonies should be allowed to be a part of graduation ceremonies.
The Supreme Court rejected that position. But Roberts successfully argued to the court that religious groups should not be banned from meeting on school grounds in the case of Mergens v. Westside Community School District.
, Jul 19, 2005
Opposed simplifying complaints against voting rights
For Reagan, Roberts opposed a congressional effort-in the wake of the 1980 Supreme Court decision Mobile v. Bolden-to make it easier for minorities to successfully argue that their votes had been diluted under the Voting Rights Act.
Source: Emily Bazelon and David Newman, Slate.com
, Jul 1, 2005
Weaken the separation of church and state
For Bush Senior, Roberts co-authored a friend-of-the-court brief arguing that public high-school graduation programs could include religious ceremonies. The Supreme Court disagreed by a vote of 5-4. (Lee v. Weisman, 1992)
Source: Emily Bazelon and David Newman, Slate.com
, Jul 1, 2005
Against Affirmative Action
John G. Roberts, nominated by President Bush to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, has a record of hostility to the rights of women and minorities. While working under Presidents Reagan and Bush,
Roberts supported a hard-line, anti-civil rights policy that opposed affirmative action, would have made it nearly impossible for minorities to prove a violation of the Voting Rights Act and would have “resegregated” America’s public schools.
Source: Report of the Alliance for Justice
, Feb 1, 2003
Should make secret settlements in some cases
Q: How do you feel about the validity of maintaining or throwing out secret settlements that are made which prevent other people who may be using these defective products from knowing that they are defective, like defective tires, for example, defective
medical devices, for example?
A: I certainly am aware of the cases as they’ve come up. And I hesitate to opine on it without having studied the law. I certainly would obviously follow the Supreme Court precedent and the precedent of the circuit if I
were to be confirmed. I suspect that you’re correct that the applicable law would involve some balancing. There are some interests in sealing settlements in some cases, but I’d be very surprised if that required or permitted sealing in a case where that
actively concealed a harmful condition on an ongoing basis that was continuing to present a danger. But, again, I’m just surmising at this point, and as a judge, I would apply the law in the circuit or in the Supreme Court.
Source: Hearing before the Judiciary Committee of the US Senate
, Jan 29, 2003
1st Amendment protects church's anti-gay funeral pickets.
Justice Roberts wrote the Court's decision on SNYDER v. PHELPS on Mar 2, 2011:
Marine Matthew Snyder was killed in the line of duty in Iraq. On public property about 1000 feet from his funeral service, the Westboro Baptist Church followed its custom of protesting at the funerals of service members with signs condemning both homosexuality and the US for supporting it. Snyder's father has been stricken by a grievous emotional reaction since. He sued the protestors and the church for intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED).
HELD:Delivered by ROBERTS, joined by SCALIA, KENNEDY, THOMAS, GINSBURG, SOTOMAYOR, BREYER & KAGANThe Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment can be a defense, including those for IIED, if speech regards a public, rather than private, concern. The protestor's signs here concerned plainly public matters such as the moral conduct of the US and its citizens, the fate of the nation, homosexuality in the military, and scandals involving the Catholic clergy. The protestors can't be said to have used speech on
public issues to cloak an attack on the plaintiff. The protestors chose the location to increase publicity, but this does not mean the speech is less protected.
CONCURRED: BREYER concursThe State is not always powerless to provide protection, but upholding IIED liability on the protestors here would not serve the State's interest in protecting citizens against severe emotional harm. In this case, the protestors complied with police directions, picketed where it was lawful to do so, and could not be seen from the funeral.
DISSENT: ALITO dissentsThe protestors engaged in a personal attack on Snyder's memory through signs implying he was a homosexual, a Catholic, and doomed to hell for these “sins.” The direct nature of this assault on the dead marine and his family were made clear in a subsequent Internet posting directed at Snyder's character and his parents. The First Amendment does not shield these verbal assaults at such an emotionally vulnerable moment.
Source: Supreme Court case 11-SNYDER argued on Oct 6, 2010
Sociological analysis insufficient to prove gender bias.
Justice Roberts joined the Court's decision on WAL-MART v. DUKES on Jun 20, 2011:
The plaintiffs were certified as a class by the district court in their suit against Wal-Mart, on behalf of 1.5 million female employees, seeking punitive damages and backpay owing to Wal-Mart's alleged discrimination against them in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
HELD: Delivered by SCALIA; joined by ROBERTS, KENNEDY, THOMAS & ALITOThe certification of the class was inappropriate. Class certification requires proof that a class of persons have suffered the same injury by a general policy of discrimination. Wal-Mart's corporate policy forbids discrimination, and the plaintiff's only evidence of a general policy of discrimination is a sociologist's analysis asserting that Wal-Mart's corporate culture made it vulnerable to gender bias. Since the expert testified he could not estimate what percent of Wal-Mart employment decisions might be determined by stereotypical thinking, his testimony was not significant proof.
That Wal-Mart gave local supervisors discretion over employment matters did not show that a central direction to use that discretion in a discriminatory manner. The claims for backpay were improperly added onto a class provision that allows only equitable relief, not monetary relief.
DISSENTED: GINSBURG concurs in part, dissents in part; joined by BREYER, SOTOMAYOR & KAGANI agree this class should not have been certified, but such a class might have proper under Rule 23(b)(3) seeking money damages. The Court should not have ruled on the class at this time, but rather remanded the issue for consideration and decision. The district court found evidence that 70% of hourly employees are female, but only 33% of managers. That, with other evidence, could support a common question, necessary for the resolution of all class members' cases, that corporate culture and lack of formal standards or training for employment decisions may have led to discrimination.
Source: Supreme Court case 11-WALMART argued on Mar 29, 2011
Page last updated: Jun 09, 2017 | <urn:uuid:05fa93d6-140f-4a88-94e2-674845a24d65> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | http://ontheissues.org/Court/John_Roberts_Civil_Rights.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232257660.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20190524144504-20190524170504-00422.warc.gz | en | 0.959158 | 2,084 | 2.625 | 3 |
One of the more recent entries in the field of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), and more specifically to Magnetron Sputtering, is being referred to as High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) discharge. This has evolved from an academic research tool to an extremely useful technology for industrial applications. HiPIMS is a plasma-based process, like conventional magnetically enhanced sputtering technology, yet applies a different method of operation.
The material that is being sputtered is highly ionized during the coating process. Utilizing conventional magnetron sputtering cathode assemblies, HiPIMS incorporates power supplies that are specially designed and developed pulsed power signals at very high peak power densities.
In HiPIMS, a high peak voltage and high power density is applied directly to the surface of the sputtering target in unipolar pulses at relatively short pulse lengths (the length of time that the signal is in the “on” state) with equally low frequencies (length of time to complete a cycle) and long periods of time between cycles (“off” state). Pulse durations can vary in the range of 50 to 200 microseconds (µs) with frequencies in the range of 500 cycles per second (Hz) while the time between cycles can be as little as several hundredths of a second with a duty cycle of <10%.
What all this provides is a high ionization potential (plasma density) to the sputtered species. This is a significant advantage over conventional DC magnetron sputtering where the plasma species consist mainly of neutral particles. As a result, this minimizes the heat generated at the target surface. For poorly conductive or ceramic (metal oxide or metal nitride) compositional target materials that are typically bonded to water cooled backing plates with low melting temperature solders, this provides a tremendous advantage for many industrial applications where high deposition rates for maximum product throughput are desirable.
Additionally, HiPIMS discharge provides for much better control of the nucleation and growth associated with the formation of the resultant films. The lack of radiant heat emanating from the target surface allows for a much shorter substrate-to-source distance.
To operate a conventional magnetically enhanced cathode assembly in an HiPIMS mode the pulse technique requires a specially designed power supply that generates unipolar pulses. The HiPIMS power supply operates at the same average power levels as comparable DC or MF power supplies, but the
discharge is pulsed with a low duty cycle resulting in peak power in the megawatt range and current in the kiloampere range.
One of the main advantages to using the HiPIMS technology is to provide greater control of the deposition parameters that determine the morphology and structure of the resultant films. The ionized target material in the plasma results in significant modification and improvements to the properties of the films being produced on the substrate surfaces. Such properties as film density, hardness, surface topography, refractive index, adhesion, etc. etc. etc. can all be modified and enhanced based on the selection and control of the applied deposition parameters. HiPIMS discharge results in a high-density plasma and a high ionization fraction of the sputtered vapor which enables better control of film growth by controlling the energy and direction of the deposition species. | <urn:uuid:4966400b-911c-47a9-a379-6d2535483b4e> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://plasmaterials.com/high-power-impulse-magnetron-sputtering-hipims/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100327.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20231202042052-20231202072052-00870.warc.gz | en | 0.912082 | 681 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Thoreau tells us, “Nature made a fern for pure leaves.” Fern leaves are in the highest order of cryptogams. Like those of flowering plants they are reinforced by woody fibres running through their stems, keeping them erect while permitting graceful curves. Their exquisite symmetry of form, their frequent finely cut borders, and their rich shades of green combine to make them objects of rare beauty; while their unique vernation and method of fruiting along with their wonderful mystery of reproduction invest them with marked scientific interest affording stimulus and culture to the thoughtful mind. By peculiar enchantments these charming plants allure the ardent Nature-lover to observe their haunts and habits.
“Oh, then most gracefully they wave
In the forest, like a sea,
And dear as they are beautiful
Are these fern leaves to me.”
As a rule the larger and coarser ferns grow in moist, shady situations, as swamps, ravines, and damp woods; while the smaller ones are more apt to be found along mountain ranges in some dry and even exposed locality. A tiny crevice in some high cliff is not infrequently chosen by these fascinating little plants, which protect themselves from drought by assuming a mantle of light wool, or of hair and chaff, with, perhaps, a covering of white powder as in some cloak ferns—thus keeping a layer of moist air next to the surface of the leaf, and checking transpiration.
Some of the rock-loving ferns in dry places are known as “resurrection” ferns, reviving after their leaves have turned sere and brown. A touch of rain, and lo! they are green and flourishing.
Ferns vary in height from the diminutive filmy fern of less than an inch to the vast tree ferns of the tropics, reaching a height of sixty feet or more.
Ferns are propagated in various ways. A frequent method is by perennial rootstocks, which often creep beneath the surface, sending up, it may be, single fronds, as in the common bracken, or graceful leaf-crowns, as in the cinnamon fern. The bladder fern is propagated in part from its bulblets, while the walking leaf bends over to the earth and roots at the tip.
[Illustration: MALE SHIELD FERN. Fern Reproduction by the Prothallium]
Ferns are also reproduced by spores, a process mysterious and marvellous as a fairy tale. Instead of seeds the fern produces spores, which are little one-celled bodies without an embryo and may be likened to buds. A spore falls upon damp soil and germinates, producing a small, green, shield-shaped patch much smaller than a dime, which is called a prothallium (or prothallus). On its under surface delicate root hairs grow to give it stability and nutriment; also two sorts of reproductive organs known as antheridia and archegonia, the male and female growths analogous to the stamens and pistils | <urn:uuid:b96a133b-2c17-4cd7-b7b6-843a1e641c3f> | CC-MAIN-2016-36 | http://www.bookrags.com/ebooks/11365/5.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471982969890.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823200929-00227-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95427 | 652 | 3.234375 | 3 |
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Toddlers enjoy being helpful and you should nurture their enthusiasm, even if you don't honestly welcome their help! Getting young toddlers helping out with chores will give them a great sense of satisfaction, even if the quality of their work may not quite be up to scratch. Having them help out around the house will grow self-esteem and a sense of responsibility.
Don't worry if they don't complete tasks to the standard, or even in the manner, that you hope for and expect, it's simply good that they are doing what they can. They will also need reminding to do their chores, but after a while they will fall into a routine. Heap on the praise as they complete their tasks.
Here are ten ideas for chores that you can have toddlers do for you:-
Why don't you create a sticker chart at ToucanLearn and reward with a sticker every time your little one helps out around the home?
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Hi! I'm Tikal the Toucan, the mascot for ToucanLearn. Follow my blog to find out interesting things relating to babies, toddlers and preschool children!
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©2020 by ToucanLearn Ltd.Credits: CMS | <urn:uuid:eb3cd102-0c30-43aa-83b7-891a6df6ddfa> | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | https://www.toucanlearn.com/blogs/blog5.php/chores-for-toddlers | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400191160.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20200919075646-20200919105646-00203.warc.gz | en | 0.90558 | 524 | 2.625 | 3 |
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