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In April 2016, the waters of Lake Kivu in central Africa changed color unexpectedly. The blue freshwater lake turned milky in color, as viewed from boats and from space. Such a sudden change would attract the attention of people anywhere in the world, but it commands particular attention when you live on the edge of a lake known to harbor potentially deadly stores of gas. Lake Kivu is one of Africa’s “great lakes,” and it straddles the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The lake is a source of drinking water and fish, as well as a transportation route, ;for nearly two million people. But it is also connected to the volcanic plumbing of the East African Rift. There are vast stores of dissolved methane and carbon dioxide in the depths of Lake Kivu, which is a concern because other lakes in Africa have been known to abruptly discharge gas and suffocate people nearby. For this reason, scientists have been monitoring water and volcanic conditions through the Lake Kivu Monitoring Program (LKMP), and engineers have been developing a platform for extracting those gases to produce energy and to reduce the hazard. Augusta Umutoni, head of the LKMP, noted that another research team detected some seismic and volcanic activity in the region in April, which initially heightened concern about the lake. But observations by Umutoni’s team showed that this month’s color change was actually much less ominous. Lake Kivu is going through a “whiting event” similar to those that occasionally happen on the Great Lakes of North America and several large lake (such as Geneva) in Europe. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments on NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites peeked through the clouds to acquire three natural-color images of the lake whiting event on April 10, 18, and 20, 2016. Whiting occurs when air and water temperatures rise, as does the pH level near the surface, in a lake that is rich in calcium carbonate. As the temperature and pH rise, the carbonates start to precipitate out of the water as calcite particles that have a white or gray color. Phytoplankton blooms can also lead to whiting-like effects. “We don’t yet know for sure what caused this particular whiting event at Lake Kivu,” said Martin Schmid of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. “It is certainly unusually strong, but there have been similar weaker events before. It can be caused by a phytoplankton bloom, by high surface water temperatures, or by a combination of both.” Robert Hecky of the University of Minnesota-Duluth added that mixing of the surface waters with lower layers can bring up more calcium and nutrients from the depths, promoting blooms or whiting events. “The mixing is an annual event, but the intensity of response of carbonate precipitation varies,” he said. “East African lakes do respond to El Niño events, and the current El Niño may also have had an affect on the physical processes in the lake.” NASA images by Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response. Caption by Michael Carlowicz, with image interpretation help from Cynthia Ebinger (University of Rochester), Jarmo Gummerus (ContourGlobal/KivuWatt Ltd.), and Augusta Umutoni (Lake Kivu Monitoring Program).
For release: 10/01/03 Release #: 03-176 Modernizing information technology at its control center for all science experiments on board the International Space Station is saving NASA millions of dollars. At the Marshall Center's Payload Operations Center, scientists and engineers are using newer, less expensive systems that incorporate the best 21st century technology to monitor science activities.Photo: Payload Operations Center (NASA/MSFC) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) control center for all science experiments on board the International Space Station is modernizing its information technology while saving the agency millions of dollars. From the Payload Operations Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., scientists and engineers operate all the U.S. experiments located 240 miles above Earth on the Space Station. For more than two years, they have used complex computer systems and software to communicate with experiments and other equipment — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Ground Systems Department — part of the Flight Projects Directorate at the Marshall Center — is replacing outdated computer platforms, servers, networks and software with less expensive, more robust systems that incorporate the best 21st century technology. Every day these systems monitor and store several billion bits of data from the Space Station, while simultaneously handling many time-critical commands to Space Station equipment, and serving a diverse community of research scientists located around the globe. "We are well along on a two-year series of cost-saving initiatives," said Ann McNair, manager of the Ground Systems Department. "Our controllers, who watch over Space Station science experiments on a daily basis, don't really see these behind-the-scenes changes, which is as it should be. But the system today is more reliable, more maintainable and more economical." The Ground Systems Department is making many of these changes through the Utilization and Mission Support contract with Lockheed Martin Space Operations Co., Huntsville, Ala. According to McNair, the team is about halfway through a series of planned upgrades that include: Migrating server platforms from high-priced servers to inexpensive servers running an open-source operating system; Migrating client platforms from expensive workstations to low-price personal computers; Replacing a physically scattered, difficult-to-manage data storage system with a centralized Network Attached Storage/Storage Area Network approach; Replacing expensive 48-channel custom voice sets with Voice over Internet Protocol, available directly from a remote user's personal computer; Creating a mature, efficient software baseline through close interaction with the users and system administrators; Migrating from end-of-life Fiber Distributed Data Interface Local Area Networks to high-speed switched networks; Increasing system availability by using high availability clusters that are virtually unaffected by individual equipment failures; Using multiple layers of rigorous security measures, including Virtual Private Networks, for all outside users to minimize system vulnerability; and Establishing a funding plan based on continuous technology updates rather than large, wholesale technology replacements. The result of these changes will be a robust, secure, high-performance information technology system that is fully supported by industry vendors, takes advantage of modern computing technologies, and costs a fraction of the current system. This new system will improve NASA's ability to collect and disseminate the scientific information from the International Space Station. Get releases sent directly to you!
The President's Plan to Reduce Violence, Improve School Climate, and Increase Access to Mental Health Services The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School sparked a national conversation about how we can make schools safer and improve access to mental health services. Vice President Biden led a to solicit input from various stakeholders on how to effectively decrease violence, improve school climate, and increase access to mental health services in schools. NASP was invited to participate in this conversation and released NASP's Recommendations for Comprehensive School Safety Policies. Based on the input from various stakeholders, President Obama released his plan to protect our children and communities by reducing gun violence. The full plan can be read here; however, there are key aspects that relate to school psychology. President Obama's plan: - Calls for putting 1,000 school resource officers, school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers in our schools. - Will help schools develop and implement emergency plans. - Will help 8,000 schools create safer and more nurturing school climates. - Requires the Department of Education to disseminate best practices regarding effective school discipline policies. - Will increase access to mental health services - Encourages professional development for teachers to better identify students who may be in need of mental health services. - Calls for a national dialogue on how to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. What is NASP Doing? NASP has been involved with the White House, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice to provide guidance on how to most effectively implement policies and practices that will address school safety in a comprehensive manner. To that end, NASP has partnered with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the American Association of School Counselors, the School Social Work Association of America, and the National Association of School Resource Officers to create a framework for effective school safety. NASP has also partnered with the National Association of Secondary School Principals to create resources for schools to use if they choose to conduct school assemblies on mental health. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will hold a hearing entitled “Safe and Supportive Schools: Lessons from the Field.” This hearing was originally scheduled for March 7th, but was rescheduled due to inclement weather. Benjamin Fernandez, a school psychologist in Loudoun County, will testify on behalf of NASP. We will post his written testimony here following the hearing. Additionally, on March 13th, NASP participated in a Town Hall in conjunction with the Department of Education and the National PTA. The focus of this town hall was how mental health services can help improve school safety. An archived webcast of the Town Hall can be accessed here. What can you do? If you have not already, familiarize yourself NASP's resources related to school safety and crisis: Share these documents with your colleagues, school administrators, and district level officials. These documents act as guiding principles to help schools address school safety; if your school or district is not already implementing these practices or considering these points, these documents can serve as a conversation starter with the decision makers in your school and district. Additionally, it is critical that you advocate to become a part of your school or district level leadership team. As school psychologists, we have unique training in collecting and analyzing data to help ensure that school-wide systems are addressing the needs of the school and can help ensure that the appropriate prevention and intervention services are available for those students who need them. Therefore, it is critical that you advocate for representation on school and district level leadership teams tasked with addressing school climate, school safety, and school mental health.
The beautiful Napa Valley, California is one of the most popular locations for hot air balloon travel in the entire world. The balmy weather, consistent winds, and gorgeous rolling terrain all combine to make for a fun and exciting balloon ride. However, it was not always such smooth sailing for Napa balloon rides. The industry is extraordinarily safe and well maintained today, but the first balloon ride in the Napa Valley did not go The story of the first of all Napa balloon rides comes to us from the Napa Reporter, a weekly newspaper that ran in Napa City from 1872 to 1874. Those tumultuous years saw many historic events, but one of the most amusing of them was the story of the first hot air balloon in the Napa Valley. It belonged to a circus that came to Napa City on June 4th, 1873. Along with its other attractions the circus owned a hot air balloon and a man brave enough to climb into it. With the characteristic hometown emphasis of newspapers of that era, the Reporter does not tell us the name of the man who flew the balloon or the circus that brought him there. They do, however, tell us the names of the men who owned the properties that he crashed into. The flight began well enough, since it was a warm and sunny day. The pilot brought the balloon up and navigated it over the schoolhouse without difficulty. From there things took a turn for the worse. The man lost control of his balloon and crashed it into the side of Mr. Richman’s barn. It caromed away from the barn and entangled itself in the top of a tree in Mr. Pierson’s yard. Mr. Pierson, a glove maker, was there to watch the unlucky pilot extricate himself from the tangled mess and lower himself to the ground. Unfortunately, as he attempted to climb down the bark peeled away from the tree, bringing him back to earth more quickly than he might have intended. The newspaper reports that he was scratched and bruised but there were no serious injury. Freed of the pilot’s weight, the balloon lifted itself back out of Mr. Pierson’s tree. It then ascended, unpiloted, to a height of about three hundred feet. It hovered there motionless for a minute, to the astonishment of all spectators, then fell into Mr. McKay’s History does not record the fate of the balloon or the circus, but a quick look at all of the hot air balloons in the skies above the Napa Valley today shows that their daring venture pioneered the way to the amazing and safe Napa balloon rides that we enjoy
Detoxing may be defined as cleansing the body from poisons and toxins that may have accumulated in the colon, lymph, lungs, gallbladder, skin, blood, kidneys and liver. It gives our bodies to the chance to clear of these toxins thus rendering them more effective in doing their job in the future. These toxins usually derive from foods, beverages, alcohol, smoking, drugs and stress, and when in excess can leave a person feeling tired, sick and overweight. Detoxing consists of: • Lessening the burden on the detoxification organs by reducing the body’s exposure to pollutions and toxins for s set period of time. • A restricted, healthy diet accompanied by certain supplements to help us eliminate the toxins in our body. Detoxes can vary greatly, between restricting intake to juice only to allowing only for a diet consisting mainly of vegetables, fruit and wholegrains. Potential benefits of detoxing include: There are many types of detox diets to choose from. Some popular detox diets include: If you are interested in finding out more information on how detoxing may benefit you, please speak to a professional nutritionist or naturopath.
Nov. 8, 1999 — NASA and network gurus are working together to extend the Internet to other worlds in the next few years. But there are some limits that not even the World Wide Web can route around, such as the speed of light. So the builders of the Interplanetary Internet are going back to the basics, retooling protocols for future communications with Mars and beyond. For the past two years, the vision of the Interplanetary Internet has been championed by such visionaries as Vinton Cerf, one of the Internet’s founding fathers. “I started thinking about how long it had taken to get the Internet where it is,” Cerf told MSNBC. “I was reflecting on the fact that it had taken almost 25 years to get to where we are now, and although it’s growing by leaps and bounds, it’s still pretty small compared to the telephone system. “So I got to thinking, what should I be worried about that might be important 20 years from now?” he said. Cerf started talking about extending networks to other planets, and soon found that NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory was working on the same challenge. Today, engineers from the space agency and several networking companies are adapting Internet architecture to space communications, with funding from NASA as well as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Next Generation Internet project. Why do it? It’s not just so Mars colonists can hear a cheery “you’ve got mail” from their computers in 2040 - although space experts say a sense of connectedness could be important in combating the isolation of long-duration missions. At least in the short term, the frontiers of the Interplanetary Net will belong to robots rather than humans. In fact, Adrian Hooke of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory argues that the infant Interplanetary Internet is already in action, just as ARPANET prefigured what we now know as the Internet. More than 100 space missions have signed up to use protocols standardized by the international Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems. The current studies are defining “how we need to grow and expand these underpinnings over the next 20-odd years, i.e., what new protocols and communications capabilities we will need,” he said in an e-mail exchange. The road ahead Standardization is just one of the driving forces behind the Interplanetary Net. NASA is moving toward “faster, cheaper, better” space probes - and more of them. If off-the-shelf technologies can be adapted to those robotic missions, so much the better. “We steal what we can, bend when we need to, and as a last resort start over and design something from scratch. But that’s so expensive that it’s something we don’t want to do,” said Hooke, who is manager of NASA’s space mission operations standardization program. Lessons gained from the growth of the Internet - and particularly wireless networking - can keep NASA from having to reinvent the wheel as space missions proliferate, Hooke explained. Problems and solutions But there’s a big difference between using the Internet on Earth and connecting with Mars — a minimum of 34.6 million miles of difference, to be specific. Even at the speed of light, it takes radio signals three minutes to travel that far. And since the distance between Mars and Earth is constantly changing, the travel time could be as long as 20 minutes. Those kinds of time delays would wreak havoc on a classical Internet, said Bob Durst, an engineer at Mitre Corp. who is working on the architecture for the Interplanetary Net, also known as the IPN. “The Internet suite is pretty heavily based on the notion of interactivity,” he explained. Communicating computers trade signals back and forth on a scale of milliseconds, checking to make sure packets are received intact and re-sending them if necessary. “That’s real handy for us when you’re in a terrestrial environment, but when you get into round-trip times of 10 minutes, that just doesn’t work,” Durst said. “You can’t take delays much past five minutes or so.” To cope with this cosmic speed limit, network architects envision a “network of Internets,” linked together with new protocols. They draw comparisons to the Pony Express and United Parcel Service. “We need to distill out all the interactivity and bundle up all the information into a single transaction that has everything needed to process the information, either interactively or noninteractively, on the other side,” Durst said. Each planet would have a gateway to manage data traffic over the interplanetary backbone. For example, NASA’s Deep Space Network, which NASA uses now to communicate with distant probes like Galileo, could be the gateway for Earth. “It’s like dropping a package at UPS,” Durst said. “The notion is that you submit your data in the form of a bundle to a gateway that says, ‘I’m going to accept your data ... here’s a claim ticket, and I’ll let you know when it’s there ... if you want to be notified.’” To use another comparison, the Interplanetary Internet would be like e-mail: Mission controllers would entrust their transmissions to the Net gateway, with a “soft expectation” that the bundle of data will eventually get to the right destination. Some other twists will be required: Bandwidth and memory are extremely limited when you go beyond Earth, so engineers want to avoid having to keep an updated Internet address book on every spacecraft. Instead, data traffic would be routed to the proper gateway (say, “earth.sol” or “mars.sol”). The gateway would then figure out how to get it to the exact address specified by the sender. Also, since celestial objects are constantly moving in relation to each other, the communication paths between gateways will have to stretch and turn like a cat’s cradle between a child’s moving fingers. That’s where the experience of wireless telecom providers like Iridium and Teledesic will come in handy, Hooke said. Security is another big concern: What’s to stop someone from hacking into Mars’ interplanetary gateway? “We’re making assumptions that because the bandwidth is still going to be precious ... access to the Interplanetary Internet is something that needs to be mediated,” replied Howard Weiss, an engineer at Sparta Corp. That means not everyone will be allowed to send messages to email@example.com, at least in the short term. NASA’s Deep Space Network will still be limited, although one company is working on a secure Web-based system for controlling spacecraft from laptop computers. Weiss said the lack of interactivity over so-called “bundle space” means that the latest crypto protocols, based on public-key exchange, can’t be used. “We’re going to have to go back to the good old golden days ... and use things like pre-shared keys,” he said. Other time-honored protocols such as BitNet and UUCP - which provided the foundation for newsgroups - also may be adapted, said Eric Travis, an engineer at Global Science and Technology. What the net will do When it comes to putting these networking theories in practice, all eyes turn to Mars. “Think of it as the first stop on the Interplanetary Internet,” said Chad Edwards, manager of the Mars Network Project Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. NASA’s Hooke said the Mars lander and orbiter, both due to be launched in 2001, would communicate with each other using their own style of “Internet service,” but Edwards’ project would build a real telecom constellation around the Red Planet. The telecom satellites could hitch rides on Mars missions every two years, beginning in 2003. “As his Mars Network constellation builds up, we will progressively add more IPN-derived standard protocols to his communications suite,” Hooke said. “We will also try to start infusing regular terrestrial Internet capabilities into the Mars rover and lander missions as we get the chance, probably starting about 2005.” The Mars Network could greatly increase the data flow back to Earth, Edwards said. Back in 1997, Mars Pathfinder could only send 30 megabits of data per day back to Earth, which averages out to 300 bits per second, he said. In contrast, typical modems on personal computers transmit data at rates up to 56,000 bits per second. The Mars Network could relay data at more than 30 times Pathfinder’s rate, or an average of 11,000 bits per second. That is enough to send back a full-resolution, 360-degree panorama of the Red Planet every day. By 2007, Edwards said, there could be a “permanent robotic presence” on Mars, pumping data back and forth using Internet protocols, and communicating with Earth via a central gateway. He even envisions a relay satellite flying 10,625 miles (17,000 kilometers) above Mars, in an orbit stationary with respect to the Red Planet. Such a satellite could transmit 1 megabit of data per second, enough for a continuous video feed via the Mars Channel. That kind of bandwidth also could be used to send back a detailed virtual-reality representation of the Martian surface - in a sense, allowing scientists and sightseers to study Mars without leaving Earth. “The public may just want to go for a walk on Mars. ... And with a gigabit of data, I can bring a rock from Mars to here, plop it in front of a field geologist and let him look at it,” Edwards said. Although this may sound like blue-sky thinking, it’s not too early to lay the technical foundation for the reality yet to be, Hooke said. And he’s hoping that the next generation will help out with what he views as one of this world’s most intriguing research projects. “There are some great Ph.D.s to be mined here,” he said. “This is cool technology.” Hooke already has written the International Organization for Standardization in Geneva to ask what would be required to set up “earth.sol” and “moon.sol” superdomains. “It provoked an interesting exchange with those guys,” he said. “They said I essentially had to get the sovereign representatives of the moon and the earth to write them a letter.” © 2013 msnbc.com Reprints
Pain during periods is common. It's usually caused by the womb contracting to push out the blood. However, do not don't take ibuprofen or aspirin if you have asthma or stomach, kidney or liver problems. Aspirin should not be taken by anyone under 16 years of age. You could try paracetamol to relieve period pain, but studies have shown that it does not reduce pain as effectively as ibuprofen or aspirin. See your GP if the pain is so severe that it affects your daily life. Read more about period pain. Some women naturally have heavier periods than others, but if your periods are so heavy that they impact your life, there is help available. Talk to your GP about your bleeding, including how often you have to change your sanitary protection (towels, tampons or menstrual cup). Your GP can investigate why you're experiencing heavy bleeding. These investigations may include a physical examination, blood tests or scans. Treatments for heavy periods can include: - some types of hormonal contraception, such as the intrauterine system (IUS) or the contraceptive pill - tranexamic acid tablets - anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen or mefenamic acid - progestogen tablets - surgery (depending on the cause) Read more about heavy periods, including treatment. A period usually lasts 2 to 7 days, with the average period lasting 5 days. The length of the menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman, but the average is to have periods every 28 days. Regular cycles that are longer or shorter than this, from 21 to 40 days, are normal. But some women have an irregular menstrual cycle. This is where there is a wide variation in: - the time between your periods (they may arrive early or late) - the amount of blood you lose (periods may be heavy or light) - the number of days the period lasts Read more about irregular periods, including what causes them and when treatment may be necessary. Stopped or missed periods There are many reasons why you may miss your period, or why periods may stop altogether. Some common reasons are: - sudden weight loss - being overweight - reaching the menopause If your periods stop and you're concerned, see your GP. Read more about stopped or missed periods. PMS (premenstrual syndrome) PMS is thought to be linked to changing levels of hormones throughout the menstrual cycle. Not all women get PMS. If you do, the range and severity of symptoms can vary. Symptoms may include: - mood swings - feeling depressed or irritable - breast tenderness Symptoms usually start and can intensify in the 2 weeks before your period, and then ease and disappear after your period starts. Read more about PMS, including symptoms and treatment. Endometriosis is a condition where the tissue that lines the womb (endometrium) grows outside the womb, such as in the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Not all women have symptoms, but endometriosis can cause: - painful, heavy or irregular periods - pelvic pain - pain during or after sex - pain or discomfort when going to the toilet - bleeding from your bottom - feeling tired all the time See your GP if you have symptoms of endometriosis, especially if they're having a big impact on your life. Read more about endometriosis, including how it's diagnosed and treated. Some women get a one-sided pain in their lower abdomen when they ovulate. The pain can be a dull cramp or sharp and sudden. It can last just a few minutes or continue for 1 to 2 days. Some women notice a little vaginal bleeding when it happens. Painful ovulation can usually be eased by simple remedies like soaking in a hot bath or taking an over-the-counter painkiller, such as paracetamol. If you're in a lot of discomfort, see your GP about other treatment options. Read more about ovulation pain. Read more about periods.
Statistics show that children who read, succeed. Reading and being read to at an early age not only increases success in the classroom, but in life. It develops critical thinking skills and creative imagination. Education and reading are highly valued in Kenya, and nearly every school in the country has a library. These libraries need a reliable supply of up-to-date, relevant books to continue to attract regular and new readers.
It was here in this thriving New England town that America’s love affair with beef started to lose its sizzle. It was here a half-century ago that obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels were all identified as risk factors for heart disease. Indeed, it was here that scientists coined the term “risk factor,” triggering the deluge of nutrition research that keeps beef from being “what’s for dinner” in many households. But Big Beef is fighting back. The beef industry has funneled millions into a public relations campaign to cast steaks and burgers as something akin to health food – something you can eat every day, even twice a day. In its yearlong study of the issue, the Kansas City Star found Big Beef is:• Attempting to influence the next rewrite of the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines in 2015. Big Beef wants them to include new research the industry paid for that promotes a beef diet intended to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It also has paid for advertising and promotions, for example, getting lean cuts certified by the American Heart Association as “heart-healthy” food. • Spending even more money influencing the nation’s dietitians, treating them to junkets and dinners. The industry arranges continuing education programs for nutritionists to spread the gospel immediately after beef-sponsored research is published in scientific journals. • Stifling criticism of food or its production methods through what are called “veggie libel” laws now in effect in 13 states. The laws were promoted by the American Feed Industry Association, whose members include large beef packers and animal pharmaceutical firms. In an effort to maintain market share, the beef industry has gone on the nutritional offensive. Its own marketing research shows that concerns about nutrition, and fat in particular, remain a major disincentive to consumers from buying beef as voraciously as they did a generation ago. The average American maxed out on beef in 1976, eating a record 67.9 pounds that year. Since then, beef consumption in the United States has fallen by about a third. Chicken surpassed beef as the nation’s most popular meat nearly a decade ago. “Everybody is competing for the same calories. The only way you can sell your product is by giving it a health aura,” said Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition and food studies at New York University and a regular critic of the food industry. Despite a seemingly endless onslaught of medical research that implicates beef and other red meat in heart disease, cancer, diabetes and weight gain, the beef industry remains hopeful, citing marketing data that 94 percent of us eat beef at least once a month. Industry-sponsored research, such as the diet study, is designed to “address important information gaps,” said Shalene McNeill, a registered dietitian and executive director of nutrition research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Yet other nutrition experts remain skeptical of the continuing marketing push to burnish beef’s public image. “There’s just so much evidence that beef is related to heart disease,” said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the health advocacy organization Center for Science in the Public Interest. The beef industry can “add a little confusion to the health message of eating less meat,” Jacobson noted. “But their propaganda and lobbying and advertising haven’t been that effective. They’re fighting a rear-guard action.” That tectonic shift in America’s diet attitudes arguably began in Framingham, in homes like the Tostis’. Mainstay on menus Dinner at the Tosti household always was a big production. Joe, Dorothy and their five children gathered around the table every evening for a huge spread. And in the 1950s and ’60s that meant beef practically every other day – roast beef, steaks and, true to their Italian heritage, meatballs. That was then. Today, as has been the case for many health-conscious Americans, seafood, chicken, vegetables and even tofu have replaced most of the beef on the Tostis’ table and on the tables of their adult children. “You kids all got older and realized that wasn’t a healthy diet,” Dorothy Tosti said as she chatted recently with her two daughters, Barbara Tosti and Paula Cuneo, at the offices of the Framingham Heart Study. Since 1948, the heart study has used this middle-class town about 21 miles west of Boston as a virtual research laboratory. The Tostis and thousands of other people – continuing to this day into a third generation – have been surveyed about their lifestyles and undergone regular comprehensive medical exams. Early findings from the Framingham Heart Study, and from other research at that time, helped set off the nation’s turbulent relationship with food and fat – and turned prime rib into a prime suspect. The basic message has always been that having high cholesterol levels raises our risk of heart disease. And eating saturated fats – which are found in animal products such as meat and dairy – raises those levels. Americans know a lot more about diet and health now than they did when the first studies started coming out of Framingham. And more nuanced nutritional messages are beginning to get through: Not all fat in your diet is bad for you. Not all the cholesterol in your blood is unhealthy, and the cholesterol in foods such as meat and eggs generally isn’t the biggest contributor to the cholesterol in your blood. Red meats like beef no longer are Nutrition Enemy No. 1 – that role has been assumed by sugary drinks, white bread and french fries. Refined carbohydrates can wreak havoc with heart health. But that doesn’t mean red meat has won a total reprieve. “Meat has got to be a rare experience, and whenever you can eat a plant protein over an animal protein, you’re better off,” is the advice William Castelli, former director of the Framingham study, gives his patients. Big Beef, as might be expected, will give you different advice. Beef is a different food from what it was in the 1960s, the industry maintains. It’s a lot leaner. On average, a well-trimmed sirloin steak has 34 percent less fat, 17 percent less saturated fat, than it did 49 years ago. Big Beef’s diet The BOLD (Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet) diet is a direct response to another diet plan with a catchy acronym, DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), that has become a mainstay of doctors and dietitians who want to lower their patients’ blood pressure or cholesterol. One of DASH’s recommendations calls for curbing consumption of red meat. The Star found that after DASH made its way into the federal Dietary Guidelines in 2005, Big Beef started formulating BOLD. Doctors and dietitians were pushing people “toward choosing a dietary pattern that looked like DASH,” McNeill of the cattlemen’s association told members of the industry during a Jan. 19 webinar on BOLD that The Star accessed online. “Why couldn’t we also have, for lack of a better word, a ‘beefy’ (DASH) diet?” she suggested. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, first published in 1980 and updated every five years by the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services, may be the nation’s most influential food document. The Guidelines are used to determine nutrition standards for school lunch programs, how much assistance is provided through food stamps, and what goes on food product labels. They’re also used to write educational materials for schoolchildren and the curriculum of doctors and registered dietitians. “They are the basis of everything where nutrition guidance is needed,” said Robert Post, deputy director of the USDA’s Center for Nutritional Policy and Promotion. Big Beef set out to make the new guidelines friendlier to the industry. Planning for BOLD began in 2006 “so that we can be prepared for future dietary guidelines and future advocacy,” McNeill explained during the webinar. They’re aiming for the next revision of the guidelines in 2015. The Star found that to get the science it needed to back up a BOLD diet, the cattlemen’s association approached Penny Kris-Etherton, a prominent Penn State University nutrition expert who had been on the association’s dietary guidelines committee in 2000. The cattlemen administer most of the research and promotion efforts funded through the industry’s Beef Checkoff Program. “We knew that she was open to beef,” McNeill said during the webinar. “We went to her as a checkoff and said can you help us design a rigorous study of DASH and compare a beefy DASH diet to the DASH diet?” Penn State researchers engineered BOLD to include amounts of calories, fat, cholesterol and fiber comparable to those in DASH. But where the DASH diet skimps on beef, different versions of BOLD average 4 to 5.4 ounces per day. That means meatballs or chili for lunch and beef fajitas or pot roast for dinner. Kris-Etherton put 36 people with above-normal blood cholesterol levels on a series of diets: BOLD, DASH and something called a “healthy American diet,” which was low in beef but had more fat and less fiber than the other diets. The researchers found that, compared to a healthy version of a typical American diet, BOLD diets lowered cholesterol just as well as DASH. BOLD diets with the most beef also lowered blood pressure. Kris-Etherton said that the source of her funding doesn’t affect how she conducts her research. “As a scientist I wouldn’t do that. I design studies that make sense, that follow dietary recommendations,” she said. There will be more findings coming out of the BOLD research, McNeill said, “to keep this story alive for longer than just the study of the day.”
One of the main challenges in teaching first year university students is that they have a great variety of backgrounds. A quick survey of any year one class will likely yield students who have come straight from school, students returning to education, and students who have taken a circuitous route through pre-university courses. Even the main block of students coming directly from school are a diverse group. Different school systems mean students can cover different content, and even that is assuming they take that subject at all. Those challenged with teaching first years know this better than those who take modules only in later years, when the group of students becomes somewhat more homogeneous. All of this makes it difficult for the first year lecturer to approach their task, facing students who have, in our case, chemistry knowledge ranging from none at one extreme to a significant part of the syllabus they will be taking at the other. As well as trying to navigate a syllabus that doesn’t isolate the novice learners and bore those who have “done it before”, there is a conceptual basis for worrying about this as well. Back in the 1950s, David Ausubel stated that the most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows. Learners overlap new information with some existing knowledge, so that an ever-increasing complex understanding of a topic can develop. Unfortunately for novice learners, substantial unfamiliarity emphasises the attraction of rote learning, meaning that new information learned for the purpose of an exam and not integrated with some prior knowledge will likely be quickly forgotten, never mind understood. In my own work (CERP, 2009, 10, 227-232), I analysed the performance of first year students in their end of module exam, and demonstrated that there was a consistent significant difference between the grades achieved by students who had taken chemistry at school and those that hadn’t. This difference disappeared from Year 2 onwards, suggesting that the group had levelled out somewhat by the end of the year. The response to this was to introduce pre-lecture activities so that students could at least familiarise themselves with some key terminology prior to lectures; a small attempt to generate some prior knowledge. Even this minor intervention led to the disappearance of any significant difference in exam scores (see BJET, 2012, 43(4), 2012 667–677). I was reminded of all of this work by an excellent recent paper in Chemistry Education Research and Practice from Kevin de Berg and Kerrie Boddey which advances the idea further. Teaching nursing students in Australia, the researchers categorised the students as having completed senior school chemistry (SC), having completed a 3 day bridging course (BC) and having not studied chemistry since junior years of school (PC for poor chemistry). Statistical analysis showed some unsurprising results: those students with school chemistry scored higher (mean: 67%); followed by the bridging course students (54%); and lastly those students with poor chemistry (47%). The difference between BC and PC students was not significant however, although there were more lower performing students in the latter group. These results align well with prior work on the value of prior knowledge in chemistry and the limited but positive impact of bridging courses. For me, this paper is valuable for its qualitative analysis. Students were interviewed about their experiences of learning chemistry. Those students who had completed the bridging course spoke about its value. For example, the authors quote Bella (please note, qualitative researchers, the author’s clever and helpful use of names beginning with B for Bridging Course students): I think if I had actually gone straight just to class that first day not knowing anything, I don’t think I would have done half as well as what I would having known it. Additionally, such was the perceived value of the bridging course, those students who had no prior chemistry felt left out. Paula states how she thinks it would have helped: Familiarity in advance. Just, so you’re prepared. So you get the sort of basic, the basic framework of it all. So then, I’d sort of, got a head start and not be so overwhelmed… Another interesting feature highlighted by students was the unique language of chemistry. Students spoke of entering their first chemistry class as being “like stepping into another world” and being “absolute Greek”. Additionally, the conceptual domains proved challenging, with students overwhelmed by formulae and trying to visualise the molecular world. Pam states: Maybe with anatomy, you can see more, you know, the things we’re cuttin’ up into pieces and looking inside. With chemistry, you can’t see it, so you gotta imagine that in your head and it’s hard tryin’ to imagine it, without actually physically touching it. In a comprehensive review of prior knowledge, Dochy (1999) described “an overview of research that only lunatics would doubt“: prior knowledge was the most significant element in learning. Indeed, the review goes further when it considers strategies that teachers can use when considering students from differing backgrounds. I like this quote from Glaser and DeCorte cited elsewhere by Dochy: Indeed, new learning is exceedingly difficult when prior informal as well as formal knowledge is not used as a springboard for future learning. It has also become more and more obvious, that in contrast to the traditional measures of aptitude, the assessment of prior knowledge and skill is not only a much more precise predictor of learning, but provides in addition a more useful basis for instruction and guidance’ This for me points a way forward. Much of the work on prior knowledge has concentrated on assessing the differences in performance as a function on prior knowledge or surveying the impact of amelioration strategies that aim to bring students up to the same level before teaching commences (such as bridging courses, pre-lecture activities, etc). But what about a more individualised learning path for students whereby a student’s starting point is taken from where their current understanding is. This would be beneficial to all learners – those without and also those with chemistry, the latter group could be challenged on any misconceptions in their prior knowledge. With technology getting cleverer, this is an exciting time to consider such an approach.
Whoever was the first brave soul to try to eat an artichoke was truly a genius. These vegetables are picked right before they can blossom into a beautiful purple flower, but the nutrients packed inside go above and beyond its aesthetic appeal. Artichoke leaves and hearts pack a healthy dose of protein and fiber as well as a plethora of antioxidants and vitamins. Most notably among these compounds are Cynarin and Silymarin, which promote liver health. - Cynarin – This phytonutrient promotes liver bile function, which in turn can promote overall liver, and digestive health. Bile production helps the body to break down fatty foods, remove toxins and absorb vitamins. This lowers the triglycerides in the blood and eases digestion. The ability to break down fats lowers cholesterol, making the artichoke a heart healthy food. In addition to these health benefits, this compound tricks the taste buds into making things taste sweet, satiating your sweet tooth! - Silymarin – This powerful antioxidant stimulates cell regeneration, particularly in the liver, while scavenging for free radicals. Silymarin is a powerful liver protectant, prevents the process of lipid oxidation (from free radicals) in liver tissue. This antioxidant, in combination with Cynarin, help the body obtain optimal liver health. In addition to Silymarin, artichokes contain many other flavonoids and phytonutrients. This great amount of antioxidative compounds promotes overall cell replication and cell health, which contributes to the prevention of many cancers and diseases. Artichokes are notoriously difficult to cook with and to incorporate into a diet. Marinated artichoke hearts are the easier option and can simply be added to a mediterranean wrap, a pasta salad, or even eaten right out of the jar! Though it’s the artichoke leaves that have a more significant amount of health promoting nutrients. The leaves can be grilled with other vegetables and served as an appetizer. Either way you choose, this superfood’s nutritional profile is well worth an undertaking in the kitchen.
Elements of a Proposal Argument Choose a problem that is important or interesting to you and propose a solution to it. Your proposal should include the following elements: 1. A claim that - proposes specific action, whether a change of practice or policy, to resolve a problem or need, and - is suitable for your audience. 2. Evidence and reasons that - show clearly the problem and its significance, - clearly relate the proposal claim to the problem or need, and - show that the proposal will work and resolve the problem or need. 3. A consideration of - other proposals, and - possible rebuttals to your proposal. Suggestions for Finding a Topic Suggestions for Finding a Topic Consider practical problems at Kean University; your high school; your city or town; your place of work; your hobbies, etc. If you were to choose a problem or situation at Kean, for example, you might consider proposals like the following: - A proposal to improve the quality of advising for students in your major. - A proposal to improve the ESL program - A proposal to improve the international student exchange program. - A proposal to improve safety conditions in a particular building or facility. - A proposal to change a rule at your dormitory. Proposals are generally addressed to someone who can do something with them, and they are accompanied by a cover letter that introduces the proposal to that specific person or persons. For example, if you were writing a policy proposal based on a social issue, you might name your senator or representative as the individual capable of taking action, but it must be the correct senator or representative for your voting district. If you feel that the senator or representative might not listen, then you might address your proposal to a specific group or organization that the senator or representative might listen to. Some tips to help you Find an issue that is manageable. For instance, proposing changes to the New Jersey education system requires an enormous amount of research and expertise. Instead, propose specific, small changes to the school you or your children attend. In this situation, you can talk to the people in charge, find out why something has or has not been tried, and adapt your proposal to what you find out. Because you have the opportunity to talk with your audience, you have a better chance of understanding what the problem is from their perspective and be able to make a better proposal that they will at least listen to. Preparing to Write Brainstorm to find a narrow, local issue which is a problem for you. Brainstorm and research who the right audience would be for your proposal. Find someone who can implement your proposal or pass it on to someone who can do something about the problem. Use your own research (interviews, surveys, graphs, polls) and library research. Document your sources accurately both in your text and in your bibliography. Your research should show that other problems like yours exist in the world, that people are concerned about them, that they are serious, that there are counterarguments and criticisms to your solution, and that there are solutions that can solve these problems. Consider the values of your audience. Use details and vivid examples (if possible, of real incidents and your own personal experience). Create credibility by looking at the problem objectively, not as a complainer. Writing the proposal The following sections explain the shape of this proposal paper and give the subtitles that you should use in your own paper. This one-page letter introduces your audience to the problem, its significance, and your proposal to solve the problem. It should be addressed to a specific individual or group. This section summarizes the problem, its background, the proposal, and justification in one paragraph. This is a one-sentence description of the problem. Background to the problem This section is an introduction to the problem. Describe the problem, its background/history, and its significance. Convince your audience that it's a real problem and something needs to be done about it. Sometimes, a reader might initially respond by saying, "Oh, that stuff again." So you need somehow to make it personal or show how it affects the reader. Present your proposal (thesis statement) concisely. After showing a problem really exists in the introduction, you need to show your solution, one which is solvable, doable, and practical. Explain your proposal in detail (with step-by-step specifics on how your solution works): - how much money it will cost, - who will be responsible for implementing it, - how easily it can be implemented, - how much time it will take to set it up and make it work, - what kinds of materials and labor are needed to make it work, - how it addresses the problem, Use analogy: Perhaps your solution or a similar one elsewhere is successful. Use precedent: Perhaps your solution or a similar has been successful in the past. If a similar solution was not successful, show how your situation is different so that the solution will now work in your situation. Give reasons for your audience to implement your proposal (other than those which relate to its being able to solve the problem by giving arguments from the heart and from values). Show how the benefits of your solution outweigh the costs. If the costs are high, appeal to the values of the audience by showing that your proposal will lead to actions that lead to consequences that your audience values. Summary and rebuttal of opposing views (This section may go before the proposal and justification sections.) Describe rebuttals to your solution, including other proposals for this problem. Respond to each of these rebuttals. Sum up the main points and state your case clearly and directly, so that your audience feels convinced to do something about the problem, preferably adopt your proposal. Use either APA or MLA style for your sources, and unlike on the wiki, do not annotate them.
In learning as much as possible about this family, I have found myself learning more about the Jewish community of Courland. The first Jews in Courland were in the early 1570's, however Jews didn't become permanent inhabitants until the 1700's. These first settlers were skilled workers who came from Germany. In 1795 Courland became part of Russia and in 1799 the first law was passed which gave the Jews legal status, even though they were being double taxed. The Jewish population of Courland has always been quite large in numbers. In 1850, that population was over 50,000 and by the start of World War I, there were almost 70,000 Jews living in Courland. Sadly, this area was one of many that saw much suffering during the Holocaust. Many thousands of lives were lost. These records of the Herzenberg family cover family who lived during the entire history of Jews in Courland.
In the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven. An Act for appointing Deputies from this State to the Convention, proposed to be holden in the City of Philadelphia in May 1787 for the purpose of revising the federal Constitution. Whereas in the formation of the federal Compact, which frames the bond of Union of the American States, it was not possible in the infant state of our Republic to devise a system which in the course of time and experience, would not manifest imperfections that it would be necessary to reform. And Whereas the limited powers, which by the Articles of Confederation, are vested in the Congress of the United States, have been found far inadequate, to the enlarged purposes which they were intended to produce. And Whereas Congress hath, by repeated and most urgent representations, endeavoured to awaken this, and other States of the Union, to a sense of the truly critical and alarming situation in which they may inevitably be involved, unless timely measures be taken to enlarge the powers of Congress, that they may be thereby enabled to avert the dancers which threaten our existence as a free and independent People. And Whereas this State hath been ever desirous to act upon the liberal system of the general good of the United States, without circumscribing its views, to the narrow and selfish objects of partial convenience; and has been at all times ready to make every concession to the safety and happiness of the whole, which justice and sound policy could vindicate.____________________ Thereafter, and in the order named, the States of New York, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maryland took legislative actions to be represented in the Federal Convention. Rhode Island took no action and was not represented in the Federal Convention.
Loire Valley Vineyard - Wine Appellations Loire Valley vineyard - Facts The Loire Valley Vineyard is one of 13 wine-making regions of France and one of the 16 great French vineyards, and the largest. It is sub-divided into 5 vineyards: Anjou-Saumur, Auvergne, Centre-Loire, Pays Nantais and Touraine. It represents 70,000ha of which 52,000ha were granted an AOC. The Loire Valley vineyard spreads over 800km. From west to east, it unfolds in the departments of: Loire-Atlantique, Vendée, Maine-et-Loire, Deux-Sèvres, Vienne, Sarthe, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, Cher, Nièvre, Allier, Puy-de-Dôme et Loire. These range from sand, limestone, chalk (tuffeau-tufa), clay, silt, granites and gravels. The Loire Valley is very wide and therefore benefits from the oceanic air currents that go up the river. These currents indeed increase the temperature by a few degrees and create the perfect climatic conditions for wine-growing. King Henri IV already called the valley Douce France (mild) in the 15th century! This oceanic climate is, however, subject to temperate, continental and even mountain influences as we advance inland. Development of the Loire Valley vineyard The Romans planted the Loire Valley Vineyard some 2000 years ago on the south facing slopes of the river Loire. A stone wine press dating back to 100AD was found in Cheillé near Azay-le-Rideau. This was the time when Pliny the Elder already praised the qualities of the Loire Valley wines. Religious communities cleared the river's south facing slopes and planted the vines during the 5th century. The development of river transport triggered the expansion of viticulture during the 10th century. It reached new heights in 1532. The tax enforced on the transportation of wine had the effect of forcing the winegrowers to produce quality wines in order to justify the high price of their wines. They indeed exported as far as England. Decline and revival of the vineyard The 18th century marked the end of this thriving trade. A severe frost of winter 1709 indeed destroyed part of the vineyard; then came the French Revolution (1789) and the Wars of the Vendée. The development of the railway in the mid 19th century precipitated the decline of the Loire Valley Vineyard, which was then competing with the wines produced in Southern France. Then came phylloxera that destroyed the entire French vineyard between the late 1850s and 1870s. The Loire Valley Vineyard (as all other French vineyards) was entirely replanted with french grape varieties grafted onto American root-stocks resistant to the parasite. Viticulture was relaunched and wine-growers targeted the production of high quality wines. Muscadet, Sancerre and Vouvray were the first vineyards of the Loire to be granted an AOC by the INAO in 1936. The Loire Valley Vineyard produces 45% of dry and sweet white, 23% of red, 21% of pink and 11% of sparkling wine. It has the largest array of wines produced from a large selection of grapes varieties. The whites are mainly produced from Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne and Sauvignon Blanc; the reds from Gamay, Cabernet Franc and Grolleau. The Chenin Blanc is the emblematic grape variety of the Loire Valley Vineyard. It is locally known as Pineau de la Loire and produces wonderful white wines. Loire Valley wines are less expensive than the Burgundy and Bordeaux but are equally splendid and considered better value for money. Here are these vineyards from west to east. Pays Nantais Wines - 7 AOC The Pays Nantais Vineyard is the westernmost wine-making area of the Loire Valley Vineyard. It is located south of Nantes and in the departments of Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire and Vendée. The vines enjoy the influence of the temperate oceanic climate. The Pays Nantais Vineyard includes 7 AOC: Côteaux d’Ancenis, Fiefs Vendéens, Gros Plant du Pays Nantais, Muscadet Blanc, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine, Muscadet des Côtes de Grandlieu, Muscadet des Côteaux de Loire Anjou-Saumur Wines - 18 AOC The Anjou-Saumur Vineyard spreads over 20,000ha and is bounded by Angers, Chalonnes, Bourgueil and Saumur. It produces 31% of red, 35% of rosé, 18% of white and 16% of fizzy and was granted an AOC in 1936. The Anjou-Saumur Vineyard has 18 AOC: Anjou, Anjou Villages, Anjou Villages Brissac, Anjou Côteaux de la Loire, Bonnezeaux, Cabernet d’Anjou, Cabernet de Saumur, Côteaux de l’Aubance, Côteaux de Saumur, Côteaux du Layon, Crémant de Loire, Haut Poitou, Quarts de Chaume, Rosé d’Anjou, Rosé de Loire, Saumur, Savennières and Saumur Champigny Touraine Wines - 15 AOC The 5500ha Touraine vineyard is located along the rivers Loire and Cher, between Saumur and Orléans. It spreads in 70 municipalities located in the Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, Loiret, Sarthe and Vienne departments. The wine region of Touraine includes 15 AOC: Touraine, Touraine Noble-Joué, Bourgueil, Cheverny, Cour-Cheverny, Chinon, Côteaux du Loir, Côteaux du Vendômois, Crémant de la Loire, Haut Poitou, Jasnières, Montlouis-sur-Loire, Rosé de Loire, St-Nicolas de Bourgueil and Vouvray Centre-Loire wines - 11 AOC The Centre-Loire Vineyard stretches in the Cher, Indre, Loir-et-Cher, Loiret and Vienne departments. It benefits from an oceanic climate with occasional continental influences. The Centre-Loire Vineyard mostly produces wonderful white wines (but also reds and rosés), among which the most renowned are the Sancerre and the Pouilly-Fumé. The Centre-Loire Vineyard has 11 AOC wines: Châteaumeillant, Côteaux du Giennois, Menetou-Salon, Orléans, Orléans-Cléry, Pouilly-Fumé, Pouilly-sur-Loire, Quincy, Reuilly, Sancerre and Valençay Auvergne Vineyard - 4 AOC The Auvergne Vineyard is one of the oldest vineyards of France; it is laos the most upstream of the wine-making areas of the Loire Valley Vineyard. The reputation of the wines from Auvergne, in Central France, goes back to the Middle-Ages and traversed the centuries. The Auvergne Vineyard today stretches in the Allier, Puy-de-Dôme and Loire departments . It includes 4 AOC: Côte Roannaise, Côtes d'Auvergne, Côtes du Forez and Saint-Pourcain Please remember to drink responsibly www.drinkaware.co.uk – L'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la santé, à consommer avec modération - Resource Vin-Vigne Sign up to our newsletter Travel France Online will use the information you provide on this form to keep in touch with you and to provide updates via our newsletter. 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Kerry James Marshall Exhibition: Mastry Black Figures and Beyond Historical montages, genre paintings, hidden symbols, landscape themes, religious undertones, racial subjects, murals, glitter, comic books, mixed media and a plethora of the black figures, merely touches upon what encompasses the Kerry James Marshall: Mastry Exhibition at the Met Breuer. If you haven’t dipped in to see his works yet, you have until January 29th. At first glance, the exhibition may appear to be primarily paintings illustrating African American culture and prejudices, from the Civil Rights movement to present day. It’s that and so much more. The prominent theme of Marshall’s paintings is pretty much well known at this point. That is, black silhouettes with protuberant white teeth and peering white eyes. The figures are painted as stereotypical representations of black people in society. Essentially, portraying the raw and inescapable racist logic, America has enforced since 400 years ago when slavery began. To that end, it is suitable to say Marshall’s work is fearless and intentional. However, it was not the dense and radiant black silhouettes that the most compelled me to circle, and re-circle the 3rd and 4th floors of the Met- Breuer. It was versatility of Marshall’s painting voice, the entangled symbolisms, and inventive art mediums rooted within each piece. If it’s not enough to marvel in the historical depth and chilling truth of Marshall’s paintings, the viewer is also challenged with digesting the complexity and freedom of his artistic expression. Displaying 80 works - including 72 paintings - the exhibition begins on the 3rd floor of the Met Breuer with two large layered compositions. Both are acrylic and collage on unstretched canvas. On your right is De Style, 1993, which spans a little over 8 by 10 feet, and frames five black male figures in a barbershop. There is no doubt Marshall was deliberate in choosing the title. De Style or its original spelling De Stijl comes from the Dutch artistic movement of 1917 in Amsterdam. The De Stijl enterprise consisted of artists and architects promoting work of strong abstraction, but reducing numerous forms of color. The emphasis was simplified, horizontal and virtual lines, with primary colors. All these themes are apparent in Marshall’s striking, De Style painting. While the Nike tennis shoes and unorthodox hair weaves on two of the male subjects hint at a modern day barbershop scene, the piece still lends itself with a 60s nuance. Perhaps it’s the thin black tie on the man placed almost center, with a confident vertical stance like Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction. Or it may have been the brown turn-knob radio and bowling trophy positioned on the counter. Either way, Marshall seamlessly intertwines two different eras. The painting style is flat, with a black worn rubber tile floor, white cabinet drawers with red framing, a yellow trash can, a pink sink, and a white clock. I immediately saw something religious in De Style. I couldn’t pinpoint it until I noticed the barber’s head, which is framed by rays of light. Possibly indicative that he is the deity of the Barbershop’s culture in which clienteles rely on their image of beautification. Along with the rays of light framing the barber’s head, were unevenly dispersed pink stars. Yet, the stars were not perfect in shape; they had lengthened points, with a North Star effect and “K7” in the center. It seems from this, Marshall was embedding some religious undertones and hidden symbolisms in this iconic Barbershop scene. To the left is a similar symbolic variation of a work titled, The Lost Boys, 1993. The comparable-sized painting presents two black boys playing together. One is holding a pink water-gun, the other sitting on one of those 2-dollar car rides for kiddies that sit outside in-front of supermarkets. The painting’s foreground features a tree. Its trunk is wrapped with yellow police tape. This could possibly insinuate the crime-infested neighborhood the boys live in. The tree trunk has the word “LIFE” vertically painted in between the yellow tape. The leaves of the tree have an indigo blue tint, and the branches bloom a strange-looking yellow fruit. The police tape could be representative of a serpent, and this snake is an extension of the yellow fruit, indicating the tree of temptation in Adam and Eve, as well as signifying the Tree of Life. There are also kick-balls scattered throughout the grass. The painting exposes the inclusive conflict of innocent black boys in their youth, before falling victim to the cruelty, crime, and the depravity of life. To the right of these two large pieces are collages and paintings on papers and mixed media from the artist’s early years in Los Angeles. The medium on which Marshall paints – whether it is unstretched canvas, leather, chalkboard, wood, tapestries, or fiberglass – appears just as unrestricted as the themes in his works. Some of these smaller mixed-media works I found more significant than his larger renowned paintings. Eschu from the African Power Series, 1989, on wood cut and monoprint, hangs at a humble 13 by 11.5 inches. The black abstract face with distorted and sharp outlines and shapes, paired with hallow white eyes and massive white teeth, gives the piece almost a Picasso- meets-Jose-Posada- feel. The Ecstasy of Communion, 1990, is extraordinary. It measures a little more than 16 by 11 inches and is acrylic and mixed media on leather. The image seems to be painted on one side of a worn leather briefcase. The black man appears to be dead, yet because of how Marshall paints his appearance, it looks as if he could be alive, i.e. born again in death. His eyes are faintly opened and his tongue lifeless, peeking out of his month. His chest is sliced open to reveal his ribcage and arrows are stuck in him. Next to the arrows are red circles like those of a shooting target. There is a similar circling formation behind and around the man’s head, however it is gold and offers a holy effect. The tilt of the man’s head, slightly upward, indicates the iconic tilt of Jesus’s head when he is nailed to the cross. Thus, there is a thick cross painted behind the man. Marshall also paints a visible heart in the man’s chest, deep red with thorns circling it. This piece not only denotes the heavy hold religion and its politics can swallow one in. It also offers how religion can dissect you, lift up, then bring down, and whether we attend confession or not, our hearts stop beating and death continues on. Following that section of the exhibit are paintings from the late 1980s and early 1990s. These works were completed in Chicago where Marshall began to flourish in his powerful technique of acrylic painting on large collaged unstretched canvases. Marshall’s pieces, Could This Be Love, 1993, The Slow Dance 1992, and When Frustration Threatens Desire, 1990 illustrate this most well – and it is a motif I find forcefully engaging in Marshall’s overall style. These works include objects of hidden perceived meanings, and they all touch upon identity, desire, superstation, intimacy, lust and greed. Throughout these pieces are dispersed circles that could be either moons or clocks, with various numbers (not placed in numerical clock formation), indicating a concoction of astronomy and the relativity of time. Detailed music notes, lyrics, melted candles, faded wallpaper, and even a shooting star inside a bedroom are highlighted in these works. Still, with all these interpretations and symbolisms, Marshall paints his black figures, front and center with unassuming gestures. Just when I thought I could not be any more hypnotized by the extremities of Marshall’s capabilities, I made my way the 4th floor. Stimulated and overwhelmed, I was humbled as I stepped off the elevator and greeted by nine massive canvases, evenly placed on three large walls. All portraying one theme - nature - more specifically, parks, gardens and fields. The black silhouettes in these nine pieces are engaged in whimsical and light activities such as playing outside, having a picnic, listening to music, throwing clothes over a hanging-line, and gardening. While the black subjects are at the forefront of each painting, Marshall incorporates various paintings techniques. He paints with a little Edward Hopper flair in the buildings, some little Pollock hints with abstract splatter and dripping, and a slight Matisse quality with the blotting and blending of vibrant colors. Yet, Marshall’s own distinctive technique is a melody that still plays louder in all nine works. Turning and leaving the Garden Project Series, you walk into a smaller gallery with Marshall’s newer works depicting artists within their creative element, such as painting in their studios. Then forward and left, is another humble space filled with Marshall’s cluster of fictional black and female painters. Following this section, is a gallery filled with black subjects that are presented as heroic in historical and orthodox settings. This particular small space is more than noteworthy, because it is here where Marshall uses contemporary African American men and women placed in the conventions of traditional European portraits. For example, in Marshall’s Scouts Series, 1995, there are four paintings evenly dispersed that feature a black child from the shoulders upward wearing Boy and Girl Scout uniforms. They are shown with a burst of white paint behind their heads, which has a halo effect and is in great contrast to their skin. They appear as young saints, resilient yet humble. The Scouts Series contain no direct reference to their own possibility, but Marshall uses this series as a formal stratagem that is classically reserved for white and European faces. It his intention to draw focus on the absence of black subjects in historical and cultural narratives, and unlike other artists, he does so boldly with absolute blackness. Next, you move into a small space where Marshall presents his subjects intertwined with landscapes and seascapes. Finally, in the last gallery of the 4th floor, are paintings referred to as souvenirs or mementos where Marshall includes nuances from the Civil Rights era. Amidst all of these remarkably diverse works, there is one colossal painting I always return to, School of Beauty, School of Culture, 2012. Displaying at 107 by 157 inches, Marshall includes eight women, two babies just barely walking, and three men. Some women are sitting getting their hair done, some already looking prim with it finished, some leaving, and some entering. It is beaming with gold glitter and vibrant contrasting tones. It’s painted as if the viewer got a glimpse of the women’s Beauty Salon Empire. You feel as if you were lucky enough to get a ticket to their show. What makes it most thought-provoking is the unawareness the subjects have to any onlookers. Their demeanor is deliberate, lively, vivacious, ethnic, uninhibited, and fresh. While Marshall sticks to his flat painting form, the women and children are so physically committed to their stance, you feel as if you just stepped into the salon. And while it may be easy to overlook, the most interesting detail Marshall includes, is actually an aberration from his other pieces. He breaks the fourth wall. In the back center of the painting is a small mirror with a tiny flash and you can just barely see it’s a man taking a photo, showing us the view through his camera lens. Even with all these components in the piece, Marshall stirs things up by painting a glittery face of a Sleeping Beauty forward center of the painting. She appears ostentatious. Likely to illustrate the ideology that is brainwashed in girls from childhood - to look like a beautiful white Disney princess - and oh boy does she look out of place. No doubt that was Marshall’s intention. I could attend the Kerry James Marshall: Mastry Exhibition at least three more times and I still not digest every notion, theme, and story he graciously shares with us. Marshall’s assertion of contemporary black life and culture, along with the ability to weave various painting techniques, an array of mediums, and reflective interpretations, leaves you feeling cultivated, awakened, and overwhelmed with genuine pleasure.
Warning: these figures indicate the number of cases found in the data file. They cannot be interpreted as summary statistics of the population of interest. POPDENSITY consists of a set of 5 separate variables. These variables report the population density - people per square kilometer of land area - within a 5 kilometer circular buffer around each DHS cluster location, in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. By adding POPDENSITY to your data cart, you are in effect adding 5 separate variables (POPDENSITY_2000 - POPDENSITY_2020), one variable for each month. Values for POPDENSITY are based onÂ population projections from the results of the 2000 and 2010 rounds of censuses. POPDENSITY variables can be used as indicators of urban versus rural status, with the cut-off levels for these categories decided by the researcher, for greater consistency in measurement than the DHS URBAN variable. POPDENSITY, like the other IPUMS-DHS contextual variables, is calculated and based on sources external to the DHS data. For more information on IPUMS-DHS contextual variables and how they are constructed, refer to the documentation [URL omitted from DDI.] on these variables.
The calendar of the Hobbits is very close to the King's Reckoning. Every month had 30 days, with five extra days which were their holiday. It was different from that used by the Men, Dwarves and Elves. The use of this calendar in Middle-earth is referred to as Shire-reckoning. Year 1 of the Shire Calendar corresponded when the Shire was founded by the Bree Hobbits Marcho and Blanco in the year 1601 of the Third Age. Therefore, years of the Third Age can be converted to Shire-years by subtracting 1600. The last year of the Third Age was year 1421 on the Shire calendar. Months of the year and special days Edit The Shire calendar's year was divided into 12 months of 30 days. Five additional days were added to create a 365-day year. The months followed the lunar cycle. \|Month number\|\|Name\|\|Approximate relationship to Gregorian calendar\| \|2 Yule\|\|22nd of December\| \|1\|\|Afteryule\|\|23rd of December to the 21st of January\| \|2\|\|Solmath\|\|22nd of January to the 20th of February\| \|3\|\|Rethe\|\|21st of February to the 22nd of March\| \|4\|\|Astron\|\|23rd of March to 21st of April\| \|5\|\|Thrimidge\|\|22nd of April to the 21st of May\| \|6\|\|Forelithe\|\|22nd of May to the 20th of June\| \|1 Lithe\|\|21st of June\| \|Mid-year's Day\|\|22nd of June\| \|2 Lithe\|\|23rd of June\| \|7\|\|Afterlithe\|\|24th of June to the 23rd of July\| \|8\|\|Wedmath\|\|24th of July to the 22nd of August\| \|9\|\|Halimath\|\|23rd of August to the 21st of September\| \|10\|\|Winterfilth\|\|22nd of September to 21st of October\| \|11\|\|Blotmath\|\|22nd of October to the 20th of November\| \|12\|\|Foreyule\|\|21st of November to the 20th of December\| \|1 Yule\|\|21st of December\| The Yuledays were the days that mark the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one, so 2 Yule was the first day of the year. The Lithedays are the three days in the middle of the year, 1 Lithe, Mid-year's Day, and 2 Lithe. In leap years (every fourth year except centennial years) a day was added after Mid-year's Day called Overlithe. All these days were placed outside of any month. These days were primarily holidays and feast days. Mid-year's Day is meant to correspond to the summer solstice, which Tolkien describes as being 10 days earlier than the middle day of our year. However, since then the summer solstice has shifted slightly so it falls on a different date now, rendering the difference between Mid-year's Day and the middle day of our year eleven days, instead of ten. Days of the week Edit There were seven days in the Shire week. The first day of the week was called Sterday and the last day of the week was called Highday. The Mid-year's Day and, when present, Overlithe had no weekday assignments. This arrangement was used because it caused every day to have the same weekday designation from year to year (instead of changing as in the Gregorian calendar). \|Day Name\|\|Meaning\|\|Relationship to Gregorian calendar\| \|Sterday\|\|Stars of Varda\|\|Saturday\| \|Trewsday\|\|Two Trees of Valinor\|\|Tuesday\| Highday was a holiday with evening feasts.
High blood pressure: Lifestyle changes to reduce reading High blood pressure is a difficult to spot condition because it rarely has any noticeable symptoms. But finding out if you have it is very important as it can increase the risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. The best way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your reading regularly checked and to understand the cause. But where you have your reading checked could actually be the cause of your high reading. White coat syndrome, or white coat hypertension, is when your blood pressure is higher when it’s taken in a medical setting. The term “white coat” comes from references to the white coats traditionally worn by doctors. High blood pressure: Something unexpected could be causing your high reading Blood Pressure UK explains: “Your blood pressure is not fixed – it rises and falls throughout the day in response to what you are doing and what is happening around you. “White coat effects will often happen because you are nervous about having your blood pressure tested by a doctor or nurse. “Most of us tend to feel more tense in medical settings than we do in surroundings that are familiar to us, although we do not always notice it. “The white coat effect can influence some peoples’ blood pressure more than others. - Support fearless journalism - Read The Daily Express online, advert free - Get super-fast page loading “If you are very anxious your systolic blood pressure can rise by as much as 30mmHg. “This can make it more difficult for your doctor to get an accurate measurement of your blood pressure.” Anyone can be affected by the white coat effect, but the only way to be sure you don’t have high blood pressure is to measure your blood pressure at home. Monitoring your blood pressure for 24 hours can show in more detail how your blood pressure changes throughout the day. Some GP surgeries can provide 24-hour monitors, but alternatively you may have to go to your local hospital outpatients department to have one fitted. A person’s blood pressure is recorded with two numbers - the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure is the higher number and measures the force at which your heart pumps blood around the body. The diastolic pressure is the lower number and measures the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels. Ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher (or 150/90mmHg or higher if you’re over the age of 80). But Blood Pressure UK warns people with white coat hypertension can go on to develop high blood pressure. The charity advises:”For this reason it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly (perhaps every 6-12 months with a medical professional). This will allow you to take appropriate steps to lower your blood pressure, should it start to rise. “If you have any queries or concerns about the white coat effect or white coat hypertension, speak with your doctor or nurse.”
Jacksonville, TX., veterinarian Dr. Ira Stephens urges pet owners to protect their animals from heatstroke. Dr. Stephens, who runs the Animal Medical Clinic, says that this Texas summer weather can be dangerous for pets. While all furry pets are in danger of overheating, dogs and cats with thick, long coats, short-nosed dogs such as pugs, bulldogs and boxers, or pets that are overweight are particularly at risk. Dr. Stephens says that if not treated promptly, heatstroke can kill within minutes. Dr. Stephens says heatstroke is an entirely preventable tragedy, but that his Jacksonville veterinary services team sees cases every year. "Heatstroke can come on very quickly for an animal, and they can't take off their fur coats to cool down. It's important for people to be aware that even temperatures in the 70s can cause a dog to overheat. Just because you're comfortable in the sun, doesn't mean your pet is comfortable. If your pet starts panting and tiring easily, get him out of the heat fast." The veterinarian says that people should know the symptoms of heatstroke so they can act quickly to save their pets. Overheating pets pant and drool very heavily and exhibit dark red gums and tongue. They may also seem disoriented and lethargic; unable or unwilling to move or get up. If a dog's temperature goes over 104 degrees, immediate action is needed to stop the damage. Dr. Stephens says that in such cases, people need to bring their pets to the veterinary hospital immediately while trying to cool them. He says to use cool (not freezing) water to spray the pet and set him under a fan while underway. Most importantly, Dr. Stephens says that heatstroke prevention is better than the cure. He explains that owners should keep pets in shady, well-ventilated areas on hot days and provide plenty of fresh, cool water for them to drink. He says that people should still walk their dogs for exercise, but to do it early in the morning, or later in the evening after the sun has gone down and the air is cooler. He recommends giving long-haired breeds a short haircut for summer, and to play in the grass instead of paved areas, since grass stays cooler. He also insists that people never leave their pets in parked cars as the heat inside can rise to deadly levels very quickly. He adds, "Preventing heat stroke is easy and so much better than having a pet suffer at all. We have a veterinary services team here who has seen the consequences of heatstroke and knows how to help, but I urge people to keep their pets cool, watered and in the shade on hot days." Dr. Ira Stephens provides both routine veterinary services and emergency animal services at the Animal Medical Clinic. The clinic website is http://www.animalmedicalclinicjacksonville.com. Published on Jul 18, 2012
Unit 6.3 Chemical Processes Natural and household materials are used for doing classroom experiments. The colors of different kinds of berries are extracted to make acid-base indicators. Video program cues: 14:10-25:40 Cells are dynamic "Cells are dynamic living entities, but the textbooks let us think that theyre static. The protein complement of a cell changes from one minute to the next, responding to environmental influences, responding to communication from other cells, responding to what we have eaten, and to what we are experiencing. Even when we are sitting still, we have billions of changes going on constantly." Dr. J. Craig Venter Former President, Celera Genomics Chemistry Highlights 2001 (2001)' Biochemistry, 'Chemical & Engineering News, Vol. 79, No. 50, pp: 45-55. Compounds from plants demonstration Dr. Leslie Pierce demonstrates the acidity of household solutions using indicators that are extracted from plants. Kanda, Naoki; Asano, Takayuki; Itoh, Toshiyuki; Onoda, Makota (1995)' Preparing "Chameleon Balls" from Natural Plants: Simple Handmade pH Indicator and Teaching Material for Chemical Equilibrium, 'Journal of Chemical Education, Vol. 72, No. 12, pp: 1131 (abstract only). Correction (1996)' Preparing "Chameleon Balls" from Natural Plants: Simple Handmade pH Indicator and Teaching Material for Chemical Education, 'Journal of Chemical Education, Vol. 73, No. 12, pp: 425. Natural and synthetic processes "When chemists are designing reactions, they are usually after what is called selectivity. Selectivity is when two chemicals come together, A+B, to give you the one chemical that you want, C. A truly selective reaction does just that: A+B --> C. In order for nature to run something so complicated as our cells, it must run millions of reactions with exquisite selectivity. But nature gets its selectivity in a very different manner than chemists and chemists are very good at getting selectivity. Nature has reduced the tree to a very limited arsenal of elements, and the enzymes are fantastic machines with very elaborate designs. Chemists use the whole Periodic Table, and that is the main reason we pollute. One of the major ways to reduce pollution is to move the elemental balance of chemical technology, closer to the elemental balance of life, wherever Dr. Terry Collins Professor of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University - Article from Science, January 2001, by Professor Collins on sustainable chemistry. to Unit 6.4
Junior Zookeepers at Wildlife Safari The Junior Zookeeper program at Wildlife Safari allows children ages 10 to 17 the unique opportunity to learn about a variety of animals and to share their knowledge with the public. The newly developed Junior Zookeeper program was created with the goal of providing more opportunities for children to broaden their experiences, explore what it is like to work in a zoo and to develop an appreciation for the natural world. The Junior Zookeeper program has proven to be a great way for kids to learn responsibility, build leadership skills, gain self-confidence and get actual quality time with animals. Junior Zookeeper Program Activities Activities within the Junior Zookeeper program vary for each participant depending on their past involvement in the program, the amount of time they have spent at the park and their individual interests and abilities. Here are just some of activities a Junior Zookeeper will have the chance to be involved with! Animal husbandry includes all of the activities that go into caring for, cleaning up after, feeding and generally working with animals. Students in the Jr program will have the opportunity to learn about the unique care concerns of animals in the education department, learn to properly handle & present them and discover all of the ways that Wildlife Safari animal keepers tend to animals. Responsibility for the Children’s Petting Zoo Managing the Children’s Zoo involves assuring the public has an enjoyable experience in the contact area and that animal interaction is comfortable & fun for the animals, too. Juniors assist the zookeepers in keeping the area clean for the animals & the public, grooming the animals and monitoring the well being of all who enjoy the Children’s Zoo. Junior Zookeepers play an integral role in presenting Wildlife Safari summer camps. They help out by playing games, leading activities, providing examples to students and creating crafts for camp participants. Village Booths & Animal Presentations Juniors are trained to assist in the sharing of animal facts and “interpreting” zoo exhibits, connecting live animals and the public. Jr Zookeepers also have the opportunity to assist with various special events taking place during the summer, allowing them to gain both animal-related and operational-focused looks at just what it takes to run a zoo! Junior Zookeepers 2017 Children ages 10 to 17 years old (by May 1, 2017) are welcome to apply to become a 2017 Junior Zookeeper. Shifts for the program are 8:00am- 12:00pm and 12:30pm- 4:00pm, 5 days a week. When applying, two calendars for availability must be filled out. Participants will be emailed a final calendar prior to the student’s start date. 2017 sessions are June, July & August and students may register for one or more sessions. The fee to participate as a Jr Zookeeper is $110 per month. To apply to become a Jr Zookeeper; - Print the Junior Zookeeper Leadership Program Letter of Recommendation in the application packet and ask one adult who knows you well and who is not related to you to complete the letter, - Complete the Junior Zookeeper Application 2017 packet found below, - Complete the Medical Waiver and Authorization Form (including proof of a negative TB screening), - Complete 2 copies of the Calendar of Availability (keep one copy, hand the other copy in), - And prepare your payment (credit card, debit card, check or cash) When all materials are gathered, please mail them to: Wildlife Safari Junior Zookeeper Program Registration PO Box 1600, Winston, OR 97496 The education department can be contacted at 541.679.6761 ex 221 or by emailing email@example.com.
Humic - Urea Bond Humic Growth Solutions has developed Urea-Bond, a liquid product which bonds our Humic Acid 100% Soluble Powder as well as other powder products to Urea. This encapsulates the Urea and prevents nitrogen loss. Nitrogen Losses From Urea The first losses occur on the surface, immediately following application. The process of loss into the air is called volatilization. Volatilization occurs when urea comes in contact with moisture and urease, a naturally occurring enzyme in the soil, and crop residue that breaks down urea and releases it as ammonia into the air. As much as 35% of your nitrogen can be lost within days of application unless urea is encapsulated with Urea-Bond. After the nitrogen moves into the soil with rainfall or irrigation, it can be lost in the soil over time through de-nitrification and leaching. De-nitrification is a biological process where bacteria convert ammonium into other forms of nitrogen in a reduction reaction. These bacteria thrive in fields where oxygen is low due to high water content (anaerobic conditions). The resulting nitrogen loss ranges from 5-35% on average, but under high soil temperatures the loss can be far greater. Leaching occurs when the nitrate form of nitrogen is washed out of the root zone and ends up beyond the reach of plants in the soil or in groundwater. Sandy soils are most susceptible to these losses as they have a less ability to hold water and nutrients. Leaching losses range from 0 to 20% Our patent pending process of encapsulating urea prevents loss from developing after Urea is applied.
The “Hispanic” Heritage holiday started off as a week of performative allyship in 1968, continues today as “Hispanic” Heritage Month, beginning on September 15 to mark the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and the respective independence dates of Mexico and Chile on September 16 and 18. But this national ‘celebration’ often ignores the complexity of the Black and Indigenous Latinx experience, the ongoing impacts of U.S. influence that Central American countries and Mexico still endure, and the real-life demands for policies that reflect the needs of the people. When we look at the Latinx experience today, we know that the breadth of our culture is not reflected in politics and media. The Biden Administration has yet to make good on their promises to deliver progressive change to Latinx communities in the workforce, immigration, and the economy. In the meantime, we will keep holding the Administration accountable until they do. We will keep supporting the efforts of grassroots Latinx organizers, daily fighting against voter suppression, xenophobic attacks, and the right to live freely. The Bottom Line Instead of celebrating made up holidays that don’t serve us, we choose to organize with and protect our gente. Today, and everyday, we celebrate the resilience, organizing, and leadership of our people and invite you to join us in listening to their stories as shared on our La Cura Podcast series. Below you will find a few offerings that to deepen your understanding on the nuances of where we’ve come from, perspectives from the current moment we’re in, and the hopes for future of our gente. To view the whole La Cura Podcast series: click here. Podcasts to Listen to Reflections and traditional wisdom shared by Latinx activists, healers, and historians, with an emphasis on practical remedies for physical and spiritual preservation. Conversation with director of Mijente, Marisa Franco, on the political and spiritual impact of colonization, how pride plays out from a non-Black Latinx perspective, and where to begin in building pro-Blackness. Discussion on how to honor complicated ancestry and elevate ourselves in the process, through the lens of the teachings of the ancient West African spiritual tradition of Ifá and its connection to Latin America. Iluminación sobre cómo la sanación somática y emocional combinado con una perspectiva antirracista y social puede crear espacios de contención y acompañamiento. [episode en español] The fight for el Buenvivir of all people — for racial, economic, gender, and climate justice — continues. And our commitment to grassroots efforts and transformative change through organizing, healing, and relationships remains in the center. Keep updated with our local and national efforts by following our social media platforms in the icons below
Daniel Botelho is no stranger to photographing underwater seascapes dominated by sharks. But for his latest National Geographic assignment, seascapes alone wouldn't cut it -- he wanted a skyline as well. The article, which focuses on Recife, Brazil, as one of the geographic hotspots for conflict between sharks and humans, needed a photo to illustrate the murky boundary between the two. After spending more than 200 hours in the water, Botelho captured this fleeting glimpse: The photo, a split-level image with the Recife skyline above in the background and a large blacktip shark looming underwater in the foreground, is dominated by the shark's fin, which perfectly intersects the two panes. Writes Botelho in a Facebook post accompanying the photo: National Geographic needed to send an ambassador to the world’s biggest conflict area among men and sharks, at Recife, Brazil, there I went and this fresh photo is the result [of] years of efforts trying to make a photo of a shark so close to the metropolitan area. I was honored to meet this animal and it is good to remember that the sea is a wild place even ... so close to the cities and we should never forget this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Respect the wild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “The shark is only 50 meters from the shore,” Botelho told GrindTV in an interview about the picture. “I have people saying, ‘Hey, that is my building, my home, in the background of that photo.’” Botelho added that he didn't use chum or bait to attract the shark. Instead he relied on fishermen and spearfishermen, whose actions naturally attract sharks anyway. For the period from 1931 to 2013, Pernambuco, the Brazilian state in which Recife is the capital city, has experienced 55 shark attacks, 16 of which have been fatal. That adds up to a fatality rate of close to 30 percent -- nearly double the world shark fatality rate average of around 16 percent. A 2012 BBC report linked Pernambuco's alarming number of shark attacks to two primary causes: the area's natural geography, which sits close to a major migratory route for sharks, and environmental disturbances, particularly polluted water which lures sharks closer to shore in search of an easy meal.
How a manicurist helped solve a sea-turtle mystery Using non-toxic manicure acrylic along with old wetsuits and hair-extension glue, scientists have successfully attached solar-powered satellite tags to turtles' shells, to learn more about about the sea creatures' early life history. The shell of a loggerhead turtle is basically a giant fingernail. Or at least that's a useful way to look at it when you're trying to come up with a way to attach a solar-powered satellite tag to one. A team led by University of Central Florida biologist Kate Mansfield was developing the tags to get a glimpse of the turtles' "lost years," the interval that begins when the hatchlings, just over an inch long, disappear into the seas off Florida’s east coast and when they return, at almost 18 inches long, to shallow waters near the shore. The plan was to equip 17 captive loggerhead turtles with the tiny tags and then release them into the ocean. But the scientists didn't know how to get the tags to safely stick to the shells. That's where the manicurist came in. Turtle shells, it turns out, are made of keratin, the very same substance that makes up human hair and fingernails. Florida Atlantic University biologist Jeanette Wyneken, a member of Mansfield's team, got the idea of checking in with her husband's manicurist. Her husband, professionally a marine biologist, plays classical guitar, an activity that often requires careful shaping and protection of the fingernails. "He has very delicate nails," Wyneken says of her husband. "So his manicurist uses a certain kind of acrylic nails that keep them sort of intact." Wyneken checked with the manicurist and reasoned that non-toxic manicure acrylic could be safely applied to a very small part of the turtles' shells, and that it would stay put. The acrylic "basically helps to stabilize the shell," Wyneken says. Biologists had earlier believed that turtles went around the Atlantic in large circles by entraining themselves with the currents associated with the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. "Imagine following a doughnut around a circle," Dr. Manfield says. But after tracking the turtles for 27 to 220 days, scientists have found that after hatching, some of these small, fast-growing, migratory species apparently move to different habitats, such as the Sargasso Sea, which is rich in floating Sargassum, a type of seaweed. Scientists suggest it is possible that turtles take the detour toward the Sargasso Sea in search of warmer habitats, for foraging purposes, or simply to escape from predators. According to the findings of the study, published in a paper titled "First satellite tracks of neonate sea turtles redefine the ‘lost years’ oceanic niche" in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. the turtles stayed away from Continental Shelf waters to escape predators and they mostly stayed at the sea surface for a thermal benefit. “This makes sense because the turtles are cold blooded animals. By remaining at the sea surface, and by associating with Sargassum habitat, turtles gain a thermal refuge of sorts that may help enhance growth and feeding rates, among other physiological benefits.” Earlier knowledge about sea turtles, a globally endangered species, came mostly from rare opportunistic sightings offshore, or from laboratory studies. “With real observations of turtles in their natural environment, we are able to examine and reevaluate existing hypotheses about the turtles’ early life history. This knowledge may help managers provide better protection for these threatened and endangered species," said Mansfield in a press release.
From furniture to paper and pencils, wood products are a part of our everyday lives. Though wood products are now more than ever coming from sustainable sources, up to 30 percent of wood traded internationally has been harvested illegally. Not only does illegal logging damage the environment, it disrupts our climate, hurts communities and threatens American jobs. Thankfully, with a landmark law called the Lacey Act, the United States is helping lead the fight against illegal logging. To get a snapshot of the costs of illegal logging and how you can help, take a look at our new webpage. Deforestation, which is driven in part by illegal logging, is one of the largest sources of climate-disrupting pollution. Each year deforestation accounts for roughly 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide, around 17 percent of global climate-disrupting pollution. Further, illegal logging threatens valuable habitat for endangered animals and plants. A great report from the Environmental Investigation Agency details how illegal logging in the Russian Far East, allegedly to supply the flooring giant Lumber Liquidators, is threatening the last 450 Siberian tigers in the wild. Illegal logging also threatens communities that live in and around forests. The illegal harvesting and removal of timber deprives countries of roughly $15 billion a year in tax revenue. Instead of funding public improvements that benefit communities, revenue from illegal logging funds underground crime. Trade in illegally harvested timber threatens American jobs by driving down the price of wood products. Cheaper wood might sound good, but it actually places a huge burden on American companies. In fact, it's estimated that lower prices due to the trade of illegally harvested wood products ends up costing U.S. companies $1 billion annually. Thankfully, the United States has taken the lead in fighting the trade of illegally harvested wood. In 2008, the U.S. Congress amended the Lacey Act to ban the import of illegally harvested wood. Now, companies that import wood products must identify the species and origin of their products. Violators of the law face fines and jail time. Led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the federal government has opened investigations into companies that are alleged to knowingly import illegally harvested timber. Since its amendment, the Lacey Act has shown a strong track record of requiring companies to identify the source of imported wood, both leading to more sustainable supply chains and helping decrease illegal logging. Currently, opponents of the Lacey Act are trying to weaken this landmark law. To help ensure the U.S. continues to lead in the fight against illegal logging and climate disruption, tell the President and Congress to fully enforce the Lacey Act!
If you’re curious about trends that will affect our world over the next decade, you should pay attention to the relationship between food security and global stability. While you’re at it, add this worry into the mix: the ability of American farmlands to meet the international demands for food. This food-peace-ecology triangle has arisen for numerous reasons, including that more nations are developing their economies, despite the recent downturn. Their growth is good, in part because people work in jobs that pay better wages. Along with that growth, residents in nations such as India and China have started desiring different foods, especially more beef. They have looked to the U.S. and other markets to supply them. The trick for developing nations is getting their people enough food at an affordable price. If they do, they can keep the peace. If they don’t, watch out. Their political situations will grow unstable. We’ve already seen food riots in Algeria and Tunisia. This demand is an economic blessing for American farmers and ranchers: More people want to buy their products. In a big agricultural state like Texas, that’s welcome news. But here’s where the ecological leg of the triangle comes in: Farm and ranch lands can endure just so much production. They and the ecosystems that feed them need sustaining, too. For instance, aquifers can supply only so much water for greater agricultural production in places like the High Plains of Texas and southern Colorado. Those breadbaskets are iconic America. But their irrigation pumps must kick out plenty of water to keep crops growing. Fortunately, irrigation techniques have gotten better in places like the Texas Panhandle, so less water is wasted. But land management remains a challenge and a necessity there and elsewhere. The farm bill that the Senate passed last week takes a crack at improving land conservation. Senators cut $6 billion in conservation funding, so it may sound silly to say the legislation could help farmers and ranchers care for their lands. But the legislation does include elements that could help keep their lands healthy. Here’s one example: The measure creates an incentive for agricultural producers, conservationists, universities, farm groups and local governments to work together to resolve an ecological worry such as a local water shortage. That sounds basic, but regional collaborations haven’t been common. And institutions including the Environmental Defense Fund and the American Farmland Trust have praised this approach. The bill also creates incentives for farmers to shift to crops that demand less water. That includes dryland crops, such as cotton. Curious about whether this makes sense, I talked last week with C.E. Williams, who heads the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District near Amarillo. He agreed that water supplies increasingly will determine how much farmers can produce. That’s why incentives to get into dryland farming make sense to him. The Senate bill falls short, however, in giving farmers a sufficient incentive to keep acreage they already have planted in grass from being turned back into farmland. Some farmers take advantage of a federal program that rewards them for setting aside grasslands, which helps the fields replenish their nutrients. Now, some want out. Williams told me he sees Panhandle farmers turning their grasslands back to farmland since there is so much demand for food. I don’t blame them. But when the House takes up its farm bill, let’s hope farmers get enough money from Washington to keep land in grass. Grazing cattle on this land could be profitable because of the demand for beef. And the longer fields stay out of production, the better their sustainability for future crops. I’m not particularly wild about the government directly paying farmers to better care for their lands. But the government doesn’t pay all of the costs of conserving the lands. Also, the third leg of this triangle needs as much attention as the two others. In fact, without a strong ecological balance, there won’t be enough production to feed the world and keep the peace. William McKenzie is a Dallas Morning News editorial columnist, moderates Texas Faith at dallasnews.com/texasfaith and contributes to dallasnews.com’s new Education Blog. His email address is email@example.com
Research Article - Biomedical Research (2017) Volume 28, Issue 17 Does vitamin D deficiency lead to insulin resistance in obese individuals? - *Corresponding Author: - Zeynep Hülya Durmaz Department of Biochemistry Amasya University Research Hospital Accepted date: August 03, 2017 Aim: Obesity has become an important health problem in developed and developing countries. Nowadays, vitamin D deficiency is very common in obese individuals. Vitamin D deficiency and obesity are associated with cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases. In our study, we aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D deficiency on insulin resistance in obese subjects. Materials and Methods: A total of 170 individuals, (146 females and 24 males) were included in the study. According to Body Mass Index (BMI), patients were divided into 3 groups. Serum vitamin D was compared with insulin resistance and HbA1c. Results: It was shown that serum vitamin D levels were statistically decreased according to BMI. There was also a statistically significant increase in Hba1c level due to increased BMI. There is also a positive correlation between BMI and insulin resistance. Positive correlation was found between HbA1C and insulin resistance. There was no statistically significant difference between the levels of insulin resistance among the groups of BMI. Conclusions: In conclusion, Vitamin D deficiency can be seen in obese individuals. Low serum vitamin D levels may accelerate the development of diabetes in obese individuals. Serum vitamin D levels should be measured in obese individuals and necessary treatment should be performed. This may be helpful in obesity treatment and prevention of diabetes development. Obesity, Vitamin D, Insulin resistance, Diabetes Obesity has become an important health problem in developed and developing countries . Chronic binge eating is the most important cause of obesity. However, genetic susceptibility, sedentary lifestyle, and excessive fat storage in the body can also cause obesity. In developed countries, 40% of the population is overweight while 20% of the population is obese. In some countries, 3/4 of the adult population is overweight. In developed countries, this rapid increase in obesity without unchanged genetic background is caused by excessive energy intake and reduced physical activity. Continuous excessive energy intake leads to hypertrophy of adipocytes due to excessive triglyceride storage. In the liver and muscle tissues, impairment of insulin secretion occurs due to the interaction with the insulin signaling cascade and increased apoptosis of pancreatic beta cells, and insulin resistance is induced . Nowadays, vitamin D deficiency is very common in obese individuals. Vitamin D deficiency and obesity are associated with cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases. 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations are considered to be the best indicators of total body vitamin D deposits. It is known that there is a relationship between decreased vitamin D concentrations in circulation and obesity. However, the mechanisms have not yet been clarified. The role of vitamin D supplements in the treatment of obesity is still unknown. Vitamin D deficiency is thought to be associated with the presence of cardio metabolic risk in obese individuals . Different limit values have been suggested for vitamin D evaluation. If the level is 20 ng/ml or below it refers to the “deficiency”, if the level is 21-29 ng/ml it refers to the “insufficiency”, and if the level is more than 30 ng/ml it refers to the “sufficiency”. An intoxication of vitamin D may occur when the 25-OH VitD level exceeds 150 ng/mL . We have planned this study in order to show the effect of changes in Vitamin D levels on obesity and insulin resistance. Materials and Methods Amasya University Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin Training and Research Hospital database was used and we worked with 170 people (146 women and 24 men) who were enrolled in the clinics between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 and who were treated and followed by dieticians. The patient’s data were examined and they were divided into 3 groups according to Body Mass Index (BMI) values. Serum vitamin D was compared with the insulin resistance and HbA1c. Liver enzymes, blood creatinine, and fasting glucose levels of patients were normal. Exclusion criteria were determined and patients with diabetes, metabolic disease, and deterioration of the liver and kidney function were excluded from the study. The insulin resistance was calculated as follows: HOMA index (fasting insulin (pmol/L) × fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL)/ 405). BMI was calculated by using the body weight (kg)/ squared body length (m) formula. Serum vitamin D measurements (normal values: 20-100 ng/ml) were performed on a Siemens Advia Centaur xp instrument by using an electrochemiluminescence technique. Similarly, serum insulin measurements (normal values: 2.6-37.6 pmol/L) were also performed on a Siemens Advia Centaur xp instrument by using an electrochemiluminescence technique. Serum glucose measurements (normal values: 74-109 mg/dl) were performed on the Olimpus AU 5800 by using the glucose oxidase method. HbA1c measurements (normal values: 4-6%) were performed on the Trinity/Menarini Premier device by using HPLC boranat method. GraphPad Prism version 6.00 was used for statistical analysis (GraphPad Software, La Jolla, California, USA). One-way ANOVA was used to compare quantitative data. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate how dependent variables were affected by independent variables. The chi-square test was used to understand gender differences. The results were evaluated in 95% confidence interval and with the p<0.01 significance level. Correlation between the parameters was determined by using Pearson correlation analysis. Correlation coefficient (r) was evaluated as weak when it is between 0.00-0.24, moderate when it is between 0.25-0.49, when it is strong between 0.50-0.74, very strong when it is between 0.75-1.00. A total of 170 people were included in the study. According to body mass indexes, vitamin D levels of 47 patients (27.6%) were <25. 97 of them (57.1%) had vitamin D levels between 25-35 and 26 of them (15.3%) had vitamin D levels>35. Of all patients with <25 vitamin D levels, 12 of them (25.5%) were male and 35 of them (74.5%) were female. Of all patients with vitamin D levels between 25-35, 8 of them (8.2%) were male and 89 of them (91.8%) were female. Of all patients with vitamin D levels>35, 4 of them (15.4%) were male and 22 of them (84.6%) were female (Figures 1 and 2). Table 1 shows gender differences according to the body mass indexes. No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of genders. \|<25 (n=47)\|\|25-35 (n=97)\|\|≥ 35 (n=26)\|\|X2\|\|p\| Table 1. Gender difference according to the body mass index. There is a positive correlation between BMI and vitamin D at an unacceptable level (r=0.029, p<0.699). There is a positive correlation between BMI and insulin resistance too (r=0.105, p<0.168). There is a positive correlation observed between BMI and HbA1c (r=0.183, p<0.0166). There was a negligible negative correlation between vitamin D and insulin resistance (r=-0.046, p<0.547). Positive correlation was found between HbA1c and insulin resistance (r=0.082, p<0.286). There was a very low positive correlation between insulin resistance and HbA1c (r=0.007, p<0.926) (Figure 3) (Tables 2 and 3). \|Parameters\|\|Vitamin D\|\|Insulin resistance\|\|HbA1c\| Table 2. Analysis of correlation between parameters. \|Some statistical values of the groups\| \|Number of values\|\|47\|\|97\|\|26\| Table 3. Some statistical values of the groups. When linear regression analysis was performed, 5.8% of the high vitamin D level was attributed to an increase in the body mass index (r2=0.05878) (Figure 4). Again, when linear regression analysis was performed, 2% of the very low increase in insulin resistance is attributed to an increase in body mass index (r2=0.02004) (Figure 5). When linear regression analysis was performed, 8% of the very low increase in insulin resistance is attributed to an increase in body mass index (r2=0.08848) (Figure 6). Industrialization and urbanization have caused significant changes that can lead to obesity in people’s lifestyles. The abundance, cheapness, and easy accessibility of food ingredients cause excessive calorie intake. On the other hand, the decrease in physical activity results in less energy expenditure . Obesity is a chronic condition that causes particularly insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and liver fat, atherosclerosis, dementia, respiratory diseases, and some types of cancer. Throughout the world, obesity is considered as a reason for the increased frequency of the type 2 diabetes. Approximately 70% of type 2 diabetic patients are obese. Compared to normal people, the rate of the disease is 5 times higher in obese men and 8.3 times more in women . Various experimental and clinical studies have shown that vitamin D has well-known effects on calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. Besides, vitamin D has many important functions. Numerous evidences suggest that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for various diseases. Decreased levels of vitamin D may cause insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion . Vitamin D reduces the insulin resistance in the surrounding tissues and thus reduces the excessive insulin release in response to increased blood sugar due to insulin resistance. As a result, it increases the insulin sensitivity. Therefore, vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and a type 2 DM. D vitamin insufficiency is also associated with insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Vitamin D does not only increase the production capacity of β-cells, it also accelerates the pro-insulin conversion . Insulin resistance is biologically impaired in response to exogenous or endogenous insulin. Biological responses to insulin in vivo vary depending on the insulin concentration, the rate of insulin release, and the duration of vitamin D in circulation. The insulin is released from the pancreatic beta cell so that it can exert its biological effect. Vitamin D participates in the systemic circulation via portal tract and it binds to receptors on the cell surface. Then, the insulin enters the cell and initiates the post-receptor process. A disruption that can occur in one or several of these steps results in the abnormal response of the organism against insulin. Thus, insulin resistance is a complex cellular disorder that affects many organ systems and leads to severe metabolic defects . Fat cells are endocrinologically active cells and contain the vitamin D receptor (DVR). Therefore, fat tissue is among the target tissues for active vitamin D. Vitamin D causes inhibition of adipogenesis . Meta-analyses also confirm the results in the same way. In non-obese diabetic rats, the administration of high dose 1, 25- hydroxy-vitamin D inhibits the onset of diabetes by immunomodulation. This effect is related to the effects of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-alpha) on the beta-cell function. The application of this cytokine leads to hyperglycemia. Chronic administration of 1, 25-hydroxy vitamin D at pharmacological doses reduces the incidence of diabetes in non-obese diabetic rats . Studies have shown that active vitamin D and its analogs inhibit in vivo IL-12 and Th-1 dominance. Again, CD4/CD25 and FoxP3 increase regulatory T cell numbers and thus they can be useful for the diabetes control. It has been reported that Ro-262198, a vitamin D analogue, is effective in the control of type 1 diabetes in adult Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) mice and improves the course of the disease (100-fold strong immunosuppressive activity and non-hypercalcemic effect from vitamin D). These effects are due to IL-12 suppression, inhibition of infiltration of the pancreas with Th-1 cells, increased T regulatory (Treg cells) cells in the pancreatic lymph nodes, and suppression of immunological process, and thus delaying of the clinical onset of type 1 diabetes in NOD mice. In this process, CD4/CD25 Treg cells were found to be more important than Th2 differentiation. Also, due to the proapoptotic effects of active vitamin D or its analogs, it leads to the delay of the onset of diabetes by providing immunological tolerance through dendritic cells and T cells. It has been shown that the development of type 1 diabetes slows down in prediabetic adult NOD mice administered short-acting active vitamin D or its analogue . Insulin secretion in rats with vitamin D deficiency showed a reduction of 48% when compared with rats receiving supportive treatment in the same group . After supportive care in rats with vitamin D deficiency, glucose tolerance and insulin secretion improve independently of nutritional factors, plasma calcium, and phosphorus concentrations . In the development of type 2 diabetes, vitamin D and calcium have been reported to be effective at varying rates in the development of these processes. The effect of vitamin D on healing of beta cell function can be directly or indirectly influenced. One of the most important proofs of direct effect is the expression of the DVR gene and 1-alpha hydroxylase gene in beta cells. Vitamin D has been reported to increase insulin secretion in response to glucose stimulation but not basal insulinemia. Disruption in response to insulin secretion has been shown in DVR knock-out mice. Human insulin promoter gene contains DVR, with the effect of active vitamin D human insulin gene gain transcriptional activity. In case of missing DVR insulin secretion which is induced by glucose is inhibited. Improvement of the insulin secretion due to the vitamin D supplementation is considered to be a direct effect of vitamin D on the improvement of beta-cell function . In insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes, vitamin D is thought to be involved in impaired pancreatic beta-cell function with various mechanisms . The relationship between hypovitaminosis D and insulin resistance was assessed in diabetic and normal subjects. Type 2 diabetes or glucose intolerance occurs as a result of insulin sensitivity or pancreatic beta cell defects. Indirect insulin resistance was calculated and compared to serum vitamin D levels. Fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and indirect insulin resistance index values were significantly lower in diabetic patients without insulin resistance compared to diabetic patients with insulin resistance. At the same time, fasting insulin and indirect insulin resistance index levels were significantly lower when the control group without insulin resistance and control group with insulin resistance were compared to each other . Studies have shown that elevated serum vitamin D concentration reduces insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes risk . Another study has shown a positive correlation between insulin sensitivity and vitamin D concentration. Vitamin D deficiency has a negative effect on beta cell function. People with hypovitaminosis D are thought to be at risk for insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome . In another study, there was no increased association between vitamin D deficiency and obesity in type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance. However, although it is not statistically significant, there was a strong association between abnormal obesity and vitamin D deficiency in the case of insulin resistance. In addition, a 47% increase in insulin resistance can be explained by the relationship between high BMI and vitamin D deficiency . Differences in insulin sensitivity and metabolic parameters were examined according to vitamin D levels in pre-diabetic elderly. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between plasma vitamin D levels and HOMA-IR and insulin levels in all cases. Insulin sensitivity is thought to be reduced in pre-diabetic elderly patients with vitamin D deficiency . Despite its overstorage in body fat compartments, obesity synergistically interacts with vitamin D because of its reduced bioavailability. Insulin resistance and increased risk for type 2 diabetes are considered . In another study, the relationship between insulin sensitivity and serum vitamin D concentration was examined, and insulin sensitivity was found to be better in normal subjects than in overweight subjects . Vitamin D is thought to reduce insulin resistance which is induced by free fatty acids in muscle cells . It was observed that there was a relationship between insulin sensitivity and vitamin D. In NHANES III study, it was reported that the incidence of metabolic syndrome due to possible insulin resistance in males and females with low vitamin D levels may increase and it can be caused by abnormal obesity . In non-diabetic patients, initial vitamin D levels have been shown to be inversely proportional to glucose levels, insulin resistance, and risk of a 10 y metabolic syndrome independent of risk factors . Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency was found in 115 patients with pre-diabetes. Severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) was seen in 14.65% of the individuals. Individuals with the lowest vitamin D levels were also the ones with the highest insulin resistance levels (HOMA2-IR: 2.04 ± 0.67). There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between serum vitamin D and insulin resistance. There was a positive correlation with insulin sensitivity. There was no correlation between vitamin D levels and estimated beta cells. The mean waist/height ratio was 0.57 (normal<0.5) among the prediabetic subjects. It shows the high cardiovascular morbidity. High insulin resistance and 1 h PG values were significantly correlated with 2 h blood glucose in individuals with high 1 h blood glucose ((1 h PG)>155 mg/dl). As a result, vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency may play a role in the development or worsening of insulin resistance in pre-diabetic individuals with high cardiovascular risk . Vitamin D deficiency in obese adolescents can cause adverse effects on insulin resistance and glucose homeostasis. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. The biological mechanisms of vitamin D in obesity and glycemic control have not yet been not well understood. It is thought vitamin D insufficiency leads disorder of insulin secretion, hepatic/periferic glucose intake, and inflammation. Most of the studies conducted to date show a significant relationship between circulating vitamin D concentrations and insulin sensitivity/resistance indices. In some clinical trials in which patients received vitamin D treatment, beneficial effects of vitamin D on insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance were observed in obese adolescents . Serum vitamin D deficiency is defined for <20 ng/ml level. Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in overweight/obese adults with metabolic syndrome compared to healthy individuals. Vitamin D deficiency in overweight and obese individuals is more frequent than in healthy controls. Vitamin D deficiency was not more frequently observed in patients with metabolic syndromes than in those without any metabolic syndrome. Overweight, obesity and metabolic syndrome risk are increased in individuals with vitamin D deficiency . According to the results of interventional studies examining the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on diabetes prevention, there is no strong evidence that vitamin D supplements alone prevent type 2 diabetes in healthy people. However, studies have shown that vitamin D (400-1000 U/d) and calcium (600-1200 mg/d) supplementation may have a protective role for type 2 diabetes, especially in risk groups for type 2 diabetes and glucose intolerance . According to a study in which 320 healthy women aged 40-52 y were examined, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found to be very high. Low vitamin D levels are associated with high body fat, high blood glucose, and decreased insulin sensitivity. Thus, vitamin D deficiency is a potential risk factor for the development of obesity and insulin resistance . A study was conducted with 31 female patients who had BMI values more than 25-35. According to results, there was a negative correlation between low vitamin D levels, insulin, and HOMA index levels . A study conducted with 1772 individuals (over 50 y old) showed that low serum concentrations of vitamin D were significantly associated with being overweight and obese . In our study, serum vitamin D level decreased statistically due to increased BMI. This suggests that obese individuals may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency. It is thought that this deficiency may be due to imbalance in feeding, insufficient movement due to obesity, and not enough taking advantage of the sunlight. There was a statistically significant increase in HbA1c levels due to increased BMI. This increase may be due to diabetic susceptibility in individuals with obesity-related increased insulin resistance. There is a positive correlation between BMI and insulin resistance. This suggests that insulin sensitivity is reduced in peripheral tissues depending on obesity. Positive correlation was found between HbA1C and insulin resistance. Because of increased insulin resistance the utility of glucose is decreased in tissues. Glucose level is increased. Consequently it is thought HbA1C levels are increased. There was no statistically significant difference between BMI groups in terms of the levels of insulin resistance. This may be due to the fact that the numbers of male and female individuals in the groups are not equal and the number of patients is low. It is thought that the relationship between the groups can be statistically more significant when the number of patients is increased. Our study was done retrospectively and we think that there are some limitations. Patient records did not reveal information about the amount of vitamin D taken on the diet, which could affect patient’s serum vitamin D levels, and how long they have benefited from sunlight. There was no information about the lifestyles and daily physical activities of the patients. Another important issue is whether vitamin D deficiency contributes to the development of obesity, or whether vitamin D levels have reduced due to obesity-related eating habits. For clarification of these issues, there is a need for more detailed studies in which more patients with more information are examined. In conclusion, vitamin D deficiency can be seen in obese individuals. Low serum vitamin D levels may accelerate the development of diabetes in obese individuals. When the patient’s benefit and the cost of treatment of these diseases are taken into consideration, serum vitamin D levels should be determined by routine controls, and necessary treatment should be done in obese individuals. This may delay obesity and the development of diabetes in individuals. It may be useful in the treatment of obesity. - Sarnali TT, Moyenuddin PK. Obesity and disease association: A Review. AKMMC J 2010; 1: 21-24. - Aygün N. Obezite Tanımı, Komplikasyonları, Endokrin Kontrolü ve Beslenme Tedavisi Obezite Tanımı, Komplikasyonları, Endokrin Kontrolü ve Beslenme Tedavisi. Okmeydanı Tıp Dergisi 30 (Ek sayı 1) 2014; 45-49. - Soskić S, Stokić E, Isenović ER. The relationship between vitamin D and obesity. Curr Med Res Opinion 2014; 30. - Dawson-Hughes B, Heaney RP, Holick MF, Lips P, Meunier PJ, Vieth R. Estimates of optimal vitamin D status. Osteoporos Int 2005; 16: 713-716. - Durak MS, Akbiyik F, Demirpençe E. Obezite patogenezi. Hacettepe TIp Dergisi 2007; 38: 167-172. - Wilborn C, Beckham J, Campbell B. Obesity: prevalence, theories, medical consequences, management, and research directions. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2005; 2: 4-31. - Kavadar G, Demircioğlu DT, Özgönenel L, Emre TY. The relationship between vitamin D status, physical activity and insulin resistance in overweight and obese subjects. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2015; 15: 62-66. - Chiu KC, Chu A, Go VL, Saad MF. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction. Am J Clin Nutr 2004; 79: 820-825. - Altunoğlu EG. İnsülin Direnci İstanbul Tıp Derg. Istanbul Med J 2012; 13: 137-140. - Ozkan B. Nutritional rickets. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol 2010; 4: 137-143. - Mathieu C, Badenhoop K. Vitamin D and type 1 diabetes mellitus: state of art. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2005; 16: 261-266. - Ozkan B. Nutritional rickets. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol 2010; 4: 137-143. - Norman AW, Frankel JB, Heldt AM, Grodsky GM. Vitamin D deficiency inhibits pancreatic secretion of insulin. Sci 1980; 209: 823-825. - Cade C, Norman AW. Vitamin D3 improves impaired glucose tolerance and insulin secretion in the vitamin D-deficient rat in vivo. Endocrinol 1986; 119: 84-90. - Boullion R, Carmeliet G, Verlinden L. Vitamin D and human health: lessons from vitamin D receptor null mice. Endocr Rev 2008; 29: 726-776. - Cimbek A, Gürsoy G, Kirnap NG, Acar Y, Erol B, Özaşik I, Güngör F. Relation of serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D3 levels with insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients and normal subjects. Med Sci 2012; 1: 305. - Alvarez JA, Ashraf A. Role of vitamin D in insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity for glucose homeostasis. Int J Endocrinol 2010; 2010: 351-385. - Chiu KC, Chu A, Go VL, Saad MF. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with insulin resistance and cell dysfunction Am J Clin Nutr 2004; 79: 820-825. - Kabadi SM, Lee BK, Liu L. Joint effects of obesity and vitamin D insufficiency on insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Diabet Care 2012; 35: 2048-2054. - Naharcı Mİ, Bozoğlu E, Karadurmuş N, Türker T, Serdar MA, Hüseyin Doruk. Prediyabetli yaşlılarda vitamin D düzeylerine göre insülin duyarlılığının incelenmesi. Gülhane Tıp Derg 2011; 53: 271-276. - Wortsman J, Matsuoka LY, Chen TC, Lu Z, Holick MF. Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D in obesity. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 72: 690-693. - Ou HY, Karnchanasorn R, Lee LZ, Chiu KC. Interaction of VKİ with vitamin D and insulin sensitivity. Eur J Clin Invest 2011; 41:1195-1201. - Zhou QG, Hou FF, Guo ZJ, Liang M, Wang GB, Zhang X. 1, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D improved the free fatty acid-induced insulin resistance in cultured C2C12 cells. Diabet Metab Res Rev 2008; 24: 459-464. - Ford ES, Ajani UA, McGuire LC, Liu S. Concentrations of serum vitamin D and the metabolic syndrome among U.S adults. Diabet Care 2005; 28: 1228-1230. - Forouhi NG, Luan J, Cooper A, Boucher BJ, Wareham NJ. Baseline serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D is predictive of future glycemic status and insulin resistance: the Medical Research Council Ely Prospective Study 1990-2000. Diabet 2008; 57: 2619-2625. - Dutta D, Maisnam I, Shrivastava A, Sinha A. Serum vitamin-D predicts insulin resistance in individuals with pre-diabetes. Indian J Med Res 2013; 138: 853-860. - Peterson CA, Tosh AK, Belenchia AM. Vitamin D insufficiency and insulin resistance in obese adolescents. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2014; 5: 166-189. - Karatas S, Hekimsoy Z, Dinc G, Onur E, Ozmen B. Vitamin D levels in overweight/obese adults with and without metabolic syndrome. J Endocrinol Metab 2013; 3: 47-56. - Pittas AG, Lau J, Hu FB, Hughes BD. The role of vitamin D and calcium in type 2 diabetes: a systemic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007; 92: 2017-2029. - Grineva EN, Karonova T, Micheeva E, Belyaeva O, Nikitina IL. Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for obesity and diabetes type 2 in women at late reproductive age. Aging 2013; 5: 7. - Caglar FNT, Isiksacan N, Kocamaz N, Akturk F. The Association among vitamin D, insulin resistance, and obesity in Turkish women. Shiraz E-Med J 2017; 18: e44925. - Rontoyanni VG, Avila JC, Kaul S, Wong R, Veeranki SP. Association between obesity and serum 25(OH)D concentrations in older Mexican adults. Nutrients 2017; 9: 97.
2012-12-20 / General Stories Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning With the winter heating season upon us, Atmos Energy reminds customers to take steps in their homes to help prevent potentially fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced by incomplete combustion in home heating systems, gas ovens, dryers, fireplaces and automobile engines, and exposure can be fatal. If you are already an online subscriber, please sign in below.
The activities of De Beers in Canada began in 1961 with its first exploration investments. Since then, De Beers has continued to invest heavily across Canada, particularly in Ontario and the Northwest Territories (NWT), through its three mining operations: Victor, Snap Lake and Gahcho Kué. Over the past decade, De Beers’ activities at Victor and Snap Lake have produced 13.5 million carats of rough diamonds, contributing C$3.9 billion and C$2.2 billion respectively to Canada’s gross value added (GVA).2 Looking ahead, De Beers’ partnership with Mountain Province Diamonds at Gahcho Kué represents the next chapter of this contribution, with current expectations for production of approximately 54 million carats from an estimated 35 million tonnes of ore over the life of the mine.3 But De Beers’ impacts extend beyond the immediate impact of diamond mining itself. From investments in infrastructure, to the manufacturing and retail activity it facilitates, and the socio-economic impact of its community programmes, De Beers aims to maximise the benefits that flow from its activities to the communities in which it operates. See Glossary for definitions of key terms used in this report. ** Payments to Government have been rounded to the nearest five million. 2. All figures reported in 2016 C$ unless otherwise stated. 3. For further information, refer to the Anglo American Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources Report 2015. 4. These indicative projections are based on De Beers’ currently planned activities, which are dependent upon a number of factors, including the prevailing and expected price of diamonds. For further information, refer to the Anglo American Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources Report 2015. Note, however, that Snap Lake has been placed on Care and Maintenance since its publication. 5. Based on De Beers’ financial information and Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (2015) annual statistics. 6. This includes five communities in Ontario and six across the Northwest Territories.
How helping others will also help you stay healthy 'Tis the season for giving — and giving back. A great many people volunteer their time during the holidays, from serving hot meals at soup kitchens to delivering gift baskets for needy families. If you've ever volunteered, you know how good it feels to help others. Just ask longtime Rush volunteer Pat Dineen. Friends call Dineen the Energizer bunny because she wears a pink jacket and keeps going and going … and going. The spry Dineen, who is in her 80s, welcomes each day at Rush with boundless enthusiasm. Whether she's preparing patient information packets or telling corny jokes to patients awaiting hip replacements, she finds deep satisfaction in her work at Rush. "Every morning I wake up and am grateful for another beautiful day and for the chance to help people through volunteering," she says. And research shows that volunteering isn't just good for Dineen's sense of well-being; it's good for her health. The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research, compiled by the Corporation for National and Community Service, summarizes findings of multiple studies looking at the relationship between health and volunteering. These findings consistently demonstrated a connection between volunteering and good health, including greater longevity, lower rates of depression, a lower incidence of heart disease and higher functional ability (the actual or potential ability to perform normal activities, often gauged by assessing the ability to perform activities of daily living). Volunteering and older adults: a bigger health bonus Age could be a factor with regard to the positive effects of volunteering, with one study finding that volunteering among adults 60 and older provided physical and mental health benefits that were not found in midlife adults who volunteered. The reason? Younger volunteers may not get as big of a health bonus by volunteering because it's often done out of a sense of obligation (e.g., putting in time at their children's school), whereas older adults are looking for more purposeful roles in their communities when volunteering. And research has shown that having a sense of purpose in life carries health benefits. According to a study led by Patricia Boyle, PhD, a neuropsychologist at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, possessing a greater purpose in life is associated with lower mortality rates among older adults. The study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine, found that a person with high purpose in life, one who derives meaning from life's experiences and possesses a sense of intentionality and goal directedness, was about half as likely to die during the study's five-year follow-up period than a person who lacked a high purpose. "Volunteering provides many older people with a deep sense of meaning," says Boyle. "Working toward a goal and feeling like you are making a contribution to society likely increases one's sense of purpose in life, which we have found contributes to successful aging." Why being a do-gooder is good for you Here are some findings cited in The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research: - People with chronic pain experienced a reduction in pain intensity and less disability when they started to work as peer volunteers for others suffering from chronic pain. - People who volunteer after a heart attack reported a reduction in despair and depression — factors that have been linked to an increased likelihood of death in heart attack patients. - Those who volunteered reported higher levels of happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, a sense of control over life and physical health, as well as lower levels of depression. - When it comes to volunteering and health benefits, however, there are limits. To get the health perks of volunteering, researchers have identified a volunteering threshold of one to two hours a week per year; beyond that, there are no additional health benefits. So this holiday season, why not take your cue from the ageless Pat Dineen, who celebrated her 10th year of volunteering at Rush in 2012: Get out and explore the volunteer opportunities in your community. Then, make it one of your New Year's resolutions to continue giving back throughout the year. And remember, a little good will go a long way toward improving other people's lives — and your own.
The presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in poultry diets decreases the hatchability, hatchling weight, growth rate, meat and egg production, meat and egg quality, vaccination efficiency, as well as impairing the feed conversion ratio and increasing the susceptibility of birds to disease and mortality. AFB1 is transferred from poultry feed to eggs, meat, and other edible parts, representing a threat to the health of consumers because AFB1 is carcinogenic and implicated in human liver cancer. This review considers how AFB1produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus strains can affect the immune system, antioxidant defense system, digestive system, and reproductive system in poultry, as well as its effects on productivity and reproductive performance. Nutritional factors can offset the effects of AFB1 in poultry and, thus, it is necessary to identify and select suitable additives to address the problems caused by AFB1in poultry. About the Author Emily Rachal is co-owner of Texas Mold Inspectors, (or TMI), along with her husband, in the Houston, TX area. After her family’s devastating experience that not only injured her whole family, but also resulted in the loss of their youngest son Malachi, she and her husband have dedicated their lives to now educating and assisting families affected by toxic mold with their state-licensed mold inspection company. Emily is the founder and owner of MAM. Additionally, she has recently started a non-profit organization in the name of her youngest son, called Malachi’s Message Foundation, to aid in financial support and offer hope to families who feel isolated and are unable to afford all the complex obstacles of overcoming a toxic mold exposure.
The specific heat capacity in Chemistry could be defined as the quantity of heat needed to change the temperature of a unit mass for any substance by degree one. Further, it could be articulated as given below – The specific heat capacity is a common type of thermal inertia and it affect material based on its temperature. It could also be communicated in relation to the quantity of hear Q and written as given below – Where c is the specific heat capacity, Q is the total energy required, m is the mass of the substance and delta T is the change in temperature. The specific heat of water is usually higher than the other common substance and it plays an important role in the temperature regulation. The specific heat for per gram of water is usually much higher than metal and it is quite important to know in Chemistry as well. Further, it is more important calculating the molar heat of the substances. The molar specific heats for solids are usually constant at the room temperature. At lower temperature, the specific heat will drop and become more significant. So, you should know the difference between three terms now i.e. heat capacity, specific heat capacity, and the molar heat capacity etc. The heat capacity is the defined as the ratio of amount of heat energy transferred to the object resulted from the increase in temperature. Molar heat capacity is the measure of amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one mole of a pure substance by degree K. And the specific heat capacity is the measurement of amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram by degree K.
Sometimes you may need a computer with a single application running on it, and with all other applications and resources hidden from users. An example, Indigo Book Store customers can only search books when using public computers in the store. The following items should be concealed: Windows Taskbar and Start Menu both Windows keys right click on the Windows Desktop all icons on the desktop An article Lock Windows Desktop written by Antσnio Feijγo describes several techniques of restricting users from accessing the desktop and running other applications. The one that switches to a new desktop seems to be efficient, easy to understand and can be accomplished in just FoxPro code with no external libraries other than WinAPI. Use the following code to test the AppLauncher class: LOCAL obj, ex As Exception obj = CREATEOBJECT("AppLauncher") "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe",; IF .errorno <> 0 ? .errorno, .message CATCH TO ex ? ex.ErrorNo, ex.Message An Internet Explorer window will appear inside a new desktop. ALT+TAB, CTRL+ESC and CTRL+ALT+DEL keys are disabled. The Windows Taskbar and Start Menu are not visible. Close IE window to get back to the default Windows Desktop. To implement this technique, create a launcher -- a small VFP application that starts the main executable by calling the CreateProcess API function. Name of the new desktop is assigned to lpDesktop member of the STARTUPINFO structure that used with the CreateProcess call. As the result, the main application runs inside a separate desktop, which is absolutely empty. The WaitForSingleObject function returns, when the main application is closed by user. Also this function returns when the time-out interval elapses, unless dwMilliseconds is INFINITE. * * * A window station is a securable object that is associated with a process, and contains a clipboard, an atom table, and one or more desktop objects. The interactive window station, WinSta0, is the only window station that can display a user interface or receive user input. It is assigned to the logon session of the interactive user, and contains the keyboard, mouse, and display device. All other window stations are noninteractive, which means they cannot display a user interface or receive user input. A desktop is a securable object contained within a window station. A desktop has a logical display surface and contains user interface objects such as windows, menus, and hooks. * * * C++ code shows how to enumerate window stations and window desktops. The enumerations are based on callback functions and for that reason can not be programmed directly in VFP code.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Water Foundation (CWF), East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and WaterSmart Software have announced the results of an independent study indicating that providing information that helps households compare their water use to neighborhood averages can reduce residential water use by five percent, according to a press release. This approach is called social norms based water efficiency technology or "behavioral water efficiency," noted the release. "Californians want to use water responsibly, and most people believe they already do," said Lester Snow, executive director of the CWF, which helped fund EBMUD's WaterSmart Software pilot and this new independent analysis. "This research shows that people are motivated to conserve water when you let them know that their water use exceeds that of similar homes. Water use reports like those used in this pilot program could prove an especially helpful tool for California water utilities, which face state requirements to reduce their per capita water use by 20 percent by 2020 and must think of new, creative ways to encourage consumers to conserve water." The EBMUD pilot made use of a behavioral water efficiency approach to promoting water efficiency, reported the release, marking the first large-scale implementation of this technology by a large, urban water utility. "With 2013 being one of the driest years on record in California and predictions of a similarly dry 2014, new behavioral water efficiency technologies like the one used in this pilot project represent an invaluable tool for water agencies in communicating with their customers about efficient water use practices," said Richard Harris, EBMUD manager of water conservation.
Photos of crowds of protesters in 1911 © Liverpool Record Office, Liverpool Libraries. Summer 1911 witnessed some of the most tumultuous events in Liverpool's political history, with dock and transport strikes. Huge mass rallies were broken up by police and soldiers, leading to deaths on the streets of Liverpool. The newly crowned King George V cabled his Home Secretary, Winston Churchill from the grouse-moors of Yorkshire: 'Accounts from Liverpool show that situation there is more like revolution than a strike'. The photo above shows crowds on Lime Street surrounding trams during 'Red Sunday' on 13 August 1911. In the background you can see the Walker Art Gallery and County Sessions House. Audio of protest speech Below you can listen to a dramatised account of a speech by political activist Tom Mann, which he delivered on St Georges Plateau: To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin Speech performed by Hugo Chandor, from the stage play 'Rid The World' written by Rob Johnston. Mounted police and soldiers marching on Whitechapel. © Liverpool Record Office, Liverpool Libraries.
Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth. They are made out of an acrylic resin and may at times incorporate porcelain or metal for additional structural support. There are two main types of dentures, complete and partial. Complete dentures and partial dentures are finely crafted and custom-fitted to the patient. Dentures can appear natural and provide a perfect smile. Dentures also help strengthen muscles controlling your facial expressions and help correct pronunciation problems caused by missing teeth. Dentures may require that some teeth be extracted to improve their fit and functionality. WHO IS a good candidate for dentures? If you are missing one or more teeth and you are not interested in alternatives like dental bridges or implants, you may be a good candidate for partial implants. If you are missing most or all of your teeth, you might be best suited to receive complete dentures or alternative types of dentures like overdentures or implant-retained dentures. To ensure that you are a good candidate for dentures and to explore your other options, it’s important to see a qualified, experienced denture specialist like Dr. Higgs at Aquila Dental. Based on your oral health and the extent of your tooth loss, he can help you determine which treatment is right for you. HOW DO I care for my dentures? Wondering how to care for your dentures? There are a few things that you should do for every type of denture. You should remove your dentures and rinse them after eating to remove food debris from your mouth, and clean your mouth and any remaining teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush. You should also brush your dentures at least once daily, and soak them overnight to ensure they retain the proper shape. It is also important to schedule regular dental checkups to keep your mouth healthy and strong. If you have overdentures, you will also need to make sure you clean all of your remaining teeth with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to keep them healthy. If you have implant-retained dentures, you should brush around your gums and implants to remove food debris and bacteria. Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash is a good idea, too, as it helps kill bacteria that could attack your gums, teeth, and/or implants. After you’ve had your dentures built, Dr. Higgs will provide you with a comprehensive guide to denture care. Make sure you follow his instructions to keep your mouth healthy and to keep your dentures in great shape. In addition, come see the team at Aquila Dental for a consultation every six months so we can check on your oral health, and ensure your dentures are still looking good. HOW LONG will my dentures last? The lifespan of a set of dentures is highly-dependent on how well you care for your dentures and your mouth. In most cases, dentures will last somewhere between 5-8 years. They may need to be replaced if they become damaged or chipped due to normal wear and tear, or if your gums begin to shrink or change shape. However, with proper denture care, your dentures may be able to last 10 years or more. We recommend seeing Dr. Higgs for an appointment every six months to check on the condition of your dentures. If he thinks that they are still in good shape, you can continue to wear them. But if he sees signs of significant wear and tear, or your dentures are no longer fitting properly and are causing problems like “hot spots” of irritation on your gums, he may recommend the replacement of your dentures. EXPLORE your denture options At Aquila Dental, we strive to provide patients with comfortable, natural-looking dentures that provide stability in their lives. Reliable dentures can change lives. Learn more about the denture options we offer at Aquila Dental in Chandler! Complete dentures are replacements for all of your teeth, upper and lower. Their comfort depends on muscle, bones, tongue, and saliva. Patients begin wearing conventional dentures after healing of the gums, if teeth were extracted first. Immediate dentures are placed at the same time that teeth are extracted, and may require additional adjustments after the healing process. It can take months for your bone and tissue to stabilize after tooth extractions. Upper dentures, tend to be a bit easier to adjust to. These are made of the same materials as a Complete Denture, but are designed to provide you with upper teeth only. Over dentures are a type of conventional denture similar to complete dentures. The difference is that not all teeth are extracted and one or more natural teeth are used for their support. This type of denture provides greater stabilization during chewing. Over dentures cost more and typically require more dentist appointments for preparation until the procedure is fully complete. Partial dentures are designed to correct the gaps in your smile when only some of your teeth are missing. Metal attachments anchor the dentures to your natural teeth. Partial dentures, also called a Removable Bridge, maintain tooth alignment by preventing your remaining teeth from shifting. Partial dentures can also help prevent loss of more teeth due to decay or gum disease. EXPLORE implant-retained dentures An implant-retained denture is a denture held in place by dental implants. These dentures may be removable by the patient or fixed and are removable only by the dentist. Prior to the advent of implants, a patient who had lost all of his or her teeth was limited to wearing complete dentures and the stability and retention of those dentures was unpredictable at best and impossible at worst. With the use of as few as two implants we are able to construct a removable denture which snaps into place and provides excellent retention and stability. With the use of more implants, it is possible to fabricate a fixed denture or a fixed bridge, which is just like having one’s own teeth. Compared to conventional removable dentures, implant-retained dentures are far superior. A person’s chewing ability with complete conventional dentures is only about 15% of a person with natural teeth. Implant-retained dentures allow a person to function up to 100% as well as with complete natural teeth. The procedure involves consulting with Dr. Higgs to determine the best course of treatment. Once decided upon, extensive dental images are taken and the chosen number of implants are placed. Once implants are healed and solidly in place, the fixed or removable dentures are fabricated and placed. Follow-up visits are necessary to clean the implants just like one would clean natural teeth and to ensure that the dentures are performing as planned. Once made, these dentures will provide years of excellent service. EXPLORE custom dentures Custom dentures are a prosthetic replacement of lost teeth that can be accomplished by the use of acrylic or acrylic with metal substructures. These appliances are referred to as full dentures, where all teeth on one or both jaws are missing, or partial dentures, where some natural teeth are still present in the jaw being treated. WILL CUSTOM DESIGNED DENTURES match my remaining teeth? Dr. Higgs works with each patient to choose the correct and most esthetic tooth size and tooth color so results achieved are very predictable. Dr. Higgs has the training not only to fabricate your dentures, but also to surgically place implants for denture retention. Utilizing two to four dental implants beneath a full denture can offer a superior level of chewing power and denture retention. You never have to worry about a loose denture again. Moreover, dental implants prevent the loss of jaw bone due to chewing pressures on the gums.
Researchers report developmental changes in the oocytes and undeveloped ova after exposure to BPA. BPA, or Bisphenol A, is an ingredient in some plastics and other household items. The chemical has been in the news for more than a year thanks to several research studies proving negative side effects on the fetal level with maternal exposure. In this study, the damage affected eggs and ovaries, causing possible decreased fertility and increased risk of Down’s syndrome for the children of the exposed mother. The study, which was published in Human Reproduction, noted a change in oocytes of the fetus. Oocytes eventually form ova. Ova mature into eggs, which are then fertilized during pregnancy. Chromosome 21 may also be affected, causing an increased risk of Down’s syndrome for the children of the fetus, not the fetus itself. Past studies have focused on worm and mice cells, but this study used human cells. The BPA did not appear to directly hinder the fertility or risk of Down’s syndrome for the exposed mother. Researchers are looking forward a generation or two with a potential impact on the fetus and future generations. BPA is present in many items we use every day, including water bottles, plastic utensils, plastic dinnerware and other plastics. BPA is expelled from the body in urine and other body waste. Pregnant women tend to hold on to more water (water retention, edema and swelling) and thus BPA stays in the body longer causing a potential unsafe rise in BPA levels in the fetus. It is these levels that may dramatically alter fetal development and cause problems with fertility and genetic diseases in future generations. The optimal solution to limit BPA exposure is to limit contact with household items that contain BPA. BPA is most often orally ingested so food and drink products are often on the top of the list. Canned foods, canned sodas, canned beer, aluminum water bottles and polycarbonate containers with the number 7 on the bottom may contain BPA. Source: Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. 23 September, 2011.
– Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. This is Article is about Floral Alphabet Letter O. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. embroidery digitizing is the process of converting artwork into a digital file using a software that allows embroidery machines to understand the needle’s path. We Hope you Like this Embroidery Digital Files and helpful for your design project. Create stunning monograms and personalized items with this floral letter O! It is a high-quality embroidery design that can be sewn onto any fabric you choose. This machine embroidery design comes with multiple embroidery file formats and can be used with multiple embroidery machines. This Floral Alphabet Letter O Embroidery Digital Files can be great. A Embroidery Digital Files makes your process a lot more easier. There are hundreds of Embroidery Digital Files on Morspective.com , to help you use or create your own Good Embroidery Stuff. Thank you for visiting this pages about Floral Alphabet Letter O, hopefully this article can be helpful for your Good Embroidery Stuff, and if you need more Embroidery Digital Files like this you can check all our articles on Morspective.com , Have a Good Day.
At Fairways Primary School, we are passionate about ensuring all children become confident and enthusiastic readers and writers. We believe that Phonics provides a strong foundation in developing reading and writing skills, which underpins access to the rest of the curriculum. Upon starting our school, children learn to segment and blend, read and write phonetically, quickly recognise sight words and to develop an understanding of alternative sounds and graphemes. Lessons, across the school, are stimulating, fast-paced and engaging, therefore inspiring children to read and write for enjoyment. A growth mindset culture is embedded, enabling children to feel confident when reading unfamiliar words. This helps to promote reading fluently, confidently and reading for pleasure. In response to the recent pandemic and the implementation of the government paper: The Reading Framework, we have created several main aims for our Reading Curriculum: - To continue prioritising Reading - To raise the profile of reading and instil a lifelong love of reading - To widen pupils cultural capital and close gaps - To stretch our more able readers - To promote our parents/carers vital role in supporting reading development. At Fairways Primary School we follow the National Curriculum (2014). Reading is a priority subject in our timetables. Pupils will participate in: - Daily reading sessions which focus on the enjoyment of reading as well as expanding vocabulary, inference and comprehension. - Daily English lessons which teach understanding and the use of different text types through reading and writing objectives and will include appropriate spelling and grammar instruction. - English basic skills sessions which specifically teach age related aspects of spelling, grammar and handwriting. Teaching and Learning At Fairways Primary School, books form the heart of our curriculum. We aim to instil a love of reading and as such all learning starts with a high quality inspirational text that is carefully chosen in order to provide meaningful opportunities from which to teach other subjects such as Science, Geography and History. During all lessons across the curriculum, children are given as many opportunities to read aloud as possible alongside modelled reading from adults to demonstrate fluency and engagement. When using a text in any subject, teachers use questioning to check and deepen understanding. In all instances of reading, teachers model reading strategies including how to use phonics to decode unknown words. When choosing texts teachers’ pay careful attention to opportunities for expanding cultural capital. In every classroom, there is a Book Corner (or Area) which contains texts that support and extend the class work. The texts in these areas have been specifically chosen by the class teacher and pupils have regular access to these texts to develop the skill of books as reference and developing understanding and engagement. Staff also select books which they feel passionately about and can be used to promote a lifelong love of reading. More Able pupils are specifically targeted by class teachers when selecting reading materials for this area. Reading teaching focuses on developing pupils’ competence in two dimensions – word reading and comprehension; different kinds of teaching are needed for each. Skilled word reading involves both the speedy working out of the pronunciation of unfamiliar printed words (decoding) and the speedy recognition of familiar printed words. Underpinning both is the understanding that the letters on the page represent the sounds in spoken words. This is why phonics is emphasised in Early Years and Key Stage 1 classrooms. Comprehension skills are developed through pupils’ experience of high-quality discussion with the teacher, as well as from reading and discussing a range of stories, poems and non-fiction. All pupils are encouraged to read widely across both fiction and non-fiction to develop their knowledge of themselves and the world they live in, to instil a love of reading, and to gain knowledge across the curriculum with an emphasis on closing gaps. Reading widely and often increases pupils’ vocabulary because they encounter words they would rarely hear or use in everyday speech. Reading also feeds pupils’ imagination and gives them ideas and inspiration for their writing. We passionately work towards the target that by the end of their time at Fairways Primary School, all pupils are able to read fluently, with confidence, in any subject, to prepare them fully for their forthcoming secondary education. Through the discrete teaching of Phonics, detailed in our Phonics Policy, the children are taught the essential skills needed for both reading and writing. Phonics is taught daily to all children in EYFS and KS1 through systematic, interactive and engaging lessons. Children who require additional Phonics support in KS2 will continue to receive this through differentiated groups or 1:1 sessions. Daily Reading Sessions Daily Reading sessions are planned for separately and in addition to daily English lessons. Each day, children participate in a 20 minute reading session, in which there are planned opportunities for: - Independent Leisure Reading - Access to the Book Corner (Area) - Teacher-supported reading (In Key Stage 1 this is likely to be 1:1 whereas Key Stage 2 is more likely to be a group working with a teacher/adult) Comprehension skills are developed through pupils’ experience of high-quality discussion with the teacher. Teachers have an excellent grasp of the abilities of readers in their classes. This is underpinned by a Leisure Book banded scheme that children progress through. This begins in Reception with Smiley Level Books and runs up to Book Band 14, after which pupils become Free Readers. Pupils who join our school after Reception are assessed promptly by the class teacher and put onto the appropriate stage. Teachers use robust Running Records to assess whether a child is working at the appropriate level or able to move up to the next band. We would aim for our pupils to become Free Readers before starting Year 5. At the end of each term, children complete the Progress in Reading Assessment test produced by Hodder. This generates a standardised score which can be compared to prior attainment scores. For children not matching or exceeding their prior attainment scores, teachers complete the gap analysis tool to identify areas for development and discuss targets at Pupils Progress Meetings. Standardised scores are recorded on Target Tracker to monitor progress and attainment over time. Other summative assessment materials may be used to support teachers when assessing children for the expected standard such as those produced by ‘Rising Stars’ and ‘Headstart’. In Year 2 and 6, SATS materials are used to support Asessment. All assessments are discussed in Pupil Progress meetings, with a focus on the individual needs of children, using the tracking of prior attainment scores as the basis of discussions. Situations may arise in which pupils need to work at a level above or below that of the rest of the year group or may need assistance to accomplish particular tasks. This will become apparent through teachers’ daily use of ongoing assessment. Any children identified as working below the expected standard or making less than expected progress will be discussed in Pupil Progress meetings. Teacher led strategies will be put in place in the first instance to help close any identified gaps. Where children are thought to need further additional help, we have several Reading intervention programs that are used throughout different age ranges in the school. Children’s participation in these is organised in liaison with the SENCO and Deputy Head. We see parents and carers as vital partners in the process of developing reading skills. We encourage parents to support their child’s learning by: - Reading with them at least 4 times a week - Communicating around reading with the class teacher through a ‘Reading Record’ - Updating guidance for parents as their children move through the school so they can continue to offer appropriate support - Discussing Reading in detail at our Learning Conferences - Regular guidance and prompts in the School Newsletter - Promoting the public library: resources and events available - Welcoming offers from parents/carers to assist in school by listening to children read - Rewarding Reading through the school team point system - Encouraging parents/carers in all year groups to continue to read aloud to children themselves Children are encouraged to read at home at least 4 times a week with adult support as necessary. All children take home a leisure book which is appropriate to their level of ability. Children on the banded reading scheme will have a library book and a stage book whereas free readers will have 2 library books. The School Library Children visit the well-stocked school library once every week for a 45 minute session to explore the texts and choose new books from an extensive range. These sessions are well-structured and lead by the school librarian. All children can select a book to take home, regardless of ability. Children are encouraged to select a range of different types of book across the year, from fiction, non-fiction, biographies, classics, poetry etc. Children are given excellent support from teachers and the school librarian as necessary to select books and ensure the book is of appropriate challenge to them. Pupils who are working above or below the expected standard for their year group are specifically targeted during these sessions. There are regular opportunities for children to engage in motivation challenges organised throughout the year by the School Librarian and Reading Lead. Passionate pupils in Year 6 have the opportunity to lead and inspire reading through the Librarian Role. Pupils across all year groups have the opportunity for further library visits through Library and Reading Clubs on offer. Promotion of Reading We aim to inspire children to read in a number of ways: - We are all very proud of our book led curriculum. - Excellence and effort in English is promoted in Celebration Assembly. - Special guests to the school, such as visiting authors are actively sought, providing children with stimulating and enjoyable experiences associated with reading and writing. - We enthusiastically participate in World Book Day every year and encourage children and staff to dress up as their favourite characters and bring in their favourite books. - We also hold yearly book fairs and sponsored Readathons to encourage and celebrate reading for pleasure. - We promote the importance of reading to our children, parents and wider community through Newsletters and drives such as the book stall at Learning Conferences and reading challenges throughout the year. - Regular theatre experiences bring the world of reading to life. - High quality texts are constantly shared with children. - Our Library and our School Librarian are regarded highly and recognised as an outstanding feature of our school. Through the implementation of our Reading Policy children will have developed their enjoyment of reading. Children will be positive about reading: they will understand the purpose, value and find pleasure in reading as a pastime. Families will engage in reading activities together. Children will read across a range of text types and authors. They will talk about books with strong opinions and passions. All children will make good academic progress in Reading from their individual starting points, mastering the skills and knowledge of the National Curriculum. Evidence of pupils’ academic progress will be visible through their movement along the Leisure Book Banded scheme and summative assessments. The data collected at end of Key Stages: The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile and KS1 and KS2 SATs results are a further indication of pupils’ academic achievement.
We all know that uncomfortable feeling of heartburn, whether it’s from a fatty burger or other foods that can trigger the reaction. It can be annoying to deal with once in a while, but if you’ve been getting heartburn regularly, it can lead to serious health complications – including, surprisingly, in your mouth. Here’s what you need to know about acid reflux and how it could affect your oral health. What is Acid Reflux? Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid is allowed to flow up the esophagus. This often causes a burning sensation known as heartburn (although it doesn’t directly affect the heart) because while the stomach has a special lining to protect it from its own acid, the esophagus does not. If acid reflux happens frequently, it’s referred to as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Sometimes acid reflux and GERD occur without causing noticeable pain, but that doesn’t mean that damage isn’t being done. How Can Acid Reflux Affect My Oral Health? Stomach acid that travels up through the esophagus can reach your mouth where it can get on the teeth and eat away at the enamel, causing tooth erosion. It’s especially an issue while sleeping when you’re swallowing less often and producing less saliva. The acid can also cause gum inflammation, which can lead to severe gum disease and bone loss. It should be noted that it’s not just your oral health affected by acid reflux. It can also damage your esophagus and make swallowing painful and difficult; additionally, you will be at greater risk for esophageal cancer. How Can I Tell if I Have Acid Reflux? In cases of acid reflux and GERD where there’s no noticeable pain, your dentist may be the first to see the signs during a regular check-up. The first clue is often erosion of the enamel on the molars or on the back side of your teeth, which can indicate that the source of the damage is coming from the back of the mouth. Other symptoms may include sinus infection, coughing, hoarseness and bad breath. How Can I Protect Myself From Acid Reflux? You can reduce the risk of acid reflux by eating smaller meals and avoiding fatty foods, spicy foods, chocolate, acidic fruits and other known triggers for the condition. Not everyone is affected the same by these foods, so be sure to keep track of which ones you have a reaction to. You should also avoid lying down right after eating; gravity plays a role in keeping your stomach acids from going into the esophagus. If you’re found to be suffering from GERD, you may be directed towards some over-the-counter medicines or receive a prescription. Be sure to follow instructions for the medicine as well as changes to your lifestyle. Remember, sugary foods aren’t the only thing that can damage your smile; protect your teeth by protecting your whole body. About the Author In the past, Dr. Daniel Weldon has served as the president of the Marion County Dental Association; he is currently a member of the Andrew J. Semesco Foundation, which funds research for oral, head and neck cancer. At his practice, Weldon General and Cosmetic Dentistry, he provides a wide variety of preventive dentistry services. To schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (352) 622-3236.
Arizona State University researchers James Waters and Tate Holbrook seek to discover how size affects the organization and physiology of superorganisms such as bacterial communities, insect colonies or human cities. Here, three queens along with brood and a young worker ant of the pleometrotic California seed-harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex californicus. Credit: James S. Waters This Behind the Scenes article was provided to LiveScience in partnership with the National Science Foundation. How does size affect the organization and physiology of superorganisms such as bacterial communities, insect colonies, or human cities? James Waters and Tate Holbrook, graduate students in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, work on answering this question by studying how colony size affects the patterns of behavior and energy use in ant colonies. Social insect colonies are excellent study organisms because, despite the lack of either physical connections between individuals or any kind of centralized control system, the whole colony can exhibit impressive feats of organization including the division of labor, extensive foraging networks and elaborate nest architecture. For their studies, Waters and Holbrook mainly focus on the California seed-harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex californicus. Queens of this species can be collected following the ants' annual mating flights and brought back to the lab to start new colonies. Within a month or two, eggs laid by the queens develop into larvae, pupae, and adult workers. Over the course of a year, the colonies may grow to as large as 1,000 ants in size. One question that interested James Waters is whether colonies become more efficient as they get bigger. The first step in figuring this out was to estimate the power demands of the colonies as a function of their size. One way to think of an animal is as an engine that burns oxygen as a fuel to power all of life's processes, from locomotion to communication. Waters used a tool called respirometry to measure the amount of oxygen being consumed by entire colonies as they breathed within special chambers. While larger colonies obviously needed more energy overall compared to smaller colonies, as colonies grew they surprisingly needed less energy per ant. When groups of ants were taken out of their colonies, however, they all required the same relative amount of energy. These patterns suggest that there is something special about being in the environment of the colony that regulates energy use by individual ants, and this energy use changes, or scales, with the size of the colony. The scaling of energy use may be associated with colony size-related changes in behavior. An important behavioral pattern in colonies of ants and other social insects is the division of labor — when different workers specialize in different jobs, like brood care and foraging. Tate Holbrook investigated how colony size influences division of labor in P. californicus. First, he carefully painted ants with unique color combinations so he could identify individual workers within each colony. He then watched colonies of different sizes for many hours, recording which ants performed which jobs. Holbrook discovered that as colony size increases, so does division of labor. In smaller colonies, individual workers perform a variety of jobs, but in larger colonies workers tend to specialize on specific jobs. It remains to be tested whether higher division of labor makes larger colonies more efficient. The studies of Waters, Holbrook and their colleagues indicate that colonies of seed-harvester ants, and probably other social insects as well, are more than the sum of their parts. Social interactions between colony members give rise to colony-level properties that vary with colony size and shape the physiology and behavior of individuals. These results may extend to broader contexts, including the regulation of cells within organisms and the organization of individuals within societies. In fact, these studies question the very nature of what it means to be an individual. If the basic biology of a single ant is so strongly influenced by the composition of the colony in which it lives, perhaps the ant is not itself an individual so much as a part of an entity existing on a higher level of biological organization, the superorganism. Editor's Note: This research was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the federal agency charged with funding basic research and education across all fields of science and engineering. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. See the Behind the Scenes Archive.
Lebesgue, Baire, Emile Borel, Luzin, Suslin: The field of descriptive set theory arose around a hundred years ago as analysts explored the nature of subsets of and functions on Rn. Particular attention was paid to sets and functions that are definable by starting with staples of analysis like open sets and continuous functions, and then iteratively applying operations like countable intersections and pointwise limits. As things turned out, many of the questions people studied cannot be resolved by the Zermelo-Fraenkel axioms. Thus the development of classical descriptive set theory blended together real analysis, topology, and mathematical logic. At mid-twentieth century, considerations in computability theory led Stephen Kleene and others to examine similar matters of definability of sets and functions, but in the context of the natural numbers, rather than the reals. Here the computable functions served as the analog to the continuous functions of the analysts. Despite the obvious contrast between the discrete and the continuous settings, many parallels became apparent, giving rise to so-called effective descriptive set theory, which encompasses both the naturals and the reals. Moreover, the computability-theoretic techniques involved have brought new insights and results even to the purely classical realm. Over the last two decades, a further development known as invariant descriptive set theory has focused on equivalence relations and involved many other areas of mathematics, including algebra and graph theory. (An earlier MAA Review discusses two recent books that deal with the invariant theory.) In 1980, North-Holland brought out the first edition of Yiannis Moschovakis' Descriptive Set Theory. This book presented both the classical and effective theories, including some of Moschovakis' own work, which has strongly influenced the field. Besides its extensive coverage, the text featured a large number of exercises, plus a section of historical remarks in each chapter. Acclaimed at the time of its publication, that book continues to be cited often in the literature, not only in mathematics, but also in theoretical computer science. However, North-Holland let it go out of print. Fortunately, the AMS has made it available again. The new edition includes an updated bibliography, a short new section, and various rewrites and corrections (along with several new minor typos). But by and large, the original text remains intact. Although this edition does not cover some of the developments that have transpired since the 1980 original, it preserves a book that has been and remains highly valuable in its area. Although in recent years Leon Harkleroad has mostly concentrated on mathematical aspects of music, he still enjoys revisiting his old stomping grounds of computability theory and mathematical logic.
Your class will enjoy learning how different types of volcano are formed and how they differ. Your students first make their model volcanoes using the colourful parts. They then use them to look at why different types of eruptions create different types of volcano. Buy once, print forever! Perfect for use in class or for distance learning at home! The model covers: stratovolcanoes, shield volcanoes and cinder cones. Includes full colour Powerpoint class presentation! Takes about 20 minutes! Dimensions (shield volcano): 10cm x 10cm / 5in x 5in Download includes: instructions, colour & mono templates, and Powerpoint presentation. All you need: paper, scissors and tape Important Information about licencing This download is licenced for unlimited use on a single site/campus only. If you intend to use it on more than one site/campus please email email@example.com for pricing. Unauthorised distribution, copying, downloading, uploading, commercial exploitation or modification by the purchaser or any third party of this document or any part of it is strictly prohibited. Registered Design nos: 4043767, 4043768, 4043769, 4035980, 4035981, 4035982, 4035983, 4038435, 4038437, 4038436, 4038438, 4041830, 4041829.
Of all the foods consumed today, refined sugar is considered to be one of the most harmful. ...In 1997 Americans devoured 7.3 billion pounds of candy. Americans spent an estimated $23.1 billion dollars on candy and gum. The average American consumed a record 27.3 pounds of candy and gum in the same year-the equivalent of about six regular sized chocolate bars a week-marking the fifth consecutive year of increased demand. (1) ...Consumption of processed foods (which are laced with sugar) cost the American public more than $54 billion in dental bills each year, so the dental industry reaps huge profits from the programmed addiction of the public to sugar products. ...Today we have a nation that is addicted to sugar. In 1915, the national average of sugar consumption (per year) was around 15 to 20 pounds per person. Today the average person consumes his/her weight in sugar, plus over 20 pounds of corn syrup. To add more horrors to these facts there are some people that use no sweets and some who use much less than the average figure, which means that there is a percentage of the population that consume a great deal more refined sugar than their body weight. The human body cannot tolerate this large amount of refined carbohydrates. The vital organs in the body are actually damaged by this gross intake of sugar. ...Refined sugar contains no fiber, no minerals, no proteins, no fats, no enzymes, only empty calories. What happens when you eat a refined carbohydrate like sugar? Your body must borrow vital nutrients from healthy cells to metabolize the incomplete food. Calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium are taken from various parts of the body to make use of the sugar. Many times, so much calcium is used to neutralize the effects of sugar that the bones become osteoporotic due to the withdrawn Likewise, the teeth are affected and they lose their components until decay occurs and hastens their loss. ...Refined sugar is void of all nutrients, consequently it causes the body to deplete its own stores of various vitamins, minerals and enzymes. If sugar consumption is continued, an over-acid condition results, and more minerals are needed from deep in the body to correct the imbalance. If the body is lacking the nutrients used to metabolize sugar, it will not be able to properly handle and rid itself of the poisonous residues. These wastes accumulate through the brain and nervous system, which speeds up cellular death. The bloodstream becomes over-loaded with waste products and symptoms of carbonic poisoning result. ...Sugar also makes the blood very thick and sticky, inhibiting much of the blood flow into the minute capillaries that supply our gums and teeth with vital nutrients. Therefore, we wind up with diseased gums and starving teeth. America and England, the two largest sugar consumers, have horrendous dental problems. ...In 1948, a $57,000 ten-year study was awarded to Harvard University by the Sugar Research Foundation to find out how sugar causes cavities in teeth and how to prevent it. In 1958, Time magazine reported the findings, which were reported in the Dental Association Journal. They discovered there was no way to prevent the problem and their funding immediately disappeared. ...The most significant human study was done in Sweden, reported in 1954, and known as the Vipeholm Dental Caries Study. More than 400 adult mental patients were placed on controlled diets and observed for five years. The subjects were divided into various groups. Some ate complex and simple carbohydrates at mealtimes only, while other supplemented mealtime food with between-meal-snacks, sweetened with sucrose, chocolate, caramel, or toffee. Among the conclusions drawn from the study, was that sucrose consumption could increase caries activity. The risk increased if the sucrose was consumed in a sticky form that adhered to the tooths surfaces. The greatest damage was inflicted by foods with high concentrations of sucrose, in sticky form, eaten between meals, even if contact with the tooths surfaces was brief. Caries, due to the intake of foods with high sucrose levels, could be decreased when such offending foods were eliminated from the diet. But individual differences existed, and in some cases, caries continued to appear despite avoidance of refined sugar or maximum restriction of natural sugars and total dietary carbohydrates. (2) ...Diabetes is another commonly known disease caused by sugar as well as a high fat diet. Diabetes is caused by the failure of the pancreas to produce adequate insulin when the blood sugar rises. A concentrated amount of sugar introduced into the system sends the body into shock from the rapid rise in the blood sugar level. The pancreas eventually wears out from overwork and diabetes then rears its ugly head. ...Hypoglycemia occurs when the pancreas overreacts to the large amount of sugar in the blood and releases too much insulin leaving one with the tired feeling as the blood sugar level becomes lower than it should be. A recent article in the British Medical Journal, entitled The Sweet Road to Gallstones, reported that refined sugar may be one of the major dietary risk factors in gallstone disease. Gallstones are composed of fats and calcium. Sugar can upset all of the minerals, and one of the minerals, calcium, can become toxic or nonfunctioning, depositing itself anywhere in the body, including the ...One out of ten Americans has gallstones. This risk increases to one out of every five after age forty. Gallstones may go unnoticed or may cause pain-wrenching pain. Other symptoms might include bloating, belching, and intolerance to foods. (3) ...Another serious problem with sugar that is now coming to the forefront is the various levels of mental problems. Our brains are very sensitive and react to quick chemical changes within the body. As sugar is consumed, our cells are robbed of their B vitamin, which destroys them, and insulin production is inhibited. Low insulin production means a high sugar (glucose) level in the bloodstream, which can lead to a confused mental state or unsound mind, and has also been linked with juvenile criminal Dr. Alexander G. Schauss, brings this solemn fact out in his book, Diet, Crime and Delinquency. Many mental ward and prison inmates are sugarholics and erratic emotional outbreaks often follow a sugar binge. ...Refined sugar, by some, is called a drug, because in the refining process everything of food value has been removed except the carbohydrates-pure calories, without vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, enzymes or any of the other elements that make up food. Many nutrition experts say that white sugar is extremely harmful, possibly as harmful as a drug, especially in the quantities consumed by the present-day American. ...Dr. David Reuben, author of Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Nutrition says, refined sugar-is not a food. It is a pure chemical extracted from plant sources, purer in fact than cocaine, which it resembles in many ways. Its true name is sucrose and its chemical formula is C12H22O11. It has 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms, 11 oxygen atoms, and absolutely nothing else to offer. ...The chemical formula for cocaine is C17H21NO4. Sugars formula again is C12H22O11. For all practical purposes, the difference is that sugar is missing the N, or nitrogen atom. ...Refining means to make pure by a process of extraction or separation. Sugars are refined by taking a natural food, which contains a high percentage of sugar, and then removing all elements of that food until only the sugar remains. ...While sugar is commonly made from sugar cane or sugar beets. Through heating and mechanical and chemical processing, all vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, enzymes and indeed every nutrient is removed until only the sugar remains. Sugar cane and sugar beets are first harvested and then chopped into small pieces, squeezing out the juice, which is then mixed with water. This liquid is then heated, and lime is added. Moisture is boiled away, and the remaining fluid is pumped into vacuum pans to concentrate the juice. By this time, the liquid is starting to crystallize, and is ready to be placed into a centrifuge machine where any remaining residues (like molasses) are spun away. The crystals are then dissolved by heating to the boiling point and passed through charcoal filters. After the crystals condense, they are bleached snow-white usually by the use of pork or cattle bones. ...During the refining process, 64 food elements are destroyed. All the potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, phosphate, and sulfate are removed. The A, D, and B, vitamins are destroyed. Amino acids, vital enzymes, unsaturated fats, and all fiber are gone. To a lesser or greater degree, all refined sweeteners such as corn syrup, maple syrup, etc., undergo similar destructive processes. Molasses is the chemical and deranged nutrients that is a byproduct of sugar ...Sugar manufacturers are aggressive in defending their product and have a strong political lobby which allows them to continue selling a deadly food item that by all reason should not be allowed in the American diet. ...If you have any doubts as to the detriments of sugar (sucrose), try leaving it out of your diet for several weeks and see if it makes a difference! You may also notice you have acquired an addiction and experience some withdrawal symptoms. ...Studies show that sugar is just as habit-forming as any narcotic; and its use, misuse, and abuse is our nations number one disaster. It is no wonder when we consider all the products we consume daily which are loaded with sugar! The average healthy digestive system can digest and eliminate from two to four teaspoons of sugar daily, usually without noticeable problems, (that is if damage is not already One 12 oz. Cola contains 11 teaspoons of sugar, and thats aside from the caffeine. Its the sugar that gives you quick energy, but only for a brief time due to the rise of the blood sugar level. But the body quickly releases a rush of insulin, which rapidly lowers the blood sugar and causes a significant drop in energy and endurance. It is easy to see why Americas health is in serious trouble. OF SUGAR ON NEUROLOGICAL PROCESSES ...One of the keys to orderly brain function is glutamic acid, and this compound is found in many vegetables. When sugar is consumed, the bacteria in the intestines, which manufacture B vitamin complexes, begin to die-these bacteria normally thrive in a symbiotic relationship with the human body. When the B vitamin complex level declines, the glutamic acid (normally transformed into go no-go directive neural enzymes by the B vitamins) is not processed and sleepiness occurs, as well as a decreased ability for short-term memory function and numerical calculative abilities. The removal of B vitamins when foods are processed makes the situation even more ABOUT GUM CHEWING? ...Besides the sugar in gum being damaging to the teeth there is another harmful problem to consider and that is: teeth and jaws werent designed for more than a few minutes of solid chewing per day-far less than the two hours clocked in daily by hardcore gum chewers. All this chewing results in inordinate wear on the jawbone, gum tissue and lower molars, and can change the alignment of the jaws says Michael Elsohn, D.D.S., in the Medical Tribune. top^ (1) U.S. Commerce Department figures compiled for the National Confectioners Association (NCA) and the Chocolate Manufacturers Association. (Reuters, 8/21/98) (2) Beatrice Trum Humter, The Sugar Trap & How to Avoid It, (Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982), p.15. (3) Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., Lick The Sugar Habit, (Warner Books, N.Y., 1985) pp. 73,74. .
Read more: "Deep designs: Catch the next wave" ON LAND, scientists can continually monitor almost anything, from ecosystems and volcanoes to characteristics of the atmosphere. Under the sea, things are much more limited. John Delaney, an oceanographer at the University of Washington in Seattle, is determined to change this. He is wiring up the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate off the coast of the north-western US to create a constant virtual presence in the Pacific Ocean. "It's no understatement to say that this will revolutionise the way we understand the planet," he says. Most oceanographers have to collect data about the seas on research ships that visit a region for a few weeks. Then, back on shore, they study the information, sometimes over long periods. "That's only ever given us a very limited snapshot of the processes at work," says Tim Cowles, director of ocean observing programmes at the US Ocean Observatories Initiative, based in Washington DC. The OOI, which is funded by the US National Science Foundation, is building six networks, split between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Delaney's network is different from the others in that it is fully cabled. Last year, his team laid 880 kilometres of power and fibre-optic cable on the sea floor, which supply 10 kilovolts of power and a data rate of 10 gigabits per second. Later this year, the group will begin fitting the grid with the next stage of electrical and data-handling equipment. This will include sea-floor docking stations to provide power and data-download facilities for autonomous submarines - allowing them to extend their stay underwater. Moorings on the seabed will secure tethers for ocean samplers to move up and down recording temperature, salinity and chemical content throughout the water column. Sensors will measure everything from ocean currents to movements of the sea floor and changes in microbial populations. Seismometers and cameras will keep an eye on undersea volcanoes and ecosystems. Delaney's team is already testing some of these technologies (see "Mini labs reveal sea life's secrets"). Over the next few months, the researchers will test autonomous underwater gliders off the coast of the states of Oregon and Washington. By the end of September, they hope to have a fleet of six gliders in operation. The eventual goal is to have 800 sensors attached to the fibre-optic network, continuously sending back data. Delaney sees the network as the enabler of next-generation oceanography, creating huge opportunities. It extends to the Juan de Fuca ridge where tectonic activity creates new sea floor, for example, and to the 1000-metre-high volcanic Axial seamount. The network "will quantify for the first time the interaction between the ocean and subsea eruptions", Delaney says. "That's pushing the envelope." The Juan de Fuca network sits just a few hundred kilometres south of Neptune Canada, a similar system being built in Canadian waters that will generate complementary data (see map). Because the Juan de Fuca network will be connected to the internet, it could give schoolchildren the chance to drive submarines and watch high-definition pictures of the oceans. For scientists around the globe, it will open up the tectonic plate and the water above it to the kind of scrutiny that up to now they could have only dreamed of. - New Scientist - Not just a website! - Subscribe to New Scientist and get: - New Scientist magazine delivered every week - Unlimited online access to articles from over 500 back issues - Subscribe Now and Save If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.
Leonardo Coloring Pages is a page that contains images of one of the characters in the animated series about the adventures of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for children. Leonardo, named after the great Renaissance artist, is the leader of the group. He is serious, disciplined, honest, courageous and loyal. He always observes the code of honor of a real samurai, knows how to quickly make decisions in difficult situations. In battle, he deftly wields two Japanese swords. You can distinguish Leonardo from other turtles by the blue bandage. In the section you will find illustrations on which Leonardo is resting, fighting or talking with friends. Download or print Leonardo's coloring pages that kids will love. Recommended coloring pages:
The Cupbearer and the Baker have a Bible Study Lesson - in this Christian study lesson from is asked to interpret the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. He boldly does so and both dreams come true. Who gets the credit? Was there risk involved with the interpretation? Absolutely, but took the risk because he was faithful to the Dreams of the Baker and the Then it came about after these things, the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, in the jail, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned. The captain of the bodyguard put Joseph in charge of them, and he took care of them; and they were in confinement for some time. Then the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt, who were confined in jail, both had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its When Joseph came to them in the morning and observed them, behold, they He asked Pharaohs officials who were with him in confinement in his masters house, Why are your faces so sad today? Then they said to him, We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it. Then Joseph said to them, Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please. So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me; and on the vine were three And as it was budding, its blossoms came out, and its clusters produced Now Pharaohs cup was in my hand; so I took the grapes and squeezed them into Pharaohs cup, and I put the cup into Pharaohs hand. Then Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days; within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you will put Pharaohs cup into his hand according to your former custom when you were his cupbearer. Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon. When the chief baker saw that he had interpreted favorably, he said to Joseph, I also saw in my dream, and behold, there were three baskets of white bread on my head; and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head. Then Joseph answered and said, This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days; within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head from you and will hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh off you. Thus it came about on the third day, which was Pharaohs birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaohs hand; but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. - soon we forget! Joseph interpreted each of the men's dreams but did not hesitate to give the credit to God. If Joseph had predicted these things on his own and they came true, it would have been a mere coincidence. But, with God involved, Joseph could interpret with the confidence that what he saw in the dreams was absolute. One statement was mentioned in church last Sunday. Joseph said to the cupbearer; "Only keep me in mind.." which of course the cupbearer failed to do. Christ said "in remembrance of Me" at the Last Supper when He broke the bread and drank the wine. Do we remember Him every Way - The Hard Way Another thought came to mind when I read this passage again. Interpreting the cupholder's dream was easy for Joseph because he knew the cupholder would be restored to his high position in the king's court. However, it was a bold move for Joseph to tell the baker the meaning of What if the baker were not executed and instead the king put him back into a position of power? There is a good chance that Joseph would have lost his head in that It took a deep faith for Joseph to make the decision to interpret the baker's dream just the way God explained it to him. Would we be willing to share and do what God told us to do even if it meant a possibility of losing our lives? Could we go into harm's way others about Christ? Many people in the world today are doing just that. There are Christians in certain parts of the world such as China, Africa, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan (to name a few) who risk their lives daily to share the faith of Jesus Now, back to us. Sometimes we're afraid even to mention Christ to a friend who needs His of salvation and there is not a remote chance of our being hurt or abused by telling them. All we have to risk is a Let's pray that God will make us bolder in our commitment to share the word of Christ to those who need it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if some stranger (or even a friend or family member) came up to us in heaven and said; "It was that day you shared Jesus Christ with me that I made a decision to have my life Love in Christ If you would like more information about how to receive the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to go here and read Read Today's Bible Verse Here Verses from Genesis about Joseph interpreting dreams from the cupbearer and the baker are from New American Standard Bible & New King James Version - Lessons from Life Application Study Bible: NIV - Passage above credited to Lockman
Latest Tools 101 RYOBI Tools 101 - Miter Saws A Miter Saw is a large, table-top saw used to make precise cuts in wood. Miter Saws are typically used to make quick, accurate cuts in materials like crown moulding, framing materials, and narrow pieces of wood. Welcome to TOOLS 101: Miter Saws! Make sure to explore all of our resources on this page, and don't miss our Miter Saw Introduction video with Shanty2Chic!
What Truth Sounds Like By Dr. Michael Eric Dyson How do we know when we are being told the truth? Is the truth simply factual or does perspective and experience play a role in determining what one’s truth is? According to Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, the answer is all of the above. A sociology professor at Georgetown University, Dr. Dyson uses his latest book, What Truth Sounds Like: RFK, James Baldwin, and Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America, to narrate a moment in time when a privileged cis-gendered straight man had to come to terms with the fact that the identity of America was not the achievement of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness but the past, present, and future implications of institutionalized racism, sexism, and oppression. In this book, Dr. Dyson provides anecdotal and historical accounts of how society, as a whole, and individual world leaders have reacted when addressed with conversations about race in America. He uses his background in sociology to provide an understanding of how democracy was meant to function in a society that proclaimed freedom for all while enslaving “others” and after committing genocide. With this book, Dr. Dyson manages to combine thought-provoking stories with explanations surrounding the history of race in America with the hopes of readers understanding that understanding one’s truth means acknowledging their experience. The book focuses on interactions between Robert F. Kennedy and Civil Rights activists and also seeks to elucidate why African Americans have a complicated relationship with the leaders of the Democratic Party. Dr. Dyson begins the book with a secondhand anecdote of a meeting between Kennedy and famed figures and activists during the Civil Rights Movement. He discusses how Kennedy is often acknowledged for supposedly being a formidable ally of the Civil Rights Movement despite making “minimal efforts” over the course of his political career. Dyson’s telling of the meeting ends with the depiction of white fragility as the younger Kennedy throws a tantrum when faced with the reality of not being the most informed figure in the room when discussing race in America. The meeting, which included Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, Lena Horne, Jerome Smith, Harry Belafonte, and more, was meant to act as a strategy session to bridge race relations in America. Yet it turned into the Civil Rights Activists holding Kennedy accountable for what little action he was willing to take and insisting that he acknowledge the everyday struggles of black Americans. Kennedy eventually acknowledged the validity of their frustration, but, as Dyson notes, Kennedy was left with a bruised ego. The significance of the meeting is not just the entertainment of knowing that this meeting took place, but that it provides a truthful account of the actions and consequences of ignoring truth due to pride. A story about Kennedy being forced to listen to the truth from the perspective of those who aren’t white and privileged in American society is followed by an analysis of American politics. Dyson breaks down the ways in which being non-white was never an innate part of the American identity, how Obama’s blackness threatened the understanding of what the identity of America is, and how politicians like Trump — I use the word ‘politician’ very loosely when applying it to him — and Bernie Sanders, despite their beliefs’ being on opposite ends of America’s political spectrum, continue to prevent blackness from being a visible part of America’s identity. Dyson claims that Sanders’ insistence of acknowledging the separation between Americans as a class issue rather than a race issue is complicit in the use of revisionist history and the Rights refusal to acknowledge how a history of legal racism continues to negatively impact black and brown communities. Acknowledging that many of those whom Kennedy invited to that secret meeting were artists, Dr. Dyson then explores the history of black art and how artists who were also activists used their art to provoke thought. He compares and contrasts their methods of creating conversations surrounding black identity with an analysis of Harry Belafonte, Jay-Z, and Jesse Williams. Dyson states that Belafonte was particular about the space he filled so white people could start to envision black people in those spaces, slowly manipulating them into letting go of small pieces of their bigotry by recognizing his presence in those environments through the use of “respectability politics.” Whereas, Jay-Z played into stereotypical depictions of black men, but then used that popularity for financial gain. Dr. Dyson uses Belafonte and Jay-Z to showcase the evolution of the tactics of black artists, how their differences created a divide between those who use the language of hip-hop to express themselves and their conflicting ideas of what the black identity of America should look like in a society where black people are viewed as monolithic. Dr. Dyson dissects the complexity of decision making when a black artist has to find the line between being an individual and acting as a representation of the black community. He speaks on how difficult it was for James Baldwin and Lorraine Hansberry, both of whom are artists, to be present in the meeting because they were constantly navigating between their artistic freedom and finding ways to correlate their independence with their gender and their sexuality. When exploring the nuances of being black, queer, and in Hansberry’s case a woman, Dr. Dyson states, “queer blackness is the perfect metaphor for blackness write large—a blackness that was from the start seen as strange, exotic, dangerous, and subversive.” After providing an analyzation of gender and sexuality in the presence of black art, he then looks to artists like Chadwick Boseman, Lin Manuel Miranda, Jordan Peele, Leslie Odom, Jr., and Keegan-Michael Key to further express how modern artists address the conversations surrounding black identity in their art. He writes, “Black artists have consistently sought to uplift the redemptive dimensions of black life as they seek to defend black culture from the vicious assaults of hostile forces.” Some may argue that one cannot separate art from the perspective of the artist and that will always make work by black artists ‘black art’ even if their blackness is not addressed in the piece. It does call into question whether or not it is fair that any work produced by a non-white artist is often given additional layers of social commentary. For example, if white artists paint a picture of a New York City street with old and unkempt apartment buildings it would most likely be reported that the artist is making visual commentary about pollution in America, whereas if a black painter painted the same image, reviewers would most likely also connect it to classism and the living conditions of black Americans in segregation. After discussing the challenges faced by black artists, Dr. Dyson discusses the need for black intellectuals, who he believes “diagnose and confront racial catastrophes and political crises in a fashion that helps those who take action against these ills gain a better sense of what is at stake.” This is followed by two chapters which discuss the past and current roles black activists play in society. In “The Activists 1” Dr. Dyson demonstrates the ongoing conflicts between white liberals and black activists by continuing the discussion of the meeting and its goal to “tell Bobby [Robert F. Kennedy] about the suffering that had scarred each black person in that room …” and today’s black activists' ongoing conflicts with today’s white liberals, such as Hillary Clinton, who was, “compelled to forcibly reckon with the existential witness of black trauma.”. This chapter is followed by “The Activists 2,” which dares to confront white America’s reaction to black athletes who use their platform to generate discussions of race in America — who “break the mythology of a race-less and neutral American identity.” Dr. Dyson provides a history lesson on Muhammad Ali and how they have inspired athletes like Lebron James and Colin Kaepernick, which has ignited a wave of hatred and ignorance regarding the trauma that continues to surround black existence in America. Dr. Dyson finishes his account on the meeting and declares that it ultimately changed Kennedy for the better and that, while black America didn’t get to experience much of the progression that meeting caused for Kennedy, the story itself is proof of what happens when one is vehemently faced with the truth. So, when Dr. Dyson ends his book with a chapter titled, “Even If: Wakanda, Forever,” he is leaving his readers with the hope that, despite steps that seemingly appear small, minds are being changed and perceptions are being challenged. That the albeit fictional world of Wakanda is a culmination of everything Dr. Dyson has used this book to tell us that black people are resilient, that black art is complex, that black intellect is beyond the limits placed on us by the structure of white society, that black existence is the celebration of freedom, and that the treatment of black lives is the truth of America. So, I will end this essay the same way Dr. Dyson ended his book: Wakanda, forever.
TheMathPage: Topics in Trigonometry Library Home \|\| Full Table of Contents \|\| Suggest a Link \|\| Library Help \|Lawrence Spector; Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY\| \|Trigonometry from the very beginning, for anyone who needs help or a review of trigonometry. Topics include: Ratio and Proportion; Radicals: Rational and Irrational Numbers; The Pythagorean Theorem; The Definitions of the Trigonometric Functions (Ratios); Trigonometry of Right Triangles; The Isosceles Right Triangle; The 30-60-90-degree Triangle; Solving Right Triangles; The Law of Sines; The Law of Cosines; The Circle; Evaluating pi; Measurement of Angles; Radian Measure; Arclength; Analytic Trigonometry: The Unit Circle; Functions of a General Angle; and Line Values.\| \|Levels:\|\|High School (9-12)\| © 1994- The Math Forum at NCTM. All rights reserved.
Mrs. Loher’s Science Class Rules 1. Be Safe Follow all lab directions carefully Use all equipment as intended No horseplay in the classroom 2. Be Respectful Listen while others are talking. If you have a question raise your hand. Speak kindly and be helpful to all. Follow directions quickly. Do not waste you and your classmates’ time. Don’t borrow things from the teacher or classmates without asking. 3. Be Responsible Complete all your work on time. Use class time wisely. Go to the bathroom, water fountain, and locker before class. Have your 3 ring science binder, book, and pencil ready and sharpened. If you are absent: skip the warm up and check in with Mrs. Loher you are responsible for missed homework and notes missed quizzes, tests, or labs must be made up within a week 4. Strive To Be Your Best I want you to be successful in my class. If you are having any difficulties please come see me during homeroom, lunch study, or after school. Do not wait until an assignment is due or end of the marking period to ask for help. Please become familiar with class expectations for each individual course.
Ever since my first undergraduate neuroscience course, I’ve always been fascinated by the ways in which the brain forms and retains memories. Recently, however, I’ve had the misfortune of seeing first-hand the cruel progression of cognitive decline in family members with dementia. So, my desire to research Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is fueled by my personal connection; by my passion for how we learn and make memories; and by my strong belief that by increasing our understanding of how normal cellular processes fail in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, we’ll be able to prevent or substantially delay cognitive decline and significantly improve the lives of these individuals and their families. Consider this: The average North American knows about 600 people. Alzheimer’s disease, a disease that strips away your cognitive function and sense of self, affects 1 in 20 Canadians over the age of 65. Without further research, 30 people that you know will develop Alzheimer’s disease. Video: Dr. Matthew Parsons, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland, talks about his research and how it could ultimately lead to new preventative treatments. Dr. Parsons received a New Investigator Grant from the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) 2017 competition. While we’ve come a long way in our understanding of this disease, there is still so much to learn. That’s why, with the funding received from the Alzheimer Society, I want to explore Alzheimer’s disease at the level of the synapse—the tiny space where one brain cell communicates with another. It’s thought that the efficiency with which our brain cells communicate with each other is compromised in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease—well before any cell death occurs. So, my research lab aims to better understand why cellular communication breaks down, with the ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic targets that may prevent this synaptic dysfunction and subsequent cell death. If we can get to the root of why these early changes occur, we can then develop therapies that can be administered early in the disease progression, before brain cells die. To find more effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, we need to understand the disease at so many levels: from the behaviour of cells in a dish to clinical trials in people with the disease. This kind of research is notoriously expensive, whether it be salaries for research assistants, graduate student stipends, consumables, laboratory equipment or the cost of the drugs themselves. Virtually everything we know and everything we’ll learn about Alzheimer’s disease depends on funding sources like the Alzheimer Society. That’s why, as a new investigator, I can’t put into words how much this opportunity means to me and how grateful I am for the support of the Alzheimer Society Research Program.
Should Your Child See a Doctor? Eye – Foreign Body - A foreign body (FB) or object becomes lodged in the eye. - The main symptoms are irritation, pain, and tears - The most common objects that get in the eye are an eyelash or a piece of dried mucus (sleep). - Particulate matter such as sand, dirt, sawdust, or other grit also can be blown into the eyes. First Aid Advice for Glass Fragments on the Eyelids - Method 1: Have the child bend forward and close the eyes. - Blow on the closed eyelids to get the flakes of glass off the skin. - Method 2: Another technique is to touch the flakes of glass with a piece of tape - To get off any remaining glass, pour water over the eyelids and face. - Cover the eyes with a wet washcloth. The eyes should not be rubbed. When to Call Your Doctor for Eye - Foreign Body Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If - You think your child has a serious injury - Sharp FB (Foreign Body) - FB is a piece of chemical - FB hit eye at high speed (e.g., metallic chip from hammering, lawnmower, explosion) - FB stuck on the eyeball (caution: do not attempt to remove) - FB feels like it's still present after eye has been washed out - Vision not back to normal after eye has been washed out - Tearing and blinking continue after eye has been washed out - Cloudy spot on the cornea (clear part of the eye) Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If - You think your child needs to be seen Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If - You have other questions or concerns Parent Care at Home If - Minor foreign body in the eye (e.g., eyelash, dirt, sand) and you don't think your child needs to be seen (Reason: probably can be removed at home) Home Care Advice for Eye - Foreign Body - Reassurance: The foreign body will always stay in the front part of the eye. Some parents needlessly worry that the foreign body can get lost behind the eyeball. This is impossible, since the space beyond the eyelids goes back ¼ inch (6 mm) and then stops (i.e., it's a dead end). - Treatment for Numerous Particles (such as dirt or sand): - Clean around the eye with a wet washcloth first. - Then have your child try to open and close the eye repeatedly while submerging that side of the face in a pan of water. - If your child is too young to cooperate with this, fill a glass or pitcher with warm tap water. Pour the water into the eye while holding your child face up. The eyelids must be held open during the irrigation and this usually requires the help of another person. - Treatment for a Particle in a Corner of the Eye: - Try to get it out with a moistened cotton swab, the corner of a moistened cloth, or a small piece of Scotch tape. - Treatment for a Particle Under the Lower Lid: - Pull the lower lid out by pulling down on the skin above the cheekbone. - Touch the particle with a moistened cotton swab. - If that doesn't work, try pouring water on the speck while holding the lid out. - Treatment for a Particle Under the Upper Lid: - If the particle can't be seen, it's probably under the upper lid, the most common hiding place. - Try having your child open and close the eye several times while it is submerged in a pan or bowl of water. If you have an eye cup, use it. - If this fails, pull the upper lid out and draw it over the lower lid while the eye is closed. When the eye is opened, the lower lid may sweep the particle out from under the upper lid. - Contacts: Children with contact lenses need to switch to glasses temporarily (Reason: to prevent damage to the cornea). - Expected Course: The discomfort, redness and excessive tearing usually pass 1 to 2 hours after the foreign body is removed. - Call Your Doctor If: - This approach does not remove all the foreign material from the eye (i.e., if the sensation of "grittiness" or pain persists) - Vision does not return to normal after the eye has been washed out - Foreign object has been removed, but tearing and blinking persist - Your child becomes worse And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the "When to Call Your Doctor" symptoms. - Jayamanne DG. Do patients presenting to accident and emergency departments with the sensation of a foreign body in the eye have significant ocular disease? J Accid Emerg Med. 1995;12 (4):286-287. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. Author and Senior Reviewer: Barton D. Schmitt, M.D. Copyright 1994-2015 Barton D. Schmitt, MD. All rights reserved.
So here's the question: Suppose we observe Xi (as i=1,..., 10) which are identically distributed with mean E(Xi) = mu and variance V(Xi)=sigma^2. Then is x(bar) = X1 an unbiased estimator of mu? Logically speaking, it doesn't make sense that it would be. If i=1,..., 10 is the entire population, then the mean is 55/10 (sum of Xi as i goes to 10, divided by 5) = 5.5. To say that an estimator for the mean, x(bar), is equal to X1 (which if i=1), in turn, equals 1. Is this unbiased? It doesn't seem so - population mean is 5.5 and that is not equal to 1. Am I understanding this correctly?
I have precisely zero interest in jumping into any fray from the before and after of Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal opinion piece by Jack Welch, wherein he defends his previous comments on the reliability of reported unemployment statistics. But there is one particular statement in that editorial that offers up what is sometimes called a teachable moment, to wit, By definition, fewer people in the workforce leads to better unemployment numbers. By definition, that’s not really correct. Consider a really simple example. Suppose: Population = 200 Number of Employed People = 92 Number of Unemployed People = 8 Labor Force (Employed + Unemployed) = 100 In this example the labor force participation rate is 0.50 (the labor force divided by the population) and the unemployment rate 0.08, or 8 percent (the number of unemployed divided by the labor force). Now suppose that five people drop out of the labor force (which would mean that labor force participation would decline from 0.5 to 0.475). What happens to the unemployment rate? Well, it depends what those 5 people were doing before they left the labor force. If they were unemployed, then unemployment falls to 3, the labor force falls to 95, and the unemployment rate is about 3.2 percent (or 0.0316 times 100). But if the 5 people who dropped out the labor force had been previously employed, the unemployment rate would actually rise to about 8.4 percent (because the number of unemployed would still be 8, but it would now be divided by 95 instead of 100). Hope that clears it up. Note: You can take a look some actual data on flows into and out of employment, unemployment, and not in the labor force here. This post was originally published at Macroblog and is reproduced here with permission.
The following guest post was originally posted by the Paw Prints in the Sand Co-Founder and President in Pet Rescue Report What is BSL? BSL stands for Breed Specific Legislation, which essentially makes certain dog breeds illegal based on their looks or breed. The breeds most commonly included in these laws are: Pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shepherds, American Bulldogs, Presa Canarios, Mastiffs, Chow Chows, Dalmatians and Wolf hybrids, among others depending on locality. The reason these breeds are often deemed “illegal” in areas around the United States including Arkansas, Colorado, and Florida and across the globe is because they are assumed to be “vicious” or “risky” simply due to their breed, mix or even the shape of their heads. Most recently, the City of Montreal passed legislation that would ban any dog resembling a pit bull and kill thousands more. Anyone who owns a dog remotely resembling a pit bull would have to register his or her dog with the municipality and muzzle it while in public. In addition, the dogs would be required to be under adult supervision while in public at all times. If the dogs are in animal shelters or without an owner (strays), they will be euthanized. Additionally, BSL often prevents responsible would-be dog owners from providing a good, loving home to one of these types of dogs because of landlord or homeowners insurance requirements, which will not allow it. So, here’s why BSL is BS specifically as it applies to pit bulls: Pit bulls used to be known as ‘America’s Nanny Dog’ because of their friendly nature, loyalty and stability. They served in WWI and WWII, and many pit bulls are decorated veterans who have served our country. Furthermore, based on a study by the American Temperament Test Society, Inc., pit bulls are among the most tolerant dogs with 86.8% of pit bulls tested passing for temperament, ranking only second to the Labrador Retriever. I have personally fostered numerous pitties and have one of my own. Before I got involved in animal rescue, all I knew about Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and every other dog breed listed under BSL was what I saw in the media and how they were portrayed: vicious, aggressive, or high risk. However, practically every dog that has come through my door has been nothing but loving, loyal, and sweet. It took having hands on experience, educating myself, and gaining a better understanding of these breeds and proper handling for me to change my attitude and perception about these amazing dogs! We want to help bring awareness to the issue that is BSL and put an end to the unjustified prejudice against certain breeds of dogs. We hope you will join us and support our ‘I’m With The Banned’ campaign by purchasing one of our shirts and give these great dogs the rights they deserve. To help bring awareness BSL, please go to visit this link to purchase a ‘I’m With The Banned’ T-Shirt . Proceeds from this campaign will go towards the dominant breed dogs we rescue and towards our rescue programs. For more information on Paw Prints in the Sand and the work we do, please visit our web site at www.pawprintsinthesand.org, or on our social sites: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Labels: human brain Of course, for the peevologists among you, we have to admit that strictly speaking evolution cannot really be said to make mistakes: a process with no purpose (and zero compassion) can hardly be said to get anything wrong. It's a bit like criticising a baby's babblings. But when you look at living creatures from a design perspective, there is no doubt that many parts and processes are deeply flawed and could be improved upon. This is what we mean by evolutionary "mistakes". Take the human appendix, a narrow dead-end tube that is a relic of the much larger, cellulose-digesting caecum found in other primates. It is prone to becoming blocked, leading to life-threatening infections. Even if it plays a role in early immune development - a far-from-convincing claim based largely on studies of rabbits - there is no doubt that adults would be better off if the appendix shrank away later in life or had a structure less likely to become blocked. Other organs, such as our lungs, seem more than adequate. But compared with bird lungs they are inferior in many ways: the VHS video of lungs to birds' Betamax. Can that be called a mistake? After all, we have managed fine with what we've got. But we'll never know what might have been had mammals inherited or evolved bird-like lungs - although perhaps one day we'll discover how well a (semi) human athlete with bird-like lungs will perform. So what do you regard as evolution's greatest mistake? What are the worst "design" flaws in plants and animals? How would you redesign humans or other animals given the chance? Yesterday we wrote about how fast food branding can make children perceive a hamburger as tastier than a similar meal wrapped up in plain packaging. Now there's another study showing that adults will rate a wine as tastier if it carries a more prestigious label. In the experiment, Brian Wansink at Cornell University tested 41 diners' reaction to the wine at Spice Box, a student run restaurant. The diners were given a free glass of Cabernet Sauvignon to accompany their $24 prix-fix French meal. Servers told about half of them that the wine came from "Noah's Winery" in California. The other diners were told it originated from Noah's Winery in North Dakota ? a state better known for chilly weather than chilled Sauvignon blanc (think Fargo). In fact, researchers gave all of the diners the same Charles Shaw wine. (To readers who might not already know, it's often referred to as "two-buck Chuck" by those who appreciate its inexpensiveness.) Diners who received the "California" wine rated it as tastier than those receiving the same drink carrying the North Dakotan label. They also ate 11% more of their food and made more return reservations. To confirm this branding effect, Wansink also conducted a similar test on 49 MBA students at a wine and cheese reception. Those who tasted the "Californian" wine gave it an 85% better rating and also liked the cheese more. The results appear in the journal Physiology and Behavior. So while we might try convincing our children to avoid getting duped by cartoons on cereal boxes and gimmicky fast food, let's face the fact that we're just as easily persuaded by a brand. Now excuse me as I go place an order for some vintage from the Dakota Hills Winery? Roxanne Khamsi, online reporter (image: el monstrito)
Switzerland predominantly has temperate climate with some variation with altitude. Switzerland’s topography is mainly mountainous with central plateau region and some plains. The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the country is 45° and 48°N and 5° and 11° E. Switzerland’s largest city Zurich and the capital city Bern are few of the top most tourist destinations of the country. In fact, the country itself is a famous tourist destination of Europe. Swiss Alps, Jura Mountain, Lake Geneva are some of the natural tourist attractions of the country. Swiss culture is defined by the traditional customs of the country. And economically Switzerland is highly stable country, in fact in 2011 it was ranked as the wealthiest country of the world in per capita terms. \|Facts About Switzerland\| \|Area\|\|41,285 km2 ( 15,940 sq mi ) Water (%) 4.2\| \|Population\|\|8,211,700 (September 2014 estimate)\| \|Lat Long\|\|46° 50′ 0″ N, 8° 20′ 0″ E\| \|Official Language\|\|German; French; Italian; Romansh\| \|Time Zone\|\|CET (UTC+1) Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)\| \|Airport\|\|21 Airports, 7- Airports in Scheduled service\| \|Neighbour countries\|\|Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein\| \|Currency\|\|Swiss franc (CHF)\| Last Updated : July 1, 2015
Sodium Chloride Electrolysis: Do you know👀 Electrolysis is the passage of direct electric current through an ionic substance that is either molten or in aqueous form. Methods of electrolysis of sodium chloride: Two methods are most commonly used for the electrolysis of NaCl. 1.Molten Sodium Chloride. 2.Aqueous Sodium Chloride. Let’s talk about the electrolysis of molten NaCl: If a sodium chloride is melted at (above 801 Celsius ) ,the two electrodes are inserted in it and the electric current is passed into the molten salt,then the redox reaction takes place at electrodes. Electrolysis of NaCl (molten) Half Reactions: Cl- ions that collide with the positive electrode are oxidized to Cl2 gas, which bubbles off at anode. At Anode(+ve electrode): Oxidation half reaction 2Cl-(aq) → Cl2(g) + 2e- 👉Cl– ions( 8e- in valance shell) migrate towards the anode. They give up the electrons to the anode and oxidized to Cl2 gas. When Na+ ions collide with the negative electrode, The battery carries a large enough potential to force these ions to pick up electrons to form sodium metal. At Cathode( -ve electrode): Reduction half reaction 2Na+(aq) + 2e- → 2Na(s) 👉Na+ ions( 8e- in valance shell after losing 1e-) migrate to the cathode where after gaining electron/s reduced to Na metal. Electrolysis of NaCl: 2NaCl (l) → 2Na(s) + Cl2(g) The net effect of passing an electric current through the molten NaCl in the cell decomposes it into its elements, Sodium metal & chlorine gas. For Chemistry Animated video , Visit “Digital Kemistry” Youtube Channel Click Subscribe & hit bell for more informative videos
Witches, Ghosts and Goblins – Oh My! Why Some Children Fear Halloween: Ryerson Expert Source Newsroom: Ryerson University Newswise — Trick-or-treating is a time-honoured tradition that thousands of young children look forward to every year. But some children may be a little uneasy, or even fearful, of people dressed up as strange-looking creatures wandering through their neighbourhood on Halloween asking for candy and treats. Professor Martin Antony, a leading expert on phobias and chair of Ryerson University’s psychology department, offers a few tips to parents to help ease their children’s anxieties -- and have some fun. 1. Anxiety is easiest to manage when situations are predictable. Explain to your child what is likely to happen during Halloween to minimize any surprises. You can also reduce uncertainty by taking your child to a costume store to see the range of costumes that will likely be encountered on Halloween. Have your child try on a few different costumes and take some photos. Seeing him or herself dressed as a ghost or witch will help to reduce fear of others wearing similar costumes on Halloween. 2. Explain to your child that the people he or she encounters are just pretending to be scary, and that it’s all in good fun. 3. If your child is nervous about visiting strangers’ homes, visit familiar homes first, such as those of neighbours or friends. As your child becomes more comfortable, you can venture out and try some other homes in the neighbourhood. 4. If your child is nervous about going out after dark, consider trick or treating while there is still some light outside. 5. Safety in numbers. Your child may feel most comfortable going out with a small group of familiar people, such as parents, grandparents, siblings or friends. 6. Do your best to be supportive and empathic – try to see the situation through your child’s eyes. Also, keep your own expectations in check. If your Halloween plans don’t work out this year, be prepared to end the evening early. Although it’s often helpful to encourage children to confront the situations they fear, your encouragement should be positive and supportive. Forcing a screaming child to do something terrifying may make the fear worse. 7. If your child is too afraid to go out for Halloween, consider having him or her dress up at home and give out candy to other children. 8. Finally, parents sometimes worry about the safety of their children during Halloween. Be careful to keep your own fears in check, and be sure not to model excessive or unrealistic fears in front of your children. Expert available for interviews: Martin Antony, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology Co-Author, Anti-Anxiety Workbook: Proven Strategies to Overcome Worry, Panic, Phobias and Obsessions Office: 416-979-5000 x 2631 * Available only for phone interviews until Friday, Oct. 25; Not available from Mon., Oct. 29 to Wed., Oct. 31
The challenges of climate change and the continued growth of electricity demand are putting increasing stress on the world’s electricity network infrastructure. The prevailing design philosophy for the existing electricity networks is a legacy from a period when energy was relatively cheap and plentiful and meeting rising demand was the dominant driver. The world is now at the point of transition to a new era where clean energy will be at a premium, networks will need to be flexible to the incorporation of new low-carbon technologies and customers will demand greater insight and control over their own consumption. Smart grids are a necessary element to enable this transition: • They deliver energy more efficiently and reliably • They provide the capacity to integrate more renewable energy into existing networks • They provide the ability to manage increasing numbers of electric vehicles • They enable customers to have greater control of their energy • They have considerable capacity to reduce global carbon emissions • They stimulate an array of new business models in the energy sector
Is evolution as simple as the flip of a switch? - BY EMILY SINGER, QUANTA MAGAZINE - 1:20 PM Excerpt: “In 1996, Susan Rosenberg, then a young professor at the University of Alberta, undertook a risky and laborious experiment. Her team painstakingly screened hundreds of thousands of bacterial colonies grown under different conditions, filling the halls outside her lab with tens of thousands of plates of bacteria. “It stank,” Rosenberg recalled with a laugh. My comment: What “stank” was the concentration of species-specific pheromones that control the nutrient-dependent physiology of reproduction in species from microbes to man via conserved molecular mechanisms. I this article, the biophysical constraints on ecological adaptations are removed from any consideration whatsoever. Stress-induced beneficial changes are simply attributed to mutations that cause diseases and disorders. The same molecular mechanisms that perturb protein folding somehow also cause mutation-driven evolution to somehow occur via selection for something that theoretically occurs at the flip of a switch. (SARCASM) Thus, ecological variation is not considered; mutation-driven evolution is accepted without question; and all is right in the world of theoretical biology that is based on mathematical models. Never mind the biological fact that all experimental evidence shows us ecological adaptations are nutrient-dependent and pheromone-controlled (e.g., the thousands of plates stank) via conserved molecular mechanisms in species from microbes to man. The important thing to know, according to this article, is that evolution “evolves.” I reiterate: “In 1996, Susan Rosenberg, then a young professor at the University of Alberta, undertook a risky and laborious experiment. Her team painstakingly screened hundreds of thousands of bacterial colonies grown under different conditions…” In 1996, our Hormones and Behavior review article: From Fertilization to Adult Sexual Behavior, included a section on molecular epigenetics that placed ecological adaptations into the context of nutrient-dependent (e.g., growth under different conditions) pheromone-controlled alternative splicings of pre-mRNA, which led to — among other differences — the sex differences in unicellular yeasts at the advent of nutrient-dependent pheromone-controlled physiology of sexual reproduction. It will be interesting to someday read what others have since learned about how mutations led to sexual reproduction by “flipping” a “switch.” Meanwhile, according to this article, we know only that evolution evolves sex differences like it evolved all the other differences in cell types of individuals of all species. (SARCASM) Evolution “flipped some switches,” like the one that caused eye regression in the cave fish.
It has long been known that there is a connection between Type 2 diabetes and depression, and recent research suggests that the relationship between these two conditions works in both directions — in other words, depression may be both a risk factor for developing Type 2, as well as a consequence of having it. People with diabetes are three to four times as likely to have major depression as people in the general population. To evaluate the relationship between depression and Type 2 diabetes, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health recruited 65,381 women who were between the ages of 50 and 75 in 1996. The participants completed questionnaires regarding their medical history and health practices at the beginning of the study period, along with follow-up questionnaires every two years for the next ten years. Women who reported symptoms of depression, diagnosis of a depression by a physician, or the use of antidepressant medicines were classified as having depression. Over the course of the 10-year follow-up period, 2,844 women developed Type 2 diabetes and 7,415 were diagnosed with depression. After controlling for risk factors such as physical activity and body-mass index, women with depression were roughly 17% more likely to develop diabetes; those who were taking antidepressants had a 25% higher chance of developing diabetes. And after controlling for risk factors for other mood disorders, women with diabetes were 29% more likely to develop depression; women taking insulin had a 53% higher risk of developing depression than women without diabetes. According to the study authors, the data supports the idea that diabetes is related to stress, noting that “A diagnosis of diabetes may lead to symptoms of depression for the following reasons: depression may result from the biochemical changes directly caused by diabetes or its treatment, or from the stresses and strains associated with living with diabetes and its often debilitating consequences.” The authors suggest lifestyle interventions such as weight management and regular physical activity as a means of lowering the risk of both depression and diabetes. To learn more about the research, read the article “Depression May Be Both Consequence of and Risk Factor for Diabetes” or see the study’s abstract in the Archives of Internal Medicine. And for information on treating depression, read nurse David Spero’s four part–series on the topic.
How Goodman and the Beatles rocked the music industry through its different era’s In the twentieth century, every music band that came up successfully had its own style with strong and rebellious music that people either danced to or just liked listening to as forms of entertainment. At the beginning of the century, Ragtime music was very popular. Moving on to the period after world war one, the Jazz age came in and poured its way all throughout the twenties like a dream come true until it came to a reality check when the market crashed in 1929. Listeners then sought different types of beats and that’s when musicians like Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford and Chick Webb were followed by Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman and Benny Goodman. Benny Goodman was later titled the ‘King of Swing’ because his band defined the entire era. In the 1940s, rhythm and blues became more popular and were developed by the blacks for the blacks. By about 1955, this type of music became popular amongst all ethnic races. Then came the rock and roll kind of music made popular by Elvis Presley and the Beatles followed by many other bands who had their own touch to the kind of music they played. Once rock and roll moved out, rap and hip hop music came into being more recently. Benny Goodman was one of those musicians who failed at first and then succeeded. In 1934, he was talked into leading a recording group where he achieved very limited success. But within a year or so he had come up with a permanent band which had the charm to generate a lot of excitement amongst its fans and was also able to grab a spot on a national radio show. Goodman was a leader who required perfection and for that he demanded long working hours from his team. These rehearsals helped the band learn the exact musical technique while at the same time, allowing those doing solo performances to express their individual talents. With such training, not only did his band swing like crazy, they also cleanly attacked the audience with perfect intonation. The Beatles band were a team of four teenagers who were just sitting their O Level Exams while going all over town in search of new and old gig items that they could find. It took the band six years to become famous. Due to the fact that they were so young and not matured and responsible enough, a lot of issues came up that prevented them from succeeding. But their team spirit kept them from giving up. All of them had a gut feeling that one day something good was going to come out of this effort. In the year 1962, they became so famous in Liverpool that they had to disguise themselves if they wanted to go out unnoticed. Once they released their second single in early 1963, they became nationally famous. By 1964, the band was internationally famous by producing hits after hits. Today, the group is nearly 40 years old but they are still going strong and seem to be forever young.
Many problems we have to solve in day-to-day business, engineering, and science practice require the simultaneous study of several different but interrelated factors. Although problems of this form have been studied throughout the long history of mathematics, only in the early 20th century did the systematic approach we now refer to as linear algebra based on matrices emerge. Matrices and linear algebra are now recognized as the fundamental tool for foundational methods in statistics, optimization, quantum mechanics, and many other fields, and are an essential component of most subfields of mathematics. Linear algebra provides students their first introduction to the concept of dimension in an abstract setting where things with 4, 5, or even more dimensions are often encountered. MATH 220 is a 2 credit course that teaches the core concepts of matrix arithmetic and linear algebra. It is a required course for many students majoring in engineering, science, or secondary education. In past coursework, students should have gained practice solving pairs of equations like 3 x + 4 y = 10, x - y = 1. This is a system of two linear equations with two unknowns and as a unique solution students can find by isolating and substituting. In linear algebra, this system is represented as A x = b, where x is a vector of unknowns, A is a matrix, and b is a vector of constants. Linear algebra is the field of mathematics that grew out of a need to solve systems like these and related problems with many unknown variables. Topics covered in MATH 220 include matrix algebra, vectors, linear transformations, solution to systems of linear equations, determinants, matrix inverses, concepts of rank and dimension, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and others as time permits. Course prerequisites can be filled by one semester of calculus. Students may take MATH 220 concurrently with MATH 141, MATH 230, or MATH 250. Students seeking a linear algebra course without a calculus prerequisite may consider MATH 018 as an alternative. After completing MATH 220, students can enroll in MATH 441 or MATH 484. MATH 441 provides more in-depth perspective on linear algebra. MATH 484 studies widely used applications of linear algebra to optimization problems. Class size, frequency of offering, and evaluation methods will vary by location and instructor. For these details check the specific course syllabus. An honors version of this course is offered at least once per year. Sample Final Exams
by Robert Wexelblatt What follows is an explanation of a recently discovered poem-letter dating from the Sui period. It was sent by the poet Chen Hsi-wei to a friend he made in the vicinity of Hsuan, Ko Qing-zhao, thought to be a painter of pastoral scenes. To understand Hsi-wei’s text requires some knowledge of the nearly forgotten figure of Chang Yan-lu. No one can be certain about the truth of the ancient tale of how Chang Yan-lu became the Duke of Shun. Without faith in its veracity a story will be judged less as history than as a made-up tale: is it credible? faithful to human nature? does it make me think or wonder; above all, is it both pleasing and significant? Of course, everyone must decide such questions for himself. However, if the story of Yan-lu were not pleasing it would long ago have been lost to our people’s imperfect, albeit long, memory whereas, in fact, it has been retold many times and over many centuries. Proof that it is a meaningful story is that it has given rise to disputes and has even been the cause of bitter feuds. That is why it is held to be a dangerous story, not to be told to young children. Surely a story that is both inflammatory and often repeated ought to be granted some merit, whether it is true or not. According to most sources, Chang Yang-lu’s father was a petty landowner in Zhou, holding the rank of count, second class. His land lay in the north and, while extensive, was arid and unproductive. Yang-lu was a second son. Though the title and land had to go to his brother everyone acknowledged Yang-lu’s superiority, even his brother. The boy was well-built, athletic, quick with numbers, a precocious apt pupil who produced elegant calligraphy. He excelled at all martial exercises and games of strategy; he was able to speak easily with either a peasants or a scholar, and to impress both. Despite all these gifts, he aroused affection more often than jealousy. Yan-lu’s mother had a cousin in the capital who had attained the rank of a third minister. Through him, a place was arranged for Yang-lu at court. With tears being shed on all sides, he was sent off to the capital at the age of fourteen. Yan-lu was politely received by his mother’s cousin, welcomed warmly by his extensive family, and given a room in their villa. He was appointed as an assistant in the Ministry of Cloud Cavalry which, in addition to horses, had charge of food storage and road maintenance. The boy quickly distinguished himself by adding up dan of rice more rapidly and accurately than anyone else and by riding the most fractious horses with reckless grace. In short order, he was promoted. According to one version of the story, Yan-lu was rewarded by his superiors with an invitation to join the gentry in the silver pavilion at the annual Lantern Festival. In the course of the evening, Yan-lu found himself standing near a group doing traditional riddles. A lady complained that the riddles were so traditional that they had grown stale. With the audacity of his youth, Yan-lu spoke up. “Pardon me, My Lady, would you like me to ask you a new one?” The lady was surprised but smiled. “What? Have you just made one up?” Yan-lu bowed low. “Two, My Lady.” People gathered around, including the Cloud Cavalry Minister himself. “Well, what’s the first?” asked the lady, intrigued. “What can turn everything around without moving itself?” “What indeed?” asked the Lady with a giggle, glancing around at her friends who all shook their heads. “It appears we need a hint, if you please.” Yan-lu looked at the lady in her carefully coiffed hair and silk gown which was cut rather low. “It is something you see at least once every day.” “I’ve got it!” exclaimed the Minister. “It’s a mirror and I assure you she sees it twenty times a day.” Everyone laughed except for the lady, who happened to be the Minister’s first wife. “Let’s have the second riddle,” said the Minister, who had enjoyed solving the first and discomfiting his haughty wife. “Well, Your Excellency, try this: When I slap you, I slap me. And when I hit you, my blood flows. Who is you?” The Minister’s deputy, who seldom left his side, made a shocked face and grumbled. To speak to the Minister of slapping? Imagine! To his mind it was this impudent boy’s blood that ought to flow. But the Minister was not in the least offended. He requested that Yan-lu repeat the riddle, and asked his deputy if he knew the answer. The deputy scowled and shook his head. Then the Minister asked his first wife if she knew, but she turned away and pretended not to have heard. “Well, then, I give up. What’s the answer?” “A mosquito, Excellency.” “Ah, a mosquito. Of course. Splendid!” The boy grew into a tall young man and his reputation rose with his stature. One day the First Minister sent for Chang Yan-lu. The First Minister was a crafty man feared for his ruthlessness, high standards, and intelligence but esteemed for the same qualities. Yan-lu was conducted by two guards through courtyards he had never before seen and down a red-painted corridor to a wide and well-appointed inner chamber. On a dais sat the First Minister. Yan-lu at once put his forehead to the floor. The First Minister gestured to the guards to leave the room. Only after the doors were shut tight did he address Yan-lu. “By all accounts you are a gifted and brave young man. I am informed you are now seventeen. Is that so?” “Yes, Excellency. Seventeen.” “We have a challenging task for you. It will be difficult, but I ask it in the name of the Duke, to whom you have sworn allegiance.” The Minister explained that the recent death of the Duke of Shun had brought his young son to power. Shun was growing in strength and, with a new ruler of unknown temperament and ambition, might prove a problem. In short, the Minister had to consider the probability that Shun would attack Zhou in the near future. “You will be provided with documents proving that the Duke has treated your family unjustly. You are to take these to Shun, declare that you detest Zhou, and beg to be taken into the service of the Duke of Shun, even in the lowliest capacity. We rely on you to distinguish yourself in Shun as you have here and so to attain a position giving you access to information that will be vital in the event of war.” For the sake of this plan, the Chang family did have their land confiscated by the state, though, after a few months of privation, they were given a smaller but more profitable estate in the south. Yan-lu did as instructed and was taken into the service of the youthful Duke of Shun in which he rose quickly. After only three years, he was appointed third deputy to the Minister of the Green Jade Gate. This was approved by the First Minister, a kindly man who, during their interview, treated Yan-lu in a fatherly manner. In this new position, he accompanied the Duke, who was only two years his senior, on hunting forayss and then on a punitive expedition to the western border. On the way to the frontier, the column was ambushed and, in the ensuing fight, Yan-lu saved the Duke’s life. As a consequence, he became the Duke’s favorite companion. According to some versions of the story, shortly after this expedition Chang Yan-lu married while in others he remained single; however, all agree that he grew fond of the Duke and of the people of Shun. As for the young Duke’s political objectives, he could find no indication of any aggressive intentions with regard to Zhou; quite the contrary, in fact. Yet war did come. Zhou’s First Minister persuaded his Duke that Shun was a clear threat and the time had come to eliminate it by annexing their neighbor. With a man of their own in a position of confidence in the court of Shun, they could rely on having a decisive advantage. A distant cousin of Yang-lu’s father, a rural bureaucrat, was sent to Shun, ostensibly to visit him and give him news of his family. When they were alone, the cousin said, “I’ve been sent by the First Minister to deliver this” and drew from his robe a sealed scroll. “Don’t ask me anything about it. I swore not to open it. All I know is that I am to take your reply back with me in the morning.” The scroll did not say that an attack was imminent; however, the questions it posed made the Minister’s intentions clear enough. Shun would soon be attacked and without warning. Yang-lu spent a terrible night, torn between two loyalties. He did not sleep and wrote nothing until dawn was breaking. When he did write, he wrote falsely. The following day, after seeing the cousin safely off, he begged a private audience with the Duke and his First Minister. He told them the whole story, not leaving out his personal struggle. The Duke was too furious to speak but the First Minister remained calm. “Why did you decide for us?” he asked. “Three reasons,” said Yan-lu. “First, because you are the more worthy. Second, because you are not the aggressor. Third, because I have come to know you.” The Minister suggested to the Duke that Yan-lu be given a commission in the cavalry and sent to the border with two generals to strengthen the defenses. The fighting began within weeks. Yan-lu led his men so well that he was acknowledged as Shun’s best field commander. After repulsing the initial onslaught, the army of Shun crossed into Zhou. Meanwhile, in the capital a treacherous official, bribed by Zhou’s First Minister, poisoned the Duke of Shun and his First Minister as well. In the panic that followed, he declared himself ruler. He sent orders for the army to withdraw from Zhou and signed them as Duke of Shun. Yan-lu met with the other officers and they resolved to ignore these orders. Instead, with Yan-lu at its head, the army swept across the plains of Zhou to the capital. When the troops reached the palace, they found it empty. Yan-lu drew up a proclamation to the effect that Shun and Zhou would henceforth be united for the benefit of both. The bulk of the army remained to pacify Zhou while Yan-lu, at the head of half the cavalry, wheeled around and made for the capital of Shun. News of his approach preceded his arrival. The Second Minister, who had gone into hiding, managed to organize loyalists among the guard who could foresee what would await them on the return of Yan-lu. And so, before Yan-lu and his horsemen arrived, the usurper had been arrested and beheaded. The late Duke of Shun had neither children nor brothers and so, instead of the desperate battle he expected, Yan-lu was asked by the remaining ministers to become Duke of the newly united Shun of Zhou. From a position that had been precarious and divided, Yan-lu now unified his two countries in his own person. According to the most popular accounts his reign was progressive, prosperous, peaceful, and long. He was even-handed with all, favoring neither Shun nor Zhou. After his death many legends were told of his wisdom and the people gave him a new title. Putting their children to sleep mothers would whisper to them, “May the Duke of Good Dreams visit you tonight.” Four years after leaving the capital and taking up his vagabond life, fashioning straw sandals and poems, Chen Hsi-wei arrived in the city of Yun. He was recognized in the market as the young poet-peasant of whom people were talking and word was sent to the governor who invited him to a banquet that very night. The feast was in honor of a far more celebrated visitor to Yun, the Court chronicler Fung Chu-li. At the reception before the meal, the Governor introduced the two, formally praising both. The older man looked Hsi-wei up and down, taking in his youth and the borrowed robe made of woven linen rather than silk. When he spoke he did so as rudely as he had scrutinized Hsi-wei. “Forgive me, but I cannot share in our host’s high opinion of you, young man. If I cannot think well of you, it is not only because you are a peasant,” he went on, “it is still more because you are a poet. What irritates me about you poets is just what you brag of most—I mean your so-called imagination. While claiming to see the profound insides of things you ignore the exterior facts which, while they may appear too plain for you, are nonetheless true. History is solid rock; a poem is merely a mirage.” Hsi-wei did not respond to these insults. He simply smiled at the chronicler’s using two metaphors, gave a bow, and moved to the other side of the room. However, over dinner, he did reply in his own way. One of the guests had raised the subject of loyalty and the chronicler spoke of Chang Yan-lu. After clearing his throat, he spoke pompously. “When loyalties are divided they must always be resolved, for good or ill. I am reminded of the famous Duke of Shun. Though he died almost a thousand years ago his life remains the best account we have of such a dilemma being resolved in a happy fashion.” Hsi-wei, one of the few at the table who knew the story, spoke up. “Perhaps I am too ignorant and that is why I am uncertain about the Duke of Shun. But I have heard that people do not all see the story in the same way. Even where they agree on the facts—or that the facts are facts—they do not agree on their meaning.” The chronicler was not pleased by this turn in the conversation and decided to bully Hsi-wei. “That is ridiculous. There is nothing to argue over, once the facts are known.” Hsi-wei replied, “Pardon my using a comparison that might be thought poetic, but it seems to me that facts, like peonies and lilies, can be arranged in various ways. Where one makes a bouquet meant for a young lady, another will weave a funeral wreath.” “Nonsense,” said the chronicler at the same moment that the Governor said, “Go on.” “Well,” said Hsi-wei, “when I was living in the capital, my tutor entertained several scholars. As it happens, they fell into arguing over the story of the Duke of Shun. One said the popular ending cannot be believed, as it is too neatly happy. The bad are punished, the good rewarded, and the two dukedoms are married like a prince and a princess at the end of a fairy tale. His view was that, having won the war, Shun oppressed Zhou, and the story was exactly the kind victors always like to give out. Another insisted the story was not about divided loyalties but betrayal. He pointed out that Yan-lu had sworn allegiance to the Duke of Zhou, legitimate ruler of his homeland. He shirked his duty and was the cause not only of his country’s defeat but its disappearance. Nothing more damnable, he said, and added that he had more sympathy for the banished Duke of Zhou than the poisoned Duke of Shun. Another observed that both dukes came to disastrous ends. He said the story is actually about the evils of war which so often harms victors as well as vanquished. In his opinion, if Yan-lu was a hero at all, it was not because he won the war of Shun against Zhou but because he foreclosed the possibility of all future wars between them.” “Ah,” said the Governor, “that’s quite a range. And what was your master’s opinion?” “Well, Excellency, my master was not the most optimistic of men. He saw the story as one about high politics carried out by the all too customary methods of murder and treason. He argued that the character of Yan-lu may have had some historical source but was obviously an imaginary figure, invented to trick the people into believing that what is ugly and selfish is pretty and magnanimous.” The banquet came to an end shortly thereafter. As they were departing, Hsi-wei went up to the chronicler to say that it had been a great honor to meet him. Though Hsi-wei was sincere, Fung felt provoked. So he gave the poet yet another and still more passionate lecture on the supremacy of his profession. And that is how Hsi-wei came to write the following: Hsi-wei’s Letter-Poem to Ko Qing-zhao Just yesterday I encountered Fung Chuan-li, the renowned chronicler. Pointing to a coffered ceiling he declared, “The present is fleeting, not to be caught, and the future unknowable; but the past—the past is as firmly set in place as iron spikes have made this roof beam.” I bowed courteously, a peasant thankful for this lesson on the objectivity of truth. I did not wish to offend and so refrained from remarking, “Beams burn. Surely you know some future emperor is going to make a bonfire of your elegant chronicles. The past, rewritten in a moving present, only appears still.” What is beyond dispute in the tale of Chang Yan-lu? As it recedes, the past softens into poems up for interpreting. Did Yan-lu make a good choice or a treacherous one? Was he a hero to Shun, a villain to Zhou, the savior of both, or a usurper loyal only to himself? The tale is so ancient one may ask if there ever was a Yan-lu, or even a hostile Shun and Zhou. Like snowstorms and heat waves, so many dynasties have blown over Zhong guo, that it scarcely matters now. What counts is that people like the story—and what they make of it. Editor’s Note on Hsi-Wei and the Tale of the Duke of Shun Hsi-Wei and the Tale of the Duke of Shun is not Robert Wexelblatt’s first piece in Eastlit. The following pieces of work have appeared in earlier Eastlit issues:
Back in 2012. the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) announced its intentions to design, and launch into space, a satellite to clean up space junk named SpaceCleanOne. They are getting a little help as Swiss Space System (S3) has joined the project. Everyone knows that there is tons of junk orbiting the earth which present problems for manned space missions as well as satellites. Not only does the existing junk create a potential threat to objects in space, but when space junk crashes into other space junk it creates even more, smaller pieces of space junk (check out Kessler Syndrome for how problematic this could be). The goal of this satellite is to wander around the earth and when it find some space junk, grab hold of it and toss it into the atmosphere so it burns up. Given the amount of space junk out there, as illustrated in the included image, CleanSpace One may be at its job for a long, long time. In any event, it good that someone is taking on the challenge of cleaning up all the crap we are leaving out there, and since S3 is kicking in about $16 million (CHF 15 million) to the project, let's hope that it all works out as planned and they can then concentrate on getting more satellites up there to take the trash out. \|Topics\|\|Science, Space, Funding, Space Tech, Satellite\|
Just fractions of a millimetre across, a new bio-inspired robot can complete a complex range of motions when hit by a sequence of laser pulses. The crab’s structure is far more sophisticated than many existing robots of the same size, but can still be manufactured using a relatively simple process. Its design could open up promising opportunities in research and medicine. Tiny robots: Robot designs have progressed at a breakneck pace over the past few years. Often inspired by the evolutionary adaptations of animals, many modern robots feature intricate structures, advanced materials, and complex electrical circuits that allow them to perceive their surroundings, communicate with their neighbours, and navigate difficult terrains. By miniaturising these designs, researchers are hoping to expand these applications to spaces that would be otherwise impossible to reach — including the many passages and chambers found inside our own bodies. By folding 2D materials in just the right way, more complex 3D structures can emerge. The challenge: With most existing manufacturing techniques, it isn’t yet possible to recreate the complexity of larger-scale robots in sub-millimetre bots. This has mostly limited tiny robots to very simple structures, like spheres, rods, and tubes. There is an exception: by folding 2D materials in just the right way, more complex 3D structures can emerge – much like the paper in a pop-up book. So far, these designs have demonstrated an ability to swim through liquid, but still aren’t able to walk across flat, solid surfaces. The design: A team of researchers in China and the US, headed by John Rogers at Northwestern University, have now overcome this challenge with a new robot design, inspired by the peekytoe crab. To build their robot, the team printed its components onto a flat surface, then transferred them onto a piece of stretched silicone. This initial “2D” print contained a rigid skeleton, featuring a central body and six legs, connected by joints made from a deformable material. Using this same joint material, the team attached two claws and a pair of back legs to the central body. They also used sticky pads to bond the feet and claws to the silicone surface. When they relaxed the stretched silicone, the joints buckled under the compressive stress, and the structure popped up into a 3D, free-standing structure: a crab robot. At this point, Rogers’ team coated the entire crab in a thin glass shell. This kept the joint material in its new shape, even after the robot was removed from the unstretched silicone. With this technique, the researchers fabricated a robot measuring just around 200 micrometres across. At roughly 1/150th a peekytoe crab’s actual size, their design was small enough to stand on the edge of a coin. Programming movement: When heated by a laser, the crab’s joint material reverted back to its original 2D shape, allowing the robot to straighten its legs and claws. Yet as it cooled, the glass shell forced this material back into its bent state. This behaviour allowed Rogers’ team to stimulate a wide range of motions in their crab: by heating its entire body with laser pulses, the structure could bend, twist, and expand. By targeting specific sets of joints in pre-programmed sequences of laser pulses, the robot could be instructed to crawl, run, turn, and jump. Unlike previous designs of sub-millimetre robots, the crab’s minuscule size worked to its advantage. After heating and straightening, the joint material took very little time to cool down and bend – allowing the robot’s legs and claws to quickly move through their full range of motion. Altogether, this allowed the crab to move at speeds of close to half its body length per second – substantially higher than existing sub-millimetre robots. To improve their design further, Rogers and colleagues gave their crab a pair of “eyes” made from a retroreflector material – which directs incoming light back towards its source. This provided a simple wireless system for the team to monitor and locate their robot. In addition, they coated these retroreflectors with a material that absorbs particular wavelengths of light, which vary with the humidity of the surrounding air. This added a sensing capability to the robot – allowing its users to gain useful information about its surroundings. Performing delicate tasks: Already, the capabilities of the team’s robot present promising opportunities in a wide array of tasks. For biologists, such a design could be an ideal vehicle for manipulating tissues, or even carrying individual cells: completing programmed manoeuvres that would be far too delicate for larger-scale robots to handle. Elsewhere, tiny robots could be programmed to deliver drugs to targeted sites inside the body, or help doctors to perform minimally invasive surgical procedures. By adapting their approach, Rogers and colleagues ultimately hope to fabricate sub-millimetre robots spanning a diverse range of shapes and sizes in the future – expanding the scope of their potential uses even further. We’d love to hear from you! If you have a comment about this article or if you have a tip for a future Freethink story, please email us at [email protected].
- Published date: The Hebrew Manuscripts Digitisation Project has been digitising items from the British Library's significant collection of Hebrew hand-written books, charters and scrolls, in order to make them available online. Aim of the project The core aim of the Hebrew Manuscripts Digitisation Project (HMDP Phase 1 and 2) is to provide free online access to Hebrew manuscripts from the Library’s collection, through manuscript conservation and imaging, catalogue creation and online presentation. The outputs are detailed and searchable catalogue records and fully digitised manuscripts. Phase 1 of the project also included a digital scholarship component, aiming to encourage and facilitate research using the new digital collection. The British Library’s collection of Hebrew manuscripts includes items manifesting Jewish cultural, religious and social lives between the 10th century and the beginning of the 20th century, covering a vast geographical space from Europe and North Africa in the west, through the Middle East to China in the east. What we have achieved so far For Phase 1 of the project, the Library received a major grant from The Polonsky Foundation. By the end of this phase (2013 - 2016), we have finalised the digitisation of 1,300 manuscripts, capturing approximately 435,000 digitised images. These were mainly manuscripts catalogued by George Margoliouth at the end of the 19th century. In addition, four of our Torah scrolls had textile covers (mantles), made of silk brocade and linen. These have undergone conservation treatment by a textile conservator and have been digitised as well. Our digitised manuscripts have been uploaded and can be viewed on the Library’s Digitised Manuscripts site. Images and metadata of the manuscripts can also be downloaded as datasets as part of BL Labs. We encourage people to access, research and enjoy the digital collection. Phase 1 of the project included the creation of The Polonsky Foundation Catalogue of Digitised Manuscripts web-space. It explores some of our digitised collection items in depth, with articles by different experts. It also includes videos from our 2016 Hebrew manuscript digitisation conference. This space is available translated into Hebrew. Some of the highlights of digitised manuscripts include: - Anglo-Jewish charters, England, 13th century (e.g. Harley Charter 43 A 68) - the Duke of Sussex’s German Pentateuch, Germany, 14th century (Add.MS.15282) - the Golden Haggadah, Catalonia, 14th century (Add.MS.27210) - the London Codex, Egypt, c. 10th century (Or.4445) - the North French Miscellany, France, 13th century (Add.MS.11639) What happens next A second digitisation phase has started in April 2016. This new project, aimed at digitising at least 1,250 Hebrew manuscripts, is an international collaboration with the National Library of Israel (NLI) and the Friedberg Jewish Manuscript Society. This new phase of digitisation will focus mainly on our significant Gaster and Samaritan collections. The NLI plans on creating a new ‘hub’ for Hebrew manuscripts, to consolidate and facilitate their viewing (Ktiv: The International Collection of Digitised Hebrew Manuscripts). Our digitised images from both phase 1 and phase 2 will be included in this new resource. Through both The Polonsky Foundation sponsored HMDP (phase 1) and the new NLI collaborative project (phase 2), most of the Library’s 3,000 Hebrew manuscripts will be fully digitised and available online by 2019, and all of them will be fully catalogued. Phase 1 of the project is supported by - Maurice Wohl Charitable Trust - American Trust for the British Library - Lara Atkin Charitable Trust - Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation - Shoresh Charitable Trust - Ruth and Jack Lunzer Charitable Trust - Edith and Ferdinand Porjes Charitable Trust - Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe - One anonymous sponsor Phase 2 of the project is supported by Find out more - about our collection items through a range of articles on the Hebrew Manuscripts website - about our Hebrew collections - on recent discoveries and developments in the Asian and African studies blog - on updates and highlights on Twitter at @BL_HebrewMSS #HebrewProject. Contact and feedback Please feel free to contact firstname.lastname@example.org if you would like further information, or to give feedback on using our digital collection.
Xīn Nián Kuài Lè! Or in loosely translated terms: Happy New Year! Traditionally, New Year’s Day was called Yuan Dan. Yuan means “the beginning”; Dan means “day”. I’m fond of another interpretation: the first sunrise. When the Chinese republic was established in the 1900’s it was renamed “Spring Festival”. In relation to the Chinese calendar, dates are interconnected to the moods of the moon and the time of the solar year. Quite often, Chinese New Year is referred to as the “Lunar New Year”. So many abundant ways to describe it. If I were to settle on one, mythology fascinates the most : “An ancient Chinese legend tells of a man-eating predatory beast called Nian, extremely fierce, with a long head and sharp horn. Nian dwelled deep in the sea the whole year long, but on every Chinese New Year eve it would climb onto the shore to devour livestock and harm humans in a near-by village. Therefore, every Chinese New Year’s Eve, all the villagers would take their old and young deep into the mountains to hide from Nian. One Chinese New Year’s Eve a grey haired man appeared in the village. He asked permission to stay for the night and assured everyone that he would chase away the beast. No one believed him. In addition, the old man steadfastly refused to go to the mountains to hide. Seeing that he could not be persuaded, the villagers departed without him. When the beast arrived at the village to wreck havoc as usual, it was met with a sudden burst of exploding firecrackers. Startled by the noise, the flashes of light and red banners flying about, it hastily turned and fled! The following day, as the people returned from the mountains, they found the village intact and safe. The old man had left, but they found the remains of the three precious items he had used to chase the beast Nian away. They all agreed that the old man must be a deity who had come to help free them of the beast.” That delightful tale set in motion what we witness today. People shoot off firecrackers (or fireworks) usually in the early morning hours, though really it’s a practice done throughout the day (purchase a set of ear plugs!). Red banners are hung and lamps glow during the night to herald a new year, free of meddling spirits and open to receive fortune and good luck. Dumplings or ‘jiaozi’ is the poster food for the festivities and most of my students rave about their mother’s special recipe. I must admit I eat my fare share of jiaozi in the off-festival hours, so the lure of this popular dish wasn’t that mysterious to me. The feeling permeating at the heart of Wuxi, also know as Nanchan Si, was wildly warm. Chinese people work very hard and the next ten days is a chance to unwind, let loose and for once, be whimsical again. Market and food stalls were at the ready. Carnivalesque games were being tried by child and adult alike. Though there are public activities and CCTV broadcasts parades with patriotic songs warbling as background music, truly the Spring Festival is mainly a family affair. My students recall it as a time to gather all the generations in a central place, share tales, food and the ties of love. I can go for that. It’s 蛇 Shé — Year of the Snake, so if you are one, embrace it. Could be full of excitement and bounty. Though some businessmen and politicians are frightened of its bite. Some images I managed to capture of the first few days. Jiangsu Province is known for the craft of ceramics. These intrigued me. A snack of egg with a bit of meat or vegetables in the center. For McDonaldphiles, the Chinese version of an Egg McMuffin. This fella was cooking up a storm in his cowboy hat and dancing to Psy’s Gangnam Style – the song has dominated Chinese dance floors for months. Bits of pork (possibly lamb) marinated with Làjiāo (chili seasoning). Popular anytime, but why not at Spring Festival. Oil drums recycled into stoves (ask author Nick Weston, he lived in a treehouse in the countryside of England, cooking and keeping warm with one). Yams served up soft, piping and roasted. One of my faves. Shānzhā or hawthorn coated in sugary syrup, also known as Tanghulu. Supposedly popular in northern China, but really, can be found in many cities. This was my lunch. Sources tell me mussels are not normal eats, so I got me some special Spring Festival foodie action. Mussels grilled with green onions, slathered with a generous helping of fresh garlic and accented with Làjiāo. I can say with confidence, the mussels metled in my mouth! This bridge behind Nanchan Si is flourished with each animal of the Chinese zodiac. I’m no sneaky snake, but I’m most definitely this. Think I gotta lose weight. Gate of Nanchan Si — main square. Nanchan Temple and Zijin Plaza in full regalia. Qingmingqiao Bridge overlooking the Grand Canal. Lanterns — Chong’an Temple. A final canal view. I promise, no more prattling. I wish y’all a fortunate lunar year! Cheers!
There have been great expectations regarding the production of a drug to block the enzyme LTA4 hydrolase, which plays a key role in the body's inflammatory response. However, in clinical trials, such molecules have proven to be only moderately effective. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have successfully refined their understanding of why previous substances have been less effective – and in so doing have produced a molecule that gets around the problem. Consequently, there is once again hope of a new anti-inflammatory drug based on the principal of blocking LTA4 hydrolase, which could provide relief in diseases such as COPD, the vascular disease arteriosclerosis and chronic eczema. The enzyme LTA4 hydrolase has two functions. One is to produce LTB4, which contributes to the inflammatory reaction. The other is to inactivate the tripeptide Pro-Gly-Pro, which is formed during degradation of connective tissue and which also contributes to inflammation. In the first pathway, the enzyme LTA4 hydrolase evokes an inflammatory process, while it contributes to healing in the second. "It could be considered remarkable that the same enzyme has two activities that are completely opposite. But this is more understandable if you look at it over time: in the first stage, the enzyme creates inflammation at the site of an injury, thus attracting white blood cells, and in the second stage it contributes to healing by inhibiting the inflammation," says Jesper Z. Haeggström, Professor of Molecular Eicosanoid Research in the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Karolinska Institutet. Previous attempts to produce an anti-inflammatory drug that blocks LTA4 hydrolase have knocked out both of these functions. This is probably why the effects have so far been only moderate. Using x-ray crystallography to study LTA4 hydrolase, Jesper Z. Haeggström and his colleagues have been able to demonstrate that the formation of LTB4, which contributes to the inflammatory process and the inactivation of Pro-Gly-Pro, takes place at different parts of the enzyme's active site – the part of the enzyme used for biochemical communication. They have used this information to produce a molecule that inhibits LTA4 hydrolase from producing LTB4, while the inactivation of Pro-Gly-Pro is maintained. This means that LTA4 hydrolase acts as an anti-inflammatory in both pathways; awakening new hopes of producing a drug that acts on this enzyme. In the long-term, the researchers believe that a drug based on their molecule could be used to treat COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), arteriosclerosis and various types of inflammatory skin disease such as chronic eczema. The study has been financed by the Swedish Research Council, the EU, VINNOVA, Stockholm County Council and Dr. Hans Kröner Graduiertenkolleg. Explore further: New direction for epilepsy treatment 'Binding of Pro-Gly-Pro at the active site of leukotriene A4 hydrolase and development of an epoxide hydrolase selective inhibitor', Alena Stsiapanava, Ulrika Olsson, Min Wan, Thea Kleinschmidt, Dorothea Rutishauser, Roman Zubarev, Bengt Samuelsson, Agnes Rinaldo-Matthis and Jesper Z. Haeggström, PNAS, online early edition 3-7 March 2014. www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1402136111
Declawing cats is an emotive subject amongst owners. The procedure is sometimes performed for medical reasons but more often it’s carried out to stop cats scratching things such as furniture. Many people are unaware of exactly what the procedure involves and have no idea of the longterm effect it has on a cat’s life. Can you declaw a Maine Coon cat? If you have a Maine Coon declawed, you subject it to major, painful surgery. During the procedure, known as onychectomy, the whole of the first joint of each toe is amputated. As cats are digitigrades, which means they walk on their toes, they have to learn to walk over again and often suffer crippling pain for life. Though a Maine Coon can be declawed, many countries have banned and are in the process of banning the procedure because it is considered inhumane. Therefore it isn’t something you should consider doing to your cat. There are many alternatives and these are covered further down. The diagram above shows the effect of declawing a Maine Coon. It depicts the bones in a cat’s paws. Top left shows how bones P1 and P2 are positioned when a cat stands or walks, with its claws retracted. The bottom left picture shows a cat’s claws extended as they are when it stretches or claws at something. The declawing procedure involves amputating bone P1 from each toe. This leaves bone P2 suddenly bearing all of the weight as depicted in the top right drawing. Eventually, P2 is pulled by tendons into the unnatural position as shown bottom right. The Declawing Procedure Declawing a Maine Coon is not a simple procedure that can be likened to a manicure. It is a severe operation requiring a general The declawing procedure is equivalent to removing the first bone of each of a human’s fingers as per the following diagram: So as you can see, declawing a cat is not just like a simple manicure. How Declawing Affects A Cat A cat will be in a great deal of pain after the operation and will require painkillers for quite some time. Its paws will be bandaged to keep the wounds clean. The risk of infection is high and its owner will have to check and clean each wound every day as it heals. A cat is likely to be traumatized and confused by the sudden absence of a very important part of its anatomy. For Ever After Many cats continue to feel pain in their paws forever after being declawed. Their whole personalities can change for the worse. As well as being physically affected, they can be psychologically damaged too. Owners have reported that declawed cats resort to biting – something they had never done before the operation. This is often a result of pain and frustration but also because they no longer have their claws to issue warnings with. A declawed cat can never safely leave the house because, without its claws, it has no means to defend itself. If a cat was previously allowed out, this can have an extremely negative effect on its temperament. A declawed cat can no longer flex its muscles and tendons in the way it did by clawing at things. This is fundamental cat behavior and being unable to do this takes away one of its natural activities and affects its health and wellbeing. A cat with claws intact walks on the tips of its toes. It will find walking excruciatingly painful after being declawed and it has to relearn to walk on bones not intended for weight-bearing. Once declawed, many cats suffer every day for the rest of their lives. As cats disguise pain well, owners are often unaware of this but they do notice their cat is never quite the same friendly, sociable animal it was before the operation. Once declawed, a cat can never relieve an itch on its own skin. Try to imagine how this might feel! Many declawed cats can’t stand the feel of cat litter and begin to go to the toilet in other places such as on carpets and soft furnishings which aren’t as irritating to their paws. Because movement, in general, is forever painful after declawing, lethargy sets in. A declawed Maine Coon often becomes depressed, gains weight, and then develops associated health issues such as diabetes, joint problems, and heart conditions. As a result of the change in temperament and the toileting Cats with declawing-related problems are much more difficult to re-home and are often euthanized. This is a tragic and avoidable situation. Arguments Used To Justify Declawing People attempt to justify declawing a cat for a variety of reasons which include: - My cat is destroying the furniture, carpets, and curtains. - I don’t have time to train my cat not to scratch the soft furnishings. - I can’t risk the cat scratching my children/my baby. - There is a person in the house who has a blood clotting issue and must not be scratched. - There is a person on the house with a compromised immune system who can’t risk being scratched. - It’s either declawing or the cat must go to a shelter. When Is Declawing Acceptable? Declawing is only acceptable if it is to benefit the cat for medical reasons such as the removal of a tumor, to eliminate a severe nail-bed infection that could spread and to remove irreversibly damaged claws or claws that can no longer be retracted and are causing issues for the cat. Best Alternatives to Declawing Maine Coons Here’s what you can do instead of declawing: Train Your Cat Yes, it takes a lot of time and patience but this is part and parcel of owning and caring for a cat properly. If you don’t think you will be able to train a cat not to scratch your belongings and you are likely to be upset about scratched belongings then you probably shouldn’t get a cat in the first place. Training works best if you begin it on day one. Install plenty of scratching posts with a variety of textures. If your cat scratches where it shouldn’t distract it away from the area with a toy and head towards a scratching post. Cover things you don’t want to be scratched with thick blankets, plastic, or double-sided sticky tape. Never raise your voice and never punish your cat. Make Sure Your Cat Has An Enriched Environment And Enough Attention Excessive scratching can be caused by boredom. If your cat is left alone indoors for long spells it can get really fed up. If you don’t give it enough attention it may scratch your furniture because it has learned that you then take notice. So make sure you give your cat a variety of toys to amuse it and change them regularly, and also that you play with it every day for at least 15 minutes. Remove Stress Factors Stress can lead to unwanted scratching so make sure you remove any stress factors from your cat’s life. These can include environmental changes such as a house move, a new family pet, loneliness, and boredom. Trim Your Cats Claws Trimming the sharp tip of your cat’s claws helps to limit the damage they can cause. A vet can show you how to do this and then you can do it at home as necessary. Here is a very good pair of cat nail clippers to help you accomplish this. See the earlier photograph of where to trim. If you have genuinely tried everything and your cat is still intent on shredding your furniture then speak to your vet about nail caps. These are glued onto a cat’s claws and last for about 4 weeks before coming off. They are blunt, soft plastic caps that stop your cat damaging things with its claws but they also mean it can’t protect itself and so it shouldn’t go outside in them. It will also not be able to grip anything to stretch its muscles and tendons. And of course, it may hate the feel of them and behave erratically. Some people seem to be applying these to their cats as a fashion accessory. This is really not their intended purpose and should be avoided. Is there a humane way to declaw a Maine Coon cat? There is no humane way to declaw a Maine Coon. Some vets will perform the operation but many will try to deter you from having a cat declawed. You should visit a shelter and ask to see any cats who are there because they have had their claws removed – this will hopefully make you change your mind. Persevere with the methods above as alternatives. Where Is Declawing Banned? In many countries, declawing cats for non-medical reasons is now banned. These include parts of Canada, England, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Wales. Recently New York became the first US state to ban the practice where their Governor referred to the procedure as “archaic,” “inhumane,” and “unnecessary.” Hopefully, more US states will follow suit. It’s also banned in several cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver. Many breeders now stipulate that the Maine Coons they sell must not be declawed. I hope you agree that declawing a cat should not be used as a convenient method to protect furniture from clawing. Declawing is a painful procedure with no positive benefits for cats. Most of the time it changes a cat’s temperament and behavior for the worst and is becoming a bigger cause of cats being given to shelters than those given up for destroying furniture. So, be fair to your cat. Accept it will scratch furniture from time to time, persist with training it not to and, please, let it keep its claws!
- freely available J. Low Power Electron. Appl. 2014, 4(2), 65-76; doi:10.3390/jlpea4020065 Abstract: Ultralow-voltage (ULV) CMOS will be a core building block of highly energy efficient electronics. Although the operation at the minimum energy point (MEP) is effective for ULP CMOS circuits, its slow operation speed often means that it is not used in many applications. The silicon-on-thin-buried-oxide (SOTB) CMOS is a strong candidate for the ultralow-power (ULP) electronics because of its small variability and back-bias control. Proper power and performance optimization with adaptive Vth control taking advantage of SOTB’s features can achieve the ULP operation with acceptably high speed and low leakage. This paper describes our results on the ULV operation of logic circuits (CPU, SRAM, ring oscillator and other logic circuits) and shows that the operation speed is now sufficiently high for many ULP applications. The “Perpetuum-Mobile” micro-controllers operating down to 0.4 V or lower are expected to be implemented in a huge number of electronic devices in the internet-of-things (IoT) era. 1. Introduction: Issues for ULV Operation Possibly Staying on MEP Point A huge number of small electronic devices composing big data are expected to be used across the globe as the “internet of things” (IoT). The CMOS integrated circuit is a core part of these devices. The energy efficiency of the CMOS circuits should therefore be greatly improved. It is well known that the operating voltage (Vdd) is a primarily important parameter for reducing the energy per operation cycle in the CMOS circuits. As shown in Figure 1, the energy is a sum of active (Eac) and leakage (Eleak) energy as shown in Equation (1) in the simplified form. The near- or sub-Vth operation is attractive to improve the energy efficiency. The operating speed of these circuits, however, is not high. The maximum frequency rapidly drops with decreasing Vdd in the conventional CMOS . In the device design for ULP circuits, it is important to optimize both Vdd and Vth. With decreasing Vdd, Vth should increase to minimize the energy . This drastically decreases the frequency and in many cases the MEP operation is a sub-Vth operation and its frequency is less than MHz. The variable Vth approach with adaptive back-bias control can mitigate the situation: optimizing frequency and decreasing energy as low as possible down to the MEP value. Both Vdd and Vth are controlled to minimize the energy, while satisfying the required workload: required frequency. In the dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS), only Vdd is controlled. In order to achieve higher energy efficiency, the control of Vth should be accompanied. It is well known that the characteristic variability of transistors is recognized as a major obstacle for the performance/power tradeoff, especially at low Vdd. The increasing variability also increases Vdd at MEP simply because of the increase in leakage current in a circuit that is a sum of transistor leakages . Moreover, increasing the transistor variation causes delay variation, especially at low Vdd and causes a significant performance drop . Design to cope with the increasing variability at low Vdd becomes more complex. The variability tolerant design prefers to increase the transistor width W; however, this directly increases the power [8,9]. Another variability tolerant logic design prefers a smaller number of pipeline stages and longer logic depth. However, these design strategies decrease the frequency [10,11] and increase Emin. We hypothesize the main issues for the highly energy efficient CMOS circuits are adaptive Vth control and small variability, as described in this section. In order to solve these issues, we are developing the silicon on thin buried oxide (SOTB) [12,13,14,15,16]. In this article, we show SOTB’s low voltage capability, including small variability and back-bias control through device and circuit results. 2. SOTB Device Technology Schematic cross section of the SOTB is shown in Figure 3. There are four major factors: (i) small local variability due to low-impurity fully depleted SOI channel; (ii) high back-bias coefficient due to thin BOX layer and doped ground plane (n GP and p GP) just below the BOX layer; (iii) flexible Vth tuning by impurity density control of the ground plane and (iv) high design compatibility with the conventional CMOS due to mostly identical planar layout to the bulk and a hybrid bulk integration for I/O. Details of the SOTB fabrication process are reported elsewhere [15,16]. Vth control optimized for the ULV operation has been an important process issue. In this optimization, we controlled the Vth values at around 0.2 V, which is by about 0.2 V lower than that for the low-standby-power (LSTP) application, with the multiple Vth option utilizing a poly-silicon and high-k gate-stack technology and a proper doping profile control of the ground plane . As shown in Figure 4, we utilize a small amount of high-k (Hf and Al) oxide mixed with the conventional SiON gate dielectric and control proper effective work function (EWF) both for NMOS and PMOS. Typical Id-Vg characteristics of triple Vth option are shown in Figure 5. LVT, SVT, and HVT denote low, standard, and high Vth option, respectively. Two-orders-of-magnitude off-leakage-current variation can be done only by changing the doping density below the BOX layer with the same gate stack. We have demonstrated significant reduction of the Vth variability. The Pelgrom coefficient (AVT) of the SOTB was about 1.2–1.3 mVμm , which is less than half of the bulk. Moreover, we measured the Vth variation of one-million transistors (gate length and width: 0.06 and 0.14 μm, respectively) as shown in Figure 6 and confirmed regular distribution without dropout transistors. Variation of on-state current Ion is important and must be decreased since this directly affects the delay variation of circuits. The Ion variation was demonstrated to be less than half of bulk and we confirmed a significant reduction of the Ion variability for one-million transistors as shown in Figure 7 . The lowest Vth values of SOTB and bulk are the same as shown in Figure 6. This means the highest leakage current among one-million transistors is the same. Besides, the highest Vth transistor determines the delay. As shown in Figure 7, the smallest Ion value for SOTB is about twice as high as the bulk’s worst value. This is a strong advantage of SOTB’s small variability in terms of the circuit performance. 3. ULV Operation of SOTB Circuits 3.1. Vmin Reduction of 6T-SRAM and Leakage Control by Back-Bias Thanks to the significant reduction of the variability, as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, we successfully demonstrated 2-Mbit SRAM operation at Vmin = 0.37 V of the standard six-transistor (6T) layout and without assist circuits as shown in Figure 8. Due to the Vth optimization mentioned in the previous section, very small access time (5.5 ps at Vdd = 0.4 V) was demonstrated. This enables a circuit operation with SRAM at several tens of MHz. The standby leakage decreased more than two orders of magnitude by a reverse back biasing and achieved 1.2 pA/cell without destroying the data. Moreover, the above Vmin value can be kept at lower at elevated temperatures with a proper back-bias control. In Figure 9, the Vmin value at room temperature was the same as the value shown in Figure 8. At 80 °C, the Vmin value increased to 0.46 V. This is because the Vth values of NMOS and PMOS transistors differently shifted from the room-temperature values. Although these Vth values were smaller than the room-temperature values (this increased the leakage current about two orders of magnitude higher than that at room temperature), balance of Vths (current drivabilities) between the NMOS and PMOS transistors untuned. This deteriorated the SRAM cell stability and increased the Vmin. By applying proper back-bias voltages for both transistors, the Vmin value again reduced to less than 0.4 V as shown in Figure 9. Leakage current also can be minimized by the back-bias control regardless of temperature, which is roughly the same as the room-temperature value. 3.2. Ring Oscillator Circuit Results We have developed a standard logic cell library of the SOTB technology with a hybrid bulk I/O library. The delay characteristics of the cells were evaluated through the RO measurements . Figure 10 shows propagation delay tpd of a 101-stage inverter RO for SOTB and bulk. The delay of SOTB was by 42% smaller than bulk at Vdd = 0.4 V. Note that Vths of SOTB and bulk were the same at Vdd = 0.4 V. The speed gain of SOTB was higher at lower Vdd because of better Ieff/Ioff and smaller DIBL. The delay variability was then investigated. The standard deviation of tpd for SOTB exhibited a very weak dependence. The result means that the local delay variability of SOTB is very small. We also succeeded in the significant reduction of die-to-die delay variability by a proper back-biasing . The logic circuits contain various types of logic cells such as inverter, NAND, NOR, etc. We found that back-biasing considering a drivability balance of NMOS and PMOS transistors is essential for an effective suppression of die-to-die delay variability for various types of the cells. The minimum energy consumption of SOTB logic circuits of 50 kgates was estimated based on the RO results by optimizing the back-bias voltage . At the same energy per operation, SOTB operates about ×10 higher than bulk. The power consumption of 44 μW at 10 MHz (4.4 pJ/cycle) is expected at Vdd = 0.33 V whereas bulk operates at 1 MHz with the same energy per cycle as SOTB. 3.3. Demonstration of ULV and ULP Operation of Logic Circuits The design flow for the SOTB integrated circuits is basically the same as the conventional one. Using our newly developed design flow with the SOTB/bulk hybrid library, several ULV circuits were designed. Significant power reduction was demonstrated by the post-layout timing and power analysis. The reconfigurable accelerator named cool mega array (CMA) was designed and silicon results were obtained . The bulk CMA operates at 0.8–1.2 V (with dynamic voltage scaling) and 210 MHz, and the SOTB version operates at 0.4 V (with back-biasing) and 65 MHz. The energy efficiency executing the Alpha blender test program was 38 and 65 MOPS/mW for bulk and SOTB, respectively. The back-bias control offers a strong advantage for the FPGA circuits. The flex-power FPGA of the SOTB version was firstly implemented and silicon results were obtained . After the FPGA configuration, the back-bias control enables that the only critical-path logic elements are set to low Vth. This significantly reduces the leakage power with no operation speed penalty. High-efficiency generator of back-bias voltage is important for the SOTB technology since standby leakage current is kept low by applying reverse back-bias voltage. A superior point of the SOTB technology is that current load of the back-bias generator is very small because back-gate region of the SOTB transistor is electrically isolated by the BOX layer. This leads to a significant reduction of current consumption of the back-bias generator itself. We designed the generator circuit using the standard Dickson’s charge pump for the SOTB and bulk hybrid platform and silicon results were obtained . The generator operates at Vdd = 0.1 V and higher, and generates sufficient back-bias voltages for NMOS and PMOS of 0.85 and −1.5 V, respectively, at Vdd = 0.4 V with a current consumption of only 13 μA. By applying these back-bias voltages, leakage current of a 500 kgate logic circuit reduced to 2 μA corresponding to 4 pA/gate. There are still several points of the optimization and the generator current consumption is still higher than our target specification. The optimization is now under way. We have confirmed a successful operation of the proto-type ULV micro-controller chip as shown in Figure 11. This chip is composed of 32-bit RISC CPU with five-stage pipeline, 144 kByte SRAM, and interfaces (ROM, UART, SPI, and GP) and can be connected with sensors and rf modules for the sensor-network node. The micro-controller chip operates at Vdd = 0.35 V and consumes only E = 13.4 pJ (f = 14 MHz) as shown in Figure 12. Note that the E values for SOTB and bulk at Vdd ≥ 0.8 V are identical because it is determined by Eac (same Cload of the same 65-nm technology) in this region. Sleep current is only 0.14 μA. By taking advantage of the ULP capability of our SOTB micro-controller chip, named “Perpetuum-Mobile”, the sensor node is expected to operate with a sufficient frequency (>10 MHz) for a long period with a single battery or further longer operation with an energy harvester. Silicon on thin buried oxide (SOTB) is suitable for the ULV operation thanks to its small variability and back-gate bias controllability. We have demonstrated significant variability reduction, 0.4-V operation of SRAM, and reducing power consumption of logic circuits including a micro-controller chip with a significant speed gain even at ULV. Many ULP applications are expected with SOTB chips. The “Perpetuum-Mobile” micro-controller chips will work as a core electronics parts in various types of electronic apparatuses of the “internet of things”. This work was performed as “Ultra-Low Voltage Device Project” funded and supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The authors thank the staff of Renesas Electronics Corporation for the SOTB process integration. Nobuyuki Sugii coordinated and discussed the overall research and prepared the manuscript. Yoshiki Yamamoto and Hideki Makiyama designed the wafer fabrication process, prepared the device wafer, and measured their electrical characteristics. Tomohiro Yamashita, Hidekazu Oda, and Yasuo Yamaguchi designed the fabrication process and discussed the electrical characteristics. Shiro Kamohara and Koichiro Ishibashi designed and characterized the test chips. 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In Proceedings of the COOL Chips XVII, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, 14–16 April 2014. © 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Physical Biometric Systems Assignment 550 to 600 wordsAPA Format, need ReferencesRecognizing the fact usernames passwords are the weakest link in an organization’s security system because username and password are shareable, and most passwords and usernames are vulnerable and ready to be cracked with a variety of methods using adopting a record number of devices and platforms connected to the Internet of Things daily and at an alarming rate. Provide the all-inclusive and systematic narratives of the impact of physical biometric operations on the current and future generation. Discussion 400 to 450 words: APA Format, need ReferencesEffective and efficient use of biometric technology will play a key role in automating method of identifying living persons based on individual physiological and behavioral characteristics. Provide the comprehensive narratives on the advantages and disadvantages of a physical biometric system?
This paper was first presented at GPD 2023. Link to the full GPD 2023 conference book: https://www.gpd.fi/GPD2023_proceedings_book/ - Francis Serruys - Saint-Gobain - Dr. Andreas Kasper - Diplomchemiker - Consultant - John Colvin - JCGC Ltd - Frank Rubbert - Saint-Gobain Spontaneous breakage of fully tempered (FT) glass in facades is under control today when the heat soak process according to EN 14179-1 (2006/2016) is rigorously carried out. However, nickel sulphide (NiS) breakages are not only observed in FT glass but also in heat strengthened (HS) glass. HS glass has a lower surface compression and thus a lower central tensile stress when compared to FT glass. Consequently bigger NiS inclusions are required to initiate a crack, as crack initiation is determined by the inclusion’s size in combination with the surrounding stress field. The critical diameter “Dc” to cause spontaneous fracture of glass is determined. A good correlation is found with the diameter of reported NiS inclusions causing breakages on a building facade. Knowing the distribution and the diameter range of NiS inclusions in float glass, a breakage probability, on a statistical basis, of 1 breakage in (1,100 ± 200) tonnes of HS glass can be estimated. More data of broken HS glass due to NiS inclusions is required to confirm the breakage probability, which in reality might be much lower. Due to this low breakage probability it is not industry practice to carry out the heat soak process. Moreover HS glass does not satisfy code requirements for safety glazing. Therefore HS glass is most often used in the form of laminated safety glass. If a NiS inclusion would cause a breakage of a laminated HS glass, it would stay in place due to its specific fragmentation as required by EN 1863. In 1961 Ballantyne (1961) was the first to describe the mechanism whereby NiS causes FT glass to break. It took till the 1970s to come up with a heat treatment, later on called the heat soak test (HST), to eliminate critical NiS inclusions trying to avoid spontaneous breakage of FT glass. The German standard DIN 18516, derived from this test, fixed a holding time of eight hours at constant oven temperature, but it was, however, very imprecise and could easily be misinterpreted. Therefore, in the mid-1990s CEN started to work on a new heat soaked FT glass product standard, the result being EN 14179-1 Glass in Building - Heat-Soaked Thermally Toughened Soda Lime Silicate Safety Glass. Since the beginning the focus of R&D has been on understanding and reducing the residual risk of spontaneous breakages due to NiS inclusions in FT glass. Only on rare occasions were spontaneous breakages of HS glass mentioned or dealt with. The knowledge gathered on the properties of NiS inclusions, their distribution and dimensions in soda-lime silicate glass is used to make an estimation of the breakage probability of NiS inclusions in HS glass. Nickel sulphide is a complex material, which undergoes a phase change (a change in crystalline structure) at a transformation temperature between 282 °C and 379 °C, depending on the precise combination of nickel and sulphur (called the stoichiometry) . The mechanism which causes failure in the façade is due to the phase change being accompanied by a volume change. The α phase, which is stable above the transformation temperature, has a smaller volume than the β phase, which is stable below the transformation temperature. The tempering (toughening) process in glass requires the glass to be heated to around 620 °C, which softens the glass, followed by rapid cooling. Any nickel sulphide in the glass is converted to the α-phase at the high temperature, but the rapid cooling does not allow time for the conversion back to the β-phase. The nickel sulphide is thus "frozen" into the FT glass in an unstable form. Over a period of time the α-phase slowly converts back to the β-phase, the conversion being accompanied by an increase in volume of 2.55 % at ambient temperature . If a NiS inclusion is sufficiently large and is in the central (tensile stress) zone of the FT glass , then the expansion caused by the phase transformation can exert sufficient excess stress to cause a crack to propagate, leading to disintegration of the pane. 1. Properties of nickel sulphide inclusions Kasper (2018 / 2020) and Kasper et al. (2018) wrote a series of four articles where the properties of NiS inclusions, their distribution in float glass, a statistical evaluation of field breakage records and consequences for residual breakage probability are dealt with in detail. These papers were presented at the Glass Performance Days 2019. The key points are highlighted in this article for better understanding the method used to estimate the breakage probability of NiS inclusions in HS glass. 1.1 Composition of nickel-sulphide inclusions Only NiS inclusions containing (at least partly) the 1:1 composition and those with a small sulphur excess are of interest, because this chemical compound is the only one to be subject to slow α to β phase transformation at ambient temperature. According to the nickelsulphur phase diagram, this composition can only form if xliquid is in the range 0.89 < xliquid < 1.06. Then the solely interesting and solely observed phases in the crystalline hightemperature NiS inclusions are Ni₉S₈ and NiSₓ where xsolid is in the range 1 ≤ xsolid < 1.06. The composition Ni₃S₄ is occasionally observed in the transformed β phase NiS inclusions as a subsequent product of slow diffusional transformation. 1.2 Nickel sulphide properties 1.3 Size and size distribution A dataset of 140 NiS inclusions identified in annealed glass were analysed. The following observations were made: - Small inclusions (c. < 140 μm) are more frequent than big ones. - Very small inclusions (c. < 50 μm) are rare. - Inclusions are found “everywhere” in the glass. - The signature of a gravitational settling is visible analysing the position of the NiS inclusions in the glass section. All superficial NiS inclusions are located in the bath side; none in the atmospheric side. Figure 2 shows the histogram evaluation of the dataset using classes of 50 μm. With exception of the classes of the smallest (< 50 μm) and maybe the biggest (> 500 μm) inclusions, all counted numbers per class seem to match with a decaying exponential curve. Physical modelling shows that only medium size NiS inclusions arrive in the final glass whereas the smallest decompose quickly (or remain undetected), the biggest go to the bottom (gravitational settling), and a nonnegligible fraction decomposes spontaneously under its own vapour pressure. 2. Fracture Mechanics The inclusion’s size and the surrounding stress field play the deciding roles for crack initiation. In other words, the position of a nickel sulphide inclusion is not really the deciding factor on breakage occurrence; the predominant factors are the local tensile stress combined with the size of the NiS inclusion. 2.1 Heat strengthening Heat strengthened soda lime silicate glass is defined in the European product standard EN 1863-1:2011 as glass within which a permanent surface compressive stress, additionally to the basic mechanical strength, has been induced by a controlled heating and cooling process in order to give it increased resistance to mechanical and thermal stress and prescribed fracture characteristics. Although the minimum value for the mechanical strength is defined as 70 N/mm², EN 1863-1:2011 clearly states that the manufacturer shall ensure that the fragmentation always satisfies the requirements of the standard. Mognato et Al. (2017) demonstrated that the minimum surface compression of heat strengthened glass should be 35 N/mm² in order to reach the characteristic bending strength of 70 N/mm². However a surface compression of 55 N/mm² is confirmed as upper limit for still having a correct fragmentation. Based on this data the acceptable range of surface compression meeting the requirements of EN 1863-1:2011 should be 35 N/mm² ≤ σc ≤ 55 N/mm². As the tensile stress at the glass’ midline is half of the surface stress, the maximum tensile stress σ0 can be set at 27.5 N/mm². In opposition to the EN 1863-2011, other product standards are defining a surface compression, e.g. ASTM C1048 – 18 defines that heat strengthened glass with a thickness of 6 mm and less shall have a surface compression between 24 to 52 MPa (i.e. 12 N/ mm² to 26 N/mm² tensile stress in the middle). ISO 22509:2020 specifies that a minimum value for surface pre-stress of 25 MPa is needed. Additionally, the maximum value for surface pre-stress should not exceed 52 MPa to achieve the specified fragmentation behaviour. 2.2 Critical size of the nickel sulphide inclusion According to Swain (1981) the critical radius of an inclusion with internal pressure P₀ in a tensile stress of σ₀ for spontaneous fracture is given by the equation: - Dc critical diameter of the inclusion required to cause breakage [m] - K1c stress intensity factor - P₀ surface pressure exerted by the inclusion due to the α to β phase change and also to the different coefficients of thermal expansion between NiS and glass - σ₀ (maximum) tensile stress in the glass [MPa] Special attention shall be paid to the parameters P₀ and K1C used by Swain: I. Surface pressure P₀ a) The density difference between α and β phase is supposed to be 4%. Since then, it has been proven that the volumetric expansion is 2.55% and not 4%. b) The difference in thermal expansion coefficients of glass and nickel sulphide is supposed to cause a negative pressure onto the glass during cooling. However, figure 3 shows that there’s no cohesion between glass and NiS inclusions. The lack of cohesion between glass and nickel sulphide is related to the non-wettability and insolubility of nickel sulphide in the glass (melt). This fact is important because if there is no cohesion the stress situation around the (untransformed) inclusion resembles that of a (notched) bubble, but not to that of a “normal” (silicate, silicon, other interlocked) inclusion. It is also important because an (untransformed) NiS inclusion that is smaller than its surrounding bubble does not exert force onto the glass. c) The strength of glass surface surrounding the nickel sulphide, is affected by the notched nature of the surface of these inclusions. The superficial wrinkles are not in-line with Griffith’s assumptions on the weakening of the glass strength due to surface cracks. But, even if the “tip” of the “crack” is rounded, the additional stress concentration due to such a structure is not negligible. d) Finally, the combination of all these means that a transformation ratio at ambient temperature up to 55% is needed before the first breakages appear. Therefore, the surface pressure P₀ is lower than 615 MPa, as determined by Swain. Calculating P₀ using the new data gives a value of 266 MPa at ambient temperature (i.e. for facades). II. Stress intensity factor K1C K1C is commonly measured on glass using macroscopic methods. These methods reveal the strength of glass under controlled atmospheric conditions, i.e. such as under the influence of water vapour. However, at ambient temperature the gap between the NiS inclusion and the surrounding glass might really be a vacuum. This means that K1C increases. For the time being a stress intensity factor K1C of 0.79 has been estimated for the situation in facades (at ambient temperature). Table 2 shows the minimum and maximum surface compression as specified in official standards and the corresponding critical diameter Dc. The surface compression measured by Mognato et Al. (2017) is also given with the corresponding critical diameter Dc. As the threshold of inclusions in float glass can be set at 500 µm due to the gravitational effect in the glass melt, it is unlikely to find critical NiS inclusions for a tensile stress σ₀ < 17 N/ mm² or a surface compression < 33 N/mm². In figure 4 the curve Dc calculated for ambient temperatures (i.e. facade application) is drawn as well as the typical range of central tensile stress for HS glass. Below the curve, the inclusion’s size is supposedly too small to make the glass break. Above the curve, breakage might be caused with increasing probability. Typically, NiS inclusions having a diameter of more than 235 µm are required to break HS glass produced in accordance with the EN 1863-1:2011. This corresponds to records collected of the diameters of NiS inclusions found at the origins of glass breakages on buildings. 3. Breakage probability Knowing the distribution and the diameter range of NiS inclusions in float glass a breakage probability can be estimated. Only about 24% of the NiS inclusions found in float glass are bigger than 235 µm. Breakages caused in HS glass by smaller inclusions are rare and can be disregarded. Because of the lower stress regime, it can be estimated from the diagram above, in combination with their estimated frequency of occurrence, that in comparison with FT glass, 31% of the NiS inclusions would be critical even under heat soak test conditions. Finally, Kasper (2018) came to the conclusion that only 10% of the breakages observed in the heat soak test would happen on a building (i.e. only 10% of the critical NiS inclusions in the heat soak test are relevant for the building). Consequently, a qualified but conservative breakage probability of 1 breakage in (1,100 ± 200) tonnes can be estimated for HS glass. This is still lower than the level of residual risk stated in the heat soaked toughened glass standard EN 14179-1:2016, i.e. the risk of spontaneous breakage of heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass, on a statistical basis, due to the presence of critical NiS inclusions, is no more than one breakage per 400 tonnes of heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass. Recent studies by Kasper (2018) and Kasper et Al. (2018; 2020) estimate the residual risk of only 1 breakage in 10,000 tonnes of really heat soak tested glass. 4. Interpretation of the breakage probability Random events occur in clusters, so in any particular quantity of glass there may be more or less critical NiS inclusions than might be expected. To give a feel for how randomness affects the numbers of incidents, the diagram in figure 5 shows 100 points randomly distributed (using a computer random number generator) in 100 squares, averaging 1 per square. There is one square with a cluster of 4 points and many squares have none. This is not an atypical event, but has given rise to the idea of NiS inclusions occurring in batches. The breakage probability has to be interpreted in this way, i.e. it is a statistical approach of an extremely large amount of data gathered over several decades. Therefore, it is not possible to claim that no breakages or a maximum of one breakage will occur because the quantity of glass used for the building is less than (1,100 ± 200) tonnes of HS glass. Moreover, other types of inclusions may cause breakages which are not considered in this study. Although the residual risk of heat soak tested thermally toughened safety glass is very low, HS glass is often preferred under the assumption that it does not suffer from spontaneous breakages due to NiS inclusions. This is definitely untrue. The lower tensile stress in the centre of the HS glass makes the glass much less vulnerable to spontaneous breakages compared with FT (not heat soaked tested) glass. However, a conservative breakage probability of 1 breakage in 1,100 ± 200 tonnes is estimated for HS glass. More data of broken HS glass due to NiS inclusions found on facades is required to confirm the breakage probability which in reality might be much lower. HS glass is not a safety glass and is most often processed into laminated safety glass. If a NiS inclusion would cause a breakage of a laminated HS glass, it would stay in place due to its specific fragmentation as required by EN 1863. Hence the low breakage probability, in combination with its usage as laminated HS glass, means the heat soak test is usually not done. Ballantyne E.R.: Report 061-5: CSIRO, Division of Building Research, Melbourne: 1961 Bordeaux F., Kasper A.: Reliable and shorter heat soak test to avoid spontaneous fracture of heat strengthened and tempered glasses. In: Conference proceedings of the “Glass Processing Days” in Tampere, Finland, pp. 85-89 (1997) Colvin, J.: Technical Note 20 – Nickel Sulphide Inclusions(2013 – revised version: 2016) Groenvold, F., Stoelen, S.: Heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of millerite from ... Thermochimica Acta 266 (1995) pp.213-229 Kasper A., Pyeonglae N., Yuan Z.: Spontaneous cracking of thermally toughened safety glass. Part two: nickel sulphide inclusions identified in annealed glass. Glass Struct. Eng. (2018b). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40940-018-00092-0 Kasper A.: Spontaneous cracking of thermally toughened safety glass. Part one: properties of nickel sulphide inclusions. Glass Struct. Eng. (2018a). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40940-018-0083-8 Kasper A.: Spontaneous cracking of thermally toughened safety glass. Part three: statistic evaluation of field breakage records and consequences for residual breakage probability. Glass Struct. Eng. (2018c). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40940-018-00093-z Kasper A., Rubbert F.: Spontaneous cracking of thermally toughened safety glass. Part four: a case study of isothermal breakages in a building, and conclusions thereof for the heat soak test. Glass Struct. Eng. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40940-020-00118-6 Kasper A.: Spontaneous Breakages of Toughened Glass: The H.S.T. is better than Presumed. In: Conference proceedings of the “Glass Performance Days” in Tampere, Finland, pp. 205-211 (2019) Laffitte, M.: Origine des variations de composition du NiS hexagonal. C. R. Acad. Sci. 243, 58–61 (1956) Laffitte, M., Crousier, J.-P.: Limites du domaine de stabilité du NiS hexagonal. C. R. Acad. Sci. 242, 518–521 (1956) Yousfi, O.,Donnadieu, P., Brechet,Y., Crisci,A., Kasper,A., Serruys, F.: Composition and microstructure of nickel sulphide stones found in tempered glass. Verre 16, 30–35 (2010a) Yousfi, O.: Phase transformations in NiS: microstructure, mechanisms and modelling through in situ microscopy. Solid State Phenom. 172–174, 402–407 (2011) EN 1863-1:2011: Glass in building - Heat Strengthened Soda Lime Silicate Glass Part One: Definition and Description. European Standard, CEN (Comité Européen de Normalisation), B-1050 Brussels Mognato E., Brocca S., Barbieri, A.: Thermally Processed Glass: Correlation Between Surface Compression, Mechanical and Fragmentation Test. In: Proceedings of the Glass Performance Days, Tampere, Finland, pp. 14 –20 (2017) ASTM C1048-18: Standard Specification for Heat-Strengthened and Fully Tempered Flat Glass ISO 22509:2020 : Glass in building — Heat strengthened soda lime silicate glass Swain, M.V.: NiS Inclusions in Glass: An Example of microcracking induced by a volumetric expanding Phase. J. Mat. Science 16(1981) pp. 151-15
Courgettes are versatile vegetables that are great for preserving if you know how. Here is our guide on how to harvest courgettes and how to store them. Courgettes (Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo convar. giromontiina) are a must-have in every kitchen garden. With just a few plants, you will have a rich harvest of tasty veg all summer long. When planting, nutrient rich soils or potting compost helps promote the flowering of the cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae). As you continue to care for your courgette plants, many young fruits are soon ready to harvest. Though they can be harvested from summer to right through to autumn, midsummer is when courgettes produce in abundance. With the right storage or preserving, they can be enjoyed well past the growing season. Here are our tips on how to harvest, store and preserve courgettes properly. Courgettes can be harvested early in the summer, from June onwards. But how can you tell when to harvest courgettes? Here are tips on the right time to pick courgettes and how to best go about it. When to harvest courgettes Courgettes can be harvested for the first time about 6 to 8 weeks after planting, and the plants will continue to produce new fruits throughout the summer. The harvest time for courgettes begins in June until the first autumn frosts. They are harvested as young, technically unripe fruits because they are tender and do not yet have visible seeds. Whether round, white or yellow courgettes, they are ready for picking just a few days after the plants have flowered. Depending on the variety, they grow between 15 and 25 cm long and 200 to 400 g in weight. Regular harvesting encourages further flowering and, with that, further fruiting. Over the course of the summer you can harvest about 20 fruits or 4 to 6 kg of courgettes per plant. The younger the courgettes are, the more tender, crunchy and aromatic they taste. The best time of day to harvest the tender vegetables is in the early morning hours before the summer heat sets in. This is when the water content is highest and the fruits are at their juiciest. What is the right way to harvest? Cut the courgette when it reaches a length of 15 to 20 cm with a sharp knife at the stem. As mentioned above, harvesting young fruits encourages flower production. But older and larger courgettes have the advantage that they can be stored longer. Important note on poisonous courgettes: Bitter courgettes should not be eaten under any circumstances! The bitter taste is due to the substance cucurbitacin, which is poisonous and can cause severe gastrointestinal upset. Find out more about this in our article on poisonous courgettes. How to harvest courgette blooms As well as the fruits, courgette flowers are a real treat. Male courgette flowers are recognisable by their long flower stalks and lack of an ovary – they are best for eating. Ideally, cut off the blossoms just before they open up. They can then be stuffed and baked or roasted. Be sure to use the courgette flowers on the same day they are picked, as they wilt quickly and are past their best by the next day. Courgettes are tender vegetables that can only be stored for a limited time. Here are some tips on the ideal storage conditions for summer squash. How long do courgettes keep? The shelf life of courgettes depends on the age of the fruit, and the temperature and humidity at which they are stored. Young courgette fruits cannot be stored for long, as they lose water quickly through their thin skin. These cold-sensitive vegetables can be stored for a maximum of one week at 10 °C and a high humidity of between 90 and 95%. Older, larger courgettes, on the other hand, have a thicker skin so they can be stored well for up to two weeks at the same temperature. Courgettes that have already been cut open should be eaten within a few days, as they also dry out and microorganisms can quickly spoil them. Storing courgettes in the fridge Courgettes are extremely sensitive to cold so they should not be stored in the fridge. They quickly suffer cold damage, will lose most of their flavour, and become limp or often even mushy by the time you take them back out. If you want to enjoy the glut of courgettes in winter, freezing or preserving them is a good long-term solution. Here are three different ways to preserve courgettes. Freezing is a good way to store either raw or cooked courgettes for months. For a fresh courgette, proceed as follows: - Cut the courgettes into medium-sized pieces. - Add a little salt to remove most of the water from the fruit. - After a few minutes, drain the water off and place the courgettes in a tin or freezer bag. - Courgettes will keep for several months in the freezer. Tip: Cooked courgettes can be placed straight in the freezer. Ready-made courgette dishes such as a ratatouille can also keep in the freezer for about six months. Pickling is a good way to preserve large quantities of courgettes for the winter. Courgettes can be pickled in brine, vinegar or oil. To make pickled courgettes, you will need onions, water, vinegar, salt, sugar and mustard seeds. Proceed as follows: - Chop the courgettes and onions. - Add to a pot with the rest of the ingredients and bring to the boil for a few minutes. - There are no limits to the combination of ingredients. However, when boiling, do not heat the courgettes for too long, as they quickly become mushy. - To fill the jars, remove courgette and onion pieces from the boiling broth and layer them alternately. - Fill the preserving jar with the hot seasoning mixture and close it tightly. - Store the jars in a cool and dark place, such as a cellar. After about three months, the jar will be fully infused and ready to enjoy. Preserving and canning If you like to be prepared for the long term, try canning courgettes. Canning is a process of preserving vegetables or fruit by heating them in a closed jar at a high temperature. This treatment allows the contents to be stored for a long time. Follow these steps: - Wash the courgettes and cut into cubes. - Mix the cubes with onions, garlic, mustard seeds, salt, sugar and vinegar and leave to infuse overnight. - The next day, clean canning jars thoroughly and boil them with hot water for a few minutes to sterilise. - Pour the mixture into the preserving jars and seal tightly. - Boil the preserving jars at 80 °C for 20 minutes. As an alternative to using a canning machine, the jars can be heated in a water bath in the oven. By canning, courgettes can easily be stored for several months to years. Tip: An unusual but delicious way to preserve courgettes is by making jam. Mix the courgettes with the same amount of apples, chop both and add preserving sugar, lemon juice, star anise and cinnamon. Let the mixture infuse overnight and then the next day boil and pour the mixture into sterile jars. The variety of different shapes and colours of summer squash is immense. Here is an overview of our favourite courgette varieties: from bright yellow to white and striped as well as round and climbing courgettes.
Sensory overload comes with the territory at an ISTE conference, and this year's ed-tech gala in Philadelphia was no exception There was plenty to see, between the exhibits, presentations, and must-have devices that attendees were wielding in the Bloggers' Cafe. You couldn't turn around without spotting another QR code to snap. But the real fun of ISTE comes from listening for patterns. When I hear multiple voices talking about an interesting idea or approach that has potential to influence teaching and learning, I've learned to pay attention. Several years back, the ISTE buzz was classroom blogging. More recently, it was Twitter for building personal learning networks. The prediction I kept hearing this year: immersive learning environments. Here are three perspectives on this big idea. The Future Is Here Although some are predicting we'll see technology-enabled, immersive learning environments in the near future, David Thornburg already built one in Brazil. He calls it the Holodeck. During a special ISTE event hosted by Learning.com, Thornburg offered a preview. When students step into this windowless space, they find themselves transported. Eight screens seamlessly connect, offering a 360-degree view of their world -- and beyond. Google Earth and touchpad controls enable them to "fly" wherever they want to go. Everything is built with off-the-shelf technologies. Thornburg, a futurist and long-time advocate of project-based learning, calls the Holodeck "a theater without an audience. It's an empty room that can become anything." For middle school students, for instance, he has designed an immersive mission to space in which "hands-on means up to their armpits." When their "vehicle" begins to lose oxygen, students use tools at hand to fashion a mechanical solution. A 3-D printer allows them to fabricate the parts they have designed using Google Sketchup. During their simulated mission, student teams debate about whether to collect extraterrestrial samples, opening discussions about everything from the potential dangers of alien bacteria to the desire to explore the unknown. With a different scenario, the Holodeck could offer an equally immersive trip to the Jurassic period -- or just about anywhere else. Thornburg is even contemplating a "smell generator" to add more sensory information to the experience. Formal research is still on the horizon, but so far, he has gathered plenty of anecdotal evidence that students are on board with this style of learning. "They know more stuff and they don't forget it. What I hear students saying is: Can I please learn more?" Thornburg says he is in discussions to bring the Holodeck to U.S. schools, so stay tuned. Blurring the Lines For another perspective on what's ahead in educational technology, I sat down with Cameron Evans, chief technology officer of Microsoft Education. In the not-too-distant future, he anticipates, the phrase "anytime, anywhere learning" will take on new meaning. Mobile devices will interact with platforms to blur the boundaries between home, school, and community. "It's going to go beyond bring-your-own-device to bring-your-own-data," he predicts. For students, this means learning that happens outside school will increasingly inform what happens inside the classroom. As Evans says, "Why should students have to repeat what they already know?" His near-term predictions: Classrooms will get smarter. Every surface will be interactive. Lights will be able to see. Kinesthetic controllers will create more opportunities for fully immersive, game-based learning. Face-recognition software and applications that constantly track and analyze data will take individualized learning to new levels. Virtual environments will never replace real-world learning, Evans assured me. Instead, mobile devices will help students take learning experiences beyond the classroom. Learners will be able to peer through a viewfinder and see virtual information layered onto their world through augmented reality apps. Turning this vision into a reality -- at a cost schools can afford -- is going to require innovation from "the entire ecosystem," Evans says. He expects breakthrough ideas will come from researchers, technologists, and teachers themselves, including those working with limited resources. "They're often the ones who come up with great projects and ideas that can be replicated anywhere." Magic and Meaning For yet another perspective on immersive learning environments, I attended a presentation by Professor Chris Dede from Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is the principal investigator for EcoMUVE, a 3-D virtual world designed to teach middle-schoolers about ecosystems and causal patterns. This turns out to be an ideal environment for challenging students' misconceptions about science. EcoMUVE allows students to explore and collect data about life in and around a virtual 3-D pond. Technology also allows "magic" to happen, Dede adds. For instance, students can travel in time or see with magnification powers far greater than normal eyesight allows. Inquiry is at the heart of this kind of learning. Students might discover bacteria in the pond, for instance, and then get curious about the process of decomposition. A computer-simulated rainstorm might cause the water to become turbid, generating more questions about what's happening. Or, perhaps fish in the pond rapidly die off. That event challenges students to pose a hypothesis, backed by evidence, to explain what's happened to the ecosystem. While students are interacting with what they see on the screen, the software is gathering mountains of data "about the micro-actions of each student," Dede says. The challenge ahead is to automate analysis of this data to generate "formative, embedded, diagnostic assessment." He predicts a breakthrough in assessment within the next few years. Once that happens, he adds, "We won't need high-stakes tests." The goal with immersive learning environments is not to keep students from going outside to explore, Dede is quick to point out. Rather, he sees virtual learning environments as preparation for tackling real-world challenges and solving "wicked problems." Just as medical students go through internships en route to becoming skilled doctors, so do K-12 students need opportunities for what Dede calls "situated learning."And, he sees skilled teachers playing an essential role in facilitating this powerful approach to learning. Keynote in Perfect Pitch ISTE offers an ideal venue for contemplating the future of education. But at the closing keynote, I was reminded of the powerful learning that's happening right now. Chris Lehmann, principal of Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia was preceded on stage by some magnificent young poets from his urban high school. In his vision of education, technology is like oxygen: It's everywhere, essential, and invisible. More than technology, students need opportunities to "do stuff that matters," Lehman argued, and he gave countless examples of what his students have already accomplished. They also need caring adults who help them develop "their head, heart, hands, and voice." That's what helps students develop a sense of agency, ready and able to contribute to their world. That's the bright vision I took home from ISTE. Did you attend ISTE this year? What ideas did you bring home with you?
With every passing day, Mother Earth faces an ever-growing warmth index. This is chiefly due to sustained and increased use of automobiles and gadgets- computers and laptops, mobile phone, air conditions. This however is the general perception. What we generally fail to notice is the fact that with coming-of-age technology, the volume of relevant data is increasing every millisecond. To hold and secure this data, the need of the hour is technologically advanced and well-equipped data centers that houses the huge servers where this ever-exploding data resides, ready to be retrieved at the click of a mouse or tap of a finger. These data centers need a huge amount of power supply to keep them up and running and these in turn exhumes a lot of heat and is one of the key villains behind the ever-increasing ecological imbalance. With this situation in consideration, multiple organizations like Hostgator and iPage have started to encounter the problem head-on and have been involved in an act of benevolence to the society – usually known as Green Web Hosting. In theory, not much differentiates Green Web Hosting and conventional web hosting in terms of capability or pricing. However, the fundamental difference lies in how the data centers are powered. While the conventional hosts use conventional power generators using carbon emitters which burns non-renewable fuels to generate electricity and gives out too much of carbon and other pollutants. The Green Hosts or the ‘Eco-friendly web hosts’ on the other hand have almost shunned the use of conventional fuels and generate energy from wind, solar and other renewable resources to power their servers. Even if they happen to use conventional power, they employ machines that consume less energy and cuts energy usage wherever possible. Green Web Hosting is not only a benevolent move towards the Earth but also is definitely an act towards the self-sustenance of the human race. Following are the key benefits of Green Web Hosting that is spurring more and more companies to go green in terms of Web Hosting. Green Web Hosting is one of the means to pragmatically reduce the carbon footprints on the earth and championing the use of alternative power sources, in line with the vision of various organizations for making the world a better place to live.
Metaverse A 3D-rendered, boundless, virtual world first draft What is Metaverse The metaverse is a digital world where people use their 3D avatars to perform virtual activities, including purchasing property, playing sports, owning land and space, and even performing financial transactions using digital currency. This does not end here, the activities you can perform are limitless. The metaverse has been around for a while but hasn’t been considered mainstream until the recent past. It’s a concept that enables fusion of the real world with a digital, virtual world. How did the concept of Metaverse emerge The concept of metaverse emerged when Sir Charles Wheatstone introduced us with the concept of “binocular vision” in 1838 which later became the founding stone for the modern VR headsets used nowadays. The term metaverse was then first used in a science fiction novel called Snow Crash in which the humans were depicted as the programable avatars which interact with each other inside a three-dimensional virtual space. What makes it popular Digital content has been accessed in a two-dimensional form via 2D supporting devices and screens over decades. Therefore, it’s time to move from two-dimensions (2D) to three-dimensions (3D). However, there are several limitations associated with this move – for instance, development of 3D objects is time and money intensive. It requires significant investments in expertise, storage, rendering, processing, and accessing of the 3-dimensional digital content. Good news, however, is consistent evolution of technology and to a certain extent, the recent changes in world’s ways of working has helped as well. Today, collaboration has become remote and virtual, thanks to the new breed of collaboration tools, such as Teams, LinkedIn Live, Zoom, Google Hangout, YouTube Live, and Facebook Live etc. This has paved the way for the next cycle of innovation, i.e., collaboration using 3D avatars over next set of tools. These tools, even if are non-existent today, will become the next new wave in digital innovation. In addition, the technological backbone required for adoption of metaverse-based collaboration is constantly improving at a rapid pace. Given the 3D content’s distribution, sharing, storage, rendering etc. require higher computing powers, better Internet bandwidths, supported AR/VR/XR devices, and larger storage, such pre-requisites are getting commoditized and are becoming more accessible to masses. Why will Metaverse become a game changer For the people which are enthusiastic about new technologies it will be a nirvana. Metaverse will provide a platform which will allow you to sink yourself and participate in any physical reality at any time. It will make you feel like you are present at place even if it is far away from your physical location. The metaverse will gain recognition in many fields, by introducing the next generation of virtual reality-based gadgets. This will further indulge the user into a digital world from any corner of the globe. Many will be able to collaborate and interchange information with each other inside the metaverse making the need to go outside of the house to minimum. As the concepts of Web3 are being used by the means of blockchain technology, the future of the metaverse can be said as very similar to the real world. This will take place of many activities that happen in the real world. With many major companies like Meta, investing their time and resources it’s only a matter of time before we see many other following. This could lead to a major outbreak in the limits of the metaverse and release enormous amounts of value that had previously been hidden from both investors and consumers. Technologies used in metaverse The stability of the Metaverse infrastructure is ensured by AI working in conjunction with Metaverse technology, which also provides useful data for the upper layers. NVIDIA Technologies (the inventor of GPU, which creates interactive graphics on laptops, workstations, mobile devices, notebooks, PCs, and more for gaming) serve as a good illustration of how AI will be essential in creating the virtual environments where social interactions in the Metaverse will take place. Internet of things As the Metaverse studies and engages with the real world through IoT, it will also act as a 3D user interface for IoT devices, enabling a more individualized IoT experience. Organizations will benefit from the Internet of Things and the Metaverse by making data-driven decisions quickly. Augmented and virtual reality To make it possible for the users to become a part of a virtual world, metaverse combines technologies like AR, VR and AI. Augmented reality is used to embed virtual objects in the real world. 3D virtual environments or 3D reconstructions created through 3D computer modeling can be experienced through VR. For the creation of a virtual 3D world, the tools needed are extensive image collection and graphic design. Many video games use three-dimensional(3D) graphics to give users the experience that they are actually inside the game. The same kind of framework is used to construct the metaverse. Spatial and edge computing To maintain the user’s attentiveness and engagement in the metaverse is very important for providing an experience that is close to that of reality. This can be achieved by enhancing the response time of the user’s actions until it is virtually undetectable by the user. This is achieved by edge computing which offers quick response times by hosting a number of different computing resources and communication infrastructures close to the users. The Metaverse is still in its development stage. It is still not known how long will it take to fully develop or how well it will able to duplicate real life. However, one thing that can be said for sure is that it has the potential to be the next virtual reality revolution and will have the potential to alter our perception of the present internet and social media.
Study with FashionExpressLearning.co.uk and become a professional Designer in Apparel Product Development. The Apparel Product Development Design Technology course, leads to the internationally recognised professional qualification, Licentiateship, accredited by the International Textile Institute in the UK. Our college provides two directions in Apparel Product Development: This course provides the flexibility of time and location. You can study to become a fashion designer online and get a professional qualification for your studies. Students will be given access to the Online Learning Space and learn through the unique training methodologies Telestia & AB. The course materials include rulers and CAD software in the latest technology with interactive animations and videos. Step-by-step instructions make it easier to achieve the desired learning success. Online tutor support is provided throughout the courses for progress monitoring, feedback and assessment. At the end of the course the student is required to take online exams and provide proof of relevant vocational experience. APD Design Technology focuses in acquiring all the skills in becoming a knowledgeable and successful fashion designer with all the tools and skills to exploit your creativity. When you register for the APD Design Technology course program you will study the following course modules: - Pattern Making Women’s wear - Fashion Design Technical - Fashion Design Creative - Road to Fashion - Virtual Factory - CAD Pattern Cutting - CAD Fashion Design In the Fashion Design module, you will learn how to develop and express your ideas. You will study technically correct figure design and clothing design. You will learn how to how to implement the basic principles of fashion design. In Fashion Design Creative you will also learn illustration techniques, styling principles, colour theory, how to develop your own style and how to create your own design portfolio. At the end of the course you will be able to make your own collections. This course includes the full womenswear Pattern Making module for personal and industrial sizes, quickly and accurately. You will learn pattern making for the various parts of women’s clothing, including blouses, shirts, skirts, dresses trousers, jackets and coats, you will learn how to implement them in different body sizes including silhouettes that have special needs. Understanding the principles and applications of Sewing, will allow you to develop your creativity in Fashion Design further and make designs that are both more realistic and inspired. In the Sewing module you will study all the steps of clothing production, starting with the safety precautions, technical machine information and basic stitches and seams. You will be guided to more complex sewing operations and apply them to make beautiful garments. You will be able to back up your practical skills with the theoretical knowledge with the Road to Fashion Module. Here you will get an insight in the basics of history of fashion, textile materials, fashion marketing and merchandising. With the Virtual Factory you will get an insight on how a real clothing factory works. A virtual tour of a fully equipped and functional clothing factory will take you through each department and each function in the departments. The presentations are based on short videos accompanied by brief descriptions to explain what you see on the video. The Telestia Creator CAD Pattern Cutting and Fashion Design software, provides easy to use tools that will extend your creativity to make designs that you never even thought possible. You will be able to develop and design your patterns and fashion drawings digitally and make use of them professionally.This unique CAD pattern cutting and fashion design system comes with build-in help and demo guidelines. Experience the vast number of options available and bring to life your design ideas. You will be sent the Telestia Creator CAD software in CD format, which you can keep after the course and use professionally. The full course program duration is 2 years or 70 weeks. You can register and begin the program at any time in the year. Possible career paths - Fashion Designer - Freelance designer - Fashion Stylist - Fashion Consultant - Sample Design and Development - Fashion brand designer - Technical Designer You will receive When you register for this accredited course you will be given access to the Online Learning Space where you will see and study your lessons. You will also be assigned an Online Tutor. The course is generally hands-on and as you progress you can send your work (through the Online Learning Space) to your Tutor, who will monitor your progress and provide you with feedback on your work. The courses are organized in Learning Packages that show you what to expect from each learning batch that you will study. The Learning Packages will: - show which path to follow in your study course, - explain the learning objective from each Learning Package, - suggest how you should practice and what kind of exercises to hand in, and - indicate when you have to complete each module. As you complete each part of the course, the level of your knowledge and skills will be assessed. When you have successfully completed every assessment you will be ready for accreditation and for professional practice. OPTIONAL MATERIAL: In addition to your online registration, you can continue to have access to your lessons even after the official duration of your online access. Order the online courses in CD format, at a minimum price for all online students, and get limitless access to your lessons. You can do that either when you register, or at any time during your studies. *At the end of the course, you can apply to the Textile Institute to receive your accredited qualification, the Licentiateship. Our College is listed as SITAM AB School of Fashion Design & Applied Arts in the list of accredited educational institutions. Here you will find more information regarding the route to achieve your Textile Institute LTI qualification through your studies on the eTelestia APD: Clothing courses (Route b). The full course is accredited by the Textile Institute based in the UK and recognised worldwide. Each course/module you completed will be considered as part of the full course Accredited by the Textile Institute that is run by our school. The courses accredited by the Textile Institute are recognised worldwide please find attached a list of some of the establishments which award qualifications which have been accredited as fulfilling the academic requirements for Associateship (CText ATI) and/or Licentiateship (LTI) of The Textile Institute. The full list of accredited qualifications is available from TI International upon request. \|Name\|\|Design APD TI Year 1 \|Includes\|\|34 week support\| \|Original fees\|£1830.00 (-5% discount)= £1738.00 \|Name\|\|Design APD TI Year 2 \|Includes\|\|36 week support\| \|Original fees\|£1465.00 (-5% discount)= £1391.00 TOTAL throughout the 2 years: £3295.00 (-5% discount)= £3129.00 Alternative payment plan: \|Name\|\|Design APD TI Week 1 \|Includes\|\|12 Weeks support\| 84 lessons - Pattern Making Womens L1 43 lessons - Fashion Technical Drawing \|You will receive\|\|Access to Online Learning Space, Pattern Making and Fashion Design Templates AB\| \|Name\|\|Design APD TI Week 13 \|Includes\|\|12 Weeks support\| 64 lessons Sewing A 9 lessons Road To Fashion A (social & marketing studies) 7 Virtual Factory A (production) \|You will receive\|\|Access to Online Learning Space, Road to Fashion and Virtual Factory installation cd’s\| \|Name\|\|Design APD TI Week 25 \|Includes\|\|10 Weeks study\| Telestia Creator CAD Pattern Cutting Software \|You will receive\|\|Telestia Creator CAD software CD and Pattern Cutting license\| Total for Year 1= £1830.00 \|Name\|\|Design APD TI Week 36 \|Includes\|\|11 Weeks support\| 79 lessons - Pattern Making Women’s 2- Skirts & Trousers, Blouses, Jackets & Coats, Dresses 61 lessons - Fashion Design Creative & Project development \|You will receive\|\|Access to Online Learning Space\| \|Name\|\|Design APD TI Week 47 \|Includes\|\|13 Weeks support\| 49 lessons Sewing B 7 lessons Road to Fashion B (social & marketing studies) 7 lessons Virtual Factory B (production) \|You will receive\|\|Access to Online Learning Space\| \|Name\|\|Design APD TI Week 60 \|Includes\|\|12 Weeks study\| Telestia Creator CAD Fashion Design Software \|You will receive\|\|Telestia Creator CAD software Fashion Design license\| Total for Year 2= £1465.00 TOTAL throughout the 2 years: £3295.00
1. At some point soon, Earth's magnetic poles will flip, and compasses will point south instead of north. ESA / ATG Medialab / Via esa.int Over the last 20 million years, Earth's magnetic field has flipped its polarity about once every 200,000 to 300,000 years. For the last 780,000 years, we've been stuck in our current magnetic configuration, although there are signs that right now something is afoot. Earth's magnetic field appears to have been weakening at a rate faster than you'd get with normal variations. And there's a patch inside the Earth underneath southern Africa that appears to have reverse polarity – if you could use a compass down there, the arrow would point south. This is the sort of behaviour we might expect if a pole reversal was on its way. NASA/Gary Glazmaier So whether it's happening now, or will happen in a few hundred years or more, scientists are pretty sure that a pole reversal is on its way eventually.Exactly how magnetic field reversals start is not fully understood, but we do know that Earth's magnetic field has flipped hundreds of times over the last 3 billion years, and there appears to have been no huge detrimental effects. If the field weakened a lot or disappeared entirely, our power and communications systems might be in trouble – but there's no evidence a total disappearance has ever happened in the past.OK, so, to be clear, this one mostly sounds terrifying but will probably be fine in the grand scheme of things. 2. Within a million years, at least one nearby star will explode in a supernova. Rogelio Bernal Andreo / Via deepskycolors.com, Judy Schmidt / Via en.wikipedia.org A couple of the most likely candidates are Antares and Betelgeuse, red supergiant stars that are both expected to explode as supernovae in the next million years. When one of them does, it'll be visible from Earth by day as well as night, lighting up the sky as much as a full moon.Antares lies 550 light years away and is in the constellation Scorpius. It's a red supergiant over 800 times as big as the sun – in our solar system, it'd extend out to somewhere between Mars and Jupiter. Antares has a companion star, and its companion is expected to explode in a Type 1a supernova.Betelgeuse is 640 light years away and you've probably already seen it – it makes the shoulder of the well-known constellation Orion. Betelgeuse is in the end stages of its life as a red supergiant and is due to explode as a Type II supernova sometime soon (astronomically speaking).Nobody can say exactly when these or other close-by supernova candidate stars will go, but astronomers say a near-Earth supernova is overdue and both should happen at some point in the next million years. If it does happen in your lifetime, there's nothing to worry about – all the nearest stars likely to go supernova any time soon are far enough away to not pose any threat. 3. In a billion years Earth will get so hot the oceans will evaporate. Evgeniysmolskiy / Getty Images Since the sun formed, 4.5 billion years ago, it's become about 30% brighter than it was in the beginning. In the next billion years, it's due to get 10% brighter again. Which is sad for us, because it means the oceans are going to start evaporating.The habitable zone around a star is where liquid water can exist. Estimates of the habitable zone around the sun vary, but conservative ones put Earth just inside the zone. The state of the planet or body plays a part too, though. For example, Mars is generally considered to fall inside the habitable zone around our sun but less than a third of the planet has the right atmospheric pressure and temperature for liquid water (if there was any water on Mars in the first place).In about a billion years, the habitable zone around the sun will move further away and Earth won't be in it any more.There's some debate over how quickly this process will happen, but once Earth gets hot enough for the oceans to start evaporating, it's likely to create a feedback loop. Water vapour is a greenhouse gas, so as it evaporates into the atmosphere the planet will heat up more, and more water will evaporate, until, eventually, the ground is dry and the atmosphere is saturated. From there, water will escape into space. 4. In 4 billion years, the Andromeda galaxy will collide with the Milky Way. Tap to play or pause GIF Tap to play or pause GIF Tap to play or pause GIF Tap to play or pause GIF NASA, ESA, and F. Summers, STScI In 4 billion years our galaxy will collide with our neighbour, Andromeda. Once the merger is over, around 2 billion years after that, Earth will be part of a new galaxy some people are calling Milkomeda.Right now, Andromeda is heading towards the Milky Way at a speed of 110 kilometres per second. When it hits, the two galaxies will mostly just pass through each other, then slingshot back, and eventually form a new, single galaxy.It's thought our solar system will survive relatively unscathed, although it will probably be pushed out towards the edge during the merger, at least 160,000 light years away from the centre of the new galaxy. It's a less happy story for others though – some stars will probably end up ejected from the new galaxy altogether. 5. In about 7 billion years, the sun will expand and engulf Mercury, Venus, and possibly Earth, too. Fsgregs / Creative Commons / Via commons.wikimedia.org As stars grow old, they eventually run out of stuff to burn. Our own sun is no different. It has about 5 billion years left of hydrogen in its core – once that is all burned up, the core will contract under gravity, and the sun will start pulling in hydrogen from closer to its surface. Once all the hydrogen is gone, it'll move on to helium. While this is going on, the sun's outer layers will expand and its surface temperature will drop – it'll turn into a red giant. Oona Räisänen / en.wikipedia.org Eventually it'll be about 250 times wider than it is today, engulfing Mercury and Venus, at least. If it grew to that size and everything else stayed the same, Earth would definitely end up inside the now-enlarged sun. But the sun will lose some mass, its gravitational pull will weaken, and Earth will probably move further away in response.Scientists are still debating exactly what will happen and therefore exactly what Earth's fate will be. Estimates published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2008 suggest that the sun's spinning on its axis will slow, and it'll bulge in the middle, and the gravity of the bulge will pull Earth inward.Either way, any life left on Earth at that point is a goner. Even if our planet is not engulfed, it's extremely unlikely anything would survive that close to the sun. RIP us. 6. In about 8 billion years, the sun will become a white dwarf. NASA/JPL-Caltech So we know that Earth probably won't survive the sun expanding into a red giant, and even if the planet itself does, any life certainly won't. The sun will stay a red giant for about a billion years. After that, if Earth is still about, it'll have to deal with the next phase of stellar evolution: the sun becoming a white dwarf.By this point, the sun will have burned all its helium and turned it into carbon. It won't be hot enough to burn the carbon, so it'll collapse, like when it ran out of hydrogen. This will cause it to release a bunch of energy, and the outer layers of the star will expand even further and become unstable. It'll keep throwing off layers and losing mass until all that remains is the core. It'll take about 75,000 years for the layers to disappear and the sun to take form as a white dwarf.As a white dwarf, the sun will be much smaller than it is now – about the size of Earth itself – but still with about half the mass it had as the sun we know today. This will make it super dense.It'll also be much dimmer than it is now. The temperatures on any remaining planets in the solar system will drop as the amount of energy they get from the sun drops too.At this point, the sun is basically "dead", but it's still hot. Eventually, the sun will lose enough heat so that its temperature matches the background temperature of the universe – it becomes a black dwarf.Right now black dwarf stars are theoretical, but only because the universe has not been around long enough for any to exist yet. 7. In 100 billion years, the only stars you'd be able to see from Earth will be in Milkomeda. NASA / ESA In 2003 the Hubble Space Telescope took this picture of a tiny patch of the sky. There's something like 10,000 galaxies just in this picture.But in about 100 billion years, if we did the same thing again, there'd be no other galaxies – and the only stars we'd see would be within our own galaxy.This is because everything in the universe is being pushed away from everything else, thanks to a mysterious force known as dark energy. Our galaxy is held together by gravity, and when it merges with Andromeda the resulting galaxy – Milkomeda – will be held together too. In fact, there are more than 50 galaxies that make up something called the Local Group, and eventually they'll all be part of Milkomeda too. But because everything else is rushing away from us, at some point, a very long time in the future, we won't be able to see any galaxies other than our own. 8. Eventually, there won't be enough hydrogen in the universe to form any new stars at all. ESA/Hubble New stars need hydrogen to form, and somewhere between 1 trillion and 100 trillion years from now there'll be no free hydrogen left in the universe. At this point, star formation as we know it will have run its course.All remaining stars will eventually exhaust all of their fuel and die. Officially, the universe will move on from the Stelliferous Era, and move into the Degenerate Era.Some stars will go like our sun, becoming white dwarfs. Bigger stars will go out with more of a bang, ending up as black holes or neutron stars. Smaller objects not big enough to form stars will exist as brown dwarfs. Basically, most of the mass in the universe will be dead stars.Occasionally, two white dwarfs will spiral in towards each other and explode in a Type 1a supernova, lighting up a tiny part of the universe for a few weeks. But mostly it will just be very, very dark.
Dinosaurs (Greek: δεινόσαυρος, deinosauros) were the dominant vertebrate animals of terrestrial ecosystems for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period (about 230 million years ago) until the end of the Cretaceous period (65 million years ago), when most of them became extinct in the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event. The 10000 living species of birds may be classified as dinosaurs. The term "dinosaur" was coined in 1842 by Sir Richard Owen and derives from Greek δεινός (deinos) "terrible, powerful, wondrous" + σαῦρος (sauros) "lizard". It is sometimes used informally to describe other prehistoric reptiles, such as the pelycosaur Dimetrodon, the winged pterosaurs, and the aquatic ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and mosasaurs, although none of these animals were dinosaurs. Through the first half of the 20th century, most of the scientific community believed dinosaurs to have been slow, unintelligent cold-blooded animals. Most research conducted since the 1970s, however, has supported the view that dinosaurs were active animals with elevated metabolisms and numerous adaptations for social interaction. The resulting transformation in the scientific understanding of dinosaurs has gradually filtered into popular consciousness. The 1861 discovery of the primitive bird Archaeopteryx first suggested a close relationship between dinosaurs and birds. Aside from the presence of fossilized feather impressions, Archaeopteryx was very similar to the contemporary small predatory dinosaur Compsognathus. Research has since identified theropod dinosaurs as the most likely direct ancestors of birds; most paleontologists today regard birds as the only surviving dinosaurs, and some suggest that dinosaurs and birds should be grouped into one biological class. Aside from birds, crocodilians are the only other close relatives of dinosaurs to have survived until the present day. Like dinosaurs and birds, crocodilians are members of Archosauria, a group of reptiles that first appeared in the very late Permian and came to predominate in the mid-Triassic. Since the first dinosaur fossils were recognized in the early nineteenth century, mounted dinosaur skeletons have become major attractions at museums around the world. Dinosaurs have become a part of world culture and remain consistently popular. They have been featured in best-selling books and films (notably Jurassic Park), and new discoveries are regularly covered by the media. Subscribe to rss feed
Three large and strong sea currents influence the Galapagos marine life entering the archipelago constantly: the Humboldt Current, the Panama Flow and the Cromwell Current. The Humboldt and Cromwell Currents come up from the dark depths, carried with massive amounts of nutrients. This organic matter, left over of decaying fauna and flora that sank to the bottom, very much defines the nature of the Galapagos. When the deep traveling current hits the volcanic formations of the archipelago, all these nutrients are lifted in what we know as “upwelling”. This phenomenon offers the coasts and surroundings of the islands very rich waters in which most species rely their population. The base of the marine ecosystems, plankton, provides for the rest of the species and allows animals that are usually found in rich cold waters such as the penguins, orcas, albatross, among others, to establish and develop in the islands. This is why the Galapagos is considered an “oasis of wealth in a desert of warm poor tropical waters”. These currents are stronger in the months of April to December, in the cold season; so nine out of twelve months a year, conditions are optimum for marine life to flourish. 28/9 29/9 3/10 17/10 24/10
Sarcoid is an immune system disorder. I can not find any information for it being related to thyroid disorders, but that does not mean it can't be. Many thyroid disorders are auto-immune and many people have more than one auto-immune disease with their thryoid disorder, so it could be highly possible that sarcoid may be in conjunction with a thyroid illness. Sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland is a rare disorder first reported in 1938 that primarily affects young and middle-aged females although both males and females of all ages may be affected. Sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland usually results in hypothyroidism because of fibrosis interfering with thyroid function. However, sarcoidosis of the thyroid may cause a euthyroid (normal thyroid function) form of thyroiditis and goiter. And occasionally sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland occurs in association with Graves’ disease and less commonly in patients with toxic multinodular goiter. In addition sarcoid lesions may occur as cold thyroid nodules and be mistaken for thyroid cancer. Sarcoidosis has been found to be associated with T-cell activation. Consequently, sarcoidosis is suspected of developing as an inflammatory response to a single provocation, which can be another disease. For instance, 5 percent of all patients with Hodgkin’s disease are found to have evidence of liver sarcoidosis, which is suspected of arising as a response to the Hodgkin’s neoplasm. Similarly, sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland may develop in response to an established thyroid disorder including Graves’ disease, nodular goiter, and thyroid cancer. Patients with Graves’ disease may also have concomitant conditions of sarcoidosis affecting the lungs. Patients with systemic sarcoidosis may also develop sarcoid lesions in various organs including the thyroid gland. Sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland usually results in hypothyroidism due to fibrosis of thyroid tissue or interference with the function of normal thyroid cells. However, when sarcoidosis occurs in patients with hyperthyroidism caused by Graves’ disease or toxic multinodular goiter, the hyperthyroidism is often resistant to treatment with I131 ablation or anti-thyroid drugs. In cases of chronic sarcoidosis, skin lesions, enlarged lymph nodes (especially in the chest cavity), enlarged spleen, enlarged liver, uveitis, cardiac symptoms, and arthritis may occur. Although thyroid sarcoidosis is generally painless, there are isolated reports of painful lesions occurring. Sarcoidosis frequently causes an elevation of calcium levels in both the blood and urine. Sarcoid lesions are also known to cause elevated levels of circulating vitamin D, which may be seasonal. Consequently, conditions of both hypoparathyroidism and hyperparathyroidism may occur due to imbalances in calcium metabolism. In sarcoidosis, the white blood cell count may be low and on occasion the uric acid level and the blood and urine calcium levels may be elevated. Sarcoid granulomas present in the thyroid gland seen on imaging tests may be mistakenly identified as thyroid neoplasms especially when they’re identified as cold nodules. Proptosis, orbital swelling and other symptoms resembling thyroid eye disease may occur as a result of systemic sarcoidosis affecting the eye rather than as a complication of sarcoidosis of the thyroid gland. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. Med Help International, Inc. is not a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this Site does not create a doctor / patient relationship. We disclaim all responsibility for the professional qualifications and licensing of, and services provided by, any physician or other health providers posting on or otherwise referred to on this Site and/or any Third Party Site. Never disregard the medical advice of your physician or health professional, or delay in seeking such advice, because of something you read on this Site. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. By using this Site you agree to the following Terms and Conditions. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician or 911 immediately.
Native to China, David viburnum (Viburnum davidii) is a showy evergreen shrub that displays attractive, glossy, blue-green foliage year round. Clusters of small white flowers in spring give way to colorful, metallic blue berries that attract songbirds to the garden, often well into the winter months. If this has piqued your interest, read on for more David viburnum information. Growing David Viburnum Plants David viburnum is a small rounded shrub that reaches heights of 24 to 48 inches with widths about 12 inches more than the height. The shrub is evergreen in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 9, but it may be deciduous in the northern edges of that range. Growing David viburnum plants isn’t difficult, as this is a hardy, low-maintenance plant with no serious threat from pests or disease. Plant at least two plants in close proximity, as female plants require a male pollinator in order to produce berries. David viburnum is easy to grow in average, well-drained soil and either full sun or partial shade. However, the shrub benefits from a location with afternoon shade if you live in a climate with hot summers. David Viburnum Care Caring for Viburnum davidii is also uninvolved. - Water the plant regularly until it is established. From that point, water during extended periods of hot, dry weather. - Fertilize the shrub after blooming using a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants. - A layer of mulch keeps the roots cool and moist in summer. - Trim as needed in late winter or early spring. To propagate David viburnum, plant seeds outdoors in autumn. David viburnum propagation is also easily accomplished by taking cuttings in summer. Is David Viburnum Poisonous? Viburnum davidii berries are mildly toxic and may cause stomach upset and vomiting when eaten in large quantities. Otherwise, the plant is safe.
- Solution centre - News & Media In many regions of the world, older, high-emitting vehicles account for a small percentage of the overall vehicle fleet but a disproportionately large share of total emissions. It is estimated that these vehicles may be responsible for more than 50% of particulate matter (PM) and black carbon (BC) emissions by 2020. This white paper examines how vehicle replacement, retrofit, and repower programs can have an immediate and positive environmental impact because they reduce emissions from older, gross emitting, and inefficient vehicles in the fleet within a short period of time. Positive environmental impacts can be achieved with the reduction of gaseous pollutants (CO, HC, NOX), as well as of particulate matter. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are also reduced, especially of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as black carbon, one of the main components of PM emissions. The paper evaluates vehicle replacement programs worldwide and suggests five best practices that serve as guidelines for policymakers seeking to design and implement these programs in their jurisdictions.
- What is an MRI? - How does an MRI work? - Is an MRI safe? - What if I am claustrophobic and don't like to be in enclosed spaces? - Can pediatric patients receive an MRI? - What forms do I need to fill in? - Should I take my medications the day of my MRI? - Can I eat and drink before my MRI? - When should I arrive for my MRI? - How should I dress for my MRI? - Will I receive an intravenous drip during my MRI? - What happens during my MRI? - How long will my MRI scan take? - What happens after my MRI? MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a noninvasive diagnostic tool used to identify and treat various medical conditions. These exams provide unparalleled views of internal body structures including the organs, soft tissues and bone, which cannot be seen using conventional X-rays or CT scans. MRI technology produces clear and precise cross-sectional images. This diagnostic tool offers a quick and safe method for gathering pictures of the human anatomy allowing physicians to detect many conditions in earlier stages. How does an MRI work? MRI technology uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed pictures of the human body. As the radio waves pass through the body, images are created on a computer screen for radiologists to analyze. These precise images allow radiologists to view soft tissue (muscles, fat, internal organs, blood vessels and tendons) and bones without the use of X-rays or surgery. Is an MRI safe? The MRI imaging technique does not involve exposure to radiation. However, women should always inform their technologist if there is a chance they could be pregnant. Medical and electronic devices may interfere with MRI exams and pose a potential risk. Patients with any kind of metallic implant should not have an MRI unless their physician is aware of the device and has approved the procedure. Patients with pacemakers should not undergo an MRI. The MRI team will work with patients who suffer from claustrophobia. Patients can come before their appointment and tour the facility to become better acquainted with the scanning process. Satellite radio is provided in the MRI suite to help patients relax during their scan. A friend or family member (who has been screened for internal or external metal) may also accompany the patient into the exam room during the test. Many patients request a mild sedative prescription from their physician prior to their appointment and arrange for a responsible adult to drive them home. Yes, children can receive an MRI. The Radiology Department has specialty radiologists and a conscious sedation program to meet the unique needs of pediatric patients. Parents can accompany their children into the scan room and remain with the child during the MRI exam. A Child Life Specialist is available upon request. What forms do I need to fill in? Please print out the MRI Patient Screening Form (.pdf), fill it in and bring it with you to your appointment. Yes, it is important for patients to continue taking all medications prescribed by their physician before their MRI exam. Patients should let their technologist know what medications they have taken prior to their MRI scan. Patients will receive individual instructions about eating and/or drinking from a member of the MRI Department prior to their scan. Patients should arrive 30 minutes before their scheduled appointment. This allows time to complete any necessary paperwork, answer any medical history questions, change clothes for the scan if necessary and ask any questions of the MRI technologist. Patients should bring their insurance cards and any insurance forms. Patients should dress in loose-fitting, comfortable clothing such as a sweatshirt and pants without metal snaps or zippers. All valuables should be left at home. Jewelry, glasses, hearing aides, dentures, hairpins, credit cards, coins, keys and other metal objects will need to be removed and placed in a safe location outside the scan room. Secure clothing lockers are provided for patients during their MRI scan. Patients are also advised not to wear cosmetics to their scan as many brands contain metal. Depending on the type of exam, patients may receive a contrast agent intravenously (IV) through a vein in the arm or hand. Contrast mediums or contrast agents are safe injections used to highlight organs and blood vessels to help produce a better image for the radiologist. If your physician or radiologist has determined that an IV will enhance your MRI scan results, you will receive an IV in your arm or hand prior to the test so the technologist can administer the contrast agent at the time of your scan. When you are ready for your scan, a technologist will bring you into the MRI scan room and help you get comfortable on the padded examination table. The table will then move slowly into the opening of a large cylinder-shaped tube that houses the MRI magnet. You will hear a continual knocking noise while the machine takes pictures. Earplugs are provided and significantly reduce the amount of noise during the scan. It is important to lie completely still while the images are being taken because motion will effect the sharpness of the image. The technologist will talk with you throughout your scan and keep you informed of what you can expect. MRI scans are individualized and tailored to each patient's needs. Total scan times range from 20 to 60 minutes. Patients who require a contrast agent will be given the IV injection after their preliminary scans. The patient will then return to the examination table to continue the scan. Pictures are needed before and after the IV injection when a contrast agent is used. After the technologist completes the MRI scan, they will review all of the images to make sure they have complete information for the ordering physician. Patients may leave immediately following their MRI scan and can go about their normal activities. Radiologists at Newton-Wellesley know that rapid results are essential for each patient's peace of mind and so physicians can begin planning treatment immediately. After each MRI scan, a Newton-Wellesley radiologist reads the images in a timely manner. The Hospital has advanced, high-tech capabilities to provide physicians with fast MRI exam results. Your doctor will provide you with your results. Find a Doctor Find primary care physicians and specialists. Wellness Center Classes Did you know we offer a variety of exercise and fitness classes designed to accommodate various levels and abilities? Many of our classes are starting this January. 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From Our 2012 Archives Brain Scans Using New Dye May Predict Alzheimer's Latest Alzheimers News WEDNESDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- Brain scans using a new radioactive dye can detect early evidence of Alzheimer's disease in people who show little or no signs of the disease and may help predict future mental decline, a new study says. It included 151 people who completed thinking and memory tests and underwent a PET (positron emission tomography) brain scan with the new dye called florbetapir (Amyvid). They were then followed for three years. The dye binds to amyloid plaques that occur in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, enabling doctors to see if patients have the plaques and how much. At the start of the study, 69 patients had normal mental function, 51 had mild impairment and 31 had Alzheimer's disease. After 18 months, thinking and memory test results of patients who started off with mild impairment and whose brain scans revealed evidence of amyloid plaques worsened to a greater degree than those who had mild impairment but had no evidence of plaques at the start of the study. The patients with amyloid plaques at the outset were also more likely to go on to develop Alzheimer's. After three years, 29 percent of the plaque-positive patients with mild impairment developed Alzheimer's compared with 10 percent of those with mild impairment who had no plaques at the start of the study. Among participants with normal mental function at the start of the study, those with evidence of brain plaques showed more mental decline after 18 months than those with no sign of plaques. "Even at a short follow-up of 18 months we can see how the presence of amyloid plaques affects cognitive [thinking] function," study co-leader Dr. P. Murali Doraiswamy, a professor of psychiatry at Duke University, said in a university news release. "Most people who come to the doctor with mild impairment really want to know the short-term prognosis and potential long-term effect." There is no cure for Alzheimer's, but being able to detect the early stages of Alzheimer's could help advance efforts to find ways to fight the disease and enhance the care and treatment of current patients, he explained. "For the most part we have been blind about who would progress and who wouldn't, so this approach is a step toward having a biomarker that predicts risk of decline in people who are experiencing cognitive impairment," Doraiswamy said. The study, published online July 11 in the journal Neurology, was funded by Eli Lilly/Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, which markets Amyvid. Doraiswamy receives advisory and speaker fees from Lilly/Avid. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Amyvid was approved in April for use in imaging tests for patients being evaluated for Alzheimer's. -- Robert Preidt Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCE: Duke University, news release, July 11, 2012 - Allergic Skin Disorders - Bacterial Skin Diseases - Bites and Infestations - Diseases of Pigment - Fungal Skin Diseases - Medical Anatomy and Illustrations - Noncancerous, Precancerous & Cancerous Tumors - Oral Health Conditions - Papules, Scales, Plaques and Eruptions - Scalp, Hair and Nails - Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) - Vascular, Lymphatic and Systemic Conditions - Viral Skin Diseases - Additional Skin Conditions
Television in the Age of Radio Modernity, Imagination, and the Making of a Medium Publication Year: 2014 Television existed for a long time before it became commonplace in American homes. Even as cars, jazz, film, and radio heralded the modern age, television haunted the modern imagination. During the 1920s and 1930s, U.S. television was a topic of conversation and speculation. Was it technically feasible? Could it be commercially viable? What would it look like? How might it serve the public interest? And what was its place in the modern future? These questions were not just asked by the American public, but also posed by the people intimately involved in television’s creation. Their answers may have been self-serving, but they were also statements of aspiration. Idealistic imaginations of the medium and its impact on social relations became a de facto plan for moving beyond film and radio into a new era. In Television in the Age of Radio, Philip W. Sewell offers a unique account of how television came to be—not just from technical innovations or institutional struggles, but from cultural concerns that were central to the rise of industrial modernity. This book provides sustained investigations of the values of early television amateurs and enthusiasts, the fervors and worries about competing technologies, and the ambitions for programming that together helped mold the medium. Sewell presents a major revision of the history of television, telling us about the nature of new media and how hopes for the future pull together diverse perspectives that shape technologies, industries, and audiences. Published by: Rutgers University Press Title Page, Copyright Page, Dedication This book and its author benefited from a tremendous amount of support. I am especially indebted to my adviser, Michele Hilmes, for her counsel, encouragement, and wide- ranging interest in media and cultural history and to the members of my committee: James L. Baughman, Michael Curtin, Julie D’Acci, and Vance Kepley Jr. At key moments in this project and my life as a scholar,... Introduction: The Substance of Things Hoped For Pulp publishing mogul Hugo Gernsback kicked off the June 1927 issue of Radio News with an editorial proclaiming, “With the official recognition of Television by the Radio Commission, as well as the actual successful demonstration early in April by the American Telegraph and Telephone Co., it may be said that television has finally arrived.”1 This was not television’s first moment of arrival,... 1. Questions of Definition By the early 1930s, “high- definition” electronically scanned television was said to be “just around the corner,” but mass consumer investment in the technology did not pick up until after World War II. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, public discourse on television was haunted by the twin ghosts of satisfaction and obsolescence. In the case of the former, the fear was that audiences/buyers... 2. Engendering Expertise and Enthusiasm The era of mechanical television was not just a moment of setting standards and definitions that conformed to the sociocultural order. At the same time that the medium’s technical identity was being pinned down, television became an important front in attempts to stabilize the relations among institutions, enthusiasts, and the public— particularly the radio public— by means of several... 3. Programming the System for Quality As television’s supposed technical nature came to be defined along increasingly narrow lines by the mid- 1930s and hierarchies of authority concretized into a few sites of institutional power, the evaluation of television’s content— particularly as organized around notions of quality— became a key area of struggle in debating the US television system. Continuing a tradition from sound... 4. Seeing Around Corners Throughout the 1930s, television programming in the United States was largely an adjunct to experimental work. We saw some of the consequences of this situation in the prior chapter, which investigated the ways in which arguments about program quality were used to support the consolidating regulatory and economic regimes of American broadcasting. This chapter examines another... Conclusions: Why Not Quantity Television? The realization of television— its authorities and audiences, its textual forms and technical articulation— was presented not on a “blank canvas” but amid an existing panorama of contending institutions and expectations.1 Made manifest in a vacuum tube but not in a vacuum, the medium’s relationship with the... About the Author Page Count: 256 Publication Year: 2014 OCLC Number: 865508918 MUSE Marc Record: Download for Television in the Age of Radio
Between the late twelfth century and the mid fourteenth, Castile saw a reordering of mental, spiritual, and physical space. Fresh ideas about sin and intercession coincided with new ways of representing the self and emerging perceptions of property as tangible. This radical shift in values or mentalités was most evident among certain social groups, including mercantile elites, affluent farmers, lower nobility, clerics, and literary figures — “middling sorts” whose outlooks and values were fast becoming normative. Drawing on such primary documents as wills, legal codes, land transactions, litigation records, chronicles, and literary works, Teofilo Ruiz documents the transformation in how medieval Castilians thought about property and family at a time when economic innovations and an emerging mercantile sensibility were eroding the traditional relation between the two. He also identifies changes in how Castilians conceived of and acted on salvation and in the ways they related to their local communities and an emerging nation-state. Ruiz interprets this reordering of mental and physical landscapes as part of what Le Goff has described as a transition “from heaven to earth,” from spiritual and religious beliefs to the quasi-secular pursuits of merchants and scholars. Examining how specific groups of Castilians began to itemize the physical world, Ruiz sketches their new ideas about salvation, property, and themselves — and places this transformation within the broader history of cultural and social change in the West. Awards and Recognition - Teofilo F. Ruiz, Winner of the 2011 National Humanities Medal
Entamoeba Ag Rapid Test chromatographic immunoassay is a procedure for measurement of Entamoeba histolytica antigens in human stool samples. Entamoeba is a genus of Amoebozoa found as internal parasites or commensals of animals. In 1875, Fedor Lösch described the first proven case of amoebic dysentery in St Petersburg, Russia. He referred to the amoeba he observed microscopically as 'Amoeba coli'; however it is not clear whether he was using this as a descriptive term or intended it as a formal taxonomic name. The genus Entamoeba was defined by Casagrandi and Barbagallo for the species Entamoeba coli, which is known to be a commensal organism. Lösch's organism was renamed Entamoeba histolytica by Fritz Schaudinn in 1903; he later died, in 1906, from a self-inflicted infection when studying this amoeba. For a time during the first half of the 20th century the entire genus Entamoeba was transferred to Endamoeba, a genus of amoebas infecting invertebrates about which little is known. This move was reversed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature in the late 1950s, and Entamoeba has stayed 'stable' ever since. Principle Of The Test Entamoeba Ag Rapid Test use monoclonal antibodies specific for Entamoeba histolytica that detect all forms of the parasite during its life cycle. The test is based on the use of red microspheres covalently linked to an anti-Entamoeba histolytica monoclonal antibody, plus blue microspheres as test control. The parasites present in stool samples react with the latex particles which are coated with specific monoclonal antibodies against the antigen. This latex particles/antibodies/parasite complex migrates through a chromatographic process towards the reaction area. In this area, anti-Entamoeba histolytica antibodies that react with the latex particles/antibodies/parasite complex are present. This reaction leads to the appearance of a red line. These lines are used to interpret the result after a five-minute incubation at room temperature.
Angela’s father is an Ashkenazi Reform Jew and her mother is a Korean Buddhist. When she was 14, she became the music teacher for her congregation in Tacoma. While she always felt welcome at her synagogue, people often told her that she didn’t “look Jewish.” As she got older, Angela struggled with looking different from other Jews and having different cultural influences. She remembers one Passover when her mother put kimchee, a Korean dish of pickled vegetables, on the seder plate instead of bitter herbs. She felt like her family would never be a “normal Jewish family.” Angela eventually realized that lots of people struggle with being different. Instead of giving up on Judaism, she decided to try and weave her Jewish, American, and Korean backgrounds together. After attending Yale College, Angela studied to be a religious leader at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. She first became a cantor and then a rabbi. She now serves as Senior Cantor at Central Synagogue in New York City and writes articles about her experiences as an Asian-American Jew. In 1999, Angela became the first Asian-American Jew to become invested as a cantor. Two years later, she made history again when she became the first Asian-American rabbi. Her ordination helped Jewish communities in the United States and around the world learn to value their increasing diversity. Angela doesn’t think that being Korean-American is the most important thing about her role as a rabbi, but she is glad that she can help change people's definition of what it means to “be” or “look” Jewish.
Speech and language ideas while waiting for your baby’s cleft palate surgery If you are waiting for your child’s palate to be repaired, you might be wondering if this will affect their speech. The good news is there are plenty of things you can do at home to help with speech and language development during this time as you wait for surgery – this information sheet from the North Thames Cleft Lip and Palate team at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Broomfield Hospital gives you a few suggestions. You may have read or been advised that it is best to have surgery in time for when most children start talking, which in many cases is about one year of age. While this age is a general guideline for the timing of palate repair, there are a number of health reasons why many children have to have their palate repair delayed. In some cases, this does not seem to have any effect on their speech development, while other children might need more help with this. Communication – not just speech! Speech – the way in which we pronounce our words – is a very small part of communicating. We can imagine communication as a tower. Speech can be seen as the brick at the very top of the tower. Long before they start talking, babies are learning the skills they need that form the foundations of the tower. These include being able to pay attention and listening to others, playing and socialising, understanding what is being said to them, starting to use words themselves and then finally learning how to pronounce words. Here are some things you can do at home, starting with skills in the lower levels of the tower. - Play face to face with your baby every day. Games like peek-a-boo help develop play and social skills. Here is an example: www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/playing-with-peekaboo/zb8f7nb As your baby grows, encourage them to play with toys they can pretend with, such as tea-sets. Here is an example of this Help your toddler start to take turns and sharing in very simple ways, like waiting for ‘ready, steady, go’ before knocking a tower down or rolling a ball back and forth to each other. - Sing nursery rhymes with your baby, using the actions. - Read books with your baby every day. This is a lovely bonding activity and helps their language development, linking with every level of the tower. - Watch out for signs that you toddler is communicating before using words. They might lift their arms to be picked up. Respond to these attempts as this can help reduce frustration. - Label these attempts at communicating. For example, you could say: “Up? Up, you come.” as you pick up your toddler. - Talk to your baby about what they can see using simple words. Try to be face to face so he/she can easily see you. Keep background noise down while you are doing this. - Copy the sounds your baby makes as long as they are sounds you hear in your own language. Do not copy sounds made in the throat like “eh” “huh” or harsh sounds unless these are sounds used in your language. - Expand on what your baby is saying. They might say “mama”. You can say back: “mama moomoo”. See this example - Easier sounds for your baby to say before surgery will be those that do not need the palate to separate the mouth from the nose, which is not possible until after the cleft has been repaired. These sounds include vowels (like ‘aa’ ‘ee’ ‘oo’), sounds made in the nose (like ‘m’ and ‘n’) and sounds like ‘w’ ‘l’ and ‘j’. Examples of easier words include: Mummy, more, Nanny, lolly. - Harder sounds will be those sounds that need the palate to separate the nose from the mouth. They include sounds like ‘b’ ‘d’ ‘g’. You might find that your toddler either says these sounds using a nose sound (‘m’ ‘n’) or leaves them out. For example a word like ball might sound like ‘mall’ or ‘all’. Don’t correct these types of mistakes but just say the word back clearly in a natural way. For example, you can say: “Yes, ball. You rolled the ball. Big ball”. - Show your baby how sounds are made by playing face to face with sounds. You can say something like: “mmmmm ….. with my lips”. You can poke your tongue out a little and make a gentle ‘n’ sound, saying something like “nnnnnn…. with my tongue”, showing your toddler your tongue. Don’t worry at this stage if they do not copy you.
Music activities have a way of appealing to kids like no other art form. Toddlers love listening to their favorite tune as it brightens their day and also provides significant brain development. But even older kids like 4th grade students can learn music theory and concepts through games! That doesn’t come as a surprise as a study done in 2016 points out that exposing your child to music leads to accelerated brain development (especially when it comes to reading skills and picking up language). Furthermore, exposing your child to music early in their lives is vital in helping them develop creative mindsets. Keeping these benefits in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 35 fun music games for 1st grade through 4th grade to help your kids get started on their learning adventures! Read on to discover several fun music-centered games that are not only going to help your child’s development but also provide them with a fun time! If you ask most kids what their favorite class is in school, they’ll often reply with ‘music classes’. There’s a good reason for that too – music activities taught by music teachers not only provide them with vital skills but also extend to being incredibly fun activities that are often carried out in groups. By helping your children learn to catch a steady beat, these music classes are preparing them for the future in ways you couldn’t even imagine! Let’s look at some of the ways music activities bolster your child’s development: Have you ever wondered how your favorite songs (folk songs, rock music, or even pop music) can impact your brain development? The research points towards music providing the ability for our brains to improve concentration, memory, thinking skills, spatial intelligence, as well as other cognitive capabilities. To date, studies are being done to figure out how our brains hear and reach to music. The basic explanation points towards music sending out rhythm patterns of vibrations that travel through the air and reach our ear canals. These sound vibrations proceed to ‘tickle’ the eardrums and transform into electrical signals that travel through the auditory nerves to the brain, where they finally assemble into what we perceive as music. Several researchers asked rappers and jazz performers to lie down inside an fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) and then watched which areas of their brains lit up when listening to/improvising music. This research showed that music isn’t just random – it’s structural, architectural, and mathematical. One note has a relationship with the next and to make sense of all of this, our brain does a lot of hard work! Keeping this in mind, it’s vital to include a general music curriculum in schools today as it helps children’s brains develop in ways no other activity can. Listening to music is one thing but playing musical instruments is a whole other ball game! Different instruments require different sets of skills for example, playing a flute requires practicing inhalation and exhalation, whereas playing a guitar requires having a certain level of finger strength. However, learning any instrument requires a good knowledge of musical notations and learning about half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, and even the treble clef. Some of the major effects of learning to play a musical instrument include: - An increase in cognitive ability. In short, your child is going to become a lot smarter and it’s also going to help them with their memory! - A decrease in stress levels. While children have fewer things to stress about compared to adults, they do have certain battles to face. Playing music allows them to feel calm and allows them to be happier in life. Studies have shown that ‘happy hormones’ are released through the bloodstream when we listen to or play music. - Music will help your child make new friends. Engaging socially can be a challenge when growing up but attending music lessons with other kids often solves this as your child is around other kids who share an interest in music. - Playing musical instruments bolsters creative skills. Enrolling your child in music classes will allow them to express themselves in a new way. This skill can be taken over to other areas of their lives, such as writing or cooking. - Furthermore, playing musical instruments helps your child develop confidence. After all, this is a skill that they know nothing about and as time progresses, they get better at it. This confidence helps them in various areas of their lives. Music has the wonderful ability to help your child learn to work as a group through musical instruction. Music programs and musical skills promote the idea of teamwork and can be a vital tool in lesson plans in classroom environments. Fun music classroom games promote teamwork and build motivation for kids of all ages. They allow children to learn specific skills and instrumental abilities to achieve musical goals in the future. One of the ways elementary music classrooms can promote vital life skills in children is to help them learn to cooperate with those around them. Furthermore, it also teaches children the importance of following instructions and listening. Apart from that, learning to work as a group through music builds motivation as it allows children to see that others around them are going through the same tough process. Learning to play musical instruments isn’t easy however watching others do it offers a sense of motivation and lays birth to the idea of ‘We’re all in this together’. Furthermore, musical learning reduces performance anxiety as well as learning anxiety. It allows children to ‘get in the moment’ and not feel the pressure of having to perform better. The idea is to enjoy the process and get deep into it rather than focus on not making mistakes. Finally, learning to work as a group through music allows versatility. It exposes children to different kinds and genres of music and to a variety of skills that they can adapt to perform better. Time to get to the good stuff! Musical games are some of the most fun activities for children and fun music games give the perfect opportunity to teach your children vital skills. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best music games for 1st grade through 4th grade that can help children of all ages (especially fourth graders) develop skills that can remain beneficial throughout their lives: The first category of musical games for elementary-aged children is listening games. Listening is one of the most important skills that can be taught to children. Although it is often overlooked, it is easy to develop with simple games and activities. - Musical Chairs Every child loves playing musical chairs. Not only is it fun but it also allows children to flex their problem-solving and listening skills. It’s a popular birthday party game and can be played with simple songs and some chairs, or even bean bags. - Music Maps Another advanced listening game for kids is Music Maps. It’s an elimination game in which your child has to focus on what they’re hearing and map out the progression of the music. - Freeze Dance Freeze Dance has simple rules that make it one of the best games for young children. It helps improve cognition, and social skills, as well as focusing on motor skills. The idea is to dance while the music plays and once it stops, you’re supposed to freeze. This is a game that can be played both alone and with friends. It has over 50 pre-made quizzes and each player has to choose a song and ask others to guess it. Once you know the song, type in the song name. The faster the guess, the more points you will accumulate! - Pass the Parcel Another popular game in schools is pass the parcel, and all you need for it is lollies/toys that you can wrap in wrapping paper. While the music plays, children are supposed to pass the parcel. When the music stops, the child with the parcel gets to enjoy its contents! - Musical hot potato For this fun activity, you require a whiteboard and you start by writing 5 questions on it. These questions are based on helping children learn more about each other. While the music plays, the children pass an object and when the music stops, the child with the object has to answer the questions. - Melody Pass Elimination Game This is an elimination game in which players learn 2-7 melodic prompts. Each prompt gives the turn to a different player and if they don’t respond in time, they are eliminated. It’s a wonderful activity to improve listening skills and improve music literacy. - Name that tune For 4th graders, ‘Name that tune’ is a great way to develop an understanding of music. The class can be split into teams and children are required to guess the song title and artist name. - Echo Parachute Game The echo parachute game is a parachute activity that asks children to think about the structure of phrases and their rhythm. Adults think of a simple phrase and say/sing it while shaking their parachutes. After this, the child has to copy it in the same way the adult did. - Describe what you hear ‘Describe What You Hear’ is a brilliant music game that gets children to focus on composition and use creative language tools to describe it. This is for kids of all ages and helps them develop basic musical concepts (melody, rhythm, and timbre). - What’s that sound? Children love learning about musical instruments and ‘What’s that sound?’ is the music game that helps them learn best. The game starts by playing short clips of musical instruments, and children have to guess which instrument is making that sound. - Pop Song Charades If you’re a charades lover, pop song charades is here to make your day! This is a game that incorporates charades with music and requires two groups. Children are required to act out the songs and the other children are supposed to guess it. - Animal Dance In Animal Dance, children pick cards at random and dance to the music the way that specific animal would. It’s a wonderful game full of creativity and imagination that makes children think from the perspective of animals while learning about them. - Hokey Pokey Hokey-Pokey is one of the most famous games that requires learning the song and its dance moves. This musical activity encourages children to learn about their body parts, as well as distinguishing between left and right. - Feather Dancing For Feather Dancing, all you need are a few large fake feathers that allow you to dance to your favorite music. Children can be directed to move quicker to faster pieces of music and slower to the somber ones. - Mama Llama Mama Llama is a one-of-a-kind game that involves singing and tapping the legs/hands of those on either side of you. Children’s names are called out to allow them to perform solo movements, and other children are supposed to mimic these movements. Balance and coordination are two of the most important gross motor skills in a child’s developmental phase. Some of the best fun music games to help develop these skills are: - Poison rhythm Poison rhythm is a favorite of many and it involves the teacher/adult clapping 4-beat simple rhythms that the children have to follow. When the teacher/adult is clapping, all the children have to listen and once it’s their turn, they have to repeat it. - The Cup Game The Cup Game is a signature game that involves songs with quadruple meter or 4-bar phrases. For this game, you require one plastic cup per child and music. To begin, you have to place one plastic cup upside down and clap and tap the cup. - Random rhythms Random Rhythms is a game designed to teach clapping and writing rhythms. Children are given a six-sided dice that is assigned a rhythmic value. After this, the students roll their dice and place their random rhythm onto a blank page. Once 16 bars are complete, this rhythm has to be clapped. - I have, who has In this game, each student is given a card with 2 rhythms on it. One of these is used to identify whereas the other is for repeating. When a child hears the rhythm that they have on the “I have” part of their card, they have to raise their hands. - Rhythm cakewalk Rhythm cake walk is a game in which children lie on the floor with paper. The rhythm is played on a hand drum and the students have to walk to this rhythm. There are two ways they can get out of this rhythmic cycle. If they aren’t walking to the rhythm properly and if they don’t land on a piece of paper. - Play homemade drums This musical game allows children to create music by using drum beats. Items like tin cans, boxes, and more, can be used to create homemade drums. - Boom, Snap, Clap Boom, Snap, Clap is a fun partner activity in which children can sing familiar songs and the other half of the group has to support them with boom, snap, and clap sequences. Roles can be switched mid-way to give the other children a chance to do the same. Not all sound effects games are as fun as Whizz! To play, children have to pass the sound ‘Whizz’ to the person on their right. At any time, a child can pass the sound and gesture in the other direction. The idea is to maintain a steady beat and other sounds (like “Zoom” or “Boing”) can be added. Teaching music concepts such as music theory can sound challenging. However, with the help of these fun music games, the impossible is made entirely possible! - Find your instrument twin Find Your Instrument Twin is a music game meant for elementary classrooms. Each child is provided with flashcards with an instrument. The same instrument name is written on two more cards and students have to walk around making the sound of their instrument in this game. - Hear, Clap, Write Hear, Clap, Write is a game that provides musical notes to teach children the basics of rhythm writing. In this game, children learn whole notes, half notes, eight notes, and even quarter notes. To play, you need to give each child dry-erase markers and a plastic-covered piece of cardboard with 16 squares. - Little Maestros Little Maestros is the perfect game to introduce young Maestros to reading or writing sheet music. For this, you need paper and pens and you can start by providing some symbols for different sounds to children. - Name That Note: Online Music FlashCards Reading notes becomes easy with ‘Name That Note: Online Music Flash Cards’. In this game, children are taught how to read music from 4 different clefs. The idea is to name as many music notes as you can within a certain time. - Compose a rap A favorite of many children is ‘Compose a Rap’ as it allows children the chance to creatively express themselves through rapping. This game can be started by teaching children some examples of AABB rhyming schemes that are used in raps. - Create musical words Another amazing music game is ‘Create Musical Words’ as it allows children the opportunity to create. Students can be in groups and they’re supposed to come up with as many musical words as they can. - Create a commercial ‘Create a commercial’ asks children to focus on the composition of music. Divide the children into groups and give them access to musical instruments. Provide them with a product and ask them to write a jingle on it. It’s a wonderful game to boost a child’s creativity! - Music Trivia To play Music Trivia, the children have to be split into teams of 3-4 students. Each team picks a music-related name and gets a triangle or bell. The class has to ask several music-related questions (can be related to musical terms) and the groups have to answer them as best as they can. Singing games aren’t only fun, they’re also wonderful at teaching children vital memory retention skills that can help them in the future. Let’s take a look at some of these games: - We’re Floating Down the River One of the most fun singing games is ‘We’re floating down the river’ and this game comes in 2 sections. One of these is in the compound meter while the other is in duple. Students have to make a circle with one person in the center. While that individual sings, the others have to make beats to assist them. - Alley Alley-O ‘Alley Alley-O’ is a British singing game in which children form a line and hold hands before they begin to play. Children weave under each other’s arms until everyone’s arms are crossed. While singing, the motions are reversed until everyone is standing with uncrossed arms. - Down by the Bay ‘Down By The Bay’ is a response song game. In this game, children are able to freely express themselves and come up with original lyrics as they play. Tons of benefits can be availed from this game for children of all ages. Plus, children can practice the ‘call and echo’ form. Of course, let’s not forget that this game is incredibly fun! Our team loves helping parents and teachers find great ways to engage the next generation so they can have fun while learning. Check out these articles for more awesome ideas: - 20 Best Online 2nd Grade Spelling Games (Free) - 25 Best Financial Literacy Games for College and High School Students - The Best Free Online Color Games For Preschoolers Farah Jassawalla is a technology enthusiast with a keen interest in AI, ML, and anything digital. Her passion for technology extends into her work as she currently manages the blog and social media for one of Canada’s most awarded tech and IT companies, in addition to consulting and writing for other brands. She’s an avid reader, writer, and researcher who is always looking out for the next big update in the digital world.
What’s 244 years old, weighs 129 pounds, and is about to die? As the headline and image suggest, it’s the printed edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. There have already been responses pointing the blame at Wikipedia, though it seems to be more a case of the Internet as a whole being the culprit. After all, when used as designed, Wikipedia is simply an index of the facts and claims made across the entire web and other sources. Encyclopedia Britannica’s president told the New York Times that the company’s online edition, which will remain active, is simply a better tool than the printed form because it can be updated more frequently, covers more material, and includes multimedia content. The supposed rivalry between Encyclopedia Britannica and Wikipedia was fuelled by a 2005 study by Nature magazine into science-related entries that found that while Wikipedia was more likely to have “factual errors, omissions or misleading statements” (by a 162-123 margin among the entries under examination), it only had the same number of serious errors as the printed encyclopedia, namely four. Encyclopedia Britannica took issue with the research, which prompted Nature to make two responses disputing the objections. One major flaw — which could have distorted the results either way — was that the tests involved taking a “snapshot” page of Wikipedia for an entry. The nature of open editing means this might not represent the contents that are available the majority of the time, for example if a page had been vandalized or poorly edited just before the test and corrected soon after. The Times notes that it’s the sheer economics that has put paid to the printed Britannica Encyclopedia. In 1990 it sold 120,000 copies in the US alone. The 2010 edition has so far only sold two-thirds of its 12,000 print run. In fact the printed encyclopedia now brings in less than one percent of company revenue, with sales of educational materials now the main moneyspinner. Ironically, the departure of the printed edition has proven that you can’t always trust what you read online. The business editor of the Peoria Journal Star covered the news by noting the decline was inevitable given that the last door-to-door salesman for Encyclopedia Britannica, Scott Lohman, retired in 2007 after 40 years on the job. Unfortunately he appears to have missed the fact that his source material for this note is a clearly-labeled satire site. (Image credit, ironically enough: Wikimedia Commons)
Smith College has a responsibility to its employees and students to provide a safe and healthful environment. In the process of developing our recommendations, we considered the self-governance policy in the residences and the rights of smokers. While the committee recognizes the uniqueness of Smith College's semiautonomous housing system and the rights of those who choose to smoke, we concluded that the rights of smokers were outweighed by a myriad of facts. They are listed below, along with other facts that we considered in our deliberations. In 1986 the Surgeon General reported that tobacco use in any form, active and passive, is a significant health hazard. In 1992 the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment of the U.S. EPA classified environmental tobacco smoke as a Class-A carcinogen. In the same study, the EPA estimated that some 3000 lung cancer deaths per year among nonsmokers are attributable to environmental tobacco smoke. According to the Surgeon General, each year environmental tobacco smoke causes 150,000-300,000 lower respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, in children. Nancy Asai of Residence Life said that within the last two years, a remarkable increase from incoming new and transfer students reported having asthma and allergies in addition to those who prefer smoke-free living quarters to avoid second-hand smoke. She also stated that among reasons for student room change requests, there has been an increase in the number of students reporting dissatisfaction based on health reasons and second hand smoke issues in the houses. Smith College residences are older buildings with poor ventilation systems. No ventilation system currently in existence can eliminate 100 percent of second-hand smoke and its particulates. In 2000 the American College Health Association revised its guidelines on "Tobacco on College and University Campuses" to include: "7. Prohibit smoking in all residence halls, dormitory facilities and other campus owned housing and 6. Prohibit smoking within 20 feet of any entrance of any campus building." The OSHA Technical Manual includes smoke from cigars, cigarettes, and pipe tobacco in its list of major indoor air contaminants. Tobacco smoke can irritate the respiratory system and, in allergic or asthmatic persons, often results in eye and nasal irritation, coughing, wheezing, sneezing, headache, and related sinus problems. People who wear contact lenses often complain of burning, itching, and tearing eyes when exposed to cigarette smoke. Tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air quality problems. Tobacco smoke contains several hundred toxic substances including carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, tars, and nicotine. Most indoor air particulates are due to tobacco smoke and are in the respirable range. We recognize that Smith College's housing system is unique. Residential living is an integral part of students' education. In keeping with this philosophy, traditional undergraduates are expected to live on campus for four years. Each house is self-governing, which gives the students in the house the opportunity to decide on their own rules and their own methods for holding each other accountable. However, the self-governance policy has been overridden in the past when safety was the issue, specifically in the case of halogen lamps and candles. Twenty-five percent of all fatal fires in Massachusetts in 1999 were the result of careless disposal of smoking materials ; careless smoking is the number one cause of all fatal fires in Massachusetts and the United States--Boston Globe, 4/02/01, State Fire Marshall's Office. Although careless disposal of smoking materials has not been a significant factor in fires in the residences at Smith College according to Public Safety, the potential is ever present. On October 13, 1996, a fire in James House Dormitory at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst resulted from the careless use of smoking materials. Approximately 50 students had to be relocated. On May 12, 1996 a fire broke out at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill's Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house after a night-long graduation party attended by 250-300 students and their parents. The fire killed five people and injured three. Investigators attributed the fire, which started in the basement, to the improper use or disposal of smoking materials, which most likely ignited combustible materials. On October 21, 1994, five students were killed at Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, when a smoldering sofa resulted in a fire at the Beta Sigma Delta house. The students had removed the batteries from the house's smoke alarms, a common practice during smoky parties. Tobacco claims the vast majority of its victims through lung and heart diseases, but each year roughly 1000 Americans die in fires ignited by cigarettes. The current Smith College smoking policy includes among its purposes "to provide a smoke-free workplace for all members of the College community." At the committee's request for information, the College's counsel, Hamilton Doherty Jr., reviewed the Massachusetts General Laws and the City of Northampton's Regulations on smoking in relation to smoking in the residences at Smith, and outside of buildings. He found that Smith could be found in violation of some sections of these regulations. The current City Regulations prohibit smoking in all "public places" and in all "work places." The Regulations define a "work place" as any enclosed area in which one (1) or more employees are employed. Included within the work place shall be: "all common work areas at all places of employment at all times, including but not limited to the following: auditoriums, classrooms hallways." Regardless of whether student dormitory rooms are themselves considered to be "private residences" for purposes of the Regulations, common areas of the residence halls including living rooms, hallways, dining rooms, stairways, and rest rooms all fall squarely within the definition of "public place" and/or the definition of "work place" under the Regulations. The Regulations do not address situations where smoking in a permitted area, such as a dormitory room, results in smoke filtering into an area in which smoking is prohibited. If it is the policy of the Regulations (and the Smith College policy) to provide a smoke-free work place environment, it should not matter how smoke gets into that environment. RADS employee: "Speaking from ONLY MY EXPERIENCE HERE I can tell you that smoking at parties is usually the worst case scenario. For example this past weekend I was the manager on duty on Sunday morning. I went to check on the dining room at Comstock and found that it reeked of smoke and had numerous cigarette butts that were extinguished on the new floor. A sad sight for sure after so many individuals worked so hard to improve the living conditions for all the residents at Comstock and Wilder. (I guess you can also probably tell that I am a non-smoker.) I have also found that coming in and out of residences that you sometimes have to go through the smoking gauntlet to get into the buildings. Again not a pretty picture in my opinion, especially when you again see all the butts put out in front of the doors. I guess the bottom line is even if we have a total ban on smoking in all College buildings you will probably have smoking outside the buildings and of course don't know who will want to become the smoking police especially for those that don't comply. Definitely a tough issue." (Nov. 14, 2000) Another RADS employee: "Last year the smoking at Wilder House greatly affected the Kitchen and Housekeeping staff. The "smoker" was just off the dining room and the smell and the smoke from those clove cigarettes, as well as the regular ones, was intolerable at times. We kept the dining room doors closed as much as possible posting a sign indicating that the smoke from the house was making us ill. Headaches, coughing and wheezing were some problems we had. It was brought to the attention of our immediate supervisor so she was aware of the problem. I am sure you will hear more from the people in this house that were affected. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me." (Nov. 15, 2000) A third RADS employee: "There should be no smoking in any parts of the dorms." (Nov. 15, 2000) Between 1960 and 1990, the death rate from lung cancer among women increased by more than 400 percent, and the rate is continuing to increase, according to a report from the Surgeon General. In 1987, lung cancer surpassed breast cancer as the number one cause of cancer deaths among women. The American Cancer Society estimated that in 1998, lung cancer killed 67,000 women, and breast cancer killed 43,500 women. More than 152,000 women died from smoking-related diseases in 1994 according to a report from the Surgeon General. Smoking has a damaging effect on women's reproductive health and is associated with reduced fertility and early menopause. Cigarette smoking is the single largest preventable cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States, according to the Surgeon General. Section 3 of the Regulations requires that smoking be "prohibited in all areas of establishments that are open to those who are under the age of eighteen (18)." The Regulations do not define the term "establishment," but it seems to be a broad, general term for any building or activity. If so, it would seem to apply to "all areas" of the dormitories and to supersede the exemption for private residences within the dormitories, since the dormitories are open to persons under the age of eighteen. Read in this way, Section 3 would require the College to ban smoking in all areas of dormitories, including individual rooms -- Atty. Hamilton Doherty, Jr., Counsel to the College. According to a study released in March 2001 by Harvard School of Public Health College Tobacco Study, colleges can significantly curb student tobacco use by offering smoke-free housing. The study revealed that students who enter college as nonsmokers are 40 percent less likely to begin smoking if they live in smoke-free dormitories than are students who live in unrestricted housing. According to the American College Health Association, efforts to promote tobacco/smoke-free campuses have led to substantial reductions in the number of people who smoke, the amount of tobacco products consumed, and the number of people exposed to environmental tobacco hazard. We reviewed the smoking policies on a variety of campuses. Looking at earlier policies in the Committee on Community Policy files and comparing them to those same campuses' current policies (a 5-year time frame) most campuses' policies have become more restrictive or now ban smoking entirely in the residences. Letter from Dr. Leslie Jaffe, Director, of Health Services, to Raphael Atlas, Chair, Committee on Community Policy, dated Dec. 12, 1997, calling for a ban on smoking in the residences to follow up on the ban on smoking in all college academic and administrative buildings. Letter from the Directors of Health Services at the 7 sister colleges, to the Presidents of the 7 sister colleges, dated Sept. 30, 1998, calling for the Presidents to make non-smoking the cultural norm on their campuses. According to Nancy Asai, there are not enough nonsmoking rooms on campus to accommodate all requests. Over the last five years, the Residence Life and Housing Office at Smith has seen a significant increase in the number of students inquiring about smoke-free houses for personal health and medical reasons in their housing assignments, again according to Nancy Asai. Use of cigarettes by an average smoker destroys about one tree every 2 weeks.--SmokeBusters, England 72 percent of all the land used to grow tobacco is in Third World countries, where starvation is more common than in Western countries. Cigarette butts take about 25 years to decompose--San Francisco Examiner, Sept. 13, 1996. Tobacco production contributes to deforestation, soil erosion, flooding, the greenhouse effect and global warming--"Tobacco industry has global impact" TECC News: a newsletter of the Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California, Winter, 1992. About 40 percent of the world's tobacco is cured by burning wood and 12 percent of all trees cut down worldwide are used for curing tobacco--"Resisting tobacco in developing countries: working papers in support of the 8th world conference on tobacco or health: building a tobacco-free world," Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1992. Women have been extensively targeted in tobacco marketing. Such marketing is dominated by themes of an association between social desirability, independence, and smoking messages conveyed through advertisements featuring slim, attractive, and athletic models. In 1999, expenditures for domestic cigarette advertising and promotion was $8.24 billion-increasing 22.3 percent from the $6.73 billion spent in 1998, according to the Surgeon General's 2001 report on Women and Tobacco. According to Jay Yoder, Director of Investments, in February 1997, the [Investment] Committee recommended--and the full Board of Trustees approved--the divestment of all tobacco holdings and the prohibition of future investment in tobacco companies. 332 students answered the December 2000 survey " Smoking in the residences" sent to all students by this committee, with more than 100 giving us written comments. In the above survey, 34 percent of students responding prefer a complete ban on smoking in houses; 70 percent felt that there should be at least one non-smoking house in each residence section on campus. Smokers were generally against any real change in polices, but were sensitive to nonsmokers' needs. One complaint that came up frequently was the problem of smoking which goes on immediately outside of academic and administrative buildings, as well as the post office. Both smokers and non-smokers frequently said they were not able to get the kind of room that fit their needs for smoking or not smoking. They also wondered how any changes could be enforced since current policies are sometimes not enforced. In the March 2001 Daily Jolt survey sponsored by this committee, with 944 students responding, 32 percent of students responding prefer a complete ban on smoking in houses; only 33 percent did not want any change made in the current policy. 1808 students answered the November 2000 Residential Life survey. 1412 defined themselves as non-smokers, 280 defined themselves as smokers, and 110 did not answer the question. SGA forum: On February 27, 2001, the Student Government Association invited students to a forum on smoking policies on campus, particularly in residences. A total ban on smoking was felt to be unfair by most of those in attendance. Students also reiterated the problem of getting a smoking room when they were nonsmokers and vice versa. CCWG: At the February 6 and 28, 2001 Campus Climate Working Group lunches a major topic for discussion was smoking in the residences. There was much more support for some change in the current situation than had been heard at the SGA Forum. Understandably the mixed nature of CCWG (faculty, staff, administration and students) may have had some effect on the number and tone of students' comments. At the SGA forum, with few outsiders in attendance, students, particularly smokers, spoke their minds. Putting all of this together, we give you the following recommendations. The difficulty of enforcement of any new policies should be addressed by the Council and can be incorporated into the final recommendation. We offer possible suggestions at the end. 1. A total ban on smoking in all college-owned student residences effective August 19, 2002. 2. No smoking allowed within 20' of any academic, administrative or residential building effective immediately. Remove ashtrays from directly outside of buildings. Place "no smoking" signage at exits of buildings. 3. The committee considered the construction of smoking kiosks for smokers. However, the Campus Planning Committee was not in favor of them for a variety of reasons. intrusiveness to the landscape. requirement of paved walkways for handicapped access. cost of construction and maintenance. Recognizing the importance of giving due respect to the personal freedom of smokers to smoke if they wish, the committee urges the President and Senior Staff to consider creating a space or spaces on campus where they can continue to do so without harm to others. 4. Student education. First years, '05's and later offer comprehensive smoking education, prevention and cessation programs as part of orientation. (Perhaps part of Smith Life & Learning Program.) Republicize programs for those trying to quit. 5. Additional resources for smoking cessation programs be contributed by the College Arguments have suggested that it would be much easier to gradually phase in a ban on smoking in the residences. According to Nancy Asai, presently at Smith, 2 out of the 35 houses (Lawrence and 150 Elm) voted to be non-smoking houses, leaving the majority of houses to have designated smoking floors and rooms. These designated areas are highly sought after during room draw, leaving students with frustration that there are not enough no-smoking rooms in the houses on each floor or wing. To respond to these needs, every year the housing office has designated additional no-smoking rooms. It has, however, been impossible, and has been met with opposition by students, to provide increased number of smoke-free accommodations in each area of campus and especially in the variety of living options available for our students. Students are unwilling to vote no smoking houses for fear of protest from smokers that their smoking rights would be violated. Our committee feels that Smith College can not continue to condone the poisoning of students and staff. We also cannot continue to break the law and violate our own current policies on workplace safety. At forums and in surveys, students who smoked were particularly concerned with a rapid change in policy. Phasing in a ban over a few years would require targeting residences. We could conceive of no method that was palatable to everyone. Residences are students' "homes away from home," ergo; students deserve the right to smoke in their rooms. Houses are not private homes. The college is responsible for providing a safe environment for their students, an environment that is free from harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide, cadmium and the myriad of other carcinogens found in tobacco smoke. Cigarettes are a fire hazard, whether in public designated "smokers" or private rooms. Add alcohol to the mix and you increase the chances that a cigarette will be carelessly dropped and go unnoticed. Students in private rooms should be able to smoke; they aren't bothering anyone. In older houses, smoke can travel from room to room. In fact, when Smith College asked if their students were bothered by smoke from private dorm rooms in a random survey, over 40 percent responded, "yes." If we ban smoking in houses, students will rise up in protest! Harvard, Wellesley and other schools who have banned smoking have not experienced resistance or protest. In fact the Director of Harvard College Health Services says it has not even been an issue at his school. Applications for admissions will decline if smoking is banned in all the residences. According to the Director of Admissions at Wellesley, there has been no effect in applications numbers at Wellesley following the ban on smoking in the residences. Enforcement of this policy relies on the thoughtfulness, consideration and cooperation of smokers and non-smokers for its success. Security and self policing (outside of academic, administrative and residential buildings) Residence life staff (Residence Coordinators, Head Residents, House Community Advisors and Area Coordinators) Judicial board for students in houses and, if necessary, referral to College Judicial Board. Mary Lou Bouley, Chair, Libraries Nancy Asai, Student Affairs Sandra Bycenski, ITS Floyd Cheung, English Dept. Rebecca Friedman '04 Maya Norton '02 Connie Peterson, Health Services Erin Sikorsky '01 Cynthia Suopis, City of Northampton, Dept. of Public Health Julia Wells '03 Katie Winger '01 Approved by the President's Senior Staff, Spring 2001
How do you size a solar system? I am working on sizing a solar power system for a residential customer. How do you calculate how many panels for a system? How do you determine how large of a system to install given their electrical load? What portion of a customers' electrical bill is typically covered with a given solar electrical system? In order to accurately size a solar system you need to first gather a few pieces of key information from the home owner: - How much energy does the home use on a daily, what is the electrical load? - What is the solar resource/insolation? How much sun and what is the strength of that sun in your location? - What portion of the home’s energy do you want your solar power system to provide (ie. 50%, 75%, 100%) How much energy is used in the home on a daily basis? The best way to determine this is by analyzing the electric bill and finding the total kWh consumed at the home on a monthly basis. The bill will show daily usage and you just need to total it for the month and the year. The Energy Information Administration estimates that the average American family uses 936 kWh per month or 11,232 kWh/year. In California, a home energy audit is required to receive rebates. Here are the links for the CA major utility's free audit resources. You need to have a customer ID to log-in to these sites but they provide a really good picture of the power usage for a given home. Ask your customer to pull this or pull it for them. Other states have similar free services provided by your friends at your local utility. Here is a sample of a report from Southern California Edison. You can also advise you customer to figure out your home’s energy use with a whole house energy monitor, like TED. (The Energy Detective.) A whole-house monitor hooks into your home’s meter and will give them an accurate reading of how much energy their home is using every day. These meters are great because they will provide them with real-time information in a slick format. If your customer is tech savvy, they will love this. For example if you run a hair dryer they can see exactly how much it’s costing them. What is the solar resource in your area? How many sun hours and what is the strength of the sun that hits the house. Insolation, or sunlight intensity is measured in equivalent full sun hours. One hour of maximum, or 100% sunshine received by a solar panel equals one equivalent full sun hour. Even though the sun may be above the horizon for 14 hours a day, this may only result in six hours of equivalent full sun. There are two main reasons. One is reflection due to a high angle of the sun in relationship to your solar array. The second is also due to the high angle and the amount of the earth's atmosphere the light is passing through. When the sun is straight overhead the light is passing through the least amount of atmosphere. Early or late in the day the sunlight is passing through much more of the atmosphere due to its position in the sky. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) created a tool called PV Watts to permit professional installers and non-experts to quickly obtain performance estimates for grid-connected PV systems. The tool takes a few runs to get familiar with, but once you figure it will be critical for sizing your systems. PV Watts In California the CEC created an EPBB calculator tool to determine the output of system based on the solar resource, equipment, direction of your panels and your tilt. It is required that you run this tool in order to receive your rebate. Calculator A really simple but rule of thumb formula to determine the output of a system you are planning is: (PV array wattage) x (Ave. Hours of Sun) x 75% = Daily watt-hours The fudge factor of 75 percent takes into account the real-world effects on a system. It certainly can vary, but not much more than 5-7%. What portion of the home’s energy do you want your solar power system to provide (ie. 50%, 75%, 100%) In a grid-tied system vs. a off grid-system you don't need to cover 100% of the home's electricity load, in addition you will not produce power when the grid is down. Based on your solar resource, your space limitations and your financing you can decide what percentage of the electrical load you want to cover for your clients. In select states, you can sell excess electricity through a net metering program to your utility, but it is not available in all states. Net Metering
The following originally appeared in a different format on the Child & Family Blogtransforming research on cognitive, social, and emotional development and family dynamics into policy and practice - Greater income, higher education, and bigger social networks that marriages afford can explain some but not all of the relationship between family structure and children’s outcomes. - Instability often accounts for most if not all of the associations between family structure and children’s outcomes. - The advantages of marriage for children wellbeing will be hard to replicate through policies other than those that bolster marriage itself The fact is so well-researched and understood by the general public, it has become accepted wisdom: Kids raised by their married, biological parents tend to be healthier (both mentally and physically) and do better in school. But why? Children of divorce and adopted children are loved no less deeply. To attempt to answer this question is, it turns out, to fall down a bit of a rabbit hole. Is there something intrinsic to marriage itself that directly leads to better outcomes for children? At a time when so many American children are growing up with single or cohabiting parents, this is an important question for both policy-makers and parents. Marriage may not ultimately be for adults. Marriage may be, strange as it sounds, for children. When we look at the relationship between marriage and children’s wellbeing, the question of causality looms large. If children of married parents receive better parenting, for example, does that mean that marriage leads to good or successful parenting or does it mean that people with the traits of good parents are more likely to marry and stay married? Researchers call this a selection problem. In other words, it’s possible that married parents tend to select marriage because they have certain qualities – higher incomes, more education, larger social networks – that also tend to produce better outcomes for children. Sophisticated statistical techniques can help sort out this problem and researchers have done just that, examining the mechanisms through which marriage might improve children’s lives, looking for causal effects. For a recent issue of the Future of Children, I reviewed research on a variety of mechanisms that might explain why children of married parents fare better than other children. Some of the mechanisms have been well studied, including parents ‘income, fathers’ involvement with their children, parents ‘physical and mental health, parenting quality, health insurance, home ownership, parents’ relationships, and family stability. Others have received less attention, including net wealth, constraints on borrowing, and informal insurance through social networks. All of these mechanisms tend to vary by family structure (that is, whether the children have married parents or live in another family arrangement). All of them may affect some aspect of children’s wellbeing, such as health or educational attainment. Yet when researchers study them, they typically find that a given mechanism explains some but not all of the relationship between family structure and children’s outcomes. For example, a recent study hypothesized that higher household income and greater access to health insurance might explain why children of married parents are healthier. This logical hypothesis was confirmed by the authors who found that family structure was associated with income and insurance, and that income and insurance were in turn associated with children’s health. But the finding was complicated by the fact that, even among children with similar household income and similar access to health insurance, those whose parents were married were also healthier. In other words, the researchers found support for their hypothesis that differences in income and insurance produced differences in children’s health, but they also found that family structure had associations with health beyond income and insurance. This pattern of partial explanation is repeated across many, many studies. The principal exception to this pattern comes from studies of family stability. When researchers measure instability by the simple number of transitions between different family arrangements (for example, from living with married to parents to living with a single parent after a divorce to living in a stepfamily), they find that instability often accounts for most if not all of the associations between family structure and children’s outcomes. So stability could be the mechanism through which marriage improves children’s wellbeing. Still, it could also be that these studies have not really explained why family structure matters; rather, they may have just found that counting the number of transitions is the best way to measure family structure. What can we conclude from the fact that almost wherever we look, mechanisms such as higher income, more education, better access to health insurance and so on do not fully explain the association between American children’s wellbeing and marriage? One reasonable conclusion is that the advantages of marriage for children wellbeing will be hard to replicate through policies other than those that bolster marriage itself. While helping unmarried parents increase their incomes, spend more time with their kids, and find better child care would surely benefit children, these are likely to be, at best, only partial substitutes for marriage itself. The advantages of marriage for children appear to be the sum of many, many parts. Professor David C. Ribar is a Professor of Economics and Faculty Director of the Child and Family Policy Lab at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. He has conducted research on family formation, child care, the consequences of teenage fertility, the economic motivations behind public and private transfers, welfare reform, the administrative burdens of assistance programs, people’s time use, food insecurity, homelessness, and other topics.