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1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data In a physics exam I have this question: "what is the momentum of the weight force of an object in a free fall relative to its center of mass?" 2. Relevant equations Is my answer right ? 3. The attempt at a solution My answer is: "If we try to calculate the momentum, the center of reduction coincides with the center of mass, and the line of action of the force passes through the center of reduction, so the momenut is canceled"
Johnson, born weak and half-blind, shambolic and poverty-stricken, became the most admired and quoted man in the eighteenth century. Thrown out of Oxford for a lack of funds, he rose to celebrity: author of "The Dictionary", a friend to the king, companion of Reynolds, Goldsmith and Garrick. David Nokes looks beyond Johnson's remarkable public persona and beyond the Johnson that Boswell to some extent created. Nokes looks at his troubled relationship with his first wife, whom he married for money but felt guilty about for the rest of his life; at his family, who haunted his dreams for years; and at his difficult, intimate relationship with Mrs Thrale. He shows a man who gave a quarter of the government pension he received to the poor, filled his home with the blind and destitute, and bequeathed his wealth to Frank Barber, an emancipated black slave brought from Jamaica. Insightful and engaging, "Samuel Johnson" draws an illuminating portrait of Johnson, his life and world.
- Browse Cases - Search Cases - Browse Methods Rochester, New York, women defy ban on voting, 1872-1873 Before the U.S. civil war (1861-65), women struggling for their rights worked also for the end of slavery. The annual women’s rights convention of 1857 failed to meet because Susan B Anthony had spent her time that year lecturing against slavery. In 1863 women leaders Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucy Stone plunged into agitation for the anti-slavery 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution; it was passed in 1865. The next constitutional step was to define citizenship. When the 14th amendment was proposed, women's rights advocates organized a petition campaign to include in the amendment women's right to vote, but they became increasingly unable to gain men's support. When the amendment was adopted in 1868, the suffragettes that had worked so hard to secure the vote for black men were excluded. Out of this exclusion grew the New Departure Strategy for Women’s suffrage, which held that women, as citizens of the U.S. indeed have the right to vote as specified by the 14th and 15th amendments. The Enforcement act of May 1870 strengthened the 15th amendment and accelerated women’s direct action campaigning. This act was meant to enforce the political rights of the newly freed slaves by providing recourse in the federal courts and penalties against local election officials who refused the lawful votes of citizens. The Suffragettes saw this as a way to use the power of the federal government for their own benefit. Victoria Woodhull and her historic campaign for presidency grew out of this strategy, and in early 1871 the National Women’s Suffrage Association (NWSA), which was led by Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, drew up a resolution formally advising women of their duty to, “apply for registration at the proper times and places, and in cases when they fail to secure it to see that suits be instituted in the courts having jurisdiction and that their right to the franchise shall secure general and judicial recognition.” In addition, the political situation of 1872 became complicated, in June 1872 an important group of reformers split off from regular Republicans to run an independent campaign. These liberal Republicans did not support the feminists, and indeed picked Horace Greely as their candidate, a well-known anti-feminist. Almost all of the Garrisonian males who had collaborated with the feminists for abolition betrayed their original promises of support for women’s rights and joined with these radical Republicans. The regular Republicans cultivated the support of the feminists, even inserting a small reference to “additional rights” for women in their platform. It was in this climate that Anthony decided it was the proper time and place to take matters into her own hands, by registering to vote with a few close friends four days prior to Election Day 1872, in her town of Rochester, New York. In this period Susan B. Anthony was probably the best-known woman in the United States. Though her decision to register to vote may have seemed like a spontaneous move on Anthony’s part, during her later trial Anthony declared that she had, “been resolved for three years to vote at the first election when I have been home for thirty days before.” Upon walking up to the registrar’s Anthony demanded that they register her to vote. When they denied her request she read them the 14th amendment to the U.S. constitution, as well as an article from the New York state's constitution, which contained no sex qualification for voting. When they continued to deny her request she reiterated her rights, “If you still refuse us our rights as citizens, I will bring charges against you in criminal court and I will sue each of you personally for large exemplary damages!” They finally allowed her to register, and Anthony proceeded to go door to door urging her female friends and neighbors to register. Nearly 50 Rochester women successfully registered that week, as well as 14 who were in Anthony’s ward in this act of civil disobedience. On November 5, 1872, Anthony cast her ballot for Republican Ulysses S. Grant and was elated at having taken direct action to achieve suffrage. In a letter to close friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton, she wrote, “Well I have been & gone done it! Positively voted the republican ticket—strait—this A.M. at 7 o’clock & swore my vote in at that.” Since 1868 women had been attempting to vote as nonviolent action to gain voting rights, in 1871 and 1872 over 150 women in ten states had tried to vote with some of them succeeding; none of these individuals garnered the same amount of attention as Anthony’s campaign. During her campaign, Anthony was aware of the feathers she had ruffled. In a letter to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, she explained the action she had taken for suffrage knowing that “we are in for a fine agitation in Rochester on the question-“ However, Anthony was arrested three weeks later, on November 28, by federal marshals on the charge of “criminal voting.” This demonstrated what was not clear to the New Departure suffragettes: that federal power could as easily be the enemy as the protector of individual rights, depending on the political forces of the time. Anthony was arrested in violation of the Enforcement Act, the very act which the suffragettes thought would cement federal power to their own benefit. Because of Anthony's fame there is reason to suspect that her arrest had been authorized at the highest level of the government; the unjust conduct of her trial 7 months later reinforces this idea. She was intentionally difficult to arrest, insisting that the federal marshal handcuff her as they went to court, and when she was asked for her five cent fare by the street car conductor she loudly proclaimed so everyone on board could hear, “I am traveling at the expense of the government, ask him for my fare.” At court, Anthony was charged with voting for a Representative of the Congress of the United States without having a lawful right to vote. Anthony refused to give bail, making it known that she would rather go to jail than cooperate with the courts. However, her lawyer, without her knowledge, paid her bail, forfeiting her right to bring her case before the Supreme Court by a writ of habeas corpus. In the time between her arrest and her trial in May 1873 she canvassed Monroe County, visiting every village in her county, 29 post office districts in all, to educate any possible jurymen and others before her trial opened on May 13, 1873, about the constitutional issues and constitutional argument for women’s claims to the vote in her case. She started every speech explaining the charges against her and would continue to explain the use of civil disobedience to “disobey every unjust law” by saying, “we no longer petition legislature or congress to give us the right to vote, but appeal to women everywhere to exercise their too long neglected ‘citizen’s right.’” The venue of her trial was eventually moved and the date postponed until June 17 because she had so thoroughly canvassed Monroe County, the judge declared she had prejudiced any possible jury. In her trial, her lawyer, Henry Selden, defended her by asserting constitutional arguments in the 14th and 15th amendments, supporting women’s rights to vote, but she was unfairly denied a jury trial. Instead she was proclaimed guilty on the spot by the judge Ward Hunt, an anti-feminist. In her response to the court’s proclamation of guilty she let her thoughts on why she should not be guilty be pronounced, “for in your ordered verdict of guilty, you have trampled underfoot every vital principle of our government. My natural rights, my civil rights, my political rights, are all alike ignored. Robbed of my fundamental principle of citizenship, I am degraded from the status of a citizen to that of a subject; and not only myself individually, but all my sex are, by your honor’s verdict, doomed to political subjection under this so-called republican government.” Judge Hunt tried to stop Anthony from talking during her trial several times, and each time she would refuse to be silent, and she refused to pay her fine. Anthony’s trial itself received a lot of national press, though not all in her favor. According to Anthony, the publicity generated from the press coverage of her trial promulgated the constitutional issues involved and broadened the court’s discriminatory abridgement of justice. Anthony, herself, personally printed and distributed 3,000 copies of the courtroom proceedings to aid in the publicity of this important action
How does a spacecraft get to where its going? When a spacecraft is launched into orbit, it should end up spinning around the Earth quickly enough not to be pulled back in by the Earth's gravity. The huge rockets used in launching a spaceship help this to happen by giving a huge amount of thrust, enough to achieve escape velocity. However, the spin of the Earth itself can help give it a push as well. Anything on the surface of the Earth at the equator is already moving at 1670 kilometers per hour. If a ship is launched from the equator it goes up into space, and it is also moving around the Earth at the same speed it was moving before launching. This is because of inertia. This speed will help the spacecraft keep up a good enough speed to stay in orbit. Why the equator? Believe it or not, the surface of the Earth is traveling faster there. If you look at two spots on one line from pole to pole, one spot on the equator and the other halfway to the pole, each will make a complete revolution in 24 hours and return to where it was. But since the Earth's shape is round, and the widest point is at the equator the spot on the equator would have to go more miles in that twenty four hours. That means that the land is moving faster at the equator than any other place on the surface of the Earth. The land at the equator is moving 1670 km per hour, and land halfway to the pole is only moving 1180 km per hour, so launching from the equator makes the spacecraft move almost 500 km/hour faster once it is launched. How do we put a spacecraft into orbit? How can a spaceship leave orbit? What is gravity? What is an orbit? What is a satellite? What are kinds of orbits? What is escape velocity? How does speed affect an orbit? What is thrust? What is inertia?
The Neighbors: Income There are two complementary measures for understanding the income of a neighborhood's residents: the average and the extremes. While a neighborhood may be relatively wealthy overall, it is equally important to understand the rate of people - particularly children - who are living at or below the federal poverty line, which is extremely low income. Some neighborhoods with a lower average income may actually have a lower childhood poverty rate than another with a higher average income, and this helps us understand the conditions and character of a neighborhood. The neighbors in the Saint Josephs Villa neighborhood in Henrico are lower-middle income, making it a below average income neighborhood. NeighborhoodScout's research shows that this neighborhood has an income lower than 60.3% of U.S. neighborhoods. With 28.4% of the children here below the federal poverty line, this neighborhood has a higher rate of childhood poverty than 69.9% of U.S. neighborhoods. The Neighbors: Occupations What we choose to do for a living reflects who we are. Each neighborhood has a different mix of occupations represented, and together these tell you about the neighborhood and help you understand if this neighborhood may fit your lifestyle. In the Saint Josephs Villa neighborhood, 41.1% of the working population is employed in executive, management, and professional occupations. The second most important occupational group in this neighborhood is sales and service jobs, from major sales accounts, to working in fast food restaurants, with 25.4% of the residents employed. Other residents here are employed in clerical, assistant, and tech support occupations (18.0%), and 15.4% in manufacturing and laborer occupations. The Neighbors: Ethnicity / Ancestry Culture is the shared learned behavior of peoples. Undeniably, different ethnicities and ancestries have different cultural traditions, and as a result, neighborhoods with concentrations of residents of one or another ethnicities or ancestries will express those cultures. It is what makes the North End in Boston so fun to visit for the Italian restaurants, bakeries, culture, and charm, and similarly, why people enjoy visiting Chinatown in San Francisco. In the Saint Josephs Villa neighborhood in Henrico, VA, residents most commonly identify their ethnicity or ancestry as English (12.6%). There are also a number of people of Mexican ancestry (5.4%), and residents who report Irish roots (4.4%), and some of the residents are also of German ancestry (4.1%), along with some Italian ancestry residents (3.3%), among others. The Neighbors: Languages The most common language spoken in the Saint Josephs Villa neighborhood is English, spoken by 87.7% of households. Some people also speak Spanish (10.7%).
CLICK HERE for The Top-Rated & Best-Selling Health and Personal Care Products Keeping Ducks: Mating Systems Monogamy, or partnering for life, is very common for some ducks, but this kind of monogamy only happens during every year or a single season. They are monogamous in that particular mating season, and in the next, the drakes will try to find other ducks to mate. This mating behavior is also called seasonal bonds, or seasonal monogamy wherein new bonds are formed each season. This kind of monogamy happens in about 55 per cent of all duck breeds. In this mating system, partnerships basically form on the wintering areas in their first year, and those bonds are maintained only through egg laying and duck rearing. Each winter, the drake must find a new duck and maintain a new bond for that particular mating season. Drakes that form seasonal bonds will not participate in rearing the ducklings, but will safeguard the territory around the females during spring, females will instantly find a new drake for that season, and nesting will not be blocked in that year. Seasonal monogamy is very typical for dabbling ducks, diving ducks and sea ducks. A remarkable twist on seasonal monogamy happens in some tunnel nesters and farm ducks that do not form bonds until their second year. Some researches have proven that some duck couples reunite every year on winter and return to their previous breeding territory. This mating system happened only in breeds that shows strong fascination to both wintering and breeding grounds. Philopatry refers to the behavior which animals return to the exact location, either on the breeding or wintering ground, from the past year, enabling couples to find one another. Re-coupling is also thought to occur in Harlequin and Eider ducks. The other mating system observed in ducks is polygamy, wherein multiple mating partners can happen. Polygamy is rare among ducks and observed only in 8 percent of breeds, including the Muscovy, Comb, and Maccoa, all of these are stiff-tailed ducks. In this mating system, mating bonds are weak or not formed at all, but instead drakes defend the mating grounds along the shores and engage in complicated courtship to attract the females in the mating grounds. Ducks visit these territories, and the drakes will mate with different ducks. In North America, the Peking is the only duck to exhibit polygamy, and they are widely used in meat production, and for their eggs. Selected ArticlesKeeping Ducks: Mating Systems Keeping Ducks: Frequently Asked Questions Keeping Call Ducks Keeping Ducks For Eggs Keeping Ducks For Meat Keeping Ducks As Poultry Keeping Ducks: Feeding And Behavior Two Respiratory Diseases Common To Ducks Keeping Crested Ducks Keeping Baby Ducks Keeping Ducks: The Top Duck Breeds Keeping Ducks: Breeding Keeping Ducks As Pets Keeping Ducks: Pinioning Keeping Ducks: The Mallard Breed How To Feed Fully Grown Ducks Keeping Muscovy Ducks How To Tell The Difference Between Male And Female Ducks Keeping Cayuga Ducks Hatching Baby Ducks Raising Pekin Duck How To Raise Ducks In Your Home Keeping Black East Indies Ducks
Quarter* ♑ Capricorn Previous main lunar phase is the Full Moon before 5 days on 19 March 2030 at 17:56. Moon rises in the evening and sets in the morning. It is visible to the southwest and it is high in the sky after midnight. Moon is passing about ∠23° of ♐ Sagittarius tropical zodiac sector. Lunar disc appears visually 1.9% wider than solar disc. Moon and Sun apparent angular diameters are ∠1960" and ∠1924". Next Full Moon is the Pink Moon of April 2030 after 23 days on 18 April 2030 at 03:20. There is medium ocean tide on this date. Sun and Moon gravitational forces are not aligned, but meet at very acute angle, so their combined tidal force is moderate. The Moon is 21 days old. Earth's natural satellite is moving from the middle to the last part of current synodic month. This is lunation 373 of Meeus index or 1326 from Brown series. Length of current 373 lunation is 29 days, 15 hours and 28 minutes. It is 42 minutes shorter than next lunation 374 length. Length of current synodic month is 2 hours and 44 minutes longer than the mean length of synodic month, but it is still 4 hours and 19 minutes shorter, compared to 21st century longest. This New Moon true anomaly is ∠104.1°. At beginning of next synodic month true anomaly will be ∠139°. The length of upcoming synodic months will keep increasing since the true anomaly gets closer to the value of New Moon at point of apogee (∠180°). 3 days after point of perigee on 21 March 2030 at 22:00 in ♎ Libra. The lunar orbit is getting wider, while the Moon is moving outward the Earth. It will keep this direction for the next 12 days, until it get to the point of next apogee on 6 April 2030 at 18:47 in ♉ Taurus. Moon is 365 656 km (227 208 mi) away from Earth on this date. Moon moves farther next 12 days until apogee, when Earth-Moon distance will reach 405 659 km (252 065 mi). Moon is in ascending node in ♐ Sagittarius at 05:48 on this date, it crosses the ecliptic from South to North. Moon will follow the northern part of its orbit for the next 13 days to meet descending node on 8 April 2030 at 08:29 in ♊ Gemini. At 05:48 on this date the Moon is completing its previous draconic month and is entering the new one. At 03:57 on this date the Moon is meeting its South standstill point, when it will reach southern declination of ∠-23.011°. Next 13 days the lunar orbit will move in opposite northward direction to face North declination of ∠22.881° in its northern standstill point on 8 April 2030 at 08:53 in ♊ Gemini. After 8 days on 2 April 2030 at 22:02 in ♈ Aries, the Moon will be in New Moon geocentric conjunction with the Sun and this alignment forms next Sun-Moon-Earth syzygy.
Roll on with an updated Columbia River pact Update the Columbia River Treaty but nurture a plan that provides water, power, flood control and economic opportunity for the U.S. and Canada. Times editorial columnist Bill Drummond, head of the Bonneville Power Administration, has it right. He describes the Columbia River Treaty as the most important document affecting the Northwest economy you never heard of. The treaty between the U.S. and Canada manages water flow in the vast Columbia River basin for generating hydropower and reducing flood risks. The treaty, signed in 1964, has been under intense review on each side of the border for years, pending State Department-level negotiations next year. Regulating the Columbia became a priority after the 1948 Vanport flood wiped out Oregon’s second-largest city at the time. The treaty runs for 60 years, and does not automatically end in 2024. Either side can terminate the treaty or seek modifications, but with 10 years notice. That makes 2014 a focal point. Reworking the treaty is a topic in some British Columbia provincial elections next Tuesday, decades after land was lost and landscapes changed. The treaty created three dams in Canada and one in the U.S. Ask the B.C. Ministry of Energy and Mines what its side wants reworked in the treaty, and a ministry spokesperson responds, “Canada is interested in sustaining a framework for trans-boundary water management that allows flexibility to manage current concerns as well as future concerns.” No cards revealed. On the U.S. side, BPA, which oversees energy transmission, and the Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the dams, are no more forthcoming. The two agencies lead a review team with representatives from the four Northwest states, 15 tribal governments and 11 federal agencies. Curiously, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council is not a listed party. Under the treaty, the U.S. paid the Canadian government $64 million to help defray the cost of dam construction and provided a formula for sharing the hydropower generated in the U.S. For 30 years, Canada’s power share was resold, and the money went to the B.C. provincial government. Now the U.S. says the original deal to cover construction and overhead is settled, and a recalculated formula would give Canada a substantially reduced entitlement. Among those nodding their heads in agreement are Seattle City Light and the Mid-Columbia public utility districts, whose rates, and customers, help cover those payments. The Mid-Columbia PUDs met in Pasco on Tuesday confident that terminating the treaty would save them money, but with acknowledged uncertainty about the future. Unknown issues include impacts on fish and wildlife, navigation, water supply, irrigation, climate change, recreation and cultural resources. The 1964 treaty was solely about hydropower and flood control. Salmon and consequences for Native Americans were not imagined as topics. All of the ecosystem and cultural values are fully and belatedly in play, and have been subject to federal analysis. Although Paul Lumley, executive director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, is frustrated the Corps and BPA have not shared details and results. A key treaty element does end in 2024. A protocol known as assured flood control will be replaced with “called upon” procedures. Instead of assumed routines for annual flood prevention, the U.S. has to maximize the effective use of its reservoirs and protections, and then call upon Canada for special help, as needed, and pay for it. That requires too much reading of the Murchie’s tea leaves for my comfort, especially as the calculations get more difficult. Continuing power demands and all of the elements ignored in the existing treaty will thin flood-risk margins to provide more water or more storage at the right times of year. Those needs and nature’s cycles are often at odds. The idea that the Northwest can save a few dollars and go it alone without the skills, cooperation and goodwill of Canada is a risky, false economy. Lance Dickie's column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times. His email address is firstname.lastname@example.org
Lovage is popular as an ingredient in southern European cuisine. Because gardeners who grow it depend upon it for cooking, it?s especially sad to see it showing signs of disease. Click here to learn more about problems affecting lovage and how to treat them. Lovage is a hardy perennial herb that is native to Europe but naturalized throughout North America, too. Because of its usefulness, it is especially upsetting to find it infested with pests. Learn more about bugs that eat lovage and tips for lovage pest management here. Once a common sight on the spice rack, lovage is an undervalued old-fashioned perennial herb. Trying lovage in the herb garden may be as simple as asking a friend for a lovage plant division. Click on the article to learn how to divide lovage plants. Seed grown lovage makes for a gorgeous perennial herb that is a great addition to any herb garden. Interested in growing lovage plants from seed? Read on to find out how to grow and when to sow lovage from seeds. Lovage doesn't have a very strong flavor and, for that reason, has been put in the back seat compared to parsley, but there are numerous lovage health benefits that may bring this plant back out into the light. Learn more about these uses and more in this article. When you think about herbs, many instantly come to mind such as rosemary, thyme, and basil. But lovage? All of my other herbs are grown in pots, but can you grow lovage in pots too? Learn more about how to grow lovage in a pot by clicking this article. People have been harvesting lovage for centuries for not only culinary but medicinal uses. If you?re interested in picking lovage plants, click on the following article to find out how to harvest and when to pick lovage leaves. All parts of the lovage herb are usable and delicious. The plant is used in any recipe that calls for parsley or celery. To get more information and learn how to grow lovage in the garden, read this article.
Definition of Meeting is a medium of oral communication. It is generally a gathering or assembly or two or more people to discuss or exchange views on any matter of common interest. The issues of discussion in meeting are usually determined earlier. Meeting is a common event in business, school, political, religious or in state organizations. Some important definitions on meeting are given below: According to Oxford Dictionary of Business: “A meeting is an occasion when people come together to discuss or decide something.” According to Murphy and his Associates: “A meeting a gathering of two or more people where purposive discourse occurs.” At last, it can be concluded that meeting refers to the gathering or assembly of some people to discuss any predetermined issue or issues for exchanging views or for making any important decision. Objectives of Meeting Meeting is an assembly of people where matters are put forwarded, discussed and resolved. Through meeting, complex issues of organizations are solved. With the gradual expansion of organizational scope and activities, the necessity of meeting is also increasing. In general, meetings are arranged to attain the following objectives: - To inform: Meetings are arranged to inform various issues of the organization to tis participants. When meetings are arranged for this purpose. Information flows in one-way direction form speaker to the audiences. - To negotiate: Meeting is also aimed at making negotiations with inside and outside parties. Here tow-way flow of discussion occurs. For example, meeting between owner and trade union leaders may be arranged to make a negotiation. - To solve problems: Meetings are commonly arranged to solve complex and critical problems of organizations. Since meeting is an assembly people having diverse skills and experience, the participants can thoroughly examine the problem at hand and indicate the possible solutions. - To make decisions: Meeting is also arranged to take decisions regarding various routine and non-routine business affairs through the participation of the concerned members. - To resolve conflict: In organizational life, conflict is a common phenomenon. Conflict may have negative impact on the organization if it is not settled in due time. Meeting among the conflicting parties provides them with an opportunity to come in a common understanding. - To interact with external stakeholders: Meetings are also arranged to exchange information and interact with the external stakeholders like customers, suppliers, distributors, investors, general community etc. this kind of interaction is required for organizational existence. - To abide by legal bindings: Organizations require arranging various meetings to abide by the various legal aspects. For example, every public limited company mandatorily requires arranging Statutory Meeting within 180 days from getting certificate of commencement, annual general meeting in every financial year, Board Meeting after a certain interval etc.
“The current unsustainable patterns of production and consumption must be changed in the interest of our future welfare and that of our descendants” The global economy has adopted patterns of growth that are driving our consumption of materials and energy beyond the limits of what is available on our planet. Industry as a sector, designing and manufacturing goods that our economies consume, has a key responsibility for this. Many enterprises use more materials and energy than their production processes require. They continue to use obsolete and inefficient technologies and fail to adopt proper management systems. This is particularly true of SMEs and industry in developing countries, both a reflection and a cause of lower levels of development. For MDG7, UNIDO’s response is to actively foster the flows of information, experience, expertise and equipment between countries that hold the key to transfers of technology for both climate change mitigation and adaptation: the adoption of renewable energy sources, as well as energy efficiency are key for addressing climate change through moving economies onto a lower carbon path. UNIDO also implements the following activities that directly relate to MDG7: • National Cleaner Production Centres • Renewable Energy • Industrial Energy Efficiency and Climate Change • Energy Policy and Partnership • Cleaner and Sustainable Production • Water Management • Montreal Protocol (see more information here) • Stockholm Convention Example of UNIDO project under MDG7: Cleaner Production Centres UNIDO and UNEP cooperate specifically to establish and support National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs) in developing and transition economies. Since 1994, such centres have been launched in 37 countries. The Centres work with private sector and government agencies in their home countries to implement Cleaner Production. The aim is to reduce the use of energy, water and other natural resources, while also reducing the generation of waste and emissions, in particular from small and medium sized enterprises. UNIDO, in the cooperation with UNEP, is the only UN organization established in developing countries with NCPCs and giving advice on the ground. Example of successful initiative in Vietnam: The National Cleaner Production Centres in Vietnam, established in cooperation with UNEP, has recently carried out several projects improving the usage of energy, water and materials and helping to create a cleaner environment. The programme fostered in its first 7 years of operation, investments worth some 2.4 million USD with annual savings in excess of 7.4 million USD. Collectively these save annually around: • 57,000 MWh electricity • 33,000 ton coal • 7.3 million Cubic meters of water
In anticipation of upcoming renovations to Scoville Hall, this week’s column looks back to the former library’s construction 120 years ago. The building was named for James W. Scoville, who met College President James W. Strong (1870-1903) while they both attended the Chicago Theological Seminary. Mr. Scoville expressed a desire to donate $25,000 for a new college library, but he died before such a provision could be made in his will. Scoville’s widow and son fulfilled his wish posthumously, a gift heartily accepted by faculty and students alike. The Carletonian of February 10, 1896, said, “Our hearts were filled with joy when we heard that Carleton was to have a new library. The results of Mr. Scoville’s gift cannot be estimated in money value. He has done more than any other investment could do for our college.” Excavation began on April 20, 1896. On June 10, the day of Commencement, Professor Charles H. Cooper laid the cornerstone on the northeast corner of the building. Each piece of limestone that made up the exterior walls was specially cut at the Babcock quarry in Kasota, Minnesota. The rest of the structure contained 250,000 bricks, seven tons of plaster, and 100,000 feet of lumber. Interior trim and furniture were oak, the floors maple. The architects were Patton and Fisher of Chicago. The Scoville Memorial Library was dedicated on November 6, 1896, just six months after construction began. Seven hundred people attended the dedication exercises and toured Carleton’s newest building. Reverend Watson Millard blessed the building and the young scholars of Carleton, while Professor Horace Goodhue, Trustee Harlan Page, Board President George Rust, and Librarian Charles Cooper all gave speeches to mark the occasion. As printed in the Northfield News, Librarian Cooper remarked, “At last the day has come, longed for by all of us, when the dignity and beauty of its enclosing temple marks the position which the library holds in our college life. As I took occasion to say last June when I stood on yonder corner, I believe the library to be the heart of the [College].… It is the storehouse of the treasures committed to us by the generations that are gone.” On the library’s main floor were the reading, cataloging, and book rooms, as well as the librarian’s office. The upper floor, illuminated by skylights, held periodicals, study rooms, and classrooms. The 1896 collection numbered 13,000 volumes at a time when 146 students were enrolled in the college. According to a 1922 report by Librarian Walter Patton, enrollment was 820, and the library held 54,000 volumes, excluding periodicals. Plans were drawn to expand Scoville in the 1930s, but a permanent addition was never built. In 1953, a wooden annex was constructed to house studying space and the reference collection, but that too became crowded. At the end of Scoville’s service as the library, its walls contained only 40 percent of the college’s total collection. When the new $1.5 million library was completed in 1956, 690 students helped move thousands of books and periodicals to their new home. President Laurence Gould rededicated Scoville Memorial Library as Scoville Hall, which was remodeled into office space and classrooms. As of 2016, Scoville and the Gould Memorial Library have each served as libraries for 60 years. One final note: Scoville was the birthplace of Carleton’s unofficial mascot. The May 1, 1898, Carletonia briefly mentioned “a very beautiful gift” of artwork from Miss Isabella Watson, namesake of our high-rise dormitory. Included in the gift were busts of the German writers Johann Goethe—and, of course, Friedrich Schiller. Although that detail has not been included in previous accounts of the Schiller tradition, the Schiller bust was first stolen from Scoville Hall in 1957. The rest, of course, is history.
A global rise in cases of the mind-robbing Alzheimer's disease is creating a chronic shortage of carers, with the number of old people dependent on care set to nearly triple to 277 million by 2050, according to a report by a leading dementia charity. Half of all older people who need personal care have dementia, the report by Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) said, and governments should make dementia a priority by implementing national plans and starting urgent debate on how to ensure long-term care for future generations. Alzheimer's is a fatal brain disease that has no cure and few effective treatments. It affects memory, thinking and behavior and is placing an increasingly heavy burden on societies and economies across the world. Even now, the worldwide cost of dementia care is more than $600 billion, or around 1 percent of global gross domestic product, and that can only increase, ADI's report said. As the world population ages, the traditional system in the United States, Europe and around the world of "informal" care by family, friends, and community will require much greater support, it said. Globally, 13 percent of people aged 60 or over currently require long-term care. But between 2010 and 2050, the total number of older people with care needs will nearly treble from 101 to 277 million, according to the report. Martin Prince, a professor at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry and author of the report, said health and social care authorities needed to recognize quickly that "people with dementia have special needs." "Compared with other long-term care users they need more personal care, more hours of care, and more supervision, all of which is associated with greater strain on caregivers, and higher costs," he said in a statement. "Their needs for care start early in the disease course, and evolve constantly over time, requiring advanced planning, monitoring, and coordination." ADI says research budgets for work on dementia, its causes, treatment and care, need to increase ten-fold to mitigate the impact of the rise in cases. © 2016 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.
History of Glens Falls' "Great Fires" As you read about the history of some of Glens Falls' most iconic buildings, you may notice a theme: almost all of them were constructed after 1864, with many being erected after 1902. Since the settlement of Glens Falls (originally called "Wing's Falls) dates back to the mid-1700's, it raises the question, "Why aren't there more buildings in Glens Falls that date back to the late 1700's and early 1800's?" The answer: fires. Glens Falls went up in significant flames not once, but three times between 1864 and 1902, effectively wiping out most of the city's older buildings. Read on to learn more about each of the fires. The First Fire: 1864 The New York Times reported it as "The Great Fire at Glen's Falls," while the Glens Falls Messenger proclaimed it was "one of the most destructive fires that ever happened in any village in the Northern States." On May 31, 1864, a fire broke out in the kitchen of the Glen's Falls Hotel, which today would've been located where Hudson Avenue enters Centennial Circle, according to The Post Star. The fire spread quickly, consuming virtually all of the buildings in the downtown area on Glen, Exchange, Ridge, and Warren streets. In total, 112 predominately wooden buildings met their demise in the fire, and the full damage was estimated at $1 million in 1864, or $14.9 million in today's dollars. Only three downtown buildings withstood the destruction. Some of the most notable buildings to be destroyed included, "the Glen's Falls Hotel, the Mansion House, the Glen's Falls and Commercial Banks, the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and Universalist Churches, the offices of the Republican and Messenger," and all but two of the "stores and shops in the village," according to an 1864 report from The New York Times. The Second Fire: 1884 Although architectural standards were changed after the devastating 1864 blaze, and many buildings were re-built with concrete and bricks instead of wood, another fire broke out on April 28, 1884. The Post Star reported that this second blaze began at "W.H. Guildersleeve's Union Hall at the top of Glen Street hill," and spread from there. Among the buildings damaged or destroyed in this blaze were the Union Hall and the Cosgrove Opera House, a number of buildings and houses on Maple Street, and the Glens Falls Opera House and Presbyterian Church on Warren Street. The fire also tore through "a row of saloon buildings known as 'Murderer's Row.'" The Third Fire: 1902 By this time, a municipal water system had been established in Glens Falls as a means of efficiently putting out fires. Even so, a third blaze started on April 26, 1902. This fire began at Webb Brothers Clothing and Furnishing Store, which was then located at 146 Glen Street. When it was finally put out, 16 businesses on the west side of Glen Street had been destroyed, some of the more notable of which included the Glens Falls Daily Times publishers and the Joseph Fowler Shirt & Collar Co. Impact Of The Fires Although the fires were devastating, the resiliance of Glens Falls was proven by its residents' determination to rebuild after each blaze. Some of the most positive outcomes of the fires include the establishment of a municipal water system and the improvement of building standards. To learn more about Glens Falls' Great Fires and their impact on the city's architecture, contact the Chapman Museum or the Glens Falls Fire Department's historian. All photos provided by the Chapman Historical Museum.
As a medical researcher and parent of two teenagers there is one bug, Neisseria meningitidis, that really scares me. This is mainly because of the speed and severity of the infection it causes, called meningococcal disease, and its predilection for infecting healthy adolescents and younger children. Meningococcal is a rare but very serious infection that can lead to blood poisoning (septicaemia) and/or brain infection (meningitis). The initial symptoms can be vague and non-specific. This includes the sudden onset of fever and a rash. The rash can be either red-purple spots or bruises – detected by the classic pushing-a-glass-on-the-skin test to see if the rash goes away (and is therefore less likely to be meningococcal) – or a flat or raised non-specific rash. Other symptoms can be mistaken for disease like the flu and include headache, neck stiffness, reduced consciousness, muscle aches, joint pain, nausea and vomiting. If you are at all worried see your GP. Once infected the death rate is around 5–10%. About 10–30% of children and adolescents who survive the disease can develop permanent complications, such as limb deformity, skin scarring, deafness and neurological deficits. Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics can improve the patient’s outcomes but the disease can largely be prevented by vaccination. How common is meningococcal disease? Using differences in the surface “sugars” (polysaccharides) of the Neisseria meningitidis organism’s outer membrane capsule, we are able to classify the bacteria into serogroups (types), and each serogroup is given a letter of the alphabet, for example, A, B, C and so on. There are 13 different serogroups. Globally, most meningococcal disease is caused by serogroups A, B, C, W and Y. These were chosen as the targets for vaccines. The bug poses the greatest risk of infection in those people with immune system weaknesses. But healthy people in our community who are smokers, live in crowded living conditions, engage in intimate kissing with multiple partners (hence adolescents and young adults), and those with a recent or current viral respiratory infection are also targets. The burden of meningococcal disease fluctuates naturally over time. The rate declined from 2002 to 2013, but has been on the increase since 2014. Serogroup C disease has become very rare (accounting for only 1.2% of cases in 2016) since the introduction of a free vaccine in 2003. Serogroup B disease has been dominant until recently, but has been naturally declining in most states and territories, even without widespread vaccination against this serogroup. Serogroup W disease has increased since 2013. This is now the main cause of meningococcal disease in Australia, accounting for 44.7% of cases in 2016. Children aged under two years have the highest rates of meningococcal W and Y disease, followed by older adolescents. No single vaccine offers protection against all serogroups that cause meningococcal disease, but there are safe and effective vaccines that can protect against five serogroups (A,B,C,W,Y). The vaccines cover different serogroups and it does get confusing so here are the basics. There are three types of meningococcal vaccines registered in Australia, which cover the following serogroups: - Meningococcal C (MenC) - Meningococcal B (MenB) - Meningococcal A, C, W, Y (MenACWY). All these vaccines include “killed” parts of the bacteria in order to stimulate an immune response. This means if someone comes into contact with the bacteria, for example via kissing, then they already have immunity and don’t get the nasty disease. It’s not possible for the vaccine to cause meningococcal disease. Menigococcal C vaccine The MenC vaccine is given for free to all Australian infants at 12 months of age under our National Immunisation Program. It’s given as a combination vaccine with the trade name Menitorix® and protects against meningococcal C and another bacteria called Haemophilus influenzae type b. The MenC vaccine has reduced the rate of meningoccocal C by 96% since its introduction. Although serogroup C disease is now not common, it’s not completely eradicated so get your child vaccinated at 12 months. Menigococcal B vaccine The MenB vaccine, which has the trade name Bexsero®, is not on the national immunisation program and will cost you around A$95-150 per dose, depending on what your pharmacist or GP charges. It might be worth calling a few different pharmacies to check their price. It’s strongly recommended for people who either have immune system weaknesses, work in environments where there’s a high chance of exposure (such as health care or laboratory workers), or live in close proximity to others (such as military recruits and those in boarding houses or residential accommodation). Children, especially those aged under two, and adolescents aged 15 to 19 years are also at increased risk. The younger you start the MenB vaccine the more doses you need. If starting between six weeks to five months old, the child needs three doses* plus a booster dose at 12 months old; if over six months old, then two doses as a minimum and a booster dose depending on the age at which you started. Adolescents need two doses. Infants should be given a medicine like paracetamol at the time of vaccination to reduce the chance of the vaccine causing a fever. Menigococcal ACWY vaccine Three vaccines are available in Australia, which have the trade names of Menveo®, Menactra® and Nimenrix®. Like the MenB vaccine, the number of doses needed depends on the age you start vaccinating (babies under six months need four doses; 7- to 11-month olds need two doses and 12-23 month olds need one or two doses (either one dose of Nimenrix® or two doses of Menveo®); and if started over two years, the child only needs one dose). Menveo® is the only vaccine registered for use in babies under one. In all states except South Australia (where a MenB program is currently underway), MenACWY will be given to adolescents in years 11 and 12 via high school-based programs. This is in response to the recent emergence of MenW disease around parts of the country. Parents wanting to vaccinate younger children will have to pay around A$55-90 per dose, depending on the brand you choose and what your pharmacist and GP charges. (Again, different pharmacies may have different prices). What should you get? The inevitable question parents ask is, “should I pay to get my child vaccinated against MenB and MenACWY?” In an ideal world, the answer would be “give both vaccines”. If you or your child has immune system weaknesses then definitely go for both optional vaccines. Another way to answer would be to state what we know. We know both vaccines are effective against severe disease. We know they can be given on the same day safely. But we also know no vaccine is 100% effective, and a person may still become infected even after immunisation. If you are very worried your child may have meningococcal disease, whether vaccinated or not, seek medical advice immediately. Editor’s note: since this article was first published, the meningococcal ACWY (Nimenrix®) vaccine has been added to the National Immunisation Program Schedule for children at 12 months. The vaccine will also be available for all adolescents aged 14-19 from April 2019. *Correction: this article originally said adolescents needed one dose of the MenB vaccine, rather than two, and did not mention boosters.
Being a vet might seem an ideal job for a young man with an interest in disease. But it failed to satisfy Claudio Murgia's scientific curiosity, he says. "You see a disease and you ask what is the mechanism? But as a vet you can't answer that question. You just go 'That is the symptom, now here is the cure.' "But for me it was always 'That is the symptom, now what is the cause?' So I was reading books and finding out many interesting things. Eventually I decided to see if I could do science, and I went from my home in Italy to California to do a PhD." It was an unusual route into science research as a career and now, ten years later, Dr Murgia is still on the road less travelled, as he investigates the origins of human lung cancer using sheep rather than mice as a laboratory model. This is more difficult, but the potential is greater, he firmly believes. "Lung cancer in sheep and humans is very similar. So natural lung cancer in sheep is a very good model for the disease in humans. We know that in sheep it is caused by a retrovirus. There are two main questions: How does the virus cause cancer and what kind of cells does it infect. So we are doing experiments to answer those questions." There has been progress but there are no easy answers with this disease, he says. "Cancer is very complex and you can't really study it in a petri dish. You need the in vivo where there are lots of other cells, such as immune cells that are attacking the tumour, to test hypotheses. "This is a disease of adult sheep. But scientists trying to produce it experimentally could only do so in lambs. That was strange. So what was the difference? The answer is stem cells, which repair tissue. The lamb has many of these because it is developing, the adult very few. So to enable the virus to infect we devised a technique that destroyed normal cells, so the stem cells would start dividing. The virus infects cells that are in division, so after ten days the tumour forms." While the sheep model is technically excellent, says Dr Murgia, it is professionally challenging. "You invest a lot of time without publishing, because you have to set up the system and develop the tools. In mice all these are already available. The most important part is belief in what you are doing. You have to be strong. "But I am studying cancer mostly because I want to help humans. So if I believe the sheep model is closer to the human that is what I must invest my time in. I believe in the concept of one medicine. "Every day you learn something new, you have new challenges, you read something interesting. If you want to solve a big problem it takes many years. You never stop thinking, even when you go to bed at night. I will be working on this for the rest of my life." Science and art can seem like complete opposites, the one fixed firmly in reality, the other bounded only by the imagination. But artists and scientists can work very well together, says Darren Monckton. "I've collaborated on several projects with artist Jacqueline Donachie, whose family has an inherited disease called myotonic dystrophy – which is my area of research. We produced a book and then put on an exhibition at the Hunterian Art Gallery." Myotonic dystrophy is a muscle disorder that grows progressively more severe with age, explains Professor Monckton. "But it also does something strange – the severity of the disease gets worse from one generation to the next." For a long time this couldn't be explained by genetics, so researchers didn't believe it, he says. "But we now know the molecular explanation. It's to do with repeated DNA sequences. The more copies of these repeats you have, the worse the symptoms. And the number of repeats increases from one generation to the next. "The simple explanation is that when you have these repeats the DNA no longer adopts the classic double helix, but forms a new shape which the cell recognises and tries to repair. But instead it makes it worse, and it goes round and round, getting worse each time." A similar effect seems to cause the progression of the disease within one individual, he says. "Everyone assumed it was a failure to repair the DNA. We now know the repair machinery needs to be there and working. But there is still a lot we don't know. For Professor Monckton this is the appeal of science – it's like a huge jigsaw puzzle, he says, but more exciting. "You don't know what the picture is and you've only got half the pieces. You try to fit those you have together, guess the picture, then look for the missing pieces." Progress is usually through fitting small new pieces to the puzzle, he says. Occasionally pieces have to be pulled apart because they're in the wrong place. But every now and then a big new piece of the puzzle is fitted into place.It's those moments a scientist lives for, he says. "You want an example? Well early in my career I was working in the lab that developed DNA fingerprinting at Leicester with Alex Jeffreys. One night when I was going to the theatre I suddenly had an insight and could hardly stay in my seat I was so desperate to get back to the lab to check that it was right. "I've had two other real Eureka moments in my work." he smiles. "So far." The appeal of working on a disease like myotonic dystrophy – rather than much more common diseases – is that the researchers are making considerable progress, he says. "It is a relatively simple genetic disease and it's tractable. There will still be people getting cancer in 30 years' time. But I firmly believe we will have a cure for this disease in my lifetime." People get the wrong idea about engineering because there aren't enough words for it in the English language, says Aleksandra Vuckovic. "In this country if you talk about engineering, people think about something you do with dirty hands, or that you can fix their TVs or washing machines. "In Serbia it is a much more highly respected profession. The best students go into engineering or medicine. I think it has something to do with language. We have loads of different words for engineer, and you can tell a person's qualifications right away when you hear the word that applies to them." The confusion in this country means engineering departments have their work cut out to help schools understand what engineers are and what they do, says Dr Vuckovic. "That's part of my job. University lecturers have a mix of teaching and research duties, as well as administration. So I am publicity officer for schoolchildren who might want to study mechanical engineering at Glasgow University." The research part of the job is a little more complicated, she says. "We are developing devices and techniques to help people who have problems to move or feel their bodies. We work closely with the spinal injury unit at the Southern General. "What we do is study tiny signals from people's brains and try to work out what they are thinking. If we can do that we can then use those signals as commands for a computer." The next step can be sending an electrical signal to a specific muscle in a person's body to make it contract, or to a mechanical device such as an artificial hand or a wheelchair. The difficult part is matching the signal to the correct action, because Dr Vuckovic and her team are detecting brain waves by attaching electrodes to the outside of the skull, without penetrating it. This means the signals are faint and often confused by other electrical noise. Electrodes that can be implanted in the brain and left there for a long time will open up wonderful possibilities, says Dr Vuckovic – such as direct brain control of prosthetics or even parts of the body whose connections to the brain have been lost or damaged. "But nobody knows yet how to create biocompatible materials. So we work with therapist's electrodes. Our focus is rehabilitation." People who lose the ability to move their hands through spinal injury need to work hard in the first few months to recover it. If they leave it longer than that the parts of the brain that control the unused muscles will start doing other jobs. "It's called brain plasticity and it's very useful when you're learning a new skill, such as playing the piano," she says. "But we're dealing with disuse plasticity, which is a problem." The setup she and her team are testing has a patient fitted with an EEG cap of electrodes, who then tries to imagine opening the hand. The computer recognises the pattern of brain waves and sends a signal to electrodes attached to the wrist that stimulate the right muscles to do so. "We have tested this system with healthy people and it works well," says Dr Vuckovic. "They learn very quickly how they have to think to make it happen. "We now need to find out if it will work with people who have real injuries. That is what we are beginning to test now. I think that it will work but I expect it will take them longer to learn. How long? That is what we will soon find out." In September 2010 the course for the first biomedical engineering degree (undergraduate) to be offered by a Scottish university begins at Glasgow.
The global food waste management market size was estimated at USD 32.64 billion in 2018 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.0% over the forecast period. Rapid industrialization and rising R&D activities for developing efficient systems are expected to have a positive influence on the growth. Rising use of organic waste for the production of animal feed and fertilizers, reducing greenhouse emissions, and growing energy requirements are the factors projected to drive demand for the food waste management systems. Increasing consumption of processed food, including ready-to-eat meals is also likely to boost the demand. In U.S., the fruits and vegetables segment held over 39.4% of the revenue share in 2018. The presence of health-conscious consumers in the country is likely to boost the consumption of fruits and vegetables, thereby resulting in increased food waste generation. Furthermore, the government initiative to educate people regarding appropriate storage methods for fruits and vegetables to prevent rotting is expected to drive the growth. Growing demand for enhanced technology such as gasification for treating wastage is expected to create new opportunities over the next seven years. Gasification process converts organic materials such as biomass or combinations of inorganic and organic surplus into a combustible gas known as syngas. Adverse effects of incineration and landfill techniques on the environment are expected to hamper the market growth. Incineration and landfill both contribute to the emission of GHG, the major cause of global warming. Incineration process involves the burning of the waste to convert it into ashes and heat. Whereas, leakage from landfills can result in the contamination of the hydrosphere. Anaerobic digestion is a recent technological trend that is expected to boost industrial growth for food wastage disposal as it helps to recover energy and nutrients from the produce. The segregation and collection of waste is a key challenge, which is anticipated to boost industry demand over the forecast period. Fruits and vegetables segment accounted for a significant revenue share of over 40.6% in 2018 on account of the improper handling, storage, processing, and cultivation of the produce. Majority of fruits and vegetables are wasted during the production and harvesting stages. Improper storage and handling of fresh produce lead to spoilage, which, in turn, is expected to lead to higher amounts of wastage as compared to other segments. Meat is expected to be one of the fastest-growing segments over the forecast period owing to the increasing generation of edible wastage in developed economies such as U.S. In addition, increasing government initiatives regarding the waste management of meat and meat products for reducing the impact of Green House Gases (GHGs) on the environment is likely to boost the growth over the forecast period. Dairy products is estimated to reach USD 8.98 billion by 2025 on account of increasing product wastage caused by the lack of cold storage or infrastructure and transportation of the products. Furthermore, the growth of the segment is attributed to improper processing and unhygienic storage of products at an inappropriate temperature. Rising consumer disposable income and increasing standard of living are likely to drive the generation of processed food wastage. This can be attributed to the growing consumer spending capacity and increased consumption of ready-to-eat and other processed foods. Furthermore, increasing consumer negligence and reducing value of money are likely to drive the generation of processed food wastage globally. Anaerobic digestion, composting, and landfill contributes to a significant share of the processes involved in the treatment of food waste. Anaerobic digestion segment led the food waste management market in 2018, accounting for over 45.2% of the global revenue share. It is a widely used process for the disposal of waste as the process aids in recovering energy such as biogas and nutrients. The wastage of food treated using anaerobic digestion has a less number of pathogens and thus, restricts the spread of odor and diseases and promotes hygiene and sanitation. It is an effective alternative to fossil fuel and energy produced through anaerobic digestion is not dependent on weather change. The waste disposed using this process includes municipal and industrial sewage, domestic and commercial food waste, and agricultural material and livestock manures. Aerobic digestion segment is estimated to reach USD 3.80 billion by 2025 on account of its ability to decompose food waste such as cereals and fruits and vegetables aerobically to form compost. The compost obtained from this process is used as fertilizers on account of its composition, which includes potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen, as well as the presence of soil conditioning micro-organisms. Combustion or incineration process involves the controlled combustion of mixed waste at extremely high temperatures, wherein the energy is recovered from the combustion process in the form of heat and electricity. Economies, including Japan, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, treat over 90% of the residues through incineration or energy recovery to generate electricity and heat from the process. The inedible food parts, such as juice pulp, whey permeate, and spent brewer’s grains; which are deemed edible for livestock are collected and segregated before feeding them. Animal feed production is an ecological and economical method of food waste management. However, only specific types of food waste, such as cereals, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, fish, and meat, are used as feed for animals. Fertilizers are projected to witness a CAGR of 4.2%, in terms of revenue, from 2019 to 2025, owing to rising demand from farmers to reduce the contamination of land and water from the leeching of synthetic fertilizers. Moreover, the use of food waste as fertilizer aids in soil conditioning or repairing owing to the ability of fertilizers in improving the water holding capacity along with the absorption of nutrients, which are utilized further during farming. The economic and nutrient value of the digestate used as fertilizer varies according to the treatment process and type of waste. The fertilizers obtained after the treatment can be used in agricultural land, forestry, home gardens, and horticulture for soil conditioning or repairing and enhances the water holding capacity of the soil. Biofuel is expected to witness substantial growth over the projected period owing to rising awareness regarding renewable energy coupled with constant fluctuations in the prices of crude oil. Methane, hydrogen, ethanol, and biodiesel are the different types of biofuels produced from food waste. Municipalities and households sector is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.5% in terms of revenue, from 2019 to 2025, owing to the rising wastage by consumers across the globe. The causes of waste by households include preparation of food in excess, improper management, lack of cooking skills, improper storage, and lack of awareness among consumers regarding the expiry date of the products. Food distributors and suppliers accounted for over 23.7% of the total revenue share in 2018, attributed to inappropriate means of transport and inadequate storage facilities used by the entities. In addition, the spoilage of meat owing to the changes in climatic conditions, improper handling, and unavailability of proper storage contributes majorly to the total waste. Food service providers segment is expected to witness substantial growth over the forecast period. Factors driving the segment are overstocking, expiration, spoilage, inefficient production, and overproduction that leads to a considerable amount of waste generated before offering it to consumers. These service providers include hotels, restaurants, street vendors, and cafes. The types of waste generated by primary producers include cereals, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, meat, and fish. These producers are involved in agricultural activities such as farming, animal husbandry, and fishing. Loss due to spillage, poor crop harvest, and animal death are the factors contributing to generation of food wastage. Europe led the in 2018, accounting for over 32.5% of the revenue share. The factors contributing to the regional growth include government initiative for reducing food wastage as well as increasing investment in advanced disposable techniques for acquiring useful products such as biogas and fertilizers. North America is estimated to reach USD 13.84 billion by 2025, on account of overproduction, lack of cold-chain infrastructure, market fluctuations, and varying customer demand. U.S. is projected to account for a major regional market share owing to the booming food industry in the country. Asia Pacific is expected to witness significant growth on account of rising exports of various products from Asian countries to the North American and European countries which are further expected to increase the amount of wastage during transit. The food waste in the region is majorly decomposed and is converted into biogas, which is also used in electricity generation. The advanced economies in Middle East and Africa, such as Qatar, contribute majorly to the global food wastage on account of the unavailability of an adequate number of cold storages and warehouses and the lack of transportation facilities. However, the regional governments are focusing on proper management on such wastage. For instance, Dubai has taken the initiative for achieving zero waste and has launched the UAE Food Bank. The market is highly competitive in nature. Major companies in the market include Veolia Environment; Suez Environment; Waste Management, Inc.; Republic Services, Inc.; Clean Harbors, Inc.; and Stericycle, Inc. The source of competition varies by the region and type of service offered by the regional and local players. Market players work with the governments to improve the overall customer services as well as the customer experience of dealing with waste management. In addition, public-private partnerships benefit the government as well as the companies involved as they receive a higher level of cooperation from each other for improved functioning. Base year for estimation Actual estimates/Historical data 2014 - 2017 2019 - 2025 Revenue in USD million and CAGR from 2019 to 2025 North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, Middle East & Africa U.S., Germany, U.K., China, India, Japan, Brazil Revenue forecast, competitive landscape, growth factors and trends 15% free customization scope (equivalent to 5 analysts working days) If you need specific information, which is not currently within the scope of the report, we will provide it to you as a part of customization This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global food waste management market report on the basis of waste type, process, application, source, and region: Waste Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Fruits & Vegetables Fish & Sea Food Process Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Source Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Primary Food Producers Food Distributors & Suppliers Food Service Providers Municipalities & Households Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Central & South America Middle East & Africa Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs: Get your queries resolved from an industry expert. Design an exclusive study to serve your research needs. A testimonial for service in the form of BBB "A" Accreditation. Your personal and confidential information is safe and secure. 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The Battle of Stalingrad was the turning point of World War II. The armies of Hitler's Nazi Germany and Stalin's Communist Soviet Union fought to the death in this industrial city on the banks of the Volga. Initially, it seemed impossible for the Soviets to hold out against the Wehrmacht and supporting Luftwaffe aircraft, but the handto- hand fighting in ruined factories, rubble-strewn streets and houses pockmarked by machine-gun bullets gradually turned events in their favour. Then, vast outflanking movement led by Marshal Zhukov in November 1942 dramatically turned the tables, surrounding General Paulus's German Sixth Army. Over a period of three months this army was bled white while Hitler refused to let it break out to the west, and Hermann Goering's claim that he could supply it from the air turned out to be the hollowest of boasts.
TODAY, Google celebrates a national splendor that as of today, ironically, you cannot go see. The California tech titan’s Tuesday home page features a Doodle honoring one of that state’s true natural treasures: Yosemite National Park, a stunning swath of granite faces and waterfalls and giant Sequoias that was established on this day in 1890 — thanks in part to a Lincoln land grant several decades earlier and a project for which the U.S. government showed sustained vision. In a cruel and coincidental twist, however, Tuesday also marks the first time in 17 years that would-be tourists cannot visit Yosemite because of a shutdown of the U.S. government. Congress couldn’t hit a midnight Monday deadline to keep the government running, so in addition to hundreds of thousands of federal workers being furloughed, the stalemate means that the national parks — like many museums and monuments — will be shut and shuttered beginning Tuesday. “Tourists will find every one of America’s national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Smithsonian to the Statue of Liberty, immediately closed,” President Obama said Monday night in a White House statement about the ramifications of the federal shutdown. “And of course the communities and small business that rely on these national treasures for their livelihoods will be out of customers and out of luck.” Yosemite covers more than 760,000 acres — about 95 percent of which is wilderness — and draws more than 3.7-million visitors a year. Just not, perhaps, this year. Especially in the wake of California’s Rim Fire this past summer, as charred parts of the park begin to regenerate and germinate after what officials called the most destructive conflagration in centuries in the Sierra Nevada. From El Capitan to Half Dome, Yosemite has survived voracious fires and avaricious would-be developers, partly through being popularized by naturalist John Muir, who described his first experiences in the Sierras as seeing “a window opening into heaven, a mirror reflecting the Creator.” Till Yosemite the great window reopens, we’ll let Google’s Doodle — and the smaller window of Google Images — guide us to what we can see. [SHUTDOWN: Political cartoonists take aim at the stalemate] More from Comic Riffs:
HP 20-series and 30-series pocket calculators use two NiCd cells for the battery. The battery is an integral part of the power supply, providing filtering and voltage limiting. Using the original wall-wart charger the calculator will not function properly without the battery installed. The battery can be replaced with a simple 'equivalent circuit', involving a couple of electrolytic capacitors and some diodes. This can be built into the original battery pack case, and can be installed into the calculator without requiring any alterations to the calculator itself. The photos show this done for an HP-21. Referring to the schematic, the capacitors provide filtering of the rectified DC. The diodes, together with the series resistance of the transformer and the voltage dropping resistor inside the calculator, function as a shunt regulator. The four diodes in series limit the voltage to a nominal 2.8V . The downside to this scheme is that when the calculator is turned off the shunt regulator will continue to consume energy. \| Integrated Circuits
Anne-Marie Slaughter is a professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University. She was director of policy planning at the State Department from 2009 to 2011. The Rwanda genocide began in April 1994; within a few weeks, nongovernmental organizations there were estimating that 100,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus had been massacred. Yet two months later, Reuters correspondent Alan Elsner and State Department spokeswoman Christine Shelly had an infamous exchange: Elsner: “How would you describe the events taking place in Rwanda?” Shelly: “Based on the evidence we have seen from observations on the ground, we have every reason to believe that acts of genocide have occurred in Rwanda.” Elsner: “What’s the difference between ‘acts of genocide’ and ‘genocide’?” Shelly: “Well, I think the — as you know, there’s a legal definition of this. . . . Clearly not all of the killings that have taken place in Rwanda are killings to which you might apply that label. . . . But as to the distinctions between the words, we’re trying to call what we have so far as best as we can; and based, again, on the evidence, we have every reason to believe that acts of genocide have occurred.” Elsner: “How many acts of genocide does it take to make genocide?” Shelly: “Alan, that’s just not a question that I’m in a position to answer.” As President Obama and his advisers look for “more conclusive evidence” that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has used chemical weapons against his people, he would do well to remember this shameful moment. The evidence Obama is reviewing first surfaced in December, when the U.S. consul in Istanbul sent a cable detailing interviews with victims and observers of an attack in Homs just before Christmas and concluding that it was likely that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons. The reported evidence was of paralysis, muscle spasms, seizures, blindness, hallucinations and disorientation. Victims reportedly responded well to atropine, a drug used to treat people exposed to the nerve gas sarin. This was very inconvenient for an administration determined not to get more involved in Syria, however, so U.S. officials said in early January that the Syrian government had used a “riot control agent.” Similar evidence has been squelched again and again, until finally our allies — the British, the French and even the Israelis — forced our hand. The Clinton administration did not want to acknowledge that genocide was taking place in Rwanda because the United States would have been legally bound by the Genocide Convention of 1948 to intervene to stop the killing. The reason the Obama administration does not want to recognize that chemical weapons are being used in Syria is because Obama warned the Syrian regime clearly and sharply in August against using such weapons. “There would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical-weapons front or the use of chemical weapons,” he said. “That would change my calculations significantly.” Unfortunately, changing the game is hard. Moreover, even against the reported recommendations of his advisers, Obama has shown little interest in intervention in Syria beyond nonlethal assistance to some opposition forces, diplomatic efforts with Russia and the United Nations, and political maneuvering to try to unify the opposition. But the White House must recognize that the game has already changed. U.S. credibility is on the line. For all the temptation to hide behind the decision to invade Iraq based on faulty intelligence about weapons of mass destruction, Obama must realize the tremendous damage he will do to the United States and to his legacy if he fails to act. He should understand the deep and lasting damage done when the gap between words and deeds becomes too great to ignore, when those who wield power are exposed as not saying what they mean or meaning what they say. The distrust, cynicism and hatred with which the United States is regarded in much of the world, particularly among Muslims across the Middle East and North Africa, is already a cancer. Standing by while Assad gasses his people will guarantee that, whatever else Obama may achieve, he will be remembered as a president who proclaimed a new beginning with the Muslim world but presided over a deadly chapter in the same old story. The world does not see the complex calculations inside the White House — the difficulty of achieving any positive outcomes in Syria even with intervention, the possible harm to Obama’s domestic agenda if he plunges into the morass of another conflict in the Middle East. The world would see Syrian civilians rolling on the ground, foaming at the mouth, dying by the thousands while the United States stands by. Mr. President, how many uses of chemical weapons does it take to cross a red line against the use of chemical weapons? That is a question you must be in a position to answer.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is published by the Wall Street Journal, whose editors select the stocks to include in the average. The first industrial average – published in 1896 – tracked 12 stocks. The list grew to its current size of 30 stocks in 1928. They first figured out the Dow’s value by adding up the stock prices and dividing that total by the number of stocks in the average. This calculation changed as stocks were added to and taken out of the average, companies merged and stocks split. Some investors believe that the Dow no longer paints an accurate picture of the overall stock market. One reason is that the equation used to find the Dow’s value gives more importance to high-priced stocks than to low-priced stocks. A big change in just one high-priced stock might cause the average to give a false reading of the market. The Dow might also be too small to represent the entire market because it follows only 30 of roughly 3,000 stocks traded on the NYSE. And since it doesn’t track many consumer goods or technology stocks, it may be missing some of the industries that have become more important to the overall market. The S&P 500 A big difference between the Dow and the S&P 500 is how their values are calculated. While the Dow only looks at stock prices, the S&P 500 looks at the total market value of each stock in the index. A stock’s total market value is found by multiplying its share price by the number of outstanding shares. To find the S&P 500’s current value, a computer figures out the total market value of all 500 stocks in the index, adds them together and divides that sum by a number called the "index divisor." A lot of investors prefer to use the S&P 500 as a market indicator because it looks at total market value and includes more stocks from different industries than the Dow. Many mutual fund portfolio managers compare their fund’s performance with this index. This computerized trading system was launched in 1971 and has become very popular as the market for smaller companies. Stocks traded over-the-counter, rather than on a traditional stock exchange, are reported here. The Nasdaq Stock Market now accounts for over half of the volume of all stocks traded every day, and the Nasdaq Composite currently tracks the prices of more than 3,000 stocks. As with the S&P 500, the market values of the companies within the index are used to calculate the value of the Nasdaq Composite. But because it contains so many smaller companies, this index offers a look at a different section of the market than the Dow or the S&P 500. Investors use the composite to get an idea of what’s going on with young, and possibly fast-growing, companies.
If we discover living or dormant organisms on Mars and these forms represent a different type of life than the life we have on Earth, then we should not bring life from Earth to Mars. Instead we should alter the martian environment so that this native martian life can expand to fill a planetary scale biosphere. There is general agreement within the Mars research community that if Mars is indeed a lifeless planet then there is potential scientific, cultural, and human value in bringing life from Earth to Mars. The re-creation of habitable conditions on Mars is within our technological reach. To a Mars long since dead, Earth could give the gift of its genome: a biological heritage encapsulating billions of years of evolution. For Mars this would represent a jump start back into a biological future.
Cervical artificial disc replacement surgery is a joint replacement procedure that involves inserting an artificial disc, between the vertebrae to replace a natural spinal disc after it has been removed. This prosthetic device is designed to mimic the function of a natural disc, preserving mobility within the disc space and throughout the treated vertebral segment. Cervical artificial disc surgery is a type of joint replacement procedure, or arthroplasty, that involves inserting a cervical artificial disc into the intervertebral space after a natural cervical disc has been removed. A cervical artificial disc replacement is a prosthetic device designed to mimic the function of a natural cervical disc, preserving mobility within the disc space and throughout the treated vertebral segment. A cervical artificial disc essentially functions like a joint, replicating the physiological motion (flexion, extension, side bending and rotation) and alignment (height and curvature) of a natural cervical disc. Why Do I Need This Procedure ? The intervertebral discs of the cervical spine are very important for the normal mobility and function of your neck. When healthy, they act as "cushions" for the individual bones of the spine, or vertebrae. Each disc is made up of two parts : - • The nucleus pulposus : — the soft, gel-like center of the disc. • The annulus fibrosis : — strong, fibrous outer ring that surrounds and supports the nucleus pulposus. Over time, discs can become dried out, compressed or otherwise damaged, due to age, genetics and everyday wear-and-tear. When this happens, the nucleus pulposus may push through the annulus fibrosis. Disc degeneration also may result in bone spurs, also called osteophytes. If disc or bone material pushes into or impinges on a nearby nerve root and/or the spinal cord, it may result in pain, numbness, weakness, muscle spasms and loss of coordination, both at the site of the damage and elsewhere in the body, since most the nerves for rest of the body (e.g., arms, chest, abdomen and legs) pass from the brain through the neck. These symptoms and the conditions that cause them are collectively referred to as degenerative disc disease, if the condition is chronic and has had time to develop. Similar symptoms, however, may occur suddenly if the disc nucleus dislodges acutely and causes nerve root compromise, a condition referred to as a herniated disc. When non-surgical therapies fail to provide relief from DDD-related symptoms, your doctor may recommend spine surgery. The goal of cervical artificial disc surgery is to remove all or part of a damaged cervical disc (discectomy), relieve pressure on the nerves and/or spinal cord (decompression) and to restore spinal stability and alignment after the disc has been removed. A spinal fusion with an anterior cervical plate currently is a very good surgical option for many patients with DDD, leaving most symptom-free and able to return to their normal activities within a short period of time. Using bone grafts and instrumentation, such as metal plates and screws, this procedure fuses, or creates a bond between, two or more adjacent cervical vertebrae, ideally stabilizing the segment and providing relief. There are, however, some potential disadvantages associated with fusion surgery, including loss of motion and flexibility in the treated vertebral segment. Cervical artificial disc replacement surgery, also referred to as spinal arthroplasty or just disc replacement, is another potential treatment option for patients with this condition. In addition to maintaining near-normal neck motion through the use of an artificial disc, which mimics the function of a natural spinal disc. potential advantages of this procedure include : - Avoidance of complications associated with fusion, including those related to bone graft harvest surgery, if required Relatively quick recovery and return to normal activities. Is This Procedure Right For Me ? Cervical artificial disc replacement surgery may be an appropriate treatment option for you if : - You have been diagnosed with cervical degenerative disc disease (radiculopathy, myelopathy or both with the presence of disc herniation and/or bone spurs). - Your DDD-related symptoms did not improve after conservative treatment measures, such as exercise, pain relievers, physical therapy and/or chiropractic care. - You require treatment at only one cervical level. - You are at least 18 years of age with skeletal maturity. - Are not pregnant or nursing at the time of surgery. To determine whether cervical artificial disc replacement surgery is the right treatment for you, your physician will perform a physical exam and other diagnostic testing, such as a spinal X-ray; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, myelogram and/or a bone scan. It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications, and benefits of cervical artificial disc replacement surgery with your doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your physician's judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment. How Is Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery Performed ? Through a small incision made near the front of your neck (a surgical approach called the anterior approach) your surgeon will : - - Gently pull aside the soft tissues skin, fat and muscle as well as the trachea, or windpipe, to access the cervical spine - Expose the area where disc fragments and/or bone spurs are pressing against the neural structures (nerve roots and/or spinal cord) - Remove the disc and bone material from around the neural structures to give them more space (discectomy and decompression) - Insert and secure the artificial disc into the intervertebral space, using specialized instruments - Ease the soft tissues of the neck and other structures back into place - Close the incision. Knowing what to expect during your procedure can help you face your surgery with confidence. Your doctor can give you additional details about the procedure specific to your condition. How Long Will It Take Me To Recover ? Your surgeon will have a specific post-operative recovery plan to help you return to your normal activity level as soon as possible. Your length of stay in the hospital will depend on your treatment and physical condition. You typically will be up and walking by the end of the first day after the surgery. Your return to work will depend on how well your body is healing and the type of work/activity level you plan to return to. Work closely with your spinal surgeon to determine the appropriate recovery protocol for you, and follow his or her instructions exactly to optimize your healing process. Are There Any Potential Risks Or Complications ? Cervical artificial disc replacement surgery is considered a safe and effective treatment; however, as with any spine surgery, the procedure is not without risk. A variety of complications may occur, either alone or in combination. Potential risks associated with surgery in general include anesthesia complications, blood clots, allergic reactions and adverse effects due to undiagnosed medical problems, such as silent heart disease Potential complications associated with cervical artificial disc surgery may include : - - Allergic reaction to the disc implant material - Bending, breaking, movement or migration of disc implant material - Local and/or systemic infection - Nerve or spinal cord injury - Numbness or tingling in extremities - Tear in the protective membrane of the spinal cord - Loss of motion or fusion at the treated cervical level - Development or progression of disease at other cervical levels - Bleeding and/or blood clotting, possibly resulting in hematoma or stroke - Adverse reaction to anesthesia - Altered mental state - Pregnancy complications, including miscarriage and/or fetal birth defects - Inability to resume normal activities, including sexual activities Most of these complications happen very infrequently and can be treated once they are detected. However, this may require a longer period of hospitalization and recovery, more medication and in some instances additional surgery. For more information, medical assessment and medical quote as email attachment to Email : - firstname.lastname@example.org Contact Center Tel. (+91) 9029304141 (10 am. To 8 pm. IST) (Only for international patients seeking treatment in India)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) wrote the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), also known as the "Employee’s Right to Know", to help ensure chemical safety in the workplace. Employers are required to inform employees of both the physical hazards and health hazards of chemicals found at the job site and provide training on how to recognize, use and handle hazardous chemicals in the workplace. HazMat Student offers HAZCOM online training courses to help workers and employers meet the OSHA Hazard Communication training requirements in 29 CFR 1910.1200. Our courses are provided through a state-of-the-art Online Training System (OTS) and are fully narrated, self-paced, and high quality. Training certification is provided to students immediately upon course completion. We are so certain you will be satisfied with your course, we offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee*. Under the HAZCOM Standard, employees who may work with a hazardous chemical are required to be trained prior to exposure, so they have the awareness and information needed to prevent adverse health effects. The training program needs to explain the workplace chemical hazards and how to use information in the hazard communication program. Employers also need to ensure their employees understand the information provided. The training may be provided for categories of hazards that an employee may encounter (ie carcinogens) vs. training on specific chemicals. Additional training must be provided to employees when new physical or health hazards are introduced into the work area. Information must also be provided about the hazard category of the solvent. If the solvent is a suspect carcinogen, and the employee has not had carcinogenic hazard training, the training must be provided. New hires do not automatically need to be retrained if they received the needed training from a past employer. However, the current employer is responsible for ensuring employees have the training, knowledge, and information needed to do their jobs safely. Employees also must know the specifics of their new employer’s programs. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). With this alignment, requirements were added in the areas of: Hazard Classification, Labels (Product Identifier, Signal Word, Pictograms, Hazard Statements, Precautionary Statements, etc.), Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and Information and Training. Employers are required to train employees on the revised Hazard Communication Standard, which includes the new label requirements and safety data sheets format. OSHA training compliance was required by December 1, 2013 for the Global Harmonization System revised standard. For students who have not had previous HAZARD Communication training, we offer a OSHA Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) – Aligned with GHS training course which provides training on the 1994 Hazard Communication Standard, as well as the changes implemented in 2012 to align the standard with GHS. For students with previous Hazard Communication training and who need training on the 2012 HAZCOM Standard changes, please see our Transitioning from OSHA Hazard Communication to GHS training course. For additional requirements information, please see the OSHA Hazard Communication page.
Chlamydiae are a group of obligate intracellular bacteria comprising important human and animal pathogens as well as symbionts of ubiquitous protists. They are characterized by a developmental cycle including two main morphologically and physiologically distinct stages, the replicating reticulate body and the infectious nondividing elementary body. In this review, we reconstruct the history of studies that have led to our current perception of chlamydial physiology, focusing on their energy and central carbon metabolism. We then compare the metabolic capabilities of pathogenic and environmental chlamydiae highlighting interspecies variability among the metabolically more flexible environmental strains. We discuss recent findings suggesting that chlamydiae may not live as energy parasites throughout the developmental cycle and that elementary bodies are not metabolically inert but exhibit metabolic activity under appropriate axenic conditions. The observed host-free metabolic activity of elementary bodies may reflect adequate recapitulation of the intracellular environment, but there is evidence that this activity is biologically relevant and required for extracellular survival and maintenance of infectivity. The recent discoveries call for a reconsideration of chlamydial metabolism and future in-depth analyses to better understand how species- and stage-specific differences in chlamydial physiology may affect virulence, tissue tropism, and host adaptation.
I often hear patients express concern about an event or a situation of some kind for which they are experiencing something known as "anticipatory anxiety." This is a heightened sense of worry and vigilance about some dreaded event or experience that the anxious individual fears might be overwhelming. It is what I call the "what-will-happen-next" fear. There is a natural tendency to back away from things or situations that create tension. When someone suffers from anticipatory anxiety—whether it is a single episode or a form of chronic anxiety—avoidance may provide temporary relief, but not help overcome the source of the fear. Supportive friends and family often assist the sufferer in his or her efforts to avoid the source of distress wherever possible. Sometimes avoidance is seen as a reasonable response. If you can reduce or eliminate anxiety reactions by avoiding the feared object or situation, why not do so? This works adequately when the object of anxiety is easily avoidable for most people, e.g. snakes and spiders or public speaking. In other cases, avoidance is unrealistic, as in fear of heights, elevators, flying, or dogs. One of the treatment options for anxiety that results in avoidance is called exposure therapy. This involves exposure to the fearful stimulus in a safe and controlled setting; frequently the therapist's office. The patient is subjected to the feared stimulus as part of the therapeutic process. One simple form of exposure therapy is systematic desensitization, where exposure is gradually increased until the person is immersed in the fearful situation. Gradually the anxiety recedes and the fear itself fades away. This method of treatment is not for everyone, but for some, it can be very effective. It is the classic form of overcoming a fear by handling it rather than avoiding it. Another therapeutic intervention that promotes managing a fear is modeling. In modeling, the client observes others (the "models"), who are responding in a relaxed way when in the presence of the feared stimulus. The patient is encouraged to imitate the models, thereby reducing the patient's own response to the fear. Claire entered therapy for a variety of problems, but her fear of riding in elevators was her greatest concern and the first issue she wished to tackle in therapy. Her fear had been present for several years and she believed it to be traceable to a friend's experience of being stuck in an elevator for over an hour in a New York City building. The friend shared her frightening experience in graphic detail, and Claire said "I haven't been the same since." Claire's handling of this fear consisted primarily of avoidance. For her, this meant walking up and down 22 flights of stairs to her office in a Manhattan skyscraper, living in a three-story brownstone building, staying in hotels with escalator access to low-floor rooms. Exposure treatment, which involved Claire and I spending many sessions near an elevator and eventually in it, was initially overwhelming for her, but in the end it worked. She successfully tolerated her anxiety which gradually diminished with repeated exposure. After years of avoidance, Claire felt the predictable empowerment of having truly overcome a fear by achieving mastery, rather than just "getting by" through the stressful and extraordinarily limiting avoidance of elevators. There are countless conflict situations that require a direct approach and the courage to confront, rather than avoid. Where appropriate, patients find ways to handle the difficulties that they are confronting in their lives, rather than seek relief by avoiding them. One of the important objectives of therapy for many people is to learn effective ways of handling the difficult and complex challenges of life. Whether asking for a raise from a stern boss, discussing a grievance with a romantic partner, or any other situation that creates anxiety, directly handling matters will always be a more effective response than avoidance.
For most people, an unsettled stomach is a passing inconvenience; at its worst, a vomiting episode is at least followed by relief. But for those who suffer from a seemingly rare chronic vomiting illness, no amount of throwing up can stop the nausea. Such is the case with Natalie Robertson of Chico, Calif. One of the most distinct memories Robertson has about her first week as a freshman at Chico State University was enduring daylong episodes of uncontrollable vomiting. "She would throw up in the bushes on the way to class," said Lynne Bussey, Robertson's mother. "Sometimes she would have to run out the door in the middle of class." Initially, some thought Robertson, who was 18 at the time, was hung over from a night of heavy drinking. Others believed she was bulimic. And although Robertson claimed her vomiting episodes would come without warning, many did not believe her mystery illness, she said. Teachers warned Robertson that excessive absences from class put her at risk of failing. "I've had to drop classes because [my illness] has been too overwhelming," Robertson said. Many doctors diagnosed Robertson with the stomach flu or food poisoning, Bussey said. Yet, Robertson's symptoms persisted for two years. "We knew something was wrong," said Bussey. "There was just a lot of guessing." After dozens of hospital visits, Robertson was diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome, or CVS, a neurological disorder characterized by a series of prolonged attacks of severe nausea and vomiting, with no apparent cause. Symptoms usually begin with severe abdominal pain or a migraine headache, followed by episodes of vomiting that can last for hours or even days. However, once an episode is over, the sufferer inexplicably returns to normal health, often with no remnants of the disease. Unlike with bulimia, which is a cycle of binge eating followed by purging, those with CVS have repeated episodes of vomiting that can begin and continue on an empty stomach. Also, CVS episodes are induced by overwhelming nausea, while individuals with bulimia often vomit without feeling nauseated. While the actual number of cases is unknown because of sparse research on the syndrome, estimates indicate that CVS may not be as rare as many believe. Rather, according to the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association, more often it is misdiagnosed. The two surveys that have been conducted on the condition suggest that as many as 2 percent of children worldwide may suffer from CVS. And while initially identified as a pediatric disease and believed that children would outgrow the disorder, researchers now say it can persist into adulthood and even appear in adults for the first time. Robertson, now 25, has been hospitalized more than 40 times in the last seven years. Like clockwork, Robertson wakes up with a headache or nausea; oftentimes she starts her day after she vomits. Her symptoms ease in the evening, but recur early the following morning. And Robertson is not alone. In fact, Bussey said she has connected with at least 15 others in Butte County who have the disease and also claim that they are not believed. Navigating a Misunderstood Illness Dr. David Fleisher, an associate professor of children's health at the University of Missouri who has treated Robinson and more than 400 other patients with CVS, said he understands why many with the disorder are met with skepticism from others -- doctors included. The primary reason, he said, is that many physicians may not have heard of the disease. "With functional disorders like CVS, the only way to diagnose it is to get a patient's history of symptoms," said Fleisher. "Not many physicians know the clinical pattern of CVS, so it's hard for patients to get the recognition or care they need." CVS is often mistaken for other disorders including urinary tract infection, appendicitis and brain tumors seen in MRI scans, Fleisher wrote in a 1993 article in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. In a 2002 issue of Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr. B.U.K. Li, director of the Cyclic Vomiting Program at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee, Wis., and one of the world's leading experts on CVS, blamed the on-again, off-again symptoms for difficulties in understanding the disease. "Between episodes, the child with CVS is asymptomatic and appears so normal that the history of repetitive bouts of relentless vomiting and dehydration can be difficult to believe," he wrote. According to Fleisher, some behaviors by individuals with CVS during an episode may also mislead doctors. Bussey said when her daughter has nothing left in her stomach to vomit, she drinks water to induce vomiting, which can make her feel better, which, according to Fleisher, is an action some doctors may interpret as bulimia. Otherwise, the violent reflux and bile may cause her daughter to burn her esophagus and stomach lining, Bussey said. At times, an attack can send Robertson into a state of conscious coma. Robertson can understand what is going on around her, but is unable to respond to others. "Their mental state is altered so they can hear what others are saying, but they are unable to answer," said Fleisher. "So commonly it can be seen as a symptom of drug abuse or being drunk." Currently there are no diagnostic tests for CVS. Though medications are available to alleviate the pain experienced during a vomiting episode, there is no standard treatment for the condition. According to Fleisher, sometimes the only way physicians can control CVS symptoms during an attack is to sedate the patient. "Emotions promote nausea and CVS," said Fleisher. "When doctors put them to sleep, the vomiting stops immediately and they are numb to their misery." Possible Causes for Mysterious Nausea While a definite cause is unknown, some researchers point to a variety of neurological conditions that may be related to CVS. Many researchers say CVS may be one variation of a migraine. According to researchers, for some, an intense headache or a condition known as an abdominal migraine may signal the onset of a vomiting episode. And many diagnosed with CVS have shown a family history of migraine headaches. "I don't think that any researcher is ready to say that there is a definitive genetic connection between migraines and CVS," said Kathleen Adams, president and co-founder of the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association. "However, almost all of the literature has significantly shown that CVS may be a migraine variant." While a migraine may by one explanation for the onset of symptoms, Fleisher said many episodes are triggered by emotional stress or excitement. In fact, Robertson no longer experiences defined patterns of episodes. Almost every morning, Robertson experiences symptoms of CVS. "She used to be totally healthy in between episodes," Bussey said. "But now big events, such as final exams or a special occasion, brings on an episode." "It's really sad that Christmas is a trigger for me," Robertson said. "I interpret emotional pain physically now." Worse, according to Fleisher, the anxiety experienced by some CVS sufferers in between episodes may cause some to continually experience symptoms of CVS, called dyspeptic nausea. "CVS is generally not a fatal disease, but it can get complicated if not recognized or handled right," he said. Robertson tries to manage her condition through a combination of medications aimed at quelling her pain, nausea and anxiety. But even this has not completely stopped the episodes or symptoms, Robertson said. And because Robertson is often nauseous during the first part of her day, she is unable to maintain a regular work schedule. "I've pretty much become physically incapable of taking care of myself," Robertson said. With little awareness or research on CVS, Bussey said she fears Robertson may never have a chance to understand and treat her condition during her lifetime. She hopes time will perhaps heal her daughter's daily battle with her misunderstood condition. "I keep saying, 'please, God, let me go through this instead of my daughter,'" Bussey said. For more information on CVS, visit http://www.cvsaonline.org.
The formwork engineering industry has developed rapidly with the advancement of modern technology. Today plans and designs of things like manhole formwork are created with a computer, which has improved the speed of construction, effectiveness, and safety and has significantly reduced the costs. In addition, the building materials used today are much more sturdy and durable than those used just recently, which helps us build safer and more practical structures. Formwork is an indispensable part of construction and can be described as a temporary or permanent way in which concrete is poured, which then sets. Formwork engineering has been used around the world for hundreds and thousands of years to aid in constructing structures of all shapes and sizes. Various types of formwork have been produced for more than 300 years since the settlement. Without a doubt, the building was the cornerstone of today’s civilisation, and formwork engineering has played a crucial role in our development. What Is A Manhole? First, we’ll distinguish between a manhole and an inspection chamber. A manhole is comparatively larger and allows physical access to the manhole for inspection and cleaning. In contrast, an inspection chamber is typically small, and individual access is only possible through a camera and other cleaning apparatus. Nonetheless, the manhole and inspection chamber serve the same purpose. A manhole, also known as an inspection chamber, is a structure built underground to enable access to utilities such as sewers and drainage systems. Underground utilities are thus inspected, updated, cleaned, and maintained using a manhole. A manhole’s principal function is to: - Inspection, cleaning, and removal of any obstacle in the sewage line are required. - Manholes can be used to join sewers, modify the path of sewers, or align sewers. - The noxious gases can escape thanks to the perforated cover. As a result, it provides adequate ventilation for the subsurface sewage system. - Manholes aid in the installation of sewer lines in standard lengths. Features of Manhole The main parts are the chamber or ring and the vertical round pipe. The vertical round tube is available in various depths and sizes. These pipes are used to access the system’s inspection joints. The culverts are mainly located 0.5 m from the highway sidewalks. It is primarily built to be away from the cycle line of traffic. A manhole cover is a plug that protects the manhole from unauthorised access. The covers used for the passages can be rectangular, square, or circular. The roofing material can be precast concrete, composite material, or any other fiberglass-reinforced plastic material. Access through the manhole is via steps. If the depth of the shaft is less than 1 m, a ladder is built. If the depth of the well is more than 2.5 m, a normal ladder is installed. However, modern sewers do not require physical access. Why Are Manhole Covers Round? The circular form makes it easy to put these heavy covers back on once they’ve been removed because there are no angles for alignment. Round covers are also less challenging to make. The primary reason manhole covers are circular is to prevent them from falling down the manhole. You can’t shove a round cover in, no matter how you hold it. It’s just not going to happen. If it were square, someone could tip the cover up and turn it diagonally over the hole and drop it in, creating a hazard for bikes, scooters and pedestrians. Types of Manhole The three types of manhole, depending on the depth, are: - Shallow Manhole - Normal Manhole - Deep Manhole Shallow Manhole:A shallow manhole is 75 to 90 cm deep. These are typically built near the beginning of a branch sewer or in a low-traffic location. The inspection chamber is a light cover attached to the shallow manhole. Normal Manhole:These are located near the sewer line and have a substantial cover. It has a 150cm depth. A square manhole is the most common shape. Deep Manhole:A deep manhole is more than 150cm deep and has a solid cover on top. The size of the room can be expanded, as well as the ability to descend. Materials Used for Manhole Construction The polyethylene substance is used to make plastic manholes. This is a one-piece structure that is extremely sturdy. Seams and seals are not used in this construction since they generate various maintenance concerns. Plastic manholes are both eco-friendly and long-lasting. They do not contaminate or have any adverse effects on the soil or ground where they are planted. Plastic manholes are exceptionally corrosion-resistant. They do not deteriorate with time and require periodic rehabilitation and maintenance. Additional accessories, like ladders and manhole coverings, are included with these manholes. Precast Concrete Manholes Precast concrete manholes are a conventional way of formwork. In a plant offsite, these manhole frames are engineered in the segment. As a result, this technology maintains quality while also allowing for speedy installation. The precast manholes are prefabricated and erected on site. One of the reasons for its sustained popularity and broad use is its greater durability, with a life span of 100 years. The way we put together our standard range of manhole forms has a point of difference in that we laser cut all our ribs. This ensures that we get the right diameter and size, so our forms are nice and accurate. It also allows us to put the holes in the ribs in the same spot, so that when you stack them on top of each other, they line up accurately. So we get the laser cut ribs and we put them together with skins that get rolled in house. So we make sure that everything is completely accurate and there’s no gaps and everything follows the curve. Then from here, we’ll go and weld it in a special pattern to ensure the integrity and the strength of the forms, but also to reduce distortion. A manhole barrel and a lid are included in the design of fiberglass manholes. Additional elements such as grinder channels, weirs, flumes, and stormwater separation units are included in this basic construction. This is the result of combining numerous units. On the other hand, the fiberglass technology seals the components together so that they behave as if they are one piece, with no seams or seals. Fiberglass manholes are lightweight and only a tenth the weight of concrete manholes. The manhole is simple to install because of its modest weight. Fiberglass manholes are both ecologically benign and extremely long-lasting. Manhole Cover Materials and Equipment Cast iron and concrete are the two most common materials to make manhole covers. These two materials are also employed in the construction of manholes in conjunction. Both materials are long-lasting, heavy, and low-cost. Manhole covers are now manufactured of fiberglass, plastic, and composite materials, thanks to advances in engineering. Gray cast iron is used to create the Cast Iron Manhole Cover. Because ductile cast iron has higher strength, it is utilised for manholes designed to withstand severe weights such as airport runways. The gray cast iron used to make manhole covers is made up of a mix of carbon and silicon. Carbon gives the element its strength and endurance. Manganese is added to molten iron to make ductile cast iron. Why TNN Engineering For Your Manhole Form Supply? It’s a good idea to hire professionals for your concrete formwork supply and custom engineering, and it’s even better if you choose TNN Engineering. We make the procedure perfectly quick and easy with our proprietary manhole formwork techniques – our novel form assembly approach saves time and labour costs and eliminates the need to backfill at each stage. You’ll also save money on maintenance, storage, and other fees by letting us handle them so you can focus on your project. Contact us today to see how we can help you with your next project.
You see them in movies; you read about them in books: the hero and generally the villain square off in a duel with swords or pistols. We’ve talked about how many young men were taught early to shoot and to fence. They were also cautioned against hot-headed displays. But dueling was viewed as an honorable alternative to settling a dispute. Even though it was frowned upon by the magistrates, even the most senior and respected of peers sometimes demanded satisfaction on the field of honor! Some duels were over gambling debts. In September 1810 in Surrey, Captain Hants was mortally wounded when he met a Mr. Coleshall at Monsley Hurst over a “trivial bet at Egham races.” This after Mr. Coleshall’s brother tattled on them the previous week when they were trying to set up to duel in Middlesex. So strong was the feeling about dueling, however, that when the Coroner’s Inquest was called, no witness mentioned Mr. Coleshall’s involvement. (So even the gossip columnist who reported about the event knew who had shot the gallant captain, but no one was willing to tell the jury the information.) The jury returned a verdict of “Willful Murder by person or persons unknown.” Hmm. Sometimes duels were fought over a lady’s honor. A wealthy married gentleman by the name of Payne made advances toward a Miss Clark, who was a friend of his wife. Even his own brother tried to talk him out of it, but he refused to stop his attentions. Miss Clark must have poured her concerns out to her brother, who was a captain in the army, because he took umbrage and met Payne on Wimbledon Common (yes, that Wimbledon). Mr. Payne must have been feeling some remorse, for he told a friend that he would not return fire. The captain’s first shot killed him, leaving his widow to raise their four children. Once again, the jury returned a verdict of “Willful Murder by some person or persons unknown.” Sometimes, however, duels were fought for political reasons. In 1798, the Prime Minister of England, William Pitt, accused George Tierney, an opposition politician, of desiring to obstruct the defense of England. Tierney demanded that Pitt withdraw the accusation; Pitt refused. Tierney challenged him to a duel, and the two met near London. The first set of shots went wild, and Pitt fired his second shot into the air, thereby vindicating honor. Even the Duke of Wellington, that victor of Waterloo, fought a duel when he was Prime Minister. He was accused of attempting to introduce “Popery” into British government by favoring laws giving Catholics more freedom in England. Wellington missed, and his opponent, the Earl of Winchilsea, fired into the air. By the way, you may see the word delope or delopement used to describe the business of firing into the air. Georgette Heyer used the word in one of her books. So far, the term hasn’t been located in any document from the nineteenth century, to my knowledge. So does that mean the pen really is mightier than the sword?
The method is based on preparation of a suspension of flour in water, followed by recording of the viscosity of the suspension which is heated at a constant rate from 30 °C to the temperature corresponding to the moment at which viscosity starts to decrease, having reached its maximum (approximately 95 °C). Applies to wheat and rye flour and also to wheat and rye grain. État actuel: PubliéeDate de publication: 1992-12Stade: Norme internationale confirmée [90.93] Edition: 1Nombre de pages: 8 Comité technique :ISO/TC 34/SC 4ICS :67.060 - RSS mises à jour
The anonymous 16th-century painter who recorded a scene of everyday life at the king’s fountain (Chafariz d’El Rei) in Lisbon depicted an impressive range of people and animals. In addition to a swan, a seal, fish, horses, dogs and birds, the artist also included more than 150 human figures. There’s so much going on in the busy scene along Lisbon’s port that Joaneath Spicer, the James A. Murnaghan Curator of Renaissance and Baroque Art at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, can be forgiven for initially overlooking an important detail. Only after she had finished working on the exhibition catalog did Spicer notice how many Jews appeared in the work. The artist depicted at least half a dozen Jewish men — the women’s religious identities are more difficult to discern — including two Jewish policemen hauling away a black man who appears, according to the wall text, to be “drunk and sheepish.” The latter figure and several other Africans explain the painting’s appearance in the exhibit “Revealing the African Presence in Renaissance Europe,” which is at the Walters through January 21. It subsequently travels to the Princeton University Art Museum, where it will be shown from February 16 to June 9. “I was really unaware of the presence of so many Jews in this painting until I began to blow up details of a photo in preparation for installing the work,” says Spicer, who recognized the Jewish figures from research she conducted for a 1996 article, “The Star of David and Jewish Culture in Prague around 1600,” which appeared in The Journal of the Walters Art Gallery. “This is the only image I know of — certainly painting from this period that purports to show Jews from life.” Click here tor read this article from the Jewish Daily Forward
Student Voices: Episode 5 Ben and Mark6/25/2008 08:19:00 am In this final episode of Student Voices for the 2007-2008 school year, two students, one grade 12 (17 years old) one grade 11 (16 years old), discuss how they evolved their innovative study practices that lead to them doing better on their final provincial standards test than they had done in their class work during the winter semester of 2008. They used a mash up of various online tools and reveal how they unwittingly became mentors for the rest of their class. I had no idea they were doing this all semester. You'll hear the surprise in my voice. The best part of it comes at the end where the boys, one graduating one taking AP Calculus with me in September, talk about how they will mentor my future classes using the style they developed. What a great way to end the school year! Let us know what you thought about the the ideas in podcast by leaving a comment. (Download File 7.9Mb, 16 min. 30 sec.) » LaTeX Equation Editor (I just found this! We'll be using it in class next year.)
Much like the cheetah, the alligator is an incredibly fast runner. Perhaps you've seen one rise up on its long, muscular legs and sprint 500 yards (457 meters) across a wide-open field after fleeing prey. No? You've never witnessed such a thing? What you've probably witnessed is something like this: You're standing by a lagoon, checking out a pelican, when you notice two small bumps that protrude from the water. After you take note of the "Don't Feed the Alligators" sign, you put two and two together and decide those bumps are the eyes of said creature lazily floating in the lagoon. You're frightened for a moment, but then you remember the classic adage: You can escape an alligator if you run in a zigzag. And this brings you comfort. But should it? This saying, which is so old and so widespread that it's virtually impossible to determine where or why it was ever started, implies a couple of things: One, it implies that an alligator is likely to chase you a long distance on land. Two, it implies that alligators can run faster than humans -- at least when they're running in a straight line. The truth is, although alligators are frighteningly quick, they're not cheetah fast and they don't like to run long distances. It's very rare for an alligator to chase a human on dry land. And the average human could easily outrun an alligator, zigzagging or not -- it tops out at a speed of around 11 miles per hour (18 kph), and it can't maintain that speed for very long [source: San Diego Zoo]. More importantly, gaining on prey via a long sprint is not the alligator's attack tactic. The alligator prefers to sneak up on its prey in the water. It's a much faster swimmer than runner -- it can swim 20 miles per hour (32 kph) [source: San Diego Zoo]. And it's silent as it moves through water. Its eyes are set on top of its head, so it can swim while watching what's happening on the surface. It can also remain underwater for extended periods of time and hold its breath for up to one hour. So sure, you could probably escape an alligator if you ran in a zigzag. You probably also could escape one if you ran in a straight line. But the likelihood that an alligator would ever chase you on dry land is so low that the old adage is more joke than genuine advice. It simply doesn't apply. Why wouldn't an alligator chase you? And how would it attack you instead? Find out on the next page.
Welcome to Year 2! We are looking forward to lots of art this half term as part of our new topic Art Attack. The children have been working hard with their reading, writing and maths and so this will be a brilliant opportunity to focus on creativity as well. We will be painting, drawing, weaving and collaging and creating our own installation art outside on the playground. There are lots of artists to learn about and we can't wait to find out more! If your child has or creates any art at home that they wish to share, please bring it in. Our last topicthis year asks the question 'Could you be an Inventor?' We will be finding out about famous inventors and inventions and using our imaginations to design our own. There are so many wonderful buildngs, vehicles and machines to celebrate and much more. Perhaps you have invented something or know someone who has? Please come and let us know! Miss Wright - 2JW Mrs Cooper-Noble-2 CN Should you have any questions, please come in and speak to us or check the website for updates including newsletters and information on how to support your child at home. Here you will be able to find out about the projects and activities we have been involved in recently.
- Fisheries Home - About Us - Science Centers - News & Multimedia - Fisheries Resources - Educators and Students - Get Involved - OPR Home - Health & Stranding - Laws & Policies - Conservation & Recovery - About OPR NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Protected Resources cooperates with partners to conserve and recover protected marine species by minimizing human impacts. Below are some examples. Fisheries Interactions (Bycatch) The Office of Protected Resources' Fisheries Interactions program works to implement section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and regulations governing the incidental capture of marine mammals in commercial fisheries. The Office works with NMFS' regional offices through take reduction planning to reduce marine mammal bycatch in commercial fisheries. Additionally, the Office works to reduce bycatch of marine turtles by implementing management measures such as time/area closures, modifications to fishing gear and practices, and safe sea turtle handling practices. Ocean Sound/ Acoustics Intense underwater sound can harass or harm marine mammals. Human sources of sound include military activities, vessel operations, petrochemical and geophysical exploration, marine construction, and research activities. NMFS experts review proposed underwater activities and develop solutions to minimize the potential impacts to marine mammals. Many species of marine mammals are injured by ship strikes. The problem is greatest for the critically endangered Northern right whale, one of the most commonly struck species. The Office of Protected Resources, in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, works to minimize ship strikes by relaying information about recent whale locations to mariners. In addition, large ships are required to report when they enter areas with a high risk of a ship strike. Viewing marine animals can be educational and enriching when conducted responsibly. However, without certain precautions, these activities can put both the animals and the viewers at risk. The Office of Protected Resources promotes responsible wildlife viewing through posters, pamphlets, and workshops. Safely Deterring Marine Mammals Human-marine mammal interactions are usually considered from the perspective of the impact of human activity on marine mammal populations or individuals. However, marine mammals may have an effect on human activities or property. As a result of such conflict, Congress included a provision for deterring marine mammals in MMPA section 101 to allow certain people to use safe, non-lethal methods to deter marine mammals to protect private or public property. NMFS, in collaboration with other Federal and state officials, has prepared information for deterring marine mammals, which is available on page at NMFS' Northwest Regional Office and NMFS' Southwest Regional Office. How Can I Help? - Report a Stranded (Beached) Animal - View Wildlife Responsibly - Report Wildlife Harassment - Learn about Marine Debris and What You Can Do to Prevent It - Protect Sea Turtles--You Can Help! [pdf] - Nesting Sea Turtles: What You Can Do To Help [pdf] - Volunteer with NOAA
Until a couple of decades ago, the only planets we knew existed were the nine in our Solar System. In the last twenty-five years, we’ve lost one of the local ones (Pluto, now classified as a “minor planet”) and gained about three thousand candidate planets around other stars, dubbed exoplanets. The new field of exoplanetary science is perhaps the fastest growing subfield of astrophysics, and will remain a core discipline for the forseeable future. The fact that any biology beyond Earth seems likely to live on such a planet is among the many reasons why the study of exoplanets is so compelling. In short, planets are not merely astrophysical objects but also (at least some of them) potential abodes. The highly successful Kepler mission involves a satellite with a sensitive telescope/camera that stares at a patch of sky in the direction of the constellation Cygnus. The goal of the mission is to find what fraction of Sun-like stars have Earth-sized planets with a similar Earth-Sun separation (about 150 million kilometers, or the distance light travels in eight minutes). Within the next several decades, with rapid progress in biology, with new space missions, and with large and sensitive new telescopes that are planned, it is conceivable that we might find any of these three kinds of independent life. In this way, we will be able to make a much more informed estimate of the frequency of life in the universe. During its half-decade mission lifetime, Kepler will be monitoring 150,000 stars, looking for slight periodic dips in starlight that occur if an exoplanet’s orbital plane is oriented precisely along our line of sight. In this geometrical configuration, the planet moves directly between us and its parent star once per orbit, blocking a tiny fraction of the light from the star. Kepler has identified more than two thousand planet candidates so far, most of which are probably real. Early results suggest that somewhere between 5 percent and 50 percent of Sun-like stars probably have an approximate Earth-analog! So, we are starting to realize that potential homes for life are probably common in our galaxy. Among the several hundred billion stars, there might be tens of billions of rocky planets located in the “habitable zones” of their stars—the regions where they would have roughly Earth-like temperatures. With so many possible places where life might flourish, how much life can we expect is out there? This question might seem to invite nothing but wild speculation. However, there is a potential avenue for making an estimate. As an analogy, consider someone who wants to know what fraction of the time there is a deer visible outside her window. One way to estimate this would be to sit by the window, looking out, and see how long she has to wait for the first deer to walk into sight. In Manhattan, the expected wait might be decades, and one could rightly infer that the fraction of the time that there is a deer in sight is very close to zero. In Fuld Hall at IAS, one probably wouldn’t have to wait more than a few hours, and could rightly infer that deer are pretty frequently visible outside the window. Similarly, we can look through the Earth’s geological history to see when life appeared in Earth’s history. How long, in other words, did Earth have to wait before life “walked into sight”? Earth was born about 4.5 billion years ago, but for the first half billion years of its existence, it was bombarded by impactors that probably sterilized it. For the past four billion years, though, the Earth has been essentially continuously habitable (meaning, it has had conditions suitable for liquid-water-based life). There is some evidence that the earliest living organisms had developed by 3.8 billion years ago, or within the first two hundred million years of the habitable history of the Earth. A common line of reasoning in the origin of life community argues that since abiogenesis (the process of life arising from abiotic conditions) occurred so early in the geological time scale of the Earth, it must be a reasonably probable process. This argument is appealing, and it’s certainly true that the early emergence of life on Earth provides some reason for optimism for an enthusiast of extrasolar life. However, together with Professor Edwin Turner of Princeton University, I recently critically reevaluated this argument (in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 109, issue 2) and found that we have less reason to expect that the Galaxy is full of life than is sometimes assumed. One important reason is that there is a powerful selection effect in operation that is absent in the deer analogy. Specifically, what we know is more than simply that life showed up early; we also know that we are aware that life showed up early. Put differently, in order for us to exist, enough time had to have elapsed after abiogenesis occurred such that creatures could evolve who are capable of contemplating the frequency of inhabited planets. We don’t know what the minimum evolutionary time scale is (in our case, it was about 3.8 billion years), but if, for instance, this minimum time scale is 3.5 billion years, then it would be impossible for us to find ourselves on a planet with late abiogenesis no matter how rare the abiogenesis process is. Thankfully, we will soon be able to empirically test the hypothesis that our galaxy is teeming with life. Even a single example of life that had a different abiogenesis event would count much more strongly toward the conclusion that life is common, given the right conditions. Possible examples of life with an independent origin include: - so-called “shadow life” here on Earth (i.e., life that arose entirely separately from the tree of life, springing from a single root that is believed to encompass all currently known species); - life elsewhere in our solar system (e.g., on Mars or Jupiter’s moon Europa), if we were confident that there was no panspermia in either direction (i.e., that we didn’t seed, for example, the Martian life via asteroids transporting material from Earth to Mars, nor they us); - or life on an exoplanet. Within the next several decades, with rapid progress in biology, with new space missions, and with large and sensitive new telescopes that are planned, it is conceivable that we might find any of these three kinds of inde- pendent life. In this way, we will be able to make a much more informed estimate of the frequency of life in the universe.
PFAS, PFOA, and PFOS are commonly known as "forever chemicals” because they do not degrade easily. They are also persistent, found in the soil, air, water, and even food. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoralkyl substances, are a category of persistent, human-made chemicals used widely in consumer goods and certain manufacturing processes. Among the multitude of chemicals within this group, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) are two of the most prevalent in the United States. PFOA and PFOS were extensively used in the production of numerous consumer products and industrial commodities. These PFAS are now recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as contaminants of concern. In an updated health advisory from June 15, 2022, the EPA notes that there may still be potential health risks for PFOA and PFOS in water, even at levels that are near zero. Before the ban on PFAS in the U.S., these chemicals were employed in a range of household and industrial products and may still be found in products imported into the U.S., including non-stick cooking utensils, paints, stain guards, firefighting foam, and certain cardboard and paper products. Kinetico Quality Water of SW Idaho installs, repairs, and maintains a wide range of residential and commercial water treatment systems designed to remove PFAS, PFOA, and PFOS from your drinking water. If you are concerned about your water supply, contact our team today. This widespread presence of PFOA and PFOS means that the chances of exposure are high. Prolonged exposure can lead to growth and development issues, reproductive difficulties, and liver damage, according to the CDC. Despite being recognized as emerging contaminants, there are no current regulations for these chemicals in water supplies. The EPA has issued a health advisory, but this is not enforceable, meaning water suppliers aren't obligated to meet any standards, and because PFOA and PFOS can build up over time, their removal from water supplies on a large scale poses significant challenges. Both ground and surface water supplies can be affected, particularly in areas where PFOA and PFOS were produced or used in industrial or consumer products. Groundwater can become polluted by soil and air contamination, while surface water can be contaminated when chemicals from manufacturing facilities enter a water source directly. Water supplies can also be polluted by wastewater from cleaning items made using PFOS and PFOA chemicals. While the challenge of removing PFAS from water supplies is significant due to their persistence, water treatment technologies exist that can reduce PFAS levels in drinking water. Hard WaterHard water contains dissolved calcium, and in many cases, iron. Cloudy WaterCloudy water is usually caused by dissolved or suspended solids. Chlorine Taste & SmellChlorine is vital for stopping the spread of disease, though pricey. Tastes & Odors If your water tastes or smells funny, you owe it to yourself to find out why. Iron & Manganese StainingYour water can contain iron or manganese, get your water test now! Blue-Green StainingIf water has a low pH, you can see the tell-tale, blue-green stains. If you suspect your home's water might be compromised, the most reliable way to confirm this is through professional water testing. If your residence is supplied by municipal water, reach out to your local utility provider and inquire about the potential presence of PFAS. As a customer, you have the right to request a comprehensive water quality report detailing any detected contaminants in your supply. Additionally, ask if they have implemented any measures to treat PFAS contamination. Some providers may offer assistance or alternative options if they aren't currently treating the water for PFAS. If your household relies on a private well, the responsibility of ensuring water quality falls upon you. Therefore, it's crucial to have your water professionally tested to identify suitable treatment options. Eliminating PFAS from Water Supplies To effectively mitigate PFAS in your home or business’s water, consider installing a water treatment system. The EPA has identified three treatment technologies that are successful in reducing PFAS concentrations in drinking water - reverse osmosis, activated carbon filtration, and ion exchange. Products like the Kinetico K5 Drinking Water Station® are designed to decrease levels of PFOS and PFOA in water. To learn more about eliminating PFAS, PFOA, and PFOS from your drinking water, call Kinetico Quality Water of SW Idaho at (208) 759-4880. “Sherika our sales rep was awesome. She is super knowledgeable about water and is the reason we ended up going with Kinetico. Highly highly recommend!”- Jeff I. “Very courteous and congenial, they explained everything in detail and left us with no questions.”- Roy A. “He was very knowledgeable about Kinetico products and the service he was performing.”- Tammy C. “We absolutely love our new Kinetico system”- Cherie M. Give us a call at (208) 759-4880 for immediate attention or fill out the form on the side. - Garden City
The days of his saving Passion The Triduum: March 28 - 30, 2013 Lent \| Celebrating Easter Preparing for Holy Thursday \| Preparing for Good Friday \| Preparing for Easter Vigil Lenten Audio Conversations \| 2013 Lent Message of Pope Benedict XVI PDF of this Page On Holy Thursday we hear a reading from the Book of Exodus which describes the Passover celebration. Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, gives us the earliest account we have of the Last Supper - probably written relatively soon after the event. Then, we have the unique view of the Last Supper from John's Gospel. Instead of the traditional narrative, we see Jesus washing his disciples' feet. On this Thursday night, in the only liturgy allowed in a church on this day - so that as many people as possible might participate - we act out the foot washing that Jesus gave us as an example, in fact, as a mandate. Click here for a complete description of the Holy Thursday Celebration of the Lord's Supper. Out of profound respect for this day on which our salvation was won, there is no Eucharist on Good Friday. The liturgy begins with a Liturgy of the Word. Isaiah 52-53 contains the last of the Suffering Servant songs. With the eyes of faith, it describes what Jesus became. The Letter to the Hebrews proclaims the good news of this day. The gospel is the Passion from John's Gospel. You might want to see this link for a description of the whole Good Friday liturgy, as well as a reflection on the Passion. There is no liturgy at all on Holy Saturday. We spend this day in “the in-between place” - between the remembering the death of our Lord and celebrating his Resurrection. The Easter Vigil Liturgy, which is celebrated after sunset, is a full celebration of our Lord's resurrection. The Liturgy of the Word has a series of eleven readings to choose from. The idea is that we remain in vigil this night, reviewing the story of our salvation - from the story of Creation, to the great story of the Exodus from slavery in Egypt, through a number of the prophets, culminating in Paul's Letter to the Romans - “Are you not aware that we who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death?” The readings begin in the dark, and are then read by the light of the Easter Candle. Then the lights come on, bells are rung as we sing the Gloria. The gospel story of the Resurrection is then proclaimed in the full light, with Easter joy. Go to this link for a detailed look at the Easter Vigil. During the day on Easter Sunday, we read from the Acts of the Apostles to hear Peter's preaching about the Resurrection. The Letter to the Colossians reminds us “You have died and your lives are hidden with Christ in God.” The gospel is from John's Gospel and give us the first story of that Easter morning - Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb and runs to tell Peter and the “disciple Jesus loved” to tell them. They run to the tomb and discover for themselves that it is empty. Daily Prayer This Week Even if our work or circumstances require us to be quite busy and involved in many secular things on these three days, we can stay focused in the background of our inner consciousness. We do this by remembering that the drama we recall in the great Liturgies we celebrate these days is all about helping us remember that this overwhelming love is for us. The central mystery of our salvation is that, in Jesus, God entered our world completely, experiencing all that we experience, and suffering temptation, loss, grief, humiliation and even an unjust death on a cross. Holy Thursday is a day to wake up and ask for the grace to grow in some sense of the gift of the Eucharist for us. Even if we can't join in a celebration of the wonderful “Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper,” we can take moments throughout this day to remember how he loved us by giving himself to us in the Bread that gives life and the Cup that is poured out for us. To show how the Eucharist is the memorial of how he was taken, blessed, broken and given for us, Jesus washes his disciples' feet. And he tells us that this is a mandate, a mission for us - to follow his example and to wash each others' feet, i.e., to allow ourselves to be taken, blessed, broken and given in love for others. We could reflect today on how I resist his washing my feet - how I resist his intimate love for me. And, we can reflect upon our mission gratefully. For those of us who will celebrate tonight, let this be a day of reflective preparation to enter into this Eucharist and come away with a renewed sense of the meaning of love. “Where there is love, God is present.” On Good Friday we can spend the day with an inner quiet. We can practice this as a day of fast to heighten our awareness of the sacrifice of Jesus. If we are unable to attend a celebration of “Our Lord's Passion,” we can surely enter into it in many ways. We can place a crucifix in a central place in our home. We can download an image of the crucifixion from the web. We can read the Passion in John's Gospel or pray with the Stations of the Cross. We can pause - sometime between 12 noon and 3 pm and simply say “thank you.” If we are able to celebrate with others, we can let our veneration of the cross be full of intimacy and personal gratitude - beyond where words can take us - for God's mercy and love. Holy Saturday is a solemn day to ask for the grace to imagine Jesus lying in the tomb, in death. It is from this death - the same death we will all experience - that Jesus is raised. We cannot feel the deepest joy of Easter without spending some time reflecting on this good news. We can pause in background moments to give thanks for the gift of mercy and life we have been given. The Easter Vigil liturgy is the fullest celebration of the Resurrection and a renewal of our sense of Baptism. If we are unable to celebrate the Vigil, we might go to bed this night, thanking God for what the dawn brings: our opportunity to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, who draws us to the fullness of life with him. Send us an e-mail Creighton U Online Ministries \| Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer \| Tell a Friend about these Weekly Guides Visit the Daily Reflections Each Day This Week
History of Tourism in Ancient Greece In 776 BC, the first Olympic Games were held, which consisted of athletic competitions in honor of the Gods of Olympus. Artistic and athletic offerings were offered as a gift. Many times sacrifices and prayers were also performed in honor of some god in particular. Although lesser known, the Pitios, Ismios and Nemeos festivals were also celebrated. These celebrations mobilized a large number of people, who of course, needed transportation and roads to travel. The roads system was very similar to that of the Persians and they usually traveled on foot or by donkey. Greece had a network of inns that only offered a bed for the night. They did not have dining rooms or bathrooms It is also known that in each city public baths were built, open to everyone, where tourists of that time had to bring their own towels. They took off their clothes and kept them in special lockers, and then a slave took care of the hygiene with jars of hot and cold water. Travelling in Ancient Times: Acropolis & Pyramids Pilgrimages to the different temples of Greece and to the oracles were very common. the most important one was that of Apollo in Delphi and among the most visited sanctuaries is the one of Esculapio, god of medicine. The Greek lands also offered medicinal baths. Also seaside resorts, theater festivals and the opportunity to see monuments such as the Acropolis of Athens. The Acropolis are from the fifth century BC became one of the most visited sites in the world ancient along with the pyramids of Egypt. These were two of the seven wonders of the ancient world. History of Tourism map In ancient Greece there were offices called proxenos. Here foreigners were received (it is remembered that foreigners did not have any kind of rights because of their status as non-citizens). It was for people who had problems to return to their city or country. They could also need lodging, or even a loan to continue their trip. Many times the managers of these almost consular offices, arranged with merchants passages in boat where the tourists could take their own servants, offering them food and drink. Traveling in ancient times: Slaves & Tourism In classical Greece free men gave great importance to leisure, and devoted it to culture, entertainment, religion and sport. We must remember that all these activities could only be done by free men of the upper class or the Nobles. Many slaves were also available at that time. Approximately seven slaves for each free man. It is for this reason that tourism was an exclusive activity of wealthy class that moved with servants, slaves and a considerable guard for protection. The tourist activity that was not religious or to attend the Olympic games was scarce. The Romans Visit Sparta During the Roman domination in Greece, the city of Sparta, powerful and famous in other times became a focus of tourism on the part of the Roman upper class. Sparta no longer had possibilities of any kind, military or economic or political. But focused on their ancestral military education to young people. The education of the It was so hard that it became a tourist attraction in itself The ritual combats of ancient spartans that had traditionally been fought in the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, under Roman domination, became the dimastígosis (they existed for a long time) , where the children were scourged and sometimes even death. Also the Romans had a deep curiosity to discover how a city so feared in its time, I am reduced to a town of goat herders and a circus military education. Tourism in Ancient Greece: Who was the first tourist in the world? Herodotus of Greece. It is estimated that he visited Egypt, Palestine, Babylon, Assyria, Thrace, the Greek mainland, and Magna Graecia. Without his chronology being clear. It will be from exile in Samos when he begins the trips that will mark his life and his work. Many of the references and facts that he will collect are a direct consequence of the trips undertaken, since they put him in contact with the cultural elites of the regions he visited. They also gave him access to his traditions and myths. The income to finance the trips seems to have come from the contests in which he participated and from the teachings he offered wherever he went. We do not know if he had another alternative source of income. Data on the life of Herodotus are scarce and controversial. It is known that he was born in Halicarnassus, a Greek city located in Asia Minor, on an uncertain date, although it is usually set between 490 and 480 BC. The position occupied by his family within the city, oscillates between whether he only enjoyed a comfortable situation or belonged to a nobility with roots in Halicarnassus. What places did Herodotus visit? Egypt, Palestine, Babylon, Assyria, Thrace, the Greek mainland, and Magna Graecia. One of the biggest criticisms that Herodotus has received is related to the treatment of the sources. The trips he made allowed him to access a significant amount of information, the use of which has been described as naive or incorrect. There are three sources primarily used by the historian: the written, the oral and his own knowledge. First-hand knowledge includes descriptions of places, landscapes, races, and other circumstances that he was able to observe through his travels. To all these sources he applies a critical bias, trying to limit their fabulous scope or reinterpreting their meaning. He also provides different versions of the same event to contrast some data. Herodotus does not develop a historical science as Thucydides would do a few years later, but he is the first to apply objective criteria for the treatment of abundant information and will leave for posterity a work that, also for the first time, has humanity as its framework in as a whole through tourist trips It is the only one that remains today, while the other six disappeared centuries ago, the Great Pyramid of Giza still stands tall in northern Egypt. Built around 2500 BC. As the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu of the 4th dynasty, it is the largest of the three pyramids of Giza. Its original height of 146.5 meters made the pyramid the tallest human-made structure in the world until it was eclipsed by Lincoln Cathedral in the 14th century. Over the years, the outer layer of limestone has eroded away, reducing the height by nearly eight meters, but the pyramid remains one of the most extraordinary sights on the planet. Recent estimates suggest that it took around 14 years to transport and lay the 2.3 million stone blocks. How the pyramids were built, or how, 4,000 years ago, the Egyptians aligned their structures with the points of the compass, remains a matter of debate. It was a tomb designed by the Greek architects Satyrus of Paros and Pittheus and had three levels, combining Lycian, Greek and Egyptian architectural styles. Built for the powerful satrap Mausolus, who built a magnificent new capital for himself and his wife Artemisia at Halicarnassus (on the west coast of present-day Turkey). I spare no expense to fill it with beautiful marble statues and temples. Four of Greece’s most famous artists created other sculptures and friezes to surround the tomb, each decorating a single side. Made of white marble, the monumental structure sat on a hill overlooking the capital he had built. There was no doubt that he, being the satrap (governor) of the Persian Empire and ruler of Caria, would enjoy a similar luxury after his death in 353 BC. c. The lowest level was around 20 meters high, forming a base of steps leading to the second level, surrounded by 36 columns. The roof was in the shape of a pyramid, with a sculpture of a four-horse chariot on top that raised the height of the tomb to some 41 meters. The tomb may have been destroyed by earthquakes in medieval times, but a part of it survived. Such was the splendor of Mausolus’ final resting place that the word “mausoleum” is derived from its name. Artemisia (sister of Mausolus) was supposedly so distraught over the death of her husband that she mixed her ashes with water and drank them, before supervising the construction of her extravagant tomb. At Olympia: A sanctuary in ancient Greece, the site of the first Olympic Games, and home to a Wonder. The sculptor Phidias erected his masterpiece in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, around 435 BC. It depicted a resplendent Zeus seated on a throne made of cedar wood and decorated with gold, ivory, ebony, and precious stones. Olympian Zeus held a statue of Nike, the goddess of victory, in his outstretched right hand and a scepter with an eagle on the upper left. The size of the statue of almost 12 meters (40 feet) tall, barely fit inside the temple. One of the priests who was in charge of oiling the sculpture to protect it from the weather observed: “It seems that if Zeus stood up, he would unroof the temple.” For eight centuries, people made religious tourism to Olympia just to see the statue. Although she survived the Roman emperor Caligula, who wanted her taken to Rome so that his head could be replaced with his own image, Zeus was ultimately lost. It may have happened with the destruction of the temple in 426 AD, or perhaps it was consumed by flames after being transported to Constantinople. They were gardens located on terraces on a pyramid. They were an ascending series of roof gardens, with some of the terraces supposedly reaching a height of around 23 metres. This gave the impression of being a mountain of flowers, plants and herbs that grew in the heart of Babylon. They demonstrated a level of engineering skill far ahead of their time, as maintaining a lush, living garden in the deserts of what is now Iraq would have been quite a feat. The exotic vegetation would have been irrigated by means of a sophisticated system of pumps and pipes that brought water from the Euphrates River. The Greek engineer and writer Philo of Byzantium described the process of irrigating gardens by saying that “aqueducts contain water that runs from higher places, allowing part of the flow to roll downhill while forcing part up, running backwards, by means of a screw”, which includes an ‘Archimedean Screw’. Despite the existence of detailed descriptions in many ancient texts, both Greek and Roman, no other Wonder is more mysterious than the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. All accounts are second-hand and there is as yet no conclusive evidence that they existed. One theory is that the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II had the Hanging Gardens created in 600 BC to comfort his homesick wife, who missed the greenery of her homeland of Median (what is now Iran). Dr. Stephanie Dalley of the University of Oxford claimed that the gardens and irrigation were created by the Assyrian king Sennacherib for his palace in Nineveh, 300 miles to the north and on the Tigris River, and not in Babylon. Tourism in Ancient Greece: A lighthouse with a height of just under 140 meters, making it the second tallest human-made structure of ancient times after the Great Pyramid of Giza. In the reign of Ptolemy II, c280-70 BC, the Greek architect Sostratus of Cnidus was commissioned to build it and it took him more than a decade to complete it. Navigating to the port of Alexandria was difficult, due to the shallow water and rocks. A solution was imperative for the thriving Mediterranean port (on the coast of Egypt) – founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, hence the name – and it came in the form of a towering illuminated signal tower on the nearby island of Faros. The tower was divided into a square base, an octagonal middle section, and a cylindrical upper section, all connected by a spiral ramp so that a bonfire could be lit at the top, which was supposedly visible from 30 miles away. “The tower, in a straight and vertical line, seems to part the sky… during the night, a sailor on the waves will see a great fire burning from its top”, according to the Greek poet Posidipus. His design became the model for all headlights since then. Like some of the other Seven Wonders, the lighthouse fell victim to earthquakes. He managed to survive several major shocks, but not without extensive damage that led to his being abandoned. The ruins collapsed definitively in the fifteenth century. However, that was not the last of the lighthouse, as French archaeologists discovered massive stones in the waters around Faros Island in 1994, which they claimed were part of the ancient structure. In 2015, the Egyptian authorities announced their intention to rebuild the Wonder. It was a white marble temple that covered an area of over 110 x 55 meters (340 x 170 ft), with its entire length adorned with carvings, statues, and 127 columns. Inside was a statue of the goddess Artemis, a place of homage for the many visitors to Ephesus, who left offerings at her feet. Antipater of Sidon described it thus: “I have set my eyes on the wall of upper Babylon in which there is a chariot road, and the statue of Zeus by Alphaeus, and the Hanging Gardens, and the colossus of the Sun, and the enormous work of the high pyramids and the vast tomb of Mausolus, but when I saw the house of Artemis rising to the clouds, those other wonders lost their shine, and I said: ‘Apart from Olympus, the Sun never saw in anything so great “, expressed in his tribute to the Temple of Artemis. The Wonder was repeatedly destroyed by a 7th century BC flood, an arsonist named Herostratus in 356 BC. – who wanted to achieve fame by any means – and a raid by East Germanic Goths in the 3rd century. Its final destruction came in 401 AD. and very few remains remained; there are a few fragments in the British Museum. It was an imposing statue of the sun god Helios that was erected for 12 years by the sculptor Cares de Lindos to celebrate a military triumph in a year-long siege. Built in 282 BC, the Colossus of Rhodes was the last Wonder built and one of the first to be destroyed. It stood for less than 60 years, but that didn’t disqualify it from being considered a Wonder. Legend has it that the people of Rhodes sold tools left behind by their vanquished enemy to help pay for the Colossus, melted down abandoned weapons to use the bronze and iron for the building, and used a siege tower as scaffolding. Overlooking the harbor, Helios stood 70 cubits, about 102 feet (32 meters) tall, and possibly held a torch or spear. Some depictions show him astride the harbor entrance, allowing ships to sail between his legs, but this would have been impossible with the techniques of the time. The Colossus was not strong enough to withstand an earthquake in 226 BC, and the statue was shattered. The citizens of Roda did not want to rebuild it because an oracle told them that they had offended Helios. So the giant pieces of what had been a colossal sculpture remained on the ground where they had fallen for more than 800 years, attracting tourists from ancient times, including Herodotus and Antipater of Sidon. The historian Pliny the Elder wrote: “Even lying down, she arouses our wonder and admiration. Few can grasp the thumb with their arms, and her fingers are larger than most statues.” When enemy forces finally sold the remains of the Colossus in the 7th century, it took 900 camels to load all the pieces.
Wed, 25 October 2017 Open Access to Science is crucial to sharing information across the world. If you think about it, the entire scientific process is all about one scientists being able to duplicate an experiment of a study based on the methods outlined in a paper. However, sharing literature is not always possible. As our guest today, Nick Wehner from OCTO (Open Communications for The Ocean), will describe to us, many scientific papers that would help Marine Conservationists to their jobs better are stored behind a paywall in the journals in which they are published. The paywall makes it difficult for scientists who do not have expensive subscriptions to the journals to access the important information. Nick is here to tell us about a solution that OCTO is going to release on November 14th. You don't need to be a scientist or have an expensive subscription to get access to this literature. Enjoy the Podcast! Here are some links to the articles that we discussed on the podcast: 1) A paper on the usage of primary journal articles by environmental managers (which is behind a paywall...how ironic!!!) Sign up for the upcoming Webinar by Nick entitled: "Making Your Research Freely-Available with MarXiv:The (free!) research repository for ocean-conservation and marine climate science" Let me know what you think of the episode by joining our Facebook Group for the Podcast. This episode was brought to you by Octo (Open Communications for The Oceans). Check out their recent MEAM (Marine Ecosystem And Management) issue helping inform the Marine Science and Conservation field around the world. Support Speak Up For Blue's Efforts to create a free pr=resource program for Ocean Citizen Scientists to help move Marine Science and Conservation forward by collecting information for various Citizen Science program. Contribute to our Patreon Campaign Direct download: SUFB_S386_MarXivOpenAccessMarineConservationArticlesWithNickWehner.mp3 Category:Open Access -- posted at: 8:00am EDT
Summary: What is our relationship to Government? The Nature of Government: 1) Civil Government is part of God’s Purpose for the World. Vs. 1-2 Key: Notice it doesn’t mention the specific form of government. God has instituted three different institutions: The Family, The Church, and The Government. 2) Government Leaders are servants of God. Vs. 3-4 3) Civil Government is only Temporary. Key: At the name of Jesus every knee will bow and tongue confess He is Lord! The Purposes of Government: 1) To Protect Human Life! Genesis 9:6 Key: Only the government does have the authority of Life and Death! 2) To Protect Personal and Property Rights! Exodus 20:14-17 Key: Ten Commandments legitimize the things we have a right to own! 3) To Handle disputes between people! Deuteronomy 1:12 4) To Punish Lawbreakers! Vs. 4 Our Responsibility and Relationship to the Government: 1) I am a Citizen of two worlds! Philippians 3:20 Question: How do you keep those in focus and in balance? 2) My Primary Obedience is to God! Acts 4:13-20 3) I am to obey the law whenever possible! Titus 3:1 Because God established Government! Vs. 1 Because it is for my own good! Vs. 3 To maintain a clear conscious! Vs. 5 To maintain a good testimony! 1 Peter 2:13-15 4) We are to Pray for our Public Officials! 1 Timothy 2:1-4 5) As a Citizen I am required to pay my taxes. Vs. 6 -7 6) I am to influence my government for good! Matthew 5:13-16 Key: It doesn’t take a lot to be salty! Question: Will you let your light shine?
Listen to this girl to know what the Congress Party has done in the past 70 years… Congress- A Party which shaped India Congress’ only fault was that it never took credit for all the good things it did, because it does not believe in beating its own drums. Its aim was always to make India grow and prosper. However, the other parties misused this humbleness of the Congress, and accredited themselves with such policies and programmes that were originally brought into place by the grand old party. The one to top in this list is the BJP, which has always taken recognition for programmes, the foundation of which were being laid by the Congress. Well, we think, it’s high time to bring to light that Congress which has always worked for its India, with the aim of bringing in only and only well-being for the country. Congress is that rock which has laid the foundation of today’s India. It is this Congress which stood with the country during pre-independence era, took part in its freedom struggle, helped in achieving freedom and then built that free India, in which all of us now freely breathe and live. It was Congress which brought in the 1947 Indian Independence Act, marking the country’s freedom from British rule and then set up the Constitution in 1950, declaring India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, assuring its citizens of justice, equality, and liberty, and endeavours to promote fraternity among them. Congress has till date batted for equality. It’s intentions were crystal clear when it introduced the 1948 Minimum Wages Act, 1955 Protection of Civil Rights Act (untouchability made an offence to ensure social justice and equality), 1971 Abolition of Privy Purse (A step towards an egalitarian and just society), 1975 Twenty Point Programme (To eradicate poverty and improve the quality of life of the under privileged), 1976 Abolition of bonded labour (prevent economic and physical exploitation of the weaker section), 1980 Integrated Rural Development Programme (to enable identified rural poor families to cross poverty line), 1983 Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (to provide guaranteed employment to at least one member of every landless household up to 100 days in a year). All this only to achieve an egalitarian society with no biasness. The party has its objectives clear right from the beginning. Working for the welfare of the masses, the Congress formulated acts for every section of the society, be it women, children, backward classes or farmers. With 1961 Dowry Prohibition Act to 2006-07 Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, from 1989 The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to 2007 Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, the Congress has always kept all the classes within its for elevating them to a level where they can live respectfully. Some of the other acts in the same direction include, 1987 National Child Labour Policy (An action plan for tackling the problem of child labour), 1993 Mahila Samridhi Yojana (To provide economic security and financial inclusion of rural women), 1995 Mid-Day Meal Scheme (To improve nutritional levels among children and to enhance their enrolment and attendance in schools), 2005 National Rural Health Mission and many more. Some of the revolutionary changes were also brought under the Congress rule, for instance, the 1967 Green Revolution which transcended India from a food deficient country to one of the leading agricultural nations. Similarly, the first nuclear test was also conducted under the Congress regime in 1974, giving the tag of a nuclear power to India. Indian economy aimed to reach new heights when Congress gave to it the 1991 Economic Liberalisation and another Look East Policy, enabling it to develop economic and strategic relations with the Eastern countries. Some of the acts strengthening the rights of the citizens and giving them the power to question the government was also formulated by none other than the Congress. We got the Right to Information Act in 2005, which helped in promoting transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority. The 2009 Right to Education Act made education a fundamental right of every child between the age of 6 and 14. How can we forget the Aadhaar, yes the same Aadhaar, the credit of which has been very conveniently snatched by the BJP. Aadhaar was a Congress-born idea which was announced in 2009. It was the unique ID program (To give a unique ID based on demographic and bio-metric data and link it with welfare schemes), the same which has now been painted by the BJP as their initiative. How can one forget the 2013 Nirbhaya Act. Post the brutal Nirbhaya Gangrape of December 2012, the responsible Congress understood the need for a stringent law, to punish those perpetrators committing such heinous crimes. Well, this is just a short summary of all that the Congress has done for this country till date. The unfortunate part is, however, people believing this to be the work of those who have only spoken till now but have failed to deliver. Image Courtesy: rediff
Harvesting the fruits is perhaps the best part of the gardening for any gardener. In case you don’t know how to harvest your fruits, here are few tips how to do it. First and most important is to know about the right time for harvesting. Apples are the most common fruits in any garden. Their harvesting should start in July till early November, before the first frost. Inform yourself about the weather and make sure your fruits will be harvested before the first frost. The cold weather can destroy and ruin your fruits, therefore harvest them in the proper time. Pears and apples are typically the fruits, which should be harvested in the autumn. In case you are growing citruses, it will take a year round in mild climates. Many consider harvesting fruits with their leaves as a good decision that preserve the fruit in the winter. Harvesting isn’t only taking the fruits indoor, it is also about preserving them, when it’s cold. Sort and harvest only the healthier fruits, because they can be preserved for longer time. Do not harvest already damaged fruits, because they may damage the other fruits. Try to avoid plastic containers and harvest the fruits in a common basket. It keeps the fruits healthier as it allows them to “breathe”.
It’s time to make your smart wearables and other smart devices even smarter as ARM is introducing its smallest ARM Cortex A-32 processor targeting next generation wearables, Internet of Things (IoT), embedded systems and low-cost boards like Raspberry Pi or Pi Zero. Using the ARMv8 instruction set it is intended as a replacement for the older Cortex A7 and A5 architectures (both using the ARMv7 instruction set). Having 70 percent market share in embedded, or processors used in machinery-like devices such as automobiles, ARM is locating itself to extend that share with a focus on the IoTs that market researcher IDC thinks could be a $1.7 trillion market by 2020. To save space and power, the ARM Cortex A-32 can only run 32-bit code, ARM’s first processor that doesn’t include 64-bit support. However, the new ARMv8 instructions still give the A32 a better performance boost over the Cortex A5 and A7, especially in cryptography performance. If you still want the 64-bit support, the Cortex A-35 is offering similar performance with 64-bit instructions in a bit larger package. However, A-32 is about 10 percent faster than A-35 in 32-bit operations, according to ARM. ARM says the new chip brain is about 25 percent more efficient than the Cortex A7, thanks to a combination of reductions in power consumption and speed improvements. Like the other ARM processors, the new A-32 is scalable for a large manner of embedded applications. It is also optimized for efficiency and low cost and has built-in security as well.
Summary: A Biblical approach to managing anger How to handle anger September 6, 1998 I. Mikey Mantle and Billy Martin’s hunting trip A. Go to Mantle’s friend’s farm: Mantle and Martin go out to the farm, when they arrive Mantle goes to speak with his friend, friend has a dying mule and asks Mantle to shoot it for him, Mantle agrees B. A bad joke: Mantle decides to play a joke on Martin, He gets into the truck acting angry, “That guy makes me so mad, I’m going to shoot his mule”, Martin objects but Mantle insists and pulls the truck up to the barn, runs in and shoots the mule, on the way out of the barn Mantle hears gunshots, he sees Martin out of the truck with his rifle out, “Martin what are you doing?” Martin yells back - “we’ll show him! I just shot two of his cows” II. The problem with anger A. What is anger: Anger is an extremely intnse response to a difficult situation, in christian cirles we avoid the subject of anger, it is the fuel for confrontation, so we don’t really know how to handle proper anger, many things ought to make us angry - social injustice, abortion, drunk driving billboards B. Negative anger: We often apply anger to things in it’s negative sense, we see our society falling deeper and deeper into violence and destruction, we see how anger disrupts and destroys lives, can anger be positive? C. Biblical perspective: “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27, there are two sides to anger - negative or sinful and the positive unsinful, 1. The anger of Jesus was caused: Verse 11: Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. a. Jesus goes directly to the temple: Jesus has just entered the city, He was hailed by the people and had raised a great deal of enthusiasm with the crowds, Jesus goes straight to the temple, it had been a long day and a difficult journey, now he wanted to take some time to be in prayer in the Father’s house, Jesus arrives at the temple but does not worship, the sight he sees is so troubling to him that he does not stop to pray b. Jesus sees everything: Jesus looks the temple over and sees everything, He more than likely looked over the outer courts and the inner courts, this is where the true problem existed, the outer court of the temple was for the gentile “God fearers”, this was to be a place for them to come and to pray, it was now filled with money changers and animal merchants, there was no possible way for gentiles to pray in this section of the temple, to make matters worse the merchants and money changers were dishonest with the people, they were making a fast buck off of people coming to worship c. Jesus knows the time is not right: Jesus was anger at this point, he did not go into the temple to worship, action was needed to correct this problem, it was late in the day - creates two complications 1. Most of the common people were gone from the temple and this took away any chance to teach, 2. Jesus would face greater opposition from the chief priests, the timing was not right, so Jesus leaves Jerusalem for Bethany, no doubt planning a return visit for the next day
Instructions to Mariners in Case of Shipwreck, with Information Concerning the Life-Saving Stations Upon the Coasts of the United States. Prepared by Lieutenant C. H. MCLELLAN, U.S.R.C.S., Assistant Inspector Life-Saving Stations, under the Direction of the General Superintendent All life-saving stations on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts are manned annually by crews of experienced surfmen from the 1st of August to the 1st of June following. Upon the lake coasts the stations are manned from the opening until the close of navigation, and upon the Pacific coast they are opened and manned the year round All life-saving stations are fully supplied with boats, wreck guns, beach apparatus, restoratives, etc. All services are performed by the life-saving crews without other compensation than their wages from the Government, and they are strictly forbidden to solicit or receive Destitute seafarers are provided with food and lodgings at the nearest station by the Government as long as necessarily detained by the circumstances of shipwreck. The station crews patrol the beach from two to four miles each side of their stations four times between sunset and sunrise, and if the weather is foggy the patrol is continued through the day. Each patrolman carries Coston signals. Upon discovering a vessel standing in danger he ignites one of them, which emits a brilliant red flame of about two minutes' duration, to warn her off, or should the vessel be ashore, to let the crew know that they are discovered and assistance is at hand. If the vessel is not discovered by the patrol, immediately after striking, rockets or flare-up lights should be burned, or if the weather be foggy, guns should be fired to attract attention, as the patrolman may be some distance away on another part of his beat. Masters are particularly cautioned, if they should be driven ashore anywhere in the neighborhood of the stations, especially on any of the sandy coasts, where there is not much danger of vessels breaking up immediately, to remain on board until assistance arrives, and under no circumstances should they attempt to land through the surf in their own boats until the last hope of assistance from the shore has vanished. Often when comparatively smooth at sea dangerous surf is running, which is not perceptible four hundred yards offshore, and the surf, when viewed from the vessel, never appears so dangerous as it is. Many lives have unnecessarily been lost by the crews of stranded vessels being thus deceived and attempting to land in the ship's boats. The difficulties of rescue by operations from shore are greatly increased in cases where the anchors are let go after entering the breakers, as is frequently done, and the chances of saving life correspondingly lessened. Rescue with the Lifeboat or Surfboat The patrolman, after discovering your vessel ashore and burning a Coston signal, hastens to his station for assistance. If the use of a boat is practicable, either the large lifeboat is launched from its ways in the station and proceeds to the wreck by water or the lighter surfboat is hauled overland to a point opposite the wreck and launched, as circumstances may require. Upon the boat reaching your vessel the directions and orders of the keeper (who always commands and steers the boat) should be implicitly obeyed. Any headlong rushing and crowding should be prevented, and the captain of the vessel should remain on board to preserve order until every other person has left. Women, children, helpless persons, and passengers should be passed into the boat first. Goods or baggage will not be taken into the boat under any circumstances until all persons are landed. If any be passed in against the keeper's remonstrance he is fully authorized to throw it overboard.
The purpose of a heating process is to get samples to reach a certain temperature quickly. A precise temperature is not particularly important here, but rather a quick heating-up of the sample. Heating is consistently needed in chemical laboratories, as many chemical reactions only occur at higher temperatures. Heating is also needed for the cleaning and separation of compounds by means of distillation or sublimation. Generally, so-called hotplates are used for heating. These hotplates can additionally be equipped with stirring and a timer function. The hotplate's surface and the vessel being used play a significant role when it comes to quick heating. The goal is to transfer the temperature to the medium as quickly and fully as possible. Heating bands, heating mantles, heating jackets, or heating hoses are other options for the heating of mediums. Best results with this devices: Heating Baths Heated bath Oil bath
Dragons are one of the oldest mythological creatures believed to have existed many years ago. They have a rich history, and they continue to grace our television shows, books, and films today. These creatures are valued in many cultures in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. This article looks at how dragons came into existence and the different types of dragons. - Origin & Mythology Of Dragons - 17 Different Types Of Dragon - Frequently Asked Questions Origin & Mythology Of Dragons There is more than enough evidence to show that dragons were real. The word ‘dragon’ was derived from the Greek word ‘drakon,’ which meant a giant serpent. They were depicted to have different meanings according to regions. The dragon was conceived as evil in some cultures, such as the Middle Eastern. It was virtuous in cultures such as the Romans. For instance, the Egyptian dragon, Apepi, was the god of darkness. The Romans and Greeks interpreted drakontes as generous creatures which dwelled on earth. However, the evil association of dragons was more substantial in many parts of the world. In the Christian world, dragons symbolize sin and Satan. The forms and shapes of dragons have also been changing over time. Some have four legs, scaly bodies, and wings, while others lack legs and wings. Some, like the Greek Hydra, which appears in Revelation in the Bible, have many heads. Due to their strength and resilience, dragons have been used on war emblems such as shields. In some parts of Asia, dragons’ mythologies present them as prestigious and helpful creatures. Lung was the Chinese dragon that represented heaven and good deeds. It later became the symbol of the royal family. The Japanese dragons were also treated with high regard as powerful creatures of the air. In some cultures, real-life animals inspired the belief in the existence of dragons. These animals include the dinosaur, the Goanna, Nile crocodile, and whales. Some scholars like David E. Jones argue in his book “An Instinct for Dragons” (2000) that the human brain creates the existence of dragons. He further explains that this comes from the inner fear of snakes and large cats. 17 Different Types Of Dragon There are many types of dragons, according to the folklore and mythology surrounding them. No specific source specifies the exact number of dragons that existed. This article will highlight the 17 most familiar types. Originally from Europe, England, the Wyvern is a typical two-legged dragon with two wings. Sometimes the wings have eagle claws at the sharp tips. Its shape is depicted as a diamond or arrow shape. The most important feature is that it doesn’t breathe fire like other dragons. The Wyvern is a portrayal of heraldry and a symbol of strength. It explains why it is commonly used on coats of arms, athletic teams’ mascots, schools, and shields. You can frequently encounter the Wyvern in European folklore, mythology, and literature. It is popular in video games and some present-day fantasy literature. Originally from Greece, the Hydra is a familiar serpent in Roman and Greek mythology. This water monster lived in Lake Lerna, thus its other name Learnean Hydra. It had many heads which would double when chopped off. This serpent was killed by Heracles, Eurystheus’ servant, by cutting off all the heads and burning the throat with a sword of fire. However, it had an immortal head that was cut off and buried under a rock. Today, the beast forms the largest constellation in the sky. 3. Standard Western Dragon This name typically describes several European dragons, including the Wyrm explained above. This monster has six limbs, including four legs and a pair of wings. It breathes fire and is usually a depiction of war. It is typically among the most powerful dragons to exist. In most Western folklore, this dragon is an evil creature that lives in an underground lair. In today’s fantasy works, Western dragons are the most commonly used. They represent humans’ fear of snakes, big cats, and bats. This is a European dragon that resembles a ‘worm’ in that it has no legs and wings but moves on its belly. It has a powerful tail and strong snapping jaw that enables it to fight even the strongest creatures. Common wyrms in Britain are the Lambton worm and the worm of Bambrough. They love dwelling in deep waters and wells. Wyrms living in underground pools are called knuckers. In today’s myths and fiction, these kinds of dragons are used to represent meanness. The fun fact is that if the body is cut into pieces, they can easily rejoin back into one. The “Drake” is a collective word for any young dragon (dragonling) or one with four legs and no wings. Drakes could either be fire-drake or cold-drake, with the first breathing fire while the latter breathing frost. Fire drakes are red in color, while cold drakes are blue or white. There exist drakes that have wings and are the most terrifying dragons. They fly in their air and use their huge wings to destroy their enemies below with a single blow. They prefer living in rocky places. Most of their features are pretty similar to the Western dragons. It has a close resemblance to the serpent (snake) but with a pair of wings and a dragon head. This dragon species comes with different body characteristics. While some have feathered colored wings, others have bat wings. Their necks could be short or long and have an arrow-like or decorative tail. Most have different bodies and head types to adapt to their environment. This Arabian serpent lives on top of trees and kills both humans and animals with just a stab from the tail. This is a small rear dragon that resembles the western dragon. It has scales, pointed wings, claws, a long neck, and can breathe fire. Some are even smaller than a human. Despite their small size, they are very harmful to man. They live and move in packs and can quickly devour a human being. Their blood is also poisonous, and a drop of it on the skin causes instantaneous death. They love cold air and primarily reside on top of mountains. 8. African Dragon The African mythology has dragons that differ from the European and the Asian. In Northern Africa are the Egyptian dragons, with the most notable being the Apep, which travels in the underworld at night. The African Rainbow serpent is used in religious rituals in West Africa. European bestiaries also identify dragon-like creatures in African countries like Ethiopia. In Congo Basin, dinosaur-like reptiles such as emela-ntouka were also thought to be dragons. However, a critical study of African mythology shows that some authors were using European wyrms and wyverns. There was a plague of guivres in the middle age period. These creatures had a toxic breath that spread dangerous diseases. These kinds of dragons represent wrath, destruction, and death in modern literature. They have a long, muscular neck, thin snot, and thick membranous wings. These creatures were spitting out water which saw them being called the ‘gargler.’ An archbishop defeated them by making the cross sign using two fingers. To date, some churches globally have guivres as art with water spouting from their mouths. Knuckers are generally dragons that live in underground water and damp pools. They have a huge body, about 30 feet long, four legs, and a pair of vestigial wings. They have leathery skin that is usually dull red in color. The knucker, otherwise known as the sea serpent, has a hissing sound and produces very harmful venom that could melt away prey. In ancient folklore, knuckers were found in damp places in Sussex. They have been featured in different works of art such as the Slaine, The Sea of Trolls, and The Land of the Silver Apples. 11. The Chinese Dragon Also known as ‘Lung,’ this is a common creature in Chinese culture and mythology. It is depicted as a huge serpentine with four legs. The Chinese dragons are further subdivided into nine categories which assume different forms like fish and turtles. Common subspecies of Chinese dragons are Tianlong (celestial dragon), Yinglong, Shenlong (spiritual dragons), and the dragons of hidden treasures. In Chinese folklore, these dragons signify luck, power, and strength. They have a great ability to control the water by summoning rain and ending floods or drought. In ancient China, the emperor used the dragon to show his power and royalty. The cockatrice is a type of a pseudo dragon. Psuedo dragons were kins of dragons with lesser features than real dragons but had special mythologies. It looked exactly like a wyvern, except it had two legs and a cock’s head. The myths surrounding this dragon were first developed in the Bible. Different scholars have tried to explain the origin of cockatrice. It is commonly associated with Basilisk, where academicians like Alexander Neckam believe it was born from a rooster’s egg and a toad incubation. It is the most harmful pseudo dragon as it can kill through its poisonous breath, look or touch. 13. The Japanese Dragon Japanese dragons are common mythology in the Asian cultures of China, Korea, Japan, and India. Similar to the Chinese dragons, these also have power over rainfall and storms, and they live under large water bodies. The body form takes the shape of an enormous serpent with claws and no wings. Some can also change into a human form. Japanese legends Nihongi and Kojiki have talked about several dragons such as Watatsumi (sea god), Wani, Raiju, Yamata no Orochi, and Mizuchi. Japanese and Chinese dragons bear the same resemblance. Several authors suggest that you can differentiate them by the number of claws. 14. Oriental Dragon Most commonly referred to as the ‘Eastern Dragon,’ this mythology originated from East Asia. They had four legs, a serpentine body, and no wings. They have four toes on each foot, and only the emperor of China’s dragon had five toes which differentiated it from the dragons in folklores. Unlike the Western dragons, which were known to be evil, the Eastern dragons were regarded as guardians and protectors. They supposedly guarded the heavens, royalty, and the people. In East Asia’s folklore and religion, oriental dragons controlled natural calamities such as rain and the wind. 15. Quetzalcoatl (Kulkukan) The word Quetzalcoatl can be loosely translated to a “feathered-serpent.” This dragon was one of the highly worshipped gods in the mesoamerican culture and traditions. He was connected to the rains and wind. Kulkukan was the protector and the food provider to the Aztecs. The Aztecs also believed that this dragon was the god of knowledge as he understood arts and science and even invented books. Different Mexican religions worshiped this dragon, which was highly revered even by the high priests. However, it declined animal sacrifices that were offered to other gods as a norm. Druk or “thunder dragon” is mythology from the Bhutanese and Tibetan cultures. The symbol of this dragon is drawn on Bhutan’s flag to show wealth. These monsters are thin and long due to the nature of their environment (high altitude). Most live at the peak of snow mountains. They have four legs and camouflaging skin, usually yellow and red. Tibetans believed that druks were highly virtuous and could tell apart wrong and right. They went to meditate with the monks but could only speak to them through sound and actions. Druk has been used to show strength and power throughout Tibetan and Bhutan. Bhutan leaders were also known as Druk Gyalpo, which meant “thunder dragon kings.” 17. Night Fury The Night Fury is a rare draconic creature under the Strike class dragons. It first appeared in the “How to train your dragon series,” with only Toothless as the surviving species of this dragon. They appear in black or white colors (light furies) with large bat-like wings unproportioanl to their bodies. They can fly very fast and far on their wings. They are very intelligent as they can hide in the dark, preparing to strike on their prey. A fun fact about them is that they can easily conceal their teeth in the gums to look toothless. They are very aggressive, as explained in the Book of Dragons. Night furies are curious and can seemingly understand the language of man. Frequently Asked Questions Who is the most powerful dragon? Quetzalcoatl, also known as kukulkan is the most powerful dragon. This “feathered-serpent” was a Mesoamerican deity that was worshipped. It was believed to be the god of creation, rain-maker, mighty protector, fire-bringer, and wind-blower. Kulkukan was not fond of human sacrifices as opposed to the mythic traditions of the Mayans, Toltecs, and Aztecs. Who is the coolest dragon? The Learnean Hydra, born by Typhon and Echidna, was the coolest dragon. This sea serpent had a poisonous breath and blood. He had many heads that would regenerate twice when cut off. Heracles killed it with the help of his cousin Lolaus. They’d cut off the head and burn the necks with sword and fire. The last neck was cut off and buried alive under a great rock. What is the weakest dragon? The white dragon (also called glacial wyrms) were the weakest dragons to exist. They are the smallest subspecies of the chromatic dragons with white and grey shades. In snowy environments, the skin would turn to ice-blue. This enabled them to camouflage in any environment. They had a streamlined body with the head and neck in sync with the body. They were not as strong as other dragons, but their icy-cold breath could freeze their enemies. White dragons avoided fights with mightier dragons and would prefer hiding in the glaciers. Did dragons exist? Many cultures from Asia to Europe and America have dragon tales and mythologies surrounding them. Different scholars have attempted to explain where and how dragon stories emerged. Myths and folklores about these great serpents began as early as the ancient Greek age. In “The Penguin Book of Dragons,” Scott G. Bruce explains that dragons looked exactly like giant serpents which would devour and kill with their mighty power and poisonous breath. In most history, dragons were just mythical animals, protective in some instances and harmful in others, depending on the culture and area. When was the last dragon killed? In the fantasy fiction game of thrones, Drogon was believed to be the last dragon. Drogon and his siblings Viserion and Rhaegal hatched from the eggs that Daenerys received as a wedding gift. Both Drogon’s siblings were killed, leaving him as the last dragon. The last time he was seen was when he flew away with Daenerys’ body after melting the iron throne. Experts, however, dispute this claim by saying that Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal could have laid eggs that later hatched into new dragons. There is no adequate literature that confirms that the trio were the last dragons to exist. Dragons have been around for centuries in different forms. They have been featured in different fantasy movies, series, and books. They are incorporated in different cultures with various folklore and mythologies surrounding them. Their legacy remains inspirational in the modern world of fiction.
Chapter 4 Exploring Careers“We should not let our fears hold usback from pursuing our hopes.”-John F. Kennedy The difference between a job and a career • Job – Work a person does for pay that does not require much training, knowledge, or experience. • Career – A person’s life work, which requires planning, preparation, interest, and time. • Sometimes jobs lead to careers. • Entry-level – A “stepping stone” or a beginning job that will take you on a path to your ultimate career. Fun Facts! According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average person will have at least 7 jobs before age 30! It is projected that many people will change jobs 10 to 12 times – and might change careers as many as 3 times before retirement. Approach these job changes with a positive attitude. Using Informal Research One way to explore careers is through informal research, which is learning about careers through a casual and friendly approach. This research can include observing people where you go to school, family, neighbors, or people you don’t know at all. When you are making arrangements for informal research, you are networking, or talking to people you know and others in your community to gather and share information. Discovering Careers ThroughFormal Research Through formal research, which involves using tools and information to investigate facts, you can discover even more information about jobs and careers. As you begin your formal research, it is important for you to know that all careers have been grouped in categories called career clusters. A career cluster is a group of occupations having related interests. Career Clusters Career clusters include nearly all occupations from entry level to professional level (high-level careers that require earning a particular degree.) Although slightly different career cluster systems are available, the Guide for Occupational Exploration, groups related occupations into 14 career clusters. Fourteen Career Interest Areas Career Cluster Jobs Related to Cluster Arts, Entertainment, Actor/actress, coa and Media ch, illustrator, writer Anthropologist, ch Science,Math, emist, computer and Engineering programmer, veteri narian Plants and Animals Agriculture scientist, forester, la ndscaper, wildlife biologist Law,Law Correctional Enforcement, and officer, detective, Public Safety park ranger, special agent Mechanics,Installer s, and Repairers Aircraft mechanic, commu nication equipment installer, medical equipment repairer Construction, Minin Bricklayer, electrici g, and Drilling an, pipe fitter, sheet metal worker Airline pilot, freight Transportation inspector, traffic technician, transpo rtation manager Bakery Industrial worker, electronics Production tester, testing- machine operator Business Detail Administrative assistant, legal secretary, library assistant Sales and Advertising Marketing agent, public relations specialist, real Recreation, Travel, estate sales agent and Other Personal Convention Services planner, personal aide, social director Education and Caseworker, clergy Social Service member, teacher, urban planner General Accountant, financ Management and ial Support manager, human resource manager, purchasi ng agent Medicaland Audiologist, health Health Services educator, medical assistant, recreatio nal therapist Occupational OutlookHandbook The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) provides information about 250 occupations. The Department of Labor (DOL) updates it frequently online. Using the OOH, you can learn about what workers do, how much they are paid, future job prospects, and working conditions. You can also learn about educational and training requirements, advancement (getting more responsibility and authority), and job trends. ONET Database The ONET database is a government sponsored computer program that collects information from workers about their jobs. People can compare occupations and find out about skill changes now and in the future. Using other Career InformationSources The information at the OOH and O*NET websites is also printed in books. The Guide for Occupational Exploration (GOE) gives definitions and explanations of each of 14 different career interest areas. There are many career publications, magazines, and other online sources of career information. Learning about Careers Hands-on experiences – actually spending time on work sites – provides a realistic way to explore and research careers. Employers like to hire people who already have some experience in the workplace. Career Shadowing Career shadowing is observing a worker and asking questions for a day or less in a field of work you find interesting. For instance, a student interested in becoming a lawyer could spend a day with a lawyer, following her around the office, observing what she does in courtroom as part of her everyday work schedule, and asking appropriate questions. Part-time work Part-time work is working a few hours each week over months or years. It gives you an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills as well as earn money to prepare for the future. Temporary work Temporary work is agreeing to work full- time or part-time for only a few weeks or months. It gives you a chance to gain skills and earn money for a limited time. Some examples include summer jobs, such as detasseling corn or working at an amusement park. Internships Internships are opportunities to work in an industry through a school-related program to gain skills and experience, usually without pay. Internships are one of the most valuable experiences you can have as you explore career opportunities. Many employers hire their interns as employees. Cooperative Education Cooperative education programs offer students opportunities to go to school and work for pay at the same time. Typically, they spend part of the day at school and part of the day on the job. I.C.E. (Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education) is an example of a program offered in many high schools. Volunteering Volunteering is working without pay. You might choose to volunteer because you strongly believe in a cause. Check out local hospitals, nursing homes, veterinary offices, schools, and food pantries for volunteering opportunities. In many schools and communities, students have the opportunity to participate in service learning (doing community service as part of a classroom assignment) programs. Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship is creating your own job. You may have started as an entrepreneur at a young age, did you set up your own lemonade stand? If you are a creative person with self- motivation, you can be quite successful in operating your own business. Recording Info. AboutPotential Careers The following questions provide you with a guide as you research and record information about different occupations. What skills are needed to perform this career? What is the work environment (the surroundings) like? What values and lifestyles best match this career? What is the projected job outlook for this career?
Date of Award Master of Science Geography and Environmental Resources There are an estimated 2.6 million small water bodies in the contiguous United States. These features are mostly manmade representing a major source of land use change. Compared to larger reservoirs, the impacts of small water bodies on watershed hydrology are not well understood and were the main focus of this research. Using three sets of streamflow parameters, the hydrological impacts of small water bodies were evaluated in 29 watersheds of the Midwest. This relationship was evaluated with four other geophysical watershed traits, and variations in the relationships were examined across three regions of the study area. Of the six geophysical watershed traits examined, results indicate that a watershed's percent area of small water bodies was the strongest predictor of high flow coefficients. This relationship was positive and statistically significant with a distinct regional relationship in Eastern Iowa. Time of concentration and watershed area were significant predictors of low flow coefficients. Time of concentration was also a significant predictor of the rainfall-runoff ratios. The distinct positive relationship between small water bodies and high flow coefficients, and insignificant relationships with runoff ratios are unexpected and intriguing findings, representing possible opportunities for future investigations. This thesis is only available for download to the SIUC community. Others should contact the interlibrary loan department of your local library.
A lightweight metal-based material produced in very thin thicknesses that can be easily formed for cooking, wrapping, covering, or lining processes when preparing or storing foods. It is a versatile product commonly used for numerous household tasks, many of which are related to food preparation. A few of the points to consider favoring the use of aluminum foil include: It is a metal-based product so it acts as an effective vapor barrier to keep liquids and drippings off pan surfaces. When used to wrap foods for cooling or freezing, it works very well for reducing the transfer of moisture, the transfer of odors and vapor if the material is sealed tightly around the food. When freezing foods, first wrap the food in plastic wrap and then use Foil tightly wrapped around the plastic to keep out the oxygen to avoid food with freezer burn. Line pans with foil to make clean up easier when catching drippings from pies, fruits, meats, and poultry. Foil conducts heat well in ovens or grills, withstanding excessive temperatures, so it acts as a good barrier to protect food areas from over baking, such as pie crusts and poultry skins, allowing the foods to cook slower and more thoroughly without burning. Foil serves as a means to make various foods, such as cookies, crispier on the bottom. Cookie dough placed on foil-lined baking sheets that are sprayed with cooking spray prior to placing the dough on the sheet, bake with a crispier bottom. The dough spreads our slightly as the cookie bakes and the cookie becomes crunchier as the temperatures increase on the foil resting against the bottom of the cookie. Although the metal in the material may work well for a variety of uses, it also may hamper some procedures so beware of the following: When storing foods with vinegar, highly salted foods, highly spiced foods, or highly acidic foods such as tomatoes, the food substances can adversely react with the metal, causing it to breakdown and damage the food or creating a blue residue. When wrapped around some metals such as sterling silver, silverplate, iron, or stainless steel, an electrolytic reaction may occur causing the aluminum foil to breakdown and alter its beneficial properties. Aluminum foil works well in some cooking processes but not in all others. It is a material that causes sparks and arcing to occur when large pieces are used for cooking foods in microwaves, so extreme caution is advised if foil is to be used in any manner when microwave cooking. In some microwaves, a small amount of material can be used to cover only small surface areas, but it is most often not advised, unless it has been successfully attempted and accomplished previously. Do not line the bottom of ovens in kitchen stoves with foil to catch spilled foods. The foil has excellent reflective properties but when used in ovens an adverse reaction may occur as the properties in the aluminum foil may cause uneven heating to occur within the oven, damaging not only the food but possibly the stove as well. Aluminum foil typically has a dull and a shiny side, which occurs during the manufacturing of the material. Typically, neither side is significantly better than the other for the general purposes of cooking, wrapping, covering, or lining processes when preparing or storing foods. However, since there is a dull and a shiny side, and since the shiny side is a better reflector of heat or cold, it may be of some value to use each side accordingly when cooking or storing foods. It is simply that the difference in value is very small and probably not noticeable. That said, since the shiny side of foil will reflect heat better, wrap foods to be stored in refrigerated conditions with the shiny side out so warmer temperatures are reflected away and kept out of the wrapped food. Similarly, if an item is being cooked, it may slow some of the cooking process only slightly if the shiny side is on the outside of the item resulting in the heat being reflected. Or if you want wrapped foods to remain warm, wrap the food with the dull side out so the heat reflects off the shiny side and back into the food.
by Michael Markarian — Our thanks to Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, for permission to republish this post, which originally appeared on his blog Animals & Politics on November 14, 2013. Leaving poisons out in the wild is, in comparison to other ways of killing animals, among the most inhumane and indiscriminate of methods.Highly toxic poisons wreak havoc on the animals who ingest them, regardless of whether they were the intended victims or non-target casualties like endangered species and family pets. Such is the case with Avitrol, a nervous system toxicant promoted as a “flock frightening agent” or “repellent,” and commonly used to kill birds, primarily pigeons and sparrows in urban areas and starlings and blackbirds on farms. It causes birds who eat it to suffer convulsions, fly erratically, sometimes striking structures, vocalize repeatedly, and eventually die. The whole idea is that while the birds are suffering from the effects of the poison, their erratic behavior will frighten away other birds. The tremendous amount of suffering is frightening, alright. “Birds were just falling out of the sky. They would land, lie on the ground, flap and die,” a Staten Island resident told the New York Daily News. A neighbor added that the birds were flying around crooked—“as if they were drunk”—before torpedoing to the ground when more than 50 common grackles plummeted to the pavement. In Cumberland County, New Jersey, residents found at least 80 dead birds—mostly red-winged blackbirds—causing a bloody mess on roadways in the residential area. A resident told NBC News, “They’d get up and try and fly and they were out of control so they’d crash and fall again.” Metro stations in Washington, D.C., closed when the discovery of numerous dead birds raised fears of a terror attack. Despite these horror stories, Avitrol has been allowed in most of the U.S. for four decades, although it has been banned through much of Europe and restricted or prohibited in New York City, San Francisco, and Boulder, Colorado. From 2002 to 2006, 151-175 pounds of the poison were sold in the U.S. annually—enough to kill more than 200 million birds each year. Fortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency has been reviewing the permitted uses for Avitrol. The agency stopped short of removing this reckless product from the market, but it did recently strengthen protective measures. The EPA’s newly approved label for Avitrol products implements some long-awaited improvements by imposing restrictions on how the poison may be used. New requirements include mandating users to remain onsite to monitor the poison if placed in areas open to the public. Avitrol is most commonly placed on rooftops and the new requirements limit access to authorized handlers of the poison until all dead birds and unused poison is retrieved. This change will protect people and children from accidental exposure, but will not necessarily protect non-target animals. The requirements also direct Avitrol users to make sure federally protected birds are not harmed; pick up unconsumed bait at the end of each day, where it may be a hazard; retrieve dead birds in and around occupied buildings (which may prevent secondary poisoning of raptors who feed on the poisoned birds); not use where non-target birds are feeding; and ensure that pets, livestock, and people are kept away from the poison. The EPA’s new safety measures are a step in the right direction, but are not enough to stop the mass killings of birds and non-target animals, and the repeated sequels of birds falling from the sky and other scenes from horror movies. The best solution is to use more humane ways to solve bird conflicts that don’t kill wild birds. Public agencies and private companies can use effective methods such as reducing and eventually stopping large-scale feeding of pigeons; using exclusion techniques to prevent roosting and nesting; and limiting flock size with pigeon birth control. More information on non-lethal techniques—which are better for birds and our communities—is available here.
Tech Savvy Beginners (Android Phones) aims to help participants to gain skills and confidence in using their Android Mobile Phone. It is focused on achieving learning skills while at the same time having fun operating their Android Mobile Phone. It also aims to prepare learners to move on to self directed learning using the Be Connected online learning resources. Proposed Content - The following topics will be covered:- - Personal problem solving. - Attaching photos to documents etc. for emailing. - Photo enhancements, sorting & naming. - Using your emails. - Using the Internet - Recording voice & sound. - Maintenance of phone. - Using ‘Be Connected’ for self help (http://www.beconnected.esafety.gov.au/)
Emotions are an integral part of humans and their development. Emotions are developed by humans to help others in need of help or in danger. However, it is of significance with the development of the modern society and the civilization, humans are being dictated that showing emotions is a sign of weakness. In some other cases, it is even degrading since they tend to classify emotions as a product of females without strong wills. However, emotions are important to be expressed and bottling up emotions is toxic not only to the individual who is not expressing their feelings but also to others around them. It is important to understand that unexpressed emotions are like homemade pipe bombs, there are highly unstable, volatile and will erupt or detonate without warning. Find a doctor Unexpressed emotions in a relationship are like allowing a malignant form of tumour to grow without any preventive measures. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor – a psychologist in this case before the problems become bigger. Research shows that an average couple in USA goes up to six years in an unhappy relationship without addressing issues. This will in turn affect the people around them significantly. However, it is important to emphasize that being late is better than never in counselling. See here for more details regarding ptsd treatment. What to go for? When a couple has relationship problem, they should go for couples counselling in Townsville since it is forced mainly on them. It is true family therapy is much suited for people who are married with kids. But, only if you can address the problem the parents, you can draw the other problems. Research shows that kids model on their parent’s behaviour and most of the deviant behaviours exhibited by them are a result of their parent’s behaviour. It is true happy parents’ means happy children. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you get the therapy or treatment you need. Is divorce or separation or break up the only solution? Most counsellors tend not to jump and suggest the dissolution of the relationship. They try to work things out between the people involved. However, there are instances when the counsellor might feel that the couple is better of separated rather than being together. But, it is important to understand that even if the couple had been living in disagreement for years, they can always mend their relationships with the help of the counsellors. In conclusion, it should be noted that it is not impossible to med a relationship when people involved are interested in doing so. However, if the people involved are toxic to each other then, it is more likely for the counsellor to advice them to stop seeing each other. But, they still want to continue their relationship, and then the counsellor might develop plans to make them more compatible.
Ardhanarishvara is a combination of three words “Ardha,” “Nari,” and “Ishvara” means “half,” “woman,” and “lord,” respectively, which when combined means the lord whose half is a woman. Ardhanarishvara is the perfect representation of the balance between male and female as equal. It symbolizes the pervasive and enduring nature of Lord Shiva as “Purusha” and “Prakriti”, the feminine and masculine energies of the cosmos, the male principle of God, as the essence of Shakti, the Sacred Feminine. Breaking all the stereotypical ideologies, this depiction of Lord Shiva is still the inspiration for growth for people. Ardhanarishwar is considered to be one of the 64 manifestations of the absolute Parashiva, according to Shaiva Siddhanta. Among the many other names of Ardhanarishvara some popular names are Ardhanarisha, Ardhayuvateeshwara, Ardhagureeshwara, Gaureeshwara, Naranari, Parangada, and Ammiappan. Ardhanarishvara is an androgynous form of Lord Shiva, the composite of Shiva and Parvati, the half-male and half-female fused from the center. As seen in many temples across the Indian continent and Southeast Asia, the right half represents the male(Shiva) and the left half female (Parvati). The right half of the figure is adorned with the traditional ornaments of Shiva, the hair piled in a hair dress of matted locks, half of a third eye being visible on the forehead, a tiger skin covering the loins, Ganga flowing from the hair and serpents being used as ornaments around the neck. The left half of the figure showing the well combed and knotted hair, half of a tilak on the forehead, the eye outlined in black, a well-developed breast, a silk garment caught with girdles, an anklet, and the foot tinted red with henna. This is how the figure looks. Showing the similarities and differences between the male and female, still standing strong on the ground that both of them are equal. The symbolic intent signifying that males and females are inseparable. The Origin of Ardhanarishvara Among the many legends for the origin of Ardhanarishvara, some of them say that it emerged due to the stubbornness of Sage Bhringi to not worship Parvati. Sage Bhring believed himself to be the greatest acolyte of Lord Shiva but that he refused to worship Shiva along with Parvati. He was ready to solely dedicated himself to Lord Shiva but would not worship his consort Parvati. Here Goddess Parvati urged Shiva to unite themselves together, creating the form of Ardhanarishvara with one half of Shiva and the other half of Parvati through the central axis. Even after this fusion between them, Rishi Bhringi refused to worship Parvati. He took the form of Beetle and circumambulated Shiva only which further enraged Parvati. Parvati then cursed Bhringi to lose all the blood and muscles which are believed to have come from mother in Hindu embryology. Bhringi was all but the only skeleton now which is believed to have come from their father, which made him realize the significance of Prakriti and Purusha. He pleaded forgiveness from Parvati and was given the third leg as a reward for pleading to sustain his body. But according to Shiva Purana, Lord Bramha, the creator of the universe was disappointed as the world was not moving at the pace and the number he had created remained constant. Being left with no other choice he went to Lord Shiva for help. This is when Shiva took this Ardhanarishwar form to make him understand the succession of generations through copulation. Afterward, Ardhanarishwar split into Purusha and Prakriti thus continuing the creation, suggesting that Shiva is nothing without Shakti, and creation, as well as the continuation of life, is impossible without both of them. Symbolism of Ardhanarishvara The parable of Ardhanarishvara has an intense meaning which symbolizes the quintessential balance between the male and female energies in the universe. The forces are inseparable and complementary to each other suggesting that they must work together to maintain the equilibrium. The concept of Ardhanarishvara represents that “totality lies beyond duality”. It talks of both the part being Supreme Being and making it a whole. Shiva holding a rosary indicates asceticism, while Parvati holding the mirror represents an embodiment of the highest material and illusory world. The fusion of these two opposites indicates that both the material and spiritual spheres have to coexist in one’s life, for it to be complete. This indicates that both these opposing forces are one and cannot be regarded as two individual identities. The unity of Purusha and Prakriti complement each other by showing that Purusha is the passive force of the universe while Prakriti is the active one, Purusha represents potential energy and Prakriti the kinetic energy, Purusha is infinite and Prakriti helps bring that infinity to finite, and thus, embracing one another to generate and sustain the universe. The deep meaning that this one form holds is a true eye-opener for many. Many a time the Ardhanarishvara is also compared with the Chinese concept of Yin-Yang. Yin being analogous to the gentle and feminine half while Yang representing strong, ferocious, and masculine. They are the part and parcel of the dynamic nature of the universe. Ardhanarishwar is much beyond our concept of gender. It materializes the fact that God can be male, female, and even neuter too. Linking it to our human life, Ardhanarishvara indicates that no human being is pure unisexual as each of them bears the potentiality of both male and female. It is only the dominance of one over the other that determines the sexuality of the person. Images credit – Pinterest
It is not perceived as a form of therapy, but creative forms like art or music help soothe your mind. It can help you relax pretty quickly. It also has the power to influence you, makes you angry, strong, immune to pressure, aggressive and so on. And, because of the same properties, they are well connected to the brain. So much so that a lot of people study this as a science called psychology, they have their own areas of research, such as music and study their effects on them. Similarly, there is a simple art, playing games and so on. The core idea is to direct the resources towards a particular disorder. Visit https://sandplaytherapy.com.au/english/depression-anxiety.php for anxiety counselling Toorak. How art is conceived normally? It is widely believed that a form of art should be kept as a hobby. If it is a hobby, it will help you in the future. And, that is all. In schools, some kind of art such as sketching, painting, crafts or music is offered to students. This is known to be very useful in developing your brain as a student. Thus, art is at the core of mental development, can be used to bring rhythm to the brain or bring back the rhythm to the brain, and to life. The relationship counselling Melbourne is through understanding their ways of communication and using it to your advantage.Much to your surprise art can constructively help you and your life. In the worst times when you are depressed, sad or not functioning well, you might resort to this for refuge. You might have seen people listening to songs or writing out their inner rumblings on paper. These forms of expression have a big advantage. If your therapist understands what to do with it, they can help you. It can also be used effectively for spiritual well-being and bringing your life back on track. Regardless of any issues that normally all teenagers and adolescent people suffer from today can be handled with this. There is nothing radical or irrational about this. It is unconventional but it works like charm where the drugs fail to show any improvements. By talking to someone, understanding their problems you can help them resolve it. But, not everyone is necessarily ready to speak to you or even to a doctor. A sand play therapist, for example, asks their patients to use sand to draw or simply write on it.There is immense potential is small things like sketching a picture of the mountains. So, never underestimate the power of art forms taught to you in school.
Thanks to humans, the ocean is a noisy place. Pile drivers, seismic tools, sonar, and ships’ engines fill the deep with sounds that can travel vast distances and outblast a jet engine. As shipping and oil exploration increase and more offshore wind farms are built, it’s only getting louder under the sea. But associate professor of mechanical engineering Preston Wilson, BS ’90, MS ’94, has discovered a clever way to hush some of the din. For ocean animals, underwater noise is more than a nuisance—it’s a trauma. Military sonar has been linked to mass whale strandings and brain hemorrhages from barotraumas, or pressure damage. The delicate ears of fish can be damaged by human racket. Noise stresses and drowns out countless species that use sound to signal, hunt, and navigate. Wilson’s surprise tool for reducing the pain: bubbles. “We’ve known since the early 20th century that bubbles attenuate sound,” he says. With a syringe, he shoots air into a glass of water and taps the side with a fork. The air creates bubbles, and the clink is muffled. Companies responsible for large amounts of underwater noise use this idea in “bubble curtains,” created by pumping air through a perforated pipe. As they rise, the short-lived bubbles absorb some high frequencies, but they’re too small to absorb manmade low frequency noise—that would call for bubbles as large as 10 centimeters across. With a grant from Shell Global Solutions, Wilson, research scientist Mark Wochner, and postdoctoral fellow Kevin Lee, BS ’01, PhD ’09, set out to build bigger, better bubbles. The team hit upon a simple innovation: enclose air in a thin shell. A fabricated bubble of that sort could be enlarged and permanently tethered to an underwater line. At Lake Travis and in a test tank, the engineers experimented with different shell materials by sinking a network of bubbles around a submerged loudspeaker. Party balloons muffled noise nicely but proved too fragile. Boat fenders: too stiff. Dodgeballs and fire hoses: ditto. Then, at last, the team found a material that’s cheap, rugged, and flexible. “That’s the secret sauce,” Wilson says, laughing. He can’t reveal what it is until a pending patent application is accepted but says it’s not an unusual substance. “It’s just something that people didn’t think they would ever use for what we’re using it for.” The team founded a company called AdBm to develop and market their bubbly noise abatement system. One size won’t fit all, Lee explains: the bubbles’ diameter and spacing can be customized. They can be affixed to a noisy object, hung around it like a curtain, or anchored to the sea floor like strands of kelp. Wilson even imagines a day when shipping lanes are lined by guardrail-like bubble strands, ships have bubbles built into their hulls, and harbor aquariums are shielded from noise. If this idea floats, then the ocean depths may one day afford sea animals a little more peace and quiet. Top: Preston Wilson. Bottom: Wilson and Lee with a demonstration tank at UT’s Applied Research Lab. Photos by Marsha Miller. Chrystine Campos Quiñonez: Celestina Quiñonez Ortiz... Cheryl McDowell Hawkins: Leticia Ann Villarreal: My deepest condolences to her family on this horrific crime. 🙏🙏🙏🙏... I'm glad they caught the guy. There is no question it is him. He was caught tryi... Judy Jude Thompson: What a sweet face. So sorry....
Building an Independent Economy The Saugus Iron Works reflected the desire of the early colonists to be economically independent from England. The colonists found, in iron making, a way to supply the growing colony with all the iron goods needed to support the people and industries that were making it successful. On site you will find both finished and unfinished goods that were sold from the iron works. There were some products, like pots and pans, that were purchased by the local people and others, like merchant bars, which were sold to blacksmiths, both in the colonies and around the world, to be made into usable products. Having iron here, and not having to import it from England, was a major factor leading to our eventual independence. Are you still as dependent upon iron today as the colonists were in the seventeenth century? You might be surprised. Complete one of the following activities to earn your badge!
: Gumdrop Activity Geometry can be so much fun! In this activity, students use gumdrops and toothpicks to build 3-D figures. On the skill sheet, students will build the 3 listed shapes and then there is space to create their own,such as a hexagonal prism (my kids love doing those larger ones). They will then write the number of vertices, edges, and faces. Kids have a blast doing this activity! If you prefer to use marshmallows, I have a sheet in my store for that too. This could even be a math center. NOTE- you can now purchase this pack as part of my 4th grade math mega bundle. CLICK HERE to see the mega math bundle for 4th grade. Perfect for math centers! For more creative lesson ideas, click on 'elementary lesson plans' by my picture above.
As an accountant and personal finance geek there are some things that people do and say about money that drive me crazy. That’s because often times people’s actions and thoughts on money issues make absolutely no sense mathematically. Examples include being happy about getting an income tax refund, carrying a balance on their credit card, or buying a house or car that is not really affordable. However, my frustrations are usually tempered when I realize that there is more than just the “math” involved in making decisions about money. In fact, I have come to believe that psychological factors probably influence people more than the math. The biggest psychological factors are fear, greed, lack of self-control, and lack of understanding. In my career as accountant advising people on financial decisions, I have come to accept the fact that I must consider more than just the math when giving advice. Here are some examples: Dividends vs Salary These days we normally tell most clients that the difference between taking a salary or dividend from your corporation depends on whether or not you want to contribute to CPP. In other words, the math usually results in dividends putting more money in your pocket because you don’t have to contribute to CPP. Furthermore, the historic rate of return on CPP contributions has been less than 4% for business owners. Thus, it usually makes sense to be compensated with dividends and invest CPP savings yourself. However, we also warn clients not to blame us if they suddenly turn 65 and have no CPP income and no retirement savings. In making our recommendation to clients, we need to consider whether they have the self-control to save for their retirement and the knowledge to invest the savings in order to beat the CPP rate of return. Buy or Rent a House I’ll be honest here. I think buying a house is about the worst financial decision most people make. There are several reasons for this including: - High house prices often means that buyers take on too much debt. - Personal income has not kept pace with house price increases in recent history. - An aging population means that the resale market for houses will probably not be great in 20 years. - A house restricts mobility and is a major headache in case of job loss. Despite my analytical bias, a house purchase can also be a good idea for the following reasons: - It makes your spouse happy. A house is probably cheaper than a divorce. - Mortgage payments are a form of savings and are sometimes a better option for those who lack the discipline to save on their own. - There may be a lack of rental options where you live and it may actually be cheaper to buy. Consolidating Credit Card Debt Often, people who carry balances on multiple credit cards are advised to consolidate all of their high interest credit card debt into their lower interest line of credit or mortgage. Mathematically this makes sense because you can pay the debt off quicker due to lower interest rates. However, this solution often does not work because it just hides the problem and does not address the real issue of lack of self-control. The usual story is that the debt does not get paid off quicker because people forget about it now that the monthly minimum payment is lower. Sometimes a better solution is for people to pay off one card at a time in order to feel a sense of achievement and to remind them of the challenges still ahead of them. Getting Advice from Your Accountant, Financial Advisor, or Banker What this all means is that you really need to know yourself before blindly accepting advice from your advisor (or an accountant’s blog). Be honest about your ability to be disciplined, communicate your fears to your advisor, and always ask questions to make sure you understand the decision you are about to make. Written by: Jeff Ross, CA
Is it possible to measure whether an animal has a good life? As vets, our guiding purpose is to ensure the health and welfare of the animals under our care. But how do we, as humans, know whether an animal has a good life? As vets, our guiding purpose is to ensure the health and welfare of the animals under our care. Our aim must surely be to strive for the highest possible welfare standards such that an animal has a good life. But how do we, as humans, know whether an animal has a good life? Can we measure welfare and subsequently measure the impact of any interventions made in an attempt to improve welfare? And, can this deliverance of a good life be done sustainably? Those of us who graduated aeons ago were probably taught the principles of The Five Freedoms (FAWC, 1979, Webster 2016) such that we understand all the things that an animal should be free from in order to avoid poor welfare. More recently, welfare science has shifted focus such that it is no longer enough to avoid poor welfare but steps should be taken to proactively provide the basis for positive welfare and a good life. The Five Domains model utilises this approach, considering the state of an animal through the four functional domains of nutrition, environment, health and behaviour and the subsequent affective consequences for an animal’s mental state (Mellor and Beausoleil 2015). Practically speaking, what methods or tools exist for rapid welfare assessment that can be repeated? This article specifically considers donkeys and mules. Teams from The Donkey Sanctuary are frequently required to assess and advise on the health and welfare of donkeys and mules in a variety of contexts, both in the UK and internationally. In developed countries donkeys may be kept as pets, companion animals for other species, used in animal-assisted therapy, assist in horticulture and agro-forestry initiatives, be found as beach donkeys or at tourist attractions. Semi-feral populations also exist. Globally, donkeys are pivotal to the livelihoods of many families, providing a means of transportation of cargo, water and people, animal-traction and may be used as production animals. Is it possible to assess whether the donkeys, across all of these different contexts have a good life, in the same way? The Equid Assessment and Research Scoping tool (EARS) has been developed for this very purpose (Raw et al 2020). EARS is, essentially, a bank of almost 300 questions that have been subdivided into indicators, such as housing, behaviour and general health. A full list of the indicators is given at the end of this article. The questions were developed and tested over a period of 3 years, using input from vets, paraprofessionals, behaviourists, data scientists and harness experts who are experienced in working with donkeys and mules around the globe. From the question bank, bespoke protocols can be built for assessing welfare in different contexts; for example, there are production equid, feral, companion and working equid protocols. By using a standardised set of questions, welfare may be objectively and systematically recorded. Moreover, equids in the same context can be re-evaluated at a later date, using the same set of questions, allowing objective comparison between the datasets. In this way, a more complete picture of the welfare in any one situation is built up over time and the impact of an intervention can be reflected upon and refined as necessary. This data can be used in the immediate term to appraise the welfare of individuals or groups. Over the longer term, it helps to identify common themes of negative and positive welfare such that our knowledge base expands and we can tailor what advice is most relevant in different contexts. For example, in companion donkeys, accumulated data may indicate common themes around weight and condition score – we all know that obesity is of growing concern amongst companion animals in the UK. Being able to objectively measure whether this is actually the case would facilitate provision of accurate advice to vets and owners alike. In working equids, we might suspect that poorly manufactured and fitted harness equipment are the cause of skin lesions. However, before embarking upon a programme of education regarding good harness use, data should be obtained to investigate whether poorly fitted harness equipment is indeed being used and/or are there other variables that might contribute to skin lesions, such as housing hazards, or injurious human-animal and animal-animal interactions. Frequently there is more than one cause for a welfare issue and by having an awareness of all the factors a more holistic and sustainable intervention programme can be devised. Sustainability has to be a key objective. Any attempt to improve welfare must be capable of being a long-term solution. Where positive welfare is identified this should be recognised as such and efforts made to disseminate information regarding how such welfare can be achieved. Sustainability can be defined and measured in terms of financial, environmental or longevity aspects of welfare changes. Currently EARS data is recorded on tablets so there is no need for lots of paperwork flying around, getting rained on or eaten by an inquisitive animal. Gone are the days of huge filing cabinets toppling over with the weight of records. Cloud-based systems can be used to store large quantities of data that are potentially accessible from locations around the globe. Virtual learning platforms can be used to host discussion groups and online training such that people can learn remotely without the need to travel. Nothing can replace the actual reality of being alongside an animal and their handler, in the community they live, assessing and discussing the welfare together, but by providing options to do some of the groundwork online, more time can then be devoted to being with the animals and people when you are there. In summary, welfare assessment can and should be done regularly and there are several tools out there that exist for this purpose. The time devoted to focusing on welfare will reap many rewards for animals and people. Any assessment and intervention should always be done through engaging with communities – there will likely be much greater long-term success if animal owners and handlers are involved in the process, rather than being told what to do. If the advice given is evidence-based, then financially, everyone stands to benefit as money is not wasted on inappropriate projects. As welfare assessment becomes ever more commonplace, techniques for making it a sustainable process and identifying sustainable ways to improve welfare will continue to arise. Rebekah has been a vet at The Donkey Sanctuary since 2012. Before joining the sanctuary, she worked in mixed practice in the UK and New Zealand and spent time volunteering overseas, providing care to working equids. Rebekah holds the Cert AVP (EM) and loves to provide assistance with medical cases as well as enjoying general veterinary work. Rebekah is currently seconded to the Donkey Sanctuary Operational Support team, helping to provide materials for donkey health and welfare globally and has recently started an MSc in One Health with the University of Edinburgh. Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) (1979) Farm Animal Welfare Council Press Statement. FAWC, London. [online] Mellor .D.J. and Beausoleil .N.J. (2015) Extending the 'Five Domains' model for animal welfare assessment to incorporate positive welfare states. Animal Welfare 24 (3) pp. 241-253 Raw, Z.; Rodrigues, J.B.; Rickards, K.; Ryding, J.; Norris, S.L.; Judge, A.; Kubasiewicz, L.M.; Watson, T.L.; Little, H.; Hart, B.; Sullivan, R.; Garrett, C.; Burden, F. (2020). Equid assessment, research and scoping (EARS): The development and implementation of a new equid welfare assessment and monitoring tool. Animals, 10, 297 Webster .J. (2016). Animal Welfare, Freedoms, Dominions and ‘A Life Worth Living.’ Animals 6 (35) doi:10.3390/ani6060035
MISSOULA — Rudolph's nose may help light up the night for Santa to see, but real arctic reindeer have their own special way to see in the dark. The holidays are here, and we have been hearing and seeing plenty of pictures, ornaments and songs of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. But how well do you really know this northern deer species? This week let’s bundle up and head north to check out an eye-catching adaptation these brilliant creatures have. Reindeer — or in the biological world caribou — don’t live as high up as the North Pole but they do live in the Arctic. Living this far north means the sun acts much differently than most people are used to. Reindeer living in the Arctic experience two months in winter in complete darkness and two months in summer when the sun never goes down. During the winter months, reindeer eyes change to a deep rich blue color and in the summer months, it’s a vibrant gold. This color change not only looks cool it actually helps them see. The deep blue color that appears in the winter helps spread light across their eyes allowing them to see better in the dark. This happens because their eyes get swollen from being dilated for so long and change the structures in their eye. While the golden color change, like most deer, is used to reflect light. According to the Royal Society, this is the first recorded instance of this structure in the eye — known as the tapetum lucidum — to have a seasonal change in a mammal. But it’s not just the eyes that have neat adaptations. In order to keep up with the cold their noses actually warm the air as they breathe in, so their lungs don’t freeze. Additionally, and unlike most deer species, both boys and girls have antlers. Although extremely rare — and one hasn't been seen in years — woodland caribou are native to Montana.
Oregon Water Science Center U.S Geological Survey Oregon Water Science Center 2130 SW 5th Ave Portland, OR 97201 Phone: (503) 251-3200 Fax: (503) 251-3470 ABOUT THE OREGON WSC Videos and Podcasts> ABOUT THE USGS USGS IN YOUR STATE USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state and territory. USGS Oregon WSC Highlights USGS Scientists Are Studying the Causes of Amphibian Declines A USGS biologist with a bunch of bullfrog tadpoles. Frogs and salamanders worldwide are threatened by the lethhal amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. (Photograph by Charles Crisafulli, U.S. Forest Service.) With global biodiversity decreasing, it has become important for scientists to find new and innovative tools to quickly assess how environmental hazards affect wildlife, especially threatened or endangered species. This information aids researchers and resource managers alike by providing early detection of potential problems that may require immediate conservation efforts or further detailed investigation. Of all species, amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts) appear especially vulnerable to environmental hazards, with up to 41% considered threatened worldwide. One potentially lethal threat is the amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, as well as the newly described salamander chytrid fungus, B. salamandrivorans; both cause the disease chytridiomycosis. B. dendrobatidis is linked to many of the observed amphibian population declines and extinctions globally, and B. salamandrivorans has caused recent declines in European salamanders, although it does not yet appear to have made it to North America. A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey published in the journal PLoS One highlights the use of promising tools that can be used to assess the risk of disease exposure for amphibians. Among the benefits of these tools, scientists have been able to improve survey protocols, which increases the chances of detecting the B. dendrobatidis in the environment while reducing the risk of a false-negative. More importantly, these tools are not limited to only studying B. dendrobatidis. These same methods can be modified to quickly and affordability to provide early detection for diseases like B. salamandrivorans, and study other aquatic diseases that pose risks to the health of wildlife and humans alike. Study Assesses Groundwater Resources in the Willamette Basin Irrigation is a major user of groundwater in the Willamette Basin. Full appropriation of tributary streamflow during summer, a growing population, and agricultural needs are increasing the demand for groundwater in the Willamette Basin. Greater groundwater use could diminish streamflow and create seasonal and long-term declines in groundwater levels. The U.S. Geological Survey and the Oregon Water Resources Department cooperated in a study to develop a conceptual and quantitative understanding of the groundwater-flow system of the Willamette Basin with an emphasis on the Central Willamette subbasin. This final report from the cooperative study describes numerical models of the regional and local groundwater-flow systems and evaluates the effects of pumping on groundwater and surface-water resources. The models described in this report can be used to evaluate the effects of pumping on groundwater, base flow, and stream capture. The Willamette Basin is a topographic and structural trough that lies between the Coast Range and the Cascade Range in northwestern Oregon. It has five sedimentary subbasins underlain and separated by basalts of the Columbia River Basalt Group (Columbia River basalt) that crop out as local uplands. The regional model covers about 6,700 square miles of the 12,000-square-mile Willamette and adjacent Sandy River drainage basins. Are Contaminants in the Columbia River System a Cause of Lamprey Declines? Lamprey male building a redd (spawning nest). (Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Lampreys are members of an ancient order of jawless, cartilagenous fishes that have existed for as long as 400 million years. Pacific lampreys (Entosphenus tridentatus), one of 38 modern lamprey species, have inhabited Pacific Northwest river basins for possibly millions of years. Pacific lamprey are parasitic on ocean-going fishes, such as salmon. They are integral to the ecology of these river basins, and are culturally significant to several Northwest Tribes. Lamprey populations in the Pacific Northwest and other parts of the world have declined dramatically in recent decades, probably owing to multiple causes. The role of habitat contamination in the declines has rarely been studied and is the main objective of a joint study by the USGS and the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission. The goal of the study is to provide information about the bioaccumulation of several classes of contaminants of concern in larval and adult Pacific lampreys and habitat in key areas of the Columbia River Basin. The study will assess organism health during sensitive life stages before their transformation to adults, compare concentrations in larval tissues to levels in adult lampreys, and consider lamprey and human health implications. Phase 1 of the study, already completed, provided reconnaissance-based information on exposure and bioaccumulation of organic contaminants in larval, filter-feeding lampreys. Phase 2 will concentrate on adult lamprey. Monitoring Sediment, Bedload, Turbidity and Dissolved Oxygen During Reservoir Drawdown to Facilitate Downstream Fish Passage Collecting bedload samples in Fall Creek during drawdown of Fall Creek Lake reservoir The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), monitored turbidity, suspended-sediment concentration, dissolved oxygen, and bedload during a short-term operational drawdown of Fall Creek Lake, a reservoir operated by USACE in the upper Willamette Basin, Oregon, in the winter of 2012–13 (fig. 1). The USACE is an action agency listed in the 2008 National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinions (BiOps) on continued operations of the Willamette Valley Project, and, as such, is required to improve conditions at its facilities in the Willamette Basin for Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed fish species (National Marine Fisheries Service, 2008). The BiOps state that the action agencies must carry out interim operational measures so downstream travelling ESA-listed fish species pass through dams as safely and efficiently as possible until permanent downstream fish passage facilities are constructed. Read about the study and the results. Modeling Transport of Endangered Upper Klamath Lake Sucker Larvae Through a Restored Wetland Sucker larvae and an egg collected from Upper Klamath Lake. (Photograph from the USGS Western fisheries Research Center.) Marshes in the delta of the Williamson River, a major tributary to Upper Klamath Lake in southern Oregon, probably were once among the most important habitats for larvae of the endangered Lost River Sucker, Deltistes luxatus, and Shortnose Sucker, Chasmistes brevirostris, because of their location downstream of productive spawning grounds. In the 1940s, the delta was diked and drained for agriculture, which resulted in loss of organic matter, soil compaction, and subsidence, particularly in the northern part of the delta. In 1996, The Nature Conservancy purchased the property surrounding the mouth of the Williamson River (fig. 1) and began a large-scale restoration project to reconnect the Williamson River with about 6,200 acres of former agricultural land. In October 2007, the levees around the northern part of the delta, known as "Tulana," were breached, flooding approximately 3,700 acres. In November 2008, levees around the southern part of the delta, known as "Goose Bay," were breached, flooding an additional 2,500 acres. A primary restoration goal was to restore the function of the delta and its wetlands as nursery habitat for the endangered suckers. A hydrodynamic model with particle tracking was used to simulate larval fish dispersal through the Williamson River delta into Upper Klamath Lake before and after restoration. Read about the study results here and here. How Do Algae Contribute to the Tualatin River Ecosystem? Pediastrum, a floating colonial green alga. (Photograph by Kurt Carpenter, USGS). Algae like this one produce oxygen and are important to the ecological health of slow-moving rivers like the lower part of the Tualatin River. Phytoplankton (floating algae) in the Tualatin River of northwestern Oregon are critical for maintaining the river's dissolved oxygen levels in summer. During the low-flow summer period, nutrients and a long residence time typically combine with ample sunshine and warm water to fuel blooms of algae in the low-gradient, slow-moving lower river. Most algae in the lower part of the Tualatin River are the kind that drift with the water because the river is moderately deep and the bottom does not have the type of substrate needed for attached algae. Growth of algae occurs as if on a “conveyor belt” of streamflow, a dynamic system that is continually refreshed with inflowing water. Transit through the system can take as long as 2 weeks during the summer low-flow period. Production of oxygen by algae is important in offsetting oxygen depletion near the river bottom caused by decomposing organic matter from, primarily, the land. Low oxygen concentrations can harm aquatic life. New Software Tool Helps Water Managers Assess Effects of Stream and Lake Level Changes on Adjacent Lands Drained wetlands in the Wood River Valley adjacent to Upper Klamath Lake (Photograph by Trish Roninger, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2007). The Shoreline Mangement Tool will allow managers to predict inundation patterns and depths resulting from lake-level changes. The Shoreline Management Tool is a geographic information system (GIS) based program developed to assist water- and land-resource managers in assessing the benefits and effects of changes in surface-water stage on water depth, inundated area, and water volume. Additionally, the Shoreline Management Tool can be used to identify aquatic or terrestrial habitat areas where conditions may be suitable for specific plants or animals as defined by user-specified criteria including water depth, land-surface slope, and land-surface aspect. The tool can also be used to delineate areas for use in determining a variety of hydrologic budget components such as surface-water storage, precipitation, runoff, or evapotranspiration. How Does Naturally Occurring Organic Matter in the Clackamas River, Oregon, Relate to Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water? Plants, such as this green alga, are a source of organic carbon that can react with chlorinated disinfection chemicals during the drinking water treatment process to form disinfection by-products. These compounds can cause cancer and birth defects. (Photograph by Kurt Carpenter, USGS.) Disinfection by-products (such as chloroform) result from the chemical interaction of chlorinated disinfection compounds and carbon-based organic matter that occurs naturally in the source water. Some of these disinfection by-products can cause cancer or birth defects. Water managers would like to be able to identify the types of organic carbon that contribute disinfection by-product precursors in source water to assess the potential for future deterioration of river quality resulting from a wide array of organic-matter sources. Understanding the timing, sources, and composition of organic matter entering drinking-water intakes will help drinking-water suppliers develop source-water-protection programs, facilitate successful and cost-effective treatment strategies, and plan for future upgrades to treatment plants. The Clackamas River drains a large area east of Portland, Oregon. Land cover in the watershed is primarily forest, but also includes agricultural and urbanized areas. The river is the source of drinking water for a population of about 400,000. Two drinking-water treatment plants on the lower river use direct filtration, coagulation, and chlorination in their treatment process. The use of chlorine as a disinfectant, although essential for pathogen control, leads to the formation of disinfection by-products when it reacts with organic matter from the river. The USGS, in cooperation with Clackamas River Water, the City of Lake Oswego, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Water Research Foundation, conducted a study to characterize the nature and quantity of organic matter in source water for the treatment plants and tested the effectiveness of coagulant and powdered activated carbon on the removal of disinfection by-product precursors. Why Is Groundwater Declining So Fast in the Columbia Plateau? The Columbia Plateau regional aquifer system is an important source of irrigation water to farmers in otherwise dry agricultural areas of northeastern Oregon, southeastern Washington, and western Idaho. (Photograph courtesy of NASA) Groundwater from the 44,000-square-mile Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer, a system in decline since the 1970s, is an essential source of drinking water for nearly 1.3 million people in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and of irrigation water for the region’s estimated $6 billion-per-year agricultural industry. To help resource managers in the region, the USGS Groundwater Resources Program began a study in 2007 of the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System to answer key questions about widespread water-level declines, reductions in groundwater flow into rivers, and the as-yet unknown effects of a changing climate on groundwater resources. As part of the effort to document changes in the aquifer system, scientists from the USGS Washington and Oregon Water Science Centers compiled water levels measured in about 60,000 wells over the last 100 years. From a subset of the collected information, scientists developed a groundwater-level trend map for a period of widespread groundwater level changes (1968 to 2009). The average rate of change for all wells was 1.9 feet per year of decline, with 72 percent of all wells declining. Hydrologic Datasets to Aid Water Management in the Upper Klamath Basin The Sprague River is a major source of water to Upper Klamath Lake. The USGS, in cooperation with several Klamath Basin stakeholders, has developed hydrologic datasets for the upper Klamath Basin of south-central Oregon that can help water managers identify and prioritize water uses that could be voluntarily set aside and reallocated to yield an additional 30,000 acre feet of water to Upper Klamath Lake. The datasets can be used by water managers to display the geographical distribution of evapotranspiration, subirrigation, water rights, streamflow statistics, and irrigation return flow in the upper basin, crucial information for understanding potential impacts of any changes in allocation. Used together, the datasets can help managers determine the relative benefits of retiring water uses and/or redirecting specific water rights to address water-resource issues specified in the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. The KBRA was developed by a diverse group of stakeholders—Federal and State resource management agencies, Tribal representatives, and interest groups. The KBRA has the over-arching goal of providing a comprehensive solution to ecological and water-supply issues in the Klamath Basin. An important element of the KBRA is an Off-Project Water Program (outside of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Project area, south of Upper Klamath Lake), which was designed to help resolve upper basin water-supply issues. The KBRA has not yet been authorized by Congress; this research was undertaken to help water managers facilitate implementation of KBRA if it is authorized. The datasets, however, will also be of importance to other water-resources research efforts in the upper basin. Recent Oregon WSC Publications Simulations of a Hypothetical Temperature Control Structure at Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, Northwestern Oregon, by Norman L. Buccola and Stewart A. Rounds Improved Algorithms in the CE–QUAL–W2 Water-Quality Model for Blending Dam Releases to Meet Downstream Water-Temperature Targets, by Stewart A. Rounds and Norman L. Buccola Geomorphology and Flood-Plain Vegetation of the Sprague and Lower Sycan Rivers, Klamath Basin, Oregon, by Jim E. O’Connor, Patricia F. McDowell, Pollyanna Lind, Christine G. Rasmussen, and Mackenzie K. Keith Development of a HEC-RAS Temperature Model for the North Santiam River, Northwestern Oregon, by Adam Stonewall and Norman Buccola Organic Matters— Investigating the Sources, Transport, and Fate of Organic Matter in Fanno Creek, Oregon, by Steven Sobieszczyk, Mackenzie K. Keith, Jami H. Goldman, and Stewart A. Rounds Water Quality and Algal Conditions in the North Umpqua River, Oregon, 1995–2007, and their Response to Diamond Lake Restoration, by Kurt D. Carpenter and Chauncey W. Anderson, USGS, and Mikeal E. Jones, U.S. Forest Service Water-Quality Modeling of Klamath Straits Drain Recirculation, a Klamath River Wetland, and 2011 Conditions for the Link River to Keno Dam Reach of the Klamath River, Oregon, by Annett B. Sullivan, USGS; I. Ertugrul Sogutlugil and Michael L. Deas, Watercourse Engineering, Inc.; and Stewart A. Rounds, USGS Simulation of Groundwater Flow and the Interaction of Groundwater and Surface Water in the Willamette Basin and Central Willamette Subbasin, Oregon, by Nora B. Herrera, Erick R. Burns, and Terrence D. Conlon Total Dissolved Gas and Water Temperature in the Lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, Water Year 2013: Quality-Assurance Data and Comparison to Water-Quality Standards by Heather M. Bragg and Matthew W. Johnston Assessment of Suspended-Sediment Transport, Bedload, and Dissolved Oxygen during a Short-Term Drawdown of Fall Creek Lake, Oregon, Winter 2012–13, by Liam N. Schenk and Heather M. Bragg Assessing Potential Effects of Highway Runoff on Receiving-Water Quality at Selected Sites in Oregon with the Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model (SELDM), by John C. Risley and Gregory E. Granato Comparison of Historical Streamflows to 2013 Streamflows in the Williamson, Sprague, and Wood Rivers, Upper Klamath Lake Basin, Oregon, by Glen W. Hess and Adam Stonewall Statistical Analysis of the Water-Quality Monitoring Program, Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Optimization of the Program for 2013 and Beyond, by Sara L. Caldwell Eldridge, Susan A. Wherry, and Tamara M. Wood Particle-Tracking Investigation of the Retention of Sucker Larvae Emerging from Spawning Grounds in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, by Tamara M. Wood and Susan A. Wherry, USGS, and David C. Simon and Douglas F. Markle, Oregon State University Of Current Interest How Are Drought and Groundwater Related? Groundwater is among the Nation's most important natural resources. It provides half our drinking water and is essential to the vitality of agriculture and industry, as well as to the health of rivers, wetlands, and estuaries throughout the country. Droughts can significantly impact the Nation's groundwater resources while the drought is occurring and for some time afterward. Understanding groundwater, surface water, and the integrated nature of the hydrologic system enables resource managers and policy makers to better prepare for and respond to drought. The USGS provides groundwater data and information that resource managers and policy makers can use to prepare for and respond to drought. Organic Carbon and the World Around Us Carbon is all around us and in all life on Earth, including us. New analytical methods allow USGS scientists to gain many kinds of information about the sources and fate organic carbon in the aquatic environment, information that can help maintain the health of that environment—and us. Watch this video to learn how. USGS Helps Debut New Technology to Improve Access and Use of Earth Science Data Researchers investigating global issues now have an easy method for finding and using earth science data through a new technology developed by the Data Observation Network for Earth, or DataONE. Understanding broad and complex environmental issues, for example climate change, increasingly relies on the discovery and analysis of massive datasets. But the amount of collected data — from historical field notes to real-time satellite data —means that researchers are now faced with an onslaught of options to locate and integrate information relevant to the issue at hand. DataONE, a ten-institution team with several hundred Investigators, including researchers from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), is addressing this data dilemma with a number of cyberinfrastructure and educational tools to allow long-term access and usage of earth science data and information. The recently released ONESearch tool queries data centers located around the world for relevant earth science information and provides integrated access to science metadata and corresponding datasets. Video: What's in Our Water? This video examines what is in the Nations’ water, how the U.S. Geological Survey monitors it, and the tools the USGS has developed to explore more about our planet’s most abundant resource. About the USGS Cooperative Water Program The Cooperative Water Program, the largest of the 28 USGS Bureau Programs, is the Water Mission Area’s “bottom-up, on-the-ground” program that is designed to bring local, State, and Tribal water science needs and decision-making together with USGS national capabilities related to USGS nationally consistent methods and quality assurance; innovative monitoring technology, models, and analysis tools; and robust data management and delivery systems. The Cooperative Water Program conducts studies in every State, protectorate, and territory of the U.S. through a workforce of about 1,800 people staffed within 48 Water Science Centers in partnership with nearly 1,600 local, State, and Tribal agencies. The Program provides the foundation for USGS strong and robust water monitoring networks (quantity and quality) and supports interpretative studies – about 700 annually – that cover a wide range of issues that are important to the USGS water mission and that inform local, State, and Tribal water decisions. The significant tie to local, State, and Tribal issues allows the Cooperative Water Program to respond to emerging water issues, raising those issues to regional and national visibility. Video: Assessing the Health of Our Streams and Rivers Each year USGS scientists systematically assess the ecological health and water-quality conditions in streams and rivers across the United States. This research plays a vital role in land management and natural resource decisions around the country. These extensive data collection efforts conducted by researchers in the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program involve much more than just water quality. Learn more in this video. US West Coast Erosion Spiked In Winter 2009–10, Previewing Likely Future As Climate Changes Knowing that the U.S. west coast was battered during the winter before last by a climatic pattern expected more often in the future, scientists have now pieced together a San Diego-to-Seattle assessment of the damage wrought by that winter's extreme waves and higher-than-usual water levels. Getting a better understanding of how the 2009-10 conditions tore away and reshaped shorelines will help coastal experts better predict future changes that may be in store for the Pacific coast, the researchers say. "The stormy conditions of the 2009-10 El Niño winter eroded the beaches to often unprecedented levels at sites throughout California and vulnerable sites in the Pacific Northwest," said Patrick Barnard, USGS coastal geologist. In California, for example, winter wave energy was 20 percent above average for the years dating back to 1997, resulting in shoreline erosion that exceeded the average by 36 percent, he and his colleagues found. Read the full USGS news release Read the journal article New Discoveries Improve Climate Models New discoveries on how underwater ridges affect the ocean's circulation system will help improve climate projections. An underwater ridge can trap the flow of cold, dense water at the bottom of the ocean. Without the ridge, deepwater can flow freely and speed up the ocean circulation pattern, which generally increases the flow of warm surface water. Warm water on the ocean's surface makes the formation of sea ice difficult. With less ice present to reflect the sun, surface water will absorb more sunlight and continue to warm. U.S. Geological Survey scientists looked back 3 million years, to the mid-Pliocene warm period, and studied the influence of the North Atlantic Ocean’s Greenland-Scotland Ridge on surface water temperature. "Sea-surface temperatures in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans were much warmer during the mid-Pliocene warm period than they are today, but climate models so far have been unable to fully understand and account for the cause of this large scale of warming," said USGS scientist Marci Robinson. "Our research suggests that a lower height of the Greenland-Scotland Ridge during this geologic age was a contributor to the increase of poleward heat transport." Read the full USGS news release Read the journal article Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges—U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Next Decade The U.S. Geological Survey responds to evolving national and global priorities by periodically reflecting on and optimizing its strategic science directions. Responding to these national priorities and global trends requires a science strategy that not only builds on existing USGS strengths and partnerships but also demands the innovation made possible by integrating the full breadth and depth of USGS capabilities. The USGS has chosen six science directions that address major challenges for the Nation's future: Read the Science Strategy Fact Sheet Read the full report Global Earthquake Alerts to Include Economic Loss and Casualty Information Estimated economic loss and casualty information will now be included in earthquake alerts sent out by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) following significant earthquakes around the world. These earthquake alerts are widely recognized and used by emergency responders, government and aid officials, and the public to understand the scope of the potential disaster and to develop the best response. The USGS automated system, PAGER (Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response), rapidly assesses earthquake impacts by estimating the shaking distribution, the number of people and settlements exposed to severe shaking, and the range of possible fatalities and economic losses. The estimated losses trigger the appropriate color-coded alert, which determines levels of response: no response needed (green); local or regional (yellow), national (orange) or international (red). "The two recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile are good indications that earthquake magnitude alone is not a reliable predictor of human and economic loss,” said Dr. Marcia McNutt, director of the USGS. “The smaller magnitude-7.0 Haiti earthquake caused significantly more damage and loss of life than did the larger magnitude-8.8 Chile earthquake. PAGER is designed to rapidly and automatically take into account the differences in proximity to populated areas, depth of the earthquake, and building standards that are so critical in determining the human and economic toll so that emergency responders can act promptly and accordingly.” View the entire news release Read the PAGER fact sheet
\|Battle of Tannenberg\| \|Part of the Eastern Front of World War I\| \|Russian Empire\|\|German Empire\| Paul von Rennenkampf \|Paul von Hindenburg, \|30,000 killed or wounded; 95,000 captured\|\|20,000\| The Battle of Tannenberg in 1914, was a decisive engagement between the Russian Empire and the German Empire in the first days of The Great War, fought by the Russian First and Second Armies and the German Eighth Army between August 17 and September 2, 1914. The battle resulted in the almost complete destruction of the Russian Second Army. A series of follow-up battles kept the Russians off-balance until the spring of 1915. The battle is notable particularly for a number of rapid movements of complete corps by train, allowing the German Army to present a single front to both Russian Armies. Following the Russian revolution of 1917, Russia withdrew from the War. Russia's experience against Germany in World War II would be different, when she succeeded in pushing back the German advance and occupied almost the whole of Eastern Europe, which remained part of the Soviet sphere of influence until the end of the Cold War. \|Stalluponen – Gumbinnen – Tannenberg – 1st Lemberg – Krasnik – 1st Masurian Lakes – Przemyśl – Vistula River – Łódź – Bolimov – 2nd Masurian Lakes – Gorlice-Tarnów – Warsaw – Lake Naroch – Brusilov Offensive – Kerensky Offensive\| The Allied battle plan prior to the War had been based on France and the United Kingdom simply halting the German Armies in the west while the huge Russian Armies could be organized and brought to the front. The numbers were overwhelming; in perhaps as little as a month, the Russians could field around ten complete armies, more men than the German Army could muster on both fronts. Frustrating this plan was the Russians' lack of a quality railroad network—theirs operated on a different gauge than the German railroad network, meaning that unless the Russians acquired German railroad cars, most of their armies could only be brought to the German border. The presence of the armies of Austria-Hungary to the south, as well as initially those of Japan, to the east limited Russia's involvement in the beginning. The Germans likewise, considered the Russians to be their primary threat. The entire Schlieffen Plan was based on the idea of defeating France and Britain as quickly as possible, and then transporting their armies by train to the eastern front. This allowed the Germans to garrison Prussia fairly lightly, with a single army, the Eighth. That said, there was little allowance for anything other than a spoiling retreat while the outcome in the west was decided. In order to delay the Russian forces as long as possible, the entire area around Königsberg, near the Russian border, was heavily fortified with a long series of fieldworks. Just prior to the opening of the war, the situation developed largely as pre-war planning had expected. The German Eighth Army was in place southwest of Königsberg, while the two available Russian armies were located to the east and south, the latter in what was known as the "Polish Salient." Russian battle plans called for an immediate advance by the First Army under General Paul von Rennenkampf into East Prussia, with Königsberg as their short-term goal. The Russian Second Army under General Alexander Samsonov, located to the south, was to move westward around the Masurian Lakes and then swing north over a hilly area to cut off the Germans, who would by this point be forced into defending the area around Königsberg. If executed successfully, the Germans would be surrounded. When the war opened, the battle initially went largely according to the Russians' plan. The Germans had moved up about half of the units of the Eighth Army, reinforced by small groups of the Königsberg garrison, to points to the east of Königsberg near the border. The Battle of Stalluponen, a small engagement by the German I Corps under Hermann von François was initially successful. The German theater commander, General Maximilian von Prittwitz, nevertheless ordered a spoiling retreat towards Gumbinnen. A counterattack planned for the 20th had a fair chance of succeeding, but François, apparently emboldened by his success at Stalluponen, attacked early and ruined the chance for surprise. The Battle of Gumbinnen ended with the Germans forced to retreat, in many cases via rail, to positions to the south of Königsberg. Worried about his loss at Gumbinnen and the continued advance of the Russian Second to the south, von Prittwitz ordered a retreat to the Vistula, effectively abandoning eastern Prussia. When he heard this, Helmuth von Moltke, the German Army Chief of Staff, recalled von Prittwitz and his deputy, von Waldersee, to Berlin. They were replaced by Paul von Hindenburg, called out of retirement, and Erich Ludendorff as his Chief of Staff. Things were not entirely as they seemed to the German commanders in Berlin. The two Russian commanders, Samsonov and Rennenkampf, hated each other after Samsonov had publicly complained about Rennenkampf's behavior at the Battle of Mukden in 1905. Although the common belief that the two generals had come to blows at a railway station has proved to be incorrect, Rennenkampf would be disinclined to help Samsonov except under dire circumstances. Meanwhile, Samsonov's Second Army was having serious problems moving forward due to fragile supply lines to the rear, and unknown even to Samsonov, Rennenkampf had decided to delay the First's advance to regroup after Gumbinnen. Nevertheless, the scale of the forces deployed still meant the Russians had the upper hand. As they were currently deployed, the Eighth Army could not even cover the entire front along Samsonov's line of march, leaving his left wing in the southwest open to advance with no opposition. Unless troops from the Königsberg area, currently the I and XVII Corps, could be moved to check this advance, the Germans were in serious danger of being cut off. Colonel Max Hoffmann, von Prittwitz's deputy chief of operations, was well aware of the bad blood between the two Russian generals, and what it was likely to mean for the two armies' plan of action. Guessing that they would remain separated, as they were at the time, he proposed moving everyone not already in Königsberg's eastern defense line to the southwest, moving the I Corps by train to the left of Samsonov's line, a distance of over 100 miles (161 km). The XVII Corps, south of the I, would be readied for a move directly south to face Samsonov's right flank, the VI Corps. Additionally the small cavalry forces nearby would move to the Vistula River area to the west. It appears he hoped the cavalry would draw Samsonov westward, further separating the armies. This left only a small portion of the Königsberg area directly in front of the First Army defended, while the approaches from the south were entirely open. In theory, the plan was extremely risky. If the First Army turned to the southwest instead of advancing directly westward towards Königsberg, they would appear on the Eight Army's extreme left flank, allowing for either a counterattack against the Eighth, or alternately turn north towards Königsberg from the south, which was now undefended. However, Hoffmann remained convinced of the plan, both because he was aware of the animosity between the generals, as well as the fact that the Russians continually sent out their next day's marching orders over unencrypted radio communications. It appears they believed that the Germans would not have access to Russian translators, but the Germans easily intercepted and translated the transmissions. When von Hindenburg and Ludendorff arrived on August 23, they immediately stopped the retreat and put Hoffmann's plan into action. They did, however, leave the cavalry where they were, forming a screening force in front of the Russian First's left flank. François's I Corps were transported over 100 miles by rail to the far southwest to meet the left wing of Second. Hindenburg's remaining two corps, under Mackensen and Below, were to await orders to move south by foot so as to confront Samsonov's right wing. Finally, a fourth garrison corps was ordered to remain near the Vistula to meet Samsonov as his army moved north. The trap was being set. Ludendorff also learned at this point that von Moltke had decided to take three Corps and a cavalry division from the western front and redeploy them to the East. Ludendorff protested that they would arrive too late to have any effect, while at the same time weakening the battle and engaging against France. Von Moltke considered Prussia too politically important to possibly lose, and ignored Ludendorff's protests. Starting on August 22, Samsonov's forces had met the Germans all along his front, and had successfully pushed them back in several places. On the August 24 they met the Germans at the minor Battle of Orlau-Frankenau, where the heavily-entrenched German XX Corps had stopped the Russian advance. Undeterred, Samsonov saw this as a wonderful opportunity to cut this unit off completely, because, as far as he was aware, both of his flanks were unopposed. He ordered most of his units to the northwest, towards the Vistula, leaving only the VI Corps to continue towards their original objective, Seeburg. Ludendorff issued an order to François' now-deployed I Corps to initiate the attack on Samsonov's left wing at Usdau on August 25. François rejected this direct order, choosing to wait until his artillery support was ready on the August 27. Ludendorff and Hoffmann would have none of this, and traveled to meet François to repeat the order to his face. François agreed to commence the attack, but complained of a lack of shells. On the way back from the meeting, Hoffmann received new intercepts from the Russian radio. Rennenkampf was going to continue the next day's march due west, ignoring Samsonov, just as Hoffmann had hoped. No matter the outcome of the next few day's battle, the Russian First Army would not be a serious concern. A second intercept of Samsonov's own plans made it clear that he would continue his march northwest, having concluded that the Germans would continue to retreat in front of Tannenberg. Ludendorff and Hindenburg were skeptical that the intercepts were real—after all, what commander would be stupid enough to transmit orders in the clear, let alone two of them. Nevertheless, they were eventually convinced they were indeed real, and the plans were put into action. I Corps would open its attack on the Russian left flank on the 25th, while orders were sent to XVII Corps to move south and meet the Russian right flank as soon as possible. Given the need for immediate action was no longer pressing, François once again demanded he be allowed to wait for his artillery supplies. Ludendorff and François began arguing, and eventually François delayed enough to allow the battle to open on August 27, as he had wished. The morning of August 26 opened with the Russian First Army advancing westward, meeting little resistance. The troops that were formerly directly in front of them had moved to the south, facing the Second Army's right flank. There was still time to close the gap between the armies and thereby threaten the German movements, which by this point were being reported back to Russian headquarters. Nevertheless, on the night of August 25, the Russian field commander sent orders for the First to continue directly to Königsberg, orders that were once again intercepted. Due to François' delays, it was the German XVII Corps that opened the battle proper. They met the two separated divisions of the Russian VI Corps near Seeburg and Bischofstein, turning them both back toward the border in disarray. The right flank of the Russian Second Army was now open. In the meantime, the Russian advance toward Tannenberg continued to be blocked by the XX Corps in front of them. Their only successes were in the middle, where their XIII Corps advanced towards Allenstein unopposed. François opened his own attack on the Russian left on the 27th, held by the Russian's own I Corps. His artillery proved to be decisive, and by the night the Russians were falling back. In order to help stabilize the line, Samsonov ordered the seemingly successful XIII Corps to abandon Allenstein and turn southwest to help break through at Tannenberg. By the time this maneuver was complete, the bulk of the Russian Second Army were all in the Tannenberg area, consisting of the newly-arrived XIII, the XV and parts of the XXIII. By the evening of August 28, the full extent of the potential danger to the Russians was evident. The I Corps on the left and the VI Corps on the right were both retreating. Meanwhile the center was having serious supply problems and could no longer hope to maintain an offensive. Samsonov had no option but to order a retreat to re-form the lines to their southeast near the border. Meanwhile he asked Rennenkampf to ignore Königsberg and turn southwest to help. But it was too late. François by this time had advanced due east to form a line to the south of the Russians between Niedenburg and Willenburg, directly in front of their retreat. At the same time, the XVII Corps in the north had moved southwest to meet him. The next day the Russian center met these troops on their way to regroup, and realized they were surrounded. A pocket formed east of Tannenberg, near Frogenau, and was pounded throughout August 29. Attempts by the Russian First Army to come to their aid were also far too late to help. The cavalry screen proved effective at delaying them, and by the time the battle was already over their closest unit was still to the northwest of where the initial contact between the German XVII Corps and Russian VI Corps, perhaps as much as 45 miles (72 km) from the now developed pocket. Other units were scattered back along the line to Königsberg, and now the First was itself in a dangerously spread-out position. By the time the battle ended on August 30, 95,000 Russians troops were captured, another 30,000 killed or wounded, and only 10,000, mostly from the retreating flanks, managed to escape. The Second Army no longer existed. The Germans suffered fewer than 20,000 casualties and captured over 500 guns. Sixty trains were required to transport captured equipment to Germany. Rather than report the loss of his army to the Tzar, Samsonov committed suicide by shooting himself in the head on August 29, 1914. The German Eighth Army now faced only the Russian First. In a series of follow-up battles, notably the First Battle of the Masurian Lakes, the First was almost completely destroyed, and turned back over their borders. A Russian Army would not march on German soil again until the end of World War II. Hindenburg and Ludendorff were both hailed as heroes, although Hoffmann was generally ignored in the press. Apparently not amused by Hindenburg's role, Hoffmann later gave tours of the area noting, "this is where the Field Marshal slept before the battle, this is where he slept after the battle, and this is where he slept during the battle." Ludendorff sent the official dispatch from Tannenberg, and the battle was named Battle of Tannenberg at the direct request of Hindenburg. Hindenburg chose Tannenberg because of its historical significance; it is the location where the Teutonic Knights were defeated by the Slavic forces at the Battle of Grunwald (referred to in German as Schlacht bei Tannenberg—that is, also as the Battle of Tannenberg). Interestingly, an ancestor of Hindenburg's had fallen at the battle in 1410. One interesting side-effect of the battle has since become an arguing point among historians. The three corps, one complete army, that von Moltke had sent to bolster the east, never arrived in time to have any effect. However, over a week was lost due to this confusion. Some have suggested that the removal of an army in the west in the midst of battle was a reason the Schlieffen Plan failed. If this is true, it means that Tannenberg was possibly the battle won that lost the war for Germany. The battle is at the center of Alexander Solzhenitsyn's novel, August 1914. All links retrieved May 19, 2016. New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. 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How is ADPKD diagnosed? Currently, there are three main tests that are used to screen for ADPKD: - Computed tomography (CT) - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Ultrasound is the most common and least costly screening method for PKD. There are accepted standards for ultrasound testing to determine if you have PKD. These standards include the number of cysts visible, age, and family history. CT and MRI scans are considered to be more sensitive than ultrasound. CT scans, however, involve radiation or may also require iodinated contrast dye which, can be toxic to the kidneys. CT scans or MRIs may be used to look at complications like bleeding into a cyst or a suspected kidney stone. They may also be used detect small cysts as needed. DNA testing is available for PKD. There are two types of DNA tests: Gene linkage testing and direct mutation analysis/DNA sequencing. Gene linkage can determine if you have PKD with a 99 percent probability in those with family history. Linkage testing is not a direct analysis of the DNA sequence of the PKD1 and PKD2 genes. Instead, it relies on the identification of certain “markers” in the DNA of several members of a family in which PKD has been diagnosed. For linkage analysis, blood samples must be obtained from the person being tested as well as several (typically three or more) family members including those affected and unaffected by PKD. A detailed family history is also required. The results are typically reported to all family members that provided blood samples for the analysis. In contrast, direct DNA sequencing requires only a single sample from you (the person being tested). This method is a direct analysis of the DNA sequences of the PKD1 and PKD2 genes. It is private, and the results are only reported to you and your doctor. Using very specialized scientific equipment, each of the nearly 17,000 “bases” of DNA are analyzed and the entire sequence is thus determined. This method is capable of identifying those changes in the sequence that cause PKD. It may be your only option if family members are unavailable or unwilling to participate in a linkage study. Each of these methods could be costly and should not be done without consideration of the pros and cons. Health, life and disability insurance coverage vary between countries and may influence your decision to have genetic testing. In the United States, the Affordable Care Act has guaranteed health insurance for all regardless of any preexisting conditions. This does not guarantee life or disability coverage. A diagnosis of PKD should be carefully considered and discussed with your doctor. Should I be tested? It is an important and impactful decision. Things to consider before being tested include: - What will I do with the information once I have it? - Will it prevent me from obtaining medical or life insurance? - Am I better off knowing or not knowing? - Can I financially afford the test? Some people choose to remain undiagnosed but live a healthy lifestyle, eating well and monitoring their own blood pressure. They see the doctor often to monitor kidney function. If or when they have symptoms, they can revisit the decision to be tested. Our understanding of PKD is progressing every year. Early diagnosis may benefit from early therapies and could also mean you are eligible to participate in clinical studies. All these factors and more must be considered before making a decision. Get the latest information on treating PKD. ARPKD, PKD in children Page last reviewed June 2021
Founder of Virginia and promoter of colonization in America. He was born in Lincolnshire and fought against Spain and the Turks (1596–1604). As one of the governing council of Virginia in 1607, his military discipline and firmness with the Native Americans saved the settlement of Jamestown from collapse. After being burnt in an explosion, he returned to England in 1609. Five years later he explored the New England coast. His optimistic Description of New England (1616) was a powerful encouragement to emigration there in the 1620s and 1630s. (See Pocahontas).
What's The Point Exploring words, their meanings, and how they relate to other words helps build vocabulary and writing skills. Collect your own “word bones” from newspaper headlines and have some fun with them by creating silly sentences. In the Park with Skits – Build vocabulary as you find hidden objects with Skits. Word Spinner app for iPad – Martha hosts a family-friendly multiplayer game that combines elements of party classics. This Activity Will Help Your Child - Build vocabulary and writing skills - Learn about sentence structure - Extra! Extra! : Fairy-tale News from Hidden Forest by Alma Flor Ada - Max's Words by Kate Banks Crayons or markers How Do I Do It? Collect Your Newspaper “Word Bones” - Look through a newspaper with your child and identify at least 10 headlines your child likes best. For example, headlines with interesting words, creative phrasing, or familiar places and people. - Cut apart the headlines, word-for-word, and then set them aside. - Talk with your child about the meaning of each word. Use them in sentences, just like Martha does. Build Your Silly Sentences - Using your headline “word bones,” help your child create at least five sentences. Be creative. Be silly. Experiment with different phrases. - Glue the sentences onto the white paper. - Invite your child to create a picture to go along with each sentence. Note: If a paper newspaper is not available, this activity can be adapted by using an online newspaper. Your child can print out or copy the headlines. Take It Further Select one of your silly sentences and turn it into a silly story. Take turns with your child adding sentences to your original silly sentence until you have built it up into an entire story!
The Thinking Behind the 10 Breakthrough Technologies Here’s what we look for, and what we hope to avoid. Every year, MIT Technology Review selects the 10 technologies we believe are the big breakthroughs of the last year: innovations that are a clear advance in their field. We’ve published a list of the year’s most impactful technologies since 2002. We’re sometimes wrong. We once thought social media and broadcast television would merge (see “Social TV”). But they remain separate streams that people can experience simultaneously, tweeting their impressions of presidential debates as they watch them on TV. More often, we’re not so much wrong as too early: cancer genomics, where doctors sequence the mutations of a patient’s tumor to better match the drugs most likely to help, was less practicable when sequencing was more expensive (see “Cancer Genomics”). What do we like? We are cross-disciplinary in our thinking: we enjoy tracing how developments in one field lead to advances in another. A breakthrough in artificial intelligence (see “Deep Learning”) has become crucial to the ambitions for self-driving cars (see “Tesla Autopilot”). We applaud ambitious solutions, such as Google’s plan to bring Internet access to everyone in the world (see “Project Loon”). And we admire elegance and power: we were blown away when scientists used CRISPR to engineer two macaque monkeys, demonstrating the vast potential of gene editing (see “Genome Editing”). This year’s 10 Breakthrough Technologies reflect the same tastes. “Reinforcement Learning” describes an ambitious approach in AI: computers repeat an action until something difficult goes more smoothly, whereupon the system favors the behavior that led to that outcome. According to senior editor Will Knight, reinforcement learning is an old idea, toyed with by AI pioneers like Marvin Minsky, that never quite worked. But in March 2016, “AlphaGo, a program trained using reinforcement learning, destroyed one of the best Go players of all time … The feat was astonishing, because it is virtually impossible to build a good Go-playing program … Not only is the game extremely complex, but even accomplished players may struggle to say why certain moves are good or bad.” Knight says that reinforcement learning, currently being explored by Uber, OpenAI, and DeepMind, could speed the development of self-driving cars and robots that can reliably grasp objects. Recommended for You Or consider the cross-disciplinary approach in “Reversing Paralysis”, which combines neuroscience and electronics. Senior editor Antonio Regalado describes how a French neuroscientist named Grégoire Courtine installed a recording device inside the skull of a semi-paralyzed macaque monkey, and then sutured electrodes around the animal’s partially severed spinal cord. “A wireless connection joined the two electronic devices. The result: a system that read the monkey’s intention to move and then transmitted it immediately in the form of bursts of electrical stimulation to its spine.” Suddenly, the monkey’s leg could extend and flex, and it “hobbled forward.” In the past, a few people have controlled robotic arms using brain implants; but by wirelessly connecting brain-reading technologies to electrical stimulators, researchers like Courtine are creating “neural bypasses” that could allow the disabled to walk. These are just two of the technologies in this year’s list. Read all 10 technologies, and tell me which you think are most remarkable at email@example.com. Become an Insider to get the story behind the story — and before anyone else.
John Washington Rath (born February 26, 1872 in Ackley, IA; died December 22, 1951 in Waterloo, IA), a founder of the Rath Packing Company in Waterloo, Iowa, played a major role in the American meatpacking business for more than fifty years. Rath served as president of the family business from 1898 to 1943, and then as chairman of the board until 1950. John Washington Rath (henceforth referred to as “J.W.” or “J.W. Rath”) and the Rath Packing Company also played a critical role in Waterloo’s development as a center of industry during the first half of the twentieth century. Additionally, the Rath brand was a force in the American meat industry for years until faltering sales and labor struggles led to the company’s decline. While J.W. Rath’s leadership most certainly helped the company to grow, his conservative business ideas eventually aided in its demise. Still, his contributions as a financial and community leader in Waterloo helped the city grow successfully. J.W. Rath was a second-generation German-American. His father, John Rath (1840-1914), was born in Breitenau, in the Kingdom of Württemberg, in 1840 and immigrated to the United States in 1853 with his older brother George (1839-1863). The Rath brothers came to the United States at the height of the first great wave of German immigration: between 1852 and 1855, more than 500,000 Germans entered the United States. At the time, the typical push factors for German emigration included economic changes in the German states, improvements in transportation technology, and to a lesser extent, the Revolutions of 1848 in Europe. In the case of the Rath brothers, the decision to emigrate was likely prompted, or at least facilitated by, the presence of relatives who had already settled in the U.S. and established a business there. Their paternal uncle, George John Rath, who was born in the Kingdom of Württemberg in 1821, had settled in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1849 and had started a small meat packing company there. The Rath brothers sailed to New York by way of Havre de Grace, France. After their arrival, they spent a couple of weeks in the city before setting off to Dubuque. They are said to have travelled by way of Albany and Lake Erie to Chicago, where they went by rail to Freeport, Illinois, and then by stagecoach to Galena, Illinois. Having run out of money, they proceeded to Dubuque on foot. Unfortunately, as neither could speak English, they were unable to inquire about the way. Apparently, they made it to Dubuque by following the telegraph line. In November 1853, the young Raths were warmly welcomed by their uncle, who was already an established member of the local community. George John Rath’s first foray into the meatpacking business in Dubuque – his sixteen-year partnership with Bavarian-born John H. Stroebel (1825-1906) in the Stroebel and Rath Packing Company – had been successful. It is unclear whether George Rath had meatpacking experience back in Württemberg, or whether he simply entered the industry due to the opportunity presented by Stroebel. Either way, in 1870, George struck out on his own with another packing venture, and then partnered with his son Edward Frederick (E.F.) in 1887 to form the George Rath and Son Company. Another son, George C. Rath, was a businessman as well; he had been educated at Bayless Business College and had worked for a variety of companies before he bought out his father’s packing business in 1890. John Rath worked for his uncle George at the packing company from 1853 until 1861, at which point he moved to Cedar Falls. It was there that he enlisted in the military in 1862 and served in the Thirty-First Iowa Regiment during the Civil War. His military career was extensive, as he fought at Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Taylor’s Ridge, and participated in Sherman’s march to the sea. John’s brother George also served in the Civil War, but sadly he did not survive: he was killed at the Battle of Missionary Ridge. After the war, John settled in Ackley, Iowa, in Hardin County, and began to establish himself as a businessman. On October 5, 1865, he married Elizabeth Moser of Dubuque, Iowa. Together, they had eight surviving children: Sherman, Amelia, John Washington, Lizzie, Charles, Clara, Walter, and Howard. In 1866, John started working for a grain and lumber company; he became a partner in the company two years later, and finally bought out the business, first with a partner, and then on his own. In 1881, he founded the Exchange Bank in Ackley, which he ran until his death in 1914. The bank started with $25,000 ($550,000 in 2010) in capital and grew steadily in its first twenty years to more than $60,000. The Exchange Bank was extremely successful and became an important financial institution in northeastern Iowa. Due to Rath’s business savvy, the family quickly became wealthy. Of the Rath children, Sherman stayed in Ackley and worked as cashier of the Exchange Bank, and John Washington (or J.W.) set his sights on business as well. J.W. followed in his father’s footsteps in business. He completed his business education at Bryant and Stratton’s business college in Chicago and returned to Iowa with the intention of starting a career at his father’s bank. But due to a series of events that reverberated throughout the Rath clan, J.W. never ended up at the Exchange Bank. In 1891, back in Dubuque, his great-uncle’s business, the George Rath and Son Packing Company, burned to the ground. The business that had once employed John Rath was no more. While the fire was a blow to Dubuque, it represented a tremendous opportunity for the city of Waterloo, which was located approximately ninety miles away. As George and his son E.F. Rath looked for a new site for their plant, boosters from Waterloo attempted to woo the Raths to their city. At the time, Waterloo leaders were pursuing industrial development, and they were using the city’s new railroad connection as a selling point. In 1884, the city had persuaded the Chicago Great Western Railroad to make Waterloo a stop on its “Diagonal Line,” which ran from the northeastern corner of the state to Des Moines. The connection helped Waterloo gain prominence as a shipping and distribution point, and this, in turn, drew more and more companies to the city. Waterloo officials must have thought that a meatpacking operation would be a great boon to their developing city. Previously, meatpacking in Iowa had generally concentrated along the Mississippi River due to the ease of transport, but with the extension of railroad lines into the interior of the state, it became more efficient to move livestock directly from farms to processors. Nineteenth-century meatpacking operations generally fell into two categories. The earliest type of meatpacking operations were terminal-market packing facilities, where purchased animals could be slaughtered right at the stockyard, then shipped to branch houses anywhere in the country by rail. Later in the century, independent packing houses sprang up in more rural locales, closer to the sources of the livestock. These direct-buying facilities made it easier for farmers to sell directly to plants. The direct-buying plants were located mostly in Iowa, but also in some other livestock regions of the Midwest. For instance, Thomas McElderry Sinclair and John Morrell built facilities in Cedar Rapids and Ottumwa, Iowa, respectively; Charles Wolff in Topeka, Kansas, and George Hormel in Austin, Minnesota. Soon, Waterloo would also be the site of a direct-buying plant. In order to convince the Raths to move their business to Waterloo, the Board of Trade offered them $10,000 ($247,000 in 2010) along with land by the Cedar River on which to build the new plant. The seed money, combined with investments from John Rath and a group of other local businessmen, added up to $25,000 ($618,000 in 2010). The initial investors became the first stockholders of the Rath Packing Company. George Rath, the owner of the original company, declined to relocate to Waterloo and remained as a businessman in Dubuque. Instead, his nephew John Rath became president of the company; Albert Holzer, another stockholder, served as vice-president, and George Rath’s son E.F. Rath was appointed as secretary and treasurer. Although John Rath was not particularly interested in working at the plant himself, he was instrumental in getting his son, J.W., involved in the new Waterloo venture. As J.W. Rath recalled in the 1940s, his father thought that it would be good for him to spend a few months in Waterloo until the business got on its feet. “The intention,” he explained, “was that I should go back to his bank a little later on, but as it happened, I never did go back.” E.F. Rath soon realized that he would not be able to handle all of the business tasks himself, so J.W. joined the company as a partner and was put in charge of bookkeeping. By 1898, John Rath had decided to step out of the picture permanently, and as J.W. recollected, he “said that somebody who was active in the business should fill the position of president, and so it was pushed on to me.” In the years between the company’s founding and J.W.’s appointment as president, Rath Packing Company remained fairly small. The company processed no more than 19,000 hogs per year for the first ten years, and as few as 9,876 in 1892, the year before the Panic of 1893. Management consisted of J.W. and E.F. Rath, with the former attending to bookkeeping, shipping, and sales tasks, and the latter overseeing the actual operations. Apparently, their first office was so small that, as J.W. recalled, “whenever we had a visitor, either Ed [E.F. Rath] or myself would have to go out to make room for them.” The firm employed twenty-two workers in the early 1890s, and the labor was long and difficult. Workers earned about $0.15 per hour, working ten hours a day, six days a week. In today’s terms, these laborers were earning a paltry $223.00 per week.According to J.W. himself, the managers put in as many hours as the day laborers, as “we came to work at 7:00 in the morning and worked until 6:00 in the evening, with an hour out at noon for dinner, and often times came back after supper to look after the plant and also to do what book work was necessary.”The fledgling company saw losses after its first year in business, and it was hit especially hard by the Panic of 1893. J.W. attributed the survival of the business during these difficult years to the dedication of the workers, as “all of us worked very hard and long for small pay and we watched the corners very closely.” By the time the Rath company had established itself in Waterloo, the city had registered some success in developing profitable industries. Still, judging from the performance of Rath Packing in its first five years, J.W. Rath feared that meatpacking would not be one of them. At the turn of the century, however, things began to turn around. Waterloo continued to grow, and Rath became an important part of that growth. Boosters and journalists for Waterloo extolled the virtues of the city during the opening years of the twentieth century. For instance, the Waterloo Times-Tribune reported that the city spent nearly $1,000,000 in 1900 ($26,800,000 in 2010) in new building and improvements and that it was a leader in wholesale and manufacturing. At this point, Rath Packing started overcoming its initial growing pains and became a major force in the city. By 1905, Waterloo was known as the “factory city of Iowa,” and it was allegedly even outpacing the capital city of Des Moines in industry. Rath had grown in prominence, employing about 125 people and slaughtering about 60,000 hogs in one year, compared to 19,000 hogs in its first year. In a short span of time, Rath Packing Company had more than tripled its output, and its payroll had increased accordingly. The company also planned to expand its facilities. In 1906-07, Rath worked to update their buildings and to add another chill room. On the eve of World War I, Rath was the fourth largest business of its kind in Iowa. The company’s size and reputation led to government contracts to supply the military with meat products during the war. Half of Rath’s products went to the war effort, and the business boomed as a result. Aided by the financial boost provided by World War I, Rath Packing accelerated its expansion plans. As J.W. later recalled, after the company’s second year in business, it embarked on “a building program that has never ceased.” This was especially true by the 1920s. The company’s capital continually increased, and in 1922, plans were implemented to more than double the size of the plant. According to a November 18, 1922, article in the Waterloo Evening Courier and Reporter, the expansion would “place Waterloo on the map as having the finest and most up-to-date packingplant in the state.” Among other state-of-the-art features, the addition was to include a new shipping building, a boiler house, smokehouses, and a casing house, as well as more ground for further expansion. Another Evening Courier article, published about a month later, described the Rath Packing Company as the “city’s biggest industrial plant” and the most modern meatpacker in the entire Midwest. At the time, Rath was also the biggest pork producer in the whole state of Iowa. Building projects and profits continued to grow in the 1920s. Even as the United States spiraled into the Great Depression, Rath continued to see profits rise. Despite the stock market crash of October 1929, J.W. remained optimistic about the coming year, noting in the annual report for 1929, “all departments are showing increased activities and we are looking forward with confidence to the coming year.” J.W.’s words rang true for the next year, as 1930 was successful as well. Profits continued to increase, and building projects commenced as well. J.W. did concede that “following the general trend of all commodity prices, livestock values are on a lower basis than for several years,” but instead of lamenting the fact, he believed that it would increase purchasing. The Rath Packing Company did struggle a bit during the Depression, but, on the whole, it continued to experience an upward trend. The annual reports of the 1930s spoke to the country’s financial difficulties, but they also showed how Rath managed to remain successful. For example, the year 1931 had started out as unprofitable, but late gains helped the company break even and maintain its streak of profitable years. In 1932, prices fell to the lowest they had been up to that point, but the company was saved by the fact that it was virtually debt free. Starting in 1933, Rath continued the expansive building program that had been in effect since the early days of the company. By 1937, every original building in the Waterloo plant had been replaced by more modern facilities. J.W. Rath remained upbeat throughout the difficult decade, accentuating the positive in annual reports. In 1936, he even noted that “during the depression there was no general reduction of wages made in our organization, on the contrary, since November 1933, three advances have been made in the pay of plant employees.” After a relatively shaky turn in the early 1930s, the company rallied and prospered. In 1941, the company celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, which came on the heels of its most profitable year ever up to that point. Numbers from 1940 showed that Rath Packing Company slaughtered more animals that year than any other packing house in the country. Net sales for 1940 totaled $58,258,996.53 (about $905,000,000 in 2010), an increase of almost 7% over the previous year. An anniversary celebration was most certainly in order, and the occasion was marked by festivities and the publication of an anniversary book in which J.W. Rath reflected on his fifty years in business. As one of the founders of the company, J.W. had much to say about its progress over time. One thing that emerged clearly from Rath’s reflections was the sheer scale of the company’s growth. In the early days, relatively few hogs were killed because the process was slow and workers had to perform multiple tasks on the same hog; by 1941, however, the plant could kill as many as 600 hogs in an hour. Another indication of the company’s growth was the size of its sales department, which had grown from one employee – the one being J.W. himself – to 500. J.W. quipped, “of course, I do not tell them that they do more business than I did.” Rath Packing Company capitalized on this tremendous growth and continued its ascent during the Second World War. As during the First World War, Rath won government contracts to supply meat to the military. Rath showed an unceasing commitment to the war effort, even going as far as to change packing methods, since paper and cardboard were in short supply, and “the supplies of the armed forces come first.” Still, the company did not fail to take advantage of the wartime situation. Salesmen were encouraged to note the changes in various sales sectors and to use them to sell more meat. Throughout the Depression and World War II, J.W. Rath remained at the helm of the company. Observers throughout the years always noted his dedication to the company. His grandson, John D. Donnell, characterized him as smart and friendly, and possessed of the ability to relate to all members of the business. In the end, however, he was the boss, and he always asserted the full power of his position, even when it meant arguing with other company leaders. He also steered the company on a conservative course, refusing to speculate or take any kind of risk, be it on a building or a business venture. Lack of speculation ensured that each animal slaughtered was sold for the exact price that day. Throughout its history, the Rath Packing Company relied on innovative branding and advertising to increase its sales. From the very beginning, Rath company advertising focused on the source of its meat products. The highest quality Rath products were known as “Black Hawk” (the name of the county in which Waterloo is located), and the second-tier products were named “Cedar Valley” (the geographic location of the plant). Rath himself was enamored of the story of Black Hawk, the great Sauk leader, and he made the Native American legend a visible part of the company’s advertising strategy. One Rath publication from the 1930s described the company’s affinity for the Indian chief and explained why he was a fitting representative for its products: Black Hawk was a true warrior – true to himself and his people. He fought for right as he saw it. He was a great and sturdy fighter. When the Rath Company sought a distinctive name to identify their choicest ham and bacon, the name of Black Hawk seemed particularly appropriate…This warrior would have no half-way measures. Likewise, the Black Hawk brand never permits half-way quality. Rath products were from the heartland, and references to America’s native heritage only served to emphasize that fact. In 1946, James Harley Nash designed the Rath Indian-head logo, and Native American motifs became part of Rath’s official corporate imagery. Historian Rebecca Conrad theorized that the logo was designed not only to evoke Black Hawk the person, but also to “create visual recognition among potential customers who vaguely associated meatpacking with the corn-livestock regions once inhabited by Plains Indians.” In subtle ways, though, certain Rath products also reflected the German heritage of the company founders. It is not clear whether the Rath family’s ethnicity explicitly influenced the branding of these products, mainly different types of sausages, but the German roots of these meats was certainly apparent in some Rath advertising, even though these meats were often clothed in American imagery – sometimes literally – and embedded in an American context. One 1938 advertisement for canned hot dogs described the product as “Imported Style Frankfurters,” implying that, although the product was produced in Iowa, it took the form of something foreign. Later on, in the 1950s or 1960s, the company launched a campaign to sell “wieners,” originally a German meat product, to families with small children. These advertisements featured cartoon wieners dressed in stereotypical Native American garb. In a related promotional effort, the company offered customers a free cardboard headdress with every package of wieners. By creating a specific brand based on region and culture, Rath tapped into ideas put in place by Oscar Mayer as early as 1936, when the Wienermobile and Oscar Mayer Wieners appeared in advertising and on store shelves. One explicitly German product line was the Rathskeller line, a clever play on the name Rath and the German word Rathskeller, meaning a bar or a restaurant located in the basement (Keller) of a city hall (Rathaus). Rathskeller products included German Brand Wieners, bratwurst, and knockwurst (along with non-German Polish sausage). While it is difficult to locate information on the origins of this product line, it is clear that these meats stood in contrast to the more Americanized sausage products, including mild sausage and smoked sausage, which bore the more familiar Rath logos. Overall, though, the Rath Packing Company was generally known for making distinct products from high-quality, farm-grown, Iowa meat. Instead of limiting itself to more traditional methods of meat preparation, the Rath company offered a wide variety of meat products of various ethnic origins. According to the company’s anniversary book, “a good American-born, corn-fed hog or steer, or at least parts of the hog or steer, may emerge from this American packing plant as Genoa salami, Braunschweiger, Goteborg, Thuringer, or Mortadella sausage.” The late-1940s and 1950s saw a change in the types of products emphasized by the Rath Packing Company. To combat an overall decrease in meat consumption in the United States, the company used different tactics to sell its products. The American Meat Institute (AMI) played an important role in these changes. The AMI was the national trade association for the meat industry. J.W. Rath had been a member since 1926 and served on its board of directors from 1931 to 1934. Together with members of that organization, Rath company salesmen attempted to play up the benefits of eating more meat. Some of these efforts took the form of mass market television advertisements. The Fred Waring Show, a popular television variety show that ran from 1949 to 1954, featured many commercials and tie-ins emphasizing the nutritional advantages of a protein-rich diet. Waring often made reference to meat during his program, noting, for example: “it’s a real break that the meat we like so much contains so many of the things that are good for us – that we’re right in liking meat!” Rath continued to partner with the American Meat Institute throughout the 1940s, using the Meat Education Program to teach the general public about meat and its purported benefits. Among other objectives, the program aimed to increase meat consumption, dispell rumors of meat-related health threats, and popularize various meat preparation techniques in order to help “housewives” use meat to their best advantage. The idea of making meat more accessible to the main family cook informed Rath’s successful dalliance with frozen meat products in the 1950s. At the time, frozen cuts of meat were not particularly popular, since they were “difficult to display properly” and weren’t “especially cheaper than cuts hacked fresh off the beef.” Rath “Chop-ettes,” frozen patties of chopped meat, gave the company a unique way of dealing with the problem of shifting prices in fresh meat supply. Problems in distribution, though, prevented Chop-ettes from competing with the frozen products of larger companies. After World War II, other aspects of business began to change for the Rath Company as well. Opinions differ on when the company first started showing signs of decline, but generally speaking, the postwar period (the late 1940s through the 1950s) was a time in which the company struggled to maintain the level of success it had enjoyed since its beginnings. At this point, J.W. Rath stepped down from the company presidency, a position he had held for forty-five years. His departure may have had something to do with the downturn, not only because of the new leadership, but also because of the afterlife of certain policies and business attitudes that J.W. had put in place. J.W. did not leave the company completely, but took on a new role as chair of the executive committee. This period saw the beginnings of the labor strife that would plague the company for the rest of its existence. Perhaps the most significant event was the strike of 1948. Throughout the years, the Rath Packing Company had generally avoided labor disputes, but the postwar surge in unionization had caused difficulties between workers and management. In March of 1948, a strike was called by the United Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA). John D. Donnell, a grandson of J.W. Rath and one-time company employee, called it a “watershed event” for the company. In an attempt to keep operations going, management hired strikebreakers, bringing about hostility among the strikers. Tragedy struck when a worker attempting to enter the plant fatally shot one of the strikers. A riot broke out, and the National Guard was brought in to end the violence. The strike finally ended in May after at least one unsuccessful attempt at bargaining. Labor issues continued to be a problem in the 1960s and 1970s, long after J.W.’s death. According to Donnell, management was continuingly hostile toward organized labor, and any attempt to quell labor issues went unheeded. He noted, “although there was much discussion of how to deal with the Union at the top and all other levels of management, I don’t recall any concerted effort to develop a proactive program to try to change the relationship. Nor as far as I know did any community leader step forward as a potential change agent.” Donnell was present for these labor struggles, and it is clear that he was willing to take a hard look at flaws in the company’s labor relations. Nonetheless, he was still part of the family management, and his account is potentially biased for that reason. In 1957, the Rath Packing Company hired an independent company to conduct an attitude survey. The survey, which aimed to determine attitudes toward the Rath Packing Company, both within the company and in the wider community, largely confirmed Donnell’s assessment. The survey found that management-employee relations were significantly lacking. Employees exhibited no sense of loyalty to the company and generally felt that they had no say in the direction of the company. In independent meetings with departmental leaders, the survey-takers found that employees did not have any authority to make decisions and generally felt the company was too conservative, which limited possibilities for expansion. It is unclear whether the suggestions that emerged from the survey were ever implemented. In the end, the company continued to struggle until an employee ownership plan was put in place in 1980. Employees became the controlling interest in the company, and management and workers began cooperating in an unprecedented way. Unfortunately, before any real recovery could take place, the company declared bankruptcy in 1983, ultimately leading to the end of Rath Packing Company. In addition to documenting labor issues, Donnell identified several other crucial problems within the company that partially contributed to its demise. Many of these problems stemmed from J.W. himself and his management style. First, J.W. did not have a business strategy on paper. Donnell believed that J.W. did in fact have “a notion of where he thought the Company fit into the competitive scheme, its strengths and weaknesses, and probably a general direction,” but, as he explained, “I never heard him articulate it.” Subsequent leaders perpetuated his practices, and management was kept strictly within the Rath family. J.W. insisted that “no one other than a family member should be an officer of the Company,” and, as a result, reluctant sons and nephews were pressed into service. J.W.’s own son Howard, who, in Donnell’s estimation, was not suited for leadership, was treated harshly by his father, who coddled him on the one hand, yet punished him for being coddled on the other. J.W.’s plans for an exclusively family-run business led to poor management decisions, especially when the family held only a small share of the company stock after it was opened to general purchase in 1929. J.W. Rath and his family fit well into Iowa society. Beginning with his father John, members of the Rath family had worked to assimilate into American society, seemingly leaving much of their German heritage behind. As soon as John settled in Dubuque with his uncle George, he began attending a business school and learning English. The one arena in which John and other Rath family members retained a semblance of “German-ness” was religion. The family attended a German church in Dubuque, and it was here that John met and married Elizabeth Moser, a Swiss immigrant. The two were married in October of 1865, right after John finished serving in the Civil War. The elder Rath’s marriage ceremony had the distinction of being performed by Reverend Adrian Van Vliet, the founder of the German Seminary of Dubuque. This is significant, as the seminary, properly known as the German Theological School of the Northwest, was the first Presbyterian seminary in the West, and it was established to train German Presbyterian ministers. The school remained exclusively German until World War I, at which point it gradually became a more secular institution and was renamed the University of Dubuque, which it is still called today. That a fully German seminary would develop in Dubuque is not surprising, since Dubuque had a large German population at the time. In the years preceding John Rath’s immigration, Dubuque had welcomed a large influx of German immigrants who settled in and around the Mississippi River town. Religion was one way of maintaining a connection to German culture in a new place. Though the majority of German immigrants to the United States belonged to either the Catholic or Lutheran churches, there were also ethnic German branches of other denominations, such as the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Jews. The Raths were among those German adherents to the Presbyterian Church. J.W. Rath became a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Waterloo, Iowa, where he eventually settled and married his wife, Maud Harbin, in 1895. J.W. and Maud had two children, Anita Louise (who would marry A.D. Donnell, a former president of the Rath Packing Company) and Howard (who also worked for the Rath Packing Company). J.W. was an active member of the congregation, where he served as an elder and held other leadership positions for as long as thirty years. He was not the only Rath who devoted himself to the Presbyterian Church, however: his brother Charles became a missionary for the Presbyterian Church in the Philippines. Also, when the Rath siblings were grown and their parents had passed away, they donated the family home to the Presbyterian Synod of Iowa, which turned it into a retirement home. The stately home, which was designed especially for the Rath family, was built in 1878 at a cost of $10,000 (or $225,000 in 2010). The Presbyterian Home still exists for its original purpose in Ackley, Iowa. J.W.’s devotion to the church carried over into other areas of his life, as he was an ardent philanthropist and a member of many community organizations. Some of those organizations reflected his status as a Waterloo business leader, such as Rotary, of which he was a charter member and one-time president. He also served as a trustee of the Presbyterian Hospital Association for forty-seven years. Moreover, he took part in other community-building organizations in Waterloo, where he spearheaded the construction of the Y.M.C.A., the Masonic Temple, and the Grout Museum. His service to the community extended to more than just charitable organizations. He served as both trustee and president of the Waterloo Waterworks, which was an integral part of the city’s public works infrastructure. J.W. also took on leadership roles to benefit the company and the meat industry. For example, he served in leadership positions at both the First National Bank of Waterloo and the National Bank of Waterloo for most of his adult life. He was a director of the Illinois Central Railroad and a member of the Iowa Manufacturers Association throughout his years with the Rath Company. Additionally, he sat on the executive committee of the American Meat Institute, served as director of the National Livestock and Meat Board, and held the post of chairman of the board of the Institute of American Meat Packers. According to one account of the Rath company, J.W.’s “advice and counsel” was “valued by the entire industry.” J.W. Rath died of a cerebral thrombosis on December 22, 1952. He was remembered by friends and family as a hardworking, friendly, and modest man who always gave back to the company and the community. It is clear that, even though J.W. was a conservative man, the force of his personality and his interest in serving the needs of Waterloo and the Rath Packing Company went a long way in maintaining employee relations at the plant. In fact, “conservative” could be used to describe the Rath family in many ways. As early as 1911, one historian noted that the Ackley Exchange Bank, owned by John Rath, “has always been conducted along very conservative lines and enjoys the confidence of the public.” As mentioned earlier, the Rath Packing Company also was described as having a “conservative management” and “a conservative policy” in all of its various business ventures, never stretching beyond the bounds of what had already been done. Politically, J.W. was a member of the Republican Party, the same party to which his father John had belonged. Although conservative measures served John and J.W. well throughout their lives, by the second half of the twentieth century, a conservative approach to business could no longer keep the Rath Packing Company going. The story of John Washington Rath, and of the whole Rath family, is one of immigrant success. His father John Rath had followed in the footsteps of his uncle George by leaving Württemberg, settling in Iowa, assimilating into American culture, and establishing a thriving business. When J.W. Rath was appointed president of the Rath Packing Company, he relied on his business savvy and conservative business inclinations to usher the company through its disappointing early years and turn it into a powerhouse in the meatpacking industry. Although J.W. was born in the United States, his German heritage and his family’s immigrant experience were an integral part of the company and its attempts to create a quintessentially American product from home-grown Iowa meat. Although J.W.’s particular business strategy, which relied on conservatism in practice and a family-only management plan, failed to yield success after his death, the impact of his years at the helm of Rath Packing Company continued to be felt for decades to come. Kenneth Lyftogt, ed., Left for Dixie: The Civil War Diary of John Rath (Iowa City, IA: Camp Pope Bookshop, 2004), 3. La Vern J. Rippley, “German Assimilation: The Effect of the 1871 Victory on Americana-Germanica,” in Germany and America: Essays on Problems of International Relations and Immigration, ed. Hans L. Trefousse (New York, NY: Brooklyn College Press, 1980), 123. Hon. William J. Moir, ed., Past and Present of Hardin County Iowa (Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bowen and Company, 1911), 416. Biographies and portraits of the progressive men of Iowa, leaders in business, politics and the professions; together with an original and authentic history of the state, by ex-Lieutenant-Governor B. F. Gue. 2 vols. (Des Moines, IA: Conaway & Shaw, 1899), vol. 1, 498. Lyon, “Rath, George John.” Moir, ed., Past and Present of Hardin County Iowa, 417. See “History of the Presbyterian Home in Ackley, Iowa,” Rath, John W. and Family Folder, Grout Museum of History and Science, Waterloo, Iowa. “History of the Presbyterian Home in Ackley, Iowa.” Moir, ed., Past and Present of Hardin County Iowa, 418. John C. Hartman, ed., History of Black Hawk County, Iowa and Its People. 2 vols. (Chicago, IL: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915), vol. 2, 26. All current values (in 2010 USD) are based on Samuel H. Williamson, "Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1774 to present," MeasuringWorth, 2011, using the Consumer Price Index. Moir, ed., Past and Present of Hardin County Iowa, 206. Rebecca Conrad, Bringin’ Home the Bacon: The Rath Packing Company in Waterloo, 1891-1985 (Iowa City, IA: Tallgrass Historians L.C., 2010), 3. Untitled by J.W. Rath, Rath Packing Company/Chronology-Recollections Folder, Grout Museum of History and Science, Waterloo, Iowa. Glenda Riley, Cities on the Cedar: A Portrait of Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and Black Hawk County (Parkersburg, IA: Mid-Prairie Books, 1988), 33. Deborah Fink, Cutting into the Meatpacking Line: Workers and Change in the Rural Midwest (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1998), 45-46. Wilson J. Warren, Tied to the Great Packing Machine: The Midwest and Meatpacking (Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa Press, 2007), 3. Ibid., 3. Ibid., 19-20. Conrad, Bringing Home the Bacon, 2. Conrad, Bringing Home the Bacon, 3. Untitled by J.W. Rath. Conrad, Bringing Home the Bacon, 2. Untitled by J.W. Rath. Conrad, Bringing Home the Bacon, 3. Untitled by J.W. Rath. Ibid.; “J.W. Rath reviews the growth of Rath Packing Co.,” 1941. Rath, John W. and Family Folder, Grout Museum of History and Science, Waterloo, Iowa. Conrad, Bringing Home the Bacon, 3; “J.W. Rath reviews the growth of Rath Packing Co.” “J.W. Rath reviews the growth of Rath Packing Co.” Untitled by J.W. Rath. Waterloo Times-Tribune, January 17, 1901. Waterloo Times-Tribune, February 24, 1905. According to the article, Des Moines was listed as having more factories than the author thought was correct, since he had research stating that many of the factories in Des Moines were too small to be considered true factories. Waterloo Times-Tribune, June 20, 1905; Untitled by J.W. Rath. Letter Book, 1906-1907. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 5, Box 1, Folder 2, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Conrad, Bringing Home the Bacon, 3. Mary Beth Eldridge, The Rath Packing Company Strike of 1948 (Waterloo, IA: no publisher, 1990), Introduction. Untitled by J.W. Rath. “Raths Increase Packing Plant by More than Half,” Waterloo Evening Courier and Reporter, November 18, 1922. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 1, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. “Rath Packing Co. is City’s Biggest Industrial Plant,” Waterloo Evening Courier and Reporter, December 30, 1922. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 1, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Warren, Tied to the Great Packing Machine, 20 Annual Report, 1929. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 2, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Annual Report, 1930, Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 3, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Annual Report, 1931. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 4, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Annual Reports, 1932. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 5, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Annual Reports, 1933. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 6, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Annual Reports, 1937. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 12, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library; See also Conrad, Bringin’ Home the Bacon, p. 4. Annual Reports, 1936. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 9, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. This statistic was disputed by Mary Beth Eldridge (1990), who claims that salaries were low in the early 1930s and that work was unreliable at best; see Eldridge, The Rath Packing Company Strike of 1948, Introduction. “Rath Stock Increased to $12,000,000,” newspaper article. Rath Packing Co., 1929-1942 Folder, Grout Museum of History and Science, Waterloo, Iowa. “J.W. Rath reviews the growth of Rath Packing Co.” Conrad, Bringin’ Home the Bacon, 4. Memo, February 25, 1944. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 10, Box 1, Folder 17, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. “Increase Distribution during Rath’s 51st Year,” 1942. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 8, Box 24, Folder 10, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. John D. Donnell, Why the Rath Packing Company Failed (Waterloo, IA: Grout Museum of History and Science, 1993), 8. Ibid., 8-9. “The Rath Packing Company,” undated. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 1, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. See also Conrad, Bringin’ Home the Bacon, 15. Black Hawk History Sheet, ca. 1930s. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 1, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library; Conrad, Bringing Home the Bacon, 11. Conrad, Bringin’ Home the Bacon, 11. Black Hawk History Sheet, ca. 1930s. Conrad, Bringin’ Home the Bacon, 12. Bulletins, 1938—Imported Style Frankfurters, Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 10, Box 1, Folder 7, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. “Wieners” or “Frankfurters” originated in Germany and Vienna, and were appropriated as the American “hot dog” in the early twentieth century. See Roger Horowitz, Putting Meat on the American Table: Taste, Technology, Transformation (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006), 78-80; Lil Injun Wiener Advertisement, Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 8, Box 39, Folder 70, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Free Headdress, Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 8, Box 39, Folder 75, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Horowitz, Putting Meat on the American Table, 91. Rathskeller Advertisement, Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 8, Box 97, Folder 31, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Mild Sausage Advertisement Art, Rath Packing Company Records, Series 8, Box 97, Folder 20, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library; Smoked Sausage Advertisement Art, Rath Packing Company Records, Series 8, Box 97, Folder 6, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. “The Packer’s a Chef with 900 Specialties,” Waterloo Packer, 1941. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 13, Box 9, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. “Statement of the American Meat Institute to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health,” 1973. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 5, Box 9, Folder 25, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library; “John W. Rath,” Rath, John W. and Family Folder, Grout Museum of History and Science, Waterloo, Iowa. Bulletins, 1946. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 10, Box 1, Folder 23, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Rath’s Sales Program for 1948. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 8, Box 24, Folder 7, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Tide Magazine article, October 25, 1957. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 1, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. See also Conrad, Bringin’ Home the Bacon, 14, for a discussion of Chop-ettes. Donnell, Why the Rath Packing Company Failed, 13-14, 17. Conrad, Bringin’ Home the Bacon, 16. Donnell, Why the Rath Packing Company Failed, 27. Ibid., 28. Attitude Surveys, 1957. Rath Packing Company Records, MS 562, Series 11, Box 1, Folder 3, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. Conrad, Bringin’ Home the Bacon, 10. Donnell, Why the Rath Packing Company Failed, 11. Ibid., 15. Ibid., 10. Ibid., 15-16; Conrad, Bringin’ Home the Bacon, 15. Lyftogt, ed., Left for Dixie: The Civil War Diary of John Rath, 3. Lyftogt, ed., Left for Dixie, 97. Dorothy Schwieder, Iowa: The Middle Land (Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press, 1996), 94. Ibid., 96. Hartman, ed., History of Blackhawk County, 27; Donnell, Why the Rath Packing Company Failed, 9-10. “John W. Rath.” “History of the Presbyterian Home in Ackley, Iowa.” “John W. Rath.” Ibid.; “Editorials,” Rath, John W. and Family Folder, Grout Museum of History and Science, Waterloo, Iowa. “John W. Rath.” Ibid.; “The Rath Packing Company.” “The Rath Packing Company.” “John W. Rath.” Moir, ed., Past and Present of Hardin County Iowa, 206. “The Rath Packing Company.” Hartman, ed., History of Black Hawk County, 27; Moir, ed., Past and Present of Hardin County Iowa, 418. Cite this Entry "John Washington Rath." (2019) In Immigrant Entrepreneurship, Retrieved December 15, 2019, from Immigrant Entrepreneurship: http://www.immigrantentrepreneurship.org/entry.php?rec=163 Kleinschmidt, Rachel. "John Washington Rath." In Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present, vol. 3, edited by Giles R. Hoyt. German Historical Institute. Last modified December 04, 2014. http://www.immigrantentrepreneurship.org/entry.php?rec=163 "John Washington Rath," Immigrant Entrepreneurship, 2019, Immigrant Entrepreneurship. 15 Dec 2019 <http://www.immigrantentrepreneurship.org/entry.php?rec=163>
Inbreeding Ruled Out As Cause Of Amphibian Deformities Although research has linked inbreeding with elevated rates of deformity in a wide variety of animals, a new study finds it plays no part in the high incidence of malformation among salamanders. Purdue University researchers recently examined 2,000 adult and juvenile salamanders and found that 8 percent had visible deformities, mainly consisting of missing, extra or dwarfed digits (equivalent to fingers and toes). That is double the rate of malformation found in newts, a related amphibian, but on par and with frequencies seen in many frog species, said assistant professor of forestry and natural resources Rod Williams. “This is really the first study to test – and disprove – the hypothesis that inbreeding is responsible for malformations in salamanders,” said Williams, corresponding author of the study published recently in the journal Biology Letters. Like many types of amphibians, tiger salamanders return to the same pond throughout their lives to mate. Williams and his former doctoral adviser, lead author Andrew DeWoody, hypothesized that habitat fragmentation or other factors might increase the probability that related salamanders could return to the same spot and mate. But their study found animals’ genetic backgrounds to be unrelated to deformation rates; deformed salamanders were no more inbred than normal individuals. The population proved to be quite diverse, in fact, with roughly twice as much genetic variation as most land animals, DeWoody said. They calculated relatedness by measuring frequencies of alleles, which are copies or pairs of genes whose ratios are abnormally skewed in inbred individuals. High rates of amphibian malformation concern scientists not only because they threaten the survival of certain important species, but also because of what they signify about the health of the environment, said DeWoody, an associate professor. “Amphibians are a good bio-indicator species – real canaries in the coal mine,” Williams said. Amphibians are more heavily impacted by water pollutants because of their semipermeable skin. Many species also begin life in water, where they risk contaminant exposure during their most vulnerable years, Williams said. The reason for high rates of deformation in salamanders, frogs and other amphibians remains a mystery, DeWoody said. With inbreeding ruled out, however, environmental factors like parasites, ultraviolet radiation and water pollution remain prime suspects, he said. Williams and DeWoody are actively looking for a cause or causes that may shed light upon high levels of malformation in frogs and other amphibians. “We’ve crossed out inbreeding as a possibility, an important step forward,” DeWoody said. “But there’s a lot of work yet to do.” Image Caption: A Purdue study found deformities in 8 percent of the 2,000 tiger salamanders examined, like this five-legged individual photographed in April 2004. Purdue researcher Rod Williams has ruled out inbreeding, which has been linked with elevated rates of deformity in a wide variety of animals, as a cause. (Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources photo) On the Net:
ALEX Lesson Plans Subject: Arts Education (1 - 3), or English Language Arts (1 - 3) Title: Where Did My Sunflowers Van Gogh? Description: Students will read about the life of Vincent Van Gogh and observe how the events of his life shaped his art. Students will view various works by the artist and evaluate the changes in them. Students will then create a still life sunflower portrait interpretation based on the works of Vincent Van Gogh. This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan. Subject: Arts Education (1), or Science (9 - 12), or Technology Education (6 - 8) Title: Botany Scavenger Hunt Where's the Ginkgo? Description: Students use a science nature journal to log in plants native to Alabama. They sketch pictures of leaves, identify the special characteristics of the plant, and describe the environment where it was found. They also research special characteristics and classifiy the plant. This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science, GEMS Project funded by the Malone Family Foundation. Subject: Arts Education (K - 1) Title: Pig Art Description: Students will explore three-dimensional art and produce an art object. The art will relate to the story of The Three Little Pigs.
SLEEP DENTISTRY/SCREENING FOR SLEEP DISORDERS Snoring – the Silent Killer An American research study showed that in a 30 to 45 year old population, 20% of men and 5% of women will snore, and by the age of 60, 60% of men and 40% of women will snore habitually. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder and is estimated to have an incidence of 24% in men and 9% in women in the US. Many authorities believe that up to 93% of females and 82% of males with moderate to severe OSA remain undiagnosed. A recent report in Singapore, published in The Straits Times, showed that 1 in 3 Singaporeans have Snoring/Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and 1 in 3 of these patients have moderate to severe OSA. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is related to reduced airflow through the upper airway during sleep. This is due to complete or partial upper airway obstruction or increased upper airway resistance. Snoring is frequently deemed as a social nuisance. Not a nuisance to the snorer, but a nuisance to the bed-partner. The presence of snoring is an ‘alarm’ that alerts one to the possibility of OSA. Snoring implies an increased resistance to the inflow of air during breathing at the level of the upper airways. Snoring is due to the vibration of the tissues in the nose, mouth and oral cavity (namely the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, base of tongue and lateral side walls of the mouth). The vibration of excess tissue and the narrow airway leads to collapse, partial or complete, of these structures, which then leads to upper airway obstruction during sleep. This upper airway obstruction cause stoppages in breathing (apnea) and low oxygen at night during sleep. This results in increased heart rate (as the heart is trying to compensate for the low oxygen), and increased blood pressure (hypertension). Hence, the patient with OSA has poor quality unrested sleep. DURING THE NIGHT Commonest clinical symptom for patients with OSA is snoring. Most of my patients come to see me saying: “Hey doc, you know I snore; but you know what, it doesn’t bother me, it bothers my wife!” This would be the social aspect behind the snoring. Frequently, the bed partner prompts the patient to see a sleep doctor because of concerns over repeated choking at night/gasping/apneas (stoppages in breathing). Patients may complain of frequent awakenings with a choking and gasping sensation, teeth grinding, nocturia (frequent passing urine at night), or nightmares. Many bed partners have witnessed their partners choking and holding their breaths during their sleep. Patients with severe OSA may be unable to sleep supine (on their back), as this causes the tongue to fall backwards resulting in obstruction of the airway. DURING THE DAY Common daytime patient complaints include early morning tiredness and morning headaches (attributable to the repetitive nocturnal low oxygen levels). Morning dry mouth and throat are caused by mouth-breathing and snoring. Other symptoms include forgetfulness, depression, irritability and, less commonly, impotence. Excessive daytime sleepiness is very common in patients with OSA, and is caused by a combination of frequent arousals, sleep fragmentation, repetitive oxygen desaturations, and reductions in delta and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Excessive daytime sleepiness can be measured by a simple questionnaire known as the Epworth’s Sleepiness Score (ESS) (see figure below). The commonest symptoms related to obstructive sleep apnea are: During the day: During the night: \|Activity\|\|Chance of Dozing\| \|Sitting and Reading\| \|Sitting inactive in a public place (Meeting, theatre)\| \|A passenger in a car for one hour without a break\| \|Lying down in the afternoon when circumstances permit\| \|Sitting and talking to someone\| \|Sitting quietly after lunch without alcohol\| \|In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic\| Each question is rated from a zero to a three. A final score of zero (minimum) to 24 (maximum). In general, a score less than 10 is considered normal, any result between 11 to 14 is considered fairly sleepy, and any score above 14 is considered sleepy. A score of 20 to 24 is a dangerous patient who might fall asleep anytime, even when driving. Clinical evaluation is the most important step in managing a patient with snoring and/or sleep apnea. An ear, nose and throat endoscopic examination of the upper airway assessment is crucial. All patients should have weight and height recorded, body mass index (BMI) calculated, blood pressure taken, and neck circumference measured. AIRWAY ASSESSMENT IS MOST IMPORTANT The upper airway assessment is the most important step in the evaluation of the snoring patient. This would be fundamental, in assessing and deciding the modality of treatment in all snoring/sleep apnea patients. Based on the patient’s BMI, neck circumference, oral cavity adequacy, tonsil size, palate size/length, tongue size, upper airway assessment, and the nasal passage size, the modality of treatment is decided together with the patient. Treatment of snoring and sleep apnea may be conservative and/or surgical (see chapter on Treatment of Snoring/Sleep Apnea). Many studies have shown that the symptoms of a patient alone are fairly useful in predicting if one has sleep apnea or not. There are strong indicators of sleep apnea. Many of my younger patients (between 30 to 40 years old) who come to my clinic with severe symptoms of sleep apnea are already on anti-hypertensive (high blood pressure) medication. It is not normal for a young male to have high blood pressure; an underlying cause should be sought for. There are some strong tell tale symptoms of sleep apnea. If you snore and have excessive daytime sleepiness, you have a close to 70% chance of having sleep apnea. If you snore, have excessive daytime sleepiness and your bed-partner noticed that you stop breathing (or noticed you gasping at night), you have an 80% probability of having sleep apnea. If you snore, have excessive daytime sleepiness, your bed-partner says you stop breathing at night, and you have high blood pressure (hypertension), you have a 90% chance of having sleep apnea. Some simple questions that you may ask yourself to see if you might have sleep apnea: At night, while asleep: If you answer “yes” to any 3 of these questions, there would be a strong probability that you might have sleep apnea. Nightmare time comes in the wee hours of the morning for people with obstructive sleep apnea. But it’s no dream: That’s when they’re at highest risk of sudden death. It has been said that “Sleep apnea is the phantom cause of heart disease and sudden death”. It is well known that patients with sleep apnea have a 6 times higher risk of dying between midnight and 6am, compared to normal non-apneic patients. As these patients with snoring and sleep apnea have numerous dips in their oxygen levels while asleep, it would not be surprising that they suffer from significant stress on the heart and brain during these low oxygen events. This in turn leads to high blood pressure, lack of oxygen in the blood and hence, strokes, heart attacks and sudden death. Overall, it is well known that patients with sleep apnea would not live as long as people without sleep apnea. Medical research studies done over 10 years have shown that patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (patients who stop breathing more than 30 times per hour) have a mortality rate of about 3% per year. In general, patients with snoring/sleep apnea are classified into those with a “global” problem, i.e. obesity, and those with a “local” anatomical problem (those with huge tonsils, long thick palate, big tongue and/or a small jaw). Patients with OSA are generally advised: This is a non-invasive method of treatment, it entails using continuous positive airway pressure (forced air) by a mask worn by the patient on the nose or the face throughout the night (it is somethings compared to a “reversed vacuum cleaner”). For most patients with OSA, it is not easy to wear the mask throughout the entire night and for every night for the rest of his life. Hence, the issue of compliance is a major problem. The CPAP machine and its mask would only be effective if the patient wears the mask; it would not work if it is kept in the closet. Moreover, many patients wake up with the mask on the floor, and hence, would not use it the entire night. The CPAP machine and mask is as effective as the duration that it is worn. CPAP IS NOT A CURE, IT IS A CONTROL; IT IS ONLY EFFECTIVE WHEN IT IS WORN ON THE FACE. The main drawback to the use of nasal CPAP is compliance. Common reasons for poor compliance with nasal CPAP include: Failure of CPAP The CPAP machine is effective provided the patient can tolerate it the entire night. Compliance is the main problem. Most people do NOT use the machine the entire night and every night of the week. Hence, the treatment effectiveness is based entirely on the patient’s use. Oral appliances (like dentures) are designed to bring the mandible (lower jaw) and base of tongue forward, either by stabilizing the lower jaw position during sleep or by attempting to pull the tongue forward, in an effort to increase the posterior airway space. Oral appliances are offered especially when the patient is a poor candidate for surgical intervention, or is unable to tolerate nasal CPAP. Oral devices can be divided into two basic types: These oral devices are not for every OSA patient, and also has an issue with patient usage (compliance) and because the lower jaw is held forward at night, the jaw joint might start to hurt or feel the strain. The key to surgical success is patient selection (for a successful surgery, the doctor has to select the suitable patient). Success rates of surgery depend on Severity of OSA can be classified according to the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) and lowest oxygen saturation level (LSAT). The severity is usually graded as the worst of the two. \|Mild OSA\|\|5-14\|\|86% - 95%\| \|Moderate OSA\|\|15-29\|\|75% - 85%\| Type of nose surgery is dependent on the patient’s nose anatomy. In general, the radiofrequency of the inferior turbinates are easy, simple, painless, quick and has minimal side-effects. Other types of nose surgery: This new technique is minimally invasive surgery; it is safe, convenient and effective in treating sinus diseases. The recently invented Pang’s Expansion Sphincter Pharyngoplasty technique (invented by Dr Kenny Pang) has been shown to be over 80% effective in patients with obstructive sleep apnea Types of Palate Surgery Types of Tongue Surgery Notes for OSA patients Many patients who see me present with two ends of the spectrum in sleep disorders, they usually have 2 main complaints: “Doc, I’m so tired but I just can’t fall asleep!” or “Doc, I sleep 8-9 hours, but I’m still so tired, I can’t keep awake!” These sleep disorders range from insomnia (unable to fall asleep) to obstructive sleep apnea (excessive daytime tiredness, unable to keep awake). Some self administered sleep test questionnaire might help. These sleep tests are not intended to be diagnostic, they are just helpful for patients who suspect that they have a sleep disorder. Answer some of these questions: In general, with more than 5 answers as positive (yes), one should seek a sleep specialist consult. It might indicate that you could have a sleep disorder. Sleep Assessment Tests To say that a patient has high blood pressure, one would have to take the blood pressure reading; to say that a patient has diabetes, one would have to take a glucose blood test. Similarly, to diagnose a patient with a sleep disorder, one would have to perform a sleep assessment test. There are 2 main types of sleep test: Depending on the type of sleep disorder suspected, the sleep specialist would order the appropriate sleep test. The type of sleep test ordered would be dependent on the number of parameters required. Overnight Hospital Sleep Test (Polysomnogram) The in-hospital overnight attended (monitored by a sleep technician throughout the night) sleep test comprises of multiple parameters including: With these parameters, the sleep specialist would be able to determine the sleep stage (dream sleep versus non-dream sleep), the stoppages of breathing, and whether there is continued chest/abdominal effort to breathe. Apnea – stoppage in breathing by more than 10 seconds duration Obstructive – some form of obstruction in the upper airway In obstructive sleep apnea, there would be no nasal or oral airflow (stoppage in breathing), but there would be persistent effort by the patient to breathe (body trying to breathe despite an obstructed airway). In central apnea, there would be no nasal or oral airflow (stoppage in breathing), but no effort nor attempts by the body to breathe (brain forgetting to breathe). Although the in-hospital overnight sleep test is useful, it suffers from a few disadvantages (see figure) namely: Hence, due to these short-comings of the in-hospital overnight sleep test, many sleep specialists have moved away from asking the patient to stay in hospital for the sleep test and have encouraged patients to monitor their sleep in the comfort of his own home. Home Based Overnight Sleep Test (done in the patient’s own home) A wrist-worn device known as the Watch PAT (American FDA approved) has been used to detect OSA. The PAT (peripheral arterial tonometry) technology represents a unique and accurate concept of non-invasive measurement of stress levels that appears to be very accurate for detecting sleep-disordered events (see figure). This is a self-contained device worn around the wrist. It is lightweight and silent, easy to use, portable, and accurate, which is essential for a practical ambulatory device. Only ONE finger probe is used in this device. One is the optico-pneumatic (light and pressure) sensor that detects the peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) signal (stress level in the finger); the other measures arterial oxygen saturation (amount of oxygen in the blood). The body of the device also contains an actigraph (which measures and detects muscle tension and tone), which is used to differentiate sleep stages from wakefulness. Simplistically speaking, the Watch PAT looks at any desaturation in oxygen level in the blood and correlates this with the arterial tone in the finger probe. Pang K.P. and his researchers found that this wrist worn device had very close correlation and accuracy with the in-hospital overnight sleep test. As discrete obstructive airway events (i.e. stoppages in breathing) cause stress to the heart, lungs and brain, this increases arousal from sleep, stress activation and hence these events would markedly increase peripheral arterial tone (finger tone) signal. Many other authors have also found good correlation between the Watch PAT and the overnight sleep study in the hospital. Suffice to say, the paradigm has shifted from the cumbersome in-hospital laboratory overnight sleep test, to the convenient, cheaper and accurate home based device (Watch PAT). It is of important note that the Watch PAT is already FDA approved in the United States of America and most insurance companies in the USA recognize its advantages and are proponents of it.
Inventions that changed the world Yr 3 & 4 have had a great start to our new topic this term. We kicked off the first week with our WOW day, designing and making windmills, fairground rides, land yachts and cranes! We have taken inspiration from two AMAZING inventors...Wallace and Gromit with their scintillating ideas such as: the porridge gun, Bun Vac 6000 and the bed waking lever! Of course, we are considering other real-life inventors too such as Leonardo da Vinci, The Wright brothers and Steve Jobs with their inspiring, innovative ideas. What a CRACKING start we have had to our latest learning adventure! We hope that you are all having fun in the snow. How deep is the snow in your garden? How many snowballs have you thrown? We would love to see some snowy pictures next week to share in class for Let's Talk Maths. If you can think of any questions, that would be snowtastic!! We thoroughly enjoyed our WOW Day with AnimalsUK today! There were so many interesting creatures to meet, and cuddle! Here it is, our amazing information book that includes all our fascinating facts about the remarkable animals that dwell in the different layers of the rainforest. We researched the information, drafted and redrafted before creating our finished pages. We loved every step and our very proud of our book. Enjoy reading it! Feel free to share your review on our padlet! We used infographics to learn facts about the rainforest! Some of the numbers were very hard to believe! WOW! What numerical facts can you represent as an infographic? Did this number surprise you? We had a very interesting mystery guest visit our class this week. Here are some clues, see if you can determine who came! His name was Salvador, named after the artist who painted this type of living thing. He originates from places such as Florida, where he hides in the 'corn'! He is about 50cm long. Scaly and cold blooded! A reptile! Have a look at the slideshow to see if you solved the clues accurately! We have been very busy creating observational drawings of rainforest animals. We are looking forward to using our artwork in the class information book that we are writing. Check back soon to share our book! We made absolutely AMAZING rainforests in shoeboxes! They captured the sights, sounds and smells of the rainforest fantastically! Year 3 and 4 have been reviewing their favourite books. Take a look at our padlet to find out what they have been reading and why they recommend it! Follow this link for Year 3/4 Reading Reviews In the Autumn term we are learning 'about' and learning 'from Hinduism', as well as looking at Hindi beliefs and lifestyle. Mrs Varadaraj showed us the items needed for Hindu worship (puja) and demonstrated how Hindus worship in their homes. It was a really interesting session and we loved looking at her artefacts and tasting the Hindu foods. Mrs Varadaraj will be visiting us again in November to tell us all about Hindu Weddings; we will be spotting the similarities and differences between Christian weddings and Hindu weddings. This is our question of the week. We will endeavour to answer it in as many ways as we can! What thoughts do you have? In Dance we have been using our bodies to recreate the movements of the plants and animals that live in the rainforest. Can you spot what our movements represent? Can you critique our technique? On the 13th September we celebrated Roald Dahl Day. Our class explored George's Marvellous Medicine and we had great fun making our own vile medicine to banish grouchy grandmas! We used a poem from the book to inspire our own writing, we packed this full of alliteration! Add a dash of vile vinegar and a witches finger, Feisty and flickering, do not linger! Throw in a handful of battered brains, Next add the smoke of a dozen trains. Then give a stir, a mix and a beat! This mixture will certainly be able to defeat That grouchy granny, the one we must banish, with a puff and some smoke she will soon vanish! Our exciting IPC topic for this term began in earnest on Tuesday when we all became explorers for the day. We participated in lots of activities (some quite perilous!) that taught us a little about the people, the animals and plant life of the rainforest. We thoroughly enjoyed our WOW Day and are looking forward to the rest of the topic. These pictures show us creating tribal art, making rain makers, embarking on a survival mission, identifying mystery animals and telling stories. It certainly was an action-packed day!
The massive loss of life in last year's tsunami disaster in Japan has trimmed the average life expectancy of the country's women, knocking them off the top of the global longevity chart for the first time in 26 years, according to government data. The health and labour ministry said the average lifespan of Japanese women fell by 0.4 years to 85.9 years in 2011, putting it behind that of women in Hong Kong who average 86.7 years. The large number of elderly victims was a defining characteristic of the disaster in March 2011, which killed almost 16,000 people and left about 3,000 unaccounted for. National police agency statistics show that more than 56% of those who died were aged 65 or older, and almost three-quarters of those missing were over 60. More than 90% of the victims drowned or died from injuries sustained in the tsunami, compared with a tiny number who perished in the magnitude-9 earthquake that preceded it. In small towns and fishing communities with ageing populations, many victims were unable to flee quickly enough before being swept away by the waves. Others were stranded at home and could not be reached in time by younger neighbours. The high number of suicides also played a role in the drop in women's longevity, the ministry said. Suicide rates have fallen slightly among men in recent years but have risen among women. The number of suicides in Japan exceeded 30,000 last year for the 14th consecutive year. The average life expectancy among Japanese men fell slightly to 79.44 years, leaving them level with Italians in the global rankings. Swiss men head the chart with an average life expectancy of 80.2 years. Experts attribute Japan's impressive longevity statistics to a diet low in fat – though high in salt – and to strong relationships with neighbours, universal access to healthcare and a comfortable standard of living after retirement. Despite the slight drop in life expectancy, the ministry figures show that a large proportion of Japanese will live well into old age, with more than 45% of women and 20% of men expected to celebrate their 90th birthday.
India: Cancer Therapy A Natural Sweetener that can Make Cancer Therapy Efficient Indian researchers have revealed that stevioside, a natural plant-based glycoside found in the leaves of Honey yerba, when coated on nanoparticles can increase the efficiency of Magnetic hyperthermia-mediated cancer therapy. Delhi/India – Stevioside (STE), isolated from the leaves of Honey yerba and widely used as the non-caloric natural sweeteners, can sweeten our lives in more ways than one, say scientists. Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science & Technology an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology (INST), Government of India in their recent study have found that stevioside, a natural plant-based glycoside found in leaves of Honey yerba (‘Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni’), when coated on nanoparticles can increase the efficiency of Magnetic hyperthermia-mediated cancer therapy (MHCT). The MHCT method of cancer therapy is based on heating the tumor tissues using magnetic nanoparticles in comparison to the routinely used surfactant moieties (oleic acid and polysorbate-80) and is based on generation of localised heat at the tumour site on exposure to AMF (alternating magnetic field) in the presence of magnetic nanoparticles. Ruby Gupta and Deepika Sharma in their research published in the International Journal of Hyperthermia showed that coating the nanoparticles with the stevioside, a biosurfactant not only improved the cellular uptake of the nano-magnets in glioma C6 cancer cells (one of the most common and aggressive form of glial cancer cells) but also enhanced its retention time. The researchers have modified the stevioside structure to make it more effective as a biosurfactant for magnetic nanoclusters synthesised in the Lab. The Manuscript related to the same was submitted to the Journal of ACS Molecular Pharmaceutics. The stevioside coating exhibited significant improvement in the calorimetric hyperthermia activity, through particle size reduction of magnetic nanoparticles, thereby intensifying the magnetic hyperthermia-mediated cancer therapy. Exposure of magnetic nanoparticles to alternating magnetic field leads to temperature rise from 37 to 42−45°C inducing tumour cell death by triggering activation of certain intracellular and extracellular degradation mechanisms. Controlling the magnetic properties of a nanoparticle efficiently via its particle size to achieve optimised heat under AMF is the critical point for magnetic hyperthermia-mediated cancer therapy. The INST team has shown that the use of stevioside as a promising biosurfactant controls the magnetic properties of Fe3O4 nanoparticles by controlling the particle size. The hyperthermia output measured in terms of specific absorption rate (Sar), defined as the power dissipation per unit mass of magnetic content (W/g), for stevioside-coated nanoparticles obtained was 3913.55 W/g Fe which was significantly higher than those for other existing nanosystems at a field strength of 405 kHz and 168 Oe. Stevioside coating increases the switching speed of magnetic spin of synthesised nanomaterial, increasing the thermal fluctuations and resulting in a higher amount of heat generated in comparison to other nanosystems. Hyperthermia output of nano-magnets reduces dramatically on the agglomeration of nanoparticles. Hence, the INST team developed water-stable nanomaterial with a biomolecule as the surfactant to address two of the main concerns regarding translation of nanotechnology-based strategies to clinical applications – biocompatibility of the material used and therapeutic response of these nano-systems. Stevioside stands out for being antihyperglycemic, immunomodulatory, and sports antitumor action. Therefore, surface modification of magnetite nanoparticles with stevioside may provide dual targeting of cancer cells, namely with magnetite nanoparticles based cancer therapy and antitumor effect of the stevioside coating onto the particles. Stevioside-coated nanoparticles also demonstrated successful uptake and the highest cellular persistence inside the glioma cells upto 72 h. Thus the research suggests that the nano-magnets are capable of being available inside the cells for a sufficient period (upto at least 72 h) during which further treatment strategies can be employed for cancer therapy, thus avoiding the need to re-administer the nanomaterials. Find the publication link: here
By Daniel Bortz On May 25/26, Jewish communities worldwide will celebrate the holiday known as Lag Ba’omer, usually with bonfire and song. Where does it come from? Approximately 2,000 years ago in the land of Israel, there lived a Jewish man named Akiva. Akiva worked for one of Israel’s richest men, Kalba Savua. Akiva labored wisely and honestly, with great alacrity, amassing much wealth for his boss and gaining much esteem in his eyes. Kalba Savua had a daughter named Rachel who also took notice of Akiva’s great qualities. However, Rachel saw more in him, and asked that he explore Jewish studies. As much as he liked Rachel, he knew nothing of Judaism and didn’t believe he could ever conquer the vast ocean of Torah Wisdom, especially at the age of 40. One afternoon, Akiva took a stroll in the forest and happened upon a small stream with a large boulder next to it. A gentle but methodical drip of water was hitting the top of the rock, and had over the years made an indent in it. Akiva thought to himself: If tiny drops of water – through continuous effort – can penetrate this boulder, surely some Torah wisdom can penetrate my mind. Akiva and Rachel married, and he set out to learn. Starting with the Alef-Bet, Rabbi Akiva eventually became arguably the most outstanding Torah scholar in Jewish history, amassing 24,000 of the world’s greatest students. He attributed all of his students’ knowledge to his wife Rachel’s vision and encouragement. Sadly, we are told that as wise as his students were, they didn’t practice proper respect to one another’s opinion, and passed away because of it. The day that this plague ceased and that we celebrate was on Lag Ba’omer. After this tragic episode, Rabbi Akiva brought together 5 outstanding scholars to pass on the Torah’s oral tradition, which would be transcribed into the monumental work Mishnah. One of these 5 disciples was Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, author of the mystical foundational work of Kabbalah, the Zohar. He was so dedicated to his teacher that he would risk his life to learn with Akiva even when imprisoned by the Romans, and himself had to flee persecution after criticizing the empire, hiding in a cave with his son for 13 years. The last day of his life fell out on Lag Ba’omer, and is recorded in the Zohar. A fire surrounded his home to block the unworthy, and surrounded by his closest disciples, Rabbi Shimon expounded on some of the deepest secrets of Judaism. He was then buried in Meron, near Safed in northern Israel. More than half a million visitors visit his gravesite every year on Lag Ba’omer, often making bonfires to commemorate his last day. Much of the Torah understanding we have today, including the Lag Ba’omer holiday, is thanks to a 40 year old farmer named Akiva who decided anything was possible. One letter, one word, one verse, one page at a time. Like a gentle drop on a rock, consistently working every moment to improve until you reach your goal. On Lag Ba’omer, we learn from Akiva that that it’s never too late for us, and that we can accomplish anything we set our minds to. We learn from his students the importance of loving one another and respecting each other. And we learn from Rabbi Shimon the deep and meaningful secrets Torah has to offer, illuminating our lives with morality and wisdom. Happy Lag Ba’omer!
Funding for Water Quality Monitoring on Farms Now Available United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service 6013 Lakeside Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46278 Indianapolis, IN May 9, 2013—Roger Kult, Acting State Conservationist for Indiana’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced today that sign up has begun for a new project to monitor water quality on agricultural fields in targeted areas throughout the state. Kult said, “NRCS is seeking producers to sign up by June 14th to monitor the water quality benefits of a variety of conservation practices, such as no-till, cover crops, grassed water ways, etc. on their land. The data from the monitoring will show the impacts of voluntary conservation practices on water quality, and will be used to validate NRCS water quality modeling efforts that will benefit agriculture across the nation. The results will also be used to help farmers adapt their management to gain even greater water quality benefits that are compatible with agriculture production goals.” The following watersheds have been approved for potential edge-of-field monitoring projects: Eagle Creek (Hendricks and Boone Counties), Eel (Miami, Wabash, and Kosciusko Counties); Matson-St. Joe, Maumee Watershed (DeKalb County) and Upper East Fork White (Bartholomew, Jennings, and Decatur Counties). A key component of this project is a close relationship with several partners which include Indiana University, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, Manchester College and the Agricultural Research Service. These groups will assist NRCS with monitoring activities within their respective watershed once landowners are approved and equipment has been installed. Kult says, “These projects will support the good conservation work and give producers the feedback on the many positive impacts they are making.” He adds, “All data from monitoring will be protected and details will be shared only as authorized by the producer.” Funding for these projects comes from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for monitoring projects in 12-digit priority watersheds which have been targeted for funding. The watersheds are associated with NRCS’s national initiatives: Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI), Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB), Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), and the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). NRCS accepts applications for funding assistance on a continuous basis throughout the year. If you live in one of the counties listed above, check with your local NRCS office www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/directory/field_offices.html, to see if you are located in a selected watershed. All applications for funding consideration for the edge of field monitoring project must be received by June 14, 2013. For more information about technical assistance and conservation programs go to http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/. Roger Kult, Acting State Conservationist, 317.295.5801 (email@example.com) Jerry Roach, Assistant State Conservationist, 317.295.5820 (firstname.lastname@example.org) Rebecca Fletcher, State Public Affairs Specialist, 317.295.5825 (email@example.com) USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Latest Desertification Stories Mojave Desert research shows that nitrogen is second only to water in importance. With land degradation in dryland regions continuing to worsen, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification has agreed on scientist-recommended indicators for monitoring and assessing desertification that signatory countries must report on. The forests of Argentina have suffered a loss of between 60 percent and 70 percent overall, the Environmental Secretariat reported on Friday. Scientists gather in Buenos Aires to find a way forward for agriculture in vast dry areas, where the poor are most vulnerable to land degradation and climate change. A team of scientists has analyzed 29 esparto fields from Guadalajara to Murcia and has concluded that perennial vegetation cover is an efficient early warning system against desertification in these ecosystems. Iraq is on the brink of an environmental catastrophe thanks to decades of war, mismanagement and drought, environmentalists say. Near daily dust storms, and shriveling riverbeds and marshes are turning arable land into desert, killing trees and plants, and transforming what was once the region's most fertile soil into an agricultural wasteland, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday. We're talking about something that's making the breadbasket of Iraq look like the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma in... Human security is under threat from desertification, land degradation and drought. Combating this threat requires an integrated international response, which is why the theme for this yearâ€™s World Day to Combat Desertification is â€˜Conserving land and water = Securing our common futureâ€™. As part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness about the urgent need for action against desertification and land degradation, the UN is calling on all aspiring photographers to participate in its second international photo contest. An expert warned Friday that Cyprus runs the risk of desertification by the end of this century as it feels the brunt of climate change and drought. A three-year nationwide survey has found that over a third of China's land is being scoured by serious erosion that is putting its crops and water supply at risk. Desertification is a form of land degradation in which a comparatively dry land area becomes more and more arid, normally losing its bodies of water along with its wildlife and vegetation. This is a result of a variety of factors, such as climate change and human activities. Desertification is an important global, ecological, and environmental issue. There is substantial controversy over the proper definition of the term “desertification”. The most broadly accepted of these is that of... Deforestation is the act or process of removing trees from forested lands by cutting or burning. There are many reasons for deforestation. Logs are sold as a commodity and cleared lands can be used for pastures and human settlements. The damage caused by deforestation, however, can be great. If land is not somewhat reforested it can cause damage to habitats for wildlife and other plant life, affect the aridity of the region, and possibly encourage degradation into wasteland. Due to negligent... - a meat pie that is usually eaten at Christmas in Quebec
The Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio rutulus), seen here, is a native of western North America, from the Rockies (and sometimes farther east) to the Pacific and from British Columbia to Baja California. Coastal Northern California, where I live, is one of its favorite habitats. It is a large butterfly, with a wingspan of about three to four inches (females are larger than males). It can be seen flitting about from spring through fall, and occasionally even in winter. Art Shapiro, professor of Evolution and Ecology at the University of California, Davis, says that “The Western Tiger Swallowtail is basically a species of riparian forest, where it glides majestically back and forth along the watercourse. It has expanded into older urban neighborhoods where several of its host genera are grown as shade trees, and behaves as if the street were a watercourse. In the high country and on the Sierran east slope its usual host is Aspen.” Butterflies require a host plant on which to lay eggs where young can mature, as well as nectar plants for feeding, and each kind of butterfly has its particular preferences. The Monarch, for example, can only grow on milkweed (Asclepias spp.), and as a result it is threatened by the pervasive use of Roundup, which has, tragically, devastated our wonderful North American milkweed. The Swallowtails are in the family Papilio. The Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) covers much of the same range as the Western Tiger Swallowtail, which prefers a more riparian environment. The Anise Swallowtail is similar in appearance to the Western Tiger Swallowtail, but smaller. It lacks the vertical striping on wing tops of the Western Tiger. (Two other local Swallowtails, quite different from these in appearance, are the Pipevine Swallowtail and Pale Swallowtail — more on them in another post.) The Swallowtails are impressive as caterpillars. I suspect the caterpillar photos I’m showing here (which I took a few years ago, whereas the image on the Jupiter’s Beard is recent) are of the Anise Swallowtail. (If anyone knows how to distinguish these butterflies’ caterpillars, please let me know in a comment.) Western Swallowtails have been quite resourceful about adapting to nonnative plants, so unlike the Monarch they are not threatened. As hosts, the Anise Swallowtail is keen on plants in the Apiaceae family (so long as the plant produces the essential oil anisic aldehyde), such as fennel, dill, parsley, and carrot. A wide range of plants provides nectar. The Western Tiger Swallowtail hosts on deciduous riparian trees like cottonwoods, ashes, aspens, wild cherries, sycamores, and willows. It enjoys the nectar of many kinds of flowers, including salvia, lobelia, thistle, buckeye, lavender, and zinnia, as well as the Jupiter’s Beard shown above. There is a useful list of California native plants favored by the Western Swallowtail at Mother Nature’s Backyard, and helpful information from Marin County’s Home Ground Habitat Nursery. Swallowtails, like many butterflies, prefer to get their water from muddy sources, as they benefit from consuming minerals. Males like to patrol from heights for females and swoop down on them when they are perching. Above a Western Tiger Swallowtail is shown perching on Jupiter’s Beard (Centranthus ruber). I like the combination of the yellow and magenta-red colors. Also known as Red Valerian, Jupiter’s Beard is native to the Mediterranean (including southern Europe, North Africa, and West Asia). Though not a California native, it has become naturalized here after escaping from gardens. It produces abundant light pink to magenta to crimson star-shaped flowers, from spring through fall. The flowers give way to dandelion-like seed heads that are spread by wind (of which we have plenty, as our zone is known for afternoon breezes, and this must be how it ended up in our garden). As a result, the plant is considered invasive in some areas. It likes cool summers, so it is common here in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, though it is kept somewhat in check by deer, who will gnaw it to the ground. In closing, let’s listen to Salvador Dalí teaching Rex Harrison how to pronounce “butterfly”:
Amount of angular momentum associated with a subatomic particle or nucleus. It is measured in multiples of planck (h-bar), equal to Planck's constant divided by 2π. Electrons, neutrons, and protons have a spin of Learn more about spin with a free trial on Britannica.com. Property characteristic of families of related subatomic particles differing mainly in the values of their electric charge. The families are known as isospin multiplets. The components of atomic nuclei, the neutron and the proton, form an isospin doublet since they differ only in electric charge and subsidiary properties. They are considered different versions of the same object, called a nucleon. The isospin of a nucleon has a value of Learn more about isospin with a free trial on Britannica.com. Technique of spectroscopic analysis (see spectroscopy) used to identify paramagnetic substances (see paramagnetism) and investigate the nature of the bonding within molecules by identifying unpaired electrons and their interaction with their immediate surroundings. Unpaired electrons, because of their spin, behave like tiny magnets and can be lined up in an applied magnetic field; energy applied by alternating microwave radiation is absorbed when its frequency coincides with that of precession of the electron magnets in the sample. The graph or spectrum of radiation absorbed as the field changes gives information valuable in chemistry, biology, and medicine. Learn more about electron spin resonance (ESR) with a free trial on Britannica.com. Spin may refer to: In other uses:
Coins, Currency, and Medals The Museum possesses one of the largest numismatic collections in the world. The collections include over 1 million objects, comprising coins, medals, decorations, and pieces of paper money. Among the many great rarities here are some of the world’s oldest coins, created 2,700 years ago. But the collection also includes the latest innovations in electronic monetary exchange, as well as beads, wampum, and other commodities once used as money. A special strength lies in artifacts that illustrate the development of money and medals in the United States. The American section includes many rare and significant coins, such as two of three known examples of the world's most valuable coin, the 1933 double eagle $20 gold piece.
The Social Transformation of American Medicine Social scientists have been perplexed by the remarkably favored position of doctors in American society. Few other professions conduct their affairs with so much autonomy and receive in return such generous economic benefits. In a country historically suspicious of privilege and authority doctors have enjoyed a large measure of both, and—at least until recently—their views have generally been accorded a respect usually given to astronauts, coaches of championship football teams, successful Wall Street analysts, and other heroes of contemporary culture. The medical professions have virtually unchallenged economic control of what is now called the “health care industry.” The laws of the market seem to have little effect on this peculiar industry, and doctors, who are the suppliers of medical services, have pervasive influence over the demand for the very services they sell. Doctors seem able not only to monopolize the market but to control their own numbers and set their own standards of education and professional performance—all with public approval and, through licensing laws, government support. Authority, self-regulation, and socially sanctioned monopoly in a defined field of competence characterize virtually all professions, but medicine in twentieth-century America has enjoyed a sovereignty unmatched by that of any other field. How did this come about? In his important book, Paul Starr, a young sociologist at Harvard, attempts to answer this question. The first half of The Social Transformation of American Medicine is a history of the social and economic growth of the medical profession from precolonial times to the present. Medicine in America was not always the powerful and respected institution it later became. Throughout the eighteenth century and for most of the nineteenth, doctors had little economic or political power. They were often distrusted by the public and faced competition, at first with lay practitioners, midwives, and herbal folk doctors, and later, beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, with a succession of more ambitious challengers, including “eclectic” practitioners, homeopaths, chiropractors, and osteopaths. In resisting these movements, orthodox medicine was at first hampered by its own lack of organization and its ignorance of science. Not until the final decades of the nineteenth century did the profession begin to gain public support. By the 1920s it had been transformed into a disciplined, state-licensed but largely self-regulating profession which had consolidated its social and political power and established a virtual monopoly over health care. The eclectic and homeopathic physicians were assimilated; chiropractors were confined by law to limited practices, and osteopaths, although independently licensed, were greatly outnumbered, and losing influence and prestige. This story has been told before from different perspectives, by historians such as Richard Shryock (Medicine in America), William Rothstein (American Physicians in the Nineteenth Century), Rosemary Stevens (American Medicine and the Public Interest), and many other writers, on whom Starr has drawn. But Starr’s work is unique in the way it shows how cultural, political, and economic factors contributed to the profession’s rising power. As he points out, most other accounts emphasize the primary influence of scientific and technological change, claiming that medicine came to dominate the health care system because, unlike other healing sects, it became part of modern science and could therefore hold out the prospect of steadily increasing competence. But Starr argues that the advance of science and technology did not necessarily guarantee that physicians would remain in control. Quite the opposite result might have occurred: The growth of science might have reduced professional autonomy by making doctors dependent upon organizations. Modern medical practice requires access to hospitals and medical technology, and hence medicine, unlike many other professions, requires huge capital investments. Because medical technology demands such large investments, it makes the medical profession vulnerable to control by whoever supplies the capital. In fact, as the doctors’ professional competence and personal authority increased, so did their quest for both autonomy and higher financial rewards. They sought to organize themselves in order to control not only the market for their services, but the health boards and other organizations that govern these services, provide facilities, and determine public policy. To do so, physicians had to gain the public’s trust as qualified and ethical protectors of their patients. They had to assure the public of the reliability of their “product,” by imposing regulations for licensing and training, and by establishing professional organizations such as the AMA that were to set ethical codes and expose quackery, fraud, and incompetence. At the same time, Starr shows that physicians made sure that nothing came between them and their patients. The AMA’s public strategy was to defend the kind of practice in which the doctor—and only the doctor—charged fees for medical services. This model was held to assure both the quality of care and patients’ “freedom of choice.” Of course, such an arrangement also assured each doctor control of his own practice and his economic fortunes. Whenever government, business corporations, labor unions, community agencies, or any other third party threatened the fee-for-service arrangement by, say, attempting to hire their own physicians, organized medicine reacted strongly. The AMA and local medical societies opposed what they called the “corporate practice of medicine” as unethical arrangements interfering with the traditional relation between doctor and patient. Even when they were run by doctors themselves, any organizations that paid doctors a salary, such as, for example, group practices, were disapproved of by the AMA. Direct marketing to the public of potent drugs and therapeutic agents was also seen by the profession as a threat to public safety and as an interference with doctors’ control. So were attempts by nurses, pharmacists, and midwives to treat patients independently. Starr wants to show how such challenges to the “doctor-patient relationship” were successfully resisted or converted to the advantage of the medical profession, and he devotes most of the first half of this book to explaining how doctors were able to keep their control. To this part of his story, Starr brings impressive scholarship and a broad understanding of social forces. Even those familiar with the subject will find in his book fresh insights. Unhappily, they will also find that Starr is not always objective and at times interprets events too narrowly. He does not propose “solutions” or promote particular policies; but he has preconceived ideas about the nature of professions in general and of medicine in particular. In his introductory chapter, “The Social Origins of Professional Sovereignty,” he describes the rise of the medical profession as largely the story of a special-interest group seeking to gain an economic monopoly, and this premise dominates the book. Medical treatment itself, the growth of its technical effectiveness, and the public’s rising demand for medical services, he mentions only in passing. Starr’s history concentrates mainly on economic and political forces, as if moral considerations, such as a doctor’s commitment to his patients’ interests, count for very little. For example, in describing the AMA’s campaign in the early part of this century against advertising patent medicines in the popular press, Starr says, “The logic of the AMA’s regulatory system was to withhold information from consumers and rechannel drug purchasing through physicians.” That is one way of looking at it, but a more dispassionate view would recognize that the AMA was also trying to protect the public at a time when many people were being victimized by worthless or dangerous nostrums. Most of the constraints the AMA fought for in the early days were later written into federal law and are now generally accepted as necessary for the public safety. Starr knows this, of course, but to emphasize the dark side of the profession’s motives better suits his thesis. When he discusses the educational and licensing reforms that led to the closing of many substandard medical schools and the elimination of many unqualified practitioners, Starr asserts that physicians thereby succeeded in controlling their own numbers, chiefly for their own benefit. “The main function of medical licensing,” he writes, “was…to cut down on the number of regular physicians.” And what of the function, emphasized by the doctors themselves, of keeping up the quality of medical practice? When he ignores this question and its importance to the public, Starr sounds curiously like the “right-wing advocates of the free market” whose libertarian views on health care he criticizes elsewhere. Explaining how physicians came to control the hospitals and laboratory facilities they needed to practice medicine, Starr writes: They [doctors] wanted to be able to use hospitals and laboratories without being their employees, and consequently, they needed technical assistants who would be sufficiently competent to carry on in their absence and yet not threaten their authority. The solution to this problem—how to maintain autonomy, yet not lose control—had three elements: first, the use of doctors in training (interns and residents) in the operation of hospitals; second, the encouragement of a kind of responsible professionalism among the higher ranks of subordinate health workers; and third, the employment in these auxiliary roles of women who, though professionally trained, would not challenge the authority or economic position of the doctor. [Here he refers to nurses, nurse-anesthetists, X-ray and laboratory technicians, and so forth.] Starr’s interpretation of the first of these “solutions” will be unconvincing to anyone familiar with graduate medical education. Training programs for resident doctors were established primarily for educational purposes and at first in a relatively small number of teaching hospitals where most of the patients did not even have private physicians. As for his comment about the exploitation of women in “auxiliary” hospital work, Starr should have noticed that, in their policies toward women employees, hospitals were reflecting the views prevailing throughout American society at the time. Furthermore, it is not clear whether he thinks that nurses and technicians should have been expected to “challenge the authority” of physicians and how that would have contributed to improving the quality of care in hospitals. Starr acknowledges that scientific and technological progress had something to do with the success of the medical profession, but he understates how important this was to the victory of organized medicine over the other healing sects and to the ability of doctors to gain public confidence. This suggests the perils of trying to write a social history of medicine without taking account of the scientific work on which medical practice is based. Starr accuses the medical profession of using “paternalism” to establish its monopoly of health care. He doesn’t consider the doctor’s claim, which can be strongly argued, that the relationship with the patient may depend no trust in the doctor. The sicker and more anxious the patient, the greater may be the need to depend on a doctor’s competence and judgment. Without that trust, therapy may be less effective, the patient more distressed. We can all think of cases where acceptance of such paternalism was not justified, but it is hard to imagine the medical profession functioning without it. This does not mean that patients should be kept passive and uninformed. There is a growing sense—still resisted by some doctors—that patients should be involved in their own treatment whenever possible and as much as they wish to be. Starr is right to say that paternalism enlarges the profession’s authority, but he does not suggest what he would substitute for trust. This is a complex issue; by concentrating mainly on the profession’s self-serving motives, Starr over-simplifies it. Nevertheless the first half of Starr’s book is one of the most illuminating and provocative social histories of the American medical profession yet written. He shows how the medical care system was shaped, and does so with a perception and richness of insight that set his book apart from most others on this subject. Physicians will dislike much of what is said here, but they and anyone else interested in understanding our medical care system would do well to read it carefully. In the second half of his book, Starr is concerned with health care policy and politics. In four heavily footnoted chapters, he painstakingly describes the recurrent efforts over the past sixty years to establish a national health insurance program in the US. Unlike almost every major European country, we have not set up such a system partly because of the pressures against it from the medical profession itself. Instead, a pluralistic—some would say “chaotic”—pattern of health care has evolved, including both public and private financing, and almost every conceivable kind of organizational arrangement. In effect, we had a two-class system. The poor were treated largely in clinics and hospitals supported by state or local governments or by private charitable institutions. Doctors gave their services gratis or reduced their fees in proportion to the ability to pay. Many of those unable to pay their doctor and hospital bills had great difficulty getting medical treatment and when treatment was available it was often inferior. But even the middle class needed protection against increasingly expensive hospital bills, and in the decade before World War II, Blue Cross and other private hospital insurance plans became popular. After the war, more and more employers offered health insurance to their workers, but most of the unemployed and the elderly poor still remained outside the insurance system and had to depend on public or private charity. During the mid-1960s federal support of health care greatly expanded with the introduction of Medicare and Medicaid, which recognized the right of the aged and the poor to have standard medical treatment. This legislation reflected a growing national refusal to accept a two-class system. The AMA at first opposed these programs, as it had opposed virtually every other involvement of government in health care; but the economic advantages to doctors soon became apparent. Many billions of tax dollars were suddenly available for medical care. Growth of medical insurance benefits and the federal subsidy of hospitals and medical research and education led to a large increase in the use of hospital services, and the almost explosive growth of new and expensive medical technology. The result was predictable and not long in coming. By the early 1970s, many Americans suddenly discovered that the system was “in crisis.” Public expressions of discontent were heard everywhere; impending disaster was predicted unless drastic steps were taken. The “crisis” involved many things but, as Starr says, it mainly concerned money: medical costs had got out of hand. There were other complaints as well: about overspecialization of doctors and the disappearance of the family physician; too much medical paternalism and too little concern for patients’ rights; social and geographical inequalities in the distribution of medical care. But these and other criticisms were overshadowed by the grim economic facts. Health care costs were rising at an ominous rate, even when the figures were adjusted for inflation and related to national growth. Furthermore, Starr points out, there was no evidence that all the billions of additional dollars being spent each year were buying better medical treatment. To the contrary, as critics suggested, money was being wasted in the excessive use of hospitals for the diagnosis or treatment of conditions that could be managed as easily—and less expensively—in local clinics or doctors’ offices. They also argued forcefully that there was much money wasted in constructing and maintaining unnecessary or duplicated health care facilities, and in the use of many kinds of medical technology that were of marginal or unproven value. Throughout the 1970s the federal government and the states attempted to respond to the “crisis” with various efforts aimed at slowing medical expenditures, but with little success. Facing the immediate threat of a federally imposed limit on reimbursement for hospital costs, and the prospect that the government would impose limits on physicians’ fees, medical and hospital organizations mounted campaigns to persuade physicians and hospital administrators to limit costs. In view of the reluctance of doctors to impose financial restraints on themselves, the results, as Starr notes, were predictably modest and short-lived. Health costs continued to rise and in 1982 reached $322 billion, or approximately 10.5 percent of the GNP. National health insurance, which only a few years ago seemed like an idea whose time had come, was swept away from political consideration by concerns about its cost, including the fear that any comprehensive insurance plan might bankrupt the federal treasury. Meanwhile, beginning in the late 1960s, soon after the introduction of Medicare and Medicaid, the economic structure of the health care system began to change dramatically. Corporations set up by investors to make profits were getting into the business of health care and competing with voluntary nonprofit hospitals for federal and private insurance money. Such corporations built or acquired general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, the prepaid group practices called “health maintenance organizations” (HMOs), ambulatory surgical centers, free-standing and in-hospital emergency rooms, renal dialysis centers, diagnostic laboratories, home care services, and a wide variety of other health care facilities and services. These new companies were seeking to make money from an expanding health care system and from government and private insurance arrangements that virtually guaranteed profits to any business capable of raising the capital necessary for the initial investment. Within a relatively short time, a huge new industry arose, which gave every sign of continuing its rapid growth in the years ahead.* At the same time, many private “not-for-profit” hospitals and other health care institutions were beginning to resemble their profit-making competitors in their aggressive search for more patients and more income. Whether in response to the competition from the rising number of profit-seeking health organizations, or to the increasing financial pressure from the insurance companies and others who were becoming reluctant to pay, many voluntary hospitals have begun to market their services more aggressively. They have reorganized their corporate structure to allow them to acquire various kinds of satellite and affiliated institutions such as nursing homes or medical office buildings. Some nonprofit hospitals, Starr points out, have even tried to make money by establishing charitable foundations that own businesses that can in turn contribute their earnings to the foundation for the benefit of the hospital. Competition for medical business and for new sources of income has thus impelled many voluntary hospitals to become more commercial and entrepreneurial. Starr shows how health care, once considered a social good, a right of every citizen even if he were poor—is now being marketed and sold for profit in a competitive marketplace as if it were a private commodity. Whereas providing medical care was traditionally the responsibility of public institutions, or of private voluntary organizations, investor-owned corporations were now taking over an increasing share of patients—but of course, only those who could pay. The “nonprofit” institutions were either selling out to the corporations or were forced to imitate the commercial methods of their profit-seeking competitors. Entrepreneurial hospitals, whether for profit or nonprofit, were not interested in treating those who could not pay, and so hard-pressed public hospitals and the large teaching hospitals were being forced to bear an ever-increasing burden of unreimbursed medical care. Two-class medicine, which Medicare and Medicaid had been designed to eliminate, was not only continuing, but being reinforced. In this increasingly competitive climate, with the delivery of health care becoming ever more dominated by corporations and a business philosophy, the former control by the medical profession of markets, health facilities, and standards is now in serious jeopardy. In a final chapter (“The Coming of the Corporation”), Starr describes the rise of corporate health care and argues that “unless there is a radical turnabout in economic conditions and American politics, the last decades of the twentieth century are likely to be a time of diminishing resources and autonomy for many physicians, voluntary hospitals, and medical schools.” Until now, he says, physicians and the voluntary hospitals they have used as their workshops have been preoccupied with resisting government regulation; but they may be on their way to losing their independence to another master—the new health care corporations. “Medical care in America now appears to be in the early stages of a major transformation in its institutional structure, comparable to the rise of professional sovereignty at the opening of the twentieth century.” According to Starr, the main reason for the profession’s loss of autonomy is the growing power of corporate health care organizations to build and control health care facilities and to employ or contract with physicians. Hospital and clinic managers, reporting to corporate executives rather than to members of the medical staff, will have more responsibility—and physicians less—for the critical decisions that determine where the money and medical technology will go. More physicians will be salaried employees and fewer will be independent fee-for-service practitioners. “This turn of events,” Starr concludes, is the fruit of a history of accommodating professional and institutional interests, failing to exercise public control over public programs, then adopting piecemeal regulation to control the inflationary consequences and, as a final resort, cutting back programs and turning them back to the private sector. The failure to rationalize medical services under public control meant that sooner or later they would be rationalized under private control. Instead of public regulation, there will be private regulation, and instead of public planning, there will be corporate planning. Instead of public financing for prepaid plans that might be managed by the subscribers’ chosen representatives, there will be corporate financing for private plans controlled by conglomerates whose interests will be determined by the rate of return on investments. That is the future toward which American medicine now seems to be headed. Starr’s predictions may well be correct—although at the end he hedges his bets by observing that “a trend is not necessarily fate” and that what will really happen “depends on choices that Americans have still to make.” He is certainly right about the increasing power of the corporations over our health care system and their challenge to the independence and authority of the medical profession. Unfortunately this last and most provocative chapter is too brief. It raises many disturbing questions but examines none in depth. Nowhere, for example, does Starr mention the ethical issues that arise when physicians are employed by, or own equity in, health care corporations. Will doctors employed by profit-seeking businesses continue to serve their patients’ interests first, or will their professional judgment be influenced by the economic interests of their employers? And what about the growing number of physicians who are becoming partners or investors in such businesses? Will they act as businessmen or as trustees for their patients? If the medical profession has any claim to special treatment by society, it rests on a moral commitment to put the patient’s welfare above personal gain. Can this claim be sustained if doctors become part of a commercialized health care industry? These questions are likely to become even more important as a result of a recent change in the way the government pays hospitals for Medicare patients. Instead of reimbursing hospitals for the costs of treating each patient, the government will pay a fixed but different amount for each type of medical problem, regardless of how much service the patient actually receives. If a hospital spends less than the preassigned payment for a patient with a given problem, it can keep the difference; if it spends more, it must meet the deficit from its own resources. This new Medicare system will revolutionize the economics of hospital care, particularly if it is also adopted by the insurance companies and other third-party payers. The idea is to give hospitals an incentive to reduce their costs, but they can’t do this very well without the cooperation of their medical staff. Doctors largely determine how much hospitals spend in the diagnosis and treatment of each patient. Not much economy can be achieved unless the doctors use fewer tests and procedures and make every effort to shorten the length of hospital stays. Physicians will have no economic incentive to do that—indeed, independent practitioners paid on a fee-for-service basis may have incentives to do just the opposite—unless they either are employed by the hospital or share in the hospital’s profits through some sort of joint venture. Many hospitals, as well as businesses providing health care outside the hospital, are now considering such arrangements. Their effects on the quality of care will have to be watched very carefully. This development is too recent to have been included in Starr’s book, but it illustrates how rapidly the “social transformation of American medicine” is proceeding. During the next few years, at least, most doctors will not be working for the corporations, although many may choose to invest in or enter into joint business ventures with them. Unless the health care corporations hire large full-time medical staffs (an unlikely prospect at least for now) they will still depend on independent doctors to refer patients to their hospitals. Profit-making as well as voluntary hospitals will therefore continue to court the patronage of doctors without controlling them. Physicians still have strong influence over our health care system for precisely the reasons Starr so clearly gives. The future depends not only on the choices that the American public still has to make, as Starr says, but on whether doctors will decide to become businessmen and entrepreneurs, or will decide to represent their patients’ interests, including those patients who are not well-off or lack adequate medical insurance. As a member of the medical profession I find that what I fear most about the increase of medical commercialism is not that it will cause a loss of control by doctors but that it will erode the ethical foundations upon which our profession rests. The moral commitment of physicians to put their patients’ interests first has given the medical profession its “authority”—that, and its technical competence. About medical treatment and research itself, Starr has little to say. And while he reasonably implies that doctors should have been devising more equitable schemes for health care, he does not suggest how the moral obligations of doctors should be fulfilled. Nor, it must be said, have most of the other experts who have written on fundamental questions of health care. At least Starr has provided a historical analysis that will be indispensable to any discussion of the medical profession’s responsibilities and its future. For a description and analysis of the growing health care industry, see a new book by Stanley Wohl: The Medical Industrial Complex (to be published by Harmony Books in April). ↩
White corn is a member of the grass family Gramineae. Corn, known historically as maize outside of the English language, is technically classified as a grain crop, though when harvested young, it is utilized as a vegetable. Its stalks produce a cob of seeds, which are better known as the kernels, though by botanical definition they are the individual fruits of the plant. Corn varieties are classified essentially by their purpose. The amount of starch in any given corn variety will determine if it is used for sweet corn, feedstock corn, popping corn, flour corn or biofuel corn, among other designations. White Corn is dried whole-kernel corn, creamy white in color, and with a chewy, soft texture when cooked. - Toasty, earthy-sweet flavor - Kernels are 1/4 inch in width and length - Can be cooked whole or ground to make white cornmeal - Naturally gluten free
GS sufferers can experience unpleasant reactions when they drink alcohol, although it doesn’t bother some people at all. Here is what happens in the body when you drink: Alcohol is metabolized extremely quickly by the body – absorbed and metabolized before most other nutrients. About 20% is absorbed directly across the walls of an empty stomach and can reach the brain within one minute. Once alcohol reaches the stomach, it begins to break down with the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme. This process reduces the amount of alcohol entering the blood by approximately 20%. (Women produce less of this enzyme, which may help explain why women become more intoxicated than men). About 10% of the alcohol is expelled in the breath and urine. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed in the upper portion of the small intestine. The alcohol-laden blood then travels to the liver via the veins and capillaries of the digestive tract, which affects nearly every liver cell. The liver cells are the only cells in our body that can produce enough of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase to oxidize alcohol at an appreciable rate. Though alcohol affects every organ of the body, it’s most dramatic impact is upon the liver. The liver cells normally prefer fatty acids as fuel, and package excess fatty acids as triglycerides, which they then route to other tissues of the body. However, when alcohol is present, the liver cells are forced to first metabolize the alcohol, letting the fatty acids accumulate, sometimes in huge amounts. Alcohol metabolism permanently changes liver cell structure, impairing the liver’s ability to metabolize fats. This is why heavy drinkers develop fatty livers. The liver can deal with about ½ ounce of ethanol per hour (about one drink, depending on a person’s body size, food intake, etc.). If more alcohol arrives in the liver than the enzymes can handle, the excess alcohol travels to all parts of the body, circulating until the liver enzymes are finally able to process it.
Perched atop the Sowie Mountains in the heart of Poland, the majestic Książ Castle stands as a testament to centuries of history, art, and architectural grandeur. This enchanting fortress, known as “Zamek Książ” in Polish, is a hidden gem that beckons travellers from around the world to explore its magnificent halls, lush gardens, and rich history. A Glimpse into History Książ Castle’s story dates back to the 13th century when it was built as a defensive fortress to protect the region against invading forces. Over the years, it has witnessed a series of transformations and ownership changes, eventually becoming a symbol of nobility and prestige. Most notably, it served as the residence of the Hochberg family, who played a significant role in shaping the castle’s identity. Their legacy is imprinted on every corner of the estate. Visitors have the opportunity to step back in time as they wander through the castle’s beautifully preserved rooms. The opulent furnishings, ornate decorations, and intricate architecture offer a unique perspective on Poland’s rich history. Książ Castle’s architectural diversity is nothing short of breathtaking. The castle boasts a blend of various styles, with its most prominent features reflecting Baroque, Renaissance, and Neo-Gothic influences. The dramatic silhouette of the castle against the Sowie Mountains creates a stunning visual contrast. One of the most remarkable parts of the castle is its magnificent terraced gardens, designed by renowned landscape architect Hermann Fürst von Pückler-Muskau. The meticulously manicured gardens, complete with fountains and sculptures, cascade down the hillside, providing a picturesque setting that could rival any fairytale castle. The Mysterious Underground Below the enchanting exterior of Książ Castle lies a network of mysterious underground passages that have piqued the interest of many. These hidden tunnels were initially used as a safe haven during times of war and have a history shrouded in secrecy. Visitors can take guided tours through some of the tunnels, gaining insight into the fascinating stories that lie beneath the surface. The Castle’s Unresolved Mysteries Książ Castle is not only a historical treasure but also a source of intrigue and unsolved mysteries. The most famous enigma is the secret of the “Nazi Gold Train,” a rumoured hidden stash of gold and treasures believed to be hidden in the vicinity of the castle. Despite numerous searches and investigations, the treasure remains undiscovered, adding an air of mystique to the castle’s aura. A Gateway to Nature Situated in the Książ Landscape Park, the castle provides access to some of Poland’s most scenic natural landscapes. Visitors can explore the surrounding forests, hike the Sowie Mountains, or simply enjoy a peaceful walk in the castle gardens. ➡️ Check out the official website.
A manatee at SeaWorld, Florida The oldest manatee in captivity was Snooty, at the South Florida Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium in Bradenton, Florida. Born at the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company on July 21, 1948, Snooty was one of the first recorded captive manatee births. Raised entirely in captivity, Snooty was never to be released into the wild. As such he was the only manatee at the aquarium, and one of only a few captive manatees in the United States that was allowed to interact with human handlers. That made him uniquely suitable for manatee research and education. Snooty died suddenly two days after his 69th birthday, July 23, 2017, when he was found in an underwater area only used to access plumbing for the exhibit life support system. The South Florida Museum’s initial press release stated, “Early indications are that an access panel door that is normally bolted shut had somehow been knocked loose and that Snooty was able to swim in.”[ There are a number of manatee rehabilitation centers in the United States. These include three government-run critical care facilities in Florida at Lowry Park Zoo, Miami Seaquarium, and SeaWorld Orlando. After initial treatment at these facilities, the manatees are transferred to rehabilitation facilities before release. These include the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Epcot’s The Seas, South Florida Museum, and Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.[ The Columbus Zoo was a founding member of the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership in 2001. Since 1999, the zoo’s Manatee Bay facility has helped rehabilitate 20 manatees. The Cincinnati Zoo has rehabilitated and released more than a dozen manatees since 1999.[ Manatees can also be viewed in a number of European zoos, such as the Tierpark Berlin, the Nuremberg Zoo, in ZooParc de Beauval in France and in the Aquarium of Genoa in Italy. The River Safari at Singapore features seven of them.[ They are also included in the plans of the Wild Place Project in Bristol, England, whose first exhibit is opened in summer 2013 with the manatees as an addition as early as 2015.[ The manatee has been linked to folklore on mermaids. Native Americans ground the bones to treat asthma and earache. In West African folklore, they were considered sacred and thought to have been once human. Killing one was taboo and required penance.[ In the novel Moby-Dick, Herman Melville distinguishes manatees (“Lamatins”) from small whales; stating, “I am aware that down to the present time, the fish styled Lamatins and Dugongs (Pig-fish and Sow-fish of the Coffins of Nantucket) are included by many naturalists among the whales. But as these pig-fish are a noisy, contemptible set, mostly lurking in the mouths of rivers, and feeding on wet hay, and especially as they do not spout, I deny their credentials as whales; and have presented them with their passports to quit the Kingdom of Cetology.”[ Manatees were featured in the “Cartoon Wars Part II” episode of South Park, as the creative force behind the television show Family Guy. The manatees were shown to be living in a tank at FOX Studios which was filled with “idea balls.” The manatees randomly selected the idea balls to make the jokes for the show. They are also revealed as being “the only animal unmoved by terrorist threats.”[ The manatee is also pivotal in Lair of the Leviathan, the third episode of the game Tales of Monkey Island, by Telltale Games and Lucasarts. (Information from Wikipedia.com)
Definition of Negative Thinking A 2 minute video about negative thinking. Definition of negative thinking – Negatively framed interpretations of what we think is happening to us – These thoughts have a negative effect on our mood and the way we are feeling The more we give in to our negative thoughts the STRONGER they become We might not be aware of the negative thought at first because it is a habit It might come into our mind very quickly “What was that!” THOUGHTS STRONGLY AFFECT HOW WE FEEL Cake image = feeling hungry? “I am useless”, “No one likes me” = feeling a bit low? If left unchallenged Negative thinking can spiral out of control. In this video series we will be looking at different types of negative thoughts and suggesting ways to challenge them.
Five Little Monkeys and Five Little Penguins This Early Reader series (Guided Reading Level E) packs multiple elements into one seemingly simple book. In Five Little Monkeys and Five Little Penguins we are first greeted by a photo of the illustrator, then pictures of the Five Little Monkeys verse, with pictures of a child demonstrating the actions to the verse in the lower corners of the pages. Following is a page prompting parent and child to find rhyming words. Then, everything changes to the Five Little Penguins. It's the same, but different, a great way to encourage creativity in a child. A page of notes at the end is available for parents so they can use the book to the fullest extent with their child. Send a Question or Comment to Appleton Public Library.
Many myths surround the practice of scattering cremated ashes. It doesn't help that the laws are often complicated, confusing or nonexistent. Knowing what the laws are or who to ask about them can save you from a lot of frustration and worry. One of the most common myths is that scattering cremated ashes is a hazard to the public's health. The truth is, once a human body has been cremated, it is no longer considered a health risk, so cremated ashes are usually not something federal or state officials are concerned with, according to the Funeral Consumers Alliance website. Public land such as parks, public gardens and streets all have their own rules and regulations that have been set by the town. No state or federal laws exist about spreading ashes on these types of property. Check with the town officials if you want to spread ashes in these areas. Spreading cremated ashes on uninhabited public land such as rural woods is generally allowed, but you should also check with town officials. Follow general etiquette and refrain from scattering ashes on trails or obvious places because some people find scattering cremated remains offensive. To scatter cremated ashes on private land, ask the owner for permission first. The permission can be verbal or written. If the owner refuses, do not attempt to access the land, or you can be charged with trespassing. You are allowed to spread ashes on your own private property. You are also allowed to keep cremated ashes in an urn or container on your own property or in your home. If you are not sure if an area of land is private or public, check with your town hall first or consult a town map. Federal law states that spreading ashes on the sea, which is considered a burial at sea, must be done at least 3 miles away from the shore. Federal law also requires that you report the burial at sea to the closest Environmental Protection Agency office within a month of the burial. Spreading ashes in inland waterways, such as rivers and lakes, falls under the Clean Water Act and may require a permit from the local government. According to the Funeral Consumers Alliance website, these laws are designed to protect waterways from pollution and because cremated human remains are not a health hazard, it is not usually enforced in these cases. Scattering cremated ashes in public graveyards is usually allowed, although some towns have recently passed laws banning the practice, so check with your town officials. The ashes are generally spread on a grave, in a crypt or in a scattering garden within the graveyard. To scatter ashes on old family graveyards found on private property, you must ask for permission from the landowner. If you are scattering the ashes on another person's grave, such as a friend or relative, ask the immediate family of that person for permission first. - Funeral Consumers Alliance: Scatter-brained - All About Cremation and What's Left - Full Circle Care: End of Life Legal Questions and Answers for NC Residents - Funeral Plan: What Are the Regulations for Scattering Ashes? - "Grave Matters"; Mark Harris; 2008 - "The Virginia Pilot"; Norfolk Bans Scattering of Loved Ones' Ashes on Other Graves; Cindy Clayton; December; 2010 - Graveyard image by Peter Jarvis from Fotolia.com
is the practice of electrical depilation to permanently remove human hair . The actual process of removing the hair is referred to as electrolysis . The practitioner slides a hair-thin metal probe into each hair follicle . Proper insertion does not puncture the skin. Electricity is delivered to the follicle through the probe, which causes localized damage to the areas that generate hairs, either through the formation of caustic lye (galvanic method), overheating (thermolysis method), or both (blend method). Three methods or "modalities" are used in electrology. Galvanic, Thermolysis, and Blend all have their own merits, and one method is not better than another. The success depends on the skill of the electrologist, the type of hair being removed, the condition of the skin and the pain threshold of the client. All three methods, when properly performed, can be thorough at destroying the hair matrix cells, and leaving follicles incapable of regrowing hair. This modality is named after Luigi Galvani and uses a person's body as an electrolytic cell . Galvanic electrolysis was first reported in the medical literature by ophthalmologist Charles Michel to remove ingrown eyelashes in patients with trichiasis . A galvanic epilator is essentially a positive ground power supply that delivers 0-3 milliamperes through the body. The follicular probe is the cathode of an electrolytic cell. Sodium hydroxide formed at the cathode by the process of chemical electrolysis kills the hair matrix cells. Modern galvanic epilators automatically adjust the voltage to maintain constant current. Another method is known as thermolysis, RF, shortwave or diathermy. Thermolysis was developed in the 1920s and first reported in medical literature by Henri Bordier. A thermolytic epilator is essentially a radio transmitter, usually with an output of about 0-8 watts at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. RF energy emanates from the probe tip to tissue within about a millimeter. Thermolysis works by heating the hair matrix cells to about 48°C (118.4° Degree Fahrenheit), causing electrocoagulation. Galvanic and thermolysis are often combined in a method known as blend , developed by Arthur Hinkel in 1948, which uses both RF and direct current, combining many of the advantages of galvanic and thermolysis. All three of these methods use a metal probe 50 to 150 µm (0.002 to 0.006 inches) in diameter which is inserted into the hair follicle to the depth of the dermal Papilla or hair matrix, which is the site of formation of hair from highly mitotic and keratinized cells Most practitioners will advise that complete removal of facial hair takes between 1 and 4 years, with an average treatment length of 2 years. Status of profession In the United States, electrolysis is regulated in many states, requiring training and licensure. Electrolysis as a profession faced new competition in the 1990s after laser hair removal was developed and promoted as a quicker and easier way to remove hair permanently. However, electrolysis regained lost popularity after the Food and Drug Administration declared laser and similar devices can only claim to reduce hair growth, not permanently remove it.
Market forecasters predict that the eye care industry will grow substantially in the coming years as awareness of eye health improves and the prevalence of various eye disorders around the world increases. With this boom on the horizon, there’s no time like the present to start working towards a career in the eye care industry. But what kind of eye care doctor do you want to be? There are three main types of eye care specialists: optometrists, ophthalmologists, and opticians. To determine which career path is best for you, you need to understand how these professions differ from one another. In this article, we’ll compare and contrast the different responsibilities and qualifications of optometrists, ophthalmologists, and opticians to help you make an informed decision and set goals for your academic and professional future. An Introduction to Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist Optometrists and ophthalmologists are probably the two eye care professions you hear about most often. These are both wonderful, highly-rewarding careers! In fact, optometry is ranked #13 in U.S. News’ best healthcare jobs, #22 in best-paying jobs, and #37 in the overall 100 best jobs in America. When comparing optometrist vs. ophthalmologist, the most important distinction to make between the two professions is that an optometrist is not technically a medical doctor while an ophthalmologist is licensed to practice medicine. Let’s take a closer look at what this means in terms of specific job responsibilities, education requirements, and qualifications of the positions. Key Responsibilities of an Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist While an optometrist is not licensed to practice medicine, they can provide primary vision care and deliver many important eye care services. Key responsibilities of an optometrist include: performing eye exams and vision tests, detecting eye abnormalities, prescribing corrective lenses, and prescribing medications for eye diseases, among others. In contrast, because an ophthalmologist is a licensed medical doctor, they can provide all the same services as an optometrist, plus medical and surgical eye care. More specifically, they can provide medical care for conditions such as glaucoma, chemical burns, and iritis. They can also provide surgical eye care for eye trauma, cataracts, glaucoma, crossed eyes, and other complex eye problems. Additionally, they can diagnose and treat eye conditions related to other diseases, such as arthritis or diabetes, and even perform plastic surgery for cosmetic issues. Education & Qualifications of an Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist To become an optometrist, one must complete three or more years of college and four years of optometry school in order to obtain a doctor of optometry (OD) degree. Before practicing optometry, some optometrists complete additional clinical training or a specialty fellowship after optometry school, though this is not required. Some examples of specialty areas for optometry are binocular vision, pediatrics, contact lenses, low vision rehabilitation, and community eye care. In contrast, an ophthalmologist must complete four years of medical school and a 1-year internship followed by a 3-year hospital-based residency in ophthalmology. Some ophthalmologists then go on to complete an additional 2-year specialty fellowship. Some possible ophthalmology specialties include strabismus/pediatric ophthalmology, the treatment of glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, retina/uveitis, anterior segment/cornea, refractive/vision-correcting surgery, oculoplastics/orbit, and ocular oncology. Furthermore, ophthalmologists in the United States must obtain a license to practice medicine from the state where they plan to practice ophthalmology. Each state has different licensing requirements and a three-part exam that must be completed at different stages of your medical school and residency. Optician vs Optometrist or Ophthalmologist Let’s not forget about opticians! Opticians are a level below optometrists in terms of education requirements and other qualifications. An optician does not necessarily need to hold a formal degree and can become certified by completing a 1- to 2-year program or in-house apprenticeship under an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Opticians mainly focus on helping customers choose eyewear and contact lenses, including measuring, fitting, and adjusting eyeglass frames. They perform customer service duties and can answer general eye care questions, but they are not certified to examine, diagnose, or treat eye conditions or diseases. What is a Medical Optometrist? A medical optometrist is an emerging type of optometrist. The job duties and qualifications of this profession are similar to that of a standard optometrist, but with more sub-specialty focus and training. Whereas standard optometrists’ main focus is routine vision care, and ophthalmologists’ is ophthalmic surgery, medical optometrists fall somewhere in between with a primary focus on medical eye care. Other Optical Eye Care Professions In addition to the eye care professions highlighted above, there are many supporting roles one can take in an optometry or ophthalmology practice. These include optometric assistant, ophthalmic assistant, optometric technician, ophthalmic technician, and optometry or ophthalmology office manager. Optometry or ophthalmology consulting is another opportunity to consider later on in your eye care career, once you have more experience and expertise under your belt. To explore these eye care professionals in more detail, check out our overview of the best optometry jobs. Excelling in Optometry with PECAA’s Support No matter what your academic and professional goals are, PECAA can help you excel in the eye care industry! For optometry or ophthalmology students, we offer a free student membership. This is a unique and valuable opportunity to build your professional network and gain inside knowledge about the eye care industry so that you can get a jump start on your career. For early-stage professionals, joining PECAA’s community of independent eye care professionals will equip you with everything you need to be successful, including networking opportunities, consulting services, marketing support, staff training resources, coaching, practice valuations, group discounts and rebates, and so much more. Book a discovery call today to learn more!
No, I'm not extolling the tourist attractions of Lindisfarne castle or the ruined priory but, instead, noting a problem in the extensive sand dunes of the surrounding nature reserve. Piripiri grows here. It is a plant familiar to most New Zealanders for its spherical sticking seed heads and may be more widely called 'bidibid' or 'biddy-biddy'. It's foreign to Britain and called 'pirri-pirri' and is regarded as a serious environmental weed. It is thinly spread with a wide range. Feathers of ground-nesting birds have been found so clogged with piripiri seed heads that the birds have starved. The first specimen of piripiri was collected in Britain in 1901, where it is believed to have arrived on sheep's wool from New Zealand. At Lindisfarne my wife and I saw tangled mats of piripiri among dune grasses where the adjoining beach carpark sign points at a New Zealand origin. This may be unfair to us because piripiri is native to Australia and perhaps New Zealand but it was given its formal name, Acaena novae-zelandiae, from Auckland material in 1871. Some botanists believe it was brought to NZ accidentally from Australia. Extensive weed trials in Britain have found that piripiri cannot be controlled effectively by herbicides or hand-weeding. Innovative ways of removing its seed - for example, by dragging a carpet across it - have not reduced its spread. Instead, reserve managers and volunteers undertake hand-removal of the seed heads in some places. On the carpark notice there is a plea for people to remove seeds from clothing and pets before leaving. While we were at Lindisfarne a number of cars departed and no occupants made any attempt to check for seed. To us the piripiri situation in Britain looked like too little action too late. Few NZ native plants have become established as weeds in Britain, which is different from the large numbers which came from there to NZ. How their weed managers must regret not eradicating the very first piripiri plants found there. Does this sound familiar? Imagine New Zealand today had our forebears eradicated, for example, the very first docks, thistles, ragwort and buttercups - all accidental imports from Britain. Or removed the first Onehunga weed and Tradescantia from South America, the first pink ragwort and veld grass from South Africa or the first Australian fireweed. And these examples ignore the hundreds of deliberately imported plants which have escaped subsequently. As in the rest of the world, newly-establishing weeds are easier and cheaper to control, regardless of how they arrived.
London - Primary school pupils who are overweight may have poorer thinking skills, a study has suggested. Children aged nine to 11 were found to do worse in problem-solving and memory tests if they were obese or overweight. The study of 2 700 children also found that those who were overweight had a thinner cortex – the part of the brain which is important for reasoning. However, the reasons for the study’s findings are unclear. A fatty diet may cause damaging inflammation at a time when a child’s brain is still developing. Another theory is that children have different brains which make fatty and sugary foods more rewarding and reduced their willpower, while also affecting youngsters’ thinking abilities.
Special \| A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z \| ALL Lack of Motivation Students may appear to be unmotivated when they have several root causes of unproductive struggle. Additionally, a student’s priorities may lead to lack of motivation in class. Supporting Questions to Ask: What matters to this student? Is there a way to relate the problem to something he or she cares about, or allow them to use their talent/interest in a way that benefits the team? Learning Goals specify the learning that is intended for a lesson. Learning goals are usually restricted to a single lesson and may refer to understanding (i.e. a portion of the Lesson Objective), knowledge, skills, or applications. They may also reference a process for doing math such as the Standards for Math Practice, or behaviors such as modeling quality collaboration. These goals may use words such as know, develop, become fluent, apply, understand, use, or extend. They are often accompanied by success criteria. They can also be identified by their function: concept goals, process goals, or product goals. A writing tool used by students to reflect about understanding of mathematical concepts, consolidate ideas, develop new ways to describe mathematical ideas, and recognize gaps in understanding. It can also be used as a resource to refresh your students' memories. Learning Logs are most powerful when they are revisited and edited with new understanding. Learning Management System Also referred to as the LMS, is a software application system that monitors professional development for CPM users; keeps track of progress; allows interaction with others and CPM specialists. Mode of Instruction: Teamwork Purpose: Focus attention Objective: To establish mathematics goals to focus learning, specific roles situated actions to move through a learning progression. Teacher monitors each team role through circulation. In teams, two team members are mathematicians and two team members are observers. Team Member (1) and Team Member (2) problem solve, sharing explanations aloud. Team Member (3) listens to Team Members (1) and (2) and asks clarifying questions, as needed. Team Member (4) records observations about explanations and attitudes of participants, but Team Member (4) remains silent throughout the activity. After the assigned time—15 minutes—Team Member (4) shares notes and observations. Team Members (1), (2), and (3) may share their perspectives, as well. Variations of this activity include multiple rounds with the roles rotated to other members. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning Mathematically proficient students notice if calculations are repeated, and look both for general methods and for shortcuts. Upper elementary students might notice when dividing 25 by 11 that they are repeating the same calculations over and over again, and conclude they have a repeating decimal. By paying attention to the calculation of slope as they repeatedly check whether points are on the line through (1, 2) with slope 3, middle school students might abstract the equation (y - 2)/(x - 1) = 3. Noticing the regularity in the way terms cancel when expanding (x - 1)(x + 1), (x - 1)(x2 + x + 1), and (x - 1)(x3 + x2 + x + 1) might lead them to the general formula for the sum of a geometric series. As they work to solve a problem, mathematically proficient students maintain oversight of the process, while attending to the details. They continually evaluate the reasonableness of their intermediate results. Look for and make use of structure Mathematically proficient students look closely to discern a pattern or structure. Students will see 7 × 8 equals the well remembered 7 × 5 + 7 × 3, in preparation for learning about the distributive property. In the expression x2 + 9x + 14, older students can see the 14 as 2 × 7 and the 9 as 2 + 7. They recognize the significance of an existing line in a geometric figure and can use the strategy of drawing an auxiliary line for solving problems. They also can step back for an overview and shift perspective. They can see complicated things, such as some algebraic expressions, as single objects or as being composed of several objects. For example, they can see 5 - 3(x - y)2 as 5 minus a positive number times a square and use that to realize that its value cannot be more than 5 for any real numbers x and y.
The cupuacu fruit plant (Theobroma grandiflorum) is also known as Brazilian cocoa, cupuassu, or large-flowered cocoa. Derived from the Malvaceae family which is the cotton tribe. A close relative of the cacao tree, they are categorized in the same genus and have a lot in common with each other. Cupuacu (pronounced koo-poo-ah-soo) is a delicious melon-sized fruit with creamy white pulp that grows in the drainage basin of the Amazon in northern parts of Brazil. Cupuacu is known in the Amazon as “the pharmacy in a fruit” and could be considered one of the most nutritionally beneficial superfruits ever introduced to the outside world. As a cousin of the cacao fruit, cupuacu has a prized tropical flavor combining elements of chocolate, bananas, pear, passion fruit and pineapple. Cupuacu has several scientific name synonyms, including Bubroma grandiflorum Willd. ex Spreng., Guazuma grandiflora (Willd. ex Spreng.) G. Don, T. macrantha Bernoulli, T. silvestre Spruce ex K. Schum. In its place of origin, Brazil, cupuacu plants are often attacked by Escoba de Bruja, a fungus that can kill trees and damage fruit. Morphology and General Characteristics The cupuacu tree can grow up to 15 meters high with a trunk up to 30 cm in diameter. This plant has a strong taproot up to 2 meters long, and can even reach 6 m in length. The leaves can be up to 50 cm long and up to 13 cm wide, dark green above and gray-green below and prominently veined. While the flowers are reddish with thick triangular petals. The flowers are hermaphrodites, or in one flower there are male and female sex organs (stamens and pistils). Cupuacu is reported to have the largest flowers and fruit in its genus. Cupuacu fruit is similar in size and shape to sapodilla mamey fruit (Pouteria sapote). The outer surface of the fruit is covered with short hairs which are easily removed. Cupuacu fruit is covered by an outer layer like a hard shell, therefore it takes more effort to open this fruit. Inside this fruit there is a collection of seeds covered by soft, white, slippery and fibrous flesh. Habitat and Distribution of Cupuacu Fruit Cupuacu trees usually grow in rain forests, river banks, plantations and yards. Native to southern Amazonia, southeastern Brazil and also from the states of Para and Maranhao. Currently cupuacu trees have been widely cultivated in many places, including Trinidad, Tobago, Ecuador, Guyana, Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Martinique, and Ghana. Fruitful Sweet and Useful According to various sources, cupuacu fruit has a very delicious taste and can be used to make juice, ice cream, yogurt, sorbets, preserves, sweets, jams, jellies, puddings and other desserts. The seeds are high in fat and can be used to produce chocolate and chocolate-like foodstuffs. In addition, cupuacu fruit flesh contains vitamins B1, B2, C, high pectin, and has a low pH. This makes it a good candidate to replace additional ingredients in the manufacture of pastries. In addition, the skin contains iron, potassium, manganese and zinc. In addition, the wood also has a strong structure and can be used in the manufacture of cabinets and the texture of building wall coverings. Theobroma grandiflorum also known as cupuaçu is a tropical rainforest tree related to cacao. Commonly throughout the Amazon basin, it is cultivated in the jungles of Colombia, Bolivia and Peru and in northern Brazil, with the greatest production in Pará. The cupuaçu pulp, consumed throughout Central and South America, is the fruit of the state of Pará, and is used to make ice cream, snack bars, and other products. Cupuaçu trees are typically 5–15 m (16–49 ft) tall, although some trees can reach 20 m (66 ft). They have brown skin, and the leaves are 25–35 cm (9.8–13.8 in) long and 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in) long, with 9 or 10 pairs of veins. As they mature, the leaves change from pink to green, and eventually they begin to bear fruit.
Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI), also known as Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), is a procedure that is able to detect breast cancers missed by mammography and ultrasound, particularly in women with dense breasts. The MBI procedure is now available in hundreds of breast centers nationwide and is commonly utilized as a tool along with mammography and ultrasound to help in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Although the radiation dose associated with this procedure is already low enough to be used in select cases, new research is being conducted to find ways to reduce the dose further so that MBI may be used in annual breast cancer screening for high-risk women with dense breast tissue. The latest results from this research were presented at the Chicago International Breast Course in October by Marcela Bohm-Velez, M.D., the principal investigator of an ongoing trial at Weinstein Imaging Associates in Pittsburgh, Pa. In the MBI procedure, the patient receives a pharmaceutical tracer. Reducing the amount of tracer needed for imaging reduces the radiation dose to the patient. According to the results obtained by Bohm-Velez and her co-authors, MBI can be conducted using about one half the amount of tracer typically used today, thereby exposing the patient to a much lower radiation dose. In their prospective trial, 72 patients had low-dose MBI followed by imaging at the standard dose and their results indicate that low-dose MBI provided the same diagnostic yield as the images conducted at the standard dose. "The pioneering research done at the Mayo Clinic indicated low-dose is an option for the dual-head MBI system and our research indicates that it is an option for the single-head MBI systems as well. We have found that it is possible to cut the dose in half and still produce diagnostically useful images," said Bohm-Velez. "In our previous work, we found that MBI had a higher sensitivity for breast cancer than mammography or ultrasound and this work is a natural extension. The uptake of the tracer in the breast tissue is complex and highly variable, and our goal is to help the medical community develop strategies for obtaining the best images possible. We have made several observations regarding the rate of tracer washout from the breast tissue and the impact of patient's weight on tracer uptake. We are currently working to submit our results for peer-reviewed publication this fall." For mor information: www.molecularbreastimaging.com
Travis Garwick doesn’t just teach about ecosystems to his seventh-grade biology students. An ecosystem runs inside the classroom at Warner Middle School in Westminster. Kale, lettuce and basil grow in box planters at eye level, fed by nutrient-filled waters pumped from the tanks of tilapia and catfish below. Through the aquaponics system, students raise both the leafy vegetables and fish similar to commercial farms. But the fish in the class aren’t just used at school. In other tanks, Garwick’s students raise organisms that are eventually taken to the ocean. His class has grown kelp to restore forests destroyed in the 1980s in an El Niño storm. Students also are caring for green abalone and white sea bass. Garwick’s commitment has earned him praise from the community and within the Westminster School District, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 2012. He also became a semifinalist for Orange County Teacher of the Year. Garwick’s goal is to not just teach students what, but also why, while preparing them for the world. “We’re not just learning standards,” said Garwick, a teacher for 14 years. “We are learning to give service to the community.”OUT OF THE LAB Garwick originally studied to become a molecular biologist and do cancer research. “After working in a lab for three years, I had a big realization,” Garwick said. “I cannot be a lab person. That solitary work, it was not that exciting.” He took a year off from University of California, San Diego to start at the “low-end of the totem pole” in the medical field. With his nursing assistant license, he worked at a private nursing home, where his elderly patients persuaded him to pursue science in another way: teaching. After earning his teaching credential, Garwick was hired as a field naturalist through the Inside the Outdoors program, where he competed with animals for students’ attention. He took those classroom management skills to Warner Middle School, where he has taught since 1999.OCEAN WORK Garwick never settled on just book work. When he bumped into a former colleague at Inside the Outdoors, Nancy Caruso, he took his lessons to a new level – ocean restoration. Caruso, a marine biologist, was working on a program to restore the kelp forests and wanted to partner with schools, including Warner. Garwick’s students and an after-school club grew kelp inside the class and later the kelp was planted along the coastline. The project restored about 20 miles of the forest. For the last few years, Warner’s program grew to raise green abalone – sea snails – that used to be eaten regularly, Garwick said. Now, the abalone are threatened. Warner got a rare permit to raise the abalone to be planted back in the ocean. Now, Warner’s class and club are raising white sea bass through a partnership with Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute. Because students are learning about the ocean in the class, they’ve taken the knowledge into their homes – telling their parents what fish to buy and checking menus at restaurants. Garwick always gets on board helping with the programs, when other teachers sometimes turn away funding, Caruso said. “Not many teachers are willing to do that to the extent Travis is,” Caruso said. “He’s one of the most committed people I’ve ever worked with.”SPECIAL AQUARIUMS Caruso’s organization also recently received aquariums from a science museum, which Garwick accepted. He has turned the individual aquariums into a project for his honors students. For school open house, the classroom will be turned into an aquarium, like a museum. Students were split into teams to tend each aquarium with a budget of $80 and an additional $25 of their own contributions for food, testing chemicals and other items. Students track the aquariums’ water data on a Google drive. Garwick told students where to find free apps. Poster displays are put up next to each tank with information about the fish, including goldfish and crayfish, in three languages – English, Spanish and Vietnamese to cater to the diverse population. More than half of Warner’s students are Asian, while about a third are Latino, according to California Department of Education data in 2002-13. Students make digital advertisements to market their tanks, including videos and art. On a recent Monday morning, the Funky Fish Friends group was testing water for the tank of jewel cichlid and writing for the tank’s blog. Other groups brought in buckets to pour in fresh water. “I love the fact that we get to work with living things rather than reading from a textbook, like other schools would do,” said Angeline Phu, 12, a seventh-grader in the honors science class. “It’s like we’re actually in the laboratory instead of the classroom. It just feels realistic.” Contact the writer: 714-704-3793 or firstname.lastname@example.org
Each domain which is registered and hosted has lots of DNS records - some of them are created automatically when you host a domain, others can be created manually if needed. For example, the A record of a domain address is its IP address i.e. this record shows where the web site is located; the MX records reveal where the emails are handled, while with an SRV record you can use a domain address for unconventional purposes, for instance a Voice-over-IP service. The ability to create and modify specific records allows you to have different services with different companies if, for example, your current host provides good web hosting, but has problems with the e-mail service, or you simply prefer to get a specific service from a certain company. Though you can create and edit these records freely and with no restrictions as you own a given domain name, many companies charge extra to give you this option.
There are several established clans which do not have a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. In such cases clan members may wear the crest badge of the last known chief. In other cases, clan members wear crest badges based upon coats of arms of clan members who were never recognised chiefs. Crest badges can sometimes show one clan's association with another. For example, the crests and mottoes may be either identical or very similar to an other clans. Although the term "clan crest" is most commonly used, it is a misnomer. There is in fact no such thing as a clan crest. Although it is possible to purchase "clan crests", and the crest badge itself can be owned by a clan member, the heraldic crest and motto of the badge belong to the chief alone and never the clan member. The crest and motto within and are the sole property of the chief, and clan members are only permitted to wear the badge in a show of allegiance to their clan and clan chief. It is illegal for a clan member to misappropriate the chief's crest and motto in acts such as decorating silverware and inscriptions on signet rings and jewellery. In short, coats of arms, crests and mottos are the personal property of one person only, and in terms of "clan crests" they are the property of the clan chief. Crest badges are specifically used for clan members to wear, and are made out of silver or white metal. When illustrated, crest badges should only be printed in monochrome, and should not coloured. Women are entitled to wear the crest badge as a brooch, generally worn on the left side, and as such the crest badge may be of gold. There are several established clans which do not have a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. In such cases, clan members usually wear a crest badge which contains the crest and motto of the last known chief. However, there are several instances where such clans where crest badges which are based upon the arms of someone who was never a recognised clan chief. For example, Clan Macfie, which current does not have a chief, uses a crest badge which is derived from the arms of one of the first two Macfies who registered Arms at Lyon Court. Another clan —Clan MacEwen— whose chiefly line has been untraced since the 15th century, has a crest badge containing the crest and motto of a baronet bearing the surname McEwen. Oddly enough, the McEwen baronets may not have any actual link with the main Clan MacEwen at all. Another instance is the crest badge of Clan MacInnes. This crest badge is based upon a modern coat of arms of an armigerous clan member, not a clan chief. When compared to English heraldry, crests have been considered to have played a relatively insignificant role in Scottish heraldry. In consequence many Scottish armigers, including clan chiefs, have comparatively similar crests to one another. Because of this, crest badges can sometimes show an obvious association with another clan. For example, many of the clans associated with the Chattan Confederation contain very share very similar crest badges bearing wild cats. Several clans associated with Clan Campbell —Clan Campbell of Breadalbane, Clan MacIver and Clan MacTavish— use a crest badges which contain similar crests and mottoes that allude to that of the chief of Clan Campbell. A person does not need to be a member of a clan society to be able to wear a crest badge. Any clan member has a right to it, not just clan societies and clan society members. According to the Court of the Lord Lyon clan membership goes with the surname. Clan membership does not automatically pass through a woman who has changed her name in marriage and through to her children — thus children are members of their fathers' clan. Although, today many people who do not bear a clan surname do wear crest badges of their mother's clan, and anyone who offers their allegiance to a clan chief is a member of a clan (unless the chief decides to refuse that person's allegiance). Many people bear names that, while not actual clan surnames, are sept names or associated names of certain clans. Surnames such as Smith, Wright, Fletcher, and Miller are examples as such names that are associated names or many clans (as every clan would have its own smiths, wrights, fletchers and millers). It is up to the individual to explore their personal ancestry and discovery the correct clan that they belong to. \|Crest\|\|A crest stands above the wreath which stands above the shield in a coat of arms. It is impossible to own a crest if one has not in possession of a coat of arms, as the crest is adjunct to the coat or arms. In Scottish Heraldry the crest is usually accompanied with the motto or slogan, and sometimes an additional motto or slogan is granted which may also appear on a clan member's crest badge.\| \|Wreath\|\|The wreath appears appears on a coat of arms between the crest and helmet. When on a crest badge, the wreath is always shown below the crest to show that it is a heraldic crest and not another object.\| \|Coronet\|\|In some cases a coronet or antique crown (pictured) replaces the wreath in crests. The coronet, referred to as a "crest coronet", consists of three visible strawberry leaves (one and two halves). An antique crown consists of five visible arches (three and two halves).\| \|Chapeau\|\|In some cases the heraldic chapeau replaces the wreath in crests, it can also sometimes appear between the wreath and the crest. The chapeau indicates the owner's baronial rank.\| A clan chief is the head of his or her clan/family, and is the representer of the family's founder. A clan chief must be recognised as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, and must possess the undifferenced arms of their name. Clan chiefs may wear their crest simpliciter, that is without being encircled by the motto and without any feathers. It is more common, however, for a clan chiefs to wear their own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with their motto or slogan (pictured left). The chief's crest badge does not contain the strap and buckle that other clan members are permitted to wear. Clan chiefs are also entitled to wear three eagle feathers behind the circlet of their crest badge. On certain occasions, such as clan gatherings, it may be appropriate to use real eagle feathers. Clan chiefs that are members of the British Peerage are entitled to wear the appropriate coronet above the circlet on their crest badge, though this is a matter of personal preference. Clan chieftains are the representers of large branches of a Scottish clan. They are officially recognised as clan chieftains by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Clan chieftains, like clan chiefs, may wear their own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with their own motto or slogan. Clan chieftains may also wear two small eagle feathers (unlike the chief's three). On certain occasions real eagle feathers may be worn behind the crest badge. If a clan chieftain is a member of the British Peerage, he or she is permitted to wear the appropriate coronet above the circlet on their crest badge. Clan chieftains may also to wear the crest badge of their chief in the same manner as an un-armigerous clan member (see Un-armigerous clan members below). In terms of Scottish Heraldry, an armiger is someone who has registered his or her own coat of arms, or has inherited a coat of arms according to the Laws of Arms in Scotland from an ancestor who had arms recorded in the Lyon Register. Armigers, like clan chiefs and chieftains, may wear their own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with their own motto or slogan. Armigers are permitted to wear one silver eagle feather behind the circlet (or on certain occasions a real eagle feather). If an Armiger is a member of the British Peerage he or she is permitted to wear the appropriate coronet above the circlet on their crest badge. If an Armiger is a member of a Scottish clan he or she may wear the crest badge of their chief, however it must be encircled by a strap and buckle (see Un-armigerous clan members below). Members of Scottish clans are considered to be relatives of their clan chief. They can be either immediate family or extended family. Clan members can also be people who only bear the "clan surname" or a sept name associated with the clan. Anyone who professes allegiance to both the clan and it's chief can be considered a clan member. All clan members may wear the chief's crest encircled by a strap and buckle inscribed with their chief's motto or slogan. The strap and buckle symbolises the membership to the clan and allegiance to the clan chief.