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“If sleep does not serve an absolutely vital function, then it is the biggest mistake the evolutionary process has ever made,” Allan Rechtschaffen said. Studies of sleep and sleep deprivation suggest that the functions of sleep include recovery at the cellular, network, and endocrine system levels, energy conservation and ecological adaptations, and a role in learning and synaptic plasticity. A long-standing general principle in vision research holds that single photoreceptors always contain a single type of rhodopsin, although occasional examples of co-expressed rhodopsins, as the authors have now demonstrated for Drosophila, have cropped up in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Food webs, which depict the networks of feeding interactions among co-occurring species, display many regularities in their structure. For example, the distributions of links to prey and links from predators, the percentages of omnivores and herbivores, and the mean trophic level of species change systematically with the number of taxa and feeding links in a web. Such “scale-dependent” regularities are formalized by network models based on a few simple link distribution rules that successfully predict the network structure of complex food webs from a variety of habitats. To explore how long such regularities may have persisted, we compiled and analyzed detailed food-web data for two ancient fossil assemblages from the early Paleozoic, when rapid diversification of multicellular species, body plans, and trophic roles occurred. Our analyses show that for most aspects of network structure, the Early Cambrian Chengjiang Shale and Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale food webs are very similar to modern webs. This suggests that there are strong and enduring constraints on the organization of feeding interactions in ecosystems. However, a few differences, particularly in the Chengjiang Shale web, suggest that some aspects of network structure were still in flux during early phases of de novo ecosystem construction. PLoS Medicine aims to publish important studies from all medical disciplines that provide a substantial advance either in clinical practice, public heath policy, or basic pathophysiology. Though this is a lofty aim it is possible to see the journal’s role as primarily a passive one; presubmission inquiries and research articles arrive unsolicited, by which time evaluation by editors and reviewers for rigor, originality, and importance can do little to improve deficiencies in study methodology (largely a fait accompli by that point). However, we would argue that medical journals such as PLoS Medicine should seek to go beyond merely reflecting current trends in medical practice and research, by actively working to establish and promote standards that aim to improve the quality of research that is done. In a new systematic review published in this issue of PLoS Medicine, Ian Sinha and colleagues examined studies that involved the selection of outcomes for use in paediatric clinical trials . As they say in their report, the choice of outcome is important because choosing inappropriate outcomes may lead to “wasted resources or misleading information which either overestimates, underestimates or completely misses the potential benefits of an intervention.”
Miguel Angel Asturias The Nobel Prize in Literature 1967 Born: 19 October 1899, Guatemala City, Guatemala Died: 9 June 1974, Madrid, Spain Residence at the time of the award: Guatemala Prize motivation: "for his vivid literary achievement, deep-rooted in the national traits and traditions of Indian peoples of Latin America." Prize share: 1/1 Their work and discoveries range from cancer therapy and laser physics to developing proteins that can solve humankind’s chemical problems. The work of the 2018 Nobel Laureates also included combating war crimes, as well as integrating innovation and climate with economic growth. Find out more.
A Cover Crop Field Tour of three sites in Nemaha County will look at how cover crops are being used and what the early yield and biomass data are showing. A soil pit at one site will also offer insights into longer-term soil health benefits. Positioning your farm to become more resilient to extreme weather includes focusing on long-term soil health. An August 30 Soil Health Demo Field Day will feature soil health and conservation practices to help improve soil health over time. How can we manage cropland to improve soil health? To test and encourage adoption of soil health practices, the Soil Health Demonstration Initiative was launched as a collaborative effort of growers, UNL and NRCS. Now a network of farm research sites is providing valuable information from in-field studies. Growers conducting on-farm demonstrations as part of the Nebraska Soil Health Initiative met with UNL and NRCS staff to share about what they were doing and learning on their farms. Their work offers valuable insights for other growers considering how they too can build soil health on their farms. Animal manure can be a valuable soil nutrient. Three stories at Water.unl.edu explore how manure improves soil fertility and productivity, how poultry manure can be managed in crop production, and how composted beef manure can be added to sugar beet production. This study examined impacts of using a cereal rye cover crop in corn systems in eastern Nebraska and found that it boosted the microbial community in the upper two inches of the soil. This may improve soil aggregation, nutrient cycling, and other soil health benefits.
How A Gluten Free Diet Can Make Your Life Easier Did you know that an estimated 1 in 105 people in the United States are living with celiac disease? Celiac disease is caused by an abnormal reaction to gluten found in wheat and related proteins such as barley and rye. New studies indicate that celiac disease is on the rise and a growing portion of diagnoses are cropping up in asymptomatic individuals thanks to advancements made in screening for the disease. An inflammatory reaction in bowel tissue and fatigue are two of the most common and easily recognizable symptoms. So, what should you do if you think you may be among those living with celiac disease? Definitely see your doctor to request a screening and discuss necessary lifestyle and diet changes, especially if the diagnosis is positive for celiac disease. But even if you don’t have celiac disease, chances are that you know somebody who does, so it’s important that you know what foods they can and cannot eat. Knowing this will come in handy, especially, when throwing dinner parties or deciding where to dine out. A gluten-free diet remains the cornerstone for combating celiac disease, although the study points out that there is continued research to modify the gluten structure in wheat to produce a kind of wheat that will not illicit an immune response in people with the disease. Currently, no medication exists to treat or prevent celiac disease. A gluten-free diet is also recommended to people who show symptoms of latent celiac disease, otherwise known as gluten sensitivity. According to a recent study in Europe, the mortality rate is nearly equal for people living with both celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, because foods made of gluten or related components sometimes appear as otherwise gluten-free foods and end up harming that individual. Symptoms including malnutrition and excessive weight loss also pose a serious threat to people living with celiac disease—and sometimes these symptoms can go undetected for a long time. So, what should comprise a healthy, gluten-free diet for someone who has celiac disease? Well, nothing containing gluten or too high levels of gluten, that’s for sure! There are many specialty food stores that cater to celiacs and keep their strict dietary needs in mind. Visiting these stores allow you to shop for verified gluten-free alternatives to food that is usually high in gluten. It gets trickier when deciding to dine out, especially if the restaurant that’s selected is not one that is known for its health-conscious cuisine. Choose carefully and always get the word about any menu item’s ingredients from the chef, directly. Mistakes and miscommunications can be made from chef to server to you. You must first protect yourself. If dining out proves too limiting, ultimately, it’s always fun to arrange nights in and dinner parties where you can be in control of the menu and create a dish that’s both healthy for you and tasty for your guests. Doctors who treat patients with celiac disease report that oftentimes people unknowingly are eating foods that contain gluten in some form. How best to address this if you have celiac disease? Continue to meet with your doctor to discuss your diet and all foods that you eat. Your doctor will raise a red flag to any food you mention that may contain gluten or any by-product of gluten. To order a delicious gluten free weight loss program from bistroMD, click here!
Matthew Firth \| CUPE Research Environmental challenges, including climate change, are among the highest priorities for workers and their communities. We know unions, like CUPE, can be part of the solution, even at the bargaining table. Many environmental issues can be addressed – or at least recognized – within collective agreements. While exercising union leadership, we can demand employers do more. Environmental goals and statements Some CUPE locals have bargained collective agreement language and letters of understanding that set goals for workplace environmental improvements for employers and workers. Rather than focus on a single environmental issue, this language often takes a broad approach. This approach can help CUPE members raise the importance of environmental issues where they work, which can be a springboard to negotiating collective agreement language on specific environmental issues. For example, CUPE 3886 at Royal Roads University in Victoria has bargaining language on environmental stewardship. “In keeping with the University’s environmental mission, the University and the Union are committed to developing and maintaining high standards of environmental stewardship. Our mission is to be a global leader in environmental sustainability through innovative strategies which foster the protection and preservation of the environment.” Transportation is Canada’s second- largest source of carbon pollution. In 2016, transportation produced approximately 23 per cent of all Canadian carbon pollution. Any steps employers and workers can take to reduce transportation pollution will benefit the environment and worker health. CUPE 3942, in Ottawa, negotiated language supporting bicycle use for its members. The employer reimburses workers who travel by car to cover gas and vehicle wear and tear. Now they have expanded transportation options by reimbursing staff who use bicycles as well. According to CUPE 3942 President, Denis Savard, the staff at the social service agency see this as a progressive environmental step that has encouraged more bike travel to and from work, and has increased bike use for staff who visit clients in the community. Their collective agreement includes the following language: “An employee who travels by bicycle for the Employer’s business shall be paid at a rate of twenty-five (25¢) cents per kilometre.” CUPE 402 and the City of Surrey negotiated language where the employer pays up to 30 per cent of the cost of transit passes to encourage workers to travel to and from work by public transit. CUPE 4557 members at the United Church of Canada/Kairos also bargained to have a portion of their transit passes paid by their employer. Conservation and sustainability Promoting conservation and sustainability at work through various steps can help improve a workplace’s environmental performance and cut greenhouse gases. Some CUPE locals have used bargaining language to push their employers to extend some common household and community conservation and sustainability principles and practices to the workplace. CUPE 1169, in Calgary, negotiated language encouraging sustainable work practices. The language has helped spread sustainable practices through a workplace environmental committee formed to create green bargaining language. As a result, all 18 branches of the Calgary Public Library have adopted recycling programs, waste and packaging reduction programs, and use environmental cleaning products. “Both Management and the Union recognize and share a common interest, respect and commitment to sustainable environmental practices in our workplace. In continuing pursuit of this goal, both parties acknowledge that change and thoughtful transition will be necessary and that co-operative action leads to successful implementation.” Environmental products and green alternatives Changing the products that we work with is a simple and direct way to reduce a workplace’s environmental impact. “Green” products and processes are no longer out of reach because they are too expensive or hard to find. They’re affordable, and available. Employers should provide environmental products where possible to reduce environmental harm and protect workers’ health and safety. CUPE 2012-01 members who work at the Terrace Women’s Resource Centre in British Columbia negotiated progressive language that has helped workers follow environmental principles at work: “The Parties agree that a safe and clean working environment is essential in order to carry out work assignments in a satisfactory manner. The Employer commits to investigate the use of environmentally friendly products.” CUPE 4153 members at the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board struck a Joint Chemical/Equipment Review Committee where the union and the employer each have three representatives. The committee’s work led to language that considers both the environmental and health and safety impacts in the workplace, and how improvements can extend beyond the workplace. These examples show how CUPE locals can help advance an environmental agenda that improves working conditions and lowers workplaces’ negative environmental impacts. Pressing employers to agree to green language in collective agreements and letters of understanding is one strategy workers can use to confront climate change and other environmental issues. Finally, locals can also consider how similar language can be bargained around issues like training, just transition, procurement, use of electric vehicles, and more. For more examples like this, or to have support in developing new and innovative green language, please contact: email@example.com.
Meteor Blast Smashes Glass, Injures About 1,000 in Russia A meteor exploded in the skies above Russia’s Ural Mountains, sending shock waves that broke windows, injuring people across the area hours before an asteroid half the size of a football field was due to pass the Earth. About 1,000 people in the Chelyabinsk region were injured, mostly by flying glass shards, Vadim Kolesnik, an Interior Ministry official, said by phone. The explosion struck at about 7:25 a.m. Moscow time, 16 hours before a 45-meter (150-foot) asteroid named 2012 DA14 was forecast to pass the planet. “It’s very much a reminder that we live sometimes in a cosmic shooting gallery,” Alan Fitzsimmons, a professor of astrophysics at Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, said by phone from Hawaii, where he is working on the Pan-STARRS project to detect so-called near-Earth objects. “These are natural phenomena that can have dramatic effects.” More than 100 tons of dust and sand-size particles bombard the Earth’s atmosphere a day, with most burning up short of impact, according to the U.S. National Aeronautics & Space Administration. About once every 100 years, asteroids larger than 50 meters reach the Earth’s surface. Larger impacts are rarer, and scientists theorize that an asteroid collision in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula may have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Debris from today’s explosion hit the Earth at three points in the Chelyabinsk region, Kolesnik said. One piece probably hit a frozen lake about 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Chelyabinsk, he said. A hole 8 meters in diameter was found in the ice, national television channel Rossiya 24 reported. The meteor was at least 1 cubic meter (35 cubic feet), which if made of pure iron would weigh almost 8 tons, Sergei Lamzin, deputy head of the Sternberg State Astronomical Institute in Moscow, said by phone. Burning streaks lit up the sky, in videos caught by drivers on dashboard cameras, broadcast on Russian state television and posted on YouTube. Rossiya 24 showed people bleeding from cuts. “At our hypermarket in Emanzhelinsk, windows were blown out, the roof shook, there was a strong shock wave,” billionaire Sergey Galitskiy, chief executive officer of OAO Magnit (MGNT), Russia’s biggest food retailer by value, said on Twitter. “A serious meteorite fell.” Today’s event “can’t even be distantly compared,” with the 1908 Tunguska meteor, said Nikolai Chugai, an Institute of Astronomy department head at the Russian Academy of Sciences. That event caused the most powerful natural explosion in recent history, leveling 800 square miles (2,100 square kilometers) of forest in Siberia, while leaving no crater, according to NASA. About 170,000 square meters (1.8 million square feet) of window glass will have to be replaced as a result of the event, RIA Novosti reported from a meeting led by Chelyabinsk region Governor Mikhail Yurevich. That is more than twice the area of Red Square in Moscow. Damage is estimated at 1 billion rubles ($33 million), Interfax said, citing the governor. Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov told President Vladimir Putin in a televised meeting that 112 people were hospitalized. Some schools and kindergartens were closed because of broken glass, according to Rossiya 24. Radiation is within normal levels and power systems are working as usual, the Emergencies Ministry’s regional unit said on its website. The concussive force destroyed a warehouse wall at the Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant (CHZN) and broke windows in other buildings, said Evgeny Ponomarev, a spokesman for the unit of billionaire Iskandar Makhmudov’s Ural Mining & Metallurgical Co. The plant is operating normally, Ponomarev said. The meteor that exploded over Russia and the DA14 asteroid “are probably completely unrelated,” said Fitzsimmons, the Queen’s University professor. “It’s a spectacular cosmic coincidence.” DA14 will come within about 17,000 miles of the Earth while passing over Indonesia at 2:25 p.m. Washington time today, according to NASA. Washington is nine hours behind Moscow. It’s the closest recorded approach of an object its size, according to the agency. A meteor is a chunk of asteroid or comet that enters the Earth’s atmosphere. If it survives and hits the surface, it’s called a meteorite. The asteroid that’s approaching is moving in a different direction than the Russian meteor was, so probably isn’t related, said Tim O’Brien, associate director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics in Manchester, England. So-called near-Earth objects are hard to detect because they “don’t produce any light of their own,” making smaller ones like today’s harder to spot, O’Brien said. Phone traffic in the Chelyabinsk region surged as much as 10-fold after the event, Valeria Kuzmenko, a spokeswoman for OAO Mobile TeleSystems (MBT), said by phone today. MTS, Russia’s largest mobile operator, said its equipment is working normally, while No. 2 carrier OAO MegaFon said it was experiencing difficulties in the region and had turned to other operators’ networks for backup. Putin ordered assistance for the victims. The Emergencies Ministry has deployed 20,000 emergency staff and eight aircraft, Puchkov said. The event may prompt more research into space-debris defense systems, which could be used to protect the Earth from meteors as well, Alexei Kuznetsov, a spokesman for Russia’s Federal Space Agency, said by phone. The agency has been discussing the threat, while there is no consensus about the technology that could be used for prevention, he said. “The solar system is a pretty dangerous place to live in: Just look at the surface of the moon or Mercury -- they’re totally covered with impacts,” John Zarnecki, professor of space science at the U.K.’s Open University, said by phone. “On the scale of a human life, it might seem quiet, but on the geological scale we’re being peppered all the time. We shouldn’t be too complacent.” The Emergencies Ministry said the rest of the day should be quiet. “No further pieces of the meteor are expected to fall,” according to its statement. To contact the reporters on this story: Anna Shiryaevskaya in Moscow at email@example.com; Stepan Kravchenko in Moscow at firstname.lastname@example.org; Alex Morales in London at email@example.com To contact the editor responsible for this story: Will Kennedy at firstname.lastname@example.org
Many medical conditions today are treated but never cured. Imagine, a child with a genetic disease like juvenile diabetes or hemophilia. This child will be taking expensive medications for their entire lives. In the case of some diseases the cost of the medications might be more than child or their parents can ever hope to earn in their lifetimes, much less spend on a life-saving drug. This is one of the many reasons why people have placed such great hopes in gene therapy. If a disease results from a defective gene, and we could replace it or supplement it with a functional gene, perhaps we could have cures instead of treatments. It seems simple. But the many challenges are many. And we may have decide which risks are worth taking. Obstacles to overcome One challenge is the immune system. Our bodies are always ready to attack foreign proteins. Just like a child who was put up for adoption, isn’t always recognized as family when they show up unexpected at the door, our bodies aren’t likely to recognize a protein that we should have made but didn’t. Even if it’s missing because of genetic change, it will be seen as a foreign protein if it shows up unexpectedly, without proper warning. Another challenge is cancer. One of the ways that cancer can begin is if a virus integrates into a chromosome and turns on genes that should be kept shut off. Human papilloma virus, the virus that causes cervical cancer, is one such case. HPV can insert itself into the genome and turn on genes for cell growth. If cells grow in the absence of their normal checks and balances, cancer can result. How is this related to gene therapy? A big part of gene therapy involves putting the correct gene into the genome to provide the protein that’s missing from the gene that’s defective. This requires getting the gene into the proper cells and somehow getting the gene into the chromosomal DNA. How do you put a new gene into a chromosome? We look at how the experts do this in nature and see if we can’t use the same techniques. In nature, the ones with the greatest expertise are viruses. AAV is one example. AAV or adeno-associated viruses are viruses that can infect cells, and can integrate into chromosomal DNA through the work of enzymes that cut the chromosomal DNA and splice in the DNA from the virus. Unfortunately, the genome is big and at this time, there’s no way to control where the virus inserts itself. It’s well known that viruses can integrate in innocuous positions or into parts of the chromosome are better left alone. I’m not sure that we know much, right now, about why AAV picks one site over another. In the July 27 issue of Science, researchers found some cases in mice, where the virus did indeed pick an unfortunate site to join a mouse chromosome (1). In their study, approximately one third of the mice that were treated with an AAV vector developed liver cancer. The researchers decided to investigate the sites where the virus joined the chromosomes. They used PCR to create copies of the DNA at the junction sites, determined the DNA sequences from the PCR products, and used a sequence comparison program (probably BLAST although the article doesn’t mention this) to determine where those DNA sequences were located in the mouse genome. When the junction site DNA was examined more closely, they found that the integration sites from four tumor samples all mapped within the same 6, 000 base region in chromosome 12. Surprisingly (to me anyway), in the entire 3 billion base genome, two of the integration sites were only 12 bases apart, in the mir 341 micro RNA transcript. I don’t know if the researchers looked at all the sites where the virus integrated. To me, though, finding four integration sites so close together, makes me wonder if AAV integration isn’t really that random. It would be unfortunate if this location in chromosome 12 (or the human equivalent) is one that’s preferred by AAV. Liver cancer isn’t the sort of outcome that anyone would desire. 1. Donsante A, Miller DG, Li Y, Vogler C, Brunt EM, Russell DW, Sands MS. 2007. “AAV vector integration sites in mouse hepatocellular carcinoma.” Science 27;317(5837):477.
\|Also listed as: Childhood diseases\|\|Integrative Therapy Quick Links:\| - Anaphylactic shock, anaphylaxis, anti-diarrheals, B. pertussis, Bordetella pertussis contagious, chicken pox, chickenpox, conjunctivitis, cough, croup, dehydration, diarrhea, diphtheria, ear infection, ectoparasites, electrolyte imbalance, encephalitis, fever, food allergy, herpes, immune system, immunity, infections, lice, middle ear infection, otitis media, pediculosis, pertussis, pink eye, pinkeye, tetanus, upper respiratory infection, vaccination, vaccine, Varicella, whopping cough. - Children are vulnerable to certain illnesses and infections for several reasons. First, children do not have fully developed immune systems until they are about 7-8 years old. Because the immune system helps the body fight against diseases and infections, children have an increased risk of developing conditions, such as whooping cough, diarrhea, ear infections, chickenpox, croup, and food allergies, compared to adults. - Another reason children may develop illnesses is because they are frequently exposed to germs. Young children are not as aware or diligent about proper hygiene as adults. Children may wipe their noses with their hands and then play with toys shared with other children. When children are at daycare or school, they are exposed to an exceptionally wide range of germs, and it is easy to spread infections among friends or classmates. - Research suggests that babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop infections (especially lung infections, ear infections, and diarrhea) during their first year of life compared to babies who are fed formulas. This is because the mother's breast milk contains important antibodies, enzymes, fats, and proteins that help boost the baby's immune system. Although baby formulas contain all of the important vitamins and nutrients a growing baby needs, manufacturers have not been able to replicate all of the components in breast milk. Formulas lack the antibodies found in breast milk, and they are more difficult for newborns to digest. - Many other factors, such as inherited disorders (such as immune system deficiencies) and the home environment, may contribute to childhood illnesses. For instance, children who are exposed to cigarette smoke in the home have an increased risk of developing infections. - Because diseases and infections are often more severe in children than adults, it is important that children be taken to their doctors when symptoms develop. - Treatment for childhood illnesses varies depending on the specific child. Because children are smaller than adults and their bodies are still developing, they do not usually receive the same treatments. They may require different doses or different types of medicines. It is important that parents and caregivers carefully read the labels of medications to make sure they are safe before giving them to their children. For instance, aspirin is safe in adults, but it should not be given to children because it may cause serious side effects, including Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening condition that causes brain inflammation and vomiting. - When a child is sick, parents are encouraged to have the child stay at home instead rather than attend school or daycare. This helps prevent the sick child from spreading his/her illness to other children. Although individual facilities each have their own rules, most require children to stay at home if they have a fever that is higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, are vomiting, or have diarrhea. Some facilities also require children with bacterial infections, such as pinkeye or strep throat, to stay at home for the first 24 hours of antibiotic therapy. Once medicine has been started, the infections are less likely to be contagious. - Many steps can be taken to decrease the risk of childhood illnesses. For instance, children should regularly wash their hands with soap and warm water. This is especially important after using the bathroom, before eating food, and after touching objects that may contain disease-causing germs. Avoiding close contact with people who have contagious illnesses may also help reduce the risk of contacting infections. Parents or caregivers are also encouraged to talk with their children's pediatricians about recommended immunizations, such as the flu shot. - Note: Most integrative therapies have not been well-studied in children. Safety in children has not been proven for most of the therapies listed below. Therefore, parents and caregivers should talk to their children's pediatricians before trying integrative therapies. - Strong scientific evidence: - Saccharomyces boulardii: There is good evidence that concurrent use of Saccharomyces boulardii with antibiotic therapy reduces the incidence of developing antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) (Clostridium difficile and other). In general, positive results occur only when Saccharomyces boulardii is continued for several days to several weeks after the course of antibiotics is stopped. Duplication of these results should be attempted to confirm these findings. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or other species in the Saccharomycetaceae family. Use cautiously in immunocompromised or critically ill patients. Use cautiously with indwelling central venous catheters, colitis, cancer, or constipation. Use cautiously in the elderly, in individuals undergoing chemotherapy, and in infants. Use cautiously if taking antidiarrheal agents. Avoid with a yeast infection. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Zinc: Multiple studies in developing countries found that zinc supplementation may reduce the severity and duration of diarrhea in children, especially those that are malnourished and with low zinc levels. - Zinc is generally considered safe when taken at the recommended dosages. Avoid zinc chloride since studies have not been done on its safety or effectiveness. Avoid with kidney disease. Use cautiously if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Good scientific evidence: Povidone-iodine solutions appear to have broad-spectrum activity against bacteria and have been used in the management of childhood bacterial conjunctivitis. Povidone-iodine solutions may also be used for ophthalmia neonatorum, a type of bacterial conjunctivitis with eye discharge that occurs during the first month of life, and may be as effective as other anti-bacterial solutions such as neomycin-polymyxin B-gramicidin. Medical supervision is recommended and povidone-iodine solutions are not an effective treatment for viral conjunctivitis. - Reactions can be severe and deaths have occurred with exposure to iodine. Avoid iodine-based products if allergic or hypersensitive to iodine. Do no use for more than 14 days. Avoid Lugol solution and saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI, PIMA) with hyperkalemia (high amounts of potassium in the blood), pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), bronchitis, or tuberculosis. Use cautiously when applying to the skin because it may irritate/burn tissues. Use sodium iodide cautiously with kidney failure. Avoid sodium iodide with gastrointestinal obstruction. Iodine is safe in recommended doses for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Avoid povidone-iodine for perianal preparation during delivery or postpartum antisepsis. - Probiotics: Lactobacillus GG may reduce the risk of nosocomial (originating in a healthcare setting) diarrhea in children and infants, particularly cases caused by rotavirus gastroenteritis. Probiotics may reduce the duration of diarrhea and related hospital stays in children. Fermented formula and formula supplemented with probiotics may reduce both the number and duration of episodes of diarrhea. There is tentative support for probiotics for diarrhea prevention in adults and children. Supplementation may benefit HIV-positive men, and yogurt containing Lactobacillus casei may help reduce incidence in healthy young adults. Children may benefit from Bifidobacterium lactis (strain Bb 12) added to their formula. Probiotics may reduce duration of symptoms in adults and children with infectious diarrhea by 17 to 30 hours. Effective forms include Lactobacillus strain GG, Lactobacillus reuteri, combination Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri, and combination Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bifidus. More studies are needed to evaluate types, dosages, duration of treatment, and relationships to specific pathogens. - Probiotics are generally considered safe and well-tolerated. Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to probiotics. Use cautiously if lactose intolerant. Caution is advised when using probiotics in neonates born prematurely or with immune deficiency. - Psyllium: Psyllium, also known as ispaghula, comes from the husks of the seeds of Plantago ovata. Psyllium contains a high level of soluble dietary fiber and is the main ingredient in many commonly used laxatives, such as Metamucil® and Serutan®. Psyllium has been studied for the treatment of diarrhea, particularly in patients undergoing tube feeding. It has also been studied in addition to treatment with orlistat (a lipase inhibitor that is designed to help people lose weight) in hopes of decreasing gastrointestinal effects (diarrhea and oily discharge) of this weight loss agent. An effective stool bulking effect has generally been found in scientific studies. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to psyllium, ispaghula, or English plantain (Plantago lanceolata). Prescription drugs should be taken one hour before or two hours after psyllium. Use cautiously if pregnant or breastfeeding because psyllium may lower blood sugar levels. - Saccaromyces boulardii: Saccharomyces boulardii is a non-pathogenic yeast strain that has been used to treat and prevent diarrhea that is caused by many different factors. Several trials suggest the efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii in the treatment of diarrhea in children. Further studies are still required. Use of Saccharomyces boulardii may be advantageous in both the reduction of stool frequency per day and the duration of diarrhea in this age group. - Avoid if allergic/hypersensitive to yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or other species in the Saccharomycetaceae family. Use cautiously in immunocompromised or critically ill patients. Use cautiously with indwelling central venous catheters, colitis, cancer, or constipation. Use cautiously in the elderly, in individuals undergoing chemotherapy, and in infants. Use cautiously if taking antidiarrheal agents. Avoid with a yeast infection. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Soy: Numerous studies report that infants and young children (ages two to 36 months) with diarrhea who are fed soy formula experience fewer bowel movements per day and fewer days of diarrhea. This research suggests soy to have benefits over other types of formula, including cow milk-based solutions. The addition of soy fiber to soy formula may increase the effectiveness. Better quality research is needed before a firm conclusion can be made on the use of soy for acute diarrhea in infants and young children. - Parents are advised to speak with a qualified healthcare provider if infants experience prolonged diarrhea, become dehydrated, develop signs of infection such as fever, or experience blood in the stool. A healthcare provider should be consulted for current breastfeeding recommendations, and to suggest long-term formulas with adequate nutritional value. A doctor may recommend a specially designed soy formula, but regular soy milk should not be given to infants. - Avoid if allergic to soy. Breathing problems and rash may occur in sensitive people. Soy, as a part of the regular diet, is traditionally considered to be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but there is limited scientific data. The effects of high doses of soy or soy isoflavones in humans are not clear, and therefore are not recommended. There has been a case report of vitamin D deficiency rickets in an infant nursed with soybean milk (not specifically designed for infants). People who experience intestinal irritation (colitis) from cow's milk may experience intestinal damage or diarrhea from soy. It is not known if soy or soy isoflavones share the same side effects as estrogens, such as increased risk of blood clots. The use of soy is often discouraged in patients with hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer. Other hormone-sensitive conditions such as endometriosis may also be worsened. Patients taking blood-thinning drugs like warfarin should check with their doctors and/or pharmacists before taking soy supplements. - Unclear or conflicting scientific evidence: - Acupuncture: Acupuncture plus point-injection has been found beneficial for the treatment of hives, although more research is needed to confirm these findings. - Needles must be sterile in order to avoid disease transmission. Avoid with valvular heart disease, infections, bleeding disorders, or with agents that increase the risk of bleeding (anticoagulants), medical conditions of unknown origin, and neurological disorders. Avoid on areas that have received radiation therapy and during pregnancy. Use cautiously with pulmonary diseases (like asthma or emphysema). Use cautiously in elderly or medically compromised patients, diabetics, or with history of seizures. Avoid electroacupuncture with arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or in patients with pacemakers. - American pawpaw: American pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a fruiting tree native to North America. However, the tree is also cultivated in Asia, Australia, and Europe. Pawpaw extract in combination with thymol (thyme oil) and tea tree oil in a shampoo formulation may effectively treat lice. Better-quality studies using pawpaw alone are needed before a firm recommendation can be made. - Well-designed studies on the long-term effects of pawpaw extracts have not been conducted. The constituents in pawpaw extract are cytotoxic (poisonous to cells). Therefore, oral use of pawpaw extract is not recommended without the supervision of a physician. Avoid if allergic to Asimina triloba or any other members of the Annonaceae plant family (including other species of Asimina and those in the genera Annona, Deeringothamnus, Disepalum, Goniothalanus, Rollinia, Uvaria, or Xylopia). Use cautiously with gastrointestinal problems or with a history of dermatological reactions. - Applied kinesiology: Applied kinesiology (AK) is commonly used for food allergy diagnosis. However, evidence is mixed as to whether AK can aid in this type of assessment. - Applied kinesiology techniques in themselves are considered harmless. However, medical conditions should not be treated with AK alone, and AK should not delay appropriate medical treatment. - Arnica: Arnica has not been well studied for its effects on diarrhea, but early study suggests that homeopathic arnica may decrease the duration of acute diarrhea in children. Further study is needed to make a strong recommendation. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to arnica or any member of the Asteraceae or Compositae families (sunflowers, marigolds or any related plants like daisies, ragweed or asters). Use cautiously with blood thinners, protein-bound drugs, cholesterol or heart medications, or diabetes drugs. Use cautiously with a history of stroke. Avoid contact with open wounds or near the eyes and mouth. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Arrowroot: Arrowroot refers to any plant of the genus Maranta, but the term is most commonly used to describe the easily digestible starch obtained from the rhizomes of Maranta arundinacea. Arrowroot is an edible starch with proposed demulcent (soothing) effects and is a well-known traditional remedy for diarrhea. Early research suggests it may have a beneficial effect in the treatment of diarrhea in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. Additional study is needed in this area. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to arrowroot (Marantana arundinacea), its constituents, or members of the Marantaceae family. Use cautiously with a history of constipation. Although arrowroot has been used traditionally in infants, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid this herb due to a lack of scientific safety evidence. - Art therapy: It is not clear if play with modeling clay is an effective therapeutic intervention in children with constipation and encopresis (fecal incontinence associated with psychiatric disorders). In one study, play with modeling clay was associated with improvement in five of six children, but was limited by lack of a control group. - Art therapy may evoke distressing thoughts or feelings. Use under the guidance of a qualified art therapist or other mental health professional. Some forms of art therapy use potentially harmful materials. Only materials known to be safe should be used. Related clean-up materials (like turpentine or mineral spirits) that release potentially toxic fumes should only be used with good ventilation. - Belladonna: Belladonna (Atropa belladonna) is an herb that has been used for centuries for a variety of indications. Belladonna is used as a homeopathic drug regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Homeopathic drugs use very dilute amounts of a plant or mineral, such as belladonna. Reports of side effects associated with homeopathic medicines are lacking in the available literature. In clinical study, individuals taking a 30X dilution of belladonna were reported to experience significantly fewer recurrences of otitis media (29.3 vs. 43.5%), shorter treatment duration, and a shorter duration of symptoms than subjects treated with antibiotics. - Avoid if allergic to belladonna or plants of the Solanaceae(nightshade) family (such as bell peppers, potatoes, or eggplants). Avoid with a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, heart attack, abnormal heartbeat, congestive heart failure, stomach ulcer, constipation, stomach acid reflux, hiatal hernia, gastrointestinal disease, ileostomy, colostomy, fever, bowel obstruction, benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlarged prostate), urinary retention, glaucoma (narrow angle), psychotic illness, Sjögren's syndrome, dry mouth, neuromuscular disorders (such as myasthenia gravis), or Down's syndrome. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Berberine: Berberine is a bitter-tasting, yellow, plant alkaloid with a long history of medicinal use in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Berberine has been evaluated as a treatment for infectious diarrhea, including choleric diarrhea, although the data is conflicting. Therefore, there is currently insufficient evidence regarding the efficacy of berberine in the management of infectious diarrhea. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to berberine, to plants that contain berberine (Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal), Coptis chinensis (coptis or goldenthread), Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape), Berberis vulgaris (barberry), and Berberis aristata (tree turmeric), or to members of the Berberidaceae family. Avoid in newborns due to the potential for an increase in free bilirubin, jaundice, and development of kernicterus. Use cautiously with cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, hematologic disorders, leukopenia, kidney disease, liver disease, respiratory disorders, cancer, hypertyraminemia, diabetes, or low blood pressure. Use cautiously in children due to a lack of safety information. Use cautiously in individuals with high exposure to sunlight or artificial light. Use cautiously for longer than eight weeks due to theoretical changes in bacterial gut flora. Use cautiously if taking anticoagulants, antihypertensives, sedatives, anti-inflammatories, medications metabolized by CYP P450 3A4 including cyclosporin, or any prescription medications. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Bilberry: Bilberry is an herb made from the wrinkled, black berries of a small deciduous shrub. The use of bilberry fruit in traditional European medicine dates back to the 12th Century. A close relative of blueberry, bilberry is commonly used to make jams, pies, cobblers, syrups, and alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages. Bilberry is used traditionally to treat diarrhea, but reliable research in this area is currently lacking. - Long-term side effects and safety of bilberry remain unknown. Avoid if allergic to bilberry, anthocyanosides (a component of bilberry), or other plants in the Ericaceae family. Do not consume bilberry leaves. Use cautiously with bleeding disorders or diabetes. Use cautiously if taking anticoagulant/anti-platelet medications or drugs that alter blood sugar levels. Stop use before surgeries or dental or diagnostic procedures that have bleeding risks. Use cautiously in doses higher than recommended. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding, due to a lack of safety evidence. - Bovine colostrum: Bovine colostrum is the pre-milk fluid produced from cow mammary glands during the first two to four days after birth. Bovine colostrum confers growth, nutrient, and immune factors to the offspring. Bovine colostrum may be effective for improving gastrointestinal health. Preliminary evidence suggests that colostrum inhibits the adhesion or activity of certain bacteria to intestinal cells, which may help in the treatment of diarrhea. Additional study is needed in this area. - Avoid if allergic to dairy products. Use bovine colostrum cautiously because toxic compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and dichlordiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), have been found in human colostrum and breast milk. Thus, it is possible that these agents may be found in bovine colostrum. Avoid with, or if at risk of, cancer. Use cautiously with immune system disorders or atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Use cautiously if taking medications, such as anti-diarrheal agents (e.g. Imodium®), insulin, or CNS agents (such as amphetamines, caffeine). Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Bupleurum: Chinese studies have suggested that bupleurum may be helpful for reducing fever. However, additional study is needed to draw a firm conclusion about safety and effectiveness. In traditional Chinese medicine, bupleurum is often used in combination with other herbs. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to bupleurum, Apiaceae or Umbelliferae (carrot) families, snakeroot, cow parsnip, or poison hemlock. Use cautiously if operating motor vehicles or hazardous machinery. Use cautiously with low blood pressure, diabetes, or edema. Use cautiously with a history of bleeding, hemostatic disorders, or drug-related hemostatic disorders. Use cautiously if taking blood thinners. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Calendula: Calendula, also known as marigold, has been widely used on the skin to treat minor wounds, skin infections, burns, bee stings, sunburn, warts, and cancer. Calendula has been studied for reducing pain caused by otitis media. Some human studies suggest that calendula may possess mild anesthetic (pain-relieving) properties equal to those of similar non-herbal eardrop preparations. Further studies are needed before a conclusion can be made. - Use cautiously if allergic to plants in the Aster/Compositae family (such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, or daisies). Use cautiously while driving or operating machinery. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Carob: Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) is a leguminous evergreen tree of the family Leguminosae (pulse family). Traditionally, carob has been used for the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions, especially diarrhea. Preliminary study used different types of carob products as an adjunct to oral rehydrating solution for diarrhea in children and showed promising results. Additional study is needed in this area. - Avoid if allergic/hypersensitive to carob (Ceratonia siliqua), its constituents, or any plants in the Fabaceae family, including tamarind. Avoid with metabolic disorders, with a chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, or zinc disorder or deficiency, kidney disorders, or acute diarrhea. Avoid in underweight infants. Use cautiously in patients with anemia, known allergy to peanuts and other nuts, complications with powdered, bulk forming laxative drinks, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). Use cautiously if taking oral herbs or drugs. Use cautiously in hypouricemic patients. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Carrot: A carrot-rice based rehydration solution decreased the duration of acute diarrhea when compared to two conventional rehydration solutions. However, more research is needed. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to carrot, its constituents, or members of the Apiaceae family. Use cautiously with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or diabetes, or if taking hypoglycemics. Use cautiously with bowel obstruction, if taking oral drugs, herbs, or supplements, with hormone-sensitive conditions, and in children. Use cautiously with known allergy/hypersensitivity to carrot or birch pollen-related allergens, as cross-sensitivity has been documented. Use cautiously and only in food amounts in pregnant and breastfeeding women. - Chamomile: Chamomile is an herb that has an apple-like smell and taste. It is commonly taken as a tea. Preliminary study reports that chamomile with apple pectin may reduce the length of time that children experience diarrhea. There is a lack of research on this use in adults. Further research is needed before a recommendation can be made for diarrhea in children. - Avoid if allergic to chamomile or any related plants, such as aster, chrysanthemum, mugwort, ragweed, or ragwort. Avoid with heart disease, breathing disorders, hormone-sensitive conditions, or central nervous system disorders. Avoid if taking cardiac depressive agents, central nervous system depressants, respiratory depressive agents, or anticoagulants. Use cautiously if taking benzodiazepine, anti-arrhythmic medications, calcium channel blockers, alcohol, sedative agents, anxiolytic medications, spasmolytic drugs, oral medications, or agents that are broken down by the liver. Use cautiously if driving or operating machinery. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Chiropractic: Chiropractic is a healthcare discipline that focuses on the relationship between musculoskeletal structure (primarily the spine) and body function (as coordinated by the nervous system), and how this relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. Although ear infections are treated with chiropractic manipulation with some success, well-designed clinical trials have not yet been conducted. Presently, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of chiropractic manipulation for the treatment of otitis media in children. - Avoid with vertebrobasilar vascular insufficiency, aneurysms, arteritis, or unstable spondylolisthesis. Avoid use on post-surgical areas of para-spinal tissue. Use cautiously with acute arthritis, brittle bone disease, conditions that cause decreased bone mineralization, bleeding disorders, migraines, or if at risk for tumors or metastasis of the spine. Use extra caution during cervical adjustments. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding due to a lack of scientific data. - Clay: It is not clear if play with modeling clay is an effective therapeutic intervention in children with constipation and encopresis (fecal incontinence associated with psychiatric disorders). In one study, play with modeling clay was associated with improvement in five of six children, but was limited by lack of a control group. - There is a lack of reports of allergy to clay in the available scientific literature. However, in theory, allergy/hypersensitivity to clay, clay products, or constituents of clay may occur. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Chlorophyll: Taking chlorophyll by mouth as a liquid was reported to be an effective treatment for chickenpox. More research is needed before a firm conclusion can be made. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to chlorophyll or any of its metabolites. Use cautiously with photosensitivity, compromised liver function, diabetes, or gastrointestinal conditions or obstructions. Use cautiously if taking immunosuppressant agents or agents used to treat diabetes. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Clove: Clove is commonly used as a fragrant or flavoring agent. There is a risk of blindness if it comes in contact with the eyes. Clove oil (eugenol) has been used for its analgesic (pain-relieving), local anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. Early studies suggest that clove may lower fever, but reliable human studies are currently unavailable. - Avoid if allergic to clove, eugenol, or some licorice products or tobacco (clove cigarette) products. Use cautiously if allergic to Balsam of Peru. Avoid with a history of seizures, stroke, or liver damage. Use cautiously if taking medications that treat diabetes. Use cautiously with diabetes, low blood sugar levels, bleeding problems, or impotence. Stop use two weeks before and immediately after surgery/dental/diagnostic procedures with bleeding risks. Use cautiously if driving or operating machinery. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Colon therapy/colonic irrigation: Preliminary study shows possible benefits of regular irrigation of the lower part of the colon in the treatment of fecal incontinence. Further study is needed before a conclusion can be made. - Excessive treatments may allow the body to absorb too much water, which causes electrolyte imbalances, nausea, vomiting, heart failure, fluid in the lungs, abnormal heart rhythms or coma. Infections have been reported, possibly due to contaminated equipment or as a result of clearing out normal colon bacteria that destroys infectious bacteria. There is a risk of the bowel wall breaking, which is a serious complication that can lead to septic shock and death. Avoid with diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, severe or internal hemorrhoids, rectal/colon tumors, or recovering from bowel surgery. Avoid frequent treatments with heart or kidney disease. Colonic equipment must be sterile. Colonic irrigation should not be used as the only treatment for serious conditions. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding due to lack of scientific data. - DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a sulfur-containing organic compound that may help treat herpes zoster. This treatment may work even better when used with the drug idoxuridine. Further research is necessary before a conclusion can be made. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to DMSO. Use caution with urinary tract cancer or liver and kidney dysfunction. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Eyebright: Eyebright has been used in eye solutions for centuries to manage multiple eye conditions. Currently, there is insufficient scientific evidence to recommend for or against the use of eyebright in the treatment of conjunctivitis. - Avoid if allergic to eyebright, any of its constituents or members of the Scrophulariaceae family. Use cautiously as an eye treatment, particularly homemade preparations, due to the risk of infection if it is not sterile. Use cautiously with diabetes and drugs that are broken down by the liver. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Goldenseal: Goldenseal is one of the five top-selling herbal products in the United States. Berberine, a constituent from goldenseal, has been used as a treatment for diarrhea caused by bacterial infections (including infectious diarrhea from cholera). Due to the very small amount of berberine in most goldenseal products, it is unclear whether goldenseal contains enough berberine to have the same effects. Therefore, there is currently not enough scientific evidence to make a recommendation in this area. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to goldenseal or any of its constituents, like berberine and hydrastine. Use cautiously with bleeding disorders, diabetes, or low blood sugar. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Hibiscus: The Hibiscus genus contains several species, many of which have been used medicinally. Currently, there is limited available evidence evaluating the effects of hibiscus for the treatment of head lice. Study participants have been treated with creams containing hibiscus tea plus henna. Additional studies involving hibiscus alone are warranted in this area. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to hibiscus, its constituents, or members of the Malvaceae family. Use cautiously with high or low blood pressure. - Lactobacillus acidophilus: Lactobacilli are bacteria that normally live in the gastrointestinal tract, mouth, and vagina. A small amount of human research suggests that Lactobacillus acidophilus may not be effective when used to prevent diarrhea in travelers or in people taking antibiotics. Several studies report that the related species Lactobacillus GG may be helpful for diarrhea prevention in children and travelers. Additional study is needed in these areas before a firm conclusion can be drawn. - A small amount of research in children, using different forms of acidophilus, reports no improvement in diarrhea. Future studies should use a viable Lactobacillus acidophilus culture to assess effects on diarrhea. Lactobacillus GG, a different species, is suggested by multiple human studies to be a safe and effective treatment for diarrhea in otherwise healthy infants and children. Lactobacillus acidophilus may aid in the management of chronic or persistent diarrhea and bacterial-overgrowth related diarrhea. Further research is needed to determine what dose may be safe and effective for diarrhea treatment in children. - There is conflicting information from several human studies as to whether using Lactobacillus acidophilus by mouth improves digestion of lactose. More research is needed before a conclusion can be made on the use of Lactobacillus for lactose intolerance. - Lactobacillus acidophilus may be difficult to tolerate if allergic to dairy products containing L. acidophilus. Avoid with a history of an injury or illness of the intestinal wall, immune-disease, or heart valve surgery. Avoid if taking prescription drugs (such as corticosteroids) because of the risk of infection. Use cautiously with heart murmurs. Antibiotics or alcohol may destroy Lactobacillus acidophilus.Therefore, it is recommended that Lactobacillus acidophilus be taken three hours after taking antibiotics or drinking alcohol. Some individuals can use antacids to decrease the amount of acid in the stomach one hour before taking Lactobacillus acidophilus. - Lavender: Oils from lavender flowers are used in aromatherapy, baked goods, candles, cosmetics, detergents, jellies, massage oils, perfumes, powders, shampoo, soaps, and teas. Limited available clinical study used a naturopathic eardrop called NHED (containing Allium sativum, Verbascum thapsus, Calendula flores, Hypericum perfoliatum, lavender, and vitamin E in olive oil) with and without an antibiotic and topical anesthetic. It was found that the ear pain was self-limiting and resolved after a few days with or without antibiotics. This evidence is early, and further research is needed before any conclusion about this treatment can be made. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to lavender. Avoid with a history of seizures, bleeding disorders, eating disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia), or anemia (low levels of iron). Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Mullein: Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) has been used in natural medicine for centuries and is among the oldest known medicinal plants. There are some clinical studies using mullein in combination with other herbal products as an eardrop to treat earaches caused by ear infections. It is not clear what the effects of mullein alone are on ear infections because the product studied was a combination of different herbal products. Additional study is needed before a conclusion can be made regarding use of mullein for earache associated with acute otitis media. - Avoid if allergic/hypersensitive to mullein (Verbascum thapsus), its constituents, or any members of the Scrophulariaceae (figwort) family. Use cautiously if taking anticoagulants (blood thinners). There are reports that mullein may contain a toxin called rotenone, which is an insecticide. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Probiotics: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that are sometimes called "friendly germs." They help maintain a healthy intestine and help the body digest foods. They also help keep harmful bacteria and yeasts in the gut under control. Most probiotics come from food sources, especially cultured milk products. - Saccharomyces boulardii and a probiotic formula Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) solution have been shown to moderately improve acute diarrhea in children. However, all probiotic preparations may not have the same effectiveness. - Supplementation of infant formulas with probiotics is a potential approach for the management of cow's milk allergy, but there is conflicting evidence as to whether it improves digestion of lactose. More research is needed before a conclusion can be made on the use of probiotics for lactose intolerance. - Although some data support the use of probiotics for the treatment and prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), other studies have found a lack of benefit. Although probiotics are considered a safe and reasonable approach for AAD, larger and better-designed studies are needed for definitive recommendations. There is limited evidence suggesting that probiotics may reduce recurrence of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea and may help in the treatment of bacterial overgrowth-related chronic diarrhea. More studies are needed to provide guidelines for these uses. - Probiotic capsules (containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and LC705, Bifidobacterium breve 99, and Propionibacterium freudenreichii JS) were not shown to protect against ear infections in children. More research is needed to confirm these findings. - Probiotics are generally considered safe and well-tolerated. Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to probiotics. Use cautiously if lactose intolerant. - Saccaromyces boulardii: With the introduction of broad-spectrum antibiotics into clinical practice, Clostridium difficile infection has become a common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients. For the treatment of Clostridium difficile associated recurrent diarrhea, Saccharomyces boulardii has been shown to decrease recurrences by about 50%, especially when combined with high-dose vancomycin.While only small studies have been performed, treatment with Saccharomyces boulardii may improve quality of life in chronic diarrhea in AIDS patients. As fungemia has been associated with Saccharomyces boulardii administration in patients with central lines, care should be exercised in treating these patients.Preliminary evidence supports the use of Saccharomyces boulardii for diarrhea prevention during tube feeding. However, the role of antibiotics in the results is unclear. Although evidence supports the use of Saccharomyces boulardii for other forms of diarrhea, little evidence exists to support standard treatment with Saccharomyces boulardii for traveler's diarrhea. More studies need to be performed. - Avoid if allergic/hypersensitive to yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or other species in the Saccharomycetaceae family. Use cautiously in immunocompromised or critically ill patients. Use cautiously with indwelling central venous catheters, colitis, cancer, or constipation. Use cautiously in the elderly, in individuals undergoing chemotherapy, and in infants. Use cautiously if taking antidiarrheal agents. Avoid with a yeast infection. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Sanicle: Sanicle has been studied as a treatment for recurrent otitis media. More evidence is needed before a conclusion can be made. - Avoid if allergic or sensitive to sanicle. Use cautiously with stomach problems. Use cautiously if taking blood pressure-lowering or diuretic drugs. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Slippery elm: Traditionally, slippery elm has been used to treat diarrhea. While theoretically the tannins found in the herb may decrease water content of stool, and the mucilage may act as a soothing agent to inflamed mucous membranes, reliable scientific evidence to support the use of slippery elm for this indication is currently lacking. Systematic research is necessary in this area before a clear conclusion can be drawn. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to slippery elm. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Soy: Although soy has been shown to help treat acute diarrhea in children, it remains unknown if it can treat diarrhea in adults. Due to limited human study, there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against the use of soy-polysaccharide/fiber in the treatment of diarrhea in this patient population. Further research is needed before a recommendation can be made. - Avoid if allergic to soy. Breathing problems and rash may occur in sensitive people. Soy, as a part of the regular diet, is traditionally considered to be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but there is limited scientific data. The effects of high doses of soy or soy isoflavones in humans are not clear, and therefore are not recommended. There has been a case report of vitamin D deficiency rickets in an infant nursed with soybean milk (not specifically designed for infants). People who experience intestinal irritation (colitis) from cow's milk may experience intestinal damage or diarrhea from soy. It is not known if soy or soy isoflavones share the same side effects as estrogens, such as an increased risk of blood clots. The use of soy is often discouraged in patients with hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer. Other hormone-sensitive conditions such as endometriosis may also be worsened. Patients taking blood-thinning drugs like warfarin should check with a doctor and pharmacist before taking soy supplementation. - Tai chi: Tai chi is a system of movements and positions believed to have developed in 12th Century China. A small study showed that treatment with tai chi might increase immunity to the virus that causes shingles. This may suggest the use of tai chi in the prevention of chickenpox (varicella zoster), but further well-designed large studies need to be performed. - Avoid with severe osteoporosis or joint problems, acute back pain, sprains, or fractures. Avoid during active infections, right after a meal, or when very tired. Some believe that visualization of energy flow below the waist during menstruation may increase menstrual bleeding. Straining downwards or holding low postures should be avoided during pregnancy, and by people with inguinal hernias. Some tai chi practitioners believe that practicing for too long or using too much intention may direct the flow of chi (qi) inappropriately, possibly resulting in physical or emotional illness. Tai chi should not be used as a substitute for more proven therapies for potentially serious conditions. Advancing too quickly while studying tai chi may increase the risk of injury. - Tea tree oil: Early studies have found that tea tree alone or in combination with other agents may be effective against lice. However, large, well-designed trials are still needed before a conclusion can be made. - Avoid allergic or hypersensitive to tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia), any of its constituents, balsam of Peru, benzoin, colophony (rosin) tinctures, eucalyptol, or other members of the Myrtle (Myrtaceae) family. Avoid taking tea tree oil by mouth. Avoid if taking antineoplastic agents. Use tea tree oil applied to the skin cautiously in patients with previous tea tree oil use. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Vitamin A: Vitamin A is an essential fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin A may reduce the severity and duration of diarrheal episodes in malnourished children but not in well-nourished children. Since diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, vitamin A supplementation may be considered in undernourished children with diarrhea. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to vitamin A. Vitamin A toxicity can occur if taken at high dosages. Use cautiously with liver disease or alcoholism. Smokers who consume alcohol and beta-carotene may be at an increased risk for lung cancer or heart disease. Vitamin A appears safe in pregnant women if taken at recommended doses. Use cautiously if breastfeeding because the benefits or dangers to nursing infants are not clearly established. - Fair negative scientific evidence: - Ayurveda: Limited available study compared the three Ayurvedic preparations bel (Aegle marmelos), thankuni (Hydrocotyle asiatica), and gandhavadulia (Paederia foetida) with ampicillin in dysentery (shigellosis), and found them to have no effect. - Ayurvedic herbs should be used cautiously because they are potent and some constituents can be potentially toxic if taken in large amounts or for a long time. Some herbs imported from India have been reported to contain high levels of toxic metals. Ayurvedic herbs can interact with other herbs, foods and drugs. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before taking. Avoid Ayurveda with traumatic injuries, acute pain, advanced disease stages and medical conditions that require surgery. - Probiotics: Fair evidence suggests that probiotics may not be helpful in treating HIV-associated diarrhea. Probiotic therapy appears to be well tolerated for diarrhea in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy, but may not be helpful for gastrointestinal symptoms. - Probiotics are generally considered safe and well-tolerated. Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to probiotics. Use cautiously if lactose intolerant. - Reflexology: Limited available study suggests that treatment given by a reflexologist is less effective (in terms of number of ear disorders, number of antibiotic treatments, number of sickness days, and duration of ear disorders) than treatment given by a general practitioner for ear infections. - Avoid with recent or healing foot fractures, unhealed wounds, or active gout flares affecting the foot. Use cautiously and seek prior medical consultation with osteoarthritis affecting the foot or ankle, or severe vascular disease of the legs or feet. Use cautiously with diabetes, heart disease, or the presence of a pacemaker, unstable blood pressure, cancer, active infections, past episodes of fainting (syncope), mental illness, gallstones, or kidney stones. Use cautiously if pregnant or breastfeeding. Reflexology should not delay diagnosis or treatment with more proven techniques or therapies. - Strong negative scientific evidence: - Bael fruit: Indian bael, an indigenous plant of India, has spread over wide areas of Southeast Asia. Indian bael has traditionally been used as a treatment for diarrhea. However, capsules of dried powder of the unripe fruit were not effective in treating diarrhea in patients with dysentery (shigellosis). Additional study investigating different preparations of bael fruit would help confirm this finding. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to Indian bael or any of its constituents. Avoid dosages that exceed those of use in traditional medicine. Indian bael in large quantities theoretically may result in digestive complaints and constipation, given that tannins are constituents. Use cautiously if taking hypoglycemic agents or thyroid hormone, herbs for thyroid disorders, or herbs that may exacerbate or induce hyperthyroidism. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding as Indian bael leaves have been traditionally used to induce abortion and to sterilize women (theoretical). - Traditional or theoretical uses lacking sufficient evidence: - Aconite: The aconite plant grows in rocky areas. It is often found in the mountainous woodlands of many parts of Europe, especially France, Austria, Germany, and Denmark. It has been proposed that aconite may help treat middle ear infections and lice. However, until well-designed human studies are performed, it remains unknown if this is a safe and effective treatment. It has also been suggested that aconite may help reduce the symptoms of fevers. Homeopaths often prescribe aconite preparations at the start of a fever. However, studies are currently lacking in this area. - Aconite is highly toxic and is not safe for human consumption. Avoid with heart disease, irregular heartbeat, hemodynamic instability (abnormal blood flow), and gastrointestinal disorders (such as ulcers, reflux esophagitis, ulcerative colitis, spastic colitis, or diverticulosis). Use cautiously with diabetes or suicidal tendencies. - Agrimony: Agrimony was one of the most famous vulnerary herbs used by the Anglo-Saxons. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. It has been suggested, but not scientifically proven, that agrimony may help reduce fever. - Avoid if allergic to agrimony or related species. When used as recommended, agrimony is considered to be safe. Use cautiously with bleeding disorders. Use cautiously if taking drugs that increase the risk of bleeding or blood pressure-lowering agents. Avoid with diarrhea caused by an underlying illness. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding due to a lack of safety evidence. - Chamomile: Chamomile is an herb that has an apple-like smell and taste. It is commonly taken as a tea. Although it has been suggested that chamomile may help treat ear infections, scientific studies are currently lacking. It remains unknown if this is a safe and effective treatment for humans. - Avoid if allergic to chamomile or any related plants, such as aster, chrysanthemum, mugwort, ragweed, or ragwort. Avoid with heart disease, breathing disorders, hormone-sensitive conditions, or central nervous system disorders. Avoid if taking cardiac depressive agents, central nervous system depressants, respiratory depressive agents, or anticoagulants. Use cautiously if taking benzodiazepine, anti-arrhythmic medications, calcium channel blockers, alcohol, sedative agents, anxiolytic medications, spasmolytic drugs, oral medications, or agents that are broken down by the liver. - Garlic (Allium sativum): Garlic has been used traditionally for ear infections. It is crushed and diluted in a carrier oil, such as olive oil, which is then applied topically. A small clinical trial used a naturopathic eardrop mixture containing garlic,mullein,calendula,St. Johns wort, lavender, and vitamin E in olive oil, with and without an antibiotic and topical anesthetic. It was found that ear pain was self-limiting and resolved after a few days with or without antibiotics. Additional research is needed to make a conclusion. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to garlic or other members of the Lilaceae(lily) family (like hyacinth, tulip, onion, leek, chive). Avoid with a history of bleeding problems, asthma, diabetes, low blood pressure, or thyroid disorders. Stop using supplemental garlic two weeks before dental/surgical/diagnostic procedures and avoid using immediately after such procedures to avoid bleeding problems. Avoid in supplemental doses if pregnant or breastfeeding. - Lavender: Oils from lavender flowers are used in aromatherapy, baked goods, candles, cosmetics, detergents, jellies, massage oils, perfumes, powders, shampoo, soaps, and teas. It has been suggested, but not scientifically proven, that lavender may help treat lice. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to lavender. Avoid with a history of seizures, bleeding disorders, eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia), or anemia (low levels of iron). Avoid consuming lavender if pregnant or breastfeeding. Lavender taken by mouth may stimulate menstruation. - Licorice: Licorice is harvested from the root and dried rhizomes of the low-growing shrub Glycyrrhiza glabra. Historically, licorice has been used to reduce fever. Some cultures have made a tea out of the licorice root to reduce a person's body temperature. However, until studies are performed in humans, it remains unknown if licorice can effectively reduce fevers. - Avoid if allergic to licorice, any component of licorice, or any member of the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) plant family. Avoid with congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, fluid retention, high blood pressure, or hormonal abnormalities. Avoid if taking diuretics. Licorice may cause abnormally low testosterone levels in men or high prolactin or estrogen levels in women. This may make it difficult to become pregnant and may cause menstrual abnormalities in women. - Rhubarb: Rhubarb is an herb that is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Traditionally, rhubarb has been used to treat fever. Until studies are performed, it remains unknown if rhubarb can help reduce fevers in humans. - Avoid if allergic to rhubarb, its constituents, or related plants from the Polygonaceae family. Avoid using rhubarb for more than two weeks. Avoid with atony (lack of muscle tone), colitis, Crohn's disease, dehydration with electrolyte depletion, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, insufficient liver function, intestinal obstruction, ileus, irritable bowel syndrome, menstruation, pre-eclampsia, renal disorders, ulcerative colitis, and urinary problems. Avoid handling rhubarb leaves, as they may cause contact dermatitis. Avoid rhubarb in children younger than 12 years old due to water depletion. Use cautiously with bleeding disorders, cardiac conditions, constipation, history of kidney stones, or thin or brittle bones. Use cautiously if taking anticoagulants, anti-psychotic drugs, or oral drugs, herbs, or supplements (including calcium, iron, and zinc). Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - St. John's wort (Hypericum perfoliatum): St. John's wort has been used traditionally for various kinds of pain, however, reliable evidence indicating effectiveness is currently lacking. In clinical study, a naturopathic eardrop mixture containing garlic,mullein,calendula, St. Johns wort, lavender, and vitamin E in olive oil, was used with and without an antibiotic and topical anesthetic. It was found that ear pain was self-limiting and resolved after a few days with or without antibiotics. This evidence is preliminary and further research is needed before any conclusion about this treatment can be made. It is currently unclear if St. John's wort is effective for chronic ear infections. - Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to plants in the Hypericaceae family. Rare allergic skin reactions like itchy rash have been reported. Avoid with HIV/AIDS drugs (protease inhibitors) like indinavir (Crixivan®), or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, like nevirapine (Viramune®). Avoid with immunosuppressant drugs (like cyclosporine, tacrolimus or myophenic acid). Avoid with organ transplants, suicidal symptoms or before surgery. Use cautiously with history of thyroid disorders. Use cautiously with drugs that are broken down by the liver, with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIS), digoxin, or birth control pills. Use cautiously with diabetes or with history of mania, hypomania (as in Bipolar Disorder), or affective illness. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. Valerian is an herb native to Europe and Asia. Today, the herb grows in most parts of the world. It is unclear if valerian can help treat fevers. Studies have not been performed to determine if this is a safe and effective fever treatment. - Use cautiously if allergic to valerian or other members of the Valerianaceaefamily. Use cautiously with livers disorders. Use cautiously two weeks before surgery. Avoid if driving or operating heavy machinery, as it may cause drowsiness. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. - This information has been edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com). - Abraham B, Sellin JH. Drug-induced Diarrhea. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2007 Oct;9(5):365-72. - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). . - Blakley BW, Blakley JE. Smoking and middle ear disease: are they related? A review article. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1995 Mar;112(3):441-6. - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). . - Eigenmann PA. The spectrum of cow's milk allergy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2007 May;18(3):265-71. - Ilicali OC, Keles N, Deqer K, et al. Relationship of passive cigarette smoking to otitis media. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1999 Jul;125(7):758-62. - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). . - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). . - Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. . - Olifer VV, Roslavtseva SA. Current problems and ways of their solution in the prevention of scabies and pediculosis. Article in Russian. Gig Sanit. 2006 Mar-Apr;(2):25-9. - Overview: Chickenpox (Varicella) is a highly contagious viral infection that causes red, itchy bumps on the skin. - Before the chickenpox vaccine (Varivax®) was created, most children contracted chickenpox before age 15, with the majority of cases occurring between the ages of five and nine. The vaccine was developed in 1995 and since then, there has been a significant decrease in the number of chickenpox cases. In the few instances when the vaccine does not prevent the chickenpox (about 15% of the time), the infection is much milder than if the child had not received the vaccine. - Chickenpox is not usually a serious infection in healthy children. However, it may cause problems for newborns, teens, pregnant women, adults, and people who have weak immune systems that make it hard for the body to fight against infections. - Causes: A virus, called the human herpes virus 3 or varicella-zoster (VZV), causes chickenpox. This virus spreads easily from person to person through the air and physical contact. - Symptoms: The first symptoms of chickenpox usually include a fever, a vague feeling of sickness or discomfort (called malaise), or decreased appetite. Within a few days, an itchy rash appears as small red bumps or blisters. The rash appears in batches over the next 2-4 days. It usually starts on the trunk and then spreads to the head, face, arms, and legs. Blisters may also be found in the mouth or the genital areas. Although some children may have only a few blisters, some may have as many as 100-300. The pimples will progress to red blisters that are teardrop shaped. The blisters mature, break open, form a sore, and then crust over. Most of the blisters will heal within 10-14 days, and usually do not cause scarring unless the blisters become infected when germs enter the open skin. - Diagnosis: In children, chickenpox is usually diagnosed after a physical examination. A viral culture may also be performed to confirm a diagnosis. This is usually done if other conditions, such as herpes simplex, impetigo, insect bites, or scabies cannot be ruled out. However, it takes between 1-14 days to get test results. This same test may also be performed in vaccinated patients to determine if the natural Varicella virus or the vaccine is causing a Varicella-like infection. This test is useful, but it is sometimes difficult to detect the virus in the samples. - Treatment: Treatment for chickenpox includes pain medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®). Do not give children younger than 18 years of age aspirin because Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening condition that causes brain inflammation and vomiting, may develop. Caregivers should talk to their children's pediatricians about recommended medications. - Frequent, lukewarm baths are particularly helpful in relieving itching, especially when used with preparations of finely ground (colloidal) oatmeal. Commercial preparations of oatmeal, such as Aveeno®, are available in drugstores, or one can be made at home by grinding or blending dry oatmeal into a fine powder. Use about two cups per bath. The oatmeal will not dissolve, and the water will have a scum. One-half to one cup of baking soda in a bath may also be helpful. Do not rub the skin dry with a towel because this may irritate the skin. Instead, carefully blot the skin dry. - Calamine® lotion and similar over-the-counter preparations can be applied to soothe the skin and help dry out blisters and soothe the skin. - For severe itching, a type of over the counter medication called antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) is useful, and it may also help children sleep. However, Benadryl® should not be given to children younger than six years of age as hyperexcitability may occur. - Some experts recommend an antiviral medication, called acyclovir (Zovirax®), in children who catch chickenpox from other family members because such patients are at risk for more serious cases, which may lead to bacterial infections of the skin, pneumonia, or swelling of the brain (called encephalitis). To be effective, acyclovir must be taken by mouth within 24 hours of the first signs of the rash. Early intravenous (IV) administration of acyclovir is also used to treat chickenpox pneumonia. - Prevention: A live vaccine, called Varivax®, was developed in 1995 to prevent chickenpox, and it is still used today. Data show that the vaccine can prevent chickenpox or reduce the severity of the illness even if it is used within three days, and possibly up to five days, after exposure to the infection. The vaccine against chickenpox is now recommended in the United States for all children between the ages of 18 months and adolescence who have not yet had chickenpox. Children are given one dose of the vaccine. Two doses one to two months apart are given to people over 13 years of age. - Side effects of Varivax® include discomfort at the injection site. About 20% of vaccine recipients have pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site. Only about five percent of reactions are serious; these may include seizures, pneumonia, a life-threatening allergic reaction (called anaphylaxis), swelling of the brain, a rare skin reaction called Stevens-Johnsons syndrome, nerve damage (called neuropathy), herpes zoster, and blood abnormalities. Although these reactions are serious, they are uncommon and temporary. Children who have recently been vaccinated should avoid close contact with anyone who might be susceptible to severe complications from chickenpox until the risk for a rash has passed. Months or even years after the vaccination, some people develop a mild infection, called modified varicella-like syndrome (MVLS). MVLS causes similar symptoms as chickenpox, although it appears to be less contagious and has fewer complications than naturally acquired chickenpox. - Recent evidence suggests that Varivax® effectively prevents the chickenpox 71-100% of the time. Vaccinated children who develop chickenpox generally experience a milder form of normal chickenpox infections. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children who are 4-6 years old get a booster shot to help maintain immunity against the virus. - Overview: Croup refers to a group of conditions involving inflammation and swelling around the vocal cords and windpipe that leads to a cough that sounds like a bark, particularly when a child is crying. This cough may also cause difficulty breathing. - Because children have smaller airways, they are more likely to develop croup than adults. It is most common in children who are younger than five years old. - In North America, about 5-6 cases occur in every 100 children. About five percent of children experience more than one episode. - Croup is not usually a cause for concern. Although croup usually goes away without medications, about 5-10% of children need to be admitted to the hospital to receive treatment, such as intravenous antibiotics. - Causes: Croup is most often caused by the parainfluenza virus, which causes infections in the lungs and airways. The respiratory syncytial virus, the measles virus, or various other viruses, such as the flu, may also cause croup. In rare cases, a bacterial infection may cause croup. These infections may occur when a child inhales mucus droplets that have been sneezed or coughed into the air by an infected person. Children may also become infected if they touch a surface with germs on it and then touch their mouths, eyes, or noses. - Symptoms: Symptoms include a loud, barking cough that is often worse at night. The child's breathing may be labored or noisy. Other symptoms include fever and a hoarse voice. - Diagnosis: Doctors usually diagnose croup based on the observable symptoms and a physical exam. A doctor listens to the child's breathing with a stethoscope to see if there is wheezing or signs of a respiratory infection. The doctor also observes the child's throat for swelling. The doctor may swab the throat to determine what type of infection is causing the illness. - Treatment: Croup does not usually require medical treatment. Instead, it can be treated with simple self-care techniques. Professionals recommend that children drink plenty of fluid, including water or low-sugar and low-acid fruit juices, and get plenty of rest. A humidifier may help reduce symptoms and improve breathing. If the child has a fever, acetaminophen (Tylenol®) may help. Avoid aspirin in children because it may cause serious side effects, including Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening condition that causes brain inflammation and vomiting. - In rare cases, if the child's symptoms worsen, a doctor may prescribe medications, such as epinephrine or corticosteroids, to help open the airways. Antibiotics are only effective if the infection is caused by bacteria. In rare cases, a breathing tube may need to be placed in the child's airway. - Prevention: To help prevent croup, children should regularly wash their hands with soap and warm water. This is especially important after using the bathroom, before eating food, and after touching objects that may contain disease-causing germs. Avoiding close contact with people who have contagious illnesses may also help reduce the risk of contacting infections. Parents or caregivers are also encouraged to talk with their children's pediatricians about recommended immunizations. - Overview: Diarrhea is characterized by loose or watery stools. Diarrhea is a symptom of an underlying health problem, such as an infection, that prevents the intestines from properly absorbing nutrients from food. - Diarrhea causes dehydration because the body loses more water and salts. Compared to adults, infants and young children have a greater risk of developing severe dehydration as a result of diarrhea. Symptoms of dehydration include dry skin, thirst, less frequent urination, light-headedness, headache, and dark-colored urine. - It is estimated that children younger than five years old experience about one episode of diarrhea per year in the United States. About 222,000 people are admitted to the hospital each year for complications related to diarrhea, of which about 10% of patients are five years old or younger. About 400 people die each year due to complications, such as severe dehydration, in the United States. - Causes: There are many potential causes of diarrhea. Infants and young children are most likely to develop diarrhea as a result of a rotavirus infection. Other common causes include bacterial or parasitic infections, lactose intolerance, certain medications, artificial sweeteners, and abdominal surgery. - Symptoms: Children usually experience acute diarrhea, which only lasts a few days. Symptoms of diarrhea often include frequent and loose stools, abdominal pain or cramping, bloating, and fever. Other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, fever, and sometimes bloody stools, may occur if a patient has an infection. When a patient experiences frequent (several times a day), severe, and bloody diarrhea, the condition is often called dysentery. - Diagnosis: Infants, young children, and older adults should visit their doctors if diarrhea lasts longer than 24-48 hours, if they have high fevers (100 degrees Fahrenheit or above), or if they have severe signs of dehydration, such as dry skin or dark urine. A physical examination and detailed medical history will be performed. Patients should tell their doctors if they are taking any drugs (prescription or over-the-counter), herbs, or supplements because these substances may be causing diarrhea. A doctor may take a sample of the patient's blood or stool to check for an infection. - Treatment: Diarrhea usually requires little to no medical treatment, but anti-diarrheal medications, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-bismol®, Bismatrol®, or Kaopectate®) or loperamide hydrochloride (Imodium®), may help reduce symptoms. Parents and caregivers should carefully read the package labeling before giving medications to children. Children should also drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Patients may also benefit from drinks that contain electrolytes, such as Pediatric Electrolyte®, Pedialyte®, or Enfalyte®, to help restore lost salts. - If a bacterial infection is causing diarrhea, antibiotics are prescribed to treat the infection. - Prevention: Parents or caregivers should properly wash all produce thoroughly before eating to reduce the risk of developing gastrointestinal infections. - If people are traveling to areas of the world that have poor sanitation, they should only drink bottled water. Parents or caregivers are also encouraged to carry anti-diarrheal medications with them, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-bismol®, Bismatrol®, or Kaopectate®) or loperamide hydrochloride (Imodium®). - Children should only consume dairy products that have been pasteurized. Pasteurization involves heating liquids in order to kill viruses, bacteria, molds, yeast, protozoa, and other harmful organisms. This reduces the risk of developing a gastrointestinal infection that may cause diarrhea. - Children should avoid or limit their intake of the artificial sweeteners sorbitol and mannitol because they are absorbed slowly and incompletely by the intestine and may cause diarrhea. These artificial sweeteners are commonly found in sugar-free products and chewing gum. - Overview: A fever is an increase in normal body temperature. Healthy individuals typically have a body temperature of about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The body temperature fluctuates by about one degree throughout the day. However, if a person's body temperature increases more than it normally does throughout the day, he/she has a fever. - Fevers are usually not dangerous for adults, unless they are 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. However, in infants and very young children, even a slight increase in body temperature may indicate a serious infection. If a baby younger than 12 months old has a temperature higher than 100 degrees, a healthcare provider should be consulted immediately. Adults and children who have temperatures higher than 102 degrees that are not responding to medications, such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), aspirin, or acetaminophen (Tylenol®), should visit their doctors. - In serious cases, a fever may lead to a febrile seizure. This occurs when an infant or young child develops a seizure or convulsions when he/she has a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Most febrile seizures are caused by viral upper respiratory infections, ear infections, or roseola. A febrile seizure may cause shaking or jerking of the arms or legs, fixed stare, eyes rolling back, heavy breathing, drooling, and bluish skin. Children who experience any of these symptoms should be taken to the emergency department of a nearby hospital immediately. - Causes: A fever is considered a sign of an underlying medical problem. Most fevers are caused by infections, such as the flu, pneumonia, or strep throat. Other common causes include extreme sunburn, exposure to hot environments, and certain medications. In rare cases, there may be no known underlying cause. - Symptoms: The duration and severity of a fever may vary, depending on the cause. Children who have fevers may experience chills, increased sweating, shivering, and warm skin. - Additional symptoms may also be present, depending on the cause. For instance, if a viral infection, such as the flu, is causing a fever, additional symptoms may include a runny nose, sore throat, headache, aching joints and muscles, nausea, and vomiting. - If a child develops a fever when the body becomes overheated (called hyperthermia) as a result of vigorous exercise or exposure to extremely hot or humid weather, symptoms may include confusion, lethargy, or even coma. In some cases, people suffer from hyperthermia may also have an extremely high body temperature without the ability to sweat. - Diagnosis: If a baby younger than 12 months old has a temperature higher than 100 degrees, a healthcare provider should be consulted immediately. Adults and children who have temperatures higher than 102 degrees that are not responding to medications, such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), aspirin, or acetaminophen (Tylenol®), should visit their doctors. - A doctor can easily identify a fever after taking a person's body temperature with a thermometer. However, because it is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, the cause must be identified in order to treat the patient. During a physical examination, a healthcare provider will take a careful medical and social history to determine the underlying cause. If a patient is taking a medication that is known to cause fevers as a side effect, the medication is usually the suspected cause of the fever. Medical tests may also be necessary. - Blood tests may be performed to determine if an infection is causing a fever. Individuals with infections will have a high level of white blood cells, which fight against disease and infection. Samples of the patient's mucus, urine, blood, stools, and/or cerebrospinal fluid may also be taken to determine if an infection is present. - Treatment: Children with fevers should be given acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®), and should drink cool fluids to help reduce a fever and maintain hydration. Although these do not treat the underlying cause of fever, they will minimize symptoms until the underlying cause is effectively treated. Medication is only recommended for the treatment of fevers that are higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Parents or caregivers should carefully read the packaging labels to ensure that they give their children the appropriate dosages. Avoid aspirin in children because it may cause serious side effects, including Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening condition that causes brain inflammation and vomiting. - Additional treatments, such as antibiotics, may be necessary depending on the underlying cause of the fever. - Prevention: People can take precautions to avoid contracting infections that may cause fevers. Individuals should regularly wash their hands with soap and warm water. This is especially important after using the bathroom, before eating food, and after touching objects that may contain disease-causing germs. Avoiding close contact with people who have contagious illnesses may also help reduce the risk of contracting infections. Patients are also encouraged to talk with their doctors about recommended immunizations, such as the flu shot. - Individuals should minimize exposure to ultraviolet light and use sunblock when they are exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods of time. This helps reduce the risk of sunburn, which may cause fevers. - Overview: Middle ear infections (also called otitis media) are another common childhood illness. An ear infection occurs when a cold, allergy, or upper respiratory tract infection leads to swelling and the accumulation of pus and mucus behind the eardrum, blocking the tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat behind the nose (called the Eustachian tube). This collection of fluid provides a suitable environment for infections to develop. - The middle ear contains the eardrum and three tiny bones (called ossicles). It is responsible for carrying vibrations to the inner ear so people can hear. Fluid may collect in the middle ear and push against the eardrum, causing pain and sometimes a temporary or, in severe cases, a permanent loss of hearing. - Acute ear infections usually heal after one to two weeks of treatment. Sometimes, ear infections last longer and become chronic (long-term). After an infection, fluid may stay in the middle ear. This may lead to more infections and hearing loss. - Causes: Ear infections can start with a bacterial or viral infection. In such cases, the middle and/or outer structures of the ear become inflamed. Fluid may also build up behind the eardrum. Bacteria cause about 65-75% of all ear infections. The most common types of these bacteria are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Viruses that may lead to ear infections include the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the most frequent type found, followed by influenza (flu) viruses. - Ear infections may also be associated with swelling in the Eustachian tubes. Normally, these tubes equalize pressure inside and outside the ear and drain mucus from the middle ear into the throat. A child's Eustachian tubes are narrower and shorter than an adult's. This makes it easier for mucus or congestion from a cold or allergy to get trapped in the middle ear, causing the Eustachian tubes to not function properly or become blocked and swollen. The trapped fluid provides a perfect breeding ground for infections. Also, just as mucus in the nose becomes thicker and harder to expel, fluid inside the ear may also become thick and difficult to drain. - Another factor that contributes to ear infections is the swelling of the small clumps of glandular tissue at the back of the nose (called adenoids). These are tissues located in the upper throat near where the Eustachian tubes connect. Adenoids contain lymphocytes, white blood cells that normally fight against infections. Sometimes the adenoids become infected or enlarged, blocking the Eustachian tubes. Infection in the adenoids may also spread to the Eustachian tubes, causing dysfunction that leads to ear infections. - Children do not have fully developed immune systems, so it is easier for them to develop many illnesses, including ear infections. - Symptoms: Ear infections are often difficult to detect in children because many children affected by this disorder do not yet have sufficient speech and language skills to tell someone what is bothering them. Common signs to look for include unusual irritability, difficulty sleeping, tugging or pulling at one or both ears, earache, fever, fluid draining from the ear, loss of balance, and unresponsiveness to quiet sounds or other signs of hearing difficulty. These signs may include sitting too close to the television or being inattentive. Fluid buildup in the middle ear also blocks sound, which can lead to temporary hearing loss. - If the pressure from the fluid buildup is high enough, it may cause the eardrum to rupture, resulting in drainage of fluid from the outer ear, which may include blood and thick, yellow pus. This releases the pressure behind the eardrum, usually relieving pain. Most ruptured eardrums heal without treatment within a few weeks, although some may take months. Treatment may include an eardrum patch or surgery. Seek medical care if there is pain or swelling in the ear or drainage. See a doctor immediately with a headache, fever, or if the pain in the ear becomes severe. - If there is fluid in the middle ear, it may feel similar to a sensation of ear fullness or "popping." The fluid behind the eardrum may block sound, so mild temporary hearing loss can happen, although it may not be obvious. - Possible complications include short- or long-term hearing loss, ruptured ear drum, and inflammation and/or infection of the rounded protrusion of bone just behind the ear, called the mastoid bone. When the mastoid bone swells or becomes infected, it is commonly called mastoiditis, and it is usually treated with antibiotics. - Diagnosis: Ear infections are usually diagnosed based on the results of a medical history, physical exam, and ear exam. If a middle ear infection is suspected, a healthcare provider will use an instrument, called a pneumatic otoscope, to look at the eardrum for signs of redness, bulging, or fluid behind the eardrum. - Reflectometry is used if the ear exam with a pneumatic otoscope does not indicate that fluid is behind the eardrum. The tip of a small handheld instrument is placed in the ear canal. This instrument sends off a sound. How the eardrum reacts to the sound tells the doctor if fluid is present. - After an ear infection has been diagnosed and treated, a tympanocentesis may be performed if fluid is still behind the eardrum (chronic otitis media with effusion) or if an infection continues despite treatment with antibiotics. Tympanocentesis can remove the fluid. The doctor uses a needle to pierce the eardrum and suck out the fluid. A sample is usually tested for bacterial or viral growth. These tests reveal what kind of bacteria or virus is causing the infection and what medication is best for treatment. Patients may receive pain relievers or sedatives before the procedure. The eardrum usually heals 3-5 days after the procedure. - Treatment: Ear infections can be treated several ways. The best treatment option for a patient depends on several factors, including the person's age, medical history, level of pain, and the type of ear infection. Most ear infections go away without treatment in just a few days, and antibiotics will not help an infection caused by a virus. About 80% of children with middle ear infections recover without antibiotics, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). - If a child is uncomfortable, the doctor may recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol® or Tempra®) or ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®). It is important to read the labels closely on these medications and give the proper dosage to children and infants. - Ear drops are commonly used to relieve pain and inflammation. If fluid is not draining from the ear or ear tubes, prescription eardrops containing numbing agents and anti-inflammatory drugs may be an option. Examples include benzocaine (Americaine Otic® or Otocain®) and antipyrine/benzocaine (Auralgan®, Auroto®, or Otocalm®). Ear drops containing neomycin and polymixin B (both antibiotics) are available to treat bacterial infections. To help clear up the infection completely, the full dose of medication should be used, even if the symptoms have disappeared. These medications are also available as solutions and suspensions to treat a ruptured eardrum. - If the child is younger than six months or has two or more ear infections within 30 days or fluid remains behind the eardrum, the doctor may recommend an antibiotic. The AAP and the AAFP recommend the use of high doses and short courses of amoxicillin (Amoxil®, Trimox®) or amoxicillin combined with clavulanate potassium (Augmentin®) in individuals (including children) with middle ear infections. Erythromycin antibiotics (Eryped® or Erytab®) may also be used. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections. Side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea, and allergic reactions. - If fluid in the individual's ear is affecting his or her hearing or recurrent ear infections do not respond to antibiotics, surgery may be needed. The most common surgery for ear infections is a myringotomy. During this procedure, which requires general anesthesia, a surgeon inserts a small drainage tube through the eardrum. This helps drain the fluid and equalize the pressure between the middle ear and outer ear. Hearing should improve immediately. If the ear infections continue after age four, the surgeon may recommend removing the adenoids. Complications of this surgery are rare. When performed under general anesthesia, myringotomy has the same general risks as other surgical procedures that require anesthesia. - Prevention: Avoid exposing children to cigarette smoke. Ear infections are more common in children who are exposed to cigarette smoke in the home. Even fumes from tobacco smoke on the hair and clothes may affect the child. - Breastfeeding a baby helps improve immunity and resistance to infections. This is because a mother's breast milk contains important proteins that improve a baby's developing immune system. The baby should be breastfed in an upright position to prevent the possibility of acquiring infections. - Parents should talk to their children's pediatricians about recommended vaccinations. Although there is currently no vaccine for infections, many immunizations can prevent illnesses that may progress to ear infections. - Practicing good hygiene may also help reduce the risk of acquiring infections. - Overview: A food allergy occurs when an individual's immune system mistakes a food protein (called an allergen) for a foreign substance. During an allergic reaction, the immune cells overreact to substances that are normally harmless and the body releases chemicals that trigger symptoms that can than affect the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as the skin and the lungs. Even a trace amount of the allergen can cause a reaction in sensitive individuals. - Food allergy is usually common among people who have family histories of allergies. About eight percent of children (compared to only two percent of adults) in the United States are estimated to have food allergies. Food allergies are most common during the first few years of life, and as the immune system continues to develop, allergic sensitivity declines over the first decade of life for most children. - According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAAI), six foods cause 90% of food allergies in children. These six foods are milk, peanuts, soy, eggs, wheat, and tree nuts (such as pecans and walnuts). Children usually outgrow allergies to milk, eggs, and soy. However, allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish continue throughout adulthood. - Risk factors: Children with skin disorders, such as eczema, which causes itching, scaling, and thickening of the skin, or psoriasis, which causes, dry, red patches of skin, are more likely to develop food allergies. In fact, food allergies are seen in about 35% of children with eczema. - Children who have allergic reactions to inhaled substances, such as dust, mold spores, or pollen, also have an increased risk of developing food allergies. - Even exposing children to trace amounts of peanut protein or peanut oil products may cause peanut allergies in children, according to one study. Because peanut allergies are among the most common and severe food allergies, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children with histories of food allergies do not consume peanuts or peanut-containing products until they are three years old. Strawberries should also be avoided until the baby is about 10-12 months old. - Children whose mothers have food allergies may be more likely to inherit the allergy if born by cesarean section, according to one study. One study of children with allergic mothers who had C-section deliveries found that the babies were seven times more likely to develop food allergies than predisposed children who were born vaginally. Although the reason for this is not clear, it has been suggested that cesarean deliveries might delay the colonization of the newborn intestine. - Causes: Most allergies are inherited, which means they are passed on to children by their parents. Although people inherit a tendency to be allergic, they may not inherit an allergy to the same allergen. When one parent has allergies, each of his/her children has a 50% chance of developing allergies. That risk increases to 75% if both parents have allergies. - The first, or several times after the body is exposed to nickel, the immune system becomes sensitized. During this process, the body's white blood cells develop immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which are proteins that are specialized to quickly detect and bind to the food allergens when they enter the body. These antibodies also trigger the release of chemicals (such as histamine) that cause allergic symptoms, such as red, itchy, and swollen skin. - In some food groups, especially tree nuts and seafood, an allergy to one food may cause the patient to be allergic to all the members of the same group. This is known as cross-reactivity. However, it is also possible to be allergic to both peanuts and walnuts, which are from different food families. This is because the allergens for these products are very similar. - Cross-reactivity is not as common in the meat food group. For instance, many patients who are allergic to eggs can eat chicken, and many patients who are allergic to cow's milk can eat beef. - Symptoms: Food allergy symptoms vary among patients. Symptoms can develop anywhere from several minutes to several hours after ingestion. Reactions usually lasts several hours. Hives are the most common allergic skin reaction associated with food allergies. Hives are red, itchy, swollen welts on the skin that may appear suddenly and disappear quickly. They often develop in clusters, with new clusters appearing as other areas clear up. The most severe type of reaction is called anaphylaxis because it causes low blood pressure and swollen airways. The most dangerous symptoms of anaphylaxis are low blood pressure, breathing difficulties, shock, and loss of consciousness, all of which can be fatal. Asthma symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, may be triggered by food allergies, especially in infants and young children. Eczema, which is itchy, scaly, red skin, may also be triggered by food allergies. Others may experience itchy skin or facial flushing. Gastrointestinal symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, gas, and abdominal cramping. Some patients may develop a red rash around the mouth, as well as swelling of the mouth, stomach, and throat. - Diagnosis: Food allergies may be diagnosed using a skin test or blood test. During a skin test, the skin is exposed to allergens that may be causing symptoms. A diluted form of the allergen may be scratched onto the skin's surface, injected under the skin, or applied to a patch that is stuck onto the skin. The skin is then observed for an allergic reaction. During an allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) test, or radioallergosorbent test (RAST®), a sample of the patient's blood is sent to a laboratory and mixed with allergens to determine if he/she has allergies. - Treatment: Very severe reactions, such as anaphylaxis, can be treated with epinephrine. This medicine is injected and acts as a bronchodilator, which means it widens the breathing tubes. It also helps narrow the blood vessels, which increases blood pressure. Patients who experience anaphylaxis may be admitted to the hospital to have their blood pressure monitored and possibly to receive breathing support. Other emergency interventions may also include placing a tube through the nose or mouth into the airway (called endotracheal intubation) or emergency surgery to place a tube directly into the trachea (tracheostomy or cricothyrotomy). - Less severe allergic reactions that affect breathing and blood pressure may be treated with an inhaled epinephrine bronchodilator. Some inhaled bronchodilators are available over-the-counter in the United States. - Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), reverse the actions of histamine, a chemical that triggers allergic symptoms. Diphenhydramine is injected when quick action is needed during a severe allergic reaction. It may be given by mouth to treat a less severe reaction. - Corticosteroids are usually given through an IV (intravenously) at first in order to quickly reverse the effects of the chemicals (like histamine) that trigger allergic symptoms. These drugs reduce swelling and many other symptoms of allergic reactions. Individuals may also need to take a corticosteroid in pill form for several days after the initial treatment. These drugs are often given for less severe reactions. Also, a corticosteroid cream or ointment may be used for skin reactions. - Prevention: Avoiding known food allergens is the best way to prevent an allergic reaction from occurring. Children's baby-sitters, teachers, and other caretakers should be informed of their allergies. To avoid eating a food allergen, parents should always ask about ingredients in the food when dining at a restaurant or someone else's home. Even a trace amount of the allergen can cause a reaction in sensitive individuals. Therefore, all cooking utensils should be thoroughly washed before serving food to children with food allergies. - Parents should also read food labels carefully. Many countries, including the United States, have food labeling laws that require manufacturing companies to list all food allergens in common language, rather than scientific or technical terms. - Some ingredients, such as hydrolyzed proteins, edible oils, lecithin, lactose, starch, flavors, and gelatin, may be derived from food proteins known to cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. To help patients avoid known food allergens, the U.S. Congress passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA). The law, which went into effect January 1, 2006, requires food manufacturers to clearly state on their packages whether the food is made with any ingredients that contain protein derived from the eight major allergenic foods. These foods include milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. - If a child has a history of anaphylaxis, parents or guardians should carry an autoinjectable epinephrine device (known as an EpiPen®) with them at all times. - Children with food allergies can also wear an identification bracelet that describes the allergy. - Healthcare professionals should be aware of food allergies because some medications and vaccines contain food allergens that may trigger severe allergic reactions. - Overview: Lice (also called pediculosis) are tiny, parasitic insects that feed on blood from their hosts, which may be human. When a human becomes infected with lice, it is not considered a major health concern. However, it typically causes the skin to become red and itchy. - There are several types of lice, including head lice, body lice, and pubic lice. Head lice develop on the scalp, and they may be visible near the ears, shoulder, and at the nape of the neck. The lice produce small eggs, called nits, which attach to the shaft of hairs. After about one week, the nits hatch and more lice are then present. Body lice spend most of their lives on a person's clothing, crawling on the person's skin to feed a couple times a day. The females attach their sticky eggs to the seams and folds of clothing. Pubic lice, commonly called crabs, are found on the skin and hair of the pubic area and eyelashes. Lice are easily spread through close personal contact with an infected person or his/her belongings. However, lice cannot jump or fly from person to person. - Lice are most common among schoolchildren, individuals living in crowded areas, and people living in poverty or unsanitary conditions. - Causes: Humans can get lice after coming into direct contact with lice or their eggs. Lice cannot fly, but individuals may be exposed to them when they touch an infected person or his/her personal belongings, such as bed linens, clothing, stuffed animals, or towels. For instance, head lice are commonly transmitted after sharing pillows, combs/brushes, or hair clips. They can live for up to two days off of the body. Lice can also be spread through sexual contact or after using a toilet seat that was recently used by someone who is infected. Lice can survive about 1-3 days without a human host. - Symptoms: Lice typically cause intense itching and small red bumps to develop on affected areas of the skin. The lice may be visible on the skin, body hair, clothing, or other personal items. They are about three millimeters long. Lice eggs, called nits, may also be visible on hair shafts. Nits look similar to dandruff, but they are not easily brushed away. - Symptoms of head lice typically develop on the scalp, ears, nape of the neck, and shoulders. Symptoms of body lice may develop anywhere on the body that has hair. Symptoms of pubic lice typically develop in the pubic area and on the eye lashes. - Lice usually do not cause serious health problems, even if it goes untreated. However, if children frequently scratch the skin, bacteria may enter the skin and cause an infection. - Diagnosis: A diagnosis can be made after a physical examination. Although lice are very small, they are visible to the human eye. If lice are present, a positive diagnosis is made. - Treatment: Lice can be successfully treated in several days with over-the-counter products and/or prescription-strength anti-parasitic medications. In order to prevent re-infection, it is recommended that parents or caregivers wash and vacuum items that may be contaminated. Also, people who live with or have close personal contact with someone who has lice should receive treatment as well. - Children older than two years old who have lice can use over-the-counter lotions and shampoos, such as Nix® or Rid®, to kill lice and their eggs. These products are made with anti-parasitic medications (such as permethrin) that kill the lice. These products should be used as directed on the package labeling. Sometimes, treatment may need to be repeated 7-10 days later in order to get rid of all the lice. If over-the-counter (OTC) products do not successfully treat lice, a doctor may recommend stronger shampoos or lotions, such as malathion (Ovide®) or lindane (Kwell®), which are only available by prescription. Rare side effects may include seizures, dizziness, clumsiness, fast heartbeat, muscle cramps, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, vomiting, or skin irritation. - Parents may also rinse their children's hair with vinegar after using an anti-parasitic shampoo. First, a parent pours vinegar onto a clean cloth. Then, the parent holds a lock of hair and wipes the hair from the root to the end. This process is repeated until all of the hair has been treated. Rinsing the hair with vinegar helps remove nits that stick to the shaft of the hair. - Combing wet hair with a fine-toothed comb, or a nit comb (available at local pharmacies), may help remove lice and their eggs from the hair. This is generally used in combination with shampoos or lotions that are designed to kill lice. - In order to prevent re-infections with lice, it is important to wash all items that may be contaminated. This includes items such as bed linens, pillows, clothing, hats, and stuffed animals. Wash the items for at least 10 minutes in hot, soapy water that is at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Then dry the items at high heat for at least 20 minutes. This kills any scabies, lice, or eggs that may be present. Combs and brushes should also be washed in hot soapy water or soaked in rubbing alcohol for one hour. Items that cannot be washed should be sealed in airtight bags for at least two weeks. The lice and scabies will die because they have nothing to eat. Individuals may also cover furniture with plastic drop cloths for two weeks to kill the parasites. However, plastic furniture coverings are not recommended if a toddler lives in the home because there is a risk of suffocation. Thoroughly vacuuming carpeting, furniture, mattresses, and tapestry effectively kills scabies and lice. After vacuuming, the vacuum bag should be thrown away immediately. - Prevention: It is often difficult to prevent lice in young children. This is because children are in close contact with many other children during school and daycare. Children can reduce the risk of getting lice by not sharing hats, combs, hair pins/clips, or other hair products with others. Also, caregivers should wear gloves when treating children who have lice. - Overview: Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) describes the inflammation or bacterial or viral infection of the membrane that lines the eyelid (called the conjunctiva) and part of the eyeball. Bacterial conjunctivitis is most common among children, and it is highly contagious. - Even though conjunctivitis that is caused by an infection is highly contagious, it does not cause serious health problems if it is diagnosed and treated early. However, if left untreated, it can lead to serious eye damage, including permanent vision loss. - Causes: Conjunctivitis can be caused by an infection, allergic reaction to allergens (such as dust mites or pollen), or exposure to chemicals or irritants. Bacterial conjunctivitis is most common among children, and it is highly contagious. If the bacteria are present on the skin, it may spread to the eyes, where it causes conjunctivitis. The bacteria can also be spread from sharing eye makeup or contact lenses or after touching or rubbing the eyes with dirty hands. - Symptoms: In general, common symptoms include red, irritated, and watery, itchy eyes, blurred vision, and discharge from the eyes that forms a crust at the edges of the lids and on the eyelashes during sleep. Other less common symptoms may include pain and sensitivity to light. - Allergic conjunctivitis affects both eyes. The eyes become extremely itchy and the eyelids swell. This form causes swelling as a result of excess water in the tissues of the conjunctiva and sometimes the whole eyelid. The eyes may also secrete a mucus discharge. Symptoms will continue as long as the person is exposed to the allergens, unless anti-allergy medicine is taken. - Bacterial conjunctivitis usually affects one eye at first and often spreads to the other. Common symptoms include a feeling of grittiness in the eyes, irritation, reddening of the eyes, and a thick yellow-green discharge that may cause the lids to stick together, especially after sleeping. Symptoms generally last a few days. Depending on the type of bacteria that is causing symptoms, eye damage and/or vision loss may occur if treatment is not started. - Viral conjunctivitis usually starts with one eye and often spreads to the other. Viral conjunctivitis is usually caused by the same viruses that cause upper respiratory (lung) infection, a common cold, or sore throat. Common symptoms include watery eye discharge and itchy eyes. Symptoms generally last a few days. - Conjunctivitis caused by chemicals or irritants is usually painful and it may cause reddening of the eyes and sometimes mucus secretion. Depending on the type of chemical or irritant, eye damage may also occur. - Diagnosis: Although tests are available to diagnose the specific cause of conjunctivitis, a diagnosis is typically made after a physical examination and medical history. A slit lamp exam, which uses a microscope to observe the eye, can confirm a diagnosis based on swelling observed in the conjunctiva. A sample of the patient's eye discharge may be cultured to determine whether a bacteria or virus is the cause. Allergy tests may be performed to determine whether the patient is allergic to specific substances. - Treatment: Treatment of conjunctivitis depends on the cause of the infection. Patients who have bacterial or viral conjunctivitis in one eye may be prescribed antibiotic eye drops, pills, or creams for both eyes. This helps prevent the infection from spreading. It may take up to 2-3 weeks for symptoms of infectious pinkeye to completely go away. - Patients who have allergic conjunctivitis are typically treated with antihistamines, ocular (eye) decongestants, and mast cell stabilizers. All of these medications help decrease the immune response, thereby reducing allergy symptoms. These medications are available as eye drops, eye creams, and oral pills. - If conjunctivitis is caused by a chemical or irritant, the affected eye, including under the eyelid, should be flushed with saline. Some patients may also need topical steroids. Some chemicals can severely damage the eye, leading to vision loss, scarring, or surgical removal of the eye. - Refrigerating medicated eye drops may help temporarily soothe eye discomfort. - Prevention: Avoid exposure to known allergens. Do not touch or rub the eyes. Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coming in contact with an individual who has bacterial or viral conjunctivitis. Wash bed linens and pillowcases regularly with hot water and soap to reduce allergens. Do not share eye makeup, contact lenses, or washcloths with other individuals. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling contact lenses. Properly clean contact lenses before wearing them. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before applying eye drops or ointment. Individuals who are diagnosed with contagious conjunctivitis (caused by a virus or bacteria) should minimize contact with others until they begin treatment and symptoms start to improve. This will help reduce the chance of spreading the infection to others. - Overview: Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the respiratory system that causes uncontrollable coughing. - Anyone can get whooping cough, but it is more common among infants (younger than six months of age) and children (ages 11-18) who have weak immune systems. This is because the immune system helps the body fight against diseases and infections. - Before the whooping cough vaccine was developed, it was one of the most common childhood diseases and a major cause of childhood deaths in the United States, killing 5,000-10,000 children each year. There are fewer cases today because there are both pertussis-only vaccines and combination vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. - Infants and toddlers have the greatest risk of experiencing complications from whooping cough, and they are most likely to need hospital treatment. Complications may include ear infections, seizures, pneumonia, emphysema, bleeding in the brain, swelling in the brain, dehydration, slowed or stopped breathing, and/or hernias. - If a person is diagnosed with whooping cough, treatment with antibiotics may help if given soon after symptoms develop. - Causes: Whooping cough is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis (or B. pertussis). The infection is passed from person to person by droplets of respiratory secretions that are coughed or sneezed into the air by someone who is already infected. - Symptoms: Symptoms of whooping cough typically last 6-10 weeks, but they may last longer. Symptoms usually occur in three stages. During stage one, patients usually experience cold-like symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, mild coughing, watery eyes, and sometimes, a mild fever. This stage usually lasts several days to two weeks. An infected person is most contagious during this stage. - During stage two, cold-like symptoms fade, but the cough worsens, changing from a dry, hacking cough to bursts of uncontrollable, often violent coughing. During a coughing episode, it may be difficult to breath. When the patient is able to breathe, a high-pitched, "whooping noise" may occur when he/she inhales through the swollen and narrowed airways. Vomiting and severe exhaustion often follow a coughing spell. But between coughing episodes (about 15 coughs an episode), the infected person often appears normal. This is the most serious stage of whooping cough, usually lasting from 2-4 weeks or longer. - During stage three, the patient may improve and gain strength, but the cough may become worse. Coughing episodes may occur from time to time for weeks to months and may flare up if a cold or other upper respiratory illness develops. This final stage may last a few weeks longer in people who have never received the whooping cough vaccine. Children often have a much more severe form of the illness than adults who are younger than 60 years of age. - In infants, complications may include pneumonia, ear infections, slowed or stopped breathing, seizures, and/or brain damage. In children and teenagers, uncontrollable coughing may lead to complications, such as a bruised or broken rib or a hernia. - Diagnosis: Sometimes, doctors diagnose whooping cough simply by listening for a cough that is high-pitched and makes a "whooping noise." Medical tests, including nose or throat cultures or blood tests, may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. These tests look for the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which causes the condition.A chest X-ray may be needed to look for signs of bruised or broken ribs. - Treatment: Treatment for whooping cough varies, depending on the age of the patient and the severity of signs and symptoms. With treatment and rest, a case of whooping cough usually resolves in six weeks. - Almost all infants with whooping cough who are younger than two months, as well as many older babies, need hospital care for a few days. With treatment, most babies overcome the infection without lasting effects, but the risk exists until the infection clears. In the hospital, infants and babies usually receive intravenous antibiotics, such as erythromycin, to treat the infection. They may also receive corticosteroid drugs, such as hydrocortisone, to help reduce swelling in the lungs. Sometimes, an infant's airway may be suctioned to remove mucus that might be making it difficult to breathe. The infant's breathing will be carefully monitored in case extra oxygen is needed. If the infant cannot keep down liquids or food, intravenous (IV) fluids or nutrition may be needed. In some cases, prescription sedatives may be prescribed to help the infant rest. The infant will also be isolated from others to prevent the infection from spreading. - When whooping cough is diagnosed early in older children or teenagers, doctors usually prescribe vaccination, bed rest, and an antibiotic, such as azithromycin (Zithromax®) or erythromycin (E-mycin®, Eryped®). Although antibiotics will not cure whooping cough, they can shorten the duration of the illness and help prevent the infection from being passed to others. Some patients may need to take antibiotics for two weeks or longer. If the illness has progressed to the point of severe coughing spells, antibiotics are not as effective but may still be used. Unfortunately, there are few medications that help provide relief from the symptoms of whooping cough. Over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines, such as dextromathorpan (Robitussin®), generally have little effect on whooping cough. - Prevention: Vaccines for whooping cough are available. Doctors may give children a three-in-one vaccine (called DTaP) that protects against whooping cough and two other serious diseases called diphtheria and tetanus. This vaccine is generally recommended during infancy. It is given in a series of five shots that are usually given when children are two months, four months, six months, 12-18 months, and 4-6 years old. It takes at least three shots of the vaccine to fully protect a child against whooping cough, but a total of five shots are recommended by age six. - Because the vaccine starts to wear off by age 11, doctors recommend a booster shot of the vaccine when children are 11-18 years old. This booster shot is commonly called Tdap. - Adults are also encouraged to receive an initial Tdap or booster shot every 10 years instead of the Td booster shot. This vaccine protects adults from whooping cough and reduces the risk of spreading the infection to infants. Copyright © 2011 Natural Standard (www.naturalstandard.com) The information in this monograph is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. Information is based on review of scientific research data, historical practice patterns, and clinical experience. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions.
Shoulder Clock Exercise To start, stand tall with your ears, shoulders, and hips in line. Your feet should be slightly apart, positioned just under your hips. Focus your eyes directly in front of you. Stand in this position for a few seconds before starting your exercise. This helps increase your awareness of proper posture. Imagine that your right shoulder is the center of a clock. With the outer point of your shoulder, roll it around to slowly trace the outer edge of the clock. Move clockwise first, then counterclockwise. 3to 5times. Switch shoulders.
Here's a 5 second video preview Here are the directions in a print-friendly, PDF format There are many variations of balance toys—all of them interesting and a bit counterintuitive. In some of my technology classes I’ve shown my students how to weld “cut” nails together to make a balancing person. However, welding tanks are not available to most people. Fortunately, Australian educator Katrina shows how to make a design that anybody can make. Sometimes it takes a fresh view to cut through all the complexity and simplify the construction enough that elementary school kids can build. Thanks Katrina! The trick to making it balance mysteriously is to keep the center of gravity low by making sure more than half the weight below the feet. She accomplishes this with a lightweight foam head and denser modeling clay weights. Back to http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/
Miniature Bull Terriers (Exotic & Rare) MINIATURE BULL TERRIERS INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION CORNIJAL BLOODLINE (Foundation Bloodline) FROM SPAIN** !!! Which has Been Transfo… Mites are small insects that can be invisible to the naked eye or so small that they are literally impossible to see. Mites can be found in the skin of the horse, and this variety is often known as itch or mange mites. There are also mites that live in the ear, known, not surprisingly, as ear mites. Puppies for Sale: There are several different types of skin or mange mites found in horses and the type of mite that is prevalent in your area will be determined by the climate and the horses that your horse may have been in contact with. Horses that are moved to different areas of the country or are taken to shows or events where they come in contact with mite infected horses are more likely to develop mites even if your area is mite free. Tack from infected horses or even used brushes that have groomed a horse with mites are often a method of transmission of mites. Mites are problematic in that they cause extreme itching of the skin as they burrow just under the surface. The females lay eggs in these skin tunnels and the young mature in the skin, resulting in the unpleasant sensation for the horse. In addition the mites also produce a toxin that causes an allergic reaction in the skin, resulting in rubbing, scratching and licking of the area. This then leads to the formation of sores and rubbed areas where the hair falls out and the chance of secondary bacterial infections increases. The skin in the affected areas is crusty and flaky looking with the hair typically rubbed or scratched off. Often the worst areas are the base of the tail, along the back and on the head. In severe cases the mites may spread over the entire body of the horse. Mites that stay on the surface of the skin and don't burrow still leave the highly toxic waste material from feeding off dead skin cells on the horse's body. Often this is most commonly seen around the feet and lower legs and the resulting condition is known as foot mange. Demodectic mites live in the hair shaft and are most common on the neck and shoulders. Since these mites live their entire life in the hair follicle they are very hard to identify without a microscopic examination by a vet. Chigger mites are problematic in warmer climates where the adult mites lay eggs in the soil. The hatching juvenile chiggers then climb onto a mammal and feed and develop, dropping back down to the soil when they mature. They are very irritating to the horse and cause severe itching in sensitive horses. Mites can be treated through routine use of pesticides that are approved for use on horses. Each horse in the herd must be treated according to the directions and on the schedule to prevent continuation of the problem. Stables, tack and equipment should likewise be treated for mites if they are a problem in your area. Mites can be transferred to humans and other pets, so careful management is needed to prevent problems with all animals. Ear mites are found in the waxy build up of the ears and will often cause the ears to become flaky and foul smelling on the inside. Ear mites are visible if you scrape some of the wax and place it on a piece of dark paper, the movement of the mites will be visible under a magnifying glass. Treatment for ear mites includes rubbing a commercially available ear mite repellant or treatment in the ear as directed. CLIENTS GET APPROVED WITH NO CREDIT AKC 105 lbs Black English Lab Stud YORKIE PUPPIES FOR SALE IN QUEENS, NY TerrificPets.com helps you find puppies for sale from great dog breeders! Please support our breeders when looking for puppies for sale.
Nancy Songer, The University of Michigan, The University of Michigan This is an 8-week life science inquiry program for 5th graders focusing on biodiversity. Classrooms register to participate during specific time periods of the academic year. Students collect data on animal distribution in their schoolyard using Palm Pilots and software originally used by African Animal Trackers. An electronic discussion board and the creation of their own web-based biodiversity maps allow students to compare and share their findings with other students and researchers around the world. Students ask questions about species distribution, interdependence, human influence on diversity, and many other related concepts. Students create species accounts with the maps, narratives and predictions they have generated, which are available for future reference and use by other students. This description of a site outside SERC has not been vetted by SERC staff and may be incomplete or incorrect. If you have information we can use to flesh out or correct this record let us know.
Ethernet Invention Revealed the Origins of Innovation NEWS ANALYSIS: Ethernet's invention 40 years ago showed that innovation can happen when smart people are given time to think and to work together.PALO ALTO, Calif.—There in front of me were the first boxy Ethernet transceivers that Dave Boggs built by hand 40 years ago when he and Bob Metcalfe invented Ethernet. One of them was attached to a length of RG-8 coaxial cable using a vampire tap, a type of connector that pierced the insulation on the side of the cable. This was the original Ethernet, displayed in front of an enlarged drawing of Bob Metcalfe's original drawing of this ground-breaking innovation. But there in a small room with many other objects invented at the Palo Alto Research Center was what many of the attendees at the Ethernet Innovation Summit referred to as a shrine to Ethernet, perhaps one of the most significant advances in communications in history. In the same room were the Alto computer, which had the first mouse, the first graphical display and the first GUI. From PARC came inventions as diverse as the laser printer and a water-filtration system with no moving parts. But earlier in the day I found the real insight into innovation when I enjoyed lunch and a long conversation with Radia Perlman, who made internetworking possible when she invented Spanning Tree, and later in a long conversation with Metcalfe and Boggs that ranged from ham radio to the future of networking. Finally Glenn Ricart, founder and CTO of US Ignite, sat down at my table to talk about how his organization fosters innovation.
A binding can specify an anonymous content template using the content element. This template describes a content tree that will be generated around the bound element during binding attachment. An element declared in a bound document using a single tag can then be constructed out of multiple child elements, and this implementation is hidden from the bound document. For example, the HTML file upload control appears in most browsers as a composite widget consisting of a text field and a button. A sample XBL binding for the file widget might look as follows: <binding id="fileupload"> <content> <html:input type="text"/> <html:input type="button"/> </content> </binding> Because this content is not visible to its parent element, it is said to be Scoping and access using the DOM When a binding is attached and certain conditions are met, the children of the binding's content element are cloned. Elements and attributes in the XBL namespace are never cloned. For content generated underneath the bound element, the topmost nodes' parentNode pointers are set to the bound element. When anonymous content elements are built above the bound element, the topmost elements' parentNode pointers are set to the bound element's parentNode. All anonymous nodes' ownerDocument pointers are set to the bound document at the time of generation. In effect the anonymous content exists in its own insulated pocket within the document. Using parentNode, anonymous content nodes can refer to their explicit parents, but explicit parents have no knowledge of their anonymous children. The anonymous content is not accessible via the childNodes list for the bound element, nor is it accessible using nextSibling to iterate over the children of the bound element. The anonymous content is accessible only through special methods like Anonymous content introduces the concept of scope to nodes within a document. Because anonymous content elements can also have bindings attached that generate their own anonymous content, this scoping can be taken to an arbitrary level of nesting. Explicit content is said to be at the document-level scope. Anonymous content nodes are in their own binding-level scopes. Binding scopes are determined by the bound element that contains the binding responsible for the generation of the anonymous nodes. The scope of an element can be determined using the getBindingParent method on the DocumentXBL interface. See section 3 for more information. This method returns the bound element in the enclosing scope that is responsible for the anonymous node. If invoked on an element at the document-level scope, it returns null. DOM methods that can be invoked on elements (e.g., getElementsByTagName) will only see nodes that are in the same scope. Methods invoked on the document (e.g., getElementById) only see nodes that are at the document-level scope. Rules for generation Whenever bindings are attached to an element, anonymous content will potentially be generated or destroyed. When a new binding is attached, the bindings in its explicit 'inherits' chain are checked to see if any have anonymous content templates. The most derived binding in the chain with a template is the one used to determine if anonymous content should be generated. Anonymous content is only generated from a template if there are insertion points defined within the template for all of the explicit content found underneath the bound element at the time the check for generation is made. If the binding specifies no insertion points for explicit content, then anonymous content will only be constructed if the bound element has no explicit children. Assuming that all explicit children have valid insertion points, the anonymous content is generated underneath the bound element. The binding responsible for the generation is referred to as the primary generating binding. Whenever the primary generating binding changes on a bound element, all anonymous nodes in the scope of the bound element are destroyed. Attributes on anonymous content elements can be tied to attributes on the bound element. Whenever the attribute is set or removed on the bound element, the corresponding attribute on the anonymous content is also set or removed. On any anonymous content element in a template, an inherits attribute can be used to specify a comma-separated list of attributes that should be inherited. Attributes with namespaces can be defined using a namespace prefix and the attribute name separate by a colon. For example, on the HTML file upload control, the anonymous textfield can be set up to automatically inherit the value attribute from the bound element. <xbl:binding id="fileUploadControl"> <xbl:content> <html:input type="text" xbl:inherits="value"/> <html:input type="button" value="Browse..."/> </xbl:content> </xbl:binding> Each entry in the inherits list can either simply list an attribute (such as value in the example above), or it can specify an = separated pair consisting of the attribute on the anonymous content that should be tied to the attribute on the bound element. The anonymous content attribute is listed first. The special value xbl:text can be used in an = separated pair, where the prefix defined is the XBL namespace. When specified on the left-hand side of the pair it indicates that the attribute on the right-hand side should be stored as text nodes underneath the anonymous element. When used on the right-hand side, it indicates that any raw text nodes that are explicit children of the bound element should be coalesced and the resulting value should be stored as the attribute on the left-hand side. xbl:text value cannot occur by itself in the list. It may be used only in an = separated pair. Note that the inherits attribute is never cloned when content is generated from a template. XBL bindings can interleave anonymous content between bound elements and their explicit children. They do so using XBL children tags. Any number of children tags may be used in a binding's anonymous content template. The location at which a children tag occurs is called an insertion point. There are two types of insertion points: explicit and inherited. Explicit insertion points specify locations at which the explicit children of a bound element are inserted. Explicit insertion points are only used if they are found on the primary generating binding. Explicit insertion points on other bindings are ignored. Inherited insertion points are used to place the anonymous content generated by the next binding in the chain that contributes anonymous content. That binding can define inherited insertion points for its base binding as well. This pattern continues all the way up the binding chain. XPath selectors specified using the includes attribute determine which insertion point a given child should be placed under. [Actually, only tag names may be specified; see the includes attribute description in <children> element reference, bug 174614 and bug 51527.] If no attribute is specified, an insertion point is considered generic and will match on all content. The insertion point used for a given piece of content is the first encountered with a selector whose node set matches the element when doing a depth-first walk of the content template. children elements are never cloned when content is generated from a template. Handling DOM changes Insertion points continuing to be used as elements are inserted or removed from the DOM. Whenever an element is inserted or appended, all insertion points are checked following all the same rules that applied when first placing explicit children during anonymous content generation. If no insertion point is found for the newly-inserted child, then the binding is no longer a fit for the bound element, and all anonymous content will be destroyed. Whenever an element is removed, it simply disappears from its insertion point along with all anonymous content that was generated by the element. It is possible to manipulate the anonymous content contained underneath a bound element using standard DOM APIs. If anonymous content that contains an insertion point is removed, then any explicit children found underneath the insertion point are relocated to any other insertion points that match. Again, if all the children cannot be relocated, then the anonymous content is destroyed. [Editor's Note: Should there be an API for retrieving insertion points, for dynamically creating new insertion points, or for removing insertion points? Perhaps on ElementXBL?] Event flow and targeting Flow and targeting across scopes DOM events can fire on anonymous targets just as they can on explicit targets. As long as the event flows within the same scope, it is no different from the behavior outlined in the DOM Level 2 Events specification. Events flow through the final transformed content model after all elements have been repositioned through the usage of Whenever events flow from an anonymous element in a bound element's scope to the bound element itself, one of two actions occurs. Either the event is retargeted so that the bound element becomes the target, or the event is stopped and flow proceeds to the next phase. Whenever an event is retargeted, the target field of the event is set to the bound element. The original anonymous content responsible for the event can be obtained from a new field of the event object: The action taken (retarget vs. stop) is specific to the event type. In general, UI events are retargeted and mutation events are stopped. Exceptions to the rule are noted below. Focus and blur events When a focus or blur event crosses a scope boundary, the bound element is checked to see if it is focusable (i.e., if the user agent would normally fire a focus or blur event on the element). If the bound element is focusable, then the event is retargeted. If not, then the event is stopped. If anonymous content underneath a focusable bound element blurs and anonymous content also underneath the bound element takes focus, then the blur and focus events are both stopped. As far as the bound element is concerned, it retains focus throughout the two events. Anonymous content can receive focus when the user tabs through the document. The same rules apply. If the anonymous content is focusable, it can be tabbed into, but if the bound element is not focusable, the event will be stopped before it reaches the bound element. In HTML4 the tabindex attribute can be used to specify the tab order for focusable elements. This attribute can be specified on anonymous content. Each scope has a unique tab order. The tabindex values used in one scope are ignored by other scopes. As an example, consider the HTML file upload control. It is a focusable element that in turn is made up of two focusable anonymous elements: a textfield and a button. Tab indices can be specified on the textfield and the button to dictate the order in which the components of the file control should be accessed when tabbing. When the user tabs such that the file control should become focused, the user agent determines if any anonymous content should also become focused, using the tab order specified by the anonymous content elements. It then generates a focus event on the textfield inside the file control. As this event flows across scopes, it is retargeted to be a focus event on the file control itself. Focus events should also be stopped if the bound element is already focused. For example, if the user has already focused the textfield within an HTML file upload control, then the file upload control is now also focused. If the user then focuses the button inside the file upload control, the focus event generated for the button is stopped before it reaches the file control, since the file control is already focused. Because content in multiple scopes can be focused, the CSS :focus pseudo-element is hierarchical. Style rules can be written with the assumption that they will match (in the above example) both the file control and the element focused inside the file control. In other words, an arbitrary chain of elements can be in the :focus state at the same time. Mouseover and mouseout events Mouseover and mouseout events are retargeted if the mouse genuinely enters or exits the bound element (in addition to entering or exiting some anonymous content). If, however, the user has simply moved the mouse from one anonymous element to another, without entering or exiting the bound element itself, then the event is stopped. For example, if the user enters the HTML file upload control from the left, a mouseover event is generated for the anonymous textfield. Because this event also constitutes a mouseover of the file control itself, the event is retargeted when it flows across scopes. If the user then moves the mouse from the textfield to the button, a mouseout is generated for the textfield, followed by a mouseover of the button. Since neither of these events constitutes a mouseover or mouseout of the file control itself, the events are not allowed to flow to the file control. If the user continues moving to the right and leaves the button, then the mouseout generated will be retargeted, since the file control will also have been exited. Anonymous content and CSS Selectors and scopes Bindings can interleave anonymous elements between the bound element and its explicit children. See Insertion Points for more information. In this situation, a new tree emerges that is different from the explicit content node tree. In addition to having a single explicit parent (the bound element) the explicit children also have an arbitrary set of anonymous parents (created by bindings when child insertion points were used). Child, descendant, and sibling selectors will match on any path of anonymous and explicit elements. As far as CSS is concerned, anonymous content nodes are children (or descendants) of the bound element, they are ancestors of explicit content, and they are siblings of the explicit content. Style rules using the child, descendant, or sibling selectors transparently cross bind scopes and operate on the altered and original content models. The final modified content tree determines how CSS properties (e.g., fonts and colors) are inherited. An element either ends up underneath its explicit parent (just as in the content model), or it ends up being nested through a series of insertion points. When nested, it inherits from the innermost anonymous parent. A binding file can load stylesheets using the stylesheet element. By default these stylesheets apply to the bound element and to all anonymous content generated by all bindings attached to the bound element. These sheets have the same origin as the sheet with the rule responsible for the binding. Stylesheets loaded by bindings that are attached using the DOM are treated as author-level sheets. [Editor's Note: Binding inheritance complicates this cascade, since an author-level DOM binding could inherit from a user-level binding. If both load sheets, what level do those sheets belong to in the cascade?] Sheets are always walked from the innermost scope to the outermost scope. With this ordering a binding that defines a widget can define a default look for the widget that can then be easily overridden by a client of the widget. For multiple bindings attached to the same element, the sheets are walked from the base binding down to the most derived binding. Bindings can fine-tune the control of the stylesheet scoping with the inheritstyle attribute, which indicates whether or not author sheets defined at outer scopes affect the anonymous content generated by the binding. For the primary generating binding only, this attribute is checked to see if any author sheets at outer levels of scoping should be applied to the anonymous content generated by the bindings attached to the bound element. If this attribute is set, the rules specified in any author sheets at outer scopes are not walked. By default, stylesheets specified in bindings files are applied only to the bound element and to anonymous content generated by bindings attached to the element. User agent sheets and user sheets are always applied to all scopes.
Willem Einthoven was born on May 21, 1860, in Semarang on the island of Java, in the former Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). His father was Jacob Einthoven, born and educated in Groningen, The Netherlands, an army medical officer in the Indies, who later became parish doctor in Semarang. His mother was Louise M.M.C. de Vogel, daughter of the then Director of Finance in the Indies. Willem was the eldest son, and the third child in a family of three daughters and three sons. At the age of six, Einthoven lost his father. Four years later his mother decided to return with her six children to Holland, where the family settled in Utrecht. After having passed the “Hogere Burgerschool” (secondary school), he in 1878 entered the University of Utrecht as a medical student, intending to follow in his father’s footsteps. His exceptional abilities, however, began to develop in quite a different direction. After being assistant to the ophthalmologist H. Snellen Sr. in the renowned eye-hospital “Gasthuis voor Ooglidders”, he made two investigations, both of which attracted widespread interest. The first was carried out after Einthoven had gained his “candidaat” diploma (approximately equivalent to the B.Sc. degree), under the direction of the anatomist W. Koster, and was entitled “Quelques remarques sur le mécanisme de l’articulation du coude” (Some remarks on the elbow joint). Later he worked in close association with the great physiologist F.C. Donders, under whose guidance he undertook his second study, which was published in 1885 as his doctor’s thesis: “Stereoscopie door kleurverschil.” (Stereoscopy by means of colour variation) – one of Einthoven’s teachers was the physicist C.H.D. Buys Ballot, who discovered the well-known law in meteorology. That same year, 1885, he was appointed successor to A. Heynsius, Professor of Physiology at the University of Leiden, which he took up after having qualified as general practitioner in January, 1886. His inaugural address was entitled “De leer der specifieke energieen” (The theory of specific energies). His first important research in Leiden was published in 1892: “Über die Wirkung der Bronchialmuskeln nach einer neuen Methode untersucht, und über Asthma nervosum” (On the function of the bronchial muscles investigated by a new method, and on nervous asthma), a study of great merit, mentioned as “a great work” in Nagel’s “Handbuch der Physiologie”. At that time he also began research into optics, the study of which occupied him ever since. Some publications in this field were: “Eine einfache physiologische Erklärung für verschiedene geometrisch-optische Täuschungen” (A simple physiological explanation for various geometric-optical illusions ) in 1898; “Die Accommodation des menschlichen Auges” (The accommodation of the human eye) in 1902; “The form and magnitude of the electric response of the eye to stimulation by light at various intensities”, with W.A. Jolly in 1908. Up till now, his talents had not yet been developed to the full. This opportunity came when he began the task of registering accurately the heart sounds, using a capillary electrometer. With this in view, he investigated the theoretical principles of this instrument, and devised methods of obtaining the necessary stability, and of correcting mathematically the errors in the photographically registered results due to the inertia of the instrument. Having found these methods he decided to carry out a thorough analysis of A.D. Waller’s electrocardiogram – a study which has remained classic in its field. This investigation led Einthoven to intensify his research. To avoid complex mathematical corrections, he finally devised the string galvanometer which did not involve these calculations. Although the principle in itself was obvious, and practical applications of it were made in other fields of study, the instrument had to be precisioned and refined to make it usable for physiologists, and this took three years of laborious work. As a result of this, a galvanometer was produced which could be used in medical science as well as in technology; an instrument which was incomparable in its adaptability and speed of adjustment. He then, with P. Battaerd, took up the study of the heart sounds, followed by research into the retina currents with W.A. Jolly (begun earlier with H. K. de Haas). The electrocardiogram itself he studied in all its aspects with numerous pupils and with visiting scientists. It was this last research which earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 1924. In addition to this the string galvanometer has proved of the highest value for the study of the periphery and sympathetic nerves. In the remaining years of his life, problems of acoustics and capacity studies came within the sphere of his interests. The construction of the string phonograph (1923) could be considered as a consequence of this. Einthoven possessed the gift of being able to devote himself entirely to a particular field of study. (His genius was actually more orientated towards physics than physiology.) As a result he was able to make penetrating inquiries into almost any subject which came within the scope of his interests, and to carry out his work to its logical conclusion. Einthoven was a great believer in physical education. In his student days he was a keen sportsman, repeatedly urging his comrades “not to let the body perish”. (He was President of the Gymnastics and Fencing Union, and was one of the founders of the Utrecht Student Rowing Club.) His first study on the elbow joint resulted from a broken wrist suffered while pursuing one of his favourite sports, and during the somewhat involuntary confinement his interest was awakened in the pro- and supination movements of the hand and the functions of the shoulder and elbow joints. The string galvanometer has led countless investigators to study the functions and diseases of the heart muscle. The laboratory at Leiden became a place of pilgrimage, visited by scientists from all over the world. For this, suffering mankind has much to owe to Einthoven. In electrocardiography the string galvanometer is the most reliable tool. Although it has been superseded by portable types and by models utilizing amplification techniques used in radio communication (Einthoven has always mistrusted the use of condensers, fearing the distortion of curves), cardiograms from the string galvanometer have remained the standard of reference in numerous cases to this day. Einthoven was a member of the Dutch Royal Academy of Sciences, the meetings of which he hardly ever missed. He frequently took part in the debates himself, and his sharp criticism frequently found weaknesses in many a lecture. Einthoven married in 1886 Frédérique Jeanne Louise de Vogel, a cousin, and sister of Dr. W.Th. de Vogel, former Director of the Dienst der Volksgezondheid (Public Health Service) in the Dutch East Indies. There were four children: Augusta (b. 1887), who was married to R. Clevering, an engineer; Louise (b. 1889), married to J.A.R. Terlet, pastor emeritus; Willem (1893-1945) – a brilliant electro-technical engineer who was responsible for the development of the vacuum model of the string galvanometer and for its use in wireless communication, and who was Director of the Radio Laboratory in Bandung, Java; and Johanna (b. 1897), a physician. He died on the 29th of September, 1927, after long suffering. This autobiography/biography was written at the time of the award and first published in the book series Les Prix Nobel. It was later edited and republished in Nobel Lectures. To cite this document, always state the source as shown above.
Three students at a Melbourne primary school have measles. Another two pupils at Essendon North Primary School may also have the infectious disease. The students visited a number of local places while they were infectious but not displaying symptoms, prompting a health alert for people in the Essendon area from Victoria's chief health officer Dr Rosemary Lester. "All five pupils have not been immunised, further strengthening the importance of parents and guardians ensuring their children are vaccinated against highly infectious diseases such as measles," Dr Lester said on Wednesday. Students, staff, volunteers and visitors who aren't immunised aren't being allowed into the school for their protection. Measles usually begins with common cold symptoms and the characteristic rash usually starts in three to seven days after the first symptoms.
\|HELP IS AVAILABLE ● CONTACT OUR HELP LINE AT (956) 259 HELP ● (956) 259 4357\| \|WHO\|\|CDC\|\|UTRGV\|\|Texas Health & Human Services\|\|Hidalgo County\|\|Johns Hopkins University\| A COVID-19 vaccine might: - Prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill or dying due to COVID-19 - Prevent you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to others - Add to the number of people in the community who are protected from getting COVID-19— making it harder for the disease to spread and contributing to herd immunity - Prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from spreading and replicating, which allows it to mutate and possibly become more resistant to vaccines Currently, several COVID-19 vaccines are in clinical trials. The FDA continues to review the results of these trials before approving or authorizing COVID-19 vaccines for use. But because there is an urgent need for COVID-19 vaccines and the FDA's vaccine approval process can take months to years, the FDA first gave emergency use authorization to COVID-19 vaccines based on less data than is normally required. The data must show that the vaccines are safe and effective before the FDA can give emergency use authorization or approval. Vaccines with FDA emergency use authorization or approval include: - Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, now called Comirnaty, to prevent COVID-19 in people age 16 and older. The FDA approved Comirnaty after data found the vaccine is safe and effective. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 91% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms in people age 16 and older. The vaccine is now also available under an emergency use authorization for children ages 5 through 11. This vaccine is about 91% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children ages 5 through 11. It requires two injection, given 21 days apart. It also contains a lower dose than the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine used for people age 12 and older. - Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is 94% effective in preventing COVID-19 with symptoms. This vaccine is authorized for people age 18 and older. It requires two injections given 28 days apart. The second dose can be given up to six weeks after the first dose, if needed. - Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. In clinical trials, this vaccine was 66% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms — as of 14 days after vaccination. The vaccine also was 85% effective at preventing severe disease with COVID-19 — at least 28 days after vaccination. This vaccine is authorized for people age 18 and older. It requires one injection. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended that use of this vaccine continue in the U.S. because the benefits outweigh the risks. If you are given this vaccine, you should be educated about the possible risks and symptoms of a blood clotting problem. The CDC recommends getting an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine over getting the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. But getting any COVID-19 vaccine is better than not getting a COVID-19 vaccine. - COVID-19 Vaccines: Get the Facts with Mayo Clinic - Vaccine Safety with DSHS - State Vaccination Plans - Myths and Facts about Covid-19 Vaccines
This noxious weed is a submersed, freshwater perennial plant found in both still and flowing waters including lakes, ponds and quiet streams. Brazilian elodea tends to form dense monospecific stands that can cover hundreds of acres. Native to Brazil and Argentina, Brazilian elodea is a popular aquarium plant often sold in pet stores and available in school science kits under the name Anacharis. When it is introduced into freshwater, it forms dense beds that reduce water quality and impede recreational activities. It is illegal to sell this plant in Washington State. This aggressive aquatic plant has spread into many western Washington lakes including Lakes Washington, Union, Sammamish, Fenwick, and Doloff in King County. State officials in Oregon consider Brazilian elodea to be their worst aquatic plant problem but in Washington there is still a chance to contain it. In King County, most small lakes and waterways are still free of this weed, so there is still a chance to keep this aquatic pest from impacting most of King County. Identifying Brazilian elodea can be tricky so be sure to get an expert to confirm the species before planning any control measures. The plant grows mostly underwater but can form dense mats along the surface. Leaves grow in whorls around the stem making a cylindrical shape and the stems are very leafy compared to the native elodea, common waterweed (Elodea canadensis). There are usually 4 to 8 leaves in a whorl and the leaf edges appear smooth to the naked eye (native elodea has 3 leaves in a whorl). Small white flowers appear from spring to late summer. They have three petals and float on or rise above the water's surface on thread-like stems. Legal status in King County, Washington Public and private landowners are required to control infestations of Brazilian elodea that occur on their property in King County, Washington except in lakes Dolloff, Fenwick, Union, Washington, and Sammamish, and the Sammamish River. Brazilian elodea is a Class B Noxious Weed in Washington, first listed in 1993. It is designated by the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board for required control in King County except in areas as described above. It is on the list of Regulated Class B Noxious Weeds in King County. For more information, see Noxious Weed Lists and Laws or visit the website of the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. This species is also on the Washington quarantine list (known as the prohibited plants list) (external link) and it is prohibited to transport, buy, sell, offer for sale, or to distribute plants or plant parts of this species, into or within the state of Washington. It is further prohibited to intentionally transplant wild plants and/or plant parts of this species within the state of Washington. Additional information on Brazilian elodea What to do if you find this plant in King County, Washington Please notify us if you see brazilian elodea growing in King County. Our program staff can provide the property owner or appropriate public agency with site-specific advice on how best to remove it. We map all known locations of regulated noxious weeds such as brazilian elodea in order to help us and others locate new infestations in time to control them. Brazilian elodea photos - click thumbnail to see larger image
NREM 204 - American Environmental History Designed to give students knowledge of use of resources in the United States by treating, in historical perspective, government policies and private enterprise practices of exploitation and conservation from settlement to the present. Emphasizes the way use of resources has shaped society. Not open to students who have credit in HIST 204. College: Sciences and Humanities
Bell’s palsy is when one side of the face becomes weak or paralyzed. This is a result of nerve damage, and although the exact causes of this damage are not clear, the cold sore virus is suspected to be one of the leading causes in most cases. The condition usually sets in quickly, and bears some resemblances to the symptoms of a stroke. However, Bell’s palsy is not a serious condition, and rarely lasts for more than a few weeks. People who experience Bell’s palsy will feel a sudden weakness or numbness on one side of their face, which may make it difficult to speak or close their eye. This in turn can lead to other issues, such as drooling or irritation of the eye, pain by the ear, and inability to taste. Even though Bell’s palsy will disappear on its own in most cases, physical therapy can be used to speed up the process. The majority of these exercises are simply a matter of consciously recreating facial expressions. The good news is that these are simple, safe exercises that anyone can do unsupervised at any time of the day, making it easy to speed up the recovery process. Sitting in front of a mirror, you should start off by moving all of the different parts of your face: forehead, eyebrows, nose/cheeks, and mouth. Try to raise both your eyebrows. You should expect that one side will raise noticeably higher and easier than the other, but don’t just keep trying to force the affected side to move. Gently use your fingers to help move your muscles in the right direction, trying to stimulate as much up and down movement as you can. Next, you should scrunch up your face to stimulate movement in the nose and cheeks. You may be thinking that this region of the face does not require as much movement, but stiffness or weakness here can affect the whole face, so it is important not to neglect it. Once again, try to use your fingers to help the affected side of your face mimic the movement of the unaffected side. You should also try inhale through the nose to flare up your nostrils. This is not likely to be an activity you attempt frequently, so if you’re having trouble, try various combinations of deep, slow, strong, and fast inhalations (just be sure to close your mouth for this exercise). You can also try covering the unaffected nostril, which may cause the affected nostril to work harder. It is important to note that at no point in these exercises should you have any difficulty breathing. For the mouth, begin by trying to smile with your lips closed. Use your fingers to make sure that the two corners of your mouth stay in the same relative position on your face. After doing this a few times, take your fingers away and try to hold your smile in position unaided for as long as you can. Then repeat this exercise, only by lifting each corner of your mouth individually. For the affected eye, you should look down, close the eye, and use your fingers to stretch the eyebrow above it, while also lightly rubbing the eyelid. The goal of this exercise is to prevent the eyelid from becoming stiff. After this, see how much movement you have in the eyelid. If you have trouble closing it, squinting may also help. The eye can be one of the most demanding aspects of Bell’s palsy. If you are having trouble closing one eye, this could lead to irritation and other problems. Eye drops are recommended to anyone who has difficulty in this area, and many patients find that wearing an eyepatch to bed makes their situation more manageable.
Peer Response HSE 350 Instructor (Need a response as well): Good work addressing the role of the NIST. I believe the monitoring phase is especially important. How has cybersecurity changed over the past ten years? Response #1 (Audrey): NIST uses a variety of techniques and standards to protect federal networks from cybersecurity and privacy risks. For example, The NIST Cybersecurity Framework which provides a set of guidelines and best practices for managing cybersecurity risk in a consistent and effective way. The Risk Management Framework provides a comprehensive, flexible, repeatable, and measurable 7-step process for managing information security and privacy risk for organizations and systems. The NIST also provides the Privacy Framework, and other factors like Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management and the workforce framework. Recently one of the t initiatives by NIST is to develop an Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework, which aims to improve the management of risks to individuals, organizations, and society associated with artificial intelligence The AI-RMF is intended to be compatible with the existing NIST frameworks, such as the CSF and the RMF, and to address the specific challenges and opportunities posed by AI. There are many different technologies and standards they use these are just some prime examples and what job they fulfill. The Enhanced Risk Management Models are also used by NIST are based on the concept of integrating cybersecurity and enterprise risk management. This means that cybersecurity risk is not treated as a separate or isolated issue, but rather as part of the overall risk management strategy of the organization. By aligning cybersecurity objectives with business objectives, organizations can better prioritize their resources, communicate their risk posture, and achieve their desired outcomes. The Enhanced Risk Management Models are designed to be practical and adaptable to different contexts and needs. They are not prescriptive or one-size-fits-all solutions, but rather provide a common language and framework for understanding and managing risk. They also leverage existing standards and guidelines, such as the NIST SP 800 series, to support implementation of risk management programs. However, like any model or framework, they are not perfect or complete. Response #2 (Hudson): The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) works in many ways to ensure the highest standard for safety and constantly improve and work to be better. NIST constantly works to create and follow standards that work to ensure the highest level of safety to protect federal networks. One thing that NIST does to help with security is engage with stakeholders and the public very often to make sure that they have systems that work to address the main problems and help to improve security measures. NIST has different activities and techniques within the realm of cybersecurity that are focused on specific needs and can make a positive difference. NIST listed specific priorities that include, “cryptography, emerging technologies, enhanced risk management, identity and access management, cybersecurity measurements, privacy, trustworthy networks, trustworthy platforms, and education, training, and workforce development” (NIST Cybersecurity, 2022). Some standards that NIST has help with their overall function and success such as being open and transparent, being collaborative, being practical, and most importantly forward-thinking to stay ahead of the issue. NIST does a great job of working with everyone in both the private and public sector to ensure optimal success (NIST Cybersecurity, 2022). Upon evaluating the Enhanced Risk Management Model, a basic overview recommended that stakeholders create Integrated Cybersecurity and Enterprise Risk Management, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, Risk Management Framework, Privacy Framework, and Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (NIST Cybersecurity, 2022). In my opinion I think that these models are very practical and work very well. Although there is constant need for improving NIST does a great job of maintaining constant improvements and keeping systems, techniques, and standards up to date with the needs of all levels. These models play a crucial role when it comes to assisting organizations in both the public and private sector and help to increase their level of cybersecurity and risk management. These models give a very structured and secure not to mention safe way of managing cybersecurity risks. These models work together in a great way to improve the safety of infrastructure and remain on top of cybersecurity threats. With the implement of constant improvement and upgrading while at the same time providing risk management there is a very strong security wall set in place. NIST Cybersecurity & Privacy Program Extended Fact Sheet. (2022, July). https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2022/07/21/Extended%20Cybersecurity%20Vitals%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf Must be 100 words each Instructor response does NOT have to be 100 words See Rubric for details The aim of our service is to provide you with top-class essay help when you ask us to write my paper; we do not collect or share any of your personal data. We use the email you provide us to send you drafts, final papers, and the occasional promotion and discount code, but that’s it!Order Now
Home Asia Pacific South Asia India Tibet's exiles fear time is short AP, July 18, 2006 Dalai Lama's age dims hopes for achieving free nationhood DHARAMSALA, India -- Time, Tibetan exiles fear, is running out. As the Dalai Lama ages, their dreams of returning to a free Tibet are slowly being crushed by a realization that they face a long bleak period without an international icon to plead their case before the world and keep them united. << What holds for Tibet after the Dalai Lama? Since fleeing into exile in India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, the Tibetan spiritual leader has personified his Himalayan nation's struggle for self-determination. He turned 71 on July 6, and while generally considered to be in good health, the globe-trotting holy man was grounded by his doctors a day before his birthday because of exhaustion and canceled all his engagements for a month. A second fear also haunts the exiles. If they do achieve their goal, will the Tibet they knew still be there for them to return to? This month, China realized its decades-old ambition of linking Tibet to Beijing by train, heightening Tibetan concerns that Beijing is trying to crush Tibetan culture by swamping it with Han, the majority Chinese ethnic group. Another worry is that the Dalai Lama's nonviolent philosophy, which won him the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, may die with him, possibly triggering a return to arms that most agree would be doomed to fail. For now, the Dalai Lama's influence is paramount, among the exiles as well as deep inside Tibet, even though his teachings and even his portrait are banned there. Nearly every day, Tibetans arrive in India after crossing the Himalayas to join the exiles in Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama's government-in-exile is based. Tenzin, 21, recently journeyed with two friends for 41 days over Himalayan peaks, passing through Nepal to reach Dharamsala and be near the Dalai Lama. "I miss my family and the lands of Tibet, but His Holiness is in India," explained Tenzin, who wouldn't give his full name, fearing his relatives would be persecuted. Even with such devotion, many Tibetans are tentative about the Dalai Lama's "Middle Way" of working peacefully with China and settling for autonomy rather than independence. "Every (Tibetan) is divided within themselves, split between their loyalty to His Holiness and a desire for freedom and dignity," said Lhasang Tsering, a one-time member of the Tibetan government in exile who broke with the leadership when it gave up on independence. Only the spiritual leader's moral authority has convinced Tibetans to go along with the plan, many here say, and the exile leadership is well aware of this. "If His Holiness is not on the scene and one day the Chinese wake up and give their consent (to the autonomy plan), this will not be binding on the Tibetan people," said Thubten Samphal, spokesman for the exile leadership. "We have been telling the Chinese that it is wrong to play a waiting game," Samphal said in his Dharamsala office. But that's what many believe the Chinese are doing. "The Chinese just don't want to deal with the Dalai Lama. They feel they have an unassailable position," said John Power, a Tibet expert at the Australian National University in Canberra. "They can just wait until he dies and set their own terms," he said, adding that recent talks may simply be a way to assuage international opinion. This month, Tibet's Chinese-appointed leader, Champa Phuntsok, described the Dalai Lama as a threat to China's security and unity. While the Tibetan leadership described its envoys' talks with Beijing as "fruitful," Phuntsok said they made "no substantial progress." Once the Dalai Lama is gone, the succession will be dictated by the rites and timetables of Tibetan Buddhism. His successor will be a boy born after his death, someone chosen by Buddhist monks who believe him to be the Dalai Lama's reincarnation. That means decades may pass before the new Dalai Lama is ready to assume the leadership. And normal measures to ensure the community has strong leadership in the intervening years are also beset by problems. In 1995 the Dalai Lama chose a 6-year-old boy as the new Panchen Lama, the No. 2 figure in Tibetan Buddhism, who traditionally guides whoever becomes the next Dalai Lama. China promptly put the boy under house arrest and he has not been seen since. Six months later, it appointed its own Panchen Lama, then 5, and pressured Buddhists to accept him. To prevent China from anointing a successor after his death, the Dalai Lama has said he will be reincarnated in exile. Born Lhamo Dhondrub, the future spiritual leader was recognized at age 2 as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama and enthroned before he turned 4. He assumed full powers at age 15, in the year that troops of Mao Zedong's newly founded communist republic entered Tibet and crushed its small army. It was only at the Dalai Lama's insistence that Tibetans gave up their armed struggle in 1973, and some fear that after he dies, a small radical element could return to violence, though a large-scale uprising is highly unlikely and almost certainly unwinnable. "There are more Chinese soldiers than there are Tibetans," said Power. "Some committed suicide rather than surrender to the Chinese, but we could not disobey the Dalai Lama," said Tsering, who fought in the insurgency and who now runs a small bookshop in the shadow of the snowcapped Himalayan foothills. The idea of fighting back appeals to many young Tibetans. "I would have joined the fighters," said Tenzin Tsundue, 31, a leading Tibet activist who spent three months in a Chinese jail in 1997 after sneaking into Tibet from India. But even he acknowledged the Tibetans will be more successful in the court of public opinion than on the battleground. Tibet's history is steeped in dispute. Beijing says it has been Chinese territory for centuries, but Tibet was effectively independent for centuries. That ended in 1950 when communist troops arrived. Thousands of Tibetan monasteries, temples and religious texts were destroyed during the violent Cultural Revolution of 1966-76. And, Tibet supporters charge, Beijing continues to encourage Han migration with economic incentives. China denies this, saying ethnic Tibetans still make up more than 90 percent of the population, and that projects such as the US$4.2 billion (euro3.3 billion) railroad to Lhasa, the 12,000-foot-high (3,600-meter-high) capital of Tibet, are meant to spread the benefits of China's booming economy. Tibetans say the proportion of Han is much bigger. "Time is running out," said Tsering, tears filling his eyes. "Every day more and more Chinese are moving in and soon it will all be over."
BRAIN HEALTH DOMAIN WATCH HERE OR READ BELOW 20 renowned experts in neuro-anatomy, neuro-physiology, functional science and behavioral neuro-science met in Atlanta for 5 days to discuss the current science and knowledge about your brain and nervous system. They walked out of the forum with two major statements… You are your nervous system. All of your memory, language, relationships, experiences and awareness of the world around you is because of your nervous system. It’s here that you experience everything from love to learning to an evolving life. After all, you are only considered legally dead when your nervous system has stopped functioning. Every structure in your body is there for one reason and that is to keep your nervous system alive and healthy, so it can go through its innate process of conscious growth, learning and awareness. We were taught that once the nervous system was damaged that you could not regain that function. Today, based on neuroplasticity we know this is not true. The brain and nervous system have an incredible capacity for expanding, healing and making new pathways to compensate for damage. Gray’s Anatomy says, “The job of the nervous system is to control and coordinate all the cells, tissues and organs of the body and to adapt the body to the environment.” In other words, the nervous system keeps the 50 trillion parts that are “you” coordinated and via the immune system keeps you adapting in an ever-changing external environment. KEEPING OUR NERVE SYSTEM HEALTHY IS CRITICAL TO LIFE, HEALTH, AND HAPPINESS. HOW TO UTILIZE BRAIN HEALTH Take the ASSESSMENT AND GET A SCORE. There are short video explanations on how to perform the tasks to assist you. Once you’ve completed the ASSESSMENT and obtained a SCORE, we’ll suggest you begin at either the Basic, Intermediate or Advance Levels. Each level has a series of ACTIVITIES that you should perform daily. There are short videos to show you how to do the activities correctly. Every few months retake the Assessment and see if you’re ready to move to the next level. And, of course, your doctor will assist you if you need help. This is his/her specialty and they will be deeply interested in your progress. NOTE-ON ALL ASSESSMENTS BEING PERFORMED WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED, BE SURE AND HAVE SOMEONE WITH YOU TO ENSURE THAT YOU DON’T FALL. OFTEN TIMES SOMEONE WILL FALL WITH THEIR EYES CLOSED AND NOT EVEN REALIZE IT.
Math is an important part of learning that is often overlooked. With constant practice in this subject, people can problem-solve, reason logically, and recognize patterns. These skills make better sense of the world around us, so now a basic mathematical foundation is expected by colleges and jobs. Be ahead of others and start early! What We Do Light and Salt Academy offers private math tutoring to all students. Using Khan Academy, our tutors create lessons that best suit each student's needs. As the students work through exercises, tutors can gauge their strengths and weaknesses. Khan Academy is another tool for learning. From videos to practice questions, Khan Academy has countless resources to help our students understand math. Both of these websites are easily accessible, so students can learn anywhere!
Description: Describe the position of an object compared to another object. Tags: Kindergarten Math Activities, CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.G.A.1, Above, Below, Next To, Behind, In Front Of Is the pterodactyl above or below the volcano? Is the dinosaur behind or in front of the tree? Is the dinosaur next to or above the cactus? Is there a bone below or above the dinosaur? Is there a flower in front of or behind the dinosaur?
Microbial Indicators of Sewage Contamination We work with other academic institutions, NGO’s, and community groups to evaluate the effectiveness of sewage indicator water quality monitoring in terms of managing watersheds and public health. Our lab drills down into the microbial ecology of clean and contaminated surface and drinking waters to learn more about sources and persistence of sewage indicating bacteria (e.g. Enterococcus, coliforms, E. coli) in these waters. Our work has begun to elucidate the presence and persistence of these indicating bacteria in sediments, water, and air, particularly in crowded urban environments with sewage-contaminated waterways. “Microbial agents of concern in water and air at the Hudson River Estuary waterfront”, Final Reports of the Tibor T. Polgar Fellowship Program, 2013. Relevant Research Activities: Oral Presentation at ASLO 2018: Microbial exchange of sewage associated bacteria among sediment, water, and air in a freshwater stream system Student Research presented at 2015 Environmental Consortium: Exploring trends in commonly used bacterial sewage indicators in conjunction with an antibiotic resistance proxy (gene cassette int1) in a tributary of the Hudson River
After the slavery system disappeared with the August 1791 insurrection of and independence in 1804, the Haitian farmer turned his back altogether on sugar cane harvesting. Sugar mills in the entire territory were practically in ruins. That explains the numerous vestiges of the sugar-related economy of the 18th century. Those vestiges are frequently abandoned, neglected and even destroyed. This phenomenon intrigues many historians. There is so much ambiguity in the relationship with collective memory. Society seems to want to forget everything lived during slavery and is proud of the heroic work for social, racial and human regeneration. However, the vestiges will not go away, they will not stop showing up; they become sites of memory which leave no room for oblivion. Life after emancipation, conquered with much struggle at the end of the war against the biggest army in the world at that time, Napoleon Bonaparte’s army, shows that even though slavery was left behind, there are traces of that past which cannot be denied without affecting the present. The history of the sugar mills belongs not only to Haiti and the Caribbean, but also to the slave-owning West. It is not possible to ignore the relationship between the history of slavery and the history of sugar mills or plantations, which produced the big development of ports such as Nantes, La Rochelle, Bordeaux and Liverpool. The sugar mill is the basic economic organization, the spine and the heart of the slave system. While the harvesting of products such as coffee, indigo or cotton are important, it is sugar that marks almost in an emblematic form, at least during the 17th and 18th centuries in the Caribbean, the centralizing character of the institution of slavery. Knowing the life of the slaves, means knowing the way in which the plantations and the sugar mills were created and organized. Saint Domingue became the richest French colony in the Americas, thanks to sugar, which covered most of the expenses of the harvesters and required the highest amount of slaves. There were 400 000 slaves in the period prior to 1789, in 793 refineries concentrated in the North. The intensity of sugar production in Saint Domingue was such that it provoked the most important uprising of slaves. It teaches an important lesson in the history of law and freedom. Research conducted in the wake of the slave route project, unveils the history of slavery in the Americas. This history is too frequently underestimated in Europe, and Caribbean historiography has also frequently forgotten it. This fast inventory will provide a profile of five sugar mills and we will refer to their origin, architecture and their place in the history of the slaves´ struggles. We still have to wonder about the serious deterioration of those places two centuries after the independence of Haiti. It could be argued, as it was stated at the beginning of this introductory text, that for Haiti, the disappearance of those ruins could perfectly mean the effectiveness of the emancipation achieved through their own efforts. It is important to register the continued desire for emancipation manifested in these ruins. That is precisely the reason why we must not forget, but rather acknowledge these places of memory represented in the sugar mills, not only because to strengthen the ties between the Caribbean peoples who suffered under slavery but also because it is a way of supporting current struggles for freedom.
Share on ThriftyFunThis guide contains the following solutions. Have something to add? Please share your solution! Unfortunately, dyed wood mulch is not without its problems, and many gardeners wonder whether or not it's safe to use on their plants. The answer is yes, and no. Today, some manufactures of colored wood mulch still use dyes made from petrochemicals. This means that as the mulch breaks down, these chemicals leach into your soil (and local waterways) where they can be absorbed by the roots of your plants. The good news is that things are improving. Many of the larger manufactures are switching to dyes that are vegetable-based and biodegradable. Still, make sure you read the package before buying. Even if a manufacturer claims that the mulch is organic, it doesn't mean that the dye is also safe. Chromate copper arsenate (CCA) is a chemical wood preservative containing chromium, copper and arsenic (a carcinogen). Although phased out by the EPA in 2003, pallets and other scrap wood containing CCA may still find their way into mulch. Mulch containing CCA should never be used around plants intended for consumption. Again, read the labels carefully. Look for colored wood mulch made from raw lumber, or mulch featuring the MSC Certification Logo, which certifies that the mulch is free of CCA-treated wood. To keep prices lower, some manufacturers may use powdered dyes to color the wood. This quickly sloughs off and either becomes airborne (where you may inhale it) or it attaches to the bottom of your shoes and you take it for a walk around the garden. Wow, anything that requires you to use gloves to handle it is not good for the squirrels and birds. Birds are particularly vulnerable. Twice I have seen birds paralyzed after a lawn has had pesticide applied. We have to be more careful about what we put out and its impact on wildlife. Thanks for this warning.
The yuan (sign: 元; code: CNY) is, in the Chinese language, the base unit of a number of modern Chinese currencies. The distinction between yuan and renminbi is analogous to that between the pound and sterling; the pound (yuan) is the unit of account while sterling (renminbi) is the actual currency. A yuán (元) is also known colloquially as a kuài (块 - "piece"). One yuán is divided into 10 jiǎo (角) or colloquially máo (毛 - "feather"). One jiǎo is divided into 10 fēn (分). The symbol for the yuan (元) is also used to refer to the currency units of Japan and Korea, and is used to translate the currency unit dollar; for example, the US dollar is called Měiyuán (美元), or American yuan, in Chinese. When used in English in the context of the modern foreign exchange market, the Chinese yuan most commonly refers to the renminbi (CNY). Etymology and characters Yuan in Chinese literally means a "round object" or "round coin". During the Qing Dynasty, the yuan was a round and silver coin. The character for yuan has two forms—a less formal, 元, and a more formal, 圓 or 圆. The pronunciation of the two is the same - yuán. The Japanese yen was originally also written 圓, which was simplified to 円 (en) with the promulgation of the Tōyō kanji in 1946. The Korean won used to be written 圓 (won) some time after World War II and as 圜 from 1902 to 1910, but is now written as 원 (won) in Hangul exclusively, in both North and South Korea. The Hong Kong dollar, Macanese pataca and New Taiwan dollar are also written as yuán (元; 圓/圆) in Chinese. Shop prices in People's Republic of China and Republic of China (Taiwan) are usually marked with 元 after the digits. In People's Republic of China, using '￥' as well as RMB to denote the currency is common. The Chinese pronunciation of yuan is one syllable. In many parts of China, renminbi (人民幣/人民币 rénmínbì) are counted in kuai (simplified Chinese: 块; traditional Chinese: 塊; pinyin: kuài; literally "piece") rather than "yuan". In Cantonese, widely spoken in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, kuài, jiǎo, and fēn are called mān (蚊), hòuh (毫), and sīn (仙), respectively. Sīn is a word borrowed into Cantonese from the English cent. Anhui (Anhwei) 1897 1909 Zhejiang (Chekiang) 1897 1924 Hebei (Chihli) 1896 1908 Liaoning (Fengtien) 1897 1929 Fujian (Fukien) 1896 1932 Henan (Honan) 1905 1931 Hunan 1897 1926 Hubei (Hupeh) 1895 1920 Gansu (Kansu) 1914 1928 Jiangnan (Kiangnan) 1898 1911 Jiangxi (Kiangsi) 1901 1912 Jiangsu (Kiangsu) 1898 1906 Jilin (Kirin) 1899 1909 Guangxi (Kwangsi) 1919 1949 Guangdong (Kwangtung) 1889 1929 Guizhou (Kweichow) 1928 1949 Shanxi (Shansi) 1913 1913 Shandong (Shantung) 1904 1906 Shaanxi (Shensi) 1928 1928 Xinjiang (Sinkiang) 1901 1949 Sichuan (Shechuan) 1898 1930 Taiwan 1893 1894 Yunnan 1906 1949 The yuan was introduced in 1889 at par with the Mexican peso, a silver coin deriving from the Spanish dollar which circulated widely in South East Asia since the 17th century due to Spanish presence in the region, namely Philippines and Guam. It was subdivided into 1000 cash (文, wén), 100 cents or fen (分, fēn), and 10 jiǎo (角, not given an English name, cf. dime). It replaced copper cash and various silver ingots called sycees. The sycees were denominated in tael. The yuan was valued at 0.72 tael, (or 7 mace and 2 candareens). Banknotes were issued in yuan denominations from the 1890s by several local and private banks, along with the Imperial Bank of China and the "Hu Pu Bank" (later the "Ta-Ch'ing Government Bank"), established by the Imperial government. During the Imperial period, banknotes were issued in denominations of 1, 2 and 5 jiǎo, 1, 2, 5, 10, 50 and 100 yuan, although notes below 1 yuan were uncommon. The earliest issues were silver coins produced at the Guangdong (Canton) mint in denominations of 5 cents, 1, 2 and 5 jiǎo and 1 yuan. Other regional mints were opened in the 1890s producing similar silver coins along with copper coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 cash. The central government began issuing its own coins in the yuan currency system in 1903. These were brass 1 cash, copper 2, 5, 10 and 20 cash, and silver 1, 2 and 5 jiǎo and 1 yuan. After the revolution, although the designs changed, the sizes and metals used in the coinage remained mostly unchanged until the 1930s. From 1936, the central government issued nickel (later cupronickel) 5, 10 and 20 fen and ½ yuan coins. Aluminium 1 and 5 fen pieces were issued in 1940. The earliest issues were silver coins produced at the Kwangtung mint. Other regional mints were opened in the 1890s. The central government began issuing its own coins in the yuan currency system in 1903. Banknotes were issued in yuan denominations from the 1890s by several local and private banks, along with banks established by the Imperial government. In 1917, the warlord in control of Manchuria, Zhang Zuolin, introduced a new currency, known as the Fengtien yuan or dollar, for use in the Three Eastern Provinces. It was valued at 1.2 yuan in the earlier (and still circulating) "small money" banknotes and was initially set equal to the Japanese yen. It maintained its value (at times being worth a little more than the yen) until 1925, when Zhang Zuolin's military involvement in the rest of China lead to an increase in banknote production and a fall in the currency's value. The currency lost most of its value in 1928 as a consequence of the disturbance following Zhang Zuolin's assassination. The Fengtien yuan was only issued in banknote form, with 1, 5 and 10 yuan notes issued in 1917, followed by 50 and 100 yuan notes in 1924. The last notes were issued in 1928. After the revolution, a great many local, national and foreign banks issued currency. Although the provincial coinages mostly ended in the 1920s, the provincial banks continued issuing notes until 1949, including Communist issues from 1930. Most of the banknotes issued for use throughout the country bore the words "National Currency", as did some of the provincial banks. The remaining provincial banknotes bore the words "Local Currency". These circulated at varying exchange rates to the national currency issues. During the 1930s, several new currencies came into being in China due to the activities of the invading Japanese. The pre-existing, national currency yuan came to be associated only with the Nationalist, Kuomintang government. In 1935, the Kuomintang Government enacted currency reforms to limit currency issuance to four major government controlled banks: the Bank of China, Central Bank of China, Bank of Communications and later the Farmers Bank of China. The circulation of silver yuan coins was prohibited and private ownership of silver was banned. The banknotes issued in its place were known as 法幣 (Pinyin: fǎbì) or "Legal Tender". A new series of base metal coins began production in 1936 following the reforms. Between 1930 and 1948, banknotes were also issued by the Central Bank of China denominated in customs gold units. These circulated as normal currency in the 1940s alongside the yuan. The Japanese occupiers issued coins and banknotes denominated in li (釐, 1/1000 of a yuan), fen, jiao and yuan. Issuers included a variety of banks, including the Central Reserve Bank of China (for the puppet government in Nanking) and the Federal Reserve Bank of China (for the puppet government in Beijing). The Japanese decreed the exchange rates between the various banks' issues and those of the Nationalists but the banknotes circulated with varying degrees of acceptance among the Chinese population. Between 1932 and 1945, the puppet state of Manchukuo issued its own yuan. The Japanese established two collaborationist regimes during their occupation in China. In the north, the "Provisional Government of the Republic of China" (中華民國臨時政府) based in Beijing established the Federal Reserve Bank of China (中國聯合準備銀行, pinyin: Zhōngguó liánhé zhǔnbèi yínháng). The FRB issued notes in 1938 at par with Kuomintang y In the aftermath of the Second World War and during the civil war which followed, Nationalist China suffered from hyperinflation, leading to the introduction of a new currency in 1948, the gold yuan. The number of banks issuing paper money increased after the revolution. Significant national issuers included the "Commercial Bank of China" (the former Imperial Bank), the "Bank of China" (the former Ta-Ch'ing Government Bank), the "Bank of Communications", the "Ningpo Commercial Bank", the "Central Bank of China" and the "Farmers Bank of China". Of these, only the Central Bank of China issued notes beyond 1943. An exceptionally large number of banknotes were issued during the Republican era (1911–1949) by provincial banks (both Nationalist and Communist). After the revolution, in addition to the denominations already in circulation, "small money" notes proliferated, with 1, 2 and 5 cent denominations appearing. Many notes were issued denominated in English in cash (wén). In the 1940s, larger denominations of notes appeared due to the high inflation. 500 yuan notes were introduced in 1941, followed by 1000 and 2000 yuan in 1942, 2500 and 5000 yuan in 1945 and 10,000 yuan in 1947. Banknotes of the first yuan suffered from hyperinflation following the Second World War and were replaced in August 1948 by notes denominated in gold yuan, worth 3 million old yuan. There was no link between the gold yuan and gold metal or coins and this yuan also suffered from hyperinflation. In 1948, the Central Bank of China issued notes (some dated 1945 and 1946) in denominations of 1, 2 and 5 jiao, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 yuan. In 1949, higher denominations of 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, 1,000,000 and 5,000,000 yuan were issued. In July 1949, the Nationalist Government introduced the silver yuan, which was initially worth 500 million gold yuan. It circulated for a few months on the mainland before the end of the civil war. This silver yuan remained the de jure official currency of the Republic government on Taiwan until 2000. The Central Bank of China issued notes in denominations of 1 and 5 fen, 1, 2 and 5 jiao, 1, 5 and 10 yuan. Banknotes are available in (issue date): First (1980) edition ¥50 (27/4/1987), and Second (1990) edition ¥50 (20/8/1992), and Third (1996) edition All of the banknotes that are ¥1 or higher feature geographical features of China on the reverse side. On the obverse side, banknotes less or equal to ¥10 feature different ethnicities of China. 1-jiao note has Gaoshan and Manchu men ; 2-jiao note has Buyei and Korean girls; 5-jiao note has Miao and Zhuang girls in red. 1-yuan note has Dong and Yao girls in red; 2-yuan note has Uyghur and Yi (Nuosu) girls in green; 5-yuan note has Tibetan girl and a Hui elder; 10-yuan note has Han and Mongol men. The ¥50 note features an intellectual, a farmer, and an industrial worker, characteristic Chinese communist images. The ¥100 note features four people important to the founding the People's Republic of China: Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, and Zhu De. Coins carry the Emblem of the People's Republic of China, the full title of the state in Chinese and pinyin on the obverse side, and the denomination and an image of a flower on the reverse side. The various Soviets under the control of China's communists issued coins between 1931 and 1935, and banknotes between 1930 and 1949. Some of the banknotes were denominated in ch'uan, strings of wén coins. The People's Bank was founded in 1948 and began issuing currency that year, but some of the regional banks continued to issue their own notes in to 1949. After the defeat of Japan in 1945, the Central Bank of China issued a separate currency in the northeast to replace those issued by the puppet banks. Termed "東北九省流通券" (pinyin:Dōngběi jiǔ shěng liútōngquàn), it was worth 20 of the yuan which circulated in the rest of the country. It was replaced in 1948 by the gold yuan at a rate of 150,000 north-eastern yuan = 1 gold yuan. In 1945, notes were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 yuan. 500 yuan notes were added in 1946, followed by 1000 and 2000 yuan in 1947 and 5000 and 10,000 yuan in 1948. Various, mostly crude coins were produced by the Soviets. Some only issued silver 1 yuan coins (Hunan, Hupeh-Honan-Anhwei, Min-Che-Kan, North Shensi and P'ing Chiang) whilst the Hsiang-O-Hsi Soviet only issued copper 1 fen coins and the Wan-Hsi-Pei Soviet issued only copper 50 wén coins. The Chinese Soviet Republic issued copper 1 and 5 fen and silver 2 jiao and 1 yuan coins. The Szechuan-Shensi Soviet issued copper 200 and 500 wén and silver 1 yuan coins. Notes were produced by many different banks. There were two phases of note production. The first, up until 1936, involved banks in a total of seven areas, most of which were organized as Soviets. Production of banknotes by communist forces ceased in 1936 but resumed in 1938 and continued through to the centralization of money production in 1948. A great many regional banks and other entities issued notes. Before 1942, denominations up to 100 yuan were issued. That year, the first notes up to 1000 yuan appeared. Notes up to 5000 yuan appeared in 1943, with 10,000 yuan notes appearing in 1947, 50,000 yuan in 1948 and 100,000 yuan in 1949. As the communist forces took control of most of China, they introduced a new currency, in banknote form only, denominated in yuan. This became the sole currency of mainland China at the end of the civil war. A new yuan was introduced in 1955 at a rate of 10,000 old yuan = 1 new yuan. It is known as the renminbi yuan. In 1946, a new currency was introduced for circulation in Taiwan, replacing the Japanese issued Taiwan yen. It was not directly related to the mainland yuan. In 1949, a second yuan was introduced in Taiwan, replacing the first at a rate of 40,000 to 1. This is the currency of Taiwan today. Connection with US dollar Originally, a silver yuan had the same specifications as a silver dollar. During the Republican era (1911–1949), the English translation "yuan" was often printed on the reverse of the first yuan banknotes but sometimes "dollar" was used instead. In the Republic of China, the common English name is the "New Taiwan dollar" but banknotes issued between 1949 and 1956 used "yuan" as the English translation while more modern notes lack any English text. The upcoming G20 summit will deal with currency issues regarding the Yuan. Until 2010, China had kept the Yuan in a fixed exchange rate against the US dollar, which kept the Yuan weaker than its free market rate. Ahead of the summit, in June of 2010, the central bank made a surprise weekend announcement that it would allow greater flexibility for the Yuan to appreciate against the dollar. Pundits see this buying China some time against Western critics who argue the currency's undervaluation gives China an unfair advantage in world trade. 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Hawran or Hauran (houränˈ) [key] [Heb., = hollow or cavernous land], district, SW Syria. It is a largely treeless region marked by conical volcanic peaks, barren lava fields, and rich lava soil. In the northeast are the Druze Mts., many of whose numerous caverns were once inhabited. Major towns are Dara, Busra ash-Sham, and Izra, which date back to Hellenistic times. Grains and fruits (including grapes) are grown in Hawran. Most of the inhabitants are Druze, who migrated from Lebanon in the 18th and 19th cent. The Hawran district belonged, at least in part, to the biblical kingdom of Bashan, which the Israelites conquered. Designated the northeast boundary of the Promised Land, Hawran later became the Roman province of Auranitis. The region was converted to Christianity by the late 2d cent. and prospered until the Arab invasion of the 7th cent. During the Crusades, Muslims who were driven out of Palestine moved to Hawran to make a stand against the Christians. The district has many ancient towns whose buildings and furniture are made entirely of lava; about 300 of these "giant cities of Bashan" have been located. Inscriptions in Greek, Latin, Arabic, and Sabaean (southern Arabic) abound. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
The olympic cycling competition features four disciplines—Mountain biking, road racing, track racing, and BMX–the newest entry. Did You Know? Unlike mountain bikes and road bikes, track bikes have no brakes. Mountain biking debuted at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and differs from road and track in that the bikes used are sturdier, with larger, knobby tires, and race courses comprise undulating and sometimes very narrow dirt trails over periodic obstacles. In London races will last between 1 hour and 30 minutes and 1 hour and 45 minutes for both men and women. Bikers will complete several laps of the 4.7 km long course, which is located in Essex on Hadleigh Farm. Unlike road and track cycling, the mountain bike riders may receive no outside assistance during the race. They must make all repairs to their bikes themselves. Road cycling is the original Olympic cycling competition and the most popular cycling competition worldwide. The world famous Tour de France is a road race. In the first modern Olympics (1896), the cyclists raced 87 kilometers over two laps of the marathon course. It wasn't until 1984 in Los Angeles that women got to join the action. Currently there are four events in the Olympic road-racing program: men's and women's road race and men's and women's time trials. The road race has a mass start and the riders race directly against one another. The men's distance is 250km and the women's distance is 140km. In the time trials the riders, who start at 90-second intervals, race against the clock over distances of 44km for men and 29km for women. Track cycling is a different type of racing. All the competition is contained in a smooth oval track, called a velodrome, which is banked at an angle of 42 degrees on the ends and 12 degrees on the straightaways. In London, the races will be held at Olympic Park's Velodrome. Some of the events, like the sprint, can involve elaborate tactics. In 1964 at the Tokyo Games, during the semifinals of the 1000 meter sprint, two racers stood motionless on their bikes for nearly 22 minutes, each waiting for the other to make the first move. The person in the back of this one-on-one race is considered to have the edge because they can "draft" off the leader and pounce when they are not aware. Drafting is when the rear rider rides in the aerodynamic wake of the leader thereby giving them a slim but crucial advantage. The standoff time limit was later limited to three minutes maximum so you won't be seeing anything quite like that in London. Here is a quick rundown of the events in track racing: The men's and women's track time trial is like the road racing version in that the racers go off one at a time and race alone against the clock. The men race 1000 meters, four laps around the track, while the women race 500 meters, two laps around. In the men's and women's sprint, the races are one-on-one, three-lap affairs. The racers face off in a best-of-three-heats series. In the first lap the two cyclists must ride no slower than walking pace but after that anything goes (remember though that standoffs are limited to three minutes), the leader must leave room on the right to pass and the first bike across the line wins the heat. In the men's and women's individual pursuit, the riders start the race on opposite sides of the track. A rider can win by either catching up to their competitor or recording the faster time. The men's pursuit is raced over 4km and the women's race is 3km. In the team pursuit, raced only by men, two four-man teams race over 4km. The rules are much the same as the individual pursuit. However, the position of the third rider is the key to everything. The times are recorded when each team's third place rider's front wheel crosses the finish line. One team has caught the other only if the third place rider has caught up to the third place rider on the other team. The men's and women's points race are a bit confusing. Riders accumulate points over the 40km race (25km for the women) by being one of the top four to cross the finish line every tenth lap. After the race distance has been completed the winner is the racer that has lapped the field. Usually it is more than one racer and that is when the points come into play. The racer with the most points out of the group that has lapped the pack is the winner. The Madison, a team version of the points race, is competed only by men. The two-man teams race over 60km but only one rider is actually able to earn points at any one time. The teams usually comprise one sprinting specialist and one endurance racer. The Keirin made its Olympic debut at Sydney. Pronounced "kay-rin", the race originated in 1940s Japan and was a popular betting race. It is contested over eight laps. For the first 5½ laps a motorbike sets a gradually quickening pace. After the motorbike leaves the course it's an all out sprint for the finish line. The team sprint also made its debut at the Sydney games. It is a men's event where two three-man teams race full blast over three laps. Each rider must lead his team for one lap. The team with the fastest time (marked when the last rider crosses the finish line) wins. The 2008 Beijing Games were the first to feature men's and women's individual BMX events, which features riders on bikes with 20 inch tires, only one gear, and one break racing over a dirt course that includes numerous tight turns and jumps. Each race lasts about 40 seconds. The BMX competition, as well as the track and mountain bike events, will be held on the BMX Track at Olympic Park.
St. Francis Hospital is using three germ-zapping robots to help keep patients healthy. Victor Anderson, a registered nurse and the Columbus hospital's infection preventionist, is in charge of the disinfection devices produced by Xenex Disinfection Services and has dubbed them Victor 1, Victor 2 and Victor 3. "This is doing something extra beyond the regular cleaning to ensure safety," Anderson said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in 25 patients in the United States has at least one healthcare-associated infection contracted during the course of their hospital care. In its company literature, Xenex states more people in this country die from a lack of hospital infection control than from AIDS, breast cancer and auto accidents combined. Infectious organisms can remain on inanimate objects for months and can be transferred from the environment to the hands of healthcare workers and patients. Hospitals are exploring ways to sanitize rooms beyond a good scrubbing. St. Francis has been using the Xenex robots to provide extra infection protection for a little more than a year. These robots use pulsed xenon ultraviolet light 25,000 times more powerful than the sun to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi and bacterial spores. The system is effective even against the most dangerous pathogens including Clostridium difficile, norovirus, influenza, and staph bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is better known as MRSA. "Our plan is to be using them in all the rooms," Anderson said. Currently, the portable robots that stand about 4 feet tall and sell for $60,000 or more each are used primarily in the operating suite, cardiac catheter lab, intensive care, endoscopy unit and all isolation rooms. The robot supplements other cleaning services. "First, before we even put the robot in the room, someone from environmental services comes in and gives the room a good cleaning. The robot should catch what is missed," Anderson said. The robot focuses on high-touch areas most likely to be a source of contamination such as bed rails and telephones, giving those an extra strong dosage of the ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet rays penetrate the cell walls of the bacterium, damaging DNA and making it impossible to mutate or replicate, which makes them no longer infectious. Anderson said the device only needs five to 10 minutes to get the job done in a room. The rotating robot shoots 120 flashes of what Anderson called "intense bright light" per minute. He said the strobe-like affect makes the room look like a disco. Because of the danger to a person's eyes, nobody may stay in the room while the robot is working and a sensor will shut it off if any motion is detected. It may be observed through a window. "It is safe on the sheets. There is no residue," Anderson said. While other hospitals may be using similar technology, Anderson said he likes the system St. Francis is using. "I believe it is getting the job done. It is helping protect people," he said.
The term “Daylight Savings Time” is generally understood to mean the time when we either set our clocks forward or back one hour, and the 6 month period of time in between these points. Although this term is widely used, the correct term is Daylight Saving Time, and the actual period that is Daylight Saving Time lasts from spring until fall. The period from fall to spring is actually referred to as Standard Time. So as the time approaches for us to fall back to Standard Time on Sunday, November 6, at 2 am, this is a good way to remind ourselves to do some yearly maintenance around the home, such as changing batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and changing the filters in our furnaces and air conditioning systems, as well as any other filters around the home, such as water filters. We offered many of these suggestions and tips in our October 24th and November 1st blogs. Some of these bear repeating, such as changing smoke alarm batteries. Changing furnace and air conditioning filters is a good way to ensure the air in your home stays clean and fresh, that your heating or cooling system doesn’t use excess energy, and to extend the life of your heating or cooling system. Filters Fast offers a wide selection of furnace filters and air conditioning filters for your home. We also offer water filters for your water purification system, refrigerator, and ice maker. The approaching time change reminds us all to do those household maintenance tasks that might otherwise go undone. This is also a good time to prepare our homes for the coming winter months. Winterizing is a simple yet effective way to ensure that energy isn’t lost through cracks and other escape routes in the home. As Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Taking this time now to ensure our homes are safe, clean, and energy efficient will keep winter outside where it belongs.
Bumble Bee Pocket Identification GuidesBy Elaine Evans and The Xerces Society Guides are available for several North American species. Read more. Field Guide for Migratory DragonfliesBy D. Paulson, J. Abbot, M. May, M. Blackburn, and C. Mazzacano The Migratory Dragonfly Partnership (MDP) produced this printable online adult dragonfly identification guide to assist project participants in identifying our five focal species. Read more. Freshwater Mussels of the Pacific NorthwestBy Ethan Jay Nedeau, Allan K. Smith, Jen Stone, and Sarina Jepsen This guide provides basic identification, distribution, life history and conservation information for each of the seven species of freshwater mussels native to the PNW. Read more. Macroinvertebrates of the Pacific NorthwestA Field Guide By Jeff Adams & Mace Vaughan, The Xerces Society The field guide is printed on durable, water resistant paper. The images in this guide are representative of 56 common and readily visible groups of macroinvertebrates encountered in wadeable streams of the Pacific Northwest. General information is included on the identification and natural history of each group. Read more.
For those who haven’t heard of it as yet, Bitcoin is described as a digital currency or electronic pear-to-pear cash system, which was supposingly developed by Satoshi Nakamoto, back in 2008. They can be transferred through a computer or a smart phone without financial intermediaries. Bitcoin are created through a process called « mining ». Miners use special software to solve math problems generated by the bitcoin software and are issued a certain number of bitcoins in exchange. The number of bitcoin is finished in the sense that only 21 millions bitcoin will be created once they all have been mined. Currently, 25 bitcoins are generated every 10 minutes. This will be halved to 12.5 BTC within the year 2017 and halved continuously every 4 years after until a hard-limit of 21 million bitcoins is reached within the year 2140 To date, about 11 millions bitcoins have been mined and are officially in circulation, each of them are unique and cannot be counterfeit. Bitcoin hadn’t really stirred much attention until recently when it’s value went sky high or more than twenty five times its yearly low before more than halving in value which rightly started to spur real interrogations across the world while at the same time we could see flourishing all sort of articles talking about incredible stuff from anything to flats up for sale in New York or other products being exchanged via internet platforms for bitcoins etc.… Yet should all this make the bitcoin a real trustable currency? Some are considering it as a currency because you can pay for goods with it but what do you really buy when you buy one bitcoin? To be clear, and this is very easy to answer, not much and certainly not the same as if you were to buy USD, Euro or any other currencies, not even Zimbabwean $. Simply because the value of a classic currency is baked by the economy of the concerned country, it’s ability to attract investments or purely on the back of its assets, weather it is gold or any other type of assets. In the case of the bitcoin, the value only resides at a conceptual level on the back of the following points: -It permits swift, secured and totally anonymous transactions without even going through regulated financial institution. -It doesn’t need to be kept in a bank -It is potentially impossible for the tax office to even consider controlling your bitcoin and taxing any income in bitcoin as long as you keep them in bitcoin. -It can’t be devaluated since it will technically be limited to 21 millions (yet this doesn’t prevent huge volatility). -It can’t be stolen from its owner weather it is by hackers, individuals or states, at least until now. If we look at the above points the only advantage of real interest that other classic currencies may not offer is secured and untraceable transactions without going through any regulated institutions. This is precisely what criminals (drug Traficant, arm dealers, terrorist groups, you name them…) are looking for. The new and more recent phenomenon, it appears, is that some not necessarily criminals investors might have started using it, pouring real and clean money into the bitcoin market and therefore offering a new platform for criminals to launder money. How? Well this is very easy. Precisely because on the scale of the criminal market, the bitcoin market isn’t so big. It is therefore very easy to manipulate and control it. Currently the whole value of the bitcoin market is about $US1 billion while only a few months ago it was of about $US100 millions. This market is extremely small, illiquid and whoever holds a large amount can easily pump and dump while keeping the price high for a while or at a level they estimate suits best their interests. The higher the price, the better it is to convert bitcoin into real $US. As a criminal, you may lose some playing at this game but that won’t be an issue just because getting laundered money is more and more expensive. Criminals are smart these days and there are getting smarter and smarter. Many are certainly working hard out there trying to familiarise honest people, economically non educated investors, gambler who may think they can play and win some with the bitcoin, people that may not understand what really is the bitcoin, people that might be confused by the fact that many analyst working for regulated financial firms are even talking about it, that some hedge funds might even be considering investing into it etc. Just put up for sale a penthouse in New York, a Ferrari or even a jet against bitcoin and you’re guaranteed a lot of free advertisement. The clear winner will be the buyer who will have converted fake money into real money. Also a whole industry of services is developing itself on the back of bitcoin, weather it is for trading bitcoin, manufacturing physical bitcoin etc.… Don’t be wrong, no criminals will be losing out; mostly honest investors will be paying the heavy price. So what should be the real value of a bitcoin since it isn’t a real currency, since it is one of the most efficient ways to probably launder money and since its lack of liquidity makes it a very easy tool for manipulating its value? Should it be about $110 where it trades these days, $260 where it was a few weeks ago or $4 where it was only a few months ago? Couldn’t the below formula be a good way to describe the value of the bitcoin? Value of bitcoin = zero + small value for service of swift, secured and totally anonymous transaction outside financial market The question one should ask isn’t if the bitcoin is going to reach a near zero value ever again but when will it drop back to zero + small value? Few factors such as those identified below can get the price nearer to zero at any point in time: -Massive sale by some large initial holders (profit taking) -Creation of another, or several others, similar markets bringing more competition (no doubt the next one will be better) -Intervention of a major state pushing for the end of the bitcoin market across the glob -General panic from the consumer refusing to sell anything against bitcoin. -A major breach into the bitcoin system following a massive hacking attack (trading platforms are already subject to heavy hacking issues). When will one of these factors materialise? We can’t tell but one could predict sooner than later. Bitcoin chart since trading started.
These are also called as islets of Langerhans which are the tiny clusters of cells scattered throughout the pancreas. These pancreas is an organ which is an about size of a hand which is located behind the lower part of stomach. These islets contain several types of cells called beta cells which release harmones called insulin.they also release harmones which helps in digestion of food.Pancreatic Disorders & Therapy is a peer reviewed medical journal that includes a wide range of topics in this field and creates a platform for the authors to contribute towards the journal. The editorial office promises to peer review the submitted manuscripts to ensure quality PDT is one of the best open access journal that aims to publish the most complete and reliable source of information on discoveries and current developments in the mode of original articles, review articles, case reports, short communications, etc. in this field and provides online access to the researchers worldwide without any restrictions or subscriptions. Last date updated on September, 2014
On the map, locations are represented by red dots. Hover over a station to display station name and location information. Select the station by clicking on the dot. A selected station will show as a blue dot. You can find a station by typing in a city name in the "City Search" box. Select your location from the drop down search results, and the map will pan and zoom to the selected location. Zoom in on the map by double-clicking, or by clicking on the "box zoom" icon and dragging your mouse cursor to form a square around the desired zoom area. Pan allows you to drag the map to the right or left. Reset brings the map back to the full state view of Utah. Once you have selected a location, its name will show up in the box on the right side of the map. • Select an option from the drop-down menu (codling moth, fire blight, etc.) The specific pest names provide degree days and management recommendations valid for that pest. The option called "GDD" (growing degree days) provides accumulated growing degree days since March 1. • Select a biofix/start date or use the default date provided. • Select an end date, or use the default date provided (the current date). The end date may be no later than today's date. You can also look up historic information, where available, but searches must occur within the same year. • Click submit. A table displays the date, maximum and minimum temperatures, accumulated degree days, and, where available, pest emergence information. Scroll up and down to get more data within the table. The table also provides three weeks of forecasted temperatures and degree days. The first week of forecast is based on gridded forecasting that is applicable to your station location, and the second two weeks are based on 30-year averages for that location. Click on to see Management Actions on the right of the table.
\|Student Learning Outcomes -\| - Upon completion students should be able to understand and apply to rules and etiquette of the sport of soccer. - Upon completion students should be able to show increased muscular endurance and/or technical proficiency in passing, trapping, shooting, crossing, defending, and goalkeeping. \|Description - \| \|The development of athletic skills and mental conditioning which is required to be successful in the intercollegiate sport of soccer.\| \|Course Objectives - \| \|The student will be able to: \| - Demonstrate the skills necessary to compete on an intercollegiate soccer team at a maximum level of performance. - Explain the value of sport in developing commitment, self-discipline, self-respect and teamwork and adhere to an athletic code of excellence through exemplary deportment both on and off the field of competition. - Discuss and demonstrate effective strategies required by the sport of soccer. - Demonstrate increased strength, endurance, stamina, flexibility, and knowledge of a healthy diet. \|Special Facilities and/or Equipment - \| \|Equipment required for the sport of soccer. \| \|Course Content (Body of knowledge) - \| - Advanced development of fundamental skills applicable to the sport of soccer. - Individual physical skills relative to soccer - Team skill/plays/strategies relative to soccer - Physical fitness development - Muscular development - Muscular endurance - Cardiovascular fitness - Nutritional knowledge - Stress and pressure/mental game - Choking and safeguards against pressure - When to take chances and when to play it safe - Concentration and "the zone" - Video on the rules of soccer - How to use the rulebook for soccer - Appropriate behavior during competition - Practice sessions - Individual skills/techniques - Team drills/strategies - Sportsmanship and etiquette - Mutual respect - Rivalry and camaradrie - Zeal for excellence - Individual and team philosophy \|Methods of Evaluation - \| - Physical skills and techniques will be assessed by direct instructor observation - Individual and team verbal critiques - Video analysis - Individual improvement, performance, and contribution to team effot \|Representative Text(s) - \| \|None required. \| \|Disciplines - \| \|Physical Education or Coaching \| \|Method of Instruction - \| - Lecture presentations and team discussion - Facilitation of drills and activities that promote learning objectives. \|Lab Content - \| \|Activities and drills that promote the student's development in the sport of soccer such as running, passing, defending, shooting. \| \|Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing and Outside of Class Assignments - \| \|Optional reading and writing assignments as recommended by instructor. \|
\|Examples\|\|Mac & Win\|\|Server\|\|Client\|\|Guides\|\|Statistic\|\|FMM\|\|Blog\|\|Deprecated\|\|Old\| Reads a line of data from socket and returns them as text. \|Socket\|\|4.3\|\|✅ Yes\|\|✅ Yes\|\|✅ Yes\|\|✅ Yes\|\|✅ Yes\| \|SocketID\|\|The socket ID received by Socket.Connect function.\|\|$sock\| \|Delimiter\|\|Which character to use as delimiter. Pass number from 0 to 255 for the byte to use. e.g. 13 for CR line ending. Special handling is done if you pass 1310 as delimiter to cover CRLF as a 2 byte delimiter.\|\|13\| Returns text or error. DescriptionReads a line of data from socket and returns them as text. The delimiter allows you to read from the buffer just one line. If two lines are in read buffer, we leave second line there for the next call. Read one line and decode them from Windows text encoding into FileMaker: This function is free to use. Created 11st September 2014, last changed 9th November 2021
A History of Colebrooke [Article in “Country Life” magazine] [* Someone else’s description – not ours!]This was the situation that confronted Lord Brookeborough and his wife in 1980. The Brookes are a fairly typical Anglo-Irish ‘plantation’ family. They arrived in the 1590’s and were granted a large portion of confiscated lands at Brookeborough as reward for services during the 1641 Rebellion (the name Colebrooke derives from the 17th century marriage of Maj Thomas Brooke to Catharine Cole). Thereafter they displayed a record of competent – often enlightened – land-holding, combined with remarkable honours for military and public service (the family includes both Field Marsh Viscount Alanbrooke and a Prime Minister of Northern Ireland). The present house was built in 1820 by Henry Brooke (1770 – 1834), created baronet (2nd creation) in 1822, as the culmination of some three decades of frugal living aimed at restoring the fortunes of the estate after the excesses of his uncle. In common with Irish building tradition, the new house, a severe neo-Classical block, subsumed an earlier building of unknown appearance. In his ‘Specification of works’ of 1820, William Farrell – a Dublin architect who practised mainly in Ulster – wrote ‘All the old house except the present Drawing Room and Dining Parlour (the present south range) to be taken down.’ In its place, Farrell attached two ranges of red sandstone (quarried at Alterbrock on the estate and by 1835 covered with Roman cement) containing a palatial entrance hall, stone staircase, reception rooms and bedrooms. This switched the main front from south to east, leaving an untidy arrangement of windows on the south-east corner where the new two-storey building met, under the same roof, the three storeys of what remained of the old. The only ornament to this austere addition was an ashlar cornice and a free-standing giant Greek-Ionic pedimented portico, on a base of two steps, in front of the central three bays. The cost was £10,381. Despite the sandstone in place of Portland stone, the shallow, eaved roof and lack of balustrade, the resemblance of the main front to neighbouring Castlecoole, Wyatt’s neo-Classical masterpiece is striking. This is no accident. A drawing in the Brookeborough papers held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, reveals that Farrell discarded a more modest, and in many ways more appropriate design – the central three bays broken forward with an attached Ionic porch – for a direct quote of the Castlecoole portico. In a note to Henry Brooke of May 23, 1821, he approves an increase in the dimensions of the house, apparently with the sole purpose of eclipsing those of its illustrious neighbour, commenting that these changes would make the new ensemble ‘far superior to any in Castle Cool House’. Other notes reveal ideas of increasing grandeur through the summer. First, the dining parlour was extended from the original measurements; then in September, the rooms to the left of the hall were altered ‘by taking down the partition wall and the floor over it to form a Room for a library of 36ft by 18ft …’ (In earlier plans and elevations the library is a modest, two-bay room between the drawing room and the dining parlour in the north range; this now became a breakfast room – currently the billiard room.) In 1823 additional offices were also agreed. For the next 50 years, alterations and additions continued in a steady stream – the dower house, Ashbrooke (a plaque in the stableyard is dated 1830); lodges (a plan is dated 1833); a triumphal arch gate. These became most significant with the succession of Sir Victor (1843-91), 3rd Bt, in 1864. ‘Few houses in Britain showed more distinctly their owner’s proclivities,’ wrote Oscar Stephen in Sir Victor Brooke, Sportsman and Naturalist (1894). ‘From floor to ceiling, heads of every variety were to be seen; … bison, wild boar, moufflon, Neilgherry ibex, Pyrenean bouquetin … every known variety of red deer … markor, brahsing, ovis ammon, burrel … a grand series of roe’s heads … over the chimney piece in the hall the huge horns of an Irish elk and two enormous German red deer … two of the tigers he had killed in India … the famous black panther, and, most valued of all, the monster tusk of the great elephant, whose mighty bones … lay in mighty massiveness round the foot of the billiard table.’ It was a taste in interior decoration which prompted Lord Craigavon, first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, to christen the dining room ‘Golgotha’. Given that he occupied Colebrooke permanently for only seven years – thereafter paying visits only in the summer and autumn, after the delicate health of his wife prompted a move to Pau in the south of France – Sir Victor’s legacy was considerable. He introduced sika deer into the park and built the splendid ‘Conservatory with the curved projection’, mentioned in an account of October 1864 from the celebrated William Turner of Dublin. Presumably it was Sir Victor, also, who commissioned the unexecuted colour-washed designs (signed C.W.W.), for panelling the library and dining room, which have Classical and hunting themes and the Classical stained-glass window over the stone stairs. By the 1876 return of Landowners in Ireland, the estate was almost 28,000 acres, the third largest in the county – only slightly smaller than Crom or Florence Court. However, there was a sharp change in fortunes when all but 1,300 acres were sold under the Ashbourne and subsequent Land Acts, leaving, as with so many Irish houses, a ‘demesne’ scarcely able to support a large country house. This development, combined with the agricultural depression of the 1880s which left most of the gentry even worse off than they had been in the years following the Famine, suggests that when the 4th Bt, Sir Douglas Brooke, had the ‘house and demesne’ valued in 1893 (for £22.035 6s 3d) it was with a view to selling the whole property. By 1910 Sir Basil Brooke (1888 – 1973), 5th Bt, (Prime Minister of Northern Ireland 1943 – 63), who from childhood had nursed a powerful affection for the house – as a pupil at Winchester he wrote of it as ‘always tugging at my heart’ – was writing of his desire ‘to get it on its legs’. By the time of his return after the war, high taxation had eaten into the depleted income of the neglected property. Farm profits were low and the long-term trend of food prices was down. However, by reclamation and innovation over the decades the estate became a model of efficient farming. Changes to the house included repainting, removing the cement render, demolishing the conservatory and creating a sunken formal garden on the south front. In the early 1930’s a Minister of Agriculture official described the house as ‘comfortable but with many rooms unused’. By December 1939, Sir Basil’s letters reveal the felling of trees as ‘the only way to save Colebrooke’ and clear the overdraft. All might have been well, however, had some tax planning been made before Lord Brookeborough (as he was from 1952) died in 1973. As it was there was no alternative but to sell up, leaving the house in the condition in which the present Lord Brookeborough found it in 1980. The question was whether a house in such a state could ever again be made to support itself, let alone remain a home. The London-based architect Paul Hyett was called in to help arrange a feasibility study and devise ways of raising capital. For a time, conversion to a golf club looked the only possibility, although it was realised that the character of the house and its setting would be unlikely to survive such a change. Fortunately, by 1985 Lord Brookeborough’s business idea had begun to take off. The Colebrooke estate offers one of the best driven snipe-shooting anywhere, excellent stalking of sika, fallow and red deer over 10,000 acres and pheasant shooting and fishing, all of which had the potential to be developed along the one guiding principal; that all these activities must bring paying guests into the house. As the idea developed, hope returned, especially when the Northern Ireland Tourist Board agreed to provide up to 50% of the necessary capital. Problems, however, were not long in surfacing. Government grants, geared to the provision of commercial accommodation, tended to insist on features hardly compatible with the preservation of the fragile character of a historic house; from en suite facilities to numbers on bedroom doors. Planning permission for such a change of use also triggered an avalanche of fire provisions. Although at times the differences between the parties seemed irreconcilable a spirit of compromise won through. Bedrooms were permitted with designated rather than en suite bathrooms with the ample recompense to visitors today of splendid airy proportions and traditional full-length, cast-iron baths with ball plugs. Fire signs were accepted. Numbers on doors were not. Having addressed the major structural problems, and prepared four new bedrooms and bathrooms in the south wing, in addition to the principal bedrooms in the main front, Lord Brookeborough, guided by the conviction that just three ingredients are critical to happy apres-hunting: food, comfortable beds and never ending supplies of hot water, put this equation to work. For the rest, the main difficulty was refurbishing – on a shoestring – the vast, bare reception rooms. A friend who had bought one of the original gilt drawing room looking-glasses donated it. Marble busts of Sir Victor Brooke and his wife, by a local artist, Joseph Watkins, were retrieved from a Dublin antique shop. There are no private or public parts of the house. Visitors stay not in a hotel, but in a private house as guests – albeit paying ones – of the owners. By enterprise, imagination and hard work the Brookeboroughs have not only saved a landscape and a historic house, but have also created a home.
Home exercise programs may help hip fracture patients regain normal functional abilities more quickly, according to new research. In a new study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers sought to create a home exercise program requiring minimal supervision for adults who had experienced a hip fracture. Typically, patients who suffer a hip fracture receive three or four days of rehabilitation at an acute care hospital before being sent to rehab or to a skilled nursing facility for a few weeks for care. However, researchers said many patients require more care. "It’s a major trauma, a lot of pain, and they’re left to go back home,” physical therapist Nancy K. Latham, a research assistant professor at the Health and Disability Research Institute at the Boston University School of Public Health told FoxNews.com. “The epidemiological data is so strong [and shows] that most of them never get close to where they were with walking and mobility before the fracture.” More than 250,000 people in the U.S. fracture a hip every year – and long-term outcomes for hip fracture patients are discouraging. Two years after experiencing a hip fracture, more than 80 percent of patients who could previously walk without assistance and climb stairs are unable to resume these activities, Latham said. This immobility, combined with fear of falling, prevents them from doing any activities – often leading to a downward spiral in function and quality of life. For their study, Latham and her team worked with 195 functionally-limited older adults who had completed traditional rehabilitation after a hip fracture. Half of the group received cardiovascular nutrition education, while the intervention group received instruction for home rehabilitation including three to four home visits with a physical therapist, training for exercises and goal-setting tools. The exercises mimicked basic tasks participants would need to go about their everyday lives, such as repeatedly sitting in a chair and standing, standing up and reaching high and stepping up and down a step. Participants also worked with a goal calendar that included rewards to build confidence and encourage adherence to the plan. “We’re not looking at people wanting to go back to being elite athletes. They just want to be able to get back to doing their daily activities in the same way they could, and managing themselves,” Latham said. “We knew if we took them to the gym, we could get stronger results, but that’s not the point.” Physical therapists also used one of their visits to show participants a video addressing fears of falling – a common psychological side effect of a hip fracture. “People experience a huge loss of self-confidence over [a hip fracture] that can start a spiral of inactivity where people become very fearful of moving,” Latham said. After six months, the intervention group had significant improvement in functional mobility and balance, over the control group. Three months after the study ended, researchers followed up with participants and the intervention group continued to have better functionality. Researchers hope their findings will change the way health care professionals looks at home exercise and rehabilitation programs. “The average age [of our participant] was 78 or 79; many of them have more than a decade of life or more left. It’s so worth investing in these people,” Latham said. “We didn’t study the cost [of our program], but the cost of moving someone to long-term care is enormous for the system.”
Writing your own functions requires following the proper syntax. First, you must create a function prototype—a declaration of a function's name, arguments, and what type of value it returns. This prototype helps the compiler check that the function is properly used in an application. The syntax for the prototype is type_returned function_name (arguments); The type_returned section refers to what sort of value the function will return. For example, the main function returns an integer (0 in all of the book's examples so far). If the function returns no value, its type_returned will be void. Naming functions follows the same rules as naming variables: you use alphanumeric characters plus the underscore. Also, function ...
Playing Dynamically with Blocks, Part 3 (Learning Curve AutoCAD Tutorial)1 Nov, 2007 By: Bill Fane Learn how to use AutoCAD's Rotate parameter and action. It was a warm, sunny, and breezy afternoon. Captain LearnCurve was taking Bryan, one of his 5-year-old twin grandsons, for a sail on his Hobie Cat. They had been out for a while but now Bryan's time was up, and it was time for Brodie to have a turn . . . Time! That's it! This month's topic! Correct. We'll start off this month's column with instructions on how to build a clock face using a dynamic block. Each insertion of the face can be set easily to show a different time. Okay, you may not need a clock, but what we are really learning is how to use the Rotate parameter and action. By now, you don't need a review of the basic concepts and procedures, so let's jump right in. Open the Block Editor (BEdit) and create a new block called Clock. Draw the basic face for your clock using the usual AutoCAD draw commands. For the best results, place the center of the circle at 0,0 in the block editor window, because this is a logical insertion point for the block. I used a tapered polyline (Pline) for the hour marks and then polar arrayed them. For the hour hand, I used a two-segment polyline with appropriate start and end widths for each segment. Zero is an appropriate value; it produces the sharp point. The basic clock face plus the hour hand, as drawn in the Block Editor. Now, make sure the Parameters palette is active and click on the Rotation parameter. This time we are going to get a little clever; instead of simply jumping right in and applying the parameter, type L on the keyboard. AutoCAD now prompts for a Label for the parameter and offers the default value of Angle. Type in Little Hand. When you press Enter, AutoCAD asks for the base point. Snap to the center of the circle. It's going to be the base point about which the little hand will rotate. Next, AutoCAD asks you to specify the radius of the parameter. Snap to the pointy endpoint of the little hand. It can be any arbitrary location, but what you are really specifying is the location of the editing grip after the block is inserted. It's a good idea to specify a logical location, such as the end of the particular clock hand to be rotated. AutoCAD now places our little hand parameter. Next, go to the Actions palette and apply a Rotate Action to our little hand parameter, and then select the polyline as the object to be rotated. Now AutoCAD asks for a location for the action. As we have seen previously, it's usually logical to place it close to the parameter it's controlling. You now should have something like the item depicted below showing on your screen. We have applied a Rotate action to our little hand parameter. Close the block editor and place an insertion of your Clock block. Single-click on it, and two blue editing grips appear. The square one on the left end is the insertion base for the clock, and it can be used to relocate the whole clock. The round one on the right can be used to drag the little hand to any desired time. Double-click on the block insertion to activate the Block Editor again so we can finish our clock. Time on Our Hands You can add big hand and second hand polylines, parameters, and actions. You also might want to modify the properties of the parameters so their action sets are six-degree increments. That way, the hands will always snap to one-minute time intervals (360 degrees divided by 60 minutes per hour = six degrees per minute). Close the block editor and say Yes, you want existing insertions to update. Note how your existing insertion has updated to show the additional hands. Add more insertions of your Clock. Click on each in turn and use the round editing grips to rotate the big hand, the little hand, and the second hand to appropriate values. I used Array to create a cluster of clocks, such as the ones you often see behind the front desk of better hotels. Each clock shows the current time at different major cities around the world. A group of clocks that shows the time in cities around the world. Say, shouldn't the big hand be pointing to the same minute in every clock? Yes and no. For starters, Newfoundland, Canada, is one-half hour different from everyone else. Besides, have you ever taken a close look at the clocks in a typical hotel reception area? What I have shown is anatomically correct. Speaking of anatomical correctness, as we have seen in previous articles, if you edit the block definition to change the spelling of the name, the shape of the hands, or whatever, then all existing insertions will update while continuing to display their individual time settings. Did you hear that they are going to put a clock in the leaning Tower of Pisa? If you have the inclination, you might as well have the time . . . Mix and Match So far all the dynamic blocks that we've created have used the same type of parameter and action. As we have seen, we can have more than one dynamic action in the same block. In our earlier workbench example, we stretched the width and length, and in our current clock example, we applied angles to three hands. Ah, but there is nothing that says we can't have more than one type of dynamic action in the same block. For example, we could set up a desk wherein we can stretch the desk size and rotate the chair that sits in front of it. Let's explore this a little further. Suppose we don't always want the second hand to show. No problem; we don't have to create another block definition. We can simply add a Visibility parameter. Open your Clock block for editing again and click on Visibility Parameter in the Parameters palette. You will be asked to select a location, but then nothing much else seems to happen. A closer inspection reveals that several new tools have become active in the upper-right corner of the Block Editor window. Click on the Manage Visibility States button . This brings up the Visibility States dialog box. The Visibility States dialog box manages the visibility of objects within a dynamic block. Let's start by clicking on the Rename button and changing the name of VisibilityState1 to All. Next, click on New to bring up the New Visibility State dialog box. This dialog box is used to create and define a new visibility state. Enter the new name No Seconds, and make sure the Show All Existing . . . radio button is active. Click OK to return to the previous dialog box, where No Seconds should be the active state. Click OK. Now notice the three icons to the left of the Visibility States Manager icon. Click on the right-hand one of the set, which is the Make Invisible button. AutoCAD asks you to select objects. Click on the second hand and then press Enter. Close the Block Editor. Do You See What I See? Click on a Clock insertion to show the editing grips. You will also see an inverted triangle icon at the location where you placed the Visibility parameter. Click on it, and a list of all the defined visibility states appears. Click on No Seconds, and the second hand disappears from this one insertion. The other insertions are unaffected. Let's go back to the Block Editor for a moment so we can check the other two visibility buttons. The middle Make Visible button makes currently invisible objects visible again within the current visibility state. The left-hand Visibility Mode button toggles the BVMode system variable, which controls the display of invisible objects within the block editor. When it is on (1), objects that are tagged as invisible in the current visibility state are visible but grayed out. When it is off (0), objects that are invisible in the current state are invisible in the editor. Using this latter mode, you can preview almost exactly how each visibility state will appear when the block is inserted. Another significant point to note is that the state at the top of the list is the default when the block is inserted, regardless of the state that is current. Use the Move Up/Move Down buttons in the Visibility States Manager dialog box to put the preferred state at the top of the list. You can create as many visibility states as you want, with objects being off in some views and on in others and vice versa. I could thus add a new brand label piece of text to my clock along with a matching Brand visibility state, so I could set individual insertions to be either Rollecks or Timeless as desired. There is a great deal more functionality in dynamic blocks. Three articles are sufficient to give only a brief introduction. I could write an entire book on the subject, but hopefully I have piqued your interest so you will explore further and unlock the power lurking within dynamic blocks. And Now for Something Completely Different . . . When you go whitewater rafting, remember, the seats in the front of the raft tend to get a more exciting ride but also tend to be much wetter than those towards the back. This is particularly true when you drop over the 14' Husum Falls on the White Salmon River in Washington State. Autodesk Technical Evangelist Lynn Allen guides you through a different AutoCAD feature in every edition of her popular "Circles and Lines" tutorial series. For even more AutoCAD how-to, check out Lynn's quick tips in the Cadalyst Video Gallery. Subscribe to Cadalyst's free Tips & Tools Weekly e-newsletter and we'll notify you every time a new video tip is published. All exclusively from Cadalyst!
One cannot talk about Madrid on a Sunday morning without mentioning the Rastro. This is the most famous street market in the Spanish capital and indeed the whole of Spain. Here you can buy everything under the sun, from priceless antiques to bric-a-brac hardly worth bargaining for. But let us take a moment to consider the word itself: Rastro. What exactly does it mean? The word has several translations in English, but the one that interests us for the purposes of this week’s story is: - trail, trace, track. A long time ago, a priest lived in a humble house in the city center. He was known among the townsfolk for his pious nature and unwavering devotion to the Lord. His Christian name was Jeremiah, but others often referred to him as “the clam”, as he was a very reserved person, almost a hermit, who refrained from all social contact. But Jeremiah had a secret, a secret hidden beneath the floorboards of his house. His entire life he had been saving money in a small chest which he kept safely under a false floor beneath his bed. When the time came, he intended to use these funds for a truly noble cause. His greatest dream was to open a shelter for needy and orphaned children in his neighborhood. He had not disclosed this plan to anybody, not wanting to seem presumptuous in the eyes of the Lord. Depriving himself of all luxuries, he wore old, patched clothes and battered shoes. The woman who helped him with the housework begged him to care for his appearance and invest in some new garments. However the pious Jeremiah could not afford to see his plan foiled because of his “whims”, and his housekeeper’s pleas fell on deaf ears. Finally, she fell ill and died without ever having convinced Jeremiah to spend a single penny unless it was strictly necessary. The news of the woman’s death spread throughout the neighborhood until it reached the ears of a young Portuguese man who was in search of work. He dressed carefully and presented himself on Jeremiah’s doorstep, offering his services. The elderly priest, in need of help, welcomed the newcomer into his home. But little did he know that his new employee was better known in the tavern than in the church. At first, life in the neighborhood went on as usual. However, after a few days, the neighbors began to notice that no one was coming or going from Jeremiah’s house. Perhaps the elderly priest was in prayer and meditation, but surely his servant should be coming and going to fetch provisions? Worried, a young man from the parish knocked at the door, but there was no reply. He quickly informed the authorities, who decided to intervene and broke the door down. A sepulchral silence had taken possession of the house, broken only by guards’ footsteps as they made their way through the darkness to Jeremiah’s room. As their eyes adjusted to the gloom they were met with a horrific sight. The old man lay on the ground with his head severed from his body by a mighty blow, his skull cracked in two. Under the priest’s bed, some floorboards had been moved and a hole indicated the place where Jeremiah used to hide his fortune. It was clear that the murder had been committed by the young Portuguese man, yet he was nowhere to be found. Both the criminal and the loot had vanished without a trace. Jeremiah was given a Christian burial, life went on in the neighborhood and the residents began to forget his sad story. Until one day, about two years later, a well-dressed gentleman by the name of don Rodrigo de Paredes arrived in the city. One day, don Rodrigo was walking up the street of Ribera de Curtidores with his horse. As he passed the butcher’s shop, on a whim he decided to buy a lamb’s head and ask his servants to prepare it for lunch. The butcher wrapped the head carefully in a bag and don Rodrigo started to walk home. But, as he walked up the street of Ribera de Curtidores, the bag began to drip blood. These vivid drops of blood, which increased with every step he took, left their mark behind him on the cobblestones. A trail of blood… or in Spanish a rastro de sangre. Passers-by looked on in amazement and fear until a guard intervened and ordered him to show what he was carrying. Don Rodrigo cockily assured him that it was just the head of a lamb. However, as he opened the bag to take hold of the head, imagine his horror as he beheld the head of the murdered priest, cut in two by a meat cleaver, just as he had left him two years earlier. The false Don Rodrigo broke down and confessed to being the Portuguese servant who had murdered Jeremiah and stolen his life savings. The case was finally resolved and the following day the murderer hung from the gallows on the Plaza Mayor. And what do you think the guard found when he looked in that bloody bag? Why, a lamb’s head, of course. For the next few days, the city folk talked of nothing but the strange events which had taken place on Ribera de Curtidores and the traces of blood that could still be observed on the cobblestones as evidence of Don Rodrigo’s indecent actions. In memory of poor Jeremiah, King Philip III himself ordered a lamb’s head to be carved in stone above the door of the priest’s house. From that day forward, the street became known as Calle de la Cabeza, ‘Head Street’, and Madrileños call the area the Rastro, ‘the Trail’. Indeed there are many who say that those flecks of blood never truly washed off the cobblestones… and if you don’t believe me, go to the Rastro on a Sunday morning and take a look. Tour: The Heresies of Madrid Translated from the original article written by Renato Capoccia
Today is Monday, Sept. 15, the 259th day of 2008. There are 107 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Sept. 15, 1789, the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs was renamed the Department of State. On this date: In 1776, British forces occupied New York City during the American Revolution. In 1807, former Vice President Aaron Burr was acquitted of a misdemeanor charge two weeks after he was found innocent of treason. In 1821, independence from Spain was proclaimed for Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. In 1857, William Howard Taft, who served as president of the United States and as U.S. chief justice, was born in Cincinnati. In 1858, the third debate between senatorial candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas was held in Jonesboro, Ill. In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws deprived German Jews of their citizenship. In 1940, during the Battle of Britain in World War II, the tide turned as the Luftwaffe sustained heavy losses inflicted by the Royal Air Force. In 1958, a New Jersey commuter train plunged off a partially open drawbridge into Newark Bay, killing 48 people. In 1963, four black girls were killed when a bomb went off during Sunday services at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. (Three Ku Klux Klansmen were eventually convicted for their roles in the blast.) In 1982, Iran's former foreign minister, Sadegh Ghotbzadeh, was executed after he was convicted of plotting against the government. Ten years ago: Nine states and the District of Columbia held primaries. In New York, liberal congressman Charles Schumer won the Democratic nod to challenge Republican Sen. Alfonse D'Amato. (Schumer won.) In Washington state, conservative congresswoman Linda Smith won the right to challenge Democratic Sen. Patty Murray. (Murray won re-election.) Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his 63rd home run of the season. Five years ago: A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals halted California's recall election, saying it was unacceptable for several counties to use punch-card ballots. (However, a larger panel of 11 judges from the 9th Circuit later ordered the election to go forward.) The WUSA soccer league shut down operations five days before the Women's World Cup, saying it didn't have enough money to stay in business for a fourth season. One year ago: In his Saturday radio address, President Bush said while "formidable challenges" remained in Iraq, the United States would start shifting more troops into support roles. Several thousand protesters marched from the White House to the Capitol to demand an end to the Iraq war. Sarah Thomas became the first female official to work a game in the Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly I-A, serving as the line judge in the Jacksonville State-Memphis game. Actress-comedian Brett Somers died in Westport, Conn., at age 83. Today's Birthdays: Actor-director Jackie Cooper is 86. Actor Forrest Compton is 83. Comedian Norm Crosby is 81. Actor Henry Darrow is 75. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Gaylord Perry is 70. Football Hall-of-Famer Merlin Olsen is 68. Opera singer Jessye Norman is 63. Writer-director Ron Shelton is 63. Actor Tommy Lee Jones is 62. Movie director Oliver Stone is 62. Rock musician Mitch Dorge (Crash Test Dummies) is 48. Football Hall-of-Famer Dan Marino is 47. Actor Danny Nucci is 40. Rap DJ Kay Gee is 39. Rock musician Allen Shellenberger (Lit) is 39. Actor Josh Charles is 37. Singer Ivette Sosa (Eden's Crush) is 32. Actress Amy Davidson is 29. Britain's Prince Henry of Wales is 24. Thought for Today: "God made the world round so we would never be able to see too far down the road." _ Isak Dinesen, Danish author (1885-1962). Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
William Perkin was born in London in 1838. He studied at the Royal College of Chemistry under August Wilhelm von Hofmann. Perkin was a brilliant student and Hofmann appointed him as his laboratory assistant. Acting on a suggestion made by Hoffman that it might be possible to synthesize quinine from the by products of coal tar, Perkin discovered the synthetic dye, aniline purple (mauveine). Although only 18, Perkin realised the commercial potential of his discovery. In 1857 he obtained a patent and set up a business with his father manufacturing aniline in a chemical factory at Harrow. Calling the colour mauve, it soon became highly popular with the fashion industry. By the age of 23, Perkin was a man of considerable wealth and the acknowledged expert on artificial dyes. In 1873 Perkin was able to retire from his business. The following year he synthesized coumarin, an aromatic substance known for its pleasant scent of new-mown hay. This discovery initiated the synthetic perfumes industry. William Perkin died in 1907.
Windmills are said to have existed in Holland from about 1200. The first record we have of drainage mills dates from 1414 (Reijerwaard). Before those days, windmills are mentioned, but these must have been corn mills. From time immemorial, wherever the land was inhabited, corn was grown. And where corn was grown, it also had to be ground to make possible the preparation of that excellent human food: bread. In the most primitive stage the corn was ground between two stones which were operated by manpower. The nations in the Bible already knew mills, operated by 'virgins': in Ecclesiastes 12 : 4 we read: 'and the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low'.The excavations at Herculaneum and Pompeii too have revealed bakeries with millstones. In later ages cattle power was employed, as in the horse-mills, and finally the forces of nature were harnessed: wind and water. This latter method already called for some technical knowledge; the water mills, which naturally occurred only in the eastern and southern parts of the country, probably existed before the windmills, for their construction was simpler. Towards the end of the eighteenth and in the early part of the nineteenth century the discovery and application of steam power caused a radical revolution in social economy, and this initiated the end of the supremacy of windmills as prime movers for all purposes. In the nineteenth century there were about 9,000 windmills in Holland; all these turning sails and the general activity to which they bore witness must have produced an overwhelming and unforgettable impression on the Dutch themselves as well as on foreigners. They imparted a special character to the country. In the Zaan district alone 900 windmills were working virtually night and day; they powered the industries of those days, and they were the precursors of the later big foodstuff industries, the paper works, and the saw-mill yards which exist there to this day. From ancient times the so-called manorial rights included the milling soke, i.e. the right to permit or refuse the building of a windmill, to compel the tenants to have their corn ground at the mill of the lord of the manor, and to prohibit buildings or trees in the vicinity of the mill, so as to ensure a 'free wind'. In a letter dated the Thursday after St. Nicholas's Day of the year 1299 John the First, Duke of Brabant and Limburg, grants to Arnoldus, named Heyme, as an addition to the territory the latter held in fee from him, the right to erect a windmill between the village of Hamoda van Rode (Sint Oedenrode) and Skinle (Schijndel), in the place which he should consider the most suitable, and for this purpose grants to him the hereditary right of free wind. From this document it can be inferred that the building of a windmill was certainly nothing out of the common in those days. Indeed, as early as 1294 the Count of Gelre paid an account which appears to relate to repairs to a windmill. In the years following, the entries relating to windmills grow more numerous: old gunpowder towers which passed into disuse were converted into (so-called tower) mills, and on the walls surrounding the towns many windmills arose. We see them in numerous old prints and engravings, views of towns, maps, and street-plans. Usually these are post mills, and occasionally a tower mill. When we look closely at the print of Jacob Savry, the windmill on the extreme right is De Koe (the Cow), standing near the Koepoort; to the left of this, the mill De Kaaskorf (the Cheese Basket). The two mills to the left stand on the Groote or Blaauwe Bolwerk, the site of the present Astronomical Observatory of Leiden University. The water-gate visible between the two first-mentioned windmills, the present Vlietbrug, is the gate or bridge through which the Geuzen (Beggars) entered at the relief of Leiden, in 1574. On the extreme right of the print we see the gallows, to which the water, called Galgewater, owes its name. In those years of sieges corn mills, which naturally at first were to be found mainly in the country, began to be concentrated in the towns; they were erected on the outside walls of the walled towns, so as to catch the wind. In the bottom lefthand corner of the engraving the dedication is given to the Honourable Sheriff Gerard van Hogeveen and to the four burgomasters - mentioned by name - of the town of Leiden. The oldest known document containing a reference to windmills is considered to be the privilege which was granted to the burghers of the town of Haarlem in 1274 by the Count Floris V. There are also data about windmills in Amsterdam, dating from 1336 and 1342, in Utrecht, dating from 1397, and in other towns. In The Hague, on the site of the present Molenstraat, there was a windmill, the Nortmolen (1316), and another on the site of the present Westeinde (1351). But the real development of the windmill will have to be sought towards the end of the sixteenth and in the seventeenth century; this development was quite stormy. The many industrial mils in the Zaan district and elsewhere were built with heavy timber, brought by the sailing vessels from the countries on the Baltic Sea. From the original types, such as the open and closed post mills, arose the wipmolen (hollow post mill) and the classical drainage mills, the large corn mills, and all those other industrial mills with which Holland abounded. To begin with, in the Zaan district there were the oil mills and the paper mills. Where the timber for the many houses and ships to be built was imported for sawing, were to be found the characteristic paltrokmolens. These owed their name to the flaring coats, the Palts-rokken, worn by the Mennonites who had emigrated to the classical country of liberty, and particularly to the Zaan district. The paltrokmolens, with the wings added to left and right forming part of the working-space, can be turned as a whole to face the wind, so as to make sawing possible irrespective of the direction of the wind. In those days windmills were as important for Holland as are the numerous factories in the industrial regions nowadays. The invention of the art of printing had started an enormous demand for paper; the importation of colonial produce had given rise to great activity and prosperity; new arable land had to be drained and opened up, and everything contributed to the high tide of the Dutch golden age. In the period up to about 1000 A.D. Holland could hardly be called habitable; it consisted of marshes with small sluggish streams, separated from the sea by a belt of dunes, and the inhabitants had to hold their own mounds. It was only after 1000 A.D. that they succeeded in checking the water to a greater extent. In the raw climate prevailing in these parts they had to keep warm by burning dried peat and wood from the neighbouring forests. Their existence in those years must have been extremely rough and distressing indeed. In the period up to 1400 the centres which led to the rise of the towns were formed. The land was repeatedly ravaged by floods, when large tracts were swept away and disappeared into the sea; inland seas were formed (the Zuiderzee was formed thus about 1300), villages were destroyed, and great were the losses in goods and chattels and human lives. A notorious flood was the St. Elizabeth's Flood, from 18 to 19 November 1421, when in a single night 72 villages and hamlets were swallowed up by the water and thousands of men, women, and children with thousands of cattle met their death in the waves. After 1400, when major sea-defences had been first constructed and the communication of several waters with the open sea had been dammed up, it became possible to drain pools and lakes. For this purpose windmills were used, and accordingly were built in constantly increasing numbers. At first these were not yet the large mills as we know them, which date especially from the seventeenth century, but smaller mills of the hollow post-mill type. As windmills grew better and larger their water-lifting capacity increased and they became more numerous. According to the records it was about 1526 that a wip mill was replaced by an octagonal smock mill with a revolving cap. This must have had a winch in the cap, for it was not until the second half of the sixteenth century that smock mills with tail poles were constructed. After that, the possibilities increased rapidly. We find entries about the first oil mill in 1582, a paper mill in 1586, a timber sawmill in 1592; after 1600 windmills arose everywhere and were constructed for a wide variety of purposes. In the seventeenth century the Dutch made more and more progress in the fight against their hereditary foe, the water. It is a fight that has had to be continued every day and the windmills have played an all-important part in it for more than two centuries. They delivered the country of the water and kept it dry, in spite of the fact that it lies several feet below sea level; in this way they made and kept it habitable. Holland owes its creation as well as its development in the most literal sense to the windmills, for it was thanks solely to the windmills that is was possible repeatedly to reclaim new land for the ever growing population. The land between the towns of Holland consisted largely of peat-bogs. These bogs were of the utmost importance. How else were the inhabitants to heat their houses in winter in a country which had no coal fields, while wood from the forests could only be brought from remote regions? The peat around the towns and villages therefore was generally cut away, and as greater depths - and thus water - were reached the peat was scooped out, dried in summer, and burned in winter. Because such peat-cutting took place on an ever increasing scale, new pools and lakes were formed in addition to the original ones and the expanses of water grew larger and larger, particularly because the water lashed by the wind tended to encroach more and more upon the banks. The lakes were becoming a great danger to towns such as Amsterdam, Haarlem, Alkmaar, and Leiden, and the necessity of draining the peat-bogs was growing more and more urgent. It was in the years between 1608 and 1612 that the Beemster was drained. This lake had a depth of ten feet and it was drained in one year with 26 windmills, working in two stages. But the Zuiderzee dyke burst, the new ring-dyke was unable to check the water, the polder filled up, and the work had to be done all over again. In 1622 the Purmer followed, in 1625 the Wormer, and in 1629 the Heerhugowaard. In all these projects and activities the renowned hydraulic engineer Leeghwater took a very active part. In 1631 the States of Holland and West Friesland granted to the town of Alkmaar a patent for dyking and draining the Schermer according to Leeghwater's plans. For this purpose the polder was divided into 14 plots, each with its own mill. These 14 mills pumped the water into a storage basin, from which the water was pumped into the ring-canal by means of 36 mills, twelve sets of three working in stages, in order to raise the water to the high level. Altogether 51 mills (of which one served for a separate plot at a higher level) worked in this polder and they pumped out water at a rate of 1,000 cu.m./min. In four years the polder had been reclaimed and the soil could be cultivated. The mills in question were smock mills, the familiar large octagonal wooden windmills of the North-Holland type; the span of sails, i.e. the total length of a stock (over twice the length of one sail), was 90 to 100 feet. This length formed the limit, in view of the length of the tree-trunks from which they could be made. For the same reason the wind shaft was tied down to a maximum section of about 2 x 2 feet; heavier timber was not available! JAN ADRIAENSZ LEEGHWATER (1575-1650) was a great man. Born at De Rijp, a village in the midst of the pools and lakes of North Holland, he started life as a carpenter and millwright. He was a born inventor, engineer, and constructor, and became a renowned hydraulic engineer and dykebuilder. An invention of his enabling a man to remain under water for a considerable time caused something of a sensation and he demonstrated it before Prince Maurice, in the presence of the famous Simon Stevin. Technology appealed greatly to Prince Maurice, for - just as at present - it was needed in the military sphere. Conversely, technology was stimulated by the circumstance of war and Prince Maurice sought the assistance of the famous SIMON STEVIN, of Bruges (1548-1620). Stevin was a great mathematician, who, among other things, drew up tables for the calculation of compound interest and applied exact calculations to engineering construction. Many patents in his name exist, among them some for the improvement of drainage mills. It was on his initiative that Prince Maurice founded a 'School for Fortification Engineers' at Leiden University in 1600. A fact more generally known is that Stevin sailed along the beach from Scheveningen to Petten with Prince Maurice and some distinguished personages in a sailing chariot or sand yacht. Prince Maurice later also consulted the much younger Leeghwater, the man who had drained the Beemster and who excelled in all sorts of engineering techniques. He had also built two 'notable chimes', one in the Westertoren and one in the Zuiderkerkstoren in Amsterdam. After the reclamation of the Beemster, Jan Adriaensz Leeghwater became the regular advisor of Prince Maurice and Prince Frederick Henry. His advice was also asked abroad, both in Holstein and in Flanders, in France as well as in England. Frederick Henry employed him during the siege of Bois-le-Duc. The position was defended by the enemy by means of inundations and the Prince called for Leeghwater to remove the water; he did so by using horse mills and windmills. In his old age he recorded his experience in two booklets, which have become quite famous; in his earlier years he would hardly have had the time for writing! He conceived a bold plan for draining the large Haarlemmermeer, which had a depth of 13 feet, with the aid of 160 windmills. This famous study appeared in 1641 and was soon out on print. It was in such great demand, even after his death, that the book passed through seventeen reprints (seventh edition in 1710, thirteenth edition in 1838). Several plans were made after that time, but it was not until 1848, when steam engines from Cornwall in England were available, that the great work could be executed; it was done as a state enterprise. In 1579, with the Union of Utrecht, the various provinces entered into a kind of confederation, forming together 'The United Provinces'. A greater unity arose, without the independence of each province being too greatly impaired. The frequent quarrels and squabbles gradually came to an end, and the prosperity of the country increased greatly. The East India Company was formed and in every direction new trade routes were opened up. Availing themselves of the wind, the Dutch sent their sailing ships across the oceans to remote countries, thus becoming 'the sea-carriers of Europe'. The product brought home from the 'Colonies' were sold and processed in Holland. The latter again was possible entirely thanks to the windmills. Manpower or horse-power was insufficient, just as for the pumping of the polders and the drainage of the lakes; rivers or brooks with a fall sufficient to supply the requisite power for industrial purposes by the use of a water-wheel did not exist in Holland. The only natural source of power available in these regions to an abundant degree was the wind. This natural form of energy, which was freely available every day, was utilized by the inhabitants on a huge scale; because of this, the construction of windmills was raised to a high degree of mechanical perfection. It has been stated above that the Zaan district, the flat country lying to the north of Amsterdam between the North Sea and the Zuiderzee, was the industrial mill district par excellence. Besides the types already mentioned, a wide variety of industrial mills existed in Holland: barley- and rice-hulling mills, cocoa mills, snuff mills, pepper mills, oil mills, mustard mills, dye mills, chalk mills, lime and trass mills, fulling mills (for the treatment of cloth), and tan mills for grinding oak-bark for the tanneries. The acquisition of new fertile land and the large-scale industrial processing of the products, in combination with shipping, gave rise to an unprecedented prosperity, which was reflected in the flourishing of the fine arts, in particular the art of painting. The well-to-do merchants commissioned architects to build fine houses, and they wished to furnish them with handsome cupboards and with porcelain which the ships brought from China, and to adorn them with pictures and portraits painted by famous artists. It is not without reason that the seventeenth century is known as the Golden Age in the national history of Holland. - next chapter - Copied from : http://www.tem.nhl.nl/~smits/windmill.htm
If your baby seems unusually fussy, it could be a tummy ache. Pay attention to when your baby seems uncomfortable (like shortly after a feeding, for example) as well as what other symptoms she has, such as a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. Reflux may also occur when the stomach is too full and the infant increases abdominal. The reflux of acid can cause direct injury to the esophagus including. Reflux is equally common in formula-fed and breastfed babies, but. The following symptoms may indicate reflux disease, which needs medical advice:. Learn more about signs of colic and Colic-Ease gripe water as a colic remedy that may help to ease painful symptoms associated with baby gas and baby reflux. Dec 18, 2018. Infant reflux (GER and GERD) is annoying and painful – it is bound to keep baby and you from sleeping well. Luckily there are simple acid reflux. GERD in babies is generally the result of a poorly coordinated gastrointestinal. In older children and teenagers, GERD is caused by an unexpected weakening. If your baby suffers from infant acid reflux, a doctor may prescribe antacids – which won't get to the root of. This irritates the esophageal lining and causes pain. CMPA can cause reflux and regurgitation in babies. Read more about this symptom and find out whether it could be related to CMPA. Heartburn or sometimes referred to as acid reflux, is a common condition that affects many people. It occurs when acid, which normally resides in the stomach escapes. Gerd Ledig Salt Lake City, Utah NTIRE 2018 New Trends in Image Restoration and Enhancement workshop and challenges on super-resolution, dehazing, and spectral reconstruction 8. feb 2016. Bolme fikk spesielt fokus fordi Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. The function of the stomach is to digest food, which you have consumed. It is located in the upper left side of the abdomen. Abdominal Pain or Stomach Ache After Eating can occur from various causes. Ask about NEXIUM Packets for acid reflux and related conditions in babies and children. Signs and Symptoms of GERD in Children. Spitting up; Back arching. Despite daily use of doctor-recommended proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to control gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms, nearly 40 percent of patients who take them continue to experience. GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a long-term (chronic) digestive disorder. It happens when stomach contents flow back up (reflux) into the food pipe (esophagus). Consumer information written by doctors about laryngitis causes such as viral infections, which causes vocal cord inflammation, voice overuse, GERD, polyps, nodules, and vocal cord paralysis. Find out if laryngitis is contagious and how it’s treated. Jul 3, 2017. Reflux is a common condition in babies and for most of them, it won't cause any concern. However, it's estimated that approximately 8 percent. Dec 5, 2013. First off, we need to address causes of infant reflux so that we can work to. Babies do not develop adequate stomach acid production to help. Oct 18, 2018. When a baby or child has gastro-oesophageal reflux, the food and drink travels. As the food and drink is mixed with acid from the stomach, it can irritate. This is caused by a combination of factors which may include a wider. Dec 10, 2018. Acid reflux causes heartburn in children and adults, but babies usually do not have acid reflux since frequent milk feedings neutralize stomach. By Dr. Mercola. Acid reflux is an extremely common health problem, affecting as many as 50 percent of Americans. Other terms used for this condition are gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or. Baby colic, also known as infantile colic, is defined as episodes of crying for more than three. An infant with colic may affect family stability and be a cause of short -term anxiety or depression in the father and mother. to doctors, and a quadrupling of excessive laboratory tests and prescription of medication for acid reflux. How To Stop Burping From Acid Reflux In patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and excessive. In a prospective study, we found a standardized protocol for diaphragmatic breathing to reduce belching and PPI-refractory gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, and. In some rare cases, an infant's acid reflux may be due to problems affecting nerves, muscles, or the brain. Be sure to discuss your infant's symptoms with a. Feb 29, 2016. However, when the reflux causes problems, doctors may diagnose this. This is because stomach acid is important for several reasons, and. What causes baby reflux? How can you treat it naturally? See what natural remedies worked wonders for my daughter’s infant reflux. Ranitidine is an oral drug that blocks the production of acid by acid-producing cells in the stomach. It belongs to a class of drugs called H2 (histamine-2) blockers that also includes cimetidine , nizatidine , and famotidine. Histamine is a naturally-occurring chemical that stimulates cells in the stomach (parietal cells) to produce acid. Aug 29, 2017. Reflux at night in infants can be scary for parents, as the babies cannot. Lying flat at night not only can cause more acid to splash up into the. Infants with acid reflux or GERD often have trouble sleeping. And sleep training babies with reflux is tough! We share tips to help your infant with reflux sleep.
- Anger is a natural emotion that can sometimes make you feel uncomfortable or even out of control. Anger is something you can learn to control! - If anger begins to take control over you, it’s important to do something to keep yourself and others around you safe. - Managing your anger lowers stress and improves your health. Do you know that learning to manage anger is good for your health? People who manage their anger get sick less often, and feel better emotionally. Even though anger is a natural emotion sometimes, it can lead to behavior that is uncomfortable or out of control. It may even feel like the anger is controlling you. Why do I have trouble controlling my anger? There are many reasons why people have trouble managing their anger and angry behaviors. The reasons are different for everybody and may be a combination of different factors. Perhaps you have been taught that it is “not nice” or “inappropriate” to express anger. Maybe you’ve witnessed extreme anger and/or violence at home, in your neighborhood or at school, distorting how you view or experience anger. It could also be hard for you to control your anger because you haven’t yet learned how to deal with the emotions you feel inside. Whatever the reason, the next step is to work on ways of understanding what triggers your anger and how to manage your behavior even when the angry feeling is justified. Why should I control my anger? Even at a young age, having difficulty understanding and managing anger makes you more likely to have physical problems that can occur now or in the future. This happens because your mind and your body are connected. Not dealing with angry feelings can actually put stress on your body which can lead to medical problems such as: - Heart disease - High blood pressure - Chronic lower back pain - Stomach problems Having problems managing your anger can also increase your risk for developing mental health concerns such as: - Eating problems - Substance abuse - Drug, alcohol or other addictions - Suicidal thoughts - Relationship problems Teenagers who have trouble managing their anger often have fewer friends, more behavioral problems, and receive lower grades in school. This is often because teens that have difficulty with anger are often unhappy and feel isolated, even if they get a lot of attention for angry behaviors. How can I tell if I’m getting too angry? Your body has several ways of letting you know when you are getting too angry. Some common feelings may include: - Your heart feels like it’s racing—it beats very fast and may even feel like it’s pounding in your chest, or pounding in your head - You breathe faster—it may feel like you can’t catch your breath - Your muscles tighten—your body feels tense and on edge - Your body temperature increases—you feel hot and may sweat a lot - You may develop a headache – you may feel like your head is pounding or pulsating Are there some situations that make you feel particularly angry? Think about the last few times you became really angry. Do you know exactly what it was that made you angry? Was it justified or did you feel you had a right to be angry? How did you feel? By becoming more aware of what upsets you, and how you feel when you are angry, you can take control of it before it takes control of you. Keep in mind that your thoughts, feelings and behaviors are all connected. Your thoughts affect your feelings, which then affect your behaviors. Your behavior can also affect your thoughts, which can affect how you feel. Since they are all related, making one change—to thoughts, feeling or behaviors—will make a big difference. What are some ways I can learn to control my temper? The best way to control your temper depends on you. There is no quick fix. Every person needs to take time to think about what works for him or her. Here are some helpful ideas: - Take a second before reacting. The simple trick of “counting to 10” before reacting can be very helpful in keeping your cool. - Improve your problem solving skills. When faced with a difficult situation or conflict, learn as much as you can about it and think about what happened and identify and name all the feelings you’re experiencing. Are you angry? Disappointed? Embarrassed? Scared? This will prevent you from making quick judgments that may be wrong. Remember, there are many ways to look at the same situation. - Take responsibility for your actions. You actually have the power to decide how you will behave in certain situations ahead of time if you find a way to “keep a cool head.” For example, if losing your soccer game last week caused you to get angry, think about how you can better prepare yourself to deal with the stress if you don’t come out with a win this week. - Think about the consequences of your behavior. Realize that how you behave affects not only you but also those you love and others around you. You can ask someone about how they were affected and remember this for the future. Also sometimes there are consequences like suspension or being grounded that can be a reminder of what happens when your anger escalates. - Pay attention to what upsets you. When you’re able to figure out what triggers angry feelings, you can make decisions about how to manage these triggers. Sometimes they’re avoidable and other times not; it’s up to you to be prepared with strategies that will help you stay in better control. - Pay attention to how your body feels when you are angry. Sometimes people are first aware of experiencing anger through their bodies rather than their thoughts or feelings. When you notice your body beginning to react, it’s time to slow down and identify the feeling before reacting. - Create a “toolbox” of relaxation techniques that work for you. Find tools and skills that help you calm down when you find yourself getting angry. Some people step away from a situation, others listen to music or exercise. Figure out what works for you and use it. You may feel anxious when you first try to take control of your temper. This is normal. Take time beforehand to plan ways to handle these feelings. The earlier you notice yourself becoming angry the more chance you have to stop your anger from getting out of control. What are more examples of how to relax when I’m feeling so angry? Every one of us can find effective ways to calm down. Relaxation techniques work by helping calm us. When we are calm, our bodies relax, and physical problems brought on by anger such as a headache, usually disappear. Try the following techniques to help you relax, and check out our guide about stress and how to lower it for more suggestions. - Take slow deep breaths. Breathe in and slowly breathe out—this works especially well when you feel like your breathing is speeding up. - Repeat a calming word or sentence to yourself, such as “I am in control of my feelings”. - Tighten your muscles then relax them. Notice the difference. - Close your eyes and think about a person, place, or thing that makes you feel calm. What if my anger feels out of control? Take quick action! If angry feelings begin to take control over you it’s important to do something to keep yourself and others around you safe. Here are some helpful tips: - Leave the scene—Take yourself away from the person and/or place where you became angry. A change of scenery can help you “cool off” your angry feelings. - Walk away instead of driving away—Walking is a great way to get your anger out. Avoid driving to prevent yourself from putting yourself and others in danger. - Choose safe ways to deal with anger—Take deep breaths, repeat a calming word, relax your muscles, imagine a calm place to decrease your anger. Do not drink, use violence or pick up a weapon. - If you feel you’re a danger to yourself or others, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room. If you’re having thoughts of wanting to hurt yourself or hurt other people, it’s important to get help immediately! What do I do with all the anger inside? Find a safe way to express it. There are many safe ways to express your anger. Here are a few ideas: - Talk to someone you trust—Call or meet with someone you trust. This can be a friend, a relative, a teacher or anyone whom you know to be a thoughtful and good listener. You also can see a counselor to help you work on understanding your feelings and develop strategies to deal with them. - Exercise—Get that anger out by taking a long walk or run (in a safe part of town), work out at the gym or play a sport. Exercise stimulates the release of a chemical in the brain called “endorphins” that make us feel more relaxed and calm. You can also try a relaxing or focused exercise to calm yourself, such as yoga or Tai Chi. - Write in a journal—Let your feelings out by writing about them in a journal or create poetry or song lyrics. You can also write a letter to someone you’re really mad at. You can read it again later, edit it, and send it, if you’re still upset. - Listen to or play music—Music has a way of calming the nerves and the soul, whether it’s listening to your Ipod, singing along with the car radio (even if you sing off key), or playing an instrument. - Draw, paint, or do other creative art projects—for some people, being creative is an outlet for anger and helps them manage their feelings. - Rest—Anger often takes our energy away and makes us feel exhausted. Its fine to take a break, nap, or go to bed early. Sleep helps us focus so we can deal with our feelings better.
Definition of Nurdle 1. Verb. (cricket) To score runs by gently nudging the ball into vacant areas of the field. 1349: "Collingwood picks up the first run after lunch with a nurdle to wide mid-on." ¹ 2. Verb. (context: conversation) To gently waffle or muse on a subject which one clearly knows little about. ¹ 3. Noun. (cricket) Such a shot ¹ 4. Noun. A cylindrical shaped pre-production plastic pellet used in manufacturing and packaging. ¹ 5. Noun. A "blob of toothpaste shaped like a wave", which is often depicted on toothpaste packaging. Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2010, "Colgate, GlaxoSmithKline, Set to Battle Over Toothpaste ‘Nurdle’" ¹ ¹ Source: wiktionary.com Definition of Nurdle 1. to glide the ball in cricket [v NURDLED, NURDLING, NURDLES] Click the following link to bring up a new window with an automated collection of images related to the term: Nurdle Images Lexicographical Neighbors of Nurdle nurdle (current term) Literary usage of Nurdle Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature: 1. History of the British Turf, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day by James Rice (1879) "Race" includes plate, match, or sweepstakes, but does not include or refer to a steeplechase, nurdle race, or a hunters' race on the flat. ..." 2. A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ by Emil Schürer (1885) "13-29 (with plans), also sheet vii. of the English chart. 121 In Justinian's nurdle 103 praef. it is said of Caesarea: ..." 3. A Treatise on Crimes and Indictable Misdemeanors by William Oldnall Russell (1826) "(A) Of the judg- The judgment in petit treason is, that the criminal be drawn C" (°na nurdle)' and hanged until dead, (c) It was formerly different in the ..." 4. Family Words: The Dictionary for People Who Don't Know a Frone from a Brinkle by Paul Dickson (1998) "It is also used as a verb (“Honey, please nurdle my toothbrush while you're in the bathroom”) and is ..." 5. Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers to the Secretary of War for the Year by United States Army. Corps of Engineers, United States Mississippi River Commission (1889) "Others will be added as rapidly as they become available, and the nurdle will be fully restored. It having been decided to extend hurdles Nos. ..."
Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias Cytopenias Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias, gastrointestinal effects, and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes. Patients may also have... read more , gastrointestinal effects Gastrointestinal Effects Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias, gastrointestinal effects, and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes. Patients may also have... read more , and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes Tumor Lysis and Cytokine Release Syndromes Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias, gastrointestinal effects, and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes. Patients may also have... read more . Patients may also have adverse effects resulting from their cancer (eg, depression Depression Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias, gastrointestinal effects, and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes. Patients may also have... read more , pain Pain Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias, gastrointestinal effects, and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes. Patients may also have... read more ). Successfully managing these adverse effects is important because it improves quality of life (see also Overview of Cancer Therapy Overview of Cancer Therapy Curing cancer requires eliminating all cells capable of causing cancer recurrence in a person's lifetime. The major modalities of therapy are Surgery (for local and local-regional disease) Radiation... read more ). Decreased blood concentrations of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBC), especially granulocytes, and platelets result from diverse systemic cancer therapies, especially conventional chemotherapy drugs, and radiation therapy. Decreased levels of RBCs are common in patients with cancer. Decreases in RBCs result from a direct effect of the cancer (especially in blood and bone marrow cancers such as leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma) and from effects of cancer therapy, especially conventional cancer (chemotherapy) drugs. Often anemia requires no therapy. Some patients, especially those with comorbidities such as arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, may benefit from RBC transfusions. Others may benefit from receiving recombinant erythropoietin, which can substitute for RBC transfusions. Some data suggest erythropoietin use can have adverse effects on cancer prognosis and is prothrombotic. Guidelines on RBC transfusion and erythropoietin use are available, but recommendations are controversial (1 Cytopenia references Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias, gastrointestinal effects, and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes. Patients may also have... read more ). Decreased platelet concentration is common in patients with cancer. Decreases in platelets result from a direct effect of the cancer (especially blood and bone marrow cancers such as leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma) and from effects of cancer therapy, especially conventional chemotherapy drugs. The risk of bleeding is inversely proportional to the platelet count (see table ). Platelet concentrations < 10,000/microL (10 × 109/L) are dangerous and require platelet transfusions. Molecularly cloned hormones, such as eltrombopag and avatrombopag, which stimulate megakaryocytes to produce platelets, have been used. Leukocyte depletion of transfused blood products may prevent alloimmunization to platelets and should be used in patients expected to need platelet transfusions during multiple courses of chemotherapy or for candidates for hematopoietic cell transplants. Leukocyte depletion also lowers the probability of acquiring a cytomegalovirus infection Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection Cytomegalovirus (CMV, human herpesvirus type 5) can cause infections that have a wide range of severity. A syndrome of infectious mononucleosis that lacks severe pharyngitis is common. Severe... read more . A decreased granulocyte concentration is common in patients with cancer. Neutropenia is considered a reduction in blood neutrophil count to < 1500/mcL (< 1.5 × 109/L) in White patients and < 1200/mcL (< 1.2 × 109/L) in people with African ancestry (see also Neutropenia Neutropenia Neutropenia is a reduction in the blood neutrophil count. If it is severe, the risk and severity of bacterial and fungal infections increase. Focal symptoms of infection may be muted, but fever... read more ). Decreases in granulocytes result from a direct effect of the cancer (especially blood and bone marrow cancers such as leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma) and from effects of cancer therapy, especially conventional chemotherapy drugs. The risk of infection is inversely proportional to the granulocyte count. A granulocyte concentration < 500/microL (0.5 × 109/L) markedly increases the risk of infection. Measures to protect against infection, including wearing a mask, hand washing, and protective isolation, are important. Laminar air flow (LAF) rooms are sometimes used but have not proved effective. Oral nonabsorbable antibiotics are sometimes given prophylactically. When a prolonged interval of low granulocytes is anticipated, prophylactic antifungal and antiviral drugs are sometimes given, including drugs to prevent Pneumocystis jirovecii. In cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in whom there is an expected incidence of febrile neutropenia > 20 %, prophylactic myeloid growth factors such as filgrastrim, sargramostim, or pegfilgastrim are given with the chemotherapy (2, 3 Cytopenia references Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias, gastrointestinal effects, and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes. Patients may also have... read more ). Afebrile patients with neutropenia require close outpatient follow-up for detection of fever and should be instructed to avoid contact with sick people or areas frequented by large numbers of people (eg, shopping malls, airports). Although most patients do not require antibiotics, patients with severe immunosuppression are sometimes given trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (one double-strength tablet/day) as prophylaxis for Pneumocystis jirovecii. In transplant patients or others receiving high-dose chemotherapy, antiviral prophylaxis (acyclovir 800 mg orally twice a day or 400 mg IV every 12 hours) should be considered if serologic tests are positive for herpes simplex virus. Fever > 38.5° C on two or more occasions in a patient with neutropenia is a medical emergency. An extensive evaluation for potential infection sources should be made and blood cultures done. Typically, systemic broad-spectrum antibiotics are given before culture results are known and therapy modified as needed. Patients with persistent fever unresponsive to antibiotics are often started on systemic antifungal and sometimes antiviral drugs. Evaluation should include immediate chest x-ray and cultures of blood, sputum, urine, stool, and any suspect skin lesions. Examination includes possible abscess sites (eg, skin, ears, sinuses, perirectal area), skin and mucosa for presence of herpetic lesions, retina for vascular lesions suggestive of infectious emboli, and catheter sites. Rectal examination and use of a rectal thermometer should be avoided. Other evaluation should be guided by clinical findings. Febrile neutropenic patients should receive broad-spectrum antibiotics chosen on the basis of the most likely organism. Typical regimens include cefepime or ceftazidime 2 g IV every 8 hours immediately after samples for culture are obtained. If diffuse pulmonary infiltrates are present, sputum should be tested for P. jirovecii, and if positive, appropriate therapy should be started. If fever resolves within 72 hours after starting empiric antibiotics, they are continued until the neutrophil count is > 500/microL (0.5 × 109/L). If fever continues, antifungal drugs should be added. Reassessment for infection, often including CT of the chest and abdomen, is also done. Granulocyte concentrations can be increased by giving molecularly cloned myeloid growth factors such as granulocyte (G) or granulocyte/macrophage (GM) colony stimulating factors (CSFs) such as filgrastim, sargramostim, and peg-filgrastim. Guidelines for appropriate use of these drugs are available (2 Cytopenia references Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias, gastrointestinal effects, and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes. Patients may also have... read more ). In selected patients with neutropenia related to chemotherapy, especially after high-dose chemotherapy, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) may be started to shorten the duration of neutropenia. G-CSF 5 mcg/kg subcutaneously once/day up to 14 days and longer-acting forms (eg, pegfilgrastim 6 mg subcutaneously single dose once per chemotherapy cycle) may be used to accelerate WBC recovery. These drugs should not be given in the first 24 hours after chemotherapy, and for pegfilgrastim, at least 14 days should elapse until the next planned chemotherapy dose. These drugs are begun at the onset of fever or sepsis or, in afebrile high-risk patients, when neutrophil count falls to < 500/microL. Many centers use outpatient treatment with G-CSF in selected low-risk patients with fever and neutropenia. Candidates must not have hypotension, altered mental status, respiratory distress, uncontrolled pain, or serious comorbid illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease, or hypercalcemia. The regimen in such cases requires daily follow-up and often involves visiting nurse services and home antibiotic infusion. Some regimens involve oral antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin 750 mg twice a day plus amoxicillin/clavulanate 875 mg twice a day or 500 mg 3 times a day. If no defined institutional program for follow-up and treatment of neutropenic fever is available in an outpatient setting, then hospitalization is required. 1. Bohlius J, Bohlke K, Castelli R, et al: Management of cancer-associated anemia with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents: ASCO/ASH Clinical Practice Guideline Update. J Clin Oncol 37(15):1336–1351, 2019. doi: 10.1200/JCO.18.02142 2. Crawford J, Becker PS, Armitage JO, et al: Myeloid Growth Factors, Version 2.2017, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 15, 12; 10.6004/jnccn.2017.0175 3. Smith TJ, Bohlke K, Lyman GH, et al: Recommendations for the Use of WBC Growth Factors: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update. J Clin Oncol 33(28):3199–3212, 2015. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2015.62.3488 Gastrointestinal adverse effects are common in patients with cancer. These effects may be caused by the cancer itself, cancer therapy, or both. Anorexia is common in patients with cancer and may be caused by the cancer directly or as a consequence of cancer therapy(ies). Loss of more than 10% of ideal body weight predicts an adverse prognosis. Efforts should be made to maintain reasonable nutrition. Sometimes partial or total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is needed. Patients with surgical interruption of the gastrointestinal tract may need a feeding gastrostomy. Drugs that may increase appetite include corticosteroids, megestrol acetate, androgenic steroids, and dronabinol. Whether these drugs convincingly reduce anorexia, reverse weight loss, improve quality of life, or prolong survival is unclear. Some steroids, such as testosterone, are contraindicated in patients with prostate or liver cancer. Constipation is common in patients with cancer and is often exacerbated by opioids used to treat pain. A stimulant laxative such as senna 2 tablets orally at bedtime (maximum 8 tablets/day) or bisacodyl 5 to 15 mg orally at bedtime should be initiated when repeated opioid use is anticipated. Established constipation can be treated with various drugs (eg, bisacodyl 5 to 15 mg orally every 24 hours, milk of magnesia 15 to 30 mL orally at bedtime, lactulose 15 to 30 mL (10 to 20 g) every 12 to 24 hours, magnesium citrate 195 to 300 mL once every 24 hours. Enemas and suppositories should be avoided in patients with neutropenia or thrombocytopenia. Diarrhea is common after chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapy drugs, and radiation therapy, especially if the abdomen and/or pelvis is included in the radiation field. It is usually treated with loperamide 2 to 4 mg orally after each loose stool; or diphenoxylate/atropine 2.5 mg to 5 mg orally every 6 hours. However, doses can vary depending on various factors. Patients with cancer who are taking broad-spectrum antibiotics may become infected with Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile–Induced Diarrhea Toxins produced by Clostridioides difficile strains in the gastrointestinal tract cause pseudomembranous colitis, typically after antibiotic use. Symptoms are diarrhea, sometimes bloody... read more , which should be tested for and treated with vancomycin. Patients with lower colorectal cancers may have a diverting colostomy, which complicates diarrhea management. Mouth lesions such as inflammation and ulcers are common in patients receiving chemotherapy drugs and/or radiation therapy. Sometimes these lesions are complicated by infection, often with Candida albicans. Candidiasis is usually treated with nystatin. Oral candidiasis can be treated with nystatin oral suspension 4 to 6 mL (400,000 to 600,000 units) 4 times a day, clotrimazole troches 10 mg 4 times a day, or fluconazole 100 mg orally once a day. Mucositis due to radiation therapy can cause pain and preclude sufficient oral intake, leading to undernutrition and weight loss. Rinses with analgesics and topical anesthetics (2% viscous lidocaine 5 to 10 mL every 2 hours or other commercially available mixtures) before meals, a bland diet without citrus food or juices, and avoidance of temperature extremes may allow patients to eat and maintain weight. If not, a feeding tube may be helpful if the small intestine is functional. For severe mucositis and diarrhea or an abnormally functioning intestine, parenteral alimentation may be needed. Nausea and vomiting Nausea and vomiting are common in patients with cancer whether or not they are receiving cancer therapy and decrease quality of life. Variables that predict the likelihood of causing nausea and vomiting secondary to cancer drugs are Type of drug(s) How the drug is given How frequently the drug is given Interactions between cancer drugs Interactions between cancer drugs and drugs given to treat cancer-related pain Some chemotherapy drugs are especially likely to cause nausea and vomiting, including platinum-containing drugs such as cisplatin and oxaliplatin. Patients treated with other cancer modalities, including radiation therapy, hormones, targeted therapy drugs, and immune therapy can also have nausea and vomiting. Several drugs are effective in controlling and/or preventing nausea and vomiting: Serotonin-receptor antagonists are the most effective drugs but are also the most expensive. Virtually no toxicity occurs with granisetron and ondansetron aside from headache and orthostatic hypotension. A 0.15-mg/kg dose of ondansetron or a 10-mcg/kg dose of granisetron is given IV 30 minutes before chemotherapy. Doses of ondansetron can be repeated 4 and 8 hours after the first dose. The efficacy against highly emetogenic drugs, such as the platinum-containing drugs, can be improved with coadministration of dexamethasone 8 mg IV given 30 minutes before chemotherapy with repeat doses of 4 mg IV every 8 hours. A substance P/neurokinin-1 antagonist, aprepitant, can limit nausea and vomiting resulting from highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Dosage is 125 mg orally 1 hour before chemotherapy on day 1, then 80 mg orally 1 hour before chemotherapy on days 2 and 3. Other traditional antiemetics, including phenothiazines (eg, prochlorperazine 10 mg IV every 8 hours, promethazine 12.5 to 25 mg orally or IV every 8 hours) and metoclopramide 10 mg orally or IV given 30 minutes before chemotherapy with repeated doses every 6 to 8 hours, are alternatives restricted to patients with mild to moderate nausea and vomiting. Dronabinol (Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]) is an alternative treatment for nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. THC is the principal psychoactive component of marijuana. Its mechanism of antiemetic action is unknown, but cannabinoids bind to opioid receptors in the forebrain and may indirectly inhibit the vomiting center. Dronabinol is administered in doses of 5 mg/m2 orally 1 to 3 hours before chemotherapy, with repeated doses every 2 to 4 hours after the start of chemotherapy (maximum of 4 to 6 doses/day). However, it has variable oral bioavailability, is not effective for inhibiting the nausea and vomiting of platinum-based chemotherapy regimens, and has significant adverse effects (eg, drowsiness, orthostatic hypotension, dry mouth, mood changes, visual and time sense alterations). Smoking marijuana may be more effective. Marijuana for this purpose can be obtained legally in some states, although federal law still prohibits its use. It is used less commonly because of barriers to availability and because many patients cannot tolerate smoking. Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam 1 to 2 mg orally or IV given 10 to 20 minutes before chemotherapy with repeated doses every 4 to 6 hours as needed, are sometimes helpful for refractory or anticipatory nausea and vomiting. Pain Overview of Pain Pain is the most common reason patients seek medical care. Pain has sensory and emotional components and is often classified as acute or chronic. Acute pain is frequently associated with anxiety... read more , including chronic Chronic Pain Chronic pain is pain that persists or recurs for > 3 months, persists > 1 month after resolution of an acute tissue injury, or accompanies a nonhealing lesion. Causes include chronic disorders... read more and/or neuropathic pain Neuropathic Pain Neuropathic pain results from damage to or dysfunction of the peripheral or central nervous system, rather than stimulation of pain receptors. Diagnosis is suggested by pain out of proportion... read more , is common in patients with cancer and should be anticipated and aggressively treated. Pain is often under treated, for several reasons, including Patient reluctance to discuss pain with the physician Physician reluctance to discuss pain Fear of opioid addiction None of these is a sensible reason not to achieve adequate pain control in a patient with cancer. Treatment of pain Treatment of Pain Nonopioid and opioid analgesics are the main drugs used to treat pain. Antidepressants, antiseizure drugs, and other central nervous system (CNS)–active drugs may also be used for chronic or... read more might include aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. However, these drugs are often ineffective in controlling cancer pain, and opioids, including morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl, methadone, and oxymorphone, may be needed. An appropriate dose and schedule of these drugs are essential for adequate pain control (see table Opioid Analgesics Opioid Analgesics ). Often the patient with cancer is the best judge of when analgesics are needed. Patient-controlled anesthesia (PCA) using an indwelling pump allows the patient to manage dose and timing of analgesics. Use of multiple drug classes may provide better pain control with fewer or less severe adverse effects than use of a single drug class. Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided in patients with thrombocytopenia. Neuropathic pain can be treated with gabapentin; the dose required is high (up to 1200 mg orally 3 times a day) but must be started low (eg, 300 mg 3 times a day) and then increased over a few weeks. Alternatively, a tricyclic antidepressant (eg, nortriptyline, 25 to 75 mg orally at bedtime) can be tried. Doses can vary to a large degree between patients. Opioids are the mainstay of pain control in patients with cancer and are often underused. Pain medication should be given at doses and schedules which achieve the target level of pain control. Too often people with cancer receive inadequate pain control. Other approaches may be needed to control pain under special circumstances. For example, radiation therapy often is needed for bone pain. Nerve blockade and surgery may be done to interrupt the nerve pathways. Depression Depressive Disorders Depressive disorders are characterized by sadness severe enough or persistent enough to interfere with function and often by decreased interest or pleasure in activities. Exact cause is unknown... read more is often overlooked. It may occur in response to the disease (its symptoms and feared consequences), adverse effects of the treatments, or both. Patients receiving interferon can develop depression. Alopecia as a result of radiation therapy or chemotherapy can contribute to depression. Frank discussion of a patient’s fears can often relieve anxiety. Treatment of depression Treatment Depressive disorders are characterized by sadness severe enough or persistent enough to interfere with function and often by decreased interest or pleasure in activities. Exact cause is unknown... read more with drugs and/or psychotherapy can often be effective. Tumor Lysis and Cytokine Release Syndromes Tumor lysis syndrome Tumor lysis syndrome occurs because rapid death of cancer cells, resulting from cytotoxic drugs Chemotherapy Systemic cancer therapy includes chemotherapy (ie, conventional or cytotoxic chemotherapy), hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immune therapy (see also Overview of Cancer Therapy). The number... read more and some types of immune therapy Immune Therapy Systemic cancer therapy includes chemotherapy (ie, conventional or cytotoxic chemotherapy), hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immune therapy (see also Overview of Cancer Therapy). The number... read more (eg CAR-T-cell treatment), releases intracellular components into the bloodstream, particularly nucleic acids (which are broken down into uric acid, causing hyperuricemia Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia Gout is a disorder caused by hyperuricemia (serum urate > 6.8 mg/dL [> 0.4 mmol/L]) that results in the precipitation of monosodium urate crystals in and around joints, most often causing recurrent... read more ), phosphate, and potassium. Uric acid can precipitate in the renal tubules and cause acute kidney injury Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Acute kidney injury is a rapid decrease in renal function over days to weeks, causing an accumulation of nitrogenous products in the blood (azotemia) with or without reduction in amount of urine... read more (see also Acute Urate Nephropathy Acute urate nephropathy Tubulointerstitial disorders can result from several metabolic disturbances. (See also Overview of Tubulointerstitial Diseases.) Several metabolic disturbances can cause tubulointerstitial nephritis... read more ). Depending on the phosphate × calcium product, hyperphosphatemia Hyperphosphatemia Hyperphosphatemia is a serum phosphate concentration > 4.5 mg/dL (> 1.46 mmol/L). Causes include chronic kidney disease, hypoparathyroidism, and metabolic or respiratory acidosis. Clinical... read more can cause calcium phosphate deposition in the renal tubules and in the cardiac conduction system; it also may lead to hypocalcemia Hypocalcemia Hypocalcemia is a total serum calcium concentration < 8.8 mg/dL (< 2.20 mmol/L) in the presence of normal plasma protein concentrations or a serum ionized calcium concentration < 4... read more which may cause tetany. Hyperkalemia Hyperkalemia Hyperkalemia is a serum potassium concentration > 5.5 mEq/L (> 5.5 mmol/L), usually resulting from decreased renal potassium excretion or abnormal movement of potassium out of cells. There... read more may cause cardiac arrhythmias. Symptoms of tumor lysis include lethargy, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and seizures. Tumor lysis syndrome occurs mainly in leukemias and lymphomas but can also occur in other hematologic cancers and, uncommonly, after treatment of solid cancers. T-cell vaccines Active Specific Immunotherapy A number of immunologic interventions, both passive and active, can be directed against tumor cells. (See also Immunotherapeutics.) In passive cellular immunotherapy, specific effector cells... read more used to treat B-cell leukemias may precipitate life-threatening tumor lysis and cytokine release days to weeks after vaccination. Diagnostic criteria for tumor lysis syndrome include Treatment of tumor lysis syndrome is with allopurinol 200 to 400 mg/m2 once a day, maximum 600 mg/day, and normal saline IV to achieve urine output > 2 L/day should be initiated with close laboratory and cardiac monitoring. Although some physicians advocate sodium bicarbonate IV to alkalinize the urine and increase solubilization of uric acid, alkalinization may promote calcium phosphate deposition in patients with hyperphosphatemia, and a pH of > 7 should be avoided. Treatment of hyperkalemia Treatment Hyperkalemia is a serum potassium concentration > 5.5 mEq/L (> 5.5 mmol/L), usually resulting from decreased renal potassium excretion or abnormal movement of potassium out of cells. There... read more is given depending on the serum potassium level and may involve oral potassium-lowering drugs, IV calcium, and IV glucose and insulin. Treatment of hypocalcemia Treatment Hypocalcemia is a total serum calcium concentration < 8.8 mg/dL (< 2.20 mmol/L) in the presence of normal plasma protein concentrations or a serum ionized calcium concentration < 4... read more is with IV calcium, but because this can cause increased precipitation of calcium phosphate, calcium should not be given for asymptomatic hypocalcemia unless the hyperphosphatemia is corrected. Symptomatic patients with hypocalcemia (eg, with arrhythmias, tetany) should receive IV calcium regardless of the serum phosphate level. Prevention of tumor lysis syndrome is desirable. Often it is possible to anticipate development of tumor lysis syndrome (eg, when treating cancers with rapid cell turnover) and to give large volumes of fluids and allopurinol or rasburicase before starting chemotherapy and sometimes prior to immune therapy (such as bispecific monoclonal antibodies or CAR-T-cells) to protect the kidneys from damage from uric acid. Patients should receive vigorous IV hydration to establish a urine output of at least 100 mL/hour before treatment. Patients also should receive allopurinol for at least 2 days before and during chemotherapy; for patients with high cell burden, this regimen can be continued for 10 to 14 days after therapy. Rasburicase is an enzyme that oxidizes uric acid to allantoin (a more soluble molecule) and is given at 0.15 to 0.2 mg/kg IV over 30 minutes once a day for 5 to 7 days, typically started 4 to 24 hours before the first chemotherapy treatment. Adverse effects may include anaphylaxis, hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, and methemoglobinemia. Guidelines regarding evaluation and management of tumor lysis syndrome are available (1, 2 Tumor lysis syndrome and cytokine release syndrome references Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias, gastrointestinal effects, and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes. Patients may also have... read more ). Cytokine release syndrome Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is related to but distinct from tumor lysis syndrome. Cytokine release syndrome occurs when large numbers of immune cells are activated and release inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon gamma. It is a frequent complication of immune therapies Immune Therapy Systemic cancer therapy includes chemotherapy (ie, conventional or cytotoxic chemotherapy), hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immune therapy (see also Overview of Cancer Therapy). The number... read more such as bi-specific monoclonal antibodies or CAR-T-cells. Clinical features include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and headache. Tachypnea, tachycardia, hypotension, tremor, loss of coordination, seizures, and delirium may occur. Typical features include Widened pulse pressure Increased or decreased cardiac output Increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), D-dimer, liver enzymes, and bilirubin Low fibrinogen level Grading of cytokine release syndrome (3 Tumor lysis syndrome and cytokine release syndrome references Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias, gastrointestinal effects, and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes. Patients may also have... read more ) is as follows: Grade 1: Symptoms (eg, fever, nausea, fatigue, headache, myalgias, malaise) are not life-threatening and require symptomatic treatment only. Grade 2: Symptoms require and respond to moderate intervention with oxygen supplementation up to 40% FiO2, or hypotension that is responsive to fluids or low-dose vasopressor, or grade 2 organ toxicity. Grade 3: Symptoms require and respond to aggressive intervention with oxygen supplementation ≥ 40% FiO2, or hypotension requires high-dose or multiple vasopressors, or grade 3 organ toxicity, or grade 4 transaminitis. Grade 4: Symptoms are life threatening, including need for ventilator support, or indicate grade 4 organ toxicity (excluding transaminitis). Grade 5: Death Therapy of low-grade CRS is supportive. Moderate-grade CRS requires oxygen therapy and fluids and one or more antihypotensive drugs to raise blood pressure. Moderate and severe-grade (ie, grades 3 and 4) CRS are treated with immune suppressive drugs such as corticosteroids. Tocilizumab, an anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) monoclonal antibody, is also used in severe CRS. Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that can occur in some cancer patients treated with immune therapy. It is also related to cytokine-mediated toxicity and has been called cytokine release encephalopathy syndrome (CRES). Symptoms include confusion, depressed level of consciousness, disturbance in attention, lethargy, mental status changes, delirium, dizziness, muscle spasms, and muscle weakness (1 Tumor lysis syndrome and cytokine release syndrome references Adverse effects are common in patients receiving any cancer therapy, particularly cytopenias, gastrointestinal effects, and tumor lysis and cytokine release syndromes. Patients may also have... read more ). Mild neurotoxicity is managed supportively. More severe neurotoxicity is treated with dexamethasone or methylprednisolone. Patients with severe neurotoxicity may need treatment in the intensive care unit. Tumor lysis syndrome and cytokine release syndrome references 1. Cairo MS, Coiffier B, Reiter A, et al: Recommendations for the evaluation of risk and prophylaxis of tumour lysis syndrome (TLS) in adults and children with malignant diseases: an expert TLS panel consensus. Br J Haematol 149(4):578–586, 2010. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2010.08143.x 2. Coiffier B, Altman A, Pui CH, et al: Guidelines for the management of pediatric and adult tumor lysis syndrome: an evidence-based review. J Clin Oncol 26(16):2767–2778, 2008. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2007.15.0177 3. Lee DW, Santomasso BD, Locke FL, et al: ASTCT consensus grading for cytokine release syndrome and neurologic toxicity associated with immune effector cells. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 25(4):625–638, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2018.12.758
By C.R. Malavika, Research Analyst Batteries in the modern day world have become ubiquitous, in the sense that they provide energy for a wide range of products that are used across all segments, spanning from households to large industrial enterprises. They are also a major source of backup power for activities that require an uninterruptible supply of power. According to the City of Richland's Environmental Education Programme, an average person residing in the United States owns about two button batteries, ten disposable alkaline batteries (A, AA, AAA, 9V, etc) and throws away about eight household batteries per year . This might seem to be a very negligible amount of goods that is discarded, but imagine the entire population of the United States (approximately 291 million people, 2003 estimates) throwing away used batteries, or even better, the amount of batteries disposed by the world population (approximately 6 billion according to the 2003 World Population Data Sheet). This would be an insurmountable heap of solid waste with grave environmental effects. For example, Bell Canada, a leading telecom services provider, in its Centralized Collection Programme, collected 960 metric tons of wet cell lead acid batteries for recycling in 2003. Batteries are mainly categorized as primary (one time use batteries) and secondary (can be recharged and used again). Most of them contain cadmium, lead, mercury, copper, zinc, manganese, lithium, or potassium, which are all hazardous to the environment and also to human health. Thus, disposal of batteries has come to occupy an extremely significant position in the eyes of battery manufacturers and recycling organizations. Unfortunately, one widely used method is to send them to landfills, although this is definitely not an environment friendly option. For humans, both lead and cadmium can be taken only by ingestion or inhalation. Mercury another harmful metals can even be absorbed through the skin, although this metal's use in batteries has declined greatly due to laws and regulations that have been put in place (E.g. US Battery Act, 1996) to reduce its content. These harmful substances permeate into the soil, groundwater and surface water through landfills and also release toxins into the air when they are burnt in municipal waste combustors. Moreover, cadmium is easily taken up by plant roots and accumulates in fruits, vegetables and grass. The impure water and plants in turn are consumed by animals and human beings, who then fall prey to a host of ill-effects. Studies indicate that nausea, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, liver and kidney damage, skin irritation, headaches, asthma, nervousness, decreased IQ in children and sometimes even cancer can result from exposure to such metals for a sufficient period of time. In addition, potassium, if it leaks, can cause severe chemical burns thereby affecting the eyes and skin. Landfills also generate methane gas leading to the ‘greenhouse effect’ and global climatic changes. Recycling - A Good Option? Recycling batteries is a much better option than dumping them in landfills. Some advantages that recycling offers include: - Saves natural resources - Saves energy - Reduces pollution - Reduces the need for landfill - Generates income - Lessens the amount of regulations as it no more falls under the category of hazardous waste - Reduces imports Many organizations have been set up and laws have been passed to promote proper disposal and recycling of batteries in order to provide a safer environment. In his book 'Batteries in a Portable World', Isidor Buchmann states that in the United States, 98 percent of all lead acid batteries are recycled, but in North America, only one in six households recycle rechargeable batteries. Developing nations typically pay less attention to this mounting environmental problem as they feel that other issues such as poverty and population explosion are much weighty of a problem and funds tend to appease these problems first. Some steps that can be taken to reduce or minimize the damage caused to the environment due to improper battery disposal include the following: - Recycling of used batteries - Using rechargeable batteries more than primary batteries - Making collection of batteries from the source easier and cost effective - Providing appropriate remuneration to consumers for selling the used batteries - Formulation and implementation of more stringent laws regarding battery disposal - Buying batteries containing less mercury, lead and cadmium - Providing complete information to customers at the time of purchase about the battery suitability, safety and ways of disposal. - More R&D in alternative energy storage devices like fuel cells, which are also less hazardous to the environment. - Looking at renewable sources of energy like solar, wind, water. With the ever-growing usage of batteries in today’s times, their disposal issues have come to occupy the center stage due to their deteriorating effects on human health and environment. Much attention needs to be paid to solve this problem especially by developing countries so that a cleaner, greener and healthy world is what we and our future generations get to live in!
Is it done yet? Brochure Text Is It Done Yet Brochure (PDF only) The text of the brochure is provided below for accessibility purposes. "Is it done yet?" You can't tell by looking. Use a food thermometer to be sure. \|Did you know? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that every year about 48 million people in the United States become ill from harmful bacteria in food; of these, about 3,000 die. - Thermometers Aren't Just for Turkey Anymore - Why Use a Food Thermometer? - What Are the Signs of Foodborne Illness? - "Is It Done Yet?" How To Use a Food Thermometer - USDA Recommended Safe Minimum Internal Temperatures - Seeing Isn't Believing - Be Food Safe! Prepare With Care Thermometers Aren't Just for Turkey Anymore These days, food thermometers aren't just for your holiday roasts—they're for all cuts and sizes of meat and poultry, including hamburgers, chicken breasts, and pork chops. Using a food thermometer when cooking meat, poultry, and even egg dishes is the only reliable way to make sure you are preparing a safe and delicious meal for your family. Why Use a Food Thermometer? Everyone is at risk for foodborne illness. One effective way to prevent illness is to use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of meat, poultry, and egg dishes. Using a food thermometer not only keeps your family safe from harmful food bacteria, but it also helps you to avoid overcooking, giving you a safe and flavorful meal. Some people may be at high risk for developing foodborne illness. These include pregnant women and their unborn babies and newborns, young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and individuals with certain chronic illnesses. These people should pay extra attention to handle food safely. What Are the Signs of Foodborne Illness? The signs and symptoms of foodborne illness range from upset stomach, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and dehydration, to more severe illness—even death. Consumers can take simple measures to reduce their risk of foodborne illness, especially in the home. - Use an instant-read food thermometer to check the internal temperature toward the end of the cooking time, but before the food is expected to be "done." - The food thermometer should be placed in the thickest part of the food and should not be touching bone, fat, or gristle. Check the temperature in several places to make sure the food is evenly heated. - Compare your thermometer reading to the USDA Recommended Safe Minimum Internal Temperatures to determine if your food has reached a safe temperature. - Make sure to clean your food thermometer with hot, soapy water before and after each use! Large-dial oven-safe or oven-probe thermometers may be used for the duration of cooking. Because there are so many types of food thermometers, it is important to follow the instructions for your food thermometer. - Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb and veal steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145 °F as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook meat to higher temperatures. - Cook all raw ground beef, pork, lamb, and veal to an internal temperature of 160 °F as measured with a food thermometer. - Cook all poultry to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer. Seeing Isn't Believing Many people assume that if a hamburger is brown in the middle, it is done. However, looking at the color and texture of food is not enough—you have to use a food thermometer to be sure! According to USDA research, 1 out of every 4 hamburgers turns brown before it reaches a safe internal temperature. The only safe way to know if meat, poultry, and egg dishes are "done" is to use a food thermometer. When a hamburger is cooked to 160 °F as measured with a food thermometer, it is both safe and delicious! Be Food Safe! Prepare With Care Know how to prepare, handle, and store food safely to keep you and your family safe. Bacteria can grow on meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy products, as well as cut-up or cooked vegetables and fruits. CLEAN: Wash hands and surfaces often Wash your hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling food. Wash your cutting boards, dishes, etc., with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item. Rinse all fresh fruits and vegetables under running tap water. There is no need to wash or rinse meat or poultry. SEPARATE: Don't cross-contaminate Separate raw, cooked, and ready-to-eat foods while shopping, preparing, or storing. Never place cooked food on a plate which previously held raw meat, poultry, or seafood. COOK: Cook food to safe internal temperatures Use a food thermometer to be sure! CHILL: Refrigerate food promptly Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods, and leftovers within 2 hours or sooner. Makes 4 servings. 1 ½ pounds ground beef ¼ cup onion, chopped 2 tablespoons red bell pepper, finely chopped 3 tablespoons picante sauce or salsa 2 teaspoons prepared Dijon-style mustard 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish (optional) salt and pepper to taste 4 sesame seed hamburger buns leaf lettuce and sliced tomatoes - Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before handling the meat. - In a bowl, mix ground beef with onion, red pepper, picante sauce or salsa, mustard, horseradish (if desired), salt and pepper. - Form into four burgers, about ¾ inch thick. - Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds after handling the meat. - Using utensils, place burgers on grill that has reached medium-high heat. - Check each burger with a food thermometer after approximately 10-15 minutes. Turn burgers as needed. A hamburger is done when it reaches 160 °F. - Clean the thermometer between uses with hot, soapy water. - Place burgers on buns and top with condiments and garnishes of choice. - After checking the final temperature, remember to clean the food thermometer with hot, soapy water. USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline USDA does not endorse any products, services or organizations. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
For more than a century-and-a-half, the forests, streams, and hollows of the Appalachian Mountains have been scraped and gashed to unearth their heart of rich black coal. These lumps of hydrocarbons historically played a vital role in America’s electricity mix, accounting for a third of the country’s energy production as recently as 2008. But over the past decade, a devastating combination of forces has pummeled the industry, from cheap natural gas and the falling cost of renewables to growing public pressure to respond to the climate crisis. U.S. coal production has dropped 40 percent since its peak 12 years ago, and the commodity accounted for only 14 percent of the country’s electricity generation last year. With the coronavirus pandemic now stalling energy demand, coal production has dropped about 26 percent in the past 12 months alone, perhaps ringing the death knell for coal as an energy source in America. “The pandemic has even further depressed the use of energy, and oil prices have collapsed, making it even more difficult to compete,” said Ohio Coal Association president Mike Cope, who estimated a strong industry would need to provide a third of the country’s energy. “Nothing really to cheer about in the coal industry these days.” Hit with another wave of bankruptcies, King Coal is on its deathbed. But even as it fades away, the industry could land a final, painful blow to communities and the environment in Appalachia. An investigation by DeSmog has found that several key financial instruments meant to guarantee environmental cleanup have been pushed to the brink of insolvency, potentially leaving taxpayers on the hook for hundreds of millions — if not billions — of dollars in reclamation costs. Even as coal companies go bankrupt and walk away, a federal law passed in 1977 created an ostensibly fail-safe system to fund future cleanups: Mining companies put up millions of dollars in security deposits intended to pay for reclaiming individual mines. These funds, called bonds, usually come as surety policies, which are provided by insurance companies and guarantee a third party will fill pits, seal shafts, and mitigate water and air pollution. But DeSmog has found that the bonding system now faces dangerous levels of risk. The large insurance companies that once wrote surety policies are fleeing the industry, allowing a few insurance providers to take on much more liability than they can handle. If enough coal companies go under, it will set off a chain reaction, taking these insurance companies down with them. As a last line of defense to protect taxpayers, coal companies in six Appalachian and Midwestern states also pay into shared pots of money meant to backstop cleanup costs. But the amount of money companies are mandated to pay into these funds has been vastly under-calculated, and these bond pools are also facing insolvency. Bond pools are a vestige of “a different industry,” explained Matt Hepler, a Virginia-based organizer and scientist with Appalachian Voices, a nonprofit that advocates for communities and the environment in coal country. “They were designed when coal was booming. They were not designed to handle an industry-wide collapse.” Precarious bond pools, already inadequate bonds, and surety providers playing a risky game are a dangerous combination. “It’s a house of cards,” Hepler said. The twilight of the coal barons As coal companies go bankrupt and production drops, under-capitalized companies are scavenging what’s left. In West Virginia, that’s the story of nursing home operator-turned-mining magnate Tom Clarke, who arrived on the scene after coal had already begun its free fall. The heart of Clarke’s plan was to acquire nearly worthless Central Appalachian coal mines from companies seeking to shed liability, such as bankrupt Patriot Coal in 2015, and sell the remaining coal to pay for environmental cleanup. From the beginning, he operated on a razor’s edge, with barely enough staff and cash. His companies were regularly out of compliance with state and federal environment laws. Earlier this year, a Clarke-run company called ERP Environmental Fund laid off all its employees and effectively abandoned its mines, including more than 100 permits. At its peak in 2015, ERP had 217 full-time employees, a number that had dropped to 65 by last year, according to data from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. With ERP’s collapse, the Mountain State now faces the possibility of shouldering more than $100 million in cleanup costs. Clarke did not respond to multiple requests for comment. In late March, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection petitioned the courts to place ERP into receivership, meaning a judge would appoint an agent to manage the failed company. A spokesperson for the department declined to comment. The agency’s court filings have painted a picture of shirked responsibilities. Division of Mining and Reclamation Director Harold Ward stated in one document that “without immediate and decisive action” the mess left at ERP’s mines would “threaten imminent and identifiable harm to the environment and the public health and safety.” The Martinka mine, an ERP site in northern West Virginia, represents that looming disaster. According to regulators, it costs nearly $900,000 annually to pump and treat polluted water draining from the mine. But ERP was only sporadically maintaining its pumps. The deteriorating situation compelled West Virginia to step in earlier this year and begin paying for pump maintenance on behalf of ERP, or else risk the system failing to contain the pollution. “This would result in contaminated water discharging into the receiving stream that is the source of drinking water for thousands of West Virginians within a matter of weeks if not days,” Ward stated in the agency’s court filings, further warning that all the company’s mines in West Virginia could deteriorate to Martinka’s level. The state environment department “stands poised at the precipice” of having to wipe out ERP’s permits, tap into its bonds, and fall back on West Virginia’s bond pool, according to its court filings. This could result in “financially overwhelming the Special Reclamation Fund, the State’s principal backstop for all revoked and forfeited mine sites in West Virginia.” According to a January 2019 report prepared by the state board overseeing West Virginia’s bond pool, the fund was worth $61.6 million, and a related fund focused on water pollution held $112.4 million. It’s impossible to know exactly how much coal mine cleanup and water treatment will cost across West Virginia, although the state estimates that reclaiming its abandoned coal mines could come with a bill of $1.8 billion. This is on top of hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars in costs associated with active and recently closed mines, including those owned by ERP. According to the board’s 2019 report, these funds were adequate to cover the projected cost of mine cleanup, and the state didn’t need to increase fees assessed on the industry to top up those pots of money. But regulators now admit that a single company’s demise might wipe out the entire bond pool. West Virginia’s not alone The other five states with bond pools — Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Maryland — aren’t in much better shape. “It seems like each state right now has its own actor that is jeopardizing its bond pool in Appalachia,” Hepler said. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and his family own companies that hold 39 coal mine permits in Virginia, most sitting idle and pockmarking ridges along the border with Kentucky. They’ve racked up about 800 violations since 2012 for regulatory noncompliance ranging from water pollution to insufficient monitoring, according to documents provided by the state’s Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy. While the fund has about $10 million backing cleanup at more than 43,000 acres of disturbed land, a 2017 report from the state found that mines belonging to one of the Justice family’s companies would cost $134 million to reclaim, a sum almost entirely guaranteed by the bond pool. A recent, conservative analysis by Hepler found that this dollar figure had likely dropped but still left the pool backing more than $100 million. Justice’s spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment. In Kentucky, the bankruptcy of two companies formerly run by coal baron Jeff Hoops, Blackjewel and Revelation Energy — which inspired 2019’s “No pay, we stay!” protests — threaten the state’s roughly $50 million bond pool. In January and February, the Kentucky Cabinet of Energy and Environment wrote to the bankruptcy court, alleging that the companies flouted their cleanup duties and stopped paying their bond pool fees. Analyzing just 20 percent of the firms’ permits, the state found that their bonds combined would be $38 million short of covering reclamation even on that fraction. Phone numbers associated with Hoops, Blackjewel, and Revelation Energy have been disconnected, and the bankruptcy attorney for the companies didn’t respond to requests for comment. Josh Macey, a Cornell Law School assistant professor who has researched coal bankruptcies, said mine bosses who are willing to take on liabilities and be hit with myriad violations represent the latter days of a dying industry. “It’s almost a misnomer to call the things they have ‘assets,’” he said, “because that suggests that they have value.” If companies go bankrupt, they won’t immediately saddle taxpayers with the full value of their cleanup costs because remaining profitable assets would be sold. But if even a fraction of the cleanup bill lands with the state, it will drown these bond pools, DeSmog’s analysis of state records found. In Ohio, the state’s worst-case projections are already becoming reality. For years, state-commissioned reports have shown that it would take more than 150 years to build up enough financial reserves to handle its largest mining company going belly-up. That operator, Murray Energy, is already in bankruptcy protection, with more than $200 million in environmental liabilities backed by the fund. An attorney for Murray Energy declined to comment. Ohio’s bond pool guarantees about $545 million in coal mine cleanup costs, according to a 2019 actuarial report, but is only worth $22.2 million. “It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy,” said Cope from the Ohio Coal Association. “As there’s less coal mined, there’s less money to put into these funds. If there’s a catastrophic bankruptcy, the fund will not be able to handle it.” One state west, Indiana regulators failed — in 2017 and again in 2018 — in their attempts to raise fees on active coal companies to mitigate their bond pool’s financial shortfall. As of December, Indiana’s fund sat around $1.4 million, only 7 percent of the roughly $19.1 million worth of cleanup costs it backs. In Maryland, a failing company handed its mines to the state, causing the bond pool to plummet from about $725,000 in 2018 to below $100,000 now. Jay Apperson, spokesperson for the state’s Department of the Environment, said that because the state’s per-acre bonding rates are among the highest in the region, it is less reliant on its bond pool to fund cleanups. The 1977 law governing coal mining leaves ultimate authority with federal regulators, however. A spokesperson from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, or OSMRE — the federal coal regulator — said the agency “is aware of the current financial difficulties,” but declined to answer any questions about its own inaction on the issue. Regulators ignored warning signs of an insurance bubble The insurance companies that back coal mine surety bonds have taken on more liability than they can handle, said Bob Mooney, who spent two decades as a coal regulator with both OSMRE and the state of Ohio. “The bonds are sort of immaterial because a lot of the surety companies will go under,” he said. “So, even though there’s a bond, there’s not.” In rare cases over the past several decades, surety providers themselves have gone bankrupt, throwing turmoil into the system. But the use of surety bonds has increased in recent years. A 2018 report from the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, found that 76 percent of the more than $10 billion in coal cleanup bonds are held as sureties. Over the past five years, that liability has been dangerously consolidated in an ever-shrinking number of insurance companies. Fewer than a half-dozen insurers now actively issue surety policies, according to Macey and others within the surety industry. “Given how few surety companies remain active, there’s obviously a risk that they’re not financially capable of performing,” Macey said. That potential has become a reality, according to a surety broker who has worked with the coal industry for years and requested anonymity to speak candidly about contracts between coal mining companies and surety providers. The broker explained that major insurance companies, such as Zurich Insurance Group and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, are extracting themselves from the coal surety market. Walking away is an easy decision for large insurance providers, the broker said, because these bonds represent only a small percentage of their business. While the law doesn’t allow insurers to simply cancel surety policies, some companies now ask for high levels of collateral from coal companies to properly reflect the risk. “They don’t win business on their rates,” the broker said of how insurance companies attract mining clients. “They win business by the amount of collateral they require.” This incentive system helped create a race to the bottom, with smaller insurance firms gobbling up large amounts of coal business. Insurance providers make quick money on premiums but, if faced with their coal customers going under, they may topple in a manner similar to the failure of the subprime mortgage bundles that helped kick off the 2008 recession. Indemnity National Insurance Company is the poster child for this system. The firm accepts high levels of liability from risky coal miners, including in the ERP case in West Virginia. State officials said that if they tried to use the company’s sureties for cleanup, which is how the system is meant to work, the move could end up “potentially bankrupting the Defendant’s principal surety,” Indemnity. A 2016 press release from KEWA Financial, Indemnity’s parent company, described KEWA as a mining-focused reinsurer that “has identified a unique opportunity to build a low-risk environmental surety business in an industry perceived to be high-risk.” But their risk is far from low. Indemnity backs about $125 million in surety bonds for ERP, as well as $400 million worth of policies with companies currently or formerly associated with Hoops, the Kentucky coal magnate. This is according to data from West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia regulators, gathered in recent months by the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and Appalachian Voices and shared with DeSmog. Indemnity guarantees more than $900 million in coal surety bonds for 38 companies across the three states. “If Indemnity National goes in the tank — with the number of bonds they have with these other companies — these other companies are not going to be able to replace them. They’re just not,” the surety broker said. That worst-case scenario would push the coal industry into unprecedented territory and would leave hundreds of millions of dollars in cleanup liability unprotected. “The bonding companies were never making an assessment of what their risk was,” said Pat McGinley, a West Virginia University law professor with more than 40 years’ experience dealing with the coal industry. “So, they were backing bonds far beyond their ability to pay if there was a bankruptcy.” Representatives of Indemnity and its associated entities — Cumberland Surety and KEWA Financial, which is partly registered in Barbados, an offshore tax haven — did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment. The warning signs were there The fall of ERP in West Virginia has helped expose a potential surety bubble, but warning signs were laid at the feet of state and federal regulators years ago. When an insurance provider called Frontier Insurance Company lost its listing with the U.S. Treasury in 2000, OSMRE and regulators in West Virginia and elsewhere around Appalachia had to scramble to find other providers to pick up its surety policies. Ten years later, Travelers, a large surety provider, wrote to OSMRE, telling the agency that severely insufficient bonds spelled trouble for surety providers and states. “They also pose a risk to those state programs with bond pools with the possibility of draining or even bankrupting state bond pools in the event of default,” the company wrote. By 2013, staff at OSMRE seemed to have gotten the message loud and clear, as an agency higher-up’s presentation at a mining conference warned that there was already a “lack of diversity in the surety industry: too few companies holding all the bonds.” Regulators still have the legal authority to demand that coal companies fork over adequate bonds and that insurance companies only accept risk they can handle. But further stressing the remnants of the coal industry could push more companies into bankruptcy, making it even more likely that no one will properly clean up and shut down these mines. “Who pays? The damaged environment? The communities that are blighted by unreclaimed mine sites?” McGinley said. “It’s the end of the road, so where’s the money coming from? This was all foreseeable.”
Trail of Ancient Times - Døeshøjene 4 km. northwest of Holstebro there are 27 protected burial mounds and 12 plowed burial mounds. The area is known under the name Døeshøjene. The most striking highs are the over 100 m long high, Langemette, and the large high with the flat plateau, Bredhøj. Bredhøj was archaeologically excavated in 1885. In the mound, four graves were found from Elder Bronze Age (1700-1100 BC). There was both a oak coffin grave and a planked chamber grave in the hill. The oak box contained a dagger and a wool belt, which is now available at the National Museum, while the plank box contained textiles, horn comb, draws, drinking horn, and a dagger and a bronze ax. Bredhøj's characteristic flat top reminds us of religious ceremonies that may have taken place on the hill. Therefore, the mound is also called a "dance mound".
All About Signal Jammers and How They Work Signal jammers are gadgets that are used mainly to interrupt or dislocate radio signals. Usually, people use signal jammers to disrupt cellular phones from receiving and transmitting signals. It is easy to disable cellular phones with these signal jammers because they are wireless and they can be used in any location. Wireless local area networks or WLAN signals can also be intercepted by these signal jammers. Because of this ability to interfere with wireless local area network signals, manufacturers have also developed other types of jammers like Bluetooth jammers and Wi-Fi and wireless video jammers. Now, even satellites can be jammed; you only need to have high-tech and sophisticated types of signal jammers to do so. Usually, devices which are in good working condition will make it difficult for signal jammers to interfere with its signals. Government also uses and regulates these signal jammers and are intended to jam cellular phone communication lines only. It is only the receiving end of the cell phone and its base station that is affected by a signal jammer. The electromagnetic wave of a signal jammer is relatively small that it does not really have an effect on the human body or on the cell phone itself. There can only be health risks if you use bigger signal jammers like outdoor signal stations. The cellular phone jammer is the most common signal jammer available. The cell phone signal jammer works by blocking radio waves so that the signal from the base station to the cell phone is interfered with. The distance covered by this signal jammer is from 10 meters to a kilometer. The GPS signal jammer is another commonly used jammer. In order to confuse GPS tracking locations, the military uses GPS jammers. It is not possible to make homemade GPS signal jammers. If a person does not want to be tracked by a GPS receiver, he can use a GPS signal jammers in order to hide his location and the location of his vehicle. Civilian GPS jammers are only good up to ten meters. in order to jam Wi-Fi signals and video, people use Bluetooth jammers which are usually integrated with multi-functional jammers. It disrupts and disables wireless LAN, Bluetooth devices, and video transmitting, for privacy. The prices of these signal jammers and relatively low and that is why it is getting popular with people today and are used repeatedly. You can find websites online that sells signal jammers are affordable costs. If you wish to buy a cellular phone signal jammers you can get the cheapest at less than fifty dollars and the highest price would be less than a hundred and fifty. More information: dig this
Enhancing the Availability and Use of Information for Decision Making Pharmaceutical systems and the health system in general in many low- and middle-income countries suffer from poor data availability and accessibility. Typically, data are manually collected at service delivery points and then sent to the district, regional, or Ministry level for processing and storage with the hope that they will be captured electronically and analyzed. However, these collected data often become outdated and are not analyzed or used to inform decision making. USAID MTaPS is designed to change this poor data cycle by improving local capacity for data governance, analytics, interoperability, and integration. This will help to streamline data collection, collation, and analysis; improve data availability and accessibility; and help countries reap the benefits of evidence-based decision making.
Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books. Druids : A Very Short Introduction (original 2010; edition 2010) Druids: A Very Short Introduction by Barry Cunliffe (2010) References to this work on external resources. Wikipedia in English Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0199539405, Paperback)The Druids have been known and discussed for at least 2400 years, first by Greek writers and later by the Romans, who came in contact with them in Gaul and Britain. According to these sources, they were a learned caste who officiated in religious ceremonies, taught the ancient wisdoms, and were revered as philosophers. But few figures flit so elusively through history, and the Druids remain enigmatic and puzzling to this day. In this Very Short Introduction, one of the leading authorities on British archaeology, Barry Cunliffe, takes the reader on a fast-paced look at the ever-fascinating story of the Druids, as seen in the context of the times and places in which they practiced. Sifting through the evidence, Cunliffe offers an expert's best guess as to what can be said and what can't be said about the Druids, discussing the origins of the Druids and the evidence for their beliefs and practices, why the nature of the druid caste changed quite dramatically over time, and how successive generations have seen them in very different ways. (retrieved from Amazon Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:06:18 -0400) Who were the Druids? What do we know about them? Do they still exist today? The Druids first came into focus in Western Europe - Gaul, Britain, and Ireland - in the second century BC. They are a popular subject; they have been known and discussed for over 2,000 years and few figures flit so elusively through history. They are enigmatic and puzzling, partly because of the lack of knowledge about them has resulted in a wide spectrum of interpretations. (summary from another edition) Is this you? Become a LibraryThing Author.
THE existence of sympatric speciation—that populations diverge into species in the absence of physical or ecological barriers—is controversial1–6. The East African Great Lakes harbour hundreds of cichlid species representing only a few monophyletic lineages7,8, although palaeolimnological evidence9–11 and local restrictions on species distribution12 suggest that speciation in these lakes could have been allopatric13,14. The case for sympatry in restricted areas of Lakes Malawi and Tanganyika is stronger15–17 but not unassailable. A better case might be made for cichlid species flocks in small, ecologically monotonous crater lakes. Here we present a mitochondrial DNA analysis of cichlid species flocks endemic to two such lakes in Cameroon. The results suggest that the flocks in each lake are monophyletic: the implication being that each lake was colonized once only, the size and shape of each lake being such that subsequent diversification would have been sympatric. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Subscribe to this journal Receive 51 print issues and online access $199.00 per year only $3.90 per issue Rent or buy this article Prices vary by article type Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Similar content being viewed by others Futuyma, D. J. & Mayer, G. C. Sysl. Zool. 29, 254–271 (1980). Grant, P. R. & Grant, B. R. in Speciation and its Consequences (eds Otte, D. & Endler, J. A.) 433–457 (Sinauer, Sunderland, MA, 1989). Felsenstein, J. Evolution 35, 124–138 (1981). Coyne, J. A. Nature 355, 511–515 (1992). Otte, D, & Endler, J. A. (eds) Speciation and its Consequences (Sinauer, Sunderland, MA, (1989). Kondrashow, A. S. & Mina, V. M. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 27, 201–223 (1986). Meyer, A., Kocher, T. D., Basasibwaki, P. & Wilson, A. C. Nature 347, 550–553 (1990). Nishida, M. Experientia 47, 974–979 (1991). Livingstone, D. A. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 6, 249–280 (1975). Owen, R. B. et al. Proc. R. Soc. B 240, 519–553 (1990). Tiercelin, J.-J. & Mondeguer, A. in Lake Tanganyika and its Life (ed. Coulter, G. W.) 7–48 (Oxford Univ. Press, London, 1991). Ribbink, A. J., March, B. A., Marsh, A. C., Ribbink, B. J. & Sharp, B. J. S. Afr. J. Zool. 18, 1–180 (1983). Rice, W. R. & Salt, G. W. Evolution 44, 1140–1152 (1990). Mayr, E. in Evolution of Fish Species Flocks (eds Echelle, A. A. & Kornfield, I.) 3–11 (Univ. of Maine Press, Orono, 1984). McKaye, K. R., Kocher, T., Reinthal, P. & Kornfield, I. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 76, 91–96 (1982). McKaye, K. R., Kocher, T., Reinthal, P., Harrison, R. & Kornfield, I. Evolution 38, 215–219 (1984). Sturmbauer, C. & Meyer, A. Nature 358, 578–581 (1992). Trewavas, E., Green, J. & Corbet, S. A. J. Zool., Lond. 167, 41–95 (1972). Stiassny, M., Schliewen, U. K. & Dominey, W. Ichthyol. exp. Freshwaters 3, 311–346 (1992). Dominey, W. & Snyder, A. M. Env. Biol. Fish. 22, 155–160 (1988). Greenwood, P. H. Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool.) 53, 139–203 (1987). Thys van den Audenaerde, D. F. Rev. Zool. Bot, Afr. 82, 285–300 (1970). Kling, G. W. thesis, Duke Univ., Princeton (1987). Maynard Smith, J. Am. Nat. 100, 637–650 (1966). Pimm, W. L. J. Linn. Soc. 11, 131–139 (1979). Seger, J. in Evolution, Essays in Honour of John Maynard Smith (eds Greenwood, P. J., Harvey, P. H. & Slatkin, M.) 43–53 (Cambridge Univ. Press, UK, 1985). Udovic, D. Am. Nat. 116, 621–641 (1980). Rice, W. R. Evol. Ecol. 1, 301–314 (1987). McKaye, K. R. Env. Biol. Fish. 5, 75–78 (1980). Meyer, A. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 39, 279–299 (1990). Kling, G. W. Limnol. Oceanogr. 33, 27–40 (1988). Hassert, K. Z. Ges. Erdk. Berl. 1912, 7–41, 135–144, 203–216 (1912). Trewavas, E. Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool.) 26, 331–419 (1984). Teugels, G., Reid, G. & King, R. K. Ann. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr., Sci. Zool. 266, 1–132 (1992). Pääbo, S., Gifford, J. A. & Wilson, A. C. Nucleic Acids Res. 16, 9775–9787 (1988). Thomas, R. H., Schaffner, W., Wilson, A. C. & Pääbo, S. Nature 340, 465–467 (1989). Kocher, T. D. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 6196–6200 (1989). Bachmann, B., Lücke, W. & Hunsmann, G. Nucl. Acids Res. 5, 1309 (1990). Felsenstein, J. P. Version 3.3 (Univ. Washington, Seattle, 1990). Felsenstein, J. Evolution 39, 783–791 (1985). About this article Cite this article Schliewen, U., Tautz, D. & Pääbo, S. Sympatric speciation suggested by monophyly of crater lake cichlids. Nature 368, 629–632 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/368629a0 This article is cited by Diversification Rate is Associated with Rate of Molecular Evolution in Ray-Finned Fish (Actinopterygii) Journal of Molecular Evolution (2022) East African cichlid lineages (Teleostei: Cichlidae) might be older than their ancient host lakes: new divergence estimates for the east African cichlid radiation BMC Evolutionary Biology (2019) The origin and future of an endangered crater lake endemic; phylogeography and ecology of Oreochromis hunteri and its invasive relatives
- What can I do to protect my computer against viruses? - How do I know if my computer is infected with a virus? - What should I do if my campus workstation has a virus? - What should I do if my home computer has a virus? - Where can I get anti-virus software for my home computer? - If my computer is not connected to the Internet, can it be infected with a virus? - If a virus reaches my computer, does this mean it is infected? - Why would someone I know send me a virus? - How can I distinguish a hoax from a real virus? - What should I do if I receive a virus hoax? A. The best defense against virus attacks is to install an anti-virus software on your computer and keep it up-to-date. Also, it is important to apply the latest security patches to the applications installed on your computer. Patches fix vulnerabilities which are potential entry points for viruses and other computer threats. A. There are signs that can be symptomatic of a virus infection in a computer (general slowdown, missing files, etc). However, the best way to know if your computer is infected is to use a good, updated anti-virus software to scan your system. A. If your workstation is infected with a virus, please turn it off and contact your college ITC or the ITS Help Desk (3-6170) for assistance. Do not use your workstation until it has been disinfected. A. Make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date and scan your computer. A. To obtain anti-virus software for home use, please visit the Desktop Protection page. A. Yes, you can still get a virus from any type of removable device (floppy disk, zip disk, CD, etc.), especially when transferring files from one computer to another. It is good practice to always scan a removable device before opening a file from it or copying the file to your computer. A. Not necessarily; just because a virus has entered your computer, it does not mean that it has been activated. Most viruses infect a computer when they are opened or executed. A. Most e-mail viruses will come from somebody you know because the majority of viruses propagate by sending themselves to people in the infected person's Address Book. Usually, this occurs without the knowledge of the sender. A. Hoaxes are not viruses and take no damaging action on your computer. A hoax is simply a message warning you of a non-existent virus that anti-virus programs cannot detect. To learn more, visit the Types of Threats page. A. If you receive a hoax, keep the following in mind: pay no attention to the content of the message; do not follow any of the advice or instructions in the message; do not forward it to anyone; delete the message.
Cursor For Loop The following procedure is followed in most of the situations in PL/SQL: - Open a cursor - Start a loop - Fetch the cursor - Check whether rows are returned - Close the loop - Close the cursor Cursor For Loop allows us to simplify this procedure by letting PL/SQL do most of the things for us. You can simplify coding by using a Cursor For Loop instead of the OPEN, FETCH, and CLOSE statements. A Cursor For Loop implicitly declares its loop index as a record that represents a row fetched from the database. Next, it opens a cursor, repeatedly fetches rows of values from the result set into fields in the record, and then closes the cursor when all rows have been processed. Cursor For Loop Example DECLARE CURSOR c1 IS SELECT ename, sal, deptno FOR emp_rec IN c1 LOOP salary_total := salary_total + Another example of Cursor For Loop Let us rewrite the example (used in Cursors with Parameters) again using Cursor For Loop
The phrase, “humans are the weakest link in security” is one we’ve all heard by now. It’s proving to be very much the case as hackers are increasingly targeting humans instead of their network perimeter. Many recent security incidents have been either triggered by a spear phishing attack or social engineering activity in which the end user was talked into sharing their personal and/or confidential information. Awareness is the first key step of any successful cybersecurity program by helping mitigate the risk of breaches and security policy violations. Governments have also realized the importance of cybersecurity. Every October, Public Safety Canada runs cybersecurity awareness campaigns that have been internationally recognized. The campaign aims to help Canadians be more secure online through education about the simple steps to protect ourselves, our families, our workplaces, and our devices. This month’s themes highlight five different aspects of cybersecurity: 1) Our Internet, our Cybersecurity 2) Buy Secure 3) Our Data is Valuable 4) Our Critical Eye and the Internet 5) Our Future in Cyber Security As part of the shared CISO initiative at ORION, we have been working closely with the participating institutions on developing an integrated security awareness framework. As part of October’s Cyber Security Awareness month, ORION is promoting the importance of cybersecurity awareness in the research and education sectors. This month, many universities and colleges are conducting activities and compiling helpful resources for their staff, students, and faculty members to be more cyber secure. Here are a few highlights. I encourage you to either attend these events, get inspired to run your own, or reach out to find out more! Niagara College is launching a phishing threat simulation as well as conducting the following activities: - Posting cybersecurity tips onto their website - Designing posters that communicate cybersecurity messages, tips, and hints to be more secure online - Developing a newsletter to send to students and staff on cybersecurity that highlights current threats in the wild Brock University has planned many security awareness sessions for their staff, students, and faculty which focus on: - IoT (Internet of Things) - iOS Mobile Devices - Social Media: Think Before you Post - You are the Target They are also holding a poster competition for students to submit their posters on cybersecurity and compete in a quiz named “Big Wheel” in which players can test their knowledge on cybersecurity and compete for fun prizes. OCAD University set up an IT security page for students, faculty, and staff to access helpful resources on being more secure online. Posters designed for the page will be displayed to remind visitors to protect their devices, backup their data, and to never share personal information online for freebies. These institutions are carrying important initiatives to educate the members of their community to be smarter, safer, and more protected online. Join us as we learn more about the different aspects of cybersecurity this month!
Gemelli Careri, an Italian adventurer, circled the world in the late 17th century. No part of his journey was more dangerous than the trip from Manila to Acapulco, made in 1697 on one of the deep-drafted, many-sailed boats known as the Manila Galleons. These trading ships spent more than two centuries delivering spices and luxury goods from Asia to the New World and Europe, earning enormous profits for their financiers, mostly Spanish colonists in Manila. But here is Careri’s description from Giro del Mondo (1699) of what life was like for their sailors: There is Hunger, Thirst, Sickness, Cold, continual Watching, and other Sufferings … [The sailors] endure all the plagues God sent upon Pharaoh to soften his hard heart; the Ship swarms with little Vermine, the Spaniards call Gorgojos, bred in the Bisket … if Moses miraculously converted his Rod into a Serpent, aboard the Galeon a piece of Flesh, without any Miracle is converted into Wood, and in the shape of a Serpent. The journey was interminable, the sea was unruly, the food infested. ‘Abundance of poor Sailors fell Sick,’ Careri writes. As a paying passenger, he would have had slightly better conditions than most of the crew. But status didn’t provide much safety: by the end of his journey, two officers, one pilot’s mate and the Captain Commander were buried at sea, their bodies dragged down by earthen jars tied around their ankles. The captain died of a disease known as ‘Berben’, which according to Careri ‘swells the Body, and makes the Patient dye talking’. The second disease, and the most dangerous to the galleon’s sailors, ‘is called the Dutch Disease, which makes the Mouth sore, putrefies the Gums, and makes the Teeth drop out’. This one is more familiar – we know it as scurvy. For most of its two and a half centuries in operation, the galleon’s sailors died in droves of these and other heinous maladies, teeth rattling from their heads, boils blooming on their limbs like black flowers. The Berkeley historian Jan DeVries found that some 2 million Europeans made trading voyages to Asia between 1580 and 1795. Of these, only 920,412 survived: an overall mortality rate of 54 per cent. European companies, DeVries concludes, sacrificed one human life for every 4.7 tons of Asian cargo returned to Europe. Of course, the Europeans spread their diseases when they travelled, and made liberal use of violence, so the suffering of the people they ‘discovered’ was even more awful than their own. But no less than colonialism itself, the unrelenting horrors of these sailors’ lives helped forge the world we live in. The first Manila Galleon made the round trip between Acapulco and Manila in 1565, and then did it nearly every year until 1815. It was the last link connecting the Earth’s human populations. ‘As soon as the Spanish arrive in Manila,’ says Arturo Giráldez, professor of Spanish literature at the University of the Pacific in California, ‘we have a permanent connection between all the landmasses.’ Though much of the history of European exploration is told through fantastic tales of overland quests for cities of gold, the galleons, their owners and their crews had no more mythical or lofty goals than Maersk or other giant merchant shipping concerns do today. It was the seaborne quest for trade that bound the far reaches of the globe together, and it is trade that has kept the world connected. Foremost among the objects of trade were spices. After being introduced to benighted Europe from the Middle East during the Crusades, Asian spices became spectacularly prized for both their taste and their purported medical benefits. For decades, the most desired spices, including nutmeg and clove, were grown only on tiny Pacific islands called the Moluccas. They came to Europe through complex overland chains of Asian and Arab middlemen, who each took exorbitant premiums. Europeans soon realised that they had the means to cut out those middlemen: spectacularly advanced maritime technology. Trade in the Mediterranean had relied since antiquity on slow-moving galleys, driven by oars, hard to steer, and with shallow drafts that made them unfit for the open ocean. But advances starting in the seventh century had deepened keels, multiplied sails, and made rudders sturdier. This new breed of ship, which would become the backbone of the galleon trade, was fast and manoeuvrable, able to withstand stormy seas while carrying huge amounts of cargo and large cast guns. Leveraging this new technology, the Portuguese reached the spice islands of Southeast Asia by sailing around Africa in the 15th century. The 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas prevented the world’s other then-great power, Spain, from taking the same route – so they started searching for a westward path, by way of the New World. The first to confront the task was Ferdinand Magellan, one of the explorers least due the reverence granted by grade-school history lessons. Magellan’s Spanish fleet (he himself was Portuguese, real name Fernão de Magalhães) left Seville in 1519, rounding the tip of South America and crossing to Asia in 99 days. Even that brief journey was more than Magellan had prepared for: by the time the fleet reached Guam, his sailors were gnawing on the leather fittings of their sails out of hunger. Worse, Magellan didn’t know how to sail back to Mexico. Today’s carbon-fuelled ships can largely ignore the forces swirling around them, and simply follow the straightest possible line to their destination. But in the age of sail, wind and currents were a ships’ fuel. Corralled by the great forces of lunar gravitation, climate, and the Earth’s rotation, the oceans travel great looping paths that remain steady for centuries. These were the highways of European exploration and trade. While Magellan had known where to find the westward current to Asia, he didn’t know the way back. On 27 April 1521, Magellan got himself killed in a local conflict in the Philippines, and his fleet fell apart. His ship, the Trinidad, attempted to sail back across the Pacific the way it had come. It spent months being pushed back to Asia – the naval equivalent of trying to climb up the down escalator – before the crew finally surrendered in despair to local Portuguese forces. The second ship, the Victoria, took an existing westward route home, rounding Africa and returning to Spain in September 1522, completing the first full circumnavigation of the Earth. It was a historic milestone, but no model for a profitable trade route. For that, the Spanish needed to find the return route from Manila to Mexico, the eastward leg of the Pacific Gyre. They spent decades searching for it, before finally succeeding thanks to the sailor-monk Andrés de Urdaneta. A different breed altogether from Magellan, and far more deserving of memorialisation, Urdaneta was thoughtful and devout. He had stayed for 9 years on the Moluccas after an ill-fated 1525 Spanish expedition, so he knew the region well. He was 66 and a man of the cloth in Mexico City when, in 1564, the Spanish crown drafted him to help finish Magellan’s work. Urdaneta served as pilot of a small fleet under the command of Miguel López de Legazpi. The fleet, first following Magellan’s route westward from Mexico, captured the Philippines for Spain, and established Manila as a Spanish commercial base. In 1565, acting on local knowledge gleaned during his lengthy stranding on the Moluccas, he guided one ship, the San Pablo, north from Manila along the coast of Japan. There, he found the northward Kuroshio Current – the first leg of a great watery highway that soon turned eastward, towards Mexico. This, at last, was the long-dreamed of tornaviaje, or return. Finding it was Urdaneta’s greatest accomplishment. the galleons’ amazing profitability showed, long before Adam Smith, that national specialisation was the source of wealth: those who conquered the distance between regions could reap it The narrow thread of force that connected Manila to Acapulco was, as it turns out, much less friendly to humans than its westward counterpart. The 11,500 miles Urdaneta crossed while returning to Mexico was then the longest sea journey ever made without landing. He took on no fresh water or food for more than four months. Much of the journey, as Careri would attest more than a century later, was both stormy and frigid. By the time they reached land again, Urdaneta’s crew was exhausted and malnourished. What they weren’t, mostly, was dead. In light of what followed, this is astounding. One or two ships sailed Urdaneta’s route each year for the next two and a half centuries. The Manila Galleons were immensely profitable, with the lion’s share of the proceeds flowing to the Spanish colonists in Manila who financed and organised the trade. The ships arrived from Mexico laden with silver, which the Chinese badly needed for their rapidly expanding monetary system. They returned carrying not just Indonesian spice – Spain’s original object – but Chinese silk and porcelain, and Japanese jewels and preserves. In Manila, life was leisurely, even beautiful. The work of administering the galleons took up only two or three months of a year, with the rest of the colonists’ time given purely to lavish parties, carriage rides, and social intrigue. The Spanish were singularly indolent occupiers, developing no aspect of the local economy except the galleon trade. They couldn’t even be bothered to dig up the Philippines’ gold, currently calculated as the third largest reserve in the world. They were interested in profit, not in shaping the lives of the people they colonised. Though just as one-dimensional as the conquer-and-plunder approach taken elsewhere by the Spanish, the Philippine occupation was different in one crucial way: the resource they were exploiting was not Manila’s metal, spice or opium, but its location between the spice islands, China and the New World. Europe was still in the grip of a mercantilist economic ideology that valued exports over multilateral trade. But the galleons’ amazing profitability showed, long before Adam Smith wrote it down, that national specialisation was the source of wealth, and those who conquered the distance between regions could reap that wealth. The galleons ushered in global capitalism in another, bleaker way. Friedrich Engels, observing the disease, malnourishment and suffering rampant in London’s nightmarish 19th-century slums, would write that ‘everything which here arouses horror and indignation is of recent origin, belongs to the industrial epoch’. Engels was wrong. The age of sail gave us the same kind of horror, or worse. The crossing that Urdaneta first completed in four months took longer for the less savvy sailors who followed in his wake: five months, sometimes as many as eight, with no fresh water but from rain, and no fresh food but from the sea. Never before had humans been so isolated from their natural environment, for so long, in such numbers. Centuries before the slums of industrial Europe, the trade ships of the Pacific were full of sailors rolling in their own shit, starving to death, and ravaged by disease – a Breugellian vista of Hell, compacted into a boat. At times, the dangers grew too great. In 1657, the San Jose was found drifting off the coast of Acapulco, every last crewman and passenger dead. The typical provisions of a trading ship consisted of salted, preserved meat, a variety of beans, wine, oil and vinegar and, usually in scant portions, luxuries such as honey, chocolate, rice, almonds, and raisins. But the most famous staple was hardtack, or ship’s biscuit. This was a sort of primitive granola bar made by baking a dense dough until it was hard as a rock. The process was supposed to preserve it, but the sea was merciless. ‘In every Mouthful,’ said Careri, ‘There went down abundance of Maggots, and Gorgojas chew’d and bruis’d.’ Gorgojo now means weevil, but there are multiple contemporary accounts of them feeding on crewmembers, so that meaning might have shifted. Regardless, various tiny creatures constantly besieged sailors’ veins and food supplies. Careri also describes soups swimming with ‘worms of several sorts’, and beans infested with maggots. The sailors had little option but to dig in. their flesh began to decompose before their eyes, skin taking on the soft touch of fungus Fishing provided psychological relief from this nightmare, but didn’t solve the underlying, disastrous problem: the total lack of fruit and vegetables. A certain amount was loaded on departure from Manila, but this was reserved almost exclusively for officers, and consumed within weeks. Those aboard could not have understood the chemistry or biology that made this so deadly. They saw only the consequences. At around the third month without landfall, the sailors’ gums would begin to swell, while their energy flagged. As their condition progressed, the gum tissue became so swollen that sailors sometimes cut large chunks from their own mouths – and felt nothing. As lethargy overwhelmed them, the rest of their flesh began to decompose before their eyes, skin taking on the soft touch of fungus, and black ulcers swelling from it. This was followed by multiple organ failure and, ultimately, death. Many between the 16th and 19th century reckoned scurvy a consequence of the malodorous vapours of the Pacific. Careri and many others knew that ‘the best remedy against it, is going ashore’ but exactly why wasn’t known. A scattered few had observed that fresh fruit cured the disease, but many seamen thought burying a victim up to the neck in dirt was also a powerful cure. Even as their crews rotted alive, the galleons often carried Chinese ginger as part of their payload of prized spices. Though ginger was generally known for its medicinal as well as culinary properties, it was not understood that it is a source for ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, which is crucial to the body’s synthesis of collagen, the basic building block of our connective tissues and skin. In its absence, humans literally fall apart. Those not killed by scurvy were at risk from another inescapable element of life on the galleons: severe crowding. Priests, who had free passage as missionaries, were sometimes crammed into cabins so small they had to rest their heads on one another’s feet. In 1767, aboard the San Carlos, 62 Jesuits were confined to a space meant for 20. They were then joined by 25 soldiers and a small herd of pigs. And these were the privileged: most sailors were expected to simply cram themselves into any available corner. While all sea vessels are necessarily confined, the galleons had a particular problem. Space on these ships, especially on the return trip to Acapulco, was astronomically valuable. Their crowding embodied what the historian Jack Turner calls ‘the law of increasing exoticism’: ‘The further they travelled from their origins, the more interesting [spices and trade goods] became, the greater the passions they aroused, the higher their value.’ The returns on even small cargos from the East could be huge. This led to some amazingly inhumane decisions by those in charge. Careri describes huge shipboard cisterns, designed to both store and collect water on the journey, being smashed to make room for goods belonging to an officer’s friends. This was practically an act of murder: sailors’ ration of water was already a mere two pints a day. Frequently, ships sailed without backup sails and repair supplies, and it was common practice to store the guns to save space, making them useless for repelling pirates, which often lurked in wait of the galleons’ precious cargo. The most common product of severe crowding was infectious disease. Microbiotic fiends traversed the constantly moist membranes of passengers and sailors, breeding typhus (known as ‘ship fever’) and typhoid (a disease spread by fleas and ticks). These were later joined by new diseases of exploration such as yellow fever and syphilis, the latter discovered in the New World before spreading to Europe and, primarily by the galleons themselves, to Asia. Disease was exacerbated by a primitive view of cleanliness among Europeans of the age. Though latrines that cantilevered over the ocean were available on some galleons, many sailors didn’t use them, instead shitting into the ship’s bilge, or even in the general hold. In part, Careri tells us, that was because of the incessant, brutal cold. But this indifference was widespread. The French sailor François Pyrard de Laval wrote in 1610 that typical Portuguese ships around India were ‘mighty foul and stink withal; the most men not troubling themselves to go on deck for their necessities’. The lack of basic hygiene on ships illustrates the vast gap between early modern knowledge of geography and sailing on the one hand, and of the internal frontiers of the human body on the other. It was well-known that the world was round, part of the basis for the galleons’ amazing navigational leap. But few educated Europeans of the 16th and 17th century had more than the vaguest concepts of nutrition, infection, germs or the role of cleanliness in health. Most ships, even as late as the 18th century, relied for rudimentary medical help on a multitasking barber whose most effective tools were his enema syringe and tooth-puller. This had deep intellectual roots. For the 15th and most of the 16th century, medical authorities were engaged in a kind of backwards march, blindly deferential to the second-century Greek physician Galen. Galenistic medicine was based on the theory of the humours, a set of materials with various qualities that had to be balanced within the body. the sailors wore the yoke of global commerce, were worked to death, and then forgotten Advancement past this theory was hampered by a Papal ban on human dissection for research, not lifted until 1482. But a rationalistic approach to illness was, even then, centuries away. The Manila Galleons launched more than 30 years before the birth in 1596 of René Descartes, whose thinking would prove foundational for the very concept of an ‘experiment’. They launched precisely a century before Robert Boyle, in 1665, became the first to make biological use of the word ‘cell’. The connection between cleanliness and contagion wasn’t persuasively argued until John Pringle’s Observations on the Diseases of the Army (1752). The first controlled experiments showing the effectiveness of citrus fruits in preventing scurvy were performed by James Lind in 1747. In fact, they were the first properly controlled medical experiments ever conducted. But there was more than simple ignorance behind the suffering of the galleons’ sailors. The ships were often suspiciously overcrewed. They could be sailed by 40 or fewer, but carried crew complements of between 75 and, as the ships grew larger, 200. In Vanguard of Empire (1993), Roger C Smith points out that this overcrewing was due to the (correct) assumption that many of the crew would die. Providing better food was known to decrease mortality – emergency rations of higher quality were packed on all ships to aid the recovery of the ill (though Careri observed that most of that quickly ended up at the captain’s table). But providing higher quality food would have been a major expense for financiers, without greatly increasing the likelihood that a ship’s cargo would arrive intact – which is all that really mattered to them. In fact, since the bulk of salaries was paid only at the end of a round trip, allowing half of all crew to die would have been a double cost saving. And so the sailors wore the yoke of global commerce, were worked to death, and then forgotten. The Manila Galleon was ultimately undone by its own success. The route was eventually worked by ships of almost every European power, albeit illegally. Merchant competition for Asian goods drove up prices, while cheaper manufactured textiles undercut demand. In 1770, the Frenchman Pierre Poivre began successfully cultivating nutmeg and clove in the Indian Ocean, ending the spice monopoly of the Moluccas. The final decades of the Manila line were marked by frequent losses (both maritime and economic) and half-filled ships. The last galleon ran in 1815. By then, it was just one part of an expansive network of global shipping. Commercial steam power, which emerged in 1807 on the Hudson River, would eventually make that trade faster, more efficient – and much less deadly. The months-long Pacific crossing that killed a million men can now be made, even by the most leisurely of diesel container ships, in two weeks. Reliable global trade underpins the unprecedented affluence now shared by many humans. In a better world, it might have spread its benefits even more widely. But today’s robust network, and the technology that underpins it, would likely never have appeared without a template to guide their growth. That template was crude, exploitative, unreliable – and very often, for the men whose bodies fuelled it, gruesomely lethal. Make a donation
The Future of Really Big Computers Over the last decade, says Thomas Sterling, a faculty associate in the Center for Advanced Computing Research at the California Institute of Technology, the performance of supercomputers has increased almost one thousand times, from less than 70 gigaflops, or one billion calculations per second, in 1993, to over 35 teraflops, or one trillion calculations per second, in 2003. And yet, many of today's largest systems often demonstrate disappointing efficiency, even though their size, cost, and power consumption continue to escalate. Current design strategies won't work for the next generation of supercomputers, making it unlikely they will be able to achieve the future potential speed of multi-petaflop computing (a quadrillion calculations per second). On Wednesday, November 5, Sterling, a leader in the field of high-performance computer architecture, will discuss the challenges and the possible solutions for supercomputers in his talk "From PCs to Petaflops--The Future of Really Big Computers," the second of the 2003-2004 Earnest C. Watson Lecture Series at Caltech. New research at Caltech, JPL, and other institutions, he says, is pushing the frontiers of supercomputers. By the end of the decade this work may revolutionize the way in which such computers are built and operated, and solve the problem of performance degradation. Sterling's talk will describe the very biggest computers ever built, and predict what future supercomputers will look like and what they may be able to achieve. Sterling's lecture will take place at 8 p.m. in Beckman Auditorium, near Michigan Avenue south of Del Mar Boulevard, on Caltech's campus in Pasadena. Seating is available on a free, no-ticket-required, first-come, first-served basis. Caltech has offered the Watson Lecture Series since 1922, when it was conceived by the late Caltech physicist Earnest Watson as a way to explain science to the local community. For more information, call 1(888) 2CALTECH (1-888-222-5832) or (626) 395-4652. Media Contact: Mark Wheeler (626) 395-8733 firstname.lastname@example.org Visit the Caltech Media Relations website at http://pr.caltech.edu/media
Scottish tartans will be carried by men and women in kilts or plaids up the historic steps of Memorial Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. Sunday. The sight of tall banners displaying tartan patterns in a Spanish town is unusual, but occurs annually at MPC, 36 Sevilla St. It is known as the Kirkin’ of the Tartans. The Presbyterian religion originated in Scotland and the service is a Scottish-American custom. The tartan originally represented the people of a certain district. The dyes used to color the wool were made from the vegetables grown in the family garden and the fabric was woven from the wool of sheep raised by the family. In later years the tartan came to stand for all Scottish clans regardless of the name they bore and were central to the Scots’ overall identity, a common link among them. The banners are provided by the St. Andrews Society in Jacksonville. Bagpiper Jim Sloan is a regular in the service. Information about the tartans and the organization can be found at jaxstandrews.org. The tradition among Scottish-Americans can be traced to Dr. Peter Marshall who on April 27, 1941, presided over the first Kirkin’ of the Tartans ceremony to be held on American soil. The tradition continues across the United States in a variety of churches and Highland Games gatherings, in recognition of indebtedness to Scottish Presbyterians who brought Presbyterian tradition to the United States. The truth about the origin of this service is uncertain. Some historians note that there was among Scottish Christians an annual service in which they wore their finest tartans, gave thanks for God’s blessings, and rededicated themselves as the people of God in Jesus Christ. The Proscription Act of 1746 which made it illegal to wear or display the tartan, to play the bagpipes or to sing Highland songs, made the rededication service virtually impossible. However, the service went underground, as it were, with the faithful secretly carrying small swatches of the material to be “kirked” (“churched”) in a Sunday service. The community is welcome to this service. The tartan bearers and bagpiper gather on the Sevilla Street steps before the 11 a.m. service. They depart formally after the service. Call 829-6451 for information.
You are looking at the successful landing and extraction of the largest rock sample from an asteroid that humanity has managed to transport back to Earth from space. Specifically, NASA managed to do it on Sunday, September 24 at 16:52 Central European Time (CET). You can listen to and view information and footage in the introductory video report. It contains both available videos of the launch, sampling progress and landing of the mission, as well as additional animations. It is estimated that the return capsule contains about 250 grams of particles that come from the asteroid Bennu, about 190 million kilometers away, that is about five hundred times farther than the Moon. The sun orbits once every 436 days, on average it is about 500 meters, so it does not rotate that fast, and that was one of the reasons why it was ideal for sampling. “Bennu was chosen for a lot of reasons, but I’ll give you my three favorites. First, it is not far away. It is close to Earth, so we are able to get there easily and return with samples in a reasonable time frame,” says Michelle Thompson, Associate Professor of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences from Purdue University, who is the first in the six-member team of scientists examining the samples, in the SZ Tech report. “Secondly, it is a carbonaceous type of asteroid. That is, as we think, it is rich in organic molecules. And these organic molecules may have been around since Earth’s earliest days, so they can give us information about how life evolved on our planet. And the third reason is that in about 100 years Bennu will pass very close to Earth, even closer than the Moon is today. So we want to understand how its orbit works and how it evolves over time so that we can be prepared if there is ever an asteroid that needs to be deflected away from Earth in the future,” the expert continues. Mission progress from gravity slingshot to asteroid impact The mission to obtain unique samples from space took almost exactly seven years and was exciting not only during the actual collection of rocks from the asteroid, but also when they were unloaded on Earth. And it doesn’t even end there. But everything is in order. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on September 9, 2016. But due to fuel consumption, it could not fly directly to the planet Bennu, so it had to travel an astonishing 7.1 billion kilometers. And in order to overcome it as quickly as possible and survive at the same time, she had to master two main maneuvers. The first was a gravitational slingshot around the Earth, with which it accelerated to 13,000 kilometers per hour after one year. And the second was a series of four deceleration fires, after which on December 3, 2018, it reached a parallel speed with the asteroid, i.e. “only” 450 kilometers per hour at a distance of 20 kilometers from its surface. This was followed by a series of observation and mapping flights, among other things, to select and check the landing site, which itself came on October 21, 2020. The probe spent only six seconds on the surface after it. “And we have Touch Down! Touch Down,” an enthusiastic cheer echoed through the control center at the time. “We literally bumped into her. When the probe came into contact with it, the rocks apparently broke and shattered. We watched the images come in one by one. And at about two in the morning local time here in Denver. We got what I call bang for the buck,” Dante Lauretta, head of the OSIRIS-REx research team, described the landing at the time. What is the probe equipped with and how did it take samples The probe, manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin for a total of one billion dollars, measuring up to 2.4 × 2.4 × 3.1 meters and weighing 2.1 tons, was equipped with six scientific instruments for this purpose. Of these, the camera system alone had three different types of lenses, followed by LIDAR for navigation, then three types of spectrometers to measure the radiation, temperature and composition of the asteroid, and then the most important of all – the sampling mechanism, which was said to be a real challenge to solve. “OSIRIS-REx will collect samples from Bennu using the TAGSAM instrument, which is a Touch And Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism. It’s actually an arm connected to a head with a sampler that you see here. It’s similar in size to an air filter in a car,” Sandy Freund, probe development manager from Lockheed Martin, showed the key device in the SZ Tech report. “The way the mechanism works is that there’s a compressed gas in it that, when released, stirs up the regolith on Bennu and stores it in this canister, which we then place in our storage return capsule and bring it back to Earth,” she added. Door not closed The aim of the probe was to collect at least 60 grams of samples from the planet Bennu, which, according to the enthusiasm at NASA, it managed to fulfill beyond expectations. Until it even seemed that the success of the probe could be fatal. Because of the larger fragments, the box door did not close and the samples leaked out. Using the same arm, the scientists eventually had to rearrange the contents to seal it. And now they estimate that around 250 grams of material could have remained in it – plus or minus 101 grams. Due to unexpected complications, the devices could not weigh the sample. Even if the Americans found the lower estimated limit of the quantity in the return capsule, it would still far exceed the previous transported samples. There were only two of them and both were acquired by the Japanese space agency JAXA. The Hayabusa 1 mission in June 2010 delivered less than a milligram from asteroid Itokawa, and Hayabusa 2 in December 2020 brought back over 5.4 grams of particles from asteroid Ryuga. A difficult return. Thirty times the speed of sound and the temperature of the Sun Returning to Earth wasn’t easy either. OSIRIS-REx launched it on May 10, 2021, and just today, September 24, 2023, it underwent its most difficult phase. “We launch the capsule about 100 thousand kilometers away from Earth, which is a third of the distance to the Moon. And it must hit a corridor in the atmosphere about five kilometers wide. That’s like kicking a ball across a 110 kilometer pitch or something. It’s really amazing, but the navigators have been doing an equally amazing job all the time until now,” Mike Moreau, NASA team leader responsible for the capsule retrieval, described the landing maneuver in June. The probe launched a capsule with samples of the asteroid at 12:42 Central European Time (CET) about 102 thousand kilometers from Earth. The blunt cone with a diameter of 81 and a height of 50 centimeters entered the atmosphere four hours later, at an altitude of 132 kilometers and at a speed of up to 44.5 thousand kilometers per hour, during which it exposed its heat shield to a temperature of 2760 degrees Celsius. In order to gradually slow down, he first opened the brake at a height of 31 kilometers, and then at 1.5 kilometers the main parachute, and thus reached a speed of 18 kilometers per hour. He hit the target area, an oval measuring 58 by 14 kilometers in the desert of the state of Utah, shortly before five o’clock in the afternoon. Most of the samples taken will be saved for better times From there, the capsule has already headed to the Johnson Space Center in Texas, where more than 200 scientists from 35 different institutions will get to work after a series of cleanings to ensure the samples are not contaminated. They will be analyzing them for an estimated two years, hoping to understand what role these asteroids played in the formation of life on Earth. On Bennu, they found traces of the mentioned organic molecules and even water just from overflights. But they only get a quarter of the rocks to examine. NASA wants to preserve 70 percent for the future when humanity has better technology. Four percent will then go to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for their LIDAR contribution, and half a percent to JAXA, which previously also gave part of its samples to the Americans for cooperation on the Hayabusa 2 mission. “What we learn from this mission will likely revolutionize our understanding of objects in the early Solar System. So are these asteroids. It also required a lot of effort in engineering to make such a mission even possible. It was an extreme challenge to get it into orbit and retrieve a sample of the asteroid, which is less than 500 meters in diameter. And we will take such technology with us to all other planetary missions – be it explorations with robots or with a crew across the Solar System,” Michelle Thompson, who will examine the samples, adds again in the SZ Tech report. Meanwhile, OSIRIS-REx has another journey ahead. After the capsule is released, it starts its engines again and sets off on a new mission to the planet Apophis. It is supposed to reach Earth at a distance of only 32,000 kilometers in 2029, and the renamed OSIRIS-APEX should just catch up with it. This time he won’t collect any more samples because he doesn’t have another container. Still, he tries to get close to her to find out her subsurface makeup. She should be examined for about 18 months.
Post-Laminectomy Syndrome Facts & Information Spine surgeons perform back surgery to reduce or eliminate chronic back or leg pain due to spinal nerve compression. Should surgery fail to achieve all of its desired outcomes, the result is known as Post-Laminectomy Syndrome (sometimes called Failed Back Surgery). When accurately diagnosed, most post-surgical pain can be managed effectively. If you are among those who continue to suffer from back, neck, arm and or leg pain after surgery, we can help. Up to 20 percent of Americans who undergo spine surgery each year still have some degree of persistent back or leg pain afterwards. When spine surgery does not achieve the results desired by you, and your physician, the condition is then referred to as Post-Laminectomy Syndrome. Why Does Post-Laminectomy Syndrome Develop? A variety of factors may cause Post-Laminectomy Syndrome. In many cases, the spinal nerve root, which has been decompressed by the surgery, simply does not fully recover from its prior trauma and continues to be a source of chronic nerve pain. In other instances, the body’s way of healing includes scar formation, which can surround the nerve roots and give rise to chronic pain. Another relatively common occurrence is the presence of structural changes in the spine that develop above or below the site of a spinal fusion. Other causes include recurrent or new disc herniation, post-operative spinal or pelvic ligament instability, such as SI joint dysfunction and myofascial pain. Some of the most common symptoms of Post-Laminectomy Syndrome include: • Similar pain you experienced prior to surgery (depends on each case) • Dull and achy pain that is primarily located in the spinal column • Sharp, pricking, and stabbing pain – commonly referred to as neuropathic pain • Leg pain Proper diagnosis is very important to determine the source of your pain. In our practice you will go through: • A complete medical history, analysis of your symptoms, and physical examination • Testing may include x-rays, MRI and/or CT scans, and electro-diagnosis (EMG) • These advanced diagnostic techniques definitively pinpoint the source of pain • Epidural Nerve Block • Epidural Lysis of Adhesions • Facet Joint Injections • Spinal Cord Stimulation • Radiofrequency Neurotomy or RFA
Diversity and Inclusion The Peace Corps seeks to reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. and bring diverse perspectives and solutions to development issues in the countries we serve. For the Peace Corps, diversity is a collection of individual attributes that together help the agency pursue organizational objectives efficiently and effectively. These include national origin, language, race, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and family structures. Diversity also encompasses where people are from, where they have lived, and their differences of thought and life experiences. We also seek to create inclusion—a culture that connects each staff and Volunteers to the organization; encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness; and leverages diversity throughout the organization so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential—throughout the Volunteer and staff lifecycle. Diversity and Inclusion at Your Site Once Volunteers arrive at their sites, diversity and inclusion principles remain the same but take on a different shape, in which your host community may share a common culture and you—the Volunteer—are the outsider. You may be in the minority, if not the sole American like you, at your site. You will begin to notice diversity in perspectives, ethnicity, age, depth of conversation, and degree of support you may receive—and may need to make adjustments. During pre-service training, a session will be held to discuss diversity and inclusion and how you can transcend differences, find common ground, and serve as an ally for your peers. The Peace Corps emphasizes professional behavior and cross-cultural sensitivity among Volunteers and within their communities to help integration and achieve successful service. As a Volunteer and representative of the United States, you are responsible both for sharing the diversity of U.S. culture (yours and other Americans’) with your host country national counterparts, and also for learning from your host country’s diversity. To ease the transition to life in your host country, you may need to make some temporary, yet fundamental, compromises in how you present yourself as an American and as an individual, and will need to develop techniques and personal strategies for coping with these limitations. During pre-service training, staff will provide training on how to adapt personal choices and behavior to be respectful of the host country culture, and will be available for ongoing support. What Might a Volunteer Face? Gender RolesIt will be important to absorb and to attempt to understand the cultural nuances of gender roles in your host country. During pre-service training, you will receive an introduction to gender awareness in-country, and will take time to examine your own thinking about gender roles and how they have impacted you. You’ll then learn to analyze development projects using a gender lens to better understand gender roles in your host country and how these gender roles can benefit or limit what females and males may or may not do—both from a personal standpoint and in relation to work and relationships in-country. Jordan is a traditional, patriarchal culture. Though Jordanian women are gaining more authority in the public eye, there are still few women in top positions in government or the private sector. Women, irrespective of the deference shown to them within the family, are usually not given the public status and respect afforded men. You should understand that this is an essential element of a centuries-old society and culture. On the other hand, it is important to note that Jordanians enjoy a greater level of formal, legal, and institutional gender equity than many other Arab societies. While a major challenge for female Volunteers is a reduction in their independent lifestyle, they can still play an important role in modeling behavior that demonstrates to communities the extended capabilities of women. Gender and development activities are an integral part of Peace Corps/Jordan activities. Female Volunteers may Find that a single woman living alone is contrary to the cultural norm Receive much more unwanted and inappropriate attention from young Jordanian men than they would in the United States Experience the perception that they are “loose,” and therefore not afforded the respect that conservative Muslim women are given by men on the street Have to work harder than male Volunteers to gain the respect of host country colleagues in the workplace Need to keep a low social profile and practice discretion in public (e.g., smoking in public, drinking in bars, restrictions on dress) to avoid unwanted attention and an undesirable reputation Find satisfaction and acceptance in being a part of the “female world” of the community. Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color Because of limited exposure, some foreign nationals will expect all U.S. citizens to be white, and are unaware of diversity in the U.S. For Volunteers, the range of responses to their skin color may vary greatly: from being mistaken for a host country national to being questioned about their U.S. citizenship, to facing behavior and language skill expectations or ridicule, to being able to get better prices for goods and services. These instances can be turned into teachable moments for the Volunteer and the host country national. All Volunteers, including white Volunteers and those of color, should be mindful of the issues of race/ethnicity that are embedded in U.S. culture and within your country of service, and should be mindful of being an ally to your fellow Volunteers. For Volunteers of color, the range of responses to their skin color may vary from the extremely kind to the very insensitive. In African and Latin American countries, host country nationals may say “welcome home” to African Americans or Hispanic Americans. Sometimes Volunteers expect to be “welcomed home” but are disappointed when they are not. More commonly, if a Volunteer is mistaken for a host country national citizen, he or she is expected to behave as a male or female in that culture behaves, and to speak the local language fluently. Host country nationals are sometimes frustrated when the Volunteer does not speak the local language with ease. Conversely, some in the same country may call you a “sell out” because they feel the United States has not done enough to help with social issues. These instances can be turned into teachable moments for the Volunteer and the host country national, in which the Volunteer can ask questions surrounding perception and collaborate with respect to issues and projects at hand, while engaging in cross-cultural exchanges. All Volunteers, to include white Volunteers and those of color, should be mindful of the issues of race that are embedded in U.S. culture and within the culture in your country of service. These issues may significantly affect how Volunteers interact with fellow Volunteers and host country nationals. Being open and inclusive to everyone will improve your experience in interacting with fellow Volunteers and members of your host community. Volunteers of color may: - Be the only minority trainee or Volunteer within a particular program - Work and live with individuals who have no experience or understanding of their culture - Not receive sufficient personal support from other Volunteers - Not find minority role models among Peace Corps country staff Possible Issues for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Ally (LGBTQA) Volunteers The Peace Corps actively supports Volunteers and staff of all genders and sexual orientations, and encourages Volunteers to serve as allies to their fellow Volunteers in all aspects. Many countries where the Peace Corps serves have more restrictive cultures with regard to sexual orientation and non-conforming gender identities, though some are more permissive. In every country, Peace Corps staff will work with Volunteers to provide them with locally informed perspectives. Some LGBTQ Volunteers have chosen to come out to community members, with a result of positive and negative reactions, while some have come out only to select Peace Corps staff and Volunteers. Many have chosen to be discreet about their orientation and/or gender identity within their host community. LGBTQA support groups may be available in-country, providing a network to support the needs of the Peace Corps LGBTQA community. More information about serving as an LGBTQ Volunteer is available at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Peace Corps Alumni website at lgbrpcv.org. Additionally, the Peace Corps’ LGBTQ employee resource group, Spectrum, can be reached at [email protected]. While there are no laws protecting LGBT people in Jordan, neither are their laws criminalizing sex acts. Many LGBTQ Volunteers have served successfully in Jordan and have very fond memories of their community and service. Gay, lesbian, or bisexual Volunteers may have to contend with the following: Host country acceptance of LGBT foreigners may be different than the acceptance of LGBT Jordanians. Also, many Jordanian LGBTs have migrated to larger cities while most Volunteers are posted at rural sites, where cultural difficulties may be greater. Relationships with host country nationals can happen, but as with all cross-cultural relationships, they may not be easy. Jordan lacks anti-discrimination protections for sexual and gender minorities; sexual and gender minorities may be hassled in clubs or on the street. Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities Peace Corps staff will work with disabled Volunteers to support them in training, housing, jobsites, or other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively. For additional support, the Peace Corps’ Awareness of Visible and Invisible Disabilities employee resource group can be reached at [email protected]. Possible Issues for Volunteer Couples Couples often face pressure from host country nationals to change their roles to conform better with traditional relationships in-country. Host country nationals will often not understand American relationship dynamics and may be outwardly critical of relationships that do not adhere to traditional gender roles. It is also helpful to think about how pressures to conform to local culture can be challenging to men and women in very different ways. Considering how your partner is being affected and discussing what, if any, aspects of your relationship should be changed can help reduce stress for you both. Possible Religious Issues for VolunteersFor many in America, faith and religion are distinct from other aspects of their lives. In Jordan, Islam shapes every aspect of daily life. This can call for adjustments on your part, given the amount of interest or curiosity you’ll experience regarding your religious observance or the lack of privacy that will be accorded to this personal matter. All Volunteers need to think carefully about how they will respond to questions about religious beliefs and observance. Declarations of agnostic, atheistic, multi-theistic, or other beliefs will elicit responses varying from confusion to intolerance. Possible Issues for 50+ Volunteers Older Volunteers may find their age an asset in-country and will often have access to individuals and insights that are not available to younger Volunteers. But, pre-service training can be particularly stressful for older trainees, whose lifelong learning styles and habits may or may not lend themselves to the techniques used. A 50+ individual may be the only older person in a group of Volunteers and initially may not feel part of the group. Some 50+ Volunteers may find it difficult to adapt to a lack of structure and clarity in their role after having worked for many years in a very structured and demanding job. More than younger Volunteers, older Volunteers may have challenges in maintaining lifelong friendships and may want to consider assigning power of attorney to someone in the States to deal with financial matters.
York -- York County Nebraska, the 37th state, was admitted to the Union in 1867. York County was organized in 1870, with its seat of government occupying the geographical center of the county. York is also within a few miles of the geographical center of the United States. Pre-emption claims were recorded by Margaret Andrews, Isaiah White, A. M. and E. C. Ghost, in 1868. With settlement in full swing (and in anticipation of impending organization), these lands were all transferred to D. N. Smith in 1869. In June he had a 262-acre town site surveyed, then sold it to Messrs. Brook, Forbes, and Dennison, who in turn sold to the South Platte Land Company. The plat was registered on October 18, 1869. There was little opposition in choosing York as the county seat. At the time of the election, there was only a sod house and a frame structure called "the pre-emption house." Once selected, the town immediately attracted businesses and settlers. A post office was established on August 22, 1870, and the first courthouse was in place by 1872. The name "York" comes from England. A notation, found below an English Coat-of-Arms, reads, "House of York, the capital of Yorkshire, England, after which American settlers of English ancestry have named three counties and their county seats. One is in Maine, another in Pennsylvania, and the third is York, York County, Nebraska." In 1875 the town, having 200 residents, was incorporated. In 1877 York was formally organized as a city of the second class, indicating a population of 800 or more. A disagreement over the liquor policy in 1880 led to the incorporation of "New York" on the north side of town. It became a part of greater York in 1884. The Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, having completed its track as far as York in 1877, sent the first train giving the little commonwealth a push from which it has benefited from ever-since. At one time three railroads came through York. Only the Burlington Northern has served the city since 1942, primarily hauling coal, grain, and "piggy back freight." A 1903 history records, "...manufacturers have started up and more are in contemplation. We have two foundries and engine works, two flour mills, cigar manufacturing, marble works, medicine company, chemical and bottling works, two artificial stone works, and four elevators. The story goes on to list two banks, the Blodget and the Legrand hotels, and many businesses and officials. The lifeblood of the area was, and is, agriculture. Corn, milo, soybeans, and a little wheat, and hay are the principal crops, along with the raising and feeding of hogs and cattle. York County, on the Ogallala aquifer, has an excellent supply of underground water. Deep-well irrigation currently is the key to a more stable agri-business. From the standpoint of transportation, York is well located. I-80 is at the south edge of the city and Highway 34 runs near the north edge, with the Pan American Highway 81 running through town. A new airport adds to the facilities. Situated 50 miles west of the capital city of Lincoln and 44 miles east of Grand Island, York commands a large retail shopping area, and the "York Times" newspaper provides daily coverage of news and advertising to a wide area. Senior citizens within the county have "handibus" and a "busy wheels" service, and a "Fun Club" with several thousand members. A large hospital and a good number of doctors are available to serve the community. The city prides itself on its schools, churches, cultural facilities, and many civic activities. In addition to the large consolidated Class 3 public school system with an enrollment of about 1,300, there are several parochial schools. York College, a very positive factor in the community, was founded in 1890. Organized by the United Brethren, it is currently operated by the Church of Christ. The former Mother's Jewels home, now "Epworth Village," operates as a home and treatment center for troubled youngsters. The York County Fair, a big event in August, maintains grounds and facilities north of town that are much above average. The local 4-H program and other youth-oriented programs round out the picture for this progressive and growing community. A current population of just over 7,700, our logo reads, "This is York -- where the best begins!" By George W. Carlson, 5 Eastridge Drive South, York, NE 68467. ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Illustrated History of York, 1903 ; Old Settler' History of York County Nebraska , 1913; A History of the Burlington Lines by Richard Overton; Greater York Area Centennial, 1870-1970; and assistance from Shirley Holt, curator of the Palmer Museum for photos and material, and NPPD for photos.
India to experience critically low groundwater availability by 2025: Report New Delhi : A recent United Nations report has warned that India is rapidly approaching a critical stage of groundwater depletion, expected to occur by 2025. The report further mentioned that certain crucial regions within the Indo-Gangetic basin in India have already surpassed this tipping point for groundwater depletion, and the entire northwestern area is projected to face severely limited groundwater resources by 2025. The report, known as the "Interconnected Disaster Risks Report 2023," and issued by the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), underlines that the global community is nearing six critical environmental tipping points. These include the acceleration of extinctions, the depletion of groundwater, the melting of mountain glaciers, the proliferation of space debris, the intensification of extreme heat, and a future that is difficult to insure against. Defining Environmental Tipping Points As per the United Nations, environmental tipping points represent crucial thresholds within the Earth's systems. Once these thresholds are crossed, abrupt and frequently irreversible alterations transpire, resulting in significant and occasionally disastrous transformations in ecosystems, climate behaviors, and the broader environment. The Significance of Aquifers in Agriculture and Climate Change Approximately 70 percent of groundwater extractions are dedicated to agricultural purposes, particularly in situations where above-ground water sources prove inadequate. Aquifers assume a vital role in alleviating agricultural losses attributed to drought, a challenge anticipated to intensify due to the impact of climate change.
21 Oct Gender Equality in Japan Cannot Yet be Realized in 2020. What is The Cause of This Big Problem? Gender equality in Japan, one of the developed countries in the Asian region with a per capita income in 2020 of 40,165,158 USD still cannot be realized. This country is very advanced in various fields such as technology, education, economy, etc. due to the principle of hard work that is firmly held and respects time. However, who would have thought that this one developed country was also lagging behind. One of them is in the field of gender equality in everyday life. In the 2020 World Economic Forum report, the country that earned the nickname “The Land of Rising Sun” is ranked 121 out of 153 countries in the global gender equality ranking. This ranking is even worse than the previous rank, where they were ranked 101 out of 153 countries when Shinzo Abe, the ex prime minister, took office in 2012. Even when the new prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, took office, gender equality in the country still not resolved. The Japanese government is not just standing still in the face of this problem. During the reign of Shinzo Abe, policies were also launched and implemented to place more women in the workforce to anticipate Japan’s rapidly aging population. Likewise in the reign of Yoshihide Suga, who adopted a new plan to deal with this problem. However, this has not yet been resolved. So what are the reasons and factors that cause this problem? Before we go into the discussion, let’s look at a brief information about Japan, gender equality, and the policies carried out by the Japanese government. Japan (Nippon or Niho) officially Nipponkoku or known as Nihonkoku, is an island nation in East Asia. It is located at the western end of the Pacific Ocean, east of the Sea of Japan, and is adjacent to the People’s Republic of China, South Korea, and Russia. The northernmost islands are in the Sea of Okhotsk, and the southernmost region is a group of small islands in the East China Sea, to the south of Okinawa, which is neighboring Taiwan (Republic of China). This country consists of 6,852 islands which make it an archipelago state and has 125.8 million inhabitants. The main islands from north to south are Hokkaido, Honshu (largest island), Shikoku, and Kyushu. As a developed country, this country has the second largest gross domestic product after the United States, and is in the top three in the balance of shopping ability. Japan is also a member of the United Nations, G8, OECD, and APEC. Japan has an adequate military strength complete with modern defense systems such as AEGIS and a large fleet of destroyers. In foreign trade, they are ranked as the 4th largest exporting country and the 6th largest importing country in the world. Its residents also have a high standard of living and the highest life expectancy in the world according to UN estimates. In the field of technology, Japan is a developed country in the fields of telecommunications, machinery, and robotics. Gender equality is the equality of conditions for men and women to obtain opportunities and their rights as human beings, to be able to play a role and participate in political, legal, economic, socio-cultural, education and national defense and security activities as well as equality in enjoying development results. The realization of gender equality is marked by the absence of discrimination between women and men, and thus they have access, the opportunity to participate, control over development and obtain equal and fair benefits from development. Policies carried out by the Japanese government Is the objective that women’s economic improvement will increase the economy as a whole. Womenomics can also define as a theory that advocates a relationship between the growth of society and the improvement of women in that society. This policy has been announced in Shinzo Abe administration as one of the top priorities because he recognizes that the woman participation in the economy and politics is relatively small in Japan compared to other developed countries. The new five-year gender equality plan This plan was drawn up and approved by the cabinet of new prime minister, Yoshihide Suga. Where the government hopes to place and provide “space” to women in Japan at least 30 percent of leadership positions for at least the next five years. The target of placing women in 50 percent of leadership positions is expected to be realized by the 2030s. The cause behind the gender inequality is traditional gender roles The main factor triggering this gender inequality is the traditional gender roles that still persist and are inherent in Japan society, where access for men and women is limited in various fields. For example, husbands have an obligation to work for a very long time and devote their lives to the company, while wives are required to do housework, such as taking care of children, cooking, taking care of the family, etc. Some of the things above, proved to be true. Based on the latest national-scale survey conducted in 2020, it shows that mothers or wives still do 3.6 times more housework than fathers or husbands. Even women’s access to become leaders is severely restricted in this country. This can be seen from the number of women who become legislators less than 10 percent of the total members of parliament. About 40 percent of local parliaments are known to have only one female legislator or none at all. Even the latest Prime Minister’s Cabinet, Yoshihide Suga, has only two female ministers out of a total of 20 ministers. Because of this view as well as bias in hiring in some companies and a work culture that is resistant to change, many women stop working after having children. The situation also forces many women to choose part-time jobs or work contracts that do not give them the opportunity to get promotions. In fact, many women choose not to marry and have children in order to continue to pursue their careers. This also eventually resulted in a high demographic crisis where the death rate was higher than the birth rate in Japan. The marriage rate in the country is also low due to concerns from men who cannot support their families solely by relying on salaries from devoting themselves to the company. Okay, that is the reason behind why this country is still lagging in terms of gender equality. The government should take quick steps to resolve it and work together with the community to eliminate this such mindset. So that there is no longer a gender gap between women and men in every way, life can be more better in the future, and the demographic crisis can be solved.
Within less than a month of joining the war against Germany in 1914, New Zealand had seized its first colonial conquest from Germany. On 29 August 1914, troops from the New Zealand warships Moeraki and Monowai stepped ashore at Apia in western Samoa, and formally took possession of the German colony in the name of the British Empire. The colony was not defended by Germany; this takeover was accomplished without a shot being fired. Ships of the German East Asia Squadron were in the vicinity of Samoa after the Moeraki and Monowai had returned to New Zealand. Two warships under the command of Admiral Maximilian von Spee, the Gneisenau and Scharnhorst, called in to Apia harbour two weeks later, seeking to attack the battlecruiser Australia, flagship of the fledgling Australian Navy, which von Spee thought might be in Apia. They could easily have re-taken the island, but they left it in New Zealand hands, and returned to Germany. While Germany’s need to expand its colonial possessions at the expense of the established empires was a major driving force of the war, the German government understood that the fate of the colonies would be decided mainly by the outcome of the war in Europe. The larger, western islands of Samoa had been a German colony since 1899, when Samoa was divided by agreement between the imperialist powers of Britain, Germany and the United States. Under this agreement, the United States took the smaller, eastern Tutuila Islands in the Samoa group, while the larger islands of Upolu and Savai’i to the west were awarded to Germany, in exchange for Germany relinquishing its claims to the Solomon Islands and some West African territories. The people of Samoa were compelled to accept this arrangement as the price for ending the internal wars between clans which these same rival powers had stoked. Like Britain and the other imperialist powers, the German colonial rulers saw Samoa, New Guinea, Tsingtao, and their other Asia-Pacific possessions both as strategic re-fuelling and servicing bases for the German navy, and also as sources of raw materials for German industry. They set up plantations producing rubber, edible oils, especially coconut and palm oil, cocoa, and sugar in Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and New Guinea. Since the Samoan people, even after the German annexation, had access to land to produce the means of life, they felt no compulsion to work for wages on the plantations. They could earn more by producing their own copra and selling it to the German Trading and Plantation Company. (Copra is the dried flesh of the coconut kernel, from which coconut oil is extracted.) The German colonists solved their labour problems by bringing indentured labourers from their other Pacific colonies: some 5700 workers were brought from the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, on three-year indentures on wages of £5 a year. (Similar indenture arrangements were used to bring workers from Hawai’i to work in agriculture on the Pacific coast of North America, from the Solomon Islands and New Hebrides (Vanuatu) to the sugar plantations in Queensland, and Indian workers to work the sugar plantations of the British colony in Fiji.) When labour from other islands proved insufficient to meet the need for labour in Samoa, indentured workers were recruited from China. Between 1903 and 1913 the German planters brought some 3,800 labourers from the Kwangtung (Guangdong) province, on three-year indentures. They were forbidden under the terms of their indenture from trading or owning land. They were paid a low wage of ten marks per month for a ten-hour day, with two Sundays off per month, and were not permitted to leave the plantation without permission. It was not long before the Governor had cause to complain to Berlin about “shockingly high death rate among [a planter’s] Chinese, complaints about wage deductions and brutal treatment by him…” Samoa was not the only one of Germany’s Pacific colonies annexed by the allies in 1914. In November of that year, Australia grabbed the phosphate-rich Pacific island of Nauru and in December it seized the largest prize of all: the north-eastern part of the vast, resource-rich island of New Guinea, leaving the western half in the possession of Holland, an ally. The south-eastern part was already an Australian possession. Japan, an ally of Britain in the Great War, eyed the German colonies on the island of Saipan in the northern Mariana Islands and Tsingtao (Qingdao) at Jiaozhou Bay on the coast of mainland China. Germany made relatively little effort to defend any of its Pacific Island territories militarily, although it fought hard to defend its Chinese colony of Tsingtao against a combined Japanese-British invasion in late 1914, at a cost of one thousand dead. Of all the grabs for Germany’s Asia-Pacific possessions early in the Great War, the most problematic for the allies were those involving China and the Chinese people. For China was already in revolutionary turmoil. The Qing dynasty had been overthrown by a popular revolt in 1911, the Chinese Republican Sun Yat-sen was in power, and anti-colonial sentiment was running high. It was not only the people in China who were aroused by the 1911 revolution, but the Chinese diaspora throughout Asia and the Pacific. Chinese indentured labourers in the Dutch East Indies and Malaya had long supported the democratic movement and provided refuge and funds for Sun Yat-sen. Similar anti-colonial movements sweeping India at the same time agitated the indentured labourers drawn from that country. The Chinese indentured labourers in Samoa saw in the 1914 overthrow of the German colonial power an opening to fight for their rights. “The Chinese have killed one or two German residents, so strong measures have to be adopted to keep them in check,” reported the Grey River Argus on 2 October. The NZ Truth, reporting on the activities of the New Zealand occupation troops in its issue of 26 September, added as a footnote, “The only active service that fell to the lot of the invaders was the quelling of a Chinese rising against the Germans about 8 miles outside Apia. A detachment from 100 to 150 strong was ordered out with a squad of native police, to act as guides… Arrived at the scene of operations they found SIXTEEN CHINAMEN IN REVOLT. The rebellion was quickly quelled, the rebels taken prisoners and marched back to camp.” A few days later, the Grey River Argus reported, “The Chinese at Samoa appeared to be under the impression that the change of Government wiped out the offences of any of their fellow countrymen who were in gaol, and finding that such was not the case, they tried to cause trouble. The facts as related by a member of the expeditionary force to his relatives in Auckland are that there are over 3,000 Chinese in Samoa, and the writer expresses the opinion that they may cause trouble to the authorities. He adds: – ‘It would not occasion any surprise if they were to break out into a revolt. On the third day after our arrival, about 100 Chinese made representation to the Governor (Colonel Logan) asking that now the Island had changed hands, the Chinese prisoners should be released from gaol, and on receiving a refusal they made a rush to open the door by force, but were repulsed with a few cracked heads.’” The annexation of Samoa and the other German Pacific colonies in 1914 were some of the defining actions of the emerging imperialist powers of Australia and New Zealand in the South Pacific, alongside the sending of Australasian troops to fight alongside of the British army in suppressing the Boer republic in South Africa, the annexation by New Zealand of the Cook Islands and Niue in 1901, and of south-eastern New Guinea by Australia in 1906. Since the 1890s the Liberal government of New Zealand had proclaimed its empire-building plans for acquiring Pacific island territories – including even Hawai’i, before the United States removed that group from their sights by taking possession of it in 1893. The Great War registered the advance of New Zealand’s transformation from a settler-colony into a minor imperialist power in its own right. Harry Holland was in jail when Samoa was seized. In the jingoist enthusiasm that marked the early months of the war, neither the Maoriland Worker, nor any other voice in the labour movement, even mentioned the Samoan adventure. Holland had first studied the question of indentured labour in connection with the strikes by workers on the Queensland sugar plantations in 1911. He concluded that the appalling conditions faced by the white Australian plantation workers in that strike were a product of the earlier use of indentured Kanak workers on the plantations in conditions of semi-slavery – and of the labour movement’s failure to make common cause with those workers. At the end of the war he turned his attention to the question again. The fight against indentured labour was closely bound up with the anti-colonial struggles which had awakened during and after the Great War among the peoples of the Indian subcontinent, China, the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), Fiji, Samoa, and other parts of Asia and the Pacific. The labourers themselves, both those still working under indentures and those whose period of indenture had ended and who had settled, willingly or otherwise, in foreign lands, were in the forefront of these early anti-colonial struggles. It was a rebellion of the colonial slaves in a very literal sense. The question of indentured labour was raised in the New Zealand Parliament in 1919. A League of Nations mandate to govern the former German colony of Samoa had been granted to New Zealand under the terms of the Versailles Peace Treaty, signed at the conclusion of the Great War. Prime Minister Massey remarked that he was “unable to see much difference between the trust under which we hold Samoa and annexation.” One of the conditions of the mandate was that slavery would be prohibited. However, it was made clear in the parliamentary debate that New Zealand would continue the system of indentured labour from China set up by the German administration. “Indentured labour is slavery,” objected Harry Holland and the Labour members. “Immediately the news goes out that the Government contemplates indentured labour at Samoa you are going to have the whole of the working class of this country in opposition to the idea. We have the record of Fiji before us. We have the tragedy of South Africa after the Boer War still fresh in our minds; and no one who has read the story of the Chinese compounds there – a form of virtual slavery – would ever suggest for a moment that that evil should be reintroduced into Samoa. Under German rule we had indentured labour in Samoa. Groups of Chinese and Solomon Islanders were taken there to work on both German and British plantations; and if you read Samoan history you will find that these indentured Chinamen and Solomon Islanders were treated worse than slaves on these estates. They were engaged for four or five years, as the case might be, at a purely hypothetical wage. They used to escape occasionally and take to the bush. Some of them lived in the bush in an almost bestial condition, and sometimes they were hunted down and shot. The Labour party in this House will fight the proposal for indentured labour to the last ditch; and the labour movement outside the House will resent it to the last man and the last woman,” Holland said. Indentured labour under a foreign power might be slavery, Massey answered, but under British rule it could not be. Holland’s refuted Massey’s claim in detail in an election speech in Christchurch which was published in early 1920 as a pamphlet entitled Indentured labour – Is it slavery? Holland begins by tracing the brutal history of indentured labour under the British flag in South Africa, where 60,000 Chinese labourers were recruited to work in the mines from 1904 to 1910. (Despite ‘hut taxes’ and ‘wife taxes’ imposed in order to force the indigenous population into the mines, they had become increasingly unwilling to work in these death-traps. “Out of 58,250 natives employed in the mines there were 3,085 deaths in nine months.”) He quotes a report to the House of Commons in the UK on the tortures suffered by the Chinese labourers. “Chinamen, if they refuse to go to work, are tied up by their pigtails to poles until their heels are off the ground, and then lashed with canes.” Where British miners in South Africa were earning £1 per day before the war, after the war the Chinese were earning 1 shilling per day. [20 shillings = £1.] Consequently, wages of all other workers also fell, and unemployment rose dramatically. The Chinese labourers were all male. Although about 5,000 applied to bring their wives and families with them, as they had been led to believe would happen, only two women and twelve children were brought over. This led to “innumerable riots,” according to the report, “largely on account of conflicts between the Kaffirs and the Chinese, because the Kaffirs were defending their women folk from interference by the Chinese coolies.” [The racist pejorative “Kaffir” was the term commonly used by the colonial authorities to refer to indigenous South Africans at that time. The term “coolie,” a word of South Asian origin, was used to describe indentured labourers of all nationalities. It apparently had no special pejorative connotation at that time, although it has since become a racist slur.] Closer to home, and also under the British flag, were the indentured labourers of New Guinea, where, according to official policy, “Each employee is to be given one loin-cloth, one blanket, one bowl and one spoon, provided that the blanket, bowl and spoon can be charged to the employee at current local prices.” The fortunate native is to get his loin-cloth free, Holland comments, but it will probably need two months wages to pay for the other items named. The indentured servants could legally be flogged for “gross insubordination” “desertion from employment” and “wilful false statements before any court.” In reporting the situation in Fiji, Holland quotes official reports by Rev. Dr. Burton, who describes the compound where the Indian indentured labourers were accommodated as ‘the most degrading site on earth.’ Some women were brought from India, but they were far outnumbered by the men. Another investigator, Rev. Andrews, found that under the Indian Immigration Ordinance every Indian woman in Fiji was declared to be the vassal of four men. If a man’s wife came to him from India, he was notified that she was common property. “The results as far as syphilis and gonorrhoea cannot be in doubt,” Rev. Andrews stated. The labourers were herded into compounds, where it was common to find twenty or thirty men, women and children sleeping and eating in one room. In Holland’s words, “it was a human piggery, a cesspit of human obscenity.” Among the indentured labourers the suicide rate was twenty times the rate in India, the murder rate eighty times higher. The greater portion of the people murdered were women; the majority of the suicides were men. Out of all this misery and degradation, Holland writes, the sugar capitalists have amassed their millions – and at an even higher rate during the war, when the price of sugar rose by £5 per ton. When these official reports were made public back in India, the resulting outcry compelled the Viceroy of India to announce that the indenture system would be brought to an end soon. However, when it became known in 1917 that they intended to keep recruiting for another five years, “Then ensued one of the most remarkable events in modern history. For the first time on record the women of India came out of their seclusion on to the public platform and pleaded before immense audiences for the honour of their sisters.” The indenture was abolished immediately, although those already contracted were required to work out their contracts. Holland’s pamphlet also describes the hellish conditions of the Kanak slaves who built the Queensland sugar industry in the nineteenth century, the horrors of Belgian rule in the Congo, and those still being practised by the British Peruvian Amazon Company. (Holland was unaware of it, but the slaves in the Peruvian Amazon probably included some kidnapped from Pacific Islands including Tonga by a slaver operating out of Wellington in the mid-nineteenth century.) When he comes to Samoa, and the question of the continuation of the system of indentured Chinese labour put in place by the German colonists, Holland takes up the reason given by Massey for this continuation: “the Samoans won’t work.” The fact is, Holland says, the Samoans absolutely decline to work for the Germans under coolie conditions. “The Samoans live in a tropical land, where fruits and other vegetable food abound and fish is plentiful. While they held the land, they did not need to work for wages. The Germans, however, were gradually getting possession of the land; and the coming of the trader and the capitalist made it necessary for Samoa to move transitionally towards the relentlessness of Twentieth Century Capitalism.” “This is what we are now being called upon to perpetuate – slavery under the British flag: slavery imposed by Germany, to be continued by New Zealand.” (to be continued)
In 730 BCE, the Nubians again invaded northern Egypt, and the Nubian king, Piankhi, moved his capital to Memphis and started Egypt's 25th dynasty. In Nubia, an Egyptianization of culture began, including the use of Egyptian writing – more of the world's cultural diffusions. Egyptian became the official language of Nubian government, and gods among the Nubians acquired Egyptian names. The Assyrians came, drove out the Nubian king and brought with them to Egypt the knowledge of iron making and iron tools and weapons. Iron making became common in Egypt, and it spread south along the Nile to Nubia. Soon after the Nubian kingdom acquired iron the Nubians expanded southward, beyond desert into the wooded, rainy lands of a region called Meroe. In the 500s BCE the Nubians shifted their capital from Napata to the town of Meroe. Perhaps they were escaping from the forays of the Egyptian army, which in 593 BCE sacked the city of Napata. The region of Meroe had advantages for the Nubians. It had the Nile and Atbara rivers that provided barriers against the Egyptians. Also it had an abundance of iron ore, and it had the hardwood from which charcoal could be made for smelting iron. The Nubians made iron weapons and iron tipped spears and arrows for hunting. They made iron axes, which helped them cut timber and clear land for farming, and they made iron hoes for tilling the soil. Unlike the desert region to the north, around Meroe there were summer rains, which allowed the Nubians to extend their farming away from the rivers. They grew sorghum and millet, and they were able to graze cattle on wild grasses. Perhaps the increase in food production brought an increase in population, which probably helped them in conquering their neighbors. And, drawing from their expanded territory, a few Nubians grew rich trading in ivory, ebony, animal skins, ostrich feathers, perhaps gold, and slaves. Meroe was in a good position for trade: trade passing north to Egypt stopped at Meroe, Meroe had a route to and from the Red Sea, and, on the Red Sea, trade was increasing to and from India and East Asia. Meroe became a center of iron smelting and manufacturing, and in the centuries to come it sent its iron products far and wide, including to India. And some people in India began migrating to port cities on Africa's eastern coast. Among the Nubians, a local language replaced Egyptian, and the Nubians developed their own distinctive writing – which has never been successfully deciphered. Nubian priests saw kings and queens as having the approval of the gods, and to their pantheon of gods the Nubians added a lion god: Apedemek. Most Nubians were still farmers and fishermen and lived in mud and reed houses clustered in small rural villages where they were ruled by minor chiefs and heads of family clans. Nubian craftsmen lived in towns, worked full time at their craft and were under less control than their counterparts in Egypt. And some Nubians wore silk from China and cotton from India. Nok sculpture (from Nigeria) By 600 BCE the Phoenician town of Carthage had grown into a formidable city-state, in part from its trade across the Sahara, with Berbers and others acting as trade intermediaries. Their means of transportation across the Sahara was the horse drawn chariot, camels not being introduced until centuries later. By 500 BCE, a civilization where Nigeria is today was in full bloom. It smelted and forged iron for tools, and it is known for its terracotta sculpture. Iron there improved hunting and forest farming, which may have helped to build population pressures on the Bantu-speaking people in the area, and Bantu people began migrating eastward through savanna and forests. By 400 BCE, Carthage had established a trading settlement at Cerne on the west coast of Africa. Iron use appeared in small trading towns such as Akjoujt and Tichitt, and iron smelting appeared south of the Sahara in Ghat, Gao and the Lake Chad region. A thousand miles west of the Bantu community, just inland from the western coast and just south of the Saharan desert, an iron using state arose called Ghana – unrelated to modern Ghana. Its people were the Soninke, who might have grouped together into a state for strength against attacks from Berber nomads to their north. With iron tools, their hunting efficiency had increased, and farmers there were able to form larger settlements. They were illiterate, but they had horses obtained from Saharan nomads. They had iron swords and lances, and they seized farming and grazing land from their weaker, less organized neighbors. From about CE 200, Ghana grew as a trading power. The importation of camels to the Sahara boosted trade, and the demand for gold increased. The Soninke were midway between the source of salt in the Sahara and gold fields to their south along the Upper Senegal River, and the Soninke of Ghana acted as middlemen, passing salt to the gold producers and gold to the north. Hunters and traders from southern Arabia had crossed the Red Sea and established settlements on the coast near the Ethiopian highlands, and by 500 BCE they had mixed and intermarried with the people who had been there before them. Their languages mixed, producing a language called Ge'ez. Ge'ez speakers were settled at the port town of Massawa and engaged in trade that passed across the Indian Ocean. Ge'ez speaking traders and farmers were forming a new state, Aksum (Axum), which was taking trade away from the state of Meroe. Meroe's wealth rested on its iron industry, its agriculture and its trade. But its kings wanted more territory northward along the Nile, and they expanded to the Nile's first cataract. In 23 BCE, Meroe's army raided farther north, and the Romans, who then ruled Egypt, retaliated and pushed them back as far as Napata, destroying along the way and capturing several thousand Meroeans, whom they sold as slaves. The Meroean nation continued to thrive, and it acted as a middleman for Roman trade through the Red Sea and into the Indian Ocean. Between the years 200 and 300, Meroe's trade and iron industry declined. The charcoal needed to make iron consumed trees that had been cut down faster than growth. Some scholars believe that topsoil had eroded, that lands had lost fertility and that agriculture had declined because of over-exploitation. Also, with the economic decline of the Roman Empire had come less demand for goods from Meroe, and much of trade with the Roman Empire was acquired by neighboring Aksum. By CE 300, Aksum had expanded into Yemen. As for the nation of Meroe, between CE 300 and 350 it stopped giving it kings royal burials, and the city of Meroe was abandoned. A pastoral people called Noba moved into the abandoned city. Meanwhile, Aksum's king, Ezana, worked at protecting caravan trade from raiders. He overran the Beja people in the deserts north of Ethiopia, and he overran the Noba in Nubia. A Coptic Christian missionary from Alexandria Egypt, Frumentius, had arrived in Aksum and had converted Ezana. And Ezana attributed his success in Nubia to the "Lord of the Heaven." He wrote of killing and capturing people in Nubia, burning their towns and carrying off their copper and iron. note27 After people in Nubia rebelled against Ezana's overlordship, he made war there again, destroying crops, taking prisoners and confiscating livestock. By now, Aksum had irrigation and terraces for its agriculture. Aksum craftsmen who were making crystal, brass and copper luxury goods, which were being exported to Egypt and the eastern half of the Roman Empire. It was also exporting frankincense, a highly valued product used in burials and as a medicine, and myrrh, also used as medicine – products taken as sap from trees that grew in Aksum's higher elevations. Around CE 200, Indonesians arrived by boat and settled in Madagascar. They brought with them a banana plant that had a higher yield than any African banana. The Asian banana was transplanted on the eastern coast of Africa, and it spread inland, improving the food supply. By now, Bantu speaking people had moved alongside hunter-gatherers in eastern Africa. They were spreading past Lake Ekerewe (today called Victoria) northeast to the Indian Ocean on the coast of what is today is Kenya. By the year 300 they were spreading to areas around Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi. And by the year 400 they arrived at the southern tip of the continent. The Bantu mixed with local hunter-gatherers. And working with iron they created a greater productivity in agriculture. More people were cutting into forests and settling into villages. New primarily agricultural communities of Bantu speaking people was developing, with women working in the fields and the men hunting for meat. And the Bantu speakers traded with neighboring hunter-gatherers, the Bantu giving iron tips for their weapons in exchange for killed game, medicinal plants or as payment for herding livestock. A History of Africa, by J.D. Fage, 1996 (prehistory to post-independence) A Short History of Africa, by Roland Anthony Oliver and J.D. Fage, 1988 Copyright © 1999-2015 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.
For a company on the cutting edge of modern technology, Google sure plays close attention to history. Here is the company's senior vice president, product management, Jonathan Rosenberg, writing about "The Meaning of Open": "When railroad tracks were first being laid across the U.S. in the early 19th century, there were seven different standards for track width. The network didn't flourish and expand west until the different railway companies agreed upon a standard width of 4' 8.5". (In this case the standards war was an actual war: Southern railroads were forced to convert over 11,000 miles of track to the new standard after the Confederacy lost to the Union in the Civil War.)" More: "when traders in the Mediterranean region circa 3000 BC invented seals (called bullae) to ensure that their shipments reached their destinations tamper-free, they transformed commerce from local to long distance." As a historian, it's interesting to me that those thinking hardest about the future, whether it is the future of capitalism or the future of technology, keep an eye on the past.
Pelicans and the environment At Pelicans our educators and children work together to learn about and promote the sustainable use of resources and to develop and implement sustainable practices. Our centres have an environmental strategy which is consistently implemented at the centre. This can include recycling, use of recycled resources, energy efficiency, water conservation and more. What does sustainability look like at Pelicans Early Learning? Sustainability is an important part of everything we do, from our curriculum and choice resources, to the aesthetics of our centres and right through to our locally based community partnerships. Climate change is a global issue. Here at Pelicans Early Learning, we take the responsibility to introduce environmental sustainability principles into our service. We incorporate principles of environmental sustainability into our programs to ensure that we are reinforcing the messages children are receiving locally from both their home environment and community. At Pelicans we adopt a child-centred approach to learning about sustainability. We program significant periods of outdoor play exposing our children to the ‘living world’ and role-model sustainable practices throughout our classrooms. We encourage our children to develop connections with the natural world through our educational program and with excursions into the natural environment. Values underpin our thoughts, words and actions and are fundamental to a sustainable lifestyle. Values that are constructed early in life may be modified over time and determine the attitudes and behaviours of each individual. At Little Childs we consider research and best practice to guide the implementation of environmental education and we also acknowledge it’s connectedness to the National Quality Standards and the Early Years Learning Framework. Sustainability is a consideration seen in the following features: - Natural ventilation across all our learning rooms - Natural light in all rooms - Soft and organic play areas - Incorporation of rain water harvesting used for toilet flushing and garden watering - Use of reclaimed timber both indoors and outdoors - Dedicated organic farm land producing each Centres’ immediate fruit and vegetable requirements - Herb and vegetable gardens that are harvested daily by our chef and children
SmartBlog on Education is shining a light on education technology innovations during May, exploring the latest products and tools and the hottest trends in ed-tech. The benefits of game-based learning are becoming more widely appreciated and utilized by educators. Well-designed and skillfully implemented learning games provide students with fun, memorable and positive experiences in the classroom. Playful learning through digital games can increase student motivation to learn and engage with academic content and skills. High-quality games create opportunities for authentic strategic thinking, problem-solving and meaningful collaboration. They deliver pacing that is tailored to student needs with instantaneous feedback, create safe places to fail and allow rapid iterations for learning through simulations that might be too resource-consuming or dangerous if executed in the real world. As a science teacher, I team-teach a project-based science, technology, reading, engineering, art and math (STREAM) class to seventh-graders with art and technology teaching colleagues. To bring the benefits of educational games into our lessons, we recently developed and tested a game-based, interdisciplinary Siege! unit that teaches Next Generation Science Standards for engineering and physical science. To begin the unit, each student completed a Google Forms content pretest. We then set up accounts for all 63 of our students to play Filament Games’ new engineering game, Backyard Engineers. The game facilitates a digital water balloon fight that teaches students about engineering tradeoffs and constraints, optimizing solutions for varying criteria and important aspects of catapult design and performance. To track each student’s progress, we used the integrated teacher dashboard through seven sessions of in-class gameplay, integrated with reflective writing activities and interspersed with lab activity days. The lab days addressed topics such as criteria and constraints, structural design, forces, velocity and acceleration and work and energy. We also examined the accuracy, precision and statistics of central measure using hands-on games, data collection, data analysis and close readings. Many students extended their learning by playing the game outside of class during and after our in-class gameplay, which demonstrated an added benefit of using game-based learning in teaching. To apply the content learned while playing games and completing labs, we developed a culminating event where students design, build and test catapults, towers and heraldic banners. We designed a hands-on, turn-based game, similar to students’ Backyard Engineers experience, where student teams attempt to defend their territory and destroy opponents’ towers and banners. On their turn, a team may choose to make repairs, move a catapult or launch a chosen projectile from a catapult. While completing these activities, students learn valuable collaboration, problem-solving and authentic critical-thinking skills. We witness students designing some catapults for accuracy and others for distance, damage potential or mobility as they discuss the tradeoffs between design features such as base size, arm length, energy source and transfer or projectile capacity. Students design towers within the given material constraints to withstand enemy fire by constructing heavy bases and rounded exposed surfaces to deflect incoming projectiles. Students also develop social and collaborative skills as they elect leaders to fill positions such as Production Manager, Materials Manager, Siege Commander, Assistant Siege Commander, Repair Technicians and Battle Recorders. After the siege, students participate in reflective writings and a Kahoot review game before finally completing a Google Forms post-test to assess their learning. All of the Google Forms, handouts and rubrics we have developed can be accessed and copied from this shared folder. I encourage you to try out these games with your students, and see them problem solve, collaborate and develop a deeper understanding of concepts than they would with a traditional curriculum. Digital learning games are a powerful tool to incorporate into any classroom. While labs and hands-on activities help solidify learning concepts, game-based learning brings an element of engagement that allows students to truly understand and encode concepts. Michele L. Huppert is a National Board certified physics and earth science teacher at Spring Valley Middle-High School in Wisconsin and a National Geographic Society Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. She has participated in several NSF Research Experience for Teachers programs, most recently as a Teacher Fellow with Filament Games in Madison, WI. If you enjoyed this article, join SmartBrief’s email list for more stories about education. We offer newsletters covering EdTech, Higher Education and more.
Florida, United States (Online): NASA on Friday launched the latest in a series of satellites aimed at ensuring astronauts at the International Space Station can communicate with Earth. The $408 million Boeing-made Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-M) soared into space atop an Atlas V rocket that launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 8:29 am (1229 GMT). NASA said in a statement, “The satellite will support critical space communication into the mid-2020s.” The satellite will facilitate space-to-ground communication for NASA s low-Earth orbit operations, "ensuring scientists, engineers and control room staff can readily access data for missions like the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station." TDRS-M is the last of 13 such satellites that have been launched since 1983. An antenna on the satellite was damaged last month at a processing facility in Titusville, Florida. The satellite was repaired, but the mishap set the launch back by about two weeks.
According to data consultant Alex de Vries and his Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index, the process of transacting with and mining the digital currency translates to huge real-world energy consumption. So much so that verifying Bitcoin transactions tops 159 individual countries in energy consumption. In total, the whole Bitcoin network spends almost $2 billion per year mining. As a refresher: Every Bitcoin transaction must be verified by a key group of users called miners. Using specialized computers paired with high-performance graphics cards, miners “assemble” the transaction records into groups known as blocks. They then compete to get their block added to the chain of record. About every ten minutes, one block is randomly selected, winning that miner (or group of miners) a prize of new Bitcoin. As for the numbers: The creation of a single bitcoin requires about 50,000 kilowatt-hours. In the U.S., the average residential rate is about 10 to 12 cents per kilowatt-hour. In China, electric costs are slightly less expensive, being about 4 to 5 cents per kilowatt-hour. It’s something that many users are removed from: The electric bills end up with the miners, so users never see how much energy the system consumes. That said, on one hand, the high carbon cost is partly intentional. “The energy costs are part of the reason why Bitcoin is so secure,” de Vries explains, “because if [someone] wants to attack the system, they would need the machines and would have to spend a huge amount of money to pay for all the electricity to simply take control of the network.” So, in essence, it’s really part of what makes Bitcoin secure. It’s worth noting, too, that this huge energy consumption will cease to be a problem when all Bitcoin have been mined. The coin started with a block reward of 50 bitcoins — so everyone who participated in the creation a new block for the blockchain received 50 Bitcoin (split between them). But now, that reward is just 12.5 Bitcoin per block, already halving twice — as it does and will continue to do every four years. Down the line, then, in a few decades, all Bitcoin will be mined and there will be no more block reward. This might lower overall energy costs, simply because as the reward goes down, so will the amount miners spend on electricity. But unfortunately, that’s not only a long time away, it’s only part of the picture. Transaction fees also contribute to consumption. “The whole idea is that those transaction fees, which are also claimed by the miners, will end up supporting the Bitcoin infrastructure,” de Vries explains. As for the future of cryptocurrencies, de Vries doesn’t see them replacing government-issued currencies. But he does think there will “always be a niche for Bitcoin.” Just a niche? Perhaps de Vries feels this way because he is content the way things are: “I have no problem with my bank. I trust my bank. I’m fine with them doing my financial transactions, so I don’t really need Bitcoin.”
Gardeners often use plants with thorns as barriers for property borders or to add ornamental interest to lawns and gardens. Choose thorn plant varieties according to your U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone, bloom and foliage color, intended use and general cultural requirements. Various thorny plant varieties grow well in American landscapes. Prickly pears (Opuntia compressa) naturally occur in the Central and Eastern portions of the U.S. Winter-hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 9, this cactus family member (Cactaceae) bears green, water-storing pads with sharp, needle-like thorns. Yellow flowers appear in June and July, sometimes featuring red eyes. Edible, red fruit matures in late summer or early autumn. Mature prickly pears form clumps ranging from 6 to 12 inches in height, with spreads up to 18 inches. This thorny plant likes dry, gravelly or sandy soils in fully sunny locations. Prickly pears planted in poor-draining or overly moist soils often rot. Gardeners often use the prickly pear in rock gardens, dry prairies and open woodlands. The hawthorn tree (Crataegus coccinea) naturally occurs in North America's Eastern regions and generally performs well in USDA Zones 4 to 7. Mature hawthorns range from 20 to 25 feet in height with similar widths. This tree bears branches with sharp thorns and deep green, oval leaves that turn purplish-red or orange shades in the fall. This rose family member (Rosaceae) features odoriferous, white flowers in May, succeeded by deep red haw fruits. This thorny plant likes moist, well-drained soils in locations that receive plenty of sunlight. These trees tolerate pollutants and some drought conditions. Hawthorns often suffer from fireblight and cedar hawthorn rust. The hawthorn tree works well in open woodlands and thickets. Devil's Walking Stick The devil's walking stick (Aralia spinosa), also known as the Hercules club, features short, sharp thorns on its branches, stems and stalks. It also displays white flowers in July and August, followed by black fruits. Native to the Eastern U.S., the devil's walking stick grows well in USDA Zones 4 to 9. This Araliaceae plant family member ranges from 10 to 20 feet in height and 6 to 10 feet in width. The devil's walking stick likes moist, humusy soils in partly to fully sunny locations. Established plants tolerate many pollutants and drought conditions. Mealybug and aphid infestations occasionally occur. The devil's walking stick generally works well in woodland margins and shrub borders away from residential areas. The Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata) belongs in the Rosaceae plant family and performs well in USDA Zones 7 to 9. Native to China, this climbing shrub likes rich, moist loams that receive full sun. Mature Cherokee rose plants range from 6 to 20 feet in height and 3 to 6 feet in width. The arched stems bear sharp thorns and deep green leaves. White blossoms appear in the spring, giving way to orangish-red hips. Spider mites, beetles, leafhoppers and rose midges sometimes feed on the foliage. Gardeners often train the Cherokee rose to climb fences, walls and trellises.
OSH Answers Fact Sheets Easy-to-read, question-and-answer fact sheets covering a wide range of workplace health and safety topics, from hazards to diseases to ergonomics to workplace promotion. MORE ABOUT > What kinds of wrenches are there? Wrenches are made in various shapes and sizes and are used for gripping, fastening, turning, tightening and loosening things like pipes, pipe fittings, nuts and bolts. There basically two major kinds of wrenches: - Pipe wrenches used in plumbing for gripping round (cylindrical) things. - General use wrenches used on nuts and bolts that have flat, parallel surfaces; e.g., square or hexagonal (hex). Wrenches may be adjustable to fit different sized pipes, nuts and bolts or may be a fixed size. What are some examples of adjustable wrenches? Adjustable wrenches include: - Pipe wrenches. - Crescent (TM) wrenches which have adjustable jaws set at a 30 degree angle from the handle. Although Crescent is a trade name, it is widely used to refer to any regular adjustable wrench with an angled jaw regardless of who manufactured it. - Monkey wrenches which have their adjustable head at a 90 degree angle from the handle. What are some examples of fixed-size wrenches? Fixed-sized wrenches include: - Open ended wrenches that have "jaws" with parallel sides or tines that fit snugly on nuts and bolts. - Closed end or box wrenches that have a loop at the end with notches on the inside that allow the wrench to fit either square or hex nuts or both (depending on the number of notches or points). - Combination wrenches that have both an open end and a closed end on either end of the wrench; usually they fit the same size nut or bolt. - Socket wrenches are like closed end wrenches except they are cylindrical in shape. They can fit over a nut in a recessed hole that would be inaccessible with open or closed ended wrenches. These have an offset handle at right angles to the nut being tightened or loosened. Usually the handle is a ratchet-type handle that allows the user to turn the socket continuously in one direction by moving the handle back and forth without having to take the socket off the nut. - Torque wrenches, one type of socket wrenches, have a built-in spring-loaded indicator that shows how much torque being is being applied (i.e., shows how hard the nut is being tightened). - Nut drivers, another type of socket wrenches, are sockets that can be snapped on or permanently fixed to a screwdriver-type handle. - Allen wrenches or Allen keys are hexagon-shaped (six-sided) metal shafts that are bent into an L-shape for leverage. Hex drivers are "straight Allen wrenches" that have a screwdriver-type handle. These are different from the other wrenches since they fit inside a recessed hexagonal hole in screw heads instead of around a nut or bolt. Fixed wrenches fit single, specific sizes. Metric wrench sizes are expressed as whole numbers (e.g., 8, 10, 14, 32) that correspond to the sizes in millimetres. Non-metric sizes used widely in the U.S. are also called S.A.E (Society of Automotive Engineers) sizes and are expressed as fractions of an inch; e.g., 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1 1/4. Since both metric and S.A.E. fasteners (nuts, bolts, etc.) are used in Canada, users must select the correct type and size of wrench to prevent injuries and damage to equipment in case of slippage when force is applied to the wrench. What are general safety tips when using wrenches? - Use the correct wrench for the job - pipe wrenches for pipes plumbing fittings, and general use wrenches for nuts and bolts. - Discard any damaged wrenches (e.g., open ended wrenches with spread jaws or box wrenched with broken or damaged points). - Select the correct jaw size to avoid slippage. - Wear safety glasses or a face shield (with safety glasses or goggles) where there is a likely hazard of flying particles or falling debris. - Position your body in a way that will prevent you from losing balance and hurting yourself if the wrench slips or something (e.g., a bolt) suddenly breaks. - Use a box or socket wrench with a straight handle, rather than an off-set handle, when possible. - Ensure that the jaw of an open ended wrench is in full contact (fully seated, "flat", not tilted) with the nut or bolt before applying pressure. - When turning with an adjustable wrench, the direction of the turn should be against (towards) the permanent jaw. - Ensure that the teeth of a pipe wrench are sharp and free of oil and debris and that the pipe or fitting is clean to prevent unexpected slippage and possible injuries. - Apply a small amount of pressure to a ratchet wrench initially to ensure that the ratchet wheel (or gear) is engaged with the pawl (a catch fitting in the gear) for direction you are applying pressure. - Support the head of the ratchet wrench when socket extensions are used. - Pull on a wrench using a slow, steady pull; do not use fast, jerky movements. - Stand aside when work is done with wrenches overhead. - Make sure adjustable wrenches do not "slide" open during use. - Keep tools well maintained (cleaned and oiled). - Clean and place tools and wrenches in a tool box, rack or tool belt after use. What should I avoid doing when using wrenches? - Do not use push on a wrench - losing your balance is more likely if the wrench slips. - Do not use a wrench that is bent handle or damaged. - Do not use worn adjustable wrenches. Inspect the knurl, jaw and pin for wear. - Do not pull on an adjustable wrench that is loosely adjusted. - Do not use pipe wrenches on nuts or bolts. - Do not use pipe wrenches for lifting or bending pipes. - Do not use a wrench on moving machinery. - Do not use the wrong tools for the job. Never use pliers instead of a wrench or a wrench as a hammer. - Do not use a make-shift wrench. - Do not insert a shim in a wrench for better fit. - Do not strike a wrench (except a "strike face" wrench) with a hammer, or similar object, to gain more force. - Do not increase the leverage by adding sleeved additions (e.g., a pipe) to increase tool handle length. - Do not expose a wrench to excessive heat (like from a blow torch) that could affect the temper of the metal and ruin the tool. Refer to OSH Answers General Hand Tool Operation for more tips. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information, CCOHS does not guarantee, warrant, represent or undertake that the information provided is correct, accurate or current. CCOHS is not liable for any loss, claim, or demand arising directly or indirectly from any use or reliance upon the information.
Get a head start on spring by starting your flower and vegetables seeds in your own indoor greenhouse. Light, moisture and warmth get the seeds off to a good start. These three elements are easy to control in a contained environment like a greenhouse. Before planting the seedling in the garden, get them used to the outside by spending an hour or so the first day in the sun and gradually increasing the time. Scrub out the aquarium with a solution of 1 tsp. bleach to 1 qt. of water. Rinse with plain water and wipe dry. If you see water marks, spray with window cleaner. Dry with paper towels. If the water marks remain, rub them with white vinegar and dry. Replace the aquarium lights with plant grow lights of the same wattage. Or buy aquarium lights rated to grow plants. Or if the top of the aquarium is missing, use grow lights on their own stand and cover the top of the aquarium with a piece of heavy plastic to trap heat and moisture. Spread a 2-inch layer of gravel on the bottom of the aquarium. Add water to increase humidity. Add seedlings and plants. Greenhouse From Shelves Cut a piece of plastic that is long enough to go over the shelves from one side on the floor over the top of the shelves to the floor on the other side, plus 6 inches. For example if the shelves are 30 inches high and 30 inches wide, the plastic would be 96 inches long. Cut another piece of plastic long enough to go from the back of the shelves over the top and down the front of the shelves, plus 6 inches. Attach grow lights to the underside of each shelf. How exactly you do that depends on the brand of lights and the type of shelving. Put a tray that is as wide as the shelf and as long. You many have to use more than one tray. Fill the tray with gravel. Put the seedlings in their pots on the gravel under the lights on each shelf. Tuck the 3 inches of plastic in the back and on the sides under the feet of the shelves. Don't worry about doing that to the piece of plastic that hangs over the front. About this Author Katie Rosehill holds an MBA from Arizona State University. She began her writing career soon after college and has written website content and e-books. Her articles have appeared on GardenGuides.com, eHow, and GolfLinks. Favorite topics include personal finance - that MBA does come in handy sometimes - weddings and gardening.
Teaching Tales and share a few ideas. If you are anything like me, you have an entire crate full of old magazines and junk mail. Everyone I know collects their magazines and hands them over to me to use in my classroom. I LOVE using the pictures in magazines and ads in the junk for classroom projects and activities. Here are a few of my favorites. 1. Name Tags 2. Scavenger Hunts math scavenger hunt that I had the kids do (there is also a rubric). I wanted them to look through and find any and all references to each of the math terms listed. Some of the kids got REALLY creative! You can open any unit with this same idea, where they look through the magazines for evidence of things from a science topic (one year I had them find all of the "space" themed objects....they loved finding ads from Starbucks or Milky Way bars) or a the beginning of a language arts unit. Just breaking out the magazine crate and scissors gets the kids instantly interested. 3. Collage Portraits Magazines are filled with colorful ads. These are great to create pictures with. I have the students create a basic picture or even a self portrait. Then, cutting or ripping (which I actually prefer) solid colors out of the magazine, the students piece them together to form the picture. The variation in colors provide a really nice contrast and make the artwork stand out! 4. Borders for Writing Projects "Where I'm From" poems (which were about their own family heritage...the original can be found here). To accompany the final draft, and to give them a little bit of a different look, the students created a one inch frame around the edge of the final draft paper. They then cut out pictures and words that went along with the story they wrote about (in this case, things that told the "story" of their family) 5. Budget Planning with Circulars favorite projects is when the kids go shopping for houses, write checks for those houses, and keep a register for them. They get so many great math skills in, all from old magazines that would have otherwise ended up in the trash! 6. Rebus Puzzles The students LOVE creating puzzles for others to solve, and one great way to do that is through Rebuses. You know these...they are the puzzles where words are broken down into their parts and, using pictures, are "added" together. If a student wanted to say, "I hear you", they could cut out a picture of an eye from an ad then the letter h + an ear and a picture of a lamb (ewe). The kids LOVE making these, and they become a great interactive bulletin board. So there you have it. A few easy, fun, MEANINGFUL activities to get your students reusing old magazines and junk mail, instead of just tossing them in the garbage. How have you reused these old items in the classroom? How We Treat Each Other 35 minutes ago
Guilds, an associations of persons who have similar interests in either a craft or specific profession, began in Europe in the 11th century and started in England after the Norman Conquest. The earliest known guilds were those of charitable affiliations, these type of guilds held banquets that would involve mysterious ceremonies often involving considerable amounts of liqueur. Two types of guilds rose up after the eleventh century, firstly within the cities were the merchant guilds, started as a consequence of the growth in commerce and of urban communities. The members of these guilds had the right to govern collectively an aspect of their common activity. Members took oath to provide mutual assistance and obey the regulations of the guilds. Secondly there was the craft guilds that came into being at the start of the twelfth century, imitating the merchant guilds, uniting themselves to give them mutual benefits. Some were originally started through religious organisations, however, due to the economic situation they did not stay that way. Due to the gradual growth of economic life of the towns craft guilds and guilds merchants were increasing, some licensed others un-licensed, but all paying a considerable sum of money to the crown for privileges bought or usurped. Important boroughs secured charters from their lords and the fate of many towns were in the hands of these lords. In many cities workers were permitted the right to join or remain out of the guild in his craft. In other cities the guild would purchase from the royal government the right to control it's branch of industry. The members of the craft guild were divided into three classes, masters, apprentices and journeymen. The master was a small proprietor who had control over the raw materials of his trade, and sold the goods manufactured within his own establishments. The apprentices and journeymen lived in the house of the master, the apprentice learned his trade under his master, after this he was elevated to the status of journeyman and paid a set wage. These journeymen rarely made master, conditions to elevate to this position were always made difficult for them as the masters did not wish to swell their numbers, and after the fourteenth century it became almost impossible. Many large towns had guilds of merchants or wholesalers, made up from the richest and most influential but also many of lesser wealth. Merchants imported raw materials to the towns that would then be sold on directly or to craftsman who processed them further into saleable products. These men gained considerable political influence and often became imbued with the power of administration. These merchants travelled between cities, developing a network, were they held substantial control over a wide area. Most guilds could govern wages, hours, and conditions of work and also examine workmanship similar to quality control. The towns council in many areas also issued regulations particularly over trades who exported their products, such as the textile industry. Only cloth, or other goods, that had passed the inspection of the guild would receive a seal of quality that would allow it to be exported. The reputation of the town and it's guild was based on the quality of the goods sold there, therefore the guilds were most strict about their quality, as the access to most towns were regulated through tolls this was made simpler to control. The introduction of these tolls into the town showed the importance of the considerable trade that would pass through, the money collected gave a substantial revenue to the area. Women could not be guild officials, however, after the guild membership developed a hereditary bias, they could pass on the right to mastership to their sons. The decline of the merchant guilds started in the late fourteenth century, this was mainly due to the rise in importance of the craft guilds. The merchant guilds gradually lost their power as the craft guilds grew in size and importance, where the merchant guilds had been involved in the municipal government they ran into conflict with the central governments that were taking control at the end of the medieval period. After the fourteenth century the journeyman organized into an associations of their own, they obtained for themselves better wages and working conditions, they succeeded in doing this mostly by going on strike. However, this did not improve the status of the journeyman, these men are now considered to be the forerunners of the modern trade unions. English Economic History Bland ect. The Evolution of the Medieval World David Nicholas Economic History of England H O Meredith
Global Review finds Comprehensive Sexuality Education key to gender equality and reproductive health The evidence is clear. Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) leads to improved sexual and reproductive health, resulting in the reduction of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and unintended pregnancy. It not only promotes gender equality and equitable social norms, but has a positive impact on safer sexual behaviours, delaying sexual debut and increasing condom use. The findings have been revealed in a new report examining CSE status in 48 countries across the world, ‘Emerging Evidence, Lessons and Practice in Comprehensive Sexuality Education - A Global Review 2015’. Published by UNESCO, in consultation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UNAIDS Secretariat, the report shows that almost 80 per cent of assessed countries have policies or strategies in place that support CSE. In the Asia-Pacific region, 21 out of 25 countries’ national HIV strategies referenced the role of education, in West and Central Africa, most countries had a policy on life-skills based HIV and AIDS sexuality education, and in Latin America and the Caribbean, health and education ministers signed a declaration affirming a mandate for national school-based sexuality and HIV education. However, Senior Programme Specialist in Health Education at UNESCO, Joanne Herat said that, despite the increased political will, there remained a significant gap between the many global and regional policies in place and the implementation on the ground. “Young people are consequently often denied even the most basic information about their sexual and reproductive health and rights,” Herat said. “Thankfully, a global movement has galvanized around ensuring universal access to CSE, with youth-led movements calling for stronger responses, and sustained commitment. This has played a major role in the scaling-up of sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health services globally.” The report also found that teacher training was crucial to the effective delivery of CSE. In fact building teacher capacity to deliver age-appropriate, culturally-relevant CSE, is proven to support the development of learners’ life skills. “We also need to be looking to programmes which address gender or power relations, as they have been associated with a significant decrease in pregnancy, childbearing or STI’s,” Herat said. “CSE empowers young people to reflect on their behaviours, their environment, and their attitudes regarding gender and rights, all critical factors for improving health outcomes and HIV infection rates.” The report found that effective implementation and scale-up of CSE is reliant on engagement and support from parents and whole communities. The report was made possible with support from the Governments of Sweden and Norway. Download the Full Report HERE
be given out again to a drier atmosphere and to surrounding objects. It is well known, also, that the leaves of the trees, as they fall from year to year and decay, form a spongy soil, which absorbs the rains that fall upon it, and retains them, when otherwise, where there is any declivity, the water would run off almost immediately. The roots of the trees, likewise, penetrating deeply into the ground, conduct a considerable portion of the moisture falling from the clouds far below the spongy surface-soil. Shaded by the leaves and branches of the trees, the moisture thus stored up is not soon evaporated, as it would be from the open ground, but passes off slowly into the surrounding air, and imparts its benefits in the largest measure to the adjacent lands. While thus sending out their moisture upon the cultivated fields around them, and thereby favoring the growing crops, the forests aid the work of husbandry in another way. By their very mass they serve as a mechanical barrier against the winds, which are often so injurious to crops. Every one who has visited the forest with any frequency knows that he is obliged to go but a short distance within its borders to escape the influence of even a violent wind. So it is also well known that the woodmen engaged in felling trees in the forest, which they usually do in the winter, find no inconvenience from cold winds, as these penetrate the wood but a short distance, even when the trees are stripped of their leaves. And as the woods shelter those within them from the winds, so do they protect the adjacent fields from the blasts which would otherwise sweep over them, and, by their cold, their mechanical force, and their desiccating influence, prove very injurious to crops. The presence of a forest is often, on this account, in its effect upon adjacent lands, equivalent to a change of latitude of several degrees. This is sufficient to make the cultivation of certain crops successful which otherwise could not be undertaken. There are districts of France and Italy where the olive and the orange once flourished, but where now, on account of the change of climate resulting from the extensive removal of the forests which formerly abounded, they can no longer be grown with success. It is not going too far to say that, if one fourth of the land now under cultivation were converted into forests and groves so disposed as to form barriers against the coldest and strongest or most prevalent winds, the remaining three fourths would have more value for agricultural purposes than the whole has at present. This would result from the greater variety of crops which could be raised, their earlier maturity, the greater certainty of growth, and the larger aggregate yield, while there would be, in addition, the large product of the forest itself, to be used, as occasion might demand, for fuel and lumber. The effect of trees in preventing or diminishing the evaporation from the ground caused by the passage of drying winds is far from being properly appreciated. We often speak of the effect of wind in
If you like to cook, or even if you just like a lot of salads, you may want to plant an herb garden. Easy to start and care for, herb plants fare well in many outdoor garden situations and it is easy to grow them together in a group. You also can grow a small herb garden in your kitchen windowsill if your window gets a lot of sun. Loosen your soil. If you are planting your herb garden in pots or a window box, you can skip this step. Your herbs will need room for their roots to grow and absorb nutrients from the soil, which needs to be loosened to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Plant your seedlings or seeds in an area with full sun or partial shade (but leaning toward more sun). If planting seeds, most need to be planted close to the soil's surface, usually between 1/4 and 1/16 inch below the surface. If you have planted grass seeds before, the process is similar. Simply plant the seeds and barely cover them with a tiny bit of soil. If you plant them too deep, they will not grow. You may find it easier to start with seedlings purchased from a nursery or start your herb plants indoors. Do not move your herb plants outdoors until after the last frost has passed in your area. Do not worry too much about how closely together to plant your seeds, as you can thin them later. If planting plants, try to give them 4 inches of space all around. Water the seeds and plants thoroughly and often but do not overwater. To prevent overwatering, spray the dirt with a little water, then stop. Let it soak in. If the ground appears to drink it very quickly, water more and repeat the process. When the ground stops appearing so thirsty, stop watering. Continue watering the herb plants regularly. When weather is moist, water less often. Watering is best done in the early morning or late afternoon hours. Avoid watering during midday; as the weather gets warmer and sunnier, you run the risk of burning the leaves of your herb plants. Harvest your herbs as needed for cooking. Be gentle, using shears to cut the leaves you intend to use rather than ripping them, which can disrupt the plant and tear the roots.
New technologies and consumer demand for cleaner energy are rapidly transforming the power sector. This transformation is most evident in the advent of distributed energy resources (DER)—a marriage of information technologies with the power grid. Some call it the internet of electricity. DER is a package of customer-side technologies including energy efficiency, demand response (DR), distributed generation, storage (both thermal and electric), and smart electric vehicle charging. Thanks to digital controls and wireless communications, these demand-side resources are becoming controllable enough to look to the grid just like a power plant. Supply and demand are becoming interchangeable to grid operators. As part of America’s Power Plan (americaspowerplan.com), Rocky Mountain Institute looked at the potential for DER and the barriers standing in their way. The growth of DER is a wildcard in the power sector. With central-station power plants and transmission lines, regulators have a high degree of control over how much gets developed and where. Even in competitive markets, independent power plant developers are keenly aware of market trends and do not risk billion dollar investments lightly. But demand-side technologies are driven by consumers, who make decisions to meet their own needs, not those of the whole system. As long as efficiency, distributed generation, and smarter controls deliver value to consumers, their use will continue to grow. How big a contribution can they make? Some examples suggest we are in the early stages of a revolution. A New Type of Capacity The PJM Interconnection, serving 60 million customers from the Mid-Atlantic to Chicago, has enthusiastically embraced demand response. With DR, customers respond to calls for conservation and the market price of electricity in real time. Automated controls change the temperature of thermostats, dim lights, briefly turn off water heaters and refrigerators, and otherwise give the grid a break. DR is an evolution of what utilities have for years called direct load control. But information technology has refined it to be faster, more reliable and transparent, and more attractive to consumers. Now that DR has become reliable enough to count as a utility system asset, its value has been quantified and an industry of DR aggregators has grown up, led by companies like Enernoc and Comverge. These companies recruit customers, bundle the DR to make it look to the utility system like a power plant, and then sell “negawatts” to the market. Each year PJM holds auctions to buy capacity three years ahead of time. Starting in 2009, PJM allowed efficiency and DR to compete in the auctions with new power plants. Last May, PJM signed up 169,000 MW of capacity for 2016. Most of this was existing power plants, but for new resources DR was the biggest winner, with 12,400 MW accepted. This was over two times as much as new power plants. “We can reduce our peak loads in this country by 20 percent using demand response,” according to Jon Wellinghoff, recently retired chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. “It’s happening and it’s coming very quickly.” Big customers, like factories and campuses, have been the first to adopt DER technologies. Companies like Amazon, AT&T, and Home Depot are beginning to test products for residential customers. Meanwhile, Ford has launched MyEnergi Lifestyle with Whirlpool, SunPower, and others to integrate its Cmax Energi electric car with smart appliances and solar, delivering a 60% reduction in energy costs for a typical home. Paving the Way for Innovation These innovations no doubt are just the beginning. But they are confronting regulations that are not equipped to incorporate them gracefully. A paper for the Edison Electric Institute, “Disruptive Challenges,” drew on parallels with the telecom industry to evoke a “vicious cycle” triggered by DER that would undermine utility profits. “The threat to the centralized utility service model is likely to come from new technologies or customer behavioral changes that reduce load,” it argued. In many places the rules penalize utilities with lost profits for every kilowatt-hour not used and for every generator put on the customer side of the meter. Our century-old legal, economic, and regulatory structures are thwarting innovation. To address the mismatch between evolving electricity system needs and the rules and regulations constraining that system, we recommend the following set of policy changes: - Better analysis. Policymakers need to better measure DER costs and benefits to provide a foundation for designing effective incentives, pricing structures, and markets, as well as to compare centralized and distributed options in resource planning processes. - Create a level playing field. As long as DER play a different game than centralized options, there will be unintended results that could undermine the quality of service, financial viability, and innovation. We need to put them on the same field, competing fully and fairly, to provide energy and ancillary services. - New technologies and service models. Distributed technologies are like square pegs in the round holes of current regulations. Regulators must remove this barrier to innovation by setting up appropriate metering and cost accounting, and allowing innovative ownership and billing structures. Permitting, financing, and interconnection procedures can all be streamlined to avoid wasted money and effort. These changes will allow for a graceful transition to the cleaner, more efficient, more resilient, and more affordable future customers are seeking with distributed energy resources. ■ — James Newcomb is a program director for Rocky Mountain Institute and lead author of “Policy Implications of Decentralization.” Ben Paulos is the director of America’s Power Plan.
My ears perked up when I heard the word metalearning in an interview with the author of The Four Hour Chef, a new book by Tim Ferriss. I was curious how metalearning—roughly defined as learning how to learn—related to a cook book. I wondered if the author had devised a new speed learning model based on experience that could be applied to instructional design. As it turns out, the author learns to cook as a way to demonstrate his methods for accelerated learning. He claims his approach can overcome the dreariness of slow learning we often experience when acquiring new knowledge and skills. This is not an academic tome, but rather an informal, conversational and circular read. If you prefer a linear narrative, you won’t find it here. The author jumps from one experience or anecdote to another, which certainly keeps things lively. Still, I did wonder whether an editor was involved in Amazon’s first foray into book publishing (rather than facilitating self-publishing). The DiSSS Method for Accelerating Learning Over the years, Ferriss has constructed a quick-learning methodology, known as DiSSS, that he’s used to learn languages, tango dancing and other pursuits. The acronym comes from his technique: Deconstruction, Selection, Sequencing and Stakes. (The “i” just helps with acronym pronunciation and mnemonics.) Below you’ll see what each learning phase entails. - Deconstruction is similar to chunking but it goes further. During deconstruction, you identify the minimal units that are required to become competent at a set of knowledge or skills. The author calls these “Lego blocks.” Some deconstruction approaches that Ferriss finds helpful include: viewing the subject from a variety of perspectives, looking at what successful outliers are doing, probing the minds of experts through interviews, and finding simple commonalities in a domain that can serve as a key to accelerate learning. One important point: when interviewing experts, take in the explicit knowledge, but watch keenly for their implicit expertise (what they can not verbalize). - Selection is based on the Pareto Principle, which states that for many events, 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. In terms of metalearning, identify which 20% of learning units will give you 80% of your desired outcomes. It’s a matter of distilling and simplifying to the fewest moving pieces. Selection demonstrates a concept trumpeted throughout the book—the Minimal Effective Dose (MED). This is encapsulated as, “The lowest volume, the lowest frequency, the fewest changes that get us our desired result.” - Sequencing is the familiar act of organizing content or in this case, the learnable units, into a logical flow. - Stakes requires you to construct consequences that will enforce sticking with the program. It’s a way to remain committed when the original fire of motivation begins to dwindle. Second Set of Principles: CaFE You didn’t think it was that simple, did you? There is a secondary set of principles that are part of this method. Here goes: - Compression: Find a way to squeeze the minimal learnable units into a one-page study aid or cheat sheet. The author recommends two types: the Prescriptive One-Pager lists rules or principles that help you generate real-world examples. The Practice One-Pager lists real-world examples to practice, which helps you learn the principles indirectly. - Frequency: Plan a study/practice schedule that provides the frequency needed to gain competency. - Encoding: Find ways to associate the knowledge and skills with what you already know. 10 Applications to Instructional Design You’ve probably found that many of the methods in the DiSSS approach are familiar to instructional design. One great difference is that DiSSS is completely learner-centered. The learner has the control, creates his or her personal program, and devises consequences for failure to follow through. For anyone with high motivation, this is an intriguing approach to try. But what about workplace employees? The ones who take compliance training and other courses that are required for their jobs? If we could accelerate learning for the masses, imagine how appreciative they would be. Here is what I think instructional designers can borrow from this method with good results: - Find ways to give learners more power - Include audience members in analysis and design - Reduce content to its minimal moving parts - Stop and look at the goals and objectives from a variety of perspectives - Turn content on its head; start at the end and work your way backwards - Speak to experts who gained mastery in nontraditional ways - Observe experts for their implicit knowledge - Consider which 20% of skills will provide 80% of the desired outcomes - Distill, distill, distill - Provide study and performance support in simple one-pagers The Four Hour Chef reminds readers that there are always setbacks and plateaus during learning, particularly accelerated learning. When people are aware that this is part of the process, it can help them maintain motivation. Do we ever talk to learners about how they learn? We should. 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This paper, by researchers from Umeå University in Sweden, suggests that climate change will favour most mammals currently occupying Arctic and subarctic Europe, so long as they are able to disperse to suitable areas. The conclusion runs contrary to the expectation that species in high latitudes will be especially susceptible to a warming climate. Anouschka Hof, one of the presenters at the 2012 GBIF science symposium and lead author of this paper, together with Roland Jansson and Christer Nilsson, modelled future distributions for mammal species currently resident in the far North of Europe, as well as some potential colonizers from further South. Occurrence records for 61 species were gathered from national databases in Norway, Sweden and Finland, and from the GBIF data portal. The results, based on climate scenarios for 2080, indicated that 43 out of the 61 species studied would expand and shift their ranges, mainly to the north-east, assuming they were fully able to disperse to suitable areas. Nevertheless, species specializing in alpine habitats, such as Arctic fox, Norway lemming and wolverine, would likely see their ranges contract. If the ability to disperse is severely limited, for example due to roads or industrial developments, most mammal species would lose range, but none is projected to become extinct due to climate change. The study also predicts that the climate in Arctic and subarctic Europe will become suitable for ten more mammalian species, including eight bat species, and that the region is thus likely to become richer in mammal species. This may have unexpected consequences, such as a the coexistence of large predators threatening populations of prey species – for example, both the grey wolf and brown bear are projected to expand their range and affect the population of European roe deer. The authors suggest that the reason for the relative stability of mammal species presence under projected climate might be that Arctic regions have experienced large climatic shifts in the past, filtering out sensitive and range-restricted species. Photo: Arctic Fox (Alopex lagopus). Credit: Algkalv
The coronavirus tracking apps coming onto the market, initially hailed as an important tool for containment of the virus, have quickly encountered fears about privacy, cybersecurity and effectiveness. Tracking apps are already in use in Australia, India, China, Singapore and South Korea, and under development in France and Germany. In the United States, tech giants Google and Apple are teaming up to develop “exposure notification” software for use in iOS and Android apps. The technology uses Bluetooth signals to determine the distance between phones. A person with a confirmed case of coronavirus can automatically send notifications to other phones with the contact tracing app, alerting users that they may have been exposed to the virus. The software, which is in beta testing, will be shared with local health departments. Apple and Google say location services will not be used and any personal data would be anonymized and stay on the user’s phone, rather than going to a centralized database. But researchers say that anonymized data can be reverse-engineered and mined for valuable particulars using machine learning and 15 characteristics, including gender, age and marital status. Sven Mattisson, an engineer who helped develop the Bluetooth concept in 1995, says Bluetooth was not designed for tracking and location accuracy can be confused by buildings and open spaces, giving inaccurate readings. The complexity of the Bluetooth technology can harbor vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers, says Ben Seri of the cybersecurity firm Armis Inc., who found such a flaw that was subsequently patched. Other apps use GPS data that can track the location of the phone and send the data to a centralized database, making individuals easier to identify. Coronavirus tracking around the world American engineer Tim Brookins repurposed a football app into a coronavirus tracking app used in North and South Dakota. It is not as accurate as Bluetooth apps because it uses GPS, Wi-Fi and cell towers to estimate people’s real-world locations. The data is sent to a private server on Microsoft’s cloud, where health care officials can access it in real time with the user’s permission. India uses several coronavirus apps including Aarogya Setu, a Bluetooth app that will become the default tracking app on Indian cellphones. An app called Quarantine Watch tracks the location of people under quarantine who must take selfies to prove they are home. Another quarantine app used in the Mumbai region creates a virtual perimeter around a quarantined house using location data collected from smartphones and notifies authorities if someone leaves the quarantined area. South Korea has successfully contained the coronavirus using data from cellphones, GPS in cars, credit card transactions and surveillance cameras to track the spread of coronavirus cases. The information goes to a centralized data collection platform where it is available to public health authorities. Here is an example of what’s collected: - Two patients, one of them a 21-year-old male, visited a 7-Eleven from 3:59 to 4:11 a.m., and then spent two hours at a local bar. Both locations were notified and sanitized. One of the patients later went to a movie theater and watched “The Invisible Man” from the last row without wearing a mask. While that level of information has been useful to health authorities, it alarmed the National Human Rights Commission of South Korea, which said it could discourage self-reporting of symptoms and traumatize patients because the information is specific enough to be able to identify some individuals. Personal Privacy Concerns The technology in the apps has been used by marketers for years to collect data points from web searches and social media sites about consumer interests. But now medical information is being added to the mix and during the pandemic, the US Department of Health and Human Services is easing the HIPAA privacy rules to allow health departments to access it. Personal privacy advocates are worried about what might happen to that data after the pandemic is over. “As these systems are deployed, we need to keep the really sharp eyes as a society to make sure that they don’t become effectively mandatory, and that people can continue to live their life without it,” said Daniel Kahn Gillmor, senior staff technologist at the American Civil Liberties Union. The Mayo Clinic, Facebook and the MIT are working on a different technology, called differential privacy, that could analyze data without identifying individuals, who also would be allowed to edit their data before it is submitted to a public health database. Encryption would protect personal information from cybercriminals. This type of app would allow public health departments to identify virus clusters, so public officials could customize restrictions based on risk. However, all of these concerns are irrelevant if Americans don’t buy in and download the apps. Recent surveys indicate Americans are reluctant to use them. Some are worried about privacy and hacking issues. Others, especially the vulnerable population over age 65, don’t own a smartphone. Researchers at Oxford University say that 60% of a population would need to be using the tracking apps for them to be effective. But, a Washington Post–University of Maryland poll found that only 41% of Americans who own a smartphone would be willing to download the app. The apps, while a promising tool in the coronavirus fight, will present users with ongoing challenges of how to balance public health with the right to privacy. If you enjoyed this deep dive into how coronavirus tracking apps could affect your personal privacy, you can subscribe to our daily cybersecurity news briefing for more informative content. For even more quality news coverage, you can subscribe to any of SmartBrief’s 275+ free newsletters. Lilla Ross is a copy editor/writer for SmartBrief. She focuses on cybersecurity and mobile marketing.
The draft Karnataka Renewable Energy Policy 2021-2026, issued by the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited recently, targets developing 20 GW of renewable energy (RE) projects in the state with and without energy storage. The state plans to build RE parks and develop solar, wind, solar–wind hybrid, biomass, waste-to-energy, and mini and small hydro energy projects. Among various projects, the promotion of rooftop and floating solar projects is also planned. The RE installed capacity in Karnataka as of August 2021, is about 15,211 MW—of which almost 50% is solar. The Government of Karnataka has also recently announced its plans to unveil a new solar power policy in October. While transitioning to RE reduces the reliance on fossil fuels and helps slow down the impacts of climate change, RE resources are dependent on climate variables such as precipitation, temperature, irradiation and wind, making them susceptible to climate change. Climate hazards are a challenge to renewable energy as they adversely impact the performance of the energy systems and their reliability. It is therefore important to understand the vulnerability of the energy sector from a demand perspective as well as the supply side.
Preschool is a season of life where hardcore academics haven’t started yet — and that is how it should be. It wouldn’t be right for a little 4-year-old to have to sit at a desk all day, and it wouldn’t be particularly effective either. Here at Rainbow Chimes, we are committed to offering high-quality educational experiences to children of all ages, and preschool is no exception. While we wouldn’t advocate for making preschoolers sit in desks in straight rows, we do believe that it’s a great age to start introducing math concepts. Just not the multiplication table — not yet. Here are some activities that you can do at home to boost your preschooler’s math skills. Make it a habit to count out loud whenever possible, and invite your preschooler to chime in. For instance, when you’re setting the table for cereal, say to your child, “I need four bowls. One – two – three – four! Now I need four spoons. One – two – three – four!” Count slowly and use a happy tone of voice. The repetition will gradually sink in, and your little one will become comfortable with higher and higher numbers over time. You’d be surprised at how much children love even simple counting games, like seeing how high you can count out loud together while you’re driving in the car. 2. Pattern Matching Pattern matching is a skill that your child will develop more strongly in kindergarten, but preschool is a great time to introduce it. Start with simple A-B patterns and see if your child can reproduce the pattern once you get it started. For instance, create a chain of items in a red-blue-red-blue-red-blue pattern, and see if your child can continue the pattern. Ask “What comes next?” Or try it with shapes: circle-square-circle-square-circle-square. Give your child enough repetition to catch on to the “chant” of naming the items, and see if they can continue it on their own. 3. Naming Shapes Naming shapes in preschool will give children a boost when they move on to kindergarten. The thrill of “already knowing” can set them up with a feeling that they are smart and successful that can follow them all the way through school. Help your child to identify common shapes like circle, square, triangle, rectangle, and hexagon. Be aware that three-syllable words can be very confusing to children. Also, the fact that “triangle” and “rectangle” both end in “angle” can confuse some children. If they are mixing up these two words, it might be more of a verbal confusion rather than an indication that “they don’t know their shapes.” Be careful to use praise and positive reinforcement rather than negative reinforcement. Sorting is an important skill for young children to master, and the great thing is that there are so many ways to do it! Find items for your preschooler to sort that let them learn to sort by different attributes, such as color, shape, or type. You could try letting your child sort coins, silverware, or playing cards, or you could purchase a set of linking cubes or counting bears. Enroll in Rainbow Chimes Today One of the easiest ways to give your preschooler the skills they need for school is to enroll them in our award-winning daycare. Learn more about our preschool curriculum and contact us to get started with enrollment.
\|Prim Point, NS\| Description: The current Prim Point Lighthouse is the fourth in a succession of lights built on this location that date back to 1804. The 1804 light lasted just four years before burning in 1808, and it wasn't until 1817 that its replacement was built. The second Prim Point Lighthouse was a square dwelling, painted white with red vertical stripes on its northern and two adjoining sides. Richard Bragg kept the light, which was exhibited from a five-sided lantern room perched atop the north end of the dwelling, from 1821 until 1839. Frederick Bragg succeeded his father and served at the light until 1872. On the night of the 16th of March, the Lighthouse at Point Prim, at the entrance to Digby Gut, was entirely destroyed by fire, which was supposed to have originated in the lantern, which was very small and confined. In spite of the efforts of the keeper, the Lighthouse and all its contents were burned to the ground. A temporary light has since then been exhibited from a small lantern placed on the top of the engine house, distant only a few yards from the old site. But little real damage was caused by this fire, as the building destroyed was old, and every year becoming more and more unfit for the purposes of a Lighthouse. The third Prim Point Lighthouse, built in 1874, was a square wooden tower with sloping sides built into the northern end of one-and-a-half-story dwelling with a gabled roof. Red vertical stripes adorned the tower to continue the stationís daymark. A second family emerged to establish an even longer dynasty at Prim Point. Captain William Ellis became keeper in March 1875, and his granddaughter continued the familyís run at the lighthouse until her husband, Frank Wilson, passed away in 1963. Captain Ellis was keeper at Prim Point in 1910 when he spotted the steamer Westport entering Digby Gut with her under-deck cargo apparently on fire. Keeper Ellis telephoned for help, and the lifeboat Daring rushed to the steamer and safely offloaded her nine passengers. The steamer jettisoned the barrels of gasoline and kerosene she had on deck, and made her way to Digby, where she was safely beached at a safe distance from the government pier. The Digby Fire Department helped extinguish the fire, which along with the water had ruined most of the cargo. Carman Frankland came to Prim Point as keeper in June of 1963 and was present when roughly a year later, a bulldozer pushed the third Prim Point Lighthouse over the bluff on May 13, 1964. The fourth lighthouse on Prim Point was built in the familiar form of a square tower rising from one corner of a one-story, flat-roofed building. Keeper Frankland cared for the new light until it was unmanned in 1987. Visitors to the station today will still see the vertical red stripes that have been historically used at the station. Keepers: Richard Bragg (1821 - 1839), Fredrick Bragg (1839 - 1872), Sheppard Frost (1872 - 1875), William Ellis (1875 - 1912), Leander Montgomery Ellis (1912 - 1935), Frank Wilson (1935 - 1963), Carman Frankland (1963 - 1964), Edward Murphy (1964 - 1987). Located on the west side of the entrance to Digby Gut on the shores of the Bay of Fundy, marking the entrance to Annapolis Basin. The lighthouse is owned by the Municipality of the District of Digby. Grounds open, tower closed. The lighthouse is owned by the Municipality of the District of Digby. Grounds open, tower closed. Pictures on this page copyright Kraig Anderson, Rich Schoeller, Wilfried Kalinowski, used by permission.
Technology integration has helped improve the writing abilities of students in a rural Tennessee middle school. Hickman County Middle School in Tennessee is embracing technology and online tools as part of its culture. Students have applied skills they’ve learned from online programs, resulting in a noticeable improvement in their writing. Teacher Gayle Mathis has been using SAS Curriculum Pathways for the past three years. During that time, her students’ writing scores on state tests have gone up significantly. Since the school year started in August, she estimated that her students' writing abilities have doubled. In addition, “Writing Planner,” one of the tools contained in SAS Curriculum Pathways, enables students to brainstorm an introduction, a conclusion, sentence openers and transitions. The tool provides sample sentence openers and transition words that the students can pick. The technology has had an immediate impact on the quality of students’ work. "I was jumping up and down with some of the writings that I had graded," Mathis said. "I hear their voices when I'm reading their writing, and I can just tell how much they have grown, and that's making me so happy." The school is using a variety of other online educational tools. One is NoRedInk.com, a program that customizes grammar and writing quizzes for students based on what they're interested in. Another is Newsla, which allows students to build their reading comprehension with daily news articles at easy, medium and hard levels. Hickman County Middle School doesn't have many resources at its disposal. But the school uses what it has to the max, especially when it comes to technology, said Jeremy Qualls, the school’s principal. He added that while 70 percent of students qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch program, 73 percent of them have smartphones, which makes learning with online tools a key step to effectively preparing students for the next level. "If we don't integrate technology into our schools period, we're losing a battle," Qualls said. "We're trying to train kids for relevancy and current things going on, and we're trying to train them for jobs that are not even created yet that will be dealing with technology."
Making salad may seem like the simplest thing, but I thought it was a worthy subject for my "food appreciation" classes. When you think about it, there are some important skills and health considerations involved in the handling of tender greens. All produce should be washed before eating. Even some of the kids in my classes had heard of instances of e. coli poisoning from salad. At home, I like to fill my kitchen sink with cold water and let my greens soak. I break head lettuces apart so that individual leaves all get a good wash. Agitate the greens with your hands. Any sand or grit will sink to the bottom. It's suprising what you find sometimes when you drain the sink. For classroom purposes, I filled a big bowl of water and soaked our lettuces in that. Meanwhile, I had each of the kids peel a clementine and practice separating the fruit into individual sections and removing all the little white fibers from the fruit. Who wants to find a hairy piece of fruit in their salad? The idea is to show the kids in a hands-on way the importance of visual appeal in food, taking care to make things look good. I've been introducing the kids slowly to working with kitchen knives. Some felt confident enough to slice radishes. It's important for them to learn how to create a safe, stable cutting environment. That means putting a cloth of some sort under the cutting board so that it doesn't slide around, and trimming certain vegetables so they aren't rolling across the cutting board. Cut a radish (or onion, for instance) in half first, so that it lays flat. Then it can be sliced safely. Some kids were slicing. Others were peeling and grating carrots. We also cut a Belgian endive into rings. After soaking and cleaning watercress and two types of lettuce, the kids took turns tearing the lettuce into bite-size pieces and running the greens through a salad spinner. Kids love turning the spinner. Even more, they love it when you remove the top while the basket is spinning madly inside. A piece of lettuce goes flying and the class dissolves in a fit of laughter. And just what is all that spinning about? Can you say centrifugal force? Here's where making salad turns into a science lesson. There's also science in making a dressing. What happens when you mix oil and vinegar? Nothing much. The oil just sits on top of the vinegar. We have to create an emulsion, wherein the oil and vinegar are bound together. Mustard helps as a binder. We place a heaping teaspoon at the bottom of a large bowl, then add a teaspoon of honey. Add about 1/4 teaspoon salt, a generous pinch of ground pepper and 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar. Now this is the important part. Mix the mustard, honey, salt, pepper and vinegar with the whisk and add just a drop or two of extra-virgin olive oil. Whisk vigorously until the oil is completely distributed. This is the start of the emulsion. Now we whisk in several more tablespoons of olive oil. For a mellow vinaigrette, the proportions usually are three parts olive oil to one part vinegar. We pass the bowl around the class so that everyone can experience the whisking and see the vinaigrette thicken. Before long, we have a lovely dressing with just the right balance of sweet and sour. The finished salad is practically a work of art, with all the different colors and shapes and flavors. Suddenly, silence: The kids are all busy eating.
This guide is intended to help students, faculty, and University professionals learn to use email more effectively. It can help you determine whether email is the best mode of communication in a particular situation and write messages that successfully convey your meaning to your intended audience. Although email is a valuable tool, it creates some challenges for writers. Miscommunication can easily occur when people have different expectations about the messages that they send and receive. Email is used for many different purposes, including contacting friends, communicating with professors and supervisors, requesting information, and applying for jobs, internships, and scholarships. Depending on your purposes, the messages you send will differ in their formality, intended audience, and desired outcomes. So—how do you know when sending an email is the most effective way of accomplishing your communication goals? When is a brief message OK, and when it is more appropriate to send a longer, more professional-sounding email? How should you decide what style of writing is appropriate for each task? Keep reading for answers to these questions! Email is a good way to get your message across when: Email is not an effective means of communication when: People have different opinions what email should look like, so it is always helpful to be aware of the expectations of your audience. For example, some people regard email as a rapid and informal form of communication—a way to say “hello” or to ask a quick question. However, others view email as simply a more convenient way to transmit a formal letter. Such people may consider an informal email rude or unprofessional. A message like this one might be OK to send your friend, but not to your professor: Do you know what the assignment is about? Can U help me? Although it may be obvious to you that you wouldn’t send such an email to your professor, let’s carefully examine what assumptions this message makes about the reader and their expectations. The tone of this message is very casual; it assumes that the reader knows who the sender is and has a close personal relationship with the sender. Because it contains an ambiguous reference to “the assignment,” this message also assumes that the reader is familiar with the subject matter at hand (for instance, it assumes the reader will know which course and which particular assignment the sender is referring to). The writer also makes an implicit assumption about the reader’s comfort with the language that is often used when sending an instant message or text message. The “U” might be taken by some readers as a sign that the writer is too lazy to type out the word “you.” Making assumptions about your audience’s expectations increases the risk that your message or its tone will be misinterpreted. To ensure that your message has its intended effect, use the following questions to help you think about your audience and their needs: Email subject lines are like newspaper headlines. They should convey the main point of your message or the idea that you want the reader to take away. Therefore, be as specific as possible. One-word subjects such as “Hi,” “Question,” or “FYI” are not informative and don’t give the reader an idea of how important your message is. If your message is time sensitive, you might want to include a date in your subject line, like “Meeting on Thurs, Dec 2”. Think about the subject lines on the email messages you receive. Which ones do you think are most effective? Why? Use some kind of greeting and some kind of sign-off. Don’t just start with your text, and don’t just stop at the end without a polite signature. If you don’t know the person well, you may be confused about how to address them (“What do I call my TA/professor?”) or how to sign off (Best? Sincerely?). Nonetheless, it is always better to make some kind of effort. When in doubt, address someone more formally to avoid offending them. Some common ways to address your reader are: If you don’t know the name of the person you are addressing, or if the email addresses a diverse group, try something generic, yet polite: Your closing is extremely important because it lets the reader know who is contacting them. Always sign off with your name at the end of your message. If you don’t know the reader well, you might also consider including your title and the organization you belong to; for example: Senior Research Associate Bain and Company NIU, Class of 2021 For your closing, something brief but friendly, or perhaps just your name, will do for most correspondence: For a very formal message, such as a job application, use the kind of closing that you might see in a business letter: Copying individuals on an email is a good way to send your message to the main recipient while also sending someone else a copy at the same time. This can be useful if you want to convey the same exact message to more than one person. In professional settings, copying someone else on an email can help get things done, especially if the person receiving the copy is in a supervisory role. For example, copying your boss on an email to a non-responsive co-worker might prompt the co-worker to respond. Be aware, however, that when you send a message to more than one address using the Cc: field, both the original recipient and all the recipients of the carbon copies can see all the addresses in the To: and Cc: fields. Each person who receives the message will be able to see the addresses of everyone else who received it. Blind copying emails to a group of people can be useful when you don’t want everyone on the list to have each other’s addresses. The only recipient address that will be visible to all recipients is the one in the To: field. If you don’t want any of the recipients to see the email addresses in the list, you can put your own address in the To: field and use Bcc: exclusively to address your message to others. However, do not assume that blind copying will always keep recipients from knowing who else was copied—someone who is blind copied may hit “reply all” and send a reply to everyone, revealing that they were included in the original message. Think about your message before you write it. Don’t send email in haste. First, decide on the purpose of your message and what outcome you expect from your communication. Then think about your message’s audience and what they may need in order for your message to have the intended result. You will also improve the clarity of your message if you organize your thoughts before you start writing. Jot down some notes about what information you need to convey, what questions you have, etc., then organize your thoughts in a logical sequence. You can try brainstorming (LINK TO BE ADDED) techniques like mapping, listing, or outlining to help you organize your thoughts. Reflect on the tone of your message. When you are communicating via email, your words are not supported by gestures, voice inflections, or other cues, so it may be easier for someone to misread your tone. For example, sarcasm and jokes are often misinterpreted and may offend your audience. Similarly, be careful about how you address your reader. For instance, beginning an email to your professor or TA with “Hey!” might be perceived as being rude or presumptuous (as in “Hey you!”). If you’re unsure about how your message might be received, you might try reading it out loud to a friend to test its tone. Strive for clarity and brevity in your writing. Have you ever sent an email that caused confusion and took at least one more communication to straighten out? Miscommunication can occur if a message is unclear, disorganized, or just too long and complex for readers to easily follow. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that your message is understood: Format your message so that it is easy to read. Use white space to visually separate paragraphs into distinct blocks of text. Bullet important details so that they are easy to pick out. Use bold face type or capital letters to highlight critical information, such as due dates. (But do not type your entire message in capital letters or boldface—your reader may perceive this as “shouting” and won’t be able to tell which parts of the message are especially important.) Proofread. Re-read messages before you send them. Check your grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. If your email program supports it, use spelling and grammar checking tools. Try reading your message out loud to help you catch any mistakes or awkward phrasing that you might otherwise miss. Use what you’ve just learned to explain why Student 2’s email to Professor Jones is more effective than the email written by Student 1. How does the tone of the messages differ? What makes Student 2’s email look and sound more appropriate? What are the elements that contribute its clarity? If you were Professor Jones and you received both messages, how would you respond to each one? i need help on my paper can i come by your office tomorrow Hi Dr. Jones, I am in your ENGL 101 class on Thursdays, and I have a question about the paper that is due next Tuesday. I’m not sure that I understand what is meant by the following sentence in the prompt: “Write a 10 page paper arguing for or against requiring ENGL 101 for all NIU freshmen and provide adequate support for your point of view.” I am not sure what would count as “adequate” support. Would using 3 sources be OK? Can I come by your office tomorrow at 2:00 pm to talk to you about my question? Please let me know if that fits your schedule. If not, I could also come by on Friday after 1:00. Here are two versions of an email from a supervisor, Jane Doe, to a group of her employees. Which version do you think is most effective? Why? As you know, tomorrow afternoon we’ll be meeting to discuss the status of all of our current projects. Donuts will be provided. Be sure to arrive on time and bring along the materials you have been working on this week—bring enough copies for everyone. Some of these material might include your calendars, reports, and any important emails you have sent. Also, I wanted to remind you that your parking permit requests are due later this week; you should turn those in to Ms. Jones, and if she is not at her desk when you stop by, you can email them to her. Subject: materials for Wed. staff meeting For tomorrow’s 3 p.m. staff meeting in the conference room, please bring 15 copies of the following materials: - Your project calendar - A one-page report describing your progress so far - A list of goals for the next month - Copies of any progress report messages you have sent to clients this past month See you tomorrow— Lamb, S. E. (2006). How to Write It: A Complete Guide to Everything You’ll Ever Write, 2nd ed. Ten Speed Press. Terminello, V., & Reed, M. G. (2002). E-Mail: Communicate Effectively. Prentice Hall. Developed and shared by The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine say that bone marrow derived progenitor cells require integrin-mediated adhesion to effect protection in a mouse model of acute lung injury (ALI). They report the identification and use of adult stem cells from bone marrow, called Flk-1 and CD34, even though they are present in small quantities. The study is published online in the October issue of Stem Cells. The paper is titled “Requirement of α-4-β-1 and α-5-β-1 Integrin Expression in Bone-Marrow Derived Progenitor Cells in Preventing Endotoxin-Induced Lung Vascular Injury and Edema in Mice.” In ALI, the layer of cells that forms the lining of the blood vessels surrounding the lung's air sacs is damaged, allowing fluid to leak in and fill the sacs. Repair of these breaks in the endothelium is complicated by the fact that endothelial cells are long-lived, says Kishore Wary, Ph.D., UIC assistant professor of pharmacology and lead author of the study. Turnover of new cells takes as long as two to five years, and few of the precursor cells needed for replacement circulate in the body at any given time. “The stem cells that might be able repair the damage caused by ALI are simply not on hand,” Dr. Wary says. Flk-1 and CD34, named for the proteins on their surfaces, constitute a very small percentage of the stem cell population in the bone marrow, but the researchers were able to develop a way of culturing the cells that increased their numbers and their stickiness. The stem cells stud their surface with molecules called integrins that allow the cells to stick to their targets and affect the repair. “Increasing this capacity for stickiness in our culture system was likely to make the stem cells more effective in repair,” Dr. Wary explains. When mice that had been injected with a compound that causes ALI were injected with the purified and cultured Flk and CD34 stem cells, the progenitor cells were able to repair the lung injury and prevent fluid build-up, and this led to improved survival. The mouse disease model not only demonstrated that stem cell treatment is a promising therapy for ALI, Wary notes, “but also provided us with the means to understand how these progenitor cells did their repair work. These therapeutic cells employed integrins to stick to the site of injury and turn on cellular and molecular repair machinery.” The researchers hope to explore the possibility of using stem cell therapy in human acute lung injury.
The Alexander Sarcophagus is considered as the most important artifact in the İstanbul Archaeological Museums. It was found in the Royal Necropolis in Sidon in 1887. Though it is called the Alexander Sarcophagus, in fact, it does not belong to Alexander the Great. It is thought to be the sarcophagus of Abdalonymus, the king of Sidon. . On the front side of the sarcophagus, Alexander is shown on his horse. Since Alexander claimed descent from Heracles, he is depicted with the skin of the Nemean Lion on his head. Additionally, next to his ear, a ram horn, the symbol of the Egyptian god Amun is seen. Because of this depiction on the sarcophagus, it was named after Alexander. In fact, Alexander the Great died in Babylon and his body was transferred to Alexandria. It is known that his sarcophagus was an anthropoid one. On one of the long sides of the sarcophagus, there is a scene of battle between Persians and Greeks. Greek and Persian soldiers can easily be distinguished thanks to their outfits. Greeks have short tunics or cloaks, whereas Persian soldiers, who had to cover all parts of their bodies excluding their faces and fingers, wear trousers, more than one long-sleeved shirts and tiaras covering their heads. The scene of battle is thought to represent the Battle of Issus, won by Alexander the Great in 333 BC and opened the doors of Phoenicia and Syria. As a result of this battle, the fate of Abdalonymus, who is thought to be the owner of the sarcophagus, changed and he became the king of Sidon after a while. Two hunting scenes are depicted on the second long side of the sarcophagus. It is known that hunting with horses and carriages was usual for Near Eastern civilizations and that Alexander the Great participated in such events in Phoenicia. It is accepted that Alexander’s aim was to establish a Greek-Persian empire through uniting Eastern and Hellenistic cultures after conquering Iran. Towards the end of his life, he married a Persian princess, started to wear Persian clothes and accepted Persian dynastic customs. The Persians and Greeks who friendly hunt on one side of the sarcophagus should be considered within this perspective. It is known that after defeating Darius III in Issus, Alexander the Great passed through the Amanus Mountains and entered Syria following the Mediterranean shores. The people of Sidon, who disliked the Persian administration, opened the doors of the rich cities to the Macedon army and asked Alexander the Great to choose a king for them. Alexander, who had no time to choose a king for Sidon, gave this job to Hephaestion. He found Abdalonymus, who was a distant relative of the royal dynasty of Sidon but who had a quiet life in the country until chosen as the king. The name of Abdalonymus means “servant of gods” in Persian and the Alexander the Great and Hephaestion depictions were therefore added to the sarcophagus ordered by him. When the carvings are analyzed, it is understood that those who made this sarcophagus were masters of the Eastern art of decoration. The upper row of the acroter consists of eagles, partially with no remains other than pieces of wings, and women heads. In the Ancient Syria, it was believed that eagles were birds carrying the souls of dead people to heaven. Nine smaller women heads that line up at the bottoms of each of two sides bring the mother goddess worshipped since the prehistoric periods of Anatolia and Mesopotamia to mind. Upper acroters of the both pediments are decorated with Persian griffins and herbal figures. At each of the corners of the pediment, a lion is placed as sarcophagus protectors. Those lions with thin necks and small bodies, which resemble dogs, are elements belonging to the Ionian art. Both the body and the cover of the sarcophagus is made of the same kind of marble. The carvings on the sarcophagus are so fine that it is thought that this artifact should have been made in Sidon since it would have been too dangerous to transfer such a work from Greece to Lebanon. There is no information about its sculptor. Painters of the sarcophagus should have been masters of their job as well. It seems that the eyes, eyelashes, lips and clothes were dyed in purple, yellow, blue, red and violet, and that the figures were slightly varnished.
The voyageur - a French word meaning traveler - the namesake of Voyageurs National Park - began journeying through these interconnected waterways over 250 years ago; waterways that are one of the most important segments of the fur trade route used to open the "Great Northwest". As park visitors travel the lakes today, it is easy to imagine the voyageurs of the past dipping their canoe paddles into the clear, dark waters to the rhythm of their songs, gliding past the rock and pines of this northern landscape. Voyageurs National Park was established in 1975, but is filled with evidence of over 10,000 years of human life and use. Signs of Native Americans, fur traders, and homesteaders, signs of logging, mining, and commercial fishing are scattered throughout the park. The Organic Act of 1916 created the National Park Service and decreed that nature and culture were to be protected hand-in-hand. Voyageurs National Park protects and shares a rich, unique cultural history that was shaped by the picturesque, rugged nature of its water and lands. Cultural resources programs strive to understand, preserve, and provide for the enjoyment of cultural resources. Learn about our program areas, along with links to preservation resources for the National Park Service. Last updated: April 26, 2018
Assume that you have two DC voltage sources of 1.5 volts each (like two AA batteries). The positive terminals are wired together (joined together) and the negative terminals are labeled A and B respectively. What is the voltage from A to B? What is the current if nodes A and B are connected with a resistor of 1 ohm?